JPH05216342A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate exchange operation and maintenance of consumables by combining and integrating at least two among three parts of an image carrier, a toner storing means and a waste toner containing means. CONSTITUTION:The three parts, the photosensitive body 1, the hopper 5 and the waste toner storing device are attached being integrally connected through an arm 26 to form a consumable exchange unit. The consumables exchange unit is loaded to be freely attached to or detached from the device main body with a shaft. The shaft is attached to a side plate of the lower part of the device main body, and a photosensitive drum 1 can be freely rotated against the shaft. Then, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotated interlocking with a drum driving gear receiving rotation transmitted by a gear from a motor. In this constitution, the consumables exchanges unit can be extracted from the device main body by extracting the shaft from the side plate. Therefore, the photosensitive drum 1, the hopper 5, and furthermore, the toner storing device which are consumables can be extracted integrally from the device main body.

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 such as an electrophotographic apparatus or an information recording apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which consumable items can be easily replaced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic apparatus will be described below as an example. In the conventional electrophotographic apparatus, replacement or replenishment of consumables is performed as follows. For example, when exchanging a photosensitive drum as an image carrier, since the drum is rotatably supported by a shaft fixed to the main body of the apparatus, the shaft fixing member fixed to the side plate of the apparatus main body is first removed from the side plate of the main body. This is done by removing the drum and then pulling out the drum from the shaft. To replenish the toner to the developing device hopper that stores toner, the detection means provided in the developing device or the hopper (for example, a toner remaining amount detecting device) is used to know the toner replenishment time, and then the toner is replenished to the hopper. ing.

Here, since the hopper is fixed in the main body of the apparatus, not only is it difficult to replenish the toner when reinforcing the toner, but also scattered toner may enter the main body of the apparatus and contaminate the inside of the main body. Further, the toner to be discarded (hereinafter referred to as waste toner) collected from the photoconductor by the cleaner is stored in the apparatus main body by an appropriate detection means before the waste toner storage container is full. The waste toner had to be thrown out of the apparatus.

Here, when the waste toner is thrown out of the apparatus,
You have to move the reservoir while keeping it horizontal,
Frequently, there is a possibility that the toner may be spilled or scattered to stain the inside and outside of the apparatus, or the clothes of the operator may be stained.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional device, replacement and replenishment of consumables is troublesome, and there is a possibility that the inside and outside of the device may be contaminated or the clothes of the operator may be contaminated. .. Moreover, since the drum and the toner are replenished and discarded individually, there is a problem that the number of times is frequent.

Further, there is a problem in that the number of detachable parts for attaching the respective consumables to the main body of the apparatus increases, and the apparatus becomes complicated.

Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus which solves the problems of the above-described conventional example, facilitates replacement of consumables, and facilitates maintenance.

[0008]

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

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an electrophotographic apparatus equipped with a consumables exchanging unit in which a photosensitive drum, a hopper as a toner storage means, and a waste toner storage unit are integrated, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state in which the consumable replacement unit is removed or attached to the apparatus main body.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive drum coated with a photoconductive layer, which may or may not have an insulating layer on its surface, and may be a sheet or a belt. 2 is a corona discharger and 3
Is an optical image irradiation means for projecting an original image or an optical image, or a light beam modulated by an image signal. An electrostatic image is formed on the photoconductor 1 by these means. As the electrostatic image forming process, the Carlson process, the process described in JP-B-42-23910, and other known processes can be applied. 4 is a developing device, for example, a developing device using a one-component high resistance magnetic toner utilizing the phenomenon described in Japanese Patent Application No. 52-109240. Reference numeral 5 denotes a hopper for supplying toner to the magnetic brush roller 17, which stores the toner. A transfer discharger 6 transfers the toner image visualized on the photosensitive drum 1 by the developing device 4 to a transfer material 7 such as a sheet.
Reference numeral 8 is a cleaning unit for cleaning and removing the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer and reusing the photosensitive member. Reference numeral 9 denotes a storage container for waste toner generated by cleaning the photosensitive drum 1. Here, in this embodiment, the photoconductor drum 1, the hopper 5, and the waste toner storage 9 are connected by an arm 26 and integrally attached to form a consumable item replacement unit U. As shown in FIG. 2, the unit U is detachably attached to the apparatus main body by the shaft 10. In this embodiment, the shaft 10 is attached to the side plate 12a of the apparatus lower main body 12, and the photosensitive drum 1 is attached to the shaft 10. The photoconductor drum 1 rotates in association with a drum drive gear 13 that receives rotation transmitted from a motor (not shown) by a gear (not shown).

Reference numeral 15 is a conveying screw for guiding the toner scraped off by the cleaning means 8 to the storage 9, 30 is a paper feeding cassette, 31 is a transfer material feeding roller,
Reference numeral 32 is a registration roller, 33 is a conveyor belt, 34 is a fixing means, 35 is a paper discharge tray, and 36 is a cutting board. Further, 37 is a document placing glass, 38 is an illumination lamp, and 39 is a document pressure plate.

Here, the consumables exchanging unit U is detached from the apparatus main body or attached to the apparatus main body as follows.

First, the engagement between the hook 27a and the clasp 27b is released, and the upper body 11 is pushed upward by the pushing force of the coil spring 28, so that the upper body 11 is lowered.
Open separately (Figs. 2 and 3).

Then, a packing 24 for positioning the cleaning means 8 and the toner reservoir 9 at a predetermined position and a support plate 22 for supporting the same, and a packing 25 for positioning the hopper 5 at a predetermined position and a support plate 23 for supporting the same are provided on the upper side. Since it is attached to the main body 11, it moves with the movement of the upper main body 11. Therefore, the hopper 5 and the waste toner storage unit 9 can be detached from the respective receiving members 21 and 20. Therefore, the shaft 10 is attached to the side plate 1.
Consumables replacement unit U by removing from 2a
Can be removed from the device body. Therefore, the photoconductor drum 1, the hopper 5, and the toner storage 9, which are consumable items, can be integrally removed from the apparatus main body (direction A in FIG. 3).

Next, the case where the unit U is attached to the main body will be described.

First, the hopper 5 and the toner storage device 9 are placed in alignment with the receiving members 21 and 20 provided on the lower body 12 (direction B in FIG. 3). Then, next, the shaft 1 is inserted into the shaft opening 1a of the drum 1 through the side plate 12a to position the drum 1. Then, the upper body 1 is resisted against the pushing force of the spring 28.
1 is pushed down to engage the hook 27a and the clasp 27b. Then, the hopper 5 and the toner storage 9 are pressed against the receiving members 21 and 20 by the packings 24 and 25, respectively, and are attached at predetermined positions. That is, the unit U is attached at a predetermined position.

As described above, in this embodiment, the consumables can be easily and integrally removed from the main body by opening the main body and removing the drum shaft 10 from the main body.

By using the packings 24 and 25, when the waste toner storage 9 and the hopper 5 are loaded into the receiving members 20 and 21, respectively, the loading can be ensured. Further, when the waste toner storage device 9 and the hopper 5 are positioned, if the photosensitive drum 1 is positioned by a supporting member (not shown) of the arm 26, the shaft 10 may be omitted. In this case, the arms 26 are preferably attached to both sides of the unit U.

Now, an example of replenishing the toner stored in the hopper 5 to the magnetic brush roller 17 will be described. An opening / closing plate 14 is provided so as to be slidable (direction of arrow C). Therefore, in this embodiment, the opening / closing plate 14 is slid along the cylindrical wall 5a by a knob provided on the opening / closing plate 14 to adjust the opening area of the opening 5b of the hopper cylindrical wall 5a. be able to. The amount of toner supplied to the magnetic brush roller 17 can be adjusted according to the opening area. Therefore, in this embodiment, the amount of replenishment of toner can be easily adjusted only by sliding the opening / closing plate 14 (FIG. 4B). Further, if the opening / closing plate 14 completely closes the opening 5b (FIG. 4a), it is possible to prevent toner scattering or contamination due to toner leaking from the hopper 5 when the unit U is removed. The opening 5b of the hopper 5 may be closed with an adhesive tape. Further, it goes without saying that the same configuration is used for opening and closing an opening (not shown) for collecting toner in the waste toner storage device 9.

Further, FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the number of copies, the remaining amount of toner in the hopper 5, and the amount of waste toner collected in the waste toner storage 9. Here, (toner consumption amount) = (initial amount of toner in hopper 5) − (remaining amount of toner in hopper 5). As can be seen from the graph, the amount of toner in the hopper 5 decreases as the number of copies (A4 size character original copy) increases, and the amount of waste toner stored in the waste toner storage 9 increases instead. ing. The ratio of the toner consumption amount to the waste toner amount is about 5: 1. However, this value will vary slightly depending on environmental changes and the contents of the copy image.
The graph shows the case of an example using a photoconductor having a usable number of 3000 sheets, and if about 210 [g] of toner is put into the hopper 5, the toner consumption is almost completed with the lapse of the photoconductor useful period. There is. Therefore, it is possible to store the toner consumption amount in the hopper 5 according to the durable number of the photoconductor, and to determine the size of the waste toner storage portion in the hopper according to the durable number of the photoconductor.

Further, in the case of a general original image, since the ratio of the toner consumption amount to the waste toner amount is 5: 1, when the hopper and the waste toner storage device are integrated, the volume of both is about 5 :. It can be 1. Accordingly, it is not necessary to carelessly provide the large waste toner storage device 9.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the volume of the hopper 5 is set to a volume capable of accommodating the amount of toner consumed during the life of the photoconductor, and the volume of the waste toner storage 9 is collected from the photoconductor during the life of the photoconductor. The volume may be such that a toner equivalent amount can be stored. For example, in the case of the present embodiment, the copy lifetime 30
When a normal character original is copied using 00 photoconductors, the capacity of the hopper is about 500 [cm ³ ] to store about 200 [g] of toner, and the capacity of the waste toner storage 9 is about 100 [. cm ² ].

Furthermore, the waste toner storage device 9 and the hopper 5 are
When the and are integrated with the unit U, the waste toner storage 9 may be set to have a volume of at least one fifth or more of the volume of the replenishment toner of the hopper 5. In this way, if the storage volume of the hopper 5 is determined according to the service life of the photoconductor, the photoconductor can reach the service life when the toner consumption is completed. Can be prevented from being used. Further, even if the unit is discarded after the end of the life of the photoconductor, the toner in the hopper 5 is almost consumed and the toner is not wasted. Further, if the volume of the waste toner storage device is determined according to the volume of this hopper, the waste toner storage device will not be carelessly enlarged.

In this embodiment, only the case where the photosensitive drum 1, the hopper 5 and the waste toner storage device 9 are integrally attached to the arm 26 is shown, but the present embodiment is not limited to this. Of course, at least two of the above three may be combined and integrated.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, by integrating the above-mentioned integrated unit and a charging means, for example, a corona discharger, at the end of a predetermined consumable product life period, for example, at the end of the photoconductor life period, it is contaminated with toner. The corona discharger and charger can also be replaced.

In FIG. 6, the photosensitive drum 1, the discharger 2, the hopper 5, and the waste toner storage 9 are integrally attached to the arm 40 of the unit U.

[0027]

As described above, since each consumable item is conventionally replenished and replaced separately, the detachable portion of the device for mounting each consumable item from the main body of the device is complicated and complicated. In the present invention, by integrating the consumables, it is not necessary to attach and detach the individual attachments described above, and the device configuration can be simplified. In addition, at least two of the waste toner storage unit, the hopper, and the photoconductor drum are combined and connected to be integrated so that the toner is replenished and the photoconductor is replaced at the end of a predetermined consumable life, or the photoconductor is replaced. Exchange and waste toner treatment, toner replenishment and waste toner treatment, toner replenishment and waste toner treatment, and photoconductor exchange can be performed at the same time. Similarly, by integrating the cleaner itself and the developing device itself in combination with the others, the consumables can be replaced when they are replaced.

Furthermore, in order to prevent the occurrence of scratches on the drum when replacing the conventional drum, it is necessary to keep the portion in contact with the drum in the non-contact state when setting the drum. A mechanism to separate from was needed. However, these arrangements are not necessary in the configuration of the present invention.

Further, the consumables can be integrated and exchanged so that the minimum required consumables within the life of the consumables can be provided in the apparatus, and the apparatus can be downsized.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an open state of the copying machine shown in FIGS.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a developing device portion.
FIG. 3B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a developing device portion.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a toner consumption amount and a waste toner amount.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a unitized embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor drum 2 Corona discharger 5 Hopper 8 Cleaning means 9 Waste toner storage device 10 Shaft 11 Upper body 17 Magnetic brush roller 20/21 Receiving member 26 Arm U unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having an image carrier, a toner storage unit for storing toner for developing a latent image, and a waste toner storage unit for storing residual waste toner on the image carrier. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that at least two of a body, a toner storage means, and a waste toner storage means are combined and integrated. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner storage unit has a volume capable of accommodating an amount of toner that is consumed during the life of the image carrier. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner storage unit has a volume capable of storing a corresponding amount of waste toner collected within the life of the image carrier. 4. The volume of the waste toner storage means is at least one fifth of the volume of the toner storage means when at least the toner storage means and the waste toner storage means are integrated. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integrated unit is further integrated with a charging unit.