JP2007145584A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase working efficiency and enhance convenience for users during the supply of sheets, replacement of cartridge to fill toner, take-out of recorded sheets, and other operations in an image forming device. <P>SOLUTION: While an image forming device body is operated, an image-formed sheet 6 is loaded to a changing unit 30 when discharged to a rear discharge cassette 16 by a discharge roller 14 and a facing roller 15. The loaded sheet 6 is directionally changed by a U-turn path 31, discharged to the front of a unit, namely, to the front side of an image forming device body by a pair of rotating bodies composed of an outlet side roller 33 and a facing roller 34, and loaded on a front discharge tray 45. Since the sheet 6 is directionally changed to be returned to the front side, when a user performs various operations and handlings at the front of the image forming device body, the user can use it easily. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, and a multifunction machine, and more particularly, a conversion having a function of changing the direction of a discharged sheet toward the front front of the apparatus for the purpose of improving convenience. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus to which a unit is attached and detached.

  FIG. 8 shows an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus as a specific example of the image forming apparatus. For example, the photosensitive drums 101M, 101C, 101Y, and 101K corresponding to each color such as magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (K) (hereinafter simply referred to as “photosensitive drum 101” except when necessary). The same applies to other members), and the drum surface is uniformly charged by applying a charging bias to the charging roller. These photosensitive drums 101 form an electrostatic latent image by laser light emitted from the laser scanner 120 based on image data sent from a personal computer, a host computer or the like (not shown) to the controller 121 of the image forming apparatus. Then, each color toner image is carried by the developing means 104. A sheet 106 as a recording medium is sent out from a paper feed cassette 105 by a paper feed roller 107. The sheet 106 passes through the registration roller 108 and is conveyed by the transfer conveyance belt 109, and the toner image of each color is transferred from the photosensitive drum 101. The transferred sheet 106 is heated and pressed by the fixing roller 113 to melt and fix the toner image, and is discharged to the discharge tray 116 by the discharge roller 114. The size of the discharge tray 116 and the length in the sheet discharge direction are determined by the size of the apparatus main body. When the sheet 106 is long and large, the extension tray 130 is pulled out from the apparatus main body to enlarge the stacking space, and the large sheet is prevented from drooping to the rear of the apparatus. When the sheet 106 is jammed inside the apparatus, the front door 117 in front of the apparatus is opened to open the conveyance path, and the sheet 106 staying inside the apparatus is removed.

  In this electrophotographic color image forming apparatus, the first one in which the conveyance path from the sheet feed roller 108 to the sheet 106 passing through the sheet discharge roller 114 is provided at the front front of the apparatus main body. It has been proposed by the applicant (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As a result, the convenience to the user is improved as follows. Here, the front side (front side) of the apparatus body is a position where the user faces the operation unit on which an operation panel, operation buttons, and the like are provided for operating the apparatus, and as shown in FIG. To access the operation unit. Even when a jam occurs, the user can perform the removal processing work in a posture facing the front of the apparatus, which is convenient. In addition, since the transport path is provided at the shortest distance, the number of transport rollers and the like can be minimized, and the first printout time can be shortened. Further, when the sheet 106 is replenished to the sheet cassette 105, the sheet cassette 105 can be pulled out toward the front of the apparatus. Further, when the toner runs out, the process cartridge 102 can be easily replaced by opening the front door 117 forward with the hinge portion 118 as a fulcrum.

JP-A-2005-242251

  However, there is room for improvement in the following points in the electrophotographic color image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228707, which is illustrated in FIG. 8 as a reference diagram.

  One is configured such that the sheet 106 is sent out by a discharge roller 114 and discharged to a discharge tray 116 at the rear of the apparatus in order to make the conveyance path the shortest distance. For this reason, when the user picks up the discharged sheet 106, the user goes around the rear of the apparatus, forcibly loses his / her posture, and it is difficult to check the sheet on the discharge tray 116 from the front of the apparatus.

  In addition, in the case of a small image forming apparatus, one is installed on the user's work desk or the like, and for the user who is working while sitting on a chair, to pick up the sheet 106 discharged to the discharge tray 116, You have to get up and stand up.

  Furthermore, in order to cope with the large-size sheet 106, the extension tray 130 is protruded from the rear part of the apparatus. In view of the protruding length of the tray, it is necessary to secure a distance away from the wall surface of the installation place to some extent, which occupies a large installation space.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving user workability and convenience during operations and operations such as sheet replenishment, cartridge replacement during toner replenishment, and removal of recorded sheets. is there.

    In order to achieve the above object, a typical image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet feeding unit that feeds a sheet to the image forming unit, and a sheet on which an image is formed. The sheet discharging means for discharging the sheet from the front side of the operation unit of the apparatus main body to the discharge tray provided at the upper part of the apparatus main body, and the direction of the sheet toward the discharge tray to the front side of the apparatus main body. And a conversion unit.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, by changing the sheet discharge direction to the front of the image forming apparatus main body, the discharge sheet can be dealt with from the front of the apparatus, so that the workability and convenience for the user are improved.

  Hereinafter, as a preferred embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, for example, an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus main body is configured such that the photosensitive drums 1M, 1C, 1Y, and 1K are rotatable for each of the process cartridges 2M, 2C, 2Y, and 2K each having a developer (toner) of each color. The both ends of the drum are supported. Hereinafter, the process cartridge 2 and the photosensitive drum 1 will be simply referred to unless otherwise necessary, and the same applies to the devices of other related process means. Rotational power from a drive source motor (not shown) is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 1 through the transmission means, and rotates counterclockwise as shown in the figure. Each photosensitive drum 1 having an organic photoconductor layer coated on the surface is uniformly charged by applying a charging bias to the charging roller 3. The photosensitive drums 1 are selectively exposed by laser light from a laser scanner 20 based on image data sent from a host computer or the like to the controller 21 of the image forming apparatus, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. This electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image by attaching toner of each color by the developing means 4.

  A sheet 6 as a recording medium is stacked and stored in the sheet feeding cassette 5, and the sheet 6 is fed by a feeding roller 7 and then sent from a registration roller 8 to a transfer conveyance belt 9. The transfer / conveying belt 9 is wound between a driving roller 10 and a driven roller 11, and the driving roller 10 receives rotational power from a driving source and rotates clockwise while being in contact with the photosensitive drum 1. A predetermined transfer bias is applied to each of the transfer rollers 12 serving as a transfer unit to the sheet 6, and each color toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the sheet 6 conveyed by the transfer conveyance belt 9. The sheet 6 to which the four color toner images have been transferred is carried into the fixing roller 13, and the toner image is heated and pressurized and fixed on the sheet 6, thereby obtaining a color image.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this case, as a first embodiment of a conversion unit having a sheet discharge direction changing function, a conversion unit 30 is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

  The conversion unit 30 has a conversion function for converting the sheet 6 being discharged after finishing image formation toward the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 1 shows a state before mounting, and FIG. 2 shows a state after mounting. Show. Here, the front side (front) of the main body of the image forming apparatus is a position where the user stands to operate the operation unit 19 including an operation panel, operation buttons, and the like from the direction of the arrows shown in FIGS. When the conversion unit 30 is not installed in the main body of the apparatus as an option, or is not mounted as shown in FIG. 1, the sheet 6 passes through the fixing roller 13 and is discharged onto the rear discharge tray 16 by the discharge roller 14 and the opposing roller 15. Then loaded.

  The conversion unit 30 is provided with a conveyance path (hereinafter referred to as a U-turn path) 31 curved in a U shape. The U-turn path 31 is connected to the rotating body pair of the discharge roller 14 and the opposing roller 15 on the apparatus main body side that rotates by receiving rotational power from the rotational driving source, and image formation sent out from the rotating body pair is formed. The direction of the finished sheet 6 is changed so as to return to the front side of the apparatus. A passive gear 32 is provided by exposing a part of the teeth from the lower surface in the drawing of the conversion unit 30 and is connected by a gear directly connected to the roller shaft of the outlet side roller 33 and two idle gears (both not shown). Yes. Further, a positioning pin 35 and a locking claw 36 are provided so as to protrude from the lower surface of the conversion unit 30. Furthermore, it has a locking lever 38 that can be rotated about a swinging fulcrum 37, and is urged by a tension spring 39 in a direction in which the rear end of the lever abuts against the stopper 40. The part can be rotated counterclockwise in the figure. The distal end portion of the locking lever 38 protrudes from the lower surface of the conversion unit 30 as a hook-shaped locking portion 38a.

  Further, a front discharge tray 45 as a stacking tray is detachable at the front of the conversion unit 30, and the front discharge tray 45 is discharged from the discharge roller 33 and the opposing roller 34 at the outlet end of the U-turn path 31. The stacked sheets 6 are stacked. The front discharge tray 45 is fixed by engaging the coupling convex portion 46 provided at the base end portion thereof with the fixed concave portion 41 formed on the front surface of the conversion unit 30.

  A positioning hole 50, a front locking groove 51, and a rear locking groove 52 are provided at the upper position of the image forming apparatus main body corresponding to the above-described parts and members provided in the conversion unit 30.

  Therefore, when the conversion unit 30 is mounted on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body, the locking claw 36 at the front of the unit is engaged with the front locking groove 51 at the upper part of the apparatus main body. Subsequently, when the positioning pin 35 at the rear part of the unit is set at a predetermined position and the hook-like locking part 38a of the locking lever 38 is moved over the rear locking groove 52 at the upper part of the apparatus body, the conversion unit 30 is Lock fixed. At this time, the passive gear 32 on the conversion unit side is connected to a gear (not shown) directly connected to the roller shaft of the discharge roller 14 at the upper part of the apparatus body and receives a rotational force, and in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing during the printing operation. By rotating, the outlet side roller 33 of the U-turn path 31 is rotated in the clockwise direction via the two idle gears.

  On the other hand, when the conversion unit 30 is removed from the upper part of the apparatus main body, it is reversely operated so as to rotate forward with the locking claw 36 at the front of the unit as a fulcrum. If 38a gets over the rear locking groove 52 at the upper part of the apparatus main body, the conversion unit 30 is unlocked.

  From the above, while the image forming apparatus main body is in operation, the sheet 6 on which the image has been formed passes through the fixing roller 13 and is sent out toward the conversion unit 30 by the discharge roller 14 and the opposing roller 15. The direction of the sheet 6 carried into the U-turn path 31 is changed, and the sheet 6 is discharged toward the front of the unit, that is, the front side of the front side of the image forming apparatus main body by the pair of rotating bodies by the exit side roller 33 and the opposing roller 34, 45 is loaded.

  Since the sheet 6 is changed in direction toward the front side as described above, the following convenience and convenience are provided for the user when performing various operations and handling on the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body. It is.

  For example, when the sheet 6 is replenished as shown in FIG. 3, the paper feed cassette 5 is pulled out to the front side of the image forming apparatus main body. Similarly, in FIG. 3, when the sheet 6 is jammed during operation, the front door (opening / closing door) 17 carrying the transfer conveyance belt 9 and the like inside the door is illustrated with the hinge pin 18 as a fulcrum. Open it by turning it clockwise. Then, the inside of the image forming apparatus main body is opened, the sheet conveyance path is exposed, and the staying sheet 6 can be removed. Further, when a jam occurs in the U-turn path 31 after the sheet 6 is carried into the conversion unit 30, the conversion unit 30 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. Then, the jammed sheet 6 is removed by being pulled out of the conversion unit 30. On the other hand, when the notification means informs that the toner has run out, the user recognizes it and opens the front door 17 so as to pull it out. The front side (front side) of the main body of the image forming apparatus is opened in a wide space, and the toner containing process cartridge 2 to be replaced is removed to perform toner supply.

  As is clear from this, in any work or operation, the user does not have to bother to go behind or behind the image forming apparatus main body, and can perform a desired work or operation while standing or sitting in front of the apparatus main body. Can be performed easily.

  In particular, in the image forming apparatus installed on the work desk, the user can pick up the discharged sheet 6 while sitting on the chair. Further, even when the discharged sheet 6 is a long and large size, it does not protrude to the rear of the image forming apparatus main body, the apparatus back surface can be installed close to the wall, and the installation area of the apparatus can be reduced. Further, the user can easily attach and detach and upgrade the image reading means and various paper discharge options without impairing the installation area and accessibility to the discharged paper. Such an effect is common in the following embodiments.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the structure when the image reading unit 60 is mounted above the conversion unit 30 according to the first embodiment as the second embodiment. 4 shows a state before mounting, and FIG. 5 shows a state after mounting.

  The image reading unit 60 has an image reading unit 61. When the document cover 62 is opened by rotating the hinge pin 63 as a fulcrum, this becomes a document table 64. The image reading unit 61 reads image data of a document set on the document table 64 with a line sensor using a CCD (charge coupled device) element as an image sensor, and transmits the image data to the controller 21 of the apparatus body. A column stay 65 extends from the bottom of the image reading unit 61, and a positioning pin 66 and a locking claw 67 project from the lower surface of the column stay 65. Further, the lever 69 is provided so as to be able to swing around the fulcrum 68, and one end of the lever 69 is urged by the tension spring 70 in a direction in which it abuts against the stopper 71, and the other end of the lever resists the spring force. It can be rotated counterclockwise. The other end of the lever is formed in a hook shape. In addition, a floating connector 72 for signal transmission / reception is provided to receive power supply from the apparatus main body and to transmit image data of the document to the apparatus main body. Supported with dimensions.

  Corresponding to each member of the image reading unit 60, a positioning hole 75, a front locking groove 76 and a rear locking groove 77 are formed in the upper part of the apparatus main body. Further, a main body side connector 78 for supplying power to the image reading unit 60 and receiving image data of a document read by the image reading unit 61 is provided. A signal transmitted / received via the connector 78 is transmitted to the controller 21.

  In FIG. 5 showing the mounted state, the position of the image reading unit 60 relative to the apparatus main body is determined by engaging the positioning pin 66 of the image reading unit 60 with the positioning hole 75 on the apparatus main body side. At the same time, the locking claw 67 on the unit side engages with the front locking groove 76 on the apparatus main body side, and the hook-shaped end of the lever 69 on the unit side is locked to the rear on the apparatus main body side by the urging force of the tension spring 70. Engage with the groove 77 and bump. Thereby, the image reading unit 60 is fixed to the apparatus main body. Further, since the unit-side floating connector 72 has a play size due to slight play in the front-rear and left-right directions, the unit-side floating connector 72 is smoothly connected to the body-side connector 78 during the mounting operation of the image reading unit 60 to the apparatus body. When detaching the image reading unit 60 from the apparatus main body, the front hook hook-shaped locking portion 69a of the locking lever 69 is formed in the rear locking groove 77 on the apparatus main body side by rotating the locking claw 67 forward about the fulcrum. By getting over, the lock is released.

  However, in this second embodiment, the case where the conversion unit 30 of the first embodiment is provided is illustrated, but this is not an essential condition, and only the image reading unit 60 is the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body. Of course, a structure that can be attached to and detached from the housing is also possible. In that case, since the sheet 6 is discharged and stacked on the rear discharge tray 16 and the rear discharge tray 16 is closed by the right and left column trays 65, the user takes out the printed sheet 6 from the back of the apparatus. become.

(Third embodiment)
Next, FIG. 6 shows that the conversion unit 30 of the first embodiment and the image reading unit 600 of the second embodiment are integrated, and a front discharge tray 45 is further added to the conversion unit to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. It is a structure to let you.

  In this case, when a jam occurs on the sheet 6 in the U-turn path 310, the stayed sheet 6 can be easily removed by removing the image reading unit 600 with a sheet conversion function from the image forming apparatus main body. Other configurations and effects are as described in the first and second embodiments.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, FIG. 7 shows a sorting unit 80 having a sheet discharge direction changing function and attached to and detached from the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body as a fourth embodiment of the changing unit. In this sorting unit 80, a conveyance path 81 that is curved and formed in a U shape having a plurality of outlets for directing the sheet 6 that has been carried in from the pair of rotating bodies of the discharge roller 14 and the opposing roller 15 to the front of the apparatus main body. Is provided. Part of the teeth of the passive gear (not shown) protrudes from the lower surface of the sorting unit 80. For example, a gear directly connected to each of the plurality of first, second, and third discharge rollers 82a, 82b, and 82c and a plurality of idle gears (all not shown) are connected. Corresponding to these discharge rollers, there are provided upper, middle and lower three-stage front discharge trays 95a, 95b and 95c, on which the discharge rollers 82 and the sheets 6 fed from the opposing rollers are stacked. Moreover, it has the upper flapper 91 and the lower flapper 92, the actuator of a switching means act | operates, and direction switching by rotation centering on the fulcrum 93 is performed.

  The sorting unit 80 is fixed to the floating connector and the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and is connected to a main body side connector (both not shown). An operation signal corresponding to the sorting method can be sent from the controller 21 to an actuator that switches between the upper flapper 91 and the lower flapper 92. Based on this operation signal, the upper flapper 91 and the lower flapper 92 close one path at the conveyance direction branch point of the conveyance path 81, and the conveyance path of the sheet 6 and the front discharge tray 95 to be stacked are determined. Each of the front discharge trays 95 has a protrusion 96, which engages with a groove 89 on the front surface of the sorting unit 80. Further, a positioning pin 83 and a locking claw 84 are provided so as to protrude from the lower surface of the sorting unit 80, and a locking lever 86 which can be rotated from a fulcrum 85 is provided, and is urged clockwise by a tension spring 87 in the drawing. The lever rear end is brought into contact with the stopper 88 and is stationary. The distal end portion of the locking lever 86 protrudes as a hook-shaped locking portion 86a as in the above embodiments.

  A positioning hole 50, a front locking groove 51, and a rear locking groove 52 are formed in the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body corresponding to each part and each member. The structure in which the sorting unit 80 is engaged with and disengaged from the upper part of the main body of the image forming apparatus by the engagement of these parts and members is the same as in the above embodiments.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments, application examples, modified examples, and combinations thereof are possible as long as they do not depart from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, instead of the U-turn path shown in each embodiment, a switchback type transport path may be provided inside the conversion unit. In addition, a staple unit that bundles a plurality of sheets discharged after finishing image formation from the image forming apparatus main body and performs a staple binding process or the like can be attached to and detached from the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body. Even in that case, it also has the function of changing the sheet discharge direction.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state before a conversion unit that is the first embodiment of the sheet discharge direction changing device is mounted on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where the conversion unit according to the first embodiment is mounted on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a user performs sheet replenishment, process cartridge replacement, jam processing, and the like from the front of the apparatus main body. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state before an image reading unit according to a second embodiment is mounted on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body in addition to the conversion unit. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state where an image reading unit is mounted in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state before a sheet discharge direction changing device in which a conversion unit and an image reading unit are integrated as a third embodiment is mounted on an upper portion of an image forming apparatus main body. The figure which shows the state with which the sorting unit which is 4th Embodiment was mounted | worn with the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body in addition to the conversion unit. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

2 Process cartridge 5 Paper feed cassette 6 Sheet 16 Rear discharge tray 17 Front door 30 Conversion unit 31, 81 U-turn path 45,95 Front discharge tray 60 Image reading unit 80 Sorting unit

Claims (10)

An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A sheet feeding unit for feeding a sheet to the image forming unit;
A sheet discharge means for discharging the image-formed sheet from a front front side operating the operation unit of the apparatus main body to a discharge tray provided at an upper portion of the apparatus main body;
A conversion unit that changes the direction of the sheet toward the discharge tray toward the front side of the apparatus main body;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit includes a curved path that changes the direction of the sheet toward the discharge tray toward the front side of the apparatus main body.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit includes a switchback path that changes the direction of the sheet toward the discharge tray toward the front side of the apparatus main body.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit includes a stacking tray on which the sheets whose directions are changed to the front side of the apparatus main body are stacked. 5.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an image reading device that reads an image on a sheet above the conversion unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the conversion unit is provided integrally with the image reading apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit includes a sorting unit that sorts and stacks the sheets whose directions are changed to the front front side of the apparatus main body on a plurality of trays. 5. apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit is detachably connected to a downstream side of the sheet discharge unit in a sheet conveying direction.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover that is disposed in front of the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable and exposes the image forming unit when the apparatus is opened.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding unit includes a sheet storage cassette that is detachable from a front surface of the apparatus main body.

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