Movable subunit and two piece cartridge for use in an image forming device

• US 7,136,609 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Foster, Larry Steven, Rennick, David Erwin, Triplett, Edward Lynn, Askren, Benjamin Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jagan, Mirellys
• Application Number:
  US10/804,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20050207781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 339/125, 339/110, 399/125, 399/110
• US Class Current: 399/110
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0194 primary transfer to the final recording medium G03G15/0184 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1821 means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation G03G21/1825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00544 Openable part of feed path
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0119 Linear arrangement adjacent plural transfer points
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1603 for multicoloured copies
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1675 jam treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/183 Process cartridge

Abstract

An image forming device having a main body and a movable subunit. The subunit is movable between a first orientation and a second orientation. A developer member is positioned within the main body, and a photoconductive member is positioned on the subunit. In the first orientation, the developer member and photoconductive member are spaced apart. In the second orientation, the photoconductive member is positioned either in contact with or closely located to the developer member. Image formation occurs when the subunit is in the second orientation as toner is transferred from the developer member to the photoconductive member. Methods of using the image forming device include positioning the developer member in the main body and the photoconductive member on the subunit, and moving the subunit from a first orientation to a second orientation such that image formation can occur.

Claims

1. An image forming device comprising:

a main body;

a plurality of first units mounted to the main body and each having a developer member;

a subunit connected to and movable relative to the main body;

a plurality of second units mounted to the subunit during image formation and open orientations, each of the plurality of second units having a photoconductive member;

the subunit being movable between an open orientation in which the plurality of photoconductive members are spaced remotely from the plurality of developer members, and an image formation orientation in which each of the plurality of photoconductive members receives toner from a corresponding one of the plurality of developer members;

the subunit forming an exterior wall of the main body when the subunit is in the image formation orientation.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first units is located along three dimensional planes by a plurality of biasing members.

3. An image forming device comprising:

a main body;

a plurality of developer members mounted to the main body;

a subunit connected to and movable relative to the main body with a transport belt mounted to the subunit;

a plurality of photoconductive members mounted on the subunit;

the subunit movable between a first orientation in which each of the plurality of photoconductive members mounted to the subunit are spaced remotely from the plurality of developer members, and a second orientation in which each of the plurality of photoconductive members mounted to the subunit is positioned against one of the plurality of developer members to receive toner during the image formation;

the subunit and the plurality of photoconductive members being movable about a common point and remaining in contact when moving between the first orientation and the second orientation.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the subunit is an access door pivotably mounted to the main body.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of developer members is part of a developer unit having a toner sump for holding the toner.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of photoconductive members and each of the plurality of developer members are aligned relative to the main body when the subunit is in the second orientation.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of developer members is located within the main body by being supported in a first plane, a second plane, and a third plane by biasing members.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of photoconductive members is part of a photoconductive unit having a charger.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the photoconductive unit further comprises a cleaner for removing toner.

10. An image forming device comprising:

a main body having an imaging device;

a developer member mounted to the main body;

a subunit connected to and movable relative to the main body;

a photoconductive member mounted on the subunit during image formation;

a transport belt mounted on the subunit to move media sheets past each of the plurality of photoconductive members during image formation;

the subunit movable between a first orientation in which the photoconductive member mounted to the subunit is spaced remotely from the developer member, and a second orientation in which the photoconductive member receives an electrostatic latent image from the imaging device during the image formation;

the transport belt and the photoconductive member remaining in contact and being movable about a common point when moving between the first and second orientations.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the photoconductive member and the developer member are in contact during in the second orientation.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the subunit is pivotally attached to the main body such that the photoconductive member moves relative to the imaging device when the subunit moves between the first and second orientations.

13. The device of claim 10, further comprising a charger attached to the subunit to electrically charge the photoconductive member.

14. The device of claim 10, further comprising a cleaner member attached to the subunit to remove toner from the photoconductive member.

15. An image forming device comprising:

a main body having an imaging device;

a plurality of developer members mounted to the main body;

a subunit connected to and movable relative to the main body between an open orientation in which the subunit is spaced from the main body, and an image forming orientation in which the subunit is positioned adjacent to the main body;

a plurality of photoconductive members and a transport belt mounted on the subunit, the photoconductive members remaining in contact with the transport belt during both the image forming and open orientations;

the subunit being movable between the open orientation in which the plurality of photoconductive members are spaced remotely from the plurality of developer members, and the image forming orientation in which each of the plurality of photoconductive members receives an electrostatic latent image from the imaging device.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of developer members is in contact with one of the plurality of photoconductive members to transfer toner when the subunit is in the image forming orientation.

17. An image forming device comprising:

a main body;

a first unit having a developer member, doctor blade, and toner sump to house toner;

a subunit connected to and movable relative to the main body;

a transport belt mounted on the subunit;

a second unit mounted to the subunit during both image forming and non-image forming orientations, the second unit having a photoconductive member and a cleaner to remove the toner from the photoconductive member;

the subunit being movable relative to the main body between the non-image forming orientation in which the photoconductive member is spaced remotely from the developer member, and the image forming orientation in which toner moves from the toner sump to the developer member and is transferred to the photoconductive member;

the subunit and the second unit being movable about a common point when moved between the image forming and non-image forming orientations.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein developer member is in contact with the photoconductive member in the image forming orientation.

19. A method of forming an image with an image forming device comprising the steps of:

mounting a first unit having a developer member within a main body;

mounting a second unit having a photoconductive member on a subunit, the subunit including an exterior section of the image forming device and a transport belt;

moving the subunit with the mounted photoconductive member about a common pivot point to a first orientation with the photoconductive member spaced remotely from the developer member;

moving the subunit about the common pivot point to a second orientation with the photoconductive member remaining mounted to the subunit and receiving toner from the developer member; and

forming an image with the subunit in the second orientation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein forces acting on the first unit are developed with the subunit in the second orientation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second unit is completely mounted after a torque is applied to the photoconductive member.

22. A method of forming an image with an image forming device comprising the steps of:

moving a subunit to a first orientation relative to an imaging device, the subunit including a transport belt;

attaching a photoconductive member to the subunit in an exposed position while the subunit is in the first orientation;

attaching a developer member to a main body with the developer member being exposed while the subunit is in the first orientation;

moving the subunit and the photoconductive member about a common pivot point to a second orientation with the photoconductive member in contact with the developer member and the subunit forming an exterior section of the device; and

forming an image with the subunit in the second orientation by transferring toner from the developer member to the photoconductive member.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of moving the subunit to a second orientation with the photoconductive member adjacent to the developer member comprises contacting the photoconductive member against the developer member.

24. A method of forming an image with an image forming device comprising the steps of:

locating a developer member within a main body relative to an imaging device;

connecting a photoconductive member with a transport belt on a subunit that is movable between a first orientation that is spaced from the main body, and a second orientation that is adjacent to the main body and forms a section of the exterior of the device;

moving the subunit from the first orientation to the second orientation about a pivot point and locating the photoconductive member relative to the main body with the developer member and photoconductive member being in contact; and

forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member when the subunit is in the second orientation.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising applying a torque to the photoconductive member and locating the photoconductive member relative to the imaging device.