JPH056459U - Process unit - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The strength of the process unit as a whole is high,
Provided is an inexpensive process unit which does not damage the photosensitive drum due to deformation of the process unit. A toner container 3 for storing a toner 2 and a waste toner container 5 for storing a waste toner 4 are provided in a process unit 1
Is integrally formed with the housing 6, and the housing 6 supports a developing sleeve 7. Further, the holder 12 is provided with the photosensitive drum 11, the corona charger 13, and the removing blade 14, and constitutes a photosensitive drum unit 18. The photosensitive drum unit 18 is attachable to and detachable from the housing 6. Urethane foam 9 is attached around the waste toner container 5 of the housing 6, and the holder 1 is attached when the photosensitive drum unit 18 is mounted on the housing 6.
2 is pressed toward the developing sleeve 7.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

  The present invention relates to a process unit used in an electrophotographic image recording apparatus. It is a thing.

[0002]

[Prior art]

  Conventionally, in the electrophotographic image recording apparatus, the developer is replenished or discarded, or The photosensitive drum, charger, and By combining the components such as the container and cleaner into a process unit, When replacing the optical drum, a method of replacing the entire process unit is possible. ing. The user does not have to perform troublesome maintenance, and the process unit is It is widely accepted as it only needs to be replaced.

[0003]   As an example of such a process unit, the structure shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. The process unit 51 is known. This process unit 51 is A toner container 53 containing the toner 52 and a developing roller for supporting the toner 52 on the surface. A developing unit 55 composed of a reeve 54 and a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The drum 56 and the charger 57 that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 56 and the photosensitive drum The cleaner 59 for removing the waste toner 58 remaining on the system 56 and the cleaner 59 A cleaner unit including a waste toner container 60 that stores the waste toner 58 that has been removed. It is composed of two units such as a unit 61.

[0004]   The developing device unit 55 and the cleaner unit 61 have a shaft 62 as a center. The developing sleeve is rotatably combined, and further, by a spring 63, the developing sleeve. Development gap setting rollers (not shown) provided at both ends of the photosensitive drum 5 6 is attached so as to abut.

[0005]   However, the process unit 51 having such a configuration is connected to the developing unit 55. It is made up of two units, the Lina unit 61 and these two units. The spring 63 to maintain the gap between the photosensitive drum 56 and the developing sleeve 54. Therefore, when the user handles the process unit 51, As shown by the chain double-dashed line in 6, the spring 63 extends and both units move relatively. There was something that happened. At that time, the developing gap setting roller is separated from the photosensitive drum 56. When the original force is restored by the restoring force of the spring 63, the developing gap setting roller is exposed. The photosensitive drum 56 may be damaged or deformed by colliding with the ram 56. There was it.

[0006]   Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, both the developer unit 55 and the cleaner unit 61 are A cover 64 that covers the person from above is provided to maintain the strength of the process unit 51. Some are known.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

  However, in such a process unit, the developer unit and the cleaner are As it will consist of three units, a unit and a cover, However, there is a problem in that it leads to an increase in manufacturing cost.

[0008]   The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the process unit The strength of the entire unit is high, the structure is simple, and the image carrier is not damaged. The purpose is to provide a process unit without.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

  In order to achieve this object, the process unit of the present invention comprises an image carrier and its image carrier. Developing means for supplying the developer to the carrier, and removing the developer remaining on the image carrier. And a recovery means for recovering the developer removed by the removal member. The process unit includes the developing unit and the developing unit. A first unit including a collecting unit, the image carrier, and the removing member. , And a second unit detachable from the first unit.

[0010]   In addition, at least one of the first unit and the second unit In order to stabilize the positional relationship between the first unit and the second unit. The pressing member may be provided.

[0011]

[Action]

  In the process unit of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the developing means is mounted on the image bearing pair. Supply image agent. The removing member removes the developer remaining on the image bearing pair, and removes the removed developer. The image agent is collected by the collecting means. The first unit consists of the developing means and the collecting means. It is configured and can be attached to and detached from the second unit that is composed of the image bearing pair and the removal member. Noh. The pressing member is at least the first unit and the second unit. Located on either side, the positional relationship between the first and second units Stabilize.

[0012]

【Example】

  Hereinafter, a laser beam printer including a process unit embodying the present invention will be described. An example of the data will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013]   As shown in FIG. 1, in the process unit 1 embodying the present invention, the unused unit Toner container 3 for storing a toner 2 and a waste toner container for storing a waste toner 4 described later. And 5 are formed integrally with the housing 6 of the process unit 1. In this case 6, As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the toner 2 contained in the toner container 3 is supported on the surface. A developing sleeve 7 for holding the developing sleeve is rotatably provided. Above the sleeve 7, the layer thickness of the toner 2 supported on the surface of the developing sleeve 7 is regulated. A layer thickness adjusting blade 8 is attached for the purpose. In addition, the waste toner container 5 A urethane foam 9 is attached to the periphery of the opening. And the development The both ends of the sleeve 7 are in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 described later, And the developing gap setting roller 10 for keeping the distance between the photosensitive drum 11 and the photosensitive drum 11 constant. It is provided.

[0014]   On the other hand, the photosensitive drum on which the toner 2 supported on the surface of the developing sleeve 7 is transferred. As shown in FIG. 4, the frame 11 is the inside of the holder 12 that is attachable to and detachable from the housing 6. And rotatably supported in parallel to the developing sleeve 7 and relatively to the developing sleeve 7. Has been done. The inner surface of the holder 12 above the photosensitive drum 11 is A corona charger 13 for uniformly charging the surface of the optical drum 11 and a surface of the photosensitive drum 11. The removal blade 14 that removes the waste toner 4 remaining on the surface is the length of the photosensitive drum 11. It is mounted parallel to the hand direction. In addition, a part of the holder 12 will be described later. There is a transmission window (not shown) for irradiating the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 with the laser beam 22. Has been formed. Further, protrusions 16 are formed on both end surfaces of the holder 12 so as to be aligned with the holder 12. It is formed on the body, and on both side surfaces of the housing 6 at positions corresponding to the protrusions 16 thereof. , Long holes 17 are provided. In this way, the members provided in the holder 12 The photosensitive drum unit 18 is constituted by the above.

[0015]   The process unit 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above has the center of the housing 6. It is integrated by attaching the photosensitive drum unit 18 to the section. In particular As shown in FIG. 5, the protrusions 16 formed on both end surfaces of the holder 12 are attached to the housing 6 The photosensitive drum unit 1 is inserted into the long holes 17 formed on both side surfaces of the photosensitive drum unit 1. 8 is attached to the housing 6. Then, the holder 12 moves only horizontally within the housing 6. It will be possible. Therefore, even if the housing 6 is deformed, the deformation causes development. The gap setting roller 10 does not separate from the photosensitive drum 11 and they do not collide with each other. Yes.

[0016]   Further, the urethane foam 9 is provided between the opening of the waste toner container 5 and the holder 12. The waste toner 4 is prevented from spilling and the holder 12 is developed by its elastic force. Since it is pressed in the direction of the reeve 7, there is no need for special pressing means such as a spring, and the structure is simple. It is cheap. Further, the development gap setting roller 10 is used to develop the photosensitive drum 11 and The gap with the sleeve 7 is always kept constant. In addition, the photosensitive drum 11 At the time of replacement, the photosensitive drum unit 18 is removed from the housing 6 and the photosensitive drum unit 18 is removed. It can be replaced very simply, since only the unit 18 has to be replaced. Further, since the positional relationship between the developing sleeve 7 and the photosensitive drum 11 is stable, the output image There is no loss of image quality.

[0017]   This process unit 1 has a laser beam printer 19 as shown in FIG. It is installed. At this time, the laser diode, A scanner 21 including a turning mirror, an F-θ lens, and the like, and a scanner 21 Reflecting mirror 2 for irradiating the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 with the generated laser beam 22. 3 are disposed on the photosensitive drum 11 below the process unit 1. A transfer charger 25 that transfers the formed image to the sheet 24 is arranged.

[0018]   The paper 24 is placed in the main body case 19a of the laser beam printer 19. The paper feed cassettes 26 that are stacked and stored are mounted on the paper feed cassette 26. Toward the other side, a sheet feeding roller that feeds out only the uppermost one of the sheets 24 stacked and stored. 27 are provided. Between the transfer charger 25 and the paper feed cassette 26, Securely transfer the paper 24 sent from the paper feed cassette 26 to the transfer charger 25 Arrangement of a paper guide 28 and a registration roller 29 for supplying to and from the ram 11. Has been done. In addition, a lid 30 is attached to a support shaft 31 at an upper opening of the main body case 19a. It is attached so that it can be opened and closed by the process unit, and the process unit can be opened by opening the lid 30. It becomes possible to replace the unit 1.

[0019]   In the vicinity of the transfer charger 25, the image transferred onto the paper 24 by the transfer charger 25 is placed. A fixing device 34 including a fixing roller 32 and a pressure roller 33 for fixing, and The paper 24 fixed by the fixing device 34 is attached to the outer surface of the main body case 19a. A discharge roller 36 that discharges to a discharge tray 35 that is provided is provided.

[0020]   Next, the operation of the laser beam printer 19 thus configured will be described. It

[0021]   When a print command is input to the laser beam printer 19 from a terminal device (not shown) The photosensitive drum 11 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A by a drive motor (not shown). At the same time, the corona charger 13 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. And input A laser beam 22 modulated in accordance with the generated image signal is emitted from the scanner 21. Then, the laser beam 22 passes through the reflection mirror 23 and the transmission window 24, and the photosensitive drum By exposing the surface of 11, the electrostatic latent image according to the input image signal is exposed It is formed on the surface of the drum 11.

[0022]   On the other hand, the developing sleeve 7 supports the toner 2 in the toner container 3 on its surface, and Driven to rotate. The toner 2 supported on the surface of the developing sleeve 7 regulates the layer thickness. The blade 8 regulates the layer thickness to a constant value and conveys it to the developing area. Is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 11 by the electrostatic force of the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of . Further, the paper 24 fed from the paper feed cassette 26 by the paper feed roller 27 is The photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer charger 25 by the paper guide 28 and the registration roller 29. Is sent to and between. Then, the transfer charger 25 forms an image on the photosensitive drum 11. The formed image is transferred to the paper 24.

[0023]   The paper 24 is sent between the fixing roller 32 and the pressure roller 33 in the fixing device 34. The image transferred onto the paper 24 is fixed. Paper 24 that has been fixed is ejected The sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 35 by the roller 36. Also, by the transfer charger 25 The waste toner 4 remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 without being transferred to the paper 24 is removed and removed. The toner is removed by the card 14 and stored in the waste toner container 5.

[0024]   It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but deviates from the gist of the invention. Various changes can be made within the range not to do.

[0025]   For example, it is not necessary to use the process unit 1 for the laser beam printer 19. Alternatively, it may be used in a copying machine.

[0026]

[Effect of device]

  As is clear from the above description, the process unit of the present invention makes it easy. With a simple structure, the strength of the process unit as a whole is high, and the process unit There is no damage to the image carrier due to the deformation of the lens, and the image carrier can be easily replaced. I can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a process unit embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a laser beam printer using a process unit embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of a housing of the process unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective sectional view of a photosensitive drum unit of the process unit according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the process unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a conventional process unit.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional process unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 process unit 2 toner 3 Toner container 5 Waste toner container 6 housing 7 Development sleeve 9 Urethane foam 11 Photosensitive drum 14 Removal blade 18 Photosensitive drum unit

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An image carrier, a developing means for supplying a developer to the image carrier, a removing member for removing the developer remaining on the image carrier, and a developer removed by the removing member. A process unit including a collecting unit for collecting, the process unit including a first unit including the developing unit and the collecting unit, the image carrier and the removing member, and And a second unit that is attachable to and detachable from the above unit. 2. A pressing member for stabilizing the positional relationship between the first unit and the second unit is provided in at least one of the first unit and the second unit. The process unit according to claim 1, wherein: