JPH02101482A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the construction simple, greatly lighten the burden on a suer, and to prevent the deterioration of the characteristic of the photosensitive drum by providing a receiving opening for receiving and covering an image carrier in a paper cassette, which supports the processing cartridge removed from the image forming device main body. CONSTITUTION:Because there is a receiving opening 10a, which is semicylindrical with a diameter larger than the diameter of the photosensitive drum 1, on the upper surface of a paper cassette 10, the photosensitive drum 1, of the processing cartridge 12, which has been removed from the device main body M, is inserted into the receiving opening 10a of the paper cassette 10, and the processing cartridge 12 is supported on the paper cassette 10. Because the photosensitive drum 1 of the processing cartridge 12 is inserted into the receiving opening 10a of the paper cassette 10, the light from outside is shielded, and at the same time, there is no possibility of it getting scratched. Thus, with the simple construction of providing a receiving opening of an indented shape with a diameter larger than the photosensitive drum on the paper cassette, the burden of the user can be greatly lightened, and the characteristic of the photosensitive drum can be prevented from deteriorating.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, some image forming apparatuses of this type have a structure in which a process cartridge having at least a photosensitive drum is removably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Since a part of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum of the process cartridge is exposed to the outside, when handling the process cartridge including the photosensitive drum that has been removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus,
It was necessary to put the photosensitive drum in a case to prevent it from being damaged or exposed to light, and to attach a cover to the process cartridge, which placed a burden on the user.

Further, the process cartridge of the type in which the cover automatically closes has the disadvantage that its structure is complicated and expensive.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that solves the above problems.

[Means to solve the problem]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having at least an image bearing member is removably attached to an image forming apparatus main body. The center is provided with a socket that receives and covers the image carrier exposed from the process cartridge.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, this type of image forming apparatus consists of an image forming apparatus main body M and a process cartridge 12 that is removably mounted on the image forming apparatus main body M. The process cartridge 12 includes a photosensitive drum 1, a charger 2, a developing device 4, a cleaning blade 7 and an eraser lamp 8 are integrated, while an exposure device 3, a transfer device 6, and a fixing device 9 are integrated into the main body M of the apparatus, and a paper cassette 10 is installed outside the main body M of the apparatus. Equipped. 13a and 13b are paper guides, and 14 is a guide 1 for guiding the paper 5 in the paper cassette 10.
This is a roller that feeds paper toward 3a. Incidentally, the upper surface area of the paper cassette 10 is large enough to support the process cartridge 12.

Therefore, in the present invention, on the top surface of the paper cassette 10 that supports the process cartridge 12 removed from the main body
A socket 10a having a semicircular cross section that receives and covers the photosensitive drum 1 exposed to the outside from the process cartridge 12.
It has been established.

The photosensitive drum 1, which is an image carrier, rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the eraser lamp 8 erases the potential, the charger 2 charges the drum, the exposure device 3 forms an electrostatic latent image, the developer 4 develops toner, and the transfer device 6 transfers the image. , toner 1 remaining on photosensitive drum 1
An image is formed by a series of processes of scraping with the cleaning blade 7 of 1, and the image is transferred to the fixing device 9.
The image is fixed on the paper 5 by the following steps.

However, the photosensitive drum 1 is easily damaged, and if exposed to light for a long time, its properties deteriorate, resulting in a marked deterioration in print quality.

In the present invention, since the paper cassette 10 has a semi-cylindrical socket 10a on the top surface with a diameter larger than the diameter of the photosensitive drum 1, the photosensitive drum 1 of the process cartridge 12 that has been removed from the paper cassette is inserted into the paper cassette as shown in FIG. 10, and the process cartridge 12 is supported on the paper cassette 10. Photosensitive drum 1 of process cartridge 12
Since the paper is inserted into the socket 10a of the paper cassette 10, light from the outside is blocked and there is no possibility of damage.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention has a simple structure in which only a concave receiver with a diameter larger than the photosensitive drum is provided on the paper cassette, which greatly reduces the burden on the user and also reduces the deterioration of the characteristics of the photosensitive drum. It has the effect of not allowing

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are longitudinal sectional views showing an image forming apparatus of the present invention. 1... Photosensitive drum 2... Charger 3... Exposure device 4... Developing device 5... Transfer material
6...Transfer device 7...Cleaning blade 8...Eraser lamp 9...Fixer 10...
Paper cassette 10a...Socket 11...Toner 12...Process cartridge Patent applicant: NEC Corporation Tsujiyo Masato Patent attorney Kanno Naka:'! .

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having at least an image bearing member is removably installed in the image forming apparatus main body, a paper cassette that supports the process cartridge removed from the image forming apparatus main body is provided with paper exposed from the process cartridge. An image forming apparatus comprising a socket for receiving and covering an image carrier.