JP2006119246A - Electrifying device in image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrifying device in image forming apparatus which is loaded from the oblique upper side to a photoreceptor with a very simple constitution without using an additional component, and is stably fixed to a storage part of the electrifier so as to easily attach and detach the electrifier. <P>SOLUTION: The electrifying device is composed of: the electrifier having a nearly rectangular shape; a claw part which is protrudingly disposed in the direction nearly orthogonal to the longitudinal direction on one end of the electrifier; the storage part for storing the electrifier which is disposed on the main body side; a first opening part disposed on the storage part, to which one end of the electrifier is inserted; a second opening part disposed on the storage part, to which the other end of the electrifier is inserted; and an engagement part becoming, a disengaged state to the claw part in the state in which the electrifier is obliquely inserted to the first opening part in the storage part, and an engaged state to the claw part in the state in which the other end in the electrifier is inserted to the second opening part in the storage part and is moved in the second opening part direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a charging device in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a composite machine using an electrophotographic method, and more particularly to a corotron type or scorotron type image forming apparatus that is detachable from a main body of the image forming apparatus. The charging device in FIG.

  In image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles, and complex machines using electrophotography, a photosensitive member (image carrier) is uniformly charged and then exposed to image data to form a latent image. Then, the latent image is developed with toner to obtain a toner image, and the density of the toner image greatly depends on the surface potential of the photoreceptor forming the electrostatic latent image. Therefore, in order to obtain an image having an appropriate density with good reproducibility, it is necessary to uniformly apply a predetermined surface potential to the photoconductor (image carrier) with good reproducibility.

  In such a charger, a charging wire is extended in the width direction so as to face the photosensitive member (image carrier), and the surface of the photosensitive member (image carrier) is applied by applying a high voltage to the charging wire. There are a corotron system for charging, a scorotron system for applying a bias voltage by providing a charging control grid called a scorotron at the open part of the shield case in this corotron charger.

  Among these, the scorotron charger can reduce uneven charging potential on the surface of the photoconductor (image carrier) by providing a charging control grid. However, these corotron and scorotron chargers are discharged. Discharge products such as ozone and nitrogen oxides generated by stagnation may accumulate in the shield case and adhere to the charging wire, causing discharge unevenness. Also, the generated nitrogen oxides are relatively heavy substances. Therefore, there is a concern that it may be attached to the photoconductor (image carrier) and cause a problem.

  For this reason, such corotron and scorotron type chargers must be detachable for cleaning and inspection at any time. For this reason, conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG. The convex part 62 provided at the end by inclining the charger 61 is inserted into the charger mounting opening 64 provided in the main body frame 63 of the process unit in the image forming apparatus, and the charger 61 is returned to the horizontal position to open the charger mounting opening 64. After being moved in the opening direction provided on the opposite side of the unit so as to be able to be held, a method such as fixing with the charger fixing member 65 from the outside of the unit main body frame 63 has been taken.

  However, in this method, in order to prevent the charger fixing member 65 itself from dropping off, it is necessary to firmly fix the charger fixing member 65 to the unit main body frame 63. For example, the charging wire in the charger 61 becomes dirty or disconnected and is removed from the unit main body frame 63. In this case, it is necessary to remove using a tool, man-hours and tools for replacing the charger are required, and the charger fixing member 65 itself also increases the cost.

  As a method for fixing such a charger to the unit main body frame, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a charging device in which a charger is inserted into a support portion and positioned and fixed on the other end side. Shows a charging device in which one end of a charger is inserted into an abutting member and is mounted in a storage position from above. Patent Document 3 discloses an image forming apparatus in which a charger is mounted from the lateral direction so that all electrical connections are possible, and the charger is fixed at a fixed position by a leaf spring. 4 shows a support structure for a charger in which hooks are provided at both ends of the charger, and an engagement hole that engages with the hook is provided on the storage side to position and fix the charger.

JP-A-6-67513 JP-A-7-219309 JP-A-8-146715 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-64957

  However, the charging device shown in Patent Document 1 needs to be fixed by screws or the like after the charger is inserted into the support portion, and requires man-hours and tools for replacing the charger. There is a possibility that the charging device is unstable and the charging is not stable. In addition, in the charging devices disclosed in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4, the image forming apparatus can be inserted in the lateral direction (Patent Document 3) or in the radial direction of the photoreceptor (Patent Document 4). In this case, the image forming apparatus cannot be employed in an image forming apparatus having a structure that can only be mounted obliquely from above.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the charger can be easily attached to the photoreceptor from an obliquely upper position without using extra parts, and can be stably fixed to the charger housing portion. It is an object to provide a charging device in an image forming apparatus that can be attached and detached.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention,
A substantially rectangular charger,
A claw portion disposed at one end of the charger so as to protrude in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction;
A storage section provided on the main body side for storing the charger;
A first opening provided in the storage portion into which one end of the charger is inserted;
A second opening provided in the storage portion into which the other end of the charger is inserted;
When the charger is obliquely inserted into the first opening of the storage portion, the charging portion is disengaged with the pawl, and the other end of the charger is inserted into the second opening of the storage portion. A locking portion that is engaged with the claw portion in a state of moving in the direction of the second opening,
Is provided.

  As described above, when the charger is inserted into the first opening in the storage portion, the charger is disengaged by being inserted obliquely, and the other end of the charger is inserted into the second opening (that is, charged). By providing a pawl that can be engaged when moved to the second opening side), no extra parts are used. A charging device in an image forming apparatus that can be mounted on and removed from a photosensitive member with a very simple configuration and can be mounted and removed easily so that the charging device can be stably fixed to a storage unit. can do.

  The pawl portion of the charger is provided with a spring property at a portion parallel to the charger side wall on one end side of the charger, and is a protrusion that engages with the locking portion on the side facing the charger. By having a part, it can be configured with a spring property with a simple configuration.

  The engaging portion of the storage portion protrudes from the storage portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the charger, and is connected to the wall portion, the wall portion engaging with the pawl portion, and the pawl. With a pressing portion that presses the portion toward the charger side, the claw portion of the charger inserted obliquely can be pressed with the connected pressing portion to be easily disengaged. It is possible to provide a charging device in an image forming apparatus that can be easily attached and detached.

  According to the present invention, the charger can be easily attached to the photosensitive member from an obliquely upper position without using extra parts, and can be stably fixed to the charger housing portion. A charging device in an image forming apparatus that can be attached and detached can be provided.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified, but are merely illustrative examples. Not too much.

  FIG. 1A is an overall perspective view of a charging device in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an engaging portion of the charging unit indicated by A in FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a state where the charger shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the unit main body frame, excluding the charger pressing spring, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for attaching the charger to the unit main body frame. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of removing the charger attached to the unit main body frame. In the figure, the same components are given the same numbers.

  FIG. 1A is an overall perspective view of a charging device in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes a substantially rectangular shape in which a charging wire is extended and a high voltage is applied to the charging wire. The corotron type or scorotron type charger case 2 for charging the surface of the photosensitive member (image carrier) by means of 2 will be described later when the charger case 1 is attached to the unit frame to which the charging device in the image forming apparatus is attached. A claw portion 3 for engaging with the locking portion to fix the charger case 1, when the charger case 1 is attached to a unit frame to which the charger is also attached, presses the charger case 1 toward the photoreceptor. Similarly, a charger holding spring 9 and a charger holding spring 9 that presses the other end of the charger case 1 toward the photosensitive member.

  The claw portion 2 of the charger case 1 is substantially the same as the longitudinal direction at the end portion of the charger case 1 as shown in FIG. 1B in which the vicinity of the claw portion 2 indicated by A in FIG. It protrudes in the orthogonal direction and is provided with a spring property in a part parallel to the side wall of the charger case 1, and is engaged with the engaging part at the end of the part formed in parallel to the charger side wall. A convex portion 21 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the unit main body frame 4 to which the charging device in the image forming apparatus is mounted is provided with a storage portion 41 for storing the charger case 1 in the radial direction of the photosensitive member 6. 41, a wall portion 51 that protrudes in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the charger case 1 and engages with the convex portion 21 of the claw portion 2, and is connected to the wall portion 51 to charge the claw portion 2 An engaging portion 5 is provided which is configured by a pressing portion 52 that presses toward the container case 1 and engages with the convex portion 21 in the pawl portion 2. In FIG. 2, the charger holding spring 3 of the charger case 1 is omitted in order to clearly show the storage state of the charger case 1 in the storage portion 41.

  On the other hand, the unit main body frame 4 in the image forming apparatus in which the charger case 1 is mounted has a first opening 7 and a storage portion 41 for storing the charger case 1 as shown in FIG. The second opening 8 is provided on the opposite side, and the side on which the charger case 1 is inclined and the pawl 2 is provided is inserted into the first opening 7 as shown by the arrow 11 in FIG. It can be done. At this time, the pawl portion 2 is pressed against the side wall side of the charger case 1 by the pressing portion 51 provided in the locking portion 5 and is not locked by the wall portion 51 in the locking portion 5.

  From this state, when the charger case 1 is stored in the storage portion 41 of the unit main body frame 4 as indicated by the arrow 12 in FIG. 3 and is moved in the direction of the second opening 8 as indicated by the arrow 13, the pawl portion 2. The claw portion 2 moves away from the pressing portion 52 and the convex portion 21 of the claw portion 2 jumps out to the wall portion 51 side of the locking portion 5 on the unit main body frame 4 side and is locked by the wall portion 51. . Therefore, the charger case 1 cannot move in the direction opposite to the arrow 13 and is fixed by being pushed toward the photosensitive member 6 by the charger holding springs 3 and 9.

  When the charger case 1 is removed from the storage portion 41, as shown in FIG. 4, the claw portion 2 of the charger case 1 is pressed against the side wall of the charger case 1 as indicated by the arrow 14, and the arrow 15 is left as it is. When the charger case 1 is pushed to the first opening 7 side as described above, the convex portion 21 of the pawl portion 2 rides on the pressing portion 52 of the locking portion 5. Therefore, when the opposite end of the charger case 1 is lifted from the second opening 8 as shown by the arrow 16, the state shown in FIG. 3 can be obtained.

  Therefore, when the charger case 1 is pulled in the direction opposite to the arrow 11 in FIG. 3, the charger case 1 can be detached from the unit body frame 4 as it is.

  Thus, when the charger case 1 is inserted into the first opening 7 in the storage portion 41, the pawl portion 2 is not engaged with the locking portion 5 by being inserted obliquely. The end side is inserted into the second opening 8 (that is, the charger case 1 can be inserted into both the first opening 7 and the second opening 8) and moved to the second opening 8 side. Since it is in an engaged state, it can be attached to the photosensitive member 6 obliquely from above with a very simple configuration without using extra parts, and the charger case 1 can be stably fixed to the storage portion 41. In addition, it is possible to provide a charging device in an image forming apparatus in which the charger case 1 can be easily attached and detached.

  The claw portion 2 in the charger case 1 is provided on one end side of the charger case 1 with a spring property in a portion parallel to the side wall of the charger case 1, and on the side facing the charger case 1. By having the convex part 21 which latches with the latching | locking part 5, it can comprise with a spring property with a simple structure.

  Further, the locking portion 5 in the storage portion 41 protrudes from the storage portion 41 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the charger case 1, and a wall portion 51 that engages with the pawl portion 2, and is connected to the wall portion 51. And the pressing portion 52 that presses the claw portion 2 toward the charger case 1 side so that the claw portion 2 in the charging case 1 inserted obliquely is pressed by the connecting pressing portion 52. It is possible to provide a charging device in an image forming apparatus that can be easily disengaged and in which the charger case 1 can be easily attached and detached.

  According to the present embodiment, there is provided a charging device that can be attached to the photoreceptor from an obliquely upper position with a very simple configuration without using extra parts, and can be stably fixed to the charger housing. be able to.

1A is an overall perspective view of a charger in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of an engaging portion of the charger shown in FIG. 1A with a unit main body frame. It is. FIG. 2 is a view showing a state where the charger shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a unit main body frame, excluding a charger pressing spring. It is a figure for demonstrating the mounting method to the unit main body frame of a charger. It is a figure for demonstrating the removal method of the charger with which the unit main body frame was mounted | worn. It is a figure which shows the mounting state of the conventional charger.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Charger case 11, 12, 13 Arrow 14, 15, 16 Arrow 2 Claw part 21 Convex part 3 Charger pressing spring 4 Unit main body frame 41 Charger accommodating part 5 Locking part 51 Wall part 52 Press part 6 Photoconductor

Claims (3)

A substantially rectangular charger,
A claw portion disposed at one end of the charger so as to protrude in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction;
A storage section provided on the main body side for storing the charger;
A first opening provided in the storage portion into which one end of the charger is inserted;
A second opening provided in the storage portion into which the other end of the charger is inserted;
When the charger is obliquely inserted into the first opening of the storage portion, the charging portion is disengaged with the pawl, and the other end of the charger is inserted into the second opening of the storage portion. A locking portion that is engaged with the claw portion in a state of moving in the direction of the second opening,
A charging device in an image forming apparatus, comprising:   The claw portion of the charger is provided with a spring property at a portion parallel to the charger side wall on one end side of the charger, and a convex portion that engages the locking portion on the side facing the charger. The charging device in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The engaging portion of the storage portion protrudes from the storage portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the charger, and is connected to the wall portion, and is connected to the wall portion, and the claw portion is connected to the wall portion. The charging device in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charging device includes a pressing portion that presses the charging device.

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