Image forming device

Abstract

To solve a problem in which: in an image forming apparatus comprising a cartridge that has a plurality of cartridge electric contacts, a reduction in size of body electric contacts in contact with the plurality of cartridge electric contacts is needed.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: an apparatus body that has a first body electric contact and a second body electric contact; and a cartridge that is removably attached to the apparatus body, the cartridge having a first process member, a second process member, a first cartridge electric contact, and a second cartridge electric contact. The apparatus body includes a common holding member that holds a first end of the first body electric contact facing the cartridge and a second end of the second body electric contact facing the cartridge. The first end and the second end are in contact with the first cartridge electric contact and the second cartridge electric contact, respectively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Electrophotographic image forming devices such as laser beam printers, LED printers, and copiers widely use a configuration in which a cartridge having a process member such as a developing roller can be detachably attached to the device main body. In this configuration, it is necessary to supply power to the process member of the cartridge from the device main body. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which the cartridge has cartridge electrical contacts electrically connected to the process member, and the device main body has a main body electrical contact portion configured to contact the cartridge electrical contacts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2010-190974 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The main body electrical contacts in Patent Document 1 have a spring at one end on the cartridge side, which makes their position prone to fluctuation. Therefore, when supplying different amounts of power from multiple main body electrical contacts to multiple cartridge electrical contacts, it is necessary to increase the spacing between the multiple main body electrical contacts so that they do not come into contact with each other, which poses a problem of the device becoming larger in size. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A first aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body having an electric board, a first body electrical contact and a second body electrical contact electrically connected to the electric board; and a cartridge detachably mountable to the apparatus main body, the cartridge having a first process member, a second process member, a first cartridge electrical contact electrically connected to the first process member, and a second cartridge electrical contact electrically connected to the second process member, wherein the first body electrical contact includes a first coil spring portion on a side closer to the first cartridge electrical contact than the electric board, and the second body electrical contact includes a second coil spring portion on a side closer to the second cartridge electrical contact than the electric board, and the apparatus main body has a first end of the first body electrical contact on the cartridge side and a second end of the first body electrical contact on the cartridge side. a common holding member that holds the second end of the second body electrical contact on the cartridge side so that the first end and the second end are not electrically connected, the holding member being configured to move together with the first end and the second end between a contact position and a separated position, the contact position being a position where the first end contacts the first cartridge electrical contact by the spring force of the first coil spring section and the second end contacts the second cartridge electrical contact by the spring force of the second coil spring section, and the separated position being a position where the first end is separated from the first cartridge electrical contact so as not to contact the first cartridge electrical contact and the second end is separated from the second cartridge electrical contact so as not to contact the second cartridge electrical contact; the law of nature , The holding member is configured to swing between the contact position and the separated position around a swing axis, and a holding portion that holds the first end and the second end in the longitudinal direction of the holding member is provided at one end of the holding member, and the swing axis is at the other end of the holding member. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a cartridge having a plurality of cartridge electrical contacts, it is possible to reduce the size of the main body electrical contacts that come into contact with the plurality of cartridge electrical contacts. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a side view of the apparatus main body with the cartridge tray pulled out and the exterior cover hidden. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a side view of a cartridge according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cartridge and the main body electrical contacts in the state where the drum unit is not shown in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a side view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment, with cartridges placed on a cartridge tray. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view of the device main body according to the first embodiment, with the electric board not shown. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view of a contact holder unit according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the electric board side. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the coil, the electrical contacts of the main body, and the holding member according to the first embodiment, as viewed from the cartridge side. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main body electrical contact and a holding member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 3 is a front view of a holding member that holds the main body electrical contacts according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 1 is a perspective view of the cartridge and the main body electrical contacts in a state where the main body electrical contacts are in contact with the cartridge electrical contacts according to Example 1. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus main body when the front cover is in the closed position according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 1 is a side view of the device main body when the front cover is in the open position according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 14] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an interlocking mechanism between a front cover, a sliding member, and a holding member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a front view of the main body electrical contact portion and the developing unit when the holding member is in the contact position according to the first embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a front view of the main body electrical contact portion and the developing unit when the holding member is in the separated position in the first embodiment. [Figure 17]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the coil, the main body electrical contacts, and the holding member according to the second embodiment, as viewed from the cartridge side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in the present embodiment may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the device to which the invention is applied and various conditions, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. [Example]

[0009] (Image forming device) 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to Example 1. An outline of the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

[0010] The image forming apparatus 1 has an apparatus main body 100A and four cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK (hereinafter referred to as cartridges P) that are detachably mountable to the apparatus main body 100A.

[0011] Each color cartridge P has a photosensitive drum 6Y, 6M, 6C, or 6K (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum 6) and a developing roller 8Y, 8M, 8C, or 8K (hereinafter referred to as a developing roller 8). Each color cartridge P has a charging roller 61Y, 61M, 61C, or 61K (hereinafter referred to as a charging roller 61).

[0012] The main components of the apparatus main body 100A include a conveying section that feeds and conveys the recording material S, an image forming section that forms an image on the recording material S, and a fixing section that fixes the image on the recording material S.

[0013] The conveying section includes a paper feed roller 2 and a conveying roller 3. The recording material S stored in the feed tray 1 is fed by the paper feed roller 2 and sent via the conveying roller 3 to a transfer nip section formed by an in-belt drive roller 4 and a secondary transfer roller 5 sandwiching an intermediate transfer belt 10 therebetween.

[0014] The image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum 6 and a developing roller 8 for each color, both of which are provided in each color cartridge P, as well as a laser scanner 70 and an intermediate transfer belt 10. Each photosensitive drum 6 rotates counterclockwise in the figure. In each image forming unit, an electrostatic latent image is sequentially formed on the outer surface of each photosensitive drum 6, which is negatively charged by each charging roller 61, by laser light from the laser scanner 70. Each developing roller 8 is configured to carry toner. The electrostatic latent image on each photosensitive drum 6 is developed by the supply of negatively charged toner from each developing roller 8, forming a toner image on each photosensitive drum 6. The toner images formed on each photosensitive drum 6 are transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 10 by primary transfer units 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K (hereinafter referred to as primary transfer units 9). The intermediate transfer belt 10 is a cylindrical film stretched around an internal belt drive roller 4, a tension roller 11, and the like. The intermediate transfer belt 10 moves at a speed substantially equal to the moving speed of the surface of the photosensitive drum 6 as the drive roller 4 in the belt is driven to rotate clockwise in the drawing.

[0015] When forming a color image, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are developed on the photosensitive drums 6 for each color, and the toner images formed on each are transferred sequentially to an intermediate transfer belt 10 by the primary transfer units 9 for each color. Next, the toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10 are transferred all at once onto a recording material S sent to a transfer nip. The recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is then sent to a fixing nip consisting of a heating unit 12 and a pressure roller 13, where the toner image is fixed to the recording material S by heating and pressing. The recording material S onto which the toner image has been fixed is transported by discharge rollers 14 and 15 and discharged.

[0016] (cartridge tray) 2 shows the apparatus main body 100A in a state where the exterior cover on the left side of the apparatus main body 100A is not shown and the cartridge tray 35 is pulled out. Note that no cartridge P is loaded on the cartridge tray 35 in FIG. 2.

[0017] The apparatus main body 100A has a cartridge tray 35 on which the cartridge P can be mounted. The cartridge tray 35 is movable between a first position where an image can be formed using the cartridge P (image forming position) and a second position where the cartridge P can be attached to and detached from the cartridge tray 35 (attachment and detachment position). The apparatus main body 100A has an opening 200 through which the cartridge P passes when the cartridge tray 35 is moved from the second position to the first position. The first position is located inside the apparatus main body 100A.

[0018] 1 and 2, the apparatus main body 100A further has a front cover 20 (opening / closing member) for opening and closing the opening 200. The front cover 20 shown in Fig. 1 is in a closed position that closes the opening 200. The front cover 20 shown in Fig. 2 is in a position that opens the opening 200.

[0019] An electric board 30 for supplying the necessary power to the cartridge P and the like is disposed on the left side of the apparatus main body 100A. Furthermore, a control board 31 for processing image information sent from an external information device such as a computer is disposed behind and above the electric board 30. The control board 31 is connected to the external information device by an external connection cable connector, and the electric board 30 and the control board 31 are electrically connected by a bundled wire and a flexible flat cable (not shown).

[0020] Interlock switches 32 and 33 are disposed at the front and rear of the apparatus main body 100, respectively, and detect the opening and closing operations of the front cover 20 and rear cover 21, preventing the apparatus main body 100 from operating when the rear cover 21 is opened. The rear cover 21 is provided to remove jammed sheets when the sheets transported by the transport roller 3 or the secondary transfer roller 5 become jammed. Furthermore, opening the front cover 20 allows the cartridge tray 35 to move between a first position and a second position. The cartridge tray 35 is slidable in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body 100A and in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 6. A paper feed motor 36 transmits driving force to the paper feed roller 2 and the transport roller 3.

[0021] (Cartridge electrical contacts) FIG. 3(a) shows a perspective view of cartridge P. FIG. 3(b) shows a side view of cartridge P. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cartridge and the main body electrical contacts, with the drum unit O hidden for clarity. Cartridge P has drum unit O and developing unit D configured to be swingable relative to drum unit O. Drum unit O has photosensitive drum 6 and charging roller 61 (FIG. 1). Developing unit D has developing roller 8 and developing blade 7 as a layer thickness regulating member that regulates the toner layer thickness on developing roller 8. Developing blade 7 has blade 7a and support member 7b that supports blade 7a. In this embodiment, blade 7a is a thin plate (metal plate) made of SUS. Support member 7b is made of iron and is an L-shaped plate in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Therefore, developing blade 7 is conductive.

[0022] The developing unit D has a developing electrical contact 810 (first cartridge electrical contact) electrically connected to the developing roller 8, and a blade electrical contact 710 (second cartridge electrical contact) electrically connected to the developing blade 7.

[0023] The meaning of "two components electrically connected" is that the two components may be in direct contact with each other, or that one or more conductive components are provided between the two components, and a conductive path is formed between the two components via the conductive components.

[0024] The development electrical contact 810 has a first contact portion 810a that comes into contact with the main body electrical contact of the apparatus main body 100A, a first bearing portion 810b that rotatably supports the development roller 8, and a first connection portion 810c (coupling portion) that connects the first contact portion 810a and the bearing portion 810b. The development electrical contact 810 is made of conductive resin.

[0025] 4, the blade electrical contact 710 has a second contact portion 710a (contact portion) configured to come into contact with the main body electrical contact, and is electrically connected to the support member 7b of the developing blade 7. The developing electrical contact 810 and the developing blade electrical contact 710 are formed from conductive resin.

[0026] 5 is a side view of the black cartridge PK placed on the cartridge tray 35. The first contact portion 810a of the developer electrical contact 810 and the second contact portion 710a of the blade electrical contact 710 of the cartridge P are located above the upper end of the side wall 35a of the cartridge tray 35. Therefore, even when the cartridge tray 35 is moved to the first position, the first contact portion 810a and the second contact portion 710a can come into contact with the main body electrical contacts.

[0027] (Main body electrical contacts) The configuration of the main body electrical contacts of the device main body 100A of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 is a side view of the device main body 100A in this embodiment, with the electric board 30 not shown. A coil 42 serving as a conductive member is held by a contact holder 41. The contact holder unit 40 includes the contact holder 41 and the coil 42 held by the contact holder 41. The contact holder 41 is formed of insulating resin.

[0028] The coil 42 is electrically connected to the developing roller 8 (first process member), the developing blade 7 (second process member), and the charging roller 61 (third process member) of the developing unit D. It also holds the interlock of the rear cover. Two coils 42 are also arranged in the rear cover holder 34, and supply power to the primary transfer unit and the secondary transfer roller, respectively.

[0029] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the contact holder unit 40 as viewed from the side of the electric board 30. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the coil 42, the main body electric contacts, and the holding member as viewed from the side of the cartridge P.

[0030] The coil 42 includes 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, and 42f (hereinafter referred to as coils 42a to 42f). The coils 42a to 42f each include a coil spring portion 42a1, 42b1, 42c1, 42d1, 42e1, and 42f1 (hereinafter referred to as 42a1 to 42f1) wound in a spiral shape at an end portion closer to the electric board 30. The coil 42 further includes straight portions 42a2, 42b2, 42c2, 42d2, 42e2, and 42f2 (hereinafter referred to as 42a2 to 42f2) extending from the coil spring portions 42a1 to 42f1, respectively. The coil spring portions 42a1 to 42f1 are in electrical contact with contact points (not shown) of the electric board 30 in a compressed state.

[0031] As shown in Figure 8, coils 42a and 42b respectively constitute at least a part of a conductive path for supplying the same amount of power to the yellow, magenta, and cyan (hereinafter referred to as color) developing blades 7 and developing rollers 8. Coils 42c and 42d respectively constitute at least a part of a conductive path for supplying power to the black developing roller 8 and developing blade 7. Coil 42e supplies the same amount of power to the color charging rollers 61. Coil 42f supplies power to the charging roller 61 of the black drum unit O.

[0032] In order to suppress toner fusion, the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment is configured to supply different amounts of power to the developing roller 8 and the developing blade 7. Specifically, the developing roller bias applied to the developing roller 8 is −500 V, and the developing blade bias applied to the developing blade 7 is −600 V. Therefore, the conductive path that supplies power to the developing roller 8 and the conductive path that supplies power to the developing blade 7 must be independent.

[0033] In this embodiment, the reason why power can be supplied independently to the color development units D and the black development unit D is as follows: during monochrome printing, the power supplied to the color development rollers 8 and development blades 7 is to be smaller than that during color printing, or to be zero. Note that color printing described here refers to forming an image on the recording material S using both color and monochrome image forming units, while monochrome printing refers to forming an image on the recording material S using only the black image forming unit.

[0034] Next, the main body electrical contacts that, together with the coil 42, form a conductive path for supplying power to the developing roller 8 and the developing blade 7 will be described. Regarding yellow, one of the four-color image forming units, the apparatus main body 100A has a first main body electrical contact 81Y and a second main body electrical contact 71Y as main body electrical contacts, as shown in FIG. 8. The first main body electrical contact 81Y and the second main body electrical contact 71Y are configured to electrically contact the developing electrical contact 810 and the blade electrical contact 710 of the developing unit D, respectively. The apparatus main body 100A further has a holding member 43Y that holds the first main body electrical contact 81Y and the second main body electrical contact 71Y. The other colors, magenta, cyan, and black, have the same configuration as yellow, so their description will be omitted.

[0035] The straight portion 42a2 of the coil 42a is in contact with the second body electrical contacts 71Y, 71M, and 71C. The straight portion 42b2 of the coil 42b is in contact with the first body electrical contacts 81Y, 81M, and 81C.

[0036] Fig. 9(a) is an enlarged perspective view of the holding member 43 that holds the first body electrical contact 81 and the second body electrical contact 71. Figs. 9(b) and 9(c) are detailed views of the first body electrical contact 81 and the second body electrical contact 71, respectively. Fig. 10(a) is a front view of the holding member 43 that holds the first body electrical contact 81 and the second body electrical contact 71. Fig. 10(b) is a cross section taken along line AA of Fig. 10(a).

[0037] 9(a) and 10(a), the holding member 43 has a first holding portion 43b and a second holding portion 43c. The first holding portion 43b and the second holding portion 43c hold the first body electrical contact 81 and the second body electrical contact 71, respectively. The holding member 43 is provided with the first holding portion 43b and the second holding portion 43c at one end in the longitudinal direction of the holding member 43, and with a swing shaft portion 43a (swing axis) at the other end. The holding member 43 is configured to be swingable relative to the cartridge P around the swing shaft portion 43a.

[0038] 9(b), the first body electrical contact 81 has a first coil spring portion 81b that is wound in a spiral shape around a spiral axis that extends toward the cartridge P. The first body electrical contact 81 further has a first bent portion 81a (first end portion) at one end portion of the first coil spring portion 81b on the cartridge P side, where the coil end is bent so that the cartridge P side is convex.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 9C, the second body electrical contact 71 has a second coil spring portion 71b in which a coil is wound spirally around a spiral axis extending toward the cartridge P. The second body electrical contact 71 further has a second bent portion 71a (second end) at one end of the second coil spring portion 71b on the cartridge side, where the coil end is bent so that it is convex toward the cartridge side. The first bent portion 81a and the second bent portion 71a are portions that contact the first contact portion 810a of the development electrical contact 810 and the second contact portion 710a of the blade electrical contact 710, respectively. The spring force of the first coil spring portion 81b presses the first bent portion 81a against the first contact portion 810a of the development electrical contact 810. The spring force of the second coil spring portion 71b presses the second coil spring portion 71b against the second contact portion 710a of the blade electrical contact 710. Although the first coil spring portion 81b and the second coil spring portion 71b in this embodiment are compression coil spring portions, they may also be torsion coil spring portions.

[0040] The first holding portion 43b (first press-fit portion) and the second holding portion 43c (second press-fit portion) of the holding member 43 shown in Fig. 9(a) are ribs (protrusions) that are press-fitted into the inside of the first bent portion 81a and the second bent portion 71a, respectively. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 10(b), the first holding portion 43b, which has a width w1 in a direction perpendicular to the spiral axis 81b1 of the first coil spring portion 81b, is inserted into the first bent portion 81a in a state in which the first bent portion 81a, which has a narrower width, is pushed outward from the inside. The second holding portion 43c has a configuration similar to that of the first holding portion 43b and holds the second bent portion 71a of the second body contact member 71.

[0041] The positions of the first coil spring portion 81b and the second coil spring portion 71b are prone to fluctuation. However, because the first bent portion 81a and the second bent portion 81b, which are the ends of the first coil spring portion 81b on the cartridge P side, are held by the common holding member 43, the distance between the first bent portion 81a and the second bent portion 81b can be maintained with high precision. This allows the distance between the first bent portion 81a (first body electrical contact 81) and the second bent portion 71a (second body electrical contact) to be reduced. This allows the body electrical contacts to be made smaller. Furthermore, the areas of the first contact portion 810a of the development electrical contact 810 and the second contact portion 710a of the blade electrical contact 710 of the cartridge P can be reduced, allowing the development unit D (cartridge P) to be made smaller.

[0042] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cartridge P and the main body electrical contacts, in a state where the first main body electrical contact 81 and the first main body electrical contact 81 are in contact with the development electrical contact 810 and the blade electrical contact 710, respectively.

[0043] 11, the straight portion 42b2 of the coil 42b is in electrical contact with the end opposite to the side where the first bent portion 81a of the first coil spring portion 81b of the first body electrical contact 81 is located. Also, the straight portion 42a2 of the coil 42a is in electrical contact with the end opposite to the side where the second bent portion 71a of the first coil spring portion 71b of the second body electrical contact 71 is located.

[0044] The first bent portion 81a of the first body electrical contact 81 and the second bent portion 71a of the second body electrical contact 71 are in contact with the first contact portion 810a of the development electrical contact 810 and the second contact portion 710a of the blade electrical contact 710, respectively. The electrical board 30, the coil 42b, the first body electrical contact 81, the development electrical contact 810, and the development roller 8 form a conductive path in this order, through which power is supplied to the development roller 8. The electrical board 30, the coil 42a, the second body electrical contact 71, the blade electrical contact 710, and the development blade 7 form a conductive path in this order, through which power is supplied to the development blade 7.

[0045] (Moving mechanism for holding member) The movement mechanism of the holding member 43 will now be described. FIG. 12 is a side view of the apparatus main body 100A when the front cover 20 is in the closed position. FIG. 13 is a side view of the apparatus main body 100A when the front cover 20 is in the open position. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the apparatus main body 100A has a slide member 45 that is slidable in the mounting direction M of the cartridge tray 35 and in the opposite direction. The apparatus main body 100A further has a link member 46 that connects the front cover 20 and the slide member 45 so that the slide member 45 slides in conjunction with movement of the front cover 20 between the open position and the closed position. When the front cover 20 is in the closed position, the slide member 45 is at a downstream position that is downstream of the mounting direction of the cartridge tray 35. When the front cover is in the open position, the slide member 45 is at an upstream position that is more upstream than the downstream position in the mounting direction M.

[0046] The slide member 45 is a member for swinging the holding member 43. The relationship between the slide member 45 and the holding member 43 will be described using Figures 14, 15, and 16. Figure 14(a) is a perspective view of the slide member 45 and the holding member 43 when the slide member is in the downstream position. 14(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of Figure 14(a). Figure 14(c) is a perspective view of the slide member 45 and the holding member 43 when the slide member is in the downstream position. 14(d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of Figure 14(a). Figure 15 is a perspective view of the main body electrical contact portion and the developing unit D when the holding member 43 is in a contact position where the first main body electrical contact 81 and the second main body electrical contact 71 are in contact with the developing electrical contact 810 and the blade electrical contact 710, respectively. Figure 16 is an oblique view of the main body electrical contact portion and the development unit D when the holding member 43 is in a separated position in which the first main body electrical contact 81 and the second main body electrical contact 71 are separated from the development electrical contact 810 and the blade electrical contact 710, respectively.

[0047] When the slide member 45 is in the downstream position as shown in Fig. 14(a), the holding member 43 is located upstream of the inclined surface 45a and the restricting surface 45b of the slide member 45 in the installation direction M as shown in Fig. 14(b), and therefore the rotation of the holding member 43 is not restricted by the slide member 45. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 15, the spring forces of the first coil spring portion 81b and the second coil spring portion 71b cause the holding member 43 to rotate so that the first bent portion 81a and the second bent portion 71a contact the first contact portion 810a and the second contact portion 710a, respectively. The position of the holding member 43 at this time is referred to as the contact position.

[0048] When the slide member 45 moves from the downstream position to the upstream position in conjunction with the movement of the front cover 20 from the closed position to the open position, the holding member 43 moves along the inclined surface 45a of the slide member 45 and comes into contact with the regulating surface 45b, as shown in Figure 14(d). At this time, the movement of the holding member 43 in a direction approaching the developing unit D is restricted by the slide member 45. As shown in Figure 16, the holding member 43 is maintained in a position (separated position) where the first bent portion 81a and the second bent portion 71a are separated from the first contact portion 810a and the second contact portion 710a, respectively, against the spring forces of the coil spring portion 81b and the coil spring portion 71b.

[0049] By the above-described movement mechanism of the holding member 43, when the cartridge tray 35 carrying the cartridge P is moved between the first position and the second position through the opening 200 with the front cover 20 in the open position, the holding member 43 is in the separated position. Therefore, with the front cover 20 in the open position, the first main body electrical contact 81 and the second main body electrical contact 71 do not come into contact with the development electrical contact 810 and the blade electrical contact 710 of the cartridge P, respectively. Therefore, the cartridge tray 35 can be moved smoothly relative to the mounting main body 100.

[0050] Next, by moving the front cover 20 from the open position to the closed position, the holding member 43 is moved from the separated position to the contact position, and the first body electrical contact 81 and the second body electrical contact 71 come into contact with the development electrical contact 810 and the blade electrical contact 710 of the cartridge P. In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 becomes able to supply power to the development roller 8 and the development blade 7 of the cartridge P.

[0051] In this embodiment, the end of the main body electrical contact is fixed to the holding member 43 by press-fitting the holding portion of the holding member into the end of the main body electrical contact, but the present invention is not limited to this. A gap may be provided between the main body electrical contact and the holding portion so that the ends of the multiple main body electrical contacts do not come into contact with each other.

[0052] Furthermore, although a coil spring is used as the main body electrical contact in this embodiment, a leaf spring made of a thin metal plate may also be used.

[0053] Furthermore, although this embodiment is configured such that the cartridge P is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body using a cartridge tray, the cartridge P may be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100A directly by the user.

[0054] In this embodiment, the process members to which power is supplied from the main body of the apparatus are the developing roller and the developing blade, but this is not limited to this. When a cartridge is used that is provided with a toner supply roller that supplies toner to the developing roller, the toner supply roller is also a process member to which power is supplied from the main body of the apparatus.

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the holding member is configured to be movable, but it may also be configured to be immovable. [Example]

[0056] The configuration of Example 2 will be described below. Figure 17 is a perspective view of the coil 42, the main body electrical contacts, and the holding member as seen from the cartridge P side.

[0057] In the first embodiment, a configuration was described in which different amounts of power can be supplied to the black development unit D and the yellow, magenta, and cyan development units D. In the present embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the same amount of power is supplied to all of the black, yellow, magenta, and cyan development units D.

[0058] Coil 42g constitutes a part of a conductive path for supplying the same power to the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black developing rollers 8. Coil 42h constitutes a part of a conductive path for supplying the same power to the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black developing blades 7.

[0059] The coils 42g and 42h each include a spirally wound coil spring portion 42g1 and 42h1 at the end facing the electrical board 30. The coils 42g and 42h further include straight portions 42g2 and 42h2 extending from the coil spring portions 42g1 and 42h1, respectively. The coil spring portions 42g1 and 42h1 are in electrical contact with contact points (not shown) of the electrical board 30 in a compressed state.

[0060] The straight portion 42g2 of the coil 42g is in contact with the first body electrical contacts 81Y, 81M, 81C, and 81K. The straight portion 42h2 of the coil 42h is in contact with the second body electrical contacts 71Y, 71M, 71C, and 71K. The first body electrical contact 81Y and the second body electrical contact 71Y are held by a common holding member 43Y, which is the same as in Example 1. Similarly, the first body electrical contact 81M and the second body electrical contact 71M are held by a common holding member 43M. The first body electrical contact 81C and the second body electrical contact 71C are held by a common holding member 43C, and the first body electrical contact 81K and the second body electrical contact 71K are held by a common holding member 43K. The configuration of the first body electrical contact 81 and the second body electrical contact 71 and the way they are held by the holding member 43 are the same as in Example 1.

[0061] As described above, the distance between the first main body electrical contact 81 and the second bent portion 71a can be reduced, similar to Example 1. Therefore, according to this example, the main body electrical contact and the developing unit D (cartridge P) can be made smaller. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 6 Photosensitive drum 7 Developing blade 8 Developing roller 20 Front cover 30 Electrical Board 42 Compression spring 43 Retaining member 44 Contact spring 45 Slide member 46 Link member 51 Developing roller contact part 52 Developing blade contact part 71 Second body electrical contact 81 First body electrical contact 710 Developing blade electrical contact 810 Developing roller electrical contact D Development unit P Cartridge

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, a device body having an electrical board and a first body electrical contact and a second body electrical contact electrically connected to the electrical board; a cartridge detachably attachable to the apparatus main body, the cartridge having a first process member, a second process member, a first cartridge electrical contact electrically connected to the first process member, and a second cartridge electrical contact electrically connected to the second process member; Equipped with the first main body electrical contact includes a first coil spring portion on a side closer to the first cartridge electrical contact than the electrical board; the second main body electrical contact includes a second coil spring portion on a side closer to the second cartridge electrical contact than the electrical board; the device main body has a common holding member that holds a first end of the first main body electrical contact on the cartridge side and a second end of the second main body electrical contact on the cartridge side so that the first end and the second end are not electrically connected, the holding member being configured to move together with the first end and the second end between a contact position and a separated position; the contact position is a position where the first end contacts the first cartridge electrical contact due to the spring force of the first coil spring portion and the second end contacts the second cartridge electrical contact due to the spring force of the second coil spring portion, the separated position is a position where the first end is separated from the first cartridge electrical contact so as not to contact the first cartridge electrical contact, and the second end is separated from the second cartridge electrical contact so as not to contact the second cartridge electrical contact, The holding member is configured to swing between the contact position and the separated position around a swing axis, and in the longitudinal direction of the holding member, a holding portion that holds the first end and the second end is provided at one end of the holding member, and the swing axis is at the other end of the holding member. An image forming apparatus characterized by:

2. the first end is a part of the first coil spring portion, The second end is a part of the second coil spring portion.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

3. the first coil spring portion is a compression coil spring portion wound in a spiral shape with a spiral axis extending toward the first cartridge electrical contact, the second coil spring portion is a compression coil spring portion wound in a spiral shape with a spiral axis extending toward the second cartridge electrical contact; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

4. The device body includes: an opening through which the cartridge passes when the cartridge is moved to an image forming position inside the apparatus main body where image formation is possible using the cartridge; an opening / closing member configured to be movable between an open position that opens the opening and a closed position that closes the opening; and the holding member is in the contact position when the opening / closing member is in the closed position, and in the separated position when the opening / closing member is in the open position; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

5. The holding member moves from the separated position to the contact position in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing member from the open position to the closed position.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.

6. the holding member has a first press-fitted portion and a second press-fitted portion, the first end is a first bent portion formed by bending a coil end so that the coil end faces the cartridge, and the first press-fit portion is press-fitted into the inside of the first bent portion, thereby being held by the holding member; The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the second end is a second bent portion in which the coil end is bent so that it is convex toward the cartridge, and the second press-fit portion of the holding member is pressed into the inside of the second bent portion, thereby holding the holding member.

7. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first process member is a developing roller configured to carry toner.

8. the first cartridge electrical contact is formed of a conductive resin; 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a contact portion configured to come into contact with the first end portion; a bearing portion that rotatably supports the developing roller; and a connecting portion that connects the contact portion and the bearing portion.

9. the second process member is a developing blade configured to regulate the thickness of the toner layer carried on the developing roller, 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the developing blade comprises a metal plate that contacts the developing roller, and a supporting member that supports the metal plate and has conductivity.

10. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second cartridge electrical contact is made of a conductive resin.

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