JP3665982B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a laser printer, a facsimile machine, and a copying machine using an electrophotographic system.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
In an image recording apparatus such as a laser printer using an electrophotographic method, a unit that is less durable than the image recording apparatus main body is prepared as an exchange unit, and after a predetermined number of prints and copies, replacement by a service person is performed. Labor costs are also incurred, and replacement costs are quite expensive. In view of this, there has been proposed an image recording apparatus that employs a method in which such a replacement unit is exchanged by a user.
[0003]
For such image recording devices, unlike service personnel, operators who are not trained in the structure and handling of image recording devices perform replacement work, so it is necessary to give sufficient consideration to safety and prevention of damage. is there. Accordingly, the present invention provides an image recording apparatus in which the fixing device can be replaced by a general user. If the replaceable unit or the like is removed, the image recording apparatus main body cannot be turned on. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of achieving the above.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the image recording apparatus of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the fixing device and the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image recording apparatus main body, and a pin is provided on the side surface of the fixing device. projecting, by being pushed by the said pin when mounting the fixing device on the side surface of the process cartridge provided with a lever member that rotates upward, the portion corresponding to the upper turning position of the lever member of the image recording apparatus body , wherein the contact by Rukoto such provided a detection device that enables power distribution to the image recording apparatus of the lever member.
[0005]
Those according to the second aspect, only when the upper danger known device is operating, characterized in that to enable the operation of the image recording apparatus body.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic central sectional view showing the overall structure of a laser printer which is an image recording apparatus using an electrophotographic system, which is an object of the present invention. A developing unit that visualizes an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 1 by supplying a charging unit 2, a cleaning unit 3, a laser optical system 4, and a toner 5 around the photosensitive member 1 rotating in the direction of an arrow in the figure. Means 6 and transfer means 7 are arranged. 1 is provided with a paper feed cassette 10 as a first paper feed means detachable in the left-right direction in the figure, and the paper P inside thereof is pressed against the paper feed roller 12 by the bottom plate 11. When the sheet feeding roller 12 rotates, the uppermost sheet of the sheet P is conveyed to the registration roller 20 while being separated one by one by the separation pad 13 and is synchronized with the image on the photoreceptor 1. Then, the sheet is sent out to the transfer means 7.
[0009]
The sheet on which the image is obtained from the photosensitive member 1 by the transfer means 7 is further conveyed to the fixing device 30 and passes between the fixing roller 32 incorporating the heater 31 and the pressure roller 33 facing the pressure contact, and the toner image is fixed. . Thereafter, the paper on which image formation has been completed is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 40 by the paper discharge roller pair 34 with the image side down.
[0010]
In the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the above-described photoreceptor 1, charging means 2, cleaning means 3, and developing means 6 constitute an integrated process cartridge 50. As shown by a chain line in FIG. Among them, the front cover 60 on the right side (in the present embodiment, the front of the operation is the right side in FIG. 1) can be attached to and detached from the image recording apparatus main body.
[0011]
Further, a manual feed tray 60 is provided as a second paper feeding means in the front cover 60, and the uppermost sheet of paper set in the same manner as the paper feed tray 10 is placed by a bottom plate 65, a separation pad 66, and a paper feed roller 67. It can be conveyed to the registration roller 20.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 30 is also detachable from the image recording apparatus main body by opening and closing the front cover 60. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, two positioning pins 35 are provided on both sides of the fixing device 30 (only the left side is shown in FIG. 3) so that the operator can replace it when a predetermined durable number of sheets are printed or when a failure occurs. 36, and the main body frame 100 of the main body of the image recording apparatus is provided with positioning grooves 101 and 102 having a diameter corresponding to the main body frame 100, and the fixing member 30 can be engaged with and disengaged from the main body frame 100 by the lock lever 103. .
[0013]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a detection lever 51 is rotatably provided on a side surface portion of the process cartridge 50, and when the fixing device 30 is mounted on the main body frame 100 and the process cartridge 50 is set, the detection lever 51 is set. The right end side in the figure hits against the positioning pin 35 of the fixing device 30 and is pushed, and the detection switch 37 attached to the main body frame 100 is pushed on the left end side in the figure of the detection lever 51, so that energization is possible. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, if the fixing device 30 is not attached to the main body frame 100, the detection lever 51 does not hit the positioning pin 35 of the fixing device 30 even if the process cartridge 50 is set. Is in a state of being lowered and rotated until it hits the stopper 52 with its own weight on the left end side, and the detection switch 37 cannot be pushed. That is, the current cartridge cannot be energized unless both the process cartridge 50 and the fixing unit 30 are mounted in the image recording apparatus main body.
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention cannot be energized unless both the fixing device and the process cartridge are attached to the main body of the image recording apparatus. Therefore, one or both of the fixing device and the process cartridge can be used. Even if you turn on the power in a state where you forgot to install the power, the power is not actually turned on, and it is safe to operate by an operator who is not trained in the structure and handling of the image recording device. There is an effect that the destruction of the apparatus can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic central sectional view showing the overall structure of a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a schematic central cross-sectional view showing a state in which the fixing device is removed from the laser printer of FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of a fixing device of the laser printer of FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a side sectional view showing a mechanism for detecting forgetting to attach one or both of the fixing device and the process cartridge of the laser printer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state of a detection mechanism when the laser printer of FIG. 1 forgets to attach a fixing device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor 2 Charging means 3 Cleaning means 4 Laser optical system 5 Toner 6 Developing means 7 Transfer means 10 Paper feed cassette 11 Bottom plate 12 Paper feed roller 13 Separation pad 20 Registration roller 30 Fixing device 31 Heater 32 Fixing roller 33 Pressure roller 34 Paper discharge roller pair 35, 36 Positioning pin 37 Detection switch 40 Paper discharge tray 50 Process cartridge 51 Detection lever 60 Front cover 61 Manual feed tray 65 Bottom plate 66 Separation pad 67 Paper feed roller 100 Body frame 101, 102 Positioning groove 103 Lock lever P paper

Claims (2)

The fixing device and the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image recording apparatus main body, and a pin is protruded from the side surface of the fixing device. When the fixing device is attached to the side surface of the process cartridge, the pin is pushed upward. A rotating lever member is provided, and a detecting device is provided at a portion of the image recording apparatus main body corresponding to the upward rotation position of the lever member so that the image recording apparatus can be energized by contact with the lever member. Rukoto such Te image recording apparatus characterized. Only when the upper danger known apparatus is operating, the image recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that to enable the operation of the image recording apparatus body.

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