JPS6126059A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate replacement and maintenance of a process kit by providing a freely opening and closing door on the bottom face of a image forming device and setting the device vertically to open the door so that the side face of the device body is the bottom. CONSTITUTION:A part of the bottom face of a copying device 1 is cut to form a door A, and the door A is freely opened and closed by a hinge 26. A paper supply tray 10, a paper feeding roll 15, etc. are attached to the rear face of the door A. Since the center of gravity of the device 1 is in the paper eject side when a process kit 28 consisting of a photosensitive body 2, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 7, etc. is attached or detached, the device body is set vertically so that the side face of the paper eject side of the device is the bottom. When the door A is opened, the tray 10 and the roll 15 are opened together horizontally. The process kit 28 is taken out freely to perform replacement or maintenance. Thus, replacement, maintenance, cleaning, etc. of parts of the device are facilitated because the door is provided in the bottom of the device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a process kit.

Generally, conventional image forming apparatuses have a configuration in which the same posture is maintained both during image forming operations and during transportation, resulting in the following inconveniences.

■ Copying equipment needs to be installed in the same direction (orientation) when it is not in operation and when it is in operation, so it needs to take up a large amount of space.

■ For example, when clearing a jam in the transfer member or transfer paper device, or replacing a process kit, there is a method that involves partially unraveling the conveyor section of the main body, or opening part of the upper part of the main body diagonally. However, due to the narrowness of the processing space, the work could not be done smoothly.

■ When moving or transporting the main body, it must be in the same direction (orientation) as when operating, and this type of equipment generally has a flat finish, making it difficult to move and transport.

Conventional copying apparatuses have these drawbacks (1), (2), and (3).

These drawbacks are especially inconvenient for copying machines for personal use that require maintenance-free operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional examples, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus with excellent operability.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that a door that can be opened and closed is provided at the bottom of the image forming apparatus.

The present invention will be described below with reference to an illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the main parts of an electrophotographic copying machine to which the present invention can be applied.

Apparatus 1 in the figure is a copying apparatus using electrophotography, in which light is printed on a conductive drum. The photosensitive drum 2 provided with @'c is
It is supported rotatably in the direction of the arrow. Around this drum 2, corona discharge ¥63 + short focus optical element array 4. Developer 5. Transfer corona discharger6. A cleaning device 7 is provided.

In the copying apparatus described above, the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is uniformly charged with a predetermined polarity by the corona discharger 3, and then the original on the document table 8 that moves back and forth at the upper part of the main body of the apparatus is illuminated by the lamp 9.
The drum 2 is exposed to the reflected light through the element array 4 to form a latent image. The formed latent image is developed by a developing device 5, and the developing device is transferred by a transfer corona discharger 6. The transfer material in the paper feed cassette 10 is supplied by a paper feed roller 11, and is conveyed to the transfer section through a conveyance roller 12 and a timing roller 13. The transfer material that has completed the transfer is separated by the separating means 14, sent to the fixing device 16 via the moving path 15, where it is fixed, and further sent out onto the paper ejection tray 18 via the ejection roller 17. The paper discharge tray 18 has a hinge portion 19 . The heat exhaust fan 20 releases the heat inside the device 1 to the outside of the device.

The device 1 has legs 21 at the bottom and at the outer part on the paper discharge side, and particularly has a leg 22 having a smoothly curved surface at the intersection of both the outer parts. Further, the apparatus 1 has a handle 23 for conveying or lifting, a hinge part 25 on the support plate 24 on the lower surface of the conveyance path and the movement path, and a hinge part 26 on the paper feed cassette 10 as well.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how to attach and detach the process kit.

Hold the handle 23 of the device 1 and stand the device 1 in the right angle direction during operation. The reason for this is that the center of gravity is on the paper ejection side due to the weight of the fixing device, etc., and it is stable if the center of gravity is placed downward.

At this time, the paper discharge tray 18 becomes horizontal via the hinge portion 19, fits within the space of the legs 21 and 22, and can prevent the document table 8 from falling.

In the apparatus 1, a photosensitive drum 2 and a discharger 3. The developing device 5 and the cleaning device 7 are integrally supported by a housing 27. This housing 27 is guided and supported by a guide rail or the like (not shown) fixed to the main body side, and is attached to and removed from the main body device. 5 integrally supported by the housing 27
The unit is called a process unit 28. After a predetermined number of copies have been made, the process kit 28 loses its copying ability, that is, its developing ability, because, for example, the toner is completely consumed. Therefore, it must be replaced with a new unit. At this time, the paper feed cassette 10 and part of the transport path and the movement path are released as described above, and the remaining transport path is released as shown in the figure, so that the process unit 28 can be easily attached and removed. . Note that in this case, cleaning inside the device becomes easier. Process unit 28
Work efficiency will be improved if there is a mechanism that simultaneously opens and closes the guide rail and guide plate from the main body for attachment and detachment.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a copying machine without a paper feed cassette.

In the device 1', the fixing device 16'' has a rigid, heavy roller and functions as a pressure fixing device.

Examples of the roller material include metals and ceramics. The center of gravity of the present apparatus 1' is located near such a fixing device, and is an example of the above-mentioned apparatus in which the center of gravity is ρ on the paper discharge side. The apparatus 1' can be kept approximately horizontal, for example by releasing the lever 31 supporting the main body from the main body, and can perform normal copying operations. The handle 32 can be used as a handle when transporting and moving the main body, but here it also functions as a paper feed tray when feeding transfer paper.

The conveying and moving part of the device 1' is integrated into a support plate 34 via a hinge part 33. Another guide plate 35 is incorporated into the main body via a hinge portion 36.

Figure 4 shows the support plate 3 when replacing the process kit of this device 1'.
4 and the guide plate 35 are opened.

'1A22' has a hinge part, for example, and can rotate around this hinge part. The movement of the paper discharge tray is the same as described above. As shown in the figure, the process kit replacement work can be facilitated by the movement and conveyance section that is released by a predetermined angle.

Although the embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

For example, there are no particular limitations on the mechanism, the opening/closing mechanism of the part, and the method of supporting the released item.

Further, the installation direction and the opening/closing direction of the main body are not limited to these, and for example, the main body may be raised so as to be at the bottom or as a hand during operation.

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying apparatus,
For example, when the center of gravity of the device is on the paper ejection side due to the weight of the fuser on the paper ejection side, it is necessary to move the main body in a stable direction when replacing the process kit or during maintenance such as cleaning the inside of the device. By setting the paper upright (that is, standing it upright with the paper discharge side facing down) and releasing the mechanisms and parts necessary for the above operation in a horizontal or nearly horizontal direction, it has become possible to facilitate the processing operation.

Furthermore, it is also effective when replenishing transfer paper to the paper feed section and handling jams.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that space can be saved by standing the device upright with the paper output section facing downwards when the device is not in operation or when being transported.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is used. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional front view of another embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the usage state of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 3. 1.1'... Copying device, 10... Paper feed cassette, 12... Conveyance roller, 13...
...timing roller, 16...fuser,
18... Paper output tray, 19... Hinge, 21... Legs, 22.22'...
Legs, 24...support plate, 26...-hinge,
23...Handle, 28...Process unit, 31...Renoku-132...
Handle, 33... Hinge, 34... Support plate, 35... Guide width.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus having a process kit that includes process means for image formation and is detachable from the main unit, one or more doors that can be opened and closed are provided at the bottom of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a part of the apparatus can be freely opened in conjunction with opening and closing of the apparatus, and a process kit can be attached and detached. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the bottom door is opened, the bottom is a surface perpendicular to the bottom of the apparatus.