JP7574586B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an image forming device equipped with a drawer into which a cartridge can be detached.

Conventionally, there is known an image forming device that includes a main body housing, a drawer that can be moved between an inner position inside the main body housing and an outer position outside the main body housing, and a cartridge that can be attached and detached to the drawer (see Patent Document 1).

US Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0142348

In a structure like that of the conventional technology, it is conceivable to adopt a structure that allows the drawer to be locked to the main body housing and the lock of the drawer to be unlocked. Specifically, for example, the drawer may be equipped with a handle that is gripped by the user and a locking member for locking the drawer to the main body housing. In this case, for example, the handle may be rotatable relative to the side wall of the drawer. Also, for example, the locking member may be configured to move in conjunction with the rotation of the handle. In such a configuration, when the user moves the drawer from the inner position to the outer position, the user can release the lock set by the locking member by rotating the handle.

However, with this type of structure, the thickness of the side wall of the drawer on which the handle is provided must be increased to a certain extent in order to allow the handle to rotate, which may result in the image forming device becoming larger in the direction in which the drawer moves.

Therefore, the present disclosure aims to reduce the size of the image forming device in the direction in which the drawer moves.

In order to solve the above problem, the image forming apparatus of the present disclosure comprises a main housing, a drawer movable in a first direction between an inner position within the main housing and an outer position outside the main housing, and a cartridge detachable from the drawer, the cartridge having a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction.
The drawer includes a locking member that is movable in the second direction between a locking position that locks the drawer to the main body housing and an unlocking position that unlocks the drawer from the main body housing.
When the cartridge is attached to the drawer, the cartridge is rotatable about the drum shaft between a first position and a second position.
When the cartridge is located at the first position, the locking member is located at the locked position, and when the cartridge is located at the second position, the locking member is located at the released position.

With this configuration, the drawer can be unlocked from the main body housing by rotating the cartridge from the first position to the second position, eliminating the need to provide a handle on the drawer for unlocking the drawer. This allows the image forming device to be made smaller in size in the first direction, which is the direction in which the drawer moves.

The cartridge may also include a memory having an electrical contact, the main body housing may include a main body contact that contacts the electrical contact, and when the cartridge rotates from the first position to the second position, the cartridge may rotate so that the electrical contact moves away from the main body contact.

With this configuration, when the cartridge rotates from the first position to the second position, the electrical contact moves away from the main body contact, preventing the main body contact from interfering with the rotation of the cartridge from the first position to the second position.

The electrical contacts may also face downward and the main body contacts may face upward.

Furthermore, when the cartridge is located at the first position, the electrical contact may be in contact with the main body contact, and when the cartridge is located at the second position, the electrical contact may be separated from the main body contact.

The cartridge may also include a drum coupling that transmits a driving force to the photosensitive drum, the drum coupling being rotatable around the drum shaft, and may be rotatable between the first position and the second position around the drum coupling.

The cartridge may have a handle that can be gripped by a user, the main body housing may have an opening through which the drawer can pass, and when the drawer with the cartridge attached is located in the inner position, the handle may be exposed from the opening.

With this configuration, the cartridge handle is exposed through the opening, allowing the user to easily grasp the cartridge handle.

Furthermore, when the drawer in which the cartridge is attached is located in the inner position, the handle may protrude from the cartridge toward the outside of the opening in the first direction.

This allows the handle to protrude in the first direction outward from the opening, allowing the user to easily grasp the cartridge handle.

The main body housing may have a recess located on an inner surface of the main body housing in the second direction, and when the locking member is in the locked position, at least a portion of the locking member may enter the recess, and when the locking member is in the released position, at least a portion of the locking member may be located away from the recess in the second direction.

The cartridge may have a first protrusion that contacts the locking member to move the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the locking member may have a tip that protrudes from a side wall of the drawer in the second direction and contacts the main body housing to restrict the drawer from moving from the inner position to the outer position, and a first cam surface that contacts the first protrusion and is inclined away from the first protrusion as it approaches the tip.

With this configuration, the locking member moves from the locked position to the unlocked position when the first protrusion comes into contact with the first cam surface, making it possible to easily configure a structure for unlocking the drawer.

The drawer may further include a spring that biases the locking member in the second direction from the release position toward the locking position.

With this configuration, the spring biases the locking member from the release position toward the locking position, so that when the cartridge is rotated from the second position to the first position, the spring can move the locking member from the release position to the locking position.

The main body housing may have a recess into which the tip of the locking member fits, and a main body contact portion that can come into contact with the tip of the locking member located at the locked position during the process in which the drawer moves from the outer position to the inner position, and at least one of the main body contact portion and the tip portion may have a second cam surface that is inclined so as to approach the cartridge as it moves downstream in the mounting direction of the drawer.

With this configuration, at least one of the main body contact portion and the tip portion has a second cam surface, so that when the drawer is moved from the outer position to the inner position, the locking member can be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position by the action of the second cam surface without the user having to rotate the cartridge. Therefore, when the drawer is moved from the outer position to the inner position, it is possible to prevent the tip portion of the locking member, which is in the locked position, from getting caught on the main body contact portion.

The cartridge may have a second protrusion and be detachable from the drawer in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and the drawer may have a regulating portion that regulates the cartridge located at the second position from being removed from the drawer, and when the cartridge is located at the first position, the second protrusion projected in the third direction may not overlap with the regulating portion, and when the cartridge is located at the second position, the second protrusion projected in the third direction may overlap with the regulating portion.

With this configuration, when the cartridge is located in the second position, the second protrusion projected in the third direction overlaps with the restricting portion, preventing the cartridge located in the second position from coming off the drawer.

According to this disclosure, it is possible to reduce the size of the image forming device in the direction in which the drawer moves.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a color printer according to an embodiment. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the drawer is pulled out to the outside of the main body housing. 1A is a perspective view showing the first cartridge, FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a drum coupling inside a second boss, and FIG. 1C is a perspective view showing the configuration of a drawer around the first cartridge. 1A is a diagram showing the relationship between a locking member and a recess in a main body housing, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the movement of the locking member when the drawer is moved from an outer position to an inner position. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating the relationship between a second convex portion and a positioning concave portion when the first cartridge is located at a first position or a second position. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a relationship between a first protrusion and a first cam surface when the first cartridge is located at a first position or a second position. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating the relationship between a first convex portion and a positioning concave portion when the first cartridge is located at a first position or a second position. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing the relationship between the electrical contacts and the main body contacts when the first cartridge is located at the first position or the second position. 1A is a diagram showing a state in which the handle is exposed from an opening in the main body housing, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a cutout in the opening. FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a first modified example of the handle, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a second modified example of the handle. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an embodiment in which the positions of the restricting portion and the second protrusion are changed.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
1, a color printer 1, which is an example of an image forming apparatus, includes a main body housing 2, a sheet supply unit 3, an image forming unit 4, and a discharge unit 5. The sheet supply unit 3 supplies a sheet S to the image forming unit 4. The image forming unit 4 forms an image on the sheet S. The discharge unit 5 discharges the sheet S to the main body housing 2.

The main body housing 2 has an opening 2A and a front cover 21. The opening 2A is an opening through which a drawer 40, which will be described later, can pass. The front cover 21 is rotatable between an open position (see FIG. 2) in which the opening 2A is open, and a closed position in which the opening 2A is closed.

The sheet supply unit 3 is located at the bottom inside the main body housing 2. The sheet supply unit 3 includes a supply tray 31 and a supply mechanism 32. The supply tray 31 is detachable from the main body housing 2. The supply mechanism 32 transports the sheet S from the supply tray 31 to the image forming unit 4.

The image forming unit 4 includes a drum unit DU, a scanner unit SU, a belt unit BU, and a fixing unit FU.

The drum unit DU includes a drawer 40 and four cartridges 50. The drawer 40 can accommodate the four cartridges 50. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drawer 40 is movable in a first direction relative to the main body housing 2. In more detail, the drawer 40 can pass through an opening 2A of the main body housing 2 and move between an inner position within the main body housing 2 and an outer position outside the main body housing 2.

The inner position is the position of the drawer 40 when an image is formed on the sheet S. The outer position is the position of the drawer 40 when the cartridge 50 is attached to or detached from the drawer 40. In this embodiment, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, which will be described later, and the third direction, which is the up-down direction.

The four cartridges 50 each contain a different color toner. The four cartridges 50 are lined up in a first direction. Each cartridge 50 is attachable to and detachable from the drawer 40 in a third direction. Each cartridge 50 includes a photosensitive drum 51 and a developing roller 52. Although not shown, each cartridge 50 also includes a charging roller that charges the photosensitive drum 51.

The photosensitive drum 51 is rotatable about a drum axis X1 that extends in a second direction that intersects with the first direction. In this embodiment, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the third direction.

The developing roller 52 is a roller that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 51. The developing roller 52 is rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the drum axis X1.

The scanner unit SU is located above the drum unit DU. The scanner unit SU emits laser light to each photosensitive drum 51.

The belt unit BU is located below the drum unit DU. The belt unit BU includes a drive roller 61, a driven roller 62, an intermediate transfer belt 63, four primary transfer rollers 64, and a secondary transfer roller 65.

The intermediate transfer belt 63 is an endless belt. The drive roller 61 and the driven roller 62 are rollers that rotate the intermediate transfer belt 63.

The drive roller 61, the driven roller 62, and the primary transfer roller 64 are located inside the intermediate transfer belt 63. The primary transfer roller 64 and the photosensitive drum 51 sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 63.

The secondary transfer roller 65 is located outside the intermediate transfer belt 63. The secondary transfer roller 65 and the drive roller 61 sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 63.

The fixing unit FU is located above the intermediate transfer belt 63. The fixing unit FU includes a heating roller 71 and a pressure roller 72. The pressure roller 72 is pressed against the heating roller 71.

The discharge section 5 is located at the top of the main body housing 2. The discharge section 5 includes a discharge roller 9 and a discharge tray 22. The discharge roller 9 transports the sheet S toward the discharge tray 22.

In the color printer 1, the charging roller first charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 51. Then, the scanner unit SU exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 to light. This forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 51.

Next, the developing roller 52 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 51. This forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum 51. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 51 is then transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 63.

When the sheet S passes between the intermediate transfer belt 63 and the secondary transfer roller 65, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 63 is transferred onto the sheet S. The toner image on the sheet S is then fixed by the fixing unit FU. The sheet S is then discharged onto the discharge tray 22 by the discharge rollers 9.

Next, the structure of the cartridge 50 and the drawer 40 will be described in detail. In the following description, the cartridge 50 located most upstream in the mounting direction of the drawer 40 will also be referred to as the "first cartridge 50A." The other cartridge 50 will also be referred to as the "second cartridge 50B."

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the first cartridge 50A has a drum cartridge C1 and a developing cartridge C2. The drum cartridge C1 has the photosensitive drum 51 described above. The developing cartridge C2 has the developing roller 52 described above. The developing cartridge C2 is attached to the drum cartridge C1 in an inseparable manner.

The drum cartridge C1 has a first side C11, a second side C12, a third side C13, a fourth side C14, a top surface C15, and a bottom surface C16. The first side C11 is located at one end of the drum cartridge C1 in the first direction. More specifically, the first side C11 is located at one end of the drum cartridge C1 on the upstream side in the mounting direction of the drawer 40.

The second side C12 is located at the other end of the drum cartridge C1 in the first direction. More specifically, the second side C12 is located at one end of the drum cartridge C1 on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the drawer 40.

The third side C13 is located at one end of the drum cartridge C1 in the second direction. The fourth side C14 is located at the other end of the drum cartridge C1 in the second direction.

The upper surface C15 is located at the upper end of the drum cartridge C1. The lower surface C16 is located at the lower end of the drum cartridge C1.

The drum cartridge C1 has a handle H and a recess D on the top surface C15. The handle H is a part that can be gripped by the user. The handle H is U-shaped. The handle H protrudes from the top surface C15.

The recess D is located below the handle H. This creates a space between the handle H and the bottom surface of the recess D into which the user's fingers can be inserted.

As shown in FIG. 9(a), when the drawer 40 in which the first cartridge 50A is attached is located in the inner position, the handle H of the first cartridge 50A is not covered by the drawer 40 and is exposed from the opening 2A. More specifically, the handle H is located above the upper end of a first wall 41 of the drawer 40, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 9(b), the upper end A1 of the opening 2A has a notch A2. The notch A2 is concave. The bottom surface of the notch A2 is farther from the handle H than the upper end A1. This forms a space between the handle H and the bottom surface of the notch A2 into which the user's finger can be inserted.

As shown in Figures 5(a) and (b), the first cartridge 50A is rotatable about the drum axis X1 when attached to the drawer 40. In more detail, the first cartridge 50A is rotatable between a first position shown in Figure 5(a) and a second position shown in Figure 5(b).

The first position is the position of the first cartridge 50A when forming an image on the sheet S. The second position is a position where the handle H is lower than the first position.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the drum cartridge C1 has a first protrusion P1 and two second protrusions P2 on the first side C11. The first protrusion P1 and the second protrusions P2 protrude from the first side C11.

The first protrusion P1 is located between the handle H and the third side C13 in the second direction. The first protrusion P1 is located between the two second protrusions P2 in the second direction.

One of the two second protrusions P2 is located between the first protrusion P1 and the third side surface C13 in the second direction. The other second protrusion P2 is located between the handle H and the fourth side surface C14 in the second direction.

The drum cartridge C1 has a first boss B1 and a third protrusion P3 on the third side C13. The first boss B1 and the third protrusion P3 protrude from the third side C13.

The first boss B1 has a cylindrical outer surface centered on the drum axis X1. The drum cartridge C1 has a memory M below the third protrusion P3.

The memory M stores cartridge information related to the first cartridge 50A. The memory M is, for example, an IC chip. Note that the memory M is not limited to an IC chip as long as it is a medium that stores cartridge information. The cartridge information is at least one of identification information such as a serial number and life information related to the life of the cartridge.

As shown in FIG. 7(a), the memory M has a storage element (not shown) and electrical contacts EC. The electrical contacts EC face downward. As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), the main housing 2 has main body contacts 23 that come into contact with the electrical contacts EC. The main body contacts 23 face upward.

When the drawer 40 in which the first cartridge 50A is installed is attached to the main housing 2, the electrical contact EC comes into contact with the main body contact 23. The memory element of the memory M may be in contact with the electrical contact EC or may be located separately.

When the first cartridge 50A rotates from the first position shown in FIG. 8(a) to the second position shown in FIG. 8(b), the first cartridge 50A rotates so that the electrical contacts EC move away from the main body contacts 23. When the first cartridge 50A is located at the first position, the electrical contacts EC come into contact with the main body contacts 23. When the first cartridge 50A is located at the second position, the electrical contacts EC move away from the main body contacts 23.

In the first direction, the drum axis X1 is located between the first side surface C11 and the electrical contact EC. As a result, when the first protrusion P1 and the second protrusion P2 rotate downward, the electrical contact EC rotates upward. Also, when the first protrusion P1 and the second protrusion P2 rotate upward, the electrical contact EC rotates downward.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the drum cartridge C1 has a second boss B2 on the fourth side surface C14. The second boss B2 protrudes from the fourth side surface C14. The second boss B2 is a cylindrical portion centered on the drum axis X1.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the drum cartridge C1 has a drum coupling CP in the second boss B2. The drum coupling CP is a member that transmits driving force to the photosensitive drum 51. The drum coupling CP is rotatable around the drum axis X1. The first cartridge 50A is rotatable between a first position and a second position around the drum coupling CP.

As shown in FIG. 3(c), the drawer 40 includes a first wall 41, a second wall 42, a third wall 43, a plurality of fourth walls 44, a locking member 45, and a spring 46. The first wall 41 is located upstream of the first cartridge 50A.

The multiple fourth walls 44 are walls located downstream of each cartridge 50 in the mounting direction of the drawer 40 (see FIG. 2). The second wall 42 connects one end of each of the first wall 41 and each of the fourth walls 44 in the second direction. The third wall 43 connects the other end of each of the first wall 41 and each of the fourth walls 44 in the second direction.

The drawer 40 has a first pivot support portion 42A and a first protruding portion 42B on the second wall 42. The drawer 40 also has a second pivot support portion 43A and a second protruding portion 43B on the third wall 43.

The first support portion 42A and the second support portion 43A are recesses that are arc-shaped in cross section. The first support portion 42A is located at the upper end of the second wall 42. The second support portion 43A is located at the upper end of the third wall 43.

As shown in Figures 3(a) and (c), the first boss B1 of the first cartridge 50A fits into the first pivotal support 42A. The first boss B1 is rotatable within the first pivotal support 42A. The second boss B2 of the first cartridge 50A fits into the second pivotal support 43A. The second boss B2 is rotatable within the second pivotal support 43A.

The first protrusion 42B protrudes from the second wall 42 toward the third wall 43. The second protrusion 43B protrudes from the third wall 43 toward the second wall 42. The first cartridge 50A has a positioning recess C161 on the lower surface C16. The positioning recess C161 is provided at one end and the other end of the lower surface C16 in the second direction.

As shown in FIG. 7(a), when the first cartridge 50A is located in the first position, the first protrusion 42B fits into the positioning recess C161. As shown in FIG. 7(b), when the first cartridge 50A is located in the second position, the positioning recess C161 moves away from the first protrusion 42B.

As shown in FIG. 5(a), when the first cartridge 50A is located in the first position, the second protrusion 43B fits into the positioning recess C161. As shown in FIG. 5(b), when the first cartridge 50A is located in the second position, the positioning recess C161 moves away from the second protrusion 43B.

The first convex portion 42B and the second convex portion 43B contact each positioning recess C161 to restrict the first cartridge 50A from rotating from the first position to the opposite side to the second position. As a result, the first convex portion 42B and the second convex portion 43B maintain the first cartridge 50A in the first position.

The first convex portion 42B and the second convex portion 43B also restrict the movement of the first cartridge 50A in the front-rear direction by engaging with each positioning recess C161. As a result, the first cartridge 50A is positioned in the front-rear direction by the first convex portion 42B, the second convex portion 43B and each positioning recess C161.

When the first cartridge 50A is located in the second position, the first cartridge 50A comes into contact with the fourth wall 44 of the drawer 40. The fourth wall 44 restricts the first cartridge 50A from rotating from the second position to the side opposite the first position. This allows the fourth wall 44 to maintain the first cartridge 50A in the second position.

As shown in FIG. 3(c), the drawer 40 has two restricting portions 410 and a guide portion 420 on the first wall 41. Each restricting portion 410 and guide portion 420 protrudes from the first wall 41 toward the fourth wall 44.

The restricting portion 410 is a portion that restricts the first cartridge 50A located in the second position from being removed from the drawer 40. The restricting portion 410 is located in a position in the second direction that corresponds to each of the second protrusions P2 of the first cartridge 50A.

As shown in FIG. 7(a), when the first cartridge 50A is located at the first position, the second protrusion P2 projected in the third direction does not overlap with the regulating portion 410. As shown in FIG. 7(b), when the first cartridge 50A is located at the second position, the second protrusion P2 projected in the third direction overlaps with the regulating portion 410. In detail, when the first cartridge 50A is located at the second position, the second protrusion P2 is located below the regulating portion 410. As a result, when the first cartridge 50A is located at the second position, the first cartridge 50A is restricted from being pulled out upwards.

As shown in FIG. 3(c), the guide portion 420 is a portion that guides the locking member 45 to be movable in the second direction. The guide portion 420 has a first portion 421, a second portion 422, two third portions 423, and two fourth portions 424. The first portion 421 contacts the lower surface of the locking member 45. The first portion 421 extends from the second wall 42 toward the third wall 43.

The second portion 422 is located at the end of the first portion 421 on the third wall 43 side. The second portion 422 protrudes upward from the first portion 421.

One of the two third parts 423 extends upward from the second wall 42. The other third part 423 extends upward from the first part 421. Each third part 423 sandwiches the locking member 45 between itself and the first wall 41. This restricts the locking member 45 from moving in the first direction.

The fourth portions 424 extend from each of the third portions 423 toward the first wall 41 and are connected to the first wall 41. One of the two fourth portions 424 sandwiches the locking member 45 between itself and the second wall 42. The other fourth portion 424 sandwiches the locking member 45 between itself and the first portion 421. This restricts the locking member 45 from moving in the third direction.

The locking member 45 has a base portion 451 and a protrusion portion 452. The base portion 451 extends in the second direction. The base portion 451 is located between the first wall 41 and each of the third portions 423 in the first direction. The base portion 451 is located between one of the fourth portions 424 and the second wall 42, and between the other of the fourth portions 424 and the first portion 421 in the third direction.

The base portion 451 has a tip portion 451A. The tip portion 451A protrudes from the side of the drawer 40. More specifically, the tip portion 451A protrudes from the second wall 42 on the side opposite the third wall 43.

The protrusion 452 protrudes upward from the base portion 451. The protrusion 452 is located between the two fourth portions 424 in the second direction.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), the locking member 45 can move between a locked position indicated by a solid line in the figure and an unlocked position indicated by a dashed line in the figure. The locked position is a position where the drawer 40 is locked to the main housing 2. The unlocked position is a position where the lock of the drawer 40 to the main housing 2 is released.

The spring 46 biases the locking member 45 from the release position toward the locking position. The spring 46 is a compression coil spring. The spring 46 is located between the second part 422 and the locking member 45 in the second direction.

The main body housing 2 has a recess 24 and a main body contact portion 25. The recess 24 is a portion into which the tip 451A of the locking member 45 fits when the drawer 40 is located in the inner position and the locking member 45 is located in the locked position. The recess 24 is located on the inner surface 2F of the main body housing 2 in the second direction.

When the tip 451A is in the recess 24 and the drawer 40 attempts to move from the inner position to the outer position, the tip 451A comes into contact with the inner surface of the recess 24. Therefore, the contact between the recess 24 and the tip 451A restricts the drawer 40, which is located in the inner position, from moving to the outer position.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the main body contact portion 25 is a portion that can come into contact with the tip portion 451A of the locking member 45 that is in the locked position when the drawer 40 moves from the outer position to the inner position. The main body contact portion 25 is located upstream of the recess 24 in the mounting direction of the drawer 40.

The main body contact portion 25 and the tip portion 451A each have a second cam surface F2. Each second cam surface F2 is inclined with respect to the first direction. More specifically, each second cam surface F2 is inclined so as to approach the first cartridge 50A in the second direction as it moves downstream in the mounting direction of the drawer 40. As a result, in the process of moving the drawer 40 from the outer position to the inner position, the second cam surfaces F2 come into contact with each other, and the locking member 45 moves from the locked position to the released position against the biasing force of the spring 46.

As shown in Figures 6(a) and (b), the protrusion 452 of the locking member 45 has a first cam surface F1 and a contact surface F3. The first cam surface F1 is a surface that contacts the first protrusion P1 of the first cartridge 50A. The first cam surface F1 is inclined with respect to the third direction. More specifically, the first cam surface F1 is inclined so as to move away from the first protrusion P1 in the third direction as it approaches the tip portion 451A in the second direction.

When the first cartridge 50A is in the first position shown in FIG. 6(a), the first protrusion P1 is separated from the first cam surface F1. When the first cartridge 50A rotates from the first position to the second position shown in FIG. 6(b), the first protrusion P1 comes into contact with the first cam surface F1 and presses the first cam surface F1 against the biasing force of the spring 46. This enables the first protrusion P1 to move the locking member 45 from the locked position shown in FIG. 6(a) to the released position shown in FIG. 6(b).

The contact surface F3 is a surface that comes into contact with the first protrusion P1 in the second direction when the first cartridge 50A is located in the first position shown in FIG. 6(a). The contact surface F3 comes into contact with the first protrusion P1, thereby maintaining the locking member 45 in the locked position.

With the first cartridge 50A and the locking member 45 configured as described above, when the first cartridge 50A is in the first position, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the locking member 45 is in the locked position. Also, when the first cartridge 50A is in the second position, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the locking member 45 is in the released position.

The second cartridge 50B differs from the first cartridge 50A in that it does not have the first protrusion P1 and the second protrusion P2, but the other structures are substantially the same as the first cartridge 50A. The second cartridge 50B is configured not to rotate relative to the drawer 40. Any structure may be used to prevent the second cartridge 50B from rotating relative to the drawer 40. For example, the two fourth walls 44 that sandwich the second cartridge 50B may have a guide that guides the second cartridge 50B in the third direction.

Next, the replacement operation of the cartridge 50 will be described.
When removing a used cartridge 50 from the main body housing 2, the user first opens the front cover 21 as shown in Fig. 9(a). After that, the user grasps the handle H of the first cartridge 50A. At this time, as shown in Fig. 9(b), a notch A2 is formed in the opening 2A, so that the user can easily grasp the handle H by passing his/her finger through the notch A2.

Then, the user rotates the first cartridge 50A from the first position to the second position as shown in Figs. 5(a) and (b). This causes the first protrusion P1 of the first cartridge 50A to press the first cam surface F1 of the locking member 45, and the locking member 45 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position as shown in Figs. 6(a) and (b).

When the locking member 45 is in the unlocked position, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 4(a), the tip 451A of the locking member 45 disengages from the recess 24, and the drawer 40 is unlocked from the main housing 2. Therefore, the user can move the drawer 40 from the inner position to the outer position by pulling the handle H toward himself while keeping the first cartridge 50A in the second position.

After that, to remove the first cartridge 50A from the drawer 40, the user rotates the first cartridge 50A from the second position to the first position, and then pulls the first cartridge 50A upwards. To remove the second cartridge 50B from the drawer 40, the user simply pulls the second cartridge 50B upwards. In this way, the used cartridge 50 can be removed from the main body housing 2.

The operation of rotating the first cartridge 50A from the second position to the first position differs depending on the biasing force of the spring 46. For example, if the biasing force of the spring 46 is large enough not to rotate the first cartridge 50A, the user grasps the handle H of the first cartridge 50A to rotate the first cartridge 50A from the second position to the first position. On the other hand, if the biasing force of the spring 46 is large enough to rotate the first cartridge 50A, the user only needs to release the handle H. In other words, when the user releases the handle H, the biasing force of the spring 46 moves the locking member 45 toward the locking position, and the first cam surface F1 pushes the first protrusion P1 of the first cartridge 50A upward, causing the first cartridge 50A to rotate from the second position to the first position.

When installing a new cartridge 50 in the main body housing 2, the user first installs the new cartridge 50 in the drawer 40 that is located in the outer position. After that, the user moves the drawer 40 from the outer position to the inner position, for example, by pushing the first wall 41 of the drawer 40 toward the inner position.

As the drawer 40 moves from the outer position to the inner position, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the second cam surface F2 of the locking member 45 located in the locked position comes into contact with the second cam surface F2 of the main body contact portion 25. As a result, the locking member 45 receives a reaction force from the second cam surface F2 of the main body contact portion 25 and moves from the locked position to the released position against the biasing force of the spring 46.

After that, when the tip 451A of the locking member 45 reaches the recess 24 of the main body housing 2, the biasing force of the spring 46 moves the locking member 45 to the locked position and into the recess 24. This locks the drawer 40 to the main body housing 2. With the above, a new cartridge 50 can be attached to the main body housing 2.

As described above, the following effects can be obtained in this embodiment.
Since the lock of the drawer 40 with respect to the main body housing 2 can be released by rotating the first cartridge 50A, it is not necessary to provide a handle for unlocking the drawer on the drawer. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the color printer 1 in the first direction, which is the direction of movement of the drawer 40.

When the first cartridge 50A rotates from the first position to the second position, the electrical contact EC moves away from the main body contact 23, preventing the rotation of the first cartridge 50A from the first position to the second position from being impeded by the main body contact 23.

The handle H of the first cartridge 50A is exposed through the opening 2A, allowing the user to easily grasp the handle H of the first cartridge 50A.

When the first protrusion P1 comes into contact with the first cam surface F1, the locking member 45 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, making it possible to easily configure a structure for unlocking the drawer 40.

The spring 46 biases the locking member 45 from the release position toward the lock position, so that when the first cartridge 50A is rotated from the second position to the first position, the spring 46 can move the locking member 45 from the release position to the lock position.

Since the main body contact portion 25 and the tip portion 451A each have the second cam surface F2, when the drawer 40 is moved from the outer position to the inner position, the locking member 45 can be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position by the action of the second cam surface F2 without the user having to rotate the first cartridge 50A. Therefore, when the drawer 40 is moved from the outer position to the inner position, the tip portion 451A of the locking member 45 located in the locked position can be prevented from getting caught on the main body contact portion 25.

When the first cartridge 50A is located in the second position, the second protrusion P2 projected in the third direction overlaps with the regulating portion 410, thereby preventing the first cartridge 50A located in the second position from coming off the drawer 40.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be used in various forms as exemplified below. In the following description, components that have substantially the same structure as the above-described embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

The configuration of the handle is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 10(a), the handle H may be positioned below the top surface C15 of the drum cartridge C1. In this configuration, a space into which a finger can be inserted can be formed between the handle H and the top surface C15 of the drum cartridge C1. In this configuration, it is not necessary to form a notch at the top end of the opening 2A.

Also, as shown in FIG. 10(a), when the drawer 40 with the first cartridge 50A attached is located in the inner position, the handle H may protrude from the first cartridge 50A in the first direction toward the outside of the opening 2A. In this embodiment, the front cover 21 may have a recess 21A into which the handle H is inserted. Note that, although the handle H protrudes outward from the opening 2A in this embodiment, the handle may be positioned inside the opening 2A.

The positions of the regulating portion 410 and the second protrusion P2 are not limited to those in the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIGS. 11(a) and (b), the regulating portion 410 and the second protrusion P2 may be positioned downstream of the first cartridge 50A in the mounting direction of the drawer 40. Specifically, the regulating portion 410 may be provided on the fourth wall 44 of the drawer 40, and the second protrusion P2 may be provided on the second side surface C12 of the first cartridge 50A.

In the above embodiment, the second cam surface F2 is provided on both the body contact portion 25 and the tip portion 451A, but the second cam surface may be provided on at least one of the body contact portion and the tip portion.

The spring is not limited to the spring 46 of the above embodiment, but may be other springs such as leaf springs or wire springs.

In the above embodiment, a color printer 1 is exemplified as an image forming device, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the image forming device may be, for example, a monochrome printer, copier, multifunction device, etc.

The cartridge does not have to be the first cartridge 50A having the drum cartridge C1 and the developing cartridge C2 as in the above embodiment. For example, if the photosensitive drum is non-removably provided in the drawer and the developing cartridge is removable from the drawer, the cartridge may be the developing cartridge.

In the above embodiment, the tip 451A, which is a part of the locking member 45, is configured to enter the recess 24 or to be positioned away from the recess 24 in the second direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the entire locking member may be configured to enter the recess or to be positioned away from the recess in the second direction.

The elements described in the above embodiments and variations may be implemented in any combination.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Color printer 2 Main body housing 40 Drawer 45 Lock member 50 Cartridge 50A First cartridge X1 Drum shaft

Claims (12)

A main body housing;
a drawer movable in a first direction between an inner position within the main body housing and an outer position outside the main body housing;
a cartridge that is detachable from the drawer and has a photosensitive drum that is rotatable about a drum axis that extends in a second direction that intersects with the first direction;
The drawer includes:
a locking member movable in the second direction between a locking position for locking the drawer to the main body housing and an unlocking position for unlocking the drawer to the main body housing;
the cartridge is rotatable about the drum shaft between a first position and a second position when the cartridge is attached to the drawer;
When the cartridge is located at the first position, the locking member is located at the locking position,
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the cartridge is located at the second position, the locking member is located at the release position. the cartridge includes a memory having electrical contacts;
the main body housing includes a main body contact that contacts the electrical contact;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the cartridge rotates from the first position to the second position, the cartridge rotates so that the electrical contacts are separated from the main body contacts. The electrical contacts face downwards;
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the main body contact faces upward. When the cartridge is in the first position, the electrical contacts contact the body contacts;
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electrical contact is spaced apart from the main body contact when the cartridge is located at the second position. The cartridge comprises:
a drum coupling for transmitting a driving force to the photosensitive drum, the drum coupling being rotatable around the drum shaft;
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drum coupling is rotatable about the drum coupling between the first position and the second position. the cartridge has a handle that can be gripped by a user;
the main body housing has an opening through which the drawer can pass,
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handle is exposed from the opening when the drawer in which the cartridge is mounted is located at the inner position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, when the drawer in which the cartridge is installed is located at the inner position, the handle protrudes from the cartridge toward the outside of the opening in the first direction. The main body housing includes:
a recessed portion located on an inner surface of the main body housing in the second direction;
When the locking member is located at the locking position, at least a portion of the locking member enters the recess;
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the locking member is located at the release position, at least a portion of the locking member is located away from the recess in the second direction. The cartridge comprises:
a first protrusion that contacts the locking member to move the locking member from the lock position to the release position;
The locking member is
a tip portion protruding from a side wall of the drawer in the second direction and contacting the main body housing to restrict the drawer from moving from the inner position to the outer position;
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a first cam surface that contacts the first protrusion and is inclined so as to move away from the first protrusion as it approaches the tip portion. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the drawer further includes a spring that biases the locking member in the second direction from the release position toward the locking position. The main body housing includes:
a recess into which the tip of the locking member is inserted;
a main body contact portion that is capable of coming into contact with the tip portion of the locking member that is located at the lock position during a process in which the drawer moves from the outer position to the inner position,
At least one of the body contact portion and the tip portion is
10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a second cam surface that is inclined so as to approach the cartridge toward the downstream side in the mounting direction of the drawer. The cartridge comprises:
A second projection is provided.
the drawer is attachable to and detachable from the drawer in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction;
The drawer includes:
a restricting portion that restricts the cartridge located at the second position from being removed from the drawer,
When the cartridge is located at the first position, the second protrusion projected in the third direction does not overlap with the regulating portion,
12 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the cartridge is located at the second position, the second protrusion projected in the third direction overlaps with the regulating portion.

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