JP2000227688A - Processing unit and image forming device provided therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the maintainability of a processing unit which is constituted by assembling a photoreceptor and an intermediate transfer body in a unit case and to reduce maintenance cost in an image forming device where the processing unit is attachably/detachably attached to an image forming device main body. SOLUTION: This processing unit 35 is constituted by assembling the photoreceptor 2 on which a toner image is formed and the intermediate transfer body 15 to which the toner image is transferred in the unit case 36. The photoreceptor 2 and rollers 3 and 4 supporting the photoreceptor 2 are constituted as one photoreceptor unit 37, which is attachably/detachably assembled in the case 36.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive member having a surface on which a toner image is formed during image formation, an intermediate transfer member onto which the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member is transferred during image formation, The present invention relates to a process unit including a unit case in which a photoconductor and an intermediate transfer member are assembled, and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body, and an image forming apparatus having the process unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus of the above-mentioned type configured as an electronic copying machine, various printers, facsimile machines or a multifunction machine having at least two of these functions, a photoconductor, an intermediate transfer body and a unit case are composed of a unit case. Since the process unit is configured as one process unit, and the process unit is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, for example, the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer body constituting the process unit deteriorate with time. At the end of the life, the entire process unit can be replaced with a new process unit. For this reason, the maintainability of the image forming apparatus can be improved, and even a general user can replace the process unit.

[0003] On the other hand, the photoreceptor is a factor that greatly affects image quality due to slight scratches or damages on the surface of the photoreceptor compared to the intermediate transfer member. Replacement request frequency is high. Therefore, if the photosensitive member is damaged while the intermediate transfer member can still be used, replacing the entire process unit only by damage to the photosensitive member means replacing the intermediate transfer member that can still be sufficiently used. Therefore, it is very uneconomical and the maintenance cost of the image forming apparatus increases.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made based on the above-described novel recognition, and has as its object to eliminate the need to replace the intermediate transfer member and the photosensitive member. When the occurrence of the above, the photoreceptor can be easily replaced without replacing the intermediate transfer body, and the process unit of the type described at the beginning, which can suppress the increase in cost, and the process unit An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in a process unit of the type described at the beginning, the intermediate transfer member is integrally assembled to a unit case, and the photosensitive member including the photosensitive member is provided. Removing the photoconductor unit from the unit case in the state of the photoconductor unit in a state where the photoconductor unit constitutes a main body unit and the process unit is removed from a predetermined set position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. The present invention proposes a process unit characterized in that the photoconductor unit is detachably attached to a unit case so as to be able to perform (1).

At this time, in the above process unit,
The photoconductor includes a belt-shaped photoconductor, and the photoconductor unit includes the belt-shaped photoconductor and a plurality of belt supporting members that support the belt-shaped photoconductor. It is advantageous that the photoconductor is detachably attached to the unit case while being supported by being wound around the plurality of belt support members (claim 2).

Further, in the process unit according to claim 1 or 2, a charging device for charging the photoreceptor, and a waste device for containing the transfer residual toner removed from the surface of the photoreceptor and the surface of the intermediate transfer member. It is advantageous that the toner container has a toner container, and the charging device and the waste toner container are detachably mounted on the unit case.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in the image forming apparatus of the type described at the outset, the intermediate transfer member is integrally assembled to a unit case, and a photoreceptor unit including the photoreceptor is provided. With the configuration, and the process unit is removed from a predetermined set position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, the photoconductor unit,
An image forming apparatus is proposed in which the photoconductor unit is detachably assembled to the unit case so that the photoconductor unit can be detached or attached from the unit case in the state of the photoconductor unit. Claim 4).

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus configured as a color printer for forming a color image. The image forming apparatus shown here includes an immovable housing 1A that is immovably mounted on an installation surface such as a top surface or a floor surface (not shown) and, as shown in FIG. And an image forming apparatus main body 1 having a movable housing 1B rotatably opened and closed via a support shaft (not shown). A process unit 35 is detachably mounted on the stationary housing 1A, and this process unit 35 is also rotatably supported with respect to the stationary housing 1A as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the process unit 35 has the photosensitive member 2, the intermediate transfer member 15, and a unit case 36 in which these are assembled. In the illustrated example, the photoconductor 2 and the intermediate transfer body 15 are both formed of a flexible endless belt, and are configured as a belt-shaped photoconductor and a belt-shaped intermediate transfer body, respectively. The photoreceptor 2 is supported by being wound around a plurality of belt support members including rollers 3 and 4, and a photoreceptor unit 37 is configured by the photoreceptor 2 and the rollers 3 and 4 as described later. The photoconductor unit 37 is assembled to the unit case 36. The intermediate transfer member 15 includes a roller 13 rotatably supported by a unit case 36 as described later,
14 and is supported by the unit case 36 via the belt support member. Belt-shaped photoconductor 2 and belt-shaped intermediate transfer body 15
Alternatively, a drum-shaped photosensitive member or a drum-shaped intermediate transfer member can be used.

During the image forming operation, the roller 4 is driven by a driving device (not shown) provided on the stationary housing 1A as shown in FIG.
, The photosensitive member 2 is driven to travel in the direction of arrow A. At this time, the surface of the photosensitive member is subjected to a charge removing operation by the charge removing lamp 5 supported by the stationary housing 1A, and then the surface of the photosensitive member is charged by the charging device including the charging charger 6 detachably mounted on the unit case 36 of the process unit 35. Are uniformly charged. Then, the charged surface is exposed by a light-modulated laser beam L emitted from a laser writing unit 7 which is an example of an exposure device disposed in the immovable housing 1A. A first electrostatic latent image is formed. The charging charger 6 has a charger casing 6A and a charge wire 6B extending inside the casing 6A along the longitudinal direction of the casing 6A.

On the other hand, a stationary housing 1A of the image forming apparatus main body 1
Is provided with a rotary developing device 8 opposed to the photoreceptor 2. The developing device 8 includes a yellow developing device 9Y, a magenta developing device 9M, a cyan developing device 9C, and a black developing device 9BK. Of the developing device is detachably supported. Developing case 11 of each developing unit
Y, 11M, 11C, and 11BK contain developers of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. As the developer, various types of developers such as a powdery two-component developer having a toner and a carrier or a powdery one-component developer having no carrier can be used. Uses a powdery one-component developer (hereinafter, referred to as toner). Each developing device includes developing rollers 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12BK.
And a toner supply roller for supplying toner to each of the developing rollers.

As described above, the first member formed on the surface of the photosensitive member
When the electrostatic latent image passes through the developing device 8, the first developing device, in this example, the yellow developing device 9 </ b> Y occupies the developing position facing the photoconductor 2. At this time, the developing roller 12Y of the yellow developing unit 9Y is rotated while being in contact with the photoconductor 2, and the first electrostatic latent image is converted into a yellow toner image by the yellow toner carried and conveyed by the developing roller 12Y. As a visible image. During image formation, the photosensitive member 2
A toner image is formed on the surface.

On the other hand, one of the two rollers 13 and 14 around which the intermediate transfer member 15 formed of a belt is wound is rotationally driven by a driving device (not shown) provided in the stationary housing 1A. As a result, the intermediate transfer member 15
Is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow B. The intermediate transfer member 15 and the photoreceptor 2 are in contact with each other at a primary transfer portion 16, and a bias roller 17, which is an example of a primary transfer unit, is in contact with the back surface of the intermediate transfer member 15 in the vicinity thereof.

When the yellow toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member 2 reaches the primary transfer portion 16 as described above, the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive member is transferred to the intermediate transfer member by the action of the voltage applied to the bias roller 17. The primary transfer is performed on the surface of No. 15. At the time of image formation, the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor is transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body 15.

The transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor after the transfer of the toner image comprises a fur brush 18A which is driven to rotate while being in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 2, and a cleaning blade 18B which is in pressure contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 2. The transfer residual toner is scraped off and removed by the cleaning member 18 and falls into the cleaning case 19. Instead of using two cleaning members, one or three or more cleaning members can be used.

Intermediate transfer member 15 corresponding to primary transfer portion 16
The front end of a pressing member 38 made of, for example, an elastic resin sheet is pressed against the back surface of the intermediate transfer member 15, and the pressing member 38 extends over the entire length of the intermediate transfer body 15 in the width direction. The holding member 38 has its base end fixed to a support 39. As described above, the intermediate transfer member 15 formed of the belt is pressed by the pressing member 38 against the photosensitive member wrapped around the roller 3 in the primary transfer portion 16, so that the intermediate transfer member 15 and the photosensitive member 2 contact uniformly, whereby the toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor can be correctly transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer member, and the image quality can be improved. The slight undulation of the intermediate transfer member 15 made of a belt impairs the adhesion between the intermediate transfer member 15 and the photosensitive member 2, and the photosensitive member 2 and the intermediate transfer member 15 are partially separated from each other. The problem that the primary transfer is not performed correctly can be prevented by the pressing member 38.

The support 3 for supporting the pressing member 38 described above.
9 and the above-described bias roller 17 are assembled and supported on a unit case 36 of the process unit 35 as described later, and the cleaning case 19 is formed integrally with the unit case 36.

As described above, the cleaning member 18
The surface of the photoreceptor whose surface has been cleaned is again subjected to the charge removing operation by the charge removing lamp 5, and thereafter is uniformly charged by the charging charger 6, and then the light-modulated laser emitted from the laser writing unit 7 on the charged surface. Irradiation with light L forms a second electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor surface. When the second electrostatic latent image passes through the developing device 8, the rotation of the developing device support 10 causes the second developing device, in this example, the magenta developing device 9M, to occupy the developing position facing the photosensitive member 2. Thus, the second electrostatic latent image is visualized as a magenta toner image in the same manner as in the case of the above-described yellow developing device 9Y. This toner image is also primary-transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer body 15 on which the yellow toner image has been previously transferred, by the action of the bias roller 17 to which the voltage is applied, so as to overlap the yellow toner image.
The toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 2 after the transfer of the magenta toner image is also removed from the surface of the photoconductor by the cleaning member 18.

In exactly the same manner as described above, a cyan toner image and a black toner image are sequentially formed on the photoreceptor surface by a cyan developing device 9C and a black developing device 9BK facing the photoreceptor surface, respectively. The toner image is superimposed on the previously transferred toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer body 15 and sequentially primary-transferred. The toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor is removed by the cleaning member 18 every time the toner image is transferred, and the surface is cleaned. Thus, a full-color toner image is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 15.

On the other hand, the stationary housing 1A of the image forming apparatus main body 1
A recording medium P made of transfer paper or a plastic sheet or the like is stacked on a sheet feeding cassette 20 set at a lower part of the sheet feeding roller 20, and the recording medium P is fed one by one in an arrow C direction by rotation of a sheet feeding roller 21. Is done. The recording medium P thus fed is conveyed by the rotation of the conveying roller pair 22 and the registration roller pair 23, and the intermediate transfer member 15
At the timing of matching with the full-color toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 15, the intermediate transfer member 15 is fed to the secondary transfer portion 41 between the intermediate transfer member 15 and the transfer roller 24 which constitutes an example of a secondary transfer unit opposed thereto. . At this time, the full-color toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer body 15 is electrostatically and collectively secondary-transferred onto the surface of the recording medium P by the action of the voltage applied to the transfer roller 24.

Conveying roller pair 22 and registration roller pair 23
The recording medium P conveyed by the unit case 36
Are guided by a guide surface 40 constituted by the outer surface of the first member. One roller 22A of the transport roller pair 22 is rotatably supported by a unit holder 45 described later, and the other roller 22B is rotatably supported by the movable housing 1B. , 23
B and the transfer roller 24 are both rotatably supported by the movable housing 1B (see FIG. 2).

When the toner images of the respective colors sequentially formed on the photosensitive member 2 are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 15 as described above, the transfer roller 24 is so arranged that the toner image is not disturbed by the transfer roller 24. When the superposed toner image on the intermediate transfer member 15 is secondarily transferred onto the recording medium P, the transfer roller 24 is separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer member 15 by the transfer roller 24 via the recording medium P. The transfer roller is brought into contact with the front surface, and is rotated in a direction in which the transfer roller portion in contact with the intermediate transfer body 15 moves in the same direction.

As described above, after the recording medium P on which the full-color toner image has been secondarily transferred is separated from the intermediate transfer member 15,
The surface on which the toner image has been transferred, that is, the image surface faces downward, and is conveyed to the fixing device 25 as shown by an arrow D,
It passes between the fixing roller 26 and the pressure roller 27 of the fixing device 25. At this time, the toner image is fixed on the surface of the recording medium P by the action of heat and pressure. Fixing device 25
The recording medium P that has exited is discharged by the discharge roller pair 28 to the discharge stack unit 30 on the upper part of the stationary housing 1A with the image surface facing downward as indicated by the arrow E. The fixing device 25 and the sheet discharge roller pair 28 are supported by the stationary housing 1A.

On the other hand, the transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member 15 after transferring the full-color toner image onto the recording medium P is removed by the cleaning device 31 for the intermediate transfer member, and the surface of the intermediate transfer member 15 is cleaned. You. The cleaning device 31 includes a cleaning member 2 including a fur brush 32 that is driven to rotate and a cleaning blade 33.
The cleaning member 29 comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer member 15 and scrapes off and removes transfer residual toner attached to the surface. Instead of providing two cleaning members, one or more cleaning members may be provided. The toner removed from the intermediate transfer body 15 by the cleaning member 29 falls into the cleaning case 34 of the cleaning device 31.

The cleaning member 29 is supported so as to contact or separate from the surface of the intermediate transfer member. When each toner image is primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member 15, the cleaning member 29 is moved to the surface of the intermediate transfer member. Away from When cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 15 after transferring the full-color toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer member to the recording medium P, the cleaning member 29 comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer member and scrapes the transfer residual toner. Remove and remove.

The cleaning case 34 is formed integrally with the unit case 36, and the cleaning member 29 is supported by a swing plate 42 which is swingably supported by the unit case 36, and the swing plate 42 is driven to swing. As a result, the cleaning member 29 is separated from or abuts on the surface of the intermediate transfer body 15. The oscillating plate 42 covers the upper space of the cleaning case 34 and also functions as a cover for preventing toner from rising upward.

Further, a waste toner container 43 is detachably provided in the unit case 36, and the transfer residual toner removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer member by the cleaning member 29 of the cleaning device 31 for the intermediate transfer member is removed. The toner is discharged to the outside of the cleaning case 34 by a toner discharge member 44 provided at the bottom of the printer 1 and driven to rotate. The discharged toner is transferred to a waste toner container 43 by a toner transport device (not shown) provided in the stationary housing 1A. And stored here.

The toner removed from the photoreceptor surface by the cleaning member 18 of the photoreceptor cleaning device is rotated by the rotation of a toner discharge member 44 A provided in the cleaning case 19.
9 is conveyed to one end, and is passed through a toner outlet (not shown) formed on the end and a toner inlet (not shown) formed in the waste toner container 43 to form one end. Is transferred to the waste toner container 43.
Migrates into and is housed here. As described above, the waste toner container 43 is for storing the transfer residual toner removed from the surface of the photoconductor and the surface of the intermediate transfer member. Waste toner container 4
When the toner in 3 is full, the waste toner container is replaced with a new empty waste toner container as described later.

A user who operates the image forming apparatus usually
A predetermined operation is performed while standing in the right area F in FIG.
Therefore, the right side portion in FIG. 1 of the image forming apparatus main body 1 is the front side of the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 3, when the user stands facing the front of the image forming apparatus main body 1,
The part on the right side is called the “right side”, and the sign R
H is attached, and the site on the left side is referred to as “left side”, and this side is denoted by reference numeral LH.

As described above, the lower portion of the movable housing 1B is pivotally supported by the immovable housing 1A via a support shaft (not shown) so that the movable housing 1B can be opened and closed. It occupies the closed position shown in FIG. 1, and the above-described image forming operation is performed in this state. At this time, the process unit 35
Is held in the closed position shown in FIG. This closed position is a predetermined set position of the process unit 35 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1, and is a position where the process unit 35 can perform the above-described image forming operation.

When the upper portion of the movable housing 1B is grasped and pulled toward the front side, that is, the side indicated by the symbol F in FIG. 1, the movable housing 1B is turned to the open position as shown in FIGS. Move.
Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the immobile housing 1A has
The unit holder 45 is rotatably supported via the above-mentioned support shaft which pivotally supports the movable housing 1B, and the process unit 35 is detachably held by the unit holder 45. Thereby, the process unit 35 can be rotated together with the unit holder 45 to the intermediate open position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, and further to the fully open position shown by the chain line in FIG.

Process unit 35 and unit holder 4
When the unit 5 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the front surface of the unit holder 45 forms a guide surface 46 for guiding the recording medium P sent out from the sheet cassette 20.

Here, when the movable housing 1B is rotated to the open position shown in FIG. 2 and the process unit 35 is kept at the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the outer surface of the unit case 36 of the process unit 35 is obtained. That is, the guide surface 40 is exposed to the outside. Therefore, a recording medium jammed in the recording medium transport path constituted by the guide surfaces 40 and 46 formed by the unit case 36 and the unit holder 45 can be easily taken out.

When the movable housing 1B is turned to the open position shown in FIG. 2 and the process unit 35 is also turned to the fully open position shown by the chain line in FIG. 2, the front portion of the immobile housing 1A is largely opened. Therefore, through this, the elements and devices in the immobile housing 1A,
For example, the developing device 8 and the fixing device 25 can be repaired, or their components and devices can be taken out of the main body of the image forming apparatus or assembled.

On the other hand, the movable housing 1B is turned to the open position shown in FIG. 2, the process unit 35 is turned to the intermediate open position shown by the solid line in FIG. Can be pulled out from the unit holder 45 as shown in FIG. 3 and the process unit 35 can be detached from the image forming apparatus main body 1 by pulling the process unit 35 upward as shown by the arrow G. The process unit 35 is set in the unit holder 45 by the reverse operation, and the process unit 35 is rotated to the closed position shown in FIG. 1 to mount the process unit 35 at a predetermined set position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1. can do. As described above, the process unit 35 is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, by pulling and opening the opening / closing door 47 pivotally attached to the stationary housing 1A, each developing device of the developing device 8 can be pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. . FIG. 3 shows a state in which the yellow developing unit 9Y is taken out of the immobile housing 1A of the image forming apparatus main body 1.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the process unit 35 when the process unit 35 is pulled out of the unit holder 45 and taken out of the image forming apparatus main body 1. The right portion shown by reference numeral RH in FIG. 3 is attached to the right side RH part in the image forming apparatus main body 1 shown in FIG. 3, and the left side part shown by reference numeral LH in FIG. 4 is the part in the left side LH image forming apparatus main body shown in FIG. It is attached. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a right RH portion of the process unit 35 shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the process unit 35 when the process unit 35 shown in FIG. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the process unit 35
Is brought to the closed position, and when this is set at a predetermined position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1, the photosensitive member portion 2A facing the developing device 8 is moved to the developing device 8 in order to form a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive member. Must be exposed to Therefore, an opening 74 is formed in a portion of the unit case 36 facing the developing device 8 as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as shown by a solid line or a chain line in FIG. 2, the process unit 35 is rotated to the open position, or the process unit 35 is detached from the image forming apparatus main body 1 so that the process unit 35 is removed. When the photoreceptor portion 2A is exposed to the outside when the opening 74 is kept open when the photoconductor portion 2A is removed from the predetermined set position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1, that is, from the closed position shown in FIG. The user touches the exposed portion 2A,
Alternatively, there is a possibility that the photoconductor is deteriorated due to the external light applied thereto.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the process unit 35 shown in FIG.
Is closed from the predetermined set position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1, the photosensitive member shutter 4 that closes the opening 74.
8 (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3). As shown in FIG. 4, two rotary links 49 made of wire, for example,
The free end side of 50 is rotatably pivotally mounted, and the base end side is rotatably and detachably pivotally mounted on the unit case 36. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a wire and a free end side of a rotation link 51 composed of a base member integrated therewith are also rotatably connected to a portion on the right side RH of the photoconductor shutter 48. Its proximal end is pivotally and removably pivotally attached to the unit case 36 via a pin 52. Also, an arm 5 is provided at the base end of the rotation link 51.
3 are integrally provided, and each end of a tension spring 54 is locked between the rotating link 51 and the unit case 36.

When the process unit 35 is set at a predetermined position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIG. 1, the pressure pins (not shown) provided on the immobile housing 1A operate as described above. Abuts on the arm 53,
Is pressed in the direction indicated by arrow H in FIG. Accordingly, the photosensitive member shutter 48 is opposed to the action of the tension spring 54,
It rotates to the open position shown by the chain line in FIG. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in (2), the opening 74 of the unit case 36 facing the developing device 8 is opened, and the photosensitive member portion 2A is exposed to the developing device 8.

On the other hand, the process unit 35 is removed from a predetermined set position with respect to the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus.
When the process unit 35 is brought to an intermediate open position or a full open position shown by a solid line or a chain line in FIG.
1 is released, the photosensitive member shutter 48 is rotated to the closed position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 by the action of the spring 54, whereby the opening 7 shown in FIG.
4 is closed. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the hand from touching the photoreceptor portion 2A or to irradiate a large amount of external light thereto.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the process unit 35 is set at a predetermined position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1 and the movable housing 1B is brought to the closed position, the intermediate transfer member facing the transfer roller 24 is set. The portion, that is, the portion to be the secondary transfer portion 41 is opened to the transfer roller 24. Thereby, the transfer roller 2 is attached to the intermediate transfer member.
4 can abut. On the other hand, when the movable housing 1B is opened, the intermediate transfer member is closed by the intermediate transfer member shutter 55 as shown in FIG. This prevents the intermediate transfer member from being touched by the hand.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the left end LH and the right end RH of the intermediate transfer member shutter 55 have pins 56, respectively.
A gear 58 that rotates around a pin 56 is integrally fixed to the base end of the left side LH of the unit case 36 so as to be rotatable. On the other hand, the left side LH side plate of the unit case 36 has a pin 5
A drive gear 60 meshing with the gear 58 is rotatably supported via the gear 9, and an arm 61 is integrally attached to the drive gear 60. Further, each end of the tension spring 62 is locked to the drive gear 60 and the unit case 36.

When the process unit 35 and the movable housing 1B are in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, a pressure pin (not shown) provided on the movable housing 1B is moved to the arm 6 shown in FIG.
1 and is pressed in the direction of the arrow. This allows
The intermediate transfer body shutter 55 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow J in FIGS. 4 and 5 against the action of the tension spring 62, and rotates to the open position shown in FIG. Thereby, the transfer roller 24 can abut on the surface of the intermediate transfer member without any trouble.

On the other hand, when the movable housing 1B is opened and the process unit 35 is held at a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, for example, and the movable housing 1B is separated from the process unit 35, The pressurizing action of the pressurizing pin on the arm 61 is released, whereby the drive gear 60 is rotated by the action of the tension spring 62, and the gear 58 is rotated accordingly. Shutter 5
5 rotates in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow J in FIG.
6 to occupy the closed position shown in FIG. As a result, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 2, the portion to be the secondary transfer portion 41 of the intermediate transfer body 15 is closed by the shutter 55 for the intermediate transfer body, and a hand is touched here to make the intermediate transfer body 15 dirty. Troubles are prevented. This state is maintained even when the process unit is detached from the image forming apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIGS.

Again, the process unit 35 and the movable housing 1
When B is closed as shown in FIG. 1, the gears 58 and 60 rotate in the direction of the arrow J opposite to that described above, and the intermediate transfer member portion serving as the secondary transfer portion is opened.
Abuts.

As described above, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment has the process unit 35 which is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1, and the process unit 35 is used when forming an image. Photoreceptor 2 on which a toner image is formed, intermediate transfer body 15 onto which the toner image formed on the photoreceptor surface is transferred during image formation, and unit case in which photoreceptor 2 and intermediate transfer body 15 are assembled 36.

In this type of image forming apparatus, as described above, for example, when the photosensitive member 2 and the intermediate transfer member 15 reach the end of their life, the entire process unit 35 is easily replaced with a new process unit. The maintenance of the image forming apparatus can be improved. However, if the process unit 35 is configured such that it can be replaced only by the entire process unit 35, when the use time of the process unit 35 has not passed so much and the intermediate transfer body 15 has not reached the end of its service life, If the surface of the body 2 is damaged, the entire process unit 35 must be replaced. For this reason, the intermediate transfer member 15 that can still be used is also replaced, which may put a great economic burden on the user.

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment or the process unit 35 thereof, as described briefly above, the photoreceptor unit 37 including the photoreceptor 2 is constituted, and the process unit 35 is used for image formation. With the photoconductor unit 37 detached from the unit case 36 in a state where the photoconductor unit 37 is detached from a predetermined set position with respect to the apparatus main body 1 while the photoconductor unit 37 is in the state of the photoconductor unit 37, the unit is detached. A configuration in which the case 36 is detachably attached to the case 36 is employed.

According to the above configuration, if the surface of the photosensitive member 2 is damaged in a state where the intermediate transfer member 15 is still fully usable, the process unit 35 is set at the set position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1. After removing the photoconductor unit 37 from the unit case 36,
A new photoconductor unit can be mounted on the unit case 36. As a result, the intermediate transfer member 1
5. Unit case 36 and its unit case 36
Other elements attached to the can be used as they are. In this way, it is possible to prevent the problem that the intermediate transfer member 15 that can be used still enough can be replaced, thereby reducing the maintenance cost of the image forming apparatus.

Here, "the photoreceptor unit 37 is removably assembled to the unit case 36" means that no special tool is used, or only a simple tool is used, and a complicated procedure is not performed. , Photoconductor unit 37
So that the photosensitive member unit 37 can be easily removed or attached to the unit case 36 while maintaining the unit form.
6 means to be assembled.

On the other hand, the intermediate transfer member 15 can also be removably assembled to the process unit 35, so that the intermediate transfer member 15 can be replaced alone. However, since the intermediate transfer member is not required to be exchanged as frequently as the photoreceptor 2, the intermediate transfer member 15 is assembled so that it can be easily attached to and detached from the unit case 36, similarly to the photoreceptor unit 37. Then, although the cost of the process unit increases, no great advantage is obtained. In addition, if the intermediate transfer body is attached to and detached from the unit case many times, the driving part thereof is also frequently attached and detached, so that the positional accuracy of the intermediate transfer body is reduced, and as a result, the superimposed toner transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body The image quality of the image can be adversely affected.

For the above reason, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment
Alternatively, in the process unit 35, the intermediate transfer body 15 is assembled integrally with a unit case 36. Here, “the intermediate transfer member 15 is
6 are integrated with the intermediate transfer member 1
Even if the intermediate transfer member 15 is integrally attached to the unit case 35 or the attachment / detachment is possible, the intermediate transfer member 15 cannot be attached to / detached from the unit case 36.
The photoconductor unit 37 is attached to and detached from the unit case 36.
This requires a more complicated procedure than the case of attaching and detaching the intermediate transfer body 15 so that the user is not supposed to remove or set the intermediate transfer body 15 from the unit case 36 in a normal use state by the user. Unit case 36
Means to assemble.

As described above, by assembling the intermediate transfer member 15 integrally with the unit case 36, the process unit 35 can be easily attached to and detached from the unit case 36. Cost can be reduced. Moreover, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the positional accuracy of the intermediate transfer body caused by frequently attaching and detaching the intermediate transfer body 15 to and from the unit case 36, and to prevent a deterioration in image quality of the superimposed toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer body. it can.

Next, the photosensitive member unit 37 is removably assembled to the unit case 36, and the intermediate transfer member 1
A more specific example of the above-described configuration in which the unit 5 is integrally assembled with the unit case 36 will be clarified together with other configurations of the process unit 35.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the photosensitive unit 37 detached from the unit case 36. As described above with reference to FIG. 1, the photoconductor unit 37 of the present embodiment includes a belt support including the belt-shaped photoconductor 2 and a plurality of rollers 3 and 4 (FIG. 1) for supporting the photoconductor 2. And the rollers 3, 4 as shown in FIG.
The left and right RH support plates 63 and 64 rotatably support the longitudinal ends of the support shafts 3A and 4A via bearings (not shown). These components are integrally assembled. Thus, one photoconductor unit 37 is configured. The backup roller 65 shown in FIG. 1 is also rotatably supported by the support plates 63 and 64, and this roller 65 also constitutes one element of the photoconductor unit 37.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, bearings 66, 4A are provided at the longitudinal ends of the support shafts 3A, 4A of the rollers.
67, 68, 69 are detachably mounted in the axial direction, and the respective bearings are cutouts 71, 72, 73, 7 formed on the left side plate and the right side plate of the unit case 36, respectively.
4 (see also FIG. 8). In this manner, the rollers 3 and 4 around which the photoconductor 2 is wound are rotatably supported by the unit case 36 via the bearings.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a coupling 109 is detachably attached to an end of the right side RH of the support shaft 4A of the roller 4, and the process unit 35 is moved to a predetermined position shown in FIG. Is set, the coupling 109 is connected to a mating coupling (not shown) provided on the immobile housing 1A, and a drive device provided in the immobile housing 1A via these couplings. The rotation is transmitted to the roller 4, whereby the photosensitive member 2 is driven to travel.

The unit case 36 of this embodiment is similar to that of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 6, with the process unit 35 set at the position shown in FIG. 1, a first case member 36A facing the developing device 8 and a first case member A second case member 36B is detachably connected to the first case member 36A, and a cover 36C is detachably engaged with the first case member 36A. Handles 75 and 76 are attached to the unit case 36 so as to be detachable when the process unit 35 is carried.

The cover 36C is provided with a locking claw (not shown) attached thereto, which is elastically engaged with a locking groove (not shown) formed on the first case member 36A. It is locked to one case member 36A.
By removing the locking claw from the locking groove, the cover 36
C can be detached from the first case member 36A. Conversely, just by engaging the locking claw with the locking groove, the cover 36
C can be attached to the first case member 36A.

Here, in order to remove the photosensitive unit 37 from the unit case 36, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the process unit 35 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 1 and then the photosensitive unit shutter 48 is moved. The base ends of the pivoted links 49, 50, 51, together with the arms 53, are removed from the unit case 36. Next, the cover 36C is removed from the first case member 36A as described above. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the photoconductor 2 is largely exposed to the outside of the unit case 36.

Next, the coupling 109 fitted to each support shaft 3A, 4A of the rollers 3, 4 and the bearings 66, 67, 6
8, 69 are pulled outward in the axial direction, and the respective support shafts 3A, 4A
Extract from In this state, the photoconductor unit 37 is
The photosensitive unit 37 can be removed from the unit case 36 while maintaining the form of the photosensitive unit 37. FIG. 9 shows the state of the unit case 36 after the photoconductor unit 37 is detached.

By the reverse operation, the photosensitive unit 37
In the state of the unit, the first case member 36
A can be attached. Next, the cover 36C is locked to the first case member 36A, and the rotation links 49, 5
When the photosensitive members 0 and 51 are attached to the unit case 36 together with the arm 53 and the photosensitive member shutter 48 is attached to the unit case 36, the process unit 35 in the state shown in FIG. In this manner, the photoconductor unit 37 can be easily attached to and detached from the unit case 36.

In the above-described example, the photoconductor unit 37 can be attached to and detached from the unit case 36 in a state where the process unit 35 is completely removed from the image forming apparatus main body 1. In the state brought to the open position shown by the chain line or solid line in 2,
The photoconductor unit 37 may be configured to be detachable from the unit case 36. Setting the process unit 35 at a predetermined set position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1;
That is, the photoconductor unit 37 may be detached or attached from the unit case 36 in any state where the photoconductor unit 37 is removed from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 where the image forming operation can be performed.

In the above example, the coupling 109 and the bearings 66, 67, 68, 69 are connected to the support shafts 3 of the rollers 3, 4.
A and 4A are pulled out in the axial direction, and each support shaft 3A, 4A
A is cut out 71, 72, 73, 74 of unit case 36.
However, as shown in FIG. 10, each of the support shafts 3A, 4A and each of the bearings 66, 6 while being fitted thereto.
7, 68, 69 are lifted upward, and the unit case 3
6 is elastically deformed as shown by arrow K,
2, 73, 74, each bearing 66, 6
7, 68, 69 and the spindles 3A, 4A are notched 71, 72,
You may comprise so that it may extract from 73 and 74, respectively. Also in this case, the respective shafts 3A, 4A
And the respective bearings fitted thereto can be fitted into the respective notches.

As will be understood from the above description, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment or the process unit 35 thereof
In the above, the photoconductor 2 is formed of a belt-shaped photoconductor, and the photoconductor unit 37 includes the belt-shaped photoconductor 2 and a plurality of belt supporting members including rollers 3 and 4 for supporting the belt-shaped photoconductor 2. The photoconductor unit 37
Is a unit case 3 with the belt-shaped photoreceptor 2 wound and supported by a plurality of belt support members.
6.

According to the process unit 35, the photoconductor unit 37 in a state in which the photoconductor 2 composed of a belt is wound around a belt supporting member composed of rollers 3 and 4 is formed, and the unit 37 is not disassembled without disassembly. The photosensitive member unit 37 can be attached to and detached from the unit case 36 while the state of use of the photosensitive member 2 is maintained, so that the photosensitive member 2 is attached to and detached from the unit case 36 despite the fact that the photosensitive member 2 is formed of a belt. The operation can be easily performed. Moreover, only by assembling the photoreceptor unit 37 to the unit case 36, it is possible to achieve high positional accuracy of the photoreceptor 2, and a high-quality toner image can be formed on the surface of the photoreceptor.

On the other hand, FIGS. 11 and 12 show the first case member 36A and the second case member 3 of the unit case 36 with the process unit 35 in the posture shown in FIG.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which 6B is separated, and FIG. 11 does not show some components assembled to the first case member 36A. Referring to these figures, unit case 3 of intermediate transfer body 15 and elements related thereto
6 is clarified.

One of the rollers 13 around which the intermediate transfer member 15 shown by the chain line in FIG. 11 is wound has bearings 77 and 78 detachably fitted to respective ends of its support shaft 13A.
The respective bearings 77, 78 fit into the grooves 79, 79A, 80, 80A formed in the first case member 36A and the second case member 36B assembled together.
A gear 81 is detachably fixed to the support shaft 13A of the roller 13. When the process unit 35 is set at a predetermined position shown in FIG.
A meshes with a mating gear (not shown) provided at A, and the rotation of a driving device (not shown) provided at the stationary housing 1A is transmitted to the roller 13 via these gears.
Thus, the intermediate transfer member 15 is driven as described above.

The other roller 14 around which the intermediate transfer member 15 is wound also has bearings 82 and 83 detachably fitted to the respective ends of the support shaft 14A, and the first case member 36A.
By fitting into the bearing holes 84 and 85 formed in the first case member 36A, the first case member 36A is assembled. At this time, a compression spring 86 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is press-fitted in each of the bearing holes 84 and 85, thereby applying tension to the intermediate transfer body 15.

The bias roller 17 described above also
As shown in FIG. 11, bearings 87 and 88 attached to the respective ends are fitted into bearing holes formed in the first case member 36A and rotatably assembled to the first case member 36A.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the support member 39 for supporting the pressing member 38 also has a mounting member 89 fitted on one end thereof, which is formed on the first case member 36A. The ear piece 39A at the other end is fitted to the hole, and is fixed to the first case member 36A by being screwed to the first case member 36A. The above-described bearing holes and mounting holes for mounting the bias roller 17 and the support 39 to the first case member 36A are not shown in drawings other than FIG.

As shown in FIG. 12, the second case member 3
A locking claw 90 is projected from each of the left and right edges of the left and right RH portions of 6B, and the locking claw 90 is formed in a locking hole formed in the first case member 36A as shown in FIG. 91 respectively, whereby the second case member 36
B and the first case member 36A are connected.

The first case member 36A and the second case member 36B are removed from each of the locking claws 91 while elastically deforming each of the locking claws 90 by, for example, a simple tool.
Can be separated as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. Then
The compression spring 86 shown in FIGS.
5 using a tool, and the rollers 13 and 14 are
By removing the support 39 and the bias roller 17 from the first case member 36A while detaching the first case member 36A from the first case member 36 as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to disassemble the intermediate transfer body 15 and all the elements related thereto. it can. By the reverse operation,
These elements can be assembled to the unit case 36.

As described above, removing the intermediate transfer member 15 from the unit case 36 requires a more complicated procedure than removing the photosensitive member unit 37 from the unit case 36. When the image forming apparatus is used normally, The operation of removing or attaching the intermediate transfer member from the unit case 36 is not performed. As described above, the intermediate transfer body 15 is integrally assembled to the unit case 36.

As described above with reference to FIG. 1, the process unit 35 of the present embodiment includes the charging charger 6 which is an example of a charging device for charging the photoreceptor 2,
It has a waste toner container 43 for accommodating transfer residual toner removed from the surface of the photoreceptor and the surface of the intermediate transfer member. The charging device and the waste toner container 43 are detachably mounted on the unit case 36. ing. Hereinafter, a specific configuration example will be clarified.

When the toner in the waste toner container 43 shown in FIG. 1 becomes full, this is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the waste toner container 43 is replaced with a display (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 1. The indication to be made is made. Therefore, the user rotates the movable housing 1B to the position shown in FIG. 2 and also rotates the process unit 35 to the fully open position shown by the chain line in FIG. Thereby, the waste toner container 4
3 points upward as shown in FIG. Then, when the handle portion 92 formed on the waste toner container 43 is grasped and the waste toner container 43 is pulled upward, as shown in FIG.
The waste toner container 43 can be extracted from the container mounting hole 93 formed in the unit case 36 (see also FIG. 3).

Next, when another empty waste toner container 43 is inserted into the container mounting hole 93 in a procedure reverse to that described above, the waste toner container 43 can be set in the unit case 36. When the waste toner container 43 is mounted on the unit case 36 in this manner, the leaf spring 94 attached to the cleaning case 19 presses against the waste toner container 43 as shown in FIG.
3 is held in the container mounting hole 93.

On the other hand, each end of the charging charger 6 in the longitudinal direction is detachably attached to the unit case 36 by attaching and detaching devices 95 and 95A shown in FIG.
Since the basic configuration of these attaching / detaching devices 95 and 95A does not substantially change, only the configuration and operation of one attaching / detaching device 95 will be described.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the attachment / detachment device 95 shown in FIG. 4 as viewed in the direction of arrow M. FIGS. 15 and 16 show the state where the charger 6 is removed from the unit case 36 by the attachment / detachment device 95. FIG. The attachment / detachment device 95 has a pressure member 97 pivotally attached to the unit case 36 via a pivot pin 96, and the pressure member 97 includes an operation lever 98, a pressure unit 99, , And a holding unit 100. A block 1 is provided at an end of the charger casing 6A of the charging charger 6.
01 is fixed, and the charger 6 is the unit case 3
6, the block 101 is
As shown in FIG. 14, it is fitted and held in a mounting groove 102 formed in the unit case 36. At this time, the block 101 includes the pressing unit 99 of the pressing member 97 and the holding unit 100.
And the locking hole 104 formed in the block 101 is
The charging charger 6 is securely held at its mounting position.

When the charger 6 is to be removed from the unit case 36, the process unit 35 is rotated to the fully open position shown by a chain line in FIG. 2 and then, as shown in FIG.
The operator presses the operation lever 98 with a finger in a direction indicated by an arrow N. As a result, the pressure member 97 rotates clockwise in FIG. 14 around the pivot pin 96. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the pressurizing section 99 presses the lower surface of the block 101 upward, and presses the block 101 to the charging charger 6.
And push it up. At this time, the locking hole 104 is separated from the locking projection 105, and the holding unit 100 is retracted from the upper surface of the block 101.

When the charger 6 is raised as described above, the operator grasps the knob 103 formed by a part of the block 101 and lifts the knob 103 as shown in FIG. , Block 101
Can be removed from the mounting groove 102, and the charger 6 can be removed from the unit case 36.

Conversely, the charger 6 shown in FIG. 16 is lowered, the block 101 is fitted into the mounting groove 102, and the block 101 is pushed downward. Then, since the lower surface of the block 101 presses the pressing portion 99 of the pressing member 97 downward, the pressing member 97 rotates counterclockwise around the pivot pin 96, and finally, as shown in FIG. As shown, the holding portion 100 of the pressing member 97 contacts the upper surface of the block 101, and the locking hole 104 engages with the locking projection 105.
Thus, the charging charger 6 can be assembled at a predetermined mounting position only by pushing the block 101 into the mounting groove 102.

The other attachment / detachment device 95A shown in FIG. 4 operates similarly to the attachment / detachment device 95 described above.
By operating both 95A as described above, the charger 6 can be easily attached to and detached from the unit case 36, and the charger 6 can be easily replaced.

When a charging device other than the charging charger, for example, a charging roller, is used, the same attaching / detaching device as described above can be employed.

As described above, the charging device and the waste toner container 43
By being detachably attached to the unit case 36, the maintainability of the process unit 35 can be further improved.

By the way, as described above with reference to FIG. 1, a part of the outer surface of the unit case 36
The recording medium P guided by the guide surface 40 is transported by the transport roller pair 22 and the registration roller pair 23. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 and enlarged in FIG. 17, the rollers 22A supported by the unit holder 45 are provided.
Is located in a concave portion 107 which is recessed on the side of the intermediate transfer member 15 from the guide surface 40 on which the recording medium P is guided, and furthermore, a portion 1 of the unit case 36 whose roller 22A faces.
Reference numeral 06 is curved to be further depressed toward the intermediate transfer body 15. Therefore, the process unit 3
5 and the movable housing 1B are in the closed position shown in FIG.
The height Q from the guide surface 40 of the recording medium P to the top of the roller 22B can be reduced. While securing the diameters of the rollers 22A and 22B required to convey the recording medium P, the height Q can be reduced, and the size of the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced.

Similarly, when the process unit 35 and the movable housing 1B are in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the one roller 23A of the registration roller pair 23 is depressed toward the intermediate transfer member 15. Arranged in the recess 108 formed in the case 36, the height R from the guide surface 40 to the top of the roller 23B can be reduced, and the size of the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment but can be modified in various ways. Further, the present invention can be widely applied to various types of image forming apparatuses other than printers, image forming apparatuses other than those shown in the figures, and particularly to color image forming apparatuses for forming color images.

[0093]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the entire process unit can be easily replaced and only the photoconductor unit can be replaced, the process unit can be used in a state where the intermediate transfer member can still be sufficiently used. Failure to replace the entire unit can be prevented, and the maintenance cost of the process unit can be reduced. Moreover, since the intermediate transfer member is integrated into the unit case, the cost of the process unit can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the photoreceptor comprises a belt. The photoreceptor unit can be attached to and detached from the unit case without disassembling the photoreceptor unit including the belt-like photoreceptor. Therefore, the attaching / detaching operation can be simplified, and the maintainability of the process unit can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, only the charging device and the waste toner container can be easily replaced, and the maintenance of the process unit can be improved.

According to the invention set forth in claim 4, according to claim 1
An image forming apparatus having the same effect as the configuration described in (1) can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a state where a movable housing and a process unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are rotated.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a process unit and the like are removed from an image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a process unit.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the process unit shown in FIG. 4 from another direction.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the process unit shown in FIG. 4 upside down.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a photoconductor unit.

8 is a perspective view showing the photoconductor shutter and the unit case cover shown in FIG. 4 removed.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where the photoconductor unit shown in FIG. 8 is removed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example in which a roller that supports a photosensitive member is detachably attached to a unit case.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing an intermediate transfer member and elements related thereto separated from a first case member.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second case member.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a waste toner container is attached and detached.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a charging / detaching device of the charging charger.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a charging charger is removed using the attaching / detaching device illustrated in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state where a charging charger is removed using the attachment / detachment device shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1, showing a guide surface of the unit case and a portion related thereto.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus main body 2 Photoconductor 15 Intermediate transfer body 35 Process unit 36 Unit case 37 Photoconductor unit 42 Waste toner container

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A photoreceptor on which a toner image is formed on the surface during image formation, an intermediate transfer body on which a toner image formed on the photoreceptor surface is transferred during image formation, and the photoreceptor and the intermediate transfer body Wherein the intermediate transfer member is integrally attached to the unit case, and the photosensitive member includes the photosensitive member. In a state where a unit is configured and the process unit is removed from a predetermined set position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, the photoconductor unit can be removed or attached from the unit case in the state of the photoconductor unit. A process unit, wherein the photoreceptor unit is detachably attached to a unit case so that Door. 2. The photoconductor comprises a belt-shaped photoconductor.
The photoconductor unit includes the belt-shaped photoconductor and a plurality of belt support members that support the belt-shaped photoconductor, and the photoconductor unit is configured such that the belt-shaped photoconductor is wound around the plurality of belt support members. 2. The process unit according to claim 1, wherein the process unit is attached to and detached from the unit case while being hung and supported. 3. A charging device for charging a photoreceptor, and a waste toner container for storing transfer residual toner removed from the surface of the photoreceptor and the surface of the intermediate transfer member, wherein the charging device and the waste toner The process unit according to claim 1, wherein the container is detachably attached to the unit case. 4. A photoreceptor on which a toner image is formed on the surface during image formation, an intermediate transfer member on which the toner image formed on the photoreceptor surface is transferred during image formation, and the photoreceptor and the intermediate transfer member And a process unit detachably mounted to the main body of the image forming apparatus, wherein the intermediate transfer body is integrally assembled to the unit case, and The photoconductor unit is removed from the unit case in a state where the photoconductor unit including the body is formed, and the process unit is removed from a predetermined set position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body in the state of the photoconductor unit. Or the photoreceptor unit is removably assembled to the unit case so that the photoreceptor unit can be mounted. An image forming apparatus.