Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6374069
-
Patent Number
6,374,069
-
Date Filed
Monday, October 2, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 16, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 399 26
- 399 116
- 399 161
- 399 162
- 399 165
-
International Classifications
-
-
Disclaimer
Terminal disclaimer
Abstract
A photosensitive belt removing device and a photosensitive belt removing method of an electrophotographic printing apparatus are disclosed. The photosensitive belt removing device includes: a belt cutting mechanism installed in the printing apparatus so as to cut in a widthwise direction the photosensitive belt installed at the belt unit in a continuous loop state; a filter cartridge installed in the vicinity of the belt unit for filtering objects floating in the air in the printing apparatus; an auxiliary housing provided at one side of the filter cartridge; a revolver rotatably installed in the auxiliary housing and provided with a through slot so that a leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism can be inserted into the through slot; a leading edge introducing guide which guides the leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism into the auxiliary housing and introduces the leading edge into the through slot of the revolver; and a driving source which rotates the revolver so that the revolver can wind up the photosensitive belt.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photosensitive belt removing device of an electrophotographic printing apparatus for removing a photosensitive belt from its installed position in order to replace the photosensitive belt installed in the electrophotographic printing apparatus, and a photosensitive belt removing method using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in
FIG. 1
, an electrophotographic printing apparatus such as a color laser printer is provided with a photosensitive belt
10
which is supported by a plurality of rollers
11
,
12
and
13
installed in a main body of the printing apparatus and circulates around a continuous loop. After an image to be printed is developed by predetermined developing units
15
on one surface of the photosensitive belt
10
, and the developed image is dried while passing by a drying unit
16
, the developed image is printed onto a paper
1
at a transfer unit
14
including a transfer roller
14
a
and a fuser roller
14
b.
In this case, a unit in which the photosensitive belt
10
is supported by rollers in a continuous loop shape and circulates around the continuous loop is called a belt unit. In the developing unit
15
, reference numeral
15
a
denotes a developing roller for forming an image on the photosensitive belt
10
with developer liquid supplied from a developer liquid supply portion (not shown), and reference numeral
15
b
denotes a development backup roller. In addition, reference numerals
15
c
and
15
d
denote a squeeze roller and a squeeze backup roller for pressing the photosensitive belt
10
and squeezing surplus developer from an image developed by the developing roller
15
a.
However, when such a photosensitive belt
10
is used for a long time, the precision of an image deteriorates gradually. Therefore, when the photosensitive belt
10
reaches the end of its usable life, the photosensitive belt
10
must be replaced with a new one so that a clear image can be continuously developed. However, for such replacement, removal of a photosensitive belt
10
has been performed in a manner in which the used photosensitive belt
10
is taken out from its installed position in the belt unit directly by hand.
However, when, as described above, a user directly takes hold of and removes the photosensitive belt
10
after inserting his hand into a printer, the job in itself is bothersome and takes a long time, and, in addition, there is a danger in which the hand of the user may be injured due to interference with various structural frames when the photosensitive belt is taken out from the narrow inner space of the printer.
In addition, the printer is provided with a filter cartridge
17
therein for filtering internal air and exhausting the air. The filter cartridge
17
is arranged to filter foreign objects included in internal air while internal air passes through the filter cartridge
17
and is discharged to the outside by a discharge pump
18
. Therefore, when the filter cartridge
17
is periodically replaced, and preferably replaced in accordance with the replacement period of the photosensitive belt
10
, the filter cartridge
17
can maintain the required filtering capability.
However, in prior-art printers, since the filter cartridge
17
is handled separately from the photosensitive belt
10
, it is troublesome to separately replace the filter cartridge
17
and the photosensitive belt
10
after they are separately removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a photosensitive belt removing device of an electrophotographic printing apparatus which is adapted to perform the job of removing the photosensitive belt in a safe, convenient and fast manner, and a photosensitive belt removing method using the same.
Accordingly, to achieve the above objective, there is provided a photosensitive belt removing device of an electrophotographic printing apparatus for removing a photosensitive belt from its installed position in order to replace the photosensitive belt installed at a belt unit of the printing apparatus, the photosensitive belt removing device comprising: a belt cutting mechanism installed in the printing apparatus so as to cut in a widthwise direction the photosensitive belt installed at the belt unit in a continuous loop state; a filter cartridge installed in the vicinity of the belt unit for filtering objects floating in the air in the printing apparatus; an auxiliary housing provided at one side of the filter cartridge; a revolver rotatably installed in the auxiliary housing and provided with a through slot so that a leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism can be inserted into the through slot; a leading edge introducing guide which guides the leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism into the auxiliary housing and introduces the leading edge into the through slot of the revolver; and a driving source which rotates the revolver so that the revolver can wind up the photosensitive belt.
To achieve the above objective, there is provided a photosensitive belt removing method of an electrophotographic printing apparatus for removing a photosensitive belt from its installed position in order to replace the photosensitive belt installed at a belt unit of the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus including a photosensitive belt removing device, and the photosensitive belt removing device comprising a belt cutting mechanism installed in the printing apparatus so as to cut in a widthwise direction the photosensitive belt installed at the belt unit in a continuous loop state, a filter cartridge installed in the vicinity of the belt unit for filtering objects floating in the air in the printing apparatus, an auxiliary housing provided at one side of the filter cartridge, a revolver rotatably installed in the auxiliary housing and provided with a through slot so that a leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism can be inserted into the through slot, a leading edge introducing guide which guides the leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism into the auxiliary housing and introduces the leading edge into the through slot of the revolver, and a driving source which rotates the revolver so that the revolver can wind up the photosensitive belt, the photosensitive belt removing method including: cutting the photosensitive belt by operating the belt cutting mechanism; guiding the leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism into the auxiliary housing and introducing the leading edge into the through slot of the revolver; winding the photosensitive belt into an auxiliary housing by rotating the revolver by the driving source; and taking the auxiliary housing into which the photosensitive belt is wound out of the printing apparatus together with the filter cartridge.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above objective and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram illustrating essential portions of a general electrophotographic printing apparatus;
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal structure of an electrophotographic printing apparatus employing a photosensitive belt removing device according to the present invention;
FIGS. 3 and 4
are perspective views illustrating a belt cutting mechanism of the photosensitive belt removing device shown in
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view illustrating an auxiliary housing portion for winding the photosensitive belt of the photosensitive belt removing device shown in
FIG. 2
; and
FIGS. 6 through 9
are diagrams illustrating a process of removing a photosensitive belt by the photosensitive belt removing device shown in FIG.
2
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First,
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal structure of an electrophotographic printing apparatus employing a photosensitive belt removing device according to the present invention.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, a photosensitive belt
100
is supported around a plurality of rollers
110
,
120
, and
130
in a continuous loop shape, and developing units
150
, a drying unit
160
and a transfer unit
140
are disposed along the path of the photosensitive belt
100
. In addition, as described above, each developing unit
150
is provided with a developing roller
151
and a developing backup roller
152
for developing an image on the photosensitive belt
100
, and a squeeze roller
153
and a squeeze backup roller
154
for squeezing out surplus developer liquid. Further, a filter cartridge
200
for purifying air discharged from the inside of the printing apparatus is installed in the vicinity of the photosensitive belt
100
, and an auxiliary housing
210
is provided at a side of the filter cartridge
200
. The squeeze roller
153
and the squeeze backup roller
154
additionally serve to transfer the photosensitive belt
100
, cut by a belt cutting mechanism
300
which will be described below, into the auxiliary housing
210
. In addition, the belt cutting mechanism
300
and a revolver
220
are provided at the upstream side of the developing units
150
, and, in this case, the belt cutting mechanism
300
is for cutting the photosensitive belt
100
as described above when the photosensitive belt
100
is to be replaced, and the revolver
220
is rotatably supported within the auxiliary housing
210
for winding the cut photosensitive belt
100
.
First, as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the belt cutting mechanism
300
includes a lead screw
350
which is rotated by a driving motor
310
, a movable block
320
which is installed on the lead screw
350
so as to move back and forth according to the rotation of the lead screw
350
, and a cutting blade
330
installed on the movable block
320
. Reference numeral
360
denotes a sliding support portion, and the movable block
320
slides and moves back and forth while contacting the lower and side surfaces of the sliding support portion
360
. Therefore, when the driving motor
310
operates and rotates the lead screw
350
, the movable block
320
is moved across the photosensitive belt
100
, and at this time the cutting blade
330
which is installed on the movable block
320
traverses the photosensitive belt
100
while cutting the photosensitive belt
100
as shown in FIG.
4
.
Next, referring to
FIGS. 2 and 5
, the revolver
220
is rotatably installed in the auxiliary housing
210
, and is comprised of two semicylindrical members
221
l and
222
connected to support members
223
and
224
while spaced slightly apart from each other. Therefore, a through slot
225
is formed along the axis of the two semicylindrical members
221
and
222
between the spaced support members
223
and
224
. Reference numeral
410
denotes a rotating shaft to which one end of the revolver
220
is connected, and reference numeral
400
denotes a driving motor for driving the rotating shaft
410
. In addition, reference numerals
211
and
212
denote guide members of a leading edge introducing guide for guiding and introducing a leading edge of the photosensitive belt
100
cut by the cutting blade
330
into the auxiliary housing
210
. Reference numeral
213
denotes an upward guide member which guides the leading edge of the photosensitive belt
100
so that it does not fall down, but moves in an upward direction after it has passed through the through slot
225
of the revolver
220
. The upward guide member
213
also prevents the leading edge from being inserted into another gap formed in the auxiliary housing
210
.
In the above structure, when the photosensitive belt
100
is to. be removed from its installed position in the belt unit, the belt cutting mechanism
300
is operated first so that the cutting blade
330
can cut the photosensitive belt
100
widthwise, as shown in FIG.
6
. Then, as shown in
FIG. 7
, the squeeze roller
153
and the squeeze backup roller
154
are further rotated slightly in the rotation direction of the development operation so that the photosensitive belt
100
can be moved. At this time, the transfer unit
140
is separated from the photosensitive belt
100
. However, since the drying unit
160
must hold the photosensitive belt
100
so that the photosensitive belt
100
does not fall down to another position, the drying unit
160
is still maintained in contact with the photosensitive belt
100
. Thereafter, when the leading edge of the photosensitive belt
100
reaches the entry portion of the guide members
211
and
212
, the squeeze roller
153
and the squeeze backup roller
154
are rotated in the direction opposite to that of the development operation, as shown in
FIG. 8
, so that the leading edge of the cut photosensitive belt
100
can be moved into the auxiliary housing
210
while being guided by the guide members
211
and
212
. At this time, the transfer unit
140
and the drying unit
160
are spaced apart from the photosensitive belt
100
so that the load on the squeeze roller
153
and the squeeze backup roller
154
when pulling the photosensitive belt
100
, and thereafter, the load on the revolver
220
when winding up the photosensitive belt
100
can be reduced. Then, after the leading edge of the photosensitive belt
100
has moved into the auxiliary housing
210
and subsequently passes through the through slot
225
of the revolver
220
installed therein, the leading edge moves slightly upward on the upward guide member
213
(see FIG.
9
). When the driving motor
400
is rotated after the leading edge moves into the through slot
225
as above, the revolver
220
winds the photosensitive belt
100
around the outer circumferential surface of the revolver
220
within the auxiliary housing
210
while the revolver
220
rotates. Then, when the photosensitive belt
100
is completely wound up in the auxiliary housing
210
, the filter cartridge
200
is taken out of the printer, and then a new filter cartridge
200
is inserted into its installation position in the printer.
In addition, the operation of guiding and winding the photosensitive belt
100
in the auxiliary housing
210
as described above can be fully controlled by counting rotations of the motor
400
without installing a separate sensor for sensing the leading edge of the photosensitive belt
100
.
Therefore, when the photosensitive belt
100
must be removed from the belt unit for replacement, the photosensitive belt
100
is cut, is wound into the auxiliary housing
200
, and then is removed together with the filter cartridge
200
from the printer.
As described above, when a photosensitive belt is removed by using the photosensitive belt removing device of an electrophotographic printing apparatus and the method using the same according to the present invention, a replacement job can be performed in a very convenient and fast manner, since the photosensitive belt is removed after being automatically wound into an auxiliary housing provided at a filter cartridge. Further, since the photosensitive belt is removed together with the filter cartridge, there is an advantage in that consumable parts can easily be managed, since the photosensitive belt and the filter cartridge can be managed as a unit instead of separately managing them according to their replacement periods.
It is contemplated that numerous modifications may be made to the photosensitive belt removing device and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A photosensitive belt removing device of an electrophotographic printing apparatus for removing a photosensitive belt from an installed position in order to replace the photosensitive belt installed at a belt unit of the printing apparatus, the photosensitive belt removing device comprising:a belt cutting mechanism installed in the printing apparatus so as to cut in a widthwise direction the photosensitive belt installed at the belt unit in a continuous loop state; a filter cartridge installed in a vicinity of the belt unit for filtering objects floating in the air in the printing apparatus; an auxiliary housing provided at one side of the filter cartridge; a revolver rotatably installed in the auxiliary housing and provided with a through slot so that a leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism is operative to be inserted into the through slot; a leading edge introducing guide which guides the leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism into the auxiliary housing and introduces the leading edge into the through slot of the revolver; and a driving source which rotates the revolver so that the revolver is operative to wind up the photosensitive belt.
- 2. The photosensitive belt removing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the belt cutting mechanism includes:a driving unit provided at the printing apparatus; and a cutting blade driven by the driving unit and cutting the photosensitive belt while traversing across the photosensitive belt widthwise.
- 3. The photosensitive belt removing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the driving unit includes:a driving motor; a lead screw disposed parallel to a width vector of the photosensitive belt and rotated by the driving motor; and a movable block on which the cutting blade is installed and which is mechanically connected to the lead screw so as to move across the photosensitive belt parallel to the width vector of the photosensitive belt according to the rotation of the lead screw.
- 4. The photosensitive belt removing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leading edge introducing guide includes:a pair of rollers installed to rotate while pressing and supporting the photosensitive belt, and for transferring the leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism toward the auxiliary housing; and guide members installed at the entryway of the auxiliary housing for guiding the leading edge of the photosensitive belt transferred by the pair of rollers so that the leading edge can be introduced into the through slot of the revolver.
- 5. The photosensitive belt removing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the leading edge introducing guide further includes an upward guide member installed in the auxiliary housing for guiding the leading edge of the photosensitive belt so that the leading edge is operative to move in an upward direction after having passed through the through slot.
- 6. The photosensitive belt removing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving source includes:a rotatable shaft connected to the revolver; and a driving motor for rotating the rotatable shaft.
- 7. A photosensitive belt removing method of an electrophotographic printing apparatus for removing a photosensitive belt from an installed position in order to replace the photosensitive belt installed at a belt unit of the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus including a photosensitive belt removing device, and the photosensitive belt removing device comprising a belt cutting mechanism installed in the printing apparatus so as to cut in a widthwise direction the photosensitive belt installed at the belt unit in a continuous loop state, a filter cartridge installed in a vicinity of the belt unit for filtering objects floating in the air in the printing apparatus, an auxiliary housing provided at one side of the filter cartridge, a revolver rotatably installed in the auxiliary housing and provided with a through slot so that a leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism is operative to be inserted into the through slot, a leading edge introducing guide which guides the leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism into the auxiliary housing and introduces the leading edge into the through slot of the revolver, and a driving source which rotates the revolver so that the revolver can wind up the photosensitive belt, the photosensitive belt removing method including:cutting the photosensitive belt by operating the belt cutting mechanism; guiding the leading edge of the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism into the auxiliary housing and introducing the leading edge into the through slot of the revolver; winding the photosensitive belt into an auxiliary housing by rotating the revolver by the driving source; and taking the auxiliary housing into which the photosensitive belt is wound out of the printing apparatus together with the filter cartridge.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
99-51495 |
Nov 1999 |
KR |
|
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4215932 |
Castelli et al. |
Aug 1980 |
A |
6195517 |
Park et al. |
Feb 2001 |
B1 |