JP2007197125A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform positioning operation during the slide travel of a recording paper magazine simply. <P>SOLUTION: In this image forming device having a magazine mounting part MS for attaching the recording paper magazine storing long recording paper like a roll detachably, a first guide member 16 for regulating a position of the recording paper magazine is provided in the magazine mounting part, a positioning member for positioning the recording paper magazine is provided in either of the recording paper magazine and the magazine mounting part, a fitting part JP for fitting the positioning member and a second guide member GP for guiding the positioning member into the fitting part JP are provided in the other of them, and the second guide member GP is constituted in such a way that a width for receiving in right and left directions of a receiving end for receiving the positioning member is not smaller than the maximum width of a scope of the fluctuation of a relative existence position for the fitting part JP of the positioning member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a magazine mounting section for detachably mounting a recording paper magazine for storing long recording paper in a roll shape, an image forming unit for forming an image on the recording paper drawn from the recording paper magazine, and the magazine mounting The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a recording paper conveying means for conveying a recording paper from a recording paper magazine attached to the image forming unit to an image forming position by the image forming unit.

Such an image forming apparatus, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 below, is a commercial print process in which a roll-shaped recording paper is pulled out from a recording paper magazine and an image forming unit forms an image at an extremely high speed. Device.
In such an image forming apparatus, when the print size to be handled is changed or when there is no recording paper in the recording paper magazine, it is necessary to replace the recording paper magazine.
In the replacement operation of the recording paper magazine, after the operator of the image forming apparatus lifts and removes the recording paper magazine that has already been loaded, the new recording paper magazine is further lifted and accurately placed at a predetermined loading position. The work of setting in a positioned state is performed.
JP 2004-302284 A

Therefore, in the conventional configuration, since the roll-shaped recording paper stored in the recording paper magazine is relatively light if the paper width is small, the installation position can be accurately positioned with the recording paper magazine lifted. Although the work to be performed is not so difficult, the recording paper magazine becomes quite heavy when handling a recording paper roll with a large paper width, which puts a great deal of labor on the operator who performs the above work. End up.
In order to reduce this work load, instead of positioning the recording paper magazine in a lifted state, a part of the recording paper magazine is placed on the magazine mounting section, and then the recording paper magazine is slid. It is conceivable to perform the positioning operation in the course of the slide movement by adopting a configuration in which it is moved to the normal loading position and loaded.
In such a configuration, in order to facilitate the sliding movement of the recording paper magazine, the recording paper magazine is provided with a caster so that it can cope with a heavier recording paper magazine. It is also possible.
The present invention is to make it easier to perform the positioning operation during the slide movement of the recording paper magazine when the recording paper magazine is loaded in the above-described manner.

  A first invention of the present application is a magazine mounting portion for detachably mounting a recording paper magazine for storing a long recording paper in a roll shape, and an image forming unit for forming an image on the recording paper drawn from the recording paper magazine And a recording paper conveying means for conveying the recording paper from the recording paper magazine attached to the magazine attaching portion to an image forming position by the image forming unit. A first guide member for restricting the position of the recording paper magazine in the left-right direction when viewed in the sliding movement direction when the recording paper magazine is attached to the magazine mounting portion by sliding movement in a direction; And positioning of the recording paper magazine when attached to the magazine attachment portion on one of the magazine attachment portions. A positioning portion for positioning the recording paper magazine, and a positioning portion for supporting the positioning of the recording paper magazine from the both sides in the left-right direction. A second guide member that guides the positioning member to the fitting portion, wherein the second guide member has a receiving width in the left-right direction of a receiving end portion that receives the positioning member, and the recording paper magazine It is comprised so that it may become more than the maximum width of the fluctuation | variation range of the relative presence position in the said left-right direction with respect to the said fitting part of the said positioning member in the state guided by the 1st guide member.

That is, when the recording paper magazine is slid and loaded in a predetermined position of the magazine mounting portion, there is a gap between the first guide member that guides the sliding movement of the recording paper magazine and the recording paper magazine. If it is small, fluctuations in the attitude of the recording paper magazine can be suppressed, but the recording paper magazine slides itself and it is difficult to perform the slide movement itself, so the recording guided by the first guide member is difficult. The installation dimensions and the like of the first guide member are set so as to allow the paper magazine in the left-right direction to some extent.
If rattling between the first guide member and the recording paper magazine is allowed in this way, as it is, the recording paper magazine will be time-consuming for the shading.
Accordingly, a positioning member for the recording paper magazine that slides is provided in one of the recording paper magazine and the magazine mounting portion, and on the other side, a fitting portion that fits the positioning member and a positioning member are fitted into the fitting portion. And a guide member (second guide member) for guiding to the right.
And the width | variety of the edge part which receives a positioning member in the 2nd guide member is made more than the relative position fluctuation width of the positioning member by the said shakiness.
As a result, the slide member can be easily slid using the shakiness, and the positioning member and the fitting portion can be fitted simply by performing a slide operation without paying special attention to positioning. Thus, accurate positioning can be performed.

In addition to the configuration of the first invention, the second invention of the present application is configured such that the second guide member guides the positioning member with a substantially V-shaped support surface in a plan view. ing.
Therefore, the positioning member of the recording paper magazine can be smoothly guided by the substantially V-shaped support surface.
Further, according to a third invention of the present application, in addition to the configuration of the first or second invention, a caster is provided on a bottom side of the recording paper magazine, and the magazine mounting portion includes the image forming unit and the magazine. Arranged in a housing for storing the recording paper conveying means.
When the paper width of the recording paper roll stored in the recording paper magazine is particularly wide, the weight of the recording paper magazine storing the recording paper roll becomes extremely large.
In such a case, the recording paper magazine is provided with a caster so that not only a simple conveying operation of the recording paper magazine but also a moving operation of the recording paper magazine can be performed easily when loading the magazine mounting portion. Yes.
In the case of handling a recording paper magazine that is so heavy that it is necessary to attach such casters, it is particularly preferable that the present invention assists the positioning operation when the recording paper magazine is loaded.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the slide paper magazine can be easily slid using the shakiness, but the slide paper magazine can be accurately operated only by performing the slide operation without paying special attention to positioning. Since positioning can be performed, positioning operation during slide movement of the recording paper magazine can be performed more easily.
Further, according to the second aspect, the positioning member of the recording paper magazine can be smoothly guided to the fitting portion, so that the positioning operation during the sliding movement of the recording paper magazine can be performed more easily.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when handling a recording paper magazine that is heavy enough to attach a caster, the positioning operation during the sliding movement of the recording paper magazine can be performed more easily.

Embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus IF]
As shown schematically in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus IF of the present invention has a magazine attachment in which a recording paper magazine 3 and 4 for storing a long recording paper 2 in a roll shape is detachably mounted in a casing 1. An image forming unit 5 for forming an image on the recording paper 2 drawn out from the recording paper magazines 3 and 4, and an image forming position by the image forming unit from the recording paper magazines 3 and 4 attached to the magazine attaching portion MS. Recording paper transport means TM for transporting the recording paper to the EP, and a loop for temporarily storing the recording paper 2 on which an image is formed by forming a loop of the recording paper 2 on the downstream side of the image forming position EP in the recording paper transport direction A unit 6 is provided.

In the present embodiment, the image forming unit 5 scans a laser beam intensity-modulated by image data to be printed in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of the recording paper 2. The laser beam exposure method for forming an image is used.
Correspondingly, photographic paper is used as the recording paper 2, and an image formed as a latent image on the recording paper 2 is developed by the image forming unit 5 on the rear side of the image forming apparatus IF. A development processing apparatus (not shown) for processing is connected.
The recording paper transport means TM includes a large number of transport rollers 11, a guide member (not shown), a motor that rotationally drives the transport rollers 11, and the like.
In the present embodiment, as the recording paper magazines 3 and 4, a small recording paper magazine 4 for storing the recording paper 2 having a relatively small paper width and a large recording paper magazine 3 for storing the recording paper 2 having a large paper width are provided. The recording paper transport means TM selectively draws out and transports the recording paper 2 from either the recording paper magazine 3 or the recording paper magazine 4.

A cutter 12 that cuts the recording paper 2 into a set print size is provided at an intermediate position in the conveyance path of the recording paper conveyance means TM.
The cutting length of the recording paper 2 by the cutter 12 is not so long for the recording paper 2 handled by the small recording paper magazine 4, but the paper width of the recording paper 2 handled by the large recording paper magazine 3 is wide. Corresponding to this, the cutting length in the recording paper conveyance direction also becomes longer.
The loop unit 6 is provided for the recording paper 2 having a long cutting length supplied from the recording paper magazine 3.
That is, if the length of the recording paper 2 in the recording paper transport direction is long, if the recording paper 2 is transported as it is from the image forming position EP to the subsequent development processing apparatus, the leading edge of the recording paper 2 enters the development processing apparatus, but the trailing edge On the side, there is a case where an image is exposed and formed at the image forming position EP.

Since this may adversely affect the exposure process at the image forming position EP due to vibration or the like, the recording paper 2 should not be fed into the development processing apparatus while the image is exposed and formed at the image forming position EP. In the loop unit 6, a loop of the recording paper 2 is formed and stored, and when the image formation is completed, the recording paper 2 is developed in the discharge conveyance system OT that conveys the recording paper 2 on the rear stage side of the loop unit 6. Send to processing equipment.
In the case of the recording paper 2 supplied from the small recording paper magazine 4, since the cutting length is relatively short, there is no need for temporary storage in the loop unit 6, and from the image forming position EP through the discharge conveyance system OT. It is sent to the development processing device.
Although not provided in the present embodiment, when the interval between the image forming position EP and the cutting position by the cutter 12 is short, the same as the loop unit 6 is also provided between the image forming position EP and the cutter 12. An apparatus may be provided.

[Loading mode of recording paper magazines 3 and 4]
Next, a configuration for loading the recording paper magazines 3 and 4 into the housing 1 of the image forming apparatus IF will be described.
Since the small recording paper magazine 4 is relatively light, the operator lifts the recording paper magazine 4 by hand, positions it, and loads it at a predetermined position. As a specific mode of the loading operation, for example, a slide table on which the recording paper magazine 4 is placed may be pulled out from the housing 1 and the recording paper magazine 4 may be placed thereon. Alternatively, the recording paper magazine 4 may be positioned while being pushed into the back side of the housing 1 after the one end is placed on the magazine mounting portion MS.

As shown in the side view of FIG. 6 (a) and the front view of FIG. 6 (b), the large recording paper magazine 3 has an arrow A in FIG. The door 23 can be opened and closed in a swingable manner in the direction indicated by, and the roll-shaped recording paper 2 is put in and out with the door 23 opened and operated.
As shown in FIG. 6A, an opening 24 on the slit for pulling out the recording paper 2 is formed on the side surface opposite to the door 23. Although a detailed description is omitted, the opening 24 is provided with a shutter for shielding light.

Since the recording paper magazine 3 is heavier than the recording paper magazine 4, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a caster 21 is provided on the bottom side, and an operator holds the handle 22. Thus, the recording paper magazine 3 can be easily pushed and moved.
When the recording paper magazine 3 is loaded into the magazine mounting portion MS, as shown in FIG. 7, the entire recording paper magazine 3 including the caster 21 and the handle 22 is stored in the housing 1 of the image forming apparatus IF. It is like that.
In order for the operator to push and move the recording paper magazine 3 to get into the housing 1, as shown in the side view of FIG. 7, a boarding slope 7 is attached to the image forming apparatus IF.

The getting-on / off ramp 7 also serves as a door of the magazine mounting portion MS, and a base end portion is assembled to the housing 1 so as to be swingable around a horizontal axis. When the free end side of the boarding / slope 7 is swung upward and closed, the bottom surface of the boarding / slope 7 is configured to be substantially flush with the peripheral portion of the housing 1.
Guide plates 7a are formed on both sides in the left-right direction of the slope 7 for entering and exiting the recording paper magazine 3 as viewed in the approach direction, to restrict the position of the recording paper magazine 3 in the left-right direction. Note that the guide width of the guide plate 7a is configured such that the end portion on the free end side is widened in a diverging shape, so that the recording paper magazine 3 can be easily loaded onto the loading / unloading slope 7.
On the recording paper magazine 3 side, side rollers 25 are attached at four locations on both sides in the left-right direction so as to be smoothly guided by the guide plate 7a.
The side rollers 25 are attached in such a manner that they slightly protrude from the frame 26 to the left and right outer sides so as to be rotatable around the vertical axis.

The recording paper magazine 3 slides on the bottom plate 8 of the magazine mounting portion MS in a substantially horizontal direction after completely entering the magazine mounting portion MS.
As shown in FIG. 3 illustrating the magazine mounting portion MS in a plan view, the bottom plate 8 in the magazine mounting portion MS has the recording paper magazine 3 that slides in the magazine mounting portion MS viewed in the sliding direction (depth direction). A guide member (referred to as a “first guide member 16” for convenience) that restricts the position in the left-right direction is viewed as a pair.
The guide width of the first guide member 16 is substantially matched with the guide width on the base end side of the guide plate 7 a of the ramp 7 for getting on and off.
In the following, when simply referred to as “left-right direction”, it means the left-right direction as viewed in this slide movement direction (depth direction view).

[Positioning configuration of recording paper magazine 3]
The recording paper magazine 3 that has been pushed by the operator and guided to the magazine mounting portion MS through the boarding slope 7 while being guided by the guide plate 7a and the first guide member 16 is located at the back of the magazine mounting portion MS in the depth direction. The magazine support bases 14 and 15 are positioned at the receiving pins 13 installed on the side (see FIGS. 3 and 7), and are installed at two locations on the back side and the near side in the horizontal direction when viewed in the depth direction. (See FIGS. 3 and 7).
The receiving pin 13 is installed at a height that fits into the fitting hole 27 provided on the front end side in the depth direction of the recording paper magazine 3.

The magazine support bases 14 and 15 installed at two places have the same basic configuration as shown in FIG. 4 shown in a side view, and only the support height for supporting the recording paper magazine 3 is different.
As shown in FIG. 2, which is an enlarged view in plan view, the back magazine support 14 is located near the upper end of the base frame 31 made by bending a metal plate and the vertical wall 31 a of the base frame 31. The main parts are a support roller 33 attached to a pair of left and right, and a positioning guide 34 attached to a top plate part 31b located at the upper end of the base frame 31 for positioning the recording paper magazine 3 in the left-right direction. ing. The pair of support rollers 33 is connected by a shaft 33a and is rotatably supported.
The magazine support base 15 on the front side differs only in the height of the vertical wall portion 32a of the base frame 32, and the shape and size of other components such as the top plate portion 32b positioned at the upper end of the base frame 32 are all magazine support. It is common with the base 14.
Incidentally, in FIG. 5, the front magazine support 15 is shown in the depth direction, and the support roller 33 and the positioning guide 34, which are parts having the same shape as the magazine support 14 side, are denoted by the same reference numerals. Show. In FIG. 5, the frame member on the front side is omitted for easy understanding of the drawing.

Corresponding to the magazine support bases 14 and 15, positioning blocks 28 and 29 are attached to the recording paper magazine 3 side on the back side and the near side of the bottom surface (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
The positioning blocks 28 and 29 have the same width in the left-right direction as the width of the pair of support rollers 33, and columnar positioning members 28a and 29a are attached to the center in the left-right direction.
The positioning members 28a and 29a are members for positioning the recording paper magazine 3 when the magazine mounting portion MS is mounted.
The positioning block 28 on the back side and the positioning block 29 on the near side differ only in height dimension, whereby the height from the bottom plate 8 of each bottom surface, that is, the mounting height of the positioning members 28a and 29a. Are configured differently.
The mounting height of the positioning member 28a of the positioning block 28 on the back side is at a high position corresponding to the mounting height of the positioning guide 34 of the magazine support 14 on the back side, and the positioning member of the positioning block 29 on the near side. It is in a low position corresponding to the mounting height of 29a.
Accordingly, as is apparent from FIG. 4, in the process of moving the recording paper magazine 3 in the depth direction, the positioning member 28a on the back side does not come into contact with the magazine support base 15 on the near side, but above it. Will pass.

As shown in FIG. 2, the positioning guide 34 is formed with a notch extending in the depth direction, and a rear side portion (a U-shaped portion in plan view) of the notch is positioned on the positioning member 28 a (the magazine support base 15. The positioning guide 34 is a fitting portion JP that fits with the positioning member 29a), and a front side portion (a substantially V-shaped portion in plan view) of the fitting portion JP is a positioning member 28a (the magazine support base 15). Then, it is a guide member (referred to as “second guide member GP” for convenience) for guiding the positioning member 29a).
The second guide member GP supports and guides the positioning members 28a, 29a in a posture sandwiched from both sides in the left-right direction by guiding the positioning members 28a, 29a with a substantially V-shaped support surface in plan view. Thus, it is accurately guided to the fitting part JP.

The receiving width “WR” (see FIGS. 2 and 5) of the second guide member GP in the left-right direction at the receiving end (end on the front side) that receives the positioning members 28a and 29a is determined by the positioning members 28a and 29a. The width in the left-right direction is “WP”, the distance between the right side roller 25 and the first guide member 16 in the depth direction is “XR” (see FIG. 5), and the left side roller 25 in the depth direction is When the distance from the first guide member 16 is “XL” (see FIG. 5), WR ≧ WP + XR + XL is satisfied.
In other words, the receiving width “WR” is a relative position in the left-right direction of the positioning members 28 a and 29 a with respect to the fitting portion JP in a state where the recording paper magazine 3 is guided by the first guide member 16. It is comprised so that it may become more than the maximum width of the fluctuation range. In FIG. 5, “XR” and “XL” are shown slightly larger than the actual width in order to make the drawing easy to see.

As a result, the positioning members 28a and 29a can be easily pushed into the recording paper magazine 3 while ensuring a certain gap between the first guide member 16 and the recording paper magazine 3. The contact with the member GP is surely guided to the fitting portion JP, and the positioning in the left-right direction can be accurately performed.
In the process in which the positioning members 28a and 29a are guided from the receiving end portion of the second guide member GP to the fitting portion JP, the bottom surfaces 28b and 29b of the positioning blocks 28 and 29 reach the support roller 33. The height of the bottom surface 28b of the block 28 is slightly lower than the height of the upper end of the support roller 33 of the magazine support 14 located on the back side, and the height of the bottom surface 29b of the positioning block 29 is on the near side. Therefore, the bottom surfaces 28b and 29b of the positioning blocks 28 and 29 run on the support roller 33 (see FIG. 5).

The operation of the positioning members 28a and 29a on the recording paper magazine 3 side and the magazine support bases 14 and 15 on the magazine mounting portion MS side, and the fitting hole 27 on the recording paper magazine 3 side and the receiving pin 13 on the magazine mounting portion MS side. Accordingly, as the recording paper magazine 3 is positioned in the magazine mounting portion MS, the position where the recording paper magazine 3 is present is fixed by a lock mechanism (not shown).
Thereafter, when the operator closes the entrance / exit slope 7, the recording paper 2 is pulled out from the opening 24 of the recording paper magazine 3, and an image is formed by the image forming unit 5, and then developed through the loop unit 6 and the like. Sent to the device.

[Another embodiment]
Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be listed.
(1) In the above embodiment, the case where the positioning members 28a and 29a are provided on the recording paper magazine 3 side and the positioning guide 34 constituting the fitting portion JP and the second guide member GP is provided on the magazine mounting portion MS side is exemplified. However, on the contrary, the positioning members 28a and 29a are provided on the magazine mounting portion MS side, and the positioning guide 34 constituting the fitting portion JP and the second guide member GP is provided on the recording paper magazine 3 side. Also good.
(2) In the above embodiment, the case where the side roller 25 for assisting the loading operation of the recording paper magazine 3 to the magazine mounting portion MS is provided on the recording paper magazine 3 side is exemplified. The recording paper magazine 3 is guided by being provided on the end, the end of the first guide member 16, or the inner wall of the magazine mounting portion MS where the side of the recording paper magazine 3 is close when the recording paper magazine 3 is loaded. You may comprise.
(3) In the above embodiment, the case where the image forming unit 5 is configured by the laser beam exposure method is exemplified. However, the image forming method is not limited to the exposure method, for example, the ink jet method may be used. good.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The enlarged view of the magazine support stand by planar view concerning embodiment of this invention The top view of the magazine attaching part concerning embodiment of this invention The side view which shows the positioning structure concerning embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the positioning structure by the depth direction view concerning embodiment of this invention FIG. 1 is a side view and a front view of a recording paper magazine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the loading operation | movement of the recording paper magazine concerning embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Recording paper 3 Recording paper magazine 5 Image forming unit 16 1st guide member 21 Caster 28a, 29a Positioning member GP 2nd guide member JP Fitting part MS Magazine attachment part TM Recording paper conveyance means

Claims (3)

A magazine mounting section for detachably mounting a recording paper magazine for storing long recording paper in a roll shape, an image forming unit for forming an image on the recording paper drawn from the recording paper magazine, and the magazine mounting section. An image forming apparatus provided with recording paper transport means for transporting recording paper from the recording paper magazine to an image forming position by the image forming unit,
A first guide member that regulates the position of the recording paper magazine in the left-right direction as viewed in the sliding movement direction when the recording paper magazine is attached to the magazine mounting portion by sliding movement in a substantially horizontal direction to the magazine mounting portion. Is provided,
One of the recording paper magazine and the magazine attaching portion is provided with a positioning member for positioning the recording paper magazine when attached to the magazine attaching portion,
On the other hand, a fitting portion that is fitted with the positioning member to position the recording paper magazine,
A second guide member that supports the positioning member in a posture sandwiched from both sides in the left-right direction and guides the positioning member to the fitting portion;
The second guide member has a receiving width in the left-right direction of a receiving end portion that receives the positioning member, and the fitting portion of the positioning member in a state in which the recording paper magazine is guided by the first guide member. An image forming apparatus configured to be equal to or greater than a maximum width of a range of fluctuation of a relative position in the left-right direction relative to   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second guide member is configured to guide the positioning member with a substantially V-shaped support surface in a plan view. A caster is provided on the bottom side of the recording paper magazine,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magazine mounting portion is disposed in a housing that houses the image forming unit and the recording paper transport unit.

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