JP5212188B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, as the image forming apparatus, an image forming unit corresponding to each color such as yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is arranged in parallel, and a toner image formed by each of these image forming units is used as each image forming unit. In some cases, a color image is formed by performing multiple transfer onto an intermediate transfer belt disposed over and then secondary transfer from the intermediate transfer belt onto a recording sheet.

  In such an image forming apparatus, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-132806, an image transfer apparatus in which the intermediate transfer belt can be easily and reliably replaced without damaging the intermediate transfer belt has already been proposed. Yes.

  A manufacturing method of a belt module according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-132806 includes a module frame in which a plurality of tension rolls are installed, an endless belt that is stretched over each tension roll of the module frame, and at least one tension module. When manufacturing a belt module having a tension applying mechanism in which the roll is moved forward and backward and tension is applied to the endless belt so as to be releasable, a removable auxiliary guide is attached to the side of the module frame, and then the auxiliary guide is attached. The endless belt is guided and attached to the module frame via the guide, and then the auxiliary guide is removed.

JP 2001-132806 A

  By the way, the problem to be solved by the present invention is a case where an endless belt member used for forming an image is formed to be longer than a conventional endless belt member. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily exchanging the long endless belt member.

That is, the invention described in claim 1 is a long endless belt member used for forming an image;
A belt holder that is mounted at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus when the endless belt member is replaced, and temporarily holds the endless belt member;
The belt holder holds the endless belt member at a height at which the lower end portion of the endless belt member does not contact the floor, and the holding portion of the endless belt member has a predetermined radius of curvature. It is held in the above radius of curvature, and is formed in a size and shape that can be stored inside the image forming apparatus main body when not in use .
The belt holder is attached to the inner surface of the front door of the main body of the image forming apparatus opened to replace the endless belt member .

Further, in the invention described in claim 2 , the endless belt member includes five or more images in which one or more image forming units are further added to the image forming units of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed over the forming portion.

Further, in the invention described in claim 3 , the new endless belt member is held by the belt holder with a protective sheet-like member having a slightly shorter peripheral length than the endless belt member on the inner peripheral side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the new endless belt member is wrapped around a cylindrical member that maintains the curvature of the endless belt member at a predetermined radius of curvature or more. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming apparatus is housed in the image forming apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, as the endless belt member used for forming an image, an endless belt member formed longer than a conventional endless belt member is used. In addition, the long endless belt member can be easily replaced.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to prevent or scratches generated endless belt member contacts the floor surface, the dust to or adhere.

Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 1 , it is possible to prevent the endless belt member from being broken.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the belt holding member can be easily attached and detached with the front door of the image forming apparatus main body opened.

Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 1 , the belt holder can be easily stored.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 2 , even if the endless belt member is significantly longer than the conventional one and difficult to handle, the endless belt member can be easily formed. It becomes exchangeable.

Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 3 , the endless belt member can be protected.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 4 , it is possible to prevent the new endless belt member from being broken.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the replacement operation of the intermediate transfer belt of the tandem type full color printer as the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a tandem type full-color printer as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a holding structure of an intermediate transfer belt. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a tandem type full-color printer as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a front cover of a tandem type full color printer as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is opened. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a belt holder. It is a block diagram which shows the attachment state of a belt holder. FIG. 3 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a storage state of an intermediate transfer belt. FIG. 4 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a winding member of an intermediate transfer belt. FIG. 6 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a winding state of the intermediate transfer belt around a winding member. FIG. 3 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating an intermediate transfer belt. FIG. 4 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a holding state of an intermediate transfer belt.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a tandem type digital color printer as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The tandem type digital color printer includes an image reading device, and functions as a full-color copying machine or a facsimile. Of course, the image forming apparatus may not include an image reading apparatus and may form an image based on image data output from a personal computer (not shown).

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a tandem type digital color printer. The digital color printer main body 1 reads an image of an original 2 on the upper side of one side (left side in the illustrated example). A device 3 is provided. Further, inside the color printer main body 1, image data output from the image reading device 3, a personal computer (not shown) or the like, or image data sent via a telephone line or a LAN is previously stored. An image processing device 4 that performs predetermined image processing is disposed, and an image based on image data that has been subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing device 4 is provided inside the digital color printer main body 1. Is output.

  The image reading device 3 opens and closes the platen cover 6 to place the document 2 on the platen glass 7 and illuminates the document 2 placed on the platen glass 7 with the light source 8. The reflected light image is scanned and exposed on an image reading element 13 made of a CCD or the like through a reduction scanning optical system made up of a full rate mirror 9, half rate mirrors 10, 11 and an imaging lens 12, and this image reading element 13 is configured to read the image of the document 2 at a predetermined dot density.

  The image of the document 2 read by the image reading device 3 is, for example, the image processing device 4 as document reflectance data of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) (for example, 8 bits each). In this image processing apparatus 4, shading correction, position shift correction, lightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame deletion, color / moving editing, etc. are predetermined for the reflectance data of the document 2. Image processing is performed.

  The image data that has been subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing device 4 as described above is similarly processed by the image processing device 4 in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Convert image data of four colors and transparent image data corresponding to non-image parts other than these image data, or image data obtained by adding light magenta (M) or cyan (C) to these image data Then, image forming units 14Y, 14M of six colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), light magenta (LM) of light color, and light cyan (LC) of light color. 14C, 14K, 14LM, 14LC image exposure devices 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K, 15LM, 15LC are sent to these image exposure devices 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K, 15L. In 15L, the image exposure by the laser beam in accordance with image data of the corresponding color is performed.

  In addition to this, a transparent image corresponding to a non-image portion other than these four image data of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). It changes to data and is configured to include five color image forming units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, and 14T of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), and transparent (T). You may do it.

  By the way, inside the tandem type digital color printer main body 1, as described above, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), light magenta (LM), light cyan (LC ) 6 image forming units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, 14LM, and 14LC are arranged in parallel at regular intervals in the horizontal direction.

  These six image forming units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, 14LM, and 14LC are all configured in the same manner except for the color of the image to be formed, as shown in FIG. A photosensitive drum 16 as an image carrier that is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed, a primary charging scorotron 17 that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 16, and a surface of the photosensitive drum 16 in each color. Image exposure device 15 as image writing means for performing image exposure based on the corresponding image data to form an electrostatic latent image, and development for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on photosensitive drum 16 with toner The apparatus 18 includes a cleaning device 19 that cleans toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image exposure device 15 modulates the semiconductor laser 20 in accordance with the corresponding color image data output from the image processing device 4, and converts the laser beam LB from the semiconductor laser 20 into image data. The light is emitted accordingly. The laser beam LB emitted from the semiconductor laser 20 is irradiated onto the surface of the rotary polygon mirror 23 via the mirrors 21 and 22 and the like, and after being deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 23, an f-θ lens (not shown) Scanning exposure is performed on the photosensitive drum 16 through the reflection mirrors 22, 24, 25, and the like along the rotation axis direction (main scanning direction).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 4 forms an image of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), light magenta (LM), and light cyan (LC). Corresponding color image data is sequentially output to the image exposure apparatuses 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K, 15LM, and 15LC of the units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, 14LM, and 14LC, and these image exposure apparatuses 15Y, 15M, and 15LC are output. Laser light LB emitted according to image data from 15C, 15K, 15LM, and 15LC is scanned and exposed on the surfaces of the corresponding photosensitive drums 16Y, 16M, 16C, 16K, 16LM, and 16LC to form an electrostatic latent image. Is done. The electrostatic latent images formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 16Y, 16M, 16C, 16K, 16LM, and 16LC are respectively yellow (Y) and magenta by the developing devices 18Y, 18M, 18C, 18K, 18LM, and 18LC. It is developed as a toner image of each color of (M), cyan (C), black (K), light magenta (LM), and light cyan (LC).

  Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums 16Y, 16M, 16C, 16K, 16LM, 16LC of the image forming units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, 14LM, 14LC. ), Black (K), light magenta (LM), and light cyan (LC) toner images are arranged below the image forming units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, 14LM, and 14LC as shown in FIG. On the intermediate transfer belt 26 as the long endless belt member, the images are transferred in multiple by the primary transfer rolls 27Y, 27M, 27C, 27K, 27LM, and 27LC at the primary transfer position N1. The intermediate transfer belt 26 is wound around the drive roll 28, the tension applying roll 29, the meandering control roll 30, the driven roll 31, the back support roll 32, and the driven roll 33 with a constant tension. It is circulated and driven at a predetermined moving speed along the direction of arrow B by a drive roll 28 that is rotationally driven by a dedicated drive motor with excellent constant speed (not shown). As the intermediate transfer belt 26, for example, a flexible synthetic resin film such as polyimide or polyamideimide is formed in a belt shape, and both ends of the synthetic resin film formed in the belt shape are connected by means such as welding. Thus, an endless belt is used.

  The yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), light magenta (LM), and light cyan (LC) toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 26 in multiple layers are A transfer voltage having a polarity (positive polarity) opposite to that of the toner is applied by the support roll 32, and the secondary transfer position N <b> 2 is applied by the grounded secondary transfer roll 34 that is in pressure contact with the back support roll 32 via the intermediate transfer belt 26. The recording paper 35 that has been secondarily transferred onto the recording paper 35 as a recording medium by the pressure contact force and electrostatic force and onto which the toner image corresponding to the color of the image to be formed has been transferred is fixed by the two transport belts 36 and 37. It is conveyed to the device 38. The recording paper 35 onto which the toner images of the respective colors have been transferred undergoes a fixing process with heat and pressure by a fixing device 38 and is discharged onto a discharge tray 39 provided outside the printer main body 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 35 is of a desired size and material from a paper feed tray 40 disposed at the bottom of the printer main body 1, and includes a paper feed roll 41 and a pair of paper separation rolls (not shown). Are fed one by one by one and are temporarily transported to a registration roll 46 through a paper transport path 45 in which a plurality of transport rolls 42, 43, 44 are arranged. The recording paper 35 supplied from the paper feed tray 40 is sent to the secondary transfer position N2 of the intermediate transfer belt 26 by a registration roll 46 that is rotationally driven at a predetermined timing. Although only one sheet feeding tray 40 is illustrated, a plurality of sheet feeding trays having recording papers 35 having different sizes or the same size may be provided. A large number of recording sheets 35 can be continuously fed.

  Prior to that, in the six image forming units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, 14LM, and 14LC of yellow, magenta, cyan, black, light magenta and light cyan, respectively, as described above, yellow and magenta, respectively. Color, cyan, black, light magenta, and light cyan toner images are sequentially formed at predetermined timings.

  The photosensitive drums 16Y, 16M, 16C, 16K, 16LM, and 16LC have the residual toner and the like removed by the cleaning devices 19Y, 19M, 19C, 19K, 19LM, and 19LC after the toner image transfer process is completed. In preparation for the next image forming process. Further, residual toner, paper dust, and the like are removed from the intermediate transfer belt 26 by a belt cleaner 47 disposed so as to face the driven roll 33.

  By the way, in the digital color printer configured as described above, the intermediate transfer belt 26 has six image forming units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, and 14LM of yellow, magenta, cyan, black, light magenta, and light cyan. , 14LC, the conventional intermediate transfer belt 26 disposed over the four image forming units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black has a length of about 2. In this embodiment, the length of the intermediate transfer belt 26 is about 3 m, which is significantly longer than that of the conventional one. Therefore, even when the intermediate transfer belt 26 is held in a circular shape, the diameter is about 930 mm, and when the intermediate transfer belt 26 is folded in half, the length is about 1.5 m.

  The long intermediate transfer belt 26 is stretched around a belt module 50 as shown in FIG. The belt module 50 includes a drive roll 28 that stretches the intermediate transfer belt 26, a tension applying roll 29, a meandering control roll 30, a driven roll 31, a back support roll 32, and a driven roll 33. Yes. These drive roll 28, tension applying roll 29, meandering control roll 30, driven roll 31, back support roll 32, and driven roll 33 are divided into a front side frame 51 and a rear side frame 52. It is attached so that it can rotate freely. Further, the tension applying roll 29 is urged to apply a predetermined tension to the intermediate transfer belt 26, and the meandering control roll 30 is movable in a direction to retract from the intermediate transfer belt 26. It is attached to the tip of the arm 53. When removing the intermediate transfer belt 26 from the belt module 50, the meandering control roll 30 is moved in a direction to retract from the intermediate transfer belt 26, and the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 26 is released. .

  The belt module 50 includes yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), light magenta (LM), and light cyan (LC) with the intermediate transfer belt 26 stretched. The image forming units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, 14LM, and 14LC for each color are attached to the printer main body 1 so as to be movable in a direction in which they are in contact with and separated from each other (vertical direction). It is attached to the front side so that it can be pulled out.

  In the digital color printer, when the intermediate transfer belt 26 is replaced with a new one, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a front door that can be opened and closed on the front side of the image output device 5 of the color printer main body 1. With the front covers 54 and 55 being opened, the used intermediate transfer belt 26 is removed from the belt module 50 and replaced with a new intermediate transfer belt 26.

  The digital color printer includes a belt holder 60 that is attached to a predetermined position of the printer and holds the intermediate transfer belt 26 when the intermediate transfer belt 26 is replaced. As shown in FIG. 6, the belt holder 60 is formed in a rod shape formed in a substantially L shape made of a metal such as SUS or a highly rigid synthetic resin. In this embodiment, the belt holder 60 has a diameter of 5 mm. SUS-made rod-shaped members.

  At the lower end of the belt holder 60, as shown in FIG. 6, there is provided an attachment portion 61 bent in an upward substantially U shape, and the attachment portion 61 is, as shown in FIG. The front cover 54 is fixed in a state of being inserted into a recess 62 provided on the inner surface of the front cover 54.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the belt holder 60 is integrally folded by being bent substantially horizontally at a first rod-shaped portion 63 disposed substantially vertically and an upper end portion of the first rod-shaped portion 63. And a second rod-like portion 64 disposed on the surface. As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer belt 26 is held by the second rod-like portion 64 disposed substantially horizontally.

  Further, when not in use, the belt holder 60 is detachably attached to a fixing portion (not shown) provided on the inner surface of the front cover 54 or 55, a fixing portion 65 provided on one inner surface of the printer body 1, and the like. It is installed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the intermediate transfer belt 26 is stored in a storage box 70 in an unused state. In the state shown in FIG. 8, the storage box 70 has a height corresponding to the width of the intermediate transfer belt 26 and stores the long intermediate transfer belt 26 in a folded state. At this time, even if the intermediate transfer belt 26 is stored in the storage box 70 and has the smallest radius of curvature, the intermediate transfer belt 26 does not have a nick called “kink”. Thus, as shown in FIG. 9, it is wound around a plurality of winding members 71 formed in a cylindrical shape.

  The winding member 71 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a radius of curvature larger than the radius of curvature at which the intermediate transfer belt 26 is called a “kink”. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the intermediate transfer belt 26 is wound around the winding member 71 at both ends as shown in FIG. 10, and the intermediate portion is wound around another winding member 71. , Stored in a storage box 70.

  At that time, the intermediate transfer belt 26 may be directly stored in the storage box 70 while being wound around a plurality of winding members 71. However, as shown in FIG. The sheet-like member 72 made of a protective thin film whose peripheral length is slightly shorter than that of the intermediate transfer belt 26 is stored in the storage box with the inner peripheral side.

  In the above configuration, in the printer according to this embodiment, as an endless belt member used for forming an image, the endless belt member is formed longer than the conventional endless belt member as follows. Even when a thing is used, the long endless belt member can be easily replaced.

  That is, in this printer, as shown in FIG. 1, when replacing the intermediate transfer belt 26 with a new one, the intermediate transfer belt 26 is stretched with the front covers 54 and 55 of the printer body 1 open. The belt module 50 is pulled out from the printer main body 1, and the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 26 stretched around the belt module 50 is weakened to remove the intermediate transfer belt 26 from the belt module 50.

  Then, the service engineer or user who replaces the belt removes the belt holder 60 attached to one inner surface or the like of the printer as shown in FIG. 5, and the belt holder 60 as shown in FIG. Is attached to a mounting portion 62 provided on the inner surface of the front cover 54. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the service engineer or the user uses the new intermediate transfer belt 26 housed in the housing box 70 as the inner periphery of the protective sheet-like member 72 housed in the printer main body 1. In this state, as shown in FIG. 1, the belt holder 60 is held while being hooked on the second rod-like portion 64.

  At this time, the new intermediate transfer belt 26 may be held in a state of being directly hooked on the second rod-like portion 64 of the belt holder 60 together with the protective sheet-like member 72, but is stored in the storage box 70. The wound winding member 71 is first taken out from the inside of the storage box 70, and as shown in FIG. 12, the winding member 70 is previously hooked on the second rod-shaped portion 64 of the belt holder 60, and then the winding member 71 is hooked. It is desirable that the intermediate transfer belt 26 is hooked on the second rod-like portion 64 of the belt holder 60 formed.

  In this way, when the new intermediate transfer belt 26 is hooked on the second rod-like portion 64 of the belt holder 60 together with the protective sheet-like member 72, the intermediate transfer belt 26 is self-weighted to cause the second rod-like portion 64. It is avoided that the intermediate transfer belt 26 bends and the nicks called “kinks” are generated.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the service engineer or user attaches a substantially conical auxiliary guide 80 stored in the printer main body 1 together with the protective sheet member 72 to the front side of the belt module 50, and then the belt. The intermediate transfer belt 26 is attached to the belt module 50 via the auxiliary guide 80 in a state where the intermediate transfer belt 24 hooked on the second rod-shaped portion 64 of the holder 60 is held by both hands. .

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3, the service engineer or the user removes the auxiliary guide 80 and the protective sheet member 72 from the belt module 50, and then operates the tension applying roll 30 of the belt module 50 to perform the intermediate transfer belt. With the tension applied to the belt 26, the belt module 50 is mounted inside the printer main body 1.

  Then, the belt holder 60 attached to the front cover 54 of the printer is removed, and the belt holder 60 is housed in a housing portion 65 provided on one inner surface of the printer body 1 as shown in FIG. 26 replacement work is completed.

  1: printer main body, 26: intermediate transfer belt, 54, 55: front cover, 60: belt holder.

Claims (4)

A long endless belt member used to form an image;
A belt holder that is mounted at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus when the endless belt member is replaced, and temporarily holds the endless belt member;
The belt holder holds the endless belt member at a height at which the lower end portion of the endless belt member does not contact the floor, and the holding portion of the endless belt member has a predetermined radius of curvature. It is held in the above radius of curvature, and is formed in a size and shape that can be stored inside the image forming apparatus main body when not in use .
The belt holder is attached to the inner surface of the front door of the main body of the image forming apparatus opened to replace the endless belt member . The endless belt member is disposed over five or more image forming units obtained by adding one or more image forming units to the image forming units of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . The endless belt member of new, claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the circumferential length than the endless belt member is held in slightly shorter protection sheet member for in the inner peripheral side belt holder The image forming apparatus described in 1. New of the endless belt member, claims, characterized in that housed in the housing box in a state of being wound around the tubular member to maintain the curvature of the endless belt member at a predetermined radius of curvature than The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 3 .

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