JPH04116668A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily attach and detach a process cartridge with a simple structure by providing an openable/closable cover member at the insertion hole through which the process cartridge is inserted and pulled out, and opening and closing this member in accordance with fixing and release of the process cartridge to and from an image forming position. CONSTITUTION:An upper cover 20 is provided as the cover member at the insertion hole of a device main body through which a process cartridge 30 is inserted and pulled out; and after the process cartridge 30 is inserted, the upper cover 20 is turned clockwise with a shaft 20A as the fulcrum and is closed to cover the insertion hole as shown in the figure and is detained in this position. A fixing means which controls the process cartridge 30 to a prescribed position in the device is coupled to the upper cover 20, and the process cartridge 30 is fixed to the set position when the upper cover 20 is closed, and the process cartridge 30 is automatically released and can be taken out when the upper cover 20 is opened. Thus, the structure is simplified, and the process cartridge 30 is easily and surely attached and detached.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image on a transfer material, such as a copying machine or a printer.

[Background of the invention]

In image forming devices such as monochrome analog copying machines using electrophotography and copying machines and printers using semiconductor laser and LED scanning systems, various photoreceptors, developer carriers, cleaning members, and developer toners that have a long service life are used. A part of the image forming means is made into a cartridge for replenishment and replacement when worn out, etc., and a member integrating the main parts of the image forming means is taken out of the apparatus for maintenance or replacement. something is proposed. Furthermore, various configurations have been proposed in which the conveyance path of the transfer material on which an image is formed by the image forming means is opened to make it easier to take out the transfer material when clearing a jam.

A typical configuration of these is as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-54392, in which the photoreceptor drum, developer, cleaner, etc. are integrally attached to a support member, and can be pulled out from the main body of the apparatus, and each unit is Proposals have been made to make replacement and repair easier, and the next step was to integrate the main parts of these image forming means and make them disposable in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-15.
4255, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 147366/1989 discloses a printer configuration that uses a similar disposable cartridge and forms a latent image on a photosensitive drum by dot exposure scanning writing using a semiconductor laser. There is.

Further, these publications disclose a structure in which the upper housing of the split structure is opened to open the transfer material conveyance path and take out the transfer material in the event of a jam. A structure is adopted in which a disposable process cartridge is replaceably disposed in an upper housing having a two-part structure, and attempts are made to improve the workability of cartridge replacement and ease of jam removal. In addition, with emphasis on ease of replacement of process cartridges, mainly replenishment toner cartridges and linting cartridges for recovered toner, the structure is divided into two parts, and the process cartridges are placed in the lower casing to facilitate maintenance work. Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1973 (1973)
It is disclosed in the publication No. 8-1161.

In addition, the above structure is made vertical, and JP-A-63-2
No. 44058, No. 63-244059, No. 63-24
No. 4064, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-179168, etc., have been proposed, and these are aimed at improving the same direction operation and jam handling.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, when attaching and detaching the process cartridge from the main body of the apparatus, as mentioned above, the apparatus is divided into two parts so that the cartridge insertion/ejection opening can be opened and closed, and at the same time, the gears of the drive system connected to the photoreceptor and developer must be opened and closed. It is necessary to be able to engage and disengage easily and reliably,
As a result, the main body structure has become complicated and handling operations have not been easy.

The present invention has been made to solve this problem and to provide an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge can be easily and reliably attached and detached without having to open the lid of the apparatus in a two-part structure. be.

[Means to solve the problem]

The above object is such that a process cartridge including at least an image carrier can be inserted into and removed from an apparatus main body, and an insertion opening for inserting and removing the process cartridge is provided with a cover member that can be opened and closed. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a cover member is provided in connection with a fixing means for the process cartridge, and opening and closing of the cover member is linked to fixing and releasing the process cartridge to an image forming position. achieved.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the color image forming apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

In FIG. 1, l is a flexible photoreceptor belt that is a belt-like image carrier, and the photoreceptor belt l is installed between rotating rollers 2 and 3, and is driven clockwise by rotating roller 2. transported to.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a support member or guide member fixed to the main body of the apparatus so as to be inscribed in the photoreceptor belt 1, and the photoreceptor belt 1 is kept under tension by the outward biasing action of the rotary roller 3. The inner circumferential surface of the guide member 4 is
Let it rub.

Therefore, the photoreceptors on the outer circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt l are always maintained at a constant position relative to the surface of the guide member 4 even during conveyance, making it possible to form a stable image forming surface.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a scorotron charger as a charging means, 7 a laser writing system unit as an image exposure means, and 8 to 11 a plurality of developing means, that is, developing devices, each containing a developer of a specific color. The means is disposed facing the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 with the guide member 4 on the back side.

The laser writing system unit 7 is housed in a holding casing 7o having a slit-shaped exposure opening 70A on its upper surface, and is incorporated into the main body of the apparatus.

In addition to the optical system shown in the drawings, the laser writing system unit 7 may also include an optical system that integrates a light emitting section and a convergent light transmission body.

Each of the developing units 8.9.10.11 accommodates, for example, yellow magenta, cyan, and black developers, respectively, and includes developing sleeves that maintain a predetermined gap from the photosensitive belt 1. It has the function of making the upper latent image visible using a non-contact development method. Unlike contact development, this non-contact development has the advantage of not interfering with the movement of the photoreceptor belt.

12 is a transfer device; 12A is a static elimination bar; 13 is a cleaning device; the blade 13A and toner conveying roller 13B of the cleaning device 13 are kept at a position apart from the surface of the photoreceptor belt l during image formation; and cleaning after image transfer is performed. Only when the photoreceptor belt 1 is pressed against the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 as shown in the figure.

The process of forming a color image by the color image forming apparatus is performed as follows.

First, the formation of a multicolor image according to this embodiment is performed according to the following image forming system. That is, data obtained by a color image data input section in which an image sensor scans an original image is processed by an image data processing section to create image data, which is stored in a star image memory. The image memory is then taken out during recording and input to a recording section, for example, the color image forming apparatus shown in the embodiment of FIG.

That is, when a color signal output from an image reading device separate from the printer is input to the laser writing system unit 7, the laser writing system unit 7 outputs a laser beam generated by a semiconductor laser (not shown). is rotated and scanned by a polygon mirror 7B rotated by a drive motor 7A, and passes through an fθ lens 7C to mirrors 7D and 7E.
, 7F, the optical path is bent, and the light is projected onto the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt 1, which has been charged in advance by the charger 6, which is a charging means, to form a bright line.

On the other hand, when scanning is started, the beam is detected by the index sensor, modulation of the beam by the first color signal is started, and the modulated beam scans the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt l. Therefore, a latent image corresponding to the first color is formed on the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt 10 by the main scanning by the laser beam and the sub-scanning by the conveyance of the photoreceptor belt 1. This latent image is developed by a developing device 8 loaded with yellow (Y) toner (developing medium) of the developing means, and a toner image is formed on the drum surface. The obtained toner image, while being held on the drum surface, passes under a cleaning device 13, which is a cleaning means, which is separated from the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt 1, and enters the next copy cycle.

That is, the photoreceptor belt 1 is charged again by the charger 6, and then the second color signal output from the signal processing section is input to the writing system unit 7, and the second color signal is inputted to the writing system unit 7, and the second color signal is inputted to the writing system unit 7. In the same manner, writing is performed on the drum surface to form a latent image. The latent image is developed by a developer 9 loaded with magenta (M) toner as a second color.

This magenta (M) toner image is formed in the presence of the previously formed yellow (Y) toner image.

A developing device 10 has cyan (C) toner, and forms a cyan (C) toner image on the drum surface based on a control signal generated by a signal processing section.

Furthermore, 11 is a developing device having black toner, and forms a black toner image superimposed on the belt surface by the same process. These developing devices 8, 9゜lO and 11
A direct current or even alternating current bias is applied to each sleeve, jumping development is performed using a two-component developer serving as a developing means, and the substrate is grounded.
Development is now possible without contact. Incidentally, as the development, non-contact development using a -component developer can also be used.

The color toner image thus formed on the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor pel l-1 is transferred to a transfer material fed from the paper feed cassette 14 via the paper feed guide 15 in the transfer section.

That is, the top layer of the transfer material stored in the paper feed cassette 14 is carried out by the rotation of the paper feed roller 16, and transferred to the transfer device 12 via the timing roller 17 in synchronization with the image formation on the photoreceptor belt l. supplied to.

The transfer material that has undergone image transfer and static electricity removal is transferred to the rotating roller 2.
It is reliably separated from the photoreceptor belt l, which suddenly changes direction along the direction of the photoreceptor belt l, and heads upwards through the conveyor belt 17A, and after the image is fused by the fixing roller 18, it passes through the discharge roller I9 to the upper cover 20. The paper is discharged onto a tray formed on the tray.

On the other hand, the photoconductor bell (1) which has completed the transfer to the transfer material continues to be conveyed to the blade 13A and the toner conveying roller 13B.
The remaining toner was removed in the cleaning device 13 which was brought into pressure contact with the blade 13A, and after the cleaning was finished, the blade 13A was separated again, and a little later, the toner conveying roller 13B leveled the toner accumulated on the tip of the blade 13A. Afterwards, the toner conveying roller 13B is separated and a new image forming process begins.

The photoreceptor belt 1, the charger 6, each developing device, and the cleaning device 13 are integrated into an independent process cartridge 30.
After being assembled and integrated into the device, it is inserted and installed into the device by sliding from the direction indicated by the dashed line.

That is, the process cartridge 30 has a rail member 3 having a convex cross-sectional shape on both sides thereof, as shown in FIG.
1, and is attached to the device by being inserted into and engaged with a guide member 32 having a concave cross-sectional shape built inside the device.

An upper lid 20 is provided as a cover member at an insertion opening of the main body of the apparatus through which the process cartridge 30 is inserted and removed.
After the process cartridge 30 is inserted, the upper lid 20 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 20A, closed, and locked at a position covering the insertion opening as shown in the figure.

The upper lid 20 is further connected to a fixing means for regulating the process cartridge 30 to a predetermined position within the apparatus, and when the upper lid 20 is closed, the process cartridge cartridge 30 is fixed at the installed position, and when the upper lid 20 is opened, the fixing is automatically performed. The process cartridge 30 is placed in a state where it can be removed.

That is, the upper lid 20 is provided with a compression lever 40 and a compression spring 50 as shown in FIG. 3 as means for fixing the cartridge 30, and when the lid is closed, the process cartridge 30 is pressed against the abutment member 60 inside the apparatus main body. The photoreceptor belt 1 and other process materials are urged and held in positions where image formation is possible.

Like the upper lid 20, the crimp lever 40 is rotatably supported around the shaft 2OA as a fulcrum, but is constantly pushed against the upper lid 20 by the action of a tension spring 41 stretched between the side plate 2OB of the upper lid 20. Forced clockwise. As a result, when the upper lid 20 is closed, the crimp pin 33 on the side surface of the cartridge 30 is pressed to bring the front surface of the cartridge 30 into contact with the abutting member 60 provided on the main body of the apparatus.

On the other hand, the compression spring 50 acts to press the rear end surface of the process cartridge 30 when the upper lid 20 is in the closed position, thereby further strengthening the bias against the abutment member 60.

As a result, the push-out pin 61 built into the abutment member 60 resists the bias of the compression spring 62 and sinks into the abutment surface, thereby reliably holding the process cartridge 30 at a predetermined set position.

The pressure lever 40, the pressure spring 50, and the abutting member 60 are provided in pairs at symmetrical positions on the side surface of the process cartridge 30, so that the process cartridge 30 is smoothly biased to the set position in a well-balanced manner.

The upper lid 20 is unlocked and easily opened by pressing the protrusion 70A of the locking lever 70 that protrudes to the outside of the device.

Top lid 20 unlocked by the locking lever 70
is automatically rotated slightly counterclockwise by the bias of the tension spring 41, and stops at the position where the stopper 20C on the side plate 2OB comes into contact with the crimp lever 40, and in this state, the crimp lever 40 and the crimp spring 50 The process cartridge 30 is no longer biased by the force and its fixation is released.

As a result, when the upper cover 20 is further manually rotated counterclockwise to the stop position as shown in FIG. The process cartridge 30 is moved slightly to the right by the pressure of the built-in ejector pin 61, and is placed in a position where it can be easily taken out of the apparatus.

When reinstalling, the process cartridge 30 is inserted to the position shown in FIG. 4, the upper cover 20 is closed, and the locking lever 70 is locked. As a result, the process cartridge 30 is again fixed at the predetermined setting position as shown in FIG.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The present invention makes it possible to easily attach and detach the process cartridge while extremely simplifying the structure of the device.As a result, maintenance of process materials and removal of jams in transfer materials can be performed easily and quickly. As a result, a color image forming apparatus that is easy to handle and can always produce high-quality images has been provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1, 3, and 4 are cross-sectional configuration diagrams of a color image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main parts thereof. 1... Photoreceptor belt 6... Charger 7... Writing system units 8-11... Developing device 12... Transfer device 13...
・Cleaning device 20...Top lid 20A...(rotation) shaft 2
0B...Side plate 30...Process cart 31...Rail member 33...Crimp bottle 41...Tension spring 60...Abutment member 70...Lock lever 20C...Stopper ridge 32 ... Guide member 40 ... Crimping lever 50 ... Crimping spring 61 ... Push-out pin

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) The process cartridge including at least the image carrier can be inserted into and removed from the main body of the apparatus, and the insertion opening for inserting and removing the process cartridge is provided with a cover member that can be opened and closed. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the member is connected to fixing means for the process cartridge, and opening and closing of the cover member is linked to fixing and releasing the process cartridge to an image forming position. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge moves to an image forming position when the cover member is closed. (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is released and the transfer area is opened at the same time as the cover member is opened.