JPH0561330A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To house a handle of a developer unit so that an optical path is not obstructed when a photosensitive body unit is attached. CONSTITUTION:A developer unit 2 is mounted to the image forming device main body by holding the handle 22. The photosensitive body unit 1 is mounted above the developer unit 2. Because the photosensitive unit 1 is to be set to a specified position, it is rotated downward. An abutting body 25 is abutted to a base part of the handle 22, and the handle 22 is rotated with the photosensitive body unit 1. The handle 22 is housed in a housing part, thus the mounting of the photosensitive body unit 1 is completed. The handle 22 is not protruding to the optical path 21 between the photosensitive body unit 1 and a developer unit 2.

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 provided with a process cartridge composed of a photoconductor unit and a developer unit which are separable from each other.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser printer uses a process cartridge in which a photosensitive unit and a developer unit are integrally formed from the viewpoint of downsizing and maintainability.

However, the life of the process cartridge is limited by the capacity of the toner, and when the photoconductor unit is still in a usable state, when the toner runs out, the cartridge is replaced with a new cartridge. There was a problem that

Therefore, a process cartridge made up of a separable photoreceptor unit and a developer unit has come to be used.

[0005]

As described above, even when the photoconductor unit and the developer unit are separated from each other, due to the conditions such as the paper feed path and the optical path for exposure, the waste unit attached to the photoconductor unit and the developer unit is eliminated. The toner recovery containers are arranged side by side, and the process cartridge becomes relatively large.

In particular, since the developer unit is filled with the developer, it becomes heavy and difficult to handle. Therefore, a handle is attached to the developer unit for easy carrying.

However, since the process cartridge has to be mounted in a narrow space, the shape of the handle of the developer unit places a considerable restriction on the installation place,
There is a problem in that it is difficult to perform the work for attaching and detaching the developer unit.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which the grip of the developer unit does not interfere with other devices when the developer unit is mounted.

[0009]

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the image forming apparatus main body 11 according to the first aspect of the present invention is as follows.
, The photoconductor unit 1 is removably and rotatably mounted, and the developer unit 2 is removably mounted below the photoconductor unit 1 for exposing between the photoconductor unit 1 and the developer unit 2. An optical path 21 is formed, and on the upper surface of the developer unit 2 facing the optical path 21, there are provided a grip 22 that is supported so as to be up and down, and an accommodating portion 23 that accommodates the grip 22 outside the optical path 21 in a lying posture. A switching means 24 is provided for switching the handle 22 from the standing posture projecting into the optical path 21 to the lying posture when the photoconductor unit 1 is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the switching means 24 comprises an abutting body 25 which is formed on the lower surface of the photoconductor unit 1 and which abuts on the handle 22 and is housed in the housing portion 23 when mounted. The contact body 25 and the contact portion of the handle 22 with the contact body 25 are arranged in a region deviated from the optical path 21.

[0011]

In the means for solving the above problems, the developer unit 2
The handle 22 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 11 and attached.

Next, the photoconductor unit 1 is inserted above the developer unit 2 and attached to the image forming apparatus main body 11. Then, when the photoconductor unit 1 is rotated downward,
The abutment body 25 of the switching means 24 abuts on the handle 22 in the upright posture, and the handle 22 is rotated so as to come close to the developer unit 2.

When the photoconductor unit 1 is set at a predetermined position, the grip 22 is pushed by the contact member 25 to be in a lying posture and stored in the storage portion 23.

In this state, the one protruding between the photoconductor unit 1 and the developer unit 2 is the contact member 25.
However, since the contact body 25 is located outside the optical path 21, the light emitted from the optical unit 13 toward the photoconductor 4 is not interrupted and can enter.

[0015]

1 is a perspective view of a photosensitive unit and a developer unit in an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention,
2 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the developer unit mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus and the optical path for exposure, FIG. 3 is the same configuration diagram of the process cartridge, FIG. 4 is the same perspective view, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of a laser printer to which the process cartridge of FIG.

The image forming apparatus of this embodiment comprises a process cartridge 3 composed of a photoconductor unit 1 and a developer unit 2 which are separable from each other. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the photoconductor unit 1 is a photoconductor unit. 4 is rotatably supported, and a cleaning device is incorporated therein.

The developer unit 2 is composed of a developing tank 5 and a toner replenishing tank 6 which are integrated with each other, and a magnet roller 7 and a stirring roller 8 are rotatably incorporated in the developing tank 5.
In the toner supply tank 6, a toner supply roller 9 and a toner stirring roller 10 are rotatably installed.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the developer unit 2 is mounted from above when the upper cover 12 of the image forming apparatus main body 11 is opened, and the photosensitive unit 1 is mounted above the developer unit 2. The image forming apparatus main body 11 is rotatably supported. The optical unit 1 is provided between the upper surface of the developer unit 2 and the lower surface of the photoconductor unit 1.
An optical path 21 through which the light emitted from 3 passes is formed.

In the figure, 14 is an upper cassette, 15 is a lower cassette, 16 is a fan, 17 is a paper feed path, 18 is a paper discharge path, 19 is a discharge tray, and 20 is a fixing device.

On the upper surface of the developer unit 2 facing the optical path 21, there are provided a grip 22 which is supported so as to be up and down, and an accommodating portion 23 for accommodating the grip 22 outside the optical path 21 in a lying posture. There is provided a switching means 24 for switching the grip 22 protruding from the standing position in the optical path 21 to the lying position when the photoconductor unit 1 is mounted.

The switching means 24 comprises an abutting body 25 which is formed on the lower surface of the photoconductor unit 1 and which abuts on the handle 22 when mounted and is housed in the accommodating portion 23.
The contact portion between the second contact member 25 and the contact member 25 is arranged in a region deviated from the optical path 21.

The accommodating portion 23 is composed of a U-shaped groove recessed in the upper surface of the developer unit 2. The grip 22 is formed in a U-shape, and the accommodating portion 23 is centered on one side of the photoreceptor. The base portion 22a of the handle 22 is rotatably supported. If the rotating direction of the handle 22 is different from the rotating direction of the photosensitive unit 1, the photosensitive unit 1 may hit the handle 22, so the rotating direction of the photosensitive unit 1 is set to match.

The space between the base portions 22a of the handles 22 is
As shown in FIG. 2, it is made wider than the width of the optical path 21 so as not to interrupt the optical path 21. Further, in the laid-down posture in which the handle 22 is stored in the storage portion 23, the handle 22 does not protrude from the upper surface of the developer unit 2 and does not protrude into the optical path 21. In the standing posture in which the handle 22 is lifted up from the storage portion 23, the optical path 21 is blocked.

As shown in FIG. 1, the abutting body 25 of the switching means 24 is a pair of L-shaped projections provided on the lower surface of the photoreceptor unit 1 so as to abut the base portion 22a of the handle 22. It is arranged at intervals.

In the above structure, the image forming apparatus main body 11
When attaching the process cartridge 3 to the upper cover 1
2 is opened, and the handle 22 of the developer unit 2 is held and inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 11 to be attached.

Next, the photoconductor unit 1 is inserted above the developer unit 2 and attached to the image forming apparatus main body 11. When the photoconductor unit 1 is pushed downward, the photoconductor unit 1 is rotated so that the abutment body 25 of the switching means 24 abuts the base portion 22a of the handle 22 in the upright posture, so that the handle 22 is held in the developer unit. Rotate so that it approaches 2.

When the photoconductor unit 1 is set at a predetermined position, the grip 22 is pushed by the abutment body 25 to fall down and stored in the storage portion 23.

In this state, the one protruding between the photoconductor unit 1 and the developer unit 2 is the contact member 25.
However, since the contact body 25 is located outside the optical path 21, the light emitted from the optical unit 13 toward the photoconductor 4 is not interrupted and can enter.

Therefore, the handle 22 for carrying the developer unit 2 is housed in the housing portion 23 when the process cartridge 3 is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, so that it does not block the optical path 21. It does not interfere with other devices. Therefore, the photoconductor unit 1 and the developer unit 2 can be arranged close to each other, and the process cartridge 3 can be downsized.

Even after forgetting to store the grip 22 after mounting the developer unit 2, when the photosensitive unit 1 is mounted, the grip 22 is automatically stored and the handling is simplified.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiment within the scope of the present invention.

As the switching means 24, a protrusion may be provided on the handle 22 and the protrusion may be brought into contact with the lower surface of the photoconductor unit 1.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, according to claim 1 of the present invention, a handle which is supported so as to be able to rise and fall on the upper surface of the developer unit facing the optical path, and the handle outside the optical path in a tilted posture. Since there is provided a storage section for storing in, and a switching means for switching from a standing posture in which the handle is projected into the optical path to a lying posture when the photoconductor unit is mounted,
When the developer unit and the photoconductor unit are attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the handle is housed in the housing portion, does not block the optical path, and does not interfere with other devices.

Therefore, the photoconductor unit and the developer unit can be arranged close to each other, and the size of the process cartridge can be reduced.

Even if the user forgets to store the handle, the handle is automatically stored when the photoconductor unit is attached, so that the handle can be handled easily.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the contact member, which is formed on the lower surface of the photoconductor unit and serves as a switching means that comes into contact with the handle and is housed in the storage portion at the time of mounting, is provided between the photoconductor unit and the developer unit after mounting. However, since the contact body is located at a position deviated from the optical path, it does not block the light emitted toward the photoconductor.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photosensitive unit and a developer unit in an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a developer unit mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus and an exposure optical path.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a process cartridge in the same manner.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the same.

FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram of a laser printer to which the process cartridge of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor unit 2 Developer unit 3 Process cartridge 21 Optical path 22 Handle 23 Storage part 24 Switching means 25 Contact body

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Naoyuki Yamane, 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, SHARP Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A photoconductor unit is removably and rotatably mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a developer unit is removably mounted below the photoconductor unit. The photoconductor unit and the developer unit are attached to the photoconductor unit and the developer unit. An optical path for exposure is formed between
On the upper surface of the developer unit facing the optical path, there are provided a handle that is supported up and down, and a storage section that stores the handle outside the optical path in a tilted posture, and the handle is attached when the photoconductor unit is mounted. An image forming apparatus comprising switching means for switching from a standing posture protruding into the optical path to a lying posture. 2. The switching means according to claim 1, comprising an abutting body formed on the lower surface of the photosensitive member unit and abutting against the handle when mounted to be housed in the accommodating portion. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the contact portion is arranged in an area out of the optical path.