JPS62215278A - Electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the possibility that a service-man and a user for replacing a unit contacts an electrically conducted part by mistake, by concealing an electrically conducting means into a device body of a partition wall, at the time of a state that a process unit has been detached from the device body side. CONSTITUTION:At the time of detaching a developing unit 2, an oscillating member 6 is turned by following a rotation of a supporting shaft 36, the developing unit 2 is pushed up in the diagonal upper direction along a guide groove 35, and the developing unit 2 is separated from a photosensitive drum 14. A pressure welding lever 40 follows it and turns by a prescribed angle, a rod- shaped advance and retreat member 56 is pressed, and a connector pin 52 and a unit side connector part 51 are separated. A turning plate 55 is fixed by both the pressure lever and the rod-shaped advance and retreat member 56. In this way, it is not feared at all that the turning plate 55 turns to a unit installing space B side by mistake, and the pin connector 52 is exposed to the outside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic process such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile, and more specifically relates to an electrophotographic apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic process. The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus in which one or more process units constituting at least a part thereof are configured to be detachably attached to an apparatus main body.

``Prior Art'' Conventionally, in electrophotographic devices such as copying machines and printers, photoreceptor drums, Parts of electrophotographic process means such as optical systems, developing devices, transfer devices, cleaning members, static eliminators, chargers, and fixing devices.

The entire unit is made into a unit, and the unit is configured to be detachable from the main body of the device.

Inside the process unit, there are electrical components such as a light emitting lamp that constitutes the electrophotographic process means, various circuit boards such as a discharge circuit and a developing bias circuit, and a life detection mechanism and a toner remaining amount detection mechanism for the various process means. Since various electrical control devices such as mechanisms are incorporated, it is necessary to take measures to supply power to these electrical components and control devices.

Some of these power supply means include, for example, a dry cell or the like built into the unit and constitute an independent closed circuit for each unit, but such a configuration imposes a large weight burden.
Due to problems such as going against the request for space saving,
Generally, on the side of the equipment body facing the process unit,
Connector pins and other electrical connection members are arranged, and when the unit is mounted on the device main body side, the connector portion automatically positioned on the unit side comes into contact with the connector pins, thereby supplying the device into the device. The unit is configured so that an external power source can be supplied to the unit.

"Problem to be Solved by the Invention" However, with this configuration, electrically conductive parts such as connector pins arranged on the device main body side are always exposed in the unit installation space that is open to the outside. In order to become
There is a risk of accidental contact during unit replacement work, which is unfavorable from a safety standpoint.

For this reason, known electrophotographic devices are equipped with a safety mechanism that turns off the power when the unit is attached or detached or when the front cover of the device is opened before the unit is attached or detached. If a configuration is adopted in which the power is shut off each time, the temperature of the fixing roller, etc. built into the main body of the device decreases each time the unit is replaced, leading to the problem that copying or printing cannot be performed until the fixing roller reaches a predetermined temperature. do.

Particularly in the field of copying machines and printers, various devices capable of color development have been proposed, but in these types of devices, the developing unit or the process unit containing the developing means must be frequently replaced each time a color is changed. Therefore, the above problem is further amplified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the drawbacks of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic apparatus that can completely prevent a service person or a user who replaces the unit from accidentally touching the conductive part.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus that can perform copying or printing operations quickly after replacing the unit.

In order to achieve such a technical problem, the present invention provides a method in which one or more process units constituting at least a part of an electrophotographic process means are configured to be detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus. In the electrophotographic apparatus, (1) it has a partition wall formed facing the unit mounting space; (2) it has a connector pin or other energizing means swingably disposed on the side of the device body of the partition wall; (2) The partition wall has a window portion opened at a position corresponding to the energizing means. ■ In conjunction with one or more operations accompanying installation of the process unit, the energizing means connects the opening window to the reunit mounting space. We propose a technical means that requires a structure that can be swung to the side and connected to a connector on the unit side.

In the embodiments described later, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied as an energization control means for a developing unit, but the present invention is not limited to this only, and one or more process means may be integrated. It is applicable to all unitized process units.

"Operation" According to this technical means, when the unit is removed from the device main body, the connector pins and other energizing means that supply power to the unit are hidden within the device main body of the partition wall, and are not connected to the outside. Since the unit is not located in the open unit installation space, it is possible to completely prevent a service person or a user who replaces the unit from accidentally touching the energized part.

As a result, unlike the conventional technology, the power supply is turned off when installing and removing the unit.
There is no need to provide a safety mechanism for setting the unit to FF, and as a result, copying or printing operations can be performed immediately after replacing the unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least a plurality of till stop means for preventing rocking of the energizing means;
By configuring the blocking means to release the rocking mechanism 11- of the energizing means in conjunction with a plurality of operations associated with the mounting of the process unit in sequence, it becomes possible to adopt a so-called double safety mechanism.

As a result, it is possible to completely prevent the energizing means from being inadvertently swung toward the unit mounting space and being exposed, thereby further improving safety.

Further, by configuring the energizing means to swing toward the unit mounting space in conjunction with the unit holding operation that positions and holds the process unit at a predetermined position, the energizing means may inadvertently mount the unit during the mounting operation. At the end of the mounting operation without swinging toward the space and without the risk of the consumer or others putting their hands into the space in which the unit is mounted, the concealed energizing means swings toward the mounting space, which reduces safety. Improve further.

"Embodiments" Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the drawings. However, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in this example are not intended to limit the scope of this invention, but are merely illustrative examples. It's nothing more than that.

1 to 5 show a laser printer in which the present invention is applied to the energization control mechanism of a developing unit.

As shown in Figure 2, this device is equipped with a cassette attachment [9
The recording paper fed from the paper feed cassette installed in the device passes through the recording paper transport path -L formed in the device, and after transferring and fixing the image corresponding to the image information, the paper is transferred to the side of the device. The structure is such that the paper is ejected onto a tray (not shown) or into a sorter from the ejection 1''+10 when the paper is opened [1].

In the center of the front outer wall of this device is a door 1 that can be opened and closed.
1 is attached, and by opening the door ll, a drum unit which can be pulled out and mounted in the drum axis +4a direction]-1 and a lever member 5 for fixing and releasing the fixing of the drum unit l-1 are exposed. do.

Further, an operation panel 12 consisting of operation buttons and a display section is provided on the right side of the front outer wall in the figure.

Further, a lid 13 that can be opened and closed is attached to the top side of the device, and by opening the lid 13, toner is introduced into the developing unit 2, and the developing unit 2 is taken out and installed. I can do things.

Next, the positional relationship between the various process means in the apparatus and the energization control 411 structure will be explained with reference to FIG. 1A.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the drum unit 1 includes a photosensitive drum 14, a cleaning device 15, a charger 16, and a frame 17 that integrally fixes or rotatably supports these components. ! Rail guides 18 and 19 are formed on both right-hand corners, and the rail guide If
Using f, +8 as a guide, pull IJ along the rail 7.8''- installed between the casing, j, and 4 in the direction of the drum shaft 14a.
By pushing in one, the unit 1 can be taken out and installed in a predetermined position.

Further, the center portion of the frame 17 is formed into a step shape, and the step portion is used as an opening 20 to guide the light from the static elimination lamp 21 to the surface of the photoreceptor drum 14.

Further, on the front end side of the frame 17, as shown in FIG. 2, a rectangular front cover part 22 (the part shown by the large imaginary line in FIG. 1A) is fixed. A handle portion 23 for pulling out the drum unit 1 forward is formed on the front side of the member 22, and a long groove opening 24 is formed on the side wall side of the handle portion 23, and when the lever member 5 is rotated, the developing unit 2 and the drum unit 1 are separated from each other. The drum unit 1 can be fixed (locked) by engaging the tip of the lever member 5 with the long groove opening 24.

On the other hand, on one side of the photoreceptor drum 14-1, there is an optical scanning unit 26 fixed at a predetermined position by a support wall 25 fixed between the front and rear casings 3.4 on the apparatus main body side. (2) A transfer device 27 is provided below the photosensitive drum 14, and furthermore, on the entrance side of the transfer device 27, a recording paper conveyance guide 28 and a registration roller 29 are provided at predetermined positions in the main body of the apparatus.

Also, the space within the device on either side of the photosensitive drum 14 between the optical scanning unit 28 and the conveyance guide 28, in other words, both the housings 3,
The supporting wall 25 and the partition wall 50 disposed between the developing unit 2 and the developing unit 2 are located in the unit mounting space B below the lid body 13.
is located.

The developing unit 2 includes a developing roller 30 that transports toner whose layer thickness is regulated to the developing position of the photoreceptor drum 14, a developing container 31, and a control circuit housing section that is connected to and formed on the right end side of the developing container 31 in a top view. It consists of 311.

Guide bins 32 and 33 are provided protrudingly at positions corresponding to the guide grooves 35 on the front and rear walls of the developer container 31, and are also provided along the partition wall 50 in the storage portion att located on the right end side of the developer container 31. A connector section 51 is installed upright, and a circuit board (not shown) connected to the connector section 51 for performing various controls such as a developing bias is installed, and
The wall surface on the partition wall 50 side corresponding to the connector portion 51 is an opening 311a, and a connector bin 52 to be described later is located in the opening 311a.
11a so that it can enter into the storage section 311 and come into contact with the connector section 51.

On the other hand, the partition wall 50 facing the developer container 31 has a portion 53 corresponding to the opening 311a and the developer container 3 below the opening 311a.
At the same time, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, holes are drilled at positions corresponding to the pressure contact levers 40 located on both sides of the front and rear walls of the developer container 31, and the through holes 54 are opened. A rod-shaped moving member 58 that moves forward and backward in accordance with the rotation of a rotating plate 55, which will be described later, is inserted.

Further, on the side of the partition wall 50 opposite to the unit mounting space B (hereinafter referred to as the device main body side), a support plate 5 is provided perpendicularly to the partition wall 50.
A press lever 58 is rotatably supported at a portion of the support plate 57 corresponding to the lower opening window, and a rotating plate 55 is rotatably supported at a position behind the support plate 57.

The pressing lever 58 is approximately "〈" centered around the central rotation fulcrum.
It has an elastic force applied clockwise by the engagement spring 58, and has a lower free end extending obliquely downward and an upper free end extending substantially vertically.

They are formed so as to be able to contact the inclined surface 31a of the developer container 31 and the upper surface of the rotating plate 55, respectively.

The rotating plate 55 has a flat plate shape, extends upward from a rotating fulcrum 55a located behind the lower opening window 54 to a position corresponding to the upper opening window 53, and extends toward the partition wall 50 side of the upper end. While attaching the connector pin 52, an elastic force is applied counterclockwise by the retaining spring 60, and the pressing lever 5 is constantly pressed.
8. Maintain contact with the upper end. The rotating plate 55 extends laterally to the front wall of the developer container 31, and faces the rear end of the rod-shaped reciprocating member 5B inserted into the partition wall 50 so as to be movable in the partition wall 50, as shown in FIG. 4A. let

Next, the attachment/detachment mechanism of the developing unit will be explained based mainly on FIGS. 3 to 5.

A guide plate 34 having a guide groove 35 in which the guide bins 32 and 33 can engage is fixed on the inner wall side of the housings 3 and 4 facing the developing unit 2.
The developing unit 2 is configured to be able to be installed and taken out using the guide.

Further, the developing unit 2 on the opposite side of the photosensitive drum 14 facing position
In the lower space position, there is a support shaft 3B parallel to the drum shaft 14a.
is rotatably supported between the casings 3 and 4, and one end of the support shaft 36 projects outward from the front casings 3 and 4.

The base ends of a pair of swinging members 6 are connected to a position close to the center of the support shaft 36, and near the inner wall side of the casing 3.4 corresponding to the guide bins 32, 33. A pair of pressure contact levers 40 are rotatably arranged around the front housing 3. A base end of a link member 42 whose other end engages with an arcuate elongated hole 41 on the lever member 5 side via a bottle shaft 43 is connected to the light end portion on the side of the support shaft 38 which is provided to protrude outward. ing.

The pair of swinging members 6 have their tips connected to the photoreceptor drum! 4
The developing unit 2 is extended to a position below the side developing unit 2, and as the swinging member 6 rotates following the rotation of the support shaft 3θ, the developing unit 2 is moved obliquely upward along the guide groove 35, in other words, the developing roller 30 is configured to be able to be pushed in a direction away from the photoreceptor drum 14.

The pair of pressing levers 40 extend obliquely upward along the wall of the developer container 31, and engage one end of a click-clack spring 45 via a pin 44 at the center thereof. The other end of the click-clack spring 45 is engaged with a bottle 46 protruding from the wall surface of the developer container 31.

As shown in FIG. 5, the link member 42 has a pin shaft 4 on its tip side that can be held in the arcuate elongated hole 41 of the lever member 5.
3, the lever member 5 is configured to rotate by a predetermined angle following the rotation operation of the lever member 5, and to be able to transmit the rotation to the support shaft 36.

The lever member 5 has a distal end extending toward the long groove opening 24, and is configured to be rotatable about a rotating shaft 5a by rotating a grip portion 48 protruding from the front surface. 5a, an arcuate long hole 41 with an 80° curvature is drilled so that the radial distance gradually increases from the diagonally upper position toward the drum unit, and the pin shaft 43 is inserted into the arcuate elongate hole 41 as described above. The lever member 42 is connected.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained along with the procedure for attaching and detaching the developing unit 2.

To remove the developing unit 2 or drum unit 1, first open the front door 11, then hold the grip 48 and rotate the lever member 5 clockwise to the position shown by the imaginary line. As the engagement with the member 5 is released, the link member 42 follows this and rotates by a predetermined angle, and transmits the rotation to the support shaft 36.

Then, the swinging member 6 rotates following the rotation of the support shaft 36, and the developing unit 2 is pushed obliquely to one side along the guide groove 35, and the developing unit 2 is moved to the photosensitive drum 14.
distance from.

Furthermore, when the developing unit 2 is pushed obliquely upward along the guide groove 35 by the suppression of the swinging member 6, the pressure lever 40 that presses the guide bin 32 follows this and rotates by a predetermined angle. A click-clack spring 45 whose one end is engaged with the pressure lever 40 is bent to a predetermined angle,
As a result, the direction of the elastic force of the spring 45 is switched, and the pressing lever 40 is also moved away from the guide pin 32, and is rotated to the vertical position.

Then, by rotating the pressure contact lever 40 in the clockwise direction, the fourth
As shown in FIG. A, the rod-shaped reciprocating member 5B is pressed and retreats, and the rotating plate 55 that is in pressure contact with the rod-shaped retracting member 56 rotates counterclockwise against the elastic force, whereby the connector pin 52 and the unit side connector portion 51 is separated.

Therefore, in this state, since the power supply from the connector pin 52 to the unit side is cut off, the photosensitive drum 14 and the developing roller 30 are separated from each other, and the pressure contact force of the pressure contact lever 40 is released. Therefore, by opening the lid 13, the developing unit 2 can be safely and easily taken out along the guide groove 35 without damaging the photosensitive drum 14 or the like.

When the developing unit 2 is detached, the developing container 3
The pressing lever 5 that was locked by the inclined surface 31a of 1
8 rotates clockwise due to the elastic force of the engagement spring 59 and presses the rotating plate 55 .

At this time, since the rotating plate 55 is fixed by both the pressing lever 58 and the rod-shaped reciprocating member 56, the rotating plate 55 may erroneously rotate toward the unit mounting space B.
There is no fear that the bin connector 52 will be exposed to the outside.

Now, when the developing unit 2 is reinstalled along the guide groove 35, the inclined surface 31a of the developing container 31 presses the 8-5
8 rotates counterclockwise against the elastic force of the engagement spring 59 and separates from the rotation plate 55.

After the developing unit 2 is attached, by tilting the lever member 5 toward the drum unit 1 side, the long groove opening 24 of the drum unit 1 and the lever member 5 engage, locking the drum unit 1, and locking the link member 42. The support shaft 36 rotates counterclockwise via the support shaft 36, the swinging member 6 rotates downward following the rotation of the support shaft 36, the developing unit 2 slides along the guide groove 35, and the developing unit 2 slides along the guide groove 35. The roller 30 is positioned at a predetermined position facing the photoreceptor drum 14.

When the developing unit 2 slides toward ), the click-clack spring 45 bends its arm to a predetermined angle, the elastic biasing direction of the spring 45 switches downward, and the pressure lever 40 rotates toward the guide pin 32 . The developing unit 2 is pressed against the developing unit 2 through the guide bin 32, and the developing unit 2 is positioned and held by the elastic biasing force of the spring 45.

Further, as the pressure contact lever 40 rotates counterclockwise, the locked state of the rotary plate 55 via the rod-shaped reciprocating member 56 is released. is rotated counterclockwise, whereby the connector bin 52 enters the storage portion 311 through the opening window portion 53, and electrical contact is made with the unit side connector portion 51.
Power can be supplied to the unit from the connector pin 52.

``Effects of the Invention'' As described above, according to the present invention, when the process unit is removed from the apparatus main body, since the energizing means is hidden within the apparatus main body of the partition wall, It is possible to completely prevent a service person or a user who replaces a unit from accidentally touching the energized part.

As a result, unlike the conventional technology, the power supply is turned off when installing and removing the unit.
There is no need to provide a safety mechanism for setting the unit to FF, and as a result, copying or printing operations can be performed immediately after replacing the unit.

Further, according to the present invention, a so-called double safety mechanism is adopted, and at the end of the installation operation in which a consumer or the like puts their hands into the unit installation space, the energizing means in the concealed state swings toward the installation space. Since it can be configured to do so, safety is further improved. It has various effects such as '.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 5 show a laser printer in which the present invention is applied to the energization control mechanism of a developing unit. FIG. 1A is a front sectional view showing the positional relationship between various process means and the energization control mechanism with the developing unit installed, and FIG. 1B is a front sectional view of the main parts showing the positional relationship of the energization control mechanism with the developing unit removed. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the exterior of the device with the tray, paper feed force cerato, etc. removed, Figure 3 is a plan view mainly showing the positional relationship of the attachment/detachment mechanism of the developing unit, and Figures 4A and 4B are the front side of the developing unit. FIG. 5 is a front view of the main parts showing the positional relationship of the safety mechanism and a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 5 is a front view of the main parts showing the separating means between the developing unit and the drum unit. ) N and Figure 3 Figure 4A

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) In an electrophotographic apparatus in which one or more process units constituting at least a part of the electrophotographic process means are configured to be detachably attached to the apparatus main body, the process unit is formed facing the unit mounting space. It has a partition wall, a energizing means swingably disposed on the side of the device body of the partition wall, and a window opening at a position corresponding to the energizing means of the partition wall. 2) The electrophotographic apparatus characterized in that the energizing means is configured to swing from the opening window toward the unit mounting space side in conjunction with the accompanying operation, and to be connectable to a connector portion on the unit side. At least a plurality of blocking means are provided to prevent the swinging of the means, and the blocking means is configured to release the swinging prevention of the energizing means in conjunction with a plurality of operations accompanying the mounting of the process unit in sequence. 3) An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3) positioning the process unit at a predetermined position;
The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the energizing means is configured to swing toward the unit mounting space in conjunction with the unit holding operation.