JP2002087636A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of removing the jammed paper by simple operation, and improving the visibility of the jammed paper, and the operability. SOLUTION: A paper conveying passage separating member for separating at least two paper conveying passages is mounted on a joining part of plural paper conveying passages, and retracted from the joining part of the paper conveying passages separated from each other, in interlocking with the opening and closing operation of a covering member opened and closed to a device body, when the paper jam occurs in at least one paper conveying passage among plural paper conveying passages.

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 such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.
In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of easily removing a jammed sheet when a paper jam occurs in an optional member such as an automatic double-sided unit which is openably and closably mounted on a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile, for example,
An optional member such as an automatic duplex unit is mounted on a side surface of the image forming apparatus main body, and when a paper jam or the like occurs in the automatic duplex unit, the optional member such as the automatic duplex unit is opened from the image forming apparatus main body. By doing
The paper feed path for both sides of the automatic double-sided unit and the entrance of the sheet reverse feed path are opened.

As a technique for easily removing a paper jam generated in a paper conveying path of such an image forming apparatus, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-293255 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
And Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-288144.

The paper processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 3-293255 is a paper processing apparatus for performing a predetermined process on a paper, and guides the paper passing through a paper processing unit to the outside of the apparatus.
And a second paper transport path that reverses and guides the paper that has passed through the paper processing unit to a paper re-feeding transport unit that reintroduces the paper that has passed through the paper processing unit, and reverses the paper that has passed through the paper processing unit. And a third sheet conveying path for guiding the sheet to the sheet re-feeding conveying section without the sheet conveying section. The sheet conveying section can be opened to the outside of the apparatus main body, and at least the first sheet conveying path is divided. It is configured to be openable.

In the image forming apparatus disclosed in JP-A-11-288140, a toner image is formed on a first surface by an image forming means for forming a toner image on a recording material, and passes through a fixing means having a heating roller. A frame provided with a reversal return path for reversing the recording material on which the toner image has been fixed by reversing the front and back and returning the recording material to the image forming means is provided. While being configured to be separable from a frame, the fixing unit is attached to the frame, and the fixing unit includes at least the heating roller and the outside when the frame is separated from the main frame. It is configured such that a cover for blocking the air is provided.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-288144 discloses a recording material having an image formed on a first surface by an image forming means for forming an image on the recording material.
A frame provided with an inverted return path capable of reversing the front and back and returning it to the image forming means is configured to be horizontally separable from a main frame provided with the image forming means. And the frame has a horizontal frame extending in a horizontal direction and a vertical frame extending in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal frame,
The vertical frame is configured to be rotatably attached to the horizontal frame in a direction away from the main frame.

[0007]

However, the prior art described above has the following problems. That is, in the case of the former paper processing apparatus according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 3-293255, a paper transport unit including a first paper transport path, a second paper transport path, and a third paper transport path is provided. The nip of the transport rolls of the first paper transport path, the second paper transport path, and the third paper transport path cannot be opened. However, it is difficult to remove the paper jammed paper, and there is a problem that the visibility of the paper is poor.

In the case of the latter image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-45948 and 9-22239, a frame provided with a reverse return path is provided with the image forming means. Since it is configured so that it can be separated from the main frame, only the transfer part between the reverse return path and the other transport path is opened, and not only the division of the transport path, but also the nip of the transport roll The paper cannot be released, and it is difficult to remove the jammed paper. In addition, the number of removal operations increases, and the operability is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to be able to remove jammed paper by a simple operation and to reduce paper jam. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which has good visibility of a jammed sheet and can greatly improve operability.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a sheet can be transported to an image carrier via a plurality of paper transport paths. In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet conveyed via any one of the sheet conveying paths, a sheet conveying path separating member for separating at least two sheet conveying paths at a junction where the plurality of sheet conveying paths merge. The paper transport path separating member is interlocked with the opening and closing operation of a cover member that is opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body when a paper jam occurs in at least one of the plurality of paper transport paths. The image forming apparatus is configured to retreat from a confluence of the paper transport paths separated from each other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the case where the cover member comprises an optional unit which is optionally mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and the optional unit is not mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying path separating member does not perform an operation of retracting from a confluence of the sheet conveying path.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 2 shows a tandem-type digital color printer as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a tandem-type digital color copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

2 and 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a tandem-type digital color printer and a copying machine. In the case of a digital color copying machine, as shown in FIG. And an automatic document feeder (ADF) 3 for automatically feeding the originals 2 in a state of being separated one by one
And the original 2 conveyed by the automatic original conveying device 3
A document reading device 4 for reading an image of the document is provided. The document reading device 4 illuminates a document 2 placed on a platen glass 5 with a light source 6, and reflects a reflected light image from the document 2 on a full rate mirror 7 and half rate mirrors 8, 9.
And a CCD through a reduction optical system comprising an imaging lens 10
Scanning exposure is performed on the image reading element 11 composed of the above, and the color reading light image of the document 2 is read by the image reading element 11 at a predetermined dot density (for example, 16 dots / mm).

The color material reflected light image of the original 2 read by the original reading device 4 is, for example, original reflectance data of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) (8 bits each). IPS (Image Processing)
System 12), and in this IPS 12,
Shading correction for the reflectance data of Document 2
Predetermined image processing such as position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame erasure, color / movement editing, and the like are performed. The IPS 12 also performs predetermined image processing on image data sent from a personal computer or the like.

The image data subjected to the predetermined image processing by the IPS 12 as described above is similarly processed by the IPS 12 into yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) (8 bits each). Are converted to four-color original reproduction color material gradation data, and as described below, the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13M, and 13M of the respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). 1
3C, 13K ROS (Raser Output S)
The image is exposed to laser light LB in accordance with original reproduction color material gradation data of a predetermined color in the ROS 14 as the image exposure device.

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, yellow (Y), magenta (M),
Four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K for cyan (C) and black (K) are arranged in parallel at a constant interval in the horizontal direction.

These four image forming units 13Y, 13Y
13M, 13C, and 13K have the same configuration, and are roughly divided into a photosensitive drum 15 as an image carrier that is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed, and a surface of the photosensitive drum 15 that is uniformly charged. A charging roll 16 for primary charging, and an RO as an image exposing device for exposing an image corresponding to a predetermined color to the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 to form an electrostatic latent image
S14, a developing device 17 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 15 with toner of a predetermined color, and a cleaning device 18 for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor drum 15. These photoconductor drums 15 and the image forming members arranged in the periphery are integrally unitized, and are configured to be individually replaceable from the printer and the copying machine main body 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ROS 14 includes four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13M.
C, 13K, which are modulated in accordance with four semiconductor lasers (not shown) in accordance with original reproduction color material gradation data of each color, and laser light LB-
It is configured to emit Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K in accordance with gradation data. The above ROS1
4 may of course be individually configured for each of the plurality of image forming units. Laser light LB emitted from the semiconductor laser
-Y, LB-M, LB-C and LB-K are f
The light is irradiated to the polygon mirror 19 via the −θ lens, and is deflected and scanned by the polygon mirror 19. Laser beam LB deflected and scanned by polygon mirror 19
-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K are connected to the photosensitive drum 1 via an imaging lens (not shown) and a plurality of mirrors.
Scanning exposure is performed on the exposure point 5 from obliquely below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ROS 14 scans and exposes an image on the photosensitive drum 15 from below, so that the ROS 14 has four image forming units 13Y, 13M, There is a possibility that toner and the like may fall from the developing devices 17 of 13C and 13K and become soiled. Therefore, the ROS 14 is hermetically sealed by a rectangular parallelepiped frame 20, and the four laser beams LB are provided above the frame 20.
In order to expose -Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K onto the photosensitive drum 15 of each of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, a transparent glass window 21Y as a shield member is provided. 21M, 21C and 21K are provided.

From the IPS 12, yellow (Y),
Image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K for each color of magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K)
The image data of each color is sequentially output to the ROS 14 provided in common with the ROS 14, and the laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C,
The LB-K is subjected to scanning exposure on the surface of the corresponding photosensitive drum 15 to form an electrostatic latent image. The photosensitive drum 15
The electrostatic latent images formed on the developing units 17Y, 17M, 1
The toner images are developed as toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) by 7C and 17K, respectively.

Each of the above image forming units 13Y, 13M,
Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y) sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums 15 of 13C and 13K.
The toner image of each color of black (K) is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 25 of the transfer unit 22 disposed above each of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K.
Four primary transfer rolls 26Y, 26M, 26C, 26K
Is multiplexed. These primary transfer rolls 2
6Y, 26M, 26C and 26K are arranged on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 25 corresponding to the photosensitive drums 15 of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C and 13K. The primary transfer rolls 26Y, 2Y and 2
The volume resistance values of 6M, 26C and 26K are 10 ⁵ to 10 ⁸
The resistance adjusted to Ωcm is used. And
The primary transfer rolls 26Y, 26M, 26C, 26K include
A transfer bias power supply (not shown) is connected, and the polarity is opposite to a predetermined toner polarity (positive in this embodiment).
Is applied at a predetermined timing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate transfer belt 25 is wound around a drive roll 27, a tension roll 24, and a backup roll 28 with a constant tension. The drive roll 27 is driven to rotate by a dedicated drive motor having excellent performance, and is circulated at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow. The intermediate transfer belt 25 is made of, for example, a belt material (rubber or resin) that does not cause charge-up, and has a volume resistance of 10%.
^The resistance adjusted to about ⁵ to 10 ¹² Ωcm is used.

The toner images of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 25 in a multiplex manner as shown in FIG. The recording paper 30 on which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred by a secondary transfer roll 29 pressed against the recording paper 30 as a recording medium with a pressing force and an electric field, and a fixing image positioned above Conveyed to the container 31. The secondary transfer roll 29 is in pressure contact with the side of the backup roll 28, and secondary-transfers the toner images of each color onto the recording paper 30 conveyed from below to above. The recording paper 30 on which the toner images of the respective colors have been transferred is subjected to a fixing process by heat and pressure by a fixing device 31, and then discharged onto a discharge tray 33 provided on the upper portion of the main body 1 by a discharge roll 32. You.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the recording paper 30 has a predetermined size from the paper feed cassette 34.
The sheet is once conveyed to a registration roll 38 via a sheet conveyance path 37 by a sheet feeding roller 35 and a pair of rollers for sheet separation and conveyance, and stopped. The transport path 37 of the fed recording paper 30 is vertically upward. The recording paper 30 supplied from the paper supply cassette 34 is sent to a secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 25 by a registration roll 38 rotating at a predetermined timing.

In the above-described digital color printer and copying machine, when a full-color or other double-sided copy is to be made, the recording paper 30 having an image fixed on one side is not discharged onto the discharge tray 33 by the discharge roll 32 as it is. Then, the transport direction is switched by a switching gate (not shown), and the paper is transported to the duplex transport unit 40 via the roller pair 39 for paper transport. Then, in the double-sided conveyance unit 40, the recording paper 30 is again conveyed to the registration roll 38 in a state where the recording paper 30 is turned upside down by a pair of conveyance rollers (not shown) provided along the conveyance path 41.
This time, after the image is transferred and fixed on the back surface of the recording paper 30, the recording paper 30 is discharged onto the discharge tray 33.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, 44Y, 44M, 44
C and 44K denote toner cartridges for supplying toner of a predetermined color to the developing units 17 of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively.

FIG. 4 shows each image forming unit of the digital color printer and the copying machine.

The four image forming units 13Y and 13 of the yellow, magenta, cyan and black colors
As shown in FIG. 5, all of M, 13C, and 13K have the same configuration, and the four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K have yellow and magenta colors, respectively, as described above. , And cyan and black toner images are sequentially formed at a predetermined timing. As described above, the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K of the respective colors are provided with the photosensitive drums 15, and the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 15 are uniformly formed by the charging roll 16 for primary charging. Be charged. Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 is scanned and exposed with laser light LB for image formation emitted from the ROS 14 in accordance with image data, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color is formed. The laser beam LB scanned and exposed on the photosensitive drum 15 is applied to the photosensitive drum 1.
The exposure is set so as to be performed from a diagonally lower position slightly to the right of the position immediately below the position 5. The electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drum 15 are stored in the respective image forming units 13Y, 13M,
The developing rollers 17a of the developing units 17 of 13C and 13K are developed with toners of yellow, magenta, cyan and black, respectively, to form visible toner images. These visible toner images are charged by the primary transfer roll 26. Are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 25 in a multiplex manner.

After the toner image transfer step is completed, the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 is cleaned by a cleaning device 18 to remove residual toner, paper dust, etc., and is ready for the next image forming process. The cleaning device 18 includes a cleaning blade 42, and the cleaning blade 42 removes residual toner, paper dust, and the like on the photosensitive drum 15. Further, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 25 after the toner image transfer process is completed, as shown in FIGS.
As a result, residual toner, paper dust, and the like are removed to prepare for the next image forming process. The cleaning device 43 includes a cleaning brush 43a and a cleaning blade 43.
The cleaning brush 43a and the blade 42 remove residual toner and paper dust on the intermediate transfer belt 25.

In this embodiment, paper can be transported to the image carrier via a plurality of paper transport paths, and the paper can be transported via any one of the plurality of paper transport paths. In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a conveyed sheet, a sheet conveying path separating member for separating at least two sheet conveying paths is provided at a junction where the plurality of sheet conveying paths merge, and the sheet conveying path separating member is provided. When a paper jam occurs in at least one of the plurality of paper transport paths, the paper sheets separated from each other in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of a cover member that is opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body. It is configured to retreat from the junction of the transport path.

That is, in the digital color printer and the copying machine, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, recording paper 30 of a predetermined size is supplied from a paper feeding cassette 34,
The recording paper 30 is once conveyed to a registration roll 38 via a paper conveyance path 37, and synchronized with the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 25,
By 8, it is conveyed to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 25. The recording paper 30 on which the toner image has been transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 25 is subjected to a fixing process by a fixing device 31, and then is discharged onto a discharge tray 33 in the case of single-sided printing or the like.

On the other hand, when images are formed on both sides of the recording paper 30 in the digital color printer and the copying machine, the recording paper 30 having the image formed on one side is not discharged onto the discharge tray 33 as it is. , The recording paper 3
While the discharge roller 32 is nipping the trailing end of the discharge roller 32, the discharge roller 32 is turned over, and
Through the transfer unit 40 for both sides. In the two-sided conveying unit 40, a plurality of conveying roller pairs 45 provided along the two-sided conveying path 41,
46, the recording paper 30 is turned upside down.
The recording paper 30 is conveyed again to the registration roll 38, and the image is transferred and fixed on the back surface of the recording paper 30 and then discharged onto the discharge tray 33.

A manual feed tray 47 is attached to the side (left side in the illustrated example) of the digital color printer and the copying machine main body 1. Sheets can be fed. A desired sheet such as the recording paper 30 fed from the manual feed tray 47 is conveyed to a registration roll 38 by a pair of feed rollers 48.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, a transport path 37 from the sheet cassette 34, a duplex transport path 41 from the duplex transport unit 40, and a manual feed from the manual tray 47. The transport path 48 is separated from the transport path 48 by one sheet transport path separating member 50.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet conveying path separating member 50 is formed in a substantially crescent shape, and the left end 50 a is swingably attached to the lower end of the double-sided conveying unit 40.

The upper surface 5 of the sheet conveying path separating member 50
As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 0b denotes a recording sheet 30 which is formed in a substantially arc shape with a large radius of curvature so as to be concave upward, and which is conveyed along the conveyance path 41 of the double-sided conveyance unit 40. Is transported to the registration roll 38. The double-sided transport unit 4
0, guide plates 51 and 52 are provided. The guide plates 51 and 52 are provided on the recording sheet 3 conveyed along the conveying path 41 of the duplex conveying unit 40.
0 is guided to the registration roll 38, and a double-sided conveyance path 41 having a predetermined gap is formed between the sheet conveyance path separation member 50 and the upper surface 50a.

As shown in the figure, the lower surface 50c of the sheet conveying path separating member 50 has a front end portion 50c.
c ′ is formed in a substantially arc shape with a large radius of curvature so as to have an upward concave shape. It is formed so that it becomes. Further, the lower surface 50c of the sheet conveying path separating member 50 has an intermediate portion 50c ″ formed in a substantially linear shape, and an R-shaped corner portion 50d is formed between the intermediate portion 50c ″ and the leading end portion 50c ′. The sheet transport path separating member 5
Numeral 0 is pivotally supported at the lower end of the double-sided conveyance unit 40 so that the base end portion 50a can swing about a fulcrum.

Further, between the upper surface 50b of the sheet conveying path separating member 50 and the guide plate 51 provided on the lower end surface of the both-side conveying unit 40, a relatively large gap between the two-sided conveying path 41 is provided. The recording paper 30 is bent by the relatively large gap of the double-sided conveyance path 41, and the skew is corrected by the registration roll 38.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lower surface 50c "of the leading end of the sheet conveying path separating member 50 is provided on the recording sheet 30 conveyed from the manual tray 47 through the manual conveying path 48.
And the leading end lower surface 50 c ″ of the sheet conveying path separating member 50 and the guide plate 53 on the apparatus main body 1 side so as to guide the recording paper 30 conveyed from the sheet feeding cassette 34 through the cassette conveying path 37 to the registration roll 38. Are formed so as to form paper transport paths 48 and 37 with a predetermined gap.

Further, the guide plate 53 on the device main body 1 side
The paper transport path 38 located at the lower end of the paper feed path 37 is a transport path 37 having a relatively large gap. The relatively large gap of the transport path 37 causes the recording paper 30 to be bent, and the registration roll 38 Is configured to correct the skew.

The two-sided conveyance path 41, the manual conveyance path 48, and the cassette conveyance path 37 are configured to join each other on the front side of the registration roll 38.

The manual feed path 48 for feeding the recording paper 30 from the manual feed tray 47 and the paper feed cassette 34
And the cassette transport path 38 for transporting the recording paper 30 from
They are separated from each other by a film member 55 such as a mylar film attached along the transport roll pair 54.

Further, in this embodiment, with the opening / closing operation of the two-sided transport unit 40, the paper transport path separating member 50, which is swingably attached to the lower end of the two-sided transport unit 40, is provided with a printer and a printer. It is configured to slide along the upper surface (in the illustrated example, along the left direction in the figure) of the mounting portion 56 for the optional unit projecting from the side surface of the copying machine main body 1.

The double-sided transport unit 40 is an option to be attached to the apparatus main body 1 when the user desires. The double-sided transport unit 40 also functions as a cover member. This double-sided transport unit 40
As shown in FIG. 5, is mounted on the apparatus main body 1 so as to be openable and closable about a fulcrum 58 by an arm 57 attached to a lower end thereof.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 60 denotes a spacer fixed to the leading end of the sheet conveying path separating member 50.

Further, in this embodiment, the cover member comprises an optional unit which is optionally mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and when the optional unit is not mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the paper The transport path separating member is configured not to perform an operation of retracting from the junction of the sheet transport path.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the double-sided conveyance unit 40 is optionally detachable, and a stopper member 70 is provided above the base end of the sheet conveyance path separation member 50. Is provided. The stopper member 70 is slidable in the horizontal direction, and is normally urged leftward in the figure by a compression spring 71. When the double-sided conveyance unit 40 is not mounted, the stopper member 7
The arm 72 of the sheet conveying path separating member 50 abuts on the sheet conveying path 0 so that the sheet conveying path separating member 50 does not retreat from the confluence of the sheet conveying path by its own weight.

On the other hand, when the double-sided conveyance unit 40 is optionally installed, as shown in FIG.
Are engaged with the through holes 74 of the stopper member 70.
The arm 72 of the sheet conveying path separating member 50 is configured to pass therethrough. As a result, when the double-sided conveyance unit 40 is installed as an option, the sheet conveyance path separating member 50 is rotated by its own weight and retreats from the confluence of the sheet conveyance path.

In the above configuration, the digital color printer and the copying machine according to this embodiment can remove the jammed paper by a simple operation as described below, and can visually check the jammed paper. Good
Operability can be greatly improved.

That is, in the digital color printer and the copying machine according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The recording paper 30 is fed from either the cassette transport path 37 from the paper feed cassette 34 or the manual transport path 48 from the manual tray 47, and is supplied from the cassette transport path 37 or the manual transport path 48. A toner image of a desired color is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 25 onto the recording paper 30 to be printed, and an image is formed. When forming an image on both sides of the recording paper 30,
In a state where the front and back of the recording paper 30 on which an image is formed on one side are reversed by the two-sided conveyance unit 40, the two-sided conveyance unit 41 of the two-sided conveyance unit 40 passes through the two-sided conveyance path 41 of the two-sided conveyance unit 40. A toner image of a desired color is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 25 onto the recording paper 30 fed again from the transport path 41, and images are formed on both sides.

By the way, the recording paper 30 fed from any one of the three transport paths of the double-sided transport path 41, the manual feed path 48, and the cassette transport path 37 is located near the registration roll 38 in the vicinity. If a paper jam occurs,
As shown in (b), the double-sided conveyance unit 40 is opened from the apparatus main body 1, and the sheet conveyance path separation member 50 is moved from near the front side of the registration roll 38 in conjunction with the opening operation of the double-sided conveyance unit 40. At the same time, the three conveyance paths of the double-sided conveyance path 41, the manual conveyance path 48, and the cassette conveyance path 37 are opened. At this time,
Since one of the registration rolls 38 is attached to the double-sided conveyance unit 40, the nip state of the registration roll 38 is simultaneously released.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the paper jammed paper can be removed by a simple operation, the visibility of the paper jammed paper is good, and the operability can be greatly improved. Has become.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, a jammed sheet can be removed by a simple operation, the visibility of the jammed sheet is improved, and the operability is greatly improved. An image forming apparatus capable of performing the above can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 (a) and 1 (b) show Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a main part of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a digital color printer as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a digital color copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which a double-sided unit is opened.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which a duplex unit as an optional unit is detached.

[Explanation of symbols]

37: cassette transport path, 40: double-sided unit, 41:
A double-sided conveyance path, 48: a manual conveyance path, 50: a sheet conveyance path separation member.

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2H071 AA42 BA14 BA23 BA27 DA23 2H072 AA32 AB07 BA03 BA12 CA01 CA02 CA05 EA11 FA01 FB01 3F049 AA04 DA12 DB02 LA03 LA05 LA07 LB03 3F101 FB04 FE02 FE08 LA03 LA05 LA07 LA03 LB03

Claims (2)

[Claims] A sheet can be transported to an image carrier through a plurality of paper transport paths, and an image is printed on a sheet transported through one of the plurality of paper transport paths. In the image forming apparatus, a sheet conveying path separating member that separates at least two sheet conveying paths is provided at a junction where the plurality of sheet conveying paths merge, and the sheet conveying path separating member includes the plurality of sheets. When a paper jam occurs in at least one paper transport path of the transport paths, in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of a cover member that is opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body, the paper feed path is separated from the confluence of the paper transport paths. An image forming apparatus characterized in that it is configured to retreat. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover member includes an optional unit that is optionally attached to an image forming apparatus main body.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying path separating member does not perform an operation of retreating from a confluence of the sheet conveying path when the optional unit is not mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus as described in the above.