Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Modular or displaceable
Patent
1999-09-09
2000-08-15
Moses, Richard
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
Modular or displaceable
399113, G03G 2110, G03G 1506
Patent
active
061048976
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an image formation apparatus which forms an electrostatic latent image on an image-holding member rotating in a prescribed direction, develops the electrostatic latent image with a developing agent, and transfers the image to a transfer-receiving medium.
BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE
Electrophotography type of image formation apparatuses have been widely used hitherto. For example, the electrophotographic image formation apparatus has a document table made of glass for placing a source document; and forms a printed picture image (copied picture image) through the steps of projecting illumination light upward to the source document placed on the document table, electrifying uniformly a drum-shaped image-holding member (photosensitive drum) with rotation at a prescribed process speed, projecting the light carrying the image information onto the photosensitive drum to form electrostatic latent image, developing the electrostatic latent image by use of a development unit to form a developed image, and transferring the developed image onto a recording medium to obtain a printed image (copied image).
In one type of image formation apparatus, a photosensitive drum and a development unit are placed with a prescribed spacing (e.g., 0.3 mm) and a developing agent is supplied from the development unit to the photosensitive drum to develop an electrostatic latent image. This development unit is usually incorporated demountably into the body of the image formation apparatus.
In the image formation apparatus having such a construction, the development unit is demounted from the main body of the apparatus for replenishment of the developing agent, and is incorporated again into the main body after the replenishment. In the operation of incorporation of the development unit, if the development unit is pushed into the main body vigorously, the development unit can collide against the photosensitive drum regardless of the designed spacing (aforementioned prescribed spacing) between the development unit and the photosensitive drum. The collision of the development unit against the photosensitive drum may impair the photosensitive drum and the development unit to hinder the image formation.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention intends, under the aforementioned circumstances, to provide an image formation apparatus in which the development unit can be incorporated into the main body of the apparatus without causing collision of the development unit against the photosensitive drum.
The image formation apparatus of the present invention comprises an image-holding member rotating in a prescribed direction for forming an electrostatic latent image thereon; and a development unit having a development sleeve rotating at a prescribed position apart with a prescribed spacing from the image-holding member, and being demountably incorporated into the apparatus body; and developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image-holding member and transferring the developed image onto an image-receiving medium, the image formation apparatus having when pushed in a direction perpendicular approximately to the direction of incorporating and demounting the development unit, development unit into the apparatus body, once the development sleeve apart from the image-holding member before the prescribed position, and then allows the once stopped development sleeve to move to the aforementioned prescribed position by pushing the aforementioned development lever in the above perpendicular direction and turning the development lever by a prescribed angle.
The image formation apparatus may be provided with member fixed thereto and turning together with the development lever and the stopping member, two grooves with interposition of a ridge, and pushing the aforementioned development lever in the above perpendicular direction and turning the development lever by a prescribed angle; and the protrusion is fitted to one of the two grooves, and be placed at the position distant from the imag
REFERENCES:
patent: 5752137 (1998-05-01), Haneda
patent: 5758232 (1998-05-01), Ikunami
patent: 5802426 (1998-09-01), Miyazaki et al.
patent: 5987279 (1999-11-01), Ebata
Copyer Co. Ltd.
Moses Richard
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