JP2010237505A - Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate removing a toner seal that seals an opening of a developer storing part. <P>SOLUTION: The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: a rotary 15 capable of rotating while a plurality of developing cartridges including the developer storing part having the opening for supplying developer to a developing roller, and the removable toner seal covering the opening and having a seal grip gripped when it is removed are detachably attached; and a tape member 71 capable of rotating the rotary 15 in one direction by manual operation. A grip 16g for holding when removing the developing cartridge is provided nearly in the center part in a longitudinal direction on a surface opposed to a body opening of the developing cartridge, and the seal grip of the toner seal is provided on one side in the longitudinal direction not opposed to the body opening of the developing cartridge. The tape member 71 is arranged on the same side as the seal grip relative to the grip 16g in the longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms a color image by rotating a rotating body equipped with a plurality of developing cartridges.

  As a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a rotary developing device is known. A rotary type developing device supports a plurality of developing cartridges each containing developer of different colors around a rotating body. And the rotational force from a motor is transmitted to a rotary body by a rotational force transmission means. Thereby, the rotating body is rotated. This rotary type developing device moves one developing cartridge to a developing position facing the photosensitive drum. Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is developed by the developer cartridge using a developer. This operation is performed for a plurality of developing cartridges to form a color image on a recording medium.

  An image forming apparatus that employs a rotary developing device can form a color image with one small photosensitive drum. Therefore, it is advantageous for downsizing the apparatus main body. Further, the user can detachably attach each developing cartridge to the rotating body.

  Further, in recent years, in order to improve the operability at the time of initial installation of the image forming apparatus, it is common to pack and transport the developing cartridge in a state of being mounted on the apparatus main body. However, during transport, each developer cartridge may be provided with a transport protection member that must be removed manually by the user during initial installation by accessing all the developer cartridges.

  In this case, a configuration is known in which the developing cartridge is manually moved to an exchange position provided in the apparatus main body and the transport protection member is removed. That is, the developing cartridge switching mechanism can be rotated by connecting the protective members of the developing cartridges with tape and pulling the tape manually. As a result, the developing cartridge can be manually positioned at the replacement port, and the protective member can be removed. According to this configuration, the initial installation operability of the developing cartridge can be improved (Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-53245 A

  However, in the above-described conventional example, the transportation protection member is provided on the surface exposed to the replacement port of the developing cartridge, and is limited to a member that can be removed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface exposed to the replacement port.

  However, effective members for transporting the developer cartridge include, for example, a seal member for preventing toner leakage during transport, and a protective member for preventing the electrical contact portion between the cartridge and the apparatus main body from being scraped. There is. Some of these protective members are provided on the side surface not facing the replacement port of the developing cartridge.

  In order to make the protective member provided on the side surface of the developing cartridge detachable from the replacement port, it is conceivable that the developing cartridge and the apparatus main body become complicated, leading to an increase in size and cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to easily remove the sealing member that seals the opening of the developer accommodating portion from the cartridge mounted on the rotating body by the user during initial installation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a user can easily remove a protective member for protecting electrical contacts from a cartridge mounted on a rotating body at the time of initial installation. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, a representative configuration according to the present invention is a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are used as a developer. A developing roller for developing the developer, a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, a developer accommodating portion having an opening for supplying the developer to the developing roller, and a removable seal for closing the opening. A plurality of developing cartridges, each of which is a stop member and having a gripping part that is gripped when being removed, is detachably mounted, and a rotatable rotating body, and the developing cartridge is attached to the rotating body A main body opening for attaching and detaching; and an operating means capable of rotating the rotating body in one direction by a manual operation, and is a surface facing the main body opening of the developing cartridge in a longitudinal direction. A grip portion for holding at the time of attachment / detachment is provided in the center portion, and a grip portion of the sealing member is provided on one side surface in the longitudinal direction not facing the main body opening of the developer cartridge, and the operation means In the longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge, the developing cartridge is disposed on the same side as the grip portion with respect to the handle portion.

  Further, a protective member for protecting an electrical contact of the developing cartridge is provided in place of the sealing member.

  According to the present invention, it is possible for the user to easily perform the rotary operation of the rotary and the take-out operation of the developing cartridge, and the sealing member or the protective member can be easily removed.

1 is an external perspective model view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a vertical right side model view of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2. 1 is an external perspective model view of an image forming apparatus with an upper surface cover opened. FIG. 3 is a vertical right side model view of the image forming apparatus in a state where an upper surface cover is opened. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 5. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus. (A) is an external perspective model view of the developing device as viewed from the non-driving side, and (b) is an external perspective model diagram as viewed from the driving side. (A) is the external appearance perspective model figure which looked at the rotary from the non-driving side, (b) is the external appearance perspective model figure seen from the drive side. (A) is an external perspective model view of one developing device viewed from the driving side, and (b) is an external perspective model diagram viewed from the non-driving side. It is explanatory drawing of a rotary electric drive mechanism. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a toner seal ts of a developing cartridge. FIG. 3 is an external perspective model view of one developing device before removal of a protective member during transportation as viewed from the non-driving side. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a toner seal handle 70. FIG. FIG. 4 is a vertical right side model view of the image forming apparatus in a state where an upper surface cover is opened before removing a protective member during transportation from the developing device. FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 15. FIG. 3 is an external perspective model view of the image forming apparatus in a state where an upper surface cover is opened before removing a protective member during transportation from the developing device.

  Next, a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
<< Overall configuration of color electrophotographic image forming apparatus >>
First, an overall configuration of a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “image forming apparatus”) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

  In the following description, the front side (front side) of the image forming apparatus 1 is the side where the cassette 4 of the recording medium is inserted and removed. The rear side is the opposite side. The front-rear direction is a direction from the rear side to the front side (front direction) and the opposite direction (rear direction). Left and right are left or right when the device is viewed from the front. The left-right direction is the direction from left to right (left direction) and the opposite direction (right direction). Further, one end side in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is a driving side, and the other end side is a non-driving side. The apparatus main body 5 is an image forming apparatus portion other than the developing cartridge.

  The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic process. The image forming apparatus 1 used in the present embodiment is a color laser printer that can form a full-color image on the recording medium. The recording medium is an image on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus, and examples thereof include a sheet, an OHP sheet, and a label.

  The image forming apparatus 1, for example, has an image on a sheet-like recording medium P based on an electrical image signal input from an external host device H such as a personal computer, an image reader, or a facsimile to a control circuit unit (control means: CPU) 6. Form. The circuit unit 6 exchanges various kinds of electrical information with the host device H and the operation unit 7 disposed on the front side of the upper surface of the device body 5 and performs image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1 in a predetermined manner. Control according to the control program and reference table. A motor M described later is also controlled by an electric signal from the circuit unit 6.

  Inside the apparatus main body 5, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as “drum”) 8 is disposed in the axial direction between a left frame (left side plate) 5 </ b> L and a right frame (right side plate) 5 </ b> R which are the skeleton of the apparatus main body 5. Is arranged to be rotatable in the left-right direction. Around the drum 8, a charging unit 9, an image exposure unit 10, a developing unit 11, a transfer unit 12, and a drum cleaning unit 13 are disposed.

  The charging unit 9 is a unit that uniformly charges the surface of the drum 8 to a predetermined polarity and potential. In this embodiment, a charging roller is used.

  The image exposure means 10 is a means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the drum 8, and a laser scanner unit is used in this embodiment. The unit 10 scans and exposes the drum surface by outputting laser light modulated in accordance with image information of each color input from the host device H to the circuit unit 6.

  The developing means 11 is a means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the drum 8 as a developer image. The developing means 11 of this embodiment is a rotary type developing device. The developing device 11 includes a rotary (rotating body, rotating support) 15, a plurality of developing cartridges 16 that are detachably mounted around the rotary 15, and a rotary transmission drive mechanism (for rotating and indexing the rotary 15 electrically). FIG. 11: rotational force transmission means) 55. That is, the developing device 11 has a rotary 15 that can be indexed and rotated about a central shaft 14 that is rotatably supported by a bearing between the left and right frames 5L and 5R of the apparatus body 5. A plurality of developing cartridges 16 are removably mounted around the rotary 15. In the present embodiment, the first to fourth developing cartridges 16B, 16Y, 16M, and 16C are provided. The rotary 15 can hold the four cartridges 16 in a substantially cylindrical shape. The cartridges 16 are mounted on the rotary 15 at intervals of 90 ° in the rotational direction of the rotary 15.

  Each cartridge 16 includes a developing roller 17, a developer supply roller 18 that supplies the developer t to the developing roller 17, and developer storage portions 16 B 1, 16 C 1, 16 M 1, 16 Y 1 ( 3 and 6). Each cartridge 16 is detachably mounted by a user in a corresponding accommodating portion 44 (44B, 44Y, 44M, 44C: FIGS. 8 and 9) provided on the rotary 15. That is, each cartridge 16 can be attached to and detached from the storage portion 44 by the user. In the first developing cartridge 16B, a black (B) developer t is stored in the developer storage section 16B1. In the second developing cartridge 16Y, a yellow (Y) developer t is stored in the developer storing portion 16Y1. In the third developing cartridge 16M, a magenta (M) developer t is stored in the developer storing section 16M1. In the fourth developing cartridge 16C, a cyan (C) developer is stored in the developer storing portion 16C1.

  As described above, the rotary 15 is detachably mounted with a plurality of developing cartridges (16Y, 16M, 16C, 16B). Each developing cartridge has a developer accommodating portion (16B1, 16C1, 16M1, 16Y1) for accommodating the developer t. Further, it has a developing roller 17 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 8 by using the developer t stored in the developer storage section (16B1, 16C1, 16M1, 16Y1). Then, the rotary 15 rotates. As will be described later, the rotary 15 sequentially moves one of the plurality of developing cartridges to a developing position for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the drum 8.

  The transfer unit 12 is a unit that transfers the developer image formed on the surface of the drum 8 to the recording medium P. In the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt unit 12 is used. This unit 12 has an endless intermediate transfer belt (hereinafter referred to as “belt”) 19 made of a dielectric material and having flexibility as an intermediate transfer member. The belt 19 has a primary transfer roller 20, a belt drive roller 21, a tension roller 22, and a secondary transfer counter roller 23, which are suspended and stretched. The transfer roller 20 is in pressure contact with the drum 8 with the belt 19 interposed therebetween. A contact portion between the drum 8 and the belt 19 is a primary transfer nip portion T1.

  A secondary transfer roller 24 is disposed opposite to the belt suspension portion of the roller 23. The roller 24 is moved by a swing mechanism (not shown) to an operating position where the roller 19 is in contact with the roller 23 with the belt 19 in between and a non-operating position spaced from the surface of the belt 19. The transfer roller 24 is always held at the non-operating position. Then, it is moved to the operating position at a predetermined control timing. In a state where the roller 24 is moved to the operation position, a contact portion between the roller 24 and the belt 19 is a secondary transfer nip portion T2.

  Further, a belt cleaner 25 for cleaning the surface of the belt 19 is disposed in the belt suspension portion of the roller 23 on the downstream side in the moving direction of the belt 19 from the roller 24. The cleaner 25 moves between an operating position where a cleaning member (not shown) contacts the surface of the belt 19 and a non-operating position where the cleaning member is separated from the surface of the belt 19 by a swing mechanism (not shown). The cleaning member is always held at the non-operating position. The cleaning member is moved to the operating position at a predetermined control timing.

  The drum cleaning unit 13 is a unit that removes the primary transfer residual developer from the surface of the drum 8 after the developer image is primarily transferred to the belt 19. In the present embodiment, a cleaning blade is used as the cleaning means 13. The cleaning blade is in contact with the surface of the drum 8 and removes the remaining developer. The developer removed from the surface of the drum 8 is stored in the cleaner container 26.

  A feeding unit 27 is disposed below the belt unit 12. The unit 27 includes a cassette 4 containing the recording medium P, a feeding roller 28, a separation pad 29, and the like. The cassette 4 can be taken in and out from the front side of the apparatus body 5 (front loading). Reference numeral 4a (FIG. 1) denotes a grip portion disposed on the front surface of the cassette 4.

  On the rear side in the apparatus main body 5, a recording medium conveyance path 30 is arranged from the bottom to the top. A registration roller unit 31, a secondary transfer roller 24, a fixing unit 32, and a discharge unit 33 are arranged along the conveyance path 30 from the bottom to the top. The fixing unit 32 includes a fixing roller 32a and a pressure roller 32b. The discharge unit 33 includes a discharge roller 33a and a roller 33b. A discharge tray 35 is disposed on the upper surface of the apparatus body 5. An upper surface cover 2 that can be opened and closed about the hinge shaft 36 is disposed on the upper surface of the apparatus body 5. Reference numeral 2 a denotes a handle portion disposed on the cover 2. The cover 2 is connected to the discharge tray 35 in a state of being closed by the apparatus main body 5 (FIGS. 1 to 3) and functions as an extension tray of the discharge tray 35. The recording medium P on which the image has been formed is discharged from the discharge port 34 onto the discharge tray 35 and the cover 2 by the discharge unit 33.

  On the upper surface of the apparatus main body 5, there is provided a main body opening 3 (FIG. 4) for attaching / detaching the cartridge 16 to / from the rotary 15 of the developing device 11. When the user attaches the cartridge 16 to the rotary 15 (accommodating portion 44) or removes the cartridge 16 from the rotary 15 (accommodating portion 44), the user holds the cartridge 16 while holding the cartridge 16 (hereinafter referred to as the main body opening). 3) (referred to as “opening”). That is, the opening 3 is for attaching / detaching the cartridge 16 to / from the rotary 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the opening 3 is provided in front of the discharge tray 35.

  The cover 2 can take a closed state in which the opening 3 is closed and an open state in which the cover 3 is opened around the hinge shaft 36. That is, the cover 2 can open and close the opening 3. The cover 2 is normally closed and is opened by the user when the cartridge 16 is attached or detached (FIGS. 4 to 6). When the cover 2 is opened, the opening 3 on the upper surface of the apparatus body 5 is opened. Then, the cartridge attaching / detaching passage portion 37 communicating from the opening 3 to the developing device 11 in the apparatus main body 5 can be visually recognized. The passage portion 37 includes a guide plate 38 that is disposed between the opening 3 and the developing device 11 and is curved in a concave arc surface shape. The passage portion 37 is disposed above the drum 8.

  In conjunction with opening and closing of the cover 2, an interlock switch (kill switch) SW of a power supply circuit (not shown) of the apparatus is turned ON / OFF. That is, when the cover 2 is closed, the first protrusion 39 disposed on the back side of the cover 2 presses the actuator of the interlock switch SW disposed on the apparatus main body 5 side. Thereby, the state of the switch SW-ON and the power supply circuit-ON is maintained. When the cover 2 is opened, the protrusion 39 is retracted, and the pressing of the actuator by the protrusion 39 is released. Thereby, the state of the switch SW-OFF and the power supply circuit-OFF is maintained, and the driving of the apparatus main body 5 is released.

  Further, on the back side of the cover 2, second protrusions 40 </ b> L and 40 </ b> R are provided on one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the cover 2. On the other hand, engagement release members 41L and 41R are provided on one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the rotary 15 (FIG. 4). In conjunction with opening and closing of the cover 2, the engagement release members 41 </ b> L and 41 </ b> R are swung between the cartridge engagement position and the cartridge engagement release position with respect to the rotary 15. This will be described later.

  The operation for forming a full-color image is as follows. 2 and 3 show the image forming apparatus 1 in a standby state. The cover 2 is closed. The rotary 15 is maintained in a state in which the rotation of the first developing cartridge 16B for black is stopped with the rotation angle position corresponding to the passage portion 37 as the standby position X. The standby position X (for example, the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) is a position shifted by a certain angle phase from the development position Y (for example, the position shown in FIG. 7). The standby position X is an attachment / detachment position where a predetermined developing cartridge 16 is attached to / detached from the rotary 15.

  In the standby state, the control circuit unit 6 waits for input of an image formation start signal. When the image forming start signal is input, the circuit unit 6 drives the motor M (FIG. 2). A rotary electric drive mechanism (described later) to which the rotational force of the motor M is transmitted causes the rotary 15 to rotate 45 ° counterclockwise in the present embodiment from the standby position X (FIG. 2) about the central shaft 14. After that, stop the rotation. That is, the rotation of the rotary 15 causes the cartridge 16B to move from the standby position X corresponding to the passage portion 37 to the developing position Y of the cartridge 16B facing the drum 8 (FIG. 7). . As will be described later, a cartridge driving force is transmitted from the apparatus main body 5 to the cartridge 16B.

  A predetermined developing bias is supplied from the apparatus main body 5. In response to the driving force, the drum 8 rotates in a clockwise direction (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 7) at a predetermined speed. The scanner unit 10 is also driven. The belt 19 is also rotationally driven at a speed corresponding to the speed of the drum 8 in the counterclockwise direction (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 7) (the rotation direction and the forward direction of the drum 8). The transfer roller 24 and the belt cleaner 25 are moved to the non-operating positions separated from the belt 19, respectively.

  A predetermined charging bias is applied to the charging roller 9 from the apparatus main body 5. As a result, the surface of the rotating drum 8 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential. The scanner unit 10 outputs laser light modulated in accordance with the B color component image signal of the full-color image, and the drum surface is scanned and exposed. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the B color component image is formed on the surface of the drum 8. The electrostatic latent image is developed as a B developer image by the cartridge 16B. That is, the electrostatic latent image formed on the drum 8 is developed by the developing roller 17. In this embodiment, the electrostatic latent image is reversely developed using a negative developer having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the drum 8. The B color developer image is primarily transferred onto the surface of the belt 19 at the primary transfer nip T1. A primary transfer bias having a predetermined potential is applied to the transfer roller 20 with a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the developer at a predetermined control timing. The surface of the drum 8 after the primary transfer is cleaned by the cleaning blade 13.

  When the primary transfer of the B developer image to the belt 19 is completed, the rotary 15 is intermittently rotated 90 ° in the clockwise direction. As a result, the cartridge 16 </ b> Y for yellow is now moved to the developing position Y facing the drum 8. Then, charging / exposure / development steps for forming a Y-color developer image corresponding to the Y-color component image of the full-color image on the drum 8 are executed. The Y-color developer image formed in the above process is primary-transferred at the nip portion T1 while being superimposed on the B-color developer image already transferred on the belt 19.

  When the primary transfer of the Y color developer image to the belt 19 is completed, the rotary 15 is rotated 90 ° in the clockwise direction. As a result, the magenta cartridge 16M is moved to the developing position Y this time. Then, charging / exposure / development steps for forming an M-color developer image corresponding to the M-color component image of the full-color image on the drum 8 are executed. The M color developer image formed in the above process is primarily transferred at the nip portion T1 so as to be superimposed on the B color + Y color developer image already transferred onto the belt 19.

  When the primary transfer of the M developer image to the belt 19 is completed, the rotary 15 is rotated 90 ° in the clockwise direction. As a result, the cartridge 16C for cyan is moved to the developing position Y. Then, a charging / exposure / development process for forming a C-color developer corresponding to the C-color component image of the full-color image on the drum 8 is executed. The C-color developer image formed in the above process is primarily transferred at the nip portion T1 while being superimposed on the B-color + Y-color + M-color developer image already transferred on the belt 19.

  In this way, a four-color full-color unfixed developer image of B color + Y color + M color + C color is synthesized and formed on the belt 19.

  That is, the rotary 15 is indexed and rotated by a rotary transmission drive mechanism (rotational force transmission means) 55 described later, and a predetermined one of the plurality of cartridges 16 is moved to the developing position Y. The latent image formed on the drum 8 is developed as a developer image by the cartridge 16 located at the development position Y. This operation is sequentially executed for the plurality of cartridges 16 to form a color image on the recording medium P.

  Note that the color order of the color developer images sequentially formed on the drum 8 is not limited to the order of B color → Y color → M color → C color as in the present embodiment, but any appropriate color. Can be done in order.

  Then, before the leading end portion of the four-color full-color unfixed developer image formed on the belt 19 reaches the position of the transfer roller 24 by the movement of the belt 19, the transfer roller 24 comes into contact with the belt 19. Move to position. Further, the belt cleaner 25 is also moved to the position where it acts on the belt 19.

  On the other hand, the feeding roller 28 is driven at a predetermined control timing. As a result, the sheet-like recording medium P stacked and stored in the cassette 4 is separated and fed by the cooperation of the roller 28 and the separation pad 29. The recording medium P is introduced into the secondary transfer nip T2 that is a contact portion between the transfer roller 24 and the belt 19 by the registration roller unit 31 at a predetermined control timing. A secondary transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 24 with a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the developer. As a result, in the process in which the recording medium P is nipped and conveyed at the nip portion T2, the four-color superimposed developer images on the belt 19 are sequentially and collectively transferred onto the surface of the recording medium P.

  The recording medium P is separated from the surface of the belt 19 and introduced into the fixing unit 32, and is heated and pressurized at the fixing nip portion. As a result, each color developer image is fixed (melted and mixed) on the recording medium P. Then, the recording medium P passes through the fixing unit 32 and is discharged from the discharge port 34 onto the discharge tray 35 and the cover 2 by the discharge unit 33 as a full-color image formed product.

  After separating the recording medium P, the untransferred developer remaining on the surface of the belt 19 is removed by the belt cleaner 25.

  The circuit unit 6 puts the image forming apparatus 1 into a standby state when one or a plurality of continuous image forming jobs are completed. Then, the circuit unit 6 waits for the input of the next image formation start signal. That is, the driving of the drum 8, the scanner unit 10, the belt 19 and the like is stopped. Further, the transfer roller 24 and the belt cleaner 25 are moved to the non-operation position. Then, the rotary 15 is rotated 45 °, and the cartridge 16B for black is returned to the standby position X (FIGS. 2 and 3) corresponding to the passage portion 37 and stopped. That is, the circuit unit 6 stops the rotary 15 so that the developing cartridge 16B is positioned at the standby position X.

  In the monochrome image formation mode, only image formation by the cartridge 16B is performed. The circuit unit 6 returns the image forming apparatus 1 to the standby state when one or a plurality of continuous monochrome image forming jobs are completed. Then, the circuit unit 6 waits for the input of the next image formation start signal.

<Developing device>
FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the developing device 11, and FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of the rotary 15.

  The rotary 15 can hold the first to fourth cartridges 16B, 16Y, 16M, and 16C in a substantially cylindrical shape. The rotary 15 has the cartridges 16 mounted at intervals of 90 ° in the rotation direction.

The rotary 15 has a central shaft 14 rotatably supported by a bearing between a left frame 5L and a right frame 5R provided in the apparatus body 5. The rotary 15 has disk-shaped flanges 42L and 42R that are fixedly disposed on one end side and the other end side of the shaft 14. The right flange 42R is the drive side. Teeth are provided around the flanges 42L and 42R to form a rotary gear. That is, between the flanges 42L and 42R, four first to fourth partition plates 43 (43 ₁ , 43 ₂ , 43 ₃ , 43 ₄ ) that are substantially cross-shaped in cross section are provided. Each partition plates _{43 1,} 43 _2, 43 3, 43 ₄ of the one end is fixed to the flange 42L, and the other end is fixed to the flange 42R. By these four partition plates, the first to fourth cartridge housing portions 44 (44B, 44Y, 44M, 44C) are configured between the flanges 42L, 42R at intervals of 90 ° in the circumferential direction of the rotary 15. ing. Space between the first and fourth partition plates ₄₃ 1, 43 ₄ is a first cartridge housing portion 44B, wherein the first developing device 16B is mounted to. Space between the second and first partition plates ₄₃ 2, 43 ₁ is a second cartridge housing portion 44Y, where the second developing unit 16Y is attached to. Space between the third and second partition plates ₄₃ 3, 43 ₂ is a third cartridge accommodating portion 44M, wherein the third cartridge 16M is attached to. Space between the fourth and third partition plates ₄₃ 4, 43 ₃ is the fourth cartridge accommodating portion 44C, wherein the fourth cartridge 16C is removably mounted on. Each cartridge 16 is attached to and detached from the corresponding receiving portion 44 from the radial direction of the rotary 15 by the user (horizontal extraction).

Cartridge locking members 45 </ b> L and 45 </ b> R are provided on the outer surfaces on one end side and the other end side of each partition plate 41 ₁ , 41 ₂ , 41 ₃ , 41 ₄ , respectively. The locking members 45L and 45R are biased in a direction to engage with the cartridge 16 housed (mounted) in the housing portion 44 by a biasing spring (not shown).

  The cartridge drive output portion (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 5 enters and exits from the outside of the flange 42R to the portion of the flange 42R corresponding to each of the accommodating portions 44B, 44Y, 44M, 44C. A hole 46 is provided for this purpose. Moreover, the 1st guide rib 47R is provided in the inner surface part with which each accommodating part 44B, 44Y, 44M, 44C of flange 42R respond | corresponds, respectively. The guide rib 47R guides the cartridge 16 when the user attaches or detaches the cartridge 16 to or from the accommodating portion 44.

  An intermediate electrical contact 48 for applying a developing bias is provided on an inner surface portion of the flange 42L corresponding to each of the accommodating portions 44B, 44Y, 44M, 44C. The electrical contact 48 has an elastic force using a spring material and is elastically bent toward the non-driving side. Moreover, the 2nd guide rib 47L is each provided in the inner surface part to which each accommodating part 44B, 44Y, 44M, 44C of the flange 42L respond | corresponds. The guide rib 47L cooperates with the guide rib 47R to guide the cartridge 16 when the user attaches / detaches the cartridge 16 to / from the accommodating portion 44.

  Each of the cartridges 16B, 16Y, 16M, and 16C has the same shape and structure.

  FIG. 10A is an external perspective view of one cartridge 16 viewed from the driving side, and FIG. 10B is an external perspective view viewed from the non-driving side.

  The cartridge 16 has a sector shape in which the cartridge container has a bottom plate 16a, a rear plate 16b, and an arc-shaped front plate 16c that form two right-angled surfaces in a cross section. In other words, the cartridge container has a shape substantially corresponding to the space shape of the storage portion 44. Inside the cartridge 16 is provided a developing roller 17 and a developer supply roller 18 for supplying the developer t to the developing roller (FIG. 3). Further, the cartridge 16 includes developer accommodating portions 16B1, 16C1, 16M1, and 16Y1 that accommodate the developer t. The developing roller 17 has a front surface portion exposed through a slit opening 16d provided in the front plate 16c along the longitudinal direction. Further, a developing drive input portion 49 and a first guided rib 51R are provided on the drive side surface 16e of the cartridge 16. A toner seal extraction hole 501, a developing bias input electrical contact 50, and a second guided rib 51 </ b> L are provided on the side surface 16 f on the non-driving side of the cartridge 16. The rear plate 16b is provided with a locked portion 52. When the user attaches / detaches the cartridge 16 to / from the accommodating portion 44, the guided rib 51R is guided by the guide rib 47R, and the guided rib 51L is guided by the guide rib 47L. Thereby, the cartridge 16 can be smoothly attached to and detached from the accommodating portion 44.

  In addition, the front plate 16c is provided with a cartridge handle portion 16g that is held by the user at the time of attachment / detachment at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 16. The position of the handle portion 16 g substantially coincides with the center of gravity of the cartridge 16. Thus, the user can stably hold it with one hand.

  When the cartridge 16 is mounted in the corresponding cartridge storage portion 44 of the rotary 15, the locking members 45 </ b> L and 45 </ b> R provided on one end side and the other end side of the storage portion 44 and the locked portion 52 are connected to each other. Engage. As a result, the cartridge 16 is prevented from popping out of the rotary 15. That is, each cartridge 16 is attached to the storage portion 44 in a stable state.

  In the state where the cartridge 16 is held in the housing portion 44, the development drive input portion 49 corresponds to the hole 46 of the right flange 42R. Further, the developing bias input electrical contact 50 is in contact with the intermediate electrical contact 48 of the left flange 42L provided at a position facing the developing bias input electrical contact 50. The intermediate electrical contact 48 is elastically bent and is in contact with the development bias input electrical contact 50.

  The cartridge drive output section (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 5 is coupled to the development drive input section 49 of the cartridge 16 moved to the development position Y by the rotation of the rotary 15. In other words, the driving output portion enters from the outside to the inside of the flange 42 </ b> R through the hole 46 and is coupled to the driving input portion 49. As a result, the developing roller 17 and the developer supply roller 18 of the cartridge 16 moved to the developing position Y can be rotated. Further, the developing bias input electrical contact 50 of the cartridge 16 moved to the developing position Y by the rotation of the rotary 15 is electrically connected to the main body electrical contact (not shown) via the intermediate electrical contact 48. As a result, a developing bias can be applied to the cartridge 16 moved to the developing position Y from a power supply unit (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 5.

  The drive output unit (not shown) is coupled to the development drive input unit 49 of the cartridge 16 moved to the development position Y during image formation. In other words, the drive output portion (not shown) enters from the outside to the inside of the flange 42R through the hole 46 and is coupled to the input portion 49. The drive output section (not shown) is retracted to the outside of the flange 42R when the rotary 15 is located at the standby position X or when the rotary 15 is rotated.

<< Rotary electric drive mechanism (rotational force transmission means) >>
On the upper side of the rotary 15, a drive shaft 53 (FIG. 11) rotatably supported by a bearing is disposed between the frame 5 </ b> L and the frame 5 </ b> R. The drive shaft 53 is parallel to the rotation axis of the rotary 15. The drive shaft 53 is fixed with rotary drive gears 54L and 54R that mesh with the rotary gears of the flanges 42L and 42R. Accordingly, the rotational force is transmitted to the rotary 15 through the gear 54 and the gear 42 by rotating the drive shaft 53. During image formation, the gears 54L and 54R rotate integrally with a drive shaft 53 that rotates by receiving a rotational force from a drive mechanism 55 (FIG. 11) provided outside the frame 5R. The gear 54L transmits the rotational force to the rotary gear 42L provided on the rotary 15. Further, the gear 54 </ b> R transmits a rotational force to a rotary gear 42 </ b> R provided on the rotary 15. Thus, the rotary 15 is rotated by the rotation force from the motor M _R as a drive source. The drive mechanism 55 is a rotational force transmission means for rotating the rotary 15 electrically. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the drive mechanism (rotational force transmission means) 55.

The drive mechanism 55 is provided outside the frame 5R (FIGS. 8 and 11). In FIG. 8, the frame 5R is not shown for simplification. Drive mechanism 55 includes a gear train for transmitting the rotational force of the motor _{M R} (driving force) to the drive shaft 53 G1, G2 · · ·, and a ratchet mechanism 80.

The ratchet mechanism 80 includes a gear G3, a ratchet portion provided on opposite sides of the gear G4, and a ratchet spring 801 that biases the gear G3 toward the gear G4. Thus, when the rotary manual operation to be described later, by cutting the drive connection of the rotary 15 and the motor M _R, prevents generate heat around and bring the motor M _R is.

Further, the ratchet mechanism 80 is switched between the operating state and the non-operating state in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cover 2. For example, when the cover 2 is open, located in the ratchet mechanism 80 is activated condition, it is possible to cut the driving connection between the motor M _R during manual operation will be described later. When the cover 2 is closed, the third protrusion 81 disposed on the back side of the cover 2 enters the retraction path of the ratchet mechanism 80. As a result, the ratchet mechanism 80 becomes inactive. Thus, regardless of the direction of rotation of the motor M _R, it is possible to connect the drive of the rotary 15 and the motor M _R.

In this embodiment, an example was described for rotating the rotary 15 by a dedicated motor M _R. However, the configuration is not limited to this. The rotary 15 is indexed and rotated using a motor M that drives (rotates) other units (for example, the intermediate transfer belt unit 12 and the fixing unit 32), a solenoid controlled by the circuit unit 6, and a clutch. You can also.

<Cartridge replacement method>
As each cartridge 16B, 16Y, 16M, 16C is used for image formation, the developer t accommodated in the developer accommodating portions 16B1, 16Y1, 16M1, 16C1 is consumed. Therefore, for example, the cartridge 16 is provided with detection means (not shown) for detecting the remaining amount of the developer t in each cartridge 16. In the circuit unit 6, the remaining amount value detected by the detecting means is compared with a preset threshold value for cartridge life warning or life warning. Then, for the cartridge in which the developer t has decreased to a remaining amount value that is smaller than the threshold value, the display unit 7a of the operation unit 7 displays a life warning or a life warning for the cartridge 16. As a result, the user is encouraged to prepare the replacement cartridge 16 or the cartridge 16 is replaced, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

  The rotary 15 takes a standby position X whose phase is shifted from the development position Y except during the developing operation, and also performs the attaching / detaching work for mounting, replacement, inspection, etc. of the cartridge 16 at the standby position X.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, an opening through which the cartridge 16 is passed in order to insert the cartridge 16 into the apparatus body 5 and to remove the cartridge 16 from the apparatus body 5 on the upper surface of the apparatus body 5. 3 is provided. Note that the opening 3 is an opening through which the user can attach and detach the cartridge positioned at the cartridge attaching / detaching position (standby position X). The cartridge attaching / detaching position is a position where the cartridge 16 is installed in the housing portion 44 or the cartridge 16 is taken out from the housing portion 44. As described above, a cover 2 (openable / closable cover that covers the opening 3) is provided as an opening / closing member that is movable between a closed position that closes the opening 3 and an open position that opens the opening 3. Yes. The cover 2 is rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body 5 about a hinge shaft 36 on the rear side of the cover 2. Then, the cover 2 is closed to the apparatus main body 5 (FIGS. 1 to 3 show a state where the cover 2 is closed). The opening 3 is closed by the closing operation of the cover 2. Further, the cover 2 rotates to the rear side of the apparatus main body 5 around the hinge shaft 36. The cover 2 can be opened from the apparatus body 5 (FIGS. 4 to 6 show the state where the cover 2 is opened). Thereby, the opening part 3 is opened largely. Then, the user opens the cover 2. Then, the user can visually recognize the passage portion 37 provided inside the apparatus main body 5 from the opening 3. The passage portion 37 is a passage through which the cartridge 16 passes when the cartridge 16 is attached and detached. That is, when the cartridge 16 is attached or detached, the user can access the cartridge 16 mounted on the rotary 15 by opening the cover 2 by the user. That is, according to the present embodiment, the other end of the passage portion 37 whose one end reaches the cartridge attachment / detachment position faces the opening 3. As a result, the user can easily contact the cartridge 16 mounted on the rotary 15. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the detachability of the cartridge 16 can be improved.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 1 is in the standby state, the rotary 15 is in a state where the rotation is stopped at the standby position X where the cartridge 16B for black image formation faces the passage portion 37. Become. By opening the cover 2, the user can access the cartridge 16B. The cartridge 16B consumes more developer t than the cartridge 16 that forms images of other colors. That is, the cartridge 16B has a higher replacement frequency than the other cartridges 16C, 16M, and 16Y. Therefore, according to this embodiment, when replacing the cartridge 16B, the user can immediately access the cartridge 16B by opening the cover 2. Therefore, usability is improved.

  Further, as described above, when the cover 2 is opened, the interlock switch SW of the power supply circuit (not shown) of the device 1 is turned off, that is, the power supply circuit is kept off. Thereby, electrical safety is ensured.

Further, when the cover 2 is opened, the disengagement members 41L and 41R provided on one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the rotary 15 swing to the disengagement position where the engagement between the rotary and the cartridge is disengaged. Move. The engagement release members 41L and 41R are action members for the locking members 45L and 45R provided on one end side and the other end side of the rotary 15. The disengagement members 41L and 41R correspond to the locking members 45L and 45R on the one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the _first partition plate 431 when the rotary 15 is stopped at the standby position X. Arranged in position. That is, in a state where the rotary 15 is stopped at the standby position X, the disengagement member 41L is disposed at a position facing the locking member 45L, and the disengagement member 41R is disposed at a position facing the locking member 45R. Has been. In the present embodiment, the engagement release members 41L and 41R are loosely fitted on the drive shaft 53 and supported by the drive shaft 53 so as to be swingable. The disengagement members 41L and 41R are each urged counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 6) by an urging spring (not shown).

  When the cover 2 is closed, the disengagement members 41L and 41R are pressed by the second protrusions 40L and 40R disposed on the back side of the cover 2, respectively. That is, the engagement release member 41L is pushed by the second protrusion 40L, and the engagement release member 41R is pushed by the second protrusion 40R. Thereby, the engagement releasing members 41L and 41R are rotated clockwise (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3) against the spring force of the biasing spring (not shown), and the locking member 45L. , 45R is maintained at a non-operating position (developer engaging position) that does not contact.

When the cover 2 is opened, the disengagement members 41L and 41R are released from the pressing force by retracting the second protrusions 40L and 40R. The disengagement members 41L and 41R are rotated counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 6) by the spring force (elastic force) of the biasing spring. Engagement releasing member 41L, the above-described rotation of the 41R, locking member 45L in the first partition plate 43 ₁ of the rotary 15 stopped at the standby position X, 45R is pressed. That is, the locking member 45L is pressed by the engagement release member 41L by an elastic force. The locking member 45R is pressed by the engagement release member 41R by an elastic force. By this pressing, the locking members 45L and 45R move against a spring force (elastic force) of a return spring (not shown) to a position where the locking members 45L and 45R do not engage with the locked portion 52 of the cartridge 16B. Thus, the rotation angle positions of the engagement release members 41L and 41R that have moved the locking members 45L and 45R are the engagement release positions.

  By the above operation, the cartridge 16B located at the cartridge attaching / detaching position (standby position X), that is, the cartridge 16B facing the passage portion 37 is released from the rotary 15. Even when the cartridge 16B is disengaged from the rotary 15, the first guided rib 51L is received by the first guide rib 47L and the second guided rib 51R is received by the second guide rib 47R. Accordingly, the cartridge 16B is mounted (accommodated) in a stable state in the accommodating portion 44B.

  The guide ribs 47L and 47R are provided in the accommodating portion 44B. Therefore, the user inserts his / her hand into the passage portion 37 from the opening 3. Then, the user grasps the handle portion 16g of the cartridge 16B. Then, the user pulls out the cartridge 16B from the housing portion 44B to the front side. Further, the developing device 16B is moved upward in the passage portion 37 along the guide plate 38. Then, the cartridge 16B is taken out of the apparatus body 5 from the opening 3. When the cartridge 16B is taken out from the housing portion 44B, the guided rib 51L is guided by the first guide rib 47L, and the guided rib 51R is guided by the second guide rib 47R. The rib 51L is disposed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 16B, and the rib 51R is disposed at the other end in the longitudinal direction. The guide ribs 47L and 47R are provided in the accommodating portion 44B.

  Then, a new cartridge 16 </ b> B is inserted into the passage portion 37 from the opening portion 3 and moved toward the rotary 15 along the guide plate 38. Then, the cartridge 16B is sufficiently inserted into the housing portion 44B. When the cartridge 16B is inserted into the housing portion 44B, the rib 51L is supported by the rib 47L, and the rib 51R is supported by the rib 47R.

  If it is not necessary to replace a cartridge other than the cartridge 16B, the cover 2 is closed here.

  The above-described attachment / detachment operation of the cartridge 16B with respect to the accommodating portion 44B is performed by the user.

  When the cover 2 is closed, the interlock switch SW is turned on at the first protrusion 39, and the power supply circuit (not shown) of the device 5 is turned on. Further, due to the second protrusions 40L and 40R, the developer engaging / disengaging members 41L and 41R resist the spring force of the urging springs, and the developer engaging positions (positions where the developing device engaging members 45L and 45R do not contact). Moved to and held.

Thereby, the pressing of the left and right engaging members 45L and 45R on the _first partition plate 431 is released. Then, the locking members 45L and 45R move back by the elastic force of the return spring. As a result, the locking members 45L and 45R engage with the locked portion 52 of the new cartridge 16B newly accommodated (mounted or attached) in the accommodating portion 44B. As a result, the new cartridge 16B is held (locked) in a stable state in the housing portion 44B.

  Therefore, the cartridges 16B, 16Y, 16M, and 16C are all locked by the locking members 45L and 45R in the corresponding accommodating portions 44B, 44Y, 44M, and 44C of the rotary 15 when the interlock switch SW is ON. It is in. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent a trouble that the driving of the apparatus main body 5 is started without the cartridge being locked with respect to the rotary 15.

  Here, in the above-described embodiment, the replacement of the cartridge 16B having the highest replacement frequency has been described. Here, when each of the cartridges 16 is provided with a detecting means (not shown) for detecting the remaining amount of the developer, the cartridge in which the developer has decreased is transferred to the passage portion 37 by the control of the circuit portion 6. The rotary 15 can be stopped while being moved to the corresponding position. Further, a life warning or a life warning can be displayed on the display unit 7a (FIG. 4) by the control of the circuit unit 6. Thus, the user can immediately access the cartridge to be replaced by opening the cover 2.

<< Rotary manual drive mechanism (manual drive unit (manual operation unit)) >>
Next, a means for a user to access a plurality of cartridges will be described. The cartridges other than the position corresponding to the passage portion 37 (attachment / detachment position) are attached / detached as follows. That is, the rotary 15 is rotated by the rotary manual drive mechanism 60 (FIG. 8), and the cartridge to be mounted or removed is moved to a position corresponding to the passage portion 37 (attachment / detachment position).

  Here, means for accessing another cartridge from the state where the cartridge 16B is located at the attachment / detachment position will be described.

  The manual drive mechanism 60 is an operating means that can rotate the rotary in one direction by manual operation, and is provided outside the frame 5L. In FIG. 8, the frame 5L is not shown for simplification. The manual drive mechanism 60 includes gear trains G6 and G7 fixed to the non-drive side end of the drive shaft 53, and a dial (access member) 65 provided integrally with the gear G7. The dial 65 has an upper surface exposed from a slit opening 61 (FIG. 4) provided on the upper surface of the frame 5L. The slit opening 61 is provided at a position where the user can access the dial 65 when the cover 2 is opened. That is, the user can access the dial 65 when the cover 2 is open.

  When the user rotates the dial 65 forward (in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 8B), the rotational force (operating force) applied to the dial 65 by the user is driven through the gears G7 and G6. 53, the rotary 15 rotates counterclockwise (FIGS. 5 and 6).

At this time, as described above, the ratchet mechanism 80, since a part of the connection of a series of rotational force transmission path between the rotary 15 and the motor M _R is disconnected, there is no possibility that the motor M _R is rotated together.

  The user rotates the dial 15 by rotating the dial 65 until the cartridge 16 to be accessed such as replacement reaches the attachment / detachment position corresponding to the passage portion 37. When the rotary member 15 is rotated by rotating the dial 65, the urging force (elastic force) of the release members 41L and 41R in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 6) is rotated by the user turning the dial 65. It is weaker than the rotational force of the rotary 15. Therefore, the release members 41L and 41R pressing the locking members 45L and 45R of the cartridge 16B are rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B by the rotating rotary 15, and are moved to the outer surface of the next second cartridge 16Y. Get on. As a result, the pressing of the locking members 45L and 45R for locking the first cartridge 16B to the rotary 15 is released. Therefore, the cartridge 16 </ b> B moved from the attachment / detachment position by the rotation of the rotary 15 is locked with respect to the rotary 15.

  When the rotary 15 further rotates and the next second cartridge 16Y reaches the attachment / detachment position, the release members 41L and 41R rotate in the direction of the arrow B. Accordingly, the release members 41L and 41R press the locking members 45L and 45R that lock the second cartridge 16Y to the rotary 15. As a result, the cartridge 16Y can be detached from the rotary 15. At this time, since the release members 41L and 41R increase the rotational force of the rotary 15, it is possible to notify the user who manually operates the dial 65 that the next cartridge 16Y has come to the attachment / detachment position. The same applies to the third cartridge 16M and the fourth cartridge 16C.

Further, when the user tries to rotate the dial 65 to the back side (the direction opposite to the arrow C in FIG. 8B), the disengagement members 41L and 41R are springs of the biasing spring (not shown). It cannot rotate clockwise (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3) against the force. That is, the engagement releasing members 41L and 41R cannot be rotated to a position where they do not interfere with the _first partition plate 431. Thereby, the user can rotate the dial 65 only in one direction.

  As described above, the user rotates the rotary 15 with manual force to place the cartridge 16Y, cartridge 16M, or cartridge 16C other than the cartridge 16B in the attach / detach position and replace the cartridge with a new developer. Close cover 2 after replacement. In this case, the circuit unit 6 activates the drive mechanism 55 to return the rotary 15 to the standby position and put it in a standby state. That is, the rotary 15 is rotated and maintained in a stopped state so that the first cartridge 16B for black is at a rotation angle position corresponding to the cartridge attaching / detaching passage portion 37.

  The dial 65 is provided near the non-driving side end of the cartridge 16Y, and a cartridge handle 16g is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 16Y. That is, the dial 65 is disposed on the same side as the toner seal handle 70 with respect to the handle portion 16g. As a result, the user can grasp the cartridge handle 16g with the driving hand, that is, in this embodiment, the right hand, and take out the cartridge 16Y from the rotary 15 while operating the dial 65 with the left hand. It has become. Therefore, it is possible to easily remove the toner seal by rotating the rotary and taking out the developing cartridge.

In the present embodiment, the example in which the gear G6 fixed to the drive shaft 53 and the dial 65 are always connected has been described. That is, when rotating the rotary 15 by the motor M _R also, manual driving mechanism 60 is connected, dial 65 is rotated. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, a mechanism similar to the ratchet mechanism 80 provided in the drive mechanism 55 can be provided in the gear train of the manual drive mechanism 60. By holding the ratchet mechanism in the retracted position by the protrusion provided on the back side of the cover 2, the drive connection between the gear G6 fixed to the drive shaft 53 and the dial 65 can be disconnected when the cover 2 is closed. it can. That is, it is also possible to not transmit the rotational force of the motor M _R dial 65.

  In this embodiment, the release members 41L and 41R are supported on the drive shaft 53 provided with the rotary drive gear 54. However, it is not limited to this configuration. The release members 41L and 41R may be supported on a shaft provided separately from the drive shaft 53.

<Initial cartridge installation>
Next, a method for removing the protection member during transportation of each cartridge at the time of initial installation by the user will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the toner seal ts of the developing cartridge. FIG. 13 is an external perspective model view of one cartridge 16 before removal of the protective member during transportation as viewed from the non-driving side. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the toner seal handle 70. FIG. 15 is a vertical right side model view of the image forming apparatus in a state where the upper surface cover is opened before the protection member is removed from the cartridge during transportation. FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 17 is a schematic external perspective view of the image forming apparatus in a state in which the top cover is opened before removing the protective member during transportation from the cartridge.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is transported in a state where the cartridge 16Y for yellow image formation is at a rotation angle position corresponding to the cartridge attaching / detaching passage portion 37. The user removes the protective member during transportation from the cartridge 16Y by the method described later. Further, the rotary 15 is manually rotated to move to the attachment / detachment positions in the order of the cartridges 16M, 16C, 16B, and the protection member during transportation is removed. Details will be described later. Thus, when all the transport protection members are removed, the cartridge 16B is in a rotational angle position corresponding to the cartridge attachment / detachment passage portion 37.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 1 is in the standby state, the rotary 15 stops rotating at the standby position X where the cartridge 16B faces the passage portion 37. That is, when all the transport protection members are removed, the rotary 15 stops at the same rotational angle position as in the standby state. Thereby, after the user removes all the transport protection members, the circuit unit 6 does not need to activate the drive mechanism 55 to return the rotary 15 to the standby position.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the cartridges 16B, 16Y, 16M, and 16C are each shipped with a toner seal ts serving as a sealing member at the developer supply roller 18 side opening of the developer storage portions 16B1, 16C1, 16M1, and 16Y1. It is blocked by. That is, the opening is sealed by the toner seal ts as a protection member during transportation so that the developer does not leak from the developer storage portion during transportation. The toner t is not sent to the developer supply roller 18 until the user removes the toner seal ts. Therefore, the toner seal ts functions as a seal member that seals the opening.

  One end of the toner seal ts is exposed to the outside of the cartridge 16 from the extraction hole 501 of the toner seal ts provided on the non-driving side surface 16 f of the cartridge 16. At one end of the toner seal ts, a toner seal handle 70 (FIG. 13) is fixed as a grip portion to be gripped when the user pulls out and removes the toner seal ts. The toner seal handle 70 is provided on one side surface in the longitudinal direction that does not face the main body opening of the developing cartridge. As a result, the user can pull out the toner seal handle 70 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the non-driving side surface 16 f of the cartridge 16.

  The toner seal handle 70 is held by the rotary 15 with a part thereof protruding from the developing device 11. When the user tries to rotate the rotary 15 without removing the toner seal ts from the cartridge 16Y at the attachment / detachment position during transportation, the protrusion 70a (FIG. 14), which is the engaging portion of the toner seal handle 70, is the guide plate 38. The rotary 15 is prevented from rotating.

  Accordingly, the rotary 15 does not move from the rotational angle position during transportation without removing the toner seal ts and the toner seal handle 70 from the cartridge 16Y. That is, the toner seal ts can be surely removed by the user during the initial installation.

  Further, one end of the toner seal handle 70 is fixed to the toner seal ts, and the other end is urged in a direction away from the non-driving side surface 16 f of the cartridge 16 by an urging member 82 provided in the cartridge 16. . When the cartridge 16 is housed in the cartridge housing portion 44 of the rotary 15, the toner seal handle 70 is held at a position along the non-driving side surface 16 f of the cartridge 16 by the flange 42 </ b> L. When the cartridge 16 is removed from the rotary 15, the toner seal handle 70 is separated from the non-driving side surface 16 f of the cartridge 16 by the biasing member.

  Thus, once the user removes the cartridge 16 from the rotary 15, at least a part of the toner seal handle 70 is separated from the non-driving side surface 16 f, which hinders the user from remounting the cartridge 16 to the rotary 15. Become. That is, at the time of initial installation, after the user removes the cartridge 16 from the rotary 15, the toner seal ts can be reliably removed.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the urging member 82 is provided in the cartridge 16 as the means for urging the toner seal handle 70 in the direction away from the non-driving side surface 16f has been described. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, a shape having elasticity may be provided on a part of the toner seal handle 70 and urged by the elastic force.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the developing device 11 is transported in a state in which a tape member 71 serving as an operating means for rotating the rotary 15 by a predetermined angle is attached. One end of the tape member 71 is fixed to a toner seal handle 70 attached to the cartridge 16B. The tape member 71 is wound around the outer periphery of the developing device 11 along the front plate 16c of the arc surface of the cartridges 16C and 16M. At this time, the tape member 71 is disposed closer to the non-driving side end than the developing roller 17 in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 16. That is, the developing roller 17 is not damaged by the tape member 71. Further, the tape member 71 is disposed on the far side of the cartridge 16Y at a position facing the opening 3 in the pre-use state with respect to the attaching / detaching direction from the rotary 15. That is, the tape member 71 along the partition plate 43 _2-partition plate 43 ₁ is placed on the lower side of the cartridge 16Y. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 17, the tape member 71 extends upward along the guide plate 38, and the other end portion is exposed to the outside of the apparatus body 5 from the gap between the top cover 2 and the apparatus body 5. Transported.

  The user is guided to open the top cover 2 by the tape member 71 exposed from the top cover 2. Further, since the tape member 71 is disposed below the cartridge 16Y, the cartridge 16Y is lifted from the rotary 15 in the attaching / detaching direction by the user pulling the tape member 71 to remove the tape member 71. Further, when the cartridge 16Y is lifted from the rotary 15, the toner seal handle 70 held by the flange 42L is separated from the side surface 16f on the non-driving side of the cartridge 16, and the cartridge 16Y returns to the mounting position of the rotary 15 again. regulate. As a result, the user is guided to take out the cartridge 16Y from the rotary 15.

  At this time, like the dial 65 of the manual drive mechanism 60, the tape member 71 is provided near the non-drive side end of the cartridge 16Y, and the cartridge handle 16g is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 16Y. That is, the tape member 71 is disposed on the same side as the toner seal handle 70 with respect to the handle portion 16g. As a result, the user is guided to grasp the cartridge handle portion 16g with the hand on the driving side, that is, the right hand in this embodiment, and take out the cartridge 16Y from the rotary 15 while pulling the tape member 71 with the left hand. The For this reason, even when the rotary member 15 is rotated by operating the tape member 71, as in the case of the manual drive mechanism 60, it is possible to easily remove the developing cartridge and remove the toner seal.

  Further, as described above, when the cartridge 16Y is removed from the rotary 15, the toner seal handle 70 is separated from the side surface 16f on the non-driving side, so that the toner seal ts is guided to be extracted. At this time, the user can easily recognize the toner seal grip 70 provided on the side surface 16f on the non-driving side because the user grips the cartridge gripping portion 16g with the driving hand. Furthermore, it is possible to easily remove the toner seal ts using the non-driving side hand, in this embodiment, the left hand. That is, it is not necessary for the user to release the hand holding the cartridge grip portion 16g or change it to another hand.

  The user removes the toner seal handle 70 and the toner seal ts from the cartridge 16Y in this way, and then attaches the cartridge 16Y to the rotary 15.

  Next, the user is guided by the tape member 71 to rotate the rotary 15 and move another cartridge, in this embodiment, the cartridge 16M to the attachment / detachment position. At this time, the user can pull the tape member 71 to rotate the rotary 15. Alternatively, the rotary 15 may be rotated using the rotary manual drive mechanism 60 described above.

  When the cartridge 16M is moved to the rotation angle position corresponding to the cartridge attachment / detachment passage portion 37, the release members 41L and 41R increase the rotational force of the rotary 15 as described above, so that the user receives the next cartridge 16M. You can be notified that you have arrived at the attachment / detachment position. Further, as described above, the protruding portion 70a, which is a locking portion of the toner seal handle 70 provided in the cartridge 16M, hits the guide plate 38 and prevents the rotary 15 from rotating. As a result, the user is guided to take out the cartridge 16M from the rotary 15 and similarly to remove the toner seal ts and the toner seal handle 70.

  In both cases where the user pulls the tape member 71 to rotate the rotary 15 and when the manual drive mechanism 60 is used, the rotation means is provided on the non-drive side with respect to the cartridge handle portion 16g. Yes. Thus, the user is guided to grasp the grip portion 16g with the hand on the driving side even when taking out the second cartridge 16M.

  Similarly, the user can remove the toner seal ts and the toner seal handle 70 from the cartridges 16C and 16B. As described above, one end of the tape member 71 is fixed to the toner seal handle 70 provided in the cartridge 16B that finally appears at the attachment / detachment position facing the opening of the main body. Accordingly, the user can recognize that the initial installation operation is completed by removing the toner seal handle 70 of the cartridge 16B.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can take out the first cartridge 16 </ b> Y from the rotary 15 by pulling one end of the tape member 71.

  Furthermore, when the cartridge 16Y is removed from the rotary 15, the toner seal handle 70 is lifted, so that the user can recognize the necessity of removing the toner seal ts.

  Furthermore, since the tape member 71 is wound around the outer periphery of the developing device 11, the user can recognize that it is necessary to perform the same initial installation operation from a plurality of cartridges.

  Further, since the other end of the tape member 71 is fixed to the toner seal handle 70 provided in the fourth cartridge 16B, the user can perform the initial installation operation by removing the toner seal ts of the cartridge 16B. Can be recognized. Therefore, the tape member 71 can rotate the rotary 15 at a certain angle to the rotation angle position corresponding to the cartridge attaching / detaching passage portion 37 in order by the cartridge 16Y, 16M, 16C, 16B being pulled manually by the user. It is an operation means.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to complicate the developing cartridge and the apparatus main body in order to make the transport protection member removable from the replacement port. That is, the developing cartridge and the apparatus main body can be made large without increasing the cost, and the user can reliably remove the protective member during transportation.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the user can reliably remove the toner seal ts from the plurality of cartridges by the operation of removing the tape member 71.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, the operability of the user can be significantly improved without complicating the developing cartridge and the apparatus main body.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the toner seal ts is used as the protection member during transportation of the cartridge 16 has been described. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, a similar configuration can be adopted for the protective member of the developing bias input electrical contact 50. As an example, it is possible to cover the development bias input electrical contact 50 with the toner seal handle 70 described above, and the toner seal handle 70 functions as a protective member for protecting the development bias input electrical contact 50. At the time of shipment, the toner seal handle 70 covers the electrical contact 50 so that the developing bias input electrical contact 50 does not come into contact with other members. In use, the developing bias input electrical contact 50 can be brought into contact with the intermediate electrical contact 48 by removing the protective member. Such a protective member of the electrical contact 50 can also be reliably removed from the plurality of cartridges before the start of use due to the interaction with the tape member 71.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the tape member 71 is provided at a position where it does not interfere with the developing roller 17 in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 16 has been described. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, a cover member that protects the developing roller 17 may be provided on the arc-shaped front plate 16c, and the tape member 71 may be wound around the upper surface.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the transport protection member and the tape member 71 are provided on the non-driving side with respect to the handle portion 16g of the cartridge 16 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the transport protection member and the tape member may be provided on the drive side with respect to the handle portion 16g of the cartridge 16.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which one end of the tape member 71 is transported while being exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 5 through the gap between the top cover 2 and the apparatus main body 5 has been described. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which one end of the tape member 71 is fixed to the upper surface cover 2 and the upper surface cover 2 is opened may cause the first cartridge 16Y to float from the rotary 15 in the attachment / detachment direction.

  According to each of the embodiments described above, the transport protection member can be reliably removed from the cartridge mounted on the apparatus main body by the user during initial installation.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, the operability of the user can be significantly improved without complicating the developing cartridge and the apparatus main body.

ts ... Toner seal 3 ... Opening part 70 ... Toner seal handle 71 ... Tape member 16B1, 16C1, 16M1, 16Y1 ... Developer container 16g ... Cartridge handle 48 ... Intermediate electrical contact 49 ... Development drive input part 50 ... Development bias input electricity Contact 65 ... Dial 80 ... Ratchet mechanism

Claims (10)

In a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
A developing roller that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer; and a developer accommodating portion that accommodates the developer for supplying the developer to the developing roller. A plurality of developer cartridges having a developer accommodating portion having a plurality of openings and a detachable sealing member that closes the opening and having a gripping portion that is gripped when being removed are detachably mounted. And a rotatable rotating body,
A main body opening for attaching and detaching the developing cartridge to and from the rotating body;
Operating means capable of rotating the rotating body in one direction by manual operation;
Have
A grip portion for holding at the time of attachment and detachment is provided at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction on the surface facing the opening of the main body of the developing cartridge,
The holding portion of the sealing member is provided on one side surface in the longitudinal direction not facing the main body opening of the developing cartridge,
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the operating means is disposed on the same side as the grip portion with respect to the handle portion in the longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge.   When the developing cartridge is moved in a direction away from the rotating body, at least a part of the gripping portion is moved to a position that prevents remounting to the rotating body by an urging force. The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The developing cartridge at a position facing the opening of the main body is provided with a locking portion that prevents the rotating body from rotating in a state where the sealing member is mounted. The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The operating means is a tape member capable of rotating the rotating body by a fixed angle in one direction by manual operation,
One end of the tape member is attached to the grip portion of the developing cartridge that finally appears at a position facing the main body opening when the rotating body rotates in the one direction,
A part of the tape member is disposed on the back side with respect to the attaching / detaching direction from the rotating body of the developing cartridge at a position facing the main body opening in a state before use,
The other end of the tape member is exposed to the opening;
By manually pulling the end of the tape member exposed to the opening of the main body, the developing cartridge at a position facing the opening in a state before use is moved in a direction away from the rotating body. The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus is a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus.   The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is a sealing member. In a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
A developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, and a developing roller for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion; A plurality of developing cartridges having an electrical contact and a protective member that protects the electrical contact in a detachable manner, a rotatable rotating body, the intermediate electrical contact being located at a position facing the electrical contact A rotating body provided;
A main body opening for attaching and detaching the developing cartridge to and from the rotating body;
Operating means capable of rotating the rotating body by a fixed angle in one direction by manual operation;
Have
A grip portion for holding at the time of attachment and detachment is provided at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction on the surface facing the opening of the main body of the developing cartridge,
The protective member is provided on one side surface in the longitudinal direction not facing the main body opening of the developing cartridge,
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the operating means is disposed on the same side as the protective member with respect to the grip portion in the longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge.   When the developing cartridge is moved in a direction away from the rotating body, at least a part of the protective member moves to a position that prevents remounting to the rotating body by an urging force. The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 6.   The developing cartridge at a position facing the opening of the main body is provided with a locking portion that prevents the rotating body from rotating in a state where the protective member is mounted. Alternatively, a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7. An opening / closing member capable of opening and closing the main body opening;
The operation means transmits the operation force from the access member provided at a position operable from the main body opening and the access member to the rotating body in a state where the opening / closing member is opened and the main body opening is opened. A manual operation unit to
9. The color electrophotographic image forming according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member is configured to be rotatable by manually operating the access member to apply an operating force. 10. apparatus.   A rotating force transmitting means for transmitting a rotating force from a driving source to the rotating body; and an opening / closing member capable of opening / closing the main body opening, and when the opening / closing member is opened, The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a part of a series of rotational force transmission paths with the rotational force transmission means is disconnected.