Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus in a new, developed form of a conventional technique.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: a rotary on which a cartridge is detachably attached; a drive source; a transmission device; a moving device that moves the cartridge with a driving force of the drive source transmitted from the transmission device, and includes a driven portion provided on the rotary, wherein the driven portion receives the driving force from the transmission device in a state where the rotary takes a replacement posture; and a locking mechanism that is switched to a lock state where the locking mechanism restricts the rotation of the rotary and a lock releasing state where the locking mechanism permits the rotation of the rotary, and that takes the locking state in a state where the rotary is in a replacement posture.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material.

Background Art

[0002] In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a rotary developing method is known in which a rotary member having a plurality of developing members is rotated to form a color image. Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe an image forming apparatus including a rotary member having a plurality of developing rollers and a plurality of toner cartridges (toner storage containers) that are each detachable from the rotary member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a new form of image forming apparatus that develops conventional technology.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus, including a rotatable rotary on which a cartridge is removably mounted, the rotary being capable of assuming an exchange posture that allows removal of the cartridge; a drive source; a transmission device; and a moving device that moves the cartridge between a mounting position and a retracted position retracted from the mounting position with respect to the rotary by the driving force of the drive source transmitted from the transmission device, the moving device including a driven part provided on the rotary, and the driven part receiving the driving force from the transmission device when the rotary assumes the exchange posture; a lock mechanism that switches between a locked state that restricts rotation of the rotary and an unlocked state that allows rotation of the rotary, and the lock mechanism being configured to assume the locked state when the rotary assumes the exchange posture. The image forming apparatus is characterized by including the above components.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a new form of image forming apparatus that develops on the basis of the prior art.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] 《Example 1》 The image forming apparatus 1 according to Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12 (a, b). In the following description and each drawing, when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed on a horizontal plane, the vertical direction is defined as the Z direction. The direction that intersects the Z direction and is the direction of the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90 (the rotary axis direction) described later is defined as the Y direction. The direction that intersects both the Z direction and the Y direction is defined as the X direction. The X direction and the Y direction are preferably horizontal directions. Also, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are preferably orthogonal to each other. Further, if necessary, the directions of the arrows X, Y, and Z shown in each drawing are represented as the +X side, the +Y side, and the +Z side, respectively, and the opposite sides are represented as the -X side, the -Y side, and the -Z side, respectively.

[0010] (Overall Configuration of the Image Forming Apparatus) First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The image forming apparatus 1 is a laser beam printer that forms an image on a sheet S by an electrophotographic method. More specifically, the image forming apparatus 1 is a color laser beam printer including four developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k. As the sheet S (recording medium), various sheet materials with different sizes and materials can be used, such as paper like plain paper and thick paper, plastic film, cloth, sheet materials with surface treatment like coated paper, and special-shaped sheet materials like envelopes and index paper.

[0011] The schematic configuration and the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the drive source of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration for supplying toner from the toner cartridge 70 to the developing unit 50.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus main body) 1A and toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k that are detachable from the apparatus main body 1A. The apparatus main body 1A of this embodiment is the part of the image forming apparatus 1 excluding the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k.

[0013] The apparatus main body 1A of the image forming apparatus 1 has an electrophotographic photoreceptor (hereinafter referred to as the photosensitive drum) 2 having a drum shape (cylindrical shape) as an image carrier that holds an electrostatic latent image. Around the photosensitive drum 2, a charging roller 3, a scanner 4 as an exposure device, and a cleaning unit 6 are arranged.

[0014] The charging roller 3 is an example of a charging means or a charging unit for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 2. The scanner 4 is an example of an exposure means or an exposure unit that irradiates the photosensitive drum 2 with laser light corresponding to image information for exposure. By irradiating the charged photosensitive drum 2 with laser light, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. The cleaning unit 6 is an example of a cleaning means or a cleaning section that removes toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2.

[0015] Furthermore, the apparatus main body 1A includes a sheet storage section 300, a pickup roller 310, a feed roller 311, a separation roller 312, a pair of conveyance rollers 320, a secondary transfer roller 12, a fixing device 40, and an intermediate transfer unit 10. The pickup roller 310 is an example of a feeding means or a feeding unit that feeds the sheet S. The feed roller 311 and the separation roller 312 are examples of a separation and conveyance unit that conveys the sheet S while separating it one by one by frictional force. The secondary transfer roller 12 is an example of a transfer means or a transfer unit that transfers an image from the intermediate transfer belt 10a to the sheet S.

[0016] The intermediate transfer unit 10 includes an intermediate transfer belt 10a, a belt drive roller 10b, a tension roller 10c, a cleaning device 13, and a primary transfer roller 11. The intermediate transfer belt 10a is an example of an intermediate transfer body that carries an image transferred (primary transfer) from the photosensitive drum 2 and conveys it for transfer (secondary transfer) to the sheet S. The intermediate transfer belt 10a is stretched over the belt drive roller 10b and the tension roller 10c. The belt drive roller 10b is a drive member that conveys the intermediate transfer belt 10a by being rotationally driven by a drive source.

[0017] Also, the apparatus main body 1A has a rotary main body (rotary, rotating body, developing device) 90 having developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, 50k. As will be described later, in this embodiment, trays (support members) 80y, 80m, 80c, 80k are attached to the rotary main body 90. Toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, 70k are detachably mounted on the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, 80k.

[0018] In the following description, a plurality of members having similar functions can be distinguished by numbering. For example, one of the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, 70k can be called the first toner cartridge, one of the remaining three can be called the second toner cartridge, one of the remaining two can be called the third toner cartridge, and the last one can be called the fourth toner cartridge. Similarly, one of the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, 80k can be called the first tray, one of the remaining three can be called the second tray, one of the remaining two can be called the third tray, and the last one can be called the fourth tray. That is, one of the trays 80y to 80k is an example of the first support member, another one of the trays 80y to 80k is an example of the second support member, still another one of the trays 80y to 80k is an example of the third support member, and the last one of the trays 80y to 80k is an example of the fourth support member. These numberings are only used for convenience in explanation and can be appropriately interchanged in principle.

[0019] The developing units (first to fourth developing units) 50y, 50m, 50c, 50k are examples of developing means or developing sections that develop (visualize) the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 into a toner image using toner of a corresponding color. The developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, 50k develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 using yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, or black toner, respectively. That is, development is performed using a developer, and the image forming apparatus 1 has a first developer, a second developer, a third developer, and a fourth developer, each having a different color. The developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, 50k may be arranged in an order different from the order shown in FIG. 1.

[0020] The developing unit 50y includes a developing roller 51y, a supply roller 52y, and a developing blade. The developing roller 51y is a developer carrier that rotates while carrying toner as a developer and supplies it to the photosensitive drum 2. The supply roller 52y is a supply member that is disposed in contact with the developing roller 51y and supplies toner to the developing roller 51. The developing blade is a regulating member that regulates the thickness of the toner layer carried on the developing roller 51y. The other developing units 50m, 50c, 50k also include similar developing rollers 51m, 51c, 51k, supply rollers 52m, 52c, 52k, and developing blades.

[0021] Toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, 70k corresponding to the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, 50k are mounted on the rotary main body 90. Inside the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, 70k, yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner are respectively stored as toner for replenishing the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, 50k. One of the four-color toners can be referred to as the first toner, one of the remaining three-color toners can be referred to as the second toner, one of the remaining two-color toners can be referred to as the third toner, and the last toner can be referred to as the fourth toner. For example, it can be said that the black toner is an example of the first toner and the magenta toner is an example of the second toner. These numberings are only used for convenience in explanation and can be appropriately interchanged in principle.

[0022] Here, the rotary main body 90 has a rotary frame 90f that supports the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, 50k. The developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, 50k are supported by the rotary frame 90f, which is a rotatable rotary support.

[0023] Also, trays 80y, 80m, 80c, 80k are attached to the rotary main body 90. The portion combining the rotary main body 90 and the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, 80k can be called a rotary unit 90U. In other words, the rotary unit 90U includes the rotary main body 90 and the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, 80k.

[0024] The toner cartridges 70y to 70k are detachably held in the trays 80y to 80k. As will be described later, the trays 80y to 80k are slidably supported to move outside the rotary main body 90. The portion combining the rotary unit 90U and the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, 70k can be called a rotary assembly 90A. In other words, the rotary assembly 90A has the rotary unit 90U and the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, 70k.

[0025] As will be described later, the rotary main body 90 is rotatable around the rotation axis (rotation center) 90C. The rotation axis 90C coincides with the rotation axes of the rotary frame 90f, the rotary unit 90U, and the rotary assembly 90A. Also, the rotation axis 90C is substantially parallel to the rotation axis (rotation center) of the photosensitive drum 2.

[0026] By rotating around the rotation axis 90C, the rotary main body 90 can take a developing posture in which any one of the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, 51k faces the photosensitive drum 2. The posture in which the developing roller 51y faces the photosensitive drum 2 is called a yellow developing posture. The posture in which the developing roller 51m faces the photosensitive drum 2 is called a magenta developing posture. The posture in which the developing roller 51c faces the photosensitive drum 2 is called a cyan developing posture. The posture in which the developing roller 51k faces the photosensitive drum 2 is called a black developing posture. That is, the rotary main body 90 can rotate around the rotation axis 90C so that the positions of the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, 51k with respect to the photosensitive drum 2 change. The black developing posture is an example of a first developing posture in which the first developing roller (developing roller 51k) faces the photosensitive drum 2. The other developing postures are examples of a second developing posture in which the second developing rollers (developing rollers 51y to 51c) face the photosensitive drum 2. The yellow / magenta / cyan / black developing postures can also be called the first to fourth developing postures. These numberings are only for convenience in explanation and can be changed as appropriate in principle.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 1A has motors M1, M2, and M3 as drive sources. As will be described later, the motor M1 supplies a driving force for rotating the rotary main body 90 around the rotation axis 90C. In other words, the motor M1 rotates the rotary assembly 90A and the rotary unit 90U around the rotation axis 90C.

[0028] The apparatus main body 1A also has a drive device 98 including the motor M2 and a transmission device. The transmission device includes drive racks 15L and 15R as drive gears and a transmission part 15t, which will be described later. The driving force of the motor M2 is transmitted to the drive racks 15L and 15R by the transmission part 15t. In other words, the motor M2 is configured to drive the drive racks 15L and 15R, and moves the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, and 80k relative to the rotary main body 90 via the drive racks 15L and 15R.

[0029] The motor M3 drives members other than the members driven by the motors M1 and M2. For example, the motor M3 drives the photosensitive drum 2, the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k, the pickup roller 310, the feed roller 311, the pair of conveyance rollers 320, the secondary transfer roller 12, the belt drive roller 10b, and the fixing device 40.

[0030] Note that the members driven by the motors M1, M2, and M3 can be changed as appropriate. Also, the roles of any two or all three of the motors M1, M2, and M3 can be consolidated into one motor. On the other hand, a drive source other than the motors M1, M2, and M3 may be added.

[0031] Furthermore, the apparatus main body 1A includes a control unit 30 as control means for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 30 includes a CPU that executes a program and a storage unit such as a ROM or a RAM. The CPU reads and executes the program stored in the storage unit, and controls the operations of actuators such as motors M1, M2, M3 provided in the image forming apparatus 1. The storage unit includes a non-volatile storage medium and a volatile storage medium, serves as a storage location for programs and data, and also serves as a work space when the CPU executes a program. Note that each function of the control unit 30 described below may be implemented in a circuit within the control unit 30 as independent hardware such as an ASIC.

[0032] Here, the subscripts y, m, c, k attached to the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, 50k, the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, 70k, the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, 80k, etc. indicate the colors of the toner. The basic configurations and functions of the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, 50k are common. The basic configurations and functions of the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, 70k are common. Also, the basic configurations and functions of the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, 80k are common. Therefore, when there is no need to distinguish them, the subscripts y, m, c, k are omitted, and the description is made assuming any one of the four units, cartridges, and trays. Also, when distinguishing each of the four units, cartridges, and trays, the subscripts y, m, c, k are attached, and the description is made assuming the one corresponding to the subscript among the four units, cartridges, and trays.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the toner cartridge 70 has a toner frame body 71. The toner frame body 71 includes a toner storage portion 71a for storing toner and a discharge opening 71b communicating with the toner storage portion 71a.

[0034] The developing unit 50 has a developing frame (accommodating frame) 53. The developing frame 53 includes a developing-side accommodating portion 53a and a receiving opening 53b that communicates with the developing-side accommodating portion (toner supply chamber) 53a. That is, the rotary main body 90 includes a developing frame 53y, a developing frame 53m, a developing frame 53c, and a developing frame 53k. That is, the rotary main body 90 includes a first developing chamber, a second developing chamber, a third developing chamber, and a fourth developing chamber. As described above, the developing unit 50 has a developing roller 51, a supply roller 52, etc., but these members are omitted in FIG. 3.

[0035] The developing roller 51k provided in the developing unit 50k is an example of a first developing roller. The developing roller 51m provided in the developing unit 50m is an example of a second developing roller. The developing frame 53k (FIG. 4(a)) of the developing unit 50k provided with the developing-side accommodating portion 53a is an example of a first accommodating frame provided with a first accommodating portion. The developing frame 53m (FIG. 4(a)) of the developing unit 50m provided with the developing-side accommodating portion 53a is an example of a second accommodating frame provided with a second accommodating portion. The rotary main body 90 is an example of a rotatable rotary having a first developing roller, a second developing roller, a first accommodating frame provided with a first accommodating portion, and a second accommodating frame provided with a second accommodating portion. In the present embodiment, the rotary main body 90 has first to fourth developing rollers and first to fourth accommodating frames.

[0036] As will be described later, the toner cartridge 70 is movable relative to the developing frame 53 between a mounting position and a retracted position retracted from the mounting position. When the toner cartridge 70 is in the mounting position relative to the developing frame 53, the discharge opening 71b faces the receiving opening 53b. That is, the toner accommodating portion 71a of the toner cartridge 70 and the developing-side accommodating portion 53a of the developing unit 50 communicate with each other via the discharge opening 71b and the receiving opening 53b. When toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 70 to the developing unit 50, at least a part of the receiving opening 53b is located below at least a part of the discharge opening 71b.

[0037] Then, the toner stored in the toner storage section 71a is discharged from the discharge opening 71b, and the toner discharged from the discharge opening 71b is stored in the developing side storage section 53a through the receiving opening 53b. That is, the first developer is supplied to the first developing chamber of the rotary main body 90, the second developer is supplied to the second developing chamber, the third developer is supplied to the third developing chamber, and the fourth developer is supplied to the fourth developing chamber.

[0038] The toner stored in the developing side storage section 53a is supplied to the developing roller 51 by the supply roller 52. Through such a path, the toner stored in the toner storage section 71a is supplied to the developing roller 51.

[0039] The toner cartridge 70 preferably has a sealing member (first sealing member) (not shown) that covers the discharge opening 71b. Further, the developing unit 50 preferably has a sealing member (second sealing member) (not shown) that covers the receiving opening 53b.

[0040] When the toner cartridge 70 is not attached to the developing unit 50, it is desirable that the discharge opening 71b and the receiving opening 53b are each covered with a sealing member so as to suppress the outflow of toner from the discharge opening 71b and the receiving opening 53b.

[0041] (Image forming operation) The image forming operation in this embodiment will be described. First, the photosensitive drum 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 (counterclockwise) in synchronization with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 10a. Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 3.

[0042] When forming a color image on the sheet S, as follows, the rotary main body 90 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 (clockwise) while supporting the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k. Then, while moving the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k to the developing positions one by one, the electrophotographic process is repeatedly performed.

[0043] First, the scanner 4 irradiates a laser beam based on the image data corresponding to the yellow image, and forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. In parallel with the formation of this electrostatic latent image, the motor M1 rotates the rotary body 90, and the rotary body 90 assumes a yellow developing posture. When the rotary body 90 assumes the yellow developing posture, the developing roller 51y is in the developing position, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 with yellow toner.

[0044] Here, in this embodiment, each of the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k is an elastic roller with rubber coated around a metal shaft. At the developing position, each of the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k develops the electrostatic latent image while being in contact with the photosensitive drum 2. That is, the contact development method is adopted in the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment. However, at the developing position, each of the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k may develop the electrostatic latent image with a gap left between them and the photosensitive drum 2. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 may adopt a non-contact development method.

[0045] When the yellow toner image is developed, the yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 2 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10a by the primary transfer roller 11 disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 10a.

[0046] Thereafter, by rotating the rotary main body 90 to move the developing rollers 51m, 51c, and 51k to the developing position in sequence, toner images of each color are formed. That is, after the yellow toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a, the rotary main body 90 assumes the magenta developing posture, and the magenta toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a. After the magenta toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a, the rotary main body 90 assumes the cyan developing posture, and the cyan toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a. After the cyan toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a, the rotary main body 90 assumes the black developing posture, and the black toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a. After the black toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a, the rotary main body 90 rotates around the rotation axis 90C in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 (clockwise) and returns to the yellow developing posture. Note that the color of the image first formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a is arbitrary, and for example, a black toner image may be formed first.

[0047] Then, primary transfer is repeated so that the four-color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a, thereby forming a color image on the intermediate transfer belt 10a. Note that until the color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a, the secondary transfer roller 12 and the cleaning device 13 are not in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 10a.

[0048] On the other hand, the sheet S is fed from the sheet storage unit 300 provided at the lower part of the apparatus main body 1A by the pickup roller 310. The sheet S is separated one by one by the feed roller 311 and the separation roller 312 and sent to the pair of conveyance rollers 320. The pair of conveyance rollers 320 sends the fed sheet S to the transfer portion (secondary transfer portion), which is the nip portion between the intermediate transfer belt 10a and the secondary transfer roller 12. The color image on the intermediate transfer belt 10a is transferred (secondarily transferred) onto the surface of the conveyed sheet S.

[0049] The sheet S onto which the color image has been transferred is sent to the fixing device 40. In the fixing device 40, the sheet S is heated and pressed, and the image is fixed on the sheet S. The sheet S that has passed through the fixing device 40 is discharged outside the image forming apparatus 1 as a finished product.

[0050] On the other hand, when forming a monochrome image on the sheet S, the rotary main body 90 assumes a black developing posture. In this state, after an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by charging and exposing the photosensitive drum 2, the electrostatic latent image is developed with black toner by the developing roller 51k located at the developing position. The black toner image is first transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10a and then secondarily transferred to the sheet S. The subsequent steps are the same as those for the color image.

[0051] (Rotary configuration) The configuration of the rotary main body 90 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 4(a, b), and 5. FIGS. 4(a, b) are cross-sectional views showing the rotary main body 90 of the image forming apparatus 1 and its surroundings. Note that FIGS. 4(a, b) are cross-sectional views of the apparatus cut by a virtual plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rotary main body 90.

[0052] As described above, the toner cartridges 70y to 70k are detachable from the rotary main body 90. When the toner in the toner cartridges 70y to 70k runs out, the user can replenish the toner in the image forming apparatus 1 by replacing the toner cartridges 70y to 70k.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 1A has a frame 16 that houses the rotary main body 90. The frame 16 is the main body frame of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. The frame 16 is the housing (body) of the apparatus main body 1A constituted by a frame and exterior members, and is substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped in the present embodiment.

[0054] The frame body 16 is provided with an opening 16a. More specifically, the frame body 16 is provided with a side surface 16b that extends in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction. The side surface 16b constitutes at least a part of the outer surface on the +X side of the apparatus main body 1A. The opening 16a is disposed on this side surface 16b. The side surface 16b is a side surface disposed on the downstream side of the discharge port in the discharge direction in which the sheet S on which an image is formed is discharged from the discharge port of the apparatus main body 1A. The user can access the sheet storage unit 300 from the side of the side surface 16b of the image forming apparatus 1 to replenish the sheet S or acquire the sheet S discharged from the discharge port. Therefore, the side surface 16b can be referred to as the front (front surface) of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0055] The toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k are detachable from the rotary main body 90 through the opening 16a. That is, it can be said that the toner cartridge 70k is an example of a first toner cartridge that stores toner supplied to the first developing roller (developing roller 51k) and is detachable from the rotary (rotary main body 90) through the opening 16a of the frame body 16 of the apparatus main body 1A. The toner cartridge 70m can be said to be an example of a second toner cartridge that stores toner supplied to the second developing roller (developing roller 51m) and is detachable from the rotary (rotary main body 90) through the opening 16a of the frame body 16 of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0056] In the present embodiment, the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k are detached from and attached to the rotary main body 90 through the opening 16a while being supported by the trays 80y to 80k. In other words, the user can detach and attach the toner cartridges 70y to 70k to and from the rotary main body 90 via the trays 80y to 80k.

[0057] The opening 16a is disposed on the side surface 16b of the frame body 16. In the present embodiment, the side surface 16b is a plane substantially parallel to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90. For this reason, when the toner cartridge 70 is replaced, the toner cartridge 70 passes through the opening 16a in a direction (preferably a direction perpendicular) intersecting the rotation axis 90C.

[0058] The image forming apparatus 1 has a door 14 that covers the opening 16a of the frame body 16. The door 14 is an opening / closing member that is movable between a closed position covering the opening 16a (see also Fig. 6(a)) and an open position where the opening 16a is exposed (see also Fig. 6(b, c)).

[0059] As described above, in this embodiment, the toner cartridge 70 is configured to be detachable from the rotary main body 90 via the tray 80. Therefore, the toner cartridge 70 can be stably attached to and detached from the rotary main body 90.

[0060] More specifically, the user can replace the toner cartridge 70 by performing an operation of attaching and detaching the toner cartridge 70 to and from the tray 80 that is configured to be movable with respect to the rotary main body 90 (that is, with respect to the apparatus main body 1A). In the case of a configuration in which the user directly inserts and removes the toner cartridge with respect to the apparatus main body, the user is required to insert the toner cartridge to a predetermined mounting position inside the apparatus main body. In this embodiment, the tray 80 is movable so that the toner cartridge 70 moves to the mounting position while supporting the toner cartridge 70. Therefore, the user can replace the toner cartridge 70 by performing a simple operation of placing the toner cartridge 70 on the tray 80, improving the operability.

[0061] Note that the toner cartridge 70 has an elongated shape with the Y direction parallel to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90 as the longitudinal direction. That is, the dimension of the toner cartridge 70 in the longitudinal direction is larger than the height and width in the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. When handling the toner cartridge 70 having such an elongated shape, by arranging the opening 16a on the side surface 16b of the frame body 16 that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the toner cartridge 70, the toner cartridge 70 can pass through the opening 16a with a short moving distance. For example, compared with the case of inserting and removing the toner cartridge 70 through an opening provided on either one side (+Y side or -Y side) of the frame body 16 in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 70, the replacement of the toner cartridge 70 becomes easier.

[0062] The rotary body 90 can rotate around the rotation axis 90C and take an exchange posture in which any one of the toner cartridges 70y to 70k can be removed from the rotary body 90. The posture in which the removal of the toner cartridge 70y is permitted is called the yellow exchange posture. The posture in which the removal of the toner cartridge 70m is permitted is called the magenta exchange posture. The posture in which the removal of the toner cartridge 70c is permitted is called the cyan exchange posture.

[0063] The posture in which the removal of the toner cartridge 70k is permitted is called the black exchange posture. The black exchange posture is an example of the first exchange posture in which the removal of the first toner cartridge from the rotary body 90 is permitted. The yellow / magenta / cyan exchange postures are examples of the second exchange postures in which the removal of the second toner cartridge from the rotary body 90 is permitted. The yellow / magenta / cyan / black exchange postures can also be called the first to fourth exchange postures. These numberings are only for convenience in explanation and can be appropriately interchanged in principle.

[0064] The rotary body 90 can rotate clockwise around the rotation axis 90C as shown in FIG. 1 and sequentially take the yellow / magenta / cyan / black exchange postures. In the present embodiment, the rotary body 90 rotates clockwise around the rotation axis 90C, whereby the developing posture and the exchange posture are alternately switched. For example, in FIG. 1, the rotary body 90 is in the black developing posture. From this state, when the rotary body 90 rotates clockwise, the posture of the rotary body 90 is switched in the order of the cyan exchange posture, the yellow developing posture, the black exchange posture, the magenta developing posture, the yellow exchange posture, the cyan developing posture, and the magenta exchange posture. When the rotary body 90 rotates clockwise from the magenta exchange posture, the rotary body 90 returns to the black developing posture. That is, the rotary body 90 can rotate one or more turns (360°) clockwise.

[0065] FIG. 4(a) shows a cross-section of the rotary body 90 in the developing posture (specifically, the yellow developing posture). FIG. 4(b) shows a cross-section of the rotary body 90 in the replacement posture (specifically, the black replacement posture).

[0066] As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), four trays 80y to 80k are attached to the rotary body 90. Toner cartridges 70y to 70k are respectively held in the trays 80y to 80k. In FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the trays 80y to 80k are in a state of being housed inside the rotary body 90, and this state can be said to be a state where the toner cartridges 70y to 70k are attached to the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k.

[0067] As described above, the toner cartridge 70 is movable between a mounting position and a retracted position retracted from the mounting position with respect to the developing frame 53 of the developing unit 50. That is, the first toner cartridge (toner cartridge 70k) is movable between a first mounting position and a first retracted position with respect to the first housing frame (developing frame 53k). The second toner cartridge (toner cartridge 70m) is movable between a second mounting position and a second retracted position with respect to the second housing frame (developing frame 53m).

[0068] When the toner cartridge 70 is in the mounting position with respect to the developing frame 53, as shown in FIG. 3, the discharge opening 71b and the receiving opening 53b face each other. In this state, the toner cartridge 70 is configured to supply toner to the developing-side housing portion 53a through the receiving opening 53b (the opening of the housing frame).

[0069] The apparatus main body 1A has a moving device 85 configured to move the toner cartridge 70 from the mounting position to the retracted position with respect to the rotary main body 90 (more specifically, with respect to the developing frame 53 of the developing unit 50). The moving device 85 will be described later with reference to FIG. 8 and the like. In the present embodiment, a plurality of moving devices 85y to 85k corresponding to a plurality of toner cartridges 70y to 70k are arranged on the rotary main body 90. The trays 80y to 80k can be said to be a part of the moving devices 85y to 85k.

[0070] In the present embodiment, the toner cartridge 70k containing black toner is larger in size than the toner cartridges 70y to 70c containing yellow toner, magenta toner, and cyan toner, and can accommodate more toner. In other words, the first toner cartridge can accommodate a first amount of toner, the second toner cartridge can accommodate a second amount of toner, and it can be said that the first amount is larger than the second amount.

[0071] Specifically, the length of the black toner cartridge 70k in the first radial direction with respect to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90 is larger than the length of the magenta toner cartridge 70m in the second radial direction. Here, the first radial direction is the radial direction of the rotation radius of the rotary main body 90 (the radial direction of a virtual circle centered on the rotation axis 90C), and is the direction in which the toner cartridge 70k extends with respect to the rotation axis 90C when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C. The second radial direction is the radial direction of the rotation radius of the rotary main body 90, and is the direction in which the toner cartridge 70m extends with respect to the rotation axis 90C when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C. Similarly, the length of the black toner cartridge 70k in the first radial direction is larger than the lengths of the toner cartridges 70y and 70c in the radial directions corresponding to the other toner cartridges 70y and 70c.

[0072] Therefore, the tray 80k that holds the black toner cartridge 70k is larger in size than the trays 80y - 80c that hold the other toner cartridges 70y, 70m, and 70c. That is, four toner cartridges 70y - 70k and trays 80y - 80k of different sizes are arranged inside the rotary body 90. In other words, the toner cartridge 70k, as an example of the first toner cartridge, and the toner cartridge 70y, as an example of the second toner cartridge that is smaller in size than the first toner cartridge, are detachable from the rotary body 90. Accordingly, the rotary body 90 is provided with a tray 80k, as an example of the first support member that supports the first toner cartridge, and a tray 80y, as an example of the second support member that is smaller in size than the first support member. Further, the toner cartridges 70m and 70c, as examples of the third toner cartridge and the fourth toner cartridge that are smaller in size than the first toner cartridge, are detachable from the rotary body 90. Accordingly, the rotary body 90 is provided with trays 80m and 80c, as examples of the third support member and the fourth support member that are smaller in size than the first support member.

[0073] Here, the rotational drive of the rotary body 90 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, disk gears 92L and 92R are formed at both ends of the rotary body 90. Further, rotary drive gears 93L and 93R are connected to both ends of the swing shaft 91 in a drive - transmissible manner. Here, the driving force of the motor M1 is transmitted to the rotary drive gear 93R by the drive transmission mechanism. Next, the driving force is transmitted from the rotary drive gears 93L and 93R to the disk gears 92L and 92R, whereby the rotary body 90 is rotationally driven. The rotary body 90 rotates around the rotation axis 90C in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1.

[0074] Further, the rotary body 90 is supported so as to be swingable about the swing shaft 91. The rotary body 90 is biased by a biasing member in the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) about the swing shaft 91. This direction can be said to be the direction in which each of the developing rollers 51y to 51k approaches the photosensitive drum 2. As a result, in a state where the rotary body 90 is in the developing posture, each of the developing rollers 51y to 51k abuts on the photosensitive drum 2.

[0075] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, rotary cams 90eL and 90eR are provided at both ends of the rotary body 90. When the rotary body 90 rotates clockwise in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) about the rotation axis line 90C, the rotary cams 90eL and 90eR abut on rollers 96 (FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b)) supported by the frame body 16. Then, it moves in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) about the swing shaft 91. This direction can be said to be the direction in which each of the developing rollers 51y to 51k moves away from the photosensitive drum 2. Further, this direction can be said to be the direction in which the rotary body 90 approaches the opening 16a of the frame body 16 and the door 14.

[0076] Thereby, when the rotary body 90 rotates and switches from the developing posture to the replacement posture, the rotary body 90 swings about the swing shaft 91. In a state where the rotary body 90 takes the replacement posture, the developing roller 51 is separated from the photosensitive drum 2.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 4(b), in the black replacement posture, the toner cartridge 70k stops at a position facing the opening 16a and the door 14 provided on the side surface 16b of the apparatus main body 1A. From this state, when the tray 80k is slid from the mounting position to the developing unit 50k to the outside of the rotary body 90, the user can replace the toner cartridge 70k.

[0078] (Toner Cartridge Replacement Operation) Using FIGS. 4(a), 6(a - c), and 7(a, b), the toner cartridge replacement operation will be described. FIGS. 6(a - c) are external views of the apparatus main body 1A. FIGS. 7(a, b) are cross-sectional views around the rotary main body 90 at the time of toner cartridge replacement. Note that FIGS. 7(a, b) are cross-sectional views of the apparatus in a virtual plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90.

[0079] FIG. 6(a) shows the external appearance of the apparatus main body 1A during the image forming operation and in the standby state. The image forming operation period is the period during which a series of operations are executed after the image forming apparatus 1 feeds the sheet S and forms an image on the sheet S and then discharges it as a product. The standby state is a state in which the image forming apparatus 1 can start the image forming operation when it receives an image forming instruction (printing instruction) and is waiting for an image forming instruction from the user. As shown in FIG. 6(a), the door 14 is in the closed state during the image forming operation and in the standby state.

[0080] FIG. 6(b) shows the external appearance of the apparatus main body 1A at the time of toner cartridge replacement. At the time of toner cartridge replacement, the door 14 is in the open state, and the tray 80 and the toner cartridge 70 are moved to the outside of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0081] The toner cartridge 70 is movable with respect to the developing frame 53 of the developing unit 50 between a mounting position and a retracted position retracted from the mounting position. When the toner cartridge 70 is in the mounting position with respect to the developing frame 53, as shown in FIG. 3, the discharge opening 71b and the receiving opening 53b face each other. As shown in FIGS. 4(a, b), the rotary main body 90 is configured to rotate around the rotation axis 90C in a state where the toner cartridge 70 is in the mounting position and take a developing posture or an exchange posture.

[0082] The toner cartridge replacement operation will be described. First, the user instructs the control unit 30 of the apparatus main body 1A to perform the toner cartridge replacement operation. The instruction for the toner cartridge replacement operation is performed, for example, by an input via an operation panel (operation unit) provided on the apparatus main body 1A.

[0083] When the control unit 30 receives an instruction for the toner cartridge replacement operation, the rotary main body 90 rotates to the replacement posture of the toner cartridge 70 to be replaced (the toner cartridge 70 with no toner left) and stops. That is, the control unit 30 rotates the rotary main body 90 to the replacement posture of the toner cartridge specified in the instruction for the toner cartridge replacement operation (the black replacement posture for replacing the black toner cartridge 70k in FIG. 4(b)). In the replacement posture, the tray 80 that supports the toner cartridge 70 for which replacement has been instructed faces the opening 16a of the frame body 16 of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0084] For example, the rotary main body 90 in FIG. 4(a) is in the yellow development posture where the yellow developing roller 51y faces the photosensitive drum 2. At this time, the black toner cartridge 70k and the tray 80k do not necessarily face the opening 16a and the door 14. In other words, the toner cartridge 70 and the tray 80 do not necessarily face the opening 16a and the door 14 when the rotary main body 90 is in a replacement posture or a development posture other than the replacement posture of the toner cartridge. Therefore, the opening 16a only needs to be large enough for each toner cartridge 70 to pass through individually. When the rotary main body 90 rotates by a predetermined angle clockwise in the figure from the yellow development posture, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the black toner cartridge 70k and the tray 80k face the opening 16a and the door 14.

[0085] Here, "the tray 80 faces the opening 16a" means that the tray 80 is positioned so as to be movable to the outside of the apparatus main body 1A through the opening 16a. That is, when the tray 80 faces the opening 16a, the tray 80 is moved to the outside in the radial direction of the rotation radius of the rotary main body 90 by a moving mechanism described later, so that the tray 80 and the toner cartridge 70 supported by the tray 80 can protrude outside the apparatus main body 1A. In FIG. 4(a), none of the trays 80y to 80k face the opening 16a. In FIG. 4(b), only the black tray 80k faces the opening 16a, and the other trays 80y to 80c do not face the opening 16a.

[0086] When the rotary body 90 is positioned in the replacement posture, the motor M2 moves the tray 80 that supports the toner cartridge 70 to be replaced outward of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0087] As a result, the toner cartridge 70 to be replaced moves from the mounting position to the retracted position with respect to the rotary body 90. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6(b, c) and 7(a, b), the tray 80 and the toner cartridge 70 to be replaced supported by the tray 80 project outside the apparatus main body 1A through the opening 16a.

[0088] More specifically, the tray 80 is movable with respect to the rotary body 90 between a storage position and a take-out position. That is, the first tray is movable with respect to the rotary body 90 between a storage position (first position) and a take-out position (second position). Further, the second tray is movable with respect to the rotary body 90 between a storage position (third position) and a take-out position (fourth position). The storage position is a position where the tray 80 is stored in the rotary body 90. The take-out position is a position where the tray 80 projects outside the rotary body 90 and the toner cartridge 70 can be taken out from the tray 80 (removal position, replaceable position). Examples of the storage position are the positions of the trays 80y to 80k in FIGS. 4(a, b). Examples of the take-out position are the positions of the tray 80 in FIGS. 6(b, c), the tray 80k in FIG. 7(a), and the tray 80m in FIG. 7(b).

[0089] When the tray 80 is in the storage position, the toner cartridge 70 attached to the tray 80 is positioned inside the rotary body 90 and at the mounting position. When the tray 80 is in the take-out position, the toner cartridge 70 attached to the tray 80 is positioned outside the rotary body 90 and at the retracted position.

[0090] Here, as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), the rotary main body 90 has a convex portion 95 for holding the tray 80 in the accommodation position and holding the toner cartridge 70 in the mounting position. As shown in FIG. 8, the tray 80 is provided with a concave portion 87 that fits into the convex portion 95. FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) show the convex portions 95k and 95m corresponding to the trays 80k and 80m, and FIG. 8 shows the concave portions 87y and 87m of the trays 80y and 80m. The convex portion 95 and the concave portion 87 are provided for each of the trays 80y to 80k. The convex portion 95 is preferably biased in the direction of engaging with the concave portion 87.

[0091] When the convex portion 95 fits into the concave portion 87 of the tray 80, the tray 80 is locked to the rotary frame 90f. As a result, even when the rotary main body 90 rotates, the tray 80 remains in the accommodation position, preventing the toner cartridge 70 from moving from the mounting position. When the tray 80 is moved between the accommodation position and the take-out position by a moving device described later, the convex portion 95 can be configured to be moved by the tray 80 so that the convex portion 95 disengages from the concave portion 87.

[0092] In this embodiment, the door 14 is rotatably supported with respect to the apparatus main body 1A. As shown in FIG. 7(a), the door 14 is biased by a spring 14s from the open position toward the closed position. The spring 14s is, for example, a tension spring, and biases the door 14 so as to generate a counterclockwise moment in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) about the support shaft 14c of the door 14.

[0093] When the tray 80 presses the door 14, the door 14 is in an open state (the state shown in Fig. 6(b)). This state can also be said to be a state where the tray 80 is supported by the door 14. By the door 14 supporting at least a part of the tray 80 protruding outside the apparatus main body 1A, the toner cartridge 70 can be supported more stably. In other words, when the first toner cartridge (toner cartridge 70k) is in the first retracted position, the opening / closing member (door 14) in the open position supports the first support member (tray 80k). Also, when the second toner cartridge (toner cartridges 70y to 70c) is in the second retracted position, the opening / closing member (door 14) in the open position supports the second support members (trays 80y to 80c).

[0094] Note that the door 14 is configured to contact a part of the frame body 16 of the apparatus main body 1A (for example, the lower edge 16c of the opening 16a) at the open position and not to rotate downward beyond the open position. When the tray 80 is pulled back from the outside to the inside of the apparatus main body 1A, the door 14 returns to the closed position by the biasing force of the spring 14s.

[0095] The toner cartridge 70 is detachably held on the tray 80. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 6(c), the user can remove the toner cartridge 70 from the tray 80 and perform an operation (replacement operation) of attaching a new toner cartridge 70. In addition, when replacing a plurality of toner cartridges 70, the replacement operation can be performed by repeating the above operation.

[0096] Figs. 7(a, b) show cross-sections around the rotary main body 90 when replacing the toner cartridge. Fig. 7(a) shows the state when replacing the black toner cartridge 70k. Fig. 7(b) shows the state when replacing the magenta toner cartridge 70m.

[0097] The image forming apparatus 1 includes moving devices 85y, 85m, 85c, 85k (FIG. 8) that move the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, 70k from their respective mounting positions to their retracted positions. When the subscript is omitted and it is referred to as the "moving device 85", it usually indicates any one of the moving devices 85y, 85m, 85c, 85k. In this embodiment, it can be said that the moving device 85 includes the tray 80. The moving device 85k including the tray 80k can be said to be an example of a first moving device including a first support member. The moving device 85m including the tray 80m can be said to be an example of a second moving device including a second support member.

[0098] Even when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, the tray 80 is in a state of being connected to the rotary main body 90 (a state of being supported by the rotary main body 90). In order to easily perform the operation of removing the toner cartridge 70 from the rotary main body 90, it is preferable that the length by which the toner cartridge 70 protrudes from the rotary main body 90 is long in the retracted position. Since the toner cartridge 70 is configured to be detachable from the rotary main body 90 via the tray 80, even when the length by which the toner cartridge 70 protrudes from the rotary main body 90 is long, the toner cartridge 70 can be stably supported by the tray 80.

[0099] The moving direction of the toner cartridge 70 when the toner cartridge 70 moves from the mounting position to the retracted position is referred to as the retracting direction. In this embodiment, the retracting direction of the toner cartridge 70 is a direction that intersects the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction). Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the retracting direction of the toner cartridge 70 is a direction orthogonal to the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction). Also, it can be said that the retracting direction of the toner cartridge 70 is a direction that goes outward in the radial direction of rotation of the rotary main body 90 (a direction away from the rotation axis 90C).

[0100] As shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), when the user performs an operation to remove the toner cartridge 70 from the rotary main body 90, at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 preferably protrudes from the rotary main body 90 when the toner cartridge 70 is removed. In the present embodiment, when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, the entire toner cartridge 70 protrudes from the rotary main body 90.

[0101] When the rotary main body 90 rotates around the rotation axis 90C, it can be said that the rotation locus of the rotary main body 90 coincides with the circumscribed circle of the rotary main body 90 centered on the rotation axis 90C (virtual circle 90V shown by a broken line in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b)). When the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, it is preferable that at least half of the length of the toner cartridge 70 in the retraction direction is outside the rotation locus of the rotary main body 90. That is, when viewed in the rotation axis direction of the rotary, in a state where the toner cartridge is in the retracted position, for the moving direction of the toner cartridge from the mounting position to the retracted position, it is preferable that at least half of the total length of the toner cartridge is located outside the rotation locus of the rotary. This applies to each toner cartridge 70 including the toner cartridge 70k as an example of the first cartridge and the toner cartridge 70m as an example of the second cartridge. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, the entire toner cartridge 70 is outside the rotation locus (virtual circle 90V) of the rotary main body 90.

[0102] Furthermore, in order for the user to easily grasp the toner cartridge 70, when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, it is preferable that at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 is outside the image forming apparatus 1 (outside the apparatus main body 1A). Here, the outside of the apparatus refers to a space outside the image forming apparatus 1 (outside the apparatus main body 1A) when the image forming apparatus 1 is used, such as an image forming operation on the sheet S.

[0103] In this embodiment, the outer surface of the apparatus main body 1A is formed by the outer surface of the frame body 16. That is to say, the outside of the apparatus can also mean the outside of the frame body 16. Therefore, the state where at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 is outside the apparatus can also be said to be a state where at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 protrudes outward from the opening 16a of the frame body 16 of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0104] In this embodiment, when the door 14 is in the closed position, the opening 16a of the frame body 16 of the apparatus main body 1A is covered by the door 14. And, a part of the outer surface of the apparatus main body 1A is formed by the outer surface 14a of the door 14 in the closed position. In this case, the outside of the apparatus means the outside of the outer surface 14a of the door 14 in the closed position. That is to say, if the position of the outer surface 14a of the door 14 in the closed position is taken as the appearance position, when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 is located outside the apparatus main body 1A rather than at this appearance position.

[0105] In other words, at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 is located in the space that becomes the outside of the apparatus main body 1A if the door 14 were in the closed position. And regarding the retraction direction of the toner cartridge 70, at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 is located on the downstream side of the appearance position.

[0106] Also, taking the side surface 16b provided with the opening 16a as the front of the apparatus main body 1A, when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, it can be said that at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 protrudes more forward than the outer surface on the front side of the apparatus main body 1A. In this case, the user can access the toner cartridge 70 from the front side of the image forming apparatus and easily perform the replacement work of the toner cartridge 70.

[0107] Incidentally, when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, it is preferable that more than half of the length of the toner cartridge 70 in the retraction direction is outside the apparatus. That is, when viewed in the direction of the rotary axis line, in a state where the toner cartridge is in the retracted position, it is preferable that more than half of the total length of the toner cartridge is located outside the main body frame in the moving direction of the toner cartridge from the mounting position toward the retracted position. This applies to each toner cartridge 70 including the toner cartridge 70k as an example of the first cartridge and the toner cartridge 70m as an example of the second cartridge. Further, when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, it is more preferable that the entire toner cartridge 70 is outside the apparatus. In the present embodiment, the outer surface on the front side of the apparatus main body 1A is formed by the outer surface 14a and the side surface 16b of the door 14, but the configuration of the door 14 is not limited to this. For example, the size of the door 14 may be such that it covers the entire side surface 16b. In this case, the outer surface 14a of the door 14 forms the outer surface on the front side of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0108] The tray 80 includes a cartridge holding portion 81 (see FIGS. 3 and 6(c)) that holds the toner cartridge 70. The cartridge holding portion 81 is a portion to which the toner cartridge 70 is attached. When the tray 80 is in the take-out position, it is preferable that the entire cartridge holding portion 81 is outside the rotation locus of the rotary main body 90 in the retraction direction. When the tray 80 is in the take-out position, it is preferable that more than half of the length of the cartridge holding portion 81 is outside the apparatus in the retraction direction.

[0109] Here, as described above, the toner cartridge 70k and the tray 80k are larger in size than the other toner cartridges 70y to 70c and trays 80y to 80c. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), in the present embodiment, the amount of movement of the tray 80 during toner cartridge replacement is changed according to the size of the toner cartridge 70.

[0110] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7(a), when the tray 80k (the first support member) moves from the storage position (the first storage position) to the extraction position (the first extraction position), the moving distance is L1. When the tray 80m (the second support member) moves from the storage position to the extraction position (the third extraction position), the moving distance is L2. In FIG. 7(b), the state where the toner cartridge 70m and the tray 80m have moved is shown, but the moving distance when the trays 80y and 80c move from the storage position to the extraction position is also L2. At this time, L1 is larger than L2. In other words, it can be said that the moving distance of the first support member when the first toner cartridge moves from the first mounting position to the first retracted position is longer than the moving distance of the second support member when the second toner cartridge moves from the second mounting position to the second retracted position.

[0111] Also, as shown in FIG. 7(a), with the tray 80k in the extraction position and the toner cartridge 70k in the retracted position, the toner cartridge 70k protrudes from the outer surface of the apparatus main body 1A by a distance P1 outside the apparatus. In this embodiment, the tray 80k also protrudes from the outer surface of the apparatus main body 1A by the distance P1 outside the apparatus.

[0112] Also, as shown in FIG. 7(b), with the tray 80m in the extraction position and the toner cartridge 70m in the retracted position, the toner cartridge 70m protrudes from the outer surface of the apparatus main body 1A by a distance P2 outside the apparatus. In this embodiment, the tray 80m also protrudes from the outer surface of the apparatus main body 1A by the distance P2 outside the apparatus. Note that the toner cartridges 70y and 70c also protrude from the outer surface of the apparatus main body 1A by the distance P2 outside the apparatus.

[0113] The above distance P1 is larger than the distance P2. That is, the length by which the first toner cartridge in the first retracted position protrudes from the opening 16a of the apparatus main body 1A is defined as the first length (P1), and the length by which the second toner cartridge in the second retracted position protrudes from the opening 16a is defined as the second length (P2). In this case, it can be said that the first length is longer than the second length.

[0114] Compared with the toner cartridge 70k, the toner cartridges 70y to 70c with a smaller size are preferably designed such that the distance P2 protruding outside the machine at the retracted position is shorter than the distance P1 that the toner cartridge 70k protrudes outside the machine at the retracted position in terms of strength. This is due to the following reasons. When the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 protrudes outside the rotation locus of the rotary main body 90 or outside the appearance surface of the apparatus main body 1A. At this time, the tray 80 is supported cantilevered by the rotary main body 90 and supports the weight of the toner cartridge 70. Therefore, reducing the distance P2 that the toner cartridges 70y to 70c protrude outside the machine at the retracted position can reduce the load applied to the trays 80y to 80c and the guide portion 97 of the rotary main body 90 that supports the trays 80y to 80k. Also, since the toner cartridges 70y to 70c are smaller in size than the toner cartridge 70k, even if the distance P2 is made shorter than the distance P1, the workability of replacing the cartridges with respect to the trays 80y to 80c can be maintained.

[0115] (Tray arrangement inside the rotary unit) With reference to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the arrangement of the trays 80y to 80k inside the rotary main body 90 will be described. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the trays 80y to 80k inside the rotary main body 90. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the trays 80y to 80k inside the rotary main body 90. FIG. 10 is a view showing the member arrangement at one end side in the Y direction of the trays 80y to 80k. Note that FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the rotary main body 90 in a virtual plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90. Also, the upper half of FIG. 10 is a view of the rotary main body 90 and the trays 80m, 80k in FIG. 8 as seen from the upper right side (+Z side) of FIG. 8, and the lower half of FIG. 10 is a view of the rotary main body 90 and the trays 80c, 80y in FIG. 8 as seen from the left side (-X side) of FIG. 8.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 8, each of the trays 80y to 80k is provided with cartridge holding portions 81y to 81k and guided portions 82y to 82k.

[0117] Toner cartridges 70y to 70k are respectively mounted on cartridge holders 81y to 81k. Each of the cartridge holders 81y to 81k houses at least a part of the toner cartridges 70y to 70k mounted thereon.

[0118] Guided portions 82y to 82k are provided at both ends of trays 80y to 80k that sandwich the cartridge holders 81y to 81k in the Y direction. The guided portions 82y to 82k are members that extend elongated in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotary main body 90.

[0119] In this embodiment, a reinforcing rib 82k1 is formed on a part of the guided portion 82k in the moving direction Dk of the tray 80k, and a reinforcing rib 82m1 is formed on a part of the guided portion 82m in the moving direction Dm of the tray 80m (see also FIGS. 11(a, b)). The reinforcing ribs 82k1 and 82m1 protrude outward in the Y direction from the guided portions 82k and 82m provided at both ends of the trays 80k and 80m in the Y direction, and have a rib shape (ridge) that extends elongated in the moving directions Dk and Dm of the trays 80k and 80m. The reinforcing ribs 82k1 and 82m1 improve the rigidity of the guided portions 82k and 82m.

[0120] In this embodiment, the lengths of the reinforcing ribs 82m1 and 82k1 are limited while avoiding the guided portions 82y and 82c. However, if there is no interference with the guided portions 82y and 82c, the reinforcing ribs 82m1 and 82k1 may be provided over the entire lengths of the guided portions 82m and 82k. Reinforcing ribs may be added to the guided portions 82y and 82c. Also, if the rigidity of the guided portions 82m and 82k is sufficient, the reinforcing ribs 82m1 and 82k1 may not be provided.

[0121] Rack portions 83y to 83k (rack gears) are formed on the guided portions 82y to 82k. Also, pinion gears 94y to 94k are rotatably held inside the rotary main body 90. The pinion gears 94y to 94k are respectively meshed with the rack portions 83y to 83k so as to be capable of driving transmission.

[0122] The tray 80y is provided with one or more rack portions 83y. The rotary main body 90 is provided with one or more pinion gears 94y corresponding to the one or more rack portions 83y. Similarly, the trays 80m, 80c, and 80k are respectively provided with one or more rack portions 83m, one or more rack portions 83c, and one or more rack portions 83k. The rotary main body 90 is provided with one or more pinion gears 94m, one or more pinion gears 94c, and one or more pinion gears 94k corresponding to the one or more rack portions 83m, the one or more rack portions 83c, and the one or more rack portions 83k respectively.

[0123] The rack portions 83y to 83k and the pinion gears 94y to 94k are part of the moving devices 85y to 85k configured to move the toner cartridges 70y to 70k from the mounting position to the retracted position. Also, it can be said that the rack portions 83y to 83k and the pinion gears 94y to 94k are part of the driven devices driven by the drive device 98 of the apparatus main body 1A. The pinion gears 94y to 94k can be said to be rotating bodies (rotating members) that move the trays 80y to 80k relative to the rotary main body 90 by rotating.

[0124] The moving devices 85y to 85k are driven by the drive device 98 of the apparatus main body 1A. The pinion gears 94y to 94k and the rack portions 83y to 83k function as driven parts for the moving devices 85y to 85k of the rotary main body 90 to receive driving force from the drive device 98 of the apparatus main body 1A. The pinion gear 94k and the rack portion 83k are examples of a first pinion gear and a first rack gear that constitute at least a part of the first driven part provided in the first moving device. The pinion gear 94m and the rack portion 83m are examples of a second pinion gear and a second rack gear that constitute at least a part of the second driven part provided in the second moving device.

[0125] The rotary body 90 has guide portions 97 (see FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b)) that engage with the respective guided portions 82y to 82k. FIG. 7(a) shows the guide portion 97 (97k) that engages with the guided portion 82k of the tray 80k, and FIG. 7(b) shows the guide portion 97 (97m) that engages with the guided portion 82m of the tray 80m. Similar guide portions are provided on the rotary body 90 to engage with the guided portions 82y and 82c of the trays 80y and 80c. Also, in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), although the guide portion 97 provided on one side (+Y side) of the rotary body 90 in the Y direction is shown, similar guide portions 97 are also provided on the other side (-Y side) of the rotary body 90 in the Y direction.

[0126] When the tray 80 moves between the storage position and the take-out position, in at least a part of the movement range, the guide portion 97 maintains the engaged state with the guided portion 82 and guides the movement direction of the tray 80. In this embodiment, in the entire movement range between the storage position and the take-out position of the tray 80k, the guide portion 97 maintains the engaged state with the guided portion 82k. Also, in this embodiment, in the entire movement range between the storage position and the take-out position of the tray 80m, the guide portion 97 maintains the engaged state with the guided portion 82m.

[0127] Also, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, inside the rotary body 90, four trays 80y to 80k are arranged so as to overlap each other, as will be specifically described below.

[0128] When the pinion gears 94y to 94k rotate, the rack portions 83y to 83k and the trays 80y to 80k move with respect to the rotary body 90. As shown in FIG. 9, with respect to the rotary body 90, the moving directions of the four trays 80y to 80k are arranged to be rotated by 90 degrees each. Therefore, the tray 80y and the tray 80c, and the tray 80m and the tray 80k are each held slidably in substantially the same direction (parallel direction). The moving directions of each of the trays 80y to 80k during such sliding movement are restricted by the engagement between the aforementioned guided portions 82y to 82k and the guide portion 97.

[0129] Note that the trays 80y to 80k move outside the machine through the opening 16a. When each of the trays 80y to 80k moves outside the machine from the opening 16a, the moving directions of the respective trays are substantially the same direction (parallel).

[0130] As shown in FIG. 9, with respect to the moving direction Dk of the tray 80k, the range where the tray 80k is disposed is arranged to overlap the range where the tray 80y is disposed and the range where the tray 80c is disposed. Also, with respect to the moving direction Dk of the tray 80k, the range where the tray 80k is disposed overlaps the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90. That is, it can be said that the toner cartridge 70k held by the cartridge holding portion 81k of the tray 80k overlaps the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90 (FIG. 4(b)).

[0131] On the other hand, with respect to the moving direction Dm of the tray 80m, the range where the tray 80m is disposed is arranged to be shifted so as not to overlap the range where the tray 80y is disposed and the range where the tray 80c is disposed. Further, with respect to the moving direction Dy of the tray 80y, the range where the tray 80y is disposed is arranged to be shifted so as not to overlap the range where the tray 80m is disposed and the range where the tray 80k is disposed. Similarly, with respect to the moving direction Dc of the tray 80c, the range where the tray 80c is disposed is arranged to be shifted so as not to overlap the range where the tray 80m is disposed and the range where the tray 80k is disposed.

[0132] The positional relationship between the trays 80 can also be expressed as follows. When viewed in the moving direction Dy of the tray 80y, the tray 80y and the tray 80k overlap, but the tray 80y and the tray 80m do not overlap. When viewed in the moving direction Dm of the tray 80m, the tray 80m and the tray 80k overlap, but the tray 80m and the trays 80y, 80c do not overlap. When viewed in the moving direction Dc of the tray 80c, the tray 80c and the tray 80k overlap, but the tray 80c and the tray 80m do not overlap.

[0133] Here, when two elements (members, parts, units, etc.) overlap when viewed in a specific direction, it means that when each element is perpendicularly projected onto a virtual plane perpendicular to the said direction, the projected area of one element and the projected area of the other element at least partially overlap.

[0134] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the range where the rack portion 83m and the guided portion 82m are arranged and the range where the rack portion 83k and the guided portion 82k are arranged at least partially overlap. That is, in this embodiment, in the rotational axis direction (Y direction) of the rotary body, it can be said that the range where the first rack gear (rack portion 83k) is arranged and the range where the second rack gear (rack portion 83m) is arranged at least partially overlap. Therefore, as compared with an arrangement where the rack portion 83m and the guided portion 82m do not overlap with the rack portion 83k and the guided portion 82k, in the Y direction, the rack portions 83m, 83k and the guided portions 82m, 82k can be arranged in a space-saving manner.

[0135] In the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the range where the rack portion 83y and the guided portion 82y are arranged and the range where the rack portion 83c and the guided portion 82c are arranged at least partially overlap. That is, in this embodiment, in the rotational axis direction (Y direction) of the rotary body, it can be said that the range where the third rack gear (rack portion 83y) is arranged and the range where the fourth rack gear (rack portion 83c) is arranged at least partially overlap. Therefore, as compared with an arrangement where the rack portion 83y and the guided portion 82y do not overlap with the rack portion 83c and the guided portion 82c, in the Y direction, the rack portions 83y, 83c and the guided portions 82y, 82c can be arranged in a space-saving manner.

[0136] Here, the meshing position of the rack portion 83 with the pinion gear 94 will be described with reference to FIG. 10. The upper half of FIG. 10 shows the meshing position of the rack portion 83k and the pinion gear 94k. The lower half of FIG. 10 shows the meshing position of the rack portion 83y and the pinion gear 94y.

[0137] Regarding the direction (Y direction) of the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90, in the region Y1 in the figure, the driving force transmitted from the motor M2 (Fig. 2) as the driving source to the transmission device described later is transmitted to the pinion gears 94y to 94k. In the region Y2 in the figure regarding the Y direction, the pinion gear 94k is in mesh with the rack portion 83k so as to enable driving transmission. In the region Y3 in the figure regarding the Y direction, the pinion gear 94y is in mesh with the rack portion 83y so as to enable driving transmission. Note that the rack portion 83m is in mesh with the pinion gear 94m (Fig. 8) in the region Y2 in the same manner as the rack portion 83k so as to enable driving transmission. The rack portion 83c is in mesh with the pinion gear 94c (Fig. 8) in the region Y3 in the same manner as the rack portion 83y so as to enable driving transmission.

[0138] Here, the region Y2 and the region Y3 are at different positions in the Y direction (shifted in the Y direction). Also, the region Y1 is at a different position in the Y direction from both the region Y2 and the region Y3. That is, the region Y1 is shifted in the Y direction with respect to the region Y2 and the region Y3.

[0139] Furthermore, with the toner cartridges 70y and 70c in the mounted positions, regarding the moving direction (the moving direction Dy of the tray 80y) of the rack portion 83y, the range where the rack portion 83y is arranged and the range where the rack portion 83c is arranged overlap at least partially. In this embodiment, since the moving directions Dy and Dc of the trays 80y and 80c are substantially in the same direction (parallel), regarding the moving direction Dc of the tray 80c as well, the range where the rack portion 83y is arranged and the range where the rack portion 83c is arranged overlap at least partially. Therefore, with the toner cartridges 70y and 70c in the mounted positions, regarding the direction orthogonal to the moving directions Dy and Dc of the rack portions 83y and 83c (the left - right direction in Fig. 8), the tooth surfaces of the rack portion 83y and the rack portion 83c face each other.

[0140] Furthermore, with the toner cartridges 70m and 70k in the mounted positions, the range where the rack portion 83m is disposed and the range where the rack portion 83k is disposed overlap at least partially in the moving direction of the rack portion 83m (the moving direction Dm of the tray 80m). In this embodiment, since the moving directions Dm and Dk of the trays 80m and 80k are substantially the same direction (parallel), for the moving direction Dk of the tray 80k as well, the range where the rack portion 83m is disposed and the range where the rack portion 83k is disposed overlap at least partially. Therefore, with the toner cartridges 70m and 70k in the mounted positions, the tooth surfaces of the rack portion 83m and the rack portion 83k face each other in the direction orthogonal to the moving directions Dm and Dk of the rack portions 83m and 83k (the vertical direction in FIG. 8).

[0141] Also, as shown in FIG. 12(a) to be described later, when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the rack portion 83y overlaps with the rack portion 83m and the rack portion 83k. When viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the rack portion 83m overlaps with the rack portion 83y and the rack portion 83c. When viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the rack portion 83c overlaps with the rack portion 83m and the rack portion 83k. When viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the rack portion 83k overlaps with the rack portion 83y and the rack portion 83c. In other words, it can be said that the range where the first rack gear (rack portion 83k) is disposed and the range where the second rack gear (rack portion 83y) is disposed do not overlap in the rotary rotation axis direction (Y direction). Also, when viewed in the rotary rotation axis direction (Y direction), it can be said that the first rack gear (rack portion 83k) and the second rack gear (rack portion 83y) overlap in a state where the first toner cartridge 70k is in the first mounting position and the second toner cartridge 70y is in the second mounting position.

[0142] Thus, since the positions where the rack portions 83k and 83m are disposed are different from the positions where the rack portions 83y and 83c are disposed in the Y direction, the rack portions 83y and 83c and the rack portions 83m and 83k can be arranged to overlap when viewed in the Y direction.

[0143] This enables space savings in the four tray arrangements within the rotary body 90 and realizes miniaturization in the radial direction of the rotary body 90's rotation radius. That is, if we try to arrange the racks 83 so that they do not overlap in the Y direction while keeping the moving distances of the respective trays 80y to 80k equivalent to those in this embodiment, the area required for the arrangement of the four racks in the Y direction becomes larger. Compared with such a configuration, by arranging a plurality of racks 83 with their positions shifted in the Y direction and overlapping the racks 83 in the Y direction, the arrangement area of the racks 83 when viewed in the Y direction can be reduced.

[0144] Also, in this embodiment, the four racks 83y to 83k are divided into two groups of two each and arranged with their positions shifted in the Y direction. That is, regarding the rotary axis direction (Y direction) of the rotary, it can be said that the ranges where the first rack gear and the second rack gear are arranged overlap, and the ranges where the third rack gear and the fourth rack gear are arranged overlap. Also, regarding the Y direction, it can be said that the range where the first rack gear and the second rack gear are arranged and the range where the third rack gear and the fourth rack gear are arranged are arranged so as not to overlap. This enables miniaturization of the rotary body 90 in the Y direction compared to the case where each of the four racks 83y to 83k is shifted in the Y direction.

[0145] (Tray movement configuration) The configuration regarding the movement of the trays 80y to 80k arranged in the rotary body 90 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11(a, b) and 12(a, b). FIGS. 11(a, b) are perspective views showing the configuration regarding the movement of the tray 80k. FIGS. 12(a, b) are cross-sectional views showing the configuration regarding the movement of the tray 80k.

[0146] In this embodiment, the trays 80y to 80k are all driven by the driving force of the motor M2 being transmitted to the pinion gears 94y to 94k by the driving racks 15L and 15R as transmission devices. Here, the configuration in which the tray 80k moves with respect to the rotary main body 90 will be described. The configurations in which the trays 80y to 80c move with respect to the rotary main body 90 are substantially the same as the configuration in which the tray 80k moves, so the description thereof will be omitted.

[0147] FIG. 11(a) shows a state where the tray 80k is inside the rotary main body 90 (that is, a state where the toner cartridge 70k is mounted on the developing unit 50k). That is, FIG. 11(a) shows a state where the tray 80k is in the storage position, corresponding to a state where the toner cartridge 70k is in the mounted position with respect to the developing frame 53k (FIG. 4(a)). FIG. 11(b) shows a state where the tray 80k is slid and moved outside the rotary main body 90. That is, FIG. 11(b) shows a state where the tray 80k is in the take-out position, corresponding to a state where the toner cartridge 70k is in the retracted position with respect to the developing frame 53k (FIG. 4(a)).

[0148] The apparatus main body 1A of this embodiment has driving racks 15L and 15R as driving gears for driving the pinion gear 94. Each driving rack 15 is driven by the motor M2 via the transmission part 15t. As shown in FIG. 11(a), in a state where the tray 80k is inside the rotary main body 90 (that is, a state where the toner cartridge 70k is mounted on the developing unit 50k), the driving racks 15L and 15R are in a non-engaged position away from the pinion gear 94k. The driving racks 15L and 15R move from the non-engaged position and engage with the pinion gear 94k so that the tray 80k moves from the storage position to the take-out position and the toner cartridge 70k moves from the mounted position to the retracted position.

[0149] As described above, two rack portions 83k are formed at both ends of the tray 80k in the Y direction. Two pinion gears 94k and two drive racks 15L and 15R are respectively arranged at positions corresponding to the rack portions 83k at both ends. That is, the apparatus main body 1A of this embodiment has drive racks 15L and 15R as the first drive gear and the second drive gear. It can be said that the drive rack 15L is an example of the first drive gear, and the drive rack 15R is an example of the second drive gear.

[0150] However, these numberings are only used for convenience in explanation and can be appropriately interchanged in principle. When there is no need to distinguish between the drive racks 15L and 15R, they are denoted as "drive rack 15".

[0151] The rack portion 83 of this embodiment is configured as a rack gear pair, and the pinion gear 94 of this embodiment is configured as a pinion gear pair. In this embodiment, the rack gear pair and the pinion gear pair are arranged on one end side and the other end side of the support member (tray 80) in the Y direction, but they may be arranged at other positions. It can be said that the rack portion 83k and the pinion gear 94k of the moving device 85k corresponding to the tray 80k are respectively examples of the first rack gear pair and the first pinion gear pair.

[0152] It can be said that the rack portions 83y to 83c and the pinion gears 94y to 94c of the moving devices 85y to 85c corresponding to any of the other trays 80y to 80c are respectively examples of the second rack gear pair and the second pinion gear pair.

[0153] One of the pair of rack gears meshes with one of the pair of pinion gears, and the other of the pair of rack gears meshes with the other of the pair of pinion gears. At least one of the pair of pinion gears is driven by a drive rack 15L as a first drive rack. In this embodiment, both of the pair of pinion gears are simultaneously driven by drive racks 15L and 15R as the first drive rack and the second drive rack. Thereby, rotation of the tray 80 is less likely to occur, and stable movement of the toner cartridge 70 becomes possible. Note that the tray 80 may have a single rack portion 83 and may be configured to be moved by a single drive rack 15 via a single pinion gear 94.

[0154] The tray 80k is held slidably with respect to the rotary main body 90 in a direction parallel to the guided portion 82k (i.e., the moving direction Dk). The drive rack 15 is held slidably with respect to the apparatus main body 1A in a direction intersecting the moving direction Dk of the tray 80k. The drive rack 15 is configured to slide (reciprocate) with respect to the apparatus main body 1A in a first direction (vertically upward in this embodiment) and a second direction opposite to the first direction (vertically downward in this embodiment). That is, the moving direction of the drive rack 15 in this embodiment is a direction (preferably a direction orthogonal) intersecting both the moving direction Dk of the tray 80k and the direction (Y direction) of the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90.

[0155] Using FIGS. 11(a, b), a tray moving operation for sliding the tray 80k between the storage position and the take-out position will be described. The tray moving operation of the tray 80k is performed by a motor M2 (FIG. 2), a transmission portion 15t, a drive rack 15, a pinion gear 94k, and a rack portion 83k.

[0156] First, the tray movement operation (tray pulling-out operation) when removing the toner cartridge 70k from the rotary main body 90 will be described. In the state before the tray pulling-out operation starts, the drive rack 15 is positioned below the position where it meshes with the pinion gear 94k (Fig. 11(a)). Also, as described above, in the replacement operation of the toner cartridge 70k, the rotary main body 90 assumes the replacement posture of the toner cartridge 70k (Fig. 4(b)).

[0157] When the tray pulling-out operation starts, the drive rack 15 is slid upward on the apparatus main body 1A by the driving force of the motor M2. In the process of the drive rack 15 moving, it meshes with the pinion gear 94k, and the pinion gear 94k is rotationally driven.

[0158] As shown in Fig. 11(b), when the pinion gear 94k is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in the figure, a driving force is input to the rack portion 83k that meshes with the pinion gear 94k. As a result, the tray 80k is pushed out of the machine and moves from the storage position to the extraction position with respect to the rotary main body 90. At this time, the moving direction of the tray 80k is guided in a predetermined moving direction Dk by the engagement between the guided portion 82k and the guide portion 97k (Fig. 7(a)) of the rotary main body 90. As a result of the tray 80k moving from the storage position to the extraction position, the toner cartridge 70k is moved from the mounting position to the retracted position with respect to the developing unit 50k.

[0159] In the state where the tray 80k is positioned at the extraction position and the toner cartridge 70k is positioned at the retracted position, the user can attach and detach the toner cartridge 70k with respect to the tray 80k.

[0160] When attaching the toner cartridge 70 to the rotary main body 90, the tray movement operations (tray insertion operation, tray insertion operation) are performed in a process opposite to the tray ejection operation. Before the tray insertion operation starts, the drive rack 15 is located above the position where it meshes with the pinion gear 94k. For example, when the user operates a predetermined operation unit, the tray insertion operation starts. When the tray insertion operation starts, the drive rack 15 is slid downward by the driving force of the motor M2 under the apparatus main body 1A. Here, the rotation direction of the motor M2 in the tray insertion operation is opposite to that in the tray ejection operation. In the process of the drive rack 15 moving, it meshes with the pinion gear 94k, and the pinion gear 94k is rotationally driven.

[0161] When the pinion gear 94k is rotationally driven in the direction opposite to the arrow in Fig. 11(b), a driving force is input to the rack portion 83k that meshes with the pinion gear 94k. As a result, the tray 80k is drawn into the machine and moves from the take-out position to the storage position with respect to the rotary main body 90.

[0162] The moving direction of the tray 80k is guided in the moving direction Dk (opposite to the arrow in Fig. 11(b)) by the engagement between the guided portion 82k and the guide portion 97k of the rotary main body 90 (Fig. 7(a)). As a result of the tray 80k moving from the take-out position to the storage position, the toner cartridge 70k is moved from the retracted position to the mounting position with respect to the developing unit 50k.

[0163] The movement of the black tray 80k and toner cartridge 70k has been described above. However, the movement of the other trays 80y to 80c and toner cartridges 70y to 70c is also performed by a similar mechanism. That is, in the replacement posture of each toner cartridge, the drive rack 15 transmits the drive to the pinion gears 94y to 94c.

[0164] A drive device 98 for driving the moving device 85 provided on the rotary main body 90 is constituted by a motor M2 provided on the apparatus main body 1A and a transmission device including the drive rack 15 (15L, 15R) and the transmission portion 15t.

[0165] As described above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of moving devices 85y to 85k corresponding to a plurality of toner cartridges 70y to 70k are arranged on the rotary main body 90. The drive device 98 of the apparatus main body 1A is a common drive device that drives a plurality of moving devices 85y to 85k (a plurality of driven devices) of the rotary main body 90.

[0166] Also, in the present embodiment, the drive target of the drive device 98 is switched by the rotation of the rotary main body 90. In other words, the drive device of the present embodiment includes a drive rack 15 as a transmission member that transmits the driving force of the drive source. The drive device can take a state in which the transmission member is in driving engagement with the first driven part (pinion gear 94k) and a state in which the transmission member is in driving engagement with the second driven part (pinion gear 94m). Further, the drive device can take a state in which the transmission member is disengaged from the first driven part and the second driven part.

[0167] As described above, the pinion gears 94y to 94k are held by the rotary main body 90. Therefore, when the rotary main body 90 rotates, it is preferable that the meshing between the pinion gears 94y to 94k and the drive rack 15 is released.

[0168] FIG. 12(a) shows a state where the tray 80k is inside the rotary main body 90 (in the housing position). FIG. 12(b) shows a state where the tray 80k has moved outside the rotary main body 90 (moved to the take-out position).

[0169] As shown in FIG. 12(a), when the tray 80k is inside the rotary main body 90, the drive rack 15 is located at the lower part inside the apparatus main body 1A. At this time, the drive rack 15 is retracted from the pinion gear 94k. Therefore, the drive rack 15 does not interfere, and the rotary main body 90 can be rotated. More specifically, the drive rack 15 can be retracted outside the rotation locus of the rotary main body 90 indicated by the dotted line in FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b).

[0170] As described above, by rotating the motor M2 in the forward and reverse directions, the tray 80 attached to the rotary body 90 can be moved with respect to the rotary body 90 from the storage position to the take-out position and from the take-out position to the storage position. That is, the drive device of this embodiment can not only drive each moving device of the rotary so that the toner cartridge moves from the mounting position to the retracted position, but also drive each moving device so that the toner cartridge moves from the retracted position to the mounting position.

[0171] Here, as described above, in this embodiment, the moving amount of the tray 80 at the time of toner cartridge replacement is changed according to the size of the toner cartridge 70. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7(a, b), the moving distance L1 when the black tray 80k moves from the storage position to the take-out position is longer than the moving distance L2 when the other trays 80y to 80c move from the storage position to the take-out position.

[0172] Therefore, in this embodiment, when moving the toner cartridges 70y to 70k from the mounting position to the retracted position, the value obtained by dividing the speed of the rack portion 83k by the speed of the drive rack 15 is larger than the value obtained by dividing the speed of the rack portions 83y to 83c by the speed of the drive rack 15.

[0173] For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the pinion gear 94y is a stepped gear, and the pitch circle radius of the small-diameter gear 942 that meshes with the rack portion 83y is made smaller than the pitch circle radius of the large-diameter gear 941 that meshes with the drive rack 15. The pinion gears 94m and 94c are also similar stepped gears. On the other hand, the pinion gear 94k has the same pitch circle radius at the portion that meshes with the drive rack 15 and the portion that meshes with the rack portion 83k. At this time, the pitch circle radius of the pinion gear 94k can be made the same as the pitch circle radius of the large-diameter gear 941 of the pinion gears 94y to 94c. According to this configuration, even if the moving distance of the drive rack 15 is the same, the moving distance of the rack portion 83k can be made larger than the moving distances of the other rack portions 83y to 83c. That is, the moving distance L1 when the black tray 80k moves from the storage position to the take-out position can be made longer than the moving distance L2 when the other trays 80y to 80c move from the storage position to the take-out position.

[0174] Also, by making the pinion gears 94y to 94c stepped gears, the moving distance L1 of the tray 80k can be made larger than the moving distances L2 of the other trays 80y to 80c while the pinion gears 94y to 94k receive driving force from the same drive rack 15.

[0175] Note that instead of (or in combination with) the configuration in which the pinion gears 94y to 94c are stepped gears, the pinion gear 94k may be a stepped gear. In this case, the portion of the pinion gear 94k that meshes with the drive rack 15 may be a small-diameter gear, and the portion of the pinion gear 94k that meshes with the rack portion 83k may be a large-diameter gear having a pitch circle radius larger than that of the small-diameter gear. Also, the stepped gear is an example of a speed reduction mechanism, and it may be replaced with a known speed reduction mechanism that makes the moving amount of the member on the output side (tray 80 side) smaller than the moving amount of the member on the input side (drive source side).

[0176] Also, the moving amount of the drive rack 15 when the toner cartridge 70k moves from the mounting position to the retracted position may be made larger than the moving amount of the drive rack 15 when the toner cartridges 70y to 70c move from the mounting position to the retracted position.

[0177] Incidentally, the shorter the distance that the toner cartridge 70 moves from the mounting position to the retracted position, the shorter the movement time of the toner cartridge 70 can be, and the shorter the time that the user has to wait for the movement of the toner cartridge 70 can be. If the configuration is such that the amount of movement of the drive rack 15 with respect to the toner cartridge 70k is larger than the amount of movement of the drive rack 15 with respect to the toner cartridges 70y to 70c as described above, the time that the user has to wait for the movement of the toner cartridges 70y to 70c can be shortened. With the configuration shown above, the movement distance L1 can be made longer than the movement distance L2. These configurations can also be used in combination.

[0178] (Modification example) Although the configuration in which the driven part has the pinion gear 94 that meshes with both the drive rack 15 and the rack part 83 has been described, the driven part may have a gear that meshes with the drive rack 15 and a gear that meshes with the rack part 83.

[0179] Moreover, the configuration of the moving device 85 that moves the tray 80 is not limited to the so-called rack and pinion configuration. For example, a member corresponding to the pinion gear 94 may be replaced with a roller that rotates under the drive of the motor M2, and the tray 80 may be moved by the friction between the roller and the tray 80.

[0180] Also, when using a roller that rotates under the drive of the motor M2, the roller may be brought into contact with the toner cartridge 70. In this case, the toner cartridges 70y to 70k can be made detachable from the rotary body 90 directly without going through the trays 80y to 80k. In this case, the moving device 85 is constituted by the roller.

[0181] A moving device 85' as a modification example will be described with reference to FIGS. 33(a) and (b). FIGS. 33(a) and (b) are diagrams showing the moving device 85' according to this modification example. The moving device 85' has a rotating body 494a that rotates under the driving force of the motor M2.

[0182] In this modified example, the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating body 494a is parallel to the direction of the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90. When the rotating body 494a rotates in contact with the toner cartridge 70, the toner cartridge 70 can reciprocate between the mounting position (solid line in FIG. 33(b)) and the retracted position (dotted line in FIG. 33(b)).

[0183] In this modified example, the toner cartridge 70 receives the driving force of the motor M2 via the two rotating bodies 494a, and thus the toner cartridge 70 moves between the mounting position and the retracted position. That is, the toner cartridge 70 is another example of a moving member that is moved in the moving direction D by the driving force of the motor M2 as a driving source.

[0184] The first contact portion 701 where the toner cartridge 70 contacts one of the rotating bodies 494a is an example of a first force-receiving portion that receives a driving force from the drive transmission mechanism. The second contact portion 702 where the toner cartridge 70 contacts the other rotating body 494a is an example of a second force-receiving portion that receives a driving force from the drive transmission mechanism. The configuration of the drive transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force from the motor M2 to the toner cartridge 70 may be, for example, a configuration in which the pinion gears 94kL and 94kR of the drive transmission mechanism 101 in the first embodiment are replaced with two rotating bodies 494a. In this case, the drive transmission mechanism transmits the force received by one of the rotating bodies 494a from the first contact portion 701 of the toner cartridge 70 to the second contact portion 702. Also, the drive transmission mechanism transmits the force received by the other rotating body 494a from the second contact portion 702 of the toner cartridge 70 to the first contact portion 701. Thereby, the same advantages as those of the drive transmission mechanism 101 in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0185] Note that the rotating body 494a may be a roller that moves the toner cartridge 70 by friction when it rotates in contact with the toner cartridge 70. Also, the rotating body 494a may be a gear that meshes with a gear shape (rack shape) formed on the toner cartridge 70 to move the toner cartridge 70.

[0186] The moving device 85' may have a plurality of rotating bodies 494a. The arrangement of the plurality of rotating bodies 494a is arbitrary. For example, as shown in Fig. 33(a), the moving device 85' may include a rotating body 494a that abuts against one end of the toner cartridge 70 and a rotating body 494a that abuts against the other end of the toner cartridge 70 in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 70 (parallel to the rotation axis 90C). Further, the moving device 85' may include a rotating body 494a that abuts against the center of the toner cartridge 70.

[0187] Also, the moving device 85' may have a single rotating body 494a. In this case, the arrangement of the moving device 85' is arbitrary. For example, the moving device 85' may include a rotating body 494a that abuts against the center of the toner cartridge 70.

[0188] Furthermore, the rotating body 494a may be biased toward the toner cartridge 70. Also, as shown in Fig. 33(b), the moving device 85' may include a driven roller 494b. The toner cartridge 70 is sandwiched between the rotating body 494a and the driven roller 494b. In the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 70, the position of the rotating body 494a and the position of the driven roller 494b may overlap or may be different. Also, at least one of the rotating body 494a and the driven roller 494b may be biased toward the toner cartridge 70.

[0189] Also, the rotating body 494a and the driven roller 494b can be provided in the rotary main body 90.

[0190] (Left and right connection configuration of the tray drive system) Using FIGS. 13(a, b) and 14(a, b), a drive system 100 for moving a tray 80k as an example of a moving member and a configuration (left-right connection configuration) for connecting left and right drive racks 15L and 15R will be described. Hereinafter, the drive system 100 for moving the tray 80k relative to the rotary body 90 will be described. Since the drive systems for moving trays 80y to 80c, which are other examples of the moving member, are substantially the same as the drive system 100 described below, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0191] For convenience of explanation, when viewing the apparatus main body 1A from the -X direction (when viewed from the front), the +Y direction side may be referred to as the right side of the apparatus main body 1A, and the -Y direction side may be referred to as the left side of the apparatus main body 1A. For example, one drive rack 15L is provided on the left side of the apparatus main body 1A, and the other drive rack 15R is provided on the right side of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0192] FIGS. 13(a, b) are perspective views showing the drive system 100 of the tray 80k. FIG. 13(a) shows a state where the tray 80k is inside the rotary body 90 (a state at the storage position). FIG. 13(b) shows a state where the tray 80k has moved outside the rotary body 90 (a state at the take-out position). FIGS. 14(a, b) are explanatory views showing the configuration of the drive system 100 of the tray 80k. FIG. 14(a) shows the configuration provided on the left side of the apparatus main body 1A in the drive system 100. FIG. 14(b) shows the configuration provided on the right side of the apparatus main body 1A in the drive system 100. Also, FIGS. 14(a, b) show the state of the drive system 100 when the tray 80k is at the storage position.

[0193] As shown in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b), the drive system 100 of the tray 80k includes a motor M2 as a drive source and a drive transmission mechanism 101 that transmits the driving force of the motor M2 to the tray 80k. The drive transmission mechanism 101 includes a rotating member that transmits the driving force of the motor M2 by rotation and a linear motion member that transmits the driving force of the motor M2 by linear motion. More specifically, the drive transmission mechanism 101 of the present embodiment includes a worm gear 60, stepped gears 61 and 62, an idle gear 63, drive rack input gears 64L and 64R, and drive racks 15L and 15R. Further, the drive transmission mechanism 101 of the present embodiment includes stepped gears 65L and 65R, a connecting rack 66, and pinion gears 94k (94kL and 94kR). Further, the tray 80k has a rack portion 83k (83kL and 83kR) as a force receiving portion that receives a driving force from the drive transmission mechanism 101. The connecting rack 66 is an example of a linear motion member.

[0194] It can also be said that the drive system 100 of the tray 80k is constituted by the drive device 98 of the apparatus main body 1A described above and the moving device 85k of the rotary main body 90 (FIG. 2). The drive device 98 includes a motor M2, drive racks 15L and 15R, and a transmission portion 15t that transmits the driving force from the motor M2 to the drive racks 15L and 15R. The transmission portion 15t includes a worm gear 60, stepped gears 61 and 62, an idle gear 63, drive rack input gears 64L and 64R, stepped gears 65L and 65R, and a connecting rack 66. The moving device 85k includes pinion gears 94k (94kL and 94kR) and a rack portion 83k (83kL and 83kR). Therefore, it can be said that the "drive transmission mechanism 101" includes each element other than the motor M2 in the drive device 98 and each element other than the elements (rack portions 83kL and 83kR) provided on the tray 80k in the moving device 85k.

[0195] Note that the drive system of tray 80y is obtained by replacing the moving device 85k of drive system 100 with a moving device 85y corresponding to tray 80y, and the drive device 98 is common. The drive system of tray 80m is obtained by replacing the moving device 85k of drive system 100 with a moving device 85m corresponding to tray 80m, and the drive device 98 is common. The drive system of tray 80c is obtained by replacing the moving device 85k of drive system 100 with a moving device 85c corresponding to tray 80c, and the drive device 98 is common.

[0196] As shown in Fig. 13(a), two rack portions 83kL and 83kR are provided on tray 80k of this embodiment. The rack portion 83kL is an example of the first force-receiving portion, and the rack portion 83kR is an example of the second force-receiving portion.

[0197] The rack portion 83kR (second force-receiving portion) is arranged at a position away from the rack portion 83kR (first force-receiving portion) in a direction intersecting the moving direction Dk of tray 80k. In this embodiment, the rack portion 83kR is arranged at a position away from the rack portion 83kR in the rotational axis direction (Y direction) of the rotary body 90. Also, in this embodiment, the rack portion 83kL is arranged at one end (left end) of tray 80k in the rotational axis direction (Y direction) of the rotary body 90. On the other hand, the rack portion 83kR is arranged at the other end (right end) of tray 80k in the rotational axis direction (Y direction) of the rotary body 90.

[0198] In addition, two pinion gears 94kL and 94kR corresponding to the two rack portions 83kL and 83kR are provided on the rotary body 90 of this embodiment. The two pinion gears 94kL and 94kR include a pinion gear 94kL corresponding to the rack portion 83kL and a pinion gear 94kR corresponding to the rack portion 83kR.

[0199] As shown in Fig. 13(a), the worm gear 60 is attached to the output shaft of the motor M2. The stepped gear 61 is integrated with a large-diameter gear meshing with the worm gear 60 and a small-diameter gear having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter gear. The stepped gear 62 is integrated with a large-diameter gear meshing with the small-diameter gear of the stepped gear 61 and a small-diameter gear having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter gear. The idle gear 63 meshes with the small-diameter gear of the stepped gear 62, the stepped gear 65L, and the drive rack input gear 64L, respectively. The drive rack input gear 64L meshes with the drive rack 15L.

[0200] As shown in Figs. 14(a, b), the stepped gear 65L is integrated with a large-diameter gear 651L meshing with the idle gear 63 and a small-diameter gear 652L (third small-diameter gear) having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter gear 651L. The stepped gear 65L is configured to transmit the driving force of the motor M2 received by the large-diameter gear 651L to the connecting rack 66 via the small-diameter gear 652L. The connecting rack 66 has a first rack portion 661L meshing with the small-diameter gear 652L of the stepped gear 65L and a second rack portion 661R meshing with the small-diameter gear 652R of the stepped gear 65R. The stepped gear 65R is integrated with a large-diameter gear 651R meshing with the drive rack input gear 64R and a small-diameter gear 652R having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter gear 651R. The stepped gear 65R is configured to transmit the driving force of the motor M2 received by the small-diameter gear 652R from the connecting rack 66 to the rack portion 83kR via the large-diameter gear 651R. The drive rack input gear 64R meshes with the drive rack 15R.

[0201] The connecting rack 66 is a rack member that can reciprocate in a direction (preferably perpendicular) intersecting the moving direction Dk of the tray 80k. In this embodiment, the connecting rack 66 reciprocates along the Y direction, which is the axial direction of rotation of the rotary body 90. That is, the connecting rack 66 moves in a direction different from the moving direction (a direction intersecting the Y direction, the Z direction in this embodiment) of the driving racks 15L and 15R, which are other rack members provided in the drive transmission mechanism 101. Further, the connecting rack 66 of this embodiment extends longitudinally in the Y direction. That is, the longitudinal direction of the connecting rack 66 is the Y direction. The first rack portion 661L and the second rack portion 661R are provided at one end and the other end of the connecting rack 66 in the Y direction, respectively. The first rack portion 661L and the second rack portion 661R may be continuous.

[0202] The left driving rack 15L is an example of a first transmission member for transmitting the driving force of the motor M2 to the rack portion 83kL of the tray 80k as a first force receiving portion. The right driving rack 15R is an example of a second transmission member for transmitting the driving force of the motor M2 to the rack portion 83kR of the tray 80k as a second force receiving portion. The left and right driving racks 15L and 15R are connected (joined) to be interlocked with each other via the connecting rack 66. Specifically, the left driving rack 15L is connected to the right driving rack 15R via the driving rack input gear 64L, the idle gear 63, the stepped gear 65L, the connecting rack 66, the stepped gear 65R, and the driving rack input gear 64R.

[0203] The connecting rack 66 is configured to transmit the force received from one of the driving racks 15L and 15R to the other of the driving racks 15L and 15R. Further, the drive transmission mechanism 101 including the connecting rack 66 is configured to transmit the force received from one of the two rack portions 83kL and 83kR of the tray 80k to the other of the rack portions 83kL and 83kR. The advantages of this configuration will be described later.

[0204] The operation of the drive system 100 when moving the tray 80k from the storage position (Fig. 13(a)) to the take-out position (Fig. 13(b)) will be described. Hereinafter, the rotation direction (first rotation direction, first direction) of the motor M2 when moving the tray 80k from the storage position towards the take-out position is called the forward rotation direction. The rotation direction (second rotation direction, second direction) of the motor M2 when moving the tray 80k from the take-out position towards the storage position is called the reverse rotation direction. Also, regarding the moving direction Dk in which the tray 80k moves between the take-out position and the storage position, the direction from the take-out position towards the storage position is called the drawing-out direction Dk1, and the direction from the storage position towards the take-out position is called the drawing-in direction Dk2.

[0205] When the motor M2 rotates in the forward rotation direction, the driving force is transmitted in the order of the worm gear 60, the stepped gear 61, the stepped gear 62, and the idler gear 63. Next, from the idler gear 63, the driving force is transmitted to both the driving rack input gear 64L and the stepped gear 65L. The left driving rack 15L is slid upward (+Z direction) by the driving rack input gear 64L that has received the driving force from the idler gear 63.

[0206] The left driving rack 15L meshes with the left pinion gear 94kL during the upward movement, rotating the pinion gear 94kL. The rotation of the pinion gear 94kL transmits the driving force to the rack portion 83kL of the tray 80k that meshes with the pinion gear 94kL. As a result, the rack portion 83kL of the tray 80k receives the force in the drawing-out direction Dk1 from the storage position towards the take-out position via the left drive train (driving rack input gear 64L, driving rack 15L, pinion gear 94kL) of the drive transmission mechanism 101.

[0207] On the one hand, the driving force of the idler gear 63 is transmitted to the drive train on the right side of the drive transmission mechanism 101 (drive rack input gear 64R, drive rack 15R, pinion gear 94kR) via the stepped gear 65L and the connecting rack 66. That is, the connecting rack 66 is slid and moved to the right side (+Y direction) of the apparatus main body 1A by the stepped gear 65L that has received the driving force from the idler gear 63. Due to the sliding movement of the connecting rack 66, the driving force is transmitted to the drive rack input gear 64R via the stepped gear 65R, and the right drive rack 15L is slid and moved upward (+Z direction).

[0208] The right drive rack 15R meshes with the right pinion gear 94kR during the upward movement, rotating the pinion gear 94kR. The rotation of the pinion gear 94kR transmits the driving force to the rack portion 83kR of the tray 80k that meshes with the pinion gear 94kR. As a result, the tray 80k receives the force in the drawing direction Dk1 from the storage position to the take-out position via the drive train on the right side of the drive transmission mechanism 101 (drive rack input gear 64R, drive rack 15R, pinion gear 94kR).

[0209] In this way, when the motor M2 rotates in the forward rotation direction, the tray 80k receives the force in the drawing direction Dk1 at the left and right rack portions 83kL and 83kR, and thus moves from the storage position (Fig. 13(a)) to the take-out position (Fig. 13(b)).

[0210] In addition, the operation of the drive system 100 when moving the tray 80k from the take-out position to the storage position is the same as that when moving the tray 80k from the storage position to the take-out position, except that the rotation direction or slide direction of each element of the drive system 100 is reversed. That is, when the motor M2 rotates in the reverse direction, the left drive rack 15L slides downward (-Z direction) via the worm gear 60, the stepped gear 61, the stepped gear 62, the idle gear 63, and the drive rack input gear 64L. Due to the slide movement of the drive rack 15L, a driving force in the drawing-in direction Dk2 is transmitted to the rack portion 83kL of the tray 80k via the pinion gear 94kL. On the other hand, a driving force is transmitted from the idle gear 63 to the connecting rack 66 via the stepped gear 65L, and the connecting rack 66 slides leftward (-Y direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. Due to the slide movement of the connecting rack 66, the right drive rack 15R slides downward (-Z direction) via the stepped gear 65R and the drive rack input gear 64R. Due to the slide movement of the drive rack 15R, a driving force in the drawing-in direction Dk2 is transmitted to the rack portion 83kR of the tray 80k via the pinion gear 94kR.

[0211] In this way, when the motor M2 rotates in the reverse direction, the tray 80k moves from the take-out position (Fig. 13(b)) to the storage position (Fig. 13(a)) by receiving the force in the drawing-in direction Dk2 at the left and right rack portions 83kL, 83kR.

[0212] As described above, during the tray drawing-out operation and the tray drawing-in operation of the tray 80k (hereinafter collectively referred to as the drawing-in / drawing-out operation), the driving force of the motor M2 is transmitted to each of the left and right rack portions 83kL, 83kR of the tray 80k by the drive transmission mechanism 101. That is, in the tray drawing-out operation, a driving force in the drawing-out direction Dk1 is transmitted to each of the two rack portions 83kL, 83kR, and in the tray drawing-in operation, a driving force in the drawing-in direction Dk2 is transmitted to each of the two rack portions 83kL, 83kR. Therefore, compared with a configuration in which the driving force is transmitted to only one rack portion of the tray 80k during the drawing-in / drawing-out operation of the tray 80k, the inclination of the tray 80k is less likely to occur, and a more stable drawing-in / drawing-out operation can be performed.

[0213] (Advantages of left and right connection configuration) The advantages of connecting the left and right drive racks 15L, 15R by the connecting rack 66 will be described below.

[0214] The connecting rack 66 of this embodiment transmits the force received from the left drive rack 15L to the right drive rack 15R, and transmits the force received from the right drive rack 15R to the left drive rack 15L. The drive transmission mechanism 101 of this embodiment including the connecting rack 66 transmits the force received from the left rack portion 83kL of the tray 80k to the right rack portion 83kR, and transmits the force received from the right rack portion 83kR of the tray 80k to the left rack portion 83kL. In other words, the drive transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the force received by the drive transmission mechanism from the first force receiving portion of the moving member to the second force receiving portion, and transmit the force received by the drive transmission mechanism from the second force receiving portion of the moving member to the first force receiving portion.

[0215] For this reason, the left and right drive racks 15L, 15R are connected via a connecting rack 66 so that they move in conjunction with each other. In addition, the movement of the rack portion 83kL of the tray 80k and the movement of the rack portion 83kR of the tray 80k can be linked by the drive transmission mechanism 101 including the connecting rack 66. This makes it difficult for the tray 80k to tilt.

[0216] More specifically, when the tray 80k is in the removal position, the user can operate an operation unit (e.g., a button on an operation panel) provided on the device main body 1A to perform a tray extraction operation and move the tray 80k to the storage position.

[0217] On the one hand, when the tray 80k is in the take-out position, the user is allowed to push the tray 80k, and the tray 80k is allowed to move toward the storage position (details of the mechanism for allowing this will be described later). At this time, the user does not necessarily push the central portion of the tray 80k in the width direction (left-right direction, Y direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. If, for example, near one end of the tray 80k in the Y direction is pushed by the user, one end moves in the drawing-in direction Dk2, and the other end does not move, the tray 80k will tilt. When the tray 80k tilts, it becomes difficult for the user to smoothly push the tray 80k into the rotary main body 90. Also, when the tray 80k tilts, the drive system 100 may have difficulty smoothly performing the tray drawing-in operation.

[0218] As in this embodiment, by connecting the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R of the tray 80k, it is possible to suppress the tilt of the tray 80k. This is because when one end of the tray 80k in the Y direction is pushed and moves in the drawing-in direction Dk2 due to the connection of the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R, the other end of the tray 80k also moves in the drawing-in direction Dk2.

[0219] For example, in the state of FIG. 13(b), assume that the user pushes in the vicinity of the left (-Y side) end of the tray 80k in the drawing-in direction Dk2. In this case, due to the movement of the rack portion 83kL in the drawing-in direction Dk2, the drive rack 15L is moved downward via the pinion gear 94kL. When the drive rack 15L moves downward, the drive rack input gear 64L, the idle gear 63, and the stepped gear 65L rotate, and the connecting rack 66 moves in the left direction (-Y direction). When the connecting rack 66 moves in the left direction, the stepped gear 65R and the drive rack input gear 64R rotate, and the drive rack 15R moves downward. Due to the downward movement of the drive rack 15, the rack portion 83kR receives the force in the drawing-in direction Dk2 via the pinion gear 94kR.

[0220] That is, the tray 80k receives the force in the insertion direction Dk2 from the user near the rack portion 83kL provided at the left (-Y side) end, and also receives the force in the insertion direction Dk2 at the rack portion 83kR provided at the right (+Y side) end. The drive transmission mechanism 101 enables the transmission of the force in the insertion direction Dk2 to the rack portion 83kR by transmitting a part of the force received by the drive rack 15L from the tray 80k via the pinion gear 94kL to the drive rack 15R via the pinion gear 94kR. Therefore, compared with a configuration in which the force in the insertion direction Dk2 is applied only near the left (-Y side) end of the tray 80k, the inclination of the tray 80k can be suppressed. This is the same even when the vicinity of the rack portion 83kR is pushed in the insertion direction Dk2.

[0221] When the tray 80k is pushed in the insertion direction Dk2, the force rotates the idle gear 63, but the drive transmission mechanism 101 is configured such that the force is not transmitted from the idle gear 63 to the motor M2. In this embodiment, as will be described later, the idle gear 63 blocks the force transmission path when the tray 80k is pushed in the insertion direction Dk2. Therefore, when one end of the tray 80k in the Y direction is pushed and moves in the insertion direction Dk2 without being affected by the static torque of the motor M2, the other end of the tray 80k can move in the insertion direction Dk2 in conjunction.

[0222] Therefore, the inclination of the tray 80k is less likely to occur, and smooth operability when the user performs an operation of pushing in the tray 80k can be realized.

[0223] (Advantages of using stepped gears in the left-right connection configuration) As shown in FIG. 13(a), in the state where the tray 80k is in the storage position, the connecting rack 66 meshes with both the left and right stepped gears 65L and 65R. As shown in FIG. 13(b), even when the tray 80k is in the take-out position, the connecting rack 66 meshes with both the left and right stepped gears 65L and 65R.

[0224] As described above, when the tray 80k moves from the storage position to the take-out position, the connecting rack 66 moves in the right direction (+Y direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. Let W be the moving amount of the connecting rack 66 until the tray 80k moves from the storage position to the take-out position. In this case, in the state where the tray 80k is in the storage position (Fig. 13(a)), the first rack portion 661L of the connecting rack 66 extends leftward (-Y direction) from the meshing position mp1 with the step gear 65L by at least the length of the moving amount W. Further, in the state where the tray 80k is in the take-out position (Fig. 13(b)), the second rack portion 661R of the connecting rack 66 extends rightward (+Y direction) from the meshing position mp2 with the step gear 65R by at least the length of the moving amount W. In other words, the length of the connecting rack 66 in the moving direction (Y direction in this embodiment) of the connecting rack 66 is equal to or greater than the sum of the distance from the meshing position mp1 with the step gear 65L to the meshing position mp2 with the step gear 65R and the moving amount W of the connecting rack 66.

[0225] Therefore, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus main body 1A in the left-right direction (width direction, Y direction), it is desirable that the moving amount W of the connecting rack 66 be small. Hereinafter, a configuration that can reduce the moving amount W of the connecting rack 66 and realize downsizing in the width direction (Y direction) of the apparatus main body 1A will be described.

[0226] As shown in Fig. 14(a), the step gear 65L (first step gear) includes a large-diameter gear 651L (first large-diameter gear) and a small-diameter gear 652L (first small-diameter gear) having a pitch circle radius smaller than that of the large-diameter gear 651L. The large-diameter gear 651L meshes with the idle gear 63 and can receive the driving force of the motor M2 via the idle gear 63. That is, the large-diameter gear 651L (first large-diameter gear) is connected to the motor M2 (driving source) so as to be drivable. The small-diameter gear 652L meshes with the first rack portion 661L of the connecting rack 66.

[0227] The large-diameter gear 651L is connected to the rack portion 83kL of the tray 80k via the idle gear 63, the drive rack input gear 64L, the drive rack 15L, and the pinion gear 94kL. That is, the large-diameter gear 651L (the second large-diameter gear) is drivingly connected to the rack portion 83kL (the first force-receiving portion) so as to be capable of power transmission.

[0228] The ratio (r2 / r1) of the pitch circle radius r1 of the large-diameter gear 651L to the pitch circle radius r2 of the small-diameter gear 652L is called the pitch circle radius ratio of the stepped gear 65L. With a configuration in which a driving force is transmitted to the connecting rack 66 via the stepped gear 65L, the moving amount W of the connecting rack 66 becomes smaller according to the pitch circle radius ratio (r2 / r1) of the stepped gear 65L. That is, by decelerating with the stepped gear 65L, the moving amount W during the pulling-in / pulling-out operation of the tray 80k can be reduced, and miniaturization in the width direction (Y direction) of the apparatus main body 1A can be achieved.

[0229] More specifically, if, instead of the stepped gear 65L, a spur gear that meshes with both the idle gear 63 and the connecting rack 66 is used for driving transmission, the ratio of the moving distance of the connecting rack 66 to the moving distance of the teeth of the idle gear 63 is 1. The moving distance of the teeth of the idle gear 63 is the length of an arc drawn by a point on the pitch circle of the idle gear 63 as the idle gear 63 rotates. On the other hand, by interposing the stepped gear 65L between the idle gear 63 and the connecting rack 66, the ratio of the moving distance of the connecting rack 66 to the moving distance of the teeth of the idle gear 63 becomes less than 1. In other words, the stepped gear 65L can decelerate the movement of the teeth of the idle gear 63 and transmit it to the connecting rack 66. For this reason, the moving amount W of the connecting rack 66 can be reduced.

[0230] Here, when moving the tray 80k, it is desirable that the moving amounts of the left and right rack portions 83kL and 83kR are equal to each other. Also, when moving the tray 80k, it is desirable that the moving speeds of the left and right rack portions 83kL and 83kR are equal to each other. If the moving amounts (moving speeds) of the left and right rack portions 83kL and 83kR are different, the tray 80k will tilt during movement, making it difficult to stably move the tray 80k. In this embodiment, the number of teeth of the left and right pinion gears 94kL and 94kR is equal. That is, it is desirable that the moving amounts (moving speeds) of the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R are equal.

[0231] However, as described above, the stepped gear 65L decelerates the movement of the teeth of the idler gear 63 and transmits it to the connecting rack 66. Therefore, depending on the configuration of the drive transmission from the connecting rack 66 to the drive rack 15R, the moving amount (moving speed) of the drive rack 15R may be smaller (slower) than the moving amount (moving speed) of the drive rack 15L.

[0232] Therefore, in this embodiment, a stepped gear 65R is interposed between the connecting rack 66 and the drive rack input gear 64R. The stepped gear 65R has a function of increasing the moving amount (moving speed) of the drive rack 15R with respect to the moving amount (moving speed) of the connecting rack 66.

[0233] As shown in FIG. 14(b), the stepped gear 65R (second stepped gear) includes a large-diameter gear 651R (second large-diameter gear) and a small-diameter gear 652R (second small-diameter gear) having a pitch circle radius smaller than that of the large-diameter gear 651L. The large-diameter gear 651R meshes with the drive rack input gear 64R and is connected to the rack portion 83kR of the tray 80k via the drive rack input gear 64R, the drive rack 15R, and the pinion gear 94kR. That is, the large-diameter gear 651R (second large-diameter gear) is connected to the rack portion 83kR (second force-receiving portion) so as to be capable of drive transmission. The small-diameter gear 652R (second small-diameter gear) meshes with the second rack portion 661R of the connecting rack 66.

[0234] By transmitting the driving force from the connecting rack 66 to the driving rack 15R via the stepped gear 65R, the amount of movement of the driving rack 15R with respect to the amount of movement W of the connecting rack 66 becomes larger than when using a spur gear instead of the stepped gear 65R. Also, depending on the pitch circle radius ratio of the stepped gear 65R, the amount of movement of the driving rack 15R with respect to the amount of movement W of the connecting rack 66 becomes larger. In other words, the stepped gear 65R can increase the speed of movement of the connecting rack 66 and transmit it to the driving rack 15R.

[0235] The ratio (r3 / r4) of the pitch circle radius r3 of the small-diameter gear 652R to the pitch circle radius r4 of the large-diameter gear 651R is called the pitch circle radius ratio of the stepped gear 65L. To make the amount of movement (movement speed) of the rack portions 83kL, 83kR equal, it is preferable to satisfy (pitch circle radius of the large-diameter gear 651L) / (pitch circle radius of the small-diameter gear 652L)×(pitch circle radius of the small-diameter gear 652R) / (pitch circle radius of the large-diameter gear 651R)=1. That is, the ratio of the pitch circle radius of the first small-diameter gear to the pitch circle radius of the first large-diameter gear is preferably equal to the ratio of the pitch circle radius of the second large-diameter gear to the pitch circle radius of the second small-diameter gear. For example, the pitch circle radii of the large-diameter gears 651L, 651R of the left and right stepped gears 65L, 65R are set to be equal, and the pitch circle radii of the small-diameter gears 652L, 652R are set to be equal. Thereby, the pitch circle radius ratio of the stepped gear 65L and the pitch circle radius ratio of the stepped gear 65R can be made equal, and the amount of movement (movement speed) of the rack portions 83kL, 83kR can be made equal. And in addition to the advantage of miniaturization by using the above-described stepped gear 65L, more stable movement of the tray 80k can be realized.

[0236] In this embodiment, the movement amounts of the rack portion 83kL and the drive rack 15L are substantially equal, and the movement amounts of the rack portion 83kR and the drive rack 15R are substantially equal. On the other hand, the movement amount W of the connecting rack 66 is less than the movement amounts of the rack portion 83kL and the drive rack 15L and the movement amounts of the rack portion 83kR and the drive rack 15R. For this reason, the movement amount W of the connecting rack 66 can be shortened with respect to the movement amounts of the tray 80k and the drive rack 15R during the pulling out / inserting operation of the tray 80k. For this reason, the tray 80k can be moved by a desired movement amount, and miniaturization in the width direction (Y direction) of the apparatus main body 1A can be realized.

[0237] (Rotary locking mechanism) When the tray 80 is moved for attaching / detaching the toner cartridge 70, it is preferable that the pinion gear 94 (driven part) of the rotary main body 90 is positioned so as to surely engage with the drive rack 15 (driving member) of the apparatus main body 1A. The pinion gear 94 is preferably accurately positioned at a position (hereinafter referred to as the meshing position) where it can appropriately mesh with the corresponding drive rack 15.

[0238] One of the factors causing the pinion gear 94 to deviate from the meshing position is the variation in the position of the rotary main body 90 in the yellow / magenta / cyan / black replacement posture. When the drive rack 15 meshes with the pinion gear 94, the gear tooth surface of the pinion gear 94 receives a force from the gear tooth surface of the drive rack 15. If the rotary main body 90 rotates around the rotation axis 90C due to this force, the pinion gear 94 may deviate from the meshing position. Also, when the tray 80 is in the take-out position, if the user touches the rotary main body 90 and rotates the rotary main body 90, the pinion gear 94 may move from the meshing position.

[0239] Therefore, in this embodiment, a lock mechanism 90L is provided to limit (lock) the rotation of the rotary body 90 when the rotary body 90 is in the replacement posture. The lock mechanism 90L switches between a locked state that limits the rotation of the rotary body 90 and an unlocked state that allows the rotation of the rotary body 90. The lock mechanism 90L is configured to enter the locked state when the rotary body 90 assumes any one of the yellow / magenta / cyan / black replacement postures. The lock mechanism 90L of this embodiment switches between the locked state and the unlocked state in conjunction with the drawing in / pulling out operation of the tray 80.

[0240] The lock mechanism 90L of the rotary body 90 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15(a, b), 16, 17(a, b), and 18(a, b). FIGS. 15(a, b) are perspective views showing the stepped gear 65R. FIG. 16 is a view showing the lock member 67. FIGS. 17(a, b) are explanatory views showing the configuration of the lock mechanism 90L. FIGS. 18(a, b) are perspective views showing the configuration of the lock mechanism 90L.

[0241] As shown in FIGS. 15(a, b), 16, 17(a, b), and 18(a, b), the lock mechanism 90L includes a pressing portion 653 provided on the stepped gear 65R, a lock member 67, a biasing member 68, and an engaged portion 99a provided on the rotary body 90.

[0242] As shown in FIG. 15(b), the pressing portion 653 is formed on the large-diameter gear 651R of the stepped gear 65R. As will be described later, the pressing portion 653 has a function of moving the lock member 67 in conjunction with the drawing in / pulling out operation of the tray 80. The stepped gear 65R is a part of the drive device 98 described above. Therefore, the lock member 67 can move in conjunction with the operation of the drive device 98 when moving the toner cartridge 70. In other words, the lock member 67 is moved by the driving force of the motor M2.

[0243] The pressing portion 653 is provided at a predetermined position in the rotational direction of the stepped gear 65R, and is a protruding portion that extends radially outward from the boss portion 65aR of the stepped gear 65R. The stepped gear 65R is rotatably supported by the lower holding member 34R by fitting the boss portion 65aR onto the support shaft 342R of the lower holding member 34R (Fig. 20(b)) described later.

[0244] The pressing portion 653 may be integrally formed with the large-diameter gear 651R and the small-diameter gear 652R of the stepped gear 65R by a method such as injection molding. Thereby, a single gear, the stepped gear 65R, can be provided with a plurality of functions. The plurality of functions include the function of interlocking the drive device 98 and the lock mechanism 90L, and the function of increasing the speed of the movement of the connecting rack 66 and transmitting it to the drive rack 15R. In the present embodiment, the pressing portion 653 is formed on one side (-X side) of the large-diameter gear 651R in the rotational axis direction of the stepped gear 65R, and the small-diameter gear 652R is formed on the other side (+X side) of the large-diameter gear 651R. In a state viewed in the rotational axis direction of the stepped gear 65R, a part of the teeth of the small-diameter gear 652R overlaps with the pressing portion 653.

[0245] As shown in Fig. 16, the lock member 67 has a pressed portion 671 that is pressed by the pressing portion 653 of the stepped gear 65R, and an engaging portion 672 that can engage with the engaged portion 99a of the rotary body 90. The lock member 67 is movably supported by the frame body 16 of the apparatus main body 1A. The lock member 67 of the present embodiment can reciprocate in the moving direction D67 along the Y direction, which is the moving direction of the connecting rack 66. The engaging portion 672 has a convex shape that protrudes toward one side (+Y direction) of the moving direction D67.

[0246] The lock member 67 is movable between an engaging position (lock position) where the engaging portion 672 engages with the engaged portion 99a of the rotary body 90 and a disengaging position (lock release position) where the engaging portion 672 disengages from the engaged portion 99a of the rotary body 90. Further, the lock member 67 is slidably supported by a lower holding member 34R (Fig. 20(b)) described later.

[0247] As will be described below, the lock member 67 is configured to move in conjunction with the drive rack 15 (drive member). The lock member of this embodiment is connected to a connecting rack 66 (rack member) as a transmission part that transmits force so as to interlock the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R (first drive member, second drive member), and interlocks with the drive racks 15L and 15R via the connecting rack 66. Note that the lock member 67 may be interlocked with a transmission part (left - right connection configuration) described after Embodiment 2.

[0248] Further, the lock member 67 has a long hole 673 formed elongated along the moving direction D67. The lock member 67 is guided to move in the moving direction D67 with respect to the lower holding member 34R by engaging the long hole 673 with the support shaft 342R of the lower holding member 34R (FIG. 20(b)). That is, the support shaft 342R that holds the step gear 65R also functions as a guide part for guiding the lock member 67.

[0249] As shown in FIG. 18(a), the biasing member 68 biases the lock member 67 toward one side in the moving direction D67. The biasing member 68 of this embodiment biases the lock member 67 in the direction (-Y direction) from the unlock position toward the lock position. The biasing member 68 is, for example, a compression spring disposed between the spring receiving surface of the lock member 67 and the spring receiving surface provided on the frame body 16 of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0250] As shown in FIG. 18(a), the rotary main body 90 is provided with a number (four in this embodiment) of engaged parts 99a corresponding to the number of trays 80. The engaged part 99a of this embodiment is formed on a flange part 99f provided at the end of the rotary main body 90 in the rotational axis direction (Y direction) of the rotary main body 90. The flange part 99f protrudes to the outer peripheral side of the disk gear 92R (see also FIG. 5) in the radial direction with respect to the rotational axis 90C (the rotational radius direction of the rotary main body 90). The engaged part 99a has a concave shape in which a part of the outer edge of the flange part 99f is recessed radially inward.

[0251] The engaged part 99a is provided at a position corresponding to the replaceable posture that the rotary main body 90 can take in the rotation direction of the rotary main body 90. In this embodiment, four engaged parts 99a (99ay, 99am, 99ac, 99ak) corresponding to the yellow / magenta / cyan / black replacement postures are arranged at intervals of 90 degrees each in the rotation direction (see FIGS. 20(a, b)). When the rotary main body 90 is in any of the replacement postures, when viewed in the axial direction of the rotation axis of the rotary main body 90, one of the engaged parts 99a and the engaging part 672 of the lock member 67 overlap.

[0252] When the engaging part 672 of the lock member 67 engages with the engaged part 99a of the rotary main body 90, the rotation of the rotary main body 90 is restricted. The state of the lock mechanism 90L when the engaging part 672 of the lock member 67 engages with any of the engaged parts 99a of the rotary main body 90 is referred to as the locked state. The state of the lock mechanism 90L when the engaging part 672 of the lock member 67 disengages from all of the engaged parts 99a of the rotary main body 90 is referred to as the unlocked state. The locked state is a state in which the lock mechanism 90L restricts the rotation around the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90, and the unlocked state is a state in which the lock mechanism 90L allows the rotation around the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90. In the locked state, the lock mechanism 90L restricts the rotation around the rotation axis 90C of the rotary main body 90 in the first direction and the second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0253] The operation in which the lock mechanism 90L switches from the unlocked state to the locked state is referred to as the locking operation, and the operation in which the lock mechanism 90L switches from the locked state to the unlocked state is referred to as the unlocking operation. The locking operation and the unlocking operation are performed in conjunction with the pulling out / inserting operation of the tray 80.

[0254] FIGS. 17(a) and 18(a) show the lock mechanism 90L in the locked state. FIGS. 17(b) and 18(b) show the lock mechanism 90L in the unlocked state. Hereinafter, the operation of the lock mechanism 90L will be described in detail.

[0255] As described above, when the tray 80 is in the storage position, the rotary main body 90 is rotatable. That is, the engaging portion 672 of the lock member 67 is disengaged from the engaged portion 99a of the rotary main body 90, and the lock mechanism 90L is in the unlocked state (FIGS. 17(a) and 18(a)). During the process of moving the tray 80 from the storage position to the extraction position, the engaging portion 672 of the lock member 67 engages with the engaged portion 99a of the rotary main body 90. That is, during the tray extraction operation, the lock mechanism 90L switches from the unlocked state to the locked state (FIGS. 17(b) and 18(b)).

[0256] As shown in FIG. 17(a), when the rotary main body 90 is in any one of the yellow / magenta / cyan / black replacement postures and the tray 80 is in the storage position, the lock member 67 is held at the release position by the pressing portion 653 of the step gear 65R. That is, the pressing portion 653 of the step gear 65R contacts the pressed portion 671 of the lock member 67, preventing the lock member 67 from moving in the biasing direction (-Y direction) of the biasing member 68. At this time, as shown in FIG. 18(a), the engaging portion 672 of the lock member 67 is at a position +Y direction away from the engaged portion 99a of the rotary main body 90.

[0257] In this way, when the rotary main body 90 is in any one of the yellow / magenta / cyan / black replacement postures and the toner cartridge 70 corresponding to the posture of the rotary main body 90 is in the mounting position, the lock mechanism 90L is maintained in the unlocked state.

[0258] Next, the case where the tray 80 is moved from the storage position to the take-out position (when the tray pulling-out operation is performed) will be described. When the tray 80 is moved from the storage position toward the take-out position, as shown in Fig. 17(b), the connecting rack 66 moves in the left direction in the figure (the right direction of the apparatus main body 1A, +Y direction). The stepped gear 65R receives a driving force from the connecting rack 66 and rotates clockwise in the figure. Then, the pressing portion 653 of the stepped gear 65R rotates and moves in the direction of retreating from the pressed portion 671 of the lock member 67 (the left direction of the apparatus main body 1A, -Y direction). Along with the rotational movement of the pressing portion 653, the lock member 67 moves in the right direction in the figure (-Y direction) by the biasing force of the biasing member 68, and as shown in Fig. 18(b), the engaging portion 672 of the lock member 67 engages with the engaged portion 99a of the rotary main body 90. That is, when the pressing portion 653 retreats from the lock member 67, the lock member 67 is moved from the disengaged position (unlocked position) to the engaged position (locked position).

[0259] In this way, when the corresponding toner cartridge 70 is moved from the mounting position to the retreat position in a state where the rotary main body 90 is in any one of the yellow / magenta / cyan / black replacement postures, the lock mechanism 90L switches from the unlocked state to the locked state.

[0260] After the engaging portion 672 and the engaged portion 99a are engaged, the pressing portion 653 of the stepped gear 65R is separated from the pressed portion 671 of the lock member 67. The rotation angle of the stepped gear 65R from the start to the end of the tray pulling-out operation is set to be less than 360°, and the pressing portion 653 separated from the pressed portion 671 during the tray pulling-out operation is configured not to collide with the pressed portion 671 until the end of the tray pulling-out operation.

[0261] As shown in Fig. 18(a), when the rotary body 90 is in any one of the yellow / magenta / cyan / black replacement postures and the tray 80 is in the take-out position, the lock member 67 is held at the engagement position by the biasing force of the biasing member 68. That is, when the rotary body 90 is in any one of the yellow / magenta / cyan / black replacement postures and the corresponding toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, the lock mechanism 90L is maintained in the locked state.

[0262] When the tray 80 is moved from the take-out position to the storage position (when the tray insertion operation is performed), the operation of each element of the lock mechanism 90L is in the opposite direction to when the tray 80 is moved from the storage position toward the take-out position. That is, the connecting rack 66 moves in the rightward direction in the figure of Fig. 17(b) (the leftward direction of the apparatus main body 1A, -Y direction). The stepped gear 65R receives a driving force from the connecting rack 66 and rotates counterclockwise in the figure. Then, the pressing portion 653 of the stepped gear 65R abuts against the pressed portion 671 of the lock member 67, and pushes the lock member 67 in the direction opposite to the biasing direction of the biasing member 68 (+Y direction). As a result, the lock member 67 moves in the leftward direction in the figure of Fig. 17(a) (+Y direction) against the biasing force of the biasing member 68, and as shown in Fig. 18(a), the engaging portion 672 of the lock member 67 disengages from the engaged portion 99a of the rotary body 90. That is, when the pressing portion 653 presses the lock member 67, the lock member 67 moves from the engagement position (locked position) to the disengaged position (lock release position).

[0263] In this way, when the corresponding toner cartridge 70 is moved from the retracted position to the mounted position while the rotary body 90 is in any one of the yellow / magenta / cyan / black replacement postures, the lock mechanism 90L switches from the locked state to the unlocked state.

[0264] Here, as will be described later with reference to FIGS. 22(a) to 22(d), when the tray drawing operation is performed, the drive rack 15 (drive member) is configured to start moving toward the pinion gear 94 from a position away from the pinion gear 94 (lower position). The lock mechanism 90L of the present embodiment is configured such that the drive rack 15 and the pinion gear 94 mesh with each other after the lock mechanism 90L switches from the unlocked state to the locked state during the process of the tray drawing operation. That is, the lock mechanism 90L switches from the unlocked state to the locked state after the drive rack 15 (drive member) starts moving toward the pinion gear 94 from a position away from the pinion gear 94 (driven member) and before the drive rack 15 contacts the pinion gear 94.

[0265] Thereby, the drive rack 15 and the pinion gear 94 mesh with each other in a state where the rotation of the rotary body 90 is restricted (that is, a state where the displacement of the pinion gear 94 is suppressed). Thereby, more reliable meshing between the drive rack 15 and the pinion gear 94 can be realized.

[0266] Further, the lock mechanism 90L of the present embodiment is configured such that the lock mechanism 90L switches from the locked state to the unlocked state after the meshing between the drive rack 15 and the pinion gear 94 is released during the process of the tray 80 moving from the take-out position to the storage position. Thereby, the possibility of the displacement of the rotary body 90 in the rotational direction due to the force received by the pinion gear 94 from the drive rack 15 can be reduced.

[0267] As described above, the rotary body 90 is locked in the replacement posture by the lock mechanism 90L of the rotary body 90 when the tray 80 is in the take-out position. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of poor meshing between the pinion gear 94 and the drive rack 15 during the drawing / inserting operation of the tray 80.

[0268] (Modification example of the lock mechanism) In this embodiment, the locking mechanism 90L is arranged only on one end side of the rotary main body 90 in the rotational axis direction (Y direction) of the rotary main body 90. However, locking mechanisms 90L similar to the locking mechanism 90L may be arranged on both sides of the rotary main body 90.

[0269] Further, the shapes of the engaging portion 672 of the locking member 67 and the engaged portion 99a of the rotary main body 90 are not limited to those described in this embodiment as long as the rotation of the rotary main body 90 can be restricted by the engagement between the engaging portion 672 and the engaged portion 99a. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the rotation of the rotary main body 90 is restricted by a convex shape (engaged portion) provided on the rotary main body 90 coming into contact with a planar contact surface (engaging portion) provided on the locking member 67.

[0270] Also, the locking member 67 may be connected to a member other than the connecting rack 66. It is desirable that the locking member 67 be connected to any element of the drive device 98 provided in the apparatus main body 1A among the drive systems for moving the toner cartridge 70. For example, a rack portion may be added to the locking member 67, and the locking member 67 may be connected to the drive rack 15 via a pinion gear so that the locking member 67 moves in conjunction with the drive rack 15.

[0271] In this embodiment, an example is illustrated in which the drive device 98 (transmission device) for moving the toner cartridge 70 between the mounting position and the retracted position and the locking mechanism 90L are mechanically interlocked. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a locking mechanism that switches between a locked state and an unlocked state based on an instruction from the control unit 30 (FIG. 2) without being mechanically interlocked with the drive device 98 (transmission device) may be used. For example, a solenoid unit including a plunger that is movable between an engagement position where it engages with the engaged portion 99a of the rotary main body 90 and a release position where it disengages from the engaged portion 99a may be used as the locking mechanism. In this case, the state of the solenoid unit when the plunger is in the engagement position is the locked state, and the state of the solenoid unit when the plunger is in the release position is the unlocked state.

[0272] (Regulation of the Gear Clearance between the Pinion Gear and the Driving Rack) Next, a configuration for suppressing variations in the gear clearance between the pinion gear 94 and the driving rack 15 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the gear clearance) will be described. If there are variations in the gear clearance, the meshing between the driving rack 15 and the pinion gear 94 becomes shallow, and in some cases, tooth skipping may occur. Therefore, it is desirable to suppress variations in the gear clearance.

[0273] The gear clearance between the pinion gear 94 and the driving rack 15 is the distance between the pitch circle of the pinion gear 94 and the pitch line of the rack gear portion of the driving rack 15 that meshes with the pinion gear 94, as viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the pinion gear 94. The pitch circle referred to here is the circle (reference pitch circle) that serves as a reference for the shape of the gear. Also, the pitch line referred to here is a straight line on the plane (reference plane) that serves as a reference for the shape of the rack gear.

[0274] When the pinion gear 94 and the driving rack 15 are in an ideal relative position, the pitch circle of the pinion gear 94 and the pitch line of the driving rack 15 are in contact at a single point (pitch point), and the gear clearance is "0". When the relative position of the pinion gear 94 or the driving rack 15 is displaced, mainly, the value of the gear clearance increases. As cases where the relative position is displaced, the rotary body 90 may rotate around the rotation axis 90C or swing around the swing axis 91 (Fig. 4(a)), or the driving rack 15 may move in a direction different from the sliding direction (Z direction) due to play. If the gear clearance is a relatively small value, the pinion gear 94 and the driving rack 15 can transmit drive without problems, but if the gear clearance becomes too large beyond the allowable range, the stability of drive transmission may be impaired.

[0275] The configuration for regulating the gear clearance will be described with reference to Figs. 19(a - d), Figs. 20(a, b), Figs. 21(a, b), Figs. 22(a - d), and Fig. 23.

[0276] Figs. 19(a, b) are perspective views showing the drive rack 15L. Figs. 19(c, d) are perspective views showing the drive rack 15R.

[0277] As shown in Figs. 19(a, b), the drive rack 15L is formed with an input rack portion 151L, an output rack portion 152L, and an engagement portion 153L. The input rack portion 151L meshes with the drive rack input gear 64L and has a rack shape for transmitting (inputting) the driving force from the motor M2. The output rack portion 152L meshes with the pinion gear 94 (any one of 94yL to 94kL) and has a rack shape for transmitting (outputting) the driving force from the motor M2 to the pinion gear 94. The input rack portion 151L and the output rack portion 152L are each formed by arranging a plurality of teeth in the Z direction, which is the sliding direction of the drive rack 15L. Also, when viewed in the Z direction, the protruding direction of the teeth of the input rack portion 151L and the protruding direction of the teeth of the output rack portion 152L are perpendicular. The engagement portion 153L will be described later.

[0278] As shown in Figs. 19(c, d), the drive rack 15R is formed with an input rack portion 151R, an output rack portion 152R, and an engagement portion 153R, similar to the drive rack 15L. The input rack portion 151R meshes with the drive rack input gear 64R and has a rack shape for transmitting (inputting) the driving force from the motor M2. The output rack portion 152R meshes with the pinion gear 94 (any one of 94yR to 94kR) and has a rack shape for transmitting (outputting) the driving force from the motor M2 to the pinion gear 94. The input rack portion 151R and the output rack portion 152R are each formed by arranging a plurality of teeth in the Z direction, which is the sliding direction of the drive rack 15R. Also, when viewed in the Z direction, the protruding direction of the teeth of the input rack portion 151R and the protruding direction of the teeth of the output rack portion 152R are perpendicular. The engagement portion 153R will be described later.

[0279] The output rack parts 152L and 152R are examples of force transmission parts configured to engage with a pinion gear 94 as a driven part and transmit a driving force. The engagement parts 153L and 153R have a function of restricting the relative movement (movement with respect to each other) of the drive racks 15L and 15R (drive members) and the rotary body 90 (rotary) so that the output rack parts 152L and 152R (force transmission parts) move away from the pinion gear 94 (driven part).

[0280] The driven part of this embodiment includes a pinion gear 94 (94yL to 94kL) as a first force receiving part provided at one end of the rotary body 90 in the rotational axis direction of the rotary body 90, and a pinion gear 94 (94yR to 94kR) as a second force receiving part provided at the other end of the rotary body. The drive members of this embodiment include a drive rack 15L as a first force applying member that engages with the first force receiving part, and a drive rack 15R as a second force applying member that engages with the second force receiving part. The output rack parts 152L and 152R (force transmission parts) and the engagement parts 153L and 153R are provided on each of the drive racks 15L and 15R.

[0281] Figures 20(a, b) are diagrams showing the holding configurations of the drive racks 15L and 15R. Figure 20(a) shows the holding configuration of the drive rack 15L. Figure 20(b) shows the holding configuration of the drive rack 15R.

[0282] As shown in Figures 20(a, b), the drive rack 15L is slidably held by a lower holding member 34L and an upper holding member 33L provided on the apparatus main body 1A. The drive rack 15R is slidably held by a lower holding member 34R and an upper holding member 33R provided on the apparatus main body 1A. The lower holding members 34L and 34R and the upper holding members 33L and 34R are members fixed to the frame body 16 of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0283] More specifically, as shown in Fig. 20(a), the drive rack 15L is supported by the lower guide portion 341L of the lower holding member 34L so as to be slidable in the vertical direction (Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. When the drive rack 15L moves upward (+Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A from the position shown in Fig. 20(a), it is supported by the upper guide portion 331L of the upper holding member 33L so as to be slidable.

[0284] The lower guide portion 341L and the upper guide portion 331L of the present embodiment are in a groove shape formed along the sliding direction of the drive rack 15L. The width of the groove shape in the direction intersecting the sliding direction of the drive rack 15L (here, the Y direction) corresponds to the width of the drive rack 15L. Therefore, displacement of the drive rack 15R in the direction intersecting the sliding direction can be suppressed. The upper holding member 33L supports the motor M2 and rotatably supports the stepped gears 61 and 62, the idle gear 63, and the stepped gear 65L.

[0285] Also, as shown in Fig. 20(b), the drive rack 15R is supported by the lower guide portion 341R of the lower holding member 34R so as to be slidable in the vertical direction (Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. When the drive rack 15R moves upward (+Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A from the position shown in Fig. 20(b), it is supported by the upper guide portion 331R of the upper holding member 33R so as to be slidable.

[0286] The lower guide portion 341R and the upper guide portion 331R of the present embodiment are in a groove shape formed along the sliding direction of the drive rack 15R. The width of the groove shape in the direction intersecting the sliding direction of the drive rack 15R (here, the Y direction) corresponds to the width of the drive rack 15R. Therefore, displacement of the drive rack 15R in the direction intersecting the sliding direction can be suppressed. The lower holding member 34R rotatably supports the stepped gear 65R and the drive rack input gear 64R, and supports the lock member 67 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction (Y direction) of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0287] In this embodiment, the upper holding member 33L supports the motor M2 and a plurality of gears together with the drive rack 15L, but the motor M2 or the like may be supported by another member. Further, the lower holding member 34R supports the stepped gear 65R, the drive rack input gear 64R, and the lock member 67, but they may be supported by another member.

[0288] Figs. 21(a, b) are perspective views of the rotary body 90. Fig. 21(b) shows a state where the rotary body 90 in Fig. 21(a) is rotated 180° about the rotation axis 90C. In Figs. 21(a, b), illustration of the central portion of the rotary body 90 in the Y direction is omitted.

[0289] As shown in Figs. 21(a, b), an engaged portion 99b is formed one by one in the vicinity of each pinion gear 94 of the rotary body 90. That is, the rotary body 90 includes an engaged portion 99byL corresponding to the pinion gear 94yL, an engaged portion 99bmL corresponding to the pinion gear 94mL, an engaged portion 99bcL corresponding to the pinion gear 94cL, and an engaged portion 99bkL corresponding to the pinion gear 94kL. Further, the rotary body 90 includes an engaged portion 99byR corresponding to the pinion gear 94yR, an engaged portion 99bmR corresponding to the pinion gear 94mR, an engaged portion 99bcR corresponding to the pinion gear 94cR, and an engaged portion 99bkR corresponding to the pinion gear 94kR. The four engaged portions 99byL to 99bkL on the left side are arranged at intervals of 90° around the rotation axis 90C, and the four engaged portions 99byR to 99bkR on the right side are also arranged at intervals of 90° around the rotation axis 90C.

[0290] Each of the engaged portions 99byL to 99bkL on the left side is an example of a first engaged portion engaged with the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L as a first force applying member. Each of the engaged portions 99byR to 99bkR on the right side is an example of a second engaged portion engaged with the engaging portion 153R of the drive rack 15R as a second force applying member.

[0291] Figs. 22(a) to 22(d) are diagrams for explaining the configuration regarding the regulation of the gear-to-gear distance. The left side of each of Figs. 22(a) to 22(d) represents a cross-section orthogonal to the rotation axis C of the rotary body 90. The right side of each of Figs. 22(a) to 22(d) is a perspective view showing the left side portion of the rotary body 90. In addition, in the right side (perspective view) of each of Figs. 22(a) to 22(c), the illustration of the pinion gear 94kL is omitted.

[0292] Hereinafter, the operations of the drive rack 15 and the pinion gear 94k in the tray pulling-out operation of the tray 80k will be described. Here, the operations of the drive rack 15 and the pinion gear 94k in the tray pulling-out operations of the trays 80y to 80c are substantially the same as the operations of the drive rack 15 and the pinion gear 94k, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the following description will be made using the drive rack 15L and the pinion gear 94kL disposed on the left side of the apparatus main body 1A. The operations of the drive rack 15R and the pinion gear 94kR disposed on the right side of the apparatus main body 1A are substantially the same as those of the drive rack 15L and the pinion gear 94kL, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

[0293] The end position on the lower side (-Z side) of the apparatus main body 1A within the range where the drive rack 15L can slide is referred to as the lower position of the drive rack 15L. The end position on the upper side (+Z side) of the apparatus main body 1A within the range where the drive rack 15L can slide is referred to as the upper position of the drive rack 15L. The position of the drive rack 15L when the output rack portion 152L of the drive rack 15L first contacts the teeth of the pinion gear 94k in the process of the drive rack 15L moving from the lower position to the upper position is referred to as the engagement start position. The position of the drive rack 15L when the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L starts to engage with the engaged portion 99bkL of the rotary body 90 in the process of the drive rack 15L moving from the lower position to the upper position is referred to as the engagement start position.

[0294] Fig. 22(a) shows the state of the drive rack 15L when the tray 80k is in the storage position. In this case, the drive rack 15L is located at the lower position. Also, the output rack portion 152L is not engaged with the pinion gear 94kL. That is, the lower position of the drive rack 15L is a position (non-engagement position) where the output rack portion 152L (power transmission portion) of the drive rack 15L is separated from the pinion gear 94kL (driven portion). Further, the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L is not engaged with the engaged portion 99bkL of the rotary body 90.

[0295] When the drive rack 15L is in the lower position, the drive rack 15L is positioned in the front-rear direction (X direction) of the apparatus main body 1A at two locations, i.e., the support portion H1 (first support portion) and the support portion H2 (second support portion). That is, the support portions H1 and H2 restrict the movement of the drive rack 15L (drive member) in the direction away from the rotary body 90 (rotary). The support portions H1 and H2 are provided on the frame body 16 (main body frame) of the apparatus main body 1A and support the drive rack 15L (drive member). The support portions H1 and H2 are arranged at positions separated from each other in the moving direction of the drive rack 15L. By restricting the movement of the drive rack 15L in the front-rear direction (X direction) of the apparatus main body 1A at at least two locations separated in the vertical direction, the inclination of the drive rack 15L is also suppressed.

[0296] In the present embodiment, the support portions H1 and H2 are formed in the lower guide portion 341L (Fig. 20(a)) of the lower holding member 34L, but they may be formed on other members. The support portions H1 and H2 have a shape (hook shape) that engages with the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L, similar to the engaged portion 99bkL (Fig. 23).

[0297] Next, when the tray pulling-out operation is started, the drive rack 15L moves upward (+Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. Then, in the state shown in FIG. 22(b), the rotation of the rotary main body 90 is restricted by the above-described lock mechanism 90L. At this time, the output rack portion 152L of the drive rack 15L is not yet engaged with the pinion gear 94kL. Further, the drive rack 15L is positioned in the front-rear direction (X direction) of the apparatus main body 1A at two locations of the support portions H1 and H2.

[0298] When the tray pulling-out operation further proceeds, as shown in FIG. 22(c), the drive rack 15L reaches the engagement start position where the engagement portion 153L of the drive rack 15L and the engaged portion 99bkL of the rotary main body 90 are engaged. Thereafter, the engagement between the output rack portion 152L of the drive rack 15L and the pinion gear 94kL starts.

[0299] That is, until the output rack portion 152L and the pinion gear 94kL are engaged, the engagement portion 153L of the drive rack 15L and the engaged portion 99bkL of the rotary main body 90 are in an engaged state. In other words, the drive rack 15L (drive member) moves in a direction in which the output rack portion 152L (power transmission portion) approaches the pinion gear 94kL (driven portion) from a lower position (non-engaged position) where the output rack portion 152L is separated from the pinion gear 94kL. Then, after the drive rack 15L starts moving from the lower position and before the output rack portion 152L engages with the pinion gear 94kL, the engagement portion 153L engages with the rotary main body 90 (rotary).

[0300] FIG. 23 is a view of the configuration related to the regulation of the gear distance between the pinion gear 94kL and the drive rack 15L as seen from above (-Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. As shown in FIG. 23, when the output rack portion 152L and the pinion gear 94kL are engaged, the tooth surface of the output rack portion 152L receives a force Fg including a component in the direction of the arrow in the figure (+X direction, the direction in which the gear tooth surfaces are separated) from the tooth surface of the pinion gear 94kL. That is, in a state seen in the sliding direction of the drive rack 15L, the drive rack 15L receives a force including a component in the direction away from the rotation axis of the pinion gear 94kL (+X direction).

[0301] Here, as shown in FIG. 23, the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L has a contact surface cs1 (first surface) facing in a direction away from the rotation axis of the pinion gear 94kL (the +X direction). Further, the engaged portion 99bkL of the rotary body 90 has a contact surface cs2 (second surface) configured to face the -X direction when the rotary body 90 is in the black replacement posture. Therefore, when the engaging portion 153L and the engaged portion 99bkL engage, relative movement of the drive rack 15L in the +X direction with respect to the rotary body 90 is restricted. Also, when the engaging portion 153L and the engaged portion 99bkL engage, relative movement of the rotary body 90 in the -X direction with respect to the drive rack 15L is restricted.

[0302] In other words, in the orthogonal direction (X direction) orthogonal to both the moving direction (Z direction) of the drive rack 15L and the rotation axis direction (Y direction) of the pinion gear 94kL, the drive rack 15L is disposed on the first side (+X side) with respect to the pinion gear 94kL. The contact surface cs1 (first surface) of the engaging portion 153L faces the first side (+X side) in the orthogonal direction. The contact surface cs2 (second surface) of the engaged portion 99bkL faces the second side (-X side) opposite to the first side in the orthogonal direction. Therefore, when the contact surface cs1 contacts the contact surface cs2, relative movement between the drive rack 15L and the pinion gear 94kL in which the drive rack 15L moves away from the rotation axis of the pinion gear 94kL in the orthogonal direction is restricted.

[0303] In this embodiment, the engaging portion 153L extends along the moving direction (Z direction) of the drive rack 15L. Further, when viewed in the moving direction (Z direction) of the drive rack 15L, the engaging portion 153L has a hook shape that protrudes toward the side of the pinion gear 94kL (-X side, second side) and the tip on the -X side is bent. Note that the engaging portion 153L may have a shape other than the hook shape as long as it can restrict relative movement between the drive rack 15L and the rotary body 90.

[0304] In this way, when the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L engages with the engaged portion 99bkL of the rotary main body 90, relative movement of the drive rack 15L and the rotary main body 90 such that the tooth surfaces of the output rack portion 152L and the pinion gear 94kL move away from each other is suppressed. Therefore, variations in the gear clearance between the pinion gear 94kL and the drive rack 15L can be suppressed.

[0305] Incidentally, the tooth surface of the pinion gear 94kL receives a force from the tooth surface of the output rack portion 152L of the drive rack 15L. Due to this force, a moment in the clockwise direction in the figure acts on the rotary main body 90 on the left side of FIG. 22(c). However, since the rotation of the rotary main body 90 is restricted by the above-described lock mechanism 90L, the rotary main body 90 can maintain the black replacement posture. Further, it is possible to suppress the pinion gear 94kL from moving away from the drive rack 15L due to the rotation of the rotary main body 90.

[0306] FIG. 22(d) shows the state of the drive rack 15L when the tray 80k is in the take-out position (the state after completion of the tray pulling-out operation). At this time, the drive rack 15L is in the upper position. Also, the engagement between the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L and the engaged portion 99bkL of the rotary main body 90 is maintained. That is, the engagement between the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L and the engaged portion 99bkL of the rotary main body 90 is maintained from when the drive rack 15L passes the engagement start position (FIG. 22(c)) until the tray 80k reaches the take-out position (FIG. 22(d)). Also, as described above, the drive rack 15L starts to engage with the engaged portion 99bkL at the engagement start position and then starts to engage with the pinion gear 94kL at the meshing start position.

[0307] Therefore, in the present embodiment, throughout the period in which the output rack portion 152L of the drive rack 15L meshes with the pinion gear 94kL during the tray pulling-out operation, the engagement between the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L and the engaged portion 99bkL of the rotary main body 90 is maintained. Variations in the gear clearance between the pinion gear 94kL and the drive rack 15L can be further suppressed.

[0308] Here, assuming that in addition to the aforementioned support portions H1 and H2, the engaged portion 99bkL of the rotary main body 90 engages with the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L, the drive rack 15L is positioned in the front-rear direction (X direction) of the apparatus main body 1A at three locations spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. However, if the support portions H1 and H2 and the engaging portion 153L are not aligned on the same straight line due to the influence of component intersection or the like, interference may occur between the drive rack 15L, the support portions H1 and H2, and the engaging portion 153L. When interference occurs, the load on the motor M2 for driving the drive rack 15L increases, and the stability of the operation of the drive rack 15L may be impaired.

[0309] Therefore, in this embodiment, before the drive rack 15L reaches the engagement start position with the engaged portion 99bkL, the lower end of the drive rack 15L is configured to pass through the lower support portion H2 (FIG. 22(c)). That is, after the drive rack 15L starts to move from the lower position (non-engagement position), it is preferable that the drive rack 15L disengages from either the first support portion (H1) or the second support portion (H2) before the engaging portion 153L engages with the rotary main body 90. Thereby, interference is less likely to occur, and the drive rack 15L can operate more stably. The timing at which the lower end of the drive rack 15L passes through the lower support portion H2 may be immediately before the drive rack 15L reaches the engagement start position with the engaged portion 99bkL.

[0310] Further, it is preferable to provide an attracting portion (entry guide) such as a tapered shape at at least one of the upper end of the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L and the end portion on the entrance side (the lower end in the posture of FIG. 21(a)) of the engaged portion 99bkL. In the present embodiment, a tapered attracting portion tp is provided at the upper end of the engaging portion 153L (FIG. 19(b)). The attracting portion tp adjusts the position of the engaging portion 153L when viewed in the vertical direction so that the engaging portion 153L and the engaged portion 99bkL can be engaged without the upper end of the engaging portion 153L colliding with the engaged portion 99bkL, according to the engaged portion 99bkL. It is preferable that the attracting portion tp has entered the engaged portion 99bkL (the tip of the attracting portion tp is above the lower end of the engaged portion 99bkL) by the time the lower end of the drive rack 15L has passed through the lower support portion H2.

[0311] Due to the engagement between the engaging portion 153L of the drive rack 15L and the engaged portion 99bkL of the rotary main body 90, the swinging of the rotary main body 90 around the swing shaft 91 (rotary support portion, FIG. 4(a)) that swingably supports the rotary main body 90 is restricted. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the variation in the gear pitch between the output rack portion 152L and the pinion gear 94kL due to the swinging of the rotary main body 90.

[0312] In the above description, the advantage of suppressing the variation in the gear pitch in the operation of moving the tray 80k from the storage position to the take-out position (tray pulling-out operation) has been described. However, there are similar advantages also in the operation of moving the tray 80k from the take-out position to the storage position (tray inserting operation). That is, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the variation in the gear pitch between the drive rack 15L and the pinion gear 94kL in the pulling-out / inserting operation of the tray 80k, and a more stable operation can be realized.

[0313] (Automatic insertion function when tray is pushed in and detected) When the tray 80k is in the take-out position, the user can instruct the image forming apparatus 1 to perform the tray insertion operation by operating an operation unit (for example, a button on the operation panel) provided on the apparatus main body 1A. However, if the configuration is such that when the user pushes in the tray 80k in the take-out position, the tray 80k is automatically drawn into the storage position, a more intuitive operation becomes possible and the operability is improved.

[0314] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 24(a, b) and FIGS. 25(a to e), a function (automatic insertion function) that detects that the user has pushed in the tray 80k and automatically starts the tray insertion operation will be described. "Automatically" means that the control unit 30 determines to execute the tray insertion operation in a state where the user has not explicitly instructed the execution of the tray insertion operation via an operation unit or the like. Further, hereinafter, the push-in detection configuration and the automatic insertion function for the tray 80k will be described, but the image forming apparatus 1 substantially has the same push-in detection configuration and automatic insertion function also for the trays 80y to 80c.

[0315] In order for the control unit 30 to be able to detect the pushing in of the tray 80k by the user, a configuration for detecting the movement of the tray 80k itself or the movement of a member interlocked with the tray 80k may be provided. In this embodiment, as will be described in detail below, a sensor (tray pull-out sensor 135) for detecting the rotation of an idler gear 63 as a member interlocked with the tray 80k is provided. The tray pull-out sensor 135 is an example of a detection unit configured such that a signal changes when the tray 80k (support member) supporting the toner cartridge 70k (cartridge) moves from the take-out position (second position) to the storage position (first position). The signal output from the tray pull-out sensor 135 is different between the state where the tray 80k is in the take-out position and the state where the tray 80k is in the storage position. The signal output from the tray pull-out sensor 135 is different between the state where the toner cartridge 70k (cartridge) is in the mounting position and the state where the toner cartridge 70k (cartridge) is in the retracted position.

[0316] Incidentally, as described above, the drive system 100 of the tray 80k includes a motor M2 as a drive source and a drive transmission mechanism 101 that transmits the driving force of the motor M2 to the tray 80k (Figs. 13(a, b)). The drive transmission mechanism 101 includes a worm gear 60, spur gears 61, 62, 65L, and 65R as a speed reduction mechanism capable of reducing the rotational speed (angular velocity) of the output shaft of the motor M2 and transmitting it to the downstream drive transmission element. By using the speed reduction mechanism, the tray insertion operation can be performed using the motor M2 with a small output. That is, by using the speed reduction mechanism, a small-sized motor can be used as the drive source, and the miniaturization and cost reduction of the apparatus main body 1A can be realized.

[0317] Here, when the user tries to push in the tray 80k at the take-out position, the pushing force of the user is transmitted to the upstream side (the side of the motor M2) of each drive transmission element of the drive transmission mechanism 101. If the configuration is such that the motor M2 rotates in conjunction with the pushing of the tray 80k, the pushing force required for the movement of the tray 80k increases due to the load of rotating the motor M2 in the stopped state. In particular, in the case of a configuration where the force of the motor M2 is transmitted to the tray 80k via the speed reduction mechanism, the force for pushing in the tray 80k to rotate the motor M2 becomes even greater. Further, when the speed reduction mechanism includes a worm gear as in this embodiment, the worm gear self-locks even if the user tries to push in the tray 80k, so the motor M2 cannot be reversed. In this case, the user basically cannot push in the tray 80k.

[0318] Therefore, in this embodiment, an idle gear 63 is arranged in the drive transmission path from the worm gear 60 to the tray 80k, and the idle gear 63 is configured to idle in conjunction with the pushing of the tray 80k. Due to the idling of the idle gear 63, the drive transmission element (spur gear 62) downstream of the idle gear 63 does not move in conjunction with the pushing of the tray 80k, so that the user can push in the tray 80k with a light pushing force. Further, in this embodiment, a sensor (tray extraction sensor 135) capable of detecting the rotation of the idle gear 63 as a transmission unit is used to detect the pushing of the tray 80k and automatically execute the tray insertion operation.

[0319] Next, a push-in detection mechanism for detecting the push-in of the tray 80k will be described. FIGS. 24(a) and 24(b) are exploded views of the idler gear 63 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 24(a) is a perspective view of the idler gear 63 as viewed from one side in the direction along the rotation axis 63C of the idler gear 63. FIG. 24(b) is a perspective view of the idler gear 63 as viewed from the other side in the direction along the rotation axis 63C.

[0320] As shown in FIGS. 24(a) and 24(b), the idler gear 63 is a gear unit including two gears, an input gear 631 and an output gear 632. The input gear 631 and the output gear 632 are arranged side by side in the direction of the rotation axis 63C. Also, the input gear 631 and the output gear 632 are each rotatable around the rotation axis 63C.

[0321] The input gear 631 has a gear portion (tooth portion) that meshes with the stepped gear 62 (FIG. 13(a)), and the driving force of the motor M2 is input to the input gear 631. That is, the input gear 631 is connected to the motor M2 so as to be capable of driving transmission via the stepped gear 62 or the like. The output gear 632 has a gear portion (tooth portion) that meshes with the drive rack input gear 64L and the stepped gear 65L (FIG. 13(a)), and outputs a driving force toward the tray 80k. That is, the output gear 632 is configured to be connected to the tray 80k so as to be capable of driving transmission via the drive rack input gear 64L and the stepped gear 65L or the like.

[0322] The idler gear 63 is an example of a transmission unit configured to transmit the driving force of the motor M2 to the tray 80k. In the present embodiment, the idler gear 63 functions as a transmission unit that can take a blocking state for blocking the transmission of force from the tray 80k to the motor M2. The input gear 631 is an example of the input portion of the transmission unit. The output gear 632 is an example of the output portion of the transmission unit.

[0323] Hereinafter, the rotation direction of the input gear 631 when the motor M2 rotates in the forward rotation direction is referred to as the forward rotation direction R1 of the idler gear 63. The rotation direction of the input gear 631 when the motor M2 rotates in the reverse rotation direction is referred to as the reverse rotation direction R2 of the idler gear 63.

[0324] As shown in FIG. 24(a), a convex portion 631a is formed on the input gear 631. The convex portion 631a protrudes toward the output gear 632 in the direction along the rotation axis 63C. A forward rotation contact portion 631b is provided at one end of the convex portion 631a (the end in the forward rotation direction R1). A reverse rotation contact portion 631c is formed at the other end of the convex portion 631a (the end in the reverse rotation direction R2). In this embodiment, two convex portions 631a are arranged at positions 180° apart from each other around the rotation axis 63C.

[0325] As shown in FIG. 24(b), a groove portion 632a is formed on the output gear 632. The groove portion 632a is a recessed portion that is recessed toward the output gear 632 from the input gear 631 in the direction along the rotation axis 63C. A forward rotation contacted portion 632b is provided at one end of the groove portion 632a (the end in the forward rotation direction R1). A reverse rotation contacted portion 632c is formed at the other end of the groove portion 632a (the end in the reverse rotation direction R2). In this embodiment, two groove portions 632a are formed at positions 180° apart from each other around the rotation axis 63C.

[0326] Further, on the output gear 632, a substantially cylindrical (arc-shaped) outer peripheral surface 632e centered on the rotation axis 63C and an outer peripheral recess 632f recessed toward the rotation axis 63C with respect to the outer peripheral surface 632e are formed. The outer peripheral recess 632f is continuous with one of the groove portions 632a.

[0327] The convex portion 631a of the input gear 631 is formed in the range of an angle θ1 in the forward rotation direction R1. The groove portion 632a of the output gear 632 is formed in the range of an angle θ2 in the forward rotation direction R1. The range in which the convex portion 631a is formed is narrower than the range in which the groove portion 632a is formed. That is, θ1 < θ2. In this embodiment, a configuration in which two convex portions 631a and two groove portions 632a are provided is shown, but one convex portion 631a and one groove portion 632a may be provided, or three or more of each may be provided.

[0328] A cylindrical shaft portion 631d is formed at the center of the input gear 631 (Fig. 24(a)). A hole 632d is formed at the center of the output gear 632 (Fig. 24(b)). By engaging the shaft portion 631d of the input gear 631 with the hole 632d of the output gear 632, the input gear 631 and the output gear 632 are connected so as to be rotatable around a common rotation axis 63C and relatively rotatable. Further, the input gear 631 is rotatably supported by fitting the shaft portion 631d into a support shaft provided on the upper holding member 33L (Fig. 20(a)).

[0329] In a state where the input gear 631 and the output gear 632 are connected, the convex portion 631a is accommodated in the space inside the groove portion 632a. At this time, since θ1 < θ2, the convex portion 631a and the groove portion 632a allow the input gear 631 and the output gear 632 to relatively rotate at an angle of θ3 = θ2 - θ1. That is, the input gear 631 and the output gear 632 can relatively rotate (idle) within the range of the angle θ3.

[0330] Figs. 25(a to e) are diagrams for explaining the pushing-in detection mechanism of the tray 80k. Each right-side diagram in Figs. 25(a to e) represents the position of the tray 80k. Each left-side diagram in Figs. 25(a to e) is a diagram showing the state of the idle gear 63 and the tray pull-out sensor 135 corresponding to the right-side diagram.

[0331] As shown in Figs. 25(a to e), the tray pull-out sensor 135 is arranged so as to be able to contact the outer peripheral surface 632e of the output gear 632. The tray pull-out sensor 135 is configured such that the detection signal switches between a state of being in contact with the outer peripheral surface 632e of the output gear 632 and a state of not being in contact with the outer peripheral surface 632e (i.e., a state of facing the outer peripheral recess 632f). That is, the tray pull-out sensor 135 can detect whether the output gear 632 is within a predetermined rotation range (the range in which the tray pull-out sensor 135 faces the outer peripheral recess 632f).

[0332] The output gear 632 is an example of a rotating body that can rotate around a rotation axis. The signal output by the tray extraction sensor 135 as the detection unit in this embodiment changes according to the rotation of the output gear 632. Also, in this embodiment, the rotation angle of the output gear 632 (rotating body) while the tray 80k (support member) moves from the accommodation position (first position) to the extraction position (second position) is less than 360°. That is, since the position of the tray 80k when the signal of the tray extraction sensor 135 changes is uniquely determined, accurate control according to the position of the tray 80k can be realized.

[0333] With reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 25(a - e), 35, and 36, the operations from when the tray extraction operation is performed on the tray 80k until the tray introduction operation is automatically performed when the tray 80k is pushed in by the user will be described.

[0334] FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the control unit 30 (FIG. 2) to execute the tray extraction operation. However, the processing in the case where an abnormality is detected during the tray introduction operation (S13Y) will be described later. FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the control unit 30 to execute the tray extraction operation. However, the processing in the case where an abnormality is detected during the tray extraction operation (S23Y) will be described later.

[0335] FIG. 25(a) shows the states of the idle gear 63 and the tray extraction sensor 135 when the tray 80k is in the accommodation position Q1. At this time, the tray extraction sensor 135 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 632e of the output gear 632. In FIGS. 25(a - e), the position of the tray 80k is represented based on the tip of the tray 80k in the extraction direction Dk1.

[0336] When the user instructs the tray to be pulled out by operating a button on the operation panel or the like (S1 in FIG. 36), the control unit 30 rotates the motor M2 in the forward rotation direction (S22 in FIG. 36). Then, the driving force of the motor M2 is transmitted to the tray 80k, and the tray 80k moves in the pulling-out direction Dk1. At this time, the input gear 631 of the idler gear 63 rotates in the forward rotation direction R1 under the driving force from the motor M2. Further, the forward rotation contact portion 631b (first engagement portion) of the input gear 631 abuts on the forward rotation contact portion 632b (first contact portion) of the output gear 632, and the driving force is transmitted from the input gear 631 to the output gear 632, and the output gear 632 also rotates in the forward rotation direction R1.

[0337] FIG. 25(b) shows the state of the idler gear 63 and the tray pull-out sensor 135 when the tray 80k is pulled out to a predetermined position Q2 between the storage position and the take-out position. When the tray 80k reaches the predetermined position Q2, the tray pull-out sensor 135 switches from the state of facing the outer peripheral surface 632e of the output gear 632 to the state of facing the outer peripheral recess 632f of the output gear 632. The control unit 30 detects that the tray 80k has reached the predetermined position Q2 based on the change in the detection signal of the tray pull-out sensor 135 (S24Y in FIG. 36).

[0338] After the tray 80k reaches the predetermined position Q2, the control unit 30 continues to rotate the motor M2 in the forward rotation direction for a further predetermined time T4 and then stops the motor M2 (S25 in FIG. 36). As a result, as shown in FIG. 25(c), the tray 80k moves to the take-out position Q3. At this time, the input gear 631 rotates clockwise by an angle θ4 in the figure. That is, the angle θ4 is the rotation amount of the input gear 631 while the tray 80k moves from the predetermined position Q2 to the take-out position Q3.

[0339] FIG. 25(c) shows the state of the idler gear 63 and the tray pull-out sensor 135 when the tray 80k is pulled out to the take-out position Q3. In this state, the forward rotation contact portion 631b of the input gear 631 abuts on the forward rotation contact portion 632b of the output gear 632. Further, the tray pull-out sensor 135 is in a state of facing the outer peripheral recess 632f of the output gear 632.

[0340] With the tray 80k pulled out to the take-out position Q3, the control unit 30 rotates the motor M2 in the reverse direction for a predetermined time T5 (S26 in FIG. 36), and then stops the motor M2 (S27).

[0341] As shown in FIG. 25(d), due to the reverse rotation of the motor M2, the input gear 631 receives the driving force from the motor M2 and rotates in the reverse direction R2. Then, the forward rotation contact portion 631b of the input gear 631 separates from the forward rotation contacted portion 632b of the output gear 632. That is, after the tray 80k (support member) moves from the accommodation position (first position) to the take-out position (second position), when the motor M2 (driving source) rotates in the reverse direction R2 (second direction opposite to the first direction), the engagement between the forward rotation contact portion 631b (first engaging portion) and the forward rotation contacted portion 632b (first engaged portion) is released.

[0342] Let the angle by which the input gear 631 rotates in the reverse direction R2 while the motor M2 rotates in the reverse direction for the time T5 be θ5. The angle θ5 is smaller than the angle θ3 by which the input gear 631 and the output gear 632 can idle (θ5 > θ3). Therefore, while the motor M2 rotates in the reverse direction, the reverse rotation contact portion 631c of the input gear 631 does not contact the reverse rotation contacted portion 632c of the output gear 632. That is, the driving force of the motor M2 is not transmitted to the output gear 632, and the tray 80k does not move in the drawing-in direction Dk2 from the take-out position Q3. Thus, the tray drawing-out operation of the tray 80k from the accommodation position to the take-out position is completed.

[0343] FIG. 25(d) shows the state of the idler gear 63 and the tray drawing-out sensor 135 when the tray drawing-out operation of the tray 80k is completed. In this state, the forward rotation contact portion 631b of the input gear 631 is separated from the forward rotation contacted portion 632b of the output gear 632. Also, the reverse rotation contact portion 631c of the input gear 631 is separated from the reverse rotation contacted portion 632c of the output gear 632. Further, the tray drawing-out sensor 135 is in a state of facing the outer peripheral recess 632f of the output gear 632.

[0344] Here, consider the case where the user pushes the tray 80k in the insertion direction Dk2 as shown in FIG. 25(e). In this case, the pushing force with which the user pushes in the tray 80k is transmitted to the output gear 632 by tracing the drive transmission path from the motor M2 to the tray 80k in the reverse direction. As a result, the output gear 632 rotates in the reverse rotation direction R2.

[0345] On the other hand, due to the reverse rotation of the motor M2 in the tray ejection operation, there is a gap of the aforementioned angle θ5 between the forward rotation contact portion 631b and the forward rotation contacted portion 632b. Therefore, even if the output gear 632 rotates in the reverse rotation direction R2, the input gear 631 does not rotate in the reverse rotation direction R2. That is, the input gear 631 and the drive transmission elements on the upstream side thereof (on the motor M2 side) do not operate in conjunction with the pushing of the tray 80k. In other words, the idler gear 63 (transmission unit) is configured to be in a cut-off state in which the transmission of force from the tray 80k to the motor M2 (drive source) is cut off after the tray 80k (support member) moves from the storage position (first position) to the take-out position (second position). Therefore, the user can push in the tray 80k with a light pushing force.

[0346] Let the angle through which the output gear 632 rotates while the tray 80k is pushed from the take-out position Q3 to the predetermined position Q2 be θ4. The angle θ4 is preferably smaller than the angle θ5 of the gap existing between the forward rotation contact portion 631b and the forward rotation contacted portion 632b at the completion of the tray ejection operation (θ4 < θ5). The angle θ5 is an angle at which the output gear 632 can rotate (idle) in the reverse rotation direction R2 with the input gear 631 stopped. In other words, the angle (θ5) at which the output gear 632 (output portion) can relatively rotate with respect to the input gear 631 (input portion) in a state where the engagement between the forward rotation contact portion 631b (first engaging portion) and the forward rotation contacted portion 632b (first engaged portion) is released is larger than the angle (θ4) through which the output gear 632 rotates while the tray 80k (support member) is moved from the take-out position Q3 (second position) to the predetermined position Q2. Therefore, if the relationship of θ4 < θ5 is satisfied, the user can push in the tray 80k with a light pushing force at least until the tray 80k reaches the predetermined position Q2.

[0347] As shown in Fig. 25(e), when the tray 80k is pushed into the predetermined position Q2, the tray ejection sensor 135 switches from a state of facing the outer peripheral recess 632f of the output gear 632 to a state of facing the outer peripheral surface 632e of the output gear 632. Based on the change in the detection signal of the tray ejection sensor 135, the control unit 30 detects that the tray 80k has been pushed into the predetermined position Q2 (S11Y in Fig. 35).

[0348] When detecting the pushing-in of the tray 80k, the control unit 30 rotates the motor M2 in the reverse direction to start the tray insertion operation (S12 in Fig. 35). Due to the reverse rotation of the motor M2, the input gear 631 rotates in the reverse direction R2, and the reverse contact portion 631c (the second engagement portion) of the input gear 631 engages with the reverse contact portion 632c (the second engaged portion) of the output gear 632. As a result, the output gear 632 rotates in the reverse direction R2, and the tray 80k moves toward the accommodation position. Then, when detecting that the tray 80k has reached the accommodation position Q1 (S14Y), the control unit 30 stops the motor M2 (S15) to complete the tray insertion operation.

[0349] Here, as shown in Fig. 22(a), a tray insertion sensor 134 capable of detecting that the tray 80k has reached the accommodation position is arranged on the apparatus main body 1A. The tray insertion sensor 134 of this embodiment is held by the lower holding member 34L.

[0350] The tray insertion sensor 134 is arranged to contact the drive rack 15L when the tray 80k is in the accommodation position Q1. In other words, the tray insertion sensor 134 is configured such that the detection signal changes according to whether the drive rack 15L is in the lower position. The control unit 30 can detect that the drive rack 15L has reached the lower position, that is, the tray 80k has reached the accommodation position Q1, based on the change in the detection signal of the tray insertion sensor 134. The tray insertion sensor 134 is an example of a detection unit configured such that the signal changes when the tray 80k (support member) supporting the toner cartridge 70k (cartridge) moves from the take-out position (second position) to the accommodation position (first position). The signal output from the tray insertion sensor 134 is different between the state where the tray 80k is in the accommodation position Q1 and the state where the tray 80k is in the take-out position Q3. The signal output from the tray insertion sensor 134 is different between the state where the toner cartridge 70k (cartridge) is in the mounting position and the state where the toner cartridge 70k (cartridge) is in the retracted position.

[0351] As described above, when the control unit 30 detects that the tray 80k has been pushed in from the take-out position Q3 to the predetermined position Q2, it is configured to automatically execute the tray insertion operation. In other words, when the tray 80k (support member) moves from the take-out position (second position) to the accommodation position (first position) without being moved by the motor M2 (drive source) and the signal of the tray extraction sensor 135 changes, the control unit 30 moves the tray 80k toward the accommodation position by the motor M2. This enables a more intuitive operation and improves the operability.

[0352] Also, in this embodiment, an idle gear 63 is arranged in the drive transmission mechanism 101 that transmits the driving force from the motor M2 to the tray 80k, and the idle gear 63 is configured to idle when the user pushes the tray 80k in the insertion direction Dk2. Thereby, the user can push the tray 80k from the take-out position Q3 to the predetermined position Q2 with a light pushing force, and the operability can be further improved.

[0353] (Modification example of the pushing-in detection mechanism) In this embodiment, the pushing-in of the tray 80k is detectable by detecting the rotation angle of the output gear 632 interlocked with the pushing-in of the tray 80k by the tray extraction sensor 135. However, it is not limited to this, and a sensor that detects another member interlocked with the pushing-in of the tray 80k may be used to detect the pushing-in of the tray 80k. For example, a sensor that can detect that the connecting rack 66 is at a position corresponding to the extraction position of the tray 80k may be used. In this case, when the sensor changes from a state of detecting the connecting rack 66 to a state of not detecting it, the control unit 30 determines that there has been a pushing-in of the tray 80k.

[0354] Also, the sensor that detects the pushing-in of the tray 80k is not limited to a sensor that detects contact with the target member, and may be, for example, an optical sensor that uses light to detect the target member.

[0355] Also, in this embodiment, the tray extraction sensor 135 is used as the detection unit whose signal changes when the tray 80k moves from the extraction position toward the storage position. However, a detection unit that detects that the tray 80k has received a force in the direction from the extraction position toward the storage position may also be used. For example, a force sensor such as a load cell is used as the detection unit. In this case, after the tray 80k is pulled out to the extraction position and the motor M2 is not driven, the control unit 30 may reverse the motor M2 and execute the tray insertion operation based on the change in the signal of the force sensor when the user tries to push in the tray 80k.

[0356] Also, in this embodiment, an example has been described in which when the movement of the tray 80k is detected by the detection unit, the tray insertion operation is started by starting the stopped motor M2. However, it is not limited to this, and when the movement of the tray 80k is detected by the detection unit, the tray insertion operation may be started by connecting a clutch interposed between the motor M2 and the tray 80k while the motor M2 is rotating.

[0357] (Automatic ejection function when there is an abnormality in tray insertion) When an abnormality occurs during the tray insertion operation, the tray 80 may stop at a position that is neither the storage position nor the ejection position (abnormal position). The abnormality is, for example, a case where a foreign object is caught between the tray 80 and another member, inhibiting the movement of the tray 80 in the insertion direction Dk2.

[0358] At this time, it is desirable to perform a recovery operation to eliminate the cause of the abnormality (such as removing the foreign object) and return the apparatus to a state where the tray insertion operation can be executed. However, in a state where the tray insertion operation is continuing, it is difficult for the user to perform the recovery operation. Also, in a state where the tray 80 has stopped at the abnormal position, it is difficult for the user to determine what operation to perform next, which is not preferable in terms of user operability.

[0359] Therefore, in this embodiment, when an abnormality occurs during the movement of the tray 80 from the ejection position to the storage position (during the tray insertion operation), the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a function (tray automatic ejection function) to automatically move the tray 80 to the ejection position.

[0360] Hereinafter, the content of the processing performed by the control unit 30 (FIG. 2) when an abnormality is detected during the tray insertion operation will be described according to the flowchart of FIG. 35.

[0361] In a state where the tray 80 is at the ejection position, the user can instruct the start of the tray insertion operation by operating an operation unit (for example, a button on the operation panel) provided on the apparatus main body 1A, or by the method of pushing in the aforementioned tray 80. When an instruction for the tray insertion operation (insertion instruction) or the pushing in of the tray 80 is detected (S11Y), the control unit 30 rotates the motor M2 in the reverse direction (S12). Thereby, the tray insertion operation is started, and the tray 80 starts to move from the ejection position toward the storage position by the driving force of the motor M2.

[0362] As shown in FIGS. 22(d) to 22(a), when the tray 80 moves from the take-out position to the storage position, the drive rack 15 (15L) moves downward (-Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. When the drive rack 15 moves to the lower position corresponding to the storage position of the tray 80 (the state shown in FIG. 22(a)), the tray introduction sensor 134 detects the drive rack 15. Based on the fact that the tray introduction sensor 134 has detected the drive rack 15, the control unit 30 (FIG. 2) determines that the tray introduction operation has been completed (S14Y), stops the drive of the motor M2, and completes the tray introduction operation (S15).

[0363] Here, it is assumed that an abnormality occurs during the tray introduction operation and the movement of the tray 80 is obstructed. In this case, the drive rack 15 cannot move to the lower position, and the tray introduction sensor 134 does not detect the drive rack 15. That is, the control unit 30 determines that the tray introduction operation has not been completed (S14N).

[0364] In the present embodiment, when the tray introduction sensor 134 does not detect the drive rack 15 even after a predetermined time T1 has elapsed since the start of the reverse rotation of the motor M2 (S12), the control unit 30 determines that an abnormality has occurred during the tray introduction operation (S13Y). The predetermined time T1 is, for example, a value obtained by adding a predetermined margin to the time required from the start of the reverse rotation of the motor M2 until the tray introduction sensor 134 detects the arrival of the drive rack 15 at the lower position when the tray introduction operation proceeds normally. The value of the predetermined time T1 is assumed to be stored in advance in the storage unit of the control unit 30.

[0365] When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred during the tray insertion operation, the control unit 30 temporarily stops the motor M2 and then rotates it in the forward rotation direction (S16). As a result, the tray 80 starts to move from the abnormal position toward the take-out position by the driving force of the motor M2. When, for example, a predetermined time T2 has elapsed since the start of the forward rotation of the motor M2, the control unit 30 determines that the tray 80 has reached the take-out position, stops the motor M2 (S17), and ends the automatic ejection operation. Instead of S17, a configuration may be adopted in which the tray 80 is moved to the take-out position using the tray ejection sensor 135 by the same control as the normal tray ejection operation (S24 to S27 in FIG. 36).

[0366] In this way, the control unit 30 starts outputting a driving force in the reverse rotation direction (second direction) to the motor M2 in a state where the tray 80 is positioned at the take-out position Q3 corresponding to the retracted position of the toner cartridge 70, and starts the tray insertion operation. When the tray 80 does not reach the accommodation position Q1 corresponding to the mounting position of the toner cartridge 70 even after a predetermined time T1 has elapsed since the start of driving the motor M2, the control unit 30 outputs a driving force in the forward rotation direction (first direction) to the motor M2. In other words, the control unit starts outputting a driving force in the second direction to the drive source in a state where the cartridge is positioned at the retracted position, and when the cartridge does not reach the mounting position even after a predetermined time has elapsed, outputs the driving force in the first direction to the drive source.

[0367] That is, the control unit 30 starts the first operation on the drive device 98 in a state where the toner cartridge 70 (cartridge) is positioned at the retracted position, and when the toner cartridge 70 does not reach the mounting position even after a predetermined time has elapsed, causes the drive device 98 to execute the second operation. The first operation is an operation in which the drive device 98 drives the moving device 85 so that the moving device 85 moves the toner cartridge 70 from the mounting position toward the retracted position. The second operation is an operation in which the drive device 98 drives the moving device 85 so that the moving device 85 moves the toner cartridge 70 from the retracted position toward the mounting position.

[0368] According to the above control, when an abnormality occurs during the tray insertion operation, the tray 80 temporarily stops at the abnormal position and then is automatically pulled out to the take-out position. Therefore, the user can perform a return operation such as removing foreign objects with the tray 80 pulled out to the take-out position. That is, according to this embodiment, the workability of the return operation can be improved compared to the case where the tray 80 stays at the abnormal position.

[0369] Also, according to this embodiment, when an abnormality occurs during the tray insertion operation, the tray 80 returns to the take-out position by the tray automatic pull-out function. In other words, when the cartridge does not reach the mounting position even after the predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit starts outputting a driving force in the first direction to the drive source, and then stops the drive source when the cartridge reaches the retracted position. Therefore, the user can easily understand that they only need to perform the tray insertion operation again after performing the return operation, and it is less likely to be confused about the judgment of the next operation.

[0370] Also, in this embodiment, when the toner cartridge 70 is moved from the retracted position to the mounting position, a part of the toner cartridge 70 moves from the outside to the inside of the frame 16 (main body frame) through the opening 16a of the apparatus main body 1A. In such a configuration, even if the toner cartridge 70 cannot pass through the opening 16a for some reason, the toner cartridge 70 can be automatically pulled out to the outside of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0371] (Automatic insertion function when tray pull-out is abnormal) When an abnormality occurs during the tray pull-out operation, the tray 80 may stop at a position that is neither the storage position nor the take-out position (abnormal position).

[0372] For example, there may be an obstacle at a position overlapping with the movement locus of the tray 80 in the tray pulling-out operation (e.g., near the opening 16a of the apparatus main body 1A), and the movement of the moving tray 80 (or the door 14) is restricted by contacting the obstacle. In this case, the tray 80 stops at an abnormal position. Since the tray 80 stops at an abnormal position (i.e., it has not been pulled out to the take-out position), the user may not be able to remove the toner cartridge 70 from the tray 80, or the operation may be difficult. Also, when the tray 80 stops at an abnormal position, it is difficult for the user to determine what operation to perform next, which is not preferable in terms of user operability.

[0373] Therefore, in this embodiment, when an abnormality occurs during the movement of the tray 80 from the storage position to the take-out position (during the tray pulling-out operation), the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a function (tray automatic retracting function) to automatically move the tray 80 to the storage position. Hereinafter, the tray automatic retracting function will be described.

[0374] Hereinafter, the content of the process performed by the control unit 30 (FIG. 2) when an abnormality is detected during the tray pulling-out operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 36.

[0375] In a state where the tray 80 is at the storage position, the user can instruct the image forming apparatus 1 to start the tray pulling-out operation by operating an operation unit (e.g., a button on the operation panel) provided on the apparatus main body 1A. When receiving an instruction (pull-out instruction) for the tray pulling-out operation (S21Y), the control unit 30 starts the motor M2 in the normal rotation direction (S22). Thereby, the tray pulling-out operation is started, and the tray 80 starts to move from the storage position toward the take-out position by the driving force of the motor M2.

[0376] As described above, the tray extraction sensor 135 detects that the tray 80 has moved to the predetermined position Q2 (state in S24Y and FIG. 25(b)). When a predetermined time T4 has elapsed since the detection of the tray 80 by the tray extraction sensor 135, the motor M2 is temporarily stopped (S25). Further, after the motor M2 is reversely rotated for a predetermined time T5 (S26), the motor M2 is stopped (S27). Thereby, as described above, the tray 80 moves to the extraction position. Further, the idle gear 63 is configured such that when the tray 80 is pushed in by the user, the output gear 632 can idle with respect to the input gear 631 in conjunction with the tray 80.

[0377] Here, it is assumed that an abnormality occurs during the tray extraction operation and the movement of the tray 80 is obstructed. In this case, the tray extraction sensor 135 does not detect that the tray 80 has reached the predetermined position Q2 (S24N). That is, the control unit 30 determines that the tray extraction operation has not been completed.

[0378] In the present embodiment, when the tray extraction sensor 135 does not detect the arrival of the tray 80 at the predetermined position Q2 even after a predetermined time T3 has elapsed since the start of the tray extraction operation (S22), the control unit 30 determines that an abnormality has occurred during the tray extraction operation (S23Y). The predetermined time T3 is, for example, a value obtained by adding a predetermined margin to the required time from the start of the forward rotation of the motor M2 until the tray extraction sensor 135 detects the arrival of the tray 80 at the predetermined position Q2 when the tray extraction operation proceeds normally. It is assumed that the predetermined time T3 is stored in advance in the storage unit of the control unit 30.

[0379] When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred during the tray ejection operation, the control unit 30 temporarily stops the motor M2 and then rotates it in the reverse direction (S28). As a result, the tray 80 starts to move from the abnormal position toward the storage position by the driving force of the motor M2. The control unit 30 determines that the tray 80 has reached the storage position and stops the motor M2 (S29) when, for example, a predetermined time T6 has elapsed since the start of the reverse rotation of the motor M2, and ends the automatic loading operation. Instead of S29, it may be configured to move the tray 80 to the storage position using the tray loading sensor 134 by the same control as the normal tray loading operation (S14 to S15 in FIG. 35).

[0380] That is, after the control unit 30 starts the second operation of the drive device 98 with the toner cartridge 70 (cartridge) positioned at the mounting position, if the toner cartridge 70 does not reach the retracted position even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 30 causes the drive device 98 to execute the first operation. The first operation is an operation in which the drive device 98 drives the moving device 85 so that the moving device 85 moves the toner cartridge 70 from the mounting position toward the retracted position. The second operation is an operation in which the drive device 98 drives the moving device 85 so that the moving device 85 moves the toner cartridge 70 from the retracted position toward the mounting position.

[0381] In this way, the control unit 30 starts outputting a driving force in the forward rotation direction (first direction) to the motor M2 with the tray 80 positioned at the storage position Q1 corresponding to the mounting position of the toner cartridge 70, and starts the tray loading operation. The control unit 30 outputs a driving force in the reverse rotation direction (second direction) to the motor M2 when the tray 80 does not reach the ejection position Q3 corresponding to the retracted position of the toner cartridge 70 even after a predetermined time T3 has elapsed since the start of driving the motor M2. In other words, after the control unit starts outputting a driving force in the first direction to the drive source with the cartridge positioned at the mounting position, if the cartridge does not reach the retracted position even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit outputs the driving force in the second direction to the drive source.

[0382] According to the above control, when an abnormality occurs during the tray ejection operation, the tray 80 temporarily stops at the abnormal position and then is automatically drawn back to the storage position. Therefore, the user can easily understand that after performing a return operation or the like, the user can simply perform the tray ejection operation again, and it becomes less likely to be confused about the determination of the next operation.

[0383] Also, according to this embodiment, when an abnormality occurs during the tray ejection operation, the tray 80 returns to the storage position Q1 by the tray automatic drawing-in function. In other words, when the cartridge does not reach the retracted position even after the predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit starts outputting a driving force in the second direction to the drive source, and then stops the drive source when the cartridge reaches the mounting position. Therefore, the user can easily understand that after performing a return operation, the user can simply perform the tray ejection operation again, and it becomes less likely to be confused about the determination of the next operation.

[0384] In this embodiment, when the toner cartridge 70 moves from the mounting position to the retracted position, a part of the toner cartridge 70 moves from the inside to the outside of the frame 16 (main body frame) through the opening 16a of the apparatus main body 1A. In such a configuration, even if the toner cartridge 70 cannot pass through the opening 16a for some reason, the toner cartridge 70 can be automatically drawn back inside the apparatus main body 1A.

[0385] Note that in this embodiment, if the movement of the tray 80 is restricted by an obstacle or the like after the tray extraction sensor 135 detects that the tray 80 has reached the predetermined position Q2 and before the tray 80 reaches the extraction position Q3, the control unit 30 does not detect the occurrence of an abnormality. In this embodiment, the toner cartridge 70 can be attached to and detached from the tray 80 even when the tray 80 is in the predetermined position Q2. Also, if a sensor for detecting that the tray 80 has reached the extraction position Q3 is added, it will lead to an increase in cost. According to this embodiment, with a simple configuration using the tray extraction sensor 135, it is possible to detect the occurrence of an abnormality in the tray extraction operation. However, a sensor for detecting that the tray 80 has reached the extraction position Q3 may be added, and the control unit 30 may detect the occurrence of an abnormality in the tray extraction operation based on the detection result of this sensor.

[0386] <<Embodiment 2>> As Embodiment 2, a configuration (left - right connection configuration) for connecting the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R, which is different from that of Embodiment 1, will be described. In this embodiment, the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R are connected using a gear train.

[0387] Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, elements with the same reference numerals as those in Embodiment 1 have substantially the same configuration and operation as those described in Embodiment 1, and the parts different from Embodiment 1 will be mainly described. Hereinafter, a drive system for moving the tray 80k relative to the rotary body 90 will be described. Since the drive systems for moving the trays 80y to 80c are substantially the same as the drive system described below, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0388] FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing the drive system 100B according to this embodiment. FIG. 26 shows the state of the drive system 100B when the tray 80k is in the storage position.

[0389] As shown in FIG. 26, the drive system 100B of the tray 80k according to the second embodiment includes a motor M2 as a drive source and a drive transmission mechanism 101B that transmits the driving force of the motor M2 to the tray 80k. The drive transmission mechanism 101B of the present embodiment includes a drive rack input gear 64L, drive racks 15L and 15R, idler gears 38a, 38b, 38c, and 38d, pinion gears 94kL and 94kR, and rack portions 83kL and 83kR.

[0390] The idler gears 38a to 38d are provided in the apparatus main body 1A. Therefore, it can be said that the drive device 98 of the apparatus main body 1A includes the idler gears 38a to 38d as part of the transmission unit 15t (FIG. 2).

[0391] The drive rack 15L has three rack portions that mesh with the drive rack input gear 64L, the idler gear 38a, and the pinion gear 94kL, respectively. The drive rack 15R has two rack portions that mesh with the idler gear 38d and the pinion gear 94kR, respectively.

[0392] The idler gears 38a, 38b, 38c, and 38d are an example of a gear train including a plurality of gears (here, four gears). The idler gears 38a to 38d are arranged in this order in a state where adjacent idler gears mesh with each other. That is, the idler gears 38a to 38d constitute a gear train that connects the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R. The idler gears 38a to 38d are arranged side by side in the rotational axis direction (Y direction) of the rotary body 90. The left drive rack 15L and the right drive rack 15R are connected (connected) to be interlocked with each other via the idler gears 38a to 38d.

[0393] The operation of the drive system 100B when moving the tray 80k from the storage position to the extraction position will be described. Receiving the driving force from the motor M2 that rotates in the forward rotation direction, the drive rack input gear 64L rotates counterclockwise in the figure, and the drive rack 15L is slid upward (+Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. Due to the sliding movement of the drive rack 15L, the idler gear 38a is rotated clockwise in the figure. The driving force of the idler gear 38a is transmitted in the order of the idler gears 38b, 38c, 38d, and the drive rack 15R is slid upward (+Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. During the process of the drive racks 15L and 15R moving upward (+Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A, the pinion gears 94kL and 94kR are rotated respectively. Then, by inputting the driving force from the pinion gears 94kL and 94kR to the rack portions 83kL and 83kR, the tray 80k moves toward the extraction position.

[0394] Note that the operation of the drive system 100B when moving the tray 80k from the extraction position to the storage position is the same as the case of moving the tray 80k from the storage position to the extraction position, except that the rotation direction or slide direction of each element of the drive system 100B is reversed.

[0395] Thus, also in this embodiment, during the drawing-in / drawing-out operation of the tray 80k, the driving force of the motor M2 is transmitted to each of the left and right rack portions 83kL and 83kR of the tray 80k by the drive transmission mechanism 101B. That is, in the tray drawing-out operation, the driving force in the drawing-out direction Dk1 is transmitted to each of the two rack portions 83kL and 83kR, and in the tray drawing-in operation, the driving force in the drawing-in direction Dk2 is transmitted to each of the two rack portions 83kL and 83kR. Therefore, compared with the configuration in which the driving force is transmitted only to one rack portion of the tray 80k during the drawing-in / drawing-out operation of the tray 80k, the inclination of the tray 80k is less likely to occur, and a more stable drawing-in / drawing-out operation can be performed.

[0396] The idler gears 38a to 38d (gear train) of this embodiment can transmit the force received from the left drive rack 15L to the right drive rack 15R and transmit the force received from the right drive rack 15R to the left drive rack 15L. The drive transmission mechanism 101B of this embodiment including the idler gears 38a to 38d transmits the force received from the left rack portion 83kL (first force receiving portion) of the tray 80k to the right rack portion 83kR (second force receiving portion), and transmits the force received from the right rack portion 83kR of the tray 80k to the left rack portion 83kL. Therefore, similar to Embodiment 1, the inclination of the tray 80k is less likely to occur, and smooth operability when the user performs an operation of pushing in the tray 80k can be realized.

[0397] In this embodiment, a gear train composed of four idler gears 38a to 38d is exemplified as a configuration for connecting the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R. However, the number of gears constituting the gear train does not have to be four. In order for the drive racks 15L and 15R to move in the same direction in conjunction with each other, the number of gears in the gear train is preferably an even number.

[0398] <<Embodiment 3>> As Embodiment 3, a configuration (left-right connection configuration) for connecting the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R will be described in a form different from Embodiments 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R are connected using a rotating shaft.

[0399] Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, elements with the same reference numerals as those in Embodiment 1 have substantially the same configuration and operation as those described in Embodiment 1, and differences from Embodiment 1 will be mainly described. Hereinafter, a drive system for moving the tray 80k with respect to the rotary body 90 will be described. The drive systems for moving the trays 80y to 80c are substantially the same as the drive system described below, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

[0400] FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing the drive system 100C according to this embodiment. FIG. 27 shows the state of the drive system 100C when the tray 80k is in the storage position.

[0401] As shown in FIG. 27, the drive system 100C of the tray 80k according to the third embodiment includes a motor M2 as a drive source and a drive transmission mechanism 101C that transmits the driving force of the motor M2 to the tray 80k. The drive transmission mechanism 101C of the present embodiment includes a drive rack input gear 64L, drive racks 15L and 15R, a rotating shaft 39, rotating shaft gears 391L and 391R, pinion gears 94kL and 94kR, and rack portions 83kL and 83kR.

[0402] The idler gears 38a to 38d are provided on the apparatus main body 1A. Therefore, it can be said that the drive device 98 of the apparatus main body 1A includes the rotating shaft 39 and the rotating shaft gears 391L and 391R as a part of the transmission unit 15t (FIG. 2).

[0403] The drive rack 15L has two rack portions that mesh with the drive rack input gear 64L and the rotating shaft gear 391L, respectively. The rack portion of the drive rack 15L that meshes with the rotating shaft gear 391L can also mesh with the pinion gear 94kL. Further, the drive rack 15R has a rack portion that meshes with the rotating shaft gear 391R. This rack portion can also mesh with the pinion gear 94kR.

[0404] The rotating shaft 39 extends in the rotational axis direction (Y direction) of the rotary body 90. The rotating shaft 39 is rotatable around the rotational axis extending in the Y direction. The rotating shaft gears 391L and 391R are provided at both ends of the rotating shaft 39 and rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 39.

[0405] The left drive rack 15L and the right drive rack 15R are connected (connected) to be interlocked with each other via the rotating shaft 39. Specifically, the left drive rack 15L is connected to the right drive rack 15R via the rotating shaft gear 391L, the rotating shaft 39, and the rotating shaft gear 391R.

[0406] The operation of the drive system 100C when moving the tray 80k from the storage position to the extraction position will be described. Receiving the driving force from the motor M2 that rotates in the forward rotation direction, the drive rack input gear 64L rotates counterclockwise in the figure, and the drive rack 15L is slid upward (+Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. Due to the sliding movement of the drive rack 15L, the rotary shaft gear 391L is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure. By rotating the rotary shaft 39 and the rotary shaft gear 391R together with the rotary shaft gear 391L, the drive rack 15R is slid upward (+Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. The drive racks 15L and 15R rotate the respective pinion gears 94kL and 94kR in the process of moving upward (+Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. Then, by inputting the driving force from the pinion gears 94kL and 94kR to the rack portions 83kL and 83kR, the tray 80k moves toward the extraction position.

[0407] Note that the operation of the drive system 100C when moving the tray 80k from the extraction position to the storage position is the same as the case of moving the tray 80k from the storage position to the extraction position, except that the rotation direction or slide direction of each element of the drive system 100C is reversed.

[0408] Thus, also in this embodiment, when the tray 80k is pulled out / inserted, the driving force of the motor M2 is transmitted to each of the left and right rack portions 83kL and 83kR of the tray 80k by the drive transmission mechanism 101C. That is, in the tray pull-out operation, the driving force in the pull-out direction Dk1 is transmitted to each of the two rack portions 83kL and 83kR, and in the tray insertion operation, the driving force in the insertion direction Dk2 is transmitted to each of the two rack portions 83kL and 83kR. Therefore, compared with the configuration in which the driving force is transmitted to only one rack portion of the tray 80k during the pull-out / insertion operation of the tray 80k, the inclination of the tray 80k is less likely to occur, and a more stable pull-out / insertion operation can be performed.

[0409] The rotating shaft 39 of this embodiment can transmit the force received from the left drive rack 15L to the right drive rack 15R, and can also transmit the force received from the right drive rack 15R to the left drive rack 15L. The drive transmission mechanism 101C of this embodiment including the rotating shaft 39 transmits the force received from the left rack portion 83kL (the first force receiving portion) of the tray 80k to the right rack portion 83kR (the second force receiving portion), and transmits the force received from the right rack portion 83kR of the tray 80k to the left rack portion 83kL. Therefore, similar to Embodiment 1, the inclination of the tray 80k is less likely to occur, and smooth operability when the user performs an operation of pushing in the tray 80k can be realized.

[0410] <<Embodiment 4>> As Embodiment 4, a configuration (left-right connection configuration) for connecting the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R, which is different from those of Embodiments 1 to 3, will be described. In this embodiment, the left and right drive racks 15L and 15R are connected using a gear train provided on the rotary body 90.

[0411] Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, elements denoted by the same reference numerals as those in Embodiment 1 have substantially the same configuration and operation as those described in Embodiment 1, and mainly the differences from Embodiment 1 will be described. Hereinafter, a drive system for moving the tray 80k relative to the rotary body 90 will be described. Since the drive systems for moving the trays 80y to 80c are substantially the same as the drive system to be described below, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0412] FIGS. 28(a) and (b) are schematic views showing the drive system 100D according to this embodiment as viewed from above (+Z direction). FIG. 28(a) shows the state of the drive system 100D when the tray 80k is in the storage position. FIG. 28(b) shows the state of the drive system 100D when the tray 80k is in the take-out position.

[0413] As shown in FIGS. 28(a) and (b), the drive system 100D of the tray 80k according to the fourth embodiment includes a motor M2 as a drive source and a drive transmission mechanism 101D that transmits the driving force of the motor M2 to the tray 80k. The drive transmission mechanism 101D of the present embodiment includes a drive rack input gear 64L, a drive rack 15L, and pinion gears 94kL, idler gears 38e, 38f, 38g, 38h, 38i, and 38j. Further, on the tray 80k, a rack portion 83kL (first rack portion) and second rack portions 84kR and 84kL are provided.

[0414] The rack portion 83kL is an example of a first force receiving portion where the tray 80k as a moving member receives a driving force from the drive transmission mechanism 101. The second rack portion 83kR on the right side is an example of a second force receiving portion where the tray 80k as a moving member receives a driving force from the drive transmission mechanism 101.

[0415] The idler gears 38e, 38f, 38g, 38h, 38i, and 38j are a gear train including a plurality of gears (here, six). The idler gears 38e to 38j are provided on the rotary body 90. More specifically, the idler gears 38e to 38j are rotatably supported by a frame body (rotary frame body 90f) of the rotary body 90 that movably supports the tray 80k. Therefore, it can be said that the moving device 85k of the rotary body 90 includes the idler gears 38e to 38j as a mechanism for connecting the left and right second rack portions 84kL and 84kR of the tray 80k.

[0416] The idler gears 38e, 38f, 38g, 38h, 38i, and 38j are arranged side by side in the Y direction and are arranged in this order toward the right direction (+Y direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. The adjacent gears of the idler gears 38e to 38j are meshed with each other.

[0417] The second rack portions 84kL and 84kR are provided on the tray 80k together with the rack portion 83kL. In a state where it is viewed from the front (-X direction) of the apparatus main body 1A, the protruding direction of the teeth of the rack portion 83kL and the protruding direction (+Y direction) of the second rack portion 84kL are orthogonal. The second rack portion 84kL on the left side is engaged with the idler gear 38e. The second rack portion 84kR on the right side is engaged with the idler gear 38j.

[0418] The operation of the drive system 100D when moving the tray 80k from the storage position (Fig. 28(a)) to the take-out position (Fig. 28(b)) will be described. Receiving the driving force from the motor M2 that rotates in the forward rotation direction, the drive rack input gear 64L rotates, and the drive rack 15L is slid upward (+Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. The drive rack 15L rotates the pinion gear 94kL in the process of moving upward (+Z direction) of the apparatus main body 1A. Then, the driving force is input from the pinion gear 94kL to the rack portion 83kL, and the rack portion 83kL starts to move in the drawing direction Dk1.

[0419] Here, with the movement of the rack portion 83kL in the drawing direction Dk1, the second rack portion 84kL rotates the idler gear 38 counterclockwise in the figure. The rotation of the idler gear 38e is transmitted in the order of the idler gears 38f, 38g, 38h, 38i, 38j, and the driving force is input from the idler gear 38j to the second rack portion 84kR, and the second rack portion 84kR starts to move in the drawing direction Dk1. That is, the tray 80k receives the driving force in the drawing direction Dk1 at the rack portion 83kL provided on one end side in the Y direction and the second rack portion 84kR provided on the other end side in the Y direction, and moves toward the take-out position.

[0420] Note that the operation of the drive system 100D when moving the tray 80k from the take-out position to the storage position is the same as the case of moving the tray 80k from the storage position to the take-out position, except that the rotation direction or slide direction of each element of the drive system 100D is reversed.

[0421] Thus, also in this embodiment, when the tray 80k is pulled out / inserted, the driving force of the motor M2 is transmitted to each of the rack portion 83kL on the left side and the second rack portion 84kR on the right side of the tray 80k by the drive transmission mechanism 101D. That is, in the tray pulling-out operation, the driving force in the pulling-out direction Dk1 is transmitted to each of the two rack portions 83kL and 84kR, and in the tray inserting operation, the driving force in the inserting direction Dk2 is transmitted to each of the two rack portions 83kL and 84kR. Therefore, compared with the configuration in which the driving force is transmitted to only one rack portion of the tray 80k when the tray 80k is pulled out / inserted, the inclination of the tray 80k is less likely to occur, and a more stable pulling-out / inserting operation can be performed.

[0422] The idler gears 38e to 38j of this embodiment can transmit the force received from the second rack portion 84kL on the left side to the second rack portion 84kR on the right side, and transmit the force received from the second rack portion 84kR on the right side to the second rack portion 83kL on the left side. That is, the drive transmission mechanism 101D transmits the force received from the rack portion 83kL (first force receiving portion) on the left side of the tray 80k to the second rack portion 84kR (second force receiving portion) on the right side, and transmits the force received from the second rack portion 84kR on the right side of the tray 80k to the rack portion 83kL on the left side. Therefore, similar to Embodiment 1, the inclination of the tray 80k is less likely to occur, and smooth operability when the user performs an operation of pushing in the tray 80k can be realized.

[0423] In this embodiment, a gear train composed of six idler gears 38e to 38j is exemplified as a configuration for connecting the second rack portions 84kL and 84kR on the left and right sides, but the number of gears in the gear train does not have to be six. In order for the second rack portions 84kL and 84kR to move in the same direction in conjunction with each other, the number of gears in the gear train is preferably an even number. Further, the configuration for connecting the second rack portions 84kL and 84kR on the left and right sides is not limited to a gear train. For example, similar to Embodiment 1, the right rack portion 83kR and the pinion gear 94kR are added, and the left and right pinion gears 94kL and 94kR are fixed to a rotating shaft extending in the Y direction so that the left and right pinion gears 94kL and 94kR rotate integrally.

[0424] Example 5 As Example 5, a mechanism for detecting the pushing-in of the tray will be described in a form different from that of Example 1. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, elements with the same reference numerals as those in Example 1 have substantially the same configuration and operation as those described in Example 1, and mainly the differences from Example 1 will be described.

[0425] In Example 1, by using the idle gear 63, the user could push the tray 80k from the take-out position Q3 to the predetermined position Q2 with a light pushing force. In this example, a configuration using a gear unit (drive release gear 36) that releases the drive transmission after the tray 80k is pulled out to the take-out position Q3 will be described. The drive release gear 36 can be arranged in place of the idle gear 63 in Example 1 (Fig. 31).

[0426] Figs. 29(a, b) are exploded views of the drive release gear 36 according to Example 5. Fig. 29(a) is a perspective view of the drive release gear 36 seen from one side in the direction along the rotation axis 36C of the drive release gear 36. Fig. 29(b) is a perspective view of the drive release gear 36 seen from the other side in the direction along the rotation axis 36C.

[0427] As shown in Figs. 29(a, b), the drive release gear 36 is a gear unit including an input gear 361, an output gear 362, an arm 363, and a biasing member 364. The input gear 361 and the output gear 362 are arranged side by side in the direction of the rotation axis 36C. Also, the input gear 361 and the output gear 362 are each rotatable around the rotation axis 36C.

[0428] The input gear 361 has a gear portion (tooth portion) that meshes with the stepped gear 62 (Fig. 13(a)), and the driving force of the motor M2 is input to the input gear 361. The output gear 362 has a gear portion (tooth portion) that meshes with the drive rack input gear 64L and the stepped gear 65L (Fig. 13(a)), and outputs a driving force toward the tray 80k.

[0429] The drive release gear 36 is an example of a transmission unit configured to transmit the driving force of the motor M2 (driving source) to the tray 80k (support member). The input gear 361 is an example of the input part of the transmission unit. The output gear 362 and the arm 363 are examples of the output part of the transmission unit.

[0430] Hereinafter, when the motor M2 rotates in the forward rotation direction, the rotation direction of the input gear 361 is referred to as the forward rotation direction R1 of the drive release gear 36. When the motor M2 rotates in the reverse rotation direction, the rotation direction of the input gear 361 is referred to as the reverse rotation direction R2 of the drive release gear 36.

[0431] As shown in Fig. 29(a), a forward rotation contact surface 361a, a reverse rotation contact surface 361b, an outer peripheral surface 361c, and an opening 361d are formed on the input gear 361. Also, a cylindrical shaft portion 361e is formed at the central portion of the input gear 361. As shown in Fig. 29(b), an arm rotation shaft 362a, a reverse rotation contacted surface 362b, an outer peripheral portion 362c, an opening 362d, and a spring seat 362f are formed on the output gear 362. Also, a hole 362e is formed at the central portion of the output gear 362.

[0432] A rotation center hole 363a, a forward rotation contacted surface 363b, a spring boss 363c, an input side boss 363d, and an output side boss 363e are formed on the arm 363. The arm 363 is rotatably supported with respect to the output gear 362 by the rotation center hole 363a engaging with the arm rotation shaft 362a of the output gear 362. Also, the arm 363 receives a biasing force from the biasing member 364 when the spring boss 363c engages with one end portion of the biasing member 364. The other end portion of the biasing member 364 is supported by the spring seat 362f of the output gear 362. That is, the arm 363 receives a biasing force in the counterclockwise direction in the figure in Fig. 29(b) from the biasing member 364 with the rotation center hole 363a as the rotation center.

[0433] Further, the shaft portion 361e of the input gear 361 engages with the hole 362e of the output gear 362, so that the input gear 361 and the output gear 362 are connected to be rotatable around a common rotation axis 36C and relatively rotatable. In a state where the shaft portion 361e of the input gear 361 engages with the hole 362e of the output gear 362, the input-side boss 363d of the arm 363 penetrates the opening 361d of the input gear 361, and the output-side boss 363e penetrates the opening 362d of the output gear 362. Further, the input gear 361 is rotatably supported by fitting the shaft portion 361e into a support shaft provided on the upper holding member 33L (FIG. 31).

[0434] The arm 363 can rotate between an engaged position and a disengaged position around the arm rotation axis 362a of the output gear 362. The engaged position is a position where the forward rotation contact surface 363b (first engaged portion) of the arm 363 engages with the forward rotation contact surface 361a (first engaging portion) of the input gear 361 (FIG. 30(a)). The disengaged position is a position where the forward rotation contact surface 363b of the arm 363 disengages (separates) from the forward rotation contact surface 361a of the input gear 361 (FIG. 30(b)). The biasing member 364 biases the arm 363 in a direction from the disengaged position toward the engaged position. That is, in the present embodiment, the forward rotation contact surface 363b (first engaged portion) is movable with respect to the output gear 362 (gear portion).

[0435] The opening 361d of the input gear 361 with which the input-side boss 363d of the arm 363 engages and the opening 362d of the output gear 362 with which the output-side boss 363e of the arm 363 engages are formed in a predetermined direction so as to allow a change in the posture of the arm 363. Further, the opening 361d of the input gear 361 is formed along an arc centered on the rotation axis 36C. Since the opening 361d is formed along the arc, the input-side boss 363d of the arm 363 supported by the output gear 362 slides inside the opening 361d, allowing relative rotation between the input gear 361 and the output gear 362.

[0436] Here, the drive release gear 36 is configured such that the state of drive transmission between the input gear 361 and the output gear 362 is switched between a transmission state and a cutoff state by the movement of the arm 363. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 30(a) and 30(b), the switching of the drive transmission state of the drive release gear 36 will be described.

[0437] FIG. 30(a) shows the transmission state of the drive release gear 36. In the transmission state of the drive release gear 36, the arm 363 is positioned in the engaged posture under the biasing force of the biasing member 364. When the input gear 361 is rotationally driven in the forward rotation direction R1 in the transmission state of the drive release gear 36, the forward rotation contact surface 361a of the input gear 361 presses the forward rotation contact surface 363b of the arm 363 in the forward rotation direction R1. The pressing force received by the arm 363 is transmitted to the output gear 362 via the arm rotation shaft 362a. For this reason, the output gear 362 rotates integrally with the input gear 361 in the forward rotation direction R1.

[0438] Also, in the transmission state of the drive release gear 36, the reverse rotation contact surface 361b (second engaging portion) of the input gear 361 is engaged with the reverse rotation contact surface 362b (second engaged portion) of the output gear 362. Therefore, when the input gear 361 is rotationally driven in the reverse rotation direction R2, the reverse rotation contact surface 361b presses the reverse rotation contact surface 362b in the reverse rotation direction R2. For this reason, the output gear 362 rotates integrally with the input gear 361 in the reverse rotation direction R2.

[0439] That is, when the drive release gear 36 is in the transmission state, a driving force is transmitted to the output gear 362 both when a driving force in the forward rotation direction R1 is input to the input gear 361 and when a driving force in the reverse rotation direction R2 is input to the input gear 361.

[0440] Figure 30(b) shows the cut-off state of the drive release gear 36. When the drive release gear 36 rotates in the forward rotation direction R1 from the state of Figure 30(a) to a predetermined rotation angle, the arm 363 abuts against an abutting portion (the following rib 371) provided separately from the drive release gear 36 and is moved to the release position. That is, the output-side boss 363e of the arm 363 abuts against the rib 371 and receives a downward force from the rib 371 in the figure, so that the arm 363 rotates counterclockwise in the figure against the biasing force of the biasing member 364. As a result, the arm 363 moves from the engaged position to the release position. That is, when the drive release gear 36 rotates in the forward rotation direction R1 to a predetermined rotation angle, it is configured to automatically switch from the transmission state to the cut-off state.

[0441] When the drive release gear 36 is in the cut-off state, the forward rotation abutting surface 361a of the input gear 361 does not abut against the forward rotation abutting surface 363b of the arm 363. Also, for this reason, the rotation of the input gear 361 in the forward rotation direction R1 is not transmitted to the output gear 362. The input gear 361 can idle relative to the output gear 362 up to a predetermined angle θ6.

[0442] As shown in Figure 31, the rib 371 as the abutting portion of this embodiment is provided on the gear cover 37. The gear cover 37 is a cover member that covers at least a part of the drive release gear 36 when viewed in the X direction and is fixed to the upper holding member 33L. The rib 371 (abutting portion) may be provided on a member other than the gear cover 37. For example, a configuration in which the rib 371 (abutting portion) is provided on the upper holding member 33L may be adopted. Also, a configuration in which the rib 371 (abutting portion) abuts against the input-side boss 363d instead of the output-side boss 363e of the arm 363 may be adopted.

[0443] As described above, when the arm 363 changes its posture between the engaged posture and the released posture, the drive release gear 36 switches between the transmission state and the cut-off state.

[0444] The following describes the pushing-in detection mechanism of the tray 80k using the drive release gear 36, along the sequence of operations from when the tray 80k is pulled out until it is automatically pushed in by the user. Note that the operations of trays 80y to 80k are substantially the same as those of the tray 80k, so the description thereof is omitted.

[0445] Figs. 32(a - e) are diagrams for explaining the pushing-in detection mechanism of the tray 80k. Each of the diagrams on the right side of Figs. 32(a - e) represents the position of the tray 80k. Each of the diagrams on the left side of Figs. 32(a - e) shows the states of the drive release gear 36 and the tray pull-out sensor 135 corresponding to the diagrams on the right side.

[0446] As shown in Figs. 32(a - e), the tray pull-out sensor 135 is arranged to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface 361c of the input gear 361 and the outer peripheral portion 362c of the output gear 362. The tray pull-out sensor 135 is configured such that the detection signal switches between the state of being in contact with the outer peripheral surface 361c of the input gear 361 or the outer peripheral portion 362c of the output gear 362 and the state of not being in contact with either the outer peripheral surface 361c or the outer peripheral portion 362c.

[0447] Fig. 32(a) shows the states of the drive release gear 36 and the tray pull-out sensor 135 when the tray 80k is at the storage position Q1. When the tray 80k is at the storage position Q1, the tray pull-out sensor 135 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 361c of the input gear 361. Also, the drive release gear 36 is in the transmission state.

[0448] When the user instructs the tray pull-out operation by button operation on the operation panel or the like, the control unit 30 rotates the motor M2 in the forward rotation direction. Then, the driving force of the motor M2 is transmitted to the tray 80k, causing the tray 80k to move in the pull-out direction Dk1. At this time, the input gear 361 of the drive release gear 36 rotates in the forward rotation direction R1 under the driving force from the motor M2. Also, the rotation of the input gear 361 is transmitted to the output gear 362 via the arm 363 at the engagement position, and the output gear 362 also rotates in the forward rotation direction R1.

[0449] Figure 32(b) shows the states of the drive release gear 36 and the tray pull-out sensor 135 when the tray 80k is pulled out to a predetermined position Q2 between the storage position and the take-out position. When the tray 80k reaches the predetermined position Q2, the tray pull-out sensor 135 switches from a state facing the outer peripheral portion 362c of the output gear 362 to a state facing neither the outer peripheral surface 361c of the input gear 361 nor the outer peripheral portion 362c of the output gear 362. The control unit 30 detects that the tray 80k has reached the predetermined position Q2 based on the change in the detection signal of the tray pull-out sensor 135.

[0450] After the tray 80k reaches the predetermined position Q2, the control unit 30 continues to rotate the motor M2 forward for a further predetermined time and then stops the motor M2. As a result, as shown in Figure 32(c), the tray 80k moves to the take-out position Q3. Since the arm 363 is in the engaged position until immediately before the tray 80k reaches the take-out position Q3, the input gear 361 rotates in the forward rotation direction R1 together with the output gear 362.

[0451] Figure 32(c) shows the states of the drive release gear 36 and the tray pull-out sensor 135 when the tray 80k is pulled out to the take-out position Q3. The input gear 361 (and the output gear 362) rotates by an angle θ7 while the tray 80k moves from the predetermined position Q2 to the take-out position Q3. Also, substantially simultaneously with the tray 80k reaching the take-out position Q3, the output-side boss 363e of the arm 363 abuts against a rib 371 provided on the gear cover 37. The arm 363 moves from the engaged position to the disengaged position by receiving a force from the rib 371. That is, the drive release gear 36 becomes in the blocked state, and the drive transmission from the input gear 361 to the output gear 362 is released. In other words, after the tray 80k (support member) moves from the storage position (first position) to the take-out position (second position), the motor M2 (drive source) further rotates in the forward rotation direction (first direction), so that the engagement between the forward rotation abutting surface 361a (first engaging portion) and the forward rotation abutted surface 363b (first abutted engaging portion) is released. Therefore, the rotation of the output gear 362 stops, and the tray 80k stops at the take-out position Q3.

[0452] Even after the tray 80k has been pulled out to the extraction position Q3, the control unit 30 rotates the motor M2 in the forward rotation direction for a predetermined time and then stops the motor M2. As a result, as shown in FIG. 25(d), the input gear 361 rotates by an angle θ8 in the forward rotation direction R1 while the output gear 362 and the tray 80k remain stopped.

[0453] FIG. 32(d) shows the states of the drive release gear 36 and the tray extraction sensor 135 when the control unit 30 stops driving the motor M2 and the tray extraction operation is completed. At this time, the arm 363 is in the disengaged position. That is, the drive release gear 36 is in the blocked state. Further, the output gear 362 has a free rotation section of an angle θ9 (= θ6 - θ8) with respect to the input gear 361. That is, at the time when the tray extraction operation is completed, the output gear 362 is in a state where it can freely rotate in the reverse rotation direction R2 by an angle θ9 with respect to the input gear 361.

[0454] Here, as shown in FIG. 32(e), consider the case where the user pushes the tray 80k in the insertion direction Dk2. In this case, the pushing force with which the user pushes in the tray 80k is transmitted to the output gear 362 by tracing the drive transmission path from the motor M2 to the tray 80k in the reverse direction. As a result, the output gear 362 rotates in the reverse rotation direction R2.

[0455] As described above, in the state after the completion of the tray extraction operation, the output gear 362 can freely rotate in the reverse rotation direction R2 by an angle θ9 with respect to the input gear 361. That is, the input gear 361 and the drive transmission elements on the upstream side thereof (on the motor M2 side) do not interlock with the pushing in of the tray 80k. In other words, the drive transmission path from the tray 80k to the motor M2 is blocked by the drive release gear 36. Therefore, the user can push in the tray 80k with a light pushing force.

[0456] Figure 32(e) shows the states of the drive release gear 36 and the tray ejection sensor 135 when the tray 80k is pushed in by the user to the predetermined position Q2. When the tray 80k is pushed in to the predetermined position Q2, the tray ejection sensor 135 comes into contact with the outer peripheral portion 362c of the output gear 362. The control unit 30 detects that the tray 80k has been pushed in to the predetermined position Q2 based on the change in the detection signal of the tray ejection sensor 135.

[0457] Here, while the tray 80k moves from the ejection position Q3 to the predetermined position Q2, the output gear 362 rotates by an angle θ7 in the reverse rotation direction. This angle is equal to the rotation angle of the input gear 361 with respect to the output gear 362 (Figure 32(b) → Figure 32(c)) while moving the tray 80k from the predetermined position Q2 to the ejection position Q3 in the tray ejection operation. It is preferable that the angle θ7 is smaller than the angle θ9 (θ7 < θ9). Thereby, at least until the tray 80k reaches the predetermined position Q2, the user can push in the tray 80k with a light pushing force.

[0458] When detecting the pushing in of the tray 80k, the control unit 30 rotates the motor M2 in the reverse rotation direction to start the tray insertion operation. Then, the input gear 361 rotates in the reverse rotation direction R2 (Figure 32(e)), and the reverse contact surface 361b of the input gear 361 comes into contact with the reverse contacted surface 362b of the output gear 362. Thereby, the output gear 362 starts to rotate in the reverse rotation direction R2 together with the input gear 361. When the output gear 362 rotates in the reverse rotation direction R2, the output side boss 363e of the arm 363 separates from the rib 371, and the arm 363 moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position. Then, when detecting that the tray 80k has reached the storage position Q1 based on the detection result of the tray insertion sensor 134 (Figure 22(a)), the control unit 30 stops the motor M2 to complete the tray insertion operation.

[0459] As described above, the control unit 30 is configured to automatically execute the tray insertion operation when detecting that the tray 80k has been pushed in from the ejection position Q3 to the predetermined position Q2. Thereby, a more intuitive operation becomes possible, and the operability can be improved.

[0460] Also, in this embodiment, a drive release gear 36 is arranged in a drive transmission mechanism 101 that transmits a driving force from a motor M2 to a tray 80k, and is configured such that the drive release gear 36 is in an off state when a user pushes the tray 80k in the insertion direction Dk2. Thereby, the user can push the tray 80k from the take-out position Q3 to a predetermined position Q2 with a light pushing force, and the operability can be further improved.

[0461] <<Embodiment 6>> Embodiment 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 34. In Embodiments 1 to 5, a configuration in which a rotary main body 90 includes four developing units 50y to 50k and can form a color image using four colors of toner was described. In this embodiment, a configuration in which a monochrome image can be formed using one color of toner will be described. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, elements denoted by the same reference numerals as those in Embodiments 1 to 5 have substantially the same configuration and operation as those described in Embodiments 1 to 5, and differences from Embodiments 1 to 5 will be mainly described.

[0462] As shown in FIG. 34, an image forming apparatus 501 has a toner cartridge 570 that is detachable from an apparatus main body 1A. The apparatus main body 1A also has a developing device (developing unit) 590.

[0463] The developing device 590 is an example of a developing means or a developing unit that develops (visualizes) an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum 2 into a toner image using toner. The developing device 590 of this embodiment develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 using black toner.

[0464] The developing device 590 includes a developing roller 51, a supply roller 52, and a developing blade. A toner cartridge 570 is attached to the developing device 590. Inside the toner cartridge 570, black toner for replenishing the developing device 590 is stored.

[0465] The toner cartridge 570 has a toner frame 571. The toner frame 571 includes a toner storage portion 571a for storing toner and a discharge opening 571b communicating with the toner storage portion 571a.

[0466] The developing device 590 has a developing frame (storage frame) 553 provided with a developing-side storage portion 553a for storing toner. The developing frame 553 also includes a receiving opening 553b communicating with the developing-side storage portion (toner supply chamber) 553a.

[0467] The toner cartridge 570 is detachable from the developing device 590 through an opening 16a provided in the frame 16 of the apparatus main body 1A. More specifically, the toner cartridge 570 is movable relative to the developing frame 553 through the opening 16a between a mounting position and a retracted position retracted from the mounting position. When the toner cartridge 570 is in the mounting position relative to the developing frame 553, the discharge opening 571b faces the receiving opening 553b. That is, the toner storage portion 571a of the toner cartridge 570 and the developing-side storage portion 553a of the developing device 590 communicate with each other through the discharge opening 571b and the receiving opening 553b. When toner is replenished from the toner cartridge 570 to the developing device 590, at least a part of the receiving opening 553b is positioned below at least a part of the discharge opening 571b.

[0468] Then, the toner stored in the toner storage portion 571a is discharged from the discharge opening 571b, and the toner discharged from the discharge opening 571b is stored in the developing-side storage portion 553a through the receiving opening 553b. The toner stored in the developing-side storage portion 553a is supplied to the developing roller 51 by the supply roller 52. Note that the developing-side storage portion 553a may be provided with a toner conveyance member for conveying toner toward the supply roller 52.

[0469] The function of the toner cartridge 570 is substantially the same as the function of the toner cartridge 70 in Embodiments 1 to 5. The function of the developing device 590 is substantially the same as the function of one of the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k in Embodiments 1 to 5.

[0470] On the other hand, the apparatus main body 1A has a transfer roller 512. The transfer roller 512 is an example of a transfer means or a transfer unit that transfers an image from the photosensitive drum 2 to the sheet S. The pair of conveyance rollers 320 conveys the sheet S to a transfer portion which is a nip portion between the photosensitive drum 2 and the transfer roller 512. The image on the photosensitive drum 2 is transferred onto the surface of the conveyed sheet S.

[0471] The apparatus main body 1A has a moving device configured to move the toner cartridge 570 from a mounting position to a retracted position with respect to the developing device 590 (more specifically, with respect to the developing frame 553 of the developing device 590). As this moving device, the moving devices shown in Embodiments 1 to 5 and their modified examples can be used. For example, a driving system 100 including a motor M2 and a driving transmission mechanism 101 of Embodiment 1 that transmits the driving force of the motor M2 to the tray 80 (moving member, supporting member), and the tray 80 can be used.

[0472] In this case, among the moving devices of Embodiments 1 to 5, the portion provided in the rotary main body 90 may be provided in the developing device 590. Also, the replacement posture and the developing posture of the developing device 590 may be the same or different. For example, the developing device 590 is movable between a contact position where the developing roller 51 contacts the photosensitive drum 2 and a separation position where the developing roller 51 is separated from the photosensitive drum 2, and the developing device 590 may be in the separation position in a state where the developing device 590 is in the replacement posture.

[0473] For example, the developing device 590 may have the tray 80 and a configuration for moving the tray 80. The configuration for moving the tray 80 can be the same as those shown in Embodiments 1 to 5 and their modified examples. Also, the developing device 590 may have the rotating body 494a and the driven roller 494b shown in a modified example of Embodiment 1.

[0474] Also in this embodiment, when the toner cartridge 570 is in the retracted position, it is preferable that at least a part of the toner cartridge 570 is outside the image forming apparatus 501 (outside the apparatus main body 1A). That is, when the toner cartridge 570 is in the retracted position, at least a part of the toner cartridge 570 is located outside the apparatus main body 1A rather than at the appearance position. In other words, at least a part of the toner cartridge 570 is located in a space that would be outside the apparatus main body 1A if the door 14 were in the closed position. And regarding the retraction direction of the toner cartridge 570, at least a part of the toner cartridge 570 is located on the downstream side of the appearance position.

[0475] Also, when the side surface 16b provided with the opening 16a is taken as the front of the apparatus main body 1A, when the toner cartridge 570 is in the retracted position, at least a part of the toner cartridge 570 protrudes to the front side rather than the appearance surface on the front side of the apparatus main body 1A.

[0476] Also in this embodiment, when the toner cartridge 570 is in the retracted position, it is preferable that more than half of the length of the toner cartridge 570 in the retraction direction is outside the apparatus.

[0477] As described above, in Examples 1 to 5 and their modified examples, the toner cartridge 70 was detachably attached to the rotary main body 90, but in this embodiment, the toner cartridge 570 is detachably attached to the developing device 590.

[0478] (Other Embodiments) In addition, in the above-described Examples 1 to 5, a configuration in which the rotary main body 90 includes four developing units 50y to 50k and is capable of forming a color image using four colors of toner has been described. However, the rotary main body 90 may include three or fewer developing units or five or more developing units. In these cases, the number and arrangement of the trays and toner cartridges can be appropriately changed according to the number of developing units. For example, in the above-described Examples 1 to 4, a configuration in which four toner cartridges 70y to 70k are detachable from the rotary main body 90 has been exemplified. However, the rotary main body 90 may be configured to have only one developing unit 50k and to mount only one toner cartridge 70k on the rotary main body 90. In this case, the rotary main body 90 can rotate around the rotation axis 90C in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 and alternately take a black replacement posture and a black developing posture.

[0479] In addition, in the above-described Examples 1 to 5, a configuration in which the rotary main body 90 includes four developing units 50y to 50k and is capable of forming a color image using four colors of toner has been described. However, the rotary main body 90 may have a plurality of developing units capable of performing image formation using toner of the same color. For example, the rotary main body 90 may be configured to have four black developing units 50k and to mount four toner cartridges 70k on the rotary main body 90.

[0480] The drive device 98 is capable of executing a first operation of driving the moving device 85 (85') so that the moving device 85 (85') moves the toner cartridge 70 from the mounting position to the retracted position. The drive device 98 is capable of executing a second operation of driving the moving device 85 (85') so that the moving device 85 (85') moves the toner cartridge 70 from the retracted position to the mounting position. In the above-described Examples 1 to 5 and their modified examples, the first operation is an operation in which the motor M2 of the drive device 98 outputs a driving force in the forward rotation direction, and the second operation is an operation in which the motor M2 of the drive device 98 outputs a driving force in the reverse rotation direction. In other words, the first operation is executed when the motor M2 outputs a driving force in the forward rotation direction, and the second operation is executed when the motor M2 outputs a driving force in the reverse rotation direction.

[0481] However, while the motor M2 outputs a driving force in one direction, the state of the transmission device of the drive device 98 may be changed so that the drive device 98 switches between the state of executing the first operation and the state of executing the second operation. For example, by changing the transmission path of the driving force by the transmission device, the drive device 98 may switch between the state of executing the first operation and the state of executing the second operation. In such a case, instead of driving the motor M2 in the forward rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction shown in the above-described Examples 1 to 5 and their modified examples, switching of the state of the transmission device is executed. As a result, each operation performed by driving the motor M2 in the forward rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction shown in Examples 1 to 5 and their modified examples is similarly executed.

[0482] (Other Embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0483] Summary of the Present Disclosure The present disclosure includes at least the following content. (Configuration 1) An image forming apparatus, a rotator that is rotatable and to which a cartridge is removably attached, the rotator being capable of taking an exchange posture that allows removal of the cartridge, a drive source, a transmission device, a moving device that moves the cartridge between a mounting position and a retracted position retracted from the mounting position with respect to the rotator by the driving force of the drive source transmitted from the transmission device, the moving device including a driven portion provided on the rotator, and the driven portion receiving the driving force from the transmission device in a state where the rotator takes the exchange posture, a lock mechanism that switches between a locked state that restricts rotation of the rotator and an unlocked state that allows rotation of the rotator, the lock mechanism being configured to take the locked state in a state where the rotator takes the exchange posture, An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising the above. (Configuration 2) The transmission device includes a drive member configured to engage with the driven portion, The drive member is in a non-engaged position away from the driven portion when the cartridge is positioned at the mounting position, and moves from the non-engaged position to engage with the driven portion so that the cartridge is moved from the mounting position toward the retracted position in a state where the rotator takes the exchange posture. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 1, characterized by the above. (Configuration 3) When the cartridge is moved from the mounting position toward the retracted position in a state where the rotator takes the exchange posture, the lock mechanism switches from the unlocked state to the locked state before the drive member engages with the driven portion. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 2, characterized by the above. (Configuration 4) The lock mechanism has a lock member that is movable between a lock position for restricting the rotation of the rotary member and an unlock position for allowing the rotation of the rotary member. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 2 or 3, characterized by the above. (Configuration 5) The lock member is configured to move in conjunction with the drive member. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 4, characterized by the above. (Configuration 6) The drive member is used as a first drive member. The transmission device includes a second drive member disposed at a position different from that of the first drive member in the rotational axis direction of the rotary member, and a transmission unit that transmits a force between the first drive member and the second drive member so that the first drive member and the second drive member are interlocked. The lock member is connected to the transmission unit and is configured to be interlocked with the first drive member and the second drive member via the transmission unit. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 5, characterized by the above. (Configuration 7) The transmission unit includes a rack member that reciprocates in a direction along the rotational axis direction of the rotary member. The lock member is connected to the rack member. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 6, characterized by the above. (Configuration 8) The lock member moves in a direction along the rotational axis direction of the rotary member. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 4 to 7, characterized by the above. (Configuration 9) The drive member is a rack member that reciprocates in a direction intersecting the rotational axis direction of the rotary member. The driven member is a pinion gear that meshes with the rack member. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 4 to 7, characterized by the above. (Configuration 10) The rotary member has an engaged portion. The lock member has an engaging portion configured to restrict the rotation of the rotary by engaging with the engaged portion. When the lock member is positioned at the locked position, the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion, and when the lock member is positioned at the unlocked position, the engaging portion disengages from the engaged portion. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 4 to 7, characterized by the above. (Configuration 11) The locking mechanism has a biasing member that biases the lock member in a direction from the unlocked position to the locked position, and a pressing portion that presses the lock member. When the pressing portion presses the lock member, the lock member is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position. When the pressing portion retracts from the lock member, the lock member is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 4 to 7, characterized by the above. (Configuration 12) The transmission device has a gear for transmitting the driving force of the drive source to the drive member. The pressing portion is provided on the gear. The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 11, characterized by the above. (Configuration 13) It further has a photosensitive drum. The rotary has a developing roller and a housing frame body having a housing portion for housing toner supplied to the developing roller. The cartridge houses toner supplied to the housing portion. The rotary can take a developing posture in which the developing roller faces the photosensitive drum and an exchanging posture. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 12, characterized by the above.

Explanation of Signs

[0484] 67…Lock member / 70, 70y, 70m, 70c, 70k…Cartridge (toner cartridge) / 85, 85y, 85m, 85c, 85k…Moving device / 90…Rotary (rotary body / 90L…Lock mechanism / M2…Drive source (motor)

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising a rotator that is rotatable and to which a cartridge is removably attached, the rotator being capable of assuming an exchange posture that allows removal of the cartridge; a drive source; a transmission device; a moving device that moves the cartridge between a mounting position and a retracted position retracted from the mounting position with respect to the rotator by a driving force of the drive source transmitted from the transmission device, the moving device including a driven part provided on the rotator, the driven part receiving the driving force from the transmission device when the rotator assumes the exchange posture; a locking mechanism that switches between a locked state that restricts rotation of the rotator and an unlocked state that allows rotation of the rotator, the locking mechanism being configured to assume the locked state when the rotator assumes the exchange posture; characterized by comprising the above.

2. The transmission device includes a drive member configured to engage with the driven part, the drive member being in a non-engaged position away from the driven part when the cartridge is located at the mounting position, and moving from the non-engaged position to engage with the driven part so that the cartridge is moved from the mounting position toward the retracted position when the rotator assumes the exchange posture. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The locking mechanism switches from the unlocked state to the locked state before the drive member engages with the driven part when the cartridge is moved from the mounting position toward the retracted position when the rotator assumes the exchange posture. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. The locking mechanism has a lock member movable between a lock position that restricts rotation of the rotator and an unlock position that allows rotation of the rotator. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

5. The lock member is configured to move in conjunction with the drive member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, characterized by the above.

6. Taking the drive member as a first drive member, The transmission device includes a second drive member disposed at a position different from that of the first drive member in the rotational axis direction of the rotary member, and a transmission unit that transmits a force between the first drive member and the second drive member so that the first drive member and the second drive member are interlocked with each other. The lock member is connected to the transmission unit and is configured to be interlocked with the first drive member and the second drive member via the transmission unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that.

7. The transmission unit includes a rack member that reciprocates in a direction along the rotational axis direction of the rotary member. The lock member is connected to the rack member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that.

8. The lock member moves in a direction along the rotational axis direction of the rotary member. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that.

9. The drive member is a rack member that reciprocates in a direction intersecting the rotational axis direction of the rotary member. The driven member is a pinion gear that meshes with the rack member. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that.

10. The rotary member has an engaged portion. The lock member has an engaging portion configured to restrict the rotation of the rotary member by engaging with the engaged portion. When the lock member is positioned at the locked position, the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion, and when the lock member is positioned at the unlocked position, the engaging portion disengages from the engaged portion. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that.

11. The locking mechanism has a biasing member that biases the lock member in a direction from the unlocked position to the locked position, and a pressing portion that presses the lock member. When the pressing portion presses the lock member, the lock member is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position. When the pressing portion retracts from the lock member, the lock member is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that.

12. The transmission device has a gear for transmitting the driving force of the drive source to the drive member. The pressing portion is provided on the gear. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that.

13. further having a photosensitive drum, the rotary member includes a developing roller and a housing frame having a housing portion for housing toner supplied to the developing roller, the cartridge houses toner supplied to the housing portion, the rotary member is capable of taking a developing posture in which the developing roller faces the photosensitive drum and an exchanging posture, The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that.

Images