JPH0493955A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To equalize the replacing frequency of parts, to reduce a burden in maintenance and control and to miniaturize a recorder by making the lives equal for a photosensitive body and devices which execute each image forming stage such as an electrostatic charging process, a writing process and a developing process for the photosensitive body and image fixing after development and arranging the respective devices in the same supporting part including the above photosensitive body. CONSTITUTION:An electrostatic charging device 3, and optical writing device 4 and a developing device 5 are respectively arranged around a photosensitive drum 2 along the rotating direction shown by an arrow, and a fixing device 7 is arranged on the downstream side of a position opposed to a transfer and separation device 6 in the rotating direction of the drum 2. The respective devices are attached to the identical supporting body which is constituted of a supporting unit 10 after making the lives of the devices including the drum 2 equal to a device which must be replaced. Then, a rocking arm 12 is pivotally attached to the shaft 10A whose base end is provided on an image recorder main body side, and the unit 10 is inverted an up-and-down direction corresponding to the surface and the back surface direction of a transfer paper by taking the device 6 as boundary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image recording device, and more particularly to a structure for executing an image forming process in the device.

(Prior Art) As is well known, in image recording devices such as copying machines and printers, when copying from an original, for example, an optical writing device that combines a laser light source and an imaging optical system is used. By writing an original image on a photoreceptor carrying a photoconductive layer on its surface, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed, and this electrostatic latent image is made into a liquid by a developer using toner or the like. After visual processing, the image is transferred to a transfer medium such as plain paper to obtain a copy.

The transfer medium after the above-mentioned visible image is transferred is fixed by heating, for example.

An example of such an image recording apparatus is one having the structure shown in FIG.

That is, the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 4, for example, has a structure that allows a copy image to be formed only on the surface of a transfer medium, and uses a drum-shaped photoreceptor. The electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor by, for example, an optical writing scanning mechanism using laser light.

In FIG. 4, around a drum-shaped photoreceptor (hereinafter referred to as photoreceptor drum) A, along the rotational direction of photoreceptor drum A, there is a charging device B for carrying out a copying process, an exposing or writing device. A C1 developing device MD, a transfer device E, and further upstream of the transfer device E, a paper feed bag MF including a registration roller F1 are respectively arranged.

Although the details are not shown, the above-mentioned writing device C is, for example, a combination of a laser light source made of a semiconductor laser and a convergent light transmission body for focusing scanning light from this light source on a photoreceptor. something is being used.

In an image recording device having such a structure, the laser light source in the writing device C performs light emission control in accordance with an output signal from an image memory (not shown), so that electrostatic charge is generated on the photoreceptor drum A. A latent image is formed, this latent image is processed into a visible image by a developing device, and electrostatically transferred by a transfer device E onto a transfer paper fed from a paper feeder F, and this transfer paper is fed to a fixing device G. By feeding the transfer paper, the image on the transfer paper is fixed. Photosensitive drum A that has passed through fixing device G
The remaining developer is removed and the residual charge is removed by the cleaning device H and the charge removal lamp 1 in preparation for the next image formation.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the image recording apparatus described above, the replacement timing of each device arranged around the photoreceptor drum A is not constant. If the structure requires replenishment or replacement of the replenishment tank as a replenishment structure when the developer is consumed, the time for replacement will be determined automatically, and the photoreceptor itself may also be susceptible to latent image bearing due to optical fatigue. Writing device C and fixing device G, which are said to have relatively high durability, must be replaced when the performance of the photoreceptor decreases or if it is no longer able to maintain its function as a photoreceptor due to other reasons. It has to be placed in a position where it is easier to replace and replenish compared to the conventional image recording apparatus, which sometimes imposes restrictions on the layout of each device inside the image recording apparatus. Such restrictions may become an obstacle to the need to maintain maintenance management to determine when to replace each device mentioned above, or to miniaturize the device or require easy handling. It may happen.

In addition, when such an image recording device forms images on both sides of transfer paper, if each of the above-mentioned devices is fixed, the paper conveyance path becomes complicated depending on the location of each device. It may be set to
This is a remote cause of problems such as ejection processing when a jam occurs on the conveyance path, distortion of the image carried on the paper, or wrinkles in the paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems with conventional image recording devices, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to reduce the burden of maintenance management by uniformizing the frequency of replacing parts within the device, and to reduce the size of the device. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device capable of preventing the occurrence of an adverse influence on a transfer medium.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve this object, the present invention forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor by an optical writing mechanism using an optical writing scanning element, and subsequently forms a visible image of the latent image. In an image recording apparatus that performs imaging processing and visible image transfer processing on the photoreceptor, at least each of the photoreceptor, charging processing for the photoreceptor, writing processing, development processing, and image fixing after development is performed. By making the lifespan of the equipment that performs the image forming process the same,
It is proposed that each of these devices be placed in the same support section including the photoreceptor.

Further, the present invention provides at least the same support section that supports the above-mentioned photoconductor and each device that performs charging processing, writing processing, development processing, and fixing processing on the photoconductor, at a transfer position on the photoconductor. The present invention proposes to support the medium on which the image is transferred so that it can be reversible in the front and back directions.

(Function) According to the present invention, the devices arranged in the same support section and performing image forming processing are replaced at the same time. Further, according to the present invention, the same support portion is reversed in the front and back directions of the transfer medium at the transfer position of the photoreceptor, and faces the back surface of the transfer medium.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, details of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram schematically showing the main parts of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 uses a drum-shaped photoreceptor 2 as in the case shown in FIG. The electrostatic latent image formation is performed using, for example, an optical writing device using laser light.

As shown in the second diagram, a charging device 3, an optical writing device 4, and a developing device 5 are arranged around the photoconductor drum 2, respectively, along the direction of rotation of the photoconductor drum 2 in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Further, a fixing device 7 is arranged downstream of a position facing the transfer/separation device 6 in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 2.

The above-mentioned writing device Wi4 is composed of, for example, an optical system in which a convergent light transmitting body array is arranged in the axial direction of the photoreceptor 2.

Further, at the upstream position of the transfer/separation device N6 in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 2, the transfer paper S fed out from the paper feeder 9 and synchronized with the leading edge of the image via the registration roller 9A joins. It is supposed to be done.

Each device including the photoreceptor drum 2 described above is attached to the same support body consisting of the support unit 10 described later, after matching the lifespan according to the device that requires replacement, including the photoreceptor drum 2. It is being

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the support unit IO is constituted by a housing having an opening on the lower circumferential surface side of the photosensitive drum 2 so as to face the transfer paper S, and the side plate thereof has an opening. , including the photoreceptor drum 2 mentioned above, transfer and
The supporting parts of each device except for the separation device 6 are the attachments.

Note that the transfer/separation device 6 is 1, for example, a support unit 1o.
It is attached to the support frame 11 that extends downward in the side panel diagram. Further, such a support frame is used for the fixing device 7.
This support part is also used for the transfer paper S.
The extension amount is set so that the roller can pass between the heating roller (roller indicated by 7A in FIG. 2) and the pressure roller (indicated by 7B in FIG. 2).

In the side plate of this support unit 1o, for example, the support shaft 2A of the photoreceptor drum 2 extends in the axial direction, and the swing end of the swing arm 12 is attached to the end of this extension. It's a dress.

The above-mentioned swing arm 12 has its base end pivoted to a shaft 10A provided on the main body side of the image recording apparatus, and the position of the base end is as shown in FIG. The position is such that the phase can be reversed by 180 degrees in the vertical direction corresponding to the front and back directions of the transfer paper S with the transfer/separation device 6 shown in FIG.

Therefore, depending on the swinging position of the swinging arm 12, the support unit 10 has two positions: one in which the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 faces the front surface of the transfer paper S through the opening, and the other in which it faces the back surface of the transfer paper S. will be set to .

The attitude of this swinging arm 12, in other words, the attitude of the support unit 10, is determined by, for example, providing a notch groove 12A at the swinging end of the swinging arm 12, and
A is set by using a structure in which a latch mechanism (not shown) is removably provided, and this latch mechanism is set to lock by, for example, a drive command from a control unit (not shown).

Further, in the case where the swinging end side of the swinging arm 12 is pivotally connected to two support shafts of the photoreceptor 2 as described above, the pivoting end side is released and the swinging end side of the swinging arm 12 is pivoted to the two support shafts of the photoreceptor drum 2. The support unit 10 can be removed from the support shaft 2A and taken out from the image recording apparatus.

The shape of the support unit 10 described above can be selected depending on the type of copying process.
In the case of one copy per rotation, in which the image is transferred onto the photoreceptor with one rotation of the photoreceptor drum 2, as shown in FIG.
In addition to the devices necessary for the above-mentioned image forming process, that is, a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device, a cleaning device and a static elimination lamp can be attached thereto.

On the other hand, for such a copying process, the photosensitive drum 2
2 Rotation 1 Transfers one image on the photoreceptor by rotating
In the case of copying, the developing device 5 for developing the image on the photosensitive drum 2 is bias-controlled and used as a developer removing device, and is shaped so that it can be attached without the cleaning device.

Since this embodiment has the above-described structure, image formation on the photoreceptor drum 2 is performed in the same manner as in the case of the structure shown in FIG. The electrostatic latent image is electrostatically transferred onto the transfer paper S fed from the paper feeding device.

After the transfer paper S carrying the transferred image is transferred, it passes through a fixing device 7 to be fixed, and is ejected to a paper ejection tray 14 via a paper ejection roller 13 .

The above-mentioned operation is performed when an image is copied onto one side of the transfer paper S in the image recording apparatus, but next, a case where image formation is performed on both sides of the transfer paper S will be described.

In this case, first, image copying on one side of the transfer paper S is performed in the same manner as described above. At this time, transfer paper S
is prevented from receiving the action of the paper discharge tray 13 by a mechanism not shown, and is extended and held in a standby position.

When the control section (not shown) determines that the transfer paper S is in a standby state and that the copying type is double-sided copying, the support unit 10 moves along the path indicated by the - dotted chain line in FIG. , as shown by the two-dot chain line, the swinging arm 12 is reversely moved at a point below the discharge side end of the transfer paper S, so that the photosensitive drum 2 faces the back surface of the transfer paper S.

Therefore, when the reversal movement of the support unit 10 is completed, the support unit 10 is driven to the position where the first copying process was performed.

Then, in the process of moving the support unit 10 to the position where the first copying process was performed, charging, writing, development, transfer, and fixing processes are performed as in the case of copying onto the surface, and each The transfer paper S, on which an image has been formed on the back side through the processing, is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 14 by a paper discharge roller 13.

On the other hand, the support unit 10 that has finished copying the image to the back side,
In preparation for copying onto a surface, it is again moved one turn and held in that position, as shown in FIG.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, since the lifespans of the devices that execute the copying process for forming an image on a photoreceptor are made the same and the devices are provided on the same support, There is no need to manage the timing of replacement, and by providing the devices on the same support, the layout of the device can be more flexible, making it easier to handle.

Further, according to the present invention, the apparatuses for carrying out the copying process on the photoreceptor described above are integrated into the same support body that can be reversed in the front and back directions of the transfer paper across the conveyance path of the transfer paper, thereby conveying the transfer paper. The path can be made into a simple path, which makes it possible to eject the transfer paper in the event of a jam during the transport path, and to prevent distortion or wrinkles in the image on the transfer paper during the transport path. It is possible to obtain high-quality copies.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram showing the overall configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic layout diagram showing main parts of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining an example of the support structure of the main parts shown in FIG.
The figure is a schematic layout diagram for explaining an example of a conventional image recording device. 1... Image recording device, 2... Photosensitive drum, 3...
- Charging device, 4... Optical writing device, 5... Developing device, 6... Transfer/separation device, 7... Fixing device, 10
...Support unit, IOA...axis, 12...swing arm. (1 other person)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Following the formation of an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor by an optical writing mechanism using an optical writing scanning element, the latent image is visualized, and the visible image is transferred. In the image recording apparatus that executes on the photoconductor, at least the life of the photoconductor and the device that executes each image forming process of charging the photoconductor, writing process, development process, and image fixing after development are made to be the same. An image recording apparatus characterized in that each of these devices is disposed within the same support section including the photoreceptor. 2. In the image recording apparatus according to claim 1, the same support part supporting at least the photoreceptor and each device that performs charging processing, writing processing, development processing, and fixing processing on the photoreceptor is connected to the photoreceptor. 1. An image recording apparatus characterized in that a medium to which an image is transferred is supported so as to be reversible in the front and back directions with respect to a transfer position on a body.