JPS59220756A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the position precision of each member by unitizing plural members close to an intermediate transfer body attachably to and detachably from a main body. CONSTITUTION:A photosensitive drum 9, intermediate transfer body 1, and intermediate transfer body cleaning member 26 are unitized and fitted to a chassis 51, and then attached to chassis of a machine body. The chassis 51 engages the guide member of the chassis of the machine body through a guide member 51A. Further, the drum 9, photosensitive drum cleaning member 34, developing part, electrostatic charging part, intermediate transfer body 1, member 26, pressing roll, pressing roll cleaning member, roll for removing vapor from on the photosensitive body, destaticizing part, etc., may be unitized all or in any optional combination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Industrial Field of Application The present invention is directed to a method in which a toner image formed on a toner image carrier is first transferred to an intermediate transfer member, and then this toner image is further transferred to a recording medium. The present invention relates to a recording device configured to.

2. Prior Art First, an outline of a recording apparatus using a conventional toner image carrier will be described using a scanning exposure type electrophotographic copying machine as an example. When a copy document is placed on the document table and a copy button is pressed, an exposure lamp illuminates the document and travels in a predetermined direction together with an optical system including a reflecting mirror.

Reflected light corresponding to the density of the original passes through the optical system to a toner image carrier (for example, a photosensitive drum) that is uniformly charged.
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the toner image carrier. Furthermore, a toner image corresponding to the density of the original is formed on the photoreceptor drum by the developer.

On the other hand, a recording medium (for example, copy paper) is fed from the paper feeding device so as to match the position of the toner image on the toner image carrier, and comes into contact with the toner image carrier. Then, the toner image formed on the surface of the toner image carrier is transferred onto copy paper by the transfer electrode. During this time, the toner image carrier continues to rotate in a predetermined direction, and the toner image is gradually transferred onto the copy paper. Thereafter, the copy paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the toner image carrier, and the copy paper is sent to a roller fixing device.

The gastro-rather fixing device is composed of two rollers, at least one of which is heated, and heats and fixes an image formed by a developer onto copy paper. Thereafter, the copy paper is discharged out of the main body of the copying machine.

On the other hand, the toner image carrier is cleaned to remove excess toner powder after the visible toner image is transferred to the copy paper, and this process is repeated every time recording is performed.

However, when a toner image formed on a toner image carrier is electrostatically transferred onto a copy paper using a transfer electrode such as a corona discharger as in the past, charge disturbance occurs and the resolution of the toner image decreases. It will drop. Furthermore, when a conductive magnetic toner or the like that can provide a high-quality toner image is used as the toner, a state in which transfer is virtually impossible is caused.

As a method to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks caused by electrostatic transfer, attempts have been made to suppress transfer onto a transfer sheet using a pressure roller, etc., but the transfer efficiency is poor and only about half the amount of toner image is transferred. There are other obstacles such as:

Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 46-41679, Japanese Patent Publication No. 48-22763, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 49-78559, and US Pat. No. 3.993.825, intermediate transfer using rubber as a transfer layer is A method has been proposed in which the toner image is compressed and transferred onto a copying paper, and then the transferred toner image is heated and melted using a heat roller and fixed (transfer-fixed) onto a copying paper. In such a method, a toner image is pressed and transferred onto the surface of a rubber-based transfer layer, such as silicone rubber or fluorine rubber, which has releasability on the one hand and has the property of adhering fine particles when pressed. The toner image on the transfer layer is heated and melted by contact with a heating body such as a heat roller, and is transferred under pressure onto copy paper fed at the same time and fixed. In other words, the toner image melted by heating is easily transferred and fixed onto copy paper based on the above-mentioned releasability of the transfer layer, so there is no reduction in the resolution of the toner image due to the transfer process, and a high transfer rate can be achieved. It is said that the transcription will be realized in

In a recording device using an intermediate transfer method having the characteristics described above, the image is transferred from the photoreceptor drum to the intermediate transfer body and then to the copy paper on the pressure roll by pressure, so these are always in contact with each other with considerable pressure. Must be. For this reason, precision is required to attach these members, and it is difficult to achieve positional precision when they are attached individually within the recording device, and a considerable amount of time is required.

In addition, recording devices using the intermediate transfer method transfer the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to the copy paper while heating and melting the toner image. Photoreceptor drums and the like are also affected by heat, and electrostatic type recording devices are also subject to severe deterioration. Deterioration due to heat progresses in all parts that are affected by heat, and it is unlikely that only one of these parts will deteriorate due to heat and the other parts will not. do not have.

Therefore, when a certain component deteriorates due to heat and breaks down,
Even if only that component is replaced, there is a high probability that other components will fail again in the near future.

Furthermore, when replacing the toner image bearing member having an organic semiconductor Se-based or A-8T-based photoreceptor insulating layer on its surface due to its lifespan, it is necessary to use a cart that also integrates the intermediate transfer member and its cleaning member. It has not yet been proposed to replace it as a ridge.

In the past, when a failure occurred, only the failed component was replaced, so even if you had to visit the same site many times or replace multiple components in one repair, you would have to replace each component separately. It took a considerable amount of time to do it alone.

3. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to enable efficient replacement of members that must be replaced due to deterioration due to heat or various other circumstances, and to facilitate repair.

4. Structure of the Invention That is, the present invention provides a recording apparatus that once transfers a toner image on a toner image bearing member to an intermediate transfer member, and further transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium. The present invention relates to a recording device characterized in that at least two of the transfer body and a member close to or adjacent to the transfer body are formed into a unit, and this unit is configured to be removably attached to the device.

5. Examples Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to examples shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a suppression transfer type electrophotographic copying machine.

In this copying machine, a platen cover 3 is placed on the glass surface of a document table 2 that is movably provided on the earthen wall of the main body.
A document 4 covered with 3D is placed, and light 6 from a light source 5 inside the main body is irradiated onto the document through a slit 50 provided on the upper wall of the main body, and the reflected light is sent to an SLA (self-hock lens array) 7. After being reflected by a mirror 8, the light is incident on a photosensitive drum 9. Therefore, the drum 9 is uniformly charged.
By moving the document mounting table 2 in the direction of the arrow, image exposure is performed on the photosensitive layer 10 made of selenium, an organic photoconductive substance, etc. in a pattern corresponding to the document image, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. It is formed. Reference numeral 11 in the figure is a corona charger, which charges the entire surface of the photosensitive layer to a predetermined polarity in an unexposed state. Reference numeral 12 denotes a device consisting of a light emitting diode array or an electroluminescent plate for preventing black frames, which eliminates the charge on the non-image area on the photoreceptor and prevents toner from adhering to the non-image area. There is work. A known conductive magnetic toner 14 is supplied from a developing sleeve 13 to the photosensitive drum 9 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. This toner 14 is applied to a magnetic roll 1 for regulating toner thickness.
The material is conveyed on the sleeve 13 while its thickness is regulated by 5, and the conveyance force is applied by the rotation of the sleeve 13 and the rotation of the magnet roll 16 within the sleeve 13. Since a reverse charge is induced in the toner 14 by the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 9, the toner particles sequentially move onto the photoreceptor drum 9 and are attracted to it in proportion to the amount of charge of the electrostatic latent image. A toner image of a predetermined pattern is formed thereon, and development is performed.

The toner image thus formed is then transferred to the intermediate transfer roll 1 which is in contact with the photoreceptor drum 9 at a linear pressure of 1.0 to 9 folds/an or less (for example, 0.4 folds/cm). Pressure transfer is performed. Since this roll 1 has a surface layer mainly composed of a mixture of silicone rubber and fluorosilicone rubber, it sufficiently peels off the toner particles on the photoreceptor drum 9. The peeled toner particles are preheated to a predetermined temperature (that is, a temperature that exhibits sufficient mold releasability) by a heater lamp 17 in the roll 1, and then placed on a μm plate 1 for the next compression bonding process. carried to the position. The pressure roll 18 is heated to a predetermined temperature by an internal heater lamp 19, and is passed from the paper feed box 20 to the paper feed row/I/21 on the guide plate 3.
7.22, The copy paper 24 sent via the conveyance roller 23 is fed between the rolls 1 and 18 while being preheated by the guide board preheating plate 22. Therefore, copy paper 24
The toner image, which has a temperature sufficient to transfer the toner image and which has already been preheated at the time it is fed between the rolls 1 and 8, is separated from or transferred from the roll 1, and at the same time, Fixing of toner images thereon may also be carried out. In the figure, 25 is a cleaning roller of pressure roller #18, 26 is a cleaning roller of intermediate transfer roll 1, and 127 is a cleaning roller for feeding the copy paper after fixing to a paper discharge roller 29 on the side of the paper discharge tray. A guide plate 3o is used for feeding the copy paper from the bottom of the tray 28 during double-sided copying, and 31 is a guide plate for double-sided copying.

At the subsequent stage of the intermediate transfer roller 1, the photosensitive drum 9 is irradiated with light from a discharge lamp 32 to erase the residual charge on the drum. Further, a cleaning member 34 made of, for example, a rubber roller is brought into contact with the photoreceptor drum 9, and the remaining toner particles separated by the cleaning member 34 are removed by a scraping blade (not shown) into a cleaning device 35. It will be stored.

As shown in FIG. 2, the noteworthy structure of the above-mentioned copying apparatus is that the intermediate transfer body and a plurality of members proximate to or adjacent thereto are mounted as a unit (preferably The chassis is configured to be removably attached to a copying machine. Figure 2 (a) is a view of the unit viewed from the same direction as Figure 1, and Figure 2 (b)
) is a view of FIG. 2(a) seen from above, showing the coupling relationship with the main body drive system. In addition, Fig. 2(c) is similar to Fig. 2(c).
b) as viewed from the drive gear at the back of the main body.

The effects of this configuration will be described in detail below. In the embodiment shown in FIG. Chassis 51 separate from the chassis
This unit includes a guide member 51A provided on the side of the chassis 51 and a guide member on the main body side (not shown).
It is constructed so that it can be incorporated into a copying machine by combining it with the following. These members do not rotate independently of each other, but press against each other and rotate in synchronization. Therefore, the drive of these members is
A single motor, gears, rather than separate
Alternatively, it is easier to achieve synchronization by transmitting the rotational force to each member such as a belt, or to easily couple the power between the unit and the main body. Regarding the unit shown in Figure 42, the power from the motor reaches the sprocket via the chain CH. The rotation speed is adjusted and the driving force is transmitted from gear G1 fixed coaxially with sprocket S1 to gear G4, which can be coupled to the drive shaft of photoreceptor drum 9, via gears G2 and G3. Driving force is also transmitted from the gear G1 to the intermediate transfer body 1 via the coupling. C,,C,is a coupling.

Furthermore, these members must be rotated while being pressed against each other with a predetermined pressure, which poses a problem in the positional accuracy in attaching the members. If the attachment is in the wrong position, the pressing force between them will be low and the toner image will not be transferred sufficiently, or the pressing force will be too high on the other side and the intermediate transfer member will be damaged. Further, in this intermediate transfer method, it is thought that the cleaning roller 26 of the intermediate transfer member becomes the most contaminated due to residual toner.

Considering the above, the photosensitive drum 9, the intermediate transfer member 1, and the intermediate transfer member 26 are not installed individually in the copying machine as in the past, but are installed separately as described above. By attaching it to the chassis 51 to form a unit and detachably attaching it inside the copying machine, the manufacturing process is easier, and the accuracy of the installation position of the parts can be increased, and it also provides protection from heat and This allows easy maintenance to prevent toner contamination. For the same reason, photoconductor drum 9, photoconductor drum cleaning member 34, developing section, charging section 11, intermediate transfer body 1, intermediate transfer body cleaning member 26, press roll 18, press roll cleaning member 25, photoconductor It is effective to unitize all or any combination of the water vapor removing roll 36, static eliminator 32, etc. above.

As is clear from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, heaters 17 and 19 are built into the intermediate transfer body 1 and the pressure roll 18 in this copying machine. Due to the influence of this heat, not only does the photoreceptor drum 9 against which the intermediate transfer member l is pressed easily deteriorate, but also the temperature of the photoreceptor drum 9 increases, causing damage to the members around the photoreceptor drum 90. It also has a negative impact and accelerates deterioration. Therefore, deterioration due to heat does not progress only in one member, but simultaneously in a plurality of members near the intermediate transfer body 9. When one member deteriorates and breaks down, even if only this member is replaced with a new member, the other members are likely to have deteriorated as well, and there is a high probability that it will break down again in the near future.

Therefore, it is better to make multiple parts that are easily affected by heat into units, and when one of these parts breaks down, to replace the entire unit with a new one, without having to go to the same site many times for repairs. There is no need to visit the factory, and the efficiency of repair work increases.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show a case where the photosensitive drum 9 and the photosensitive drum cleaning member 34 are integrated into a unit. The influence of heat is significant on the photoreceptor drum 9 that is in direct contact with the intermediate transfer member 1 and the photoreceptor drum cleaning member 34 that is in contact with the photoreceptor drum 9, and their deterioration is likely to progress. Therefore, these parts were made into a unit,
When the photoreceptor drum 9 deteriorates, the photoreceptor drum cleaning member 34 is also replaced at once.

For the same reason, the pressure roll 18, the pressure roll cleaning member 25, the preheating section 22, the intermediate transfer body 11
It is effective to unitize all or any combination of the intermediate transfer member cleaning member 26, the photoreceptor drum 9, the peripheral members of the photoreceptor drum 9, and the like.

6. Effects of the invention By unitizing a plurality of members close to or adjacent to the intermediate transfer body so as to be removably attached to the recording device, the toner image bearing body, intermediate transfer body, and As for the suppression roll, its positional accuracy can be increased and it can be manufactured separately from the recording device, so that the manufacturing process is easy and the manufacturing cost can be reduced accordingly. In addition, by unitizing parts that are easily affected by heat, it is possible to avoid having to visit the same site multiple times for repairs and replacing each deteriorated part with a new one. 'Replacing multiple stuck parts as a unit saves time and effort.
In other words, maintenance has become very easy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrophotographic copying machine using an intermediate transfer member, and Fig. 2(a) shows a unit of a photosensitive drum, an intermediate transfer member, and an intermediate transfer member cleaning member in the copying machine configured as shown in Fig. 1. FIG. 2(e) shows an embodiment of the present invention in which
Fig. 3(a) is a side view of the photoreceptor drum and photoreceptor drum cleaning member as a unit, and Fig. 3(b) is a view of Fig. 3(a) when looking at the drive system side. FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional side view seen from the direction of the arrow. Regarding the symbols used in the drawings, 1----
--- One intermediate transfer body 9 --- Photosensitive drum 11 --- One band electrode 18 --- One pressing roll 25 --- One pressing roll cleaning member 26 −
-------- Intermediate transfer body leaning member 34---
---One photoconductor drum cleaning member 51----
--It's the chassis. Agent: Patent attorney Hiroshi Aisaka (and 1 other person) Figure 2 (a)
), 21st η(b)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A recording apparatus that once transfers a toner image on a 16-toner image carrier to an intermediate transfer member, and further transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a recording medium, wherein the intermediate transfer member and the A recording device characterized in that at least two of the members proximate or adjacent to the device are formed into a unit, and the unit is configured to be detachable from the device. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner image bearing member, the intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member cleaning member are integrated into a unit. 3. A toner image carrier, a toner image carrier cleaning member, a charging section, a developing section, an intermediate transfer body, an intermediate transfer body cleaning member, a suppression roll pressed against the intermediate transfer body, a suppression roll cleaning member, and a water vapor removal member. A recording device according to claim 1, which is unitized. 4. a toner image carrier, a toner image carrier cleaning member, a charging section, a developing section, an intermediate transfer body, an intermediate transfer body cleaning member, a pressure roll pressed against the intermediate transfer body, a pressure roll cleaning member, a water vapor removal member, The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the static eliminating section and the preheating section are integrated into a unit. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner image carrier and the toner image carrier ring member are integrated into a unit.