JPH10247046A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve an inconvenience where a device is moved to a bright place and a different illuminator is prepared by making the inside of the device bright by turning on a discharge lamp when an image carrier unit and a transfer unit are taken out from a device main body. SOLUTION: In the case of taking out the transfer unit 5 as a whole from the device main body, the transfer unit 5 is taken out from the opened parts of bearing parts 32 and 33 by sliding right and left shafts in the direction of an arrow D after slightly rotating the transfer unit 5 in the direction of the arrow C around a shaft 30. In the case of resetting the transfer unit 5 to the device main body, a reverse procedure is executed from a procedure taken at the time of detaching the transfer unit 5 from the device main body. At the time of attaching/detaching the transfer unit 5, the image carrier unit 4 must be previously set in a detached state. Then, though it is difficult to align the transfer unit 5 with the right and left bearing parts 32 and 33 of a carrying guide plate 9 when the inside of the device is dark and it is difficult to confirm the inside by visual observation at the time of attaching/detaching the transfer unit 5, the inside of the device is made bright by turning on the discharge lamp, so that an operational problem is eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic copying machine,
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer and a facsimile, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having an image carrier unit and a transfer unit that can be removed from the apparatus main body and replaced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, transfer paper on which a toner image on an image carrier is transferred is conveyed to a fixing device for fixing. In many cases, a paper jam occurs during the conveyance after the transfer due to the direction change of the transfer paper. In order to facilitate removal of the paper jam transfer paper, there is also known a configuration in which a part of the apparatus is opened to retreat a part of a guide plate constituting a conveyance path from the path to open the path. However, due to recent downsizing of the apparatus, a part of the guide plate cannot be sufficiently retracted from the transport path to form a large processing space. Problems such as soiling of clothes and damage to components in the apparatus were caused. Further, if the transfer roller or the static elimination needle is used for a long period of time, the performance of the transfer roller or the static elimination needle may cause an abnormal image or the like, but a similar problem occurs in the replacement of these parts. Therefore, in order to increase the processing space when a paper jam occurs or when exchanging the transfer roller and the static elimination needle, etc., an image carrier unit and a transfer unit for holding the transfer roller and the static elimination needle are provided. Many image forming apparatuses configured to be taken out of a main body have been proposed.

[0003]

However, even in an image forming apparatus configured to take out the image carrier unit and the transfer unit from the apparatus main body as described above, even when the apparatus main body is installed in a relatively dark place. As described above, when removing or resetting the image carrier unit or the transfer unit from the apparatus main body, it is very difficult to remove the image carrier unit and the transfer unit, and the hands and clothes may be stained, and parts in the apparatus may be damaged. there were. To solve the problem,
When the image carrier unit and the transfer unit are taken out of the apparatus main body, it is troublesome to move the apparatus itself to a bright place or to prepare another illumination device. Therefore,
An object of the present invention is to remove an image carrier unit or a transfer unit from the apparatus main body in order to eliminate a paper jam or a problem in a case where processing at the time of exchanging a transfer roller and a static elimination needle is performed in a dark place. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a static elimination lamp inside the apparatus is turned on to brighten the inside of the apparatus, the apparatus is moved to a bright place, and another lighting apparatus is prepared, thereby eliminating the trouble of having to prepare another lighting apparatus.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object,
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier for forming and carrying a toner image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed by exposure; and a transfer paper for transferring the toner image on the image carrier. Transfer means for transferring to the image carrier, a charge removing lamp for removing charges on the image carrier, an image carrier unit including the image carrier, which is detachable from the apparatus main body and replaceable, and the transfer means. When the transfer unit is detachable from the apparatus main body and is replaceable, when removing the transfer unit from the apparatus main body,
Lighting control means for lighting the static elimination lamp. The invention according to claim 2 has an image carrier setting detection unit that detects removal of the image carrier unit from the apparatus main body and detects resetting of the image carrier unit on the apparatus main body, and the lighting control unit includes the image carrier unit. When the body setting detecting means detects removal of the image carrier unit from the apparatus main body, the static elimination lamp is turned on, and when resetting to the apparatus main body is detected, the static elimination lamp is turned off.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the transfer unit is detached from the apparatus main body, the discharge control lamp can be turned on by the lighting control means. Therefore, the apparatus main body is installed in a relatively dark place. However, the image carrier unit and the transfer unit can be easily removed from the apparatus main body. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the invention of the image forming apparatus configured as in the first aspect, the image carrier unit is taken out of the apparatus main body by the image carrier setting detecting means, and the apparatus main body is removed. Can be detected, and the lighting control means turns on and off and controls the static elimination lamp in response to the detection information. Lights up,
At the end of work, the static elimination lamp can be turned off automatically.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part of an electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter, referred to as a copying machine) according to the present invention. The detailed configuration and function of the copying machine are well known and will not be described, and the description will focus on the parts related to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier 1
Rotates in the clockwise direction (indicated by an arrow), before the exposure, the unnecessary charge on the photosensitive drum 1 is eliminated by turning on the charge removing lamp 3, and the surface is uniformly charged by a charging charger (not shown). Then, the exposure forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image. This electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by toner being attached by the developing roller 11. On the other hand, the transfer paper P is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 2 (transfer charger = transfer means) at a timing adjusted by a registration roller (not shown), and a visible image is generated by a transfer bias from the transfer roller 2. The formed toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the transfer paper P. Further, the charge applied to the transfer sheet P by the charge removing needle 8 is eliminated, and the transfer sheet P is separated from the photosensitive drum 1.
Further, in order to thermally fix the toner image on the transfer paper P, the heating roller 13 and the pressure roller 1
The toner image is guided to a thermal fixing device 10 composed of a toner image 4 and the like. After the transfer of the toner image onto the transfer paper P, the photosensitive drum 1
This removes the toner remaining on the surface, and prepares for the next electrostatic latent image.

Next, after the transfer, when a paper jam occurs during the conveyance to the thermal fixing device 10, or when the transfer roller 2 or the static elimination needle 8 is replaced, the processing space is expanded, and the unit is taken out of the apparatus main body and operated. A method for facilitating the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, the image carrier unit 4 includes a photosensitive drum 1, a developing roller 11, a cleaning blade 12, and the like, and has a configuration in which the image carrier unit 4 can be taken out of the apparatus main body by pulling it forward. The fact that the image carrier unit 4 has been removed from the apparatus main body or has been reset on the apparatus main body is determined by the image carrier setting detection unit 7 set near the image carrier unit 4. You can know. Further, the transfer roller 2, the static elimination needle 8, and the like are housed in the transfer unit 5 to facilitate the replacement process, and the transfer unit 5 can be taken out of the apparatus main body by a method described later.

In the normal copying operation, the transport guide plate 9 and the transfer unit 5 are supported by the support plate 15 in a substantially linear manner in the horizontal direction so as to follow the transport path of the transfer paper P as shown in FIG. When it is necessary to retreat from the photosensitive drum 1 for processing a paper jam, the fulcrum 15a
The transfer unit 5 and the transport guide plate 9 are pivoted around the support shaft 28,
It turns around 29 as a rotation axis, and it will be in the state as shown in FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 2, the transfer unit 5 is hidden by the shadow of the inner cover indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure. In order to return the transfer unit 5 from the state shown in FIG. 2 to the original state shown in FIG. 1, the support plate 15 may be raised in the direction opposite to the arrow A direction. In other words, while the support plate 15 rotates in the upright direction about the fulcrum 15a, it pushes up the transport guide plate 9 and the transfer unit 5 to maintain the posture of FIG.
By rotating the support plate 15 in the falling direction, the support plate 15 can be retracted downward around the support shaft 28 as shown in FIG. The transport guide plate 9 and the transfer unit 5 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable in a vertical direction with a connecting portion having a rotation fulcrum.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration of the transport guide plate 9 and the transfer unit 5. The transfer roller 2 has a drive gear 21 at one end of a cored bar, and left and right abutting rollers 22 at both ends to regulate the amount of bite into the photosensitive drum 1.
And is rotatably held on the resin casing 20 via the bearings 23 and 24.
The bearings 23 and 24 are supported so as to be slidable in a direction toward the center of the photosensitive drum 1, and the transfer rollers 2 are applied to the photosensitive drum 1 by being urged by the pressure springs 25. Crimp. When a bias is applied to the transfer roller 2, an electrode (not shown) of the main body and an electrode 26 of the casing 20 come into contact with each other, and are applied to the metal core via a pressure spring 25 and a bearing 24 of a conductive resin. The transfer roller 2 is driven by a gear integrated with the flange of the photosensitive drum 1. In addition, static elimination needle 8
Is set on the resin casing 20, and a bias is applied when the electrode 27 that contacts the electrode on the main body side (not shown) and the static elimination needle 8 contact each other. On the other hand, the transport guide plate 9 is rotatably supported in the up and down direction by left and right pins 28 and 29 protruding from the front and rear side plates opposed to each other, so that the transport guide plate 9 is rotatable around the left and right pins 28 and 29 as support shafts. It is configured. Further, by setting left and right shafts 30, 31 provided before and after the resin casing 20 of the transfer unit 5 on left and right bearings 32, 33 provided on the transfer guide plate 9, the transfer unit 5 and the transfer guide plate are set. The transfer unit 5 is an integral unit, and the transfer unit 5 is rotatable up and down with respect to the transport guide plate 9 about the left and right shafts 30 and 31 as support shafts.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of the transfer roller 2 pressed against the photosensitive drum 1. The transfer roller 2 is mounted on the resin casing 20 via a pressure spring 25, left and right bearings 23, 24, and the like.
Is pressed against. FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b) and 6 are views for explaining a state when the transfer unit 5 is taken out from the apparatus main body or when it is reset. If the transfer roller 11 or the static elimination needle 8 is used for a long period of time, its performance is degraded and causes a problem such as an abnormal image. Therefore, periodic cleaning, inspection or replacement is required. In such a case, it is difficult to remove only the transfer roller 11 and the static elimination needle 8, so that the transfer unit 5 is taken out of the apparatus body. When the transfer unit 5 is taken out from the apparatus main body, FIG.
As described above, the transfer unit 5 is slightly rotated about the shafts 30 and 31 in the direction of arrow C, and then the left and right shafts 30 and 31 are slid in the direction of arrow D and taken out from the open portions of the bearings 32 and 33. Since the transfer unit 5 cannot be at such a position during normal operation, the transfer unit 5 does not accidentally come off the left and right bearings 32 and 33 of the transport guide plate 9.

FIG. 5B is an explanatory view of the case where the transfer unit 5 is reset on the apparatus main body, and FIG. 6 is an assembly view after the transfer unit 5 is reset. The procedure for removing the transfer unit 5 from the apparatus main body is the reverse of the procedure for removing the transfer unit 5 from the left and right shafts 3.
The directions of 0 and 31 are aligned in the direction of arrow E, and the slide is set on the left and right bearings 32 and 33 of the transport guide plate 9. However, although not described in the description of the removal and resetting of the transfer unit 5, the image carrier unit 4 needs to be removed in advance when attaching or detaching the transfer unit 5. At this time, if the inside of the apparatus is dark and it is difficult to visually check the inside when the transfer unit 5 is attached and detached, it is difficult to align the transfer unit 5 with the left and right bearings 32 and 33 of the transport guide plate 9, but in FIG. By doing so, the inside of the apparatus becomes bright, and the above-mentioned problem in work is eliminated.
In particular, when the image carrier unit 4 is removed, the inside of the apparatus is further brightened by the neutralization lamp 3 to facilitate the work. It goes without saying that the handling of paper jams after transfer is also facilitated.

The above-described lighting of the charge removing lamp 3 is performed when the transfer unit 5 is taken out of the apparatus main body.
Is provided with a transfer unit movement detecting means (photo sensor, limit switch, etc.) for detecting that the state has changed from the state shown in FIG. 1 to the state shown in FIG. 2, and notifies the lighting control section 6 of the detection information. 6, the static elimination lamp 3 is turned on. Further, the transfer unit movement detecting means may operate by tilting the support plate 15 in the direction of arrow A.

Further, in claim 2 of the present invention, FIG.
When the image carrier setting detection unit 7 detects that the image carrier unit 4 has been removed from the apparatus main body, the information enters the lighting control unit 6 and the lighting control unit 6 turns on the neutralization lamp 3. . After that, the transfer unit 5 is taken out, the transfer process of the transfer roller 2 and the static elimination needle 8 is performed, the transfer unit 5 is reset, and the image carrier unit 4 is further set.
When the image carrier setting detection unit 7 detects that is returned to the apparatus main body, the lighting control unit 6 turns off the static elimination lamp 3. The characteristic configuration of the present invention is as follows.
As described above, the discharge lamp is turned on when each unit is taken out. However, the structure of the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the type shown in FIGS. The invention can be applied to any type of image forming apparatus.

[0014]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
When the transfer unit is removed from the main body of the apparatus, the discharge control lamp can be turned on by the lighting control means, so that the apparatus is used for processing of paper jams and processing at the time of replacement of the transfer roller and the discharge needle. The image carrier unit and the transfer unit can now be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus main body without the trouble of moving to a bright place or preparing another illumination device. According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the invention of the image forming apparatus of claim 1, the lighting control means causes the image carrier setting detection means to take out the image carrier unit from the apparatus main body, and When resetting of the main unit is detected, the static elimination lamp is turned on and off and controlled, so that the static elimination lamp is turned on only during the period required for work that is not related to image formation, and that you do not forget to turn it off. Can now be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the image forming apparatus in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed configuration diagram of a main part of a transfer guide plate and a transfer unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of a transfer roller pressing against a photosensitive drum in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the transfer unit according to the embodiment of the present invention is removed from the apparatus main body. FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the transfer unit according to the embodiment of the present invention is reset on the apparatus main body.

FIG. 6 is an assembly view of main parts after resetting of the transfer unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image carrier or photosensitive drum, 2 transfer roller,
3 static elimination lamp, 4 image carrier unit, 5 transfer unit, 6 lighting control means, 7 image carrier setting detection means
Or image carrier setting detection unit, 8 static elimination needle, 9 transport guide plate, 10 heat fixing device, 11 developing roller, 13 heating roller, 14 pressure roller, 15 support plate, 20 resin casing, 23 left bearing, 24 Right bearing,
30 left axis, 31 right axis

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Watanabe Ricoh Company, Ltd. 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Kenzo Tatsumi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Company, Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yoshinaga 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Takeo Suda 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Invention Person: Ken Amamiya 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mayumi Ohori 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image carrier for carrying a toner image obtained by developing an electrostatic latent image formed by exposure, and transfer means for transferring the toner image on the image carrier to transfer paper. ,
A static elimination lamp for eliminating charges on the image carrier, an image carrier unit including the image carrier, which is detachable from the apparatus main body and replaceable, and including the transfer unit, which is detachable from the apparatus main body and replaceable An image forming apparatus, comprising: a transfer unit configured as described above; and lighting control means for turning on the neutralizing lamp when the transfer unit is removed from the apparatus main body. 2. An image carrier setting detecting means for detecting removal of the image carrier unit from the apparatus main body and resetting the image carrier unit to the apparatus main body; 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit turns on the static elimination lamp when detecting removal of the image carrier unit from the apparatus main body, and turns off the static elimination lamp when detecting resetting to the apparatus main body. Image forming apparatus.