JPH0614235Y2 - Unit parts detachable structure - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a detachable structure of a detachably provided unit component, and more particularly to a detachable structure of a unit component involved in image formation.

[Prior art and its problems]

Generally, in order to simplify maintenance and inspection work in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine and downsize the image forming apparatus itself, an image forming unit in which various members used for image formation are integrated has been proposed. For example, a drum unit in which a photosensitive drum (image bearing member) of an image forming member, a charging device, a cleaner, and the like are integrated, a developing device, and a toner unit in which a toner container is integrated are known. Such various image forming units are usually provided detachably in the image forming apparatus. Further, the image forming unit having such a structure is periodically replaced due to its life, and is also detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body for maintenance and inspection as needed.

Among the image forming units as described above, for example, a drum unit including a photosensitive drum transfers a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum onto a transfer material (paper or the like),
An opening is formed in a part of the case of the drum unit (to bring the transfer material into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum).
That is, a part of the photosensitive drum is exposed from the opening of the drum unit. Therefore, when the drum unit is taken out of the main body of the image forming apparatus, direct sunlight enters from the opening of the drum unit, or a hand, a finger or the like directly touches the photoconductor drum. Are damaged and cannot perform functions such as normal electrostatic latent image formation.

For this reason, conventionally, an image forming unit has been proposed in which a cover member is provided in the opening of the image forming unit to cover the opening of the image forming unit and prevent damage to the photosensitive drum or the like when the image forming unit is taken out.

FIG. 5 shows a case where the upper body UB of the printer, which is one of the image forming apparatuses, is opened and the drum unit DU and the toner unit TU are mounted in the predetermined mounting grooves 1 and 2 of the lower body DB. In the figure, the upper body UB is the lower body D
The hinge 3 is supported by the hinge 3 so as to be openable and closable, and is biased in the opening direction by a spring (not shown). Then, the drum unit DU and the toner unit TU are stored in the respective storage portions of the lower machine body DB along the paths indicated by f and g, respectively. Here, in the grooves 1, 1 formed in the lower body DB,
The shafts 4 and 4 of the drum unit DU are fitted, and the shafts 5 and 5 of the toner unit TU are fitted to the grooves 2 and 2. The drum unit DU having the above-described configuration has a drum protection cover that protects the photosensitive drum in its opening.
The drum protective cover of this example is configured to be manually opened when it is opened, and automatically closed when it is closed according to a detaching operation of the drum unit DU.

As a concrete method to automatically close the drum protection cover,
In some cases, when the drum unit DU is detached from the apparatus main body, a part of the apparatus main body and a part of the drum protective cover are engaged with each other, and the drum protective cover is rotated and the opening is closed along with the detaching operation.

In the attachment / detachment structure of the unit parts having the above-mentioned configuration,
Since the drum unit DU is inserted / removed along the guide groove of the main body of the apparatus, if it is taken out by the usual taking-out method, a part of the drum protection cover is caught by the abutment portion for closing the cover and the closing operation is surely performed. Should be done.

However, with the personalization and downsizing of the device, the mounting of each section becomes high density, and the route (guide groove) for inserting / removing the drum unit cannot be secured sufficiently.

For this reason, if a sufficient stroke cannot be secured in the guide groove, the shaft of the drum unit DU will come off the guide groove before the drum protective cover is closed, and the drum unit DU will be removed from the apparatus main body without closing the protective cover. Cases could arise.

[Purpose of device]

In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention aims to provide a simple unit component attaching / detaching structure capable of ensuring a sufficient guide path during the attaching / detaching operation of the unit, and performing the appropriate attaching / detaching operation of the unit smoothly and surely. And

[Key points of device]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a structure for attaching / detaching unit parts to / from a machine body, which is formed at a predetermined position of the body along the insertion / removal direction of the unit parts and engages with a part of the unit parts. It is movably disposed between a fitting mounting groove, a first position projecting from an edge of the mounting groove and extending in a direction of extending the guide path, and a second position retracted from the first position. The first auxiliary guide member and the first auxiliary guide member when the unit component is inserted / removed and the part of the unit component and the mounting groove are disengaged from each other.
Move to the position and interlock with the mounting operation of the unit parts at the time of completion of the mounting operation, or when the machine body has an opening / closing division mechanism, interlock with the closing operation of the machine body after the completion time. And a moving mechanism for moving the first position to the second position.

[Example of device]

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a drum unit DU in which an photosensitive drum, a charger, a cleaner and the like are integrated in an optical writing printer as one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS.
It is the perspective view. In both figures, a drum unit protection cover 6 is openably and closably attached to the opening where the photosensitive drum is exposed.

When the drum unit DU is removed, the drum unit protective cover 6 is provided with an engagement protrusion 1 which will be described later and is provided in the apparatus body.
7, a DU contact portion 6a that comes into contact with the photoconductor drum 7, a DU protection portion 6b that closes the opening of the photosensitive drum, a cover handle 6c, etc., and is movably supported by an arm portion 6d. In FIG. 2, the closed state is shown by a solid line, and the opening of the photoconductor drum is covered with the DU protection section 6b. The drum unit DU is configured to always maintain this state when it is detached from the main body of the device such as a printer. Next, the cover handle 6c is operated in the direction of arrow R to move to the position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. In the two-dot chain line, A indicates the middle of movement of the drum unit protective cover 6, and B indicates the state where the movement is completely completed. In addition, in the state where the movement shown in B is completely completed, the drum unit protective cover 6 exceeds the dead point and maintains the open state. Further, the drum unit protection cover 6 is biased by a tension spring 7, and the DU contact portion 6 of the drum unit protection cover 6 is reached before the dead point is exceeded.
When “a” is disengaged from the main body engaging protrusion 17, it is automatically returned to the “B” position without stopping at the midway position (shown by A in FIG. 2). Reference numeral 8 is a handle for inserting and removing the drum unit DU.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part of a lower body DB near where the drum unit DU is mounted. The subframe 15 of the lower machine body DB is provided with a mounting groove 9 for guiding and mounting the shaft 4 of the drum unit DU and a guide member 10 which is an auxiliary guide member for assisting the guide of the shaft 4. Mounting groove 9
Is inclined by a predetermined angle so that the drum unit DU comes close to other unit parts, for example, the toner unit TU at the final mounting position. Guide member 10
Is substantially L-shaped, is rotatably supported by a pin 11, and is urged by a spring 12 so that the main guide rod 10a stands along one side surface 9a of the mounting groove 9. . On the other hand, the other sub guide rod 10b of the guide member 10 projects into the above-mentioned mounting groove 9, and the shaft 4 described later is inserted into the mounting groove 9 and abuts on the sub guide rod 10b, whereby the spring 12 The guide member 10 is rotated against the biasing force. Further, the guide member 10 urged by the spring 12 has the stopper 1
At 4, the rotation above a predetermined level is prevented. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the drum unit DU and the subframe 15 of the apparatus body. The subframe 15 has a mounting groove 9
And an attachment portion 16 are formed, and the engagement protrusion 1 having an inclination (hereinafter, referred to as a taper) of a predetermined angle is formed above the attachment portion 16.
7 are formed.

The operation of the unit component attaching / detaching structure of the present invention constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7, 9 (a) and 9 (b).

First, when the drum unit DU is attached to the main body of an image forming apparatus such as a printer, after opening the upper machine body UB, the cover grip 6c of the drum unit protection cover 6 is held to open the photosensitive drum opening of the unit. Hold the handle 8 of the drum unit DU with the opening of the photoconductor drum, and drop the shaft 4 so that the shaft 4 is inserted into the mounting groove 9 provided in the subframe (see FIG. 3).

6 and 7 are explanatory views showing a state in which the shaft 4 descends in the mounting groove 9. Initially, the guide member 10 is a spring 12
By the urging force of the main guide rod 10a, as shown in FIG.
The mounting groove 9 stands along the side surface 9a that is farther from the engaging protrusion 17. Further, the sub guide rod 10 b projects into the mounting groove 9. Next, the shaft 4 of the drum unit DU descends while pushing the auxiliary guide rod 10b downward. Sub guide rod 10
When is pushed downward, the guide member 10 rotates counterclockwise around the pin 11 against the biasing force of the spring 12. When the shaft 4 reaches the bottom of the mounting groove 9, as shown in FIG.
The rotated main guide rod 10a is in a position to press the shaft 4 from above. After that, when the upper body is closed, part of the upper body presses the main guide rod 10a from above. Therefore, the shaft 4 of the drum unit DU is not only held by the mounting groove 9 but also pressed by the guide member 10 from above, so that it is more securely fixed.

On the other hand, a case where the drum unit DU is taken out for replacement or repair will be described with reference to FIG. Hold the handle 8 and pull up the drum unit DU in the direction of arrow U. The drum unit protective cover 6 is rotatably supported by the DU shaft 13 by the arm portion 6d, and is biased in the opening direction by the tension spring 7. Here, the drum unit protective cover 6
Is connected to the arm 6d by a hinge 18 and to the second arm 20 by a hinge 19. The other end of the second arm 20 is rotatably connected to the shaft 4.

Now, when the drum unit DU is pulled up, D
The U contact portion 6a abuts on an engaging protrusion 17 provided on a part of the lower body DB. Furthermore, when pulled up, both ends of the tension spring 7 are locked to the pins 6e and 21 and D.
The U-axis 13 crosses a straight line dead point. Then, the tension spring 7, which has been biasing the drum unit protective cover 6 in the opening direction until now, is biased in the closing direction to close the drum unit protective cover 6. On the other hand, the mounting groove 9
As the shaft 4 rises inside the guide member 10,
It is gradually rotated by the urging force of. As shown in FIG. 9 (b), even if the shaft 4 passes through the mounting groove 9, the main guide rod 10a stands up along the side surface 9a of the mounting groove 9, so that the drum unit DU moves rightward in FIG. Is restricted to travel. Therefore, when pulling out the drum unit DU, the pulling-out direction is regulated over a long distance (more than the length of the mounting groove), and therefore the DU contact portion 6a before the dead point is exceeded.
The engaging protrusion 17 is not disengaged, and the drum unit DU is not detached from the lower machine body DB.

In this way, the drum unit protective cover 6 surely crosses the dead point before the drum unit DU is detached, and then is biased and rotated in the closing direction to close the opening of the photosensitive drum. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the drum unit DU is separated from the lower body DB and the drum unit protective cover 6 covers the opening of the photosensitive drum.

As described above, according to the unit component attaching / detaching structure of the present invention, when the drum unit DU is pulled out, the opening of the photosensitive drum is always covered, so that the surface of the photosensitive drum is not damaged.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a substantially linear guide member 22 is provided on the side of the mounting groove 9.
Is rotatably supported by a pin 23 and the spring 1
It is urged to rotate clockwise by 2.

In the case of the above configuration, even when the shaft 4 is inserted into the mounting groove 9, the guide member 22 does not rotate. However, the upper fuselage UB
The guide member 22 is pressed against the lower end of the upper fuselage when it is closed, so that there is no support. Further, even when the drum unit is pulled out, when the upper body UB is opened, the guide member 22 automatically rises by the biasing force of the spring 12. Here, even when the shaft 4 is disengaged from the mounting groove 9, the guide member 22 that has stood up prevents the shaft 4 from moving to the right in FIG.
For this reason. The engagement protrusion 17 and the DU contact portion 6a (see FIG. 7) are reliably brought into contact with each other, and the closing operation of the drum unit protective cover 6 is reliably performed.

The above embodiments have been described with respect to the case of the drum unit in the optical writing printer, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that the invention can be applied to a detachable structure of a unit component other than another process unit or an image forming apparatus. Further, the guide member may be linearly moved back and forth without being rotated.

[Effect of device]

As described above in detail, according to the unit component attaching / detaching structure of the present invention, the auxiliary guide member for extending the guide path is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat, so
A guide route having a required distance can be sufficiently secured when necessary, and a predetermined unit component attachment / detachment operation, for example, an operation of opening / closing the lid member according to attachment / detachment can be smoothly and reliably performed. Further, if the auxiliary guide member is configured to be rotatable, it can be used as a holding member that restricts the lifting of the unit when it is driven.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a DB of a lower machine body at a portion where a drum unit DU is mounted in an optical writing printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a drum unit D according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view of U, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an inserted state of a drum unit in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a detached state of a drum unit in one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the upper body of the printer is opened, FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory views showing a drum unit inserting operation in the above embodiment, and FIG. 8 is another embodiment of the present invention. 9A and 9B are explanatory diagrams showing the drum unit detaching operation in the above embodiment. P ... Printer, UB ... Upper machine, DB ... Lower machine, TU ... Toner unit, DU ... Drum unit, 1, 2 ... Groove, 3 ... Hinge, 4, 5 ... Shaft, 6 ... Drum unit protective cover, 6a ... DU contact part, 6b ... DU protective part, 6c ... Cover grip, 6d ... arm part, 6e ... pin, 7 ... tensile spring, 8 ... handle, 9 ... Mounting groove, 10, 22 ... Guide member, 10a ... Main guide rod, 10b ... Sub guide rod, 11 ... Pin, 12 ... Spring, 13 ... DU shaft, 14 ... Stopper, 15 ... Sub Frame, 16 ... Attachment part, 17 ... Engagement protrusion, 18, 19 ... Hinge, 20 ... Second arm, 21 ... Pin, 23 ... Pin.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A structure for attaching and detaching a unit component, which is detachable from a machine body, wherein a mounting groove is formed at a predetermined position of the body along an insertion / removal direction of the unit component and engages with a part of the unit component, An auxiliary guide member movably arranged between a first position protruding from an edge of the mounting groove and extending in a direction of extending the guide path, and a second position retracted from the first position; The guide member is moved to the first position when a part of the unit component is not engaged with the mounting groove at the time of inserting / removing the unit component, and interlocks with the mounting operation of the unit component. A moving mechanism for moving to the second position when the mounting operation is completed, or when the machine body is provided with an opening / closing division mechanism, in conjunction with the closing operation of the machine body after the completion time. Uni characterized by having Door parts removable structure.