JPH08123296A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily specify and sort the material of parts even if a cartridge is disassembled as the disposal and to easily perform the recycle utilization of the parts, by consisting the consumable parts such as the gear and the bearing of the same material, or giving the approximately the same color for the parts of the same material. CONSTITUTION: For instance, the rotary shaft 61 of the anger 60 is protruded from the bearing 63 and the gear 62 is fixed to the end part thereof, and then the gear 62 and the bearing 68 is made of the polyfine MF 47 C. In such a manner, since the consumed parts such as the gears 57 and 62, and the bearings 56, 63 and 68 are wholly made of the polyfine MF 47 C, even if the cartridge is disassembled as the disposal, the material of the consumable parts can easily be specified to be sorted. Hence, the consumable parts like that can be used for the new cartridge or some other purpose. Moreover, even if these consumable parts can not be used, yet possible to be used as the new parts by reforming after melting.

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 in which, for example, a photosensitive drum or a cleaning device is formed as a replaceable integrated cartridge, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus in which consumable parts of the cartridge are easily recycled. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus in which a photosensitive drum and a cleaning device are formed as an integral type cartridge and are replaced after a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of times of use. For example, JP-A-2-298
In Japanese Patent Publication No. 961), there is introduced a technique of forming a process cartridge in which process devices for photosensing, charging, cleaning, etc. are collectively incorporated, and removably mounting the process cartridge in the apparatus main body.

[0003]

By the way, the cartridge as described above is normally disposed of after being used a plurality of times, but a new cartridge may be included in the plastic parts in the cartridge. There are many parts that can be used as parts of the above or as parts of other devices. Further, even when such a part cannot be used, it can be used as a new part by melting and remolding. However, in the conventional cartridge, once the cartridge is disassembled, it is difficult to specify the material of the component, and therefore the recycling of the component has not been achieved.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with a cartridge type process device, in which parts can be easily recycled. .

[0005]

An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image forming body on which a toner image is formed,
A transfer unit that transfers the toner image onto a recording medium and a cleaning unit that removes toner remaining on the surface of the image forming body are provided, and at least one of the image forming body, the transfer unit, and the cleaning unit. In the image forming apparatus in which one cartridge is housed in one cartridge and is detachably provided in the apparatus main body, the parts made of the synthetic resin of the cartridge, which are in sliding contact with the counterpart, are made of the same material. I am trying.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that parts of a cartridge, which are made of the same material among parts made of synthetic resin that are in sliding contact with a counterpart part, have substantially the same color. .

[0007]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the consumable parts such as gears and bearings are made of the same material, the parts can be easily made of material even if the cartridge is disassembled for disposal. Can be identified and sorted. Also,
Also in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, since the parts made of the same material have substantially the same color, the materials of the parts can be easily specified and sorted.

[0008]

【Example】

(1) Configuration of Embodiment One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 16. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the cartridge of the embodiment. The cartridge has a frame 1 in which the front portion 2 and the rear portion 3 at both ends of the cleaner housing are fixed to each other to form an overall framework. In the figure, reference numeral 4 is a front cover, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the front cover 4 is removed. It should be noted that the "front" used in the description of the embodiments means the side on which a person who uses the image forming apparatus stands, and the "rear" means the opposite side.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 5 is an upper cover, and FIG. 2 is an upper cover 5 and a cleaning blade 5.
2 shows a state in which 2 is removed. Further, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 6 is a rear plate, and FIG.
It shows a state where the is removed. The cartridge includes a photosensitive section 10 including a photosensitive drum 11, and a corotron charging section 30 for charging the photosensitive drum (image forming body) 11.
And a cleaning unit (cleaning means) 50 for removing the excess toner after the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 11 is transferred onto a recording paper or the like.

First, the structure of the photosensitive portion 10 will be described. The photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably supported by the front portion 2 and the rear portion 3 of the housing. As shown in FIG. 7, a hole 3A is formed in a substantially central portion of the housing rear portion 3, and the bearing 12 shown in FIG. 14 is attached to the hole 3A. Note that the illustration of the photosensitive drum 11 is omitted in FIG. 7. The bearing 12 is made of a synthetic resin having abrasion resistance (polyfine MF47C in this embodiment).
The central portion 12A is further raised than the other portions. The bearing 12 is fixed to the housing rear portion 3 by fitting the central portion 12A thereof slightly tightly into the concave portion 3B formed on the inner periphery of the hole 12.

A shaft 13 protruding from one end of the photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably supported by the bearing 12. The photoconductor drum 11 is configured to be connected to a rotation drive mechanism arranged in the image forming apparatus by mounting the cartridge in the main body of the image forming apparatus. on the other hand,
A pipe 14 is attached to the other end of the photosensitive drum 11 (see FIG. 2), and the pipe 14 is rotatably supported by a bearing 15 attached to the housing front portion 2 (see FIG. 5).

Next, the corotron charging unit 30 is configured to charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 to a predetermined electric charge. Then, after being charged, an image is written on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by a light beam from a laser generator, for example, and then a toner image is formed by a developing device. The toner image is transferred onto the recording paper by the transfer device and fixed by the fixing device. The steps from the writing of the image to the fixing are performed by various process mechanisms arranged in the main body of the image recording apparatus. Then, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 after the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper is cleaned by the cleaning unit 5 described below.
Removed by zero.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 51 is a housing. The housing 51 has a box shape in which a part of the surface facing the photosensitive drum 11 side and an upper part are opened. The upper portion of the housing 51 is closed by the upper cover 5. A cleaning blade 52 is attached to the lower surface of the upper cover 5 via a stay 53. The cleaning blade 52 is made of synthetic resin, and its front edge is elastically pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 11.

Below the cleaning blade 52, a cleaning brush 54 having a rotary shaft 54A parallel to the photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably arranged. The cleaning brush 54 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 6 to transfer the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 in the rotation direction. Cleaning brush 5
The toner attached to No. 4 falls toward the auger 60 when the tip of the cleaning brush 54 contacts the flick cover 54B.

As shown in FIG. 5, the end portion of the cleaning brush 54 on the front side of the rotary shaft 54A has a bearing 5a.
It is rotatably supported by 5. FIG. 16 is a side sectional view showing the bearing 55, and reference numeral 55C in the drawing is an oil seal. As shown in FIG. 15, the bearing 5
Reference numeral 5 denotes a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a stopper portion 55A which is separated from other portions on both side portions is formed on the opposite side with the center of the wall portion forming the outer periphery thereof sandwiched. The stopper portion 55A is elastically deformable in the radial direction,
When the bearing 55 is inserted into a hole (not shown) formed in the housing front portion 2, the bearing 55 is deformed inward so that the bearing can be inserted. When the bearing 55 is completely inserted into the hole, the tip of the stopper portion 55A. Hook 55 formed on the part
B is engaged with the wall portion of the housing front portion 2 so that it cannot be easily removed. This bearing 55 is also made of Polyfine MF47C.

On the other hand, the rotating shaft 5 of the cleaning brush 54
As shown in FIG. 8, the rear end of 4A is rotatably supported by a bearing 56 fixed to the rear side wall of the housing 51. FIG. 11 shows a bearing 56
FIG. 56B is a cross-sectional view showing an oil seal. As shown in this figure, the bearing 56 has a substantially cylindrical shape whose one end is expanded in a flange shape, and a protrusion 56A extending over the entire circumference is formed on the outer peripheral portion thereof.

On the other hand, a hole (not shown) which engages with the protrusion 56A is formed in the hole 51A formed in the side wall of the housing 51, and the protrusion 56A is fitted by fitting the bearing 56 into the hole 51A. Is engaged with the hole and cannot be easily removed. This bearing 56 is also made of Polyfine MF47C. The other end of the rotary shaft 54A is projected from the bearing 56, and a gear 57 made of polyfine MF47C is fixed thereto.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, an auger 60 is arranged diagonally below the cleaning brush 54.
The auger 60 collects the toner dropped from the cleaning brush 54 and discharges it to the outside of the housing 51. As shown in FIG. 8, the rear end of the rotary shaft 61 of the auger 60 is rotatably supported by a bearing 63 attached to the housing 51. The bearing 63 is also made of Polyfine MF47C, has a multi-stage cylindrical shape, and its middle stage portion 63A is press-fitted and fixed in a hole 51B formed in the side wall portion of the housing 51, as shown in FIG. The tip 63B of the bearing 63 is
It is adapted to engage with a groove provided on the rotary shaft 61 of the auger 60 (see FIG. 8).

A coil spring 65 is arranged inside the auger 60, and an end portion of the coil spring 65 is rotatably supported by a bearing 63. The coil spring 65 is configured to move the toner in the axial direction along the spiral of the coil spring 65 by being rotated. The coil spring 65 passes from the housing rear portion 3 to the housing front portion 2 and the pipe 67 into the photosensitive drum 11. Contains (see Figure 2).

A circular hole (not shown) is formed in the housing front portion 2, and the hole and the photosensitive drum 11 are formed.
The bearing 15 that supports the bearings is connected by a pipe 67 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). And the coil spring 65
Is further extended from the hole, is inserted into the pipe 67, and is inserted into the inside of the photoconductor drum 11 through the bearing 15. Under this configuration, the toner dropped from the cleaning brush 54 is sent to the front side by the rotation of the coil spring 65, and is accommodated inside the photoconductor drum 11 through the pipe 67.

The rotating shaft 61 of the auger 60 is projected from the bearing 63, and a gear 62 is fixed to the end of the rotating shaft 61. The gear 62 is made of Polyfine MF47C, and as shown in FIG. 13, is made up of a small diameter portion 62A and a large diameter portion 62B having a diameter larger than the small diameter portion 62A. The large diameter portion 62B is adapted to engage with a drive mechanism arranged in the main body of the image forming apparatus when the cartridge is mounted in the main body. The tip of the rotary shaft 61 is projected from the gear 62, and the projected end is supported by a bearing 68 fitted to the rear plate 6. This bearing 68 is also made of Polyfine MF47C.

Next, in the figure, reference numerals 70 and 71 are intermediate gears for transmitting the rotation of the gear 62 of the toner collecting mechanism 60 to the gear 57 of the cleaning brush 54. That is, the intermediate gear 70 meshes with the small diameter portion 62A of the gear 62, and the intermediate gear 71 meshes with the intermediate gear 70 and the gear 57. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the intermediate gears 70 and 71 are engaged with each other. These intermediate gears 70 and 71 are also made of Polyfine MF47C. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 75 is an earth plate,
Is designed to ground the cleaning brush 54 and the flick cover 54B. Further, in FIG.
Reference numeral 0 is a seal plate. The end edge of the seal plate 80 contacts the photosensitive drum 11,
It prevents the toner from spilling down.

(2) Effects of the Embodiments In the image forming apparatus having the above-described structure, since all consumable parts such as gears and bearings are made of Polyfine MF47C, even if the cartridge is discarded and the cartridge is disassembled, it is consumed. The materials of parts can be easily specified and sorted. Therefore, such consumable parts can be used in new cartridges or other applications. Further, even if such a consumable part cannot be used, it can be used as a new part by melting and re-molding.

By the way, in the above embodiment, all the various gears are made of Polyfine MF47C, but if the gears that mesh with each other are made of the same material, the gears are easily worn. However, considering that the cartridge is disposed of after a few use cycles, the life of the gear is sufficient even if the cartridge is used in a wear-prone manner.

(3) Modified Example In order to extend the life of the gear, one gear may be made of a material different from that of Polyfine MF47C. In that case, by recycling all the gears of the same color and coloring the consumable parts of the other gear differently, recycling becomes easier. Further, not only the gears that mesh with each other, but also various kinds of materials can be used for the bearings, and in that case as well, recycling can be facilitated by applying substantially the same coloring to the same materials.

Although the above embodiment is an example in which the photosensitive section 10, the corotron charging section 30, and the cleaning section 50 are incorporated in the cartridge, it is not necessary to include all of these process devices, and any one of them is included. Alternatively, two may be incorporated. Further, the cartridge may include a transfer mechanism for transferring the toner image formed by the photosensitive section 10 onto the recording paper. Further, although Polyfine MF47C is used as the material of the bearing and the gear in this embodiment, other synthetic resins may be used.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since consumable parts such as gears and bearings are made of the same material, or parts made of the same material have almost the same color,
Even if the cartridge is disassembled and the cartridge is disassembled, the material of the parts can be easily specified and sorted.
The parts can be easily recycled and used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a cartridge in an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in the direction of arrow II in FIG.

3 is a view in the direction of arrow III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view on arrow IV in FIG.

5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 2;

7 is a VII direction arrow view of FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a bearing portion of the cleaning portion.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another portion of the bearing portion of the cleaning portion.

FIG. 10 shows a bearing that supports a rotating shaft of an auger, (A) is a cross-sectional view thereof, and (B) is a plan view.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a bearing that supports a rotary shaft of a cleaning brush.

FIG. 12 shows the other bearing that supports the rotating shaft of the auger, FIG. 12 (A) being a sectional view thereof, and FIG.

13A and 13B show a gear for rotating an auger, FIG. 13A is a sectional view thereof, and FIG. 13B is a plan view thereof.

14A and 14B show a bearing that supports a rotary shaft of a photosensitive drum, FIG. 14A being a plan view thereof and FIG. 14B being a sectional view thereof.

15A and 15B show another bearing for supporting the rotating shaft of the cleaning brush, FIG. 15A is a sectional view thereof, and FIG. 15B is a plan view thereof.

16 is a side view showing a state where an oil seal is assembled to the bearing shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Photosensitive drum (image forming body), 50 ... Cleaning part (cleaning means), 12, 55, 56, 63, 68 ... Bearings (parts), 57, 62, 70, 71 ... Gears (parts).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming body on which a toner image is formed, a transfer means for transferring the toner image onto a recording medium, and a cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image forming body. In the image forming apparatus in which at least one of the image forming body, the transfer means, and the cleaning means is housed in one cartridge and detachably provided in the apparatus main body, the cartridge is made of synthetic resin. An image forming apparatus is characterized in that a component that is in sliding contact with a counterpart component is made of the same material. 2. An image forming body on which a toner image is formed, a transfer means for transferring the toner image onto a recording medium, and a cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image forming body. An image forming apparatus in which at least one of the image forming body, the transfer means, and the cleaning means is housed in one cartridge and detachably provided in the apparatus main body, the cartridge being a synthetic resin component of the cartridge. An image forming apparatus characterized in that parts of the same material that are in sliding contact with a counterpart part have substantially the same color. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the component is a gear.