JPH07107623B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer or an electrostatic copying machine in which an imaging unit for performing image processing can be removed from the apparatus main body.

<Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Generally, in the image forming apparatus, a photoreceptor, a developing device, a cleaning device, and the like are mounted on a frame to configure an imaging unit, and at the same time, maintenance is facilitated. In order to ensure this, the imaging unit is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

In the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, when the imaging unit is attached and detached, it is attached and detached along the supporting guide means such as the rail. However, this supporting guide means is fixedly attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. Was there. Therefore,
It was not easy to attach and detach the imaging unit.

In order to solve such a problem, the support guide means is provided with one end between a raised position where the imaging unit is detachable and a lowered position where the imaging unit is set in the image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus has been proposed in which the image forming apparatus is attached to the image forming apparatus main body so as to be freely rotatable around the center (Japanese Patent Application No. 63-285159).

Further, in this image forming apparatus, the imaging unit is composed of a first unit having a developing device and a second unit having a photoconductor, and the second unit is attachable to and detachable from the first unit. I am free.
This is because the frequency of maintenance on the photoconductor is about four times the frequency of maintenance on the developing device, and when maintenance of only the photoconductor is sufficient, it is necessary to remove the entire heavy imaging unit. This is because the maintenance can be easily performed without the need for the maintenance. In this image forming apparatus, when setting the imaging unit, first the first unit is engaged with the support guide unit in the raised position, and then the second unit is engaged with the support guide unit and both units are connected. Both units are attached to each other, and then the support guide unit is pivoted to the lowered position to set both units in the image forming apparatus main body. The unit is pulled out in the reverse operation.

By the way, the sleeve of the developing device for supporting the toner on the photoconductor needs to be close to the photoconductor. In the above image forming apparatus, since the photoconductor and the developing device are configured as separate units, the developing device is placed on the photoconductor side so that the sleeve is close to the photoconductor when both units are mounted. An urging means for urging the device is provided.

Therefore, the work of attaching the second unit to the first unit must be performed against the above-mentioned biasing means, and there is a new problem that it is difficult to attach and detach.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which units can be easily attached and detached.

<Means for Solving the Problem> An image forming apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object, an imaging unit for performing image processing is detachably supported on an image forming apparatus main body, and the imaging unit is pulled out. A supporting guide means is provided which is rotatable between a raised position and a lowered position set in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the developing unit is mounted on a frame body in which the imaging unit is engaged with the supporting guide means. The developing device includes a first unit and a second unit to which the photoconductor is attached and which is detachable from the first unit. A first urging unit is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the frame body relative to the operating position, and urges the developing device to the operating position between the developing device and the frame body. Is provided,
The developing device is urged toward the non-acting position side against the first urging means in a state where the frame is engaged with the support guide means in the raised position, and the first urging means A second urging means for relaxing the urging force is interposed between the image forming apparatus main body and the developing device.

In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus main body is provided with an imaging unit for performing image processing that is detachably supported, and between an ascending position where the imaging unit is extracted and a descending position where the imaging unit is set in the image forming apparatus main body. A first unit having a developing device mounted on a frame engaged with the support guiding unit, and a photoconductor mounted on the imaging unit; The developing device is configured to include a second unit that is attachable to and detachable from the unit, and the developing device is relatively rotatable with respect to the frame between an operating position near the photoconductor and a non-operating position away from the photoconductor. The developing device is urged to the operating position while the supporting guide means provided in the lowered position is engaged with the frame body, and the supporting guide means in the raised position is provided with the frame. There in engaged condition, biasing means the biasing is released, may be one which is interposed between the main body of the image forming apparatus and the developing device.

Further, an imaging unit for performing image processing is composed of a first unit in which a developing device is mounted on a frame body, and a second unit in which a photoconductor is mounted and which is detachable from the first unit. The developing device is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the frame between an acting position close to the photoconductor and a non-acting position away from the photoconductor. A rotating unit is provided that is rotatable between a descending position that is close to it and an ascending position that is separated from the imaging unit. The rotating unit is rotated to the descending position between the rotating unit and the developing device. The developing device may be urged to the operating position in this state, and the urging means for releasing the urging with the rotation of the rotating portion to the raised position may be interposed. .

<Operation> According to the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, in the first unit in which the developing device is mounted on the frame body, the developing device has a working position close to the photoconductor and a non-working position separated from the photoconductor. Since the space between the developing device and the frame is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the frame, the first urging means for urging the developing device to the working position is provided. The developing device receives a biasing force to the operating position by the first biasing means. The developing device is urged toward the non-acting position side by the second urging means in a state where the frame body is engaged with the support guide means in the raised position, and the urging force of the first urging means. Can be relaxed.

Further, the developing device is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the frame between the operating position and the non-operating position, and the developing device is developed in a state where the frame is engaged with the supporting guide means in the lowered position. The urging means for urging the apparatus to the operating position and for releasing the urging in a state where the frame body is engaged with the support guide means in the raised position are the image forming apparatus main body side and the developing device. In the state where the developing device is interposed between the developing device and the supporting guide means in the raised position, the urging means may release the urging of the developing device to the operating position. it can.

Further, the image forming apparatus main body is provided with a rotating portion that is rotatable between a descending position close to the imaging unit and an ascending position separated from the imaging unit,
Between the rotating portion and the developing device, the developing device is biased to the operating position while the rotating portion is rotated to the lowered position, and with the rotation of the rotating portion to the raised position, When the urging means for releasing the urging is interposed, the urging means releases the urging of the developing device to the working position while the rotating portion is rotated to the raised position. Can be set.

<Embodiment> An embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 are schematic views showing the essential parts of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in which the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus is provided with support guide means 3. The support guide means 3 includes a raised position (see FIG. 1) for detachably supporting the imaging unit 2 that performs image processing, and a lowered position (see FIG. 2) for setting the imaging unit 2 in the image forming apparatus main body 1. ) And can be swung about the swivel axis 10.

The imaging unit 2 has a second unit 7 having a photoconductor drum 71 as a photoconductor for forming an electrostatic latent image on its surface, and a developing device 6 for developing the electrostatic latent image mounted on the frame body 5. In addition, the second unit 4 and the detachable first unit 4 are included. With the convex portion 72 of the second unit 7 inserted in the groove portion 52 provided in the frame body 5 of the first unit 4, the first unit 4 and the second unit 7 can be mounted. ing.

The developing device 6 has a sleeve 61 for supporting the toner on the photosensitive drum 71. The developing device 6 is rotatably provided about an axis 54 provided on the frame body 5 between an operating position near the photosensitive drum 71 and a non-operating position away from the photosensitive drum 7. At the working position, the distance between the photosensitive drum 71 and the sleeve 61 is set to be appropriate. In addition, the pins 51 provided on the frame 5 and the developing device 6
A tension coil spring 8 as a first urging means for urging the developing device 6 to the above-mentioned working position (clockwise in FIG. 1) is interposed between the pin 61 and the pin 61. Frame 5
A pair of guided protrusions 53 are provided on both sides of the.

The support guide means 3 has a pair of ridges 32 and 33 formed on the inner surface 31a of the vertical support plate 31 at intervals in the vertical direction. The lower ridge 33 extends in a substantially straight line, and the upper ridge 32
In FIG. 1, the right part extends linearly along the ridge 33, and the left part extends upwardly to the left, and the space between the ridge 32 and the ridge 33 extends. A guide groove 34 that guides the guided convex portion 53 of the frame body 5 of the first unit 4 is formed in the. Due to the upward inclination of the left portion of the ridge 32, the guide groove 34 in this portion is largely opened, and the mounting of the first unit 4 is facilitated.

The image forming apparatus main body 1 is provided with a leaf spring 9 as a second urging unit. The leaf spring 9 is in a state in which the upper portion of the developing device 6 is slightly bent to the right in FIG. 1 in a state where the frame 5 of the first unit 4 is engaged with the support guide means 3 in the raised position. Press with. As a result, the leaf spring 9
Against the tension coil spring 8, the developing device 6 (the first
It is designed to urge the non-acting position side (counterclockwise in the figure). Further, when the support guide means 3 is pivotally moved to the lowered position, the leaf spring 9 is separated from the upper portion of the developing device 6 to release the bias.

According to this embodiment, the developing device 6 receives the urging force to the working position by the tension spring 8, but the frame body 5 of the first unit 4 is engaged with the support guide means 3 in the raised position. In the opened state, the developing device 6 has the image forming apparatus main body 1
The leaf spring 9 provided on the upper portion of the tension spring 8 is urged toward the non-acting position side against the urging force of the tension spring 8 (see FIG. 1), and the urging force of the tension spring 8 is relaxed. Then, in this state, the second unit 7 is mounted on the first unit 4, so that the mounting can be carried out very easily without the need for mounting against the spring force as in the conventional case. be able to.

As shown in FIG. 3, instead of the tension coil spring 8, a leaf spring 8'may be interposed between the frame 5 and the developing device 6. In addition, other elastic members such as a compression coil spring and a torsion spring may be used as the first urging means for urging the developing device 6.

The leaf spring 9 may be attached to the developing device 6 side, and in this case, as shown in FIG.
It can be formed in a letter shape or the like. Further, the leaf spring 9 may be attached to both the developing device 6 and the image forming apparatus main body 1 to be implemented. Besides, as the second biasing means, a compression coil spring may be used instead of the leaf spring 9.

4 and 5 show another embodiment. This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the tension spring 8 and the leaf spring 9 are not provided, and the image forming apparatus main body 1 is provided with
The point is that a compression coil spring 11 is provided as a biasing means.

The compression coil spring 11 pushes the lower portion of the developing device 6 to bring the developing device 6 into the operating position in a state where the frame body 5 of the first unit 4 is engaged with the support guide means 3 in the lowered position. Although biased (see FIG. 5), the compression coil spring 11 can be separated from the developing device 6 to release the bias when the support guide means 3 is pivotally moved to the raised position (fourth position). See figure).

In this embodiment, in addition to the same effect as described above, the number of parts can be reduced.

Also in the above embodiment, the compression coil spring 11 may be attached to either one or both of the developing device 6 and the image forming apparatus 1.

Further, in any of the above embodiments, the image forming apparatus
In the case of the clamshell type, which is divided into a lower unit and an upper unit that can be rotated and opened, the support guide means 3 that supports the imaging unit 2 is fixedly attached to the upper unit. In this case, the support guide means 3 can be swung between the ascending position and the descending position as the upper unit is rotated and opened.

FIG. 6 shows the compression coil spring 11 for urging the developing device 6 to the operating position, the developing device 6, and an optical unit as a rotating portion.
The optical unit 1b is fixed to an upper housing 1a provided so as to be rotatable and openable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1 so as to be integrally rotatable. In this case, the upper housing 1a is closed, that is, the optical unit 1b is connected to the imaging unit 2
The developing device 6 can be urged to the operating position by the compression coil spring 11 in the state of being close to the above, and the urging is released by opening the upper housing 1a and separating the optical unit 1b from the imaging unit 2. be able to. In the above embodiment, the compression coil spring 11 is
It may be carried out by interposing it between the developing device 6 and the upper housing 1a. In short, the compression coil spring 11 is
It suffices that it is interposed between the rotary unit and the rotary unit that can rotate relative to the imaging unit 2. Further, in the above embodiment, the support guide means 3 for supporting the imaging unit 2 is used.
However, the present invention can be applied and implemented even when it is fixedly attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
When the second unit provided with the photoconductor is attached to the first unit provided with the developing device, the spring force for bringing the developing device close to the photoconductor can be relaxed or released. Therefore, there is a unique effect that the mounting can be performed very easily without the need to mount the spring while resisting the spring force as in the conventional case.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a state before the second unit is attached to the first unit, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state where the attachment is completed, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment, FIG. 4 is another image forming apparatus, and is a schematic side view showing a state before the second unit is attached to the first unit, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view showing a completed state, and FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing still another image forming apparatus. 1 ... Image forming apparatus main body, 2 ... Imaging unit, 3 ... Support guide means, 4 ... First unit, 5 ...
... Frame, 6 ... Developing device, 7 ... Second unit, 8 ...
... tension coil spring (first biasing means), 9 ... leaf spring (second biasing means), 11 ... compression coil spring (biasing means), 71 ... photoconductor drum (photoconductor), 1a …… Upper housing (rotating part), 1b …… Optical unit (rotating part).

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-1-101561 (JP, A) JP-A-63-65454 (JP, A) JP-A-62-294263 (JP, A) JP-A-56-155952 (JP , A) Actually opened 63-45556 (JP, U) Actually opened 60-51554 (JP, U)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus main body which supports an imaging unit for performing image processing in a removable manner, and is rotatable between an ascending position where the imaging unit is extracted and a descending position where the imaging unit is set in the image forming apparatus main body. A first unit in which a support guide unit is provided, the imaging unit is a first unit in which a developing device is mounted on a frame engaged with the support guide unit;
A photoconductor is mounted, and the second unit is detachably attached to the first unit. The developing device is provided between a working position close to the photoconductor and a non-working position separated from the photoconductor. A first urging unit, which is rotatably provided relative to the frame body and urges the developing device to the working position, is provided between the developing device and the frame body, and is provided in a raised position. With the frame member engaged with the guide means, the developing device is urged toward the non-acting position side against the first urging means, and the urging force of the first urging means is relaxed. An image forming apparatus, wherein the second urging means is interposed between the image forming apparatus main body and the developing device. 2. An image forming apparatus main body which supports an imaging unit for performing image processing so that the imaging unit can be extracted, and is rotatable between an ascending position where the imaging unit is extracted and a descending position where the imaging unit is set in the image forming apparatus main body. A first unit in which a support guide unit is provided, the imaging unit is a first unit in which a developing device is mounted on a frame engaged with the support guide unit;
A photoconductor is mounted, and the second unit is detachably attached to the first unit. The developing device is provided between a working position close to the photoconductor and a non-working position separated from the photoconductor. The developing device is rotatably provided with respect to the frame body, and in a state where the frame body is engaged with the support guide means in the lowered position, the developing device is urged to the working position and the support device in the raised position is supported. An image forming apparatus characterized in that an urging means for releasing the urging in a state where the frame is engaged with the guide means is interposed between the image forming apparatus main body side and the developing device. . 3. An imaging unit for performing image processing,
The frame is composed of a first unit in which the developing device is mounted, and a second unit in which the photosensitive member is mounted and which is detachably attached to the first unit. The developing device is close to the photosensitive member. Between the working position and the non-working position separated from the photoconductor are rotatably provided with respect to the frame body, and the image forming apparatus main body is separated from the lowered position close to the imaging unit and the imaging unit. A rotating unit is provided that is rotatable between the rising position and the developing unit, and the developing unit is moved to the working position between the rotating unit and the developing unit while the rotating unit is rotated to the lowered position. An image forming apparatus comprising: an urging unit that urges the urging unit to release the urging with the rotation of the rotating unit to a raised position.