JPH1130941A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately combine the driven means of a photoreceptor drum and a developing device with a driving means by drawing back an image carrier and the developing device by means of a first movable frame body and a second movable frame body and directly supporting them to the first and the second supporting parts. SOLUTION: An open/close member is opened, and a developing device moving body incorporating developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C and 14K is moved in a drawing direction from the developing position of the developing unit, so that developing device locking parts 141Y to 141K provided on the units 14Y to 14K and a projection for locking are unlocked from developing device supporting parts 101Y to 101K, fall downward in a piled condition, and placed on a fixed placing platen. Next, the developing units can be drawn from the image forming device while being guided by the open/close member in a condition where the units 14Y to 14K inside the developing device movable frame body are piled up. Thus, the photoreceptor drum 10 and the developing units 14Y to 14K are drawn in a lateral direction being a recording paper feeding direction and laterally moved, so that the feeding position of a recording paper can be entirely opened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an image carrier such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc., wherein a developing device and an image carrier are easily pulled out from the image forming apparatus. Or, it relates to operating means for pulling back.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus, many small-sized electrophotographic copying machines used for office use or printers used as terminal equipment are provided.
Further, for the purpose of facilitating jam clearance and maintenance work, an image carrier (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) by opening a side door of the apparatus main body, and a recording paper by taking out a cartridge containing a developing device. Many devices have been provided in which the transfer surface is opened.

There is also known a so-called clamshell type apparatus in which the apparatus main body is divided into an upper main body and a lower main body, and a recording paper conveying surface is opened by opening a cartridge provided in the upper main body. I have.

Further, the photosensitive drum and the developing device are housed in separate cartridges and provided in the image forming apparatus, and the transfer section is opened when a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus. Opening the upper cover of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus by taking out the drum and developing device, removing the cover provided in the horizontal position, moving the cartridge in the horizontal direction and removing it, and removing the recording paper transport surface A device which is opened (Japanese Patent Application No. 6-277978) is also provided.

As described above, when the photosensitive drum and the developing device are housed in separate cartridges, respectively, and when the photosensitive drum and the developing device are installed at the image forming position of the image forming apparatus, the optical path length between the photosensitive drum and the exposure means is set. In order to accurately hold the developing device, a cartridge containing a photosensitive drum is provided at a predetermined position of the apparatus main body, while the developing device is supported by a drawable cartridge, and is located at a developing position of the image forming apparatus. When the camera is mounted, the developing interval between the photosensitive drum and the developing device is accurately maintained.

When the cartridge is set at a predetermined position in the image forming apparatus after the jam processing is completed, a driving unit provided in the image forming apparatus, a photosensitive drum provided in the cartridge, and a driven unit provided in the developing apparatus are provided. The means are configured to couple.

[0007]

As described above, the photosensitive drum and the developing device are incorporated in an integral cartridge, and the image forming apparatus is provided with an integral cartridge for opening the conveyance path when a recording paper jam occurs. The distance between the photoreceptor drum and the developing device can be maintained accurately even when the cartridge is attached or detached, preventing development unevenness from occurring. This can be done simply by replacing the cartridge.

However, since it is necessary to manufacture the cartridge in large quantities, the cartridge is formed of resin or the like, and is provided between an engaging portion provided in the image forming apparatus for supporting the cartridge and an engaging portion of the cartridge body. When a slight fitting error occurs, or when the thickness of the cartridge changes due to expansion of the resin due to heat generated in the image forming apparatus, the exposure unit and the cartridge fixedly provided in the image forming apparatus are used. The optical path length between the photosensitive drums in the inside is out of order, so that a good image cannot be obtained.

Further, a drive motor as a drive source for driving the photosensitive drum and the developing device is generally fixedly provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus in relation to a power supply and wiring and the like.
An interlocking gear driven and reduced by the drive motor is also provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

On the other hand, a driven source is provided for driving the photosensitive drum and the developing device, and is configured to be driven in combination with a driving source provided on the main body.

After the jam has been cleared, when the photosensitive drum provided in the cartridge and the driven source of the developing device are connected to the interlocking gear provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the gear is caused by the fitting error and expansion due to heat. The coupling is not performed in a completely driven state, and uneven rotation of the photosensitive drum occurs during image formation, and the developing roller incorporated in the developing device does not rotate smoothly, which causes uneven development.

Further, as described above, when a jam occurs, the photosensitive drum provided in the cartridge and the developing device are pulled out by the cartridge to enable jam processing, and when the cartridge is returned to the image forming position, the photosensitive drum is There is an image forming apparatus in which only the image forming apparatus is directly installed at a predetermined position for image formation, and the developing device remains in the cartridge.

With this configuration, since the photosensitive drum is directly installed at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus,
The optical path length with the exposure unit fixed to the image forming apparatus does not change,
The driven source of the photosensitive drum is also accurately coupled to the driving source.

In this case, the developing device may be directly installed at a predetermined developing position provided on the image forming apparatus. However, as described above, the developing device is installed on the image forming apparatus via the cartridge, and When a slight fitting error occurs between the engaging portions of the cartridge body incorporating the cartridge, or when the thickness of the cartridge changes due to expansion of the resin due to heat generated in the image forming apparatus, the photosensitive drum and the In addition, the positional relationship of the developing device tends to be out of order, and the driven source of the developing device may not be accurately coupled to the driving source of the image forming apparatus, which may cause uneven development.

The present invention has been specifically conceived to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages.

That is, at the time of image formation, the photosensitive drum and the developing device are directly installed at predetermined positions of the apparatus main body. At the time of a jam, the photosensitive drum and the developing device are pulled out and pulled back. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which a developing device is accurately installed at a predetermined position of the image forming device, and the driven of the photosensitive drum and the developing device are accurately coupled with a driving source.

[0017]

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier.
In an image forming apparatus having a developing device for visualizing the electrostatic latent image with a developer, a support frame fixed to the image forming apparatus, and the image carrier is mounted on the support frame. A first moving frame for moving the image carrier, provided with a first supporting portion that directly supports the image forming position and a second supporting portion that directly supports the developing device at the developing position; and the developing device. And a second movable frame for moving the image carrier. When the image carrier is pulled out of the image forming position by the first movable frame, the image carrier is moved from the first support to the first movable frame. When pulled out while being supported by the body and when pulled back, the image carrier supported by the first moving frame is directly supported by the first supporting portion, and the developing device is moved from the developing position by the second moving frame. When the developing device is pulled out, the developing device moves the second moving frame from the second support portion. Is supported with drawn in,
The developing device supported by the second movable frame when being pulled back is directly supported by the second support portion.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the shaft of the image carrier is directly supported by the first support portion provided at the image forming position provided on the support frame.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the shaft of the image carrier is directly supported on the first support portion at the image forming position provided on the support frame, so that the driven means of the image carrier is used for image forming. Combine with drive means provided on the device.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second support portion at the developing position provided on the support frame directly supports locking members provided on both sides of the developing device.

5. The developing device according to claim 5, wherein said supporting members are provided on said support frame with locking members provided on both sides of said developing device.
By being directly supported by the supporting portion, the driven means provided in the developing device is coupled to the driving means provided in the image forming apparatus.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the developing devices are provided.

[0023] In claim 7, the first movable frame body,
The operation of pulling out and pulling back the second movable frame is achieved by moving and operating the image forming apparatus in the horizontal direction.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described as embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Prior to the description of the embodiment of the present invention, the structure of a color printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus equipped with a plurality of developing devices of the present invention and the operation thereof will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG.

In this color printer, after each color toner image sequentially formed on a photosensitive drum is superimposed, the color image is formed on a recording paper by a transfer unit once and then transferred to a recording paper. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 100 of a method of peeling from a body surface.

In FIG. 1, a pair of supporting frames 101 and 103 provided in the image forming apparatus 100 (detailed description in FIG. 2).
In addition, the photosensitive drum supporting means 108 and 109 as a first support portion which is an image forming position is provided, and the photosensitive drum 10 as an image carrier is a first moving frame body and a supporting protrusion 105
A and 105B are provided in the photosensitive drum moving frame 105, and the shafts 106 and 107 of the photosensitive drum 10 are rotatably provided on the photosensitive drum supporting means 108 and 109, so that the photosensitive drum 10 forms an image. It is supported at a position and grounded, and is driven and rotated clockwise by a driving source M (detailed description in FIG. 9) as driving means.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a scorotron charger, which is provided with a uniform potential on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 by corona discharge using a grid and a corona discharge wire. Prior to charging by the scorotron charger 12, in order to eliminate the history of the photoconductor up to the previous printing, exposure is performed by a PCL (pre-charging static eliminator) 11 using a light emitting diode or the like, and the peripheral surface of the photoconductor is neutralized. deep.

After the photosensitive drum 10 is uniformly charged, an image exposure based on an image signal is performed by an image exposure unit 13 as a latent image forming unit. The image exposing means 13 is a main scanning performed by bending the optical path by a reflecting mirror 132 through a rotating polygon mirror 131, an fθ lens, and a cylindrical lens using a laser diode (not shown) as a light emitting light source. (Scanning) to form a latent image. In the present embodiment, a character portion is exposed to form a reversal latent image such that the character portion has a lower potential.

At the periphery of the photoreceptor drum 10, a developing device (a two-component developer including a toner such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K)) and a carrier is incorporated. 14Y, 14
M, 14C, and 14K are provided in a line up and down.
4Y, 14M, and 14C are housed in a developing device moving frame 141 that is a second moving frame in order to be able to be integrally pulled out from the color image forming apparatus 100. And the developing device 14
K is mounted on the fixed mounting table 120 in a movable state.

First, the development of the first color yellow (Y) is performed by the developing unit 14Y. The developer is composed of a carrier and a toner, and is regulated to a developer layer thickness of 100 to 600 μm on the developing sleeve by the developer layer forming means, and is conveyed to the development area.

After the visualization of the first color is completed, the image forming process for the magenta (M) of the second color is started, and the uniform charging is again performed by the scorotron charger 12, and the latent image based on the image data of the second color is formed. It is formed by the image exposure means 13. At this time, the charge removal by the PCL 11 performed in the image forming process of the first color is not performed because the toner attached to the image portion of the first color scatters due to a sharp drop in the surrounding potential.

In the photoreceptor charged on the entire peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 10 again, a latent image similar to that of the first color is formed and developed for a portion having no image of the first color. In the part where development is performed again on the part where the image
Latent image potential V _M is formed by the charge possessed by the shading of the toner itself by the toner adhering of color, development is conducted.

For the third color cyan (C) and the fourth color black (K), the same image forming process as that for the second color magenta (M) is performed. An image is formed.

Each of the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 1
4K, a plurality of detachable toner cartridges 140 (Y, M, C, K) for each color toner are opened and closed by the opening / closing unit 72.
Supply from

On the other hand, one sheet of recording paper P carried out from the paper supply cassette 15 provided at the lower part of the image forming apparatus 100 via the half-moon roller 16 is temporarily stopped, and when the transfer timing is adjusted, the paper supply unit is stopped. The sheet is fed to the transfer area by the rotation of the pair of registration rollers 17.

In the transfer area, the transfer means 18 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 in synchronization with the transfer timing, and the fed recording paper P is sandwiched to transfer the multicolor image at once. You.

Next, the recording paper P is neutralized by the separating means 19, separated from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and conveyed to the fixing device 20, where it is heated by the heat roller (upper roller) 201 and the pressure roller (lower roller) 202. After the toner is fused by heating and pressing, the sheet is discharged onto a sheet discharge tray above the image forming apparatus 100 via the sheet discharge roller 21.

After the recording paper P has passed, the transfer means 18 is retracted away from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 to prepare for the formation of the next toner image.

Further, the photosensitive drum 1 from which the recording paper P has been separated
In the case of No. 0, the residual toner is removed and cleaned by the pressure contact of the blade 221 of the cleaning device 22, and the charge is removed by the PCL 11 and charged by the scorotron charger 12 again to start the next image forming process. The blade 221 moves immediately after the cleaning of the surface of the photoconductor and retreats from the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 10. The waste toner scraped into the cleaning device 22 by the blade 221 is discharged by a screw or the like, and then stored in a waste toner collection container (not shown).

Next, the photosensitive drum 10 of the present invention, the photosensitive drum supporting means 108, and the plurality of developing devices 14Y and 14
M, 14C, 14K and the developing device moving frame 141 are shown.
Further, each supporting portion of the supporting frames 101 and 103 is clearly shown.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a photosensitive drum moving frame having a pair of supporting frames provided therein, a photosensitive drum, a developing device moving frame, and a plurality of developing devices. .

In the figure, as explained in FIG.
The photosensitive drum 10 is provided in a photosensitive drum moving frame 105 and supported by shafts 106 and 107.
The shafts 106, 1 are attached to photosensitive drum support means 108, 109, which are first support portions provided at image forming positions 1, 103, respectively.
07 and the supporting protrusions 105A, 105B on both sides.
Is supported on the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 on which is formed.

A plurality of developing units 14Y and 14 shown in FIG.
To support M, 14C, and 14K at predetermined development positions, developing device support portions 101Y and 101 serving as second support portions.
M, 101C, and 101K are provided on the supporting frame 101, and further, the supporting frame 10 provided as a pair with the supporting frame 101.
3 also includes developing device support portions 103Y and 103 which are second support portions.
3M, 103C and 103K are provided respectively.

As shown, the developing devices 14Y, 14Y
In order to directly support 14M, 14C, and 14K, developing device support portions 101Y, 101M,
101C, 101K, and developing device support portions 103Y, 103M, 103C, 103K provided on the support frame 103.
May be formed so as to protrude inward by bending with a press die, or a separate developing device support portion may be fixed at a predetermined position inside the support frames 101 and 103.

On the other hand, the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 1
4K on both sides of the developing device supporting portions 101Y, 101M,
101C, 101K and one of the developing device support portions 10
To support with 3Y, 103M, 103C, 103K,
Developing device locking portions 141Y, 141M, 1 serving as locking members
41C and 141K are formed as a pair at two locations on both sides of the developing device.

The developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14
Among K, the developing units 14Y, 14M, which are color developing units,
14C, the developing device moving frame 141
The developing units 14Y, 14M, and 14C are detachably provided in the horizontal direction with respect to the image forming apparatus 100, and the black (K) developing unit 14K is a fixed mounting table separately provided in the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 120 is detachably mounted horizontally outside the image forming apparatus 100.

When the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C built in the developing device moving frame 141 are provided at predetermined developing positions with respect to the photosensitive drum 10, the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14
C, a pair of developing device locking portions 141Y, 141M,
141C is a plurality of holes 1 provided in the developing device moving frame 141.
42 and 143, respectively.
Developing device supporting portions 101Y, 101M, 101C, 103Y, 103M, provided on supporting frames 101, 103, respectively.
The photosensitive drum 10 is supported at a predetermined developing position with respect to the photosensitive drum 10.

Next, a pair of developing device locking portions 141K, which are locking members provided on the developing device 14K, are connected to the supporting frame 101,
The developing device supporting portions 101K, 1 at the developing position provided at 103
When it is supported at 03K, it is arranged at a predetermined developing position with respect to the photosensitive drum 10.

The black (K) developing device 14K is provided separately because the developing devices 14Y, 14M,
This is because the developing device 14K is used more frequently than the developing device 14C, and makes it easy to exchange carriers.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 provided with the photosensitive drum 10 and a horizontal movement guide member.

As shown in the figure, two guide support members 118 and 119 are fixed to the image forming apparatus 100, and two release guide members 112A and 112B are provided above the two guide support members 118 and 119. Place each. Release guide member 11
2A, support projection 113 formed at one end of 112B,
114 are formed, and guide support members 118 and 119 are formed.
The supporting projections 113 and 114 are placed at the positions of the dropping parts 1201 and 1202 formed at one end of the support.

The two release guide members 112A, 112
One end of B is supported by two guide support members 118 and 119 with locking members 123 and 124, respectively, so as to move integrally, and the other ends of the release guide members 112A and 112B are provided in the image forming apparatus 100. Placed on the guide support member 117,
It is supported horizontally movable.

On the other hand, a photosensitive drum 1 provided with a driven gear G, which is driven means, via shafts 106 and 107 on the side.
0 is rotatably attached to the photosensitive drum moving frame 105, and the supporting protrusions 105A and 105B provided on both sides of the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 are disengaged by the release guide member 112.
A, placed on 112B.

Further, the release guide members 112A, 112
B are provided on the outside of the supporting projections 113 and 114, respectively, for holding the holding members 115 and 116, and the guide supporting members 117 and 11 are provided.
8, the release guide member 112 is held by the locking guide portions 118A and 119A from below, and one end of the release guide member 112 is held by the guide support members 118 and 119 together with the support projections 113 and 114. 112A, 112B
Are configured so as to be moved and guided without falling off from the guide support members 118 and 119.

Then, the release guide members 112A, 112B
The supporting projections 113, 114 of the falling parts 1201, 12
02, the shaft 10 of the photosensitive drum 10
6 and 107 are held by photosensitive drum supporting means 108 and 109 provided at the image forming position. Therefore, the photosensitive drum 10 is supported at a position where the optical path length is accurately held with the image exposing means 13. I have.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) show the photosensitive drum supporting means for supporting the photosensitive drum shown in FIG. 3, the assembled state of the release guide member, and the photosensitive drum together with the photosensitive drum supporting means. It is a cross-sectional view showing a state where it was removed.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the support projections 113 and 114 of the release guide member 112 contact and suspend the two guide support members 118 and 119 as shown in FIG. 119 and a pair of locking guides 11
8A and 119A, clamping holding portions 115 and 116 formed on the release guide member 112, and supporting projections 113 and 114.
Release guide members 112A, 112B
Are held by the guide support members 118 and 119.

The locking members 123 and 124 are engaged with locking holes 121 and 122 formed in supporting projections 105A and 105B provided on both sides of the photosensitive drum moving frame 105.

Further, the shafts 106 and 107 of the photosensitive drum 10 provided on the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 are connected to the shaft guides of the photosensitive drum supporting means 108 and 109 provided inside the support frames 101 and 103. The shafts 106 and 107 are rotatably fitted at predetermined positions in 110 and 111, and in this state, the driven gear G provided on the photosensitive drum 10 becomes the driving gear G1.
And can be rotated accurately.

Next, an operation of releasing the locked state of the guide member and the photosensitive drum moving frame and removing the photosensitive drum moving frame together with the photosensitive drum from the image forming apparatus will be described.

FIG. 4B shows the photosensitive drum 1 shown in FIG.
The shafts 106 and 107 can be integrally removed from the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 while being fitted to the photosensitive drum moving frame 105.
8, 109 can be taken out from the shaft guides 110, 111. (Detailed description in FIG. 6) Next, the photosensitive drum moving frame 1 is attached to the image forming apparatus 100.
5 shows a state in which the photosensitive drum 10 is set at the image forming position and the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are set at the developing position.

FIG. 5 shows the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing device 14.
FIG. 4 is a front view in which Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are arranged at image forming positions in the image forming apparatus 100.

In the drawing, the photosensitive drum supporting means 109 provided on one supporting frame 101 and a part of the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 are notched for easy discrimination in the drawing configuration and explanation. The developing device supporting portions 101Y, 101
M, 101C, 101K and a part of the photosensitive drum moving frame are shown in a cutaway sectional view.

As described above, the two guide support members 118,
The support protrusion 113 provided at one end of the release guide member 112 is attached to the drop portions 1201 and 1202 formed at one end of the 119.
At the position where the tip of the photosensitive drum 114 has been moved and dropped, the photosensitive drum moving frame 10 together with the release guide members 112A and 112B
5 also falls via the supporting protrusions 105A and 105B.

Accordingly, the photosensitive drum 10 provided on the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 is also dropped, and the shafts 106 and 107 are supported at predetermined image forming positions of the photosensitive drum supporting means 108 and 109. .

Further, the release guide members 112A and 112B are provided with locking members 123 and 124 via springs S and S1, respectively, and are provided on support protrusions 105A and 105B of the photosensitive drum moving frame 105. Stop holes 121, 122
The release guide members 112A and 112B and the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 are integrally movable with each other on the guide support members 118 and 119.

The developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14
In order to dispose K at a predetermined developing position with respect to the photosensitive drum 10, the developing device engaging portions 141Y and 141 have a substantially L shape.
1M, 141C, 141K and a pair of locking projections L are provided on both sides of the developing position, respectively, and are supported so as to sandwich the supporting portions of the developing device.
14C and 14K are configured to be supported at a predetermined developing position.

As described above, the shaft 10 of the photosensitive drum 10
6 and 107 are supported by the photosensitive drum supporting means 108 and 109 provided directly on the supporting frames 101 and 103, and further, the developing device supporting portions 101Y, 101M, 101C, provided directly on the same supporting frames 101 and 103. Developing device 14 at 101K
Since Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are provided,
The photoreceptor drum 10 is set at an accurate image forming position, and the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K can be set at the correct developing position without error.

Next, for example, a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, and the photosensitive drum together with the photosensitive drum moving frame and the developing device are moved in the horizontal direction from the image forming position of the image forming device and removed to remove the developing device. Are shown stacked.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a cross section of a state in which the photosensitive drum together with the photosensitive drum moving frame and the developing device have been moved from the image forming apparatus in the horizontal direction from the image forming position.

In the transfer area where the transfer means 18 is provided as shown in the figure, when a jam occurs on the recording paper P and it is necessary to remove the jammed recording paper P from the image forming apparatus. Photoconductor drum 10 and developing units 14Y and 14
M, 14C and 14K are excluded from the transcription area.

In this case, first, the opening / closing member 14A is opened, and then the developing device moving frame 141 containing the developing devices 14Y, 14M and 14C is moved from the developing position of the developing device in the pulling-out direction, whereby the developing process is performed. Vessels 14Y, 14M, 14
C, 14K, developing device locking portions 141Y, 141
The M, 141C, 141K and the locking projection L are disengaged from the developing device support portions 101Y, 101M, 101C, 101K, fall down in a stacked state, and are mounted on the fixed mounting table 120.

Next, while the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C in the developing device moving frame 141 and the developing devices 14K are stacked and guided by the opening / closing member 14A, the image forming device 1
Can be pulled out from within 00.

Further, the release guide members 112A, 112B and the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 locked by the locking members 123, 124 are pulled out and moved in the direction of the arrow, which is the direction of the non-image forming position, to release guide. Members 112A, 112
The support protrusions 113 and 114 provided at the lower part of B rise away from the positions of the falling portions 1201 and 1202 of the guide support members 118 and 119, and the release guide members 112A and 112A.
The photosensitive drum moving frame 105 is lifted via the support protrusions 105A and 105B via B.

Therefore, the shafts 106 and 107 of the photosensitive drum 10 provided on the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 are lifted off the predetermined positions of the shaft guides 110 and 111, and come off.
The photosensitive drum moving frame 105 can be pulled out to the outside.
Can be pulled out of the image forming apparatus 100 while moving in parallel with the photosensitive drum 10 by supporting projections 113 and 114 provided on both sides of the guide support member 117 and the release guide member 112.

In this manner, the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are pulled out in the horizontal direction, ie, the recording paper transport direction, and are moved in parallel. When the paper P is jammed, it is possible to open all the transport positions of the recording paper P, so that the recording paper P can be taken out.

After the jam clearance, the release guide member 112 is returned to the original position together with the photosensitive drum moving frame 105, and the support projections 113 and 114 of the release guide member 112 are returned.
Are dropped to the positions of the drop portions 1201 and 1202, so that the shafts 106 and 107 of the photosensitive drum 10
10, 111, the photosensitive drum supporting means 108, 109
At a predetermined position.

Further, in order to install the developing units 14Y, 14M, and 14C at predetermined positions in the image forming apparatus 100, the developing units 14Y, 14M, and 14C are stacked and provided in the moving frame 141 for the developing apparatus. The developing device 14Y, 14M, and 14C are moved along the fixed mounting table 120 so that the developing devices 14Y, 14M, and 14C are pulled back toward the photosensitive drum 10 together with the developing device moving frame 141 from the right side.

Next, the developing device supporting portions 101Y, 101M, 101 formed inside the supporting frames 101, 103 are formed.
C, developing device locking portions 141Y, 141M, 141C, 1
Pull it back until it stops while holding it with the locking projections L provided together with 41K, and arrange it at a predetermined developing position.

At this time, the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C
Are springs S2 and S provided in the developing device moving frame 141.
3 and S4, the developing device 14Y, 14M, 14
C developing device engaging portions 141Y, 141M, 141C, 1
41K is a developing device support portion 101Y, 101M, 101C.
And can be arranged at an accurate developing position.

After the jam processing, the developing units 14Y and 14Y
M, 14C, 14K developing device locking portions 141Y, 141
M, 141C and 141K to the developing device supporting portions 101Y and 1
01M, 101C, and 101K are locked by returning to the positions, and the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C,
14K can be locked and held.

Next, a case will be described in which only a part of the developing units is removed from the image forming apparatus in order to replace the carrier in the developing units.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state in which only a part of the developing device is pulled out of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus.

First, the opening / closing member 14A is opened, and only the developing device moving frame 141 is moved in the pull-out direction in order to exchange the carriers of the developing devices 14Y, 14M, and 14C formed of color developing devices. 14M, 14C
The developing device locking portions 141Y, 141M, and 141C are disengaged from the developing device support portions 101Y, 101M, and 101C, respectively, and can be pulled out from the image forming apparatus 100. Developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14
C, the carrier is exchanged, and the developing devices 14Y, 14M, and 14C are again housed in the developing device moving frame 141 as shown in FIG.
M, 141C and the locking projection L are attached to the developing device support portion 101.
By locking to Y, 101M, and 101C, developing units 14Y, 14M, and 14C can be accurately held at predetermined developing positions.

Further, it is possible to take out only the developing device 14K, which is a black developing device, replace the carrier, and again hold the developing device 14K as shown in FIG. Can be done.

The developing device 14K is arranged independently, and supports the developing device engaging portion 141K of the developing device 14K at a predetermined developing position of the developing device support portion 101K.

After the operation of inserting the plurality of developing units is completed as described above, the opening / closing member 14A is closed and the image forming apparatus 100 is closed.
Thereby, an image forming operation can be performed.

As described above, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the present invention provides a pair of supporting frames 101,
A photosensitive drum supporting means 108 and 109 for providing the shafts 106 and 107 of the photosensitive drum 10 to the developing unit 103;
Since the developing device locking portions 141Y, 141M, and 141C for supporting Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are provided, the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14 are provided.
When K is attached to the image forming apparatus 100, it is possible to always arrange the K at the accurate image forming position and the developing position.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show the photosensitive drum 10
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing driving means and driving means for driving the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K, respectively, when driven and when not driven.

FIG. 8A shows the case where the shaft 106 (107) of the photosensitive drum 10 is supported at a predetermined position of the photosensitive drum supporting means 108 and 109 as shown in FIG.
The driven gear G, which is provided coaxially with the photoreceptor 06 and is integral with the photosensitive drum 10, is accurately coupled to the drive position of a drive gear G 1, which is a drive unit driven by a drive motor M provided in the image forming apparatus 100. Is done.

The developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14
K is also the developing device locking portion 141Y, 141M, 141.
C, 141K, the developing device 14
The driven gears G2, G3, G4, and G5, which are driven means provided on the Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K, are connected to the image forming apparatus 1.
The driving gears G6, G7, G8, G9, which are driving means driven by a driving motor M provided in the motor 00, are accurately coupled to the driving positions.

FIG. 8 (b) shows, as shown in FIG. 6, the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C and 14K are removed from predetermined positions, and the photosensitive drum 10 is also moved to the photosensitive drum moving frame 1.
05 shows a state in which the driven gears G2 and the driven gears G2 of the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are taken out in parallel.
G3, G4, G5 deviate from the drive gears G6, G7, G8, G9, and the driven gear G of the photosensitive drum 10 also deviates from the drive gear G1.

The photosensitive drum 10 and the developing units 14Y, 1
Since the rotation speeds of 4M, 14C, and 14K are different, the drive motor M is driven and rotated by using a plurality of speed reduction means, and between the drive motor M and each driven gear, an electromagnetic clutch or a spring clutch is used. Image formation is performed by controlling the rotation.

FIG. 9 shows a photosensitive drum moving frame and a guide member.
FIG. 4 is a front view showing a part of the guide support member.

For example, when the photosensitive drum 10 is replaced, the supporting projection 105 of the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 is replaced.
A, 105B are provided with locking holes 121, 122 provided in the release guide members 112A, 112B.
124 is disengaged against the springs S, S1, and the photosensitive drum moving frame 105 can be moved in the direction of the arrow to remove the photosensitive drum 10 from the image forming apparatus 100.

[0097]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a developing device for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier, and developing the electrostatic latent image with a developer. A support frame fixed to the image forming apparatus, a first support portion that directly supports the image carrier at an image forming position on the support frame body, and a second support that directly supports the developing device at a developing position And a first moving frame for moving the image carrier, and a second moving frame for moving the developing device.
When the image carrier is pulled out of the image forming position by the movable frame, the image carrier is supported by the first movable frame from the first support portion, is pulled out, and when pulled back, the image carrier is the first movable frame. When the developing device is pulled out of the developing position by the second moving frame, the developing device is moved from the second supporting portion to the second movable portion. The developing device supported by the second movable frame is directly supported by the second support portion when pulled out while being supported by the frame and pulled back, so that the developing device is fixed to the image forming apparatus. The image carrier and the developing device are mounted on a support frame provided by the first support portion and the second support portion.
By directly supporting the image carrier, the exposure position of the image carrier and the developing position with respect to the image carrier can be accurately maintained, and the first movable frame and the second movable frame are used for jam occurrence jam. It is possible to quickly pull out the image carrier and the developing device by using.

Further, by pulling back the image carrier and the developing device by the first moving frame and the second moving frame, the first support portion and the second
Since it can be directly supported by the support, the returning operation can be performed quickly.

According to the second aspect, the image carrier is accurately supported by a simple mechanism by directly supporting the shaft of the image carrier on the first support portion at the image forming position provided on the support frame. Since the optical path length can be set at the exposure position, the optical path length is always accurately maintained, and the pull-out and pull-back operations by the first moving frame can be smoothly performed.

[0100] In Claim 3, the shaft of the image carrier is directly supported on the first support portion at the image forming position provided on the support frame, so that the driven means of the image carrier is used for image formation. When the image carrier is returned to the image forming position after the jam processing is completed, the driven unit and the drive unit of the image carrier are always accurately coupled to each other by coupling to the driving unit provided in the apparatus. A good image can be obtained without any uneven rotation of the body.

10. The image carrier according to claim 4, wherein said second support portion at said developing position provided on said support frame directly supports locking members provided on both sides of said developing device. Can be accurately set at the developing position, and the pull-out and pull-back operations by the second moving frame can be smoothly performed.

The developing device according to claim 5, wherein locking members provided on both sides of the developing device are provided at the second position of the developing position provided on the support frame.
By directly supporting the developing device, the driven unit provided in the developing device is coupled to the driving unit provided in the image forming apparatus, so that the jam processing is completed and the developing device is returned to the developing position. Since the driven means and the driving means are always accurately coupled, a good image can be obtained without developing unevenness of the image carrier.

According to the present invention, since a plurality of the developing devices are provided, even if a plurality of developing devices are used, the developing position can be accurately adjusted by using the second support portion of the support frame. Can be retained.

[0104] According to claim 7, the first moving frame,
The operation of pulling out and pulling back the second moving frame is performed by moving the image forming apparatus in the horizontal direction, thereby holding the first moving frame holding the image carrier and the developing device. By performing the operation of pulling out and pulling back the second movable frame in the horizontal direction, the operation at the time of movement is easy and the operation of jam clearance is easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus equipped with an image bearing member and a developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a plurality of developing devices, which are main components of the present invention, an image carrier, and a supporting frame.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an image carrier of the present invention and a mechanism for moving the image carrier.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view including a photosensitive drum supporting unit that supports the image bearing member of the present invention and a photosensitive drum moving frame.

FIG. 5 is a front view in which the photosensitive drum of the present invention and a developing device are arranged at an image forming position.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the photosensitive drum according to the present invention and a developing device horizontally moved from an image forming position.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state where the developing device of the present invention is detached from the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a photosensitive drum and a driving unit of a developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a photosensitive drum moving frame and a part of a release guide member of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Image forming apparatus 10 Photoconductor drum (image carrier) 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K Developing devices 101Y, 101M, 101C, 101K Developing device support portions 103Y, 103M, 103C, 103K Developing device support portions 101, 103 Supporting frame Body 105 Photoconductor drum moving frame 105A, 105B Supporting projection 106, 107 Shaft 108, 109 Photoconductor drum support means 118, 119 Guide support member 112A, 112B Release guide member 141Y, 141M, 141C, 141K Developing device lock Units 1201, 1202 Dropping units 113, 114 Supporting projections 115, 116 Nipping locking units 118A, 119A Locking guide unit 141 Developing device moving frame L Locking projections G1, G6, G7, G8, G9 Drive gear G, G2, G3, G4, G5 Driven gear

Claims (7)

[Claims] A developing device for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image with a developer, wherein the developing device is fixed to the image forming device. A supporting frame body, a first supporting portion for directly supporting the image carrier at an image forming position, and a second supporting portion for directly supporting the developing device at a developing position. A first moving frame for moving the carrier, and a second moving frame for moving the developing device, wherein the image carrier is pulled out of the image forming position by the first moving frame. The image carrier is supported by the first movable frame from the first support portion and is pulled out. When the image carrier is pulled back, the image carrier supported by the first movable frame is directly moved to the first support portion. When the developing device is pulled out of the developing position by the second moving frame, The developing device is supported by the second moving frame and pulled out from the second support portion, and when retracted, the developing device supported by the second moving frame is directly supported by the second support portion. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shaft of the image carrier is directly supported on a first support portion at an image forming position provided on the support frame. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft of the image carrier is directly supported on a first support portion at an image forming position provided on the support frame, so that the driven means of the image carrier is provided in the image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is combined with a unit. 4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second support portion at a developing position provided on said support frame directly supports locking members provided on both sides of said developing device. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said locking means provided on both sides of said developing device is directly supported on a second support portion at a developing position provided on said support frame. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is coupled to a driving unit provided in the apparatus. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said developing devices are provided. 7. The operation of pulling out and pulling back the first moving frame and the second moving frame is performed by moving the image forming apparatus in a horizontal direction. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1.