JPH04184361A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the removal of a jammed transfer material and the maintenance of process materials without impairing the durability and accuracy of a device by constituting this image forming device in such a manner that an image transfer area can be automatically opened/closed according to the attachment/detachment of a process cartridge. CONSTITUTION:When a side cover 60 is opened by a hinge 60A and the process cartridge 30 is slid to the right, a projection 30A is abutted on top 102A of a lock plate 102, and a sliding plate 100 is moved to the right against an extension spring 106. Until an operative lever 107 energized by a torsion spring 108 allows a upper lid 20 to be abutted on a stopper S2 via the driving pin 20C of an arm 20B, the lever 107 is turned counterclockwise, so that the lid 20 is opened. The cartridge 30 is held in a second position by an engaging member such as a click device, and the transfer area formed by a photosensitive belt and a transfer unit is exposed and opened. Thus, the device is ready for the removal of a jammed transfer material.

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 useful 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. Also,
Various configurations have been proposed in which a conveyance path for a transfer material on which an image is formed by an image forming means is opened to make it easier to take out the transfer material during jam clearance.

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 cleaning cartridges for recovered toner, the structure is divided into two parts. JP-A-58-1161 discloses an improved method.

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, it is said that if the main body of the apparatus is divided into two parts, the durability will be reduced and there will be problems in maintaining the relative positions of the process materials at a high level.

Furthermore, opening the heavy upper casing and removing the process cartridge from the lower casing requires a great deal of effort, and there is a risk of damage to materials due to collision or falling.

As a result of solving and improving this problem, the present invention aims to provide an image forming apparatus that enables jamming of transfer materials and maintenance of process materials through easy operation without using a two-part structure. It is.

[Failure to solve the problem]

The above object has a process cartridge that includes at least an image bearing member that is movable, and an exterior member that can be opened and closed, and a transfer area for transferring a toner image on the image carrier is located on the exterior member. In the image forming apparatus exposed by opening the cartridge and moving the process cartridge, by moving the process cartridge from a first position where image formation is possible to a second position where jam clearance is possible,
This is achieved by an image forming apparatus characterized in that the exterior member is open.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the color image forming apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

In FIG. 1, ■ is a flexible photoreceptor belt that is a belt-like image carrier, and the photoreceptor belt 1 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 l, and the photoreceptor belt l is brought into a tensioned state by the outward biasing action of the rotary roller 3. The inner peripheral surface of the guide member 4
Let it rub.

Therefore, the photoreceptors on the outer circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 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 l with the guide member 4 on the back side.

The laser writing system unit 7 is housed in a holding casing 70 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.

The respective developing devices 8,9,10,11 are for example yellow.

It is equipped with developing sleeves each containing magenta, cyan, and black developers and maintaining a predetermined gap with the photoreceptor belt 1, and the latent image on the photoreceptor belt 1 is developed by a non-contact development method. It has the function of converting 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; 12 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 after image transfer. Only during cleaning, it 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, the original image is obtained at the color image data input section where the image sensor scans the data, and the image data is processed by the image data processing section to create image data, which is then stored in the image memory. Then, the image memory is taken out at the time of recording and stored in a recording section, for example, the first
The image is input to the color image forming apparatus shown in the illustrated embodiment.

7 In other words, 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). The beam 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 7.
The optical path is bent by E and 7F, 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 1. Therefore, by main scanning by the laser beam and sub-scanning by conveying the photoconductor belt 1, the photoconductor belt l is
A latent image corresponding to the first color is formed on the circumferential surface of -1. This latent image is created using yellow (Y) toner (
The toner image is developed by the developing device 8 loaded with a developing medium (developing medium), 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 113, 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 bell) 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 in the case of the first color signal described above. Writing is performed on the drum surface in the same manner as described above, and a latent image is formed. The latent image! The image is developed by a developing device 9 loaded with magenta (M) toner as the second color.

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

IO is a developing device having cyan (C) toner, which 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 units 8, 9, 10 and 11
A direct current or even alternating current bias is applied to each sleeve, and jumping development is performed using a two-component developer, which is a developing means, and development is performed without contact on the photoreceptor belt l whose base is grounded. It has become. 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 belt 1 is transferred to a transfer material fed from the paper feed cassette 14 via the paper feed guide 15 at 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 is aligned with the image formation on the photoreceptor belt 1 via the timing roller 17. and is supplied to the transfer device 12.

The transfer material that has undergone image transfer and static electricity removal is transferred to the rotating roller 2.
The image is reliably separated from the photoreceptor belt 1, which suddenly changes direction along the direction, and moves upward via the suction conveyor belt 17A, and after the image is fused by the fixing roller 18, it passes through the discharge roller 19 to the upper M20. It is discharged onto the formed tray.

On the other hand, the photoreceptor belt I, 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 6, 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, as shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 30 is provided with a rail member 31 having a convex cross-section on both sides thereof, and is inserted into a guide member 32 having a concave cross-section installed inside the apparatus. The device is attached to the device by engaging the device.

As the process cartridge 30 is attached to and detached from the guide member 32, the upper M20, which is an exterior member on the upper part of the apparatus main body, is automatically opened and closed.

The mechanism and operation will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a sliding plate 100 that pivotally supports an operating lever 107 on the inner surface of the apparatus main body.
The process cartridge 30 is supported so as to slide in parallel to the insertion/removal direction of the process cartridge 30 by a pair of main body side fixing pins 101 that engage with the elongated hole 100A.

The sliding plate 100 has a pair of bent parts 100B above and below the right end thereof, and the lock plate 10 is formed in the bent parts 100B.
2 are engaged so that they can move up and down with restricted rotation, and are constantly urged upward by a compression spring 103.

The lock plate 102 has a top portion 102A with a curved surface on one side.
and a pin portion 102B that protrudes in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and the top portion 102A is attached to the process cartridge 306.
The bottle portion 102B is held by the protrusion 30A on one side so as to correspond to the slope cam 104 fixed to the main body of the device.

The sliding plate 100 is strongly urged leftward by a tension spring 106 stretched between a spring hook on the main body of the device and a pin 105, and is maintained at the position shown in the figure.

Further, the actuation lever 107 is connected to the protrusion 1 on the sliding plate 100.
The upper cover 20 is biased clockwise by a torsion spring 108 so as to be in constant contact with the ooc.
A driving pin 20C provided on an arm 20B integral with the arm 20B is engaged with the drive pin 20C.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the process cartridge 30 is set at the first position where it comes into contact with the stopper St in the apparatus main body and enables image formation.

When the side cover 60 is opened by the hinge 60A and the process cartridge 30 is slid from the first position to the right, the protrusion 30A comes into contact with the top 102A of the lock plate 102 and slides as shown in FIG. Moving plate 100
to the right against the tension spring 106, and the torsion spring 1
The actuating lever 107 biased by the arm 20
The upper lid 20 is moved to the stopper S via the drive pin 20C of B.
Rotate counterclockwise until it touches point 2 to open the lid.

At this position, the process cartridge 30 is held in the second position by a locking member (not shown) such as a click device, and the transfer area formed by the photoreceptor belt 1 and the transfer device 12 is exposed and opened to transfer the transfer material. This makes it possible to perform jam removal work.

When the process cartridge 30 is roughly moved to the right from the second position, the pin portion 102B of the lock plate 102 comes into contact with the slope cam 104, and the lock plate 102 is lowered, as shown in FIG. The top portion 102A is disengaged from the protrusion 30A of the process cartridge 30, and the sliding plate 1'00 is released into a free state.

Note that the movement of the process cartridge 30 further to the right from the second position is absorbed by the counterclockwise rotation of the operating lever 107 that stores the force in the torsion spring 108.

The process cartridge 30 with the sliding plate 100 disengaged is taken out of the apparatus main body by further pulling it out to the right from the state shown in FIG.
0 returns to the left by the action of the tension spring 106, raising the lock plate 102 again and returning the top cover 20 to the closed position shown in FIG.

In addition, when the process cartridge 30 is reinstalled, the protrusion 30A is automatically engaged with the top 102A of the lock plate 102 immediately before it comes into contact with the stopper S1 in the apparatus, and the third
The upper lid 20 shown in the figure is in a position where it can be opened.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The present invention has an extremely simple device structure, but is configured so that the image transfer area can be automatically closed in response to the attachment/detachment of a process cartridge.As a result, the durability and precision of the device are not compromised. A highly practical image forming apparatus that can easily perform jam removal of transfer materials and maintenance of process materials has been provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main parts thereof, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are explanatory diagrams showing the structure of the apparatus. ■...Photoreceptor belt 20...Top lid 20B...Arm 20C...Drive pin 3
0...Process cartridge 30A...Protrusion 60...Side cover 10
0...Sliding plate 102...Lock plate 102
A...Top part 102B...Bin part 103.
...Compression spring 104...Slope cam 107...
- Operating lever 108...Torsion spring S1. S2・
・Stopper

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) The process cartridge includes a movable process cartridge including at least an image carrier, and an exterior member that can be opened and closed, and a transfer area where the toner image on the image carrier is transferred is located on the exterior member. In an image forming apparatus exposed by opening and moving the process cartridge, the exterior cover is exposed by moving the process cartridge from a first position where image formation is possible to a second position where jam clearance is possible. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a member is open. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior member is closed when the process cartridge is further moved from the second position.