Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus in which a movable member drawn out to the outside of an apparatus body is stably supported.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: an apparatus body that has an opening; a cartridge that is removably attached to the apparatus body; a movable member that holds the cartridge, and is movable, through the opening, between an accommodation position where the cartridge is accommodated inside the apparatus body and an exposure position where the cartridge is exposed to the outside of the apparatus body; an opening and closing part 31 that is rotatable between an opening position where it opens the opening and a closing position where it closes the opening, and has a first support part 121L and a second support part 121R supporting the movable member located at the exposure position; and a metal member 50 that is attached to the opening and closing part 31, the metal member 50 facing the movable member in a state where the movable member is located at the exposure position and is supported by the first support part 121L and the second support part 121R. The metal member 50 is arranged between the first support part 121L and the second support part 121R with respect to a rotation axis direction of the opening and closing part 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus, a configuration is known in which a plurality of cartridges are arranged side by side on a moving member such as a tray that can move, and the moving member is pulled out to the outside of the apparatus main body to enable attachment and detachment of the cartridges.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a support portion that supports a moving member when the moving member holding the cartridge is pulled out of the apparatus main body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When the moving member pulled out of the apparatus main body is stably supported, the user can stably perform the attachment and detachment operation of the cartridge to the moving member.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a moving member pulled out of the apparatus main body is stably supported.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, an apparatus main body having an opening, a cartridge that is detachable from the apparatus main body, A moving member to which the cartridge is removably attached, the moving member holding the cartridge and being movable between a storage position where the cartridge is stored inside the apparatus main body through the opening and an exposure position where the cartridge is exposed outside the apparatus main body. An opening / closing part that is rotatable between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening, and has a first support part and a second support part that support the moving member located at the exposure position. A metal member attached to the opening / closing part, the metal member being configured to face the moving member in a state where the moving member is located at the exposure position and is supported by the first support part and the second support part. Comprising In the axial direction of the rotation axis of the opening / closing part, the metal member is disposed between the first support part and the second support part.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which a moving member pulled out of the apparatus main body is stably supported.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, modes for carrying out this invention will be illustratively and specifically described based on examples. Note that dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. That is, the scope of this invention is not intended to be limited to the following embodiments.

[0011] <First Embodiment> (Image Forming Apparatus) First, an image forming apparatus including a cartridge according to the present invention will be described. Here, generally, an image forming apparatus is an apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium using various known image forming principles and methods such as an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording process, and a magnetic recording process. For example, it includes a copying machine, a printer (e.g., a laser printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile apparatus, a word processor, an image display device (an electronic blackboard or an electronic whiteboard), etc. A recording medium is something on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus, and includes, for example, paper, an OHT sheet, an image display body, etc.

[0012] A cartridge is detachable from the main body of an image forming apparatus. The cartridge is removably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus and contributes to an image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium. The main body is a component of the image forming apparatus excluding the cartridge in a cartridge-type image forming apparatus.

[0013] Examples of the image carrier include an electrophotographic photoreceptor in an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording dielectric in an electrostatic recording process, a magnetic recording magnetic body in a magnetic recording process, and other members capable of forming an image by various image forming principles and methods. The image forming process means is a device that acts on the image carrier to form an image.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 seen 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 having four cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) from the first to the fourth as a plurality of cartridges.

[0015] The image forming apparatus 100 is a color printer capable of forming a four-color full-color image or a monochrome image on a sheet-like recording medium (sheet material: 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 apparatus 400 and input to a control unit 200 via an interface unit 30 0. The external host apparatus 400 is, for example, a personal computer, an image reader, a partner facsimile apparatus, or the like.

[0016] The control unit 200 is control means for controlling the electrophotographic image forming process of the image forming apparatus 100, and exchanges various electrical information with an external host device 400. Further, it is in charge of processing electrical information input from various process devices and sensors, processing command signals to various process devices, performing predetermined initial sequence control, performing sequence control of a predetermined electrophotographic image forming process, and the like.

[0017] In the following description, regarding the image forming apparatus 100, the front side (front face side) is the side where the device opening / closing door (main body door) 31 is disposed. The rear side (rear face side) is the side opposite to the front side (front face side). The front-rear direction is the direction from the rear side to the front side of the image forming apparatus 100 (front direction) and the reverse direction (rear direction). The left and right are the left and right when the image forming apparatus 100 is viewed from the front side. The left-right direction is the direction from right to left (left direction) and the reverse direction (right direction). The up and down are up and down in the gravitational direction (vertical direction). The upward direction is the direction from bottom to top, and the downward direction is the direction from top to bottom. Further, the longitudinal direction is a direction parallel to the rotation axis direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, which is an image carrier on which a latent image is formed. The longitudinal direction is parallel to the left-right direction. The short-side direction is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (orthogonal direction).

[0018] Inside the apparatus main body (main body frame) 100A of the image forming apparatus 100, a cartridge accommodating portion 100B is provided. In the cartridge accommodating portion 100B, four cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK of the first to fourth are horizontally arranged and fixedly mounted at predetermined mounting positions from the rear side to the front side of the apparatus main body 100A. Such a configuration is an in-line configuration, and an image forming apparatus configured in this way may be called a tandem type. Here, the mounting position of the cartridge P is a position where the cartridge P can perform an image forming operation in the cartridge accommodating portion 100B.

[0019] The cartridge P contributes to the image forming process of forming an image on the recording material S, and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 100A of the image forming apparatus 100 and used. Each cartridge P in the first embodiment has a photosensitive drum 1 (hereinafter referred to as a drum), which is a drum-type electrophotographic photoreceptor as an image carrier on which a latent image is formed. And the cartridge P is a so-called integrated process cartridge having a charging means 2, a developing means 3, and a cleaning means 4 as electrophotographic image forming process means acting on the drum 1. In the first embodiment, the axial direction (rotation axis direction) of the rotatably configured drum 1 is substantially parallel to the left-right direction.

[0020] In the first embodiment, the charging means 2 is a contact charging roller. And the developing means 3 is a contact type or non-contact type developing device having a developing roller 3a as a developer carrier for supplying a developer to the drum 1 to develop a latent image into a developer image, a developer storage portion 3b for storing the developer, and the like. The cleaning means 4 is a blade cleaner having a cleaning blade as a cleaning member and a waste toner storage portion and the like.

[0021] Each cartridge P has a similar electrophotographic process mechanism equipped with the above-described image forming process equipment, and the colors of the stored developers (hereinafter referred to as toners) are different from each other. That is, the first cartridge PY has a yellow (Y) toner accommodated in the developing means 3, and forms a Y-color toner image on the surface of the drum 1. The second cartridge PM has a magenta (M) toner accommodated in the developing means 3, and forms an M-color toner image on the surface of the drum 1. Also, the third cartridge PC has a cyan (C) toner accommodated in the developing means 3, and forms a C-color toner image on the surface of the drum 1. The fourth cartridge PK has a black (K) toner accommodated in the developing means 3, and forms a K-color toner image on the surface of the drum 1.

[0022] Above the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, a laser scanner unit 11 is disposed as an exposure device unit (exposure means) for exposing the drum 1 of each cartridge P to form a latent image. The laser scanner unit 11 outputs laser light modulated corresponding to the image information of each color input from the external host device 400 to the control unit 200, and scans and exposes the surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge P through the exposure window 6 provided on the upper surface of the cartridge frame 5.

[0023] Below the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, an intermediate transfer unit 12 is disposed as a transfer unit (transfer member) for primarily transferring a toner image to face the drum 1 of each cartridge P and secondarily transferring the toner image to the recording material S.

[0024] The intermediate transfer unit 12 has an endless belt (belt member, belt) 13 made of a dielectric and having flexibility as an intermediate transfer body (second image carrier: intermediate recording medium). The intermediate transfer unit 12 also has a driving roller 14, a turn roller 15, and a tension roller 16 for suspending and stretching the belt 13 to circulate and move it. The driving roller 14 and the turn roller 15 are disposed on the rear side within the apparatus main body 100A. The tension roller 16 is disposed on the front side within the apparatus main body 100A.

[0025] In a state where each cartridge P is mounted at a predetermined mounting position, the lower surface of each drum 1 is in contact with the upper surface of the upper belt portion of the belt 13. Inside the belt 13, four primary transfer rollers 17 are disposed to face the drum 1 of each cartridge P through the upper belt portion.

[0026] In each cartridge P, the nip portion between the drum 1 and the belt 13 is a primary transfer nip portion. A secondary transfer roller 22 is in contact with the driving roller 14 through the belt 13. The nip portion between the secondary transfer roller 22 and the belt 13 is a secondary transfer nip portion.

[0027] Below the intermediate transfer unit 12, a paper feed unit 18 is provided that stocks the recording material S onto which the toner image is transferred and conveys the recording material S one by one to the intermediate transfer unit 12.

[0028] The paper feed unit 18 includes a paper feed cassette (storage member) 19, a paper feed roller 20, a separation pad 21, a registration roller pair 20a, and the like. The paper feed cassette 19 is a storage member that stores paper. The paper feed cassette 19 can be freely inserted and removed (inserted and detached) from the front side of the apparatus main body 100A, and such a configuration is sometimes referred to as front loading. In the first embodiment, the insertion direction of the paper feed cassette 19 is the forward direction, and the removal direction is the backward direction.

[0029] At the upper part of the rear side inside the apparatus main body 100A, a fixing device 23 which is a fixing unit (fixing means) that applies heat and pressure to the recording material S onto which the toner image is transferred to fix it and discharge it, and a discharge roller pair 24 are provided. The upper surface of the apparatus main body 100A is formed as a discharge tray 25. As the fixing device 23, one having a fixing film assembly 23a and a pressure roller 23b is used. The discharge roller pair 24 is composed of a discharge roller 24a and a discharge roller 24b.

[0030] (Cartridge replacement method) Next, the replacement method of the cartridge P according to the first embodiment will be described. As the first to fourth cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are used for image formation, the developer accommodated in the developing means 3 is consumed respectively.

[0031] Therefore, for example, it is preferable to provide means (not shown) for detecting the remaining amount of the developer in each cartridge, and cause the control unit 200 to compare the detected remaining amount value with a preset threshold value for cartridge life prediction and life warning. Then, for the cartridge whose detected remaining amount value has become less than the threshold value, a life prediction or life warning for that cartridge is displayed on a display unit (not shown). Thereby, the user can be prompted to prepare a replacement cartridge or to replace the cartridge.

[0032] (Tray, Opening, and Main Body Door) Next, as a configuration related to the replacement of the cartridge P, the tray 35 on which the cartridge P is removably mounted, the opening 30, and the main body door 31 will be described in more detail. In the image forming apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, the replacement of the cartridge P is performed by placing the cartridge P on a tray (moving member) 35 that pulls out the cartridge P and replacing it by front access (pull-out method) for improving user convenience.

[0033] On the front side of the apparatus main body 100A, an opening 30 through which the cartridge P passes is provided for removing the cartridge P. Note that the opening 30 also functions as an opening for inserting the cartridge P into the cartridge housing portion 100B inside the apparatus main body 100A.

[0034] FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus 100 with the main body door 31 opened. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 with the main body door 31 opened. The image forming apparatus 100 is provided with a main body door (opening / closing member) 31 that is movable between a closed position (closing position) A for closing the opening 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and an open position B for opening the opening 30 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. That is, the main body door 31 is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 100A and can take a closed position A for closing the opening 30 and an open position B for opening it. In the first embodiment, this main body door 31 is rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body 100A about a hinge shaft (horizontal shaft) 32 on the lower side of the door and can be opened and closed. The hinge shaft 32 is a shaft extending in the left-right direction, and the rotation axis direction of the main body door 31 is the left-right direction.

[0035] That is, the main body door 31 can be rotated in the upright direction about the hinge shaft 32 and be in a closed state with respect to the apparatus main body 100A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. By closing this main body door 31, the opening 30 is closed. Also, about the hinge shaft 32, the main body door 31 can be rotated and laid down almost horizontally on the front side of the apparatus main body 100A to be in an open state with respect to the apparatus main body 100A as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thereby, the opening 30 on the front surface of the apparatus main body is largely opened. For improving the operability when opening and closing the main body door 31, a door handle 31a is provided on the main body door 31. The door handle 31a is provided so as to be positioned at the upper end portion of the main body door 31 in a state where the main body door 31 is in the closed position A.

[0036] On the left and right end portions of the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31, a tray support portion 121L (first support portion) and a tray support portion 121R (second support portion) are provided as support portions for supporting the tray 35. The main body door 31, the tray support portions 121L, and 121R are formed of resin. The inner surface 31b is a surface facing the inside of the apparatus main body 100A when the main body door 31 is in the closed position A, and is an upper surface facing upward outside the apparatus main body 100A when the main body door 31 is in the open position B. The tray support portions 121L and 121R function as support portions for supporting the tray 35 when the tray 35 is pulled out to a cartridge attachment / detachment position described later. The tray support portion 121L is disposed on the left side of the main body door 31, the tray support portion 121R is disposed on the right side of the main body door 31, and the tray support portion 121L and the tray support portion 121R are provided at intervals in the left-right direction.

[0037] (Metal member) Next, the metal member 50 attached to the main body door 31 will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the metal member 50 alone. By attaching the metal member 50 to the main body door 31, the main body door 31 can be reinforced. The metal member 50 is formed of sheet metal and includes at least one bent portion. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the metal member 50 is a plate-shaped member having a U-shaped (C-shaped) cross-sectional shape. The metal member 50 includes a first extending portion 50b extending along the inner surface 31b, a second extending portion 50c extending from one end of the first extending portion 50b toward the inner surface 31b, and a third extending portion 50d extending from the other end of the first extending portion 50b toward the inner surface 31b. The extending direction of the first extending portion 50b is along the direction of the inner surface 31b, and the extending directions of the second extending portion 50c and the third extending portion 50d are directions intersecting the inner surface 31b (preferably perpendicular directions).

[0038] The metal member 50 is attached to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31 and is exposed outside the apparatus main body 100A together with the inner surface 31b when the main body door 31 is in the open position B. In a state where the main body door 31 is in the open position B, the extending direction of the first extending portion 50b is along the horizontal direction (preferably the front-rear direction). Also, in a state where 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 are directions intersecting the horizontal direction (preferably the vertical direction). In a state where the main body door 31 is in the open position B, the extending direction of the first extending portion 50b is along the moving direction of the tray 35 (more preferably the parallel direction). 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 side, that is, the open side of the U-shaped cross-sectional shape faces the main body door 31 side. By adopting such an arrangement configuration, when the metal member 50 is disposed on the main body door 31, it is possible to prevent a user from touching the end portion of the metal member 50.

[0039] The metal member 50 is fixed to the main body door 31 by screws. The metal member 50 is provided with screw recesses 50a. The metal member 50 and the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31 are fixed by screws, and a part of the inner surface 31b side of the main body door 31 is covered by the metal member 50.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the main body door 31 on which the metal member 50 is installed. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the main body door 31 is located at the open position B and the metal member 50 is exposed. The metal member 50 is disposed between the tray support portions 121L and 121R in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the left-right direction, the metal member 50 has one end (left end) 50L and the other end (right end) 50R on the side opposite to the one end 50L. In the left-right direction, one end 5 0L is closer to the tray support portion 121L than the center of the tray support portions 121L and 121R, and the other end 50R is closer to the tray support portion 121R than the center of the tray support portions 121L and 121R. In the present embodiment, in the left-right direction, the length of the metal member 50 is 80% or more of the interval between the tray support portions 121L and 121R.

[0041] The tray support portion 121L has protrusions 121La and 121Lb that protrude toward the right side, and the tray support portion 121R has protrusions 121Ra and 121Rb that protrude toward the left side. 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 all provided at intervals with respect to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31. Further, the protrusion 121La and the protrusion 121Lb are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction, and similarly, the protrusion 121Ra and the protrusion 121Rb are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction.

[0042] When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31, the metal member 50 is disposed at a position overlapping the protrusions 121La, 121Lb, 121Ra, and 121Rb. And the metal member 50 The first extension portion 50b is sandwiched between the protrusions 121La, 121Lb, 121Ra, 121Rb and the inner surface 31b. When the main body door 31 is in the open position B and stress is applied to the tray support portions 121L, 121R from above, it is preferable that the protrusions 121La, 121Lb, 121Ra, 121Rb contact the metal member 50. Thereby, when the tray 35 is supported by the tray support portions 121L and 121R, the torsion and bending of the main body door 31 are more suppressed.

[0043] The protrusions 121La and 121Ra are arranged at intervals in the left - right direction (a direction parallel to the rotation axis direction of the main body door 31). Therefore, when the main body door 31 or the tray support portions 121L, 121R tend to bend in the left - right direction, it is preferable that the protrusions 121La, 121Rb contact the metal member 50. Thereby, the deformation of the main body door 31 and the tray support portions 121L, 121R is more suppressed. The same applies to the protrusions 121Lb, 121Rb.

[0044] In order to satisfy the strength of the metal member 50, it is preferable to increase the bending width b of the metal member 50. Here, the bending width b is the length of each of the bent one end (the second extension portion 50c) and the other end (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. Also, to increase the rigidity, it is also effective to increase the sheet thickness of the sheet metal.

[0045] Note that the metal member 50 does not necessarily have to be in contact with the tray support portions 121L and 121R. When stress is applied to the tray support portions 121L and 121R, the metal member 50 and the tray support portions 121L and 121R may be arranged in the vicinity of each other to such an extent that the tray support portions 121L and 121R come into contact with the metal member 50. Whether the metal member 50 is arranged so that the first extension portion 50b contacts each protrusion of the tray support portions 121L and 121R, or the metal member 50 is arranged to face without contact, may be appropriately selected in consideration of the weight of the cartridge P, the rigidity of the main body door 31, etc. By arranging the metal member 50 and the tray support portions 121L and 121R in the vicinity of each other, when stress is applied to the tray support portions 121L and 121R, the metal member 50 bends and the amount of deformation of the tray support portions 121L and 121R and the main body door 31 decreases. That is, the metal member 50 improves the apparent rigidity of the tray support portions 121L and 121R and further improves the bending strength of the main body door 31. As a result, the tray 35 pulled out of the apparatus main body 100A is stably supported by the main body door 31.

[0046] Also, both left and right end portions of the metal member 50 in the lateral direction may be configured to contact the tray support portions 121L and 121R, respectively. By arranging the metal member 50 along the tray support portions 121L and 121R, the side surfaces of the tray support portions 121L and 121R can be brought into contact with the metal member 50 to enhance the effect of suppressing the bending of the main body door 31 and the tray support portions 121L and 121R.

[0047] (Tray) Next, the tray 35 will be described in more detail. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tray 35. When the main body door 31 is in the closed position A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tray 35 is in the image forming position C where each cartridge P is positioned at a mountable position where an image forming operation is possible. In the first embodiment, the image forming position C of the tray 35 is the position where the drum 1 of each cartridge P and the belt 13 of the intermediate transfer unit 12 contact each other, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 7, the tray 35 has a rectangular outer frame portion and three partition plates 35f that partition the inside of the outer frame portion. The partition plates 35f extend from the left frame 35d to the right frame 35e. The inside of the outer frame portion of the tray 35 is partitioned into four substantially equal parts in the front-rear direction by the three partition plates 35f, and the tray 35 is formed with first to fourth horizontally long small frame portions 351 to 354 in order from the rear frame 35c side to the front frame 35b side. The first horizontally long small frame portion 351 is where the first cartridge PY is inserted, the second horizontally long small frame portion 352 is where the second cartridge PM is inserted, and the third horizontally long small frame portion 353 is where the third cartridge PC is inserted, and the fourth horizontally long small frame portion 354 is the portion where the fourth cartridge PK is inserted.

[0049] Each cartridge P is inserted into the corresponding small frame portion of the tray 35 from above, and the lower surfaces of the eaves portions on the left and right sides are received by the upper surfaces of the left frame 35d and the right frame 35e of the tray 35, so that the cartridge P is placed and supported on the tray 35. That is, the tray 35 supports each cartridge P so that it can be taken out directly above (upward). Also, by moving each cartridge P downward, the cartridge P is supported by the tray 35, and the tray 35 roughly (roughly) holds each cartridge P. With such a configuration, the replacement of the cartridges can be facilitated.

[0050] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a holding member (supporting member) that holds the tray 35 provided in the main body and the main body door 31. The tray 35 holding the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK is held on the tray holding members 34L and 34R on the inner surface of the main body when it is located at the image forming position C, and can linearly slide horizontally in the front-rear direction (in a direction parallel to the installation 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 placed and supported on the upper surfaces of the left and right tray holding members 34L and 34R, respectively. And the tray 35 is supported so that it can slide horizontally in the front-rear direction with respect to the tray holding members 34L and 34R by sliding on the upper surfaces of the tray holding members 34L and 34R between the left and right frames 80L and 80R.

[0051] Note that the left and right frames 80L and 80R shown in FIG. 8 are fixedly arranged as the left and right side plates of the main frame (body frame) that forms the skeleton of the apparatus main body 100A. In contrast, the tray holding members 34L and 34R can be displaced in an obliquely upward direction or an obliquely downward direction as will be described later. The left and right frames 80L and 80R are formed of a metal plate and are electrically grounded via the ground of the main body power supply by a circuit (not shown) so as not to be charged.

[0052] (Displacement between the image forming position and the movable position of the tray) Next, the displacement operation between the image forming position C and the movable position D of the tray 35 will be described in more detail. The tray holding members 34L and 34R move a predetermined amount in an obliquely upward direction (forward direction and upward direction) in conjunction with the opening operation (opening rotation) of the main body door 31. As a result, the tray 35 that supports the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK is displaced (position conversion) from the image forming position C shown in FIG. 2 to the movable position D shown in FIG. 4.

[0053] As the tray 35 is displaced (moved), the drum 1 of each cartridge P supported by the tray 35 is separated from the belt 13 as shown in FIG. 4. That is, the movable position D is a separation position where the drum 1 is separated from the belt 13 when the tray 35 is inside the apparatus main body 100A. By moving the tray 35 up and down inside the apparatus main body 100A, the tray 35 moves between the image forming position C and the movable position D.

[0054] Simultaneously with the separation of the drum 1 and the belt 13, each interface member (for example, a pressing member of the cartridge, a drive coupling member, a power supply member, etc.) of each cartridge P is separated from the cartridge. The interlocking mechanism of the main body door 31 and the tray holding members 34L and 34R will be described in detail later. When the tray 35 is in the movable position D, since the drum 1 and the belt 13 are not in contact, it is possible to move the tray 35 to the outside (detachment position E) of the image forming apparatus.

[0055] (Displacement between the Movable Position and the Detachable Position of the Tray) Next, the displacement operation between the movable position D and the detachable position E of the tray 35 will be described in more detail. A tray handle (movement restriction release means) 35a is provided on the front frame piece of the tray 35. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the main body door 31 is in the open position B, the user can grasp the tray handle 35a exposed from the open aperture 30. Then, by grasping the tray handle 35a, the tray-side claws (movement restriction means) of the tray 35 (not shown) are disengaged from the main body-side claw hooking portion (main body-side engaging portion). Then, the tray 35 can be pulled out from the movable position D inside the apparatus main body 100A to the outside of the apparatus main body 100A, and can slide forward horizontally with respect to the tray holding members 34L and 34R.

[0056] FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus 100 when the tray 35 is in the detachable position E. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 when the tray 35 is in the detachable position E. In a state where the tray 35 is pulled out to the detachable position E, the cartridge P can be replaced.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 10, the tray 35 is configured to be movable from the opening 30 to a predetermined pull-out position outside the apparatus main body 100A, that is, a detachable position E where the cartridge P can be detachably attached to and detached from the tray 35 at a predetermined position. In a state where the tray 35 is located at the detachable position E, most of the tray 35 protrudes outward from the inside of the apparatus main body 100A. That is, the detachable position E is an exposed position where the tray 35 and the cartridge P held by the tray 35 are exposed outside the apparatus main body 100A. On the contrary, the image forming position C and the movable position D are storage positions where the tray 35 and the cartridge P held by the tray 35 are housed inside the apparatus main body 100A. When the tray 35 is at the detachable position E, the bottom surface of the left frame 35d of the tray 35 that protrudes greatly from the apparatus main body 100A is supported by the tray support portion 121L, and the bottom surface of the right frame 35e is supported by the tray support portion 121R. The tray 35 is movable between the exposed position and the storage position through the opening 30 of the apparatus main body 100A.

[0058] 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 located at the open position B, it is preferable that the support surfaces of the tray support portions 121L and 121R are parallel to the support surfaces of the tray holding members 34L and 34R, respectively, and are provided so that their heights are aligned. That is, when the main body door 31 is located at the open position B, the support surface of the tray support portion 121L and the support surface of the tray holding member 34L are located on the same plane, and the support surface of the tray support portion 121R and the support surface of the tray holding member 34R are located on the same plane. With such a configuration, the tray 35 can smoothly move on the tray support portions 121L and 121R and the tray holding members 34L and 34R.

[0059] At the attachment / detachment position E, the entire four cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK of the first to fourth held in the tray 35 are exposed outside the apparatus main body 100A through the opening 30, and the upper surfaces of all the cartridges P are opened. When the tray 35 is pulled out from the movable position D by a sufficient predetermined amount, further pulling movement is blocked by a stopper portion (not shown). At this time, the tray 35 is held by the tray support portions 121L and 121R on the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31 in a state of being horizontally pulled out to the predetermined attachment / detachment position E. In the present embodiment, when the tray 35 is located at the attachment / detachment position E, the tray 35 is held by the tray support portions 121L and 121R and the support portion 31c provided at the tip of the main body door 31. With the tray 35 located at the attachment / detachment position E (exposed position) and supported by the tray support portions 121L and 121R, the metal member 50 faces the tray 35. As shown in FIG. 10, when the tray 35 is located at the attachment / detachment 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, the tray 35, and the drum 1, and the metal member 50 does not contact the tray 35 and the drum 1. Also, regarding the moving direction of the tray 35, the length of the tray 35 is longer than the diameter of the drum 1. Further, in this state, the protrusions 121Ra, 121Rb, 121La, and 121Lb are located between the metal member 50 and the tray 35.

[0060] The tray 35 supports the individual cartridges P so that they can be taken out directly above (upward) at the attachment / detachment position E. Further, the tray 35 supports the individual cartridges by moving them directly downward (downward). Therefore, when replacing the cartridges, first, the used cartridge P to be replaced is lifted upward and removed from the tray 35 as shown by the broken line in FIG. 10. Then, a new cartridge can be replaced by fitting and placing it on the tray 35 from above. That is, with the tray 35 pulled out outside the apparatus main body 100A, the cartridges can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100A.

[0061] Here, the tray 35 is a moving member provided so as to be movable in a direction (a perpendicular direction) orthogonal (intersecting) to the axial direction of the drum 1 (the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P) of the cartridge P placed on the tray 35. That is, the moving direction between the movable position D and the attachment / detachment position E of the tray 35 is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P, and is a direction along the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the moving direction of the tray 35 is parallel to the front-rear direction. The moving direction between the movable position D and the attachment / detachment position E of the tray 35 is a direction intersecting the rotational axis direction of the main body door 31, and in the present embodiment, it is a direction orthogonal to the rotational axis direction of the main body door 31. Note that the tray 35 can place a plurality of cartridges P side by side in the moving direction between the movable position D and the attachment / detachment position E.

[0062] (Cartridge replacement method) Next, the cartridge replacement method will be described more specifically. In cartridge replacement, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the tray 35 is pulled out to the attachment / detachment position E, and the cartridge to be replaced among the cartridges P held by the tray 35 is replaced. After a new cartridge is attached to the tray 35, the tray 35 is moved so as to be pushed in and stored inside the apparatus main body, and the state before the pull-out in FIGS. 3 and 4 is restored. At this time, by configuring the tray 35 to be biased from the rear side to the front side by a spring (pressing means) (not shown), it is possible to surely guide the user to perform an operation of pushing back the tray 35 to a predetermined position sufficiently.

[0063] When the tray 35 is sufficiently pushed back to a predetermined position, a tray-side claw (movement restricting means) (not shown) of the tray 35 engages with a main body-side claw hanging portion (main body-side engaging portion). Thereby, the tray 35 is pushed back from the attachment / detachment position E to the movable position D inside the apparatus main body and is position-restricted at that position.

[0064] With the tray 35 positioned at the movable position D, when the open main body door 31 is closed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 100 is in a state where image formation is possible. At this time, in conjunction with the closing rotation of the main body door 31 from the open position B to the closed position A, the tray holding members 34L and 34R are displaced (moved) downward obliquely (rearward 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 positioned at each corresponding mounting position in the cartridge accommodating portion 100B inside the apparatus main body. At the same time, each interface member of each cartridge P abuts against each cartridge.

[0065] As described above, in the first embodiment, when the tray 35 is pulled out to the detachable position E, the tray 35 is supported by the main body door 31 via the tray support portions 121L and 121R. The main door 31 is attached with a metal member 50 and is reinforced. Therefore, the tray 35 pulled out of the apparatus main body 100A is stably supported by the main body door 31.

[0066] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the following description, among the configurations of the second embodiment, the same configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is 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.

[0067] In the second embodiment, the metal member 50 is electrically grounded. By electrically grounding the metal member 50, it is possible to prevent foreign matter attached to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31 from being electrostatically transferred to the drum 1 of the cartridge P, and to suppress image defects caused by foreign matter. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the area of the metal member 50 facing the drum 1 at the open position B is made larger than that in the first embodiment.

[0068] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the main body door 31 on which the metal member 50 according to the second embodiment is installed. Also in the second embodiment, the metal member 50 is provided on the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31. FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment as viewed from the left side. In FIG. 12, the tray 35 is pulled out to the detachable position E where the cartridge P can be replaced.

[0069] When the tray 35 is pulled out to the detachable position E, the drum 1 of each cartridge faces the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31, that is, the metal member 50. When the image forming operation is performed inside the apparatus main body 100A, as described in the first embodiment, in order to electrostatically transfer the toner, there are charged members inside the apparatus main body 100A. Also, when foreign substances such as dust enter the apparatus main body 100A, the dust may be charged under the influence of those charged members.

[0070] For example, when charged dust adheres to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31, if the tray 35 is pulled out to the detachable position E in that state to replace the cartridge, depending on the charging state of the dust and the drum 1, the dust may be electrostatically attracted to the surface of the drum 1. Then, if the tray 35 is housed in the apparatus main body A with foreign substances such as dust adhering to the drum 1 and the image forming operation is performed, image defects due to foreign substances may occur.

[0071] Therefore, in the second embodiment, the metal member 50 is electrically connected to the right frame 80R via the wire spring 51 and grounded. As a result, the metal member 50 does not become charged, and even when foreign substances such as dust settle on the metal member 50, the static electricity of the foreign substances is removed by the metal member 50, and the foreign substances do not fly electrically toward the drum 1 side. Note that 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 installing the metal member 50 is not limited to this, and any method may be used.

[0072] In the second embodiment, in addition to reinforcing the tray support portions 121L and 121R, the metal member 50 has a role of receiving foreign matter that tends to adhere to the main body door 31. More specifically, when the tray 35 is at the attachment / detachment position E, the metal member 50 supports and reinforces the tray support portions 121L and 121R from below. Also, when the tray 35 is at the image forming position C, the metal member 50 floats near the opening 30 of the apparatus main body 100A and receives foreign matter that tends to adhere to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31. In order to generally receive foreign matter, it is preferable that the area of the opening 30 covered by the metal member 50, that is, the coverage rate of the metal member 50 with respect to the opening 30, is large. Here, the coverage rate of the metal member 50 with respect to the opening 30 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 with the main body door 31 in the closed position.

[0073] Adhesion of foreign matter to the metal member 50 is greatly affected by the air passage or the like inside the apparatus main body 100A. Therefore, the coverage rate of the opening 30 is arbitrary, but it is preferable that the metal member 50 covers the opening 30 by 30% or more. In the second embodiment, the area of the metal member 50 in the plane direction is configured to cover approximately 80% of the opening 30. By increasing the coverage rate of the metal member 50, the action of reinforcing the main body door 31 by the metal member 50 can also be obtained more strongly.

[0074] As described above, in the second embodiment, by disposing the metal member 50 between the tray support portion 121L and the tray support portion 121R, when the tray 35 is pulled out to the attachment / detachment position E, the metal member 50 receives the stress applied to the tray support portions 121L and 121R. With such a configuration, the tray support portions 121L and 121R are reinforced. Then, it is possible to prevent the front side of the tray 35 on the apparatus main body side from being greatly deflected downward due to the own weights of the tray 35 and the cartridge P and damaging the surface of the drum 1, and to prevent the weight balance of the apparatus main body 100A from being lost and the apparatus from tipping forward due to the pulling out of the tray 35. Therefore, according to the configuration of the first embodiment, it is not necessary to have a configuration that leads to an increase in the size of the apparatus main body, and the own weights of the tray and the cartridge located at a position protruding from the apparatus main body can be easily supported.

[0075] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the metal member 50 is electrically grounded. Therefore, even when foreign matters such as charged dust floating in the apparatus main body A are likely to adhere to the inner surface 31b of the main body door 31, the foreign matters generally adhere to the metal member 50 that covers at least a part of the opening 30 when the tray 35 is located at the image forming position C. Then, since the foreign matters adhering to the metal member 50 are discharged by the metal member 50, the foreign matters on the metal member 50 do not transfer to the drum 1 at the attachment / detachment position E, and image defects caused by foreign matters can be suppressed.

[0076] Note that 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 only to those, unless otherwise specifically described. For example, the shapes and numbers of the protrusions of the tray support portions 121L and 121R do not have to be as shown in FIG. 6, and three or more protrusions may be provided on each of the tray support portions 121L and 121R, or only one long protrusion in the front-rear direction may be provided. Also, a plurality of metal members 50 may be provided, and a plurality of metal members 50 may be provided according to the number of protrusions of each of the tray support portions 121L and 121R. For example, a metal member arranged across the protrusion 121La to the protrusion 121Lb and a metal member arranged across the protrusion 121Ra to the protrusion 121Rb may be provided on the main body door 31. Also, similar to the first embodiment and the second embodiment, one metal member 50 may also serve to reinforce a plurality of tray support portions. At this time, the shape of the metal member 50 and the width in the tray pulling-out direction (front-rear direction) are arbitrary. Also, in the present embodiment, the drum 1 was provided in the cartridge P, but the drum 1 may be provided in the tray 35. In this case, the cartridge P may have the developing roller 3a. That is, the drum 1 is provided in the cartridge P or the tray 35.

[0077] The disclosure of the present embodiment includes the following configurations. (Configuration 1) An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, An apparatus main body having an opening, A cartridge detachable from the apparatus main body, A moving member to which the cartridge is removably attached, the moving member holding the cartridge and being movable between a housing position where the cartridge is housed inside the apparatus main body through the opening and an exposure position where the cartridge is exposed outside the apparatus main body, A member that is rotatable between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening, An opening / closing part having a first support part and a second support part that support the moving member located at the exposure position, A metal member attached to the opening / closing part, the metal member being configured to face the moving member in a state where the moving member is located at the exposure position and is supported by the first support part and the second support part, Comprising, An image forming apparatus, wherein in the axial direction of the rotation axis of the opening / closing part, the metal member is disposed between the first support part and the second support part. (Configuration 2) In the axial direction of the rotation axis, the metal member has one end and the other end opposite to the one end. In the axial direction of the rotation axis, the one end is closer to the first support part than the center of the first support part and the second support part, and the other end is closer to the second support part than the center of the first support part and the second support part. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 1, characterized in that. (Configuration 3) The first support part is provided at a first end part of the opening / closing part in the axial direction of the rotation axis, The second support part is provided at a second end part of the opening / closing part opposite to the first end part in the axial direction of the rotation axis. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 2, characterized in that. (Configuration 4) The first support part is a plurality of first protrusions arranged at intervals in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the rotation axis of the opening / closing part. In a state where the moving member is located at the exposure position and is supported by the first support part and the second support part, the first support part has a plurality of first protrusions located between the metal member and the moving member, The second support portion is a plurality of second protrusions arranged at intervals in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the opening / closing portion, and has a plurality of second protrusions located between the metal member and the moving member in a state where the moving member is located at the exposed position and is supported by the first support portion and the second support portion. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 3. (Configuration 5) The opening / closing portion has an upper surface, and the upper surface faces upward when the opening / closing portion is in the open position. The metal member includes a first extension portion extending in an extending 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 in the extending direction toward the upper surface. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 1. (Configuration 6) When the opening / closing portion is in the open position, the extending direction of the first extension portion of the metal member is parallel to the moving direction in which the moving member moves from the housing position to the exposed position. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 5. (Configuration 7) The first extension portion is in contact with the first support portion and the second support portion. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 6. (Configuration 8) The first extension portion faces the first support portion and the second support portion. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 6. (Configuration 9) The metal member is fixed to the opening / closing portion. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 1. (Configuration 10) The metal member is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body when the opening / closing portion is in the open position. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 1. (Configuration 11) The metal member is electrically grounded. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 1. (Configuration 12) The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein when the opening / closing part is in the closed position, the metal member covers at least a part of the opening. (Configuration 13) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when viewed in the moving direction of the moving member with the opening / closing part in the closed position, the ratio of the area of the metal member to the area of the opening is 30% or more. (Configuration 14) having a photosensitive drum provided in the moving member or the cartridge, The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein when the moving member is in the exposed position, the photosensitive drum is exposed downward, and the metal member faces the photosensitive drum. (Configuration 15) The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the metal member is a sheet metal.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0078] 30... Opening, 31... Main body door (opening / closing part), 35... Tray (moving member), 50... Metal member, 121R... Tray support member (first support part), 121L... Tray support member (second support part), 100... Image forming apparatus, 100A... Apparatus main body, P... Cartridge

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: An apparatus main body having an opening; A cartridge detachable from the apparatus main body; A moving member to which the cartridge is removably attached, holding the cartridge and being movable between a storage position where the cartridge is stored inside the apparatus main body through the opening and an exposure position where the cartridge is exposed outside the apparatus main body; An opening / closing part rotatable between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening, and having a first support part and a second support part for supporting the moving member located at the exposure position; A metal member attached to the opening / closing part, 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 part and the second support part; The image forming apparatus is provided with: In the axial direction of the rotation axis of the opening / closing part, the metal member is disposed between the first support part and the second support part. The image forming apparatus is characterized by this.

2. In the axial direction of the rotation axis, the metal member has one end and the other end opposite to the one end. In the axial direction of the rotation axis, the one end is closer to the first support part than the center of the first support part and the second support part, and the other end is closer to the second support part than the center of the first support part and the second support part. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

3. The first support part is provided at a first end part of the opening / closing part in the axial direction of the rotation axis; The second support part is provided at a second end part of the opening / closing part opposite to the first end part in the axial direction of the rotation axis. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 is characterized by this.

4. The first support part is a plurality of first protrusions arranged at intervals in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the rotation axis of the opening / closing part, and having a plurality of first protrusions located between the metal member and the moving member in a state where the moving member is located at the exposure position and supported by the first support part and the second support part. The second support portion is a plurality of second protrusions arranged at intervals in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the opening / closing portion, and when the moving member is located at the exposed position and is supported by the first support portion and the second support portion, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a plurality of second protrusions located between the metal member and the moving member.

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

6. When the opening / closing portion is in the open position, the extending direction of the first extending portion of the metal member is parallel to the moving direction in which the moving member moves from the housing position to the exposed position, the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it has the above.

7. The first extending portion is in contact with the first support portion and the second support portion, the image forming apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it has the above.

8. The first extending portion faces the first support portion and the second support portion, the image forming apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it has the above.

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

10. The metal member is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body when the opening / closing portion is in the open position, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it has the above.

11. The metal member is electrically grounded, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it has the above.

12. When the opening / closing portion is in the closed position, the metal member covers at least a part of the opening, the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it has the above.

13. When viewed in the moving direction of the moving member with the opening / closing portion in the closed position, the ratio of the area of the metal member to the area of the opening is 30% or more, the image forming apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that it has the above.

14. It has a photosensitive drum provided in the moving member or the cartridge. When the moving member is located at the exposed position, the photosensitive drum is exposed downward, and the metal member faces the photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that.

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

Images