JPH103247A - Image forming unit of image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To disassemble a portion of an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus that stores, transports or moves toner or developer,
It improves the workability of assembly and satisfies the tightness and maintainability of assembly accuracy. A bearing storage case portion (83) for storing a toner recycling belt, a bearing (42a) for a toner conveying screw, a bearing (43a) for an agent stirring member, and the like, has screw holes (84, 85) provided in an upper case (81) and a lower case (82). To conclude,
The stirring member storage case portion 87 that stores the agent stirring member and the like,
A plurality of claws 88 are provided on the outer peripheral edge of the upper case 81, and a plurality of openings 89 are provided on the outer peripheral edge of the lower case 82.
Is locked to the edge of the opening 89 and fastened. In the stirring member storage case portion 87, a seal material 90 is attached to an outer peripheral portion of the lower case 82 inside the opening 89 to eliminate a gap between the upper case 81 and the lower case 82, thereby preventing the developer from scattering.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming unit having improved disassembly and assemblage around a developer or toner supply section and a toner recycling apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and facsimile machines have been miniaturized. However, in order to achieve the demand for miniaturization, a photoconductor, a developing device, An image forming unit is often configured by housing a charging device or the like in an integrated case to contribute to downsizing of the entire image forming apparatus. In this way, the life of each of the components such as the photoreceptor, the developing unit, the cleaning blade, the charging roller, and the toner recycling unit of the image forming system can be made more economical, and the replacement of the components can be performed separately. Instead of doing it at the time,
There is an advantage that it is only necessary to replace one unit at a time and the handling becomes easy. In addition, resource conservation has become an important issue due to an increase in environmental protection in recent years, and the above-described image forming units have been designed and manufactured so that they can be reused as much as possible.

[0003] In a case where a photosensitive member or the like is integrally housed, a portion for housing, transporting or moving toner or developer is required to maintain sealing performance and assembly accuracy. It is divided into two parts, the lower case, and the toner conveying screw, bearing, toner conveying belt, etc. are installed inside. Then, the outer edges of the divided upper and lower cases are combined and screwed or spot welded and fastened over the entire outer edge. I have. Of course, the desired degree of sealing and maintenance of assembly accuracy can be obtained by screwing or welding the entire outer peripheral edge, but the workability of screwing is extremely poor considering the assembly process as an imaging unit. In the case of spot welding, when it is disassembled, the welded portion of the case is destroyed, so that there is a problem that the case that is most likely to be reused must be discarded.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus which can satisfy both of hermeticity and maintainability of assembling accuracy, and has good workability of disassembling and assembling.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming unit for an image forming apparatus, comprising: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus to be accommodated in the image forming apparatus, wherein a part for storing, transporting, or moving the toner or the developer in the case is divided into two parts, and an outer peripheral edge of the divided part is fastened together. In the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus, a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the divided portion having a bearing portion and a movable portion therein is provided with a screw hole on one side and a screw insertion hole on the other side, and is screwed. In another portion of the outer peripheral edge of the divided portion, a claw body is provided on one side, and an opening is provided on the other side,
The claw body and the opening edge are locked.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a sealing material is interposed between the claw body and the outer peripheral edge of the divided portion which is engaged with the opening edge.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, an image forming unit for an image forming apparatus using an embodiment of a toner carrying-out device of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and various elements constituting the image forming apparatus in combination with the toner conveying apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. . FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an embodiment of an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the image forming unit, the transfer / separation device, the fixing device and the like in FIG. is there.

In these figures, reference numeral 10 denotes an image forming unit, 11 denotes a transfer / separation device, and 12 denotes a fixing device. The image forming unit 10 is formed in a cartridge shape and is mounted on an image forming apparatus main body (not shown). It is removable.
Further, the transfer / separation device 11 includes a transfer roller 13 and is rotatable in a vertical direction in FIG.
The fixing device 12 includes a pressure roller 15 and a heating roller 16.

In the illustrated image forming unit 10, a photosensitive member 18, a charging roller 19 constituting a charging device, a developing device 20, a cleaning device 21, and a residual toner collected by the cleaning device 21 are placed in a case 17 around the photosensitive member. A toner recycle belt 22, which is fed to the developing device 11, a toner conveying screw 42, an agent stirring member 43, and the like are provided.
In the drawing, reference numeral 37 denotes an upper cover which is attached so as to cover the case 17 around the photoreceptor, and prevents a person from contacting the photoreceptor 18, the charging roller 19 and the like.

An image forming operation using the image forming unit configured as described above will be briefly described. First, with the image forming apparatus main body mounted at a predetermined position, the photosensitive member 18 is rotatable in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 by a drive source (not shown). The surface is neutralized by irradiating static elimination light from a static elimination lamp (not shown), and the surface potential is averaged to a reference potential of, for example, 0 to -150V. Next, a high voltage is applied to the charging roller 19 which is in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 18 to charge the photoreceptor 18, and the surface potential is set to, for example, about -1100V. Then, the charged potential surface is exposed, and the surface potential to form an image is, for example, 0 to 0.
A latent image portion of -290 V is formed.

When the latent image portion is moved to the position of the developing sleeve 23 of the developing device 20 by the rotation of the photosensitive member 18, the latent image portion is held on the surface of the developing sleeve 23 in which a bias of about -800 V is applied. The latent toner adheres, and the latent image portion is developed to become a toner image (visible image).

On the other hand, the transfer paper P fed from a paper feed unit (not shown) is moved by the registration roller pair 24 so that the front end of the transfer paper P and the front end of the toner image on the photoreceptor 18 coincide at the position of the transfer roller 13. The timing is adjusted, and the toner image on the photoconductor 18 is transferred to the transfer paper P by the transfer roller 13. The transfer paper P is conveyed between the pressure roller 15 and the heating roller 16 of the fixing device 12, where the transferred toner is fused to the transfer paper P by heat and pressure, and is transferred to a discharge tray (not shown) outside the apparatus. Discharge.

The residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor 18 after the image is transferred is scraped off by a cleaning blade 25 of a cleaning device 21, and the toner is adhered to the surface of the photoreceptor 18 and almost no residual toner is left. Move to The residual toner collected by the cleaning device 21 is transferred to the developing device 20 by the toner recycling belt 22.
Is transported to the developer agitating section 26, and is collected.
And the toner is recycled by supplying the toner to the developing sleeve 23 again. In the figure, 41 is the cleaning blade 2
5 holder.

FIG. 3 shows toner supply of the image forming unit of FIG.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a case for accommodating an agent stirring section and a toner recycling device. The image forming unit 10 according to the present embodiment includes a portion which is located on a side portion of the photoreceptor surrounding case 17 and accommodates a toner recycling device such as a toner recycle belt 22 and a bearing of a member in the photoreceptor surrounding case 17 and the like. An agent cartridge 80 for supplying the developer, which is located on the upstream side in the transport direction of the transfer paper P of the surrounding case 17.
As shown in FIG. 3, a portion covering the developer agitating portion 26 and the like on which the is mounted is divided into an upper case 81 and a lower case 82 having a substantially L-shaped planar shape.

A roller around which the toner recycle belt 22 is wound, a bearing 42a of the toner conveying screw 42,
The upper case 8 includes a portion (hereinafter, referred to as a bearing storage case portion 83) for storing the bearing 43a and the like of the agent stirring member 43.
Screw holes 84 and 85 are provided at two corresponding locations of
And fastened with screws 86. Further, as for a portion for accommodating the agent stirring member 43 and the like (hereinafter, referred to as a stirring member storage case portion 87), a plurality of claws 88 are provided on the outer peripheral edge portion of the upper case 81 and the lower case 8 is provided.
A plurality of openings 89...
Is locked to the edge of the opening 89 and fastened.

For the stirring member storage case 87, a sponge-like sealing material 90 is attached to the outer peripheral edge of the lower case 82 inside the opening 89, and a gap between the upper case 81 and the lower case 82 at this position. This prevents the developer from scattering or leaking, and prevents rattling.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the operation of locking the claw body 88 to the edge of the opening 89. In locking, first, before screwing the bearing storage case portion 83, the upper case 81 is inclined as shown in FIG.
Are inserted from the upper side into the corresponding openings 89 in advance. Then, the upper case 81 is rotated as shown by an arrow in FIG. 4A, and the seal material 90 is laid on the lower case 82 so as to be crushed from above. Then, FIG.
As shown in (B), the upper surface of the hook portion 88a of the claw body 88 is hooked on the lower surface of the outer edge of the opening 89, so that it is easily locked. In addition, the gap between the upper case 81 and the lower case 82 is not filled with the sealing material 90.

Thereafter, a screw 86 is inserted from the screw hole 84 of the upper case 81 and screwed into the screw hole 85 of the lower case 82 to complete the fastening. When removing the upper case 81,
The reverse operation may be performed. This bearing storage case part 8
3 is screwed, so that the seal is
Although a sufficient fastening state can be obtained without interposing a seal between 1 and 82, a sealing material may be used together like the stirring member storage case portion 87. In addition, the number of screwing points is not limited to two as in the illustrated example, and the screwing points and the number thereof may be set as appropriate.

Further, the claw body used for the locking structure of the stirring member storage case portion 87 is not limited to the shape shown in the illustrated example. If both cases 81 and 82 are made of resin, they have elasticity and can be slightly deformed. For this reason, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, a small projection 88c is formed, and the opening 89 has substantially the same size as the claw 88.
Alternatively, the projection 88c may be deformed and locked by returning to the original state after completion of insertion, so-called snap fit or patching.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper case 81
Are integrally formed, but may be divided into, for example, a portion that is bent at a right angle and covers the bearing storage case 83 and the stirring member storage case 87. In the case of such a divided structure, it is preferable that the divided portions are slightly overlapped with each other, and that a sealing material is interposed between the divided portions to prevent leakage of the developer.

[0021]

As described above, the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention divides a portion for accommodating a toner or a developer in a case for accommodating a photoreceptor or the like into a housing, and a bearing portion therein. The outer peripheral edge of the divided part having the movable part and the movable part is screwed, and the other parts are engaged with the claws and the opening edge, so that both the sealing performance and the maintainability of assembly accuracy are satisfied according to each fastening part In addition, the disassembling and assembling work can be simplified, and the case can be disassembled without destroying the fastening portion of the case, so that the case can be easily reused.

In the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the sealing member is sandwiched between the claw and the outer peripheral edge of the locking portion of the opening edge. There is an effect that rattling can be easily prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an embodiment of an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement of an image forming unit, a transfer / separation device, a fixing device, and the like in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a fastening structure of a case of a portion that stores a toner replenishing unit, an agent stirring unit, and a toner recycling device of the image forming unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a fastening operation of the structure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a modification of the fastening structure of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 image forming unit 11 transfer / separation device 12 fixing device 13 transfer roller 14 rotation fulcrum 15 pressure roller 16 heating roller 17 photosensitive member surrounding case 17a toner collecting case portion 18 photosensitive member 19 charging roller 20 developing device 21 cleaning device 22 toner Recycling belt 23 Developing sleeve 24 Registration roller pair 25 Cleaning blade 26 Developer stirring section 37 Upper cover 41 Cleaning blade holder 42 Toner transport screw 42a Bearing 43 Agent stirring member 43a Bearing 80 Agent cartridge 81 Upper case 82 Lower case 83 Bearing storage case Part 84, 85 Screw hole 86 Screw 87 Stirring member storage case part 88 Claw body 88a, 88b Hook part 88c Projection 89 Opening 90 Seal material P Transfer paper

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Watanabe 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Kenzo Tatsumi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Toshitaka Yamaguchi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yoshinaga 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Ricoh Company ( 72) Inventor Ken Amamiya 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mayumi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming unit for an image forming apparatus in which a photoconductor, a developing device, a charging device, and the like are housed in an integrated case, and a part of the case for storing, transporting, or moving toner and developer. Is divided into two parts, and the outer peripheral edge of the divided part is joined together and fastened. In the image forming unit, the part of the outer peripheral edge of the divided part having a bearing portion and a movable part therein is one side. A screw hole is provided on the other side, and a screw insertion hole is provided on the other side and screwed, and a claw body is provided on one side and an opening is provided on the other side at another portion of the outer peripheral edge of the divided portion, and the claw body is provided. An image forming unit for an image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming unit serves as a stop for the opening edge. 2. The image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein a sealing material is interposed between the claw body and an outer peripheral edge of the divided portion which is engaged with the opening edge.