JPS62139566A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a process unit such as an image carrier from damaging owing to the opening and closing of an image forming device which can be divided into an upper and a lower part by providing an opening part to the process unit and also providing a lock mechanism which operates associatively with the opening and closing operation of a protection member for the opening part. CONSTITUTION:The electrophotographic device which can be divided into an upper and a lower part has a rotating member 9 provided in the process unit 3 and the opening part and its protection member are provided below the rotating member 9. Further, the upper cut part 9a of the rotating member 9 is formed and when the rotating member 9 is rotated as shown by an arrow to open the opening part, the projection piece 11a of a clock lever 11 falls in the cut part 9a. Then, the lower abutting piece 11b of the lever 11 presses a stoppe 13. When the stopper 13 is pressed, the clock lever is unlocked to allow the upper and lower part of the device to combine into one body. Thus, the lock mechanism which operates associatively with the opening of the protection member of the process unit is provided, so the process unit is prevented securely from damaging owing to the misoperation of the opening and closing of the main device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic apparatus, a micro device, or a printer, which is equipped with a process unit, and particularly relates to an image forming apparatus that can be divided into upper and lower halves.

(Prior Art) For example, in a conventional image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus, the image forming apparatus is configured to be divided into upper and lower halves, and a process unit is provided in a predetermined position within the main body of the image forming apparatus in a removable manner. For example, in an electrophotographic apparatus, the process unit includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor serving as an image carrier and at least one other process means housed in a frame. The process means refers to various means for executing one image forming process, such as a charger for a photoreceptor, a developer for an electrostatic latent image, and a toner removal cleaning device.

For example, in an electrophotographic apparatus, a process unit is used to quickly replenish developer for a photoconductor (image bearing member), dispose of waste toner, clean a charged body, replace parts, etc.
The photoreceptor and the process means concentrated around it are housed as a unit in one frame, and as necessary,
This frame body can be pulled out from a predetermined position of the main body of the apparatus to perform work there.

(The problem that the idea attempts to solve) In the conventional electrophotographic apparatus as described above.

During maintenance work and the like, the main body divided into two parts is opened and closed relatively frequently. However, if the main body is opened and closed while the process unit is inside the apparatus main body and the protective member closes the opening, the process unit may be damaged.

In the present invention, when the protective member of the process unit is open or the process unit is not attached to the apparatus main body, the lock is released and the main body can be closed.
This is not possible in other cases, and is intended to reliably prevent damage to the process unit due to the closing operation of the apparatus main body.

(Means for solving the problems) In the present invention, in order to solve the above conventional problems,
In an image forming apparatus including a process unit that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body that can be divided into upper and lower parts and that houses an image carrier and at least one other process means, an opening of the process unit is provided. A locking mechanism is provided that prevents the image forming apparatus main body from closing in conjunction with the opening operation of the protective member to be opened and closed or the removal operation of the process unit from the image forming apparatus main body.

(Function) For example, in an electrophotographic device, the process unit is relatively frequently used in the device body in order to replenish the developer of the photoconductor (image bearing member), dispose of waste toner, clean the charged body, replace parts, etc. It is attached and detached.

When the process unit is removed from the electrophotographic apparatus main body, there is a risk that the photoreceptor inside the process unit may be exposed to external light. If the photoreceptor is exposed to external light, it will adversely affect the performance and accelerate deterioration, so a protective member is movably installed in the frame of the process unit to cover the opening of the image transfer section, etc. It is being If such a protective member is provided, the candle will come off when the protective member opens the opening, or the candle will come off when the process unit itself is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Then, the lock is released and the upper and lower units of the main body can be closed. Therefore, the main body can only be closed when the process unit is inside the apparatus main body and the opening is open, or when the process unit is removed from the apparatus main body, and the process unit can be damaged by the closing operation of the main body. There is no risk of being affected.

(Embodiment) The drawings show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic apparatus, and FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the electrophotographic apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a process unit in an electrophotographic apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the process unit.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the process unit and lock mechanism;
The figure is a plan view of the process unit and lock mechanism, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the process unit and lock mechanism.

7 to 9 show other embodiments, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a process unit and a locking mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the process unit and lock mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the process unit and lock mechanism.

In FIGS. 1 and 2@, 1 is the main body of an electrophotographic apparatus which is an image forming apparatus, and this apparatus main body 1 includes an upper unit 1.
It is divided into two parts, a and a lower unit 1b, which are connected to each other by a shaft 2 so as to be freely openable and closable. Inside the apparatus main body 1, a process unit 3 is detachably provided at a predetermined position. The process unit 3 includes a photoreceptor 4 as an image carrier, and a charger 5 for the photoreceptor 4. It is equipped with a plurality of process means for executing one image forming process, such as a cleaning device 6 for removing toner remaining on the photoreceptor.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the frame 7 of the process unit 3 is provided with an opening lower a near the photoreceptor 4 for transferring an image onto a sheet of paper. It is equipped with a protection member 8 for opening and closing a. Furthermore, frame 7
is equipped with a freely rotatable rotating member 9 for operating the protection member 8 on its front side. And on the outer periphery of this rotating member 9.

A suppressing protrusion 9a and a notch 9b are formed.

This rotary member 9 can rotate 90' in the direction of the arrow when the process unit 3 is inserted into the apparatus main body 1, thereby moving the protection member 8 and opening the lower opening a. The spring 10 has one end locked to the frame body 7, is rotatably supported in the middle by a spring shaft 7b of the frame body, and the other end is locked to one end of the protective member, so that the protective member 8 is always kept in the opening/closing direction. It is biased towards.

The lock lever 11 on the outside of the process unit 3 is pivotally connected to the upper unit 1a of the apparatus main body by a shaft 12 at the intermediate portion, and can slide on the outer periphery of the one-rotation member 9 at the upper part and fall into the notch 9b. It also has a contact piece 11b at the lower part that comes into contact with the upper stopper 13, and is always urged by a spring 14 so that the protrusion 11a is pressed against the rotating member 9. . The upper stopper 13 is.

It is provided in the upper unit 1a of the main body so that it can move forward and backward.

It is always urged toward the lock lever 11 by a spring 15. A lower stopper 15 is provided below this upper stopper 13 and on the lower unit lb of the main body. Then, when the upper stopper 13 is in the position shown by the solid line in FIG.
6, and is arranged so as not to contact the lower stopper 16 when it is at the position of the imaginary line.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

With the process unit 3 installed at a predetermined position in the upper unit la of the apparatus main body 1, the rotating member 9 is moved to the third position.
When the protection member 8 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIGS. 3 and 6, the protection member 8 moves to the position indicated by the imaginary line as shown in FIG. Piece 1'
la falls into the notch 9b of the rotating member, and the lock lever
11 rotates and its suppressing piece 11b pushes the upper stopper 13.

Move back to the right in the figure. Then, the contact surface 13a of the upper stopper 13 shifts from above the lower stopper 16,
Since the lower stopper 16 does not collide with the upper stopper 13,
The upper unit 1a and lower unit 1b of the main body 1 can be closed together.

That is, the lock is released in this state.

When taking out the process unit 3 from the main body 1, first rotate the rotating member 9, which is in the virtual line state in FIGS. 3 and 5, in the direction opposite to the arrow, and Make it a solid line.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the protective member 8 closes the opening lower a to prevent the intrusion of external light, and as shown in FIG. The upper stopper 13 is in the forward position because the lock lever 11 is tilted and its suppressing piece 11b is in the front.

The contact surface 13a is located above the lower stopper 16.

Therefore, even if an attempt is made to close the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b in this state, the upper stopper 13 and the lower stopper 16 will come into contact with each other, making it impossible to close them together.

In other embodiments shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, the lock lever 11 rotates in conjunction with the ejecting operation of the process unit 3, and the upper unit 1d and the lower unit 1b
This is to unlock the closing operation.

That is, a slope 20 extending in the mounting/detaching direction of the process unit 3 is formed on the side surface of the frame 7 of the process unit 3.
This slope 20 is arranged so as to face and come into sliding contact with the protruding piece 11a of the lock lever.

In this embodiment, when the process unit 3 is set in the upper unit la of the apparatus main body 1, the seventh
As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 9, the lock lever 11 is in an inclined state and its pressing piece 11b places the upper stopper 13 in the forward position, so the upper unit 1a and the lower unit 1b cannot be closed together. When the process unit 3 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 1, the protruding piece 11a
0, and the lock lever 11 gradually rises to the state shown by the imaginary line in FIG. Then, as in the previous embodiment, since the lower stopper 16 does not collide with the upper stopper 13, the upper unit 1a and lower unit 1b of one main body 1 can be closed together.

That is, the lock will be released in this state.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and can be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as micro equipment or printers, and the lock mechanism may have a different structure. I can do it.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, in the present invention, a process unit that is detachably installed in an image forming apparatus main body that can be divided into upper and lower parts and that houses an image carrier and at least one other process means. an opening operation of a protective member that opens and closes an opening of the process unit;
Or is the protection member of the process unit open due to the provision of a locking mechanism that prevents the closing operation of the image forming apparatus main body in conjunction with the removal operation of the process unit from the image forming apparatus main body?

Alternatively, the lock is released only when the process unit is not attached to the device main body, and the divided main body can be closed, and in other cases, it is impossible to close the process unit as the device main body closes. This has the effect of reliably preventing damage to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic apparatus, and FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the electrophotographic apparatus. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a process unit in an electrophotographic apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the process unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the process unit and lock mechanism. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the process unit and lock mechanism. FIG. 6 is a side view of the process unit and lock mechanism. 7 to 9 show other embodiments, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a process unit and a locking mechanism. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the process unit and lock mechanism. FIG. 9 is a side view of the process unit and lock mechanism. 1...Electronic photo bag! ! (image forming apparatus), 3... process unit, 4... photoreceptor (image bearing member), 5 charger, 6... cleaning device (other process means), 7
... Frame body, 8... Protective member, 9... Rotating member, 1
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Lock lever (lock mechanism), 13...Upper stopper (lock mechanism), 16...Lower stopper (lock mechanism), 20...Slope. Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image forming apparatus including a process unit that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body that can be divided into upper and lower parts and that accommodates an image carrier and at least one other process means, an opening of the process unit is provided. An image forming apparatus comprising: a locking mechanism that prevents a closing operation of the image forming apparatus main body in conjunction with an opening operation of a protective member to be opened and closed or an operation of removing the process unit from the image forming apparatus main body.