JPH09237014A - Photoreceptor for electrophotography - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photoreceptor capable of shortening operation time, being easily disassembled and preventing respective parts from being broken considering recycling without necessitating special assembling facilities. SOLUTION: This photoreceptor is equipped with a rubber ring 1b, a 1st flange 1c provided with plural arm members 10c, and a 2nd columnar flange 1d. The 1st flange 1c is inserted in the photoreceptor drum so that the rubber ring 1b may be brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the drum. By inserting the 2nd flange 1d in the 1st flange 1c, the arm members are spread by the column 10d of the 2nd flange 1d and the 1st flange 1c is inserted to bite into the rubber ring.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a photosensitive drum in an electrophotographic apparatus, and more particularly to improvement of flanges attached to both ends.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a metal cylinder of aluminum or the like has been used as a material of a substrate of a photosensitive drum, and this photosensitive drum is attached to an apparatus by a flange and a gear. Since such flanges are used by sliding, it is common to use polyacetal so as to maintain strength. However, polyacetal is a material that cannot be adhered with an adhesive, and in general, the adhesive is applied to the inside of the photoconductor drum, and a grooved flange or gear is inserted in the part in contact with the inner surface of the photoconductor drum, and the Prevents rotation with solidified adhesive
It is configured to prevent it from coming off and fix it.

As another method, a groove is cut in a flange or a gear, these are inserted into a photosensitive drum, and then one end of the photosensitive drum is cut and raised to the inside of the drum to be retained by hooking it, and the rotation is removed. Was being prevented.

[0004]

According to such a conventional technique, since the adhesive is a two-liquid type, the mixing ratio and the coating amount, the fixing at the nozzle portion of the coating machine, the expiration date, the fixing time, the fixing temperature,
It is necessary to manage such as not to attach adhesive to the surface of the drum during work, and not only will the flange and gear be damaged when disassembling in consideration of recycling, but also inside the photoconductor drum. The adhesive may remain attached.

Further, when the thickness of the photosensitive drum raw pipe is made thin, it is possible to cut and raise a part of the drum end portion, but when recycling is considered, the flange,
The gear and the photoconductor drum will be damaged. On the other hand, when considering an electrophotographic apparatus having high durability and long life, since a thick drum is used, it is difficult to cut and raise a part of such an end portion.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and does not require a special assembly facility for fixing the flanges attached to both ends of the photosensitive drum, shortens the working time, and takes recycling into consideration. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member that can be easily disassembled without damaging each component.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer formed on the surface of a metal cylinder, and flanges fixed to both ends of the photosensitive drum. And a first flange provided with a plurality of arm members that are substantially in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical elastic member, and the first flange, And a cylindrical second flange fitted to the inner surface of the flange, the first flange is inserted into the photosensitive drum so that the cylindrical elastic member is brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum. At the same time, when the second flange is inserted into the first flange, the arm member of the first flange is spread by the second flange and is made to bite into the cylindrical elastic member. .

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic apparatus to which the present invention is applied, in particular, a process system around an electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 of the present invention. 2, developing device 3, transfer roller 4, cleaning blade 5, static eliminator 6, charging device 7
As is well known, after the charge is removed by the charge remover 6, an exposure latent image is recorded by the LED head 9 on the photoconductor 1 uniformly charged by the charger 7, and the exposure latent image is reversely developed. The developing device 3 visualizes the toner image, and the transfer roller 4 transfers the toner image onto the recording medium 8. After that, the cleaning blade 5 removes the residual toner from the surface of the photoconductor. After that, the removed residual toner is conveyed to a waste toner bottle (not shown) by a toner recovery device (not shown).

Next, the structure of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 1a is a photosensitive drum in which a photosensitive layer is laminated on the surface of an element tube made of metal or the like.
Reference numeral 1b is a rubber ring which is a cylindrical elastic member, and is attached by being closely attached to the inner peripheral surface of at least one end of the photosensitive drum 1a. As the material of the rubber ring 1b, a material that is unlikely to cause permanent strain is used, and the rubber hardness is JIS
One selected from 50 ° to 90 °, preferably 70 ° to 80 °. If it is JIS 90 ° or more, it will not be firmly fixed, and if it is 50 ° or less, the flanges 1c, 1d
As a result, the photoconductor drum 1a is misaligned or the rubber is easily damaged, and the electrophotographic photoconductor 1 cannot be used for a long period of time. A rubber having a thickness of 1 to 5 mm is selected. Alternatively, a soft resin may be used as the material. 1c
Is the first flange. The first flange 1c has a cylindrical portion 11c, and the rubber ring 1b is provided on one side surface of the cylindrical portion 11c.
There are provided a plurality of arm members 10c that substantially contact the inner peripheral surface of the. The arm member 10c is made of a member having elasticity such as metal. However, the resin is not limited to this, and a resin having high hardness and elasticity may be used. 1d is a second flange formed with a column 10d that fits on the inner peripheral surface of the first flange 1c.

Next, the mounting method will be described with reference to FIG. The rubber ring 1b is attached to the outer periphery of the arm member 10c of the first flange 1c, and the rubber ring 1b is inserted into the photosensitive drum 1a and fitted therein. After that, when the second flange 1d is inserted into the cylindrical portion 11c of the first flange 1c, the first flange 1c spreads the arm member 10c in the inner peripheral direction of the photoconductor drum 1a to expand the arm member 10c to the rubber ring 1b. And bite into the flanges 1c and 1d to closely fix them.
As a result, the flanges and the photosensitive drum 1a are firmly fixed by the frictional force of the rubber ring 1b.

[0011]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the structure of the present invention, not only can it be assembled easily in a short time, but also a special flange-like member for cutting and raising the end of the photosensitive member can be used for fixing the flange. Since it does not require equipment and can be used immediately after assembling because it does not use an adhesive, it can be reused as a product because parts are not damaged during disassembly.

In particular, the use of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention is advantageous in that it can be used for a long period of time in a long-life printing system using an a-Si photosensitive drum and the cost of the photosensitive member itself is reduced. large.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of the periphery of an electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrophotographic photoconductor 1a Photoconductor drum 1b Rubber ring (cylindrical elastic body) 1c 1st flange 1d 2nd flange 10c Arm member 11c Cylindrical part 10d Cylinder 2 Optical path 3 Developing device 4 Transfer roller 5 Cleaning blade 6 Static eliminator 7 Charger 9 LED head 11 Developing roller 14 Shield case 18 Grid

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer formed on the surface of a metal cylinder, and flanges fixed to both ends of the photosensitive drum, wherein the photosensitive drum is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum. A cylindrical elastic member, a first flange provided with a plurality of arm members that substantially contact the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical elastic member, and a cylindrical second flange fitted to the inner surface of the first flange. And inserting the first flange into the photosensitive drum so as to bring the cylindrical elastic member into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, and inserting the second flange into the first flange. Then, the electrophotographic photoreceptor for electrophotography, characterized in that the arm member of the first flange is spread by the second flange to be bitten into the cylindrical elastic member.