JP2983282B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image in which process means such as a charging charger, a developing device, a transfer charger and a cleaning device are provided in a plurality of units around an image carrier. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

In a conventional image forming apparatus, process means such as a charging charger and a developing device are divided and formed into a plurality of process units.These process units are adapted to the shape and layout of the main body of the image forming apparatus and satisfy respective functions. Had a complicated shape. These process units are usually mounted in a fixed state, and as a type in which the process unit moves, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-60-140264, these process units are attached and detached. It is fixedly mounted at a predetermined position in a slightly movable state. Also, the mounting position of the process unit to the photoconductor follows the layout,
It is designed to be mounted at a predetermined position.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the mounting position of the unit to the apparatus main body is fixed, the attaching and detaching work is complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus in which the maintenance and replacement work is easy and each process means can be mounted without error after the replacement work. To be.

[Means for solving the problem]

The object has a plurality of process units in which at least one process unit is unitized among a plurality of process units for image formation arranged around the photoconductor, and the plurality of process units are separately provided. An image forming apparatus configured to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, wherein: a supporting unit integrally supporting the plurality of process units so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis; and This is achieved by having a mounting opening through which each process unit is taken out or inserted, and by making the position of the process unit detachable from the mounting opening different from the image forming position.

[Action]

By the means, a plurality of units are rotatable integrally with the image carrier and can be attached to and detached from the image carrier, so that the units can be rotated and easily taken out one by one from the mounting openings of the mounting body one after another, and After the maintenance and replacement of the process means, each unit can be mounted one by one from the opening into a predetermined position by a simple rotation operation without error.

Also, since the mounting / detaching position of the unit is different from that of the image forming apparatus, for example, the opening provided in the unit can be located on the upper surface side, and toner can be prevented from scattering from the opening to maintain the process means. Exchange work can be performed.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in these figures, a contact glass 2 is disposed on the upper surface of a case C of the apparatus main body, and an original O to be subjected to image formation is placed on the contact glass 2.
A scanning unit S is provided in an upper part of the case C. The scanning unit S includes a scanning optical system 5 including a light source 3 for illuminating a document and a mirror 4 and a scanning optical system 8 including mirrors 6 and 7. And
When a print switch (not shown) is pressed, the scanning optical systems 5 and 8 are pressed.
Move in the directions of the arrows, and scanning of the original O is performed. The scanning section S is provided with a lens 9 and an image reading element 10. The image of the original O read by the scanning optical systems 5 and 8 is read by the image reading element 10 as an image signal, digitized, and described later. Image processing.

In the case C, an image forming unit D is provided below the scanning unit S. The image forming unit D includes a laser diode L, a driving plate 12, a polygon mirror 13 and a mirror 14,
Photoreceptor belt 1, developing device 16, cleaning device 23, charging charger 15, transfer charger 18, separation charger
19, a transport belt 21 and a fixing roller 22 are provided. Reference numeral 17 denotes a paper feeding unit. Transfer paper is stored in the paper feeding unit 17 and is transported between the photosensitive belt 1 and the transfer charger 18 one by one by a transfer roller. Then, as described above, the image reading element 10
Is applied to the driving plate 12, and a laser beam is emitted from the laser diode L in accordance with the application of the signal. The laser beam is reflected by the polygon mirror 13 and the mirror 14 to expose the photosensitive belt 1. Reach the part.

By this laser light, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 which has been uniformly charged in advance by the charging charger 15, and this electrostatic latent image is formed into a visible image by toner of the developing device 16. Be transformed into The obtained visible image is transferred to the transfer paper sent from the paper feeding unit 17 by corona discharge of the transfer charger 18 at the exposed portion of the photoreceptor belt 1, and the transfer paper after transfer is transferred to the photoreceptor by the separation charger 19. It is separated from the surface of the belt 1. The transfer paper separated in this way is
The sheet is fed to the fixing roller 22 by the transport belt 21 and is
As a result, the transfer image is fixed, and the transfer paper on which the image formation is completed is discharged out of the case C. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 after the transfer operation is removed by the cleaning device 23.

In this embodiment, the image forming process means such as the developing device 16 and the cleaning device 23 disposed around the photoreceptor belt 1 are divided into two units. It is configured so that it can be attached to and detached from, and can rotate integrally with the photoreceptor belt 1. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, the photoreceptor belt 1 is inserted through a substantially semicircular mounting opening 25 formed on the side surface of the case C.
The unit is configured to be able to be rotated together with the unit and removed one by one, or the units replaced for maintenance can be mounted one by one from the mounting opening 25 to the apparatus main body. In addition, since the photoreceptor belt 1 disposed between the units is exposed at the photosensitive unit and the transfer unit, it is not necessary to provide an opening for forming an image in the unit.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are explanatory views showing the operation state of the configuration of the main part of the first embodiment.
A photoreceptor belt 1 which is an image carrier made of, for example, an organic photoreceptor (OPC) is stretched between the photoreceptors 01, and the photoreceptor is rotated by clockwise rotation of rollers 100 and 101 as shown in the figure. The body belt 1 is adapted to move as shown by the arrow in the figure. A first unit U1 and a second unit U2 are provided in close proximity to the flat portions 1a and 1b between the rollers 100 and 101 of the photoreceptor belt 1, and a first unit U1 and a second unit U2 are provided. And have the same cross-sectional shape. Therefore,
The photoreceptor belt 1 is exposed at rollers 100 and 101 serving as support means, and the exposed portions serve as a photosensitive portion and a transfer portion of a document image. The photoreceptor belt 1, the first unit U1, and the second unit U2 are integrally rotatable about a rotation axis R1.

The first unit U1 has a configuration in which the developing device 16 is accommodated and supported in a housing 102, and the toner tank 16 of the developing device 16 is provided.
An opening 167a is formed in 7, and a developing roller 160 is rotatably mounted with a part of the peripheral surface facing the opening 167a. An agitator 162 is provided in contact with the developing roller 160, a developing blade 161 is provided in the vicinity of the agitator 162 and in opposition to the developing roller 160, and a charge removing brush 163 is provided in the vicinity of the opening 167a. The toner is filled in the toner tank 167.

In this developing device 16, the rotation of the agitator 162 causes
The toner in the toner tank 167 is sent to the vicinity of the developing blade 161, and a constant thickness toner layer is formed on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 160 by the developing blade 161. This toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive belt 1 in contact with the developing roller 160 by the rotation of the developing roller 160, and the photosensitive belt 1
A visible image is formed.

The toner tank 167 of the developing device 16 is rotatable about a positioning pin 164, and
A spring 159 is stretched between the hook portion 167b of the free end of the toner tank 167 and the free end of the toner tank 167.
The toner tank 167 is urged counterclockwise around the positioning pin 164, that is, in a direction in which the developing roller 160 is separated from the photosensitive belt 1. In the image forming state, the cam 165 presses the toner tank 167 against the photoreceptor belt 1 against the spring force of the spring 159, and the free end of the toner tank 167 stops the stopper 102a of the housing 102.
The developing roller 160 presses the flat portion 1a of the photoreceptor belt 1 with a predetermined pressure and is in contact therewith.

The second unit U2 has a cleaning device 2 in the housing 103.
3. The charging tank 15 and the eraser 24 are housed and supported, and the collection tank 23 of the cleaning device 23
6 is provided with a cleaning blade 230 at a position facing the flat portion 1b of the photoreceptor belt 1. A fur brush 231 is rotatably disposed in the vicinity of the cleaning blade 230.
It is arranged so as to be in contact with a flicker bar 234 formed integrally with 36. In the vicinity of the flicker bar 234, a toner collection rod 232 is provided facing the inside of the case 236.
33 are provided. A fullness detection sensor 239 is mounted in the collection tank 236, and the charging charger 15 and the eraser 24 are supported and fixed to a surface of the collection tank 236 facing the flat portion 1b of the photosensitive belt 1.

The collection tank 236 is rotatable about a positioning pin 235, and a spring 237 is stretched between a hook 158 of the housing 103 and a hook 236a at the free end of the collection tank 236. In the image forming operation state, the recovery tank 236 is pressed against the photoreceptor belt 1 by the cam 238 against the spring force of the spring 237, and the free end of the recovery tank 236 abuts on the stopper piece 103a of the housing 103. Is positioned in contact with
The cleaning blade 230 and the fur brush 231 are in contact with each other by pressing the flat portion 1b of the photoreceptor belt 1 with a predetermined pressure.

In the cleaning device 23, the residual toner on the photosensitive belt 1 is scraped off by the fur brush 231, and the scraped residual toner is beaten off by the flicker bar 234 from the fur brush 231. Residual toner that cannot be scraped off by the fur brush 231 is peeled off by the cleaning blade 230. The residual toner scraped off in this manner is collected in the collection tank 236 by the toner collection rod 232 and the toner peeling plate 233. And when the residual toner collected in this way fills the collection tank 236,
The full detection sensor 239 generates a detection signal.

The charging charger 15 charges the photosensitive belt 1 after cleaning, and the eraser 24 erases unnecessary portions so as to form an electrostatic latent image only in a required image area.
The light reflected from the mirror 14 is incident on the photosensitive belt 1 at the roller 101, and a latent image is formed.

In this way, the electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive belt 1 by the developing device 16, the cleaning device 23, the charging charger 15, and the eraser 24, but the toner in the toner tank 167 is exhausted and the toner is exhausted. In this case, a sensor (not shown) detects this and informs the user of toner end information. Also, when the waste toner is full in the collection tank 236, as described above, the full detection sensor 239 is used.
Detects this and informs the user that it is full.

The maintenance exchange of the first unit U1 or the second unit U2 is performed based on this information. When the maintenance exchange is performed, when an exchange switch (not shown) on the operation panel is pressed,
Photoreceptor belt 1, first unit U1, and second unit
The unit U2 rotates around the rotation axis R1, and the unit to be replaced rotates to the position of the mounting opening 25 (in this embodiment, the arc-shaped portion is substantially vertical, unlike FIG. 2). There cam
When the lock is released by rotating the cam 238 or 165, as shown in FIG. 4, the support and fixing of the toner tank 167 to the housing 102 are released, or the support and fixing of the recovery tank 236 to the housing 103 is released. The recovery tank 167 and the recovery tank 236 are rotated by springs 159 and 237 in a direction away from the photoreceptor belt 1.
Can be taken out from the mounting opening 25.

Then, the toner tank 167 or the collection tank 236, for which the maintenance and replacement work has been completed, is inserted into the case C through the mounting opening 25, and is locked by the cam 165 or 238 to complete the mounting. At this time, the first unit U1 and the second unit U2 with respect to the image carrier can be mounted on either side of the flat portions 1a and 1b.
Either 0 or 101 can form a latent image. Further, in the first embodiment, since it is not necessary to provide the housings 102 and 103 with openings for exposing and transferring the image of the original to the photoreceptor belt 1, the structure is simplified and the developing device 16
The detachment and reattachment of the toner tank 167 or the recovery tank 236 of the cleaning device 23 at the time of maintenance replacement work is also facilitated.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are explanatory views showing the operating state of the configuration of the main part of the second embodiment, in which a one-sheet shutter 168 is provided concentrically on a developing roller 160 of the developing device 16 and a torsion coil is provided. A spring 169 is concentrically mounted on the shaft of the developing roller 160. One end of the torsion coil spring 169 is connected to the toner tank 1
67, the other end is engaged with the shutter 168, the fifth
In the locked state by the cam 165 shown in the drawing, that is, in the image forming operation state, the shutter 168 is urged in a direction to open the opening 167a of the toner tank 167 by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 169. Similarly, a torsion coil spring 241 is provided near the toner peeling plate 233 of the cleaning device 23, and one end of the torsion coil spring 241 is engaged with the recovery tank 236, and the other end rotates about the axis of the torsion coil spring 241. It is engaged with a possible two-piece shutter 240. This Shutter 240,
It is urged in the opening direction by the torsion coil spring 241.

In the second embodiment, when the lock is released by rotating the cam 165, as shown in FIG.
Rotates in the direction away from the flat portion 1a of the photoreceptor belt 1, and at the same time, the shutter 168 moves to a position to close the opening 167a by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 169. The rotation of the shutter 168 may be performed by transmitting the rotational power of the toner tank 167 via a gear mechanism. Thus, the developing device 16
When the toner tank 167 is taken out, the toner does not leak from the opening 167a and does not stain the operator's body or the room when the toner tank 167 is taken out. Similarly, when the cam 238 is rotated to remove the lock, the recovery tank 236 is rotated, and the shutter 240 closes the opening of the recovery tank 236 by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 241 to the outside of the discharged toner. To prevent leaks.

Also in the second embodiment, the first unit U1 and the second unit U1
Since U2 has the same cross-sectional shape, these units U1 and U2 are connected to any of the planar portions of the photosensitive belt 1.
It can be attached to 1a and 1b.

In the above embodiment, the first unit U1
The second unit U2 and the second unit U2 are separated from the photoreceptor belt 1, but only the unit corresponding to the mounting opening 25 may be separated. FIGS. 7 and 8 are explanatory views showing this state. FIG. 7 shows the first unit U1 located at the opening 25 and only the first unit U1 is separated from the photoreceptor belt 1, and FIG. 8 shows the second unit U2 located at the opening 25. Only the second unit U2 is separated from the photosensitive belt 1.

The configuration, operation and effect of the other parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 are the same as those of the first or second embodiment already described.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are explanatory views showing the operating state of the configuration of the main part of the third embodiment. The housing 102 of the first unit U1 for housing and supporting the toner tank 167 is The torsion coil spring 201 concentrically attached to the shaft of the roller 101 receives a spring force in a direction away from the flat portion 1a of the photoreceptor belt 1 and a cam. The developing roller 160 is held at a position where the developing roller 160 is pressed against the flat portion 1a against the spring force of the torsion coil spring 168 by 165. Similarly, the housing 103 of the second unit U2 that accommodates and supports the collection tank 236 is rotatably supported by the same axis as the roller 100,
Of the photoreceptor belt 1 in a direction away from the flat portion 1b of the photoreceptor belt 1 by a torsion coil spring 202 concentrically attached to the shaft of the photoreceptor belt 1, and against a spring force of the torsion coil spring 202 by a cam 238. The cleaning plate 230 is provided on the flat portion 1b.
And the brush 231 are held at the position where the brushes 231 are pressed against each other.

In the third embodiment, when the cam 165 is rotated to release the lock, the housing 102 containing the toner tank 167 is separated from the flat portion 1a by the spring force of the torsion coil 201 as shown in FIG. , And the toner tank 167 can be taken out of the mounting opening 25. Similarly, when the cam 238 is rotated to release the lock, the housing 103 containing the recovery tank 236 is rotated by the torsion coil spring.
The first unit is rotated in a direction away from the belt surface by the spring force of 202, so that the collection tank 236 can be taken out from the mounting opening 25.
U1, the second unit U2, and the photoreceptor belt 1 are rotated together to position the first unit U1 or the second unit U2 in the mounting opening 25 so that a desired unit can be taken out. The cleaning device 23 can be fitted and mounted in each of the housings 102 and 103. In this third embodiment, too, it is sandwiched between the units,
The supporting portions of the two rollers 100 and 101 of the photoreceptor belt 1 are exposed, and photosensitive or transfer is performed at the exposed portions.

The configuration, operation and effect of the other parts of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment already described.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 shows a configuration in which the eraser 24 is not mounted on the recovery tank 236, but is mounted outside the first unit U1 and the second unit U2. . FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a fifth embodiment. FIG. 12 shows a configuration in which the charging charger 15 and the eraser 24 are mounted outside the first unit U1 and the second unit U2, and the cleaning is performed. Blade 230 and fur brush 2
31 is disposed apart from the developing roller 160 and at the free end of the collection tank 236. In the fourth and fifth embodiments, the eraser 24 or the charging charger 15 and the eraser 24 are used.
The transfer charger 18 is disposed outside the rotation circumference of the image carrier, the first unit U1, and the second unit U2, so that rotation during maintenance replacement or mounting can be performed without any trouble. .

The configuration, operation and effect of the other parts of the fourth and fifth embodiments are the same as those of the first embodiment already described.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the unit is rotated by 180 ° from the image forming position about the rotation axis R1 to be the attachment / detachment position.
This is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 13 shows a sixth embodiment. The sixth embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the unit and the photosensitive belt are rotated by 90 ° from the image forming position ( No.
(The position shown in FIG. 13) is to attach and detach the second unit U2. In this state, since the opening of the second unit U2 is on the upper side, scattering of toner can be prevented as much as possible. The thirteenth
Although the drawing shows the attachment and detachment of the second unit U2, if it is desired to attach and detach the first unit U2, the first unit U2 may be further rotated by 180 ° to move the first unit downward. A mounting opening 25 is provided for mounting in accordance with these attachment / detachment positions, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 shows a seventh embodiment. The seventh embodiment differs from the third embodiment in that a roller 30 is used instead of a cam.
1 and 302 are arranged, and these rollers 301 and 302 roll on the respective peripheral surfaces of the first unit U1 and the second unit U2. Since the distance from the rotation axis R1 to each peripheral surface is set to be different, in the state shown in FIG. 14, the second unit U2 is separated from the photosensitive belt 1 by the torsion coil spring. Moved, while the mounting aperture
25, the first unit U1 in this figure is prevented from moving by the blocking roller 303, and the developing roller 160 is kept pressed against the photosensitive belt 1. Therefore, for example, the second unit U2 may be pulled out as in the sixth embodiment.

According to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, since the attachment / detachment position of the unit is different from the image forming position, for example, an opening provided in the unit can be located on the upper surface side. Maintenance replacement of the process means can be performed while preventing toner scattering from the opening.

In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, since the unit has its free end side separated from the photoreceptor belt 1 at the upper position, the opening of the unit is on the upper side. ,
This has the effect of preventing toner from scattering at the time of attachment and detachment.

In each of the embodiments, a new developing device 16 is used.
Alternatively, when the cleaning device 23 is inserted, an automatic forming rotation is performed to adapt the cleaning device 23 to the photoreceptor belt 1.

As described above, in each embodiment, the first unit U1 or the second unit U2 is taken out from the image forming apparatus by a simple operation without the trouble of attaching and detaching the operator, and a new unit is mounted in the image forming apparatus. can do. At this time, since there is no restriction on the order of taking out each unit and the order and position of mounting, maintenance and replacement of the process means in the image forming apparatus can be performed very simply and quickly.

In the above embodiment, a part or all of the plurality of processing means is divided into at least two units which can be attached to and detached from the image carrier. Since it is configured so as to be rotatable integrally with the image carrier, when the process unit is attached or detached, each process unit is rotated to a position different from that at the time of image formation, thereby facilitating the attaching / detaching work of each process unit. . In addition, by attaching the opening of the process unit to the upward state at the time of attachment / detachment, it is possible to prevent toner from scattering from the opening.

Further, due to the difference in making the plurality of process units have the same shape and fixing the attachment / detachment position, it is not necessary to confirm the attachment position of each unit. In addition, it is possible to prevent mistakes such as mounting another unit at a position where it should be mounted.

In addition, it is possible to make the replacement time of each unit different by using separate units for the short and long replacement life of each process means.

In addition, since the transfer and the exposure can be performed at an arbitrary belt support portion, the mounting direction of the photoconductor is free.

Further, of the plurality of process means, a plurality of replacement parts are made into one process pack and are separated from non-replacement parts, thereby enabling replacement of only replacement parts.

Note that the housings 102 and 103, the rotation axis R1 and the like correspond to the support means.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the support means for integrally supporting the plurality of process units so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis, and the respective process units formed in the case of the image forming apparatus are taken out. Or a mounting opening to be inserted or inserted, and the position where the process unit is detached from the mounting opening and the image forming position are made different, so that maintenance and replacement of each process means can be performed without error by a simple rotation operation. It can be performed quickly. Further, since the attachment / detachment position of the process unit is different from the image forming position, it is possible to prevent the toner from being scattered at the time of exchanging the unit and perform the exchanging operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 14 are diagrams for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. Perspective view, third
FIG. 4 and FIG. 4 are explanatory views showing the operation state of the first embodiment.
5 to 8 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation state of the second embodiment, FIGS. 9 and 10 are explanatory diagrams of the third embodiment, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the fourth embodiment. FIG. 12, FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the fifth embodiment, FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the sixth embodiment, FIG.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the seventh embodiment. S: Scanning unit, C: Case, 1: Photoreceptor belt, 15
... Charging charger, 16 ... Developing device, 23 ... Cleaning device.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Takashi Ishijima 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-35383 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 15/00 550 G03G 21/16-21/18

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of process units each having at least one of a plurality of process units among a plurality of process units arranged around a photosensitive member for forming an image;
An image forming apparatus configured to detachably attach the plurality of process units to an image forming apparatus main body separately; and a support unit that integrally supports the plurality of process units so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis; A mounting opening formed in the case of the forming apparatus, from which the respective process units are taken out or inserted, wherein a detachable position of the process unit from the mounting opening is different from an image forming position. An image forming apparatus comprising: