JPH0212182A - Installation structure of wiping assembly for heat roller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate and speed up the replacement of a wiping element by securing the wipe engagement of the wiping element with the heat roller in the elastic depression state when an opening/closing cover for access is placed at its closure position and releasing the wiping element from the elastic depression state with the heat roller when the cover is at an opening position. CONSTITUTION:When a recording device is in operation, namely, when the opening/closing cover 50 for access is placed at the closure position, the wipe engagement of the wiping element 46 with the heat roller 34 in the elastic depression state is secured. When the wiping element 46 is replaced, on the other hand, namely, when the opening/closing cover 50 for access is at the opening position, the wiping element 46 is released from the elastic depression state with the heat roller 34. Consequently, the wiping element 46 is replaced easily and speedily.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Summary) Regarding the installation structure of a wiping assembly for a heat roller used in a heat fixing mechanism of a toner recording device, the wiping element of the wiping assembly for a heat roller can be easily and quickly replaced. The toner recording device is provided with an access opening/closing cover so that the area of the heat fixing mechanism can be accessed from the outside.
A wiping assembly for a heat roller includes a wiping element brought into wiping engagement with the surface of the heat roller, and an elastic spring member for elastically pressing the wiping element against the heat roller. In its closed position, the cover engages an elastic spring member to elastically deform the wiping element to elastically press the wiping element against the heat roller, while in its open position, the cover engages the elastic spring member to elastically deform the wiping element against the heat roller. The installation structure is characterized in that it is released from the engagement state with the elastic spring member in order to release the pressing force.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an installation structure for a heat roller wiping assembly used in a heat fixing mechanism of a toner recording device using toner as a recording medium, such as an electrophotographic recording device or an electrostatic recording device.

The recording process of an electrophotographic recording device, which is a type of toner recording device that uses toner, includes a charging stage in which an electric charge is charged on a photosensitive drum made of a photoconductive substance, and a step in which document information is optically transferred to the charged area. an exposure stage in which an electrostatic latent image is formed by projecting the image onto the recording paper; a development stage in which the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner; a transfer stage in which the developed toner is transferred to recording paper; and the transferred toner is transferred to the recording paper. and a fixing step of heat fixing. In recent years, instead of optically projecting document information onto a photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, semiconductor lasers, light emitting diodes, etc. have been used on photosensitive drums made of dielectric materials, etc. Toner recording devices have also been developed that form electrostatic latent images by directly writing character data using optical writing means, and such recording devices are used as printers for word processors, microcomputers, etc. Or, it is incorporated into facsimiles, etc.

The toner recording device as described above is provided with a heat fixing mechanism consisting of a heat roller and a backup roller, and these rollers are arranged close to each other in parallel. The recording paper that has undergone the transfer stage is passed between a heat roller and a backup roller in such a manner that its transfer surface is brought into pressure contact with the heat roller, and at this time, the transferred toner is thermally fixed to the recording paper. In this case, not all of the transferred toner is thermally fixed to the recording paper, but a small amount of toner moves from the transferred toner on the recording paper to the heat roller side, potentially contaminating the surface of the heat roller.

Therefore, in order to obtain clean records, it is necessary to constantly clean the heat roller surface, and for this purpose, a wiping assembly having a wiping element made of felt material or the like is attached to the heat roller surface using an elastic material. The surface of the heat roller is constantly cleaned during operation.

The present invention is directed to improving the installation structure of such a wiping assembly for a heat roller.

[Conventional technology]

Referring to FIG. 6, a conventional type of installation structure for a heat roller wiping assembly is illustrated in principle.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 10 indicates a heat fixing mechanism that constitutes a part of the toner recording apparatus, and this heat fixing mechanism 10 is composed of a heat roller 12 and a backup roller 14.

Between these rollers 12 and 14, a recording paper (not shown) that has undergone a transfer stage is placed between the heat rollers 12 and 14.
The toner is passed through, for example, in the direction of arrow a, in such a manner that it is brought into pressure contact with the recording paper, and at this time, the transferred toner is thermally fixed onto the recording paper.

The heat roller wiping assembly is indicated generally by the reference numeral 16 and is mounted on a suitable support structure, such as the recording device frame 18, only a portion of which is shown in FIG. The frame body 20 is properly held against the frame body 20, and the frame body 20 is
(in the figure), a movable member 22 that is movably held at
A wiping element 24 made of felt material, for example, is placed below the movable member 22, and an elastic pressing force is applied to the movable member 22 from above in order to elastically press the wiping element 24 against the heat roller 12. It is comprised of an elastic spring member 26 (for example, a leaf spring or a relatively hard silicone rubber is used) which is housed in the frame 20 so as to function.

In short, the elastic spring member 26 housed within the frame body 20 elastically biases the movable member 22 toward the heat roller 12 side, thereby causing the wiping element 24 to elastically press into contact with the surface of the heat roller 12. You will be forced to do so. Therefore, when the heat roller 12 is operated, that is, when it rotates, the heat roller 12 is constantly wiped by the wiping element 24, and thereby the small amount of toner adhering to the surface of the heat roller 120 is wiped off.

By the way, the area of the heat fixing mechanism 10 of the toner recording device must be accessible from the outside for maintenance of itself or for replacement of the wiping element 24 of the heat roller wiping assembly 16. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The access cover 28 is pivotally connected to the frame 18 by a pivot 30.

For example, the wiping element 24 of the heat roller wiping assembly 16
When replacing the wiping element 2, the access opening/closing cover 28 is opened in the direction of the arrow, and the wiping element 2 is manually replaced.
4 exchanges will take place.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Now, heat roller wiping assembly 1 as described above.
In the installation structure No. 6, even when replacing the wiping element 24,
Since it is elastically pressed against the heat roller 12, there is a problem in that the wiping element 24 cannot be replaced easily and quickly. That is, when taking out a worn-out wiping element, the movable member 22
This involves the work of displacing the elastic spring member 26 upwardly against the elastic biasing force of the elastic spring member 26, and the similar work of displacing the elastic spring member 26 upwardly when installing a new wiping element.
Replacing the wiping element 24 is relatively troublesome and time consuming. Further, safety problems have also been pointed out because the task of replacing the wiping element 24 is troublesome. This is because there is a risk that the worker's hand may come into contact with the hot heat roller during the replacement work of the wiping element 24, and the possibility of this happening increases the more troublesome the replacement work of the wiping element 24 is. . Furthermore, if replacing the wiping element 24 is troublesome, the risk of damaging the surface of the heat roller 12 increases, which also poses a problem.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an installation structure for a heat roller wiping assembly used in a heat fixing mechanism of a toner recording device, which allows the wiping element of the heat roller wiping assembly to be replaced easily and quickly. The purpose is to provide an installation structure.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, in the installation structure of a heat roller wiping assembly used in a heat fixing mechanism of a toner recording device, the area of the heat fixing mechanism of the toner recording device cannot be accessed from the outside. An access opening/closing cover is provided for access, and a wiping element for bringing the heat roller wiping assembly into wiping engagement with the surface of the heat roller, and elastically pressing the wiping element against the heat roller. an elastic spring member for elastically deforming the elastic spring member to elastically press the wiping element against the heat roller in the closed position of the access cover; However, in the open position, the wiping element is disengaged from the elastic spring member in order to release the elastic pressing force of the wiping element against the heat roller.

[For production]

As is clear from the above configuration, in the installation structure of the heat roller wiping assembly according to the present invention, when the access opening/closing cover assumes its closed position, it engages with the elastic spring member and causes the elastic spring member to move. the wiping element is elastically deformed, thereby bringing the wiping element into wiping engagement with the surface of the heat roller in an elastically pressed state, while being released from the engagement state with the elastic spring member when the access opening/closing cover assumes its open position; This releases the elastic pressing force of the wiping element against the heat roller. In short, in the installation structure of the wiping assembly for a heat roller according to the present invention, when the recording device is in operation, that is, when the access opening/closing cover is placed in its closed position, the elastic pressing of the wiping element against the heat roller Wiping engagement is guaranteed in the state, but
When the wiping element is replaced, that is, when the access cover assumes its open position, the wiping element is released from its elastic pressing state against the heat roller.

〔Example〕

Next, the installation structure of the heat roller wiping assembly according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

First, referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the installation structure of a heat roller wiping assembly according to the present invention is shown in principle. 1A and 1B, reference number 32 indicates a heat fixing mechanism that constitutes a part of the toner recording device, and this heat fixing mechanism 32 is composed of a heat roller 34 and a backup as in the case of FIG. It consists of a roller 36.

Further, a recording paper (not shown) that has undergone a transfer stage is passed between the rollers 34 and 36 from the direction of arrow C, for example, in such a manner that its transfer surface is brought into pressure contact with the heat roller 34. At this time, the transferred toner is thermally fixed onto the recording paper in the same manner as in the case of FIG.

The heat roller wiping assembly is indicated generally by the reference numeral 38 and is mounted on a suitable support structure, such as the recording device frame 40 (in FIGS. 1A and 1B). , a part of which is shown) is arranged so as to be freely displaceable in the vertical direction (in FIGS. 1A and 1B) in a guide housing 42 formed as an integral part of the heat roller wiping The assembly 38 can be displaced in the front-back direction with respect to the heat roller 34.

The heat roller wiping assembly 38 includes a movable member 44 whose dimensions and shape allow it to be guided and displaced within the guide housing section 42.
, a wiping element 46 made of felt material, for example, placed below the movable member 44 , and an elastic spring member 48 placed above the movable member 44 . Preferably, the wiping element 46 and the resilient spring member 48 are held against the movable member 44 with a suitable mechanical retention force. For example, by forming a recess in the movable member 44 with dimensions somewhat smaller than the attachment portions of the wiping element 46 and the elastic spring member 48 to the movable member 44, and pushing the attachment portions into the recess, the wiping element 46 and the elastic The spring member 48 may be held against the movable member 44, or a plurality of protrusions may be formed on the movable member 44 at appropriate intervals, and the wiping element 46 and the elastic spring member 48 may be sandwiched between the protrusions. The wiping element 46 and the resilient spring member 48 may be held against the movable member 44 by the wiping element 46 and the resilient spring member 48 .

An access opening/closing cover 50 is provided at the location where the heat roller wiping assembly 38 is installed, and the access opening/closing cover 50 is pivotally attached to the frame 40 by a pivot 52. In FIG. 1A, the access cover 50 is shown in its closed position, with the access cover 50 being locked by suitable locking means. As shown in the figure, the access opening/closing cover 50 has a protruding portion 5 that protrudes toward the guide housing portion 42 side.
3 is formed, and its protrusion 52 engages the elastic spring member 48 when the access cover 50 is placed in the closed position of FIG. 1A, so that the elastic spring member 48 undergoes elastic deformation. become.

As a result, the heat roller wiping assembly 38 is elastically pressed against the heat roller 34, thereby causing the wiping element 46 to be brought into wiping engagement with the surface of the heat roller 34 in an elastically pressed state.

On the other hand, in FIG. 1B, the access cover 50 is shown in its open position, and at this time the protrusion 52 of the access cover 50 is connected to the elastic spring of the heat roller wiping assembly 38. The engagement state with the member 48 is released, so that the elastic spring member 48 is not subjected to the same elastic deformation, and as a result, the elastic pressing force of the wiping element 46 against the heat roller 34 is released.

Note that in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the elastic spring member 48 may be a leaf spring or may be made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber. In addition, the elastic spring member 48
may be configured as a single member extending in the axial direction of the heat roller 34, or may be configured as a plurality of elastic spring elements spaced apart in the axial direction of the heat roller 34.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, when the toner recording device is configured as an external printer 54 (only a part of which is shown in FIGS. 2 to 5) such as a word processor or a microcomputer, An example in which the mounting structure for a heat roller wiping assembly according to the present invention is implemented is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, a part of the external printer 54, that is, the recording paper ejecting section 56 is shown in an open state, and in FIG.
The inside of the recording paper ejection section 56 in the figure is shown cut open from the side. An external printer 5 is installed in the recording paper ejection section 56.
An opening/closing frame 60 is provided which is pivotally attached to the main body frame 58 of No. 4, and an access opening/closing cover 62 is attached to the opening/closing frame 60 with a pivot 64 so that the inside of the recording paper ejection section 62 can be accessed from the outside. It is pivotally connected to the opening/closing frame 60. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the access opening/closing cover 62 is attached to the lock lever 65 (FIG. 3).
is locked in its closed position. 4 and 5 correspond to FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, but in FIGS. 4 and 5, the access opening/closing cover 62 is placed in its open position by releasing the lock lever 65. .

To explain in detail the opening and closing of the access opening/closing cover 62, the lock lever 65 is pivotally connected to the opening/closing frame 62 by a pivot 66 at one end side of the access opening/closing cover 62, and is usually mounted on a torsion spring (not shown). ) to the locked position (FIG. 3). On the other hand, a tension coil spring 67 is provided between the other end side of the access opening/closing cover 62 and the opening/closing frame 62, and this tension coil spring 67 causes the access opening/closing cover 62 to normally close as shown in FIG. It is placed in a state where it is elastically biased toward the position side. When the access cover 62 is in the closed position, the tension coil spring 62 is located above the pivot 64 (in FIGS. 3 and 5);
When the is rotated to the open position shown in FIG. 4, the tension coil spring 67 is moved to the lower side of the pivot 64, and at this time, the access opening/closing cover 62 is elastically biased toward the open position. placed in

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a heat fixing mechanism 68 is provided within the recording paper discharge section 56, and this heat fixing mechanism 68 is composed of a heat roller 70 and a backup roller 72. A recording paper (not shown) that has undergone a transfer stage is passed between the heat roller 70 and the backup roller 72 in a manner such that its transfer surface is brought into pressure contact with the heat roller 70, for example, from the direction of arrow d. At this time, the transferred toner is thermally fixed onto the recording paper.

The heat roller wiping assembly 74 is generally designated by the reference numeral 74, and is mounted on a support bracket 76 that protrudes from the opening/closing frame 60 toward the heat roller 70. Specifically, at least two support brackets 76 are disposed along the underside of the heat roller 70 (in FIGS. 3 and 5), and the heat roller wiping assembly 74 is mounted on the support brackets 76 with an equivalent mechanical structure. It is simply placed on the machine without being fixed to it. It should be noted here that, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the heat roller wiping assembly 74 is held on a step formed in the support bracket 76, so that the heat roller wiping assembly 74 is 74 is designed to be able to rotate around the corner of the step when it receives a push-up force from below, but this point will be explained in detail later. do.

The heat roller wiping assembly 74 includes a frame 78 extending along substantially the entire length of the heat roller 70 and a wiping assembly made of felt material, for example, attached to the front side of the frame 78 (i.e., the side facing the heat roller 70). element 80 and frame 7
8 and an elastic spring member 82 attached to the rear side of the spring. The wiping element 80 has approximately the same length as the frame body 7B, and is formed with a concave curved surface that comes into wiping engagement with the surface of the heat roller 70 (FIG. 3). The wiping element 80 may be attached to the frame 78 by any suitable mechanical means, or by adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape, or the like. The elastic spring member 82 is connected to the frame body 78
A plurality of heat rollers are arranged along the heat roller 70 on the rear side of the
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, five elastic spring members 82 are arranged at equal intervals on the rear side of the frame 78. Regarding the attachment of the elastic spring member 82 to the frame body 78, a concave portion with a size slightly smaller than the size and shape of the attachment portion is formed in the frame body 78.
8 on the rear side and pushing the mounting portion into the recess. In this embodiment, the elastic spring member 8
2 is made of a relatively hard rubber material, such as a silicone rubber material, but may also be made of a mechanical spring such as a leaf spring.

There are five protrusions 84 inside the access cover 62.
are formed (only one of which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5), and these protrusions 84 are arranged at the same spacing as the five elastic spring members 82. The access opening/closing cover 62 changes from the open position (FIGS. 4 and 5) to the closed position (
2 and 3), each of the protrusions 84 first engages with a corresponding one of the elastic spring members 82 of the heat roller wiping assembly 74;
For this reason, the heat roller wiping assembly 74 is pushed upward, but at this time, the heat roller wiping assembly 74 is moved around the corner of the stepped portion of the support bracket 76 as described above. The concave curved surface of the wiping element 80 touches the heat roller 70.
will be in contact engagement with the surface of. When the access opening/closing cover 62 is further rotated toward the closed position, the elastic spring member 82 undergoes elastic deformation due to press engagement with the protrusion 84, and this elastic deformation occurs when the access opening/closing cover 62 is closed. This continues until it is locked with the locking lever 65 in the position (FIGS. 2 and 3). When the elastic spring member 82 undergoes elastic deformation in this manner, the wiping element 80 is brought into wiping engagement with the surface of the heat roller 70 in an elastically pressed state. On the other hand, when the access opening/closing cover 62 is placed in its open position, the protrusion 84
As a result, the elastic pressing force of the wiping element 80 against the heat roller 70 is released. In short, the elastically pressed wiping engagement of the wiping element 80 with the heat roller 70 is maintained unless the access cover 62 is opened.

One notable feature of the embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 5
As a first step, since the heat roller wiping assembly 74 is simply placed on the support bracket 76 without being mechanically fixed, it is possible to remove the heat roller wiping assembly 74 from the recording paper ejection section 56 to the outside. The point is that you can get it. This is because such a configuration not only eliminates the need to replace the wiping element 80 inside the recording paper ejecting section 56, but also eliminates the need to replace the wiping element 80 within the recording paper ejecting section 56. This is because the heat roller wiping assembly 74 can be easily accessed for removal. In this embodiment, in order to easily remove the heat roller wiping assembly 74, a knob 84 is inserted from the center of the heat roller wiping assembly 74.
is projected, and by picking this knob 84 with your fingers as shown in FIG. 4, the heat roller wiping assembly 74 is removed.
can be easily removed from the support bracket 76.

In FIGS. 2 to 5, reference numeral 88 indicates a recording paper discharge roller assembly rotatably supported by the access opening/closing cover 62 to guide the recording paper that has undergone the heat fixing stage to its discharge port. . A gear 90 is provided at one end of the shaft of the recording paper discharge roller assembly 88, and a drive gear train 92 (FIG. 4) is provided at the side of the opening/closing frame 60, so that the access opening/closing cover 62 is closed. When gear 9
0 meshes with a drive gear train 92 and is driven.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, in the installation structure of the heat roller wiping assembly according to the present invention, when the access opening/closing cover is placed in its closed position, the wiping element is elastically pressed against the heat roller. Wiping engagement is ensured, but when the access cover assumes its open position, the wiping element is released from its elastically pressed state against the heat roller, which facilitates and quickly replaces the wiping element. It becomes possible to do so. In addition, the ease and speed with which the wiping element can be replaced not only improves the safety of the work, but also greatly reduces the risk of damaging the surface of the heat roller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing the principle of the installation structure of the heat roller wiping assembly according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the case where the toner recording device is configured as an external printer such as a word processor or a microcomputer. FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a recording paper ejection section of an external printer in which the mounting structure of a heat roller wiping assembly according to the present invention is implemented, and the opening/closing cover for accessing the recording paper ejection section is shown in a closed position. 3 is a side view showing in detail the inside of the recording paper ejection section of the external printer shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing the access cover for the recording paper ejection section in the open position, and FIG. 6 is a side view showing the access cover in the open position. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of a conventional type of installation structure when installing a wiping assembly; FIG. 32... Heat fixing mechanism, 34... Heat roller, 3
6... Backup roller, 38... Heat roller wiping assembly, 44... Movable member, 46... Wiping element, 48... Elastic spring member, 50... Access opening/closing cover 62. ...Access opening/closing cover 68...Heat fixing mechanism, 70...Heat roller, 7
2... Backup roller, 74... Heat roller wiping assembly, 78... Frame body, 80... Wiping element, 82... Elastic spring member. Figure 1 of the present invention. Figure 2. Side view showing the inside of the power filter. Figure 3. Partial perspective view corresponding to Figure 2. Figure 4.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In the installation structure of the heat roller wiping assembly (38:74) used in the heat fixing mechanism (32:68) of the toner recording device, the toner recording device has its heat fixing mechanism (32:68).
An access opening/closing cover (50:62) is provided so that the area 32:68) can be accessed from the outside, and the heat roller wiping assembly (38:74) is connected to the surface of the heat roller (34:70). The wiping element (46:80) that has come into wiping engagement and the wiping element (46:8
0) to elastically press the heat roller (34:70) to an elastic spring member (48:82),
When the access opening/closing cover (50:62) is in its closed position, the elastic spring member (48:82) is configured to elastically press the wiping element (46:80) against the heat roller (34:70). engages with the elastic spring member (48:82) to elastically deform the wiping element (46:80), but in its open position releases the elastic pressing force of the wiping element (46:80) against the heat roller (34:70). An installation structure characterized in that the engagement state with the elastic spring member (48:82) is released as soon as possible.