JP2002318478A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize an image forming device by providing a housing with a guide member for a transfer material to which a visible image is transferred. SOLUTION: This image forming device 1 has an image carrier, an electrifying means uniformly electrifying the image carrier, an exposure means image- exposing the image carrier electrified by the electrifying means so as to form an electrostatic image and a developing means developing the electrostatic image with toner and forming the visible image. In the device 1, at least one of the respective means such as the electrifying means, the exposure means and the developing means and the image carrier are loaded in one housing 8 and held to be freely pulled out from a device main body A, and the guide member 84B for the transfer material P to which the visible image is transferred is provided integrally with the housing 8, then the member 84B is moved or kept away.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a multifunction machine or a printing machine having a plurality of these functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In such an image forming apparatus, an image carrier, a charging means for uniformly charging the image carrier, and an image carrier which is charged by the charging means are image-exposed to form an electrostatic image. An exposure unit that forms an image, and a developing unit that develops an electrostatic image with toner to create a visible image, and that guides the transfer material with a guide member and transfers the visible image to the transfer material. is there.

[0003]

In such an image forming apparatus, the image carrier, the charging means, the exposure means, and the developing means may be taken in and out due to maintenance and inspection or when the transfer paper is jammed. For example, in a vertical tandem color machine of the intermediate transfer system, if a drum cartridge is to be taken in and out with the secondary transfer entrance guide member fixed, it is necessary to secure a space for each and to shift the drum cartridge by lifting or the like. In such a configuration, there is a problem that the size of the apparatus is increased because the drum cartridge is raised to a position where the secondary transfer guide member is completely avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image forming apparatus which includes a transfer material guide member for transferring a visible image to a housing and which can reduce the size of the apparatus. It is intended to be.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention has the following constitution.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier,
Charging means for uniformly charging the image carrier, exposure means for exposing the image carrier charged by the charging means to form an electrostatic image, and developing the electrostatic image with toner. In an image forming apparatus having a developing unit for creating a visual image, at least one of the charging, exposing, and developing units and the image carrier are loaded in a single housing, and can be pulled out of the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus, wherein a guide member of a transfer material for transferring the visible image integrally with the housing is provided, and the guide member is movable. ].

According to the first aspect of the invention, a guide member of a transfer material for transferring a visible image integrally with the housing is provided, and the housing is moved from the apparatus main body by moving the guide member. When the guide member is pulled out, the guide member does not interfere with other members, and the device can be downsized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the casing is provided with an intermediate transfer means for transferring the visible image to the transfer material. Image forming apparatus. ].

According to the second aspect of the invention, the housing is provided with the intermediate transfer means, and the maintenance and inspection of the intermediate transfer means can be facilitated by pulling out the housing from the apparatus main body.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the casing is provided with a transfer material conveying means for transferring the visible image to the transfer material. The image forming apparatus as described in the above. ].

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the transfer material conveying means is provided in the housing, and the maintenance and inspection of the transfer material conveying means can be easily performed by pulling out the housing from the apparatus main body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method as described above, wherein the guide member has two positions, a normal position and a release position in the apparatus main body, and the charging and exposing light held by the housing at the release position. , Development, intermediate transfer, each means of transfer material transfer,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the image carrier and the image carrier is removable.
Item 10. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. ].

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the guide member has two positions, a normal position and a release position, in the apparatus main body, and the guide member may interfere with another at the release position. Therefore, the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method as described above, wherein the guide member is moved from the regular position of the guide member by moving the means or the image carrier which becomes detachable when the guide member is located at the release position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is moved to a release position. ].

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the guide member can be easily and automatically moved from the regular position to the release position with a compact structure without using a special member.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image carrier, wherein the image carrier is housed alone or together with at least one of the means in a casing member, and the guide member is moved by moving the casing member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is moved from a regular position to the release position. ].

According to the invention, the guide member can be automatically moved from the regular position to the release position with a simple structure by moving the casing member.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method according to the first aspect, wherein the movement of the guide member from the release position to the normal position is performed by a load from an elastic member or the like. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. ].

According to the present invention, the movement of the guide member from the release position to the normal position is performed by a load from an elastic member or the like, and has a simple structure.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the image forming apparatus has a plurality of the image carriers. ].

According to the present invention, it is possible to form a color image by having a plurality of image carriers.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier,
A charging unit for uniformly charging the image carrier; an exposure unit for exposing the image carrier charged by the charging unit to an image to form an electrostatic image; In an image forming apparatus having a developing unit for creating an image, at least one of the charging, exposing, and developing units and the image carrier are loaded in a single housing and can be pulled out of the apparatus main body. A guide member of a transfer material that is held and transfers the visible image integrally with the housing is provided, and each of the means and the image carrier has a guide member when attached to the housing, An image forming apparatus, wherein at least one of the guide members is shaped so as to prevent the means or the image carrier from interfering with the guide member. ].

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a simple configuration based on the shape of the guide member when attaching to the housing is provided.
When detaching, it is possible to prevent each means of the housing or the image carrier from interfering with the guide member.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier, a charging means for uniformly charging the image carrier, and an electrostatic image formed by exposing the image carrier charged by the charging means to an image. An image forming apparatus having an exposing means for forming an image and a developing means for developing an electrostatic image with a toner to form a visible image, wherein at least one of the charging, exposing and developing means and the image carrier The body and the body are loaded in one housing, are held so as to be able to be pulled out of the apparatus main body, and a guide member of a transfer material that transfers the visible image integrally with the housing is provided, and the image carrier is The casing member is housed alone or together with at least one of the respective means in a casing member, the casing member has a guide member when attached to the housing, and the guide shape of the guide member of the casing member is the guide member of the guide member. An image forming apparatus characterized in that it is shaped to avoid interference with the member. ].

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the image carrier is housed in the casing member, and the casing member has a guide member for attaching to the housing. The structure prevents the casing member from interfering with the guide member during removal.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier, a charging unit for uniformly charging the image carrier, and an electrostatic image formed by exposing the image carrier charged by the charging unit to an image. An image forming apparatus comprising: an exposing unit for forming an image; and a developing unit for developing a visible image by developing an electrostatic image with toner, wherein at least one of the charging, exposing and developing units and the image carrier The body and the body are loaded in one housing, and are held so as to be able to be pulled out of the apparatus main body, and a guide member of a transfer material that transfers the visible image integrally with the housing is provided. The image carrier has guide members for mounting to the housing, and at least one of the guide members has a shape such that the posture of the guide member can be changed by the means or the image carrier. Image characterized by Forming apparatus. ].

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, each of the means and the image carrier has a guide member for attaching to the housing, and the guide member is guided by each means or the image carrier for attachment. The shape is such that the posture of the member can be changed, and the posture of the guide member can be changed with a simple structure.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier, a charging means for uniformly charging the image carrier, and an image exposure performed on the image carrier charged by the charging means. In an image forming apparatus having an exposure unit that forms an electrostatic image and a developing unit that develops the electrostatic image with toner to create a visible image, at least one of the charging, exposure, and development units is included. The image carrier is loaded in one housing, is held so as to be able to be pulled out from the apparatus main body, and a guide member of a transfer material that transfers the visible image integrally with the housing is provided, The image carrier is housed in a casing member alone or together with at least one of the above-mentioned means, and the casing member has a guide member for mounting to the housing, and the guide shape of the guide member of the casing member is By the casing member, An image forming apparatus characterized in that a shape that can change the attitude of the serial guide member. ].

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the image carrier is housed alone or together with each means in the casing member, and the casing member has a guide member for mounting to the housing. With a simple structure based on the guide shape of the member, the posture of the guide member can be changed when mounting.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus, wherein the casing is provided with an intermediate transfer means for transferring the visible image to the transfer material. Item 13. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 12. ].

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the housing is provided with the intermediate transfer means, and the maintenance and inspection of the intermediate transfer means can be facilitated by pulling out the housing from the apparatus main body.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus, wherein the casing is provided with a transfer material conveying means for transferring the visible image to the transfer material. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12. ].

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the transfer material conveying means is provided in the housing, and the maintenance and inspection of the transfer material conveying means can be easily performed by pulling out the housing from the apparatus main body.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the movement of the guide member from the state in which the posture is changed by the means, the image carrier, or the casing member to the original position is an elastic member. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the image forming is performed by a load from the apparatus. ].

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the movement of the guide member from the changed posture to the original position is performed by the load from the elastic member or the like, and has a simple structure.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
It is not limited to this embodiment.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes an image processing unit 2 and image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10
K, cassette paper feed unit 20, fixing device 24, paper discharge unit 25,
An ADU 9 is provided for automatic double-sided copying.

An image reading device SC and a document transport device DF are mounted on the upper portion of the apparatus main body A. The document d placed on the document table of the document feeder DF with the first surface facing upward is conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and one or both sides of the document are read by the optical system of the image reading device SC.

The analog signal photoelectrically converted by the image reading device SC is subjected to analog processing, A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing, and the like in the image processing section 2 and then to image formation provided for each color. Part 10Y, 1
Send signals to 0M, 10C and 10K.

Image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10
K is an image carrier 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K and a charging unit 2 for uniformly charging the image carrier 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K.
Y, 2M, 2C, 2K and the charging means 2Y, 2M, 2
C, 2K charged image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C,
Exposure means 3Y, 3 for imagewise exposing 1K to form an electrostatic image
M, 3C and 3K, developing means 4Y, 4M, 4C and 4K for developing the electrostatic image with toner to form a visible image, and a transfer material for transferring the visible image to image carriers 1Y, 1M and 1C. , 1K, and squeezing means 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K for removing toner remaining on the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K.

Image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K, charging means 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K, developing means 4Y, 4M, 4
C, 4K, holding means 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K and squeezing means 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K are provided in the housing 8.

The housing 8 is provided with an intermediate transfer means 7 for transferring a visible image to a transfer material.
Is constituted by a transfer belt 70, and is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the driving of the conveying rollers 71 to 74. The image carriers 1Y, 1M,
The visible images formed on 1C and 1K are temporarily transferred to a transfer belt 70, the visible image is transferred from the transfer belt 70 to a transfer material P at a position of a transfer roller 5A, and a plurality of image carriers are provided. Form an image. The transfer belt 70 is squeezed by the squeezing means 6A,
Is composed of a blade 6A1 and a squeeze roller 6A2.

The transfer material P carrying the image is transferred to a fixing device 24.
And is discharged from the paper discharge unit 25 to the paper discharge tray 26. Alternatively, the single-sided image-processed transfer material P sent to the re-conveying unit 9 by the sheet discharge path switching plate 28 is subjected to double-sided image processing again in the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, and then fixed by the fixing device 24. Then, the paper is discharged by the paper discharge path switching plate 28.

In the apparatus main assembly A, three cassette feeders 20 are provided below the height direction, and the transfer material P is sent out from each cassette feeder 20 by a roller 21 and a transport roller 2.
2A to 22D and are conveyed to the position of the transfer roller 5A via the positioning roller 23.

With this arrangement, the cassette sheet feeding section 20
A first transport path is formed from the front side of the paper feeder toward the paper discharge unit 25, and the transfer material P sent from the cassette paper feed unit 20 is
The sheet is conveyed along the conveying path and discharged out of the apparatus main body A.

A conveyance path formed by the re-conveying means 9 is formed from the conveyance path by the sheet discharge path switching plate 28, and the one-sided image-processed transfer material P sent into the conveyance path is switched back and transferred from the conveyance path to a transfer roller. At the previous stage of 5A, it joins the transport path again.

In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, each of the charging, exposing, and developing means is loaded in one housing 8, and at least one of the charging, exposing, and developing means is connected to the image. It is sufficient that the carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are loaded in one housing 8.

The housing 8 has a pair of guide members 82L, 82
R is provided, and the pair of guide members 82L and 82R are held so as to be able to be pulled out of the apparatus main body A.

The drawer of the housing 8 is configured as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the housing is pulled out. The apparatus main body A is provided with a front door 101 that can be opened and closed. By opening the front door 101, the housing 8 can be pulled out to the front side.

Next, the structure of the housing 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the housing, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the housing, FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the housing, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a skeleton of the housing, and FIG. FIG.

In the housing 8 of this embodiment, a pair of left and right side walls 81 are connected by an upper connecting plate 83 and a lower connecting plate 84, and a pair of guide members 82
L, 82R are provided, and the skeleton of the housing 8 is configured.

A guide member 84B is movably mounted on the lower connecting plate 84 with a support shaft 84A as a fulcrum.
Are provided integrally with the housing 8. This guide member 8
4B, as shown in FIG. 3, moves between the normal position and the release position, guides the transfer material P at the normal position, and pulls out the housing 8 from the apparatus main body A at the release position. Guide member 8
The movement from the release position of 4B to the normal position is performed by a spring 84C.
This is a simple structure that is performed by a load from an elastic member or the like composed of. As described above, by moving the guide member 84B for guiding the transfer material P, the guide member 84B does not interfere with other members when the housing 8 is pulled out from the apparatus main body A, and the apparatus has a simple structure. Can be reduced in size.

The developing means 4 is provided on the pair of left and right side walls 81.
Notches 81 corresponding to Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K, respectively
a is formed, and the developing means 4Y, 4
M, 4C and 4K are assembled and released rightward as indicated by the arrow in FIG.

Also, inside the pair of left and right side wall plates 81,
Support members 85 are provided corresponding to the casing members 86 of the drum units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, and the casing members 86 are assembled to the support members 85. Drum units 11Y, 11M, 11C, 1
1K is released leftward as indicated by the arrow after the intermediate transfer means 7 is moved leftward as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5 and released upward.

The intermediate transfer means 7 is provided with a release bar 78, and by operating the release bar 78, a release lever 75 is provided.
Y, 75M, 75C are support pins 77Y, 77M, 77C
And the guide rollers 76Y, 76M, 76C provided on the release levers 75Y, 75M, 75C and the holding means 5Y, 5M, 5C are moved from the transfer position to the release position. The guide roller 76K and the holding unit 5K remain at the transfer position, and the guide rollers 76Y, 76M, 76C
Then, the holding means 5Y, 5M, 5C are moved from the transfer position to the release position, and the intermediate transfer means 7 is released.

As described above, the housing 8 is provided with the intermediate transfer means 7, and the maintenance and inspection of the intermediate transfer means 7 can be performed by pulling out the housing 8 from the apparatus main body A.

The drum units 11Y, 11M, 11C,
As shown in FIG. 7, the casing member 86 of 11K has
Image carrier 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K, charging means 2Y, 2
M, 2C, 2K, squeezing means 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K
Is assembled. In this casing member 86,
Each of the guide members 86A is provided.
A engages with the guide member 85 of the housing 8 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and is assembled.

As described above, the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C,
1K is accommodated in a casing member 86 together with the charging means 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K and the squeezing means 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K. Are shaped so as to prevent the casing member 86 from interfering with the guide member 84B. The casing member 86 interferes with the guide member 84B with a simple structure based on the guide shape of the guide member 86A of the casing member 86. Can be avoided.

Next, another embodiment of removing the casing member 86 is shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of the casing member and the guide member.

The guide member 84B of this embodiment has two positions in the apparatus main body A: a regular position indicated by a solid line and a release position indicated by a two-dot chain line. By moving the guide member 84B to the release position. , The casing member 86 becomes removable.

In this embodiment, the casing member 86
Is moved in the direction of the arrow, the guide member 86A of the casing member 86 abuts on the guide member 84B and is pushed down, whereby the guide member 84B rotates in the direction of the arrow with the support shaft 84A as a fulcrum, and moves from the normal position to the release position. Moving. As described above, the guide member 84 </ b> B has a simple structure by moving the casing member 86 without using a special member.
The guide member 84B can be automatically moved from the regular position to the release position. In the release position, the guide member 84B does not interfere with other components, so that the apparatus can be downsized.

In this embodiment, the guide member 84B is
The drum unit 11K has two positions, a regular position and a release position in the apparatus main body A, and the drum unit 11K held by the housing 8 at the release position is removable.
It is only necessary that at least one of the means for intermediate transfer and transfer material transfer and the image carrier be removable.

In this embodiment, the guide member 84
B moves from the normal position to the release position by moving the casing member 86, but is not limited to this.
The unit can be moved from the normal position to the release position by means that can be detached when it is located at the release position or by moving the image carrier.

Further, in this embodiment, the image carrier is housed in the charging and squeezing means and the casing member 86. However, the image carrier can be used alone or charged, exposed, or exposed.
Any structure may be used as long as it is housed in the casing member 86 together with at least one of each of the developing, intermediate transfer, and transfer material conveying means, and the guide member 84B is moved from the normal position to the release position by the movement of the casing member 86.

Next, still another embodiment of removing the casing member 86 is shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the structure of the casing member and the guide member.

In this embodiment, a guide member 84B is provided integrally with the housing 8, the casing member 86 has a guide member 86A for mounting to the housing 8, and the guide shape of the guide member 86A of the casing member 86 is provided. However, the shape is such that the casing member 86 does not interfere with the guide member 84B. The casing member 86 is removed while escaping the guide member 84B due to the shape of the guide member 86A.

In this embodiment, the guide member 86A is provided with the image carrier and the charging and squeezing means are provided with the guide member 84.
B, but is not limited to this, and at least one of the guide members 86A is charged,
It is sufficient that each of the means for exposure, development, intermediate transfer, and transfer material transfer or the image carrier has a shape that does not interfere with the guide member 84B.
With a simple configuration based on the shape of 6A, it is possible to prevent each means of the housing or the image carrier from interfering with the guide member 84B.

The image carrier is housed alone or together with at least one of the means in the casing member 86, and the guide shape of the guide member 86A of the casing member 86 prevents the casing member 86 from interfering with the guide member 84B. The casing member 8 may have a shape that is avoided.
With a simple structure based on the guide shape of the guide member 86A of No. 6, the casing member 86 can be prevented from interfering with the guide member 84B.

Next, still another embodiment of removing the casing member 86 is shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of the casing member and the guide member.

In this embodiment, the casing member 86
When attaching the casing member 86 to the housing 8, the guide member 84 </ b> B does not escape even if the casing member 86 is inserted in the horizontal direction. Therefore, when the casing member 86 is attached in the downward arrow direction, the guide member 86 </ b> A The guide member 84B is configured to come in contact with and be pushed down while releasing the guide member 84B.

As described above, the casing member 86 is
It has a guide member 86A to be attached to the casing member 86, and the posture of the guide member 84B can be changed with a simple structure by the guide shape of the guide member 86A of the casing member 86.

Each of the charging, exposing, developing means and the image carrier has a guide member 86A for attachment to the housing 8, and at least one of the guide members 86A is provided with each means or image carrier. Since the shape of the guide member 84B can be changed depending on the body, the posture of the guide member 84B can be changed with a simple structure.

Further, the casing 8 is provided with an intermediate transfer means 7 for transferring a visible image to the transfer material P. When the casing 8 is pulled out from the apparatus main body A, the maintenance and inspection of the intermediate transfer means 7 is performed. Can be easily done.

Next, another embodiment of the image forming apparatus will be described.
A description will be given based on FIG. 11 and FIG. FIG. 11 is an overall configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a housing.

The image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment has the configuration shown in FIG.
The same components as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 to FIG.

The housing 8 of this embodiment is provided with transfer material transporting means 27 for transferring a visible image onto the transfer material P. The transfer material conveying means 27 includes a conveying belt 27A,
The transport belt 2 includes transport rollers 27B to 27F.
The transfer material P is conveyed by rotating 7A in the direction of the arrow,
The transfer unit 50Y, 50M, 50C, 50K transfers the visible image to the transfer material P.

In this embodiment, the transfer material transporting means 27 is provided in the housing 8, and the maintenance and inspection of the transfer material transporting means 27 can be facilitated by pulling out the housing 8 from the apparatus main body A.

Next, an embodiment of a single-drum intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 13 is an overall configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes an image forming section 10, a cassette sheet feeding section 20, and a fixing device 24 in the apparatus main body A.

The image forming unit 10 includes an image carrier 201, a charging unit 202 for uniformly charging the image carrier 1, and an image exposure device that exposes the image carrier 1 charged by the charging unit 2 to an image. The apparatus includes an exposure unit 3 for forming an image, a developing unit 4 for developing a visible image by developing an electrostatic image with toner, and a squeezing unit 6 for removing toner remaining on the image carrier 201.

The image carrier 201, the charging means 202, the developing means 4 and the squeezing means 6K are provided in the housing 8, and the intermediate transfer means 7 for transferring a visible image onto a transfer material is provided on the housing 8. Provided. The visible image formed on the image carrier 201 is temporarily transferred to the transfer belt 70, and the visible image is transferred from the transfer belt 70 to the transfer material P at the position of the transfer roller 5A.
Is transferred to

In the apparatus main assembly A, a cassette paper feeding section 20 is provided, from which the transfer material P is sent out, and the transfer roller P is transferred via a roller 21, a transport roller 22, a positioning roller 23, and a guide member 84B. It is transported to the position of 5A.

In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, each of the charging, exposing and developing means is loaded in one housing 8, and at least one of the charging, exposing and developing means is connected to the image. It is sufficient that the carrier 201 and the carrier 201 are loaded in one housing 8.

The housing 8 has a pair of guide members 82L, 82L.
R is provided, and the pair of guide members 82L and 82R are held so as to be able to be pulled out of the apparatus main body A.

Next, an embodiment of a single-drum direct transfer type image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 14 is an overall configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus.

[0086] The image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
The same components as those of the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The housing 8 of this embodiment is provided with transfer material transporting means 27 for transferring a visible image onto the transfer material P. The transfer material transporting means 27 has a transport belt 27A. The transfer material P is transported by rotating the transport belt 27A in the direction of the arrow, and the transfer unit 50 transfers a visible image to the transfer material P.

In this embodiment, the transfer material transporting means 27 is provided in the housing 8, and the maintenance and inspection of the transfer material transporting means 27 can be easily performed by pulling out the housing 8 from the apparatus main body A.

[0089]

As described above, according to the present invention, a guide member of a transfer material for transferring a visible image integrally with the housing is provided, and the guide member is moved or avoided so that the housing is movable. When the body is pulled out of the apparatus main body, the guide member does not interfere with other things, and the apparatus can be downsized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a housing is pulled out.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a housing.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a housing.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a housing.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a skeleton of a housing.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a guide member of the casing.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a structure of a casing member and a guide member.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a structure of another embodiment of a casing member and a guide member.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a structure of another embodiment of a casing member and a guide member.

FIG. 11 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a housing.

FIG. 13 is an overall configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 14 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image forming apparatus A apparatus main body 2 image processing section 7 intermediate transfer means 8 housing 10, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K image forming section 20 cassette sheet feeding section 24 fixing device 25 sheet discharging section 27 transfer material conveying means 84B guide member 86 casing member 86A guide member

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2H030 AA06 AA07 AB02 AD02 AD05 AD16 BB01 BB21 BB42 BB43 BB44 BB46 BB53 BB71 2H071 BA03 BA04 BA13 BA14 BA19 BA36 DA02 DA06 DA08 DA09 DA15 DA23 EA18 2H200 FA17 GA12 GA01 GA01 JGAB GA47 JB15 JB22 JC03 LA03 LA24 LA38 3F101 FA01 FB05 FC07 FE02 LA04 LA07 LB01

Claims (15)

[Claims] An image carrier, a charging unit for uniformly charging the image carrier, an exposure unit for exposing an image of the image carrier charged by the charging unit to form an electrostatic image, An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing unit configured to develop a visible image by developing an electrostatic image with toner; wherein at least one of the charging, exposing, and developing units and the image carrier are formed in a single housing. A guide member of a transfer material that is loaded on the body and is held so as to be able to be pulled out from the apparatus main body and transfers the visible image integrally with the housing is provided, and the guide member is movable. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with an intermediate transfer unit for transferring the visible image to the transfer material. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with a transfer material transporting unit for transferring the visible image to the transfer material. 4. The guide member has two positions, a regular position and a release position in the apparatus main body, and the charging, exposure, development, intermediate transfer, and transfer material held by the housing at the release position. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the conveying means and the image carrier is removable.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said guide member is moved from said normal position to said release position by moving said means or said image carrier which is detachable when said guide member is located at said release position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The image carrier is housed in a casing member alone or together with at least one of the means, and the guide member is moved from the regular position to the release position by movement of the casing member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is moved. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the guide member from the release position to the normal position is performed by a load from an elastic member or the like. Image forming device. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus has a plurality of image carriers. 9. An image bearing member, charging means for uniformly charging the image bearing member, exposure means for exposing the image bearing member charged by the charging means to form an electrostatic image, and static electricity An image forming apparatus having a developing unit for developing a visible image by developing an electric image with toner, wherein at least one of the charging, exposing, and developing units and the image carrier are in a single housing And a guide member of a transfer material for transferring the visible image integrally with the housing is provided, and each of the means and the image carrier is provided in the housing. Wherein each of the guide members has a shape to avoid interference of the means or the image carrier with the guide member. apparatus. 10. An image bearing member, charging means for uniformly charging the image bearing member, exposure means for forming an electrostatic image by imagewise exposing the image bearing member charged by the charging means, An image forming apparatus having a developing unit for developing a visible image by developing an electric image with toner, wherein at least one of the charging, exposing, and developing units and the image carrier are provided in a single housing. A guide member of a transfer material that is loaded and held so as to be able to be pulled out from the apparatus main body and that transfers the visible image integrally with the housing is provided, and the image carrier is used alone or at least of the respective units. 1
The casing member has a guide member when attached to the housing, and the guide shape of the guide member of the casing member is a shape that avoids interference of the casing member with the guide member. An image forming apparatus comprising: 11. An image bearing member, charging means for uniformly charging the image bearing member, exposure means for exposing an image of the image bearing member charged by the charging means to form an electrostatic image, and An image forming apparatus having a developing unit for developing a visible image by developing an electric image with toner, wherein at least one of the charging, exposing, and developing units and the image carrier are provided in a single housing. A guide member of a transfer material which is loaded and held so as to be able to be pulled out from the apparatus main body and transfers the visible image integrally with the housing is provided, and each of the means and the image carrier is provided in the housing. An image characterized in that each of the guide members is provided with a guide member for attaching to the at least one of the guide members, and at least one of the guide members is shaped so that the posture of the guide member can be changed by the means or the image carrier. Forming equipment. 12. An image carrier, charging means for uniformly charging the image carrier, and exposing means for forming an electrostatic image by exposing the image carrier charged by the charging means to an image. And a developing means for developing a visible image by developing the electrostatic image with toner, wherein at least one of the charging, exposing, and developing means and the image carrier are A guide member of a transfer material that is mounted on one housing and is detachably held from the apparatus main body and transfers the visible image integrally with the housing is provided, and the image carrier may be used alone or At least one of the above means
And the casing member has a guide member when attached to the housing, and the guide shape of the guide member of the casing member is changed to a shape in which the posture of the guide member can be changed by the casing member. An image forming apparatus comprising: 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said housing is provided with an intermediate transfer means for transferring said visible image to said transfer material. The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said housing is provided with a transfer material conveying means for transferring said visible image onto said transfer material. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 15. The movement of the guide member from the state in which the posture has been changed by the means, the image carrier, or the casing member to the original position is performed by a load from an elastic member or the like. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein: