JPH0812492B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Outline] An image forming apparatus in which a handle is provided rotatably in a longitudinal direction of an upper surface of a unit in which a photosensitive drum and a developing unit are integrally formed or individually formed as a unit. It is possible to attach / detach the developing unit-integrated unit or each of the individual units by one hand with a handle, which improves operability and contributes to downsizing of the apparatus.
Further, with the aim of providing an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a jam occurrence obstacle by using a handle as a guide of a recording medium, the image forming body and light emitted from a light source are scanned onto the image forming body. The developing unit for developing the electrostatic image formed by the toner as a unit is integrally formed, or each unit is independently configured and detachably mounted, and the toner image formed on the image forming body is brought into contact with the upper side of the image forming body. An image forming apparatus that transfers a recording medium to a recording medium conveyed, fixes the transferred toner image, and sends the recording medium. The recording medium passes over the upper surface of the unit in the width direction with respect to the recording medium conveying direction. The outer ends of the U-shaped ends of the U-shaped handle are rotatably attached to a plurality of support plates facing each other with a distance larger than the width. The length up to the mounting position of The structure is formed so that the distance from the upper surface of the knit to the mounting position is shorter by a predetermined dimension.

[Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic printing apparatus,
In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a handle is provided rotatably in the longitudinal direction of the upper surface of the unit when the photosensitive drum and the developing unit are integrated or are unitized independently.

In recent years, with the development of office automation, demand for a character image information output device having the advantages that plain paper can be used, low noise, and beautiful printing is increasing.

For this reason, copying machines and facsimile machines using electrophotographic technology have been provided. However, due to the demand for downsizing and easy handling, the photosensitive drum and the developing section may be integrated as a unit, or each may be made as a single unit. Thus, a device has been put into practical use, in which each unit is detached for maintenance or the like, or each unit is replaced when the life of the photosensitive drum is exhausted or when the toner tank in the developing section runs out of toner.

With such a device, a mechanism capable of further improving the operability of attaching and detaching the unit is desired.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 5 illustrates an internal side view of the electrophotographic printing apparatus. In the figure, 1 is an optical scanning unit, 2a is a photosensitive drum, 3 is a cleaner, 4 is a charging unit, 5a is a developing unit, 6 is a transfer unit, 7 is a charge eliminating unit, 8
Is a fixing unit, 9 is a conveying path, 10a and 10b are paper feeding units for accommodating recording paper 12a by size, and 11 is a stacker.

With such a configuration, the fixing roller R1 in the fixing unit 8 is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater lamp 80 when the power of the apparatus is turned on, and the printing is possible.

Therefore, based on the print instruction signal, the recording paper 12a of the designated size is fed out from either the paper feed unit 10a or 10b in the direction of arrow A, and is fed through the feeding path 9 to above the photosensitive drum 2a. By this time, the photosensitive drum 2a has been discharged by the discharging unit 7, the toner has been cleaned by the cleaner 3, and the charging unit 4 has charged it again.

Therefore, the optical data emitted from the optical scanning unit 1a including a laser light source is scanned on the photosensitive drum 2a. The electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive drum 2a is supplied from the toner containing unit 50 of the developing unit 5a and adheres to the developing roller 51 with the toner 52.
Developed into a toner image by the transfer unit 6 and the recording paper 12a
Then, the toner 52 is nipped and fed by the fixing roller R1 and the pressure roller R2 in the fixing section 8, and the toner 52 is heated and pressed to be fixed and discharged. The toner 52 is mainly composed of powder of magnetic material and is charged by stirring.

Further, in the apparatus, the upper lid portion 13 above the transport path 9 is rotated rearward, and is pivoted upward around a spindle (not shown) provided at the right end portion in the drawing to open the upper portions of the photosensitive drum 2a and the developing portion 5a. It is like this.

Further, as shown in the conventional example (1) of FIG.
Recording unit 1 in which 2a, cleaner 3 and developing section 5a are integrated
4a, which is designed to be detachably set in the device. Further, plate-like grips 15a and 15b are provided so as to project near the photosensitive drums 2a at both ends of the upper surface of the housing 53 of the developing unit 5a of the recording unit 14a, and the recording paper 12a has a photosensitive drum between the grips 15a and 15b. It is transported in the direction of 2a.

Therefore, when opening the upper lid 13 and performing maintenance due to a failure,
When the toner 52 in the toner accommodating portion 50 is used up, or when the photosensitive drum 2a has reached the end of its life due to scratches or the like, the upper lid portion 13 can be opened and the recording unit 14a can be attached / detached / replaced.

The conventional example (2) shown in FIG. 7 has a recording unit 14a.
It is a method in which a U-shaped handle 15c is provided on the upper surface of and is attached and detached with one hand.

In the above example, the photosensitive drum 2a, the cleaner 3, and the developing section 5a are integrated into the recording unit 14a, but as a different unit configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, the photosensitive drum 2a and the cleaner 3 are integrated into a drum unit. 14b, the developing unit 5a as the developing unit 14c, and the respective housings 53
There is also an apparatus in which plate-like handles 15d and 15e and handles 15f and 15g are provided on the upper surfaces of a and 53b, and the drum unit 14b and the developing unit 14c are individually attached and detached.

Further, there is also an apparatus configured such that the recording paper 12a is conveyed under the developing section 5a and the lower surface of the photosensitive drum 2a.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

According to the above-described conventional method, in the method of the conventional example (1), when the developing unit, the photosensitive drum, or the like is attached to or detached from the apparatus due to failure or replacement, the recording unit, or the drum unit and the developing unit are attached and detached in a plate shape. It is necessary to hold the grips at both ends of the device with both hands, and if it is necessary to attach and detach the device from the lateral direction of the device, it is necessary to insert one hand to the back side of the device, resulting in extremely poor operability. Further, although there is a small space above the position where the handle is provided, but there is no guide, when the recording paper is conveyed to that position, the recording paper may float up and cause a jam.

In the method of the conventional example (2), it is necessary to have a space for inserting the hand under the handle, so that the dead space inside the device becomes large, and it becomes difficult to downsize the required device. Moreover, jam cannot be prevented.

There is a problem.

According to the present invention, the unit in which the photosensitive drum and the developing unit are integrated or each unit can be attached / detached with one hand by the handle, the operability is improved, and the device can be downsized. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which can be used as a guide for preventing the occurrence of jamming.

[Means for solving the problem]

FIG. 1 is a principle view of the present invention, (a) is a side view, and (b) is
Is a front view. In the figure, 2 is an image forming body, 5 is a developing unit, 12 is a recording medium, and 14 is an image forming body 2 and a developing unit 5 which are integrally or individually configured, and the recording medium 12 is an image forming body 2 and a developing unit. 5 is a unit formed so as to be in contact with the upper direction of the recording medium 5, and 17 is a unit in the width direction with respect to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 12.
A plurality of supporting plates provided on the upper surface of 14 so as to face each other with a distance larger than the width of the recording medium 12 passing through, and 15 are formed in a U shape, and the lengths to the mounting positions of the tips of both sides of the U shape. Is a handle that is set to be shorter than the distance from the upper surface of the unit 14 to the mounting position by a predetermined dimension, and is rotatably attached to a plurality of support plates 17 on the outer sides of the tip ends of the U-shaped sides.

Therefore, the unit 14 is configured to be attached to and detached from the device by holding the handle 15.

[Action]

When attaching / detaching the unit 14 to / from the device, the handle 15 is rotated upward, the handle 15 is grasped by one hand, and the unit 14 is lifted and removed.

When the handle 15 is not used, the handle 15 is rotated downward. Then, a gap having a predetermined size is formed between the upper surface of the unit 14 and the U-shaped bottom surface of the handle 15, and the unit 14 can be used as a guide for the recording medium 12.

In this way, when the unit 14 is attached or detached, the handle 15 improves the operability, and when the handle 15 is not used, the height is reduced, so that the space can be reduced and the device can be downsized. Further, by guiding the recording medium 12, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of jam.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The same reference numerals denote the same objects throughout the drawings. The photosensitive drum 2a, the recording paper 12a, and the recording unit 14 shown in FIG.
The a, the handle 15h and the support plates 17a and 17b correspond to the image forming body 2, the recording medium 12, the unit 14, the handle 15 and the support plate 17 of FIG. 1A, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram in which the present invention is applied to the electrophotographic printing apparatus described in the conventional example. Figure 2 (a) is a side view, second
FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the main part.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the photosensitive drum 2
The unit 14a in which the a, the cleaner 3 and the developing section 5a are integrated is housed in the housing 53, the upper surface of the photosensitive drum 2a is opened, and a part of the photosensitive drum 2a is exposed.

On the upper surface of the casing 53 above the developing unit 5a, at a position near the photosensitive drum 2a, a supporting plate having a predetermined height is provided in the width direction of the conveyed recording paper 12a so as to face the recording paper 12a at intervals wider than the width of the recording paper 12a. 17a, 17b
Are attached, and shaft holes 18a and 18b are provided at the upper ends thereof.

Further, support shafts 19a, 19b are provided on the outer sides of the tip portions of both sides of the handle 15h formed in a U shape, and the support shafts 19a, 19b are supported by the support plates 17a, 17b.
It is rotatably supported by the shaft holes 18a, 18b of b. Handle 15h
The length L1 up to the position supported by the support shafts 19a, 19b on both sides of the U-shape is from the mounting surface of the support plates 17a, 17b to the support shafts 19a, 19b.
The length L2 is set to be shorter than the length L2 by a predetermined length L3.
(See FIG. 3 (a)) When the bottom of the U-shaped handle 15h is rotated downward,
A chamfer 20 is provided at least on the outer side of the bottom surface at opposite corners in the direction in which the recording paper 12a is moving. (Refer to FIG. 3 (b)) Since the recording unit 14a has such a structure, the grip 15h is rotated downward when the recording unit 14a is attached to the apparatus, and the recording paper 12a is moved rightward in the drawing. The toner image is transferred on the photosensitive drum 2a by being guided by the chamfer 20 on the lower surface of the grip 15h when being passed over the upper surface of the housing 53 above the developing unit 5a and being conveyed without floating.

When attaching / removing the recording unit 14a to / from the device, the handle 15h
It can be operated by rotating the handle upward and grasping the handle 15h with one hand.

In this way, the recording unit 14a can be attached and detached by one-handed operation, improving operability, and turning the handle
Since the height of 15h can be lowered, it is possible to achieve downsizing without taking up any space.
Since the lower surface rotated downwards can be used as a guide for conveying the recording paper 12a, it is possible to prevent jamming.

In the above example, the case where the grip 15h is provided on the recording unit 14a has been described, but a different embodiment is shown in FIG. Support plates 17e and 17f are provided on the housing 53b of the developing unit 14c.
With the handle 15j, the same effect can be obtained. The drum unit 14b is mounted on the photosensitive drum 2 from the top of the center of gravity.
Support plates 17c and 17d are provided on the outer edge of the casing 53a in the longitudinal direction of a.

Although not shown, as an application example of the present invention,
In the case of a device in which recording paper is conveyed below the photosensitive drum and the developing device to print, the recording unit is detachably configured, or even when the drum unit and the developing unit are configured, the upper surface of each unit is By providing the handle according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that it can be easily attached and detached.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the handle is rotatably mounted at a predetermined height on the upper surface of the unit in which the image forming member and the developing unit are integrated or each unit is detached by one hand. Therefore, there is an effect that the operability can be improved, the device can be miniaturized, and the handle can be used as a guide of the recording medium to prevent the jamming failure.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a principle diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a different embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing conventional examples (1) and (2), and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a different unit configuration. In the figure, 2 is an image forming body, 2a is a photosensitive drum, 5 and 5a are developing sections, 12 is a recording medium, 12a is recording paper, 14 is a unit, 14a is a recording unit, 14b is a drum unit, 14c is a developing unit, and 15 , 15a
15j is a handle, 17 is a support plate, and 17a to 17f are support plates.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming body (2) and a developing section (5) for developing a toner image on an electrostatic image formed by scanning the image forming body (2) with light emitted from a light source, or integrally. A recording medium (each of which is independently configured as a unit (14) and detachably mounted, and a toner image formed on the image forming body (2) is conveyed in contact with the upper side of the image forming body (2). An image forming apparatus which transfers the recording medium (12) to the recording medium (12), fixes the transferred toner image, and sends out the recording medium (12). ) Of the handle (15) formed in a U-shape on a plurality of support plates (17) provided facing each other with a distance larger than the width through which the recording medium (12) passes. The outer ends of the ends of both sides are rotatably attached, and the handle (15) is attached to the attachment position of the ends of the U-shaped sides. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the length is formed by a predetermined dimension shorter than the distance from the upper surface of the unit (14) to the mounting position. 2. The support plate (1) by rotating the handle (14).
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a corner portion on the side where the recording medium (12) is conveyed when being lowered during 7) is chamfered.