Patent Application
20060045567
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-68269, filed on Aug. 28, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a developing unit of an image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a developing unit with a foldable handle.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in
The paper cassette unit 10 stores a plurality of sheets of paper. The transport unit 20 transports the sheets of paper stored in the paper cassette unit 10 to the developing unit 30. The paper cassette unit 10 includes a pickup roller 11. The transport unit 20 includes a plurality of pairs of transport rollers 21 and 22.
The developing unit 30 includes a photosensitive body 32 to receive light from an exposing unit 31 to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developing case 34 pivotably supporting the photosensitive body 32. The developing case 34 includes a developer container 33 containing a developer for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive body 32.
The transfer unit 40 transfers a visible image formed on the photosensitive body 32 to a sheet of paper.
The fixing unit 50 passes the sheet of paper to which the visible image has been transferred to apply heat and pressure to the sheet of paper. Thus, the visible image is fused and fixed onto the sheet of paper.
The paper discharging unit 60 discharges the sheet of paper which has passed through the fixing unit 50.
The developing unit 30 preferably is replaced when the developer contained in the developer container 33 is exhausted. For this purpose, the general image forming apparatus includes a cover 2 that can be opened and closed. The developing unit 30 includes a handle 35 for easily handling the developing unit 30. In general, the handle 35 is pivotably hinged on the developing case 34 and is preferably fixed on the developing case 34.
However, in the above-described developing unit 30 of the general image forming apparatus, the handle 35 protrudes farther than an outer periphery of the developing case 34. Thus, when the developing unit 30 is packaged, the size of the developing unit 30 increases. Also, the handle 35 is limitedly used to remove the developing unit 30. Thus, the handle 35 is non-economical in terms of its utility value compared to its size.
Accordingly, there is a need for an image forming apparatus having a developing unit with a foldable multipurpose handle that does not protrude substantially beyond the periphery of the developing unit when being folded so as to reduce the size of the developing unit and which may also be used as a paper guide.
An aspect of the present invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a developing unit having a foldable multipurpose handle which does not protrude substantially beyond the periphery of the developing unit when being folded so as to reduce the size of the developing unit. Moreover, the foldable multi-purpose handle is also used as a paper guide as well as a handle when being unfolded.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing unit of an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit including at least one of a photosensitive body. A developing roller developing a developer on the photosensitive body. A case protecting the image forming unit and a handle installed at the case to handle the developing unit. Accordingly, the handle pivots to a first position attached to the case and a second position opposite to the first position.
Preferably, the first position is a storage position, and the second position is a use position. The use position is preferably orientated at an angle of about 180° from the storage position.
It is also preferable that the handle has a smaller width than a width of the case. Moreover, it is preferably that the handle is installed at an approximate center of the case to be folded by a hinge.
The handle preferably includes a guide plate, and a gripping unit bent from an end of the guide plate. A plurality of guide ribs may be formed on a back surface of the guide plate.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a body frame with a developing unit mounting unit. A paper feeding unit is disposed in the body frame and comprises a plurality of sheets of paper. An auxiliary paper feeding unit is installed on the body frame to feed sheets of paper having various sizes and includes a paper path partially overlapping with a paper path of the paper feeding unit. A transfer unit is provided for transferring a sheet of paper picked up by the paper feeding unit or the auxiliary paper feeding unit and a developing unit is attachable to or detachable from the developing unit mounting unit of the body frame. The developing unit preferably includes an image forming unit with at least one of a photosensitive body and a developing roller developing a developer on the photosensitive body. It is also preferably to provided a case to protect the image forming unit and a handle installed on the case to guide a sheet of paper fed from the auxiliary paper feeding unit.
The handle preferably pivots to a first position attached to the case and a second position opposite to the first position. The first position is preferably a storage position, and the second position is preferably a use position. The use position may be advantageously disposed at an angle of about 180° from the storage position.
It is also preferably that the handle has a smaller width than a width of the case and is installed in an approximate center of the case to be folded by a hinge.
The handle preferably includes a guide plate, and a gripping unit bent from an end of the guide plate. A plurality of guide ribs may be formed on a back surface of the guide plate.
The handle may be unfolded so that a height of the back surface of the guide plate does not exceed about 60 mm from a bottom.
The developing unit may also be removed in an identical direction to a direction along which the paper feeding unit is removed.
The developing unit mounting unit may also include a guide rail slanting toward the direction along which the developing unit is removed and a shaft supporter on which a pivot shaft of the photosensitive body may be placed.
The developing unit mounting unit may be positioned substantially under a fixing unit.
The auxiliary paper feeding unit may also be installed between the developing unit and the paper feeding unit.
Accordingly, the handle may be foldably installed on the developing unit. Thus, when the developing unit is packaged, the size of the developing unit may be reduced. Also, an external impact on the developing unit may be relieved. As a result, the durability of the developing unit is improved. In addition, the handle can be used to mount and remove the developing unit. Moreover, when the handle is installed on the developing unit, the handle is unfolded for use as a paper guide as well as a handle. Accordingly, the utility value of the handle is improved.
Other objects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.
The above and other objects, and features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures.
The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for conciseness.
As shown in
The developing unit 130 is attachable to or detachable from the body frame 100. Thus the developing unit 130 may be detached from the body frame 100 in instances such as when a developer is exhausted or a sheet of paper is jammed. The developing unit 130 includes a photosensitive body 131, a case 130a to protect an image forming unit. Moreover, a developing roller (not shown) is provided to supply a powdered developer to the photosensitive body 131 and the handle 200 is installed on the case 130a.
The case 130a pivotably supports the photosensitive body 131 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by light irradiated from an exposing unit 105. The developing unit 130 develops the powdered developer on the photosensitive body 131 and is preferably formed of an outer case or frame of the developing unit 130. A pivot shaft 132 preferably protrudes to the outside of the case 130a to power the photosensitive body 131. The pivot shaft 132 guides the developing unit 130 toward a developing unit mounting unit 101 installed on the body frame 100.
As shown in
The guide rail 102 supports both ends of the pivot shaft 132 and guides the developing unit 130 to a mounting position thereof. The guide rail 102 preferably slants from the mounting position as shown in
The shaft supporter 103 is substantially concave as shown in
The developing unit 130 may be removed from the image forming apparatus in a direction indicated by arrow A as shown in
The handle 200 preferably has a smaller width than that of the case 130a. The handle 200 is foldably combined with an approximate center of the case 130a by a hinge 201. Thus, the handle 200 may pivot on the hinge 201 from its storage position attached to the case 130a to a use position to which the handle 200 pivots about 180° from the storage position. The handle 200 includes a guide plate 210 and a gripping unit 220.
As shown in
The gripping unit 220 is preferably bent from an end of the guide plate 210 and so that the gripping unit may be conveniently pulled by a user.
The operation of the image forming apparatus including the developing unit 130 and the foldable handle 200 will now be described.
As shown in
As shown in
The developing unit 130 is mounted on the body frame 100 in a reverse order to the above-described removal order. In other words, the user unfolds the handle 200 toward the use position and pushes the gripping unit 220 so as to position the developing unit 130 to the developing unit mounting unit 101. As described above, when the handle 200 is unfolded toward the use position, the plurality of guide ribs 211 formed on the back surface of the guide plate 210 may guide the transport path of the sheet of paper P fed from the auxiliary paper feeding unit 111.
As described above, in an image forming apparatus provided with a developing unit having a handle in accordance with aspects of the present invention, the handle can be foldably installed on the developing unit. Thus, when the developing unit is packaged, the size of the developing unit may be reduced. Also, an external impact on the developing unit may also be relieved. As a result, the durability of the developing unit may be improved.
In addition, the handle may be used to mount and remove the developing unit. Moreover, when the handle is installed on the developing unit, the handle may also be unfolded and used as a paper guide. Accordingly, the utility value of the handle is improved.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-68269 | Aug 2004 | KR | national |
