Image forming apparatus including a contact and separation mechanism
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes multiple photoreceptors, a primary transfer unit attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body, and a unit lock that restricts the primary transfer unit from being detached from the apparatus main body. The primary transfer unit includes a primary transfer belt, multiple primary transfer rollers, and a contact and separation mechanism. The contact and separation mechanism includes multiple arm members, a link member, and a grip. When, using the grip, a user moves the link member to a release position for separating all of the primary transfer rollers from the photoreceptors, the unit lock transitions from a lock state to an unlock state.
1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of photoreceptors;
a primary transfer unit attachable to, and detachable from, an apparatus main body; and
a unit lock that restricts the primary transfer unit from being detached from the apparatus main body, wherein:
the primary transfer unit includes:
a primary transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from the plurality of photoreceptors,
a plurality of primary transfer rollers that are positioned, respectively, opposite the plurality of photoreceptors, with the primary transfer belt therebetween, and
a contact and separation mechanism that brings the plurality of primary transfer rollers into contact with the plurality of photoreceptors and that separates the plurality of primary transfer rollers from the plurality of photoreceptors, and the contact and separation mechanism includes:
a plurality of arm members that rotatably support the plurality of primary transfer rollers, respectively,
a link member that shifts positions of the plurality of arm members by moving between different positions to bring the plurality of primary transfer rollers into contact with the plurality of photoreceptors and to separate the plurality of primary transfer rollers from the plurality of photoreceptors, the link member being movable back and forth in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the plurality of primary transfer rollers, and
a grip to move the link member and detach the primary transfer unit from the apparatus main body, the grip being provided at one end of the link member, such that when a user moves, using the grip, the link member to a release position for separating all of the plurality of primary transfer rollers from the plurality of photoreceptors, the unit lock transitions from a locking state to an unlocking state,
wherein
the unit lock includes a driving-side coupling provided on the apparatus main body and a driven-side coupling provided on the primary transfer unit.
2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the link member has a stopper that restricts the unit lock from transitioning from the locking state to the unlocking state, and
as the link member moves to the release position, the stopper moves from a restriction position to a restriction release position, the restriction position being a position for restricting the unit lock from transitioning from the locking state to the unlocking state, and the restriction release position being a position for releasing the transition restriction.
3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the unit lock has a manual operation knob to manually cause the unit lock to transition from the locking state to the unlocking state.
4 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of photoreceptors;
a primary transfer unit attachable to, and detachable from, an apparatus main body; and
a unit lock that restricts the primary transfer unit from being detached from the apparatus main body, wherein:
the primary transfer unit includes:
a primary transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from the plurality of photoreceptors,
a plurality of primary transfer rollers that are positioned, respectively, opposite the plurality of photoreceptors, with the primary transfer belt therebetween, and
a contact and separation mechanism that brings the plurality of primary transfer rollers into contact with the plurality of photoreceptors and that separates the plurality of primary transfer rollers from the plurality of photoreceptors, and the contact and separation mechanism includes:
a plurality of arm members that rotatably support the plurality of primary transfer rollers, respectively,
a link member that shifts positions of the plurality of arm members by moving between different positions to bring the plurality of primary transfer rollers into contact with the plurality of photoreceptors and to separate the plurality of primary transfer rollers from the plurality of photoreceptors, the link member being movable back and forth in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the plurality of primary transfer rollers, and
a grip to move the link member and detach the primary transfer unit from the apparatus main body, the grip being provided at one end of the link member, such that when a user moves, using the grip, the link member to a release position for separating all of the plurality of primary transfer rollers from the plurality of photoreceptors, the unit lock transitions from a locking state to an unlocking state, wherein
the link member has a pusher,
the unit lock has a push receiver that is pushed by the pusher, and
in conjunction with the user's operation of moving the link member to the release position, the pusher pushes the push receiver to cause the unit lock to transition from the locking state to the unlocking state.
5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein, when the primary transfer unit is detached from the apparatus main body, the link member is moved to the release position by the user pulling the grip in a direction toward a take-out port of the apparatus main body, such that all of the plurality of primary transfer rollers is shifted to respective separation positions where the plurality of primary transfer rollers is separated from the plurality of photoreceptors, and, after all of the plurality of primary transfer rollers has been shifted to the respective separation positions, the primary transfer unit is detached from the apparatus main body by the user further pulling the grip.
6 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of photoreceptors;
a primary transfer unit attachable to, and detachable from, an apparatus main body; and
a unit lock that restricts the primary transfer unit from being detached from the apparatus main body, wherein:
the primary transfer unit includes:
a primary transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from the plurality of photoreceptors,
a plurality of primary transfer rollers that are positioned, respectively, opposite the plurality of photoreceptors, with the primary transfer belt therebetween, and
a contact and separation mechanism that brings the plurality of primary transfer rollers into contact with the plurality of photoreceptors and that separates the plurality of primary transfer rollers from the plurality of photoreceptors, the contact and separation mechanism includes:
a plurality of arm members that rotatably support the plurality of primary transfer rollers, respectively,
a link member that shifts positions of the plurality of arm members by moving between different positions to bring the plurality of primary transfer rollers into contact with the plurality of photoreceptors and to separate the plurality of primary transfer rollers from the plurality of photoreceptors, the link member being movable back and forth in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the plurality of primary transfer rollers, and
a grip to move the link member and detach the primary transfer unit from the apparatus main body, the grip being provided at one end of the link member, such that when a user moves, using the grip, the link member to a release position for separating all of the plurality of primary transfer rollers from the plurality of photoreceptors, the unit lock transitions from a locking state to an unlocking state, and
the unit lock includes:
a locking hole provided in the apparatus main body,
a lock pin provided on the primary transfer unit, the lock pin being movable back and forth to be engaged with the locking hole, and
an urging member that urges the lock pin in such a direction as to separate the lock pin from the locking hole, wherein
in conjunction with the user's operation of moving the link member to the release position, the urging member exerts an urging force to cause the unit lock to transition from the locking state to the unlocking state.
7 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein, when the primary transfer unit is detached from the apparatus main body, the link member is moved to the release position by the user pulling the grip in a direction toward a take-out port of the apparatus main body, such that all of the plurality of primary transfer rollers is shifted to respective separation positions where the plurality of primary transfer rollers is separated from the plurality of photoreceptors, and, after all of the plurality of primary transfer rollers has been shifted to the respective separation positions, the primary transfer unit is detached from the apparatus main body by the user further pulling the grip.