JP4007532B2 - Image forming apparatus and process cartridge attaching / detaching device provided therefor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention repeats charging, writing, developing, transferring, cleaning, neutralizing, etc., such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine thereof, to form an image on an image carrier such as a photoconductor, The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that transfers an image and records it on a sheet as a recording medium. And, in such an image forming apparatus, a process cartridge is formed by providing at least an image bearing member, it relates to a process cartridge detachable equipment for detachable the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to reduce the size and for the convenience of maintenance, an image forming apparatus is provided with at least an image carrier, and a charging unit, a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and the like are provided as an integral unit as appropriate. Some of them are formed so that the process cartridge is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.
[0003]
In this type of image forming apparatus, an image carrier contact / proximity member such as a transfer unit is arranged in contact with or close to the image carrier of the process cartridge in the main body of the image forming apparatus. Then, the image formed on the image carrier is transferred using the image carrier contact / proximity member and recorded on a sheet.
[0004]
When attaching / detaching the process cartridge to / from the main body of the image forming apparatus such as during maintenance, the image carrier contact / proximity member should be moved away from the image carrier so that the image carrier contact / proximity member does not touch the image carrier. It was.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional image forming apparatus, before the image carrier contact / proximity member is moved away from the image carrier, the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and the image carrier contact There was a problem that the surface of the image carrier was scratched by rubbing with a proximity member.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a surface of an image carrier by rubbing with an image carrier contact / proximity member when the process cartridge is attached to or detached from the main body of the image forming device during maintenance. It is to eliminate the risk of scratching.
[0007]
A second object of the present invention is to eliminate the risk of scratching the surface of the image carrier, particularly with a transfer means arranged in contact with or close to the image carrier.
[0008]
A third object of the present invention is to improve the operability when attaching and detaching a process cartridge.
[0009]
A fourth object of the present invention is to make it possible to attach and detach the process cartridge in an easily attachable / detachable direction irrespective of the opening / closing operation of the main body cover as the operation member.
[0010]
A fifth object of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts as much as possible by integrating an operation member and a shutter opening / closing member.
[0011]
In the conventional image forming apparatus described above, for example, in an image forming apparatus using a two-component developer, a toner bottle is connected to a process cartridge that is properly set in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the process is started from the toner bottle. Toner is supplied to the developing means of the cartridge. However, there has been a problem in that the image forming apparatus main body is driven without causing the process cartridge to be set properly, causing toner leakage to contaminate the inside of the apparatus main body.
[0012]
Accordingly, a sixth object of the present invention is to make it possible to always set the process cartridge properly at the set position when the process cartridge is mounted.
[0013]
A seventh object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a process cartridge attaching / detaching device that achieves the above-mentioned object.
[0014]
An eighth object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge removal method that eliminates the risk of scratching the surface of the image carrier when the process cartridge is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body during maintenance or the like. is there.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus by a handle.
An operation member for bringing an image carrier contact / proximity member disposed in contact with or close to the image carrier of the process cartridge toward or away from the image carrier;
A shutter opening / closing member that opens and closes the image carrier shutter in conjunction with the operation member, covers the handle, and releases the cover;
Equipped with a,
When the handle is covered with the shutter opening / closing member, the shutter opening / closing member is provided with an engaging portion that engages with the process cartridge and positions the process cartridge at the set position .
[0016]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge attaching / detaching device according to the first aspect, the image carrier contact / proximity member is a transfer means for transferring an image on the image carrier to a sheet. To do.
[0017]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge attaching / detaching device according to the first or second aspect, the operation member is a main body cover that can be freely opened and closed in the main body of the image forming apparatus.
[0018]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge attaching / detaching device according to the third aspect, the process cartridge is attachable / detachable in a direction different from the opening / closing direction of the main body cover.
[0019]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge attaching / detaching device according to the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, the shutter opening / closing member is a lever member provided on the operation member.
[0021]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge attaching / detaching device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects is provided.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic configuration of a laser copying machine according to the present invention. Reference numeral 10 in the figure denotes a copying machine main body (image forming apparatus main body). The apparatus main body 10 is provided with a drum-shaped image carrier 12. Around the image carrier 12, a charging unit 13, a writing unit 14, a developing unit 15, a transfer unit 16, a cleaning unit 17, and the like are provided.
[0024]
Then, along with the rotation of the image carrier 12 in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, the surface is first charged uniformly by the charging means 13, and then the writing means 14 irradiates the laser beam L to perform writing. A latent image is formed, and then toner is attached by the developing unit 15 to visualize the latent image, and then the image formed on the image carrier 12 is transferred by the transfer unit 16 and recorded on a sheet.
[0025]
The image-recorded sheet is fixed on the transfer image by the fixing unit 18 and then discharged onto the paper discharge stack unit 19. The image carrier 12 after the image transfer is cleaned by the cleaning unit 17 and the image carrier. The toner remaining on the body 12 is removed and neutralized to prepare for another image formation.
[0026]
Incidentally, in the illustrated laser copying machine, as described above, the image carrier 12 and the charging means 13, the developing means 15, and the cleaning means 17 are integrally provided in FIG. A process cartridge 20 as shown is configured, and the process cartridge 20 is detachable from the copying machine main body 10.
[0027]
The developing means 15 provided in the cartridge case 21 of the process cartridge 20 includes conveying screws 22 and 23, a developing sleeve 24, a doctor blade 25, a toner concentration sensor 26, and the like.
[0028]
Further, the process cartridge 20 is provided with two separation claws 30 by pressing the front end against the image carrier 12. The separation claw 30 is fixed on a separation claw shaft 31 provided in parallel with the image carrier 12.
[0029]
A spur 32 is fixedly provided on the separation claw shaft 31 in the vicinity of the separation claw 30 as shown in FIG. The spur 32 is an auxiliary member for sheet conveyance, and although not shown in the drawing, a claw is provided on the entire peripheral surface.
[0030]
On the separation claw shaft 31, a separation claw shaft gear 33 is further fixed at one end. The separation claw shaft gear 33 meshes with the cover shaft gear 34. The cover shaft gear 34 is fixed on the cover shaft 36 of the image carrier shutter 35.
[0031]
The image carrier shutter 35 is supported so as to be rotatable about a cover shaft 36. The coil spring is normally biased in the closing direction by a coil spring (not shown). The image carrier shutter 35 is provided with a recess at a position corresponding to the separation claw 30 and the spur 32 to form a storage portion 35a.
[0032]
On the other hand, a transmission gear 37 is fixed to the end of the cover shaft 36. The transmission gear 37 meshes with the fan-shaped tooth portion 38 a of the rotating body 38. The rotating body 38 is provided with a cam portion 38b at a position symmetrical to the fan-shaped tooth portion 38a.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 4, a lever portion 39, which is a shutter opening / closing member, engages with the cam portion 38b. Then, the image carrier shutter 35 is held in the open position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 against the biasing force of the coil spring that biases the image carrier shutter 35.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus main body 10 includes a right cover (operation member) 40 and a front cover 41 that can be opened and closed as main body covers. The transfer means 16 described above is attached to the inner surface of the right cover 40, and a lever portion 39 is integrally provided.
[0035]
The right cover 40 is opened when the process cartridge 20, the fixing unit 18, or the transfer unit 16 is replaced or when the jammed sheet is removed. Further, when replacing the process cartridge 20 and the toner bottle 42, the front cover 41 is opened.
[0036]
Now, in order to replace the process cartridge 20, as shown in FIG. 5, when the right cover 40 is opened together with the front cover 41, transfer means (image carrier contact / proximity member arranged in contact with or close to the image carrier 12). ) 16 is moved away from the image carrier 12, and the lever portion 39 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.
[0037]
Then, the rotator 38 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4 by the urging force of the coil spring that urges the image carrier shutter 35, and the transmission gear 37 is rotated clockwise, and the image carrier is integrated with the transmission gear 37. The body shutter 35 also rotates in the same direction about the cover shaft 36.
[0038]
Then, the rotation of the cover shaft 36 is transmitted to the separation claw shaft 31 through the meshing of the cover shaft gear 34 and the separation claw shaft gear 33 shown in FIG. 3, and the separation claw 30 is rotated counterclockwise. The tip is separated from the image carrier 12.
[0039]
Then, when the main body cover is completely opened, the lever portion 39 is retracted to the position shown in FIG. 5, and the image carrier shutter 35 is completely closed as shown in FIGS. cover. At this time, the separation claw 30 and the spur 32 are stored in the two storage portions 35a of the image carrier shutter 35, respectively.
[0040]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 7, a protruding handle 43 is provided on the front cover 41 side of the process cartridge 20. When the right cover 40 is closed, the handle 43 is covered with the lever portion 39 as shown in FIG. 4 so that it cannot be touched from the front side of the apparatus main body 10.
[0041]
However, from this state, when the lever portion 39 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4 in conjunction with the right cover 40 as described above, the covering of the handle 43 is released. Therefore, the process cartridge 20 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 10 by the handle 43 in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 8 and replaced with a new one.
[0042]
After the process cartridge 20 is replaced, when the process cartridge 20 is mounted again in the copying machine main body 10 and the front cover 41 and the right cover 40 are closed, the lever portion 39 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.
[0043]
Then, the tip of the lever portion 39 pushes the cam portion 38b, rotates the rotating body 38 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 8 against the urging force of the coil spring that urges the image carrier shutter 35, and counteracts the transmission gear 37. The image carrier shutter 35 rotates in the same direction around the cover shaft 36, rotating clockwise and integrally with the transmission gear 37.
[0044]
Then, the rotation of the cover shaft 36 is transmitted to the separation claw shaft 31 through the meshing of the cover shaft gear 34 and the separation claw shaft gear 33, and the separation claw 30 is rotated in the clockwise direction so that the front end is the image carrier. Press to twelve. Thus, the separation claw 30 separates the image-transferred sheet from the image carrier 12, and the spur 32 can assist the conveyance and guide it to the fixing unit 18.
[0045]
Then, when the right cover 40 is completely closed, the lever portion 39 is again in the state shown in FIG. 4, and the image carrier shutter 35 is fully opened to open the image carrier 12 as shown in FIG. Then, the transfer unit 16 is brought close to or in contact with the image carrier 12. Further, the handle 43 is covered again by the lever portion 39, making it difficult to pull out the process cartridge 20.
[0046]
By the way, in the example of illustration, the engaging part 39a which inclines as shown in FIG. When the process cartridge 20 is not properly set in the apparatus main body 10, when the right cover 40 is closed, the engaging portion 39a of the lever portion 39 is connected to the end portion of the process cartridge 20 as shown in FIG. Engage and push in the longitudinal direction along with the movement of the lever 39 to accurately position the process cartridge 20 at the set position.
[0047]
Accordingly, the toner bottle 42 (see FIG. 5) for replenishing toner to the process cartridge 20 can be reliably connected, and toner leakage from between the toner bottle 42 and the process cartridge 20 can be prevented.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, when the operation member is operated to move the image carrier contact / proximity member away from the image carrier, the shutter opening / closing member is moved in conjunction with the operation member, The shutter of the image carrier is closed and the cover of the handle is released, and the process cartridge can be removed by the handle for the first time, so the process cartridge can be attached and detached before the image carrier contact / proximity member is moved away from the image carrier. When the process cartridge is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body, it is possible to eliminate the risk of scratching the image carrier by rubbing with the image carrier contact / proximity member.
[0049]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the image carrier contact / proximity member is a transfer means for transferring the image on the image carrier to the sheet, the image carrier contact / proximity member is particularly arranged in contact with or close to the image carrier. The transfer means can eliminate the risk of scratching the surface of the image carrier.
[0050]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the operation member is a main body cover that can be freely opened and closed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the main body cover that must be opened during maintenance is used as the operation member, and the operability when the process cartridge is attached / detached Can be improved.
[0051]
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the process cartridge can be attached and detached in a direction different from the opening and closing direction of the main body cover, the process cartridge can be easily attached and detached independently of the opening and closing operation of the main body cover as the operation member. It can be made detachable.
[0052]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the shutter opening / closing member is a lever member provided on the operation member, the operation member and the lever member serving as the shutter opening / closing member are integrated to reduce the number of parts as much as possible. it can.
[0053]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in addition, when the handle is covered with the shutter opening / closing member, the process cartridge is engaged and positioned at the set position, so that the process cartridge is always set. It can be set properly at the position.
[0054]
According to the invention described in claim 6 , since the process cartridge attaching / detaching device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided, an image forming apparatus provided with the process cartridge attaching / detaching device having the above-described effect can be provided. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a laser copying machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a process cartridge used in the copying machine.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the periphery of an image carrier of the process cartridge with an image carrier shutter opened.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the process cartridge in a state before the main body cover of the copying machine main body is opened.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the copying machine main body with the main body cover opened.
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the periphery of the image carrier of the process cartridge with the image carrier shutter closed.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the process cartridge in a state before the main body cover is closed.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where a process cartridge is taken out from the copying machine main body.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the distal end of a lever portion that is a shutter opening / closing member.
FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an engaged state between the lever portion and the process cartridge.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Copying machine main body (image forming device main body)
12 Image carrier 16 Transfer means (image carrier contact / proximity member)
20 Process cartridge 35 Image carrier shutter 39 Lever part (shutter opening / closing member)
39a Engagement part 40 Right cover (operation member) which is a main body cover
41 Front cover 42 which is a main body cover 42 Toner bottle 43 Handle

Claims (6)

In the image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus by its handle,
An operation member for bringing an image carrier contact / proximity member disposed in contact with or close to the image carrier of the process cartridge closer to or away from the image carrier;
A shutter opening / closing member that opens and closes the image carrier shutter in conjunction with the operation member, and covers the handle or releases the covering,
Equipped with a,
A process cartridge attaching / detaching device , wherein when the shutter opening / closing member covers the handle, the shutter opening / closing member includes an engaging portion for engaging the process cartridge and positioning the process cartridge at a set position .   The process cartridge attaching / detaching device according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier contact / proximity member is a transfer unit that transfers an image on the image carrier to a sheet.   The process cartridge attachment / detachment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation member is a main body cover that is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus so as to be freely opened and closed.   The process cartridge attaching / detaching device according to claim 3, wherein the process cartridge is attachable / detachable in a direction different from an opening / closing direction of the main body cover.   The process cartridge attaching / detaching device according to claim 1, wherein the shutter opening / closing member is a lever member provided on an operation member. Composed with a process cartridge detachable device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the image forming apparatus.

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