JP4919014B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can be made compact, while fully securing the capacity of developer in a developer cartridge, and is moreover superior in operability and enables the maintenance cost thereof to be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: A toner cartridge 69 is integrally attached to/detached from a body casing 2 in a front-and-rear direction, independently of a photoreceptor drum 133 and a developing roller 143. Thus, even if only the toner cartridge 69 is made large, the body casing 2 need not be made large according as the toner cartridge 69 is made large, and can be formed compact. Furthermore, the operability is improved, and running cost is reduced. When the toner cartridge 69 is attached to the body casing 2, by arranging it to face the developing roller 143 in the longitudinal direction (width direction), the capacity of the toner in the toner cartridge 69 is fully secured. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a color laser printer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, tandem color laser printers are known in which photosensitive members corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are arranged in parallel.

In a tandem type color laser printer, each color toner image is formed almost simultaneously on each photoconductor, and each color toner image is sequentially transferred from each photoconductor to a sheet that sequentially passes through each photoconductor. A color image can be formed at almost the same speed.
As such a tandem type color laser printer, for example, four photoconductors, a corona charger arranged around the photoconductor, and a cleaning device are integrated as a photoconductor cartridge and pulled out from the apparatus main body. A device has been proposed in which a developing device attached to a photoreceptor can be attached to and detached from the photoreceptor cartridge while being attached to the main body (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-15378 A

  However, since toner corresponding to each color is stored in each developing device, it is necessary to increase the size of each developing device in order to sufficiently secure the toner capacity.

  On the other hand, in the tandem color laser printer described in Patent Document 1, each developing device is attached to and detached from the photosensitive cartridge. Therefore, if each developing device is increased in size in order to ensure the toner capacity, it corresponds to that. Also, it is necessary to increase the size of the photoreceptor cartridge. In this case, it is inevitable to increase the size of the apparatus main body to which the photosensitive cartridge is attached and detached.

  In the tandem color laser printer described in Patent Document 1, when each developing device is replaced, first, the photosensitive cartridge is pulled out and removed from the apparatus main body, and each of the removed photosensitive cartridges is removed. After replacing the developing device, it is necessary to mount and attach the photosensitive member cartridge again. That is, when each developing device is replaced, it is necessary to attach and detach a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member, a corona charger, and a cleaning device to the apparatus main body. Therefore, labor is required for the attachment / detachment operation.

Furthermore, each developing device is provided with members necessary for developing the toner such as a supply roller, a developing roller, and a regulating blade in addition to storing the toner. When the toner is consumed, the developing device needs to be replaced. Therefore, the running cost is expensive.
The object of the present invention is to reduce the size of the apparatus while ensuring a sufficient developer capacity in the developer cartridge, and is excellent in operability and can reduce maintenance costs. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus, wherein a plurality of housings and a plurality of electrostatic latent images formed in parallel in one direction in the housing are formed. An image carrier, a plurality of developer carriers that are disposed opposite to the image carrier, and that visualizes the electrostatic latent image by supplying the developer to the image carrier; and the developer Arranged in parallel in the one direction so as to face the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction of the carrier, is integrally attached to and detached from the housing along the one direction, and is supplied to the developer carrier. A plurality of developer cartridges, and a storage unit that detachably stores all the developer cartridges and is slidably moved along the one direction with respect to the housing. The plurality of developer cartridges include the current developer cartridge. A cartridge-side opening for allowing the developer to pass therethrough is formed at a position facing the agent carrier, and a cartridge-side shutter that covers the cartridge-side opening so as to be openable and closable is provided. An opening / closing member for collectively opening and closing the cartridge side shutter is provided .

  According to such a configuration, a plurality of developer cartridges corresponding to the developer carrier are integrated in one direction with respect to the housing independently of the image carrier and the developer carrier. Is attached and detached. Therefore, even if only the developer cartridge is formed in a large size so as to ensure a sufficient developer capacity, the housing does not need to be formed in a large size and can be formed compactly.

  Since the developer cartridge is disposed opposite to the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction when mounted on the housing, the dimensions of the housing in the crossing direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier are determined. In the case of constant, the cross direction dimension of the developer cartridge is larger than the cross direction dimension of the developer cartridge when the developer cartridge is opposed to the developer support body in the cross direction. The size can be increased by an amount corresponding to the direction dimension. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently secure the developer capacity in the developer cartridge.

In addition, since only the developer cartridge can be integrally attached to and detached from the housing in one direction, the operability can be improved and the running cost can be reduced.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus while ensuring a sufficient developer capacity in the developer cartridge, and to improve operability and reduce maintenance costs.
The developer cartridge is slidably attached to and detached from the housing in a state where it is accommodated in the accommodating portion. Therefore, operability can be improved.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the storage portion is provided with an operation lever that is operated to open and close the opening / closing member at one end in the one direction. It is characterized by having.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the developer cartridge intersects the storage portion with respect to the one direction and the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. It is characterized by being detachable in the direction in which it moves.

According to such a configuration, the developer cartridge is attached to and detached from the storage portion in one direction and a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. Therefore, the developer cartridge can be smoothly attached to and detached from the storage portion, and the operability can be further improved.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the one direction is a direction along a substantially horizontal direction, and each developer cartridge is substantially vertical with respect to the storage portion. It is characterized by being detachable along the direction.

According to such a configuration, after each developer cartridge is attached to and detached from the storage portion in a substantially vertical direction, the storage portion in which each developer cartridge is stored is attached to and detached from the housing in the horizontal direction. Can do. Therefore, the operability can be further improved.
Further, the invention according to claim 5, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the housing portion is characterized in that it is completely detachable to said housing .

According to such a configuration, since the storage portion can be completely detached from the housing, all the developer cartridges can be reliably attached to and detached from the storage portion.
The invention of claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the housing unit, from said storage unit and all of the developer cartridge is exposed from the housing It is characterized in that it can be stopped at a position where it can be detached.

According to such a configuration, when the storage unit is detached from the housing, the storage unit can be stopped at a position where all the developer cartridges are exposed from the housing and can be detached from the storage unit. it can. Therefore, all the developer cartridges can be reliably attached to and detached from the storage unit without removing the storage unit from the housing.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the image forming member is disposed above the image bearing member, and a developer image is transferred from the image bearing member. Thus, the recording medium on which the color image is formed includes a discharge tray on which the stack can be placed, and the developer cartridge protrudes above the discharge tray.

According to such a configuration, since each developer cartridge protrudes upward from the discharge tray, a sufficient capacity of the developer accommodated in the developer cartridge can be ensured. More specifically, since the recording medium is loaded on the discharge tray, it is necessary to secure a space corresponding to the thickness. Therefore, the housing can be protruded above the discharge tray by that amount. By effectively using the space generated by the protrusion, a sufficient developer capacity can be secured.
Further, the invention according to claim 8, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 7, the cartridge-side opening is provided with a supply-side opening for supplying a current image agent It is characterized by that.

According to such a configuration, when the developer cartridge is attached to and detached from the casing, the leakage of the developer from the supply side opening can be prevented by closing the supply side shutter. When the developer cartridge is mounted on the housing, the developer can be supplied from the supply side opening to the developer carrying member by opening the supply side shutter. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the supply of the developer from the developer cartridge at the time of mounting while preventing the developer from leaking from the developer cartridge at the time of attachment / detachment.
Further, the invention according to claim 9, in the invention described in claim 8, wherein the cartridge-side opening is provided with a return-side opening for receiving a current image agent, wherein the developer cartridge, the return A return-side shutter that covers the side opening so as to be openable and closable is provided.

According to such a configuration, when the developer cartridge is attached to and detached from the casing, the leakage of the developer from the return side opening can be prevented by closing the return side shutter. Further, when the developer cartridge is mounted on the housing, the developer returned from the developer carrier can be received from the return side opening by opening the return side shutter. Therefore, while preventing the leakage of the developer from the developer cartridge at the time of attachment / detachment, the developer circulation between the developer cartridge and the corresponding developer carrier at the time of installation is ensured to prevent development failure. can do.
According to a tenth aspect of the invention, in the ninth aspect of the invention, all the developer cartridges are detachably accommodated, and are detachably attached to the casing along the one direction. And a passage-side opening through which the developer passes is formed at a position facing the supply-side opening and the return-side opening.

According to such a configuration, the developer can be supplied from the developer cartridge to the developer carrier via the passage-side opening of the storage unit with the developer cartridge mounted in the storage unit. Therefore, reliable supply of the developer to the developer carrying member can be ensured.
The invention described in Claim 11 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the plurality of the developer carrying member and the plurality of image carriers, the relative to the housing It is characterized by being attached and detached integrally along one direction.

According to such a configuration, the plurality of developer carriers and the plurality of image carriers are integrally attached to and detached from the housing along one direction that is the same direction as the direction in which the developer cartridge is attached and detached. Therefore, the plurality of developer carriers, the plurality of image carriers, and the developer cartridge can be detached from the same direction, and the operability can be improved.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing for allowing the developer cartridge to pass through the housing at a position facing the developer cartridge in the one direction. A first opening and a second opening for allowing the developer carrier and the image carrier to pass through are formed at positions facing the developer carrier and the image carrier in the one direction. A first cover for covering the first opening so as to be openable and a second cover for covering the second opening so as to be openable are provided adjacent to each other on the same side surface of the housing. It is characterized by being.

According to such a configuration, the first cover and the second cover are provided adjacent to each other on the same side surface of the housing, and when the first cover is opened, the developer cartridge can be detached from the first opening. When the second cover is opened, the developer carrier and the image carrier can be detached from the second opening. Therefore, it is possible to operate the attachment / detachment of the developer cartridge and the attachment / detachment of the developer carrier and the image carrier from the same side surface of the housing, and the operability can be further improved.
The invention according to claim 13 is the invention according to claim 12 , wherein the casing is provided between the first opening and the second opening along the one direction. A partition is provided for partitioning the first storage space in which a plurality of developer cartridges are stored and the second storage space in which the plurality of developer carriers and the plurality of image carriers are stored. It is characterized by.

According to such a configuration, since the partition wall that partitions the first storage space and the second storage space is provided, the plurality of developer cartridges can be smoothly attached to and detached from the first storage space along one direction. In addition, the plurality of developer carriers and the plurality of image carriers can be smoothly attached to and detached from the second storage space along one direction.
The invention described in Claim 14 is the invention according to claim 13, before Symbol septum, between the developer cartridge and the developer carrying member, the partition wall side for the passage of developer An opening is formed, and a partition-side shutter that covers the partition-side opening so as to be openable and closable is provided on the first housing space side of the partition, and the partition-side shutter is used to open and close the cartridge-side shutter. It is characterized by being opened and closed in conjunction.

According to such a configuration, the partition-side shutter is opened and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cartridge-side shutter. Therefore, when the developer cartridge is attached to and detached from the housing, the cartridge-side shutter is closed and linked to it. Since the partition-side shutter is also closed, the leakage of the developer from both sides of the developer cartridge and the second storage space can be prevented. Further, when the developer cartridge is mounted on the housing, if the cartridge side shutter is opened, the partition side shutter is also opened in conjunction therewith, so that the cartridge side opening to the developer carrying member through the partition side opening. Developer can be supplied. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the supply of the developer from the developer cartridge at the time of mounting, while preventing leakage of the developer from both sides of the developer cartridge and the second storage space at the time of attachment / detachment.
Further, the invention according to claim 15, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein provided above the housing, an image reading unit capable of reading image information of the original It is characterized by being.

  According to such a configuration, the image information of the document read by the image reading unit can be formed on the recording medium, and the image forming apparatus can be a multifunction machine that also serves as a copying apparatus.

In addition, in this configuration, even if the image reading unit is provided above the housing, the developer cartridge is placed in one direction with respect to the housing independently of the image carrier and the developer carrier. It can be attached and detached integrally. For this reason, it is possible to secure a sufficient developer capacity by forming a large developer cartridge while forming a compact housing while being a multifunction peripheral. Further, when the direction in which the developer cartridge is attached / detached is substantially horizontal, it is not necessary to retract the upper image reading unit when the developer cartridge is attached / detached. Furthermore, the capacity of the developer in the developer cartridge can be increased by bringing the upper portion of the developer cartridge closer to the image reading unit.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing, a plurality of image carriers that are arranged in parallel along one direction in the housing and on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and the image carrier. A plurality of developer carriers that are arranged opposite to each other and visualize the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the image carrier, and the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier. A plurality of developer cartridges arranged in parallel in the one direction so as to face each other, integrally attached to and detached from the housing in the one direction, and containing a developer supplied to the developer carrier. The developer cartridge is provided with a supply side opening for supplying the developer and a return side opening for receiving the developer at a position facing the developer carrying member. Supply for opening and closing the supply side opening A shutter, and a return-side shutter for openably covering the back side opening is characterized by being provided.
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing, a plurality of image carriers that are arranged in parallel along one direction in the housing and on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and the image carrier. A plurality of developer carriers that are arranged opposite to each other and visualize the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the image carrier, and the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier. A plurality of developer cartridges arranged in parallel in the one direction so as to face each other, integrally attached to and detached from the housing in the one direction, and containing a developer supplied to the developer carrier. And a storage unit that detachably stores all the developer cartridges and is slidably mounted along the one direction with respect to the housing, and the developer cartridge includes the developer carrying member. Supply developer to the position facing the body A supply-side opening for receiving the developer and a return-side opening for receiving the developer, a supply-side shutter that covers the supply-side opening so as to be openable and closable, and the return-side opening can be opened and closed A return-side shutter for covering, and a passage-side opening through which the developer passes is formed in the housing portion at a position facing the supply-side opening and the return-side opening. It is said.
According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing, a plurality of image carriers that are arranged in parallel along one direction in the housing, and on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and the image carrier. A plurality of developer carriers that are arranged opposite to each other and visualize the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the image carrier, and the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier. A plurality of developer cartridges arranged in parallel in the one direction so as to face each other, integrally attached to and detached from the housing in the one direction, and containing a developer supplied to the developer carrier. The plurality of developer carriers and the plurality of image carriers are integrally attached to and detached from the housing along the one direction, and the developer cartridge and the housing are mounted on the housing. The developer cartridge at a position facing in one direction A first opening for allowing passage, and a second opening for allowing the developer bearing member and the image carrier to pass through at a position facing the developer bearing member and the image carrier in the one direction. A first cover that covers the first opening so as to be openable and closable, and is provided on the same side of the housing so as to be adjacent to the first cover, and opens and closes the second opening. A second cover covering the first cover space; a first storage space for storing the plurality of developer cartridges along the one direction between the first opening portion and the second opening portion; And a partition wall for partitioning the second accommodating space in which the plurality of image carriers are accommodated, and the developer cartridge is developed at a position facing the developer carrier. Cart for passing the agent A wedge-side opening is formed, and a cartridge-side shutter that covers the cartridge-side opening so as to be openable and closable is provided, and the partition includes a developer between the developer cartridge and the developer carrier. A partition-side opening for allowing the agent to pass therethrough is formed, and a partition-side shutter that covers the partition-side opening so as to be openable and closable is provided on the first storage space side of the partition, The cartridge side shutter is opened and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cartridge side shutter.
According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing, a plurality of image carriers that are arranged in parallel in one direction in the housing and on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and the image carrier. A plurality of developer carriers that are arranged to face each other and visualize the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the image carrier, and parallel to the one direction so as to face the developer carrier A plurality of developer cartridges that are disposed and are integrally attached to and detached from the housing along the one direction, and in which the developer supplied to the developer carrier is accommodated, and all the developer cartridges. A plurality of developer cartridges that are detachably housed and are slidably moved along the one direction with respect to the housing. Cartridge side opening for allowing developer to pass through A cartridge-side shutter that is formed and covers the cartridge-side opening so as to be openable and closable, and the storage portion is provided with an opening-and-closing member that collectively opens and closes the cartridge-side shutter. It is a feature.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus while ensuring a sufficient developer capacity in the developer cartridge, and to improve operability and reduce maintenance costs. can do.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, operability can be improved.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the operability can be further improved.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the operability can be further improved.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, all the developer cartridges can be reliably attached to and detached from the storage portion.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, all the developer cartridges can be reliably attached to and detached from the storage portion without removing the storage portion from the housing.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a sufficient capacity of the developer accommodated in the developer cartridge can be secured.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to ensure the supply of the developer from the developer cartridge at the time of mounting while preventing the leakage of the developer from the developer cartridge at the time of attachment / detachment.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the developer is circulated between the developer cartridge and the corresponding developer carrying member at the time of mounting, while preventing the leakage of the developer from the developer cartridge at the time of attachment / detachment. Can be ensured and development defects can be prevented.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, reliable supply of the developer to the developer carrier can be ensured.

  According to the eleventh aspect, the plurality of developer carriers, the plurality of image carriers, and the developer cartridge can be detached from the same direction, and the operability can be improved.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to operate the attachment / detachment of the developer cartridge and the attachment / detachment of the developer carrier and the image carrier from the same side surface of the housing, thereby further improving the operability. be able to.

  According to the invention of claim 13, the developer cartridge can be smoothly attached to and detached from the first accommodation space along one direction, and the plurality of developer carriers and the plurality of image carriers are provided. , And can be smoothly attached to and detached from the second accommodation space along one direction.

  According to the invention described in claim 14, the supply of the developer from the developer cartridge at the time of mounting is ensured while preventing the leakage of the developer from both sides of the developer cartridge and the second accommodating space at the time of attachment / detachment. be able to.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to secure a sufficient developer capacity by forming a large developer cartridge while forming the housing compactly while being a multi-function machine.

1. 1 is a left sectional view showing an embodiment of a color laser printer as an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the color laser printer 1 is a side-by-side tandem color laser printer in which a plurality of process units 62 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction. A color laser printer 1 includes a paper feeding unit 4 for feeding paper 3 and an image forming unit 5 for forming an image on the fed paper 3 in a main body casing 2 as a box-shaped casing. And a paper discharge unit 6 for discharging the paper 3 on which an image is formed. The color laser printer 1 is further provided with a reading scanner unit 7 provided above the main body casing 2 and serving as image reading means for reading image information of a document, and is configured as a so-called multifunction machine.

In the following description, in a state where a toner cartridge 69 and a process unit 62, which will be described later, are mounted on the main body casing 2, the right side in FIG. 1 is the front (front) side, and the left side in FIG. Let it be the side. Further, the front side in the paper thickness direction in FIG. 1 is the left side, and the back side in the paper thickness direction in FIG. 1 is the right side. The left-right direction may be referred to as the width direction.
(1) Main Body Casing FIG. 2 is a left perspective view of the color laser printer. FIG. 3 shows a state in which only the second cover is opened in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a state in which only the first cover is opened in FIG. FIG. 5 is a left sectional view of the color laser printer cut at a position where the left side surface of the partition wall appears.

The main body casing 2 is formed in a box shape as described above, and as shown in FIG. 2, the front end portion of the upper side wall of the main body casing 2 is formed as an inclined surface whose upper side surface is inclined obliquely forward and downward. An operation panel 8 having operation keys and LED display portions is embedded in the front end portion. A scanning scanner unit 7 is arranged on the upper side wall of the main casing 2 on the rear side of the operation panel 8. On the front wall, which is the front side surface of the main casing 2, are a cartridge housing portion attachment / detachment opening 11 as a first opening, a paper outlet 9, a process portion attachment / detachment opening 10 as a second opening, and a paper feed tray attachment / detachment opening 50 Is formed.
(1-1) Cartridge storage section attachment / detachment opening The cartridge storage section attachment / detachment opening 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction in a front view, as shown in FIG. 4. The cartridge housing part attaching / detaching port 11 is provided with a first cover 22 that covers the cartridge housing part attaching / detaching port 11 so as to be openable and closable.

  The first cover 22 is rotatably supported by a hinge 23 that connects the base end portion thereof and the lower end portion of the front wall of the main body casing 2.

  When the first cover 22 is closed by rotating counterclockwise around the rotation axis (not shown) of the hinge 23 in the left side view, as shown in FIG. The cartridge housing portion attaching / detaching port 11 is closed.

  When the first cover 22 is opened by rotating in the clockwise direction as viewed from the left side about the rotation axis (not shown) of the hinge 23, as shown in FIG. Is released.

  In the main body casing 2, a cartridge storage space 24 is formed as a first storage space that is partitioned into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that communicates with the cartridge storage space 11.

The cartridge housing portion accommodating space 24 is partitioned by the upper side wall, the lower side wall, the left side wall, and the partition wall 15 in the main body casing 2 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The partition wall 15 is provided in the main casing 2 and extends in parallel with the left side wall of the main casing 2 in the width direction. The rear side of the cartridge housing portion accommodating space 24 is closed by the rear wall of the main casing 2. The partition wall 15 is located on the right side from the left side wall of the main body casing 2 by a distance corresponding to about one-fourth of the width direction dimension of the main body casing 2, and will be described in detail later. The cartridge storage portion storage space 24 stores a cartridge storage portion 68 as a storage portion described later.
(1-2) Paper Exit The paper exit 9 is adjacent to the right side of the cartridge housing portion attachment / detachment opening 11 with the partition wall 15 interposed therebetween, and is viewed from the front in the center in the width direction of the upper half portion of the front wall of the main body casing 2. Are formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the width direction. In the main casing 2, a paper discharge space 12 that is partitioned into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that communicates with the paper outlet 9 is formed.

  The sheet discharge space 12 is partitioned in the vertical direction by an upper wall of the main body casing 2 and a discharge tray 13 (see FIG. 1) facing the upper wall of the main body casing 2 with an interval in the vertical direction. The sheet discharge space 12 is partitioned by a first right inner wall 14 and a partition wall 15 in the left-right direction. The first right inner wall 14 is provided in the main casing 2 and extends in parallel to the right side wall of the main casing 2 in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the rear side of the paper discharge space 12 is closed by a discharge wall 51 that extends upward from the rear end of the discharge tray 13 to just before the lower side surface of the upper side wall of the main casing 2. The discharge wall 51 is disposed at a position separated from the rear end of the main casing 2 by a distance corresponding to about one-fourth of the longitudinal dimension of the main casing 2 to the front side.

The discharge tray 13 is formed so as to gently extend from the rear end portion thereof to the obliquely front upper side. A rectangular discharge hole 16 that is long in the width direction when viewed from the front is formed at a substantially central position in the vertical direction of the discharge wall 51. The width direction dimension of the paper discharge hole 16 is set larger than the width direction dimension of the paper 3. As will be described later, the paper 3 on which the color image is formed is discharged to the front side from the paper discharge hole 16 and is placed on the discharge tray 13 in a stackable manner. Therefore, the user can take out the paper 3 placed on the discharge tray 13 by accessing the paper discharge space 12 from the paper outlet 9.
(1-3) Process Part Attachment / Removal Port As shown in FIG. 3, the process part attachment / detachment opening 10 is adjacent to the right side of the cartridge storage part attachment / detachment opening 11 with the partition wall 15 therebetween, and is located below the paper outlet 9. And it is formed in the substantially rectangular shape long in the width direction in front view. More specifically, the process section attaching / detaching port 10 is formed such that its right end edge is positioned on the right side of the right end edge of the paper outlet 9 so as to be longer than the paper outlet 9 in the width direction. The process part attaching / detaching port 10 is provided with a second cover 18 adjacent to the first cover 22 and covering the process part attaching / detaching port 10 so as to be openable and closable.

  The second cover 18 is rotatably supported by a second cover rotating shaft (not shown) inserted through the base end portion thereof. An L-shaped portion 19 refracted in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from the left side is provided at the free end portion of the second cover 18, that is, a radially outer end portion centering on a second cover rotation shaft (not shown). Is formed. The L-shaped portion 19 has a width direction dimension that is smaller than the width direction dimension of the paper outlet 9. A foldable paper stopper 20 is swingably provided at the center in the width direction of the L-shaped portion 19 (see FIG. 2).

  When the second cover 18 is closed by rotating counterclockwise around the second cover rotation axis (not shown) in the left side view, the process part attaching / detaching port 10 is closed by the second cover 18. Is done. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the L-shaped portion 19 is accommodated in the paper discharge space 12 from the paper outlet 9 and comes into contact with the front end portion of the discharge tray 13 as shown in FIG. 1. 19 engages with the front end of the discharge tray 13. Therefore, the rotation of the second cover 18 is restricted, and the state in which the second cover 18 closes the process part attaching / detaching port 10 is maintained. In the state where the second cover 18 closes the process part attaching / detaching port 10, the upper side surface of the L-shaped part 19 and the upper side surface of the discharge tray 13 are continuous.

  When the engagement between the leading end of the L-shaped portion 19 and the front end portion of the discharge tray 13 is released, the rotation of the second cover 18 is allowed. Then, when opened by rotating clockwise about the second cover rotation axis (not shown) in the left side view, as shown in FIG. 3, the process part attaching / detaching port 10 is opened.

  In the main casing 2, a process accommodating space 17 is formed as a second accommodating space that is partitioned into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that communicates with the process part attaching / detaching port 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the process accommodating space 17 is partitioned by the discharge tray 13, the connection wall 197, and the intermediate wall 52 in the vertical direction. The connection wall 197 is a portion of the upper side wall of the main body casing 2 on the rear side of the discharge tray 13. The intermediate wall 52 is positioned between the discharge tray 13 and the lower side wall of the main body casing 2 in the vertical direction, and extends in parallel to the lower side wall of the main body casing 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the process accommodating space 17 includes a partition wall 15 and a second right inner wall facing the partition wall 15 at a right lower position of the first right inner wall 14 in the width direction. 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the rear of the process accommodating space 17 is closed by the rear wall of the main casing 2. Specifically, the process storage space 17 is partitioned into a substantially L shape in left sectional view by the discharge wall 51, the discharge tray 13, the second cover 18, the intermediate wall 52, the rear side wall of the main casing 2 and the connection wall 197. . The process storage space 17 stores the image forming unit 5.
(1-4) Feeding tray attaching / detaching port The feeding tray attaching / detaching port 50 is adjacent to the lower part of the process part attaching / detaching port 10 with the intermediate wall 52 interposed therebetween, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the width direction when viewed from the front. Yes.

  In the main casing 2, a paper feed tray accommodation space 53 that is partitioned into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that communicates with the paper feed tray attachment / detachment opening 50 is formed.

The paper feed tray accommodation space 53 is partitioned by the intermediate wall 52, the lower and right side walls of the main casing 2, and the partition wall 15 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The rear side of the paper feed tray accommodation space 53 is closed by the rear wall of the main casing 2. A paper feed tray 54 described later is accommodated in the paper feed tray accommodation space 53.
(1-5) Partition Wall FIG. 6 is a front view of the color laser printer with the cartridge housing portion accommodation space extracted. FIG. 6A shows a state where the partition wall side shutter is closed (partition wall side shutter closed position). (B) shows a state in which the partition-side shutter is open (partition-side shutter open position).

  As described above, the partition wall 15 is formed between the paper outlet 9, the process part attaching / detaching port 10, and the cartridge housing part attaching / detaching port 11, and the sheet discharge space 12, the process housing space 17, and the cartridge housing part housing space 24 (FIG. 4). (See below).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the partition wall 15 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the side. As shown in FIG. 6, the partition wall 15 is refracted into a substantially crank shape when viewed from the front at a substantially central position in the vertical direction. A partition upper portion 26 that is a portion above 25 and a partition lower portion 27 that is a portion below the bent portion 25 are integrally provided. The partition lower portion 27 is formed to extend in parallel with the partition upper portion 26 on the left side of the partition upper portion 26.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the partition 15 includes a guide rail 28, a partition-side shutter mechanism 29, and a drive mechanism 30. The guide rail 28 is provided at a position adjacent to the bent portion 25 on the left side surface of the partition upper portion 26. Further, the partition wall-side shutter mechanism 29 is provided at a substantially central position in the vertical direction on the left side surface of the partition wall lower portion 27, and the drive mechanism 30 is provided at the rear of the partition wall-side shutter mechanism 29.

  The guide rail 28 is formed in a substantially U shape in a side view when the front side is opened, and includes a pair of protrusions 31 that protrude leftward from the left side surface of the partition upper portion 26 and extend in the front-rear direction. The pair of ridges 31 are formed such that each front end edge is located slightly behind the front end edge of the partition wall 15 and each rear end portion is connected to each other while being bent. In the upper ridge 31 of the pair of ridges 31, an inclined surface is formed on the front end portion of the portion facing the lower ridge 31, which is inclined obliquely upward toward the front end edge. Among the portions of the pair of ridges 31 that face each other, the inner side in the opposite direction of the pair of ridges 31 is located at the front side of the portion where the rear end portions described above are coupled (referred to as a coupling portion 32). Guide rail positioning projections 33 that slightly protrude from the center are provided. The guide rail 28 is also provided on the right side surface of the left side wall of the main casing 2 and faces the guide rail 28 of the partition wall 15 in the width direction (see FIG. 6).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the partition-side shutter mechanism 29 is disposed slightly below the substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the partition lower portion 27 and includes a partition-side toner passage portion 34 and a partition-side shutter 35. ing.

  The partition wall side toner passage portion 34 is formed in a substantially prismatic shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and its left side surface is formed in an arc shape that is smoothly recessed to the right side when viewed from the front. 27 is fixed to the left side surface. At both ends in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 5) of the left side surface of the partition wall side toner passage portion 34, partition wall side shutter support portions 38 that protrude to the left side are provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the partition wall-side toner passing portion 34, the four positions spaced an equal distance in the longitudinal direction, septal wall side supply hole 39 (the partition wall side opening), the rear side of the partition wall side supply hole 39 A partition wall side return hole 40 (partition wall side opening) adjacent to each other is formed. The partition wall side supply hole 39 and the partition wall side return hole 40 are formed in a circular shape when viewed from the side, and penetrate the partition wall side toner passage portion 34 and the partition wall lower side portion 27 in the width direction. A partition seal member (not shown) made of felt, sponge, or the like is provided around the partition side supply hole 39 and the partition side return hole 40 so as to protrude to the left side.

  The partition-side shutter 35 is formed in an arc shape along the left side surface (see FIG. 6) of the partition-side toner passage portion 34 in a front view and a thin plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction. Upper cutouts 41 that are recessed downward are formed at four positions on the upper edge of the partition-side shutter 35 at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. Specifically, each upper notch 41 is formed to be located behind the corresponding partition side return hole 40. In addition, a lower notch 42 that is recessed upward is formed at a position of the lower end edge of the partition-side shutter 35 that faces each upper notch 41 in the vertical direction.

  The partition-side shutter 35 is supported by the partition-side shutter support portions 38 at both ends in the front-rear direction so as to be slidable along the arc shape of the left side surface of the partition-side toner passage portion 34 (see FIG. 6). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the partition-side shutter 35 is shown in FIG. 6 (b), and the partition-side shutter closed position that closes all the partition-side supply holes 39 and the partition-side return holes 40 from the left side. As described above, all the partition wall side supply holes 39 and the partition wall side return holes 40 can be slidably moved to the partition wall side shutter opening position that opens from the left side. Engaging portions (not shown) are provided at both ends in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 5) of the partition-side shutter 35, and each engaging portion (not shown) is provided at both ends in the front-rear direction of the partition-side shutter 35. In a state where the portion is supported by the partition wall side shutter support portion 38, the partition wall side shutter support portion 38 is engaged. This prevents the partition-side shutter 35 from being inadvertently detached from the partition-side shutter support portion 38. Further, in the left-right direction, a gap formed between the partition-side shutter 35 at the partition-side shutter closed position and the periphery of the partition-side supply hole 39 and the periphery of the partition-side return hole 40 (see FIG. 6A). These are blocked by the above-described partition wall sealing member (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the drive mechanism 30 is disposed slightly below the substantially vertical center of the partition wall side toner passage portion 34 and behind the partition wall side toner passage portion 34, and has a gear support portion 43. And a first gear 44 and a second gear 45.

  The gear support portion 43 is formed in a thin plate shape that is substantially L-shaped in plan view, and is integrally provided with a first support portion 46 and a second support portion 47.

  The first support portion 46 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the left side, and its front side surface is fixed to the left side surface of the partition lower portion 27. A first support hole (not shown) that penetrates the first support portion 46 and the partition wall lower side portion 27 in the width direction is formed at the center position of the first support portion 46 in the front-rear and vertical directions.

  The second support portion 47 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and the right end portion is connected to the front end portion of the first support portion 46. A second support hole 48 having a circular shape in front view that penetrates the second support portion 47 in the front-rear direction is formed at a central position in the left-right vertical direction of the second support portion 47.

  The first gear 44 is a bevel gear, and a portion where teeth are formed (tooth portion) is exposed from the left side surface of the partition lower portion 27 into the cartridge housing portion accommodating space 24. The rotation axis of the first gear 44 is inserted through a first support hole (not shown) of the first support portion 46 along the width direction, and the first gear 44 is moved by the first support portion 46. It is supported rotatably. A portion of the first gear 44 opposite to the tooth portion in the rotation axis direction is disposed on the right side of the partition lower portion 27 and is connected to an agitator drive motor (not shown).

  The second gear 45 is a bevel gear, and its rotation axis is inserted through the second support hole 48 of the second support portion 47 along the front-rear direction. The second gear 45 is connected to the second support portion 48. 47 is rotatably supported. The tooth-formed portion (tooth portion) of the second gear 45 is disposed on the rear side of the second support portion 47 and meshes with the tooth portion of the first gear 44 so as to be substantially orthogonal in plan view. Yes. A portion of the rotating shaft of the second gear 45 on the front side of the second support portion 47 is formed in a columnar shape having a diameter larger than that of the second support hole 48, and the front side surface thereof is recessed to the rear side. A hole 49 is formed. The connection hole 49 is formed in a shape of approximately 8 in front view.

When the agitator drive motor (not shown) is driven in the drive mechanism 30, the first gear 44 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the left side view, and the second gear 45 is rotated with the rotation of the first gear 44. , It is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (arrow shown in the figure) when viewed from the back.
(2) Paper Feed Unit As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed unit 4 includes a paper feed tray 54 that accommodates the paper 3, a paper feed roller 55 provided above the rear end of the paper feed tray 54, and a paper feed unit 54. A separation roller 56 and a separation pad 57 that are disposed opposite to each other behind the paper roller 55 are provided. The paper feed unit 4 further feeds substantially upward from two opposing rollers 58 disposed above the separation pad 57 so as to face the separation roller 56, and a portion where the uppermost auxiliary roller 58 and the separation roller 56 face each other. A path 59 and a pair of transport rollers 60 provided in the middle of the paper feed path 59 are provided.

  The paper feed tray 54 is formed in a substantially box shape with the top open, and is detachably attached to the paper feed tray accommodation space 53 of the main casing 2 from the front side in the front-rear direction. When the paper feed tray 54 is accommodated in the paper feed tray accommodation space 53, the paper feed tray attachment / detachment opening 50 is closed by the front side wall of the paper feed tray 54.

The sheets 3 are stacked in the sheet feed tray 54, and the sheet 3 at the uppermost position is supplied to the facing portion between the separation roller 56 and the separation pad 57 by the rotation of the sheet feed roller 55, and each sheet is stacked. Then, the paper is guided substantially upward along the outer peripheral surface of the separation roller 56 by being guided by the auxiliary rollers 58. The sheet 3 is sent to a sheet feeding path 59 from a portion where the uppermost auxiliary roller 58 and the separation roller 56 are opposed to each other. Then, the sheet 3 sent to the paper feed path 59 is advanced substantially upward in the paper feed path 59 by the transport roller 60 and reaches a secondary transfer position between a secondary transfer roller 178 and an intermediate transfer belt 176 described later. Be transported.
(3) Image Forming Unit FIG. 7 is a left side sectional view of the color laser printer cut at the position where the cartridge storage unit appears.

The image forming unit 5 includes a scanner unit 61, a toner supply unit 67 (see FIG. 7), a process unit 62, a transfer unit 63, and a fixing unit 64.
(3-1) Scanner Unit As shown in FIG. 7, the scanner unit 61 is disposed below a plurality of process units 62 described below in the lower part of the process accommodating space 17 of the main casing 2. The scanner unit 61 includes a scanner frame 65 fixed to the intermediate wall 52 and a scanner casing 66 fixed to the scanner frame 65. The scanner frame 65 and the scanner casing 66 have exit windows (not shown) corresponding to the respective process units 62. In the scanner casing 66, optical members such as one light source, a polygon mirror 97, an fθ lens, a reflecting mirror 98, and a surface tilt correction lens are arranged, and a laser beam based on image data emitted from each light source is After being deflected and scanned by the polygon mirror 97 and passing through the fθ lens and the surface tilt correction lens, and after being reflected by the reflecting mirror 98, as shown by the arrows in the drawing through the respective exit windows (not shown). Each process unit 62 irradiates the surface of a photosensitive drum 133 as an image carrier to be described later by high-speed scanning.
(3-2) Toner Supply Unit FIG. 8 is a left sectional view of the cartridge storage unit in which all toner cartridges are stored. FIG. 9 is a left side view of the cartridge storage portion in which all toner cartridges are stored. FIG. 10 is a right perspective view of the cartridge housing portion in which the toner cartridge is not housed. 11A and 11B are front views of the cartridge storage portion, where FIG. 11A shows a state where the operation lever is in the lever closed position, and FIG. 11B shows a state where the operation lever is in the lever open position. It is shown.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toner supply unit 67 is disposed in the cartridge storage space 24 of the main casing 2, and as shown in FIG. 8, the cartridge storage 68 and a toner cartridge 69 as a developer cartridge. And.
(3-2-1) Cartridge Storage Unit The cartridge storage unit 68 includes a storage unit housing 82, a roller support unit 76 (see FIG. 9), an opening / closing member 75, an operation lever 81, a first transmission unit 88, and a second transmission unit. 89.

  The storage section housing 82 is formed in a substantially box shape with the top opened. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the housing 82 is formed in a substantially inverted L shape in which the upper half portion is wider than the lower half portion in the front view, and the lower end portion of the lower half portion is substantially the same. It is formed in an arc shape. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a triangular protrusion 70 that protrudes rearward in a substantially triangular shape in a side view is integrally formed in the upper half portion of the rear end portion of the storage unit housing 82. . The left side surface and the right side surface of the triangular protrusion 70 are flush with the corresponding left side surface and right side surface of the storage unit housing 82. And as shown in FIG. 10, the opening part which exposes the inside of the storage part housing | casing 82 is formed in the lower half part of the right side surface of the storage part housing | casing 82. As shown in FIG.

  Inside the storage section housing 82, three storage section partition walls 72 arranged at equal intervals along the front-rear direction are integrally provided, and each storage section partition wall 72 defines a storage section casing. The interior of 82 is partitioned into four storage chambers 73 along the front-rear direction. The opening part of the lower half part of the right side surface of the storage part housing | casing 82 mentioned above is also divided by each storage part partition wall 72 as the storage part side opening part 74 as a passage side opening part along the front-back direction. ing.

  In the front side wall, the rear side wall, and each storage unit partition wall 72 of the storage unit housing 82, detachable guide grooves 77 are formed at the same positions on the side surfaces facing each other in the front-rear direction. The detachable guide groove 77 is formed in a substantially Y shape in front view or rear view, and the groove width gradually decreases from the upper edge of each side surface of the front side wall, the rear side wall, and the storage section partition wall 72 downward. It is formed so as to be constant on the way. The lower end portion of each attachment / detachment guide groove 77 is located at a position that is separated from the lower end of the storage unit housing 82 by a distance corresponding to approximately one fifth of the vertical dimension of the storage unit housing 82. Each groove wall of the detachable guide groove 77 is provided with a storage portion positioning projection 78 that slightly protrudes in a direction in which each groove wall faces slightly above the lower end edge.

  As described above, since the lower end portion of the storage unit housing 82 is formed in a substantially arc shape when viewed from the front, the lower side wall of the storage unit housing 82 is also formed in a substantially arc shape when viewed from the front. The right end edge of the storage unit housing 82 defines the lower end edge of each storage unit side opening 74. The lower side wall of the storage unit housing 82 passes through the lower wall of the storage unit housing 82 in the thickness direction and extends in the left-right direction in the right side view. The rectangular storage part through-holes 79 are respectively formed.

  On the right edge of the lower side wall of the storage unit housing 82, a storage unit notch 80 that is recessed to the left side is formed in a portion corresponding to each storage chamber 73. In each storage chamber 73, the storage portion notch 80 is located behind the storage portion through hole 79.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the roller support portions 76 extend from the rear end portions of the left side surface and the right side surface of the triangular protrusion portion 70 to the corresponding front end portions of the left side surface and the right side surface of the storage unit housing 82. It is formed in the rail shape extended along the front-back direction to a part. A plurality of rollers 71 are rotatably provided on the outer surface in the width direction of each roller support portion 76. Specifically, two rollers 71 are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction at both ends in the front-rear direction of each roller support portion 76.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the opening / closing member 75 is formed in a substantially U shape in side view so as to sandwich the lower end portion of the housing casing 82 in the front-rear direction, and includes a front arm portion 83 and a rear arm portion 84. And an opening / closing main body 85.

  The front arm portion 83 and the rear arm portion 84 are formed in a thin plate shape, and a swing shaft (not shown) is provided at one end portion in the longitudinal direction. The front arm 83 has a swing shaft (not shown) inserted into a support hole (not shown) formed in the front side wall of the storage unit housing 82, so that It is swingably supported. The rear arm portion 84 is inserted into a support hole (not shown) formed in the rear side wall of the storage unit housing 82 with a swing shaft (not shown), whereby the rear side wall of the storage unit housing 82 is inserted. Is swingably supported. The rear arm portion 84 has an arc shape (not shown) so as to avoid the connection protrusion 92 of the first transmission portion 88. The swing center of the front arm 83 and the rear arm 84 and the arc center of the lower side wall of the housing 82 are at the same position in a front sectional view.

  The opening / closing main body 85 is formed in a generally arcuate shape when viewed from the front along the lower side wall of the housing 82 and in a thin plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 10, the opening / closing body 85 is formed with four opening / closing body engaging holes 86 penetrating the opening / closing body 85 in the thickness direction at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. . The opening / closing body engaging hole 86 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and the front-rear direction dimension is set slightly smaller than the front-rear direction dimension of the storage unit through-hole 79. The left-right dimension of the opening / closing body engaging hole 86 is set to about one fifth of the left-right dimension of the storage portion through hole 79.

  The opening / closing main body 85 is installed on the other end of the front arm 83 and the rear arm 84 on the opposite side to the one end in the longitudinal direction where the above-described swing shaft (not shown) is provided. Therefore, the open / close main body 85 can swing along the lower wall of the housing 82 with the arc center of the lower wall of the housing 82 as the center of swing. Specifically, the opening / closing body 85 can swing within a range in which the opening / closing body engaging hole 86 is always exposed from the housing through hole 79.

  The operation lever 81 is formed in a disc shape when viewed from the front, and a grip portion 87 having a substantially arc shape when viewed from the right side is projected toward the front side at the center position in the width direction of the front side surface. The rear side surface of the operation lever 81 is fixed to the front side surface of the front arm portion 83 of the opening / closing member 75. That is, the operation lever 81 is disposed at the front end portion of the cartridge storage portion 68. Accordingly, the open / close member 75 is opened and closed by grasping the grip portion 87 from the front side of the cartridge storage portion 68 and twisting the operation lever 81 clockwise or counterclockwise in front view. Can do. Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 11A, the position of the operation lever 81 when the right end edge of the opening / closing body engaging hole 86 coincides with the right end edge of the accommodating portion through hole 79 is defined as a lever closed position. Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, the position of the operation lever 81 when the left end edge of the opening / closing body engaging hole 86 coincides with the left end edge of the accommodating portion through hole 79 is defined as a lever open position.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the first transmission portion 88 integrally includes a first support shaft 90, a first transmission gear 91, and a connection projection 92. The first support shaft 90 extends in the front-rear direction and is provided so as to penetrate the side wall at a position below the attachment / detachment guide groove 77 (see FIG. 10) on the rear side wall of the storage unit housing 82. It is rotatably supported on the side wall. The front end portion of the first support shaft 90 is located on the front side of the front side surface of the rear side wall of the storage unit housing 82, and a first transmission gear 91 is provided. The rear end portion of the first support shaft 90 is located on the rear side of the rear side surface of the rear side wall of the storage unit housing 82, and a connection protrusion 92 is provided. The first transmission gear 91 is a spur gear having teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The connection protrusion 92 protrudes rearward from the rear end portion of the first support shaft 90, and is formed in an approximately 8 shape smaller than the connection hole 49 (see FIG. 5) of the second gear 45 described above in the rear view. Has been.

Three second transmission parts 89 are provided corresponding to each storage part partition wall 72 of the storage part housing 82, and each second transmission part 89 includes a second support shaft 93, an input side transmission gear 94, and an output side. A transmission gear 99. The second support shaft 93 extends in the front-rear direction, and is provided so as to penetrate the storage section partition wall 72 at a position below each of the storage section partition walls 72 than the attachment / detachment guide groove 77 (see FIG. 10). The storage section partition wall 72 is rotatably supported. The front end portion of the second support shaft 93 is located in front of the front side surface of each storage section partition wall 72, and an output-side transmission gear 99 is provided. The rear end portion of the second support shaft 93 is located on the rear side of the rear side surface of each storage section partition wall 72, and an input side transmission gear 94 is provided. The input-side transmission gear 94 and the output-side transmission gear 99 are spur gears having teeth formed on the outer peripheral surfaces thereof, and have the same dimensions as the first transmission gear 91.
(3-2-2) Toner Cartridge FIG. 12 shows a toner cartridge, where (a) is a left side view of the toner cartridge, and (b) is a front view of the toner cartridge. FIG. 3C is a rear view of the toner cartridge. FIG. 13 is a right perspective view of the toner cartridge, where (a) shows a state in which the inner cylinder is in the cartridge-side shutter closed position, and (b) shows the inner cylinder in the cartridge-side shutter open position. It shows the state in 14A and 14B are front sectional views of the toner cartridge, in which FIG. 14A shows a state in which the inner cylinder is in the cartridge-side shutter closed position, and FIG. 14B shows the inner cylinder in the cartridge-side shutter open position. It shows the state in In FIG. 14, for convenience of explanation, the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the first protrusion exposure hole, the second protrusion exposure hole, the inner cylinder side opening, and the outer cylinder side opening are shown on the same plane. .

  Four toner cartridges 69 are provided corresponding to developing rollers 143 (see FIG. 21) as developer carriers in each process unit 62 provided in accordance with each color toner described later. As shown in FIG. 12, each toner cartridge 69 is formed in an approximately 8 shape when viewed from the front and a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the right side, and as shown in FIG. 14, the outer cylinder 95, the supply-side shutter, And an inner cylinder 96 as a cartridge side shutter.

The outer cylinder 95 is a hollow body formed in a substantially rectangular shape in front view and a substantially rectangular shape in right side view, similar to the appearance of the toner cartridge 69, and is a supply part that is a storage part 100 that is an upper part and a supply part that is a lower part. The unit 101 is integrally provided.
The storage unit 100 is formed in an elliptical shape that is long in the vertical direction when viewed from the front, and a handle 103 is provided at the upper end thereof as shown in FIG. The handle 103 is formed in a substantially inverted U shape when viewed from the left side, and the free ends are fixed to both ends in the front-rear direction of the upper end of the storage unit 100.

  As shown in FIG. 14, a storage chamber 102 that is partitioned into an elliptical shape that is long in the vertical direction when viewed from the front is formed inside the storage unit 100.

  The storage chamber 102 stores toner of a corresponding color among black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Each color toner is a positively charged non-magnetic one-component polymerized toner. Hereinafter, the toner cartridge 69 in which the black toner is stored in the storage chamber 102 will be referred to as a black toner cartridge 69K, and the other color toner cartridges 69 will be described. Are also distinguished and called according to the corresponding colors.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112 is installed on the front and rear side walls of the storage unit 100. Specifically, the storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112 extends in the front-rear direction so as to pass through the vicinity of the arc center of the lower arc of the storage unit 100 formed in an elliptical shape in front view (see FIG. 12B). ), And is supported rotatably by the front and rear side walls of the storage unit 100. The storage side agitator rotating shaft 112 is provided with a storage side agitator 113.

  The storage-side agitator 113 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the left side by a rod that rotates along the lower arc of the storage unit 100 and a member that holds the rod. The storage side agitator 113 is disposed in the storage chamber 102, and a base end portion thereof is fixed to the storage side agitator rotating shaft 112.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, the front end of the storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112 protrudes forward from the front side wall of the storage unit 100, and the rear end of the storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112 is the rear side wall of the storage unit 100. Protrudes backward from A storage-side agitator input gear 114 is provided on a portion of the storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112 that protrudes rearward from the rear side wall of the storage unit 100.

  The storage-side agitator input gear 114 is a spur gear having teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the diameter of the storage-side agitator input gear 114 is such that the storage-side agitator input gear 114 is in the rear view as shown in FIG. It is set to fit inside the contour. As shown in FIG. 8, the longitudinal dimension of the storage-side agitator input gear 114 is set to be equal to the longitudinal dimension of the input-side transmission gear 94 and the output-side transmission gear 99.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the supply unit 101 is formed in a circular shape when viewed from the front, and its upper end is connected to the lower end of the storage unit 100. On both sides in the width direction of the connection portion between the storage unit 100 and the supply unit 101, connecting ribs 106 are provided for connecting the outer surface of the storage unit 100 and the outer surface of the supply unit 101 in the vicinity of the connection portion. The connecting ribs 106 are formed in a thin plate shape having a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the front, and are provided at both ends of the storage unit 100 and the supply unit 101 in the front-rear direction. The connecting rib 106 ensures the rigidity of the connecting portion of the outer cylinder 95 between the storage unit 100 and the supply unit 101.

  As shown in FIG. 14, an inner cylinder housing chamber 104 that is partitioned into a substantially cylindrical shape having a circular shape when viewed from the front is formed inside the supply unit 101. An outer cylinder communication hole 105 is formed in a connection portion between the storage unit 100 and the supply unit 101 so as to penetrate the connection portion in the vertical direction. The outer cylinder communication hole 105 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction in a plan view, and the inner cylinder housing chamber 104 communicates with the storage chamber 102 via the outer cylinder communication hole 105.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 13, the supply unit 101 is formed with a first projection exposure hole 107, a second projection exposure hole 111 , and an outer cylinder side opening 108 as a cartridge side opening. Has been.

  The first protrusion exposure hole 107 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the left side, and is located at about 8 o'clock position from the 6 o'clock position in the front view (that is, the lower end portion of the supply section 101) at the center in the front-rear direction of the supply section 101. (See FIGS. 12 (a), 13 (b) and 14).

  As shown in FIG. 13, the second protrusion exposing hole 111 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the right side. The second protrusion exposing hole 111 is substantially at the center in the front-rear direction of the supply unit 101. In the position, it is formed over a range from the 6 o'clock position (that is, the lower end of the supply unit 101) to about 2 o'clock position in front view (see FIG. 14).

Outer-cylinder-side opening 108, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the outer cylinder side feed hole 109 of the supply-side opening, consisting of an outer cylinder-side return hole 110 serving as a return-side opening. The outer cylinder side supply hole 109 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 are each formed in a circular shape having substantially the same dimensions when viewed from the right side, and are formed in the front half portion of the right end portion of the supply unit 101. The outer cylinder side supply hole 109 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 are adjacent to each other, and more specifically, on the outer cylinder side on the rear side of the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 (more specifically, slightly on the rear side). A return hole 110 is adjacent.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 is installed on the front and rear side walls of the supply unit 101. Specifically, the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 extends in the front-rear direction so as to pass through the center of the circle of the supply part 101 formed in a circular shape when viewed from the front (see FIG. 12B). It is rotatably supported by the front and rear side walls. A supply side agitator 115 is provided on the supply side agitator rotating shaft 120.

  The supply side agitator 115 is formed of a flexible film or the like in a left side substantially rectangular shape and a front side substantially inverted L shape (see FIG. 14), and a plurality of supply side agitators 115 are arranged in the inner cylinder housing chamber 104. The base end portion of each supply-side agitator 115 is fixed to the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120. Each supply-side agitator 115 is formed such that its free end edge is slidably in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder housing chamber 104 (a supply chamber 121 described later) and is bent upstream in the rotation direction.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, the front end portion of the supply side agitator rotating shaft 120 protrudes forward from the front side wall of the supply unit 101, and the rear end portion of the supply side agitator rotation shaft 120 is the rear side wall of the supply unit 101. Protrudes backward from A supply-side agitator input gear 116 is provided on a portion of the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 that protrudes rearward from the rear side wall of the supply unit 101. A supply-side agitator output gear 117 is provided on a portion of the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 that protrudes forward from the front side wall of the supply unit 101. The yellow toner cartridge 69Y is not provided with the supply side agitator output gear 117 (see FIG. 8).

  The supply-side agitator input gear 116 and the supply-side agitator output gear 117 are spur gears having the same dimensions with teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the diameters thereof are as shown in FIGS. 12 (b) and 12 (c). In addition, the diameter is set to approximately one half of the diameter of the supply unit 101 formed in a circular shape in front view. The longitudinal dimensions of the supply-side agitator input gear 116 and the supply-side agitator output gear 117 are set to be equal to the longitudinal dimension of the storage-side agitator input gear 114.

  As shown in FIG. 12C, an intermediate gear support shaft 118 that protrudes rearward from the rear side wall of the supply unit 101 is provided on the rear side wall of the supply unit 101 at a position higher than the supply side agitator input gear 116. It has been. An intermediate gear 119 is provided on the intermediate gear support shaft 118.

  The intermediate gear 119 is a spur gear having teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the diameter thereof is set to be equal to the facing distance between the supply side agitator input gear 116 and the storage side agitator input gear 114. The intermediate gear 119 meshes with the supply side agitator input gear 116 and the storage side agitator input gear 114. Further, the longitudinal dimension of the intermediate gear 119 is set to be equal to the longitudinal dimension of the supply side agitator input gear 116 (see FIG. 12A).

  As shown in FIG. 14, the inner cylinder 96 is formed in a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape along the inner cylinder accommodation chamber 104 of the supply portion 101 of the outer cylinder 95. In the inner cylinder accommodation chamber 104, the supply-side agitator rotates. It is accommodated coaxially with the shaft 120. The supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 described above extends in the front-rear direction inside the inner cylinder 96 housed in the inner cylinder housing chamber 104 (referred to as a supply chamber 121), and the supply-side agitator 115 is provided in the supply chamber 121. Is placed inside. The inner cylinder 96 is rotatable around the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 while being in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the supply portion 101 of the outer cylinder 95.

  The inner cylinder 96 has an inner cylinder communication hole 122 and an inner cylinder side opening 125 (see FIG. 13B).

  The inner cylinder communication hole 122 is formed in a rectangular shape having substantially the same size as the outer cylinder communication hole 105 when viewed from the center of the rotation axis of the inner cylinder 96 at one place on the circumference of the inner cylinder 96.

  As shown in FIG. 13B, the inner cylinder side opening 125 is formed at one place on the circumference of the front half portion of the inner cylinder 96, and extends from the inner cylinder side supply hole 126 and the inner cylinder side return hole 127. Become. The inner cylinder side supply hole 126 and the inner cylinder side return hole 127 are formed in a circular shape having substantially the same dimensions as the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 when viewed from the rotation axis center of the inner cylinder 96. Yes. The inner cylinder side supply hole 126 and the inner cylinder side return hole 127 are adjacent to each other. Specifically, the inner cylinder side supply hole 126 and the inner cylinder side supply hole 126 are located behind the inner cylinder side supply hole 126 (more specifically, slightly rearwardly upward). A return hole 127 is adjacent.

  The inner cylinder 96 is provided with a first protrusion 123 and a second protrusion 124.

  The first protrusion 123 is located at one position on the circumference of the central portion in the front-rear direction of the inner cylinder 96, specifically, a position shifted about 135 degrees in the clockwise direction with respect to the inner cylinder-side return hole 127 in front view (FIG. 14 2), the inner cylinder 96 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape protruding outward in the radial direction. The front-rear dimension of the first protrusion 123 is based on the front-rear dimension of the first protrusion exposure hole 107 of the outer cylinder 95 and the front-rear dimension of the opening / closing body engaging hole 86 (see FIG. 10) of the opening / closing member 75 of the cartridge housing 68. Is set slightly smaller. The circumferential dimension of the first protrusion 123 (the dimension along the circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 96) is the circumferential dimension of the first projection exposing hole 107 (along the circumferential surface of the supply unit 101 of the outer cylinder 95). The dimension is set to about a quarter of the dimension in the direction), and is slightly smaller than the dimension in the left-right direction of the opening / closing body engaging hole 86 (see FIG. 10). In a state where the inner cylinder 96 is housed in the inner cylinder housing chamber 104 of the outer cylinder 95 (see FIG. 14), the first protrusion 123 has a free end portion that is more radial than the outer surface of the feeding portion 101. It is exposed to the outside through the first projection exposure hole 107 of the outer cylinder 95 so as to protrude outward.

  The second protrusion 124 includes an upper second protrusion 128 and a lower second protrusion 129 having the same dimensions.

  The upper second protrusion 128 protrudes outward in the radial direction of the inner cylinder 96 on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 96 at a position below the inner cylinder side return hole 127 obliquely rearwardly in FIG. 13B. It is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  The lower second protrusion 129 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 96 at a position shifted by about 50 degrees in the clockwise direction with respect to the upper second protrusion 128 (see FIG. 14).

  The front-rear direction dimensions of the upper second protrusion 128 and the lower second protrusion 129 are set slightly smaller than the front-rear direction dimension of the second protrusion exposure hole 111 of the outer cylinder 95. The circumferential dimension of each of the upper second projection 128 and the lower second projection 129 (the dimension along the circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 96) is the circumferential dimension of the second projection exposure hole 111 (supply of the outer cylinder 95). The dimension of the portion 101 in the direction along the circumferential surface) is set to about one tenth of the size. The upper second protrusion 128 and the lower second protrusion 129 have shutter supports that are recessed in a direction opposite to the facing direction at positions substantially opposite to each other along the circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 96 at a substantially central portion in the protruding direction. Each groove 130 is formed. In a state where the inner cylinder 96 is accommodated in the inner cylinder accommodating chamber 104 of the outer cylinder 95 (see FIG. 14), the upper second protrusion 128 and the lower second protrusion 129 have their respective free end portions outside the supply portion 101. It is exposed to the outside through the second protrusion exposing hole 111 of the outer cylinder 95 so as to protrude outward in the radial direction of the supply unit 101 from the side surface. The shutter support grooves 130 of the upper second protrusion 128 and the lower second protrusion 129 are positioned slightly outside the outer surface of the supply unit 101 in the radial direction of the supply unit 101 (see FIG. 14).

  A shutter 131 outside the cartridge is attached to the shutter support groove 130 of the upper second protrusion 128 and the lower second protrusion 129. The cartridge outer shutter 131 is formed in a thin plate shape that is arcuate along the outer peripheral surface of the supply unit 101 and long in the front-rear direction when viewed from the front. One end edge (upper end edge) of the outer shutter 131 in the circumferential direction of the cartridge outer shutter 131 is locked to the shutter support groove 130 of the upper second protrusion 128, and the other end edge (lower end edge) of the outer shutter 131 in the circumferential direction of the cartridge outer shutter 131. Is locked in the shutter support groove 130 of the lower second protrusion 129. Thus, the cartridge outer shutter 131 is sandwiched between the upper second protrusion 128 and the lower second protrusion 129 at a position slightly outside the outer surface of the supply unit 101 in the radial direction of the supply unit 101.

  When the inner cylinder 96 is housed in the inner cylinder housing chamber 104 of the outer cylinder 95, the cartridge-side shutter closing position where rotation in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the front is restricted (see FIG. 14A). And the cartridge-side shutter opening position (see FIG. 14B) where the clockwise rotation is restricted is rotatable with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the supply portion 101 of the outer cylinder 95.

  When the inner cylinder 96 is in the cartridge-side shutter closed position, as shown in FIG. 14A, the first protrusion 123 abuts on the right edge of the first protrusion exposure hole 107, and the upper second protrusion of the second protrusion 124. 128 abuts against the upper edge of the second protrusion exposing hole 111. A portion of the inner cylinder 96 below the inner cylinder side opening 125 closes the outer cylinder side opening 108 of the outer cylinder 95 from the inner side in the radial direction of the inner cylinder 96, and the cartridge outer shutter 131 is opened. In the radial direction of the inner cylinder 96, the outer cylinder side opening 108 is closed from the outside. Further, the portion of the inner cylinder 96 on the right side of the inner cylinder communication hole 122 closes the outer cylinder communication hole 105 of the outer cylinder 95 from the inside in the radial direction of the inner cylinder 96. Thereby, the storage chamber 102 and the supply chamber 121 are interrupted.

When the inner cylinder 96 is in the cartridge-side shutter open position, as shown in FIG. 14B, the first protrusion 123 contacts the left end edge of the first protrusion exposure hole 107, and the second lower side of the second protrusion 124 The protrusion 129 is in contact with the lower edge of the second protrusion exposure hole 111. Then, the inner cylinder side opening 125 of the inner cylinder 96 and the outer cylinder side opening 108 of the outer cylinder 95 face each other, and the cartridge outer shutter 131 faces the outer cylinder side opening 108 outside in the radial direction of the inner cylinder 96. It is open from. More specifically, when the inner cylinder side opening 125 and the outer cylinder side opening 108 face each other, the inner cylinder side return hole 127 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 face each other, and the inner cylinder side supply hole 126 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 face each other. The cylinder side supply hole 109 is opposed. Thereby, the supply chamber 121 of the inner cylinder 96 communicates with the outside via the inner cylinder side opening 125 and the outer cylinder side opening 108. Further, the inner cylinder communication hole 122 and the outer cylinder communication hole 105 face each other. Thereby, the storage chamber 102 of the outer cylinder 95 and the supply chamber 121 of the inner cylinder 96 communicate with each other. In the state where the inner cylinder side return hole 127 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 are opposed to each other, in the facing direction, between the periphery of the inner cylinder side return hole 127 and the periphery of the outer cylinder side return hole 110. The formed gap is closed by a cartridge seal member (not shown) made of felt, sponge, or the like. Similarly, in a state where the inner cylinder side supply hole 126 and the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 face each other, in the facing direction, between the periphery of the inner cylinder side supply hole 126 and the periphery of the outer cylinder side supply hole 109. The gap formed in the cartridge is also closed by a cartridge seal member (not shown).
(3-2-3) Attachment / Removal of Toner Cartridge to Cartridge Storage Unit FIG. 15 is a right side perspective view of the cartridge storage unit in which all toner cartridges are stored, and the inner cylinder of each toner cartridge closes the cartridge side shutter. It shows the state in position. FIG. 16 shows a state where the inner cylinder of each toner cartridge is in the cartridge-side shutter open position in FIG. FIG. 17 is a front sectional view of the cartridge housing portion in which the toner cartridge is housed, where (a) shows a state where the inner cylinder is in the cartridge side shutter closed position, and (b) This shows a state in which the inner cylinder is in the cartridge side shutter open position. In FIG. 17, for convenience of explanation, the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the first protrusion exposure hole, the second protrusion exposure hole, the inner cylinder side opening, the outer cylinder side opening, and the opening / closing body engaging hole are on the same surface. Appears above.

  First, the inner cylinder 96 grips the handle 103 of the toner cartridge 69 (see FIG. 13A) in the cartridge side shutter closed position. Then, the toner cartridge 69 is maintained in a position where the supply-side agitator output gear 117 is positioned on the front side, and the corresponding storage chamber 73 of the cartridge storage section 68 in which the operation lever 81 is in the lever closed position (see FIG. 10). Mount from above. Similar to the toner cartridge 69, each storage chamber 73 corresponds to the color of the toner. Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 10, each storage chamber 73 is designated as yellow storage chamber 73Y and magenta storage chamber in order from the front. 73M, the cyan storage chamber 73C, and the black storage chamber 73K are distinguished from each other.

  When the toner cartridge 69 is mounted in the storage chamber 73, the front end portions (see FIG. 12) of the storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112 and the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 are received in the attachment / detachment guide groove 77 positioned on the front side in the storage chamber 73. The rear end portions (see FIG. 12) of the storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112 and the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 are received in the detachable guide groove 77 located on the rear side in the storage chamber 73. As a result, the toner cartridge 69 is guided in the detachable guide groove 77 at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112 and the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 (see FIG. 12), thereby accommodating the storage chamber 73. Moves substantially downwards inside. When the front end portion and the rear end portion of the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 (see FIG. 12) get over the storage portion positioning projection 78 of the corresponding attachment / detachment guide groove 77 and contact the lower end edge of the attachment / detachment guide groove 77, 15, the toner cartridge 69 is completely stored in the storage chamber 73. All the toner cartridges 69 stored in the corresponding storage chamber 73 are arranged in parallel along the front-rear direction.

  At this time, in each storage chamber 73, the first protrusion 123 of the toner cartridge 69 is engaged with the corresponding opening / closing body engaging hole 86 of the opening / closing member 75 of the cartridge storage portion 68. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, in each storage chamber 73, the supply side agitator input gear 116 of the toner cartridge 69 meshes with the output side transmission gear 99 of the second transmission unit 89 from above, and the supply side agitator output. The gear 117 meshes with the input side transmission gear 94 of the second transmission portion 89 from above. In the state where all the toner cartridges 69 are stored in the corresponding storage chambers 73, the respective second transmission portions 89 are located between the toner cartridges 69 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction.

  On the other hand, in the black storage chamber 73 </ b> K, the supply side agitator input gear 116 of the black toner cartridge 69 </ b> K meshes with the first transmission gear 91 of the first transmission unit 88.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in the state where the toner cartridge 69 is stored in the storage chamber 73, the lower half portion of the storage unit 100 is supplied from the storage unit side opening 74 to the right side portion of each toner cartridge 69. Part 101 is exposed to the outside. As shown in FIG. 16, the exposed portion of the supply unit 101 includes an outer cylinder side opening 108, an inner cylinder side opening 125, a second protrusion 124, and a cartridge outer shutter 131.

Contrary to the above procedure, as shown in FIG. 15, the toner cartridge 69 stored in the storage chamber 73 is moved substantially upward by holding the handle 103 (see FIG. 12), thereby moving the toner cartridge 69. The cartridge can be detached from the cartridge housing portion 68.
(3-2-4) removable 18 with respect to the body casing of the cartridge receiving section, in FIG. 5, a position where all of the toner cartridges is exposed in front of the main body casing to (detaching position), the cartridge containing portion main body casing The state pulled out from is shown. FIG. 19 is a front view of the color laser printer, and shows the cartridge storage space, the cartridge storage space, and the toner cartridge in a front sectional view. FIG. 20 is an extracted front sectional view of the cartridge storage portion storage space, the cartridge storage portion, and the toner cartridge in FIG. 19, and (a) shows a state where the inner cylinder is in the cartridge side shutter closed position. (B) shows a state in which the inner cylinder is at the cartridge-side shutter open position. In FIG. 20, for convenience of explanation, the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the first protrusion exposure hole, the second protrusion exposure hole, the inner cylinder side opening, the outer cylinder side opening, the opening / closing body engaging hole, and the partition wall side The supply hole and the partition wall side return hole appear on the same plane.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the main casing 2 in which the partition-side shutter 35 is in the partition-side shutter closed position, as shown in FIG. Open. Then, as shown in FIG. 18, the cartridge storage portion 68 in which all the toner cartridges 69 corresponding to the respective colors are stored is inserted into the cartridge storage portion storage space 24 from the front side. At this time, the rollers 71 provided on both sides in the width direction of the cartridge housing portion 68 are received by the corresponding guide rails 28 of the main body casing 2. Specifically, each roller 71 is sandwiched in the vertical direction by a pair of protrusions 31 of the corresponding guide rail 28. As a result, the cartridge accommodating portion 68 moves while sliding backward in the cartridge accommodating portion accommodating space 24 as each roller 71 is guided by the corresponding guide rail 28. Of the rollers 71 provided on both sides in the width direction of the cartridge storage portion 68, each roller 71 located at the rear end passes over the guide rail positioning protrusion 33 of the corresponding guide rail 28 and passes through the rear end portion of the guide rail 28. 4, the housing of the cartridge housing portion 68 in the cartridge housing portion housing space 24 is completed as shown in FIG. When the first cover 22 is closed, the mounting of the cartridge storage portion 68 on the main casing 2 is completed. The position in the front-rear direction of the cartridge housing portion 68 when the mounting on the main casing 2 is completed is set as the mounting position. In this state, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper end portion of each toner cartridge 69, specifically, the upper end portion of the storage unit 100 is positioned above the discharge tray 13.

  When the cartridge storage portion 68 is mounted on the main body casing 2, the connection protrusion 92 of the first transmission portion 88 of the cartridge storage portion 68 is in the connection hole 49 of the second gear 45 provided in the drive mechanism 30 of the main body casing 2. Combined. In this state, when the above-described agitator drive motor (not shown) is driven, the drive force is transmitted to the first gear 44 of the drive mechanism 30. The driving force is further transmitted to the second gear 45 that meshes with the first gear 44, and the second gear 45 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the back. Therefore, the connection protrusion 92 connected to the connection hole 49 of the second gear 45 rotates together with the second gear 45, that is, the driving force of an agitator drive motor (not shown) is transmitted to the counterclockwise view in rear view. It is rotated around. Then, this driving force rotates the first support shaft 90 and the first transmission gear 91 in the same direction as shown in FIG.

  The driving force that rotates the first support shaft 90 and the first transmission gear 91 is transmitted to the supply-side agitator input gear 116 of the black toner cartridge 69K that meshes with the first transmission gear 91. Thereby, the supply-side agitator input gear 116 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the rear view (counterclockwise in the front view), the supply-side agitator rotation shaft 120 provided with the supply-side agitator input gear 116, and the supply-side agitator rotation shaft. The supply side agitator 115 and the supply side agitator output gear 117 provided in 120 are rotated in the clockwise direction in the rear view (counterclockwise in the front view). The driving force is transmitted to the storage-side agitator input gear 114 that meshes with the intermediate gear 119 via the intermediate gear 119 that meshes with the supply-side agitator input gear 116. Accordingly, the storage-side agitator input gear 114 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the rear view (counterclockwise in the front view), the storage-side agitator rotation shaft 112 provided with the storage-side agitator input gear 114, and the storage-side agitator rotation shaft. The storage-side agitator 113 provided at 112 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the rear view (counterclockwise in the front view).

  The driving force is output from the supply side agitator output gear 117 of the black toner cartridge 69K and transmitted to the second transmission unit 89. Specifically, the driving force is connected to the supply side agitator output gear 117 on the front side of the black toner cartridge 69K. It is transmitted to the second support shaft 93 through the meshing input side transmission gear 94. Thereby, the 2nd support shaft 93 and the output side transmission gear 99 are rotated counterclockwise in the rear view similarly to the first support shaft 90 and the first transmission gear 91. In the cyan toner cartridge 69C, as in the black toner cartridge 69K, the driving force from the output side transmission gear 99 is transmitted to the supply side agitator input gear 116 that meshes with the output side transmission gear 99 of the second transmission unit 89. The driving force is transmitted to the supply side agitator rotating shaft 120, the supply side agitator output gear 117, the intermediate gear 119, the storage side agitator input gear 114, and the storage side agitator rotating shaft 112, whereby the supply side agitator 115 and the storage side agitator 113 are transmitted. Is rotated.

  That is, the driving force for rotating the first support shaft 90 in the first transmission unit 88 is the cyan adjacent to the front side of the black toner cartridge 69K after rotating the supply side agitator 115 and the storage side agitator 113 of the black toner cartridge 69K. The toner cartridge 69C, the magenta toner cartridge 69M adjacent to the front side of the cyan toner cartridge 69C, and the supply side agitator 115 and the storage side agitator 113 of the yellow toner cartridge 69Y adjacent to the front side of the magenta toner cartridge 69M are sequentially transmitted. As a result, the supply-side agitator 115 and the storage-side agitator 113 in each toner cartridge 69 are rotated, and the toner in the supply chamber 121 and the storage chamber 102 of each toner cartridge 69 is agitated. As shown in FIG. 17B, when the inner cylinder 96 of each toner cartridge 69 is in the cartridge-side shutter open position, the inner cylinder communication hole 122 and the outer cylinder communication hole 105 face each other to store the storage chamber 102. Since the toner in the storage chamber 102 is agitated by the storage-side agitator 113 in addition to its own weight, the toner can be supplied into the supply chamber 121.

  15 and 16, when each toner cartridge 69 is stored in the corresponding storage chamber 73, the operation lever 81 in the lever closed position is twisted in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front. Thus, when the lever is moved to the open position, the opening / closing member 75 is also rotated in the clockwise direction around the swing shaft (not shown) in conjunction with the movement of the operation lever 81. In conjunction with the rotation of the opening / closing member 75, the first protrusion 123 of each toner cartridge 69 engaged with the opening / closing body engaging hole 86 of the opening / closing member 75 is also exposed to the first protrusion exposing hole of each outer cylinder 95. It moves in the same direction in a lump 107. As the first protrusion 123 moves, the inner cylinder 96 provided with the first protrusion 123 also rotates from the cartridge side shutter closed position (see FIG. 15) to the cartridge side shutter open position (see FIG. 16). Then, the upper second protrusion 128 and the lower second protrusion 129 provided in the inner cylinder 96 move in the same direction in the second protrusion exposure hole 111, and the inner cylinder 96 rotates to the cartridge side shutter open position. Then, as shown in FIG. 16, the lower second protrusion 129 is locked to the corresponding storage section notch 80 of the storage section housing 82, and the first protrusion 123 penetrates the storage section of the storage section casing 82. It contacts the left end edge of the hole 79 (see FIG. 17B).

  In the state in which the cartridge housing portion 68 is mounted on the main casing 2, the upper second protrusion 128 and the lower second protrusion 129 of each toner cartridge 69 housed in the cartridge housing portion 68 are arranged as shown in FIG. In view, the partition-side shutter 35 located at the partition-side shutter closed position is sandwiched from above and below. Specifically, the upper notch 41 and the lower notch 42 (see FIG. 5) of the partition wall shutter 35 described above correspond to the toner cartridges 69 of each color. For example, in the yellow toner cartridge 69Y (see FIG. 15), The second protrusion 128 is engaged with the foremost upper notch 41 (see FIG. 5), and the lower second protrusion 129 is engaged with the forefront lower notch 42 (see FIG. 5). Similarly, in the toner cartridges 69 of other colors, the upper second protrusion 128 is engaged with the corresponding upper notch 41, and the lower second protrusion 129 is engaged with the lower notch 42 corresponding to the upper notch 41. Combined.

  Then, in a state where the cartridge storage portion 68 is mounted on the main casing 2, the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 (see FIG. 13B) of the outer cylinder side opening 108 in each toner cartridge 69 stored in the cartridge storage portion 68. 20), as shown in FIG. 20A, with respect to the partition-side supply hole 39 (see FIG. 5) of the partition-side toner passage portion 34, the partition-side shutter 35 and the cartridge outer shutter 131 are sandwiched in the width direction. Opposite. Similarly, the outer cylinder side return hole 110 (see FIG. 13B) is provided with the partition side shutter 35 and the cartridge outer shutter 131 relative to the partition side return hole 40 (see FIG. 5) of the partition side toner passage portion 34. Opposite the width direction across.

  Specifically, the partition-side supply hole 39 and the partition-side return hole 40 (see FIG. 5) also correspond to the toner cartridges 69 of the respective colors, similarly to the upper notch 41 and the lower notch 42. For example, the yellow toner cartridge 69Y 15 (see FIG. 15), the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 faces the foremost partition side supply hole 39 (see FIG. 5), and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 is the foremost partition side return hole 40 (see FIG. 15). 5). Similarly, in other color toner cartridges 69, the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 faces the corresponding partition side supply hole 39, and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 corresponds to the partition side supply hole 39. Opposite the return hole 40. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, each toner cartridge 69 has a developing roller 143 of each process unit 62 (described later) on the right side surface where the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 are located. It faces the developing roller 143 in the longitudinal direction).

  In this state, as described above, when the operation lever 81 (see FIG. 16) in the lever closed position is moved to the lever open position, the partition wall side sandwiched between the upper second protrusion 128 and the lower second protrusion 129 is used. The shutter 35 slides in the same direction from the partition-side shutter closed position to the partition-side shutter open position as the inner cylinder 96 of the toner cartridge 69 rotates from the cartridge-side shutter closed position to the cartridge-side shutter open position. To do. When the partition side shutter 35 moves to the partition side shutter open position, as shown in FIG. 20B, the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 of each toner cartridge 69 and the corresponding partition side supply hole 39 communicate with each other. The outer cylinder side return hole 110 and the corresponding partition side return hole 40 communicate with each other. Therefore, as described above, when the supply side agitator 115 is rotated counterclockwise by applying a driving force of an agitator drive motor (not shown), the toner in the supply chamber 121 is transferred to the inner cylinder side. Supplied to the supply hole 126, passes through the inner cylinder side supply hole 126, the outer cylinder side supply hole 109, and the partition wall side supply hole 39, and is conveyed to the right side (development side supply hole 171 described later) from the partition wall 15. . The supply side agitator 115 returns the inner cylinder side return so that the toner in the supply chamber 121 is supplied to the inner cylinder side supply hole 126 while the toner is not supplied to the inner cylinder side return hole 127 during rotation. A portion facing the hole 127 is cut away.

  In the state where the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 and the corresponding partition side supply hole 39 communicate with each other and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 and the corresponding partition side return hole 40 communicate with each other, the above-described partition wall seal member ( (Not shown) in the left-right direction between the peripheral edge of the partition-side supply hole 39 and the peripheral edge of the outer cylinder-side supply hole 109, and the left and right of the peripheral edge of the partition-side return hole 40 and the peripheral edge of the outer cylinder-side return hole 110. The gap in the direction is blocked. As described above, the gap in the opposing direction (left-right direction) between the peripheral edge of the inner cylinder side supply hole 126 and the peripheral edge of the outer cylinder side supply hole 109, and the peripheral edge of the inner cylinder side return hole 127 and the outer cylinder side return. A gap in the left-right direction with respect to the periphery of the hole 110 is closed by a cartridge seal member (not shown). Therefore, the toner in the supply chamber 121 passes through the inner cylinder side supply hole 126, the outer cylinder side supply hole 109, and the partition wall side supply hole 39 without leaking in the middle.

  Contrary to the above procedure, as shown in FIG. 4, the first cover 22 is opened, the operation lever 81 (see FIG. 14) is moved to the lever closed position, and the inner cylinder 96 is moved to the cartridge side shutter closed position. After moving the partition side shutter 35 to the partition side shutter closed position (see FIG. 20A) and then pulling out the cartridge storage unit 68 in the mounting position to the front side, the cartridge storage unit 68 is moved to the main casing. 2 can be detached while sliding. As shown in FIG. 18, when the roller 71 at the rear end of the cartridge storage portion 68 is at the front end portion of the corresponding guide rail 28, all the toner cartridges 69 are exposed from the main body casing 2. Note that the position in the front-rear direction of the cartridge storage portion 68 at this time is defined as the attachment / detachment position. When the cartridge storage portion 68 is in the attachment / detachment position, each toner cartridge 69 can be attached / detached to / from the cartridge storage portion 68.

Then, the cartridge storage portion 68 at the attachment / detachment position is further pulled out to the front side, and when the roller 71 at the rear end of the cartridge storage portion 68 is removed from the front end edge of the corresponding guide rail 28 to the front side, the cartridge storage portion 68 is moved to the main body casing. 2 is completely desorbed.
(3-3) Process Part FIG. 21 shows the process part extracted from FIG. FIG. 22 is a plan view of the process section in a state in which the upper side wall of the developing case is removed. FIG. 23 shows the process unit in the middle of attachment / detachment in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of process units 62 are provided corresponding to the toners of the respective colors. In other words, the process unit 62 includes four units, that is, a yellow process unit 62Y, a magenta process unit 62M, a cyan process unit 62C, and a black process unit 62K. These four process parts 62 are arranged in parallel at intervals from the front to the rear. Specifically, a yellow process unit 62Y, a magenta process unit 62M, a cyan process unit 62C, and a black process unit 62K are arranged in order from the front. Further, the four process parts 62 are integrated by a connecting member (not shown) and are accommodated in the process accommodating space 17 of the main casing 2. After opening the second cover 18 of the main casing 2 and opening the process part attaching / detaching port 10 (see FIG. 3), these four process parts 62 are moved in the front-rear direction, as shown in FIG. The four process parts 62 are detachably attached to and detached from the main body casing 2.

  As shown in FIG. 21, each process unit 62 includes a process casing 132, a photosensitive drum 133, a scorotron charger 134, a cleaning roller 141, and a developing unit 135.

  The process casing 132 is formed in a bottomed frame shape that is substantially U-shaped in cross section on the left side and is long in the width direction, and penetrates the lower side wall of the process casing 132 in the thickness direction at its lower end. An incident window 136 is formed. The incident window 136 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the width direction when viewed from below.

  The photosensitive drum 133 includes a drum body 137 and a drum rotation shaft 138. The drum body 137 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and the outermost layer is formed of a positively chargeable photosensitive layer made of polycarbonate or the like. The drum rotation shaft 138 extends along the rotation axis direction of the drum body 137 at the center of the rotation axis of the drum body 137. The drum rotation shaft 138 is supported on both side walls in the width direction of the process casing 132 so as not to rotate. The drum body 137 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the drum rotation shaft 138, and an upper half portion is exposed upward from an upper end edge of the process casing 132. As shown in FIG. 22, a gear portion (drum gear portion 154) is provided at the right end portion of the drum main body 137. The drum body 137 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the left side as shown in FIG. 21 by transmitting the driving force of a process drive motor (not shown) of the body casing 2 via the drum gear portion 154. Driven.

  The scorotron charger 134 includes a wire 139 and a grid 140, and is a positively charged scorotron charger that generates corona discharge when a charging bias is applied. The scorotron charger 134 is disposed below the photosensitive drum 133 so as to be opposed to the photosensitive drum 133 with a gap so as not to come into contact therewith.

  The cleaning roller 141 includes a metal cleaning roller shaft 152 and a cleaning foam roller 153 made of a conductive foam material that covers the cleaning roller shaft 152. The cleaning roller shaft 152 is rotatably supported on both side walls in the width direction of the process housing 132 behind the photosensitive drum 133. As shown in FIG. 22, a gear portion (cleaning gear portion 155) that meshes with the drum gear portion 154 is provided at the right end portion of the cleaning roller shaft 152. The cleaning foam roller 153 is disposed so as to come into contact with the photosensitive drum 133 from behind. As shown in FIG. 22, the cleaning foaming roller 153 receives the driving force of the process drive motor (not shown) through the drum gear portion 154 and the cleaning gear portion 155 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, it rotates together with the cleaning roller shaft 152 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 133 (clockwise direction). A cleaning bias from a high voltage substrate (not shown) provided in the main body casing 2 is applied to the cleaning roller 141 during image formation.

  The developing unit 135 is disposed on the front side of the photosensitive drum 133, and includes a developing case 142, and further includes a developing roller 143, a supply roller 144, a layer thickness regulating member 145, and the developing case 142. A supply auger 156, a return auger 157, and a development seal 164 are provided.

  The developing case 142 is formed in a substantially triangular shape in the left side view and a box shape that is long in the width direction. A developing communication hole 158 having a rectangular shape that is long in the width direction in the rear view is formed at the rear end of the developing case 142. A developing partition 159 is formed inside the developing housing 142, and the developing housing 142 is partitioned into a developing chamber 160 and a toner supply chamber 161 by the developing partition 159. The toner supply chamber 161 is located at the front end of the developing case 142 and is partitioned into a substantially circular shape when viewed from the left side. The front end portion of the developing case 142 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape according to the left cross-sectional shape of the toner supply chamber 161. The developing chamber 160 is located on the rear side of the toner supply chamber 161 with the developing partition wall 159 interposed therebetween, and is partitioned into a substantially trapezoidal shape in a right sectional view. As shown in FIG. 22, a toner communication hole 162 that penetrates the development partition wall 159 in the thickness direction is formed at the right end of the development partition wall 159, and the development chamber 160 and the toner supply chamber 161 are separated from each other. 162 to communicate with each other. As shown in FIG. 21, a developing roller 143, a supply roller 144, a layer thickness regulating member 145, a return auger 157 and a development seal 164 are arranged in the developing chamber 160, and a supply auger 156 is arranged in the toner supply chamber 161. Has been.

  The developing roller 143 is disposed in the rear portion of the developing chamber 160, the rear end portion is exposed rearward through the developing communication hole 158, and is pressed against the photosensitive drum 133 from the front side. In the developing roller 143, a metal developing roller rotating shaft 146 is covered with a rubber roller 147 made of an elastic member such as a conductive rubber material. The developing roller rotating shaft 146 is rotatably supported on both side walls in the width direction of the developing housing 142, and as shown in FIG. 22, a gear portion (developing gear portion 163) is provided at the right end portion. . When the driving force of the process drive motor (not shown) described above is transmitted to the developing gear unit 163, the developing roller 143 has a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 133 (as shown in FIG. 21). Rotate clockwise). A developing bias from a high voltage substrate (not shown) provided in the main casing 2 is applied to the developing roller 143 during image formation.

  The supply roller 144 is opposed to the developing roller 143 obliquely from below and is in pressure contact with the developing roller 143. In the supply roller 144, a metal supply roller rotating shaft 148 is covered with a sponge roller 149 made of a conductive sponge member. The supply roller rotating shaft 148 is rotatably supported on both side walls in the width direction of the developing case 142, and a gear portion (supply gear portion) (not shown) is provided at the right end portion. When the driving force of the process drive motor (not shown) is transmitted to the supply gear portion (not shown), the supply roller 144 is rotated in the same direction (clockwise) as the rotation direction of the developing roller 143. Direction).

  The layer thickness regulating member 145 includes a blade body 150 and a pressing portion 151. The blade body 150 is supported by the rear end of the lower end of the developing housing 142 at the base end, and is made of a metal leaf spring material. The pressing portion 151 is provided at the free end portion of the blade body 150 and has a substantially rectangular cross section made of insulating silicone rubber. In the layer thickness regulating member 145, the pressing portion 151 is pressed against the surface of the developing roller 143 by the elastic force of the blade body 150 on the rear side of the supply roller 144.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the supply auger 156 integrally includes a supply-side rotation shaft 165 and a supply-side transport unit 166 that are long in the width direction. The supply-side rotation shaft 165 is rotatably supported on both side walls in the width direction of the developing housing 142. The supply-side transport unit 166 is formed in a spiral shape along the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the supply-side rotation shaft 165. Further, a gear portion (supply auger gear portion 167) is provided at the right end portion of the supply-side rotating shaft 165, and a driving force of a process drive motor (not shown) of the main body casing 2 is supplied via the supply auger gear portion 167. Communicated. Thus, the supply auger 156 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in the left side view as shown in FIG. 21 in the toner supply chamber 161. As shown in FIG. 22, a developing-side supply hole 171 that communicates the inside of the toner supply chamber 161 with the outside is formed in a portion of the left side wall of the developing case 142 that faces the supply auger 156. The development-side supply hole 171 faces and communicates with the partition-side supply hole 39 (see FIG. 5) corresponding to each toner color in a state where the process unit 62 is mounted on the main body casing 2.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the return auger 157 is disposed in the developing chamber 160 at a distance above the supply roller 144. As shown in FIG. 22, the return auger 157 and the return side rotating shaft 168 are long in the width direction. A transport unit 169 is integrally provided. The return-side rotation shaft 168 is rotatably supported on both side walls in the width direction of the developing case 142. The return side transport unit 169 is formed in a spiral shape along the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the return side rotation shaft 168. Further, the spiral direction of the return side transport unit 169 and the spiral direction of the supply side transport unit 166 are formed to be the same. A gear portion (return auger gear portion 170) that meshes with the supply auger gear portion 167 is provided at the right end portion of the return-side rotation shaft 168. The return auger 157 is shown in FIG. 21 in the developing chamber 160 when the driving force of a process drive motor (not shown) of the main casing 2 is transmitted via the supply auger gear portion 167 and the return auger gear portion 170. Thus, it is driven to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. As shown in FIG. 22, a developing side return hole 172 that allows the inside of the developing chamber 160 to communicate with the outside is formed in a portion of the left side wall of the developing case 142 that faces the return auger 157. The development-side return hole 172 faces and communicates with the partition-side return hole 40 (see FIG. 5) corresponding to each toner color in a state where the process unit 62 is mounted on the main body casing 2.

  At the time of image formation, the toner accommodated in each toner cartridge 69 in which the inner cylinder 96 is in the cartridge side shutter open position is stored in the supply chamber 121 as described above and as shown in FIG. The supply side agitator 115 is agitated. Then, the toner is supplied from the inner cylinder side supply hole 126 and passes through the outer cylinder side supply hole 109, the partition wall side supply hole 39, and the development side supply hole 171 (see FIG. 22), and as shown in FIG. 161 is released.

  The toner discharged into the toner supply chamber 161 is conveyed rightward in the toner supply chamber 161 by the supply-side conveyance unit 166 of the supply auger 156 that is rotationally driven. The conveyed toner is conveyed to the developing chamber 160 through the toner communication hole 162 at the right end portion of the toner supply chamber 161 and is supplied to the right end portion of the return auger 157. The toner supplied to the right end of the return auger 157 is conveyed to the left side by the return side conveyance unit 169 of the return auger 157 that is rotationally driven, and is provided below the return auger 157 (see FIG. 21). ).

  The toner that has not been supplied to the supply roller 144 and has reached the developing side return hole 172 passes through the partition side return hole 40 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 as shown in FIG. And is collected in the supply chamber 121 of the corresponding toner cartridge 69. As the toner that reaches the developing side return hole 172, the toner that has been transported to the left side by the return side transport unit 169 due to the above-described toner circulation or stayed in the developing chamber 160, but has been retained by the return side transport unit 169. Some are conveyed to the left and reach the development side return hole 172.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the toner supplied to the supply roller 144 is supplied to the developing roller 143 by the rotation of the supply roller 144. At this time, the toner is positively frictionally charged between the supply roller 144 and the developing roller 143 to which a developing bias is applied. The frictionally charged toner enters between the pressing portion 151 of the layer thickness regulating member 145 and the rubber roller 147 of the developing roller 143 as the developing roller 143 rotates, and becomes a thin layer with a constant thickness. Is supported on a rubber roller 147.

  On the other hand, the scorotron charger 134 generates a corona discharge by applying a charging bias to uniformly positively charge the surface of the drum body 137 of the photosensitive drum 133. As the drum body 137 rotates, the surface of the drum body 137 is uniformly positively charged by the scorotron charger 134 and then emitted from an exit window (not shown) of the scanner unit 61 (see FIG. 1). Exposure is performed by high-speed scanning of laser light incident through 136, and electrostatic latent images of respective colors corresponding to the image to be formed on the paper 3 are formed.

  When the drum body 137 further rotates, the drum body 137 is then moved when the positively charged toner carried on the surface of the developing roller 143 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 133 by the rotation of the developing roller 143. Supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface. As a result, the electrostatic latent image on the drum body 137 is visualized, and a toner image by reversal development is carried on the surface of the drum body 137 corresponding to each color.

  The development seal 164 is formed in a film shape having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view that is long in the width direction, and an upper end portion thereof is attached to the upper side wall of the development housing 142. The development seal 164 is in sliding contact with the development roller 143 uniformly from above along the axial direction thereof, and prevents toner leakage from between the upper side wall of the development housing 142 and the development roller 143. Yes.

Note that the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 133 after the primary transfer described later is collected by the developing roller 143. Further, the paper dust from the paper 3 adhering to the photosensitive drum 133 after the primary transfer is collected by the cleaning foam roller 153.
(3-4) Transfer Part As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer part 63 is arranged in the front-rear direction above the process part 62 in the process accommodating space 17 of the main casing 2. The transfer unit 63 includes a drive roller 174, a driven roller 175, an intermediate transfer belt 176, a primary transfer roller 177, a secondary transfer roller 178, a relay path 179, and a cleaning unit 180.

  The drive roller 174 is disposed obliquely above and rearward of the photosensitive drum 133 of the black process unit 62K. The drive roller 174 is rotationally driven in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 133 (clockwise in the figure) during image formation.

  The driven roller 175 is disposed obliquely above and in front of the photosensitive drum 133 of the yellow process section 62Y and is opposed to the driving roller 174 in the front-rear direction. The driven roller 175 is driven to rotate in the same direction as the driving roller 174 (clockwise in the figure) when the driving roller 174 is driven to rotate.

  The intermediate transfer belt 176 is made of an endless belt, and is formed of a resin such as conductive polycarbonate or polyimide in which conductive particles such as carbon are dispersed. The intermediate transfer belt 176 is wound between the driving roller 174 and the driven roller 175, and the outer contact surface that is wound faces the entire photosensitive drum 133 of each process unit 62 so as to face each other. To be arranged.

  The driven roller 175 is driven by the driving roller 174, and the intermediate transfer belt 176 rotates between the driving roller 174 and the driven roller 175 in the clockwise direction in the drawing.

  The primary transfer roller 177 is connected to the photosensitive drum 133 of each process unit 62 with respect to the photosensitive drum 133 in the intermediate transfer belt 176 wound between the driving roller 174 and the driven roller 175. The intermediate transfer belt 176 is disposed so as to face each other. Each primary transfer roller 177 has a metal roller rotating shaft covered with a rubber roller made of an elastic member such as a conductive rubber material. The roller rotation shaft of the primary transfer roller 177 extends along the width direction and is rotatably supported by the main casing 2, and a primary transfer bias is applied during primary transfer described later. Each primary transfer roller 177 rotates in the same direction as the circumferential movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 176 (clockwise in the figure) at a position (primary transfer position) that faces and contacts the intermediate transfer belt 176.

  The secondary transfer roller 178 is disposed opposite to the drive roller 174 so as to sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 176 with the drive roller 174. The roller rotation shaft of the secondary transfer roller 178 extends along the width direction and is rotatably supported by the main casing 2, and a secondary transfer bias is applied during the secondary transfer. The secondary transfer roller 178 rotates in a direction (counterclockwise in the figure) opposite to the circumferential movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 176 at a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 176 (secondary transfer position).

  The relay path 179 is formed to extend substantially upward from the secondary transfer position described above toward the fixing unit 64.

  The intermediate transfer belt 176, which rotates around when driven by the drive roller 174 and driven by the driven roller 175, sequentially passes through the contact position (primary transfer position) of each process unit 62 with the photosensitive drum 133 from the front to the rear. To do. During the passage, the toner image corresponding to each color carried on the photosensitive drum 133 of each process unit 62 is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 176 by the primary transfer bias applied to each primary transfer roller 177. As a result, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 176.

  That is, for example, when a yellow toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 133 of the yellow process unit 62Y is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 176, then, it is carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 133 of the magenta process unit 62M. The magenta toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 176 on which the yellow toner image has already been transferred. By the same operation, the cyan toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 133 of the cyan process unit 62C and the black toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 133 of the black process unit 62K are continuously obtained. The toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 176 so that a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 176.

  The color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 176 is conveyed from the paper feeding unit 4 to the secondary transfer position while the intermediate transfer belt 176 passes the contact position (secondary transfer position) with the secondary transfer roller 178. The paper 3 is collectively transferred by the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 178. The sheet 3 on which the color image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 64 along the relay path 179.

  The cleaning unit 180 is disposed above the intermediate transfer belt 176 and includes a primary cleaning roller 181, a secondary cleaning roller 182, a scraping blade 183, and a toner storage unit 184.

In the above transfer operation, the toner adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 176 is first transferred from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 176 to the primary cleaning roller 181 by the primary cleaning bias in the cleaning unit 180. The toner transferred to the primary cleaning roller 181 is transferred to the secondary cleaning roller 182 by the secondary cleaning bias. Thereafter, the toner transferred to the secondary cleaning roller 182 is scraped off by the scraping blade 183, falls from the secondary cleaning roller 182, and is stored in the toner storage unit 184.
(3-5) Fixing Unit The fixing unit 64 includes a heating roller 185 and a pressure roller 186 that presses the heating roller 185, which is disposed above the second transfer position described above. In the fixing unit 64, the color image transferred to the paper 3 is thermally fixed to the paper 3 by being heated and pressed while the paper 3 passes between the heating roller 185 and the pressure roller 186. .
(4) Paper Discharge Unit The paper discharge unit 6 includes a pair of transport rollers 187, a paper discharge path 188, paper discharge rollers 189, and the discharge tray 13 described above. The pair of transport rollers 187 are arranged in contact with each other above the heating roller 185 and the pressure roller 186 diagonally forward. The paper discharge path 188 is formed so as to extend substantially horizontally forward from the contact position of the pair of transport rollers 187 toward the paper discharge hole 16 of the discharge wall 51. The paper discharge roller 189 includes three rollers, and is disposed so that the other two rollers are in contact with one of the rollers. The paper discharge roller 189 is disposed on the front side of the paper discharge path 188 so that one roller is exposed from the paper discharge hole 16 into the paper discharge space 12.

The sheet 3 on which the color image is fixed by the fixing unit 64 is conveyed along the sheet discharge path 188 by the conveyance roller 187 in the sheet discharge unit 6, and is discharged through the sheet discharge hole 16 by the sheet discharge roller 189. 13 is discharged.
(5) Reading Scanner Unit (5-1) Overall Configuration of Reading Scanner Unit The reading scanner unit 7 includes a document table 190 connected to the upper side wall of the main body casing 2 and a document presser supported by the document table 190 so as to be opened and closed. And a cover 191.

  The document table 190 is formed in a thick plate shape having a rectangular shape in plan view, and a glass surface 192 on which the document is placed is formed on the upper surface.

  The glass surface 192 is formed by embedding a glass plate in the document table 190 so that the upper surface of the document table 190 is flat. The glass surface 192 is formed in a rectangular shape similar to the document table 190 in plan view.

  The document table 190 includes a CCD sensor 193 for reading the document and a scanning drive motor (not shown) for scanning the CCD sensor 193 in a state of facing the glass surface 192.

CCD sensor 193, inside the glass surface 192 (lower side) is movably supported in the horizontal direction, always be waiting at the left end of the glass surface 192, when the normal document reading is run 査駆 dynamic motor ( (Not shown) is scanned from the left side to the right side while facing the glass surface 192.

  The document pressing cover 191 is formed in a rectangular thin plate shape similar to the document table 190 in a plan view, and an upper portion of the document pressing cover 191 has an ADF (automatic reading) at the left end as shown in FIG. A document feeder device 195 is provided. The ADF device 195 includes a casing 196, a document transport roller (not shown), a document transport drive motor (not shown), and a document detection sensor (not shown). The casing 196 has a box shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and is provided with a document transport roller (not shown) and a document transport drive motor (not shown). A document tray 194 is provided. The standby document tray 194 is formed in a thin plate shape having a substantially fan shape in plan view, the left end portion thereof is supported by the ADF device 195, the right end portion is extended toward the right side, and the documents are stacked on the upper side surface. Can be set.

  Further, on the right side wall of the casing 196, an upper side of the standby document tray 194 is formed with a document intake opening (not shown) that is opened to capture the documents into the casing 196, and below the standby document tray 194. A document discharge port (not shown) for discharging the document from the casing 196 is formed. A document intake port (not shown) and a document discharge port (not shown) are formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the document pressing cover 191 has a rear end portion supported by a rear end portion of the document table 190 via a hinge 199 so as to be swingable.

The document pressing cover 191 swings in the vertical direction at the front end with the hinge 199 at the rear end as a fulcrum. When the front end portion of the document pressing cover 191 is lifted upward, the glass surface 192 of the document table 190 is opened, and when the front end portion of the document pressing cover 191 is lowered downward, the glass surface 192 of the document table 190 is covered. Thus, the document pressing cover 191 covers the glass surface 192 of the document table 190 so as to be freely opened and closed.
(5-2) Normal Document Reading in Reading Scanner Unit In this reading scanner unit 7, the front end portion of the document pressing cover 191 is lifted upward and set so that the document is placed on the glass surface 192. Thereafter, the front end portion of the document pressing cover 191 is lowered and the operation keys on the operation panel 8 of the main body casing 2 are operated. Then, the CCD sensor 193 is scanned from the left side to the right side by a scanning drive motor (not shown) while facing the document placed on the glass surface 192, and the image information of the document is read.

After the reading of the original is completed, the front end portion of the original pressing cover 191 is lifted upward again, and the original is removed from the glass surface 192. When the scanning is completed, the CCD sensor 193 is automatically moved to the left end of the glass surface 192 by a scanning drive motor (not shown) and stands by.
(5-3) Automatic Document Reading in Reading Scanner Unit In automatic document reading by the ADF device 195, a document detection sensor (not shown) detects that a document is set on the standby document tray 194 (see FIG. 2). Then, unlike the above-described normal document reading, the CCD sensor 193 is fixed at an automatic document reading position (not shown). When an operation key on the operation panel 8 is operated, a document conveyance drive motor (not shown) of the ADF device 195 is driven, and a document conveyance roller (not shown) is rotated by the driving force, so that a document conveyance roller (FIG. (Not shown) rotates the document to the left and is taken into the casing 196 through the document take-in port (not shown). When the captured document passes through a document transport path (not shown) and faces the CCD sensor 193, image information of the document is read by scanning of the CCD sensor 193, and then the document discharge port (not shown). ) To the right side and is discharged onto the upper surface of the document presser cover 191.
(5-4) Image Formation Based on Image Information of Read Document In the image forming unit 5, image data is created based on the image information of the document read by the CCD sensor 193, as described above. Then, an image is formed on the paper 3.
2. Function and Effect (1) Function and Effect 1
In this color laser printer 1, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of toner cartridges 69 corresponding to the developing roller 143 are provided independently of the photosensitive drum 133 and the developing roller 143 as shown in FIG. In addition, the main body casing 2 is integrally attached and detached along one direction, that is, the front-rear direction. Therefore, even if only the toner cartridge 69 is formed large enough to ensure a sufficient toner capacity, the main body casing 2 does not need to be formed large correspondingly, and can be formed compactly.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the toner cartridge 69 is disposed opposite to the developing roller 143 in the longitudinal direction (width direction) when mounted on the main casing 2, so that the developing roller 143 of the main casing 2 is disposed. When the dimension in the vertical direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge is constant, the vertical dimension of the toner cartridge 69 is the vertical dimension of the toner cartridge 69 when the toner cartridge 69 is disposed to face the developing roller 143 in the vertical direction. As compared with the above, it can be increased by an amount corresponding to the vertical dimension of the developing roller 143. Further, when the size of the main body casing 2 in the front-rear direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 143 is constant, the front-rear direction dimension of the toner cartridge 69 is disposed so as to face the developing roller 143 in the front-rear direction. Compared with the front-rear direction dimension of the toner cartridge 69 at this time, it can be made larger by the amount corresponding to the front-rear direction dimension of the developing roller 143.

  Therefore, a sufficient toner capacity in the toner cartridge 69 can be secured.

  Further, since only the toner cartridge 69 can be integrally attached to and detached from the main body casing 2 along the front-rear direction, the operability can be improved and the running cost can be reduced.

  As a result, it is possible to reduce the size of the color laser printer 1 while ensuring a sufficient toner capacity in the toner cartridge 69, and it is excellent in operability and can reduce maintenance costs.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the toner cartridge 69 is detachably attached to the main body casing 2 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction while being accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 68. Therefore, operability can be improved.

  In addition, the toner cartridge 69 is attached to and detached from the cartridge storage portion 68 in the vertical direction that intersects the front-rear and left-right directions. Therefore, the toner cartridge 69 can be smoothly attached to and detached from the cartridge housing portion 68, and the operability can be further improved.

  Each toner cartridge 69 is detachable from the cartridge housing portion 68 along a substantially vertical direction. Therefore, after each toner cartridge 69 is attached to and detached from the cartridge housing portion 68 in a substantially vertical direction. The cartridge housing portion 68 in which each toner cartridge 69 is housed can be attached to and detached from the main body casing 2 in the front-rear direction, that is, in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the operability can be further improved.

  Further, since the cartridge storage portion 68 can be completely detached from the main body casing 2, all the toner cartridges 69 can be reliably attached to and detached from the cartridge storage portion 68.

  In the main casing 2, the toner cartridge 69 protrudes upward from the discharge tray 13 as shown in FIG. 7. Specifically, since the upper end portion of the storage unit 100 of each toner cartridge 69 is positioned above the discharge tray 13, the capacity of the toner stored in the toner cartridge 69 can be sufficiently secured. More specifically, since the sheets 3 are stacked on the discharge tray 13, it is necessary to secure a space corresponding to the thickness. Accordingly, the main casing 2 can be protruded above the discharge tray 13 by that amount. By effectively utilizing the space generated by the protrusion, a sufficient toner capacity can be secured.

  Further, the toner cartridge 69 is formed with an outer cylinder side supply hole 109 for supplying toner and an outer cylinder side return hole 110 for receiving toner at positions facing the developing roller 143. As shown in FIG. 14, an inner cylinder 96 that covers the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 so as to be openable and closable is provided.

  Thus, when the toner cartridge 69 is attached to and detached from the main casing 2, as shown in FIG. 14A, if the inner cylinder 96 is closed (moved to the cartridge side shutter closed position), Toner leakage from the cylinder-side supply hole 109 and the outer cylinder-side return hole 110 can be prevented. When the toner cartridge 69 is attached to the main casing 2, as shown in FIG. 14B, if the inner cylinder 96 is opened (moved to the cartridge-side shutter open position), the outer cylinder-side supply hole The toner can be supplied from 109 to the developing roller 143, and the toner returned from the developing roller 143 can be received from the outer cylinder side return hole 110. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the supply of toner from the toner cartridge 69 at the time of mounting while preventing leakage of the toner from the toner cartridge 69 at the time of mounting and dismounting, and between the toner cartridge 69 and the developing roller 143 corresponding thereto. It is possible to ensure toner circulation and prevent development failure.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the cartridge housing portion 68 is formed with a housing portion side opening 74 through which the toner passes at a position facing the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110. .

  As a result, in a state where the toner cartridge 69 is mounted in the cartridge storage portion 68, the toner is supplied to the developing roller 143 from the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 of the toner cartridge 69 through the storage portion side opening 74 of the cartridge storage portion 68. Can be supplied to. Therefore, reliable supply of toner to the developing roller 143 can be ensured. In addition, since the toner returned from the developing roller 143 can be received from the outer cylinder side return hole 110 via the storage portion side opening 74, the toner between the toner cartridge 69 and the corresponding developing roller 143 can be received. It is possible to ensure the circulation and prevent the development failure.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 23, the plurality of developing rollers 143 and the plurality of photosensitive drums 133 are along the front-rear direction, which is the same direction as the attaching / detaching direction of the toner cartridge 69 (see FIG. 18) with respect to the main casing 2. Thus, the process unit 62 is integrally attached and detached.

  Therefore, the plurality of developing rollers 143, the plurality of photosensitive drums 133, and the toner cartridge 69 can be detached from the same direction, and the operability can be improved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the main body casing 2 includes a cartridge housing portion attachment / detachment opening 11 (see FIG. 4) for allowing the toner cartridge 69 to pass therethrough at a position facing the toner cartridge 69 in the front-rear direction, and a developing roller. 143 and the photosensitive drum 133 (the process unit 62) are formed with a process unit attachment / detachment port 10 (see FIG. 3) for allowing the process unit 62 to pass therethrough in a front-rear direction. The main body casing 2 includes a first cover 22 that covers the cartridge housing portion attaching / detaching port 11 so as to be openable and closable, and a second cover 18 that covers the process portion attaching / detaching port 10 so as to be openable and closable. Are provided adjacent to each other.

  As a result, when the first cover 22 is opened, the toner cartridge 69 can be detached from the cartridge housing portion attaching / detaching port 11 as shown in FIG. 4, and when the second cover 18 is opened, as shown in FIG. The developing roller 143 and the photosensitive drum 133 (process part 62) can be attached and detached from the process part attaching / detaching port 10. Therefore, it is possible to operate the attachment / detachment of the toner cartridge 69 and the attachment / detachment of the developing roller 143 and the photosensitive drum 133 from the same side surface of the main casing 2, thereby further improving the operability.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the main body casing 2 accommodates a plurality of toner cartridges 69 along the front-rear direction between the cartridge housing portion attaching / detaching port 11 and the process portion attaching / detaching port 10. A partition wall 15 is provided for partitioning the cartridge housing portion housing space 24 from the process housing space 17 in which the plurality of developing rollers 143 and the plurality of photosensitive drums 133 are housed.

  Therefore, the plurality of toner cartridges 69 can be smoothly attached to and detached from the cartridge storage space 24 along the front-rear direction, and the plurality of developing rollers 143 and the plurality of photosensitive drums 133 are disposed along the front-rear direction. Thus, it can be smoothly attached to and detached from the process accommodating space 17.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the partition wall 15 is provided with a partition wall side supply hole 39 for allowing the toner to pass between the toner cartridge 69 and the developing roller 143 so that the partition wall side supply hole 39 can be opened and closed. A partition-side shutter 35 to be covered is provided on the side of the cartridge housing portion accommodating space 24 of the partition 15, and the partition-side shutter 35 is opened and closed in conjunction with opening and closing of the inner cylinder 96.

  As a result, when the toner cartridge 69 is attached to and detached from the main casing 2, as shown in FIG. 20A, if the inner cylinder 96 is closed, the partition-side shutter 35 is also closed in conjunction therewith (partition-side shutter closed position). Therefore, toner leakage from both sides of the toner cartridge 69 and the cartridge storage space 24 can be prevented. When the toner cartridge 69 is attached to the main casing 2, as shown in FIG. 20B, when the inner cylinder 96 is opened, the partition-side shutter 35 is also opened in conjunction with the opening (to the partition-side shutter open position). Therefore, the toner can be supplied from the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 to the developing roller 143 through the partition wall side supply hole 39. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the supply of toner from the toner cartridge 69 at the time of mounting while preventing leakage of the toner from both sides of the toner cartridge 69 and the cartridge storage space 24 at the time of attachment / detachment.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the color laser printer 1 is provided above the main body casing 2 and includes a reading scanner unit 7 that can read image information of an original, so that reading is performed by the reading scanner unit 7. The image information of the original can be image-formed on the paper 3, and the color laser printer 1 can be a multi-function machine that also serves as a copying apparatus.

Moreover, in this color laser printer 1, even if the reading scanner unit 7 is provided above the main body casing 2, the toner cartridge 69 is attached to the main body casing 2 independently of the photosensitive drum 133 and the developing roller 143. And can be attached and detached integrally along the front and rear. Therefore, the toner cartridge 69 can be formed large while the main body casing 2 is compactly formed while being a multi-function machine, so that a sufficient toner capacity can be secured. Further, since the attaching / detaching direction of the toner cartridge 69 (cartridge housing portion 68) is the front-rear direction, it is not necessary to retract the upper reading scanner unit 7 when the toner cartridge 69 is attached / detached. Further, by bringing the upper portion of the toner cartridge 69 closer to the reading scanner unit 7, the toner capacity in the toner cartridge 69 can be increased.
(2) Action effect 2
In this color laser printer 1, as shown in FIG. 8, a driving force from an agitator drive motor (not shown) is connected to a drive mechanism 30 (see FIG. 5), a first transmission unit 88, and a black toner cartridge. The toner is transmitted to the supply side agitator 115 of the black toner cartridge 69K through the supply side agitator input gear 116 of 69K and the supply side agitator rotating shaft 120. This driving force is applied to the supply side agitator output gear 117 of the black toner cartridge 69K, the second transmission unit 89, the supply side agitator input gear 116 of the cyan toner cartridge 69C adjacent to the front side of the black toner cartridge 69K, and the supply side agitator rotation. This is transmitted to the supply side agitator 115 of the cyan toner cartridge 69C via the shaft 120. Similarly, the driving force transmitted to the supply side agitator 115 of the cyan toner cartridge 69C is transmitted to the supply side agitator 115 of the magenta toner cartridge 69M adjacent to the front side thereof, and is transmitted to the supply side agitator 115 of the magenta toner cartridge 69M. The driving force is transmitted to the supply side agitator 115 of the yellow toner cartridge 69Y adjacent to the front side.

  Thus, the driving force from the drive mechanism 30 applied to the supply side agitator 115 of the black toner cartridge 69K via the first transmission unit 88 is the supply side agitator output gear 117, the second transmission unit 89, the supply side agitator. By the input gear 116 and the supply side agitator rotating shaft 120, it is transmitted from the supply side agitator 115 of the rear toner cartridge 69 to the supply side agitator 115 of the front toner cartridge 69 adjacent thereto. As a result, this driving force is also transmitted to the supply side agitator 115 of the remaining three toner cartridges 69, so that a driving mechanism 30 (see FIG. 5) is individually provided for each toner cartridge 69, or a driving mechanism is provided. 30 (see FIG. 5), the driving force can be applied to the supply side agitators 115 of all the toner cartridges 69 in a compact configuration as compared to the configuration in which the driving force is individually applied to the supply side agitator 115 of each toner cartridge 69. .

  Therefore, even if the toner cartridge 69 is not reduced in size, a configuration in which driving force is applied to all the supply side agitators 115 (first transmission unit 88, second transmission unit 89, supply side agitator input gear 116, supply side agitator rotating shaft 120). And a supply-side agitator output gear 117) can be arranged in the color laser printer 1.

  As a result, when the color laser printer 1 is downsized, a driving force can be applied to the supply-side agitator 115 provided in each toner cartridge 69 while a sufficient toner capacity in the toner cartridge 69 can be secured.

  The toner cartridges 69 are arranged in parallel along the front-rear direction, and the drive mechanism 30 is connected to the supply side agitator of the black toner cartridge 69K disposed on the rear end side in the front-rear direction via the first transmission unit 88. A driving force is applied to 115. The second transmission unit 89, the supply-side agitator input gear 116, the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120, and the supply-side agitator output gear 117 transfer this driving force to the cyan toner cartridge 69C, magenta toner cartridge 69M and the front end side in the front-rear direction. This is sequentially transmitted toward the supply side agitator 115 of the yellow toner cartridge 69Y. Therefore, the driving force can be applied to the supply side agitators 115 of all the toner cartridges 69 in order.

  Specifically, the first transmission unit 88 can reliably transmit the driving force from the driving mechanism 30 to the supply-side agitator 115 of the black toner cartridge 69K disposed on the rear end side.

  The second transmission unit 89 is disposed between the toner cartridges 69, and the driving force transmitted by the second transmission unit 89 to the supply side agitator 115 of the rear toner cartridge 69 is adjacent thereto. This can be reliably transmitted to the supply side agitator 115 of the front toner cartridge 69.

  In each toner cartridge 69, the supply side agitator input gear 116 provided at the rear end portion of the supply side agitator rotating shaft 120 is engaged with the first transmission unit 88 or the second transmission unit 89, whereby the drive mechanism 30. Is transmitted from the first transmission unit 88 or the second transmission unit 89 to the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 via the supply-side agitator input gear 116.

  The supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 is rotated by the driving force transmitted to the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120, and the supply-side agitator 115 provided on the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 is connected to the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120. The toner rotated around the center and agitated in the toner cartridge 69 is agitated.

  A supply-side agitator output gear 117 provided at the front end of the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 is a second transmission portion 89 adjacent to the first transmission portion 88 engaged with the supply-side agitator input gear 116, or a supply The second transmission unit 89 that is adjacent to the second transmission unit 89 engaged with the side agitator input gear 116 is engaged. The second transmission unit 89 adjacent to the first transmission unit 88 is a second transmission unit 89 located between the black toner cartridge 69K and the cyan toner cartridge 69C, and the other second transmission units 89 are black. The second transmission unit 89 is located on the front side of the second transmission unit 89 located between the toner cartridge 69K and the cyan toner cartridge 69C. Accordingly, the driving force transmitted to the supply-side agitator rotating shaft 120 via the supply-side agitator input gear 116 is engaged with the supply-side agitator input gear 116 via the supply-side agitator output gear 117. The transmission is transmitted to the second transmission part 89 adjacent to the part 88 or the second transmission part 89 on the front side adjacent to the second transmission part 89 engaged with the supply side agitator input gear 116.

  Therefore, transmission of the driving force from the first transmission unit 88 to the second transmission unit 89, or transmission of the driving force from the second transmission unit 89 to the other second transmission unit 89, and rotation of the supply side agitator 115 are performed. Since it can be implemented by the supply side agitator rotating shaft 120, the supply side agitator input gear 116, and the supply side agitator output gear 117, it is possible to efficiently transmit the driving force and reduce the number of parts.

  The second transmission unit 89 includes an input-side transmission gear 94 and an output-side transmission gear 99. In the second transmission unit 89, driving force is supplied from the supply-side agitator output gear 117 of the rear toner cartridge 69. The driving force is transmitted from the output side transmission gear 99 to the supply side agitator input gear 116 of the front toner cartridge 69 adjacent to the rear toner cartridge 69.

  As a result, the second transmission unit 89 can reliably transmit the driving force transmitted to the supply side agitator 115 of the rear toner cartridge 69 to the supply side agitator 115 of the front toner cartridge 69 adjacent thereto.

  Further, all the toner cartridges 69 can be moved together by the cartridge storage portion 68.

  The cartridge storage unit 68 includes the first transmission unit 88 and the second transmission unit 89 described above, and the first transmission unit 88 is coupled to the drive mechanism 30 when in the mounting position. Therefore, the supply side agitator 115 of the black toner cartridge 69K disposed on the rear end side can be driven by the simple operation of simply moving the cartridge storage portion 68 storing the toner cartridge 69 to the mounting position. And the driving force can be sequentially transmitted to the supply side agitator 115 of the adjacent front toner cartridge 69 to apply the driving force to the supply side agitator 115 of all the toner cartridges 69.

  Further, the toner cartridge 69 is disposed so as to face the developing roller 143 in the longitudinal direction (width direction) of the corresponding developing roller 143.

  Therefore, when the vertical dimension of the color laser printer 1 that intersects the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 143 is constant, the vertical dimension of the toner cartridge 69 is set so that the toner cartridge 69 faces the developing roller 143 in the vertical direction. As compared with the vertical dimension of the toner cartridge 69 when the toner cartridge 69 is disposed, the size corresponding to the vertical dimension of the developing roller 143 can be increased. Further, when the size of the color laser printer 1 in the front-rear direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 143 is constant, the front-rear direction size of the toner cartridge 69 is set so that the toner cartridge 69 faces the developing roller 143 in the front-rear direction. Compared to the front-rear direction dimension of the toner cartridge 69 when the toner cartridge 69 is disposed, it can be increased by an amount corresponding to the front-rear direction dimension of the developing roller 143.

  As a result, a sufficient toner capacity in the toner cartridge 69 can be secured.

  Further, since the toner cartridge 69 includes the storage chamber 102 and the supply chamber 121, the toner stored in the storage chamber 102 is supplied to the supply chamber 121 and is stirred by the supply-side agitator 115 in the supply chamber 121. Thereafter, a necessary amount of toner is supplied from the supply chamber 121 to the developing roller 143. Therefore, the toner can be supplied efficiently.

  Further, as described above, since the toner cartridge 69 is disposed so as to face the developing roller 143 in the longitudinal direction (width direction) of the corresponding developing roller 143, the supply side forming the rotation center of the supply side agitator 115 is provided. The agitator rotating shaft 120 is disposed to face the developing roller 143 (see FIG. 7). That is, the developing roller 143 is positioned in the rotation direction of the supply side agitator 115, so that the toner can be supplied more smoothly.

  Since the storage chamber 102 is provided with the storage-side agitator 113, the toner stored in the storage chamber 102 is agitated by the storage-side agitator 113. For this reason, the toner stored in the storage chamber 102 can be maintained in a state where it can be always supplied to the supply chamber 121.

  The toner cartridge 69 includes a storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112, a storage-side agitator input gear 114, and an intermediate gear 119. The intermediate gear 119 engages with the supply-side agitator input gear 116 and the storage-side agitator input gear 114 described above. Therefore, the driving force input to the supply-side agitator input gear 116 is transmitted to the storage-side agitator input gear 114 via the intermediate gear 119. Since the storage-side agitator input gear 114 is provided at the rear end portion of the storage-side agitator rotation shaft 112, the driving force transmitted to the storage-side agitator input gear 114 is transmitted to the storage-side agitator rotation shaft 112.

  The storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112 is rotated by the driving force transmitted to the storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112, and the storage-side agitator 113 provided on the storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112 is connected to the storage-side agitator rotating shaft 112. The toner rotated around the center and accommodated in the storage chamber 102 is agitated.

As a result, there is no need to separately provide a configuration for applying a driving force to the storage-side agitator 113, and the driving force input to the supply-side agitator input gear 116 can be reliably transmitted to the storage-side agitator 113 with a simple configuration. The toner stored in the storage chamber 102 can be agitated.
(3) Effect 3
In this color laser printer 1, as shown in FIG. 16, the outer cylinder side opening 108 is opened by opening the inner cylinder 96 of the toner cartridge 69 (moving it to the cartridge side shutter opening position). Can be supplied to the corresponding developing roller 143 through the outer cylinder side opening 108. On the other hand, the outer cylinder side opening 108 is closed by closing the inner cylinder 96 (moving to the cartridge side shutter closed position), so that the toner contained in the toner cartridge 69 passes through the outer cylinder side opening 108. Leakage can be prevented (see FIG. 15).

  In this color laser printer 1, all the inner cylinders 96 are collectively opened and closed by one opening / closing member 75 without providing each toner cartridge 69 with an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the inner cylinder 96. Therefore, the configuration for opening and closing all the inner cylinders 96 can be made compact.

  Therefore, the opening / closing member 75 can be disposed in the color laser printer 1 without reducing the toner cartridge 69.

  As a result, when the size of the color laser printer 1 is reduced, all the inner cylinders 96 can be reliably opened and closed while sufficiently securing the toner capacity in the toner cartridge 69.

  Further, all the toner cartridges 69 can be moved together by the cartridge storage portion 68.

  An operation lever 81 that is operated to open and close the opening / closing member 75 is provided at the front end of the cartridge housing portion 68 in the front-rear direction, which is the direction in which the toner cartridges 69 are arranged in parallel. , The opening / closing member 75 is opened and closed, and the inner cylinders 96 of all the toner cartridges 69 can be opened / closed collectively. As a result, operability can be improved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the partition wall 15 of the main body casing 2 includes a partition wall side supply hole 39 and a partition wall side communicating with the outer cylinder side supply hole 109 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 of the outer cylinder side opening 108, respectively. A return hole 40 is formed, and a partition-side shutter 35 that opens and closes all the partition-side supply holes 39 and the partition-side return holes 40 is provided.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20 (b), by opening the partition-side shutter 35 (moving it to the partition-side shutter open position), all the partition-side supply holes 39 and the partition-side return holes 40 are opened. The outer cylinder side supply hole 109 and the outer cylinder side return hole 110 communicate with each other. Accordingly, the toner stored in the toner cartridge 69 can be supplied to the corresponding developing roller 143 through the outer cylinder side opening 108, the partition wall side supply hole 39, and the partition wall side return hole 40.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 20 (a), the partition-side shutter 35 is closed (moved to the partition-side shutter closed position), so that the partition-side supply hole 39 and the partition-side return hole 40 are closed. The connection with the cylinder side opening 108 is blocked. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the toner contained in the toner cartridge 69 from being supplied to the developing roller 143.

  In this color laser printer 1, as shown in FIG. 5, all the partition wall side supply holes 39 and the partition wall side return holes 40 are opened and closed by one partition wall side shutter 35. And the structure for opening and closing the partition-side return hole 40 can be made compact. Therefore, the main body casing 2 provided with the partition wall side shutter 35 can be downsized. As a result, the color laser printer 1 can be reduced in size.

  The partition-side shutter 35 is opened and closed by opening and closing the inner cylinder 96. That is, when the inner cylinder 96 is opened, the partition wall-side shutter 35 is opened, and when the inner cylinder 96 is closed, the partition-wall-side shutter 35 is closed. A reliable opening / closing operation of the partition-side shutter 35 can be ensured.

  Specifically, each toner cartridge 69 is engaged with the opening / closing member 75, and is engaged with the first protrusion 123 that opens and closes the inner cylinder 96 in conjunction with the operation of the opening / closing member 75, and the partition-side shutter 35, and the first protrusion And a second protrusion 124 that opens and closes the partition-side shutter 35 in conjunction with 123.

  When the opening / closing member 75 is opened / closed, the first protrusion 123 engaged with the opening / closing member 75 opens / closes the inner cylinder 96 in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member 75, and is further engaged with the partition-side shutter 35. The second protrusion 124 opens and closes the partition wall side shutter 35 in conjunction with the operation of the first protrusion 123.

  Therefore, the inner cylinder 96 and the partition-side shutter 35 can be reliably opened and closed with a simple configuration in which the toner cartridge 69 is simply provided with the first protrusion 123 and the second protrusion 124.

In addition, since the first protrusion 123 and the second protrusion 124 are provided on the first shutter member, the configuration can be simplified.
3. Modification (1) Modification 1
FIG. 24 is obtained by applying Modification 1 in FIG. In FIG. 24, the same members as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 18, in the guide rail 28, the front end portions of the pair of protrusions 31 oppose each other in the vertical direction with a space therebetween. For this reason, as described above, when the cartridge storage portion 68 at the attachment / detachment position is further pulled out to the front side, the roller 71 at the rear end of the cartridge storage portion 68 comes off from the front end edge of the corresponding guide rail 28 to the front side. The part 68 is completely detached from the main casing 2.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 24, you may connect each front-end part of a pair of protrusion 31. As shown in FIG. Specifically, a thin plate-like connecting plate 200 in the width direction is installed between the front end portions of the right end edge of the pair of protrusions 31 of the guide rail 28 provided on the partition wall 15. Also in the guide rail 28 (see FIG. 20) provided on the right side surface of the left side wall of the main casing 2, a connecting plate 200 having the same shape is installed between the front end portions of the left end edges of the pair of protrusions 31. . The connecting plate 200 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the left side, and its rear edge is formed in an arc shape that is recessed forward.

  Further, only the above-described rear end roller 71 (see FIG. 18) is made larger in the width direction than the other rollers 71 positioned in front of the rear end roller 71. Specifically, among the rollers 71 at the rear end, the right roller 71 is formed so as to protrude to the right side of the connecting plate 200 in a front view while being sandwiched between the corresponding pair of protrusions 31. Of the rear end rollers 71, the left side rollers 71 are formed so as to protrude to the left side of the connecting plate 200 in a front view while being sandwiched between the corresponding pair of protrusions 31.

In this case, when the cartridge storage portion 68 in the mounting position is detached from the main body casing 2, the rollers 71 positioned on the front side of the rear end rollers 71 are arranged at the front end portions of the corresponding pair of protrusions 31. The roller 71 at the rear end is caught by the rear end edge of the corresponding connecting plate 200 while passing through the front and moving to the front side. Thereby, the cartridge storage portion 68 can be stopped at a position (attachment / detachment position) where all the toner cartridges 69 are exposed from the main casing 2 and can be detached from the cartridge storage portion 68. Therefore, all the toner cartridges 69 can be reliably attached to and detached from the cartridge housing portion 68 without detaching the cartridge housing portion 68 from the main body casing 2.
(2) Modification 2
FIG. 25 is obtained by applying Modification 2 in FIG. In FIG. 25, the same members as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 18, in the above embodiment, the guide rail positioning protrusion 33 is provided at the rear end portion of the pair of protrusions 31 of each guide rail 28 facing each other, and the cartridge housing portion of the main body casing 2 is provided. When the mounting of the cartridge storage portion 68 in the storage space 24 is completed, the roller 71 located at the rear end of the cartridge storage portion 68 gets over the guide rail positioning projection 33. As shown in FIG. 25, the guide rail positioning protrusion 33 may be provided at a front end portion (referred to as a front end protrusion 33 </ b> A) of a portion facing each other in the pair of protrusions 31.

In this case, when the cartridge housing portion 68 in the mounting position is detached from the main casing 2, the roller 71 located at the rear end described above is caught by the front end protrusion 33 </ b> A, so that the cartridge housing portion 68 is placed in all the toner cartridges. It can be stopped at a position (attachment / detachment position) where 69 is exposed from the main body casing 2 and can be detached from the cartridge housing 68. Therefore, all the toner cartridges 69 can be reliably attached to and detached from the cartridge housing portion 68 without detaching the cartridge housing portion 68 from the main body casing 2.
(3) Modification 3
In the above embodiment, the intermediate transfer type color laser printer 1 is illustrated in which the toner image for each color is temporarily transferred from each photosensitive drum 133 to the intermediate transfer belt 176 and then transferred to the paper 3 at once. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be configured as a direct transfer type color laser printer that directly transfers a toner image for each color from each photosensitive drum 133 to the paper 3.

1 is a left sectional view showing an embodiment of a color laser printer as an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a left perspective view of a color laser printer. FIG. 3 shows a state in which only the second cover is opened. FIG. 3 shows a state where only the first cover is opened. It is the left sectional view of the color laser printer cut in the position where the left side of a partition appears. In the front view of the color laser printer, the cartridge housing portion accommodating space is extracted and shown, in which (a) shows a state where the partition side shutter is closed (partition side shutter closed position); ) Shows a state where the partition-side shutter is open (partition-side shutter open position). FIG. 6 is a left sectional view of the color laser printer cut at a position where a cartridge housing portion appears. FIG. 4 is a left side sectional view of a cartridge storage portion in which all toner cartridges are stored. FIG. 4 is a left side view of a cartridge storage unit in which all toner cartridges are stored. FIG. 6 is a right perspective view of a cartridge storage portion in which a toner cartridge is not stored. FIG. 4A is a front view of a cartridge storage unit, where FIG. 4A shows a state where the operation lever is in the lever closed position, and FIG. 4B shows a state where the operation lever is in the lever open position. is there. FIG. 2A is a left side view of the toner cartridge, FIG. 2B is a front view of the toner cartridge, and FIG. 2C is a rear view of the toner cartridge. FIG. 6 is a right perspective view of the toner cartridge, where (a) shows a state where the inner cylinder is in the cartridge side shutter closed position, and (b) shows a state where the inner cylinder is in the cartridge side shutter open position. It is shown. FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of the toner cartridge, where (a) shows a state where the inner cylinder is in the cartridge side shutter closed position, and (b) shows a state where the inner cylinder is in the cartridge side shutter open position. It is shown. For convenience of explanation, the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the first protrusion exposure hole, the second protrusion exposure hole, the inner cylinder side opening, and the outer cylinder side opening are shown on the same plane. FIG. 3 is a right side perspective view of a cartridge storage portion in which all toner cartridges are stored, and shows a state in which an inner cylinder of each toner cartridge is in a cartridge-side shutter closed position. FIG. 15 shows a state in which the inner cylinder of each toner cartridge is in the cartridge side shutter open position. FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of a cartridge storage portion in which a toner cartridge is stored, where (a) shows a state in which the inner cylinder is in a cartridge side shutter closed position, and (b) shows that the inner cylinder is a cartridge. The state which exists in a side shutter open position is shown. For convenience of explanation, the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the first protrusion exposure hole, the second protrusion exposure hole, the inner cylinder side opening, the outer cylinder side opening, and the opening / closing body engagement hole appear on the same surface. ing. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the cartridge housing portion is pulled out from the main body casing until all toner cartridges are exposed to the front side of the main body casing (attachment / detachment position). FIG. 2 is a front view of the color laser printer, and shows a cartridge housing portion housing space, a cartridge housing portion, and a toner cartridge in a front sectional view. FIG. 20 is an extracted front sectional view of the cartridge storage portion storage space, the cartridge storage portion, and the toner cartridge in FIG. 19, and (a) shows a state in which the inner cylinder is in the cartridge side shutter closed position. Yes, (b) shows a state in which the inner cylinder is at the cartridge-side shutter open position. For convenience of explanation, the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the first protrusion exposure hole, the second protrusion exposure hole, the inner cylinder side opening, the outer cylinder side opening, the opening / closing body engaging hole, the partition side supply hole, and the partition The side return hole appears on the same plane. In FIG. 1, the process part is extracted and shown. It is a top view of the process part in the state which removed the upper side wall of the image development housing | casing. FIG. 1 shows the process unit in the middle of attachment / detachment. In FIG. 18, Modification 1 is applied. In FIG. 18, Modification 2 is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color laser printer 2 Main body casing 7 Reading scanner unit 10 Process part attaching / detaching port 11 Cartridge accommodating part attaching / detaching port 13 Discharge tray 15 Bulkhead 17 Process accommodating space 18 Second cover 22 First cover 24 Cartridge accommodating part accommodating space 35 Partition side shutter 39 Bulkhead side supply hole 68 Cartridge storage portion 69 Toner cartridge 74 Storage portion side opening 96 Inner cylinder 109 Outer cylinder side supply hole 110 Outer cylinder side return hole 133 Photosensitive drum 143 Development roller

Claims (19)

A housing,
A plurality of image carriers that are arranged in parallel along one direction in the housing and form an electrostatic latent image;
A plurality of developer carriers that are arranged to face the image carrier and visualize the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the image carrier;
The developer carrier is disposed in parallel in the one direction so as to face the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, and is integrally attached to and detached from the housing along the one direction. A plurality of developer cartridges that store the developer supplied to
A storage unit that detachably stores all the developer cartridges and is slidably moved along the one direction with respect to the housing;
Each of the plurality of developer cartridges has a cartridge-side opening for allowing the developer to pass therethrough at a position facing the developer carrier, and a cartridge-side shutter that covers the cartridge-side opening so as to be openable and closable. Provided,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage portion is provided with an opening / closing member for opening and closing all the cartridge side shutters at once .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation lever that is operated to open and close the opening and closing member is provided at one end portion in the one direction in the storage portion. The developer cartridge with respect to the housing part, in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the one direction and the image bearing member, characterized in that it is detachable, according to claim 1 or 2 Image forming apparatus. The one direction is a direction along a substantially horizontal direction,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the developer cartridges is detachable from the storage portion along a substantially vertical direction. The storage unit, the characterized in that it is a fully removable with respect to the housing, an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The housing portion is at a position where all of the developer cartridge becomes possible desorption from the storage portion exposed from the housing, characterized in that it is a possible stop, any of claims 1 to 5 one The image forming apparatus described in the item . A recording medium that is disposed above the image carrier and on which a color image is formed by transferring a developer image from the image carrier includes a discharge tray on which the recording medium is placed so as to be stackable.
The developer cartridge is characterized in that protrudes upward from the discharge tray, the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The cartridge-side opening, characterized in that it comprises a supply-side opening for supplying a current image agent, an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The cartridge-side opening is provided with a return-side opening for receiving a current image agent,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the developer cartridge is provided with a return-side shutter that covers the return-side opening so as to be openable and closable. 10. The image according to claim 9, wherein a passage-side opening through which a developer passes is formed in the storage portion at a position opposite to the supply-side opening and the return-side opening. Forming equipment. Wherein the plurality of developer carrying member and the plurality of image bearing members, said characterized in that it is integrally detachable along said one direction relative to the housing, any one of claims 1 to 10 The image forming apparatus described in 1. The housing has a first opening for passing the developer cartridge at a position facing the developer cartridge in the one direction, and the developer carrier and the image carrier in the one direction. A second opening for allowing the developer carrier and the image carrier to pass therethrough is formed at an opposing position;
A first cover that covers the first opening so as to be opened and closed and a second cover that covers the second opening so as to be opened and closed are provided adjacent to each other on the same side surface of the housing. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: The housing includes a first storage space in which the plurality of developer cartridges are stored along the one direction between the first opening and the second opening, and the plurality of developers. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a partition wall for partitioning the carrier and the second accommodation space in which the plurality of image carriers are accommodated. The partition wall has a partition wall side opening for allowing the developer to pass between the developer cartridge and the developer carrying member, and a partition wall side shutter that covers the partition wall side opening so as to be openable and closable. , Provided on the first housing space side of the partition wall,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the partition side shutter is opened and closed in conjunction with opening and closing of the cartridge side shutter. Wherein provided above the housing, characterized in that it comprises an image reading unit capable of reading image information of the original, the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14.   A housing,
  A plurality of image carriers that are arranged in parallel along one direction in the housing and form an electrostatic latent image;
  A plurality of developer carriers that are arranged to face the image carrier and visualize the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the image carrier;
  The developer carrier is disposed in parallel in the one direction so as to face the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, and is integrally attached to and detached from the housing along the one direction. A plurality of developer cartridges that store the developer supplied to
  In the developer cartridge,
    A supply side opening for supplying the developer and a return side opening for receiving the developer are formed at positions facing the developer carrier,
    A supply-side shutter that covers the supply-side opening so as to be openable and closable;
    An image forming apparatus, comprising: a return shutter that covers the return opening so as to be openable and closable.   A housing,
  A plurality of image carriers that are arranged in parallel along one direction in the housing and form an electrostatic latent image;
  A plurality of developer carriers that are arranged to face the image carrier and visualize the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the image carrier;
  The developer carrier is disposed in parallel in the one direction so as to face the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, and is integrally attached to and detached from the housing along the one direction. A plurality of developer cartridges that store the developer supplied to
  A storage unit that detachably stores all the developer cartridges and is detachably mounted along the one direction with respect to the housing;
  In the developer cartridge,
    A supply side opening for supplying the developer and a return side opening for receiving the developer are formed at positions facing the developer carrier,
    A supply-side shutter that covers the supply-side opening so as to be openable and closable;
    A return-side shutter that covers the return-side opening so as to be openable and closable;
  In the storage section,
    An image forming apparatus, wherein a passage side opening through which a developer passes is formed at a position opposite to the supply side opening and the return side opening.   A housing,
  A plurality of image carriers that are arranged in parallel along one direction in the housing and form an electrostatic latent image;
  A plurality of developer carriers that are arranged to face the image carrier and visualize the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the image carrier;
  The developer carrier is disposed in parallel in the one direction so as to face the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, and is integrally attached to and detached from the housing along the one direction. A plurality of developer cartridges that store the developer supplied to
  The plurality of developer carriers and the plurality of image carriers are integrally attached to and detached from the housing along the one direction,
  In the case,
    A first opening for passing the developer cartridge at a position facing the developer cartridge in the one direction; a position facing the developer carrier and the image carrier in the one direction; A developer carrier and a second opening for allowing the image carrier to pass therethrough,
    A first cover covering the first opening so as to be openable and closable;
    A second cover provided on the same side surface of the housing so as to be adjacent to the first cover and covering the second opening so as to be openable and closable;
    A first storage space in which the plurality of developer cartridges are stored along the one direction, the plurality of developer carriers, and the plurality of developer carriers between the first opening and the second opening. A partition for partitioning the second storage space in which the image carrier is stored;
  In the developer cartridge,
    A cartridge side opening for allowing the developer to pass therethrough is formed at a position facing the developer carrying member,
    A cartridge-side shutter that covers the cartridge-side opening so as to be openable and closable is provided;
  The partition includes
    A partition-side opening for allowing the developer to pass therethrough is formed between the developer cartridge and the developer carrier, and a partition-side shutter that covers the partition-side opening so as to be openable and closable is provided on the partition. Provided on the first housing space side,
  The image forming apparatus, wherein the partition-side shutter is opened and closed in conjunction with opening and closing of the cartridge-side shutter.   A housing,
  A plurality of image carriers that are arranged in parallel along one direction in the housing and form an electrostatic latent image;
  A plurality of developer carriers that are arranged to face the image carrier and visualize the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the image carrier;
  Arranged in parallel in the one direction so as to face the developer carrier, is integrally attached to and detached from the housing along the one direction, and contains the developer supplied to the developer carrier. A plurality of developer cartridges,
  A storage unit that detachably stores all the developer cartridges and is slidably moved along the one direction with respect to the housing;
  Each of the plurality of developer cartridges has a cartridge-side opening for allowing the developer to pass therethrough at a position facing the developer carrier, and a cartridge-side shutter that covers the cartridge-side opening so as to be openable and closable. Provided,
  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage portion is provided with an opening / closing member for opening and closing all the cartridge side shutters at once.

Images