JPH0728374A - Image reader/printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the accuracy of the positional relation for a photoreceptor cartridge and an exposing head to the recording paper transporting plane in an image reader/printer of a facsimile equipment, etc. CONSTITUTION:The paper transporting base plate 1 is provided with the receiving part 21 for holding the photoreceptor cartridge 9 so as to attain the prescribed positional relation to the recording paper transporting plane 3. While, the upper casing 2 is provided with the guide groove 26 and by the guide groove 26, the photoreceptor cartridge 9 is temporarily held with the drum shaft 10a, then in this state, with pressing the exposing head in contact with the photoreceptor cartridge 9, the both are arranged in the prescribed positional relation, thereafter, the upper casing 2 is closed, and the photoreceptor cartridge 9 is held with the receiving part 21 and placed in the prescribed positional relation to the recording paper transporting plane 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading and printing apparatus such as a facsimile machine and a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus is shown as an example of a general image reading and printing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 5, the facsimile apparatus includes a paper passing base plate 1 and an upper casing 2 which can be opened and closed.
The image printing unit A is formed so as to extend over both the paper passing base plate 1 and the upper housing 2, and the upper housing 2 is equipped with a document reading unit B.

The image printing section A mainly includes a recording paper conveyance surface 3 formed on the upper surface of the paper passing base plate 1, a paper feed roller 4 and a conveyance roller 5, and the like. A sheet feeding unit for transporting along the transport surface 3, a transfer unit 7, a fixing unit 8, a photosensitive drum 10, a cleaner 11, and a charger 1.
2. A photoconductor cartridge 9 including 2 and the like, a developing cartridge 13 including a developing tank 14 and a toner container 15, and an LED.
And an exposure head 16 using the same, which is uniformly charged by the charger 12.
A latent image is formed on the surface based on image information received by a facsimile by the exposure head 16, and the developed toner image is transferred to a recording sheet conveyed in synchronization by a sheet feeding means, and then permanently fixed by a fixing device 8. On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 10 after transfer is prepared for the next charging by cleaning.

The document reading section B mainly includes a document transport surface 17 and
A sheet feeding unit including a sheet feeding roller 18 and a conveying roller 19 for conveying an original along the original conveying surface 17, and an optical system unit 20 for reading an image from the original conveyed on the original conveying surface 17. The read image information is transmitted by facsimile.

[0005]

In such a facsimile apparatus, the photoconductor cartridge 9 is positioned with reference to the recording paper conveyance surface 3, and the photoconductor drum 10 and the exposure head 16 are arranged in a fixed positional relationship. There is a need.

However, in the prior art, the photoconductor cartridge 9 is carried on the side of the paper sheet base plate 1 and is positioned and arranged with the recording paper conveyance surface 3 as a reference, while the exposure head 16 is arranged on the upper housing 2 side.
When the upper housing 2 is elastically supported with a spring on the side, and the upper housing 2 is closed with respect to the sheet base plate 1, the exposure head 16 is pressed against the photosensitive body cartridge 9 by the urging force of the spring. Since the exposure head 16 is arranged in a predetermined positional relationship, the positional relationship between the photosensitive drum 10 and the exposure head 16 tends to vary, and there is a problem in terms of accuracy in the positional relationship between the two. .

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and in an image reading / printing apparatus according to claim 1, a paper feed base plate having a recording paper conveying surface, and An upper casing including an original reading unit pivotably supported on the paper passing base plate so as to be openable and closable, and a receiving unit for holding a photosensitive cartridge including a photosensitive drum at a predetermined position is formed on the paper passing base plate. In an image reading and printing apparatus in which an exposure head is elastically supported by a spring on the upper housing, a drum shaft of the photosensitive drum is fitted in the upper housing, and a guide groove for temporarily carrying the photosensitive cartridge by the drum shaft. And the exposure head is pressed against the photoconductor cartridge by the biasing force of the spring to hold the temporary holding state of the photoconductor cartridge by the biasing force of the spring. By closing the serial upper housing with respect to passing tray plate a configuration of supporting the photosensitive member cartridge the receiving portion of the sheet passing bedplate.

Further, in the image reading / printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to the first aspect, the guide groove includes a lateral groove having one end open and a vertical groove continuous with the other end of the lateral groove. Then, the photoconductor cartridge is formed with a protrusion that is engaged with the lateral groove when the drum shaft is within the end of the vertical groove.

Further, in the image reading / printing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect, when the drum shaft is located at the connecting portion of the horizontal groove and the vertical groove, the photosensitive member cartridge has the above-mentioned configuration. A cam portion is provided which causes the biasing force of the spring to act in the direction of causing the drum shaft to escape from the lateral groove.

[0010]

According to the above-mentioned structure, the photosensitive body cartridge is temporarily supported on the upper housing side to establish a predetermined positional relationship with the exposure head, and then the positional relationship between the photosensitive body cartridge and the exposure head is established. While maintaining the relationship, the upper housing is closed and the photoconductor cartridge is carried by the receiving portion of the paper tray base plate, so that the photoconductor cartridge is positioned in a predetermined relationship with the recording paper transport surface of the paper tray base plate. Therefore, the positional relationship between the photoconductor cartridge and the exposure head or the recording paper carrying surface can be surely maintained in a predetermined relationship, and high accuracy can be obtained in each positional relationship.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the action of the first aspect, the following action is provided. The photoconductor cartridge can be easily pulled out from the guide groove by moving the drum shaft from the terminal end of the vertical groove to the connecting portion with the horizontal groove by rotating it using the protrusion located in the lateral groove of the guide groove as a fulcrum. Even if the photoconductor cartridge, which is a consumable item, is temporarily carried on the upper housing, the workability at the time of replacement can be maintained in a good state.

Further, according to the configuration of claim 3, in addition to the action of claim 2, the following action is provided. The workability can be further enhanced by causing the biasing force of the spring for pressing the exposure head against the photoconductor cartridge so as to maintain the exposure head in the predetermined direction, in the removal direction of the photoconductor cartridge.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described in detail below. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of the same apparatus, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the same apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a photoconductor cartridge extracting operation in the same apparatus. 1 to 4, parts common to those in FIG. 5 are designated by common reference numerals.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, the sheet passing base plate 1 is formed with projecting receiving portions 21 for carrying the photosensitive body cartridges 9 on both sides of the recording sheet conveying surface 3, and the photosensitive body is formed by the receiving portions 21. By supporting the cartridge 9, the photoconductor cartridge 9 and the recording paper conveyance surface 3 including the transfer device 7 are held in a predetermined positional relationship.

The photoconductor cartridge 9 has its frame 22.
Drum shaft 10a of the photoconductor drum 10 outward from both side surfaces of
And the drum shaft 10a is carried by the receiving portion 21 of the paper feed base plate 1. Further, the photoconductor cartridge 9 projects a waste toner pipe 23 for discharging the used toner from the side surface of the frame 22, and
Protrusions 24 are provided on both side surfaces of the above in the vicinity of the drum shaft 10a. Reference numeral 23a denotes a toner shutter provided at the tip of the waste toner pipe 23, and 25 denotes a handle of the photoconductor cartridge 9.

On both side surfaces of the upper housing 2, a lateral groove 26a which is open at one end and a vertical groove 26b which is continuous with the other end of the lateral groove 26a.
A guide groove 26 consisting of
Then, the drum shaft 10a and the protrusion 24 of the photoconductor cartridge 9 are sequentially inserted from the open end of the lateral groove 26a to temporarily carry the photoconductor cartridge 9 in the upper housing 2. In the photosensitive cartridge 9, the drum shaft 10a is located at the lower end (end) of the vertical groove 26b in the temporary carrying state, and the protrusion 24
Is located in the lateral groove 26a. Thus, the upper housing 2 is pivotally supported on the paper passing base plate 1 so as to be openable and closable around the point P as a center of rotation, and when the upper body 2 is closed with respect to the paper passing base plate 1, the photoconductor cartridge 9 causes the drum to move. The receiving portion 21 with the shaft 10a
The drum shaft 10a is supported by the vertical groove 26 of the guide groove 26.
It is designed to be lifted slightly above the lower end of b.

The exposure head 16 is composed of an LED head portion 27, a mounting angle 28 for supporting the LED head portion 27, etc., and is elastically supported by a spring 29 inside the upper housing 2. The biasing force of the spring 29 causes the photoconductor cartridge 9 to move. Pressure contact. On the other hand, in the photoconductor cartridge 9, the portion extending from the upper edge to the rear edge of the frame 22 is formed in an arc shape to form the cam portion 30, and the operation of the cam portion 30 will be described in detail in the operation description of the latter stage. To do. Incidentally, 31 in FIG.
Indicates a document transport block pivotally supported by the upper housing 2 to be openable and closable and provided with a transport roller 19 and the like.

Next, the replacement operation of the photoconductor cartridge 9 in the above structure will be described. When removing the photoconductor cartridge 9 after use, first set the upper housing 2 to the point P.
Rotate around to open. At this time, the upper housing 2
The drum shaft 10a at the lower end of the vertical groove 26b of the guide groove 26.
And the photoconductor cartridge 9 is separated from the paper base plate 1.

In the opened state of the upper housing 2, the photoconductor cartridge 9 is in a temporary carrying state, and as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the drum shaft 10a has the projection 24 at the lower end of the vertical groove 26b.
Are respectively positioned in the lateral grooves 26a, and this temporary carrying state is forcibly held by the pressing force (biasing force) by the spring 29. When the handle 25 is pushed down from this state, the photosensitive member cartridge 9 rotates against the spring 29 with the protrusion 24 as a fulcrum, and the drum shaft 10a is rotated as shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), from the lower end of the vertical groove 26b to the horizontal groove 26a.
Is moved to the connection portion with and the photosensitive body cartridge 9 is pulled forward by the handle 25 while maintaining the state as it is. At this time, the pressing force of the spring 29 acting on the exposure head 16 causes the drum shaft 10a to move in the lateral groove 26a with respect to the photoconductor cartridge 9 by the action of the cam portion 30 of the frame 22.
The photoconductor cartridge 9 is easily taken out because it acts in the direction of pushing out.

Next, when a new photoconductor cartridge 9 is mounted, first, the drum shaft 10a and the protrusion 24 of the photoconductor cartridge 9 are moved from the state shown in FIG.
6 are sequentially inserted into the lateral grooves 26a. During the insertion, the cam portion 30 of the photoconductor cartridge 9 has the exposure head 1
6 and then moves while compressing the spring 29, the exposure head 16 gradually shifts its contact position along the cam portion 30.

When the drum shaft 10a eventually reaches the connecting portion between the horizontal groove 26a and the vertical groove 26b, the photosensitive member cartridge 9 moves downward due to its own weight and the pressure applied by the spring 29, and the drum shaft 10a moves to the vertical groove 26b. When reaching the lower end, the protrusion 24 is located at the edge of the lateral groove 26b. At this time, the pressure applied by the spring 29 acts to push the drum shaft 10a toward the lower end of the vertical groove 26b with respect to the photoconductor cartridge 9 due to the action of the cam portion 30, and finally, as shown in FIG. Contributes to maintaining the carried state. In this temporary carrying state, the photoconductor cartridge 9 and the exposure head 16 are already in a predetermined positional relationship, that is, the photoconductor drum 10 and the LC.
The D head portion 27 is placed in a predetermined positional relationship.

In this way, after the photoconductor cartridge 9 is temporarily carried on the upper casing 2, the upper casing 2 is provided with the paper feed base plate 1
2, the photosensitive drum 9 is held in a normal state by the drum shaft 10a being carried by the receiving portion 21 and separated from the lower end of the vertical groove 26b, as shown in FIG. It is positioned with respect to the surface 3.

When the drum shaft 10a is carried by the receiving portion 21, the photoconductor cartridge 9 is slightly lifted, but at this time, the spring 29 is simply compressed.
The photoconductor cartridge 9 and the exposure head 16 maintain a predetermined positional relationship.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the photoconductor cartridge 9 is temporarily carried on the upper housing 2 and the photoconductor cartridge 9 and the exposure head 16 are placed in a predetermined positional relationship. The housing 2 can be closed and the photoconductor cartridge 9 can be carried on the receiving portion 21 of the paper tray base plate 1, so that the photoconductor cartridge 9 and the recording paper conveyance surface 3 can be placed in a predetermined positional relationship. The accuracy of the positional relationship can be improved.

Further, since the temporary holding structure of the photosensitive body cartridge 9 with respect to the upper housing 2 is such that the photosensitive body cartridge 9 can be easily taken out by the urging force of the spring 29 and the pivoting operation with the projection 24 as a fulcrum. Even if the photoconductor cartridge 9 is temporarily carried on the upper housing 2, the workability at the time of replacement can be maintained in a good state.

[0026]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the photoconductor cartridge is temporarily supported on the upper housing side to establish a predetermined positional relationship with the exposure head, and thereafter, the photoconductor cartridge is placed. The upper housing is closed while maintaining the positional relationship with the exposure head, and the photoconductor cartridge is supported by the receiving portion of the paper feed base plate, so that the photoconductor cartridge has a predetermined relationship with the recording paper conveyance surface of the paper feed base plate. Therefore, the positional relationship between the photoconductor cartridge and the exposure head or the recording paper carrying surface can be reliably maintained in a predetermined relationship, and high accuracy can be obtained in each positional relationship. Moreover, since the photoconductor cartridge is tentatively carried by the upper housing and separated from the recording paper conveyance surface when the upper housing is opened, the workability can be further improved when the recording paper is removed due to paper jam or the like. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned first aspect of the invention, the drum shaft is vertically rotated by rotating the photoconductor cartridge with a protrusion located in the lateral groove of the guide groove as a fulcrum. It can be easily removed from the guide groove by moving it from the end of the groove to the connection part with the lateral groove, and the photoconductor cartridge, which is a consumable item, can be temporarily carried in the upper housing, but workability during replacement is improved. It is possible to provide a useful device that can be maintained in a state and is practically effective as a whole.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 3, in the invention described in claim 2, the biasing force of the spring for pressing the exposure head against the photoconductor cartridge to keep it in a predetermined relationship is applied to the photoconductor cartridge. The workability can be further improved by acting in the removing direction of.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an exploded configuration explanatory diagram showing a main part of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a photoconductor cartridge extracting operation in the same apparatus, and FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams showing different operation states.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a facsimile device which is an example of an image reading / printing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper Feed Base Plate 2 Upper Housing 3 Recording Paper Conveying Surface 9 Photoreceptor Cartridge 10 Photoreceptor Drum 10a Drum Shaft 16 Exposure Head 21 Receiver 22 Frame 24 Protrusion 25 Handle 26 Guide Groove 26a Horizontal Groove 26b Vertical Groove 29 Spring 30 Cam 30

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photoconductor cartridge including a photoconductor drum, which comprises a paper feed base plate having a recording paper conveyance surface and an upper casing including an original reading unit pivotably supported on the paper feed base plate. An image reading and printing apparatus in which a receiving portion for holding the exposure head is elastically supported by a spring on the upper housing while forming a receiving portion for holding the position on the sheet passing base plate, wherein the upper housing is a drum of the photosensitive drum. A guide groove is formed in which the shaft is fitted and the drum shaft temporarily holds the photoconductor cartridge, and the exposure head is pressed against the photoconductor cartridge by the biasing force of the spring to temporarily move the photoconductor cartridge by the biasing force of the spring. A configuration in which the carrying state is held and the upper housing is closed on the paper tray base plate so that the photoconductor cartridge is carried by the receiving portion of the paper tray base plate. An image reading and printing apparatus characterized in that 2. The guide groove is composed of a lateral groove having one end open and a vertical groove continuous with the other end of the lateral groove. In the photoconductor cartridge, the guide groove is provided when the drum shaft is within the end of the vertical groove. The image reading / printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a projection that is positioned to be engaged is formed in the lateral groove. 3. The photoconductor cartridge is provided with a cam portion for exerting an urging force of the spring in a direction of escaping the drum shaft from the lateral groove when the drum shaft is positioned at a connecting portion of the lateral groove and the vertical groove. The image reading / printing apparatus according to claim 2.