JP2006243085A - Image forming apparatus and development apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a normal electrostatic latent image on the surface of an image carrier by attachably and detachably fixing an electrostatic latent image forming apparatus to a development apparatus with a fixing member having elasticity, thereby making a moving region of the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus smaller, making the capacity of a toner cartridge greater and making the distance between the image carrier and the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus constant. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus having the image carrier and an attachable and detachable cartridge forming a toner image on the image carrier includes the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus for forming the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier and a fixing member having the elasticity to fix the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus to the cartridge. The electrostatic latent image forming apparatus and the fixing member are attachable and detachable together with the cartridge as an integral unit to and from the main part of the image forming apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a developing device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, or a facsimile using an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier made of a photosensitive member or a dielectric, and the electrostatic latent image is developed. The toner image is developed with a toner, and the toner image on the image carrier is transferred to a recording medium such as paper (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a conventional image forming apparatus, and is a view seen from a direction orthogonal to the upper of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a first view showing a conventional LED (Light Emitting Diode) head unit. It is a 2nd figure which shows the conventional LED head unit.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a so-called tandem color electrophotographic printer, in which a plurality of image forming units are arranged in a multi-stage manner, and four types of colorants are sequentially transferred onto a sheet in one step for printing. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an LED head unit 102 held by the upper cover 101, a developing device 104 mounted on the apparatus main body 105, and a transfer roller 106 that is in pressure contact with the photosensitive drum 103 of the developing device 104. Four sets of image forming units are provided. The developing device 104 is provided with a detachable toner cartridge 104a.

  The four sets of image forming units are arranged along a conveyance path of a recording sheet as a recording medium that moves in a direction indicated by an arrow A. The recording sheet is attracted to and moved by the carrier belt 107 that moves while being sandwiched between the photosensitive drums 103 and the transfer roller 106. Then, developing devices 104 for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) are mounted in order from the upstream side of the transport path.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the upper cover 101 is closed, each LED head unit 102 has a front end thereof in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 103 that constitutes the developing device 104 facing the desired exposure. Move to a position where is possible. In this case, the position of the LED head unit 102 changes as shown in FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the upper cover 101 is opened. In this state, the pressing spring 108 fixed to the fixed arm 109 does not press the LED head unit 102 against the developing device 104. On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows a state in which the upper cover 101 is closed. In this state, the pressing spring 108 presses the LED head unit 102 against the developing device 104 with an arbitrary force. As a result, the LED head unit 102 selectively irradiates light onto the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 103 to form an electrostatic latent image.
JP 2003-255805 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus 100, when the upper cover 101 is opened and closed, the LED head unit 102 moves along an arcuate locus. As a result, the movement area of the LED head unit 102 becomes large, and it is necessary to secure a large movement space area of the LED head unit 102 in the apparatus main body 105. Therefore, if the image forming apparatus 100 is to be downsized, the capacity of the toner cartridge 104a cannot be increased.

  Further, it is not possible to absorb an error in the distance between the photosensitive drum 103 as the image carrier and the LED head unit 102 as the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus, and a normal electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 103. Could not be formed.

  The present invention solves the problems of the conventional image forming apparatus and forms an electrostatic latent image by detachably fixing the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus to the developing device by a fixing member having elasticity. The moving area of the device can be reduced, the capacity of the toner cartridge can be increased, and a normal electrostatic latent image can be formed on the surface of the image carrier by keeping the distance between the image carrier and the electrostatic latent image forming device constant. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a developing apparatus that can perform the above process.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that includes an image carrier and has a detachable cartridge that forms a toner image on the image carrier, the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier. An electrostatic latent image forming apparatus for forming the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus, and a fixing member having elasticity for fixing the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus to the cartridge. The electrostatic latent image forming apparatus and the fixing member are integrated with the cartridge. And detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus is detachably fixed to the developing device by the fixing member having elasticity. For this reason, the moving area of the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus can be reduced, the capacity of the toner cartridge can be increased, and the distance between the image carrier and the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus can be kept constant on the surface of the image carrier. An electrostatic latent image can be formed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus. Here, the image forming apparatus is, for example, a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, or the like, and prints black and white or color images on a recording medium such as a printing paper, an envelope, an OHP (Over Head Projector) sheet by an electrophotographic method. It comes to form. The image forming unit 10 forms a toner image on a recording paper as a recording medium, and fixes the toner image on the recording paper by a fixing device (not shown). The image forming apparatus may form a black and white image or a color image. When forming a color image, yellow (Y), magenta (M), The respective image forming units 10 corresponding to each color of cyan (C) and black (B) are sequentially arranged along the recording paper conveyance direction (lateral direction in the drawing).

  In addition, the image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeding cassette, a sheet feeding roller, a conveying roller, a conveying belt (not shown) that accommodates a large number of the recording sheets, a recording medium conveying apparatus that conveys the recording sheet, and the image forming unit. 10. A driving device including a motor, a gear, a belt, and the like (not shown) for driving movable members such as various rollers of the fixing device and the recording medium conveying device.

  The image forming unit 10 is an electrostatic latent image forming device, an LED head unit 11 as an exposure device, a developing device 12 as a detachable cartridge for forming a toner image, and a toner image transferred onto a recording sheet. A transfer roller 19 serving as a transfer member. The developing device 12 supplies a photoreceptor drum 13 as an image carrier, a charge roller 14 as a charging member for charging the surface of the photoreceptor drum 13, and toner as a developer to the surface of the photoreceptor drum 13. A developing roller 16 as a toner carrier for developing the electrostatic latent image; a toner supply roller 17 as a toner supply member for supplying toner to the developing roller 16; and a thickness of the toner on the developing roller 16 is regulated. A developing blade 18 as an elastic blade, a toner cartridge 21 filled with toner, and a blade member that functions as a cleaning member for removing toner remaining without being transferred onto the recording paper from the photosensitive drum 13 As a cleaning blade 20.

  The LED head unit 11 includes an eccentric cam 15 and an LED lens 11a as a lens described later. The eccentric cam 15 is for adjusting the focal length so that the LED light irradiated through the LED lens 11 a forms an image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13. The LED head unit 11 is fixed to the developing device 12 by a leaf spring clip 22 as a fixing member. The LED head unit 11 selectively exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 charged by LED light, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13.

  Next, the configuration for fixing the LED head unit 11 to the developing device 12 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 5 is a first detailed configuration diagram showing components for fixing the LED head unit to the developing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows the LED head unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a 2nd detailed block diagram which shows the structural member fixed to a developing device.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the LED head unit 11 has an LED lens 11 a that protrudes and extends to the bottom of the LED head unit 11. Further, the two eccentric cams 15 are provided outside the both ends. Further, a guide hole 26 is provided on the outer side, and a guide long hole 27 is provided on the opposite side. Further, the LED head unit 11 has leaf spring fixing projections 23 at both ends.

  On the other hand, the developing device 12 has a mounting surface 12b on which the LED head unit 11 is mounted, and an upper opening 12a is formed on the mounting surface 12b. The surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is opened through the upper opening 12a. A drum placement piece 12 c is placed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13. The LED lens 11a is accommodated in the upper opening 12a.

  Further, the developing device 12 has pilot pins 25 formed at both ends of the mounting surface 12b. The pilot pin 25 is adapted to be fitted (engaged) with a guide hole 26 and a guide long hole 27 which are formed at opposing positions in the LED head unit 11.

  Further, the developing device 12 has a leaf spring fixing slit 24 formed at the both ends just below the pilot pin 25. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the leaf spring clip 22 fixes the LED head unit 11 to the developing device 12 with an arbitrary pressure by fixing the leaf spring fixing protrusion 23 and the leaf spring fixing slit 24.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the leaf spring clip 22 is a leaf spring having arbitrary elasticity. The LED head unit 11 and the developing device 12 are sandwiched by the leaf spring clip 22 with an arbitrary pressure. For example, the set value of the pressure of the leaf spring clip 22 may be set to 400 [g] to 600 [g].

  In the conventional image forming apparatus described in the section “Background Art”, as shown in FIG. 4, the pressing spring 108 presses the LED head unit 102 against the developing device 104 with an arbitrary force. However, the pressing spring 108 corresponds to the leaf spring clip 22 in the present embodiment. Similarly, the set value of the pressure of the pressing spring 108 may be set to 400 [g] to 600 [g].

  The two eccentric cams 15 of the LED head unit 11 as shown in FIG. 1 adjust the focal length so that the LED light irradiated through the LED lens 11a and the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 are imaged. The LED head unit 11 is adjusted in advance by a measuring machine.

  On the other hand, the upper surfaces of the two drum placement pieces 12 c have a flat structure and are placed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13. The drum placement piece 12c functions as a spacer, and is arranged so that the distance from the flat surface is always kept constant when the photosensitive drum 13 rotates in the circumferential direction.

  Thus, the two eccentric cams 15 of the LED head unit 11 are pressed against the flat surfaces of the two drum placement pieces 12c, respectively. Here, when the pressing pressure is weak, the LED light is defocused. Also, if the pressing pressure is too strong, the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is damaged by the drum mounting piece 12c, and similarly, the LED light is defocused. Therefore, as described above, the pressure of the leaf spring clip 22 needs to be set.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the developing device 12 has an upper opening 12a, and two drum placement pieces 12c placed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 at both ends of the upper opening 12a. Is placed. The two eccentric cams 15 of the LED head unit 11 are placed on the two drum placement pieces 12c.

  The LED head unit 11 is formed with guide holes 26 and guide long holes 27 having different shapes at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the LED lens 11a. The guide hole 26 and the guide long hole 27 are formed at positions where the centers thereof are on the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the LED lens 11a. On the other hand, the developing device 12 is provided with pilot pins 25 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the upper opening 12a. The two pilot pins 25 are arranged so that a line connecting both centers is parallel to the rotation center axis of the photosensitive drum 13.

  Here, when the LED head unit 11 is placed on the placement surface 12 b of the developing device 12, the pilot pin 25 is fitted into the guide hole 26. Similarly, the other pilot pin 25 is fitted into the guide slot 27.

  The LED head unit 11 has leaf spring fixing protrusions 23 on both side surfaces. 5 and 6 show an example in which the leaf spring fixing projection 23 has a two-piece structure, and one side of the leaf spring clip 22 is inserted into a hollow portion between the two projections. .

  On the other hand, the developing device 12 has leaf spring fixing slits 24 formed immediately below the pilot pins 25 at both ends. The other side of the leaf spring clip 22 is inserted into the leaf spring fixing slit 24.

  In this way, as shown in FIG. 6, the LED head unit 11 can be clamped to the developing device 12 with an arbitrary pressure by the leaf spring clip 22. Therefore, before or after the developing device 12 including the toner cartridge 21 having a larger capacity than the conventional one as shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a predetermined position of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the LED lens 11a is placed on the upper side. The LED head unit 11 can be mounted and fixed on the mounting surface 12b so as to face the photosensitive drum 13 through the opening 12a.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the LED head unit 11 is fixed to the developing device 12 by the leaf spring clip 22 as a fixing member having elasticity. Therefore, the moving area of the LED head unit 11 can be reduced, and the upper space used as the moving area of the LED head unit in the conventional image forming apparatus is effectively used as an area for expanding the capacity of the toner cartridge 21. can do. As a result, the height of the developing device 12 can be suppressed, so that the height of the image forming apparatus main body can be suppressed and the size can be reduced.

  In addition, since the LED head unit 11 itself is fixed to the developing device 12, the LED head unit 11 itself can be reduced in size and weight because the LED head unit 11 itself is less affected by the stress generated when it is moved in the conventional image forming apparatus.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, what has the same structure as 1st Embodiment attaches the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the description. The description of the same operation and the same effect as those of the first embodiment is also omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a first detailed configuration diagram showing components that fix the LED head unit to the developing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 shows the LED head unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a detailed configuration diagram showing the mounting relationship of the LED head unit and the cleaning pad to the developing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a detailed configuration diagram showing the cleaning pad mounted on the developing device in the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the bearing member in the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. These are figures which show the change of the position of the shaft member in the bearing in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  In the present embodiment, the LED head unit 11 is swingably attached to the developing device 12. The developing device 12 is provided with a cleaning pad 34 to be described later, and the LED head unit 11 is swung so that dirt on the LED lens 11a can be wiped off with the cleaning pad 34. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the LED head unit 11 is pressed against the developing device 12 by a tension coil spring 31 as a fixing member. In this case, the tension coil spring 31 connects (connects) the developing device side fulcrum posts 32 a attached to both ends of the developing device 12 and the LED head unit side fulcrum posts 32 b attached to the LED head unit 11. It is caught like that. The tension coil spring 31 is a spring spring having an arbitrary elasticity, and plays the same role as the leaf spring clip 22 in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the LED head unit 11 and the developing device 12 are attracted to each other by the tension coil spring 31 with an arbitrary pressure. For example, the set value of the pressure of the tension coil spring 31 may be set to 400 [g] to 600 [g].

  As shown in FIG. 8, the LED head unit 11 is attached with a shaft member 33 as a rotating shaft, which is a rod-shaped member, and the LED head unit 11 swings about the shaft member 33 as a rotation center. The shaft member 33 plays a role similar to that of the LED head unit side fulcrum post 32b, and has a structure that allows the LED head unit 11 to pass through a skewer in the longitudinal direction and be separated. Further, bearing members 36 are attached to both ends of the developing device 12, and both ends of the shaft member 33 are supported by the bearing members 36. The bearing member 36 is formed of an elastic member. When a predetermined pressure is applied, a dalmaring bearing hole 36a, which will be described later, is deformed, and the shaft member 33 moves between the upper and lower holes of the dalmaring bearing hole 36a. It is configured to be able to.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the bearing member 36 includes a dalmaring bearing hole 36a having a cross-sectional shape having a dalmaring shape. The shaft member 33 is attached to and detached from the bearing member 36 through the upper hole portion of the dalmaring bearing hole 36a. When the LED head unit 11 is fixed to the developing device 12, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 12A, the shaft member 33 is pushed into the lower hole portion of the dalmaring bearing hole 36a. On the other hand, when the LED head unit 11 is separated from the developing device 12, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 12B, the shaft member 33 is pushed up and released by the hole portion on the upper side of the dalmaring bearing hole 36a. It should be noted that the diameters of the upper hole portion and the lower hole portion of the dalmaring bearing hole 36a are the same, or the diameter of the upper hole portion needs to be larger. Since the LED head unit 11 is pressed against the developing device 12 with an arbitrary pressure, the dalmaring bearing hole 36a is adjusted so as to apply a downward force.

  In the present embodiment, the LED head unit 11 and the cleaning pad 34 are mounted on the developing device 12 in a positional relationship as shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, the LED head unit 11 is illustrated in a simplified manner. In this case, the entire cleaning pad 34 is attached to the developing device 12 as shown in FIG. The size of the cleaning pad 34 in the longitudinal direction only needs to be sufficient to include the length of the LED lens 11 a in the LED head unit 11. Further, the width of the cleaning pad 34 may be sufficient as long as it sufficiently covers the width of the LED lens 11a and wipes off the dirt on the lens.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the developing device side fulcrum post 32 a and the LED head unit side fulcrum post 32 b are formed in a columnar shape, which is equal to or higher than the pressure of the tension coil spring 31 in which the LED head unit 11 is set. The LED head unit 11 can be easily swung around the shaft member 33 as the center of rotation by lifting it upward with force. Thus, since the LED head unit 11 can be easily lifted and swung, dirt on the surface of the LED lens 11a, for example, toner can be wiped off by the cleaning pad.

  Next, a modified example of the structure for fixing the LED head unit 11 to the developing device 12 in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a modified example of the bearing member in the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is a diagram of a component member for fixing the LED head unit to the developing device in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a support member according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, a bearing member 36b as shown in FIG. 13 can be used instead of the bearing member 36. The bearing hole 36c of the bearing member 36b includes a circular lower hole portion and a fan-shaped upper hole portion communicating with the lower hole portion. The upper end of the upper hole is open.

  Moreover, the LED head unit 11 can also be attached as shown in FIG. In this case, the LED head unit 11 has bearing support members 35 attached to both ends, and is supported by fulcrum post units 37 attached to both ends of the developing device 12. As shown in FIG. 15, the fulcrum post unit 37 includes a fulcrum post 37a as a cylindrical rotation shaft protruding from the side surface. Further, the bearing support member 35 is provided with a dalmaring bearing hole 35 a similar to the dalmaring bearing hole 36 a of the bearing member 36. The fulcrum post 37a is attached to and detached from the bearing support member 35 through the lower hole portion of the dalmaring bearing hole 35a. When the LED head unit 11 is fixed to the developing device 12, the fulcrum post 37a is pushed into the upper hole portion of the dalmaring bearing hole 35a. On the other hand, when the LED head unit 11 is separated from the developing device 12, the fulcrum post 37a is pushed down and released into the lower hole portion of the dalmaring bearing hole 35a. It should be noted that the lower hole portion and the upper hole portion have the same diameter, or the lower hole portion needs to have a larger diameter.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus in this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a first diagram showing an image forming unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 17 is a second diagram showing an image forming unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Here, the case where the LED head unit 11 has bearing support members 35 attached to both ends as shown in FIG. 14 and is supported by fulcrum post units 37 attached to both ends of the developing device 12 will be described. . First, after inserting the fulcrum post 37a of the fulcrum post unit 37 corresponding to the lower hole part of the dalmaring bearing hole 35a of one bearing support member 35, below the dalmaring bearing hole 35a of the other bearing support member 35. The fulcrum post 37a of the fulcrum post unit 37 corresponding to the hole portion on the side is inserted. As a result, the LED head unit 11 is hung from the developing device 12. The bearing support member 35 is formed of an elastic member, and when a predetermined pressure is applied, the dalmaring bearing hole 35a is deformed, and the fulcrum post 37a moves between the upper and lower holes of the dalmaring bearing hole 35a. It is configured to be able to.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment, the LED head unit 11 is stopped at a position where the guide hole 26 and the guide long hole 27 are fitted to the pilot pins 25 at both ends of the developing device 12. Let Then, the LED head unit 11 is moved downward so that the fulcrum post 37a is pushed into the upper hole portion of the dalmaring bearing hole 35a, and is placed on the placement surface 12b of the developing device 12. As a result, as shown in FIG. 16, the LED head unit 11 is mounted on the developing device 12. In this case, the LED head unit 11 has the hole portion on the upper side of the dalmaring bearing hole 35a of the bearing support member 35 as a fulcrum, and the two eccentric cams 15 of the LED head unit 11 are flat on the two drum mounting pieces 12c. It is fixed in a state where it is pressed against each surface.

  Further, when the dirt on the LED lens 11a is wiped off with the cleaning pad 34, the LED head unit 11 is swung as shown in FIG. In this case, the LED head unit 11 is moved upward so that the fulcrum post 37a is pushed into the lower hole part of the dalmaring bearing hole 35a, and the fulcrum post is lifted from the mounting surface 12b of the developing device 12. The LED head unit 11 is swung around the rotation center 37a. Thereby, the dirt adhering to the surface of LED lens 11a is wiped off by cleaning pad 34 arranged on the circular arc which is the movement locus of the surface of LED lens 11a.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the shaft member 33 and the bearing member 36 or the bearing support member 35 and the fulcrum post unit 37 as means for fixing the LED head unit 11 to the developing device 12, and the elastic fixing member The LED head unit 11 is fixed to the developing device 12 by a tension coil spring 31. Therefore, the movement area of the LED head unit 11 can be reduced, and the upper space used as the movement area of the LED head unit in the conventional image forming apparatus is effective as an area for expanding the capacity of the toner cartridge 21. Can be used. As a result, the height of the developing device 12 can be suppressed, so that the height of the image forming apparatus main body can be suppressed and the size can be reduced.

  Further, there are two rotation axes at positions relative to the developing device 12, and the cleaning pad 34 is disposed on an arc drawn around one rotation axis, and the LED head unit 11 itself moves on the arc. Can be done. For this reason, it is possible to remove dirt from the LED lens 11a without completely removing the LED head unit 11 from the developing device 12. Therefore, the mounting area of the toner cartridge 21 is expanded to the upper part of the LED head unit 11, and the space is increased. It can be used efficiently. In addition, it is possible to realize a convenient image forming apparatus that can perform the cleaning operation of the LED lens 11a without removing the toner cartridge 21.

  Furthermore, as a means for realizing a rotating shaft at two places, a dull marring bearing hole 35a and a dull marring bearing hole 36a are employed, so that arbitrary pressure can be applied to the LED head unit 11 itself and the developing device 12 can be easily crimped. It becomes possible to do. Further, since the LED head unit 11 can be detached from the developing device 12 with an arbitrary pulling force, the structure can be simplified, and the development device 12 and the LED head unit 11 can be expected to be reduced in size and weight. it can.

  The second embodiment is based on the premise that the LED lens 11a is manually cleaned, but the mechanism for automatically moving the fulcrum post 37a or the LED head unit 11 itself having the fulcrum post 37a. Can be applied to the automatic cleaning mechanism of the LED lens 11a.

  Further, by making the material of the cleaning pad 34 electrostatically adsorbable, the movable area of the LED head unit 11 can be reduced, and the image forming apparatus can be downsized.

  Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made based on the spirit of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a conventional image forming apparatus, and is a view seen from a direction orthogonal to the upper of the image forming apparatus. It is a 1st figure which shows the conventional LED head unit. It is a 2nd figure which shows the conventional LED head unit. FIG. 3 is a first detailed configuration diagram showing components that fix the LED head unit to the developing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a second detailed configuration diagram showing components that fix the LED head unit to the developing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a 1st detailed block diagram which shows the structural member which fixes the LED head unit in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention to a developing device. It is a 2nd detailed block diagram which shows the structural member which fixes the LED head unit in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention to a developing device. It is a detailed block diagram which shows the mounting relationship to the developing device of the LED head unit and cleaning pad in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a detailed block diagram which shows the cleaning pad mounted in the developing device in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the bearing member in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the change of the position of the shaft member in the bearing in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the modification of the bearing member in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a detailed block diagram which shows the modification of the structural member which fixes the LED head unit in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention to a developing device. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the supporting member in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a first diagram illustrating an image forming unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a 2nd figure which shows the image forming unit in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11 LED head unit 11a LED lens 12 developing device 12c drum mounting top 13 photosensitive drum 22 leaf spring clip 31 tension coil spring 33 shaft member 34 cleaning pad 37a fulcrum post

Claims (5)

(A) An image forming apparatus having an image carrier and having a detachable cartridge for forming a toner image on the image carrier,
(B) an electrostatic latent image forming apparatus for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier;
(C) a fixing member having elasticity for fixing the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus to the cartridge;
(D) The electrostatic latent image forming apparatus and the fixing member are detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus together with the cartridge. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus is an exposure apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a spacer disposed between the image carrier and the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus. (A) The electrostatic latent image forming apparatus includes a rotation shaft,
(B) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus rotates about the rotation axis so that a lens and a cleaning pad of the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus rub against each other. (A) a developing device having an image carrier and forming a toner image on the image carrier,
(B) an electrostatic latent image forming apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier is fixed by a fixing member having elasticity;
(C) A developing device that is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus together with the electrostatic latent image forming apparatus and the fixing member.

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