IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING LINK CONFIGURED TO ABUT ON CARTRIDGE FOR MOVING SHUTTER OF FIXING DEVICE AND ELECTRICAL CONTACT POSITIONED ON OPPOSITE SIDE FROM THE LINK WITH RESPECT TO ATTACHED CARTRIDGE, AND CARTRIDGE THEREFOR

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-199487 filed on Nov. 24, 2023. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

In a conventional image-forming apparatus using a detachable cartridge, a shutter is provided in front of a fixing device in order to prevent a user's hand from contacting a heater of the fixing device.

For example, in such a conventional image-forming apparatus, a link connected to a shutter is provided such that the link can abut on a cartridge. Upon attachment of the cartridge, the link abuts on the cartridge and moves such that the shutter is opened in response to the movement of the link.

SUMMARY

According to the above image-forming apparatus where the shutter is opened and closed by the link configured to abut on the cartridge, the link must be positioned outside of outside of a conveying path of a sheet in a main body of the apparatus so that the link does not hinder conveyance of the sheet. Further, the cartridge includes a link abutment portion configured to abut on the link, and a memory storing information about the cartridge. On the other hand, the main body of the image-forming apparatus is provided with an electrical contact configured to contact the memory of the cartridge that is attached to the main body.

In this way, in the image-forming apparatus, the link configured to abut on the cartridge and the electrical contact configured to contact the memory need to be provided. However, since layout of the link and the electrical contact is limited, special contraption must be required to provide the link and the electrical contact in the image-forming apparatus. The same is true with respect to the link abutment portion and the memory which are to be provided in the cartridge.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide an image-forming apparatus capable of improving a degree of freedom on the arrangement of the link and the electrical contact, and to provide a cartridge capable of improving a degree of freedom on the arrangement of the link abutment portion and the memory.

In order to attain the above and other objects, according to one aspect, the present disclosure provides an image-forming apparatus including a housing, a cartridge, a fixing device, a shutter, a link, and an electrical contact. The cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing in an attachment/detachment direction. The cartridge includes a memory having an electrical contact surface and storing information about the cartridge. The fixing device is configured to thermally fix a toner image on a sheet that is conveyed in a sheet conveying direction. The fixing device includes a heating unit including a heater. The heating unit has an upstream end in the sheet conveying direction. The shutter is movable, relative to the fixing device, between a closing position where the shutter closes the upstream end of the heating unit and an opening position where the shutter exposes the upstream end of the heating unit. The link is provided on the housing. The link is connected to the shutter and is configured to abut on the cartridge to move the shutter between the closing position and the opening position. The electrical contact is provided on the housing and is configured to contact the electrical contact surface of the memory upon attachment of the cartridge to the housing. The cartridge defines a center line in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the attachment/detachment direction in a state where the cartridge is attached to the housing. In the housing, the link and the electrical contact are positioned on opposite sides of the center line of the cartridge in the widthwise direction in the state where the cartridge is attached to the housing.

With this structure, since the link and the electrical contact are positioned on opposite sides with respect to the cartridge, a degree of freedom on the arrangement of the link and the electrical contact can be improved, thereby facilitating layout of the link and the electrical contact.

According to another aspect, the present disclosure also provides an image-forming apparatus relative to which a cartridge is attachable and detachable in an attachment/detachment direction. The cartridge includes a memory having an electrical contact surface, the memory storing information on the cartridge. The image-forming apparatus includes a housing, a fixing device, a shutter, a link, and an electrical contact. The housing includes a first frame and a second frame opposing each other in an opposing direction perpendicular to the attachment/detachment direction. The fixing device is configured to thermally fix a toner image on a sheet that is conveyed in a sheet conveying direction. The fixing device includes a heating unit including a heater. The heating unit has an upstream end in the sheet conveying direction. The shutter is movable, relative to the fixing device, between a closing position where the shutter covers the upstream end of the heating unit and an opening position where the shutter uncovers the upstream end of the heating unit. The link is connected to the shutter and is configured to abut on the cartridge to move the shutter between the closing position and the opening position. The link is supported on the first frame. The electrical contact is configured to contact the electrical contact surface of the memory of the cartridge upon attachment of the cartridge to the housing. The electrical contact is supported on the second frame.

According to still another aspect, the present disclosure also provides a cartridge for use in an image-forming apparatus including a housing, a fixing device, a shutter, a link, and an electrical contact. The cartridge is detachably attachable to the housing in an attachment/detachment direction. The fixing device is configured to thermally fix a toner image on a sheet that is conveyed in a sheet conveying direction. The fixing device includes a heating unit including a heater. The heating unit has an upstream end in the sheet conveying direction. The shutter is movable, relative to the fixing device, between a closing position where the shutter covers the upstream end of the heating unit and an opening position where the shutter uncovers the upstream end of the heating unit. The link is connected to the shutter. The cartridge includes a memory and a link abutment part. The memory stores information about the cartridge. The memory has an electrical contact surface configured to contact the electrical contact upon attachment of the cartridge to the housing. The link abutment part is configured to abut on the link to move the shutter during attachment and detachment of the cartridge relative to the housing. The cartridge defines a center line in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the attachment/detachment direction. The link abutment part and the memory are positioned on opposite sides of the center line of the cartridge in the widthwise direction.

With this structure, since the link abutment part and the memory are positioned on opposite sides of the cartridge, a degree of freedom on the arrangement of link abutment part and the memory can be improved, thereby facilitating layout of the link abutment part and the memory in the cartridge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of an image-forming apparatus according to an embodiment taken along a widthwise center plane thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image-forming apparatus in a state where a front cover thereof is at its open position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first main frame and a second main frame as viewed from a front left side thereof.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first main frame and the second main frame as viewed from a front right side thereof.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a fixing device in the image-forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a heating unit and a pressure roller of the fixing device.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the fixing device in a state where a shutter thereof is at its closing position.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the fixing device in a state where the shutter is at its opening position.

FIG. 8A is a side view of the fixing device in the state where the shutter is at the closing position.

FIG. 8B is a side view of the fixing device in the state where the shutter is at the opening position.

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional side view of the fixing device in the state where the shutter is at the closing position.

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional side view of the fixing device in the state where the shutter is at the opening position.

FIG. 10A is a front view of a right end portion of the fixing device in the state where the shutter is at the closing position.

FIG. 10B is a front view of the right end portion of the fixing device in the state where the shutter is at the opening position.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a process cartridge for the image-forming apparatus as viewed from a front right side thereof.

FIG. 12 is a right side view of the process cartridge.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the process cartridge as viewed from a rear left side thereof.

FIG. 14 is a left side view of the process cartridge.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the process cartridge.

FIG. 16 is a partially-enlarged side view illustrating a memory holder holding a toner memory and a holder cover holding the memory holder.

FIG. 17A is a side view illustrating the memory holder in a state where a second holder protrudes out from a first holder.

FIG. 17B is a side view illustrating the memory holder in a state where the second holder is retracted in the first holder.

FIG. 18 is a left side view of the first main frame.

FIG. 19 is a right side view of the first main frame.

FIG. 20A is a right side view of a link in the image-forming apparatus, and particularly illustrating a state where a first boss of an abutment piece of the link is positioned in an intermediate portion of an abutment piece rail, and a second boss of the abutment piece is positioned in a front portion of the abutment piece rail.

FIG. 20B is a left side view of the link in the state illustrated in FIG. 13A.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the first main frame, and particularly illustrating a state where the process cartridge is at its attachment starting position, the first boss is positioned in the intermediate portion of the abutment piece rail, and the second boss is positioned in the front portion of the abutment piece rail.

FIG. 22A is a right side view of the abutment piece.

FIG. 22B is a left side view of the abutment piece.

FIG. 22C is a front view of the abutment piece.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged side view of the first main frame, and particularly illustrating a state where a drum shaft of the process cartridge having reached an intermediate portion of a cartridge rail abuts on the first boss of the abutment piece.

FIG. 24A is a right side view of the link, and particularly illustrating a state where the drum shaft abuts on the abutment piece, a rear part of the first boss of the abutment piece is positioned in a rear portion of the abutment piece rail, and the second boss is positioned in the intermediate portion of the abutment piece rail.

FIG. 24B is a left side view of the link in the state illustrated in FIG. 24A.

FIG. 25 is a side view of the first main frame, and particularly illustrating the state where the drum shaft abuts on the abutment piece, the rear part of the first boss is positioned in the rear portion of the abutment piece rail, and the second boss is positioned in the intermediate portion of the abutment piece rail.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged side view of the first main frame, and particularly illustrating the state where the drum shaft abuts on the abutment piece, the rear part of the first boss is positioned in the rear portion of the abutment piece rail, and the second boss is positioned in the intermediate portion of the abutment piece rail.

FIG. 27A is a right side view of the link, and particularly illustrating a state where the drum shaft abuts on the abutment piece, the first boss is positioned in the rear portion of the abutment piece rail, and the second boss is positioned in the intermediate portion of the abutment piece rail.

FIG. 27B is a left side view of the link in the state illustrated in FIG. 27A.

FIG. 28 is a side view of the first main frame, and particularly illustrating the state where the drum shaft abuts on the abutment piece, the first boss is positioned in the rear portion of the abutment piece rail, and the second boss is positioned in the intermediate portion of the abutment piece rail.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged side view of the first main frame, and particularly illustrating a state where the drum shaft has moved from the intermediate portion to a rear portion of the cartridge rail and is separated away from the abutment piece.

FIG. 30A is a right side view of the link, and particularly illustrating a state where a linear motion link is moved rearward by a pressing force of a pressure arm from the position illustrated in FIG. 27A.

FIG. 30B is a left side view of the link in state illustrated in FIG. 30A.

FIG. 31 is an enlarged side view of the first main frame, and particularly illustrating a state where the first boss of the abutment piece has moved rearward from the position illustrated in FIG. 29.

FIG. 32 is a side view of the first main frame, and particularly illustrating a state where the process cartridge reaches its attachment position after the drum shaft is separated from the abutment piece.

FIG. 33 is a partially-enlarged side view of the second main frame, and particularly illustrating an electrical contact and a guide provided on the second main frame.

FIG. 34 is side view illustrating the memory holder in a state where a base part of the memory holder is in abutment with a first upper guide and the second holder is in abutment with a second lower guide of the second main frame.

FIG. 35 is a side view illustrating the memory holder in a state where the base part is in abutment with a second upper guide and the second holder is in abutment with a third lower guide of the second main frame.

FIG. 36 is a side view illustrating the memory holder in a state where the base part is in abutment with a counter surface of the electrical contact and the second holder is in abutment with a fourth lower guide of the second main frame.

DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an image-forming apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 35.

The image-forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is an electrophotographic-type laser printer configured to form an image on a sheet S.

In the following description, the right side and the left side of FIG. 1 will be defined as a front side and a rear side of the image-forming apparatus 1, respectively, and the near side and the far side of FIG. 1 will be defined as a left side and a right side of the image-forming apparatus 1, respectively. Further, the upper side and the lower side of FIG. 1 will be defined as an upper side and a lower side of the image-forming apparatus 1, respectively.

The image-forming apparatus 1 includes a housing 2, a sheet supplying unit 3, an image-forming unit 5, a fixing device 6, and a sheet discharge unit 29.

The housing 2 houses therein the sheet supplying unit 3, the image-forming unit 5, the fixing device 6, and the sheet discharge unit 29. The housing 2 has a front surface where an opening 2A is open. The housing 2 has a front cover 21 configured to open and close the opening 2A. The front cover 21 has a lower end defining a pivot axis 21a. The front cover 21 is pivotally movable about the pivot axis 21a between a closed position where the front cover 21 closes the opening 2A and an open position where the front cover 21 opens the opening 2A. The housing 2 is an example of “housing” of the disclosure.

The sheet supplying unit 3 includes a sheet supply tray 10 configured to support a stack of the sheets S, a sheet pick-up unit 30, a pair of conveyor rollers 34, and a registration roller 35a. The sheet supplying unit 3 is positioned at a lower internal portion of the housing 2, and is configured to convey each of the sheets S supported on the sheet supply tray 10 to the image-forming unit 5. The image-forming apparatus 1 defines a sheet conveying passage P extending from the sheet supplying unit 3 to the sheet discharge unit 29 via the image-forming unit 5.

The sheet supply tray 10 includes a lifter plate 12 and a pressure plate 13. The lifter plate 12 is a plate-like member for supporting the sheets S from below. The lifter plate 12 is pivotally movable about a pivot axis 12a defined at a rear end portion thereof. The lifter plate 12 is movable upward and downward between an ascent position and a descent position by the pivotal movement about the pivot axis 12a. The pressure plate 13 is positioned below the lifter plate 12 and is configured to move the lifter plate 12 up and down between the ascent position and the descent position.

The sheet pick-up unit 30 is a conveying mechanism configured to pick-up one sheet S from the stack of sheets S supported on the sheet supply tray 10 and to convey the sheet S toward the image-forming unit 5. The sheet pick-up unit 30 includes a pick-up roller 31, a separation roller 32, and a separation pad 33.

The pick-up roller 31 is configured to pick-up the sheets S supported on the sheet supply tray 10 and to convey the sheets S toward the separation roller 32. The separation roller 32 is positioned downstream of the pick-up roller 31 in a sheet conveying direction. The separation pad 33 is positioned to face the separation roller 32 and is urged toward the separation roller 32.

The sheets S conveyed by the pick-up roller 31 toward the separation roller 32 are separated one by one at a position between the separation roller 32 and the separation pad 33. Each separated sheet S is then fed into the sheet conveying passage P.

The sheet S fed to the sheet conveying passage P is then conveyed to the image-forming unit 5 by the pair of conveyor rollers 34, the registration roller 35a, and a pinch roller 35b (described later) facing the registration roller 35a. The registration roller 35a is configured to regulate a leading end of the sheet S to temporarily stop the same, and then to convey the sheet S toward the image-forming unit 5 at a prescribed timing.

The image-forming unit 5 is positioned downstream of the sheet supplying unit 3 in the sheet conveying direction. The image-forming unit 5 is configured to form an image on the sheet S conveyed from the sheet supplying unit 3. The image-forming unit 5 includes a process cartridge 50, a transfer roller 55, and an exposing device 56. In the image-forming apparatus 1, the process cartridge 50 is attachable to and detachable from the housing 2. The process cartridge 50 is an example of “cartridge” of the disclosure.

The process cartridge 50 is configured to transfer an image onto the sheet S conveyed from the sheet supplying unit 3. The process cartridge 50 is positioned above the sheet supplying unit 3 when accommodated in the housing 2. The process cartridge 50 includes a developer accommodation chamber 51, a supply roller 52, a developing roller 53, a photosensitive drum 54, and a toner memory 57. The pinch roller 35b is supported by the process cartridge 50.

The toner memory 57 is a storage medium capable of reading and writing information from and into the toner memory. The toner memory 57 stores information on the process cartridge 50. Here, the information on the process cartridge 50 may include, for example, a product number of the process cartridge 50, a serial number of the process cartridge 50, a residual amount of toner in the process cartridge 50, and replacement information indicative of whether the process cartridge 50 is a new cartridge or not. The toner memory 57 has electrical contact surfaces 57a. The toner memory 57 is an example of “memory” of the disclosure.

Incidentally, while the toner memory 57 is employed as an example of the “memory” of the disclosure in the present embodiment, the memory of the disclosure may be a memory other than the toner memory 57, provided that the memory is configured to store information about the process cartridge 50.

The process cartridge 50 is configured of: a drum cartridge including the photosensitive drum 54; and a developing cartridge including the developing roller 53 and attachable to the drum cartridge. The process cartridge 50 is attachable to and detachable from the housing 2. Specifically, the process cartridge 50 can be attached to the housing 2 by inserting, into the housing 2, the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge attached to the drum cartridge as a unit. The process cartridge 50 can be detached from the housing 2 by removing, from the housing 2, the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge attached thereto altogether as a unit.

The process cartridge 50 may be configured as a cartridge including at least one of a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, and a developer storage chamber. Attachment and detachment of the process cartridge 50 to and from the housing 2 can be performed when the front cover 21 is at the open position.

The photosensitive drum 54 defines a rotational axis X. In a state where the process cartridge 50 is attached to the housing 2, the photosensitive drum 54 is arranged such that the rotational axis X extends in a left-right direction. The photosensitive drum 54 includes a drum shaft 54A defining the rotational axis X. The drum shaft 54A is made of metal. The photosensitive drum 54 is rotatable about the rotational axis X.

In the present embodiment, the process cartridge 50 is configured of: the drum cartridge including the photosensitive drum 54; and the developing cartridge attachable to the drum cartridge and including the developing roller 53. However, the process cartridge 50 may be configured of: a cartridge including the photosensitive drum 54 and the developing roller 53; and a toner box attachable to the cartridge and configured to accommodate toner therein.

Still alternatively, in the image-forming apparatus 1, the drum cartridge including the photosensitive drum 54 and the developing cartridge including the developing roller 53 may be individually attachable to the housing 2. That is, the process cartridge 50 may be configured as a detachable cartridge that includes at least one of a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, and a toner container, the cartridge being detachably attachable to the housing 2.

The exposing device 56 is configured to expose a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 54 to light. The exposing device 56 includes a laser diode, a polygon mirror, a lens, and a reflection mirror, and the like. The exposing device 56 is configured to irradiate laser light to the photosensitive drum 54 of the process cartridge 50 attached to the housing 2, based on image data inputted into the image-forming apparatus 1, to form an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 54.

The developer accommodation chamber 51 is configured to accommodate toner as a developer. The toner stored in the developer accommodation chamber 51 is supplied to the supply roller 52 while being agitated by an agitator (not illustrated). The supply roller 52 is configured to supply the toner conveyed from the developer accommodation chamber 51 to the developing roller 53.

The developing roller 53 is arranged in close contact with the supply roller 52. The developing roller 53 is configured to carry the toner that is supplied from the supply roller 52 and that is positively charged by a friction member (not illustrated). Further, the developing roller 53 is applied with a developing bias by a bias application member (not illustrated).

The photosensitive drum 54 is positioned adjacent to the developing roller 53. The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 54 is uniformly charged by a charger (not illustrated), and then the peripheral surface is exposed to light by the exposing device 56. The exposed region on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 54 has a potential lower than potential of a non-exposed region thereon, whereby the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the peripheral surface (exposed region) of the photosensitive drum 54. The positively charged toner is supplied from the developing roller 53 to the exposed region on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 54 where the electrostatic latent image is formed, so that a visible toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 54.

The transfer roller 55 is positioned to face the photosensitive drum 54 of the process cartridge 50 attached to the housing 2. The transfer roller 55 is applied with a transfer bias by a bias application member (not illustrated). The toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 54 is transferred onto a surface of the sheet S while the sheet S nipped between the transfer roller 55 and the photosensitive drum 54 is conveyed in a state where the transfer bias is applied to the peripheral surface of the transfer roller 55. The sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred is then conveyed to the fixing device 6.

The fixing device 6 is configured to thermally fix the toner image that has been transferred on the sheet S by the process cartridge 50 to the sheet S. The fixing device 6 includes a heating unit 61 and a pressure roller 62. The heating unit 61 is configured to generate heat when supplied with power from a power source (not illustrated). The pressure roller 62 is positioned to face the heating unit 61. One of the heating unit 61 and the pressure roller 62 is urged toward the other (toward a remining one of the heating unit 61 and the pressure roller 62) by an urging mechanism (not illustrated), so that the heating unit 61 and the pressure roller 62 are in close contact with each other. The fixing device 6 is an example of “fixing device” of the disclosure.

When the sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 6, the heating unit 61 and the pressure roller 62 convey the sheet S while nipping the sheet S therebetween to apply heat to the sheet S to thermally fix the toner image to the sheet S. In this way, the fixing device 6 thermally fixes the toner image to the sheet S while the sheet S is conveyed through the fixing device 6.

The sheet discharge unit 29 is positioned downstream of the image-forming unit 5 in the sheet conveying direction. The sheet discharge unit 29 is configured to discharge the image-formed sheet S to an outside of the image-forming apparatus 1. The sheet discharge unit 29 includes a pair of discharge rollers 291 and a discharge tray 292. The pair of discharge rollers 291 is configured to discharge the sheet S conveyed from the fixing device 6 along the sheet conveying passage P toward the outside of the housing 2. The discharge tray 292 is defined on an upper surface of the housing 2, and is configured to receive the sheet S discharged to the outside of the housing 2 by the pair of discharge rollers 291.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, the housing 2 includes a first main frame 24 and a second main frame 25 spaced away from each other in the left-right direction. The first main frame 24 is positioned at a right end portion of the housing 2, and the second main frame 25 is positioned at a left end portion of the housing 2. That is, the first main frame 24 and the second main frame 25 oppose each other in the left-right direction. The first main frame 24 extends in a front-rear direction and an up-down direction, and has a major surface perpendicular to the left-right direction. The second main frame 25 extends in the front-rear direction and up-down direction, and has a major surface perpendicular to the left-right direction. The first main frame 24 is an example of “first frame” of the disclosure, and the second main frame 25 is an example of “second frame” of the disclosure.

The second main frame 25 is provided with an electrical contact 26 that can contact the electrical contact surfaces 57a of the toner memory 57 of the process cartridge 50. The electrical contact 26 contacts the electrical contact surfaces 57a of the toner memory 57 in the state where the process cartridge 50 is attached to the housing 2. The electrical contact 26 is positioned an upper-front portion of the second main frame 25 (see FIG. 4). The electrical contact 26 is an example of “electrical contact” of the disclosure.

The process cartridge 50 (attached to the housing 2) and the fixing device 6 are positioned between the first main frame 24 and the second main frame 25. The first main frame 24 is positioned rightward of the process cartridge 50 and the fixing device 6, and the second main frame 25 is positioned leftward of the process cartridge 50 and the fixing device 6. The first main frame 24 and second main frame 25 oppose each other in the left-right direction with the process cartridge 50 interposed between the first main frame 24 and second main frame 25. The process cartridge 50 is detachably supported by the first main frame 24 and the second main frame 25. In the state where the process cartridge 50 is attached to the housing 2, the electrical contact 26 provided on the second main frame 25 is positioned on the left side of a center line CL (see FIG. 15) of the process cartridge 50 in the left-right direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the heating unit 61 includes a heater 611, a holder 612, a stay 613, and a belt 614. The heater 611 has a flat plate-like shape elongated in the left-right direction. The heater 611 has a first surface 611A and a second surface 611B opposite the first surface 611A. The first surface 611A is supported by the holder 612. The heating unit 61 is an example of “heating unit” of the disclosure. The heater 611 is an example of “heater” of the disclosure.

The holder 612 is made from resin, for example. The holder 612 includes a support wall 612b. The support wall 612b has a guide surface 612a and a supporting surface 612A. The guide surface 612a contacts an inner peripheral surface 614a of the belt 614 for guiding a circular movement of the belt 614. The supporting surface 612A is in contact with the first surface 611A of the heater 611 for supporting the same. The stay 613 supports the holder 612. The stay 613 has a higher rigidity than the holder 612 made from resin. For example, the stay 613 is manufactured by bending a steel plate (having higher rigidity than the holder 612) to form a U-shape in cross-section.

The belt 614 is an endless belt having heat resistivity and flexibility. The belt 614 is constituted by a metal hollow tubular member made from, for example, stainless steel, and a fluorine resin layer coated over the hollow tubular member. The heater 611, the holder 612, and the stay 613 are positioned in an internal space provided by the endless belt 614. The belt 614 is configured to circularly move around the heater 611, the holder 612, and the stay 613. The inner peripheral surface 614a of the belt 614 is in contact with the heater 611.

The pressure roller 62 includes a shaft 62A made of metal and an elastic layer 62B provided over the shaft 62A. The pressure roller 62 is pressed against the heater 611 through the belt 614. The pressure roller 62 and the heater 611 define a nipping region NP therebetween where the belt 614 is nipped therebetween for heating and pressing the sheet S. That is, the pressure roller 62 forms the nipping region NP in cooperation with the heating unit 61, and is configured to apply heat and pressure to the sheet S at the nipping region NP in cooperation with the heating unit 61 (heater 611).

The pressure roller 62 is rotationally driven upon receipt of a driving force from a motor (not illustrated) provided inside the housing 2. The belt 614 is configured to circularly move following the rotation of the pressure roller 62 with the aid of the frictional force generated between the pressure roller 62 and the belt 614 or between the belt 614 and the sheet S nipped at the nipping region NP. Hence, the toner image having transferred on the sheet S is thermally fixed thereto while the sheet S is conveyed between the pressure roller 62 and the belt 614 heated by the heater 611.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7A through 9B, the fixing device 6 further includes: a fixing frame 63 covering the heating unit 61 and the pressure roller 62; and a shutter 64 supported by the fixing frame 63.

The fixing frame 63 holds the heating unit 61 and the pressure roller 62. The fixing frame 63 covers circumferences of the heating unit 61 and the pressure roller 62. The fixing frame 63 has a first opening 63a (see FIGS. 1, 7A and 7B) and a second opening 63b (see FIGS. 1, 7A and 7B). The first opening 63a is formed at an upstream side of the heating unit 61 and the pressure roller 62 in the sheet conveying direction. The second opening 63b is formed at a downstream side of the heating unit 61 and the pressure roller 62 in the sheet conveying direction. The fixing frame 63 covers the heating unit 61 from above.

The shutter 64 is positioned at an upstream side of the first opening 63a in the sheet conveying direction. The shutter 64 is an example of “shutter” of the disclosure.

The shutter 64 includes a shutter body 640, a pair of pivot shafts 641, and a connection shaft 642. The shutter body 640 has a generally flat plate-like shape extending in the left-right direction. Each pivot shaft 641 is provided on each end of the shutter body 640 in the left-right direction to extend therefrom outward in the left-right direction. The pivot shafts 641 are both rotatably supported by the fixing frame 63. The connection shaft 642 protrudes rightward from a right end of the shutter body 640. That is, the connection shaft 642 extends in parallel to each pivot shaft 641.

The shutter 64 is pivotally movable about an axis of each pivot shaft 641 between: a closing position (illustrated in FIGS. 7A, 8A and 9A) where the shutter 64 closes the first opening 63a; and an opening position (illustrated in FIGS. 7B, 7B and 9B) where the shutter 64 opens the first opening 63a. The nipping region NP defined between the heating unit 61 and the pressure roller 62 is covered with the shutter 64 when the shutter 64 is at the closing position, whereas the nipping region NP is exposed to an outside of the fixing frame 63 through the first opening 63a when the shutter 64 is at the opening position.

The shutter 64 covers an upstream end of the heating unit 61 in the sheet conveying direction when the shutter 64 is at the closing position, and opens the upstream end of the heating unit 61 in the sheet conveying direction when the shutter 64 is at the opening position. That is, the shutter 64 is movable between the closing position where the shutter 64 closes the upstream end of the heating unit 61 in the sheet conveying direction and the opening position where the shutter 64 opens the upstream end of the heating unit 61 in the sheet conveying direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 9A, 9B, and 10A, the shutter 64 has an abutment end part 64a. The abutment end part 64a is an upper end of the shutter 64 (shutter body 640) when the shutter 64 is at the closing position. When the shutter 64 is at the opening position, the shutter 64 (abutment end part 64a) abuts on an abutment surface 631 of the fixing frame 63 (see FIG. 9B). The abutment surface 631 of the fixing frame 63 faces upstream in the sheet conveying direction. The abutment end part 64a of the shutter 64 abuts on the abutment surface 631 when the shutter 64 is at the opening position. The abutment of the abutment end part 64a on the abutment surface 631 restricts the shutter 64 from pivotally moving further in a direction for opening the shutter 64 (clockwise in FIG. 9B) from the opening position illustrated in FIG. 9B. That is, the abutment surface 631 of the fixing frame 63 functions as a restriction surface for restricting the position of the shutter 64 when being abutted by the shutter 64 at the opening position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 10A and 10B, the shutter 64 also has an abutment part 64b configured to abut on the fixing frame 63 when the shutter 64 is at the closing position. The abutment part 64b is provided at a right end portion of the shutter 64 (shutter body 640). The abutment part 64b is configured to abut on an abutment surface 632 of the fixing frame 63 when the shutter 64 is at the closing position (see FIG. 10A).

The abutment surface 632 of the fixing frame 63 faces upstream in the sheet conveying direction. The abutment part 64b of the shutter 64 abuts on the abutment surface 632 when the shutter 64 is at the closing position. The abutment of the abutment part 64b on the abutment surface 632 restricts the shutter 64 from pivotally moving further in a direction for closing the shutter 64 (counterclockwise in FIG. 9A) from the closing position illustrated in FIG. 9A. That is, the abutment surface 632 of the fixing frame 63 functions as a restriction surface for restricting the position of the shutter 64 when being abutted by the shutter 64 at the closing position.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the fixing device 6 includes the pressure roller 62, and the heating unit 61 which includes the heater 611 and the belt 614. As an alternative, the fixing device 6 may be configured of a heat roller incorporating a heater, and a pressure roller configured to be pressed against the heat roller. Still alternatively, the fixing device 6 may be configured of a heat roller incorporating a heater, and a pressure belt urged toward the heat roller by an urging member.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 15, the drum shaft 54A of the photosensitive drum 54 protrudes outward in the left-right direction (leftward and rightward), along the rotational axis X, from each end in the left-right direction of a cartridge frame (left end and right end of the cartridge frame) of the process cartridge 50. That is, the drum shaft 54A protrudes toward each of the first main frame 24 and the second main frame 25 along rotational axis X. In the following description, a right end portion of the drum shaft 54A protruding toward the first main frame 24 will be referred to as a drum shaft 54AR, and a left end portion of the drum shaft 54A protruding toward the second main frame 25 will be referred to as a drum shaft 54AL. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the drum shaft 54AR is positioned on the right side of the center line CL in the left-right direction, while the drum shaft 54AL is positioned on the left side of the center line CL in the left-right direction.

The toner memory 57 is positioned on the left side of the center line CL of the process cartridge 50 in the left-right direction. The toner memory 57 is held by a memory holder 70, and the memory holder 70 is held to a left end surface of the cartridge frame of the process cartridge 50 by a holder cover 75. The memory holder 70 is an example of “holder” of the disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the memory holder 70 includes a first holder 71, a second holder 72, and a holder spring 73. The first holder 71 includes a sleeve part 711 having a square tube-like shape, and a base part 712 positioned at an upper end of the sleeve part 711 (one end of the sleeve part 711 in an axial direction of the sleeve part 711). The base part 712 holds the toner memory 57. Specifically, the toner memory 57 is held by the base part 712 such that the electrical contact surfaces 57a face upward. The electrical contact surfaces 57a are exposed upward from the base part 712. A boss 713 protrudes leftward from the sleeve part 711.

The second holder 72 is inserted in the sleeve part 711 through a lower open end of the sleeve part 711 (another end of the sleeve part 711 in the axial direction) from below. The second holder 72 is slidably movable, relative to the sleeve part 711, in the axial direction of the sleeve part 711.

The holder spring 73 is a coil spring extending in the axial direction of the sleeve part 711 of the first holder 71. The holder spring 73 is interposed between the first holder 71 (base part 712) and the second holder 72. The holder spring 73 urges the first holder 71 and the second holder 72 away from each other in the axial direction of the sleeve part 711, i.e., in a direction in which second holder 72 is slidably movable. The holder spring 73 is an example of “holder spring” of the disclosure.

In a state where no external force is applied to the first holder 71 and the second holder 72, the second holder 72 protrudes out (downward) from the first holder 71 by an urging force of the holder spring 73, as illustrated in FIG. 17A. On the other hand, in a state where an external force is applied to the first holder 71 and the second holder 72 to urge the first holder 71 and the second holder 72 toward each other, the second holder 72 is retracted inside the first holder 71 against the urging force of the holder spring 73, as illustrated in FIG. 17B.

The holder cover 75 holds the memory holder 70. The memory holder 70 is supported by the holder cover 75 such that the memory holder 70 is movable relative to the cartridge frame of the process cartridge 50.

Referring to FIG. 16, the holder cover 75 includes a holding part 76, a first fixing part 77, and a second fixing part 78. The holding part 76 covers the memory holder 70 from its left side and holds the memory holder 70. The first fixing part 77 is positioned frontward of the holding part 76, and the second fixing part 78 is positioned rearward of the holding part 76. The holder cover 75 is fixed to the cartridge frame of the process cartridge 50 through the first fixing part 77 and the second fixing part 78.

The holding part 76 has a through-hole 761 penetrating the holding part 76 in the left-right direction. The boss 713 of the first holder 71 of the memory holder 70 is inserted in the through-hole 761 from its right side. The boss 713 is movable within the through-hole 761, and hence, the memory holder 70 is movable relative to the cartridge frame of the process cartridge 50 to such an extent that the boss 713 is movable within the through-hole 761.

For example, FIG. 17A depicts a position of the memory holder 70 in a state where the boss 713 is positioned in an upper area of the through-hole 761. FIG. 17B depicts another position of the memory holder 70 in a state where the boss 713 is positioned in a lower area of the through-hole 761.

As illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, the first main frame 24 includes a front frame 24A constituting a frontward portion of the first main frame 24, and a rear frame 24B constituting a rearward portion of the first main frame 24 and positioned rearward of the front frame 24A. The front frame 24A and the rear frame 24B are integral with each other in the front-rear direction.

The front frame 24A of the first main frame 24 has a cartridge rail 241 and an abutment piece rail 242. The cartridge rail 241 has a groove-like shape that is open leftward. The cartridge rail 241 slopes diagonally downward toward the rear, while extending generally in the front-rear direction.

The cartridge rail 241 is configured to receive the drum shaft 54AR (protruding toward the right) of the photosensitive drum 54. The cartridge rail 241 functions to guide the drum shaft 54AR during attachment and detachment of the process cartridge 50 to and from the housing 2. The drum shaft 54AR is inserted in the cartridge rail 241 from its left side. Incidentally, the process cartridge 50 is attachable to the housing 2 toward the rear in the front-rear direction, and the process cartridge 50 is detachable from the housing 2 toward the front in the front-rear direction.

In this way, the cartridge rail 241 of the front frame 24A is configured to guide the drum shaft 54AR while the process cartridge 50 is being attached to and detached from the housing 2.

The abutment piece rail 242 has a groove-like shape that is open rightward. The abutment piece rail 242 slopes diagonally downward toward the rear, while extending generally in the front-rear direction. The abutment piece rail 242 is positioned rightward of the cartridge rail 241 in the left-right direction. That is, the abutment piece rail 242 is positioned outward of the cartridge rail 241 in the left-right direction.

The cartridge rail 241 includes a front portion 241a constituting a front part of the cartridge rail 241, a rear portion 241c constituting a rear part of the cartridge rail 241, and an intermediate portion 241b positioned between the front portion 241a and the rear portion 241c. The abutment piece rail 242 includes a front portion 242a constituting a front part of the abutment piece rail 242, a rear portion 242c constituting a rear part of the abutment piece rail 242, and an intermediate portion 242b positioned between the front portion 242a and the rear portion 242c.

The intermediate portion 241b of the cartridge rail 241 and the intermediate portion 242b of the abutment piece rail 242 are overlapped with each other and are in communication with each other. Hence, the intermediate portion 241b and the intermediate portion 242b provide in combination a through-hole 24C extending throughout a thickness of the front frame 24A in the left-right direction.

That is, the intermediate portion 241b (which is a part of the cartridge rail 241) and the intermediate portion 242b (which is a part of the abutment piece rail 242) are overlapped with each other, so that the overlapping portion between the cartridge rail 241 and the abutment piece rail 242 forms the through-hole 24C. This overlapping arrangement between the parts of the cartridge rail 241 and the abutment piece rail 242 can realize parts sharing between the cartridge rail 241 and the abutment piece rail 242.

The drum shaft 54AR enters the through-hole 24C while the process cartridge 50 is being attached to the housing 2 as well as while the process cartridge 50 is being detached from the housing 2.

The front portion 242a of the abutment piece rail 242 is positioned above the front portion 241a of the cartridge rail 241. The rear portion 242c of the abutment piece rail 242 is positioned above the rear portion 241c of the cartridge rail 241.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 20A, 20B and 21, a link 8 is provided on the first main frame 24 of the housing 2. The link 8 is configured to abut on the process cartridge 50 to move the shutter 64 between the opening position and the closing position. The link 8 is connected to the shutter 64. The link 8 is an example of “link” of the disclosure.

Specifically, the link 8 is configured to move the shutter 64 from the closing position to the open position in conjunction with the attachment of the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2 due to abutment of the attached process cartridge 50 with the link 8, and move the shutter 64 from the opening position to the closing position in conjunction with the detachment of the process cartridge 50 from the housing 2 due to abutment of the process cartridge 50 with the link 8. In this way, the link 8 can move the shutter 64 between the closing position and the opening position in accordance with the attachment/detachment of the process cartridge 50 relative to the housing 2.

That is, the link 8 is configured to open and close the shutter 64 in accordance with the attachment/detachment of the process cartridge 50 relative to the housing 2. Specifically, the shutter 64 has moved to the opening position in the state where the process cartridge 50 is attached to the housing 2, whereas the shutter 64 has moved to the closing position in a state where the process cartridge 50 is detached from the housing 2. The link 8 is positioned opposite the process cartridge 50 attached to the housing 2 with respect to the front frame 24A in the left-right direction.

The link 8 is positioned on the right side of the center line CL of the process cartridge 50 attached to the housing 2 in the left-right direction. The left-right direction is an example of “widthwise direction” of the disclosure.

Here, the link 8 is considered as being “on the right side” with respect to the center line CL in the left-right direction of the process cartridge 50″ as long as an entirety of or any part of the link 8 is positioned on the right side relative to the center line CL of the process cartridge 50. For example, a part of the link 8 may be overlapped with a right half portion of the process cartridge 50 (a portion rightward of the center line CL in the left-right direction), or the link 8 in its entirety may be positioned offset toward the right from the right end of the process cartridge 50.

On the other hand, the electrical contact 26 is positioned on the left side of the center line CL of the process cartridge 50 in the left-right direction.

Likewise, here, the electrical contact 26 is considered as being “on the left side” with respect to the center line CL of the process cartridge 50″ as long as an entirety of or any part of the electrical contact 26 is positioned on the left side relative to the center line CL of the process cartridge 50. For example, a part of the electrical contact 26 may be overlapped with a left half portion of the process cartridge 50 (a portion leftward of the center line CL), or the electrical contact 26 in its entirety may be positioned offset toward the left side from the left end of the process cartridge 50.

The link 8 is configured to shift between a first state and a second state. Specifically, the link 8 is in the first state prior to attachment of the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2. When the link 8 is in the first state, the shutter 64 is placed at the closing position. The link 8 has shifted to the second state, from the first state, in the state where the process cartridge 50 is attached to the housing 2. When the link 8 is in the second state, the shutter 64 is placed at the opening position.

That is, the link 8 can shift between: the first state where the link 8 renders the shutter 64 at the closing position; and the second state where the link 8 renders the shutter 64 at the opening position. The link 8 shifts from the first state to the second state to move the shutter 64 from the closing position to the opening position. The link 8 shifts from the second state to the first state to move the shutter 64 from the opening position to the closing position.

The link 8 includes an abutment piece 80, a first pivot link 81, a linear motion link 82, a second pivot link 83, a third pivot link 84, a shutter link 85, and a coil spring 86. The abutment piece 80 is configured to abut on the drum shaft 54AR of the photosensitive drum 54. The abutment piece 80 is caused to move by abutment thereof on the drum shaft 54AR of the photosensitive drum 54. The drum shaft 54AR, which is configured to abut on the abutment piece 80, is positioned on the right side relative to the center line CL of the process cartridge 50 in the left-right direction. The abutment piece 80 is slidably fitted in the abutment piece rail 242. The abutment piece rail 242 is configured to guide the movement of the abutment piece 80 that is movable in response to the abutment thereof on the drum shaft 54AR. The abutment piece 80 is an example of “abutment part” of the disclosure. The drum shaft 54AR is an example of “link abutment part” of the disclosure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 22A through 22C, the abutment piece 80 includes a base part 801, a connection part 802, a first boss 803, and a second boss 804. The base part 801 has a plate-like shape having a right surface facing rightward and a left surface facing leftward. The connection part 802 is a boss protruding rightward from the right surface of the base part 801.

The first boss 803 and the second boss 804 are protrusions protruding leftward from the left surface of the base part 801. The first boss 803 and the second boss 804 are inserted in the abutment piece rail 242 of the first main frame 24 from its right side, and are guided by the abutment piece rail 242.

In a state where the first boss 803 and the second boss 804 are received in the abutment piece rail 242, the second boss 804 is positioned upstream of the first boss 803 in an attachment direction of the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2. Here, the attachment direction is a direction in which the process cartridge 50 inserted in the housing 2 is moved toward an attachment position thereof relative to the housing 2 for the attachment of the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2. In the present embodiment, the attachment direction is generally coincident with the rearward direction. To be more specific, the attachment direction is inclined diagonally downward toward the rear.

The abutment piece 80 is positioned opposite the process cartridge 50 attached to the housing 2 with respect to the front frame 24A of the first main frame 24 in the left-right direction. In the state where the first boss 803 and the second boss 804 are received in the abutment piece rail 242, the first boss 803 and the second boss 804 do not protrude further toward the process cartridge 50 (further toward the left) from the front frame 24A.

The first boss 803 is configured to abut on the drum shaft 54AR during the attachment of the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2, and the second boss 804 is configured to abut on the drum shaft 54AR during the detachment of the process cartridge 50 from the housing 2. That is, the first boss 803 is configured to abut on the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 that is being attached to the housing 2, and the second boss 804 is configured to abut on the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 that is being detached from the housing 2.

In this case, the first boss 803 abuts on the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 that is being attached to the housing 2 through the intermediate portion 242b (through-hole 24C) of the abutment piece rail 242 when the first boss 803 is positioned at the intermediate portion 242b (through-hole 24C) of the abutment piece rail 242. Further, the second boss 804 abuts on the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 that is being detached from the housing 2 through the intermediate portion 242b (through-hole 24C) when the second protrusion 804 is positioned at the intermediate portion 242b (through-hole 24C) of the abutment piece rail 242.

The drum shaft 54AR may abut on the first boss 803 and the second boss 804, respectively, through the through-hole 24C at a position within the through-hole 24C, or rightward of the through-hole 24C.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the abutment piece 80 is configured to be moved by the abutment with the drum shaft 54AR. As an alternative, the abutment piece 80 may be configured to be moved by the abutment with a cartridge protrusion of the process cartridge 50 (rather than with the drum shaft 54AR), the cartridge protrusion being a protrusion provided separately from the drum shaft 54AR and protruding toward the first main frame 24.

The first pivot link 81 extends generally linearly and is pivotally movably connected to the abutment piece 80. The first pivot link 81 is positioned rightward of the front frame 24A of the first main frame 24. The first pivot link 81 has a front end portion provided with a fitting portion 811, and a rear end portion provided with a boss 812 protruding leftward. The connection part 802 of the abutment piece 80 is pivotally movably fitted in the fitting portion 811 at the front end portion of the first pivot link 81. The first pivot link 81 is in such an inclined posture that the fitting portion 811 is positioned above and frontward of the boss 812. The first pivot link 81 is connected to the abutment piece 80 by the fitting engagement of the fitting portion 811 with the connection part 802, and the first pivot link 81 is pivotally movable about an axis of the boss 812 in accordance with the movement of the abutment piece 80.

The linear motion link 82 extends generally linearly in the front-rear direction. The linear motion link 82 is pivotally movably connected to the first pivot link 81. The linear motion link 82 is supported by the first main frame 24 such that the linear motion link 82 is movable in the front-rear direction relative to the first main frame 24. The linear motion link 82 is positioned rightward of the front frame 24A of the first main frame 24 in the left-right direction. The linear motion link 82 has a front end portion provided with a fitting portion 821 in which the boss 812 of the first pivot link 81 is pivotably fitted. The linear motion link 82 has a rear end portion formed with a connection hole 822. The linear motion link 82 is connected to the first pivot link 81 by the fitting engagement between the boss 812 and the fitting portion 821, and is linearly movable in the front-rear direction in accordance with the pivotal movement of the first pivot link 81. That is, the linear motion link 82 is linearly movable in the second direction of the disclosure.

The linear motion link 82 moves rearward to move the shutter 64 from the closing position to the opening position, whereas the linear motion link 82 moves frontward to move the shutter 64 from the opening position to the closing position. In the first state of the link 8, the linear motion link 82 places the shutter 64 at the closing position. In the second state of the link 8, the linear motion link 82 places the shutter 64 at the opening position. The linear motion link 82 is at a first position when the link 8 is in the first state, and the linear motion link 82 is at a second position when the link 8 is in the second state.

The second pivot link 83 is connected to the linear motion link 82, and is supported by the first main frame 24. The second pivot link 83 includes: a base support portion 831 rotatably supported by the first main frame 24; a first arm 832 extending generally downward from the base support portion 831; and a second arm 833 extending generally upward from the base support portion 831. The first arm 832 has a tip end portion provided with an engagement pin 832a protruding leftward. The second arm 833 has a tip end portion formed with a connection hole 833a.

The engagement pin 832a of the first arm 832 is inserted in the connection hole 822 of the linear motion link 82 from its right side, and is configured to engage with the connection hole 822 in accordance with the movement of the linear motion link 82 in the front-rear direction. The second pivot link 83 is connected to the linear motion link 82 by the engagement between the engagement pin 832a and the connection hole 822, and is pivotally movable about an axis of the base support portion 831 in accordance with the movement of the linear motion link 82.

The third pivot link 84 is connected to the second pivot link 83, and is pivotally movably supported by a support shaft 65 of the fixing device 6. The support shaft 65 protrudes rightward from a right end portion of the fixing frame 63 (see FIGS. 10A and 10B).

The third pivot link 84 includes: a base portion 841 pivotally movably supported by the support shaft 65 of the fixing device 6; an engagement pin 842 protruding rightward from the base portion 841; and an operation cam 843 provided at a different position from the engagement pin 842 in a circumferential direction of the base portion 841. The operation cam 843 is formed with an engagement hole 844. The engagement hole 844 penetrates through the operation cam 843 in the left-right direction. The engagement hole 844 is an arcuate slot centered on the axis of the support shaft 65. The engagement hole 844 has a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface.

The engagement pin 842 of the third pivot link 84 is inserted in the connection hole 833a of the second pivot link 83 from its left side. The engagement pin 842 is configured to be engaged with the connection hole 833a in accordance with the pivotal movement of the second pivot link 83. The third pivot link 84 is configured to be connected to the second pivot link 83 by the engagement between the engagement pin 842 and the connection hole 833a, and is pivotally movable about an axis of the support shaft 65 in accordance with the pivotal movement of the second pivot link 83.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7A through 8B, the shutter link 85 is connected to the third pivot link 84, and is pivotally movably supported by the support shaft 65 of the fixing device 6. The shutter link 85 is movable in response to the movement of the third pivot link 84 to move the shutter 64 of the fixing device 6 between the closing position and the opening position. The shutter link 85 is positioned at the right end of the fixing device 6.

The shutter link 85 includes a base portion 851, an arm portion 852, an engagement portion 853, and an engagement pin 854.

The base portion 851 is pivotally movably supported by the support shaft 65 that protrudes rightward from the right end of the fixing device 6. The arm portion 852 extends generally frontward from the base portion 851. The arm portion 852 has a front end where the engagement portion 853 is positioned. The engagement portion 853 is formed with an engagement hole 853a which has an oblong shape elongated generally in the front-rear direction. The connection shaft 642 of the shutter 64 (see FIGS. 7A, 7B) is engaged with the engagement hole 853a. Thus, the shutter link 85 is connected to the shutter 64 through the engagement between the engagement hole 853a and the connection shaft 642.

The shutter link 85 is pivotally movable about a pivot axis of the base portion 851 such that the engagement portion 853 is movable in the up-down direction. As the shutter link 85 pivots to move the engagement portion 853 downward, the shutter 64 is moved to the closing position as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 8A. As the shutter link 85 pivots to move the engagement portion 853 upward, the shutter 64 is moved to the opening position as illustrated in FIGS. 7B and 8B. That is, downward pivoting movement of the shutter link 85 moves the shutter 64 to the closing position, and upward pivoting movement of the shutter link 85 moves the shutter 64 to the opening position.

The engagement pin 854 is provided at a rear end portion of the arm portion 852 (adjacent to the base portion 851) and protrudes rightward therefrom. The engagement pin 854 is inserted in the engagement hole 844 of the third pivot link 84 from its left side.

The coil spring 86 is supported by the base portion 841 of the third pivot link 84. The coil spring 86 is resiliently deformable and movable in accordance with the movement of the third pivot link 84.

The coil spring 86 has a coil arm 861. The coil arm 861 extends through the engagement hole 844 to extend in a direction from the radially inner surface to the radially outer surface of the engagement hole 844.

The coil arm 861 is positioned above the engagement pin 854 in the engagement hole 844. The coil spring 86 is pivotable in accordance with the pivotal movement of the third pivot link 84. The engagement hole 844 has a lower end functioning as an engagement surface 844a. The engagement surface 844a is positioned below the engagement pin 854. The engagement hole 844 has an upper end 844b opposite the engagement surface 844a (lower end). The upper end 844b is positioned above the coil arm 861. A gap is formed between the upper end 844b and the coil arm 861.

The engagement pin 854 is brought into abutment with the engagement surface 844a of the engagement hole 844 by the pivotal movement of the third pivot link 84 in a direction for moving the operation cam 843 upward, as illustrated in FIG. 6B. The engagement pin 854 is brought into abutment with the coil arm 861 of the coil spring 86 by the pivotal movement of the third pivot link 84 in a direction for moving the operation cam 843 downward, as illustrated in FIG. 6A.

The shutter link 85 is connected to the third pivot link 84 by the engagement of the engagement pin 854 with the coil arm 861 or with the engagement surface 844a. The shutter link 85 is movable in accordance with the pivotal movement of the third pivot link 84, thereby moving the shutter 64 between the closing position and the opening position.

Specifically, in accordance with the pivotal movement of the third pivot link 84 to move the operation cam 843 downward, the shutter link 85 is depressed downward by the coil spring 86 to move the shutter 64 to the closing position. The third pivot link 84 is at a first cam position when the shutter 64 is placed at the closing position (i.e., when the link 8 is in the first state) as a result of the pivotal movement of the third pivot link 84.

In accordance with the pivotal movement of the third pivot link 84 to move the operation cam 843 upward, the shutter link 85 is urged upward by the engagement surface 844a of the engagement hole 844 to move the shutter 64 to the opening position. The third pivot link 84 is at a second cam position when the shutter 64 is placed at the opening position (i.e., when the link 8 is in the second state) as a result of the pivotal movement of the third pivot link 84.

In the image-forming apparatus 1, the abutment piece 80 of the link 8 is brought into contact with the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 during the attachment/detachment of the process cartridge 50 relative to the housing 2, so that the abutment piece 80 is caused to move along the abutment piece rail 242. In this way, a driving force is transmitted from the drum shaft 54AR to the shutter 64 through the link 8 to move the shutter 64 between the closing position and the opening position.

In the present embodiment, the link 8 includes the abutment piece 80, the first pivot link 81, the linear motion link 82, the second pivot link 83, the third pivot link 84, the shutter link 85, and the coil spring 86. As an alternative, the link 8 may be constituted by a single link connected to the shutter 64 and configured to open and close the shutter 64 in response to abutment with the process cartridge 50. Still alternatively, the link 8 may move differently from the pivotal/sliding movements as in the described embodiment, provided that the link 8 can function to open and close the shutter 64 in interlocking relation to the attachment and detachment of the process cartridge 50 to and from the housing 2.

An urging member 9 is also provided in the housing 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B. The urging member 9 is configured to urge the link 8 in the direction for opening the shutter 64 (in the direction for moving the shutter 64 to the opening position) before the shutter 64 reaches the opening position in a process for the link 8 to move the shutter 64 from the closing position to the opening position. When the shutter 64 is at the opening position, the urging member 9 urges the linear motion link 82 rearward toward the second position.

Further, the urging member 9 is configured to urge the link 8 in the direction for closing the shutter 64 (in the direction for moving the shutter 64 to the closing position) before the shutter 64 reaches the closing position in a process for the link 8 to move the shutter 64 from the opening position to the closing position. When the shutter 64 is at the closing position, the urging member 9 urges the linear motion link 82 frontward toward the first position.

Further, the urging member 9 is configured to urge the link 8 so as to restrict further movement of the link 8, once the link 8 has moved the shutter 64 to the opening position or to the closing position. That is, when the shutter 64 is at the closing position, the urging member 9 urges the shutter 64 (through the link 8) such that the shutter 64 is retained at the closing position. When the shutter 64 is at the opening position, the urging member 9 urges the shutter 64 (through the link 8) such that the shutter 64 is retained at the opening position.

In this way, the urging member 9 is configured urge the link 8 to hold the shutter 64 at the closing position when the shutter 64 is at the closing position, and to hold the shutter 64 at the opening position when the shutter 64 is at the opening position. Hence, the urging member 9, a single member, can not only maintain the shutter 64 at its opening position to stably keep the shutter 64 opened, but also maintain the shutter 64 at its closing position to stably keep the shutter 64 closed. The urging member 9 is an example of “urging member” of the disclosure.

The urging member 9 includes an urging spring 92 and a pressure arm 91. The pressure arm 91 is urged by the urging spring 92 and is configured to abut on the linear motion link 82 from above. The urging spring 92 urges a free end portion of the pressure arm 91 toward an upper surface 82A of the linear motion link 82. The urging member 9 can stably urge the linear motion link 82 through the pressure arm 91 that is connected to the urging spring 92. The urging spring 92 is an example of “urging spring” of the disclosure. The pressure arm 91 is an example of “pressing part” of the disclosure.

The pressure arm 91 includes a base part 911, an abutment part 912, and a fitting part 913. The base part 911 is a base end portion of the pressure arm 91, and is pivotally movably supported by the first main frame 24. The abutment part 912 is the free end portion of the pressure arm 91, and is in abutment with a link protrusion 823 (described later) on the upper surface 82A of the linear motion link 82. The fitting part 913 is fitted in the locking spring 92. The pressure arm 91 extends in the front-rear direction. The base part 911 is at a front portion of the pressure arm 91, and the abutment part 912 is at a rear portion of the pressure arm 91. The fitting part 913 is positioned above the abutment part 912. The abutment part 912 is pivotally movable in the up-down direction about an axis of the base part 911.

The base part 911 is a pivot center of the pressure arm 91. Since the free end portion of the pressure arm 91 is provided with the abutment par 912, the linear motion link 82 can be smoothly urged by the pressure arm 91.

The urging spring 92 is supported by the first main frame 24. The urging spring 92 has a lower end portion fitted over the fitting part 913. The urging spring 92 urges the abutment part 912 of the pressure arm 91 downward toward the upper surface 82A of the linear motion link 82. The abutment part 912 is pressed against the link protrusion 823 on the upper surface 82A of the linear motion link 82 from above.

The linear motion link 82 has the link protrusion 823 on the upper surface 82A at a position between the fitting portion 821 and the connection hole 822. The link protrusion 823 protrudes upward from the upper surface 82A toward the urging member 9. In a side view, the link protrusion 823 has a mountain-like shape having a first depressed surface 823a, a second depressed surface 823b, and a third depressed surface 823c. The link protrusion 823 is an example of “protrusion” of the disclosure.

The second depressed surface 823b and third depressed surface 823c are sloped relative to the front-rear direction, which is coincident with directions in which the linear motion link 82 is movable. The third depressed surface 823c and the second depressed surface 823b are sloped to extend in different directions from each other.

The first depressed surface 823a constitutes an apex part of the mountain-like shape of the link protrusion 823. The first depressed surface 823a extends in a horizontal direction. The second depressed surface 823b is positioned frontward of the first depressed surface 823a, and is inclined diagonally upward toward the first depressed surface 823a. That is, the second depressed surface 823b is inclined diagonally upward toward the rear. In this way, the second depressed surface 823b is sloped diagonally upward as extending in a moving direction of the linear motion link 82 toward the second position from the first position. The second depressed surface 823b has a rear end connected to a front end of the first depressed surface 823a.

The third depressed surface 823c is positioned rearward of the first depressed surface 823a, and is inclined diagonally downward as extending away from the first depressed surface 823a. That is, the third depressed surface 823c is inclined diagonally downward toward the rear. In this way, the third depressed surface 823c is sloped diagonally upward as extending in a moving direction of the linear motion link 82 toward the first position from the second position. The third depressed surface 823c has a front end connected to a rear end of the first depressed surface 823a. The third depressed surface 823c is positioned opposite the second depressed surface 823b with respect to the first depressed surface 823a in the front-rear direction.

The linear motion link 82 is movable in the front-rear direction to move the abutment part 912 of the pressure arm 91 among three different positions relative to the link protrusion 823: the abutment part 912 is on the first depressed surface 823a to press the same; the abutment part 912 is on the second depressed surface 823b to press the same; and the abutment part 912 is on the third depressed surface 823c to press the same. The pressure arm 91 urged by the urging spring 92 can abut on the second depressed surface 823b and the third depressed surface 823c. Specifically, the pressure arm 91 abuts on the third depressed surface 823c when the linear motion link 82 is at the first position (for closing the shutter 64), and the pressure arm 91 abuts on the second depressed surface 823b when the linear motion link 82 is at the second position (for opening the shutter 64).

The first depressed surface 823a is a flat surface extending in the horizontal direction. As such, while the pressure arm 91 presses the first depressed surface 823a from above, the pressing force from the pressure arm 91 neither acts rearward (i.e., in the direction for moving the linear motion link 82 toward the second position) nor frontward (i.e., in the direction for moving the linear motion link 82 toward the first position).

The second depressed surface 823b is inclined diagonally upward toward the rear. As such, while the pressure arm 91 presses the second depressed surface 823b from above, the pressing force from the pressure arm 91 acts rearward, i.e., in the direction for moving the linear motion link 82 toward the second position. In a state where the pressure arm 91 abuts on the second depressed surface 823b, the second depressed surface 823b converts the downward urging force of the urging spring 92 into a force acting in the direction for moving the linear motion link 82 from the first position toward the second position. Further, in the state where the pressure arm 91 presses the second depressed surface 823b from above, the abutment part 912 of the pressure arm 91 is engaged with the second depressed surface 823b, thereby restricting the linear motion link 82 from moving frontward.

The third depressed surface 823c is inclined diagonally downward toward the rear. As such, while the pressure arm 91 presses the third depressed surface 823c from above, the pressing force from the pressure arm 91 acts frontward. i.e., in the direction for moving the linear motion link 82 toward the first position. In a state where the pressure arm 91 abuts on the third depressed surface 823c, the third depressed surface 823c converts the downward urging force of the urging spring 92 into a force acting in the direction for moving the linear motion link 82 from the second position toward the first position. Further, in the state where the pressure arm 91 presses the third depressed surface 823c from above, the abutment part 912 of the pressure arm 91 is engaged with the third depressed surface 823c, thereby restricting the linear motion link 82 from moving rearward.

In this way, since the linear motion link 82 includes the link protrusion 823 having the second depressed surface 823b and the third depressed surface 823c, the pressure arm 91 pressed by the urging spring 92 can urge the linear motion link 82 in the front-rear direction by abutting on either the second depressed surface 823b or the third depressed surface 823c. With this structure, by utilizing the urging force of the urging spring 92, the shutter 64 can be stably maintained at its closing position and at its opening position, respectively, so that the shutter 64 can be stably kept closed and opened.

Hereinafter, operations of the link 8 will be described.

(Operations for Attachment of the Process Cartridge 5)

Firstly, operations of the link 8 for attaching the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2 will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 20A through 21, in a state prior to attachment of the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2 where the process cartridge 50 is detached from the housing 2, and in a state where the process cartridge 50 is at an attachment starting position thereof illustrated in FIG. 21 (in a state where a leading end 50A of the process cartridge 50 in an inserting direction thereof is inserted in the housing 2), the drum shaft 54AR is positioned frontward of and away from the abutment piece 80, and the abutment piece 80 is positioned to extend over the front portion 242a and the intermediate portion 242b of the abutment piece rail 242.

Specifically, at this time, the abutment piece 80 is fitted in the abutment piece rail 242 such that the first boss 803 is positioned in the intermediate portion 242b (the through-hole 24C) of the abutment piece rail 242 and the second boss 804 is positioned in the front portion 242a of the abutment piece rail 242. Here, the inserting direction of the process cartridge 50 is coincident with the attachment direction of the process cartridge 50.

In the state where the abutment piece 80 is at the position illustrated in FIG. 21, the shutter 64 has been moved by the link 8 to the closing position (illustrated in FIG. 8A). With this structure, even if the user inadvertently inserts his hand into housing 2 through the opening 2A in the state where the process cartridge 50 is detached from the housing 2, the shutter 64 can block the user's hand from touching the heating unit 61 of the fixing device 6.

Further, in the state where the abutment piece 80 is at the position illustrated in FIG. 21, the abutment part 912 of the pressure arm 91 is in abutment with the third depressed surface 823c of the linear motion link 82 (illustrated in FIG. 20), thereby restricting the linear motion link 82 from moving rearward. That is, the linear motion link 82 is fixed in position by the urging member 9, with the shutter 64 having moved to the closing position by the link 8. With this structure, the shutter 64 is restricted from moving unexpectedly from the closing position to the opening position, and the shutter 64 can be securely maintained at the closing position.

Further, the abutment piece rail 242 formed in the front frame 24A for guiding the abutment piece 80 is positioned outward of the cartridge rail 241 in the left-right direction, and the first boss 803 and the second boss 804 of the abutment piece 80 are so positioned not to protrude further inward toward the process cartridge 50 relative to the front frame 24A in the left-right direction. This structure can restrain the user's hand from touching the abutment piece 80 in the state where the process cartridge 50 is detached from the housing 2, thereby suppressing accidental opening of the shutter 64 due to unexpected movement of the link 8.

As the process cartridge 50 at the attachment starting position is further inserted in the attachment direction toward the attachment position, the drum shaft 54AR enters the front portion 241a of the cartridge rail 241 and moves along the cartridge rail 241. As illustrated in FIG. 23, when the drum shaft 54AR moving along the cartridge rail 241 enters the intermediate portion 241b (the through-hole 24C), the drum shaft 54AR abuts on the first boss 803 of the abutment piece 80.

As illustrated in FIGS. 24A through 26, when being abutted by the drum shaft 54AR that is moving in the intermediate portion 241b (the through-hole 24C) of the cartridge rail 241, the abutment piece 80 is depressed by the drum shaft 54AR and is moved toward downstream in the attachment direction of the process cartridge 50, i.e., toward the rear.

While the abutment piece 80 is being moved by the drum shaft 54AR that is moving in the intermediate portion 241b (through-hole 24C), the first boss 803 is positioned such that: a rear part of the first boss 803 is positioned in the rear portion 242c of the abutment piece rail 242; and a remaining part of the first boss 803 is positioned in the intermediate portion 242b (the through-hole 24C) of the abutment piece rail 242. Further, the second boss 804 is positioned in the intermediate portion 242b (through-hole 24C) of the abutment piece rail 242.

In accordance with the movement of the abutment piece 80, the first pivot link 81 connected to the abutment piece 80 is pivotally moved downward to reduce an inclination angle of the first pivot link 81 with respect to the horizontal direction (see FIGS. 24A and 24B), and is moved rearward. In response to the pivotal movement and rearward movement of the first pivot link 81, the linear motion link 82 connected to the first pivot link 81 is linearly moved rearward.

In response to the rearward movement of the linear motion link 82, the connection hole 822 of the linear motion link 82 is brought into engagement with the engagement pin 832a of the second pivot link 83, thereby pivotally moving the second pivot link 83 about the axis of the base support portion 831 such that the engagement pin 832a is moved rearward. In response to the pivotal movement of the second pivot link 83, the connection hole 833a of the second pivot link 83 is brought into engagement with the engagement pin 842 of the third pivot link 84, thereby pivotally moving the third pivot link 84 about the support shaft 65 such that the engagement pin 842 is moved frontward.

In accordance with the rearward movement of the linear motion link 82, the abutment part 912 of the pressure arm 91 of the urging member 9 climbs up the third depressed surface 823c of the link protrusion 823 against the urging force of the urging spring 92 and moves onto the first depressed surface 823a from the third depressed surface 823c. That is, the pressure arm 91 abuts on the first depressed surface 823a after abutting on the third depressed surface 823c in the process for attaching the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2. In a state where the pressure arm 91 is in abutment with the first depressed surface 823a which is a horizontal plane, the urging member 9 does not restrict the shutter 64 from moving from the closing position to the opening position.

With this structure, in the process for attaching the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2, the linear motion link 82 moves rearward against the pressing force of the pressure arm 91. As a result of the rearward movement of the linear motion link 82, the shutter 64, which has been held at the closing position, is now ready to shift into the opening position from the closing position. That is, the shutter 64 is now switchable in state from the closing state to the opening state.

As the process cartridge 50 is further inserted toward the attachment position from the position illustrated in FIG. 25, the abutment piece 80 is further moved toward downstream in the attachment direction by the drum shaft 54AR that is moving along the intermediate portion 241b (the through-hole 24C) of the cartridge rail 241, as illustrated in FIG. 28. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 28, the first boss 803 of the abutment piece 80 is positioned in the rear portion 242c of the abutment piece rail 242, and the second boss 804 of the abutment piece 80 is positioned in the intermediate portion 242b (the through-hole 24C) of the abutment piece rail 242.

As illustrated in FIG. 29, the drum shaft 54AR has moved into the rear portion 241c from the intermediate portion 241b in the cartridge rail 241, after pushing and moving the first boss 803 into the rear portion 242c of the abutment piece rail 242. Hence, the drum shaft 54AR is now separated from the abutment piece 80.

In accordance with the movement of the abutment piece 80, the first pivot link 81 is pivotally moved downward to further reduce the inclination angle of the first pivot link 81 with respect to the horizontal direction, and at the same time the first pivot link 81 is moved further rearward, as illustrated in FIGS. 27A and 27B. In response to the pivotal movement and rearward movement of the first pivot link 81, the linear motion link 82 is further linearly moved rearward. In response to the rearward movement of the linear motion link 82, the second pivot link 83 is further pivotally moved such that the engagement pin 832a is moved rearward. In response to the pivotal movement of the second pivot link 83, the third pivot link 84 is further pivotally moved such that the engagement pin 842 is moved frontward.

In response to the pivotal movement of the third pivot link 84, the engagement surface 844a of the engagement hole 844 in the operation cam 843 is brought into engagement with the engagement pin 854 of the shutter link 85 from below. Due to the engagement of the engagement surface 844a with the engagement pin 854, the shutter link 85 is pivotally moved in such a direction that the engagement portion 853 is moved upward, thereby moving the shutter 64 from the closing position toward the opening position.

In this case, since the movement of the drum shaft 54AR abutting on the abutment piece 80 is transmitted to the shutter 64 through the link 8, the driving force can be efficiently transmitted to the shutter 64 even if the process cartridge 50 at the attachment position in the housing 2 is apart from the shutter 64.

When the drum shaft 54AR moves the abutment piece 80 until the first boss 803 reaches the rear portion 242c of the abutment piece rail 242, as illustrated in FIG. 29, the linear motion link 82 moves further rearward, which then causes the abutment part 912 of the pressure arm 91 of the urging member 9 to move from the first depressed surface 823a to the second depressed surface 823b of the linear motion link 82 due to the urging force of the urging spring 92 (see FIGS. 27A and 27B).

Here, in a state where the abutment piece 80 has moved by the drum shaft 54AR until the first boss 803 is in the rear portion 242c of the abutment piece rail 242, the position of the abutment part 912 of the pressure arm 91 on the second depressed surface 823b (at which position the abutment part 912 abuts on the second depressed surface 823b) is subject to a dimensional tolerance of each component constituting the link 8 and a tolerance in connecting position between the components.

In this connection, a positional relationship between the pressure arm 91 and the link 8 is so designed that the abutment part 912 of the pressure arm 91 abuts on the second depressed surface 823b without fail in the state where the abutment piece 80 has moved to such a position that the first boss 803 is located in the rear portion 242c of the abutment piece rail 242. Further, within the dimensional tolerance of each component constituting the link 8, the pressure arm 91 and the link 8 are so designed that the abutment part 912 does not contact a flat part of the upper surface 82A of the linear motion link 82 even in a case where the abutment part 912 abuts on the second depressed surface 823b at a lowermost end thereof, the flat part being positioned frontward of the second depressed surface 823b.

After the abutment part 912 abuts on the second depressed surface 823b (after the abutment piece 80 has moved until the first boss 803 reaches the rear portion 242c of the abutment piece rail 242), the drum shaft 54AR no longer moves the abutment piece 80 since the drum shaft 54AR is separated away from the first boss 803 of the abutment piece 80. However, since the abutment part 912 is in abutment with the second depressed surface 823b as illustrated in FIGS. 30A and 30B, the pressing force from the pressure arm 91 is applied to the linear motion link 82 in a direction for urging the linear motion link 82 toward the second position, thereby causing the linear motion link 82 to move rearward.

As illustrated in FIG. 8B, in accordance with the rearward movement of the linear motion link 82 due to the pressing force applied from the pressure arm 91, the shutter link 85 is pivotally moved in such a direction that the engagement portion 853 is moved upward, thereby moving the shutter 64 to the opening position.

Here, the pressure arm 91 and the link 8 are so designed that the abutment part 912 of the pressure arm 91 does not contact the flat part of the upper surface 82A positioned frontward of the second depressed surface 823b even in a case where the linear motion link 82 has been moved rearward by the pressing force of the pressure arm 91 until the shutter 64 is moved to the opening position (see FIGS. 30A and 30B). With this structure, the shutter 64 can be maintained at its opening position by the pressing force from the pressure arm 91.

Further, as the linear motion link 82 moves rearward by the pressing force applied from the pressure arm 91, the abutment piece 80 is pulled by the first pivot link 81 to be moved rearward, so that the first boss 803 of the abutment piece 80 moves from the position illustrated in FIG. 29 to the position illustrated in FIG. 31 along the rear portion 242c of the abutment piece rail 242.

When the shutter 64 has moved to the opening position, the abutment end part 64a of the shutter 64 abuts on the abutment surface 631 of the fixing frame 63, thereby restricting further pivoting of the shutter 64 and terminating further movement of the link 8. Since the further movement of the shutter 64 is restricted due to the abutment with the abutment surface 631, the shutter 64 can be maintained at the opening position. Further, since the movement of the link 8 is also terminated, a movable range of the link 8 can be set smaller.

Further, in the state where the pressure arm 91 is in abutment with the second depressed surface 823b, the abutment part 912 of the pressure arm 91 is engaged with the second depressed surface 823b to restrict the linear motion link 82 from moving frontward. The linear motion link 82 is thus fixed in position by the urging member 9 in a state where the shutter 64 is at the opening position, thereby restraining the shutter 64 from unexpectedly moving from the opening position toward the closing position.

In this way, the image-forming apparatus 1 is so configured that: the abutment piece 80 is contacted by the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 that is being attached to the housing 2, and is moved by the drum shaft 54AR to move the shutter 64 from the closing position toward the opening position; the abutment piece 80 is then separated from the drum shaft 54AR before the shutter 64 arrives at the opening position; and the abutment piece 80 separated from the drum shaft 54AR then moves further to move the shutter 64 to the opening position.

With this structure, when the shutter 64 has arrived at the opening position, the link 8 including the abutment piece 80 and the process cartridge 50 including the drum shaft 54AR are separated from each other. Therefore, a user's operation to the process cartridge 50 does not affect opening/closing states of the shutter 64. Further, since there is no need to move the link 8 after the shutter 64 has moved to the opening position, the movable range of the link 8 can be set smaller.

Further, in the process for attachment of the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2, once the link 8 and the process cartridge 50 are separated from each other after the process cartridge 50 abuts on the link 8, the linear motion link 82 is configured to be urged to move toward the second position by the pressure arm 91 of the urging member 9.

With this structure, since the link 8 is configured to be urged toward the second state by the urging member 9 even after the link 8 is separated from the process cartridge 50, the shutter 64 can be moved to the opening position by the link 8 that is urged by the urging member 9.

In particular, the link 8 can shift to the second state by the pressing of the pressure arm 91 against the second depressed surface 823b of the linear motion link 82, thereby moving the shutter 64 to the opening position.

Further, the pressure arm 91 is configured to abut on the first depressed surface 823a of the link 8 when the abutment piece 80 of the link 8 is abutted by the process cartridge 50 that is being attached to the housing 2, and the link 8 is configured to shift toward the second state such that the pressure arm 91 abuts on the second depressed surface 823b of the link 8 before the link 8 and the process cartridge 50 are separated from each other.

With this structure, since the pressure arm 91 is in abutment with the second depressed surface 823b when the link 8 and the process cartridge 50 are separated from each other, the link 8 can reliably move the shutter 64 to the opening position even after the link 8 is separated from the process cartridge 50. That is, since the pressure arm 91 urged by the urging spring 92 is in contact with the second depressed surface 823b after the link 8 and the process cartridge 50 are separated from each other, the link 8 urged by the pressing member 9 can move the shutter 64 to the opening position even after the link 8 is separated from the process cartridge 50. In this way, the link 8 is still allowed to move, by the urging member 9, even after the link 8 and the process cartridge 50 are separated from each other.

As the process cartridge 50 is further inserted toward the attachment position from the position illustrated in FIG. 28, the drum shaft 54AR moves from the intermediate portion 241b to the rear portion 241c of the cartridge rail 241, and then moves in the attachment direction toward the attachment position within the rear portion 241c. Thereafter, the process cartridge 50 reaches the attachment position illustrated in FIG. 32, where attachment of the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2 is complete.

(Operations for Detaching the Process Cartridge 50)

Next, operations of the link 8 at the time of detachment of the process cartridge 50 at the attachment position from the housing 2 will be described. For detachment of the process cartridge 50, the operations performed for attaching the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2 are performed in reverse.

When the process cartridge 50 at the attachment position illustrated in FIG. 32 is moved frontward relative to the housing 2 for detachment of the process cartridge 50, the drum shaft 54AR moves toward downstream in a detachment direction thereof along the rear portion 241c of the cartridge rail 241. Here, the detachment direction represents a direction in which the process cartridge 50 is moved toward the outside of the housing 2 for withdrawal of the process cartridge 50 from the housing 2. As illustrated in FIG. 28, when the drum shaft 54AR moving along the cartridge rail 241 reaches the intermediate portion 241b (the through-hole 24C), the drum shaft 54AR comes into contact with the second boss 804 of the abutment piece 80.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, the abutment piece 80 is pushed by the drum shaft 54AR when contacted by the drum shaft 54AR, and is moved by the drum shaft 54AR toward further downstream in the detachment direction of the process cartridge 50. That is, the first boss 803 of the abutment piece 80 moves from the rear portion 242c to the intermediate portion 242b (through-hole 24C) of the abutment piece rail 242.

In accordance with the movement of the abutment piece 80, the first pivot link 81 is pivotally moved frontward to increase the inclination angle of the first pivot link 81 with respect to the horizontal direction. In response to the pivotal movement and frontward movement of the first pivot link 81, the linear motion link 82 is linearly moved frontward. As the linear motion link 82 moves further frontward, the connection hole 822 of the linear motion link 82 is brought into engagement with the engagement pin 832a of the second pivot link 83, thereby pivotally moving the second pivot link 83 in such a direction that the engagement pin 832a moves frontward. In accordance with the pivotal movement of the second pivot link 83, the connection hole 833a of the second pivot link 83 is brought into engagement with the engagement pin 842 of the third pivot link 84, thereby pivotally moving the third pivot link 84 in such a direction that the engagement pin 842 moves rearward.

As the process cartridge 50 is further moved from the housing 2 in the detachment direction, the abutment piece 80 is further moved downstream in the detachment direction by the drum shaft 54AR that is moving along the intermediate portion 241b (through-hole 24C) of the cartridge rail 241.

In accordance with the movement of the abutment piece 80, the third pivot link 84 is further pivotally moved in such a direction that the engagement pin 842 moves rearward. In accordance with the pivotal movement of the third pivot link 84, the coil spring 86 is pivotally moved, so that the coil arm 861 of the coil spring 86 comes into engagement with the engagement pin 854 of the shutter link 85 from above, as illustrated in FIG. 8A. Due to this engagement between the coil arm 861 and the engagement pin 854, the shutter link 85 is pivotally moved to move the engagement portion 853 downward. The shutter 64 is thus moved from the opening position toward the closing position.

In this way, during the detachment of the process cartridge 50 at its attachment position from the housing 2, the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 abuts on the abutment piece 80 of the link 8, which in turn moves the link 8 such that the shutter 64 at the opening position is moved toward the closing position. Hence, the shutter 64 can move to the closing position in association with the detaching operation to the process cartridge 50 from the housing 2.

As described above, in the image-forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the drum shaft 54AR abuts on the first boss 803 of the abutment piece 80, thereby causing the link 8 to operate such that the shutter 64 can move from the closing position to the opening position during the attachment of the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2, whereas the drum shaft 54AR abuts on the second boss 804 of the abutment piece 80, thereby causing the link 8 to operate such that the shutter 64 can move from the opening position to the closing position during the detachment of the process cartridge 50 from the housing 2. With this configuration, both the detachment and attachment operations to the process cartridge 50 can move the link 8 through a simple structure.

As illustrated in FIG. 33, the electrical contact 26 provided on the second main frame 25 has a counter surface 26a, and contact pieces 26b. The counter surface 26a faces downward. The counter surface 26a faces the electrical contact surfaces 57a of the toner memory 57 in the state where the process cartridge 50 is attached to the housing 2.

The contact pieces 26b protrude from the counter surface 26a and are configured to contact the electrical contact surfaces 57a of the toner memory 57 so that the electrical contact 26 can be electrically connected to the electrical contact surfaces 57a. The contact pieces 26b are retractable into and out of the counter surface 26a. The contact pieces 26b are urged to protrude out from the counter surface 26a by an urging member (not illustrated). The electrical contact 26 contacts the electrical contact surfaces 57a of the toner memory 57 from above in a state where the process cartridge 50 is at the attachment position.

The second main frame 25 has a guide 27 to guide the memory holder 70 during the attachment and detachment of the process cartridge 50 relative to the housing 2. The guide 27 is an example of “guide” of the disclosure.

The guide 27 includes a lower guide 271 configured to guide the second holder 72 constituting the lower end portion of the memory holder 70, and an upper guide 272 configured to guide the base part 712 of the first holder 71 constituting the upper end portion of the memory holder 70.

he lower guide 271 includes a first lower guide 271a, a second lower guide 271b, a third lower guide 271c, and a fourth lower guide 271d.

The first lower guide 271a extends in a direction parallel to the attachment direction of the process cartridge 50. The first lower guide 271a is inclined diagonally downward toward the rear. The counter surface 26a of the electrical contact 26 and the first lower guide 271a extend in parallel to each other.

The second lower guide 271b extends rearward from a rear end of the first lower guide 271a. The second lower guide 271b is inclined diagonally upward toward the rear. The second lower guide 271b extends to gradually approach a reference plane parallel to the counter surface 26a toward a rear end of the second lower guide 271b. That is, a distance between the second lower guide 271b and the reference plane parallel to the counter surface 26a in a direction orthogonal to the attachment direction of the process cartridge 50 (hereinafter, referred to as “orthogonal direction”) is gradually reduced toward downstream in the attachment direction (i.e., toward the rear).

The third lower guide 271c extends rearward from the rear end of the second lower guide 271b, and is inclined diagonally downward toward the rear. The third lower guide 271c is sloped, relative to a horizontal plane, to form an inclination angle relative thereto that is greater than an inclination angle that the counter surface 26a forms relative to the horizontal plane. The third lower guide 271c extends to gradually separate from the reference plane parallel to the counter surface 26a as extending toward the rear. That is, a distance between the third lower guide 271c and the reference plane parallel to the counter surface 26a in the orthogonal direction is gradually increased toward the downstream in the attachment direction.

The fourth lower guide 271d extends rearward from the rear end of the third lower guide 271c, and is inclined diagonally downward toward the rear. The fourth lower guide 271d extends in the direction parallel to the attachment direction of the process cartridge 50. The counter surface 26a of the electrical contact 26 and the fourth lower guide 271d extend in parallel to each other. The fourth lower guide 271d and the counter surface 26a of the electrical contact 26 face each other in the orthogonal direction.

The upper guide 272 includes a first upper guide 272a and a second upper guide 272b.

The first upper guide 272a extends in parallel to the attachment direction of the process cartridge 50, and is inclined diagonally downward toward the rear. The counter surface 26a of the electrical contact 26 and the first upper guide 272a extend in parallel to each other.

The first upper guide 272a faces the second lower guide 271b in the orthogonal direction. A distance between the first upper guide 272a and the second lower guide 271b in the orthogonal direction is gradually reduced toward the downstream in the attachment direction of the process cartridge 50.

The second upper guide 272b extends rearward from a rear end of the first upper guide 272a, and is inclined diagonally upward toward the rear. The second upper guide 272b extends to gradually approach the reference plane parallel to the counter surface 26a toward a rear end of the second upper guide 272b. That is, a distance between the second upper guide 272b and the reference plane parallel to the counter surface 26a in the orthogonal direction is gradually reduced toward the downstream in the attachment direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 33 through 36, a cartridge rail 251 is also provided in the second main frame 25 to guide the drum shaft 54AL of the photosensitive drum 54 (protruding leftward) during the attachment and detachment of the process cartridge 50 relative to the housing 2. The cartridge rail 251 extends in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the cartridge rail 251 extends to slope diagonally downward toward the rear. The drum shaft 54AL to be guided by the cartridge rail 251 is inserted in the cartridge rail 251 from its right side.

The cartridge rail 251 is formed at a position corresponding to the position of the rear part 241c of the cartridge rail 241 formed in the first main frame 24 in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. The cartridge rail 251 has a configuration the same as that of the rear part 241c of the cartridge rail 241. Hence, the cartridge rail 251 extends to provide an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction equal to that of the rear part 241c of the cartridge rail 241.

The cartridge rail 251 and the rear part 241c of the cartridge rail 241 are overlapped with each other when viewed in the left-right direction. Hence, during the attachment/detachment of the process cartridge 50 relative to the housing 2, the drum shaft 54AL of the photosensitive drum 54 is guided by the cartridge rail 251, while the drum shaft 54AR of the photosensitive drum 54 is guided by the rear part 241c of the cartridge rail 241.

The link 8 is provided on the first main frame 24, and is positioned rightward of the center line CL of the process cartridge 50 in the left-right direction when the process cartridge 50 is attached to the housing 2. The electrical contact 26 is provided on the second main frame 25, and is positioned leftward of the center line CL of the process cartridge 50 in the left-right direction when the process cartridge 50 is attached to the housing 2. In other words, the housing 2 includes the first main frame 24 and the second main frame 25 facing each other in the left-right direction (widthwise direction) that is perpendicular to the attachment direction. The first main frame 24 includes the link 8. Further, the second main frame 25 facing the first main frame 24 in the widthwise direction includes the electrical contact 26 and the guide 27 configured to guide the memory holder 70. With this structure, since the link 8 and the electrical contact 26 are positioned on opposite sides of the process cartridge 50 in the left-right direction, a degree of freedom on the arrangement of the link 8 and the electrical contact 26 can be improved, thereby facilitating the arrangement of the link 8 and the electrical contact 26.

The drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50, which is configured to abut on the abutment piece 80 of the link 8, constitutes a right end portion of the process cartridge 50, while the toner memory 57 having the electrical contact surfaces 57a configured to contact the electrical contact 26 constitutes a left end portion of the process cartridge 50. Since the drum shaft 54AR is positioned on the right side of the center line CL of the process cartridge 50 while the toner memory 57 is positioned on the left side of the center line CL of the process cartridge 50 in the left-right direction, a degree of freedom on the arrangement of the drum shaft 54AR and the toner memory 57 can be improved, thereby facilitating the arrangement of the drum shaft 54AR and the toner memory 57.

Next, operations of the memory holder 70 holding the toner memory 57 will be described.

(Operation During Attachment of the Process Cartridge 50)

Firstly, how the memory holder 70 operates while the process cartridge 50 is being attached to the housing 2 will be described.

In the image-forming apparatus 1, the shutter 64 has moved to and is held at the closing position by the link 8 in a state where the process cartridge 50 is detached from the housing 2. Further, the memory holder 70 is not yet guided by the guide 27 while the process cartridge 50 is detached from the housing 2 and in the state where the process cartridge 50 is at the attachment starting position (the position indicated in FIG. 21).

While the process cartridge 50 at the attachment starting position is inserted in the housing 2 and moved toward the attachment position, the drum shaft 54AR inserted in the intermediate part 241b (through-hole 24C) of the cartridge rail 241 abuts on the first boss 803 of the abutment piece 80. At this time, the second holder 72 of the memory holder 70 contacts the first lower guide 271a of the lower guide 271 and is guided by the lower guide 271 (see the memory holder 70 indicated by two dotted chain lines in FIG. 34).

In this state, the base part 712 of the first holder 71 of the memory holder 70 does not yet abut on the upper guide 272, and hence, the memory holder 70 is not depressed by the guide 27. Further, the drum shaft 54AL of the photosensitive drum 54 is not yet guided by the cartridge rail 251.

As the process cartridge 50 is inserted further rearward in a state where the memory holder 70 is in contact with the first lower guide 271a but is apart from the upper guide 272, the drum shaft 54AR, which is moving rearward on the intermediate part 241b (through-hole 24C) of the cartridge rail 241 while moving the abutment piece 80 rearward, is transferred from the intermediate part 241b onto the rear part 241c of the cartridge rail 241. The drum shaft 54AR transferred onto the rear part 241c is thus separated from the abutment piece 80.

Then, in accordance with further insertion of the process cartridge 50 toward the attachment position, the base part 712 of the memory holder 70 is brought into contact with the first upper guide 272a of the upper guide 272, and further, the second holder 72 of the memory holder 70 moves from the first lower guide 271a onto the second lower guide 271b and makes contact with the second lower guide 271b, as illustrated solid lines in FIG. 34.

After the second holder 72 has moved on the second lower guide 271b, the memory holder 70 moves downstream in the attachment direction (as the process cartridge 50 moves further rearward toward the attachment position) while being in contact with the first upper guide 272a and the second lower guide 271b. At this time, since the distance in the orthogonal direction between the first upper guide 272a and the second lower guide 271b becomes gradually smaller toward the downstream in the attachment direction, the memory holder 70 is depressed in the orthogonal direction by the first upper guide 272a and the second lower guide 271b against the urging force of the holder spring 73.

In a state where the memory holder 70 is depressed in the orthogonal direction by the first upper guide 272a and the second lower guide 271b, the second holder 72 is retracted into the first holder 71, thereby compressing the holder spring 73.

Further, in the state where the memory holder 70 is in contact with each of the first upper guide 272a and the second lower guide 271b, the drum shaft 54AL of the process cartridge 50 has entered the cartridge rail 251 and is guided by the cartridge rail 251.

In accordance with further insertion of the process cartridge 50 toward the attachment position from the state illustrated in FIG. 34, the second holder 72 of the memory holder 70 moves from the second lower guide 271b onto the third lower guide 271c and the base part 712 of the memory holder 70 moves from the first upper guide 272a onto the second upper guide 272b, as illustrated in FIG. 35.

After the second holder 72 and the base part 712 have moved on the third lower guide 271c and the second upper guide 272b, respectively, the memory holder 70 further moves rearward while being in contact with each of the third lower guide 271c and the second upper guide 272b, as the process cartridge 50 is inserted further toward the attachment position.

At this time, the distance in the orthogonal direction between the second upper guide 272b and the third lower guide 271c gradually increases toward the downstream in the attachment direction, because the second upper guide 272b extends to gradually approach the reference plane parallel to the counter surface 26a toward the rear but the third lower guide 271c extends to gradually separate from the reference plane parallel to the counter surface 26a toward the rear. Hence, in accordance with the movement of the memory holder 70 toward downstream in the attachment direction (toward the attachment direction of the process cartridge 50), the second holder 72 starts to gradually protrude out of the first holder 71, moderating compression of the holder spring 73. Further, the drum shaft 54AL of the photosensitive drum 54 is moved in and along the cartridge rail 251 toward the attachment position of the process cartridge 50.

In accordance with further insertion of the process cartridge 50 toward the attachment position from the state illustrated in FIG. 35, the second holder 72 of the memory holder 70 moves from the third lower guide 271c onto the fourth lower guide 271d and the base part 712 of the memory holder 70 moves from the second upper guide 272b onto the counter surface 26a of the electrical contact 26, as illustrated in FIG. 36.

While the base part 712 is on the counter surface 26a, the electrical contact 26 and the electrical contact surfaces 57a of the toner memory 57 are in contact with each other, so that the electrical contact surfaces 57a and the contact pieces 26b of the electrical contact 26 are electrically connected to each other.

Further, while the memory holder 70 is in contact with the fourth lower guide 271d and the electrical contact 26, the holder spring 73 is compressed so that the memory holder 70 is depressed in the orthogonal direction by the fourth lower guide 271d and the electrical contact 26 against the urging force of the holder spring 73.

That is, due to the urging fore of the holder spring 73, the memory holder 70 is urged in such a direction that the electrical contact surfaces 57a are urged toward the electrical contact 26 to contact the same. Further, the fourth lower guide 271d of the guide 27 presses the memory holder 70 in such a direction that the electrical contact surfaces 57a are urged toward the electrical contact 26 to contact the same in the state where the process cartridge 50 is attached to the housing 2.

Since the memory holder 70 guided by the fourth lower guide 271d is pressed in such a direction that the electrical contact surfaces 57a are urged to make contact with the electrical contact 26 while the process cartridge 50 is attached to the housing 2, stable electrical contact can be obtained between the contact pieces 26b of the electrical contact 26 and the electrical contact surfaces 57a.

Further, in the memory holder 70, before the electrical contact surfaces 57a and the electrical contact 26 contact each other, the holder spring 73 is already in a compressed state by the pressing force applied from the first upper guide 272a and the second lower guide 271b. As such, the urging force of the memory holder 70 attributed to the holder spring 73 has already been increased. Accordingly, in a process for moving the memory holder 70 toward the attachment position of the process cartridge 50 from the position where the memory holder 70 is made in contact with the first upper guide 272a and the second lower guide 271b (from the position illustrated in FIG. 35), the electrical contact surfaces 57a can be securely depressed against the electrical contact 26 in the orthogonal direction by utilizing the urging force of the holder spring 73.

Further, the gap between the second upper guide 272b and the third lower guide 271c gradually increases toward upstream in the attachment direction. As such, in order to move the memory holder 70 toward upstream in the attachment direction from the position illustrated in FIG. 36 where the electrical contact surfaces 57a and the electrical contact 26 are in contact with each other, a force for compressing the holder spring 73 (for further reducing the length of the holder spring 73) against the urging force thereof must be applied to the memory holder 70. Hence, this configuration can restrain the memory holder 70 from being displaced inadvertently toward the upstream side in the attachment direction in the state where the electrical contact surfaces 57a and the electrical contact 26 are in contact with each other. A stabilized contact between the electrical contact surfaces 57a and the electrical contact 26 can be realized.

As described above, in the image-forming apparatus 1, the shutter 64 is at the closing position in the state where the process cartridge 50 is detached from the housing 2. Further, in the process to attach the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2, the abutment piece 80 of the link 8 first abuts on the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 and is moved by the drum shaft 54AR, and is then separated from the process cartridge 50 before the process cartridge 50 reaches the attachment position.

Further, after the abutment piece 80 of the link 8 is separated from the process cartridge 50, the link 8 is urged to further move, independently of the movement of the process cartridge 50, to move the shutter 64 from the closing position to the opening position.

On the other hand, after the abutment piece 80 of the link 8 is separated from the process cartridge 50, the fourth lower guide 271d of the guide 27 applies pressure to the memory holder 70 against the urging force of the holder spring 73 so that the electrical contact surfaces 57a and the electrical contact 26 can contact each other upon completion of the attachment of the process cartridge 50.

In this way, the shutter 64 is configured to move to the opening position by the movement of the link 8 after the link 8 is separated from the process cartridge 50, and the electrical contact surfaces 57a are brought into contact with the electrical contact 26 by the movement of the process cartridge 50. That is, the movement of the process cartridge 50 has little influence on the movement of the shutter 64 toward the opening position, and the movement of the link 8 has little influence on the electrical contact between the electrical contact surfaces 57a and the electrical contact 26.

Further, in the process to attach the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2, the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 is positioned in the rear part 241c of the cartridge rail 241 and is separated from the abutment piece 80 of the link 8 when the memory holder 70 is at a position where the memory holder 70 is depressed by the first upper guide 272a and the second lower guide 271b.

On the other hand, when the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 is positioned in the intermediate part 241b (through-hole 24C) of the cartridge rail 241 and is in abutment with the abutment piece 80 of the link 8, the memory holder 70 is in contact only with the first lower guide 271a of the lower guide 271 constituting the guide 27 and is separated from the upper guide 272 of the guide 27, meaning that the memory holder 70 is not depressed by the guide 27.

That is, in the image-forming apparatus 1, in the process to attach the process cartridge 50 to the housing 2, the abutment piece 80 of the link 8 is configured to arrive at a position where the abutment piece 80 abuts on the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 at a timing different from a timing at which the guide 27 applies pressure to the memory holder 70.

Incidentally, operation resistance is imparted on the process cartridge 50 that is being inserted toward the attachment position when the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 abuts on the abutment piece 80 of the link 8, and when the guide 27 depresses the memory holder 70. However, in the image-forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the timing when the abutment piece 80 and the process cartridge 50 abut on each other is different from the timing when the guide 27 and the memory holder 70 contact each other. With this configuration, in view of the timed relation, both the operation resistance generated by the abutment between the abutment piece 80 and the process cartridge 50 and the operation resistance generated by the contact between the guide 27 and the memory holder 70 are configured not to be imparted on the process cartridge 50 at the same time during the attachment of the process cartridge 50. Accordingly, since the two kinds of operation resistance do not act at the same time on the process cartridge 50, these two kinds of operation resistance are unlikely to be combined to become a larger resistance in the attachment process of the process cartridge 50.

(Operation During Detachment of the Process Cartridge 50)

Next, how the memory holder 70 operates during detachment of the process cartridge 50 at the attachment position from the housing 2 will be described. The operation of the memory holder 70 during the detachment of the process cartridge 50 is opposite the operation of the memory holder 70 during the attachment of the process cartridge 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 36, the memory holder 70 is in contact with each of the fourth lower guide 271d and the electrical contact 26 when the process cartridge 50 is attached to the housing 2. Hence, the electrical contact 26 and the electrical contact surfaces 57a of the toner memory 57 are in contact with each other.

By moving the process cartridge 50 frontward from its attachment position for detaching the same from the housing 2, the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 at the attachment position (the position of the drum shaft 54AR illustrated in FIG. 32) is moved toward the downstream in the detachment direction in and along the rear part 241c of the cartridge rail 241.

As the process cartridge 50 is moved further downstream in the detachment direction, the second holder 72 of the memory holder 70 is transferred from the fourth lower guide 271d onto the third lower guide 271c, and the base part 712 of the first holder 71 is transferred from the counter surface 26a of the electrical contact 26 onto the second upper guide 272b.

As illustrated in FIG. 35, in accordance with the movement of the process cartridge 50 toward downstream in the detachment direction while the memory holder 70 is in contact with the third lower guide 271c and the second upper guide 272b, the memory holder 70 is depressed in the orthogonal direction by the third lower guide 271c and the second upper guide 272b against the urging force of the holder spring 73, thereby compressing the holder spring 73. At this time, the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 is moving in and along the rear part 241c of the cartridge rail 241 toward downstream in the detachment direction.

As the process cartridge 50 is moved further toward downstream in the detachment direction from the state illustrated in FIG. 35, the second holder 72 of the memory holder 70 moves from the third lower guide 271c onto the second lower guide 271b, and the base part 712 of the memory holder 70 moves from the second upper guide 272b onto the first upper guide 272a.

As the process cartridge 50 is moved further downstream in the detachment direction while the memory holder 70 is in contact with the second lower guide 271b and the first upper guide 272a, the compression of the holder spring 73 is moderated. In the meantime, the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 is moving in and along the rear part 241c of the cartridge rail 241 toward the downstream in the detachment direction.

In accordance with further movement of the process cartridge 50 toward downstream in the detachment direction, the second holder 72 of the memory holder 70 moves from the second lower guide 271b onto the first lower guide 271a, and the base part 712 of the memory holder 70 separates from the first upper guide 272a. Hence, the memory holder 70 is guided only by the first lower guide 271a.

After the memory holder 70 is guided by only the first lower guide 271a, the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 now moves from the rear part 241c onto the intermediate part 241b (through-hole 24C) of the cartridge rail 241, whereby the drum shaft 54AR abuts on the abutment piece 80 of the link 8.

Thereafter, the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 moves the abutment piece 80 of the link 8, so that the link 8 moves the shutter 64 from the closing position toward the opening position. After the shutter 64 has moved toward the opening position from the closing position, the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 separates from the abutment piece 80, and the memory holder 70 also separates from the first lower guide 271a. The process cartridge 50 is thus detached from the housing 2.

In this way, in the process of detaching the process cartridge 50 from the housing 2, the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 is positioned in the rear part 241c of the cartridge rail 241 and is separated from the abutment piece 80 of the link 8 when the memory holder 70 is at a position where the memory holder 70 is depressed by the third lower guide 271c and the second upper guide 272b.

On the other hand, when the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 is positioned in the intermediate part 241b (through-hole 24C) of the cartridge rail 241 and is in abutment with the abutment piece 80 of the link 8, only the first lower guide 271a of the guide 27 is in contact with the memory holder 70, and, hence, the memory holder 70 is not depressed by the guide 27.

That is, in the image-forming apparatus 1, in the process of detachment of the process cartridge 50, the abutment piece 80 of the link 8 is configured to arrive at a position where the abutment piece 80 abuts on the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 at a timing different from the timing at which the guide 27 applies pressure to the memory holder 70.

Incidentally, operation resistance is imparted on the process cartridge 50 that is being inserted toward the attachment position when the drum shaft 54AR of the process cartridge 50 abuts on the abutment piece 80 of the link 8, and when the guide 27 depresses the memory holder 70. However, in the image-forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the timing when the abutment piece 80 and the process cartridge 50 abut on each other is different from the timing when the guide 27 applies pressure to the memory holder 70. With this configuration, in view of the timed relation, both the operation resistance generated by the abutment between the abutment piece 80 and the process cartridge 50 and the operation resistance generated by the contact between the guide 27 and the memory holder 70 are configured not to be imparted on the process cartridge 50 at the same time during the detachment of the process cartridge 50. Accordingly, since the two kinds of operation resistance do not act at the same time on the process cartridge 50, these two kinds of operation resistance are unlikely to be combined to become a larger resistance in the detachment process of the process cartridge 50.

Variations and Modifications

While the invention has been described in conjunction with various example structures outlined above and illustrated in the figures, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example embodiments of the disclosure, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative of the invention, and not limiting the invention. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to embrace all known or later developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents. Some specific examples of potential alternatives, modifications, or variations in the described invention are provided below:

In the described embodiment, the link 8 is configured of the abutment piece 80, the first pivot link 81, the linear motion link 82, the second pivot link 83, the third pivot link 84, the shutter link 85, and the coil spring 86. As an alternative, a single link member connected to the shutter 64 may be provided so that the single member can abut on the process cartridge 50. Further, each link need not move pivotally or linearly, but may move differently rather than pivotally or linearly.

Further, in the described embodiment, the drum shaft 54a of the process cartridge 50 is configured to abut on the abutment piece 80 of the link 8 to open and close the shutter 64. However, a component of the process cartridge 50 other than the drum shaft 54a may be configured to abut on the link 8.

In the described embodiment, the memory holder 70 includes: the first holder 71 provided with the toner memory 57; the second holder 72; and the holder spring 73 urging the first holder 71 and the second holder 72 such that the first holder 71 and the second holder 72 move away from each other in the sliding direction of the second holder 72. However, as a modification, the toner memory and the electrical contact of the disclosure may be configured to contact each other such that: the toner memory is fixed to the process cartridge and the electrical contact supported by the housing is urged by a spring; or the electrical contact is fixed to the housing.

IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING LINK CONFIGURED TO ABUT ON CARTRIDGE FOR MOVING SHUTTER OF FIXING DEVICE AND ELECTRICAL CONTACT POSITIONED ON OPPOSITE SIDE FROM THE LINK WITH RESPECT TO ATTACHED CARTRIDGE, AND CARTRIDGE THEREFOR

Information

Publication Number

Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

Original Assignees

CPC

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)