Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To reduce toner scattered inside a device due to an air flow for cooling exposure means.SOLUTION: An image forming device comprises: a photoreceptor; exposure means that forms a latent image on the photoreceptor; development means that develops the latent image formed on the photoreceptor by a toner; a photoreceptor support member that guides the photoreceptor along an axial line direction of the photoreceptor and removably supports it; a development support member that guides the development means along the axial line direction and removably supports it; an exposure support member that is disposed between the photoreceptor support member and the development support member and integrally supports the exposure means, and that communicates with the exposure means and is moved, integrally with the exposure means, to an exposure position where the photoreceptor is exposed, and to a retreat position where the photoreceptor is retracted from the exposure position; an exposure cooling unit that communicates with the exposure support member, and is configured to cool the exposure means by an air flow through the exposure support member; and a sealing member that seals, at the exposure position, a gap between the exposure support member and the development support member, and a gap between the exposure support member and the photoreceptor support member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 22

Claims

1. Photoreceptor and An exposure means for exposing the photoreceptor to form a latent image on the photoreceptor, A developing means for developing the latent image formed on the photoreceptor using toner, A photoreceptor support member guides the photoreceptor along its axial direction and supports the photoreceptor so that it can be attached to and detached, A developing support member guides the developing means along the axial direction of the photoreceptor and detachably supports the developing means, An exposure support member is provided between the photoreceptor support member and the developer support member, communicates with the exposure means, integrally supports the exposure means, and moves integrally with the exposure means to an exposure position where the photoreceptor is exposed and to a retracted position where it is retracted from the exposure position. An exposure cooling unit that communicates with the exposure support member and cools the exposure means by airflow through the exposure support member, The device includes a sealing member that seals the gap between the exposure support member and the development support member and the gap between the exposure support member and the photoreceptor support member at the exposure position, The sealing member is At the exposure position, the exposure support member is pressed against the developing support member, and the exposure support member is pressed against the photoreceptor support member, thereby sealing the gap. In the retracted position, the pressure of the exposure support member against the developing support member is reduced, and the pressure of the exposure support member against the photoreceptor support member is reduced, thereby releasing the seal on the gap. An image forming apparatus characterized by the following features.

2. The exposure support member is On one side in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the photoreceptor, a first duct wall is provided at a position facing the developing means, extending along the axial direction of the photoreceptor, On the other side in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the photoreceptor, a second duct wall is provided extending along the axial direction of the photoreceptor at a position opposite to the adjacent portion adjacent to the exposure support member, It has an opening provided between the first duct wall and the second duct wall, which communicates with the exposure means, A duct is formed to allow the airflow from the exposure cooling unit to flow to the exposure means between the first duct wall and the second duct wall and through the opening. The image forming apparatus according to feature 1.

3. The exposure cooling unit has a fan that generates an airflow for cooling the exposure means, The airflow used to cool the exposure means is The fan of the exposure cooling unit generates, The material that flows through the exposure support member to the exposure means, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The sealing member is a sheet material or a foamed sealing material. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The aforementioned developing support member is Between the developing means and the exposure means, a guide portion separates the developing means and the exposure means across the axial direction of the photoreceptor, The guide portion is provided with a sealing member that seals the gap between it and the developing means, The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Photoreceptor and An exposure means for exposing the photoreceptor to form a latent image on the photoreceptor, A developing means for developing the latent image formed on the photoreceptor using toner, A photoreceptor support member guides the photoreceptor along its axial direction and supports the photoreceptor so that it can be attached to and detached, A developing support member guides the developing means along the axial direction of the photoreceptor and detachably supports the developing means, An exposure support member is provided between the photoreceptor support member and the developer support member, communicates with the exposure means, integrally supports the exposure means, and moves integrally with the exposure means to an exposure position where the photoreceptor is exposed and to a retracted position where it is retracted from the exposure position. An exposure cooling unit that communicates with the exposure support member and cools the exposure means by airflow through the exposure support member, The device includes a sealing member that seals the gap between the exposure support member and the development support member and the gap between the exposure support member and the photoreceptor support member at the exposure position, The aforementioned developing support member is Between the developing means and the exposure means, a guide portion separates the developing means and the exposure means across the axial direction of the photoreceptor, The guide portion is provided with a sealing member that seals the gap between it and the developing means, An image forming apparatus characterized by the following features.

7. The sealing member is At the exposure position, the exposure support member is pressed against the developing support member, and the exposure support member is pressed against the photoreceptor support member, thereby sealing the gap. In the retracted position, the exposure support member is separated from the developing support member, and the exposure support member is separated from the photoreceptor support member, thereby releasing the seal on the gap. The image forming apparatus according to feature 6.

8. The exposure support member is On one side in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the photoreceptor, a first duct wall is provided at a position facing the developing means, extending along the axial direction of the photoreceptor, On the other side in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the photoreceptor, a second duct wall is provided extending along the axial direction of the photoreceptor at a position opposite to the adjacent portion adjacent to the exposure support member, It has an opening provided between the first duct wall and the second duct wall, which communicates with the exposure means, A duct is formed to allow the airflow from the exposure cooling unit to flow to the exposure means between the first duct wall and the second duct wall and through the opening. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 or 7.

9. The exposure cooling unit has a fan that generates an airflow for cooling the exposure means, The airflow used to cool the exposure means is The fan of the exposure cooling unit generates, The material that flows through the exposure support member to the exposure means, The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

10. The sealing member is a sheet material or a foamed sealing material. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that

11. The exposure means performs exposure using an organic EL. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images