JP2005170639A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of facilitating the removal of a jammed sheet in a sheet feeding path. <P>SOLUTION: A sheet feeding portion 600 equipped with a sheet feeding path 123 is drawably arranged at an apparatus body 2, where switching means 130, 135, 136, 137 and 139 for switching the feeding direction of sheet fed to the sheet feeding path 123 are provided. The switching devices 130, 135, 136, 137 and 139 are selectively moved to either a first position which is in contact with a sheet fed to the sheet feeding path 123 or a second position which is not in contact with a sheet fed at a distance from a path member 601 constituting the sheet feeding path 123 by a controller so that the feeding direction of the sheet can be switched. Moreover, when the sheet feeding portion 600 is drawn out due to a jammed sheet in the sheet feeding path, the switching devices 130, 135 which are positioned at least on the downstream side in the drawing direction of the sheet feeding portion 600 can be switched over to the second position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to position control of a switching unit that is provided in a sheet conveyance path and switches a sheet conveyance direction.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, for example, a sheet on which an image is formed is conveyed (discharged) out of the apparatus body as it is, or the sheet conveying direction is switched and conveyed to a sheet processing apparatus. There is. In order to switch the sheet conveying direction in this way, a flapper serving as a switching unit for switching the sheet conveying direction is provided in the sheet conveying path.

  By the way, as such an image forming apparatus, a sheet conveying unit provided with a sheet conveying path provided with a flapper and a roller is provided. When a sheet jam occurs in the sheet conveying unit, it is provided on a side surface of the apparatus main body. There is an apparatus that removes a jammed sheet by opening the door and releasing the pressure of the flapper and the roller (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-279123

  However, in such a conventional image forming apparatus, when removing the jammed sheet, the pressure of the flapper and the roller may not be sufficiently released. In this case, the jammed sheet cannot be easily removed, and the processing There was a problem that the quality was bad.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily processing a sheet jammed in a sheet conveyance path.

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet, the switching means provided in the sheet conveyance path, for switching the sheet conveyance direction, and the switching means for switching the sheet conveyance direction. The first position where the sheet conveying path is in contact with the sheet conveyed and the second position which is separated from the path member constituting the sheet conveying path and does not contact the sheet conveyed with the sheet conveying path are selected. Control means for moving the control means, wherein the control means switches the switching means to the second position when a sheet is jammed in the sheet conveying path.

  Further, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet, the sheet conveyance section having the sheet conveyance path, and provided in the apparatus main body so as to be capable of being pulled out, and provided in the apparatus main body. A switching unit that switches a conveyance direction of a sheet conveyed on the sheet conveyance path, a first position that contacts the sheet conveyed on the sheet conveyance path, the switching unit that switches the conveyance direction of the sheet, and the sheet conveyance And a control means for selectively moving the sheet conveyance path to a second position where the sheet conveyance path is not in contact with the conveyed sheet, and the control means is arranged in the sheet conveyance path. When the sheet is jammed, at least the switching means located on the downstream side in the drawing direction of the sheet conveying unit is set to the second position so that the sheet conveying unit can be pulled out. Ri is characterized in that the sort.

  As in the present invention, when the sheet is jammed in the sheet conveyance path, the switching unit that is provided in the sheet conveyance path and switches the sheet conveyance direction is separated from the path member constituting the sheet conveyance path. The jammed sheet can be easily processed by moving to.

  In addition, a sheet conveyance unit having a sheet conveyance path is provided in the apparatus main body so that the sheet conveyance unit can be pulled out. By moving to a position away from the passage member, it is possible to easily pull out the sheet conveying unit, and thus it is possible to easily process a sheet jammed in the sheet conveying unit.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, 1 is a printer, 2 is a printer main body, an image reader 200 is provided on the upper surface of the printer main body 2, and an image forming unit 300 is provided inside the printer main body.

  Here, the image reader 200 includes a document feeder 100 that feeds a document onto the platen glass 102 and a scanner unit (not shown) that reads a document image fed onto the platen glass 102.

  When reading a document image, the document feeder 100 sequentially feeds a document (not shown) set upward on the document table 101 from the topmost document, and then transports the document onto the platen glass 102. After the image is read, the original is discharged to the paper discharge tray 112. The scanner unit reads the document image by irradiating the document with light when the document is fed onto the platen glass and guiding the reflected light from the document to the image sensor through the mirror and the lens. I have to.

  In addition, the image forming unit 300 outputs the laser beam corresponding to the image signal subjected to the image processing to the photosensitive drum 111 after being read by the photosensitive drum 111 and the image sensor, and outputs an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. An exposure control unit 110 that forms an image, a developing unit 113 that develops an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum, a transfer unit 116 that transfers a toner image developed by the developing unit 113 to a sheet, and a toner image are transferred. A fixing unit 117 for fixing the toner image to the sheet.

  Reference numerals 114 and 115 denote cassettes arranged at the lower portion of the printer main body 2, and sheets (not shown) are stored in the cassettes 114 and 115. Reference numeral 400 denotes a finisher that is a sheet processing apparatus that processes a sheet after an image is formed. The finisher 400 includes a stapler 401 that is a processing unit that performs, for example, a binding process.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 1 can form images on both the front and back sides of the sheet. When forming images on both the front and back sides of the sheet, the printer 1 has a front side (first side). After the sheet on which the image is formed is reversed, the sheet is passed through the double-sided conveyance path 124 and is conveyed again to the image forming unit 300.

  Then, in the image forming unit 300 configured as described above, when an image signal subjected to image processing after being read by the image sensor is input to the exposure control unit 110, the exposure control unit 110 responds to the image signal. The photosensitive drum 111 is irradiated with the laser beam. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum.

  Next, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum is developed by the developing unit 113 to form a toner image on the photosensitive drum, and then the toner image is transferred to either the cassette 114, 115 or the duplex conveyance path 124. When the sheet fed from the sheet passes through the transfer unit 116, the sheet is transferred to the sheet. Next, the fixing unit 117 performs a toner image fixing process on the sheet on which the toner image is transferred in this manner.

  When a plurality of sheets are output from the fixing unit 117, the sheet is guided to the first paper discharge path 122 by the first flapper 121 shown in FIG. The finished surface is turned downward (face down) and discharged to the finisher 400. If the sheets are discharged face down in this way, the correct page order is obtained when the document feeder 100 is used or when images output from the computer are printed in order from the first page.

  When there is only one page to be output (when it is not a continuous page), the flapper 121, 130, 135 causes the surface onto which the toner image is transferred to face up (face up) to the second paper discharge path 140. It is guided and discharged to the sample tray 131.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, while the finisher 400 is performing the binding operation, a plurality of sheets are temporarily stored while the finisher 400 is performing the binding operation so that the conveyance of the sheet can be continued. A buffering device 600 is provided between the image forming unit 300 and the finisher 400 as a sheet conveying unit for conveying the sheet toward the finisher 400 after the stay.

  Here, the buffering device 600 is a rotating body as an example of a path member constituting a buffer path 123 for temporarily retaining a plurality of sheets and a bottom surface of the buffer path 123 that is a sheet conveyance path. As described above, the buffer roller 601 capable of forward / reverse rotation, the first flapper 121 that selectively guides the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 117 to the buffer path 123 or the first sheet discharge path 122, and the sheet that has entered the buffer path 123. In addition, the second and third flappers 130 and 135 leading to the sample tray 131 through the second paper discharge path 140 and the fourth to fourth papers entering the third paper discharge path 142 leading to the finisher 400 after the sheet having entered the buffer path 123 are entered. 6 Flappers 136, 139, 137, sample tray with the image-formed side facing down (face down) And a seventh flapper 138 or the like for discharging the 131. In the present embodiment, the first to seventh flappers 121, 130, 135, 136, 139, 137, and 138 are provided on the printer body side.

  Next, the operation of the buffering apparatus 600 will be described.

  First, a case where a plurality of sheets are retained and then conveyed to the finisher 400 will be described.

  In this case, the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is guided to the buffer path 123 by the first flapper 121 that has been switched to the position shown in FIG. At this time, the second to sixth flappers 130, 135, 136, 139, and 137 are controlled so as to be separated from the buffer roller 601. At this time, the rotation direction of the buffer roller 601 is counterclockwise. As a result, several sheets are wound around the buffer roller 601.

  Next, after several sheets are wound around the buffer roller 601, the sixth flapper 137 is controlled to contact the buffer roller 601. As a result, several sheets wound around the buffer roller 601 are guided to the third paper discharge path 142 and to the finisher 400.

  Next, a case where images are formed on both sides of a sheet will be described.

  In this case, first, as shown in FIG. 3B, the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is guided to the buffer path 123 by the first flapper 121. At this time, the second and third flappers 130 and 135 are controlled so as to be separated from the buffer roller 601, and the fourth flapper 136 is controlled so as to contact the buffer roller 601. In this state, when the buffer roller 601 rotates counterclockwise, the sheet is guided to the reverse path 144.

  Thereafter, when the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the second flapper 130, the second flapper 130 is controlled to come into contact with the buffer roller 601 as shown in FIG. Control to rotate around. As a result, the sheet is guided to the re-conveying paths 143 and 124 and conveyed to the transfer unit 116 and the fixing unit 117 in order to form an image on the other side.

  By the way, when the buffer roller 601 is rotated clockwise as described above, the sheet can be reversed and the sheet can be discharged at the same time. Next, this case will be described.

  In this case, first, the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is guided to the buffer path 123 by the first flapper 121, and when the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the second flapper 130, as shown in FIG. The second flapper 130 is controlled so as to contact the buffer roller 601, and at the same time, the first flapper 121 is controlled to guide the sheet to the first paper discharge path 122. At this time, the fifth and sixth flappers 139 and 137 move to the positions shown in FIG.

  At the same time, the buffer roller 601 rotates clockwise, thereby guiding the sheet existing in the reversing path 144 to the re-conveying path 143, and the sheet on which images are formed on both sides is guided to the first paper discharge path 122. Is discharged.

  Next, a case where the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is discharged to the sample tray 131 will be described.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 4B, the sheet is guided to the buffer path 123 by the first flapper 121, and the third flapper 135 is controlled to contact the buffer roller 601. As a result, the sheet is guided to the second paper discharge path 140 and discharged to the sample tray 131 by the paper discharge roller 160.

  In this case, the sheet is discharged with the surface onto which the toner image is transferred facing upward (face up). In addition, regarding the sheet on which the images are formed on both sides, the sheet is discharged with the second side facing upward, but the first side is facing upward by changing the order of images to be written on the sheet in advance by the printer 300. It is also possible to make it.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the sheet is guided to the buffer path 123 by the first and second flappers 121 and 130, and the sheet is reversed by the third, fourth and seventh flappers 135, 136 and 138. When the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the seventh flapper 138, the seventh flapper 138 is controlled to face upward.

  After that, the conveyance roller 161 provided in the reverse path 144 is reversed to guide the path 145, and the paper discharge roller 160 causes the surface on which the image is formed to face down (face down) on the sample tray 131. Discharged.

  In the present embodiment, the document feeder 100 and the image reader 200 are attached to the printer main body 2 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. As a result, when a sheet jam occurs in the buffering device, as shown in FIG. 5, if the document feeder 100 and the image reader 200 are slid in the horizontal direction, the buffering device 600 is positioned above the buffering device 600. The arranged door 101 can be released, and the jammed sheet can be removed.

  In the present embodiment, the driving of the second to sixth flappers 130, 135, 136, 139, and 137 provided in the printer main body 2 is controlled by the control unit 50, which is a control means, as shown in FIG. The solenoid (not shown) separates the buffer roller 601 from the first position where it abuts the buffer roller 601 so as to abut the buffer path 123 and the buffer roller 601 so as not to abut the buffer path 123. Each of the second positions can be selectively moved.

  The control unit 50 detects a jam signal in the buffer path from the jam detection means 51, cuts off the power switch 52 for turning on the power when removing the jammed sheet, and jammed. The second to sixth flappers 130, 135, 136, 139, and 137 are moved to the second position based on at least one of detection signals from the door opening detection means 53 that detects that the door 101 has been opened to remove the sheet. To switch to.

  When removing the jammed sheet, the second to sixth flappers 130, 135, 136, 139, and 137 are switched to the second position, so that the paper jam can be easily removed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the buffering device 600 is detachably attached to the printer main body 2, and when a sheet jam occurs in the buffering device 600, as shown in FIG. The buffering device 600 can be pulled out integrally with the cover 170 by sliding the side cover 170 in the horizontal direction.

  When the buffering device 600 is pulled out in this way, the control unit 50 detects a detection signal from the clogging detection means 51, disconnection of the power switch 52, and a microswitch (not shown) that detects a pulling operation of the buffering device 600. On the basis of at least one of the detection signals from the drawer operation detection means, at least the second and third flappers 130 and 135 located at the downstream side in the pulling direction of the buffering device 600 are moved to the second position as shown in FIG. To switch to.

  And when pulling out the buffering device 600 in this way, the buffering device 600 can be easily pulled out by switching the second and third flappers 130 and 135 located at least downstream in the pulling direction to the second position. The jammed sheet can be easily removed.

  In the above description, the buffering device 600 has been described as an example of the sheet conveying unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other path switching flappers used in the printer main body 2 are provided. By applying it to the sheet transport unit, the jammed sheet can be easily removed.

  In the above description, the first position at which the flapper contacts the sheet conveyed on the sheet conveying path is the position at which the flapper contacts the buffer roller 601. For example, the flapper is positioned in the axial direction of the buffer roller 601. In the case of a configuration that is offset from the buffer roller 601 and does not contact the buffer roller 601, the position where the tip of the flapper enters the shaft side from the peripheral surface of the buffer roller 601 is defined as the first position.

  In the present embodiment, the buffering device 600 is arranged in the printer main body, that is, above the image forming unit and on the extended line of the vertical path passing through the transfer unit 116 and the fixing unit 117. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the finisher 400 may be disposed upstream of the stapler 401 (see FIG. 1).

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer that is an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a buffering device provided in the printer. FIG. The 1st figure explaining operation | movement of the said buffering apparatus. The 2nd figure explaining operation | movement of the said buffering apparatus. FIG. 3 is a first diagram illustrating a configuration of jam processing in a buffering device in the printer. The control block diagram of the said buffering apparatus. FIG. 6 is a second diagram showing the configuration of jam processing in the buffering device in the printer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Printer main body 50 Control part 51 Clogging detection means 52 Power switch 53 Door opening detection means 101 Door 123 Buffer path 130 2nd flapper 135 3rd flapper 136 4th flapper 137 6th flapper 138 7th flapper 139 5th flapper 300 Image forming unit 400 Finisher 600 Buffering device 601 Buffer roller

Claims (8)

In an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet,
Switching means provided in the sheet conveyance path, for switching the conveyance direction of the sheet;
The switching means is switched so as to switch the sheet conveying direction, and is moved along the sheet conveying path at a distance from a first position where the switching unit contacts the sheet conveyed on the sheet conveying path and a path member constituting the sheet conveying path. Control means for selectively moving to a second position that does not abut against the sheet;
With
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control unit switches the switching unit to the second position when a sheet is jammed in the sheet conveyance path. At least detection means for detecting jamming of the sheet in the sheet conveyance path, a switch for turning on the power, and a door opening detection means for detecting opening of the door opened when the sheet jammed in the sheet conveyance path is taken out With one,
The control means sets the switching means to the second position based on a detection signal from the detection means, disconnection of the switch when taking out a sheet jammed in the sheet conveyance path, and a detection signal from the door opening detection means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is switched to. In an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet,
A sheet conveying section having the sheet conveying path and provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the apparatus main body;
Switching means provided in the apparatus main body, for switching the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveyance path;
The switching means is switched so as to switch the sheet conveying direction, and is moved along the sheet conveying path at a distance from a first position where the switching unit contacts the sheet conveyed on the sheet conveying path and a path member constituting the sheet conveying path. Control means for selectively moving to a second position that does not abut against the sheet;
With
The control means sets, at the second position, a switching means positioned at least on the downstream side in the drawing direction of the sheet conveying section so that the sheet conveying section can be pulled out when a sheet jam occurs in the sheet conveying path. An image forming apparatus characterized by switching. At least one of a detecting means for detecting clogging of the sheet in the sheet conveying path, a switch for turning on the power, and a drawing operation detecting means for detecting a drawing operation of the sheet conveying section;
The control means includes a switching means positioned at least on the downstream side in the drawing direction based on a detection signal from the detection means, disconnection of the switch when the sheet conveying unit is pulled out, and a detection signal from the drawing operation detection means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is switched to the second position.   An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; and a sheet processing unit that processes a sheet discharged from the image forming unit. The sheet conveying unit is provided between the image forming unit and the sheet processing unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   The passage member is a rotator, and the sheet conveying unit is temporarily discharged after being discharged from the image forming unit and wound around a sheet facing the sheet processing unit around the rotator. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.   An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, and a sheet processing unit that processes a sheet discharged from the image forming unit, wherein the sheet processing unit is provided with the sheet conveying unit. The image forming apparatus according to 3 or 4. 8. The passage member according to claim 7, wherein the passage member is a rotating body, and the sheet conveying unit wraps the sheet after being discharged from the image forming unit around the rotating body and temporarily holds the sheet. Image forming apparatus.

Images