JPH05134533A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify and assure positioning of a cleaning part or a developer feeding part by providing a brim part abutted to a part of a box part and positioning it with a photosensitive body to a cleaning part/developer feeding part unit body. CONSTITUTION:The cleaning part/developer feeding part unit CTM 4 where a cleaning part 7 provided with a cleaning blade 5, eliminating residue developer, etc., on a surface of the photosensitive body 2 and the developer feeding part 1 containing new developer are fixed integrally is placed faced to one of supporting rolls 3. The brim part 30 abutted to the box body 23 of the photosensitive unit 1 is provided protruding on the photosensitive unit 1 side of the CTM 4. The photosensitive unit 1 and the CTM 45 are positioned by having one part of the box part 23 abutted with the brim part 30. Because of this, the relative position of the photosensitive body 2 and the cleaning blade 5 is made correct and cleaning is carried out well.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning section / developer supply section unit in which a cleaning section for cleaning the surface of a photosensitive member and a developer supply section for supplying a developer to a developing section are integrated. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile, a printer, a copier, etc., which uses a body (hereinafter referred to as CTM).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A CTM has both functions of a developer (toner) supply tank and a waste toner recovery tank.
Since both tanks can be replaced in a single operation, the work can be reduced, and compared to a unit body that integrates the photoconductor unit, the developing unit, the supply tank, and the waste toner recovery tank There is an advantage in that the running cost of can be reduced.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional CTM, in which the cleaning portion is configured to remove the residual toner from the surface of the photoconductor by using, for example, a cleaning blade, the positioning of the photoconductor and the cleaning blade is performed. Unless the accuracy (currently, the distance between the cleaning blade and the photosensitive member is set to ± 0.3 mm to ± 0.5 mm), cleaning failure and vibration occur. In particular, when the diameter of the photoconductor support roller, in which the cleaning blade is placed opposite to the photoconductor via the photoconductor, is small, the position of the cleaning blade and the photoconductor may be misaligned due to a slight displacement due to the small curvature. Become.

Further, in the developer supplying section, the means for conveying the toner needs to be positioned with respect to the driving body.
Since the TM has a fixed relationship with the cleaning unit, the positioning of one affects the positioning of the other,
There was a problem that it was difficult to perform proper positioning.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can easily and surely position a CTM cleaning section or a developer supply section.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a cleaning section for removing and containing residual developer on the surface of the photosensitive member, and a developer supplying section for supplying the developer to the developing section. In the image forming apparatus using the CTM in which the CTM is integrated, the first means of the present invention is the CTM,
It is characterized in that a brim portion is provided for contacting with a part of the housing of the photoconductor to position the photoconductor.

A second means is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, the CTM is provided with a lock lever which engages with a photosensitive member supporting shaft near the cleaning portion to position the photosensitive member. ..

A third means is that, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the CTM is provided with a receiving portion which engages with a lock lever provided on the housing of the photoconductor to position the photoconductor. Characterize.

A fourth means is, in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, provided with an engagement shaft on either one of the CTM and the casing of the photoconductor, and further by fitting the engagement shaft on the other, the CT is provided.
It is characterized in that a receiving hole for positioning M and the photosensitive member is provided.

A fifth means is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, the cleaning portion and the developer supplying portion are integrated via an elastic body so as to be relatively displaceable with respect to each other.

The sixth means is the same as the fifth means,
It is characterized in that a guide means for positioning the cleaning portion with respect to the photoconductor is provided.

The seventh means is the fifth means,
A guide means for positioning the developer supply unit with respect to the support is provided.

[0013]

According to the above-mentioned first means, the simple structure in which the collar portion of the CTM and a part of the casing of the photosensitive member are brought into contact with each other,
Positioning of the CTM and the photoconductor is performed.

According to the second means or the third means,
The lock lever provided on the housing of the CTM or the photoconductor is engaged with the photoconductor supporting shaft or the receiving portion of the CTM, whereby the positioning of the CTM and the photoconductor is surely performed.

According to the fourth means, the engagement shaft provided on the CTM and the casing of the photosensitive member and the receiving hole are fitted together,
Positioning of the CTM and the photoconductor is reliably performed with a simple configuration.

According to the fifth means, the positioning of the cleaning section and the developer supplying section, which are integrated with the CTM, can be changed relative to each other through the elastic member, so that the positioning of one of them can be performed. The movement caused by does not affect the other.

According to the sixth means or the seventh means,
The guide unit accurately positions the cleaning unit and the developer supply unit at predetermined positions.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the schematic construction of the first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a photoconductor unit, which is a belt-shaped photoconductor 2 and a plurality of photoconductors supporting the photoconductor 2. (Three in this embodiment). Four
Is a CTM (cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit), which is installed opposite to one of the supporting rollers 3 to remove residual developer on the surface of the photoconductor 2 and the cleaning blade 5. A cleaning unit 7 including a storage chamber 6 for collecting the residual developer removed by 5 stores a new developer in a developer supply unit 10 including a stirring member 8 and a developer transport member 9. It is fixed integrally. Reference numeral 11 denotes a developing unit that receives the supply of the developer from the developer supplying unit 10 via the supply path 12, and includes a developer conveying member 13, a stirring member 14, and a developer supplying roller 15.
And a developing roller 16 which receives the developer from the developer supplying roller 15.

Around the photosensitive member 2, known electrostatic image forming means such as a charge eliminating portion 17, a charging portion 18, a transfer portion 19 and the like are arranged, and an optical latent image is optically formed on the photosensitive member 2. Is formed, visualized by the developing roller 16, and this image is transferred to a transfer paper. After the transfer, the cleaning blade 5 removes residual developer on the surface of the photoconductor 2. The removed residual developer and the like enter the storage chamber 6 and are collected.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing how the photoconductor unit and the CTM are incorporated into the main body of the apparatus. The concave portion 21 provided in the upper portion of the base body 20 of the main body of the apparatus is fitted with the projection 22 provided at the bottom of the CTM 4. The photoconductor unit 1 is supported by being combined with each other, and the photoconductor unit 1 is provided with a rail provided in a casing 23 for supporting and fixing each member.
24 is guided and held by the rail guide body 25 provided on the base body 20. Therefore, the photoconductor unit 1 and the CTM 4 are restricted in position in the x direction on the drawing by the rail guide body 25 of the base body 20 and the recess 21.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a structure related to the photoconductor unit and the CTM. A flange portion 30 that abuts against a housing 23 of the photoconductor unit 1 is provided on the side of the photoconductor unit 1 of the CTM 4 so as to project. Positioning between the photoconductor unit 1 and the CTM 4 is carried out by abutting a part of the casing 23 and the collar portion 30, as shown in FIG.
The position is regulated in the y direction. Therefore, the positional relationship between the photoconductor 2 and the cleaning blade 5 becomes appropriate, and good cleaning is performed.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of another related construction of the photoconductor unit and the CTM, in which the side of the CTM 4 is rotatable around the support shaft 31 and the claw portion 32 is formed at the tip end thereof. A lever 33 is provided, and the claw portion 32 of the lock lever 33 is
The photoconductor unit 1 and the CTM 4 are positioned by engaging a part of the photoconductor support shaft 34 supporting the support roller 3 near the cleaning blade 5. Reference numeral 35 in the drawing is a torsional force applied to the lock lever 33 in a direction in which the central portion is wound around the support shaft 31 of the lock lever 33 and the engagement with the photoconductor support shaft 34 is maintained. It is a spring.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of another related construction of the photoconductor unit and the CTM. The photoconductor support shaft 34 supporting the support roller 3 near the cleaning blade 5 is provided with a claw portion 40 at the tip thereof. The lock lever 41 formed with is formed so as to be rotatable, and the claw portion 40 of the lock lever 41 and the pin 42 which is a receiving portion projecting from the side portion of the CTM 4 are engaged with each other so that the photoconductor unit 1 and Positioning with CTM4. Reference numeral 43 in the drawing denotes a torsion spring whose central portion is wound around the photosensitive member support shaft 34 and which gives a force to the lock lever 41 in a direction in which the engagement with the pin 42 is maintained.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of another related construction of the photoconductor unit and the CTM, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of FIG. 6, which extends in the housing 23 of the photoconductor unit 1 in the CTM4 direction. A supporting plate 46 having a receiving hole 45 formed at the front end is provided, and the CTM 4 is provided with a tapered engaging shaft 47 that fits with the receiving hole 45. The photoconductor unit 1 and the CTM 4 are positioned by fitting with the receiving holes 45. The support plate 46 may be provided on the CTM 4 and the engagement shaft 47 may be provided on the housing 23 of the photoconductor unit 1.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the essential parts in the second embodiment of the present invention, in which the opposing side parts of the independent cleaning part 7 and the developer supplying part 10 are joined together via the elastic body 50. The CTM 51 is configured, and the cleaning unit 7 and the developer supply unit 10 can be relatively displaced within the deformation range of the elastic body 50. Guide rails 52 and 53 are formed on the sides of the cleaning unit 7 and the developer supply unit 10, respectively.

In the recess 55 of the base body 54 of the main body of the apparatus, the portion of the developer feeding member 9 of the developer supplying portion 10 of the CTM 51 is installed, and meshes with the gear 56 for rotating the developer feeding member 9. A drive gear 57 is provided. Further, on the side of the base body 54, the guide rail of the developer supply unit 10 is provided.
A rail guide 58 for receiving 53 is provided, and the housing 23 of the photoconductor unit 1 has a guide rail 52 for the cleaning unit 7.
A rail guide portion 59 for receiving is provided.

The cleaning unit 7 and the developer supply unit 10 are provided with a cover body of the apparatus main body which is opened when the CTM 51 is replaced.
Pressing springs 61 and 62 provided on 60 are in elastic contact with each other.

When the cover member 60 is opened and the CTM 51 is inserted at the time of replacement of the second embodiment, the developer feeding portion 10 causes the guide rail 53 to move along the rail guide 58 so that the developer transport member 9 can be moved. The part is fitted in the recess 55 of the base body 54, and the guide rail 52 of the cleaning unit 7 is set along the rail guide unit 59 so as to be set at a predetermined position. Then, by closing the cover body 60, the presser spring
61 and 62 press the cleaning unit 7 and the developer supply unit 10 to the set positions, respectively, and the setting is completed.

In the above state, the gear 56 of the developer supplying section 10 can surely mesh with the drive gear 57, and the cleaning plate 5 of the cleaning section 7 is held in a proper positional relationship with the photoconductor 2. When the CTM 4 is set, the cleaning unit 7 and the developer supply unit 10 can be relatively displaced by the presence of the elastic body 50, so that the movement to one proper setting position does not affect the positioning of the other, Presser spring
Both of them are surely held at a predetermined set position by being pressed by 61 and 62, and the positioning is accurately performed.

[0031]

As described above, according to the first means of the present invention, the positioning of the CTM and the photosensitive member is performed by bringing the collar portion of the CTM into contact with a part of the casing of the photosensitive member. Further, according to the second and third means, the lock lever of the housing of the CTM or the photoconductor is engaged with the photoconductor supporting shaft or the receiving portion of the CTM, and the fourth means, The engagement between the engaging shaft and the receiving hole ensures reliable operation with a simple structure. Further, according to the fifth means, the CT is performed via the elastic body.
Since the cleaning unit of M and the developer supplying unit are integrated so as to be relatively displaceable, the movement due to the positioning of one does not affect the other, and the positioning can be performed easily. According to the means, since the cleaning portion and the developer supplying portion can be accurately positioned at the predetermined positions by the guide means, it is possible to provide the image forming apparatus in which the cleaning portion of the CTM or the developer supplying portion can be positioned easily and surely.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration related to a photoconductor unit and a CTM in a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of assembling the photosensitive unit and the CTM of the first embodiment into the apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of another related configuration of the photoconductor unit and the CTM.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another related configuration of the photoconductor unit and the CTM.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another related configuration of the photoconductor unit and the CTM.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a main part in a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Photosensitive member unit, 2 ... Photosensitive member, 4, 51 ... CTM
(Cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit), 5 ...
Cleaning blade, 6 ... storage chamber, 7 ... cleaning section, 9 ... developer transport member, 10 ... developer supply section,
11 ... Development part, 20 ... Base (support), 23 ... Casing, 30
… Collar part, 33, 41… Lock lever, 34… Photoconductor support shaft,
42 ... Pin (receiving part), 45 ... Receiving hole, 47 ... Engaging shaft, 50 ...
Elastic body, 52, 53 ... Guide rail, 58 ... Rail guide, 59 ... Guide rail section.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning unit / developer supply in which a cleaning unit for removing and storing the residual developer on the surface of the photoconductor and a developer supplying unit for supplying the developer to the developing unit are integrated. In the image forming apparatus using the partial unit body, the cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit body is provided with a flange portion that comes into contact with a part of the casing of the photosensitive member to position the photosensitive member. Image forming apparatus. 2. A cleaning unit / developer supply in which a cleaning unit for removing and storing the residual developer on the surface of the photoconductor and a developer supply unit for supplying the developer to the developing unit are integrated. In the image forming apparatus using the partial unit body, the cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit body is provided with a lock lever that engages with the photosensitive member support shaft near the cleaning unit to position the photosensitive member. A characteristic image forming apparatus. 3. A cleaning unit / developer supply in which a cleaning unit for removing and storing the residual developer on the surface of the photoconductor and a developer supplying unit for supplying the developer to the developing unit are integrated. In the image forming apparatus using the partial unit body, the cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit body is provided with a receiving portion that engages with a lock lever provided on the casing of the photosensitive body to position the photosensitive body. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 4. A cleaning unit / developer supply in which a cleaning unit for removing and storing the residual developer on the surface of the photoconductor and a developer supply unit for supplying the developer to the developing unit are integrated. In an image forming apparatus using a partial unit body, an engaging shaft is provided on either one of the cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit body or the casing of the photoconductor, and the other is fitted with the engaging shaft to perform cleaning. An image forming apparatus having a receiving hole for positioning the unit / developer supply unit and the photoconductor. 5. A cleaning unit / developer supply in which a cleaning unit for removing and storing residual developer on the surface of the photoconductor and a developer supply unit for supplying developer to the developing unit are integrated. In the image forming apparatus using the partial unit body, the cleaning unit and the developer supplying unit are integrated via an elastic body so as to be relatively displaceable from each other. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising guide means for positioning the cleaning unit with respect to the photoconductor. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising guide means for positioning the developer supply portion with respect to the support.