Copying apparatus with a heated photosensitive drum

Abstract

An image forming device has a photosensitive member upon which a latent image is formed and then developed into a visible image and device for heating said photosensitive member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a copying apparatus for copying both sheet originals and thicker originals, and more particularly to an epoch-making copying apparatus which is capable of high-speed copy production and which incorporates various novel process means.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The conventional copying machines are generally classified into two types, one of which is only able to copy sheet originals and the other is meant to copy three-dimensional originals such as books and the like.

The copiers exclusively for use with sheet originals cannot copy books or other thicker originals but are meritorious in that sheet originals can be rapidly copied simply by feeding them into an inlet for insertion and that there is no return stroke for the original carriage or the optical system during the same process, thus enhancing the copying speed correspondingly or approximately twice. These copiers have further merits in the simplicity and low cost of the entire construction, and also in the readiness with which an automatic original supply means may be added if required.

The other type of copiers, i.e. those for copying books or thicker originals have a great characteristic that they can copy both sheet originals and thicker originals. However, their construction is such that any original to be copied must be flatly spread over the original carriage, and such constructions unavoidably leads to cumbersome procedures of raising the original keep cover to place each sheet original on the original carriage, closing the keep cover and depressing the copy button, as is required to copy thicker originals. Moreover, the original carriage or the optical system operatively involves its return stroke, which means a corresponding loss of time and accordingly a corresponding reduction in copying speed for the same process. Additionally, mechanisms are not only complicated and expensive but also great difficulties will be encountered in incorporating an automatic original supply means.

For these reasons, the foregoing two conventional types of copying machines have been enjoying their unique markets, respectively.

In most offices, however, demand for copies of sheet originals is greater than that for copies of thicker originals. For this reason, those offices had to resort to copying machines for thick originals which are more expensive and less convenient to copy sheet originals.

To overcome such irrationality, there have heretofore been proposed copying apparatuses which are capable of copying thicker originals while maintaining their merits as sheet original copying apparatus. Such apparatuses are grouped into the following two types:

I. The apparatus portion overlying the path of sheet originals is detachably constructed so that when copying thicker originals, such portion may be detached from the apparatus body so as to expose the sheet original transport rolls of the apparatus body. A thicker original may be manually urged against such exposed transport rolls and transported with the aid of the rubber rolls so as to be subjected to a through-slit exposure.

II. This type is substantially identical in construction with the type I except in that there is additionally provided a carrier comprising a transparent plate of glass or plastics, on which a thicker original may be placed and transported for exposure with the edges of the carrier held by two or or more pairs of transport rolls.

These two types of apparatuses are substantially similar to the sheet original copying machines in construction and accordingly in cost, but suffer from some demerits as follows:

(1) From the user's point of view, removal of an apparatus portion means a considerably cumbersome procedure, and also would encounter a difficulty in providing a storage space therefor if the entire office space is limited. In case of type II, storage of the carrier would also be troublesome.

(2) In case of type I, the variable manual pressure imparted to the original may cause a great variation in the load to the drive of the apparatus body. In case of type II, the thickness of the carrier may cause a corresponding variation in the length of the optical path, which in turn would result in erroneous focusing and accordingly erroneous synchronization, thus seriously affecting the quality of the resultant copies.

(3) A gear sprocket wheel located at the end of original transport rolls for driving such rolls, and further in case of type II, carrier transport rolls, would project outwardly of the path for originals, thus preventing such path from being flat and accordingly preventing a portion of a bulky original from being copied.

(4) Where the original to be copied has a substantial thickness like books and the leading edge of the original (as viewed in the direction of movement thereof) has a complicated configuration (due to the book cover or the opened position of the book with the page margins thereof forming a slope), the position for the leading edge of the resultant copy image may be greatly variable because the leading edge of the book or like original is detected by a detector switch designed for detecting the leading edges of sheet originals.

Thus, the copying apparatuses of the types as mentioned under items I and II above are practically unsatisfactory and even their merits are merely nominal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention eliminates all the disadvantages mentioned above, and includes improvements in the various components of a copying apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a copying apparatus which can fully function both as sheet original copier and thick original copier and also can increase the copying speed in accordance with the variable size of copies.

The copying apparatus of the present invention is of the type using the liquid development and image transfer system and is of such construction that sheet originals and thicker originals such as books and the like may equally be copied with ease.

Where sheet originals are to be copied by the copying apparatus of the present invention, a sheet original is inserted into the nip between sheet original transport rolls rotating in synchronism with a photosensitive drum normally rotated after a predetermined time of start preparation has passed, as will further be described. The leading edge of the sheet original is detected by detector means including a lamp and light receiving element, whereupon the transport rolls are temporarily stopped, thus stopping the original sheet. When the rotating photosensitive drum comes to a predetermined position, an original start signal is produced from the photosensitive drum to rotate the transport rolls again, so that the original is transported in synchronism with the photosensitive drum and finally discharged out of the apparatus by transport means such as rolls. During such travel, the original passes through an illuminating station. The photosensitive drum is normally rotating in one direction. The photosensitive drum passes through suitable copying processes to form a latent image thereon and reaches a developing means, which comprises a developing liquid tank, means such as pump or the like for stirring and raising developing liquid, and a developing electrode. This electrode is adapted to be urged toward the photosensitive drum by spring means with a very slight clearance maintained therebetween. The latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is developed into a visual image by toner contained in the developing liquid raised onto the developing electrode by said pump or like means. The excess developing liquid left on the photosensitive drum is removed by a post charger without disturbing the formed image. Subsequently, a transfer medium fed from paper feed means is brought into intimate contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum so that the image on the drum is transferred to the transfer medium as the latter is electrically charged. Thereafter, the transfer medium is separated from the photosensitive drum by a separator belt and directed to a drying-fixing station. Any residual developing liquid with toner remaining on the photosensitive drum is wiped off by the edge portion of a blade cleaner urged into contact with the photosensitive drum, thus making the drum ready for reuse in the next cycle. The developing liquid thus wiped off by the blade cleaner flows along grooves formed around the opposite end portions of the photosensitive drum and down into the developing means for reuse.

The photosensitive drum is heated to remove any moisture which might form on the drum and which, if absorbed, would adversely affect the quality of the formed image.

The copying apparatus is also constructed to direct heated air toward the photosensitive drum to thereby remove moisture therefrom.

Where book or thicker originals (hereinafter referred to as "book originals") are to be copied, the copying apparatus is changed over from the above-described sheet original copying mode to a book original copying mode. Such mode change-over may be accomplished by depressing a change-over button to cause means such as lever and projection to release a cam on the underside of the original carriage from its sheet original copying position, thus displacing the original carriage into its book original copying position. With such movement of the original carriage from its sheet original copying position into its book original copying position, the drive and electric supply to the sheet original transport means is cut off to thereby change over the circuit into a mode for book originals. In the book original copying mode, the leading edge of a book original assumes the position which was previously occupied by the detector means in the sheet original copying mode. A book original to be copied is placed on the original carriage with the leading edges of the original and carriage registered with each other, whereafter the original is covered with an original keep cover and the copy button is depressed. As described with respect to the sheet original copying mode, a start signal is produced from the photosensitive drum to energize means such as electromagnetic plunger, thus starting to drive the original carriage reciprocally. A through-slit exposure takes place in synchronism with the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum. After the exposure, the original carriage reverts to its return stroke in response to a signal produced from itself in accordance with the size of the original. The speed for the return stroke is higher than the speed for the forward stroke to enhance the copying speed. If multiple copies of the same book original are to be obtained continuously, the copy button is maintained depressed until a preset number of copies has been counted up by counter means for counting such number, thus providing any desired number of copies. In the other points, the operation in the book original copying mode is identical with that in the sheet original copying mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become fully apparent from the following detailed description of various embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the copying apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear side view of the FIG. 2 apparatus with the rear side cover removed therefrom;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the mechanism for fixing the original carriage;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section of the same apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a front side view of the same apparatus with the front side cover removed therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The copying apparatus of the present invention is of the liquid development and transfer type which can selectively copy sheet originals such as documents and the like or thicker originals such as books and the like, as desired.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the copying apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing 1, a sheet original transport means 2, and an original carriage 3 for supporting thereon a thick original (hereinafter referred to as "book original") and covered with an original keep cover 4. The apparatus further includes a pair of guide rails 5.sub.1 and 5.sub.2 for the original carriage, a cassette 6 containing therein a stock of transfer paper sheets P, and a lid 7 for the cassette which may also serve as a tray for receiving transfer paper sheets discharged out of the apparatus after image transfer. There are further seen an auxiliary tray 8, an operating portion 9 including a main switch 10, a group of alarm lamps 11.sub.1 -11.sub.4, a re-start lamp switch 12 which is to be further described, a button 13 for changing over the mode of operation between a mode for copying sheet originals and a mode for copying book originals, a knob and copy button 14 for selecting a mode for continuously producing multiple copies of a book original, a button 15 for urgently stopping the continuous copy mode for a book original, and a dial 16 for adjusting the density of desired copies.

With reference to FIG. 2, the operation of such copying apparatus will first be described as to the case where sheet originals are to be copied. A sheet original is inserted from the right of the apparatus into the nip between the rolls 18.sub.1 and 18.sub.2 of the sheet original transport means 2 which are rotated in synchronism with a photosensitive drum 17 which is normally rotated after a certain time for start preparation as will be described later, and then the inserted sheet original is transported leftwardly. As soon as the leading edge of the sheet original is detected by a lamp 19 and a light receiving element 20, the rolls 18.sub.1 and 18.sub.2 are temporarily stopped from rotating, and thus the original is also stopped. Subsequently, when the photosensitive drum 17 comes to a predetermined position, a start signal for the original is produced to rotate the rolls 18.sub.1 and 18.sub.2 again so that the original is further transported leftwardly in synchronism with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 17, whereafter it is discharged upwardly by rolls 21.sub.1 and 21.sub.2. During that time, the original is illuminated from therebelow at an illuminating station 22 by four lamps 24 as it is moved on a glass plate. The image of the original is optically directed by a mirror 25 and a mirror lens 26 through an exposure station 27 to the surface of the photosensitive drum 17, thus forming an image thereon.

The photosensitive drum 17 comprises a photosensitive layer covered with a transparent dielectric layer and is normally rotated in clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. The photosensitive drum 17 is first charged with positive polarity by a primary charger 29 supplied with a high voltage of positive polarity from a high voltage source 28. When the charged surface portion of the photosensitive drum 17 comes to the exposure station 27, the image from the illuminating station is projected on such portion of the drum 17 through a slit while it is discharged by an AC discharger 30 supplied with a high AC voltage from the high voltage source 28. Then that surface portion of the photosensitive drum 17 is subjected to an overall exposure by a lamp 31, thus forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface portion thereof, whereafter the image carrying surface portion of the photosensitive drum 17 enters a developing means 32. The developing means 32 comprise a container 34 for containing a body of developing liquid 33, a pump 35 (FIG. 5) for stirring and raising the developing liquid, and an electrode 36 normally biased toward the photosensitive drum by a spring 37 so as to maintain a slight clearance with respect to the drum surface. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 17 is developed into a visible image with the aid of toner particles contained in the developing liquid and raised onto the electrode 36 by the pump 35.

Subsequently, at a post charger 38, the image carrying surface portion of the photosensitive drum 17 is charged with a negative high voltage from the high voltage source to remove the excess liquid from the surface of the photosensitive drum 17 without disturbing the developed image thereon. Thereafter, a sheet of transfer paper P is fed from a paper feed station and brought into intimate contact with the image carrying surface of the photosensitive drum 17 so that the image on the photosensitive drum 17 is transferred onto the sheet of transfer paper P with the aid of a positive high voltage applied thereto at a transfer charger 39 from the voltage source 28. After the image transfer, the transfer paper P is separated from the photosensitive drum 17 by a separator belt 40, and then directed to a drying-fixing station 41. The photosensitive drum 17 is cleaned by the edge portion 42.sub.1 of a blade cleaner 42 urged into contact with the drum 17 to remove any residual amount of liquid with toner, thus becoming ready for a subsequent cycle of copying operation. The developing liquid as removed from the photosensitive drum 17 by the blade cleaner 42 flows along grooves 17.sub.1 formed around the opposite ends of the drum 17, and thence into the developing means 32 for reuse.

On the other hand, sheets of transfer paper P are contained in the cassette 6 which is removably mounted to the apparatus. Various types of cassettes may be available in accordance with various sizes of transfer sheet and may be readily interchangeable as desired. The sheets of transfer paper P are supported on an inner plate 43 within the cassette 6 and the inner plate 43 is biased upwardly by a spring 44 so as to normally urge the pile of transfer paper P against separator pawls 45 formed on the forward end of the cassette at the opposite sides thereof. By suitably selecting the spring constant of the spring 44, the pressure force with which the sheets of transfer paper P are urged against the separator pawl 45 may be maintained substantially constant irrespective of the number of the transfer paper sheets P in the cassette 6.

When the photosensitive drum reaches its predetermined position, a signal is produced to lower a normally rotating paper feed roll 46 into contact with the uppermost sheet of transfer paper P so that the paper feed roll 46 cooperates with the separator pawl 45 to separate the uppermost transfer paper sheet P from the others and feed it left to right as viewed in FIG. 2. However, since register rolls 47.sub.1 and 47.sub.2 located adjacent to the cassette are stopped immediately after the feed roll 46 has been lowered, the transfer paper P fed out of the cassette 6 tends to be slack between guides 48.sub.1 and 48.sub.2 with the leading edge thereof bearing against the area of contact between the register rolls 47.sub.1 and 47.sub.2. Immediately thereafter, the photosensitive drum 17 produces a paper feed signal, in response to which the register rolls 47.sub.1 and 47.sub.2 start to rotate, thus feeding the transfer paper P at a speed equal to the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 17. On the other hand, the paper feed roll 46 is again raised away from the stock of transfer paper P after a predetermined time, and thereafter the separated transfer paper is continuously fed only by the register rolls 47.sub.1, 47.sub.2 and subsequent feed means.

The transfer paper separator belt 40 may be in the form of a narrow endless belt which passes from a separator roll 49 disposed in very closely spaced relationship with the photosensitive drum 17, and over a deflecting pulley 50, pulleys 52.sub.1, 52.sub.2, deflecting pulley 51, pulley 52.sub.3 back to the separator roll 41. The portion of the separator belt 40 extending between the pulley 52.sub.3 and the separator roll 49 bears against the drum 17 at a portion thereof corresponding to one end of the transfer paper sheet, and the portion of the separator belt 40 extending between the pulleys 52.sub.1 and 52.sub.2 is caused by the deflecting pulleys 50, 51 to follow a path deviated from the path of the transfer paper. The separator belt 40 is driven by the separator roll 49 at a speed substantially equal to the speed of the photosensitive drum 17. A portion of the separator belt 40 is sandwiched between one side edge of a transfer paper sheet P and the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 17 when the transfer paper P is brought into intimate contact with the photosensitive drum 17 during the image transfer process. Thus, the separation of the separator belt 40 from the photosensitive drum 17 as accomplished at the separator roll 49 will force one side edge of the transfer paper sheet P to be also separated from the photosensitive drum 17. Once its side edge is so separated, the transfer paper P may be entirely separated from the photosensitive drum 17 owing to its own self-supporting strength and to the action of the air blown from a blower 53 (FIG. 3) via a duct 54 and through an air outlet 55.sub.1, whereafter the transfer paper may be passed toward the drying-fixing station 41.

At the drying-fixing station 41, the unfixed transfer paper P is conveyed on a conveyor belt 57 driven by a roll 56, in the leftward direction as viewed in FIG. 2, so that the paper P is dried and fixed by the air blown from the duct 54 and intensely heated just below a heater 58. Most of the air thus heated by the heater 58 and consumed for the drying is sucked into the blower 53 (FIG. 3) through an intake port 59 disposed below the belt 57 so that such air may be circulated for reuse in the drying and fixing process. The transfer paper P thus dried and fixed may be electrically discharged by a discharger 60 so as to remove any residual charge from the surface of the paper P, whereafter it is passed via a discharge roll 61 to a discharge port 62 and discharged therethrough onto the lid 7 of the cassette 6 which also serves as a reception tray.

With reference to FIG. 4, description will now be made of the operation of the above-described apparatus when used to copy book originals. The change-over of the operation mode from the foregoing mode for copying sheet originals to a mode for copying book originals may be accomplished in the manner described hereunder. The change-over button 13 is first depressed to cause counter-clockwise pivotal movement of a lever 63.sub.2 about a pin 63.sub.3 through the cooperation between a lever 13.sub.1 and a projection 63.sub.1 integral with the lever 63.sub.2, thus lowering a roll 63 to disengage this roll 63 downwardly from a sheet original positioning groove 65 formed at one end of a cam 64 mounted to the lower portion of the original carriage 3, which is thus allowed to move leftwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 until the roll 63 is received into a book original positioning groove 66. Both movement of the original carriage 3 from its position for sheet originals to its position for book originals cuts off the supply of electrical drive to the sheet original transport means 2, thereby changing over the entire circuit to the book original copying position. In this operative position, the forward end of a book original to be copied, i.e. the forward end 67.sub.1 of the original carriage's glass plate 67 (FIG. 2) assumes the position which was occupied by the lamp 19 and light receiving element 20 in the sheet original copying mode.

A book original to be copied is placed on the carriage's glass plate 67 with the forward end thereof registered with the forward end 67.sub.1 of the glass plate, and then the book original is held by the keep cover 4 (FIG. 2). Thereafter, the copy button 14' (FIG. 1) is depressed to produce an original start signal from the photosensitive drum 17 in the same way as described above with respect to the case of sheet original. This signal energizes an electromagnetic plunger SL3 so that upon disengagement of the roll 63 from the groove 66 the original carriage 3 is moved leftwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 and at the same speed as the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 17 to accomplish a through-slit exposure. Upon completion of such exposure, the original carriage 3 stops its leftward movement in response to its own signal corresponding to the size of the book original, whereupon the carriage 3 assumes its backward or rightward movement. The speed of this return movement is higher than the speed of the forward movement to increase the copying efficiency. Upon return of the original carriage to its initial position for the book original copying, the drive to the original carriage 3 is cut off to stop it with the roll 63 received in the groove 66.

Where multiple copies of the same book original are to be obtained continuously, this may readily be accomplished by means of counter means 14 operatively associated with the copy button 14'. The counter means 14 converts the movement of the original carriage 3 into a count through the cam 64 and crank 69 shown in FIG. 4, so as to hold the copy button 14' in depressed position until a preset number of copies has been counted up, thus enabling multiple copies to be provided.

In the other points, the operation of the apparatus for book originals is identical with that for sheet originals.

In the present embodiment of the copying apparatus, the photosensitive drum 17 can copy originals of variable width up to that of JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) A3 format and has a circumferential length somewhat greater than the length of the A3 format. Therefore, where the originals to be copied are sheet originals, one of sheet originals of A3 format may be fed for copying per full rotation of the photosensitive drum or two of sheet originals of A4 format may be fed at a time in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof. If book originals are to be copied, the forward stroke (exposure stroke) of the original carriage 3 is followed by the return stroke which requires substantially as much time as the forward stroke, and thus the length of time required for providing one copy of a book original will be approximately twice the time required for one copy of a sheet original. More specifically, for originals of A3 format, one copy may be provided every two full rotations of the photosensitive drum, and for originals of A4 format, one copy may be provided per full rotation of the photosensitive drum.

Such cycle difference arising from the different sizes of paper may be detected by a signal from the cassette 6, and the cycle difference arising from the different types of original may be detected by a signal resulting from the change in position of the original carriage.

In an electrophotographic copying apparatus using the drum type image transfer system, various process elements are disposed around the entire periphery of a photosensitive drum. On the other hand, the photosensitive drum and the surrounding process elements must permit ready removal and inspection thereof for the purpose of maintenance. Further, the photosensitive drum should desirably incorporate therein a temperature control mechanism for preventing formation of dews on the surface of the drum.

The present invention also intends to satisfy such requirements and provide a photosensitive drum supporting means which is simple to construct and handle and compact in structure.

There are known two types of the photosensitive drum supporting means. One of them is of such a construction that the opposite ends of the drum shaft are supported by bearing frame plates which may be inserted downwardly into the housing of the copying apparatus. With such construction, however, the removal of the photosensitive drum which is sometimes required as mentioned above has involved nearly as much work as required in the complete disassemblage of the apparatus, and in addition, the size of the apparatus has become so large and hence expensive that the process elements cannot be disposed above the drum.

In view of these disadvantages, there has heretofore been proposed a support means of the type in which one end of the drum shaft is supported in a cantilever fashion by the frame of the machine housing and the drum shaft is driven to rotate so as to permit the drum to be removably mounted on the shaft. This latter type has considerably eliminated the disadvantages peculiar to the former type, but it still suffers from a demerit that the rotatable shaft supported in the cantilever fashion leads to an increased size of the supporting portion which is unsuitable for making the apparatus compact. Moreover, both the two types would encounter difficulties in mounting a temperature control mechanism.

The photosensitive drum supporting means of the present invention overcomes these problems. An embodiment thereof is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, where an arch-shaped front frame 71 (see FIG. 6) and a rear frame 72 formed of alloy casting are secured to the bottom plate 74 of the copying apparatus body, the rear frame 72 having a drum shaft 73 securely inserted into the boss 72.sub.1 thereof.

The drum unit includes a drum 17 which comprises a cylindrical metal member, a photosensitive layer formed over the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, and if required, a transparent resin film of high resistance covering the surface of the photosensitive layer. The photosensitive drum 17 is held by and between front and rear flanges 84.sub.1 and 84.sub.2, whose integral bearing portions 84.sub.3 and 84.sub.4 are connected together preferably by three rods 86. A pipe 85 extends between the bearing portions 84.sub.3 and 84.sub.4. A bearing 76.sub.2 is held by the bearing portion 84.sub.3. All these members together constitute the drum unit.

An axially movable thrust keep member 82 is provided to push the bearing 76.sub.2 leftwardly as viewed in FIG. 5. The keep member 82 has a support fitting 80 fitted outwardly thereof. A coil spring 83 is compressively mounted between the keep plate 82 and the support fitting 80. The support fitting 80 is mounted on a support plate 79. These members together constitute a front support mechanism.

Bearings 75 and 76.sub.1 are mounted on the boss 72.sub.1 of the rear frame 72 and held by a bearing box 75.sub.1. An anti-slip member 78 is provided for a bearing 76.sub.1 secured to a fixed shaft 73 by means of screws. A drum gear 77 is secured to the bearing box 75.sub.1 and has a clutch pin 87.

The assemblage may be accomplished in the manner described hereunder. The front lid 1.sub.1 of the apparatus housing is opened, whereafter the drum unit is inserted over the shaft 73 through the arch-shaped space of the front frame 71 with the bearing portion 84.sub.4 and pipe 85 as the guide, so that the clutch hole 88 in the flange 84.sub.2 is engaged by the clutch pin 87, thus coupling the unit of the drum gear 77. In the manner as shown in FIG. 6, a mounting projection of the support plate 79 of the front support mechanism is brought into abutment with the complementary portion of the front frame 71, and then the support plate 79 is positioned in place by positioning pins 81.sub.1 and 81.sub.2 and finally fastened by a screw 81.sub.3, thus completing the assemblage. The drum 17 is now ready to be driven from a motor through the gear 77.

The removal of the drum unit from the shaft 73 may be accomplished by reversing the above-described sequence of procedures. During the course of assemblage, the coil spring 83 biases the drum unit toward the rear frame 72 via keep member 82, bearing 76.sub.2, bearing portion 84.sub.3 and front flange 84.sub.1 to thereby prevent any relative play between the parts. The spring 83 will also absorb the vibrations or shocks which would occur during the transportation of the assembly.

It will thus be noted that the photosensitive drum supporting means of the present invention has the following various advantages.

(1) The use of a cantilever-fashioned shaft for the mounting and dismounting of the drum unit permits a compact design of the entire apparatus.

(2) The drum unit which is axially movable for monting and dismounting thereof permits all process elements to be disposed around the entire periphery of the drum and provides an excellent service effect.

(3) The drum shaft secured to the apparatus body readily enables incorporation of a heater (a) and a temperature detector (b) and thus readily permits the provision of a control mechanism for stabilizing the copying process.

(4) The fact that the rear bearing for the drum unit is attached to the fixed shaft permits the drum unit to be readily mounted and dismounted.

An embodiment of the drying-fixing means according to the present invention will now be explained.

After the image transfer has been completed, a transfer paper sheet P is separated from the photosensitive drum 17 in the same manner as described above and then transported to drying-fixing means 41. According to the present invention, the transfer paper is dried by the use of heater 58 and air as mentioned previously. The air for drying the paper is blown from a blower disposed externally of the rear frame 72, through duct 54 and air outlet 55.sub.2 into the drying-fixing means 41. At the same time, part of the air flows through the outlet 55.sub.1 of the duct 54 into a triangular space S provided between the photosensitive drum 17 and a transfer paper sheet P being separated therefrom, thus assisting in the separation of the paper P.

That part of the air thus used for the separation also flows with the transfer paper into the drying-fixing means 41.

In the drying-fixing means 41, the air is heated by the heater 58 and such heated air flow and the direct heat from the heater 58 cooperate together to dry and fix the image on the transfer paper P. Thereafter, the air is sucked into a blower through an intake port 59 provided below the conveyor belts 57 and extending through the rear frame 72, and is further directed into the duct 54 for recirculation.

Such recirculation and reuse of the air once used for the drying-fixing process will never adversely affect the drying-fixing effect if a proper temperature condition is maintained. The reuse of the air heated by the heater 58 leads to a much greater thermal economy than in the case where such air is all discharged out of the apparatus, and it is also useful in providing a quick temperature rise in the drying-fixing means 41 at the initiation of the operation.

Further, the fact that part of the air used for the drying-fixing process is directed to the transfer paper separator station to assist in the paper separation leads to the elimination of any additional auxiliary means for separation, and this in turn leads to a compact and simple construction of the copying apparatus.

Furthermore, since the air outlet 55.sub.2 is disposed above the conveyor belts 57 and the intake port 59 is disposed below the conveyor belts 57, the air may flow through the drying-fixing means 41 in the direction from up to down with respect to the conveyor belts 57. This ensures the transfer paper P on the conveyor belts 57 to be both urged and attracted downwardly against these belts for positive transportation. Where only the downward attraction takes place, there would occur a danger that if a number of transfer sheets P in overlapped relationship is carried to the conveyor belts, only the lowermost one of them would be attracted to the conveyor belts while the other sheets would fly up to jam various parts of the apparatus. According to the present invention, however, both the downward urge and the downward attraction take place at a time so that even if a number of overlapped paper sheets is carried thereto the uppermost one of them is kept against flying up, thus ensuring a positive transportation of all the transfer sheets.

As described previously, the photosensitive drum 17 comprises a photosensitive layer covered with a transparent dielectric layer, and therefore, in an atmosphere of high humidity, the moisture might penetrate through the outer dielectric layer to the inner photosensitive layer, thereby reducing the contrast of the formed image thereof. According to the present invention, this may be avoided because part of the heated air blown through the air outlet 55.sub.1 for assisting in the paper separation impinges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 17 to suitably heat this drum and remove any moisture from the photosensitive layer thereof, thus preventing the reduction in the image contrast irrespective of a highly humid atmosphere.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic copying device comprising:

a photosensitive drum mounted along its longitudinal axis on a support shaft;

means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive drum;

means for forming a visible image from a latent image formed on said photosensitive drum;

means for transferring a visible image onto a transfer material;

means for fixing a transferred image onto the associated transfer material;

means including an elongated heater extending along and within said support shaft and inside said mounted drum for substantially uniformly heating said photosensitive drum to remove moisture therefrom; and

means for applying heated air to said photosensitive drum, wherein said air is heated by said fixing means before it is applied to said photosensitive drum.

2. An electrophotographic copying device comprising:

a photosensitive drum rotatably and detachably mounted along its longitudinal axis on a fixed shaft which is cantilevered, wherein said shaft is longer than the width of said drum such that in penetrates beyond said drum when the drum is mounted thereon;

process means for providing a fixed image on a material, said process means including means for forming a visible image on the material from an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, and means for fixing the visible image onto the associated material; and

means for applying heated air to said photosensitive drum to remove moisture therefrom, the air having been heated before application to said photosensitive drum by at least one heat generating member of said process means.

3. An electrophotographic copying device comprising:

a photosensitive drum rotatably and detachably mounted along its longitudinal axis on a stationary shaft;

means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive drum;

means for forming a visible image;

means for transferring a visible image onto a transfer material;

means for fixing a transferred image onto the associated transfer material;

means positioned within said shaft and inside said mounted drum for uniformly heating said photosensitive drum to remove moisture therefrom; and

means for applying heated air to said photosensitive drum, wherein said air is heated by said fixing means before it is applied to said photosensitive drum.

4. An electrophotographic copying device comprising:

a photosensitive drum;

process means for providing a fixed image on a transfer material, said process means including means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive drum, means for forming a visible image from an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, means for transferring a visible image onto a transfer material, and means for fixing a transferred image onto the associated transfer material; and

means for applying heated air to said photosensitive drum to remove moisture therefrom, the air having been heated, before being applied to said photosensitive drum, by at least one heat generating member of said process means.

5. A device according to claim 4, further comprising means positioned within said photosensitive drum for heating said photosensitive drum to remove moisture therefrom.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said photosensitive drum is rotatably mounted on a stationary support and wherein said drum is detachable from said stationary support.

7. A device according to claim 4, wherein said photosensitive drum includes a conductive base, a photoconductive layer thereon and an insulating layer on said photoconductive layer.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the photoconductive layer covers substantially the entire cylindrical outer surface of said drum.

9. An electrophotographic copying device comprising:

a photosensitive drum;

means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive drum;

means for forming a visible image from an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum;

means for transferring a visible image onto a transfer material;

means for fixing a transferred image onto the associated transfer material;

means for applying heated air to said photosensitive drum to remove moisture therefrom; and

means positioned within said photosensitive drum for heating said photosensitive drum to remove moisture therefrom;

wherein said air is heated by said fixing means before it is applied to said photosensitive drum.