JP2007219420A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which the opening/closing angle of a double-sided printing unit is extended by extremely easy operation so as to facilitate access to the inside of the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A color copying machine 1 has a side surface cover 50 holding the double-sided printing unit 45 provided on its side surface and freely opened/closed to a machine main body 1a. An opening/closing mechanism therefor has first locking pins 62a and 62b and first hole parts 52a and 52b for turning the side surface cover 50 at a fixed angle, and second locking pins 53a and 53b and second hole parts 63a and 63b for opening the side surface cover 50 more largely, wherein a screw 66 is freely screwed on the first locking pin 62a. In such a state where the screw 66 is detached from the first locking pin 62a, a state where the side surface cover 50 is locked by the first locking pins 62a and 62b is switched to a state where it is locked by the second locking pins 53a and 53b, whereby the side surface cover 50 is opened largely to the machine main body 1a, and the access to the machine main body 1a from the side surface is facilitated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that improves the maintenance workability of an apparatus main body.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or a digital copying machine, a mechanism for reversing a sheet printed on one side and transporting it again to a transfer device so that printing can be performed on both sides of the sheet, a so-called duplex printing unit (ADU) is provided.

  In general, this duplex printing unit is provided adjacent to a paper conveyance path provided in the apparatus main body in order to make the apparatus configuration compact. Here, when a paper jam occurs in the paper transport path, it is necessary to open the paper transport path so that the paper can be easily removed. For this reason, the duplex printing unit is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  The opening / closing angle of the conventional double-sided printing unit is about 50 degrees. The reason for this is that if the opening / closing angle is large, if the door is not opened / closed slowly, a large load may be applied to the rotating part of the duplex printing unit and it may be damaged. If a jam occurs, the operator inserts his / her hand. It is sufficient that a gap as large as possible is formed, and that a large installation space is required to open the double-sided printing unit when the opening / closing angle is increased.

However, if the opening / closing angle of the duplex printing unit is limited in this way, the duplex printing unit must be completely removed from the machine body when access to the machine body is required, such as during maintenance of the machine body. This work is a heavy burden for maintenance workers. Also, since the duplex unit and the machine body are connected by wiring to drive rollers for paper conveyance, there is a problem with the temporary placement of the removed duplex unit, and there is a load on the wiring. There is also the problem of hanging.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-115218 (FIG. 3, paragraph (0022), etc.). Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-31353 (FIG. 5, paragraphs (0020) to (0027), etc.). JP-A-2001-2330 (FIG. 5, paragraph (0018), etc.).

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus that facilitates access to the inside of the apparatus by enlarging the opening / closing angle of the duplex printing unit through extremely easy work. .

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus that forms an image while raising and conveying a printing paper, and is provided on a side surface of the main body of the apparatus for printing on both sides. A double-sided printing unit for lowering and conveying; a side cover for holding the double-sided printing unit; and a cover opening / closing mechanism having a first fulcrum and a second fulcrum for opening and closing the side cover with respect to the apparatus main body, The side cover is maintained at a predetermined opening / closing angle when supported by the first fulcrum, and the opening / closing angle is increased by shifting the rotation fulcrum to the second fulcrum. Is done.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image while raising and conveying a printing paper, and the printing paper provided on the side of the apparatus main body and having an image formed on one side thereof is used for duplex printing. A double-sided printing unit that moves down, a side cover that holds the double-sided printing unit, and an opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the side cover with respect to the apparatus main body, and the opening / closing mechanism opens the side cover at a predetermined opening / closing angle. A pair of first locking pins and a first hole for rotating inside, a second locking pin and a second hole for rotating the side cover at an angle larger than the opening and closing angle, A clasp that is detachably provided on the first locking pin and prevents the side cover from being detached in a mounted state, and the clasp is detached from the first locking pin, and the side cover is removed from the first engagement pin. Locked to the stop pin By switching from the state to the state locked to the second locking pin, the side cover is opened with respect to the apparatus main body to facilitate access from the side to the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, in the state where the first locking pin is inserted through the first hole, the second locking pin is inserted, A third hole having an arcuate shape for guiding the second locking pin along the movement locus of the second locking pin when the side cover is opened and closed; An image forming apparatus is provided in which the rotation angle of the side cover around the first pin is limited by the locking pin being locked to the end of the third hole.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the tip end of the first locking pin is released in the same direction, and the axial direction of the first locking pin is 2 on the apparatus main body. The first hole is provided in the side cover, the second locking pin is provided in the side cover, and the second hole and the third hole are provided in the apparatus main body. Provided, by sliding the side cover in the axial direction of the first locking pin, the locking between the first locking pin and the first hole, and the second locking pin and the third hole, Is simultaneously unlocked, and the second cover pin is inserted into the second hole portion and locked in the second hole portion, whereby the side cover is opened widely with respect to the apparatus main body. An apparatus is provided.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, a part of the ascending conveyance path for ascending and conveying the printing paper is held and can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body. There is further provided an image forming apparatus further comprising an inner cover, wherein the inner cover can be opened and closed at an angle corresponding to an opening and closing angle of the side cover when the side cover is opened.

  According to the present invention, the opening / closing angle of the double-sided printing unit can be suppressed to the minimum angle necessary for jam processing during normal use, and the operator can easily attach the side cover to the main body of the apparatus during maintenance. Therefore, workability is improved because the apparatus main body can be accessed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, a four-tandem color copier is taken as an example of the image forming apparatus, and a case where a drive transmission mechanism is applied to the photosensitive drum will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a 4-drum tandem color copier 1, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram thereof. The color copying machine 1 includes a scanner unit 2 and an in-body sheet discharge unit 3 on the upper side. The color copying machine 1 includes an intermediate transfer belt 10 as an intermediate transfer medium, a driving roller 22 and driven rollers 23 and 24 for stretching and rotating the intermediate transfer belt 10, and a lower side of the intermediate transfer belt 10. 4 sets of image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11BK are arranged in parallel.

  For the intermediate transfer belt 10, a material having excellent heat resistance and wear resistance, for example, semiconductive polyimide is preferably used. The image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11BK are for forming yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) toner images, respectively. The image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11BK have photosensitive drums 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12BK, which are image carriers. The intermediate transfer belt 10 is in contact with the photosensitive drums 12Y to 12BK above the image forming units 11C to 11BK.

  Primary transfer rollers 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK are provided at positions (primary transfer positions) that face the photosensitive drums 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12BK with the intermediate transfer belt 10 interposed therebetween. A primary transfer voltage of about +1000 V is applied to the primary transfer rollers 20Y to 20BK, whereby the toner images on the photosensitive drums 12Y to 12BK are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10.

  The image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11BK respectively include charging chargers 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13BK for individually charging the photosensitive drums 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12BK, and the photosensitive drums 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12BK. Developing units 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18BK for attaching toner to the latent image formed on 12BK, and cleaning devices 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21BK for cleaning the photosensitive drums 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12BK It has.

  The charging chargers 13Y to 13BK uniformly charge the entire surface of the photosensitive drums 12Y to 12BK to about -700V. The developing devices 18Y to 18BK are two-component developers each composed of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) toner and a carrier by a developing roller to which a developing bias of about −500 V is applied. Are supplied to the photosensitive drums 12Y to 12BK. The cleaning devices 21Y to 21BK remove residual toner on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 12Y to 12BK with a cleaning blade.

  The image forming units 11Y to 11BK can be pulled out to the front side (front side of the drawing) of the main body of the color copying machine 1. Therefore, the drive systems of the photosensitive drums 12Y to BK and the developing devices 18BK to 18C are arranged on the rear side of the main body of the color copying machine 1.

  The photosensitive drums 12Y to 12BK are rotated by the laser exposure device 16 in the middle of passing through the chargers 13Y to 13BK and reaching the developing units 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18BK while rotating in the direction of the arrow t that is the rotation direction. Exposed. For this exposure, the color copying machine 1 includes a laser exposure device 16 for forming a latent image on the photosensitive drums 12Y to 12BK based on the image data from the scanner unit 2 and the like, and the image forming units 11Y to 11Y. It is provided below 11BK.

  The laser exposure device 16 scans the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser element by the polygon mirror 16a in the axial direction of the photosensitive drums 12Y to 12BK, passes through the imaging lens system 16b and each mirror 81, and the photosensitive drums 12BK to 12BK. The image is formed on 12C. In addition, a cover glass is provided in the emission part of the laser beams 80BK to 80C of each color of the laser exposure device 16.

  In the color copying machine 1, 2 for transferring (secondary transfer) the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10 onto the printing paper P so as to face the driving roller 22 for rotating the intermediate transfer belt 10. A next transfer roller 26 is disposed. A secondary transfer voltage of about +1000 V is applied to the secondary transfer roller 26, whereby the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is secondarily transferred to the printing paper P. A belt cleaner 10 a is provided downstream of the secondary transfer roller 26 of the intermediate transfer belt 10.

  Below the laser exposure device 16, first and second paper feeding cassette devices 27 and 28 for supplying the printing paper P toward the secondary transfer roller 26 are provided. Pickup rollers 27a and 28a for taking out the printing paper P in the first and second paper feed cassette devices 27 and 28 between the first and second paper feed cassette devices 27 and 28 and the secondary transfer roller 26, Separating rollers 27b and 28b, first and second conveying rollers 31 and 32, and registration rollers 33a and 33b are provided.

  The secondary transfer roller 26 and the registration roller 33a are held by a cover (not shown) that can be opened and closed at a predetermined angle with respect to the apparatus main body 1a. By opening the cover, the vertical conveyance path 37 is released. Can be done. The cover opening / closing operation can be performed when the side cover 50 is opened with respect to the apparatus main body 1a, as will be described later.

  A manual feed tray 30 for manually feeding the printing paper P is provided on the right side of the color copying machine 1 in FIG. Between the manual feed tray 30 and the registration rollers 33a and 33b, a pickup roller 30a for taking out the printing paper P and a manual paper feed roller 36 are provided.

  Along the vertical conveyance path 37 that conveys the printing paper P fed from the first and second paper feeding cassettes 27 and 28 and the manual feed tray 30 in the vertical direction, downstream of the secondary transfer roller 26, that is, on the upper side, A fixing device 38 for fixing the toner image transferred to the printing paper P to the printing paper P by heat treatment is provided.

  A paper discharge conveyance path 41 is provided from the fixing device 38 to the paper discharge unit 3, and a paper discharge roller 3 a is provided at the end of the paper discharge conveyance path 41. The color copying machine 1 has a reversal area 40 for performing double-sided printing on the printing paper P on the right side of the paper discharge unit 3 and double-sided printing for returning the printing paper P from the reversal area 40 to the registration rollers 33a and 33b. A unit 45 is provided. The double-sided printing unit 45 is held by a side cover 50. The side cover 50 is openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body 1a so that the lower part is the center of rotation and the upper part is open. .

  The paper discharge roller 3a can perform rotation (forward rotation) in the direction of sending the printing paper P to the paper discharge unit 3 and rotation (reverse rotation) in the direction of returning the printing paper P to the duplex printing unit 45. It has become. The reversal area 40 includes a guide 42, and the guide 42 puts the printing paper P on the upper side of the guide 41 when the paper discharge roller 3 a rotates in a direction to return the printing paper P to the duplex printing unit 45. The printing paper P is reliably sent to the duplex printing unit 45. The duplex printing unit 45 includes a reverse conveyance path 46 and a reconveying roller 47 for conveying the printing paper P downward.

  Next, the opening / closing mechanism of the side cover 50 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a schematic structure of the side cover 50 and a support portion provided in the apparatus main body for supporting the side cover 50. The fixed side plates 61a and 61b are fixed to an apparatus main body (not shown), and the side cover 50 includes movable side support plates 51a and 51b for engaging with the fixed side plates 61a and 61b. In FIG. 3, the shapes of the movable side support plates 51a and 51b and the fixed side plates 61a and 61b are shown in a simplified manner.

  FIG. 4 shows the state of the fixed side plate 61a and the movable side support plate 51a in a state where the side cover 50 is closed with respect to the apparatus main body (straight posture holding state) from the directions of arrows A1 and A2 shown in FIG. It shows with the top view at the time.

  The movable side support plates 51a and 51b include first holes 52a and 52b and second locking pins 53a and 53b, respectively. These two movable support plates 51a and 51b have the same structure, and the second locking pins 53a and 53b are located on the same straight line parallel to the Y axis, and the first holes 52a and 52b are also It is the same.

  The fixed side plates 61a and 61b include first locking pins 62a and 62b, second holes 63a and 63b, and third holes 64a and 64b, respectively. The first locking pin 62a has a screw hole 65. Is formed. The first locking pin 62b is not provided with a screw hole. Except for this point, the two fixed side plates 61a, 61b have the same structure, and the first locking pins 62a, 62b are located on the same straight line parallel to the Y axis, and the second hole 63a, The same applies to 63b and the third holes 64a and 64b.

  The fixed side plates 61a and 61b have wall portions bent at right angles in the Y direction, and concave portions 67a and 67b are formed in the portions. The recesses 67a and 67b are engaged with the movable support plates 51a and 51b when the side cover 50 is tilted to support the side cover 50.

  As shown in FIG. 3, by sliding the side cover 50 in the Y direction so that the first locking pins 62a, 62b are inserted through the first holes 52a, 52b, respectively, the second locking pins 53a, 53b is also inserted through the third holes 64a and 64b, respectively.

  The third holes 64a and 64b rotate the side cover 50 around the first locking pins 62a and 62b in a state where the first locking pins 62a and 62b are inserted through the first holes 52a and 52b, respectively. Sometimes, it has an arcuate shape for guiding the second locking pins 53a, 53b along the movement locus of the second locking pins 53a, 53b.

  When the movable side support plate 51a is located on the fixed side plate 61a with respect to the screw hole 65, as shown in FIG. 4, when the screw 66 is screwed into the screw hole 65, the side cover 50 can be slid in the Y direction. Thus, the side cover 50 can be stably opened and closed with the first locking pins 62a and 62b as pivot axes.

  When the color copying machine 1 is normally used, for example, when a jam occurs in the vertical conveyance path 37, the side cover 50 is opened to open the cover that holds the secondary transfer roller 26 and the registration roller 33a. Need arises.

  FIG. 5 shows, for example, an overall view of a state in which the side cover 50 is opened with respect to the apparatus main body for such jam processing. 6 shows the state of the fixed side plate 61a and the movable side support plate 51a in the state shown in FIG. 5 in the same manner as in FIG. When the side cover 50 is opened, the second locking pins 53a and 53b are locked at the upper ends of the third holes 64a and 64b, respectively, and the movable support plates 51a and 51b are fitted with the recesses 67a and 67b, respectively. As a result, it is impossible to incline beyond a certain opening / closing angle θ. The opening / closing angle θ can be set to 45 ° to 55 °, for example.

  In order to maintain the color copying machine 1, the side cover 50 is tilted so that the opening / closing angle θ is 90 degrees so that the inside of the color copying machine 1 can be accessed from the side surface to which the side cover 50 is attached. An overall view of the state is shown in FIG. 8 shows the state of the fixed side plate 61a and the movable side support plate 51a in the state shown in FIG. 7 in the same manner as in FIG.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 3, in a state where the screw 66 is not screwed into the screw hole 65, the first locking pins 62 a and 62 b are Since the engagement with the first holes 52a and 52b and the engagement between the second engagement pins 53a and 53b and the third holes 64a and 64b can be released, the maintenance operator can use FIG. 5 and FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 7, the screw 66 is removed, and the side cover 50 is once unlocked from the apparatus main body 1a while holding the side cover 50 in the hand, and then, as shown in FIGS. The locking pins 53a and 53b are inserted through the second holes 63a and 63b, respectively, and are locked. When the side cover 50 is tilted so that the side cover 50 is in a horizontal state in this state, the side cover 50 rotates around the second locking pins 53a and 53b, and the movable side support plates 51a and 51b are fixed side plates. By fitting into the recesses 67a and 67b (see FIG. 3) respectively provided in 61a and 61b, the side cover 50 can be held in a horizontal posture. When the side cover 50 is rotated while the second locking pins 53a and 53b are inserted through the second holes 63a and 63b, the movable support plates 51a and 51b are connected to the first locking pins 62a and 62b. It has a structure that does not come into contact with.

  As described above, the opening / closing mechanism of the side cover 50 provided in the color copying machine 1 removes the screw 66 from the first locking pin 62a, and the side cover 50 and the first locking pins 62a and 62b are in the first hole portion. By switching from the state in which the second locking pins 53a and 53b are inserted into and locked to the second holes 63a and 63b from the state in which they are inserted and locked in the holes 52a and 52b, the apparatus main body 1a is switched. It can be opened widely to facilitate access from the side to the apparatus main body 1a.

  In order to return from the state shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 to the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the above-described procedure may be reversed. That is, with reference to FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, from the state shown in FIG. 8, the maintenance operator rotates the side cover 50 by a certain angle, and the movable support plates 51a and 51b are respectively fixed side plates 61a. , 61b and slide in the Y direction to release the locking by the second locking pins 53a, 53b and the second holes 63a, 63b. Next, the first locking pins 62a and 62b are inserted through the first holes 52a and 52b, and the second locking pins 53a and 53b are inserted through the third holes 64a and 64b. The support plates 51a and 51b are brought close to the fixed side plates 61a and 61b, respectively, and held in the state shown in FIG. Then, the screw 66 is screwed into the screw hole 65, and then the side cover 50 is rotated to the apparatus main body side. Thereby, it can return to the state of FIG.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

1 is a schematic front view of a color copying machine. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color copying machine. The perspective view which shows schematic structure of a side cover and its support part. Arrow A1 and A2 plan view of a fixed side plate and a movable side support plate. The front view which shows the open / close state of the side cover at the time of jam processing. Another arrow A1, A2 top view of a fixed side plate and a movable side support plate. The front view which shows the open / closed state of the side cover at the time of a maintenance process. Another arrow A1, A2 top view of a fixed side plate and a movable side support plate.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Color copying machine, 1a ... Apparatus main body, 11Y * 11M * 11C * 11BK ... Image formation part, 12Y * 12M * 12C * 12BK ... Photosensitive drum, 50 ... Side cover, 51a, 51b ... Movable side support plate, 52a , 52b ... first hole, 53a, 53b ... second locking pin, 61a, 61b ... fixed side plate, 62a, 62b ... first locking pin, 63a, 63b ... second hole, 64a, 64b ... third. Hole part, 65 ... screw hole, 66 ... screw, 67a, 67b ... concave part.

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image while raising and transporting printing paper,
A double-sided printing unit that is provided on a side surface of the apparatus main body and that descends and conveys printing paper on which one side is image-formed for double-sided printing;
A side cover for holding the duplex printing unit;
A cover opening and closing mechanism having a first fulcrum and a second fulcrum for rotating and opening and closing the side cover with respect to the apparatus body;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side cover is maintained at a predetermined opening / closing angle when being supported by the first fulcrum, and the opening / closing angle is increased by shifting the rotation fulcrum to the second fulcrum. An image forming apparatus that forms an image while raising and transporting printing paper,
A double-sided printing unit that is provided on a side surface of the apparatus main body and that descends and conveys printing paper on which one side is imaged for double-sided printing;
A side cover for holding the duplex printing unit;
An opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the side cover with respect to the apparatus main body,
The opening and closing mechanism is
A pair of first locking pins and a first hole for rotating the side cover within a predetermined opening / closing angle;
A second locking pin and a second hole for rotating the side cover at an angle larger than the opening / closing angle;
A clasp that is detachably provided on the first locking pin and prevents the side cover from being detached in the mounted state;
By removing the clasp from the first locking pin and switching the side cover from a state locked to the first locking pin to a state locked to the second locking pin, the side surface An image forming apparatus, wherein a cover is opened with respect to the apparatus main body to facilitate access from the side of the apparatus main body. In a state where the first locking pin is inserted through the first hole, the second locking pin is inserted, and along the movement locus of the second locking pin during the opening / closing operation of the side cover. A third hole having an arc shape for guiding the second locking pin;
The rotation angle of the side cover around the first pin is limited by the second locking pin being locked to the end of the third hole. The image forming apparatus described. The first locking pins are provided in the apparatus main body so that the tips are released in the same direction and the axial directions thereof are on the same straight line, and the first hole is provided in the side cover,
The second locking pin is provided in the side cover, and the second hole portion and the third hole portion are provided in the apparatus main body,
By sliding the side cover in the axial direction of the first locking pin, the first locking pin and the first hole are locked and the second locking pin and the third hole are locked. Is simultaneously released, and the side cover is opened widely with respect to the apparatus main body by inserting the second locking pin into the second hole and locking it in the second hole. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. While holding a part of the ascending conveyance path for ascending and conveying the printing paper, further comprising an inner cover that can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body,
5. The image formation according to claim 2, wherein the inner cover can be opened and closed at an angle corresponding to an opening and closing angle of the side cover in a state in which the side cover is opened. apparatus.

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