Image forming apparatus having drawer supporting process cartridge
In an image forming apparatus, a drawer includes a first biasing part and a second biasing part. A process cartridge includes: a first protruding part provided on one end of the process cartridge in an axial direction of a photosensitive drum; and a second protruding part provided on another end of the process cartridge in the axial direction. Each of the first and second protruding parts extends in a sliding direction, in which the drawer moves, and overlaps with a center of the process cartridge. In a state that the drawer supporting the process cartridge is at an internal position inside of a main casing, the process cartridge moves from a first position to a second position positioned above the first position by the first protruding part being biased by the first biasing part and the second protruding part being biased by the second biasing part.
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main casing;
a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum; and
a drawer configured to support the process cartridge and move in a sliding direction between an internal position inside of the main casing and an external position outside of the main casing, the sliding direction being perpendicular to an axial direction of the photosensitive drum,
the process cartridge being configured such that in a state that the drawer supporting the process cartridge is at the internal position, the process cartridge moves linearly in a perpendicular direction between a first position and a second position positioned above the first position, the perpendicular direction being perpendicular to both of the axial direction and the sliding direction,
the drawer comprising:
a first biasing part configured to bias the process cartridge upward, the first biasing part comprising
a first biasing member,
a second biasing member disposed spaced apart from the first biasing member in the sliding direction,
a first advance/retract part configured to advance and retract vertically due to biasing force of the first and second biasing members, and
a first guide part configured to guide movement of the first advance/retract part, and
a second biasing part configured to bias the process cartridge upward, the second biasing part being disposed spaced apart from the first biasing part in the axial direction, and comprising
a third biasing member,
a fourth biasing member disposed spaced apart from the third biasing member in the sliding direction,
a second advance/retract part configured to advance and retract vertically due to the biasing force of the third and fourth biasing members, and
a second guide part configured to guide movement of the second advance/retract part,
the process cartridge comprising:
a first protruding part provided on one end of the process cartridge in the axial direction; and
a second protruding part provided on another end of the process cartridge in the axial direction,
each of the first protruding part and the second protruding part extending in the sliding direction, and overlapping with a center of the process cartridge,
the process cartridge being configured such that in a state that the drawer supporting the process cartridge is at the internal position, the process cartridge moves from the first position to the second position by the first protruding part being biased by the first biasing part and the second protruding part being biased by the second biasing part,
the first biasing member and the second biasing member are provided to the drawer such that in a state that the drawer supporting the process cartridge is at the internal position, the center of the process cartridge is interposed between the first biasing member and the second biasing member,
the third biasing member and the fourth biasing member are provided to the drawer such that in a state that the drawer supporting the process cartridge is at the internal position, the center of the process cartridge is interposed between the third biasing member and the fourth biasing member,
wherein the first advance/retract part comprises:
a first contact portion configured to contact the first protruding part so as to move the process cartridge between the first position and the second position,
a first restricting portion provided at one end of the first biasing part in the sliding direction, and
a second restricting portion provided at another end of the first biasing part in the sliding direction, and
wherein the second advance/retract part comprises:
a second contact portion configured to contact the second protruding part so as to move the process cartridge between the first position and the second position,
a third restricting portion provided at one end of the second biasing part in the sliding direction, and
a fourth restricting portion provided at another end of the second biasing part in the sliding direction.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first protruding part of the process cartridge comprises a first contact surface that faces downwardly,
the second protruding part of the process cartridge comprises a second contact surface that faces downwardly,
the first contact portion in the drawer comprises a third contact surface that is configured such that in a state that the drawer supporting the process cartridge is at the internal position, the third contact surface contacts the first contact surface of the process cartridge, the third contact surface facing upwardly, and
the second contact portion in the drawer comprises a fourth contact surface that is configured such that in a state that the drawer supporting the process cartridge is at the internal position, the fourth contact surface contacts the second contact surface of the process cartridge, the fourth contact surface facing upwardly.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the process cartridge comprises:
a first side wall disposed at the one end of the process cartridge in the axial direction; and
a second side wall disposed at the other end of the process cartridge in the axial direction,
the first protruding part protrudes from an outer surface of the first side wall outward in the axial direction, and
the second protruding part protrudes from an outer surface of the second side wall outward in the axial direction.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein each of the first protruding part and the second protruding part is in a plate shape extending in the sliding direction.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first biasing member, the second biasing member, the third biasing member, and the fourth biasing member includes a spring.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first protruding part and the second protruding part are disposed overlapping with an axis of the photosensitive drum when projected in a vertical direction.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the main casing is provided with a positioning member configured to position the photosensitive drum,
the process cartridge comprises an engagement part configured to be engaged with the positioning member, thereby positioning the photosensitive drum, and
the process cartridge is configured such that in a state that the process cartridge is at the first position, the engagement part is engaged with the positioning member and that in a state that the process cartridge is at the second position, engagement between the engagement part and the positioning member is released.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a belt unit disposed confronting the photosensitive drum in a vertical direction, the belt unit including a belt and configured to move between a contact position, at which the belt contacts the photosensitive drum, and a separated position, at which the belt is separate from the photosensitive drum,
the main casing is formed with an opening such that the process cartridge is capable of passing therethrough, the main casing is provided with a cover configured to move between an open position, at which the cover opens the opening, and a closed position, at which the cover closes the opening, and
the belt unit moves from the contact position to the separated position as being interlocked with movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position, and moves from the separated position to the contact position as being interlocked with movement of the cover from the open position to the closed position.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a first pressing member and a second pressing member, each of which is configured to abut against the process cartridge supported by the drawer,
wherein the process cartridge comprises:
a first pressing unit configured to be abutted by the first pressing member and having resilient force; and
a second pressing unit configured to be abutted by the second pressing member and having resilient force,
the first pressing member is configured such that when the belt unit is at the contact position, the first pressing member is at an abutment position at which the first pressing member is in abutment with the first pressing unit, and when the belt unit is at the separated position, the first pressing member is at an abutment release position at which abutment between the first pressing member and the first pressing unit is released,
the second pressing member is configured such that when the belt unit is at the contact position, the second pressing member is at an abutment position at which the second pressing member is in abutment with the second pressing unit, and when the belt unit is at the separated position, the second pressing member is at an abutment release position at which abutment between the second pressing member and the second pressing unit is released,
the first pressing unit is configured such that when the first pressing unit is abutted by the first pressing member, the first pressing unit biases the process cartridge toward the first position against biasing force of the first biasing part, and
the second pressing unit is configured such that when the second pressing unit is abutted by the second pressing member, the second pressing unit biases the process cartridge toward the first position against the biasing force of the second biasing part.
10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the first pressing unit comprises:
a first abutted part configured to move in the perpendicular direction between an advanced position, at which the first abutted part is advanced in a direction toward the belt unit, and a retracted position, at which the first abutted part is retracted in a direction away from the belt unit; and
a first cartridge biasing member configured to bias the first abutted part in a direction toward the advanced position, and
the second pressing unit comprises:
a second abutted part configured to move in the perpendicular direction between an advanced position, at which the second abutted part is advanced in a direction toward the belt unit, and a retracted position, at which the second abutted part is retracted in a direction away from the belt unit; and
a second cartridge biasing member configured to bias the second abutted part in a direction toward the advanced position.
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein in the perpendicular direction, a moving amount of each of the first pressing member and the second pressing member from the abutment position to the abutment release position is greater than a sum of a moving amount of the process cartridge from the first position to the second position and a moving amount of each of the first abutted part and the second abutted part from the retracted position to the advanced position.
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the process cartridge is disposed below the belt unit.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drawer comprises:
a first side frame disposed at one end of the drawer in the axial direction, the first side frame being in a bar shape extending in the sliding direction and being configured to be guided by the main casing when the drawer moves; and
a second side frame disposed at another end of the drawer in the axial direction, the second side frame being in a bar shape extending in the sliding direction and configured to be guided by the main casing when the drawer moves, and
the process cartridge is supported by the drawer such that the process cartridge is disposed between the first side frame and the second side frame in the axial direction.
14. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main casing;
a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum; and
a drawer configured to support the process cartridge and move in a sliding direction between an internal position inside of the main casing and an external position outside of the main casing, the sliding direction being perpendicular to an axial direction of the photosensitive drum,
the process cartridge being configured such that in a state that the drawer supporting the process cartridge is at the internal position, the process cartridge moves linearly in a perpendicular direction between a first position and a second position positioned above the first position, the perpendicular direction being perpendicular to both of the axial direction and the sliding direction,
the drawer comprising:
a first biasing part configured to bias the process cartridge upward; and
a second biasing part configured to bias the process cartridge upward, the second biasing part being disposed spaced apart from the first biasing part in the axial direction,
the process cartridge comprising:
a first protruding part provided on one end of the process cartridge in the axial direction; and
a second protruding part provided on another end of the process cartridge in the axial direction,
each of the first protruding part and the second protruding part extending in the sliding direction, and overlapping with a center of the process cartridge,
the process cartridge being configured such that in a state that the drawer supporting the process cartridge is at the internal position, the process cartridge moves from the first position to the second position by the first protruding part being biased by the first biasing part and the second protruding part being biased by the second biasing part,
wherein the main casing is provided with a positioning member configured to position the photosensitive drum,
the process cartridge comprises an engagement part configured to be engaged with the positioning member, thereby positioning the photosensitive drum, and
the process cartridge is configured such that in a state that the process cartridge is at the first position, the engagement part is engaged with the positioning member and that in a state that the process cartridge is at the second position, engagement between the engagement part and the positioning member is released.
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a belt unit disposed confronting the photosensitive drum in a vertical direction, the belt unit including a belt and configured to move between a contact position, at which the belt contacts the photosensitive drum, and a separated position, at which the belt is separate from the photosensitive drum,
the main casing is formed with an opening such that the process cartridge is capable of passing therethrough, the main casing is provided with a cover configured to move between an open position, at which the cover opens the opening, and a closed position, at which the cover closes the opening, and
the belt unit moves from the contact position to the separated position as being interlocked with movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position, and moves from the separated position to the contact position as being interlocked with movement of the cover from the open position to the closed position.
16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a first pressing member and a second pressing member, each of which is configured to abut against the process cartridge supported by the drawer,
wherein the process cartridge comprises:
a first pressing unit configured to be abutted by the first pressing member and having resilient force; and
a second pressing unit configured to be abutted by the second pressing member and having resilient force,
the first pressing member is configured such that when the belt unit is at the contact position, the first pressing member is at an abutment position at which the first pressing member is in abutment with the first pressing unit, and when the belt unit is at the separated position, the first pressing member is at an abutment release position at which abutment between the first pressing member and the first pressing unit is released,
the second pressing member is configured such that when the belt unit is at the contact position, the second pressing member is at an abutment position at which the second pressing member is in abutment with the second pressing unit, and when the belt unit is at the separated position, the second pressing member is at an abutment release position at which abutment between the second pressing member and the second pressing unit is released,
the first pressing unit is configured such that when the first pressing unit is abutted by the first pressing member, the first pressing unit biases the process cartridge toward the first position against biasing force of the first biasing part, and
the second pressing unit is configured such that when the second pressing unit is abutted by the second pressing member, the second pressing unit biases the process cartridge toward the first position against the biasing force of the second biasing part.
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the first pressing unit comprises:
a first abutted part configured to move in the perpendicular direction between an advanced position, at which the first abutted part is advanced in a direction toward the belt unit, and a retracted position, at which the first abutted part is retracted in a direction away from the belt unit; and
a first cartridge biasing member configured to bias the first abutted part in a direction toward the advanced position, and
the second pressing unit comprises:
a second abutted part configured to move in the perpendicular direction between an advanced position, at which the second abutted part is advanced in a direction toward the belt unit, and a retracted position, at which the second abutted part is retracted in a direction away from the belt unit; and
a second cartridge biasing member configured to bias the second abutted part in a direction toward the advanced position.
18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein in the perpendicular direction, a moving amount of each of the first pressing member and the second pressing member from the abutment position to the abutment release position is greater than a sum of a moving amount of the process cartridge from the first position to the second position and a moving amount of each of the first abutted part and the second abutted part from the retracted position to the advanced position.