GB2202489A

GB2202489A - Image forming apparatus with battery

Info

Publication number: GB2202489A
Application number: GB8803612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yasuo Miyauchi; Kazumi Umezawa; Shinichi Sasaki
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Current assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 1987-02-27
Filing date: 1988-02-17
Publication date: 1988-09-28
Also published as: DE3805959A1; GB2202489B; GB8803612D0; FR2611393B1; FR2611393A1; DE3805959C2; JPS63210878A

Description

22e02489 IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH BATTERY

FIELDOF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic or electrostatic recording process or the like.

Conventional image forming apparatus such as electrophotographic copying machine is supposed to be installed at a predetermined position and to use commercial electric power as a driving force, and therefore, it is so large and heavy that it can not be easily carried and that it can not be used at such a location where the commercial power source is not available, for example, outside of a house or in cars.

is With the recent advance in the image forming technique, recording technique, digital control technique in the driving system, various parts and elements, the size and weight of the apparatus can be made smaller without degrading the image forming function, whereby a personal type (home use) and/or portable type image forming apparatus can be manufactured (U.S. Patent Nos. 4,465,359 and 4, 705,384).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is practically desired that the image forming operation is performed using a battery such as a dry battery, storage cell and chargeable battery as the driving source. If this is accomplished in practical basis, the copying operation or other image forming operations can be performed outside or in 5 a car- where no commercial power source is available.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a battery driven or supplied image forming apparatus which can be used for a long period of time without charging the battery.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which can be used at a place where commercial electric power is not available.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an image forming aj?paratus of an electrophotographic type which is usable for a long period of time without charging, and which is not limited to a particular place for operation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising a battery for driving the apparatus and a pressure-fixing type image fixing apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic type generally contains an image fixing device to fix an unfixed image carried on an image bearing member (a transfer material, electrofax paper, electrostatic recording paper or the like) into a permanent image. Most widely used image fixing apparatus is a heat- fixing type device (heating roller type, heating plate type, heating chamber type or the like). However, the heat-fixing type device consumes a great amount of electric power, and it shares a fairly great part in the entire power consumption. This means quick consumption of the power in the battery, if it is used.

In view of the above, a pressure-fixing type device is employed, in place of the heat-fixing device, in which two rotatable pressure rollers are presscontacted to form a nip therebetween, through which a recording material carrying an unfixed image is passed, whereby the image is pressure-fixed on the recording medium. Since it does not use the heat, the power consumption for the operation thereof is greatly smaller than the power consumption of the heat fixing device, and in addition, the image fixing performance is not deteriorated.

Using the pressure-fixing type device, the power consumption is reduced, so that the apparatus can be operated for a long period of time without charging the battery.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS a longitudinal sectional view of copying apparatus which is of a portable type, acording to present invention. a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus is upstanding and opened. a perspective view of the upstanding.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention wherein a grip is replaced with a strap, wherein the apparatus is upstanding.

Figure 1 is an electrophotographic battery-driven and is an embodiment of the Figure 2 is the apparatus wherein the battery cover is Figure 3 is apparatus when placed DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a battery-driven type and portable type electrophotographic copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus which is placed on a horizontal surface, for example, on a desk D. The apparatus is operated in this state. Figure 2 shows the state wherein the apparatus is placed A M upstanding, wherein a battery cover is opened.

Referring to Figure 3, the apparatus is shown as a perspective view of the external appearance thereof when it is placed upstanding. When the apparatus is not used, it is placed in smaller space. Or, the apparatus can be carried about using a handle or grip 40, in the manner like carrying a brief case.

As shown in Figure 4, the grip 40 may be replaced with a strap 40a by which the appalatus can be carried hunging on the shoulder, the length of the strap being adjustable.

Referring back to Figure 1, the apparatus includes a reciprocable original supporting platen 1 made of transparent material disposed above a top surface of an outer casing 100. it is reciprocated in directions a and b. An original to be copied is placed face down on the original supporting platen 1, and is covered with an original pressing plate 21. The apparatus further includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 2 rotatably supported on a shaft 2a about which it is rotatable at a predetermined peripheral speed in a direction indicated by an arrow. Around the photosensitive drum 2, there are disposed a corona charger 3, a developing device 4, a transfer corona discharger 5 and a cleaning device 6, which may be of widely used types, and which.will not be explained in detail for the sake of simplicity.

An original illuminating lamp 7 illuminates the bottom image bearing surface of an original 0 on the transparent original supporting platen 1, during a forward or backward stroke of the original supporting platen, and through a slit 10 disposed adjacent a center of the top plate of the outer casing. The light from the lamp 7 is applied through a heat absorption filter 8 and with the aid of an reflecting plate 9. The light reflected by the image bearing surface of the original 0 is imaged on the photosensitive drum 2 through an array 11 of short-focus lens, so that the peripheral surface of the rotating photosensitive drum is slit-ey-posed to an image of the original 0.

Before the image exposure, the photosensitive drum 2 has been uniformly charged to the positive or negative polarity by the corona discharger 3. Therefore, when it is exposed to the image light of the original, an electrostatic latent image is formed thereon. The electrostatic latent image is visualized into a toner image by the developing device 4. The toner image is transferred by the transfer corona discharger 5, to a transfer sheet P which has been fed from a manual feeding station 13 disposed at the right end of the apparatus and has been supplied into the space between the discharger 5 and the photosensitive drum 2 in timed relation with the image on the photosensitive drum 2 by a feeding roller 14 and a 1 il registration roller 15.

The transfer sheet P having received the toner image is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by a separating member 16 and is guided by a guiding plate 17. it is then conveyed by relaying rollers 18 into a pressure fixing type fixing device 19, more particularly, into a nip formed between a couple of rollers 19a and 19a. During passage through the nip, the toner image is pressure-fixed, and then, it is discharged by discharging rollers 20 through a discharge outlet 25 disposed at the right end of the apparatus as a copy.

On the other hand, the surface of the phdtosensitive drum 2, after the toner image is transferred therefrom to the transfer sheet P, is cleaned by the cleaning device 6 so that the residual toner is removed from the drum surface, whereby the photosensitive drum 2 is prepared for the next image forming operation.

A photosensor 30 serves to detect that the transfer sheet P is inserted into the apparatus from the feeding station 13, and a swingable lever 31 is associated with the photosensor 30. The swingable lever 31 is in the form of a reversed L shape and is rotatable about a pin 32. The lever 31 normally takes a position shown by solid lines wherein a lower end of a first arm 31a oriented downwardly is disposed across is a path of the transfer sheet before the feeding roller 14, whereas a free end of a second arm 31b which is substantially horizontally extending is disposed across an optical path of the photosensor 30 to block the optical path. When the transfer sheet P is sufficiently inserted from the feeding station 13 into the apparatus so that the leading edge is received by the nip of the feeding rollers 14. Then, the bottom end of the first arm 31a of the lever 31 is pushed by the leading edge during the inserting movement, so that the lever 31 is rotated in the clockwise direction about the pin 32 to take a position indicated by chain lines. By the rotation of the lever 31, the second arm 31b is retracted from the optical path of the photosensor 30, so that the optical path is opened, whereby the insertion of the paper P into the apparatus is detected. In this apparatus, the detection signal is deemed as a copy start signal.

The bottom surface of the apparatus which is opposite to the original supporting platen 1 is provided at four corners with legs 22 for supporting the apparatus in its operative position.

The grip 40 is rotatably mounted to the right end surface of the apparatus where there is provided the original feeding station 13. The grip 40 in this embodiment is in the form of a yoke. By pulling the grip 40 upwardly, the entire apparatus can be made upstanding as shown in Figures 2 and 3, or it can be easily carried around in the upstanding pose, like a brief case. At this time, an unshown locking mechanism is effective to lock the original supporting platen 1 to prevent it from mov ing downwardly, and the original pressing plate 21 is also prevented from being opened. The right side of the apparatus which is opposite to the side Where the grip 40 is provided, is provided with legs 23 for supporting the apparatus when it is upstanding.

Further, there is provided a recess 50 which serves to accommodate the battery, at an end surface which is faced up when the apparatus takes its up'5tanding position (Figures 2 - 4), more particularly to the right end of the apparatus, the grip 40 and/or the strap 40a (Figure 4) is provided. An opening 51 for inserting or taking out the battery is formed at this end surface of the apparatus. The battery is depicted by a reference B, which is accommodated in the battery box. The battery serves to drive various parts of the apparatus. References S and M designate a control circuit and a driving motor, respectively.

The motor M is driven by the power from the battery B to actuate and drive various image forming means, control circuit S such as the original supporting platen 1, the photosensitive member 2, the lamp 7, the dischargers 3 and 5, the developing device 4, the pressure-fixing device 19, rollers 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20 for transporting the transfer material, sensors 30, a discharging fan and others.

A battery cover 52 provided to cover the opening 51 and is rotatable by a hinge 53.

The insertion and retraction of the battery B with respect to the battery box 50 are performed with the battery cover 52 being opened, when the apparatus takes the upstanding position (Figures 2 - 4).

At an end of the cover 52 opposite from the hinged end 53, the cover 52 is provided with a resilient arm 54 having an end pawl 55 (self-lock pawl). Correspondingly, the main assembly is provided with a pawl 56 at an inside of a top side of the inlet 51. When the cover 52 is closed to the opening 51, the pawl 55 interferes with the pawl 56. When the cover 52 is further urged in the closing direction against the interference, the pawl 55 of the cover 52 goes beyond the pawl 56 by the resilience of the resilient arm 54, so that the pawl 55 and 56 are brought into engagement. That is, the cover 52 is clicked to close the opening 51 for the battery.

When the cover 52 is to be opened, the outer surface of the resilient arm 54 is pushed by a finger of the user in the direction indicated by an arrow F (Figure 3) to flex the resilient arm 54 toward the inside of the battery box against the resiliency, the 1, engagement between the self-locking pawl 55 and the main assembly pawl 56 is released to allow the cover 52 to be opened about a shaft 53 as shown in Figures 2 and 4. By this, the opening 51 for the battery is opened.

The cover 52 is not limited to the rotatably opening type, but may be of a type wherein the cover can be dismounted. In any event, it may be of a simple construction such as a self-locking type utilizing a flexibility or resiliency of a plastic material.

When the apparatus according to this embodiment is in a hunging position or an upstanding position, the battery box 50 is so positioned that its access opening 51 is at an upside. Therefore, the weight of the battery B is applied to the bottom surface of the battery box, and the battery is limited at four sides, i.e. front, rear, right and left sides. Therefore, the battery is most stably accommodated in a recess. Further, the battery box 50 is disposed adjacent the grip 40 or adjacent the position where the hunging strap 40a is mounted. Such a position is advantageous since when the apparatus is carried around using the grip 40 or the strap 40a, the amplitude of the vibration is minimum. Even if a quite strong swinging, vibrating, impact or another external shock is implied to the apparatus when the apparatus is carried around using the grip 40 or the strap 40a or when the apparatus is placed upstanding, the battery B is stably accommodated in the battery box 50. It is practically not possible that the battery B in the battery box 50 pushes and opens the cover 52, or that the battery B pops out of the battery box to fall.

Accordingly, the locking means for the cover 52 may be of a simple structure. If the battery B is accommodated at such a position that it is at a bottom portion when placed upstanding, the battery cover and the locking mechanism must be tougher in order to prevent the battery from poping out and falling. This necessarily increases cost. By disposing the battery accommodating portion at an upper portion of the apparatus when it is placed upstanding as in this embodiment of the present invention, the exchange of the battery B or a charging operation for charging the battery B using an external charger, may be made easier. During the exchanging or charging operation, the image forming operation is not possible, and therefore, it is quite advantageous if the battery exchanging or charging operation is easier when the apparatus is placed upstanding.

As will be understood from Figure 2, the pressure fixing device 19 is disposed adjacent the bottom of the apparatus. Since the pressure fixing device is quite heavy as compared with the other image forming means, the apparatus is stable when it is placed upstanding. As described hereinbefore, the n 4 1 battery B is quite heavy and is disposed at a top portion, but because of the disposition of the pressure fixing device 19, the stability is not disturbed by the existence of the battery B. Additionally, when the apparatus is placed in its operative position, as shown in Figure 1, heavy parts, i.e. the pressure fixing device 19 and the battery B are disposed at the right and left sides, so that the weight distribution is balanced to stabilize the apparatus, with the advantage of good operativity. Further, when the apparatus is carried in a horizontal pose, the weight balance of the apparatus is good to make the carrying action easier.

It is possible that the apparatus is provided with an input for accepting the commercial power to allow use of the commercial power where it is available, so that the power may be supplied selectively from the battery or the commercial power source.

As described in the foregoing, according to the present invention, a battery-drive type image forming apparatus can be practically provided which can be operated for a long period of time.

An image forming apparatus including an image fixing device, includes a facsimile machine, a printer as an output of a personal computer as well as a copying machine. The present invention is applicable to those machines.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.

is 01 11 15- 1

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; image forming means for forming a toner image on a recording material using said photosensitive member; a pressure- fixing type image fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording material by passing the recording material carrying the toner image through a nip formed between pressing roblers; and a battery for driving said photosensitive member, said image forming means and said image fixing means.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a grip for carrying said image forming apparatus.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said battery is accommodated adjacent said grip.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said battery is accessible from a side where said grip is provided.

5. An apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said battery is accommodated in an accommodating portion which is enclosed with walls except for an access opening.

6. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member; image forming means for forming a toner image on a recording material using said photosensitive member; a pressure-fixing type image fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording material by passing the recording material carrying the toner image through a nip formed between pressing rollers; a battery for driving said photosensitive member, said image forming means and said image fixing means; and a grip for allowing the apparatus to be carried, wherein said apparatus can be placed laid-down or upstanding, and said grip is at the top of the apparatus when the apparatus is placed upstanding.

2

7. An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said battery is disposed adjacent said grip.

8. An apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein said battery is accessible from a side where said grip is provided.

IQ 1

9. An apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein said battery is accommodated in an accommodating portion which is enclosed by walls except for an access opening.

10. An apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein said fixing means has a recording material discharging opening which is disposed adjacent a bottom when said apparatus takes the upstanding position.

11. An apparatus according to Claim 6, further comprising legs for supporting said apparatus when it is upstanding and legs for supporting it when it is laid-down.

12. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; image forming means for forming a toner image on a recording material using said photosensitive member; a pressure-fixihg type image fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording material by passing the recording material carrying the toner image through a nip formed between pressing rollers; a battery for driving said photosensitive member, said image forming means and said image fixing means; -18 i a grip for allowing the apparatus to be carried, wherein said apparatus can be placed laid-down or upstanding, and said grip is at the top of the apparatus when the apparatus is placed upstanding; and a battery accommodating portion, adjacent said grip, for dismountably accommodating said battery.

13. An apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said accommodating portion is provided with a cover provided at a side where said grip is provided, and wherein said accommodating portion is enclosed by walls except for an access opening.

14. An apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said grip is a flexible strap.

15. A battery-powered - electrophotographic printing apparatus in which a toner image is fixed to a recording material by a non-thermal fixing means.

16. An image forming apparatus substantially as described in the description with reference to the drawings.

1 Published 1988 at The Patent Offtce, State House, 68171 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Offtce,