阅读说明：本技术 图像形成装置 (Image forming apparatus with a toner supply device ) 是由 小岛隆宏 于 2020-07-02 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供能够引导固体头与感光鼓的相对位置关系的图像形成装置。图像形成装置具备壳体、固体头单元、感光鼓和第二引导件。固体头单元被固定于壳体,并且具备基座、曝光用的固体头、使固体头相对于基座进行升降的升降机构、以及在使固体头升降时在扫描方向或者副扫描方向的规定尺寸内进行引导的第一引导件。第二引导件在固体头朝向感光鼓进行升降且在基于第一引导件的引导被解除时,相对于鼓壳沿扫描方向及副扫描方向引导固体头。(The invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of guiding relative position relation between a solid head and a photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus includes a housing, a solid head unit, a photosensitive drum, and a second guide. The solid-state head unit is fixed to the housing, and includes a base, a solid-state head for exposure, an elevating mechanism for elevating the solid-state head relative to the base, and a first guide for guiding the solid-state head within a predetermined dimension in the scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction when the solid-state head is elevated. The second guide guides the solid head in the scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction with respect to the drum shell when the solid head is lifted toward the photosensitive drum and the guide by the first guide is released.)

1. An image forming apparatus is characterized by comprising:

a housing;

a solid head unit fixed to the housing and including a base, a solid head for exposure, an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the solid head with respect to the base, and a first guide for guiding the solid head within a predetermined dimension in a scanning direction or a sub-scanning direction when the solid head is elevated and lowered;

a photosensitive drum disposed at a predetermined position with respect to the raised solid head and supported by a drum shell; and

and a second guide configured to guide the solid-state head in a scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction with respect to the drum casing when the solid-state head is moved up and down toward the photosensitive drum and when the guide by the first guide is released.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

the first guide includes a groove portion provided in the base and a protrusion provided in the solid head.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

a guide range of the first guide in the scanning direction is set to be narrower than a guide range of the second guide in the scanning direction.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

a tapered auxiliary guide gradually expanding from the released position toward the photosensitive drum is continuously formed on the first guide.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

the second guide includes a protrusion provided on the drum shell and an opening provided in the solid head.

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an image forming apparatus.

Background

In an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus, there is known a technique of exposing a photosensitive drum of an image forming unit by an exposure device having a solid head such as an LED head, adhering a developer such as toner to the photosensitive drum, and transferring the developer to a sheet such as paper.

When cleaning of the solid head, replacement of the image forming unit, or the like is performed, the solid head is located at a separation position separated from the photosensitive drum. In addition, when an image is formed, the solid-state head is in contact with the image forming unit and is located at a predetermined contact position with respect to the photosensitive drum. In addition, in order to set the relative position of the solid head and the photosensitive drum to a predetermined separation position or an abutment position, it is necessary to position the solid head and the image forming unit. Therefore, a mechanism is provided which can reciprocate between an abutting position where it abuts the image forming unit when printing is performed and a separated position where the image forming unit is cleaned/removed by the head. When the solid head moves from the separated position to the contact position during printing, the positioning hole of the solid head is inserted into the positioning projection of the image forming unit, and the position of the solid head in the scanning direction and the conveying direction with respect to the image forming unit is determined.

In such a configuration, when the solid head moves, the housing around the head functions as a guide when the solid head moves, and the projection of the imaging unit has a thin tip, and the periphery of the positioning hole of the solid head is rounded or has an R-shape, thereby functioning as a guide when the solid head is inserted.

However, if the positional relationship between the solid head and the imaging unit is deviated, the projection of the imaging unit and the hole of the solid head may not be inserted into the projection, and positioning may not be performed.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of reliably guiding relative position relation between a solid head and a photosensitive drum.

According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a housing; a solid head unit fixed to the housing and including a base, a solid head for exposure, an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the solid head with respect to the base, and a first guide for guiding the solid head within a predetermined dimension in a scanning direction or a sub-scanning direction when the solid head is elevated and lowered; a photosensitive drum disposed at a predetermined position with respect to the raised solid head and supported by a drum shell; and a second guide configured to guide the solid head in a scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction with respect to the drum casing when the solid head is moved up and down toward the photosensitive drum and when the guide by the first guide is released.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a front view showing the structure of the image forming apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a main part of the image forming apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of a main part of the image forming apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the structures of a solid head unit and an image forming unit used in the image forming apparatus.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of the solid head unit and the imaging unit.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of the solid head unit.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a structure of a main portion of the solid head unit and the image forming unit, partially cut away.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a structure of a main portion of the solid head unit and the image forming unit, partially cut away.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the structure of the solid head unit.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the structure of the solid head unit.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the structure of the solid head unit.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the structure of the solid head unit.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the structure of the solid head unit.

Fig. 15 is a front view showing the structure of the main part of the solid head unit and the imaging unit.

Fig. 16 is a front view showing the structure of the main part of the solid head unit and the imaging unit.

Fig. 17 is a front view showing an enlarged structure of a main portion of the second guide in the solid head unit and the image forming unit.

Fig. 18 is a front view schematically showing a first guide in the solid head unit.

Fig. 19 is a front view schematically showing the solid head unit and the second guide in the imaging unit.

Fig. 20 is a front view schematically showing a first guide in the solid head unit.

Fig. 21 is a front view schematically showing the solid head unit and the second guide in the imaging unit.

Fig. 22 is a front view schematically showing a first guide in the solid head unit.

Description of the reference numerals

1 … image forming apparatus; 11 … a housing; 12 … solid head unit; 13 … imaging unit; 14 … storage tray; 15 … scanning unit; 15a … tray; 16 … transfer tape; 17 … a fixing device; 18 … paper discharge tray; 21 … a front housing; 21a … insertion opening; 22 … rear housing; 31 … base; a 32 … lifting mechanism; 32a … lever; 32a1 … operating part; 32a2 … shaft portion; 32b … switching mechanism; 32b1 … projection; 32b2 … slot; 32b3 … cylinder; 32c … slider; 32d … force application component; 32e … support member; a 32f … link; 32f1 … first shaft; a 32f2 … link body; 32f3 … second shaft; 33 … solid head; 34 … a first guide member; 34a … guide rail; 34b … guide rail; 35 … restraining ribs; 36 … auxiliary guide members; 41 … print head; 41a … opening; 42 … a bracket; 43 … force applying component; 44 … dark tenon; 51 … drum shell; 52 … a photosensitive drum; 53 … second guide member; 53a … plate-like portion; 54 … protrusions; a P … first guide; q … second guide.

Detailed Description

Next, an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 22. In the present embodiment, the following description will be made with respect to the image forming apparatus 1, with a direction along the insertion direction into the image forming unit 13 being an X direction (scanning direction), a direction along the gravitational direction being a Z direction, and a direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Z direction being a Y direction (sub-scanning direction). The image forming apparatus 1 will be described with the X direction as the front-rear direction and the side inserted into the image forming unit 13 as the front side. The X direction is also the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 52 when the image forming unit 13 is disposed in the housing 11 and attached to the solid head unit 12.

Fig. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a front view, respectively, illustrating the structure of the image forming apparatus 1. In fig. 1 and 2, a decorative plate used in the image forming apparatus 1 is omitted. Fig. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the configuration of a main part of the image forming apparatus 1. From fig. 5 onward, for convenience of explanation, only one of the solid head unit 12 and the imaging unit 13 is shown. Fig. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the configurations of one solid head unit 12 and one imaging unit 13 used in the image forming apparatus 1. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of the solid head unit 12. Fig. 8 and 9 are perspective views showing a structure of a main portion of the solid head unit 12 and the imaging unit 13, partially cut away. Fig. 10 to 14 are perspective views showing the structure of the solid head unit 12. Fig. 15 and 16 are front views showing the configurations of main parts of the solid head unit 12 and the imaging unit 13. Fig. 17, 19, 21 are front views schematically showing the solid head unit 12 and the second guide Q in the imaging unit 13 at the time of mounting. Fig. 18, 20, and 22 are front views schematically showing the first guide P in the solid head unit 12 at the time of mounting.

In the following description, a combination of the tenon 44 and the regulating rib 35 for guiding the tenon 44, which will be described later, is described as the first guide P, and a combination of the protrusion 54 and the opening 41a for guiding the protrusion 54 is described as the second guide Q.

The image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having functions of copying, scanning, printing, and the like integrated therein. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a housing 11, a plurality of solid head units 12, and a plurality of image forming units 13. As shown in fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes, for example, a storage tray 14, a scanner unit 15, a transfer belt 16, a fixing device 17, a sheet discharge tray 18, a conveying device, and a control unit. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a decorative plate on the outer surface side.

The number of the solid head units 12 and the number of the image forming units 13 used in the image forming apparatus 1 are set according to the type of the developer used in the image forming apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which toners of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are used as developers will be described as an example. Therefore, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, in the present embodiment, for example, the image forming apparatus 1 including four solid head units 12 and four image forming units 13 will be described.

As shown in fig. 1, the case 11 includes a front case 21, a rear case 22, and a plurality of coupling cases that couple the front case 21 and the rear case 22. A decorative plate is provided on the outer surface side of the housing 11. The housing 11 supports each component used in the image forming apparatus 1.

The front case 21 and the rear case 22 are arranged to face each other in the X direction, which is a direction in which the image forming unit 13 is inserted in the image forming apparatus 1. The four solid head units 12 are fixed to the front case 21 and the rear case 22.

As shown in fig. 1, the front case 21 has an insertion port 21a for inserting the plurality of imaging units 13 from the front case 21 side toward the rear case 22 in the X direction. The insertion port 21a is an opening formed in the front case 21. The insertion port 21a exposes the end of the solid head unit 12 fixed to the housing 11 and the imaging unit 13 to the outside of the housing 11. Specifically, the insertion port 21a exposes at least the operating lever 32a of the solid-state head unit 12 and the imaging unit 13, which will be described later, to the outside.

That is, the insertion port 21a has a shape in which the four imaging units 13 can be inserted in a state in which the end portions of the four solid head units 12 are exposed to the outside. The shape of the insertion port 21a is appropriately set according to the number and arrangement of the solid head units 12 and the imaging units 13. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the imaging unit 13 is disposed above the solid head unit 12 in the Z direction, and is set so that the height positions of the four solid head units 12 and the four imaging units 13 in the Z direction gradually change from one side in the Y direction to the other side. The shape of the insertion port 21a is set to a shape in which the solid head unit 12 and the imaging unit 13 can be arranged.

As shown in fig. 4 to 7, the solid head unit 12 includes a base 31, an elevating mechanism 32, a solid head 33, and a first guide member 34. The solid head unit 12 is formed to be long in one direction, and is fixed to the housing 11 so that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the X direction.

The base 31 is fixed to the front case 21 and the rear case 22 by fastening members such as screws. The base 31 supports a part of the elevating mechanism 32.

The elevating mechanism 32 reciprocates the solid head 33 in one direction with respect to the base 31. Next, the reciprocating movement of the solid head 33 in one direction with respect to the base 31 will be described as the raising and lowering. As shown in fig. 4 to 7, the lifting mechanism 32 includes, for example, an operation lever 32a, a conversion mechanism 32b, a slider 32c, an urging member 32d, a support member 32e, and a link 32 f.

The operating lever 32a is formed to be rotatable within a predetermined angular range by being operated. As shown in fig. 5, the operation lever 32a includes an operation portion 32a1 rotated by the operator and a shaft portion 32a2 provided integrally with the operation portion 32a 1. The shaft portion 32a2 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the operating portion 32a 1.

The conversion mechanism 32b converts the rotational movement of the shaft portion 32a2 into axial movement of the shaft portion 32a 2. In the posture in which the fixed head unit 12 is fixed to the housing 11, the axial direction of the shaft portion 32a2 is oriented in the X direction.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 5 and 6, the conversion mechanism 32b includes a protrusion 32b1 provided on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 32a2 and a cylindrical body 32b3, and the cylindrical body 32b3 covers the shaft portion 32a2 and has a groove 32b2 extending in a direction inclined with respect to the circumferential direction and the axial direction. Specifically, the groove 32b2 is an opening extending spirally along the circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 32b 3. When the operating portion 32a1 is operated to rotate the shaft portion 32a2, the movement of the protrusion 32b1 provided on the shaft portion 32a2 is guided by the groove 32b2, and the conversion mechanism 32b converts the movement of the shaft portion 32a2 in the rotational direction into the movement of the shaft portion 32a2 in the rotational direction and the axial direction. The cylindrical body 32b3 is fixed to the base 31, for example.

The slider 32c is fixed to the shaft portion 32a2 in the axial direction of the shaft portion 32a 2. The slider 32c is fixed to the shaft portion 32a2 by a fastening member such as a screw. Specifically, slider 32c is fixed to shaft 32a2 such that shaft 32a2 can rotate about an axis in the X direction with respect to slider 32 c. The slider 32c is supported by the base 31 so as to be movable in the X direction. The slider 32c has a shaft portion 32a2 fixed to one end side in the X direction, and is connected to the urging member 32d on the other end side. When the slider 32c moves in the X direction, the link 32f is operated in the X direction. Specifically, the slider 32c rotatably supports one end of the link 32 f.

The urging member 32d urges the slider 32c in one direction. Specifically, the urging member 32d is a coil spring. The urging member 32d urges the slider 32c in the X direction in a direction away from the operating lever 32 a. One end of the urging member 32d is supported by the base 31, and the other end is supported by the slider 32 c.

One end of the support member 32e is rotatably supported by the base 31, and the other end rotatably supports a first shaft 32f1, which will be described later, of the link 32 f. For example, two support members 32e are provided.

The links 32f are provided at two positions in the X direction, for example. As shown in fig. 5, the link 32f includes: a first shaft 32f1 rotatably supported by the support member 32 e; a link body 32f2 provided at an end in the axial direction of the first shaft 32f 1; and a pair of second shafts 32f3 provided at both ends of the link body 32f 2.

The link body 32f2 is a plate-like or rod-like member that is long in one direction. The link body 32f2 has a first shaft 32f1 provided at the center in the longitudinal direction, and second shafts 32f3 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The pair of second shafts 32f3 protrude from the main surfaces of the link body 32f2 at both ends in the same direction as the first shafts 32f 1. As shown in fig. 5, the pair of second shafts 32f3 are rotatably supported by a hole provided in a side surface of the slider 32c and a hole provided in a side surface of the solid head 33, respectively.

In the link 32f, when the slider 32c moves in the X direction, the one second shaft 32f3 supported by the slider 32c moves in the X direction, and a force in the X direction is applied to the end of the link body 32f2 on the slider 32c side. However, the slider 32c moves only in the X direction, and the other second shaft 32f3 of the link body 32f2 is supported by the solid head 33. Therefore, the first shaft 32f1 provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the link body 32f2 presses the support member 32e, and rotates the support member 32e with respect to the base 31 about one end of the support member 32 e. At this time, the link body 32f2 rotates about the first shaft 32f1, so that the angle of the link body 32f2 with respect to the X direction changes, and the second shaft 32f3 supported by the solid head 33 moves up and down. As described above, when the slider 32c moves in the X direction with respect to the link 32f, the link body 32f2 and the support member 32e rotate, and thereby the second shaft 32f3 on the solid head 33 side is lifted and lowered, and the solid head 33 is lifted and lowered with respect to the base 31.

The solid head 33 is an exposure device. The solid head 33 constitutes a light source (for example, LED) for writing for forming an electrostatic latent image in the image forming unit 13. As shown in fig. 6, the solid head 33 has a print head 41, a holder 42, and a force application member 43. When the solid head 33 is raised with respect to the base 31 and positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the image forming unit 13, for example, a part of the front end of the print head 41 or the holder 42 in the raising direction abuts against a part of the image forming unit 13. A tongue 44 is provided on a wall surface of the holder 42 in the Y direction (sub-scanning direction).

The print head 41 has a shape that is long in one direction. The print head 41 is, for example, an LED print head having an LED for emitting light as a light source. The print head 41 is disposed so as to have a predetermined positional relationship with respect to a photosensitive drum 52, which will be described later, of the image forming unit 13 in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 52 and the radial direction of the photosensitive drum 52 when exposing the image forming unit 13. As shown in fig. 7, the print head 41 has guide openings 41a formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction and at the tip in the upward direction of the solid head 33. The print head 41 forms, for example, a contact surface where end surfaces of both end portions where the opening 41a is formed contact a part of the image forming unit 13. The opening 41a is a circular or elliptical hole. For example, the edge portions of the front end surface and the inner peripheral surface of the print head 41 of the opening 41a may be formed in a rounded shape by an annular flat surface or a curved surface. The print head 41 preferably has a contact portion or a protrusion that comes into contact with any one of the structures of the image forming unit 13 so as to be positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the photosensitive drum 52 of the image forming unit 13.

The carriage 42 supports the print head 41. As a specific example, as shown in fig. 7, the holder 42 supports the lower surface side of the print head 41 on the opposite side to the side facing the photosensitive drum 52 and both ends of the print head 41 in the longitudinal direction in the vertical direction of the solid head 33.

The urging member 43 urges the print head 41 in a direction away from the photosensitive drum 52 side from the holder 42. The urging member 43 is provided in plural. As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the urging members 43 are provided between the print head 41 and the holder 42 in the vertical direction of the print head 41, at two positions on both end sides in the longitudinal direction of the print head 41. The urging member 43 is, for example, a coil spring.

The first guide member 34 is fixed to at least one of the housing 11 and the base 31. The first guide member 34 guides the moving direction of the imaging unit 13 in the X direction when the imaging unit 13 is inserted from the insertion port 21a of the front case 21 and when it is moved in the X direction on the fixed head unit 12 after being inserted from the insertion port 21 a. The first guide member 34 is, for example, a guide rail that guides the image forming unit 13 by abutting against a part of the image forming unit 13 when the image forming unit 13 is inserted from the insertion port 21 a. As shown in fig. 4, for example, the first guide member 34 is constituted by a pair of guide rails 34a, 34b extending in the X direction and slidably supporting a part of the outer surface of the imaging unit 13. A restricting rib 35 and an auxiliary guide 36 integrally formed on an upper side of the restricting rib 35 are formed on an inner wall surface of the guide rail 34 a. The width dimension of the restricting rib 35 in the X direction (scanning direction) is defined as described later.

The imaging Unit 13 is, for example, an Electrophotographic Process Unit (EPU). In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in fig. 2, an image forming unit 13 that stores yellow toner, an image forming unit 13 that stores magenta toner, an image forming unit 13 that stores cyan toner, and an image forming unit 13 that stores black toner are arranged in this order from the primary side toward the secondary side in the conveying direction of the sheet.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the image forming unit 13 includes a drum shell 51, a photosensitive drum 52, a second guide member 53, and a protrusion 54. Also, the image forming unit 13 includes, for example, a developing roller, a charging unit, a toner cartridge, a detergent cartridge.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the drum shell 51 is formed to be long in one direction. The drum shell 51 rotatably supports the photosensitive drum 52. When the imaging unit 13 is inserted from the insertion port 21a, the drum shell 51 abuts on the pair of guide rails 34a and 34b of the first guide member 34, and guides the movement of the imaging unit 13 in the X direction.

The photosensitive drum 52 is formed so as to be able to form a uniform charge on the surface and to be able to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface by the surface being exposed. The photosensitive drum 52 is formed to be able to transfer toner attached to the electrostatic latent image onto paper.

The second guide member 53 is, for example, integrally formed with the drum shell 51. For example, the second guide member 53 is integrally formed with the drum shell 51, or is integrally assembled with the drum shell 51.

When the image forming unit 13 is inserted into the insertion port 21a and comes into contact with the solid head 33, the second guide member 53 guides the position of the solid head 33 with respect to the image forming unit 13 in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the image forming unit 13 and the lifting direction of the solid head 33. When the solid head 33 of the solid head unit 12 is raised toward the photosensitive drum 52, the second guide member 53 guides the movement of the solid head 33 so that the solid head 33 is at a predetermined position with respect to the photosensitive drum 52.

The protrusion 54 is a so-called tongue. The protrusion 54 is, for example, a protrusion provided on the drum shell 51. The protrusion 54 is formed in a cylindrical shape, for example, and a ridge portion at the tip is rounded by an annular flat surface or curved surface or the tip is reduced in diameter. The protrusions 54 are adjacent to both ends of the second guide member 53 in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 52. The protrusion 54 is inserted into the opening 41a provided in the print head 41. The projection 54 is inserted into the opening 41a to position the photosensitive drum 52 supported by the drum shell 51 with respect to the longitudinal direction (scanning direction) of the solid head 33. The projection 54 is inserted into the opening 41a to restrict movement of the drum shell 51 in the X direction, thereby fixing the imaging unit 13 to the housing 11 and the solid head unit 12.

The developing roller supplies toner of the toner cartridge to the surface of the photosensitive drum 52. The charging unit forms a uniform charge on the surface of the photosensitive drum 52. The toner cartridge stores toner. The toner cartridge collects the remaining toner when the toner is attached to the photosensitive drum 52.

The storage tray 14 stores paper sheets such as paper sheets and films for printing. The storage tray 14 is disposed below the housing 11, for example, below the plurality of solid head units 12 and the plurality of imaging units 13. The storage tray 14 includes a pickup roller, and takes out corresponding sheets according to image forming processing. The taken out paper sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit 13 and the transfer belt 16 by a conveying device or the like.

The scanner unit 15 reads the arranged document or the like. The scanner unit 15 includes, for example, a manual input tray 15 a.

The transfer belt 16 transfers toner adhering to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 52 to the sheet passing through the photosensitive drum 52. The fixing device 17 fixes the toner to the paper sheet to which the toner has been transferred.

The sheet discharge tray 18 receives discharged sheets to which toner has been fixed. The transport device transports the paper sheets from the storage tray 14 to the paper discharge tray 18. For example, the conveying device is composed of a plurality of rollers provided in the casing 11 and a driving device for rotating the rollers. In fig. 1 and 2, the decorative plate is not shown in the sheet discharge tray 18.

The control unit controls each configuration to perform image forming processing. As the image forming process, for example, there are included: a charging process of controlling the charging unit so that a uniform charge is formed on the photosensitive drum 52 of the image forming unit 13; an exposure process of controlling the solid head unit 12 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 52; a developing process of attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive drum 52; a transfer process of transferring the toner attached to the electrostatic latent image onto the sheet passing through the photosensitive drum 52 by the transfer belt 16 or the like; in the fixing process, the toner is fixed to the paper sheet to which the toner has been transferred by the fixing device 17.

Next, as an example of the attaching and detaching operation of the image forming unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 1 configured as above, an example of the replacement operation of the image forming unit 13 will be described. In addition, since the toner is a consumable item, the image forming unit 13 is replaced, for example, when the toner is exhausted. As another example of attaching and detaching the image forming unit 13, an example is considered in which the image forming unit 13 is temporarily detached from the image forming apparatus 1 at the time of cleaning the solid head 33 or the like.

First, as shown in fig. 10, 12, and 13, the operator operates the operation lever 32a of the solid head unit 12 to which the imaging unit 13 to be detached is attached. Specifically, when the operator rotates the operation unit 32a1 of the solid head unit 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow in fig. 10, the shaft 32a2 rotates following the rotation of the operation unit 32a 1. When the shaft portion 32a2 rotates, the protrusion 32b1 provided on the shaft portion 32a2 shown in fig. 10 moves along the groove 32b2 of the cylinder 32b3, and the shaft portion 32a2 moves from the rear side to the front side in the X direction in addition to the movement in the rotational direction.

When the shaft portion 32a2 moves in the X direction, the slider 32c fixed to the shaft portion 32a2 also moves in the X direction. When the slider 32c moves from the rear side to the front side in the X direction, the support member 32e and the link body 32f2 rotate, and the solid head 33 descends toward the base 31.

When the solid head 33 is lowered toward the base 31, the protrusion 54 of the image forming unit 13 inserted into the opening 41a of the print head 41 comes out of the opening 41 a. Thereby, the restriction of the imaging unit 13 in the X direction is released. On the other hand, the dowel 44 is guided to the bottom side of the restricting rib 35 so that the movement in the X direction is restricted.

Then, the operator pulls out the imaging unit 13 in the X direction. By this operation, the imaging unit 13 is guided by the first guide member 34 to move in the X direction. That is, the drum shells 51 are separated from the rear casing 22, respectively, and the drum shells 51 move in the X direction in abutment with the first guide member 34. In addition, the imaging unit 13 is pulled out from the front case 22.

Then, as shown in fig. 14, the operator inserts a new image forming unit 13 to be replaced from the insertion port 21a in a state where the solid head 33 is lowered to the base 31 side. The imaging unit 13 inserted from the insertion port 21a is first moved in the X direction along the first guide member 34 with the drum shell 51 abutting against the first guide member 34. The drum shell 51 abuts on the rear case 22. Thereby, the imaging unit 13 is supported by the rear case 22 and the solid head unit 12.

The pair of protrusions 54 provided in the image forming unit 13 substantially face the pair of openings 41a formed in the print head 41 of the solid head 33.

At this time, as shown in fig. 17 and 18, in a state where the solid head 33 is lowered toward the base 31, relative displacement occurs in the X direction due to the gap δ between the respective members in the solid head unit 12 and the imaging unit 13 and the accumulation of tolerance. If the amount of relative displacement exceeds the guide range α 2 in the X direction based on the second guide Q, that is, the protrusion 54 and the opening 41a, the protrusion 54 cannot be inserted into the opening 41 a. Therefore, the guide range α 1 in the X direction by the first guide P, that is, the tenon 44 of the regulating rib 35 is set to be smaller than the guide range α 2.

When the solid head 33 is raised relative to the base 31 by operating the operating lever 32a, the protrusion 54 reaches the entrance of the opening 41a as shown in fig. 19. At this time, as shown in fig. 20, the tongue 44 is released from the regulating rib 35 and positioned within the range of the auxiliary guide 36. Therefore, the protrusion 54 can move into the opening 41a in the X direction regardless of the restricted range of the first guide P.

When the solid head 33 is raised relative to the base 31 by operating the operating lever 32a, the protrusion 54 is inserted into the opening 41a as shown in fig. 21. On the other hand, as shown in fig. 22, the tongue 44 is released from the regulating rib 35 and is positioned within the range of the auxiliary guide 36. Finally, the protrusion 54 can be reliably inserted into the opening 41 a.

Specifically, when the operator rotates the operation unit 32a1 in the direction of the arrow shown in fig. 11, the shaft 32a2 rotates following the rotation of the operation unit 32a 1. When the shaft portion 32a2 rotates, the protrusion 32b1 provided on the shaft portion 32a2 moves along the groove 32b2 of the cylinder 32b3 as shown in fig. 14, and the shaft portion 32a2 moves from the front side to the rear side in the X direction in addition to the movement in the rotation direction.

When the shaft portion 32a2 moves in the X direction, the slider 32c fixed to the shaft portion 32a2 also moves in the X direction. When the slider 32c moves from the front side to the rear side in the X direction, the support member 32e and the link body 32f2 rotate. Thereby, the solid head 33 is raised toward the photosensitive drum 52 in the second guide member 53. At this time, the carriage 42 moves between the pair of plate-like portions 53a of the second guide member 53 shown in fig. 6, whereby the position of the solid head 33 in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the imaging unit 13 into the carriage 42 and the lifting direction of the solid head 33 is guided to a predetermined position.

In addition, the solid head 33 is raised, the protrusion 54 is inserted into the opening 41a of the print head 41, and the print head 41 abuts against the drum shell 51 or the photosensitive drum 52, for example. Thereby, the imaging unit 13 is fixed to the housing 11 and the solid head unit 12 while being restricted from moving in the X direction, and the solid head 33 is positioned at a predetermined position suitable for performing an image forming process with respect to the photosensitive drum 52. The print head 41 is constantly biased toward the photosensitive drum 52 by the biasing member 43 and is held at a predetermined position with respect to the photosensitive drum 52.

According to the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above, even when the relative displacement occurs in the X direction due to the gap δ and the accumulation of the tolerance of the respective members in the solid head unit 12 and the image forming unit 13, the guide range α 1 in the X direction of the tenon 44 by the regulating rib 35 is set smaller than the guide range α 2 in the X direction of the protrusion 54 and the opening 41a, whereby the protrusion 54 can be inserted into the opening 41a, and the relative position of the solid head 33 and the photosensitive drum 52 can be guided to a predetermined position suitable for the image forming process. In other words, the protrusion 54 of the imaging unit 13 can be positioned at the opening 41a of the solid head 33 by the first guide P. Therefore, the job of mounting the image forming unit 13 to the image forming apparatus 1 may be a job of operating the operating lever 32a after inserting the image forming unit 13 until the image forming unit 13 abuts against the rear case 22. Therefore, the imaging unit 13 can be easily mounted to the solid head unit 12.

Further, for the purpose of improving the mountability, a difference in size is designed for each size of the solid head unit 12 and the imaging unit 13. However, by guiding the position of the protrusion 54 with respect to the opening 41a by the first guide P, the relative positions of the solid head 33 and the photosensitive drum 52 can be guided to a position suitable for the image forming process.

According to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment described above, the relative positional relationship between the solid head 33 and the image forming unit 13 can be guided.

The embodiments are not limited to the above examples. For example, in the above example, a configuration using the slider 32c and the link 32f has been described as a configuration for moving the solid head 33 up and down with respect to the photosensitive drum 52, but the configuration is not limited to this, and the slider 32c moves linearly by the rotation of the operating lever 32a, and the link 32f rotates to move the solid head 33 up and down by the movement of the slider 32 c.

In the above example, the configuration in which the imaging unit 13 is disposed above the solid head unit 12 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the imaging unit 13 may be disposed below the solid head unit 12, for example.

The image forming apparatus 1 may be configured to include one solid head unit 12 and one image forming unit 13 as a configuration using only black toner, for example. The image forming apparatus 1 may include other configurations and processes in addition to the above-described configurations and processes.

While several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.