JP2010002622A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the effect of a low cost by improving an operation for attaching or detaching a unit or improving reliability (safety), reducing the number of components, and simplifying a mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has a unit support base movable outside and inside the body of the apparatus with the image formation unit placed thereon. In the image forming apparatus, the unit support base is composed of inclinable rails disposed at both widthwise ends of the image forming apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile.

  FIG. 17 shows the configuration of such a conventional image forming apparatus, where 100 is an image forming apparatus, 101 is an image forming apparatus main body, 102 is an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, and 5 is a pair of fixing rollers. A fixing unit having 5a and 5b.

  Here, the image forming unit 102 irradiates the photosensitive drums a to d for forming toner images of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and irradiates a laser beam on the photosensitive drum based on the image information. An exposure device 6 for forming an electrostatic latent image is provided. The photosensitive drums a to d are driven by a motor (not shown), and a primary charger, a developing device, and a transfer charger (not shown) are arranged around the photosensitive drums a to d, respectively. It is unitized as 1d.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes an intermediate transfer belt that is rotationally driven in the direction of an arrow. By applying a transfer bias to the intermediate transfer belt 2 by transfer chargers 2a to 2d, each color toner image on the photosensitive drum is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 2. Are transcribed in multiple. As a result, a full-color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt.

  3 is a secondary transfer unit that sequentially transfers a full-color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 2 to the sheet P, 5 is a fixing unit that fixes the image on the sheet to the sheet P, and 11 is a sheet on which the image is fixed. A pair of discharge rollers for discharging P to the discharge tray 7.

  Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 100 configured as described above will be described.

  When the image forming operation is started, first, the exposure device 6 irradiates a laser beam based on image information from a personal computer (not shown), and the photosensitive drum a to which the surface is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential. The surface of d is sequentially exposed to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner and visualized.

  For example, the photosensitive drum a is first irradiated with laser light based on the image signal of the yellow component color of the document through a polygon mirror of the exposure device 6 to form a yellow electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum a. The yellow electrostatic latent image is developed with yellow toner from a developing device, and visualized as a yellow toner image.

  Next, when the toner image arrives at the primary transfer portion where the photosensitive drum a and the intermediate transfer belt 2 come into contact with the rotation of the photosensitive drum a, the photosensitive drum is driven by the primary transfer bias applied to the transfer charger 2a. The yellow toner image on a is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 2 (primary transfer).

  Next, when the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 2 carrying the yellow toner image moves, the magenta toner image formed on the photosensitive drum b by the same method as described above is transferred from the yellow toner image to the intermediate transfer belt. 2 is transferred. Similarly, as the intermediate transfer belt 2 moves, a cyan toner image and a black toner image are superimposed and transferred onto the yellow toner image and the magenta toner image in the primary transfer portion, respectively. As a result, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 2.

  Further, in parallel with the toner image forming operation, the sheets P accommodated in the paper feed cassette 4 are fed one by one by the pickup roller 8 and reach the registration roller 9, and the timing is adjusted by the registration roller 9. It is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 3. Then, in the secondary transfer unit 3, the four color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 2 are collectively transferred onto the sheet P by the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 3a (secondary transfer). ).

  Next, the sheet P onto which the toner image has been transferred in this way is guided by a conveyance guide 20 provided between the secondary transfer unit 3 and the fixing roller pair 5 and is constituted by a heating roller 5a and a pressure roller 5b. It is conveyed to a fixing roller pair 5 where it is fixed by receiving heat and pressure. As a result, the toner of each color is melted and mixed to form a full color print image fixed on the sheet P, and then discharged onto the discharge tray 7 by the discharge conveyance roller pair 11 provided downstream of the fixing roller pair 5. Is done.

  In such an image forming apparatus, a photosensitive member, a developing unit, a secondary transfer unit, a fixing unit, and the like are unitized, and these internal units are attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.

  Regarding the detachment of these units, first, there is an apparatus adopting a drawer storage type having a drawer rail as typified by Patent Document 1, for example.

  In this method, as the amount protruding from the apparatus increases, the unit can be easily inserted and removed. However, the length of the slide rail in the layout is limited due to the positional relationship with the adjacent unit. In the case where the unit cannot completely protrude from the apparatus, if it is attempted to be removed right above, there is a high possibility of contact interference with the apparatus and damage. Therefore, the operation of tilting the unit and then pulling it up obliquely is forced, and the operability is not good.

  Therefore, in order to lengthen the drawer length, the storage can be performed in a plurality of stages, but the apparatus becomes complicated and large.

  Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, the detachment operability is improved by providing a unit with an insufficient pull-out amount with a mechanism for tilting in the take-out direction when the unit is pulled out.

  However, if you try to adopt the above configuration, you can remove it smoothly when you remove the unit, but if you remove it, the cover will return to its original state, so when installing it, hold the unit with one hand. Work must be done while tilting the cover, and the operability is not good.

  As a second means, for example, as represented by Patent Document 3, the unit is rotated up to a predetermined angle on the upper side where the unit can be inserted and removed in conjunction with an openable cover, and the unit is moved upward from the apparatus main body. Some are configured to be removed.

However, if the unit is heavy, a mechanism that ensures the safety of the device, such as a damper, must be installed so that the cover is not damaged by the opening / closing operation. There is a problem that the operator is burdened when removing and the operability is not good.
JP 2003-227267 A JP 2005-266157 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-266162

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to improve the detachability and reliability (safety) of the unit and to obtain a low cost effect by simplifying the mechanism with a small number of parts. To do.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention provides:
In an image forming apparatus provided with a unit support that can be moved in and out of the apparatus main body by placing a unit for image formation,
The unit support is a retractable rail disposed at both ends in the width direction of the image forming apparatus.

The unit support is
When the unit is supported in the image forming apparatus, the unit is disposed in a first position that is perpendicular to the image forming apparatus,
When the unit is moved out of the image forming apparatus, the unit is arranged at a second position in the horizontal direction with respect to the image forming apparatus.

  The unit support is provided with a restricting portion for restricting an amount of movement in a direction away from the apparatus main body.

A cover attached to the image forming apparatus so as to be openable and closable;
The unit support is moved in conjunction with opening and closing of the cover.

  Further, the unit support is moved to the second position in conjunction with the movement of the unit toward the outside of the apparatus main body.

  Further, the unit support is held by the image forming apparatus at the first position.

  Further, the unit is a fixing device.

  It is possible to improve the operability and reliability (safety) of the unit and to obtain a low cost effect by simplifying the mechanism with a small number of parts.

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the following examples. Although these examples are examples of embodiments to which the present invention can be applied, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the idea of the present invention. 1 to 16, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 17 (conventional example) denote the same or corresponding parts, and descriptions and illustrations of portions not related to the invention are omitted.

First, a unit and a configuration according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Reference numeral 50 denotes a fixing unit having a roller pair 5, which is supported in the image forming apparatus 100 by cradles 108 and 109 provided at both ends in the width direction of the image forming apparatus 100.

  A main body cover 110 is provided in the right lateral direction of the image forming apparatus 100 and is rotatable in the direction of arrow A about the cover support shafts 111 and 112.

  Reference numerals 51 and 52 denote rails which are arranged in a substantially vertical direction along the side plates 106 and 107 at both ends in the width direction of the image forming apparatus 100. The rails 51 and 52 are engaged with the shafts 53 and 54 provided on the side plates 106 and 107 at the lower part thereof, and are rotatable about the shafts 53 and 54 in the arrow B direction. When opened, it can project toward the body cover 110 side. The shafts 53 and 54 are installed below the lower surface of the fixing unit 50.

  51a and 52a are stoppers provided on the rails, and play a role of preventing the unit from dropping by restricting the amount of withdrawal when the fixing unit 50 is withdrawn. Details of the pull-out operation of the fixing unit 50 will be described later.

  The side plates 106 and 107 are provided with restricting members 53 and 54 for restricting the rotation of the rails 51 and 52 so that the rails 51 and 52 can be supported in a substantially horizontal direction.

  Next, an operation of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, which is performed when the fixing unit 50 is detached, will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When removing the fixing unit 50, an operator (serviceman) opens the main body cover on the right side of the apparatus 100 in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the rails 51 and 52 are opened by rotating them in the direction of arrow B from a substantially vertical position. The rails 51 and 52 are supported by the regulating members 53 and 54, and are in a substantially horizontal position.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG.

  In the above state, the fixing unit 50 is grasped and the fixing unit 50 is pulled out in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. When the rails 51 and 52 are substantially horizontal, the upper surface of the rail is in contact with the lower surface of the fixing unit 50 or disposed below the lower surface. Therefore, even if the fixing unit is pulled out, the unit can be easily received. Therefore, the fixing unit 50 can be pulled out smoothly in the right lateral direction of the apparatus. Although the method of gripping the fixing unit 50 is not described in detail, the fixing unit 50 is pulled out by gripping the upper and lower surfaces of the unit or providing a handle. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of FIG.

The fixing unit 50 pulled out in this way is moved from the first position T _{1 where} image formation is performed by the stoppers 51a and 52a to the second right side of the image forming apparatus as shown in FIGS. it is possible to move to a position T _2.

In the position T _2, above the fixing unit 50 to become an open space, the operator (serviceman) is detachably fixing unit 50 securely to the outside of the apparatus.

When the fixing unit 50 is attached, the fixing unit 50 is inserted from the position T _{2 in} the direction opposite to the arrow C and attached to the first position T ₁ . Then, after the rails 51 and 52 are rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B to be closed in the image forming apparatus 100, the main body cover 110 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow A to be closed in the image forming apparatus 100. As a result, the replacement of the fixing unit 50 is completed, and the image forming operation can be performed again.

  In the first embodiment, the rails 51 and 52 and the main body cover 110 are opened and closed independently. However, in order to further improve the workability, one-action operation, that is, the rails 51 and 52 are interlocked with the main body cover 110. It is necessary to make it. Therefore, the second embodiment is one that improves workability. FIGS. 9 and 11 are schematic views showing the second embodiment, and FIGS. 10 and 12 are perspective views of FIGS. The description of the overlapping part is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the side plates 106 and 107 are provided with second regulating members 57 and 58 that regulate the rotation of the rails 51 and 52. These are arranged in the upper right direction with respect to the center positions of the shafts 53 and 54. As a result, the rails 51 and 52 are tilted toward the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 due to the weight of the rails. It will never be done.

  At the time of replacement, when the main body cover is opened, the rails 51 and 52 are also tilted while being supported by the cover, and are supported by the regulating members 53 and 54, whereby the fixing unit 50 can be pulled out.

When the fixing unit 50 is mounted, the main body cover is closed after mounting the unit at the position T ₁ (image forming position). Since the rails 51 and 52 are open to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100, the rails are also closed in conjunction with the closing of the cover.

  In the second embodiment, since the rails 51 and 52 are interlocked with the opening and closing of the main body cover 110, the rails are opened and closed even when the fixing unit 50 is not replaced. In the third embodiment, the rail is opened only when the fixing unit 50 is replaced. FIGS. 13 and 15 are schematic views showing the third embodiment, and FIGS. 14 and 16 are perspective views of FIGS. The description of the overlapping part is omitted.

  In the third embodiment, holes 59 and 60 are provided in the rails 51 and 52.

  Here, the second restricting members 57 and 58 are protrusions to the rail, and the turning of the rails 51 and 52 is restricted by fitting the restricting members into the holes 59 and 60.

  Even if the main body cover 110 is opened in this state, the rails 51 and 52 do not fall down.

  When the fixing unit 50 is pulled out, the rail moves over the second regulating members 57 and 58 while being bent in the width direction by the pulling force, and falls down by its own weight. That is, since the rails 51 and 52 are automatically tilted in conjunction with the pulling-out operation of the fixing unit 50, the service is improved.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the state which the cover of FIG. 1 opened. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the state which the rail opened further from the state of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of FIG. 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where the fixing unit is pulled out from the state of FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of FIG. 7. It is the figure which shows the second embodiment of this invention schematically, Comprising: It is the figure which showed schematically the interlocking mechanism of a cover and a rail. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of FIG. 9. It is a figure which shows schematically 2nd embodiment of this invention. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of FIG. 11. It is a figure which shows schematically 3rd embodiment of this invention. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of FIG. 13. It is a figure which shows schematically 3rd embodiment of this invention. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of FIG. 15. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

50 fixing unit 51, 52 rail 51a, 52a stopper 53, 54 rail shaft 55, 56 regulating member 57, 58 second regulating member 59, 60 hole 106, 107 side plate 108, 109 cradle 110 main body cover 111, 112 main body cover Support shaft

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus provided with a unit support that can be moved in and out of the apparatus main body by placing a unit for image formation,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the unit support is a retractable rail disposed at both ends in the width direction of the image forming apparatus. The unit support is
When the unit is supported in the image forming apparatus, the unit is disposed in a first position that is perpendicular to the image forming apparatus,
When the unit is moved out of the image forming apparatus, the unit is disposed at a second position in the horizontal direction with respect to the image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unit support is provided with a restricting portion that restricts an amount of movement in a direction away from the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A cover attached to the image forming apparatus so as to be openable and closable;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the unit support is moved in conjunction with opening and closing of the cover. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the unit support is moved to a second position in conjunction with the movement of the unit toward the outside of the apparatus main body.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the unit support is held by the image forming apparatus at the first position.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unit is a fixing device.

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