JP3570538B2 - Drum module mounting mechanism for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a drum module mounting mechanism for an image forming apparatus such as a printer and a copying machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an image forming apparatus in which a drum module provided with a photosensitive drum is pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body and the drum module can be attached and detached, when the drum module is pulled out, a developing device arranged opposite to the drum module is connected. The contact may damage the surface of the photosensitive drum or push the drum module into the main body of the image forming apparatus to mount the drum module. (The part on the rear side) and the developer on the developing roller exposed from the developing device come into contact with each other, and the developer scraped off from the developing roller is pushed deep into the image forming apparatus by the rear of the drum module, and the inside of the apparatus is removed. In order to prevent such problems, Than in this type of image forming apparatus come, when performing operation of attaching and detaching the drum unit, a mechanism for moving (retracting) is adopted to the developing device to a position at the time of printing in a direction away from the drum unit.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, a retract mechanism of a conventional developing device employs a link mechanism, a cam mechanism, or a mechanism using a tension by a spring or the like. There is a drawback that the operation of is also troublesome. In the case of the tension mechanism, the reliability of the retracting operation of the developing device is lacking.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a drum module mounting mechanism of an image forming apparatus that can reliably retract a developing device by a simple operation when a drum module is attached and detached.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a photosensitive drum is housed, and a drum module provided so as to be able to be pulled out with respect to an image forming apparatus main body and a drum module provided so as to face a drum module attached to the image forming apparatus main body. A drum module mounting mechanism for an image forming apparatus having a developing device detachably supported with respect to the drum module, wherein a projection protruding toward the front side of the image forming apparatus main body is provided on a side surface of the developing device; A shaft of a developing roller housed in the developing device is provided so as to protrude from a side surface of the developing device, and the end of the drum module located on the inner side of the image forming device main body when mounted on the image forming device main body has the protrusion. The developing device converts an abutting force that can be brought into contact with the projection and that is generated by abutting on the protrusion into a force acting in a direction to separate the developing device. A projection portion is provided, and a positioning through hole for engaging with the shaft of the developing roller is provided at an end of the drum module on a side located in front of the image forming apparatus main body when the drum module is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. Configuration was adopted.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG.
[0007]
In the figure, a drum module 1 containing a photosensitive drum 3 is loaded into a housing 11 from a front side of an image forming apparatus along a drive shaft 5. At the rear of the frame 2 of the drum module, there is provided a projection 4 projecting toward the developing device 6 side. Further, a projection 8 protruding forward is provided at a front portion of the frame 7 of the developing device. Here, in the present embodiment, a roller is used as the projection 8 so that slippage is good even when the projections 4 and 8 interfere with each other.
[0008]
The developing device 6 is configured to be rotatable around a rear bearing 9 of a developing roller (not shown), and the drum module 1 is loaded along the drive shaft 5 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 5. Therefore, when the front side of the developing device 6 is not at the retracted position, the projections 4 and the projections 8 have a positional relationship of interfering with each other. By pushing the drum module 1, the projection 4 is inserted along the drive shaft 5 so as to push the projection 8, and the developing device 6 is retracted from the drum module 1 integrally with the pushed projection 8.
[0009]
A hole 2a for receiving a shaft 10 of a developing roller (not shown) is provided on the front side of the frame 2 of the drum module, and the hole 2a forms a tapered hole that opens toward the developing roller. Therefore, when the drum module 1 is pushed to a predetermined position, the shaft 10 of the developing roller is brought closer to the developing device so that the retracted position of the developing device 6 can be held after returning to the predetermined position.
[0010]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a drum module mounting mechanism of an image forming apparatus capable of reliably retracting a developing device with a simple operation when a drum module is attached / detached. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part when viewed from a direction A in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a drum module loading section of the image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Drum module, 2 ... Drum module frame, 2a ... Tapered hole, 3 ... Photosensitive drum, 4 ... Projection part, 5 ... Drive shaft, 6 ... Developing device, 7 ... Developing machine frame, 8 ... Projection part, 9 ... bearing, 10 ... developing roller shaft, 11 ... housing.

Claims (1)

A drum module that accommodates the photosensitive drum and is provided so as to be able to be pulled out with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, is provided so as to face a drum module mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and is supported so as to be separated from the drum module. A drum module mounting mechanism of the image forming apparatus having the developing device
On the side of the developing device, a projection is provided that protrudes toward the front side of the image forming apparatus main body, and a shaft of a developing roller housed in the developing device is provided so as to protrude from the side of the developing device,
The end of the drum module located at the back of the image forming apparatus main body when attached to the image forming apparatus main body is capable of abutting against the projection and developing a contact force generated by the contact with the projection. Provide an overhang to convert the force acting in the direction to separate the device,
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that a positioning through hole for engaging with a shaft of the developing roller is provided at an end of the drum module on a side located in front of the image forming apparatus main body when the image forming apparatus is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. Drum module mounting mechanism of the forming device.

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