JP2835925B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer or an electrostatic copying machine, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body and a process unit detachably mounted on the apparatus main body. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art JP-A-60-168159, JP-A-62-32483 and JP-A-63-32565.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-139,811 discloses an image forming apparatus (an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment) having an apparatus main body and a process unit detachably mounted on the apparatus main body. The process unit includes an image bearing unit having a photoreceptor on the surface and a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor of the image bearing unit into a toner image. Cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transferring the toner image formed on the photoreceptor of the image bearing means onto a transfer member such as plain paper; and characteristics of the image bearing means on the photoreceptor A charging corona discharger for applying a polar charge is often provided in the process unit. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-286066 discloses an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) in which an apparatus main body is composed of a lower housing and an upper housing which is mounted on the lower housing so as to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position. Image forming apparatus). A support guide means (rail) is mounted on the upper housing, and a process unit (photoreceptor unit) is provided.
Is mounted on the upper housing via the support and guide means.

[0003]

However, the conventional image forming apparatus of the first embodiment described above has a problem that it is not always easy to attach and detach the process unit to and from the apparatus main body. The above-mentioned embodiment, that is, the embodiment in which the process unit is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body, is implemented in a particularly small image forming apparatus as is well known to those skilled in the art, but is inevitable in a small image forming apparatus. In addition, the space in the apparatus main body is small, and therefore, the difficulty of attaching and detaching the process unit is particularly remarkable. In addition, the attachment and detachment of a process unit in a small-sized image forming apparatus often needs to be performed by a user himself, not by a specialized service person, and the difficulty in attaching and detaching the process unit is an important problem. Further, the conventional image forming apparatus of the second embodiment described above has improved detachability of the process unit as compared with the conventional image forming apparatus of the first embodiment, but is still not sufficiently satisfactory. Absent. That is, since the process unit is mounted on the upper housing,
When the upper housing is swung upward to open the upper housing with respect to the lower housing in order to inspect or replace the equipment disposed on the upper housing side, for example, the optical unit,
The support and guide means and the process unit are also swiveled with the upper housing, resulting in a significant increase in the weight burden on the operator. Further, there is a possibility that the developer inside the process unit may fall and scatter due to the upward movement of the process unit. Due to this, the opening angle of the upper housing tends to be restricted, and it is difficult to secure a desired large space between the upper housing and the lower housing. Had declined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and a technical problem thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a process unit is detachably mounted on an apparatus main body.
Even in the case of a small-sized image forming apparatus, and also by a user, not by a specialized service person, the process unit can be easily and smoothly, stably and securely attached to and detached from the apparatus body. It is to reduce the weight burden on the elderly.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above technical object, according to the present invention, there is provided a support guide means having a guide portion in an apparatus main body, and the support guide means is independent of an upper housing. An operating position for pivotally mounting the process unit on the lower housing so that the process unit can be positioned at a predetermined operating position, and a process unit for mounting and dismounting the process unit, which is turned upward from the operating position. When the upper housing is opened and the support guide is moved to the detached position, the guide portion of the support guide is opened between the lower housing and the upper housing. None so as to extend in a space that is, the guide portion of the support guide means is opened between the upper housing with the lower housing and an open position In a state extending space that, allowed to attached to the support guide means by for moving the process unit along the guide portion of the support guide means. The holding member is pivotable between an operating position for preventing the support guide means from pivoting downward from the detached position and a non-operating position allowing the support guide means to pivot downward from the detached position. When the holding member is in the operating position and the supporting and guiding means is in the mounting / removing position, the process unit is moved along the guide portion,
If you move it near the position where movement is blocked,
The set unit acts on the holding member and is prevented from moving.
By further movement of the position until the, Rutotomoni pivoted to the non-operating position the hold member from the operative position, is pivoted downward together with the supporting lifting guide means positioned at a predetermined working position, configured to.

That is, according to the present invention, as an image forming apparatus for achieving the above technical object, there is provided an apparatus main body and a process unit detachably mounted on the apparatus main body,
In an image forming apparatus, the apparatus main body includes a lower housing and an upper housing pivotally mounted on the lower housing between an open position and a closed position. An operating position for pivotally mounted on the lower housing so as to be able to rotate independently with respect to the upper housing, and for positioning the process unit in a predetermined operating position; The upper housing can be pivoted between a mounting / removing position for mounting and dismounting the process unit, which is pivoted upward from the operating position, and the upper housing is moved to the open position, and the support guide means is moved to the open position. When allowed to the mounting disengaged position, the guide inside the support guide means extends in the open with which the space between the lower housing and the upper housing, The process unit is mounted on the support and guide means by moving along the guide portion, and an operation position for preventing the support and guide means from pivoting downward from the mounting and disengaging position, and the support and guide means is provided with the mounting and dismounting means. Holding means is provided which includes a holding member that is pivotable between a non-operating position that permits pivoting downward from the position, the holding member being in the operative position, and the supporting and guiding means being attached to the mounting position. When the process unit is in the release position,
Move along the interior to the point where movement is
When tightened, the process unit acts on the holding member.
Further movement to that position where movement is blocked
An image forming apparatus , wherein the holding member is pivoted from the operation position to the non-operation position, and is pivoted downward together with the support and guide means to be positioned at the predetermined operation position. You.

[0007]

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the supporting and guiding means is not fixed at the operating position, but can be freely rotated between the operating position and the mounting / removing position which is swung above the operating position. It is installed. When the upper housing is moved to the open position and the support and guide means is positioned at the mounting / removing position, the guide portion of the support and guide means is an open space between the lower housing and the upper housing.
Extending. By moving the process unit along the guide portion of the support and guide means in such a state, the process unit can be mounted on the support and guide means sufficiently easily and smoothly. Further, due to the above configuration, the mounting / removing position of the guide portion of the support / guiding means is located in a relatively large space between the lower housing and the upper housing, so that the attaching / detaching operation of the process unit becomes extremely easy. . Therefore, even when the apparatus main body is small and small, and also by the user himself, the process unit can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the support and guide means to which the process unit is mounted and detached is rotatably mounted on the lower housing so that the process unit can be independently rotated with respect to the upper housing. , And a mounting / removing position for mounting / removing the process unit, which is pivoted upward from the operating position. Due to this configuration, the equipment arranged on the upper housing side,
For example, even if the upper housing is swung upward to open the lower housing in order to inspect or replace the optical unit, the support and guide means and the process unit are not swung but remain on the lower housing side. As a result, the work such as the above inspection or replacement can be performed only by turning the upper housing, and the burden on the operator is reduced. Further, even if the upper housing is swung upward, there is no danger of the developer dropping and scattering, so that the opening angle of the upper housing with respect to the lower housing can be set to a relatively large angle. Between the lower housing and the upper housing, the mounting and disengaging position of the guide portion of the supporting and guiding means is located within the relatively large space between the lower housing and the upper housing. Properties are remarkably improved. In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, furthermore, an operation position for preventing the support guide means from pivoting downward from the detached position and a non-operating position for allowing the support guide means to pivot downward from the detached position. during disposed holding means including a holding member which is pivotable to, when the retaining member is in the operative position the supporting guide means at the mount disengaged position, guiding the process unit
Along the part to a point near where the movement is blocked.
The process unit acts on the holding element and
By further movement to the position where the dynamic is blocked, is turning allowed Rutotomoni the non-operating position the holding member from the operative position, is pivoted downward together with the supporting <br/> lifting guide means positioned at a predetermined working position It is configured as follows. According to the above configuration, since the supporting and guiding means is reliably positioned and held at the mounting / removing position by the holding means, the attaching / detaching operation of the process unit with respect to the supporting and guiding means is extremely easily, smoothly, stably and surely performed. . In addition, by the operation of merely attaching the process unit to the support and guide means, the process unit acts on the holding member to turn the holding member from the operating position to the non-operating position, and the process unit is turned downward together with the support and guide means. Since the process unit is positioned at the predetermined operation position, the mounting operation of the process unit with respect to the support and guide means and the operation of positioning the process unit at the predetermined operation position are performed extremely easily, smoothly, stably and reliably.

Preferably, the supporting and guiding means is constituted by a pair of supporting and guiding members which are pivotally mounted at intervals in the width direction, and the holding members are provided corresponding to the respective supporting and guiding members. , The guide portion is defined by guide grooves formed in each of the pair of support guide members, and the process unit includes a pair of supported members received in the guide grooves of each of the pair of support guide members. A protrusion is provided. According to the above invention, the support guide member is reliably positioned and held at the mounting / removal position by the holding member, and furthermore, the pair of supported projections of the process unit is formed along the guide grooves of the pair of support guide members. Since the process unit can be attached to and detached from the support and guide member by moving, the operation of attaching and detaching the process unit to and from the support and guide member can be performed extremely easily, smoothly, stably and reliably. Moreover, the said process unit is arranged action protrusion of a pair, the said lower housing is formed a pair of arcuate openings, each of said holding member, slidably in a corresponding opening receiving Sliding pins are provided, and between each of the retaining members and the lower housing, each of the retaining members is biased to bias each of the sliding pins at one end of the corresponding opening. A biasing spring positioned in an operative position , wherein the pair of supported protrusions of the process unit is provided;
Parts in the corresponding guide grooves, and the process unit
Position along each of the guide grooves where movement is blocked.
When it is moved to the vicinity of the
To that position which acts on each of the members and is prevented from moving
By further movement of pivoted against the said biasing spring each該滑rotating pin to the other end of each of the opening,-holding equity
Preferably, each of the members is pivoted from the working position to the non-working position to position the process unit at the predetermined working position. According to the above invention, the process unit is mounted on each of the guide grooves of the support guide member through each of the supported projections, whereby the process unit is connected to the holding member through each of the operation projections. Acting on each of them, each of the holding members is pivoted from the operation position to the non-operation position, and the process unit is pivoted downward together with the support guide member to be positioned at the predetermined operation position, so that the process unit is mounted on the support guide member. The operation and the positioning operation to the predetermined working position are performed extremely easily, smoothly, stably and reliably. Each of the retaining members is more securely and securely positioned as each of the retaining members is positioned in the active and non-active positions by pivoting each sliding pin between one end and the other end of the corresponding opening. The process unit is stably positioned in the operation position and the non-operation position, and the pivoting operation between the operation position and the non-operation position of each of the holding members is more reliably and stably performed. The operation and the positioning operation to the predetermined operation position are performed more easily, smoothly, stably and reliably.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an image forming apparatus constructed according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] General Summary Figure 1 of a laser beam printer is shown a laser beam printer which is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The illustrated laser beam printer includes an apparatus main body generally designated by reference numeral 2, and the apparatus main body 2 includes a lower housing 4 and an axis 5 (a turning center axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1). And an upper housing 6 that is pivotally mounted through the upper housing 6. The upper housing 6 is pivotable between a closed position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 and an open position shown by a two-dot chain line.

A process unit 8 is disposed substantially at the center of the apparatus main body 2. The process unit 8 is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 2 as described later. The process unit 8 includes a rotating drum 1 that constitutes an image bearing unit.
The rotating drum is provided with an electrophotographic photosensitive member on the peripheral surface thereof. A charging corona discharger 1 is provided around a rotating drum 12 which is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow 14.
6, a developing means 18, a transfer corona discharger 20 and a cleaning means 22 are provided. The rotating drum 12, a charging corona discharger 16, a developing means 18 and a cleaning means 2 are provided.
2 constitutes the process unit 8 (the process unit 8 will be further described later).

An optical unit 24 is disposed in the upper part of the apparatus main body 2, that is, above the process unit 8.
The illustrated optical unit 24 is a box-shaped unit housing 2.
The unit housing 26 is mounted on the inner surface of the upper housing 6. A laser light source (not shown), a rotating polygon mirror 28 rotated in a predetermined direction, an imaging lens 30, a first reflecting mirror 34, and a second reflecting mirror 36 are provided in the unit housing 26. . A laser light source (not shown) irradiates a laser beam based on image information output from a computer, for example, to the rotary polygon mirror 28. The laser light reflected from the rotary polygon mirror 28 passes through the imaging lens 30 and reaches the first reflecting mirror 34, as shown by a dashed line in FIG. 1, and the first reflecting mirror 34 and the second reflecting mirror 36 And is projected on the surface of the rotating drum 12.

A transport mechanism, generally designated by reference numeral 42, is disposed below the process unit 8 in the apparatus main body 2. The illustrated transport mechanism 42 includes a transport roller pair 44,
It includes a guide plate 46, a guide plate 48, a fixing roller pair 50, and a first discharge roller pair 52, and defines a transport path 54 for transporting a sheet member such as plain paper.
The upstream end of the conveying path is branched into two, one of which extends linearly rightward, and the manual feeding means 56
Are arranged. The other branch is curved and extends downward, and the other upstream end (specifically, below the transport mechanism 42 and at the bottom in the apparatus main body 2) is provided with an automatic supply means 58.
Are arranged. The illustrated manual supply unit 56 includes a table 60 that is pivotable between a supply position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a storage position (not illustrated) that is pivoted upward, and uses the manual supply unit 56. Sometimes such a table 60 is positioned at the supply position. When the sheet member is positioned on the table 60 and inserted through the opening 62 formed on the right side of the apparatus main body 2, the sheet member passes between the lower surface of the guide wall 64 and the upper surface of the guide wall 66 of the lower housing 4. It is guided to the conveying roller pair 44. The illustrated automatic supply unit 58 includes a cassette 70 in which sheet members are loaded in a stacked state. The cassette 70 is detachably mounted on a cassette receiving portion 74 defined on the bottom of the apparatus main body 2 through an opening formed on the left surface of the apparatus main body 2. Above the cassette receiving section 74, a feeding roller 76 is provided. When the feed roller 76 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 78, the sheet member in the cassette 70 is sent out by the action of the feed roller 76, and the sent sheet member is moved to the lower housing 4
And between the guide wall 80 and the guide portion 83 provided on the partition wall 82, and is guided to the transport roller pair 44.

The downstream end of the transport path is also branched into two, and the opening / closing portion 84 of the upper housing 6 is selected between a first position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and a second position shown by a solid line in FIG. It has come to be positioned. When the opening / closing portion 84 including the first member 86 and the second member 87 pivotally connected to the first member 86 is at the first position (in this case, the second member 87 Member 86
The sheet member sent from the first discharge roller pair 52 is directly discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 2 and the inner surface of the opening / closing portion 84 (the upper surface in the state indicated by the two-dot chain line). ). On the other hand, when the opening / closing portion 84 is at the second position (at this time, the second member 87 is held in a positional relationship overlapping the first member 86).
In the meantime, the sheet member delivered from the first discharge roller pair 52 includes the opening / closing portion 84 of the upper housing 6 and the upright wall portion 8.
8 and is transported upward through the second discharge roller pair 9
0, the receiving portion 9 defined on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2
It is discharged to 2. The receiving portion 92 is defined by an inclined upper wall 94 of the upper housing 6, and an auxiliary receiver 96 is provided at the upper end of the inclined upper wall 94 so as to be pivotable between a receiving position shown in FIG. 1 and a storage position (not shown). It is installed.

The operation of the above-described laser beam printer will be outlined as follows. Rotating drum 12 is arrow 1
While being rotated in the direction indicated by 4, the charging corona discharger 16 charges the photoconductor of the rotating drum 12, and then a laser beam from a laser light source (not shown) of the optical unit 24 projects on the photoconductor. Thus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the surface of the photoconductor. Next, developing means 1
The toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by the operation of 8, and the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. Thereafter, the sheet member supplied to the conveyance path from the manual supply unit 56 or the automatic supply unit 58 is brought into contact with the photosensitive member, and the toner image on the photosensitive member is transferred to the sheet member by the action of the transfer corona discharger 20. Is done. The sheet member onto which the toner image has been transferred is peeled off from the rotating drum 12 and is then conveyed to the fixing roller pair 50, and the toner image is fixed on the surface of the sheet member by the action of the fixing roller pair 50. The sheet member on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed to the first discharge roller pair 52, and is discharged onto the open / close unit 84 as it is when the open / close unit 84 is at the first position. When the sheet member is discharged onto the opening / closing section 84, as is understood from FIG. 1, the sheet member is discharged with the surface on which the image is formed facing upward. On the other hand, when the opening / closing portion 84 is at the second position, the sheet member conveyed to the first discharge roller pair 52 is further conveyed upward, and then the second discharge roller pair 90
Is discharged to the receiving portion 92 by the action of. When the sheet member is discharged onto the receiving portion 92, as is understood from FIG. 1, the sheet member is discharged with the surface on which the image is formed facing down. On the other hand, the rotating drum 12 continues to rotate, and the residual toner is removed from the surface of the photoconductor by the action of the cleaning unit 22.

Process Unit Next, the process unit 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. Illustrated process unit 8
Is composed of a first unit 102 and a second unit 104, and the first unit 102
Are detachably mounted. The first unit 102 is provided with the charging corona discharger 16 and the developing unit 18, and the second unit 104 is provided with the rotating drum 12 and the cleaning unit 22.

The first unit 102 will be described in detail.
The first unit frame 105 is provided with a pair of end walls 106 arranged in a predetermined direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a horizontal direction in FIG. 3). And end walls 106 and 108
The upper surface between them is covered by the upper wall 110. Upper wall 11
In FIG. 2 of FIG. 2, the left portion extends substantially horizontally, and the right portion thereof corresponds to FIG.
At the right, it extends upward to the right. The developing means 18 includes end walls 106 and 10 of the first unit frame 105.
It is located on the right between the eight. The charging corona discharger 16 is disposed at the upper end of the left portion between the end walls 106 and 108.

Referring mainly to FIG. 2, the developing means 18 will be briefly described. The developing means 18 includes a developing housing 126. The developing housing 126 has a bottom housing 128 and an upper portion fixed to an upper end of the bottom housing 128. It is composed of a housing 130. The left side of the bottom housing 128 in FIG.
2), an opening 136 is defined, and a magnetic brush mechanism 138 is provided in the opening 136. The magnetic brush mechanism 138 is a hollow cylindrical sleeve 1
40 and the permanent magnet 14 disposed in the sleeve 140
2 and the sleeve 140 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 144. Further, a blade 1 for forming a thin layer is provided on the inner surface of the upper end of the opening 136 of the bottom housing 128.
46 is attached, and the tip of the blade 146 is the sleeve 1
It extends to 40. A stirring member 148 is provided in the bottom housing 128. Developing housing 1
A one-component developer composed of a magnetic toner is accommodated in 26.

In such developing means 18, the stirring member 148 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 152. Thus, the developer (i.e., toner) existing at the bottom of the developing housing 126 is fed toward the magnetic brush mechanism 138 to the left in FIG. 2 while being stirred by the action of the stirring member 148. Then, the supplied developer is supplied to the permanent magnet 142.
Is magnetically held on the surface of the sleeve 140 by the action of, and is fed in the direction shown by the arrow 144 as the sleeve 140 rotates. The developer is sleeve 140 and blade 1
Once moved to the pressure contact site at 46, excess developer is removed from the surface of sleeve 144 by the action of blade 146, forming a thin layer of developer on the surface of sleeve 140. The developer held in the sleeve 140 further shows an arrow 1
It is moved in the direction indicated by 44 and acts on the photoreceptor surface of the rotating drum 12 through an opening 136 formed in the bottom housing 128, thus developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor into a toner image.

Next, the charging corona discharger 16 will be briefly described. The charging corona discharger 16 has a discharger housing, and the discharger housing has a part of the upper wall 110 of the first unit frame 105 and a part thereof. It consists of hanging walls 143 and 145 formed integrally with the wall 110.
A corona wire 147 is stretched in the discharger housing, and a metal plate 149 serving as a counter electrode is disposed on the inner surface of the upper part of the upper wall 110. At the opening of the discharger housing, a mesh-shaped metal member 151 serving as a grid electrode is further provided. In the charging corona discharger 16, the corona wire 1
Corona discharge from 47 is applied to the surface of the rotating drum 12, and a charge of a specific polarity is applied to the photoreceptor surface of the rotating drum 12. The amount of charge applied to the photoconductor surface is controlled by a voltage applied to the metal member 151.

The charging corona discharger 16 and the developing means 18
Is provided in the first unit 102, an elongated rectangular exposure opening 122 is formed in the upper wall 110 of the first unit frame 105, and the right end of the upper wall 110 A circular opening 124 is formed in the portion. Further, a circular supply opening corresponding to the opening 124 is formed on the upper surface of the developing housing 126 of the developing means 18, and a sealing cap 150 is attached to the supply opening (see also FIG. 4). ). Therefore, by removing the sealing cap 150, new toner can be supplied into the developing housing 126 through the opening 124 of the first unit frame 105 and the opening of the developing housing 126.

Referring again to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the second unit 104 will be described. The second unit 104 includes a second unit frame 107, and the second unit frame 107 also A pair of end walls 112 and 114 spaced apart in a direction (a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIGS. 1 and 2);
The upper surface therebetween is covered by the upper wall 116. The rotating drum 12 and the cleaning means 22 are mounted on such a second unit frame 107.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cleaning means 22 will be described. The cleaning means 22 includes a housing member 154, and both ends of the housing member 154 are connected to end walls 112 and 114 of the second unit frame 107. ing. Inside support walls 155 and 157 are disposed inside the end walls 112 and 114, and the inside support walls 155 and 157 are connected to the inner surface of the housing member 154. Therefore, as understood from FIGS. 2 and 5, the housing member 154 and the inner support walls 155 and 157 define a toner collecting chamber 156 for collecting the toner. Above the toner recovery chamber 156, an elastic blade 158, which can be formed from, for example, urethane rubber, is provided. The base of the elastic blade 158 is fixed to an L-shaped support plate 160, and its free end protrudes toward the rotating drum 12. As can be understood from FIGS. 6 and 7, the support plate 160 is mounted between the inner support walls 155 and 157 so as to be movable toward and away from the rotating drum 12, and is set to the retracted position shown in FIG. 7
Is movable between the forward positions shown in FIG. Support plate 1
When 60 is in the retracted position, the elastic blades 158
Is separated from the rotating drum 12 and is held in a non-operating position where it does not act on the photoconductor. Meanwhile, the support plate 160
Is in the forward position, the free end of the elastic blade 158 is pressed against the rotating drum 12 and is held at the operating position acting on the photoconductor. A biasing spring 162 constituting biasing means is interposed between the support plate 160 and the upper end of the housing member 154. This bias spring 16
2 acts so as to bias the support plate 160 toward the above-mentioned forward position, and to press the elastic blade 158 against the surface of the rotating drum 12 with a predetermined pressure. Further, a toner transfer unit 164 is provided at the bottom of the toner collection chamber 156. The toner transfer means 164 will be described later in detail.

In the cleaning means 22, the elastic blade 158 acts on the surface of the rotating drum 12 which rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 14, so that the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after transfer is removed by the action of the elastic blade 158. Is done. The removed toner falls into the toner recovery chamber 156 and is guided to the bottom of the toner recovery chamber 156. Then, the collected toner collected at the bottom is collected in the internal space of the rotating drum 12 as described later by the action of the toner transfer means 164 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow 166.

Next, the rotary drum 12 will be described. The illustrated rotary drum 12 has a hollow cylindrical drum body 1.
72 are provided. The drum main body 172 can be made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, and has an electrophotographic photosensitive member disposed on a peripheral surface thereof. End wall members 174 and 176 are fixed to both ends of the drum main body 172. One end of the end wall member 174 protrudes outward from one end of the drum main body 172, and a large gear 178 is provided on the peripheral surface of the protruding end.
Is provided. In addition, the short axis 18 is attached to the end wall member 174.
0 is fixed, and the projecting portion of the short shaft 180 is connected to the end wall 1 of the second unit frame 107 via the bearing member 182.
14 is rotatably mounted. An annular flange 179 is provided on the outer surface of the other end wall member 176, and the flange 179 is attached to the second unit frame 10.
7 is rotatably supported by an inner protruding portion of a support sleeve 184 fixed to the end wall 112.

The toner transfer means 164 is
2 extends into the interior space. A sleeve-like wall 186 is provided through the inner support wall 155 and the end wall 112. The toner transfer means 164 includes a first transfer member 188 disposed at the bottom of the toner collection chamber 156 and the toner collection chamber 15.
6 to the internal space 190 of the rotating drum 12.
(See drum body 172 and end walls 174 and 176). The first transfer member 188 includes a shaft 194 and a shaft 194.
Of the shaft portion 194 are rotatably supported via bearings 198 and 200. One end of the shaft portion 194 extends through the inner support wall 157 toward the inner surface of the end wall 114, and the gear 202 is fixed to this one end. The gear 202 includes a short shaft 2 provided on the outer surface of the inner support wall 157.
The gear is meshed with a large gear 178 of the rotating drum 12 via a gear 206 rotatably mounted on the gear 04. The toner transfer means 164 further includes a substantially U-shaped hollow cylindrical member 208.
Contains. One end of the hollow cylindrical member 208 is fixed to a portion of the sleeve-like wall 186 protruding from the end wall 112, and the other end penetrates through the support sleeve 184 and the end wall 176 of the rotary drum 12 to form the inside of the rotary drum 12. It protrudes into the space 190. The second transfer member 192 is disposed inside the hollow cylindrical member 208. The second transfer member 192 may be formed of a flexible helical member such as a coil spring, and one end of the second transfer member 192 is connected to the shaft 194 of the first transfer member 188, and the other end is a hollow cylindrical member 208. Through the inner space 190 of the rotating drum 12.

When the rotary drum 12 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 14, the gear 178 and the gears 206 and 202 are rotated.
, The first transfer member 188 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 166 (FIG. 2), and the rotation is further transmitted to the second transfer member 192. Therefore, the waste toner collected in the toner collecting chamber 156 is transferred from left to right in FIG. 5 by the action of the first transfer member 188, and is further rotated through the hollow cylindrical member 208 by the action of the second transfer member 192. It is collected in the internal space 190 of the drum 12. In order to ensure transmission of rotational power from the first transfer member 188 to the second transfer member 192, a short ridge 210 extending in the axial direction is provided at the other end of the shaft portion 194 of the first transfer member 188. A plurality of short ridges 210 are provided to act to slightly expand one end of the second transfer member 192.

The rotating drum 12 containing the waste toner is
For example, it is possible to generate about 2500 images in a JIS A4 size area, and when the image generation is performed about 2500 times, the photoconductor of the rotating drum 12 has a substantially expired life. When the collected toner generated during the execution of the image generation about 2500 times is collected in the internal space 190 of the rotating drum 12, the internal space 190 is almost filled with the waste toner. . In the embodiment shown, about 2500 g of image generation produces about 68 g of waste toner. On the other hand, the rotating drum 12
The inner diameter of the drum main body 172 is 27 mm, the distance between the end walls 174 and 176 is 248 mm, and the volume of the internal space 190 is set to 142 cm ³ . Accordingly, when the image generation is performed about 2500 times, about 80% of the total volume of the internal space 190 is filled with the waste toner, and the waste toner is discarded together with the rotating drum 12. By setting the volume of the internal space 190 of the rotary drum 12 as described above, the outer diameter of the internal space 190 of the rotary drum 12 can be minimized while the internal space 190 is effectively used. Miniaturization is achieved.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 together with FIG. 4, the second unit 104 is provided for protecting the photosensitive member of the rotary drum 12 mounted on the second unit frame 107. The cover means 216 is mounted. The cover unit 216 is attached when the second unit 104 is manufactured, and is detached from the second unit 104 during use as described later. The illustrated cover means 216 includes a rigid cover body 218 and a flexible protective sheet 220. (The protection sheet is omitted in FIG. 4). The cover body 218 can be formed of, for example, a synthetic resin material, and is attached to a lower portion of the second unit 104 as shown in FIG. Further, the protective sheet 220 can be formed from paper or a synthetic resin material such as polyester resin,
As shown in FIG. 6, it is mounted on the upper part of the second unit 104. The cover body 218 has a bottom wall 222 and side walls 224 and 226. A pair of cutouts 228 are formed in the center of the side wall 224 in the longitudinal direction, and a portion 224a between the pair of cutouts 228 is elastically deformable. It has become.
An operation piece 230 is fixed to the outer surface of the portion 224a, and an engagement protrusion 225 is provided adjacent to the portion 224a. At both ends of the other side wall 226, locking portions 232 projecting slightly upward are integrally provided. On the other hand, a rectangular opening is formed at the upper end of the housing member 154 in the second unit 104.
A locking member 234 is fixed to the upper end of the support plate 160. A free end of the locking member 234 protrudes outward through an opening of the housing member 154, and the protruding end has a downwardly hanging locking member. A part 236 is provided.
The locking portion 236 may be provided directly on the support plate 160. The cover 218 is engaged with the semi-circular concave portion 238 (FIG. 2) of the end walls 112 and 114 of the second unit frame 107 defined on the right edge in FIG.
32 and the locking portion 23 of the locking member 234.
6 is attached to the second unit 104 by causing the engagement protrusion 225 of the side wall 224 to act on the second unit 104. In such a mounted state, as shown in FIG. 6, since the engaging projection 225 of the side wall 224 acts on the locking portion 236 of the locking member 234, the support plate 160 is held at the retracted position, and thus the elastic blade 158 is formed. Does not act on the surface of the rotating drum 12. Therefore, deformation of the elastic blade 158 during transportation and storage, deterioration of the photoconductor, and the like are prevented. Also, in such a mounted state, the cover body 21
8, the bottom 222 covers the lower surface of the second unit 104,
Side wall 224 covers the left side of second unit 104 in FIG. 6, and side wall 226 is the second unit 104 in FIG.
Cover the lower right side. The protective sheet 220, which can be formed from a black polyester film, has one end fixed to the inner surface of the upper wall 116 of the second unit frame 107, and the other end covering the upper part of the rotating drum 12 to cover the cover 21.
8 is fixed to the upper end of the side wall 226. The protective sheet 220 can be detachably attached by an adhesive or the like, and in the attached state, the open right portion on the upper surface of the second unit 104 and the second unit 104
6 covers the upper right side. When the cover means 216 is mounted as required, the photoconductor of the rotating drum 12 is covered by the cover body 218 and the protection sheet 220, and the photoconductor is not exposed to the outside. Therefore, the deterioration of the photosensitive member due to external light or the like is reliably prevented. To detach the cover means 216 from the second unit 104, the operating piece 230 is operated to disengage the engaging projection 225 of the side wall 224 from the engaging part 236 of the engaging member 234, and then the cover body 218 is engaged. In FIG. 6, the cover unit 218 is pivoted counterclockwise about the stop unit 232, and then the cover unit 218 is pulled downward while the operation unit 230 is gripped, so that one end of the protection sheet 220 is moved to the second unit frame unit 107. What is necessary is just to remove from the upper wall 116. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the photoconductor of the rotating drum 12 is exposed by removing the cover body 218 and the protection sheet 220. Further, the engaging portion 2 of the cover body 218
25 is disengaged from the locking portion 236 of the locking member 234, and thus the support plate 160 as the supporting member is moved to the forward position (at this time, the locking portion 236 of the locking member 234 and the housing member 234). The free end of elastic blade 158 is pressed against rotating drum 12 by the action of biasing spring 162. When the rotary drum 12 is detached from the second unit frame 107, the support plate 160 is further moved rightward in FIG. 2 by the action of the biasing spring 162, and the locking portion 236 of the locking member 234 is moved to the housing member. 1
54 against the upper end, thereby preventing further movement of the support plate 160.

Next, the manner in which the first unit 102 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. The apparatus main body 2 is provided with support and guide means 252 for supporting and guiding the first unit 102. The support guide means 252 is a pair of support guide members 254 arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the paper of FIGS.
(Only one of them is shown in FIGS. 8 to 10), and one end of a pair of support guide members 254 is connected to the shaft 5.
It is mounted to be able to turn freely. Each of the support guide members 254 has substantially the same configuration, and a guide groove 2 serving as a guide portion for guiding the first unit 102 is provided on the inner surface of the upper end portion.
56 are specified. That is, a pair of protrusions 258 and 2
The lower ridge 260 extends substantially linearly, and the upper ridge 258 has the right ridge 2 in FIG.
It extends substantially linearly along 60, and the left end portion in FIG. 8 extends obliquely upward to the left. A pair of ridges 2
The guide groove 256 defined between 58 and 260 extends in the mounting direction of the first unit 102, and its insertion opening is relatively large. A contact protrusion 262 is provided on the inner surface of the lower end portion of the support guide member 254. Such a pair of support guide members 254 are pivotable about the shaft 5, and are in the first mounting / removing position (position for mounting the first unit 102) illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.
And downward from this first attachment / detachment position (arrow 2 in FIG. 8).
The operation position (position for positioning the process unit 8 in the predetermined operation position) rotated (in the direction indicated by reference numeral 64) and the first mounting / removing position upward (FIG. 10).
The second detached position shown in FIG. 10 (in the direction indicated by the arrow 282 in FIG.
(Position for mounting and dismounting 4). As is clear from the above description, the pair of support guide members 254 are rotatably mounted on the lower housing 4 and can be independently rotated with respect to the upper housing 6.

A holding means 266 for holding the pair of support guide members 254 at the first mounting / removing position is also provided. The holding means 266 shown in FIG.
4 to 4 (FIGS. 8 to 1).
0, only one of which is shown).
8 is a pair of supporting substrates 2 provided on the apparatus body 2.
70 (only one of them is shown) is rotatably mounted via a pin 272. An arcuate opening 274 is formed in the support substrate 270, while a sliding pin 276 is provided at the other end of the holding member 268, and the sliding pin 276 is movably received in the opening 274. Holding member 2
The other end of 68 is provided with an operation protrusion 278 acting on the contact protrusion 262 of the support guide member 254. A biasing spring 280 for biasing the holding member 268 counterclockwise in FIG. 8 is interposed between a part of the apparatus main body 2 and the sliding pin 276 of the holding member 268. Accordingly, the holding member 268 is in the operation position where the sliding pin 276 is located at one end of the opening 274 (the position indicated by a solid line in FIGS. 8 to 10).
The sliding pin 276 is movable between a non-operating position (a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 8) located at the other end of the opening 274 and is biased to the operating position by the action of the biasing spring 280. When the holding member 268 is in the above-mentioned operation position, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the operation protrusion 278 acts on the lower surface of the contact protrusion 262 of the support guide member 254,
Thus, the support guide member 254 is held at the first attachment / detachment position.

As described above, the support / guiding member 254 can further pivot from the first detached position to the direction indicated by an arrow 282 (FIG. 10) to the second detached position shown in FIG. it can. When pivoted to the second mounting / disengaging position, the contact protrusion 262 of the support guide member 254 is separated from the operation protrusion 278 of the holding member 268 in the operation position, and thus the support guide member 254 is manually moved. Need to be retained.

In the first unit 102 supported by the support guide member 254, a pair of supported projections 284 and 286 are provided on the outer surface of the end wall 106 of the first unit frame 105.
(See FIG. 4). One (right side in FIG. 4) supported protrusion 284 has a substantially circular cross section, and the other supported protrusion 286 has a slender, substantially elliptical cross section. These supported protrusions 284 and 286 It is removably received in the guide groove 256 of one of the support guide members 254. Also, the other end wall 10 of the first unit frame 105
8 is also provided with a pair of supported projections 288 and 290 (FIGS. 8 to 10). One (FIGS. 8 to 10)
(The right side of FIG. 3) has a substantially circular cross section, and the other supported projection 290 has a slender, substantially elliptical cross section. The supported projections 288 and 290 are the other supporting guides. It is removably received in the guide groove 256 of the member 254. Further, the end wall 1 of the first unit frame 105
The outer surfaces of 06 and 108 have substantially triangular action projections 29.
2 and 294 are provided (action protrusion 292 4
And the working projection 294 is shown in FIGS. 8 to 10). Such action protrusion 292 and 294 acts on the holding member 268 of the hold means 266.

The first unit 102 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2 as follows. When the first unit 102 is mounted, the holding member 268 is held in the operation position shown by the solid line in FIG. 8 by the action of the biasing spring 280, whereby the support guide member 254 is moved to the first mounting / disengaging position. Is held. In the first detached position, as can be understood from FIGS. 1 and 8, the guide groove 256 defined by the pair of support guide members 254 forms an open space between the lower housing 4 and the upper housing 6. Therefore, the mounting operation of the first unit 102 as described below can be performed sufficiently easily. First, the supported protrusions 284 and 286 provided on the end wall 106 of the first unit 102 and the supported protrusions 288 and 290 provided on the end wall 108 are respectively connected to the corresponding protrusions 260 of the support guide member 254. Position on top. Next, the first unit 102 is moved in the mounting direction indicated by the arrow 293 (FIG. 8). Thus, the supported protrusion 28
4 and 286 are guide grooves 25 of one support guide member 254.
6 and is moved along the guide groove 256, and the supported projections 288 and 290 are located in the guide groove 256 of the other support guide member 254 and moved along the guide groove 256. . Then, when the first unit 102 is inserted to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8, the end portions of the end walls 106 and 108 of the first unit frame 105 (in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. The shaft 5 is located in a rectangular notch 295 formed at the right end), and the shaft 5 is
Abuts against the bottom surface of the first unit 102.
The movement in the mounting direction indicated by the arrow 293 is prevented, and the first unit 102 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2 via the shaft 5. In such a mounted state, the supported protrusion 28
4 and 288 are located beyond the guide groove 256 of the support guide member 254, but the supported projections 286 and 290 are located within the guide groove 256. Also, the first unit 102
Is moved to the vicinity of the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, the operation protrusions 292 and 294 of the end walls 106 and 108 act on the holding member 268, and the holding member 268 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 293 as indicated by the arrow. When it is turned in the direction shown by 296 and moved to the position shown by the two-dot chain line, the holding member 268 is moved from the above-mentioned working position by the two-dot chain line 268 A
Is turned to the position indicated by. Thus, the holding member 26
8 and the contact protrusion 2 of the support guide member 254
62 is disengaged, thus allowing the support guide member 254 to pivot downward as indicated by the arrow 264. When the first unit 102 is pivoted downward as indicated by an arrow 264, the pair of support guide members 254 are also pivoted downward, and the holding members 268 are moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 296 by the action of the operation projections 292 and 294. Turned.

In connection with the first unit 102, a detachment preventing means 302 is provided. This separation prevention means 302
Has a blocking piece 304 disposed corresponding to each of the pair of support guide members 254. The blocking piece 304 is fixed to a part of the apparatus main body 2 (one is fixed to the support substrate 270 as shown in FIG. 8), and the upper end thereof has a blocking that can act on the supported projections 286 and 290. A section 306 is provided. The blocking portion 306 of one blocking piece 304 is arranged corresponding to a notch (not shown) formed in the support guide member 254, and the blocking portion 306 of the other blocking piece 304 is provided.
Is a notch 308 formed in the other support guide member 254
It is arranged corresponding to. These blocking portions 306 do not protrude into the guide grooves 256 of the support guide member 254 when the support guide member 254 is located at or below the first mounting / removing position, so that the first unit 102 can be removed. Although the movement in the direction is allowed (FIG. 8), the support guide member 254 is located above the first attachment / detach position (for example, it is located at the second attachment / detach position shown in FIG. 10). Occasionally, the blocking portion 306 protrudes into the guide groove 256 through the notch 308 of the support guide member 254, so that the supported protrusions 286 and 290 abut the blocking portion 306, thereby causing the first unit 102 to move in the detaching direction. Movement is prevented (FIG. 10). In order to detach the first unit 102 from the apparatus main body 2, it is necessary to position the pair of support guide members 254 at the first attachment / detachment position or below it as described later.

Next, referring to FIGS. 11 to 13 together with FIGS. 2 and 4, the mounting mode of the second unit 104 with respect to the first unit 102 mounted on the apparatus main body 2 will be described. Will be described. End walls 106 and 10 in first unit 102
8, guide grooves 322 and 324 extending from left to right in FIGS. 2, 4 and 11 are formed.
4 and FIG. 11 and the guide groove 324 of the end wall 108 is shown in FIG. 2). One end of each of the guide grooves 322 and 324 is open to the left in FIGS. 2 and 11, and the other end thereof is slightly larger and inclined upward than other portions.

On the other hand, the end wall 112 of the second unit 104
And 114 are provided with short cylindrical protrusions 326 and 328 which act as guided protrusions corresponding to the guide grooves 322 and 324 (the protrusion 326 of the end wall 112 is shown in FIGS. 11, the protrusion 328 of the end wall 114 is shown in FIG.
And FIG. 4). These protrusions 326 and 328 are provided at the upper ends of the right end portions of the end walls 112 and 114, and protrude to both sides from their outer surfaces.

The second unit 104 is replaced with the first unit 1
02, the projections 326 and 328
In connection with being received in the first and second units 22 and 324, the end walls 106 and 108 of the first unit 102 have outwardly projecting projecting wall portions 330 and 332 corresponding to the vicinity of the openings of the guide grooves 322 and 324. Is provided. The projecting wall portions 330 and 332 have a channel-like cross section, and when the second unit 104 is mounted, the projecting portions 3
26 and 328 are positioned in the guide recesses defined by the protruding walls 330 and 332, and guided by the inner surfaces of the protruding walls 330 and 332 and guided by the guide grooves 322 and 324. In addition, in order to facilitate the mounting of the second unit 104 and prevent the rotary drum 12 from being damaged at the time of the mounting, the second unit 104 is covered with the cover means 216 to prevent the rotation of the apparatus main body 2. part,
In the embodiment, the fixing device 334 is mounted on the upper end of a fixing device 334 including a pair of fixing rollers 50 (FIG. 1). Referring mainly to FIGS. 11 and 12, the cover unit 2 attached to the second unit 104 is provided at the left end and the right end of the fixing device 334 in FIG.
Placement section 3 for supporting cover body 218 in 16
38 and 340 are provided. One mounting portion 338
Is composed of a support member attached to the upper end of the fixing device main body 336, and the other mounting portion 340 is formed of the fixing device main body 336.
Is constituted by a part of the upper end. Placement part 338
And 340 have substantially the same shape, and include substantially flat mounting surfaces 342a and 344a and mounting surfaces 342a and 342.
It has outer inclined surfaces 342b and 344b that extend upward from the outer end of the outer side 4a. On the other hand, a pair of protrusions 346 and 348 are provided at both ends of the bottom wall 222 of the cover body 218 of the cover means 216 at intervals in the left-right direction in FIG. 11 (from the lower left to the upper right in FIG. 4).
Is provided, and a portion between the pair of protrusions 346 and 348 is substantially flat. The inner surface of each of the protrusions 346 on one side (the right side in FIG. 11) corresponds to the shape of the right side in FIG. 11 of the mounting portions 338 and 340, and extends substantially vertically downward from the lower surface of the bottom wall 222. The other protrusion 34
8 corresponds to the shape of the left side in FIG. 11 of the mounting portions 338 and 340, and extends downward from the lower surface of the bottom wall 222 to the left in FIG. The cover body 218 attached to the second unit 104 is the same as that shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
8 and 340. That is, the portion between the projections 346 and 348 at both ends of the cover body 218 is
38 and 340 on the mounting surfaces 342a and 344a. In such a state that the cover 2 is placed,
Both ends of the bottom wall 222 are located inside the outer inclined surfaces 342b and 344b of the placing portions 338 and 340, and the lateral movement in FIG. 12 is restricted by the outer inclined surfaces 342b and 344b. Also, the projections 346 and 348 provided at both ends of the bottom wall 222 are provided with the mounting portions 338 and 340.
11 are located on both sides of the projection 346 and 348 in FIG.
In the left-right direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 12)
Is restricted. Therefore, by placing the cover body 218 on the placement sections 338 and 340, the second unit 104 is moved to a predetermined position at the upper end of the fixing device 334, in other words, to the first unit 102 attached to the apparatus main body 2. In contrast, it can be positioned at a predetermined position. Mounting part 33
8 and 340 are provided with outer inclined surfaces 342b and 344b, and the cover 218 mounted on the second unit 104 is described above because the left surfaces of the mounting portions 338 and 340 are inclined in FIG. Mounting parts 338 and 34
0 can be easily mounted on the mounting surfaces 342a and 344a.

Further, a lock means for releasably locking the first unit 102 and the second unit 104 is provided. Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG.
The illustrated locking means includes a pair of engagement members 352, and the engagement members 352 are connected to the first unit frame 105.
At the left end of the upper wall 110 in FIG. The pair of engaging members 352 are connected to the first unit frame 10.
5 are arranged facing each other at an interval in the width direction (from the lower right to the upper left in FIG. 4), and are pivotally mounted via pins. One end of each engagement member 352 protrudes below the upper wall 110, and a claw 354 is provided at the one end. The other end of each engagement member 352 protrudes above the upper wall 110, and the protruding end functions as an operation unit. On the other hand, the engagement member 35 is attached to the first unit 102.
2 corresponding to the provision of the second unit 1
04, a pair of rectangular openings 3 are spaced from each other in the width direction (from the lower right to the upper left in FIG. 4).
56 are formed (particularly, FIG. 4). First unit 1
In a state where the second unit 104 is mounted on the second unit frame 02, the claw portions 354 of the engagement members 352 project downward through the openings 356 formed in the upper wall 116 of the second unit frame 107, and the claw portions 354 Engages with a portion of the upper wall 116 that defines the opening 356, and thus the first unit 102 and the second unit 104 are releasably locked by the locking means. A biasing spring 358 for biasing the engaging member 352 toward the portion defining the opening 356 in the upper wall 116 is provided corresponding to each engaging member 354, and accordingly, the pawl of the engaging member 352 by the biasing spring 358 is provided. The engagement between the portion 354 and the portion defining the opening 356 is maintained.

The first unit 1 mounted on the apparatus main body 2
The mounting of the second unit 104 on the 02 is performed as follows. In order to mount the second unit 104 on the first unit 102, the first unit 102 is turned upward about the shaft 5 as shown by a solid line in FIG. Until it reaches the position where it can be removed.) Next, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the second unit 104 covered by the cover unit 216 is placed on the placement units 338 and 340 provided at the upper end of the fixing device 334. As described above, the portions between the protrusions 346 and 348 at both ends of the cover body 218 are placed on the placement portions 338 and 34 as described above.
This is achieved by positioning the second unit 104 on the mounting surfaces 342a and 344a of the first unit 102 in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the first unit 102 mounted on the apparatus main body 2. Next, the first unit 1
02 is turned downward as indicated by arrow 360. Then, the upper ends of the protruding walls 330 and 332 of the first unit frame 105 come into contact with the protruding portions 326 and 328 of the second unit frame 107 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. As the unit 102 turns downward, the protruding wall 330
And 332, the protrusions 326 and 328 are guided to the guide grooves 322 and 324 formed in the end walls 106 and 108 of the first unit frame 105. Therefore,
By simply pivoting the first unit 102 downward, the protrusions 326 and 328 of the second unit 104
Are removably received in the guide grooves 322 and 324 of the first unit 102. Next, the second unit 104 covered by the cover unit 216 is lifted from the fixing device 334, and the second unit 104 is moved in the mounting direction indicated by the arrow 362 (FIG. 13). Thus, the projections 326 and 328 of the second unit 104
Are the guide grooves 322 and 324 of the first unit frame 105.
When the second unit 104 moves to the first unit 102 at a predetermined mounting position by moving along the inside thereof and the protrusions 326 and 328 moving to the bottoms of the guide grooves 322 and 324 shown in FIG. Moved to Thereafter, the second unit 104 is pivoted slightly upward about the protrusions 326 and 328 to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. Thus, the engagement member 3 in the locking means
52 is the upper wall 1 of the second unit frame 107.
16 project downward through the opening 356 of the
The first unit 102 and the second unit 104 are engaged by the
Are releasably locked in a predetermined positional relationship. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13, the cover means 216 attached to the second unit 104 is detached from the second unit 104 as described above. Thus, the components (developing means 18) attached to the first unit frame 105
2) and the components (the rotary drum 12, the cleaning means 22, etc.) mounted on the second unit frame 107 are held in the positional relationship shown in FIG.
And the unit 104 constitute the process unit 8.
Since the cover means 116 is detached from the second unit 104 after the second unit 104 is mounted on the first unit 102, it is possible to reliably prevent the rotary drum 12 from being damaged when the second unit 104 is mounted. Can be.

Referring again to FIGS. 9 and 10, when the second unit 104 is mounted on the first unit 102, the support guide member 254 is held at the first mounting / removing position. When the user attempts to detach the second unit 104 from the first unit 102 in the state in which the
4 comes into contact with the upper part of the fixing device 334, so that the predetermined detaching operation cannot be performed, and the second unit 104 cannot be detached from the first unit 102. On the other hand, the first unit 102 is moved upward from the first attachment / detachment position by the support guide member 254.
When turned until the above-mentioned second detachment position,
As shown in FIG. 10, the second unit 104 is a fixing device 3
34, so that the second unit 104 can be disengaged from the first unit 102. In the second release position, as described above, the blocking portion 306 of the blocking piece 304 is
The first unit 102 is prevented from detaching from the apparatus main body 2 by projecting into the guide groove 256 of the fourth unit 4 and contacting the supported protrusion 290 with the blocking portion 306. Therefore,
In a state where the second unit 104 is mounted on the first unit 102, the two cannot be substantially separated from the apparatus main body 2 integrally. To detach the process unit 8, the second unit 104 is held in a state where the support guide member 254 is held at the second attachment / detachment position.
Must be detached from the first unit 102, and thereafter, the first unit 102 must be detached from the apparatus main body 2 in a state where the support guide member 254 is held at the first attachment / detachment position.

In the illustrated embodiment, as described above, the photosensitive member of the rotating drum 12 reaches the end of its life by substantially 2,500 image generations, while the developing housing 1 of the developing means 18 is not used.
The toner loaded in 26 is substantially consumed by 10,000 image generations. Therefore, the second unit 104 is replaced four times while the first unit 102 is replaced once, and only the second unit 104 is detached from the first unit 102 when the second unit 104 is replaced. I'll let you go. as a result,
The detachable portion is small when the rotary drum 12 is replaced or the like, and the detaching operation is easy, and at the time of the detachment, the developer is not scattered.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15 together with FIG. 2, the developing means 18 has a left end in FIGS. 2 and 14 via a shaft 372 and an end wall 106 of the first unit frame 105. It is mounted swingably between 108.
A biasing spring 374 is interposed between the developing housing 126 of the developing means 18 and the first unit frame 105. Pins 37 are provided on both end surfaces of the developing housing 126.
6 is implanted, and the end wall 1 of the first unit frame 105 is
A pin 378 is implanted on the inner surface of each of the biasing springs 3 and 6.
74 are locked. The biasing spring 374 is connected to the shaft 3
The developing means 18 is biased clockwise in FIG. 14 and FIG.

The first unit 102 has the second unit 1
14, the developing means 18 is biased in the direction indicated by the arrow 380 by the action of the biasing spring 374, as shown in FIG. 14, and the upper end of the developing device 18 is moved to the upper end of the end walls 106 and 108. It is held at the position shown in FIG. 14 by abutting against an abutting wall 382 (see also FIG. 2) provided therebetween. On the other hand, when the second unit 104 is detachably attached to the first unit 102, both ends of the rotary drum 12 are provided with rollers 384 provided at both ends of the sleeve 140 of the magnetic brush mechanism 138.
The developing means 18 is swung counterclockwise in FIG. 15 against the biasing action of the biasing spring 374. Accordingly, the roller 384 is held in a state of being pressed against the rotating drum 12 by the weight of the biasing spring 374 and the developing means 18, and the surface of the sleeve 140 of the magnetic brush mechanism 138 and the surface of the rotating drum 12 are accurately maintained at a predetermined interval. .

[0045]

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the supporting and guiding means is not fixed at the operating position but pivots between the operating position and the mounting / removing position which is pivoted above the operating position. It is freely attached. Then, the allowed to the upper housing to the open position, when allowed to position the support guide means in the mounting disengaged position, the guide portion of the support guide means extends in the space is open between the lower housing and the upper housing. By moving the process unit along the guide portion of the support and guide means in such a state, the process unit can be mounted on the support and guide means sufficiently easily and smoothly. Further, due to the above configuration, the mounting / removing position of the guide portion of the support / guiding means is located in a relatively large space between the lower housing and the upper housing, so that the attaching / detaching operation of the process unit becomes extremely easy. . Therefore, even when the apparatus main body is small and small, and also by the user himself, the process unit can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the support and guide means to which the process unit is mounted and detached is rotatably mounted on the lower housing so that the process unit can be independently rotated with respect to the upper housing. , And a mounting / removing position for mounting / removing the process unit, which is pivoted upward from the operating position. Due to this configuration, in order to inspect or replace equipment disposed on the upper housing side, for example, the optical unit,
Even if the upper housing is pivoted upward to open with respect to the lower housing, the support guide means and the process unit are not pivoted but remain on the lower housing side. As a result, the work such as the above inspection or replacement can be performed only by turning the upper housing, and the burden on the operator is reduced. Further, even if the upper housing is swung upward, there is no danger of the developer dropping and scattering, so that the opening angle of the upper housing with respect to the lower housing can be set to a relatively large angle. Between the lower housing and the upper housing, the mounting and disengaging position of the guide portion of the supporting and guiding means is located within the relatively large space between the lower housing and the upper housing. Properties are remarkably improved. In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, furthermore, an operation position for preventing the support guide means from pivoting downward from the detached position and a non-operating position for allowing the support guide means to pivot downward from the detached position. A holding means including a holding member that is rotatable between them is disposed, and when the holding member is in the operating position and the support and guide means is in the mounting / removing position, the process unit is moved.
Moves along the guide to near the position where movement is blocked
In this case, the process unit acts on the holding member and
By further movement to the position where the movement is prevented Te, when the retaining member from the working position Ru pivoted into inoperative position co
To, and is configured to be positioned at a predetermined working position being swiveled downwards together with supporting lifting guide means. According to the above configuration, since the supporting and guiding means is reliably positioned and held at the mounting / removing position by the holding means, the attaching / detaching operation of the process unit with respect to the supporting and guiding means is extremely easily, smoothly, stably and surely performed. . In addition, by the operation of merely attaching the process unit to the support and guide means, the process unit acts on the holding member to turn the holding member from the operating position to the non-operating position, and the process unit is turned downward together with the support and guide means. Since the process unit is positioned at the predetermined operation position, the mounting operation of the process unit with respect to the support and guide means and the operation of positioning the process unit at the predetermined operation position are performed extremely easily, smoothly, stably and reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified sectional view showing a laser beam printer which is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a process unit in the laser beam printer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a first unit in the process unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the process unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a second unit in the process unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a second unit in the process unit shown in FIG. 2 with a cover unit attached.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a second unit in the process unit of FIG. 2 in a state where a cover unit is detached.

FIG. 8 is a simplified diagram for explaining a mounting and dismounting mode of the first unit in the laser beam printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a simplified diagram for explaining a mounting and dismounting mode of the first unit in the laser beam printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a simplified diagram for explaining a mounting and dismounting mode of the second unit and the first unit in the laser beam printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a simplified diagram for explaining a mounting and dismounting mode of the second unit and the first unit in the laser beam printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a partial side view as seen from the line II in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a simplified diagram for explaining a manner in which a cover unit is detached from a second unit in the laser beam printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a simplified diagram for explaining a relationship between a developing unit of a first unit and an image bearing unit of a second unit in the laser beam printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a simplified diagram for explaining a relationship between a developing unit of a first unit and an image bearing unit of a second unit in the laser beam printer of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2: Apparatus main body 4: Lower housing 6: Upper housing 8: Process unit 12: Rotating drum (image carrying means) 18: Developing means 102: First unit 104: Second unit 252: Supporting guide means 254: Supporting guide Member 256: guide groove (guide portion) 266: holding member (holding means) 284: supported projection 286: supported projection 288: supported projection 290: supported projection

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Eiji Tsutsui, 1-2-2, Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-286066 (JP, A) JP-A-57 JP-A-58-192055 (JP, A) JP-A-60-260063 (JP, A) JP-A-62-175767 (JP, A) JP-A-63-45556 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 15/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An apparatus main body and a process unit detachably mounted on the apparatus main body, the apparatus main body being mounted on a lower housing and being rotatable between an open position and a closed position on the lower housing. An image forming apparatus including an upper housing, wherein a support guide means having a guide portion is provided in the apparatus main body, and the support guide means is configured such that the lower part can rotate independently with respect to the upper housing. An operation position for pivotally mounted on the housing and for positioning the process unit in a predetermined operation position, and a mounting and disengaging position for mounting and dismounting the process unit, which is pivoted upward from the operation position. When the upper housing is moved to the open position and the support guide is moved to the mounting / removing position, the support guide hand is moved. Guiding the internal stages, it extends open in which space between the lower housing and the upper housing, the process unit is mounted to the support guide means by for moving along the interior guiding, The support and guide means is pivotable between an operating position for preventing the pivoting movement from the detached position downward and a non-acting position for allowing the support and guide means to pivot downward from the detached position. A holding means including a holding member is provided, and the guide unit guides the process unit when the holding member is in the operating position and the support / guiding means is in the mounting / removing position .
Along the part to a point near where the movement is blocked.
Then, the process unit acts on the holding member and
By further movement to this position where movement is blocked,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the holding member is turned from the operating position to the non-operating position, and is turned downward together with the support and guide means to be positioned at the predetermined operating position. 2. The supporting and guiding means is constituted by a pair of supporting and guiding members mounted rotatably at intervals in the width direction, and the holding members are provided corresponding to each of the supporting and guiding members. The guide portion is defined by guide grooves formed in each of the pair of support guide members, and the process unit includes a pair of supported protrusions received in the guide grooves of each of the pair of support guide members. Is disposed.
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. Wherein the action protrusion of a pair is in the process unit is disposed, in the lower part housing a pair of arc-shaped opening is formed, each of said holding member, sliding in a corresponding opening A freely-receivable sliding pin is provided, and between each of the retaining members and the lower housing, a biasing bias is provided to position each of the sliding pins at one end of the corresponding opening. A biasing spring is disposed for positioning each of the biasing springs in the operative position, and the pair of supported springs of the process unit is provided.
Position the holding projection in the corresponding guide groove, and
The knit is prevented from moving along each of the guide grooves.
When moved to the vicinity of the position, the pair of working projections
The position acting on each of the holding members and where movement is prevented
By further movement to, pivoted against each該滑rotating pin to the biasing spring to the other end of each of the opening, the non-operative position each of the <br/> hold member from said working position 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the process unit is turned to position the process unit at the predetermined operation position.