JP2000321869A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image forming device having high rigidity even when it is provided with a resin part and capable of securing positional accuracy to an image forming device main body by providing a rigid part of a holding means which can be separated from and attached to the image forming device main body with a positioning means executing positioning with respect to the image forming device main body at the time of attaching. SOLUTION: The holding means 100 can be separated from and attached to the image forming device main body and is provided with the resin part 103 and the rigid parts 101 and 102, and the rigid parts 101 and 102 are provided with the positioning means (positioning pin) 104 and 105 executing the positioning with respect to the image forming device main body at the time of attaching. It is desirable to provide a reinforcing member(stay) connecting the rigid part 101 on the front surface and the rigid part 102 on the back surface of the holding means 100. It does not matter whether the reinforcing member is disposed on the bottom part 103a side of the holding means 100 or on an opposite upper part, but it is desirable to bridge at least one bar-like reinforcing member. By such constitution, the skeleton of the holding means 100 is made firm further.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus used for a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like, and more particularly, to a photosensitive member, a developing means or a cleaning means of the image forming apparatus. The strength of the holding means and the positional accuracy when the holding means is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus are excellent, and the detachment and mounting of the developing means from the holding means are simple and reliable, and the image forming apparatus comprises The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which is excellent in proper recycling of a resin member and has improved maintainability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art (1) An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes:
Charging means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor around the circumference of the cylinder around the cylindrical photoreceptor; developing means for developing the formed electrostatic latent image using toner in a developer Transfer means for transferring the developed toner image to the transferred transfer paper, and cleaning means for scraping and collecting residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transfer.

[0003] Among these image forming apparatuses, the medium and low speed machines of small printers and copiers have relatively small and lightweight photosensitive members, developing means, cleaning means, etc., and these are held by holding means integrally molded with resin. ing. The holding means can be detached and attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus for maintenance. Since the resin is integrally molded, the photosensitive member, the developing unit, the cleaning unit, and the like can be covered with a wide area, and there is an advantage that there is little problem of toner scattering outside the holding unit. However, since the holding means of the resin-integrated mold has low rigidity and dimensional stability as a problem peculiar to the resin, it tends to be distorted, and it is difficult to secure the positional accuracy of the holding means with respect to the image forming apparatus main body at the time of mounting. .

On the other hand, in a high-speed machine in which the photoreceptor, the developing means, the cleaning means, and the like are large and heavy, they cannot be held by the resin-integrated mold holding means. Incorporated. The drum mount is made of metal and has good rigidity and dimensional stability because it is made of metal.However, since the weight is heavy and the cost is high, the drum mount has a large area, unlike the resin integrated mold holding means. It can not cover the body etc., it is only a skeleton. Therefore, the toner is easily scattered outside the drum pedestal, and since a large number of metal parts are assembled and assembled, the number of assembling steps is large, which is a burden in assembling.

(2) As described in the above (1), all the holding means of resin integral molding are basically made of resin.
The pressing means for pressing the developing means against the photosensitive member on the holding means uses a leaf spring. In order to obtain a high-precision toner image, the gap between the photoreceptor and the developing unit must always be kept at a fixed distance with high precision. There are restrictions from the aspect.

On the other hand, in the case of using a drum mount made of a metal sheet metal, as shown in FIG. 3 (a cross-sectional view when the drum mount is used as a holding means in a conventional image forming apparatus), a screw 230 is used.
And the coil spring 231 to press the developing unit 200 against the drum base 220. Since it is fixed with the screw 230 and the coil spring 231, at the time of maintenance,
It is necessary to remove the developing unit using a tool such as a screwdriver 234, and the workability is poor.

(3) A technique of a recycling pipe for returning the residual toner collected by the cleaning means to the developing means for reuse is proposed. The recycling pipe is a pipe connecting the cleaning means to the developing means, and a residual toner conveying means such as a conveying screw is provided inside the pipe. FIG. 6A and FIG.
As shown in (b), in the conventional recycling pipe 370, the cleaning means 380 and the recycling pipe 370
Is connected rotatably, while a toner supply port 371 which is a connection portion of the recycling pipe on the developing unit 300 side is detachably attached to the toner receiving port 301 of the developing unit 300. When the developing unit 300 as a unit is detached from the holding unit 340, the connecting portion between the developing unit 300 and the recycling pipe 370 is disconnected, and the recycle pipe rotatable around the connecting portion between the cleaning unit 380 and the cleaning unit 380. The developing means was removed after retracting 370 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6B. According to such a recycling pipe installation method, there is a disadvantage that the configuration for enabling the rotation of the recycling pipe is complicated, and the number of parts increases. In addition, a shutter is usually attached to the toner supply port of the recycling pipe, and when detached from the developing means, the shutter is closed to prevent scattering of the toner, but the operation is poor. The toner could be scattered. However, if the recycle pipe is not rotated and retracted, the developing means cannot be pulled up above the holding means as a holding rod, so that the configuration is not finished.

(4) As a member constituting the image forming apparatus, a resin member or a metal member is generally used in combination. Screws are often used for fastening the resin member to other members, but there are mainly two types of screws. One is used for a part that does not need to be removed for maintenance or the like once the image forming apparatus is assembled, and usually uses a tapping screw for resin. The other is used for a part that needs to be removed frequently during maintenance and requires durability.
Screw 40 combined with metal nut 410 press-fitted to zero
0 (FIG. 8). 420 is a fastening member for fastening to the resin member 430. The resin member into which the metal nut is press-fitted cannot be melted as it is and cannot be recycled as a material. It is not durable and is not suitable for frequent removal work, even if a self-tapping screw is used with an emphasis on recyclability.

(5) As shown in FIG. 11, a density detecting sensor 590 for detecting whether or not the density of the toner image on the photosensitive member 510 is appropriate is normally provided by holding means 540.
Below the cleaning means 580 and the photosensitive member 51
0 (the photoconductor 510 and the cleaning unit 5).
80 position). The density detecting sensor 590 detects the photosensitive member 510 by the cleaning unit 580.
If the toner scraped off from the surface scatters or adheres to the surface, the accuracy of density detection deteriorates. Therefore, an eaves-shaped cover 590a is attached to prevent toner adhesion, and this is a density detection sensor. It is formed integrally with the 590. In order to maintain the accuracy of the density detection sensor, it is necessary to clean the sensor surface 590b from time to time. However, in the configuration shown in FIG. 11, the cleaning cannot be performed unless both the cleaning means and the photoconductor are removed. Was. The work of removing both the cleaning means and the photoreceptor and re-attaching after cleaning has to be said to have poor maintainability.

[0010]

In contrast to the prior art (1), a photoreceptor which has high rigidity even with a resin portion and which can ensure the positional accuracy with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which a holding unit for holding a developing unit or a cleaning unit is mounted.

In contrast to the above-mentioned prior art (2), an image forming apparatus in which a developing means can be removed without requiring a tool and a holding means capable of surely pressing the developing means against a photosensitive member is mounted. Is provided.

In contrast to the prior art (3), there is provided an image forming apparatus in which a recycle pipe is fixed on a cleaning means side and a holding means capable of detaching a developing means without being substantially moved is attached. is there.

Compared with the prior art (4), image formation using a screw which is durable and can be easily removed when fastening a resin member to another member and has excellent resin recyclability. An apparatus is provided.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus excellent in maintainability which enables cleaning of a density detection sensor for a toner image without removing a photoreceptor from a holding means, as compared with the prior art (5).

[0015]

The object of the present invention has been attained by the following constitutions.

1. A photoconductor, a charging unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor, a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with toner in a developer, and a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image. An image forming apparatus having a transfer unit for transferring the transferred toner image to transfer paper and a cleaning unit for collecting residual toner remaining on the photoconductor after the transfer, wherein at least one of the photoconductor, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit is provided. Holding means for holding one, the holding means can be detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus and mounted, the holding means has a resin portion and a rigid body portion, the rigid body portion at the time of the mounting An image forming apparatus, comprising: a positioning unit that performs positioning with respect to the main body.

2. The holding means has a bottom and at least two opposing sides leading to the bottom,
The two side surfaces are a front surface and a back surface of the hand with respect to the detaching and mounting directions of the holding unit from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and each of the front surface and the back surface of the hand has a rigid portion. 2. The image forming apparatus according to the above item 1, further comprising a positioning unit.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a rigid reinforcing member that connects the rigid portion on the front surface of the hand and the rigid portion on the back surface.

4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the positioning member is a convex member, and is engageable with a concave portion or a hole of a main body of the image forming apparatus.

[5] A photoconductor, a charging unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor, a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with toner in a developer, and a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image. A transfer unit for transferring the transferred toner image to transfer paper; and a cleaning unit for collecting residual toner remaining on the photoconductor after the transfer, a holding unit for holding at least the photoconductor and the developing unit Wherein said holding means has a bottom and at least two opposing side surfaces leading to said bottom,
The two side surfaces are both end surfaces for holding both ends of the photoconductor, each of the two end surfaces has a rigid portion, and the holding unit has a pressing unit for pressing the developing unit against the photoconductor. An image forming apparatus, wherein the pressing unit includes a lever having a length in a width direction of the photoconductor, and an elastic member connecting both ends of the lever and respective rigid portions of the both end surfaces.

6. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the elastic member is rotatably connected to each of the rigid portions on both end surfaces.

7. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a distance holding unit between the photoconductor and the developing unit for maintaining a predetermined distance between the photoconductor and the developing unit. apparatus.

8. A photoconductor, a charging unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by charging, a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with toner, and a developing unit that is developed by the developing unit. After transferring the toner image to the transfer paper, a cleaning unit that collects residual toner remaining on the photoconductor, and the cleaning unit and the developing unit that are located on both sides of the photoconductor with the photoconductor interposed therebetween are connected, and the collected toner is collected. An image forming apparatus having a recycle pipe for returning the residual toner from the cleaning unit to the developing unit, the image forming apparatus having a holding unit for holding at least the developing unit, and A space is provided on the opposite side, a removable spacer is provided in the space, and a connection portion of the recycle pipe with the cleaning means is fixed. Image forming apparatus characterized by.

9. 9. The image forming apparatus according to the above item 8, wherein the spacer is a developing suction filter unit.

10. Photoconductor, charging means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by charging, developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with toner,
A cleaning unit that collects residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transferring the toner image developed by the developing unit to transfer paper, at least one of the members constituting the image forming apparatus is An image forming apparatus comprising: a resin member; and a fastening means for fastening the resin member and a fastening member attached to the resin member with a plate nut and a screw.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the fastening unit is used for a part that is removed during maintenance of the image forming apparatus.

12. The plate nut has at least two taps for receiving screws, one of the taps is a plate nut fixing tap for fixing the plate nut to the resin member, and another one of the taps is provided. The image forming apparatus according to the above item 10 or 11, wherein the first member is a fastening tap for fastening the resin member and the fastening member.

13. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the resin member has a plate nut mounting groove into which the plate nut can be fitted.

14. Photoconductor, charging means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by charging, developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with toner,
A transfer unit that transfers the toner image developed by the developing unit onto a transfer sheet, and a cleaning unit that collects residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor; and a holding unit that holds the cleaning unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein a density detection sensor for detecting the density of the toner image is fixed to the holding means, and a toner adhesion preventing cover separate from the density detection sensor is fixed to the cleaning means.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The first to fourth aspects of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a holding unit is mounted on a main body of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 1A is an overall perspective view, and FIG.
FIG. 1A is a view as viewed in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1A, and FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a holding unit for holding a photoreceptor, a developing unit or a cleaning unit, 110 denotes a main body of the image forming apparatus, and the holding unit 100 is inserted into a groove or the like of the main body 110 of the image forming apparatus in a pull-out manner. , Slide in the direction of the white arrow. In the holding means 100, 101 is a rigid body on the front of the hand in the detaching and attaching direction of the holding means 100 (in the direction of the white arrow), 102 is a rigid body on the back, 103 is a resin part, and 103a is a resin part 10a.
3 is a bottom portion for supporting a photoreceptor or the like, 104 is a convex positioning pin (positioning means) of a rigid body portion on the front side of the hand, 105 is a convex positioning pin (positioning means) of a rigid body portion on the back side, 11
Reference numeral 1 denotes a positioning pin 104 on the main body 110 side of the image forming apparatus.
It is a hole that can be fitted. 111 (a) is a hole on the front of the hand, and 111 (b) is a hole on the back. This hole 111
Instead, a concave portion that can be engaged with the convex pin may be used.

In the holding means of the present invention, the material of the resin portion is not particularly limited, but a polycarbonate resin, a styrene-butadiene-acrylonitrile resin or a mixed resin thereof is preferably used.

In the holding means of the present invention, the rigid part is
It is a material having higher rigidity than the resin portion, and an alloy or the like which has been conventionally used for a drum mount is used. Specifically, it is an iron plate, an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy, or the like, and is preferably a treated steel plate.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding means has a reinforcing member (stay) for connecting the rigid portion 101 on the front surface of the hand and the rigid portion 102 on the rear surface (not shown). The reinforcing member may be provided on the bottom 103a side of the holding means or on the opposite upper side, but it is preferable that at least one bar-shaped reinforcing member is bridged. With this configuration, the skeleton of the holding unit 100 can be further strengthened. As the material of the reinforcing member, the same material as the above-described rigid body can be used.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing how the positioning means of the rigid portion and the main body of the image forming apparatus are fitted in the image forming apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2A shows the fitting of the rigid body on the front of the hand in FIG. 1 with the main body of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2B shows the fitting of the rigid body on the back surface of FIG. 1 with the main body of the image forming apparatus. In the figure, 110 is the image forming apparatus main body, 101 is a rigid body on the front of the hand, 102 is a rigid body on the back,
103 is a resin part, 104 is a positioning pin provided on the rigid part 101 on the front of the hand, and 105 is a positioning pin provided on the rigid part on the back.

According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the holding means has a rigid portion capable of resolving a lack of strength of the resin-integrated type holding means, and the rigid portion has positioning means. As a result, the positioning means is fixed without distortion, and accurate positioning accuracy can be maintained when the image forming apparatus is mounted on the main body. The parts other than the rigid part are integrally formed of resin, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the weight can be reduced. Also, since it is lightweight, unlike a metal drum base, it is easy to cover the bottom surface of the developing means with a sufficient area, and has an effect of preventing toner from scattering outside the holding means. As a result, the above-described problem of the conventional technology (1) can be solved.

Next, the invention of claims 5 to 7 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus to which a holding means having a pressing means for pressing the developing means against the photosensitive member of the present invention is mounted. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the developing unit is pressed and mounted on the photosensitive member, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the pressing unit is released and the developing unit is removed from the holding unit. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the pressing means of FIG. In the figure, 200 is a developing means, 210 is a photoreceptor, 220 is a rigid part of a holding means for holding at least the photoreceptor and the developing means,
240 is a resin part of the holding means, and 260 is a pressing means. Further, 261 is a lever, 263 is an elastic member connected to both ends of the lever 261, 262 is a long hole for enabling the lever 261 to slide in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, and 264 is connected to the rigid portion 220 so as to be rotatable and is connected to the lever 261. Is a rotation center for enabling rotation.

The photosensitive member 210 has a cylindrical shape, and in FIG. 4, the width direction of the photosensitive member 210 is from the near side to the far side. Further, the front side and the back side in FIG. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the rigid portion 220 of the holding unit is a part of two opposing surfaces that hold both ends of the photoconductor 210. In the holding means of the present invention, it is necessary that at least a part of each of both end faces is a rigid body. Pressing means 26 shown in FIG. 5 is attached to each rigid body portion 220 on both end faces of the holding means.
Numeral 0 is rotatably attached to the two rotation centers 264, respectively. The lever 261 of the pressing means is provided in parallel with the width direction of the photoconductor 210, and both ends of the lever 261 are urged toward the rotation center 264 via an elastic member 263 such as a spring. When the developing unit 200 is inserted into the holding unit and the lever 261 is hooked on the locking portion 201 of the developing unit 200, the developing unit 200 can be pressed against the photosensitive member 210 by the urging force of the elastic member 263. The end of the lever 261 is inserted into the elongated hole 262, and is slidable by the length of the elongated hole 262. Slot 2
Due to the regulation of 62, the urging force of the elastic member 263 does not act any more, so that the developing unit 200 can be pressed toward the photoconductor 210 at a fixed position. Conversely, developing means 2
00 is removed from the holding means, the lever 261 is pulled to the right in FIG.
2, the lever 261 is removed from the locking portion 201 of the developing means 200, and the lever 261 is rotated and retracted about the rotation center 264 as a fulcrum (rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4).

In order to more accurately hold and press the gap between the photosensitive member 210 and the developing means 200, it is necessary to provide a distance holding means 215 shown in FIG. 4B.
The distance holding unit 215 is a rotation bearing 211 of the photoconductor 210.
And a member that is held by the abutting portion 202 of the developing means 200 to hold a space.

According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, compared to the conventional developing device using a leaf spring, which is pressed against the photoreceptor, the developing device has excellent rigidity and dimensional stability. Pressing becomes possible. In the conventional pressing using a coil spring and a screw, a tool has to be used to remove the developing means from the holding means. However, in the present invention, such labor can be eliminated. As a result, the above-described problem of the conventional technology (2) can be solved.

Next, the eighth and ninth aspects of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the developing means and the spacer are detached from the holding means and mounted in the image forming apparatus having the recycling pipe of the present invention. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the developing means and the spacer (developing suction filter unit) are mounted, and FIG.
(B) is a state where the developing means is about to be inserted into the holding means,
7C shows a state in which the inserted developing means is slid on the holding means, and FIG. 7D shows a state in which the developing means and the recycle pipe are connected and a spacer is mounted. In the figure, 300 is a developing means, 310 is a photoreceptor, 320 is a rigid part of the holding means, 340 is a resin part of the holding means, 360 is a pressing means, and 370 is a recycling pipe.

The recycle pipe 370 carries the residual toner on the surface of the photoreceptor collected by the cleaning means (not shown) on the left side of the drawing to the developing means 300 by means of a carrying means such as a carrying screw. The cycle pipe 370 and a cleaning means (not shown) on the left side of the drawing are fixedly connected. Here, “fixed” means that an operation such as removing or rotating the recycle pipe 370 cannot be performed without using a tool or the like. The toner supply port 371 of the recycling pipe 370 and the developing unit 300
The toner receiving port 303 is detachably mounted. Although a conventional shutter is not provided in the toner supply port 371, even when the toner supply port 371 is detached from the developing unit 300, the recycling pipe 370 is fixed on the cleaning unit side and does not substantially move in the holding unit. Since the bottom of the holding means is a resin part 340 and is an integral molding type having no void, even if toner scatters, it is only in the holding means and does not stain the surroundings.

The operation will be described. In FIG. 7B, the recycle pipe 37 fixed to the photosensitive member 310 and the cleaning means (not shown) on the left side of the drawing in the holding means.
0 is placed. The pressing means 360 is the same as that described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, and in FIG. 7B, the pressing means 360 is turned counterclockwise and retracted. The developing means 300 is inserted from a position away from the photoconductor 310 in a space on the right side of the photoconductor 310 in the drawing.

In FIG. 7C, the inserted developing means 3
00 is slid in the direction of the photoconductor 310. Photoconductor 3
Since the space on the right side of 10 is wide, even if the recycle pipe 370 is fixed, the developing means 300 can be stored in the holding means without being obstructed.

In FIG. 7D, the developing means 300 is slid to the left side of the drawing and brought to a position where development is possible. At this time, it is preferable to have the distance holding means described with reference to FIG. At this position, the recycling pipe 370
The toner supply port 371 of the developing unit 300 and the toner receiving port 303 of the developing unit 300 are docked. Further, the pressing means 360 is rotated clockwise, hooked on the locking portion 302 of the developing means 300, and pressed against the distance holding means 215. The spacer 350 is inserted into the space formed on the right side of the drawing in the holding means, and the developing means 300 is completely fixed in the holding means. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the mounting of the developing unit 300 and the spacer 350 is completed.

The spacer 350 may be anything as long as it has a volume capable of filling the gap.
A member having a useful function in the image forming step is preferable from the viewpoint of saving space. In this case, the spacer 350
Is preferably a development suction filter unit that sucks and removes excess toner and other dust spilled when the toner moves from the developing unit 300 to the photoconductor 310 for development.

By using the developing suction filter unit as a removable spacer in the present invention, the maintainability is improved. To be removable, the development suction filter unit should not have a mechanical drive source.

According to the eighth and ninth aspects of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the developing means can be detachably attached while the recycling pipe is fixed to the cleaning means, so that the conventional recycling pipe is rotatably connected. The configuration is simpler than that described above, and there is no problem that the toner scatters to the outside of the holding means when the recycle pipe is rotated and becomes dirty. As a result, the above-described problem of the conventional technique (3) can be solved.

Next, the tenth to thirteenth aspects of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening portion when the fastening means for fastening the resin member and the fastening member is a plate nut and a screw in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 431 is a resin member, 432 is a plate nut mounting groove, 421 is a fastening member to be mounted on the resin member 431, 411 is a plate nut,
412 is a fastening tap, 413 is a plate nut fixing tap, 401 is a fastening screw, and 402 is a plate nut fixing screw. The resin member 431 is not particularly limited as long as it is a resin member constituting the image forming apparatus of the present invention, but is preferably a part that needs to be frequently removed during maintenance. The material of the resin member 431 may be the same as the resin part of the holding means of the surgical operation. Similarly, the fastening member attached to the resin member 431 may be a resin member or a rigid member. As the rigid member, the same material as the rigid portion of the holding means described above can be used. In the present invention, since the plate nut 411 can be fitted into the plate nut mounting groove 432, it is preferable because the position of the screwed portion can be easily confirmed and the plate nut can be prevented from rotating at the time of screwing.

FIG. 10A is a schematic view showing a resin member (upper side: sectional view) and a plate nut (lower side: plan view) of a fastening portion in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the resin member and the plate nut. The member numbers in the figure are the same as those in FIG.

According to the tenth to thirteenth aspects, when the resin member and the fastening member are fastened, the fastening means for the plate nut and the screw of the present invention is used, thereby having a durability that can be frequently removed. Moreover, since the plate nut can be easily removed as compared with the conventional press-fit nut, an image forming apparatus excellent in resin recyclability can be achieved.
As a result, the above-described problem of the conventional technology (4) can be solved.

Next, the invention of claim 14 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus of the present invention in which the density detection sensor and the toner adhesion preventing cover are separately provided. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of removing the cleaning unit in FIG. FIG.
3 (a) is a state in which the cleaning means provided with the toner adhesion preventing cover disposed at the lower part is being removed, FIG. 13 (b) is an exploded view of the cleaning means and the toner adhesion preventing cover attached to the lower part, and FIG. 13 (c). Indicates a state in which the cleaning means is removed and the surface of the density detection sensor is cleaned by the cleaning means. In the figure, reference numeral 510 denotes a photosensitive member,
Reference numeral 0 denotes a holding unit of the cleaning unit, 580 denotes a cleaning unit, 591 denotes a density detection sensor fixed to the holding unit 540, 592 denotes a toner adhesion preventing cover fixed to the cleaning unit 580, and 592b denotes a toner adhesion preventing cover. 595 is a density detection sensor 59
1 is a cotton swab as cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the first cleaning device. Naturally, the density detection sensor 591 is attached to the holding unit 540 at a position where the reading surface faces the photoconductor and is sandwiched between the photoconductor 510 and the cleaning unit 580. Further, the toner adhesion preventing cover 592 is attached to a lower portion of the cleaning unit 580 at a position serving as an eave of the density detection sensor 591.

According to the fourteenth aspect, by removing only the cleaning means without removing the photosensitive member, the surface of the density detection sensor can be cleaned, which is very advantageous in maintenance. As a result, the above-described problem of the conventional technique (5) was able to be solved.

[0059]

(1) A holding means for holding a photoreceptor, a developing means or a cleaning means, which has a high rigidity even with a resin part and which can ensure the positional accuracy with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus, is mounted. An image forming apparatus can be provided.

(2) It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the developing means can be removed without the need for a tool, and the holding means which surely presses the developing means against the photosensitive member is mounted.

(3) It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the recycle pipe is fixed on the cleaning means side, and the holding means capable of detaching the developing means without being substantially moved is mounted.

(4) It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus using screws which can be frequently removed in fastening the resin member and the fastening member and have excellent resin recyclability.

(5) It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of cleaning the toner image density detecting sensor without removing the photosensitive member from the holding means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a holding unit is mounted on a main body of an image forming apparatus in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing how the positioning means of the rigid body and the main body of the image forming apparatus are fitted together in the image forming apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus using a conventional drum base as a holding unit.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus to which a holding unit having a pressing unit for pressing a developing unit against a photoreceptor of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a pressing unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional image forming apparatus having a recycle pipe rotatably mounted (with a cleaning unit).

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the developing unit and the spacer are detached from the holding unit and mounted in the image forming apparatus having the recycling pipe of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a metal nut and a screw press-fitted into the resin member are fastened when the resin member and the fastening member constituting the conventional image forming apparatus are fastened.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a fastening portion when the fastening means for fastening the resin member and the fastening member is a plate nut and a screw in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a resin member (upper side: sectional view) and a plate nut (lower side: plan view) of a fastening portion in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus in which a cover-integrated density detection sensor is fixed to a conventional holding unit.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus of the present invention in which a density detection sensor and a toner adhesion preventing cover are separately provided.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation of removing a cleaning unit in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 holding unit 101, 102 rigid body unit 103 resin unit 104, 105 positioning unit (positioning pin) 110 main body of image forming apparatus 200, 300 developing unit 210, 310, 510 photoconductor 320, 340, 540 holding unit 350 spacer 260, 360 Pressing unit 370 Recycle pipe 380, 580 Cleaning unit 401 Screw 411 Plate nut 421 Fastening member 431 Resin member

Continued on front page F term (reference) 2H071 AA08 AA18 AA26 AA27 AA39 DA08 DA13 DA15 2H077 AA37 AC16 AD06 BA07 BA08 BA09 DA03 DA95 EA16 3J036 AA06 BA02 GA01

Claims (14)

[Claims] A photoconductor, a charging unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor, a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with toner in a developer, An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit that transfers a toner image developed by the developing unit onto transfer paper; and a cleaning unit that collects residual toner remaining on the photoconductor after the transfer. A holding unit for holding at least one of the cleaning units, wherein the holding unit is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus and is attachable; the holding unit has a resin portion and a rigid portion; The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the unit has positioning means for positioning the main body at the time of mounting. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit has a bottom and at least two opposed side surfaces connected to the bottom, and the two side surfaces are hand-operated with respect to a direction in which the holding unit is detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus and mounted. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the front surface and the back surface has a rigid portion, and each of the rigid portions has a positioning unit. 3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a rigid reinforcing member connecting the rigid body on the front surface of the hand and the rigid body on the back surface. 4. The positioning member is a convex member,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is engageable with a recess or a hole of a main body of the image forming apparatus. 5. A photoreceptor, charging means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor, developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor with toner in a developer, An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit that transfers a toner image developed by the developing unit to transfer paper; and a cleaning unit that collects residual toner remaining on the photoconductor after the transfer. Wherein the holding means has a bottom and at least two opposed side faces connected to the bottom, and the two side faces are both end faces for holding both ends of the photoconductor, Each of both end faces has a rigid portion, the holding means has a pressing means for pressing the developing means against the photoconductor, and the pressing means has a length in a width direction of the photoconductor. And the An image forming apparatus comprising: an elastic member that connects both ends of a bar and respective rigid portions of the both end surfaces. 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the elastic member is rotatably connected to each of the rigid portions on the both end surfaces.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 7. A device according to claim 5, further comprising a distance holding means for holding a gap between said photoconductor and said developing means at a predetermined distance between said photoconductor and said developing means. 7. The image forming apparatus according to 6. 8. A photoconductor, a charging unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by charging, a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with toner, and the developing unit After transferring the toner image developed by the means to the transfer paper,
A cleaning unit that collects residual toner remaining on the photoconductor, and the cleaning unit and the developing unit that are located on both sides of the photoconductor, are connected to each other, and the collected residual toner is developed by the cleaning unit from the cleaning unit. An image forming apparatus having a recycle pipe, wherein the holding means holds at least the developing means, and the holding means has a space at a position opposite to the photosensitive member with respect to the developing means. An image forming apparatus, wherein a removable spacer is provided in the space, and a connection portion of the recycle pipe with the cleaning means is fixed. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the spacer is a developing suction filter unit. 10. A photoconductor, a charging unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by charging, a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with toner, and the developing unit Cleaning means for collecting the residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transferring the toner image developed by the means to the transfer paper, at least one of the members constituting the image forming apparatus is a resin member Wherein the fastening means for fastening the resin member and a fastening member attached to the resin member is a plate nut and a screw. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the fastening unit is used for a part to be removed during maintenance of the image forming apparatus. 12. The plate nut has at least two taps for receiving screws, one of the taps comprising:
A plate nut fixing tap for fixing the plate nut to the resin member, wherein another one of the taps is a fastening tap for fastening the resin member and the fastening member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the resin member has a plate nut mounting groove into which the plate nut can be fitted. 14. A photoconductor, a charging unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by charging, a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with toner, and the developing unit And a cleaning unit for collecting the residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transferring the toner image developed by the unit to the transfer paper, comprising: a holding unit for holding the cleaning unit; An image forming apparatus, wherein a density detecting sensor for detecting the density of the toner image is fixed to the means, and a toner adhesion preventing cover separate from the density detecting sensor is fixed to the cleaning means.