JPH0844270A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image forming device constituted so that the loading/ unloading property of a photoreceptor and a process device is enhanced, the maintaining property thereof is enhanced because of it and the intensity of the device which is loaded or unloaded is secured. CONSTITUTION:The photoreceptor 1, a developing device 2, a cleaning device 3 and a second toner carrying member 8 for recycling toner are integrally supported by a frame body 9 so as to constitute a photoreceptor unit. The frame body 9 is provided with a space between the carrying member 8 and a wall surface 10 so as to form a grip 11. When the photoreceptor unit needs to be loaded or unloaded with respect to a device main body, it is executed by allowing an operator to insert a hand in the space 10 and grasp the grip 11 and moving the photoreceptor unit along a rail 12 in a direction shown by an arrow in a figure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine or a printer, which records an image corresponding to an input image on a recording medium such as recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus is known in which a toner collected by a cleaning device is conveyed to a developing device for recycling. In such a conventional technique, when attempting to attach or detach the photoconductor or the process means from the main body of the image forming apparatus for maintenance of the photoconductor or the process means arranged around the photoconductor, the conveying means is obstructed. Therefore, the detachability of these means is impaired. Further, when the carrier is left in the main body of the image forming apparatus and the photoconductor or the process means is attached or detached from the main body of the apparatus, there is a problem that the toner is scattered from the joint between the carrier and the photoconductor or the process means. As one means for solving the above-mentioned problem, as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-13952, a toner transfer device for conveying and recycling a recovered toner from a cleaning device to a developing device, and a developing device. There is also known an image forming apparatus in which a cleaning device is integrated with a cleaning device so as to be detachable from a main body of the image forming device, and a toner transfer device is used as a handle for attaching and detaching.

[0003]

However, in the image forming apparatus described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-13952, since the photoconductor is left in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the developing device and the cleaning device are not attached to each other. However, there are technical problems such as damage to the photoconductor and toner scattering from the openings of the developing device and the cleaning device. Further, since the developing device and the cleaning device are integrally supported by only the toner transfer device, the strength is inevitably insufficient. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above technical problems, to improve the detachability of a photoconductor and a process device, to improve the maintainability, and to provide an image forming apparatus in which the strength of the detachable device is ensured. It is a thing.

[0004]

In an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, an image carrier, a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, and the image. A cleaning means for collecting the toner remaining on the image carrier after transferring the developed image of the carrier to the transfer paper, and the image carrier,
Provided on the front side of the developing means and the cleaning means,
In an image forming apparatus having a conveying unit that conveys the toner collected by the cleaning unit to the developing unit,
A frame body that integrally supports the image carrier, the developing unit, the cleaning unit, and the transport unit; and a support unit that detachably supports the frame body with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. 3. The image according to claim 2, wherein the transporting unit also serves as a handle for attaching and detaching a frame body that integrally supports the image carrier, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit. In the forming apparatus, the frame body forms a space between the frame body that supports the transport unit and the frame body that supports the image carrier, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit. It is characterized by being configured in.

[0005]

When the photoreceptor, the developing means, or the cleaning means reaches the end of its life, or even before the end of its life, maintenance of these means becomes necessary, the operator holds the handle, A frame body that integrally supports these means is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body in a direction horizontal to the apparatus installation surface and toward the front side of the apparatus main body. When these means are set in the apparatus main body, the handle is held and the operation reverse to the above-mentioned pulling operation is performed to set in the apparatus main body.

[0006]

1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. A known charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, a static eliminator, and the like are arranged around the rotatable photoconductor 1 as an image carrier. Then, an electrostatic latent image of an image corresponding to the input image is formed by optical writing at a position between the charging device and the developing device. The toner image formed on the photoconductor is transferred onto the transfer paper being conveyed by the action of the transfer device, and the toner image on the transfer paper is fixed by a well-known fixing device and discharged to the outside of the device. It In FIG. 1, a developing device 2 as a developing device and a cleaning device 3 as a cleaning device are arranged around the photoconductor 1. The developing device 2 includes a developing roller 4 and a toner-conveying and stirring member 5 having a function of conveying and agitating the contained toner in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 4. The cleaning device 3 is a cleaning blade 6 which is pressed against the surface of the photoconductor to remove the residual toner on the photoconductor.
The removed toner is recovered and is transported by the first toner transport member 7 which transports the toner in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade. The toner transported by the first toner transporting member 7 is transported from the cleaning device to the developing device by the second toner transporting member 8 as a toner transporting means, and is supplied to the developing device. Be recycled. The photoconductor 1, the developing device 2, the cleaning device 3, and the second toner carrying member 8 are integrally supported by a frame body 9 to form a photoconductor unit. Further, the frame body has a space between the second toner carrying member 8 and the wall surface 10, and forms a handle 11. On the other hand, the main body of the image forming apparatus is provided with a pair of rails 12 as a supporting means for movably supporting the photoconductor unit in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor (direction of arrow in FIG. 1).

Toner end condition, photoconductor deterioration,
When the photoconductor unit needs to be attached and detached for maintenance of other devices, the operator puts his / her hand into the space 10, holds the handle 11, and moves along the rail 12 in the direction of the arrow of the drawing. By moving the unit, the photoconductor unit is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.

Since the photosensitive member unit can be moved by grasping the handle 11, the detachability thereof is improved. Also,
Since the handle 11 is composed of a frame that covers the second toner conveying member 8, it is not necessary to provide a special handle,
It leads to cost reduction. Further, the frame 9 constituting the photoconductor unit includes not only the photoconductor, the developing device, and the cleaning device on the handle 11 side but also the photoconductor longitudinal direction.
Since it is supported on the side opposite to the handle 11, the strength is stronger than the conventional one. Furthermore, the photoconductor, the developing device,
Since the cleaning device and the toner carrier material are integrally detachably configured, it is possible to prevent damage to the photoconductor and toner scattering when the photoconductor unit is attached or detached.

FIG. 2 shows the handle 11 of this embodiment. In this embodiment, in consideration of the ease of grasping the handle 11,
A curved surface-shaped unevenness 13 is formed on the handle 11.

FIG. 3 shows a modified embodiment, in which the frame 9
Of the projection 1 on the rear side surface of the image forming apparatus main body in the insertion direction.
4 are formed. By providing this projection 14, it is not possible to lean the photoconductor unit so that the end face of the photoconductor is up or down, it is possible to prevent deviation of the toner in the developing device, and after the photoconductor unit is reset. A good image can be obtained from the first print. Further, the protrusion 14 may be fitted into a positioning hole 15 provided in the rear side plate of the image forming apparatus main body, and may also be used for positioning the photoconductor unit with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.

As described above, according to the present invention, the photoconductor, the developing means, the cleaning means, and the toner carrying means are supported by a common frame, and the toner carrying means of this frame is covered. Since the portion is also used as the handle, the detachability of the photoconductor unit is improved and the cost can be reduced. Further, the strength of the photoconductor unit can be secured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a photoconductor unit that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handle which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a photoconductor unit that is an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photoconductor 2 Developing Device 3 Cleaning Device 8 Second Toner Conveying Member 9 Frame 11 Handle

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image carrier, a developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, and after the developed image of the image carrier is transferred onto a transfer paper, the image carrier is formed on the image carrier. Cleaning means for recovering the toner remaining in the cleaning means, the image carrier, the developing means, and the front side of the cleaning means, and the toner recovered by the cleaning means is conveyed to the developing means. An image forming apparatus having a transporting unit for supporting the image carrier, the developing unit, the cleaning unit, and the transporting unit integrally, and the frame is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. A supporting means for freely supporting the conveying means, and the conveying means,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that it also serves as a handle for attaching and detaching a frame body that integrally supports a developing means and a cleaning means. 2. The frame body is configured to form a space between the frame body supporting the transporting means and the frame body supporting the image carrier, the developing means, and the cleaning means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided.