JPH0561281A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need of specially separating the coupling member to be driven of a process cartridge and a driven coupling member of a device main body and to improve operability and reliability by interlocking the separation the coupling members with the action of the opening/closing cover of a device main body. CONSTITUTION:A photosensitive drum 2 is arranged in a process cartridge 1, and developing sleeves 3a-3c being members to be driven are disposed around the drum 2. The shafts of the developing sleeves 3a-3c are projected to the outside of the process cartridge 1, and a driven coupling members 4 to be driven are respectively provided at the ends of the shafts. The driving coupling members 5 are respectively provided on the device main body corresponding to the coupling members 4 to be driven of the process cartridge 1 so that they can contact and separate from the members 4. When an opening door (not shown by figure) is rotated to be opened, a releasing member 10 goes to the right. Thus, the cam part 10b of the member 10 pushes and restores a shifting member 12 which advances by resisting a spring 11 so as to separate the member 5 meshing with the member 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a process cartridge which has a plurality of drive connecting portions with respect to the apparatus main body and is detachable from the apparatus main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a process cartridge provided with only a monochromatic developing device, a drive connecting portion of a process cartridge and a main body for driving a developing sleeve of a driven member and a toner agitating member in the process cartridge is exposed to light. By arranging the drive connecting portion at one position between the gear of the drum portion and the apparatus main body and in the front in the mounting direction of the process cartridge, the process cartridge is not separately released from the drive connection without separately releasing the drive connection. I was able to remove it from the device body.

FIG. 15 shows a laser beam printer. The laser light image obtained by color-separating the multi-color image from the laser exposure device 23 is formed on the photosensitive drum 2 of the image carrier uniformly charged by the primary charger 24 to form an electrostatic latent image. As the photosensitive drum 2 rotates, the developing sleeve 3a, which is the driven member of the developing device 3A, first rotates,
Developing sleeves 3b, which are driven members of B and 3C,
Since 3c is stopped, the developing device 3A is placed on the photosensitive drum 2.
The color toner inside is applied and the latent image is developed to the first color. Then, the toner image by the development is transferred onto the transfer material fed from the paper feeding device 28 and wound around the transfer device 25. The residual toner on the photosensitive drum 2 after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaning device 26.
After that, the image forming process is repeated, and the next development is performed by rotating only the developing sleeve 3b of the developing device 3B. The transfer device 25 repeatedly moves the transfer material to the transfer position, and transfers the next second color in an overlapping manner. Similarly, the third image formation is performed. At that time, only the developing sleeve 3c of the developing device 3C is rotated, the development is performed, and the final transfer is performed. The transfer material on which the toner images of the three colors are superimposed and transferred on the same surface is sent to the fixing device 27, and is discharged outside the device after fixing.

In the above description, the process cartridge 1 is attachable / detachable to / from the apparatus main body in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and has a solid line position attached to the apparatus main body and a two-dot chain line position separated from the apparatus main body. In the process cartridge 1, a plurality of developing devices 3A, 3 are provided around the photosensitive drum 2 of at least one image carrier.
B and 3C are housed. In this example, a cleaning device 26 is further housed.

[0005]

However, as shown in FIG. 5, in a configuration in which a plurality of developing devices are provided on the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum and each developing device is drive-connected to the apparatus main body, their drive connecting portions are connected. It is difficult to connect the plurality of drive connecting parts by mounting the process cartridge in front of the process cartridge in the mounting direction. In particular, since the process cartridge needs to be downsized, the diameter of the photosensitive drum also becomes small, and it is more difficult to connect the drive connecting portions of the developing devices in the mounting direction of the process cartridge. Therefore, in addition to the mounting of the process cartridge, it is necessary to connect the drive connecting portions from a direction having a greater degree of freedom or from a plurality of directions.

However, since the drive is not naturally connected by mounting the process cartridge, an operation for connecting and disconnecting the drive connecting portion is required, which leads to deterioration of operability for attaching and detaching the process cartridge. .. Further, there is a possibility that the process cartridge may be removed and damaged without releasing the connection of the drive connecting portion. In particular, even in a configuration in which the drive connecting portion is selectively connected only to the driven developing device, in a normal state, the drive connecting portion of the developing device is not connected when the developing device is not driven. The process cartridge can be removed without releasing the connection of the drive connecting part, but if the power of the device is turned off while the developing device is being driven due to some trouble, etc., the developing device and the device main body will remain connected. Therefore, some means for releasing the drive connecting portion is required, but since it is usually an unnecessary operation, there is also a problem that an operation error or the like is likely to occur.

[0007]

A first invention of the present invention is detachable from an apparatus main body, comprises at least a plurality of developing devices and an image carrier, and is engaged with and disengaged from a drive connecting member on the apparatus main body side. It has a process cartridge provided with a drive connecting member,
An image characterized in that release means for disengaging the drive connecting member of the apparatus main body and the driven connecting member of the process cartridge in association with the opening operation of the opening / closing cover for opening and closing the process cartridge of the apparatus main body is provided. It is a forming device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the apparatus main body is detachably mountable, has at least a plurality of developing devices and an image carrier, and is provided with a driven connection member which is engaged with and disengaged from a drive connection member on the apparatus main body side. An image forming apparatus having a process cartridge, wherein release means is provided for separating a drive connecting member of the apparatus main body and a driven connecting member of the process cartridge in association with an operation of taking out the process cartridge from the apparatus main body. ..

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the apparatus main body is detachably mountable, has at least a plurality of developing devices and an image carrier, and is provided with a driven connection member which is engaged with and disengaged from a drive connection member on the apparatus main body side. Releasing and connecting the drive cartridge of the apparatus main body and the driven joint member of the process cartridge in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover of the apparatus main body for attaching / detaching the process cartridge of the apparatus main body The image forming apparatus is provided with means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus main body is detachably mountable, has at least a plurality of developing devices and an image carrier, and is provided with a driven connection member which is engaged with and disengaged from a drive connection member on the apparatus main body side. An image characterized by having a process cartridge and provided with a connection releasing / connecting means for connecting / disconnecting the drive connecting member of the apparatus main body and the driven connecting member of the process cartridge in association with the operation of attaching / detaching the process cartridge from the apparatus main body. It is a forming device.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 6 show a first embodiment. 1 and 2 are horizontal sectional views, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA showing a part of FIG. 1 in a perspective view.

The process cartridge 1 is provided with a photosensitive drum 2 which is an image bearing member, and developing sleeves 3a, 3b and 3c which are driven members are disposed around the photosensitive drum 2. The shafts of the developing sleeves 3a, 3b, 3c project to the outside of the process cartridge 1 and are provided with driven coupling members 4 at their ends. The driven connecting member 4 is, for example, one member of a dog clutch.

Corresponding to each of the driven connecting members 4 of the process cartridge, the driven connecting member 4 is also provided in the apparatus main body.
A drive coupling member 5, which is another member of the meshing clutch, is concentrically provided so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the drive coupling member 5.

The developing device selecting drive device for selectively connecting the driving connecting member 5 corresponding to each developing device 3A, 3B, 3C to the driven connecting member 4 of each developing device 3A, 3B, 3C is as follows. It is as follows. To the developing device drive shaft 9 to which the drive connecting member 5 is fixed, a shift member 12, which is a cam follower of an end surface cam described later, and a drive gear 8 are fixed. The shaft 9 is rotatably supported by a frame plate 32 of the apparatus body so as to be movable in the axial direction and rotatable. Drive connecting member 5, developing device drive shaft 9,
The shift member 12 and the drive gear 8 constitute a developing device drive connection unit 40. One frame plate 32 of the device body
A compression coil spring 11 is inserted between the drive gear 8 and the drive gear 8 and is inserted into the developing device drive shaft 9. Therefore, the developing device drive connection unit 40 is pressed by the spring 11 toward the driven connection member 4 of the process cartridge 1.

A center shaft 33 is rotatably supported by a frame plate 32 on the same center as the photosensitive drum 2.
4 is fitted into the shaft 33 via a one-way clutch, and the center gear 7 is attached to the shaft 33 via a one-way clutch that operates in a direction opposite to the one-way clutch. The end surface cam 34 has a cylindrical outer circumference, and the end surface along the outer circumference is perpendicular to the center shaft 33, and is provided with a concave portion 34a into which the shift member 12 moves and is fitted at one position of the end surface. As shown in FIG. 3, the center gear 7 meshes with each drive gear 8 and has a wide tooth width so as to always mesh with each other in the axial movement range of each drive gear 8. A gear train 37 connects between the motor 6 of the developing device drive source mounted between the frame plates 32 of the apparatus main body and the center shaft 33.

The motor 6 is a motor whose rotational position is controlled at least in the rotational direction for driving the end surface cam 34.
A release member 10 is provided slidably along the frame plate 32. The release member 10 is provided with elongated holes 10d and 10e through which the drive shaft 9 and the center shaft 33 are inserted. Long hole 10d,
10e faces the moving direction of the drive release member 10. The shift member 12 is retracted by acting on the end of the shift member 12 (the direction in which the drive connecting member 5 separates from the driven connecting member 4).
The drive release member 10 is provided with a cam portion 10b that causes it. The top portion 10c of the cam portion 10b is perpendicular to the drive shaft 9.

As shown in FIG. 4, the opening door 13 of the apparatus main body is an opening / closing cover for attaching / detaching the process cartridge 1 which opens around the fulcrum 16. The release member 10 is provided with a protrusion 15 and is loosely fitted to the guide member 14 fixed to the opening door 13. The guide member 14 is provided with an arc-shaped guide groove having a fulcrum 16 as a center, and the projection 1 extends outward at the end of the arc-shaped guide groove of the guide member 14 in parallel with the opening door 13 of FIG.
5 is provided with a guide groove 14a capable of moving.

Next, the operation will be described. The release member 10 is in the position shown in FIG. 2 with the process cartridge 1 mounted in the laser beam printer. When the laser beam printer is stopped, the recesses 34a of the end cams 34 are in positions that do not coincide with the shift members 12, the shift members 12 are in the retracted position, and all the drive connecting members 5 are driven and connected opposite to each other. It is separated from the member 4. Developing sleeves 3a, 3b, 3
The drive of any one of c is performed as follows. First, the motor 6
And the end surface cam 34 together with the center shaft 33 via the gear train 37.
Rotates in the rotating direction, and when the concave portion 34a of the end face cam coincides with the shift member 12, the motor 6 stops, the spring force of the spring 11 causes the shift member 12 to move forward together with the developing device drive shaft 9, and the drive connecting member 5 One driven connecting member 4 facing each other
The connecting members 4 and 5 are engaged with each other. Next, when the motor 6 rotates in the opposite direction to the above, the center gear 7 rotates, the drive gear 8 is driven, the developing device drive shaft 9 rotates, and the rotational force is generated through the meshed driving / driven connecting members 5 and 4. One of the developing sleeves 3a, 3b, 3c corresponding to the received driven connecting member 4 rotates. The developing devices 3A, 3B, and 3C sequentially operate during multicolor development, but when the laser beam printer is stopped, the recess 34a of the end cam 34 is used.
Is at a position different from each shift member 12, pushes the shift member 12 back against the spring 11, and all the connecting members 4,
The five pairs are separated.

Now, assume that the power is cut off in the state shown in FIG. 2 in which the connecting members 4 and 5 are engaged with each other. When the process cartridge 1 is taken out in this state, the opening door 13 is fixed to the fulcrum 16 from the state of FIG.
When it is opened by rotating it clockwise around the center, the end of the arc-shaped guide groove of the guide member 14 comes close to the protrusion 15 as shown in FIG. 5, and as shown in FIG. 15
Is released and the release member 10 moves to the right. By the rightward movement of the releasing member 10, the cam portion 10b of the releasing member pushes back the shifting member 12 which is advancing against the spring 11, and the driving connecting member 5 meshing with the driven connecting member 4 of the process cartridge is pulled away. It becomes the state of 1. As a result, when the process cartridge 1 is pulled out to the right, the connecting members 4, 5
Is not an obstacle. When the process cartridge 1 is pulled out in the state of FIG.
To the outside of the guide member 14 from the guide groove 14a parallel to the.

When the process cartridge 1 is detached from the main body of the apparatus, since the cam top portion 10c continuing from the maximum lift position of the cam portion 10b of the releasing member is perpendicular to the drive shaft 9, the shift member 12 must be advanced by the spring force of the spring 11. There is no.

When the process cartridge 1 is mounted on the apparatus main body, the protrusion 15 enters the arc-shaped guide groove of the guide member 14 from the guide groove 14a parallel to the opening door 13 of the guide member 14 in the state shown in FIG. When the opening door 13 is closed, the opening door 13
Rotates counterclockwise about the fulcrum 16, the guide member 14 moves with respect to the protrusion 15, and after the state shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 15 is formed into an arc shape of the guide member 14 immediately before fully closing in FIG. The release member 10 is pushed to the left by being pushed by the end of the guide groove on the opening door 13 side,
By the cam portion 10b of the releasing member, the shift member 12 that has been pushed back becomes free and enters the concave portion 34a of the end face cam 34 and moves forward, so that the drive connecting member 5 meshes with the driven connecting member 4 and before the process cartridge 1 is removed. It becomes the same state. The image forming operation is continued when the current is cut off and the power is turned on.

[Second Embodiment] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment.
A parallel leaf spring 1 in which the releasing member 10 similar to that in the first embodiment is provided on the cartridge cover 17 of the process cartridge 1
It is sandwiched by 7a and coupled. As a result, when the process cartridge 1 is pulled out from the main body of the apparatus while holding the cartridge cover 17 after the opening of the main body of the apparatus, the cover 17 is pulled and the release member 10 is pulled together to release the drive. When the cover 17 is further pulled, the leaf spring 17a slides by pressing the releasing member 10. When the process cartridge 1 is attached, the leaf spring 1 is pushed by pressing the cover 17.
The release member 10 is sandwiched by 7a, and the release member 10 is pushed in to enable connection of the drive connecting portion.

[Third Embodiment] FIGS. 9 to 12 show a third embodiment. 9A is a front view and FIG. 9B is a side view. The drive connecting member 5 is provided in the drive unit 18 of the apparatus main body with respect to the driven connecting member 4 of the process cartridge 1. The drive unit 18 may be, for example, a developing device drive unit provided on the apparatus main body side in the first and second embodiments, or as shown in the drawing, the drive unit 18 may be connected to the driven connecting member 4 of the process cartridge 1. Drive connecting member 5
Are connected at the same time, and any one drive connecting member 5 may be selectively driven in the drive unit 18. The drive unit 18 is shown in FIG.
It is pushed by a spring member (not shown) so that it can take the right limit position of 0, is positioned by a stopper, and can move to the left as shown in FIG. The two connecting members 4 and 5 are, for example, one-way claw one-way clutches, and the two connecting members 4 and 5 engaging with each other are provided to the drive unit 18 so that the one-claw disengages in the left-right direction of FIG. 9A. A fixed position stop device is provided.
The process cartridge 1 has a protrusion 19 serving as a cam, and the drive unit 18 has a protrusion 20 serving as a cam follower of the protrusion 19.
When the protrusion 19 is moved to the left in FIG. 12, the drive unit 18 including the protrusion 20 is retracted.

The drive unit 18 is connected to the process cartridge 1 by mounting the process cartridge 1 as shown in FIG. Here, when the process cartridge 1 is pulled out to the left as shown in FIG. 12, the protrusion 19 provided on the process cartridge 1 and the protrusion 20 of the drive unit 18 of the apparatus main body come into contact with each other, so that the drive unit 18 moves to the process cartridge 1 It is moved in the direction away from and the connection of the drive connecting portion is released.

When the connecting members 4 and 5 are one-way meshing claw clutches having a plurality of claws as shown in the first embodiment, the process cartridge 1 can be moved in the attaching / detaching direction as shown in FIG. The process cartridge 1 is provided with the handle 1a of the process cartridge 1 and the protrusion 19 is movable only in the attaching / detaching direction of the process cartridge 1.
The handle 1a and the protrusion 19 are rigidly connected to each other so as to be interlocked with each other, and a spring for urging the handle 1a away from the process cartridge 1 is provided. In FIG. 12, the handle 1 a is located near the process cartridge 1 against the spring. Thus, when the handle 1a is pulled to the left in FIG. 12, the process cartridge 1 remains stationary and the projection 1
Since 9 also moves in the same direction and moves away the drive unit 18, both connecting members 4 and 5 are detached, and then the handle 1a can be pulled to remove the process cartridge 1. When the process cartridge 1 is mounted, the protrusions 19 and 20 have a width in the moving direction of the process cartridge 1, and the protrusion 19 advances later than the process cartridge 1 due to the spring that keeps the handle 1a away. Reach the position. Finally, when the handle 1a is pushed further in,
The drive unit 18 moves forward as shown in FIG.
5 are connected.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIGS. 13 and 14 show a fourth embodiment. The drive unit 18 can be limitedly moved to the left and right as shown in FIGS. 13B and 14B, and is located at the leftward limit position shown in FIG. 14B by a spring (not shown). It is like this. The opening door 21 is pivotally attached to the apparatus main body by a hinge 39. When the cam portion 22a provided on the regulating member 22 attached to the upper opening door 21 of the apparatus body pushes the drive unit 18, the drive unit 18 is pressurized and the drive connection portion with the process cartridge 1 is connected. The door 21
When the is opened, the member 22 is also detached from the drive unit 18,
The drive unit 18 retracts from the process cartridge, and the drive connection is released.

Although the embodiment is provided with a device for disconnecting / connecting the drive connecting member of the apparatus main body and the driven connecting member of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is attached / detached, the drive connecting member is only provided when the process cartridge is taken out. When the process cartridge is attached, both the connecting members are disconnected when the process cartridge is taken out. Therefore, the connecting portion between the process cartridge and the apparatus main body is not damaged.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, at least the detachment of the driven connecting member of the process cartridge and the driving connecting member of the apparatus main body is linked with the operation of the opening / closing cover when the process cartridge of the apparatus main body is detached, or the process is performed. Since the release means interlocking with the operation of removing the cartridge is provided, it is not necessary to separately separate the driven connection member of the process cartridge and the drive connection member of the apparatus main body. Further, there is no possibility that the process cartridge is pulled out while the driving connecting member and the driven connecting member are engaged with each other to damage the connecting portion of both connecting members, and operability and reliability are improved.

Further, when the driven connecting member of the process cartridge and the driving connecting member of the apparatus main body are engaged by mounting the process cartridge or closing the opening / closing cover after mounting the process cartridge, further operation is performed. And reliability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an AA arrow view showing a part of FIG. 1 as seen through.

FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG.

5 is a front view showing the operation of FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing the operation of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the second embodiment.

9A and 9B show Example 3 in which FIG. 9A is a front view and FIG. 9B is a side view.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a third embodiment.

13A and 13B show Example 4 in which (A) is a front view and (B) is a plan view.

14A and 14B show Example 4 in which FIG. 14A is a front view and FIG. 14B is a plan view.

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a laser beam printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cartridge 4 Driven connecting member of process cartridge 5 Drive connecting member of apparatus body 10 Release member 18 Developer drive unit of apparatus body

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an apparatus main body, comprising at least a plurality of developing devices and an image carrier, and having a driven connecting member which is engaged with and disengaged from a drive connecting member on the apparatus main body side, An image characterized in that release means for disengaging the drive connecting member of the apparatus main body and the driven connecting member of the process cartridge in association with the opening operation of the opening / closing cover for opening and closing the process cartridge of the apparatus main body is provided. Forming equipment. 2. A process cartridge detachably mountable to the apparatus main body, comprising at least a plurality of developing devices and an image carrier, and having a driven connecting member to be engaged with and disengaged from a drive connecting member on the apparatus main body side, An image forming apparatus comprising: release means for separating a drive connecting member of an apparatus main body and a driven connecting member of a process cartridge in association with an operation of taking out a process cartridge from the apparatus main body. 3. A process cartridge detachably mountable to the apparatus main body, comprising at least a plurality of developing devices and an image carrier, and having a driven connecting member which is engaged with and disengaged from a drive connecting member on the apparatus main body side, A connection releasing / connecting means for attaching / detaching the drive connecting member of the apparatus main body and the driven connecting member of the process cartridge in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover for opening / closing the process cartridge of the apparatus main body is provided. A characteristic image forming apparatus. 4. A process cartridge detachably mountable to the apparatus main body, comprising at least a plurality of developing devices and an image carrier, and having a driven connecting member which is engaged with and disengaged from a drive connecting member on the apparatus main body side, An image forming apparatus comprising a connection releasing / connecting means for connecting / disconnecting a drive connecting member of an apparatus main body and a driven connecting member of a process cartridge in association with an operation of attaching / detaching a process cartridge from the apparatus main body.