JP2006106490A - Image reading and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading and recording device realizing a reduction in the soiling of an original reading unit and an advancement in cleaning ability, and further an increase in the productivity of a printer. <P>SOLUTION: The image reading and recording device has a separation means for separating both of recording paper and an original, a conveying path for conveying both the recording paper and the original, an image forming part for forming an image and recording it on the recording paper and having a recording paper delivery space in the upper part thereof, a paper delivery roller for ejecting the recording paper, and an original reading unit disposed just behind the paper delivery roller and for reading image information from the original, wherein the original reading unit is supported turnably with respect to a device main body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading and recording apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a multi-function printer, which has an image reading unit for reading image information from a document and an image forming unit for forming an image and recording it on a recording medium. is there.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image reading and recording apparatus in which a document transport path and a recording paper transport path are the same includes a document reading unit in front of an image recording unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-5-219314

  However, providing the document reading unit in front of the image recording unit as described above, the recording paper always passes through the document reading unit even when used as a printer. Further, there is a problem that the cleaning property of the document reading unit is deteriorated. Further, there is a problem that productivity as a printer is deteriorated by an additional space of the document reading unit.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading and recording apparatus that realizes an improvement in dirt and a cleaning property of a document reading unit and an improvement in printer productivity. And

  The present invention can solve the above problems by providing the following configuration.

  (1) Separating means for separating both the recording paper and the original, a transport path for conveying both the recording paper and the original, an image is formed and recorded on the recording paper, and a recording paper discharge space is provided above. In the image reading and recording apparatus, comprising: an image forming unit; a discharge roller that discharges recording paper; and a document reading unit that is disposed immediately after the discharge roller and reads image information from a document. An image reading and recording apparatus characterized in that the apparatus is rotatably supported with respect to the apparatus main body.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the document reading unit can be retracted from the apparatus when used as a printer by arranging the document reading unit to be rotatable immediately after the recording paper discharge roller. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the original reading unit from being soiled by the recording paper, improve the cleanability of the original reading unit, and improve the productivity of the printer.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  An example applied to a digital copying machine having a printer function as a first embodiment according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. The description will be given in the following order.

  (1) Overall configuration of digital copying machine, (2) Configuration of image forming apparatus for recording information, and (3) Configuration of image reading apparatus for reading image.

(1) Overall Configuration of Digital Copier FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital copier according to the present invention, and FIG.

  As shown in the figure, this digital copying machine has an image reading device A immediately below a recording paper discharge unit above the apparatus, and an image forming device B disposed below the image reading device A. In the copy mode, the image information read by the image reading apparatus A is recorded by its own image forming apparatus B. In the printer mode, the image information from the host PC is recorded by the image forming apparatus B.

  The image reading apparatus A is for reading document description information, and is attached to the image forming apparatus B so as to be rotatable about rotation fulcrums 16a and 16b.

  The image forming apparatus B irradiates a light image based on image information from the optical system 1 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 7 which is an image carrier, and forms an image forming unit which is a cartridge as a process cartridge C The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is developed with a developer (toner) to form a toner image.

  In synchronism with the formation of the toner image, the recording paper P is fed from the recording paper feeding section 2 arranged at the bottom of the main body, transported by the transport means 3, and the toner image is transferred to the recording paper P by the transfer means 4. Then, the recording paper P is conveyed to the fixing unit 5, and the transferred toner image is fixed and discharged to the face-down tray 6 a by the paper discharge unit 6.

  An operation unit 17 having keys for inputting operation instructions and a display unit for displaying an operation status is disposed on the upper part of the image reading apparatus A.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a power supply circuit board 26 provided with a power supply input unit and a control circuit unit for image formation lies on the bottom of the apparatus.

(2) Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus for Recording Information Regarding the configuration of each part of image forming apparatus B that forms an image in response to a recording signal, <1> an optical system, <2> a recording paper transport unit, and <3> The transfer unit, <4> fixing unit, <5> paper discharge unit, and <6> process cartridge mounting unit will be described in this order.

<1> Optical System The optical system 1 irradiates the photosensitive drum 7 with a light image by irradiating light based on image information read from an external device or the like. As shown in FIG. A laser diode (not shown), a polygon mirror 1c, a scanner motor 1d, an imaging lens 1e, and a reflection mirror 1f are accommodated.

  For example, when an image signal is given from the own image reading device, a laser diode (not shown) emits light according to the image signal and irradiates the polygon mirror 1c as image light. The polygon mirror 1c is rotated at a high speed by a scanner motor 1d, and image light reflected by the polygon mirror 1c is irradiated to the rotating photosensitive drum 7 via the imaging lens 1e and the reflecting mirror 1f, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is irradiated. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed by selective exposure.

<2> Recording Paper Conveying Unit The digital copying machine according to the present embodiment has a recording paper feeding unit 2 that lies on the bottom of the apparatus and projects a part of the recording paper from the left side of the apparatus (left side in FIG. 2). The recording paper feed unit 2 is detachable upward with respect to the recording paper tray 2a provided inside the apparatus main body, a recording paper tray 2b that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body and attached to the outside of the apparatus, and the recording paper tray 2b. And a tray cover 2c.

  A multi-slider 2d slidable in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper P (the width direction of the recording paper P) is provided on the recording paper stacking base 2a. An irregular-size recording medium such as an envelope can be supported, and both sides of the recording paper P placed on the recording paper feeder 2 can be aligned.

  When the tray cover 2c is mounted, a manual paper feed unit 2f is provided by a manual feed slider 2e provided on the upper surface of the tray cover 2c, and other than the recording paper P normally used in the recording paper feed unit 2 is provided. When the recording medium is used, paper can be fed from the manual paper feeding unit 2f without taking out the recording paper P placed on the recording paper stacking base 2a.

  The transport means 3 for transporting the recording paper P is disposed substantially at the center of the image forming apparatus B, and the uppermost sheet of the recording paper P placed on the recording paper feeding unit 2 is used as the leading edge of the recording paper P. The sheet is separated one by one by a pick-up roller 3a provided in the section and a separation pad 3b pressed by a pressing spring 3c and fed to a pair of conveying rollers 3d.

  Then, the recording paper P is conveyed to the image transfer unit so that the conveyance roller pair 3d is synchronized with the image forming operation. Then, the recording paper P after image transfer is conveyed to the fixing means 5 by the guide member 3 e, and the recording paper P after fixing is discharged by the paper discharge means 6.

<3> Transfer Unit The transfer unit 4 transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 in the image forming unit onto the recording paper P. The transfer unit 4 of this embodiment is a transfer unit as shown in FIG. The roller 4a is used.

  That is, the recording paper P is pressed by the transfer roller 4a against the photosensitive drum 7 of the mounted process cartridge C, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is applied to the transfer roller 4a. The toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred to the recording paper P.

<4> Fixing Unit The fixing unit 5 fixes the toner image transferred onto the recording paper P by applying a voltage to the transfer roller 4a. As shown in FIG. 2, the configuration includes a driving roller 5 a that rotates and a fixing member 5 c that includes a heater 5 b inside and a sheet member that rotates in contact with the driving roller 5 a.

  That is, when the recording paper P, to which the toner image has been transferred in the image forming section, passes between the driving roller 5a and the fixing member 5c, pressure is applied by the pressing of both 5a and 5c, and heat is generated by the heat generated by the heater 5b. Is applied, and the toner on the recording paper P is fixed to the recording paper P.

<5> Paper Discharging Unit The recording paper P on which the toner image is fixed is stacked on the face-down tray 6a by the paper discharging unit 6 with the recording image surface facing down, or provided on the left side surface of the apparatus main body. By opening the recorded sheet discharge unit cover 6b, the recorded image surface is discharged out of the apparatus in an upward face-up state.

  In the case of face-down paper discharge, the recording paper P on which the image has been fixed by the fixing unit 5 is rotated by the fixing paper discharge roller pair 6c in conjunction with opening and closing of the recording paper discharge unit cover 6b. The sheet is reversed along the face-down conveyance path 6e formed by the above and conveyed to the face-down roller pair 6f. The face-down roller pair 6f is stacked on the face-down tray 6a in the page order with the print surface facing down.

  In the case of thick recording media such as envelopes and postcards, and special recording media such as OHP films and label stickers, the heat curl of the recording media increases due to the above-described reverse conveyance in face-down paper discharge, and wrinkles May cause problems such as breakage. In order to avoid such a problem, the paper can be discharged in the face-up state, the recording paper discharge unit cover 6b is opened and the face-down paper discharge guide 6d is opened in conjunction with the recording paper P, and the recording paper P is fixed. The paper is discharged out of the apparatus by the pair of paper discharge rollers 6c and is discharged in a substantially straight face-up state without inverting the recording medium after fixing.

  Even during face-down paper discharge jam processing, the recording paper discharge unit cover 6b is opened and the face-down paper discharge guide 6d is opened in conjunction with the face-down paper discharge guide, thereby improving operability during jam processing. ing.

<6> Process cartridge mounting means A cartridge mounting means for mounting the process cartridge C is provided in the image forming apparatus B, and the process cartridge C is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body by opening the opening / closing member 8 in the left direction of the apparatus. Do by. The image forming apparatus B is provided with driving means for driving the conveying means 3, the fixing means 5, the paper discharging means 6, and the process cartridge C. This driving means gears driving force from a motor as a driving source. Each rotator is driven by a row.

(3) Configuration of Image Reading Device for Reading Image The image reading device has a document edge sensor 18 for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the document S, a contact image sensor 12, and a document on the contact image sensor 12. It comprises a pressing means 10 for pressing, a paper discharge roller 14, and a leaf spring 11 for pressing the paper discharge roller 13 against the paper discharge roller 14. The contact-type image sensor 12 irradiates the image information surface of the document S with light from an LED array as a light source, forms an image on the sensor element using a SELFOC lens (registered trademark) and reflects the reflected light reflected by the image information surface. It reads information.

  The original S is set in the manual paper feed unit 2f and separated one by one by the pickup roller 3a and the separation pad 3b pressed by the pressing spring 3c in the same manner as the recording paper, and passes through the same conveyance path as the recording paper. Then, it is conveyed to the face down roller pair 6f. When the leading edge of the document S is detected by the document edge sensor 18, reading of image information by the contact image sensor 12 is started when a predetermined amount is conveyed from the position. When the trailing edge of the document S is detected by the document edge sensor 18, reading of image information by the contact image sensor 12 is finished when a predetermined amount is conveyed from the position. Then, the document S is discharged by the discharge roller 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image reading apparatus A can be rotated around the rotation center 16, and can be retracted when the apparatus is used as a printer. Therefore, since the recording paper does not pass through the image reading apparatus A, it is possible to prevent the contact-type image sensor 12 from being soiled by recording paper dust or the like without reducing the productivity of the printer.

  Further, even if dirt is generated, the upper unit X is rotated about the rotation center 16 and separated from the lower unit Y as shown in FIG. The image sensor 12 can be cleaned.

1 is a perspective view of an image reading and recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows sectional drawing of the said image reading and recording apparatus. It is a figure which shows sectional drawing of the said image reading and recording apparatus. It is a figure which shows sectional drawing of the said image reading and recording apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

A Image reading device B Image forming device C Process cartridge S Document P Recording paper 1 Optical system 1a Optical unit 1c Polygon mirror 1d Scanner motor 1e Imaging lens 1f Reflecting mirror 2 Recording paper feed unit 2a Recording paper stacking base 2b Recording paper tray 2c Tray cover 2d Multi-slider 2e Manual slider 2f Manual paper feed unit 3 Conveying means 3a Pickup roller 3b Separation pad 3c Pressing spring 3d Conveying roller pair 3e Guide member 4 Transfer means 4a Transfer roller 5 Fixing means 5a Driving roller 5b Heater 5c Fixing member 6 paper discharge means 6a face down tray 6b recording paper discharge section cover 6c fixing paper discharge roller pair 6d face down paper discharge guide 6e face down conveyance path 6f face down roller pair 7 photosensitive drum 8 opening / closing member 10 pressing means 11 leaf spring 12 contact Type image Sensor 13 the paper discharge roller 14 discharge roller 16 rotation center 16a, b pivot point 17 operation unit 18 document edge sensor 26 power supply circuit board

Claims (2)

  Separating means for separating both the recording paper and the original, a conveyance path for conveying both the recording paper and the original, an image forming unit that forms an image and records it on the recording paper, and has a recording paper discharge space above it A document discharge roller for discharging the recording paper, and a document reading unit disposed immediately after the discharge roller for reading image information from the document. An image reading and recording apparatus, wherein the image reading and recording apparatus is rotatably supported.   The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading and recording apparatus is an electrophotographic recording system.

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