JP2983281B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image in which process means such as a charging charger, a developing device, a transfer charger and a cleaning device are provided in a plurality of units around an image carrier. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

In a conventional image forming apparatus, process means such as a charging charger and a developing device are divided and formed into a plurality of process units.These process units are adapted to the shape and layout of the main body of the image forming apparatus and satisfy respective functions. Had a complicated shape. These process units are usually mounted in a fixed state,
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-140264, these process units are fixedly mounted at predetermined positions so as to be slightly movable for attachment and detachment. . The mounting position of the process unit with respect to the photoconductor is also set at a predetermined position according to the layout.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the attachment position of the unit to the apparatus main body is fixed, the attachment and detachment work is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which the maintenance and replacement work is simple, and each of the process units can be mounted without error after the replacement work. To provide.

[Means for solving the problem]

The object has a plurality of process units in which at least one process unit is unitized among a plurality of process units for image formation arranged around the photoconductor, and the plurality of process units are separately provided. In an image forming apparatus configured to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, a driving gear for driving a process unit provided in the process unit and the plurality of process units can be integrally rotated about a rotation axis. This is attained by providing a supporting means for supporting the supporting unit, a rotating gear for rotating the process unit supported by the supporting means, and the driving gear and the rotating gear on different planes.

[Action]

By the means, a plurality of units are rotatable integrally with the image carrier and can be attached to and detached from the image carrier, so that the units are rotated and easily taken out one by one from the mounting opening of the apparatus main body, After the maintenance and replacement of the process means, each unit can be mounted one by one from the opening into a predetermined position by a simple rotation operation without error. In this case, by arranging a plurality of drive gears for driving the process means and a rotating gear for integrally rotating the process unit and the image carrier on different planes, the overall gear arrangement can be made compact. The drive gear can be easily retracted when the unit is rotating, and the image forming operation and maintenance replacement can be smoothly performed without interference between the gears.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in these figures, a contact glass 2 is disposed on the upper surface of a case C of the apparatus main body, and an original O to be subjected to image formation is placed on the contact glass 2.
A scanning unit S is provided in an upper part of the case C. The scanning unit S includes a scanning optical system 5 including a light source 3 for illuminating a document and a mirror 4 and a scanning optical system 8 including mirrors 6 and 7. And
When a print switch (not shown) is pressed, the scanning optical systems 5 and 8 are pressed.
Move in the directions of the arrows, and scanning of the original O is performed. The scanning section S is provided with a lens 9 and an image reading element 10. The image of the original O read by the scanning optical systems 5 and 8 is read by the image reading element 10 as an image signal, digitized, and described later. Image processing.

In the case C, an image forming unit D is provided below the scanning unit S. The image forming unit D includes a laser diode L, a driving plate 12, a polygon mirror 13 and a mirror 14,
Photoreceptor belt 1, developing device 16, cleaning device 23, charging charger 15, transfer charger 18, separation charger
19, a transport belt 21 and a fixing roller 22 are provided. Reference numeral 17 denotes a paper supply unit. Transfer paper is stored in the paper supply unit 17 and is conveyed between the photosensitive belt 1 and the transfer charger 18 one by one by a conveyance roller. Then, as described above, the image reading element 10
Is applied to the drive plate 12, and a laser beam is emitted from the laser diode L in accordance with the application of the signal. The laser beam is reflected by the polygon mirror 13 and the mirror 14 and reaches the photosensitive belt 1. .

By this laser light, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 which has been uniformly charged in advance by the charging charger 15, and this electrostatic latent image is formed into a visible image by toner of the developing device 16. Be transformed into Then, the obtained visible image is transferred to transfer paper sent from a paper supply unit 17 by corona discharge of a transfer charger 18, and the transfer paper after transfer is separated from the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 by a separation charger 19. The transfer paper separated in this way is sent to the fixing roller 22 by the conveyor belt 21, the transfer image is fixed by the fixing roller 22, and the transfer paper on which the image formation is completed is discharged out of the case C. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 after the transfer operation is removed by the cleaning device 23.

In this embodiment, the image forming process means such as the developing device 16 and the cleaning device 23 disposed around the photoreceptor belt 1 are divided into two units. It is configured so that it can be attached to and detached from, and can rotate integrally with the photoreceptor belt 1. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, the photoreceptor belt 1 is inserted through a substantially semicircular mounting opening 25 formed on the side surface of the case C.
The unit is configured to be able to be rotated together with the unit and removed one by one, or the units subjected to maintenance and replacement can be mounted one by one from the mounting opening 25 to the apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are explanatory views showing the operation state of the configuration of the main part of the first embodiment.
A photoreceptor belt 1 which is an image carrier made of, for example, an organic photoreceptor (OPC) is stretched between the photoreceptors 01, and the photoreceptor is rotated by clockwise rotation of rollers 100 and 101 as shown in the figure. The body belt 1 is adapted to move as shown by the arrow in the figure. A first unit U1 and a second unit U2 are provided in close proximity to the flat portions 1a and 1b between the rollers 100 and 101 of the photoreceptor belt 1, and a first unit U1 and a second unit U2 are provided. And have the same cross-sectional shape. The photosensitive belt 1, the first unit U1, and the second unit U2
Are integrally rotatable about a rotation axis R1.

The first unit U1 has a configuration in which the developing device 16 is accommodated and supported in a housing 102, and the toner tank 16 of the developing device 16 is provided.
An opening 167a is formed in 7, and a developing roller 160 is rotatably mounted with a part of the peripheral surface facing the opening 167a. An agitator 162 is provided in contact with the developing roller 160, a developing blade 161 is provided in contact with the developing roller 160 in the vicinity of the agitator 162, and a charge removing brush 163 is provided in the vicinity of the opening 167a. The toner tank 167 is filled with toner.

In this developing device 16, the rotation of the agitator 162 causes
The toner in the toner tank 167 is sent to the vicinity of the developing blade 161, and a constant thickness toner layer is formed on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 160 by the developing blade 161. This toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive belt 1 in contact with the developing roller 160 by the rotation of the developing roller 160, and the photosensitive belt 1
A visible image is formed.

The toner tank 167 of the developing device 16 is rotatable about a positioning pin 164, and a hook 166 of the housing 102 is provided.
A spring 159 is stretched between the hook portion 167b of the free end of the toner tank 167 and the free end of the toner tank 167.
The toner tank 167 is urged counterclockwise around the positioning pin 164, that is, in a direction in which the developing roller 160 is separated from the photosensitive belt 1. In the image forming state, the cam 165 presses the toner tank 167 against the photoreceptor belt 1 against the spring force of the spring 159, and the free end of the toner tank 167 stops the stopper 102a of the housing 102.
The developing roller 160 presses the flat portion 1a of the photoreceptor belt 1 with a predetermined pressure and is in contact therewith.

The second unit U2 has a cleaning device 2 in the housing 103.
3. The charging tank 15 and the eraser 24 are housed and supported, and the collection tank 23 of the cleaning device 23
6 is provided with a cleaning blade 230 at a position facing the flat portion 1b of the photoreceptor belt 1. A fur brush 231 is rotatably disposed in the vicinity of the cleaning blade 230.
The flicker bar 234 formed integrally with the plate 36 is disposed so as to be in contact with the flicker bar 234. In the vicinity of the flicker bar 234, a toner collection rod 232 is provided facing the inside of the case 236.
33 are provided. A fullness detection sensor 239 is mounted in the collection tank 236, and the charging charger 15 and the eraser 24 are supported and fixed to a surface of the collection tank 236 facing the flat portion 1b of the photosensitive belt 1.

The collection tank 236 is rotatable about a positioning pin 235, and a spring 237 is stretched between a hook 158 of the housing 103 and a hook 236a at the free end of the collection tank 236. In the image forming operation state, the recovery tank 236 is pressed against the photoreceptor belt 1 by the cam 238 against the spring force of the spring 237, and the free end of the recovery tank 236 abuts on the stopper piece 103a of the housing 103. Is positioned in contact with
The cleaning blade 230 and the fur brush 231 are in contact with each other by pressing the flat portion 1b of the photoreceptor belt 1 with a predetermined pressure.

In the cleaning device 23, the residual toner on the photosensitive belt 1 is scraped off by the fur brush 231, and the scraped residual toner is beaten off by the flicker bar 234 from the fur brush 231. Residual toner that cannot be scraped off by the fur brush 231 is peeled off by the cleaning blade 230. The residual toner scraped off in this manner is collected in the collection tank 236 by the toner collection rod 232 and the toner peeling plate 233. And when the residual toner collected in this way fills the collection tank 236,
The fullness detection sensor 239 issues a detection signal.

The charging charger 15 charges the photosensitive belt 1 after cleaning, and the eraser 24 erases unnecessary portions so as to form an electrostatic latent image only in a required image area.
The reflected light from the mirror 14 is made incident on the photosensitive belt 1 at the roller 101 to form a latent image.

In this way, the electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive belt 1 by the developing device 16, the cleaning device 23, the charging charger 15, and the eraser 24, but the toner in the toner tank 167 is exhausted and the toner is exhausted. In this case, a sensor (not shown) detects this and informs the user of toner end information. Also, when the waste toner is full in the collection tank 236, as described above, the full detection sensor 239 is used.
Detects this and informs the user that it is full.

The maintenance exchange of the first unit U1 or the second unit U2 is performed based on this information. When the maintenance exchange is performed, when an exchange switch (not shown) on the operation panel is pressed,
Photoreceptor belt 1, first unit U1, and second unit
U2 rotates around the rotation axis R1, and the unit to be replaced rotates to the position of the mounting opening 25. So cam 165 or cam 2
When the lock is removed by rotating the lock 38, the support and fixing of the toner tank 167 to the housing 102 are released as shown in FIG. 4, or the support and fixation of the recovery tank 236 to the housing 103 is released. Tank 236 is spring 15
9 and 237, the toner container 167 or the collection tank 236 is rotated in a direction away from the photoreceptor belt
Can be taken from

Then, the toner tank 167 or the collection tank 236, for which the maintenance and replacement work has been completed, is inserted into the case C through the mounting opening 25, and the mounting is completed by locking with the cam 165 or the cam 238. At this time, the first unit U1 and the second unit U2 can be attached to either side of the flat portions 1a and 1b with respect to the image carrier.
Either 0 or 101 can form a latent image.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are explanatory views showing the operating state of the configuration of the main part of the second embodiment, in which a one-sheet shutter 168 is provided concentrically on a developing roller 160 of the developing device 16 and a torsion coil is provided. A spring 169 is concentrically mounted on the shaft of the developing roller 160. One end of the torsion coil spring 169 is connected to the toner tank 1
67, the other end is engaged with the shutter 168, the fifth
In the locked state by the cam 165 shown in the drawing, that is, in the image forming operation state, the shutter 168 is urged in a direction to open the opening 167a of the toner tank 167 by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 169. Similarly, a torsion coil spring 241 is provided near the toner peeling plate 233 of the cleaning device 23, and one end of the torsion coil spring 241 is engaged with the recovery tank 236, and the other end rotates about the axis of the torsion coil spring 241. It is engaged with a possible two-piece shutter 240. This Shutter 240,
It is urged in the opening direction by the torsion coil spring 241.

In the second embodiment, when the lock is released by rotating the cam 165, as shown in FIG.
Rotates in the direction away from the flat portion 1a of the photoreceptor belt 1, and at the same time, the shutter 168 moves to a position to close the opening 167a by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 169. The rotation of the shutter 168 may be performed by transmitting the rotational power of the toner tank 167 via a gear mechanism. Thus, the developing device 16
When the toner tank 167 is taken out, the toner does not leak from the opening 167a and does not stain the operator's body or the room when the toner tank 167 is taken out. Similarly, when the cam 238 is rotated to remove the lock, the recovery tank 236 is rotated, and the shutter 240 closes the opening of the recovery tank 236 by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 241 to the outside of the discharged toner. To prevent leaks.

Also in the second embodiment, the first unit U1 and the second unit U1
Since U2 has the same cross-sectional shape, these units U1 and U2 are connected to any of the planar portions of the photosensitive belt 1.
It can be attached to 1a and 1b.

In the above embodiment, the first unit U1
The second unit U2 and the second unit U2 are separated from the photoreceptor belt 1, but only the unit corresponding to the mounting opening 25 may be separated. FIGS. 7 and 8 are explanatory views showing this state. FIG. 7 shows the first unit U1 located at the opening 25 and only the first unit U1 is separated from the photoreceptor belt 1, and FIG. 8 shows the second unit U2 located at the opening 25. Only the second unit U2 is separated from the photosensitive belt 1.

The configuration, operation and effect of the other parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 are the same as those of the first or second embodiment already described.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are explanatory views showing the operating state of the configuration of the main part of the third embodiment. The housing 102 of the first unit U1 for housing and supporting the toner tank 167 is The torsion coil spring 201 concentrically attached to the shaft of the roller 101 receives a spring force in a direction away from the flat portion 1a of the photoreceptor belt 1 and a cam. The developing roller 160 is held at a position where the developing roller 160 is pressed against the flat portion 1a against the spring force of the torsion coil spring 168 by 165. Similarly, the housing 103 of the second unit U2 that accommodates and supports the collection tank 236 is rotatably supported by the same axis as the roller 100,
Of the photoreceptor belt 1 in a direction away from the flat portion 1b of the photoreceptor belt 1 by a torsion coil spring 202 mounted concentrically on the shaft of The cleaning blade 230 is provided on the flat portion 1b.
And the brush 231 are held at the position where the brushes 231 are pressed against each other.

In the third embodiment, when the cam 165 is rotated to release the lock, the housing 102 containing the toner tank 167 is moved from the flat portion 1a by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 201 as shown in FIG. Pivots away from the mounting opening 25
The toner tank 167 can be removed from the printer. Similarly, when the lock is removed by rotating the cam 238, the housing 103 containing the recovery tank 236 rotates in a direction away from the belt surface by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 202, and is recovered from the mounting opening 25. The tank 236 can be taken out, and the first unit U1, the second unit U2, and the photoreceptor belt 1 are rotated together as described above to rotate the first unit U1 or the second unit U1. U2
A desired unit can be taken out by locating the developing unit 16 in the mounting opening 25, and the developing device 16 or the cleaning device 23 can be fitted and mounted in each of the housings 102 and 103.

The configuration, operation and effect of the other parts of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment already described.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 shows a configuration in which the eraser 24 is not mounted on the recovery tank 236 but is mounted outside the first unit U1 and the second unit U2. . FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a fifth embodiment. FIG. 12 shows a configuration in which the charging charger 15 and the eraser 24 are mounted outside the first unit U1 and the second unit U2, and the cleaning is performed. Blade 230 and fur brush 2
31 is arranged near the free end of the collection tank 236 away from the developing roller 160. In the fourth and fifth embodiments, the eraser 24 or the charging charger 15 and the eraser 24 are used.
The transfer charger 18 is disposed outside the rotation circumference of the image carrier, the first unit U1, and the second unit U2, so that rotation during maintenance replacement or mounting can be performed without any trouble. .

The configuration, operation and effect of the other parts of the fourth and fifth embodiments are the same as those of the first embodiment already described.

13 and 14 are views for explaining the drive system of the first embodiment, FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of the drive system shown corresponding to FIG. 3, and FIG. 14 is a side view of FIG. FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of the drive system of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 14, a developing roller driving gear 308, an agitator driving gear 310, and idle gears 307 and 309 are fixed to protruding shafts on the rear side of the housing 102, that is, outside the left end of the toner tank 167. On the other hand, a developing drive gear 306 is provided on the apparatus main body side. Then, when the new toner tank 167 is mounted at a predetermined position and the cam 165 is rotated and locked, the state as shown in FIG. 13 is obtained.
That is, due to the integral rotation of the housings 102 and 103 and the photosensitive belt 1 around the rotation axis R1, the idle gear 307
1 and is meshed with a developing drive gear 306 (not rotating around the rotation axis R1) by the action of the cam 165, and the rotational force of the developing drive gear 306 is developed through the idle gear 307. The power is transmitted to the roller drive gear 308. Then, a rotational force is transmitted from the developing roller driving gear 308 to the agitator driving gear 310 via the idle gear 309. The developing roller 160 and the agitator 162 are coaxially fixed to the developing roller driving gear 308 and the agitator driving gear 310 so as to rotate integrally.

Further, a fur brush driving gear 312 and a toner collecting rod driving gear 313 are fixed to protruding shafts on the inner side of the housing 103, that is, outside the left end of the collecting tank 236 (FIG. 14). Cleaning drive gear 311 on the body side
Is provided. When a new collection tank 236 is installed and the cam 238 is rotated and locked at a predetermined position as described above,
In the state shown in FIG. 13, the rotational force of the cleaning drive gear 311 is transmitted to the fur brush drive gear 312,
Further, it is transmitted to the toner collection rod drive gear 313.

The drive gear 30 is provided on the shaft of the rollers 100 and 101 of the photosensitive belt 1.
3 and 304 are fixedly provided, respectively, and the drive gears 303 and 304 can mesh with the photoconductor drive gear 305 mounted on the apparatus main body side at the image forming position. In addition, housing 10
A gear 301 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface on the inner side of the second and the third 103 so as to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft R1, and this gear 301 is meshed with a rotating gear 302 provided on the apparatus main body side, and rotates during the attaching / detaching operation. Axis R1
The rotational force is transmitted to the motor.

These gears are, as shown in FIG. 14, a photoconductor drive gear 305, drive gears 303 and 304, a cleaning drive gear 311,
Toner recovery rod drive gear 313, toner recovery rod drive gear 313,
Fur brush driving gear 312, developing driving gear 306, developing roller driving gear 308, developing roller driving gear 308, idle gear
309, the arrangement position of the idle gear 309, and the agitator drive gear 310, is set on the same plane P _1. On the other hand, the arrangement position of the rotating gear 302 and the gear 301 is determined by the plane P ₁
It is set on a different plane P ₂ which is a.

Further, the gear 301 and the rotation shaft R1 driven by the rotation gear 302 are driven.
Is rotated, the developing drive gear provided on the apparatus main body side is rotated.
The 306 and the cleaning drive gear 311 are cut off by an electromagnetic clutch mechanism or the like (not shown) to be in a free rotation state, and can rotate smoothly. In addition, the gear 30
7, 312 and the like are not rotated, and unnecessary toner supply and the like can be prevented.

Further, the rotating gear 302 is meshed with the gear 301 so as to circumscribe the outer peripheral surfaces of the housings 102 and 103 and rotates. Development drive gear 306, development roller drive gear 308, idle gear 309, and agitator drive gear
310 are all located inside the peripheral surface of the housing. Therefore, the rotation of the housing and the driving of the components in the developing device or the cleaning device are not independently interfered with each other, and a smooth image forming operation and a maintenance replacement operation are performed.

Further, since various gears are provided by being divided into the planes P ₁ and P ₂ , maintenance and inspection work can be performed easily, assembling work can be simplified, and manufacturing cost can be reduced.

FIG. 15 shows a drive system according to the fifth embodiment. In this case, the developing drive gear 306 and the cleaning drive gear 311 are mounted at substantially symmetric positions with respect to the center of rotation, and the idle gear Developing drive gear 3 without 307
The rotational force of 06 is transmitted directly to the developing roller drive gear 308. The cleaning drive gear 311 is meshed with the toner collection rod drive gear 313.

As described above, according to each embodiment, when the process units are attached and detached, each process unit is rotated to a position different from that at the time of image formation, thereby facilitating the attaching and detaching work of each process unit.

Further, by making the plurality of process units have the same shape and fixing the attachment / detachment position, it is not necessary to confirm the attachment position of each unit. Further, since the mounting position of each unit is not limited, mistakes such as mounting another unit at a position where the unit should be mounted are prevented.

In addition, by replacing each of the process means with the one having a short replacement life and the one having a long replacement life in separate units, it is possible to change the replacement time of each unit, and transfer and exposure can be performed at an arbitrary belt supporting portion. Since it can be performed, the mounting direction of the photoconductor can be freely set.

Further, by disposing a plurality of driving gears for driving the process means and a rotating gear for integrally rotating the process unit and the image carrier on different planes, the entire gear arrangement can be made compact. The drive gear can be easily retracted when the unit is rotating, and the image forming operation and maintenance replacement can be performed smoothly without interference between gears.

Note that the housings 102 and 103, the rotation axis R1 and the like correspond to the support means.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a drive gear for driving a process means provided in a process unit,
A supporting means for integrally supporting a plurality of process units rotatably about a rotation axis, a rotating gear for rotating the process unit supported by the supporting means, and a driving gear and a rotating gear are arranged on different planes. As a result, the entire apparatus can be compactly formed, and a smooth operation can be performed without interference between these gears during the image forming operation and the maintenance replacement operation. Further, maintenance and inspection work is facilitated, and assembly work is also easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 15 are diagrams for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. Perspective view, third
FIG. 4 and FIG. 4 are explanatory views showing the operation state of the first embodiment.
5 to 8 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation state of the second embodiment, FIGS. 9 and 10 are explanatory diagrams of the third embodiment, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the fourth embodiment. FIG. 12, FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the fifth embodiment, FIGS. 13 and 14 are explanatory views showing the drive system of FIG. 3, and FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing the drive system of FIG. is there. S: Scanning unit, C: Case, 1: Photoreceptor belt, 15
... Charging charger, 16 ... Developing device, 23 ... Cleaning device.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Takashi Ishijima 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-35383 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 15/00 550 G03G 21/16-21/18

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of process units each having at least one of a plurality of process units among a plurality of process units arranged around a photosensitive member for forming an image;
In an image forming apparatus in which the plurality of process units are separately detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body, a drive gear that drives a process unit provided in the process unit, and the plurality of process units are integrated. Supporting means for rotatably supporting a rotation shaft as a center, a rotating gear for rotating a process unit supported by the supporting means, and the driving gear and the rotating gear are arranged on different planes. An image forming apparatus comprising: