JP2000293088A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the width of a recorder as much as possible and to miniaturize the recorder. SOLUTION: In this recorder, a recording paper carrying path 41 is decided so that recording paper is fed out from a paper feeding part at a bottom part, travels upward nearly in a perpendicular direction by a carrying guide 33, and is ejected in an opposite direction to a toner cartridge 26 after a toner image is transferred to the recording paper from the photoreceptor 27 of the cartridge 26 in the middle of traveling; and a gear train is arranged along the path 41, then the cartridge 26 passes through a position where it does not interfere in the path 41 and the gear train and is made to get in/out upward. Furthermore, the gear being one part of the gear train is arranged at a position where it is superposed on the end of the cartridge 26 in an axial direction, the width of the device is made small.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, etc., which forms a toner image on a photoreceptor and transfers the toner image to recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus of this type includes a paper feed unit having a paper feed roller for feeding out a recording paper, a photosensitive member, a charger,
A toner cartridge including a toner hopper, a developing unit, and a waste toner unit; a transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image on the photosensitive member onto a recording sheet; and a photosensitive member configured to transfer a recording sheet fed by a sheet feeding roller of the sheet feeding unit. And a fixing unit having a fixing roller for fixing the toner to the recording sheet sent from the transfer position and a discharge roller for discharging the recording sheet. It has an apparatus main body to house. The conveyance path of the recording paper before and after the transfer position is arranged substantially horizontally, and the fixing unit is arranged at substantially the same height as the photoconductor.

However, since the fixing roller in the fixing section is hot, heat is radiated to the surroundings, and the heat is transmitted mainly upward and laterally by convection of air, and there is a risk of heating the photosensitive member. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the distance between the fixing unit and the photoconductor (for example, to about 120 mm), which hinders downsizing of the recording apparatus.

Therefore, it is conceivable to arrange the fixing unit above the photosensitive member, and a recording apparatus having a configuration shown in FIG. 4 has been proposed. In this recording apparatus, at the bottom of the apparatus main body 1,
A paper feed unit including a paper feed cassette 2 and a paper feed roller 3 is disposed, and a registration roller 4 and a pinch roller 5 are provided above the paper feed unit.
And a toner cartridge 7 having a photoreceptor 6, a transfer roller 8, and a laser scan unit 9. Further, a fixing unit 12 having a fixing roller 10 and a discharge roller 11 is disposed above the toner cartridge 7. The recording paper from the paper section is caused to travel along a transport path 13 that makes a U-turn, and is discharged upward from the apparatus. In order to make the toner cartridge 7 detachable, an opening / closing section 14 is provided at a position facing the toner cartridge 7, and the opening / closing section 14 is opened to move the toner cartridge 7 linearly as indicated by an arrow A in the transport path 13. To take it out across. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, guides 7a are provided on both side surfaces of the toner cartridge 7 to hold the toner cartridge 7 so that the toner cartridge 7 can be taken in and out of the apparatus main body 1. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. A groove 1a for inserting the guide 7a was formed in the side wall 1A.

[0005]

However, this configuration has a problem that the width of the recording apparatus is increased. That is, the paper feed roller 3, the registration roller 4, the photoconductor 6, the transfer roller 8, the fixing roller 10, the discharge roller 11 and the like are driven to rotate. However, in order to prevent the gear train from interfering with the insertion / removal of the toner cartridge 7, the gear train is disposed outside one side wall 1A for holding the toner cartridge 7, as shown in FIG. Fifteen
, Thereby increasing the device width. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, since the toner cartridge 7 is taken out obliquely upward, the fixing unit 12 above the toner cartridge 7 is located at a position sufficiently distant from the toner cartridge 7 so as not to interfere with the taking-in / out of the toner cartridge 7. This also hinders downsizing of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a recording apparatus capable of reducing the size of an apparatus without hindering the insertion and removal of a toner cartridge.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention moves the toner cartridge substantially linearly at a position that does not cross a gear train provided along a conveyance path. And a part of the gear train is arranged in a region axially overlapping the end of the toner cartridge. By configuring so that the gear train does not cross when the toner cartridge is taken in and out, it is possible to arrange a part of the gear in a region that overlaps the end of the toner cartridge in the axial direction. By doing so, the amount of protrusion of the gear train in the width direction from the end of the toner cartridge can be reduced, and the width of the recording apparatus can be reduced. Further, since the fixing unit does not interfere with the transfer of the toner cartridge, the distance between the fixing unit and the photosensitive member can be reduced, and the apparatus can be downsized from this point as well.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention is a toner cartridge having a paper feed unit having a paper feed roller for feeding out recording paper, and a photosensitive member, a charger, a toner hopper, a developing means, and a waste toner unit. Transfer means for transferring the toner image on the photoreceptor to recording paper, and a registration roller for feeding the recording paper fed by a paper feed roller of the paper feed unit to a transfer position where the photoreceptor and the transfer means are arranged. A fixing unit having a fixing roller for fixing the toner to the recording sheet sent from the transfer position and a discharge roller for discharging the recording sheet, and rotating the sheet supply roller, the registration roller, the photoconductor, the fixing roller, and the discharge roller In a recording apparatus including a gear train arranged to be driven along a recording paper conveyance path and an apparatus main body accommodating each of these elements, the toner cartridge It can be moved in and out of the gear train by moving it to a position that is substantially linear and does not cross the gear train, and furthermore, some gears of the gear train overlap the end of the toner cartridge in the axial direction. It is configured to be arranged in an area. By arranging a part of the gear train in the area axially overlapping the end of the toner cartridge in this manner, the width of the recording apparatus can be reduced, and the fixing unit does not interfere with the insertion and removal of the toner cartridge. The distance between the unit and the photoconductor can be reduced, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the above-described paper feeding unit is disposed at the bottom of the apparatus main body, the conveyance path of the recording paper before and after the transfer position is made substantially vertical from bottom to top, and a fixing unit is provided above the conveyance path. The recording paper is disposed and the recording paper is discharged in a direction opposite to the position where the toner cartridge is disposed. Further, the toner cartridge can be taken out linearly substantially upward of the apparatus main body. With this configuration, the thermal effect of the fixing unit on the photoconductor can be reduced, so that the fixing unit can be arranged near the photoconductor, and the size of the recording apparatus can be further reduced.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a gear train of the recording apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view schematically showing an arrangement of a gear train in the vicinity, in which a toner cartridge accommodating portion is viewed from a toner cartridge removal direction. In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 18 denotes an apparatus main body that accommodates each element described below. In this specification, the apparatus main body means not only a casing forming the outer shape of the apparatus, but also includes an internal chassis, a rear chassis, and the like fixed to the casing. 19 is an apparatus main body 18
, A paper feeding roller 20 for feeding out recording paper from the paper feeding cassette 19, and a paper feeding guide 21 for guiding the recording paper upward, and these constitute a paper feeding unit. Reference numeral 24 denotes a registration roller provided at a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 18, and supplies the recording paper to the transfer position at a proper timing.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a toner cartridge, a photosensitive member 27, a charger for uniformly charging the photosensitive member 27, a toner hopper containing toner, a developing device for applying toner to a latent image on the photosensitive member 27, and a photosensitive device. A waste toner unit for removing residual toner from the body 27 and storing the residual toner is provided. The toner cartridge 26 is disposed at an intermediate position of the apparatus main body 18 so that the photosensitive member 27 is oriented horizontally. Reference numeral 29 denotes a laser scan unit (LSU) that scans the surface of the photoconductor 27 with a laser beam to form a latent image.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a transport unit, which is disposed to face the photoreceptor 27 and transfers a toner image on the photoreceptor 27 to recording paper, and a recording roller fed from a paper feed unit to a position below the transfer position. The conveyance guide 33 is formed in a substantially linear shape and is formed of a single member, and is provided with a pinch roller 34 held by the registration roller 24 and pressed against the registration roller 24. . Reference numeral 36 denotes a fixing unit disposed immediately above the transport guide 33, which includes a case 37, a fixing roller 38, a discharge roller 39, and the like disposed therein. Is discharged in the opposite direction and obliquely upward. Thus, the recording paper transport path 41 in the recording apparatus passes through the transfer position in a substantially vertical upward direction from the lower paper supply unit, and then in the fixing unit 36 in the direction opposite to the position where the toner cartridge 26 is arranged. The path is converted to the outside of the device.

A plurality of rollers arranged along the transport path 41, that is, a sheet feeding roller 20, a registration roller 2
4, the photoreceptor 27, the transfer roller 32, the fixing roller 38, and the discharge roller 39 are rollers that are driven to rotate. A single motor 43 is provided for driving these rollers to rotate. Gear train 45 is arranged along the transport path 41 in order to transmit the power to each roller.

The toner cartridge 26 is mounted at a position facing the transport guide 33 which is disposed substantially vertically. In order to allow the toner cartridge 26 to be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 18, an opening / closing portion is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 18. 46, and the toner cartridge 26 is linearly moved substantially upward as shown by an arrow B so as not to cross a gear train 45 provided along the recording paper transport path 41. It is provided so that it can be taken out. In order to facilitate removal of the toner cartridge 26 and to hold the toner cartridge 26 at a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 18, the toner cartridge 26
A guide projection 47 is provided substantially vertically on the side surface of the main body 18, and a side wall (side wall of the inner chassis) 18A of the apparatus main body 18 corresponding to the side surface of the toner cartridge 26.
A guide groove 48 is formed in 18B. Further, FIG.
As can be clearly understood from the figure, the side wall 18A on the side where the gear train 45 is disposed has a portion for accommodating the toner cartridge 26 protruding outward to form a protruding portion 18Aa, and inside the end portion of the toner cartridge 26 (recording paper). The recess 49 is formed so as to accommodate a portion located outside the traveling area in the width direction. The gear train 45 is arranged outside the side plate 18A. The gear train 45 is arranged at a position avoiding the accommodating portion of the toner cartridge 26, that is, at a position avoiding the protruding portion 18Aa, and as close as possible to the outer surface of the side wall 18A. . Here, since the side wall 18A is located at a position axially inward of the end surface 26a of the toner cartridge 26 in a region excluding the protruding portion 18Aa, the gear train 45 is disposed close to the side wall 18A. , A part of the gears 45a, 45b, etc.
Are arranged in a region overlapping with the end portion in the axial direction. Thus, by adopting this configuration, the outermost gear bracket 51 of the gear train 45 can be arranged close to the end surface 26a of the toner cartridge 26.
As shown in FIG. 7, the width of the apparatus is reduced as compared with the case where the gear train 15 is arranged outside the end face of the toner cartridge 7, and the size of the apparatus is reduced.

In FIG. 1, when the toner cartridge 26 is taken in and out, the opening / closing portion 46 on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 18 is used.
, And the toner cartridge 26 may be taken in and out in the direction shown by the arrow B. At this time, the toner cartridge 26
Is a recording paper transport path 41 and a gear train 45 (FIGS. 2 and 3).
(See FIG. 3), the fixing unit 36 disposed on the transport path 41 is not separated from the photoreceptor 27 by a large distance. In addition, since the toner cartridge 26 is inserted and removed in an upward direction substantially parallel to the recording paper transport path 41 passing through the transfer position, the toner cartridge 26 does not interfere with the laser scan unit 29 and only the toner cartridge 21 can be easily moved. Can be put in and out. In the above description, when removing the toner cartridge 26 from the predetermined mounting position in the apparatus main body 18 to the outside of the apparatus, the toner cartridge 26 is linearly moved in the same posture as when the toner cartridge 26 was mounted. The present invention is not limited to this configuration.
When taking out the toner cartridge 6, the toner cartridge 26 is slightly rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 with the vicinity of the lower end of the guide projection 47 as a fulcrum, and the photosensitive member 27 is slightly separated from the transfer roller 32, and then linearly moves upward. It may be configured to be drawn out. When this configuration is employed, the shape of the guide groove 48 into which the guide projection 47 is inserted is formed in a fan shape so that the guide projection 47 can be rotated by a desired small angle within the guide groove 48. It should be left.

In the recording apparatus having the above-described configuration, the paper feed cassette 1
9 is fed upward by the registration roller 24 and the pinch roller 34 by the paper feed roller 20 from the paper feed roller 20.
In parallel with the conveyance of the recording paper, a toner image is formed on the photoconductor 27 of the toner cartridge 26, and the recording paper is
The toner image is transferred to the recording paper when passing between the paper and the transfer roller 32. Thereafter, the recording paper is sent to an upper fixing unit 36, where the toner image is heated and fused to perform fixing. Is discharged out of the device. During this recording operation, heat is released to the surroundings from the high-temperature fixing unit 36, but the heated air tends to flow upward, and the recording paper is conveyed upward. An upward air flow is also caused by the recording paper, so that the fixing unit 3
Heat from 6 does not transfer much down. Therefore, even in a portion near the fixing portion of the transport guide 33 provided immediately below the fixing portion 36, the temperature does not become very high (for example,
80 ° C. or lower), and the lower photoconductor 27 is not heated. Further, the fixing unit 36 is
6 does not interfere with the loading and unloading of the photosensitive member 2,
7, the height of the apparatus can be reduced compared to the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 4, and the apparatus can be downsized. In addition, since the transport guide 33 does not require much heat resistance, an inexpensive resin such as polystyrene can be used.

[0017]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the toner cartridge is moved substantially linearly with respect to the apparatus main body at a position which does not cross the gear train arranged along the conveyance path. And put in and out,
By arranging some of the gears of the gear train in an area overlapping the end of the toner cartridge in the axial direction, the width of the recording apparatus can be reduced, and the gears are arranged along the transport path. When arranging the components, it is not necessary to consider the space for taking in and out the toner cartridge, so that the degree of freedom in design is increased, and it is possible to arrange the components in a compact manner. Have.

Here, the paper feeding unit is arranged at the bottom of the apparatus main body, the conveyance path of the recording paper before and after the transfer position is arranged almost vertically from bottom to top, and the fixing unit is arranged above the paper feeding unit and the recording paper is arranged above it. If the toner cartridge is ejected in the opposite direction to the position where the toner cartridge is arranged, and the toner cartridge can be taken out linearly almost upward of the apparatus main body, the toner cartridge can be moved not only in the fixing section but also behind the toner cartridge. The scanner can be inserted and removed without interfering with the electrostatic latent image forming means such as a laser scan unit, etc., which can be simplified, and the fixing unit can be positioned above the conveyance guide and the photoconductor. So
The effect of minimizing the thermal effect on the photoconductor and the conveyance guide can be obtained, and the size and cost of the apparatus can be further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a gear train of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a housing portion of a toner cartridge and a gear train of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from a direction in which the toner cartridge is taken out.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus in which a fixing unit is disposed above a toner cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a front view schematically showing a toner cartridge accommodation portion and a gear train of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 4 when viewed from a toner cartridge removal direction;

DESCRIPTION OF THE SYMBOLS 18 Device body 18A, 18B Side wall 18Aa Projecting portion 19 Paper feed cassette 20 Paper feed roller 24 Registration roller 26 Toner cartridge 27 Photoconductor 29 Laser scan unit 31 Transport unit 32 Transfer roller 33 Transport guide 34 Pinch roller 36 Fixing Part 38 fixing roller 39 discharge roller 43 motor 45 gear train 45a, 45b gear 46 opening / closing part 47 guide projection 48 guide groove 49 recess 51 gear bracket

Claims (2)

[Claims] A paper feed unit having a paper feed roller for feeding out recording paper, a photoconductor, a charger, a toner hopper, a developing unit,
A toner cartridge having a waste toner unit, transfer means for transferring a toner image on the photoconductor to recording paper, and the photoconductor and transfer means for transferring recording paper fed by a paper feed roller of the paper feed unit A fixing roller provided with a registration roller for feeding the recording paper sent from the transfer position, a fixing roller for fixing the toner to the recording paper sent from the transfer position, and a discharge roller for discharging the recording paper; and the feed roller, the registration roller, and the photoconductor. A gear train arranged along the recording paper conveyance path so as to rotationally drive the fixing roller and the discharge roller;
The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body that accommodates these components, and the toner cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be able to be taken in and out by moving a position substantially linearly and without crossing the gear train. Further, the recording apparatus is characterized in that some gears of the gear train are arranged in a region axially overlapping the end of the toner cartridge. 2. A paper feeding section is arranged at the bottom of the apparatus main body, a conveyance path of recording paper before and after a transfer position is arranged substantially vertically from bottom to top, a fixing section is arranged above the recording paper, and a recording paper is fed. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge is configured to be discharged in a direction opposite to a position where the toner cartridge is disposed, and the toner cartridge is configured to be able to be taken out linearly substantially upward with respect to the apparatus main body. The recording device according to any one of the preceding claims.