JPH11142760A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the hands and fingers of an operator from touching and staining the reflecting surface of a return mirror when the operator replaces a process cartridge or handles a jam. SOLUTION: Nearby the return mirror 21, a protection plate 47 (protection member) is arranged which has a hole for passing at least either of the laser beam made incident on the return mirror 21 and the laser beam reflected by the return mirror 21 without shielding the optical path of the light beam L.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic system, such as an electrophotographic printer or a facsimile apparatus, using a laser beam as a light source.
The present invention relates to a structure of a folding mirror for guiding a laser beam to a photosensitive member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional recording apparatus using an electrophotographic system. As shown in FIG.
In the conventional recording apparatus, the apparatus main body 50 includes an upper housing 50A and a lower housing 50B.
A and 50B are configured to be openable and closable about a hinge 51. An exposure light source means 52 such as a laser scanner, for example, and a folding mirror 5 for reflecting a light beam emitted from the exposure light source means toward the image forming means are provided on the upper housing 50A.
3, a process cartridge 54 as an image forming unit,
Guiding and holding means (not shown) for the process cartridge,
Discharge means 56 for discharging the transfer material on which the image has been formed is incorporated. On the other hand, the lower housing 50B has a paper feed means 57 for supplying the transfer material, a transfer means 58 for transferring the image to the transfer material, A transfer belt 59 and a transfer roller 60 for transferring the transfer-receiving material to the transfer position and further to the discharge position via the image fixing position after image transfer, a driving unit (not shown) for driving the transfer unit, and a transfer unit 58 A fixing unit 62 for fixing the transferred image is incorporated.

When the process cartridge 54 is attached or detached, or when a jam occurs in the transfer material, the upper housing 50A is opened about the hinge 51 as shown by a broken line in FIG. Processing is performed.

[0004]

However, such a conventional technique has the following problems.

In a recording apparatus in which a light beam emitted from a laser scanner is changed in direction by a return mirror and guided to a photosensitive drum, when a process cartridge is replaced or a transfer material is jammed. For example, when the process cartridge is pulled out from the main body, the external line of movement is close to the reflection surface of the return mirror. May touch.

[0006] In such a case, there is a problem that the reflection surface becomes dirty and blurs or uneven density occur in the printed image. To prevent this, it is conceivable to attach a protective cover, but there is a problem that the device becomes large.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem of the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus capable of preventing an operator's finger from touching a reflecting surface of a return mirror and soiling the reflecting surface when exchanging a process cartridge or performing jam processing.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an optical deflector for polarizing and scanning a light beam, a photosensitive member for receiving the light beam emitted from the optical deflector, A recording device provided between an optical deflector and the image carrier and configured to change a traveling direction of the light beam, wherein at least an optical path of the light beam is blocked near a reflection surface of the reflection device. It is characterized in that a protection member configured so as not to be provided is provided.

As described above, since the protection member is provided in the vicinity of the reflection surface of the reflection means so as not to block the optical path of the light beam, it is possible to prevent the reflection surface from being stained.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a laser beam printer to which the recording apparatus of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a process cartridge, which integrally includes a photosensitive drum 10 as an image carrier, a charger (not shown), a developing device, and the like.

A first transport guide 14 is provided below the process cartridge 11 on the upstream side in the transport direction indicated by an arrow A. The first and second transport guides 14 are arranged along the first transport guide 14 in order from the upstream side. Conveyance rollers 15 and 16, a sensor 17 for registration timing adjustment, and a transfer roller 18 are arranged.

A second transport guide 19 is located downstream in the transport direction.
The fixing device 20 using a heating roller is disposed at the downstream end.

A laser scanner 22 as a light source is disposed on the side of the process cartridge 11. Above the process cartridge 11, a photosensitive drum 1 is placed on the optical path of laser light emitted from the laser scanner 22.
A folding mirror 21 as a light introducing means for introducing a laser beam into the laser beam 0 is disposed.

A discharge guide 23 and a discharge roller 24 are disposed on the left side of the laser scanner 22, and a discharge tray 25 is disposed above the laser scanner 22. Below the first and second transport guides 14 and 19, a feed cassette 12 for accommodating a transfer material and a feed roller 13 for feeding the transfer material to a transport line are arranged.

When the photosensitive drum 10 whose surface is uniformly charged by a primary charger (not shown) is irradiated with image light L via a laser scanner 22 and a folding mirror 21,
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 10.

The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device (not shown) with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10 to be visualized as a toner image, and is transferred onto the transfer material P transported on the first transport guide 14 by the transfer roller 18. Transcribed.

The photosensitive drum 10 on which the transfer has been completed is cleaned by the cleaning device 27 and prepared for the next image formation.

On the other hand, the transfer material P is taken out from the feed cassette 12 by the feed roller 13 and
5 and is transported along the first transport guide 14 toward the second transport roller 16 above. Further, the timing of the transfer material P is adjusted by the second conveyance roller 16 and the registration sensor 17, and the transfer material P is conveyed toward the photosensitive drum 10.

After the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 10 by the transfer roller 18, the toner image is conveyed to a fixing device 20 along a second conveyance guide 19. The transfer material P on which the toner image has been heated and fixed by the fixing device 20 is supplied to a discharge guide 2.
3. The sheet is stacked on a discharge tray 25 via a discharge roller 24.

The apparatus main body 1 has a main body frame 2 as a support main body for each device housed in the main body 1, and almost all devices for image formation are supported on the frame 2.

The outer peripheral portion of the main body frame 2 is covered with an outer cover 3 as shown in FIG. 1, and an openable cover 4 which can be opened and closed about a support shaft 4a is mounted on the upper portion thereof. As shown in the figure, the process cartridge 11 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 1 by opening the opening / closing cover 4 counterclockwise. A pressing spring 26 for pressing and fixing the process cartridge 11 is attached to the opening / closing cover 4.

Next, a method of attaching and detaching the process cartridge 11 to and from the apparatus main body 1 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a guide groove 30 for attaching and detaching the process cartridge 11 is formed on the side wall of the main body frame 2 in a curved line. In the guide groove 30, the process cartridge 11
Drum shaft 1 of photosensitive drum 10 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of
0a, the process cartridge 1
1 is configured to be detachable. The upper end 30 a of the guide groove 30 (hereinafter, referred to as an insertion portion 30 a) is positioned immediately below the open end of the opening / closing cover 4, and the lower end 3 a.
0b (hereinafter, referred to as positioning portion 30b) is positioned between the folding mirror 21 and the transfer roller 18, and a downwardly convex arc-shaped guide groove 30 is formed between the insertion portion 30a and the positioning portion 30b. I have. Also, the guide groove 30
A positioning groove 31 extending slightly downward is formed in the positioning portion 30b. The process cartridge 11 is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body 1 by dropping the drum shaft 10a of the process cartridge 11 into the positioning groove 31. The Rukoto.

Next, a folding mirror embodying the present invention will be described.

In a laser printer as shown in FIG. 1, a laser beam L on which an information signal emitted from a laser scanner 22 is superimposed is reflected on a photosensitive drum 10 after its direction is changed by a return mirror 21.

In such a laser printer 1, when the process cartridge 11 is used up or when a jam occurs in the apparatus main body 1, the operator opens the opening / closing cover 4 as shown in FIG. The process is performed by pulling out in the direction of arrow B. After the process cartridge 11 is pulled out, the operator's fingers can be freely inserted into the apparatus main body 1.

However, when the operator puts his / her finger into the apparatus main body 1, especially in a small and compact laser printer, as shown in FIG. 3, the folding mirror 21 and the external movement line 43 when the process cartridge 11 is pulled out. Are extremely close to each other, the operator may accidentally touch the reflecting surface 21g of the return mirror 21 with his / her finger.

Therefore, a protection is provided near the folding mirror 21 so as to pass at least one of the laser beam incident on the folding mirror 21 and the laser beam reflected by the folding mirror 21 so as not to block the optical path of the light beam L. The protection plate 47 is provided as a member.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a folding mirror embodying the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the configuration of a protection plate attached near the folding mirror.

The mirror 21 is a mirror holder 21a.
The mirror holder 21a is fixed to a stay 45 formed on the main body frame 2 via a screw 44. A screw 46 is provided under the folding mirror 21.
The protection plate 47 is attached via the.

As shown in FIG. 5, the protection plate 47 is provided with an opening 47a extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, and a screw hole 47 is provided at each lower end and center in FIG.
b is provided.

The mirror holder 21a is made of plastic or the like.
a, or fixed by a leaf spring or the like.
The protection plate 47 has the opening 47a as described above, and the reflected beam L2 reflected by the reflection surface 21a of the return mirror 21 passes through the opening 47a of the protection plate 47, and thus interrupts the optical path of the laser beam L. Without
The folding mirror 21 can be protected.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a modified example of the folding mirror of the present invention.

In this example, the tip of the protection plate 48 is extended to the optical path of the incident beam L2.

As shown in FIG. 6, the protection plate 48 extends to a position where the reflected beam L2 passes, and then bends upward, and its tip 48c is connected to the mirror holder 21a.
It is located near. In order to allow the reflected beam L2 to pass therethrough, as in the example shown in FIG.
An opening 48a is provided, and a second opening 48b is formed in a rising portion bent upward to allow the incident beam L1 to pass therethrough.

When the protection plate 47 does not have a rising portion as shown in FIG. 4 and the protection plate 47 is strongly pushed upward from below by a finger, if the rigidity of the protection plate 47 is weak, the protection plate 47 is folded back. There is a possibility that the reflecting surface 21g may be damaged by hitting the reflecting surface 21g of the mirror 21.

If a bent portion is provided in the protection plate 48 as in this embodiment, the tip 48c of the protection plate 48 will abut the mirror holder 21a, and the reflection surface 21
It does not hurt g.

The material of the protection plates 47 and 48 may be metal or plastic, but in particular, as shown in FIG.
When the flat protection plate 47 having no bent portion is provided, the protection plate 47 may be strongly pressed from below with the finger and hit the reflection surface 21g of the return mirror 21. It is preferably used.

However, if the rigidity of the plastic is insufficient, it is preferable to use a metal and attach a soft member such as a rubber material to a portion of the tip of the protection plate 47 that is in contact with the reflecting surface 21g on the turning mirror side.

Further, if necessary, the protection plate 47,
48 is preferably subjected to an anti-reflection treatment to prevent generation of scattered light.

In the above-described embodiment, the protection plates 47 and 48 are fixed to the mirror holder 21a with screws 46, but the material of the protection plates 47 and 48 is the same as the material of the mirror holder 21a. In the end,
Since the mirror holder 21a and the protection plates 47 and 48 can be integrally molded, a significant cost reduction can be expected.

If the protection plates 47 and 48 are made of a material having a charging property so that the floating toner floating in the apparatus is adsorbed by the protection plates 47 and 48, the reflection surface 21g of the folding mirror 21 can be formed. It can be protected from toner contamination.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By providing the protection plate near the return mirror, it is possible to prevent the reflection surface of the return mirror from being stained when the process cartridge is replaced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state where an opening / closing cover of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between a reflection mirror of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and an outline flow line of a process cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a protection plate shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Main body frame 3 Cover 4 Opening / closing cover 10 Photosensitive drum 11 Process cartridge 12 Feeding cassette 13 Feeding roller 14 1st conveyance guide 15 1st conveyance roller 16 2nd conveyance roller 17 Sensor 18 Transfer roller 19 2nd conveyance guide Reference Signs List 20 fixing roller 21 reflection mirror 21a mirror holder 21c guide hole 21d, 21e screw hole 21g reflection surface 22 laser scanner 30 cartridge guide 33 motor holding unit 34 laser scanner holding unit 36 transfer roller holding unit 38 fixing unit holding unit 47, 48 protection plate (Protective member) 47a, 48a, 48b Opening L1 Incident beam L2 Reflected beam

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical deflector for polarizing and scanning a light beam; a photoreceptor for receiving the light beam emitted from the optical deflector; and a light beam provided between the optical deflector and the image carrier. A reflection member for changing a traveling direction of the light beam, wherein a protection member configured so as not to block at least an optical path of the light beam is provided near a reflection surface of the reflection member.