JPH0820843B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus, an electrostatic recording apparatus, a laser beam printer (LBP), and more particularly to a process cartridge mounting / demounting type image forming apparatus. .

[Conventional technology]

The image forming apparatus of the process cartridge attachment / detachment type is a specific device among all process devices for image formation, for example, an image carrier (electrophotographic photosensitive member, electrostatic recording dielectric, etc.), charger, developing device, cleaning device. In regard to the above, the apparatus is configured such that they are collectively attached to a main body (frame body) of the image forming apparatus main body as a detachable unit body with a predetermined mutual positional relationship.

As for the image carrier and the developing device contained in the process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as the PC cartridge), the developer whose image carrier has reached the endurance (repeated use life) or is stored in the developing device in a predetermined amount in advance. When (toner) is consumed or malfunction occurs due to malfunction, etc., the user side takes out the PC cartridge whose service life has expired or has malfunctioned from the main body of the image forming device, and a new PC Since the cartridge is used by being mounted in a replaceable manner, the maintainability and serviceability of the image forming apparatus are improved without the need to rely on a serviceman with specialized knowledge. In addition, multiple PC cartridges with different functions such as developing color are prepared and the PC cartridge of the desired device can be attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus and used to use one image forming apparatus multifunctionally. It has already been put into practical use as one of the configuration methods of a personal type small and lightweight image forming apparatus and the like.

Further, the PC cartridge is configured as a dual type PC cartridge consisting of a main cartridge which is freely attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus and one or more sub cartridges which are freely attachable to and detachable from the main cartridge. When the toner of the developing device runs out, or when you want to change the developing color, replace only the sub cartridge with a new one or a developing device with another developing color. Some are designed to improve maintainability, serviceability, and economic efficiency.

In the image forming apparatus of the PC cartridge attaching / detaching method, the front cover of the image forming apparatus can be tilted and opened to the front side of the image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus main body) around the hinge part on the lower side to largely open the inside of the apparatus main body. In many cases, the front cover is tilted and opened to take out the PC cartridge installed in the apparatus body, or conversely, the PC cartridge is installed in the apparatus body.

Maintenance, inspection, jammed sheet materials (transfer paper,
The removal of (recording paper etc.) is also performed by tilting and opening the front cover to greatly open the inside of the apparatus, and once taking out the PC cartridge as needed.

The front cover is used as a sheet material conveying unit, and a sheet material guide plate, conveying sheet material resisting means, image transfer means, conveying means for image-transferred sheet material, etc. are assembled on the inner surface side, and the front cover as a sheet material conveying unit is the main body of the apparatus. There is also one that makes maintenance and inspection of the sheet material transportation system, removal of jammed sheet material, etc. easier and faster by pulling it open from above.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, in the configuration method in which the opening / closing cover of the device body or the opening / closing cover as the sheet material transport unit is opened to the front side and the PC cartridge is attached / detached to / from the device body, the operability of removing the PC cartridge is further improved. Improved devices are desired.

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned conventional technique, and an object thereof is to obtain an image forming apparatus with improved operability of maintenance such as jam handling and improved operability of taking out a process cartridge.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention that achieves the above object is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, wherein a process cartridge having a photoconductor and a process unit that acts on the photoconductor is detachable, and an image forming apparatus main body, An opening / closing member that can be opened and closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, locking means for locking the process cartridge at the mounting position of the image forming apparatus main body, and locking the process cartridge at the mounting position of the image forming apparatus main body. The open state of the opening / closing member in the opened state and the unlocked state of the process cartridge in the mounting position in association with the opening operation of the opening / closing member to the take-out position. The image forming apparatus is characterized by having an opening means that can selectively take a second open state that leads.

[Action]

According to the present invention, it is possible to selectively take a first open state in which only the opening member is opened and a second open state in which the process cartridge is guided to the take-out position in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening member.

〔Example〕

Note that each of the embodiments described below is an image forming apparatus of a process cartridge attachment / detachment type, and a process cartridge and an apparatus opening member that can be freely opened / closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. A first apparatus opening state in which the apparatus opening member is opened from the apparatus main body while maintaining the mounted state, and with the opening of the apparatus opening member from the apparatus main body, the process cartridge interlocks with the apparatus opening member It is characterized in that the process cartridge and the device opening member are related to each other so that the second device opened state opened from the inside can be selected.

I, Embodiment 1 (FIGS. 1 to 6) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a two-color recording type laser beam printer (LBP) of a PC cartridge mounting and demounting type constructed according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a PC cartridge C is mounted inside the apparatus main body A (inside the printer main body), and the apparatus front cover B as a sheet material conveying unit has an apparatus main body A.
In contrast, the device is in a normally closed state, and an image can be output in this state.

In FIG. 2, with the PC cartridge C held in the apparatus main body A, only the apparatus front cover B as a sheet material conveying unit is tilted toward the front side of the apparatus main body A around the support shaft 100 on the lower side. The open first open state of the device is shown.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the PC cartridge C is integrally held inside the front cover B when the front cover B of the apparatus as a sheet material conveying unit is tilted and opened, and the PC cartridge C is taken out from the inside of the apparatus main body A toward the front side of the main body. The second opened state of the apparatus is shown.

(1) Image forming operation In the closed state of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow at a predetermined peripheral speed in response to the print start signal, and the peripheral surface thereof is subjected to the first charging. The first slit window provided in the mirrors 8 and 9 and the cartridge housing 10 for scanning exposure of the laser beam L1 corresponding to the first image information signal output from the laser scanner 7 after being uniformly charged by the container 2. Receive through 11. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the first image information signal is formed on the surface of the rotary photosensitive drum 1, and the latent image is developed by the developing sleeve 3A of the color developing device 3 containing red toner. To be done.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged again by the second charger 4, and then the scanning exposure of the laser beam L2 corresponding to the second image information signal output from the laser scanner 7 is applied to the mirrors 12, 13 and the cartridge. It is received through the second slit window hole 14 provided in the housing 10. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the second image information signal is formed, and the latent image is developed with black toner by the developing sleeve 5A of the black developing device 5.

As described above, a two-color toner image including the color toner developing device corresponding to the first image information signal and the black toner developing image corresponding to the second image information signal is formed on the surface of the rotary photosensitive drum 1.

On the other hand, one sheet of transfer paper P is fed from the paper feed cassette 15 by the paper feed roller 16 and fed to the registration roller pair 19 via the guide plates 17 and 18, and the registration roller pair 19 causes the photosensitive drum 1 to move. Is synchronized with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1 and is fed to the facing portion (image transfer portion) of the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer charger 20. Thus, the surface of the fed transfer paper is formed on the photosensitive drum 1 surface side. 2 color toner images are sequentially transferred.

The transfer paper that has passed through the image transfer section is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and is introduced into the fixing device 22 by the conveying device 21 and is fixed with the transfer toner image, and is guided by the guide plate 23, the discharge roller pair 24, and the discharge port.
It is output as a two-color printed matter to the discharge tray 26 via 25. Or, by changing the position of flapper 27, the fixing device
The image-fixed transfer sheet introduced from 22 to the guide plate 23 is guided upward through the upper surface side of the flapper 27 to the outer surface side of the apparatus front cover B used as the second sheet discharging section.
8. The paper is ejected in a vertical posture facing the outside of the image plane via the second paper ejection roller pair 29.

After the image transfer, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is cleaned by a cleaning plate 6A of the cleaning device 6 to remove the transfer residual toner and other contaminants, and is repeatedly used for image formation.

(2) Device front cover B In the printer of this example, the right end face side in FIG. 1 is the device front face, and the device front cover B on that side is opened / closed about the support shaft 100 on the lower side with respect to the device body. As shown in FIG. 1, the lock mechanism is released from the apparatus closed state in which it is raised and closed with respect to the apparatus main body A and is firmly opened and stopped in the apparatus main body A by a lock mechanism D described later. As shown in the figure, the PC cartridge C may be left inside the apparatus main body A and tilted and opened in a substantially horizontal posture toward the front side of the apparatus main body until only the apparatus front cover B is received and held by a stopper member (not shown). It can be done (first device opened state) or can be tilted and opened while the PC cartridge C is held inside the device front cover B by the lock mechanism described later as shown in FIG. 3 (second device opened state). Status).

In the printer of this example, the above-mentioned apparatus front cover B is used as a sheet material conveying unit, and the sheet material guide plate 18 is provided inside the sheet material conveying unit.
The registration roller pair 19, the transfer charger 20, and the conveying device 21 are arranged and held, and are arranged inside the device front cover B when the first device is opened as shown in FIG. The sheet material conveying systems 18 to 21 face upward, and are exposed to the outside of the main assembly A of the apparatus. Therefore, maintenance / inspection of the sheet material conveying system, removal of jammed paper, and the like can be easily performed.

(3) PC Cartridge C The PC cartridge C of this example includes six process devices including the photosensitive drum 1, the first charger 2, the color developing device 3, the second charger 4, the black developing device 5, and the cleaning device 6. It is something that can be done. Of the above six process devices 1 to 6, five process devices 1 to 2 other than the color developing device 3
A main cartridge is configured by including 5 and 6, and the color developing device 3 is a compound PC cartridge C that is detachably attached to the main cartridge as a sub cartridge. The attachment / detachment operation of the sub cartridge 3 will be described later.

In the closed state of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the multiplex type PC cartridge C is stably locked and held at a predetermined mounting position in the apparatus main body A in a predetermined posture by a lock mechanism D described later.

(4) Lock mechanism D (FIGS. 4 and 5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lock mechanism D portion, and shows the engagement relationship in the device closed state of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 4, 50L and 50R are left and right side plates on the apparatus main body A side, 51L and 51R are left and right side plates on the device front cover B side as a sheet material conveying unit, and 52 is left and right side plates 51L on the device front cover B side.・ Lever shafts that are rotatably supported by bearings on the upper side between 51R, 53 and 54 are the first and second lever shafts
It is the operation lever of.

The first operation lever 53 is integral with the lever shaft 52, and the second
The operating lever 54 of is a cylindrical shaft that is fitted onto the lever shaft 52 so as to freely rotate.
One in 55. As shown in FIG. 5, the cylinder shaft 55 has a fan-shaped hole portion 56 centered on the shaft center on the inner diameter side, and the pin 57 planted in the lever shaft 52 is inserted into the fan-shaped hole portion 56. . The opening angle of the fan-shaped hole portion 56 is larger than the angle at which the first operating lever 53 is rotated.

58L and 58R are first and second hook members integrally provided on the left and right ends of the lever shaft 52, and 59 is integrally provided on the tubular shaft 55 at the base side of the second operating lever 54. A third hook member, 60 is a arm bar integrally provided on the left end side of the tubular shaft 55, and 61L and 61R are left and right side plates 50L and 50R on the apparatus body A side.
Pin shafts fixed inwardly on each inner surface side of the device, 62 is a pin shaft fixed inwardly on the inner surface side of the left side plate 50L on the apparatus main assembly A side, and 63 is a center of rotation around this pin shaft. A freely movable fourth hook member, 64 is a pin shaft fixedly provided on the left side plate 10L of the PC cartridge C, and 65 is a left and right side plate 10L of the PC cartridge C.
・ It is the horizontal axis provided between the overhanging lugs 30L and 30R provided on each 10R.

In the device closed state of FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the left and right first and second hook members 58L and 58R on the device front cover B side are respectively the left and right pin shafts 61 on the device body A side.
It engages with L / 61R from the upper side.
The closed state of the apparatus front cover B with respect to is stably maintained. Further, the fourth hook member 63 on the apparatus main body A side
Is engaged with the pin shaft 64 on the PC cartridge C side from the upper side, whereby the predetermined mounting position and mounting posture of the PC cartridge C in the apparatus main body A are stably maintained. The third hook member 59 on the device front cover B side is a PC
Although it is engaged with and disengaged from the horizontal shaft 65 on the side of the cartridge C, the third hook member 59 is separated from the horizontal shaft 65 below the horizontal shaft 65 as shown in FIG. 5 when the device is closed. And is disengaged from the horizontal axis. The tip of the arm 60 on the left end of the cylinder shaft 55 is the pin shaft 64 on the PC cartridge C side.
It is located on the lower surface side of the tip end portion of the fourth hook member 63 on the apparatus main body A side that is engaged with from above.

From the device closed state of FIG. 1 to the first device opened state in which the PC cartridge C remains attached to the apparatus body A side as shown in FIG. When you do the first in FIG.
Pull the operation lever 53 of in the X direction, which is the front side. Then, the lever shaft 52 rotates in the clockwise direction, and accordingly, the first and second hook members 58L and 58R escape and rotate upward from the pin shafts 61L and 61R, respectively, and are not connected to the pin shafts 61L and 61R. It will be engaged.
As a result, the closing lock of the device front cover B with respect to the device body A is released.

On the other hand, the cylinder shaft 55, which is equipped with the second operation lever 54 and the arm 60, and is fitted onto the lever shaft 52, is the same as the first operation lever 53.
Even if the lever shaft 52 rotates clockwise in accordance with the pulling operation X, the rotation direction of the lever shaft 52 is the pin 57 on the lever shaft 52 side as shown in FIG. Since it is a direction away from the left side wall surface 56a of the fan-shaped hole portion 56 in the fan-shaped hole portion 56, no rotational force acts on the cylindrical shaft 55, and only the lever shaft 52 penetrating therethrough rotates clockwise. The cylinder shaft 55 does not rotate. Therefore, the third hook member 59 is continuously maintained in the disengaged state with respect to the horizontal shaft 65 on the PC cartridge C side. Further, since the arm 60 also does not rotate, the engagement state of the fourth hook member 63 on the apparatus main assembly A side with the pin shaft 64 on the PC cartridge C side is continuously maintained.

Therefore, with the PC cartridge C left in the apparatus main body A, only the apparatus front cover B as the sheet material conveying unit is substantially horizontal until it is received by the stopper member on the front side of the apparatus around the support shaft 100 as shown in FIG. It is possible to bring the first device open state in which the posture is greatly tilted and opened, and therefore maintenance and inspection of the sheet material conveying system, removal of jammed paper, etc. can be easily performed without taking out the PC cartridge C.

When the apparatus front cover B in the first apparatus open state shown in FIG. 2 is raised up about the support shaft 100 and rotated to close the apparatus body A sufficiently, the first and the first apparatus front cover B side. The inclined cam surfaces at the tips of the hook members 58L and 58R of No. 2 come into contact with the front surfaces of the pin shafts 61L and 61R on the apparatus body A side, respectively, and the hook members 58L and 58L.
・ The device front cover in which 58R naturally rotates clockwise and the hook portion at the tip gets over each pin shaft 61L ・ 61R and re-engages with the pin shaft 61L ・ 61R and is closed with respect to the device main body A. B is stopped and locked. That is, the apparatus is returned to the closed state shown in FIG.

When the apparatus is closed from the state shown in FIG. 1 and is brought into the second apparatus opened state in which the apparatus front cover B as the sheet material conveying unit is brought down by being accompanied by the PC cartridge C as shown in FIG. In the figure, the second operation lever 54 integral with the cylinder shaft 55 is pulled in the X direction, which is the front side.

Then, the pin 57 on the lever shaft 52 side is pressed by the left side wall surface 56a (FIG. 5) of the fan-shaped hole 56 on the cylinder shaft 55 side, and the cylinder shaft 55 and the lever shaft 52 integrally rotate clockwise, and A third hook member 59 integrated with the shaft 55 engages with the horizontal shaft 65 on the PC cartridge C side from below. By this engagement, the PC cartridge C is coupled to the device front cover B side as the sheet material transport unit.

On the other hand, by rotating the arm 60, which is integrated with the cylinder shaft 55, clockwise,
The fourth end portion of the hook member 63 is pushed upward.
The hook member 63 is removed from the pin shaft 64, and the connection of the PC cartridge C to the apparatus main body A side is released.

Further, when the lever shaft 52 is rotated clockwise, the first and second hook members 58L and 58R escape and rotate upward from the pin shafts 61L and 61R, respectively, and disengage from the pin shafts. The closed lock of B is released.

Therefore, the device front cover B as a sheet material conveying unit is tilted and opened to the front side of the device around the spindle 100 until the stopper member receives the device while keeping the fingers on the operated second operation lever 54 that is pulled in the X direction. . In this case, in the PC cartridge C, as described above, the fourth hook member 63 is removed from the pin shaft 64 to release the connection with the apparatus main body A side, and conversely, the third hook on the apparatus front cover B side. Element
Since 59 is engaged with the horizontal shaft 65 on the side of the PC cartridge C, the apparatus front cover B is tilted and opened from the apparatus main body A with the PC cartridge C held inside. That is, the second
The device is opened.

In the second apparatus opened state, the PC cartridge C is tilted to the front side of the apparatus main body A and is opened on the apparatus front cover B, and the external exposure surface side (image transfer step side) of the photosensitive drum faces downward. It is exposed to the outside of the main assembly A of the apparatus while riding in a posture.

This PC cartridge C can be taken out of the apparatus by lifting it upward from the top of the apparatus front cover B on which it is folded and opened. Further, another PC cartridge C can be lowered and placed on the apparatus front cover B from which the PC cartridge C has been removed. In other words, the PC cartridge C is tilted to the front side of the apparatus main body A, and the apparatus front cover B is in an open state.
It can be attached and detached in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the above.

Therefore, the above-mentioned PC cartridge attachment / detachment operation can be performed in a stable and comfortable posture. In addition, the work space for attaching / detaching the PC cartridge is large, and there is little risk of damage to the PC cartridge or fingers during the attaching / detaching operation. Further, the PC cartridge lifted from the top of the apparatus front cover B in the tilted open state and removed to the outside of the apparatus is already in a substantially horizontal posture with the exposed side of the photosensitive drum to be protected facing downward. Instead, it can be installed on the storage table as it is.

Further, the replacement operation of the color developing device 3 as the sub-cartridge is performed on the cartridge housing surface facing upward of the PC cartridge C with the PC cartridge C left on the device front cover B in the second device opened state. The opening / closing cover 25A is opened as shown in FIG. 6, and the sub cartridge 3 is attached / detached to / from the main cartridge in a substantially vertical direction. The sub-cartridge 3 is located on the upstream side of the black developing device 5 with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1, and the cleaning device 6 is provided.
Is attached to and detached from the main cartridge space on the downstream side of.

Therefore, the replacement of the sub cartridge 3 is the PC cartridge C.
The sub-cartridge 3 can be easily replaced, because it is not necessary to take it out of the apparatus completely.

After exchanging the PC cartridge C and the sub cartridge 3 in the above-mentioned manner in the second apparatus opened state, the apparatus front cover B is raised about the support shaft 100 and rotated to be sufficiently moved with respect to the apparatus main body A. When closed, as shown in FIG. 4, the first, second, and fourth hook members 58L, 58R, and 63 engage again with the corresponding pin shafts 61L, 61R, and 64, respectively, and the third hook member. The 59 is at the pivotal position where it escapes from the horizontal shaft 65 on the PC cartridge side and returns to the apparatus closed state of FIG.

II, Embodiment 2 (FIGS. 7 and 8) In this embodiment, a PC cartridge support member 71 rotatable about the support shaft 70 in a range of about 90 ° is provided on the apparatus main body A side. The PC cartridge C is placed and supported. The support member 71 is constantly biased by a biasing spring 72 in a clockwise direction about the support shaft 70.

In the closed state of the apparatus, the PC cartridge C is pressed inward of the apparatus main body A by the apparatus front cover B as a sheet material conveying unit closed in the apparatus main body A, and the support member 71 is attached around the support shaft 70. When the PC cartridge C is rotated counterclockwise against the biasing spring 72, the PC cartridge C takes a predetermined position and a predetermined posture as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the fourth hook member 63 of the lock mechanism D and the pin shaft 64 on the PC cartridge C side are held stably by the engagement. In addition, the device front cover B
Also the first and second hook members 58L / 58R and pin shafts 61L / 61R
Is stably held with respect to the main assembly A of the apparatus. FIG. 8 shows the state of the lock mechanism D in this device closed state.

When the first operating lever 53 is pulled in the X direction in this device closed state, the first and second hook members 58L and 58R are disengaged from the pin shafts 61L and 61R, respectively, as in the case of the first embodiment. The PC cartridge C is left on the apparatus main body A side in the mounted state shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 7, and only the apparatus front cover B as a sheet material conveying unit is tilted and opened around the support shaft 100 to open the first apparatus. Can be in a state.

When the second operating lever 54 is pulled in the X direction when the device is closed and the second device is opened, the first and second hook members 58L and 58R are used as in the case of the first embodiment.
Are disengaged from the pin shafts 61L and 61R, respectively, and the fourth hook member 63 is disengaged from the pin shaft 64 on the PC cartridge C side. Then, when the apparatus front cover B is tilted and opened, the PC cartridge supporting member 71 is biased by the spring 70 around the support shaft 70.
Turn clockwise at 72. That is, the PC cartridge C is supported by the support member 71 and rotates clockwise. Finally, when the support member 71 is rotated upward by about 90 °, it comes into contact with the stopper member to prevent further rotation, and the PC cartridge C is held in the substantially horizontal posture shown by the solid line in FIG. It
The state shown by the solid line in FIG. 7 is the second device open state.

The PC cartridge C is lifted / lowered with respect to the support member 71 in the second apparatus open state, and is attached / detached. The sub-cartridge 3 is attached / detached similarly to the case of the first embodiment (FIG. 6) with the opening / closing cover 25 provided on the cartridge housing surface facing upward of the PC cartridge C with the PC cartridge C being placed on the supporting member 71.
Open A and attach / detach the main cartridge approximately vertically.

The lock mechanism D of FIG. 8 is different from the lock mechanism D of FIG.
They are the same in structure except that they do not have a horizontal shaft 65 on the side of the PC cartridge C to be engaged with them.

In this embodiment, since the elastic force of the spring 72 can be used to change the attitude of the PC cartridge C when the second device is opened (the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 7), the first device is opened. It can be operated with the same or a smaller force as when operating to.

Further, since the PC cartridge supporting member 71 which is rotated clockwise about the support shaft 70 in the second device opened state is finally supported by the stopper member, the weight of the PC cartridge C and its supporting member 71, the spring, and the spring thereof. Since the load due to the urging force of 72 is collapsed and does not reach the device front cover B as the opened sheet material transport unit, the durability is improved.

Also, the PC cartridge C can be mounted by placing it on the support member 71 and then sliding it to position it and bring it into the holding state, so that the mounting workability is improved.

III, Example 3 (FIG. 9) This example is a modification of Example 2 described above, in which the support shaft 80 is provided on the PC cartridge C side, and the support shaft 80 on the PC cartridge C side is provided on the apparatus main assembly A side. The bearing member 81 has a substantially semi-circular upward shape in the receiving cross section.

For attachment and detachment of the PC cartridge C, the PC cartridge C is lifted in a substantially vertical direction in the second device open state indicated by the solid line, and conversely, the spindle 80 on the PC cartridge C side is received by the bearing member 81 on the device main body A side. Done by.

The PC cartridge C is freely rotatable around the support shaft 80 received by the bearing member 81. The lock mechanism D is similar to that shown in FIG.

In the closed state of the apparatus, the PC cartridge C is pressed inward of the apparatus main body A by the apparatus front cover B as a sheet material conveying unit which is closed in the apparatus main body A, and the spindle 80 is centered to the two-dot chain line. Such a predetermined position and a predetermined posture are obtained, and the state is stably held by the engagement of the fourth hook member 63 of the lock mechanism D and the pin shaft 64 on the PC cartridge C side as shown in FIG. Further, the device front cover B is also stably held to the device body A by the engagement of the first and second hook members 58L and 58R and the pin shafts 61L and 61R.

By pulling the first operating lever 53 in the X direction in this device closed state, the first and second hook members 58L and 58R are respectively pin shafts as in the first and second embodiments.
When the PC cartridge C is detached from the 61L / 61R, the PC cartridge C is left on the side of the apparatus main body A as shown by the two-dot chain line, and only the apparatus front cover B as the sheet material conveying unit is tilted and opened around the support shaft 100. The device can be opened.

Further, when the second device is opened from the device closed state, the second operation lever 54 is pulled in the X direction to make the first operation.
The second hook members 58L and 58R are disengaged from the pin shafts 61L and 61R, respectively, and the fourth hook member 63 is disengaged from the pin shaft 64 on the PC cartridge C side. When the apparatus front cover B is tilted down and opened, the PC cartridge C rotates in the clockwise direction around the support shaft 80. Finally, when the PC cartridge C is rotated by about 90 °, it is received by the stopper member or the front cover B of the apparatus which is in a fully opened state and further rotation is prevented, and the state of the substantially horizontal posture shown by the solid line is shown. Held in. That is, the second device is opened.

Considering the space saving of the device, the number of rotating members should be as small as possible. In the third embodiment, the rotation center 80 is provided on the PC cartridge C itself and the other rotation members are eliminated, thereby achieving a space-saving design and cost reduction.

The configuration of the PC cartridge is not limited to the embodiment. If necessary, the charger, the cleaning device, and the like may be provided on the cartridge side on the cartridge body side, and those on the cartridge body side on the cartridge side.

As described above, in this embodiment, the first apparatus opened state in which only the apparatus opening member is opened and the second apparatus in which the process cartridge is also opened integrally or in conjunction with the opening of the apparatus opening member. By making the open state arbitrarily selectable, the work space for mounting and demounting can be widened, and the operability in mounting and demounting the process cartridge or temporarily leaving it outside the apparatus is improved. Further, in the second apparatus opening state, it is possible to attach / detach the sub cartridge to / from the cartridge while holding the process cartridge on the apparatus opening member side, thereby improving workability of attaching / detaching the sub cartridge.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain a PC cartridge detachable image forming apparatus in which the problems (1) to (3) described in the section [Problems to be solved by the invention] are solved, and the intended purpose is often achieved. .

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the first open state in which the opening / closing member is opened in the state where the process cartridge is locked at the mounting position of the image forming apparatus main body and the state in which the lock state is released are It is possible to selectively take a second open state in which the process cartridge mounted at the mounting position is guided to the take-out position in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing member, which improves the operability of maintenance such as jam clearance. Further, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that realizes improvement in operability of taking out the process cartridge.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an apparatus of one embodiment (two-color recording type LBP) when the apparatus is closed, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram when the first apparatus is open, and FIG. 3 is a second apparatus open state. Time schematic diagram,
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lock mechanism, FIG. 5 is a side view of the cylinder shaft portion, FIG. 6 is a diagram of how to attach / detach the sub cartridge, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the apparatus when the second apparatus is opened. FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the structure of the lock mechanism of the device, and FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the structure of a further embodiment of the device in the second device open state. A is a main body of the apparatus, B is a front cover of the apparatus which also serves as a sheet material conveying unit, C is a process cartridge, and D is a lock mechanism.

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Ishii 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Waratani 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masahiko Yashiro 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tomoyuki Araki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-62-260166 (JP, A) JP-A-61-279870 (JP, A) JP-A-61-198171 (JP, A) Actually developed JP-A-61-162860 (JP, U)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, wherein a process cartridge having a photoconductor and a process unit acting on the photoconductor is detachable, and an image forming apparatus main body, the image forming apparatus. An opening / closing member that can be opened / closed with respect to the main body, a locking means for locking the process cartridge in the mounting position of the image forming apparatus main body, and the locking mechanism for locking the process cartridge in the mounting position of the image forming apparatus main body. A first open state in which the opening / closing member is opened, and a second state in which the process cartridge mounted in the mounting position is guided to the take-out position in conjunction with the opening operation of the opening / closing member in the state where the locked state is released An image forming apparatus comprising: an opening unit that can selectively take an open state. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, in the second opened state, the process cartridge is locked by the opening / closing member and is integrally moved with the opening / closing member to be guided to the take-out position. The image forming apparatus described.