JP4520081B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and the like, and in particular, a press release member for holding a photosensitive member and a transfer unit in a separated state when the apparatus is shipped. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that can be effectively used as one component having the above-described uses.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, after a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is transferred onto a transfer paper by a transfer unit, the toner image is fixed onto the transfer paper by a fixing device.
At the time of image forming operation, the transfer unit comes into contact with the photosensitive drum and transfers the toner image onto the transfer paper. However, the transfer unit is used to protect the photosensitive drum at the time of transportation and packing at the time of shipment from a factory or the like. Must be kept away from the photosensitive drum. As a method for separating the transfer unit from the photosensitive drum, a contact / separation mechanism for temporarily releasing the contact between the transfer unit and the photosensitive drum and separating the transfer unit from the photosensitive drum is used. If the contact / separation mechanism needs to keep the transfer unit separated from the photosensitive drum for transporting or packing, or for maintenance, etc., the pressure release pin In some cases, a structure may be employed in which the transfer unit is prevented from returning to the photosensitive drum side by inserting the toner through an appropriate position of the contact / separation mechanism.
However, such a pressure release pin is not necessary when the image forming apparatus is normally operated. Therefore, the management is troublesome, and it is easy to lose, so there is an inconvenience that it cannot be used when necessary.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a pressure release member used for holding a photosensitive member and a transfer unit in a separated state at the time of shipment of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with other members. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be effectively used by eliminating the necessity of storage management and the possibility of loss by using a configuration that can also be used as a single component having a use.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1, houses a photoreceptor, a transfer unit, a separation mechanism for detachably supporting the transcription unit relative to the photosensitive member, the these exterior an image forming apparatus comprising a cover, a door for opening and closing an opening provided in the outer instrumentation cover, wherein the separation mechanism includes a release lever for separating the transfer unit from the photosensitive member, the photosensitive of the transfer unit And a transfer contact / separation cam that performs contact / separation operation with respect to the body via the release lever, and is detachable from the contact / separation mechanism with the door opened, and separates the transfer unit from the photoreceptor. to retain the state of being above, includes a pressure release member for securing said release lever at a position is spaced the transfer unit from the photoreceptor, an inner surface of the door, has been removed from the separation mechanism Wherein the housing portion for mounting the contact release member is provided. By providing a storage part that can store the pressure release member inside the openable / closable door of the image forming apparatus main body, the pressure release member is not lost, and transportation such as moving the image forming apparatus main body again is possible. The photosensitive drum can be reliably protected at the time of packaging and packing.
According to a second aspect of the invention, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the image forming apparatus main body in which the accommodating portion is opposed to when closing the door provided to open and close detecting means of the door, the pressure cancellation when closing the door while wearing before KiOsamu pay section member, and a part of the piezoelectric contact releasing member is configured to activate the opening and closing detecting means. When the pressure release member is housed inside the door that can be opened and closed, it is shaped so that it acts as a main power interlock switch claw of the image forming apparatus, so that the pressure contact is released after the image forming apparatus body is unpacked. Even if the member is forgotten to be removed from the transfer unit and the main power switch is turned on, by preventing the main power switch from being turned on, the photosensitive drum can be protected more safely and reliably.
The invention according to claim 3, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressure release member, prior to the being removed from KiOsamu paid portion, the opening and closing is locked in place of the exterior cover The detection means can be operated. The pressure release member can be locked at an appropriate position of the exterior cover to operate the open / close detection means even in a state where the pressure release member is detached from a storage portion provided on the door. The press release member that can be stored inside the openable door can be turned on so that the main power interlock switch of the image forming apparatus can be turned on while the door is opened. When performing maintenance, remove the pressure release member from the exterior cover, insert it into the main power interlock switch section of the image forming apparatus main body, and check the operation and maintenance of the image forming apparatus main body with the main power turned on. It is possible to perform the operation with the door opened, and it is possible to facilitate operation confirmation and maintenance.
[0005]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state where a door provided on an exterior cover of the image forming apparatus is opened.
FIG. 1 shows an open state of a door 44 that is pivotally supported so that a lower end edge thereof can be opened and closed in order to open and close an opening 43 provided in an exterior cover 42 of an image forming apparatus 41, and is rotatably supported by a shaft 12a. The transfer belt unit (transfer unit) 12 is drawn out together with the door 44 to the outside.
[0006]
2A and 2B are a front view and a perspective view showing a transfer belt contacting / separating mechanism of the image forming apparatus. The transfer belt 6 is stretched by a transfer driving roller 21, a transfer driven roller 22, and a bias roller 23, and the position of each roller is determined by a transfer belt frame (not shown). The frame, the rollers 21, 22 and 23, and the transfer belt 6 constitute a transfer belt unit 12, and the transfer belt unit 12 is in contact with and separated from the photoreceptor 1.
The contact / separation operation of the transfer belt unit 12 is performed by the transfer contact / separation clutch 24, the transfer contact / separation cam 25, and the contact / separation lever 26. At the time of main motor OFF and P (photo) sensor pattern image formation, the transfer contact / separation clutch 24 is turned ON, and the transfer contact / separation cam 25 rotates 1/2. Then, the contact / separation lever 26 is pushed down (arrow 29 in FIG. 2B), and the transfer belt unit 12 (transfer belt 6 thereof) is separated from the photosensitive member 1 (arrow 30 in FIG. 2B).
On the other hand, during a copying operation, the transfer contact / separation clutch 24 is turned on after a lapse of a certain time from the main motor ON, and the transfer contact / separation cam 25 rotates 1/2, so that the contact / separation lever 26 is raised, and the transfer belt unit 12 is a photosensitive member. 1 abuts. In addition, a filler 28 and a transfer home position sensor 27 provided coaxially with the transfer contact / separation cam 25 detect whether the transfer belt unit 12 is in contact with or separated from the photoreceptor 1.
The pressure spring 35 is a spring that biases the transfer belt 6 toward the photoconductor, and the return spring 40 is a spring that retracts the transfer belt 6 from the photoconductor 1. When the contact / separation lever 26 is pushed down by the operation of the transfer contact / separation cam 25, the other end of the contact / separation lever 26 rotates the release lever 36 in the retracting direction against the pressure spring 35. As a result, the return spring 40 acts and the transfer belt 6 can be separated from the photoreceptor 1.
As shown in FIG. 2B, when the release lever 36 is in the urging position indicated by the solid line, the transfer belt 6 contacts the photosensitive member 1, and when it is in the retracted position (release position) indicated by the dotted line, the transfer belt. 6 is separated from the photoreceptor 1. Therefore, if the release lever 36 is held at the retracted position shown by the dotted line and fixed so as not to return to the urging position shown by the solid line using the pressure release member (pressure release pin) 50 shown in FIG. The transfer belt 6 should not be in contact with the photoreceptor 1.
[0007]
The pressure release member 50 shown in FIG. 1 includes a pin portion 50a and a presser portion 50b having a required shape (in this example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape) integrated with the pin portion 50a. By inserting the pin portion 50a of the pressure release member 50 into the mounting hole 57 provided in the arm 56 that supports the stepped transmission gear 55, the presser portion 50b rotates the release lever 36 in the biasing direction. Thus, the release lever 36 can be kept in the retracted position shown in FIG. For this reason, even when the door 44 is closed with the pressure release member 50 mounted in the mounting hole 57, the transfer belt 6 is kept separated from the photoreceptor 1.
A characteristic configuration of the present invention is that a storage portion 60 for attaching a pressure release member 50 removed from the transfer belt contact / separation mechanism is provided on the inner surface of a door 46 that opens and closes a part of the exterior cover 42 of the image forming apparatus. In the configuration.
[0008]
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, this door 46 is not a door 44 shown in FIG. 1 but a door that is pivotally supported by a hinge 47 and opens and closes the other side surface of the exterior cover 42. In particular, the door 46 is provided with an operating claw (main power interlock) which enters the hole 71 provided inside the apparatus main body side with a door opening / closing detection means 70 therein to enter the door closing state to operate the opening / closing detection means 70. Switch claw) 72 is provided.
The storage portion 60 is a recess made of a rib 60 a provided at a proper position of the door 46, and the pressure release member 50 is detachably supported in the storage portion 60.
Thus, by storing the pressure release member 50 in the storage part 60 provided inside the door 46 that can be opened and closed of the image forming apparatus 41, there is no possibility of losing the pressure release member 50. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the pressure contact releasing member 50 is mounted on the transfer belt contacting / separating mechanism to prevent contact with the photosensitive member, so that the photosensitive member is moved during transportation and packaging when the image forming apparatus is moved. The drum can be reliably protected.
[0009]
Next, FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention. When the pressure release member 50 is attached to the storage portion 60 of the door 46, a part of the pressure release member 50 operates as a main power interlock switch claw. The configuration that also serves as the function of the nail 72 is characteristic. The pressure release member 50 of this embodiment includes a pin portion 50a, a presser portion 50b, and a bent piece 50c obtained by bending a part of the presser portion 50b by 90 degrees. As shown in the drawing, a claw member 60b that locks the presser part 50b protrudes from the storage part 60, and the bent piece 50c can be protruded by suppressing the presser part 50b by the claw member 60b. When the valve 46 is closed, the bent piece 50c enters the hole 71 shown in FIG. 3A to operate the open / close detection means 70. The door 46 of this embodiment does not have the operating claw 72 shown in FIG.
When the door 46 is closed with the pressure release member 50 mounted on the storage unit 60, the bent piece 50c turns on the open / close detection means 70, so that the interlock is released and the main power of the apparatus main body can be turned on. It becomes.
On the other hand, when the pressure release member 50 is left in the apparatus as assembled in the transfer belt contact / separation mechanism as shown in FIG. 1, it is impossible to turn on the main power supply with the door 46 closed. . Therefore, in order to turn on the main power supply, the pressure release member 50 must be attached to the storage portion 60 of the door 46, and the main power supply can be turned on only after the attachment. In other words, after unpacking the shipped image forming device main body, even if you forget to remove the pressure release member from the transfer unit and turn on the main power switch, it will be safer by preventing the main power switch from turning on. In addition, the photosensitive drum can be reliably protected.
[0010]
Next, FIGS. 5A and 5B are main part configuration diagrams of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and a pressure release member 50 that can be housed inside an openable door 46. The main power interlock switch (opening / closing detection means) 70 of the image forming apparatus can be kept ON with the door 46 opened. For this reason, when the service engineer performs maintenance on the image forming apparatus, the pressure release member 50 is removed from the storage portion 60 of the door 46, inserted into the hole 71 of the image forming apparatus and locked, and the main power interlock switch 70 is turned on. Since the main power supply can be turned on, the operation confirmation and maintenance of the image forming apparatus can be performed with the door 46 opened.
That is, the pressure release member 50 according to this embodiment has a slit-like locking portion 50d at an appropriate position of the presser portion 50b. As shown in FIG. By being locked to the periphery of the hole 71 provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body, the switch 70 located inside the hole 71 is kept on by the end of the pressing portion 50b. Then, unless the operator releases the pressure release member 50 from the hole 71, the interlock is released. Accordingly, it is possible to perform operation confirmation, maintenance, etc. with the door 46 opened, which is convenient.
[0011]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the pressure release member used for holding the photosensitive member and the transfer unit in a separated state at the time of shipment of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus has another application. By adopting a configuration that can also be used as one component, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can be effectively used without the need for storage management and the possibility of loss.
In other words, the invention according to claim 1 eliminates the loss of the pressure release member by providing a storage portion for storing the transfer unit pressure release member of the transfer unit inside the openable / closable door of the image forming apparatus main body. In addition, it is possible to reliably protect the photosensitive drum during transportation and packaging such as moving the image forming apparatus main body again.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the transfer unit pressure release member is housed inside the door that can be opened and closed, the transfer unit pressure release member is shaped so as to function as a main power interlock switch claw of the image forming apparatus. Even if you forget to remove the transfer unit pressure release member after opening the package and turn on the main power switch, the main power switch will not be turned on so that you can protect the photoconductive drum more safely and reliably. it can.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the shape of the transfer unit pressure release member is made such that the main power interlock switch of the image forming apparatus can be turned on with the exterior cover opened, and a service technician maintains the image forming apparatus main body. At this time, the transfer unit pressure release member is removed from the door, inserted into the main power interlock switch part of the image forming apparatus main body, and the operation check and maintenance of the image forming apparatus main body are performed with the main power turned on. It can be performed in the open state, and operation confirmation and maintenance can be facilitated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are a front view and a perspective view showing a transfer belt contacting / separating mechanism of the image forming apparatus.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a storage unit.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a storage portion and a pressure release member according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are configuration explanatory views of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor, 6 Transfer belt, 12 Transfer belt unit, 41 Image forming apparatus, 42 Exterior cover, 43 Opening, 44 Door, 46 Open / close door, 50 Pressure release member (pressure contact release pin), 50a Pin part, 50b Holding part, 50c bending piece, 50d locking part, 57 mounting hole, 60 storage part, 70 door opening / closing detection means, 71 hole, 72 operating claw (main power interlock switch claw).

Claims (3)

Door for opening and closing a photoreceptor, a transfer unit, a separation mechanism for detachably supporting the transcription unit relative to the photosensitive member, and the outer cover for accommodating the these, the opening provided in the outer instrumentation cover If, in an image forming apparatus having a transfer said separation mechanism to perform a release lever for separating the transfer unit from the photosensitive member, the contact and separation operation for the photosensitive member of the transfer unit via the release lever A contact cam that can be attached to and detached from the contact / separation mechanism when the door is opened , and that holds the transfer unit away from the photosensitive member. comprising a pressure release member for securing said release lever at a position is spaced from the body, the inner surface of the door, housing portion for mounting said pressure release member being removed from the separation mechanism is provided An image forming apparatus characterized in that it is. The image forming apparatus main body in which the accommodating portion is opposed to when closing the door provided to open and close detecting means of the door, when closed the door while wearing the pressure release member before KiOsamu pay part 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of the pressure release member is configured to operate the open / close detection means. It said pressure release member, prior to the being removed from KiOsamu pay unit, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is possible to operate the closing detection means place the locked by the exterior cover Image forming apparatus.

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