JPH0416879A - Transfer material separating device of image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the serviceability and operability by providing a transfer electrostatic charger with a destaticization stylus unit, which is united with holding members for holding a destaticization stytlus, so that the unit can be slide and inserted lengthwise freely. CONSTITUTION:The destaticization stylus unit formed by uniting the destaticization stylus 5 and the holding members 6 and 7 which hold it is pro vided to the transfer electrostatic charger so that the unit can be slid and inserted lengthwise freely. Namely, grip parts 6a and 7a formed by extending the holding members 6 and 7 are provided in front of the destaticization stylus unit and those parts are gripped in a hand and drawn to this side to take the unit out. Consequently, the attachment and detachment of the destaticization stylus are facilitated to eliminate the damage of the destaticization stylus and an injury, and the operability of maintenance, repair replacement, etc., is im proved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (1) Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that uses an electrostatic transfer process, such as an electrostatic copying machine or a printer, and particularly to a transfer material separation device thereof. It is something.

(Prior art and issues to be solved) In a well-known image forming apparatus that includes a step of electrostatically transferring a toner image electrostatically formed on the surface of an image carrier to a transfer material such as paper, Since the transfer material tends to be electrostatically attracted to the image carrier due to the transfer bias applied to the image carrier, it is necessary to actively separate the transfer material from the image carrier at a position after transfer.

As a separation means for this purpose, a serrated defrosting needle is disposed downstream of the transfer charger (as seen in the running direction of the transfer material) and close to the back surface of the transfer material, extending in the width direction of the transfer material. To the static elimination needle,
It is well known to apply a bias with a polarity opposite to that during transfer to neutralize the charge applied to the transfer material during transfer and separate it from the image carrier.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a typical example of such a known separation device, which will now be described.

A transfer device C is disposed close to and parallel to the axis of a cylindrical image bearing member l that extends perpendicularly to the plane of the paper and rotates in the direction of the arrow.

The transfer device C consists of a base 4 and a transfer charger made of a shield material 3 attached to the base and having a charging wire 2 stretched therein, and the charger and the image carrier. A transfer material is supplied to a transfer site where the two are opposed to each other as shown by an arrow P, and a transfer bias is applied by a charger to perform transfer.

After transfer, it is necessary to separate the transfer material from the image carrier and transport it to a fixing site (not shown). However, since the transfer material is attracted to the image carrier by the transfer bias applied during transfer, the transfer material is transferred downstream. Separation means are arranged.

This separation means consists of a pair of insulating members 6 and 7, both of which extend perpendicularly to the plane of the paper, and a static elimination needle 5 that is sandwiched between these members and has a number of serrated sharp protrusions formed on the image carrier side. It is fixed to one wall surface of the shield material 3 with an appropriate number of screws 4a.

With the above-mentioned separation means, toner adheres to the sharp protrusion of the static eliminator needle and solidifies due to long-term use, deteriorating the static eliminator function, so it is necessary to take it out for replacement or maintenance.
In this case, it is necessary to occupy the entire transfer separation part including the base 4 and the transfer charger part outside, and to clean and replace the static elimination needle 5 except for the screw 4a.
There was a problem with maintenance as there was a risk of damaging the parts or injuring fingers due to the protrusions.

On the other hand, this type of image forming device has high quality, high durability,
Furthermore, improvements in serviceability and operability are strongly desired.

The present invention has been made in order to cope with the above-mentioned current situation, and provides a device which avoids the above-mentioned inconveniences by allowing only the static eliminating needle portion to be attached and detached when necessary in the above-mentioned transfer separation means. The purpose is to provide the following.

(2) Structure of the invention (technical means for solving the problem and its operation) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises an image carrier, a transfer charger disposed close to the image carrier, and a transfer material running In an image forming apparatus provided with a charge eliminating needle disposed on the downstream side of the transfer charger when viewed in the direction and for separating the transfer material from the image carrier, the charge eliminating needle and a holding member supporting the charge eliminating needle are integrated. The transfer material separating device is characterized in that a static elimination needle unit formed by the above transfer charger is disposed in such a manner that it can be slidably inserted into and removed from the transfer charger in the longitudinal direction thereof.

With this configuration, the static eliminating needle can be easily attached and removed, there is no risk of damaging the static eliminating needle or causing injury, and workability such as maintenance, repair, and replacement is greatly improved.

(Description of Embodiments) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a transfer charger portion according to the present invention, in which parts corresponding to those of the above-mentioned known device are given the same reference numerals. The explanation will be omitted unless necessary.

In the illustrated device, the defrosting needle 5 is held between the holding members 6.7, and these are integrated into a unit (
A groove 61 is formed in the holding member 6, and this groove allows the device to be slidably attached to and detached from one wall of the shield material 3 of the transfer charger in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper. The static eliminator unit can be inserted and removed as a unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the static eliminating needle unit being pulled out from the transfer charger section.

As can be seen from the figure, there are gripping parts 6a and 7a formed by extending the holding member 6.7 on the front side of the static elimination needle unit (the side with the opening/closing panel of the image forming device), and these parts can be held by hand. The unit can be taken out by grasping it and pulling it toward you, and in the case of replacement, a new unit can be installed.

A transfer block 3a is attached to the shield material, and one end of the charging wire 2 is attached to this.

Figure 3 shows the static elimination needle unit being inserted into the transfer charger section.
This is shown in the middle of being brought to its normal mounting position.

A transfer block 3b is provided at the end of the shield material 3, and the other end of the charging wire 2, which has one end attached to the transfer block 3a, is attached to the transfer block 3b. be.

That is, the transfer block 3b has a coil spring 10.11 disposed in a recess provided at its end (see Fig. 4A).
When the charger is inserted into a predetermined position, it is connected to terminals 12 and 13 provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus. In the case of the illustrated device, the other end of the charging wire 2 is connected to the power source via the coil spring 11 after reaching the block 3b.

At this time, it is assumed that at the same time, the above-mentioned static eliminating needle 5 is connected to the terminal 12 and energized as described below.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a bent portion 51 is formed at the side end of the static eliminating needle 5, and the coil spring IO is connected to the electrode plate 15 attached to the transfer block 3b. is installed and the charger is installed in the specified position, the fourth
As shown by the dotted line in FIG. will be done.

In this case, if a groove is formed in the transfer block 3b so that when a charger is inserted, the holding member 7 reaches a predetermined position along the groove, the charge eliminating needle 5 and the charging wire 2 can be separated. can maintain a constant height relationship.

Returning to FIG. 2 again, as shown in the figure, a protrusion 16 is formed at a suitable location near the grip 6a on the front side of the holding member, and when the static elimination needle unit is inserted to a predetermined position, It is designed to engage with a recess (not shown) provided in the transfer block 3a, thereby preventing the static eliminator unit from being removed unnecessarily, and also keeping the height of the static eliminator 5 relative to the charging wire 2 constant. can be maintained.

(3) Detailed Description of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that includes an image bearing member, a transfer charger disposed close to the image carrier, and a charge removal needle, in which the charge removal needle and the holding member that supports the charge removal needle are provided. It is constructed as an integral unit, and can be freely inserted and removed from the transfer charger part with the static elimination needle of the unit set in a predetermined position relative to the charging wire, making maintenance, repair, or replacement easy. This makes it easy to attach and remove the static eliminating needle from other parts, and to avoid touching the static eliminating needle itself during work. Moreover, since work can be performed reliably, workability is improved and running costs are greatly reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the structure of the transfer separation device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the structure on the side where the above static elimination needle unit is inserted and removed, and FIG. 3 is the same above static elimination needle unit. 4A is a plan view showing the configuration of the portion shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 4B is a plan view of the same as above; FIG. 5 is the configuration of a known transfer separation device. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Image carrier, 2... Charging wire, 3... Shield plate, 3a, 3b... Transfer block, 4... Base, 5... Static elimination needle, 6.7...・Holding member, 10.11
...Coil spring, 12.13...Terminal, 51...
electrode plate.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An image carrier, a transfer charger disposed close to the image carrier, and a charge remover disposed downstream of the transfer charger as viewed in the traveling direction of the transfer material to separate the transfer material from the image carrier. In the image forming apparatus equipped with a needle, a charge eliminating needle unit formed integrally with the charge eliminating needle and a holding member that supports the same can be slidably inserted into and removed from the transfer charger in a longitudinal direction thereof. A transfer material separation device is provided. (2) A patent claim in which the means for inserting and removing the static eliminating needle unit into and from the transfer charger is formed as a groove provided in the support member of the unit and slidably displaceable on the shield plate of the transfer charger. The transfer material separation device according to scope 1. (3) The static elimination needle unit is provided with a regulating means that engages with the transfer charger at a proper position when the static elimination needle unit reaches a predetermined position to set the relative position between the static elimination needle and the charging wire. The transfer material separation device according to any one of Item 1 and Item 2.