JP2002258716A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a reading unit from receiving impact or the like during the movement of a recording unit, etc., by supporting the reading unit on a support frame and allowing the recording unit to be drawn out from the support frame. SOLUTION: The image forming device 1 is provided with the reading unit 2 which is supported via the support frame 10 placed on a floor and is also provided with the recording unit 5 which can be slid by a guide means, such as a guide member 15, relative to the support frame. When maintenance, consumption article replenishment, etc., are needed for the recording unit 5, the recording unit 5 is drawn out via the guide member 15. This makes it possible to carry out any job with no interference above the recording unit 5. By setting the recording unit again, the recording unit can be easily positioned relative to the support frame 10.

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 in which a reading unit and a recording unit which are separately formed are combined and used in an integrated manner, and more particularly to a frame (support frame) supporting a reading unit. The present invention relates to an apparatus configured so that maintenance or the like can be performed by pulling out a recording unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine or a digital type electrophotographic copying machine, which comprises a reading unit and a recording unit in combination, a recording unit (for example, a recording unit) is disposed above the recording unit. And a reading unit (for example, a reading unit). In the image forming apparatus, when performing maintenance or the like on the recording unit, when processing a paper jam, when exchanging consumables, or the like, an operation such as opening a reading unit disposed above the recording unit via a hinge unit is performed. , So that the upper cover of the recording unit can be opened.

Further, the reading section of the image forming apparatus is supported by a support frame formed separately from the recording section without forming all the mechanisms of the image forming apparatus integrally, and the reading section is mounted on the housing of the recording section. In some cases, the weight is not given.
In an apparatus for supporting the reading unit on a dedicated support frame, a reading unit supported above the support frame is provided via a swinging unit with respect to the support frame to perform maintenance or the like on a recording unit. Then, the upper surface of the recording unit is exposed by swinging the reading unit via a hinge.

[0004]

However, since the reading unit has a weight of about 20 kg, it is necessary to form a hinge member for supporting the reading unit on the support frame and to increase the strength of the support frame. Therefore, the strength of each constituent member is increased to make the mechanism strong. In addition, when the reading unit is opened and closed, the operation of opening and closing the reading unit with respect to the support frame cannot be performed lightly. In some cases, an impact may be given to a member of an optical system such as a mirror or a lamp.

[0005] When an extra impact is applied to the mutual relation of the components of the scanning device arranged in the reading unit, the optical path of the light of the read image may be deviated. In addition to the above, a problem may occur in the quality of the read image. Therefore, when opening and closing the reading unit and the like, it is necessary to minimize the impact. However, since the reading unit may be suddenly closed from an open state, an impact is applied to the reading unit. There are concerns about the inconvenience of this.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of easily performing jam clearance in a recording unit, replacement of consumable parts, and the like without opening and closing a reading unit.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a reading unit supported by a frame and a recording unit disposed in a space of the frame. In the present invention, the recording unit is provided so as to be able to be pulled out to the front of the apparatus with respect to the frame.

Since the reading unit is not opened and closed by the structure described above, the problem that a shock is applied by opening and closing the reading unit is avoided. Stability can be secured. In addition, during maintenance of the recording unit, the recording unit can be pulled out to the front side of the apparatus main body and the upper part can be opened without requiring extra operation such as opening and closing of the reading unit. Can be reduced in weight.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of the apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured by combining a reading unit 2 fixedly arranged on an upper portion of a support frame 10 and a recording unit 5 housed in an internal space of the support frame. In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the reading unit 2 is a so-called flatbed scanner in which a scanner device that reads an image of a book original is arranged while moving along the lower surface of the platen, similarly to a conventional apparatus. A scanner device 3 provided with an (FBS) and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 4 for reading while transporting a document on a sheet are combined. A control panel 2a on which control buttons and display members are arranged is provided on the front side of the scanner device 3 in order to input information on the operation of the scanner device.

The support frame 10 for supporting the reading unit 2 comprises a lower frame member 13, an upper frame member 11 disposed on the lower surface of the reading unit 2, and a column member 12 in the illustrated example. It is configured in a substantially U-shape in side view. The support frame 10, as shown in FIG.
A recording section unit 5 including a recording section is accommodated in an internal space, which is configured as a portal when viewed from the front. A guide member is arranged inside the lower frame member 13 of the support frame 10 to put the recording unit 5 in and out of the internal space of the support frame 10. As the guide member, a slide rail device as conventionally used for supporting a mechanism that can be pulled out in an image forming apparatus can be used. For example, the main body of the guide member 15 is disposed on the lower frame member 13, and a roller or the like is provided between the lower frame member 13 and the slide guide 16 provided on the recording unit 5, and the recording unit 5 is moved with a relatively small force. It is configured to obtain.

A recording unit 5 provided in combination with the reading unit 2 is a combination of a recording unit 6 having a copy making mechanism using an electrophotographic system and a paper supply unit 7 such as one or a plurality of paper supply trays. Can be configured.
Then, a copy is made based on the image information read by the reading unit 2, and the copy is discharged toward the discharge tray 8, so that the copy can be taken out from the front side of the apparatus. The image forming apparatus 1 includes:
In addition to being configured as an electrophotographic copier, it can be connected to an output device such as a personal computer and used as a printer, or can be configured as a facsimile machine.

With the above-described configuration, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the maintenance of the recording unit 5 is performed, when the consumable parts are replaced, and when the paper jam is cleared, the recording unit is used. 5 can be pulled out to the front side with respect to the support frame 10. In order to movably support the recording unit 5 with respect to the support frame 10, a guide member 15 is provided.
Is used, the recording unit 5 having a large weight can be moved lightly. By using the guide member 15, the recording unit 5
During the movement of the recording unit 6, the operation can be performed smoothly without applying an extra impact to the constituent members of the recording unit 6, and the influence of the movement of the recording unit 5 on the reading unit 2 can be reduced. Will not be given.

FIG. 3 shows an image forming apparatus in which a support frame 10 for supporting the reading unit 2 is disposed above the paper feeding section 7 and a unit of the recording section 6 is provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the support frame 10. The example which comprised 1a is shown.
In the image forming apparatus 1 a, the recording unit 6, which is not combined with a paper feed tray or the like, is supported by the support frame 10 so that the paper fed from a number of paper feed trays arranged in the paper feed unit 7 is The recording unit 6 records an image. Therefore, the paper fed from the paper supply unit 7 is inserted through a paper guide opening provided in the recording unit 6 through a paper conveyance path provided in the paper supply unit 7 (not described), and The paper transport path can be configured so that the copied copy is discharged toward the discharge tray 8.

In the image forming apparatus 1a, the recording unit 6
A guide member 15 is provided in the same manner as in the example of FIG.
Can be configured to be able to move lightly via the slide guide 16. Also in this embodiment, the recording unit 6 can be easily pulled out from the support frame 10 during maintenance of the recording unit 6 or when performing paper jam processing or the like. The guide member 15 can be moved lightly even when it is mounted. The support frame 10
When the recording unit 6 is disposed above the paper feeding unit 7, the structure of the recording unit 6 supported by the support frame 10 may be only the image forming mechanism, so that the structure of the recording unit 6 can be simplified. It is avoided that the weight becomes large.

Further, when a mechanism for supporting the recording unit 6 via a support frame 10 provided integrally with the paper supply unit 7 is used, positioning of the recording unit 6 with respect to the operating position is performed by:
This can be performed via positioning means provided on the support frame 10. Therefore, when the recording section 6 is pulled out and then pushed into the support frame 10 and positioned at the operating position, the setting of the sheet transport path between the sheet feeding section 7 and the paper feed section 7 can be performed by an arbitrary mechanism provided on the support frame 10. Stopping means can be used, and even when the paper feed unit 7 and the recording unit 6 are configured separately, the connection state of the paper transport path can be maintained well.

The example shown in FIG. 4 shows a case in which a recording unit 5a in which a recording unit 6 and a paper feed unit 7 are combined is configured to be movable with respect to a support frame 10 that supports the reading unit 2. In the recording unit 5a, a guide wheel 19 and the like for the movement are arranged. Further, the support frame 1 is provided for the recording unit 5a.
0, a guide means may be provided, for example, a means for smoothly guiding the recording unit 5, such as a guide mechanism similar to the guide member, may be provided.

When the guide means is provided between the support frame 10 and the recording unit 5, the recording unit 5 may strongly hit the support frame 10 when the recording unit 5 is moved. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reading unit 2 supported by the support frame 10 from being subjected to an impact or the like. When using a means for moving and guiding the recording unit 5 with respect to the support frame 10, the lower frame member 13 of the support frame 10 can be used without using a guide means for moving the floor such as the guide wheels 19.
It is also possible to provide a guide means for supporting the lower portion of the recording unit 5, and to configure the guide means as a mechanism that can be moved lightly like a guide wheel or a guide member.

As described above, in each embodiment of the present invention, the reading unit 2 is supported by the support frame 10 and the recording unit 5 or the recording unit 6 configured as a unit with respect to the support frame 10 is used. By being configured to be movable, the recording section 6 and the like can be easily pulled out from the apparatus main body. When the recording unit 6 and the like are moved, the reading unit 2 supported by the support frame 10 is not subjected to the impact of the movement of the recording unit and the like, and the recording unit 6 and the like are set to the operating position again. At times, it is possible to automatically connect the paper conveyance path. Further, the recording unit 6 for the support frame 10
By using a guide means such as a guide member when moving the recording section 6 or the like, it is possible to configure the apparatus such that the recording section 6 or the like does not give an impact or the like to the constituent members of the recording section.

It should be noted that the support frame 10 shown in the embodiment of the present invention is not subjected to an impact load due to opening and closing of the reading unit 2 as in the conventional example, so that the reading unit is simply provided. Having a structure capable of supporting only the weight of And the support frame 1
0, a support plate or the like for supporting the reading unit is disposed on the upper frame member 11, and the lower frame member 13 can be stably placed on a floor or a desk. Member 1
Even if it is set as 2, it may be configured only as a column capable of supporting the upper load. Therefore, the support frame 10 can also be configured as a relatively lightweight member using sheet metal or the like.

[0020]

Since the image forming apparatus of the present invention is constructed as described above, the reading unit does not open and close during maintenance or the like of the components of the recording unit. This avoids the problem that an impact is applied, and secures the stability of the reading unit and the carriage disposed inside. In addition, at the time of maintenance of the recording unit, by pulling out only the recording unit to the front side of the apparatus main body without requiring extra operation such as opening and closing of the reading unit,
Since the upper portion of the recording unit can be opened, workability such as maintenance can be improved, and the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus can be reduced in weight.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of another configuration example of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image forming apparatus, 2 reading unit, 3
Scanner device, 4 ADF, 2a control panel, 5 recording unit, 6 recording unit,
7 paper feeder, 8 discharge tray, 10 support frame, 11 upper frame member, 12 pillar member, 13
Lower frame member, 15 guide member, 16 slide guide, 19 guide wheel.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H071 BA04 BA13 BA14 BA19 BA29 DA02 DA05 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB17 AB22 AD03 AD06

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a reading unit supported by a frame; and a recording unit disposed in a space of the frame, wherein the recording unit is located in front of the apparatus with respect to the frame. An image forming apparatus, which is provided so as to be freely drawn out.