JP2012150200A - Packaging form of image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent deformation of sheet conveyance roller and dehumidify toner provided in a process cartridge, in a packaging form of an image forming device for packaging the process cartridge and a device body together.SOLUTION: When packaging the image forming device under a state where the process cartridge 9 storing image forming toner is inserted into the device body, a sheet material 70 is arranged between a lower face of the process cartridge 9 and a path constituent member 26 for spacing apart rollers of a pair of rollers 22 positioned in the conveyance path 29 between the lower face of the process cartridge 9 and a path constituent member 26. Further, a desiccant 80 is arranged close to the process cartridge 9. The desiccant 80 and the sheet material 70 are mutually connected by a belt member 75. An end of the belt member 75 is exposed outside from the front cover 8 covering the opening of the device body.

Description

  The present invention relates to a packaging form of an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is enclosed in an image forming apparatus main body.

  As a physical distribution form of the image forming apparatus main body and the process cartridge, the process cartridge is imaged in order to pack the image forming apparatus main body and the process cartridge in one box in order to reduce the packing material for transport and improve the transport efficiency. It has been proposed to pack in a state of being mounted in the forming apparatus main body. For example, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the process cartridge is packed in the apparatus body (hereinafter referred to as “bundling”), and the charging roller and the developing roller are separated from the photosensitive drum in the packed state. An image forming apparatus configured to do so is described. This is to prevent the photosensitive drum from being damaged due to vibration generated during transportation of the photosensitive drum in contact with the developing roller or the charging roller and rubbing.

JP 2006-259448 A

  The applicant previously proposed one in which one of a pair of paper transport rollers is supported by a process cartridge and the other is supported by an apparatus main body (Japanese Patent No. 3431881). In such a configuration, when the process cartridge is enclosed in the apparatus main body and the rollers are pressed against each other and placed in a high temperature environment for a long time, the roller is deformed or the apparatus main body supporting it is deformed. When performing an image forming operation, accurate paper conveyance may be hindered.

  In general, the toner inserted in the process cartridge deteriorates due to moisture absorption, which leads to a decrease in image quality during image formation. Therefore, when the process cartridge is packed, a device is devised so that the toner is stored in a dry state such as being put in a sealed bag. However, when the apparatus main body and the process cartridge are bundled, it is difficult to put the process cartridge in a sealed bag, and it is difficult to store the toner in a dry state.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in the packing form of the image forming apparatus that is packed with the process cartridge mounted on the apparatus main body, the sheet conveying roller is prevented from being deformed and the toner in the process cartridge absorbs moisture. It aims at suppressing.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a packaging form of an image forming apparatus in which the image forming apparatus is packed in a state where a process cartridge containing an image forming toner is inserted in the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus is provided below the process cartridge, conveys the sheet upward from the sheet supply tray, and conveys the sheet to the vicinity of the lower surface of the process cartridge. A first transport path, a second transport path that is continuous with the first transport path, and is formed by a path configuration member provided at a position facing the lower surface of the process cartridge and the lower surface of the process cartridge; and the process cartridge And a pair of paper transport rollers provided on the path constituent member, and the processor in the apparatus main body. A sheet material which is provided between the lower surface of the process cartridge and the path constituting member in a state where the cartridge is inserted, and which separates the pair of rollers; and a desiccant which is detachably provided in the apparatus main body. The desiccant and the sheet material are connected to each other.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the packaging form of the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the apparatus main body includes an accommodating space for accommodating the process cartridge in the apparatus main body, and the accommodating space. An opening for inserting / removing the process cartridge and a cover for opening / closing the opening, and the sheet material and the desiccant are adjacent to the process cartridge in the accommodation space. It is characterized by being arranged.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the packaging form of the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the sheet material, the desiccant or a part of the member connected thereto is provided with the cover. It is characterized by being exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body from the surface where it is present.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the packaging form of the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the sheet material, the desiccant or a part of the member connected thereto opens the cover when the cover is opened. The opening is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the packaging form of the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the sheet material and the desiccant are formed by a flexible belt member. It is connected.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the packaging form of the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the process cartridge accommodates the toner on the opening side in a state of being mounted in the accommodating space. A toner storage chamber, the roller is located behind the opening side end of the process cartridge, and the desiccant is connected to the opening side portion of the sheet material; and The process cartridge is located in the vicinity of the opening side portion of the process cartridge.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the packaging form of the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the apparatus main body is on the side opposite to the opening with respect to the process cartridge mounted in the accommodation space. A fixing device is provided at a distance from the process cartridge, and the desiccant is connected to an end on the back side with respect to the opening of the sheet material, and is positioned between the process cartridge and the fixing device. It is characterized by that.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the image forming apparatus is packed with the process cartridge inserted into the apparatus main body, the pair of rollers positioned on the conveyance path between the lower surface of the process cartridge and the path constituent member Are separated from each other, a sheet material is disposed between the lower surface of the process cartridge and the path constituent member. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the rollers from being deformed even when kept in a high temperature environment for a long time in a packed state, and to accurately convey the sheet when performing an image forming operation. Further, since the desiccant 80 is disposed in the apparatus main body, it is possible to prevent the toner from absorbing moisture in the packaged state. Further, since the sheet material and the desiccant are connected, if one of the sheet material and the desiccant is taken out, the other is also attached, so that the taking-out operation is easy and forgetting to take out can be prevented.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the sheet material and the desiccant are disposed together with the process cartridge in the accommodating space for the process cartridge, the desiccant efficiently absorbs moisture on the toner near the process cartridge. It can be demonstrated. Moreover, since they are arrange | positioned in one accommodation space, attachment of a sheet | seat material and a desiccant and taking-out work are easy.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sheet material, the desiccant, or a member connected to the sheet material is exposed to the outside from the apparatus main body. Therefore, it can be urged to take out the sheet material and the desiccant before using the image forming apparatus.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the sheet material, the desiccant, or a member connected thereto is exposed from the opening to the outside of the apparatus main body when the cover is opened. Therefore, it can be urged to take out the sheet material and the desiccant before using the image forming apparatus.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the sheet material and the desiccant are connected by the flexible belt member, so that the arrangement position of the sheet material and the desiccant is not on the same plane. By bending the belt member, the sheet material and the desiccant can be easily arranged.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the sheet material is disposed on the back side of the opening to separate the pair of rollers, and the desiccant is disposed near the opening, so that the desiccant can be seen from the opening. Easy to take out the sheet material together with the desiccant. Further, since the desiccant is located close to the toner storage chamber of the process cartridge, the moisture absorption effect on the toner can be efficiently exhibited.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the desiccant is disposed in the space formed by the space between the process cartridge and the fixing device, it is necessary to provide a special space for the desiccant. Therefore, the apparatus can be reduced in size. Moreover, although a desiccant will be arrange | positioned at the back, a desiccant can also be taken out by taking out a sheet material.

1 is a central sectional view of an image forming apparatus. 2 is a central sectional view of the image forming apparatus when a process cartridge is attached / detached. It is a perspective view of a process cartridge. FIG. 6 is a perspective view when the toner cartridge is attached / detached. 2 is a central cross-sectional view of a packing form of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. It is a perspective view explaining the relationship between the sheet material, the desiccant, and the belt member for the process cartridge. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment as viewed from the front in the packing form. It is a center sectional view of a packing form of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. It is a center sectional view of a packing form of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment.

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

<Schematic configuration of image forming apparatus>
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a housing 2 in which a paper feeding unit 3 for feeding paper S, an image forming unit 4 for forming an image on the paper S, and a pre-image forming unit. A paper feed tray 5 for storing the paper S and a paper discharge tray 6 for stacking the paper S after image formation are mainly provided.

  Here, in the description of the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 1, the direction will be described with reference to a user who uses the image forming apparatus 1. That is, the front cover 8 side in FIG. 1 is “front”, the opposite side is “rear”, the front side of the paper is “left”, and the back side of the paper is “right”. Also, the vertical direction in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 2 is provided with an opening 7 to which a process cartridge 9 described later can be attached and detached, and a front cover 8 that can open and close the opening 7 is rotatably provided. The front cover 8 is provided with a manual feed opening 10 through which the paper S can be fed to the image forming unit 4 in the front-rear direction. The manual feed opening 10 may be provided on the front surface of the housing 2 instead of the front cover 8. Further, the front cover 8 is provided with a concave cover concave portion 8 </ b> A that opens toward the inner side of the housing 2 between the upper wall of the front cover 8 and the manual feed opening 10. The cover recess 8 </ b> A extends long in the left-right direction of the image forming apparatus 1.

  Main internal components such as the image forming unit 4 including the process cartridge 9 are supported by a pair of left and right body frames 11 as mainly shown in FIG. Note that the housing 2 in a state in which various devices other than the process cartridge 9 such as the main body frame 11, the paper feeding unit 3, the exposure device 15 and the fixing device 16 described later are provided may be referred to as an “device main body” hereinafter. In the apparatus main body, an accommodation space 90 for accommodating the process cartridge 9 is formed between the pair of main body frames 11 and between an exposure apparatus 15 and a path constituting member 26 described later. The accommodation space 90 is connected to the opening 7.

  Next, the conveyance of the paper S and the image forming operation will be described in detail.

  The paper feed unit 3 includes a pickup roller 12, a separation roller 13A, a separation pad 13B, and a conveyance roller pair 14, and separates the sheets S stored in the paper feed tray 5 one by one to form an image. Transport to part 4.

  The paper feed tray 5 is installed below the process cartridge 9, and the sheet S is reversed from the paper feed tray 5 through the first transport path 20 and the second transport path 25 into a substantially U shape in side view and below the process cartridge 9. It is conveyed to. A guide member 21 is installed outside the curved portion of the substantially U shape, and at least a part of the first transport path 20 is configured by the lower surface 21A of the guide member 21.

  A guide member upper surface 21 </ b> B provided in the guide member 21 is positioned adjacent to the inner end of the manual feed opening 10 and guides the paper S inserted from the manual feed opening 10 to the image forming unit 4.

  The second conveyance path 25 is located downstream of the first conveyance path 20 in the sheet conveyance direction between the sheet conveyance surface 48 formed by the lower surface of the process cartridge 9 and the path constituting member 26 facing the sheet conveyance surface 48. It is formed continuously and connected to the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer roller 33. A registration roller pair 22 is provided in the middle of the second conveyance path 25. The registration roller pair 22 includes a main body side registration roller 23 provided on the path constituting member 26 and a process side registration roller 34 provided on the lower surface of the process cartridge 9. As shown in FIG. 7, the path component 26 is formed so as to bridge between the pair of left and right main body frames 11. As will be described later, since the process cartridge 9 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, the second transport path 25 is formed with the process cartridge 9 mounted on the apparatus main body, and the registration rollers 23 and 34 contact each other. Touch. When the process cartridge 9 is mounted on the apparatus main body, the process side registration rollers 34 are in contact with the main body side registration rollers 23 at a predetermined pressure by springs 24 provided on the main body frame 11 at both left and right ends.

  Between the guide member 21 and the sheet conveying surface 48, an opening portion 28 opened toward the opening portion 7 side is provided. The opening portion 28 enables the paper S inserted from the manual feed opening 10 to be supplied to the second transport path 25.

  Further, the sheet conveying surface 48 has a concave shape that is recessed upward, and an allowable space 29 for deflecting the sheet S that is aligned at the tip by the registration roller pair 22 between the sheet conveying surface 48 and the path constituting member 26. Is formed.

  The image forming unit 4 includes a process cartridge 9, an exposure device 15, and a fixing device 16.

  The exposure device 15 is disposed on the top of the housing 2. The exposure device 15 irradiates light (laser beam indicated by an arrow) based on image data toward the photosensitive drum 31.

  The process cartridge 9 is detachably inserted from the opening 7 between the exposure device 15 and the path constituting member 26 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 31 described later, and a positioning portion (not shown) of the main body frame 11 is shown. Is attached at a predetermined position. The process cartridge 9 is provided with a photosensitive drum 31, a developing roller 36, a supply roller 37, a toner storage chamber 39, and the like arranged from the rear to the front. A scorotron-type charger 32, a photosensitive drum is disposed on the rear upper side of the photosensitive drum 31. A transfer roller 33 is provided below the body drum 31. The photosensitive drum 31 and the rollers 36, 37, 33 are each rotatable around an axis that is long in the left-right direction and extends in the left-right direction.

  At the time of image formation, the toner in the toner storage chamber 39 is supplied to the developing roller 36 by the supply roller 37, and is frictionally charged to the positive polarity between the supply roller 37 and the developing roller 36.

  The toner supplied to the developing roller 36 is regulated in thickness (layer thickness) by the layer thickness regulating member as the developing roller 36 rotates, and the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the developing roller 36 as a thin layer having a constant thickness. It is carried on.

  On the other hand, the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the photosensitive drum 31 is uniformly positively charged by the charger 32 as the photosensitive drum 31 rotates, and then the high speed of the laser beam (see arrow) from the exposure device 15 is obtained. It is exposed by scanning. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be formed on the paper S is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31.

  The toner carried on the surface of the developing roller 36 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. As a result, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31 is visualized, and a toner image by reversal development is carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31.

  When the sheet S conveyed to the image forming unit 4 passes between the photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer roller 33 as indicated by a broken line, the toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 31 is Transferred onto the paper S.

  The fixing device 16 includes a heating roller 17 and a pressure roller 18 facing the heating roller 17. The fixing roller 16 is disposed on the opposite side (that is, rearward) of the process cartridge 9 from the opening 7. In the process cartridge 9, the toner image transferred onto the paper S is heat-fixed on the paper S by being heated and pressed while the paper S passes between the heating roller 17 and the pressure roller 18. .

  The sheet S on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed toward the sheet discharge roller 19 and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 6 provided above the exposure device 15 by the sheet discharge roller 19.

<Configuration of process cartridge>
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, the process cartridge 9 includes a drum cartridge 40 and a toner cartridge 60, and the photosensitive drum 31 and the rollers 36, 37, and 33 are divided into both cartridges 40 and 60. To support.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the drum cartridge 40 includes a frame 43 having a generally box shape. The frame 43 is positioned on the side of the opening 7 when the process cartridge 9 is mounted in the apparatus main body, a pair of frame side walls 44 that rise up with a gap between the left and right ends of the frame lower wall 47, and the process cartridge 9. A frame front wall 45 and a frame rear wall 46 located on the opposite side of the frame front wall 45 are provided. The pair of frame side walls 44, the frame front wall 45, and the frame rear wall 46 are continuous in a frame shape in plan view.

  The pair of frame side walls 44 rotatably support the photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer roller 33 at the cartridge rear portion 42 adjacent to the frame rear wall 46. The upper end of the frame rear wall 46 extends forward so as to cover the top of the photosensitive drum 31.

  The cartridge front portion 41 located in front of the front extension end of the frame rear wall 46 is a concave toner cartridge housing portion 52 in which a portion surrounded by the pair of frame side walls 44 and the frame front wall 45 is opened upward. The toner cartridge 60 can be accommodated.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the toner cartridge 60 has an upper wall, a lower wall, a pair of side walls 64 and a front wall 62 that surround the toner storage chamber 39, and is formed in a box shape with the rear side open. The developing roller 36 and the supply roller 37 are rotatably supported by a pair of side walls 64, and a part of the developing roller 36 is exposed from a position where the rear end is opened.

  In the toner cartridge 60, the photosensitive member is urged by the urging member 51 in a state where the shaft protruding from the left and right of the developing roller 36 is inserted into the positioning portion 49 cut out so as to be close to the photosensitive drum 31 on the frame side wall 44. Pressed toward the drum 31. Accordingly, the developing roller 36 is positioned in a state where the outer periphery of the developing roller 36 is close to the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 31. The toner cartridge 60 is held when the lock lever 50 is engaged with the protrusion 65 of the toner cartridge side wall 64 in a state where the toner cartridge 60 is fitted in the toner cartridge housing 52. When the lock lever 50 is released from the protrusion 65, the toner cartridge 60 can be removed from the toner cartridge housing portion 52.

  In a state where the process cartridge 9 is mounted in the storage space 90 in the apparatus main body, the toner storage chamber 39 of the toner cartridge 60 is positioned closer to the opening 7 than the photosensitive drum 31 and the developing roller 36. Further, the pair of registration rollers 22 are located on the back side of the opening 7 side end of the process cartridge 9.

  Note that the above-described sheet conveyance surface 48 on the process cartridge 9 side is formed on the back surface of the frame lower wall 47. The process side registration roller 34 is rotatably supported by the frame lower wall 47 with a part thereof exposed from the back surface.

  The drum cartridge 40 and the toner cartridge 60 include grip portions 53 and 63 that extend toward the opening 7 on the front walls 45 and 62, respectively. The grip portions 53 and 63 attach and detach the process cartridge 9 to and from the apparatus main body. When gripped by the user.

<Packing configuration>
In the present embodiment, the process cartridge is packaged and transported while being mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, thereby reducing the packaging material for transportation and improving the transportation efficiency.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the process cartridge 9, the sheet material 70, and the desiccant 80 are inserted into the apparatus main body at the time of packing.

  The sheet material 70 is a resin sheet made of a resin material, and is a member that holds the registration roller pair 22 in a state in which the pressure for separating or contacting each other is lowered when the image forming apparatus 1 is packed. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the process side registration roller 34 is a rod having a uniform diameter and the main body side registration roller 23 is partially present in the axial direction, the positions near the left and right ends of the process side registration roller 34, The sheet material 70 is inserted between the path constituent member 26 or the notch portion of the main body frame 11 continuing to the path constituent member 26. Specifically, the process cartridge 9 is mounted on the sheet material 70. Alternatively, the sheet material 70 may be disposed between the path forming member 26 and the sheet conveyance surface 48 of the process cartridge 9, avoiding the portion where the process side registration roller 34 and the main body side registration roller 23 abut. The sheet material 70 is preferably formed in a U-shape in plan view, with a pair of portions arranged at positions close to the left and right ends of the process side registration roller 34 and a portion connecting the pair of portions on the opening 7 side. ing.

  As a result, even when the packaging side is left in a high temperature environment for a long time, the pressure that biases the process side registration roller 34 toward the main body side registration roller 23 is applied to the main body frame 11 or the path constituting member 26 in the vicinity of the main body frame 11. Since it can be received, problems such as deformation of the contact portions of the registration rollers 23 and 34 and deformation of the path constituting member 26 are suppressed.

  The desiccant 80 is formed into a bag shape by placing a large number of granular silica gels in a breathable bag body. The silica gel contained in the bag can move freely within the bag, and the desiccant 80 can be deformed.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the desiccant 80 is disposed between the upper surface of the guide member 21 and the grip portion 53 of the drum cartridge 40 in the up and down direction, and the front and back directions of the desiccant 80 and the frame front wall of the process cartridge 9. 45. Furthermore, the desiccant 80 is formed horizontally in the left-right direction (the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 31) along the frame front wall 45. Preferably, the length of the process cartridge 9 in the left-right direction and the right and left of the desiccant 80 are The lengths in the direction are formed to be approximately the same length.

  Since the desiccant 80 is preferably sandwiched between the process cartridge 9 and the front cover 8, even if the image forming apparatus 1 is shaken during transportation, the silica gel in the desiccant 80 moves. Thus, the impact is absorbed, and the desiccant 80 serves as a cushion. This can prevent the process cartridge 9 and the apparatus main body from being damaged.

  The sheet material 70 and the desiccant 80 are connected by a flexible belt member 75.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the belt member 75 is connected to the vicinity of the front end (end portion on the opening 7 side) of the sheet material 70, passes through the permissible space 29 and the opening portion 28, and then desiccant 80. It is connected to. The belt member 75 is provided so as to be exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 from between the front cover 8 and the housing 2 after passing through the cover recess 8A and the process cartridge 9 after passing through the front end of the desiccant 80. It has been.

  Since the belt member 75 is exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1, the user can be urged to take out the sheet material 70 and the desiccant 80 before using the image forming apparatus 1.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 including the desiccant 80 and the sheet material 70 as described above is almost entirely wrapped in a flexible packaging bag 91 such as vinyl chloride, and the outside thereof is further corrugated. It is covered with a packaging box 92 such as a box. In the case of the present embodiment, the packaging bag 91 is preferably one having low air permeability, whereby the drying effect in the apparatus main body by the desiccant 80 can be enhanced.

<Operational effects of this embodiment>
According to the packaging form of the image forming apparatus described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, in the image forming apparatus 1 in which the process cartridge 9 is packed in a state where it is mounted on the apparatus main body, a desiccant 80 is installed between the process cartridge 9 mounted on the apparatus main body and the front cover 8. When the apparatus main body and the process cartridge 9 are packaged and transported, moisture absorption of the toner in the process cartridge 9 has become a problem. By adopting this configuration, the desiccant 80 is installed at a position close to the toner. Therefore, even when the process cartridge 9 and the apparatus main body are bundled, the toner can be sufficiently dried.

  Further, the desiccant 80 is held between the process cartridge 9 and the front cover 8. As a result, even if the image forming apparatus 1 is shaken during transportation, the desiccant 80 absorbs the shock caused by the shaking, so that the process cartridge 9 and the image forming apparatus 1 can be prevented from being damaged.

  Further, a sheet material 70 for separating the registration roller pair 22 at the time of packing is installed between the main body side registration roller 23 and the process side registration roller 34. Since the registration roller pair 22 is separated, the force for urging the process side registration roller 34 is concentrated on the main body side registration roller 23 and the path constituting member 26 supporting the same, so that they are deformed. Can be suppressed.

  Further, when unpacking, the front cover 8 is opened so that the desiccant 80 is easily visible to the user, and the desiccant 80 can be easily taken out together with the sheet material 70, thereby using the image forming apparatus. State. Further, since the sheet material 70 and the desiccant 80 are connected, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to remove one at the time of use. Further, since the belt member 75 connected to the sheet material 70 and the desiccant 80 is exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus from between the front cover 8 and the housing 2, the sheet material 70 and the desiccant 80 are informed to the user. Can trigger removal.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 8 shows a packing form of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the desiccant 81 is installed in the cover recess 8 </ b> A provided in the front cover 9.

  The sheet material 70, the desiccant 81, and the belt member 76 are configured similarly to the sheet material 70, the desiccant 80, and the belt member 76 of the first embodiment. Since the installation position of the desiccant 81 is different from that of the first embodiment, the connection position of the desiccant 81 with respect to the belt member 76 is different from that of the first embodiment, but other specific configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, detailed description is omitted.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the installation position of the desiccant 82 is provided on the paper transport path behind the process cartridge 9 as the third embodiment. The sheet material 70, the desiccant 82, and the belt member 77 are configured in the same manner as the sheet material 70, the desiccant 80, and the belt member 75 of the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the desiccant 82 is disposed using a gap between the process cartridge 9 and the fixing device 16 to allow the sheet to be curved. The desiccant 82 is connected to the end on the back side with respect to the opening 7 of the sheet material 70 via a belt member 77 that extends below the transfer roller 33 of the process cartridge 9. Specifically, with the sheet material 70, the desiccant 82, and the belt member 77 placed in the apparatus main body, the process cartridge 9 is mounted thereon.

<Other embodiments>
In each of the above-described embodiments, the process cartridge 9 is attached and detached substantially in parallel with the paper conveyance direction in the second conveyance path 25, but one side of the second conveyance path 25 can be opened by a cover, It is also possible to attach and detach the process cartridge 9 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper transport direction.

  In each of the above embodiments, the guide member 21 is configured to guide the paper S from the manual feed opening 10 to the image forming unit 4 and to guide the paper S from the paper feed tray 5 to the image forming unit 4. However, a guide member that guides from the manual feed opening 10 and a guide member that guides from the paper feed tray 5 may be provided separately.

  The front cover 8 may not have the manual feed opening 10.

  In each of the above embodiments, the process cartridge 9 is exemplified by the drum cartridge 40 and the toner cartridge 60 being separated. However, the drum cartridge 40 and the toner cartridge 60 may be integrated. Further, the process cartridge 9 contains at least toner, and in the image forming apparatus 1 in which the image forming apparatus main body has the photosensitive drum 31, the process cartridge 9 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. good.

  Further, the desiccant 80 is exemplified by a granular silica gel in a bag, but as the desiccant 80, a silica alumina gel, a calcium chloride processed product, quick lime or the like in a bag may be used. . Further, as the desiccant 80, a sheet-like desiccant having a thin plate shape may be used.

  Further, the desiccant may be installed in any location in the image forming apparatus as long as it is connected to the sheet material. In addition, a breathable bag-like space may be formed in a part of the sheet material, and silica gel or the like may be accommodated therein, and the belt member may be omitted. Further, the desiccant and the sheet material may be connected by a belt member, or the belt member may be omitted from being exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Case 3 Paper feed part 4 Image forming part 5 Paper feed tray 6 Paper discharge tray 8 Front cover 8A Cover recessed part 9 Process cartridge 10 Manual feed tray 15 Exposure apparatus 16 Fixing device 20 First conveyance path 21 Guide member 22 Registration roller pair 23 Main body side registration roller 25 Second conveyance path 26 Path component member 28 Opening portion 29 Allowable space 31 Photosensitive drum 34 Process side registration roller 36 Development roller 40 Drum cartridge 45 Front frame 48 Paper conveyance surface 49 Positioning portion 53 Grasping part 60 Toner cartridge 62 Toner storage part front wall 63 Extension part 70 Sheet material 75, 76, 77 Belt member 80, 81, 82 Desiccant 90 Storage space

Claims (7)

In a packaging form of an image forming apparatus that packs the image forming apparatus in a state where a process cartridge including image forming toner is inserted into the apparatus main body,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A paper feed tray provided below the process cartridge and storing paper;
A first transport path for transporting the paper upward from the paper feed tray and transporting the paper to the vicinity of the lower surface of the process cartridge;
A second conveyance path formed by a path constituent member that is continuous with the first conveyance path and is provided at a position facing the lower surface of the process cartridge and the lower surface of the process cartridge;
A pair of rollers for paper conveyance provided in the process cartridge and the path constituent member;
In a state where the process cartridge is inserted into the apparatus main body, a sheet material provided between the lower surface of the process cartridge and the path constituting member and separating the pair of rollers;
A desiccant detachably provided in the apparatus main body,
The image forming apparatus packaging form, wherein the desiccant and the sheet material are connected to each other. The apparatus main body includes an accommodating space for accommodating the process cartridge in the apparatus main body,
An opening for inserting and removing the process cartridge in the housing space;
A cover for opening and closing the opening,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material and the desiccant are disposed in the accommodation space in proximity to the process cartridge.   The image according to claim 2, wherein a part of the sheet material, the desiccant, or a member connected thereto is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body from a surface on which the cover is provided. Packaging form of the forming device.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a part of the sheet material, the desiccant, or a member connected thereto is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body from the opening when the cover is opened. Packing form.   The form of the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sheet material and the desiccant are connected by a flexible belt member. The process cartridge has a toner storage chamber for storing the toner on the opening side in a state of being mounted in the storage space;
The roller is located on the back side from the opening side end of the process cartridge,
3. The image according to claim 2, wherein the desiccant is connected to a portion of the sheet material on the opening portion side and is located in proximity to a portion of the process cartridge on the opening portion side. Packaging form of the forming device. The apparatus main body includes a fixing device spaced apart from the process cartridge on the side opposite to the opening with respect to the process cartridge mounted in the accommodation space,
The said desiccant is connected to the said edge part with respect to the said opening part of the said sheet | seat material, and is located between the said process cartridge and the said fixing device. Form of the image forming apparatus.

Images