JPH0519542A - Image forming device capable of attaching/detaching process kit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image forming device where a process means can be accurately positioned with respect to an image carrier and where the process kit excellent in productivity is attached/detached. CONSTITUTION:The image forming device performs recording on a recording medium P, and the process kit K is provided with the image carrier 3 and at least one process means for forming the image on the image carrier 3 and freely attached to/detached from the image forming device. Then, plural positioning reference parts for respectively positioning the image carrier 3 and the constituent member of the process means are formed in the device, and an attaching means for attaching the process kit K provided with a process kit housing 19 which is integrally molded and used also as the housing of the process means, and a carrying means for carrying the recording medium P are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus to which a process kit can be attached.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic copying machine will be described below as an example.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine, it is necessary to replace a photoconductor as an image carrier, replenish developer, discard waste toner, clean charged lines, or maintain a developing device. Yes, most of these tasks were done by professional service personnel. However,
In a small-sized electronic copying machine for a personal purpose in particular, the number of installed machines is larger than the conventional one, and the variation of the copy volume by the user is large, so that it becomes difficult for a professional service person to perform maintenance. Therefore,
For example, a copying machine has been proposed in which a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a cleaner, and the like are integrated and can be replaced as a process kit to facilitate maintenance.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus to which an improved process kit can be attached, and its object is to accurately position a process means such as a developing device and a cleaner with respect to a photosensitive drum as an image carrier. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of mounting a process kit which is capable of achieving high productivity.

That is, the present invention that achieves the above-mentioned object is to provide an image carrier for an image forming apparatus for recording on a recording medium.
A process kit which has at least one process means for forming an image on the image carrier and which is attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus, and which comprises a plurality of positioning means for positioning the image carrier and the constituent members of the process means. And a mounting means for mounting a process kit having an integrally formed process kit housing which also serves as a housing of the processing means, and a transport means for transporting the recording medium. It is characterized by.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings for a copying machine using a process kit.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a copying machine main body equipped with the process kit of this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a document placing table made of a transparent member, which reciprocates in the arrow direction. Reference numeral 2 denotes a short-focus small-diameter image-forming element array, which slit-exposes an original image placed on the original table 1 onto the photosensitive drum 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a charger, which uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 3. The drum 3 uniformly charged by the charger 4 is imagewise exposed by the element array 2 to form an electrostatic latent image. Next, the electrostatic latent image is visualized by the developing device 5. On the other hand, the transfer paper P is fed onto the drum 3 by the paper feed roller 6 and the registration roller 7 which rotates at a timing so as to register the image on the photosensitive drum 3, and then is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 3 by the transfer charger 8. The toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper. After that, the transfer paper P separated from the drum 3 by the separating means (not shown) is guided to the fixing device 10 by the guide 9, and after the toner image on the transfer paper is fixed, the tray 12 is discharged by the paper discharge roller 11.
Discharged on top. After the transfer, the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 3 is cleaned by the cleaner 13.

In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum / charging device 4 is used.
The process kit K is constructed by integrating the developing device 5 and the cleaner 13. In this process kit K, the rail portions L ₁ and L ₂ fixed to the body of the copying machine and the rail portions L ₃ and L _{4 of the} kit K slide to be detachable from the copying machine body. The kit K is positioned and fixed by locking means (not shown) when it is loaded in a predetermined position on the main body.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a developing roller, which rotates a sleeve around a fixed magnet (not shown) to convey toner and develop the toner. A magnetic blade 16 regulates the amount of toner coated on the developing roller 15. These developing roller 15 and magnetic blade 16
Are both provided in the developing device 5. Reference numeral 17 indicates a rubber blade for scraping off the toner on the photosensitive drum 3 to clean the surface of the photosensitive drum 3, and reference numeral 18 indicates a scooping sheet for receiving the toner scraped off by the rubber blade 17. Both the blade 17 and the rake sheet 18 are provided on the cleaner 13.

Reference numeral 19 is an upper housing of the process kit, and 20 is a lower housing of the process kit. Both the upper housing and the lower housing are integrally molded of plastic or the like. Here, the developing roller 15 and the magnetic blade 16
-Rubber blade 17 fixed to the blade fixing member 21
-Shield plate 22 of primary charger 4-Primary charging wire 23
And the photosensitive drum 3 is the upper housing 19 of this process kit.
Installed on. Of these, the photosensitive drum 3 and the developing roller 15 are rotatably supported. A scooping sheet 18 is fixed to the lower housing 20, and an upper transfer guide 24 is attached to the lower side of the lower housing 20 in a rib-like integrally fixed state. Then, the lower housing 20 is joined and integrated with the upper housing 19 by means such as adhesion, screwing, or ultrasonic welding.
Here, in the case of bonding with an adhesive, it is possible to prevent the toner and the like from leaking from the inside of the housing by bonding and applying the adhesive to the entire bonding surface of the housing.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing an appearance in which the upper casing 19 and the lower casing 20 of the process kit are adhered and integrated with each other using a known adhesive. Here, 25 is an opening for image exposure on the photosensitive drum 3, and 26 is a handle used when the process kit is replaced. Further, 27 is a drum fixing member for rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum 3 with respect to the positioning hole of the housing 19. Further, the photosensitive drum 3 is provided in the lower housing 20 shown in FIG.
An opening 28 is provided for transferring the upper toner image onto the transfer paper.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the process kit shown in FIG. Here, 29 is a developing roller support portion integrally provided in the process kit upper housing 19. The developing roller 15 is positioned on the developing roller support portion 29 via a bearing (not shown).

Now, the method of attaching each component to the upper casing 19 and the lower casing 20 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

4 to 7 show how to attach each component.
Here, FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the process kit, FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the upper housing 19 of the process kit seen from below, and FIG. 7 shows a method of attaching the charging wire. FIG.

First, the mounting of the developing roller 15 to the upper casing 19 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. The developing roller 15 is attached to the developing roller supporting portion 29 as a positioning reference portion provided integrally with the upper housing 19 with the bearing 30 attached. The bearing fitting portion 31 (FIG. 6) of the support portion 29 is cut out to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter,
When the bearing 30 is pushed in through the opening, it is fitted and fixed by the elasticity of the resin forming the housing 19. In addition, the rubber blade 17 is previously attached to the blade fixing member 2
It is prepared as a unit with 1. Therefore, when assembling the process kit, the groove 3 of the blade supporting portion 32 as a positioning reference portion provided integrally with the upper casing 19 is provided.
The blade fixing member 21 is pushed into 3 (FIG. 6) by utilizing the elasticity of the resin and fixed to the protrusion 34. Charger 4
The shield plate 22 is fixed by crushing the pin 35 with heat after fitting the pin 35 as a positioning reference portion integrated with the upper housing 19 into the hole of the shield plate 22 (FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 7, the charging wire 23 of the charger 4 has a hole 36 and a pin 3 which are integrated with the upper housing 19 at one end thereof.
7 is fixed by pressing the pin 37 into the hole 36. The other end is fixed to the coil spring 37 in advance, and is fixed by pushing the rib 38 of the upper casing 19 from above. At this time, the spring 37 has one end for applying tension to the wire, and the other end for connecting with the high voltage connector. Further, a member 39 that determines the tension height of the wire 23 is also provided integrally with the upper housing 19 as a positioning reference portion for the charging wire. In this way
After the shield plate 22 and the wire 23 are attached, the lid 41 is bonded to the block portion 40. That is, in this embodiment, the wire 23 is stretched by utilizing a part of the upper housing 19, and the housing 19 also serves as a part of the shield of the corona discharger.

As described above, the components of each process means are attached to the upper casing 19. Finally, the photosensitive drum 3 is attached to the upper housing 19.

A method of attaching the photosensitive drum 3 to the upper casing 19 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the process kit. In the figure, a front flange 42 and a rear flange 43 are fixed to the photosensitive drum 3. The photosensitive drum 3 is first inserted into the upper casing 19 from below as shown by an arrow A in the figure, and then slid to the right side so that the flange 43 on the back side of the drum 3 is positioned in the casing 19. It fits into the positioning hole as the reference part. By thus inserting the photosensitive drum 3 into the upper housing 19, the developing roller 15, the rubber blade 17,
The drum 3 can be inserted into the installation position without being hindered by the shield plate 22 or the discharger 4 or the like and without damaging the peripheral surface thereof. After that, the drum fixing member 27 is pushed from the front side while being fitted into the positioning hole 45 as a positioning reference portion provided in the housing 19, so that the fixing member 27 and the front flange 42 are rotatably fitted together. The fixing member 27 and the upper housing 19 are fixed by the claws 44. Then, the lower housing 20 is joined and fixed to the upper housing 19 by means such as adhesion.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the process kit is assembled, the developing roller 15, the magnetic blade 16, the rubber blade 17, the shield plate 22,
Since the photosensitive drum 3 can be incorporated after the charging wire 23 is incorporated, the inspection process is simplified. That is, after the above-mentioned components other than the photosensitive drum 3 are assembled in the upper housing 19, first, a tool drum (not shown) is inserted in the upper housing 19, and the gap between the developing roller 15 and the drum and the charging wire 23 are inserted. Adjust the gap between the drum and the drum, or check the potential etc., and then pass the drum for the tool with the actual photosensitive drum 3 without changing other installed parts. By incorporating it, it is possible to reduce the chance of scratching the drum 3.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the casing of the process means such as the developing device and the cleaner disposed around the photosensitive drum is formed by the integrally formed process kit casing, Although the parts described in (1) above are positioned with respect to the drum, they can be positioned with the accuracy of one case of the process kit, and thus the positioning of each part becomes easy. Further, by integrating the casings of the process means such as the developing device and the cleaner, which are separate parts, the manufacturing process can be shortened and the cost can be reduced.

Further, because the cost of the kit is reduced, for example, the process kit can be disposable,
When replacing the photosensitive drum, it is possible to replenish the developer, collect the waste toner, and replace the charging line at the same time. Also, the operator does not have to release the developing device, cleaner, etc. each time the photoreceptor is replaced, so it is possible to reduce toner scattering, and the area around the photosensitive drum is almost covered, causing damage. There is little fear.

Further, as in the present embodiment, the housing is divided so that they can be joined at the time of assembly, and finally the housing is joined and integrated after the photosensitive drum is finally assembled. In addition to facilitating the inspection at the time, it is possible to easily replace the photosensitive drum when collecting and reproducing the used process kit.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, only the case where the housing is divided into two parts is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the method may be divided into left and right parts. Further, the present invention can be applied to those using other methods than the methods such as the developing method and the cleaning method described in this embodiment. Further, in this embodiment, an example in which the photosensitive drum, the developing device, the cleaner, and the primary charging device are attached to the process kit is shown. However, a part of them may be left on the main body side, or the transfer charging device or the like may be processed. You can attach it to the kit. Further, the image carrier is not limited to the photosensitive drum, and may have an insulating layer, for example. Further, the image forming apparatus is an electronic copying machine or a recording machine.

[0024]

As described above, in the process kit of the present invention, the process means such as the developing device and the cleaner can be accurately positioned with respect to the image carrier, and the process kit housing is the housing of the process means. Since it also serves as a product, the productivity is excellent and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a copying machine using a process kit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a process kit. (B) It is a perspective view which shows the lower housing of a process kit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of a process kit.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the process kit.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a process kit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an upper housing.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a method of attaching a charging wire.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Original Plate Glass 2 Short-Focus Small-Diameter Imaging Element Array 3 Photosensitive Drum 6 Paper Feed Roller 7 Registration Roller 11 Paper Ejection Roller 15 Developing Roller 16 Magnetic Blade 17 Rubber Blade 19 Upper Case of Process Kit 20 Lower Case of Process Kit 22 Shield plate 23 Charging wire 24 Transfer upper guide 27 Drum fixing member 29 Developing roller supporting member K Process kit P Transfer paper

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page (72) Shinji Kanemitsu 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Fumio Nishino 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Shigeyoshi Onoda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An image forming apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium, comprising: an image bearing member; and at least one process means for forming an image on the image bearing member. A process kit detachable from an apparatus, wherein a plurality of positioning reference portions for positioning the image carrier and the constituent members of the process means are formed, and an integrally formed process that also serves as a casing of the process means. An image forming apparatus capable of mounting a process kit, comprising: a mounting unit for mounting a process kit having a kit housing; and a transporting unit for transporting a recording medium.