JP2002278410A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which never requires an operation occupying area to the front/rear/right/left of a device main body at all. SOLUTION: In the image forming device having a paper ejection space M between an image reading part B and an image forming part C, an opening part F for opening the inside of the part C is provided movably on the side of the space M with respect to the surface of a recording medium at the part C and the part B is provided movably at the upper position of a device casing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and an image forming apparatus having these functions, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus in which an image is formed in an apparatus housing between an image reading section and an image forming section. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as an "in-machine paper discharge type" image forming apparatus) having a discharge space for discharging a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
What is called a digital multifunction peripheral has become widespread. In the digital method, document image information is read 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.
Output to the image forming unit.

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

The light beam scanning optical system allows the image reading section and the image forming section to be arranged with a high degree of freedom, and configurations such as those shown in FIGS.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, an image reading section OB is arranged at the top of the apparatus, and a sheet feeding section and a cassette OD are arranged at the bottom of the main body OA. In the meantime, units such as a photoconductor 1112, a transfer unit 1115, a developing unit 1114, and a fixing unit 1118 are arranged in a substantially vertical direction. After image formation is completed in the image forming unit OC in a so-called vertical process, the sheet is discharged face-down to a discharge tray 1300 facing a discharge space OM in the apparatus housing between the image reading unit OB and the image forming unit OC. You.

Even in the conventional configuration, the process distance from the paper feeding to the paper discharging is shortened, and the sheets are discharged to the paper discharging space OM in the apparatus main body, so that the space occupied by the main body can be reduced and the paper feeding and discharging can be performed. As a result, the time from when the copy button is pressed to when the copied sheet is discharged (FCOT: First Copy) is shortened.
Time) is also reduced. In addition, the pages can be stacked in a page order by face-down discharge.

In FIG. 11, a broken line shows a case where the side cover H is opened at the time of maintenance work such as jam clearance, cleaning of the inside of the main body, or replacement of consumables. The two-dot chain line I indicates the position of the side cover H at that time. At this time, the front cover O
J was also open to the front of the apparatus (see FIG. 11B). Further, when the cover is opened, the drum side is fixed, and the transfer charger side 1115 is opened and moved.

In FIG. 12, a two-dot chain line K indicates a multi-manual tray OL position.

[0009]

However, in the case of the above-described prior art, there is a problem that an occupation area larger than the basic outer shape of the main body is required at the time of maintenance work. These problems will be described below.

In FIG. 11B, regions J and JJ indicate the required area of occupation. In FIG. 12, a region from the right side surface to K indicates a necessary occupation area. As described above, there are two main reasons why an occupied area larger than the basic outer shape of the main body is required.

The first point is that the outer cover is opened to the side protruding from the main body in the jam clearing operation.

The second point is that the sheet feeding tray OL of the multi sheet feeding unit as the second sheet feeding means is arranged outside the apparatus.

When the side cover H is opened, the photosensitive member 111 is opened.
2 is fixed and the transfer charger 1115 side moves, so the residual sheet due to jam or the like is located near the photoconductor 1112, and the working position is near the photoconductor 1112.
There is also a problem that the photoconductor 1112 is easily damaged during the operation, and that the maintenance operation requires attention.

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 provide an image forming apparatus capable of saving space during maintenance work. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing easy maintenance work.

[0015]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image reading section for reading an image; and an image reading section disposed below the image reading section, and provided on a recording medium. An image forming unit for forming an image, and a discharge unit space for discharging a recording medium on which image formation has been completed in an apparatus housing between the image reading unit and the image forming unit. An opening for opening the inside of the forming unit is provided so as to be movable toward the discharge unit space side in the apparatus housing with respect to a recording medium surface in the image forming unit, and the image reading unit is provided above the apparatus housing. It is provided so as to be movable to a position.

In the image forming section, the recording medium is conveyed upward from below in a substantially vertical direction, and an opening for opening the inside of the image forming section is provided in the discharge section space in the apparatus housing. It is good to provide in the side so that it can move in a substantially horizontal direction.

In the image forming section, a recording surface of a recording medium may be on the opening side. The image forming system of the image forming unit may be an electrophotographic process system, and the opening may include a photoconductor.

In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus has first and second sheet feeding means, and a first sheet stacking section for stacking sheets supplied to the first sheet feeding means is provided below the image forming section. A second sheet stacking unit for stacking sheets to be supplied to the second sheet feeding unit is provided above the first sheet stacking unit on the discharge unit space side with respect to a recording medium surface in the image forming unit; It is good to arrange so that it is located.

Preferably, the recording medium on which the image has been formed in the discharge space is discharged so that the image forming surface of the recording medium faces the lower surface.

Detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium in the discharge space; and displaying means for detecting the presence or absence of the recording medium by the detecting means when a jam occurs and displaying that the recording medium is to be removed when the recording medium is present. And should be provided.

It is preferable that an air duct is provided at a lower portion of the discharge space to prevent a temperature rise in the apparatus.

It is preferable that the photosensitive member and the image exposure section are integrally provided in the opening section.

It is preferable that a center of rotation of the image reading unit is provided on the rear side of the apparatus, and that the front side of the image reading unit is rotatable to an upper position about the center of rotation.

It is preferable that the opening portion is provided so as to be movable to the discharge space side in the apparatus housing in conjunction with the movement operation of the image reading portion.

[0025]

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) An image forming apparatus according to 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, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus main body (multifunctional digital copying machine) will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 1
, An image forming apparatus main body A has a scanner section B as an image reading section for reading an image, and an image forming section C for forming an image on a sheet as a recording medium, and an image is provided below the scanner section B. Forming section C is arranged, and has a paper discharge space M as a discharge section space for discharging a sheet on which image formation has been completed in the apparatus housing between scanner section B and image forming section C. Further, a sheet deck D is assembled below the image forming section C.

The scanner section B comprises a first mirror 201 comprising a scanning system light source 207 and a mirror, a platen glass 202, and an original pressure plate 20 which can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body A.
3, a second mirror 204, a lens 205, a light receiving element (photoelectric conversion element) 206, an image processing unit (not shown), and the like.

Then, a book document such as a book, thick paper, curled paper, or the like is placed on the platen glass 202 with the document surface facing down, and the back surface is pressed by the document pressure plate 203 and set in a stationary state. , Press the read start key,
First mirror 20 composed of scanning system light source 207 and mirror
1 scans a lower portion of the platen glass 202 to read image information on a document surface.

The image information of the document scanned by the first mirror 201 composed of the scanning system light source 207 and the mirror is the second image information.
The image information is read by being projected onto the light receiving element 206 by the mirror 204 and the lens 205, processed by the image processing unit, converted into an electric signal, and transmitted to the image exposure unit, for example, the laser scanner 111.

Here, the image forming apparatus main body A functions as a copying machine when the processing signal of the image processing unit is input to the laser scanner 111, and functions as a printer when the output signal of the personal computer is input.

Also, if a transmission signal from a facsimile machine of another machine is input or a processing signal of the image processing section is transmitted to a facsimile machine of another machine, the apparatus functions as a facsimile machine. On the other hand, a sheet cassette 1 is mounted below the image forming section C.

The sheet as a recording medium accommodated in the cassette 1 is fed out by a pickup roller 3, and
After being separated and fed one by one by the cooperative action with the separation pad 4, the sheet is conveyed by conveying rollers 104 and 105,
The sheet is guided to a registration roller 106 and fed to the image forming section C by the roller 106 in synchronization with the image forming operation.

The image forming section C includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member 112,
The image forming apparatus includes a developing device 114 and a transfer charger 115. In the present embodiment, the photoconductor has a drum shape, but is not particularly limited to a photoconductor drum, and may be, for example, a photoconductor belt.

The surface of the photoconductor 112 uniformly charged by the charger is exposed to the laser scanner 1 as an exposure unit.
A laser beam corresponding to the image information emitted from 11 is scanned to form a latent image, and a toner image is formed on the latent image by a developing device 114, and the registration roller 106 synchronizes with the rotation of the photoconductor 112. The toner image is transferred onto the first surface of the conveyed sheet S by the transfer charger 115.

In this embodiment, a transfer roller is used as the transfer charger, but the transfer roller is not particularly limited thereto.

Reference numeral 118 denotes a fixing device, and 119 denotes a discharge roller pair. The sheet S on which the toner image is formed is fixed to the fixing device 1
The toner image is fixed on the surface of the sheet S by being heated and pressed.

The sheet S that has been fixed is guided in the discharge direction by the conveyance path, is disposed inside the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 119, and is discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 300 in the discharge space M.

On the discharge tray 300, a sheet detecting means 301 as a recording medium detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet on the discharge tray is arranged. When there is a sheet, the sheet detecting means 301 moves by the weight of the sheet as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1 and detects the presence / absence of the sheet using an actuator and a sensor (not shown).

The sheet S on which the image formation has been completed is
The paper is discharged face-down onto the paper discharge tray 300 in the paper discharge space M such that the recording surface faces down.

Reference numeral 501 denotes a heat-generating unit such as a power supply unit.

Reference numeral 350 denotes an air duct, which is disposed between the heat generating unit 501 and the image forming section C. Due to the presence of the air duct 350, the number of means for cooling the image forming unit C is smaller than in the related art, and the space in the apparatus housing is increased, so that an easy maintenance operation can be performed.

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, and 51 denotes a display unit. In addition, a display control means (not shown) is also arranged in the machine.

By the image forming section C having the above structure, the sheet is conveyed upward from the sheet feeding section through the respective steps of the transfer section and the fixing section, and is discharged from the discharge tray 3 in the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 119.
At 00, the sheet material is discharged.

In the first embodiment, an opening F for opening the inside of the image forming section C is provided so as to be movable toward the discharge space M of the apparatus housing with respect to the sheet surface of the image forming section C. The scanner unit B is provided so as to be movable to a position above the apparatus housing.

This makes it possible to open the opening to the inside of the apparatus housing and open the image reading section to the upper part of the apparatus, so that the opening and the image reading section can be moved forward, backward, left and right from the image forming apparatus main body. Maintenance work can be performed in a space-saving manner without being moved to the side where it protrudes at all.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view when the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment is opened, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment showing a moving mechanism of the scanner unit. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the image forming apparatus.

More specifically, FIG. 9 shows a state in which the scanner unit B moves upward and a part of the image forming unit C is opened for maintenance operations such as jam clearance, cleaning of the inside of the main body, and replacement of consumables. I have.

In the image forming section C, the sheet is conveyed substantially vertically downward from above, and an opening F for opening the inside of the image forming section C is provided in a paper discharge space M in the apparatus housing.
It can be moved substantially horizontally to the side. As a result, the travel distance from paper feeding to paper discharging is shortened, so-called FCOT
Is shortened.

The open portion F includes the photosensitive member 112, the developing device 11
4. A configuration having a laser scanner 111 is provided. By forming an integral unit in the opening F, the relative positional relationship between the photoconductor 112 and the laser scanner 111 serving as an image exposure unit can be maintained with high accuracy.

As a result, space-saving and easy maintenance work can be performed while preventing image deterioration due to the opening mechanism.

In FIG. 1, the image reading section B moves upward in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3B. In FIG. 1, the opening F moves in the direction of the arrow to open the inside of the image forming unit as shown in FIG.

The opening portion F side is the recording surface side of the sheet as the recording medium and includes the photosensitive member 112, so that the recording means side for recording on the recording medium in the image forming section is opened, and the recording means side is maintained. Since it can sometimes be separated from the work position, it is possible to easily perform maintenance work while maintaining space saving.

When the image reading section B and the opening section F having this configuration are opened, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, maintenance work such as jam processing, cleaning of the inside of the main body, and replacement of consumables are performed. Spaces E and EE are created.

For this reason, in the present embodiment, all operations such as key operation, recording paper removal operation, paper supply operation, etc., and maintenance operations such as jam clearance and replacement of consumables are performed in front of the apparatus (the apparatus). Only the operation unit side) can be used.

Next, the moving mechanism of the scanner section B is shown in FIG.
This will be described below.

That is, the rotation center axis 70 of the scanner section B
Reference numeral 1 is provided on the rear side of the apparatus, and the front side of the scanner unit B can be rotated to an upper position about the rotation center axis 701. A damper member 702 prevents the scanner unit B from rotating and dropping under its own weight when the scanner unit B is rotated. Rotating shaft 7 moves the scanner unit upward.
Since the rotary movement is performed using 01, it can be configured only with the shaft and the damper. Thereby, the moving mechanism of the scanner unit is simplified, and the scanner unit can be configured at low cost.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing an opening mechanism of the opening portion F in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 302 denotes an open rail attached to the open portion F, 303 denotes a moving roller, 304 denotes a main body rail fixed to the main body side, and 305 denotes a release that is released from the open portion F and is released from being fixed when opened. Reference numeral 306 denotes a main body hook fixed to the main body.

At the time of maintenance work, the scanner unit B in FIG. 2 is rotated forward as shown by a two-dot chain line and opened, and then released as shown in FIG. , The hook 305 is released from the main body hook 306, and the opening F can be opened in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 5 shows an open state (broken line in FIG. 2).

When the moving roller 303 rolls between the open rail 302 and the main body rail 304, the open portion F can be moved.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which an opening portion is opened in the direction of the arrow when sheets remain on the discharge tray 300 during maintenance work in the image forming apparatus. The top paper may be crumpled and deformed. To prevent this,
The control is performed using the sheet detection means 301, the display unit 51, and the display control unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the jam processing of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

When a jam occurs, a sheet (recording medium)
Is detected, and if there is paper, it is displayed on the display unit to take out the paper (S1). Until the paper is removed, a message is displayed on the display unit to remove the paper (S2). When the paper is removed (S3), the jam processing procedure is displayed for the first time (S4, S4).
5). Thus, it is possible to display a procedure for performing the jam processing after the sheet is taken, and it is possible to prevent the sheet from being crumpled and deformed.

In this way, by displaying to the user that the recording medium is present in the paper discharge section so that the recording medium is removed, the maintenance work can be easily performed without erroneously damaging the sheet due to jam processing or the like.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 8 and 9 show an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. Components not particularly described in the drawing are the same as those in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a main sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. A first sheet feeding unit D as first sheet feeding means for feeding sheets in the cassette 1
1 and a second paper feeding unit D2 as a second paper feeding unit.
Having. In this case, the second paper supply unit D2 is disposed on the paper discharge space M side.

The second sheet feeding section D2 is provided with a sheet feeding means for separating and conveying the sheet material by a friction separation method. Here, the friction separating sheet feeding unit refers to a sheet feeding unit including a sheet feeding roller 400 and a separation pad 401 as a separating friction member pressed against the sheet feeding roller 400. The paper feed roller 400 of the frictional separation paper feed means is provided on the side of the opening F that holds the photoconductor 112.

As a result, it is possible to dispose the second sheet feeding means in the apparatus housing, and it is possible to achieve space saving during maintenance work.

Further, a sheet tray 402 for the friction separation sheet feeding means is provided below the discharge space 300 of the opening F. The middle plate 403 is a pickup guide configured to be swingable with respect to the sheet feeding roller 400, and is urged by the sheet feeding roller 400 by a middle plate pressing spring (not shown).
By this operation, the uppermost sheet of the sheet material is picked up by the paper feed roller 400. The sheet is set on the sheet tray 402 on the front side, and the sheet MS can be set from the front side as shown in FIG.

A double-sided conveying path 601 is provided. The operation on both sides is as follows. Discharge roller pair 1
After the sheet conveyed at 19 passes through the conveyance path switching means 132 at the rear end of the sheet, the discharge roller pair 119 is reversed and the sheet is guided to the two-sided conveyance path 601 by the conveyance path switching means 132. The double-sided conveyance path 601 conveys the sheet to the image forming section C again, and performs recording of the second side. Thereby, double-sided recording is also possible.

Although not shown, the scanner section B shown in FIG.
In conjunction with the opening / closing (two-dot chain line), the release 305 is rotated, and the hook F of the release 305 is released from the main body hook 306 to release the opening F.
The opening section can be opened only by the opening and closing operation of the scanner section B.

As a result, the number of processing operations can be reduced, and an easy maintenance operation can be performed.

FIG. 10 shows the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment in which a part of the image forming section is opened for maintenance work such as jam clearance, cleaning of the main body, and replacement of consumables. FIG.

The photoconductor 112 is included in the open portion F side.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the jam processing of the double-sided conveyance path 601 can also be performed.

With the above configuration, the second paper feeding means can be configured without increasing the occupied area. In addition, jam processing can be performed on both sides without increasing the actual occupied area, and maintenance work can be performed in a small space.

In each of the above embodiments, the description has been made of the electrophotographic process system. However, the present invention is not limited to a recording system, and may be implemented by an ink jet system or a thermal head system.

[0080]

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can easily perform maintenance work in the case of jam clearance and cleaning of the main body, or can save space during the maintenance work. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment when it is opened, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, showing a moving mechanism of a scanner unit; It is a left side view.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an opening mechanism (at a normal time) of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an opening mechanism (during processing) of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an opening portion is opened when sheets remain on a sheet discharge tray during maintenance work in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment during jam processing.

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

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

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment when the image forming apparatus is opened.

11A is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a conventional example, and FIG. 11B is a perspective view.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A image forming apparatus main body B image reading section (scanner section) C image forming section D first sheet feeding means F opening section M sheet discharge space (discharge section space) S sheet 51 display section 111 laser scanner 112 photosensitive member (recording means) 114 developing device 115 transfer charger 118 fixing device 300 sheet discharge tray 301 sheet detecting means (recording medium detecting means) 350 air duct 400 paper feeding roller (second paper feeding means) 401 separation pad (second paper feeding means) ) 402 Sheet tray (second paper feeding means) 403 Middle plate (second paper feeding means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/00 G03G 21/00 534 F term (Reference) 2H027 DC14 GA30 GB09 JA11 JB14 ZA07 2H071 BA14 DA02 DA15 DA22 DA24 EA04 3F048 AA03 AA04 AA05 AB01 BB05 BC03 BD07 CB03 DA09 DC00 3F101 FE08 LA03 LA05 LA07 LB03 5C062 AA05 AB17 AB22 AB35 AD01 AD02 AD06 BA00

Claims (11)

[Claims] An image reading unit that reads an image; an image forming unit that is disposed below the image reading unit and forms an image on a recording medium; and a device housing between the image reading unit and the image forming unit. Inside the body,
A discharge unit space from which a recording medium on which image formation has been completed is discharged, wherein an opening for opening the inside of the image forming unit is provided in a device housing with respect to a recording medium surface in the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image reading unit is movably provided on the side of the discharge unit space in the body, and the image reading unit is movably provided at a position above an apparatus housing. 2. An image forming section, wherein a recording medium is conveyed upward from a substantially vertical direction, and an opening for opening the inside of the image forming section is provided in the image forming section. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction on an outer space side. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the image forming section, a recording surface of a recording medium is on the opening side. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system of the image forming unit is an electrophotographic process system, and the opening includes a photosensitive member. apparatus. 5. A first sheet stacking section having first and second sheet feeding means, wherein a first sheet stacking section for stacking sheets supplied to the first sheet feeding means is located below the image forming section. A second sheet stacking unit for stacking sheets to be supplied to the second sheet feeding unit is disposed above the first sheet stacking unit on the discharge unit space side with respect to a recording medium surface in the image forming unit; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The image according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium on which the image has been formed is discharged to the discharge unit space such that the image forming surface of the recording medium faces the lower surface. Forming equipment. 7. A detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium in the discharge space, and detecting the presence or absence of the recording medium by the detecting means when a jam occurs, and displaying when the recording medium is present so as to remove the recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit. 8. An air duct for reducing internal temperature rise is provided below the discharge space.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a photoreceptor and an image exposing unit are integrally provided in the opening. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a center of rotation of said image reading section is provided at a rear side of the apparatus, and a front side of said image reading section is rotatable to an upper position around said center of rotation. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said opening portion is provided so as to be movable toward said discharge unit space side in an apparatus casing in conjunction with a movement operation of said image reading unit.
Item 10. The image forming apparatus according to item 1.