JPH086344A - Color image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To store a waste toner storage container having a large capacity by utilizing a dead space in a device main body. CONSTITUTION:A transfer unit 14A is arranged eccentrically in the upstream of rotation from directly below a photoreceptor drum 10. A charging unit 11, a developing unit 13, and a cleaning device 19 are arranged on the periphery of the drum 10 with good balance, and a transfer paper feed path 150 from a paper feed cassette 15 to an image transfer area is formed into a U-shape as a result. A box-like waste toner storage container 300 is provided in the space formed on the path 150, and the waste toner storage container 300 can be easily fitted or removed when the side cover 400 of the device is opened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly arranges a plurality of image exposing means and developing means on the peripheral surface of a drum-shaped image forming body to form toner images by superposing them during one rotation of the image forming body. The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method for forming a multicolor image, a single-color toner formed on each photoconductor is equipped with the same number of photoconductors, chargers, and developing devices as the number of colors required to form the image. A device for forming a color image by superimposing an image on a transfer body or the like (A), or a device for forming a color image by rotating a single photoconductor a plurality of times and repeating charging, image exposure and development for each color. Alternatively, there is also known an apparatus (C) or the like that forms a color image by sequentially performing charging, image exposure and development for each color within one rotation of one photosensitive member.

However, the above-mentioned device (A) has a drawback in that the volume of the device becomes large because it requires the conveyance of a plurality of photoconductors or transfer members, while the device (B) has a charging means, an image exposing means and a photoconductor. Since there is only one, the volume is reduced, but the size of the formed image is limited to the surface area of the photoreceptor or less.

Although the apparatus (C) is capable of high-speed image formation, it is necessary to dispose a plurality of sets of a charger, an image exposure means and a developing device within one circumference of the photosensitive member, and an optical system for image exposure. There is a possibility that the toner leaking from the developing device close to the system may stain the image quality and impair the image quality.To avoid this, the distance between the image exposing means and the developing device needs to be increased, so the diameter of the photoconductor inevitably increases. There is a contradiction that the device will become larger.

For the purpose of avoiding the drawbacks of the above-mentioned obstacles in the apparatus (C), the substrate of the image forming body is made of a transparent material, and a plurality of image exposing means are housed therein to form an image. An apparatus has been proposed in which the photosensitive layer formed on the outer periphery of the substrate is exposed through the substrate (for example, JP-A-5-307307).

[0006]

Further, in the above-mentioned apparatus (A) and apparatus (B), a large-sized waste toner storage container is built in due to restrictions on the layout of the equipment and the constitution of the transfer material feeding path. However, it is difficult to install a very small container in a deep position of the apparatus, and it is necessary to frequently dispose of waste toner.

The present invention solves this problem and improves the result.
By utilizing the layout of the equipment in the apparatus (C) or the structural characteristics of the feeding path of the transfer material, it is possible to install a large waste toner container at a position that is extremely easy to attach and detach. The purpose is to provide an image forming apparatus.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned object is a color in which a toner image is formed on an image forming body by repeating charging, image exposure and development on the image forming body, and then collectively transferring to a transfer material. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming body includes a plurality of image exposing means, and the image exposing means and the developing means are arranged at symmetrical positions on the left and right with respect to a vertical line passing through the center.
A drum-shaped image forming body in which the transfer means is arranged one by one and the cleaning means is arranged on the other side, and the toner collected by the cleaning means is below the sheet feeding path to the transfer means. It is achieved by a color image forming apparatus characterized by disposing a waste toner storage container for storing the waste toner.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure of a color image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a drum-shaped image forming body, that is, a photosensitive drum, which is coated with a transparent conductive layer and an organic photosensitive layer (OPC) on the outer periphery of a cylindrical substrate formed of a transparent member such as optical glass or transparent acrylic resin. It was done.

A flange 10A at one end of the photosensitive drum 10 is provided with a guide pin 30 of a cartridge 30 described later.
The guide roller 40R is supported by the bearing P, and the flange 10B at the other end is a three-point-supporting guide roller 40R provided on the substrate 40 of the apparatus body
The outer peripheral gear 10G is meshed with the drive gear 40G by external fitting, and is rotated clockwise by the power of the drive gear 40G while the transparent conductive layer is grounded.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a scorotron charger, which is a photosensitive drum 10.
The above-mentioned organic photoconductor layer is charged by a grid held at a predetermined potential and corona discharge by a discharge wire to give a uniform potential to the photoconductor drum 10.

Reference numeral 12 denotes FL, EL, PL, L in which light emitting elements arranged in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 10 are arranged in a line in an array.
LIS in which elements with ED and optical shutter functions are arranged in a line
An exposure optical system composed of A, PLZT, LCS and a self-occ lens as a unity-magnification imaging element, in which image signals of respective colors read by a separate image reading device are sequentially taken out from a memory and each of the above-mentioned respective The signals are input to the exposure optical system 12 as electric signals.

Each of the exposure optical systems 12 is mounted on a cylindrical supporting member 20 fixed to the substrate 40 of the apparatus main body with guide pins 40P1 as guides, and is mounted on the photosensitive drum 10.
Is housed inside the base body of.

Numerals 13Y to 13K denote developing units for accommodating yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and K (black) developers, respectively, with predetermined gaps with respect to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10. Development sleeve 13 that keeps the same and rotates in the same direction
It has 0.

Each of the developing devices is in a non-contact state by applying a developing bias voltage to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 formed by the charging by the charging device 11 and the image exposure by the exposure optical system 12 described above. Reverse development with.

Next, the process of the color image forming apparatus in this apparatus will be described.

The original image is temporarily read as an image signal for each color of Y, M, C and K from an image read by an image pickup device or an image edited by a computer in an image reading apparatus separate from this apparatus. Stored and stored in memory.

When the photoconductor drive motor is started by the start of image recording, the drive gear 40G is rotated to rotate the photoconductor drum 10 in the clockwise direction, and at the same time, the photoconductor is charged by the charger 11 (Y). Application of electric potential to the drum 10 is started.

After the photosensitive drum 10 is applied with an electric potential,
In the exposure optical system 12 (Y), the exposure by the electric signal corresponding to the first color signal, that is, the yellow (Y) image signal is started, and the yellow (Y) of the original image is formed on the photosensitive layer on the surface by the rotational scanning of the drum. ) Form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image.

The latent image is reverse-developed by the developing device 13 (Y) with the developer on the developing sleeve in a non-contact state, and a yellow (Y) toner image is formed according to the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10.

Next, the photosensitive drum 10 is further given a potential on the yellow (Y) toner image by the charging action of the charger 11 (M), and the second color signal of the exposure optical system 12 (M), that is, Exposure with an electric signal corresponding to the magenta (M) image signal is performed, and non-contact reversal development by the developing device 13 (M) causes a magenta (M) toner image on the yellow (Y) toner image. Will be sequentially stacked.

By the same process, a cyan (C) toner image corresponding to the third color signal is further generated by the charging device 11 (C), the exposure optical system 12 (C) and the developing device 13 (C), and also the charging device. 11 (K), exposure optical system 12 (K) and developing unit 13
By (K), a black (K) toner image corresponding to the fourth color signal is sequentially superimposed and formed, and a color toner image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 within one rotation.

Photoreceptor drum 10 by each of these exposure optical systems
The exposure to the organic photosensitive layer is conducted through the transparent substrate from the inside of the drum. Therefore, the exposure of the images corresponding to the second, third and fourth color signals is performed without any influence of the toner image previously formed.
It is possible to form an electrostatic latent image equivalent to the image corresponding to the color signal of. The stabilization of the temperature inside the photosensitive drum 10 and the prevention of the temperature rise due to the heat generation of each exposure optical system 12 use a material having good thermal conductivity for the supporting member 20, and use a heater 201 when the temperature is low, When the temperature is high, it can be suppressed to a level without any trouble by taking measures such as radiating heat to the outside through the heat pipe 202. Further, during the developing action by each developing device, a developing bias in which a direct current or an alternating current is applied to the developing sleeve 130 is applied respectively, and jumping development is performed by the one-component or two-component developer accommodated in the developing device, thereby making it transparent. A non-contact reversal development is performed by applying a DC bias having the same polarity as that of the toner to the photoconductor drum 10 having the conductive layer grounded so that the toner is attached to the exposed portion.

Thus, the color toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred to the transfer paper which is conveyed from the paper feed cassette 15 in the transfer device 14A and is fed in synchronization by the driving of the timing roller 16. It

The transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred is a static eliminator.
In 14B, the charge is removed and the toner is separated from the peripheral surface of the drum. After the toner is fused in the fixing device 17, the toner is discharged via the paper discharge roller 18 onto the tray above the device.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 10 from which the transfer paper has been separated removes and cleans the residual toner in the cleaning device 19 to continue the formation of the toner image of the original image, or temporarily stops the toner image of the new original image. Formation.

The photoconductor drum 10, each charging device 11, each developing device 13 and the cleaning device 19 are housed in a cartridge 30 and integrated with each other, without giving a load or a shock to the image exposure means, and an optical system. The supporting member 20 having 12 is left so that it can be attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus. The heater 201 and the heat pipe 2 have a structure in which the supporting member 20 is left when attaching and detaching.
02. It has a feature that the lead wire 203 for operating the LED and the optical system 12 can be fixed to the support member 20 in spite of the rotation of the photoconductor and the attachment / detachment of the photoconductor. It can also be used to determine the axis of the photosensitive drum 10 as described below.

Since the photoconductor drum 10 includes the exposure optical system 12 therein, even if the drum diameter is small, the plurality of chargers 11 and the developers 13 described above are arranged at left and right substantially symmetrical positions so that the circumference of the photoconductor drum 10 can be easily provided. It can fit in the plane.
In this case, the transfer device 14A is arranged slightly offset from the position directly below the drum to the upstream side of its rotation due to the space for accommodating the cleaning device 19. As a result, the transfer paper is conveyed while being inclined downward with respect to the fixing device 17 after the image transfer. It

Therefore, the paper feed cassette 15 is the transfer device 14
A Because the space on the upstream side is narrow and the purpose is to maintain the conveyance distance for timing adjustment, the transfer paper is not arranged on the extension line of the transfer surface, and the transfer paper discharged from the cassette 15 is formed in a U-shape as shown in the figure. A form is adopted in which the transfer surface is fed via a path.

The above-mentioned reverse paper feed path is provided in the paper feed cassette 15
The transfer paper conveyed from the paper feed cassette 15 is composed of a linear paper feed path 150A connected to, a semicircular paper feed path 150B, and a linear paper feed path 150C connected to the image transfer surface. The sheets are sequentially fed to the image transfer area through the above-mentioned sheet feeding paths.

A waste toner storage container 300 for storing the waste toner collected from the photoconductor drum 10 by the cleaning device 19 is provided below the paper feed path 150C, that is, in a space formed between the paper feed path 150C and the paper feed path 150A. ing.

The waste toner storage container 300 has a certain curvature in the paper feed path 150B in terms of transporting the transfer paper and can have a sufficient length in the depth direction of the apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to use a relatively large container, and therefore, the frequency of needing to dispose of the waste toner in the container is at least significantly higher than that of a waste toner storage container built in a general apparatus.

As shown in the side sectional view of FIG. 3, the waste toner container 300 has a waste toner receiving port 300A at the center of its upper surface.
Is opened and is closed by an elastic shield lid 300B provided on the inner surface.

On the other hand, the waste toner collected by the cleaning device 19 is conveyed to the connecting unit 191 at the tip of the pipe by the thrust of the conveying screw 190A in the collecting pipe 190 connected to the cleaning device 19 and passing through the back surface of the cartridge 30. .

The connecting unit 191 has a drop port 1 for waste toner.
A sleeve 192 that opens 92A is rotatably fitted therein, and an elastic engaging portion 191A formed at the end thereof is press-fitted into the above-described receiving port 300A of the waste toner storage container 300 and the shielding lid 300B is pushed down and opened. Be installed.

The connecting unit 191 is a waste toner storage container 3
After mounting to 00, by moving the protruding operation pin 193 from the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line to the position shown by the solid line,
The sleeve 192 is rotated about half a turn, whereby the drop port 192A is changed to a downward position, and the collected waste toner falls and is stored in the waste toner storage container 300.

When the connecting unit 190 is removed from the waste toner container 300, the sleeve 192 returns the operation pin 193 to the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in advance and the waste toner leaks out. Prevent. On the other hand, the inlet 300A of the waste toner storage container 300 after the connection unit 190 is removed is automatically closed by the elastic restoration of the shielding lid 300B, and the waste toner scatters or flows out during the removal operation from the apparatus. To prevent

The waste toner storage container 300 is supported by inserting a pair of engaging pins 301 provided on both side surfaces thereof into a guide rail 250 in the main body of the apparatus, and a protruding portion 401 of a side cover 400 forming an outer wall of the main body of the apparatus. It is held by the lock of.

The side cover 400 has the paper feed path 150B.
Are integrally supported, and the bent portion 402 at the upper end is engaged with the engaging hole 251 on the outer side of the apparatus main body, while the elongated hole 403 at the lower end is similarly engaged with the support pin 252 of the apparatus main body to be kept in the closed state. .

The side cover 400 slides slightly upward through the handle 404 to engage the bent portion 402 with the engaging hole 251.
When it is released in the clockwise direction after being disengaged from the engagement with, the side surface of the apparatus main body is opened together with the sheet feeding path 150B as shown in FIG. It can be removed by sliding from the side.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge 30 described above is used.
And a recovery pipe 190 connected to the upper body I, the waste toner storage container 300 is supported by the lower body II, and the upper body I can be opened to the lower body II via a hinge H, a so-called two-part system. With this structure, it is possible to automatically perform the attachment / detachment operation of the connection unit 191 with respect to the receiving port 300A of the waste toner storage container 300 by the opening / closing operation of the upper main body I. In this case, the waste toner storage container 300 can be attached and detached from the paper feed side as in the example described above, and is attached and detached from above as a structure supported by the receiving table 260 because the upper portion of the lower main body II is opened. It can also take the form. Further, if the structure is of a two-part type, the cartridge 30 can be easily attached and detached from the front side in the figure through a pair of guide rails 270.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to install a waste toner storage container having a large storage capacity at a position where the detaching operation can be easily performed without providing a space in the device, and as a result, a compact device. However, a color image forming apparatus having excellent maintainability that does not require disposal of waste toner for a long period of time has been provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a color image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the main part of the device.

FIG. 3 is a main part view of a waste toner storage container.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the attachment / detachment of the container.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing opening and closing of the device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Photoconductor drum 11 Charger 12 Exposure optical system 13 Developer 14A Transfer device 14B Static eliminator 15 Paper feed cassette 16 Timing roller 17 Fixing device 19 Cleaning device 20 Supporting member 30 Cartridge 100 Toner hopper 150 Paper feed path 190 Collection pipe 191 Connection unit 192 Sleeve 250 Guide rail 260 Receiving stand 300 Waste toner storage container 300A Receiving port 300B Shielding lid 400 Side cover

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A color image forming apparatus for performing a batch transfer onto a transfer material after forming a toner image on the image forming body by repeating charging, image exposure and development on the image forming body. The body contains a plurality of image exposing means, and two image exposing means and two developing means are arranged at left and right symmetrical positions with respect to a vertical line passing through the center, and one side is provided with a transfer means and the other is provided. A drum-shaped image forming body having cleaning means arranged on the side thereof, wherein a waste toner storage container for storing toner collected by the cleaning means is installed below a sheet feeding path to the transfer means. Image forming apparatus. 2. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner storage container can be taken out from a paper feeding side of the apparatus. 3. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner container is disconnected from the cleaning means by opening an upper main body of the apparatus. 4. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the waste toner container can be taken out from a paper feeding side of the apparatus after the upper main body is opened. 5. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the waste toner container can be taken out from the opening side of the apparatus after the upper body is opened. 6. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming unit can be taken out after the upper main body is opened.