JP2009122501A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus by which a toner contamination problem specific to an exposure device using an LED is easily solved without burdening a user. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with: an apparatus body 10; an electrophotographic image recording section 3; and a paper supply cassette 21 which stores a paper 20 on which an image is recorded in the image recording section 3 and which is installed so as to be inserted into and removed from the apparatus body 10. The image recording section 3 includes: a photoreceptor drum 30; an exposure unit 32 which is configured in such a manner that a large number of LEDs 321 are arranged and arranged so as to face the photoreceptor drum 30 in such a state that an exposure surface 325 is close to the photoreceptor drum 30 along its longitudinal direction; and a cleaning member 5 which is provided to be movable in a contact state along the exposure surface 325 of the exposure unit 32. The paper supply cassette 21 and the cleaning member 5 are linked through an interlocking mechanism 6. The cleaning member 5 is configured so that the movement is performed in conjunction with the insertion and removal operations of the paper supply cassette 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

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 these functions. More specifically, the paper fed from a paper feeding unit is sequentially imaged by an electrophotographic image recording unit. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs recording.

  As an image forming apparatus as described above, an electrophotographic system is provided that feeds out sheets (recording sheets) one by one from a sheet supply cassette that is detachably installed in the apparatus body, and is installed in the middle of the sheet conveyance path. An image recording unit that performs image recording is exemplified. An electrophotographic image recording unit includes a photosensitive drum, a charger that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum, and an exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum based on image information. The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image to form a toner image and a transfer unit that transfers the toner image onto a sheet. As an exposure apparatus, in addition to a laser beam system, a large number of light emitting diodes (hereinafter abbreviated as LEDs) are arranged to form a unit, and the exposure surface faces the photosensitive drum along its longitudinal direction. An exposure unit arranged to do so is also used.

In the case of the image forming apparatus as described above, the inside of the apparatus body is in a floating environment of toner, paper dust, and other dust. If these floating foreign substances adhere and accumulate on the exposure surface of the exposure apparatus, an exposure failure occurs on the photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic latent image is not normally formed, which causes a poor image quality. For this reason, a cleaning member that can be moved in contact with the exposure surface of the exposure apparatus is provided, and an operation bar is attached to the cleaning member. An image forming apparatus that performs cleaning is also put into practical use. However, when an image quality defect occurs, the user side cannot recognize that the exposure surface is contaminated and often does not lead to operation of the operation bar. In addition, there is a case where the user does not even know the existence of the operation stick and remains unsure of how to deal with it. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, the paper supply cassette and the cleaning member are linked to each other, and the cleaning member is brought into contact with the exposure surface along with the insertion / removal operation of the paper supply cassette. It is configured to move. Therefore, since the exposure surface is cleaned by the movement of the cleaning member, the clean state of the exposure surface is always maintained even if the user does not particularly recognize the causal relationship between the contamination of the exposure surface and the image quality failure. .
JP 2002-333802 A JP 2005-265965 A

  By the way, the exposure apparatus used in the image forming apparatuses disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 is based on a laser beam system. Such a laser beam type exposure apparatus reflects a laser beam emitted from one laser light source by a rotating polygon mirror and outputs it as a laser beam through a lens, a plurality of mirrors, etc. An electrostatic latent image is formed by scanning the surface. In the exposure apparatuses disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, these optical systems including a laser light source are housed in a single housing, the exit port is closed with a translucent plate, and a laser beam is irradiated onto the photoreceptor through the translucent plate. To scan. In this case, the laser beam exit is disposed at a position relatively distant from the photoconductor so that the laser beam can be scanned over the main scanning width of the photoconductor. For this reason, even if the untransferred toner on the surface of the photoconductor floats, the translucent plate is not often contaminated with the floating toner. In addition, since scanning is performed by reflecting a laser beam emitted from one laser light source with a polygon mirror, even if some foreign matter such as toner adheres to the translucent plate, the image quality is greatly affected. There is no.

  On the other hand, in an exposure apparatus in which a large number of LEDs are arranged and unitized, a SELFOC lens (registered trademark) is arranged in the light emitting part of the LEDs arranged over the longitudinal width (main scanning width) of the photosensitive member. A light transmitting part is provided in the light emitting part to form a unit. In this case, each LED emits light based on the image information, and is irradiated onto the surface of the photoreceptor through the SELFOC lens (registered trademark) and the translucent plate, so that the exposed surface approaches the surface of the photoreceptor (about 5 mm). ) It is necessary to arrange so as to face the position. Therefore, when the transfer residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor floats, the exposed surface is exposed to a state in which the exposed surface is easily soiled by the floating toner. In particular, when the photoconductor is a photoconductor drum, the exposure apparatus arranged close to the position downstream of the charger is driven by vibrations of a mechanism unit such as a paper transport mechanism or vibrations accompanying a repair operation when a paper jam occurs. For example, the transfer residual toner floating from the surface of the photosensitive drum is greatly affected by the above. In addition, since each LED emits light sequentially, the photosensitive member is substantially optically scanned in the main scanning direction, so that slight contamination on the exposed surface also affects the image quality.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image forming apparatus that can easily solve the problem of toner contamination peculiar to an exposure apparatus using LEDs without imposing a burden on the user. It is aimed.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus main body, an electrophotographic image recording unit, and a paper supply that can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus including a cassette, wherein the image recording unit is configured by arranging a photosensitive drum and a plurality of LEDs, and an exposure surface is close to the photosensitive drum along a longitudinal direction thereof. An exposure unit disposed so as to face each other, and a cleaning member movably provided in contact with the exposure surface of the exposure unit, and the paper supply cassette and the cleaning member are connected via an interlocking mechanism. The cleaning members are connected to each other and are configured to move in conjunction with the insertion / removal operation of the paper supply cassette.

  In the present invention, the interlocking mechanism includes a wire rod that connects the cleaning member and the paper supply cassette, and a plurality of pulleys that are installed in the apparatus main body and on which the wire rod is wound. Mechanism). Alternatively, the interlock mechanism includes a rack provided in the paper supply cassette along the insertion / removal direction, a pinion installed in the apparatus main body and meshing with the rack, and a belt installed in the apparatus main body and driven in conjunction with the rotation operation of the pinion. A mechanism and a wire rod wound around the pulley of the belt mechanism so as to be able to be fed out and connected at the tip thereof to the cleaning member (hereinafter referred to as a second interlocking mechanism) can also be used.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the paper supply cassette is inserted into or removed from the apparatus main body for paper replenishment or paper replacement, the cleaning member contacts the exposure surface of the exposure unit in conjunction with this insertion / removal operation. Move in state. Therefore, the movement of the cleaning member cleans the exposure surface of the exposure unit, and the occurrence frequency of image quality defects due to the contamination of the exposure surface is reduced. In particular, since the exposure unit is an array of a large number of LEDs, it is necessary to arrange the LEDs so as to face each other in the state of being close to the photosensitive drum, and therefore, the exposure unit is exposed to the floating environment of the transfer residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum. It is. However, since the exposure surface is cleaned in conjunction with the insertion / removal operation of the paper supply cassette as described above, the exposure surface is always kept clean, the function of the exposure unit by the LED is maintained, and the exposure surface becomes dirty. Is less likely to cause image quality defects. In addition, the insertion / removal operation of the paper supply cassette is inevitable in handling the image forming apparatus, and the exposure surface cleaning function associated with this operation is performed without the user's awareness. It does not impose a burden.

  When the first interlocking mechanism is adopted as the interlocking mechanism, it is composed of a wire rod connecting the cleaning member and the paper supply cassette and a plurality of pulleys around the wire rod. There has been no soaring. In addition, when the second interlocking mechanism is adopted, the exposure surface cleaning operation is more accurately performed due to the combination of the rack and pinion mechanism, the belt mechanism, and the wire rod, which is associated with the insertion / removal operation of the paper supply cassette. .

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a conceptual partially broken side view showing an embodiment of a connection relationship between an exposure unit and a paper supply cassette in the apparatus. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing another embodiment of the connection relationship between the exposure unit and the sheet supply cassette.

  The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated by taking a printer having an electrophotographic recording unit as an example. However, the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to this, and is not limited to this. A so-called multifunction machine or the like may also be used. In the figure, the apparatus main body 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a recording paper (paper) sheet supply unit 2, an electrophotographic image recording unit 3, and a recording sheet discharge unit 4 after recording in this order. It is configured to be stacked in the height direction. The recording paper supply unit 2 includes a removable recording paper (paper) supply cassette 21 that can store a large number of recording papers 20 in a stacked state, and a separation roller installed at the front end of the recording paper supply cassette 21. 22, a separation pad 23 that elastically contacts the peripheral surface of the separation roller 22, a push-up plate 24 that is installed in the recording paper supply cassette 21 and pushes up the accumulated recording paper 20, and an upward elasticity on the push-up plate 24. And a compression coil spring 25 for imparting. Since the push-up plate 24 is always given upward elasticity by the compression coil spring 25, the front end portion of the recording paper 20 deposited on the push-up plate 24 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the separation roller 22. Therefore, when the separation roller 22 rotates, the stacked recording paper 20 is separated one by one from the uppermost layer portion by the cooperative action of the separation roller 22 and the separation pad 23, and is fed to the recording paper conveyance path 8 to be described later. Is paid out.

  The image recording unit 3 includes a process unit in which a plus (or minus) charger 31, an exposure unit 32, a developing device 33, a transfer roller 34, and a cleaning device 35 are arranged in this order around the photosensitive drum 30. And a fixing device 36 on the downstream side. As will be described later, the exposure unit 32 is a unit in which a large number of LEDs 321 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 30, that is, in the main scanning direction, and can be moved in a contact state along the exposure surface 325. A cleaning member 5 is provided. As will be described later, the cleaning member 5 is linked to the recording paper supply cassette 21 via the interlocking mechanism 6, and can be moved along the exposure surface 325 by the interlocking mechanism 6. The photosensitive drum 30, the charger 31 and the cleaning device 35 are unitized as a drum unit, and the developing device 33 is unitized as a developing device unit. Both units are individually or coupled to the apparatus main body 10. Removably mounted. Since these units are consumables, they can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 10. As a mode that can be inserted / removed, in addition to the case where it can be inserted / removed in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. Sometimes it is said. Since the exposure units 32 are arranged close to the photosensitive drum 30, they come into contact with each other and the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 or the exposure surface 325 of the exposure unit 32 is damaged when the drum unit is inserted and removed. There is a fear. For this reason, although not shown in the drawing, the insertion / removal operation can be performed only when the exposure unit 32 is retracted to a position away from the photosensitive drum 30 by lever operation or the like during the insertion / removal operation of the photosensitive drum 30. Mechanism is adopted. The recording paper supply cassette 21 can be inserted / removed in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1 (see the white arrow direction 15 in FIGS. 2 and 4).

  A switching gate 41, a discharge roller pair 42, and a discharge tray 43 are provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 36, and the recording paper discharge unit 4 is configured by these. A registration roller pair 7 is installed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the process unit, and the recording paper 20 separated and fed from the recording paper supply cassette 21 one by one by the action of the separation roller 22 and the separation pad 23 is It is registered by the registration roller pair 7 and introduced into the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 30 and the transfer roller 34. The surface of the photosensitive drum 30 is uniformly charged positively (or negatively charged) by the charger 31 while rotating in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and an optical image based on the image information is generated by the exposure unit 32 by the photosensitive drum 30. The electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30. This electrostatic latent image is formed by the difference in potential generated between the light irradiated portion and the non-irradiated portion based on the characteristics of the photoconductor on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30.

  The electrostatic latent image is successively developed by the developing device 33 to become a toner image. This toner image reaches the nip portion with the transfer roller 34 as the photosensitive drum 30 rotates. The registration roller pair 7 is rotationally driven under registration control so that the recording paper 20 is introduced into the nip portion in synchronization with the movement of the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30. The transfer roller 34 nips and conveys the recording paper 20 while being in contact with the photosensitive drum 30 and being rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow (with respect to the photosensitive drum 30). During this time, the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 is recorded. It is transferred to paper. The recording paper 20 to which the toner image has been transferred is introduced into the fixing device 36 and fixed as a permanent image, and then the switching gate 41 is pushed up and discharged onto the discharge tray 43 through the discharge roller pair 42. The conveyance of the series of recording sheets 20 rises substantially vertically (vertically) immediately after feeding out from the recording sheet supply cassette 21, and the discharge roller pair 42 extends in a direction of about 180 degrees from the feeding direction from the recording sheet supply cassette 21. The recording paper 20 is discharged along the recording paper conveyance path (hereinafter referred to as a main conveyance path) 8 that makes a U-turn, and the recording paper 20 is discharged to the discharge tray 43 along the main conveyance path line 201. With such a layout configuration, the entire apparatus can be made compact.

The developing device 33 is a developing device using a two-component developer, and includes a developer storage chamber that stores a developer composed of toner and a carrier inside a resin-molded casing, and the storage chamber includes: Two stirring and conveying screws 331, a supply roller 332, and a developing roller 333 to which a bias is applied are provided. These mechanism portions 331, 332, and 333 in the storage chamber are connected to a drive transmission mechanism (not shown) in the apparatus main body 10 when the developing device 33 is attached to a predetermined part in the apparatus main body 10, and can be rotated. State. The developing roller 333 is electrically connected to a bias application power source (not shown). A toner tank 334 and a toner hopper 335 are installed at positions separated from the developer storage chamber. When the toner concentration in the developer storage chamber decreases, the toner is developed from the toner hopper 335 via a screw conveyor (pipe screw) 336. It is replenished in the medicine reservoir. The toner tank 334 is integrated with the waste toner tank 337 and is configured as a toner cartridge 330 that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 10. The transfer residual toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 by the cleaning device 35 is collected in a waste toner tank 337 via a screw 338.
The developing device 33 is not limited to a system using a two-component developer, but a one-component system or other systems can also be used.

  The illustrated image forming apparatus 1 has a double-sided recording function. A reversing paper transporting path (hereinafter referred to as a reversing transporting path) 9 that circulates and joins the main transporting path 8 on the upstream side of the pair of registration rollers 7 from the attachment position of the switching gate 41 of the main transporting path 8 is formed. Has been. Two pairs of conveyance rollers 91 and 92 are provided along the reverse conveyance path 9. When the trailing edge of the recording paper 20 that has been recorded on one side and is conveyed along the main conveyance path 8 reaches the discharge roller pair 42, the recording paper 20 is supplied to the reverse conveyance path 9 by the reverse rotation of the discharge roller pair 42. The recording paper 20 supplied to the reverse conveyance path 9 is continuously conveyed along the reverse conveyance path 9 by a pair of conveyance rollers 91 and 92, joins the main conveyance path 8 along the reverse conveyance path line 202, and registration rollers. It reaches pair 7. Thereafter, the toner is introduced again into the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 30 and the transfer roller 34, and recording on the back surface is performed. The recording paper 20 recorded on both sides is discharged onto the discharge tray 43 along the main transport path 8 as described above.

  A manual feed tray 110 is provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed. The recording paper 20 set on the manual feed tray 110 is separated one by one by the action of the separation roller 111 and the separation pad 112 and is supplied into the apparatus main body 10. These constitute the manual paper supply unit 11. The separated and supplied recording paper 20 passes through the manual paper conveyance path 12, draws a manual conveyance path line 203 and joins the main conveyance path 8, and the nip between the photosensitive drum 30 and the transfer roller 34 by the registration roller pair 7. Introduced to the department. Therefore, recording based on the image information is performed on the manual-feed recording paper 20 as described above. In the image forming apparatus 1 shown in the figure, an optional cassette (not shown) as a multi-stage cassette system can be installed under the recording paper supply cassette 21, and recording from the lower option cassette is performed in the apparatus main body 10. A paper conveyance path 8 'is formed. This transport path 8 'constitutes a part of the main transport path 8 when the multi-stage cassette system is used.

  The registration roller pair 7 includes a driving roller and a freely rotatable pressure roller pressed against the driving roller. The recording paper 20 introduced into the nip portion between the driving roller and the pressure roller is propelled and conveyed downstream by the rotational driving of the driving roller and the pressing action of the pressure roller. Resin films 13 and 14 for smoothly guiding and introducing the recording paper 20 to the nip portion of the registration roller pair 7 are bonded to the guide wall portion constituting the main conveyance path 8 near the upstream side of the registration roller pair 7. It is fixed by.

  Next, the exposure unit 32, the cleaning member 5, and the first interlocking mechanism (first embodiment of the interlocking mechanism) 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The exposure unit 32 is configured by incorporating a large number of LEDs 321 in an arrangement state along the main scanning direction in a unit case 320. The LED 321 is mounted on a substrate 322 incorporated in the unit case 320, and a SELFOC lens (registered trademark) 323 and a translucent plate 324 are assembled along the optical axis to the light emitting portion of the LED 321. An outer surface of the plate 324 is an exposure surface 325. In FIG. 2, the array group of the multiple LEDs 321 is indicated by a broken line. The exposure surface 325 faces in a state close to the surface of the photosensitive drum 30, and the distance D between the exposure surface 325 and the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 is set to about 5 mm.

  The cleaning member 5 includes a cleaning body 51 made of felt or sponge, and a frame-shaped moving body 52 that holds the cleaning body 51. The moving body 52 is guided and supported by a guide body (not shown) formed in the unit case 320 or the apparatus main body 10 so that the cleaning body 51 can move along the longitudinal direction in contact with the exposure surface 325. Is done. A protrusion 53 is provided on the side of the moving body 52, and a wire (wire) 61 constituting the first interlocking mechanism 6 described later is connected to the protrusion 53.

  The first interlocking mechanism 6 includes a wire 61 that connects the cleaning member 5 and the recording paper supply cassette 21, and two pulleys 62 and 62 that are rotatably installed in the apparatus main body 10 (see FIG. 1). Is done. One end of the wire 61 is connected to the protrusion 53 and the other end is connected to a connection protrusion 210 formed on the bottom of the recording paper supply cassette 21. The middle of the wire 61 is wound around the two pulleys 62 and 62. The projection 53 is connected to a tensile force applying member 63 such as a mainspring spring that applies a tensile force in a direction opposite to the connection direction with the recording paper supply cassette 21. As the tension applying member 63, a tension coil spring or a rubber string can be used in addition to the mainspring spring. The recording paper supply cassette 21 can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 10 in the white arrow direction 15, the arrow direction 151 indicates the extraction direction, and the arrow direction 152 indicates the insertion direction.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the recording paper supply cassette 21 is inserted and installed at a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 10 (the state shown in FIG. 1). From this state, if the recording paper supply cassette 21 is to be pulled out in the direction indicated by the arrow 151 for replenishing or replacing the recording paper (size exchange), the wire 61 resists the tensile force of the tensile force applying member 63. Are pulled in the arrow direction 611 and moved in the same direction 611 while the pulleys 62 and 62 are rotated. Accordingly, the cleaning member 5 moves to the right in FIG. 2 along the exposure surface 325 of the exposure unit 32, and the cleaning action in the contact state with respect to the exposure surface 325 of the cleaning body 51 accompanying the movement of the cleaning member 5. The exposed surface 325 is cleaned. After the recording paper is replenished or exchanged, the recording paper supply cassette 21 is inserted in the white arrow direction 152 to return to a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 10. At this time, since the tensile force is applied to the wire 61 by the tensile force applying member 63, the wire 61 is pulled back in the arrow direction 612 and the cleaning member 5 moves to the left along the exposure surface 325 along with this. . In this way, the exposure surface 325 is cleaned by the reciprocating movement of the cleaning member 5 along the exposure surface 325 accompanying the insertion / removal operation of the recording paper supply cassette 21.

  As described above, the exposure unit 32 is formed as a unit by incorporating a large number of LEDs 321 in an array state. Due to its characteristics, the exposure unit 32 is installed at a position close to the photosensitive drum 30, so that the transfer residual toner is always floated. You will be exposed to the environment. However, since the exposure surface 325 is cleaned and kept in a clean state by the insertion / removal operation of the recording paper supply cassette 21, the occurrence of exposure failure and image quality failure due to adhesion of floating foreign matters such as transfer residual toner is suppressed. . In addition, when handling this type of image forming apparatus 1, it is inevitable to insert and remove the recording paper supply cassette 21, and the exposure unit 32 can be cleaned without causing a mental burden on the user. . Furthermore, since the first interlocking mechanism 6 is composed of the wire 61, the pulley 62, and the tensile force imparting member 63, the structure is simple and there is no concern that the cost will increase.

  FIG. 4 shows a second interlocking mechanism (second embodiment of the interlocking mechanism) 60. The second interlocking mechanism 60 includes a rack 64 provided on the lower surface of the paper supply cassette 21 along the insertion / removal direction (white arrow direction 15), a pinion 65 installed in the apparatus body 10 and meshing with the rack 64, The first and second belt mechanisms 66 and 67 that are installed in the apparatus main body 10 and are driven in conjunction with the rotation of the pinion 65, and a pulley 672 that is described later of the second belt mechanism 67 are coaxially and integrally provided. The wire 61 is wound around the winding drum 674 so as to be able to be fed out, and the tip of the wire is connected to the protrusion 53 of the cleaning member 5. In this case, the winding drum 674 is formed substantially as part of the pulley 672. The first and second belt mechanisms 66 and 67 are configured by winding belts 663 and 673 around two pulleys 661, 662 and 671, 672, respectively. One pulley 661 of the first belt mechanism 66 is coaxially integrated with the pinion 65. In addition, at the connecting portion between the first belt mechanism 66 and the second belt mechanism 67, both pulleys 662 and 671 are coaxially integrated. Similarly to the above, the protrusion 53 of the cleaning member 5 is connected to a tensile force applying member 63 that applies a tensile force in a direction opposite to the connection direction with the recording paper supply cassette 21.

  When the recording paper supply cassette 21 is pulled out in the white arrow direction 151 in the linked relationship between the recording paper supply cassette 21 and the cleaning member 5 by the second interlocking mechanism 60 configured as described above, the rack 64 and the pinion 65 are engaged with each other. The pinion 65 rotates in the arrow direction 651. The rotation of the pinion 65 causes the first belt mechanism 66 to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 664 and the second belt mechanism 67 to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 675, and this rotational drive is applied to the take-up drum 674 via the pulley 672. Then, the wire 61 is wound around the winding drum 674. As the wire 61 is wound around the winding drum 674, the cleaning member 5 moves to the right along the exposure surface 325 of the exposure unit 32, and the cleaning member 51 moves with respect to the exposure surface 325 along with the movement of the cleaning member 5. The exposure surface 325 is cleaned as described above by the cleaning action in the contact state. Further, after replenishment or replacement of the recording paper, the recording paper supply cassette 21 is inserted in the white arrow direction 152 to return to a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 10. At this time, the rack 64 and the pinion 65 The pinion 65 rotates in the arrow direction 652 by the meshing. As the pinion 65 rotates in the arrow direction 652, the first and second belt mechanisms 66 and 67 are driven to rotate in the arrow direction 665 and 676, and the wire 61 wound from the winding drum 674. Is paid out. Since the tensile force is applied to the wire 61 by the tensile force applying member 63, the fed wire 61 is pulled back, and the cleaning member 5 moves to the left along the exposure surface 325 at the same time. In this way, the exposure surface 325 is cleaned by the reciprocating movement of the cleaning member 5 along the exposure surface 325 accompanying the insertion / removal operation of the recording paper supply cassette 21. Therefore, the same function as described above is achieved. In this case, although the device configuration of the second interlocking mechanism 60 is somewhat complicated, the cleaning operation of the exposure surface 325 accompanying the insertion / removal operation of the recording paper supply cassette 21 is performed more accurately.

  In the above embodiment, the electrophotographic image recording unit is a monochrome image recording unit, but may be a color image recording unit. In addition, although two embodiments of the interlocking mechanism have been illustrated, other mechanisms may be used as long as the sheet supply cassette and the cleaning member are connected and the cleaning member is moved in conjunction with the insertion / removal operation of the sheet supply cassette. It is possible to adopt.

1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual partially broken side view showing an embodiment of a connection relationship between an exposure unit and a paper supply cassette in the same apparatus. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing another embodiment of the connection relationship between the exposure unit and the paper supply cassette.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Apparatus main body 20 Recording paper (paper)
21 Recording Paper (Paper) Supply Cassette 3 Image Recording Unit 30 Photosensitive Drum 32 Exposure Unit 321 LED (Light Emitting Diode)
325 Exposure surface 5 Cleaning member 6 Interlocking mechanism (first embodiment)
60 interlocking mechanism (second embodiment)
61 Wire
62 pulley 64 rack 65 pinion 66,67 belt mechanism 672 pulley 674 take-up drum (part of pulley)

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body; an electrophotographic image recording unit; and a paper supply cassette that accommodates paper for recording an image in the image recording unit and is detachably installed in the apparatus main body Because
The image recording unit is configured by arranging a photosensitive drum and a plurality of light emitting diodes, and an exposure unit arranged so as to face the photosensitive drum with an exposure surface approaching along a longitudinal direction thereof, A cleaning member movably provided in contact with the exposure surface of the exposure unit,
The sheet supply cassette and the cleaning member are connected to each other through an interlocking mechanism, and the cleaning member is configured to move in conjunction with an insertion / removal operation of the paper supply cassette. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism includes a wire rod that connects the cleaning member and the paper supply cassette, and a plurality of pulleys that are installed in the apparatus main body and are wound around the wire rod. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The interlocking mechanism is driven in conjunction with a rack provided in the paper supply cassette along the insertion / removal direction, a pinion installed in the apparatus main body and meshing with the rack, and installed in the apparatus main body in conjunction with the rotation operation of the pinion. An image forming apparatus comprising: a belt mechanism; and a wire rod wound around a pulley of the belt mechanism so as to be able to be fed and having a leading end connected to the cleaning member.

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