EP0487039B1 - Bilderzeugungseinheit - Google Patents

Bilderzeugungseinheit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0487039B1
EP0487039B1 EP19910119745 EP91119745A EP0487039B1 EP 0487039 B1 EP0487039 B1 EP 0487039B1 EP 19910119745 EP19910119745 EP 19910119745 EP 91119745 A EP91119745 A EP 91119745A EP 0487039 B1 EP0487039 B1 EP 0487039B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cartridge
sheet
image formation
housing
leading portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19910119745
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0487039A3 (en
EP0487039A2 (de
Inventor
Hirofumi C/O Minolta Camera K.K. Hasegawa
Yoshiyasu Hayakawa
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Minolta Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Minolta Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minolta Co Ltd filed Critical Minolta Co Ltd
Publication of EP0487039A2 publication Critical patent/EP0487039A2/de
Publication of EP0487039A3 publication Critical patent/EP0487039A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0487039B1 publication Critical patent/EP0487039B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1839—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body
    • G03G21/1842—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks
    • G03G21/1853—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1604—Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus
    • G03G21/1623—Means to access the interior of the apparatus
    • G03G21/1628—Clamshell type
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1661—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/1636—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for the exposure unit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/1651—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for connecting the different parts
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/1651—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for connecting the different parts
    • G03G2221/1654—Locks and means for positioning or alignment
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/1672—Paper handling
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/18—Cartridge systems
    • G03G2221/1807—Transport of supply parts, e.g. process cartridges
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/18—Cartridge systems
    • G03G2221/183—Process cartridge
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/18—Cartridge systems
    • G03G2221/183—Process cartridge
    • G03G2221/1846—Process cartridge using a handle for carrying or pulling out of the main machine

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image formation cartridge, and more particularly to an image formation cartridge to be employed in an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a sheet in an electrophotographic method.
  • an image formation cartridge containing a photosensitive member, a developing device, an electric charger, etc. in a housing is employed (refer to Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 1-147479).
  • the image formation cartridge is mounted in and dismounted from a body of the image forming apparatus, and in order to facilitate its mounting, the housing of the cartridge is sloped along a mounting direction.
  • the housing is a polyhedron, which is a disadvantage of the cartridge. It is difficult to position the polyhedron cartridge in the body of the apparatus correctly. The cartridge looks cumbersome because of its configuration, and actually when an operator holds the cartridge for mounting, it does not agree with the operator's palm. Further, the configuration of the cartridge is inconvenient for packing the cartridge. Corners of the cartridge may damage the packing.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an oval image formation cartridge which looks easy to handle and which agrees with an operator's hand.
  • an image formation cartridge is as defined in claim 1.
  • the mounting leading portion and the dismounting leading portion are half cylinders whose axes are perpendicular to the mounting direction and the dismounting direction respectively.
  • the image formation cartridge can be made oval, and the configuration gives an operator a favorable image of the cartridge, that is, the oval cartridge looks easy to handle. Actually when the operator holds the dismounting leading portion of the housing in order to exchange the cartridge with a new one, the convexly curved portion agrees with his/her palm. Also, the oval configuration is convenient for packing the cartridge. There is no fear that the housing may damage the packing.
  • the housing of the image formation cartridge further has a rough portion on the dismounting leading portion, which rough portion is formed by many grooves extended in a direction perpendicular to the dismounting direction.
  • the rough portion prevents the cartridge from slipping off the operator's hand.
  • the photosensitive member is disposed inside the mounting leading portion. This arrangement inhibits smudging of an optical system with toner smoke.
  • the housing of the image formation cartridge has a slit extended from the dismounting leading portion to the photosensitive member substantially in parallel with the flat portion, and the slit serves as an optical path used for exposure of the photosensitive member.
  • the optical path in the image formation cartridge is comparatively long, which eliminates necessity of a shutter for protecting the photosensitive member from outside light.
  • the embodiment is an image formation cartridge employed in a compact laser printer wherein an electrostatic latent image is recorded with a laser beam on a photosensitive member and developed into a toner image thereon, and the toner image is transferred to a sheet.
  • the printer as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a sheet storing unit 50, a laser beam optical system unit 100 and the image formation cartridge 150 in a printer body frame 1.
  • An operation panel is disposed on the left upper surface in Fig. 1, and a front side and a rear side of the printer correspond to the left side and the right side in Fig. 1 respectively.
  • the image formation cartridge 150 is made by integrating a photosensitive drum 160, a charging brush 171, a developing device 172, a transfer roller 180 and a cleaning blade 185.
  • the photosensitive drum 160 is rotated in a direction of arrow a.
  • the surface of the photosensitive drum 160 is charged by the charging brush 171 to have a specified value of potential, and a laser beam enters the cartridge 150 through a slit 152 formed on a housing 151 and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 160.
  • the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image while passing the developing device 172.
  • a maximum of approximately 50 sheets are stacked on a tray 55 of the sheet storing unit 50, and the sheets are fed out thereof one by one according to rotation of feed rollers 61 and 62 (see Fig. 6).
  • a fed-out sheet is conveyed right-upward in Fig. 1, pinched by the feed rollers 62 and pinch rollers 70.
  • the sheet enters the cartridge 150 through a sheet guide slit 153 formed on the housing 151, and is conveyed to a nip portion between the photosensitive drum 160 and the transfer roller 180 where the sheet receives the toner image.
  • the sheet is conveyed to a fixing device 200 through a sheet guide slit 154.
  • the sheet is ejected through ejection rollers 211 onto the upper surface of the body frame 1 with its printed side facing down, or onto the front side of an upright tray 220 with its printed side facing to the front as indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1.
  • the photosensitive drum 160 continues rotating in the direction of arrow a after the image transfer.
  • the cleaning blade 185 removes residual toner from the drum 160, and the rubbish toner is collected in a rubbish toner room 186 located in the upper part of the cartridge 150.
  • the sheet storing unit 50 has a sheet room 51 divided by the tray 55 for holding a stack of sheets thereon and the bottom of a housing 101 of the optical system unit 100.
  • the tray 55 can be drawn to the front (to the left in Fig. 1), and the drawing amount depends on the size of sheets to be stored in the sheet room 51.
  • the sheets are set in the sheet room 51 with their longitudinal sides parallel with the direction of sheet feeding.
  • Fig. 4 shows set positions of different sizes of sheets.
  • the tray 55 is drawn by a maximum amount when a legal size of sheets are to be stored in the room 51. In this case, the tray 55 protrudes from the body frame 1 and holds trailing edges of the sheets.
  • a pair of side regulation members 59 is disposed on the tray 55, and the side regulation members 59 are slidable along the latitudinal sides of sheets stored in the room 51. The side regulation members 59 are to keep the sheets in alignment in respect to the width of the sheets.
  • the body frame 1 has an opening 10 at the front side, and the opening 10 is covered with a cover 11. Sheets are put in the sheet room 51 through the opening 10.
  • the cover 11 is pivotable up and down on a pin 12. An operator raises the cover 11 to a position (I) shown in Fig. 5 when putting sheets in the room 51.
  • a position (II) shown in Figs. 1 and 5.
  • a plate spring 13 is fastened to the body frame 1, and a cam 14 having projections 14a and 14b are disposed on the pivot of the cover 11.
  • the cam 14 is always in contact with the plate spring 13 even while the cover 11 is pivoting.
  • the cover 11 pivots upward, and when the projection 14b comes through the plate spring 13, the cover 11 is held in the position (II).
  • the cover 11 further pivots upward, and when the projection 14a comes through the plate spring 13, the cover 11 is held in the position (I).
  • the cover 11 is made of a transparent material such as acrylic resin, so that the operator can see sheets in the sheet room 51 even when the opening 10 is closed by the cover 11.
  • the sheet room 51 is divided by the tray 55 and the bottom of the housing 101 of the optical system unit 100.
  • the tray 55 slants downward from the opening 10 to the rear side (sheet feeding section).
  • the bottom of the housing 101 of the optical system unit 100 slants downward more than the tray 55, and the sheet room 51 tapers. Sheets are placed on the tray 55 through the opening 10 which appears when the cover 11 is pivoted upward.
  • the operator can set sheets on the tray 55 by sliding the sheets downward from the opening 10 along the tray 55. At that time, the upper and lower walls of the tapering sheet room 51 guide the leading edges of the sheets. Thus, the operator can easily set sheets in the printer.
  • the housing 101 of the optical system unit 100 has recesses 102 on the bottom.
  • the recesses 102 form an additional space for the operator's hand in the sheet room 51, and this space enables the operator to take small sizes of sheets such as postcards out of the room 51 easily.
  • a sheet feeding mechanism 60 is disposed in the rear side of the sheet room 51, that is, a place the leading edges of sheets set in the sheet room 51 reach.
  • the sheet feeding mechanism 60 comprises the feed rollers 61 and 62, cams 65, push-up sticks 66, a sheet separation pad 67, and pinch rollers 70.
  • the pad 67 can be pressed against the feed roller 61, and the pinch rollers 70 can contact with the respective feed rollers 62 to be rotated lead by the rollers 62.
  • a sheet push-up plate 56 is disposed in the rear side of the tray 55, and the push-up plate 56 is pivotable on a pin 57 upward and downward in respect to the tray 55.
  • the sheet push-up plate 56 and the push-up sticks 66 are integrated.
  • the cams 65 are disposed on a supporting shaft of the feed roller 61 at both ends, and each of the cams 65 has an arc portion 65a and curve portions 65b and 65c.
  • the push-up sticks 66 are always urged upward by spring members (not shown), and the ends of the push-up sticks 66 touch the circumferences (arc portion 65a and curve portions 65b and 65c) of the respective cams 65.
  • the feed roller 61 and the cams 65 make one whole rotation in a direction of arrow b to feed out a single sheet.
  • the push-up sticks 66 touch the ends of the arc portions 65a of the respective cams 65.
  • the arc portions 65a prevent the push-up sticks 66 from pivoting upward although the spring members pull the push-up sticks 66, and the push-up plate 56 and sheets thereon are separated from the feed rollers 61 and 62.
  • the feed rollers 61 and 62, and the cams 65 are rotated in the direction of arrow b, the edges of the push-up sticks 66 move upward, guided by the curve portions 65b of the respective cams 65.
  • the push-up plate 56 pivots downward. Thereby the sheets on the plate 56 are released from the pressure of the feed rollers 61 and 62.
  • the leading edge of the fed-out sheet is nipped between the feed rollers 62 and the pinch rollers 70, and as the feed rollers 62 are rotating, the sheet is transported right-upward in Fig. 1 to the sheet guide slit 153 of the cartridge 150.
  • the feed roller 61 has made a whole rotation, the leading edge of the fed-out sheet is nipped between the photosensitive drum 160 and the transfer roller 180. Then, the feed roller 61 stops rotating, and the sheet is further transported by rotation of the photosensitive drum 160.
  • the sheet separation pad 67 is urged toward the feed roller 61 by a spring member (not shown) so as to contact with the feed roller 61. While the sheets on the upward pivoted push-up plate 56 are in contact with the feed roller 61 (the rotation angle of the cams 65 is from 9 degrees to 72 degrees), the pad 67 is in contact with the feed roller 61 to prevent double-feeding (feeding more than one sheet at a time). Then the push-up sticks 66 move downward with the rotation of the cams 65, and accordingly the push-up plate 56 pivots downward.
  • the push-up plate 56 pushes down a tab 69 of a pad holder 68, and the pad 67 is separated from the feed roller 61.
  • the tab 69 also acts as a regulation member for regulating the leading edges of sheets set on the tray 55.
  • the sheet feeding mechanism 60 feeds a sheet upward along the circumference of the feed roller 61 without feeding horizontally.
  • the sheet feeding mechanism 60 of the above structure realizes a short sheet passageway in the printer, which contributes to the compactness of the printer.
  • the sheet feeding mechanism 60 may be so made that the feed roller 61 mainly provides a feeding force to a sheet and that the feed rollers 62 have a smaller diameter than the roller 61 so as to act as auxiliary members.
  • the auxiliary feed rollers 62 cooperate with the pinch rollers 70 to feed a sheet.
  • the feed roller 61 may be shaped into a half cylinder whose cross section is a half circle.
  • the photosensitive drum 160, the charging brush 171, the developing device 172, the transfer roller 180 and the cleaning blade 185 are contained in the housing 151, and form the image formation cartridge 150.
  • the developing device 172 has a developing sleeve 173, and toner is filled in a toner tank 174 separated from the developing device 172 by a wall 155.
  • the toner is supplied to the developing sleeve 173 through a window 155a by rotation of a paddle wheel 175 in a direction of arrow c.
  • the laser beam slit 152, and the sheet guide slits 153 and 154 are formed on the housing 151.
  • rubbish toner removed from the photosensitive drum 160 by the cleaning blade 185 is stored.
  • the image formation cartridge 150 as shown in Fig. 3, can be mounted in and dismounted from a cartridge holding frame 21 which is pivotable on a shaft 20 fastened to the body frame 1.
  • the holding frame 21 has a holder 25 shown in Figs. 12 and 13, and the image formation cartridge 150 is mounted in the holder 25.
  • the image formation cartridge 150 is exchanged with a new one when the photosensitive drum 160 comes to the end of its life or when the toner in the toner tank 174 is used up.
  • the holding frame 21 In order to exchange the cartridge 150 with a new one, the holding frame 21 is lifted to a position shown in Fig. 3.
  • the cartridge 150 has two projections 156 on the upper side of the housing 151, and the holder 25 has two projections 26 in its upper part.
  • the projections 156 come into contact with the projections 26, it is judged that the cartridge 150 is mounted in the holder 25 correctly.
  • a spring plate 23 disposed on the back side of an upper surface 22 of the holding frame 21 presses the cartridge 150 against the holder 25 so as to keep the cartridge 150 set in the holder 25 (see Fig. 3).
  • the holding frame 21 is set in the body frame 1 by pivoting the holding frame 21 downward from the cartridge exchange position.
  • the image formation cartridge 150 mounted in the holding frame 21 is set in the body frame 1 by engaging a shaft 161 of the photosensitive drum 160, which shaft 160 protrudes from both sides of the housing 151, with a groove 46 of a frame 45 fixed on the body frame 1 and engaging a concavity 157 formed on the bottom surface of the housing 151 with a convexity 103 formed on the housing 101 of the optical system unit 100.
  • positioning of the photosensitive drum 160 is the most significant.
  • the setting of the cartridge 150 is based on the positioning of the photosensitive drum shaft 161, and therefore the photosensitive drum 160 can be positioned accurately.
  • the setting of the cartridge 150 is based on the engagement of the concavity 157 on the cartridge housing 151 with the convexity 103 on the optical system unit housing 101 near a laser beam exit portion 105. Thereby, the laser beam slit 152 of the cartridge 150 can be positioned correctly in respect to the laser beam exit portion 105.
  • the configuration of the housing 151 is hereinafter described, referring to Figs. 11 and 12.
  • the surface of the housing 151 is gently curved.
  • the housing 151 has a convexity 151a projecting in a mounting direction indicated by arrow X, and a convexity 151b projecting in a dismounting direction (the opposite direction to arrow X).
  • a middle portion 151c between the convexities 151a and 151b is a gently-sloped flat.
  • the convexities 151a and 151b are almost cylindrical whose axes are perpendicular to the mounting direction X.
  • the above configuration of the housing 151 gives the operator a favorable image of the image formation cartridge 150.
  • the gentle curve helps the operator in believing that the cartridge 150 is easy to handle.
  • the operator holds the convexity 151b of the housing 151 in exchanging the cartridge 150 with a new one, and at that time the round convexity 151b agrees with his/her palm.
  • the configuration of the housing 151 is convenient for packing the cartridge 150. The gently-curved surface does not damage the packing.
  • the convexity 151b has a height of 2 to 8 centimeters, which is a size the operator can easily hold. Also, a rough portion 151d (see Fig. 11) may be formed on the convexity 151b in order to prevent the cartridge 150 from slipping out of the operator's hand.
  • the photosensitive drum 160, the developing device 172, the transfer roller 180 and the cleaning blade 185 are disposed at the side of the convexity 151a of the housing 151, centering the photosensitive drum 160.
  • Toner smoke occurs around these image forming elements.
  • the toner smoke leaks through the laser beam slit 152 and smudges the optical system unit 100.
  • the photosensitive drum 160 is disposed away from the optical system unit 100, and the laser beam slit 152 is long. Accordingly smudging of the optical system unit 100 with the toner smoke can be inhibited.
  • the photosensitive drum 160 can be shielded from outside light without a shutter.
  • the sheet passageway is formed by the sheet storing unit 50, the sheet feeding mechanism 60, a vertical path 80 and sheet ejection means 210.
  • the vertical path 80 is formed in the rear side of the body frame 1, and the vertical path 80 comprises the feed rollers 61 and 62, the pinch rollers 70, the sheet guide slits 153 and 154, the photosensitive drum 160, the transfer roller 180 and the fixing device 200.
  • the sheet ejection means 210 consists mainly of ejection rollers 211, a discharge roller 212 and the tray 220. As shown in Figs. 14 and 16, the tray 220 is fastened to a sheet ejection switching block 25 in such a manner that the tray 220 can pivot on a shaft 221.
  • the block 25 has a diverter 30 for switching sheet ejection between a face-up ejection mode and a face-down ejection mode.
  • the diverter 30 pivots on a pin 31, and it is connected with an end of a cover 32 through a lever 34.
  • the cover 32 pivots on a pin 33, and the operator can open and close the cover 32.
  • the diverter 30 When the cover 32 closes an opening 26 of the block 25, the diverter 30 is positioned on the same plane as a guide surface 27 and guides a sheet transported from the ejection rollers 211 by using a surface 30a (see Fig. 15). In this state, the sheet is discharged through an ejection port 24 via the discharge roller 212 onto the tray 220 covering the body frame 1.
  • the cover 11 of the body frame 1 is set to the position (II) so as to act as a sheet receiver.
  • the tray 220 can be set in an upright position protruding over the block 25 as indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1.
  • the tray 220 In the face-up ejection mode, as shown in Fig. 16, the tray 220 is pivoted to the rear side and set upright, and the cover 32 is pulled open. Thereby, the diverter 30 advances into the face-down ejection path, and the diverter 30 guides a sheet transported from the ejection rollers 211 by using its reverse side 30b. In this state, the sheet is discharged onto the tray 220 with its printed side facing to the front.
  • a pair of rollers must be provided in the block 25 to transport sheets onto the tray 220 in the face-up ejection mode, although it is not shown in the drawings.
  • the opening and closing action of the cover 32 may be coupled with the pivoting of the tray 220.
  • a sheet guide block 40 is provided on the holding frame 21 instead of the ejection switching block 25.
  • a sheet is provided with a transporting force by the ejection rollers 211, and diverted to the front by a guiding surface 41. Then, the sheet is discharged onto the upper surface 22 of the holding frame 21 and an upper surface 2 of the body frame 1 with its printed side facing down.
  • the printer since the sheet passageway is formed along the inner surface of the body frame 1 as described above, the printer is compact as a whole. In the face-down ejection mode, sheets are ejected to the front side, which is convenient to the operator. Also, the space inside the body frame 1 is used effectively by surrounding the image formation cartridge 150 with the sheet feeding mechanism 60, the vertical path 80 and the ejection means 210.
  • the fixing device 200 is disposed in the rear side, above the vertical path 80. Therefore heat radiation from the fixing device 200 is good, and there is no fear that the operator may touch the fixing device 200 from his/her carelessness when treating sheet jamming or checking the inside of the body frame 1 for maintenance.
  • the image formation cartridge 150 is pivoted upward with the holding frame 21 when it is dismounted from the body frame 1 (see Fig. 3).
  • the cartridge 150 can be pivoted further to an upright posture (see Fig. 2). In this state, the operator treats sheet jamming and checks the inside of the printer body for maintenance.
  • the pinch rollers 70 are each coupled with levers 71 which are pivotable on a shaft 72. While the cartridge 150 is in a position to form an image (see Fig. 1), the convexity 151a of the cartridge housing 151 pushes down edges of the levers 71, and the pinch rollers 70 are urged clockwise and contact with the feed rollers 62. When the cartridge 150 is pivoted upward, the levers 71 are released from the convexity 151a. Accordingly, the pinch rollers 70 move downward due to their own weights, that is, separate from the feed rollers 62, and the levers 71 pivot counterclockwise. With this arrangement, the jammed sheet is released from the feed rollers 62 and the pinch rollers 70 when the cartridge 150 is pivoted upward. This helps prevent the troubles above.
  • the housing 101 of the optical system unit 100 contains a light source unit 110 including a semiconductor laser and a collimator lens, a reflection mirror 111, a polygon mirror 112, a reflection mirror 113, a toroidal mirror 114 and a sensor 115 for detecting a scan starting position.
  • a laser beam is radiated from the light source unit 110, modulated in accordance with image data.
  • the laser beam is reflected by the mirror 11, and scanned on a surface at a constant angular velocity by the polygon mirror 112. Further the laser beam is reflected by the mirror 113 and the toroidal mirror 114. Then the laser beam enters the slit 152 of the cartridge 150 through the window 105 formed on the housing 101, and images on the photosensitive drum 160.
  • the window 105 has a glass 106 and a shutter 120 as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the shutter 120 is pivotable on a pin 122, and a lever 121 of the shutter 120 protrudes from the housing 101.
  • a projection (not shown) of the holding frame 21 contacts with the lever 121, and the shutter 120 pivots upward to open the window 105.
  • the lever 121 is released from the projection, and the shutter 120 pivots downward due to its own weight to close the window 105.
  • the polygon mirror 112 is disposed on the bottom of the housing 101, on the flat surface 103 between the recesses 102 (see Fig. 21).
  • the polygon mirror 112 and the other optical elements are required to be installed in specified positions accurately, and therefore they are disposed on a flat surface of the housing 101.
  • the recesses 102 which are to enable the operator to put his/her hand in the sheet storing unit 50, are formed where no optical elements are fitted.
  • some arrangements are provided to protect the operator from the laser beam.
  • the laser beam is outputted from the optical system unit 100 toward the rear side of the body frame 1.
  • Another is a safety circuit for stopping the laser beam radiation from the light source unit 110 when a sensor (not shown) detects that the holding frame 21 is pivoted upward.
  • the shutter 120 closes the window 105 when the holding frame 21 is pivoted upward.
  • the convexity 151b of the cartridge housing 151 has a black-colored part around the entrance of the laser beam slit 152.
  • the laser beam will be reflected by the surface of the housing 151, and may proceed to the operator.
  • Coloring part of the housing 151 into black is to make the part non-reflective, which prevents the reflection of the laser beam toward the operator.
  • the part of the housing 151 around the entrance of the slit 152 may be finished as a light-diffusing surface by sandblasting.
  • the reflection mirror 113 is disposed above the rear side of the sheet storing unit 50, and therefore the optical path of the optical system unit 100 is partly formed between the image formation cartridge 150 and the sheet storing unit 50.
  • the space inside the body frame 1 is used effectively, which helps make the printer as a whole compact.

Claims (6)

  1. Bilderzeugungseinheit (150) mit Mitteln zum Erzeugen eines Bildes auf einem Blatt, wobei die Mittel ein photoempfindliches Element (160) haben, und mit einem Gehäuse (151) zum Abdecken des bilderzeugenden Mittels, wobei die Einheit in einen Körper eines bilderzeugenden Gerätes eingebaut und aus diesem ausgebaut werden kann, wobei die Bilderzeugungseinheit dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, daß das Gehäuse einen konvex gekrümmten Teil (151a) an einem, bezogen auf die Einbaurichtung vorne liegenden Teil, einen konvex gekrümmten Teil (151b) an einem, bezogen auf die Ausbaurichtung vorne liegenden Teil, und einen flachen Teil (151c) zwischen den gekrümmten Teilen, hat, und das photoempfindliche Element innerhalb des in Einbaurichtung vorne liegenden Teils angeordnet ist.
  2. Bilderzeugungseinheit nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Einbauführungsteil (151a) im wesentlichen ein Halbzylinder ist, dessen Achse rechtwinklig zur Einbaurichtung liegt; und das Aufbauführungsteil (151b) im wesentlichen ein Halbzylinder ist, dessen Achse rechtwinklig zur Ausbaurichtung liegt.
  3. Bilderzeugungseinheit nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Ausbauführungsteil um die Höhe von ungefähr 2 bis 8 cm hat.
  4. Bilderzeugungseinheit nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Ausbauführungsteil (151b) einen rauhen Abschnitt (151d) aufweist, der aus vielen Nuten gebildet ist, die sich in einer Richtung rechtwinklig zur Ausbaurichtung erstrecken.
  5. Bilderzeugungseinheit nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Gehäuse einen Schlitz (152) aufweist, der sich vom Ausbauführungsteil (151b) bis zum photoempfindlichen Element (160) im wesentlichen parallel zum flachen Teil (151c) erstreckt, wobei der Schlitz als ein optischer Weg dient, der für die Belichtung des photoempfindlichen Elementes verwendet wird.
  6. Bilderzeugungseinheit nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Gehäuse einen Blattweg (153,154) aufweist, der den konvex gekrümmten Teil des Einbauführungsteil (151a) kreuzt.
EP19910119745 1990-11-23 1991-11-19 Bilderzeugungseinheit Expired - Lifetime EP0487039B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2319601A JPH04190252A (ja) 1990-11-23 1990-11-23 感光体を含む作像カートリッジ
JP319601/90 1990-11-23

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0487039A2 EP0487039A2 (de) 1992-05-27
EP0487039A3 EP0487039A3 (en) 1993-03-17
EP0487039B1 true EP0487039B1 (de) 1996-02-07

Family

ID=18112093

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19910119745 Expired - Lifetime EP0487039B1 (de) 1990-11-23 1991-11-19 Bilderzeugungseinheit

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0487039B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH04190252A (de)
DE (1) DE69116997T2 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8725042B2 (en) 1995-03-27 2014-05-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Coupling part, photosensitive drum, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH04190253A (ja) * 1990-11-23 1992-07-08 Minolta Camera Co Ltd レーザビームプリンタ
DE69308966T2 (de) * 1992-09-04 1997-08-07 Canon Kk Elektrophotographische Arbeitseinheit und Bilderzeugungsgerät mit einer solchen Arbeitseinheit
JPH06110262A (ja) * 1992-09-28 1994-04-22 Fujitsu Ltd 画像形成装置
JPH06110264A (ja) * 1992-09-28 1994-04-22 Fujitsu Ltd 画像プロセスユニット及び画像形成装置
KR100370201B1 (ko) * 1998-12-28 2003-01-29 삼성전자 주식회사 전자사진방식 인쇄기의 감광벨트 카트리지와 이를 채용한 감광벨트 교환장치 및 감광벨트 교환방법
US7138215B2 (en) * 2003-06-20 2006-11-21 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Process cartridge, image forming apparatus and image forming method

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60185964A (ja) * 1984-02-13 1985-09-21 Konishiroku Photo Ind Co Ltd 複写機
JPS6183570A (ja) * 1984-10-01 1986-04-28 Ricoh Co Ltd 作像装置
US4786937A (en) * 1987-05-01 1988-11-22 Xerox Corporation Processing cartridge with one time function sheet
JPH0612475B2 (ja) * 1987-12-03 1994-02-16 キヤノン株式会社 プロセスカートリッジ及び画像形成装置

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8725042B2 (en) 1995-03-27 2014-05-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Coupling part, photosensitive drum, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
US9046860B2 (en) 1995-03-27 2015-06-02 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Coupling part, photosensitive drum, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69116997D1 (de) 1996-03-21
JPH04190252A (ja) 1992-07-08
DE69116997T2 (de) 1996-09-12
EP0487039A3 (en) 1993-03-17
EP0487039A2 (de) 1992-05-27

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