JP2002234633A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device main body requiring less space for installation, and facilitate jam processing. SOLUTION: This copying machine is devised for the purpose of eliminating recording paper left in a recording paper carrying passage in the copying machine when a jam occurs as follows. That is, a unit including one roller group of first to third feed roller pairs 51-53 is composed to be slidable to get closer to/apart from the other roller group as illustrated with an arrow A in drawing 1.

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.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, there is widely known a so-called front-loading type copying machine in which a plurality of paper feed cassettes are provided below a main body of the copying machine at intervals in a vertical direction. Have been. In this type of copier, the paper cassette mounted on the side of the copier is provided at the lower portion of the copier main body, thereby reducing the installation space. As described above, since the paper feed cassette is provided at the lower portion of the copying machine main body, the recording paper transport path from the paper feed cassette to the pair of registration rollers in front of the image forming section is formed along the side surface of the copying machine main body. I have.

In such a copying machine, when a paper jam occurs (jam occurs) in the recording paper conveying path, the copying machine main body is removed in order to remove the recording paper remaining in the recording paper conveying path in the copying machine. An openable and closable door is provided on the side surface, and the door is provided with one of a plurality of feed rollers for transporting the recording paper transported from the paper feed cassette to the pair of registration rollers. According to such a copying machine, when a jam occurs in the recording paper transport path, the recording paper transport path is opened by opening the door, and the jam can be cleared.

[0004]

According to the above-mentioned prior art, a processing space for opening and closing a door is required when performing a jam clearance. Can not be installed close to In addition, an optional device such as a paper feed deck may be mounted on the side of the copying machine on the side where the door is provided. There is a trouble that the optional devices such as the above must be separated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to reduce the installation space of an image forming apparatus main body and to facilitate jam clearance.

[0006]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of sheet cassettes provided in a lower portion of an image forming apparatus main body at intervals in a vertical direction; And a plurality of feed roller pairs for feeding the recording paper fed from the plurality of feed cassettes to the registration roller pair, a unit including one roller group of the plurality of feed roller pairs Are movable in the image forming apparatus so as to be able to freely move toward and away from the other roller group in the image forming apparatus.

According to the present invention, a unit including one roller group of a plurality of feed roller pairs can be freely moved toward and away from the other roller group in the image forming apparatus. When a jam generated in a route is processed, a processing space for opening a door is not required unlike the related art, so that the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body can be installed close to a wall or the like.

Further, since a door for jam clearance is not provided on the side of the image forming apparatus main body, even if an optional device such as a paper feed deck is mounted on the side of the image forming apparatus main body, the recording paper is conveyed. It is not necessary to separate optional devices such as a paper feed deck from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body when performing jam processing in the path. That is, in a main body of an image forming apparatus, a unit including one roller group of a plurality of feed roller pairs approaches and separates from the other roller group, so that a jam processing can be performed in a recording paper conveyance path. Jam processing is easier than in

Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that:
The image forming apparatus further includes a paper feed deck provided at a lower portion in the image forming apparatus main body, and a feed roller pair for feeding recording paper fed from the paper feed deck to a registration roller pair. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

According to the present invention, in addition to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, a paper feed deck is further provided in the lower portion of the image forming apparatus main body, and the recording paper fed from the paper feed deck is provided with a pair of registration rollers. It is configured to be sent to
Therefore, unlike the related art, a door for jam clearance cannot be provided on the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed. However, since the unit including one roller group of the plurality of feed roller pairs can be freely moved toward and away from the other roller group in the image forming apparatus, the jam processing can be easily performed. .

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an electrophotographic copying machine.

At the top of the copying machine, there is provided a contact lens 1 on which a document to be copied is placed. A manual document tray 2 is provided on one side of the copying machine main body. A discharge tray 3 is provided on the other side of the copying machine main body. A plurality of paper feed cassettes 4, 5, and 6 are provided at a lower portion in the copying machine main body at intervals in the vertical direction, and a paper feed deck 7 is provided.
Further, an exposing mechanism, a printing mechanism, and a recording paper transport mechanism are provided in the copying machine main body.

The printing mechanism has a photosensitive drum 11. The photosensitive drum 11 is provided with a drum motor 73 (FIG. 3).
) In the direction of the arrow. Around the photosensitive drum 11, in the order of its rotation, a charger 12 for charging the photosensitive layer on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, a blank lamp 13 for forming a margin, and a static lamp formed on the photosensitive layer. A developing device 14 for developing the electrostatic latent image as a toner visible image, a transfer discharger 15 for transferring the toner visible image formed on the photosensitive layer to recording paper, and a device for separating the recording paper from the photosensitive drum 11 A discharge device 16 for separation, a cleaning device 17 for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 after transfer, and a static eliminator 18 for removing charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 are provided.

At a position between the charger 12 and the developing device 14 on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11, exposure is performed by irradiating light reflected from the original, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive layer Is done.

An exposure mechanism includes an exposure lamp 21 for exposing and scanning an image of a document placed on the contact glass 1.
And a first optical system traveling body 31 provided with a reflection mirror 22 for reflecting light reflected from the original, and second and third mirrors 23 and 24 for guiding the light reflected by the first mirror 22 to the lens 25. Fourth, fifth and sixth mirrors 26, 2 for guiding the light emitted from the second optical system traveling body 32 and the lens 25 to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11.
7 and 28 are provided.

The first optical system running body 31 and the second optical system running body 32 are reciprocated in the left-right direction by a scan motor (not shown). The second optical system traveling body 32 moves at a speed that is half the speed of the first optical system traveling body 31 and a distance that is half the moving distance of the first optical system traveling body 31.

The recording paper transport mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. Paper feed rollers 41, 42, 4 for feeding recording paper for each paper feed cassette 4, 5, 6
3 and a pair of separating rollers 44, 45 and 46 for preventing double feeding of the fed recording paper. Similarly, the sheet feeding deck 7 is provided with a sheet feeding roller 47 and a separating roller pair 48. Further, a paper feed roller 49 and a separating roller pair 50 are also provided for the manual feed tray 2.

The recording paper fed from each of the lowermost paper feed cassettes 3 includes a first feed roller pair 51 and a second feed roller pair 5.
2. Third feed roller pair 53 and fourth feed roller pair 54
Is sent to the registration roller pair 60 through The recording paper fed from each of the middle paper feed cassettes 4 is sent to a registration roller pair 60 via a second feed roller pair 52, a third feed roller pair 53 and a fourth feed roller pair 54. The recording paper fed from each paper cassette 3 at the top is
The sheet is fed to the registration roller pair 60 via the feed roller pair 53 and the fourth feed roller pair 54.

The recording paper fed from the paper feed deck 6 is sent to a pair of registration rollers 60 via a fourth feed roller pair 54. The recording paper fed from the manual feed tray 2 is sent to the registration roller pair 60 via the fifth feed roller pair 55.

The recording paper sent to the pair of registration rollers 60 is transferred to the photosensitive drum 11 by the pair of registration rollers 60.
Is transferred to a transfer position around the photosensitive drum 11 to transfer the visible toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11, and thereafter, is separated from the photosensitive drum 11. The recording paper peeled off from the photoreceptor drum 11 is sent to a pair of fixing rollers 62 by a conveyor belt 61, and the toner image transferred to the recording paper is fixed on the recording paper. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged onto the discharge tray 3 by the sixth feed roller 56 and the seventh feed roller 57.

Paper feed rollers 41, 42, 43, 47, 4
9, separation roller pairs 44, 45, 46, 48, 50, feed roller pairs 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 5
7. The transport belt 61 and the registration roller pair 60 are driven to rotate by a transport motor 74 (see FIG. 3).

Paper feed roller 41 and separating roller pair 44
Is driven to rotate when the paper feed clutch 41a (see FIG. 3) is engaged. The paper feed roller 42 and the separating roller pair 45 are driven to rotate when a paper feed clutch 42a (see FIG. 3) is engaged. The paper feed roller 43 and the separation roller pair 46 are driven to rotate when a paper feed clutch 43a (see FIG. 3) is engaged. The paper feed roller 47 and the separation roller pair 48 are
a (see FIG. 3) is driven to rotate. The paper feed roller 49 and the separating roller pair 50 are driven to rotate when a paper feed clutch 49a (see FIG. 3) is engaged.

The first feed roller pair 51 and the second feed roller pair 52 include a feed roller clutch 51a (see FIG. 3).
Is driven to rotate. The third feed roller pair 53 and the fourth feed roller pair 54 are driven to rotate when a feed roller clutch 53a (see FIG. 3) is engaged. The fifth feed roller pair 55 includes a clutch 55
a (see FIG. 3) is driven to rotate. The registration roller pair 60 includes a registration clutch 60a.
(See FIG. 3) is driven to rotate.

Each feed roller pair 51, 52, 53, 54,
Immediately upstream of 55, 56 and 57, recording paper detectors 51b, 52b, 53b and 54 for jam detection are provided.
b, 55b, 56b and 57b are provided respectively. A recording paper detector 60b for detecting a jam is also provided immediately upstream of the pair of registration rollers 60. Further, a recording paper detector 61b for detecting a jam is provided near the center of the length of the transport belt 61. Reed switches are used as these recording paper detectors.

In this copying machine, the following measures are taken in order to remove the recording paper remaining on the recording paper transport path in the copying machine when a jam occurs. That is, the unit including one of the first to third feed roller pairs 51 to 53 can slide and move toward and away from the other roller group as shown by the arrow A in FIG. ing. Further, the unit including the transport belt 61 includes:
It can be pulled out toward you. Further, the unit including the seventh feed roller pair 57 can swing as shown by a chain line.

In this copying machine, it is easy to remove the recording paper remaining on the recording paper transport path, but the recording paper remaining near the transfer portion of the photosensitive drum 11 in the recording paper transport path is It is harder to remove than the remaining recording paper.

FIG. 3 shows an electrical configuration of the copying machine, mainly showing a portion related to jam control automatically performed when a jam occurs.

The copying machine is controlled by the CPU 70. The CPU 70 has a ROM for storing the program and the like.
71 and a RAM 72 for storing necessary data. The CPU 70 includes recording paper detectors 51b, 52
b, 53b, 54b, 55b, 56b, 57b, 60b
And 61b are input.

The CPU 70 includes a drive circuit 73a for the drum motor 73, a drive circuit 74a for the transport motor 74, a drive circuit 13a for the blank lamp 13, and clutches 41a and 42.
a, 43a, 47a, 49a, 51a, 53a, 55a
And 60a. Also, the CPU 70
Is connected to a display 75.

There are mainly the following types of jams.

(1) Case 1 (jam near the paper feed roller) Paper feed clutch of the paper feed section of the paper feed cassettes 4, 5, 6, the paper feed deck 7, and the manual feed tray 2 where the paper is to be fed After the 41a, 42a, 43a, 47a or 49a is turned on, the downstream-side recording paper detectors 51b, 52 closest to the paper feed rollers 41, 42, 43, 47 or 49.
b, 53b, 54b or 55b is not turned on within a predetermined time.

(2) Case 2 (recording paper detectors 51b and 5)
3b) After the recording paper detector 51b is turned on, the recording paper detector 52b is not turned on within a predetermined time, or after the recording paper detector 52b is turned on, the recording paper detector 53b is turned on. When the power is not turned on within a predetermined time.

(3) Case 3 (Recording paper detectors 53b and 6)
Jam after the recording paper 0b) If the recording paper detector 54b does not turn on within a predetermined time after the recording paper detector 53b turns on, or if the recording paper detector 54b turns on, the recording paper detector 60b When the power is not turned on within a predetermined time.

(4) Case 4 (Recording paper detectors 55b and 6
Jam between 0b) When the recording paper detector 60b does not turn on within a predetermined time after the recording paper detector 55b turns on.

(5) Case 5 (jam between registration roller pair 60 and recording paper detector 61b) Case where the recording paper detector 61b is not turned on within a predetermined time after the registration clutch 60a is turned on.

(6) Case 6 (Recording paper detectors 61b and 5)
6) Jam when the recording paper detector 56b does not turn on within a predetermined time after the recording paper detector 61b turns on.

(7) Case 7 (Recording paper detectors 56b and 5
7) Jam when the recording paper detector 57b does not turn on within a predetermined time after the recording paper detector 56b turns on.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the procedure of a jam control process performed by the CPU 70 when a jam occurs.

When a jam occurs, it is determined which of the above cases the type of jam corresponds to (step 1).

(1) Processing for case 1 (jam near paper feed roller).

When it is determined that the case 1 is satisfied, the sheet feeding clutches 41a, 41a,
2a, 43a, 47a or 49a is turned off (step 2). As a result, the driving of the paper feed rollers 41, 42, 43, 47 or 49 which has been rotationally driven is stopped. At this time, the copying operation is continued.

When the counter value of the paper feed counter matches the counter value of the discharge counter (step 3),
That is, when the number of normally fed recording papers matches the number of discharged recording papers, the copying operation is stopped (step 4). That is, all clutches and the transport motor 74
And the drive of the drum motor 73 is stopped. And
The display 75 indicates that a jam has occurred (step 5).

(2) Case 2 (Recording paper detectors 51b and 5
3b).

When it is determined that the case 2 is satisfied, the paper feed clutch 41a or 42a and the feed roller clutch 51a corresponding to the corresponding paper feed unit are turned off (step 6). As a result, the driving of the paper feed roller 41 or 42 and the first and second feed roller pairs 51 and 52 which have been rotationally driven is stopped.
At this time, the copying operation is continued.

Thereafter, when a predetermined time sufficient for discharging the recording paper downstream from the jam occurrence point has elapsed (step 7), the copying operation is stopped (step 8). That is, the driving of all clutches, the transport motor 74 and the drum motor 73 is stopped. And the display 75
Next, a jam display such as a jam occurrence position is performed (step 9).

(3) Case 3 (Recording paper detectors 53b and 6
0b).

When it is determined that the case 3 is satisfied, the paper feed clutches 41a, 41a,
2a, 43a or 47a and the feed roller clutches 51a and 53a are turned off (step 1).
0). As a result, the driving of the paper feed rollers 41, 42, 43, or 47 and the first to fourth feed roller pairs 51 to 54 that have been rotationally driven is stopped. At this time, the copying operation is continued.

Thereafter, when a predetermined time sufficient for discharging the recording paper downstream of the jam occurrence point has elapsed (step 11), the copying operation is stopped (step 1).
2). That is, the driving of all clutches, the transport motor 74 and the drum motor 73 is stopped. And the display 75
Next, a jam display such as a jam occurrence position is performed (step 13).

(4) Case 4 (Recording paper detectors 55b and 6
0b).

When it is determined that the case 4 is satisfied, the paper feed clutch 49a and the feed roller clutch 5
5a is turned off (step 14). As a result, the feed roller 49 and the fifth
The driving of the feed roller pair 55 stops. At this time, the copying operation is continued.

Thereafter, when a predetermined period of time sufficient for discharging the recording paper downstream from the jam occurrence point has elapsed (step 15), the copying operation is stopped (step 1).
6). That is, the driving of all clutches, the transport motor 74 and the drum motor 73 is stopped. Then, the display 75
Next, a jam display such as a jam occurrence position is performed (step 17).

(5) Processing for case 5 (jam between registration roller pair 60 and recording paper detector 61b).

When it is determined that the case 5 is satisfied, all the paper feed clutches 41a, 42a, 43a, 47a and 49a, all the feed roller clutches 51a, 53a and 55a, the registration clutch 60a and the drum motor 73 are turned off. (Step 18). As a result, the paper feed rollers 41, 42, 4
3, 47 or 49, first to fifth feed roller pairs 51 to 5
5. The driving of the pair of registration rollers 60 and the photosensitive drum 11 is stopped. At this time, the copying operation is continued in order to discharge the recording paper downstream of the jam occurrence point.

Thereafter, when a predetermined time sufficient for discharging the recording paper downstream from the jam occurrence point has elapsed (step 19), the copying operation is stopped (step 2).
0). That is, the driving of all clutches, the transport motor 74 and the drum motor 73 is stopped. Then, the display 75
Then, a jam display such as a jam occurrence position is performed (step 21).

(6) Case 6 (Recording paper detectors 61b and 5)
6b).

When it is determined that the case 6 is satisfied, all the paper feed clutches 41a, 42a, 43a, 47a and 49a are turned off (step 22). As a result, the paper feed rollers 41, 4 that have been rotationally driven until then are
The drive of 2, 43, 47 or 49 stops.

When the recording paper detector 60b is on at the time of occurrence of a jam (step 23), the leading end of the recording paper near the pair of registration rollers 60 where it is difficult to remove the recording paper is sent to the recording paper detector 61b. Then, the copying operation is continuously performed (step 24). When the recording paper detector 61b is turned on (step 25), the copying operation is stopped (step 26). That is, the driving of all clutches, the transport motor 74 and the drum motor 73 is stopped. Then, a jam display such as a jam occurrence position is performed on the display 75 (step 27).

When the recording paper detector 60b is off at the time of occurrence of a jam (step 23), the copy operation is stopped after the feed roller clutches 51a, 53a and 55a and the registration clutch 60a are turned off (step 28). (Step 29). That is, the transport motor 7
4 and the drive of the drum motor 73 are stopped. Then, a jam display such as a jam occurrence position is performed on the display 75 (step 27).

(7) Case 7 (Recording paper detectors 56b and 5
7b).

If it is determined that the case 7 is satisfied, the paper feed clutches 41a, 42a,
3a, 47a or 49a is turned off (step 3
0). As a result, the driving of the paper feed rollers 41, 42, 43, 47 or 49 which has been rotationally driven is stopped.

When the recording paper detector 61b is on when a jam occurs (step 31), the copying operation is stopped (step 34). That is, all the clutches, the transport motor 74 and the drum motor 73 are turned off. Then, a jam display such as a jam occurrence position is performed on the display 75 (step 35).

When the recording paper detector 61b is off at the time of occurrence of a jam (step 31), the leading end of the recording paper near the pair of registration rollers 60 where it is difficult to remove the recording paper is sent to the recording paper detector 61b. Then, the copying operation is continuously performed (step 32). When the recording paper detector 61b is turned on (step 33), the copying operation is stopped (step 34). Then, jam display such as a jam occurrence position is performed on the display 75 (step 3).
5).

According to this embodiment, the recording paper transporting device downstream of the location where the jam occurs is continuously driven, and the recording paper downstream of the location where the jam occurs is discharged. The number of recording sheets remaining on the recording sheet transport path in the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

When the jam occurrence location is downstream from the vicinity of the transfer position where it is difficult to remove the recording paper, as in cases 6 and 7, the predetermined recording paper transport device upstream from the jam occurrence location continues. And the recording paper near the transfer position is conveyed to near the jam occurrence location.
It is possible to prevent the recording paper from remaining in a portion of the image forming apparatus where it is difficult to remove the recording paper.

[0066]

According to the first image forming apparatus of the present invention, when a jam occurs, the number of recording sheets remaining on the recording sheet transport path in the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

According to the second image forming apparatus of the present invention, when a paper jam occurs, it is possible to minimize the remaining of the recording paper in a place where it is difficult to remove the recording paper in the image forming apparatus. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of an electrophotographic copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating details of a recording paper transport mechanism of the electrophotographic copying machine.

FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the electrophotographic copying machine, mainly showing a portion related to a jam control process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a jam control processing procedure performed by a CPU when a jam occurs.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a jam control processing procedure performed by a CPU when a jam occurs.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Manual tray 4, 5, 6 Paper cassette 7 Paper deck 41, 42, 43, 47, 49 Paper rollers 41a, 42a, 43a, 47a, 49a Paper clutch 44, 45, 46, 48, 50 Roller pairs 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 Feed roller pairs 51a, 53a, 55a Feed roller clutches 51b, 52b, 53b, 54b, 55b, 56b, 5
7b Recording paper detector 60b, 61b Recording paper detector 60 Registration roller pair 61 Transport belt 62 Fixing roller pair 70 CPU 71 ROM 72 RAM 73 Drum motor 73a Drum motor drive circuit 74 Transport motor 74a Transport motor drive circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of paper cassettes provided at a lower portion in an image forming apparatus main body at an interval in a vertical direction, and a recording paper fed from the plurality of paper cassettes is sent to a pair of registration rollers. In the image forming apparatus having a plurality of feed roller pairs, a unit including one roller group of the plurality of feed roller pairs can be freely moved toward and away from the other roller group in the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a paper feed deck provided at a lower portion in the image forming apparatus main body; and a feed roller for feeding recording paper fed from the paper feed deck to a pair of registration rollers. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a pair.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.