JPH07168474A - Driving mechanism for electrophotographic photoreceptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify such operation that a driving-side joint plate is separated from or made to press-contact with a driven-side joint plate and to simplify structure for separating the drivingside joint plate from and making it press- contact with the drivenside joint plate. CONSTITUTION:An intermediate shaft 43 is movably supported in a shaft direction(directions shown by arrows B1 and B2) by a frame 24 and pressed in the direction shown by the arrow B2 by a coil spring 25. The shaft 43 is constituted so as to be fixed in the shaft direction by frictional force generated between the frame 24 when tensile force is imparted to a rotational force transmitting belt 28 by a belt tensioner 31. A user can easily turn a lever 33 in a direction shown by an arrow C1 and separate a tension roller 32 from the belt 28 by grasping a grip for moving a belt tensioner 41. Besides, when the user releases the grip 41, the lever 33 is turned in a direction shown by an arrow C2 by the pressing force of a coil spring 311. Then, the roller 32 is made to press-contact with the belt 28.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member driving mechanism for driving an electrophotographic photosensitive member in an electrophotographic recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the outline of an electrophotographic recording apparatus.

1 is a photoconductor belt which is an electrophotographic photoconductor,
Reference numeral 2 is a drive roller connected to a drive mechanism described later, 3 is a driven roller, and 4 is a roller frame supporting the drive roller 2 and the driven roller 3. The driving roller 2 and the driven roller 3 supported by the roller frame 4 stretch the photosensitive belt 1. Further, the driving roller 2 moves the photosensitive belt 1 in the arrow A direction by transmitting the rotational force from the driving mechanism during image formation.

The photoconductor belt 1 is neutralized by the static elimination lamp 5 and then charged to a predetermined potential by the charger 6, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposure of the optical writing unit 7. The developing roller 8 transfers toner to the photosensitive belt 1 to develop the electrostatic latent image and form a toner image. This toner image is transferred from the photosensitive belt 1 to the recording paper P by the transfer device 9, and is fixed on the recording paper P by the fixing roller 10. Further, the cleaning blade 11 peels and removes the residual toner adhering to the photosensitive belt 1 after the transfer is completed.

In the electrophotographic recording apparatus as described above, the photosensitive belt 1 must be regularly replaced in order to maintain the image quality, or the photosensitive belt 1 must be replaced when damage occurs. Normally, the photosensitive belt 1 is configured as a replaceable photosensitive unit 12 together with the photosensitive belt 1 and the rollers 2 and 3 supported by the roller frame 4 to facilitate replacement.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional photosensitive belt driving mechanism.

Reference numeral 21 is a driven side joint plate, 22 is a drive side joint plate, and the driven side joint plate 21 is the drive roller 2.
Fixed to the rotary shaft of the drive side joint plate 22
It is fixed at one end. The intermediate shaft 23 is supported by a frame 24 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and is urged by a coil spring 25 in the arrow B1 direction. Also, 26
Is a driven pulley fixed to the other end of the intermediate shaft 23, 27 is a driving pulley, 28 is a rotational force transmission belt wound around the driven pulley 26 and the driving pulley 27, and 29 is fixed to the frame 30. This is a motor that rotates the drive pulley 27 during image formation. Further, the user can move the intermediate shaft 23 in the direction of the arrow B2 by operating the release mechanism (not shown). By moving the intermediate shaft 23 in the direction of arrow B2 from the ON position shown in the figure by the release mechanism,
The intermediate shaft 23 moves to an off position that separates the drive-side joint plate 22 from the driven-side joint plate 21.

Reference numeral 31 is a belt tensioner composed of a tension roller 32, a lever 33 and a coil spring 34. The lever 33 biased counterclockwise by the coil spring 34 causes the tension roller 32 to move to a rotational force transmission belt 28. Press it. As a result, the belt tensioner 31 causes the rotational force transmission belt 28 to generate a tension corresponding to the biasing force of the coil spring 34.

As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 9, a positioning pin 22a and a driving pin 22b are planted on the contact surface of the driving side joint plate 22 with the driven side joint plate 21, and the positioning pin 22a rotates. At the center, the drive pins 22b are arranged at positions separated from the center of rotation. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the driven side joint plate 21 includes a drive side joint plate.
A positioning hole 21a and a groove 21b are formed on the contact surface with 22. The positioning hole 21a is formed at the center of rotation, and the groove 21b is a positioning hole.
The groove 21b is provided outside in the circumferential direction, and the inside of the groove 21b is partitioned by a rib 21c.

The driving side joint plate 22 held in the ON position by the urging force of the coil spring 25 is pressed against the driven side joint plate 21, and the positioning pin 22a is fitted into the positioning hole 21a to mount the driven side joint plate 21. Position and insert drive pin 22b into groove 21b. As a result, when the drive-side joint plate 22 rotates, the drive pin 22b contacts the rib 21c, so that the rotational force of the drive-side joint plate 22 can be transmitted to the driven-side joint plate 21.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the intermediate shaft
The stopper ring 35 is fixed to the 23,
A stopper lever 36 is swingably arranged at 24. When the intermediate shaft 23 is in the off position, the stopper lever 36
By swinging from the release position shown by the solid line to the restraining position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
Is restrained in the off position.

[0012]

When the photoconductor unit 12 is replaced, the drive side joint plate 22 is separated from the drive side joint plate 21 in order to separate the photoconductor unit 12 from the drive mechanism.
Need to be separated from.

However, in order to keep the driving-side joint plate 22 away from the driven-side joint plate 21, the tension roller 32 of the belt tensioner 31 is rotated by the rotational force transmission belt 28.
The intermediate shaft 23 must be moved to the off position by the release mechanism described above, and the stopper lever 36 must be further swung to the restraint position.The separated drive side joint plate 22 must be moved to the driven side joint plate 21. To connect, the tension roller 32 of the belt tensioner 31 must be separated from the rotational force transmission belt 28, and the stopper lever 36 must be swung to the release position. As described above, in order to separate or connect the drive-side joint plate 22 with respect to the driven-side joint plate 21, many operations are required, so that the work of replacing the photoconductor unit 12 becomes complicated. is there.

Further, since the intermediate shaft 23 moved to the off position is restrained, members such as the stopper ring 35 and the stopper lever 36 are required for the driving mechanism, which complicates the structure of the driving mechanism.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to easily separate or press the driving side joint plate from the driven side joint plate, and to drive the joint plate to the driven side joint plate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a driving mechanism for an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which has a simple structure for separating or press-contacting each other.

[0016]

In order to solve the above problems, a first means of the present invention is to provide a driven side joint plate connected to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and an electrophotographic system connected to the driven side joint plate. A drive side joint plate capable of transmitting a rotational force to the photoconductor, a driven side pulley, an intermediate shaft connecting the driven side pulley to the drive side joint plate, and a motor generating a rotational force. Driving an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a driving pulley, a rotational force transmission belt wound around the driving pulley and the driven pulley, and a belt tensioner that presses against the rotational force transmission belt to generate tension. In the mechanism, when the belt tensioner is movably arranged at a separation position or a pressure contact position with respect to the rotational force transmission belt, and the belt tensioner is moved to the separation position, The intermediate shaft is configured to be movable in the axial direction to an on position for connecting the drive side joint plate to the driven side joint plate or an off position for separating the drive side joint plate, and the belt tensioner is moved to the press contact position. In this case, the intermediate shaft is fixed in the axial direction by the tension of the rotational force transmission belt.

Further, the second means is provided with an intermediate shaft moving means for moving the intermediate shaft to the off position in association with the belt tensioner moving from the pressure contact position to the separated position. .

A third means is characterized in that the driven pulley is provided with a handle for manually moving the intermediate shaft urged to the ON position to the OFF position.

A fourth means is characterized in that the belt tensioner is provided with a handle for manually moving the belt tensioner urged to the press contact position to the separated position.

Further, the fifth means moves the belt tensioner to the separated position in conjunction with the opening operation of the cover that is openably and closably arranged in the housing of the apparatus, and interlocks with the closing operation of the cover. The belt tensioner moving means for returning to the pressure contact position is provided.

[0021]

According to the above-mentioned first means, the belt tensioner movably arranged at the separated position or the pressure contact position with respect to the rotational force transmission belt, and when the belt tensioner moves to the separated position, the belt tensioner can move in the axial direction. When the belt tensioner moves to the press contact position, the intermediate shaft fixed in the axial direction by the tension of the rotational force transmission belt,
When the belt tensioner is moved to the separated position, the driving side joint plate becomes movable with respect to the driven side joint plate, and when the belt tensioner is moved to the pressure contact position, the driving side joint plate is moved to the driven side joint plate. The board is fixed.

According to the second means, the belt tensioner is moved to the separated position by the intermediate shaft moving means for moving the intermediate shaft to the off position in conjunction with the belt tensioner moving from the pressure contact position to the separated position. The intermediate shaft moving means moves the intermediate shaft to the off position.

Further, according to the third means, the user grips the handle by the handle that moves the intermediate shaft, which is provided on the driven pulley and is urged to the ON position, to the OFF position by a manual operation, and the user grips the handle. It is possible to move the shaft to the off position and release the handle to return the intermediate shaft to the on position.

Further, according to the fourth means, the user grips the handle by the handle which is provided on the belt tensioner and moves the belt tensioner urged to the press contact position to the separated position by the manual operation. It becomes possible to move it to the separated position, and when the handle is released, the belt tensioner returns to the pressure contact position.

Further, according to the fifth means, the belt tensioner is moved to the separated position in conjunction with the opening operation of the cover arranged to be openable / closable in the housing of the apparatus, and is also associated with the closing operation of the cover. The belt tensioner moving means for returning to the pressure contact position by the belt tensioner moving means moves the belt tensioner to the separated position or the pressure contact position in association with the opening and closing of the cover of the housing.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that members corresponding to the members described in FIGS. 1 to 6 based on FIGS. 7 to 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

1 (a) and 1 (b) are a plan view and a side view showing an embodiment of a driving mechanism for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an essential part of this embodiment. is there.

Reference numeral 41 is a handle for moving the belt tensioner, which protrudes from the lever 33 of the belt tensioner 31, and 42 is a driven pulley.
It is a handle for moving the intermediate shaft, which is arranged on the side surface of 26.

Reference numeral 43 is an intermediate shaft which is movably supported by the frame 24 in the axial direction (arrows B1 and B2) and is urged by the coil spring 25 in the arrow B1 direction. The intermediate shaft 43 is configured to be fixed in the axial direction by a frictional force generated between the intermediate shaft 43 and the frame 24 when tension is generated in the rotational force transmission belt 28 by the belt tensioner 31.

The user operates the handle 41 for moving the belt tensioner.
By gripping the lever 33, the lever 33 can be easily rotated in the direction of the arrow C1 to move the tension roller 32 to the rotational force transmission belt 28.
When the user releases the belt tensioner moving handle 41, the lever 33 rotates in the direction of arrow C2 by the urging force of the coil spring 34, causing the tension roller 32 to rotate the tension roller 32. It returns to the pressure contact position where it is pressed against.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory views showing the separating and connecting operations with respect to the photoconductor unit in this embodiment.

When disconnecting the drive mechanism connected to the photoconductor unit 12 shown in FIG. 1, the user holds the belt tensioner moving handle 41 and rotates the lever 33 to the separated position shown in FIG. Further, the user holds the intermediate shaft moving handle 42 and moves the intermediate shaft 43 to the off position shown in FIG. By moving the intermediate shaft 43 to the off position, the drive side joint plate 22 is separated from the driven side joint plate 21,
The photoconductor unit 12 is detachable from the drive mechanism by being detached from the drive mechanism. In this state, when the user releases the belt tensioner moving handle 41, the lever 33 returns to the pressure contact position and the intermediate shaft 43 is fixed to the off position by the tension of the rotational force transmission belt 28 as shown in FIG. .

After the replacement of the photoconductor unit 12, the user grips the belt tensioner moving handle 41 to move the lever.
By rotating 33 from the pressure contact position to the separated position again, the intermediate shaft
43 is returned to the ON position by the urging force of the coil spring 34, and the drive side joint plate 22 is moved to the driven side joint plate 21.
Press against.

According to the drive mechanism of the first embodiment, the intermediate shaft 43
Since it is not necessary to provide a stopper ring or a stopper lever for restraining the photoconductor unit to the off position, the structure is simplified, and the photoconductor unit 12 and the drive mechanism can be connected or disconnected by a simple operation.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the intermediate shaft moving means in this embodiment.

The intermediate shaft moving means 50 includes a connecting shaft 51 urged in the direction of arrow D1 by a torsion spring (not shown), a first lever 52 fixed to one end of the connecting shaft 51, and a connecting shaft 51. The second lever 53 fixed to the other end of the.

The first lever 52 is always kept in pressure contact with the lever 33. When the user rotates the lever 33 from the press contact position in the direction of the arrow D1, the first lever 52 moves to the lever.
It is pressed by 33 and rotates in the direction of arrow D2. At this time, the second lever 53 connected to the first lever 52 by the connecting shaft 51 also rotates in the direction of the arrow D2 to come into contact with the driven pulley 26, and further pushes the driven pulley 26 to move the intermediate shaft 43. Move in the direction of arrow B1.

The intermediate shaft moving means 50 moves the intermediate shaft 43 to the off position by the second lever 53 when the lever 33 reaches the separated position for separating the tension roller 32 from the rotational force transmission belt 28. As a result, the drive side joint plate 22 is separated from the driven side joint plate 21 and the photoconductor unit 12 is separated from the drive mechanism.

When the user releases the belt tensioner moving handle 41 and the lever 33 returns to the pressure contact position, the first lever 52 and the second lever 53 together with the lever 33 move in the direction of arrow D1 by the urging force of the connecting shaft 51. It rotates and the second lever 53
Is separated from the driven pulley 26, and the intermediate shaft 43 is returned to the ON position by the urging force of the coil spring 25. As a result, the drive-side joint plate 22 becomes
The photoconductor unit 12 and the drive mechanism are connected to each other by being pressed against 21.

The intermediate shaft moving means 50 provided in the drive mechanism allows the user to move the intermediate shaft 43 from the ON position to the OFF position only by swinging the lever 33 of the belt tensioner 31 from the pressure contact position to the separated position. Therefore, the operation of disconnecting the photoconductor unit 12 and the drive mechanism is simplified.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the belt tensioner moving means in this embodiment.

Reference numeral 60 is a housing housing for housing the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus, and 61 is a cover arranged in the opening 60a for maintenance of the housing housing 60. The cover 61 rotates about a shaft 62 to open and close the opening 60a.

The belt tensioner moving means 70 includes a cover 61.
A rack gear 71 integrally formed with the pinion gear 72 meshing with the rack gear 71, and one end of the pinion gear 72.
The wire of which the other end is attached to the lever 33, respectively.
73 and a pulley 74 for stretching the wire 73.

When the user opens the cover 61 which has closed the opening 60a, the rack gear 71 moves together with the cover 61 and the arrow E1.
To rotate the pinion gear 72 by rotating in the direction. As a result, the wire 73 is wound around the shaft of the pinion gear 72, and the lever 33 swings in the direction of arrow C1. When the cover 61 is completely opened, the lever 33
It is held in the separated position by 73.

When the user closes the cover 61, the rack gear 71 rotates in the direction of arrow E2 together with the cover 61 to extend the wire 73 wound around the shaft of the pinion gear 72, so that the lever 33 moves the coil spring. The urging force of 34 swings in the direction of arrow C2. Here, when the cover 61 is completely closed, the lever 33 returns to the pressure contact position where it is in pressure contact with the rotational force transmission belt 28.

The belt tensioner moving means 70 provided in the drive mechanism allows the user to swing the lever 33 of the belt tensioner 31 from the pressure contact position to the separated position by simply opening the cover 61, so that the intermediate shaft 43 is turned on. The lever 33 can be moved from the separated position to the pressure contact position by simply closing the cover 61, so that the intermediate shaft 43 can be fixed in the axial direction, and the photoconductor unit 12 can be moved.
The operation of separating the drive mechanism from the drive mechanism is simplified.

[0047]

As described above, according to the first means of the present invention, when the belt tensioner is moved to the separated position, the drive side joint plate becomes movable with respect to the driven side joint plate. In addition, when the belt tensioner is moved to the press contact position, the drive side joint plate is fixed to the driven side joint plate, so that the stopper ring and the stopper lever are not required. Since the structure can be simplified and the driving-side joint plate can be fixed to the driven-side joint plate by pressing or separating from the driven-side joint plate, the electrophotographic photosensitive member can be easily replaced.

Further, according to the second means, the belt tensioner is moved to the separated position and the intermediate shaft moving means moves the intermediate shaft to the off position so that the belt tensioner is moved to the separated position. Since the side joint plate can be separated from the driven side joint plate, the operation of separating the electrophotographic photosensitive member from the drive mechanism can be simplified.

Further, according to the third means, the user can grasp the handle and move the intermediate shaft to the off position, and when the handle is released, the intermediate shaft returns to the on position. The user can easily separate the drive-side joint plate from the driven-side joint plate, and when the user releases the handle, the drive-side joint plate automatically returns to the position where it is pressed against the driven-side joint plate.

Further, according to the fourth means, the user can grasp the handle and move the belt tensioner to the separated position, and if the handle is released, the belt tensioner returns to the pressure contact position. The user can easily move the belt tensioner to the separated position to make the drive side joint plate movable, and if the user releases the handle, the belt tensioner will automatically return to the press contact position and drive. The side joint plate is fixed.

Further, according to the fifth means, the belt tensioner moving means moves the belt tensioner to the separated position or the pressure contact position in association with the opening and closing of the cover of the housing, so that the cover is simply opened. The drive-side joint plate becomes movable, and the drive-side joint plate can be fixed simply by closing the cover.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view (a) and a side view (b) showing an embodiment of a driving mechanism of an electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a separating operation and a connecting operation with respect to the photoconductor unit in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a separating operation and a connecting operation with respect to the photoconductor unit in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an intermediate shaft moving means in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a belt tensioner moving means in this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of an electrophotographic recording apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional photosensitive belt driving mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a driven side joint plate in the drive mechanism of the photosensitive belt.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a drive side joint plate in the drive mechanism of the photosensitive belt.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a main part of a conventional photosensitive belt driving mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a main part of a conventional photosensitive belt driving mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Photosensitive belt, 21 ... Driven joint plate, 22 ...
Drive side joint plate, 26 ... driven side pulley, 27 ... drive side pulley, 28 ... rotational force transmission belt, 31 ... belt tensioner, 41 ... belt tensioner moving handle, 42 ... intermediate shaft moving handle, 43 ... intermediate shaft, 50 ... Intermediate axis moving means,
61 ... Cover, 70 ... Belt tensioner moving means.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A driven-side joint plate connected to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a drive-side joint plate connected to the driven-side joint plate to transmit a rotational force to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a driven-side pulley. An intermediate shaft that connects the driven pulley to the drive joint plate, a drive pulley that is connected to a motor that generates a rotational force, and a rotational force that is wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley. In a drive mechanism of an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a transmission belt and a belt tensioner that presses against the rotational force transmission belt to generate tension, the belt tensioner can be moved to a separated position or a pressure contact position with respect to the rotational force transmission belt. When the belt tensioner is moved to the separated position, the intermediate shaft is axially moved to the driven joint plate with respect to the driven joint plate. When the belt tensioner is moved to the pressing position, the intermediate shaft is moved in the axial direction by the tension of the rotational force transmission belt. A drive mechanism for an electrophotographic photosensitive member, characterized in that it is configured to be fixed by. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate shaft moving unit that moves the intermediate shaft to the off position in association with the belt tensioner that moves from the pressure contact position to the separated position. Drive mechanism for photographic photoreceptor. 3. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the driven pulley is provided with a handle for manually moving the intermediate shaft urged to the ON position to the OFF position. Drive mechanism. 4. The electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the belt tensioner is provided with a handle for moving the belt tensioner urged to the pressure contact position to the separated position by a manual operation. Drive mechanism for photoconductor. 5. The belt tensioner is moved to the separated position in association with the opening operation of a cover that is openably and closably disposed in the housing of the apparatus, and is moved to the pressure contact position in association with the closing operation of the cover. 4. The drive mechanism for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, further comprising a belt tensioner moving means for returning the belt tensioner.