JPH08328337A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To facilitate the attaching/detaching work of a developing unit located in a lower part, even if a process cartridge located in an upper part is not removed by moving the process cartridge to a position not for blocking the attaching/detaching work of the developing unit. CONSTITUTION: A frame member 64 is structured to be fixable in three places where the process cartridge 60 is held at an image forming position, the cartridge 60 is in nearly parallel, that is, a state suitable for the attaching/detaching operations of the cartridge is obtained and an upper casing part 61 is in nearly parallel, that is, the frame member 64 is in an opened state, that is, the state suitable for exchanging the developing unit 4 is obtained. When the frame member 64 attached to a lower casing part 62, to be freely opened/closed is opened at the time of attaching/detaching the developing unit 4 located in a part lower than the cartridge 60 to/from the device body, the cartridge 60 attached to the frame member 64 is moved to the position not for blocking the attaching/detaching work of the developing unit 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 such as a copying machine, a facsimile or a printer, and more specifically, an intermediate transfer belt, a photoconductor, a developing device, etc. which require maintenance or replacement due to deterioration thereof. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that facilitates replacement work by incorporating the above into a detachable replacement unit from the apparatus main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus, there are members that require maintenance or replacement when image formation is repeated. For example, in an image forming apparatus having a photoconductor on the surface of which an electrostatic latent image is formed, the surface characteristics of the photoconductor change with use, so that a certain number of images are kept in order to maintain good image quality. It needs to be replaced with a new one after it has been formed. Further, in an image forming apparatus having a toner tank that stores toner used for development, when the toner in the tank is consumed, it is necessary to replace the toner tank with a new one in order to replenish the toner. .
Further, since the developing device for developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor deteriorates when it is repeatedly used, it is necessary to perform maintenance or replacement. Further, in the image forming apparatus that first transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor to an intermediate transfer body such as an intermediate transfer belt and then transfers the image from the intermediate transfer body to a recording sheet to form an image, Surface deterioration and mechanical fatigue also occur on the body. Therefore, the intermediate transfer member also needs to be replaced. Therefore, in order to facilitate the attachment / detachment operation of these members requiring maintenance or replacement in the main body of the apparatus, the member is incorporated into the removable exchange unit from the main body of the apparatus to facilitate the replacement work by the operator. A device has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-294673).
(See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-366869).

However, in most of the image forming apparatuses provided with these exchange units, the exchange unit is attached and detached by sliding the exchange unit in the front side direction of the image forming apparatus, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the recording paper conveyance direction. In contrast to the operation, the jamming process of the recording paper and the paper feeding operation are performed in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the recording paper (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-294673). For this reason, it is necessary to secure a space for the replacement work of the replacement unit at a position different from the work space for the paper feeding work, etc., and the device must be installed in a place where the space can be secured. was there. Further, since it is necessary to perform the paper feeding work and the replacement work of the replacement unit from different directions of the apparatus, it cannot be said that the workability is necessarily good.

Therefore, the apparatus main body is divided into an upper casing part and a lower casing.
An image forming apparatus has been proposed in which the upper housing portion is divided to be opened and closed and the replacement unit is taken out from an opening formed by opening the upper housing portion. According to this image forming apparatus, it is possible to perform the replacement work of the replacement unit without securing a space for the replacement work of the replacement unit in addition to the space for the paper feeding work or the like. Therefore, this image forming apparatus can be installed in any place where a space for paper feeding work can be secured.

[0005]

However, a new problem arises in such an image forming apparatus. That is, in an image forming apparatus having two or more replacement units, and one replacement unit is located above the other replacement unit, the replacement unit on the upper side is taken out of the apparatus and the replacement unit is replaced. Only after the unit is placed outside the apparatus to secure a working space, the lower replacement unit can be attached and detached.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having two or more replacement units without removing the upper replacement unit. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of attaching and detaching a replacement unit located on the side.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 includes a first replacement unit and a second replacement unit provided above the first replacement unit. An exchange unit, a transport path for transporting recording paper inside the apparatus, which is located further above the second exchange unit; a lower casing part for detachably supporting the first exchange unit; and the lower casing. And a lower housing portion that detachably supports the second exchange unit and an upper housing portion that is openably and closably attached to the opening portion and that opens the transport path in an open state. And a frame member provided with the frame member.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the frame member is in a first open state suitable for performing an attaching / detaching operation of the first replacement unit, and It is characterized in that it is provided with a fixing means for fixing the second exchange unit in a second opened state suitable for performing an attaching / detaching operation.

An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the second replacement unit has a drive member, and a drive source provided in the lower housing section, A drive transmission means for transmitting a drive force from the drive source to the drive member, and a transmission of the drive force from the drive source to the drive member by the drive transmission means, whereby the upper housing portion is brought into an open state. And a drive cutting unit that cuts in conjunction with each other.

An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the second replacement unit generates waste toner, and is detachably attached to the lower housing portion. The waste toner tank for collecting the waste toner, the waste toner transport path for transporting the waste toner from the second replacement unit to the waste toner tank, and the closing of the upper housing section are interlocked with each other. Then, the waste toner can be carried out from the second exchanging unit, and the second casing is interlocked with the second casing in a state other than the closed state.
And a carry-out control device that makes it impossible to carry out the waste toner from the replacement unit.

An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, in which the sensor attached to the frame member for detecting the state of the second replacement unit and the frame member are A position where the sensor is located at a detection position for detecting the state of the second replacement unit when in the closed state, and a position where the sensor does not interfere with the attachment / detachment operation with the second replacement unit when the frame member is in the opened state. And a sensor moving means to be positioned at.

An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, in which the toner image formed on the recording paper, which is detachably attached to the lower housing portion, is formed on the recording paper. A fixing unit for fixing the fixing unit to the frame member, and the frame member is provided with an opening through which the fixing unit can pass.

[0013]

In the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, when the first replacement unit located below the second replacement unit is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body, it can be freely opened and closed in the lower housing portion. When the attached frame member is opened, the second replacement unit attached to the frame member moves to a position that does not hinder the attachment / detachment work of the first replacement unit. Further, by opening the upper housing portion, the transport path for transporting the recording paper is opened.

Particularly, in the image forming apparatus of claim 2,
The fixing means is used to fix the frame member not only in the first open state suitable for performing the attaching / detaching operation of the first replacement unit but also in the second open state suitable for performing the attaching / detaching operation of the second replacement unit. You can

Further, particularly in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, when the upper housing portion is brought into the open state in order to perform the attachment / detachment work of the second replacement unit, the lower housing is not particularly required by the operator. The drive transmission means for transmitting the drive from the drive source provided in the section to the first replacement unit is brought into a disconnected state by the drive disconnecting means.

Further, particularly in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the carry-out control means causes the waste toner to be removed from the second replacement unit only when the upper housing portion is closed, that is, when the apparatus is in the state of forming an image. Is ready for unloading. Therefore, when the upper housing portion is in the open state for the reason of performing the attachment / detachment operation of each replacement unit, the waste toner is not discharged from the second replacement unit.

Further, particularly in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the sensor for detecting the state of the second replacement unit is attached not to the second replacement unit but to the frame member supporting the unit. Therefore, even when the used second replacement unit is removed and a new second replacement unit is attached, it is not necessary to replace the sensor.
When the frame member is opened to replace the second replacement unit, the sensor is moved by the sensor moving means to a position that does not interfere with the replacement of the unit.

Further, particularly in the image forming apparatus of claim 6, since the frame member is provided with the opening through which the fixing unit can pass, the frame member is fixed when the fixing unit is attached to and detached from the lower housing portion. There is no need to open the unit so that it does not interfere with the attachment and detachment of the unit. When a fixing unit that performs heat fixing is used, the heat generated from the fixing unit easily escapes through the opening provided in the frame member. (Hereinafter, margin)

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a full color printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) which is an image forming apparatus will be described below. First, the schematic configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A photoreceptor belt 1 as a latent image carrier, which is a flexible belt supported by two rollers, is uniformly charged by a charging roller 2 and then housed in a housing having an exposure opening. The laser optical device 3 scans and exposes the image based on the image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. Here, the image information to be exposed is monochromatic image information in which a desired full-color image is decomposed into color information of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed with the predetermined yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners by the rotary developing device 4 described later, and each color image is formed on the photosensitive belt 1.

Photosensitive belt 1 rotating in the direction of arrow A in the figure
The images of the respective colors formed on the intermediate transfer belt 5 serving as an intermediate transfer member that rotates in the direction of arrow B in the figure in synchronization with the photosensitive belt 1 by the bias roller 15 are yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Each color is transferred in sequence. Yellow superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5,
The magenta, cyan, and black images are transferred from the paper feed table 8 to the transfer roller 11 via the separation roller 9 and the transfer path 13 including the registration roller pairs 10a and 10b and the transfer roller pairs 12a and 12b. It is collectively transferred onto the upper surface by the transfer roller 6. After the transfer is completed, the transfer paper 11 is fixed by the fixing device 7 to complete a full-color image.

The toner remaining on the photoconductor belt 1 is removed by the blade 16a provided in the photoconductor cleaning device 16, and the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 5 is provided by the blade 1 provided in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 17.
It is removed by 7a. The blade 17a is
It is kept at a position separated from the intermediate transfer belt 5 during the image forming operation, and after the image formation is completed, it is in a state of being pressed against the surface of the transfer belt 5 as shown in the figure.

Next, the rotary developing device 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an internal configuration of the rotary developing device 4. A rotary developing device (also referred to as a revolver developing device or a rotary developing device; hereinafter simply referred to as “developing device”) 4 is arranged near the photoconductor belt 1. In the developing device 4, the developing device support 20 including the rotation center O and rotatably provided about the rotation center O is rotated in the direction of arrow C by a drive mechanism (not shown). Further, the developing device support 20 has a shape that divides the developing device 4 into four parts, and detachably supports each color developing device 21Y, M, C, K as a first replacement unit by a configuration described later. There is. Note that FIG. 2 shows a state in which the developing device 21K is in the developing position.

Each developing device 21Y, M, C, K has a cylindrical developing roller 22Y, M, C, K as a developer bearing member.
Is provided. These developing rollers 22Y, M, C,
K is arranged so that a part thereof is exposed to the outside through an opening 23a provided in the casing 23, and rotates in synchronization with color information, and a corresponding electrostatic latent image is developed by contact development or non-contact development. Develop by method. Each developing device 21Y, M,
C and K are developing devices using a non-magnetic one-component developer,
Yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners are respectively stored therein, and the toners are selectively rotated around a rotation center O to a developing position to sequentially develop the electrostatic latent images formed on the photoconductor belt 1 and As described above, the developed images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5 and the transfer paper 11 to form a full-color image.

FIG. 3A is a front view showing the black developing device 21K together with the photosensitive belt 1. Since the developing devices 21Y, M, C, and K for each color have the same configuration and the same operation, only the black developing device 21K will be described below.
In FIG. 3A, the developing device 21K is arranged below the photoconductor belt 1 and serves as a non-magnetic one-component developer for the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 1 located above the developing device 21K. Supply toner. In the opening 23a formed above the developing device 21K at the developing position, the developing roller 22K faces the photoconductor drum 1 so as to face the photoconductor drum 1 and has a predetermined peripheral speed ratio with the photoconductor drum moving direction. It is arranged to rotate in the direction. Further, below the developing roller 22K, a supplying roller 24K as a toner supplying member made of an elastic material such as polyurethane foam is provided.
It is provided so as to rub against the developing roller 22K and to rotate in the same direction with respect to the developing roller 22K at a predetermined peripheral speed ratio. On the downstream side of the supply roller 24K in the moving direction of the developing roller 22K, a blade 25K made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber is provided in the vicinity of the opening 23a.
However, the vicinity of one end thereof is provided so as to contact the developing roller 22K.

Further, as shown in the side sectional view of the developing device 21K of FIG. 3B and the perspective view of FIG. 4, a toner accommodating portion 40K is provided on the front side of the developing device 22K. First
First toner transport screw 2 as a developer transport means of
6K is arranged in parallel with the developing roller 22K and the supply roller 24K from the toner storage portion 40K to the other side plate of the developing device 4, and is arranged from the right side to the left side in FIG. 3B (from the front side to the rear side in FIG. 3A). 2) and the supply roller 24K so as to convey the toner toward the direction (4), and the toner is rotated at a predetermined peripheral speed ratio. The casing 23K is arranged so that a part thereof contacts the supply roller 24K, and the developing roller 22K, the supply roller 24K, and the casing 23K.
As a result, a toner carrying space 27K surrounding the toner carrying member 26K is formed.

Then, the first toner carrying screw 26K
By rotating in a predetermined direction, the toner storage unit 4
The toner is conveyed from 0K into the toner conveying space 27K, and the toner is supplied onto the supply roller 24K. The toner supplied onto the supply roller 24K is
Is supplied while being charged on the surface of the developing roller 22K, and is carried on the surface of the developing roller 22K. Developing roller 2
The toner carried on the 2K surface is made into a thin toner layer having a uniform thickness and a predetermined thickness by the blade 25K.
The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of is developed by contact or non-contact development.

The static elimination brush 28K made of conductive fibers or the like in FIG. 3A is in contact with the developing roller 22K over the entire width in the axial direction, and a predetermined voltage difference is provided between the developing roller 22K and the developing roller 22K. History of difference in toner consumption on the developing roller 22K with respect to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1,
In addition, the occurrence of an afterimage due to this is prevented.

By the way, the toner not used in the developing step is conveyed by the first toner conveying screw 26K to the end portion of the developing device opposite to the toner containing portion 40K. A toner circulating unit 29K is provided outside the effective diameter portion in the axial direction of the developing roller 22K and the supply roller 24K. First
The toner carried by the toner carrying screw 26K to the toner circulating portion 29K falls to the lower part of the developing device 21K due to gravity.

Below the developing device 21K, a second toner carrying screw 30K as a second developer carrying member is arranged in parallel with the developing roller 22K, the supply roller 24K and the first toner carrying screw 26K. The toner is rotated so as to convey the toner in the direction opposite to the direction of the toner conveying screw 26K, and the toner not used in the developing process is conveyed to the toner containing portion 40K. First toner transport screw 2
By appropriately setting the carry amounts of 6K and the second toner carrying screw 30K, it is possible to detect the toner amount in the developing device 21K and to perform the complicated feed amount control without supplying the feed roller 24.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a small-sized developing device which can be supplied on the surface of K, has a large degree of freedom in layout, and has a small cross-sectional occupation ratio with respect to the photoconductor.

Incidentally, the toner cartridge 41K in FIG.
Is removably mounted in the toner storage portion 40K, and is mounted or replaced when the developing device 4 is newly mounted or at the toner end, and a required amount of toner is always stored in the toner storage portion 40K.

Further, in this printer, as shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive belt 1, the charging roller 2, the intermediate transfer belt 5, the photosensitive member cleaning device 16, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 17, and the conveying roller pair 12 are used. Including the lower conveying roller 12b forming the pair of lower rollers and the lower registration roller 10b forming the pair of registration rollers 10, a part of the side of the conveying path 13 that is close to the intermediate transfer belt 5 (hereinafter, referred to as a lower portion) has an integrated structure, and has a second exchange The process cartridge 60 as a unit is formed. This process cartridge 60
Is detachable from the main body of the apparatus and can be replaced as needed.

Further, in this printer, the main body of the printer is composed of an upper conveyance roller 12a and an upper registration roller 12b.
Between the upper part of the transport path 13 including and and the lower part of the transport path,
The upper housing part 61 and the lower housing part 62 are divided into two parts at the boundary. That is, the main body of the apparatus is the upper transport roller 12
a, an upper registration roller 10a, and an upper casing 61 including the transfer roller 6, and a lower casing 62 including the fixing device 7, the rotary developing device 4, the process cartridge 31, and the like. The upper casing 61 is attached to the lower casing 62 using the support shaft 63 so as to be openable and closable. Therefore, by rotating the upper casing 62 about the support shaft 63, the front side opposite to the side on which the rotation shaft 63 is attached can be opened as shown in FIG.
Since the upper casing 61 is provided with a biasing means (not shown) such as a spring for keeping the casing open, once the casing 61 is opened, The upper casing can be kept open without any hand-supporting operation. With such a configuration, the transfer paper 1 is conveyed in the transport path 13.
When the jam of No. 1 occurs, the upper housing portion 61 is opened so that the recording paper can be easily removed.

It should be noted that a discharge tray portion 18 for discharging the transfer paper on which the image formation is completed is discharged on the upper surface of the upper casing portion 61, and the fixed transfer is performed in the vicinity of the support shaft 63 of the casing portion. A transport unit 19 that transports the paper to the discharge tray 18 is provided. Further, the fixing device 7 as a fixing unit is detachably provided in the lower housing portion 62. The rotary developing device 4 is attached to the lower housing portion 62 by fixing the developing device support 20 (see FIG. 2) that detachably supports the respective developing devices 21 to the lower housing portion 62. .

Further, the process cartridge 60 is
As shown in FIG. 5, the lower housing portion 6 is provided via the frame member 64.
It is removably attached to 2 and is movably attached. That is, the support shaft 65 is attached to the lower housing 62.
The frame member 64 is attached rotatably (openable / closable), and the process cartridge 61 is detachably attached to the frame member. Therefore, when the operator pulls out the process cartridge 61 to the side opposite to the support shaft 65, the process cartridge 6 is removed from the lower casing 62.
1 can be removed. The specific configuration of detachably attaching the process cartridge 61 to the frame member 64 will be described later.

The frame member 64 has a structure capable of being fixed to the lower housing portion 62 at three different positions. That is, the frame member 64 is arranged in a position in which the process cartridge 60 shown in FIG. 5 is held at a position where an image is formed, and the process cartridge 60 shown in FIG. And the frame member 64 itself, which is in a state suitable for exchanging the developing device 21, shown in FIG. 7, is fixed at three positions substantially parallel to the upper casing 61 in the open state. It has a possible structure.

The structure will be specifically described below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in FIG. 8, the lower housing 62 has
Leaf springs 70 as fixing means for fixing the frame member 64 at three positions are attached by leaf spring fixing members 71. In addition, the support shaft 6 of the frame member 64
Two groove portions 64 with which the leaf spring 70 engages are provided at the end portion on the 5 side.
a and 64b are engraved. When the frame member 64 is in the state of holding the process cartridge 60 at the position where the image is formed (the state shown in FIG. 5), the leaf spring 70 has no groove 64a or groove 64b as shown in FIG. 9A. Does not engage. From this state, the operator sets the process cartridge 6
When 0 is lifted to bring the cartridge into a substantially parallel state (the state shown in FIG. 6), the leaf spring 7 is moved as shown in FIG. 9 (b).
0 engages with the groove 64a of the frame member 64. As a result, the frame member 64 is latched in the state shown in FIG. 6 and fixedly supported. Further, when the process cartridge 60 is lifted up to a state (state shown in FIG. 7) which is substantially parallel to the upper casing 61 in the opened state, the process cartridge 60 shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), the leaf spring 70 engages with the groove 64b of the frame member 64. As a result, the frame member 64 is latched in the state shown in FIG. 7, and is fixedly supported.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the paper feed tray 8 is attached so that it can be pulled out from the lower housing portion 62. Therefore, this makes it easy to replenish the transfer paper 11. Further, when the transfer paper 11 is jammed before reaching the transport path 13, the transfer paper can be easily taken out.

FIG. 1 shows a specific structure in which the process cartridge 60 is detachably attached to the frame member 64.
A description is added using 0. As shown in FIG. 10, rail-shaped protrusions 7 are formed on both side surfaces of the process cartridge 60.
5 are provided. Further, at a position corresponding to the protruding portion of the frame member 64, a groove portion 64a having a shape that meshes with the protruding portion is provided. As a result, the protrusion 75 is slid into the groove 64a, so that the process cartridge 6
0 can be mounted on the frame member 64. Also,
Install the process cartridge 60 in the mounted state into the groove 6
The cartridge can be separated from the frame member 64 by pulling it out in the direction 4a. Also, the groove 64a
Since the groove has a trumpet shape in which the width of the groove becomes thicker toward the end on the side where the process cartridge 60 is inserted, the positioning when inserting the cartridge 60 is easy and the operability is good. Further, a gripping groove 66 is provided in the process cartridge 60 in order to improve operability.

As described above, the process cartridge 60
Includes a photoconductor cleaning device 16 and an intermediate belt cleaning device 17. The toner removed by both cleaning devices (hereinafter referred to as waste toner) is stored in the cartridge until the life of the cartridge expires. That is impossible in quantity. Therefore, in this printer, the toner cleaned by both the waste toner tank provided on the apparatus main body side and the cleaning device provided as the second replacement unit for generating the waste toner in the process cartridge 60 is stored in the waste toner toner tank. And a waste toner transport path for transporting the waste toner. Hereinafter, FIG. 11 to FIG.
The waste toner tank and the waste toner conveying path will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, a waste toner tank 90 is provided near the process cartridge 60 in the lower casing 64. This waste toner tank 90 has a lower casing 64.
Since it is detachably attached to the process cartridge 60, it can be replaced independently of the process cartridge 60 when the tank is filled with the waste toner. The waste toner tank 90 is preferably provided on the same side as the toner cartridge 41 (see FIG. 4) in the depth direction in FIG. If it is provided at this position, it is possible to eliminate waste of space in the device.

As shown in FIG. 12, the process cartridge 60 has a screw 16a for collecting the waste toner removed by the photoconductor cleaning device 16 and a waste toner removed by the intermediate belt cleaning device 17. And a screw 17a for mounting. Further, in the process cartridge 60, a conveying path 91 for joining the waste toner collected by the screw 17a with the waste toner collected by the screw 16a, and a pipe portion 92 for guiding these toners to the waste toner tank 90. It has and.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic structure of the pipe portion 92. As shown in FIG. 13, the pipe portion 92
Comprises an inner pipe member 93 attached to the process cartridge 60 so that the screw 16a is located inside thereof, and an outer pipe member 94 rotatably assembled to cover the outside of the inner pipe 92. Further, the inner pipe 93 member is provided with a waste toner discharge port 93a at a position facing directly downward when the member is attached to the process cartridge 60. Also, the outer pipe member 94
The discharge port 93a is provided with a discharge port 94a overlapping the discharge port 93a for dropping the waste toner to the waste toner tank 90, and a convex portion 94b receiving a pressing force from the outside. Further, a biasing means including a spring for preventing the discharge port 94a of the outer pipe member 94 and the discharge port 93a of the inner pipe part from overlapping each other unless a pressing force is applied to the convex portion 94b from the outside ( (Not shown) is the outer pipe member 94
Is attached to. Therefore, the waste toner does not leak from the pipe portion 92 unless a pressing force is applied to the convex portion 94b.

A pressing mechanism for applying a pressing force to the convex portion 94b is provided at the end of the frame member 64 on the pipe portion 92 side and the upper housing portion 61 (not shown in FIG. 13). . The pressing mechanism will be described below. A slide lever 96 is attached to the end of the frame member 64 by a screw 97 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction in the figure. When the frame member 64 holds the process cartridge 60 at the position for forming an image (the state shown in FIG. 5), the lower end 96b of the sliding lever 96 becomes the convex portion 94b of the outer pipe member 94. Abut. Therefore, unless a force is applied from the outside, the outer pipe member 94 held by the biasing means (not shown) such as a spring is held and pushed up. On the other hand, the upper housing 6
1, the lower end portion 95a of the upper housing portion 61 is in the closed state (the state shown in FIG. 1) and the upper end portion 96 of the sliding lever 96.
At the position where a is pushed in downward, the fixing lever 95
Is provided.

According to this pressing mechanism having the above-described structure, when both the frame member 64 and the upper casing 61 are in a state where images should be formed (the state shown in FIG. 1), the fixed lever 95 slides. The moving lever 96 is pushed downward, and this sliding lever causes the outer pipe member 94 to rotate in the arrow direction shown in FIG. 13 against the biasing means via the convex portion 94b. As a result, the discharge port 93a of the inner pipe member 93 and the discharge port 94a of the outer pipe member 94 overlap each other,
The waste toner can fall from the pipe portion 92 to the waste toner tank 90. On the other hand, when the upper casing 61 is in the open state (the state shown in FIG. 5), no force is applied to the convex portion 94b against the biasing means, so that the discharge port 93a and the discharge port 94a overlap. Since they do not match, the waste toner does not drop from the pipe portion 92. In the above description, the pipe portion 92, the fixed lever 95, the sliding lever 96, and the like function as a conveyance control device that makes it possible to convey the waste toner from the process cartridge and also makes the conveyance impossible.

If the waste toner tank 90 is not attached, a mechanism is provided so that the discharge ports 93a and 94a do not overlap each other, but the pipe portion 92 is not attached even if the waste toner tank 90 is not attached. It is possible to prevent the waste toner from dropping. (Hereinafter, margin)

As described above, the process cartridge 60 can be removed from the main body of the apparatus, but the process cartridge 60 itself does not have a drive source such as a motor. Therefore, by transmitting the driving force of the driving source provided on the apparatus main body side using the driving transmission means, the photosensitive belt as the driving member attached to the process cartridge 60 as the second replacement unit having the driving member. 1 must be driven. On the one hand,
In order to transmit the driving force from the drive source on the apparatus main body side to the process cartridge 60, if the configuration in which the drive source and the process cartridge 60 are always connected is adopted, the process cartridge 60 is removed from the apparatus main body. It can no longer be removed. Therefore, this printer is provided with drive disconnecting means for disconnecting the drive source on the apparatus main body side in the connected state and the process cartridge 60. Hereinafter, the coupling mechanism functioning as the drive transmission means and the drive disconnection means will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 14, a process cartridge 60 detachably provided in the apparatus main body (see FIG. 10).
Drive roller 10 for transmitting drive to the photoconductor belt included in
5, the coupling member driven portion 10 is attached to the rotary shaft 105a.
0 (hereinafter, referred to as the driven portion 100) is attached. On the side surface of the driven portion 100 opposite to the driving roller 105, a coupling member driving portion 102 (hereinafter, driving portion 1
02) is provided with a concave portion 100a with which the convex portion 102a of the driving portion 10a is engaged.
The rotation of 2 is transmitted to the driven portion 100. In addition, the intermediate transfer belt 5 is provided on the side surface of the driven portion 100.
A gear 100b for transmitting the rotation to is formed.

On the other hand, in the lower casing 62 on the apparatus main body side, for example, the drive unit 102 is connected to a drive source (not shown) such as a motor provided on the apparatus main body side by the rotating shaft 101. It is attached so as to be movable in the left-right direction in the figure. A lever 103 for moving the rotary shaft 101 in the left-right direction is attached to the main body of the apparatus so as to be rotatable around the shaft 103a. This lever 103 is biased by a spring 104 as a biasing means provided in the vicinity of its upper end portion 103a unless force is applied from the outside.
As shown in FIG. 4 (a), it is maintained in a substantially vertical direction. Further, in the opening near the lower end of the lever 103, the rotary shaft 101 is
Is loosely fitted, and the rotary shaft 1 rotates as the lever 103 rotates.
01 is configured to move in the left-right direction.

Further, in the upper casing portion 61 (not shown in FIG. 14) of the main body of the apparatus, when the upper casing portion 61 is in the closed state (the state shown in FIG. 1), the inclined surface 106a thereof is the lever 103. The connecting lever 106 is provided at a position where the upper end portion 103b is pushed out to the left in the drawing.

According to the coupling mechanism constructed as described above, when the upper casing 61 is closed (the state shown in FIG. 1), the connecting lever 106 causes the lever 103 to move to the spring 10.
Rotate counterclockwise in the figure against the bias of 4. Then, the rotation shaft 101 moves to the right in the figure along with the rotation, and the driving unit 102 and the driven unit 10 that form a coupling member.
When 0 and 0 are engaged, the rotation from the drive source can be transmitted to the drive roller 105 as shown in FIG. On the contrary, when the upper housing 61 is opened (the state shown in FIG. 5), the connecting lever 106 is separated from the lever 103, and the lever 103 is in a state where no force is applied from the outside. Therefore, the lever 103 is held in the substantially vertical direction by the urging of the spring 104, and the driving unit 102 and the driven unit 100 are separated from each other as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, in this printer, a reflection type density sensor 80 (hereinafter, referred to as a sensor for measuring the toner density on the surface of the photosensitive belt 1)
The sensor 80) is fixed to an axis 82 rotatably attached to a frame member 64 by an arm member 81. Therefore, unlike the case where the process cartridge 60 is provided with the sensor, the sensor 80, which is an expensive component, can be continuously used even if the cartridge is replaced. The shaft 82 is biased by a biasing means (not shown) such as a spring so as to rotate clockwise in the drawing.
Therefore, the frame member 64 is the process cartridge 60.
5 in the position for holding the image forming position in the image forming position.
While the sensor 80 is set in the vicinity of the photosensitive belt 1 as shown in FIG. 6, when the frame member 64 is opened, the sensor 80 is attached to and detached from the process cartridge 60 as shown in FIGS. Avoid to a position where it will not get in the way. In the above description, the biasing means (not shown), the arm member 81, and the shaft 82 function as the sensor moving means.

In this printer, the construction of which has been described above, the process cartridge 60, the fixing device 7, the toner cartridges 41, and the developing devices 21 are detachable from the main body of the apparatus as described above. The attachment / detachment operation for attaching / detaching each of these members will be described below.

First, the operation for removing the process cartridge 60 from the apparatus main body will be described. To remove the process cartridge 60, first, the upper casing 61 is moved to the open state (the state shown in FIG. 6), and then the frame member 64 is moved to a position where the process cartridge 60 is substantially parallel (the position shown in FIG. 6). ) To. Then, in this state, the process cartridge 60 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 6 to remove the process cartridge 60 from the apparatus main body. In this state, since the process cartridge 60 is kept substantially parallel, the operation direction (pull-out direction) thereof is also substantially parallel, and the operation is easy.

Next, the operation of removing the fixing device 7 from the main body of the device will be described. To remove the fixing device 7, the upper casing 61 is opened (the state shown in FIG. 6) and the fixing device 7 is pulled up in this state. Since the frame member 64 is provided with an opening through which the fixing device 7 can pass, the fixing device 7 can be taken out from the apparatus main body and attached again without opening the frame member 64.

Next, the toner cartridge 41 and the developing device 2
An attaching / detaching operation for attaching / detaching 1 will be described. In this printer, when image output is repeated, the toner in the toner cartridge 41 becomes empty, and the toner end is detected by a conventionally known toner end sensor such as an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor (not shown).
Normally, when the toner end is reached, only the toner cartridge 41 is replaced. Prior to removing the toner cartridges 41, the upper casing 61 is moved to the open state (the state shown in FIG. 7), and then the frame member 64.
Is moved to a position (position shown in FIG. 7) in which the frame member 64 itself is substantially parallel to the upper housing part 61 in the open state.

Here, the reliability of the developing device 21 is sufficiently high,
If the reliability of the printer body is commensurate and there is no special abnormality, only the toner cartridge 41 described above will be replaced. However, maintenance work (maintenance work) of the developing device 21 may be performed depending on the usage status of the developing device 21. ) Or replacement is required. Further, since the use states of the color developing devices 21Y, M, C, and K are usually different from each other, maintenance and replacement intervals are different. In this way, even if one of the developing devices needs to be maintained or replaced, the developing devices of other colors are almost normal. Therefore, workability is poor in a structure in which, when maintenance or replacement of only a specific developing device is required, another developing device must be attached / detached or replaced at the same time. Further, even a developing device that can be fully used will be replaced, resulting in a lot of waste, resulting in a large developing device cost, replacement cost, and running cost. Further, from the viewpoint of protection of the global environment and recycling, the replaced developing device is generally recovered, and there are problems in recoverability, decomposability, and recyclability.

Therefore, in this printer, of the plurality of developing devices which are used differently, for example, only the developing device which needs to be maintained or replaced can be attached to and detached from the developing device 4 and the printer body. , Maintenance and replacement can be performed easily, and the cost is reduced and the recyclability is improved.

For example, when the black developing device 21K needs to be maintained and replaced and the black developing device 21K is to be removed from the main body of the apparatus, first, the upper casing 61 is moved to the open state (the state shown in FIG. 7), and then the First, the frame member 64 is moved to a position (position shown in FIG. 7) that is substantially parallel to the upper housing portion 61 in which the frame member 64 itself is in the open state. Then, in this state, as shown in FIG. 7, only the black developing device 21K is detached from the developing device supporting body 20 of the rotary developing device 4 in the arrow direction and removed.

As described above, when attaching and detaching the toner cartridge 41 and the developing device 21, the frame member 6 is used.
4 is an upper housing portion 61 in which the frame member 64 itself is in an open state.
And the process cartridge 6 positioned above the rotary developing device 4 by being moved to a position substantially parallel to
0 is moved to a position that does not interfere with the attaching / detaching operation.
Therefore, without removing the process cartridge 60 from the apparatus main body, the toner cartridge 41 and the developing device 21 can be removed from the apparatus main body while the cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body.

In the printer shown above, the process cartridge 60 as the second replacement unit.
The photoconductor belt 1, the charging roller 2, the intermediate transfer belt 5,
Although the photoconductor cleaning device 16, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 17, the lower conveyance roller 12b, and the lower registration roller 10b are integrally formed, other members may be integrally formed to form the process cartridge 60. For example, as shown in FIG. 15A, the intermediate transfer belt 5, the lower conveyance roller 12b, and the lower registration roller 1
The process cartridge 60 may be formed by integrating 0b. In this case, the photoconductor belt 1, the charging roller 2, the photoconductor cleaning device 16, and the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 17 are attached to the frame member 64.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15B, the photosensitive belt 1, the charging roller 2, the photosensitive member cleaning device 1
6 and the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 17 may be integrated to form the process cartridge 60. In this case, the intermediate transfer belt 5, the lower conveyance roller 12b, and the lower registration roller 10b are attached to the frame member 64.

In both of the modified examples described above,
The process cartridge 60 is detachably attached to the frame member by using the rail-shaped protrusions 75 and the grooves 64a of the frame member 64 provided on both side surfaces of the process cartridge 60.

[0063]

【The invention's effect】

According to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, by opening the frame member, the second replacement unit moves to a position that does not hinder the attachment / detachment work of the first replacement unit. The second replacement unit can be attached and detached without removing the replacement unit from the apparatus and placing it outside, and the operability thereof is improved. In addition, since the transport path for transporting the recording paper is opened by opening the upper housing part, the recording paper can be easily removed when the recording paper is jammed in the unit. it can.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the frame member can be fixed to the second open state suitable for performing the attaching / detaching operation of the second replacement unit by using the fixing member.
The operability of the attachment / detachment work of the second replacement unit detachably attached to the frame member is improved. For example, if the second open state is determined so that the attachment / detachment direction of the second replacement unit is horizontal, the attachment / detachment operation of the unit can be performed by moving the second exchange unit horizontally. Get better

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the upper casing is opened, the drive disconnecting means disconnects the drive transmission from the drive transmitting means to the drive member of the second replacement unit in conjunction with the open state. To do. Therefore, when the second replacement unit is taken out from the apparatus main body, the operator does not need to perform a special operation for cutting off the drive transmission, and the operability of the attachment / detachment operation of the second replacement unit is improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the carry-out control means keeps the waste toner from being carried out from the second replacement unit unless the upper casing is opened. Therefore, while the upper casing is being moved to move the second replacement unit, and while the upper casing is being opened to attach and detach each replacement unit, It is possible to prevent the waste toner from leaking out and polluting the inside of the apparatus, and preventing the waste toner from being applied to the operator.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the sensor mounted on the frame member is continuously used even when the used second replacement unit is removed and a new second replacement unit is mounted. be able to. Therefore, it is not necessary to assemble a sensor, which is an expensive component, to the second replacement unit, which is a replacement component, and the unit can be made inexpensive. Further, when the second replacement unit is replaced, the sensor is moved by the sensor moving means to a position where it does not interfere with the replacement of the unit. Therefore, even if the frame member is provided with the sensor, the second replacement unit can be replaced. It is prevented from becoming an obstacle.

Further, according to the invention of claim 6, it is not necessary to put the frame member into an open state which does not hinder attachment and detachment of the fixing unit when attaching and detaching the fixing unit from the lower invitation section. The operability at the time of operation becomes good. Further, when a heat fixing unit is used as the fixing unit, the heat generated from the fixing unit easily escapes through the opening provided in the frame member, so that it is possible to prevent the temperature inside the apparatus from rising. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rotary developing device in the printer.

FIG. 3A is a schematic sectional view of a developing device in the developing device. FIG. 3B is a vertical sectional view of the developing device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the developing device.

5 is an explanatory diagram related to the operation of the upper casing of the color printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram relating to an operation of a frame member of the printer.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram relating to attachment / detachment of a developing device in the developing device shown in FIG.

8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a leaf spring that supports a frame member included in the printer illustrated in FIG.

9A to 9C are explanatory views showing the operation of the leaf spring.

10 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration for detachably attaching a process cartridge to the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a waste toner tank of the printer.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a waste toner transport path for transporting waste toner to the waste toner tank.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a carry-out control device for controlling carry-out of waste toner to the waste toner tank.

14A and 14B are explanatory views showing a coupling mechanism of the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 15A is an explanatory diagram showing a first modified example of the printer. FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram showing a second modification of the printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photoconductor Belt 2 Charging Roller 3 Laser Optical Device 4 Rotational Developing Device 5 Intermediate Transfer Belt 6 Transfer Roller 7 Fixing Device (Fixing Unit) 8 Paper Feeding Table 9 Separation Roller 10 Registration Roller Pair 11 Transfer Paper 12 Transport Roller Pair 13 Transport Path (conveyance path) 15 Bias roller 16 Photoreceptor cleaning device 17 Intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 18 Paper ejection tray section 19 Conveying unit 20 Developing device support 21 Developing device (first replacement unit) 22 Developing roller 23 Casing 24 Supply roller 25 Blade 26 First toner transfer screw 27 Toner transfer space 28 Static eliminator brush 29 Toner circulation unit 30 Second toner transfer screw 40 Toner container 41 Toner cartridge 60 Process cartridge (second replacement unit) 61 Upper casing (upper casing) ) 2 Lower case part (lower case part) 63 Support shaft 64 Frame member (frame member) 65 Support shaft 66 Gripping groove 70 Leaf spring (fixing means) 71 Leaf spring fixing member 75 Projection portion 80 Sensor (sensor) 81 Sensor Support arm (sensor moving means) 82 Sensor support part (sensor moving means) 90 Waste toner tank (waste toner tank) 91 Transport path (waste toner tank transport path) 92 Pipe part (transport control device) 93 Inner pipe member (transport control) Device) 94 Outer pipe member (transport control device) 95 Fixed lever (transport control device) 96 Sliding lever (transport control device) 100 Coupling member driven part 101 Rotating shaft 102 Coupling member drive part 103 Lever 104 Spring 105 Drive roller 106 Connection lever

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Mitsugu Sugiyama 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first exchanging unit, a second exchanging unit provided above the first exchanging unit, and a recording sheet conveyed in an apparatus located above the second exchanging unit. A transport path, a lower housing portion that detachably supports the first replacement unit, and an upper housing that is openably and closably attached to the lower housing portion and that opens the transport path in the open state. And a frame member that detachably supports the second replacement unit and that is openably and closably attached to the lower housing portion. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame member is in a first open state suitable for performing the attaching / detaching operation of the first exchange unit, and the attaching / detaching operation of the second exchange unit is performed. An image forming apparatus comprising a fixing means for fixing the second opened state suitable for the. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second replacement unit has a driving member, and the driving source provided in the lower housing portion and the driving force by the driving source are driven by the driving source. Drive transmitting means for transmitting to the member, and drive disconnecting means for disconnecting the transmission of the driving force from the drive source to the driving member by the drive transmitting means in conjunction with the opening of the upper housing portion. An image forming apparatus comprising: 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second replacement unit generates waste toner, and the waste toner is removably attached to the lower housing portion and the waste toner is collected. A waste toner tank, a waste toner transport path for transporting waste toner from the second exchanging unit to the waste toner tank, and a state in which the upper casing is in a closed state. A discharge control device that enables discharge of waste toner and disables discharge of waste toner from the second replacement unit in association with a state other than the closed state of the upper casing portion, An image forming apparatus comprising: 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sensor attached to the frame member for detecting a state of the second replacement unit, and the sensor when the frame member is in a closed state are provided. Sensor moving means for locating the sensor at a detection position for detecting the state of the second replacement unit, and for locating the sensor at a position not interfering with the second replacement unit when the frame member is in an open state; An image forming apparatus comprising: 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing unit detachably attached to the lower housing section for fixing the toner image formed on the recording paper to the recording paper.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the frame member is provided with an opening through which the fixing unit can pass.