JPH0664279A - Laser beam printer and accessory member thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an accessory tool not requiring an exclusive special tool and a detaching device provided heretofore in order to replace a transfer roller high in replacing frequency because the life of the transfer roller is short when the transfer roller is used in a laser beam printer. CONSTITUTION:A cleaning member 1 wherein one end of a handle part 4 is flocked with hairs 3 and the hooking part 2 engaged with the core metal of a transfer roller is provided to the other end of the handle part 4 is provided to a laser beam printer as an accessory member. When the hooking part 2 is engaged with the core metal at the time of the replacement of the transfer roller, the handle part 4 is held to make force easy to apply. Originally, the cleaning member provided with hairs 3 is inevitable in the handle part 4 and, by this constitution, the number of parts is reduced and the cleaning of the interior of a main body is urged at the time of the replacement of the transfer roller.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image carrier surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member, an electrostatic recording dielectric, a magnetic recording dielectric or the like by an image forming process means such as an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording process, a magnetic recording process or the like. The transferable image formed and carried is transferred to a transfer material supplied between the image carrier and a transfer rotating body (a roller body, a belt body, etc.) brought into contact with the image carrier to obtain an image-formed product. More particularly, the present invention relates to a laser beam printer.

[0002]

[Prior art]

(1) FIG. 12 shows a schematic configuration of a main part of an example of a transfer type image forming apparatus. A rotating drum type electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) 21 as an image bearing member is rotationally driven in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed).

The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is uniformly primary-charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by a charger 22 during the rotation process, and a laser beam scanning exposure means (not shown) and image projection of an original image are formed on the charged surface. Image exposure means 23 such as exposure means
As a result, image exposure L corresponding to the target image information is performed, whereby an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the exposure pattern is formed on the photosensitive drum surface. The latent image is transferred to the toner image Ta by the developing device 24.
Is developed as a toner image from a sheet feeding means portion (not shown) to a transfer portion n which is a pressure contact nip portion between the photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer roller 5 as the transfer rotating body pressed against the photosensitive drum 21. The images are sequentially transferred to the transfer material P fed at a predetermined timing. The transfer material inlet side guide plate 16, the outlet side guide plate 17 and the slow-charge needle 26 for the transfer portion n are fixed to the apparatus main body. The gradual charge needle 26 is formed of a sheet metal having a needle tip.

The transfer material P that has passed through the transfer portion n is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 and conveyed to a fixing device (not shown) where it is fixed by the transfer toner image Tb and output as an image formed product (print / copy). It Photosensitive drum 21 after transfer
The surface is cleaned by a cleaning device 25 to remove residual contaminants such as transfer residual toner, and is repeatedly subjected to image formation.

The transfer roller 5 is composed of a cored bar 5a and a conductive elastic layer 5b concentrically formed integrally with the cored bar in the shape of a roller by conductive molding such as conductive rubber. The protrusions are protruded from the body layer 5b, and the protrusions are rotatably supported by bearings and arranged in parallel to the photosensitive drum 21, and are pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 with a predetermined pressing force. At the same peripheral speed, the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 rotates so as to move in the same direction as the peripheral surface moving direction. A bias having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner image Ta on the photosensitive drum 21 is applied to the transfer roller 5 from the power source 18, so that the transfer material P introduced into the transfer portion n is charged, and the transfer material P on the photosensitive drum 21 side is charged. The toner image Ta is electrostatically transferred to the transfer material P, and the toner image Tb is supported on the transfer material P. Here, the transfer material P that has passed through the transfer portion n is smoothed by the slow-charge needle 26 so that the surface of the transfer material P has uneven charge.

As described above, the transfer roller 5 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is brought into pressure contact with the photosensitive drum 21 to rotate and rotate, so as to be pressed and compressed at the transfer portion n and pass through the transfer portion n. It is a component that must be replaced several times during the life of the device body because it is fatigued endurance by repeated compression decompression by and the life is shorter than other component parts of the device body.

Therefore, the transfer roller 5 is removably incorporated in the apparatus main body. The main body of the image forming apparatus is for the purpose of removing the transfer material jammed in the transfer material conveying path inside the apparatus, and for the maintenance / inspection / repair of the apparatus such as the replacement work of the transfer roller 5 described above. Of the process cartridge such as the photosensitive drum 21, the charger 22, the developing device 24, and the cleaning device 25 can be attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus collectively (eg, FIG. 32). The structure is taken.

(2) FIG. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a laser beam printer embodying a conventional technique.

The front cover 33 is rotatable about a boss 33a which serves as a rotation fulcrum of the front cover 33. The sheet stacking table 32 housed in the apparatus main body 31 is rotatable about a boss 32a as a rotation fulcrum of the sheet stacking table. In addition, bosses 32b are provided on both sides of the paper stack 32.
Round holes 3 provided on both sides of the front cover 33
3b is fitted and connected. Here, the boss 32b and the round elongated hole 33b constitute a connecting mechanism H. The swingable middle plate 34 is pivotally supported by the boss 32a, and the boss 32a serves as a rotation fulcrum of the sheet stacking table and at the same time as a swinging fulcrum of the middle plate 34 elastically supported by the sheet stacking table 32. Transfer material P
When the front cover 33 in the A state is rotated in the direction of the arrow when stacking sheets, the sheet stacking table 32 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the front cover 33, and the boss 32b comes into contact with the arc portion 33c of the round elongated hole 33b. Is locked and the state becomes B. Scanner 41
The photosensitive drum 21 is exposed and scanned through the mirror 42, and uniform charging, latent image formation, and development are performed by the well-known image forming means (see, for example, FIG. 12) arranged on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21. On the other hand, when the feeding roller 36 is driven, the intermediate plate 34 rises in synchronization with the rotation of the feeding roller 36 by a cam mechanism (not shown), and the loaded transfer material P is pressed against the feeding roller 36. The transfer material P fed by the feeding roller 36 is separated by the separating means 37, and the registration means 3
Sent up to 8. Here, after being timed with the development image on the photosensitive drum 21, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to the transfer material P by the transfer unit 51,
It is fixed by the fixing device 40 and discharged to the outside of the main body 31. After the transfer, the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 21 is removed by the cleaning means. The upper cover 43 is openably or detachably fixed to the main body 31.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the front cover 33 and the upper cover 43 of FIG. Here, front cover 3
3 has a protrusion 33d at the center, and a push-push latch 44, which is a known device, is fixed to the upper cover 43. Left cover 1 attached to the device body 31
5, the right cover 16, the rear cover (not shown) and the front cover 33 surround the device body 31 on all sides.

When the front cover 33 is rotated upward and pushed in as it is, as shown in FIG. 22, the protrusion 33d of the front cover 33 enters the inside of the latch 44 and is in a locked state. Then, when the protrusion 33d of the front cover 33 is pushed again, the lock is released (FIG. 21), and the front cover 33 can be opened.

By using this mechanism, the front cover 33 can be opened and closed surely and easily. Also, the operation feeling is very good.

(3) A conventional example of an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer will be described with reference to FIG. The image signal sent from the scanner unit 102 is exposed on the photosensitive drum 21 of the process cartridge 101, and the photosensitive drum 21 is subjected to the well-known electrophotographic process described in FIG. 12, for example.
An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the surface and developed. On the other hand, the transfer material P for recording is stored in the cassette 82, is fed by the paper feed roller 83, and the image by the toner is transferred onto the transfer material P by the photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer roller 5. The transfer material P is guided to the conveyance guide 86 and the fixing inlet guide 65, and the unfixed toner is fixed on the transfer material P by the fixing roller 63 and the pressure roller 64.
The transfer material P on which the toner is fixed is guided to the fixing separation guide 66, the fixing separation lower guide 67, and the paper discharge guide 103a, conveyed by the paper discharge rollers 94 and 95, and stacked on the tray 87.

Since the life of the fixing roller 63 is shorter than the life of each device of the main body of the apparatus, replacement is necessary. Therefore, the fixing roller 63, the pressure roller 64, the fixing entrance guide 65,
The fixing separation guide 66 and other parts around the fixing roller 63 are combined into one unit to form a fixing device 60 which can be easily attached to and detached from the main body of the device.

The laser beam printer shown in FIG. 32 has a clam shell structure in which the upper cover unit 103 is rotatable about a hinge 88 as shown by a chain double-dashed line. The upper cover unit 103 includes a scanner unit 102 and a tray. 87 and a member that constitutes a paper discharge path from the fixing device 60 to the tray 87 are carried. Therefore, when the fixing device 60 is taken out from the apparatus main body, the fixing device 60 is taken out upward.

[0016]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[Problem 1] However, in the above-mentioned conventional example (1), the core 5a of the transfer roller 5 is supported by the bearing 12 as shown in FIG. The bearing 12 is pressed against an upper photosensitive drum 21 (not shown in FIG. 2) by a compression coil spring 13. Further, the parallel spring members 7a, 7 having slits T having a width slightly larger than the diameter of the core metal 5a on both sides of the core metal 5a.
b holds the cored bar 5a, and a protrusion 7a-having a mountain height so as to form a neck portion T2 at the tip of this parallel spring member.
1, 7b-1 are provided. The parallel spring members 7a and 7b are integrally fixed at their root (lower) sides (not shown) to the immovable portion. When the process cartridge is removed, the photosensitive drum 21 incorporated in the process cartridge is removed at the same time. Then, the transfer roller 5 is lifted by the spring force of the compression coil spring 13, and the core metal 5a hits the protrusions 7a-1 and 7b-1.
The rise is blocked. That is, the spring force of the compression coil spring 13 is set so that the parallel spring members 7a and 7b are not opened. The bearing 12 is an integral guide bar 12
a, the guide bar 12a includes parallel spring members 7a, 7b.
It is fitted in a guide member 14 which is parallel to and is vertically movable.
To remove the transfer roller 5, widen the neck portion T2, as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the core 5a is moved upward and passed through the neck portion T2 to be removed. Therefore, by biasing the core metal 5a in the upward direction, the neck portion T2 is expanded by the core metal 5a. This biasing makes it difficult to grasp the cored bar 5a with a fingertip, and it is difficult to pry it up even if it is plucked up with a single character driver, etc., and also the surrounding members are damaged. Therefore, a dedicated tool is used or a device for lifting the core metal 5a is provided.

As described above, although the transfer roller needs to be replaced, the transfer roller can be easily replaced with a special tool or with a complicated mechanism for replacement. I couldn't.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a common accessory member for easily releasing a transfer roller in an image forming apparatus using a transfer roller such as a laser beam printer.

[Problem 2] However, the above-mentioned conventional example (2)
Then, when removing the upper cover, the front cover must be opened, and if you try to remove the upper cover with the upper cover and the front cover locked, there is a risk of damaging the upper cover, the front cover, or both. . If the front cover is not opened to the front even when the upper cover is attached, the latch and the front cover protrusion may interfere with each other and the same damage may occur.

Furthermore, if the position of the latch deviates from the normal position due to insufficient rigidity of the upper cover, warpage, variation in crossing of parts, etc., warpage of the front cover and gaps between the covers are distorted and the appearance is deteriorated. .

The present invention is a laser beam printer provided with a cover in which two cover end portions are abutted from each other in such an intersecting direction, and these covers are damaged, warped,
An object of the present invention is to provide a laser beam printer including a latch device that does not generate a gap.

[Problem 3] However, in the above-mentioned conventional example (3), since the scanner unit 102 is carried by the upper cover unit 103, the image signal is radiated to the photosensitive drum 21 with a positional deviation due to the accuracy of the hinge 88. Due to such a drawback, the scanner unit 102 is fixed to the apparatus main body in the current laser beam printer.

Therefore, when the fixing device 60 is taken out from the main body of the apparatus, the fixing device 60 is taken out to the downstream side in the paper carrying direction as shown in FIG. In FIG. 33, the fixing device 60 is housed between the upper scanner receiving frame 91 and the lower stay 77 between side frames parallel to the paper surface of FIG. Therefore, when the fixing device 60 is attached to or detached from the main body of the apparatus, the entire fixing device 60 cannot be attached and detached, which makes it difficult to perform the attaching and detaching operation. It was extremely difficult to take out the fixing device 60 especially in a high temperature state.

In addition, since the positional relationship between the paper ejecting guide 78b of the paper ejecting portion provided on the rear cover 78 pivotally attached by the hinge 92 and the fixing device 60 varies, the transfer material is not smoothly conveyed and a paper jam occurs. There was a drawback.

The present invention provides a laser beam printer in which a fixing device can be attached and detached from the downstream side of the transfer material in the conveying direction, and the fixing device can be easily attached and detached without causing a paper jam at the paper discharge portion. It is an object.

[0026]

The first invention of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem (1), in which the cleaning member is flocked to the handle portion held by the hand, and the cleaning member other than the flocked portion is used. A laser beam printer or the like characterized in that a hooking portion which is detachable from the transfer roller shaft and which holds the grip portion by hand to release the transfer roller from the bearing when the shaft is engaged with the transfer roller shaft is provided. It is an accessory member.

[0027]

By providing the cleaning member with the hooked portion, it is possible to easily hook and replace the metal core of the transfer roller without using any other tool. The number of parts can be reduced by arranging a hooking member along with a part of the cleaning member. When the transfer roller is replaced, cleaning of the inside of the main body, especially the transfer process part, can be promoted.

The second to sixth inventions of the present invention solve the above-mentioned problem (2), and the second invention of the present invention is a laser beam printer using an electrophotographic method. The two exterior surfaces of the main body that intersect each other are covered with a cover, and one of the covers is a cover that swings outward.
The main frame is so constructed that the opening end of the cover on one of the intersecting lines of the two surfaces coincides with the intersecting line, and the end portion on the opposite side to the opening end can swing about a center line parallel to the intersecting line. Alternatively, a latch device attached to another frame attached to the main body frame has a protrusion at the open end of the one cover, and when the one cover is closed, a latch device that can be engaged with and disengaged from the protrusion is attached to the main body frame or the main body. The laser beam printer is characterized in that it is attached to another frame attached to the frame, and each cover can be opened and closed independently of the other cover.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the latch device comprises:
The laser beam according to the second aspect of the invention, wherein when the one cover is closed, the protrusion at the open end of the one cover is movably attached in a direction intersecting with a direction of entering the latch device. It is a printer.

A fourth invention of the present invention is the laser beam printer according to the third invention, wherein the latch device is movable in a direction parallel to the swing center of the one cover.

A fifth invention of the present invention is the laser beam printer according to the third invention, wherein the latch device is movable in a direction intersecting with the swing center of the one cover.

A sixth invention of the present invention is the laser beam printer according to any one of the second to fifth inventions, characterized in that the one cover and the latch device are attached to the same frame. Is.

The seventh to ninth inventions of the present invention are to solve the above-mentioned problem (3), and the seventh invention of the present invention is that a fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image is provided in one unit. In the laser beam printer in which the fixing device can be taken out to the downstream side in the transfer material conveying direction with respect to the main body of the apparatus, in order to take out the fixing device from the main body of the apparatus in the downstream side in the transfer material conveying direction of the fixing device. The laser beam printer is characterized in that a handle portion is provided.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, a rear cover is provided at the opening of the apparatus main body for taking out the fixing device, the rear cover being capable of opening and closing the opening and having a discharge guide that functions when the fixing device is closed. A laser beam printer according to a seventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that the rear cover is provided with an abutting portion that comes into contact with the grip portion of the fixing device.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, a fixing device is a roller fixing device in which a pressure roller is brought into pressure contact with a fixing roller, and the pressure device is provided with a pressure releasing device.
The laser beam printer according to the seventh or eighth invention, wherein the grip portion cannot be gripped by being positioned at a position where the operation portion of the pressure release device and the grip portion overlap each other in the pressure release state. Is.

[0036]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Examples 1 to 4 are for the problem (1) to be solved by the present invention.

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and 12.

In a laser beam printer or a copying machine using the electrophotographic process, the transfer roller 5 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 21 in the transfer process for forming an image.

In the transfer roller 5, a conductive elastic body tank 5b made of conductive rubber or the like is concentrically integrated around a core metal 5a. The transfer material P is conveyed so as to be sandwiched by a nip formed by the conductive elastic body tank 5b and the photosensitive drum 21, and the toner image Ta formed on the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to the transfer material P. In addition, the metal core 5a of the transfer roller 5
In order to make the peripheral speeds of the transfer roller 5 and the photosensitive drum 21 coincide with each other, a gear 6 is incorporated therein.
The gear that drives 1 meshes with each other, and the photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer roller 5 rotate in opposite directions at a constant rotation speed ratio.

However, as described above, the transfer roller 5 is a consumable component and needs to be periodically replaced. Further, the photosensitive drum 21, the periphery of the transfer roller 5, and the tip of the slow-charge needle 26 are left unclean because the residual toner not transferred to the transfer material P, the paper dust adhered to the transfer material P, and the like are particularly bad. If so, the transfer material P may be attached again to the printing surface or the opposite surface thereof, or the charge removal performance in the charge removal step after transfer may be significantly reduced, which may affect the print performance. If left unattended, the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 or the transfer roller 5 may be damaged, or electrical continuity of the electrical contact portion may occur, which may affect the life of the apparatus main body.
That is, it is necessary to clean the transfer roller 5 at least as frequently as the replacement frequency of the transfer roller 5.

Therefore, in the present invention, an accessory member having a hook shape as shown in FIG. 1 as a transfer roller replacement tool is hooked on the core metal portion 5a of the transfer roller 5 so that it can be easily removed. In the figure, this attached member is the cleaning member 1. The cleaning member 1 has hairs 3 planted at one end of a handle 4 which can be grasped by a finger or a palm, and a hook 2 formed at the other end. The hooking portion 2 has a hook shape, the facing width F of the hook mouth is larger than the diameter of the core metal 5a of the transfer roller 5, and when the hooking portion 2 is a circular arc, the hooking portion 2 with respect to the center O is formed. The central angle θ is 18
Greater than 0 °.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer roller 5 has a journal portion S1 or S2 having only a cored bar projecting from the conductive elastic body 5b on both sides (hereinafter, the cored bar part is referred to as the cored bar 5).
a)) is required. Further, the cored bar 5a is pressed in the F direction by the bearing 12, and a slit T is used in the bearing to suppress the movement in the direction perpendicular to the pressing direction F. Normally, the slit T is located at the outlet. A configuration is used in which the neck portion T2 becomes narrower to form the neck portion T2.

That is, the hook-shaped hook portion 2 of the present invention.
Is the journal portion S1 or S2 of the bearing portion of the transfer roller 5.
It is configured to be pulled out from the slit T by being hooked on. In order to pull out from the neck portion T2 where the slit T is narrow, the parallel spring member 7 that constitutes the slit T is formed.
Using the elasticity of a and 7b, the transfer roller 5 is elastically deformed as shown in FIG. 4 and the transfer roller 5 is pulled out of the machine. At this time, the bearing portions (two locations at both ends) may have the same structure at both ends, and the bearing portion on one side is not a slit T but a round long hole, and one journal is removed from the slit T by the above method. After that, the structure may be such that it is slid in the axial direction and pulled out from the round elongated hole, and then taken out of the machine.

On the other hand, for cleaning the inside of the main body, the cleaning member 1 can be replaced to use the bristles 3 that have been flocked to sweep away residual toner, paper dust and the like in the vicinity of the transfer portion.

With this configuration, the transfer roller can be replaced with a simple accessory member, and the transfer roller can be replaced easily without using a dedicated tool or the like stored in another place. Cleaning of the inside of the device body, which is necessary for maintenance, can also be encouraged.

[Embodiment 2] Another embodiment 2 of a cleaning member having a hook-shaped hooking portion will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, the case where the transfer roller is removed has been shown, but this embodiment has a configuration in consideration of mounting.

As shown in FIG. 5, an arcuate cutout 2'is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the hook 2. This configuration allows the old transfer roller 5 to be replaced when the transfer roller 5 is replaced.
When a new transfer roller 5 is mounted after being removed as in the previous embodiment, the core metal 5a of the transfer roller 5 is placed outside the protrusions 7a-1 and 7b-1 above the slit T as shown in FIG. The metal bar 5a is once placed, and the core metal 5a is pushed down so that the cutout portion 2'abuts against the core metal 5a of the transfer roller 5 to be assembled.

By adopting this structure, even the mounting portion of the transfer roller 5, which is difficult for the finger to enter in details, can be mounted more easily.

The cutout portion 2'may be any portion on the outer circumferential arc of the hook portion 2 or may be at a plurality of locations.

[Embodiment 3] Another embodiment 3 of the cleaning member having a hook-shaped hooking shape will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In the third embodiment, the hook-shaped C-shaped opening is provided with a closing member that is rotatable so as to be smaller than the shaft diameter of the transfer roller.

Usually, it is stored in a state as shown in FIG. 7, and the hooking portion closing member 8 is shaped so as to narrow the C-shaped mouth portion of the hooking portion 2. The closing member 8 is integrated with the handle portion 4 at the root 8a and is parallel to the handle portion 4, and the mouth portion of the hook portion 2 is closed at the tip to make the mouth width smaller than the diameter of the core metal 5a. Also, an operation unit 9 is provided. When hooking the core metal 5a of the transfer roller 5, move the operation portion 9 to the arrow F2.
8 against the elastic force of the closing member 8 to widen the C-shaped opening of the hooking portion 2 to the state shown in FIG. 8, hold the core metal 5a of the transfer roller 5 in the hooking portion 2, and then operate. By releasing the portion 9, the closing member 8 returns to the state shown in FIG. 7 by elasticity, and the core metal 5a of the transfer roller 5 can be easily pulled out of the machine. On the other hand, when a new transfer roller 5 is mounted, the hook 2 is hooked on the core 5a in advance, and the handle side C1 of the hook 2 is abutted and inserted into the slit T on the apparatus main body side. The operating member 9 is pushed against the elastic force to bend the closing member 8 to widen the C-shaped opening of the hook 2 to release the core metal 5a of the transfer roller 5.

By adopting this structure, the transfer roller 5
The core metal 5a does not fall off from the hook portion 2 and can be attached and detached more reliably and easily.

[Embodiment 4] A cleaning member having a hook-like hook shape will be described with reference to FIGS.
Indicates. In this embodiment, the protrusion 10 is provided on a part of the outer periphery of the hook shape.

That is, when the transfer roller 5 is replaced, the handle 4 can be easily attached and detached by rotating the handle 4 with the protrusion 10 as a fulcrum. That is, a hole 11 for a fulcrum is previously formed in the immovable member on the apparatus main body side, and the hook 2
10 is hooked on the core metal 5a, the protrusion 10 is hooked on the hole 11 on the main body side, and the cleaning member 1 is rotated around the protrusion 10 in the direction of arrow F3 in FIG. Thus, the cored bar 5a is rotated counterclockwise so that the neck portion T2 having a narrow slit T is spread by the cored bar 5a and pulled out as shown in FIG.

At the time of mounting, after the state shown in FIG. 11, it is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow F3 to spread the neck portion T2 by the cored bar 5a, and the neck portion T2 is passed therethrough so that the state shown in FIG. After that, the cleaning member 1 is removed to complete the process.

Up to now, the hooked portion 2 was hooked on the core metal 5a of the transfer roller and directly pushed and pulled to attach and detach it. However, excessive force is applied to damage the inside of the main body of the apparatus or the operator's hand. There was a problem in terms of safety such as hurt. However, from the gripping position of the handle portion 4 to the core metal 5a
In addition, due to this configuration utilizing the lever ratio from the protrusion 10 to the core 5a, the force applied to the handle 4 becomes small, and it is possible to surely and easily attach and detach.

Further, by using the tip of the protrusion 10,
You can also press the start button for test printing, which is an operation check of the main body after the transfer roller is replaced. Since the test print button is not used during normal printing, it is arranged in a recessed position or cannot be pressed unless it is thin. Up to now, since there is no dedicated tool, a fine screwdriver or a long and thin object such as the tip of a mechanical pencil is used for pressing, but it is possible to easily press by using the protrusion 10 of this cleaning member.

In other words, a single cleaning member can perform a series of maintenance from the replacement of the transfer roller to the cleaning of the inside of the main body and the operation check of the machine after the replacement.

The fifth to eighth embodiments are intended to solve the problem (2).

[Fifth Embodiment] A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 13 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 is a diagram applied to the laser beam printer of FIG. 19, and in this embodiment, the latch 44 is inserted and fixed in a rectangular hollow latch holder 47.
Is attached to the body frame 30. Also, front cover 3
3 is attached so as to rotate with respect to the paper feed frame 48, and the paper feed frame 48 is fixed to the main body frame 30.

14 and 15 are a longitudinal sectional view and a front view of the mounting portion of the latch 44 shown in FIG. 13. In FIG. 15, the latch 44 is shown.
(Not shown), the latch 44 is fixed to the latch holder 47 by press fitting so as not to move, and the latch holder 47 has elasticity with respect to the hole 30a of the main body frame 30 and is urged in a direction away from each other to reverse the outside. A so-called patch claw 47a having a stop claw is pushed in and fixed in the insertion direction in the front-rear direction. Here, as shown in FIG. 15, the ribs 47b provided on the latch holder 47 are attached to the main body frame 3
0 is fitted in the hole 30a having a width W ₁ and a height H ₁ , but the height H ₂ of the rib 47b is equal to the height _{H1 of the} hole 30a, and the width W ₂ between the outer sides of the rib 47b is Body frame 3
Since it is smaller than the width W ₁ of the 0 hole 30a, the latch 44 can move in the X direction in the drawing together with the latch holder 47.

Therefore, the protrusion 33d of the front cover 33 is formed.
And the position of the latch 44 is X due to variations in component tolerance.
Even if the front cover 33 is closed and locked even if the front cover 33 is locked, the front cover 33 is not warped or stressed because the latch 44 moves.

[Sixth Embodiment] FIG. 16 shows a sixth embodiment. FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 and shows the rib 4 of the latch holder 47.
The height H _{2 of} 7b is the hole 30 provided in the body frame 30.
The structure is the same as that of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 15 except that the height a is smaller than H ₁ . In this embodiment, even if the positions of the protrusions 33d of the front cover 33 and the latch 44 are displaced in the Y direction (vertical direction) due to variations in component tolerances, etc.
Moves, so even if you close and lock the front cover 33,
The front cover 33 is not warped or stressed. Further, the width W ₂ of the rib 47b of the latch is made smaller than the width W _{1 of the} hole 30a provided in the body frame 30, and the height H ₂ of the rib 47b is made smaller than the height H _{1 of the} hole 30a. Since it is made small, it is possible to absorb the omnidirectional deviation of the latch 44 and the projection 33d of the front cover in a plane parallel to the plane of the closed front cover.

It is effective to set W ₁ = W ₂ and H ₁ > H ₂ so that the deviation can be absorbed only in the Y direction.

[Seventh Embodiment] FIG. 17 shows a seventh embodiment. FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 and has the same configuration as the fifth and sixth embodiments except that the latch holder 47 is fixed to the paper feed frame 48. In this way, the boss 3 of the front cover 33
Since 3a and the latch 44 are attached to the same member, variations in assembly dimensions are small.

[Embodiment 8] FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing Embodiment 8 and differs from Embodiment 5 except that the rear cover 49 and the frame member 50 are different from the front cover 33 and the paper feed frame 48. It has the same configuration.

The ninth to twelfth embodiments are intended to solve the problem (3) of the present invention.

[Ninth Embodiment] A ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 23 is a vertical cross-sectional view around the fixing device, FIG. 24 is a plan view around the fixing device, and FIG. 25 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the outline of the configuration of the laser beam printer.

In FIG. 25, a fixing device indicated by reference numeral 100 is arranged on the outlet side for outputting a transfer material carrying an image, and a process cartridge 101 for carrying out most of the image formation in the electrophotographic process is arranged in the central portion. The scanner unit 102 which sends the input signal to the process cartridge 101 through the rotary polygon mirror and the optical member is the fixing device 10.
0, which is disposed above the process cartridge 101. The scanner unit 102 is mounted on a stationary frame body 91 of the apparatus. The rear cover 78 is rotatably attached to the main body of the apparatus with a lower end portion thereof having a hinge 92, and is locked by a latch (not shown) which is detachable to the main body of the apparatus in the vicinity of the joint with the upper cover 93 in the solid line state in the figure. ing.

In FIG. 23, the fixing device 100 is a unit and includes a fixing frame 61 and a fixing upper frame 6.
2, a fixing roller 63 that contacts the unfixed toner image, a pressure roller 64 that presses the fixing roller 63 to form a nip, a fixing inlet guide 65 that guides the transfer material to the nip, a wiring cover 68, and the transfer material fixing roller 63. And a lower fixing separation guide 67. The fixing frame 61 includes a bottom plate 61-1 placed on a stay 77 of the apparatus main body, side plates 61-2 standing on both sides in the axial direction of the fixing roller 63, and a rear cover 78 side of the bottom plate 61-1. The handle portion 61a is provided by bending.
The upper fixing frame 62 is passed over and fitted to both side plates 61-2. The fixing roller 63 is rotatably supported by the side plate 61-2, and the pressure roller 64 is supported by a bearing (not shown) provided on the side plate 61-2, and the fixing roller 63 is biased by a spring (not shown). It is pressed against 63. Fixing entrance guide 6
5, the separation guide 66, and the fixing separation lower guide 67 are the side plates 61.
It is fixed at -2. The wiring cover 68 is the fixing roller 6.
3, which protects the wiring to a heater (not shown) provided in FIG. 3, and is fixed to the fixing frame 61.

The rear cover 78 is integrally provided with a paper discharge guide 78b for guiding the transfer material sent from the fixing device 100 to a paper discharge roller 94 provided on the main body side of the device, and a grip portion of the fixing device 100 is provided below the paper discharge guide 78b. Abutting portion 7 that abuts against 61a
8a.

When the fixing device 100 is replaced, since the scanner unit 102 is fixed, the rear cover 78 is opened as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 25 to move the fixing device 100 downstream in the transfer material (hereinafter referred to as paper) conveyance direction. Take it to the side and do.

As shown in FIG. 24, the fixing device 100 is pressed by three cut-and-raised parts 77a of the stay 77 of the apparatus main body on the upstream side in the paper carrying direction, and by two screws 76 on the downstream side in the paper carrying direction. It is attached to the stay 77. Therefore, when replacing the fixing device 100, the rear cover 78 is opened, the two screws 76 are removed, and the fixing device 100 is slid out while holding the grip portion 61a of the fixing frame 61 on the downstream side in the transfer material conveying direction. On the contrary, when mounting, the grip portion 61a of the fixing frame 61 is slid and mounted on the upstream side in the transfer material conveying direction, the screws 76 are attached at two places, and the rear cover 78 is closed.

Since the rear cover 78 is positioned by abutting the abutting portion 78a of the rear cover 78 against the grip portion 61a of the fixing frame 61, the fixing device 100 and the rear cover 7 are positioned.
8 is stable, the position of the paper ejection guide 78b is constant, the relative position of the fixing device 100 and the paper ejection roller 94 with respect to the paper ejection guide 78b is determined, and the transfer material is ejected without causing paper jam. Can be transported to.

As described above, since the grip portion 61a is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 100 in the paper conveying direction as the projecting portion for taking out the fixing device 100 from the main body of the device, the operator holds the fixing device 100 anywhere. It is obvious whether you should replace it, and you do not have to worry about touching the hot part by mistake and getting burned. Further, since the grip portion 61a of the fixing frame 61 is separated from the fixing roller 63, there is no fear of becoming hot.

Further, the grip portion 6 is integrated with the fixing frame 61.
Since 1a is provided, workability can be improved with a simple configuration without cost. [Embodiment 10] Embodiment 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
Will be explained. FIG. 26 is a left side view of the fixing device and its surroundings as viewed from the right, and FIG. 27 is a plan view of the fixing device and its surroundings. The same parts as those in the ninth embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the repeated description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 27, a fixing left cover 69 and a fixing right cover 70 are provided, and as shown in FIG. 26, a paper discharge detection lever 71 for detecting a paper jam and screws 79 and 80 are provided. The fixing frame side plate 61-2 has a grip portion 61a protruding toward the rear cover 78 and in contact with the abutting portion 78a of the rear cover 78. The fixing device 100 is pressed by three cut-and-raised portions 77a of the stay 77 on the upstream side in the paper transport direction, as in the above-described embodiment. Handles 61a for taking out the fixing device 100 are provided at two positions on both sides of the fixing frame 61. By thus providing the grip portions 61a on both sides, the fixing device 100 can be easily taken out. Further, since the grip portions 61a are provided on both sides, there is no fear of hitting the grip portion on the grip portion when handling a paper jam.

Further, the abutting portions 78a of the rear cover 78 are abutted against the grip portions 61a on both sides of the fixing frame 61 to position the rear cover 78. Therefore, the same effect as the ninth embodiment is obtained.

[Embodiment 11] FIG. 2 shows Embodiment 11 of the present invention.
8 and FIG. 29. 28 is a left side view of the fixing device when the nip of the pressure roller is opened as viewed from the transfer material conveying direction, and FIG. 29 is a left side view of the fixing device when the nip is formed by the pressure roller. . The same parts as those of the tenth embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the repeated description will be omitted.

The fixing roller bearing 72 is fixed to the fixing frame 61 with screws 81, and rotatably supports the fixing roller 63. The pressure roller bearing 73 rotatably supports the pressure roller 64. The spring 74 is the pressure roller bearing 7
The pressure roller 64 is in pressure contact with the fixing roller 63 via the pressure roller 3. The pressure release lever 75 is arranged outside the fixing roller bearing 72 so as to be rotatable at its root. Pressure release lever 7
A cam portion 75b is provided at the base of No. 5.

As shown in FIG. 28, a fixing device 1 for replacement.
In 00, the cam portion 75b of the pressure release lever 75 pushes down the pressure roller bearing 73, and the fixing roller 63 of the pressure roller 64 is pressed.
The pressure in contact with is reduced (pressure released). Since the pressure roller 64 is an elastic member such as silicon rubber, it is necessary to release the pressure at the time of packing in order to prevent the pressure roller 64 from being deformed into an indented shape when left in the same position for a long time while being pressurized. Because there is. Therefore, the worker rotates the operation portion 75a of the pressure release lever 75 counterclockwise before mounting the fixing device 100 on the main body of the apparatus, so that the cam portion 75b of the pressure release lever 75 is rotated as shown in FIG. Since it separates from the pressure roller bearing 73, the pressure roller 64 is pressed against the fixing roller 63 by the spring 74 to form a nip.

However, since the operator may replace the fixing device 100 without operating the pressure release lever 75,
In the pressure released state, the operation portion 75 of the release lever 75
A hole 61b is provided in the grip portion 61a of the fixing frame 61 so as to overlap with a.

As a result, the operator puts his / her finger on the hole 61b when holding the grip portions 61a at two positions on both sides, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the operator from noticing the pressure release lever 75 and forgetting to operate the pressure release lever 75.

Further, by providing the hole 61b in the handle portion 61a of the fixing frame 61, the heat radiation area is increased, and the temperature rise of the handle portion can be suppressed.

The right side surface of the fixing device 100 is symmetrical with the left side surface.

[Embodiment 12] Embodiment 12 of the present invention is shown in FIG.
0 and FIG. 31 will be described. FIG. 30 is a left side view of the fixing device and its surroundings as viewed from the right, and FIG. 31 is a plan view of the fixing device and its surroundings. The same parts as those of the eleventh embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the repeated description will be omitted.

Holes 61b are provided in the two grip portions 61a on both sides of the side plate 61-2 of the fixing frame 61 as in the case of the eleventh embodiment, and the grip portion of the fixing left cover 69 is provided in one of the holes 61b. 69a, and the grip portion 70a of the fixing right cover 70 is provided in the other hole 61b. The grip portions 69a and 70a overlap the metal grip portions 61a on both sides, respectively, and the grip portions 61a on the side where the fingers are pulled and pulled.
It covers the edge of the hole 61b of a. Since the fixing left cover 69 and the fixing right cover 70 are made of resin,
There is no risk of injury due to burr, etc., and the temperature does not rise so there is no risk of burns

[0088]

As described above, in the first invention of the present invention, the following effects are obtained by providing the cleaning member with the hooked portion. It becomes possible to easily hook and replace the metal core of the transfer roller without using any other tool. The number of parts can be reduced by installing them together with the cleaning member. Cleaning of the inside of the main body can be promoted when the transfer roller is replaced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the one cover pivotally supported so as to swing is closed and the latch device for engaging with the protrusion of the cover is attached to the main body frame or another frame attached to the main body frame. Since the cover is attached, the other cover whose end portion is combined with the cover can be independently attached and detached even when the one cover is closed, so that there is no fear of damaging the latch device and the assembling property is improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, since the latch device can be moved in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the protrusion of the cover enters the latch device, the latch device and the protrusion for entering the latch device are provided. Even if the position of the cover slightly shifts due to the component tolerance or the like, the cover can be closed and locked without causing warping or stress on the cover. Further, since the main body frame has high rigidity, there is no fear that the latch will be largely displaced due to the warp of the upper cover unlike the conventional example. At this time, the gap between the covers is also guaranteed by the covers, regardless of the position of the latch.

Next, in the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, since the latch device is configured to be movable in a direction parallel to or intersecting with the swing center of one cover provided with the protrusion, In the second to fifth inventions, as shown in the sixth invention of the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the warp and stress of the cover provided with the projection that engages with the latch device even when the deviation in the specific direction occurs. If the cover provided with the protrusion and the latch device are attached to the same frame, it is possible to reduce variations in component tolerances and to make the positional relationship between the cover and the latch device more reliable.

In the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the fixing frame for taking out the fixing device from the main body of the fixing device is provided with the grip portion, it is obvious at a glance which part of the fixing device should be replaced and it is mistakenly hot. There is no need to worry about touching the part and getting burned. Further, since the fixing frame and the grip portion can be integrally molded, the manufacturing cost is not increased.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the invention, the rear cover is provided with the abutting portion for abutting against the grip portion of the fixing device. Therefore, the positions of the rear cover and the fixing device are stable, so that the paper discharge path is stable. Is accurately determined. Therefore, it is possible to convey the transfer material to the paper discharge unit without jamming the paper.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh or eighth aspect, when the fixing device has a pressure releasing device,
Since the operating portion and the handle portion of the pressure releasing device overlap each other in the pressure released state, it is possible to prevent the fixing device from being attached to the apparatus main body in the pressure released state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cleaning member having a hooking portion of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a transfer roller bearing portion.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a transfer roller bearing portion.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a transfer roller bearing portion.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment in which a pressing unit is added to a cleaning member having a hooking unit.

6 is a cross-sectional view in which the pressing portion of the cleaning member of FIG. 5 is abutted against a shaft.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a cleaning member according to a third embodiment in which a catching prevention member is added to a hook portion.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the operation of the cleaning member according to the third embodiment in which a member for preventing deviation is added to the hooked portion.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a cleaning member according to a fourth embodiment in which a protrusion is provided on an outer peripheral portion of a hooking portion.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment in which a protrusion is hooked in a hole.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the transfer roller lifted by hooking the protrusion in the hole in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the main steps of image formation.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an apparatus body showing Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a partial front view of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a partial front view of FIG. 13 showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an apparatus body showing Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an apparatus main body showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional laser beam printer.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a device body showing a conventional example.

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing a latch device and a protrusion.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a latch device and a protrusion.

FIG. 23 is a vertical cross-sectional view around a fixing device according to a ninth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a plan view of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a vertical sectional view showing the outline of the configuration of a laser beam printer according to a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a left side view around the fixing device according to the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a left side view of the fixing device according to the eleventh embodiment with the pressure roller nip open.

FIG. 29 is a left side view of the fixing device in the state where the nip of the pressure roller of Example 11 is formed.

FIG. 30 is a left side view around the fixing device according to the twelfth embodiment.

31 is a plan view of FIG. 30. FIG.

FIG. 32 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the outline of the configuration of a conventional laser beam printer.

FIG. 33 is a vertical sectional view showing the outline of the configuration of another conventional laser beam printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cleaning Member 2 Hooking Part 3 Hair 4 Handle 5 Transfer Roller 5a Core Bar 5b Conductive Elastic Body 8 Closing Member 10 Projection 11 Hole for Hooking 21 Photosensitive Drum 33 Front Cover 43 Top Cover 44 Latch 47 Latch Holder 48 Paper feeding frame 61 Fixing frame 61a Handle part 75 Pressure release lever 78 Rear cover 78a Abutting part 100 Fixing device 101 Process cartridge

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication location G03G 15/00 101 8910-2H 15/16 21/00 111 (72) Inventor Makoto Shikata Ota, Tokyo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko-ku, Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shigeru Okamura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A primary charging unit, an exposing unit, a developing unit, a transferring unit, and a cleaning unit are arranged around the image carrier.
A cleaning member used in a laser beam printer, which is a transfer roller in which the transfer means is supported by bearings on both ends of the shaft so that the transfer means can rotate in pressure contact with the image carrier and can be detached.
The cleaning member is flocked to a handle portion that is held by hand, and can be engaged with and disengaged from the transfer roller shaft in a portion other than the flocked portion. When the cleaning member is engaged with the shaft, the handle portion is held by hand to transfer the transfer roller. An accessory member for a laser beam printer or the like, which is provided with a hook portion for releasing the bearing from the bearing. 2. A laser beam printer using an electrophotographic method, wherein two surfaces of the exterior portion of the main body of the apparatus intersecting each other are covered with a cover, and one of the covers is a cover swinging outward. In the intersecting line of the two surfaces, the one cover has its open end aligned with the intersecting line so that the end opposite to the open end can swing about a center line parallel to the intersecting line. Attached to the main body frame or another frame attached to the main body frame, the one cover has a protrusion at the open end, and when the one cover is closed, the latch device that can be engaged with and disengaged from the protrusion is attached to the main body frame. Alternatively, the laser beam printer is characterized in that it is attached to another frame attached to the main body frame and each cover can be opened and closed independently of the other cover. 3. The latch device is mounted so that when the one cover is closed, a protrusion at an open end of the one cover is movable in a direction intersecting with a direction of entering the latch device. The laser beam printer according to claim 2. 4. The laser beam printer according to claim 3, wherein the latch device is movable in a direction parallel to a swing center of the one cover. 5. The laser beam printer according to claim 3, wherein the latch device is movable in a direction intersecting with a swing center of the one cover. 6. The laser beam printer according to claim 2, wherein the one cover and the latch device are attached to the same frame. 7. A laser beam printer in which a fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image is a single unit, and the fixing device can be taken out to the downstream side in the transfer material conveying direction with respect to the main body of the device. A laser beam printer characterized in that a grip portion for taking out the fixing device from the apparatus main body is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device in the transfer material conveying direction. 8. A rear cover is provided at an opening of a main body of the apparatus for taking out the fixing device, the rear cover being provided with a discharge guide capable of opening and closing the opening and functioning at the time of closing the fixing device. The laser beam printer according to claim 7, further comprising: an abutting portion that comes into contact with the grip portion of the laser beam. 9. The fixing device is a roller fixing device in which a pressure roller is pressed against the fixing roller by a pressure device, and a pressure releasing device is attached to the pressure device, and the pressure is released in the pressure released state. 9. The laser beam printer according to claim 7, wherein the grip portion cannot be gripped by being located at a position where the operation portion of the apparatus and the grip portion overlap.