JP2007033645A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving usability by connecting all doors of a printer engine and paper feed options for jam processing and enabling them to be opened and closed associatively, and making easy access to jam paper when jamming. <P>SOLUTION: Doors of a primary printer body and all paper feed cassettes installed in a form conveyance path for jam processing are connected together to be opened and closed associatively, and then the form conveyance path is widely opened for jam processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and in particular, can be attached to at least one sheet feeding option unit, and can be connected to a printer engine having a jam processing opening / closing device on a sheet conveying path, and a printer engine. The present invention relates to a paper feed option having a jam processing switch on a conveyance path.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in jam processing on a paper transport path, there are proposals for facilitating access to jammed paper and improving usability, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-97611.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram of a conventional laser beam printer.

  The outline of the laser beam printer will be described below with reference to FIG. The laser beam printer 101 is connected to an external device 131 such as a computer, and prints on the recording paper P based on the control of the external device 131. The external device 131 supplies various control signals and image information to the video controller 127 via a network. Based on the image information sent from the external device 131, the video controller 127 generates and outputs various control signals and video signals. Various control signals and video signals output from the video controller 127 are input to the engine control device 126 via a video interface. The engine control device 126 controls each part in the printer.

  FIG. 8 shows the operation timing of the laser beam printer of FIG. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the / RDY signal from the external device 131 becomes TRUE, the video controller 127 sets the / PRINT signal to TRUE as shown in FIG. 8B. When the / PRINT signal becomes TRUE, the engine control device 126 starts driving the main motor 123 and the polygon motor 114 as shown in FIGS. As the main motor 123 is driven, the photosensitive drum 117, the pressure roller 110 of the fixing unit 109, and the paper discharge rollers 111, 112, and 113 start to rotate. Thereafter, the engine control device 126 starts controlling the light amount of the semiconductor laser 113, supplying a high voltage to the primary charger 119, the developing device 120, and the transfer charger 121, and controlling the temperature of the heater 133.

  As shown in FIG. 8G, when the time T1 has elapsed from the start of driving from the polygon motor 114 and the rotation of the polygon motor 114 is in a steady state, the engine control device 126, as shown in FIG. 124 is turned on to drive the paper feed roller 105, and the recording paper P in the paper feed cassette is fed toward the registration roller 106. The engine control device 126 outputs the / VSREQ signal to the video controller 127 as shown in FIG. 8C at the timing when the recording paper P reaches the registration roller 106, and the paper feed clutch as shown in FIG. 8H. 124 is turned off to stop the driving of the paper feed roller 105. On the other hand, when the video controller 127 finishes developing the image information from the external device 131 to the dot image and completes the preparation for outputting the / VDO signal, it is confirmed that the / VSREQ signal in FIG. 8C is TRUE. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8D, the / VSYNC signal is set to TRUE. In synchronization with this, output of the / VDO signal is started as image data for one page after time Tv as shown in FIG.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 8 (i), the engine controller unit 126 turns on the registration roller clutch 125 and drives the registration roller 106 after time T3 from the rise of the / VSYNC signal. The registration roller 106 is driven for T4 until the trailing edge of the recording paper P passes the registration roller 106 as shown in FIG. During this time, the engine control device 126 drives the semiconductor laser 113 in accordance with the / VDO signal from the video controller 127.

  Laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 113 is converted into linear scanning by rotation of the polygon mirror 114 of the scanner unit 107. Thereafter, the laser beam is reflected by the mirror 116 and applied to the photosensitive drum 117. A laser beam modulated in accordance with the / VDO signal in this manner is simultaneously scanned on the photosensitive drum 117 to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 117, and thereafter, the same operation is repeated to make 1 on the photosensitive drum 117. A latent image for the page is formed.

  The latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 117 is developed by the developing device 120, and then the toner image is transferred to the recording paper P by the transfer charger 121. When the transfer is completed, the recording paper P is conveyed to the fixing device 109 and the toner image is fixed on the recording paper P, and then discharged to the outside by the paper discharge roller 111. Further, when the next page is continuously printed, the engine control device 126 sets the PRINT signal to TRUE again after time T5 as shown in FIG. 8B, and performs the same control as that for printing the first page.

  Reference numeral 134 denotes a door that is provided on the paper conveyance path and is provided so that jammed paper can be accessed when a jam occurs. The user opens this door at the time of jamming, removes jammed paper, and cancels jamming. Reference numeral 135 denotes a sensor for detecting door opening / closing.

  In FIG. 7, reference numeral 102 denotes an LCD panel. The engine control device 126 notifies the user of information such as initialization, standby, printing, failure, no paper, no toner, etc. on the LCD panel 102. Also, options and the like are displayed when setting the paper feed port, paper size, paper type, and the like.

In FIG. 7, reference numerals 141, 151 and 161 denote 500 sheet feed option cassettes. The 500 sheet feed option cassettes 141, 151, and 161 are used to reduce the number of paper feeds when the frequency of use is high. The other 500-sheet feeding option cassettes 141, 151, and 161 are used by storing different paper sizes and different paper types for each cassette. This eliminates the complexity of setting each time a different paper size or paper type is used. In the 500 sheet feed option cassettes 141, 151 and 161, 142, 152 and 162 are feed rollers, 143, 153 and 163 are paper presence sensors, 144, 154 and 164 are on the paper transport path, and jammed paper is accessed during a jam. It is a door that can be installed. Each door is opened and closed independently. The user opens this door at the time of jamming, removes jammed paper, and cancels jamming. Reference numerals 145, 155 and 165 denote sensors for detecting opening and closing of the door.
JP2001-97611

  In the configuration described in the above-described conventional example, when printing is performed with at least one paper feed option connected, when a jam occurs and the user does not search and remove the jam paper, It is necessary to search by opening and closing all the doors for jamming, and the burden on the user is large.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to connect all the doors for jamming on the printer engine and the paper feed option so that all the doors can be interlocked and opened. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily access to jammed paper and can improve usability. Further, since one door opening / closing sensor can be configured regardless of the number of paper feed options, the cost can be reduced by deleting other sensors and bundled wires to the sensors.

  In order to achieve the above goal, the present invention has the following features.

[1]: a paper feed option unit having an optional door for jam processing on the sheet conveyance path;
At least one of the paper feed option units can be connected,
In the printer engine having a conveyance path through which the sheet is sent from the option and having a main body door for jamming on the conveyance path,
When the printer engine and the paper feed option unit are connected,
Means for connecting the main body door and the adjacent optional door;
And if there are multiple optional doors,
An image forming apparatus having means for connecting each option door.

  [2] The image forming apparatus according to [1], wherein the connection unit is configured by fitting mechanical members.

  [3] The image forming apparatus according to 1 or 2, wherein the connection unit is made of a magnetic material.

As explained above,
According to the first invention of the present invention,
A paper feed option unit having an optional door for jam handling on the sheet conveyance path;
At least one of the paper feed option units can be connected,
In the printer engine having a conveyance path through which the sheet is sent from the option and having a main body door for jamming on the conveyance path,
When the printer engine and the paper feed option unit are connected,
Means for connecting the main body door and the adjacent optional door;
And if there are multiple optional doors,
By having means for connecting each optional door,
When a jam occurs during printing with the paper feed option connected, the paper transport path can be opened greatly, making it easier for users to search for jammed paper on the paper transport path and to access the jammed paper. An image forming apparatus that can be improved can be provided. Further, since one door opening / closing detection sensor can be configured regardless of the number of paper feed options, the cost can be reduced by deleting other sensors and bundled wires to the sensors.

According to the second invention of the present invention,
Since the connecting means is configured by fitting mechanical members, a cost-effective configuration can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
Since the connecting means is made of a magnetic material, the structure can be made advantageous in terms of cost.

Example 1
The first embodiment will be described below by taking a laser beam printer as an example. The optional configuration of the laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as printer main body) according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a printer body. An LCD panel 2 located in front of the printer main body 1 transmits various information to the user. Below the printer body 1 is a standard paper feed cassette 3. The standard sheet cassette has 500 sheets. When viewed from the front of FIG. 1, the left side is a paper conveyance path, and 14 is a door provided to allow access to the paper on the conveyance path.

  Next, 4 is a 500 sheet feeding option. In the 500 sheet feeding option 4, 5 is an interface connector that is electrically connected to the printer main body 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes a paper path from the 500 sheet feed option 4 to the printer main body 1. Reference numeral 7 denotes a paper feed cassette.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes a door provided so as to be able to access paper on the conveyance path, similarly to the door 14 provided in the printer main body 1. Reference numeral 16 denotes a hook provided so that the doors can be coupled to each other when the main body door 14 or the paper feed option door 15 is installed on the upper stage. When this hook is connected to the door of the lower cassette, all doors connected by one operation can be opened and closed.

  Further, the opening / closing is detected by a sensor 20 for detecting the opening / closing of the door so that the sheet feeding operation is not performed in the open state.

  In addition, the 500 sheet feeding option 4 can be attached to the lower side thereof.

  Subsequently, 9 is a duplex printing option. The duplex printing option 9 feeds paper after inverting the paper on which one side is printed. In this way, double-sided printing is realized.

  Subsequently, reference numeral 10 denotes a paper discharge option mounted on the upper portion of the printer main body 1.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes an openable / closable opening / closing device having the LCD panel 2.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the paper feed option 4 is installed on the printer body 1 in three stages.

  Reference numeral 18 denotes a door in which the main body door 14 and the paper feed option cassette door 15 in FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows details of the connecting portion between the main body 1 and the paper feed cassette option 4.

  On the paper feed cassette option 4 side, a hook 16 that can be connected to the upper body door 14 is provided, and the hook 16 always applies a force to the rear part of the printer (left side in the figure) by a spring 19 as shown in FIG. It has been added.

  When the printer main body 1 is set in the paper feed cassette option 4, the hook 16 is tilted to the front side of the printer, and the curved portion of the hook 16 slides on the rear side of the printer in the coupling hole 22 provided in the printer main body 1. It is inserted into the main body 1 and locked in the coupling hole 20. As a result, the printer main body door 14 and the paper feed cassette option door 15 are coupled and can be opened and closed by a series of operations. Further, when releasing the connection, the user simply lifts the upper printer body 1 and the hook 16 is removed from the connection hole 20.

  In the above example, the printer main body 1 and the paper feed cassette option 4 are connected. However, the paper feed cassette option 4 can be connected in the same manner. This is because, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower part of the paper feed cassette option 4 is configured to have a coupling hole like the lower part of the printer main body 1.

  When the main body door 14 and the paper feed option cassette door 15 are connected as shown in FIG. 2 and can be opened and closed by one operation, a jam has occurred in the past, and when jammed paper is processed on the paper feed path The user can open the paper transport path greatly by connecting the doors when searching for jammed paper without opening the doors. Access up to can be made easy. As a result, usability can be improved.

  Further, the door opening / closing detection sensor is conventionally required for each of the main body sheet feeding cassette and the sheet feeding option cassette, but by connecting the door, the number of sensors for opening / closing detection can be reduced to one. . As a result, the number of sensors and the number of electric wires to each sensor can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  It should be noted that the jam handling door can be connected no matter how many stages of the sheet feeding option cassettes are stacked on the lower part of the main body.

(Example 2)
In the first embodiment, the doors are connected to each other by hooks. However, the doors may be connected by a magnetic force from a magnet.

  The configuration of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 51 denotes a printer body. An LCD panel 52 located in front of the printer main body 51 transmits various information to the user. Below the printer main body 51 is a standard paper feed cassette 53. The standard sheet cassette has 500 sheets. The left side of FIG. 4 when viewed from the front is a paper conveyance path, and 64 is a door provided to allow access to the paper on the conveyance path.

  Subsequently, reference numeral 54 denotes a 500 sheet feeding option. In the 500 sheet feeding option 54, 55 is an interface connector that is electrically connected to the printer main body 51. Reference numeral 56 denotes a paper path from the 500 sheet feed option 54 to the printer main body 51. Reference numeral 57 denotes a paper feed cassette. Similarly to the door 64 provided in the printer main body 51, 65 is a door provided so that the paper on the conveyance path can be accessed. Reference numeral 69 denotes a magnet provided so that doors can be coupled to each other when a paper feed option is installed in the lower stage of the standard cassette. By connecting with the door of the upper cassette by the magnetic force of this magnet, it becomes possible to open and close all the doors connected by one operation. Also, the sensor 50 for detecting the opening / closing of the door detects the opening / closing so that the sheet feeding operation is not performed when the door is open.

  Further, the same sheet feeding option 54 can be attached to the lower side of the 500 sheet feeding option 54.

  Subsequently, 59 is a duplex printing option. The duplex printing option 59 feeds paper after inverting the paper on which one side is printed. In this way, double-sided printing is realized.

  Subsequently, reference numeral 60 denotes a paper discharge option mounted on the upper portion of the printer main body 51.

  Reference numeral 63 denotes an openable / closable opening / closing device having an LCD panel 52.

  FIG. 5 shows details of the connecting portion between the main body 51 and the paper feed cassette option 54.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 71 denotes a printer main body magnet, and the main body door 64 and the option door 65 are connected to each other by opening and closing the single operation by attaching the option magnet 69 on the upper part of the paper feed option cassette 54 by magnetic force. Will be able to. The main body magnet 71 is connected to the printer main body 51 via a main body spring 73, and the main body magnet 71 is kept at a position protruding slightly outward from the lower portion of the printer main body 51 in a normal state.

  When the printer main body 51 is placed on a flat floor or the like, the main body magnet 71 is pressed and the main body spring 73 contracts, and the main body magnet 71 is housed in the printer main body 51.

  A pedestal 74 for the option magnet 72 is connected to the paper feed cassette option 54 via an option spring 75. A switch 76 operates the pedestal 74 in the vertical direction. When the switch 76 is lowered downward by the user, the magnet 72 and the pedestal 74 are housed in the paper feed option cassette 54.

  When the connected door is released and the printer main body 51 and the paper feed option cassette 54 are removed, the switch 76 is lowered to release the adhesion between the main body magnet 71 and the option magnet 72 and then removed.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which the paper feed option 54 is installed on the printer main body 51 in three stages.

  Reference numeral 68 denotes a door in which the main body door 64 and the paper feed option cassette door 65 in FIG. 4 are connected by a magnet and can be opened and closed by one operation.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the main body door 64 and the paper feed option cassette door 65 are connected to each other so that all the doors can be opened and closed. When processing, the user does not know which door to access and has to open and close all the doors to search for jammed paper. Access to the paper can be facilitated. As a result, usability can be improved.

  Further, the door opening / closing detection sensor is conventionally required for each of the main body sheet feeding cassette and the sheet feeding option cassette, but the number of opening / closing detection sensors can be reduced to one by connecting the doors. As a result, the number of sensors and the number of electric wires to each sensor can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  It should be noted that the jam handling door can be connected no matter how many stages of the sheet feeding option cassettes are stacked on the lower part of the main body.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a laser beam printer of Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the detail of the door connection part of Example 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a laser beam printer of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a laser beam printer according to a second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the detail of the door connection part of Example 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a laser beam printer according to a second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the laser beam printer of a prior art example. It is a timing chart explaining operation | movement of the printer of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Laser beam printer main body 102 LCD panel 108 Toner cartridge 109 Fixing unit 110 Pressure roller 113 Laser 117 Photosensitive drum 120 Developing device 121 Transfer roller 123 Motor 126 Engine controller 127 Video controller 131 External input device 133 Fixing heater 134 For printer main body jam processing Door 135 Jam handling door open / close detection sensor 136 Fixing roller 141, 151, 161 500 sheet feed option cassette 142, 152, 162 Paper feed option cassette paper feed roller 143, 153, 163 Paper feed option cassette paper presence sensor 144, 154 164 Paper feed option cassette jam processing door 145, 155, 165 Jam processing door open / close detection sensor P Recording paper

Claims (3)

A paper feed option unit having an optional door for jam handling on the sheet conveyance path;
At least one of the paper feed option units can be connected,
In the printer engine having a conveyance path through which the sheet is sent from the option and having a main body door for jamming on the conveyance path,
When the printer engine and the paper feed option unit are connected,
Means for connecting the main body door and the adjacent optional door;
And if there are multiple optional doors,
An image forming apparatus having means for connecting each option door.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit is configured by fitting a mechanical member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit is made of a magnetic material.

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