JP2021148905A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an image forming device that can suppress an increase in the height of a housing in which an image forming unit is installed due to the effect of ensuring space for mounting a plurality of developer containers, compared to a case in which a plurality of developer containers are not mounted by inserting and removing them from a second side (e.g., rear side) opposite a first side of the housing from which at least a portion constituting an image forming unit in the housing is pulled out. [Solution] The image forming device includes a housing 10 having a plurality of sides, an image forming unit installed in the housing 10 and forming an image made of developer supplied individually from a plurality of developing devices 24 and transferring the image to a recording medium, and a plurality of developer containers 6 removably mounted in the housing 10 and storing developer to be individually replenished to the plurality of developing devices 24, and the plurality of developer containers 6 are attached and detached by inserting and removing them from a second side (e.g., rear side 10b) opposite a first side (e.g., front side 10a) from which at least a portion constituting the image forming unit is pulled out, among the plurality of sides of the housing 10. [Selected Figure] Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus provided with a plurality of developing agent containers for accommodating a developing agent individually supplied to a plurality of developing apparatus, for example, those described in the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 are known. ..

Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus in which four developing agent containers are detachably and side by side attached to an image forming portion or a portion above an intermediate transfer belt in a box-shaped main body. Has been done.
In Patent Document 2, four toner cartridges, which are developer containers, are located diagonally above a plurality of process cartridges in which four color toner images are exclusively formed in the main body of the apparatus and lateral to the writing portion (toner). An image forming apparatus that is replaceably installed in the supply unit) is described. Further, Patent Document 2 also describes that a carrier cartridge for accommodating a carrier is installed in a carrier replenishment unit near the toner replenishment unit in the main body of the apparatus.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-106473 (paragraph 0038, FIG. 1, etc.) JP-A-2007-101598 (paragraphs 0064, 0077, FIGS. 1, 4, etc.)

According to the present invention, a plurality of developer containers are not mounted by being inserted and removed from a second side surface (for example, the back surface) facing the first side surface of the housing from which at least a part constituting the image forming portion of the housing is drawn out. In comparison, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing an increase in at least the height of a housing in which an image forming portion is installed due to the influence of securing a space for mounting a plurality of developing agent containers.

The present invention (1)
A housing with multiple sides and
An image forming unit installed in the housing and forming an image composed of developing agents individually supplied from a plurality of developing devices and transferring the image to a recording medium.
A plurality of developing agent containers that are detachably mounted in the housing and that store the developing agents that are individually supplied to the plurality of developing devices.
With
The plurality of developer containers are attached / detached from the second side surface facing the first side surface from which at least a part of the plurality of side surfaces forming the image forming portion of the housing is drawn out. Is.

Further, the present invention (2) is described.
A housing with a back and
An image forming unit installed in the housing and forming an image composed of developing agents individually supplied from a plurality of developing devices and transferring the image to a recording medium.
A plurality of developing agent containers that are detachably mounted in the housing and that store the developing agents that are individually supplied to the plurality of developing devices.
With
The plurality of developer containers are image forming devices that are inserted and removed from the back surface of the housing.

According to the present invention (3), in the image forming apparatus of the invention (1), the mounting positions where the plurality of developing agent containers are mounted are closer to the second side surface than the plurality of developing devices. Is.

According to the present invention (4), in the image forming apparatus of the above invention (2), each mounting position where the plurality of developing agent containers are mounted is a position closer to the back surface than the plurality of developing devices. ..

The present invention (5) is an intermediate in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the above inventions (1) to (4), in which the image forming unit relays an image made of the developing agent to a position where the image is transferred to a recording medium. The transfer body is provided, and the mounting positions where the plurality of developing agent containers are mounted are positions that do not overlap with the intermediate transfer body in the insertion / removal direction.

In the image forming apparatus according to any one of the inventions (1) to (5), the present invention (6) has an image in which the uppermost portion of the developer container is mounted at each mounting position where the plurality of developer containers are mounted. It is a position below the uppermost position of the forming portion.

According to the image forming apparatus of the above invention (1), a plurality of developing agent containers are inserted and removed from the second side surface facing the first side surface of the housing from which at least a part constituting the image forming portion of the housing is drawn out. Compared with the case where the image forming portion is not attached, it is possible to suppress an increase in at least the height of the housing in which the image forming portion is installed due to the influence of securing a space for attaching a plurality of developing agent containers.

According to the image forming apparatus of the above invention (2), at least the height of the housing in which the image forming portion is installed is a plurality of heights as compared with the case where a plurality of developing agent containers are inserted and removed from the back surface of the housing and not mounted. It is possible to suppress the increase due to the influence of securing the space for mounting the developer container.

According to the above invention (3), the height of the housing is a plurality of developing agents as compared with the case where each mounting position in which the plurality of developing agent containers are mounted is not closer to the second side surface than the plurality of developing devices. It can be configured to reliably suppress the increase due to the effect of securing the space for mounting the container.

According to the above invention (4), the height of the housing is a plurality of developer containers as compared with the case where each mounting position where the plurality of developer containers are mounted is not closer to the back surface than the plurality of developing devices. It can be configured to reliably suppress the increase due to the influence of securing the mounting space.

According to the above invention (5), the height of the housing is a plurality of heights as compared with the case where the mounting positions where the plurality of developing agent containers are mounted overlap each other in the direction in which the intermediate transfer body and the developing agent container are inserted and removed. It can be configured to surely suppress the increase due to the influence of securing the space for mounting the developer container.

According to the above invention (6), each mounting position in which a plurality of developer containers are mounted is higher than the position where the uppermost portion of the developer container is above the uppermost position of the image forming portion. It is possible to surely suppress an increase in the height of the housing due to the influence of securing a space for mounting the plurality of developer containers, and it is possible to lower each mounting position of the plurality of developer containers.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 in the state when it was seen from the front side. It is a schematic diagram which shows the image forming part in the image forming apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state when the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 is seen from the back side. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state when the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 is seen from above. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state when the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 is seen from the right side surface side. (A) is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the toner container, the developer replenishing device, and the developing device, (B) is a schematic diagram showing the state when the toner container is attached to the replenishing device of (A), and (C) is. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state when the developing apparatus is separated from the replenishing apparatus of (B). (A) is a schematic view showing a state from the back side of the developer replenishing device, and (B) is a schematic view showing a toner replenishing state and the like by mounting a toner container on the replenishing device of (A). It is a schematic diagram which shows the modification of the image forming apparatus in the state when viewed from above. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus of a comparative example. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of the other image forming apparatus to be compared in the state when it is seen from the right side surface side.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1.
1 and 2 are drawings showing the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the entire image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows an image forming portion in the image forming apparatus 1.
The arrows indicated by the symbols X, Y, and Z in each drawing of FIGS. 1 and 2, indicate the left-right direction (horizontal direction), the up-down direction (vertical direction), and the front-back direction (horizontal direction), respectively. Further, the circles at the intersections of the arrows in the X and Y directions in the drawing indicate that the direction of Z points vertically downward in the drawing.

<Image forming device>
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 has a housing 10 having a required appearance shape, and in the internal space of the housing 10, an image forming unit 2, a paper feeding unit 4, and a fixing unit are used. 5. It is equipped with a power feeding unit, a control unit, etc. (not shown).

First, the housing 10 is a structure formed into a required structure and shape by combining various support members, exterior materials, and the like. The housing 10 according to the first embodiment has a first housing portion 10A having a relatively large height and width, and a second housing portion having a height and width relatively smaller than that of the first housing portion 10A. It has an external shape that combines 10B. The first housing portion 10A and the second housing portion 10B are composed of separate structures and are a composite type structure that is integrated by being detachably connected to each other, but the structure is integrated from the beginning. It may be configured as.

The first housing portion 10A of the housing 10 according to the first embodiment is formed to have an external shape like a horizontally long box that is relatively long with respect to the left-right direction X, and has an internal space 11A. There is. The first housing portion 10A is roughly classified into four side surfaces 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, one upper surface 10e, and one lower surface (bottom surface) 10f. In the first embodiment, the four side surfaces 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d treat, for example, the side surface 10a facing the front side in the front-rear direction X as the front surface (front surface), and the remaining three side surfaces 10b, 10c, 10d are the back surface (rear surface). ), Left side surface and right side surface, respectively (see Fig. 1, Fig. 4, etc.).
Further, the second housing portion 10B of the housing 10 is formed to have an external shape like a horizontally long box that is relatively shorter in the left-right direction X than the first housing portion 10A, and has an internal space 11B. have.

Further, the first housing portion 10A has a structure in which a part of the internal space 11A is exposed by opening and closing the opening / closing door, and necessary work such as inspection of the image forming portion 2 arranged in the internal space 11A can be performed. ing. Further, the internal spaces 11A and 11B of the first housing portion 10A and the second housing portion 10B are partitioned as needed. Reference numeral 12 in FIG. 1 and the like indicates a leg portion having a function such as height adjustment, and reference numeral 95 indicates an installation surface on which the image forming apparatus 1 is installed.

Next, the image forming unit 2 is a portion that forms an image made of developing agents individually supplied from a plurality of developing devices 24 and transfers the image to paper 9, which is an example of a recording medium. The image made of the developer is, for example, a toner image made of toner in the two-component developer when a two-component developer containing a toner and a carrier is used as the developer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming portion 2 in the first embodiment is arranged at a position occupying about half of the space on the right side of the internal space 11A of the first housing portion 10A of the housing 10. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming unit 2 forms four image forming devices 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D and four image forming devices 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D for forming a toner image made of toner as a developing agent. It is composed of an intermediate transfer device 30 having an intermediate transfer body that relays each toner image formed by the device 20 (A, B, C, D) and conveys the toner image to a position where the toner image is transferred to the paper 9.

It is shown that the image forming apparatus 20 (A, B, C, D) is an apparatus for individually forming a toner image composed of four toners (A, B, C, D) having different colors or types. .. Examples of the toner image made of toners of different colors and types include ordinary toner images made of chromatic or achromatic toners such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). However, it is not limited to this.

Further, all of the image forming apparatus 20 (A, B, C, D) are configured in substantially the same manner except that the four toners (A, B, C, D) used are different from each other. As the four toners (A, B, C, D), for example, the above-mentioned four color toners of yellow, magenta, cyan and black can be applied.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 20 (A, B, C, D) has a photosensitive drum 21 that is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow, and is around the photosensitive drum 21. , The charging device 22 that charges the image-forming surface of the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 to a required potential, and the light processed according to the image information input from the outside to the image-forming surface after charging of the photosensitive drum 21 is exposed. Image of the exposure device 23 that forms the electrostatic latent image, the developing devices 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D that develop the electrostatic latent image with the corresponding color or type of toner to form a toner image, and the photosensitive drum 21. It is configured by arranging equipment such as a drum cleaning device 26 for removing unnecessary deposits from the forming surface and cleaning the image forming surface.
In FIG. 2, reference numerals 21 to 24 and 26 are all described only in the image forming devices 20A and 20D, and some of them are described in the other image forming devices 20B and 20C.

Of these, the developing apparatus 24 (A, B, C, D) indicates that the developing apparatus 24 (A, B, C, D) is four developing apparatuss that accommodate and develop any one of the four toners (A, B, C, D). ing. For example, the developing apparatus 24A indicates that the toner A is accommodated and developed, and the developing apparatus 24B indicates that the toner B is accommodated and developed.

Further, the developing apparatus 24 (A, B, C, D) has almost the same configuration except that the developing agent (toner in the case of a two-component developing agent) contained therein is different.
The developing apparatus 24 (A, B, C, D) holds the developing agent inside a housing (casing) 240 having a unidirectionally long shape in which a developing agent accommodating portion and a developing opening are formed. A developing roll 241 supplied to the photosensitive drum 21 for development, a transport member 242 for transporting the developer while stirring, an adjusting member 243 for adjusting the amount (layer thickness, etc.) of the developer held on the developing roll 241 and the like. It is configured by arranging parts (see FIG. 6 and the like). At one end of the housing 240 in the longitudinal direction, a developer supply unit 245 in a form protruding from the one end is provided.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the developing apparatus 24 (A, B, C, D) is supplied with toner (A, B, C, etc.) as a developing agent, which is individually replenished according to its consumption. It includes toner containers 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D, which are examples of four developing agent containers for storing D). As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and the like, the toner container 6 (A, B, C, D) is detachably attached to the inside of the first housing portion 10A and used.
Details such as mounting of the toner container 6 (A, B, C, D) will be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intermediate transfer device 30 is configured by arranging an intermediate transfer belt 31, a primary transfer device 33, a secondary transfer device 35, a belt cleaning device 36, etc., which are examples of intermediate transfer bodies. Has been done.

The intermediate transfer belt 31 is an endless belt having a required width and length, and is configured to be able to hold a toner image on the outer peripheral surface. The intermediate transfer belt 31 sequentially passes through the primary transfer positions facing the photosensitive drums 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 (A, B, C, D) by the plurality of support rolls 32a to 32c arranged on the inner peripheral surface side thereof. It is also supported so that it passes through the secondary transfer position facing the paper 9 and is kept in a state of rotating (circulating movement) in the direction indicated by the arrow B. Of the plurality of support rolls 32a to 32c, for example, the support roll 32a is configured as a drive roll, and the support roll 32c is configured as a secondary transfer backup roll.

The primary transfer device 33 is a device that primarily transfers each toner image formed on each photosensitive drum 21 of the image forming device 20 (A, B, C, D) to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 by electrostatic action or the like. be. As the primary transfer device 33, for example, one having a primary transfer roll in which an intermediate transfer belt 31 is pressed against each photosensitive drum 21 to rotate at the primary transfer position and a primary transfer bias is supplied is applied.

The secondary transfer device 35 is a device that secondarily transfers the toner image primaryly transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 onto the paper 9 by electrostatic action or the like. The secondary transfer device 35 includes, for example, a secondary transfer roll that rotates in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 at the secondary transfer position supported by the support roll 32c and is fed with a secondary transfer bias. What you have is applied.
The belt cleaning device 36 is a device that removes unnecessary deposits from the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 and cleans the outer peripheral surface thereof.

In the intermediate transfer device 30 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the intermediate transfer belt 31 is horizontally traveled by a plurality of support rolls 32a to 32c in the internal space 11A of the first housing portion 10A of the housing 10. It is hung in a form having a region, a downward slope traveling region, and an upward slope traveling region.

The horizontal traveling region is an region where the housing 10 is supported by the support roll 32a and the support roll 32b in a substantially horizontal state in the left-right direction X at a position on the upper side of the internal space of the housing 10. The downward slope traveling region is an region in which the support roll 32b and the support roll 32c are supported by the support roll 32b and the support roll 32c in a state of descending while inclining from the right to the lower left. The ascending and inclined traveling region is an region in which the support roll 32c and the support roll 32a are supported by the support roll 32c and the support roll 32a so as to ascend while inclining from the bottom to the upper left.

Further, the four image forming devices 20 (A, B, C, D) in the first embodiment are in the following states as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 due to the relationship of the above-mentioned hanging form of the intermediate transfer belt 31. It is arranged in.

The two image forming devices 20 (A, B) are arranged so as to be arranged in a substantially horizontal state with a certain interval (interval between primary transfer positions) in the left-right direction X in the horizontal traveling region of the intermediate transfer belt 31. There is. Further, the remaining two image forming devices 20 (C, D) are arranged so as to be arranged in an oblique state at the same interval as the above-mentioned constant interval in the downwardly inclined traveling region of the intermediate transfer belt 31. The image forming apparatus 20B and the image forming apparatus 20C, which are separately arranged in the upper horizontal traveling region and the lower descending inclined traveling region, are also arranged so that the interval between the primary transfer positions is the same as the above-mentioned constant interval. ing.

Further, the secondary transfer device 35 according to the first embodiment is arranged at a middle position in the ascending and inclined traveling region of the intermediate transfer belt 31.

Next, the paper feeding unit 4 is a portion that accommodates and sends out the paper 9 to be supplied to the position where the image forming unit 2 is to be transferred.

As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feeding unit 4 in the first embodiment is arranged in the internal space 11B of the second housing unit 10B of the housing 10. Further, the paper feeding unit 4 is composed of an accommodating body 41 for loading and accommodating a plurality of sheets of paper 9 in a required direction, a sending device 42 for feeding out the sheets 9 contained in the accommodating body 41 one by one, and the like. Has been done.
As the paper 9, for example, any recording medium that can be conveyed in the housing 10 (10A, 10B) and can transfer and fix the toner image can be applied, and the material, form, and the like thereof can be applied. There are no particular restrictions.

Further, since the image forming unit 2 includes the intermediate transfer device 30, the paper feeding unit 4 is configured to supply the paper 9 to the secondary transfer position in the intermediate transfer device 30. In the paper feeding unit 4, the paper 9 to be sent out from the accommodating body 41 is conveyed to the secondary transfer position via the paper feeding transfer path 45.

The paper feed transport path 45 is a paper transport path that transports the paper 9 in the paper feed unit 4 to the secondary transfer position at a required timing. The paper feed transport path 45 includes, for example, a plurality of transport rolls 46a to 46d that sandwich and transport the paper 9, and a plurality of guide members (not shown) that secure a transport space for the paper 9 and guide the transport of the paper 9. Is arranged and configured. Further, the paper feed transfer path 45 in the present embodiment occupies a space below the lower surface 10f of the first housing portion 10A from the internal space 11B of the second housing portion 10B to the internal space 11A of the first housing portion 10A. It is placed in a position.

Next, the fixing portion 5 is a portion for fixing the toner image transferred by the image forming portion 2 on the paper 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing portion 5 in the first embodiment is arranged at a position occupying about half of the space on the left side of the internal space 11A of the first housing portion 10A of the housing 10. Further, the fixing unit 5 heats the toner at a required temperature to melt it, and also performs a fixing process of pressurizing the toner at a required pressure.

The fixing unit 5 is, for example, a fixing device in which devices such as a rotating body 51 for heating and a rotating body 52 for pressurization are arranged in an internal space of a housing 50 provided with an introduction port for paper 9 and a discharge port thereof. It is composed. The heating rotating body 51 is a rotating body having a form such as a roll form or a belt-pad form, which is heated to a required temperature by a heating means (not shown) and rotates. The pressurizing rotating body 52 is a rotating body having a form such as a roll form or a belt-pad form, which rotates while being pressed against the heating rotating body 51 at a required pressure. The pressurizing rotating body 52 may be heated by the heating means.

In the fixing portion 5, the portion where the heating rotating body 51 and the pressing rotating body 52 come into contact with each other passes the paper 9 on which the toner image of the unfixed image is transferred while sandwiching the paper 9, and when the fixing portion 5 passes through the fixing portion 5. It is a fixing processing part (nip part) that performs processing such as heating and pressurization for fixing the toner image on the paper 9.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 1, paper transport paths such as a relay transfer path 47 and a discharge transfer path 48 are arranged inside the first housing portion 10A.

The relay transport path 47 is a paper transport path for relaying and transporting the paper 9 after the secondary transfer of the image forming unit 2 is completed so as to be introduced into the fixing unit 5. The relay transport path 47 is configured by, for example, arranging a suction type belt transport device or the like between the secondary transfer position of the image forming portion 2 and the fixing portion 5.
The discharge transport path 48 transports the paper 9 after the fixing in the fixing portion 5 is completed to the discharge port 13 of the paper 9 on the left side surface 10c of the first housing portion 10A, and then discharges the paper 9 to a storage portion (not shown). This is the paper transport path. The discharge transport path 48 is configured by arranging a transport roll 49, a plurality of guide members, and the like.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the side surface portion of the housing 10 where the first housing portion 10A and the second housing portion 10B are joined serves as a boundary wall 15. The boundary wall 15 separates the internal space 11A of the first housing portion 10A and the internal space 11B of the second housing portion 10B. The boundary wall 15 is composed of a portion where the right side surface 10d of the first housing portion 10A and the left side surface of the second housing portion 10B are joined at the time of connection. Further, in the lower part of the boundary wall 15, for example, an opening such as a passage port 15a through which the conveyed paper 9 is passed is provided.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, at least a part of the image forming portion 2 is configured to be drawn out to the outside of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10. ..

In the first embodiment, for example, the four image forming devices 20 (A, B, C, D) in the image forming unit 2 are unitized as units to be drawn out, and are individually united from the front surface 10a of the first housing unit 10A. It has a structure that can be pulled out to the outside (front side: front side in the front-rear direction Z). Specifically, in the image forming apparatus 20 (A, B, C, D), equipment such as the photosensitive drum 21, the charging apparatus 22, the exposure apparatus 23, the developing apparatus 24, and the drum cleaning apparatus 26 is used as a support frame for the unit. Each of them is attached to form an integral structure, and the support frame is arranged so as to be movable via a moving means such as a guide rail. By utilizing the moving means, the image forming apparatus 20 (A, B, C, D) is individually pulled out from the front surface 10a of the first housing portion 10A.

As a result, in the image forming apparatus 1, the housing 10 performs inspection work and replacement work of the devices such as the photosensitive drum 21, the charging device 22, the exposure apparatus 23, the developing apparatus 24, and the drum cleaning apparatus 26 constituting the image forming apparatus 20. It can be done in a state where it is pulled out to the outside and exposed. In FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and the like, the arrow J1 indicates the direction in which the image forming apparatus 20 is pushed in when mounted, and the arrow J2 indicates the direction in which the image forming apparatus 20 is pulled out.

<Structure related to mounting of developer container, etc.>
Then, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 5 and the like, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the toner containers 6 (A, B, C, D) as the four developing agent containers as the first of the housing 10. At least a part of the image forming portion 2 of the housing portion 10A is inserted and removed from the second side surface facing the first side surface to be pulled out and attached / detached.

Here, in the second aspect of the first embodiment, as described above, at least the image forming apparatus 20 (A, B, C, D) constituting the image forming portion 2 is the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10. Since it is pulled out from the front surface 10a (corresponding to the first side surface), it becomes the back surface 10b as the side surface facing the front surface 10a which is the first side surface. Therefore, the toner container 6 (A, B, C, D) in the first embodiment is inserted and removed from the back surface 10b of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10.
The arrow M1 in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 5 indicates the direction in which the toner container 6 is inserted when the toner container 6 is attached, and the arrow M2 indicates the direction in which the toner container 6 is pulled out when the toner container 6 is removed. The arrows M in both directions are the directions in which the toner container 6 is inserted and removed.

Further, the toner container 6 (A, B, C, D) in the first embodiment is attached to each of the developing devices 24 (A, B, C, D), and the two toner containers 61 (A, B, C, D) are used. It is composed of A, B, C, D) and 62 (A, B, C, D). For example, the toner container 6A is composed of two toner containers 61A and 62A that are mounted on the developing device 24A and used, and the toner container 6B is formed on two toner containers 61B and 62B that are mounted and used on the developing device 24B. It is composed of.

The two toner containers 61 and 62 have the same configuration as each other. For example, the toner container 61A and the toner container 62A are containers having the same cylindrical shape capable of storing the same toner A in the same amount.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the two toner containers 61 and 62 have a discharge portion 65 having an opening / closing shutter at a predetermined portion of the container (for example, the end portion on the tip side at the time of mounting and insertion). Is provided, and a transport member 66 for rotating and transporting the toner to the discharge unit 65 in the container is provided. Further, the toner containers 61 and 62 also include a handle portion 67 used for attachment / detachment work, a passive transmission joint (for example, a sprocket) (not shown) connected to a drive transmission joint described later that transmits rotational power to the transport member 66. It is provided.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the image forming apparatus 1 provides a developing agent replenishing device 70 (A) in which the toner container 6 (A, B, C, D) is provided on the back surface 10b side of the housing 10. , B, C, D) to connect to the developing device 24 (A, B, C, D), respectively.

First, in the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the internal space 11A of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 is defined as the front internal space 11Af with the virtual boundary surface 16 as a boundary. It is divided into a rear internal space 11Ab. The boundary surface 16 can also be a boundary wall that can actually partition the space. When the boundary wall is adopted, an opening that penetrates the necessary portion of the boundary wall may be provided.

As shown in FIG. 6, all of the developer replenishing devices 70 (A, B, C, D) are arranged in the rear internal space 11Ab of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10.
On the other hand, with respect to the image forming unit 2 (four image forming devices 20 and the intermediate transfer device 30), the feeding unit 4, the fixing unit 5, the paper transport path, and the like, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the first housing It is arranged in the front internal space 11Af of the body portion 10A.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the replenishment devices 70 (A, B, C, D) includes a container mounting portion 71 for mounting the toner container 6 (A, B, C, D) and each of the replenishing devices 70 (A, B, C, D). It has a transport unit 75 for transporting the toner of the developer stored in the toner container 6 (A, B, C, D).

The container mounting portion 71 has a shape and structure capable of detachably holding the two toner containers 61 and 62. The container mounting portion 71 is in a state in which a necessary portion (for example, an end holding portion described later) is exposed to the outside on the back surface 10b side by opening an opening / closing door (not shown) provided on the back surface 10b.

As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the container mounting portion 71 holds an installation portion 71a in which two toner containers 61 and 62 are installed and an end portion that holds one end of the toner containers 61 and 62 in the longitudinal direction. It is composed of a portion 71b and an end fixing portion 71c or the like that holds and fixes the other end of the toner containers 61 and 62 in the longitudinal direction (the end that becomes the head when inserted at the time of mounting).
The end holding portion 71b is provided with two mounting holes 72 for guiding and passing the toner containers 61 and 62 when they are attached and detached. Further, the end fixing portion 71c is provided with a receiving port (not shown) facing the discharging portion 65 of the toner containers 61 and 62, a drive transmission joint (for example, a sprocket) 73 for transmitting power to the transport member 66, and the like.

The transport section 75 has a shape and structure capable of transporting a required amount of toner by connecting between the end fixing section 71c of the container mounting section 71 and the developer supply section 245 of the developing apparatus 24. There is.

As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the transport section 75 includes a first transport section 75a extending from the end fixing section 71c of the container mounting section 71 along the installation section 71a, and a developer supply section 245 in the developing apparatus 24. It is composed of a replenishment transport path 75b for transporting the required amount of toner, a connection transport path 75c for connecting between the first transport unit 75a and the replenishment transport path 75b, and the like.

A transport member 76 that rotates to transport toner is provided in the first transport unit 75a, the supply transport path 75b, and the connection transport path 75c. The transport member 76 is rotated by a drive device (not shown) according to a required replenishment amount. The supply transport path 75b is provided with a connection discharge port 77 that connects to the connection reception port 246 in the developer supply unit 245 of the developing device 24 and discharges toner. In the connecting transport path 75c, conditions such as the length and the arrangement position of the transport path are adjusted according to the difference in the separation distance and the positional relationship between the replenishment device 70 and the developer replenishment unit 245 in the developing device 24.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the replenishment device 70 (A, B, C, D) is arranged in the front internal space 11Af in the rear internal space 11Ab of the first housing portion 10A of the housing 10. The developing apparatus 24 (A, B, C, D) shown by the dotted line is arranged at each position substantially corresponding to each arrangement position.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, all of the replenishment devices 70 (A, B, C, D) are above the developing devices 24 (A, B, C, D) to be replenished. It is arranged so that it exists at the position of. Further, in the replenishment device 70 (A, B, C, D), each toner container 6 (A, B, C, D) mounted on each container mounting portion 71 is subject to replenishment. It is configured to be located above each of the devices 24 (A, B, C, D).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the replenishment device 70 (A, B, C, D) has a mounting position where the toner container 6 (61, 62) is mounted in each container mounting portion 71. Are all configured to be closer to the back surface 10b, which is the second side surface, than the four developing devices 24 (A, B, C, D).

Specifically, while each image forming apparatus 20 provided with the developing apparatus 24 (A, B, C, D) is arranged in the front internal space 11Af of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10. , Each container mounting portion 71 for mounting the toner container 6 (61, 62) is arranged in the front internal space 11Af including the back surface 10b of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10. In other words, with respect to each mounting position where the toner container 6 (61, 62) is mounted, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the housing 240 of each developing device 24 (A, B, C, D) Of these, the image forming apparatus 20 is set to exist at a position closer to the back surface 10b than the end portion 240b on the front end side in the pushing direction J1.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the replenishment device 70 (A, B, C, D) has a mounting position where the toner container 6 (61, 62) is mounted in each container mounting portion 71. Are also configured so that they do not overlap with the intermediate transfer belt 31 of the intermediate transfer device 30 in the image forming unit 2 in the insertion / removal direction M of the toner container 6 (61, 62). In this case, the insertion / removal direction M can be replaced with, for example, the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 31 or the rotation axis direction of the support roll 32 thereof.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the replenishment device 70 (A, B, C, D) has a mounting position where the toner container 6 (61, 62) is mounted in each container mounting portion 71. The uppermost portion of the toner container 6 (61, 62) is also configured to be located below the uppermost position (Ph) of the image forming portion 2.

The alternate long and short dash line with the reference numeral Ph in FIGS. 1 to 3 indicates the (height) position of the uppermost portion of the image forming apparatus 20A and 20B, which is the uppermost portion of the image forming portion 2, which is substantially common to each exposure apparatus 23. ing. Further, the alternate long and short dash line with the reference numeral Th in FIG. 3 indicates the (height) position of the uppermost surface portion of the toner containers 6A and 6B, which is the uppermost portion of the toner container 6 (61, 62).

In the image forming apparatus 1 having the above configuration, the toner container 6 (61, 62) is attached to the corresponding replenishment device 70 (A, B, C, D) on the back surface 10b of the first housing portion 10A of the housing 10. The work of inserting and removing from each container mounting portion 71 is performed.

In the mounting work of the toner container 6 (61, 62) at that time, as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B), the toner container 6 (61, 62) to be mounted is mounted on the first housing portion 10A. This is performed by pushing the replenishment device 70 (A, B, C, D) to be mounted from the back surface 10b toward the container mounting portion 71 of the mounting target in the insertion direction M1 to hold and fix the container. Prior to this mounting work, an opening / closing door (not shown) provided on the back surface 10b of the first housing portion 10A is opened to expose the end holding portion 71b of each container mounting portion 71 to the back surface 10b side. Is done.

The toner containers 6 (61, 62) mounted on the container mounting portions 71 are shown when the toner in the developing apparatus 24 (A, B, C, D) to be replenished is consumed by the developing operation and it is time to replenish the toner. The replenishment device 70 (A, B, C, D) that needs to be replenished is started by a control command from the control unit, and is used for replenishing toner.

The toner replenishment operation is performed after the toner in the toner container 6 (61, 62) is delivered by the transport member 66 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line with an arrow in FIG. 6 (B). This is performed by being conveyed via the conveying unit 75 in the apparatus 70 and finally being sent to the developer replenishing unit 245 in the developing apparatus 24 to be replenished.

Further, in the removal work of the toner container 6 (61, 62), when the toner stored in the toner replenishment operation is almost consumed and the toner is developed, it is replaced as shown in FIGS. The toner container 6 (61, 62) that becomes It is done by being done.

Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 20 (A, B, C) which is an example of at least a part of the plurality of toner containers 6 (61, 62) forming the image forming portion 2 in the housing 10. , D) is out of the housing 10 as compared with the case where the housing 10 is not mounted by being inserted and removed from the back surface 10b which is the second side surface facing the front surface 10a which is the first side surface of the first housing portion 10A of the housing 10. At least the height Hm (FIG. 1) of the first housing portion 10A on which the image forming portion 2 is installed is suppressed from being increased due to the influence of securing a space for mounting the plurality of toner containers 6 (61, 62). NS.

The height Hm of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 is the upper surface 10e of the region (first housing portion 10A) in which at least the image forming portion 2 is arranged in the housing 10. The dimensions are from the installation surface 95. Similarly, the width Wm of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 is between the left and right side surfaces 10c and 10d surrounding at least the area (first housing portion 10A) in which the image forming portion 2 is arranged in the housing 10. It becomes the dimension of.

Here, as the image forming apparatus 100 of the comparative example, as shown in FIG. 9, the image forming unit 2 (image forming apparatus 20 and the intermediate transfer apparatus 30) like the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is similarly used. A plurality of toner containers 6 (61, 62) are inserted and removed from the front surface 10a, which is the first side surface of the first housing portion 10A of the housing 10, and mounted on the premise that the toner containers 6 (61, 62) are arranged in the housing 10. Assume an image forming apparatus.

In the image forming apparatus 100 of this comparative example, from the viewpoint of securing a space for inserting and removing the toner container 6 (61, 62) from the front surface 10a and mounting the toner container 6 (61, 62), two image forming devices arranged at the upper position are formed. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the replenishment devices 70 (A, B) corresponding to the devices 20A and 20B need to be arranged with a space secured above the image forming devices 20A and 20B. Therefore, the upper surface 10e of the housing 10 must be as high as the upper surface 10ex having a height as shown by the alternate long and short dash line to secure the space.
As a result, in the image forming apparatus 100, the height of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 is the height Hm of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. Compared with, the size α is increased corresponding to the new upper surface 10ex.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 100 of the comparative example, from the same viewpoint as described above, the replenishing apparatus 70C corresponding to, for example, the rightmost image forming apparatus 20C arranged at the lower position is as illustrated in FIG. It is necessary to secure a space at a position on the right side of the image forming apparatus 20C. Therefore, the right side surface 10d of the housing 10 must be changed to a position shifted to the right side like the right side surface 10dx indicated by the alternate long and short dash line to secure the space.
As a result, in the image forming apparatus 100, the width of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 is compared with the width Wm of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. Then, the dimension β is increased corresponding to the new right side surface 10dx.

In the image forming apparatus 100 of the comparative example, from the same viewpoint as described above, the replenishing apparatus 70D corresponding to, for example, the image forming apparatus 20D on the lower left side, which is arranged at the lower position, is illustrated in FIG. A configuration is also conceivable in which a space is secured and arranged at a position below the image forming apparatus 20D. If the space can be secured at a position lower than the image forming apparatus 20D, it is not necessary to change the right side surface 10d to a position shifted to the right side, and as a result, the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 It is possible to avoid an increase in at least the width Wm.
However, in this arrangement, the replenishment device 70D including the toner container 6D is arranged at a position lower than the developing device 24D (developer replenishing unit 245) in the image forming device 20D. The toner contained in the toner container 6D must be conveyed (from bottom to top) so as to be raised toward the developing device 24D existing on the upper side.
For this reason, in this arrangement, it becomes difficult to transport the toner as a powder well, and another problem that the toner is easily clogged in the transport path or the like may occur, and as a result, it is an effective countermeasure. It doesn't become.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, each mounting position where the plurality of toner containers 6 (61, 62) are mounted is on the back surface 10b which is the second side surface of the plurality of developing devices 24 (A, B, C, D). Since it is configured to be closer (position closer to the back surface 10b), each mounting position is not closer to the back surface 10b, which is the second side surface than the plurality of developing devices 24 (A, B, C, D). Compared with the case, at least the height Hm of the first housing portion 10A in which the image forming portion 2 is installed is increased due to the influence of securing the space for mounting the plurality of toner containers 6 (61, 62). Is definitely suppressed.

For example, even if the toner container 6C (61,62) is mounted by inserting and removing it from the back surface 10b, the mounting position of the toner container 6C (61,62) is the developing device as illustrated in FIG. When the positional relationship is such that the 24C and the insertion / removal direction M overlap with each other, it is necessary to secure a space above the image forming apparatus 20C including the developing apparatus 24C. Therefore, the upper surface 10e of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 must be raised as high as the upper surface 10ez having a height as shown by the alternate long and short dash line to secure the space. The height Hm of the first housing portion 10A increases.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, the mounting positions where the plurality of toner containers 6 (61, 62) are mounted are the intermediate transfer belt 31 of the intermediate transfer device 30 and the toner container 6 (61, 62) in the image forming unit 2. Since it is also configured so that it does not overlap in the insertion / removal direction M, when the mounting positions of the intermediate transfer belt 31 and the toner container 6 (61, 62) overlap in the insertion / removal direction M. By comparison, the height Hm of at least the first housing portion 10A in which the image forming portion 2 is installed among the housings 10 is increased due to the influence of securing a space for mounting the plurality of toner containers 6 (61, 62). Is definitely suppressed.

In this respect, even if the toner container 6C (61,62) is mounted by inserting and removing it from the back surface 10b, the mounting position of the toner container 6C (61,62) is as illustrated in FIG. If the intermediate transfer belt 31 and the toner container 6C (61, 62) overlap in the insertion / removal direction M, it is necessary to secure a space above the image forming apparatus 20C including the developing apparatus 24C. There is. Therefore, the upper surface 10e of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 must be raised as high as the upper surface 10ez having a height as shown by the alternate long and short dash line to secure the space. The height Hm of the first housing portion 10A increases.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, the uppermost portion (height Th) of the toner container 6 (61, 62) is the image forming portion 2 at each mounting position where the plurality of toner containers 6 (61, 62) are mounted. Since it is also configured to be located below the uppermost position (Ph), the uppermost portion of the toner container 6 (61, 62) is the position of the uppermost portion of the image forming portion 2 (each mounting position is the position of the uppermost portion of the image forming portion 2 (61, 62). Compared to the case where the position is higher than Ph), the height Hm of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 is increased due to the effect of securing a space for mounting the plurality of toner containers 6 (61, 62). This is more reliably suppressed, and the mounting positions of the plurality of toner containers 6 (61, 62) are lowered.
In particular, in the image forming apparatus 1, since the mounting positions of the plurality of toner containers 6 (61, 62) are lowered, the lifting height when working when attaching and detaching the toner containers 6 (61, 62) is also lowered. , The burden of attaching and detaching the work is reduced, and the work becomes easier.

Furthermore, since the image forming apparatus 1 is composed of two toner containers 61 and 62 used by mounting the plurality of toner containers 6 on one of the plurality of developing devices 24, the plurality of developing devices 24 Compared to the case where one toner container 6 is attached to each of the above, if the containers are cylindrical to each other and the toner storage volume and the diameter of the container are almost the same, the two toner containers 61 and 62 are inserted and removed. The dimension with respect to the direction M is shorter than that of one toner container 6.
As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 has a dimension in the insertion / removal direction M of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10 (strictly speaking, a dimension in the front-rear direction in the rear internal space 11Ab of the first housing portion 10A). Can be reduced as compared with the case where one toner container 6 is attached to each.

Modification example.
The present invention is not limited to the contents illustrated in the first embodiment, and includes, for example, modifications as described below.

Regarding the image forming apparatus, as illustrated in FIG. 8, at least a part 2a (for example, a developing apparatus, a photosensitive drum, etc.) constituting the image forming portion 2 is a left side surface 10c (corresponding to the first side surface) of the housing 10C. In the case of the image forming apparatus 1B having a configuration drawn from the above, the second side surface facing the left side surface 10c, which is the first side surface, is the right side surface 10d. The housing 10C of the image forming apparatus 1B illustrated has a shape in which the front-rear dimensions of the left and right side surfaces 10c and 10d are longer than the left-right dimensions of the front surface 10a.
In the case of such an image forming apparatus 1B, the plurality of toner containers 6A and 6B may be configured to be inserted and removed from the right side surface 10d as the second side surface of the housing 10C.
In addition to this, in the image forming apparatus in which the first side surface is the right side surface 10d, the second side surface facing the first side surface is the left side surface 10c.

As long as the image forming unit 2 is provided with a plurality of developing devices 24, the image forming unit 2 may be one to which the intermediate transfer device 30 having the intermediate transfer belt 31 is not applied (for example, a direct transfer method). The number of developing devices 24 may be 2 or more. The type of the developing device 24 may be another type.
Further, the toner container 6 may be provided with at least the same number of toner containers 6 as the number of the plurality of developing devices 24.

In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, as the developer container, for example, when the developer is a two-component developer containing toner and a carrier, in addition to the toner container for storing the toner for replenishment, A carrier container that houses the carrier for replenishment may be adopted.

In this case, the carrier container 68 is, for example, a portion (container mounting portion 71) on which the toner container 6 (61, 62) of the developer replenishing device 70 is mounted, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 7 (A). It may be attached and detachably attached to the carrier container mounting portion 79 provided near the above. As the carrier container 68, for example, a container made of a cylindrical container and provided with a transport member or the like that rotates so as to transport the carrier housed therein to the discharge port is used.

When the carrier container 68 is applied, when it is time to replenish the carrier of the developer in the developing device 24, power is transmitted from a drive transmitting means (not shown) in the carrier container mounting portion 79 at the start of the replenishing device 70 and conveyed. The member is rotationally driven. As a result, the carrier is sent out from the carrier container 68, and is sent to the developer replenishing unit 245 in the developing device 24 to be replenished via the transport unit 75 of the replenishing device 70 as shown by the dotted line Gc with an arrow in FIG. Then, the carrier replenishment operation is performed.
As for the attachment / detachment work of the carrier container 68, as in the case of the toner container 6 (61, 62), the carrier container 68 is inserted / removed from the back surface 10b or the like which is the second side surface of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10. It may be configured to be attached.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment has a cleaning remover (paper dust or the like) and a developer discharged from the cleaning apparatus and the developing apparatus in the image forming unit 2, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. In some cases, a collection container 81 that collects (toner, etc.) and the like and is detachably mounted in the first housing portion 10A of the housing 10 is provided.
In this case, the collection container 81 may also be configured to be inserted and removed from the back surface 10b or the like, which is the second side surface, as in the case of the toner container 6 (61, 62). The number of collection containers 81 illustrated in FIG. 3 is one, but the number and the like are not particularly limited.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, in order to attach and detach the toner container 6 and the like on the back surface 10b which is the second side surface of the first housing portion 10A in the housing 10, the toner container 6 and the like are attached and detached behind the back surface 10b. Space for work will be secured.
Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 5, a working space behind the back surface 10b, which is a blind spot from the front surface 10a of the first housing unit 10A in the housing 10, is formed. In addition, for example, spare or removed toner containers 6 (61, 62) and other related parts can be temporarily placed and stored.

1 ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Image forming parts 6, 61, 62 ... Toner container (example of developing agent container)
9 ... Paper (an example of recording medium)
10, 10C ... Housing 10a ... Front (an example of the first side surface)
10b ... Back surface (an example of the second side surface)
10a, 10b, 10c, 10d ... Side surface (an example of a plurality of side surfaces)
24 ... Developing device 31 ... Intermediate transfer belt (an example of an intermediate transfer body)
M ... Insertion / extraction direction Ph ... Position of the uppermost part of the image forming portion (example)
Th ... The position of the top of the toner container (example)

Claims (6)

A housing with multiple sides and
An image forming unit installed in the housing and forming an image composed of developing agents individually supplied from a plurality of developing devices and transferring the image to a recording medium.
A plurality of developing agent containers that are detachably mounted in the housing and that store the developing agents that are individually supplied to the plurality of developing devices.
With
The plurality of developer containers are attached / detached from the second side surface facing the first side surface from which at least a part of the plurality of side surfaces forming the image forming portion of the housing is drawn out. .. A housing with a back and
An image forming unit installed in the housing and forming an image composed of developing agents individually supplied from a plurality of developing devices and transferring the image to a recording medium.
A plurality of developing agent containers that are detachably mounted in the housing and that store the developing agents that are individually supplied to the plurality of developing devices.
With
An image forming apparatus in which the plurality of developer containers are inserted and removed from the back surface of the housing. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each mounting position where the plurality of developer containers are mounted is a position closer to the second side surface than the plurality of developing devices. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each mounting position where the plurality of developer containers are mounted is a position closer to the back surface than the plurality of developing devices. The image forming unit has an intermediate transfer body that relays an image made of the developer and conveys the image to a position where the image is transferred to a recording medium.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each mounting position on which the plurality of developer containers are mounted is a position that does not overlap with the intermediate transfer body in the insertion / removal direction. The mounting position where the plurality of developer containers are mounted is any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the uppermost portion of the developer container is a position lower than the position of the uppermost portion of the image forming portion. The image forming apparatus described.

Images