JPH04318875A - Color image electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer structure for simplifying the handling of a form and the maintenance of a developing unit, a recording belt, etc., on a miniaturized compact color image electrophotographic device. CONSTITUTION:The recording belt 2 is made into a triangle, plural developing units 6a-6d are disposed on the upper part, and a laser beam generator 3 and a paper feeding cassette 7 are disposed on the lower part. Then, a transfer drum 1 is provided on one side, a paper sending unit 30 is disposed on the side opposite to the recording belt 2 of the transfer drum 1, and a constitution that the form 8 is almost linearly moved from the top to the bottom is adopted. A multi-developing system color image electrophotographic device is miniaturized to be made compact, and moreover, in this device, the handling of the form and the maintenance of the developing unit, the recording belt, etc., can be simply realized.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an electrophotographic device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a color image electrophotographic apparatus suitable for multicolor or full color printing.

0002

[Prior Art] The conventional full-color printing method is
As described in Japanese Patent No. 40860, a method has been used in which toner images formed on three or four photoreceptor drums or photoreceptor belts are sequentially superimposed and transferred. This method has the disadvantage that the apparatus is complicated and large because a plurality of photoreceptors are used, and the structure is complicated, making maintenance complicated.

0003

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to realize multi-color or full-color printing using an electrophotographic method using a small and compact device. Also, other purposes are
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that allows easy maintenance such as toner replenishment and photoreceptor replacement, and maintenance such as paper jamming.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a developer is stacked on the upper part of the approximately triangular recording belt, a laser beam generator is stacked on the lower part, and a paper feed cassette is stacked on the other side of the recording belt. The transfer drum was brought into contact with the main body, and the developing device and the recording belt were provided in a clamshell portion that was rotatable with respect to the main body.

[0005] Furthermore, a paper conveyance path is provided on the side of the transfer drum substantially opposite to the contact surface of the recording belt, and the paper is configured to move approximately linearly from bottom to top. Each of the constituent units constitutes a paper feeding unit that is rotatable with respect to the main body.

[0006]

[Operation] By adopting the above-mentioned means, this invention
It is possible to make a small and compact device that can easily and reliably perform toner replenishment, recording medium replacement, and paper jam maintenance.

[0007]

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIG. In the figure, a recording belt 2 made of an organic photoconductor is shown.
is driven by the belt drive roller 18 in the direction of the arrow (
Move to b). As shown in the figure, the recording belt 2 is bent into a triangular shape and conveyed, and along its outer circumferential surface there are
A first developer 6a, a second developer 6b, a third developer 6c, and a fourth developer 6d are provided. The recording belt 2 is uniformly charged by a charger 4, and then exposed to a laser beam 20 from a laser beam generator 3 to form an electrostatic latent image, which is then colored with yellow toner from a first developer 6a. develop. The resulting toner image is transferred to a transfer drum 1. The recording belt 2 is neutralized by erasing 5 , residual toner is removed by belt cleaning 21 , and uniformly charged again by charger 4 . Furthermore, by repeating the electrostatic latent image formation by the laser beam generator 3, the second developing device 6
It is developed with magenta toner b, and the magenta toner is superimposed on the transfer drum 1. The cyan toner in the third developing device 6c and the black toner in the fourth developing device 6d are similarly charged, exposed, and developed, so that the four color toners can be superimposed on the transfer drum 1.

In synchronization with the timing at which the four colors are superimposed, the sheets 8 stacked in the sheet feed cassette 7 are fed one by one to the registration rollers 12 by the sheet feed roller 9 and the separating section 10. The registration roller 12 sets the transfer timing with the above-mentioned toner image, passes the paper through the paper conveyance path 29, contacts the transfer drum 1, and transfers the toner image on the transfer drum 1 onto the paper by applying a transfer bias with the transfer device 13. do.

The paper 8 after the transfer is thermally fixed when passing through the fixing device 14, and is discharged onto the top cover 17 by the paper discharge roller 15.

Further, the paper 8 is also fed from the manual feed tray 11 to the registration rollers 12 by the paper feed roller 28, so that the printing process can be performed in the same manner as described above.

Next, the detailed configuration of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view of the present invention, illustrating toner replenishment and maintenance around the developing device. FIG. 2 illustrates maintenance such as recording belt replacement and paper jam removal. In FIG. 1, the recording belt 2 is disposed approximately at the center of the main body 27, and is tensioned by three rollers including the inner belt drive roller 18 to form a triangular shape. The upper part of the recording belt 2 is a horizontal flat part, and four developing devices 6 are installed in a horizontal row at equal intervals on the upper surface.

The developing device 6 is located at the top of the main body 27, and is covered with a top cover 17. The top cover 17 is attached to a fulcrum (
1) It is pivotally supported on 22 so that it can be opened and closed. By rotating the top cover 17 in the direction of the arrow (c) and positioning the top cover 17 in the open state shown by the solid line in the figure, there is no upward obstruction to the developing device 6, and the developing device 6 can be taken out. The developing device 6 is configured to be detachable from the side plate of the clamshell portion 26 in the vertical direction, so that it can be moved in the direction of the arrow (d) shown in the figure.
can be taken out. Each of the four developing units 6 is independent and can be similarly taken out in the direction of the arrow (d).

According to this configuration, the developing device 6 can be completely viewed from above, and maintenance such as toner replenishment and developing device replacement can be performed easily and reliably.

Next, an eraser 5, a belt cleaner 21, and a charger 4 are located at the bottom of the recording belt 2, and a laser beam generator 3 is placed below these to make effective use of the given space. , the main body portion 27 is made smaller and more compact. Furthermore, the laser beam generator 3
Since the paper feed cassette 7 is stored directly below the main body, the paper feed cassette 7 does not protrude from the main body as seen in conventional printers, allowing for a clean design and reduced space.

A transfer drum 1 is in contact with the recording belt 2 right next to it, and is provided so that it can rotate at the same circumferential speed as the recording belt 2.

A paper conveyance path 29, registration rollers 12, and transfer device 13 are located on the transfer drum 1 on the opposite side of the recording belt 2. Paper 8 sent out from paper feed cassette 7 or manual feed tray 11 is moved by registration rollers 12 at the same circumferential speed as transfer drum 1, and at a position in contact with transfer drum 1, a toner image is transferred onto paper 8 by transfer device 13. . The transfer drum 1 rotates at the same speed in the direction of the arrow (B), receives a toner image from the recording belt 2, transfers it to the paper 8 by the transfer device B, removes unnecessary toner by the drum cleaning 16, and completes one rotation. process and can repeat the same process. Paper 8 is transfer device 1
3, the AC charge is removed, the paper is peeled off from the transfer drum 1, sent to the fixing device 14, and then the top cover 17 is removed by the paper ejection roller 15.
Paper is ejected upward.

FIG. 2 illustrates maintenance around the recording belt 1 and maintenance around paper jam.

The apparatus can be broadly divided into a main body section 27, a clamshell section 26, and a paper feeding unit 30. A recording belt unit 19, a developing device 6, and a top cover 17 are incorporated in the clamshell section 26, and is configured to be rotatable with respect to the main body section 27 about a clamshell fulcrum 24. By opening the clamshell portion 26 in the direction of the arrow (F), it is possible to easily dispose of the waste toner under the recording belt 2 or to clean the inside of the main body portion 27. Further, the recording body belt unit 19 is connected to the clamshell section 2.
6, since it is configured to be slidable in the direction of the arrow (G), the recording belt unit 19 can be easily removed from the apparatus as shown by the solid line in the figure, and maintenance such as replacement and cleaning can be carried out. can be done easily.

The paper feeding unit 30 includes the manual feed tray 11,
A paper feed roller (driven) 28a, a paper conveyance path 29a, a registration roller (driven) 12a, a transfer device 13, a paper discharge roller (driven) 15a, and an opening/closing lever 23 are incorporated. By operating the opening/closing lever 23, the paper feeding unit 30 can be opened widely around the fulcrum (2). Thereby, maintenance such as paper jam removal from the paper feed roller 9 to the paper discharge roller 15 and cleaning of each roller can be easily performed. Also,
Since the areas around the transfer drum 1 and the fixing device 14 can be widely opened, maintenance such as cleaning, waste toner processing, fixing roller replacement, etc. can be easily performed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show other embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an overall sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention, illustrating toner supply, maintenance around the developing device, and paper handling around the cassette. Figure 4
1 illustrates maintenance such as replacing the recording belt and handling paper jams.

In FIG. 3, the front of the device, that is, the operation surface is the left side in the drawing where the manual feed tray 11 is placed. The paper feed cassette 7 can be slid in and out in the direction of the arrow (e), and the manual feed tray 11 can be freely rotated in the direction of the arrow (i), so that 8 sheets of paper can be set and stored. With this configuration, paper handling of the paper feed cassette 7 and the manual feed tray 11 can be carried out on the same operation surface, and the operation space can be unified and the installation area can be saved. The top cover 17 is pivotally supported on a fulcrum (1) 22 fixed to the right side of the clamshell portion 26 so as to be openable and closable. By rotating the top cover 17 in the direction of the arrow (c) and placing the top cover 17 in the open state shown by the solid line in the figure, maintenance and replacement of the developing device 6 can be performed from the operation surface, which is the left side in the figure. . This allows paper handling and developer maintenance to be performed from the same direction, greatly improving work efficiency and saving space.

FIG. 4 illustrates maintenance around the recording belt 1 and maintenance around paper jam.

The structure of the apparatus, which is roughly divided into a main body part 27, a clamshell part 26, and a paper feeding unit 30, is the same as that shown in FIG. By opening the clamshell section 26 in the direction of the arrow (F), it is possible to dispose of the waste toner under the recording belt 2 or to clean the inside of the main body section 27 from the operation surface shown on the left side of the drawing. Further, by attaching and detaching the recording belt unit 19 in the direction of the arrow (g), it can be realized using the same operation surface.

The paper feeding unit 30 can be opened widely around the fulcrum (2) by operating the opening/closing lever 23. Thereby, paper jam removal and maintenance of the areas around the transfer drum 1 and the fixing device 14 can be similarly realized using the same operation screen.

With the above configuration, although it is small and compact, paper handling such as paper feeding, paper jam removal, and maintenance of the developing device and recording belt can all be performed on the same operating screen, making it easy to operate. You can create a space-saving machine by doing this.

[0026]

According to the present invention, the apparatus can be made small and compact, and paper handling and maintenance of the developing device, recording belt, etc. can be easily realized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a color image electrophotographic apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a maintenance method.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view of a color image electrophotographic apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a maintenance method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Transfer drum, 2...Recording belt, 6...Developer, 7...
Paper feed cassette, 12... registration roller, 13... transfer device,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15... Paper discharge roller, 17... Top cover, 19... Recording body belt unit, 26... Clamshell part, 27... Main body part, 28... Paper feeding roller, 29... Paper conveyance path, 20... Paper feeding unit.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a recording medium is developed sequentially with toners of different colors, the toner image is superimposed on a transfer medium, and the toner image is further transferred onto paper as the transfer medium. In an electrophotographic apparatus capable of producing multicolor or full-color images, the recording medium is formed by extending an endless belt in a substantially triangular shape, a plurality of developing devices are provided substantially at the top, and a laser beam generator is provided substantially at the bottom. A color image electrophotographic apparatus, characterized in that the transfer body is brought into contact with the recording body on the other side of the triangular shape. 2. A color image electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a paper feed cassette provided substantially directly below said laser beam generator. 3. The plurality of developing devices are arranged at the top of the apparatus main body, the cover on the top surface of the main body is configured to be openable and closable, and the developing devices are vertically detachable. Color image electronic device according to item 1 or 2. 4. The plurality of developing devices and recording body units are arranged in a clamshell part that can be rotatably separated from the main body by a fulcrum part, and the recording body unit is slidably movable with respect to the clamshell part. 4. A color image electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has the following configuration. 5. A paper conveyance section is provided on the transfer body substantially opposite to the contact area between the recording body and the transfer body, a paper feed cassette is provided at the bottom of the transfer body, a registration roller is provided at the lower part near the transfer body, and a paper conveyance section is provided at the bottom of the transfer body, and a registration roller is provided at the bottom near the transfer body. 4. A color image electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a fixing device and a paper ejection roller are arranged, and the paper moves in a substantially straight line from bottom to top. 6. In the paper transport path, a paper transport unit that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body includes a paper transport roller, a registration roller,
6. The color image electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising one of the paper ejection rollers, a paper guide, and a transfer device.