JPH0618361Y2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention is capable of mounting a process cartridge having an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier, and forms an image on a recording medium. Recording device

[Prior Art] A conventional device has the configuration shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. In the figure, 1 is a laser, 2 is a polygon mirror,
3 is a photoconductor drum, 4 is a primary charging device, 17 is a developing device, 8 is a transfer charging device, 18 is a cleaning device, and 13 is a cleaning device.
A cleaning blade 18 and a fixing device 10 are provided. In this configuration, first, the primary charger 4 uniformly charges the photoconductor drum 3. After that, the light of the laser 1 modulated by the image signal is scanned by the polygon mirror 2 and irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 3. After that, the toner of the developing device 17 is selectively attached to this electrostatic latent image to visualize it. Then, the visualized toner image is fed from the feeding table S, and is conveyed by the conveyance roller 6
Also, the transfer material P is transferred from the back surface of the transfer material P conveyed by the registration roller 7 to the transfer material by being charged by the transfer charger 8. Further, the transfer material P having the transferred toner image is guided by the guide 9 and fixed on the transfer material P by the fixing device 10. After the transfer material P is fixed, it is discharged onto the tray 12 by the discharge roller 11. On the other hand, the cleaning device 18 removes toner and paper dust remaining on the photosensitive drum 3. Further, the photoconductor 3 is used again in the image forming process after the primary charging.

In such a printer using laser light (hereinafter, referred to as LBP), it has been proposed that a main part of an image forming unit is integrally held as a process cartridge as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the photosensitive drum 3, the developing device 17, the primary charger 4, and the cleaning device 18 are housed in the frame body 14 to form a process cartridge. It is moved along the guide 15 and attached / detached to / from the apparatus body.

However, in such a configuration, the window 19 for passing the laser beam as shown in FIG. 2 is opened when the cartridge 14 is removed (when it is removed from the apparatus main body). Therefore, if the laser light is erroneously emitted due to noise or the like when the cartridge 14 is replaced, the light may leak out of the machine.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention for solving the above problems can mount a process cartridge having an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier, In a recording apparatus for forming an image on a medium, a mounting means capable of mounting the process cartridge, a laser light irradiating means for irradiating a laser beam to the image carrier included in the process cartridge mounted in the mounting means, And a unit that detects a detected portion of the process cartridge and permits the laser light irradiation unit to irradiate the image carrier of the process cartridge with the laser light.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiment described below is a recording apparatus used for the output of a computer for performing electrophotographic image formation by scanning a photoconductor using a modulated laser beam and the output of a facsimile word processor. In particular, the recording apparatus uses a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body.

Further, in the embodiments described below, a means for integrally supporting means used for forming an image is formed into a process cartridge detachable from the main body, and means for detecting whether or not this cartridge is loaded in a predetermined position of the main body is provided. A recording device having means for stopping the generation of laser based on the detection result of the detection means. The structure of the process cartridge in the embodiments described below is one in which a photoconductor and a cleaning device that acts on the photoconductor, or other developing device are integrally supported. Further, the embodiment described below is a recording apparatus that scans a photosensitive member with laser light and modulates and records the laser light according to image information, and the image recording unit is a process cartridge system, and the cartridge is the main body of the apparatus. Is a recording device having means for detecting whether or not it has been loaded in a predetermined position, and means for stopping generation of laser light based on the detection result of this detection means. Furthermore, the recording device does not generate laser light by not turning on the power of the main body device based on the detection result of the detection means.

Now, in the figure, a protrusion 20 is provided on the outer wall of the frame of the cartridge 14. When the cartridge 14 is inserted into the main body C of the device, the protrusion 20 is a switch attached to the main body side.
Press 21 to turn it on so that the device can be energized. When the cartridge 14 is pulled out (removed) from the main body C, the switch 21 is turned off. Therefore, when the cartridge 14 is not loaded in the main body C, the laser cannot emit light because it is not energized, and the irradiation of laser light can be prohibited.

With such a simple configuration, it is possible to prevent the laser light from being emitted and the laser light leaking out of the device body in the state where the cartridge is not present in the device body.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the protrusion of the cartridge 14 pushes the switch of the main body C to enable the energization, but it is more preferable to incorporate the cartridge 14 itself into the circuit.

This example is shown in FIG. In this way, the power supply 23 of the apparatus is connected to the main body 22 by the lead wire 26, the connectors 24a and 24b, and the lead wire 25 in the cartridge 14. With this, when the cartridge 14 is pulled out (removed), the power supply to the main body can be stopped. This is because the cartridge itself constitutes a part of the switch as compared with the configuration using the switch, so that the loading of the cartridge 14 can be confirmed more reliably.

As another method, a method of cutting off the power supply to the laser is considered. SW1 shown in FIG. 5 is the cartridge 1
When 4 is in the main body C (loaded), it is open, and the output voltage of the laser driver is input to the laser. As a result, laser light irradiation is permitted. On the other hand, when the cartridge 14 is ejected from the main body C, the switch SW1 is closed, the laser 1 is short-circuited, and any noise current is generated by the laser driver 27.
Even if it occurs, the laser does not emit light, so irradiation of laser light is prohibited and it is safe. In this case, other parts of the apparatus, such as the fixing device and the temperature control heater of the laser, may be energized even without the cartridge. As a result, printing can be started immediately after the cartridge is loaded, and the device can be easily used by the user.

Further, this structure can be made with a structure similar to that of FIG. 1, that is, a part of the cartridge has a convex portion 20 for turning the switch 21 on and off.

In the embodiment described above, it becomes possible to prohibit the laser irradiation when the cartridge is not inserted in the main body.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided means for detecting the detected portion of the process cartridge and permitting the laser light irradiation means to irradiate the image carrier of the process cartridge with the laser light. Therefore, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus that is not irradiated with laser light when the process cartridge is not present.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of an image recording apparatus using a laser beam, FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 4 is a constitutional circuit of another embodiment. 5 and 5 show circuit diagrams of other embodiments. In the figure, 1 is a laser, 3 is a photoconductor drum, 4 is a primary charger, 8 is a transfer charger, 14 is a process cartridge, 17 is a developing device, 18 is a cleaner, 19 is an optical window, 20 is a protrusion, 21 is 21 Indicates a switch.

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A process cartridge having an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier can be mounted, and the process cartridge can be mounted in a recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium. Mounting means, laser light irradiating means for irradiating the image bearing member of the process cartridge mounted on the mounting means with laser light, and a detected portion of the process cartridge, which is included in the process cartridge. A recording unit that allows the laser beam irradiation unit to irradiate the image carrier with the laser beam. 2. The recording according to claim (1), wherein the means for permitting the laser beam irradiation of the laser beam irradiation means permits the laser beam irradiation by energizing the main body of the apparatus. apparatus. 3. The recording according to claim (1), wherein the means for permitting the laser light irradiation of the laser light irradiation means permits the laser light irradiation by energizing a laser driver. apparatus.