Image forming device

Abstract

To prevent deterioration of an image such as chipping of the image due to a process cartridge mounted in an apparatus body.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 has a process cartridge 50 that includes an electrifying wire 52 for electrifying one of photoconductor drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k and is removably attached to an apparatus body 1a. The image forming apparatus has: a cleaning unit 200 that is attached to the process cartridge 50 and is movable between a cleaning position where it cleans the electrifying wire 52 and a retracted position where it is retracted from the cleaning position; and a slide guide 12 that guides an operating unit 240 located at the cleaning position to the retracted position when the process cartridge 50 is mounted in the apparatus body 1a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer to which a process cartridge is detachably attached. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge equipped with a cleaning member for cleaning a discharge member such as a discharge wire is detachably mounted. Specifically, the cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1 includes a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a discharge member extending along the photosensitive member and facing the photosensitive member, and a cleaning unit that cleans the discharge member by moving along the extension direction of the discharge member. The cleaning unit also has a main body portion that is provided so as to be movable along the extension direction of the discharge member, and an operating portion that protrudes from the main body portion so as to be grippable. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-076925 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in Patent Document 1, if the cleaning unit is not moved to the standby position at the end of the cartridge when cleaning the charging wire, the cleaning unit will block the optical path of the laser. In Patent Document 1, the device main body can be operated with the cleaning unit blocking the optical path of the laser, which poses a problem that when an image is output, the part of the image where the optical path of the laser is blocked will be missing.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent image degradation, such as image loss, caused by a process cartridge mounted in the apparatus main body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises: picture 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a process cartridge detachably attached to the apparatus main body, the process cartridge including: an apparatus main body; a photosensitive drum; a charging member for charging the photosensitive drum; and a cleaning unit for cleaning the charging member, the cleaning unit being movable between a cleaning position for cleaning the charging member and a retracted position retracted from the cleaning position; and an exposure unit for emitting light toward the photosensitive drum to expose the photosensitive drum; When the process cartridge is mounted in the main body of the apparatus, the process cartridge is in the cleaning position. present a guide member that guides the cleaning unit to the retracted position; the guide member has a rotation axis parallel to a guiding direction of the cleaning unit, and after guiding the cleaning unit from the cleaning position to the retracted position, rotates about the rotation axis to a position where it does not block a trajectory of light emitted from the exposure unit toward the photosensitive drum. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent image degradation, such as missing parts of an image, caused by a process cartridge mounted in the main body of the apparatus. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention with the CRG cover closed; FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a schematic diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention with the CRG cover open. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the inside of a main body of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of a state in which a cleaning unit of a process cartridge mounted in an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is at a retracted position. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view of a state in which a cleaning unit of a process cartridge mounted in an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is at a cleaning position. [Figure 8] 1 is a perspective view of a state in which a process cartridge is being mounted to the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9]1 is a perspective view of a state in which a process cartridge is attached to an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, with a process cartridge attached to the apparatus main body. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention with a process cartridge attached thereto. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) <Configuration of image forming device> The configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 1a, a CRG cover 11, a slide guide 12, a rotating lever 13, a rotating spring 14, a rotating shaft portion 15, a lever 21, a spring 22, an LED exposure unit 40, and a process cartridge 50. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a conveying roller 70, a sheet conveying belt 73, transfer rollers 74y, 74m, 74c, and 74k, a fixing unit 80, and a pair of discharge rollers 91.

[0012] The apparatus main body 1a is formed with a CRG guide 60 that opens the inside of the apparatus main body 1a to the outside. The CRG guide 60 has a function of guiding the process cartridge 50 when it is attached to the apparatus main body 1a.

[0013] The CRG cover 11 is attached to the apparatus body 1a of the image forming apparatus 1 so as to be able to open and close, and when closed, it holds the sheets P discharged by the discharge roller pair 91.

[0014] The slide guide 12 as a guide member is plate-shaped, can be tilted toward the mounting surface 1b of the apparatus main body 1a for the process cartridge 50, and has a slide surface 12a.

[0015] As shown in Figure 5, the rotating lever 13 is fixed to the rotating shaft portion 15 within the device main body 1a and has a first abutment surface 13a inclined toward the slide guide 12 and a second abutment surface 13b inclined in a direction away from the rotating shaft portion 15.

[0016] The rotation spring 14 biases the rotation lever 13 in the A2 direction and the B1 direction shown in FIG.

[0017] The slide guide 12 is fixed to the rotating shaft 15. The rotating shaft 15 passes through the mounting surface 1b and is rotatably supported by a support (not shown) of the device main body 1a. The rotating shaft 15 is rotatable in directions A1, A2, B1, and B2 shown in FIG. 5.

[0018] The lever 21 is biased by a spring 22 in a protruding direction so as to protrude from the mounting surface 1b. The lever 21 restricts the rotation of the rotation shaft 15 in the B1 direction shown in Fig. 5. The lever 21 includes a cleaning unit detection portion 21a, an inclined surface 21b, and a restriction portion 21c.

[0019] The cleaning unit detection portion 21a protrudes outward from the mounting surface 1b as a result of the lever 21 being biased in the protruding direction by the spring 22 (see FIG. 4).

[0020] The inclined surface 21b comes into contact with the first contact surface 13a when the lever 21 slides in the retracting direction, which is the opposite direction to the protruding direction.

[0021] The restricting portion 21c comes into contact with the second contact surface 13b when the lever 21 slides in the retracting direction.

[0022] The LED exposure unit 40 irradiates the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k with light based on an image signal to form electrostatic latent images.

[0023] The process cartridges 50 are arranged above the sheet conveying belt 73, and four of them are arranged in a row along the front-rear direction parallel to the conveying direction of the sheet P. The process cartridges 50 are configured to be detachably mountable to the apparatus main body 1a through the opening 10 when the CRG cover 11 shown in FIG. 3 is open, and are replaceable. The configuration of the process cartridges 50 will be described in detail later.

[0024] The conveying roller 70 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown), causing the sheet conveying belt 73 to rotate clockwise in FIG.

[0025] The sheet conveying belt 73 conveys the sheet P in synchronization with the toner images of each color formed on the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k.

[0026] The transfer rollers 74y, 74m, 74c, and 74k are provided inside the sheet conveying belt 73. When a voltage is applied to the transfer rollers 74y, 74m, 74c, and 74k, the toner images of each color formed on the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k are sequentially transferred onto the sheet P being conveyed on the sheet conveying belt 73.

[0027] The fixing unit 80 includes a fixing roller 81 incorporating a heater (not shown), and a pressure roller 82. The fixing unit 80 applies heat and pressure to the sheet P onto which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer rollers 74y, 74m, 74c, and 74k, using the fixing roller 81 and the pressure roller 82, thereby fixing the toner image to the sheet P. The fixing unit 80 transports the sheet P onto which the toner image has been fixed toward a pair of discharge rollers 91.

[0028] The pair of discharge rollers 91 discharges the sheet P conveyed from the fixing unit 80 onto the CRG cover 11.

[0029] <Process cartridge configuration> The configuration of the process cartridge 50 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0030] In Figure 6, Figure 6(a) is a perspective view seen from behind in the mounting direction of the process cartridge 50 to the apparatus main body 1a, and Figure 6(b) is a perspective view seen from ahead in the mounting direction of the process cartridge 50 to the apparatus main body 1a.

[0031] The process cartridge 50 includes photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k, a holding roller 54, a charging unit 55, a guide protrusion 56, and a developing roller 62.

[0032] The photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k are arranged in the front-rear direction. Each of the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG.

[0033] One retention roller 54 is provided for each of the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k, and is a member in which a metal rotating shaft is covered with a roller body made of a conductive foam elastic material. The retention roller 54 collects and temporarily holds toner remaining on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k after transfer. The retention roller 54 is configured to return the held toner to the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k during cleaning. The toner returned to the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k is transferred to the sheet conveying belt 73 and collected by a cleaning unit (not shown).

[0034] The charging unit 55 includes a charging wire 52, a vent 110, a vent 111, a cleaning unit 200, and a counter electrode (not shown), and uniformly charges the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k.

[0035] The charging wire 52 as a charging member is a metal wire that generates a corona discharge when a predetermined voltage is applied. The charging wire 52 is disposed above the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k so as to face the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k, and extends along the axial direction (left-right direction) of the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k.

[0036] The charging wire 52 is a plate-like electrode formed in a generally U-shape in a side view so as to face a counter electrode (not shown). The counter electrode is composed of a grid electrode located between the charging wire 52 and the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k, and a pair of shield electrodes located in front of and behind the charging wire 52.

[0037] The vent 110 is an air inlet that guides air outside the charging unit 55 to the charging wire 52 .

[0038] The ventilation opening 111 serves both as a guide to enable movement of the cleaning unit 200 and as an exhaust opening for exhausting air around the charged wire 52, and is extended in the left-right direction, which is the extension direction of the charged wire 52.

[0039] The guide projection 56 projects from the side surface of the process cartridge 50 on the front side in the mounting direction relative to the apparatus main body 1a.

[0040] The developing rollers 62y, 62m, 62c, and 62k are configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k, respectively. Toner in a storage unit (not shown) is supplied to the developing rollers 62y, 62m, 62c, and 62k from a supply roller, and the supplied toner is regulated to a uniform thickness between the developing rollers 62y, 62m, 62c, and 62k and a layer thickness regulating blade is interposed between the developing rollers 62y, 62m, 62c, and 62k. The developing rollers 62y, 62m, 62c, and 62k develop the electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k, respectively, with the toner carried thereon, thereby forming toner images on the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k, respectively.

[0041] <Cleaning unit configuration> The configuration of the cleaning unit 200 attached to the process cartridge 50 mounted in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0042] The cleaning unit 200 is a member that is attached to the process cartridge 50 and cleans the charging wire 52 , and includes a wire cleaner 210 and an operating portion 240 .

[0043] The wire cleaner 210 comes into sliding contact with the charging wire 52 inside the ventilation opening 111 to wipe off foreign matter adhering to the charging wire 52 .

[0044] The operating portion 240 is movable along the ventilation opening 111 by being operated by the user, and includes a protruding portion 241. The protruding portion 241 protrudes downward in FIG. 6, which is the mounting direction of the process cartridge 50 to the apparatus main body 1a. The protruding portion 241 includes an inclined surface 242 at its lower end, which is the tip in the protruding direction. The operating portion 240 includes a roller (not shown) at its lower end. Note that the operating portion 240 may not be provided with a roller.

[0045] In the cleaning unit 200 having the above configuration, the user operates the operation unit 240 left and right to clean the entire area of ​​the charging wire 52 required for charging the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k.

[0046] At this time, when the cleaning unit 200 moves to the right end of the process cartridge 50 in FIG. 6, it is positioned outside the charging range required for image formation of the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k. By being in the state shown in FIG. 6 where it is positioned outside the charging range, the cleaning unit 200 does not block the optical path of the laser emitted from the LED exposure unit 40 to the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k. This position is the retracted position of the cleaning unit 200.

[0047] Furthermore, when the cleaning unit 200 is positioned within the charging range (for example, the state shown in FIG. 7), it blocks the optical path of the laser emitted from the LED exposure unit 40 to the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k. This position is the cleaning position of the cleaning unit 200.

[0048] <Mounting and Removing of Process Cartridge to and from Apparatus Main Body> The operation of mounting and dismounting the process cartridge 50 to and from the apparatus main body 1a of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0049] First, the operation of mounting the process cartridge 50 into the apparatus main body 1a when the cleaning unit 200 is in the retracted position will be described.

[0050] First, the guide protrusion 56 (see FIG. 6(b)) of the process cartridge 50 is inserted into the CRG guide 60 of the apparatus main body 1a from above.

[0051] Then, the guide protrusion 56 moves downward while being guided by the CRG guide 60. At this time, the cleaning unit detection part 21a faces the protrusion 241 of the cleaning unit 200 which is in the retracted position. As a result, the inclined surface 242 of the protrusion 241 of the cleaning unit 200 abuts against the inclined surface 21d of the cleaning unit detection part 21a, and pushes the cleaning unit detection part 21a into the inside of the apparatus main body 1a against the biasing force of the spring 22.

[0052] When cleaning unit detection portion 21a is pushed into apparatus main body 1a, lever 21 slides in the retracting direction, and inclined surface 21b abuts against first abutment surface 13a.

[0053] Then, the lever 21 slides further in the retracting direction as the cleaning unit detection portion 21a is pushed further into the inside of the apparatus main body 1a.

[0054] As a result, the first contact surface 13a of the rotating lever 13 is released from contact with the inclined surface 21b, and the second contact surface 13b comes into contact with the restricting portion 21c. Furthermore, as the second contact surface 13b comes into contact with the restricting portion 21c, the rotating shaft 15 rotates in the A1 direction shown in FIG. 5 against the biasing force of the rotating spring 14. Furthermore, the slide guide 12 rotates in the A1 direction together with the rotating lever 13 to the state shown in FIG. 9, thereby retracting from the path of light, such as a laser, irradiated from the LED exposure unit 40 onto the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k. Furthermore, the CRG cover 11 is closed.

[0055] In this way, the slide guide 12 rotates in the A1 direction around the rotation shaft 15 as the rotation center, thereby rotating around a rotation axis parallel to the guiding direction of the cleaning unit 200. This allows the slide guide 12 to be retracted from the path of light such as a laser irradiated from the LED exposure unit 40 onto the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k, thereby preventing image degradation such as missing parts of the image due to the slide guide 12. Note that when the process cartridge 50 is installed in the apparatus main body 1a, if the slide guide 12 does not block the path of light such as a laser irradiated from the LED exposure unit 40 onto the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k, it does not need to be rotated in the A1 direction.

[0056] Next, the operation of mounting the process cartridge 50 to the apparatus main body 1a when the cleaning unit 200 is in the cleaning position and not in the retracted position will be described.

[0057] First, the guide projection 56 of the process cartridge 50 is inserted into the CRG guide 60 of the apparatus main body 1a from above.

[0058] Then, the guide protrusion 56 moves downward while being guided by the CRG guide 60. At this time, the protrusion 241 of the cleaning unit 200 abuts against the slide surface 12a of the slide guide 12, and the cleaning unit 200 is guided by the slide guide 12 and slides in the inclined direction of the slide guide 12 due to the slope of the slide surface 12a, moving to the retracted position. The cleaning unit 200 can easily move to the retracted position by providing the protrusion 241 with a roller (not shown) that rotates in abutment against the slide surface 12a.

[0059] In this way, by guiding the cleaning unit 200 to the retracted position by sliding it in the inclined direction of the slide guide 12, the cleaning unit 200 can be guided to the retracted position with a simple configuration.

[0060] The subsequent mounting operation is the same as the mounting operation when the cleaning unit 200 is in the retracted position, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0061] Next, the operation of removing the process cartridge 50 from the apparatus main body 1a will be described.

[0062] First, the guide protrusion 56 of the process cartridge 50 is moved upward relative to the CRG guide 60 of the apparatus main body 1a.

[0063] As a result, the pressure of the inclined surface 242 against the cleaning unit detection portion 21a of the lever 21 is released, and the lever 21 slides in the protruding direction due to the biasing force of the spring 22. As a result, the abutment state between the second abutment surface 13b and the restriction portion 21c of the rotating shaft portion 15 is released, and the first abutment surface 13a and the inclined surface 21b abut, and the rotating shaft portion 15 rotates in the A2 direction shown in FIG. 5 due to the elastic restoring force of the rotating spring 14. In addition, the slide guide 12 rotates in the A2 direction together with the rotating lever 13.

[0064] Then, lever 21 slides further in the protruding direction due to the biasing force of spring 22. As a result, the abutment state between first abutment surface 13a and inclined surface 21b of rotating shaft 15 is released, and after rotating in direction A1 shown in FIG. 5, further rotation in direction A1 is restricted by lever 21.

[0065] In this embodiment, the cleaning unit 200 is attached to the process cartridge 50 and is movable between a cleaning position where it cleans the charging wire 52 and a retracted position where it is retracted from the cleaning position. The slide guide 12 guides the cleaning unit 200 from the cleaning position to the retracted position when the process cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 1a. This makes it possible to prevent image degradation, such as missing parts of an image, caused by the process cartridge 50 attached to the apparatus main body 1a.

[0066] (Embodiment 2) <Configuration of image forming device> The configuration of an image forming apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0067] 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. Also, in the image forming apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment, parts not shown in FIG. 10 have the same configuration as those in FIGS. 1 to 4, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0068] The image forming apparatus 2 includes an apparatus main body 1a, a CRG cover 11, an LED exposure unit 40, a process cartridge 50, a rack 63, a gear 64, a large diameter gear 65, a bevel gear 66, a pulley 67, and a belt 68. The image forming apparatus 2 also includes a conveying roller 70, a sheet conveying belt 73, transfer rollers 74y, 74m, 74c, and 74k, a fixing unit 80, and a pair of discharge rollers 91. The rack 63, the gear 64, the large diameter gear 65, the bevel gear 66, and the pulley 67 form a drive unit.

[0069] The rack 63 is provided on the CRG guide 60 .

[0070] The gear 64 meshes with the rack 63. The gear ratio between the rack 63 and the gear 64 is 1:1.

[0071] The large diameter gear 65 is formed integrally with the gear 64 and rotates integrally with the gear 64. The large diameter gear 65 has a diameter larger than that of the gear 64 and has twice the number of teeth of the gear 64.

[0072] The bevel gear 66 is provided perpendicular to the large diameter gear 65 and meshes with the large diameter gear 65. The gear ratio between the large diameter gear 65 and the bevel gear 66 is 1:1.

[0073] The pulley 67 is directly connected to the bevel gear 66 and rotates integrally with the bevel gear 66, thereby rotating the belt 68. The pulley 67 has a diameter that is half the diameter of the bevel gear 66. The pulley 67 incorporates a torque limiter (not shown) that blocks the driving force transmitted to the belt 68.

[0074] The large diameter gear 65 and the bevel gear 66 have numbers of teeth that can adjust the difference in the number of teeth due to the difference in shape between the rack 63 and the gear 64.

[0075] Belt 68, which serves as a guide member, rotates as pulley 67 is driven to rotate. Cleaning unit 200 is fixed to belt 68. As belt 68 rotates, it moves cleaning unit 200 between the cleaning position and the retracted position.

[0076] The configuration of the process cartridge 50 and the configuration of the cleaning unit 200 are the same as those shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and therefore, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0077] <Mounting Operation of Process Cartridge into Apparatus Main Body> The operation of mounting the process cartridge 50 into the apparatus main body 1a of the image forming apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0078] When the cleaning unit 200 is in the cleaning position at the end opposite to the retracted position, the gear 64 is inserted from above the CRG guide 60 and meshed with the rack 63.

[0079] When the process cartridge 50 is moved downward, the gear 64 meshing with the rack 63 rotates, which in turn rotates the large diameter gear 65, the bevel gear 66, and the pulley 67. At this time, the belt 68 moves at a speed increased to four times the rotational speed of the gear 64 meshing with the rack 63 due to the gear ratio from the gear 64 to the pulley 67.

[0080] The belt 68 rotates as the pulley 67 rotates, driving the cleaning unit 200 , causing the cleaning unit 200 to clean the charging wire 52 .

[0081] When the process cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 1a, the cleaning unit 200 moves from the cleaning position to the retracted position, and assumes the state shown in FIG.

[0082] The cleaning unit 200 is fixed to a belt 68 so as to move to a retracted position when the process cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 1a and is at an image forming position, and to move to a cleaning position when the process cartridge 50 is completely removed from the apparatus main body 1a.

[0083] At this time, if the belt 68 rotates too much when the process cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 1a, the driving force transmitted to the belt 68 is cut off by a torque limiter (not shown) provided inside the pulley 67.

[0084] For example, when a user removes the process cartridge 50 and moves the cleaning unit 200, the belt 68 may rotate excessively when the process cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 1a. Also, when the operation unit 240 is moved with the process cartridge 50 attached to the apparatus main body 1a, the belt 68 may rotate excessively when the process cartridge 50 is removed. In such cases, the torque limiter can prevent the belt 68 from rotating excessively and damaging the cleaning unit 200 or the belt 68.

[0085] In this way, by incorporating a torque limiter in the pulley 67 connected to the bevel gear 66, damage to the cleaning unit 200 or the belt 68 can be prevented even when the process cartridge 50 is attached or detached after the operating part 240 is moved from a predetermined position.

[0086] In this embodiment, the rack 63, gear 64, large diameter gear 65, bevel gear 66, and pulley 67 drive the belt 68 in conjunction with the installation operation of the process cartridge 50 into the apparatus main body 1a. Furthermore, the belt 68 guides the cleaning unit 200 from the cleaning position to the retracted position when driven by the rack 63, gear 64, large diameter gear 65, bevel gear 66, and pulley 67. This allows the cleaning unit 200 to be reliably guided to the retracted position when the process cartridge 50 is installed in the apparatus main body 1a.

[0087] In this embodiment, the speed of the belt 68 is increased to four times the rotational speed of the gear 64, but this is not limiting, and the belt speed can be increased to any speed higher than the rotational speed of the gear by changing the gear ratio from the gear 64 to the pulley 67.

[0088] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0089] Specifically, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the image forming apparatus 1 is a color printer (SFP), but the image forming apparatus is not limited to this and may be a multifunction machine equipped with a reading unit on top of the main body of the apparatus. In this case, the same effect can be obtained by making the reading unit rotatable and configuring the CRG cover 11 to be open.

[0090] In the above-described first and second embodiments, the process cartridge 50 includes the photosensitive drums 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k, the holding roller 54, the charging unit 55, and the developing roller 62. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the process cartridge may include at least a charging unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 1. Image forming device 1a Device body 1b Mounting surface 2. Image forming device 10 aperture 11 Cover 12 Slide Guide 13 Rotating lever 13a first contact surface 13b second contact surface 21 Lever 21a Cleaning unit detector 21b Slope 21c Regulatory Department 21d Slope 22 Spring 23a Upper support member 23b Lower support member 40 Exposure unit 50 Process cartridge 51y Photosensitive drum 51m photosensitive drum 51c Photosensitive drum 51k photosensitive drum 52 Charged Wire 54 Retaining roller 55 Charging unit 56 Guide protrusion 60 CRG Guide 63 racks 64 gears 65 large diameter gear 66 Bevel gear 67 Pulley 68 Belt 200 cleaning units 210 Wire cleaner 240 Operation section 241 Protrusion 242 Slope

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, A device body, a process cartridge detachably mounted to the apparatus main body, the process cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a charging member for charging the photosensitive drum, and a cleaning unit for cleaning the charging member, the cleaning unit being movable between a cleaning position for cleaning the charging member and a retracted position retracted from the cleaning position; an exposure unit that emits light toward the photosensitive drum to expose the photosensitive drum; a guide member that guides the cleaning unit from the cleaning position to the retracted position when the process cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body; Equipped with The guide member is a rotation axis parallel to the guide direction of the cleaning unit; After guiding the cleaning unit from the cleaning position to the retracted position, the cleaning unit is rotated about the rotation axis to a position where it does not block a trajectory of light emitted from the exposure unit toward the photosensitive drum. An image forming apparatus characterized by:

2. A rotating lever that rotatably supports the guide member; a rotation spring that biases the rotation lever; Further provided with The guide member is After guiding the cleaning unit from the cleaning position to the retracted position, the cleaning unit is rotated around the rotation shaft via the rotating lever to a position where the cleaning unit does not block a trajectory of light emitted from the exposure unit toward the photosensitive drum.

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

3. The guide member is the inclined surface is inclined toward the mounting surface of the process cartridge of the main body of the apparatus; The cleaning unit comprises: The guide member is guided to move in the inclined direction of the guide member, thereby moving to the retracted position.

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

4. The cleaning unit comprises: A roller that contacts the guide member is provided.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second ink cartridges are arranged on the first and second ink cartridges.

5. a drive unit that drives the guide member in association with an installation operation of the process cartridge into the apparatus main body; The guide member is When driven by the drive unit, the cleaning unit is guided from the cleaning position to the retracted position.

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

6. a torque limiter that blocks the driving force transmitted from the driving unit to the guide member; 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,

7. The process cartridge The cleaning device further includes an operating unit that is operated by a user to move the cleaning unit between the cleaning position and the retracted position.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second ink cartridges are arranged in a row.

8. The image forming apparatus, a cover that is provided so as to be openable and closable for attaching and detaching the process cartridge to and from the apparatus main body; The cover is When the process cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body, the cartridge holder is located vertically above the process cartridge.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the image forming apparatus.

9. The process cartridge a developing roller that carries and transports toner to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum; 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged parallel to each other.

Images