JP2013137582A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that enables a user to perform attaching/detaching work for each unit with few constraints of working sequence and to easily position each unit at both ends in a width direction of transfer paper and that easily ensures guidance upon the attaching/detaching work.SOLUTION: The device comprises an opening/closing member 21 for opening/closing an installation opening when a unit evasion lever 23 that allows, when a drum unit that transfers an image to a transfer paper and a development unit that supplies toner to a photoreceptor drum are attached to or detached from a main body of the device, the development unit to be in contact with/away from the drum unit is in a state to separate the units. The unit evasion lever 23 can be displaced between a locking position to prevent opening of the opening/closing member 21 when the opening/closing member 21 is in a closed state and to allow a drum unit 19 and a development unit 20 to approach each other and an unlocking position to permit opening/closing of the opening/closing member 21 and to allow the drum unit 19 and the development unit 20 to be separated from each other.

Description

  The present invention includes a drum unit including a photosensitive drum that is detachably supported by the apparatus main body and transfers an image onto a transfer sheet, and a developing roller that is detachably supported by the apparatus main body and supplies toner to the photosensitive drum. And an image forming apparatus in which each of these units can be separately attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.

  Conventionally, a drum unit that is rotatably provided with a photosensitive drum as an image carrier and a developing unit that is disposed adjacent to the drum unit and that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum are provided. 2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus that is detachable (can be pulled out and pushed in) to the apparatus main body for accompanying replacement, maintenance, transfer paper jam release, and the like is well known.

  At this time, in a configuration corresponding to a relatively small machine in which the unit is attached and detached in the cross-sectional direction (for example, the vertical direction) of the image forming apparatus, a configuration in which the apparatus body cover is opened upward and the unit is attached and detached can be employed. Therefore, the positioning guide mechanism between the apparatus main body and the unit in the transfer paper width direction can be easily configured (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, in the case of an image forming apparatus such as a relatively large high-speed machine, for example, an automatic document feeder (ADF) or the like is mounted, so that it is difficult to attach and detach the unit in the vertical direction by opening the apparatus body cover upward. In this case, the apparatus main body cover is opened to the front, and the unit attaching / detaching operation is performed in the front-rear direction (transfer paper width direction).

JP 2004-038194 A

  However, as described above, in the case of unit attachment / detachment work in the front-rear direction, it is necessary to form an installation opening for attaching / detaching the unit on the front side of the apparatus main body. It was difficult to provide a positioning function and a guide function.

  For this reason, it is common to provide a developing unit positioning mechanism on the back side of the drum unit main body. In such a configuration, the developing unit cannot be removed unless the drum unit is detached from the main body. There was a problem that the order was restricted.

  Further, when the developing unit is positioned on the back side of the apparatus main body of the drum unit, there is a problem that it is difficult to position the developing unit on the front side of the apparatus main body.

  Further, since the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are close to each other, for example, when the developing unit is attached / detached, the developing roller comes into contact with the photosensitive drum during the attaching / detaching operation, and the photosensitive drum is damaged. Although there is a possibility, in the configuration in which the developing unit is positioned on the back side of the main body of the drum unit, there is a problem that it is difficult to approach and separate the drum unit when the developing unit is attached and detached.

  Therefore, in consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention not only makes it difficult for the unit to be attached / detached in the order of attachment / detachment, but also facilitates positioning of the drum unit and the developing unit at both ends in the transfer paper width direction. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be used and that can easily secure a guide for attaching and detaching.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a drum unit including a photosensitive drum that is detachably supported by the apparatus main body and transfers an image onto a transfer sheet, and supplies toner to the photosensitive drum that is detachably supported by the apparatus main body. A developing unit including a developing roller, unit avoiding means for approaching / separating between the drum unit and the developing unit when any of the units is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body, and the units being separated from each other And an opening / closing member capable of opening and closing an installation opening of each unit formed in the apparatus main body when positioned on the inner surface side of the opening / closing member. The engaging drum positioning portion, the developing positioning portion engaging with the developing unit, and the small amount of each unit when the open / close member is in the open state. A guide portion for guiding an attachment / detachment operation with at least one of the apparatus main bodies, and the unit avoiding means prevents the opening / closing member from being opened when the opening / closing member is in a closed state, and the drum unit. It is possible to displace between a lock position for bringing the developing unit close and an unlock position for allowing the opening and closing member to open and close and to separate the drum unit and the developing unit.

  At this time, it is preferable that an opening / closing member positioning portion protruding so as to engage with an engaged hole provided in the apparatus main body is provided.

  Further, it is preferable that the opening / closing member is supported by the apparatus main body so as to be rotatable with a lower side edge thereof as a rotation axis. Further, it is preferable that the unit avoiding means is rotatable between the standing locked position and the lying unlocked position.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the positioning structure by the engagement between the units can be abolished by positioning each unit with the opening / closing member, the work order can be reduced in the attaching / detaching work for each unit. Not only can it be made difficult to be restricted, but also the drum unit and the developing unit can be easily positioned at both ends in the transfer paper width direction, and a guide can be easily secured during the attachment / detachment operation.

1 is an explanatory diagram of a multifunction peripheral showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part in an open / close member closed state in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention when an opening / closing member is initially opened. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in an opened state of an opening / closing member. 1 is a perspective view of an opening / closing member in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Next, embodiments of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are preferred specific examples of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and may have various technically preferred limitations. However, the technical scope of the present invention is particularly limited to the present invention. As long as there is no description which limits, it is not limited to these aspects.

(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
Referring to FIG. 1, a multifunction machine 11 as an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of stages (the number of stages is not limited) of paper feed cassettes 13, 14, 15 that can be pulled out from the front of the apparatus body 12, and various types of copiers, facsimile machines, and scanners. Automatic document feeder (ADF) 16 used when reading a document as a function, an operation panel 17 installed on the front side of the apparatus main body 12, and a part of the front of the apparatus main body 12 are opened and closed for maintenance (jam removal) And a front cover 18 that is opened when a component inspection / replacement operation is performed.

  When the front cover 18 is opened, an operation for clearing a jam (paper jam) occurring in the transfer paper conveyance path or an image on the transfer paper supported detachably by the apparatus main body 12 as shown in FIGS. Replacement of a drum unit 19 having a photosensitive drum (not shown) to be transferred and a developing unit 20 having a developing roller (not shown) that is detachably supported by the apparatus main body 12 and supplies toner to the photosensitive drum. Is possible.

  At this time, the units 19 and 20 are opened and closed by the opening and closing members 21 different from the front cover 18 to open and close the installation openings 22 for attaching and detaching the units 19 and 20 so that the units can be actually attached and detached. It is configured. Further, the apparatus main body 12 can be opened and closed by an opening / closing member 21, and the developing unit 20 is moved closer to and away from the drum unit 19, thereby avoiding a unit that moves the developing roller closer to and away from the photosensitive drum. A lever 23 is provided.

(Configuration of unit avoidance lever 23)
As shown in FIG. 2, the unit avoiding lever 23 prevents the opening / closing member 21 from being opened when the unit avoiding lever 23 is substantially upright, and moves the developing roller closer to the photosensitive drum (from the left side to the right side in FIG. 2). The developing unit 20 is displaced). Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the opening / closing cover 21 is allowed to be opened and closed when in a substantially lying state, and the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum (the developing unit 20 is displaced from the right side to the left side in FIG. 2). Let At this time, for example, the unit avoiding lever 23 is connected to and supported by a tray 24 that supports the bottom surface of the developing unit 20, and a part of the tray 24 is interlocked with the rotation (standing / falling) operation of the unit avoiding lever 23. The developing unit 20 can be moved toward and away from the drum unit 19 by sliding displacement.

(Configuration of the opening / closing cover 21)
The opening / closing member 21 is supported by the apparatus main body 12 so as to be rotatable about the lower side edge thereof as a rotation axis. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the opening / closing member 21 has an opening / closing member positioning portion 25 engaged with the apparatus main body 12, a drum positioning portion 26 engaged with the drum unit 19, and the developing unit 20 on the inner surface side. A developing positioning portion 27 to be joined, and a guide portion 28 for guiding the attaching / detaching operation of the developing unit 20 to and from the apparatus main body 12 when the opening / closing cover 21 is in an open state are provided. In addition, a knob 29 is provided on the front surface side of the opening / closing member 21 so as to be rotatable in the vicinity of the side edge of the apparatus main body 12 and for opening / closing the opening / closing member 21.

  The opening / closing member positioning portion 25 is engaged with a substantially columnar pedestal portion 25a protruding from one side near the lower side edge portion thereof, and an engaged hole 12a provided in the apparatus main body 12 protruding from the pedestal portion 25a. And a conical engagement portion 25b. The engaging portion 25b is preferably formed from metal or resin.

  The drum positioning portion 26 includes a substantially cylindrical pedestal portion 26 a that protrudes from one side near the upper edge on the diagonal line of the opening and closing member positioning portion 25, and an engaged state provided on the drum unit 19 that protrudes from the pedestal portion 26 a. And a frustoconical engaging portion 26b that engages with the hole 19a. The engaging portion 26b is preferably formed from metal or resin.

  The developing positioning portion 27 is provided near the lower side of the drum positioning portion 26. When the engaging protrusion 20a provided on the developing unit 20 is engaged, and the opening / closing member 21 is in the closed state, the unit avoiding lever is provided. 23 is formed in a substantially long hole shape extending in the approaching / separating direction so as to allow the developing unit 20 to approach / separate from the drum unit 19 by the operation of 23. Specifically, in the present embodiment, when the developing unit 20 is separated from the drum unit 19, the first engagement hole portion 27 a that is temporarily positioned near the center thereof, and the first engagement A second engagement hole portion 27b that is in communication with the hole portion 27a and in which the engagement protrusion 20a is positioned in the vertical direction when the developing unit 20 approaches the drum unit 19; In the present embodiment, since the developing unit 20 approaches and separates from the drum unit 19, a substantially long hole-shaped developing positioning portion extending toward and away from the developing unit 20 side. However, when the configuration in which the drum unit 19 approaches / separates from the developing unit 20 is employed, a substantially long hole-shaped drum positioning portion 26 extending in the approach / separation direction is formed on the drum unit 19 side. . Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the development positioning portion 27 has a substantially long hole shape, and the engagement protrusion 20a is formed on the development unit 20, but a substantially long hole-shaped engaged portion is formed on the development unit 20, The development positioning portion 27 may be a protrusion.

  A part of the guide portion 28 protrudes from the inner wall surface and expands toward the upper edge portion located outside the apparatus main body 12 when the opening / closing member 21 is brought into a tilted state (open state). An inclined guide wall surface 28a is provided.

  The knob 29 is operated when the unit avoiding lever 23 is in the unlocked state (the lying down state), and a hook 29 a that engages with the drum unit 19 is formed on the inner wall surface side of the upper end portion.

  In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the unit avoiding lever 23 is in the upright state, the open / close cover 21 is in the closed state, and the open / close member positioning portion 25 provided on the open / close member 21 is the main body of the apparatus. 12 is engaged with the engaged hole 12a, the drum positioning portion 26 is engaged with the engaged hole 19a of the drum unit 19, and the development positioning portion 27 is engaged with the engaging protrusion 20a of the developing unit 20. The opening / closing member 21 is positioned on the apparatus main body 12, and the drum unit 19 and the developing unit 20 are positioned on the opening / closing member 21. At this time, end portions of the units 19 and 20 on the back side of the apparatus main body 12 are positioned on the apparatus main body 12.

  Therefore, stable image forming processing can be realized by positioning and supporting the vibration associated with the rotation of the photosensitive drum and the developing roller, which occur during the transfer operation, at both ends thereof.

  On the other hand, when the drum unit 19 or the developing unit 20 is replaced, the front cover 18 is opened, and the unit avoiding lever 23 is rotated from the locked position where the unit avoiding lever 23 is erected to the unlocked position where the unit avoiding lever 23 is lowered. The developing unit 20 is displaced in the separation direction.

  In this state, when the knob 29 is operated to open the opening / closing member 21, the engagement state between the opening / closing member positioning portion 25 provided in the opening / closing member 21 and the engaged hole 12a of the apparatus main body 12 is released, and the drum positioning is performed. The engagement state between the portion 26 and the engaged hole 19a of the drum unit 19 is released, and the engagement state between the roller positioning portion 27 and the engagement protrusion 20a of the development unit 20 is released, whereby the drum unit 19 or the development unit. 20 attachment / detachment operations can be performed.

  At this time, since the drum unit 19 and the developing unit 20 do not employ a positioning structure in which the drum unit 19 and the developing unit 20 are engaged with each other, the drum unit 19 and the developing unit 20 can be independently attached and detached without being ordered.

  Further, when the developing unit 20 is pulled out, the entire inner wall surface of the opening / closing member 21 functions as a receiving portion (receiving tray). Further, when installing the developing unit 20, the developing unit 20 can be easily guided to a predetermined position of the installation opening 22 by being pushed into the guide wall surface 28 a of the guide unit 28 while being pressed.

  If it is confirmed that the units 19 and 20 have been pushed into a predetermined position on the back side of the apparatus body 12, the opening / closing cover 21 is closed, and then the unit avoiding lever 23 is lowered from the unlocked position to the locked position. The positioning and supporting of the units 19 and 20 can be completed simply by rotating the unit.

  It should be noted that, when the units 19 and 20 are pulled out and pushed in, if an installation guide or the like extending in the depth direction of the apparatus main body 12 is provided, it is of course possible to further improve the ease of the attachment / detachment operation.

11. Multifunction machine (image forming device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Main body 18 ... Front cover 19 ... Drum unit 19a ... Engagement hole 20 ... Developing unit 20a ... Engagement protrusion 21 ... Opening / closing cover 22 ... Installation opening 23 ... Unit avoiding lever 24 ... Tray 25 ... Opening / closing cover positioning part 25a ... pedestal part 25b ... engagement part 26 ... drum positioning part 26a ... pedestal part 26b ... engagement part 27 ... development positioning part 27a ... first engagement hole part 27b ... second engagement hole part 28 ... guide part 28a ... guide Wall 29 ... Knob 29a ... Hook

Claims (4)

A drum unit including a photosensitive drum that is detachably supported by the apparatus main body and transfers an image onto transfer paper, and a developing unit that includes a developing roller that is detachably supported by the apparatus main body and supplies toner to the photosensitive drum. And unit avoiding means for approaching / separating between the drum unit and the developing unit when attaching or detaching any of the units from the apparatus main body, and when each of the units is located in a separated state, In an image forming apparatus comprising: an opening / closing member capable of opening and closing an installation opening of each unit formed in the apparatus main body,
On the inner surface side of the opening / closing member, a drum positioning portion that engages with the drum unit, a development positioning portion that engages with the developing unit, and at least one of the units when the opening / closing member is in an open state A guide portion for guiding an attachment / detachment operation with the apparatus main body,
The unit avoiding means is
A lock position for preventing the opening and closing member from being opened when the opening and closing member is in a closed state, and for bringing the drum unit and the developing unit closer to each other;
An image forming apparatus, wherein the opening / closing member is allowed to be opened and closed and is displaceable between an unlock position for separating the drum unit and the developing unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an opening / closing member positioning portion that protrudes to engage with an engaged hole provided in the apparatus main body.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing member is supported by the apparatus main body so as to be rotatable about a lower side edge thereof as a rotation axis.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unit avoiding unit is rotatable between the upright locked position and the overturned unlocked position. 5.

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