JPH05319660A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the sorting between manuscript and recording paper while using a paper carrying passage for image formation both as the paper carrying passage to an image reading part and the paper carrying passage to an image forming part by arranging, in the paper carrying passage for image formation, an image reading means and a carrying branching means in the order in the paper carrying direction. CONSTITUTION:In a paper carrying passage for image formation, an image reading means 15 and a carrying branching mans 16 are arranged in the order in the paper carrying direction, so that the carrying branching means 16 forms a part of a paper discharge stack at manuscript discharge. At the time of image information read, for example, the manuscript fed from a cassette paper feeding device 1 is discharged to a manuscript discharge part 17 by the branching guide 16 after reading the image information by the reading sensor 15. On the other hand, at the time of image formation, the recording paper fed from the cassette paper feeding device 1 is carried to a photoreceptor 4, and discharged to a recording paper discharge part after the visual image on the transferred record is fixed by a fixing device 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a reading means such as a copying machine, a laser printer and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventionally known image forming apparatus with a reading means, for example, a facsimile disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-166962 is illustrated in FIG.

At the time of image reading, the original 123 placed on the original tray 117 is exposed by the paper feed roller 118 to the exposure lamp 119 and the self-focus lens array 12.
0, image information is read by a reading sensor device including an image sensor 121, and the document conveying roller 12
The sheet is ejected from the sheet ejection roller 116 onto the sheet ejection tray 107 via 2.

On the other hand, at the time of image formation, the recording paper which is pressed against the pickup roller 102 and fed from the paper feed cassette 101 is conveyed by the timing roller pair 103 to the drum-shaped photoreceptor. ..
The photoconductor is rotationally driven clockwise by the rotation of the photoconductor drive shaft in the figure, and at that time, the surface of the photoconductor is charged by the charging device 111. Then, the laser device 108a and the reflecting mirror 1
The electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor by being irradiated with the laser light of the laser optical system composed of 08b and 108c. The latent image is visualized by the toner as it passes through the developing device 112, and the visible image is transferred onto the recording paper conveyed to the photosensitive drum under the action of the transfer charger 113.
The recording paper after transfer is conveyed by the conveyor belt 104, and the visible image is fixed by the fixing device 105. Then, the recording paper discharged from the fixing device 105 is discharged from the discharge roller 116 to the discharge tray 1 via the conveyance roller 106.
It is discharged on 07.

As described above, an image forming apparatus that reads image information from a document and prints it on recording paper requires an image reading function for reading the document and an image forming function for printing on recording paper. In addition, in the conventional image forming apparatus, as in the above-mentioned facsimile or the copying machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-17466, which is composed of the circulating double-sided document automatic feeding apparatus A and the double-sided copying machine main body shown in FIG. The paper transport path for reading and the paper transport path for printing are independent from each other, and the reading sensor is located separately from the paper transport path to the image forming unit.

[0006]

However, in order to obtain a small-sized and simple image forming apparatus with a reading function, it is expected that a single sheet feeding / conveying apparatus will suffice.

Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a reading sensor in the middle of the paper conveyance path to the image forming section, that is, the print paper conveyance path, and use the print paper conveyance path also as the paper conveyance path at the time of image reading. It was

[0008] The idea that the paper conveying path is also used as described above has a problem that the original and the recording paper cannot be distinguished because the paper is conveyed through the same path from the paper feeding start to the paper ejection.

In view of the above problems, the present invention can sort an original document and a recording sheet while using both the paper conveyance path to the image reading section and the paper conveyance path to the image forming section. An object of the present invention is to provide a compact downsized image forming apparatus.

[0010]

The present invention solves this problem by
An image reading unit and a conveyance branch unit are arranged in this order in the paper conveyance direction in a paper conveyance path for image formation, and the conveyance branch unit forms a part of the paper discharge stack when the document is discharged. It is solved by being configured as follows.

It is preferable that the conveyance branching means closes the paper conveyance path to the image forming portion except when the paper is passed to the image forming portion.

An image reading means and a transport branch means are arranged in this order in the paper transport direction in a paper transport path for image formation, and the transport branch means blocks external light from entering the photoconductor. It is good that it is configured as follows.

The image reading means and the conveyance branching means are arranged in this order in the paper conveyance direction in the paper conveyance path for image formation, and the registration roller is also used as the discharge roller at the time of image reading. Is also convenient.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments based on the drawings.

In FIG. 3, the operation at the time of reading the image information is as follows.

The original fed from the cassette paper feeding device 1 while being pressed against the pickup roller is fed by the reading timing roller pair 14 to the reading sensor 15. The document whose image information is read by the reading sensor 15 passes through the roller pair 3 and is discharged to the document discharge unit 17 by a rotatable branch guide 16 which is a transport branching unit provided on the transport path. It is stored.

On the other hand, the operation during image formation is as follows.

The recording paper, which is pressed against the pickup roller from the cassette paper feeder 1 and fed in the direction of the registration roller pair, passes through the roller pair 14 and is timed by the registration roller pair 3 to form a drum-shaped photosensitive member. It is conveyed to the latent image carrier composed of the body 4. The photoconductor 4 is rotationally driven counterclockwise as viewed in the figure by the rotation of the photoconductor drive shaft, and at that time, the surface thereof is charged by the charger 5. Then, a laser beam from the laser optical system 6 is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor. This latent image is visualized by toner as it passes through the developing device 7, and this visible image is transferred to the recording paper conveyed to the photoconductor 4 under the action of the transfer charger 8. The transferred visible image on the recording paper is fixed by the fixing device 9. And the fixing device 9
The recording paper ejected from is ejected and stored in the recording paper ejecting section 10.

After the transfer of the visible image, the photoconductor 4 is cleaned of residual toner by a cleaning device. The toner removed from the photoconductor 4 is collected and stored in the toner recovery tank 11.

Further, the manual paper feeding device 12 can be attached, and a small amount of originals or recording paper can be fed from the paper feeding device 12 to perform the same operation as described above.

The branch guide 16 as the transport branch means is shown in FIG.
As can be seen from FIG. 4 and FIG.
When the sheet is discharged to the sheet 7, the sheet is rotated downward to form a part of the sheet discharge stack section.

At this time, the registration roller 3 also functions as a document discharge roller. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated paper ejection stack unit or paper ejection roller when reading image information.

At the time of image formation, as shown in FIG. 5, the branch guide 16 is rotated upward to open the paper conveyance path to the photoconductor 4.

Of course, as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible that the branch guide 16 does not form a part of the discharge stack portion, and the document discharge roller 13 is provided in addition to the registration roller 3. Is.

Switching of the branch guide 16 may be performed by using a solenoid as shown in FIG. 7, but it is not limited to this. In this switching, since the branch guide 16 constitutes the paper discharge stack portion, when printing is performed, that is, when printing is performed so that the branch guide 16 does not move to damage the original when the originals are stacked, that is, Except in the case of image formation, it is preferable that the branch guide 16 is switched and adjusted so that the branch guide 16 is in the state of the discharge stack portion.

Further, since the reading sensor is arranged in the middle of the paper conveying path to the image forming section and the document is discharged in the vicinity of the photoconductor, the branch guide 16 can block external light to the photoconductor. It should be of sufficient shape to allow.

[0027]

In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image reading means and the conveying branching means are arranged in this order in the paper conveying direction in the paper conveying path for image formation, and the original is discharged. At this time, since the transport branching unit is configured to form a part of the paper discharge stack, the original paper discharge stack section does not have to be dedicated, and the image forming apparatus can be downsized and the price can be reduced. Can be planned.

In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the conveyance branching unit closes the paper conveyance path to the image forming unit except when the paper is passed to the image forming unit, the original document is discharged in the stack. When the sheet is in a copy, the conveyance branching unit does not switch unless printing is attempted, and it is possible to reduce the risk that the conveyance branching unit operates carelessly and damages the document.

In the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the conveying / branching means is configured to block outside light from entering the photoconductor, no dedicated light shielding means is required.

In the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, since the registration roller is also used as the paper discharge roller at the time of reading the image, a dedicated paper discharge roller is unnecessary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a known facsimile with a reading sensor.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a known copying machine with a reading sensor.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which a branch guide forms a part of a discharge stack portion.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a state in which branch guides are switched and paper can be passed through an image forming unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a paper ejection stack portion and a paper ejection roller for exclusive use 1
It is the schematic which shows an example.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a means for rotating a branch guide.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cassette Paper Feeding Device 3 Registration Roller Pair 4 Photosensitive Member 5 Charging Charger 6 Laser Optical System 7 Developing Device 8 Transfer Charger 9 Fixing Device 12 Manual Paper Feeding Device 14 Reading Timing Roller Pair 15 Reading Sensor 16 Branching Guide

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit and a transport branching unit are arranged in this order in a paper transporting direction in a paper transporting route for image formation, and the transport branching unit discharges a sheet when a document is discharged. An image forming apparatus having a reading unit, the image forming apparatus being configured to form a part of the image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance branching unit closes the paper conveyance path to the image forming unit except when the paper is passed to the image forming unit. .. 3. An image reading means and a conveyance branch means are arranged in this order in the paper conveyance direction in a paper conveyance path for image formation, and the conveyance branch means prevents external light from entering the photoconductor. An image forming apparatus having a reading unit, which is configured to cut off. 4. An image reading means and a conveying branching means are arranged in this order in the paper conveying direction in a paper conveying path for image formation, and the registration roller also serves as a paper discharging roller at the time of image reading. An image forming apparatus having a reading means.