JP2020046532A - Housing and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce cost for housings of image forming apparatuses having a plurality of specifications different in arrangement of components.SOLUTION: A housing 2C comprises: a plurality of pairs of side plates 80C that are formed for every specification of a printer, and to which a drum unit, a developing unit, and a toner container of the printer are attached according to a predetermined arrangement different for every specification; and a frame 50 to which the plurality of pairs of side plates 80C can be alternatively attached, and prevents interference between the drum unit, developing unit, and toner container attached to the side plates 80C regardless of the pair of side plates 80C attached to the frame.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a housing of an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the housing.

  The image forming apparatus is configured by housing various unitized components in a housing. For example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is configured by arranging components such as a drum unit, a developing unit, a toner container, an exposure device, a paper feeding device, and a fixing device inside a housing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various configurations of a housing of an image forming apparatus have been studied. For example, Patent Literature 1 describes that a mold frame in which a plotter engine unit is incorporated is fixed to a base, a welding structure is incorporated from above, and a scanner unit is fixed on a stay of the welding structure. . Patent Document 2 discloses that a photoconductor and other image forming means are positioned and supported on a first frame, the first frame is fixedly supported on a second frame, and an outer cover is provided on the second frame. It is described that it is fixed. Patent Document 3 discloses a first support structure that houses and supports an image forming process unit and a fixing unit, and a second support structure that houses and supports various components of a sheet supply unit. It is described that, in order to form a combination of mold pipes and combine the first and second support structures, rectangular pipes orthogonal to each other are joined to each other.

  In each of the housings described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, a frame formed of a pipe having a rectangular cross section is used as a structural material. On the other hand, for example, a configuration in which a U-shaped sheet metal in which two opposing side plates are coupled to a bottom plate has both a function of supporting components and a function as a structural material is also conceivable.

JP-A-11-258885 JP 2000-177202 A JP 2000-138470 A

  By the way, the arrangement of various components in the housing of the image forming apparatus differs depending on the specifications of the image forming apparatus. For example, the number of drum units, developing units, toner containers, exposure devices, and the like is different between a color specification image forming apparatus and a monochrome specification image forming apparatus. Further, the intermediate transfer unit provided in the color-type image forming apparatus is not provided in the monochrome-type image forming apparatus. Therefore, the configuration of the housing is different for each specification of the image forming apparatus. In the cases described in Patent Literatures 1 to 3 and the case using a U-shaped sheet metal, the case is designed exclusively for each specification of the image forming apparatus. There is a problem that requires.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a housing and an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the cost of the housing of an image forming apparatus having a plurality of specifications having different arrangements of components.

  In order to solve the above problems, a housing according to the present invention is formed for each specification of an image forming apparatus, and a plurality of sets in which components of the image forming apparatus are mounted according to a predetermined arrangement different for each specification. A side plate, and a frame to which the plurality of sets of side plates can be selectively attached, and which frame does not interfere with the components mounted on the attached side plate, regardless of which set of the side plates is attached. It is characterized by the following.

  In the housing according to the present invention, the plurality of sets of side plates are a color specification side plate on which components of the image forming apparatus of color specification are mounted, and a monochrome specification on which components of the image forming device of monochrome specification are mounted. And a side plate.

  In the case according to the present invention, the frame may be formed using a plurality of pipes having a rectangular cross section.

  In the housing according to the present invention, each set of the plurality of side plates may include two side plates facing each other.

  Further, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the above-described housings, and a component of the image forming apparatus having the above specification corresponding to the side plate attached to the frame. .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the cost of the housing | casing of the image forming apparatus of several specifications from which arrangement | positioning of a component differs can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing an internal configuration of a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing an internal configuration of a monochrome printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the frame which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention from the front side. It is the perspective view which looked at the frame concerning one embodiment of the present invention from the back side. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a housing of a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a front side. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a housing of a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a rear side. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a casing of a monochrome printer according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a front side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a casing of the monochrome printer according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a rear side.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus and a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a color printer 1C (an example of an image forming apparatus of a color specification) and a monochrome printer 1M (an example of an image forming apparatus of a monochrome specification) are illustrated as examples of an image forming apparatus of a plurality of specifications. Hereinafter, the color printer 1C and the monochrome printer 1M are collectively referred to as the printer 1.

  First, the overall configuration of the color printer 1C will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing the internal configuration of the color printer 1C. Hereinafter, the front side of the paper in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the front side (front side) of the color printer 1C, and the left and right directions will be described based on the direction when the color printer 1 is viewed from the front. In each figure, U, Lo, L, R, Fr, and Rr indicate upper, lower, left, right, front, and rear, respectively.

  In a housing 2C of the color printer 1C, a sheet feeding device 3 for feeding the accommodated sheet S to a transport path 6, an image forming unit 4C for forming a full-color toner image on the sheet S, and fixing the toner image on the sheet S And a discharge unit 7 for discharging the sheet S on which the toner image is fixed. In the following example, the color printer 1C is configured to form a color image using four color toners.

  The image forming section 4C includes four drum units 15, four exposing devices 9, four toner containers 12, four developing units 16, an intermediate transfer unit 17, and a secondary transfer roller 11. .

  The drum unit 15 includes a rotatable photosensitive drum 21, a charging device 22 for charging the photosensitive drum 21, and a cleaning device 23 for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 21.

  The exposure device 9 irradiates the photosensitive drum 21 with a laser beam based on the image data. The four toner containers 12 respectively store black, cyan, magenta, and yellow toners. A screw (not shown) for feeding the toner to the developing unit 16 is provided inside the toner container 12.

  The developing unit 16 includes a developing container 31, a magnetic roller 32, a stirring and conveying screw 33, and a supply and conveying screw. A toner supply path (not shown) is provided between the developing container 31 and the toner container 12, and the developing container 31 stores the toner supplied from the toner container 12. The stirring and conveying screw 33 and the supply and conveying screw 34 are arranged inside the developing container 31 so as to face each other. The magnetic roller 32 is disposed so as to be exposed from the opening of the developing container 31 and to face the supply / conveyance screw 34 and the photosensitive drum 21.

  The intermediate transfer unit 17 includes an intermediate transfer belt 41 and four primary transfer rollers 42. The intermediate transfer belt 41 is an endless belt wound around a driving roller and a driven roller. The intermediate transfer belt 41 is arranged so that the outer surfaces thereof are opposed to the four photosensitive drums 21 and circulates. The transfer roller 42 is disposed to face the inner surface of the intermediate transfer belt 41, and sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 41 between the transfer roller 42 and the photosensitive drum 21.

  The secondary transfer roller 11 is disposed so as to face the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt 41 with the conveyance path 6 interposed therebetween.

  Next, an image forming operation of the color printer 1C will be described. When the color printer 1C receives image data from an external computer or the like, the sheet S is sent from the sheet feeding device 3 to the transport path 6. A latent image based on image data is formed by the exposure device 9 on the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 21. After the toner contained in the developing container 31 is stirred by the stirring and conveying screw 33, the toner is supplied to the magnetic roller 32 by the supply and conveying screw 34. The toner held on the magnetic roller 32 is attracted to the latent image, so that a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21. The toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 21 are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 41 by the respective primary transfer rollers 42 in a superimposed manner. The toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 41 is transferred to the sheet S by the secondary transfer roller 11, and is fixed to the sheet S by the fixing device 5. The sheet S on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged to the discharge unit 7.

  Next, an overall configuration of the monochrome printer 1M will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing the internal configuration of the monochrome printer 1M. The same components as those provided in the color printer 1C are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In a housing 2M of the monochrome printer 1M, a sheet feeding device 3 for feeding the accommodated sheet S to the conveyance path 6, an image forming unit 4M for forming a monochrome toner image on the sheet S, and fixing the toner image on the sheet S And a discharge unit 7 for discharging the sheet S on which the toner image is fixed.

  The image forming unit 4M includes a drum unit 15, an exposure device 9, a toner container 12, a developing unit 16, and a transfer roller 13. Since the configuration of these components is the same as that of the color printer 1C, the description is omitted. The transfer roller 13 is disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum 21 with the transport path 6 interposed therebetween.

  Comparing the arrangement of the respective components of the color printer 1C and the monochrome printer 1M, in the color printer 1C, the four drum units 15 and the developing units 16 combined for each toner color have the intermediate transfer unit 17 below the intermediate transfer unit 17. They are arranged in a line along the lower surface of the belt 41. On the other hand, in the monochrome printer 1 </ b> M, the drum unit 15 and the developing unit 16 are arranged on the transport path 6 between the sheet feeding device 3 and the fixing device 5. In the monochrome printer 1M, the drum unit 15 and the developing unit 16 are arranged at a lower position than the color printer 1C. Further, in the color printer 1C, the toner container 12 is disposed above the drum unit 15 and the developing unit 16, whereas in the monochrome printer 1M, the toner container 12 is disposed to the left of the developing unit 16. .

  Next, an image forming operation of the monochrome printer 1M will be described. When the monochrome printer 1M receives image data from an external computer or the like, the sheet S is sent from the sheet feeding device 3 to the transport path 6. A latent image based on image data is formed by the exposure device 9 on the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 21. After the toner contained in the developing container 31 is stirred by the stirring and conveying screw 33, the toner is supplied to the magnetic roller 32 by the supply and conveying screw 34. The toner held on the magnetic roller 32 is attracted to the latent image, so that a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21. The toner image is transferred to the sheet S by the transfer roller 13 and is fixed to the sheet S by the fixing device 5. The sheet S on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged to the discharge unit 7.

  Next, the housing 2C of the color printer 1C and the housing 2M of the monochrome printer 1M will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame 50 as viewed from the front side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the frame 50 as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the housing 2C of the color printer 1C as viewed from the front. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the housing 2C of the color printer 1C as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the housing 2M of the monochrome printer 1M as viewed from the front side. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the housing 2M of the monochrome printer 1M viewed from the rear side.

  The housing 2C of the color printer 1C includes a frame 50 and a color specification side plate 80C. The housing 2M of the monochrome printer 1M includes a frame 50 and a monochrome side plate 80M. Hereinafter, the color specification side plate 80C and the monochrome specification side plate 80M are collectively referred to as side plates 80.

  A plurality of sets of side plates 80 formed for each specification of the printer 1 can be selectively attached to the frame 50. The components of the printer 1 are mounted on the plurality of sets of the side plates 80 in accordance with a predetermined arrangement different for each specification of the printer 1. The frame 50 is configured such that no matter which set of side plates 80 is attached, the components mounted on the attached side plates 80 do not interfere.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the frame 50 is formed using a plurality of square pipes 51 to 68. The plurality of square pipes 51 to 68 are pipes having a rectangular cross section formed of stainless steel, an aluminum alloy, or the like. The cross-sectional dimensions and shapes of the plurality of square pipes 51 to 68 are common. The plurality of square pipes 51 to 68 are joined by welding. A screw hole is formed in the frame 50 (not shown), and the side plate 80 is attached using a screw.

  The plural sets of side plates 80 include two sets of a color specification side plate 80C used for the housing 2C of the color printer 1C and a monochrome specification side plate 80M used for the housing 2M of the monochrome printer 1M. The frame 50 is common to the color printer 1C and the monochrome printer 1M, and the color specification side plate 80C and the monochrome specification side plate 80M can be attached to the frame 50 alternatively. As described above, since the arrangement of the components is different between the color printer 1C and the monochrome printer 1M, the mounting positions of the components are also different between the color specification side plate 80C and the monochrome specification side plate 80M. Hereinafter, for convenience, among the components of the color printer 1C and the monochrome printer 1M, the configuration of the side plate 80 related to the arrangement of the drum unit 15, the developing unit 16, and the toner container 12 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the color specification side plate 80C includes a color specification rear plate 80CR and a color specification front plate 80CF. The color specification rear side plate 80CR and the color specification front side plate 80CF are arranged on the rear side and the front side of the frame 50 so as to face each other.

  The color specification rear plate 80CR includes four drum unit mounting portions 85C on which the drum units 15 are mounted, four developing unit mounting portions 86C on which the developing units 16 are mounted, and four toner container mounting portions on which the toner containers 12 are mounted. 82C. The drum unit mounting portion 85C, the developing unit mounting portion 86C, and the toner container mounting portion 82C are openings, and the drum unit 15, the developing unit 16, and the toner container 12 are mounted around the color specification rear side plate 80CR using screws around the opening. Screw holes are formed (not shown).

  A driving unit (not shown) for rotating the photosensitive drum 21 is connected to a rear end of the drum unit 15 mounted on the drum unit mounting unit 85C. The drive unit includes a motor and a gear train, and a gear provided on the shaft of the photosensitive drum 21 meshes with the gear train.

  A drive unit (not shown) for rotating the magnetic roller 32, the stirring and conveying screw 33, and the supply and conveying screw 34 is connected to a rear end of the developing unit 16 mounted on the developing unit mounting unit 86C. The drive unit includes a motor and a gear train, and gears provided on the shafts of the magnetic roller 32, the stirring and conveying screw 33, and the supply and conveying screw 34 are meshed with the gear train.

  A driving unit (not shown) for rotating a screw of the toner container 12 is connected to a rear end of the toner container 12 mounted on the toner container mounting unit 82C. The drive unit includes a motor and a gear train, and a gear provided on a shaft of the screw is meshed with the gear train.

  The color specification front plate 80CF includes a front opening 88C. The front opening 88C is provided for maintenance of the drum unit 15, the developing unit 16, and the like, and the drum unit 15 and the developing unit 16 can be pulled out and inserted from the front opening 88C.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the monochrome specification side plate 80M includes a monochrome specification rear plate 80MR and a monochrome specification front plate 80MF. The monochrome specification rear plate 80MR and the monochrome specification front plate 80MF are arranged on the rear side and the front side of the frame 50 so as to face each other.

  The monochrome rear plate 80MR includes a drum unit mounting portion 85M on which the drum unit 15 is mounted, a developing unit mounting portion 86M on which the developing unit 16 is mounted, and a toner container mounting portion 82M on which the toner container 12 is mounted. The drum unit mounting portion 85M, the developing unit mounting portion 86M, and the toner container mounting portion 82M are openings, and the drum unit 15, the developing unit 16, and the toner container 12 are mounted on the monochrome rear side plate 80MR using screws around the opening. Screw holes are formed (not shown).

  The configuration of the drum unit mounting portion 85M, the developing unit mounting portion 86M, and the toner container mounting portion 82M are the same as the configurations of the drum unit mounting portion 85C, the developing unit mounting portion 86C, and the toner container mounting portion 82C of the color specification rear plate 80CR. Description is omitted.

  The monochrome front plate 80MF includes a front opening 88M. The front opening 88M is provided for maintenance of the drum unit 15, the developing unit 16, and the like, and the drum unit 15 and the developing unit 16 can be pulled out and inserted from the front opening 88M. Further, the toner container 12 can be replaced through the front opening 88M.

  Comparing the housing 2C of the color printer 1C and the housing 2M of the monochrome printer 1M, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the housing 2C of the color printer 1C has four toner containers mounted on the rear plate 80CR of the color specification. The section 82C is positioned above the square pipe 61, and the four drum unit mounting sections 85C and the developing unit mounting sections 86C are positioned below the square pipe 61. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the housing 2M of the monochrome printer 1M, the toner container mounting portion 82M, the drum unit mounting portion 85M, and the developing unit mounting portion 86M of the monochrome rear plate 80MR are smaller than the square pipe 61. It is located below. The front opening 88C of the color specification front plate 80CF and the front opening 88M of the monochrome specification front plate 80MF are both located below the square pipe 63.

  According to the color printer 1C and the monochrome printer 1M according to the present embodiment described above, the color specification side plate 80C and the monochrome specification side plate 80M can be alternatively attached to the frame 50, and the color specification side plate 80C and the monochrome specification side plate 80M Whichever is attached to the frame 50, the components (the drum unit 15, the developing unit 16, the toner container 12, etc.) attached to the attached side plate 80 do not interfere with the frame 50. Therefore, the housing 2C of the color printer 1C and the housing 2M of the monochrome printer 1M can be formed only by attaching one of the color specification side plate 80C and the monochrome specification side plate 80M to the common frame 50. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the cost of the housings 2C and 2M of the printers 1 (color printer 1C and monochrome printer 1M) having a plurality of specifications in which the arrangement of the components is different.

  Further, according to the color printer 1C and the monochrome printer 1M according to the present embodiment, specifications can be added only by changing the design of the side plate 80, so that the specifications of the image forming apparatus can be easily increased.

  Further, according to the color printer 1C and the monochrome printer 1M according to the present embodiment, since the frame 50 is formed by using the plurality of square pipes 51 to 68, it is possible to form the inexpensive and highly rigid frame 50. .

  Further, according to the color printer 1C and the monochrome printer 1M according to the present embodiment, since the color specification side plate 80C and the monochrome specification side plate 80M are constituted by the two side plates 80 facing each other, the color specification of the image forming apparatus and the monochrome specification Switching with is easy.

  The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration of the side plate related to the arrangement of the drum unit 15, the developing unit 16, and the toner container 12 has been described. However, the arrangement of the exposure device 9, the arrangement and the presence or absence of the intermediate transfer unit 17 and the secondary transfer roller 11, etc. The shape of the side plate 80 may be changed accordingly. Further, the shape of the side plate 80 may be changed according to the capacity of the toner container 12 and the developing container 31, the size of the power supply board, the arrangement of the sheet feeding device 3, and the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which two sets of side plates 80 are alternatively attached to the frame 50, but three or more sets of side plates 80 may be alternatively attached to the frame 50.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which each set of a plurality of sets of side plates 80 is configured by two side plates 80 facing each other, but each set may include three or more side plates 80.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example is described in which the color printer 1C is configured to form a color image using four color toners, but the number of toner colors may be any number.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the frame 50 is formed by the square pipe has been described. However, the frame 50 may be formed by an angle, a channel, a beam member having a C-shaped cross section, or the like.

1 Printer (image forming device)
1C color printer (color-specific image forming device)
2C case 1M monochrome printer (monochrome specification image forming device)
2M case 12 Toner container (component)
15 Drum unit (component)
16 Developing unit (component)
50 Frame 51-68 Square pipe 80 Side plate 80C Color specification side plate 80CF Color specification front side plate (two side plates facing each other)
80CR color specification rear side plate (two side plates facing each other)
80M monochrome specification side plate 80MF monochrome specification front plate (two side plates facing each other)
80MR Monochrome specification rear side plate (two side plates facing each other)

Claims (5)

A plurality of side plates on which components of the image forming apparatus are mounted in accordance with a predetermined arrangement different for each specification and formed for each specification of the image forming apparatus;
A frame in which the plurality of sets of side plates can be selectively attached, and no matter which of the sets of the side plates is attached, the components mounted on the attached side plates do not interfere with each other. And the housing. The plurality of sets of side plates,
A color specification side plate on which components of the image forming apparatus of color specification are mounted,
The casing according to claim 1, further comprising: a monochrome-specific side plate on which components of the monochrome-type image forming apparatus are mounted.   The housing according to claim 1, wherein the frame is formed using a plurality of pipes having a rectangular cross section.   The housing according to claim 1, wherein each set of the plurality of side plates includes two side plates facing each other. A housing according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A component of the image forming apparatus having the specification corresponding to the side plate attached to the frame.

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