JP2006199458A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device having excellent operability in which a recording medium does not block an operation unit while the device is miniaturized. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device comprises an image reading unit A to read an image described in an original S, an operation unit 12a which is arranged above the image reading unit A to operate the device, an image reading unit A which is arranged behind the image forming unit B and the operation unit 12a to form an image on a recording medium P, and a common tray 20 having a center 21 of turn behind the operation unit 12a and above the image forming unit B, and capable of stacking originals S by the forward turn, and stacking the recording medium P by the backward turn. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine, a copier, or a multifunction machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus characterized by the layout of each unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a configuration in which an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus having an image reading unit A and an image forming unit B is downsized (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an operation unit 115 that informs the state of the apparatus on the upper surface of an image reading unit A and a document tray 118 on which a document S is placed.

  When the image of the original S is read by the image reading unit A, the original tray 118 is tilted forward of the apparatus as shown in FIG. The image reading unit A reads the image of the document S while conveying the document S placed on the upper surface of the document tray 118 in the direction of the arrow.

  When forming an image on the recording medium P, as shown in FIG. 2B, the document tray 118 is tilted backward. At this time, the document tray 118 is disposed so as to cover the operation unit 115. Then, the recording medium P placed on the rear side of the apparatus is fed in the direction of the arrow. After the image forming unit B forms an image on the recording medium P, the recording medium P is discharged to the front side of the apparatus.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-015211 (page 8, FIGS. 1 and 2)

  However, with the configuration as in Patent Document 1, since the recording medium P is placed in front of the apparatus after the recording medium P is discharged, the field of view in front of the operation unit 115 is blocked (FIG. 2B). reference). Therefore, there is a problem that the user cannot visually recognize the operation unit 115 when the recording medium is discharged, and it is difficult to grasp the status of the apparatus.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that is excellent in operability because a recording medium does not block an operation unit while reducing the size of the apparatus.

  A typical configuration according to the present invention for achieving the object includes an image reading unit that reads an image written on a document, an operation unit that is disposed on the image reading unit and operates the apparatus, An image forming unit that is disposed behind the image reading unit and the operation unit to form an image on a recording medium, and has a rotation center at the rear of the operation unit and above the image forming unit. And a common tray on which the original is stacked by rotating and the recording medium is stacked by rotating backward.

  According to the present invention, the shared tray holds the recording medium above the operation unit. Here, since the rotation center of the shared tray is behind the operation unit, the recording medium can be held above the operation unit even when the shared tray is tilted forward during image formation. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with excellent operability without blocking the space in front of the operation unit.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. In the description, an outline description of the image forming apparatus 100, a detailed description of the image reading unit A, a detailed description of the image forming unit B, and a description of a characteristic configuration in the present invention will be given in this order.

(General description of the image forming apparatus 100)
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 integrally includes an image reading unit A that reads image information of a document S and an image forming unit B that forms an image on a recording medium P. The image reading unit A is located in front of the image forming apparatus 100 (side closer to the user, right side in the drawing), and a display unit 12b that displays the state of the image forming apparatus 100 is displayed above the image reading unit A. The user has an operation unit 12a for inputting information while confirming the unit 12b.

  In addition, a shared tray 20 that rotates in the Z direction in the figure with a rotation center 21 as an axis is disposed behind the image reading unit A and above the image forming unit B. The common tray 20 rotates about the rotation center 21 so that the document S can be placed on the document placement surface 20a during image reading, and the recording medium P that is ejected during image formation. Can be placed on the recording medium stacking surface 20b. The shared tray 20 will be described in detail later.

(Detailed description of image reading unit A)
The image reading unit A reads information described on the document S. The image reading unit A is a reading unit such as a contact type image sensor that conveys the document S that has been placed on the document placing surface 20a and then reaches the document tray 17 one by one and is fixedly disposed at a predetermined position. The image on the document S is read by 13k. Next, a specific description will be given.

  When the image reading unit A reads an image, first, the common tray 20 is rotated around the rotation center 21 so as to be on the extension of the document table tray 17 (the position of the solid line in the drawing).

  The document S is placed on the document placement surface 20 a of the common tray 20. The document S is pressed against the pre-pressing arm 13h and the separation roller 13a and abuts against the stop surface of the stopper 13g, so that it cannot be pushed further into the back.

  Next, when the document conveyance is started, the stopper 13g is opened by the opening original feeding roller 13c. In this way, the document S is fed to the friction piece 13b by the preliminary press-contact arm 13h and the separation roller 13a pressed against the arm 13h. As a result, the document S is separated and fed one by one by the separation roller 13a pressed against the friction piece 13b.

  By feeding, the document S reaches the feeding roller 13d. Further, the document S reaches the reading means 13k disposed downstream in the feeding direction by a feeding roller 13d or the like that is in pressure contact with the feeding roller 13c. The original S is brought into close contact with the reading means 13k by being pressed from the original pressing plate 13j, and image information is read by the reading means 13k. Thereafter, the document S is discharged to the front of the apparatus while being sandwiched between the discharge roller 13e and the discharge roller 13f.

(Detailed description of image forming unit B)
The image forming unit B forms an image on the recording medium P in accordance with the image signal. The image forming unit B includes an optical system 1 that emits light according to an image signal, a stacking unit 2 that stacks the recording media P, a transport unit 3 that transports the recording media P stacked on the stacking unit 2, and a transport An image forming means (process cartridge) C, a transfer means 4 for transferring an image formed by the image forming means C, a fixing means 5 for fixing the transferred image to the recording medium, and an image And a discharge unit 6 for discharging the fixed recording medium to the outside of the apparatus.

  When image formation is performed in the image forming unit B, first, the common tray 20 is rotated around the rotation center 21 so as to be on the extension of the recording medium discharge tray 6a (the position of the broken line in the figure). Stop. In this stopped state, the shared tray 20 is configured to leave a space above the image reading unit A and not to block the front of the apparatus.

  Next, a light image based on the image information is irradiated from the optical system 1, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum (image carrier) 7. A developer (toner) is supplied to the electrostatic latent image in the image forming means C, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 7. On the other hand, in synchronization with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium P is conveyed from the stacking means 2 arranged at the bottom of the main body to the transfer means 4 by the conveying means 3.

  In the transfer unit 4, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred to the conveyed recording medium P. Thereafter, the toner image transferred by the fixing unit 5 is fixed on the recording medium P. The recording medium P is discharged to the recording medium stacking surface 20 b of the face-down tray 6 a and the common tray 20 by the discharging means 6.

  Next, a specific configuration of each unit will be described.

  In the optical system 1, a laser diode, a polygon mirror, a scanner motor, an imaging lens, and a reflection mirror are accommodated in an optical unit 1a. With this configuration, when an image signal is given, the laser diode emits light in response to the image signal, and the image light reflected by the polygon mirror rotated at high speed by the scanner motor is exposed to light via the imaging lens and the reflection mirror. The body drum 7 is irradiated.

  The stacking unit 2 is disposed on the bottom of the image forming unit B. The stacking means 2 includes a stacking base 2a provided inside the apparatus main body, a recording medium tray 2b that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and attached to the outside of the apparatus, and a tray lid 2c that can be attached and detached upward from the recording medium tray 2b. Have. A multi-slider 2d that is slidable in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium P (the width direction of the recording medium P) is disposed on the loading platform 2a, and both sides of the recording medium P can be aligned.

  The conveying unit 3 is disposed substantially at the center of the image forming apparatus B, and includes a pickup roller 3a provided at the leading end of the recording medium P, a separation pad 3b pressed against the pickup roller 3a, and a conveying roller pair 3d. As a result, the uppermost sheet of the recording medium P placed on the stacking means 2 is separated one by one by the pickup roller 3a and the separation pad 3b and conveyed to the conveying roller pair 3d. Then, the recording medium P is conveyed to the transfer unit 4 so that the conveyance roller pair 3d is synchronized with the image forming operation of the image forming unit C.

  The image forming means C uses a process cartridge in which a photosensitive drum 7 and process means (charging means, developing means, cleaning means, etc.) acting on the photosensitive drum 7 are integrally formed. The process cartridge is configured to be detachable from the image forming unit B. The attachment / detachment is performed by opening the opening / closing member 8 integrated with the image reading unit A forward of the apparatus. In the image forming unit C, toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 7, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 7.

  The transfer unit 4 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 7 by the image forming unit C to the recording medium P, and includes a transfer roller 4 a facing the photoconductive drum 7. The transfer roller 4a presses the recording medium P against the photosensitive drum 7 of the process cartridge C. 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. Thereby, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 7 can be transferred to the recording medium P.

  The fixing unit 5 includes a driving roller 5a that is driven to rotate, and a fixing member 5c that has a heater therein and is in pressure contact with the driving roller 5a. The recording medium P and the toner image are pressed by the driving roller 5a and the fixing member 5c being pressed, and are fixed on the recording medium P by being heated by the heater in the fixing member 5c.

  The discharge unit 6 is disposed downstream of the fixing unit 5 in the recording medium conveyance direction. The discharge unit 6 includes a recording medium discharge tray 6a, a recording discharge unit cover 6b, a fixing discharge roller pair 6c, a face-down conveyance path 6e, a face-down roller pair 6f, and the like. When the recording medium P is discharged in a face-down state, the recording discharge unit cover 6b is closed (the state shown in the figure). Thus, the recording medium P that has passed through the fixing unit 5 is first conveyed by the fixing discharge roller pair 6c. The recording medium P is moved forward along the face-down conveyance path 6e, and finally discharged onto the recording medium discharge tray 6a and the recording medium stacking surface 20b by the face-down roller pair 6f. Supported by the shared tray 20. Further, when the recording medium P is discharged in a face-up state, the recording discharge unit cover 6b is tilted in the direction of the arrow (the apparatus rear side) in the figure. With this configuration, the recording medium P is discharged toward the rear of the apparatus by the fixing discharge roller pair 6c.

(Description of characteristic configuration in the present invention)
The shared tray 20 which is a characteristic configuration of the present invention will be described in detail.

  In the present invention, a common tray 20 is provided in which one side is a document placement surface 20a and the other side is a recording medium stacking surface 20b by rotating about a rotation center 21. As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 is used as the document placement surface 20a at the time of image reading and is used as the recording medium stacking surface 20b at the time of image formation. It becomes. As a result, the space above the image forming apparatus 100 is not wasted, and the apparatus can be reduced in size by effectively using this space.

  By using both sides of the common tray 20, one tray can handle both the image reading and the image forming. For this reason, a plurality of trays are not provided separately. Thereby, the number of members can be reduced.

  When the shared tray 20 is used in an apparatus having the image reading unit A and the image forming unit B such as the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, it can be used for different applications such as image reading and image forming. Is preferred.

  The rotation center 21 of the shared tray 20 is located behind the image reading unit A where the operation unit 12a and the display unit 12b are disposed. The shared tray 20 is substantially flat and is configured to stop with a space above and in front of the image reading unit A. For this reason, even when the common tray 20 is tilted forward of the apparatus (the position of the broken line in the figure), the recording medium P is held above the operation unit 12a and the display unit 12b, and the space in front of the operation unit 12a and the display unit 12b. Can be secured.

  As a result, the shared tray 20 itself or the document S and the recording medium P do not block the front of the operation unit 12a and the display unit 12b during both image reading and image formation. Therefore, the user can operate the operation unit 12a at the time of image reading and image formation, and the state of the apparatus can be visually recognized from the front of the apparatus (Y direction in the drawing) by the display unit 12b. . As a result, it is possible to provide a device that is easy to operate for the user.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus has been described by exemplifying a facsimile apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to other image forming apparatuses that can use a shared tray.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. Sectional drawing of the conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

A: Image reading unit B: Image forming unit P: Recording medium S ... Original 6a ... Recording medium discharge tray
12a ... operation part
12b Display section
20… shared tray
20a: Document placement surface
20b ... Recording medium loading surface
21… Rotation center
100 ... Image forming apparatus

Claims (3)

An image reading unit for reading an image described in an original;
An operation unit disposed on an upper portion of the image reading unit for operating the apparatus;
An image forming unit that is arranged behind the image reading unit and the operation unit to form an image on a recording medium;
A common tray on the rear side of the operation unit and at the upper part of the image forming unit, for stacking the original by rotating to the front, and for stacking the recording medium by rotating to the rear;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shared tray has a substantially planar shape, and is stopped with a space above the operation unit when the shared tray is rotated forward. The image forming unit is provided on the rear side of the apparatus main body, and includes a discharge unit that discharges a recording medium on which an image is formed, and a discharge tray on which the recording medium discharged by the discharge unit is stacked.
3. When the common tray is rotated forward, the common tray supports the recording medium discharge direction side, and the discharge tray supports the opposite side of the recording medium discharge direction. The image forming apparatus described in 1.

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