Image forming device and apparatus

Abstract

To prevent an increase in the size of an image forming device even when a detachable unit long in an insertion direction is detachably installed in the image forming device.SOLUTION: A holding plate 70 (holding member) holding a connector 80 is pressed by a process cartridge 6 (detachable unit) in conjunction with an operation in which the process cartridge 6 is inserted into an image forming device body 100, and rotates from a reference position to a retreat position together with the connector 80 without contacting an ID chip 60 (information storage medium). After that, in conjunction with an operation in which the process cartridge 6 is located with respect to the image forming device body 100, pressing by the process cartridge 6 is released, and the holding plate 70 rotates from the retreat position to a contact position where the connector 80 is brought into contact with the ID chip 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a detachable unit such as a process cartridge is detachably installed, and to a device in which the detachable unit is detachably installed. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, it has been widely known that in image forming devices (machines) such as copiers and printers, detachable (replaceable) units such as process cartridges and developer containers (toner cartridges) are installed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such image forming devices (equipment), a technology is also widely known in which various information stored on information storage media such as an ID chip installed in the detachable unit is read by a reading device installed in the image forming device body, and the information is used in image forming operations.

[0003] On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which, in conjunction with the action of setting a toner cartridge from above into the image forming device main body, a locking member that is pushed by the toner cartridge and has a main body side terminal installed in the image forming device main body and is in a retracted position rotates around a rotation axis and connects to the cartridge side terminal of the toner cartridge. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology of Patent Document 1, the closer the information storage medium (cartridge side terminal) installed in the removable unit (toner cartridge) is positioned in the insertion direction (setting direction), the longer the holding member (locking member) on which the connector (main body side terminal) is installed must be formed in the insertion direction, which could result in the image forming device (equipment) becoming larger.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an image forming apparatus and equipment that are less likely to become large even when a detachable unit that is long in the insertion direction is installed in a detachable manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The image forming apparatus of this invention comprises a detachable unit in which an information storage medium is installed and which is detachably installed relative to the image forming apparatus main body; a connector which is installed in the image forming apparatus main body and to which the information storage medium is connected; and a holding member which holds the connector and is installed in the image forming apparatus main body so that it can rotate together with the connector around a support axis, and in conjunction with the operation of inserting the detachable unit into the image forming apparatus main body, the holding member is pushed by the detachable unit and rotates together with the connector from a reference position toward a retracted position without contacting the information storage medium, and then, in conjunction with the operation of positioning the detachable unit relative to the image forming apparatus main body, the pushing force by the detachable unit is released and the connector rotates from the retracted position toward a contact position where it contacts the information storage medium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and a device that are unlikely to become large even when a detachable unit that is long in the insertion direction is detachably installed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a process cartridge. [Figure 3] 3A to 3C are schematic diagrams illustrating a process cartridge in which an information storage medium is installed, viewed from three directions. [Figure 4] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing a connector installed in the image forming apparatus main body from three directions. [Figure 5]5A to 5C are schematic views showing the operation of mounting the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body. [Figure 6] 6A to 6C are schematic diagrams showing the operation of a connector linked to the operation of the process cartridge of FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be appropriately simplified or omitted.

[0010] First, referring to FIG. 1, the overall configuration and operation of an image forming apparatus 100 as a device will be described. In FIG. 1, 100 denotes a printer as an image forming device, 1 denotes a photosensitive drum on whose surface a toner image is formed, 6 denotes a process cartridge as a detachable unit in which the photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, and a cleaning device 2 are integrated, and 7 denotes an exposure section (writing section) that irradiates the photosensitive drum 1 with exposure light L based on image information input from an input device such as a personal computer. Also, 9 indicates a transfer roller that transfers the toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 onto a sheet P transported to the transfer nip portion (transfer position), and 12 indicates a paper feed device (paper feed cassette) that stores sheets P such as paper. Also, reference numeral 16 denotes a registration roller (timing roller) that conveys the sheet P toward the transfer nip portion where the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 9 abut, and 20 denotes a fixing device that fixes an unfixed image on the sheet P.

[0011] Here, a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 2, etc. are arranged around the photosensitive drum 1. These components (photosensitive drum 1, charging roller 4, developing device 5, and cleaning device 2) are integrated as a process cartridge 6 (detachable unit), which is installed so as to be detachable (replaceable) with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 100. When the process cartridge 6 reaches a predetermined replacement cycle or when maintenance is performed, it is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 100 and replaced with a new one (or one that has been maintained). The process cartridge 6 is attached and detached in this manner when the opening / closing cover 110 (which is installed on the image forming apparatus main body 100 so as to be rotatable around the shaft portion 110a) of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is open.

[0012] With reference to FIG. 1, the operation of image forming apparatus 100 as a device during normal image formation will be described. First, when image information is sent from an input device such as a personal computer to the exposure unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100, the exposure unit 7 emits exposure light L (laser light) based on the image information toward the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. Meanwhile, the photosensitive drum 1 receives drive from a drive motor installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100 and rotates in the direction of the arrow (clockwise). First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged at the position facing the charging roller 4 (charging process). In this way, a charging potential (approximately -900V) is formed on the photosensitive drum 1. Thereafter, the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches the position irradiated with the exposure light L. Then, the potential of the portion irradiated with the exposure light L becomes a latent image potential (approximately 0 to -100V), and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 (exposure process).

[0013] Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed reaches a position facing the developing device 5. Then, toner is supplied from the developing device 5 onto the photosensitive drum 1, and the latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed to form a toner image (developing process). Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the development process reaches a transfer nip portion (transfer position) with the transfer roller 9. Then, at the transfer nip portion with the transfer roller 9, a transfer bias (a bias with a polarity different from that of the toner) is applied from a power supply unit to the transfer roller 9, whereby the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the sheet P conveyed by the registration roller 16 (transfer process).

[0014] After the transfer process, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches a position facing the cleaning device 2. At this position, untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 is mechanically removed by a cleaning blade 2a (see FIG. 2) and collected in the cleaning device 2 (this is the cleaning process). Thus, a series of image forming processes on the photosensitive drum 1 is completed.

[0015] On the other hand, the sheet P conveyed to the transfer nip portion between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 9 operates as follows. First, the uppermost sheet of the sheets P stored in the sheet feeding device 12 is fed by the sheet feeding roller 15 toward the conveyance path. Thereafter, the sheet P reaches the position of the registration rollers 16. Then, the sheet P that has reached the position of the registration rollers 16 is transported toward the transfer nip portion (the position where the transfer roller 9 and the photosensitive drum 1 contact each other) in time to be aligned with the image formed on the photosensitive drum 1.

[0016] After the transfer process, the sheet P passes through the transfer nip portion (transfer roller 9) and then travels through a conveying path to reach the fixing device 20. The sheet P that has reached the fixing device 20 is fed between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22, where the image is fixed by the heat received from the fixing roller 21 and the pressure received from both members 21 and 22. The sheet P with the fixed image is sent out from between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22 (the fixing nip portion), and then discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100 and placed on a paper output tray. In this way, a series of image forming processes is completed.

[0017] Next, the process cartridge 6 as a detachable unit in the image forming apparatus will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 6 is made up of a photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier, a charging roller 4 (charging device), a developing device 5, a cleaning device 2, and the like. The photosensitive drum 1 serving as an image carrier is a negatively charged organic photosensitive member, and receives a driving force from a driving motor installed on the apparatus main body 100 side and is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG.

[0018] The charging roller 4 (charging device) is an elastic roller having a medium-resistance foamed urethane layer formed on a core metal, the foamed urethane layer being made of a mixture of urethane resin, carbon black as conductive particles, a sulfide agent, a foaming agent, etc. The medium-resistance layer of the charging roller 4 can be made of rubber materials such as urethane, ethylene-propylene-diene polyethylene (EPDM), butadiene acrylonitrile rubber (NBR), silicone rubber, or isoprene rubber with conductive materials such as carbon black or metal oxide dispersed therein to adjust the resistance, or foamed versions of these materials. In this embodiment, the charging roller 4 is configured to contact the photosensitive drum 1, but it can also be configured so that the charging roller 4 does not contact the photosensitive drum 1. The cleaning device 2 is equipped with a cleaning blade 2a that comes into sliding contact with the photosensitive drum 1, and mechanically removes and collects untransferred toner from the photosensitive drum 1. The cleaning blade 2a is a substantially plate-shaped member made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber, and comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 1 at a predetermined contact pressure and angle.

[0019] The developing device 5 is arranged so that a developing roller 51 serving as a developer carrier comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 1 with a predetermined pressure, and a developing area is formed between the two members 1 and 51 (developing nip). The developing device 5 contains toner T (a non-magnetic or magnetic one-component developer) serving as a developer. The developing device 5 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 (to form a toner image).

[0020] The developing device 5 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 2, developing device 5 in this embodiment is a contact one-component developing device, and is installed as a process cartridge 6 together with other image forming members 1, 2, and 4 in an apparatus main body 100 so as to be detachable (replaceable). The developing device 5 is made up of a developing roller 51 as a developer carrier, a supply roller 52 as a developer supply member, a doctor blade 53 as a developer regulating member, etc. Inside the developing device 5, toner T (developer) is stored. The developing roller 51 (developer carrier) is disposed so as to come into contact with the photosensitive drum 1, and rotates in a predetermined direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 2) while carrying toner, supplying the toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1. The developing roller 51 may be one having a roller portion made of an elastic material mounted on a rotating shaft portion (core metal) made of a conductive metal material such as stainless steel. The supply roller 52 (developer supply member) is disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the developing roller 51, and supplies toner to the developing roller 51. The supply roller 52 has a core metal on which a conductive foamed polyurethane layer (electrical resistance value of 10 3 ~10 14 The supply roller 52 also functions to remove from the developing roller 51 any toner on the developing roller 51 that has not been used in the developing process in the developing area with the photosensitive drum 1. The doctor blade 53 (developer regulating member) is arranged so that its tip contacts the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 51 at a predetermined angle with a pressure of approximately 10 to 100 N / m, thereby regulating the amount of toner carried by the developing roller 51.

[0021] Here, a predetermined voltage is applied from a power supply to the developing roller 51, the supply roller 52, and the doctor blade 53, promoting electrostatic movement of the toner on the developing roller 51. In this embodiment, an alternating current voltage (a square wave with an AC frequency of about 500 to 1000 Hz, a peak-to-peak voltage of about 500 to 3000 V, and an application time duty of about 30 to 70%) is applied to the developing roller 51 so that the toner moves back and forth between the developing roller 51 and the photosensitive drum 1 in the development area. Although this embodiment is configured to apply an AC voltage to the developing roller 51, it is also possible to configure to apply a DC voltage of about −100 to −500 V to the developing roller 51.

[0022] The developing device 5 is also provided with an agitating paddle 54 (rotating member) for agitating and transporting the toner T contained therein. The agitating paddle 54 is provided with gears, similar to the developing roller 51 and the supply roller 52, and a gear train including an idler gear is formed. A driving force is input to this gear train from a drive motor (driving means), and the developing roller 51, the supply roller 52, and the agitating paddle 54 are each driven to rotate in the directions of the arrows in FIG. 2.

[0023] The developing device 5 configured as above operates as follows during a normal developing process. First, a portion of the toner contained in the developing device 5 is supplied to and carried by the supply roller 52. The toner carried by the supply roller 52 is frictionally charged at the contact point (contact position) with the developing roller 51, and then moves onto the developing roller 51 and is carried thereon. The toner carried on the developing roller 51 is then thinned, made uniform, and frictionally charged at the contact position with the doctor blade 53, before reaching the position facing the photosensitive drum 1 (development area). At this position, the toner is attracted to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 by the electric field (development electric field) formed in the development area.

[0024] The characteristic configuration and operation of image forming apparatus 100 as a device in this embodiment will be described in detail below. As previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment has a process cartridge 6 as a detachable unit detachably mounted on the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus. 3, 5, etc., the process cartridge 6 serving as a detachable unit has an ID chip 60 serving as an information storage medium mounted on a side surface 6a thereof. This ID chip 60 (information storage medium) stores in advance information such as the manufacturing date and manufacturing lot number of each device that makes up the process cartridge 6 (photosensitive drum 1, charging roller 4, developing device 5, cleaning device 2), information such as the manufacturing date, manufacturing lot number, color, and type of the toner contained in the developing device 5, and information such as the manufacturing date, destination, manufacturing factory, and whether or not the process cartridge 6 itself has been recycled.

[0025] Meanwhile, a connector 80 to which an ID chip 60 (information storage medium) is connected is installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100. This connector 80 is used to exchange information between the ID chip 60 and a control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and functions as a part of a reading / writing device that reads information stored in the ID chip 60 and writes information from the main body side to the ID chip 60. The information stored in the ID chip 60 is then sent to the control unit (device main body 100). Furthermore, information such as the usage history of the image forming device 100 is also sent from the control unit (device main body 100) to the ID chip 60, and the information is stored in the ID chip 60 as appropriate.

[0026] 4 to 6, in this embodiment, image forming apparatus main body 100 is provided with holding plate 70 as a holding member that holds connector 80. This holding plate 70 (holding member) is provided in image forming apparatus main body 100 so as to be rotatable together with connector 80 around support shaft 75. In addition, a protective plate 90 serving as a protective member for covering the connector 80 as seen in the insertion direction (+X direction) is provided on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 100 in the insertion direction (+X direction) in which the process cartridge 6 (detachable unit) is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 100. This protective plate 90 (protective member) is provided rotatably about a support shaft 75, which will be described in detail later.

[0027] Referring to Figures 4 and 6, the holding plate 70 serving as a holding member is made by bending a plate material made of a resin material, and is mainly composed of a base portion 71, a first bent portion 72 which also functions as a fitting portion, a second bent portion 73 in which an abutment portion 73a is formed, and the like. The base portion 71 has a root portion rotatably held by a support shaft 75 and extends in a direction away from the support shaft 75 . The first bent portion 72 is a portion bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the base portion 71 extends, and supports a box-shaped connector 80 together with the base portion 71. The first bent portion 72 is formed so that its tip (the tip facing away from the base portion 71) fits into a recess 62 (fitting portion) formed in the side surface 6a of the process cartridge 6 when the process cartridge 6 is positioned in the image forming apparatus main body 100 (see FIG. 6C, etc.). That is, the holding plate 70 is formed with a fitted portion that can fit into the recess 62 serving as the fitting portion of the process cartridge 6. A harness (not shown) connected to a control unit (control plate) of the image forming apparatus main body 100 extends from the connector 80. The second bent portion 73 is a portion that is bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the base portion 71 extends, at a position farther from the support shaft 75 than the first bent portion 72, and is a portion that temporarily comes into contact with the process cartridge 6 when the process cartridge 6 is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body 100. The second bent portion 73 also has an abutment portion 73a that abuts against and pushes against an abutted portion 91 of the protective plate 90 (protective member), thereby rotating the protective plate 90 together with the holding plate 70 around the support shaft 75. 4(B) (the direction in which the holding plate 70 rotates to a reference position, which will be described later), one arm of the torsion coil spring 76 is connected to the holding plate 70, and the other arm is connected to the housing of the device main body 100.

[0028] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 5(A), (B), 6(A), and (B), the holding plate 70 as a holding member is pushed by the process cartridge 6 in conjunction with the insertion of the process cartridge 6 (detachable unit) into the image forming apparatus main body 100, and rotates from the reference position (the position in Figure 6(A)) to the retracted position (the position in Figure 6(B)) together with the connector 80 without coming into contact with the ID chip 60 (information storage medium). Then, as shown in Figures 5(B), (C), 6(B), and (C), in conjunction with the operation of positioning the process cartridge 6 (detachable unit) relative to the image forming apparatus main body 100 (the operation of determining the final fixed position), the pushing motion of the retaining plate 70 by the process cartridge 6 is released and the retaining plate 70 rotates from the retracted position (the position in Figure 6(B)) toward the contact position (the position in Figure 6(C)) where the connector 80 contacts the ID chip 60 (information storage medium). The contact position shown in FIG. 6(C) is set to a position closer to the retracted position shown in FIG. 6(B) than to the reference position shown in FIG. 6(A).

[0029] 5(A) to 5(C), in this embodiment, the process cartridge 6 (detachable unit) is inserted obliquely downward along a rail portion (not shown) into the image forming apparatus main body 100 until it abuts against an abutment portion 120 of the image forming apparatus main body 100. After being inserted in this manner, the process cartridge 6 is rotated downward in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5(C) about the abutment portion 120 to be positioned relative to the image forming apparatus main body 100. At this time, although not shown, a positioned portion formed on the process cartridge 6 fits into a positioning portion formed on the image forming apparatus main body 100. Then, in conjunction with this operation of positioning the process cartridge 6 (detachable unit) relative to the image forming apparatus main body 100, the tip of the first bent portion 72, which functions as the fitted portion, fits into the recess 62 (a fitting portion formed in the vicinity of the upper part of the ID chip 60) of the process cartridge 6. This allows the position of the ID chip 60 in the image forming apparatus main body 100 to be determined with high precision. Therefore, the multiple connector terminals 81 formed on the connector 80 are connected with the multiple medium-side terminals 61 of the ID chip 60 with high precision, respectively, preventing information communication failure due to poor connection.

[0030] 5(A) and other figures, in this embodiment, the connector 80 has a plurality of connector terminals 81 (four connector terminals 81 connected to four medium-side terminals 61 in this embodiment), which are respectively connected to a plurality of medium-side terminals 61 of the ID chip 60 (information storage medium), and which are arranged in a row along the direction in which the process cartridge 6 (detachable unit) is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 100. In other words, the four connector terminals 81 are arranged at intervals approximately in the X direction. The connector terminals 81 are elastically deformable leaf spring members that are held in the main body of the connector 80 with their roots at the top in the Z direction. Therefore, the connector terminals 81 are relatively strong against sliding resistance in the Z direction but relatively weak against sliding resistance in the X direction. However, when the process cartridge 6 is inserted (or pulled out), the connector 80 (connector terminals 81) moves to a retracted position where it does not come into contact with the ID chip 60 (medium-side terminals 61). Therefore, no sliding resistance occurs between the connector 80 (connector terminals 81) and the ID chip 60 (medium-side terminals 61). Furthermore, sliding resistance occurs between the connector 80 (connector terminals 81) and the ID chip 60 (medium-side terminals 61) only when the process cartridge 6 moves approximately in the Z direction (when it rotates about the abutment portion 120). Therefore, the connector 80 (connector terminals 81) will not be damaged by the sliding resistance in the approximately Z direction.

[0031] As described above, the image forming apparatus main body 100 is provided with a protective plate 90 rotatable about the support shaft 75 on the front side in the insertion direction (+X direction) in which the process cartridge 6 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 100. The protective plate 90 covers the connector 80 as seen in the insertion direction (+X direction). The protective plate 90 is rotatably supported on the support shaft 75 separately from the holding plate 70. By providing such a protective plate 90, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally touching the connector 80 and damaging it when attaching or detaching the process cartridge 6.

[0032] Referring to Figure 6, the protective plate 90 as a protective member is pushed by the holding plate 70 (holding member) (the abutment portion 91 is pushed by the second bending portion 73) in conjunction with the insertion of the process cartridge 6 (detachable unit) into the image forming apparatus main body 100, and rotates together with the holding plate 70 around the support shaft 75 from the reference position (the position in Figure 6(A)) to the retracted position (the position in Figure 6(B)) without coming into contact with the ID chip 60 (information storage medium). As shown in Figures 6(B) and (C), the protective plate 90 is not linked to the subsequent operation of positioning the process cartridge 6 (detachable unit) relative to the image forming apparatus main body 100, and even if the pushing motion of the holding plate 70 (holding member) is released, its movement is restricted by the protrusion 6c of the process cartridge 6 that has moved to the positioning position, and it remains in the retracted position (the position shown in Figures 6(B) and (C)). In this way, when the process cartridge 6 is finally positioned in the image forming apparatus main body 100, the protective plate 90 is kept in the retracted position without moving to the contact position, thereby preventing the protective plate 90 from accidentally contacting the ID chip 60.

[0033] The operation of mounting the process cartridge 6 into the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the operations of the holding plate 70 and the protection plate 90 associated with this will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, when the process cartridge 6 is not set in the image forming apparatus main body 100, the holding plate 70 and the protection plate 90 are located at the reference position shown in Figures 5(A) and 6(A). This reference position is a position where the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 76 causes the holding plate 70 to come into contact with a contact portion (not shown) formed on the housing of the image forming apparatus 100. Then, as shown in Figures 5(A) and 6(A), with the opening / closing cover 110 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 open, the user inserts the process cartridge 6 into the image forming apparatus main body 100 through the opening with the process cartridge 6 tilted downward in the insertion direction (+X direction). 5(B) and 6(B), the process cartridge 6 is inserted until it abuts against the abutment portion 120 of the image forming apparatus main body 100. During this insertion process, the side surface 6a of the process cartridge 6 abuts against the second bent portion 73 of the holding plate 70, and the holding plate 70 together with the protective plate 90 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 6 around the support shaft 75 toward the retracted position. At this time, the position where the side surface 6a of the process cartridge 6 begins to abut against the second bent portion 73 of the holding plate 70 and the retracted positions of the holding plate 70 and the protective plate 90 are sufficiently distant from the position of the ID chip 60, so that the holding plate 70 and the protective plate 90 do not come into contact with the ID chip 60. Furthermore, a tapered portion 6x (see Figure 3(A)) is formed at the end of the side surface 6a of the process cartridge 6 in the insertion direction (+X direction), and a tapered portion 73b (see Figure 4(A)) is also formed at the end of the second bent portion 73 of the holding plate 70 in the removal direction (-X direction). Therefore, during the insertion process, the side surface 6a of the process cartridge 6 smoothly abuts against the second bent portion 73 of the holding plate 70, thereby reducing frictional resistance at that time. As shown in FIGS. 5C and 6C, when the process cartridge 6 abuts against the abutment portion 120, the user rotates the process cartridge 6 clockwise in FIG. 5 around the abutment portion 120 along a guide member (not shown). This causes the second bent portion 73 of the holding plate 70 to move away from the side surface 6a of the process cartridge 6 and above the stepped surface 6b (see FIGS. 3B and 3C). This releases the process cartridge 6 (side surface 6a) from pressing against the holding plate 70, causing the holding plate 70 to rotate clockwise in FIG. 6 around the support shaft 75 from the retracted position toward the contact position. The position of the process cartridge 6 in the image forming apparatus main body 100 is then finally determined. At this time, the position of the holding plate 70 relative to the process cartridge 6 is also determined at the position where the first bent portion 72 of the holding plate 70 fits into the recess 62 of the process cartridge 6. The protective plate 90 does not rotate together with the holding plate 70 to the contact position, but remains stopped at the retracted position. Thereafter, the opening / closing cover 110 is closed, and the image forming operation described above with reference to FIG. 1 is ready to begin.

[0034] Since the image forming apparatus 100 in this embodiment is configured in this manner, even if the ID chip 60 installed in the process cartridge 6 is located on the near side in the insertion direction (-X direction), the holding plate 70 (holding member) on which the connector 80 is installed does not need to be formed long in the insertion direction (X direction) according to its position, thereby reducing the problem of the image forming apparatus 100 (equipment) becoming larger in the insertion direction.

[0035] Up to this point, we have explained the operation of installing the process cartridge 6 into the image forming apparatus main body 100, but when the process cartridge 6 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 100, the reverse operation to that performed when installing is performed. That is, in conjunction with the operation of releasing the positioning of the process cartridge 6 (removable unit) relative to the image forming apparatus main body 100 (the operation of moving from the position shown in FIG. 5C to the position shown in FIG. 5B), the retaining plate 70 (retaining member) is pushed by the process cartridge 6 (side surface 6a) and rotates from the contact position (the position shown in FIG. 6C) to the retracted position (the position shown in FIG. 6B). At this time, the pushing of the protective plate 90 by the protrusion 6c of the process cartridge 6 is also released. Furthermore, the tapered portion 6x (see FIG. 3A) formed at the end of the side surface 6a of the process cartridge 6 in the insertion direction (+X direction) contacts the tapered portion 73b (see FIG. 4A) formed at the second bent portion 73 of the retaining plate 70 in the insertion direction (+X direction), allowing the side surface 6a of the process cartridge 6 to smoothly abut against the second bent portion 73 of the retaining plate 70, thereby reducing frictional resistance. Thereafter, in conjunction with the operation of pulling out the process cartridge 6 (removable unit) with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 100 (the operation of moving from the position in FIG. 5(B) to the position in FIG. 5(A)), the holding plate 70 is released from the pushing force of the process cartridge 6 (side surface 6a) and rotates from the retracted position (position in FIG. 6(B)) to the reference position (position in FIG. 6(A)). At this time, the protective plate 90 rotates from the retracted position (position in FIG. 6(B)) to the reference position (position in FIG. 6(A)) due to its own weight, but a second biasing member (for example, a torsion coil spring wound around the support shaft 75) that rotates the protective plate 90 to the reference position may be provided separately from the torsion coil spring 76 that serves as the biasing member that rotates the holding plate 70 to the reference position.

[0036] As described above, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, an ID chip 60 (information storage medium) is installed in a process cartridge 6 (removable unit) that is detachably installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100. A connector 80 to which the ID chip 60 is connected is also installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100. A holding plate 70 (holding member) that holds the connector 80 and is rotatable together with the connector 80 about a support shaft 75 is also installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100. In conjunction with the insertion of the process cartridge 6 into the image forming apparatus main body 100, the holding plate 70 is pushed by the process cartridge 6 and rotates together with the connector 80 from the reference position toward the retracted position without contacting the ID chip 60. Thereafter, in conjunction with the positioning of the process cartridge 6 relative to the image forming apparatus main body 100, the pushing of the process cartridge 6 by the process cartridge 6 is released, and the holding plate 70 rotates from the retracted position toward a contact position where the connector 80 contacts the ID chip 60. This prevents the image forming apparatus 100 from becoming large even when a process cartridge 6 (detachable unit) that is long in the insertion direction is detachably installed.

[0037] In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge 6, in which a photosensitive drum 1 (image carrier), a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, and a cleaning device 2 are integrated, is installed as a detachable unit in an image forming apparatus main body 100. However, the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus in which other detachable units (for example, the developing device 5 or a developer container such as a toner container) are installed in an detachable manner in the image forming apparatus main body. In this application, a "process cartridge" is defined as a unit that is detachably installed in the image forming apparatus main body, and that integrates at least one of a charging device that charges an image carrier, a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the image carrier, and a cleaning device that cleans the image carrier, with the image carrier.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a monochrome image forming apparatus 100 in which a toner image is transferred onto a sheet P by one image forming unit (process cartridge 6). However, the present invention can also be applied to a color image forming apparatus in which a toner image is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer body such as an intermediate transfer belt by multiple image forming units, and then the toner image is secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer body onto a sheet. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can naturally be applied to other types of image forming apparatuses (for example, inkjet type image forming apparatuses, stencil printing machines, etc.). Furthermore, in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to image forming apparatus 100, but the present invention can also be applied to other devices as long as a detachable unit having an information storage medium installed therein is detachably installed in the device main body having a connector installed therein. In such cases, the same effect as that of this embodiment can be obtained.

[0039] It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and it is clear that the present embodiment can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention in addition to the modifications suggested in the present embodiment. Furthermore, the number, position, shape, etc. of the components are not limited to the present embodiment, and the number, position, shape, etc. of the components can be any number, position, shape, etc. that is suitable for implementing the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 6 Process cartridge (detachable unit), 6a side, 6b Step surface, 6c protrusion, 60 ID chip (information storage medium), 61 Media side terminal, 62 recess (fitting portion), 70 retaining plate (retaining member), 71 base part, 72 first bent portion (fitted portion), 73 second bend, 73a Contact part, 75 spindle, 80 connectors, 81 connector terminal, 90 Protective plate (protective member), 91 Abutted part, 100 Image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body), 110 Opening and closing cover, 120 Stop part.

[0041] The present invention can also be embodied in a combination of Supplementary Notes 1 to 8, as follows. (Appendix 1) a detachable unit in which an information storage medium is installed and which is detachably installed in the image forming apparatus main body; a connector that is installed in the image forming apparatus main body and to which the information storage medium is connected; a holding member that holds the connector and is installed on the image forming apparatus body so as to be rotatable together with the connector around a support shaft; Equipped with The holding member is In conjunction with the operation of inserting the detachable unit into the image forming apparatus main body, the detachable unit is pushed and rotated together with the connector from the reference position toward the retracted position without contacting the information storage medium, Thereafter, in conjunction with the operation of positioning the detachable unit relative to the image forming device main body, the pushing force by the detachable unit is released and the connector rotates from the retracted position toward a contact position where it contacts the information storage medium. (Appendix 2) The holding member is a mating portion that can be mated with the mating portion of the detachable unit, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mating portion is mated with the mating portion in conjunction with an operation of positioning the detachable unit relative to the image forming apparatus main body. (Appendix 3) The image forming apparatus described in Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, characterized in that the detachable unit is inserted diagonally downward into the image forming apparatus main body until it hits a stop portion of the image forming apparatus main body, and then rotated downward around the stop portion to be positioned relative to the image forming apparatus main body. (Appendix 4) The image forming apparatus described in any one of Appendix 1 to Appendix 3, characterized in that the connector has multiple connector terminals that are respectively connected to multiple medium-side terminals of the information storage medium, arranged in a row along the direction in which the detachable unit is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body. (Appendix 5) a protection member for covering the connector as viewed in the insertion direction, the protection member being rotatable about the support shaft, the protection member being disposed on a front side of the image forming apparatus main body in an insertion direction in which the detachable unit is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body; The protective member is In conjunction with the operation of inserting the detachable unit into the image forming apparatus main body, the detachable unit is pushed by the holding member and rotates from the reference position toward the retracted position without contacting the information storage medium, An image forming apparatus as described in any one of Appendix 1 to Appendix 4, characterized in that the detachable unit remains in the retracted position even after the pushing motion of the holding member is released, without being linked to the operation of positioning the detachable unit relative to the image forming apparatus main body. (Appendix 6) The holding member is In conjunction with an operation of releasing the position of the detachable unit relative to the image forming apparatus main body, the detachable unit is pushed and rotated from the contact position toward the retracted position, An image forming apparatus as described in any one of Appendix 1 to Appendix 5, characterized in that thereafter, in conjunction with the operation of pulling out the detachable unit relative to the image forming apparatus main body, the pushing motion by the detachable unit is released and the unit rotates from the retracted position to the reference position. (Appendix 7) the detachable unit is one of a process cartridge, a developing device, and a developer container, 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information storage medium is an ID chip. (Appendix 8) a detachable unit in which an information storage medium is installed and which is detachably installed in the device body; a connector that is installed in the device body and to which the information storage medium is connected; a holding member that holds the connector and is installed on the device body so as to be rotatable together with the connector around a support shaft; Equipped with The holding member is In conjunction with the operation of inserting the detachable unit into the device body, the detachable unit is pushed and rotated together with the connector from the reference position toward the retracted position without contacting the information storage medium, Thereafter, in conjunction with the operation of positioning the detachable unit relative to the device body, the pushing force by the detachable unit is released and the connector rotates from the retracted position toward a contact position where it contacts the information storage medium. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0042] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-25910

Claims

1. a detachable unit in which an information storage medium is installed and which is detachably installed in the image forming apparatus main body; a connector that is installed in the image forming apparatus main body and to which the information storage medium is connected; a holding member that holds the connector and is installed on the image forming apparatus body so as to be rotatable together with the connector around a support shaft; Equipped with The holding member is In conjunction with the operation of inserting the detachable unit into the image forming apparatus main body, the detachable unit is pushed and rotated together with the connector from the reference position toward the retracted position without contacting the information storage medium, Thereafter, in conjunction with the operation of positioning the detachable unit relative to the image forming device main body, the pushing force by the detachable unit is released and the connector rotates from the retracted position toward a contact position where it contacts the information storage medium.

2. The holding member is a mating portion that can be mated with the mating portion of the detachable unit, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mating portion is mated with the mating portion in conjunction with an operation of positioning the detachable unit relative to the image forming apparatus main body.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the detachable unit is inserted diagonally downward into the image forming apparatus body until it hits a stop portion of the image forming apparatus body, and then rotated downward around the stop portion to be positioned relative to the image forming apparatus body.

4. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connector has a plurality of connector terminals, each of which is connected to a plurality of medium-side terminals of the information storage medium, arranged in a row along the direction in which the detachable unit is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body.

5. a protection member for covering the connector as viewed in the insertion direction, the protection member being rotatable about the support shaft, the protection member being disposed on a front side of the image forming apparatus main body in an insertion direction in which the detachable unit is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body; The protective member is In conjunction with the operation of inserting the detachable unit into the image forming apparatus main body, the detachable unit is pushed by the holding member and rotates from the reference position toward the retracted position without contacting the information storage medium, 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detachable unit remains in the retracted position even after the pushing of the holding member is released, without being linked to the operation of positioning the detachable unit relative to the image forming apparatus main body.

6. The holding member is In conjunction with an operation of releasing the position of the detachable unit relative to the image forming apparatus main body, the detachable unit is pushed and rotated from the contact position toward the retracted position, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the pushing force of the detachable unit is then released in conjunction with the operation of pulling the detachable unit out relative to the image forming apparatus main body, and the detachable unit rotates from the retracted position to the reference position.

7. the detachable unit is one of a process cartridge, a developing device, and a developer container, 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information storage medium is an ID chip.

8. a detachable unit in which an information storage medium is installed and which is detachably installed in the device body; a connector that is installed in the device body and to which the information storage medium is connected; a holding member that holds the connector and is installed on the device body so as to be rotatable together with the connector around a support shaft; Equipped with The holding member is In conjunction with the operation of inserting the detachable unit into the device body, the detachable unit is pushed and rotated together with the connector from the reference position toward the retracted position without contacting the information storage medium, Thereafter, in conjunction with the operation of positioning the detachable unit relative to the device body, the pushing force by the detachable unit is released and the connector rotates from the retracted position toward a contact position where it contacts the information storage medium.

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