JP4553571B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine having both functions.

  Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus, a drum unit including a photosensitive drum and a developing unit including a developing sleeve having a rotating shaft parallel to the rotating shaft of the photosensitive drum are connected to each other and inserted into the image forming apparatus main body. There is something to wear. The process units such as the drum unit and the developing unit can be inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus alone.

  In an image forming apparatus to which such a process unit is attached, it is necessary to detach the process unit from the main body of the image forming apparatus, for example, when replenishing a developer, replacing a development kit, performing maintenance, jamming, or the like. there were. For example, in the case of jam processing, since the user places the detached process unit on a desk or floor, a space different from the apparatus main body is required. Further, in recent years, the process unit has been increased in size and weight due to the longer life, and therefore, the operation of detaching the process unit from the image forming apparatus main body has become complicated. In view of this, there is known an image forming apparatus that retracts a process unit so that, for example, jam processing can be performed without removing the process unit from the main body of the image forming apparatus (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

JP-A-4-84172 (page 8, FIG. 2) JP-A 64-25158 (page 4, Fig. 3) JP-A-61-2226757 (4th page, FIG. 5)

  However, an image forming apparatus having a mechanism for retracting a process unit as described above requires a guide member constituting the mechanism for retracting, an additional mechanism member for holding individual kits, and the like, and thus the structure becomes complicated. In addition, there was a problem of high cost.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which process units can be easily attached and detached at low cost.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that facilitates handling of a process unit during jam processing and facilitates replacement, maintenance, and the like on the developing unit side.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the coupling unit formed by detachably coupling the developing unit to the drum unit including the photosensitive drum opens the cover of the image forming apparatus main body so that the inside of the image forming apparatus main body is opened. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that is taken in and out.
The cover includes an upper opening / closing cover that opens and closes an upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body, and a side opening / closing cover that opens and closes a side portion of the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus main body is formed with a guide groove for guiding the coupling unit to the mounting position and the retracting / removing position. The drum unit is provided with a guide protrusion protruding into the guide groove and moving along the guide groove. The coupling unit is moved from the drum unit side to the mounting position, and is moved from the developing unit side to the retracting / removing position. A protrusion locking groove for locking the guide protrusion is formed at a portion of the guide groove corresponding to the retracting / removing position of the coupling unit.
By opening the upper opening / closing cover and the side opening / closing cover and moving the coupling unit from the mounting position to the retracting / removing position along the guide groove, the guide protrusion of the drum unit is locked to the protrusion The coupling unit is held in the retracted / removed position with the developing unit out of the image forming apparatus main body being out of the image forming apparatus main body. The internal space of the image forming apparatus main body can be seen, and a working space for jam processing and maintenance is created inside the image forming apparatus main body.

  The invention according to claim 2 relates to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the protrusion locking groove portion is a notch portion in which the guide groove is notched downward.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus in which process units can be easily attached and detached at low cost.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate handling of the process unit at the time of jam processing, and it is possible to facilitate replacement, maintenance, and the like on the developing unit side.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described. In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, a coupling unit formed by detachably coupling a drum unit including a photosensitive drum and a developing unit to be bonded to the drum unit is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus and attached. It has come to be.

  Further, a guide groove for inserting and guiding the coupling unit is formed in the image forming apparatus main body. The guide groove is formed so as to guide between the mounting position where the coupling unit is mounted and the retracting / removing position within the image forming apparatus main body. The evacuation / removal position is a position where the coupling unit is moved in order to remove the coupling unit from the mounting position or to create a work space for jamming and maintenance. In the present embodiment, a guide projection that protrudes into the guide groove and moves along the guide groove is protruded from the drum unit. Furthermore, a protrusion locking groove portion for locking the guide protrusion of the drum unit is formed at a portion corresponding to the retracting / removing position in the guide groove.

  In the present embodiment, the coupling unit can be held at the retracted / removed position by locking the guide protrusion of the drum unit to the protrusion locking groove portion of the guide groove.

  In addition, it is preferable that this protrusion latching groove part is a notch part which notched the guide groove toward the downward direction. Thus, by using the protrusion locking groove as a notch communicating with the guide groove, it is possible to provide a means for holding the coupling unit at a low cost.

  In addition, there are a plurality of guide protrusions provided on both side portions of the drum unit, and at least a first guide protrusion engaged with the edge of the protrusion locking groove and a second guide protrusion engaged with the edge of the guide groove. The drum unit is supported by the image forming apparatus main body at least at two points where the first guide protrusion and the second guide protrusion are engaged, that is, at four points on both sides of the image forming apparatus main body. preferable.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the developing unit is disposed outside the image forming apparatus main body in a state where the guide protrusion is held on the guide groove side at the retracted / removed position. As described above, by disposing the developing unit outside the image forming apparatus main body, operations such as replacement of the developing unit and replenishment of the developer are facilitated.

  Details of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. However, FIG. 1 is a schematic one, and the ratio of the shape and the like of each member is different from the actual one.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a coupling unit 10 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 2.

(Schematic configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a sheet feeding unit 4 that feeds a recording sheet P as a recording material such as print paper or a plastic film from a sheet feeding tray 3 and a sheet feeding unit 4 A sheet conveying unit 5 that conveys the recording sheet P along the sheet conveying path R, an image forming unit 6 that forms an image on the recording sheet P conveyed by the sheet conveying unit 5, and a recording sheet by the image forming unit 6. A fixing unit 7 that fixes an image formed on P and a sheet discharge unit 9 that discharges the recording sheet P on which the image is fixed by the fixing unit 7 to a discharge tray 8 are roughly configured.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 6 includes a coupling unit 10 and a transfer roller 11 as a transfer unit. The coupling unit 10 is held in a state where the drum unit 30 and the developing unit 40 are in contact with each other, and the drum unit 30 and the developing unit 40 are detachably coupled. The coupling unit 10 is guided along the guide grooves 50 formed in the side plates 20 and 21 on both sides of the image forming apparatus body 2 when being inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus body 2. ing.

(Schematic configuration of image forming apparatus main body)
Next, a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus main body 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus main body 2. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the developing unit 40 is detached from the drum unit 30 and only the drum unit 30 is disposed at the retracting / removing position of the image forming apparatus main body 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow X direction of FIG. 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus main body 2 includes side plates 20 and 21 on both sides in the arrow X direction and side plates 22 and 23 on both sides in the arrow Y direction, and is formed in a casing shape. The side plates 20 and 21 are provided with a holding mechanism (not shown) for holding the coupling unit 10. The side plates 20 and 21 are respectively formed with the guide grooves 50 for guiding the coupling unit 10. A detailed description of the guide groove 50 will be described later.

  The paper discharge tray 8 is provided above the sheet discharge unit 9 at the top of the image forming apparatus main body 2. An upper opening / closing cover 24 is pivotally supported adjacent to the paper discharge tray 8 at the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 2 and is rotatably provided in the direction indicated by the arrow a in FIGS. Further, a lower edge portion of the rectangular side opening / closing cover 25 is pivotally supported on the upper edge portion of the side plate 22 and is rotatably provided as indicated by an arrow b in FIGS. The upper opening / closing cover 24 and the side opening / closing cover 25 are closed to close the upper and side portions of the image forming apparatus main body 2. In addition, by opening the upper opening / closing cover 24 and the side opening / closing cover 25, the coupling unit 10 described above can be taken in and out.

(Guide groove structure)
The guide groove 50 is formed in a series of grooves for movement between the coupling unit 10 and the mounting position location as shown in FIG. 1, and the retreat-removal position (see FIG. 3.). In the present embodiment, the guide groove 50 is an elongated opening that penetrates the side plates 20 and 21, but may be a concave groove that is recessed toward the outside of the side plates 20 and 21.

  The retreat / removal position is a position where the coupling unit 10 is first inserted with the upper opening / closing cover 24 and the side opening / closing cover 25 opened. A portion of the guide groove 50 at the retreat / take-out position is formed so that a rectangular protrusion locking groove 51 cut out downward from the guide groove 50 communicates. Further, the end of the guide groove 50 on the retracting / removing position side is normally closed by detachment preventing members 26 and 27 that are detachably supported on the edge portions of the side plates 20 and 21. Further, shallow concave grooves 26 </ b> A and 27 </ b> A communicating with the guide groove 50 are formed inside the separation preventing members 26 and 27. These concave grooves 26 </ b> A and 27 </ b> A are allowed to pass through the third guide protrusions 43 protruding from the side wall 42 of the developing unit 40.

  Further, the intermediate portion of the guide groove 50 is formed so as to be inclined obliquely downward toward the inner back of the image forming apparatus main body 2. Note that a locking groove portion 52 that locks the third guide protrusion 43 of the developing unit 40 is formed in an intermediate portion of the guide groove 50. The locking groove 52 is formed by cutting out the lower edge of the guide groove 50 into a semicircular shape with a small diameter.

  Further, a portion corresponding to the mounting position of the coupling unit 10 in the guide groove 50 is a terminal portion 53 with which a first guide protrusion 33 of the drum unit 30 described later is engaged. The inclination slightly increases from the front of the end portion 53 toward the end portion 53 toward the obliquely downward direction from the intermediate portion of the guide groove 50.

(Drum unit configuration)
The drum unit 30 includes a photosensitive drum 31 at a lower portion on the coupling surface side that is coupled to the developing unit 40. A charger (not shown) is disposed above the photosensitive drum 31 in the drum unit 30. In addition to the charger, a cleaner, a static eliminator, and the like (not shown) are disposed around the photosensitive drum 31 in the drum unit 30 from the charger toward the upstream side of the rotation. Further, the photosensitive drum 31 can receive, for example, laser light from an exposure device (not shown) at a downstream position of the charger.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the wall portions 32 on both sides (both sides in the arrow X direction in FIG. 1) of the drum unit 30 are inserted into the above-described guide grooves 50 and guided. A guide protrusion 33 and a second guide protrusion 34 are projected. As shown in FIG. 1, the first guide protrusion 33 is set so as to be positioned at the end portion 53 of the guide groove 50 in a state where the coupling unit 10 is disposed at the mounting position. Further, the second guide protrusion 34 is a flat plate-like protrusion that is long in the substantially horizontal direction, and has a gently sloping bottom before the end portion 53 in the guide groove 50 in a state where the coupling unit 10 is disposed at the mounting position. It is set to abut against the edge.

(Development unit configuration)
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the developing unit 40 has a developing sleeve 41 (see FIG. 1) that is in contact with the photosensitive drum 31 while holding a predetermined developing gap at the lower part on the side of the coupling surface coupled to the drum unit 30 . ) Is provided. A toner storage container 44 for supplying toner is stored on the opposite side of the developing unit 40 from the coupling surface. Further, a toner supply means (not shown) such as a paddle is provided between the toner container 44 and the developing sleeve 41 to supply toner to the developing sleeve 41 side.

  Further, pin-shaped third guide protrusions 43 project from the wall portions 42 on both sides of the developing unit 40. As shown in FIG. 1, the third guide protrusion 43 enters the locking groove portion 52 of the guide groove 50 and is locked when the coupling unit 10 is arranged at the mounting position. .

(Combined unit configuration)
Next, the coupling unit 10 will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 1, the coupling unit 10 is a unit in which a drum unit 30 and a developing unit 40 are coupled in a state in which a photosensitive drum 31 and a developing sleeve 41 are arranged so as to maintain a predetermined developing gap. It is. In order to couple the drum unit 30 and the developing unit 40, the drum unit 30 and the developing unit 40 may be engaged with each other by operating an engaging means (not shown) in a state where the coupling surfaces face each other. . As this engaging means, a known means is used.

(Procedure for inserting the coupling unit into the image forming apparatus main body)
Hereinafter, a procedure for inserting the coupling unit 10 into the image forming apparatus main body 2 will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper opening / closing cover 24 and the side opening / closing cover 25 of the image forming apparatus main body 2 are opened. Next, the separation preventing members 26 and 27 that close the guide groove 50 are removed. Then, the first guide protrusion 33, the second guide protrusion 34, and the third guide protrusion 43 of the coupling unit 10 are inserted in this order from the opened / retracted position of the guide groove 50. The coupling unit 10 may be moved along the guide groove 50 into the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the separation preventing members 26 and 27 may be attached again. When the first guide protrusion 33 of the coupling unit 10 reaches the end portion 53 of the guide groove 50, the coupling unit 10 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 2 side by holding the coupling unit 10 by a holding means (not shown). finish.

(Procedure for moving the combined unit to the retreat / removal position)
Next, in the image forming apparatus 1, a procedure for moving the coupling unit 10 to the retracting / removing position when a jam or the like occurs around the coupling unit 10 or maintenance is necessary will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper opening / closing cover 24 and the side opening / closing cover 25 are opened. FIG. 6 shows the positions of the first to third guide protrusions 33, 34, 43 in a state where the coupling unit 10 is disposed at the mounting position.

  Then, when the coupling unit 10 is lifted slightly, the third guide protrusion 43 is disengaged from the locking groove portion 52 of the guide groove 50 and the coupling unit 10 can be moved to the retracting / removing position side. When the coupling unit 10 is pulled out toward the retreat / removal position, the first guide protrusion 33 rises along the slope of the terminal portion 53 of the guide groove 50.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, when the coupling unit 10 is pulled out along the guide groove 50, the first to third guide protrusions 33, 34, and 43 slide and move in the guide groove 50 as shown in FIG. 8. . The first guide protrusion 33 is preferably formed to have a diameter larger than that of the third guide protrusion 43 so that the first guide protrusion 33 is not locked to the locking groove 52 formed in the intermediate portion of the guide groove 50.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the coupling unit 10 is pulled out, the internal space S can be seen from the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 2.

  Then, the coupling unit 10 is further pulled out, and the third guide protrusion 43 protruding from the wall portion 42 of the developing unit 40 is passed through the shallow concave grooves 26A and 27A of the separation preventing members 26 and 27 to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 2. Move (see FIG. 12).

  Then, the second guide protrusion 34 is engaged with the front end edge of the guide groove 50. At this time, the first guide protrusion 33 falls into the protrusion locking groove 51 formed near the front end of the guide groove 50 and is locked. Note that the second guide protrusion 34 cannot pass through the shallow concave grooves 26 </ b> A and 27 </ b> A of the separation preventing members 26 and 27.

  In this way, the coupling unit 10 is supported at two points, the first guide protrusion 33 and the second guide protrusion 34, and is held in a posture as shown in FIG. At this time, since the developing unit 40 constituting the coupling unit 10 is out of the image forming apparatus main body 2, the developing unit 40 can be removed or toner can be easily supplied.

  In this manner, the coupling unit 10 is disposed and held at the retracted / removed position, so that jam processing and maintenance in the internal space S can be easily performed. After the processing in the internal space S, the replacement of the developing unit 40, the toner supply, or the like is completed, the coupling unit 10 may be inserted along the guide groove 50 again. In this insertion, the third guide projection 43 is inserted again from the concave grooves 26A and 27A of the separation preventing members 26 and 27.

  Further, when the entire coupling unit 10 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 2 after the coupling unit 10 has been moved to the retracting / removing position, the detachment preventing members 26 and 27 are removed from the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the first and What is necessary is just to make it the 2nd guide protrusion 33,34 remove | deviate from the guide groove 50. FIG.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the shape of the guide groove 50 is changed, and the guide protrusions protruding from the coupling unit 10 (the first and second guide protrusions 33 and 34 of the drum unit 30 and the third guide protrusion 43 of the developing unit 40). Thus, the image forming apparatus 1 in which process units (the coupling unit 10, the drum unit 30, and the developing unit 40) can be easily attached and detached at low cost.

Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to facilitate handling during jam processing in the image forming apparatus main body 2 and to easily perform replacement, maintenance, and the like on the developing unit side.
(Other examples)
It should not be understood that the above description and drawings, which form part of the disclosure of the embodiments of the present invention, limit the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the protrusion locking groove portion 51 is a rectangular cutout, but it may of course have a substantially semicircular shape.

  In the above-described embodiment, the three first to third guide protrusions 33, 34, and 43 are provided. However, another guide protrusion is added between the first guide protrusion 33 and the second guide protrusion 34. Of course, the above-described configuration may be used.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus 1 is described as a type that performs exposure with laser light. However, the present invention is applicable to all types of image forming apparatuses in which a drum unit and a developing unit are detachably attached to an image forming apparatus body. It goes without saying that can be applied.

  The present invention can be used in the field of manufacturing an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine having both functions.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus main body according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state in which the developing unit is detached while leaving the drum unit in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the coupling unit which concerns on the Example of this invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a cover is opened in a state where a coupling unit is mounted in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the position of each guide protrusion in a state corresponding to FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the coupling unit is moved to an intermediate portion of the guide groove in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the position of each guide protrusion in a state corresponding to FIG. 7. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the coupling unit is moved to a position close to the retracting / removing position of the guide groove in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the position of each guide protrusion in a state corresponding to FIG. 9. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the coupling unit is moved to the retracted / removed position of the guide groove in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the position of each guide protrusion in a state corresponding to FIG. 11.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Image forming apparatus main body, 10 ... Connection unit, 20, 21 ... Side plate, 24 ... Upper opening / closing cover, 25 ... Side opening / closing cover, 26 ... Detaching prevention member, 26A ... Dove groove, 30 ... Drum unit, 31 ... Photosensitive drum, 32 ... Wall, 33 ... First guide projection, 34 ... Second guide projection, 40 ... Development unit, 41 ... Development Sleeve ... 42 ... Wall part 43 ... Third guide protrusion 50 ... Guide groove 51 ... Projection locking groove part 52 ... Locking groove part 53 ... End part

Claims (2)

A coupling unit formed by detachably coupling a developing unit to a drum unit including a photosensitive drum is an image forming apparatus that is inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus main body by opening a cover of the image forming apparatus main body. And
The cover includes an upper opening / closing cover that opens and closes an upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body, and a side opening / closing cover that opens and closes a side portion of the image forming apparatus main body.
The image forming apparatus main body is formed with a guide groove for guiding the coupling unit to a mounting position and a retracting / removing position.
The drum unit has a guide protrusion protruding into the guide groove and moving along the guide groove,
The coupling unit is moved from the drum unit side to the mounting position, and is moved from the developing unit side to the retracting / removing position.
A portion of the guide groove corresponding to the retracting / removing position is formed with a protrusion locking groove portion for locking the guide protrusion,
By opening the upper opening / closing cover and the side opening / closing cover and moving the coupling unit from the mounting position to the retracting / removing position along the guide groove, the guide protrusion of the drum unit is locked to the protrusion The coupling unit is held in the retracted / removed position with the developing unit out of the image forming apparatus main body being out of the image forming apparatus main body. The internal space of the image forming apparatus main body can be seen, and a working space for jam processing and maintenance is created inside the image forming apparatus main body.
An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion locking groove portion is a notched portion in which the guide groove is notched downward.

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