JP2782205B2 - Cleaning unit - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning unit in a copying machine and a laser printer using an electrophotographic system, and more particularly to detection of a full state of collected toner in a toner collection tank. is there.

(Prior Art) In each function of a printer and a copying machine using an electrophotographic method, processes except an optical system are almost the same.
It has a unit that needs to be replenished with toner and requires replacement of the photoconductor, development, cleaning, charger, and the like.

Recently, a machine that replaces not only the toner but also the photoconductor unit and the cleaning unit has been commercialized. Particularly in printers, user maintenance is strongly required, and it is becoming a necessary condition that the user can easily exchange each exchange unit.

In an example of a conventional apparatus of this type, a plurality of image forming units such as a photoreceptor unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit are integrally formed, and after a certain period of time, these units are integrated when the unit is replaced. Is replaced as it is. Since the life and consumption of each unit differ depending on the characteristics and use conditions, even if one unit has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced, another unit may still be used sufficiently. But,
In such an integrated device, replacement must be performed in accordance with a unit that needs to be replaced early, so that the cost of parts for each replacement is high, and the running cost is inevitably high, so that the user has a large cost. There was a drawback of imposing a burden.

In order to eliminate such disadvantages of the integrated type, there are also machines that adopt a system in which each unit such as a cleaning unit, a developing unit, and a photoreceptor unit is individually exchanged and each unit is individually exchanged. Has been

The exchange can be roughly divided into two.

One of them is a method in which each unit is individually pulled out from the machine body and replaced, and in this method, a mechanism for drawing out each unit is required, and the position between the units must be accurately positioned. Not only is it difficult to replace because it is placed in a narrow space, but also when removing the unit to be replaced, it may damage other units that are not the time to replace it, or toner may spill and stain the inside There was a drawback that it was easy to do.

The other is a system in which each unit is configured as a working unit and the whole is drawn out of the machine main body, and individual units are replaced from the drawn one. In this system, each unit is positioned with the accuracy required to operate in the main body, and it is pulled out as it is, so it is difficult to remove the unit yet, and it is easy to spill toner and damage the photoconductor There were drawbacks.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional laser printer. In the laser printer main body, a photosensitive member 1, a transfer charger 2, a charging charger 3, a discharging lamp 4, a developing unit 5, a cleaning unit 6, a toner cartridge 7, a light cartridge Scanning device 8, paper feeding unit 9, fixing unit 10, paper discharge switching unit 11, paper reversing machine 1
2, paper discharge transport path 13, paper feed cassettes 14a, 14b, paper discharge tray 15
a, 15b, etc.

In the case of a paper discharge failure or the like, the paper discharge conveyance path 13 rotates in the direction of the arrow (A) so that failure processing can be performed.

In conventional laser printers and the like, the above-described arrangements of the respective parts are taken on the premise of giving priority to the functions. Therefore, in terms of manufacturing, assembling such as replacing parts, disassembling or taking out work, much consideration has been given. At present it is not structured.

FIG. 16 shows an example of the cleaning unit 6 which individually pulls out and replaces each unit from the machine body described above, and has a stay 6A having a rail function on the upper surface of the unit, and the machine body frame 100 The entire cleaning unit 6 can be put in and taken out in the direction of the arrow (A)-(A ') on the rail 100A provided.

In this case, the cleaning unit 6 for the photoconductor 1
The positioning pin 6C of this unit is
Into the pin hole 6BC of the photoreceptor 1 at the same time
Developing unit 5 fitted into pin hole 6BA of B and not shown
Are inserted into the pin holes 6BB, and the face plate 6B is attached to the main body frame 100 with the screws 6D.

With such a structure, it is necessary to carefully attach and detach the cleaning unit 6 to and from the main body frame 100 so as not to damage the photoconductor 1 (drum).
In addition, since the unit must be loaded and unloaded on the rail 100A of the main body, it is difficult to replace the user, and the actual situation is performed by a well-trained service person, and the toner often spills out. For this reason, there is a drawback that other parts and papers are stained.

FIG. 17 shows an example of an image forming case 23 in which users (developing, photoreceptor, cleaning, charger, etc.) related to the above-described image forming are integrated and the whole is drawn out of the machine main body.
Rails 23A are provided on both upper side edges of the image forming case 23, and the rails 23A are mounted on guide rails 26 provided on the machine body frame 100, and the image forming case 23 is taken in and out in the direction of the arrow (A)-(A '). I do. The position of the imaging case 23 with respect to the machine body frame 100 is determined by the machine body frame positioning pin 1.
00B is inserted into the pin hole 23B of the image forming case 23, and the positioning pin 23C of the image forming case is inserted into the pin hole of the machine body frame (not shown) to be held solid.

This has good operability for the user to perform replacement, but as described above, it is necessary to replace all units of each imaging case having a different life, which is not economical.

In addition, in the case of the optical scanning device 8, if the positional relationship with the photoconductor 1 is not correctly arranged, it affects the recording, so that conventionally, the optical scanning device 8 cannot easily be detached from the laser printer main body.

FIG. 18 is a perspective external view of the conventional optical scanning device 8, showing a structure for attaching the optical scanning device 8 to a main body and components arranged in the optical box 80.

The optical box 80 is fixed at right angles to the light scanning surface (main scanning direction) of the laser light by at least four mounting screws 81. Therefore, since the optical box needs to be removed in the height direction (B) of the optical box, a space larger than the height of the optical box is required. However, at the height of the optical box, the output tray
At present, there are 15a, 15b and other members which cannot be easily removed because they are assembled from various directions.

Further, the plane area occupied in the laser printer main body is much larger than the side area, and detaching the optical box in the height direction is not a preferable method in view of the arrangement relationship with other members. .

In FIG. 18, the optical box 80 is mounted on the laser printer main body substrate 82 with four mounting screws 81, and inside the box is a rotating polygon mirror 83 and a plurality of optical disks arranged on the optical axis of the laser beam. , A mirror 85 for detecting a horizontal synchronizing signal, an optical connector 87 connected to an optical fiber for extracting a reflected beam from the mirror, a semiconductor laser 86, a lead connector 88 of a rotating polygon mirror 83, a dustproof glass 89, and the like. And optical connector 87,
The connector 86c of the semiconductor laser 86 and the lead connector 88 of the rotary polygon mirror are led out of the side wall of the optical box 80 in various directions. In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the lid is fixed to the optical box with a mounting screw to prevent leakage of laser light from the inside to the outside, and to prevent dust and the like from entering the inside from the outside.

As a conventional means for detecting the amount of collected toner in the toner collection tank, for example, an overflow detection of the collected toner is provided at the upper end of the cleaning case 110 as shown in FIG. The filler 111 rises as the toner 112 is collected, and the detection filter rotates from the solid line position to the dashed line position with the rotation shaft 111A as a fulcrum. Then, a detection sensor (photo interrupter) 11 provided at a predetermined position of the machine main body.
By blocking the optical path of 3, the control unit of the machine body detects that the toner in the cleaning case is full and displays it on the display panel.

FIG. 19 (2) is an exploded view of the parts for explaining the mounting structure of the detection filter, and shows the rectangular pedestal surface 11 of the holder 111H.
The rubber sheet 111G, which is a film-like elastic material, is placed on 1HP, and the stopper 111S is pushed in from above to fix the rubber sheet. Then, the rotating shaft 111A of the detection filter 111 is attached to the bearing 111B.
This is fixed to the cleaning case 110 as shown in FIG. 19 (1). Here, the rubber sheet 111G is
Is the operating space of the detection filler 111 (inside the cleaning case)
This is to prevent leakage to

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, a system in which various image forming units are individually taken out from the machine main body and replaced, or a system in which the entire image forming case accommodating the image forming unit is taken out from the machine main body and replaced entirely. The advantages and disadvantages of each are described.

That is, among the image forming units housed in the image forming case, the replacement and the positioning of the cleaning unit in particular have conventionally been simple and unreliable, and the contamination and the positioning and damage to the photosensitive member due to the toner spill at the time of the replacement have been described. Until now, considerations such as not giving were not enough.

In a copier or laser printer of a type in which each unit is set in an image forming case and the image forming case is pulled out from the machine main body so that each unit can be replaced.
The overflow detection filer for collected toner in the cleaning unit shown in Fig. 19 and its detection sensor (photo interrupter) installed on the machine body side work in a non-contact manner so as not to interfere, and malfunction of detection even if toner is scattered It is necessary that the detection filter and the detection sensor operate within a certain operating range.However, if the configuration is as shown in FIG. 19, the image forming case for the photo interrupter may be pulled out of the machine body. In some cases, the photointerrupter is liable to be contaminated by scattering of toner and does not operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and in particular, to provide a cleaning unit having a detachable cleaning unit, capable of reliably detecting toner fullness, and maintaining accuracy with respect to a photoconductor. It is the purpose.

(Configuration and Function) In the present invention, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor of the electrophotographic apparatus is collected in a toner collection tank by a cleaning blade, and when the toner collection tank is full of toner, the toner collection tank is replaced with an empty one. In the cleaning unit, when the toner collection tank becomes full of toner collected from the photoreceptor, a film-like elastic material that is pressed and deformed in accordance with the amount of the collected toner and a film-like elastic material. An overflow detection filler that is placed and is displaced with the deformation of the film-like elastic material and approaches the reed switch attached to the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus, and is attached to the tip of the overflow detection filler. When the reed switch is approached within a predetermined working distance, the magnetic And

According to the present invention thus configured, the reed switch provided on the main body side of the electrophotographic apparatus causes the magnet attached to the tip of the overflow detection filler (hereinafter, referred to as “detection filler”) to approach within a working distance. Therefore, when the toner recovery tank is full, the installation area of the reed switch does not intersect with the movement area of the tip of the detection filler when the cleaning unit is pulled out and replaced. Therefore, the replacement operation of the cleaning unit, particularly, the replacement operation by the user is simplified, and it is possible to prevent damage to peripheral devices due to a mistake in the procedure of the replacement operation of the cleaning unit and scattering of the toner collected in the toner collection tank. The degree of freedom in designing and arranging peripheral devices is improved.

Further, since the reed switch and the magnet are magnetically connected, even if the non-magnetic toner adheres to either the reed switch or the magnet, it is possible to reliably detect the fullness of the toner collected in the toner collection tank. .

Further, since the cleaning unit of the present invention is replaced and discarded by the user, if a magnet is used as one component of the fullness detecting means of the toner collected in the toner collecting tank, the manufacturing cost of the cleaning unit can be reduced. Thus, the economic burden on the user is reduced.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a perspective external view of a detection filter 111, and FIG.
10 shows a cross-sectional structural view of a main part at the upper end of FIG.

As shown in the figure, the magnet 114 is fixed to the protruding tip of the detection filler 111 so that there is no hindrance when the image forming case of the machine body is pulled out, and the detection sensor is attached to the machine body side as shown in FIG. The reed switch is disposed at a position where the switch operates by electromagnetic action in a state of non-contact with the reed switch 115.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the recovery of the toner 112 progresses and the swelling of the detection filter 111 moves from the solid line position to the dashed line position with the rotation shaft 111A as a fulcrum, the reed switch 11
5 operates by the action of the magnet 114 and sends a toner full detection signal to the control unit of the machine body.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cleaning unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the cleaning unit. In the figure, reference numeral 23 denotes an image forming case, and a direction of a handle arrow (A)-(A ') not shown.
The structure is such that it can be taken in and out of the machine body, and details thereof are shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a cleaning unit set in the image forming case 23, and a plurality of positioning pins 6C are implanted on front and rear side surfaces thereof. Reference numeral 23A denotes a guide plate which slides and holds the positioning pin 6C at a predetermined position, and is provided on the floor of the imaging case 23. This guide plate 23A has positioning pins 6
It has a sliding groove 23B for guiding C, and maintains the positional relationship with the photoconductor 1 at the inner end of the groove. Reference numeral 6D denotes a moving shaft of the cleaning unit 6 which is rotated by rotation of the lever 6E (arrow a or b), and a leaf spring 6F mounted on the transfer shaft 6D.
Then, the side face 6J of the cleaning unit is pressed as shown in FIG. 2, and the positioning pin 6C is inserted into the sliding groove 23B and slid.
This moving feed shaft 6D is, as shown in FIG.
A rotating shaft is attached to the front and rear side surfaces. Reference numeral 6G denotes a lock fitting for the lever 6E, which locks the lever and prevents the lever from returning when positioned by the positioning pin 6C at the position shown in FIG. The lock 6G is locked by a spring (not shown) with a stopper (not shown) so that the lever is not unlocked by the spring 6H.

With this configuration, when the cleaning unit 6 is set in the image forming case 23, the leaf spring 6F pushes the side surface 6J and slides by rotating the transfer shaft 6D by rotating the lever 6E (arrow a). Push the positioning pin 6C into the groove 23B. Since the transfer stops at the position where the pin 6C comes to the inner end of the groove, the lever 6E is fixed to and held by the elasticity of the spring 6H by locking the lever 6E to the lock fitting G, and the position with the photosensitive member 1 is shown in FIG. So that it is maintained exactly.

To reset the cleaning unit from the imaging case 23, remove the lock 6G from the lever 6E against the elasticity of the spring 6H, and rotate the lever in the opposite direction (arrow b).
Then, since the leaf spring 6F is separated from the side surface 6J, the cleaning unit 6 can be easily taken out by extracting the positioning pin 6C along the sliding groove 23b. Therefore, it can be easily set and reset without touching other parts.
There is no worry about scratching or toner spilling.

Next, the attachment of the optical operation device 8 and the imaging case 23 to the machine main body and the positioning thereof are taken into consideration.

FIG. 4 is a perspective external view showing an example of the optical operation device 8, in which (1) is the laser printer main body side and (2)
Numeral denotes an optical box 80 of the optical operation device 8, and the same numeral symbols as those in FIGS. 15 and 18 are almost the same in function, but differ in the arrangement relationship and the like as described later.

On the side of the main body (1), a main body guide rail 17 is provided on the inner side surface of the main body side plate 16 disposed at the width interval of the optical box 80. At both ends of the guide rail, front and rear studs 18 and 19 are provided at positions slightly higher than the position level of the rail, and the front multiple is in the height direction, the rear is in the height direction and the vertical direction (sliding direction (D)-(D ')) Is used for positioning. Further, the main body stay 20 is stretched between the two main body side plates 16, and is provided with at least one lateral positioning hole 20a. Further, a mounting screw 22 is provided on the inner side of the main body side plate 16 behind the rear stud 19, and thus near the outside of the laser printer main body.
Of with a screw hole plate, the set position has an inner side and a slight gap g ₁ of the front side plate 80g of the optical box 80 (see Figure 7).

Next, in the optical box (2), it is formed in a substantially rectangular shape for modularization, and slide ribs 80b slidably guided by the main body guide rails 17 on both end plates 80a thereof; Front, mating with rear studs 18,19
It has rear fitting grooves 80c and 80d. The front side plate 80e is provided with a projection 80f that fits into the hole 20a of the main body stay 20, and the front side plate 80g is provided with an insertion hole 80h for a mounting screw 22 that is screwed into the screw hole plate 21 of the main body. I have. A spring 22A is wound around the mounting screw 22, and its detailed structure will be described later with reference to FIG.

Also, the connectors 86'c, 87 ', 88' corresponding to the connector 86c of the semiconductor laser 86, the horizontal synchronization signal detecting optical connector 87, and the lead connector 88 of the rotary polygon mirror are gathered on the front side plate 80g side and are recessed from the plate surface. And when the connectors 86c, 87, 88 are connected thereto, the housing of the connector is formed so as to enter into the recess of the front side plate 80g.

Although the connectors 86'c, 87 ', and 88' are provided on the near side plate 80g side in the drawing, they may be provided on the front end side plate 80e. As a member for positioning the main body and the optical box described above, a member as shown in FIG. 5 can satisfy the same function.
FIG. 1A shows the main body guide rail 17 and the front and rear studs.
A case is shown in which 18 and 19 are integrated and provided on the inner surface side of the main body side plate 16. FIG. 2B shows a rear fitting groove 80d provided in the side plate 80a of the optical box 80 provided with a flange portion 80d 'to facilitate engagement with the rear stud 19 on the main body side and increase the holding area. And stable immobilization. Note that the front mating groove 80
c is similarly formed. Next, FIG. 3C shows that the rear fitting groove 80d is formed integrally with the front side plate 80g of the optical box, and is fixed to the rear stud 19 of the main body by the elasticity of the spring 22A compressed by tightening the mounting screw 22. However, the case where the screw hole plate 21 on the main body side is omitted is shown. In each of the above embodiments, an example is described in which the design can be changed so that positioning in the three-dimensional direction can be performed.

Next, FIG. 6 shows an example of the arrangement of internal components of the optical box 80, which is optimal for a module. The housing is formed in a substantially square shape, and the rotary polygon mirror 83 is arranged at the center near the front side plate 80g, and the tip side plate 80 is positioned in the horizontal scanning optical direction of the rotary polygon mirror 83.
The first mirror 84a and the second mirror 84 are spaced at a predetermined distance from e.
b, the third mirror 84c and the Fθ lens 84d are sequentially arranged on the near side. A fourth mirror for detecting a horizontal synchronization signal
85 is a first mirror 84a and a second mirror 84b on one side plate 80a side.
The optical fiber 87a is disposed on the reflection optical axis of the fourth mirror 85, and is connected to the optical connector 87 '.
The semiconductor laser 86 is disposed so as to face the rotary polygon mirror 83 in an oblique direction, and has a first cylindrical lens 86a on the laser optical axis so that laser light is focused on the rotary polygon mirror 83. Also, a driving board for the rotating polygon mirror 83
83a are provided in each part surrounded by the side plate 80a and the front side plate 80g. When guiding the optical fiber 87a from the optical fiber 87a to the optical connector 87 ', a barrier 87b is provided to prevent the laser beam from traveling straight and leaking out of the box, and is arranged so as to block the straight traveling.

Next, the attachment / detachment of the optical box of the optical scanning device to / from the printer body will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1A is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state before the optical box is mounted on the printer main body, and FIG. When the sliding rib 80b of the optical box 80 is slid along the guide rail 17 of the printer body (in the direction of arrow D), the front and rear fitting grooves 80c, 80d are formed.
Fits into the front and rear studs 18, 19 of the printer body, respectively. In this case, it is arranged in front fitting groove 80c so as to have a gap g ₂ in the sliding direction of the front stud 18 and the front fitting groove 80c. As a result, the rear stud 19 for positioning in the sliding direction (arrow D: vertical direction)
And the rear fitting groove 80d. The height direction (arrow B) is the front and rear studs.
When the fitting grooves 80c, 80d are fitted into the 18, 18, 19, respectively, the stud diameter and the fitting groove width dimension are determined. Also, the horizontal direction (perpendicular to the drawing: arrow E in FIG. 4 (1))
The protrusion 80f at the tip fits into the hole 20a of the main body stay 20, and is positioned. That is, when the optical box 80 is mounted on the printer main body, the three-dimensional directions of the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the height direction are automatically positioned by the members of the printer main body and the optical box. The printer main body of the inner surface of the face and the front side plate 80g of the screw hole plate 21 of the printer body in this state, a gap g ₁ as described above. Therefore, since the mounting screw 22 is screwed into the screw hole of the hole plate 21 and is brought into close contact with the elasticity due to the compression of the spring 22A, an impact such as a drop or vibration may affect the positioning state in the sliding direction. It can be fixed without.

FIG. 7 (3) shows an enlarged detailed view of the mounting screw 22 screwed into the screw hole plate 21 of FIG. 2 (2), and shows a near side plate of the optical box.
A spring 22A is wound around 80g, penetrates the near side plate, and a washer 22B is fitted into the other end of the mounting screw.
With this configuration, the mounting screw does not drop due to external vibration or the like, and can be firmly fixed by the elastic force of the spring 22A when screwed into the screw hole plate 21.

Next, when removing the optical box from the printer body, loosen the mounting screw 22 in the opposite direction to the case of mounting, and slide the sliding rib of the optical box in the opposite direction along the guide rail of the printer body (arrow D '). For example, the state shown in FIG. 7A is obtained, and the printer can be taken out of the printer body. Although described later, the paper discharge conveyance path 13 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (A) in FIG. 15 to open the drawing direction (D ′) of the optical scanning device 8 (optical box 80). , Can be moved horizontally from the side of the printer body.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an image forming case 23 which is arranged at the lower stage of the above-described optical scanning device, and the direction of attachment / detachment from the printer main body is set in a direction ((G ')-(G)) perpendicular to each of the optical scanning devices. The figure is shown. This drawing shows only the mechanism necessary for attaching and detaching the imaging case 23. The printer main body has a front side plate 24 and a rear side plate 25, and the vertical direction of the imaging case 23 (sliding direction:
(G)-(G ')). Front side plate
The positioning studs 24a, 24b and 25a, 25b of the imaging case 23 are provided on the 24 and the rear plate 25 at positions corresponding exactly to the photosensitive member 1 and the horizontal scanning surface of the optical scanning device. The front side plate 24a has an opening 24c through which the image forming case 23 can enter and exit. On the rear side plate 25, a drum driving shaft 25c for driving a photosensitive member (a drum in this case) of the image forming case 23 is provided. Further, an image forming case 23 is provided between the front side plate 24 and the rear side plate 25.
And a guide rail 26 for supporting the attachment and detachment. Imaging case 23
Are fitted in the studs 24a, 24b and 25a, 25b, and are three-dimensionally positioned in a height direction (arrow (B)), a horizontal direction (arrow (E)), and a vertical direction (arrow (G)-(G ')). Hole 23a,
23b and 23a 'and 23b'. Further, both side plates of the image forming case 23 have ribs 23c for engaging with the support guide rails 26 of the printer main body, and a handle 23d for pulling in / out is provided on the front side plate.

When the above-described image forming case is mounted on the printer body, when the handle 23d is pushed in the sliding direction (G), the rib 23c along the support guide rail 26 of the body slides, and the studs 25a, 25b of the rear side plate 25 are moved. The positioning holes 23a 'and 23b' are fitted, and the positioning holes 2a and 25b
3a and 23b are fitted, and three-dimensional positioning is performed. At this time, the drum driving shaft 25c is inserted into the hole 1a of the photosensitive member 1 of the imaging case.
Are fitted and joined, and the photoconductor is joined to the drive source. As described above, when the user holds the handle 23d and pushes the handle 23d into the printer main body, the positioning of the image forming case is automatically performed, and the driving source for the photosensitive member is joined. Next, it can be easily taken out of the printer body by the operation opposite to the above.

Next, the optical scanning device and the image forming case 23 (hereinafter, referred to as a drawer) housed in the laser printer main body described above will be additionally described.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the laser printer shown in FIG. 15, and FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of the drawer.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the laser printer of this embodiment has a drawer 23 slidably mounted on one side surface of a main body thereof by supporting guide rails 26 and 26 '.

In the drawer 23, image forming units such as the photoconductor 1, the developing unit 5, the cleaning unit 6, and the toner cartridge 7 are detachably stored. When the drawer 23 is pushed into the main body, these units are mounted while maintaining an appropriate positional relationship with each other so that the recording operation by the electrophotographic method is performed correctly, and the transfer charger 2 provided on the main body side. , Charging charger 3, discharging lamp 4,
The optical system unit 8 and the registration rollers 27 are positioned so as to maintain an appropriate positional relationship.

By pulling the drawer 23 out of the main body, the photoconductor 1
In contrast, the developing unit 5 and the toner cartridge 7 are automatically separated to the right side in FIG. 10, and the cleaning unit 6 is automatically separated to the left side. Due to such isolation of the units, when any one of the units is replaced at a later time, some space is left between the adjacent units, so that the operation is simplified and the adjacent units are not damaged.

On the front of drawer 23, handle 23d for pulling out
Is attached. The developing unit 5, the cleaning unit 6, and the toner cartridge 7 are also provided with handles. However, the handle is omitted in FIG. 9 and is not shown.

The main unit has a drawer 23 equipped with the above-mentioned imaging unit.
Also, in addition to the optical system unit 8 for optically scanning on the photoreceptor and other components, a first paper feed cassette 14a and a second paper feed cassette 14b for supplying recording paper, and an image developed by the image forming unit are provided. The fixing unit 10 includes a fixing unit 10 for fixing a toner image on recording paper by heating and pressing, a conveying unit 28, and the like. In addition, a first discharge tray 15a and a second discharge tray 15b that receive recorded recording paper discharged through the transport path 13 are provided at an upper portion of the printer main body.

In addition, the printer body is a so-called optional large-volume paper feeding unit 29 used as needed, and a recording paper recorded on one side of the fixing unit 10 turned over and supplied to the image forming unit again. Reversing unit 12 (No.
15 (see FIG. 15).

By raising and covering the cover plate 23e with the drawer 23 accommodated in the main body, it is possible to prevent intrusion of dust and the like and to adjust the appearance of the appearance.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show a second drawing for separating the cleaning unit 6 from the photoreceptor 1 by pulling out the drawer 23.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a mechanism different from those shown in FIGS.

Slide hole 31, cleaning unit holding notch 3
2, spring support projection (pin) 33 and cam contact part 34
A pair of sliders 35 and 35 ′ are disposed before and after in the drawing direction of the drawer 23, and are slidably fixed to the drawer 23 by guide pins 36. Then, a sprig 39 is stretched between the spring support protrusion 33 of the slider 35 and the sprig support protrusion 38 fixed to the bottom of the drawer 23.

Further, a shaft rod 40 is passed between the front and rear side plates of the drawer 23, and the cam 41 is fixed to a position corresponding to the position of the cam contact portion 34 of the slider 35, so that the shaft rod 40 is rotated in the axial direction. Attach the biasing spring 37. Such cams and springs are not shown in FIG.
Of course, it is provided for 35 '. Shaft bar 40
A pin 42 is provided at the rear end of the main body so as to engage with a cam 43 provided on the main body side.

The cleaning unit 6 has four pins provided at both front and rear ends thereof, of which two pins 44, 44 'are fitted into notches 32, 32' of the slider 35 as shown in FIG. The remaining two pins 45, 45 'are held on the side walls of the main body as shown in FIG.
Retained by 46 '. The pin bearings 46, 46 '
As shown in the figure, a pin slide slot 47 for slidably supporting the pin in the slide direction is provided, and a notch 48 serving as a pin insertion port is provided above the pin slide slot 47.

In the drawer 23 holding the image forming unit configured as described above, the pin 42 at the end of the shaft bar 40 contacts the back of the main body side cam 43 in the operating position where the drawer 23 is housed in the main body. And the spring 37 prevents the cam 41 from rotating. Therefore, the spring 39 is attached to the sliders 35 and 35 '.
Only the elastic force effectively acts to position the cleaning unit 6 supported by the sliders 35, 35 'close to the photosensitive member 1, which is the original operating position. That is, the cleaning unit 6 is set to a position (reference position) where the cleaning unit 6 is pulled rightward in FIG. 11 by the spring 39.

On the other hand, when the drawer 23 is pulled out,
The pin 42 at the end of the shaft bar 40 extending before and after 23 comes off the cam 43 on the main body side, and the rotational force by the spring 37 is
41 receives and pushes the contact portion 34 of the slider 35, 35 '. Since the spring force of the spring 37 is higher than that of the spring 39, the slider 35 moves to the left in the drawing, and as a result, the pins 44 and 44 'of the cleaning unit 6 are moved.
, The cleaning unit 6 moves the photosensitive member 1
More away.

Although only the cleaning unit 6 has been described above, the developing unit 5 can be separated from the photoconductor 1 when the drawer 23 is pulled out by the same mechanism.

In the above example, when the drawer 23 is pulled out from the main body,
In order to automatically separate the units set in the drawer 23, the detection of the position of the drawer 23 and the sliding operation of a predetermined unit according to the detection are performed by a combination of a plurality of cam mechanisms. The present invention is not limited to such a cam mechanism, but can be realized by a combination of other means, for example, electrical detection of a drawer position and an electromagnetic mechanism driven thereby.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the reed switch provided on the main body side of the electrophotographic apparatus operates the magnet attached to the tip of the overflow detection filler (hereinafter referred to as "detection filler"). Since the operation is performed only by approaching within the distance, when the toner recovery tank is full, the installation area of the reed switch does not cross the movement area of the tip of the detection filler when the cleaning unit is pulled out and replaced. Therefore, the replacement of the cleaning unit, particularly the replacement by the user, can be simplified, and the peripheral device can be prevented from being damaged due to a mistake in the procedure for replacing the cleaning unit, and the toner collected in the toner collection tank can be prevented from scattering. In addition to this effect, the degree of freedom in designing and arranging peripheral devices is improved.

Further, since the reed switch and the magnet are magnetically connected, it is possible to reliably detect the fullness of the toner collected in the toner collection tank even if the magnetically attracted toner adheres to either the reed switch or the magnet. This has the effect.

Further, since the cleaning unit of the present invention is replaced and discarded by the user, if a magnet is used as one component of the fullness detecting means of the toner collected in the toner collecting tank, the manufacturing cost of the cleaning unit can be reduced. Thus, there is an effect that the financial burden on the user is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective external view (1) showing a relationship between a detection filter and a detection sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a cross-sectional view of a main part thereof.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning unit, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective external view of the optical scanning device, FIG. 5 is a perspective external view showing each example of a positioning paper member, FIG. 6 is an example of the arrangement of interior parts of an optical box of the optical scanning device, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the positioning operation of the laser printer main body and the optical box shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 8 is an example of a mechanism for attaching and detaching the image forming case to and from the laser printer main body, FIG.
FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of the drawer of FIG. 9, FIG. 11 and FIG.
FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a mechanism for separating the cleaning unit 6 from the photoreceptor 1 by pulling out the drawer 23, FIG. 13 is a view showing a mechanism for supporting the cleaning unit 6 on the drawer 23, and FIG. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the laser printer shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an example of a mechanism of a conventional cleaning unit, and FIG. 17 is a mechanism of a conventional image forming case. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing an example, FIG. 18 is an external perspective view showing an attached state of an optical box to a printer main body in a conventional optical scanning device, and FIG. 19 is an example diagram of a conventional detection mechanism for the amount of collected toner. is there. 110 …… Cleaning case, 111 …… Detection filler, 111H
…… Holder, 111G …… Rubber sheet, 111S …… Stopper,
111A ... Rotary shaft, 111B ... Bearing, 112 ... Toner, 113 ...
… Interrupter, 114… magnet, 115 …… lead switch.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A cleaning means for collecting toner remaining on a photoreceptor of the electrophotographic apparatus into a toner collecting tank with a cleaning blade, and replacing the toner collecting tank with an empty toner collecting tank when the toner collecting tank is full of the toner. In the unit, when the toner collection tank is filled with the toner collected from the photoconductor, a film-shaped elastic material that is deformed by being pressed according to the amount of the collected toner; An overflow detection filler mounted on an elastic material, displaced with the deformation of the film-like elastic material, and approaching a reed switch attached to a main body side of the electrophotographic apparatus; and a tip of the overflow detection filler. When the reed switch is approached within a predetermined working distance, the reed switch is A cleaning unit, characterized in that a magnet for operating a pitch is provided.