JP2000231271A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device not giving damage to an intermediate transfer body, in the case of detaching the intermediate transfer body from the image forming device main body. SOLUTION: This image forming device is provided with a supporting face 76 capable of supporting the intermediate transfer body unit 40, a sliding/ supporting part 70 capable of sliding between a first state inside the main body and the second state outside the same and the intermediate transfer unit 40 housed in the main body 14 when the sliding/supporting part 70 is in the first state, and the intermediate transfer unit 40 is made attachable and detachable when the sliding/supporting part 70 is in the second state, and moreover, the intermediate transfer body unit 30 is, at the time of the housing state, fixed for positioning with regard to the main body 14 and the sliding/supporting part 70 by main body side fixing means 60r and 62r on the main body side, and supporting part side fixing means 60f and 62f on the slide supporting part side, and further more, fixing force of the main body side fixing means 60r and 62r is respectively made larger than the fixing force of supporting part side fixing means 60f and 62f.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum to a sheet via an intermediate transfer unit. It concerns the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a type in which an intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt is used to transfer a toner image formed on a photoreceptor onto paper. There is. Since the intermediate transfer body requires maintenance or the like, the intermediate transfer body unit including the intermediate transfer body is generally configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body.

Further, an intermediate transfer body unit including the intermediate transfer body needs to accurately transfer a toner image onto a sheet. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7A, positioning pins 4r and 4f are provided on the rear side (left side in the figure) and front side (right side in the figure) of the intermediate transfer body unit 2, respectively.
The rear side pin 4r is inserted into the hole 8r of the rear plate 6r fixed to the copying machine main body 14, and the front side pin 4f is inserted into the front plate 6f of the slide portion 10 which slides with respect to the copying machine main body 14. The intermediate transfer body unit 2 is positioned and fixed with respect to the copying machine main body 14 and the slide unit 10 by being inserted into the formed through hole 8f.

When the intermediate transfer body unit 2 is taken out for maintenance of the intermediate transfer belt 12, etc.,
As shown in FIG. 7B, the slide unit 10 is pulled out of the copying machine main body 14, and the intermediate transfer unit 2 is positioned outside the copying machine main body 14. Thereby, the operator can take out the intermediate transfer body unit 2.

[0005]

However, the conventional image forming apparatus as described above has the following problems. That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, as the slide part 10 is pulled out, the rear pin 4r comes out of the through hole 8r, but the front pin 4f remains without coming out of the through hole 8f. For this reason, in order to remove the intermediate transfer body unit 2, the operator temporarily pulls the intermediate transfer body unit 2 to the rear side to pull out the pin 4f from the through hole 8f, and then lifts the intermediate transfer body unit 2 upward. I had to do annoying work. In addition, during the complicated removal work, there is a problem that a fingerprint or a scratch of an operator is attached to the intermediate transfer belt 12 and an image defect occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus which does not damage the intermediate transfer body when the intermediate transfer body unit is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. I do.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an intermediate transfer body unit including an intermediate transfer body for transferring a toner image formed on a photosensitive member to a sheet; An image forming apparatus detachably provided to a forming apparatus main body, the image forming apparatus having a support surface capable of supporting an intermediate transfer body unit and sliding between a first state inside the main body and a second state outside the main body. A movable slide support portion, wherein when the slide support portion is in the first state, the intermediate transfer body unit is housed in the main body and is in a housed state in which transfer to a sheet is possible, and the slide support portion is in the second state. In the state of, the intermediate transfer body unit can be attached to and detached from the main body,
When the intermediate transfer body unit is in the housed state, the main body and the slide support are separated by a predetermined distance from the support surface of the slide support by the main body side fixing means on the main body side and the support part side fixing means on the slide support part. The main body side fixing means is positioned and fixed to the portion, and the fixing force of the main body side fixing means is larger than the fixing force of the support part side fixing means.

In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the slide supporting portion is in the first state in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the intermediate transfer body unit transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive member. It is ready to transfer to paper. Further, at this time, the intermediate transfer body unit is fixed by the main body side fixing means on the main body side and the support section side fixing means on the slide support section side.
It is positioned and fixed to the image forming apparatus main body and the slide support member at a predetermined distance from the support surface of the slide support section. The main body side fixing means can be composed of, for example, a projection provided on the intermediate transfer body unit and a hole formed on the main body side and into which the projection can enter. It can be composed of a protrusion provided on the body unit and a hole formed on the slide support portion and into which the protrusion can enter.

When the intermediate transfer unit is pulled out, the slide support is slid to a second state outside the image forming apparatus main body. At this time, since the fixing force of the main body side fixing means is larger than the fixing force of the support portion side fixing means,
First, the positioning and fixing state of the support-side fixing means is released before the main-body-side fixing means. At this time, the slide support portion side of the intermediate transfer body unit falls by its own weight, and is supported by the support surface of the slide support portion located at a predetermined interval.

When the slide supporting portion is further slid toward the outside of the apparatus main body, the fixed state of the main body side fixing means is released. At this time, the main body side of the intermediate transfer body unit also falls under its own weight, and the intermediate transfer body unit is supported only by the support surface of the slide support. Then, when the slide support portion is pulled out to the second state outside the apparatus, the operator can take out the intermediate transfer body unit. At this time, as described above, since not only the fixing state of the main body side fixing means but also the fixing state of the support part side fixing means have been released, a complicated operation of releasing each fixing means by the operator is unnecessary, Almost no damage to the intermediate transfer member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the slide support portion has a handle portion from which the slide support portion can be pulled out,
The intermediate transfer body unit has a connecting member that can be connected to the handle portion, and as the fixed state of the support-side fixing unit of the intermediate transfer body unit is released, the connecting member of the intermediate transfer body unit and the handle portion are released. The connection with is released.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, as the fixing state of the support-side fixing means of the intermediate transfer body unit is released, the connecting member of the intermediate transfer body unit and the handle portion are released. When the operator removes the intermediate transfer body unit, the work of disconnecting the connection between the connecting member and the handle portion is not required.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an intermediate transfer member unit including an intermediate transfer member on which a toner image formed on a photosensitive member is primarily transferred, and a toner image primarily transferred on the intermediate transfer member on a sheet. And a secondary transfer unit for performing the next transfer, wherein the intermediate transfer unit and the secondary transfer unit are detachably provided to the image forming apparatus main body. State and external second
The second transfer unit is moved in accordance with the sliding of the slide support, and the intermediate transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit when the slide support is in the first state. The secondary transfer unit is accommodated in the main body, and the primary transfer and the secondary transfer are in a accommodated state,
When the slide support portion is in the second state, the intermediate transfer body unit and the secondary transfer unit can be attached to and detached from the main body. When the intermediate transfer body unit is in the housed state, the intermediate transfer body unit and the main body can be separated from each other. The secondary transfer unit is positioned and fixed with respect to the main body by a main body-side fixing unit that fixes the intermediate transfer unit. The positioning unit is fixed to the body unit, and the fixing force of the unit fixing unit is larger than the fixing force of the main unit side fixing unit.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, when the slide support is in the first state in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the intermediate transfer unit and the secondary transfer unit perform the primary transfer. And a state in which secondary transfer can be performed. At this time, the intermediate transfer body unit is positioned and fixed with respect to the main body by main body side fixing means for fixing the intermediate transfer body unit and the main body, and the secondary transfer unit is connected to the secondary transfer unit and the intermediate transfer body unit. Are fixedly positioned with respect to the intermediate transfer body unit by a unit fixing means for fixing the intermediate transfer member.

When the intermediate transfer unit and the secondary transfer unit are to be pulled out, the slide support is slid to the second state outside the image forming apparatus main body. At this time, since the fixing force of the unit fixing means is greater than the fixing force of the main body fixing means, the fixing state of the unit fixing means is not released, and the fixing state of the main body fixing means is released.

Then, the slide supporting portion is connected to a second outside of the apparatus.
Is pulled out, the intermediate transfer unit and the secondary transfer unit can be taken out while being fixed by the unit fixing means. That is, since the intermediate transfer unit is moved out of the image forming apparatus main body integrally with the secondary transfer unit, unlike the case where the secondary transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit are pulled out separately,
Friction and collision do not occur between the intermediate transfer member and the secondary transfer unit, and the intermediate transfer member is hardly damaged.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same elements, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a color copying machine (image forming apparatus) 1 of the present embodiment. The copying machine 1 mainly includes a copying machine main body 14 and an automatic document feeder 18 that opens and closes a copy glass 16 installed on an upper surface of the copying machine main body 14.

A document reading unit 20 for opening the automatic document feeder 18 to read an image of a fixed document placed on the copy glass 16 and converting the image into an electric image signal is provided inside the copying machine body 14. Image forming unit 22 that forms a visible image on a sheet based on the image signal received from document reading unit 20
And a plurality of paper feed trays 34 for supplying paper to the image forming unit 22 are provided.

The document reading section 20 includes a CCD housed therein.
After reading the color image information of the original as analog signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue),
Based on the signal, K (black), Y (yellow), M
(Magenta) and C (cyan) color image data are generated.

Next, the outline of the image forming section 22 will be described.
The image forming unit 22 mainly includes an exposure device 24 that outputs a laser beam modulated based on color image data from the document reading unit 20, and a photosensitive device that is charged by a charging roll 26 and is exposed by the laser beam. Body drum 28
And a rotary developing device 3 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 28 by this exposure into a toner image.
0, an intermediate transfer unit 40 including an intermediate transfer belt 32 on which a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 28 is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position T _1, and a toner primarily transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 32. a secondary transfer unit 50 for transferring the secondary at a secondary transfer position T ₂ on the supplied paper from the paper feed tray 34 to the image fixing device for fixing to the paper an unfixed toner image secondarily transferred onto the sheet 36.

The developing device 30 includes developing devices 30 _K and 3 of four colors of K, Y, M and C mounted around the rotation shaft 30o.
0 _Y , 30 _M , and 30 _{C so} that the developing units 30 _K , 30 _Y , 30 _M , and 30 _C for each of the four colors sequentially face the photosensitive drum 28 as the rotation shaft 30o rotates. It is configured. The developing devices _{30 K, 30 Y, 30 M} , 30 C develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 28 K, Y, M, the toner image of each color of C.

The intermediate transfer belt 32 of the intermediate transfer unit 40, primary transfer roll 36 disposed in the primary transfer position T _1, the driving roller 38, tension roller 42, a steering roll 44, the inner secondary transfer roller (bias roll ) 46 and the like, and a drive mechanism 38 (not shown) drives the drive roll 38 at substantially the same speed as the photosensitive drum 28.
And rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. As will be described in detail later, the intermediate transfer body unit 40 is detachable from the copier body 14.

The secondary transfer unit 50 has a secondary transfer position T
₁ includes an outer secondary transfer roll 48 disposed at the first position. The outer secondary transfer roll 48 is used for the intermediate transfer belt 3.
The second secondary transfer roller 46 is opposed to the inner secondary transfer roll 46 with 2 interposed therebetween, and is pressed toward the inner secondary transfer roll 46 when performing the secondary transfer. Then, when a bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the inner secondary transfer roll 46, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 32 is secondarily transferred to the sheet. After the toner image is transferred to the sheet, the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 36, and then the copying machine 1
4 to the outside. The above is the description of the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment.
It is an outline of.

Next, the intermediate transfer unit 40, which is a feature of the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the intermediate transfer body unit 40 is pulled out from the copying machine main body 14. The intermediate transfer body unit 40 includes a front board 54 and a rear board 56 that support various rolls that stretch the intermediate transfer belt 32 such as the drive roll 38 and the primary transfer roll 36 on both sides. The front board 54 is provided with a connecting member 58 having a U-shaped cross section and a positioning front pin 60f, which is connected to a handle described later, on the opposite side of the copying machine main body 14, that is, on the surface on the side from which the copier 14 is pulled out. On the other hand, on the surface of the back side in figure Riabodo 56, two of Riapin 60r for positioning are provided at predetermined intervals L _1. The front pins 60f and the rear pins 60r have tapered tips.

Next, a description will be given of a unit moving / holding mechanism 64 for moving the intermediate transfer unit 40 to a state in which it can be attached to and detached from the copying machine main body 14, and to a state in which the primary transfer can be carried out. The unit movement holding mechanism 64
A fixing plate 66 fixed to the copying machine main body 14, two rail guides 68 fixed to the fixing plate 66 and the copying machine main body 14, and slidable with respect to the rail guide 68 and intermediate. And a slide supporting portion 70 capable of supporting the transfer body unit 40.

[0028] the fixed plate 66, two through holes 62r at a predetermined interval L ₂ is formed. This through hole 62
The inner diameter of r is larger than the diameter of rear pin 60r, and is configured so that rear pin 60r can be inserted. The distance L ₂ of the two through holes 62r are wider than the distance L ₁ of the two of Riapin 60r.

Guide rails 72 are formed in each rail guide 68, and the guide grooves 72 are arranged so as to face each other. The slide support section 70 includes two rails 74 that slide in the guide grooves 72 in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and a front plate 77 that supports the rails 74. Further, each rail 74 is provided with a substantially rectangular support plate 76 capable of supporting the intermediate transfer body unit 40, and the front plate 77 is provided with a slide support 70 with the copier body 1.
4. A substantially rectangular support plate 76 capable of supporting a handle 78 and an intermediate transfer body unit 40 which are used when the intermediate transfer body unit 40 is pulled out to the outside.
And one through hole 62f is formed. The inside diameter of this through hole 62f is the front pin 60f
, And is configured so that the front pin 60f can be inserted. Further, the copier body 1 of the front plate 77
On the fourth side, a connecting mechanism 80 that is connected to the handle 78 and can be connected to the connecting member 58 provided on the intermediate transfer body unit 40 is provided. The coupling mechanism 80 has a U-shaped groove that can be fitted to the coupling member 58.

The structure of the unit moving and holding mechanism 64 has been described above. When the intermediate transfer unit 40 is accommodated in the copying machine main body 14, the slide support is carried out after the intermediate transfer unit 40 is mounted on the three support plates 76. The part 70 is slid toward the inside of the main body. Then, as the slide support 70 slides, the front pin 60f and the rear pins 60r, 60r
The tapered distal end of r penetrates into each of the through holes 62f and the inner edges of the through holes 62r and 62r while sliding, and the connecting member 58 and the connecting mechanism 80 of the handle 78 are connected, and the intermediate transfer body unit 40 is It is stored in a transferable state.

Next, referring to FIGS. 3A to 3C,
The process of pulling out the slide support 70 from the inside of the copier body 14 to the outside will be described. FIG. 3A illustrates a state in which the slide support unit 70 is fully inserted (first state).
III-III when the intermediate transfer unit 40 shown in FIG.
FIG. At this time, the intermediate transfer body unit 40 includes the rear pins 60r, 60r passing through the two through holes 62r, 62r of the fixed plate 66 and the through holes 6 of the front plate 77.
The front pin 60f penetrating through 2f is positioned and fixed to the copying machine main body 14 and the slide support 70. That is, the two through holes 62r, 62r
The rear pin 60r and the rear pin 60r form a main body side fixing means, and the through hole 62f and the front pin 60f form a supporting part side fixing means. At this time, the bottom surface of the intermediate transfer body unit 40 is separated from the upper surface of the support plate 76 of the slide support 70.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fixing state of the main body side fixing means and the support portion side fixing means will be described. As described above, since the distance L ₂ of the two through holes 62r are wider than the distance L ₁ of the two of Riapin 60r, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), in the main body side, in the fixed plate 66 Region R between two through holes 62r
Is held by the two rear pins 60r. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, on the support portion side, the front pin 60f is placed on the bottom of the inner edge of the through hole 62f, and the front pin 60f is smoothly removed from the through hole 62f. be able to. That is,
The fixing force of the main body side fixing means is larger than the fixing force of the support portion side fixing means.

Next, a method of taking out the intermediate transfer unit 40 to the outside of the copying machine body 14 will be described. First, the operator grasps the handle 78 and pulls out the slide support 70 toward the front side of the copying machine main body 14, that is, rightward in the drawing. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the through hole 62r
Before the rear pin 60r comes out from the front pin 60f
Is removed from the through hole 62f and the connection between the connecting mechanism 80 of the handle 78 and the connecting member 58 is released. this is,
As described above, the fixing force of the main body side fixing means is larger than the fixing force of the support portion side fixing means. When the front pin 60f comes out of the through hole 62f, the handle 78 side of the intermediate transfer body unit 40 falls by its own weight, and is supported by the support surface of the support plate 76 located at a predetermined interval.

Subsequently, when the slide support portion 70 is further pulled out of the copying machine main body 14, the rear pin 60
r comes out of the through hole 62r. At this time, the fixed plate 66 side of the intermediate transfer body unit 40 also falls under its own weight, and the intermediate transfer body unit 40 is supported only by the support plate 76.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the slide support 70 is pulled out to the outside of the copying machine main body 14 (second state), the operator can lift the intermediate transfer body unit 40 and take it out. it can. At this time, as described above, not only the fixing state of the main body side fixing means but also the fixing state of the support part side fixing means are released, that is, not only the fixing state of the rear pin 60r and the through hole 62r but also the front pin 60f. Also, the fixed state of the through-hole 62f is released, so that the operator does not need to perform a complicated operation of releasing each fixing means, and it is possible to prevent the intermediate transfer belt 32 from being fingerprinted or damaged. .

Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The copying machine 1 shown in FIG. 5 differs from the copying machine of the first embodiment in that a coil spring 82 wound around a front pin 60f is attached to the front board 54 of the intermediate transfer body unit 40. . When the front pin 60f is inserted into the through hole 62f, a restoring force is accumulated in the coil spring 82. When the slide support 70 is pulled out of the copier main body 14, the front pin 60f is moved by the restoring force of the coil spring 82 before the rear pin 60r comes out of the through hole 62r.
Exit from f. That is, even if such a configuration is adopted, when the slide support portion 70 is pulled out,
r and the through-hole 62r as well as the front pin 6
0f and the fixed state of the through hole 62f are also released,
The operator does not need to perform a complicated operation of releasing each fixing means, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which a fingerprint is attached to the intermediate transfer belt 32 or the intermediate transfer belt 32 is damaged.

In addition to the modification shown in FIG. 5, the contact surface between the rear pin 60r and the through hole 62r is roughened to increase the friction coefficient, so that the front pin 60f can be moved before the rear pin 60r comes out of the through hole 62r. It is also possible to configure so as to escape from 62f. Further, the same effect can be obtained even if the diameter of the rear pin 60r is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the through hole 62r. Also, two rear pins 6
0r, the rear pin 60r is inserted into the through hole 6r.
Rear pin 60r and through hole 62r
A large frictional force or resistance may be applied to the inner edge of the head.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 3A is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a state in which the intermediate transfer unit 40 and the secondary transfer unit 50 are housed in the copying machine main body 14.

In the housed state in which the primary transfer and the secondary transfer can be performed, the intermediate transfer body unit 40 includes the two rear pins 60r inserted into the two through holes 62r of the fixing plate 66.
And the front pin 6 inserted into the through hole 62f of the front plate 77
0f, the copying machine body 14 and the stationary front plate 8
4 is positioned and fixed. That is, the through hole 62r and the rear pin 60r constitute a main body side fixing means. Further, a rail 86 is attached to the front plate 84 of the present embodiment, and the rail 86 is attached to the fixed plate 6.
It is configured to be able to slide in the guide groove 90 of the rail guide 88 connected to the rail 6. Note that, in the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the interval between the two through holes 62r is not configured to be wider than the interval between the two rear pins 60r, and the center of the two rear pins 60r is not set. The distance between them and the distance between the centers of the two through holes 62r are made equal. Also, the diameter of the rear pin 60r is the through hole 62r.
Is smaller than the inner diameter of.

Further, through holes 94 and 96 are formed in the hanging plate 92 attached below the front board 54 and the rear board 56 of the intermediate transfer body unit 40, respectively. The secondary transfer unit 50 is provided with a first pin 98 and a second pin 100 which can enter the through holes 94 and 96, respectively. The first pin 98 and the second pin 100 are respectively inserted into the through holes 94 and 96. , 96 so that the secondary transfer unit 50 is connected to the intermediate transfer unit 4.
It is positioned and fixed to 0. That is, the first pin 9
The unit fixing means is constituted by 8, the second pin 100, and the through holes 94 and 96.

In this embodiment, the through holes 94 and 96
Are slightly smaller than the diameters of the first pin 98 and the second pin 100 so that some resistance is applied when the pins 98 and 100 are inserted and removed. For this reason, the fixing force of the unit fixing means is larger than the fixing force of the main body fixing means including the through hole 62r and the rear pin 60r.

Below the secondary transfer unit 50, a base plate 102 attached to a fixed plate 66 is arranged, and a slidable sliding case (slide support portion) 104 is mounted on the base plate 102. I have. This sliding case 1
A projecting pin 106 is provided on the upper surface of 04, and penetrates into a bottom hole 108 formed on the bottom surface of the secondary transfer unit 50. Note that only the intermediate transfer unit 40 supports the secondary transfer unit 50, and the bottom surface of the secondary transfer unit 50 is separated from the upper surface of the sliding case 104.

Next, a method for taking out the intermediate transfer unit 40 and the secondary transfer unit 50 to the outside of the copying machine main body 14 will be described. First, an operator pulls the front plate 104a of the sliding case 104 to move the sliding case 104 to the copier main body 1.
4 is pulled out to the front side, that is, rightward in the figure.
Then, the protruding pin 106 comes into contact with the inner edge of the bottom hole 108, whereby the secondary transfer unit 50 is
It is moved toward the outside of. When the front plate 104a is pulled to some extent, the first pin 98 and the second pin 100
The rear pin 60r comes out of the through hole 62r before the comes out of the through holes 94 and 96. This is because, as described above, the fixing force of the unit fixing means is larger than the fixing force of the main body side fixing means.

As shown in FIG. 6B, when the sliding case 104 is pulled out of the copying machine main body 14, the intermediate transfer unit 40 and the secondary transfer unit 50 are not separated. The operator can lift the two together and take them out. As described above, in the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer body unit 40 is moved to the outside of the copying machine main body 14 integrally with the secondary transfer unit 50,
Unlike the case where the secondary transfer unit 50 and the intermediate transfer body unit 40 are pulled out separately, the intermediate transfer belt 32
Thus, no friction or collision occurs with the secondary transfer unit 50, and damage to the intermediate transfer belt can be prevented.

In this embodiment, as a method of making the fixing force of the unit fixing means larger than the fixing force of the main body side fixing means, the rear board 5 of the intermediate transfer body unit 40 is used.
6, a method in which two through holes are formed in the hanging plate and two second pins 100 of the secondary transfer unit are provided, and the distance between the two second pins is shorter than the distance between the two through holes. There is. Also, the first pin 9 constituting the unit fixing means
8, a method of making the friction coefficient of the second pin 100 and the through holes 94 and 96 larger than the friction coefficient of the rear pin 60r and the through hole 62r constituting the main body side fixing means can be adopted.

As described above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the cross section and the through hole of the pin constituting each fixing means do not necessarily have to be circular, and may have various other shapes such as a square.
Further, with respect to the first embodiment, a through hole may be provided in the intermediate transfer body unit, and a pin which can enter the through hole may be formed in the fixing plate and the front plate of the slide support portion. Similarly, in the second embodiment, a through-hole may be formed in the secondary transfer unit, and the intermediate transfer body unit may include a pin that can enter the through-hole. The hole into which the positioning pin is inserted does not need to be a through hole, and may be a bottomed hole.

[0047]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the slide support portion is in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the intermediate transfer body unit is fixed to the main body side fixing means and the main body side fixing means. The support portion side fixing means on the slide support portion positions and fixes the image forming apparatus main body and the slide support member at a predetermined distance from the support surface of the slide support portion. Then, when pulling out the intermediate transfer body unit, the slide support portion is slid outside the image forming apparatus main body. At this time, since the fixing force of the main body side fixing means is larger than the fixing force of the support part side fixing means, first, the positioning and fixing state of the supporting part side fixing means is released before the main body side fixing means.

Subsequently, when the slide support portion is further slid toward the outside of the apparatus main body, the fixing state of the main body side fixing means is released. Then, when the slide support portion is pulled out of the apparatus, the operator can take out the intermediate transfer body unit. At this time, as described above, since not only the fixing state of the main body side fixing means but also the fixing state of the support part side fixing means have been released, a complicated operation of releasing each fixing means by the operator is unnecessary, Damage to the intermediate transfer member can be prevented.

Further, according to another image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the slide support portion is in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the intermediate transfer body unit is configured to fix the intermediate transfer body unit and the main body. The secondary transfer unit is positioned and fixed to the main body by the side fixing means, and the secondary transfer unit is positioned and fixed to the intermediate transfer body unit by unit fixing means for fixing the secondary transfer unit and the intermediate transfer body unit. When the slide support is slid toward the outside of the image forming apparatus main body, the fixing state of the unit fixing unit is not released because the fixing force of the unit fixing unit is larger than the fixing force of the main unit side fixing unit. The fixing state of the main body side fixing means is released.

When the slide support is pulled out of the apparatus, the intermediate transfer unit and the secondary transfer unit can be taken out while being fixed by the unit fixing means. That is, since the intermediate transfer unit is moved to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body integrally with the secondary transfer unit, unlike the case where the secondary transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit are pulled out separately, No friction or collision occurs with the secondary transfer unit, and damage to the intermediate transfer member can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a color copying machine according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the intermediate transfer body unit according to the first embodiment is pulled out from a copying machine main body.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are process diagrams showing a state in which a slide support portion is pulled out from the inside of a copying machine main body.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a main body side fixing unit, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a support unit side fixing unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a state in which an intermediate transfer body unit and a secondary transfer unit according to a second embodiment are housed in a copying machine main body, and FIG. ,
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an intermediate transfer unit and a secondary transfer unit are drawn out of the copying machine main body.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a state in which an intermediate transfer body unit is accommodated in an apparatus main body in a conventional image forming apparatus, and FIG. It is a figure showing the state pulled out outside.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copy machine (image forming apparatus), 2, 40 ... Intermediate transfer unit, 4r, 4f ... Pin, 8r, 8f ... Through-hole, 10
... Sliding parts, 12, 32 ... Intermediate transfer belt (intermediate transfer body), 14 ... Copier body, 20 ... Document reading part, 22 ... Image forming part, 24 ... Exposure device, 26 ... Charging roll, 28 ...
Photoreceptor drum, 30 developing device, 36 primary transfer roll, 36 fixing device, 38 drive roll, 46 inner secondary transfer roll, 48 outer secondary transfer roll, 50 secondary transfer unit, 54 Front board, 56 ... Rear board, 58 ... Connecting member, 60f, 62f ... Support part side fixing means, 60r, 62r ... Main body side fixing means, 64 ... Unit movement holding mechanism, 66 ... Fixing plate, 70 ... Slide support part,
76 ... support plate (support surface), 77, 84 ... front plate, 78 ... handle, 80 ... coupling mechanism, 82 ... coil spring, 92 ... hanging plate, 94, 96, 98, 100 ... unit fixing means,
102: base plate, 104: sliding case, 106: projecting pin, 108: bottom hole.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an intermediate transfer member unit including an intermediate transfer member for transferring a toner image formed on a photoreceptor to a sheet; A slide support portion having a support surface capable of supporting the body unit and slidable between a first state inside the main body and a second state outside the main body; In the state, the intermediate transfer body unit is housed in the main body and is in a housed state in which the transfer to the paper can be performed. When the slide support unit is in the second state, the intermediate transfer is performed. The body unit is detachable from the main body. When the intermediate transfer body unit is in the housed state, the intermediate transfer body unit is fixed by the main body side fixing means on the main body side and the support section side fixing means on the slide support section side. It is positioned and fixed to the main body and the slide support at a predetermined distance from the support surface of the slide support, and the fixing force of the main body side fixing means is greater than the fixing force of the support part side fixing means. An image forming apparatus characterized in that it is also large. 2. The intermediate transfer body unit, wherein the slide support portion has a handle portion from which the slide support portion can be pulled out, the intermediate transfer body unit has a connecting member connectable to the handle portion, 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the connection between the connecting member of the intermediate transfer body unit and the handle portion is released as the fixing state of the supporting portion side fixing means is released. 3. Forming equipment. 3. An intermediate transfer body unit including an intermediate transfer body on which a toner image formed on a photoconductor is primarily transferred, and a secondary transfer unit that secondary-transfers the toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer body onto a sheet. And a second transfer unit, wherein the intermediate transfer unit and the secondary transfer unit are detachably provided to the image forming apparatus main body. A slide support portion slidable between a state and an external second state, wherein the secondary transfer unit is moved with the sliding of the slide support portion, and the slide support portion is In the state of 1, the intermediate transfer body unit and the secondary transfer unit are housed in the main body, and are in a housed state in which the primary transfer and the secondary transfer can be performed. In the state 2, the intermediate transfer body unit and the secondary transfer unit are detachable from the main body. When the intermediate transfer body unit is in the housed state, the intermediate transfer body unit and the secondary transfer unit A main body-side fixing unit that fixes the main body and the main body; the secondary transfer unit is a unit that fixes the secondary transfer unit and the intermediate transfer body unit in the housing state; The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the fixing unit is positioned and fixed with respect to the intermediate transfer body unit, and a fixing force of the unit fixing unit is larger than a fixing force of the main body side fixing unit.