JP4882419B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer that employs an electrophotographic system or the like, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus including a rotating type developing unit in which a plurality of developing devices are mounted in the circumferential direction. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which the rotary developing unit can be attached and detached without causing an increase in size.

JP-A-9-120187

  Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer that employs this type of electrophotographic system, for example, a single photosensitive drum is provided, and yellow (Y), magenta is provided on the single photosensitive drum. By sequentially performing image exposure corresponding to each color such as (M), cyan (C), and black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black on the surface of the photosensitive drum. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color such as (K) is formed, and yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are sequentially formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent images of the images corresponding to the respective colors are sequentially developed by the corresponding color developing device to form a toner image, and yellow (Y) and magenta (M) sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum. ), Cyan (C), and black (K) toner images The so-called “4-cycle method” is configured to form a full-color image by performing multiple primary transfer onto an intermediate transfer belt, then performing secondary transfer from the intermediate transfer belt onto a recording sheet, and fixing. Various image forming apparatuses have been proposed, and are actually commercialized.

  In such an image forming apparatus, a rotary type developing unit in which developing units of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are mounted along the circumferential direction is used. The rotary type developing unit is rotatably disposed in the image forming apparatus main body.

  By the way, in the above-described image forming apparatus, when one of the developing devices of the respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) has failed, the rotary developing unit. Is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the failed developing device is removed from the rotary developing unit, and replaced with a new developing device, and then the rotary developing unit is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  However, since the image forming apparatus needs to rotatably mount the rotation type developing unit, compared with a normal single color image forming apparatus, the rotation type developing unit needs to be rotatably mounted. The image forming apparatus has a problem that the dimension in the depth direction is increased, resulting in an increase in size of the apparatus.

  Therefore, as a technique that can solve such a problem, for example, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-120187 has already been proposed.

  The image forming apparatus according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-120187 is supported in a movable state by a front side plate and a rear side plate that are arranged opposite to each other on the front side and the back side of the main body of the image forming apparatus with a space therebetween. The image forming unit has a unit element movable with respect to the unit main body, and the unit main body and the unit element are on the back side of the unit main body, and In the image forming apparatus that is actuated via each drive element disposed in a region closer to the rear side than the rear side plate, the rear side plate has at least a portion facing the rear side end of the unit main body. The diaphragm is formed so as to be recessed into the back side of the apparatus main body.

  However, in the case of the image forming apparatus according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-120187, at least a portion of the rear plate facing the back end of the unit body is recessed into the back side of the image forming apparatus body. Since the rotary developing unit needs to be taken out from the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body, a large opening for inserting the rotary developing unit must be provided on the front side plate. However, it has the following problems.

  That is, in the case of the image forming apparatus according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-120187, it is necessary to provide a large opening on the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body into which a rotary developing unit can be inserted, and the rigidity of the housing In addition, there was a problem that the strength decreased.

  In the case of the image forming apparatus according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-120187, in order to rotatably support the rotary developing unit, a support member that closes an opening for inserting the rotary developing unit is used. This support member has to be provided on the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body so that it can be opened and closed, or detachable, so that the accuracy of the support position for supporting the rotary developing unit is lowered. It was.

  Further, in the case of the image forming apparatus according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-120187, it is necessary to take out a support member provided so as to close the opening for inserting the rotary developing unit during maintenance work of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, many parts arranged on the front surface of the support member have to be taken out, and there is a problem that maintenance work becomes very complicated.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the size of the apparatus even if it is an image forming apparatus provided with a rotating type developing unit. In addition, it is not necessary to provide a large opening on the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body, and it is possible to prevent the rigidity and strength of the image forming apparatus main body from being lowered and to support the rotation type developing unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving the image quality and further capable of performing maintenance work easily.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of electrostatic latent images corresponding to images of different colors sequentially formed on an image carrier are developed with toners of colors corresponding to the electrostatic latent images. A developing device having a developing device mounted in the circumferential direction, and the rotating developing device has a gear for rotationally driving the rotating developing device at one end portion along the axial direction. In the image forming apparatus,
An end frame positioned at an end of the image forming apparatus main body on one end along the axial direction of the rotary developing device and provided with a gear for rotationally driving the rotary developing device . In a state where the one end portion of the rotary developing device provided with the gear is accommodated, a supporting recess for rotatably supporting the rotary developing device is provided on the outer side along the axial direction of the rotary developing device. The end frame is provided in a recessed state, and the rotary developing device is moved along a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis so that the rotary developing device can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body from the outside. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a working passage is continuously provided in the recess in a state where the end frame is recessed outside the axial direction of the rotary developing device .

  In the invention described in claim 2, the support recess is formed in a front circular shape, and the attachment / detachment passage has a width equal to the diameter of the support recess, and the image formation The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is formed horizontally toward a side surface of the apparatus main body.

  Furthermore, the invention described in claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a reinforcing plate is detachably provided in the opening of the attachment / detachment passage.

  According to the present invention, even an image forming apparatus having a rotary type developing unit can be downsized, and it is not necessary to provide a large opening on the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body. Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a reduction in rigidity and strength of a forming apparatus main body, improving support accuracy of a rotary developing unit, and facilitating maintenance work. be able to.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a "4-cycle" type color multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. This color multifunction machine also has a function as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the color multifunction peripheral includes a scanner 2 as an image reading device on the upper portion of the multifunction peripheral body 1 and is connected to a personal computer (not shown) via a network (not shown). . Further, the color multi-function peripheral is equipped with a post-processing device 3 on the right side of the multi-function main body 1 for performing post-processing such as perforation processing and binding processing on paper on which an image is formed by the color multi-function peripheral. Has been.

  The color multifunction device functions as a facsimile that copies an image of a document read by the scanner 2, prints it based on image data sent from a personal computer, and transmits and receives image data via a telephone line. It is supposed to be.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a color multifunction peripheral. An automatic document feeder (ADF) that automatically conveys unshown originals one by one is provided on the upper portion of the color multifunction peripheral main body 1. 4) and a scanner 2 for reading an image of a document conveyed by the automatic document conveying device 4. The automatic document feeder 4 also functions as a platen cover. The scanner 2 illuminates a document placed on a platen glass (not shown) with a light source 5, and reduces the reflected light image from the document by a full-rate mirror 6, half-rate mirrors 7 and 8, and an imaging lens 9. Scanning exposure is performed on an image reading element 10 composed of a CCD or the like via a system 11, and the color material reflected light image of the original is read by the image reading element 10 at a predetermined dot density (for example, 16 dots / mm). It has become.

  The reflected light image of the document read by the scanner 2 is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 12 (IPS) as reflectance data of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) (8 bits each), for example. The image processing apparatus 12 performs processing such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame deletion, color / moving editing, and the like on the image data of the document as necessary. In addition, predetermined image processing is performed as will be described later. The image processing apparatus 12 also performs predetermined image processing on image data sent from a personal computer (not shown) or the like.

  The image data that has been subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing device 12 is similarly processed by the image processing device 12 to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K) (each 8 bits). ) Image data of four colors and sent to a ROS (LaserOutputScanner) 13 as an image exposure apparatus. In the ROS 13 as the image exposure apparatus, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K) Image exposure using a laser beam (LB) is sequentially performed at a predetermined timing in accordance with image data of four colors (8 bits each). Of course, in a color complex machine, not only a color image but also a monochrome image may be formed.

  By the way, a photosensitive drum 14 serving as an image carrier is disposed in the color MFP main body 1 at a position slightly to the left of the center so as to be rotatable along the direction of the arrow. As this photosensitive drum 14, for example, a photosensitive cylinder having a surface coated with a photosensitive layer such as OPC is used, and is rotated at a predetermined process speed in the direction of the arrow by a driving means (not shown). Driven.

  This color multi-function peripheral has a process speed of about 160 mm / sec, which is set to be relatively high in similar models, and has high productivity. It should be noted that the process speed of the color multifunction device may be set to be faster than 160 mm / sec in the monochrome mode, for example.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is charged to a predetermined potential by a charging roll 15 serving as a charging unit disposed immediately below the photosensitive drum 14, and is then positioned obliquely below the photosensitive drum 14. Image exposure by a laser beam (LB) is performed by a ROS 13 (Raster Output Scanner) as an arranged image exposure apparatus, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed. In the ROS 13, for example, image exposure based on image data corresponding to each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is sequentially performed at a predetermined timing. The electrostatic latent image sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 13 passes through the developing devices 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The toner image is developed by a rotary developing unit 16 arranged along the direction, and becomes a toner image of a corresponding color.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotary developing unit 16 includes four developing devices 16Y, 16M, 16C, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). 16K is mounted so as to form a predetermined angle along the circumferential direction of the rotating frame that rotates about the rotation axis. The four developing devices 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are provided with the rotation position of the rotation frame on the rotation frame. By detecting and controlling according to the position of the slit (not shown), the developing roll 17 provided in the opening of each developing device 16Y, 16M, 16C, 16K is placed at the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 14. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 is stopped and developed with the corresponding color toner.

  Further, the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) developing devices 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K are adjacent to the developing devices 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K. As described above, the toner cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K are mounted, and the toner of the corresponding color from the toner cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K is supplied to the developing units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K at a predetermined timing. By supplying the toner, it is possible to adjust the toner density in each of the developing devices 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, of the four toner cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), The black (K) toner cartridge 18K that consumes the largest amount of toner is formed larger than the toner cartridges 18Y, 18M, and 18C of other colors, and the black (K) toner cartridge 18K includes It is configured so that a large amount of toner can be accommodated. Therefore, the black (K) toner cartridge 18K is the heaviest.

  On the surface of the photosensitive drum 14, the charging, exposure, and development processes are repeated a predetermined number of times according to the color of the image to be formed. In the rotary developing unit 16, the developing rollers 17 of the corresponding color developing devices 16 Y, 16 M, 16 C, and 16 K are moved to a developing position facing the photosensitive drum 14. For example, when a full-color image is formed, the charging, exposure, and development processes are performed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors. The toner image corresponding to each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is sequentially formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14. .

  When a black and white image is formed, the charging, exposure, and development processes are performed only once on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 corresponding to the black (K) color. Only the toner image corresponding to the black (K) color is formed on the surface.

  The yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 14 are formed on the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 14 as intermediate transfer members. At the primary transfer position where the intermediate transfer belt 19 comes into contact, primary transfer is performed by the primary transfer roll 20 while being superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 19. When a black and white image is formed, a black (K) toner image is primarily transferred to the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 only once by the primary transfer roll 20.

  The yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images transferred in multiple onto the intermediate transfer belt 19 are fed by the secondary transfer roll 21 at a predetermined timing. Secondary transfer is collectively performed on a recording sheet 22 as a recording medium at a secondary transfer position.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 22 is fed with a predetermined size and a desired material from any one of a plurality of paper feed trays 23, 24, and 25 arranged at the lower part of the color MFP main body 1. In a state where the sheets are separated one by one by the roll 26, the separation roll 27, and the retard roll 28, the paper is fed through a paper conveyance path 30 provided with a conveyance roll 29. Then, the recording paper 22 fed from one of the paper feed trays 23, 24, and 25 is temporarily stopped by the registration roll 31, and is intermediated by the registration roll 31 in synchronization with the image on the intermediate transfer belt 19. The transfer belt 19 is conveyed to the secondary transfer position. Note that when the toner image is secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 19 onto the recording paper 22, toner as a developer, an external additive of the toner, or the like remains on the intermediate transfer belt 19 due to adhesion. There is a case.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the intermediate transfer belt 19 is stretched by a plurality of rolls and is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 at the primary transfer position, so that a predetermined process speed ( It is configured to be rotationally driven at about 160 mm / sec). The intermediate transfer belt 19 is formed in an endless belt shape by synthetic resin such as polyimide resin, for example. The intermediate transfer belt 19 includes a drive roll 32, a primary transfer roll 20 that transfers a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 onto the intermediate transfer belt 19, a sensor roll 33, a tension adjustment roll 34, The secondary transfer roll 21 is stretched with a predetermined tension by a backup roll 35 that is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 19 via the intermediate transfer belt 19.

  Further, as described above, the intermediate transfer belt 19 is stretched by a plurality of rolls 20, 32 to 35. In this embodiment, in order to reduce the size of the color MFP main body 1, the intermediate transfer belt 19 is used. The cross-sectional shape over which 19 is stretched is configured to be a flat, elongated, approximately isosceles triangle.

  Further, at a position facing the sensor roll 33 of the intermediate transfer belt 19, a density detection means comprising a reflection type photosensor for detecting the density of a toner test patch as a density detection pattern formed on the intermediate transfer belt 6. An automatic density detection (ADC) sensor 36 is provided.

  Then, the recording paper 22 on which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred is fixed with heat and pressure by a heating roll 38 and a pressure belt (or pressure roll) 39 of a fixing device 37 as shown in FIGS. After receiving the processing, the first sheet is conveyed by the conveyance roll 40 via the first sheet conveyance path 42 for discharging the image forming surface downward to the face-down tray 41 as the first discharge tray. The paper is discharged onto a face-down tray 41 provided at the top of the multi-function device body 1 by a discharge roll 43 provided at the exit of the conveyance path 42.

  Further, when the recording paper 22 on which an image is formed as described above is discharged with the image forming surface facing upward, as shown in FIG. 2, the face as a second discharge tray with the image forming surface facing upward. A discharge roller 46 provided at the outlet of the second paper transport path 45 through the second paper transport path 45 for discharging to the up tray 44 causes a side portion (left side in the drawing) The sheet is discharged onto a face-up tray 44 provided on the surface).

  As described above, the post-processing device 3 is mounted on the right side surface of the color MFP main body 1, and punching processing, binding processing, and the like are performed on the recording paper 22 on which an image is formed by the color MFP. When post-processing is performed, the recording paper 22 on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing device 37 is discharged by the discharge roll 47, and the paper is transported inside the transport unit 48 constituting the face-down tray 41. It is configured to be conveyed to the post-processing device 3 through the path 49 and to perform post-processing by the post-processing device 3.

  Further, in the above-mentioned color multi-function machine, when making full-color double-sided copying, as shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 22 having an image fixed on one side is directly placed on the face-down tray 41 by a discharge roll 43 or the like. Without discharging, the transfer direction is switched by the switching gate and guided to the discharge roll 47. While the rear end of the recording paper 22 is sandwiched by the discharge roll 47, the discharge roll 47 is temporarily stopped and then reversely rotated. Then, the paper is transported to the double-sided paper transport path 50 by the discharge roll 47. In this double-sided paper conveyance path 50, the recording roller 22 provided along the conveyance path 50 is conveyed again to the registration roll 31 with the recording paper 22 turned upside down. After the image is transferred and fixed on the back surface of the recording paper 22, it is discharged to either the face-down tray 41 or the face-up tray 44 via the first paper transport path 42 or the second paper transport path 45. Is done.

  In FIG. 2, 52 is a manual feed tray for feeding a desired recording paper 22, 53 is a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 14, 54 is a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19, and 55. Indicates a collection box for collecting the toner removed by the cleaning device 54.

  The cleaning device 54 is separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 until the final color toner image passes, and contacts the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 after the final color toner image passes. It is configured as follows.

By the way, in this embodiment, a plurality of developing devices for developing electrostatic latent images corresponding to images of different colors sequentially formed on the image carrier with toners of colors corresponding to the electrostatic latent images are provided. In an image forming apparatus including a rotation type developing unit mounted along a circumferential direction,
The rear frame of the main body of the image forming apparatus is provided with a support recess for rotatably supporting the rotary developing unit in a state where the rear end portion of the rotary developing unit is accommodated, and the rotary developing unit is rotated. A concave attachment / detachment passage for moving the rotation type development unit to / from the image forming apparatus main body from the outside is connected to the support recess, and is moved along a direction orthogonal to the axis. Yes.

  That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotary type developing unit 16 is rotatably attached to the color multifunction peripheral body 1. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the color MFP main body 1 includes a front frame 61 formed of sheet metal, a rear frame 62, and a bottom frame in which the front frame 61 and the rear frame 62 are erected. 63 and a plurality of connecting frames 64 to 66 arranged horizontally for connecting the front frame 61 and the rear frame 62.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the front frame 61 is formed in a flat plate shape having openings 67 and 68 opened at predetermined positions by pressing, and is perpendicular to the front surface of the color MFP main body 1. It is erected. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the rear frame 62 is formed in a flat plate shape having a plurality of openings 69 opened at predetermined positions by press working, and is perpendicular to the front surface of the color MFP main body 1. Is erected.

  The rotating type developing unit 16 is rotatably attached to a front frame 61 and a rear frame 62 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6, the rear frame 62 rotatably supports the rotary type developing unit 16 in a state where the rear end portion 16 a of the rotary type developing unit 16 is accommodated. The supporting concave portion 70 is provided in a substantially U-shaped side surface, and the rotary developing unit 16 is moved horizontally along a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis, so that the rotary developing unit 16 is moved to the color MFP main body. As shown in FIG. 7, a concave attaching / detaching passage 71 for attaching / detaching to / from the outside (right side surface) 1 is provided horizontally in a state of being continuous with the supporting recessed portion 70.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the support recess 70 is basically formed in a circular shape having a slightly larger diameter than the rear end portion 16 a of the rotary developing unit 16. A concave attachment / detachment passage 71 is provided continuously, and the right side surface of the support recess 70 is formed integrally with a concave attachment / detachment passage 71 formed horizontally.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a rotation shaft 72 for rotatably supporting the rotary type developing unit 16 is horizontally installed at the center of the support recess 70 of the rear frame 62. The rotating shaft 72 is fixed to a support member 73 on the rear side, and the rear support member 73 is screwed inside the support recess 70 of the rear frame 62 with a screw 74.

  In addition, the front frame 61 rotatably supports the rotary developing unit 16 at a position corresponding to the center of the support recess 70 of the rear frame 61 as shown in FIGS. A stud 75 is installed horizontally. The stud 75 is implanted in a front support member 76, and the front support member 76 is screwed to the front frame 62 with two screws 77 as shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the front frame 61 has a portion 78 to which the front support member 76 is attached, formed in a concave shape recessed on the back side, and is formed with high rigidity. Yes.

  In order to attach / detach the rotary developing unit 16 to / from the color MFP main body 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the member located on the right side surface of the rotary developing unit 16 is removed and the rotary type developing unit 16 is removed. With the developing unit 16 exposed on the right side surface of the color MFP main body 1, as shown in FIG. 9, the two screws 77 screwed to the front frame 61 are removed, and the front support member 76 is removed. The stud 75 provided on the rear developing unit 16 is removed from the front surface, and the screw 74 fixed to the rear frame 62 is removed, and the rotary shaft 72 provided on the rear support member 73 is rotated. The mold is removed from the rear surface of the developing unit 16.

  By doing so, the rotary developing unit 16 is connected to the color concave unit main body 1 from the support recess 70 through the attachment / detachment passage 71 provided continuously to the support recess 70. It can be taken out or mounted from the right side surface of the multifunction machine main body 1.

  At that time, when the gear 80 having a large diameter for rotation driving provided at the rear end portion 16a of the rotation type developing unit 16 is engaged with a driving gear 81 provided in a driving motor (not shown), it becomes an obstacle. The drive gear 81 or the drive gear 81 and the drive motor are removed in advance.

  Note that when the rotary developing unit 16 is mounted on the color MFP main body 1, the mounting operation may be performed in the reverse procedure.

  In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the color multifunction peripheral main body 1 is configured because the color multifunction peripheral having the scanner 2 at the upper end is configured as the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the weight of the scanner 2 acts on the frame as a load.

  For this reason, if the support recess 70 and the attachment / detachment passage 71 are formed in the frame of the color MFP main body 1, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rigidity of the corner where the weight of the scanner 2 acts may be lowered. There is.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, by providing a reinforcing plate 82 detachably by screwing or the like in the opening 71a located at the outlet of the attachment / detachment passage 71 of the color multifunction machine main body 1, It is configured to increase the rigidity of the frame of the color MFP main body 1.

  When the image forming apparatus is configured as a printer that does not include the scanner 2 at the upper end, the reinforcing plate 82 is not necessary.

  As described above, in the above-described embodiment, it is only necessary to form the support recess 70 and the attachment / detachment passage 71 in the color MFP main body 1, and even if the image forming apparatus includes the rotary developing unit 16, the apparatus is It is possible to reduce the size, and it is not necessary to provide a large opening for attaching / detaching the rotary developing unit 16 to the front surface of the color MFP main body 1, thereby preventing the rigidity and strength of the color MFP main body 1 from being lowered. In addition, the support accuracy of the rotary developing unit 16 can be improved, and maintenance work can be easily performed.

Embodiment 2
FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals. In the second embodiment, the rotary developing unit is an image. The image forming apparatus main body is configured not to be attached to and detached from the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body.

  That is, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the image forming apparatus is configured as a printer that does not include the scanner 2 at the upper end portion. A support recess 70 for rotatably supporting the rear end portion 16 a of the unit 16 is formed, and an attaching / detaching passage 71 is provided continuously above the support recess 70 in the upper portion in the vertical direction of the support recess 70. Is formed.

  In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a cover that can be freely opened and closed is opened on the upper part of the printer main body 1 and is disposed above the rotary developing unit 16 as necessary. The rotary developing unit 16 is pulled up to the upper part of the printer main body 1 and attached or detached.

  Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of a “4-cycle” type color multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a "4-cycle" type color multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an image forming unit of a “4-cycle” type color multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective configuration view from the front showing the frame of the “4-cycle” type color multifunction peripheral as the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective configuration view from the front showing a frame of a “4-cycle” type color multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective configuration view from the back showing a frame of a “4-cycle” type color multifunction peripheral as the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the attachment / detachment structure of the rotary developing unit in the “4-cycle” type color multifunction peripheral as the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing the attachment / detachment structure of the rotary developing unit in the “4-cycle” type color multifunction peripheral as the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the attachment / detachment structure of the rotary developing unit in the “4-cycle” type color multifunction peripheral as the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of a “4-cycle” type color multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Color compound machine main body, 16: Rotating type developing unit, 61: Front frame, 62: Rear frame, 63: Bottom frame, 64-66: Connection frame, 70: Recess for support, 71: Passage for attachment / detachment

Claims (3)

Rotating with a plurality of developing units mounted in the circumferential direction for developing electrostatic latent images corresponding to images of different colors sequentially formed on the image carrier with toner of a color corresponding to the electrostatic latent image An image forming apparatus having a gear for rotationally driving the rotary developing device at one end along the axial direction of the rotary developing device .
An end frame positioned at an end of the image forming apparatus main body on one end along the axial direction of the rotary developing device and provided with a gear for rotationally driving the rotary developing device . In a state where the one end portion of the rotary developing device provided with the gear is accommodated, a supporting recess for rotatably supporting the rotary developing device is provided on the outer side along the axial direction of the rotary developing device. The end frame is provided in a recessed state, and the rotary developing device is moved along a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis so that the rotary developing device can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body from the outside. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a working passage is continuously provided in the recess in a state where the end frame is recessed outside the axial direction of the rotary developing device. The support recess is formed in a front circular shape, and the attachment / detachment passage has a width equal to the diameter of the support recess, and is formed horizontally toward the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing plate is detachably provided at the opening of the attachment / detachment passage.

Images