JPS6315261A - Process unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a toner from being leaked out, scattered and deviated, at the time of attaching and detaching operation, and at the time of carrying and handling, by providing a handle in the rotary shaft direction of an image carrying body, at the side opposed to a cleaning means against the image carrying body. CONSTITUTION:In case of attaching and detaching a process unit 8, a movable body 11 is turned in the direction as indicated with an arrow C, and the process unit 8 guided and supported by a guide member fixed to an immovable body 13 side is attached and detached in the direction as indicated with an arrow D. The attaching and detaching operations are executed by gripping a handle 14. The handle 14 is formed integrally with a process unit housing, and constituted of a member extending in the rotary shaft direction of a photosensitive drum 1, in a position opposed to a cleaning device 6 against the photosensitive drum 1, in a shape projected from the housing. Also, the handle 14 is formed in a position where the process unit 8 is drawn out of an image forming device, and can be carried without changing the attitude of the process unit 8, and also, without shifting it from one hand to the other. In such a way, in case when a toner is collected into the cleaning device, it is not deviated in one direction, for scattered, and nor leaked out to the outside of the process unit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer using an electrophotographic method, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus including a part of process elements. The present invention relates to the structure of a process unit that can be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, there have been known copying machines, laser beam printers, LC printers, and other image forming apparatuses that use electrostatic latent materials formed on electrophotographic sensors through a charging and exposure process. What are the process elements of these painter forming devices, such as the ribbon, photoreceptor drum, charger, current unit, cleaning device, etc.? By purchasing an integrated unit (hereinafter referred to as a process unit) and making the entire process unit a consumable item that can be replaced, the overall size of the equipment can be reduced, and the user can avoid maintenance that requires specialized knowledge. A released image forming apparatus has been proposed and is currently being viewed. (For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 51-2433.) Such a process unit is designed to prevent copying due to the fact that the rotation axis of the photoreceptor drum is oriented in the direction of gravity when the user replaces it or transports it. , printing defects and toner leakage,
In order to prevent scattering, one handle member is formed so that the rotation axis of the photoreceptor drum becomes a water droplet during handling. Generally, the process unit h having the handle member is roughly divided into 2mK based on the function of the handle member. In one type, the handle for attaching and detaching the process unit and the handle for transporting the process unit are manufactured separately, and in the other type, the handle for attaching and detaching the process unit and the handle for transporting the process unit are the same. These two types of process units have the following features: The process unit of the former ia must be handled with separate handles when it is attached, detached, and transported, making it complicated to handle. In addition, in many of the process units having such a structure, the orientation in which the process unit is energized in the operating state inside the image forming apparatus and the orientation during transportation are such that the rotational axis of the photoreceptor is approximately parallel to the axis of rotation of the photoreceptor. Due to the 90' rotation, toner movement occurs within the developing device and cleaning device, and there is an unavoidable risk of toner leaking out of the process unit and partial deviation.On the other hand, the process unit of the latter structure is for single removable use. Since the handle for transportation is the same, it is easy to handle and operate; It had the disadvantage that there was an unavoidable risk of leakage.

[Problems and Objects to be Solved by the Invention] In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention aims to provide a process unit that does not cause toner leakage, scattering, or uneven toner even when the process unit is attached/detached and transported/handled. purpose.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above object, the present invention provides a process unit that is removably attached to an image forming apparatus and includes at least an image carrier and a cleaning means, in which the image carrier is attached to the image carrier on the side facing the cleaning means with respect to the image carrier. The process unit is characterized in that a handle is provided in the direction of the rotation axis of the process unit.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

Figure 1 schematically shows the main parts of an image forming apparatus using a process unit according to the present invention.
One image, which is an image carrier in which a photoreceptor drum is made of a photovoltaic material such as OPC, is a charger when the image carrier rotatably supported on the main body of the forming apparatus is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow. 2 uniformly charges the drum surface. This charged portion is exposed to light by the optical signal generator 3, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum surface. Is this electrostatic latent image @ki brush? Developing device 4 to form? As it passes, it is visualized by toner. The toner particles formed in this way are transferred from a transfer paper stacker (not shown) onto a transfer paper (not shown) fed to a transfer stand in synchronization with the toner transfer from the drum 5 (not shown). . After the transfer, the transfer paper is separated from the main photosensitive drum 1'', fed into the fixing device 10, and discharged to a paper discharge tray (not shown). This is an indication. Approximately 30 to 40 q6 of untransferred toner remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum after the transfer has been completed as described above, and the remaining toner is removed by a cleaning device 6. After cleaning, the drum section is neutralized to a certain level by the static elimination rung 7 and prepared for the next image forming process.In the single image forming equipment, the photosensitive main drum 1, the charger 2, and the cleaning cover are among the process elements. 6 is integrated to form a process unit 8.

It is removable from the main body of the device. Figure 2 is a diagram showing how the front cover 9 of the plan forming apparatus is opened and the process unit 8 is attached and detached.Identical parts in the figure are given the same reference numerals. The device 5 and constant N device IO are fixedly installed.

The movable body 11 is configured as a whole. The movable body 11 is supported by a support shaft 12 on a stationary body 13 of the planar forming device. When attaching and detaching the process unit 8, the movable body 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, and the process unit 8, which is guided and supported by a guide member (not shown) fixed to the stationary body 13, is attached and detached in the direction of the arrow. The first attachment/detachment operation is performed by grasping the first handle 14.

The handle 14 is a member that is integrally formed with the process unit housing, protrudes from the housing, and extends in the direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum 1 at a position facing the anti-reckoning device 6 on the photosensitive drum 1. It is made up of. The handle 14 is formed in an upright position so that the process unit 8 can be pulled out from the process unit 8 tim forming apparatus, the orientation of the process unit 8 can be changed, and the process unit 8 can be transported without having to change its grip. In other words, when installing the process unit 8, the user opens the VC, opens the front cover 9, which is a part of the movable body 11, and
The handle 14 is grasped and the handle 14 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow to move to a transporting operation, but as is obvious, the process unit on which the handle 14 is formed is not capable of changing its own posture.
When the toner is collected in the cleaning tray provided at the bottom of the photoreceptor drum 1, the toner does not shift in one direction, scatter, or leak out of the process unit.'! Even if a process unit that is not aligned is left outside the image forming apparatus for some reason,
- The bottom shape and center position are straightened so that they do not change.

The relationship between the attachment/detachment direction of the process unit and the direction in which the handle is formed according to the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned implementation row. is also possible. Also, as shown in Figure @3.

It is also possible to attach the process unit 8 to the movable part 11 that has rotated very slightly, but in this case, the rotation angle θ is set so that the toner movement within the process unit 8 is suppressed, so that the so-called toner rests. It is desirable that it be less than a square. As described above, the shape and position of the process unit and the handle, and the attachment/detachment direction 1 means in the present invention are not limited to the illustrated embodiments, but as long as they have the ability to always enjoy the support posture within the general image forming center, The design can be freely modified.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the process unit according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a process unit in which toner does not move, scatter, or leak even when the process unit is attached/detached and transported.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus to which all the process units of the present invention are applied, and Figure 2 is a diagram showing how the process unit is attached and removed. Theory F! FIG. In the figure, 1: Photosensitive drum, 2: Charger, 3: Optical signal generator, 4: Current device, 5: Transfer device, 6: Cleaning device, 7: N removal lamp, 8: Process unit, 9 : Front cover, 10: Fixing device, 11: Movable body, 12: Support shaft, L
3: Fudohon, 14: Handle. Applicant: Seiko Epson Kushiki Company Agent, Bentokushi Mogami Mutsuike 1 person, 62 branches, 22 branches -! Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a process unit that includes a part of an electrophotographic process element and includes at least an image carrier and a cleaning means that is removably attached to an image forming apparatus, the image carrier is attached on the side facing the cleaning means with respect to the image carrier. A process unit characterized by having a handle in the direction of the rotation axis.