JP2005010254A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lighten the burden of attachment and detachment of an exchangeable component, such as a process unit, on a user by providing large illustration means to a device main body and the component itself. <P>SOLUTION: When the front door 3 of an image forming device 1 is opened, operations needed to detach the unit are illustrated on the top surface A of the main body frame of the front cover 3 or the internal surface B of a front cover 3, and illustrations for a mounting operation is provided at an easy-to-see place like the top surface of the unit. That is, the detachment of the mounted unit is handled with the illustration provided on the internal surface of the front cover, etc. When a new unit is mounted, the illustration provided on the top surface of the unit is to be viewed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that is detachably provided on a mounting portion of an apparatus using a consumable such as a cartridge as a replacement part, and relates to an apparatus provided with a display that can be easily viewed by a user.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an apparatus such as an image forming apparatus that creates recording paper using an electrophotographic method, a photosensitive drum and a developing device are mounted on a recording unit as one unit and are provided as replaceable as needed. In addition to providing the unit as one unit, the two units of the photosensitive unit and the developer unit can be combined and mounted on the recording unit, and when one of the two units fails, A method is also used in which only one of the units can be replaced. In the device in which the unitized parts can be exchanged at any time, the user can easily purchase the unit, take out the old unit and install the new unit according to the instructions on the device. I am trying to respond. For this purpose, the instruction manual for the image forming apparatus describes the procedure for replacing the unit in detail with an explanatory diagram, and the new unit purchased also has a detailed diagram and explanation. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-117504 [0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the toner cartridge, the developing unit, and the like are the parts that are most frequently replaced in the image forming apparatus. Even when such replacement parts are configured as one unit, there is a problem that the mounting direction to the apparatus main body, the combination method with other units, and the like are relatively difficult to understand. Therefore, normally, a guide display such as a label or stamp is provided in the vicinity of a predetermined position of the apparatus main body and the like, and the exchange procedure is explained to the user. However, there is a problem that there is little space for providing the guide display. Furthermore, due to the display in the narrow space, etc., the display contents are often too simple or the labels are too small, and the necessary information is not sufficiently displayed and transmitted to the user. The problem of not being able to fully communicate information when operating is left.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that allows a user to easily check a replacement method when replacing a cartridge or the like of a replacement part.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus configured such that a replacement part can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. The invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a removal method or procedure is displayed for the component mounting portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a mounting method or procedure is displayed for a replacement component to be newly mounted.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the display relating to the removal of the replacement part is displayed on a cover member that is opened at the time of attachment / detachment, and is displayed at a position that is visible when a replacement part to be newly attached is mounted.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the replacement part is a toner cartridge, a mark or label is provided on the upper surface of the frame for display.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the indication provided on the apparatus main body or the replacement part is performed using a label having a good peelability or a label made of the same material as the replacement part, other than the case where the indication is provided by engraving. .
[0010]
As described above, the display contents can be simplified by explaining the procedure for taking out old replacement parts that require replacement on the device body side, and the procedure for mounting on new parts to be replaced. it can. Since the procedure and the like can be easily displayed even in a relatively narrow display area, it is possible to provide an apparatus that is easy for the user to use. Furthermore, in consideration of recycling of replacement parts, it is easy to reuse collected cartridges by attaching labels so that they can be easily peeled off, or by providing labels made of the same material as the unit frame. It becomes possible to deal with it.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The configuration of the apparatus of the present invention will be described according to the illustrated example. The example shown in FIG. 1 is described as an example of a printer that is connected to an image information output device such as a personal computer and creates recording paper. In the image forming apparatus 1 configured as the printer, the device A paper feed tray 10 is provided in the lower part of the main body, and a discharge tray 16 is provided in the upper part. A paper transport path 13 is arranged on one side of the apparatus. A discharge roller device 15 that discharges the recording paper to the discharge tray 16 via the transfer roller device 12, an image transfer portion by the photosensitive drum 20, and a fixing device 25 disposed above the transfer roller device 12 is provided along the paper transfer path 13. Provided.
[0012]
In the image forming apparatus 1, as in the case of a general image forming apparatus, the sheets are taken out from the sheet feeding tray 10 one by one by the sheet feeding roller 11, and the sheets are aligned by the conveying roller apparatus 12 that also serves as the registration roller apparatus. Then, the paper is fed toward the photosensitive drum 20. Around the photosensitive drum 20, a charging member 21, a writing unit 22, a developing roller of the developing unit 30, and a developing unit 30 as in the recording unit of the image recording apparatus using a general electrophotographic system. A transfer member 24 is provided. Then, the photosensitive drum 20 is uniformly charged by discharging from the charging member 21, and then a laser beam is irradiated from the writing device 22 to form an electrostatic latent image. Next, toner is supplied from the developing roller to the electrostatic latent image to make it visible as a toner image, presses the transfer roller 24 from behind in contact with the photosensitive drum, and applies a predetermined potential. As a result, the toner image is transferred to a sheet. Then, the paper carrying the toner image is fixed by applying heat and pressure through the fixing device 25 to produce a recording paper in which the toner image is fixed on the paper, and the paper is discharged to the discharge tray 16.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus is configured such that the developing unit 30 can be pulled out and taken out by opening the front cover 3 of the apparatus main body via the hinge portion 4. ing. Of course, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 20 is also detachably provided as one unit. In particular, the operation of replacing the developing unit 30 having a high replacement frequency will be described below.
[0014]
In a state where the front cover 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 is opened, the developing unit 30 attached to a predetermined position of the front frame 2 is exposed. Therefore, a description of the operation method can be displayed on a predetermined position of the front frame 2... When the front cover 3 is opened, a wide portion that is not used for anything remains on the inner surface. Therefore, the procedure for removing the developing unit 30 can also be displayed in the space portion indicated by the symbol A on the inner surface of the cover. Therefore, if a label for explaining the procedure for removing the developing unit 30 is attached to the space portion indicated by reference numerals A and B on the front surface side of the front frame 2 or the back surface side of the front cover 3, the user can The unit can be removed easily.
[0015]
In addition, it is necessary to take out the developing unit 30 from the main body frame, and then take out a new developing unit from the package and insert it into the mounting portion. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the developer unit 30 is taken out of the package, a portion for explaining the mounting method and procedure of the developer unit with respect to the upper plate 32 of the unit that most easily collects the line of sight. When provided as indicated by symbol C, the user can definitely install the unit. In other words, when the developing unit 30 is mounted at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus, an operation description is provided on the upper plate 32 of the developing unit 30 that is most easy to see, thereby assisting the mounting operation. become. The developing unit 30 is provided with a handle 31 on the front side so that the unit can be easily attached and detached using the handle 31. In addition, a paper guide 14 is provided on the upstream (lower) side of the developing roller 24. However, since this guide is not the gist of the present invention, detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0016]
Arbitrary display means can be provided in the explanation parts A to C of the operation of attaching and detaching the unit. For example, when a label printed on paper is used for the operation procedure, if the label is pasted with a special adhesive so that the label can be easily peeled off, the label is displayed when the collected unit is recycled. It is possible to easily perform the work of peeling off and processing. Further, if the label is made of a resin material having the same properties as the frame of the apparatus, the frame resin is crushed and supplied to the molding machine again without peeling the label from the collected unit frame, A new unit frame can be formed by injection molding or the like.
[0017]
In addition, when the constituent members of the image forming apparatus, the developing unit and other frame units are arbitrarily detachable, the main body frame is placed at a predetermined position of each unit and its detachable portion. It is also possible to explain the operation of attaching and detaching the unit by giving a raised character or code. In this way, when a display unit having a large area is secured on the surface of the unit, when the frame is resin-molded, an explanation is provided so that the unit can be reused as it is. This makes it possible to easily recycle without replacing.
[0018]
Although the above embodiment has been described in the case of the developing unit provided in the printer apparatus, the attachment / detachment display can be performed not only on the developing unit but also on the photosensitive unit. In addition, in an apparatus configured as a single process unit by combining a developing unit and a photosensitive unit, the description of attaching and detaching the process unit can be done only once, so it is possible to fully explain even in a narrow space. It is. In addition, if necessary, the same display means can be used for a display unit for explaining an operation procedure or the like for work such as maintenance.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the display contents can be simplified by explaining the procedure for taking out old replacement parts that require replacement on the device body side, and the procedure for mounting on new parts to be replaced. it can. Since the procedure and the like can be easily displayed even in a relatively narrow display area, it is possible to provide an apparatus that is easy for the user to use. Furthermore, in consideration of recycling of replacement parts, the collected cartridge can be reused or disassembled by attaching it so that it can be easily peeled off, or providing a label made of the same material as the unit frame. It is possible to easily cope with the reuse as a forming raw material.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a front cover of the apparatus is opened.
FIG. 3 is an external view of a developing unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 image forming device, 2 front frame, 3 front cover,
4 hinge, 10 paper feed tray, 11 paper feed roller,
12 transport roller device, 13 paper transport path, 14 paper guide,
15 discharge roller device, 16 discharge tray, 20 photosensitive drum,
21 charging member, 22 writing device, 24 transfer roller,
25 fixing device, 30 developing unit, 31 handle,
32 Upper plate.

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus configured so that a replacement part can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus,
Display the removal method or procedure for the component mounting part of the image forming apparatus body,
An image forming apparatus, wherein a replacement method or a procedure is displayed on a replacement part to be newly mounted. The indication regarding the removal of the replacement part is displayed with respect to the cover member that is opened upon attachment and detachment,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is displayed at a position that can be visually recognized when a replacement part to be newly mounted is mounted. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the replacement part is a toner cartridge, an image or label is provided on an upper surface of the frame for display. 4. 3. The display provided on the apparatus main body or the replacement part is performed using a label having a good peelability or a label made of the same material as the replacement part, other than the case where the display is provided by engraving. Image forming apparatus.

Images