JPH11249363A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a process cartridge from being damaged even in the case of closing an opening/closing cover halfway by providing a projecting part for pressing the process cartridge into a regular position with opening/closing operation by an opening/closing member. SOLUTION: A projecting part 34 is formed in a duct 32. When a process cartridge A is stopped before its regular position in the case of attaching the cartridge A in a printer main body, the projecting part 34 of the duct 32 provided inside the opening/closing cover 33 abuts on the cartridge A if an operator tries to close the cover 33 without being aware of such a situation. If the operator tries to close the cover 33 in such a state, energizing force in a direction shown by an arrow E acts on the cartridge A. Since this direction is nearly aligned with the inserting direction of the cartridge A, the cartridge A is guided by a guiding member and moved toward the regular position, then it is separated from the duct 32 just before it is set at the regular position. It is moved to the regular position by gravity and automatically set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc., which is provided with a cooling means for cooling a process cartridge upstream of a transfer means in a conveying direction. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 14 shows an example of a conventional image forming apparatus.
There is a laser beam printer shown below. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the printer will be described.

A conventional laser beam printer is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, an optical unit 1 that emits light in accordance with image information is provided. An optical image based on the image information from the optical unit 1 is irradiated on a photosensitive drum 2 as an electrophotographic photosensitive member to be formed as a toner image.

Then, in synchronization with the formation of the toner image,
Conveying means including a pickup roller 5, conveying roller pairs 6, 7 and registration roller pair 8 and the like reversely conveys the recording medium 3 such as transfer paper from the cassette 4. In the image forming unit formed as a cartridge as the process cartridge A, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 is transferred onto the recording medium 3 by applying a voltage to a transfer roller 9 as a transfer unit.

Further, the recording medium 3 after the transfer of the toner image is guided by a guide member 10 to fix the recording medium 3 to the fixing roller 11b having a built-in heater 11a.
Is conveyed to the fixing unit 11 composed of a driving roller 11c that conveys by pressing. Then, the transferred toner image is transferred to the recording medium 3.
Is established.

Here, the heat generated by the heater 11a of the fixing means 11 is exhausted in the direction of arrow B by an exhaust fan (not shown) provided above the fixing means 11 and inside the optical means 1.

[0007] The recording medium 3 includes a pair of discharge rollers 1.
The paper is conveyed by 2, 13, and 14, and is discharged to the discharge unit 16 through the reverse conveyance path 15. As for the discharge, the swingable flapper 17 can be operated, and the discharge can be performed linearly by the discharge roller pair 18 without passing through the reverse conveyance path 15.

When automatic double-sided printing is performed on the recording medium 3, the swingable flapper 21 is actuated to guide the recording medium 3 into the double-sided unit 22, and after the switchback is performed by the pair of reversing rollers 23, , Double-sided conveying roller pair 24, 2
The sheet is conveyed at 5 and fed again from the conveying roller pair 7.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, the process cartridge A constituting the above-described image forming section uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by applying a voltage to a charging roller 19 serving as a charging means. The optical image from the optical unit 1 is exposed to the photosensitive drum 2 to form a latent image, and the latent image is developed by a developing unit 20 as a developing device.

The process cartridge A is removably mounted on a cartridge mounting means provided on the laser beam printer main body 50. When the process cartridge A is set in the laser beam printer, the opening and closing cover 33 is opened, and when the process cartridge A is guided by a guide member (not shown) provided in the laser beam printer to perform a printing operation. Set to the normal position of. That is, the process cartridge A is set at a regular position facing the transfer roller 9. Thereafter, the opening / closing cover 33 is closed. Conversely, when removing the process cartridge from the laser beam printer, the open / close cover 33 is opened and then the process cartridge is removed from the laser beam printer.

A manual paper feeding unit 28 for performing manual paper feeding.
Is provided with a manual feed tray 26, a pickup roller 27, and the like. The recording medium 3 ′ stacked on the manual feed tray 26 is fed by the pickup roller 27 and is conveyed to the registration roller pair 8. Then, the recording medium 3 '
Is transported in the same manner as in the case of printing from the cassette described above. The manual paper feed unit 28 is arranged such that the pickup roller 27 comes on a straight line connecting the transfer roller 9 and the registration roller pair 8 so that the paper feed path is linear. Above the manual tray 26, an intake fan 29, a fan duct 30, a frame 31, and the like are provided.

An opening / closing cover 33 that opens and closes when the process cartridge A is attached to and detached from the laser beam printer.
Inside, a duct 32 is provided. Duct 32
On one side, a duct portion is extended in proximity to the intake fan so as to receive cool air from the intake fan 29, and on the other side, a duct is provided to the optical means side to send cool air to the optical means 1. Part is extended.

With such a configuration, part of the cool air sucked from the outside of the laser beam printer by the intake fan 29 flows around the toner container of the process cartridge A and into the recording medium transport section (in the direction of arrow C). The recording medium is cooled, and the other part flows into the optical unit 1 through the duct 32 (in the direction of arrow D) to cool the optical unit 1.

[0014]

However, in the conventional laser beam printer described above, when the process cartridge A is guided to the guide member and set at a normal position in the image forming apparatus, it may be located before the normal position depending on the setting method. In some cases, the process cartridge stopped.

This is because, for example, the pressing force of a pressing member (not shown) provided in the laser beam printer for pressing the process cartridge in a predetermined direction so as to fix the process cartridge at a normal position is controlled by the process force. The process cartridge is involved in the process of setting the cartridge while being guided by the guide member, and stops due to the pressing force in the process of setting the process cartridge. This occurs, for example, when the operator setting the process cartridge does not hold the process cartridge to the proper position and sets it, but releases the hand around the opening / closing cover and the process cartridge slides down the guide member by its own weight. .

If the operator attempts to close the opening / closing cover without noticing that the process cartridge has stopped halfway, the duct provided inside the opening / closing cover comes into contact with the process cartridge, and the process cartridge has a mounting direction. There is a problem that force is applied in greatly different directions and damages the process cartridge.

In view of the above problems, the present invention does not damage the process cartridge even if the user tries to close the opening / closing cover in a state where the process cartridge is stopped halfway. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be automatically set at a regular position.

[0018]

The above object is achieved by the following image forming apparatus.

A process cartridge which is detachably provided in the apparatus main body and which includes an image carrier for photosensitively holding an optical image based on image information from optical means, and transferring an image on the image carrier to a recording medium Transfer means, a fixing means for fixing an image transferred to the recording medium on the recording medium by heat, and an opening / closing member which is opened and closed when the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. In the image forming apparatus, when the process cartridge is mounted at a position shifted from a normal position facing the transfer unit, the process cartridge moves integrally with the opening / closing member with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member, and the process cartridge A convex portion for pushing into the regular position.

Further, the opening / closing member is also used as a tray for loading a recording medium on which an image is formed, and a stop member for receiving the recording medium discharged to the opening / closing member is provided on the opening / closing member in a size of the recording medium. It also has a position adjustable.

In the above image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus further includes a cooling means for sending outside air into the apparatus main body, and an air path member for forming an air path between the cooling means and the process cartridge. And the air path member are integrated, and the air path member is provided with the convex portion.

Further, a snap engagement piece is formed on one of the opening / closing member and the air path member, and an engaged hole is formed on the other, and the snap engagement piece and the engaged hole are engaged with each other. The opening and closing member and the air path member were integrated.

Further, a plurality of projections are formed on one of the opening / closing member and the air passage member, and the same number of engaged portions as the projections are formed on the other, and the projections are connected to the engaged portion. And the at least one projection and the engaged portion are fitted to each other, and the remaining projection and the engaged portion are loosely fitted to each other, so that the opening / closing member and the air passage member are Was integrated.

Further, the optical means and the process cartridge are opposed to each other, and the convex portion is caused to enter between the opposed members, and the convex portion is an air passage for sending outside air from the cooling means.

In the above image forming apparatus provided with a cooling means and an air path member, the opening / closing member is also used as a tray on which a recording medium on which an image has been formed is stacked, and the recording medium discharged to the opening / closing member. A stop member is provided on the opening / closing member so as to adjust the position according to the size of the recording medium.

In this image forming apparatus, there is provided an air path changing means for adjusting the flow rate of the outside air from the cooling means to the convex portion in conjunction with the stop member.

Further, a projection is provided for gripping the process cartridge.

Further, at a position on the process cartridge which is exposed to the outside air sent by the cool air means,
A projection is provided for gripping the process cartridge.

[Operation] The process cartridge is replaced,
At the time of maintenance and inspection, the opening / closing member is opened / closed and attached / detached to / from the apparatus main body. At this time, the process cartridge must be mounted at a regular position facing the transfer unit. However, due to a mistake in mounting, the process cartridge may not be mounted at a regular position and may protrude from the apparatus body at all. If the opening / closing member is closed without noticing a mounting error, one or both of the process cartridge and the opening / closing member may be damaged. However, in the present invention, with the operation of closing the opening / closing member, the convex portion pushes the process cartridge into the apparatus main body and moves the process cartridge to a proper position.
It is securely closed by the device body.

The opening and closing member is also used as a tray,
With the stop member, the discharged recording medium is reliably received.

By providing the air path member and integrating the open / close member and the air path member, the open / close member and the air path member reinforce each other, and the process cartridge is formed by the convex portion formed in the air path member. Press firmly into the correct position.

The integrated opening / closing member and the air path member allow the snap engagement piece and the engaged hole to move even when the opening / closing member is twisted or bent when the process cartridge is pushed into a proper position. Do not separate from each other.

Even if the opening / closing member is twisted or bent, distortion is initially allowed by the gap between the projection and the engaged portion which are loosely fitted to each other. I can push it.

Further, the convex portion is raised between the optical means and the process cartridge by the heat for sending outside air deep inside the apparatus main body and fixing the image transferred to the recording medium on the recording medium. Reduce the temperature inside the device.
This enhances the quality of the image.

In the image forming means having the cooling means, the opening / closing member also serves as the tray and has the stop member, so that the discharged recording medium is reliably received.

Further, when images are formed on both sides of the recording medium, the recording medium having the image formed on one side is discharged onto an opening / closing member which is also used as a tray. At this time,
The storage medium is warmed by the fixing means, but when the stop member is moved according to the size of the storage medium, the flow rate of the outside air is adjusted to the flow rate according to the storage medium by the air path changing means, Cools reliably.

Further, the process cartridge is securely mounted on the apparatus main body by putting a finger on the projection.

Further, the outside air comes into contact with the projection, and the process cartridge is cooled.

[0039]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A laser beam printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[First Embodiment] The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the laser beam printer of the first embodiment, the same parts as those of the conventional laser beam printer of FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of those parts will be omitted.

The configuration of the laser beam printer of the first embodiment differs from that of the conventional laser beam printer in that the convex portion 34 is provided in the duct 32 and the rib 41 is provided in the process cartridge A.

As shown in FIG. 1, the convex portion 34 is
The second optical unit 1 is provided with a downwardly projecting portion substantially below the outlet 32-1 of the duct for sending cool air to the optical unit 1.

When the process cartridge A is set at a regular position where printing is performed, the duct 32 and the projection 3
Reference numeral 4 is in a non-contact state while maintaining an appropriate gap between the process cartridge and the process cartridge.

The ribs 41 provided on the process cartridge A are provided at a plurality of positions in the front-rear direction of FIG. 1 in order to prevent the operator from sliding down the process cartridge A when gripping and attaching / detaching the process cartridge A. Protruding, so to speak, the anti-slip protuberance. The cool air sucked in by the intake fan 29 cools the ribs 41 in the middle of the flow around the toner container and the recording medium transport unit (in the direction of arrow C), as in the conventional example. Thereby, the temperature rise in the toner container adjacent to the rib 41 can be efficiently suppressed.

The attachment / detachment of the process cartridge to / from the laser beam printer is performed after the opening / closing cover 33 is opened. When the process cartridge A is mounted in the laser beam printer main body, if the operator securely grips the process cartridge A to the proper position,
Since the process cartridge A is reliably set at the proper position, the duct 32 and the convex portion 34 do not contact the process cartridge A. Therefore, the opening / closing cover 33 is completely closed.

On the other hand, when the process cartridge A is stopped short of the regular position, for example, the operator does not hold the process cartridge to the regular position, and hands around the opening / closing cover 33. When the process cartridge A is guided by the guide member by its own weight and slides down by separating, and stops halfway, if the operator attempts to close the opening / closing cover 33 without noticing this state, as shown in FIG. The convex portion 34 of the duct 32 provided inside the cover 33 contacts the process cartridge.

In this state, since the opening / closing cover 33 is still only about half closed, it is easy for the operator to notice that the process cartridge has not been completely mounted. Can be reset to the normal position.

However, there is no problem if the operator does not notice. That is, when the operator tries to close the opening / closing cover 33 as it is, the urging force in the direction of the arrow E acts on the process cartridge A. Since this direction substantially coincides with the insertion direction of the process cartridge, the process cartridge A is guided by a guide member (not shown) and moves toward the normal position.

When the process cartridge A moves toward the normal position, the process cartridge A comes into contact with the convex portion 34, as shown in FIG.
Then, the state shifts to a state of contact with the duct 32 as shown in FIG.

The process cartridge A moves away from the duct 32 to the normal position by its own weight immediately before being set to the normal position, and is automatically set.

Therefore, even if the opening / closing cover 33 is closed with the process cartridge stopped halfway, the convex portion 34 provided on the duct 32 presses the process cartridge to automatically set the process cartridge at the normal position. The cartridge is not damaged.

4 and 5 are detailed views of the opening / closing cover 33.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view as viewed from the process cartridge A side, and FIG.
FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the open cover 33 has a cylindrical portion 33-for positioning the duct 32.
Two parts 1 and 33-2 are provided in the longitudinal direction of the opening / closing cover 33. The opening / closing cover 33 is provided with four ribs 33-3 for fixing the duct 32. FIG. 5 is a side view seen from the direction of arrow 5 in FIG.
A square hole 33-4 is provided adjacent to the rib 33-3. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, near the one end in the short direction of the opening / closing cover, at a position further away from a line L1 connecting the center of the cylindrical portion 33-1 for positioning the duct 32 and the center of 33-2. Is provided with another cylindrical portion 33-5.

6 and 7 are detailed views of the duct 32. FIG. 6 is a bottom view seen from the process cartridge A side.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along arrow 7-7 in the figure. The duct 32 has a perfect circular hole 32-1 and an oblong hole 32-2 near both ends in the longitudinal direction. The circular hole 32-1 is fitted to the column-shaped portion 33-1 of the opening / closing cover, and the oval hole 32-2 is fitted to the other column-shaped portion 33-2 of the opening / closing cover, so that the duct 32 Is positioned. The duct 32 is provided with four claw portions 32-3 for fixing the duct 32 to the opening / closing cover 33. FIG. 7 shows FIG.
7-7 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrow 7-7, and the claw portion 32-3 is constituted by a pair of claws 32-4 and 32-5 facing each other in the opposite direction. As shown in FIG. 6, an oval is located at a position further away from a line L2 connecting the center of the circular hole 32-1 and the center of the oval hole 32-2 near one end in the short direction of the duct. A hole 32-6 is provided.

In order to attach the duct 32 to the opening / closing cover 33 in such a configuration, first, the columnar portion 3 of the opening / closing cover is used.
3-1 and 33-2 are fitted with the circular hole 32-1 and the oval hole 32-2 of the duct, and the
Decide the position of 2. Next, the duct 32 is connected to the opening / closing cover 33.
When pressed, the claws 32-4 and 32-5 of the duct come into contact with the rib portion 33-3 of the opening / closing cover. The rib portion 33-3 of the opening / closing cover is positioned so as to be sandwiched between the claws 32-4 and 32-5 of the duct. When the duct 32 is further pressed against the opening / closing cover 33, the claws 32-4, 32 of the duct are pressed.
After -5 is bent and escapes from the rib portion 33-3 of the opening / closing cover, the claws 32-4 and 32-5 are caught in the square hole 33-4 of the rib portion, and the duct 32 is snap-fit fixed to the opening / closing cover 33. .

In this state, as shown in FIG.
There is a slight gap S between the two oval holes 32-6 and the columnar portion 33-5 of the opening / closing cover 33.

When a force in the torsional direction is applied to the opening / closing cover 33 in such a configuration, the opening / closing cover 33 is initially twisted independently. However, the duct 32 is positioned only by the cylindrical portions 33-1 and 33-2 of the opening / closing cover and is only snap-fitted to the opening / closing cover by the claws 32-4 and 32-5 of the duct. Does not twist. Further, when the opening / closing cover 33 is twisted, the relative positional relationship between the opening / closing cover 33 and the duct 32 changes with reference to the cylindrical portions 33-1 and 33-2 of the opening / closing cover. The relative position between -6 and the cylindrical portion 33-5 of the opening / closing cover is shifted. The cylindrical portion 33-5 of the opening / closing cover corresponds to the oval hole 32-6 of the duct.
However, as shown in FIG. 9, if the gap is slightly shifted by the provided gap S, the cylindrical portion 33-5 of the opening / closing cover abuts on the inner wall of the oblong hole 32-6 of the duct. If the user tries to further twist the open / close cover from this state, the duct 32
Since the duct 32 is twisted in addition to the open / close cover 33 because the snap fit is fixed integrally to the cover, the open / close cover 33 is hardly twisted.

That is, when the opening / closing cover 33 is twisted, it is initially twisted only by the rigidity of the opening / closing cover, but if it is slightly twisted, the rigidity of the duct 32 is added, so that it becomes difficult to twist further. Therefore, the rigidity of the opening / closing cover can be increased with a simple and inexpensive configuration without using screws or the like.

When the cover 33 is twisted in one direction as described above, one of the claws 32-4 and 32-5 of the duct is inserted into the square hole 33-4 of the rib of the cover. Because it always gets caught, duct 3 can be twisted in either direction.
2 does not come off the cover 33.

Further, not only the torsion direction but also the bending direction force of the opening / closing cover 33,
4 and 32-5 are securely caught in the square holes 33-4 of the ribs of the opening / closing cover, so that the duct 32 does not come off from the opening / closing cover 33 in the same manner.

[Second Embodiment] A laser beam printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Since the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the shape and operation of the convex portion 35 provided in the duct 32, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

The duct 32 is provided with a convex portion 35. The protruding portion 35 branches off from an air passage 32-7 for cooling the optical means 1 of the duct 32 to form an air passage 32-8 for cooling the inner part of the process cartridge A.

The duct 35-1 of the protruding portion 35 transfers the cool air to the charging roller 19 in the direction indicated by the arrow H in the process cartridge A, which is the back of the process cartridge A, or the left side of the charging roller 19 in FIG. And cooling them. The cleaning unit includes a blade member provided for cleaning residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2 after transferring an image to the recording medium 3 before the next printing.

When the process cartridge stops just before the normal position, the function of the convex portion 35 when closing the opening / closing cover 33 is the same as that of the convex portion 34 of the first embodiment. When the process cartridge 35 is pressed, the process cartridge is automatically set at the normal position.

Therefore, according to the laser beam printer of the second embodiment, similarly to the laser beam printer of the first embodiment, even if the opening / closing cover 33 is closed while the process cartridge is stopped in the middle of mounting, the convex portion When the process cartridge 35 is pressed, the process cartridge is automatically set at the normal position. Further, since the convex portion 35 has a duct-like shape, the cooling of the inner side of the process cartridge can be effectively performed.

[Third Embodiment] A laser beam printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Also in the third embodiment, the same portions as those in the first and second embodiments and the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the portions will be omitted.

A stop member 37 for stopping the printed recording medium discharged from the laser beam printer main body 50 is provided on the opening / closing cover 33, and the stop member 37 is movable according to the size of the discharged recording medium. It is. When the stop member 37 is moved according to the size of the recording medium to be discharged, the shape of the air path leading to the process cartridge can be changed according to the size of the recording medium.

In FIG. 11, the opening / closing cover 33 has a tray function for loading the recording medium ejected from the laser beam printer main body, and the leading end portion of the recording medium is mainly loaded. I have. The opening / closing cover 33 is provided with a slide member 36 that can be slid to change its position. A rotatable stop member 37 is provided at one end of the slide member 36, and the stop member 37 has a function of stopping the recording medium discharged from the laser beam printer main body. Slide member 3
The stop member 6 and the stop member 37 are movable in accordance with the size of the recording medium to be discharged. For example, the position P1 in the legal size recording medium, the position P2 in the B4 size recording medium, and the position P3 in the A3 size recording medium. And a stop member can be set at the position P4 in the leisure-size recording medium. For recording media other than the above four types of sizes, the slide member 36 and the stop member 37 are moved to the rightmost side, and then the stop member 37 is fallen into a not-shown recess of the open / close cover 33 so that a projecting portion from the open / close cover is formed. It is also possible to eliminate it.

The slide member 3 is provided in the duct 32.
6 is provided. The support member 38 supports the slide member 36 from below while guiding the movement of the slide member 36, and an air passage is formed between the slide member 36 and the side opposite to the duct 32.

Further, the slide member 36 and the support member 3
Below the section 8, two types of air path changing members 39 and 40 are provided. The air path changing members 39 and 40 have a substantially flat plate shape,
Wind path changing portions 39-1 and 40-1 and projecting portions 39-2 and 40
-2, which is urged rightward in FIG. 11 and is usually at the position shown in FIG. The protrusions 39-2 and 40-2 are
When the slide member 36 moves to the left in the drawing and makes contact therewith, the air path changing members 39 and 40 also move to the left in the drawing.

When the stop member is on the right side of the A3 size position P3, the protrusions 39-2 and 40-2 are connected to the protrusions 3 of the slide member.
6-1 is in the non-contact state at the position shown in FIG.

When the stop member 37 is set to the position P2 or P1 of B4 or legal size, the slide member 36 and the stop member 37 are moved to the solid line position in the B4 size position P2 as shown in FIG. Slide member 3
The protrusion 36-1 of No. 6 slides and hits the protrusion 39-2 of the air path changing member 39 to move the air path changing member 39 to the left. The air path changing member 39 that has moved to the left straddles the duct section 35-1 of the convex section 35 of the duct, and its tip moves to the air path 32-7 to the optical means, and the duct section of the convex section 35 Block 35-1 from above. Convex duct 35
As in the second embodiment, -1 is provided for cooling the inner part of the process cartridge.

FIG. 13 shows the duct 32 and the air path changing member 3.
It is a top view of 9,40. A rib 35-2 having a legal size width and a B4 size width is provided on the duct portion 35-1 of the convex portion 35 of the duct 32. The legal size width rib 35-2 is separated by the legal size width 215.9 mm at the center of the rib, and the B4 size width rib 3
5-3, the center of the rib is located at the end of the B4 size having a width of 257 mm. By moving the slide member 36 and the stop member 37 to the B4 size position described above,
The moved air path changing member 39 is a convex duct portion 35-1.
The J section on the top. As a result, the cool air does not flow outside the B4 width with the rib 35-3 and the air path changing member 39. In other words, since the back side of the process cartridge is cooled by the B4 size width, even when the recording medium on which only one side is printed at the time of double-sided printing passes through the fixing unit, it is heated and conveyed to the process cartridge again to print the other side. Cooling can be effectively performed in the B4 size width.

When the slide member and the stop member are moved to the legal size position P1, the protrusion 36-1 of the slide member 36 becomes four in addition to the protrusion 39-2 of the air path changing member.
0-2 is also moved to the left. Protrusion 40- of airflow changing member
When 2 moves to the left, the air path changing member 40 blocks the K portion on the convex duct portion 35-1. Thereby, the rib 35-
With the air passage changing member 40 and the air path changing member 40, the cool air does not go outside the legal width. That is, the rear side of the process cartridge can be effectively cooled with the legal size width.

Since the optical means is heated by the heat generated from the fixing means, the difference in the size of the recording medium is small.
Therefore, the air path to the optical means is constant and does not change.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the cooling of the inner portion of the process cartridge can be effectively performed in accordance with the size of the recording medium.

In this embodiment, the air path is changed in the B4 size and the legal size. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the air path may be changed to another size.

As described above, in the three embodiments of the present invention, a laser beam printer has been exemplified as an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention can be used for other image forming apparatuses such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a word processor.

[0078]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a process cartridge is replaced or maintenance and inspection is performed, the process cartridge is not mounted in a proper position due to a mounting error by an operator, and is somewhat protruded from the apparatus main body. Even if something happens, with the action of closing the opening and closing member,
Since the process cartridge is pushed into the apparatus main body by the convex portion and is moved to a proper position, damage to one or both of the process cartridge and the opening / closing member is prevented, and the opening / closing member is securely connected. Can be closed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the opening / closing member also serves as the tray and has the stopping member, the recording medium on which the image is formed can be reliably received with a simple structure.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the opening / closing member and the air path member are integrated, the opening / closing member and the air path member reinforce each other, and are formed by convex portions formed on the air path member. The process cartridge can be reliably pushed into the proper position.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the opening / closing member and the air path member are integrated by the engagement between the snap engagement piece and the engaged hole, when the process cartridge is pushed into the normal position, Even if the opening / closing member is twisted or bent, the opening / closing member and the air path member do not separate from each other,
The process cartridge can be reliably pushed into the proper position.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since there is a gap between the engaged portion and the projection for positioning the opening / closing member and the air passage member with each other, when the process cartridge is pushed in, the opening / closing member is twisted. Even if it is bent or bent, the opening / closing member and the air path member are allowed to be distorted by the gap therebetween, and the process cartridge can be pushed in by a soft touch.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the convex portion sends the outside air deep inside the apparatus main body between the optical means and the process cartridge, the image transferred to the recording medium is transferred onto the recording medium. By lowering the temperature inside the apparatus main body which is raised by the heat to be fixed, it is possible to form a high quality image.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the opening / closing member also serves as the tray and has the stopping member, the recording medium on which the image is formed can be reliably received with a simple structure.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, when an image is formed on both sides of the recording medium, the flow rate of the outside air is adjusted by the air path changing means in accordance with the size of the heated recording medium having the image formed on one side. Therefore, the recording medium can be reliably cooled.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the projection for putting a finger on the process cartridge is formed, the process cartridge can be securely mounted at a proper position.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the protrusion for putting the finger on the position exposed to the cool air on the process cartridge is formed, the process cartridge is reliably cooled to obtain a high quality image. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a process cartridge attaching / detaching operation in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of inserting a process cartridge in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an opening / closing cover in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow 5 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the duct in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front sectional view of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an engagement state between an oblong hole of a duct and a columnar portion of an opening / closing cover in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an engagement state between an oblong hole of a duct and a cylindrical portion of an opening / closing cover in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a front sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a position of a stop member is set to a B4 size position.

13 is a plan view of a duct and an air path changing member of the image forming apparatus in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a front sectional view of a conventional laser beam printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical means 2 Photoreceptor drum (support) 3, 3 'Recording medium 9 Transfer roller (transfer means) 11 Fixing means 29 Intake fan (cooling means) 32 Duct (airway member) 32-1 True circular hole (part concerned) Joint part) 32-2, 32-6 Oval hole (engaged part) 32-4, 32-5 Claw (snap engagement piece) 33 Opening / closing cover (opening / closing member) 33-1, 33-2, 33- 5 Cylindrical part (projection) 33-4 Square hole (engaged hole) 34, 35 Convex part 37 Stopping member 39, 40 Airway changing member (airway changing means) 50 Main body 41 Rib (projection) A Process cartridge

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge which is detachably provided in an apparatus main body and includes an image carrier for photosensitively holding an optical image based on image information from an optical means, and a recording medium for recording an image on the image carrier. Transfer means for transferring the image onto the recording medium, fixing means for fixing the image transferred onto the recording medium by heat, and an opening / closing member which is opened and closed when the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. In the image forming apparatus, when the process cartridge is mounted at a position deviated from a regular position facing the transfer unit, the process cartridge moves integrally with the opening / closing member with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member, An image forming apparatus comprising: a convex portion for pushing a process cartridge into the regular position. 2. The opening / closing member also serves as a tray on which a recording medium on which an image has been formed is stacked, and a stop member for receiving the recording medium discharged to the opening / closing member is provided on the opening / closing member in the size of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus has a position adjustable. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: a cooling unit that sends outside air into the apparatus main body; and an air passage member that forms an air passage between the cooling unit and the process cartridge. An image forming apparatus, wherein the opening and closing member and the air path member are integrated, and the air path member includes the convex portion. 4. A snap engagement piece is formed on one of the opening and closing member and the air path member, and an engaged hole is formed on the other, and the snap engagement piece and the engaged hole are engaged with each other. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the opening and closing member and the air path member are integrated with each other. 5. A plurality of projections are formed on one of the opening / closing member and the air path member, and the same number of engaged portions as the projections are formed on the other, and the projections are attached to the engaged portion. And insert
The open / close member and the air path member are integrated by fitting at least one protrusion and the engaged portion with each other and loosely fitting the remaining protrusions and the engaged portion with each other. Item 5. The image forming apparatus according to item 3 or 4. 6. A process according to claim 3, wherein said optical means and said process cartridge are opposed to each other, said convex portion is entered between said opposed portions, and said convex portion is an air passage for sending outside air from said cooling means. 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 7. The opening / closing member is also used as a tray on which a recording medium on which an image has been formed is stacked, and a stop member for receiving the recording medium discharged to the opening / closing member is provided on the opening / closing member in the size of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus has a position adjustable. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an air path changing unit that adjusts a flow rate of outside air from the cooling unit to the convex portion in conjunction with the stop member. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a projection for gripping the process cartridge. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a projection on the process cartridge at a position exposed to outside air sent by the cool air means, the projection holding the process cartridge. .