JPH07261632A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a compact, light, inexpensive and easy-to-handle printer. CONSTITUTION:An optical unit 34 is arranged inclining in the direction of the main body case 1, and a drum unit case 31 housing an image carrier 32 and a developing unit case 41 housing a developing device 42 are rotatably supported and coupled to form a process unit case 30. The device is provided with an inclined guide mechanism 70 attachably/detachably guiding the process unit case 30 in the main body case 1 along a locus parallel with the optical unit 34 and a pressing mechanism 80 pressing the developing unit case 41 positioned at a fixed position in the main body case 1, and constituted so that the process unit case 30 is attachably/detachably moved in an inclination direction parallel with the optical unit 34 and the developing roller (developing device) 42 can be automatically brought into contact with the image carrier 32 with specified pressure after the case 30 is attached.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention includes an image carrier, a developing unit, an optical unit, etc., and is formed so that a toner image formed on the image carrier at a position facing the transfer unit is transferred and printed on a sheet. Printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In FIG. 2, a printing apparatus has a structure in which a sheet feeding apparatus 10, a sheet conveying apparatus 20, a process means (32, etc.), a fixing device 60, etc. are housed in a main body case, It is used as a copier, facsimile, etc.

The sheet feeding device 10 comprises a sheet cassette 11 including a sheet loading plate which is biased by a spring, a sheet feeding roller 12 and a sheet separating mechanism (not shown), and intermittently feeds the sheets one by one in the X direction. To do. The paper carrying device 20 includes a carrying roller 21, paper guides 22 and 23, and the like, and carries the paper in the X direction. 5 is a power supply device.

Here, the process means includes an image carrier 32 composed of a photosensitive drum, a charger, an optical unit 34, a developing device (developing roller 42), a transfer device 33, a waste toner box,
An optical unit 3 is provided on the peripheral surface of the image carrier 32 including a static eliminator.
Electrostatic latent image drawn using 4 is developed into a toner image,
In addition, the toner image is transferred and printed on the sheet conveyed in the X direction at a position facing the transfer device 33. The transfer-printed toner image is fixed on the sheet by the fixing device 60.

By the way, the image carrier 32 deteriorates as the number of times of exposure and charge elimination is repeated. Further, as the number of printing sheets increases, the amount of toner contained in the developing device decreases and the amount of waste toner in the waste toner box increases. Thus, these components (32, etc.) need to be replaced regularly.

For this reason, the image carrier 32, the waste toner box, etc. are unitized and housed in the drum unit case 31, and the toner box, the developing roller 42, etc. are unitized and housed in the developing unit case 41, and both cases 31, 4 are provided.
1 is incorporated in the process unit case 30P while controlling the relative position. Then, the movable cover 2 is released, and the process unit case 30P is entirely pulled up in the Y direction so that it can be replaced.

Since the optical unit 34 has a large size including a laser beam emitter, a polygon mirror, a motor, a reflection mirror, etc., it is generally arranged horizontally in the upper portion of the main body case 1.

[0008]

By the way, such printing apparatuses are no exception, and there is a strong demand for downsizing, weight reduction, easy handling, and cost reduction. However, in the case of the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the optical unit 34 is horizontally arranged on the assumption that the process unit case 30P is customarily moved in the Y direction and attached / detached in / from the main body case 1. There is a limit to shortening the height dimension of 1. Further, the recent miniaturization is required as a total volume in the main body case 1.

Further, the process unit case 30P needs to be attached to and detached from the main body case 1 through the predetermined course without interfering with the optical unit 34, etc. and surely set at the predetermined position. And takes a long time. Moreover, since it is necessary to move the main body case 1 in the up-down (Y) direction at almost the center of the main body case 1, it is hard work for some people.

Further, the drum unit case 31 and the developing unit case 41 are the process unit case 30.
The relative position must be accurately maintained in P. For example, the developing roller 42 must be brought into contact with a predetermined peripheral surface of the image carrier 32 with a predetermined pressure. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the accuracy of parts and assembly,
The cost is high.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus which is small, lightweight, low in cost, and easy to handle.

[0012]

A printer according to the present invention includes an image carrier, a developing unit, an optical unit, and the like, and transfers a toner image formed on the image carrier to a sheet at a position facing the transfer unit. In a printing device formed to print, the optical unit is disposed in a tilted manner in a main body case, and a drum unit case accommodating the image carrier and a developing unit case accommodating the developing device are rotationally supported and connected. To form a process unit case, and to provide a tilt guide mechanism for detachably guiding the process unit case into the main body case along a trajectory parallel to the optical unit,
Further, when the process unit case installed in the main body case guided by the tilt guide mechanism is positioned at a fixed position, the developing unit case is pressed and rotated to the drum unit case side so that the developing roller of the developing device is moved. A pressing mechanism for contacting the image carrier with a predetermined pressure is provided.

[0013]

In the case of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, since the optical unit is arranged so as to be inclined, the space in the main body case can be effectively utilized, and therefore the total volume can be greatly reduced. Also,
Since the process unit case is configured such that the drum unit case and the developing unit case are separately assembled and both are rotatably supported and connected, it is not necessary to raise the precision of parts and the assembling precision, so that the cost can be significantly reduced.

The process unit case is mounted in and taken out from the main body case while moving in the tilting direction by a tilt guide mechanism having a locus parallel to the optical unit. Therefore, it is possible to completely avoid interference with the optical unit and the like, and to attach and detach quickly and easily. Moreover, after mounting, the developing unit case can be pressed by the pressing mechanism toward the drum unit case that is positioned at a fixed position, and the developing roller can be brought into contact with the image carrier at a predetermined pressure, so that a clear printing operation can be performed immediately. You can do it.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus includes an optical unit 3
4, the process unit case 30 has a configuration in which the drum unit case 31 and the developing unit case 41 are rotatably supported and coupled, and the process unit case 30 is provided with the tilt guide mechanism 70 and the pressing mechanism 80. The case 30 can be detached by moving it in the inclination direction of a locus parallel to the optical unit 34, and the developing roller 42 after mounting.
The image carrier 32 can be automatically contacted with a predetermined pressure.

Since the basic structure (10, 20, 60, etc.) of the printing apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of the conventional example (FIG. 2), common parts are designated by the same reference numerals. However, the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

First, the optical unit 34 uses the exposure beam B.
And a polygon mirror 34P rotated by a motor 34M at a constant speed.
The M, the reflection mirror 34ML, and the like have an integrated structure, and are arranged in the main body case 1 with an inclination as illustrated. Since the upper space of the sheet feeding device 10 can be effectively used, the total volume in the main body case 1 can be significantly reduced.

Next, the drum unit case 31 including the image carrier 32, the charger, the waste toner box, and the static eliminator, and the developing unit case 41 including the toner box, the agitating roller, the developing roller 42, etc. are the drum unit case 31.
Side support shafts 51 and developing unit case 41 side brackets 52 with holes are rotatably supported and connected. Since the rotary support shaft 51 is provided on the upper side of the drum unit case 31, in the free state, the developing roller 42 is attached to the image carrier 3.
The developing unit case 41 is carried so as to rotate by its own weight in the direction in which the developing unit case 41 comes into contact with the developing unit case 41.

The tilt guide mechanism 70 is a means for detachably guiding the process unit case 30 into the main body case 1 along a locus parallel to the optical unit 34. In this embodiment, the tilt guide mechanism 70 is provided in the main body case 1. The two parallel fixed inclination guide grooves 71 and 72 are fixedly arranged, and the inclined engagement portions 73 and 74 fixed to the drum unit case 31 side are arranged corresponding to both sides in the main body case 1. It is said that.

In the case of this embodiment, the inclined engaging portion 73 is formed of a ridge portion, and the inclined engaging portion 74 is formed of a drum shaft of the image carrier 32. Then, it engages with the drum unit case 31 to guide the inclination.

Here, the locus parallel to the optical unit 34 does not mean the physical perfect parallelism, but the process unit case 30 (31, 41) is placed in the optical unit 3.
4. A locus having a slope that can be smoothly attached and detached without interfering with the sheet feeding device 10 or the like.

Therefore, if the inclined engaging portions 73 and 74 are fitted into the inclined guide grooves 71 and 72 and pushed in the XY directions shown in FIG. 1, the process unit case 30 (31, 41) is moved to the optical unit 34 or the paper feed. It can be mounted in the main body case 1 quickly and easily without interfering with the device 10. If you want to remove it, you can do the same by pulling it up.

In addition, in this embodiment, the tilt guide mechanism 70 has a function of positioning the process unit case 30 at a fixed position in addition to the function of guiding the attachment / detachment of the process unit case 30. That is, when the inclined engaging portions 73, 74 are pushed to the lowermost position of the inclined guide grooves 71, 72, the process unit case 30 is positioned at a fixed position for printing operation. That is, the image carrier 42 is transferred to the transfer device 33.
It becomes an ideal relative position with respect to.

However, the positioning function may be provided with a special positioning function. Further, in the tilt guide mechanism 70, the tilt engaging portion 73 may be formed of a plurality of round shaft members. On the contrary, the inclined engaging portion 74 may be formed of a ridge portion. Further, the inclined guide grooves 71, 72 are provided on the drum unit case 31 side, and the inclined engagement portions 73, etc.
You may provide 74 with the main body case 1 side.

Next, the pressing mechanism 80 is the tilt guide mechanism 7.
When the process unit case 30 mounted in the main body case 1 is positioned at a fixed position by being guided by 0, the developing unit case 41 is pressed to press the drum unit case 3
It is a mechanism for bringing the developing roller 42 into contact with the image carrier 42 at a predetermined pressure by rotating it to the 1 side, and is composed of a pressing link member 81, a spring 85, a stopper 86 and the like shown in FIG.

That is, the pressing link member 81 is the pin 8
3 is rotatably supported and the protrusion 84 is Z by a spring 85.
While being pulled in the direction, rotation in the direction opposite to the clockwise direction is blocked by the stopper 86. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the posture of the pressing link member 81 is constrained by the stopper 86, and the pressing portion 82 presses the engaging portion 54 provided at the right end 53 of the developing unit case 41 downward in the drawing.

Therefore, the developing unit case 41 is
Since the support roller 51 is pressed and rotated in the clockwise direction about the support shaft 51, the developing roller 42 is brought into contact with the image carrier 32 with a predetermined pressure corresponding to the biasing force (pulling force) of the spring 85.

Further, the pressing portion 82 and the engaging portion 54 resist the urging force of the spring 85 when the engaging portion 54 tilts from the upper side to the lower side and from the lower side to the upper side.
It is shaped so that it can escape in the clockwise direction in the figure centering around 3.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the new process unit case 30 (31, 41) is mounted in the main body case 1, the movable cover 2 is opened as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1, and the process unit case 30 is moved downward in the inclined XY directions. Let At this time, the developing unit case 41 is rotated in the clockwise direction about the support shaft 51 by its own weight, so that the developing roller 42 is rotated by the image carrier 1.
It is in a state of lightly touching.

Then, the slant engagement portions 73, 74 forming the slant guide mechanism 70 are fitted into the slant guide grooves 71, 72, and the process unit case 30 (drum unit case 31) is guided by the slant guide grooves 71, 72. As it is, move it further downward and push it to the lower limit position. Then, the process unit case 30 (31, 41) can be smoothly mounted without interfering with the optical unit 34 or the sheet feeding device 10. After that, the process unit case 30 (31, 41) is positioned at a fixed position corresponding to the printing operation by another positioning function of the tilt guide mechanism 70.

However, the engaging portion 54 on the developing unit case 41 side abuts above the pressing portion 82 during the downward movement before being positioned at the fixed position. Then, the pressing link member 81
Rotates clockwise around the pin 83 against the urging force of the spring 85, and allows the engagement portion 54 to move from above to below.

When the engaging portion 54 passes, the pressing portion 82 rotates around the pin 83 by the urging force of the spring 85 and presses the engaging portion 54 downward. When the process unit case 31 is positioned at a fixed position, the pressing portion 8
2 collides with the stopper 86 and its posture is restricted.

That is, the developing unit case 41 is biased and rotated in the clockwise direction with a constant pressing force by the pressing portion 82 forming the pressing mechanism 80 around the support shaft 51. Therefore, the developing roller 42 can be brought into contact with the image carrier 32 with a predetermined pressure. After that, move the movable cover 2
If it is closed as shown by the dotted line, it immediately starts printing.

When the process unit case 30 that has reached the end of its service life is replaced, the movable cover 2 is opened and the process unit case 30 (31, 41) is moved upward in the XY directions. Also in this case, since the tilt guide mechanism 70 operates, the process unit case 30 can be quickly and easily taken out from the main body case 1 without interfering with the optical unit 34 and the like. The pressing link member 81 forming the pressing mechanism 80 is also retracted in this case to allow the engaging portion 54 to pass from the lower side to the upper side.

According to this embodiment, however, the optical unit 34 is disposed in the main body case 1 in a tilted manner, and the drum unit case 31 for accommodating the image carrier 32 and the developing device for accommodating the developing device (42, etc.). The process unit case 30 is formed by rotationally supporting and connecting the unit case 41,
An inclination guide mechanism 70 is provided for engaging the process unit case 30 with the drum unit case 31 and detachably guiding the process unit case 30 into the main body case 1 along a locus parallel to the optical unit 34. When the process unit case 30 that is guided and mounted in the main body case 1 is positioned at a fixed position, the developing unit case 41 is pressed and rotated toward the drum unit case 31 side, thereby causing the developing roller 42 to move the developing roller 42. Is provided with a pressing mechanism 80 for bringing the process unit case 30 into contact with the optical unit 34 in an inclined direction parallel to the optical unit 34 so that the process unit case 30 can be attached and detached. Since it can be contacted with, it is small and lightweight, low cost and easy to handle.

Further, since the process unit case 30 is constructed such that the drum unit case 31 and the developing unit case 41 are rotatably supported and connected via the support shaft 51, both cases are provided as in the conventional example (FIG. 2). It is not necessary to assemble the relative positions of 31 and 41 with high precision, and the cost can be significantly reduced from this point as well.

Further, the tilt guide mechanism 70 includes a tilt guide groove 71, 72 fixedly arranged on the main body case 1 side, and a tilt engaging portion 73 fixed on the drum unit case 31 side.
Since it is formed of the process unit case 30 (3
1, 41) can be smoothly guided for tilting movement.

Further, the process unit case 30 (31, 41) is moved to the optical unit 3 by the smooth tilt movement guide.
4. Since it can be attached / detached to / from the paper feeding device 10 without interference, the layout in the main body case 1 can be mounted with a higher density. Therefore, also from this point, the total volume of the main body case 1 can be reduced and the apparatus can be further downsized.

Further, since the tilt guide mechanism 70 is configured to have a positioning function as well, the process unit case 30 can be mounted in the main body case 1 and set in a fixed position in series. Is much easier.

Further, since the one inclined engaging portion 74 is formed of the drum shaft, the process unit case 30 can be positioned more accurately.

In addition, the pressing mechanism 80 includes the pressing link member 8
Since it has a simple structure including the spring 1, the stopper 86 and the like, the cost can be reduced and the pressing operation can be performed stably for a long period of time. Moreover, since it is formed so as to be retractable when the engaging portion 54 is moved from above to below and from below to above, further easy handling can be achieved.

[0042]

According to the present invention, the optical unit is disposed in a tilted manner in the main body case, and the drum unit case for accommodating the image carrier and the developing unit case for accommodating the developing device are rotatably supported and connected. A unit case is formed, and an inclination guide mechanism for detachably guiding the process unit case inside the main body case along a locus parallel to the optical unit is provided, and is mounted in the main body case while being guided by the inclination guide mechanism. When the processed process unit case is positioned at a fixed position, a pressing mechanism is provided that presses the developing unit case and rotates it toward the drum unit case to bring the developing roller of the developing device into contact with the image carrier at a predetermined pressure, The process unit case can be moved in an inclined direction parallel to the optical unit so that it can be detached and the developing roller can be attached after mounting. Because it is automatically contactable configured at a predetermined pressure to the carrier, it is easy low-cost and handling is small and light.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main Body Case 2 Movable Cover 10 Paper Feeding Device 12 Paper Feeding Roller 20 Paper Conveying Mechanism 30 Process Unit Case 31 Drum Unit Case 32 Image Carrier 33 Transfer Device 34 Optical Unit 41 Developing Unit Case 42 Developing Roller (Developer) 51 Spindle 52 Bracket 53 Right end 54 Engagement part 60 Fixing device 70 Inclination guide mechanism 71,72 Inclined guide groove 73,74 Inclined engagement part 80 Pressing mechanism 81 Pressing link member 82 Pressing part 83 Pin 84 Projecting part 85 Spring 86 Stopper

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus including an image carrier, a developing device, an optical unit, etc., which is formed so as to transfer-print a toner image formed on the image carrier on a sheet at a position facing the transfer device, The optical unit is placed in a tilted manner inside the main body case,
A drum unit case accommodating the image bearing member and a developing unit case accommodating the developing device are rotatably supported and connected to form a process unit case, and the process unit case is formed along a locus parallel to the optical unit. An inclination guide mechanism for detachably guiding is provided in the drum unit case by pressing the developing unit case when the process unit case installed in the main body case guided by the inclination guide mechanism is positioned at a fixed position. A printing apparatus comprising: a pressing mechanism for rotating the developing roller of the developing device into contact with the image carrier at a predetermined pressure by rotating the developing roller to the side.