JP2006064835A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clarify the operating procedure of a drum unit and a developing unit. <P>SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus 1, the drum unit 10 equipped with a photoreceptor drum 11 and the developing unit 20 equipped with a developing sleeve 22 arranged to be opposed to the photoreceptor drum 11 when the units are coupled are separately constituted, and the drum unit 10 and the developing unit 20 are attached to an image forming apparatus main body 2 in this order. Then, an operating knob 15 is provided to the drum unit 10, and a sleeve protection cover 25 covering over the operating knob 15 in a state where the drum unit 10 and the developing unit 20 are mounted to the image forming apparatus main body 2 is provided to the developing unit 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine having both functions.

  Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus, a drum unit including a photosensitive drum and a developing unit including a developing sleeve having a rotating shaft parallel to the rotating shaft of the photosensitive drum are connected to each other and inserted into the image forming apparatus main body. There is something to wear. In the process unit in which the drum unit and the developing unit are connected, in terms of replacement time, the replacement time of the drum unit is determined by the deterioration of the photosensitive drum, and the replacement time of the developing unit is determined when the stored toner becomes empty. Therefore, the exchange time of both does not match. For this reason, many image forming apparatuses have been proposed in which the drum unit and the developing unit are configured separately, and the drum unit and the developing unit are detachably provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus in which the drum unit and the developing unit having such different configurations can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus, respectively, conventionally, both outer sides of the sheet passing area of the respective housing portions of the drum unit and the developing unit. There is one provided with a handle, and each unit is attached and detached with this handle (see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-137366 (page 3, FIG. 1)

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when the drum unit and the developing unit are mounted in the image forming apparatus main body in this order and then each unit is removed, it is a correct procedure to remove the developing unit and then remove the drum unit. However, even when both units are installed, the operator can see the handle of the drum unit from the insertion port side, which may cause an error in the operation procedure such as trying to remove the drum unit before removing the developing unit. . As described above, conventionally, the operation procedure is difficult to understand, and if the drum unit is forcibly removed before the developing unit is removed, there is a risk of damage.

  In order to solve such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which an operation procedure is clarified and operability is improved when a drum unit and a developing unit are removed from a main body of an image forming apparatus. .

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a drum unit including a photosensitive drum; and a developing unit including a developing sleeve disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum when the units are combined. Can be mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus in the order of the drum unit and the developing unit.

  The drum unit is provided with an operation handle, and the developing unit is provided with a protective cover that covers the operation handle in a state where the drum unit and the developing unit are mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the protective cover is a sleeve protective cover that protects the developing sleeve.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the drum unit and the developing unit can be mounted in this order on the image forming apparatus body, and the drum unit and the developing unit are mounted on the image forming apparatus body in the developing unit. Since the protective cover that covers the operation handle provided in the drum unit is provided, it is possible to prevent erroneous operation such as removing the drum unit before removing the developing unit, thereby clarifying the operation procedure and improving operability. Can be planned.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the protective cover is a sleeve protective cover that protects the developing sleeve, the number of parts can be reduced by using parts as well.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Schematic configuration of image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 includes a sheet feeding unit 4 that feeds a sheet-like recording material P from a sheet feeding tray 3 and a recording material P fed from the sheet feeding unit 4 in an image forming apparatus main body 2. A sheet conveying unit 5 that conveys along the sheet conveying path R, an image forming unit 6 that transfers a toner image to the recording material P conveyed by the sheet conveying unit 5, and a toner image that is transferred by the image forming unit 6. A fixing device 7 for fixing the toner image on the recording material P, and a discharge unit 9 for discharging the recording material P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 7 onto a paper discharge tray 8. Yes. Here, as the recording material P, for example, paper, a plastic film, an OHP sheet, or the like can be applied.

  The image forming unit 6 includes a drum unit 10 having a photosensitive drum 11, a developing unit 20 having a developing sleeve 22, and a transfer roller 19 for copying a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 onto a recording material P. . The drum unit 10 and the developing unit 20 are configured separately, and these units can be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 2 in the order of the drum unit 10 and the developing unit 20.

Next, FIG. 2 is an external view of the image forming apparatus main body 2. The image forming apparatus main body 2 is covered with an exterior cover 35, and the front cover 35 </ b> A is opened so that the drum unit 10 and the developing unit 20 are moved along the guide groove 37 and the guide surface 38 formed in the main body frame 36. It can be inserted into or removed from the image forming apparatus main body 2.
[Drum unit configuration]
As shown in FIG. 1, the drum unit 10 includes a photosensitive drum 11 at a lower portion on the side facing the developing unit 20 when the units are combined. The photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably supported on the drum unit 10 by a drum shaft 11A. Around this photosensitive drum 11, there are a cleaner 12 for removing the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, a charger 13 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, and a static eliminator (for removing residual charges). Etc.) are provided. Further, laser light can enter the photosensitive drum 11 from the exposure device 14. The drum unit 10 is inserted and mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 2 along a guide groove 37 (see FIG. 2) provided on the main body frame 36 (see FIG. 2) side.

  When the drum unit 10 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 2, the drum shaft 11A of the photosensitive drum 11 is inserted into the guide groove 37 provided in the main body frame 36 on both ends in the unit insertion width direction (drum axis direction). Guide and support along. The drum shaft 11 </ b> A of the photosensitive drum 11 is guided to a predetermined mounting position (final position) in a state of entering the groove of the guide groove 37.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the drum unit 10 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 2, and operation grips 15 are provided on both end sides in the axial direction of the drum shaft 11A. The operator can hold the operation handle 15 to insert the drum unit 10 into the image forming apparatus main body 2 or to remove it from the image forming apparatus main body 2.

In the drum unit 10, a rotation drive gear (not shown) that meshes with a rotation drive transmission gear (not shown) provided on the image forming apparatus main body 2 side is provided on the drum shaft 11 </ b> A of the photosensitive drum 11. ing.
[Development unit configuration]
FIG. 4 shows the overall appearance of the developing unit 20. The developing unit 20 includes a developing sleeve 22 that faces the photosensitive drum 11 with a predetermined developing gap at the bottom of the side facing the photosensitive drum 11 when the developing unit 20 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 2. The developing sleeve 22 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 for development. Further, the developing unit 20 is provided with a toner storage container 21 for storing toner containing a magnetic material at a position opposite to the side facing the photosensitive drum 11.

  Further, on both ends of the developing unit 20 in the sleeve axial direction, a developing support portion 24 that protrudes outward is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the guide frames 38 are provided on the main body frames 36 at both ends in the width direction of the image forming apparatus main body 2 substantially in parallel with the guide grooves 37.

  The development support portion 24 is placed on the guide surface 38, and the contact side of the development support portion 24 with the guide surface 38 is formed in an arc shape. In order to insert the developing unit 20 into the image forming apparatus main body 2, the developing support 24 may be slid on the guide surface 38 and guided to a predetermined mounting position.

Further, a sleeve protective cover (protective cover) 25 is rotatably provided on the side frame 26 on the side of the developing sleeve 22 facing the photosensitive drum 11. The sleeve protective cover 25 is provided to prevent the developing sleeve 22 from being damaged when the developing unit 20 is in a single state. The sleeve protective cover 25 is fixed to a metal arm 30. The arm 30 extends from a pivot fulcrum 28 provided on the side frame 26 along the surface of the side frame 26, and extends from one side frame 26 side to the other side frame 26 side along the sleeve axis. ing. The sleeve protective cover 25 is fixed to the arm 30 via a plurality of claws 31 and 32 fixed to the upper portion thereof. The arm 30 is fixed to a link member 27 on the other side frame 26 side.
[Operation of sleeve protective cover]
5 and 6, the link member 27 is always urged in the direction A ′ in FIG. 5 by an urging means (not shown), and the abutting portion (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 2 when the developing unit 20 is inserted. When the protrusion 29 comes into contact with the link member 27, the link member 27 integral therewith rotates in the A direction around the rotation fulcrum 28 '(see FIG. 6). As a result, the arm 30 fixed to the link member 27 rotates in the A direction around the rotation fulcrums 28 and 28 '. Accordingly, the sleeve protective cover 25 held by the claws 31 and 32 also moves from position A to position B in FIG. 4 and further moves to position C in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the claws 31 and 32 are alternately engaged with and held by the arm 30 so that the arm 30 does not come off the arm 30 even when the arm 30 rotates in the A direction and the A ′ direction. ing. Specifically, the arm 30 is press-fitted and supported by the claws 31 and 32 so as to be rotatable.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sleeve protection cover 25 moves. When the developing unit 20 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 2, the sleeve protective cover 25 moves to the position of “A” → “B” → “C” and finally stops at the position indicated by “C”. The operation handle 15 of the drum unit 10 inserted previously is covered with the sleeve protection cover 25 when the sleeve protection cover 25 is in the position C.
[Relationship between operation handle and sleeve protective cover]
FIG. 9 shows a state in which the drum unit 10 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 2. When the drum unit 10 is inserted, the drum shaft 11 </ b> A of the photosensitive drum 11 is inserted into the guide groove 37 provided in the main body frame 36 and is guided to the final position in the image forming apparatus main body 2 while moving in the guide groove 37. .

  At this final position, since the operation handle 15 of the drum unit 10 is exposed upward as shown in FIG. 9, the operator holds the operation handle 15 from the image forming apparatus main body 2 before mounting the developing unit 20. The drum unit 10 can be removed freely.

  FIG. 10 shows a state in which the developing unit 20 is attached after the drum unit 10 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 2. In this state, the operation handle 15 of the drum unit 10 is covered with the sleeve protective cover 25 of the developing unit 20 on the side facing the developing unit 20. The sleeve protective cover 25 has moved to the position C in FIG.

  In this state, the operation handle 15 protrudes slightly upward from the upper part of the toner storage container 21, and the gap between the sleeve protective cover 25 and the operation handle 15 is small, so that the operator can hold the hand. Even if it is extended, the operation handle 15 cannot be held. Thus, the drum unit 10 can be removed only after the developing unit 20 is removed. Thereby, an erroneous operation can be prevented and the operation procedure is clarified.

  FIG. 11 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment, the toner container 21 of the developing unit 20 is protruded high upward. For this reason, the operation handle 15 of the drum unit 10 is completely covered with the sleeve protection cover 25 on the side facing the developing unit 20. In this state, the operator cannot see the operation handle 15 of the drum unit 10, and therefore cannot extend the hand to the operation handle 15. Thereby, like the above-mentioned case, an erroneous operation is prevented and an operation procedure is clarified.

  The present invention can be used in the field of image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, facsimile machines, printers, or multifunction machines having both functions.

1 is a cross-sectional side view of an image forming apparatus. It is an external view when the front cover same as the above is opened. FIG. 3 is an external view when a drum unit is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body. It is an external view of a developing unit. It is an enlarged view of the principal part same as the above. It is an external view of a drum unit and a developing unit. (A) (b) is sectional drawing which shows the engagement state of an arm and a sleeve protective cover, respectively. It is the figure which looked at the image development unit from the side, and is a figure which shows the mode of a movement of a sleeve protective cover. 1 is an external view of a state where a drum unit is mounted on an image forming apparatus main body. FIG. 2 is an external view of a state where a drum unit and a developing unit are mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment in which a drum unit and a developing unit are mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Image forming apparatus main body, 10 ... Drum unit, 11 ... Photosensitive drum, 11A ... Drum shaft, 15 ... Operation handle, 20 ... Developing unit, 22 ... Developing sleeve 25 ... Sleeve protective cover, 27 ... Link member, 30 ... Arm

Claims (2)

A drum unit having a photosensitive drum and a developing unit having a developing sleeve disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum when the units are combined are configured separately, and these units are arranged in the order of the drum unit and the developing unit. In the image forming apparatus that can be attached to the
An operation handle is provided on the drum unit,
The developing unit is provided with a protective cover that covers the operation handle in a state where the drum unit and the developing unit are mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.
An image forming apparatus. The protective cover is a sleeve protective cover for protecting the developing sleeve;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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