JP3781569B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An image forming apparatus configured as a copying machine, various printers, a facsimile machine, a printing machine, or a multifunction machine having at least two of these functions has a plurality of image forming means for forming a recorded image on a recording medium. Many of these image forming means are mounted in the housing of the image forming apparatus with high positional accuracy so that a high-quality image can be formed. For this reason, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the casing is constituted by a frame made of sheet metal or plastic and an exterior cover that covers the frame, and the image forming unit is positioned and supported on the frame, and the image forming units are relative to each other. The position is set correctly. The exterior cover is fixed to the frame.
[0003]
However, in this type of conventional image forming apparatus, if an external vibration or impact is applied to the exterior cover due to a part of the user's body hitting the exterior cover during the image forming operation, Vibration and impact are directly transmitted to the frame fixed directly to the exterior cover, which is transmitted to various image forming means, so that the formed image is affected by vibration and impact, and the image quality is significantly deteriorated. There was a fear. In order to prevent such inconvenience, it is conceivable to increase the rigidity of the frame by increasing the thickness of the frame so that it does not easily vibrate. However, even if the thickness of the frame is increased, vibration and impact are transmitted directly to the frame from the exterior cover. Therefore, the vibration of the frame cannot be suppressed as much as expected, and the cost of the image forming apparatus increases. However, you cannot expect an improvement in image quality.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-described novel recognition, and the object of the present invention is to effectively suppress the vibration and shock applied to the exterior cover from being transmitted to the image forming means. Is to provide a simple image forming apparatus.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium, a first frame for positioning and supporting at least a part of the image forming means, and the first frame Proposed is an image forming apparatus comprising a second frame for fixing and supporting a frame, and an exterior cover fixed to the second frame, wherein the first frame is disposed inside the second frame. (Claim 1).
[0006]
In this case, it is advantageous that the first frame is formed of a plastic molded product (claim 2).
[0007]
In the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, it is advantageous that the second frame includes a pipe frame made of a pipe material (claim 3).
[0008]
Further, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, it is advantageous that an elastic member is interposed between the first frame and the second frame (claim 4). .
[0009]
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an option equipped according to a request of a user, wherein the optional frame is connected to the second frame. (Claim 5).
[0010]
Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, it is advantageous that the optional frame is configured to be connected directly or via a joint to an upper part or a lower part of the second frame ( Claim 6).
[0011]
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an upper part and a lower part of the second frame are respectively directly or via a joint with a lower part and an upper part of the second frame of another image forming apparatus. It is advantageous that they are formed to be connectable to each other (claim 7).
[0012]
Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 7, the upper and lower positions of the second frame are arranged so that the image forming apparatuses positioned adjacent to each other in the vertical direction can be stacked in different directions. Setting is advantageous (claim 8).
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an outline of the internal structure of a printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus, and is a view when the image forming apparatus is viewed from the front side. In the image forming apparatus shown here, a drum-shaped photoconductor 2 which is an example of an image carrier is disposed inside a housing 1, and the photoconductor 2 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1 during image formation. The At this time, the surface of the photoreceptor is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging device 3. A laser writing unit 4 that is an example of an exposure apparatus emits a laser beam L that is light-modulated according to image information, and the laser beam L irradiates the charged surface of the photosensitive member 2 to the surface of the photosensitive member. A predetermined electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image when passing through the developing device 5.
[0015]
On the other hand, the paper feed cassette 6 disposed at the lower portion of the housing 1 accommodates a recording medium P made of cut paper, a resin sheet, or the like, and the recording medium P is rotatably disposed in the paper feed cassette 6. It is loaded on the bottom plate 7. The bottom plate 7 is urged upward by a spring 8, whereby the uppermost recording medium is pressed against the paper feeding roller 10 of the paper feeding device 9, and the uppermost recording medium P is moved to the arrow A by the rotation of the paper feeding roller 10. Sent out in the direction.
[0016]
The sent recording medium P is sent between the photosensitive member 2 and the transfer device 12 placed on the photosensitive member 2 at a timing that can be aligned with the toner image formed on the photosensitive member by the rotation of the registration roller pair 11. The toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor is transferred to the surface of the recording medium P by the action of the transfer device 12. The transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor after the toner image is transferred is removed by the cleaning device 13, and then the electric potential of the surface of the photoconductor is lowered to a reference value by a static eliminator (not shown).
[0017]
On the other hand, the recording medium to which the toner image is transferred passes between the fixing roller 15 and the pressure roller 16 of the fixing device 14, and at this time, the toner image is fixed on the recording medium by the action of heat and pressure. The recording medium that has passed through the fixing device 14 is discharged out of the casing by a discharge roller 17 and stacked on a discharge tray 18.
[0018]
In the image forming apparatus of this example, the above-described photoreceptor 2, charging device 3, laser writing unit 4, developing device 5, paper feeding device 9 having paper feeding roller 10, registration roller 11, transfer device 12, and cleaning device 13. The static eliminator, the fixing device 14 and the paper discharge roller 17 constitute image forming means for forming an image on the recording medium P. In addition, a motor, a gear train, a belt, a clutch, and the like (not shown) for driving a conveyance system such as the photosensitive member 2 and the registration roller pair 11 that conveys the recording medium P also constitute an image forming unit. The image forming apparatus of this example has such a plurality of image forming means.
[0019]
The image forming means exemplified above should be arranged in the housing 1 with high positional accuracy in order to improve the quality of the image formed on the recording medium. Moreover, when an external force such as vibration or impact is applied to the housing 1 from the outside during the image forming operation, the image quality deteriorates when the above-described image forming means vibrate greatly. It is necessary to suppress the vibration of each image forming means.
[0020]
In order to satisfy the above-described requirements, in the image forming apparatus of this example, the casing 1 includes a first frame 19, a second frame 20, and an exterior cover 21, and the first frame 19 includes Each of the image forming means described above is configured to be positioned and supported. As shown in FIG. 2, the first frame 19 of this example includes front and rear side plates 22 and 23 that are spaced apart from each other, and connecting pieces 24 and 25 that integrally connect the side plates 22 and 23, so that image formation is performed. The side plate 22 located on the front side F of the apparatus has a hole (not shown) so that the internal image forming means can be attached and detached and a hand can be put into the image forming means. The image forming means (not shown in FIG. 2) is supported on the first frame 19 with a predetermined positional relationship.
[0021]
1 and 2, the second frame 20 is fixed by a pipe frame 26 formed by fixing a large number of pipe materials by welding or the like, and screws or welding not shown in the figure. It is comprised from the plate-shaped base 27 made. The first frame 19 is fixed to the base 27 with screws, for example.
[0022]
In the housing 1 of the image forming apparatus, in addition to the above-described image forming means, a power pack that outputs a high voltage, a power source that supplies appropriate voltage and current to various components, a substrate that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus, and the like An electrical system 28 composed of, for example, is provided. The electrical system 28 also constitutes an image forming means for forming an image on the recording medium, but the electrical system 27 is not required to have particularly high positional accuracy. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of this example, the electrical system 28 is fixedly supported on the base 27 of the second frame 20.
[0023]
Further, the first and second frames 19 and 20 described above and the image forming elements supported by them are covered with an exterior cover 21 as shown in FIG. It is fixed to the base 27 or both by screws, for example. In the illustrated image forming apparatus, the exterior cover 21 includes front and rear covers (not shown) located on the front and rear sides of the image forming apparatus, left cover 29, right cover 30, upper cover 31 on the top, The paper discharge tray 18 is configured by the upper cover 31.
[0024]
As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present example includes the first frame 19 that positions and supports at least a part of the image forming means, the second frame 20 that fixes and supports the first frame 19, and Furthermore, an exterior cover 21 fixed to the second frame 20 is provided, and the first frame 19 is disposed inside the second frame 20.
[0025]
According to the configuration described above, since the image forming means that requires high positional accuracy is supported by the common first frame 19, the mutual positional accuracy can be increased. In addition, the exterior cover 21 is not fixed directly to the first frame 19, but the first frame 19 is fixed to the second frame 20, and the exterior cover 21 is fixed to the second frame 20. Therefore, when a part of the user's body hits the exterior cover 21 or an external object hits and an impact or vibration is applied to the exterior cover 21, the external force is received by the second frame 20, Next, the information is transmitted from the second frame 20 to the first frame 19. Thus, the external force applied to the exterior cover 21 is not directly transmitted to the first frame 19 but is transmitted to the first frame 19 via the second frame 20, so that the image forming operation is performed. During this, a large impact is not directly applied to the image forming means supported by the first frame 19. The second frame 20 functions as a buffer, and it is possible to prevent an impact from being applied to an image forming means that requires a high positional accuracy, or to make the impact extremely small. By interposing the second frame 20 between the outer cover 21 to which an external force is applied and the first frame 19 that supports the image forming means for which the positional accuracy is required, the outer cover 21 and the first frame 19 are placed. It can be separated.
[0026]
Although the first frame 19 can be formed of a metal plate, a large number of image forming means are assembled in the first frame 19, so that the form of the frame becomes very complicated. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the form of the first frame 19 is simplified for easy understanding, but in practice, the form is usually complicated. When the first frame 19 having such a complicated shape is formed of a metal plate, it is necessary to manufacture the first frame 19 by fixing a large number of metal plates by welding or the like, and the cost increases. Therefore, the first frame 19 of this example is configured by a plastic molded product. For example, the first frame 19 is manufactured by molding a thermoplastic resin by injection molding. In this way, the entire pair of side plates 22 and 23 and the connecting pieces 24 and 25 can be manufactured as a single integrated product, and the complicated first frame 19 can be easily manufactured at low cost. it can.
[0027]
In addition, since the second frame 20 of the present example includes the pipe frame 26 made of a pipe material, the rigidity and strength thereof can be increased, and in particular, the vertical rigidity and strength can be effectively increased. Such a pipe frame 26 is generally constituted by a pipe material obtained by bending or rounding a sheet metal. However, if the required strength is satisfied, the pipe frame 26 may be constituted by a pipe material such as aluminum, plastic, or square material (wood). Is also possible.
[0028]
Also, the base 27 is usually manufactured by sheet metal, but it can also be made of wood such as plywood or plastic if the required strength can be satisfied. The base 27 is formed with a paper passage hole 35 through which the recording medium P fed from the paper feed cassette 6 passes.
[0029]
Further, in the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of guide members 33 for the paper feed cassette 6 is provided below the base 27, and the paper feed cassette 6 shown in FIG. When the paper cassette 6 is pulled out in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 2 or pushed into the rear side indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 2, the paper feed cassette 6 can be guided by the pair of guide members 33. It is configured to be able to. Positioning pins 34 project from the upper surfaces of these guide members 33, and each positioning pin 34 is fitted into a positioning hole formed in the base 27 and the first frame 19, and each guide member 33 is connected to the base 27. It is positioned with respect to the first frame 19.
[0030]
Each guide member 33 is fixed to the base 27 and the first frame 19 by screws or welding (not shown), but is not fixed to the base 27 but only to the first frame 19. It can also be fixed. With the latter configuration, an external force such as impact or vibration applied to the exterior cover 21 is first transmitted to the second frame 20, then transmitted to the first frame 19, and then transmitted to the guide member 33. Therefore, the external force is hardly transmitted to the paper feed cassette 6 supported by these guide members 33 and the recording medium P. Thereby, it is possible to effectively suppress the problem that the recording medium P vibrates and the image quality of the image formed thereon is deteriorated.
[0031]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, when one or a plurality of elastic members made of a block 36 such as rubber or resin or a leaf spring 37 are interposed between the first frame 19 and the second frame 20, for example. Further, external forces such as impact and vibration applied to the exterior cover 21 are more difficult to be transmitted by the first frame 19, and image quality deterioration of the image formed on the recording medium can be more reliably prevented. In the example shown in FIG. 3, an elastic member is disposed between the upper surface of the base 27 of the second frame 20 and the lower portion of the first frame 19.
[0032]
Further, an elastic member 38 made of rubber, resin, leaf spring, or the like is interposed between the base 27 of the second frame 20 and the pipe frame 26, so that vibration and impact from the pipe frame 26 to the base 27 are achieved. Can be relaxed, and deterioration of the image quality of the image formed on the recording medium can be prevented. According to this configuration, multiple elastic members are interposed between the pipe frame 26 and the first frame 19.
[0033]
In the conventional image forming apparatus, since the exterior cover to the frame inside the exterior cover is simply firmly fixed by screws, welding or adhesive, the impact and vibration applied to the exterior cover are directly transmitted to the frame. As shown in FIG. 3, an elastic member is interposed between the first frame 19 and the second frame 20, or between the base 27 and the pipe frame 26 of the second frame 20, as shown in FIG. Thus, it is possible to make it difficult to reliably transmit external vibration and impact to the first frame 19.
[0034]
When the elastic member described above is provided, the softer the elastic member, the more likely the relative positional relationship between the first frame 19 and the pipe frame 26 becomes unstable. Since the required image forming means described above are all positioned and supported by the first frame 19, instability of the relative positional relationship between the first frame 19 and the pipe frame 26 does not appear as a problem.
[0035]
In the example shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the lower parts of the four pipe members 39 rising up and down among the pipe members constituting the pipe frame 26 are placed on the floor or a desk. Therefore, vibration and impact applied to the floor and desk are transmitted to the pipe material 39. At that time, the first frame 19 is interposed between the pipe material 39 and the image forming means that requires high positional accuracy, and in the example shown in FIG. 3, an elastic member is also interposed. The external force applied to the material 39 is not directly transmitted to the image forming means, and the occurrence of image quality deterioration due to this can be effectively suppressed. In order to further enhance this effect, when a leg member 40 made of, for example, rubber or soft resin is attached to the lower portion of each pipe member 39 as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the image quality from being deteriorated.
[0036]
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the height of the pipe frame 26, that is, the height of the pipe material 39 is set to be approximately the same as the height of the image forming apparatus. The upper cover 31 is fixed to the upper end portion of the pipe material 39, so that the impact applied to the upper cover 31 constituting the paper discharge tray 18 is received by the pipe frame 26, and the image formed on the recording medium is detected. Prevents image quality degradation.
[0037]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing only some of the components of the image forming apparatus, and the other basic configuration of the image forming apparatus shown here is as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. There is no change. Although the assembly mode of the pipe material of the pipe frame 26 shown in FIG. 3 is slightly different from that in FIGS. 1 and 2, this is not an essential difference.
[0038]
By the way, the image forming apparatus described above may be equipped with options according to the user's request. For convenience of description, the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is referred to as an image forming apparatus main body, and a reference numeral 41 is given to the image forming apparatus main body 41, as illustrated in FIG. For example, options such as the duplex unit 42 and the sorter 43 are mounted according to the user's request, and the entire image forming apparatus is configured.
[0039]
The top cover 32 and the right cover 30 of the image forming apparatus main body 41 shown in FIG. 1 are provided with caps 44, 45, 46 that are detachably fixed. As shown in FIG. 4, the sorter 43 and the duplex unit 42 are provided. Are attached to the image forming apparatus main body 41, the caps 44, 45, 46 are removed, the sorter 43 is mounted on the top cover 32, and the duplex unit 42 is mounted next to the right cover 30. .
[0040]
In the case of an image forming apparatus equipped with the duplex unit 42, the recording medium exiting the fixing device 14 shown in FIG. 1 is guided in the direction of arrow D by a switching claw (not shown), and the cap 45 is removed. Is conveyed into the duplex unit 42 through the outlet of the right cover 30 formed by the above. This recording medium is guided in the direction of arrow E by the transport roller 47 and then transported in the direction of arrow G. Subsequently, it is carried into the image forming apparatus main body 41 through the entrance of the right cover 30 formed by removing the cap 46, and sent between the photosensitive member 2 and the transfer device 12 by the registration roller pair 11 as described above. Then, the toner image is transferred to the back surface of the recording medium. This toner image is also fixed on the back surface of the recording medium when the recording medium passes through the fixing device 14.
[0041]
The recording medium that has passed through the fixing device 14 is guided into the sorter 43 through the outlet of the top cover 32 formed by removing the cap 44 while being guided by the switching claw (not shown) described above, and into the sorter 43. By the switching claw 48 and the paper discharge roller 49 arranged, the paper is discharged to one of a plurality of paper discharge trays 50 arranged vertically. In this way, the recording media are sequentially discharged onto each paper discharge tray, and a plurality of recording media are sorted.
[0042]
The above-described duplex unit 42 and sorter 43 have a frame (not shown) and exterior covers 51 and 52 covering the frame, and the frame is the second of the image forming apparatus main body 41 shown in FIGS. It is fixedly connected to the pipe frame 26 and the base 27 of the frame 20 by fixing means such as screws (not shown). As described above, the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4 includes options provided according to a user's request, and the optional frame is connected to the second frame 20 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. .
[0043]
Options such as the duplex unit 42 and the sorter 43 generate vibrations when operated, but the vibrations are also transmitted to the optional frame and the second frame 20 of the image forming apparatus main body 41, and the vibrations are transmitted to the first frame. The image forming means supported by 19 is not directly transmitted. For this reason, it is possible to effectively suppress the problem that the image quality of the image formed on the recording medium deteriorates due to the vibration generated from the option. In addition, since the options including the duplex unit 42 and the sorter 43 are fixedly connected to the second frame 20 having a high strength of the image forming apparatus main body 41, these options can be held in a stable state.
[0044]
The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5 has an option consisting of a cassette bank 53 arranged below the image forming apparatus main body 41 and an option consisting of a sorter 143 arranged above the image forming apparatus main body 41. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of these options has frames 54 and 154 each made of a pipe frame formed by assembling and fixing a large number of pipe members in the same manner as the pipe frame 26 shown in FIG. ing.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 5, the sorter 143 has a plurality of switching claws 148, a discharge roller 149, a discharge tray 150, and a drive system (not shown), similar to the sorter 43 shown in FIG. The elements are supported by a frame 154 also shown in FIG. Similarly to the sorter 43 shown in FIG. 4, the sorter 143 also sequentially discharges the recording medium discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 41 onto the discharge tray 150 and sorts the recording medium.
[0046]
As shown in FIG. 5, the cassette bank 53 drives a plurality of paper feed cassettes 106, a bottom plate 107 on which the recording medium P is placed, a paper feed roller 110, a spring 108, a transport roller 55, and these rollers 55 and 110. The drive system is not shown, and these elements are supported by a frame 54 also shown in FIG.
[0047]
Here, the distance between the left and right of each of the four pipe members 39 extending up and down of the pipe frame 26 of the image forming apparatus main body 41 shown in FIG. 5 and the upper and lower sides of the frames 54 and 154 of the cassette bank 53 and the sorter 143 are shown. The distance between the left and right and the depth of each of the four pipe members 57 and 157 extending in the same manner is set to the same dimension. Then, the upper portions of the pipe members 39 of the pipe frame 26 of the image forming apparatus main body 41 and the lower portions of the pipe members 157 of the frame 154 of the sorter 143 are detachably fitted to each other as shown in FIG. Are connected. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, the lower part of each pipe member 39 of the image forming apparatus main body 41 and the upper part of each pipe member 57 of the cassette bank 53 are detachably fitted and connected to each other.
[0048]
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, the upper part of the pipe member 39 of the image forming apparatus main body 41 and the lower part of the pipe member 157 of the sorter 143 can be detachably connected via a joint 58. Similarly, the lower part of the pipe material 39 of the image forming apparatus main body 41 and the upper part of the pipe material 57 of the cassette bank 53 can be detachably connected by a joint similar to the joint 58 shown in FIG. At this time, if elastic members 59 such as rubber are disposed above and below the intermediate wall 58A of the joint 58, it is more difficult to more reliably transmit vibration from the sorter 143 and the cassette bank 53 to the pipe member 39 of the image forming apparatus main body 41. can do. Further, as the elastic member 59, the leg member 40 shown in FIG. 3 can be used. Also, the vibration transmission can be effectively suppressed by configuring the joint 58 from a material having a buffer function such as a resin.
[0049]
As described above, the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 has an option equipped according to the user's request, and the optional frames 54 and 154 are the second frame of the image forming apparatus main body 41. The pipe 20 constituting the frame 20 is connected to the upper or lower part of the pipe frame 26 directly or via a joint 58.
[0050]
With the above configuration, the options can be arranged by effectively using the space above and below the image forming apparatus main body 41, and the image forming apparatus main body 41 and the options can be arranged together in a narrow place. In addition, since the shock applied to the options such as the cassette bank 53 and the sorter 143 and the vibrations generated by them are transmitted to the pipe frame 26 of the image forming apparatus main body 41, it is difficult to transmit to the first frame 19. It is possible to effectively prevent image quality deterioration of an image formed on the recording medium P. By configuring the joint 58 from resin and disposing the elastic member 59 in the joint 58, the above-described effect can be further ensured.
[0051]
Further, since the sorter 143 disposed on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 41 is not subjected to the load of the image forming apparatus main body 41, one or two of the four pipe members 157 of the frame 154 shown in FIG. , And each of the elements of the sorter 143 can be supported by only two or three pipe members. The attachment state of the sorter 143 to the image forming apparatus main body 41 in this case is the same as that of the sorter 43 shown in FIG.
[0052]
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the image forming apparatuses 41A, 41B, and 41C themselves can be stacked and used. Also in this case, the four pipe members 39 of each image forming apparatus are detachably fitted in the same manner as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, or are attached / detached via a joint 58 as shown in FIG. Connect as possible. The lower part and the upper part of the pipe material 39 of the upper and lower image forming apparatuses are detachably connected directly or via a joint 58. At this time, it is preferable that the upper portion of each pipe member 39 is formed to be slightly longer so that a space is formed between the upper and lower image forming apparatus main bodies so that the recording medium discharged onto the paper discharge tray 18 can be easily taken out. Also in this case, it is advantageous to provide the joint 58 with an elastic member 59 as shown in FIG. 9 or to use the leg member 40 as the elastic member 59.
[0053]
As described above, in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 10, the upper and lower portions of the pipe frame 26 of the second frame 20 are respectively directly or directly below the lower and upper portions of the second frame 20 of the other image forming apparatuses. The upper and lower spaces of the image forming apparatus can be effectively used, and the plurality of image forming apparatuses can be operated at the same time, so that a large number of recording media can be quickly used. An image can be formed.
[0054]
Further, in the above-described configuration, when the four pipe members 39 of each image forming apparatus are set to have the same distance between the left and right and the depth, and the four pipe members 39 are viewed from above, they are square corner portions. When the image forming apparatuses are stacked up and down, they can be stacked by turning each 90 degrees. The upper and lower positions of the pipe frame 26 of the second frame 20 are set so that the image forming apparatuses positioned adjacent to each other in the vertical direction can be stacked in different directions.
[0055]
For example, as shown in FIG. 11, four image forming apparatuses 41A, 41B, 41C, and 41D are arranged on the desk 60 in a vertically stacked state, and the image forming apparatuses 41A, 41B, 41C, and 41D are arranged. The direction is changed by 90 °. In this way, each of the four workers P1, P2, P3, and P4 located on each side of the desk 60 uses an image forming apparatus that can easily take out the recording medium. This can significantly increase the work efficiency.
[0056]
The present invention can be widely applied to various types of image forming apparatuses other than a printer.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the image forming apparatus includes the first frame that supports the image forming unit and the second frame that fixedly supports the first frame. Even if an impact or vibration is applied to the exterior cover, it is possible to effectively suppress a problem that the image quality of the formed image is deteriorated.
[0058]
According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, even when the first frame has a complicated shape, it can be manufactured at a low cost.
[0059]
According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, the rigidity and strength of the second frame can be increased.
[0060]
According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, it is possible to more effectively suppress the problem that the impact or vibration applied to the exterior cover is transmitted to the image forming means supported by the first frame.
[0061]
According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, it is possible to effectively suppress a problem that vibration generated as an option is transmitted to the image forming unit supported by the first frame.
[0062]
According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth aspect, it is possible to effectively suppress a problem that vibration generated in the option is transmitted to the image forming unit supported by the first frame, and the option is provided. The image forming apparatus can be installed in a narrow place.
[0063]
According to the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect, a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be installed in a narrow place.
[0064]
According to the image forming apparatus of the eighth aspect, when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are stacked one above the other, the image forming apparatuses can be arranged in a desired direction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of first and second frames of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an elastic member is interposed between a first frame and a second frame, and is a schematic diagram illustrating only some elements of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an image forming apparatus including a duplex unit and a sorter.
FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of an image forming apparatus in which a sorter is provided in the upper part and a cassette bank is provided in the lower part.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a cassette bank and sorter frame;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an example in which the pipe material of the image forming apparatus main body and the pipe material of the sorter are fitted and connected to each other.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example in which the pipe material of the main body of the image forming apparatus and the pipe material of the cassette bank are fitted and connected.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which pipe members are connected via a joint.
FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating an example in which the image forming apparatuses are stacked and used in the vertical direction.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating an example in which the image forming apparatuses are used by being stacked one above the other with their directions changed.
[Explanation of symbols]
19 First frame
20 Second frame
21 Exterior cover
26 Pipe frame
39 Pipe material
41A image forming apparatus
41B image forming apparatus
41C image forming apparatus
41D image forming apparatus
54 frames
58 Joint
154 frames
P Recording medium

Claims (8)

  A plurality of image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium; a first frame for positioning and supporting at least a part of the image forming means; a second frame for fixing and supporting the first frame; An image forming apparatus comprising: an exterior cover fixed to the second frame, wherein the first frame is disposed inside the second frame.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first frame is formed of a plastic molded product.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second frame has a pipe frame made of a pipe material.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member is interposed between the first frame and the second frame.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an option equipped according to a user's request, wherein the optional frame is connected to the second frame.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the optional frame is connected to an upper portion or a lower portion of the second frame directly or through a joint.   The upper part and the lower part of the second frame are formed so as to be connectable directly or via a joint to the lower part and the upper part of the second frame of another image forming apparatus, respectively. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the upper and lower positions of the second frame are set so that the image forming apparatuses positioned adjacent to each other in the vertical direction can be stacked in different directions.

Images