JPH10228171A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To allow a general user, not a service technician, to carry out replacement work of each part including a photoconductor, thereby simplifying and simplifying the work. A guide surface protruding from a device main body is provided.
The guide member 2 provided with 7,518 is provided, rotated, and the guide member 2 is stored. At the storage position of the guide member 2, a constant pressure is applied to the photoconductor unit and pressed against the apparatus main body 500 to fix the photoconductor unit 1. When the photosensitive belt unit 1 is attached or detached, the guide member 2 is rotated, and in conjunction with the operation of projecting from the apparatus, the developing device 5
04a is retracted to a position where the photosensitive belt unit 1 can be attached and detached so that the developing device 504a and the transfer body are not damaged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a photoreceptor of an electrophotographic apparatus has a short life as compared with the life of the apparatus due to deterioration of chargeability and deterioration of a surface state, and generally requires replacement as a consumable.

[0003] In such a photoreceptor unit attaching / detaching mechanism, the photoreceptor unit is inserted up to the guide surface in the apparatus main body,
A configuration for fixing after being stored in a main body device is widely used.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-78888, a handle provided on a photosensitive drum unit is supported and guided to a fixed position by a guide surface provided in the apparatus main body. After insertion, the handle is rotated and stored, and the engaging member interlocked with the handle support shaft is rotated to press the photosensitive drum unit against the apparatus main body,
Fixed.

In such an apparatus, when the photosensitive member is removed, a structure for securing a necessary distance is required so as not to be damaged by a developing device and a transfer member which are in contact with or in proximity to the photosensitive member. As one solution, there is a structure in which the developing device is securely inactivated and a distance from the photosensitive member is set, and then the developing device is detached. Such an example is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-5-66660. Have been.

[0006]

Recently, there has been a demand for a structure in which a general user can carry out the replacement work of each part including the photoreceptor, not a specialized service technician, instead of a specialized service technician. And making it easier is even more important.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a guide member provided with a guide surface protruding from the apparatus main body, and rotates and accommodates the guide member. Further, at the guide member storage position, a constant pressure is applied to the photoconductor unit, and the photoconductor unit is pressed against the apparatus main body to fix the photoconductor unit.

Further, the guide member is rotated when the photosensitive belt unit is attached and detached, and in conjunction with the operation of projecting from the apparatus, the developing device is retracted by the developing retracting member to a position where the photosensitive belt unit can be attached and detached. Avoid damage.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a color electrophotographic printer to which the present invention is applied. Photoreceptor 501 formed in belt shape
Is uniformly charged by the charger 502, and the scanning optical system 503 is charged.
After a latent image is formed by the developing units 504a to 504
By 4d, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer drum 505. The charging and exposure are performed for each color, and the photoconductor 501 is cleaned by the cleaning blade 506 and initialized by the eraser 507 every time. The developing units are arranged in the order of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow from the top. The paper 508 is sent out by a paper feed roller 509, is aligned in position by a pair of registration rollers 510, is sent in synchronization with an image on the intermediate transfer drum 505, and is transferred onto the paper by a transfer unit 511 to which a predetermined potential is applied. After the image is transferred and fixed by the fixing device 512, the sheet is discharged onto a tray on the upper surface of the apparatus by a pair of discharge rollers 513. The untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer drum 505 after the transfer is removed by the cleaner 514. The cleaner 514 and the transfer unit 511 are retracted from the intermediate transfer drum except during transfer to a sheet so that an image being formed is not disturbed. Each developing unit is movable in the left-right direction in the figure along the guide member, and is removable in the horizontal direction by opening the door 515. Each of the developing devices is selectively moved between an advanced operating position and a retracted retracted position by rotating the cams 516a to 516d.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the photosensitive belt unit attaching / detaching mechanism of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view when the photosensitive belt unit is mounted on the apparatus main body. FIG. 4 is a side view when the photosensitive belt unit is detached.

The photosensitive belt unit 1 includes an operator holding unit 1
03 and bearings 101 and 102 are provided. The guide member 2 is provided above the photosensitive belt unit mounting position on the apparatus main body 500, and rotates around a fulcrum 201. In FIG. 3, the guide member 2 acts to press the bearing 101 downward by the association portion 202 to fix the photosensitive belt unit. On the other hand, when the guide member 2 is operated and rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4, the fixing is released, and at the same time, it acts on the connecting portion 401 with the developing retreat member 4 to guide the developing retreat member 4 upward. The developing evacuation member 4 includes a developing evacuation guide surface 402a.
To 402d, and a shaft 519a to
Acting on 519d, the developing unit is moved rightward in FIG. When the guide member 2 is rotated to the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the developing devices 504a to 504d are retracted to the photosensitive belt unit replaceable position, and the guide surfaces 203 and 204 provided on the guide member 2 guide the apparatus body. Face 501,
When the photosensitive belt unit is replaced, the bearing 1
The state becomes effective as guidance for 01 and 102. With this mechanism, the photosensitive belt unit becomes detachable only by rotating the guide member 2, and the photosensitive belt unit can be fixed to the apparatus main body.

Further, the guide member 2 has a shape protruding from the apparatus main body, so that the position where the photosensitive belt unit is inserted can be clarified to the operator.

In the embodiment, the guide member 2 has a guide surface 206.
Is provided, and the bearing 10 is rotated by rotating the guide member 2.
1 to guide the photosensitive belt unit to a fixed position. If the photosensitive belt unit is out of the guideable range and is erroneously attached, the guide member 2 does not rotate, and it can be confirmed whether the photosensitive belt unit is attached correctly.

In the present embodiment, the photosensitive belt unit is detached from above, but it is clear that the photosensitive belt unit is effective regardless of the detaching direction.

[0016]

According to the present invention, when the photosensitive belt unit is mounted on the apparatus main body, the insertion position protrudes from the apparatus main body, so that it is clear, and incorrect insertion can be prevented. In addition, since the operation of storing the guide member and the operation of fixing the photosensitive belt unit at a predetermined position are a series, erroneous operation is prevented,
The number of parts can be reduced.

Further, the operability is improved by interlocking the evacuation of the developing device with the operation of the guide member.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a main part of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer to which the present invention has been applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photosensitive belt unit, 2 ... Guide member, 4 ... Development retraction member, 101, 102 ... Bearing, 103 ... Operator holding part,
201 ... fulcrum, 203, 204, 205, 517, 518
... Guide surface, 401 ... Connecting part, 402a-402d ... Development escape guide surface, 500 ... Device main body, photoreceptor belt, 504
a to 504d: developing device, 505: intermediate transfer drum,
519a to 519d: axis.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tomio Hayano 1-1-1 Higashitagacho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Pref.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus comprising: a detachable developing device; a detachable photosensitive belt unit having a photosensitive belt wound around a plurality of rollers supported by a case; and a detachable photosensitive belt unit mounted on the apparatus main body. In an image forming apparatus provided with a mechanism for driving at least one of the rollers, a guide member having an insertion guide surface protruding from the apparatus main body when the photosensitive belt unit is inserted, and the guide after the photosensitive belt unit is inserted. An image forming apparatus comprising: a mechanism for rotating a member to be housed in the apparatus main body, applying a predetermined pressure to the photosensitive belt unit by the guide member, and fixing the photosensitive belt unit. 2. An image according to claim 1, further comprising a developing device retreating member for removably moving the developing device to a position where the photosensitive belt unit can be detached and attached in conjunction with the guide member when the photosensitive belt unit is detached. Forming equipment. 3. The developing device retracting member according to claim 1, wherein the developing device retreating member is moved away from the developing device at a position where the guide member fixes the photosensitive belt unit, and is interlocked with the rotation of the guide member. An image forming apparatus which moves and moves the developing device to retract the developing device.