Photosensitive belt receiving case

A photosensitive belt receiving case is provided, which includes a sidewall having a predetermined shape and an outer wall which extends from the edge of the sidewall. A plurality of grooves are formed at opposing sides of a portion of the outer wall combined with the sidewall. An inner wall extending from the sidewall parallel to the outer wall is provided inside the outer wall, and has a plurality of grooves which face the grooves of the outer wall, so that a photosensitive belt is received between the outer and inner walls and the edge of the photosensitive belt is partially exposed through the grooves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a case for receiving a photosensitive belt 
in a printer or a photocopying machine. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
A general printing apparatus such as a printer or a photocopying machine, 
as shown in FIG. 1, includes a photosensitive belt 10 having a surface on 
which an image to be printed is formed by a developing unit 20 while 
circulating and being supported by a plurality of rollers 11, 12 and 13 
installed in the main body of the printing apparatus. If the 
photosensitive belt 10 is used for a long time, the accuracy of the formed 
picture is lowered. Thus, the photosensitive belt 10 must be replaced 
periodically with a new belt. During replacement, the photosensitive belt 
10 is manually combined with the rollers 11, 12 and 13. Accordingly, the 
replacement is awkward and difficult due to the significant flexibility of 
the photosensitive belt. Furthermore, this difficulty may result in 
improper replacement, causing a malfunction of the printing apparatus. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to 
provide a photosensitive belt receiving case which can facilitate the 
replacement and installation of the photosensitive belt. 
To accomplish the above objective, a photosensitive belt receiving case is 
provided, comprising: a sidewall having a predetermined shape; an outer 
wall which extends from the edge of the sidewall, and on which a plurality 
of grooves are formed at opposing sides of a portion combined with the 
sidewall; and an inner wall extending from the sidewall parallel to the 
outer wall inside the outer wall, and having a plurality of grooves which 
face the grooves of the outer wall, wherein a photosensitive belt is 
received between the outer and inner walls and the edge of the 
photosensitive belt is partially exposed through the grooves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a photosensitive belt receiving case 200 
according to the present invention has one open side 204, an oval sidewall 
201, an external wall 202 extending from the edge of the sidewall 201, and 
an internal wall 203 formed parallel to the inner surface of the external 
wall 202. The photosensitive belt 300 is inserted between the external and 
internal walls 202 and 203. 
A plurality of corresponding grooves 220 are formed on opposite edges of 
the external and internal walls 202 and 203 at the open side 204. Thus, 
the edges of the received photosensitive belt 300 are exposed through the 
grooves 220. A hole 201a for picking up the case 200 manually is formed on 
the sidewall 201. Also, the photosensitive belt receiving case of the 
present invention can further include a cover/lid 210 coupled to the open 
side 204 to cover the external wall 202 in order to protect the 
photosensitive belt 300 received in the case. 
The photosensitive belt received in the photosensitive belt receiving case 
according to the present invention is loaded in a printing apparatus 
including a photosensitive belt loading device shown in FIG. 4. Referring 
to the drawing, the photosensitive belt loading device included in a main 
body 100 of a printing apparatus comprises a guide protrusion 120 which is 
formed in the main body 100 of the printing apparatus and inserts into the 
groove 220 formed on the inner wall 203 of the photosensitive belt 
receiving case 200 (see FIG. 2), and a solenoid cylinder 130 facing the 
guide protrusion 120. During loading of the photosensitive belt 300, the 
solenoid cylinder 130 clamps the end of the photosensitive belt 300 which 
is exposed through the groove 200. A sensor 140 detects the entry of the 
photosensitive belt 300. 
When a new photosensitive belt is loaded in the main body 100 of the 
printing apparatus, the photosensitive belt receiving case 200 having the 
photosensitive belt 300 is inserted into the main body 100 of the printing 
apparatus through an opening 110, as shown in FIG. 4. The guide protrusion 
120 is inserted into the groove 220 (see FIG. 3) formed on the inner wall 
203 of the case 200, to align the case 200. Also, the end of the 
photosensitive belt 300, exposed through the groove 220, is placed on the 
upper surface of the guide protrusion 120. The position of the 
photosensitive belt 300 in this state is detected by the sensor 140. 
The solenoid cylinder 130 is lowered to press the upper surface of the end 
of the photosensitive belt 300 exposed through the groove 220 against the 
guide protrusion 120. When the case 200 is pulled out of the main body 100 
of the printing apparatus through the opening 110, the photosensitive belt 
300 is clamped by the guide protrusion 120 and the solenoid cylinder 130 
so that it slides out of the case 200. Then, the solenoid cylinder 130 
returns to its original position, thereby completing the loading of the 
photosensitive belt 300. 
As described above, the photosensitive belt receiving case according to the 
present invention receives a flexible photosensitive belt in a fixed 
shape. Thus, during replacement and loading of the photosensitive belt, 
only the case is inserted into the main body of the printing apparatus, so 
that the photosensitive belt can be simply loaded. 
The above description of the preferred embodiments has been given by way of 
example. From the disclosure given, those skilled in the art will not only 
understand the present invention and its attendant advantages, but will 
also find apparent various changes and modifications to the structures 
disclosed. It is sought, therefore, to cover all such changes and 
modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as 
defined by the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.