Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body having an opening; a moving member that holds the cartridge and is movable between a receiving position and an exposing position through the opening; an opening / closing portion configured to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position and including a first support portion and a second support portion, the first support portion and the second support portion supporting the moving member in the exposed position; and a metal member mounted to the opening / closing portion and facing the moving member in a state in which the moving member is in the exposed position and supported by the first and second support portions. The metal member is provided between the first support portion and the second support portion in a rotation axis direction of the opening / closing portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an image forming apparatus is known which has a structure in which a plurality of cartridges are arranged on a moving member such as a removable tray, and the moving member is pulled out to the outside of the apparatus main body so that the cartridges can be installed or removed.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-128506 discloses a support portion that supports the moving member when the moving member holding the cartridge is pulled out to the outside of the apparatus main body. Summary of the Invention

[0004] When the moving member pulled out to the outside of the apparatus main body is stably supported, a user can stably install a cartridge onto the moving member and remove the cartridge from the moving member.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a moving member is stably supported when pulled out from the apparatus main body.

[0006] To achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes:

[0007] An apparatus main body having an opening;

[0008] A moving member to which a cartridge is removably attached, the moving member being configured to hold the cartridge and movable through the opening between a storage position where the cartridge is housed inside the apparatus main body and an exposure position where the cartridge is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body;

[0009] An open / close portion configured to be rotatable between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening, the open / close portion including a first support portion and a second support portion that support the moving member located at the exposure position; and

[0010] A metal member attached to the open / close portion, the metal member being configured to face the moving member in a state where the moving member is located at the exposure position and supported by the first support portion and the second support portion,

[0011] wherein the metal member is placed between the first support portion and the second support portion in a direction along the rotation axis of the open / close portion.

[0012] According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus can be provided in which a moving member is stably supported when pulled out from the apparatus main body.

[0013] Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment;

[0015] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment;

[0016] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the appearance of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment in a state where the main body door is open;

[0017] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment in a state where the main body door is open;

[0018] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a metal member according to the first embodiment;

[0019] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the main body door provided with the metal member according to the first embodiment;

[0020] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a tray according to the first embodiment;

[0021] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a holding member of the tray according to the first embodiment;

[0022] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the appearance of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment in a state where the tray is pulled out;

[0023] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment in a state where the tray is pulled out;

[0024] Figure 11 is a perspective view of the main body door provided with the metal member according to the second embodiment; and

[0025] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment in a state where the tray is pulled out. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments (examples), features, and aspects of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of the components described in the embodiments may be appropriately changed according to the structure of the apparatus to which the present disclosure is applied, various conditions, etc. Therefore, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of the components described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure to the following embodiments.

[0027] First Embodiment

[0028] (Image forming apparatus)

[0029] First, an image forming apparatus including a cartridge according to the present invention will be described. An image forming apparatus generally refers to an apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium using various known image forming principles and methods (e.g., electrophotographic process, electrostatic recording process, and magnetic recording process). For example, the image forming apparatus includes a copying machine, a printer (e.g., a laser printer and a light emitting diode (LED) printer), a facsimile machine, a word processor, an image display device (electronic blackboard and electronic whiteboard), etc. A recording medium is an object on which an image is to be formed by the image forming apparatus, and includes paper, overhead transparency (OHT) sheets, image display media, etc.

[0030] A cartridge is an object that can be mounted on the apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus and detached from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. The cartridge is removably mounted on the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus and participates in the image forming process of forming an image on a recording medium. The apparatus main body is a component of the cartridge type image forming apparatus other than the cartridge.

[0031] Examples of the image bearing member include an electrophotographic photosensitive member in the electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording dielectric in the electrostatic recording process, a magnetic recording magnet in the magnetic recording process, and other members that can form an image according to various image forming principles and methods. The image forming processing unit is a device that acts on the image bearing member to form an image.

[0032] Now, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of the image forming apparatus 100. Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 as viewed from the left side. The image forming apparatus 100 is a four-color full-color laser printer (electrophotographic image forming apparatus) using the electrophotographic process, and includes first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) as a plurality of cartridges.

[0033] The image forming apparatus 100 is a color printer capable of forming a four-color full-color image or a monochromatic image on a sheet-like recording medium (sheet: hereinafter referred to as a recording material) S. The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on the recording material S based on an electrical image signal output from an external host device 400 and input to a control section 200 via an interface section 300. The external host device 400 may be, for example, a personal computer, an image reader, or a counterparty facsimile device.

[0034] The control section 200 is a control unit that controls the electrophotographic image forming process of the image forming apparatus 100, and transmits various types of electrical information to and receives various types of electrical information from an external host apparatus 400. It also controls the processing of electrical information input from various processing devices and sensors, the processing of command signals to various processing devices, a predetermined initial sequence process, a sequence of a predetermined electrophotographic image forming process, and the like.

[0035] In the following description, the front side (front surface side) of the image forming apparatus 100 is the side where the apparatus opening / closing door (main body door) 31 is provided. The rear side (rear surface side) is the side opposite to the front side (front surface side). The front-rear direction refers to the direction from the rear side to the front side (front direction) of the image forming apparatus 100 and its opposite direction (rear direction). Left and right refer to the left and right when the image forming apparatus 100 is viewed from the front. The left-right direction refers to the direction from right to left (left direction) and its opposite direction (right direction). Up and down refer to up and down along the direction of gravity (vertical direction). The upward direction is the direction from the bottom to the top, and the downward direction is the direction from the top to the bottom. The longitudinal direction is the direction parallel to the rotation axis direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, which is an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed. The longitudinal direction is parallel to the left-right direction. The lateral direction is the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (orthogonal direction).

[0036] The cassette accommodating portion 100B is provided in the apparatus main body (main body frame) 100A of the image forming apparatus 100. In the cassette accommodating portion 100B, four cassettes, i.e., the first to fourth cassettes PY, PM, PC, and PK, are horizontally arranged from the rear side to the front side of the apparatus main body 100A and are mounted at predetermined mounting positions in a predetermined manner. This structure may be referred to as an in-line structure, and the image forming apparatus constructed in this way may be referred to as a tandem type. The mounting position of the cassette P refers to the position in the cassette accommodating portion 100B where the cassette P can perform an image forming operation.

[0037] The cassette P participates in the image forming process for forming an image on the recording material S and is removably mounted to the apparatus main body 100A of the image forming apparatus 100 for use. Each cassette P of the first embodiment has a photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as a drum) 1, which is a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member serving as an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed. The cassette P is a so-called integrated processing cassette, which includes a charging section 2, a developing section 3, and a cleaning section 4 as electrophotographic image forming processing sections for acting on the drum 1. In the first embodiment, the axial direction (rotation axis direction) of the rotatable drum 1 is substantially parallel to the left-right direction.

[0038] In the first embodiment, the charging unit 2 is a contact charging roller. The developing unit 3 is a contact or non-contact type developing device, which includes a developing roller and a developer storage section. The developing roller serves as a developer carrier member for supplying the developer to the drum 1 and developing the latent image into a developer image, and the developer storage section stores the developer. The cleaning unit 4 is a blade cleaning device including a cleaning blade as a cleaning member and a waste toner storage section.

[0039] Each cartridge P having a similar electrophotographic processing mechanism including the image forming processing device as described above contains a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) of a different color. That is, the first cartridge PY contains yellow (Y) toner in the developing unit 3 and forms a Y toner image on the surface of the drum 1. The second cartridge PM contains magenta (M) toner in the developing unit 3 and forms an M toner image on the surface of the drum 1. The third cartridge PC contains cyan (C) toner in the developing unit 3 and forms a C toner image on the surface of the drum 1. The fourth cartridge PK contains black (K) toner in the developing unit 3 and forms a K toner image on the surface of the drum 1.

[0040] The laser scanner unit 11 is disposed above the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, and serves as an exposure device unit (exposure section) for exposing the drum 1 of each cartridge P to form a latent image. The laser scanner unit 11 outputs a laser modulated according to the image information of each color input from an external host device 400 to the control section 200, and scans and exposes the surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge P through an exposure window 6 provided on the upper surface of the cartridge frame 5.

[0041] The intermediate transfer unit 12 is disposed below the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK and serves as a transfer unit (transfer member), which faces the drum 1 of each cartridge P to transfer the toner image once, and then transfers the toner image secondarily onto the recording material S.

[0042] The intermediate transfer unit 12 includes a flexible endless belt (belt member, belt) 13, which is an intermediate transfer member (second image carrier member: intermediate recording medium) made of a dielectric material. The intermediate transfer unit 12 further includes a driving roller 14, a turning roller 15, and a tension roller 16, which suspend and tension the belt 13 to cause the belt 13 to move in a cycle. The driving roller 14 and the turning roller 15 are disposed at the rear side within the apparatus main body 100A. The tension roller 16 is disposed at the front side within the apparatus main body 100A.

[0043] When each cartridge P is mounted in a predetermined mounting position in a predetermined manner, the lower surface of the drum 1 of the cartridge P contacts the upper surface of the upper belt portion of the belt 13. Four primary transfer rollers 17 are disposed inside the belt 13, facing the drum 1 of the corresponding cartridge P across the upper belt portion.

[0044] In each cartridge P, the clamping portion between the drum 1 and the belt 13 is a primary transfer clamping portion. The secondary transfer roller 22 contacts the driving roller 14 with the belt 13 therebetween. The clamping portion between the secondary transfer roller 22 and the belt 13 is a secondary transfer clamping portion.

[0045] The paper feeding unit 18 is disposed below the intermediate transfer unit 12 to store the recording material S on which the toner image is to be transferred, and conveys the recording material S one by one to the intermediate transfer unit 12.

[0046] The paper feeding unit 18 includes a paper feeding cassette (storage member) 19, a paper feeding roller 20, a separation pad 21, an alignment roller pair 20a, etc. The paper feeding cassette 19 is a storage member for storing paper. The paper feeding cassette 19 can be moved in and out (inserted and removed) from the front side of the apparatus main body 100A, and this configuration can be referred to as front loading. In the first embodiment, the insertion direction of the paper feeding cassette 19 is the backward direction, and the removal direction is the forward direction.

[0047] The fixing device 23 serving as a fixing unit (fixing portion) and the discharge roller pair 24 are disposed at the upper rear portion within the apparatus main body 100A. The fixing unit applies heat and pressure to the recording material S on which the toner image is transferred to fix the image and discharge the recording material S. The upper surface of the apparatus main body 100A is formed as a paper discharge tray 25. The fixing device 23 includes a fixing film assembly 23a and a pressure roller 23b. The discharge roller pair 24 includes a discharge roller 24a and a discharge roller 24b.

[0048] (Cartridge replacement method)

[0049] Now, a method of replacing the cartridge P according to the first embodiment will be described. When each of the first to fourth cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK is used for image formation, the developer contained in the developing unit 3 is consumed.

[0050] Therefore, preferably, a device (not shown) for detecting the remaining amount of the developer in each cartridge is provided, and the control portion 200 compares the detected remaining amount value with a preset threshold value to perform cartridge life prediction or life warning. Then, for any cartridge whose detected remaining amount value is less than the threshold value, a life prediction or life warning for the cartridge is displayed on a display portion (not shown). This can prompt the user to prepare for replacing the cartridge or replace the cartridge.

[0051] (Tray, opening, and main body door)

[0052] Now, the tray 35, the opening 30, and the main body door 31 to which the cassette P is removably attached will be described in detail as structures related to the replacement of the cassette P. In the image forming apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, in order to improve usability, the replacement of the cassette P involves a method (pull-out method) of placing the cassette P in a tray (moving member) 35 to be pulled out and performing the replacement through front access.

[0053] On the front surface side of the apparatus main body 100A, there is an opening 30 that allows the cassette P to be removed therethrough. The opening 30 also serves as an opening through which the cassette P is inserted into the cassette accommodating portion 100B within the apparatus main body 100A.

[0054] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the appearance of the image forming apparatus 100 in a state where the main body door 31 is open. Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 in a state where the main body door 31 is open. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a main body door (open / close member) 31 that can move between a closed position (closing position) A for closing the opening 30 as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 and an open position B for opening the opening 30 as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 That is, the main body door 31 is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 100A and can be in the closed position A for closing the opening 30 and the open position B for opening the opening 30. In the first embodiment, the main body door 31 can be opened and closed by rotating about a hinge axis (lateral axis) 32 located on the lower side of the main body door 31 with respect to the apparatus main body 100A. The hinge axis 32 extends in the left-right direction, and the rotation axis direction of the main body door 31 is the left-right direction.

[0055] That is, the main body door 31 can rotate about the hinge axis 32 in the standing-up direction to close with respect to the apparatus main body 100A, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 and the opening 30 is closed by closing the main body door 31. Further, the main body door 31 can rotate about the hinge axis 32 toward the front side of the apparatus main body 100A so as to be placed substantially horizontally and opened with respect to the apparatus main body 100A, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 As a result, the opening 30 in the front surface of the apparatus main body 100A is widely opened. In order to improve the convenience of opening and closing the main body door 31, the main body door 31 includes a door handle 31a. The door handle 31a is provided at the upper end of the main body door 31 when the main body door 31 is in the closed position A.

[0056] At the left and right ends of the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31, tray support portions 121L (first support portion) and tray support portions 121R (second support portion) are provided as support portions for supporting the tray 35. The main body door 31 and the tray support portions 121L and 121R are made of resin. The inner surface 31b is the surface facing the inside of the apparatus main body 100A when the main body door 31 is in the closed position A, and is the upper surface facing the outside of the apparatus main body 100A upward when the main body door 31 is in the open position B. The tray support portions 121L and 121R serve as support portions that support the tray 35 when the tray 35 is pulled out to the cassette mounting / dismounting position (to be described below). The tray support portion 121L is located on the left side of the main body door 31, and the tray support portion 121R is located on the right side of the main body door 31. The tray support portions 121L and 121R are spaced apart in the left-right direction.

[0057] (Metal member)

[0058] Now, the metal member 50 attached to the main body door 31 will be described. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the separate metal member 50. By attaching the metal member 50 to the main body door 31, the main body door 31 can be strengthened. The metal member 50 is formed of a metal plate and includes at least one bent portion. More specifically, as Figure 5 shown, the metal member 50 is a plate-like member having a U-shaped (C-shaped) cross section. The metal member 50 includes a first extension portion 50b extending along the inner surface 31b, a second extension portion 50c extending from one end of the first extension portion 50b toward the inner surface 31b, and a third extension portion 50d extending from the other end of the first extension portion 50b toward the inner surface 31b. The extending direction of the first extension portion 50b is along the inner surface 31b, and the extending directions of the second extension portion 50c and the third extension portion 50d are directions intersecting (preferably perpendicular to) the inner surface 31b.

[0059] The metal member 50 is attached to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31. When the main body door 31 is in the open position B, the metal member 50 is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 100A together with the inner surface 31b. When the main body door 31 is in the open position B, the extending direction of the first extending portion 50b is a direction along the horizontal direction (preferably the front-rear direction). Further, when the main body door 31 is in the open position B, the extending directions of the second extending portion 50c and the third extending portion 50d intersect with the horizontal direction (preferably the up-down direction). When the main body door 31 is in the open position B, the extending direction of the first extending portion 50b is a direction along the moving direction of the tray 35 (more preferably, a direction parallel to the moving direction of the tray 35). The metal member 50 is attached to the main body door 31 such that both ends of the cross-sectional shape face the main body door 31, that is, such that the opening side of the U-shaped cross-section faces the main body door 31. With this arrangement, when the metal member 50 is placed on the main body door 31, it is possible to prevent a user from contacting the edge of the metal member 50.

[0060] The metal member 50 is fixed to the main body door 31 by screws. The metal member 50 has recesses 50a for the screws. The screws fix the metal member 50 to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31, and the metal member 50 covers a part of the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31.

[0061] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the main body door 31 provided with the metal member 50. Figure 6 The main body door 31 in the open position B is shown, where the metal member 50 is exposed. The metal member 50 is placed between the tray support portions 121L and 121R in the left-right direction. As Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, in the left-right direction, the metal member 50 has one end (left end) 50L and the other end (right end) 50R opposite to the one end 50L. In the left-right direction, the one end 50L is closer to the tray support portion 121L than the center point between the tray support portions 121L and 121R, and the other end 50R is closer to the tray support portion 121R than the center point between the tray support portions 121L and 121R. In this embodiment, the length of the metal member 50 in the left-right direction is more than 80% of the distance between the tray support portions 121L and 121R.

[0062] The tray support portion 121L has protrusions 121La and 121Lb protruding to the right, and the tray support portion 121R has protrusions 121Ra and 121Rb protruding to the left. In other words, the protrusions 121La and 121Lb of the tray support portion 121L extend toward the tray support portion 121R, and the protrusions 121Ra and 121Rb of the tray support portion 121R extend toward the tray support portion 121L. The protrusions 121La, 121Lb, 121Ra, and 121Rb are spaced apart from the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31. Moreover, the protrusions 121La and 121Lb are spaced apart in the front-rear direction, and similarly, the protrusions 121Ra and 121Rb are spaced apart in the front-rear direction.

[0063] When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31, the metal member 50 is placed at a position overlapping the protrusions 121La, 121Lb, 121Ra, and 121Rb. The first extension portion 50b of the metal member 50 is sandwiched between the protrusions 121La, 121Lb, 121Ra, and 121Rb and the inner surface 31b. Preferably, when the main body door 31 is in the open position B and a stress is applied to the tray support portions 121L and 121R from above, the protrusions 121La, 121Lb, 121Ra, and 121Rb come into contact with the metal member 50. This further reduces the distortion or bending of the main body door 31 when the tray support portions 121L and 121R support the tray 35.

[0064] The protrusions 121La and 121Ra are spaced apart in the left-right direction (the direction parallel to the rotation axis direction of the main body door 31). Thus, when the main body door 31 or the tray support portions 121L and 121R are about to bend in the left-right direction, the protrusions 121La and 121Ra preferably come into contact with the metal member 50. This further restricts the deformation of the main body door 31 and the tray support portions 121L and 121R. The same applies to the protrusions 121Lb and 121Rb.

[0065] In order to make the metal member 50 have satisfactory strength, it is preferable to increase the bending width b of the metal member 50. The bending width b refers to the length of each of the bending ends (the second extension portion 50c) and the bending ends (the third extension portion 50d) of the metal member 50. The bending width b of the metal member 50 in the first embodiment is 20 mm. In addition, in order to increase the rigidity, it is also effective to increase the thickness of the metal plate.

[0066] The metal member 50 and the tray support portions 121L and 121R do not necessarily need to be in contact with each other. The metal member 50 and the tray support portions 121L and 121R can be placed adjacent to each other such that when stress is applied to the tray support portions 121L and 121R, the tray support portions 121L and 121R come into contact with the metal member 50. It can be appropriately selected in consideration of the weight of the cassette P, the rigidity of the main body door 31, etc.: whether to position the metal member 50 such that the first extension portion 50b contacts the protruding portions of the tray support portions 121L and 121R, or to position the metal member 50 such that the first extension portion 50b does not contact the protruding portions of the tray support portions 121L and 121R but faces these protruding portions. By arranging the metal member 50 and the tray support portions 121L and 121R adjacent to each other, the metal member 50 can be bent when stress is applied to the tray support portions 121L and 121R. This reduces the amount of deformation of the tray support portions 121L and 121R and the main body door 31. That is to say, the metal member 50 significantly improves the rigidity of the tray support portions 121L and 121R and also improves the bending strength of the main body door 31. As a result, the main body door 31 can stably support the tray 35 pulled out to the outside of the apparatus main body 100A.

[0067] In addition, the left and right ends of the metal member 50 can be configured to contact the tray support portions 121L and 121R respectively. In order to enhance the effect of restricting the bending of the main body door 31 and the tray support portions 121L and 121R, the metal member 50 can be placed along the tray support portions 121L and 121R such that the side surfaces of the tray support portions 121L and 121R contact the metal member 50.

[0068] (Tray)

[0069] Now, the tray 35 will be described in more detail. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the tray 35. As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, when the main body door 31 is in the closed position A, the tray 35 is in the image forming position C, and at the image forming position C, each cassette P is positioned at the mounting position allowing the image forming operation. In the first embodiment, as Figure 2 shown, the image forming position C of the tray 35 is the position where the drum 1 of each cassette P contacts the belt 13 of the intermediate transfer unit 12.

[0070] As Figure 7As shown, the tray 35 has a rectangular main frame and three partition plates 35f that divide the interior of the main frame. The partition plates 35f are formed to extend from the left frame 35d to the right frame 35e. The large frame portion of the tray 35 is divided into four substantially equal parts in the front-rear direction by the three partition plates 35f, and the tray 35 has first to fourth horizontally elongated small frame portions 351 to 354 formed in sequence from the side corresponding to the rear frame 35c to the side corresponding to the front frame 35b. The horizontally elongated small frame portion 351 is the portion into which the first cassette PY is inserted, the horizontally elongated small frame portion 352 is the portion into which the second cassette PM is inserted, the horizontally elongated small frame portion 353 is the portion into which the third cassette PC is inserted, and the horizontally elongated small frame portion 354 is the portion into which the fourth cassette PK is inserted.

[0071] Each cassette P is inserted into the corresponding small frame portion of the tray 35 from above, and the lower surfaces of the left and right eaves of the cassette P are received by the upper surfaces of the left frame 35d and the right frame 35e of the tray 35, respectively, so that the cassette P is placed on and supported by the tray 35. That is, the tray 35 supports each cassette P such that the cassette P can be directly removed upward (vertically). Moreover, by directly moving each cassette P downward (vertically), the cassette P is supported by the tray 35, and the tray 35 roughly holds each cassette P. This structure facilitates the replacement of the cassettes.

[0072] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the interior of the main body and the holding members (support members) provided on the main body door 31 to hold the tray 35. When the tray 35 holding the cassettes PY, PM, PC, and PK is positioned at the image forming position C, the tray 35 is held on the tray holding members 34L and 34R located on the inner side surface of the main body and can slide linearly and horizontally in the front-rear direction (parallel to the mounting surface of the apparatus main body 100A). That is, the lower surfaces of the left frame 35d and the right frame 35e of the tray 35 are respectively placed on and supported by the upper surfaces of the left tray holding member 34L and the right tray holding member 34R. The tray 35 is supported between the left frame 80L and the right frame 80R so as to slide horizontally in the front-rear direction relative to the tray holding members 34L and 34R by sliding on the upper surfaces of the tray holding members 34L and 34R.

[0073] Figure 8 The left frame 80L and the right frame 80R shown in are fixed and placed as the left and right side plates of the main frame (body frame) forming the skeleton structure of the apparatus main body 100A. In contrast, the tray holding members 34L and 34R can be displaced in the obliquely upward or obliquely downward direction, as will be described below. The left frame 80L and the right frame 80R are formed of metal plates and are electrically grounded via the ground wire of the main body power supply by a circuit (not shown) to prevent electrification.

[0074] (Displacement of the tray between the image forming position and the movable position)

[0075] Now, the displacement operation of the tray 35 between the image forming position C and the movable position D will be described in more detail. The tray holding members 34L and 34R move upward and obliquely (forward and upward) by a predetermined amount as the main body door 31 is opened (opened and rotated). As a result, the tray 35 supporting the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK is displaced (position changed) from Figure 2 the image forming position C shown in the figure to Figure 4 the movable position D shown in the figure.

[0076] This displacement (movement) of the tray 35 separates the drum 1 of the cartridge P supported on the tray 35 from the belt 13, as Figure 4 shown in the figure. That is, the movable position D is a separation position where the drum 1 and the belt 13 are separated when the tray 35 is located inside the apparatus main body 100A. The tray 35 moves between the image forming position C and the movable position D by rising and falling inside the apparatus main body 100A.

[0077] While each drum 1 and the belt 13 are separated from each other, the interface members (such as the pressing member of the cartridge, the drive connection member, the power supply member, etc.) of each cartridge P are separated from the cartridge. The interlocking mechanism between the main body door 31 and the tray holding members 34L and 34R will be described in detail below. When the tray 35 is in the movable position D, the drum 1 does not contact the belt 13, so that the tray 35 can be moved to the outside (the installation / dismantling position E) of the image forming apparatus.

[0078] (Displacement of the tray between the movable position and the installation / dismantling position)

[0079] Now, the displacement operation of the tray 35 between the movable position D and the installation / dismantling position E will be described in more detail. The tray 35 includes a tray handle (movement restriction release portion) 35a on the tray front frame member. As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown in the figure, when the main body door 31 is in the open position B, the user can grasp the tray handle 35a exposed through the opened opening 30. By grasping the tray handle 35a, the tray side claws (movement restriction portions) (not shown) of the tray 35 are disengaged from the main body side claw hook portions (main body side engagement portions). This allows the tray 35 to be pulled out from the movable position D inside the apparatus main body 100A to the outside of the apparatus main body 100A and to slide horizontally forward by sliding on the tray holding members 34L and 34R.

[0080] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the appearance of the image forming apparatus 100 in a state where the tray 35 is located at the installation / dismantling position E. Figure 10FIG. 0 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 in a state where the tray 35 is located at the mounting / dismounting position E. When the tray 35 is pulled out to the mounting / dismounting position E, the cassette P can be replaced.

[0081] As Figure 10 shown, the tray 35 is configured to be movable through the opening 30 to a predetermined pull-out position outside the apparatus main body 100A, that is, to the mounting / dismounting position E, at which the cassette P can be mounted to and dismounted from the tray 35 in a predetermined manner. When the tray 35 is located at the mounting / dismounting position E, most of the tray 35 protrudes from the inside of the apparatus main body 100A to the outside. That is, the mounting / dismounting position E is an exposed position where the tray 35 and the cassette P held by the tray 35 are exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 100A. In contrast, the image forming position C and the movable position D are accommodation positions where the tray 35 and the cassette P held by the tray 35 are accommodated inside the apparatus main body 100A. When the tray 35 is in the mounting / dismounting position E, the tray support portion 121L supports the bottom surface of the left frame 35d of the tray 35 that is positioned to protrude significantly from the apparatus main body 100A, and the tray support portion 121R supports the bottom surface of the right frame 35e. The tray 35 can be moved between the exposed position and the accommodation position through the opening 30 in the apparatus main body 100A.

[0082] The tray support portions 121L and 121R are provided on the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31 and move integrally with the main body door 31. In the first embodiment, the tray support portions 121L and 121R are fixed to the main body door 31, but the tray support portions 121L and 121R may be integrally formed with the main body door 31. When the main body door 31 is in the open position B, the support surfaces of the tray support portions 121L and 121R are preferably parallel to the support surfaces of the tray holding members 34L and 34R, respectively, and at the same height. That is, when the main body door 31 is in the open position B, the support surface of the tray support portion 121L and the support surface of the tray holding member 34L are in the same plane, and the support surface of the tray support portion 121R and the support surface of the tray holding member 34R are in the same plane. This structure allows the tray 35 to move smoothly on the tray support portions 121L and 121R and the tray holding members 34L and 34R.

[0083] At the installation / dismantling position E, the first to fourth cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK held on the tray 35 have passed through the opening 30 and are completely exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 100A, and the upper surfaces of all the cartridges P are exposed. When the tray 35 is pulled out from the movable position D by a sufficient predetermined distance, a stopper portion (not shown) prevents the tray 35 from being further pulled out. At this time, in a state where the tray 35 is horizontally pulled out to the predetermined installation / dismantling position E, the tray 35 is supported by the tray support portions 121L and 121R on the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31. In the present embodiment, when the tray 35 is located at the installation / dismantling position E, the tray 35 is held by the tray support portions 121L and 121R and the support portion 31c provided at the distal end of the main body door 31. When the tray 35 is located at the installation / dismantling position E (exposed position) and is supported by the tray support portions 121L and 121R, the metal member 50 faces the tray 35. As Figure 10 shown, when the tray 35 is located at the installation / dismantling position E, the drum 1 is exposed downward. In this state, the metal member 50 faces the drum 1. Further, a gap is formed between the metal member 50 and the tray 35 and a gap is formed between the metal member 50 and the drum 1 so that the metal member 50 does not contact the tray 35 and the drum 1. In the moving direction of the tray 35, the length of the tray 35 is greater than the diameter of the drum 1. In this state, the protrusions 121Ra, 121Rb, 121La, and 121Lb are located between the metal member 50 and the tray 35.

[0084] At the installation / dismantling position E, the tray 35 supports each cartridge P so that the cartridge can be directly removed upward (vertically). Further, when each cartridge is directly moved downward (vertically), the tray 35 supports the cartridge. Thus, in order to replace the cartridge, as Figure 10 shown by the dashed line in, the used-up cartridge P to be replaced is lifted upward and removed from the tray 35. Then, a new cartridge is assembled from above and placed on the tray 35, thereby replacing the cartridge. That is, in a state where the tray 35 is pulled out to the outside of the apparatus main body 100A, the cartridge can be installed in and removed from the apparatus main body 100A.

[0085] The tray 35 is a movable member that can move in a direction (vertical direction) perpendicular (crossing) to the axial direction of the drum 1 of the cartridge P placed on the tray 35 (the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P). That is, the moving direction of the tray 35 between the movable position D and the mounting / dismounting position E is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P, and is a direction along the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the moving direction of the tray 35 is parallel to the front-rear direction. The moving direction of the tray 35 between the movable position D and the mounting / dismounting position E is a direction intersecting with the rotational axis direction of the main body door 31, and in this embodiment, is a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction of the main body door 31. The tray 35 can receive a plurality of cartridges P arranged along the moving direction between the movable position D and the mounting / dismounting position E.

[0086] (Cartridge replacement method)

[0087] Now, a method for replacing the cartridge will be described in more detail. To replace the cartridge, as Figure 9 and Figure 10 shown, the tray 35 is pulled out to the mounting / dismounting position E, and one cartridge P that needs to be replaced among the plurality of cartridges P held in the tray 35 is replaced. After a new cartridge is installed in the tray 35, the tray 35 is pushed in and moved to be accommodated inside the apparatus main body, and returns to the state before being pulled out as Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown. At this time, by configuring the tray 35 to be pushed from the rear side to the front side by a spring (pressing portion) (not shown), the user can be reliably guided to push the tray 35 fully back to the predetermined position.

[0088] When the tray 35 is fully pushed back to the predetermined position, the tray-side claw (movement restricting portion) (not shown) of the tray 35 engages with the main-body-side claw hook portion (main-body-side engaging portion). As a result, the tray 35 is pushed back from the mounting / dismounting position E to the movable position D inside the apparatus main body and is held in this position.

[0089] In a state where the tray 35 is in the movable position D, by closing the opened main body door 31 as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the image forming apparatus 100 is brought into a state allowing image formation. At this time, as the main body door 31 rotates from the open position B to the closed position A, the tray holding members 34L and 34R are displaced (moved) downward obliquely (backward and downward) by a predetermined amount, so that the tray 35 is displaced (moved) from the movable position D to the image forming position C. As a result, each cartridge P supported by the tray 35 is located at the corresponding mounting position in the cartridge accommodating portion 100B inside the apparatus main body. At the same time, the interface member of each cartridge P comes into contact with the cartridge.

[0090] As described above, in the first embodiment, when the tray 35 is pulled out to the installation / dismantling position E, the main body door 31 supports the tray 35 through the tray support portions 121L and 121R. The metal member 50 is attached to the main body door 31 for reinforcement. Thus, the main body door 31 stably supports the tray 35 pulled out to the outside of the apparatus main body 100A.

[0091] Second Embodiment

[0092] Now, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the same reference numerals will be given to the same structures as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted, and the characteristic portions of the second embodiment will be mainly described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the metal member 50 is electrically grounded.

[0093] In the second embodiment, the metal member 50 is electrically grounded. By electrically grounding the metal member 50, foreign matter adhering to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31 is prevented from being electrostatically transferred to the drum 1 of the cartridge P, thereby restricting image defects caused by foreign matter. For this purpose, in the second embodiment, the area of the metal member 50 facing the drum 1 in the open position B is larger than that in the first embodiment.

[0094] Figure 11 is a perspective view of the main body door 31 provided with the metal member 50 according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the metal member 50 is also provided on the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31. Figure 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment when viewed from the left side. In Figure 12 the tray 35 is pulled out to the installation / dismantling position E where the cartridge P can be replaced.

[0095] When the tray 35 is pulled out to the installation / dismantling position E, the drum 1 of the cartridge faces the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31, that is, faces the metal member 50. When an image forming operation is performed in the apparatus main body 100A, as in the first embodiment, toner is electrostatically transferred, and thus there are charged members in the apparatus main body 100A. In addition, when foreign matter such as dust enters the apparatus main body 100A, the dust may be charged due to the influence of the charged members.

[0096] For example, when the tray 35 is pulled out to the installation / dismantling position E to replace the cartridge in a state where charged dust adheres to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31, the dust may be electrostatically attracted to the surface of the drum 1 depending on the charged states of the dust and the drum 1. When foreign matter such as dust adheres to the drum 1 and the tray 35 is received in the apparatus main body 100A and an image operation is performed, the foreign matter may cause image defects.

[0097] In this regard, the metal member 50 of the second embodiment is electrically connected to the right frame 80R via the wire spring 51 and grounded. As a result, the metal member 50 is not charged, and even if foreign matter such as dust lands on the metal member 50, the metal member 50 eliminates the static electricity of the foreign matter, so that the foreign matter is not charged and flies toward the drum 1. In the second embodiment, the metal member 50 is configured to be electrically grounded via the wire spring 51 and the right frame 80R, but the method of grounding the metal member 50 is not limited to this, and any method can be used.

[0098] In the second embodiment, in addition to strengthening the functions of the tray support portions 121L and 121R, the metal member 50 also has a function of receiving foreign matter that is likely to adhere to the main body door 31. More specifically, when the tray 35 is in the installation / dismantling position E, the metal member 50 supports and strengthens the tray support portions 121L and 121R from below. When the tray 35 is located at the image forming position C, the metal member 50 can capture foreign matter that floats around the opening 30 of the apparatus main body 100A and is likely to adhere to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31. In order to receive substantially all of this foreign matter, preferably the coverage rate of the opening 30 by the metal member 50, that is, the ratio of the area of the metal member 50 to the area of the opening 30, is large. The coverage rate of the opening 30 by the metal member 50 is the ratio of the area of the metal member 50 to the area of the opening 30 when the image forming apparatus 100 is viewed in the front-rear direction in a state where the main body door 31 is in the closed position.

[0099] Since the air passage in the apparatus main body 100A significantly affects the adhesion of foreign matter to the metal member 50, the coverage rate of the opening 30 can be arbitrarily set. However, the metal member 50 preferably covers more than 30% of the opening 30. In the second embodiment, the area of the metal member 50 in the planar direction is configured to cover approximately 80% of the opening 30. By increasing the coverage rate of the metal member 50, the effect of strengthening the main body door 31 by the metal member 50 can also be enhanced.

[0100] As described above, in the second embodiment, the metal member 50 is provided between the tray support portion 121L and the tray support portion 121R. Therefore, when the tray 35 is pulled out to the installation / dismantling position E, the metal member 50 can receive the stress applied to the tray support portions 121L and 121R. With this structure, the tray support portions 121L and 121R are strengthened. This structure prevents the front side of the tray 35 from being significantly bent downward due to the weight of the tray 35 and each cartridge P, thereby damaging the surface of the drum 1. This structure also prevents the loss of the weight balance of the apparatus main body 100A when the tray 35 is pulled out, thereby causing the apparatus main body 100A to tip forward. Thus, the structure of the second embodiment can easily support the weight of the tray and each cartridge in a position protruding from the apparatus main body without requiring a structure that makes the apparatus main body larger.

[0101] In addition, in the second embodiment, the metal member 50 is electrically grounded. Therefore, even if foreign matters such as charged dust floating in the apparatus main body 100A are likely to adhere to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31, when the tray 35 is in the image forming position C, these foreign matters generally adhere to the metal member 50 that covers at least a part of the opening 30. Further, since the foreign matters adhering to the metal member 50 are neutralized by the metal member 50, the foreign matters on the metal member 50 at the mounting / dismounting position E are not transferred to the drum 1, thereby limiting image defects caused by foreign matters.

[0102] Unless otherwise specified, the functions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of the components described in the above embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention thereto. For example, the shapes and numbers of the protrusions of the tray support portions 121L and 121R do not have to be as Figure 6 shown. Each of the tray support portions 121L and 121R may have three or more protrusions, or may have only one protrusion that is long in the front-rear direction. Further, a plurality of metal members 50 may be provided, and a plurality of metal members 50 corresponding to the numbers of the protrusions of each of the tray support portions 121L and 121R may be provided. For example, the main body door 31 may include a metal member arranged to straddle the protrusions 121La and 121Lb and a metal member arranged to straddle the protrusions 121Ra and 121Rb. Further, similar to the first and second embodiments, one metal member 50 may be used to reinforce a plurality of tray support portions. In this case, the shape of the metal member 50 and the width in the tray pulling-out direction (front-rear direction) can be arbitrarily set. Additionally, in this embodiment, the cartridge P includes the drum 1, but the tray 35 may include the drum 1. In this case, the cartridge P may include a developing roller. That is, the drum 1 may be provided in the cartridge P or the tray 35.

Claims

1. An image forming device configured to form an image on a recording medium, the image forming device comprising: a device body having an opening; a moving member to which the cartridge is removably mounted, the moving member being configured to hold the cartridge and being movable through the opening between a housing position in which the cartridge is housed inside the device body and an exposure position in which the cartridge is exposed to the outside of the device body; an opening / closing portion configured to be rotatable between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening, the opening / closing portion including a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion for supporting the moving member located at the exposed position; and a metal member mounted to the opening / closing portion, the metal member being configured to face the moving member in a state where the moving member is located at the exposed position and supported by the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion, wherein the metal member is placed between the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion along a rotation axis direction of the opening / closing portion.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, in, Along the direction of the rotation axis, the metal component has one end and another end opposite to the one end, and along the direction of the rotation axis, the one end is closer to the first support part than the center point between the first support part and the second support part, and the other end is closer to the second support part than the center point between the first support part and the second support part.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, in, The first supporting portion is provided at a first end portion of the opening / closing portion in the direction of the rotation axis, and Wherein, the second supporting portion is provided at a second end portion of the opening / closing portion opposite to the first end portion along the rotation axis direction.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, in, the first supporting portion includes a plurality of first protruding portions arranged at intervals in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the opening / closing portion, and the plurality of first protruding portions are located between the metal member and the moving member in the state in which the moving member is located in the exposed position and supported by the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion; as well as wherein the second supporting portion comprises a plurality of second protrusion portions arranged at intervals along a direction intersecting with the direction of the rotation axis of the opening / closing portion, and when the movable member is located in the exposed position and supported by the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion, the plurality of second protrusion portions are located between the metal member and the movable member.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, in, The opening / closing portion has an upper surface that faces upward when the opening / closing portion is in the open position; as well as wherein the metal component includes a first extension portion extending in an extension direction along the upper surface of the opening / closing portion, a second extension portion extending from one end of the first extension portion toward the upper surface, and a third extension portion extending from the other end of the first extension portion along the extension direction toward the upper surface.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, in, With the opening / closing portion in the open position, the extending direction of the first extending portion of the metal member is parallel to a moving direction of the moving member from the accommodating position to the exposing position.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, in, The first extending portion is in contact with the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, in, The first extending portion is opposite to the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, in, The metal member is fixed to the opening / closing portion.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, in, With the opening / closing portion in the open position, the metal member is exposed to the outside of the device body.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, in, The metal member is electrically grounded.

12. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in, With the opening / closing portion in the closed position, the metal member covers at least a portion of the opening.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, in, When the opening / closing portion is in the closed position and viewed in the moving direction of the moving member, a ratio of an area of ​​the metal member to an area of ​​the opening is 30% or more.

14. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in, The image forming device includes a photosensitive drum disposed in the moving member or the cartridge; as well as Wherein, when the moving member is located at the exposing position, the photosensitive drum is exposed downward, and the metal member faces the photosensitive drum.

15. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in, The metal member is a metal plate.

Images