JP6938166B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming method (electrophotographic process) or the like.

Here, the image forming apparatus is for forming an image on a recording material (recording medium) by using, for example, an electrophotographic image forming process. Examples of the image forming apparatus include a printer (laser beam printer, LED printer, etc.), a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, a word processor, and a multifunction printer thereof.

The developing device is a device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor drum (photoreceptor) as an image carrier with a developing agent. The developing apparatus is composed of a developing means, a developing frame body supporting the developing means, parts related to the developing means, and the like, and the developing means includes a developing roller as a developing agent carrier, a developing blade as a developing agent regulating member, and the like. Can be mentioned.

In an image forming apparatus such as a printer using an electrophotographic process, the photoconductor is uniformly charged. Next, an electrostatic image is formed on the photoconductor by selectively exposing the charged photoconductor. Next, the electrostatic image formed on the photoconductor is visualized as a toner image with toner as a developing agent. Then, the toner image formed on the photoconductor is transferred to a recording material such as recording paper or a plastic sheet, and heat or pressure is applied to the toner image transferred on the recording material to record the toner image. Image recording is performed by fixing to.

An image forming apparatus using such an electrophotographic process generally requires maintenance of various process means used in the electrophotographic process. Examples of process means include charging means, developing means, cleaning means, etc. that act on the photoconductor drum. In order to facilitate the maintenance of these various process means, a method has been put into practical use in which a photoconductor, a charging means, a developing means, a cleaning means, and the like are collectively made into a cartridge and attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. According to this cartridge method, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus having excellent usability.

Further, as the cartridge, a drum cartridge having a photoconductor drum, a developing cartridge as a developing device having a developing means (for example, a developing roller), a toner cartridge for supplying a developing agent, and the like are known.

Regarding the configuration for attaching / detaching these cartridges to / from the apparatus main body, a method of attaching / detaching to / from the apparatus main body along the axial direction of the photoconductor drum has been proposed (Patent Document 1). The cartridge mounted on the apparatus main body moves upward in the vertical direction, and the position of the cartridge is determined by the regulated portion provided on the cartridge coming into contact with the restricting portion provided on the apparatus main body.

However, since the process cartridge described in Patent Document 1 includes the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge integrally, the drum cartridge is also replaced at the same time when the developing cartridge reaches the end of its life. Therefore, there is a limit to reducing the running cost. Therefore, it is desired that the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge be independently attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.

In such an image forming apparatus, it is necessary to prevent the developing roller and the photoconductor drum from sliding when the developing cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Therefore, the developing cartridge is configured to be movable between a position where the developing roller and the photoconductor drum are in contact with each other and a position where the developing roller and the photoconductor drum are separated from each other.

As an image forming apparatus in which the developing cartridge is movable in this way, for example, the apparatus main body (copier main body) has a guide rail movable with respect to the apparatus main body and a photoconductor belt inside the apparatus main body (copier main body). Be prepared. Then, the developing cartridge is guided by the guide rail and attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, and the guide rail is moved in a state of being attached to the apparatus main body. In this way, an electrophotographic copying machine that can move to a position where the developing roller and the photoconductor belt come into contact with each other and a position where the developing roller and the photoconductor belt are separated from each other has been proposed (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 5067913 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-348123

However, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 2, the developing cartridge is guided by a guide rail that can be moved with respect to the apparatus main body and is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, so that the attachment / detachment position of the developing cartridge with respect to the apparatus main body becomes unstable. May become. Therefore, when the developing cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, the developing roller and the photoconductor drum may interfere with each other and damage them.

On the other hand, if a sufficient distance between the developing roller and the photoconductor drum can be secured during the attachment / detachment operation of the developing cartridge to the apparatus main body, the interference between the developing roller and the photoconductor drum can be suppressed. However, since it is necessary to secure a large space for the movable guide rail to move with respect to the device main body, the device becomes large by that amount.

An object of the present invention is to form an image capable of suppressing interference between a developer-bearing body and an image-bearing body when a cartridge having a first rotating body is attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body having a second rotating body. The purpose is to provide equipment and cartridges.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus main body to which a cartridge including a first rotating body can be attached and detached, a second rotating body capable of contacting the first rotating body, and the second rotating body. It has a first pressing member that presses a unit including a support member that rotatably supports the body, and the first pressing member moves while pressing the support member to move the second rotating body. In an image forming apparatus for moving the support member from an abutting position where the second rotating body comes into contact with the first rotating body to a separation position where the second rotating body separates from the first rotating body, the supporting member The second pressing member has a second pressing member for attaching / detaching the cartridge to / from the apparatus main body by locating the second pressing member on an attachment / detachment path for attaching / detaching the cartridge to / from the apparatus main body. The second pressing member can be moved between the attachment / detachment restricting position that regulates the attachment / detachment and the attachment / detachment allowable position that allows the cartridge to be attached / detached to / from the apparatus main body by separating the second pressing member from the attachment / detachment path. However, by moving from the attachment / detachment restricted position to the attachment / detachment allowable position while pressing the support member, the unit can be moved to a position away from the first rotating body, and the cartridge can be removed from the apparatus main body. It is characterized by being in a state.

Further, another image forming apparatus according to the present invention rotates the apparatus main body to which the cartridge including the first rotating body can be attached and detached, the second rotating body which can come into contact with the first rotating body, and the second rotating body. It has a first pressing member that presses a unit including a supporting member that can support the body, and the first pressing member moves while pressing the support member to move the second rotating body to the second rotating body. In an image forming apparatus that moves the support member from the contact position where the two rotating bodies abut on the first rotating body to the first separating position where the second rotating body separates from the first rotating body, the support member is used. The second pressing member has a second pressing member to be pressed, and the second pressing member is located on an attachment / detachment path for attaching / detaching the cartridge to / from the apparatus main body when the first pressing member is stopped. The attachment / detachment restricted position that restricts the attachment / detachment of the cartridge to the device body and the attachment / detachment allowable position that allows the cartridge to be attached / detached to / from the device body by separating the second pressing member from the attachment / detachment path. The second rotating body moves while pressing the support member so that the second rotating body can be moved between the two rotating bodies as compared with the case where the second rotating body is in the first separated position. The support member is moved to a second separated position separated from the rotating body, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body when the support member is in the second separated position.

Further, the cartridge according to the present invention has a first frame body, a second frame body that can rotate with respect to the first frame body via a support shaft, and a rotation rotatably supported by the second frame body. It has a body and a first force receiving portion provided on the second frame body, and the first force receiving portion can receive a force for rotating the second frame body in the first direction. The cartridge has a second force receiving portion provided on the second frame body, and the second force receiving portion can receive a force for rotating the second frame body in the first direction. The second force receiving portion is provided on a protruding portion protruding from one end portion in the rotation axis direction with respect to the rotation axis direction of the rotating body, and when viewed from the rotation axis direction, the second force receiving portion is It is characterized in that it is arranged on the opposite side of the first force receiving portion with respect to the support shaft.

According to the present invention, when the first cartridge having the image carrier is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body having the image carrier and the developer carrier, the developer carrier is not enlarged. And the interference of the image carrier can be suppressed.

Mounting configuration diagram of the developing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and the drum cartridge facing the developing apparatus. Schematic diagram of a developing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and an image forming apparatus equipped with a drum cartridge facing the developing apparatus. Explanatory drawing of drum cartridge in image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention Main sectional view of a drum cartridge in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Main sectional view of the developing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the structure of the developing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which the developing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention is positioned on the image forming apparatus main body. Explanatory drawing of mounting part of development apparatus and drum cartridge in apparatus main body of image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention Explanatory drawing for mounting the developing apparatus and the drum cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention on the apparatus main body.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<< First Embodiment >>
(Image forming device)
The overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 equipped with the developing cartridge as the developing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and the drum cartridge facing the developing cartridge will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 100 has four removable photoconductor drum cartridges (drum cartridges) 9 (9Y) having photoconductor drums 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) as image carriers. , 9M, 9C, 9K) are installed. Further, four developing devices (development cartridges) 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) are mounted on the device main body 100.

The drum cartridge 9 as the first cartridge and the developing cartridge 4 as the second cartridge are independently and detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 100 by mounting members (not shown). Further, the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4 are provided in the apparatus main body 100 so as to be inclined in the horizontal direction and parallel to each other.

The drum cartridge 9 has a charging roller 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) as a charging member and a cleaning member 6 (6a, 6b, 6c) as a cleaning member around the photoconductor drum (first rotating body) 1. Process means such as 6d) are integrally arranged.

Further, each developing cartridge (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) has a developing roller (second rotating body) 25 (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) as a developing agent carrier. Then, process means such as a developing blade 35 (35a, 35b, 35c, 35d) as a developing agent regulating member are integrally arranged.

The charging roller 2 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor drum 1. The developing roller 25 comes into contact with the photoconductor drum 1 and develops a latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 1 with a developer (toner) to make it a visible image (visualization). Then, the cleaning member 6 removes the toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 1 after transferring the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 1 to the recording medium (recording material) S.

Further, below the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4, a scanner cartridge 3 for selectively exposing the photoconductor drum 1 based on image information and forming a latent image on the photoconductor drum 1 is provided. There is.

A cassette 17 containing the recording medium S is mounted on the lower portion of the apparatus main body 100. Then, a transport means for transporting the recording medium is provided so that the recording medium S passes through the secondary transfer roller 69 and the fixing portion 74 and is transported above the apparatus main body 100. That is, the feeding roller 54 that separates and feeds the recording media S in the cassette 17 one by one, the transport roller pair 76 that conveys the fed recording medium S, and the latent image and the recording medium formed on the photoconductor drum 1. A resist roller pair 55 for synchronizing with S is provided.

Further, above the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4, an intermediate transfer cartridge 5 is provided as an intermediate transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on each of the photoconductor drums 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d). Has been done. The intermediate transfer cartridge 5 is located at a position facing the driving roller 56, the driven roller 57, and the photoconductor drum 1 of each color with the primary transfer roller 58 (58a, 58b, 58c, 58d) facing the secondary transfer roller 69. It has an opposing roller 59, and a transfer belt 14 is hung on it.

Then, the transfer belt 14 circulates so as to face and contact all the photoconductor drums 1, and by applying a voltage to the primary transfer rollers 58 (58a, 58b, 58c, 58d), the photoconductor drum 1 The primary transfer is performed on the transfer belt 14. Then, the toner of the transfer belt 14 is transferred to the recording medium S by applying a voltage to the opposing roller 59 and the secondary transfer roller 69 arranged in the transfer belt 14.

At the time of image formation, each photoconductor drum 1 is rotated, and the photoconductor drum 1 uniformly charged by the charging roller 2 is selectively exposed from the scanner cartridge 3. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 1. The latent image is developed by the developing roller 25. As a result, each color toner image is formed on each photoconductor drum 1. In synchronization with this image formation, the resist roller pair 55 conveys the recording medium S to the secondary transfer position where the opposing roller 59 and the secondary transfer roller 69 are in contact with each other with the transfer belt 14 interposed therebetween.

Then, by applying a transfer bias voltage to the secondary transfer roller 69, each color toner image on the transfer belt 14 is secondarily transferred to the recording medium S. As a result, a color image is formed on the recording medium S. The recording medium S on which the color image is formed is heated and pressurized by the fixing unit 74 to fix the toner image. After that, the recording medium S is discharged to the discharge unit 75 by the discharge roller 72. The fixing portion 74 is arranged on the upper part of the apparatus main body 100.

Further, below each developing cartridge 4, the cartridge urging member (biasing member) 80 (80a, 80b, 80c) for bringing the developing roller 25 held by the developing cartridge 4 into contact with the photoconductor drum 1 80d) is provided. The urging member 80 functions as a first pressing member that moves while pressing the end support member (first frame body) 38, which will be described later.

(Drum cartridge)
Next, the drum cartridge 9 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view of the drum cartridge 9 (9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K). Note that 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K have the same configuration. In the present embodiment, in the insertion direction of the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4, which will be described later, the upstream side in the insertion direction is defined as the front side, and the downstream side is defined as the back side.

In FIG. 3, the photoconductor drum 1 is rotatably provided in the cleaning frame 27 of the drum cartridge 9 (9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K) via the drum front bearing 10 and the drum back bearing 11. A drum coupling 16 and a flange are provided on one end side of the photoconductor drum 1 in the axial direction.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the drum cartridge 9. As described above, the charging roller 2 and the cleaning member 6 are provided around the photoconductor drum 1. The cleaning member 6 is composed of a rubber blade 7 and a cleaning support member 8. The tip portion 7a of the rubber blade 7 is arranged so as to be in contact with the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 1 in the counter direction. Then, the residual toner removed from the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 by the cleaning member 6 falls into the removal toner chamber 27a. Further, the sealing sheet 21 for preventing the removal toner from the removal toner chamber 27a from leaking is in contact with the photoconductor drum 1.

Then, by transmitting the driving force of the main body driving motor (not shown) which is a driving source to the drum coupling 16 (FIG. 3) of the drum cartridge 9, the photoconductor drum 1 is rotationally driven according to the image forming operation. The charging roller 2 is rotatably attached to the drum cartridge 9 via the charging roller bearing 28 (FIG. 4), and is pressurized toward the photoconductor drum 1 by the pressurizing member 33 (FIG. 4) to form a photoconductor. The drum 1 is driven to rotate.

(Development cartridge)
Next, the developing cartridge 4 as the developing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. FIG. 5 is a main cross section of the developing cartridge 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) in which toner is stored in the developing cartridge. The development cartridge 4Y containing yellow toner, the development cartridge 4M containing magenta toner, the development cartridge 4C containing cyan toner, and the development cartridge 4K containing black toner have the same configuration. ..

The developing cartridge 4 includes a developing roller 25 described below and a developing unit 39 including a developing frame body (second frame body) 31. The developing frame 31 rotatably supports (rotatably supports) a developing roller 25 that comes into contact with the photoconductor drum 1 and rotates in the direction of arrow B as a supporting member. Further, the developing unit 39 is provided with a toner supply roller 34 that rotates in contact with the developing roller 25, and a developing blade 35 for regulating the toner layer on the developing roller 25.

The developing frame 31 is composed of a developing chamber 31c in which the developing rollers 25 are arranged, and a toner accommodating chamber 31a provided below the developing chamber 31c. The developing chamber 31c and the toner accommodating chamber 31a are separated by a partition wall 31d. Further, the partition wall 31d is provided with an opening 31b through which the toner passes when the toner is conveyed from the toner accommodating chamber 31a to the developing chamber 31c. Further, the developing frame 31 includes an urged portion (first force receiving portion) 31e urged by the cartridge urging member 80 (FIG. 5) provided in the apparatus main body 100.

The toner storage chamber 31a of the developing frame 31 is provided with a toner transporting member 36 for stirring the stored toner and transporting the toner to the developing chamber 31c through the opening 31b.

As shown in FIG. 6, the developing roller 25 and the toner supply roller 34 shown in FIG. 5 are attached to the developing frame 31 via the developing back bearings 12 and the pre-development bearings 13 provided on both sides of the developing roller 25 in the axial direction. It is rotatably supported. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the developing unit 39 is provided with an end support member (first frame) 38 on one end side of the developing roller 25 in the axial direction, while the other end of the developing roller 25 in the axial direction. On the side, the other end support member 37 is provided.

The other end support member 37 rotatably supports the developing unit 39, and the first rotation center 37a as a positioning hole for regulating the position of the developing unit 39 in the direction intersecting the axis of the developing roller 25. Is provided. Further, the end support member 38 is provided with a second rotation center 38a that rotatably supports the developing unit 39.

The developing unit 39 is provided with a boss 13a as a support shaft that is rotatably supported by the second rotation center 38a. On the other hand, with respect to the boss 13a of the developing unit 39, a boss 12a as a positioning shaft rotatably supported by the first rotation center 37a is provided on the other end side of the developing roller 25 in the axial direction. There is. The boss 12a and the boss 13a have a cylindrical shape.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the developing unit 39 is provided with a coupling 12b as a driving force receiving unit that receives a rotational driving force for rotating the developing roller 25 (a rotational driving force is input). Has been done. The other end support member 37 is provided with a hole 37d for avoiding interference with the coupling 12b, and the coupling 12b is in a state of being inserted into the hole 37d.

The end support member 38 and the other end support member 37 are centered on the boss 13a and the boss 12a rotatably supported by the second rotation center 38a and the first rotation center 37a with respect to the developing unit 39. It is rotatable. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotation axes of the end support member 38 and the other end support member 37 with respect to the developing unit 39 coincide with the central axes R of the boss 13a and the boss 12a. Further, the end support member 38 and the other end support member 37 can be moved independently of the developing unit 39, respectively.

Further, the developing unit 39 is provided with an applied portion (pressed portion, second force receiving portion) 13b as described in detail later, and the applied portion 13b and the end support member 38 are prevented from interfering with each other. A hole (hole) 38d is provided in the end support member 38. As shown in FIG. 6, the urged portion 13b is a protruding portion protruding in the direction of the rotation axis (center axis R) at the rotation center 38a. The central axis R is parallel to the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 25 (longitudinal direction of the developing roller 25). The urged portion 13b is in a state of penetrating the hole 38d so as to be in contact with the pressing portion (second pressing member) 1061 described later.

FIG. 1 is a view of the developing unit 39 mounted on the apparatus main body 100 as viewed from the direction of the rotation axis (central axis R). It is located on the side.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the other end support member 37 is provided with a first engaged portion 37b and a first rotation stopper 37c. The first engaged portion 37b and the first rotation stopper 37c engage with the first engaging portion 98a and the first rotation stopper 98b provided on the apparatus main body 100, respectively, after the insertion into the apparatus main body 100 is completed. It fits. As a result, the other end support member 37 is positioned on the device main body 100.

Further, the end support member 38 is provided with a second engaged portion 38b and a second rotation stop portion 38c. The second engaged portion 38b and the second rotation stopper 38c are attached to the second engagement portion 99a and the second rotation stopper 104a provided on the apparatus main body 100, respectively, after the insertion into the apparatus main body 100 is completed. Engage. As a result, the end support member 38 is positioned on the device main body 100.

The bosses 12a and 13a both form the rotation center of the developing unit 39 in a state where the other end support member 37 and the end support member 38 are respectively positioned on the apparatus main body 100. With this configuration, when forming an image, the urging portion 31e (FIG. 5) of the developing frame 31 is urged by the urging member 80 in the contact direction A shown in FIG. 5, so that the developing roller 25 is urged. It comes into contact with the photoconductor drum 1. That is, the developing roller 25 is in the contact position in contact with the photoconductor drum 1. When the image is not formed, the urged portion 31e (FIG. 5) of the developing frame 31 is urged by the urging member 80 in the separation direction B shown in FIG. 5, so that the developing roller 25 is attached to the photoconductor drum 1. On the other hand, separate.

That is, the developing roller 25 is in the first separated position separated from the photoconductor drum 1. The urging member 80 is driven by a motor (drive source) (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 100, and can move in the contact direction A and the separation direction B.

(Structure in which a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge are inserted into the main body of the device)
Next, a configuration in which the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4 are inserted into the apparatus main body 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 8 and 9. As shown in FIG. 8, the apparatus main body 100 is provided with each drum cartridge 9 and mounting openings 101 (101a, 101b, 101c, 101d) for mounting each developing cartridge 4.

Then, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the drum cartridge 9 is attached / detached to / from the mounting opening 101 with the axial direction of the photoconductor drum 1 as the attachment / detachment direction. Further, the developing cartridge 4 is attached / detached to / from the mounting opening 101 with the axial direction of the developing roller 25 as the attachment / detachment direction. That is, the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4 are inserted from the front side toward the back side. In the following description, this direction is referred to as the insertion direction F.

As shown in FIG. 8, an upper guide portion 103 (103a, 103b, 103c, 103d) for a drum cartridge, which is a first main body guide portion, is provided on the upper side of the apparatus main body 100. A lower guide portion 102 (102a, 102b, 102c, 102d) for a drum cartridge, which is a second main body guide portion, is provided on the lower side of the apparatus main body 100. The upper guide portion 103 and the lower guide portion 102 for the drum cartridge each have a guide shape extending along the insertion direction F of the drum cartridge 9.

Further, on the upper side of the apparatus main body 100, an upper guide portion 105 (105a, 105b, 105c, 105d) for a developing cartridge, which is a third main body guide portion, is provided. A lower guide portion 104 (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d) for a developing cartridge, which is a fourth main body guide portion, is provided on the lower side of the apparatus main body 100. The upper guide portion 103 and the lower guide portion 104 for the developing cartridge each have a guide shape extending along the insertion direction F of the developing cartridge 4.

(Lock lever 106)
Here, the apparatus main body 100 is provided with a lock lever (regulatory member) 106 (106a,) provided with a pressing portion 1061 (FIG. 1) capable of contacting the applied portion 13b (FIGS. 1 and 6) of the developing cartridge 4. 106b, 106c, 106d) are provided as shown in FIG. As described above, the pressing portion 1061 is provided only at one end of the apparatus main body in the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 25.

The lock lever 106 (106a, 106b, 106c, 106d) can rotate around the rotation center point M (Ma, Mb, Mc, Md) as shown in FIG. That is, the position can be moved by the user in the first direction (P direction) and the second direction (Q direction) opposite to the first direction.

That is, the lock lever 106 can move independently of the urging member 80. Therefore, the lock lever 106 can move when the urging member 80 is stopped.

When the user attaches / detaches the drum cartridge 9 to / from the apparatus main body, the lock lever 106 is rotated in the P direction by the user, and when the user attaches / detaches the developing cartridge 4 to / from the apparatus main body, the lock lever 106 is used by the user. Is rotated in the Q direction.

More specifically, the insertion (mounting) of the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4 into the main body of the apparatus using FIGS. 8 and 9 is as follows. When inserting the developing cartridge 4, the lock lever 106 is moved to the drum cartridge 9 side (Q direction in FIG. 8) and moved to the developing cartridge removable position (first position) as shown in FIG. At this time, the development cartridge 4 is allowed to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. When the lock lever 106 is in the position where the development cartridge can be attached / detached, the drum cartridge 9 cannot be attached / detached due to interference with the lock lever 106 (detachment / detachment is restricted).

That is, the development cartridge removable position is a detachable restricted position that restricts the attachment / detachment of the drum cartridge 9. While the lock lever 106 is moved in the Q direction, the urging member 80 stops and does not move.

When inserting the drum cartridge 9, the drum cartridge 9 is placed on the front side of the lower guide portion 102 and the upper guide portion 103 for the drum cartridge in the mounting direction. Further, the lock lever 106 is moved to the developing cartridge 4 side (P direction in FIG. 8) and moved to the drum cartridge removable position (second position) as shown in FIG. At this time, the drum cartridge 9 is in a state of being allowed to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. When the lock lever 106 is in the position where the drum cartridge can be attached / detached, the developing cartridge 9 cannot be attached / detached due to interference with the lock lever 106 (detachment / detachment is restricted).

That is, the detachable position of the drum cartridge is an allowable attachment / detachment position that allows the attachment / detachment of the drum cartridge 9. While the lock lever 106 is moved in the P direction, the urging member 80 stops and does not move.

Then, the drum cartridge 9 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100 by moving the drum cartridge 9 in the insertion direction F along the upper guide portion 103 and the lower guide portion 102 for the drum cartridge.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the developing apparatus is provided with the applied portion 13b, and the lock lever 106 is provided with the pressing portion 1061. Therefore, when the lock lever 106 is moved in the P direction when the drum cartridge 9 is inserted, the pressing portion 1061 of the lock lever 106 presses the applied portion 13b. As a result, the developing unit 39 in the developing cartridge 4 can be moved away from the photoconductor drum 1, and the drum cartridge 9 can be inserted and removed without damaging the drum 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the applied portion 13b is pressed by the pressing portion 1061 of the lock lever 106 and the developing unit 39 is in a position away from the photoconductor drum 1, the developing roller 25 is in the second separated position. .. The second separation position is a position further away from the photoconductor drum 1 than when the developing roller 25 is in the first separation position.

The apparatus main body 100 is provided with a door (not shown) that opens and closes the mounting opening 101. When the door is opened, the urging member 80 always moves in the separation direction B, so that the urging portion 31e is attached. It is pushed and moves to the first separation position. When inserting or removing the drum cartridge 9 from the device main body 100, the user moves the lock lever 106 in the P direction from this state. As a result, the developing roller 25 further moves from the first separation position to the second separation position.

On the other hand, when the developing cartridge 4 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100, the developing cartridge 4 is placed on the front side of the upper guide portion 105 and the lower guide portion 104 for the developing cartridge in the mounting direction. Further, the lock lever 106 is moved to the drum cartridge 9 side (Q direction). Then, the developing cartridge 4 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100 by moving the developing cartridge 4 in the insertion direction F along the upper guide portion 105 and the lower guide portion 104 for the developing cartridge.

Temporarily, the developing roller 25 is moved from the contact position to the second separation position via the first separation position by the urging of the urged portion 31e by the urging member 80. In this case, it is necessary to increase the amount of movement of the urging member 80, or a mechanism for stopping the developing roller 25 at three positions, a contact position, a first separation position, and a second separation position, is required. Therefore, the configuration for moving the urging member 80 becomes complicated and large. However, by using the lock lever 106, which is different from the urging member 80, to move the urging member 80 from the first separation position to the second separation position, it is possible to suppress the complication and the increase in size of the urging member 80. ..

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, if the drum cartridge 9 is provided with the second applied portion W corresponding to the applied portion 13b in the developing cartridge 4, the lock lever 106 can be moved in the Q direction. , The pressing portion 1061 of the lock lever 106 presses the second applied portion W. As a result, the photoconductor drum 1 can be moved away from the developing unit 39 in the developing cartridge 4, and the developing cartridge 4 can be inserted and removed without damaging the photoconductor drum 1.

(Modification example)
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and modifications can be made within the scope of the gist thereof.

(Modification example 1)
In the above-described embodiment, the applied portion (pressed portion) 13b or the second applied portion (second pressed portion) W is attached to the apparatus main body 100 of the developing cartridge 4 or the drum cartridge 9. It was provided at a position on the tip side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the applied portion (pressed portion) 13b or the second applied portion (second pressed portion) W is provided at a position on the rear side deviated from the tip side. Is also good.

1 ... Photoreceptor drum, 4 ... Development cartridge, 9 ... Drum cartridge, 13b ... Impressed part, 25 ... Development roller, 31 ... Development frame, 100 ... Image forming device body (device body) ), 106 ... Lock lever, 1061 ... Pressing part

Claims (14)

A second unit that presses a device main body having a cartridge provided with a first rotating body, a second rotating body that can come into contact with the first rotating body, and a support member that rotatably supports the second rotating body. 1 Pressing member and
By moving the first pressing member while pressing the support member, the second rotating body can move the second rotating body from the contact position where the second rotating body comes into contact with the first rotating body. In the image forming apparatus for moving the support member to a separation position away from the first rotating body,
It has a second pressing member that presses the support member, and has a second pressing member.
The second pressing member includes a attachment / detachment restricting position that regulates attachment / detachment of the cartridge to / from the device body by locating the second pressing member on an attachment / detachment path for attaching / detaching the cartridge to / from the device body, and the attachment / detachment path. It is possible to move between the attachment / detachment allowable position that allows the cartridge to be attached / detached to / from the apparatus main body by separating the second pressing member from the apparatus.
The second pressing member moves from the attachment / detachment restricted position to the attachment / detachment allowable position while pressing the support member, thereby moving the unit to a position away from the first rotating body and moving the cartridge to the apparatus. An image forming apparatus characterized in that it can be removed from the main body. When the second pressing member is in the attachment / detachment restricted position, the unit can be attached / detached from the device main body, and when the second pressing member is in the attachment / detachment allowable position, the unit can be attached / detached from the device main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is regulated. The image forming according to claim 2, wherein the second pressing member moves from the detachable allowable position to the detachable restricted position to move the first rotating body to a position away from the unit. Device. The image forming according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second pressing member is provided only at one end of the apparatus main body in the direction of the rotation axis of the second rotating body. Device. Any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first rotating body is a photoconductor, and the second rotating body is a developing roller carrying a developer for visualizing a latent image formed on the photoconductor. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. A second unit that presses a device main body having a cartridge provided with a first rotating body, a second rotating body that can come into contact with the first rotating body, and a support member that rotatably supports the second rotating body. 1 Pressing member and
By moving the first pressing member while pressing the support member, the second rotating body can move the second rotating body from the contact position where the second rotating body comes into contact with the first rotating body. In the image forming apparatus for moving the support member to the first separation position separated from the first rotating body,
It has a second pressing member that presses the support member, and has a second pressing member.
When the first pressing member is stopped , the second pressing member positions the second pressing member on the attachment / detachment path for attaching / detaching the cartridge to / from the apparatus main body, so that the cartridge can be attached to the apparatus main body. It can be moved between the attachment / detachment regulation position that regulates attachment / detachment and the attachment / detachment allowable position that allows the cartridge to be attached / detached to / from the device main body by separating the second pressing member from the attachment / detachment path.
By moving the second pressing member while pressing the support member, the second rotating body is separated from the first rotating body than when the second rotating body is in the first separated position. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the support member is moved to a two separated positions, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body when the support member is in the second separated position. It said second pressing member, before SL when the second pressing member is in the detachable allowing position, an image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the support member is in the second spaced position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second pressing member is provided only at one end of the apparatus main body in the direction of the rotation axis of the second rotating body. Any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the first rotating body is a photoconductor, and the second rotating body is a developing roller carrying a developer for visualizing a latent image formed on the photoconductor. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. The first frame and
A second frame that can rotate with respect to the first frame via a support shaft,
A rotating body rotatably supported by the second frame body and
The first force receiving portion provided on the second frame body and
The first force receiving portion is a cartridge capable of receiving a force for rotating the second frame body in the first direction.
It has a second force receiving portion provided on the second frame body, and the second force receiving portion can receive a force for rotating the second frame body in the first direction.
The second force receiving portion is provided on a protruding portion protruding from one end portion in the rotation axis direction with respect to the rotation axis direction of the rotating body, and when viewed from the rotation axis direction, the second force receiving portion is the support. A cartridge characterized in that it is arranged on the opposite side of the first force receiving portion with respect to the shaft. The first frame body is arranged closer to one end portion than the other end portion of the second frame body in the direction of the rotation axis, and the first frame body has a hole for avoiding interference with the protruding portion. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the cartridge is provided. The cartridge according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the rotating body is a developing roller carrying a developer. The cartridge according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the support shaft is a boss provided on the second frame body. Any one of claims 10 to 13, which is arranged at the other end of the second frame in the direction of the rotation axis and has a driving force receiving portion into which a driving force for rotating the rotating body is input. Cartridges described in section.

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