This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0035033, filed on Apr. 15, 2010 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field
Apparatuses consistent with the exemplary embodiments relate to an image forming apparatus forming an image on a print medium and a structure for installing consumables thereof, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus and a structure for installing consumables thereof which prevents an irregular installation of consumables such as a developing unit and a developing cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus such as a printer, a photocopier, a facsimile, or a multi-function device forms an image on a print medium by an electrophotographic, inkjet or thermal transfer method. In particular, a color image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing units in each color to form a plurality of color images, e.g., yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) images. The color image forming apparatus further includes a developing cartridge which is separate from the developing unit and supplies developers in each color corresponding to the developers.
The developing unit and the developing cartridge are representative consumables among components of the image forming apparatus. The developing unit and the developing cartridge are detachably coupled to a main body of the image forming apparatus. Toner consumables which apply to the color image forming apparatus have the same or similar shapes in a plurality of colors and are likely to be irregularly assembled at an initial assembly process or irregularly replaced by a new consumable by a user.
If different types of irregular installation preventing structures are provided in each color in order to prevent irregular installation of consumables, molds should be additionally provided to manufacture consumables in each color, thereby increasing manufacturing costs.
If an irregular installation preventing structure is provided in a front end in an installation direction of consumables, consumables may fall off and be damaged when irregularly installed. On the contrary, if the irregular installation preventing structure is provided in a rear end in the installation direction of consumables, the rear end part may be damaged due to a forced insertion.
Accordingly, one or more exemplary embodiments provide a structure for installing consumables of an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus applying the same which employs an irregular installation preventing key manufactured by a single mold.
Further, one or more exemplary embodiments provides a structure for installing consumables of an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus applying the same which employs an irregular installation preventing structure in consideration of the center of gravity of consumables.
The foregoing and/or other aspects may be achieved by providing a structure for installing consumables of an image forming apparatus, the structure including: a frame; a plurality of consumables which includes irregular installation preventing units in different locations; a plurality of irregular installation preventing keys which prevents an irregular installation of the plurality of consumables by an interaction with the irregular installation preventing units; and an installation guide member which is installed in the frame, includes a key installation unit to guide the plurality of irregular installation preventing keys to be installed differently for each of the consumables and has the plurality of consumables installed therein.
The plurality of irregular installation preventing keys may have the same shape, and may differ in an irregular installation preventing location depending on an installation direction of the irregular installation preventing keys with respect to the key installation unit.
The key installation unit may include an installation hole formed in the installation guide member in a transverse direction of an installation direction of the consumables; and a regulator which is formed in different locations of the installation guide member for each of the plurality of consumables and regulates an installation direction of the irregular installation preventing keys.
The key installation unit may include an identification unit which is formed in a surface of the installation guide member in which the irregular installation preventing keys are installed, and identifies an installation direction of the irregular installation preventing keys for the plurality of consumables.
The irregular installation preventing keys may include a stopper which inserted in the installation hole avoiding the regulator and formed on a surface of the installation guide member in which the consumables are installed, and prevents an irregular installation of the plurality of consumables.
The plurality of consumables may include a plurality of developing units which is classified by color and differs in an installation location or a plurality of developing cartridges which is classified by color and differs in an installation location.
A plurality of cores which is formed in different locations corresponding to the irregular installation preventing unit may be used to form a housing of the plurality of developing units or a housing of the plurality of developing cartridges by a single mold.
An installation location of the irregular installation preventing unit with respect to the consumables and an installation location of the key installation unit with respect to the installation guide member may be determined to enable the irregular installation preventing unit and the irregular installation preventing keys to interact after the center of gravity of the plurality of consumables is located on the installation guide member.
Another aspect is achieved by providing an image forming apparatus including: a frame; a plurality of developing units which includes an irregular installation preventing unit in different locations and forms a visible image on an image carrier; a plurality of irregular installation preventing keys which prevents an irregular installation of the plurality of developing units by an interaction with the irregular installation preventing unit; and an installation guide member which is installed in the frame, includes a key installation unit guiding the plurality of irregular installation preventing keys to be installed differently for each of the developing units and has the plurality of developing units installed therein.
The plurality of irregular installation preventing keys may have the same shape, and may differ in an irregular installation preventing location depending on the installation direction of the irregular installation preventing keys with respect to the key installation unit.
The key installation unit may include an installation hole which is formed in the installation guide member in a transverse direction of the installation direction of the developing unit, and a regulator which is formed in different locations of the installation guide member for each of the plurality of developing units and regulates the installation direction of the irregular installation preventing keys.
The key installation unit may include an identification unit which is formed in a surface of the installation guide member in which the irregular installation preventing keys are installed, and identifies the installation direction of the irregular installation preventing keys for each of the plurality of developing units.
The irregular installation preventing keys may include a stopper which is inserted into the installation hole avoiding the regulator and formed on a surface of the installation guide member in which the developing units are installed, and prevents the irregular installation of the plurality of developing units.
A plurality of cores which is formed in different locations corresponding to the irregular installation preventing unit may be used to form a housing of the plurality of developing units by a single mold.
The installation location of the irregular installation preventing unit with respect to the developing unit and the installation location of the key installation unit with respect to the installation guide member may be determined to enable the irregular installation preventing unit and the irregular installation preventing keys to interact after the center of gravity of the plurality of developing units is located in the installation guide member.
Still another aspect is achieved by providing a developing cartridge to be installed in a structure where a plurality of irregular installation preventing keys that have the same shape and differ in location are provided, the developing cartridge including: a housing; and an irregular installation preventing unit which is installed in the housing and prevents irregular installation of the developing cartridge by interaction with one of the plurality of irregular installation preventing keys.
The developing cartridge may include a plurality of developing cartridges which is classified by color and differs in an installation location.
A plurality of cores which is formed in different locations corresponding to the irregular installation preventing unit may be used to form the housing of the plurality of developing cartridges by a single mold.
The above and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Below, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings so as to be easily realized by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art. The exemplary embodiments may be embodied in various forms without being limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Descriptions of well-known parts are omitted for clarity, and like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
Referring to
The image carrier 101 forms a latent image in each color by responding to a light beam scanned by the light scanning unit 30. In the present exemplary embodiment, first to fourth image carriers which are arranged in order from a supply direction of the print medium M are provided as an example of the plurality of image carriers 101.
The developing unit 110 accommodates therein a toner supplied by the developing cartridge 130, and forms a toner image on the image carrier 101. The developing unit 110 may be plurally provided per color. As an example of the developing unit 110,
In the present exemplary embodiment, the developing unit 110 and the developing cartridge 130 are provided separately, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, the developing unit 110 and the developing cartridge 130 may be provided as a single body. In the present exemplary embodiment, the image carrier 101 is provided in the developing unit 110 but not limited thereto. Alternatively, the image carrier 101 may be provided in an external part of the developing unit 110.
The developing unit 110 and the developing cartridge 130 are representative consumables 100 relating to a toner of the image forming apparatus. If a developer which is accommodated in the developing cartridge 130 is consumed or the life of the developer 110 expires, such developing cartridge 130 or developing unit 110 should be replaced by new ones in each color. As the consumables 100 have the same or similar housing structures, they may be irregularly replaced or installed during a manufacturing process of the image forming apparatus. Detailed description of the structure for installing consumables according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described later.
The light scanning unit 30 scans light to the plurality of image carriers 101 to form a latent image thereon. The light scanning unit 30 includes a light source (not shown), a beam deflector 31 which deflects and scans light emitted from the light source, an f-θ lens 35 focusing the light beam deflected by the beam deflector 31 on the image carrier 101 and a reflection member 37 which converts a moving path of light scanned by the beam deflector 31.
The transfer unit 40 transfers a visible image formed in the image carrier 110 to the print medium M supplied along a print path. The transfer unit 40 may include a transfer belt 41 and a transfer backup roller 45 which face the plurality of image carriers 101. An image which is transferred to the print medium M through the transfer unit 40 is fused by the fusing unit 40.
Referring to
In the present exemplary embodiment, the developing unit 110 in
Referring to
Assuming that a length of the installation hole 211 is B, a width (C) of the regulator 213 in the same direction is approximately B/4 and the regulator 213 is formed in different locations in each color.
The irregular installation preventing keys 300 include a coupler 310 which is coupled to another surface of the installation guide members 200 to be in parallel with the plate surface of the installation guide members 200, and a stopper 320 which is formed on a surface of the installation guide members 200. The coupler 310 may be coupled to the another surface of the installation guide members 200 by screw, rivet, adhesives or welding. In the present exemplary embodiment, the coupler 310 is coupled to the installation guide members 200 by a rivet between a first coupling groove 310 formed in the coupler 310 and a second coupling groove 215a or a third coupling groove 215b formed in the key installation unit 210.
The stopper 320 is inserted into the installation hole 210 avoiding the regulator 213, and protrudes from the surface of the installation guide members 200 in which the consumables 100 are installed. The stopper 320 is formed to represent four modes with respect to the regulator 213 in order to identify the installation location of the first to fourth developing units 110Y, 110M, 110C and 110K. Referring to
As shown in
In the present exemplary embodiment, the first to third stoppers 321, 323 and 325 are provided as an example of the stopper, but the stopper is not limited thereto. Alternatively, there may be other various examples depending on necessary modes.
As shown therein, the key installation unit 210 may further include an identification unit 250. The identification unit 250 is formed in a surface 210 of the installation guide members 200 (ex. Lower surface 210 in
Except for the irregular installation preventing units 113, the housing of the first to fourth developing units 110Y, 110M, 110C and 110K may have the same shape. Accordingly, if a plurality of cores which is formed in different locations corresponding to the irregular installation preventing units 113 is used to manufacture the housing the developing units 110Y, 110M, 110C and 110K, the housing of the plurality of developing units 110Y, 110M, 110C and 110K may be formed by a single mold. In
As described with reference to
In the structure for installing the consumables according to the exemplary embodiment, the irregular installation preventing keys 300 are installed on the plate surface of the installation guide members 200, and the interaction location of the consumables and the irregular installation preventing structure may be set freely. If the plurality of consumables is slidably coupled to the installation guide members 200, the irregular installation preventing units 113 and the irregular installation preventing keys 300 may interact only when the center of gravity of the plurality of consumables is located on the installation guide members 200. Thus, falloff and damage of the consumables due to irregular installation of consumables or risk of damage to the rear end of the consumables due to forced insertion may be fundamentally prevented.
As described above, a structure for installing consumables of an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus applying the same according to the embodiments has irregular installation preventing keys formed in the substantially same shape and enables a manufacturer to manufacture the irregular installation preventing keys by a single mold. Thus, manufacturing costs for irregular installation preventing structures may be reduced.
Also, a structure for installing consumables of an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus applying the same according to the embodiments has an identification unit to identify, by the naked eye, an installation location of irregular installation preventing keys with respect to installation guide members guiding the installation of consumables and reduces errors in installing the irregular installation preventing keys.
Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
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