JPH0633471Y2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a process cartridge in which an image carrier and an image forming process device are integrally incorporated.

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of an image bearing member such as a photoconductor, the electrostatic latent image is visualized by a developing device, and the visualized image is transferred to transfer paper. After this transfer, the surface of the photoconductor is cleaned with a cleaning device.

Recently, in such an image forming apparatus, a plurality of image forming process devices such as a developing device and a cleaning device arranged around a photoconductor are integrally incorporated together with the photoconductor to form a process cartridge, which is to be replaced. Various products are provided.

In such an image forming apparatus, if the process cartridge is replaced because the life of a certain image forming process device is exhausted, the photoconductor that has not reached the end of its life is discarded along with the recent extension of the life of the photoconductor. As a result, the cost of the process cartridge is inevitably high, and the cost burden is imposed on the user as an expensive consumable item.

Therefore, an image forming apparatus has been proposed in which the image forming process device of the process cartridge and the photoconductor can be separated from each other, and only the image forming process device other than the photoconductor can be replaced. However, conventionally, the operation for performing such separation is complicated,
The structure for mutual separation becomes complicated, which is a factor of increasing the cost of the image forming apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and to provide an image forming apparatus in which the image carrier and the image forming process equipment can be easily separated without touching the image carrier.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a process cartridge integrally incorporating an image carrier and a plurality of image forming process devices arranged around the image carrier, and a process cartridge carrying the process cartridge, A cartridge tray that moves between the inside of the image forming apparatus main body and the outside of the image forming apparatus main body, and the two image forming process devices of the process cartridge, and the closed position where they sandwich the image carrier, and these. Of the image forming process equipment is pivotally attached to an open position that is opened and expanded so that the image carrier can be separated from the image forming process device, and a knob is provided slidably on the process cartridge. The knob and the two imaging process devices are positioned so that the two imaging process devices open from their closed to open positions. An image forming apparatus is proposed in which each is connected through a wire.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus main body 1 is provided with a cartridge tray 2, which is movably arranged between the inside of the image forming apparatus main body and the outside of the image forming apparatus main body.

Here, when loading the process cartridge, first, the front cover 3 of the image forming apparatus main body is opened as shown in the figure, and in this state, the cartridge tray 2 is pulled out to the front side. As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 4 is placed and loaded on the cartridge tray 2 pulled out in this manner.

In such a state, when the cartridge tray 2 is pushed in and the process cartridge 4 on the tray is stored in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the photoconductor 5 incorporated in the cartridge is moved to the normal operating position in the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is supposed to be placed. By performing the reverse operation, the process cartridge 4 can be pulled out of the main body of the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. In this way, the cartridge tray 2
Is for carrying the process cartridge 4 and for moving the cartridge 4 between the inside of the image forming apparatus main body and the outside of the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It has 4.

The photoconductor 5 is in the form of a drum and constitutes one configuration example of the image carrier.

With the process cartridge 4 stored in the image forming apparatus, the lower part of the photoconductor 5 is the cartridge tray 2.
The transfer paper (not shown) sent from the paper feed tray 6 comes into contact with the lower portion of the photoconductor 5 while facing the cutout hole 2a of the paper, and the visible image formed on the surface thereof is transferred by a well-known transfer means. The transfer sheet is transferred onto the transfer sheet, and thereafter, the transfer sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge section 7 while being fixed with a visible image and turned upside down.

The process cartridge 4 integrally incorporates a photoconductor 5 and a plurality of image forming process devices arranged around the photoconductor 5, and in this example, as shown in FIG. 5, a developing device 9 and a cleaning device 10 are provided. The image forming process device including the photoconductor 5
Is integrated into the. Two of the image forming process devices, the developing device 9 and the cleaning device 10, are pivotally mounted by a hinge shaft 12, and as will be described later in detail, these image forming process devices are shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, a closed position sandwiching the photoconductor 5 is opened and closed between an open position where the photoconductor 5 is opened and expanded so that the photoconductor 5 can be separated from the process equipment as shown in FIG. 4B. It is possible.

The photoconductor 5 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5, and under this rotation, the surface of the photoconductor is uniformly charged by the charger 8 and optical writing or the like is performed on the charged surface. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface.

This electrostatic latent image is visualized by the toner carried on the developing sleeve 13 of the developing device 9, and this visualized image is transferred to a transfer paper. After this transfer, the residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor 5 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 15 of the cleaning device 10 and collected in the cleaning device 10. The reference numeral 14 is a seal member for preventing the toner from scattering to the outside.

Image forming process equipment such as known photoconductor charge eliminator, transfer paper separating means, and transfer charger are incorporated into the process cartridge 4 configured as described above, if necessary.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hinge shaft 12 is pivotally attached to the base end of a handle 16, and the handle 16 can be raised and lowered about the hinge shaft 12, and is normally an exterior step of the developing device 9. Part 9a (4th
(Fig.) And is prone.

A hook-shaped photosensitive member supporting member 17 is also pivotally attached to the hinge shaft 12, which rotatably supports the photosensitive member shaft 5a and substantially assembles the photosensitive member on the process cartridge 4 side. .

The developing device 9, the cleaning device 10, and the photoconductor supporting member 17 include
One end of each of the wires 18A, 18B, 18C is fixed.

Each wire 18A, 18B, 18C is collected and passed through the wire slide guide 19 formed integrally with the handle 16, and then,
It is connected to one end of the main wire 18. Main wire
18 is passed through the inside of the handle 16, and the other end thereof is fixed to a knob 21 of a release operation portion 20 provided on the handle 16 as shown in FIG. The knob 21 is slidably provided on the handle 6 of the process cartridge 4 as indicated by an arrow in FIG.

Here, when replacing the process cartridge, the front cover 3 is opened as shown in FIG.
The cartridge tray 2 on which the process cartridge 4 shown in the figure is slid is moved to move the cartridge and the cartridge out of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Next, with the process cartridge 4 still mounted on the tray 2, the handle 16 shown in FIG. 2 is lifted and rotated around the hinge shaft 12 to raise the handle 16 as shown in FIG. 4 (A). Let

In such a state, turn the knob 21 shown in FIG. 3 from the X position to the Y position.
Slide to position. Then, the main wire 18 is pulled, and along with this, each wire 18A, shown in FIG.
18B and 18C will be attracted respectively. As a result, the developing device 9, the cleaning device 10, and the photosensitive member supporting member 17 are rotated around the common hinge shaft 12, and the developing device 9 and the photosensitive member supporting member 17 are rotated counterclockwise.
10 is rotated clockwise.

That is, they are rotated to the positions shown in FIG. 4 (B), and the developing device 9 and the cleaning device 10 are separated from the photoconductor 5, respectively. As a result, the developing sleeve 13, the seal member 14 (FIG. 5), and the cleaning blade 15, which have been in contact with the photoconductor 5 until now, are separated from the photoconductor 5.

At the same time, the photosensitive member supporting member 17 is also separated from the photosensitive member shaft 5a, and the photosensitive member supporting member releases the photosensitive member shaft 5a.

As shown in FIG. 3, one end of another main wire 18 'is fixed to the knob 21 together with the main wire 18, and when the knob 21 is slid from the X position to the Y position, the main wire 18' is pulled. In the same manner, the photoconductor supporting member (not shown) on the back side is rotated to separate the photoconductor supporting member from the photoconductor shaft on the back side.

With the above-described structure, the photoconductor 5, the developing device 9 and the cleaning device
Image forming process equipment such as 10 can be separated from each other,
For example, when the life of the photoconductor 5 has not reached the end, the process cartridge without the photoconductor is taken out while the photoconductor 5 is placed on the cartridge tray 2 (FIG. 1).

As described above, by the sliding operation of the knob 21, the developing device 9
The knob 21 and each of the two image forming process devices are connected via wires so that the two image forming process devices of the cleaning device 10 and the cleaning device 10 open from the closed position to the open position.

When the life of the photoconductor 5 is exhausted, the process cartridge 4 is left in the state shown in FIG.
It will be taken out from (Fig. 1).

When the process cartridge is taken out while the photoconductor that can still be used is placed on the cartridge tray 2, after that, a new cartridge having no photoconductor is placed in the state shown in FIG. Tray 2
When the knob 21 shown in FIG. 3 is returned from the Y position to the X position by covering the upper photosensitive member 5, the developing device 9 and the cleaning device 10 are rotated by their own weight to the position shown in FIG. 4 (A). The photoconductor supporting member 17 can be returned, and the photoconductor supporting member 17 can be engaged with the photoconductor shaft 5a by its own weight. It is effective to attach a weight to the photosensitive member supporting member itself in order to promote the rotation return of the photosensitive member supporting member due to its own weight.

By attaching to the hinge shaft 12 a torsion coil spring or the like that urges the developing device 9 and the cleaning device 10 to rotate in a direction of narrowing each other, both can be reliably returned to their original positions.
In addition, if a proper spring is used in place of the weight to give the photoconductor support member 17 a clockwise rotation habit, the photoconductor support member 17 is securely attached to the photoconductor shaft support 5a when the knob 21 is returned. Can be engaged with. After that, the photoconductor support member 17 achieves a function as a bearing of the photoconductor shaft.

After returning the photoconductor support member 17 and the like, the handle 16 shown in FIG. 4 (A) is laid down as shown in FIG. 2 and the cartridge 4 is stored in the apparatus together with the tray 2 shown in FIG. The photoconductor 5, the developing device 9 and the like can be set in an operating state.

In this embodiment, the direction in which the photosensitive member support member 17 retreats is toward the developing device 9 side, but it may be toward the cleaning device 10 side.

Further, in the state of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 (A) or FIG. 5, when the developing device 9 and the cleaning device 10 themselves are configured to hold the photoconductor 5, the photoconductor supporting member 17 is omitted. You may. For example, developing sleeve 13, cleaning blade
An example is a case where 15 and other rollers are brought into contact with the photoconductor 5 so that the photoconductor 5 can be held by these.

According to the embodiment described above, the image forming process device and the photoconductor 5 can be separated or assembled by a very simple operation of sliding the knob 21. Moreover, the structure for the separation is extremely simple. Furthermore, when replacing the cartridge, there is no need to touch the photoconductor and there is no need to worry that the life of the photoconductor will be shortened.

Further, since the process cartridge and the photoconductor are separated from each other on the cartridge tray 2 outside the main body of the image forming apparatus, for example, as shown in FIG. It is not necessary to obtain a space for expanding the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the apparatus itself does not become bulky.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the developing device 9 is provided with a toner supply tank 24 as shown in FIG. 7, and the cleaning device 10 is also provided with a recovery toner tank 25 as shown in FIG.
At 26, both tanks can be taken out from the process cartridge 4'at the same time.

The handle 26 can be raised and lowered, and is normally laid down. In this state, when the developing device 9 and the cleaning device 10 are opened and folded, the grip portion 26a of the handle 26 can be bent, and a portion indicated by a reference numeral 26b. Is configured as a hinge part.

Also in this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, the cartridge replacement work can be performed in a free space outside the main body of the image forming apparatus. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, by raising the handle 26, grasping it and lifting it upward, both tanks 24, 25 can be removed with one touch. As described above, only the tanks 24 and 25 that are frequently used can be replaced, and the other cartridge portions can be repeatedly used, so that the economical burden on the user can be reduced. Of course, the tanks 24 and 25 can be separately removed from the cartridge so that only one tank 24 or 25 can be replaced.

Although the developing device 9 and the cleaning device 10 are combined with the photoconductor 5 in the above-described embodiments,
Other imaging process equipment may be combined.

As described above, according to the present invention, in order to separate the image forming process equipment and the image carrier from each other, it is sufficient to operate the knob.
The operability is enhanced. Moreover, the structure for separating them from each other is simple because the wire and the knob are used, and the cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. Furthermore, the image forming process equipment of the process cartridge can be replaced without touching the image carrier, and the life of the image carrier is not shortened. Also, the process cartridge can be replaced with the image bearing member attached, and it is possible to freely select whether the image bearing member is attached or not attached while considering the life of the image bearing member. Then, the process cartridge can be replaced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a process cartridge, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a knob provided on a handle portion of the process cartridge, and FIG.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are views for explaining the mutual separation action of the image forming process equipment and the photoconductor, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the process cartridge, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a process cartridge of another example. FIG. 7 and FIG. 7 are cross-sectional views thereof. 1 ... Image forming apparatus main body 2 ... Cartridge tray 4, 4 '... Process cartridge 18, 18A, 18B ... Wire 21 ... Knob

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP 56-121053 (JP, A) JP 62-192771 (JP, A) JP 62-170979 (JP, A) JP 59-61847 (JP , A) Actually open 63-162354 (JP, U) Actually open 61-201054 (JP, U) Actually open 1-136945 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A process cartridge integrally incorporating an image bearing member and a plurality of image forming process devices arranged around the image bearing member, carrying the process cartridge, and mounting the cartridge in an image forming apparatus main body and an image. A cartridge tray that moves between the outside of the main body of the forming apparatus and the two image forming process devices of the process cartridge, and a closed position where the image carrier is sandwiched between the two image forming process devices and the image forming process device. And an open position that is opened and expanded so that the image carrier can be removed from the
A knob is slidably provided on the process cartridge, and the knob and the two image forming process devices are opened so that the two image forming process devices open from the closed position to the open position by the sliding operation of the knob. An image forming apparatus in which each of these is connected via a wire.