JPH0470865A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate exchange of consumables and jamming processing by automatically making an opening part into closed state corresponding to loading of a processing unit to the device main body. CONSTITUTION:When generation of jamming of a transfer material is detected, a motor M is positively rotated, a box body 10 is rotated to open the opening part of the device main body, and the rotation of the motor M is stopped at an angle where a sector gear 8 pushes and turns a switch MS2 to ON. With the opened state of the opening part, the jamming processing is facilitated. Then, when the processing unit 6 is inserted to a garage 7, a photosensor 7A is turned ON by a shielding plate 6A, a processing unit storing signal is inputted to a control part, the motor M is driven in counter clockwise direction to rotate the box body 10, the gear 8 is stopped at an angle to change over the switch MS1 to ON, and the opening part is automatically turned to a closed state where copying can be carried out.

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]

Analog copiers that use electrophotography, semiconductor lasers,
In image forming devices such as copying machines and printers using LED scanning systems, it is used as a part of the image forming means to replenish and replace various photoreceptors, developer carriers, cleaning members, and developer toner that have a useful life when they are exhausted. The image forming means is constructed in the form of a cartridge, which has been conventionally used in parts, personal copiers, small printers, etc., and the integral parts of the image forming means are taken out of the apparatus for maintenance or replacement. On the other hand, various configurations have been proposed in which the conveyance path of the transfer material on which the 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 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 device, making it easy to replace each unit. A device that facilitates repair has been proposed, and then a device that integrates the main parts of these image forming means and makes it disposable is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-1542.
In addition, a printer configuration using a similar disposable cartridge and forming a latent image on a photoreceptor drum by dot exposure scanning writing using a semiconductor laser is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 147366/1983, and further. Minutes in these bulletins! ! A structure is disclosed in which the upper housing of the FW structure is opened to open the transfer material conveyance path and take out the transfer material in the event of a jam.In addition, in the publication disclosing the above-mentioned disposable cartridge, the upper housing of the two-part structure has a disposable process. The cartridge is configured to be replaceable, and attempts are made to improve the workability of cartridge replacement and ease of jam removal. In addition, we focused on the ease of replacing process cartridges, mainly replenishment toner cartridges and linting cartridges for recovered toner, and improved maintenance workability by dividing the process cartridge into two parts, especially by placing the process cartridge in the lower housing. What was planned was JP-A-58-11.
It is disclosed in Publication No. 61.

In particular, the above structure is vertically shaped, and JP-A-63-2
No. 44058, No. 63-244059, No. 63-24
No. 4064, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1-179168, etc., have proposed devices designed to improve same-direction operation and jam handling.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in a process cartridge in which the developing device, image carrier, etc. are replaceable with respect to the apparatus main body, it is easy to load and remove it from the apparatus main body, and it is easy to handle when inserting and removing it into the apparatus main body. Leakage of toner or developer from the developing device,
No compact color printer has been proposed that has a process cartridge that does not have to worry about collapsing or the like, and is also free from these problems, especially when dealing with transfer material jams.

In particular, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-1980 has a structure in which a disposable cartridge is provided in the upper casing with a two-part structure that facilitates the above-mentioned jam handling.
72159, etc., a process cartridge is provided in the lower casing to facilitate replenishment and replacement of collected toner, and the process cartridge for developing, cleaning, photosensitive drums, etc. is lifted upward when handling jams. The structures described in JP-A-58-1161 conflict with each other in terms of workability for replacement and ease of jam removal.Furthermore, since these process cartridges have paper feeding and conveyance systems at the bottom, it is difficult to replace process cartridges and equipment. Even if you carefully clean the cartridge 7 to prevent toner from spilling due to external vibrations or shocks to the main unit, toner may spill from the developer or cleaner section, causing stains inside the machine or on the transfer paper. Teiko.

In addition, with the two-part structure, the process cartridge installed in the upper housing is always kept horizontal to prevent waste toner from collapsing when the upper housing is opened.
As disclosed in the above publication, although the ease of loading and jam removal is intended, the toner image surface may be damaged when loading from the downward developing section or cleaner section, or during other minced meat replacement operations, etc. - It was not a simple and effective configuration that could solve problems such as leakage.

On the other hand, as a configuration capable of avoiding such structural defects, a printer as shown in FIG. 2 of Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-195357 has been disclosed. The above-mentioned plink also has a process cartridge built inside, and a flat feeding path is formed at the top, but at the same time that the transferred toner image surface is facing downward, it is fixed from the transfer material separating section of the photoreceptor drum I. The problem of the conveyance unit has not been solved due to the limitation of the conveyance path leading to the section 26, and the ease of clearing jams when dividing into two parts, and the overall compactness due to the upstand stack feeding configuration. In particular, the opening angle of the upper housing is restricted when the upper housing is divided into two parts using the shaft 27 as a fulcrum, and the apparatus is not necessarily easy to operate for the user.

In recent years, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1983-1999 has developed a system using a compact cartridge and solving the same problems of transportability, jam handling, and same-direction operation.
No. 40850, No. 63-244059, etc. disclose that a second paper feed roller (transfer material registration roller) is used to adjust the timing between the transfer material fed from a normal paper feed cassette and the photosensitive drum. However, the paper feed roller (transfer material delivery roller) has a structure that requires manual timing, but it does not necessarily make the structure more compact or easy to transport, and both of them are compact, including the paper feed cassette and space. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, although the transfer material conveyance path is designed to be vertical and easy to handle in the event of a jam, it is not easy to use when inserting or removing the cartridge 106. It is difficult for the force to be applied in parallel to the guide line 107 when taking the guide member in and out by tilting the drawer, especially when pulling it out.If the force is not applied in parallel to the guide line 107, there will be roughness between the guide members and a smooth drawing action cannot be performed.

For this reason, it is difficult for the user to perform loading/unloading and insertion operations, and in particular, toner smearing and leakage occur due to vibrations caused by misalignment at the guide end during loading/unloading, and the operability is not always satisfactory to the user.

As a result of solving and improving this point, the present invention facilitates the replacement of consumables, maintenance and replacement of materials, and jam handling.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus configured such that all of the above operations can be performed from the same side of the apparatus.

[Means for solving problems]

The above object is to automatically close the opening in response to attachment of the process unit to the apparatus main body in an image forming apparatus having an opening in which a replaceable process unit can be housed. This is achieved by an image forming apparatus having the following characteristics.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 1-8.

1 and 2 show an example of an image forming apparatus equipped with a drum-shaped photoreceptor, where l is a photoreceptor unit containing the drum-shaped photoreceptor, 2 is a charger, and 3 is the photoreceptor. This is a scanning optical system that performs laser exposure with a device for writing an original image onto a document.

4 is a developing unit that develops the latent image formed on the photoreceptor by the writing device 3, and 5 is a cleaning unit that cleans residual toner on the photoreceptor after image transfer.

On the other hand, 11 is a paper feed cassette for storing transfer paper, 12 and 13 are rollers for transporting and feeding the transfer paper, and 1
4 is a transfer device, 15 is a conveyance roller, 16 is a fixing roller, and 17 and 18 are a paper discharge roller and a paper discharge tray.

The image forming and transfer processes in the image forming apparatus are performed as follows.

The drum-shaped photoreceptor is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the drive of the shaft IA, and a potential is applied to the photoreceptor by corona discharge from the charger 2.

The photoreceptor to which a potential has been applied is placed in the writing device 3 and forms an electrostatic latent image by exposure scanning of the original image based on a signal from a separate reading device.

Next, the latent image is transferred to the developing sleeve 4A of the developing unit 4.
The toner image is developed into a toner image and conveyed to the transfer section constituted by the transfer device 14 by rotation of the photoreceptor.

On the other hand, the transfer paper 11 is conveyed one by one by the operation of the conveyance roller 12, and is fed to the transfer section via the paper feed roller 13 in synchronization with the toner image.

The fed transfer paper is in close contact with the photoconductor and is charged by the transfer device 14 to transfer the toner image thereon, and is separated from the photoconductor and sent to the fixing roller 16 via the conveyance roller 15 to form the toner image. After welding, the paper is discharged to a paper discharge tray 18 via a paper discharge roller 17.

In parallel with this, the photoreceptor from which the transfer paper has been separated is cleaned to remove residual toner in the cleaning unit 7 5, and then enters the next image forming process.

The light emitting unit 1 is housed in an integrated cartridge together with a charger 2, a developing unit 4, and a cleaning unit 5, forming an independent process unit 6;
The image forming apparatus shown above is housed in a garage 7 in a movable housing 10 that constitutes the upper left part, while the transfer paper transport system from the writing device 3 to the paper feed cassette 11 to the fixing roller 16 is a fixed device. They are individually incorporated into the main body 20.

The housing lO is supported by the device main body 20 so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 10A, and a flat gear 8 is fixed to the bearing portion of the housing lO.

On the other hand, the device main body 20 has a reversible motor M with a reducer.
is installed, and the pinion P on the rotating shaft meshes with the flat gear 8, and the rotation of the motor M causes the flat gear 8 to rotate.
can be rotated between switches MS12OA and MS220B.

Therefore, the housing 10 is opened and closed via the flat gear 8 by forward and reverse rotation of the motor, and the opening forming the transfer paper conveyance system of the apparatus main body 20 changes from the closed state shown in FIG. 1 to the open state shown in FIG. It is possible to change the state and divide the transfer paper conveyance path, or vice versa, to return from an open state to a closed state.

As shown in FIG. 4, the motor M is driven by an output from a control section that detects the storage of the process unit 6, the occurrence of various troubles, or the lifespan and degree of wear and tear of the image process forming material.

The casing IO is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body via a support shaft 10A, and by rotating counterclockwise, the lid is opened and an opening in the upper part of the apparatus main body is opened.

That is, the housing 10 has a flat gear 8 integrated in its rotating base that meshes with a pinion P of a motor M on the device main body side, and is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 2 by the rotation of the motor M. held at a given angle.

The opening operation of the housing 10, that is, the rotation of the motor M,
It is automatically started at the cycle of replacing, inspecting, or replenishing the process materials mentioned above, and at the timing when a trouble occurs in transporting the transfer material.

The process unit 6 has a counter function that adds up the frequency of use of the process materials it accommodates, and when it is newly installed in the mounting main body, the protrusion member 31 on the side of the cartridge shown in FIG. Press <-35 on the installed counter C to return the display on counter C to O, and record the number of times it has been used since then. Each predetermined frequency (standard value) of life cycle, etc.
At the point in time, the electric signal S from the counter C is output.

〔example〕

Cleaning durability replacement...20.0OOC Drum life replacement...60.0OOC At 60,000, the counter C was replaced due to the insertion of a new process unit.
will be reset again.

Based on this signal, it is detected whether the photosensitive drum 1, the charger 6, each developing device, and the cleaning device 13 are to be replaced or inspected.

The protruding member 31 is described in the applicant's actual publication No. 2829.
The proposal in Publication No. 5 is applied, thereby preventing the same process unit 6 from resetting the counter C.

The process unit 6 is also equipped with a sensor that detects the remaining amount of toner in the toner replenishment hoop 7c 4B and the amount of toner collected in the waste toner collection box 5B. A signal S' is transmitted to the main body of the apparatus via the connector 32 shown in the figure, and the timing of replenishment or replacement is detected. At the time of replacement in the maintenance cycle or replenishment of consumable materials, a replacement display is displayed on the operation display section 60 in response to signals s and s'.

On the other hand, photo sensors SL, S2. When S3, S4, etc. are arranged and the sensor located on the upstream side of each transport detects the passage of the transfer material, the sensor located on the downstream side cannot detect the transfer material even after a predetermined time has elapsed. A signal is output and the occurrence of a jam in the transfer material is detected.

Each of the detected signals described above is input to a control section of the apparatus main body, and output as a signal for controlling the rotation of the motor.

On the other hand, a jam display is lit on the operation display section 60.

Hereinafter, the process of controlling the rotation of the motor M using each of the above-mentioned signals will be explained with reference to the control circuit configuration diagram in FIG. 4 and the 70-chart shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, when any one of the above-mentioned signals is input to the control section of the main body of the apparatus, the motor M
A signal is output to supply power for forward rotation to.

Due to the forward rotation of the motor M, the housing lO is rotated from the angle shown in FIG. 1 to the angle shown in FIG. The rotation of the motor M is stopped at the angle at which the switch MS2 on the main body of the device is switched from OFF to ON.

Therefore, the jam can be easily cleared by the open state of the opening.

When the process unit 6 is removed from the garage 7 for replacing or replenishing process materials, the process unit 6 is placed in the garage 7 again as shown in FIG. When inserted into the garage 7 in the garage 7, the light shielding plate 6A turns the sensor 7A in the garage 7 into the
N, input the process unit storage signal to the control section, drive the motor M in the reverse direction, that is, counterclockwise, rotate the housing lO clockwise, and stop at an angle where the flat gear 8 switches the switch MSl from OFF to ON. Then, the opening in the upper part of the apparatus main body is closed, and the opening forming the transfer paper conveyance system of the apparatus main body 20 is automatically brought into the closed state in which copying is possible as shown in FIG. In this state, when the MSI signal and the ON signal from the photosensor 7A are received, the jam display, replacement display, etc. are extinguished.

In addition, if the process unit 6 is left in the garage 7 for only jamming of the transfer material, an automatic By pressing a reset button provided on the operation panel in consideration of safety for opening and closing, a signal for supplying power for reverse rotation to the motor M is output in place of the action by the photosensor 7A.

Incidentally, if an electromagnetic clutch is installed between the rotating shaft of the motor M and the pinion P, and the electromagnetic clutch is turned off except when the motor M is energized, the casing 10 can also be rotated manually. Therefore, even if the device is powered off, the opening of the device body 20 can be opened and closed at will.

Furthermore, even in the case of a color image forming apparatus using a belt-shaped photoreceptor as shown in the example of FIG. It can be opened and closed.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 101 denotes a photoconductor unit containing a belt-shaped photoconductor, and the belt-shaped photoconductor, that is, the photoconductor belt is stretched between a driving roller 102 and a driven roller 103.
Conveyed in a clockwise direction.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a guide member fixed to the main body of the apparatus so as to inscribe the lower side of the photoreceptor belt, and reference numeral 105 denotes a tension roller that causes the photoreceptor belt to be inscribed in the guide member 104 in a tensioned state. The guide member 104 and the tension roller 105 make it possible to form a stable image forming surface on the photoreceptor belt.

106 is a scorotron charger which is a charging means, and 107 is a laser writing system unit which is an image exposure means.

108.109.11O,llll is a developer of a different color,
For example, the developing devices are a plurality of developing means each containing yellow, magenta, cyan, and black developers. ing. Each of these developing units 108 to lit has developing sleeves 108A, 109A, 110A, and IIIA that maintain a predetermined gap with the photoreceptor belt.
It has the function of developing a latent image on a photoreceptor belt using a non-contact development method.

112 is a transfer device, 112A is a static eliminating bar, and 113 is a cleaning unit. The blade 113A and toner transport 113B of the cleaning unit 113 are kept at a position apart from the surface of the photoreceptor belt during image formation, and are brought into pressure contact with the surface of the photoreceptor belt as shown in the figure only during cleaning after image transfer.

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 using the following image forming system I. That is, an original image is obtained by a color image data input unit scanned by an image sensor, and the data image data processing unit performs arithmetic processing to create image data.
- Stored in star image memory. Then, the image memory is taken out during recording and inputted to a recording section, for example, a color image forming apparatus shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6. That is, when a color signal output from an image reading device separate from the printer is input to the laser writing system unit 107, a laser beam generated by a semiconductor laser (not shown) in the laser writing system unit 107 is used. The light is projected onto the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt, which has been charged in advance by a charger 106 serving as 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. Therefore, a latent image corresponding to the first color is formed on the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt by main scanning by the laser beam and sub-scanning by the conveyance of the photoreceptor belt. This latent image is developed by a developing device 108 loaded with yellow (Y) toner (M image medium) of the developing means, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor belt. The obtained toner image passes under the blade 13A of the cleaning unit 113, which is separated from the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor belt while being held on the drum surface, and enters the next copy cycle.

The photoreceptor belt is charged again by a charger 106,
Next, the second color signal output from the signal processing section is input to the writing system unit 107, and is written on the belt surface in the same manner as the first color signal described above to form a latent image. . The latent image is magenta (M) as the second color.
The image is developed by a developing device 109 loaded with toner.

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 110 containing cyan (C) toner. A toner image is formed, and then a black toner image is superimposed and formed on the belt surface using a developing device lll having black toner.

These developing devices 108, 109, 110. llllll Resleeve A direct current or alternating current bias is applied, and jumping development is performed using a two-component developer as a developing means, so that development is performed without contacting the photoreceptor belt whose base is grounded. 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 is transferred to transfer paper. The transfer paper is in the developing device 1.
From the paper feed cassette 114 in the cassette storage chamber 140 below 08 to 111, the top layer is sent one by one to the paper feed path 115 by the friction of the paper feed roller 116, and then passed through the timing roller 117 and placed on the photoreceptor belt. The image is supplied to the transfer device 112 in synchronization with image formation. As a means of handling the transfer paper, I use a handling roller II6A.

As described above, the transfer paper that is supplied to the transfer device 112 and subjected to image transfer and electrostatic discharge is reliably separated from the photoreceptor belt that changes direction abruptly (with a small diameter curvature) along the drive roller 102. After the images are fused upward by the fixing roller 118, the sheets are discharged onto the paper discharge tray 120 via the paper discharge roller 119 and stacked.

On the other hand, the photoreceptor belt that has completed the transfer to the transfer paper continues to be conveyed to the blade ll3A and the toner conveying roller 113.
The remaining toner is removed in the cleaning unit 113 with B pressed into contact with the blade 113A. After cleaning is completed, the blade 113A is pulled away again, and a little later, the toner conveying roller 113B is moved to the blade 113A.
After that, the toner transport roller 113B is removed and a new image forming process begins.

The photoreceptor unit 101 is housed in an integrated cartridge together with a charger 106, a cleaning unit/nod 113, and each developer, and an independent process unit 130.
It is stored in the main body of the device.

The process unit I30 opens the opening of the apparatus main body by opening the horizontal cover formed on the left side of the apparatus main body horizontally as shown in FIG. 7 or upwardly as shown in FIG. Thereby said process unit 13
ll11 is configured to allow horizontal insertion and removal of the transfer sheet and to divide the transfer paper conveyance path into left and right sides.

In a device equipped with a horizontal cover 161 that opens and closes in the horizontal direction,
As shown in FIG. 7, a sector gear IE 161B with a lower support shaft 161A as a fulcrum of rotation is provided integrally with the horizontal cover 161, and the sector gear 161B is a reversible gear with a reducer installed on the device main body side. It is meshed with a pinion P on the rotating shaft of the motor M.

On the other hand, in an apparatus equipped with a horizontal cover 162 that opens and closes in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. The flat gear 162B is meshed with a pinion P on the rotating shaft of a reversible motor M with a speed reducer installed on the main body side of the device.

In addition, each of the process units 130 is equipped with a light shielding plate 130A as in the previous embodiment, and when inserted into the apparatus main body, it turns on the photosensor 131 in the apparatus, and prevents jams, malfunctions, etc. It has various mechanisms, sensors and control units that detect the lifespan and degree of wear and tear of image process forming materials.

Therefore, in this example as well, as shown in FIG. 4, the motor M can be driven by the output from the control section in response to the input from each sensor to automatically open and close the opening of the apparatus body.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, it becomes extremely easy to attach and detach the process unit that houses the photoreceptor and other image forming equipment to the main body of the apparatus, and also prevents transfer material from jamming, failure of the apparatus, or when it is time for inspection and maintenance. As a result, the main body of the device is automatically opened in response to the image forming process, allowing for better maintenance, resulting in the provision of an image forming device that is easy to operate and can always consistently obtain high-quality images. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are cross-sectional configuration diagrams of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cartridge, and FIG. 4 is a control system for operating the opening of the apparatus. FIGS. 51(a) and 51(b) are flowcharts. 1.101... Photoreceptor unit 2... Charger 4.
108, 109, 110. lit...Developing unit 5
．． 113. ,,Cleaning unit 6.130...
Process unit 6 A, 130A... Light shielding plate 7... Garage 7 A, 131... Photo sensor 8. 161B, 162B... Sector gear lO... Housing 10A, 161A... Support shaft 20・・・
・Device body 131.132...Side cover M...Motor P...Pinion Fig. 3

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) An image forming apparatus having an opening capable of housing a replaceable process unit, characterized in that the opening is automatically closed in response to attachment of the process unit to the apparatus main body. image forming apparatus. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process unit includes at least a photoreceptor unit and a cleaning unit. (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process unit comprises a developing unit or a developing unit and a toner supply unit. (4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening section is automatically opened by detecting the maintenance life of an image process forming material used in the process unit or the consumption of the material. . (5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening is automatically opened by detecting the occurrence of a jamming accident or the failure of the apparatus. (6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening has a mechanism that can be opened and closed manually. (7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening is an opening that can be opened and closed in sections on the transfer paper conveyance path. (8) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening section comprises at least a transfer paper conveyance system and a fixing section.