JPH09325666A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To normalize an attaching/detaching posture in the case of attachment/ detachment and to facilitate attachment/detachment by forming an outer cover so that it can be mounted/demounted on/from a device main body side and making respective elements interfere with the outer cover at the time of attaching/detaching in a state where the outer cover is supported on the device main body side. SOLUTION: An aperture part 3 in which the respective elements are housed is formed to be opened, and a paper supply tray 4 in which copying paper of every size is housed is disposed on the lower side of a front surface so that it can freely get in/out. The aperture part 3 is covered with the outer cover 5. A toner recovering tank 16 and an attachable/detachable element 17 can not be taken out to the outside of the aperture part 3 unless the outer cover 5 is detached from the device main body 1. Namely, in the case of taking out the element 17 inside, the outer cover 5 is perfectly detached from the device main body 1 and the tank 16 is taken out, whereby the element 17 is easily taken out. Therefore, the attaching/detaching operation is executed in the safe and natural posture and the efficiency of the attaching/detaching operation is improved.

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, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus in which each element in the apparatus can be easily inserted and removed and the apparatus can be downsized.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Inside an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, there are an element fixedly held in the apparatus body and an element removably housed in the apparatus body. Examples of the elements that are removably housed in the apparatus body include a photoconductor unit, a developing unit, a cleaning unit, a toner cartridge, and a transfer unit. These elements are inserted and removed from the opening formed on the upper side of the front surface of the apparatus main body,
A cover is provided in the opening so as to cover the opening.

In a conventional color image forming apparatus, each constituent element is relatively large, and the apparatus itself is formed of a heavy object and has a large size. For this reason, the cover is often of the double-door type.

However, since the insertion / removal work is relatively difficult with this type, the above-mentioned elements are arranged on a drawer slidably supported by the apparatus main body, and the drawer is inserted / removed along the support guide rails. A slide type is used to insert and remove the above-mentioned respective elements. As this known technique, there are JP-A-63-249156 and JP-A-59.
-61847 publication is mentioned.

The "imaging device" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-249156 discloses a photoconductor unit, a developing unit, and a photoconductor unit on a drawer that is slidably supported via a guide rail supported by a machine body (apparatus body). An image forming unit such as a cleaning unit and a toner cartridge is mounted, and a drawer of the drawer is detected to automatically move the unit to a position away from the photoconductor unit to prevent damage to the photoconductor unit. It is what

Further, in the "image forming apparatus" of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-61847, a unit mounted on a support at the time of mounting a process unit is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body in cooperation with the displacement of the unit. Means for facilitating attachment / detachment of the process unit to / from the apparatus main body.

[0007]

The image forming apparatus provided with the above-described double-door cover has a problem that the cover interferes with the insertion and removal of the elements, and the open space is secured to save space. There is a problem. In addition, all of the above-mentioned known techniques have a problem that the structure is complicated and the cost is high.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a cover rotatably supported by the device body on the front side of the device body so as to cover the opening, and the cover is provided in the device body. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which insertion / removal of internal elements becomes impossible unless it is removed from the device, the insertion / removal posture is normalized during insertion / removal, and insertion / removal is facilitated.

[0009]

An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention accommodates elements such as a multi-color developing unit, a toner replenishing section, an intermediate transfer belt unit, and a toner recovery tank in an apparatus body in a removable manner. In the image forming apparatus, an outer cover is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body to cover an opening for inserting and removing the respective elements, and the outer cover is detachably formed from the apparatus main body side, In a state where the outer cover is supported on the apparatus main body side, each of the elements interferes with the outer cover during insertion / removal.

In an image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, an inner cover that covers a part of the opening is disposed on the inner surface side of the outer cover so as to overlap the outer cover, and the inner cover is detachable. It is characterized in that it is supported on the apparatus main body side.

An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that one of the inner covers is formed in a part of a toner recovery tank arranged closest to the opening.

By removing the outer cover from the apparatus main body, interference with the outer cover at the time of inserting / removing the elements in the apparatus main body is eliminated, and these elements can be easily inserted / removed. Further, by removing the outer cover, the operator can approach the main body of the apparatus, the open space is not required, and the work of inserting and removing the respective elements is facilitated.

Further, in an image forming apparatus having an inner cover provided on the inner surface side of the outer cover, the outer cover and the inner cover are made to overlap each other, and unless the outer cover is removed, the inner cover interferes with the outer cover and cannot be removed. It is made easy to take out the respective elements in the apparatus main body, and it is ensured that the outer cover is always removed when the respective elements are inserted and removed.

Further, by using a toner recovery tank for one of the inner covers, the toner recovery tank is operated when the above-mentioned respective elements are inserted and removed, the toner inside vibrates, and the gas density thereof can be improved, The amount of collected toner increases,
Even with a small capacity, the life of the toner is extended, and as a result, the apparatus can be downsized and the cost can be reduced.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic structure of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

The apparatus main body 1 is formed so as to be entirely movable by a caster 2, an opening 3 for accommodating each element is formed in an intermediate portion on the front surface, and copy papers of various sizes are accommodated on the lower side of the front surface. The paper feed tray 4 is arranged so that it can freely move in and out. The opening 3 is closed by an outer cover 5 as shown in FIGS.

Further, in this example, the outer cover 5 is detachably formed from the opening 3 as shown in FIG. In addition,
In this example, the inner cover is not clearly shown inside the outer cover 5, but an inner cover may be provided.

Various elements are housed inside the opening 3 of the apparatus body 1. Among these elements, there are one that is fixed to the apparatus main body 1 side and one that can be inserted and removed. For example, the fixing unit 6, the scanning optical unit 7, the transport unit 8, the air-conditioning unit 9 and the sheet feeding or discharging unit 10, 1 are fixed.
1 etc. are included.

On the other hand, those which can be inserted and removed include a photoconductor unit 12, a multicolor developing unit 13, a toner replenishing section 14,
Examples include the intermediate transfer unit 15 and the toner recovery tank 16.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the toner recovery tank 16 is arranged near the opening 3 of the apparatus main body 1 and close to the outer cover 5. On the other hand, the removable unit 17 such as the photosensitive unit 12 and the multicolor developing unit 13 is arranged on the inner side of the toner recovery tank 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the toner recovery tank 16 and the insertable / detachable element 17 cannot be taken out of the opening 3 unless the outer cover 5 is removed from the apparatus main body 1. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the toner replenishing section 14 and the toner recovery tank 16 are partially polymerized,
The overlap portion 18 is formed. Therefore, it is difficult to remove the insertable / removable element 17 from the toner replenishing unit 14 unless the toner recovery tank 16 is removed, and as a result, it becomes difficult to remove the removable / attachable element 17.

In this example, as shown in FIG.
Is formed so that it can be taken out from the device body 1,
In order to take out the insertable / removable element 17 and the like inside, the outer cover 5 is completely removed from the apparatus main body 1, the toner recovery tank 16 is exposed, and the toner recovery tank 16 is taken out so that the removable element 17 can be easily taken out. Be done.

As shown in FIG. 11, if the outer cover 5 is cantilevered by a pin on the main body 1 of the apparatus so that it cannot be removed, the operator 19 must remove the internal elements when the outer cover 5 is open. I leaned forward with my fingers caught, and I had to do it in an unreasonable posture, which was extremely difficult. As a result, the back is hurt. In this respect, in the case of this example, as shown in FIG.
Is completely removed from the apparatus main body 1, the operator 19 can easily take out each internal element in a natural posture by approaching the apparatus main body 1. As a result, the taking out and mounting work can be performed very easily.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, the inner covers 20 and 21 are provided on the inner surface side of the outer cover 5, and the outer cover 5 is detachably supported by a cantilevered pin below the opening 3 of the apparatus main body 1. Two
As shown, 0 and 21 are arranged so as to cover the toner recovery tank 16, the removable element 17, and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, in this embodiment, the outer cover 5 overlaps with the toner collecting tank 16 at its base end side while the outer cover 5 is open, and the inner cover 21 remains overlapping with the toner collecting tank 16 as it is. However, the inner cover 20 overlaps the toner recovery tank 16 and the removable element 17. Therefore, when taking out the toner recovery tank 16 and the insertable / detachable element 17 from the inside of the apparatus main body 1, as shown in FIG. 7, the outer cover 5 is completely removed from the apparatus main body 1, and the inner covers 20, 21 are also removed.
Must be removed from the opening 3 to completely expose the interior as shown in FIG. That is, unless this state is set, the internal elements cannot be taken out, and therefore the internal elements cannot be taken out without removing the outer cover 5 from the apparatus main body 1. Therefore, the work is not performed in an unreasonable posture as shown in FIG. Therefore, safe work is secured.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the outer cover 5 and the inner cover 2 are used to take out the removable element 17.
It is necessary to remove 0 and 21 from the device main body 1,
It is necessary to take out the toner recovery tank 16, but in some cases, a part of the removable element 17 may be taken out without removing the toner recovery tank 16. In this example, the toner recovery tank 16a with an inner cover in which the inner cover 21 is integrated with the toner recovery tank 16 is adopted. Therefore, in this example, in order to take out the insertable / detachable element 17, the toner recovery tank 16a with the inner cover is always removed from the apparatus main body 1. The toner recovery tank 16a with the inner cover vibrates during the removal and mounting work, and since the frequency thereof is high, the toner inside is frequently shaken. As a result, the gas density of the toner inside increases and the amount of collected toner increases. Therefore, the life of the toner recovery tank 16a with a small inner cover can be extended. As a result, the device can be downsized and the cost can be reduced.

[0027]

【The invention's effect】

1) According to the image forming apparatus described in claim 1 of the present invention,
Since the operator can insert and remove the internal elements without sandwiching the outer cover between the operator and the main body of the apparatus, the operator can perform the insert and remove work in a safe and comfortable posture and improve the insert and remove work efficiency.

2) According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, the internal elements cannot be taken out unless the covers are removed, and as a result, each element is always inserted in a safe posture. Removal work is guaranteed.

3) According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, the toner recovery tank always vibrates when the internal element is inserted or removed, the gas density of the internal toner increases, and the recovered toner amount increases, The life can be extended with a small capacity. As a result, the device can be downsized and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an apparatus body for explaining the basic structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view for explaining the outline of internal elements of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an apparatus main body according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a side view of FIG.

6 is a front view showing a state where the outer cover of FIG. 4 is removed.

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view of an apparatus main body according to another embodiment of the present invention in which an inner cover and a toner recovery tank are combined.

9 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an operation of taking out internal elements in a natural posture.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an operation of taking out internal elements in an unreasonable posture.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 2 Casters 3 Openings 4 Paper Feed Tray 5 Outer Cover 6 Fixing Unit 7 Scanning Optical Means 8 Conveying Section 9 Air Conditioning Means 10 Paper Ejecting Means 11 Paper Ejecting Means 12 Photosensitive Units 13 Multicolor Developing Units 14 Toner Replenishing Parts 15 Intermediate Transfer unit 16 Toner recovery tank 16a Toner recovery tank with inner cover 17 Removable element 18 Overlap section 19 Operator

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which various components such as a multicolor developing unit, a toner replenishing section, an intermediate transfer belt unit, and a toner recovery tank are detachably housed in the apparatus main body. An outer cover is provided on the front surface side to cover an opening for inserting and removing the respective elements, and the outer cover is detachably formed from the apparatus main body side, and in a state where the outer cover is supported by the apparatus main body side. The image forming apparatus, wherein each of the elements interferes with the outer cover when being inserted and removed. 2. An inner cover that covers a portion of the opening is disposed on the inner surface side of the outer cover so as to overlap with the outer cover, and the inner cover is detachably supported on the apparatus main body side. Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the inner covers is formed in a part of a toner recovery tank arranged closest to the opening.