JP2011059182A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus with improved operability capable of easily performing processing when a sheet is jammed between a photosensitive drum and a conveyor belt.
In an image forming apparatus provided with an upper cover 11 that opens and closes relative to a main body case 10, a state in which only the upper cover 11 is opened and closed, and the upper cover 11 and a cartridge case 51 (photosensitive cartridge 53) are integrated. It can be opened and closed and can be moved selectively. Thus, it is possible to perform processing with a simple operation depending on the situation when the photosensitive cartridge 53 is to be replaced and when a paper jam occurs.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus with improved operability.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, a plurality of photoconductor cartridges arranged in parallel (“toner image forming unit” in Patent Document 1) are attached and detached from an opening provided in the upper part of the apparatus main body. What is exchangeable is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-65125 A

  By the way, in the conventional image forming apparatus as described above, the conveyance belt cannot be exposed unless the photosensitive cartridge is removed from the apparatus main body. Therefore, when paper is jammed between the photosensitive drum and the conveyor belt, the user removes the photosensitive cartridge one by one and puts it so that the photosensitive drum is not damaged. It was necessary to carry out a complicated operation of removing the toner cartridge and mounting the photosensitive member cartridge again one by one.

  Such a complicated operation may cause an appropriate operation when the paper is jammed to the user, and in some cases may trigger an operation of forcibly pulling out the paper from between the photosensitive drum and the conveyance belt. is there. If the paper is forcibly pulled out between the photosensitive drum and the conveyance belt, the surface of the photosensitive drum or the conveyance belt may be damaged by the paper, resulting in a reduction in image quality.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus with improved operability that can easily perform processing when a sheet is jammed between a photosensitive drum and a conveyor belt.

  The present invention that solves the above problems includes a main body case, a plurality of photoconductor cartridges arranged in parallel to the main body case, and an endless belt disposed below the plurality of photoconductor cartridges so as to face the plurality of photoconductor cartridges. An image forming apparatus including an upper cover that opens and closes an upper portion of the main body case, wherein the plurality of photosensitive cartridges are stored in the main body case when the upper cover is opened; When opened, the upper cover is integrally separated from the main body case, and is selectively movable to an open state in which the belt is exposed.

  According to the present invention, the plurality of photosensitive cartridges are stored in the main body case when the upper cover is opened, and from the main body case integrally with the upper cover when the upper cover is opened. It is provided so as to be selectively moved to an open state in which the belt is separated and exposed. Therefore, it is possible to perform processing with a simple operation according to each situation when it is desired to replace the photoconductor cartridge and when a paper jam occurs.

1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of a cartridge case. It is a figure which shows the structure of a locking mechanism, and is sectional drawing (a) which shows the locked state, and sectional drawing (b) which shows the unlocked state. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the upper cover was rotated. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the upper cover and the cartridge case were rotated.

<Overall configuration of color printer>
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the drawings to be referred to, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a color printer as an example of an image forming apparatus.

  Here, in the following description, the direction will be described with reference to the user who uses the color printer. That is, in FIG. 1, the left side toward the paper surface is the “front” side, and the right side toward the paper surface is the “rear” side. In addition, the vertical direction toward the paper surface is “up and down”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the color printer 1 mainly includes, in a main body case 10, a paper feeding unit 20 that supplies paper and an image forming unit 30 that forms an image on the fed paper P. .

  The main body case 10 has an upper cover 11 for opening and closing an opening (reference numeral omitted) provided at the upper portion of the main body case 10, and a pivot shaft 11 </ b> A provided on the rear side (one end side described in claims) as a fulcrum. As shown in FIG. An upper surface of the upper cover 11 serves as a paper discharge tray 12 that accumulates the paper P discharged from the main body case 10.

The paper feeding unit 20 is provided at a lower portion in the main body case 10, and a paper feeding tray 21 that is detachably attached to the main body case 10, and a paper supply mechanism that supplies the paper P from the paper feeding tray 21 to the image forming unit 30. 22 is mainly provided. In the paper supply unit 20, the paper P in the paper supply tray 21 is separated one by one by the paper supply mechanism 22 and supplied to the upper image forming unit 30.
The image forming unit 30 mainly includes four LED units 40, a photoreceptor unit 50, a transfer unit 60, and a fixing unit 70.

  The LED unit 40 is disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum 52 (photosensitive member) and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 52 by an LED head (not shown) provided at the tip (lower end of FIG. 1). Yes. The LED unit 40 has an upper end attached to the upper cover 11. Therefore, the LED unit 40 is configured to move upward together with the upper cover 11 when the upper cover 11 rotates upward (see FIG. 4).

  The photoconductor unit 50 is disposed between the upper cover 11 and the paper feed unit 20, and a plurality (four in this embodiment) of photoconductor cartridges 53 arranged in the front-rear direction in a cartridge case 51 constituting an outer frame. It has. Each photoconductor cartridge 53 includes a photoconductor drum 52, a charger (not shown) arranged to face the photoconductor drum 52, and a developer 54 that supplies toner (developer) to the photoconductor drum 52. In preparation.

Although not shown, the developing device 54 includes a developing roller and a supply roller for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum 52, a layer pressure regulating blade for regulating the thickness of the toner on the developing roller, a toner containing portion for containing the toner, and the like. Mainly prepared. Each developing device 54 has the same configuration except for the color of the toner accommodated therein.

Each photoconductor cartridge 53 is detachably attached to the cartridge case 51. Therefore, by opening the upper cover 11, the photosensitive cartridge 53 can be removed from the main body case 10 (cartridge case 51) and replaced.
The transfer unit 60 is disposed between the paper feeding unit 20 and the photosensitive unit 50, and mainly includes a driving roller 61, a driven roller 62, a conveyance belt 63 as an example of a belt, and four transfer rollers 64. I have.

  The driving roller 61 and the driven roller 62 are spaced apart in parallel in the front-rear direction, and an endless conveying belt 63 is stretched therebetween. The conveyor belt 63 is disposed below each photoconductor drum 52, and the outer surface is in contact with each photoconductor drum 52. In addition, a transfer roller 64 that sandwiches the conveyance belt 63 with each photosensitive drum 52 is disposed inside the conveyance belt 63 so as to face each photosensitive drum 52. A transfer bias is applied to each transfer roller 64 during transfer.

The fixing unit 70 is disposed behind the photoconductor unit 50 and the transfer unit 60, and mainly includes a heating roller 71 and a pressure roller 72 that is disposed to face the heating roller 71 and presses the heating roller 71.
In the image forming unit 30 configured as described above, the surface of each photoconductive drum 52 is uniformly charged by a charger and then exposed by each LED unit 40, so that each photoconductive drum 52 is exposed on each photoconductive drum 52. An electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed. Then, toner is supplied from the developing unit 54 to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 52 to make the electrostatic latent image visible, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 52.

  Thereafter, the paper supplied from the paper supply unit 20 passes between each photoconductive drum 52 and each transfer roller 64 disposed inside the transport belt 63, so that the toner image on each photoconductive drum 52 is displayed. Are sequentially transferred onto the paper. Then, when the sheet passes between the heating roller 71 and the pressure roller 72, the toner image transferred onto the sheet is thermally fixed. The paper P on which the toner image is thermally fixed is discharged to the outside of the main body case 10 by the paper discharge roller 73 and accumulated on the paper discharge tray 12.

<Configuration of photoconductor unit>
Next, the configuration of the cartridge case 51 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the cartridge case 51.

  The cartridge case 51 is formed in a substantially box-like shape with an upper opening, and accommodates all four photosensitive cartridges 53 arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction. The photosensitive cartridge 53 can be attached and detached from the upper opening. . In addition, an opening (not shown) is formed at a position facing the respective photosensitive drums 52 at the lower portion of the cartridge case 51 so that the photosensitive drums 52 are exposed to the outside. As a result, the photosensitive drum 52 can come into contact with the transport belt 63.

  The cartridge case 51 is rotatably supported by the main body case 10 about a rotation shaft 11A that is the rotation center of the upper cover 11. As described above, the rotation center of the upper cover 11 and the rotation center of the cartridge case 51 are made coaxial, so that when the upper cover 11 and the cartridge case 51 are rotated together, they are displaced from each other. It can be moved without

<Configuration of lock mechanism>
A lock mechanism 80 that fixes the cartridge case 51 to the upper cover 11 is provided on the front side (the other end side in the claims) of the cartridge case 51. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the configuration of the lock mechanism 80. FIG. 3A shows a state where the cartridge case 51 is locked, and FIG. 3B shows a state where the cartridge case 51 is unlocked.

  The locking mechanism 80 includes an L-shaped hook 82, a compression coil spring 85 that urges the hook 82, and a convex portion 11 a that extends downward from the upper cover 11 and supports the compression coil spring 85. Yes.

  An operation part 82a is provided on the upper part of the hook 82, and the user can move the operation part 82a in the front-rear direction in the cover hole 11b provided in the upper cover 11. Further, an engaging portion 82b that engages with a case hole 51a provided in the cartridge case 51 is provided below the hook 82, and the upper cover 11 and the cartridge case 51 are locked by engaging with each other (see FIG. FIG. 3 (a) state).

  From this state, when the user moves the operation portion 82a forward, the hook 82 moves forward against the urging force of the compression coil spring 85, and the engagement portion 82b of the hook 82 and the case hole 51a of the cartridge case 51 are moved. Is disengaged. Thereby, the upper cover 11 and the cartridge case 51 are unlocked from each other (the state shown in FIG. 3B).

<Operation when the photoconductor cartridge is attached / detached>
Next, the operation of the color printer 1 configured as described above will be described. First, an operation when the photosensitive cartridge 53 is attached / detached (replaced) will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, first, the upper cover 11 is pivoted upward to open, and an opening (reference number omitted) provided in the upper part of the cartridge case 51 is exposed. At this time, the user releases the lock by moving the operation portion 82a of the hook 82 in the forward direction, and can rotate only the upper cover 11 by rotating the upper cover 11 upward in that state. it can.

  When only the upper cover 11 is rotated, the cartridge case 51 (photosensitive cartridge 53) remains in the main body case 10 (accommodated state described in claims). In this state, the user can attach / detach (replace) the photoconductor cartridge 53 from the opening of the cartridge case 51. At this time, the four LED units 40 are moved upward integrally with the upper cover 11 so as not to obstruct the operation of attaching and detaching the photosensitive cartridge 53.

<Operation during jam processing>
Next, an operation when a sheet is jammed between the photosensitive drum 52 and the conveying belt 63 (during jam processing) will be described. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the upper cover 11 and the cartridge case 51 are integrally rotated upward.

  When the user does not operate the lock mechanism 80, the hook 82 is urged rearward by the compression coil spring 85, so that the upper cover 11 and the cartridge case 51 are engaged with each other and locked. When the upper cover 11 is rotated upward in this state, the upper cover 11 and the cartridge case 51 are both rotated upward about the rotation shaft 11A.

  By this operation, the cartridge case 51 is separated from the main body case 10, so that the upper surface of the transport belt 63 is exposed (open state described in claims). In this state, the paper jammed between the photosensitive drum 52 and the conveyor belt 63 can be removed.

  In the present invention, the photosensitive cartridge 53 can be moved together by rotating the cartridge case 51. Therefore, when the paper is jammed, there is no inconvenience of attaching and detaching the photosensitive cartridges 53 one by one. Further, by operating the hook 82 of the lock mechanism 80, it is possible to select an operation for rotating only the upper cover 11 and an operation for rotating the upper cover 11 and the cartridge case 51 integrally. Therefore, it is possible to perform processing with a simple operation according to each situation when it is desired to replace the photoconductor cartridge 53 and when a paper jam occurs.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Color printer 10 ... Main body case 11 ... Upper cover 11A ... Rotating shaft 50 ... Photoconductor unit 51 ... Cartridge case 51a ... Case hole 52 ... Photoconductor drum 53 ... Photoconductor cartridge 63 ... Conveyor belt 80 ... Locking mechanism 82 ... Hook 82a ... operation part 82b ... engagement part

Claims (3)

A body case,
A plurality of photosensitive cartridges arranged in parallel to the main body case;
An endless belt disposed below the plurality of photosensitive cartridges so as to face the plurality of photosensitive cartridges;
An image forming apparatus comprising an upper cover that opens and closes an upper portion of the main body case,
When the upper cover is opened, the plurality of photosensitive cartridges are stored in the main body case, and
An image forming apparatus, wherein, when the upper cover is opened, the image forming apparatus is provided so as to be selectively moved to an open state in which the belt is exposed to be separated from the main body case integrally with the upper cover. A cartridge case for supporting the plurality of photosensitive cartridges;
A lock mechanism for locking the cartridge case,
The locking mechanism locks the cartridge case to hold the plurality of photosensitive cartridges in the opened state, and unlocks the cartridge case to accommodate the plurality of photosensitive cartridges. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is in a state. The upper cover is provided rotatably on the main body case around a rotation shaft provided on one end side of the main body case,
The cartridge case is rotatably provided to the main body case around the rotation axis.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lock mechanism is provided on the other end side located on the opposite side to the one end side of the main body case.