JPH01315770A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of exchanging by forming a unit where a toner cartridge and a cleaning unit can be exchanged integrally. CONSTITUTION:A disposing toner cartridge 33 is an exchange part which is separate from the cleaning unit 5, applicable to/removable from the device main body. The cleaning unit 5, consisting only of the toner cartridge 32 and a cleaning blade, retains a specified relative position by a frame and constitutes an integral exchange kit 50. Therefore when the toner cartridge 32, the cleaning unit 5, and the disposing toner cartridge 33 are to be exchanged, a part of an upper cover 30 is opened along with a pair of resist rollers 11, 12 and a photosensitive body 1, then the exchange kit 50 is pulled out to the direction of the thick arrow, and the exchange of the disposing toner cartridge 33 is facilitated. Furthermore, when a guiding plate 51, which decides the loading position of the kit 50, is traveled from a set position to a position shown in the caption interlocked with the opening/closing of the cover 30, the exchangeability of the kit is further improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial 1] The present invention is a method for optically writing on a photoreceptor through an optical writing unit with a light beam corresponding to an image information signal, and developing an electrostatic latent image formed. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that performs recording by transferring a toner image onto a transfer paper, and particularly to an image recording apparatus that is designed to improve the workability of replacing a replacement unit.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image recording devices such as laser printers and facsimile machines that use an electrostatic photographic process are increasingly being used for personal use as peripheral devices for personal computers and word processors. For equipment for such uses, in addition to miniaturizing the equipment and reducing costs, it is also important to improve workability so that users can easily clear jams and replace replacement parts without getting their hands dirty. This has become an important issue.

Now, in single image recording devices such as laser printers and facsimiles, optical writing is performed on a photoconductor via an optical writing unit using a laser beam whose emission is controlled or modulated by an image information signal. The electrostatic latent image formed on the toner image is developed by a developing unit into a toner image, which is transferred to transfer paper fed from an automatic paper feeding unit under the transfer charger, and is fixed and recorded. It will be done.

In order to reduce the size of the image recording apparatus having the above configuration and improve operability when handling jammed paper, the present inventors first arranged an optical writing unit under the photoreceptor drum and the developing unit. Furthermore, the transfer section is placed above the photoreceptor drum, and the transfer paper is fed to the transfer section by a pair of registration rollers with the image side facing downward, and a portion of the top cover of the device body can be opened and closed. An image recording apparatus has been proposed in which jammed paper can be easily disposed of by providing a transfer charger and a pair of registration rollers or an upper roller integrally with the above-mentioned opening and closing cover.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which this proposal is applied to a laser printer.

On the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 1, a charger 2, a developing unit 3, a transfer charger 4,
A cleaning unit 5 is arranged, and a writing optical unit 7 is provided so that a writing beam enters and exposes the photosensitive drum 1 at a position 6 between the charger 2 and the developing unit 3.

The charger 2 and the optical writing position 6 are arranged below the photoreceptor drum 1, and the optical writing unit 7 is provided below the photoreceptor drum t, the developing unit 3, and the cleaning unit 5. Further, the transfer charger 4 is arranged above the photosensitive drum 1. A paper feed cassette 8 that feeds transfer paper to a transfer section between the transfer charger 4 and the photosensitive drum 1 is provided further below the optical writing unit 7, and the transfer paper is fed by a feed roller 9 and a friction member that presses against the feed roller 9. The bat 10 separates the double feed and feeds out one sheet at a time to the developing unit 3.
The rollers make a large U-turn on the side of the developing unit 3, and are fed to the transfer section at the same time so that the position is aligned with the image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 by the pair of registration rollers rt and 12 provided above the developing unit 3. It is papered. A fixing unit 13 is provided in the transfer paper path after transfer, and a paper discharge tray 14 is provided on the discharge side thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the writing optical unit 7 is configured such that the light that flashes in response to the image information signal emitted from the laser unit 21 is reflected by a first mirror 22, and is integrated with the shaft of the scanner motor 23. The light is incident on a deflection mirror 24 attached to the mirror 24, and is repeatedly deflected within a certain angle range. Polarized light is f-θ
The lens 25 forms an image on a straight line at the incident position 6 on the photoreceptor drum 1, and the projection point is corrected so that it moves at a constant speed.
The light enters the photoreceptor drum 1 via the second mirror 26 and the cylindrical lens 27, and main scanning is performed by deflecting the incident light, sub-scanning is performed by rotation of the photoreceptor drum 1, and an image is formed according to the image information signal. f1N is written and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The components of the writing optical unit 7 are mounted directly on the base cover 28 of the device. Note that code 2
9 is a synchronization detection sensor.

The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed by the developing unit 3 to form a toner image, which is transferred by the action of the transfer charger 4 onto a transfer paper fed by a pair of registration rollers 11 and 12. Ru. Photosensitive drum 1 after transfer
The separated transfer paper is fixed by a fixing unit 13, and then discharged to a paper discharge tray 14.

On the other hand, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaning unit 5 in preparation for the next printing process.

As described above, in this device, the writing optical unit 7 is provided below the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing unit 3, the automatic paper feeding unit 8 is provided further below, and the transfer section and the registration roller pair 11, 12 are provided. Since it is provided above the photosensitive drum 1, the transfer paper sent out from the paper feed unit 8 can be turned U° around the outside of the development unit 3 and sent to the pair of registration rollers without taking up a large space. , the device can be made smaller.

Note that the automatic paper feeding unit can also be provided on the side of the apparatus.

A part of the upper cover of the apparatus main body is an opening/closing cover 30 that can be opened by flipping up about a shaft 31 at the right end in the figure of the apparatus, and includes a transfer charger 4 and a pair of registration rollers 11 and 12. is adapted to move integrally with a portion 30 of the upper cover. Further, the photosensitive drum 1 is selectively supported so that when the cover 30 is opened, it can remain on the main body side of the apparatus or it can be lifted up integrally with the cover.

Therefore, when a jam of the transfer paper occurs in the transfer section or the pair of registration rollers 11 and 12, the transfer charger 4 and the pair of registration rollers are integrally attached to the opening/closing cover 30 as shown in FIG. When opened, the transfer paper conveyance path is completely opened and jammed paper can be easily removed. The opening/closing cover 30 can be opened easily if, for example, a spring (not shown) is used to automatically open it when a locking member is removed.

Note that, as shown in FIG.
It is also effective to remove jammed paper if it is attached to the paper and released.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the opening/closing cover 30
When opening the registration roller pair, one pair of rollers 11 and 12
Alternatively, if the photoreceptor drum 1 is lifted together with the upper roller 11 and the opening/closing cover 30, it is convenient to separate the photoreceptor from other members and remove it when replacing the photoreceptor.

Further, the cleaning unit 5 and the developing unit 3 can be replaced.

According to the proposal described above, it is possible to downsize the image recording apparatus, and it becomes easy to dispose of jammed paper.

By the way, the parts that must be replaced most frequently in an image recording device are the toner cartridge 32 that replenishes the toner consumed by image recording into the main body of the developing device, the waste toner cartridge 32 collected by cleaning, and the cartridge that is worn out by cleaning. This is a cleaning unit 5 including a cleaning member for cleaning. toner cartridge 32
is removably attached to the developing device main body, and constitutes the developing unit 3 together with the main body. On the other hand, the waste toner storage container may be configured to be included inside the cleaning unit 5, or may be provided as a waste toner cartridge separate from the cleaning unit.

In the laser printer described above, as shown in FIG. 12, the toner cartridge 32 and cleaning unit 5 can be replaced by attaching the registration roller pair 11 and 12 and the photosensitive drum 1 to the opening/closing cover 30 and opening it. However, since each of these parts is provided independently, it is necessary to store and remove them separately and set new ones separately in their respective positions, especially if the waste toner cartridge is not in the cleaning unit It was even more troublesome to replace it if it was made separately. In addition, in order to save time, some devices have been designed to replace even relatively long-life and expensive components such as photoreceptors and developing devices in one piece, but this has the drawback of extremely high running costs.

21N tries to i = The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned difficulties in replacing replacement parts of conventional image recording devices, reduces the number of replacement parts, and improves workability and economy. The task is to provide equipment.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention for =, ・° optically writes on a photoreceptor uniformly charged by a charger via an optical writing unit with a light beam according to an image information signal. The image is then developed by a developing unit supplied with toner from a removable toner cartridge to form a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to a transfer paper fed from a paper feeding unit to a transfer section along the photoreceptor for recording. After the transfer, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor is cleaned by the cleaning unit and collected in the waste toner cartridge/storage.In addition, the toner cartridge, cleaning unit, photoreceptor, and other replacement parts mentioned above can be replaced with an opening and closing mechanism that can be opened and closed on the main body of the device. An image recording apparatus provided with a cover is characterized in that the above-described toner cartridge and cleaning unit are integrally formed as a replaceable unit.

The above-mentioned integrally replaceable replaceable unit works in conjunction with the opening/closing movement of the above-mentioned opening/closing cover, and when the cover is opened, the unit is held in a predetermined installation position on the main body of the device, and when the cover is opened, it is convenient for taking out and installing the unit. The unit can be attached and detached more easily if it is attached to a guide plate rotatably provided on the main body of the apparatus so that the unit is placed at a suitable position.

Since the toner cartridge and cleaning unit are integrally formed as a replaceable unit, both can be attached and detached in one operation.

In addition, by attaching the integrally replaceable unit to the holder that moves as described above in conjunction with the opening and closing of the opening/closing cover, the unit can be placed in the holder when the opening/closing cover is opened to replace the unit. The unit is then placed in a convenient position for replacement, and by opening the opening/closing cover, the unit is automatically installed in the predetermined position of the device.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the laser printer previously explained in FIGS. 7 to 13. Therefore, members having the same functions will be described with the same reference numerals.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the waste toner cartridge 33 is a replacement part that is detachable from the main body of the apparatus and is separate from the cleaning unit 5. The toner cartridge 32 and the cleaning unit 5, which includes only a cleaning blade, are maintained in a predetermined relative position by a frame and integrally constitute a replacement kit 50.

Therefore, when replacing the toner cartridge 32, cleaning unit 5, and waste toner cartridge 33, leave the upper cover part 30 in the dark together with the registration roller pair 11.12 and the photoreceptor 1, and insert the replacement kit 50 in the direction of the thick arrow. Once pulled out, the waste toner cartridge 33 can be easily replaced.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, in conjunction with the opening and closing of the opening/closing cover 30, the placement positioning guide plate 51 of the replacement kit 50 is moved from the set position to the position shown in the figure, for example. This will further improve the replaceability of the replacement kit.

An example of a mechanism for interlocking the guide plate 51 with opening and closing of the opening/closing cover 30 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

A bottle 53 installed in the laser printer body frame 54
A guide plate 51 is rotatably supported on the shaft. Information board 5
A stop lever 52 is fixed to the stop lever 52, and the rotation range of the guide plate 51 is regulated by engaging a pin 60 fixed to the main body frame 54 with an arcuate slit 52a provided in the stop lever 52. . The guide plate 51 is the main body frame 5
The torsion coil spring 5 is wound around the bottle 56 installed in the spring 4.
5, it is biased to rotate clockwise in the figure.
If there is no external force pressing the guide plate 51 from above, the slit 52a of the stop lever 52 will open as shown in FIG.
is held in a position where its lower end engages the bin 60.

Further, on both sides of the lower surface of the opening/closing cover 30, a kit lever 57 is provided to protrude downward as shown in FIG. The lower end pushes down the replacement unit gripping parts 5'la on both sides of the guide plate 51 against the force of the torsion spring 55, and the toner cartridge 32 and cleaning unit 5 of the replacement unit 50 attached to the guide plate 51 are removed from the apparatus. brought to a predetermined set position on the main body. An opening/closing lever 58 is provided at the end of the opening/closing cover 30 opposite to the fulcrum 31, and is maintained in the closed state by being hooked to a lock bin 59 provided on the main body side.

To replace the unit 50, as shown in FIG.
rWI closing cover 30 When the cover is flipped open centering on point 31, the lower end of the kit lever 57 separates from the guide plate 51, the guide plate 51 rotates clockwise around the shaft 53 by the force of the torsion spring 55, and then stops. Slit 52 of lever 52
It stops at the position where the lower end of a engages with the bottle 60. As shown in FIG. 4, the replacement unit 50 held by the guide plate 51 in this state is placed at a location convenient for attachment and detachment to the guide plate 51, approximately in the center of the opening between the opening/closing cover 30 and the main body. occupy a position.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning unit 5 includes a waste toner cartridge 33. In this case, the replacement kit 50 includes the toner cartridge 32.
The cleaning unit 5 including the waste toner cartridge and waste toner cartridge 33 is integrated into a replacement kit. In this case as well, the exchangeability is further improved by displacing the replacement kit placement positioning guide plate 51 in conjunction with the opening and closing of the opening/closing cover.

In yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a replacement kit 50 also includes a charger 2. This charger 2
is a solid-state discharge device with electrodes on the surface of a thin dielectric plate, and unlike conventional thin wire discharge devices, the entire corona wire is replaced, not just the corona wire, so it can be incorporated into a replacement kit. suitable for

Hereinafter, as an example, an example in which the present invention is applied to an image recording apparatus in which the writing optical system is located below the photoreceptor and the transfer position is above has been explained, but the present invention is not limited to this. Rather, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, the opening is wide open up and down, and a writing optical system 7 is installed on the upper unit, and optical writing is performed from the upper side onto the photosensitive drum 1 provided on the lower unit. The present invention can also be applied to an image recording apparatus having a normal arrangement in which transfer is performed by the transfer charger 4 below the photosensitive drum 1. Further, the photoreceptor may be not only a drum but also a belt. Also, a dustproof glass 34 for the writing optical system 7,
Cylindrical lens 27 that also serves as dustproof glass
It is convenient to provide parts that are easily soiled and need to be replaced and that are provided close to the cleaning unit or the like in the replacement kit 50 described above.

Circle-1 As described above, according to the present invention, the workability of replacing replacement parts in an image recording apparatus is improved, and running costs are reduced because the expensive photoreceptor and developer body are removed from the replacement kit. It is also effective in reducing

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views and side views showing the interlocking mechanism of the placement positioning guide member of the replacement unit and the opening/closing cover, and FIG. 5 and 6 are side sectional views showing other embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the previously proposed image recording apparatus, and FIG. is V- in Figure 7
9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the writing optical unit, FIGS. 10 to 13 are explanatory diagrams each explaining the f-type of the device, and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another type. 1 is a side sectional view showing an example of an image recording device of FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Photosensitive drum, 2... Charging, 3... Developing unit, 4... Transfer charger, 5... Cleaning unit, 7... Optical writing unit, 8... Automatic feeding Paper unit, 11... Registration roller pair upper roller, 12... Registration roller pair lower roller, 13... Fixing unit, 21-27... Optical writing unit/soto component, 30...
・Opening/closing cover. 31... Pivotal part of opening/closing cover, 32... Toner cartridge, 33... Waste toner cartridge. 34...Dust-proof cover, 50...Replacement kit (integrally replaceable unit) 51...Guidance plate, 52-57.60...Interlocking mechanism i-p

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Optical writing is performed on the photoconductor uniformly charged by the charger using a light beam according to the image information signal via the optical writing unit, and the developing unit is supplied with toner from a removable toner cartridge. A toner image is developed and recorded by being transferred onto transfer paper that is fed from a paper feed unit to a transfer section along the photoconductor. After transfer, the toner remaining on the photoconductor is cleaned by a cleaning unit and disposed of. In an image recording apparatus, the toner cartridge and cleaning unit are integrated into an image recording apparatus, which is equipped with an opening/closing cover that can be opened and closed on the main body of the apparatus for collecting toner in the toner cartridge and replacing replacement parts such as the toner cartridge, cleaning unit, and photoreceptor. An image recording device characterized in that it is formed as a unit that can be replaced. (2) The above-mentioned integrally replaceable unit works in conjunction with the opening/closing movement of the above-mentioned opening/closing cover, so that when the cover is closed, the unit is held in a predetermined installation position on the device body, and when the cover is opened, the unit is taken out and installed. 2. The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the image recording device is mounted on a guide plate rotatably provided on the main body of the device so as to be positioned at a convenient position.