JP2002174999A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of eliminating the necessity of an occupied area on the side of the device and saving a space for an installation area. SOLUTION: When an image forming unit F is moved, a sheet carrying route in an image forming part C is opened. Thereby a space E for maintenance work such as jam processing, cleaning in a main body and the replacement of expendables can be formed, so that an occupied area for parts projected to the side of the device is not required and the space for the installation area can be saved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copier, a printer, a facsimile or an image forming apparatus having these functions in combination. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that discharges paper in a machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a so-called digital multifunction peripheral has been widely used as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

In a digital system of a digital multifunction peripheral, original image information is read by an image reading section by an image sensor such as a CCD. The read image information is converted from optical information into an electric signal by an image sensor, sent to a control unit of the apparatus main body, and subjected to processing such as A / D conversion, shading correction, and density processing by an image processing circuit, thereby forming an image. Output to the unit.

As an image exposure method in the image forming section, an optical scanning optical system for deflecting and reflecting a light beam on each deflecting surface of an optical deflector composed of a rotating polygon mirror to optically scan a surface to be scanned composed of a photosensitive member. Is widely used.

In this light beam scanning optical system, an electric signal can be transmitted between the image reading section and the image forming section, and the image reading section and the image forming section can be arranged with a high degree of freedom. An apparatus configuration as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 that makes use of the apparatus has been proposed.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, an image reading section OB is arranged at the top of the apparatus, and a feeding section and a cassette (stacking supply section) OD are arranged at the bottom of the main body OA.

Meanwhile, a photoconductor (image carrier) 1112,
Transfer charger 1115, developing device 1114, fixing device 1118
Are arranged in a substantially vertical direction to form an image forming section OC of a so-called vertical process.

After the image formation in the image forming unit OC in the vertical process is completed, the sheet is discharged face-down from the discharge roller pair 1119 to the in-machine discharge space OM between the image reading unit OB and the image forming unit OC.

Also in the conventional configuration, the process distance from the feeding to the discharging in the image forming section OC is shortened, and the sheet is discharged to the discharging space OM in the apparatus, so that the space occupied by the main body is reduced and the feeding is performed. To reduce the time from discharge to discharge. In addition, page-sequential stacking discharge was enabled by face-down discharge.

In the apparatus configuration shown in FIG. 11A, a broken line indicates a case where the outer cover is opened in the direction of arrow H during a maintenance operation such as a jam clearance, cleaning of the inside of the main body, or replacement of consumables. The chain line I indicates the position of the outermost end of the exterior cover at that time.

In the apparatus configuration shown in FIG. 11A, when the outer cover is opened, the photosensitive member 1112 side is fixed, and the transfer charger 1115 moves to open the sheet conveying path.

In the apparatus configuration shown in FIG. 12, a dashed line K indicates the position of the outermost end of the opened multi-bypass tray.

[0013]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned prior art, an occupation area larger than the basic outer shape of the apparatus main body is required on the side of the apparatus. In FIG. 11B, a region J is a necessary portion of an occupied area. In FIG. 12, the area from the right side surface of the apparatus main body to the dashed line K is the necessary occupation area.

The first reason why the occupation area larger than the basic outer shape of the apparatus main body is required is that, in the apparatus configuration shown in FIG. As a second point, FIG.
This is because, in the device configuration of No. 2, the multi-bypass tray is arranged outside the device.

Further, in the apparatus configuration shown in FIG. 11, when the outer cover is opened, the photoconductor 1112 side is fixed and the transfer charger 1115 moves, so that the residual sheet due to jam or the like is located near the photoconductor 1112. The jam processing work position is close to the photoconductor 1112, and the photoconductor 111
2 was easy to hurt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for an occupied area on the side of the apparatus and to reduce the installation space. An object of the present invention is to provide a forming apparatus.

[0017]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, and an image forming unit disposed above the image forming unit for reading an image of a document. An image forming apparatus comprising: a reading unit; and a discharge space between the image forming unit and the image reading unit for discharging an image-formed sheet from the image forming unit into the apparatus. An image forming unit movable in a direction away from the transport path is provided.

Therefore, by separating the image forming unit, the sheet conveying path in the image forming section can be opened, and maintenance work such as jam clearance, cleaning, and replacement of consumables in the sheet conveying path opened from the discharge space can be performed. This can be performed without providing an exterior cover or the like that is opened and closed on the side of the device, and does not require an occupied area on the side of the device, thus making it possible to save installation space.

The sheet conveying path in the image forming section is configured to convey the sheet in a substantially vertical direction from below, and the image forming unit is preferably provided so as to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction.

Thus, a so-called vertical pass image forming section is constituted, the process distance from sheet feeding to discharge is shortened, the space occupied by the main body is reduced, and the time from sheet feeding to sheet discharging is shortened. Can be planned.

Preferably, the image formation on the sheet in the image forming section is performed by the image forming unit.

Thus, the image forming unit for forming an image can be isolated from the sheet conveying path, and the image forming unit can be separated from the work position during the maintenance work, so that the image forming unit is hardly damaged.

The image forming system of the image forming section is an electrophotographic system, and the image forming unit preferably has an image carrier on which a toner image is formed by the formed electrostatic latent image.

Thus, during maintenance work, the image carrier is moved away from the working position, so that damage to the image carrier can be reduced.

It is preferable that the image forming unit is provided with an exposing means for exposing the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier integrally with the photosensitive member.

Thus, the positional accuracy between the image carrier and the exposing means is improved, and the deterioration of the formed image can be prevented even if the image forming unit is movable.

As a stack supply unit for supplying sheets to the image forming unit, a first stack supply unit provided below the image forming unit, and provided above the first stack supply unit and below the image forming unit. And a second loading / supplying unit.

With this arrangement, no manual tray is provided on the side of the apparatus, no occupied area is required on the side of the apparatus, and a two-way sheet can be supplied while saving the installation area.

It is preferable that the image-formed sheet discharged to the discharge space is discharged so that the image forming surface faces the lower surface.

This makes it possible to stack and discharge sheets in page order.

The space in which the image forming unit moves is preferably used as an air duct.

As a result, the number of components for preventing temperature rise is reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

It is preferable that a heat generating unit is provided on the side opposite to the image forming unit via the air duct.

Accordingly, the number of components for preventing temperature rise of the image forming unit is reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

It is preferable that the image forming unit moves in a direction away from a sheet conveying path in the image forming unit in conjunction with an opening operation of the apparatus exterior cover.

As a result, the number of device operations can be reduced, and the operability can be improved.

It is preferable that the apparatus further comprises a sheet detecting means for detecting an image-formed sheet discharged to the discharge space, a display unit, and a display control unit.

Thus, when there is a sheet in the discharge space, an instruction to take out the sheet in the discharge space can be displayed on the display unit, and the discharge space by forcibly isolating the image forming unit for maintenance work or the like. Can be prevented from being damaged.

When a jam occurs in the sheet conveyance path in the image forming unit, the display control unit, when a sheet is detected by the sheet detection unit, displays an instruction of a jam processing procedure on the display unit before the sheet is detected. It is preferable to perform control for displaying an instruction to take a sheet in the discharge space.

Thus, it is possible to prevent the sheet in the discharge space from being damaged by forcibly isolating the image forming unit for jam clearance.

[0041]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. First, an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus (multifunctional digital copying machine) will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, an apparatus main body A has a scanner section B as an image reading section for reading image information on an image surface of a book document at an upper portion thereof, an image forming section C at a lower portion thereof, and a scanner section B at a lower portion thereof. It is configured by assembling a sheet deck D as one stack supply unit.

The scanner section B includes a first mirror 201 composed of a scanning system light source 207 and a mirror, and a platen glass 20.
2. A document pressure plate 203 which can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body A, a second mirror 204, a lens 205, a light receiving element (photoelectric conversion element) 206 as an image sensor such as a CCD, and an image processing unit. ing.

An original such as a book original such as a book, thick paper, or curled paper, or an original such as a sheet original is placed on the platen glass 202 with the image side down, and the original is pressed by the original pressing plate 203 to stop the original. When the scanner is set in this state and the reading start key is pressed, the first mirror 201 constituted by the scanning light source 207 and the mirror scans the lower portion of the platen glass 202 to read the image information on the image surface of the document.

The image information of the original scanned by the first mirror 201 composed of the scanning system light source 207 and the mirror is the second image information.
The image is projected on the light receiving element 206 by the mirror 204 and the lens 205, the image information is read, processed by the image processing unit, converted into an electric signal, and transmitted to the laser scanner 111 as a scanning unit of the image forming unit C.

Here, the apparatus main body A is a laser scanner 1
If a processing signal of the image processing unit is input to the unit 11, it functions as a copying machine, and if an output signal of a personal computer is input, it functions as a printer. If a transmission signal from a facsimile device of another device is input or a processing signal of the image processing unit is transmitted to a facsimile device of another device, the device functions as a facsimile device.

On the other hand, a sheet cassette 1 is mounted on a sheet deck D below the image forming section C. The sheets stored in the sheet cassette 1 are fed out by a pickup roller 3 and are separated and fed one by one by cooperating with a separation pad 4.

The fed sheet is transported by transport rollers 104,
The sheet is conveyed by an image forming unit 105 to the image forming unit C.
The sheet conveyed to the image forming unit C is guided to the registration roller pair 106, and is conveyed to the image forming position by the registration roller pair 106 in synchronization with the image forming operation of the photoconductor (electrophotographic photosensitive drum or the like) 112. Is done.

In the image forming section C, units such as a photoconductor 112, a transfer charger 115, a developing unit 114, and a fixing unit 118 are arranged in a substantially vertical direction. The formed process is a so-called vertical process, and the process distance from sheet feeding to discharge is shortened.

The laser scanner 111 and the photoconductor 11
2. Image forming unit F integrally provided with developing device 114
Is provided. The image forming unit F is movable in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.

In the image forming section C, a laser beam corresponding to image information emitted from the laser scanner 111 is scanned on the surface of the photosensitive member 112 uniformly charged by the charger to form an electrostatic latent image. This latent image is developed by the toner of the developing device 114, and an image forming operation for forming a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 112 is performed.

Then, the sheet once stopped is conveyed again by the registration roller pair 106 in synchronization with the rotation of the photoconductor 112 so that the toner image position and the sheet position are aligned.

The sheet conveyed again from the pair of registration rollers 106 is transferred to a transfer charger 115 facing the photoconductor 112.
As a result, the toner image is transferred to the first surface (side surface of the photoconductor 112) of the sheet.

The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to an upper fixing device 118 and heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the sheet surface.

The sheet on which the fixing has been completed is guided in the discharge direction by the conveyance path, and is discharged and stacked by a discharge roller pair 119 on a discharge tray 300 in a discharge space M provided in the apparatus.

Here, the discharge space M is provided between the scanner section B and the image forming section C, and the discharge of sheets into the discharge space M is referred to as in-machine discharge.

On the discharge tray 300, the discharge tray 30
A sheet detection unit 301 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet on the sheet No. 0 is disposed. If there is a sheet, sheet detection means 3
Numeral 01 moves according to the weight of the sheet as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 1, and the presence of the sheet is detected by an actuator and a sensor (not shown).

The sheet is discharged face-down onto the discharge tray 300 with the image forming surface on the lower surface. For this reason,
The discharge sheets are stacked and discharged in page order.

Reference numeral 501 denotes a heat generating unit such as a power supply unit that generates heat. An air duct 350 is provided between the heat generating unit 501 and the image forming unit C.

As described above, since the air duct 350 is provided between the heat generating unit 501 and the image forming section C, the number of components for cooling the image forming section C required to cool the image forming section C can be reduced as compared with the prior art, and the cost can be reduced. Becomes possible.

The air duct 350 can be said to be a space in which the image forming unit F can move.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 50 denotes an operation unit;
Is a display unit. In addition, a display control unit (not shown) for controlling the display of the display unit 51 is also provided in the machine. 55 is a front cover that can be opened to the front.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sheet conveying path of the image forming section C is opened for maintenance work such as jam clearance, cleaning of the inside of the main body, and replacement of consumables.

In FIG. 3, the image forming unit F corresponds to FIG.
And the sheet conveyance path of the image forming section C is opened.

As described above, by moving the image forming unit F and opening the sheet conveying path, a space for maintenance work such as jam processing, cleaning of the main body, and replacement of consumables shown in FIG. E can be made.

At the time of the maintenance work, the image forming unit F is separated from the work position, so that the work is less likely to damage the image forming unit F. Particularly, it is possible to prevent the surface of the photoconductor 112 from being damaged.

Therefore, in the configuration of the present embodiment, all operations such as key operations, sheet removal operations, sheet replenishment operations, and other maintenance operations such as jam clearance, cleaning, and replacement of consumables are performed in front of the apparatus. On the operating panel).

For this reason, an occupied area for components and the like protruding to the side of the apparatus is not required, and the installation area can be saved.

Further, by forming the image forming unit F as an integrated unit integrally including the laser scanner 111, the photosensitive member 112, and the developing unit 114, the positional accuracy is improved. As a result, even if the image forming unit F moves, no positional displacement occurs in the image forming step on the photosensitive member 112, and deterioration of the formed image can be prevented.

Next, a moving mechanism of the image forming unit F is shown in FIGS. 302 is an open rail attached to the image forming unit F, 303 is a moving roller, 304 is a main body rail fixed to the main body side, and 305 is a release for releasing the fixing when the sheet conveying path attached to the image forming unit F is opened. Reference numeral 306 denotes a main body hook provided on the main body side.

When the sheet conveying path is opened, the front cover 55 shown in FIG. 2 is turned forward as shown by a two-dot chain line, and then released as shown in FIG. When it is rotated to
The hook portion 5 is disengaged, and the image forming unit F can be moved to open the sheet conveying path (FIG. 5 shows the opened state).

The open rail 302 and the main body rail 30
The image forming unit F can be moved smoothly by rolling the moving roller 303 between the four positions.

FIG. 6 shows the case where the image forming unit F is moved in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 3 when the discharge sheet is present on the discharge tray 300 as shown by the broken line in FIG. In FIG. 6, the discharge sheet on the discharge tray 300 is crumpled and deformed.

In order to prevent deformation of the discharged sheet shown in FIG. 6, control is performed using the sheet detecting means 301, the display unit 51, and the display control unit. This control flow is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, when a jam occurs in the sheet conveying path of the image forming section C, the presence or absence of a sheet on the discharge tray 300 is detected by the sheet detecting means 301 (step S1).

If there is a sheet on the discharge tray 300, an instruction to take a sheet on the discharge tray 300 is displayed on the display unit 51 (step S2). This display is displayed on the display unit 51 so as to take the sheet until the sheet is taken.

When there is no sheet on the discharge tray 300, the jam processing procedure is displayed for the first time.

First, an instruction to open the front cover 55 is displayed on the display unit 5.
1 (step S3), and an instruction to move the image forming unit F to open the sheet conveying path is displayed on the display unit 51.
(Step S4).

As a result, the discharge tray 3 is displayed on the display section 51.
It is possible to display the procedure for performing the jam processing after the sheet on the sheet No. 00 is taken, and it is possible to prevent the image-formed sheet from being crumpled.

Further, the control as shown in FIG. 7 can be similarly performed when performing other maintenance work.

Although not shown, in conjunction with opening the front cover 55 (two-dot chain line), the release 305 is rotated and the hook 305 is released from the main body hook 306 to release the image. The sheet conveying path can be opened by opening the front cover 55 by moving the forming unit F. Thereby, the operation of the apparatus can be reduced and the operability can be improved by only the operation of opening the front cover.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 8 to 10 show:
A second embodiment is shown. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, so that the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, a second stack supply unit is provided in addition to the sheet deck D as the first stack supply unit. The second stacking supply unit is provided above the sheet deck D and below the image forming unit F, and can supply sheets from a space (the air duct 350) in which the image forming unit F moves.

In FIG. 8, a mechanism for separating and feeding the sheets by the Duplo system is arranged in the second stack feeding section.

The Duplo system is composed of a feeding roller 400,
And a separation pad 401 as a separation friction member pressed against the feeding roller 400.

The feeding roller 400 is fixed to the main body on the side of the image forming unit F that holds the photosensitive member 112.

Further, a sheet tray 402 is provided in the space below the image forming unit F for performing separation and feeding by the feeding roller 400 and the separation pad 401.

Reference numeral 403 denotes a middle plate as a pickup guide which is configured to be swingable with respect to the feeding roller 400, and the feeding roller 400 is driven by a middle plate pressing spring (not shown).
It is urged to. With this operation, the uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets on the sheet tray 402 is picked up by the feeding roller 400.

Here, when setting and replenishing sheets to the sheet tray 402, the sheet tray 402 has the front side of the apparatus main assembly A as shown in FIG. 9, and sheets can be set from the front side.

In this embodiment, a double-sided conveyance path 601 is also arranged as shown in FIG.

The operation of forming a double-sided image using the double-sided conveyance path 601 is as follows.

The first surface conveyed by the discharge roller pair 119 is the rear end of the image-formed sheet and the conveyance path switching means 13
2, the discharge roller pair 119 rotates in the reverse direction, and guides the sheet to the double-sided conveyance path 601 by the conveyance path switching unit 132.

The double-sided conveyance path 601 conveys the sheet to the image forming section C again, and forms an image on the second side. Thereby, double-sided image formation is also possible.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the sheet conveyance path of the image forming section C is opened for maintenance work such as jam clearance, cleaning of the main body, and replacement of consumables in the configuration of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 10, the sheet conveying path of the double-sided conveying path 601 is also opened.
Jam processing in the double-sided conveyance path 601 can also be performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the second stacking supply unit can be provided without increasing the occupied area.
In addition, jam processing can be performed on the double-sided conveyance path 601 without increasing the actual occupied area.

In the above-described embodiment, the image forming method has been described by using an electrophotographic process system. However, the present invention is not limited to the recording method, and may be an image forming method such as an electrostatic recording method, an ink jet recording method, or a thermal head recording method. The present invention can also be implemented for an apparatus.

[0100]

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing an image forming unit movable in a direction away from a sheet conveying path in an image forming unit, the image forming unit is separated from the sheet conveying path. Can open the sheet transport path, and can perform maintenance work such as jam clearance, cleaning, and replacement of consumables in the sheet transport path opened from the discharge space. Since no device is provided, an occupied area is not required on the side of the device, and the installation area can be saved.

The sheet conveying path in the image forming section is configured to convey the sheet in a substantially vertical direction from below, and the image forming unit is provided so as to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction. By forming a forming unit, the process distance from sheet feeding to discharge can be reduced, the space occupied by the main body can be saved, and the time from sheet feeding to sheet discharging can be shortened.

The image formation on the sheet in the image forming section is performed by the image forming unit, so that the image forming unit for forming the image can be isolated from the sheet conveying path, and the image forming unit is separated from the work position during the maintenance work. Thus, damage to the image forming unit can be reduced.

The image forming system of the image forming section is an electrophotographic system, and the image forming unit has an image carrier on which a toner image is formed by the formed electrostatic latent image.
During maintenance work, the image carrier separates from the work position,
Damage to the image carrier can be reduced.

The image forming unit is provided with an exposing means for exposing the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, so that the position between the image carrier and the exposing means is improved. High accuracy is achieved, and deterioration of the formed image can be prevented even when the image forming unit is movable.

As a stack supply unit for supplying sheets to the image forming unit, a first stack supply unit provided below the image forming unit, and a second stack supply unit provided above the first supply unit and below the image forming unit. , A manual tray is not provided on the side of the apparatus, no occupied area is required on the side of the apparatus, and the space required for the installation is reduced.
Y sheet supply becomes possible.

The sheet on which an image has been formed to be discharged to the discharge space is discharged so that the image forming surface faces the lower surface, so that the sheets can be stacked and discharged in page order.

The space in which the image forming unit moves can be used as an air duct, so that the number of components required for raising the temperature can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

By providing the heat generating unit on the side opposite to the image forming unit via the air duct, the number of components for preventing temperature rise of the image forming unit is reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

The image forming unit moves in a direction away from the sheet conveying path in the image forming unit in conjunction with the opening operation of the apparatus exterior cover, thereby reducing the number of operations of the apparatus and improving the operability.

By providing a sheet detecting means for detecting an image-formed sheet discharged to the discharge space, a display unit, and a display control unit, when a sheet is present in the discharge space,
An instruction to remove sheets in the discharge space can be displayed on the display unit, thereby preventing the sheets in the discharge space from being damaged by forcibly isolating the image forming unit for maintenance work or the like.

When a sheet jam occurs in the sheet conveyance path in the image forming unit, when the sheet detection unit detects the sheet, the display control unit displays the sheet in the discharge space before displaying the instruction of the jam processing procedure on the display unit. By performing control to display an instruction to take out the sheet, it is possible to prevent the sheet in the discharge space from being damaged by forcibly isolating the image forming unit for the jam clearance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a sheet conveyance path of an image forming unit is opened in the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a sheet conveyance path is opened in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sheet conveyance path of an image forming unit is opened when a discharge sheet is present on a discharge tray in the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a control flow of display on a display unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sheet conveyance path of an image forming unit is opened in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 sheet cassette 3 pickup roller 4 separation pad 51 display unit 55 front cover 104, 105 transport roller 106 registration roller pair 111 laser scanner 112 photoconductor 114 developing unit 115 transfer charger 118 fixing unit 119 discharge roller pair 132 transport path switching unit 201 First mirror 202 Platen glass 203 Original pressure plate 204 Second mirror 205 Lens 206 Light receiving element 207 Scanning light source 300 Discharge tray 301 Sheet detection means 302 Open rail 303 Moving roller 304 Main rail 306 Main hook 350 Air duct 400 Feed roller 401 Separation pad 402 Sheet tray 501 Heating unit 601 Double-sided conveyance path A Machine body B Scanner section C Image forming section D Sheet deck E Space F Image forming unit M Ejection empty while

Claims (12)

[Claims] An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; an image reading unit that is disposed above the image forming unit and reads an image of a document; and an image reading unit that is provided between the image forming unit and the image reading unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge space for discharging a sheet on which an image has been formed from the image forming unit to the inside of the apparatus; wherein an image forming unit movable in a direction away from a sheet conveyance path in the image forming unit is provided. Image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying path in the image forming unit is configured to convey the sheet in a substantially vertical direction from below, and the image forming unit is provided to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit forms an image on a sheet by the image forming unit. 4. An image forming system of the image forming unit is an electrophotographic system, wherein the image forming unit has an image carrier on which a toner image is formed by the formed electrostatic latent image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: 5. The image forming unit according to claim 4, further comprising an exposing means for exposing said image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image on said image carrier.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 6. A loading / supplying unit for supplying sheets to the image forming unit, a first loading / supplying unit provided below the image forming unit, and above the first loading / supplying unit and below the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a second stack supply unit provided in the image forming apparatus. 7. The image according to claim 1, wherein the image-formed sheet discharged to the discharge space is discharged so that an image forming surface is a lower surface. Forming equipment. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a space in which the image forming unit moves is used as an air duct. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a heat generating unit on a side opposite to the image forming unit via the air duct. 10. The image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit moves in a direction away from a sheet conveying path in the image forming unit in conjunction with an opening operation of the apparatus exterior cover. An image forming apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 11. A display device comprising: a sheet detection means for detecting an image-formed sheet discharged to the discharge space; a display unit; and a display control unit.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. 12. When a jam occurs in a sheet conveying path in the image forming unit, the display control unit displays an instruction of a jam processing procedure on the display unit when a sheet is detected by the sheet detecting unit. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a control to display an instruction to take a sheet in the discharge space is performed.