JPH0466959A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a stable image by facilitating attaching/detaching of a cartridge by moving the cartridge to its specified position inside a main body interlocking with operation of a member other than the cartridge after the cartridge is loaded on the main body. CONSTITUTION:When the cartridge 5 is not completely pushed into the device main body, a carrying lever is rotated in a direction of an arrow of the diagram 2 with a shaft 3a as the center. The lever 3 is engaged to a cam 27 on the side of the cartridge 5, and the cartridge 5 is pushed to the backside of the interior of the device main body and moved to the correct position. As a result, a driving pin 14 is engaged to a rib 15, a drum shaft 20 is inserted into a central hole of the drum 24, and a fixed lever 21 is engaged to front plate 2. When it is further rotated, a leaf spring 10 is pressurized by a cam 11 of the lever 3, a carrying part 4 is rotated with a shaft 4a as a center, and as a result, a transfer electrifying device 7 and each projection 7a and 8a of a transfer guide 8 are engaged to recessed parts 5a and 5b of the cartridge 5. Thus the attaching of the cartridge is facilitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that employs a so-called cartridge attachment/detachment system in which a cartridge including an image bearing member is detachable from a main body.

(Prior Art) FIGS. 9 and 10 show how to attach a cartridge to a main body of such an image forming apparatus.

That is, FIG. 9 is a plan view of the cartridge mounting portion of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 1θ is a view taken in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 1 is fixed to the front side plate 2 of the main body.

Next, by rotating the conveying lever 3 about the shaft 3a in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 10, the cam 11 fixed to the conveying lever 3
It rotates in the same direction to apply pressure to the plate spring lO fixed to the conveying section 4. Then, the conveyance section 4 moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. At the same time, the pressure spring 9 presses the transfer guide 8. When the transfer guide 8 is pressed by the pressure spring 9, it moves in the first direction around the shaft 28.
It rotates in the direction of the arrow in figure O, and its protrusion 8a engages with the four parts 5b formed on the bottom of the cartridge 5.

On the other hand, a rib 15 (see FIG. 3) is formed at the end of the photosensitive tram 12, which is an image bearing member built into the cartridge 5. A drive pin 14 provided on the development drive gear 13 shown in FIG. 9 is also engaged. Therefore, motor 1
The rotational power of 6 is transmitted to the photosensitive tram 12 via the belt 15, development drive gear 13, drive pin 14, and rib 15, and is also transmitted from the development drive gear 13 to the development input gear 17 to the development sleeve 18, which is a developer carrier. The photosensitive tram 12 and the developing sleeve 18 are each driven to rotate in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional cartridge 5 mounting structure described above, it is necessary to fix the cartridge 5 to the front plate 2 with screws, so it is difficult for the user to attach and detach the cartridge 5. .

Therefore, if the slot 1 is omitted, the cartridge 5 is often not pushed into the main body sufficiently, and in such cases, it may not engage with the drive pin 14 or the rib 15, and the rotating Since the power is not transmitted, the photosensitive tram 12 does not rotate, resulting in a problem that images cannot be stably obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge can be easily attached and detached, and images can be stably obtained.

Means for Solving Problem 1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge including at least an image bearing member is configured to be detachably attached to a main body. According to the present invention, after the cartridge is attached to the main body, the cartridge is moved to a predetermined position within the main body in conjunction with the operation of a member other than the cartridge to prepare for operation of the device. Since it is not necessary to fix the cartridge to the main body of the apparatus using screws as in the past, the cartridge can be easily attached and detached.

In addition, even if the cartridge is not fixed in a predetermined position in the main body when the cartridge is installed in the main body, the cartridge will be moved to a predetermined position in the main body in conjunction with the next operation. The power is reliably transmitted to the image carrier, etc., and images can be stably obtained.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cartridge mounting portion of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow {circle around (2)} in FIG. , Figure 4 is the first
The IV-rV cross-sectional view in the figure, Figure 1@5 and Figure 6 are similar to Figure 2 showing the cartridge mounting operation, and Figure 7 is also 1! FIG. 8 is a diagram similar to FIG. J1, and FIG. 8 is a diagram similar to FIG. 4, showing the operation of the fixing lever when removing the cartridge.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 5 is a cleaner (not shown), -
There is a cartridge configured as a unit by integrally incorporating a secondary charger, a developing device 19, a photosensitive tram 12, a developing sleeve 18, etc., and the cartridge 5 is attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

On the other hand, a motor 16 is attached to the rear plate 30 on the mounting main body side as shown in FIG.
A belt 15 is wound between the output shaft 16a and the shaft 13a of the developing drive gear 13. Furthermore, the developing drive gear 13
is rotatably and slidably supported by the rear plate 30 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and is urged toward the cartridge 5 by a pressure spring 25 wound around the shaft 13a. A drum shaft 20 supporting the center of the photosensitive tram 12 is located at the center of the inner end surface (left end surface in FIG. 1) of the developing drive gear 13, and a drive pin 14 is located at an eccentric position on the inner end surface. Each is protruded.

As shown in FIG. 2, below the cartridge 5 in the main body of the apparatus, there is a conveying section 4 that rotates around a shaft 4a, a conveying lever 3 that rotates around a shaft 3a, and a conveyor lever 3 that rotates around a shaft 28. A movable transfer guide 8 is provided at the tail, and a plate spring 10 is attached to the conveyance section 4, and a transfer charger 7 is supported at the tip of the conveyance section 4 via a pressure spring 6. At the same time, a pressure spring 9 is also attached.

Further, a pressure cam 11 is attached to the conveyance lever 3 and rotates together with the conveyance lever 3 about a shaft 3a. Incidentally, projections 7a and 8a are formed at the tips of the transfer charger 7 and the transfer guide 8, respectively, and a recess 5a is formed at the bottom of the cartridge 5 to engage with these projections 7a and 8a.

5b is formed.

On the other hand, the front plate 2 of the main body of the apparatus has an opening 2a into which the cartridge 5 is inserted, as shown in FIG. A rail 23 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, one end of the photosensitive tram 12 has a drum center hole 2 into which the drum shaft 20 is to be fitted.
4 and a rib 15 to be engaged with the drive pin 14. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a development input gear 17 is connected to the end of the development sleeve 18, and the development input gear 17 meshes with the development drive gear 13.

Further, a fixed lever 8-21 that rotates around a shaft 31 is provided in the opening 22a formed in the front cover 22 of the cartridge 5, and as shown in FIG. A hook-shaped locking protrusion 21a is formed on the bottom. This fixed lever 21 is biased in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 by a pressure spring 26.

Further, a chevron-shaped cam 27 is provided on the front cover 22 of the cartridge 5 so as to be engaged with the transport lever 3 .

Next, the operation of installing the cartridge 5 into the main body of the image forming apparatus will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge 5 is inserted into the main body of the apparatus through the opening 2a of the front plate 2 and pushed toward the back (to the right in FIG. 1) along the rail 23. Then, the tram shaft 20 is fitted into the tram center hole 24 of the photosensitive tram 12 built into the cartridge 5, and at the same time, the drive pin 14 is engaged with the rib 15 formed on the photosensitive tram 12, as shown in FIG. . If it interferes with the drive pin 14 or the rib 15, it will slide away to the right in FIG.
When the (rib 15) rotates and the interference between the drive pin 14 and the rib 15 is released, the developing drive gear 13 returns to its original position by the elastic force of the pressure spring 25, and the drive pin 14 engage with. Furthermore, even if the teeth of the development input gear 17 and the teeth of the development drive gear 13 interfere, the development drive gear 1
3 operates in the same manner as described above.

On the other hand, when the cartridge 5 is installed in the apparatus main body, the engagement protrusion 21a of the fixing lever 21 is engaged with the front plate 2, as shown in @4 section, so that the cartridge 5 is mounted inside the apparatus main body. Fixed in place.

However, if the cartridge 5 is not completely pushed into the main body of the apparatus, the cartridge 5 will stop at the position shown in FIG.
, the tram shaft 20 and the tram center hole 24, and the fixed lever 21 and the front plate 2 are not in contact with each other. However, when the next operation is to rotate the conveyance lever 3 about the shaft 3a in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 27 by pushing the cartridge 5 into the back of the device body.
Move it to the proper position shown in the figure. As a result, the drive pin 14 engages with the rib 15 (see FIG. 3), and the tram shaft 2
0 fits into the tram center hole 24, and the fixing lever 21 engages with the front plate 2 (see FIG. 4).

When the conveyance lever 3 is further turned from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the state shown in FIG. It rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6 about the shaft 4a in response to the elastic force of the plate spring lO, and as a result, the transfer charger 7. Each protrusion 7a, 8a of the transfer guide 8 is connected to the cartridge 5 as shown in FIG.
5a and 5b respectively.

When the motor 16 is driven in the above state, the rotational power is transferred to the motor output shaft 16a, the belt 15. Axis 13
a, the image is transmitted to the drive gear 13, and the development drive gear 13 is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed. A part of the rotational power of the developing drive gear 13 is transmitted to the photosensitive tram 12 via the drive pin 14 and the rib 15, and the other part is transmitted to the developing sleeve 18 via the developing input gear 17, and the rotational power is transmitted to the photosensitive tram 12 and the developing sleeve 18. The sleeves 18 are each rotated in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed to form an image.

As described above, in this embodiment, since it is not necessary to attach or detach the cartridge 5 by fixing the cartridge 5 to the main body of the apparatus using screws as in the conventional case, even a general user can easily attach or detach the cartridge 5.

Further, even if the cartridge 5 is not completely pushed into the main body of the apparatus, the cartridge 5 is moved to a predetermined position in conjunction with the next rotation operation of the conveyance lever 3, and is fixed in place. Therefore, the photosensitive drum 12 and the developing sleeve 18
The power is transmitted reliably to the camera, and images can be stably obtained.

Although the case where the cartridge 5 is installed in the main body of the apparatus has been described above, when the cartridge 5 is to be removed from the main body of the apparatus, the fixing lever 21 is rotated in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. After releasing the engagement between the mating protrusion 21a and the front plate 2, the cartridge 5 can be easily removed from the main body of the apparatus by pulling it out toward the front (to the left in FIG. 7) along the rail 23.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge including at least an image bearing member is configured to be detachably attached to the main body, the cartridge is attached to the main body. After installation, the cartridge is moved to a predetermined position within the main body in conjunction with the operation of a member other than the cartridge cartridge to prepare the device for operation.
The effect is that the cartridge can be easily attached and detached, and images can be stably obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cartridge mounting portion of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow {circle around (2)} in FIG. , Figure 4 is the first
The IV-rV sectional view in the figure, FIGS. 5 and 6 show the cartridge mounting operation. Figure 7 is a diagram similar to Figure 2, Figure 7 is a diagram similar to Figure 1, Figure 8 is a diagram similar to Figure 4 showing the operation of the fixed lever when taking out a cartridge, and Section 9 is a diagram showing conventional image formation. A plan view of the cartridge mounting part of the device,
FIG. 10 is a view taken in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 9. 3... Conveyance lever (members other than the cartridge), 5...
...Cartridge, 12...Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
, 27...cam.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge including at least an image carrier is configured to be removably attached to the main body, after the cartridge is attached to the main body, operations of members other than the cartridge to prepare for operation of the apparatus An image forming apparatus characterized in that the cartridge is moved to a predetermined position within the main body in conjunction with the image forming apparatus. (2) The cartridge is characterized in that by rotating a member other than the cartridge, the member engages with a cam protruding from the cartridge, and this engagement moves the cartridge to a predetermined position within the main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.