JPH04295863A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily perform all the work such as operation for manually feeding a paper, loading/unloading a paper feeding cassete and attaching/detaching a processing equipment from the front side of the device. CONSTITUTION:A manual feeding guide plate 21 for manually feeding the paper, which is provided in front of the device, is automatically opened by operating the power source switch of the device so as to be set in a paper feeding state. By opening a side cover attached to the plate 21 and the upper main body of the device, a process cartridge is attached/detached from the front side of the device. Furthermore, the paper feeding cassette 14 is constituted to be loaded/unloaded from the front side of the device in a state where it is housed in a separate lower housing X3 and attached to the device.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus which forms a color toner image on a belt-like image forming member using an electrophotographic method and transfers the toner image onto transfer paper to obtain an image. It is.

0002

[Prior Art] There are various types of color image forming apparatuses, but in general, a belt-shaped image forming body (also called a photoreceptor belt) is stretched between two axes, and a belt-shaped image forming body (also called a photoreceptor belt) is stretched between two axes. A plurality of developing units containing toners of different colors are arranged, and while the photoreceptor belt is rotated multiple times, a latent image is formed on the photoreceptor belt according to the number of separated colors of the original image, and the After forming a color image by performing development using a group of developing devices,
A color copy is obtained by transferring the color image onto transfer paper fed from a paper feed cassette in a cassette storage chamber provided below the developer group.

Unlike the photosensitive drum, the photosensitive belt of such a color image forming apparatus has the advantage of being able to make a U-turn with a small curvature, so that it can run flat, and space can be used effectively. Further, by providing a separation pole for the transfer paper after transfer at the small diameter curvature portion where the U-turn is made, there is an advantage that separation of the transfer paper is improved.

0004

In the case of the above-mentioned color image forming apparatus, the photoreceptor belt and the cassette storage chamber are arranged in layers with a group of developing devices in between, and furthermore, the cassette storage chamber and the transfer section of the photoreceptor belt are arranged in layers. The paper feeding path and paper feeding means are
It is provided along the inner surface of one side wall of the apparatus main body so as to go around the outside of the developing device group. On the other hand, the insertion opening for the photoreceptor belt and cassette storage chamber is provided on the side wall of the main body opposite to the installation of the paper feed path and paper feed means, and the photoreceptor belt and paper cassette are inserted in the same direction as the paper feed direction. It was possible to insert it. On the other hand, when adding a manual paper feed function to such an image forming apparatus, it is easy to install the paper feed port on the paper feed path side, so the apparatus can be operated from two opposing sides of the main body. This results in poor workability and the drawback that installation requires a large space.

[0005] The present invention solves this problem and improves the image forming apparatus, thereby providing an image forming apparatus in which all copying operations including manual paper feeding and maintenance work can be performed from one side of the apparatus. be.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above object is to provide a process cartridge which is integrally formed with at least a replaceable photoreceptor and a cleaning unit, a paper feeding means consisting of a transfer material manual feed guide, and at least one side of which is open. and a transfer material conveyance path having an open surface, the manual transfer material guide plate being opened and closed by power operation of the apparatus, and the process cartridge being replaceable by opening the open surface. This is achieved by an image forming apparatus that uses

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

In FIG. 1, the main body of the device is composed of an upper casing X1 and a bottom plate X2 on which the upper casing X1 is placed.
1 is attached to the bottom plate X2 by fitting as shown in the figure, and is coupled and integrated via a locking member (not shown). 1 is a flexible photoreceptor belt which is a belt-like image forming member;
is stretched between the driving roller 2 and the driven roller 3, and is conveyed in the clockwise direction.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a guide member fixed to the main body of the apparatus so as to inscribe the lower side of the photoreceptor belt 1, and 5 denotes a tension roller that causes the photoreceptor belt 1 to be inscribed in the guide member 4 in a tensioned state. The guide member 4 and the tension roller 5 make it possible to form a stable image forming surface on the photoreceptor belt 1.

6 is a scorotron charger as a charging means; 7
is a laser writing system unit which is an image exposure means. In addition to the optical system shown in the figure, the laser writing system unit 7 includes:
It is also possible to use an optical system that integrates a light emitting part and a convergent light transmission body.

8, 9, 10, 11 are developers of different colors;
For example, a plurality of developing devices are used as developing means each containing yellow, magenta, cyan, and black developers, and the developing devices 8 to 11 are disposed opposite to the photoreceptor belt 1 in which the guide member 4 is inscribed. has been done. Each of these developing devices 8 to 1
1 includes developing sleeves 8A, 9A, 10A, and 11A that maintain a predetermined gap from the photoreceptor belt 1, and has a function of making a latent image on the photoreceptor belt 1 visible by 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 charge eliminating bar, and 13 is a cleaning device. The blade 13A of the cleaning device 13 and the toner conveying roller 13B are kept at a position apart from the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 during image formation, and only when cleaning the photoreceptor belt 1 after image transfer, as shown in the figure Pressed against the surface.

The process of the color image forming apparatus using the color image forming apparatus described above is carried out as follows.

First, the formation of a multicolor image according to this embodiment is performed according to the following image forming system. That is, an original image is obtained by a color image data input unit scanned by an image sensor, and the data is subjected to arithmetic processing in an image data processing unit to create image data, which is temporarily stored in an image memory. Then, the image memory is taken out at the time of recording and is stored in the recording section, for example, in FIG.
is input to the color image forming apparatus shown in the embodiment. 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, a laser beam generated by a semiconductor laser (not shown) in the laser writing system unit 7 is the drive motor 7
On the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt 1, which is rotated and scanned by a polygon mirror 7B rotated by A, and whose optical path is bent by mirrors 7D and 7E via an fθ lens 7C, and which is charged in advance by a charger 6 serving as a charging means. It is projected to form an emission 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, a latent image corresponding to the first color is formed on the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 by the main scanning by the laser beam and the sub-scanning by the conveyance of the photoreceptor belt 1. This latent image is yellow (Y) in the developing means.
The developing device 8 loaded with toner (developing medium) forms a toner image on the drum surface. The obtained toner image passes under the blade 13A of the cleaning device 13, which is separated from the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 while being held on the drum surface, and enters the next copy cycle.

The photoreceptor belt 1 is charged again by the charger 6, and then the second color signal outputted from the signal processing section is input to the writing system unit 7, and the above-mentioned first color signal is input to the writing system unit 7.
Writing is performed on the drum surface in the same manner as in the case of color signals, and a latent image is formed. The latent image is developed by a developer 9 loaded with magenta (M) toner as a second color. A magenta (M) toner image is formed in the presence of the previously formed yellow (Y) toner image. Similarly, a cyan (C) toner image is formed in the developing device 10 containing cyan (C) toner, and a black toner image is superimposed and formed on the belt surface in the developing device 11 containing black toner. .

A direct current or alternating current bias is applied to each sleeve of each of these developing devices 8, 9, 10, and 11, and jumping development is performed using a two-component developer serving as a developing means, and the substrate is grounded. Development is performed on the photoreceptor belt 1 in a non-contact manner. Note that non-contact development using a one-component developer can also be used for development.

As described above, the color toner image formed on the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 is transferred onto transfer paper that is manually fed.

On the side of the device facing the paper feed path 15, there is a manual feed guide plate 2 that can be opened at the position indicated by the dashed line.
1 is provided, and the transfer paper inserted from above the manual guide plate 21 is conveyed to the paper feed path 15 via the manual guide roller 22, which is rotated by a signal from the photoswitch S3 that detects the transfer paper. .

The transfer paper conveyed to the paper feed path 15 is supplied to the transfer device 12 via a timing roller 17 in synchronization with the image formation on the photoreceptor belt 1.

As described above, the transfer paper, which is supplied to the transfer device 12 and subjected to image transfer and charge removal, is transferred to the photoreceptor belt 1 which rapidly changes direction (with a small diameter curvature) along the drive roller 2.
The sheets are separated more reliably and moved upward, and after the images are fused by the fixing roller 18, they are discharged onto the paper discharge tray 20 via the paper discharge roller 19, and are stacked.

On the other hand, the photoreceptor belt 1 that has completed the transfer to the transfer paper continues to be transported to the cleaning device 1 with the blade 13A and the toner transport roller 13B in pressure contact state.
In step 3, residual toner is removed. After cleaning is completed, the blade 13A is pulled away again, and a little later, the toner conveyance roller 13B smoothes the toner accumulated on the tip of the blade 13A, and then the toner conveyance roller 13B is pulled away to begin a new image forming process.

Opening and closing of the manual feed guide plate 21 is automatically performed by operating the power switch of the device.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a sector gear G having the rotary shaft 21A as a fulcrum is integrally attached to the manual feed guide plate 21, and an electromagnetic clutch (not shown) is connected to the rotary shaft of the motor M3. Pinion P3 installed via
is engaged with.

When the apparatus is used alone, that is, with the upper housing X1 and the bottom plate X2 attached as shown in FIG. 1, the electromagnetic clutches are simultaneously turned on or off by operating the power switch of the apparatus.

When the power switch of the device is turned from OFF to ON, the motor M3 rotates forward, drives the pinion P3 clockwise, and the manual feed guide plate 21 opens counterclockwise (indicated by a dashed line) and stops.

When the power switch is turned OFF, the motor M3 rotates in the opposite direction and drives the pinion P3 counterclockwise.
As a result, the manual feed guide plate 21 is again closed and stopped at the position shown by the solid line.

On the other hand, the photosensitive belt 1 and each developing device, including one member of each pair of the charger 6, the cleaning device 13, the paper feed path 15, and the timing roller 17, are integrated into the process cartridge 30. Then, they can be attached to and detached from the main body of the device all at once.

When the cartridge 30 is installed in the upper housing X1, a corresponding toner hopper 15 is provided for each developing device.
Each of the toner conveying pipes 151 of No. 0 is automatically connected to enter a state in which toner replenishment is performed.

Further, the upper housing X1 has a clamshell structure that can be divided into upper and lower parts, and the upper body housing the toner hopper 150 is separated from the lower body housing the cartridge 30 and the laser writing system unit 7 as shown in FIG. The lid can be opened clockwise using the hinge 160 shown as a fulcrum and held in that position.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a configuration in which, in addition to opening the upper body, the left side of the lower body is provided with a horizontal cover 161 that can be opened and closed using a support shaft 161A as a fulcrum.The horizontal cover 161 can be opened as shown in the figure. Paper feed path 1
The entire area of the transfer paper conveyance path from 5 to the paper ejection roller 19 is opened, and at the same time, the cartridge 30 can be inserted and removed from the lower main body very easily by sliding it in the direction of arrow A or B in a horizontal state. It will be done.

Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned manual paper feeding, the apparatus can also perform automatic paper feeding using a transfer material storage means, so-called paper feeding cassette.

[0033] When automatically feeding paper, the upper housing X1 is
It is placed and electrically connected to a separate lower housing X3 as shown in FIG.

When the upper housing X1 is connected to the lower housing X3, the cooperative action between the power switch and the electromagnetic clutch provided on the rotating shaft of the motor M3 is released, and priority is given to automatic sheet feeding using the aforementioned supply cassette. It will be done as follows.

[0035] Note that the power switch of the upper housing X1 is ON.
Even if the manual feed guide plate 21 is open in this state, the power switch is turned off by removing the bottom plate X2, and the manual feed guide plate 21 is automatically closed.

The automatically fed transfer paper is placed in one of the upper and lower stages in the lower casing Paper is carried out from the paper feed cassette 14 and fed.

Each of the cassettes 14 has a passage guide 141 provided with a slit-shaped guide hole 141A at the side end facing the front surface (corresponding to the left side in FIG. 4) of the lower housing X3 by adhesive or the like. The transfer paper carried out from the lower cassette 14 is inserted into the guide hole 141A of the passage guide 141 which is fixed and attached to the upper cassette 14, and the transfer paper is inserted into the paper feed path 15 as shown by the two-dot chain line. and transport guide (a) 100a, transport guide (b) 100b, and cartridge side plate 310.
The paper is fed toward the transfer device 12 through a paper feed path 15 consisting of the following.

The cassette 14 is horizontally inserted into the lower housing X3 from the front side of the apparatus main body by a handle 141B formed by the passage guide 141, and is slid along a guide member (not shown) in the lower housing X3. It is then locked in the mounting position and placed in the paper feeding state.

When the cassette 14 is attached to the lower housing X3, the paper feeding device provided in the lower housing X3 is operated to set the paper feeding state.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the paper feeding device as the cassette 14 is inserted.

The cassette 14 has a plate-like protrusion 14A at the end opposite to the end to which the passage guide 141 is attached, and a rack tooth R is formed on one side of the protrusion 14A.

On the other hand, inside the lower housing X3, motors M1 and M2, a microswitch S1, and a photoelectric switch S2 comprising a photocoupler are arranged.

The motor M1 has a pinion P1 on its rotating shaft, and when the cassette 14 is inserted to a predetermined position in the lower housing X3, the rack teeth R of the cassette 14 mesh with the pinion P1.

Further, the motor M2 has a push-up lever 142 fixed on its rotating shaft in a horizontal state, and a roller 142A attached to the tip thereof, so that when the cassette 14 has not reached the mounting position, the motor M2 is The roller 142A is rotated counterclockwise and the roller 142A is moved to the cassette 1.
It is retracted below the insertion path No. 4.

On the other hand, the paper feed roller 16 is supported at the tip of a paper feed lever 16B that rotates around the axis of the separation roller 16A as a fulcrum, and is supported by an elastic member ( (not shown) is placed at its lower limit stop position and held above the insertion path of the cassette 14.

The cassette 14 is manually inserted into the lower housing X3.
When the cassette 14 is inserted to a predetermined position within the cassette 14, the rack teeth R of the cassette 14 mesh with the pinion P1 of the motor M1, as shown in FIG. 5(A).

If the insertion of the cassette 14 is continued for a while from this state, the microswitch S will open as shown in FIG. 5(B).
1 is switched from OFF to ON by pressing the bottom surface of the cassette 14, the motor M1 is operated, and the insertion operation of the cassette 14 is automatically continued by rotation of the pinion P1.

When the cassette 14 reaches the mounting position, the photoelectric switch S2 is switched from OFF to ON by the protrusion 14A on the side surface of the cassette 14, stopping the operation of the motor M1 and locking the cassette 14 at that position.

When the photoelectric switch S2 is switched from OFF to ON, the motor M2 is simultaneously operated to rotate the push-up lever 142 clockwise and push up the bottom plate 14B inside the cassette 14 using the roller 142A.

The bottom plate 14B has transfer paper stacked thereon, and when the paper feed roller 16 is pushed upward with the uppermost transfer paper and positioned at a predetermined height by the above-mentioned push-up operation, the paper feed lever is activated. The torque limiter T attached to the shaft support of 16B is activated to turn off the motor M2, and the transfer paper is brought into contact with the paper feed roller 16 with a predetermined pressing force as shown in FIG. 5(C). Set the holding cassette 14 to the paper feeding state.

From the state shown in FIG. 5(C), the paper feed roller 1
6 and the handling roller 16A rotate the transfer paper.
When paper is fed and the amount of transfer paper loaded on the bottom plate 14B decreases, the paper feed roller 16 descends accordingly, and the paper feed lever 16B is returned clockwise, and as a result, the torque limiter T returns to its initial state. Then, the rotation of the motor M2 is restarted, thereby raising the transfer paper again and continuously maintaining the paper feeding state of the cassette 14. This operation is repeated during paper feeding.

When taking out the cassette 14 from the lower housing X3, the motors M1 and M2 are switched to reverse rotation mode and turned on by pressing the cassette release button provided on the front of the device, etc., and the push lever 142 is thereby turned on. is rotated counterclockwise to retract the roller 142A below the cassette 14, and at the same time, the pinion P1 is reversely rotated to automatically push the cassette 14 to a predetermined position within the lower housing X3.

[0053] Therefore, the cassette 14 can be easily removed from the lower housing X3 by slightly pulling it out using the handle 141B.

[0054] Each cassette 14 is provided inside the lower housing X3.
In an apparatus having a slideable tray on which the cassette 14 is placed, the rack teeth R can be formed on the side surface of the tray, and the cassette 14 can be attached and detached by moving the tray.

In addition to the means of pressing the transfer paper against the paper feed roller 16 by pushing up the bottom plate 14B shown in this embodiment, it is also possible to push up the entire cassette 14 and tilt it to bring it into the paper feed state. It is.

Each of the transfer sheets carried out and fed from the cassette 14 is sent out one by one directly or through the passage guide 141 to the paper feed path 15, where the image is transferred.

Further, the upper casing X1 can be used to manually feed transfer paper at any time even during automatic paper feeding by the lower casing X3.

In this case, the manual feed guide plate 21 can be opened and closed manually by releasing the electromagnetic clutch on the rotating shaft of the motor M3, so opening the switch S4 by opening the manual feed guide plate 21 opens the lower housing X3. With the automatic feeding of transfer paper from the side stopped, it is possible to manually feed paper by performing exactly the same operations as when the bottom plate X2 is attached.

[0059]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, operations such as inserting and removing a process cartridge into the apparatus main body, feeding transfer paper manually, or installing a paper feed cassette for automatic paper feeding can be performed from the same side of the apparatus. An image forming apparatus that is easy to handle and easy to maintain has now been provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of essential parts of the device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the device in an open state.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram when a cassette storage stand is attached.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a mounting mechanism for a paper feed cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Photoconductor belt 6...Charger 7...Laser writing system unit 8, 9, 10, 11...Developer 1
2...Transfer device 13...Cleaning device 1
4...Paper feed cassette 15...Paper feed path
17...Timing roller 21...Manual feed guide plate 22...Manual feed guide roller 3
0...Process cartridge 161...Side cover M
…Motor G…Sector gear X1…Upper casing X
2...Bottom plate X3...Lower housing

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A process cartridge integrally comprising at least a replaceable photoconductor and a cleaning unit, a paper feeding means consisting of a transfer material manual feed guide, and a transfer device having an open surface with at least one side openable. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a material conveyance path; the manual transfer material guide plate is opened and closed by operating the power supply of the apparatus; and the process cartridge is replaceable by opening the open surface. 2. A lower casing housing at least one removable transfer material storing means is attachable, and when the lower casing is in the attached state, a device for the manual transfer material guide plate is provided. When the power is turned on, the automatic opening/closing circuit is opened to give priority to the paper feeding means by the transfer material storage means of the lower housing, and the transfer material storage means is inserted and removed from the same direction as the paper feeding direction of the paper feeding means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: