The following description is related to an image forming apparatus.
Image forming apparatus having a housing, a drawer, and a cartridge containing a photosensitive drum, is known. The drawer may be movable between an inner position, in which the drawer is located inside the housing, and an outer position, in which the drawer is located outside the housing. The cartridge may be detachably attached to the drawer to move along with the drawer.
While the cartridge is detachable from the image forming apparatus, a user may wish to protect the photosensitive drum in the cartridge when the cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus.
The present disclosure is advantageous in that an image forming apparatus having a cartridge, which is detachable and in which a photosensitive drum may be protected while the cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus, is provided.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image forming apparatus, having a housing, a drawer, and a cartridge, is provided. The drawer is movable between an inner position, in which the drawer is located inside the housing, and an outer position, in which the drawer is located outside the housing. The cartridge is attachable to the drawer. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum cover. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The drum cover is movable with respect to the photosensitive drum between a first position, in which the drum cover covers a part of the photosensitive drum, and a second position, in which the part of the photosensitive drum is exposed. The drawer includes a guide, a stopper, and a contacting portion. The guide is configured to guide the cartridge in a second direction, when the cartridge is being attached to the drawer. The second direction intersects with the first direction. The stopper is configured to, in a state where the cartridge is being guided by the guide, stop the cartridge from separating from the guide in a third direction. The third direction intersects with the first direction and with the second direction. The contacting portion is configured to contact the drum cover and move the drum cover from the first position to the second position in the state where the cartridge is being guided by the guide.
Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment according to an aspect of the present disclosure will be described in detail.
1. Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 1
In the paragraphs below, described with reference to
As shown in
1.1 Housing 2
The housing 2 accommodates the sheet feeder 3, the drawer 4, the cartridge 5, the exposure device 6, the transfer roller 7, and the fuser 8. The housing 2 has an opening 2A as shown in
As shown in
1.2 Sheet Feeder 3
As shown in
The sheet cassette 3A may accommodate one or more sheets S. The pickup roller 3B may pick up one of the sheets S from the sheet cassette 3A and convey the picked-up sheet S to the conveyer roller 3A. The conveyer roller 3C may convey the sheet S conveyed by the pickup roller 3B to the photosensitive drum 9.
1.3 Drawer 4
The drawer 4 is movable between an inner position (see
The housing 2 has a guide 2C (see
As shown in
As shown in
1.4 Cartridge 5
As shown in
As shown in
1.4.1 Photosensitive Drum 9
The photosensitive drum 9 is rotatable about an axis A1. The axis A1 extends in a first direction, which intersects with the movable direction for the drawer 4 and with the vertical direction. Preferably, the first direction may intersect orthogonally with the movable direction for the drawer 4 and with the vertical direction. The photosensitive drum 9 extends in the first direction and has a cylindrical shape.
1.4.2 Charger Roller 10
The charger roller 10 may charge a surface of the photosensitive drum 9. The charger roller 10 is arranged to contact the surface of the photosensitive drum 9. Optionally, the cartridge 5 may have a scorotron-typed charging device in place of the charger roller 10.
1.4.3 Developing Device 11
The developing device 11 may supply toner to the photosensitive drum 9. The developing device 11 includes a developer housing 11A and a developer roller 11B. In other words, the cartridge 5 includes the developer housing 11A and the developer roller 11B.
The developer housing 11A may store the toner to be supplied to the photosensitive drum 9. The developer housing 11A supports the developer roller 11B.
The developer roller 11B is rotatable about an axis A2, which extends in the first direction. The developer roller 11B is arranged to contact the photosensitive drum 9. The developer roller 11B may supply the toner in the developer housing 11A to the photosensitive drum 9.
1.5 Exposure Device 6
In the state where the cartridge 5 is attached to the drawer 4 and where the drawer 4 is located at the inner position, the exposure device 6 may expose the surface of the photosensitive drum 9. For example, the exposure device 6 may be a laser scanner. The exposure device 6 may emit a laser beam L at the photosensitive drum 9.
When the surface of the photosensitive drum 9 is charged by the charger roller 10, the exposure device 6 may expose the surface of the photosensitive drum 9 to the laser beam L to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 9.
1.6 Transfer Roller 7
The transfer roller 7 is arranged to, in the state where the cartridge 5 is attached to the drawer 4 and where the drawer 4 is located at the inner position, contact the photosensitive drum 9. Meanwhile, the sheet S conveyed by the conveyer roller 3C may enter a position between the transfer roller 7 and the photosensitive drum 9. As the sheet S passes between the transfer roller 7 and the photosensitive drum 9, the transfer roller 7 may transfer a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 9 to the sheet S.
1.7 Fuser 8
The fuser 8 may apply heat and pressure to the sheet S having the transferred toner image to fuse and fix the toner image on the sheet S. The sheet S exiting the fuser 8 may be discharged outside the housing 2.
2. Detailed Configuration of the Cartridge
Next, with reference to
The cartridge 5 includes, further to the photosensitive drum 9, the charger roller 10, and the developing device 11 described above, a frame 21 (see
2.1 Frame 21
As shown in
As shown in
2.1.1 Side Plate 211A
The side plate 211A is located at the first end of the frame 21. The side plate 211A extends in a direction intersecting with the axis A1. Preferably, the side plate 211A may extend in a direction intersecting orthogonally with the axis A1.
2.1.2 Side Plate 211B
The side plate 211B is located apart from the side plate 211A in the first direction. The side plate 211B is located at the second end of the frame 21. The form of the side plate 211B may be described in the same manner as the side plate 211A.
2.1.3 Through Hole 213
The through hole 213 is located between the side plate 211A and the side plate 211B in the first direction. As shown in
2.2 Guided Portion 23A
As shown in
2.3 Guided Portion 23B
The guided portion 23B is located on a side of the side plate 211B opposite to the side plate 211A in the first direction. The guided portion 23B is located apart from the guided portion 23A in the first direction. The guided portion 23B extends from the side plate 211B. Optionally, the guided portion 23B may be attached to the side plate 211B. The form of guided portion 23B may be described in the same manner as the guided portion 23A.
2.4 Drum Cover 24
As shown in
As shown in
On the other hand, as shown in
In the state where the cartridge 5 is attached to the drawer 4, the drum cover 24 located at the second position is located below the photosensitive drum 9. Moreover, in the state where the cartridge 5 is attached to the drawer 4, the drum cover 24 located at the second position is located between the cartridge 5 and the bottom plate 32. Thus, by use of a space between the bottom plate 32 of the drawer 4 and the photosensitive drum 9, the part of the drum cover 24 may be located at the second position. Therefore, a volume of the image forming apparatus 1 may be restrained from increasing. The bottom plate 32 will be described further below.
As shown in
2.4.1 Cover body 241
The cover body 241 extends in the first direction. The cover body 241 may be a plate. The cover body 241 is arranged along the surface of the photosensitive drum 9 and has a cross-sectional shape of an arc. The cover body 241 has a first end portion E11 and a second end portion E12, which are on one end and the other end in the first direction. The second end portion E12 is located apart from the first end portion E11 in the first direction.
2.4.2 Protrusion 242
The protrusion 242 is located at the first end portion E11 of the cover body 241 in the first direction. The protrusion 242 may contact a contacting portion 33 of the drawer 4 when the cartridge 5 is being attached to the drawer 4 (see
2.4.3 Shaft 243A
The shaft 243A is located on a side of the side plate 211A opposite to the side plate 211B in the first direction. The shaft 243A is attached to the side plate 211A. The shaft 243A is rotatable with respect to the frame 21. The shaft 243A extends in the first direction. The shaft 243A has a cylindrical shape.
2.4.4 Shaft 243B
The shaft 243B is located on a side of the side plate 211B opposite to the side plate 211A in the first direction. The shaft 243B is attached to the side plate 211B. The form of the shaft 243B may be described in the same manner as the shaft 243A.
2.4.5 Arm 244A
The arm 244A is located on the side of the side plate 211A opposite to the side plate 211B in the first direction. The arm 244A extends in a direction intersecting with the first direction. Preferably, the arm 244A may extend in a direction intersecting orthogonally with the first direction. The arm 244A has a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end of the arm 244A are on one end and the other end in the direction, in which the arm 244A extends. At the first end thereof, the arm 244A is connected to the shaft 243A, and at the second end thereof, the arm 244A is connected to the first end portion E11 (see
2.4.6 Arm 244B
The arm 244B is located on the side of the side plate 211B opposite to the side plate 211A in the first direction. The form of the arm 244B may be described in the same manner as the arm 244A. At a first end thereof, the arm 244B is connected to the shaft 243B, and at a second end thereof, the arm 244B is connected to the second end portion E12 (see
2.5 Torsion Spring 25
The torsion spring 25 may urge the drum cover 24 located at the second position (see
3. Detailed Configuration of Drawer 4
Next, the drawer 4 will be described in detail with reference to
As shown in
3.1 First Side Plate 31A
The first side plate 31A extends in the movable direction for the drawer 4. The first side plate 31A includes a guide 311A. In other words, the drawer 4 includes the guide 311A.
The guide 311A may, in the state where the drawer 4 is located at the outer position, and when the cartridge 5 is being attached to the drawer 4, as shown in
In the state where the cartridge 5 is mounted on the drawer 4, the guide 311A may contact the guided portion 23A of the cartridge 5 from a lower position. As shown in
3.2 Second Side Plate 31B
The second side plate 31B is located apart from the first side plate 31A in the first direction. The second side plate 31B includes a guide 311B. The form of the second side plate 31B may be described in the same manner as the first side plate 31A.
3.3 Bottom Plate 32
The bottom plate 32 is located between the first side plate 31A and the second side plate 31B in the first direction. The bottom plate 32 extends in the first direction. A first end being one end of the bottom plate 32 in the first direction is connected to the first side plate 31A. A second end being the other end of the bottom plate 32 in the first direction is connected to the second side plate 31B.
3.4 Contacting Portion 33
As shown in
As shown in
3.5 Stopper 34A
The stopper 34A is arranged on the first side plate 31A. The stopper 34A is located above and apart from the guide 311A. In other words, the stopper 34A is located apart from the guide 31A in the third direction. The stopper 24A is located on a side of the guide 31A opposite to the contacting portion 33 in the third direction. The stopper 34A extends in the second direction. Therefore, the stopper 34A extends in the direction, in which the guide 311A extends. In other words, the stopper 34A extends in parallel with the guide 311A.
When the cartridge 5 is being attached to the drawer 4, the stopper 34A may stop the cartridge 5 from separating from the guide 311A. In particular, while the cartridge 5 is being guided by the guide 311A, the stopper 34A may restrain the cartridge 5 from separating from the guide 311 in the third direction. Thus, the cartridge 5 may be guided by the guide 311A reliably, and the protrusion 242 on the drum cover 24 being in contact with the contacting portion 33 may be restrained from separating from the contacting portion 33.
As shown in
In this arrangement, a distance L1 between the guided portion 23A in the cartridge 5 and the stopper 34A in the third direction is shorter than a length L2 of the contacting portion 33 in the third direction. Therefore, while the stopper 34A faces the guided portion 23A, if the cartridge 5 tends to separate from the guide 311A in the third direction, the guided portion 23A may collide with the stopper 34A before the protrusion 242 on the drum cover 24 separates from the contacting portion 33. With the guided portion 23A colliding with the stopper 34A, the cartridge 5 may stop thereat. Thus, when the cartridge 5 is being attached to the drawer 4, the protrusion 24 on the drum cover 24 may be restrained from separating from the contacting portion 33.
Meanwhile, as shown in
In the meantime, when the cartridge 5 is attached to the drawer 4, the drum cover 24 is located at the second position (see
3.6 Stopper 34B
The stopper 34B is arranged on the second side plate 31B. In the state where the cartridge 5 is being guided by the guide 311A, and further in the state where the drum cover 24 is located at the first position and where the protrusion 242 on the drum cover 24 is in contact with the contacting portion 33, the stopper 34B may face the guided portion 23B (see
4. Benefits
(1) According to the image forming apparatus 1 described above, in the state where the cartridge 5 is detached from the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in
Therefore, in the state where the cartridge 5 is detached from the image forming apparatus 1, the photosensitive drum 9 may be protected.
Moreover, when the cartridge 5 is being attached to the drawer 4, as shown in
Therefore, the cartridge 5 may be guided by the guide 311A reliably, and the protrusion 242 on the drum cover 24 being in contact with the contacting portion 33 may be restrained from separating from the contacting portion 33.
Accordingly, when the cartridge 5 is being attached to the drawer 4, as shown in
(2) According to the image forming apparatus 1 described above, in the state where cartridge 5 is guided by the guide 311A, and further in the state where the drum cover 24 is located at the first position and where the protrusion 242 on the drum cover 24 is in contact with the contacting portion 33, the distance L1 between the cartridge 5 and the stopper 34A in the third direction is shorter than the length L2 of the contacting portion 33 in the third direction.
Therefore, in the state where the stopper 34A faces the cartridge 5, if the cartridge 5 tends to separate from the guide 311A, the cartridge 5 may be stopped by the stopper 34A before the protrusion 242 on the drum cover 24 separates from the contacting portion 33.
Accordingly, when the cartridge 5 is being attached to the drawer 4, the protrusion 242 on the drum cover 24 may be restrained from separating from the contacting portion 33.
(3) According to the image forming apparatus 1 described above, in the state where the drawer 4 is located at the outer position, and where the cartridge 5 is attached to the drawer 4, as shown in
Therefore, while the drum cover 24 is located at the second position, in which the part 9A of the photosensitive drum 9 is uncovered, the uncovered part 9A of the photosensitive drum 9 may be protected by the housing 2.
(4) According to the image forming apparatus 1 described above, in the state where the cartridge 5 is attached to the drawer 4, as shown in
Therefore, the drum cover 24 may be located at the second position by use of the space between the bottom plate 32 and the photosensitive drum 9.
Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 1 may be restrained from increasing in the size thereof
(5) According to the image forming apparatus 1 described above, in the state where the drawer 4 is located at the outer position, as shown in
Therefore, the cartridge 5 may be moved inward to slide in the housing 2 with use of the weight of the cartridge 5 mounted on the drawer 4.
Accordingly, the cartridge 5 may be attached to the drawer 4 smoothly.
Although an example of carrying out the invention has been described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the image forming apparatus that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. It is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or act described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. In the meantime, the terms used to represent the components in the above embodiment may not necessarily agree identically with the terms recited in the appended claims, but the terms used in the above embodiment may merely be regarded as examples of the claimed subject matters.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2019-159886 | Sep 2019 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/998,325, filed Aug. 20, 2020, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-159886, filed on Sep. 2, 2019. The entire subject matter of the aforementioned applications is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16998325 | Aug 2020 | US |
Child | 17338783 | US |