JPH0151838B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a lock mechanism for a copying machine, and more specifically, in a copying machine in which the main body is divided into upper and lower blocks and the blocks are configured to be openable, the lock mechanism maintains the upper and lower blocks in an open state. The present invention relates to a locking mechanism that locks a photosensitive drum when the upper and lower blocks are closed.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, electrophotographic copying machines and the like are configured to open a copy paper path by removing devices and members close to the path in order to clear paper jams in the paper path. Particularly in small copying machines, it is difficult to provide a mechanism or space for removing internal devices and components individually or evacuating them from the paper path, so the paper path is opened. It is advantageous to do this by dividing the main body into upper and lower halves.

On the other hand, in a copying machine that has a structure in which the main body is divided in this way, the main body is opened not only for processing jam paper, but also for the purpose of repairing or inspecting each component inside the machine, and the main body is opened for the specified purpose. After the work is completed, the main body is usually closed and returned to use.

At this time, when installing or removing components inside the aircraft, the removed device must be installed in the correct position, but conventional devices require a lock operation to fix the position in addition to the installation operation. Since the copying machine is operated in two or three stages, accidents occur in which people sometimes forget to lock it or try to operate the copying machine without it being installed in the correct position, resulting in many practical problems. In particular, if the rotating shaft that supports the photoreceptor drum or the member that holds the shaft is insufficiently locked, it will slip out in the axial direction during the copying operation. However, all of them had disadvantages such as being cumbersome to operate and difficult to distinguish even if they were worn incorrectly.

The present invention has been made with attention to these points, and includes a mechanism for holding the upper and lower blocks in an open state in a copying machine in which the main body of the copying machine is divided into upper and lower blocks and the upper and lower blocks are configured to be openable. When the block is in the closed state and the member supporting the photoreceptor drum is in a fixed position, the member supporting the photoreceptor drum is locked in position by utilizing It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism that can perform a reliable locking operation without requiring special operations or complicated mechanisms, and can easily determine if a support member is incorrectly attached. This is the purpose.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of the main parts of a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine to which the present invention is applied. A document table 2 is provided on the top of the copying machine 1 so as to be movable back and forth. Original table 2
An illumination device 3 for illuminating the document on the document table 2 is provided immediately below, and the document image is guided by an optical device 4 to a rotatable photosensitive drum 5 and exposed.

Around the photoreceptor drum 5 are charging, developing, transferring, separating, cleaning, and neutralizing devices 6, 7, 8, 9,
10 and 11 are provided, and a paper feeding device 13 for feeding the transfer paper 12 and a fixing device 14 are also provided.

In this copying machine 1, a document on a document table 2 moves while being illuminated by an illumination device 3, and an image of the document is exposed by an optical device 4 onto a photosensitive drum 5 charged by a charging device 6. The electrostatic latent image formed by exposure is visualized by the developer of the developing device 7.

On the other hand, transfer paper 12 accommodated in a paper feed cassette etc.
is conveyed toward the photosensitive drum 5 by the paper feeding device 13, and is superimposed on the visible image on the drum 5.
A visible image of the developer is transferred to the stacked transfer sheets 12 by a transfer device 8, the charges are neutralized by a separation device 9, the sheets are separated from the photosensitive drum 5, and the sheets are conveyed to a fixing device 14 consisting of a heat roll. After being fixed, it is discharged onto the copy tray 15.

After the photosensitive drum 5 has been transferred, residual developer is removed by a cleaning device 10, residual charge is erased by a static eliminator 11, and the photosensitive drum 5 is ready for the next copying process.

In this way, one copying process is completed. In this copying machine 1, in preparation for a jam during the copying process, there are two blocks 1, upper and lower, separated by the path of the transfer paper 12.
It is provided so that it can be divided into 6 and 17 parts.

The upper block 16 includes a manuscript table 2, an illumination device 3,
Optical device 4, photoreceptor drum 5, charging device 6. A developing device 7, a cleaning device 10, and a static eliminator 11 are provided, a paper feeding device 13, a transfer device 8, a separating device 9, a fixing device 14, and a copy tray 15 are provided in the lower block 17, and the upper block 16 is provided with the lower block. 1
The upper and lower blocks 16 and 17 are integrally formed by engaging a lever 20 with a pin 19 of the lower block 17.

The upper block 16 is provided with a support lever 22 which is swingable by a shaft 21, and this lever 22 is provided with a groove 23 on the swinging end side. This groove 2
The pin 24 of the lower block 17 is fitted into the pin 3, and the notch 23a at the tip of the groove 23 and the pin 2
4 provides a support for opening the block 16. (FIG. 2) Further, the lever 22 is provided with a cam-shaped lever engaging portion 25 on the opposite side of the swinging end so as to be engageable with a small diameter portion 28 of a handle 27 of a photoreceptor shaft 26, which will be described later. and when the upper block 16 is closed,
Guide portion 23b pin 24 of groove 23 of lever 22
By engaging with the lever 22, the engaging portion 25 of the lever 22 engages with the small diameter portion 28 to lock the shaft 26 and prevent it from coming off. Further, when the upper block 16 is opened, the above locking is released by an operation opposite to that described above.

Note that the side plate 29 is provided on the lower block 17 so as to be openable and closable.

To explain the opening/closing operation of the upper block 16, first open the side plate 29, then open the upper block 1.
When the lever 20 of 6 is disengaged from the pin 19 of the lower block 17 and the upper block 16 is lifted upward, the upper block 16 swings about the shaft 18.
Due to this swinging, the lever 22 swings by the pin 24 fitted into the guide portion 23b of the groove 23, and the pin 22
4 engages with the notch 23a at the tip of the groove 23, and this engagement keeps the upper block 16 open. Due to this swinging of the lever 23, the engaging portion 25 of the lever 22 is disengaged from the handle 27 of the photoreceptor shaft 26.
will be possible to withdraw.

Next, when closing the upper block 16, lift the upper block 16 slightly upwards and press the lever 22.
Move the pin 2 from the notch 23a at its tip.
Remove 4. This allows the upper block 16 to be lowered and placed on the lower block 17.
By engaging the lever 20 with the pin 19 of the lower block 17, the upper and lower blocks 16 and 17 are integrated.

When closing the upper block 16, the lever 22
The engaging portion 25 engages with the small-diameter portion 28 of the handle 27 of the photoreceptor shaft 26, and acts to prevent the photoreceptor shaft 26 from coming off. Further, if the photoreceptor shaft 26 is not inserted correctly, the engaging portion 25 of the lever 22 will hit a portion other than the small diameter portion 28 of the handle 27, and the upper block 16 will not be completely closed. This allows confirmation of improper mounting of the photoreceptor shaft 26.

In the copying machine described above, the structure of the photosensitive drum and the developing device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

The photosensitive drum 5 has a bearing 34 having a round hole 33 at the center of the left and right flanges 31 and 32, and a semicircular hole 35.
Bearings 36 each having a diameter are provided. This drum 5 is integrated with the cleaning device 10 by inserting bearings 34, 36 into grooves 39, 40 on opposing surfaces of frames 37, 38. The frames 37 and 38 have through holes 41 and 42 at the center of the bottom of the grooves 39 and 40, respectively.
are provided, and semicircular protrusions 43, 44 are provided on the outside of the frames 37, 38.

On the other hand, inside the side plates 45 and 46 of the upper block 16, a center hole 47 is provided, and positioning members 49 having engagement grooves 48 concentric with the hole 47 are provided to face each other. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the engagement groove 48 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the protrusions 41 and 44, and the insertion opening 50 is inserted only when the flat ends of the protrusions 41 and 44 are parallel to the insertion direction. Projecting parts 41, 4
The size is large enough to allow insertion of 4.

Furthermore, locking pawls 52 and 53 on the frames 37 and 38, which are integrally swingable by a connecting plate 51, are biased clockwise in FIG. It is provided so as to be able to engage with fixed pins 54 and 55.

26 is a photoreceptor shaft, which has a semi-cylindrical tip 5;
6 and a handle 27, and passes through the side plates 45, 46, positioning members 49, 49, frames 37, 38, and photoreceptor drum 5, and the tip 56 is attached to the photoreceptor drum 5.
is provided so as to engage with the flange 32 and the gear 57. This gear 57 is provided so as to engage with the driving gear when the upper block 16 is closed and transmit driving force to the photosensitive drum 5.

Next, the developing device 7 will be described. The developing device 7 is rotatably supported by left and right bearings 60, 61 on the side facing the photosensitive drum 5, and is provided with a developing sleeve 62 having a magnet inside. This developing device 7 includes side plates 45 and 46 of the upper block 16.
A positioning pin 65 having a conical tip is provided on the side plate 46 side so as to be slidable along a pair of guide rails 63 and 64 provided therebetween. Side plate 4
6 is provided with a pin receiving member 67 that is movable along the elongated hole 66 and has a conical recess for receiving the pin 65. Further, the developing device 7 on the side plate 45 side is provided with a flat plate 68, and this flat plate 68 is provided with a screw 69 that engages with the side plate 45 when the developing device 7 is attached.

The developing device 7 is inserted along the guide rails 63 and 64, and when the pin 65 and the pin receiving member 67 are engaged and the screw 69 is engaged with the side plate 45, the bearings 60 and 61 are inserted as shown in FIG. It is provided so as to come into contact with the positioning member 49.

The drawing and insertion of the photosensitive drum 5 and the developing device 7 will be explained.

When pulling out the photoreceptor drum 5, first
As shown in the figure, open the upper block 16, and then the engaging portion 25 of the lever 22 will be connected to the handle 2 of the photoreceptor shaft 26.
7, so pull out the shaft 26. After that, when the connecting plate 51 is pushed toward the photoreceptor drum 5 side, the locking pawl 5253 swings and releases the lock from the pins 54 and 55, so that the photoreceptor drum 5 and the cleaning device 10 are connected to the protrusions 43 and 44. It rotates clockwise around , as shown in Figure 4. Due to this rotation, when the flat end of the protrusion 44 can be pulled out from the insertion opening 50 as shown in FIG.
These can be taken out from the copying machine 1 by pulling them out in the direction of the arrow in the figure. The photoreceptor drum 5 pulled out in this way is attached to the grooves 39 and 4 of the frames 37 and 38.
Since it is only inserted into flange 3
By holding 1 and 32 and pulling it out in the direction of grooves 39 and 40, only the photosensitive drum 5 can be taken out.

On the other hand, when the developing device 7 is loosened by the screw 69 and pulled out along the guide rails 63 and 64, the pin 65 and the pin receiving member 67 are first disengaged, thereby causing the bearings 60 and 61 to come into contact with the positioning member 49. The connection is removed, and the side plate 4 moves along the guide rails 63 and 64.
It is drawn from between 5 and 46.

The photosensitive drum 5 and developing device 7 pulled out in this manner can be subjected to necessary processing such as cleaning and replacement.

When inserting the photosensitive drum 5 and the developing device 7,
The drawer operation described above can be performed in reverse.

During this insertion, the photoreceptor shaft 26 passes through the positioning member 49 and the bearings 34 and 35 at the center of the photoreceptor drum 5, so the photoreceptor drum 5 is always maintained in the same positional relationship with respect to the positioning member 49. Ru. At this time, the cleaning device 10 also has its frame 3
Since the photoreceptor shaft 26 passes through 7 and 38,
The same positional relationship is maintained with respect to the photosensitive drum 5 and the positioning member.

On the other hand, the developing device 7 has guide rails 63, 64
The position is approximately determined by the pin 6 of the developing device.
5 and the pin receiving members 67 and 69 of the side plate 46 engage with the side plate 45, respectively, so that the bearings 60, 6
1 comes into contact with the positioning members 49, 49, and the positional relationship between the developing sleeve 62 and the positioning member 49 is always maintained constant without fine adjustment.

That is, since the positioning member 49 always has a constant positional relationship with respect to each of the photoconductor drum 5 and the developing sleeve 62, the positional relationship between the photoconductor drum 5 and the developing sleeve 62 is constant, and the photoconductor drum 5 The distance between the developing sleeve 62 and the developing sleeve 62, that is, the developing gap g is always kept constant without fine adjustment.

If the photosensitive drum 5 and the developing device 7 are positioned with respect to the positioning members 49, 49 fixed to the side plates 45, 46 as described above, it is possible to attach or detach one or both of the photosensitive drum 5 and the developing device 7. Since the developing gap g does not change, it is not necessary to readjust the developing gap g in the copying machine 1 which has been adjusted at the factory or the like.

Further, the positioning member 49 is connected to the bearing 6 of the developing device 7.
0 and 61, the developer on the developing sleeve 62 will not enter into the contact area with the positioning member 49, and the developing gap g will not be disturbed for a long period of time. This is particularly effective in copying machines where the developing gap is narrow and its tolerance range is narrow.

Furthermore, since there is nothing that comes into contact with the photoreceptor drum 5, the life of the photoreceptor can be extended.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bearing 7 of the photosensitive drum 72 is directly attached to the positioning member 71 provided on the side plate 70.
3 insertable grooves 74 may be formed to support the photosensitive drum 72, while the bearing 77 of the developing sleeve 76 of the developing device 75 may be brought into contact with the positioning member 71.

Effects As explained above, the present invention provides a lever that is pivotally supported on one block of a vertical block split type copying machine and swings as the copying machine opens and closes, and a lever that is provided on the other block of the copying machine. A lock mechanism in a copying machine having an engaging member that engages with the lever in the open position of the copying machine body and holds the copying machine in an open state, provided on a handle of a drum shaft that rotatably holds a photosensitive drum. and a cam-shaped lever engaging part that is provided on the lever and is displaced by the swinging of the lever. While the lever engaging portion engages with the small diameter portion, the engagement between the lever engaging portion and the small diameter portion is released due to displacement of the lever engaging portion as the copying machine opens. Since this is a locking mechanism in a copying machine characterized by If the drum support member is improperly attached, the engagement portion 2 of the lever 22
5 does not engage with the small diameter portion 28 of the shaft 26, it is easy to determine if the shaft is improperly installed, and the inconvenience caused by forgetting to lock it or operating the copying machine with a defective lock can be avoided. This can be achieved without requiring any mechanism or effort, and is extremely useful in practice.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is a block diagram of a copying machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an open view of the upper block 16 of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a side view of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the cleaning device 10 oscillated in the copying machine shown in FIG. 2, FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the photosensitive drum 5 and the developing device 7, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the positioning device. 2... Original table, 5, 71... Photosensitive drum, 7, 7
5...Developing device, 10...Cleaning device, 16...Upper block, 17...Lower block, 22...Support lever, 24
...pin, 25...engaging portion, 26...photoreceptor shaft,
27... Handle, 28... Small diameter part, 31, 32... Flange, 34, 36, 60, 61, 73, 77... Bearing, 37, 38... Frame, 43, 44... Protruding part, 45, 46, 76... Side plate, 48...Engagement groove.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A lever that is pivotally supported on one block of a vertical block split type copying machine and swings as the copying machine opens and closes, and a lever that is provided on the other block of the copying machine,
A lock mechanism in a copying machine having an engaging member that engages with the lever in the open position of the copying machine body and holds the copying machine in the open state, provided on a handle of a drum shaft that rotatably holds the photosensitive drum. and a cam-shaped lever engaging part that is provided on the lever and is displaced by the swinging of the lever; While the lever engaging portion and the small diameter portion engage, the engagement between the lever engaging portion and the small diameter portion is released due to displacement of the lever engaging portion due to the opening operation of the copying machine. A lock mechanism in a copying machine characterized by: