JP2005309279A - Image forming apparatus having image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the takeout space of a face-down paper ejection stacking part in MFP composite form and operability in the attachment/detachment of an image forming cartridge or jamming disposal or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The image reader is mounted above a stacking tray part in the image forming apparatus having the stacking tray part at the upper part of the image forming apparatus. An image reader supporting body is provided on the back part of the image reader, and the image forming apparatus is supported by the supporting body and also turned in a downward direction until it becomes almost perpendicular with a supporting part as center. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which an image reading device is mounted on the upper portion of a printer main body and has a multi-functional function.

  Printers have been widely spread and developed from business use to personal and from monochrome to color due to digitization of information and IT revolution. On the other hand, the development of digitalization has become a member who promotes the integration of printer functions. The printer, which has been positioned as the output of information terminal devices such as personal computers, is now positioned as a central device that combines the functions of separate products such as copying and facsimile. This is because the development technology base for new products with high cost performance and space saving has been established. A typical product example is MFC (multifunction copier) or MFP (multifunction printer).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-218552

  However, MFCs and MFPs have important operability issues related to the device configuration when combining single function technologies. In the following, an MFP based on a small printer will be described as an example.

  The MFP configuration shown in FIGS. 13 to 17 will be described.

  An example in which the image reading unit opens and closes without being limited to the MFP is conventionally performed in a copying machine, a facsimile, or the like. In the example shown in the figure, the form of stacking face-down discharged sheets on the top of the printer is used as a base for aligning print pages and improving operability, and the paper cassette pulling direction is the front. 13 is a main cross-sectional view, 201 is a printer main body, 202 is a paper feed cassette, 203 is a paper feed roller, 204a and 204b are separation / conveyance rollers, 205a, 205b and 205c are conveyance paths, and 206 is a registration roller. 207 denotes an image forming process unit (hereinafter referred to as a cartridge), and 207a denotes an image forming drum.

  Reference numeral 208 denotes a heat fixing device, 209a and 209b are discharge rollers, and 210 is a discharge stacking unit. In a part of the paper discharge stacking unit, an open / close lid 211 is mounted so as to be openable and closable around 211a for taking out a cartridge, jamming, and the like. Reference numeral 212 denotes a laser scanner unit. Reference numeral 213 denotes a control panel unit.

  The paper in the paper feed cassette 202 is first conveyed rightward by the paper feed roller 203, and the paper that has been U-turned upward is image-formed by the cartridge 207, and the image transferred from the image forming drum 207a to the paper is the fixing device. The sheet is heated and fixed on the sheet by 208, and is again U-turned and discharged to the sheet discharge stacking unit 210 from the discharge roller pair 209a and 209b.

  An image reading device is mounted on the upper part of the printer body. The image reading apparatus includes a scanner unit 251 and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 252. The ADF can be opened and closed upward about a hinge (not shown) at the rear of the apparatus, and the scanner unit can also be opened and closed backward about the hinges 253 and 254. The scanner unit is a general unit that photoelectrically converts a document placed on a platen glass (not shown) with a CCD while the optical carriage 255 scans along the guide shaft 256 in the horizontal direction. The optical carriage stops at a predetermined position and reads a document being conveyed. A detailed description of the scanner unit here is omitted.

  In the MFP combined form, operability such as loading / unloading space of the face-down paper discharge stacking unit, attachment / detachment of the image forming cartridge, and jam processing must be ensured. 14 and 15 are provided with an opening / closing lid 211 for taking out the cartridge in consideration of the cartridge taking out property and jam handling property, and when opening the opening / closing lid, the scanner unit is also opened / closed around the hinges 253 and 254 backward. Made possible.

  However, although the method of flipping the scanner backward is an easy configuration, the ADF (the same as the document pressing cover) falls down further carelessly, or the document placed on the ADF falls backward. Such inconveniences can be easily assumed.

  16 and 17 are examples in which the scanner unit is fixedly arranged at a high position from the printer unit. However, in this case, when used on the desktop as shown in FIG. 16, the height of the document table becomes too high, and the operability of the scanner is deteriorated. Accordingly, in such an example of fixed arrangement, as shown in FIG. 17, there is one in which the product itself is a floor standing model, and the operability is ensured by keeping the height of the document stacking table low. However, there is no change in the presence of the image reading device above the discharge stacking unit, and there is a restriction that operations such as cartridge replacement and jam processing must be performed in a limited discharge stacking space.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the target process is that it is not necessary to flip the scanner backward, and the ADF (including the document holding lid) falls inadvertently backward or is mounted on the ADF. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having an image reading apparatus that can eliminate the inconvenience such as a document that has been placed falling backward.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a configuration in which an image reading device is mounted above a stacking tray portion of an image forming device having a stacking tray portion at the top of the image forming device. An image reading apparatus support is provided, and the image forming apparatus is supported by the support and is rotated downward about the support until it is substantially vertical.
An image forming apparatus having a stacking tray section above the image forming apparatus has an image reading apparatus mounted above the stacking tray section, and an image reading apparatus support is provided on the back of the image reading apparatus. The image forming apparatus is supported by the support and is rotated downward about the support so as to be stored substantially vertically outside the stacking area of the stacking tray.

  A lock mechanism and a release mechanism for holding the use position when the image reading apparatus is in the use position are provided.

An image forming apparatus having a stacking tray section on the upper part of the image forming apparatus is configured such that an image reading apparatus is mounted above the stacking tray section, and image reading apparatus supports are provided on both sides of the image reading apparatus, The image forming apparatus is supported by the support and is rotated downward about the support so as to be stored substantially vertically outside the stacking area of the stacking tray.
An image forming apparatus having a stacking tray section on the upper part of the image forming apparatus is configured such that an image reading apparatus is mounted above the stacking tray section, and image reading apparatus supports are provided on both sides of the image reading apparatus, The image forming apparatus is supported by the support and rotates downward about the support portion until it is substantially vertical. When the image reading apparatus is in the use position, a lock for holding the use position is provided. A mechanism and its release mechanism were provided.

  The image reading apparatus is configured to slide in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus from the use position to the rotatable position, and in the use position, the slide portion prevents the image forming apparatus from rotating.

  Further, when the image reading apparatus is in the use position, the image forming apparatus support also serves as a guide member for moving the image forming apparatus in the vertical direction in order to adjust the use height. A holding mechanism and a holding release mechanism for holding the height are provided.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to flip up the scanner backward, and the ADF (including the document pressing cover) falls inadvertently or the document placed on the ADF falls backward. The inconvenience of has been resolved. Also, the space for loading / unloading the face-down paper discharge stacking unit and the operability space for attaching and detaching the image forming cartridge and the jam processing are maximized when the reading scanner is in the stored state, and can be sufficiently secured.

  Further, the dimension in the apparatus depth direction can be shortened while maintaining the advantage of the downward rotation.

  Furthermore, since the use height can be adjusted when the reading scanner is used while maintaining the advantage of the downward rotation, the healthy person can use the product for the handicapped person from the beginning.

<Embodiment 1>
First, the MFP configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The explanation of the internal mechanism of the printer and scanner is omitted because it is the same as the conventional example.

  In FIG. 1, the printer 1 has a front side in the figure, which is the front left direction, which is the insertion / extraction direction of the paper feed cassette 2, and the sheets to be placed in the paper feed cassette are fed laterally as in the conventional example. The sheet that has passed through the image forming process is discharged from the discharge port 3 to the discharge stacking table 4. An open / close lid 5 is provided on the paper discharge stacking table for attaching and detaching cartridges and for jamming.

  By the way, an image reading device (hereinafter referred to as a reading scanner) 18 is disposed above the printer, and columns 6 and 7 for supporting the reading scanner are provided behind the printer. FIG. 4 is a view from the rear of the apparatus. Reading scanner hinges 8 and 9 are provided above the columns 6 and 7, and the reading scanner can be rotated. Under the reading scanner hinge, hinge arms 10 and 11 are supported so as to be rotatable about hinge centers 10a and 11a, and are attached to be urged upward by a spring (not shown). However, this urging force is not strong enough to lift the entire scanner.

  On the other hand, the reading scanner is provided with locking members 12 and 13 so as to engage with the hinge arm when the reading scanner is in the use position (FIGS. 1 to 4) on the back surface thereof. A handle 14 is provided on the front surface of the reading scanner. In such a configuration, the presence of the reading scanner is often an obstacle for users who do not frequently use the reading scanner.

  Actually, since the reading scanner has a flat shape, in this embodiment, the reading scanner can be stored vertically to open a large space above the printer. When the reading scanner in use is released from the movement of the lock members 12 and 13 by a release member attached to the handle 14, for example, the hinge arm slides while supporting the bottom surface of the reading scanner and rotates downward. Can be moved.

  The state rotated downward is shown in FIGS. Reference numeral 15 denotes a handle escape portion formed on the printer upper cover. 5 and 6 show that the hinge arm is also fixed at the bottom of the reading scanner and is bent from the center of the arm. Also in this case, the operational feeling is further improved by turning upwardly by a spring or the like. In the present embodiment, not all reading scanner units including the ADF unit have to be evacuated out of the paper discharge stacking space. What is necessary is to evacuate at least the necessary amount for removing the loaded paper and replacing the cartridge.

<Embodiment 2>
7 to 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

  A characteristic point of this configuration is that, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, all of the reading scanner unit including the ADF unit is completely retracted outside the paper discharge stacking space. Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the reading scanner moves in the vertical direction. The description will be given in the following order.

In FIG. 7, the printer 1 has the front side in the figure, which is the insertion / extraction direction of the paper feed cassette 2, as the front, and the sheets that are placed in the paper feed cassette are fed in the horizontal direction as in the conventional example. The sheet that has passed through the image forming process is discharged from the discharge port 3 to the discharge stacking table 4. The discharge stacking base is configured so that the upper unit in the upper part is opened and closed with the conveyance path 22 around the rotation center 21 for attachment / detachment of the cartridge and jam processing. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the upper unit 20 is opened, and it can be seen that the conveyance path is exposed to a wide range as well as the cartridge is attached and detached.

  A reading scanner 23 is disposed above the printer, and supports 24 and 25 for supporting the reading scanner 23 are provided behind the printer. A state in which the reading scanner 23 is supported on the column will be described with reference to FIG. Here, since the support method of two support | pillars is fundamentally the same with right and left, description shall be performed by the one side support | pillar.

  In FIG. 9, the support 24 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, but it does not have to be particularly rectangular. A lower slide member 26 having a rotation shaft portion 25 for rotating the reading scanner in the downward direction is attached to the column 24 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction.

  On the other hand, an upper slide member 27 having the same cross-sectional shape as the slide plate is attached to the rear portion of the reading scanner 23. A latch plate 28 is supported on the side surface of the upper slide member 27 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 29, and one end 28 a of the latch plate is engaged with a pin 30 fixed to the lower slide member 26. It has become. On the other end of the latch plate, a pin 32 fixed to the link rod 31 connected to the lever 35 is engaged with the U groove in the lateral direction so that the pin 32 engages only when the user rotates the lever counterclockwise. The shape is cut and the latch can be released by a user operation.

  Further, position fixing plates 33 are supported on both side surfaces of the upper slide member 27 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 29. A fixing pin 34 is fixed to the center 33a of the front side surface of the position fixing plate so as to protrude toward the support column. The fixing pins 34 are provided with a plurality of engaging holes 24a, 24b, 24c,... In the support columns 24 and 25 so that the reading scanner 23 can be fixed at a predetermined height, and are fitted at arbitrary positions. The fitting method is similar to that of the latch plate. A pin 32 fixed to the link rod 31 connected to the lever 35 is connected to the other end side 33b of the position fixing plate 33 in the lateral direction so as to be engaged only when the user rotates the lever clockwise. The groove has a cut shape, and the fixing pin 34 can be released from the support engagement hole by a user operation.

  Based on the above configuration, a series of operations from the reading scanner use state to the scanner storage will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10A shows the usable position of the reading scanner. The horizontal height of the reading scanner is arbitrary, and does not affect the operation of the printer at each position. Next, in order to rotate the reading scanner downward, the reading scanner is once raised to the top. In FIG. 10A, the lever 35 is tilted clockwise to release the fixing pin 34 from the column engagement holes (24a, 24b, 24c,...). In this state, the reading scanner is slid to the top (FIG. 10B). The raising stop here is performed by the stopper portion 27 of the lower slide member 26 coming into contact with the stopper 36 on the support column side. When the lever 35 is returned to the neutral position, the reading scanner is fixed at this position, and the lever 35 is further tilted counterclockwise to unlock the upper slide member 27 and the lower slide member 26 (FIG. 10C). Then, the reading scanner rotates downward in the forward direction, and all of the reading scanner unit including the ADF unit is completely retracted outside the paper discharge stacking space as shown in FIG. In this state, a full open operability similar to that of a printer without a reading scanner can be realized.

<Embodiment 3>
11 and 12 show a third embodiment of the present invention. A characteristic point of this embodiment is that a reading scanner support is provided on both sides of the printer, and the printer is configured to rotate downward about the support until it is substantially vertical.

  Since the printer unit is the same as in the first and second embodiments, description thereof is omitted. A reading scanner 51 is disposed above the printer, and support wall surfaces 52 and 53 for supporting the reading scanner are provided on both side portions on the rear side of the printer. FIG. 11 shows a state in which the reading scanner is supported and housed on the supporting wall surface. Here, since the reading scanner support method is basically the same for both the left and right, the description will be made on one side.

  In the figure, a rotation portion 54 that pivotally supports the reading scanner is provided on the inner side surface of the support wall surface 52. Further, two slide grooves 55 and 56 are formed on the inner wall surface, and the slide groove 55 is connected to the rotating portion 54. The shaft portion 57 that is pivotally supported by the rotating portion 54 of the reading scanner has a circular two-sided shape, and the rotating portion 54 is circular when the shaft portion 57 is fitted. A fitting piece 58 having a circular auxiliary shape that turns and turns is provided. The groove width of the slide groove 55 is set to such a width that the two-way width of the shaft portion 57 can pass through. A locking pin 59 is provided on the side surface of the reading scanner, and the locking pin 59 contacts the slide groove 56 by leveling the reading scanner. Therefore, only when the reading scanner is in a horizontal state, the reading scanner can slide in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus along the slide groove 56. Further, a lever 60 is connected to a latch 61 inside the support wall surface on the outer side surface of the support wall surface 52, and is locked to the locking pin 59 when the reading scanner is in a usable position. Therefore, the user can release the latch when the lever is rotated counterclockwise.

  Based on the above configuration, a series of operations from the reading scanner use state to scanner storage will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 12A shows the usable position of the reading scanner. The height of the scanning scanner in the horizontal state is uniquely set. At this position, since the shaft portion 57 and the locking pin 59 are fitted in the slide grooves 55 and 56 in the two slide grooves, respectively, and the latch 61 is locked to the locking pin 59, the reading scanner is in a horizontal state. Is kept. FIG. 12B shows a state in which the latch 61 is released and the reading scanner is slid to the pivotable position in the back direction. In this state, the two-sided portion of the shaft portion 57 of the reading scanner is fitted into the fitting piece 58, and the locking pin 59 is detached from the slide groove 56 to be in a rotatable state. Then, in FIG. 12C, the reading scanner is rotated and stored in a substantially vertical state.

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a multifunctional function by mounting an image reading device on the top of a printer main body.

It is a figure which shows the reading scanner usable state which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the reading scanner vertical accommodation state which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure (rear view) which shows the reading scanner vertical accommodation state concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure (back side) which shows the reading scanner usable state which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure (another plan, the back) which shows a reading scanner perpendicular storage state concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure (another plan, the back) showing a reading scanner usable state concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the reading scanner vertical accommodation state which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the printer upper unit open state which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is rotation support part explanatory drawing which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is rotation operation explanatory drawing which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the reading scanner vertical accommodation state which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is rotation operation explanatory drawing which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows a prior art example (main sectional drawing). It is a figure which shows a prior art example (desktop type). It is a figure which shows a prior art example (desktop type). It is a figure which shows a prior art example (desktop type). It is a figure which shows a prior art example (floor standing type).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer main body 4 Discharge stacking part 6,7 Support | pillar 18 Reading scanner 10,11 Reading arm 12,13 Lock member

Claims (7)

  It has a stacking tray section on the top, an image reading apparatus is mounted above the stacking tray section, an image reading apparatus support is provided on the back of the image reading apparatus, and the image forming apparatus is supported by the support. An image forming apparatus having an image reading device, wherein the image reading device is rotated downward about a support portion until it is substantially vertical.   It has a stacking tray section on the top, an image reading apparatus is mounted above the stacking tray section, an image reading apparatus support is provided on the back of the image reading apparatus, and the image forming apparatus is supported by the support. An image forming apparatus having an image reading apparatus, wherein the image reading apparatus rotates downward about a support section and is stored substantially vertically outside the stacking area of the stacking tray section.   3. An image forming apparatus having an image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a lock mechanism for holding the use position when the image reading apparatus is in the use position, and a release mechanism thereof.   It has a stacking tray section on the top, an image reading apparatus is mounted above the stacking tray section, an image reading apparatus support is provided on both sides of the image reading apparatus, and the image forming apparatus is supported by the support. An image forming apparatus having an image reading apparatus, wherein the image reading apparatus rotates downward about a support section and is stored substantially vertically outside the stacking area of the stacking tray section.   It has a stacking tray section on the top, an image reading apparatus is mounted above the stacking tray section, an image reading apparatus support is provided on both sides of the image reading apparatus, and the image forming apparatus is supported by the support. In the configuration in which the image reading apparatus is in the use position when the image reading apparatus is in the use position, the lock mechanism and the release mechanism for holding the use position are provided. An image forming apparatus having an image reading apparatus.   The image reading apparatus is configured to slide in the front-rear direction of the apparatus from the use position to the rotatable position, and in the use position, the slide portion is configured to prevent the image forming apparatus from rotating. An image forming apparatus comprising the image reading apparatus according to claim 4.   When the image reading apparatus is in the use position, the image forming apparatus support also serves as a guide member for moving the image forming apparatus in the vertical direction to adjust the use height, and the adjusted height is held in the support portion. 3. An image forming apparatus having an image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holding mechanism and a holding release mechanism for performing the above operation.

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