JP2003182881A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that it can be difficult to open a jam access cover of a facsimile device and a copying machine since they are often installed at a corner or beside a wall of a room and can not have sufficient space around installation, and a working space for an operator to work should be secured for jam processing. <P>SOLUTION: In this image forming device in which an image forming part 2 is arranged above a paper feeding part 4, a conveyance path is provided at a paper-feeding cassette 12 or an intermediate conveying device 24 which can be freely drawn in the paper feeding part 4 so that a recording paper can be grasped and drawn by a recording-paper grasping means provided in the conveyance path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

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 for supplying a set recording sheet from a sheet feeding apparatus to an image forming unit in a copying / facsimile multifunction machine, a copying machine or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine, a copying machine, a printer, and a multifunction machine having at least one of these functions, a reading section and a recording section are arranged one above the other and the upper surface of the recording section. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an image forming apparatus of a so-called in-body sheet discharge type, which discharges a recording sheet on which printing has been completed to a sheet discharge tray formed in the above. In order to record on various sizes of recording paper, the paper feed unit located below the recording unit accommodates multiple paper feed cassettes that can be pulled out freely. The formed recording paper is sent to the recording unit through the recording unit through the conveyance path formed on the side surface or the back surface of the apparatus, and the recording unit prints on the recording paper. However, a paper jam may occur on the recording paper while being fed from the lower paper feeding cassette to the upper paper feeding cassette or during being fed from the paper feeding cassette to the recording unit. In such a case, a jam access cover is provided so that the jammed paper can be removed by opening the side or the back side of the device in which the transport path is formed.

[0003]

However, since a facsimile machine or a copying machine is often installed in a corner or a wall of a room, it may not be possible to secure sufficient space around the installed area. It may be difficult to open the access cover, and it is necessary to secure a working space for an operator to work on the jam. Therefore, in the conventional in-body sheet discharge type image forming apparatus, although the installation space is reduced, there is a problem that a working space for jam processing is required as before. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that is excellent in maintainability and that can reduce jamming space and working space and can reliably perform jam processing.

[0004]

The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above, and the means for solving this problem will be described below.

First, in the image forming apparatus in which the image forming section is arranged above the sheet feeding device as described in claim 1,
The paper feeding device is provided with a draw-out transport path, and the recording paper gripping means provided in the transport path is configured to grip and pull out the recording paper. As a result, when a paper jam occurs while the recording paper is straddled between the transport paths of a plurality of freely drawable devices such as a paper feeding cassette that constitutes the paper feeding device, one of the devices is pulled forward. Then, the recording paper is gripped by the recording paper gripping means provided in the transport path of the device that has been pulled out, and is pulled out from the transport path of the device that is not pulled out, thus improving maintainability. Therefore, the recording paper can be easily pulled out by the recording paper gripping means when processing a paper jam that occurs while straddling the respective devices. Further, since the maintenance work can be performed on the front surface of the image forming apparatus, the installation space and the working space can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, guide means for guiding the recording paper is provided on the conveying path provided on the upstream side or the downstream side of the pulling-out conveying path in the sheet conveying direction. As a result, when a paper jam occurs in a state where the recording paper is straddled between the conveyance paths of a plurality of freely drawable devices such as a paper feeding cassette that constitutes the paper feeding device, one of the recording paper grips of the above device is grasped. When the device is pulled out, the jammed paper held by the means is pulled out while being bent at the downstream end or the upstream end of the conveyance path provided in the device on the non-pulled-out side. At this time, the recording paper is pulled out while being bent at the downstream end or the upstream end of the conveyance path provided in the device on the non-pulled-out side, but the guide means provided in the vicinity of the bent portion It contacts the jammed paper and guides the pulling direction, and at the same time, it rotates at the same time as the pulling out to reduce the resistance applied to the jammed paper. Therefore, it is possible to reliably and smoothly pull out the jammed recording paper from the conveyance path without inducing a new paper jam by breaking the jammed recording paper and improving the maintainability.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having an intermediate conveying device for feeding the recording paper sent from the paper feeding device to the image forming section, the intermediate conveying path is used when the intermediate conveying device is pulled out. Guide means is provided for guiding the recording paper that is gripped and pulled out by the gripping means that grips the recording paper inside. With this configuration, when a paper jam occurs in a state where a recording sheet extends over the conveyance path on the side of the intermediate conveyance device and the conveyance path on the side of the paper feed unit, the jammed paper grasped by the recording paper grasping means of the intermediate conveyance device. At the same time when the intermediate transport device is pulled out, it is pulled out while being bent at an angle close to vertical at the end portion of the transport path on the paper feed section side, but the auxiliary roller abuts on the position of the intermediate transport device side at the end portion. Then, it reliably abuts in the vicinity of the inside of the bent portion of the sheet to guide the pulling-out direction, and rotates at the same time as the pulling-out to lower the resistance. Therefore,
It is possible to reliably and smoothly pull out the jammed recording paper from the conveyance path on the side of the paper feed section without squeezing and breaking the recording paper to newly generate a paper jam, thus improving maintainability.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described. 1 is a perspective view of a facsimile apparatus to which the paper feeding device of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a left side sectional view of the intermediate feeding device and the paper feeding device, and FIG. 3 is an intermediate feeding conveyance showing a state in which a feeding path is opened. FIG. 4 is a left side sectional view of the apparatus, FIG. 5 is a left side sectional view of the rear portion of the sheet feeding apparatus, and FIG. 6 is an intermediate conveyance showing a state where the recording sheet is pulled out together with the intermediate conveying apparatus. 7 is a left side sectional view of the apparatus, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the recording paper gripping means, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the recording paper gripping means in a state in which the transport path is open, and FIG. 9 is a state in which the intermediate transport device is pulled out in the facsimile machine. FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a procedure for further pulling out the intermediate conveyance device to remove the jammed paper inside, FIG. 11 is a plan sectional view of the paper feeding unit showing a storage state of the paper feeding cassette, and FIG. Second cassette drawer FIG. 13 is a plan sectional view of the sheet feeding unit showing a drawing state of the first and second cassettes, and FIG. 14 is a state showing a gripping release state by the recording sheet gripping means of another embodiment. 16 is a plan sectional view of the rear portion of the paper cassette, FIG. 15 is a plan sectional view of the rear portion of the paper feeding cassette showing a gripping state by the recording paper gripping means of another embodiment, FIG.
Is a left side sectional view of the rear portion of the paper feed cassette showing the grip release state by the recording paper gripping means of another embodiment, and FIG. 17 is a left side sectional view of the rear portion of the paper feed cassette showing the gripping state by the recording paper gripping means of another embodiment. FIG. 18 is a left side sectional view of the rear portion of the paper feed cassette showing the nip release state by the recording paper gripping means of another embodiment.

First, a schematic structure of a facsimile machine to which the intermediate conveying device is applied will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the device to which the intermediate conveying device is provided may be any image forming device that includes a sheet feeding device such as an image forming portion and a sheet feeding cassette, and is not limited to a facsimile device. In the following description, the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the front (front side) of the facsimile device 1 for convenience.

The facsimile apparatus 1 has an image reading unit 3 above the image forming unit 2 and a paper feeding unit 4 below. Further, an intermediate conveyance unit 5 is provided between the image forming unit 2 and the paper feed unit 4, and the intermediate conveyance device 24 in the intermediate conveyance unit 5 relays the recording paper from the paper feed unit 4. And sends it to the image forming unit 2. By the paper feeding unit 4 and the intermediate conveying device 24, the paper feeding device 60 of the present invention.
Is configured. However, in the present embodiment, the sheet feeding device includes the intermediate conveying device, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and is applied to a general sheet feeding device that does not include the intermediate conveying device. It is also possible to do so. In the image forming unit 2, an image is recorded on the recording paper sent from the intermediate conveyance unit 5, and then the recording paper is discharged onto the recording paper discharge tray 6.

In the document reading unit 3, the document reading unit 3
The upper surface of the casing of the
An image reading device including a scanning body or the like provided with a mirror is housed, and the original placed on the original placement surface is scanned by the scanning body to perform reading. Further, above the document reading unit 3, there is arranged a document pressing cover 7 configured to be openable and closable around its one side, and the document pressing cover 7 allows the document placed on the document mounting surface to move upward. It is supposed to be pressed from.

An automatic document feeder (ADF device) 8 for automatically feeding a document is attached to one end of the document pressing cover 7. Further, the automatic paper feeder 8 includes a document supply tray 9
And a document discharge tray 10 is formed on the upper surface of the document pressing cover 7. Then, the originals placed on the original supply tray 9 are picked up one by one by the automatic paper feeding device 8 and conveyed, and the contents of the conveyed originals are read by the scanning member (in this case, the original reading unit 3 stops still). The document is read by the above (1), and then the document is discharged to the document discharge tray 10.

That is, the document reading section 3 is used as a flatbed type scanner which scans a scanning body to read a stationary document, and a sheet feed type scanner which fixes the position of the scanning body and reads the document while conveying the document. It is configured so that it can be used as.

The paper feed section 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5. The paper feed unit 4 includes two paper feed units 20.2.
It is configured by arranging 0s vertically. Each paper feeding unit 20 includes a paper feeding cassette case 11 and a paper feeding cassette 1.
2, the paper feeding cassette 12 is inserted into the paper feeding cassette case 11 so that the paper feeding cassette 12 can be pulled out in the front direction of the apparatus (direction of arrow A).

The paper feed cassette 12 has a shape in which the upper surface is completely opened, and a flapper 13 is provided inside the paper feed cassette 12.
Is rotatably supported. Also, the paper cassette 12
A transport path 16 (transport path on the side of the sheet feeding unit) is formed by the frames 14 and 15 at the rear part. The start end of the transport path 16 is opened on the lower surface of the paper feed cassette 12, and the end thereof is opened on the upper surface. At the upper rear position of the flapper 13, the pickup roller 17 is attached to the paper feed cassette case 11
The recording sheet placed on the flapper 13 is fed one by one by the pickup roller 17 and is fed to the transport path 16.

A carrying roller 18 is disposed above the frame body 15, and the carrying roller 1 is brought into contact with the carrying roller 18.
9 are arranged on the frame body 14. By these carrying rollers 18 and 19, the recording paper fed by the pickup roller 17 is carried along the carrying path 16 toward the opening 16a formed on the upper surface of each paper feeding cassette case 11. There is.

An opening is also formed on the lower surface of the rear portion of each paper feed cassette case 11 so as to be aligned with the opening 16a on the upper surface, and the opening 16a on the upper and lower surfaces of each paper feed cassette case 11 is formed in the paper feed cassette. The twelve frame bodies 14 and 15 communicate with each other via a transport path. Then, when the sheet feeding units 20 are arranged side by side vertically, the opening 16a on the upper rear surface of the sheet feeding cassette case 11 is arranged.
The position of is aligned with the position of the opening on the rear upper surface of the paper feed cassette case 11 located immediately above.

With this configuration, when recording paper is fed from the lower paper feeding unit 20, the recording paper is conveyed upward through the path between the frames 14 and 15 of the upper paper feeding unit 20. And finally, the uppermost sheet feeding unit 20
Is sent out toward an opening 16a (corresponding to the end of the conveying path 16 on the side of the sheet feeding unit) 16a on the upper side of the sheet.

As described above, the direction in which the recording paper is conveyed (vertical direction) and the direction in which the paper feed cassette 12 is pulled out (horizontal front direction) are within the same plane (in the side surface in this embodiment). Thus, the paper feeding unit 4 is configured.

The intermediate transfer section 5 is shown in FIGS.
Will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the intermediate transfer unit 5 includes an intermediate transfer device case 23 and an intermediate transfer device 24. The intermediate transfer device 24 is inserted into the intermediate transfer device case 23, and the intermediate transfer device 24 is inserted. 24 is the device case 2
It is designed so that it can be pulled out from 3. Further, most of the upper surface of the intermediate transfer device 24 is formed to be open, and the intermediate transfer device 24 has a rear part as a recording paper transfer part 21 and a front part as a storage part 22.

At the front part of the intermediate transfer device 24, a box body having a fully opened upper surface is housed, and the box body constitutes a housing part 22. The storage section 22 has a volume sufficient to store an instruction manual of the facsimile apparatus 1, spare recording / recording paper, and the like.

A frame 25.2 is provided in the rear portion of the intermediate transfer device 24.
6 is provided, the frame 25 is fixed to the intermediate transfer device 24, and the frame 26 is rotatably supported with respect to the intermediate transfer device 24. A transport path (transport path on the side of the intermediate transport device 24) 27 is formed between the frames 25 and 26, and the start end of the transport route 27 is the lower surface of the intermediate transport device 24 (specifically, the intermediate transport device case 23). The opening is provided on the lower surface).
This opening is connected to the opening 16a (the end of the conveying path on the side of the sheet feeding unit 4) on the upper surface of the sheet feeding cassette case 11 of the sheet feeding unit 20 at the uppermost position. As described above, the recording paper transport unit 21 is configured at the rear of the intermediate transport device 24.

A plurality of conveying rollers 28, 29, 30 are arranged side by side along the conveying path 27 in the frame 25, and the conveying rollers 31, 29, 30 are arranged so as to come into contact with the conveying rollers 28, 29, 30, respectively. 32 and 33 are provided on the frame 26. Then, the recording paper can be conveyed along the conveying path 27 by the conveying rollers 28, 29, 30 and the conveying rollers 31, 32, 33.

As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate transfer device 2
4 a rotation fulcrum shaft 34 is provided at a rear end portion of the frame 2
6 is rotatably provided with respect to the rotation fulcrum shaft 34. Therefore, the conveyance path 2 is rotated by the rearward rotation of the frame 26.
7 is openable.

On the upper side of the frame 26, a guide portion 26a is formed in a protruding shape. Then, when the intermediate transfer device 24 is pushed into the intermediate transfer device case 23, the upper edge of the guide portion 26a is pressed by the roller 46 provided on the ceiling surface side of the intermediate transfer device case 23, and the frame body 26 is moved downward. The rollers (28, 31, 29 ...
32) An appropriate pressure contact force is generated. Therefore, when the intermediate transfer device 24 is housed in the intermediate transfer device case 23, the frame 26 is in the closed state as shown in FIG. 4, and the rollers 28, 29 ... It becomes possible to carry by.

Next, the recording paper gripping means provided in the paper feeding device 60 of the present invention will be described. The recording paper gripping means is a device provided with a transport path that can be pulled out in the paper feeding device 60, that is, the paper feeding units 20 and 20 that configure the paper feeding unit 4, and the intermediate transport device that configures the intermediate transport unit 5. 24 and 24 respectively.

First, the recording paper gripping means provided in the intermediate conveying device 24 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8,
In the intermediate conveying device 24, recording paper gripping means is provided behind the conveying roller 31. The recording paper gripping means is
The main body of the sheet feeding device 60, more specifically, a swingable arm 42 provided on a bracket erected on the frame 26, pressing means for pressing the arm 42 in the direction of closing the transport path, and swinging of the arm. The pressing means is a spring member 41, and the restricting means is a rotating roller 40 provided on the inner upper surface of the intermediate conveying device case 23. The rotation roller 40 is provided on the upper surface (front surface) of the front end of the arm 42.
Is provided with a guide portion 42a that comes into contact with, and an elastic member 43 such as rubber for holding the recording paper is attached to the lower surface (rear surface) of the rear end. A rotation fulcrum shaft 42b is provided at the center of the front and rear of the arm 42 so as to project outward, and is pivotally supported by a bracket erected from the frame 26. A spring member 41 is interposed between the front portion of the arm 42 and the frame 26, and the arm member 42 is urged upward by the spring member 41 while swinging around the rotation fulcrum shaft 42b. It is freely configured.

With this configuration, the intermediate transfer device 24 is pushed into the intermediate transfer device case 23 (the facsimile device 1
(When used), the rotating roller 40 provided on the inner upper surface of the intermediate transport device case 23 presses the guide portion 42a at the front end of the arm 42 against the biasing force of the spring member 41, and as a result, the arm The elastic member 43 at the rear end 42 pivots upward and separates from the frame body 25, and the transport path 27 is opened so that the recording sheet can pass therethrough.

With the above structure, the intermediate transfer device 2
When 4 is completely stored in the intermediate transport device case 23, the recording paper gripping means opens the transport path 27,
Next, a case where the recording paper is jammed in the transport path 27 will be described. In this case, the operator only needs to pull out the intermediate transfer device 24 from the intermediate transfer device case 23 to easily perform the jam processing. More specifically, in the process of pulling out the intermediate conveying device 24, first, the rotating roller 4
The guide portion 42a at the front end of the arm 42 that is retracted forward while being guided by 0 gradually rotates upward by the biasing force of the spring member 41, and the elastic member 43 at the rear end of one arm 42 gradually. Rotate downwards. Finally, the rotating roller 40 and the guide portion 42a are separated from each other, the pressing of the guide portion 42a by the rotating roller 40 is released, and the elastic member 43 at the rear end of the arm 42 contacts the upper surface of the recording paper in the transport path 27. Rotate downward until it touches. That is, as a result, the recording paper on the transport path 27 is nipped and gripped by the elastic member 43 and the frame body 25, and in this state, it is pulled out while being connected to the intermediate transport device 24.

When the intermediate conveying device 24 is further pulled out from the state shown in FIG. 9, as shown in FIG.
The recording paper transport unit 21 can be exposed to the outside, and by rotating the frame 26 upward in this state, the transport path 27 is opened, and the recording paper can be removed. Since the arm 42 of the recording paper gripping means is attached to the frame body 26, the holding of the recording paper by the recording paper gripping means is released at the same time when the frame body 26 is rotated upward, and the recording paper is easily removed. be able to. Therefore, since the maintenance work can be performed on the front surface of the image forming apparatus, the installation space and the working space can be reduced.

Next, the recording paper gripping means provided in the paper feeding unit 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 18. The recording paper gripping means provided in the paper feeding unit 20 is a main body of the paper feeding device 60, more specifically, a swingable arm provided on the support 38, and a pressing means for pressing the arm in the direction of closing the transport path. And a regulation means for regulating the swing of the arm, the arm is a pressing plate 37, and the pressing means is a biasing spring 50. Further, the regulating means is composed of an actuating member 51 which is swingably provided on the sheet feeding device main body, and an actuating member 47 which regulates the actuating member 51. 11 to 13 show how the paper feed cassette 12 is pulled out from the paper feed cassette case 11 at each stage. The state shown in FIG. 11 is the first stage, and the paper feed cassette 12 is stored in the paper feed cassette case 11. The state shown in FIG. 12 is the second stage, in which the second cassette 35 is pulled out from the first cassette 36. The state shown in FIG. 13 is the third stage, in which the entire paper feed cassette 12 is pulled out from the paper feed cassette case 11. The recording paper gripping means in the present embodiment operates when the state shown in FIG. 11 shifts to the state shown in FIG. Further, FIGS. 14 and 15 are respectively shown in FIG.
1 is an enlarged view of the recording paper gripping means shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, supporting members 38 and 44 are fixedly mounted on the frame body 14, and the pressing plate 37 is pivotally mounted on the supporting member 38 with the rotation fulcrum shaft 39 as a rotation fulcrum. It is set up. In addition, the pressing plate 37 and the support body 44 form the biasing spring 5
The pressure plate 37 is urged toward the transport path 16 side. As shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, an actuating member 51 is pivotally mounted on the frame body 14. Actuating member 5
1 is extended in the left-right direction along the frame body 14, and one end (the right end in this embodiment) of the operating member 51 is formed so as to be able to contact the rear end of the pressing plate 37. Also, the second cassette 3
An operating member 47 is fixed to the rear end of the member 5, and the operating member 47 extends rearward. The operating member 47 moves together with the second cassette 35, and is configured to be able to move forward and backward with respect to the first cassette 36 within the range of the above-mentioned constant width. In addition, the operating member 51 has the other end (the left end in this embodiment) with respect to the one end extending to the rear of the operating member 47, and the operating member 47 together with the second cassette 35, the first cassette 36.
The rear end of the actuating member 47 contacts the left end of the actuating member 51 when pushed in.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the actuating member 47 is in contact with the actuating member 51, the right end of the actuating member 51 is urged forward and abuts against the lower rear end of the pressing plate 37. At this time, as shown in FIG. 16, the pressing plate 37 resists the urging force of the urging spring 50 and the upper part of the pressing plate 37 rotates rearward around the rotation fulcrum shaft 39, and the conveyance path 16 is opened. It will be in the state of being. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
Is separated from the operating member 51, the operating member 5
1 does not receive the pressing force from the operating member 47. At this time,
As shown in FIG. 17, the pressing plate 37 receives the urging force of the urging spring 50, and the upper part of the pressing plate 37 rotates forward around the rotation fulcrum shaft 39 to block the conveyance path 16. Then, the operating member 51 contacts the lower rear end of the pressing plate 37,
As the lower part rotates backward, it rotates rearward. The frame 1
4 is provided with an opening 14a so that the pressing portion 37a formed at the front end of the pressing plate 37 can pass through the opening 14a. The pressing portion 37 that has passed through the opening 14a
“A” is close to the front frame 15 and blocks the paper transport path 16.

Therefore, when the paper feed cassette 12 is pulled out in order to be removed from the main body of the facsimile apparatus 1, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the second cassette 35 is first pulled out and the operating member 47 is pulled out. Also pull forward. By moving the operating member 47 forward with respect to the first cassette 36, the pressing force on the operating member 51 is released. Therefore, the pressing portion 37a of the pressing plate 37 is rotated forward by the biasing spring 50, and the paper transport path 16 is blocked. If the recording paper remains in the paper transport path 16, the recording paper is gripped by the pressing plate 37 and the rear end of the frame 15. That is, the recording paper remaining on the paper transport path 16 is fixed to the paper feed cassette 12 to be removed, and taken out together with the paper feed cassette 12 from the main body of the facsimile apparatus 1.

When the paper feed cassette 12 is pulled out of the paper feed cassette case 11, the recording paper gripping means is configured to release the holding of the recording paper. The frame body 14 is pivotally mounted on the paper feed cassette 12 by the rotation fulcrum shaft 48 as described above. On the other hand, guide rails (not shown) are provided on the left and right inner walls of the paper feed cassette case 11, and engaging portions that engage with the guide rails are provided on the left and right outer surfaces of the frame body 14. And the frame 1
4 is engaged with the guide rail of the paper feed cassette case 11 so that it can slide back and forth. With the above configuration, when the paper feed cassette 12 is partially inserted in the paper feed cassette case 11, the frame body 14 and the guide rail are engaged with each other, and the rotation fulcrum shaft 48 of the frame body 14 is rotated. Is trying to stop the rotation of. Frame body 14 at this time
16 is a side view of the posture of FIG. The paper cassette 12 is the paper cassette case 1
When it is pulled out from 1, the engagement between the frame body 14 and the guide rail is released, and the frame body 14 is rotated rearward. It is the frame 14 that rotates rearward.
This is because the position of the center of gravity of the is located rearward of the rotation fulcrum shaft 48.

A coil spring 49 as an urging means is externally fitted to the rotation fulcrum shaft 48, and both ends of the coil spring 49 extend to the outside. When the frame body 14 is engaged with the guide rail, both ends of the coil spring 49 do not simultaneously contact other members. For this reason,
In this state, the coil spring 49 is rotatable around the rotation fulcrum shaft 48. When the frame body 14 rotates rearward, both ends of the coil spring 49 come into contact with the rear end of the frame body 14 and the bottom surface 36a of the first cassette 36, respectively. Then, the coil spring 49 urges the frame body 14 forward, so that the frame body 14 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
The neutral position is shown at 8.

With the above construction, when the paper feed cassette 12 is pulled out from the paper feed cassette case 11,
The frame body 14 is automatically rotated rearward and stopped so that the sheet conveying path 16 is opened. In this way, the holding of the recording paper by the pressing plate 37 and the frame 15 is released. When the paper remaining on the paper transport path is taken out from the facsimile apparatus 1 together with the paper feed cassette 12, the recording paper holding means releases the recording paper, and the recording paper is easily transported. Road 16
You can take out more. However, the configuration of the recording paper gripping means provided in the paper feed cassette 12 is not limited. Therefore, since the maintenance work can be performed on the front surface of the image forming apparatus, the installation space and the working space can be reduced.

Next, the recording paper guiding means provided in the paper feeding device 60 will be described. The recording paper guiding means is each device in the paper feeding device 60 that includes a transport path that can be pulled out,
That is, the sheet feeding units 20 and 20 that configure the sheet feeding unit 4.
They are provided in the (paper feed cassette 12) and the intermediate transfer device 24 that constitutes the intermediate transfer unit 5, respectively. The guide means is a means for eliminating the following problems caused only by the recording paper gripping means described above.

That is, in the structure in which the recording paper gripping means is provided in the paper feeding device 60, when the recording paper is jammed in a state of straddling the intermediate conveying device 24 or the paper feeding cassette 12 and the paper feeding cassette 12 therebelow. Therefore, when the upper side (leading side) of the recording sheet is held horizontally by the recording sheet gripping means and is pulled out horizontally, the recording sheet is bent while being bent at the outlet 16a of the conveying path 16 on the side of the lower sheet feeding cassette 12. It is pulled out of 16a and looks like being squeezed. Therefore, resistance may be generated at the outlet 16a and the recording paper may not be pulled out smoothly. In particular, if excessive force is applied to the recording paper and the recording paper is torn, the torn and leftover recording paper has to be inserted into the main body of the device to remove it, which is a complicated and time-consuming operation. It was Furthermore, if the torn recording paper remains at a position that is out of reach, the torn recording paper causes the paper feed cassette 12 to be removed from the paper feed cassette 12 when the paper feed cassette 12 is attached to the paper feeding device again. It sometimes caused a paper jam of the recording paper sent out.

Therefore, in order to treat a paper jam that occurs in a state where the paper is jammed between the side of the intermediate conveying device 24 or the side of the sheet feeding cassette 12 and the side of the sheet feeding cassette 12 below it, the recording sheet grasping means is used to intermediate the recording sheet. In order to prevent the recording paper from being squeezed when the paper is pulled out together with the transport device 24 or the paper feed cassette 12, as shown in FIG. ) 16
A plurality of auxiliary rollers 45, 45 ...
Are arranged at a predetermined interval. This auxiliary roller 4
5, 45 ... Are supported rotatably.

In the above, when the auxiliary rollers 45, 45 provided in the paper feeding unit 20, 20 pull out the intermediate transport device 24 or the paper feeding unit 20 which is each device having a transport path that can be pulled out, recording is performed. It is a guiding means for guiding the recording paper gripped by the paper gripping means. The guide means smoothly guides the recording paper pulled out together with the intermediate conveying device 24 or the paper feed cassette 12.

Then, the recording paper is conveyed in the conveying path 27 of the intermediate conveying device 24 and the conveying path 1 of the uppermost sheet feeding cassette 12 therebelow.
A case where the recording sheet is jammed in a state of straddling 6 and 6 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, when the intermediate conveying device 24 is pulled out to the side for jamming, the recording sheet is gripped by the recording sheet gripping means. While being bent between the exit 16a on the upper surface of the uppermost sheet feed cassette case 11 and the entrance to the transport path 27, the intermediate transport device 24 is pulled out to the front side in the same direction as it is pulled out.

At this time, the auxiliary rollers 45, 45 ...
While rotating, it guides the recording paper that is pulled out while bending at a substantially right angle. In this way, the edge of the outlet 16a on the upper surface of the paper feed cassette case 11 is prevented from rubbing or rubbing the recording paper, and the frictional resistance against pulling out is reduced. As a result, the recording paper pinched by the recording paper gripping means can be smoothly and surely pulled out from the transport path 16, and an unreasonable force is applied to the recording paper to break the recording paper and induce a new paper jam. Can be prevented. Note that, when the recording paper is jammed in a state of straddling the conveyance path 16 of the paper feed cassette 12 and the conveyance path 16 of the paper feed cassette 12 below the paper feed cassette 12, the paper feed cassette 12 is jammed in order to perform jam processing. The same effect as above can be obtained when pulling out to the front side. Further, in the case of the present example, for example, when the recording paper is jammed in a state where the upper paper feeding cassette 12 and the lower paper feeding cassette 12 are straddled, the upper paper feeding cassette 12 is pulled out and the lower paper feeding cassette 12 is pulled out. It is arranged at the upper end of the paper cassette 12 (that is, it is arranged on the upstream side of the conveyance path in the upper paper feed cassette 12).
Although the recording sheets are guided by the auxiliary rollers 45, 45, ..., The auxiliary rollers 45, 45, ... Are provided at the lower end portion of the upper sheet feeding cassette 12 (that is, the lower sheet feeding unit). (Provided on the downstream side of the transport path in the paper cassette 12), the lower paper feed cassette 12 is pulled out, and the recording paper can be guided by the auxiliary rollers 45, 45 ... Of the upper paper feed cassette 12. .

Therefore, the auxiliary roller 4 which is the guide means
At least one 5 is provided on the upstream side or the downstream side of the transport path that can be pulled out. Then, between the sheet feeding units 20 and 20, between the intermediate conveying device 24 and the sheet feeding unit 20, or between the image forming unit 2 and the intermediate conveying device 24.
In the event of a jam across these devices,
If you pull out one of the devices above and below the jam location,
The sheet is guided by the auxiliary roller 45 provided in the device on the non-drawing side, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems such as bending and damage of the recording sheet.

However, the means for lowering the frictional resistance generated on the recording paper at the time of pulling out is not limited to the provision of a plurality of auxiliary rollers at the exit portion 16a of the conveying path on the paper feeding unit 20 side. For example, the auxiliary roller can be configured as a single wide roller. Alternatively, the auxiliary roller may not be installed at all, and instead, the outlet shape at that position may have a curved surface shape (for example, an arc surface shape), or an appropriate member having slipperiness may be attached.

[0046]

According to the present invention, with the above-described structure, the maintenance work can be performed on the front surface of the image forming apparatus, so that the installation space and the working space can be reduced. Further, in the case where a paper jam occurs in a state where the recording paper is straddled between the conveyance paths of a plurality of freely drawable devices such as a paper feeding cassette that constitutes the paper feeding device, When grasped by the recording paper gripping means and pulled out together with the device, the jammed recording paper is squeezed and torn and the paper jam can be reliably and smoothly pulled out without inducing a new paper jam. , Maintainability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a facsimile device to which a paper feeding device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a left side sectional view of an intermediate conveyance device and a paper feeding device.

FIG. 3 is a left side cross-sectional view of the intermediate conveying / conveying device showing a state where the conveying path is opened.

FIG. 4 is a left side sectional view of the intermediate transfer device.

FIG. 5 is a left side sectional view of the rear portion of the sheet feeding device.

FIG. 6 is a left side cross-sectional view of the intermediate conveyance device showing how the recording paper is pulled out together with the intermediate conveyance device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of recording paper gripping means.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a recording paper gripping unit with a conveyance path opened.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the intermediate conveyance device is pulled out in the facsimile device.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a procedure of further pulling out the intermediate conveyance device to remove jammed paper inside.

FIG. 11 is a plan cross-sectional view of a paper feeding unit showing a housed state of a paper feeding cassette.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional plan view of the sheet feeding unit showing a pulled-out state of the second cassette.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional plan view of the sheet feeding unit showing the pulled-out state of the first and second cassettes.

FIG. 14 is a plan cross-sectional view of the rear portion of the paper feed cassette showing a grip release state by the recording paper gripping means of another embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a plan cross-sectional view of the rear portion of the paper feed cassette showing a gripped state by the recording paper gripping means of another embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a left side sectional view of the rear portion of the paper feed cassette showing a grip release state by the recording paper gripping means of another embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a left side sectional view of the rear portion of the paper feed cassette showing a gripping state by the recording paper gripping means of another embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a left side sectional view of the rear portion of the paper feed cassette showing a nip release state by the recording paper gripping means of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols] 2 Image forming section 4 Paper feeder 12 paper cassettes 24 Intermediate transfer device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In an image forming apparatus in which an image forming unit is arranged above a sheet feeding device, a feeding path that can be pulled out is provided in the sheet feeding apparatus, and recording is performed by recording paper gripping means provided in the feeding path. An image forming apparatus characterized in that paper is grasped and pulled out. 2. A guide means for guiding a recording sheet is provided on a conveying path provided on an upstream side or a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the pullout conveying path. Image forming device. 3. An image forming apparatus having an intermediate conveying device for feeding the recording paper sent from a paper feeding device to an image forming section, wherein the recording paper in the intermediate conveying path is gripped when the intermediate conveying device is pulled out. An image forming apparatus comprising guide means for guiding a recording paper which is gripped by the grip means and pulled out.