KR20080007028A - Image forming apparatus having light scanning unint cover - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus having a laser scanning unit cover is provided to simplify its structure and effectively clean a laser scanning window through a simple structure. A cover main body(110) is installed between a laser scanning unit and a developing cartridge, and coupled with a main body. A cleaning shutter(120) is installed in a side of the cover main body, and moves between a standby position and a cleaning position. The standby position is generated when the developing cartridge is separated from the main body. At the cleaning position, the cleaning shutter cleans a laser scanning window as moving when the developing cartridge is mounted on the main body. A pressing protrusion(125) is installed at a side of the cleaning shutter so as to be contacted with the developing cartridge, and contacted and pressed when the developing cartridge is mounted. The pressing protrusion moves the cleaning shutter from the standby position to the cleaning position.

Description

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING LIGHT SCANNING UNINT COVER}

1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the cover body of the optical scanning device cover according to the present invention,

3A and 3B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a cleaning shutter according to the present invention;

4 is an exemplary view showing an operation process of a light scanning device cover and a developing device according to the present invention;

5A and 5B are perspective views showing the configuration of the standby state and the cleaning state of the optical scanning device cover according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: Gwangju yarn device cover 110: Cover body

111: coupling portion 111a: hook

113: opening 115 shutter connection portion

116: elastic member receiving portion 117: elastic member

120: cleaning shutter 121: shutter body

123: coupling protrusion 123: pressure projection

127: sealing member 129: cleaning member

200: image forming apparatus

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having an improved optical scanning device cover structure.

BACKGROUND ART A general color image forming apparatus is a device for forming a electrostatic latent image by scanning light onto a photosensitive member charged at a constant potential, applying a developer of a predetermined color onto the electrostatic latent image, and transferring and fixing it onto a paper to form a color image. The colors of the developer used in the color image forming apparatus are typically yellow (Y, yellow), magenta (M, magenta), cyan (C, cyan) and black (K, black).

The color image forming method includes a single pass method in which four optical scanning devices and a photosensitive member are provided, and a multi-pass method in which one optical scanning device and a photosensitive member are provided.

1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the structure of a conventional multi-pass type color image forming apparatus 200. As shown in FIG. 1, the color image forming apparatus 200 includes a sheet feeding unit 30 on which paper is loaded, an optical scanning device 3 for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 1, and a surface of the photoconductor 1. Four-color developer (4) applying a developer of four colors of yellow (4y, yellow), magenta (4m, magyan), cyan (4c, cyan) and black (4k, black) to the electrostatic latent image, An intermediate transfer belt 6 to which the developer applied to the housing 1 is transferred, a transfer roller 7b for transferring the developer of the intermediate transfer belt 6 to paper, and a fixing unit for fixing the developer onto the paper ( 10) and a discharge unit 33 through which paper is discharged.

Here, a protective cover 20 for protecting the optical scanning device 3 is provided between the optical scanning device 3 and the developing device 4. The protective cover 20 includes a cleaning shutter 23 that protects the optical scanning device 3 and is provided outside the optical scanning device 3 to clean the optical scanning window 3d through which light generated from the light source is transmitted.

The cleaning shutter 23 of the conventional protective cover 20 is interlocked with the front door 60 of the casing 50 to clean the optical scanning window 3d. That is, the cleaning shutter 23 opens the optical scanning window 3d when the front door 60 is closed, and the link member 23 connected to the front door 60 when the front door 60 is opened by the user. The brush (not shown) provided under the cleaning shutter 23 cleaned the surface of the optical scanning window 3d while covering the optical scanning window 3d by the movement of.

However, since the conventional protective cover 20 is interlocked with the front door 60 to perform a cleaning operation, when the user frequently opens the front door 60 due to a paper jam or the like, unnecessary cleaning is frequently performed. In addition, when the dust introduced from the outside is frequently attached to the brush (not shown) due to the frequent opening of the front door 60, there is a problem of contaminating the optical scanning window (3d) during the cleaning process.

Further, with the front door 60 closed and the cleaning shutter 23 opening the optical scanning window 3d, the user separates the developer 4 from the casing 50 to replace the developer 4. In one case, the developer residue or dust in the casing 50 flows into the open optical scanning window 3d, so that the light generated by the optical scanning device 3 may not be properly scanned into the photosensitive member 1. In this case, the dusty part in the optical scanning window 3d may appear as white lines when outputting paper, which may be a major cause of deterioration of image quality.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of cleaning an optical scanning window with a simple structure.

The object is, according to the present invention, a developing cartridge for receiving a light scanning device having a light scanning window for transmitting light, a main body accommodating the optical scanning device, and a removable cartridge provided to be detachably attached to the main body and receiving the photosensitive body to which the light is scanned. An image forming apparatus comprising:

A cover body provided between the optical scanning device and the developing cartridge and coupled to the main body;

A cleaning provided on one side of the cover body to move between a standby position when the developing cartridge is detached from the main body and a cleaning position that moves when the developing cartridge is mounted on the main body and cleans the optical scanning window A shutter;

And a light scanning device cover provided on one side of the cleaning shutter so as to be in contact with the developing cartridge, and including a pressing projection to press the contact cartridge when the developing cartridge is mounted to move the cleaning shutter from the standby position to the cleaning position. It is achieved by an image forming apparatus.

Here, the pressing protrusion is preferably formed to protrude from the upper surface of the cleaning shutter.

In addition, it is preferable that a sealing member is coupled to the upper surface of the cleaning shutter to prevent foreign substances from entering the optical scanning window opened at the cleaning position.

Here, the cover body is preferably hooked with the main body.

The cleaning shutter may be provided under the cleaning shutter to be in contact with the optical scanning window so as to clean the optical scanning window when the cleaning shutter moves.

Here, it is preferable that the cleaning shutter slides between the standby position and the printing position with respect to the cover member.

The cover member may include an elastic member coupled to the cleaning shutter to impart an elastic force to move the cleaning shutter of the cleaning position to the standby position.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to description, the same components as in the prior art will be described with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The image forming apparatus 200 according to the present invention includes a casing 50 accommodating the photoconductor 1, a plurality of developing devices 4 detachably provided on the casing 50, and image data on the photoconductor 1. The optical scanning window 3d of the optical scanning device 3 is provided between the optical scanning device 3 for scanning the corresponding light, and interposed between the developing device 4 and the optical scanning device 3 in conjunction with the detachment of the developing device 4. It includes a light scanning device cover 100 for cleaning.

The photosensitive member 1 has an electrostatic latent image formed on its surface by the optical scanning device 3, and each developer 4 forms a visible image by applying a developer to the electrostatic latent image. The photosensitive member 1 transfers the visible image of the surface to the intermediate transfer belt 6. Since the photosensitive member 1 is the same as the conventional configuration, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The casing 50 accommodates the photosensitive member 1 and its components. One side of the casing 50 is provided with a front door 60 which is provided to be opened and closed so that the developer 4 of each color is detachable, the inside of the casing 50 is a photosensitive member 1 and each developer 4, and A support frame (not shown) for supporting the optical scanning device 3 is provided. The front door 60 is preferably provided at an appropriate size according to the size of the developing devices 4 and the arrangement of the internal components, and is rotatably hinged to one side of the casing 50.

The support frame (not shown) includes a developer support unit (not shown) in which a developer 4 of each color is accommodated, an optical scanning device support unit (not shown) for supporting the optical scanning device 3, and a optical scanning device cover ( It includes a light scanning device cover support (not shown) for supporting 100. A developer support (not shown) is provided to correspond to the size of the developer 4 of each color. The optical scanning device support unit (not shown) supports the optical scanning device 3 so that the optical scanning device 3 stably scans light into the photosensitive member 1. In particular, it is preferable that the optical scanning device support unit (not shown) supports the optical scanning device in consideration of the optical angle of the photoreceptor 1 of the optical scanning device 3. Since the structure of these support frames () is the same as the conventional, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The optical scanning device cover support unit (not shown) supports the optical scanning device cover (see FIG. 2 and 100) to stably cover the optical scanning device 3 and to prevent vibration from occurring when the cleaning shutter 120 is moved. The optical scanning device cover support part (not shown) is coupled to the coupling part 11 of the side of the optical scanning device cover 100. The optical scanning device cover support unit (not shown) according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is coupled to the optical scanning device cover 110 as shown in FIG. That is, the hook 111a formed on the coupling part 111 is coupled to the receiving groove (not shown) provided in the optical scanning device cover support part (not shown). Here, the positions of the hook 111 and the receiving groove (not shown) are interchangeable with each other. As a result, when the operator assembles the image forming apparatus 200, the optical scanning device cover 100 may be easily coupled to the support frame (not shown).

On the other hand, the optical scanning device cover 100 shown in FIG. 2 is provided with a pair of hooks 11aa of the coupling portion 111 at both ends, but in some cases, a plurality of hooks are provided when the cleaning shutter 120 is moved (see FIG. 3). Can reduce the vibration. Here, the optical scanning device cover 100 and the optical scanning device cover support (not shown) may be coupled by other coupling methods as well as hook coupling.

The optical scanning device 3 sequentially scans the light corresponding to each color information included in the image data on the surface of the photosensitive member 1 according to an output signal applied from a host (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image. The optical scanning device 3 is a light source (not shown) for generating light as shown in FIG. 1, and a polygon mirror assembly that rotates and reflects light generated from the light source (not shown) in the main scanning direction of the photosensitive member 1. (3a), a reflecting mirror 3b for reflecting light reflected from the polygon mirror assembly 3a in the direction of the photosensitive member 1, and a light scanning device casing 3c for accommodating them. One side of the optical scanning device casing 3c is provided with a optical scanning window 3d for transmitting the light so that the light reflected from the reflective mirror 3b is scanned into the photoconductor 1. Generally, the optical scanning window 3d may be made of glass or transparent plastic material.

The optical scanning device cover 100 is provided between the developing device 4 and the optical scanning device 3 to protect the optical scanning device 3 from external shocks and to clean the optical scanning window 3d. The optical scanning window cover 100 is connected to the main body of the cover body 110 and the developing unit 4 and the cover body 110 located on the upper surface of the optical scanning device 3, as shown in Figure 6b And a cleaning shutter (120) for cleaning the optical scanning window (3d) by movably combining the cleaning position covering the (3d) and the standby position for opening the optical scanning window (3d).

The cover body 110 is provided on the upper portion of the optical scanning device 3, as shown in Figure 2 to cover the optical scanning device (3). The cover body 110 is bent to the plate surface is provided between the coupling portion 111 and the coupling portion 111 coupled to the optical scanning device cover support (not shown) to accommodate the optical scanning device (3) The optical scanning device receiving unit 110a, the optical scanning device (3) of the optical scanning window (3d) is provided to correspond to the cleaning shutter 120 is coupled to the opening 113 and the opening 113a provided on one side of the cleaning An elastic member accommodating part 116 for accommodating the shutter coupling part 115 slidingly coupled with the shutter 120 and an elastic member 117 for providing an elastic force to return the cleaning shutter 120 in the standby position to the cleaning position. Include.

Coupling portion 111 is bent from the plate surface is coupled to the support frame (not shown). Coupling portion 111 includes a hook (111a) and is coupled to the receiving groove (not shown) of the optical scanning device cover support (not shown). It is preferable that the hook 111a is provided in plural to stably support the cover body 110.

The optical scanning device accommodating part 110a is provided to correspond to the size of the optical scanning device 3 and the casing 3c to protect the optical scanning device 3 from an external impact. At this time, both ends of the optical scanning device receiving portion (110a) is bent from the plate so as to be in contact with the optical scanning device (3) casing (3c) to reinforce the optical scanning device casing (3c) to the optical scanning device from impact (3) It is preferable to protect.

The opening 113 is provided to correspond to the optical scanning window 3d of the optical scanning device 3 and is coupled to the cleaning shutter 120. In this case, the distance between the opening 113 and the optical scanning window 3d is determined by considering the length of the cleaning member of the cleaning shutter 120 (see FIG. 3B 129) and the cleaning member 129 is in contact with the optical scanning window 3d. It is desirable to arrange appropriately. On the other hand, both ends of the opening 113, the support portion 113a for supporting the cleaning shutter 120 to move is formed protruding.

One side of the opening 113 is provided with a shutter coupling portion 115 for coupling the cleaning shutter 120 to be slidable. It is preferable that the shutter coupling part 115 is provided on the traveling direction side of the developing device 4 in the circumferential region of the opening 113. The shutter coupling unit 115 includes a guide groove 115a for guiding the coupling protrusion 123 (see FIG. 3A) provided on an upper surface of the shutter body 121 of the cleaning shutter 120 to a standby position. Here, the guide groove (115a) is preferably provided with a thickness that the coupling protrusion 123 is not separated and the coupling protrusion 123 can move smoothly.

On the other hand, it is preferable that at least two guide grooves 115a are provided in the circumferential region of the opening 113 so that the cleaning shutter 120 can move in a balanced manner. That is, when the guide groove 115a is provided only at the central portion or one side of the opening 113, the load may be eccentric when the cleaning shutter 120 moves by the movement of the developer 4, and thus may not be stably opened and closed at the same speed. .

Meanwhile, the guide groove 115a according to the present invention is provided to guide the engaging protrusion 123 provided in the inner region of the cleaning shutter 120, but in some cases, the guide groove 115a is provided at both ends of the opening 113 to clean the guide groove 115a. It may be directly coupled to both ends of the shutter (120). That is, guide grooves corresponding to the thickness of the shutter body 121 of the cleaning shutter 120 are provided at both ends of the opening 113, and the cleaning shutter 120 may be provided to slide along the guide groove.

The elastic member accommodating part 116 is provided at one side of the guide groove 115a and is coupled to one side of the elastic member (see FIG. 3A 117) coupled with the cleaning shutter 120. The elastic member accommodating part 116 accommodates the elastic member 116 which is compressed when the cleaning shutter 120 opens the opening 113 by mounting the developer 4 and cleans the optical scanning window 3d. The elastic member accommodating part 116 is preferably provided in consideration of the elastic modulus and the length of the elastic member 117.

The cleaning shutter 120 according to the present invention has a shutter main body 121 coupled to the opening 113 of the cover main body 110 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and protrudes from the plate surface of the shutter main body 121. Pressurizing protrusion 125 pressurized by the developing device 4 when the developing device 4 is mounted, and provided on one side of the pressing protrusion 125 to the optical scanning window 3d from the standby position where the optical scanning window 3d is opened. It includes a sealing member 127 to prevent foreign substances from entering, and a cleaning member 129 provided below the shutter body 121 to clean the optical scanning window (3d) when the shutter body 121 is moved.

The shutter body 121 is provided to have a size corresponding to the opening 113 and is mounted on the support 113a of the opening 113. The shutter body 121 is preferably formed of a member having an appropriate thickness in consideration of the thickness of the opening 113. In addition, the shutter body 121 may have an uneven portion on the plate surface.

Coupling protrusion 123 is coupled to the guide groove (115a) of the cover body (110). The head of the coupling protrusion 123 is larger than the thickness of the guide groove 115a to prevent the shutter body 121 from being separated from the opening 113.

The pressing protrusion 125 is formed to protrude from the surface of the shutter body 121 to the upper surface and is pressed together when the developing device 4 is mounted on the main body casing 50 so that the optical scanning window 3d is opened to the outside. Move). That is, the pressing protrusion 125 transmits the force that the user presses to mount the developing device 4 to the shutter body 121. The pressing protrusion 125 is preferably provided at a suitable height that can be in contact with one side of the developing device (4). In addition, the pressing protrusion 125 is preferably provided integrally with the shutter body 121.

The sealing member 127 is provided on the front surface of the pressing protrusion 125 to prevent foreign substances from entering into the optical scanning window 3d. That is, when the shutter body 121 is moved and the optical scanning window 3d is opened to the sealing member 127, the stake, dust, and developer generated in the main body casing 50 during the image forming process may be removed. It prevents the inflow to the sand window 3d. The sealing member 127 is in contact with the surface of the developer 4 to block foreign matters generated inside the main body to the optical scanning window 3d. For this purpose, the sealing member 127 is preferably provided with a thin film material.

The cleaning member 129 is provided in contact with the optical scanning window 3d at the lower portion of the shutter body 121 to clean the surface of the optical scanning window 3d when the shutter body 121 moves. The cleaning member 129 is preferably made of a material having low wear and no fluff even when it moves in contact with the optical scanning window 3d for a long time. For this purpose, it can be provided with a material such as a brush or sponge.

An operation process of the image forming apparatus 200 according to the present invention having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5B. Before the description, it is assumed that the cyan developer 4C is mounted on the upper part of the optical scanning device 3 and is in use, as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the developing device 4C presses the pressing protrusion 125 so that the optical scanning window 3d is opened, and the optical scanning device 3 scans light into the photoconductor 1. At this time, the sealing member 127 is in contact with the developing device 4C and blocks foreign matter inside the main body casing 50 from entering the optical scanning window 3d. And the elastic member 117 is compressed and accommodated in the elastic member receiving portion 116, as shown in 5a.

At this time, when the developer of the cyan developer 4C is exhausted and needs to be newly replaced, the user opens the front door 60 and detaches the developer 4C from the main body casing 50. At this time, since the pressing force that presses the pressing protrusion 125 and the elastic member 116 in FIG. 4 disappears, the elastic member 116 elastically returns to an initial state. The coupling protrusion 123 moves along the guide groove 115a by this elastic force, and the cleaning shutter 120 shields the opening 113 as shown in FIG. 5B. At this time, when the cleaning shutter 120 moves, the cleaning member 129 provided below the shutter body 121 cleans the optical scanning window 3d.

Here, the shutter main body 121 covers the optical scanning window 3d while the developer 4C is newly installed to prevent foreign substances from flowing in from the outside.

On the other hand, when the user mounts the new developing unit 4C in the main body casing 50, the developing unit 4C presses the pressing protrusion 125, and the cleaning shutter 120 moves by opening the optical scanning window 3d. do. Even in this case, the cleaning member 129 cleans the optical scanning window 3d to remove foreign substances.

As described above, since the optical scanning device cover 100 according to the present invention cleans the optical scanning window 3d in conjunction with the long detachment of the developing device 4, the structure may be simplified as compared with the conventional structure having the link structure.

In addition, when there is no developing device, the cleaning shutter 120 covers the optical scanning window 3d, and when the optical scanning window 3d is opened, the sealing member 127 prevents the inflow of foreign substances so that the contamination of the optical scanning window 3d is effectively prevented. It can prevent.

On the other hand, the above-described embodiment has been described as an example of the color image forming apparatus, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, it is revealed that it is applicable to the mono image forming apparatus.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a light scanning device cover which is simple in structure and can effectively clean a light scanning window.

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus comprising a light scanning device having a light scanning window for transmitting light, a main body accommodating the optical scanning device, and a developing cartridge detachably provided on the main body and receiving a photosensitive member to which the light is scanned. A cover body provided between the optical scanning device and the developing cartridge and coupled to the main body; A cleaning provided on one side of the cover body to move between a standby position when the developing cartridge is detached from the main body and a cleaning position that moves when the developing cartridge is mounted on the main body and cleans the optical scanning window A shutter; And a light scanning device cover provided on one side of the cleaning shutter so as to be in contact with the developing cartridge, and including a pressing projection to press the contact cartridge when the developing cartridge is mounted to move the cleaning shutter from the standby position to the cleaning position. And an image forming apparatus. The method of claim 1, And the pressing protrusion protrudes from an upper surface of the cleaning shutter. The method of claim 1, And a sealing member coupled to an upper surface of the cleaning shutter to prevent foreign matter from entering the optical scanning window opened at the cleaning position. The method of claim 1, The cover body is hooked with the image forming apparatus, characterized in that. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, And a cleaning member disposed under the cleaning shutter to be in contact with the optical scanning window so as to clean the optical scanning window when the cleaning shutter is moved. The method of claim 1, And the cleaning shutter slides between the standby position and the printing position with respect to the cover member. The method of claim 1, And the cover member is coupled to the cleaning shutter and includes an elastic member for applying an elastic force to move the cleaning shutter of the cleaning position to the standby position.

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