KR20060025030A - Coupler and electrophotographic image forming apparatus with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a coupling device and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the same. The coupling device includes a swing gear engaged with a gear mounted to a developing device of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a swing bracket supporting the swing gear and pivotally mounted inside the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Gear assembly;

A first link having one end hinged to the swing bracket; And,

A second link hinged at one end of the first link and a second link hinged to a door provided in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;

When the door is opened, the swing bracket is configured to rotate in the direction in which the engagement of the gear mounted to the swing gear and the developer is released.

Description

Coupling and electrophotographic image forming apparatus with the same

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 and 3 are cross-sectional views showing a coupling device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a door closed state, Figure 3 is a view showing the door open state.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100 ... Electrophotographic image forming apparatus 103 ... Door

110 ... light scanning unit 120 ...

130 ... photosensitive medium 140 ... developing roller

160 ... Feed Roller 170 ... Transfer Roller

202, 203 ... 1st, 2nd swing gear 204 ... swing bracket

210, 220 ... 1st, 2nd link 225 ... guide

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a coupling device for transmitting a rotational power of a motor to a rotating body of a developing device, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the same.

In general, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, such as laser printers and digital copiers, scan light onto a photosensitive medium charged to a predetermined potential to form an electrostatic latent image on its outer circumferential surface. It refers to a device that prints an image by developing it as an image and then transferring and fixing the image onto paper. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developer detachably mounted inside the main body. The developing device includes a photosensitive medium on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on an outer circumferential surface, and a developing roller which transfers toner to an outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive medium, and receives new toner when the toner runs out. Replaced.

On the other hand, rotational power for rotating a rotating body such as a photosensitive medium or a developing roller mounted on the developing device is transmitted from a motor inside the main body. When the developing device is mounted inside the main body to transmit the rotational power, the motor and the rotating body are connected by a predetermined coupling device.

By the way, when the coupling device is provided with a gear, the gear provided in the developing unit and the gear provided in the main body collide with each other in the developing unit and collide with each other during the detachment process of the developing unit, causing damage to the gear tooth. There is this. In particular, when the developer is separated from the inside of the main body, the gear provided in the developing unit pushes and rotates the gear provided in the main body, and the gear provided in the main body is connected to the motor so that it is not easily rotated. There is a problem that is quite difficult and uncomfortable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a coupling device having a gear that disconnects from a gear provided in the developing device when the door of the image forming apparatus is opened to separate the developing device from the inside of the main body, and an electronic device having the same It is a technical problem to provide a photographic image forming apparatus.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention, the swing gear is meshed with the gear mounted on the developing device of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and the swing gear is supported and pivotally possible inside the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A swing gear assembly having a swing bracket mounted thereon;

A first link having one end hinged to the swing bracket; And,

A second link hinged at one end of the first link and a second link hinged to a door provided in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;

When the door is opened, the swing bracket and the gear mounted to the developing device provides a coupling device characterized in that the swing bracket is configured to rotate in the direction of releasing.

Preferably, the coupling device may be provided with a guide for guiding the hinge coupling portion of the first link and the second link to reciprocate along a predetermined path when the door is opened or closed.

Preferably, the hinge coupling portion of the first link and the swing bracket has a long groove formed in one of the first link and the swing bracket and a boss formed in the other, so that the swing bracket is connected to the first link. It may be configured to enable rotational and linear motion with respect to.

The present invention also provides an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising a case having a door, a developing device detachably mounted therein through the opened door, and the coupling device described above.

Hereinafter, a coupling device and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the same according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views showing a coupling device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 3 illustrates a state in which the door is closed, and FIG. 3 illustrates a state in which the door is opened.

Referring to FIG. 1, the transfer photographic image forming apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a case 101, a light scanning unit 110 provided inside the case 101, and a developing device 120. ).

The optical scanning unit 110 scans the light beam L corresponding to the image to be printed on the photosensitive medium 130 to be described later to form an electrostatic latent image on the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive medium 130. The optical scanning unit 110 includes a light source (not shown) for irradiating a laser beam, and a beam deflector for deflecting the laser beam irradiated from the light source. As the beam deflector, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a polygon mirror 112 that scans light while being rotated by a driving source may be employed.

The developing unit 120 is a cartridge type detachably mounted inside the case 101. The developing unit 120 includes a photosensitive medium 130, a charging roller 139, and a waste toner cleaner 138 inside the developing frame 122. ), A developing roller 140, a doctor blade 158, a supply roller 160, and an agitator 162 are provided. In addition, a waste toner storage space 123 in which the waste toner scraped from the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive medium 130 by the waste toner cleaner 138 is stored, and a toner storage space accommodating toner, which is a developer, in the developer frame 122. 125 is provided. When all the toner contained in the toner storage space 125 of the developing unit 120 is exhausted, it is replaced with a new one. The upper part of the case 101 is provided with a door 103 so that the developing unit 120 can enter the case 101.

The photosensitive medium 130 is a photosensitive drum having a photoconductive material layer formed on the outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical metal drum by deposition or the like. The photosensitive drum 130 is charged to a predetermined potential through the charging roller 139, and the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be printed by the light beam irradiated from the optical scanning unit 110 is formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof as described above. do. The developing roller 140 transfers the toner as a developer to the photosensitive drum 130 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and develops the electrostatic latent image into a visible image, and the supply roller 160 is a developing roller ( 140 toner is supplied to the toner, and the agitator 162 swings the toner in the toner storage space 125 so as not to harden. On the other hand, the doctor blade 158 is supplied from the supply roller 160 to regulate the thickness of the toner attached to the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 140, the waste toner cleaner 138 is transferred to the printing paper (P) By scraping and removing the waste toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 130, the waste toner removed thereby is accumulated in the waste toner storage space 123.

The transfer roller 170 is installed to face the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 130. The printing paper which is developed on the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 130 passes between the transfer roller 170 and the photosensitive drum 130 by a transfer bias or contact pressure between the photosensitive drum 130 and the transfer roller 170. Transferred to (P).

The fixing unit 175 includes a heat roller 176 and a pressure roller 177 positioned to face the heat roller 176 so that the printing paper P on which the visible image is transferred is placed between the heat roller 176 and the pressure roller 177. When passing through, the image is fixed to the printing paper P by thermocompression bonding using heat and pressure.

In addition, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 may pick-up one sheet of printing paper P loaded in the first and second paper feed cassettes 105 and 106 at the lower portion of the case 101. Pick-up rollers 180 and 182 are provided, respectively, and provide a transfer force to the picked-up printing paper P, and before the printing paper P passes between the photosensitive drum 130 and the transfer roller 170. A paper sorter 190 is provided to align the printing paper P so that the image can be transferred to a desired portion of the printing paper P. FIG. In addition, a discharge roller 179 for discharging the printing paper P on which the predetermined image is printed through the fixing unit 175 to the discharge tray 102 outside the case 101 is provided.                     

The operation of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 having the above-described configuration is as follows. The photosensitive drum 130 is charged to a predetermined potential through the charging roller 139, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image to be printed on its outer circumferential surface in response to the light beam L scanned by the optical scanning unit 110. Is formed. The toner inside the toner storage space 125 of the developer is agitated by the agitator 162 and supplied to the photosensitive drum 130 having the electrostatic latent image formed through the supply roller 160 and the developing roller 140, thereby The visual image by the toner is developed on the outer circumferential surface of the drum 130. On the other hand, the printing paper P loaded on the top of the first or second paper feed cassette 105 or 106 is picked up by the pickup roller 180 or 182 and fed and aligned by the paper sorter 190. Passed between the photosensitive drum 130 and the transfer roller 170, the visible image developed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 130 on the opposite surface of the photosensitive drum 130 of the printing paper (P) is transferred. The visible image transferred to the printing paper P passes through the fixing device 175 and is fixed on the printing paper P by heat and pressure, and is transported by the delivery roller 179 to be loaded on the discharge table 102. do.

Rotors such as the photosensitive drum 130, the developing roller 140, the supply roller 160, and the agitator 162 in the developing unit 120 may be driven by a motor (not shown) provided in the case 101. Rotate after receiving. In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 130 and the developing roller 140 are connected and rotated to separate motors, and the supply roller 160 and the agitator 162 are a series of gears (not shown) provided in the developing unit 120. Is driven by the developing roller 140 to rotate.

2 and 3, a coupling device 200 for transmitting power of a motor (not shown) to the developing roller 140 is connected to the developing roller drive gear 142 coaxially connected with the developing roller 140. The first swing gear 202 to be engaged, the second swing gear 203 to be engaged with the motor gear 104 provided on the rotating shaft of the motor (not shown), and the first and second swing gears 202 and 203. ) Is provided with a swing gear assembly (201) having a swing bracket (204) to be engaged with each other. The swing bracket 204 is pivotally mounted on a predetermined frame (not shown) inside the case 101 about a predetermined pivot axis (not shown).

In addition, the coupling device 200 includes a first link 210 hinged to a lower end of the swing bracket 204, a lower end of the first link 210 is hinged, The upper end has a second link 220 hinged to the door 103.

The hinge coupling portion of the first link 210 and the swing bracket 204 includes a long groove 212 formed at the lower end of the first link 210 and a boss 205 formed on the swing bracket 204. . The boss 205 is movable in the longitudinal groove 212 along the longitudinal direction thereof and is rotatably fastened.

The hinge coupler of the first link 210 and the second link 220 may reciprocate along the guide 225 integrally formed or fixedly coupled to a predetermined frame (not shown) inside the case 101. It is configured to be. For example, the guide 225 has a long groove formed from below, and the hinge axis of the first link 210 and the second link 220 can flow along the longitudinal direction of the long groove of the guide 225. It will be possible to fasten the configuration.

Hereinafter, the operation of the coupling device 200 will be described.

When the developing unit 120 is mounted inside the case 101 and the door 103 is closed, the second swing gear 203 is engaged with the motor gear 104 and the first swing as shown in FIG. 2. When the developing roller drive gear 142 is engaged with the gear 202, and a motor (not shown) is driven, its rotational force is transmitted to the developing roller 140.

On the other hand, when the door 103 is opened to separate the developer 120 from the case 101, the second link 220 hinged to the door 103 is raised, as shown in FIG. The hinge connection with the first link 210 is also guided and raised by the guide 225, and the first link 210 is also raised. Accordingly, the lower end of the first link 210 pulls up the side end of the swing bracket 204 and the swing bracket 204 rotates about a pivot axis (not shown) to develop with the first swing gear 202. The engagement of the roller drive gear 142 is released. Therefore, the first swing gear 202 and the developing roller drive gear 142 are connected to solve the problem that the separation of the developer 120 becomes difficult.

Even when the developer 120 is mounted in the case 101 again, the swing gear assembly 201 is rotated so that the first swing gear 202 does not collide with the developing roller drive gear 142. When the door 103 is closed again, the first swing gear 202 is in contact with the developing roller drive gear 142, and the swing bracket 204 is within the length of the long groove 212 of the first link 210. The first swing gear 202 and the developing roller drive gear 142 engage with each other during the movement.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be defined only by the appended claims.

The coupling device of the present invention and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the same can reduce the difficulty and inconvenience of the developing device, and can prevent the gears of the developing device from colliding with the gears inside the image forming device to prevent damage to the gears. It can be prevented.

Claims (4)

A swing gear assembly having a swing gear meshed with a gear mounted to a developing device of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a swing bracket supporting the swing gear and pivotally mounted inside the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; A first link having one end hinged to the swing bracket; And, A second link hinged at one end of the first link and a second link hinged to a door provided in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; And the swing bracket rotates when the door is opened to engage the swing gear and the gear mounted to the developer. According to claim 1, And a guide for guiding the hinge coupling portion of the first link and the second link to reciprocate along a predetermined path when the door is opened or closed. According to claim 1, The hinge coupling portion of the first link and the swing bracket includes a long groove formed in one of the first link and the swing bracket and a boss formed in the other. And the swing bracket is configured to allow rotational and linear motion with respect to the first link. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a case having a door and a developing device detachably mounted therein through the opened door, the coupling device of claim 1 to 3. Electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

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