JPH0572834A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce labor required for the exchange of a paper feeding roller by exchanging the paper feeding roller together with an imaging cartridge. CONSTITUTION:The image forming device is constituted so as to have an image forming device main body 10 and the imaging cartridge 20. This cartridge 20 has the paper feeding roller 205 besides a photosensitive drum 201. The imaging cartridge 20 is exchanged so that not only the photosensitive drum 201 but also the paper feeding roller 205 can be simultaneously exchanged. Therefore, the labor required for exchanging the paper feeding roller 205 can be reduced.

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, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a laser printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus, paper stored in a paper feed tray is sent to a photoconductor drum by a paper feed roller, and the toner on the surface of the photoconductor drum is adhered to the paper to form a paper. The image was formed on. This image forming apparatus is configured by detachably attaching an imaging cartridge, which is configured by uniting the photosensitive drum, the developing device and the like, to an apparatus main body including a casing and the like. Since the consumables such as toner are consumed by using the imaging cartridge for a certain period of time, the imaging cartridge is regularly replaced.

By the way, when the image forming apparatus is used for a long period of time, the paper feed roller is also worn away, so that a paper feed failure such as jamming is likely to occur when the paper is sent to the photosensitive drum. For this reason, it is necessary to regularly replace the paper feed roller as well.

[0004]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the paper feed roller is formed separately from the imaging cartridge, and is separately attached to the apparatus main body. The imaging cartridge had to be replaced separately. Therefore, in addition to the replacement work of the imaging cartridge, the replacement work of the paper feed roller is required, and there has been a problem that a great deal of labor is required to replace these consumables.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to reduce the labor required for exchanging a consumable item including a paper feed roller in an image forming apparatus by making the paper feed roller replaceable with an imaging cartridge. I am trying.

[0006]

An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body, and an imaging cartridge that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body and includes at least a photosensitive drum. , The imaging cartridge includes a paper feed roller that feeds paper to the photosensitive drum.

[0007]

In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the imaging cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus main body, not only the photosensitive drum but also the paper feed roller is simultaneously removed from the image forming apparatus main body. Further, when a new imaging cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, a new paper feeding roller is also attached to the image forming apparatus main body. As a result, the paper feed roller can be exchanged at the same time as the exchange of the imaging cartridge, and the labor required for the exchange of the paper feed roller can be reduced.

[0008]

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

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image forming apparatus is a laser printer, which forms an image by transferring toner to paper. The present invention can also be applied to, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine. This image forming apparatus has a configuration known as a laser printer, and the photoconductor drum 201 includes the charging roller 2
Due to 06, the surface thereof is charged and is rotatably provided in the direction indicated by arrow D in FIG. An optical unit 103 that irradiates an optical image on the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 201 and forms a latent electrostatic image on the surface is disposed above the photosensitive drum 201. Further, a developing device 202 is arranged near the photoconductor drum 201, and the developing device 202 applies toner to the electrostatic latent image. On the other hand, the paper stored in the paper feed tray 207 is configured to be sent out toward the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 201 and the transfer roller 105 by the paper feed roller 205 and the reverse rotation roller 106. Further, the toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor drum 201 is transferred to the paper, and the excess toner is collected in the toner collection box 203 arranged near the photoconductor drum 201. Further, this paper is used for fixing rollers 101A and 101A.
To the fixing rollers 101A and 101B.
As a result, the toner is fixed on the paper. The paper after fixing is transferred to the paper discharge rollers 202A and 202B through a passage, and is further discharged to the paper discharge tray 104 by the rotation of these paper discharge rollers 102A and 102B.

Here, in this laser printer,
The photosensitive drum 201, the developing device 202, the toner collecting box 203, the paper feeding roller 205, the charging roller 206.
Are fixed to the frame 200, respectively, and these constitute the imaging cartridge 20 as a whole. Then, the imaging cartridge 20
Is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 10. The image forming apparatus main body 10 is configured to include a box-shaped casing 100 having a predetermined internal space, and the fixing roller 1 is provided inside the casing 100.
01A and 101B, paper discharge rollers 102A and 102B, an optical unit 103, a paper discharge tray 104, and the like are provided. Further, the imaging cartridge 20 is integrally housed in the internal space of the casing 100. That is, this imaging cartridge 20
Is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 as one body. For example, only the frame 200 of the imaging cartridge 20 is casing 100
The imaging cartridge 20 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 by fixing it with several screws or the like. Therefore, the imaging cartridge 20 can be easily removed from the image forming apparatus main body 10 by extracting only these few screws, and conversely, the imaging cartridge 20 can be easily attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10. Becomes That is, only the imaging cartridge 20 can be replaced. By replacing the imaging cartridge 20, the photosensitive drum 201, the paper feed roller 205, the developing device 202, etc. are replaced at the same time.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in an imaging cartridge 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a photosensitive drum 201 is rotatably supported by a vertical frame 200, and the photosensitive drum 201 is rotatably supported. A paper feed roller 205 for supplying paper to the body drum 201 is also rotatably supported by the frame 200 in the vicinity of the paper discharge port of the paper feed tray 207. The paper feed tray 207 is formed of a flat box-shaped body, and the box-shaped body is divided into a plurality of parts in the longitudinal direction thereof, and each of them is joined by a joint or the like so as to be foldable. Further, the space between the frame 200 and the developing device 202 is configured to have a predetermined width so that the paper feed tray 207 can be stored in a folded state. That is, by folding each part, the outer shape of the imaging cartridge 20 can be reduced as a whole while the paper feed tray 207 is integrally attached (FIG. 3). Therefore, the imaging cartridge 20 has an advantage that it is extremely easy to store and carry.

In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment,
For example, when the photosensitive drum 201 or the like is regularly replaced,
The replacement of the photosensitive drum 201 is performed by replacing the imaging cartridge 20. Since the paper feed roller 205 constitutes the imaging cartridge 20 together with the photoconductor drum 201 and the like, by exchanging the entire imaging cartridge 20, not only the photoconductor drum 201 but also the paper feed roller 205 are exchanged at the same time. be able to. Therefore, the labor for replacing the paper feed roller 205 can be reduced.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the paper feed roller can be exchanged by exchanging the imaging cartridge. Therefore, the labor required for exchanging the paper feed roller can be reduced. Can be reduced. That is, the consumables can be replaced as a unit, and the work can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a front view of the imaging cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the imaging cartridge showing a state in which the paper feed tray according to the embodiment of the present invention is housed in the imaging cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Image Forming Apparatus Main Body 20 Imaging Cartridge 201 Photosensitive Drum 205 Paper Feed Roller

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming apparatus main body; and an imaging cartridge that is detachably provided on the image forming apparatus main body and includes at least a photosensitive drum, wherein the imaging cartridge is attached to the photosensitive drum. An image forming apparatus comprising a paper feed roller for feeding paper.