JP2003122080A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an image reading device fixable at an open position by using a cover arranged on the top surface of a device main body, as for a device wherein the image reading device is arranged on the image recording device main body so that it can be opened/closed through a single-sided hinge. SOLUTION: As for the image forming device 1, the image reading device 2 is arranged on the device main body 10 so that it can be opened/closed and the maintenance work, such as the maintenance of the constitutional parts of an image forming member arranged on the device main body and the replenishment of toner, etc., can be performed while keeping the image reading device 2 open. An opening/closing cover member 12 is arranged on the upper part of the device main body 10, and by opening the cover member 12 after opening the image reading device 2, and then, by locking the leading end part of the cover member 12 by the locking member 7, the image reading device 2 is fixed and held while keeping the device 2 open.

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 an upper body including a reading unit is provided on a main body of an apparatus including an image forming unit so as to be openable and closable via a hinge on one side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions combined, an apparatus body provided with a function of printing on a recording paper,
The image reading devices are arranged in combination to form one unit. The image reading device is configured as an upper unit by combining an FBS (flatbed scanner) function and an ADF function as needed, and the upper part is centered around a hinge part provided at one end of the upper part of the main body of the device. The unit is swingable. Then, when the upper unit is opened, the upper surface of the apparatus main body can be largely opened, and when performing maintenance on each constituent member or part of the image forming unit disposed on the upper side of the apparatus main body, the developing mechanism. It is possible to easily perform the work such as the replacement of the component parts and the removal of jammed paper in the paper transport path.

When the upper unit is opened and maintenance or the like for the upper structure of the apparatus main body is performed, a stopper, a damper, or the like is provided to fix and hold the upper unit in the opened position. As the stopper, a rod-shaped member or the like that can be fixed between the upper portion of the apparatus main body and the lower portion of the upper unit with the upper unit open is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body so as to be laid down via a hinge. Also,
A damper that combines a spring and pressure adjusting means is placed between the upper and lower members, as in the opening and closing parts of the upper unit of a conventional copying machine, etc., and the upper unit is fixed at an arbitrary angle in the open position. It can be held and the closing operation can be easily performed by applying a light force.

[0004]

In the image forming apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, a stopper member is provided for fixing and holding the upper unit in an open state, and an opening / closing lid is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body. Because 2
It is necessary to separately arrange the two rocking members. However,
With the upper unit open, open the lid on the top of the main body of the device, and after performing maintenance and other work, when returning the device to the operating state, close the lid and then tilt the stopper to the specified position. After that, it is necessary to perform a two-step operation of closing the upper unit. If the opening / closing lid of the apparatus main body is forgotten to be closed when the upper unit is closed, problems such as damage to the opening / closing lid due to the pressing force tend to occur when the opening / closing lid is left open.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which an upper unit such as an image reading apparatus is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, and the cover member provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body is used as an upper body. It is intended to provide a device used as a stopper when opened.

[0006]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and the invention of claim 1 includes an apparatus main body provided with an image forming section, and an upper body openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body.
An openable and closable cover member for holding the upper body in an open state is provided between the apparatus body and the upper body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a locking member for locking the free side end of the cover member is provided on the lower surface of the upper body.

As described above, by using the cover member as the fixing means at the open position of the upper body (image reading device), it is not necessary to separately provide a stopper or the like for fixing and holding the image reading device. The number of components of the device can be reduced. Then, by opening the image reading device and then opening the cover member provided on the upper part of the image forming unit, it is possible to easily perform the action of fixing and holding the image reading device as the upper body in the open position. The opening and closing operation of can be easily performed.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The configuration of the apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. The example shown in FIG. 1 shows an example of an image forming apparatus in which a facsimile apparatus and a copying machine are combined, and an image forming section 11 and a sheet feeding section 30 are combined in the apparatus body 10 of the image forming apparatus 1. The image reading device 2 as an upper body is arranged above the device body 10. A plurality of paper feed trays are attached to the paper feed unit 30 of the apparatus main body 10, and papers of different sizes are accommodated in the respective paper feed trays. It is configured similarly to the case of the conventionally known image forming apparatus so that the sheet can be selectively supplied from any sheet feeding tray.

The upper body (image reading device) 2 arranged above the image forming unit 11 via the hinge portion 8 is a combination of an FBS (flat bed scanner) and an ADF (automatic document feeder). The image reading apparatus has the same configuration as that of a conventionally known image reading apparatus. When the FBS function is used in the image reading apparatus 2, the platen cover 3 is opened and a sheet or book document is set on the platen so that the document can be read. Further, when reading a sheet-like original, the original set on the original tray 6 is
Reading is sequentially performed using the DF, and the read original is discharged to the discharge tray provided on the platen cover 3.

The image reading device 2 is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the device body 10 around a hinge portion 8 provided at one end of the device body 10.
Is configured so that it can be opened as shown by the phantom line in the figure. Also, with the image reading device 2 open,
The cover member 12 that is openably and closably provided on the upper portion of the apparatus body 10 is opened so that the mechanism and the like arranged on the upper portion of the apparatus body 10 can be maintained. In addition,
The cover member 12 is provided so as to cover a predetermined portion of the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and is provided corresponding to the image forming member 20 and the developing device 15 as shown in FIG. Then, when performing maintenance of the image forming member 20, the developing device 15, etc., in order to perform operations such as replenishment of toner in the toner box 16 and replacement of the toner box, or to perform jam processing in the paper transport path 37. When you do
It is opened as shown in FIG. In addition, the cover member 12
Is provided with an optical writing means 25, and is fixed to a position where an image is written on the photosensitive drum 21 with the cover member 12 closed.

A locking member 7 is provided at a predetermined position below the image reading device 2, and when the cover member 12 is opened after the image reading device 2 is opened, the front end portion of the cover member 12 becomes an image. It is configured so that it can be engaged with the locking member 7 of the reading device 2. And the cover member 1
2 allows the image reading device 2 to be held in the open position, and maintenance such as maintenance of members disposed above the image forming unit 11 of the device main body 10 and paper jam processing can be performed. That is, the cover member 12 shown in this embodiment is configured to have both the function of the stopper in the conventional image forming apparatus and the function of the opening / closing lid member for maintenance of the image forming unit 11. It is a thing.

An image forming section 11 having an image forming member 20 having the structure shown in FIG.
The paper feeding unit 30 can be provided. The image forming unit 11
In the paper feeding unit 30 that feeds the paper toward the sheet, the corners of the paper feeding side tip of the paper P supported and accommodated on the bottom plate 32 of the paper feeding tray 31 are engaged by the separating claw 33. In this state, the feed roller 35 is rotated, and the sheets are taken out one by one while being separated.
Paper is fed toward 7. Conveying roller devices 36 and 38 are arranged in the sheet conveying path 37 at a predetermined interval, and the sheet is fed toward the image forming unit 11. The sensor S1 arranged at a predetermined position of the paper transport path 37 is provided to detect the leading edge of the paper and obtain a signal for controlling the toner image forming and transfer operations of the image forming member 20. .

In the image forming section 11, the image forming member 20 in which a mechanism for charging the photosensitive drum 21 to form a toner image and transferring the toner image to the sheet is arranged, and the photosensitive drum 21. A developing device 15 for supplying toner is provided. In the developing device 15, the toner is supplied from the toner box 16 containing the toner toward the supply roller 18 by the stirring means 17. Then, when the toner is supplied from the supply roller 18 to the developing roller 19, the two rollers 18 and 19 are rotated in the same direction (the arrow X direction) as shown in the drawing so as to rub the toner. It is applied and charged, and is exposed as a thin layer having a predetermined thickness by the layer thickness regulating member 18a in the developing section, and toner is supplied to the photosensitive drum.

In the image forming member 20 provided in the image forming unit 11, after a potential of a predetermined value is supplied from a charging brush 22 as a charging member, the photosensitive drum 21 is uniformly charged. For example, light is emitted from an optical writing unit 25 such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or a laser scanner to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21. And
The toner accommodated in the developing device 15 is supplied from the developing roller 19 toward the electrostatic latent image to form a visible toner image, and then contacts the back surface of the sheet conveyed in contact with the photosensitive drum 21. A potential of a predetermined value is applied to the transfer roller 24 to transfer the toner image onto the sheet. Further, after the toner image is transferred onto the paper, the residual toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 21 is disturbed by the brush member 23 to reduce the adhesive force so that it does not interfere with the charging by the charging brush 22. And then subjected to the next charging action.

As described above, the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred from the photosensitive drum is fixed by applying heat and pressure through the fixing device 26, and is discharged by the discharging roller device 27 to the discharging tray 28 (shown in FIG. 1). Is discharged toward.
In this embodiment, in the image forming member 20, after the toner image is transferred to the sheet without collecting the residual toner by the cleaning device, the residual toner is agitated by the brush member 23 and the adhesive force is applied. To weaken the toner and disperse the toner on the surface of the photoconductor. Then, the charging brush 22
An example of a so-called cleanerless device in which unnecessary toner is collected in a developing device and can be reused after the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is charged to a predetermined potential by means of

In the image forming section 11 in which the image forming member 20 and the developing device 15 are arranged on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 10, a cover member 12 is provided on the upper portion so as to be rotatable (openable / closable) around a hinge portion 13. . The cover member 12 is the image forming member 20.
When performing maintenance of the developing device 15 and the developing device 15, operations such as supplying toner to the toner box 16 and exchanging the toner box, or performing jam processing on the paper transport path 37 are shown in FIG. To be opened.
Further, the cover member 12 is provided with an optical writing means 25, and is fixed to a position for writing an image on the photosensitive drum 21 in a state where the cover member 12 is closed. By closing the cover member, the image forming member 20 and the developing device 15 can be pressed to the operating position and fixed.

A cover member 12 on the upper part of the apparatus main body 10
When performing work such as maintenance by opening the, the image reading device 2 is first opened in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 with the hinge portion 8 as the center, and then the cover member 12 on the upper portion of the device body 10 is opened. The front end of the cover member 12 is locked and fixed to the locking member 7. That is, the fixing operation by the cover member 12 is performed in the same manner as the fixing operation by the stopper in the conventional apparatus. In the present embodiment,
The operation of opening the upper surface of the apparatus body 10 and the image reading apparatus 2
Can be fixed in one operation. Then, after performing maintenance on the components and the like on the upper part of the apparatus main body 10, the cover member 12 is closed to release the fixing to the image reading apparatus 2, so that the image reading apparatus 2
Can be returned to a usable state.

In the conventional device, the cover member 12 is
The cover member is provided as a thin and low-strength cover member that can simply serve to cover the upper portion of the apparatus body 10. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the role of the stopper is borne, it is necessary to bear the weight of the image reading device 2 and to have the strength that can be fixedly held in the open position. Is.
Therefore, as shown in the figure, the cover member 12 can be configured to have a large thickness and to internally include a reinforcing member that increases the strength in the length direction in which the cover member 12 is opened and closed. Further, the material forming the cover member 12 may be made of FRP or hard engineering plastic in place of the conventional thin plastic member. In addition, reinforcing means such as ribs may be provided in the direction in which the force is applied. It can be configured by combining arbitrary means such as additional provision.

In a device provided with a cover member on the upper part of the main body of the device to fix and hold the image reading device in an open state, maintenance of the image forming member and the like is performed on the upper part of the image forming part of the main body of the device. It is possible to apply to any image forming apparatus as long as it is an apparatus capable of performing an arbitrary work by arranging a member requiring the above and opening a lid or the like at the top of the apparatus. Further, the image reading device may be a device equipped only with an FBS, and the opening / closing direction of the image reading device for fixing and holding it by the cover member and the structure of the hinge portion are not particularly limited. Further, with respect to the structure for reinforcing the cover member and the member provided additionally, it is possible to equip the components necessary for the image forming member other than those shown in the drawings. Further, as the structure of the locked member for fixing the image reading device to the open position, the mechanism of the tip end portion of the cover member, and the like, any conventionally known locking means may be used.

[0021]

The device of the present invention is configured as described above, and includes a cover member provided on the upper part of the device main body.
By using the fixing means at the open position of the image reading device, it is not necessary to separately provide a stopper or the like for fixing and holding the image reading device, and the number of constituent members of the device can be reduced. Then, by opening the image reading device and then opening the cover member provided on the upper part of the image forming unit, it is possible to easily perform the action of fixing and holding the image reading device in the open position. The operation can be easily performed. Therefore, the operation of opening the upper surface of the apparatus main body and the fixing of the image reading apparatus can be performed in one operation,
Since the fixing to the image reading device is released by closing the cover member after performing the maintenance on the constituent members and the like on the upper part of the device body, the image reading device can be immediately returned to the usable state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of an image forming unit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the image reading device is fixed at an open position.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image forming apparatus, 2 image reading apparatus, 3
Platen cover, 5 ADF, 7 locking member,
8 hinge part, 10 device body, 11 image forming part, 12 cover member, 13 hinge part, 15
Developing device, 19 developing roller, 20 image forming member, 21 photosensitive drum, 22 charging brush,
23 brush member, 24 transfer roller, 25
Writing device, 26 fixing device, 27 discharge roller device, 30 paper feeding unit, 31 paper feeding cassette, 3
5 paper feed roller, 36/38 transport roller device.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus main body provided with an image forming unit, an upper body that is openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body, and an opening / closing unit that holds the upper body in an open state between the apparatus main body and the upper body. An image forming apparatus comprising a cover member that can be used. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a locking member for locking the free side end of the cover member is provided on the lower surface of the upper body.