JPH0547949U - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To eliminate the need to take out the photosensitive drum and package it separately during transportation. A housing 10 that holds a developing roller 9 and covers the developing device 6, a spring 11 that constantly urges the housing 10 toward the photosensitive member 4, and an apparatus main body frame 12 and a housing 10. A pin 14 for stopping, which pin 14 is movable and can assume at least two stable positions. In the first position, the developing roller 9 is separated from the photoconductor 4 by a predetermined distance. The developing roller 9 holds the photosensitive member 4 at the second position.
The spring 11 is brought into contact with the above.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that supplies toner to a photoconductor by directly contacting the photoconductor with the image forming roller.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, there is known a developing method in which toner is supplied to the photosensitive drum while the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum (body).

By the way, when a copying machine of this type is transported (when it is not used), since the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum, if it is transported as it is, the photosensitive drum may be damaged. Alternatively, the developing roller may be deformed. Therefore, conventionally, such a danger is prevented by taking out the photosensitive drum from the copying machine and packaging it separately.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the work of taking out such a photosensitive drum and separately packaging it is troublesome, and its improvement has been desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the conventional contact type copying machine, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of eliminating troubles during transportation.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention is directed to a housing that holds the developing roller and covers the developing device, a biasing means that constantly biases the housing toward the photoconductor, and a separation mechanism that locks the housing to both the main body frame and the housing. The separating member is movable and can assume at least two stable positions. In the first position, the developing roller is held at a predetermined distance from the photosensitive member. However, in the second position, the developing roller is brought into contact with the photosensitive member by the biasing force of the biasing means.

Further, according to the present invention, one end of the separating member is fitted into a hole formed in the main body frame so as to be movable in the axial direction of the developing roller, so that the separating member is locked to the main body frame. The other end is fitted into a hole formed in the housing so as to be movable in the axial direction, and is locked to the housing. Further, at least the intermediate portion between the one end and the other end is at least the developing portion. The side opposite to the roller side is recessed from the other end toward the developing roller side, and the separating member moves in the axial direction to move from the first position to the second position. Then, the other end is fitted into the hole of the housing, and the developing roller is separated from the photoconductor. At the second position, the intermediate part comes to the hole of the housing, and the urging force of the urging means is applied. The developing roller contacts the photoconductor It comes to touch.

Further, according to the present invention, the separating member has one end portion fitted in an L-shaped hole formed in the main body frame and having one side A facing toward the developing roller, thereby being attached to the main body frame. The other end is locked into the housing by being fitted into an I-shaped hole formed in the housing and parallel to the remaining one side B of the L-shape, and the separating member is moved, The developing roller is moved from the first position to the second position. At the first position, the other end is fitted in the hole of the housing, and the one end is fitted in the remaining side B of the main body frame. Is separated from the photoconductor, and at the second position, one end is fitted into one side A of the L-shape, so that the developing roller comes into contact with the photoconductor by the urging force of the urging means.

Further, according to the present invention, the separating member has one end thereof rotatably fitted into a hole formed in the body frame so as to be locked to the body frame, and has a rectangular or elliptical cross section. The other end of the shape is rotatably fitted into a hole formed in the housing to lock the housing, and the separating member rotates to move the second member from the first position to the second position. In the first position, the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the other end becomes substantially coincident with or parallel to the urging direction, and the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive member. At this position, the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the other end is substantially orthogonal to the urging direction, and the developing roller comes into contact with the photoconductor by the urging force of the urging means.

[0010]

[Action]

 In the present invention, the housing holds the developing roller to cover the developing device, the biasing means constantly biases the housing toward the photoconductor, and the separating member locks both the apparatus main body frame and the housing. When the separation member is movable and is in the first position, it holds the developing roller at a predetermined distance from the photoconductor, and when it is in the second position. , The developing roller is brought into contact with the photoconductor by the urging force of the urging means. Therefore, during transportation, even if the developing roller and the photoconductor are still incorporated in the image forming apparatus, by moving the separating member to the first position, the developing roller can be separated from the photoconductor, and the vibration can be prevented. However, there is no concern that the photoconductor will be scratched or the developing roller will bend. On the other hand, in use, by moving the separating member to the second position, the developing roller can be brought into contact with the photoconductor and development can be performed.

[0011]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the original image light is obtained by scanning the optical system 2 with respect to the original placed on the contact glass 1 on the upper surface of the main body, and the light of the original image is exposed by the lens 3 onto the photosensitive drum 4. It is supposed to do. Around the photosensitive drum 4, a charger 5 that charges the photosensitive drum 4, a developing device 6 that visualizes a latent image of an original image by carrying toner, and a developing device 6 that visualizes a sheet sent from a paper feed cassette. A transfer device 7 for transferring the imaged original image, a cleaning device 8 for cleaning residual toner, and the like are arranged.

The developing device 6 has a developing roller 9, and the developing roller 9 is in direct contact with the photosensitive drum 4 to adhere the toner to the photosensitive drum 4.

2 and 3 are partial plan views for explaining the relationship between the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing device 6. The developing device 6 has a housing 10 that rotatably holds the developing roller 9. At the rear side of the housing 10, one end of a spring 11 that constantly urges the housing 10 toward the photosensitive drum 4 is attached. The other end of this spring 11 is fixed to an outer frame 12 fixed to the main body of the copying machine. The photosensitive drum 4 is also rotatably held by the outer frame 12. Numeral 13 is a roller attached to the end of the developing roller 9, and is a member for controlling the degree of contact of the developing roller 9 with the photosensitive drum 4.

A rectangular hole 10b is formed in the side wall 10a of the housing 10. A rectangular hole 12b is also formed in the side wall 12a of the outer frame 12. A pin 14 having a key shape as a whole is inserted into both of the holes 10b and 12b. A perspective view of the vicinity is shown in FIG. One end 14a of the pin 14 has a T shape, and a thin portion having a rectangular cross section penetrates the hole 12b of the outer frame 12. The thickness of the thin portion substantially matches the size of the hole 12b. The thick portion of the T-shape is exposed from the outer frame 12 to the outside.

On the other hand, the other end portion 14b has a rectangular cross section and is thick, and substantially matches the size of the hole 10b. An intermediate portion 14c between the thick other end portion 14b and the T-shaped one end portion 14a is thinner than the other end portion 14b. In the illustrated embodiment, the thickness of the intermediate portion 14c and the thickness of the T-shaped thin portion of the one end portion 14a are the same.

As shown in FIG. 1, a spacer 15 is inserted between the thick portion of the T-shaped portion of the one end portion 14a and the outer frame side wall 12a. This spacer is in the form of a partially cut disk as shown in FIG. The cutout portion is adapted to be fitted into the thin portion of the one end portion 14a of the pin 14 from above. The presence of the spacer 15 prevents the pin 14 from moving inward from the state shown in FIG. Further, a ring 16 is attached around the spacer 15. The other side wall (not shown) of the housing 10 and the outer frame 12 also has a spacer and a ring as well as holes and pins, and a common cord is tied to both the rings 16.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

At the time of transportation, as shown in FIG. 1, the pin 14 is locked in the hole 10 b of the housing 10 and the hole 12 a of the outer frame 12 with the spacer 15 sandwiched therebetween. This position is the first position. That is, the other end portion 14b of the pin 14 enters the side wall hole 10b. Therefore, the pin 14 prevents the housing 10 from moving toward the photosensitive drum 4 side by the urging force of the spring 11. As a result, a gap 17 having a predetermined size is formed between the developing roller 9 held in the housing 10 and the photosensitive drum 4. Therefore, there is no fear that the developing roller 9 collides with the photosensitive drum 4 due to the vibration during transportation and the photosensitive drum 4 is damaged or the developing roller 9 is deformed. The size of the gap 17 can be appropriately determined in advance by the position of the pin 14 and the holes 10a and 12a.

On the other hand, in use, the two spacers 15 are removed by first pulling the common string and pulling the ring 16. By pulling the common cord, the mistake of forgetting to remove one spacer 15 is eliminated.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the one end portion 14 a of the pin 14 is pushed inward along the axial direction of the developing roller 9. As a result, the other end 14b moves to the inside of the housing 10. This position is the second position. As a result, the intermediate portion 14c of the pin 14 is located in the side wall hole 10a of the housing 10. Since the intermediate portion 14c is thin, it does not obstruct the housing 10, so that the housing 10 approaches the photosensitive drum 4 by the biasing force of the spring 11. Then, when the roller 13 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 4, the developing roller 9 comes into a state of appropriately contacting the photosensitive drum 4. This allows it to be used.

FIG. 6 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the hole 12b formed in the side wall 12a of the outer frame 12 is an L-shaped hole whose one side A faces the developing roller 9 side. One end 14 of the pin 14 is fitted therein. The other end 14b of the pin 14 is fitted into an I-shaped hole 10b formed in the side wall 10a of the housing 10 and parallel to the remaining side B of the L-shape.

In this embodiment, during transportation, the pin 14 is fitted to the lower side, that is, the one end 14a is fitted to the lower part of the side B of the L-shaped hole 12b. The other end 14b is fitted in the lower part of the I-shaped hole 10b. Therefore, the pin 14 does not move at that position (first position), and the hole 10b, that is, the housing 10 is also fixed at that position. As a result, a gap is secured between the developing roller 9 and the photosensitive drum 4.

On the other hand, when used, the one end portion 14a is lifted upward and further moved to the photosensitive drum 4 side along one side A of the L-shaped hole 12b. As a result, the other end portion 14b also moves to the photosensitive drum 4 side. As a result, the hole 10a, that is, the housing 10 is moved to the photosensitive drum 4 side by the urging force of the spring 11, and the developing roller 9 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 4.

As another embodiment, although not shown, the hole 10b on the housing 10 side is L-shaped (one side 10c thereof faces the spring 11 side, see the dotted line 10c in FIG. 3). The side wall holes 12b of the outer frame 12 may be I-shaped. In this case, by moving the pin 14 upward, the other end portion 14b enters the side 10c, so that the housing 10 moves to the photosensitive drum 4.

As another embodiment, with respect to the key-shaped pin 14 shown in FIG. 3, the hole 12b is circular, and the hole 10b is large enough to allow the other end 14b to rotate (other than a perfect circle). Therefore, it may be movable.

That is, when transporting, the other end portion 14b is in a state of being laid down (first position) as shown in FIG. Due to the lateral protrusion of the other end 14b, the hole 10b of the housing 10 cannot move even if it is biased. As a result, the developing roller 9 is separated from the photosensitive drum 4. A spacer or the like is used to prevent rotation of the pin 14 during transportation.

When used, the other end portion 14b is rotated and set up. As a result, the hole 10b of the housing 10 forms a gap with the other end 14b, and the hole 10b is moved toward the photosensitive drum 4 side by the urging force. Therefore, the developing roller 9 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 4.

The separating member according to the present invention is not limited to the pin, and, in short, can be moved and locked in both the device body frame and the housing, and can take at least two stable positions. At the first position, the developing roller is held at a predetermined distance from the photoconductor, and at the second position, the developing roller is brought into contact with the photoconductor by the urging force of the urging means. If it's something you do, it's okay. For example, the locking method is not limited to the method in which the separating member is inserted into the hole, and other methods such as locking in the concave portion and locking in the convex portion may be used.

Further, the apparatus main body frame of the present invention is not limited to the outer frame and may be any frame that constitutes the main body.

Further, the urging means of the present invention is not limited to the spring, and any means such as a leaf spring having an elastic force can be used as long as it can exert the force for moving the developing roller with respect to the photoconductor by the urging force. Good.

Further, the L-shaped hole of the present invention does not have to be exactly L-shaped, and it suffices if the L-shaped hole is otherwise.

Further, the other end of the rectangular or elliptical cross-section of the present invention does not have to be exactly rectangular or elliptical, and it may have a collapsed shape.

[0034]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, the housing that holds the developing roller and covers the developing device, the urging means that constantly urges the housing toward the photoconductor, and both the device main frame and the housing are provided. And a separating member which is movable to take at least two stable positions. In the first position, the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive member by a predetermined distance. In the second position, the developing roller is held in a separated state so that the developing roller is brought into contact with the photosensitive member by the urging force of the urging means. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can save the trouble of packing separately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the developing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pin of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the spacer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the developing device for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pin for explaining another embodiment of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Photosensitive Drum 5 Charging Device 6 Developing Device 7 Transfer Device 8 Cleaning Device 9 Developing Roller 10 Housing 10a Hole 11 Energizing Means 12 Outer Frame 12b Hole 14 Pin 14a One End 14b One End

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An image forming apparatus having a contact type developing device for developing by bringing a developing roller into contact with a photoconductor, and a housing for holding the developing roller and covering the developing device, and a housing for the housing at all times. A biasing means for biasing the photoconductor to the photosensitive member side, and a separating member that engages with both the apparatus main body frame and the housing are provided, and the separating member can move and take at least two stable positions. In the first position, the developing roller is held in a state of being separated from the photoconductor by a predetermined distance, and in the second position, the developing roller is biased by the biasing means with respect to the photoconductor. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be brought into contact with each other by the urging force of the. 2. The separating member has one end thereof fitted in a hole formed in the main body frame so as to be movable in the axial direction of the developing roller, thereby being locked to the main body frame, and the other end. A portion is fitted into a hole formed in the housing so as to be movable in the axial direction, and is locked to the housing. Further, an intermediate portion between the one end and the other end is at least on the developing roller side. The side opposite to the other end is recessed toward the developing roller side, and the separation member moves in the axial direction to move from the first position to the second position. In the first position, the other end is fitted in the hole of the housing, and the developing roller is separated from the photoconductor. In the second position, the intermediate part is in the hole of the housing. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developing roller comes into contact with the photoconductor by the urging force of the urging unit. 3. The separating member is locked at its one end by being fitted into an L-shaped hole formed in the main body frame and having one side A facing the developing roller side. The other end is fitted into an I-shaped hole formed in the housing and parallel to the remaining one side B of the L-shape so as to be locked in the housing and the separating member is moved, Moving from a first position to a second position, said first position
At the position, the other end is fitted in the hole of the housing, and the one end is fitted in the remaining side B of the main body frame, so that the developing roller is separated from the photoconductor, 2. In the position 2, the one end is fitted into the one side A of the L-shape so that the developing roller comes into contact with the photoconductor by the urging force of the urging means. The image forming apparatus described. 4. The separating member has one end rotatably fitted in a hole formed in the main body frame to be locked to the main body frame, and the other end having a rectangular or elliptical cross section. The part is rotatably fitted into a hole formed in the housing, is locked to the housing, and the separating member is rotated,
The developing roller moves from the first position to the second position, and in the first position, the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the other end portion is substantially coincident with or parallel to the urging direction, Is separated from the photoconductor, and in the second position, the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the other end is substantially orthogonal to the urging direction, and the developing roller is urged by the urging means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus comes into contact with the photoconductor.