JP3255339B2 - 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 which can be attached to a mounting position in an apparatus main body and moved outside by being moved in a main scanning direction of an optical system through an insertion opening of the apparatus main body. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a forming process unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a conventional configuration of an image forming apparatus.
In FIG. 4 , 1 is an apparatus main body, 11 is a photoreceptor, 12 is a charging device, 13 is a developing device, 14 is a transfer device, 15 is a waste toner collecting device, and 21 is an optical system.

The photosensitive member 11 and its peripheral devices (12, 13,
15)) is integrated to form the image forming process unit 10 for convenience of handling. The image forming process unit 10 is detachably mounted at a mounting position in the apparatus main body 1.

The optical system 21 is fixed to the apparatus main body 1 and passes light (laser light) of the photoconductor 11 through a light emitting surface (for example, a cover glass 25 attached to a light exit portion of an optical case 29). It is configured to be able to irradiate the surface.

At the time of printing, the photosensitive member 11 is rotated at a predetermined speed, and the surface is first uniformly charged by the charging device 12 and then statically irradiated by the laser light irradiated through the light emitting surface (25) of the optical system 21. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 11 is developed by the toner supplied from the developing device 13 with the rotation of the photoreceptor 11, and then, in the transfer device 14, the paper supply unit 5 (the paper cassette 6,
From the paper feed roller 7 and the like to the paper transport means (the transport roller 17,
The image is transferred onto a sheet sent via the conveyance path 18). The toner image transferred onto the paper is fixed by the fixing device 19.

[0006]

By the way, in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, the light exit surface (25) of the optical system 21 is provided on the photosensitive member 1 (not shown).
1 are arranged close to each other. Therefore, when the toner scatters from the photoconductor 11 during the printing operation, the toner may adhere to the outer surface of the light emitting surface (25) and become soiled. Further, dust and the like floating in the apparatus main body 1 may adhere.

In the case where a printing defect such as an unclear image occurs due to the dirt on the light emitting surface (25), an operator removes the image forming process unit 10 from the apparatus main body 1 and uses a soft cloth or paper to remove the light emitting surface. The outer surface of (25) is wiped.

Here, usually, when the image forming apparatus is small, the image forming process unit 10 can be inserted into the apparatus main body 1 from a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction of the optical system 21 and can be mounted and removed. The main body 1 is provided with an insertion / extraction opening (not shown) equivalent to the length of the unit 10. Therefore, after the operator pulls out the unit 10 from the apparatus main body 1 through the insertion opening, the operator can put his hand through the opening to wipe the light emitting surface (25).

[0009] However, in the color image forming apparatus of a large image forming apparatus and a tandem system, the image forming process unit 10 is also increased, the main scanning direction of the optical system 21 in order to suppress the insertion opening (FIG. 4 medium paper orthogonal direction and take the system to releasably slide 5 in the horizontal direction) it is common.

That is, an opening 3 for insertion and removal is provided on the side surface 2 of the apparatus main body 1, and the image forming process unit 10 is moved through the opening 3 in the main scanning direction of the optical system 21.
It is to be mounted (or taken out) at the mounting position in the apparatus main body 1.

In such a large-sized image forming apparatus and the like, it is very difficult to insert a hand through the opening 3 to wipe off the toner adhered to the light emitting surface (25) because the opening 3 for insertion / removal becomes smaller. May be damaged by contact with the edge of the built-in component.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of quickly and securely cleaning an emission surface of an optical system safely.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided an optical system capable of emitting light to the outside through a light emitting surface fixed to the apparatus main body and extending in the main scanning direction, and emitted from the optical system. It includes a photoreceptor capable of forming an electrostatic latent image by being exposed to light, and can be mounted at a mounting position in the apparatus main body by being moved in a main scanning direction of an optical system through an insertion opening of the apparatus main body and In an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming process unit that can be taken out to the outside, the image forming process unit is separated from the optical system when the process unit is mounted at a mounting position in the apparatus main body, and When moved in the main scanning direction of the optical system through the opening for insertion and removal of the apparatus main body, a cleaning member capable of slidingly contacting the light emission surface of the optical system and removing attached matter is provided .
This cleaning member is used by the image processing unit.
Than when it is moved towards the mounting position in the device body
Is also moved from the mounting position to the outside
It is formed so that the pressing force against the light emitting surface is increased.
Image forming apparatus.

In the invention having such a configuration, when the image forming process unit is moved in the main scanning direction of the optical system through the insertion opening of the apparatus main body and is mounted at the mounting position in the apparatus main body, the cleaning member is optically mounted. It comes into sliding contact with the light exit surface of the system. As a result, toner, dust, and the like attached to the light exit surface are removed and cleaned. When the image processing unit is mounted at the mounting position in the apparatus main body, the cleaning member is held at a position separated from the optical system.

As described above, when the cleaning operation is completed, the cleaning member is separated from the optical system, so that the cleaning member is not pushed by the light emitting surface and the elasticity or the like does not decrease. Therefore, when the image forming process unit is mounted and then moved to the outside in the main scanning direction of the optical system through the insertion / extraction opening of the apparatus main body to be pulled out, the cleaning member is brought into contact with the light emitting surface at the set contact pressure. It can be cleaned by sliding contact . Therefore, it is possible to quickly and reliably the light exit surface of the optical system, moreover safely cleaned. In addition, the image processing unit is
From the installation position rather than being moved toward
The light emitted from the cleaning member is
The pressing force on the firing surface increases. That is, the image forming process
The process unit was attached to the main unit and printing operation was performed.
The toner on the light exit surface of the optical system is more
Etc.
The toner and the like can be reliably removed.

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The basic configuration of this image forming apparatus is the same as that of the conventional example (FIG. 4 ) as shown in FIG.
The light emitting surface 25 of the optical system 21 can be cleaned using the moving force at the time of insertion and removal of the image forming process unit 10 and the optical system 21 is mounted when the unit 10 is mounted at the mounting position in the apparatus main body 1. And it is configured to be separated.

The same components as those in the conventional example (FIG. 5) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning member 31 is separated from the optical system 21 when the image processing unit 10 is mounted at the mounting position in the apparatus main body 1 and is provided on the side surface 2 of the apparatus main body 1. When the optical system 21 is moved in the main scanning direction through the inserted opening 3 for insertion and removal, the unit case of the process unit 10 is slidably in contact with the light exit surface (25) to remove extraneous matter such as toner. It is provided on the upper surface 10a of 10C. In this embodiment, the cleaning member 31 is disposed at a predetermined distance e from the far end surface of the optical system 21.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning member 31 includes a support plate 32 made of an elastic material and having a base end supported at the rear end of the upper surface 10a of the unit case 10C.
And a contact portion 33 provided at the tip of the support plate 32. When the unit 10 is moved in the main scanning direction of the optical system 21, the light emitting surface (25) is in a direction opposite to the moving direction. It is provided so as to be able to start contact while retracting.

The support plate 32 is formed of a leaf spring made of a metal material or a synthetic resin. In addition, the contact portion 33 removes toner or the like adhered to the light emitting surface (25) from the light emitting surface (25).
Is formed from a material that can be removed without damaging the material (eg, felt). And the cleaning member 3
1 is a pressing force changing member (for example, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3).
For example, by providing the rib 51), it is moved in the insertion direction.
Light when moving in the withdrawal direction than when moving
It is formed so that the pressing force against the emission surface 25 is increased.
is there.

The height b of the cleaning member 31 when there is no load is determined by the image forming process unit 10 and the optical system 21.
Is formed so as to be larger than the distance a between them. Therefore, the cleaning member 31 is elastically deformed and deforms and comes into sliding contact with the light emitting surface (25) by an amount corresponding to the difference (ba) between the dimensions, so that the cleaning can be surely performed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the image forming process unit 10 is inserted through the insertion / extraction opening 3 provided on the side surface 2 of the apparatus main body 1 and moved in the direction of arrow F, the contact portion 33 of the cleaning member 31 is moved.
Is in sliding contact with the light exit surface (25) of the optical system 21. On this occasion,
The cleaning member 31 is in a direction opposite to the F direction (R direction).
The sliding contact with the light emitting surface (25) is started while being elastically deformed, so that the smooth insertion of the process unit 10 is not hindered. Thereby, the outer surface of the light emitting surface (25) is reliably cleaned.

When the image forming process unit 10 is mounted at the mounting position in the apparatus main body 1, the cleaning member 31
Is separated from the optical system 21. Therefore, the elastic restoring force of the cleaning member 31 does not decrease,
Even when the light exit surface (25) is cleaned using the cleaning member 31, the light exit surface (25) can be strongly pressed to reliably remove extraneous matter such as toner.

When the image forming process unit 10 is moved from the mounting position in the apparatus main body 1 in the R direction and is pulled out to repair or replace the image forming process unit 10, the cleaning member 31 is also used.
Slidably contacts the outer surface of the light exit surface (25) of the optical system 21 to remove the attached matter. Moreover, the image processing unit 10
Is moved toward the mounting position in the device body 1
Is also moved from the mounting position to the outside
Shape so that the pressing force against the light emitting surface (25) is large.
The toner, etc. with a more appropriate pressing force
Can be removed.

According to this embodiment, when the image forming process unit 10 is mounted at the mounting position in the apparatus main body 1, the image forming process unit 10 is separated from the optical system 21 and the insertion / removal opening of the apparatus main body 1. 3 the cleaning member 31 capable of removing deposits in sliding contact with the light exit plane of the optical system 21 (25) when it is moved in the main scanning direction of the optical system 21 is provided through, yet the image processing unit device Mounting position in the body
From the installation position rather than being moved toward
Pressure on the light exit surface when moving toward
Is formed so that the light exit surface (25) of the optical system 21 can be quickly and reliably and safely cleaned, and a more appropriate pressing force can be obtained.
Thus, toner and the like can be reliably removed .

The cleaning member 31 is connected to a support plate 32.
And the contact portions 33 and the ribs 51 , the configuration is simple and the cost is not increased.

[0031]

[0032]

Further, since the cleaning member 31 is provided so as to be able to start contact with the light emitting surface (25) while retracting, the cleaning member 31 can be smoothly brought into sliding contact with the light emitting surface 25 for cleaning.

[0034]

[0035]

[0036]

According to the present invention, when the image forming process unit is mounted at the mounting position in the apparatus main body, it is separated from the optical system, and the optical system is connected to the optical system through the insertion opening of the apparatus main body. When moved in the main scanning direction, a cleaning member capable of slidingly contacting the light emitting surface of the optical system to remove the adhered substance is provided.
Provided, and the image processing unit is mounted inside the main unit.
Out of the mounting position rather than being moved toward
Pressure on the light exit surface when moving towards the part
The light output surface of the optical system can be quickly and reliably and safely cleaned because the force is increased, and toner and the like can be removed with a more appropriate pressing force.
It can be reliably removed.

[0037]

[0038]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a positional relationship among a cleaning member, an optical system, and an image forming process unit.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a cleaning member.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a conventional configuration of an image forming apparatus.
is there.

FIG. 5 is also a diagram illustrating an attaching / detaching operation of an image forming process unit.
It is a perspective view for explaining.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Kazunori Murakami 6-78 Minami-cho, Mishima-shi, Shizuoka Tec Technical Research Institute, Inc. (72) Masayuki Satomi 6-78 Minami-cho, Mishima-shi, Shizuoka (56) References JP-A-5-73657 (JP, A) JP-A-4-3455 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21 / 16-21/18 G03G 15/00 550 G03G 15/04-15/04 120

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:
Optical system that can emit light to the outside through the provided light exit surface
And an electrostatic latent image exposed by light emitted from this optical system
Including a photoreceptor capable of forming a
Moving in the main scanning direction of the optical system.
Can be attached to the mounting position inside the main body and can be taken out
In an image forming apparatus having an image forming process unit,
The image forming process unit,
Is installed at the mounting position in the device body.
Is an opening for insertion and removal of the apparatus main body, which is separated from the optical system.
Is moved in the main scanning direction of the optical system through
A slide that is in sliding contact with the light exit surface of the optical system to remove adhering matter.
Providing a leaning member, This cleaning member is used by the image processing unit.
Than when it is moved towards the mounting position in the device body
Is also moved from the mounting position to the outside
Formed so that the pressing force against the light emitting surface is increased.
 An image forming apparatus characterized in that: