JP3516549B2 - 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 copying machine, a printer and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, environmental protection and resource saving have been demanded as a global trend, and efforts for environmental problems have become more and more important issues. Also in image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles, measures for recycling (recycling and reusing) various parts and effectively using resources are being studied as one of the solutions to environmental problems.

Further, in recent image forming apparatuses, many of the main components are unitized, and for example, they are constituted by a photosensitive drum unit, a developing unit, a fixing unit, a paper feeding unit, a paper discharging unit and the like. In such a unitized device, each unit can be replaced individually, so when one unit fails or reaches the end of its life, only that unit is replaced and the entire device is replaced or repaired. You don't have to.

[0004]

However, when the parts disassembled / removed from each unit are mixed with the parts of other units when the various parts of the image forming apparatus are regenerated / reused, it is necessary to judge the difference. There was a problem that it took time.

Further, there is a problem that it is difficult to know which unit is a component that has been disassembled and removed, and it takes a lot of time to check and judge it. Further, there is a problem that it is difficult to understand the assembly order of various parts when reassembling the disassembled unit for recycling and reuse. When the assembly order is wrong, the time wasted that the unit is reassembled.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems in the conventional image forming apparatus and facilitates the reproduction and reuse of various parts.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus in which the main components are unitized, an individual identification color is set for each unit and at least a part of the parts of each unit is set. Is solved by the coloring set on the unit.

Further, in order to solve the problems of the previous term, the present invention sets an individual identification code to each unit in an image forming apparatus in which the main components are unitized, and sets the parts of each unit to the unit. It is proposed to provide an identification mark representing the identification code.

Further, it is more effective if the assembling order in the unit to which the part belongs is clearly indicated to the part of each unit.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The copying machine shown in this figure has a photosensitive drum unit 5, a developing unit 4, a fixing unit 3, a paper feeding unit 2, a paper discharging unit 1 and the like in the central portion of the main body.

In the present embodiment, the parts constituting each unit are color-coded for each unit. For example, in this embodiment, the paper discharge unit 1 is set to be blue, and parts such as the guide plate, the driven rollers, and gears that constitute the paper discharge unit 1 are unified to be blue. Since the paper discharge unit 1 is blue, for example, the paper feed unit 2 (components forming the same) is made red, the fixing unit 3 (components making up) is made yellow, and the components forming the other units are selected. Use different colors for each unit.

Thus, it is possible to prevent mixing of various parts disassembled / removed from each unit, and even when disassembled / removed parts are mixed, it is possible to determine which unit the part belongs to. It can be easily identified. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of making a discrimination when recycling and reusing various parts, promote recycling of parts, and contribute to resource protection.

In this embodiment, resin parts such as plastic are mainly used for color coding (colors are unified for each unit), but of course metal parts may be included. Further, it is not necessary to color-code all the components that make up each unit, and it is also possible to color-code only small components that are difficult to discriminate except for large components that are easily discriminated or similar components between each unit. Parts are color-coded at the time of manufacture,
A member that enables color identification may be attached or attached to each component. Moreover, when coloring a part, you may color not a whole part but a part of parts.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, an individual identification code is set for each unit forming the image forming apparatus, and an identification mark representing the identification code set for the unit is provided on the component forming each unit. For example, if there are eight units that constitute the copying machine, the letters "A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H" are given to each unit. Then, in the parts of the unit to which the identification code “A” is given, the identification mark “A” is clearly shown on a part of the parts. The same applies to parts of other units, and for parts of the unit to which the identification code “B” is given, an identification mark “B” is clearly shown on a part of the part. Note that the identification code and the identification mark are not limited to alphabets, and arbitrary letters, numbers, symbols, or the like can be used.

In the following, description will be given of how to clearly show the identification mark in this embodiment. 2 and 3 show the structure of the paper discharge unit in the copying machine of this embodiment (basically the same device structure as the copying machine of FIG. 1). As shown in both figures, this paper discharge unit includes upper and lower guide plates 11, 1
2, a reversing guide plate 13, a switching guide plate 14, a paper ejection cover 15, a paper ejection roller 16, a paper ejection gear 17, and a transport roller 18, respectively.

By the way, in the present embodiment, the identification code "A" is set for the paper discharge unit, and each of the parts of the paper discharge unit is, as shown in FIG. 4 is provided with an identification mark 19 indicating that it is a component of the switching guide plate 14 and the discharge gear 1 in FIG.
7 is shown, but the identification mark 1 is similarly applied to other parts.
9 is provided. This identification mark 19 uses the alphabet "A" as an identification mark so that it can be seen that the identification mark 19 belongs to the paper discharge unit.

As a method of clearly indicating the identification mark, a method shown in FIG. 5 can be considered. 5 (a), (b),
(C) is an example in which the identification mark is provided on the transport roller 18 by different methods, but (a) is the one in which the character (identification mark) 19 is directly engraved or integrally molded. In (b), a seal 20 having an identification mark printed thereon is attached to a component. And (c) is the one to which the discrimination member 21 provided with the identification mark is attached (inserted). One of the explicit methods of (a), (b), and (c) can be used for each component, or a plurality of explicit methods can be used in combination depending on the mode of each component. Of course, the identification mark may be specified by a method other than this.

In this embodiment, an individual identification code is set for each unit constituting the copying machine, and an identification mark representing the identification code set for the unit is provided on the parts constituting each unit. Since it is possible to easily identify which unit is the part that has been disassembled and removed from each unit, it is easy to separate parts when reusing and reusing parts, and it is mixed with parts of other units Even in the case, it can be easily determined. Therefore, it is possible to save the labor for recycling and contribute to cost reduction and resource protection.

Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, parts constituting each unit of the image forming apparatus are provided with an identification mark representing an identification code set in the unit, and an assembling order such as a numeral or a symbol indicating an assembling order in the unit. Make a mark.

As shown in FIG. 6, on the switching guide plate 24 of the paper discharge unit, together with the identification mark 19 showing the identification code given to the paper discharge unit, the assembly order mark 29 showing the assembly order in the paper discharge unit. Is provided. Since the switching guide plate 24 is assembled in the third order, the assembly order mark 29 of the switching guide plate 24 is "3". The hyphen "-" connecting the identification mark 19 and the assembly order mark 29 may or may not be present. Further, the paper discharge gear 27 of the paper discharge unit is provided with an identification mark 19 representing the identification code given to the paper discharge unit and an assembly order mark 29 representing the assembly order in the paper discharge unit. Since the assembling order of the paper discharge gear 27 is the second, the assembly order mark 29 of the paper discharge gear 27 is "2". Although only the switching guide plate 24 and the paper discharge gear 27 are shown in FIG. 6, other parts are similarly provided with the identification mark 19 and the assembly sequence mark 29. The identification mark 19 and the assembling order mark 29 do not necessarily have to be adjacent to each other, and may be provided at distant positions.

Further, in the present embodiment, the individual identification code is set for each unit and the identification mark 19 is provided for each component. However, each unit is identified by color and the component is colored for each unit. The assembly order mark 29 may be provided on the part. That is, the assembly order mark 29 may be provided on the color-coded parts without providing the identification mark 19.

As a method of clearly indicating the identification mark and the assembly order mark, the method shown in FIG. 7 can be considered. Figure 7
(A), (b), (c) are examples in which the identification mark is provided on the transport roller 18 by different methods, but (a) shows the identification mark 19 and the assembly sequence mark 29 directly on the part,
Alternatively, it is integrally molded. In (b), a seal 30 having an identification mark and an assembly order mark printed thereon is attached to a part. Further, (c) shows that the discriminating member 31 provided with the identification mark and the assembly order mark is attached (inserted). One of the explicit methods of (a), (b), and (c) can be used for each component, or a plurality of explicit methods can be used in combination depending on the mode of each component. Of course, the identification mark and the assembling order mark may be specified by a method other than this.

In the present embodiment, not only can each unit be identified as to which unit it belongs to, but also the order of assembly within that unit can be clarified. It can be avoided in advance, and there is no waste such as reassembly.

By the way, when it is difficult or impossible to color plastic parts or metal parts, as shown in FIG. 8, another part having a necessary color can be attached to the unit constituent parts. . 8 (a),
In the example of (b), the parts 32 as unit constituent parts,
42 is difficult to color, so the colored separate part 3
4, 44 are attached via the attachment protrusions 33, 43. As a result, it is possible to determine which unit the component 32 or 42 is from the color attached to the separate component 34 or 44. In addition, in the example of FIG.
Is provided with an identification mark 19, and the unit can be double identified by the color and the identification mark 19.
Identification is easier and more reliable. However, the identification mark 19 may be omitted. Alternatively, if the separate component 34 has the identification mark 19, the unit can be specified without coloring the different component 34. Further, in the example of FIG. 8B, the component 42 is provided with the identification mark 19,
When the separate component 44 is attached, the unit can be doubly specified by the color and the identification mark 19, but the identification mark 19 may be omitted. By the way, the method described in FIG. 8 in which the colored component parts are attached when the component parts are difficult to color can be applied to the embodiment described in FIG.

[0025]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an individual identification color is set for each unit, and at least some of the parts of each unit are colored according to the unit. Therefore, disassemble from each unit
It is possible to prevent mixing of various removed parts, and even when disassembled and removed parts are mixed, it is possible to easily determine which unit the parts belong to. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of making a discrimination when recycling and reusing various parts, promote recycling of parts, and contribute to resource protection.

According to the structure of claim 2, an individual identification code is set for each unit, and an identification mark representing the identification code set for the unit is provided on the component of each unit.
You can easily determine which unit is the part that has been disassembled and removed from each unit, facilitating the separation of parts when recycling and reusing parts, and even when mixing with parts of other units Easy to do. Therefore, it is possible to save the labor for recycling and contribute to cost reduction and resource protection.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the order of assembly in the unit to which the part belongs is clearly indicated to the part of each unit. Therefore, not only can the unit of each unit be identified, but also the assembly in the unit can be determined. Since the order is also clear, it is possible to avoid troubles due to an incorrect assembly order of the parts when assembling the unit, and avoid waste such as reassembly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of a copying machine that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a paper discharge unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the paper discharge unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an identification mark provided on a component of the paper discharge unit.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining a method of clearly indicating the identification mark.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an identification mark and an assembly order mark provided on the components of the paper discharge unit according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining a method of clearly indicating the identification mark and the assembly order mark.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view for explaining how to attach different colored components to non-colorable components.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Paper ejection unit 14, 24 Switching guide plate 17,27 Paper ejection gear 18 Transport rollers 19 identification mark 29 Assembly order mark 20,30 seal 21,31 Discriminating member 34,44 Colored separate parts

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. In an image forming apparatus in which main components are unitized, an individual identification color is set for each unit, and at least a part of parts of each unit is colored according to the unit. A characteristic image forming apparatus. 2. In an image forming apparatus in which main constituent parts are unitized, an individual identification code is set for each unit, and an identification mark representing the identification code set for the unit is provided on a component of each unit. A characteristic image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the order of assembly in the unit to which the part belongs is clearly shown in the part of each unit.