Image carrier unit and image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image carrier unit that is removably loaded into a main body of an image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier on which an image is formed; a charge roll that charges the image carrier; a biasing member that causes the charge roll to be pressed against the image carrier; and a separation cover provided with a cover portion that covers the charge roll by a latching portion thereof being caused to latch into a body frame of the image carrier unit and the cover portion being rotated toward the charge roll, and a hook portion disposed on the cover portion, that is inserted between the charge roll and the image carrier and is hooked onto the charge roll when the cover portion is rotated toward the charge roll so as to cause the charge roll to separate from the image carrier.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general configural diagram showing an image forming apparatus pertaining to the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a configural diagram showing a state where, in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a separation cover is attached to a process cartridge to separate a charge roll from a photoreceptor drum;

FIG. 3 is a configural diagram showing a state where, in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the separation cover is removed from the process cartridge to allow the charge roll to press against the photoreceptor drum;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the separation cover;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a packaging material that is attached to the separation cover;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the packaging material is attached to the separation cover;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state where the separation cover is attached to the process cartridge such that the separation cover and the process cartridge are wrapped in the packaging material;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where the packaging material is removed from the process cartridge;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where the packaging material and the separation cover are removed from the process cartridge;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where the process cartridge to which the separation cover is attached is removed to an image forming apparatus body;

FIG. 11 is a general configural diagram showing the configuration of the vicinity of a power supply that applies high voltage to the charge roll; and

FIG. 12 is a general configural diagram showing a current detector and a plate spring.

Claims

1. An image carrier unit that is removably loaded into a main body of an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrier on which an image is formed;a charge roll that charges the image carrier;a biasing member that causes the charge roll to be pressed against the image carrier; anda separation cover provided with a cover portion that covers the charge roll by a latching portion thereof being caused to latch into a body frame of the image carrier unit, the cover portion being rotated toward the charge roll, anda hook portion disposed on the cover portion, that is inserted between the charge roll and the image carrier and is hooked onto the charge roll when the cover portion is rotated toward the charge roll so as to cause the charge roll to separate from the image carrier.

2. The image carrier unit of claim 1, wherein a sheet-shaped packaging material is attached to the separation cover, and the separation cover is attached to the body frame and the packaging material is wrapped around the image carrier unit in rotational direction of the cover portion to package the image carrier unit.

3. The image carrier unit of claim 1, wherein a separation amount of the charge roll with respect to the image carrier is adjusted by a height of the latching portion of the separation cover.

4. The image carrier unit of claim 1, wherein the separation cover is formed by a conductive member.

5. The image carrier unit of claim 1 further comprising a cleaning member that cleans the charge roll, wherein the separation cover also covers the cleaning member.

6. The image carrier unit of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the separation cover includes a finger hole for removing the separation cover from the body frame.

7. The image carrier unit of claim 2, wherein a protruding piece is formed in a center of an end portion of the packaging material, and the protruding piece is inserted through and coupled with a hooking hole formed in a center portion of the cover portion further in the rotational direction than the latching portion.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising an image carrier unit that is removably loaded into a main body of an image forming apparatus, the image carrier unit comprising: an image carrier on which an image is formed; a charge roll that charges the image carrier; a biasing member that causes the charge roll to be pressed against the image carrier; and a separation cover provided with a cover portion that covers the charge roll by a latching portion thereof being caused to latch into a body frame of the image carrier unit, the cover portion being rotated toward the charge roll, and a hook portion disposed on the cover portion, that is inserted between the charge roll and the image carrier and is hooked onto the charge roll when the cover portion is rotated toward the charge roll so as to cause the charge roll to separate from the image carrier, the image carrier unit being loaded into the main body of the image forming apparatus after the separation cover is removed.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier unit that is removably loaded into a main body of an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrier on which an image is formed; a charge roll that charges the image carrier; a biasing member that causes the charge roll to be pressed against the image carrier; and a separation cover provided with a cover portion that covers the charge roll by a latching portion thereof being caused to latch into a body frame of the image carrier unit, the cover portion being rotated toward the charge roll, and a hook portion disposed on the cover portion, that is inserted between the charge roll and the image carrier and is hooked onto the charge roll when the cover portion is rotated toward the charge roll so as to cause the charge roll to separate from the image carrier; and,an ammeter that measures a current value of the charge roll, the image forming apparatus not executing an image formation operation when the current value measured by the ammeter is smaller than a predetermined value.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising an image carrier unit that is removably loaded into a main body of an image forming apparatus, the image carrier unit comprising: an image carrier on which an image is formed; a charge roll that charges the image carrier; a biasing member that causes the charge roll to be pressed against the image carrier; and a separation cover, formed by a conductive member, provided with a cover portion that covers the charge roll by a latching portion thereof being caused to latch into a body frame of the image carrier unit, the cover portion being rotated toward the charge roll, and a hook portion disposed on the cover portion, that is inserted between the charge roll and the image carrier and is hooked onto the charge roll when the cover portion is rotated toward the charge roll so as to cause the charge roll to separate from the image carrier, the image forming apparatus not executing an image formation operation when a current detector of the main body of the image forming apparatus detects that current flows at the separation cover.

11. The image carrier unit of claim 1, wherein the hook portions are provided at end portions of the cover portion, and are hooked onto end portions of a rotation shaft of charge roll.

12. The image carrier unit of claim 1, wherein a groove portion is formed at the body frame of the image carrier unit, and the latching portion of the cover portion is latched into the groove portion.

13. The image forming apparatus of claim 10, wherein a conductive member that can contact the separation cover attached to the image carrier unit is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus does not execute an image formation operation when the current detector detects that current flows at the conductive member which contacts the separation cover.