JPH048421Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and particularly relates to the body structure thereof.

[Prior art and its problems]

In the past, in order to meet the demands for smaller image forming apparatuses and easier maintenance, each process element, such as a photoreceptor drum, cleaner, charger, etc., was integrated into a unit (hereinafter referred to as DS), or a magnet roll. It is known that a developing device such as a toner container containing toner is made into a unit (hereinafter referred to as TS) and configured to be replaceable depending on the useful life of each developing device.

Hereinafter, a conventional example will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing how the DS and TS process units are installed. In the figure, TS (toner set) is a developing device having a magnet roll 1 and toner 2 inside, and is detachably installed in the main body of the apparatus by a support shaft 3 as a single unit.

Further, a DS (drum set) is a unit in which a photosensitive drum 4, a cleaner 5, a charger, etc. are integrated, and is also removably attached to the main body of the apparatus via a support shaft 6.

The mounted photosensitive drum 4 of the DS and the magnet roll 1 of the TS need to be in contact with each other in order to develop the electrostatic latent image by rubbing, and are supported and biased in the direction of arrow C. Furthermore, a toner receiving portion 7 is formed at the lower end of the TS to prevent toner from scattering from the opening where the magnet roll 1 is disposed. Therefore, due to these intricate configurations, the grooves 8, 9 supporting the support shafts 3, 6 of each unit are inclined in the direction toward each other.

However, if this inclination is too large, it becomes difficult to mount each process unit, so it has not been possible to make the inclination extremely large.

In the image forming apparatus formed as described above, the toner receiving portion 7 of the TS is located below the contact point between the magnet roll 1 and the photosensitive drum 4, and
Since it protrudes in the direction of the drum 4, there is a risk that if the TS is pulled upward first, the toner receiving portion 7 will come into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 and damage it. Furthermore, when replacing the image forming unit, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 4 may be similarly damaged if the TS is attached later.

Furthermore, it is insufficient to simply instruct the procedure for attaching or detaching the DS and TS using an operating manual or the like, and damage is likely to occur due to errors in the user's operating procedures.

[Purpose of invention]

In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional technology, the present invention has been developed to
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that mechanically limits the operating procedure when attaching and detaching the image forming apparatus, and does not reduce operability.

[Key points of the idea]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an upper fuselage pivotably supported on a lower fuselage so as to be freely openable and closable.
In an image forming apparatus in which first and second unit members, which are attached to an apparatus main body and have a function of processing at least one step of an image forming processing process, are detachably provided, the unit members are attached to a mounting part to which the unit members are attached. The first and second mounting portions of the first unit member are slidably biased by a spring in a direction that protrudes into the mounting portion, retreats, and closes the second mounting portion. The above-mentioned second
a lock member that locks the first unit member while releasing the attachment portion of the second unit member; and a lock member that engages with a portion of the lock member as the second unit member is attached to the second attachment portion. and a lever member for preventing the lock member from sliding; the lock mechanism prohibits mounting of the second unit member without mounting the first unit member; The present invention is characterized in that removal of the first unit member is prohibited without removing the second unit member.

[Example of idea]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of essential parts of a printer showing an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same parts described in the conventional example will be described with the same reference numerals.

In the figure, the printer is composed of an upper body 10 and a lower body 11, and is provided so as to be openable and closable on a shaft 12. The upper body 10 includes a printing head (not shown) that irradiates light onto a photoreceptor drum (described later) according to recorded information, a paper ejection roller that ejects paper on which information is printed to the outside of the machine, and an ejector that receives the ejected paper. Paper trays etc. are provided. Further, the lower body 11 is provided with a drum set DS and a toner set TS, which can be freely installed and removed, and a paper cassette 1.
3. Feeding roller, standby roller, transfer device (not shown),
It is equipped with elements necessary for the image forming process, such as a fixing device. Here, DS is the photosensitive drum 4,
The cleaner 5, charger, etc. are integrated into a unit, and the magnet roll 1, toner 2, etc. are integrated into a unit inside the TS, and the subframe 1
It is configured to be dropped into the mounting portion formed at 4 from above in directions a and b.

Figure 1 shows the main parts of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting support structure of DS and TS. In the same figure, subframe 14 includes TS
A groove 8 serving as a mounting portion and a groove 9 serving as a DS mounting portion are provided, and the bottoms of each are inclined in a direction toward each other. The subframe 14 also has an opening 14 through which an upper surface 15e of a locking member 15, which will be described later, is exposed.
A is drilled. The figure shows only one end of the subframe 14, and the other end is formed symmetrically, so a description thereof will be omitted. The locking member 15 is horizontally slidably supported on shafts 16a, 16b which are provided upright on the sides of the sub-frame 14 through elongated holes 15a, 15a, and is prevented from coming off by E-rings 17, 17. . Further, the left portion of the lock member 15 where the notch 15b and the opening 15c are formed is located at the groove 9 of the subframe 14 formed at different levels.
It rests on the top of the opening and slides horizontally. on the other hand,
The other end of the locking member 15 is provided with a convex portion 15d and an upper surface 15e painted in a color that attracts attention, for example, red. Furthermore, the locking member 15 is
One end is locked to the subframe 14 and the other end is fixed to the hole 15.
It is biased in the direction of arrow K by a spring 18 that is engaged with f.

The lever member 19 is rotatably supported by a shaft 20 erected on the side wall of the subframe 14, and has one end in the hole 21 of the subframe and the other end in the hole 19.
The L-shaped portion 19b is urged to protrude into the bottom of the groove 9 by a spring 22 that is engaged with the groove 9a. Further, the lever member 19 is prevented from coming off by an E ring 19c. Furthermore, a locking protrusion 19d is provided upright on a portion of the lever member 19.

FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c are configuration diagrams showing the assembled state and operating state of each of the above-mentioned members. FIG. 3a shows a state in which the support shafts of the TS and DS are not attached to the groove 8, which is the TS attachment part, and the groove 9, which is the DS attachment part. At this time, lock member 1
5 is biased in the direction of arrow K according to the force of the spring 18, and the convex portion 15d projects into the groove 8, and the groove 9 is blocked by a part of the locking member 15. . Therefore, the DS cannot be installed in the groove 9. On the other hand, the lower end of the lever member 19 is biased in the M direction by a spring 22, and the L-shaped portion 19
b protrudes from the bottom of the groove 9. FIG. 3b shows the state in which the support shaft 3 of the TS is attached to the groove 8. In the figure, when the support shaft 3 is dropped into the groove 8, the convex portion 15d that protrudes into the groove 8 is
Although it retreats once against the biasing force of the spring 18, the groove 8
When the support shaft 3 reaches the bottom, it returns again and
Press the shaft towards the bottom. Therefore, the TS cannot be lifted unless a force greater than a predetermined value is applied. When the support shaft 3 of the TS is installed in the groove 8, the locking member 15 is slightly retracted from the state shown in FIG. . Therefore, only in this state can the DS be attached to the groove 9.

FIG. 3c is a configuration diagram showing the state in which the support shaft 6 of the DS is inserted into the groove 9. Groove 9 as shown in the figure.
When the support shaft 6 of the DS is dropped into the groove, the L-shaped portion 19b of the lever member 19 that was protruding from the bottom of the groove rotates about the shaft 20 against the biasing force of the spring 22.
The locking protrusion 19d on the head is connected to the opening 1 of the locking member 15.
5c. Here, the support shaft 6 of the DS is locked by a locking mechanism (not shown). Then, the locking member 15 is prevented from sliding, and the support shaft 3 of the TS does not come off upward. Therefore,
TS is more securely supported. Further, at this time, the red color etc. applied to the upper surface 15e of the locking member 15 can be visually observed from above, and even with the naked eye, the TS
You can check whether it is completely locked.

Further, if the locking protrusion 19d of the lever member 19 is also provided with a conspicuous color, it is possible to simultaneously confirm that the locking member 15 is locked from above.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, first,
The DS mounting groove cannot be opened until after the TS has been mounted, so the DS cannot be mounted. Therefore, the configuration is such that the operator can always install the image forming units only in the order of TS and DS. Therefore, there is no risk that the surface of the photoreceptor drum of the DS will be touched and damaged by a part of the TS.

Next, when removing the image forming unit from the main body of the apparatus, first pull out the DS upward from the groove 9 in the opposite order to the above-mentioned order, then lever member 19
is returned to its original position by the biasing force of the spring 22, as shown in FIG. 3b, and the engagement between the opening 15c of the locking member 15 and the locking projection 19d is released. In this state,
The locking member 15 becomes horizontally slidable, and the TS installed in the groove 8 can be pulled out. Therefore, since the order in which the image forming unit is removed is also mechanically regulated, it is difficult to remove the photoreceptor drum of the DS.
There is no risk of touching or damaging any part of the TS.

[Effect of idea]

As described above in detail, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the order in which the image forming units are attached and removed is mechanically limited, so that the user is prevented from performing operations that differ from the predetermined order of operations. be done. Therefore, there is no risk of damaging the surface of the photosensitive drum contained within the DS.

Furthermore, since the attachment/detachment state can be visually confirmed, there is no risk of performing an operation contrary to the design intention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 shows the main parts of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting support structure of the DS and TS. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main parts of a printer showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 a, b, and c show the operating state of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main part of a conventional embodiment. 1... Magnetrol, 2... Toner, 3...
...Support shaft, 4...Photoconductor drum, 5...Cleaner, 6...Support shaft, 7...Toner receiver, 8, 9
...Groove, 10...Upper fuselage, 11...Lower fuselage,
12... Shaft, 13... Paper cassette, 14... Subframe, 14a... Opening, 15... Lock member, 15a... Long hole, 15b... Notch, 15c
...Opening, 15d...Protrusion, 15e...Top surface, 1
5f...hole, 16a, 16b...shaft, 17...E
Ring, 18... Spring, 19... Lever member, 1
9a... Hole, 19b... L-shaped portion, 19c... E-ring, 19d... Locking protrusion, 20... Shaft, 21...
...Hole, 22...Spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] An upper body is pivotally supported on the lower body so as to be freely openable and closable, and first and second units are attached to the apparatus body and have a function of processing at least one step of an image forming process. In an image forming apparatus in which a member is detachably provided, first and second mounting portions provided in a mounting portion to which the unit member is mounted, and protruding into the mounting portion;
It is slidably spring-biased in the direction of retreating and closing the second attachment part, and releases the second attachment part as the first unit member is attached to the first attachment part. At the same time, there is a lock member that locks the first unit member, and a lock member that engages with a part of the lock member as the second unit member is attached to the second mounting portion. and a lever member for preventing sliding, and the lock mechanism prohibits mounting of the second unit member without mounting the first unit member, and prevents mounting of the second unit member. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the first unit member is prohibited from being removed without being removed.