Photosensitive belt removing device of electrophotographic...

Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Modular or displaceable

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C399S162000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06374069

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photosensitive belt removing device of an electrophotographic printing apparatus for removing a photosensitive belt from its installed position in order to replace the photosensitive belt installed in the electrophotographic printing apparatus, and a photosensitive belt removing method using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in
FIG. 1
, an electrophotographic printing apparatus such as a color laser printer is provided with a photosensitive belt
10
which is supported by a plurality of rollers
11
,
12
and
13
installed in a main body of the printing apparatus and circulates around a continuous loop. After an image to be printed is developed by predetermined developing units
15
on one surface of the photosensitive belt
10
, and the developed image is dried while passing by a drying unit
16
, the developed image is printed onto a paper
1
at a transfer unit
14
including a transfer roller
14
a
and a fuser roller
14
b.
In this case, a unit in which the photosensitive belt
10
is supported by rollers in a continuous loop shape and circulates around the continuous loop is called a belt unit. In the developing unit
15
, reference numeral
15
a
denotes a developing roller for forming an image on the photosensitive belt
10
with developer liquid supplied from a developer liquid supply portion (not shown), and reference numeral
15
b
denotes a development backup roller. In addition, reference numerals
15
c
and
15
d
denote a squeeze roller and a squeeze backup roller for pressing the photosensitive belt
10
and squeezing surplus developer from an image developed by the developing roller
15
a.
However, when such a photosensitive belt
10
is used for a long time, the precision of an image deteriorates gradually. Therefore, when the photosensitive belt
10
reaches the end of its usable life, the photosensitive belt
10
must be replaced with a new one so that a clear image can be continuously developed. However, for such replacement, removal of a photosensitive belt
10
has been performed in a manner in which the used photosensitive belt
10
is taken out from its installed position in the belt unit directly by hand.
However, when, as described above, a user directly takes hold of and removes the photosensitive belt
10
after inserting his hand into a printer, the job in itself is bothersome and takes a long time, and, in addition, there is a danger in which the hand of the user may be injured due to interference with various structural frames when the photosensitive belt is taken out from the narrow inner space of the printer.
In addition, the printer is provided with a filter cartridge
17
therein for filtering internal air and exhausting the air. The filter cartridge
17
is arranged to filter foreign objects included in internal air while internal air passes through the filter cartridge
17
and is discharged to the outside by a discharge pump
18
. Therefore, when the filter cartridge
17
is periodically replaced, and preferably replaced in accordance with the replacement period of the photosensitive belt
10
, the filter cartridge
17
can maintain the required filtering capability.
However, in prior-art printers, since the filter cartridge
17
is handled separately from the photosensitive belt
10
, it is troublesome to separately replace the filter cartridge
17
and the photosensitive belt
10
after they are separately removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a photosensitive belt removing device of an electrophotographic printing apparatus which is adapted to perform the job of removing the photosensitive belt in a safe, convenient and fast manner, and a photosensitive belt removing method using the same.
Accordingly, to achieve the above objective, there is provided a photosensitive belt removing device of an electrophotographic printing apparatus for removing a photosensitive belt from its installed position in order to replace the photosensitive belt installed at a belt unit of the printing apparatus, the photosensitive belt removing device comprising: a belt cutting mechanism installed in the printing apparatus so as to cut in a widthwise direction the photosensitive belt installed at the belt unit in a continuous loop state; a filter cartridge installed in the vicinity of the belt unit for filtering objects floating in the air in the printing apparatus; an auxiliary housing provided at one side of the filter cartridge; a revolver rotatably installed in the auxiliary housing and provided with a through slot so that a leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism can be inserted into the through slot; a leading edge introducing guide which guides the leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism into the auxiliary housing and introduces the leading edge into the through slot of the revolver; and a driving source which rotates the revolver so that the revolver can wind up the photosensitive belt.
To achieve the above objective, there is provided a photosensitive belt removing method of an electrophotographic printing apparatus for removing a photosensitive belt from its installed position in order to replace the photosensitive belt installed at a belt unit of the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus including a photosensitive belt removing device, and the photosensitive belt removing device comprising a belt cutting mechanism installed in the printing apparatus so as to cut in a widthwise direction the photosensitive belt installed at the belt unit in a continuous loop state, a filter cartridge installed in the vicinity of the belt unit for filtering objects floating in the air in the printing apparatus, an auxiliary housing provided at one side of the filter cartridge, a revolver rotatably installed in the auxiliary housing and provided with a through slot so that a leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism can be inserted into the through slot, a leading edge introducing guide which guides the leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism into the auxiliary housing and introduces the leading edge into the through slot of the revolver, and a driving source which rotates the revolver so that the revolver can wind up the photosensitive belt, the photosensitive belt removing method including: cutting the photosensitive belt by operating the belt cutting mechanism; guiding the leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism into the auxiliary housing and introducing the leading edge into the through slot of the revolver; winding the photosensitive belt into an auxiliary housing by rotating the revolver by the driving source; and taking the auxiliary housing into which the photosensitive belt is wound out of the printing apparatus together with the filter cartridge.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4215932 (1980-08-01), Castelli et al.
patent: 6195517 (2001-02-01), Park et al.

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