JP3037743B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image in which process means such as a charging charger, a developing device, a transfer charger and a cleaning device are provided in a plurality of units around an image carrier. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

In a conventional image forming apparatus, process means such as a charging charger and a developing device are divided and formed into a plurality of process units.These process units are adapted to the shape and layout of the main body of the image forming apparatus and satisfy respective functions. Had a complicated shape. These process units are usually mounted in a fixed state, and as for the process unit to move, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-60-140264, these process units are attached and detached. It is fixedly mounted at a predetermined position in a slightly movable state. Also, the mounting position of the process unit to the photoconductor follows the layout,
It is designed to be mounted at a predetermined position.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the attachment position of the unit to the apparatus main body is fixed, the attachment and detachment work is complicated. In addition, when a misfeed is to be treated or a toner supply / color developing unit is to be replaced, the front cover is opened, and the power to the process means is shut off in conjunction with the opening of the front cover. For this reason, if the energization cutoff time is prolonged due to the prolonged attachment / detachment operation time, there is a problem in that the recovery time required to return to the normal operation state after energization becomes long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art as described above, and an object of the present invention is to simplify the maintenance and replacement work, to be able to mount each process means without error after the replacement work, An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that smoothly supplies and shuts off power to the image forming apparatus.

[Means for solving the problem]

The object has a plurality of process units in which at least one process unit is unitized among a plurality of process units for image formation arranged around the photoconductor, and the plurality of process units are separately provided. An image forming apparatus configured to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, wherein the supporting unit integrally supports the plurality of process units so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis, and is formed in a case of the image forming apparatus. A mounting opening from which the respective process units are taken out or inserted, and power supply means for supplying power to the process units,
This is achieved by having an energization cut-off unit that prevents energization from the power supply unit to the process unit in response to movement of the process unit to a position facing the mounting opening.

[Action]

According to the above-mentioned means, at the time of maintenance replacement operation for the process means housed and supported by the housing, the power supply cut-off means is operated in accordance with the movement of the housing to the attaching / detaching position, and the process means to the process means housed by the housing is operated. Power supply from the power supply means is cut off. For this reason, the operator can perform maintenance replacement of the process unit quickly without danger. When the process unit after the mounting is returned to the image forming apparatus, the power supply from the power supply unit to the process unit is restored.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in these figures, a contact glass 2 is disposed on the upper surface of a case C of the apparatus main body, and an original O to be subjected to image formation is placed on the contact glass 2.
A scanning unit S is provided in an upper part of the case C. The scanning unit S includes a scanning optical system 5 including a light source 3 for illuminating a document and a mirror 4 and a scanning optical system 8 including mirrors 6 and 7. And
When a print switch (not shown) is pressed, the scanning optical systems 5 and 8 are pressed.
Move in the directions of the arrows, and scanning of the original O is performed. The scanning section S is provided with a lens 9 and an image reading element 10. The image of the original O read by the scanning optical systems 5 and 8 is read by the image reading element 10 as an image signal, digitized, and described later. Image processing.

On the side surface of the case C, there is provided a maintenance door CD which is opened at the time of maintenance replacement of the process means. When the maintenance door CD is opened, a substantially semicircular mounting opening 25 is formed on the wall surface of the case C. When the unit accommodating the process means rotates to the position of the mounting opening 25 and stops, the power supply cut-off means (not shown) operates to supply power to the process means housed and supported by the unit located at the mounting opening 25 portion. Is configured to be shut off from the power supply.

In the case C, an image forming unit D is provided below the scanning unit S. The image forming unit D includes a laser diode L, a driving plate 12, a polygon mirror 13 and a mirror 14,
Photoreceptor belt 1, developing device 16, cleaning device 23, charging charger 15, transfer charger 18, separation charger
19, a transport belt 21 and a fixing roller 22 are provided. Reference numeral 17 denotes a paper supply unit. Transfer paper is stored in the paper supply unit 17 and is conveyed between the photosensitive belt 1 and the transfer charger 18 one by one by a conveyance roller. Then, as described above, the image reading element 10
Is applied to the drive plate 12, and a laser beam is emitted from the laser diode L in accordance with the application of the signal. The laser beam is reflected by the polygon mirror 13 and the mirror 14 and reaches the photosensitive belt 1. .

By this laser light, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 which has been uniformly charged in advance by the charging charger 15, and this electrostatic latent image is formed into a visible image by toner of the developing device 16. Be transformed into Then, the obtained visible image is transferred to transfer paper sent from a paper supply unit 17 by corona discharge of a transfer charger 18, and the transfer paper after transfer is separated from the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 by a separation charger 19. The transfer paper separated in this way is sent to the fixing roller 22 by the conveyor belt 21, the transfer image is fixed by the fixing roller 22, and the transfer paper on which the image formation is completed is discharged out of the case C. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 after the transfer operation is removed by the cleaning device 23.

In this embodiment, the image forming process means such as the developing device 16 and the cleaning device 23 disposed around the photoreceptor belt 1 are divided into two units. It is configured so that it can be attached to and detached from, and can rotate integrally with the photoreceptor belt 1. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, the photoreceptor belt 1 is inserted through a substantially semicircular mounting opening 25 formed on the side surface of the case C.
The unit is configured to be able to be rotated together with the unit and removed one by one, or the units subjected to maintenance and replacement can be mounted one by one from the mounting opening 25 to the apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are explanatory views showing the operation state of the configuration of the main part of the first embodiment.
A photoreceptor belt 1 which is an image carrier made of, for example, an organic photoreceptor (OPC) is stretched between the photoreceptors 01, and the photoreceptor is rotated by clockwise rotation of rollers 100 and 101 as shown in the figure. The body belt 1 is adapted to move as shown by the arrow in the figure. A first unit U1 and a second unit U2 are provided in close proximity to the flat portions 1a and 1b between the rollers 100 and 101 of the photosensitive belt 1, and the first unit U1 and the second unit U2 are provided. And have the same cross-sectional shape. Then, the photosensitive belt 1, the first unit U1, and the second unit U2
Are integrally rotatable about a rotation axis R1.

The first unit U1 has a configuration in which the developing device 16 is accommodated and supported in a housing 102, and the toner tank 16 of the developing device 16 is provided.
An opening 167a is formed in 7, and a developing roller 160 is rotatably mounted with a part of the peripheral surface facing the opening 167a. An agitator 162 is provided in contact with the developing roller 160, a developing blade 161 is provided in contact with the developing roller 160 in the vicinity of the agitator 162, and a charge removing brush 163 is provided in the vicinity of the opening 167a. The toner tank 167 is filled with toner.

In this developing device 16, the rotation of the agitator 162 causes
The toner in the toner tank 167 is sent to the vicinity of the developing blade 161, and a constant thickness toner layer is formed on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 160 by the developing blade 161. This toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive belt 1 in contact with the developing roller 160 by the rotation of the developing roller 160, and the photosensitive belt 1
A visible image is formed.

The toner tank 167 of the developing device 16 is rotatable about a positioning pin 164, and a hook 166 of the housing 102 is provided.
A spring 159 is stretched between the hook portion 167b of the free end of the toner tank 167 and the free end of the toner tank 167.
The toner tank 167 is urged counterclockwise around the positioning pin 164, that is, in a direction in which the developing roller 160 is separated from the photosensitive belt 1. In the image forming state, the cam 165 presses the toner tank 167 against the photoreceptor belt 1 against the spring force of the spring 159, and the free end of the toner tank 167 stops the stopper 102a of the housing 102.
The developing roller 160 presses the flat portion 1a of the photoreceptor belt 1 with a predetermined pressure and is in contact therewith.

The second unit U2 has a cleaning device 2 in the housing 103.
3. The charging tank 15 and the eraser 24 are housed and supported, and the collection tank 23 of the cleaning device 23
6 is provided with a cleaning blade 230 at a position facing the flat portion 1b of the photoreceptor belt 1. A fur brush 231 is rotatably disposed in the vicinity of the cleaning blade 230.
The flicker bar 234 formed integrally with the plate 36 is disposed so as to be in contact with the flicker bar 234. In the vicinity of the flicker bar 234, a toner collection rod 232 is provided facing the inside of the case 236.
33 are provided. A fullness detection sensor 239 is mounted in the collection tank 236, and the charging charger 15 and the eraser 24 are supported and fixed to a surface of the collection tank 236 facing the flat portion 1b of the photosensitive belt 1.

The collection tank 236 is rotatable about a positioning pin 235, and a spring 237 is stretched between a hook 158 of the housing 103 and a hook 236a at the free end of the collection tank 236. In the image forming operation state, the recovery tank 236 is pressed against the photoreceptor belt 1 by the cam 238 against the spring force of the spring 237, and the free end of the recovery tank 236 abuts on the stopper piece 103a of the housing 103. Is positioned in contact with
The cleaning blade 230 and the fur brush 231 are in contact with each other by pressing the flat portion 1b of the photoreceptor belt 1 with a predetermined pressure.

In the cleaning device 23, the residual toner on the photosensitive belt 1 is scraped off by the fur brush 231, and the scraped residual toner is beaten off by the flicker bar 234 from the fur brush 231. Residual toner that cannot be scraped off by the fur brush 231 is peeled off by the cleaning blade 230. The residual toner scraped off in this manner is collected in the collection tank 236 by the toner collection rod 232 and the toner peeling plate 233. And when the residual toner collected in this way fills the collection tank 236,
The fullness detection sensor 239 issues a detection signal.

The charging charger 15 charges the photosensitive belt 1 after cleaning, and the eraser 24 erases unnecessary portions so as to form an electrostatic latent image only in a required image area.
The reflected light from the mirror 14 is made incident on the photosensitive belt 1 at the roller 101 to form a latent image.

In this way, the electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive belt 1 by the developing device 16, the cleaning device 23, the charging charger 15, and the eraser 24, but the toner in the toner tank 167 is exhausted and the toner is exhausted. In this case, a sensor (not shown) detects this and informs the user of toner end information. Also, when the waste toner is full in the collection tank 236, as described above, the full detection sensor 239 is used.
Detects this and informs the user that it is full.

The maintenance exchange of the first unit U1 or the second unit U2 is performed based on this information. When the maintenance exchange is performed, when an exchange switch (not shown) on the operation panel is pressed,
Photoreceptor belt 1, first unit U1, and second unit
U2 rotates around the rotation axis R1, and the unit to be replaced rotates to the position of the mounting opening 25. So cam 165 or cam 2
When the lock is removed by rotating the lock 38, the support and fixing of the toner tank 167 to the housing 102 are released as shown in FIG. 4, or the support and fixation of the recovery tank 236 to the housing 103 is released. Tank 236 is spring 15
9 and 237, the toner container 167 or the collection tank 236 is rotated in a direction away from the photoreceptor belt
Can be taken from

Then, the toner tank 167 or the collection tank 236, for which the maintenance and replacement work has been completed, is inserted into the case C through the mounting opening 25, and the mounting is completed by locking with the cam 165 or the cam 238. At this time, the first unit U1 and the second unit U2 can be attached to either side of the flat portions 1a and 1b with respect to the image carrier.
Either 0 or 101 can form a latent image.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are explanatory views showing the operating state of the configuration of the main part of the second embodiment, in which a one-sheet shutter 168 is provided concentrically on a developing roller 160 of the developing device 16 and a torsion coil is provided. A spring 169 is concentrically mounted on the shaft of the developing roller 160. One end of the torsion coil spring 169 is connected to the toner tank 1
67, the other end is engaged with the shutter 168, the fifth
In the locked state by the cam 165 shown in the drawing, that is, in the image forming operation state, the shutter 168 is urged in a direction to open the opening 167a of the toner tank 167 by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 169. Similarly, a torsion coil spring 241 is provided near the toner peeling plate 233 of the cleaning device 23, and one end of the torsion coil spring 241 is engaged with the recovery tank 236, and the other end rotates about the axis of the torsion coil spring 241. It is engaged with a possible two-piece shutter 240. This Shutter 240,
It is urged in the opening direction by the torsion coil spring 241.

In the second embodiment, when the lock is released by rotating the cam 165, as shown in FIG.
Rotates in the direction away from the flat portion 1a of the photoreceptor belt 1, and at the same time, the shutter 168 moves to a position to close the opening 167a by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 169. The rotation of the shutter 168 may be performed by transmitting the rotational power of the toner tank 167 via a gear mechanism. Thus, the developing device 16
When the toner tank 167 is taken out, the toner does not leak from the opening 167a and does not stain the operator's body or the room when the toner tank 167 is taken out. Similarly, when the cam 238 is rotated to remove the lock, the collection tank 236 is rotated, and the shutter 240 closes the opening of the collection tank 236 by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 241 to the outside of the discharged toner. To prevent leaks.

Also in the second embodiment, the first unit U1 and the second unit U1
Since U2 has the same cross-sectional shape, these units U1 and U2 are connected to any of the planar portions of the photosensitive belt 1.
It can be attached to 1a and 1b.

In the above embodiment, the first unit U1
The second unit U2 and the second unit U2 are separated from the photoreceptor belt 1, but only the unit corresponding to the mounting opening 25 may be separated. FIGS. 7 and 8 are explanatory views showing this state. FIG. 7 shows the first unit U1 located at the opening 25 and only the first unit U1 is separated from the photoreceptor belt 1, and FIG. 8 shows the second unit U2 located at the opening 25. Only the second unit U2 is separated from the photosensitive belt 1.

The configuration, operation and effect of the other parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 are the same as those of the first or second embodiment already described.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are explanatory views showing the operating state of the configuration of the main part of the third embodiment. The housing 102 of the first unit U1 for housing and supporting the toner tank 167 is The torsion coil spring 201 concentrically attached to the shaft of the roller 101 receives a spring force in a direction away from the flat portion 1a of the photoreceptor belt 1 and a cam. The developing roller 160 is held at a position where the developing roller 160 is pressed against the flat portion 1a against the spring force of the torsion coil spring 168 by 165. Similarly, the housing 103 of the second unit U2 that accommodates and supports the collection tank 236 is rotatably supported by the same axis as the roller 100,
Of the photoreceptor belt 1 in a direction away from the flat portion 1b of the photoreceptor belt 1 by a torsion coil spring 202 concentrically mounted on the shaft of the photoreceptor belt 1, and against a spring force of the torsion coil spring 202 by a cam 238. The cleaning blade 23 on the flat portion 1b.
0 and the fur brush 231 are held at the pressed position.

In the third embodiment, when the cam 165 is rotated to release the lock, the housing 102 containing the toner tank 167 is moved from the flat portion 1a by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 201 as shown in FIG. Pivots away from the mounting opening 25
The toner tank 167 can be removed from the printer. Similarly, when the lock is removed by rotating the cam 238, the housing 103 containing the recovery tank 236 rotates in a direction away from the belt surface by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 202, and is recovered from the mounting opening 25. The tank 236 can be taken out, and the first unit U1, the second unit U2, and the photoreceptor belt 1 are rotated together as described above to rotate the first unit U1 or the second unit U1. U2
A desired unit can be taken out by locating the developing unit 16 in the mounting opening 25, and the developing device 16 or the cleaning device 23 can be fitted and mounted in each of the housings 102 and 103.

The configuration, operation and effect of the other parts of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment already described.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 shows a configuration in which the eraser 24 is not mounted on the recovery tank 236, but is mounted outside the first unit U1 and the second unit U2. . FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a fifth embodiment. FIG. 12 shows a structure in which the charging charger 15 and the eraser 24 are mounted outside the first unit U1 and the second unit U2, and the cleaning is performed. Blade 230 and fur brush 2
31 is arranged near the free end of the collection tank 236 away from the developing roller 160. In the fourth and fifth embodiments, the eraser 24 or the charging charger 15 and the eraser 24 are used.
The transfer charger 18 is disposed outside the rotation circumference of the image carrier, the first unit U1, and the second unit U2, so that rotation during maintenance replacement or mounting is performed without any trouble. .

The configuration, operation and effect of the other parts of the fourth and fifth embodiments are the same as those of the first embodiment already described.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the developing device 16 or the cleaning device 23 is automatically moved to the attaching / detaching position and the power supply to the developing device 16 or the cleaning device 23 is cut off by the detection of the toner sensor or the fullness detecting sensor.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are flowcharts showing this operation. FIG. 13 shows a process pack exchange processing routine, and FIG. 14 shows a homing processing routine of a process pack to a copyable position. Next, the operation will be described with reference to these flowcharts.

At step S1 in FIG. 13, it is determined whether or not the toner is exhausted.
Proceeding to S2, the process pack is rotated so that the first unit U1 containing the developing device 16 is at the replacement position, and the development replacement flag is set in step S3. If the determination in step S1 is NO, the process proceeds to step S4, and it is determined whether or not the waste toner has been collected in the collection tank 236 in an amount exceeding a predetermined amount (waste toner over). The judgment in step S4
If YES, the process pack is rotated in step S5 so that the second unit U2 containing the cleaning device 23 comes to the replacement position, and the process proceeds to step S6 where the cleaning replacement flag is set. In the case of toner end or waste toner over, after the respective process packs are rotated, the power of the process packs is cut off in step S7. If neither the toner end nor the waste toner over occurs, the process returns without performing any operation.

Further, in step S10 of the flowchart of FIG. 14, it is determined whether or not the cleaning replacement flag is set. If this determination is YES, step S11 is performed.
It is determined whether or not the cleaning device has been replaced. If the determination in step S11 is NO, in step S12 the copying is set to the copying disabled state and the process returns.

If the determination in step S11 is YES, the cleaning exchange flag is reset in step S12, and the process pack power is turned on in step S13. And step S1
4 Rotate the process pack to the copyable position,
In step S15, the photosensitive member is cleaned, and the flow advances to step S16 to set a copy enabled state.

If the determination in step S10 is NO, a determination is made in step S17 as to whether the development replacement flag is set, and if the determination in step S17 is YES, step S18.
A determination is made as to whether the developing device has been replaced,
If the determination in step S18 is YES, the process proceeds to step S19, where the development replacement flag is reset, and the process proceeds to step S13. If the determination in step S18 is NO, the process proceeds to step S20, where the copy is disabled and the process returns.

In any of the embodiments, when a new developing device or a new cleaning device is inserted, an automatic forming rotation is performed in order to make it compatible with the photoreceptor belt.

As described above, when the end of the rotation operation of the image carrier and the attachment of the housing to the image forming apparatus main body are detected, the cleaning means is activated, and the image carrier is rotated, and preparation for the image forming operation is immediately performed. Therefore, a clear and efficient image forming operation is performed by removing toner stains at the time of mounting.

Further, in the above embodiment, the toner end and the waste toner over are automatically detected, and if the toner end is reached, the developing device
The housing in which the housing 16 is held and moved to the position of the mounting opening 25, the power supply to the developing device 16 is cut off, and the developing device 16 is set in a detachable state for maintenance replacement. Similarly, if the waste toner is over, the housing housing and supporting the cleaning device 23 moves to the position of the mounting opening 25, the power supply to the cleaning device 23 is cut off, and the cleaning device 23 can be removed for maintenance replacement. Is set to
Therefore, the operator can easily and quickly perform maintenance and replacement work by removing the developing device 16 or the cleaning device 23 moved to the position of the mounting opening 25 without danger.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, when the process unit having undergone maintenance and replacement is mounted on the housing at the position of the mounting opening 25, the supply of power to the process unit is restarted.
Then, the housing accommodating the process means rotates to the copy position, the cleaning operation for the photosensitive belt 1 is performed, and the preparation for the copy operation is completed.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, when each process unit is attached / detached, the process unit is rotated / separated to a position different from that at the time of image formation, so that the attaching / detaching work of each process unit can be easily performed.

In addition, by fixing multiple process units to the same shape and fixing the attachment / detachment position, it is not necessary to check the installation position of each unit, and another unit is installed at the position where it should be installed because the installation position of each unit is not limited. You can prevent mistakes such as doing.

Further, by replacing the process means having a short replacement life and the long replacement life with separate units, it is possible to make the replacement time of each unit different.

Further, it is possible to prevent the malfunction of each process unit at the time of replacing the unit, smoothly and quickly carry out the holding and replacing of the process means, and to shorten the first copy time after the unit is replaced.

In addition, since the power of the process units other than the process unit that is rotated at the mounting opening 25 is not shut off, for example, the power supply of the fixing device is not shut off, and the image forming operation can be performed immediately after the maintenance replacement operation of the process unit.

Note that the housings 102 and 103, the rotation axis R1 and the like correspond to the support means.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the power supply cutoff means prevents the power from being supplied to the process unit from the power supply means in accordance with the movement of the process unit to the position facing the mounting opening. The operator
At the time of replacement, the process means can be safely taken out, and the image forming operation can be performed immediately after the maintenance replacement.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 14 are diagrams for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. Perspective view, third
FIG. 4 and FIG. 4 are explanatory views showing the operation state of the first embodiment.
5 to 8 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation state of the second embodiment, FIGS. 9 and 10 are explanatory diagrams of the third embodiment, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the fourth embodiment. FIGS. 12 and 13 are explanatory views showing the fifth embodiment, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are flowcharts showing the operation. S: Scanning unit, C: Case, 1: Photoreceptor belt, 15
... Charging charger, 16 ... Developing device, 23 ... Cleaning device.

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Takashi Ishijima 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-35383 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/00 550 G03G 21/16-21/18 G03G 21/00 398 G03G 21/00 520

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of process units each having at least one of a plurality of process units among a plurality of process units arranged around a photosensitive member for forming an image;
An image forming apparatus configured to detachably attach the plurality of process units to an image forming apparatus main body separately; and a support unit that integrally supports the plurality of process units so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis; A mounting opening formed in the case of the forming apparatus, from which the respective process units are taken out or inserted; a power supply unit for supplying power to the process unit; and a facing the mounting opening of the process unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a power supply interrupting unit configured to prevent power from being supplied from the power supply unit to the process unit in response to movement to a position. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power supply interrupting means does not interrupt power supply to units other than the process unit located at a position facing said mounting opening.
The image forming apparatus as described in the above.