JP2007033817A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the surface of a document from being stained caused by that the document and a recording material pass through a common conveyance path with a compact and simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is equipped with an imaging engine 1 which forms an image on a recording material 2, a conveying means 3 of conveying the recording material 2 to an imaging position of the imaging engine 1, and a document read means 7 of reading the document 8 which can be conveyed along a document conveyance path 6, and the conveying means 3 has a recording material conveyance surface 4 where the recording material 2 can be conveyed and a return movement surface 5 which moves along a surface different from the recording material conveyance surface 4 to constitute a portion of the document conveyance path 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus including a document reading member that reads an image of a document on a path along which the document is conveyed.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to give a printer a copying function, an image forming apparatus is known in which an original reading member is disposed on a paper conveyance path, and an original image is read by conveying the original to the paper conveyance path. (See Patent Document 1).
As this type of image forming apparatus, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, a paper feed cassette 210 that stores paper 211 as a recording material is disposed at the bottom of the apparatus housing 201, and is supplied into the apparatus housing 201. A paper transport path 205 through which the paper 211 fed from the paper cassette 210 is guided to the paper discharge unit 204 is formed, and a document reading member 202 that reads an image of the document 221 along the paper transport path 205 and toner image formation and An image forming engine 203 that performs fixing is provided.

Further, a manual feed tray 220 capable of feeding the recording material is disposed at the lower side portion of the apparatus housing 201 in order to expand the types of applicable recording materials. When the recording material is fed from the manual feed tray 220, it is guided to the paper transport path 205.
In particular, in such a system, it is possible to place a document 221 for reading on the manual feed tray 220 and read and copy an image of the document 221.
That is, when the original 221 is copied using the paper 211 in the paper feed cassette 210 as a recording material, the original 221 set on the manual feed tray 220 is guided to the paper conveyance path 205 when fed into the apparatus, and the paper is conveyed. After the image is read by the document reading member 202 on the path 205, the image is sent to the paper discharge unit 204 through a portion (transfer portion) facing the image forming engine 203. Then, after the document 221 is transported, the sheet 211 is guided from the sheet feeding cassette 210 to the sheet transport path 205, and a toner image is formed by the image forming engine 203 based on the image data read by the document reading member 202. The paper is formed and discharged to the paper discharge unit 204.
According to such a system, the paper conveyance path 205 can be used as the original document conveyance path without providing a special original document conveyance path, so that it is possible to meet the demand for downsizing the apparatus.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-286343 (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 1)

However, in this type of prior art, since the sheet conveyance path 205 and the document conveyance path are used together, the document 221 passes through the transfer unit facing the image forming engine 203 on the sheet conveyance path 205. There is a possibility that the surface of the original 221 may be soiled due to scattering of the toner adhering to the vicinity of the transfer portion.
In order to solve such a problem, a method of newly providing a conveyance path exclusively for the original 221 and avoiding the passage of the transfer portion of the original 221 can be considered. However, according to such a method, the apparatus is large-sized. Therefore, the demand for downsizing the apparatus cannot be met.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above technical problem, and a situation in which the document surface becomes dirty due to the document passing through a common conveyance path with the recording material even though the configuration is small and simple. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can suppress the above.

  That is, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, an image forming engine 1 for creating an image on a recording material 2, a conveying means 3 for conveying the recording material 2 to an image forming portion of the image forming engine 1, and document conveyance A document reading unit 7 that reads a document 8 that can be transported along a path 6 is provided. The transport unit 3 includes a recording material transport surface 4 that can transport the recording material 2 and a surface different from the recording material transport surface 4. And a return movement surface 5 that forms part of the document conveyance path 6.

In such technical means, the number of the image forming engine 1 is not limited as long as it can form an image on the recording material 2, and as an aspect thereof, an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, an ink jet method can be used. The method etc. are mentioned.
In the electrophotographic system and the electrostatic recording system, a tandem type engine, a rotary type engine, or the like is used as an aspect including a plurality of image forming engines 1 and may be appropriately selected. Further, the transfer method in the image forming method is mainly a method in which an image formed on the image carrier is directly transferred to the recording material 2, but may be a method in which the image is transferred via an intermediate transfer member.

Furthermore, the conveying means 3 comprises a recording material conveying surface 4 that constitutes a part of the recording material conveying path from when the recording material 2 is fed to when it is discharged, and is disposed opposite to the image forming engine 1. And a return moving surface 5 that constitutes a part of the document transport path 6 from when the document 8 is fed to when it is discharged.
The document reading means 7 includes, for example, a document reading element such as a CCD sensor that reads an image of the document 8 and an imaging optical system that irradiates the document 8 with light and forms an image reflected from the document 8 on the document reading element. The document reading means 7 is fixedly arranged in a part of the document transport path 6 and the image of the document 8 being transported is read.

Further, it is preferable that the conveying unit 3 is configured such that the moving direction of the recording material conveying surface 4 and the moving direction of the return moving surface 5 are set in opposite directions. Thereby, a small and simple configuration can be realized.
Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the image forming start timing by at least one image forming engine 1 and the reading start timing by the document reading means 7 are set substantially at the same time, and in this case, image memory can be saved. it can. For example, when the image forming engine 1 that forms a color image using the direct transfer method is used, the reading start time of the document 8 and the image forming start time of the first color may be set substantially at the same time.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the document reading unit 7 is disposed at a position facing the return movement surface 5 of the transport unit 3. According to this, the image of the document 8 can be read stably.
Moreover, it is preferable that the conveying means 3 has an endless belt. In this case, although the configuration is simple, in addition to the alignment of the recording material 2 and the document 8 at the image forming site and the reading site, speed adjustment can be performed, and the conveyance unit 3 having a high degree of freedom can be configured. it can.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the conveying means 3 formed of an endless belt includes a charging member 9 that charges the endless belt and a charge removal member 10 that neutralizes the belt.
According to this, since the charging member 9 is provided and a bias is applied to the document 8 on the endless belt, the document 8 can be adsorbed to the belt, thereby suppressing the fluttering of the document 8 and increasing the conveyance accuracy. be able to. Further, since the original 8 is attracted to the belt, the reading accuracy of the original 8 is improved, and the reading portion of the original reading means 7 can be kept in non-contact with the original 8, so that it does not become dirty. Further, it is possible to easily peel off the document 8 adsorbed on the belt by the charge eliminating member 10.
In particular, in this case, it is preferable that the transport unit 3 includes the charging member 9 on the upstream side of the document reading unit 7 on the return movement surface 5 and the neutralizing member 10 on the downstream side of the document reading unit 7.

Moreover, it is preferable that the conveying means 3 has a sheet placement surface, and the surface of the sheet placement surface is a lightness index L ^* 87 or more. As a result, even when the document 8 made of a thin material and having high transparency is used, the image of the document 8 can be read without showing the sheet placement surface through.
Further, it is preferable that a plurality of image forming engines 1 are provided and the image forming engines 1 are arranged in parallel in the recording material conveyance direction. As a result, a so-called vertical in-line type image forming apparatus can be realized, and a small image forming apparatus with a high processing speed can be provided.

  According to the present invention, the recording material conveying path and the document conveying path are provided separately, and the conveying means capable of circulating movement provides a recording material conveying surface constituting a part of the recording material conveying path and a part of the original conveying path. Since the return moving surface is provided, it is not necessary to pass the original through the recording material transport path, and it is not necessary to provide a separate transport means as the return moving surface. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can suppress contamination of the original document while having a small and simple configuration.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 shows Embodiment 1 of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In the figure, an image forming apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment is a so-called vertical in-line type color image forming apparatus, and has four colors (yellow (Y) and magenta (M) in the present embodiment) in a housing case 12. , Cyan (C) and black (K)) process cartridges 21 (specifically 21a to 21d) are arranged in the vertical direction, and a paper feed cassette 13 for containing paper 15 for supply is arranged below them. In addition, a sheet conveyance path 16 serving as a conveyance path for the sheet 15 from the sheet feeding cassette 13 is disposed in a vertical direction at a position corresponding to each process cartridge 21.

In the present embodiment, the process cartridges 21 (21a to 21d) are toners for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) in order from the upstream of the paper transport path 16. It forms an image.
Here, the process cartridge 21 includes, for example, a photosensitive drum 22, a charging roll 23 that precharges the photosensitive drum 22, and an exposure device 27 that irradiates the charged photosensitive drum 22 with scanning light for image formation. A developing roller 24 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed by exposure with the corresponding color toner and a cleaning device (not shown) that removes the waste toner on the photosensitive drum 22 are integrally formed into a cartridge. It is.
On the other hand, the exposure device 27 uses a polygon, a plurality of reflection mirrors, etc., so that one exposure device 27 forms an electrostatic latent image on all the photosensitive drums 22 of four colors. Minutes and four colors can be easily synchronized.

In the present embodiment, a conveyance belt 30 that circulates and moves along the sheet conveyance path 16 is disposed at a position corresponding to each photosensitive drum 22 of the process cartridge 21.
The conveyor belt 30 is stretched between a pair of tension rolls 31 and 32, with the upper tension roll 31 serving as a drive roll and the lower tension roll 32 serving as a driven roll.
Furthermore, a charging roll 35 is disposed at a portion of the conveying belt 30 facing the stretching roll 32, and the sheet 15 is attracted to the conveying belt 30 by applying an adsorption voltage to the charging roll 35. It has become.
In addition, a transfer roll 25 is disposed on the back side of the conveyance belt 30 corresponding to the photosensitive drum 22 of each process cartridge 21, and the transfer roll 25 causes the photosensitive drum 22 and the paper 15 on the conveyance belt 30 to be connected. It comes to make it adhere more. A predetermined transfer bias from a transfer bias power source is appropriately applied between the transfer roll 25 and the photosensitive drum 22.

Further, near the end of the sheet feeding cassette 13 in the sheet conveyance direction, a separating mechanism 14 for feeding sheets 15 from the sheet feeding cassette 13 one by one is provided. The whirling mechanism 14 includes a pickup roll 14a that feeds the paper 15 at a predetermined timing, a feed roll 14b that rolls the paper 15, and a retard roll 14c. Only the uppermost sheet 15 can be sent out. .
Further, the sheet 15 is sent to the conveying belt 30 via the registration roll 36.

  Furthermore, the sheet conveying path 16 located on the downstream side of the most downstream process cartridge 21d is provided with a fixing device 40 having, for example, a heating roll 41 and a pressure roll 42, and on the downstream side of the fixing device 40. Is provided with a decurler 43 that suppresses warping of the paper. Furthermore, a paper discharge roll 44 for paper discharge is disposed at the end of the housing case 12 of the image forming apparatus 11 on the downstream side of the decurler 43, and discharged paper is stored in a storage tray 12 a formed at the top of the housing case 12. Are to be accommodated.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the present embodiment, the conveyor belt 30 that circulates and forms a part of the sheet conveyance path 16 with the side facing the process cartridge 21 as the sheet conveyance surface 30a. A part of the document conveying path 71 is configured with the side moving in the direction opposite to the sheet conveying surface 30a as the document conveying surface 30b (corresponding to the return moving surface).
In particular, in the present embodiment, a document feeding tray 60 on which the document 70 can be placed on the side surface of the housing case 12 is disposed on the upstream side of the document conveying surface 30b, and at the end of the housing case 12. A feeding roll 61 for feeding the document 70 from the document feeding tray 60 is provided.
On the other hand, on the downstream side of the document conveying surface 30 b, a document storage tray 63 for discharging the document 70 is disposed on the side surface of the housing case 12, and the document 70 is placed on the document storage tray 63 at the end of the housing case 12. A discharge roll 62 for discharging the water is disposed.
In the present embodiment, the document storage tray 63 can also be used as a paper feed tray for expanding the types of applicable recording materials. In this case, the recording material placed on the tray is inserted into the registration roll 36 via the paper feed roll 17 and the feed roll 18.

Furthermore, a charging roll 65 is disposed at a portion of the original conveying surface 30b facing the stretching roll 31. By applying an adsorption voltage to the charging roll 65, the original 70 is adsorbed to the conveying belt 30. It has become so.
Further, on the downstream side of the charging roller 65 on the original conveying surface 30b, an image forming optical system for irradiating the original reading element such as a CCD sensor and the original 70 with light and forming a reflected image from the original 70 on the original reading element. A document reading member 66 is provided. Further, an opposing roll 67 for assisting document conveyance is disposed on the downstream side of the document reading member 66 along the document conveyance surface 30b. A neutralizing roll 68 for separating the original adsorbed on 30b is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the document reading member 66 is connected to the control device 75 so that the read image data can be sent out. Further, the control device 75 is connected to the process cartridge 21 a and the image memory 76.
Furthermore, the image memory 76 is connected so that the image data input from the control device 75 is temporarily stored and then sent to the process cartridges 21b, 21c, and 21d.

Further, the process cartridges 21a to 21d arranged in parallel so as to face the sheet conveying surface 30a are kept at a constant interval l with respect to each transfer portion (transfer rolls 25a to 25d).
In the present embodiment, although details will be described later, the distance m from the electrostatic latent image writing point 28a to the transfer point 29a on the photosensitive drum 22a of the process cartridge 21a and the sheet conveyance on the sheet conveyance surface 30a. The distance m from the start position 38 to the transfer site (transfer roll 25a) is set to be equal.

In the present embodiment, a belt having a lightness index L ^* 87 or more is used as the conveying belt 30. In the present embodiment, fluorine-based polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is used for the belt, but the belt is not limited to this embodiment as long as the lightness index L ^* 87 or more can be maintained. A resin film belt or the like may be selected as appropriate.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 11 in the present embodiment will be described focusing on the document conveyance system and the paper conveyance system.
Now, as shown in FIG. 4A, the document 70 is set on the document feeding tray 60. When a start button (not shown) is turned on, the document 70 is sent out by the feeding roll 61 and advances to the document transport surface 30 b of the transport belt 30. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the original 70 on the original conveying surface 30 b is adsorbed to the original conveying surface 30 b by the charging roll 65, and then an image is read by the original reading member 66. Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the document 70 advances to the downstream side of the document conveyance surface 30 b as the conveyance belt 30 circulates and reaches the charge removal roll 68, and is peeled off from the conveyance belt 30 by the charge removal roll 68. At the same time, it is sent out from the discharge roll 62 to the document storage tray 63.

  On the other hand, when the document 70 is set on the document feeding tray 60, the sheet 15 is set in the sheet feeding cassette 13 (see FIG. 4A). Then, after the original 70 is fed, the paper 15 is sent out from the paper feeding cassette 13 by the scooping mechanism 14, positioning is regulated by the registration roll 36, reaches the conveyance belt 30, and is fed by the charging roll 35. It is adsorbed on the conveyance surface 30a. As shown in FIG. 4B, the toner image formed by the process cartridge 21 based on the image data read by the original reading member 66 becomes Y, as the paper 15 travels on the paper transport surface 30a. The images are transferred onto the paper 15 in the order of M, C, and K. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4C, the paper 15 is fixed on the paper 15 by the fixing device 40, and is discharged from the paper discharge roll 44 to the storage tray 12a.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the reading start timing of the document 70 by the document reading member 66 and the image forming start timing of the most upstream process cartridge 21a are set simultaneously. In the following, the progress of the original 70 and the paper 15 will be described in detail.
Now, assuming that the document 70 is set on the document feeding tray 60 and the sheet 15 is stored in the sheet feeding cassette 13, when the start button (not shown) is turned on, the document 70 is fed to the feeding roll. The sheet 15 is fed from the sheet feeding mechanism 61 after a predetermined time has passed.
Then, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the document 70 reaches the document conveyance surface 30b, the document 70 is charged by the charging roll 65, is attracted to the document conveyance surface 30b, and proceeds to the opposite portion of the document reading member 66. On the other hand, the paper 15 reaches the paper transport start position 38 on the paper transport surface 30a. At this time, reading of the image of the original 70 is started by the original reading member 66, while the electrostatic latent image document on the photosensitive drum 22a is read by the exposure device 27 based on the reading data of the original reading member 66 in the process cartridge 21a. Writing of the electrostatic latent image is started at the insertion point 28a.

Further, as the transport belt 30 circulates, the sheet 15 advances a distance m from the sheet transport start position 38 and reaches the transfer portion (transfer roll 25a) of the process cartridge 21a as shown in FIG. 5B. At this time, the electrostatic latent image writing point 28a rotates and moves to the transfer point 29a by the same distance m as the moving distance of the paper 15. The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a Y image by the developing roller 24a during the rotational movement of the photosensitive drum 22a.
The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 22a is transferred to the paper 15 at the transfer point 29a.

Next, the M image is formed and transferred. Here, in the process cartridge 21b for forming the M image, the distance from the electrostatic latent image writing point 28b on the photosensitive drum 22b to the transfer point 29b is set as m, similarly to the process cartridge 21a. The same applies to the process cartridge 21c for forming the C image.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the paper 15 is transported to a position in front of the transfer portion distance m of the process cartridge 21b as the transport belt 30 circulates, the process cartridge 21b has a photosensitive member. Writing of the electrostatic latent image to the transfer point 29b on the drum 22b is started.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the sheet 15 advances by a distance m from the sheet conveyance start position 38 and reaches the transfer portion (transfer roll 25b) of the process cartridge 21b. At this time, the electrostatic latent image writing point 28b is rotationally moved by the same distance m as the moving distance of the paper 15 and moved to the transfer point 29b. The electrostatic latent image is visualized by the developing roll 24b during the rotational movement of the photosensitive drum 22b.
The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 22b is transferred to the paper 15 at the transfer point 29b.

For the K image, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the distance from the electrostatic latent image writing point 28d to the transfer point 29d is set as m, as in the M image, and the electrostatic latent After the writing to the image writing point 28d is performed, the transfer to the sheet 15 conveyed to the transfer portion is performed at a predetermined timing.
When the reading of the image by the document reading member 66 is completed, the document 70 is sent to the document storage tray 63. On the other hand, after finishing the image forming process, the sheet 15 is discharged to the storage tray 12a after the fixing process by the fixing device 40 is performed.

In this embodiment, the distance m from the sheet conveyance start position 38 on the sheet conveyance surface 30a to the transfer site (transfer roll 25a) and the electrostatic latent image writing point 28a on the photosensitive drum 22a to the transfer point 29a. Is set to the same distance. Here, from the viewpoint of making the vertical magnification at the time of copying accurate by equalizing the reading speed (scanning speed) of the original 70 and the image forming speed (printing speed) for writing and transferring the electrostatic latent image, As in the present embodiment, it is desirable to provide a transport distance equal to or greater than the distance m on the upstream side of the transfer portion of the paper transport surface 30a.
In this embodiment, the paper 15 is fed at a timing later than that of the original 70. However, the paper 15 is conveyed to the transfer portion in accordance with the image transfer timing on the photosensitive drum 22a. It suffices if it is set, and if it is set appropriately according to the distance from the paper feed cassette 13 to the transfer portion on the most upstream side of the paper transport path 16 and the distance from the document feed tray 60 to the document reading member 66 of the document 70. Good.

Here, the relationship between the image data read by the document reading member 66 and the image memory 76 of each color image data will be described in detail.
In the present embodiment, the document reading member 66 is connected to the control device 75 so that the image data of the read document 70 can be sent (see FIG. 3).
FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the time lag between reading and image formation of each color while the image data read by the document reading member 66 is decomposed into each color image data by the control device 75. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the amount of image data read by the document reading member 66 is equal to Y image data, M image data, C image data, and K image data.

  Now, when image data is input to the control device 75, the control device 75 sends Y image data to the process cartridge 21 a and sends M image data, C image data, and K image data to the image memory 76. That is, only the Y image data is not sent to the image memory 76, but is sent directly from the control device 75 to the process cartridge 21a. Based on this Y image data, the process cartridge 21a performs image forming processing. As described above, the image forming process of the Y image by the process cartridge 21a is started simultaneously with the start of image reading of the document 70.

Next, when the paper 15 reaches the position just before the distance m of the portion facing the process cartridge 21b as the conveying belt 30 circulates, the process cartridge 21b starts image formation on the photosensitive drum 22b. As shown in FIG. 7, when the image reading start time by the document reading member 66 is T0 and the image forming start time of the process cartridge 21b is T1, the M image read by the document reading member 66 between T0 and T1. Data is stored in the image memory 76.
On the other hand, the image data read by the document reading member 66 after T1 is also sent to the image memory 76. However, in the image memory 76 after T1, the input data amount of the input image data of the M image after T1 of the document reading member 66. The previously stored M image data is sent (imaged) by an amount corresponding to. That is, in the present embodiment, for M image data, the amount of data read by the document reading member 66 after T1 (input amount) and the amount of data to be imaged (output amount) are equal, so at least from T0 to T1. It is only necessary to have a memory capacity capable of storing the image data.

Next, when the sheet 15 reaches the position just before the distance m of the part facing the process cartridge 21c as the conveying belt 30 circulates, image formation on the photosensitive drum 22c is started in the process cartridge 21c. As shown in FIG. 7, when the image forming start time of the process cartridge 21c is T2, the C image data read by the document reading member 66 is accumulated in the image memory 76 during the image reading start time T0 to T2. become.
On the other hand, the image data read by the document reading member 66 after T2 is also sent to the image memory 76. However, in the image memory 76 after T2, the input data amount of the input image data of the C image after T2 of the document reading member 66. The previously stored C image data is sent (imaged) by an amount corresponding to. That is, in the present embodiment, for C image data, the amount of data read by the document reading member 66 after T2 (input amount) and the amount of data to be imaged (output amount) are equal, so at least from T0 to T2. It is only necessary to have a memory capacity capable of storing the image data.

Further, when the sheet 15 reaches a position just before the distance m of the portion facing the process cartridge 21d as the conveying belt 30 circulates, image formation on the photosensitive drum 22d is started in the process cartridge 21d. As shown in FIG. 7, assuming that the image formation start time of the process cartridge 21d is T3, the K image data read by the document reading member 66 during the image read start time T0 to T3 is stored in the image memory 76. become.
In the present embodiment, since the image reading by the document reading member 66 is already completed at the image forming start time (when T3 has elapsed) of the process cartridge 21d, all K image data is stored in the image memory 76. It is accumulated (see FIGS. 3 and 6C).
Therefore, this embodiment requires a memory capacity for storing all image data only for K images.
That is, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to have a memory capacity for storing all the image data for each image other than the K image, so that the memory capacity can be saved.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the paper conveyance path 16 and the document conveyance path 71 are separately provided, so that a situation in which the surface of the document 70 becomes dirty can be avoided. Further, since the conveyance belt 30 that serves as both a part of the sheet conveyance path 16 and a part of the document conveyance path 71 is used, the number of motors and electrical wiring can be saved, and the size can be reduced with a simple configuration. Can be planned. Further, according to the present embodiment, since the scanning speed and the printing speed can be made equal, not only the vertical magnification at the time of copying becomes accurate, but also the reading start timing of the document 70 and the image formation of the process cartridge 21. The memory capacity can be saved by adjusting the start timing.
In the present embodiment, the process cartridge 21 has a four-color configuration of Y, M, C, and K. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the color arrangement order may be appropriately selected. Needless to say.

Embodiment 2
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing Embodiment 2 of the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The present embodiment is configured in substantially the same manner as the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, except that it includes an image forming engine 85 that creates a monochrome image and that the conveyor belt 90 is disposed in the lateral direction. Different from the first embodiment. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

In the figure, an image forming apparatus 80 is provided with an image forming engine 85 for forming and fixing a black monochrome toner image in the center of a housing case 81, and a stretched structure below the image forming engine 85. A conveyor belt 90 that is laid around rolls 91 and 92 and that can be circulated is disposed with the circulatory movement direction set sideways.
Further, in the conveyance belt 90 in the present embodiment, the upper surface is a sheet conveyance surface 90 a that forms part of the sheet conveyance path 111, and the lower surface is a document conveyance surface 90 b (return movement surface) that forms part of the document conveyance path 121. Equivalent).

Further, a sheet supply tray 82 for supplying a sheet 110 as a recording material is disposed on the side surface of the housing case 81 on the upstream side of the sheet conveying surface 90a, and the sheet 110 is placed in the apparatus at the end of the housing case 81. A paper feed roll 83 is provided.
Further, on the downstream side of the sheet conveying surface 90 a, a sheet discharge tray 88 that stores discharged sheets is disposed on the side surface of the housing case 81, and a sheet discharge roll 87 is disposed at the end of the housing case 81. Has been.

On the other hand, on the upstream side of the document conveying surface 90 b, a document feeding tray 93 on which the document 120 can be placed is provided on the side surface of the housing case 81, and the document 120 is fed to the end of the housing case 81. A roll 94 is provided.
A document discharge tray 101 is provided on the side surface of the housing case 81 on the downstream side of the document conveyance surface 90 b, and a discharge roll 100 is provided at the end of the housing case 81.

Furthermore, a charging roll 84 is disposed at a portion of the sheet conveying surface 90 a facing the stretching roll 92, and a neutralizing roll 86 is disposed at a portion facing the stretching roll 91.
On the other hand, a charging roll 96 is disposed at a portion of the original conveying surface 90 b facing the stretching roll 91, and an original guide 95 that guides the conveyance of the original 120 between the feeding roll 94 and the charging roll 96. Is arranged.
Further, a document reading member 98 and a counter roll 97 are provided so as to face the belt stretch portion of the document conveying surface 90b. Further, a neutralizing roll 99 is provided on a portion of the document conveying surface 90b facing the stretching roll 92.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the document reading start timing of the document reading member 98 and the image forming start timing of the image forming engine 85 are set simultaneously. Further, the sheet 110 is preset so as to be conveyed to the transfer position in accordance with the transfer timing.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 80 in the present embodiment will be described focusing on the document conveyance system and the paper conveyance system.
It is assumed that the original 120 is set on the original feed tray 93 and the paper 110 is set on the paper supply tray 82. When a start button (not shown) is turned on, the document 120 is sent out from the feed roll 94 and proceeds to the entrance of the document transport surface 90b of the transport belt 90. On the other hand, the paper 110 is fed out from the paper feed roll 83 and proceeds to the entrance of the paper transport surface 90 a of the transport belt 90.

Then, after the original 120 is attracted to the conveying belt 90 by the charging roll 96 on the original conveying surface 90b, reading of an image is started by the original reading member 98. At this time, the image forming engine 85 starts image forming based on the image read by the document reading member 98. Further, the image forming engine 85 forms a toner image and transfers the toner image onto the paper 110 conveyed at the transfer position in accordance with the transfer timing.
Thus, in the present embodiment, the start of image reading by the document reading member 98 and the start of image formation are performed substantially simultaneously. That is, the image data read by the document reading member 98 is sent to the image forming engine 85 without being stored in the image memory.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the image memory can be omitted.

  As described above, the present embodiment also has the same effects as those of the first embodiment, and the paper supply tray 82 is provided as the paper 110 supply means. Therefore, the types of paper 110 that can be applied simultaneously can be increased. It becomes possible.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating details of an arrangement position of each member arranged in the vicinity of the conveyance belt and the conveyance belt of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the action | operation of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the detail of an action | operation of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the detail of an action | operation of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between image data read by a document reading member of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 and an image memory of each color image data. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a conventional image forming apparatus in which a sheet conveyance path and a document conveyance path are used together.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming engine, 2 ... Recording material, 3 ... Conveyance means, 4 ... Recording material conveyance surface, 5 ... Return moving surface, 6 ... Original conveyance path, 7 ... Original reading means, 8 ... Original, 9 ... Charging member, 10 ... Static elimination member

Claims (9)

An image creation engine that creates images on recording materials;
Conveying means for conveying a recording material to an image forming portion of the image forming engine;
A document reading means for reading a document that can be transported along a document transport path,
The conveying means includes a recording material conveyance surface capable of conveying the recording material, and a return movement surface that moves along a surface different from the recording material conveyance surface and constitutes a part of the document conveyance path. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit sets the moving direction of the recording material conveying surface and the moving direction of the return moving surface in opposite directions. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
An image forming apparatus, wherein an image forming start timing by at least one image forming engine and a reading start timing by an original reading unit are set substantially at the same time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the document reading unit is disposed at a position facing the return movement surface of the conveying unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the conveying means has an endless belt. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a charging member that charges an endless belt; and a discharging member that discharges the belt. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the conveying unit includes a charging member on the upstream side of the document reading unit on the return movement surface, and a neutralizing member on the downstream side of the document reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the conveying unit has a sheet placement surface, and the surface of the sheet placement surface is a lightness index L ^* 87 or more. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
An image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of image forming engines, wherein the image forming engines are arranged in parallel in the recording material conveyance direction.

Images