JP2004109886A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which is easy to take out of a machine body and easy to maintain even when there is a plurality of imaging units for performing an imaging process including a development process, as a small tandem type image forming device having especially a plurality of photoreceptors. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging units 7a-7d are mounted on a drawer body 41 to be attached to the image forming device body. A drawer body 42 is held on the device body by two slide rails 43 so as to be freely drawn. The drawer body 42 is provided with a drawer body handle part 42 and handle parts 47 on both sides. The slide rails 43 are provided with positioning pins 44 serving as positioners and stoppers of the drawer body 41. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a detachable structure of an image forming unit having a latent image carrier in an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic printer or a copying machine, and more particularly, to preventing damage to components when attaching and detaching an image forming unit to and from a main body. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of taking into account a detachable structure of an image forming unit. Further, the present invention relates to a technique for improving maintainability in an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming units.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of personal computers in recent image forming apparatuses, color printers and color copying machines have been demanded, and their high speed has been demanded.
For this reason, so-called tandem type color image forming apparatuses in which a plurality of latent image carriers are arranged in parallel are increasing not only in large-sized machines but also in small desktop-type machines.
However, in this type of color machine, an image forming unit including a latent image carrier is required for each color, and maintenance is becoming complicated for end users.
In particular, in an image forming apparatus of a type in which the image forming unit is pulled out from the side or front of the machine main body, it has been difficult to replace the image forming unit without directly touching basic components such as a latent image carrier.
In addition, when setting the image forming unit, it is necessary to turn around the machine body and set it bent down.There is a high probability that the latent image carrier will be damaged or damaged by hitting, and the workability will be poor. there were.
[0003]
In addition, when an old image forming unit is attached / detached and a new one is attached, a color shift of an image may occur due to a shift of a mounting position.
As a technique for preventing this, for example, there is a method in which a plurality of image forming units are fixed to a positioning member, and fitted into a machine body as it is (for example, see Patent Document 1).
However, since the arrangement positions of the image forming units for each color are determined in the apparatus main body, it is necessary to set the image forming units while looking into the marks inside the machine main body. Furthermore, since the image forming units of the respective colors are made of components having the same shape, there is a possibility that the image forming units may be erroneously set even if they are set according to the marks inside the machine main body.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-36346 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above problems, in the present invention, in particular, in a small tandem type image forming apparatus having a plurality of photoreceptors, even when there are a plurality of image forming units for performing image forming processing including at least development processing, the machine body It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be easily taken out and can be easily maintained.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, according to the present invention, a latent image carrier and an image forming unit that performs at least an image forming process including a developing process on the latent image carrier are integrated. An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming units, wherein the plurality of image forming units can be pulled out of the apparatus main body at a time, and can be held in a state where the image forming units are drawn out.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a drawer on which at least the plurality of image forming units can be placed, and two or more rails that can be held in a pulled-out state. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The present invention according to claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rail has a stopper.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the drawer body has a pull-out handle portion in front of the pull-out direction.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the drawer body can be pulled out to a position where a plurality of image forming units can be taken out right above. It is.
[0007]
The present invention according to claim 6, wherein the drawer is detachable at a time for each drawer with a plurality of image forming units mounted thereon. An image forming apparatus according to (1).
The present invention according to claim 7 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drawer body has at least two handle portions on both sides in the pullout direction. .
The present invention according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of image forming units are individually detachable from a state in which the image forming units are pulled out integrally, and the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein is there.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the drawer body has different fitting portions for the image forming units of each color. is there.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the drawer has a mark for each color corresponding to an image forming unit of each color. .
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
A static eliminator L, a cleaning device 2, a charging device 3, and a developing device 5 are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the latent image carrier (photoconductor) 1, which is rotatably supported and rotates in the direction of the arrow. A space is provided between the charging device 3 and the developing device 5 for receiving optical information emitted from the exposure device 4. Although there are four latent image carriers 1 (a, b, c, d), the components of the image forming parts provided around each are the same. The colors of the color materials (toners) handled by the developing device 5 are different.
The latent image carrier 1 is a photoconductor in which a layer of an organic semiconductor which is a photoconductive substance is provided on the surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of about 30 to 100 mm. A part thereof is in contact with the second image carrier (intermediate transfer belt) 10. As the latent image carrier 1, a belt-shaped photoconductor can also be adopted.
[0009]
The second image carrier 10 is a belt made of a resin film or rubber having a substrate thickness of 50 μm to 600 μm, and has a resistance value that enables toner to be transferred from the latent image carrier 1.
The first transfer unit 20 is supported and stretched between the rotating rollers 11, 12, and 13 so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow. On the back side, that is, inside the loop, a first transfer unit 20 is provided near the latent image carrier 1. ing.
A second image carrier cleaning device 25 is provided outside the belt loop. Unnecessary toner and paper dust remaining on the surface of the second image carrier 10 are wiped off.
The exposure device 4 irradiates, as a latent image, optical information corresponding to full-color image formation onto a uniformly charged surface of the photoconductor by a known laser method. An exposure apparatus comprising an LED array and an image forming means can also be employed.
[0010]
A recording medium transport body (transfer belt) 100 is provided on the right side of FIG.
The second transfer means 120 is supported and stretched between the rotation rollers 111, 112, and 113 so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow. It is deployed nearby. Outside the loop of the recording medium transport 100, a cleaning device 250 for the recording medium transport is provided. The cleaning device 250 wipes off unnecessary toner and paper dust remaining on the surface of the recording medium transport body 100.
A predetermined transfer nip is formed by the transfer unit 120, the roller 113, and the roller 11 supporting the second image carrier 10.
[0011]
The recording medium transport body 100 is a belt whose base is a resin film or rubber whose base has a thickness of 50 μm to 600 μm.
The recording medium (paper) P is stored in a paper feeding device 26 below the drawing, and the uppermost paper is conveyed by a paper feeding roller 27 to a pair of registration rollers 28 via a plurality of guides 29 one by one.
A fixing heating unit 30, a paper discharge guide pair 31, a paper discharge roller pair 32, and a paper discharge stack unit 40 are provided above the drawing.
The latent image carrier 1, the cleaning device 2, the charging device 3, the developing device 5, and the like may be integrally incorporated, and may be configured as a unit so that the latent image carrier 1 can be replaced when its life expires.
Above the second image carrier 10 and below the paper discharge unit 40, a storage unit TS that can store toner for replenishment is provided. There are four colors of toner, magenta, cyan, yellow, and black, which are in the form of a cartridge TC. It is supplied to the developing device of the corresponding color by a powder pump or the like.
Since a part of the frame 50 of the main body is configured to be rotatable and openable around the opening / closing support shaft 50A, the conveyance path of the recording medium is largely opened, and the processing of the jammed recording medium is facilitated. .
[0012]
First, an image is formed by the latent image carrier 1.
By the operation of the exposure device 4, light from an LD light source (not shown) passes through optical components (not shown), and the latent image carrier 1 uniformly charged by the charging device 3 on the photosensitive member denoted by a And a latent image is formed corresponding to the write information corresponding to the color.
The latent image on the latent image carrier 1 is developed by the developing device 5, and a visible image with toner is formed and held on the surface of the latent image carrier 1. This toner image is transferred by the first transfer means 20 to the surface of the second image carrier 10 which moves in synchronization with the latent image carrier.
The surface of the latent image carrier 1 is cleaned of the remaining toner by the cleaning device 2 and is neutralized by the neutralization device L to prepare for the next image forming cycle.
[0013]
The second image carrier 10 carries the toner image transferred to the surface, and moves in the direction of the arrow. A latent image corresponding to another color is written on the latent image carrier 1 indicated by b, and is developed with a toner of the corresponding color to become a visible image. This image is superimposed on the visible image of the color before it is already on the second image carrier, and finally is superimposed with four colors.
The second image carrier 10 moves while the image is formed on the four photoconductors of a so-called tandem type, and the image formation is advanced, so that the time can be shortened.
When the second image carrier 10 moves to a predetermined position, paper feeding is started. When the paper feed roller 27 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the recording medium P located at the uppermost portion in the paper feed device 26 is pulled out and conveyed to the registration roller pair 28.
The toner image on the surface of the second image carrier 10 is applied to the second surface of the recording medium P sent between the second image carrier 10 and the recording medium carrier 100 via the registration roller pair 28, The images are transferred at once by the transfer unit 120.
At the time of transfer, the recording medium P is conveyed in a timely manner so that the position of the image becomes normal.
[0014]
In the present embodiment, the polarity of the toner formed on the first image carrier 1 is negative. By applying a positive charge to the first transfer means 20, the toner formed on the first image carrier is transferred to the second image carrier. Therefore, by applying a positive charge to the second transfer unit 120, the toner formed on the second image carrier is transferred to the recording medium.
The recording medium P to which the toner images have been transferred on both sides in the above steps is sent to a certain area of the fixing unit 30, and the toner images (both sides) on the recording medium P are fixed at a time, and are discharged via the guide pair 31. The sheet is discharged to the discharge stack section 40 at the upper portion of the main body frame by the roller pair 32.
When the paper discharge unit 40 is configured as shown in FIG. 1, the image surface faces down and is placed on the paper discharge stack unit 40, so that image formation can be performed by sequentially forming an image from the first page. It is.
After the transfer from the second image carrier 10 to the recording medium P, the cleaning device 250 having a well-known brush roller, a collection roller, a blade, and the like inside wipes off unnecessary toner and paper dust, and transfers the toner to the storage unit 250B. to recover.
In the above embodiment, the description has been given of the formation of a color image using toners of a plurality of colors. However, the technical idea of the present invention can be applied to the creation of a monochrome image.
[0015]
Next, features of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the front cover (not shown) is opened, and the drawer 41 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body.
The drawer body 41 is a frame body that is held by the main body by two slide rails 43 and can be pulled out freely. The drawer body 41 is provided with a drawer body handle portion 42 in the front direction, so that the drawer can be easily drawn. Thereby, each of the image forming units 7a to 7d can be pulled out to a position where it can be taken out upward. Each of the image forming units 7a to 7d is a unit in which each of the image forming apparatuses a to d in FIG. 1 is integrally formed, and includes at least the latent image carrier 1 and the developing device 5.
A positioning pin 44 is provided on the slide rail 43, and functions as a stopper for positioning the drawer body 41 and preventing the drawer body 41 from falling out of the apparatus main body by fitting it into a hole of the drawer body 41.
In FIG. 2A, reference numeral 17 denotes an intermediate transfer unit.
[0016]
Next, FIG. 2B illustrates a state in which the image forming units 7 b to d are individually taken out from above with the image forming unit handles 8 b to 8 d before and after the state illustrated in FIG. . By providing the image forming unit handles 8a to 8d, the components of the image forming units 7a to 7d can be easily taken out without touching the parts.
Projecting fitting portions 45a to 45d are provided on the bottom surface of the drawer 41 so that the image forming units of each color can be placed only at predetermined positions. Thereby, the image forming units 7a to 7d can be positioned, and color shift of an image due to a position shift can be prevented. Further, since the fitting portions 45a to 45d are different for each color, the arrangement of the image forming units 7a to 7d for each color is not mistaken.
[0017]
In addition, on the front side of the drawer body 41, color-specific seals 46a to 46d are affixed as marks. Similarly, color-specific stickers 9a to 9d are attached to the image forming units 7a to 7d side. Thus, the colors can be compared with each other, and the arrangement of the image forming units 7a to 7d to be set can be prevented from being mistaken.
In addition, it is also possible to remove all of the image forming units 7a to 7d together with the drawer 41 by holding both handle portions 47 on both sides of the drawer 41 from the state of FIG. FIG. 2C shows a state in which the drawer 41 has been removed.
This is used when exchanging the image forming units 7a to 7d at one time or when exchanging the image forming units 7a to d in another place where the work space is narrow.
Note that the drawer body handle portion 42 and the both-side handle portions 47 may be formed by attaching separate members as shown in FIG. 2, or may be integrally formed, and may have any shape. The same applies to the image forming unit handles 8a to 8d.
[0018]
Further, each of the image forming units 7a to 7d is provided with an IC chip (not shown). When each of the image forming units 7a to 7d is inserted into the main body, the connector portion of the chip couples with the connector on the main body side, and the main body is connected to the IC chip. The rotation time of the latent image carrier 1 and the lot No. , Etc., and the information is written, and the operator can be notified of the next replacement of the image forming units 7a to 7d.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in particular, in a small tandem-type color image forming apparatus having a large number of photoconductors, there are a plurality of image forming units that perform image forming processing including at least developing processing. Even in this case, the maintenance can be easily performed without damaging the parts by making it easy to take out from the machine body.
In addition, since the image forming units of each color can be placed only at predetermined positions, each of them has a different fitting portion or can be visually recognized. Be able to perform maintenance.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the features of the present invention, in which FIG. It is the figure which removed the drawer body.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Latent image carrier (photoconductor)
2 Cleaning device 3 Charging device 4 Exposure device 5 Developing device 7 Image forming unit 8 Image forming unit handle 9 Seal 10 Second image carrier (intermediate transfer member)
17 Intermediate transfer unit 41 Drawer 42 Drawer handle 43 Slide rail 44 Positioning pin 45 Fitting 46 Seal 47 Handle on both sides

Claims (10)

In an image forming apparatus including a plurality of latent image carriers and an image forming unit that integrally forms an image forming unit that performs at least an image forming process including a developing process on the latent image carriers,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the plurality of image forming units can be pulled out from the apparatus main body at a time, and can be held in a state where the image forming units are drawn out. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a drawer on which at least the plurality of image forming units can be placed, and two or more rails that can hold the drawer in a pulled-out state. . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rail has a stopper. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawer body has a handle portion for pulling out before the drawer. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawer can be pulled out to a position where a plurality of image forming units can be taken out right above. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the drawer body can be removed together with the drawer body in a state where a plurality of image forming units are placed. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drawer body has at least two handle portions on both sides in a drawer direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of image forming units are individually detachable from a state in which the image forming units are integrally pulled out. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawer has a different fitting portion for each color image forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawer has a mark for each color corresponding to an image forming unit of each color.

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