JP2007264041A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain satisfactory operability by preventing poor operability during replacement of a consumable item in a printer even in an image forming apparatus that has a scanner on the printer. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: process cartridges 17, each of which has a photoreceptor drum 1 and a processing means that acts on the drum 1; an intermediate transfer belt 6 disposed above, near to, and opposite to the drum 1; an upper lid 16 disposed so as to be rotatable around the main body of the image forming apparatus together with the belt 6 in order to obtain an operating space above the cartridges 17; and an image reading section 22 disposed above the upper lid 16 to be rotatable around the main body of the image forming apparatus. The apparatus is provide with a connecting plate 35 that rotates the upper lid 16 in synchronization with the rotation of the image reading section 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, or an MFP that forms an image on a sheet.

  Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, a color laser printer as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-249521 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) is known.

  The color laser printer described in Patent Document 1 has four photosensitive drums that are image carriers for each color, and each color toner image formed on each photosensitive drum is superimposed on an intermediate transfer belt that is an intermediate transfer member. Multiple transfer is performed to finally obtain a color image on the sheet. This color laser printer is a so-called quadruple drum type (in-line) printer in which photosensitive drums and developing units for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are arranged in a substantially horizontal series vertically below the intermediate transfer belt 6. This configuration achieves high speed.

  Each photosensitive drum is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body as a process cartridge. In each process cartridge, a primary charging roller and a developing device are integrally disposed in addition to the photosensitive drum. The intermediate transfer belt is an endless belt member that is stretched around a driving roller, a driven roller, and a tension roller, and is driven to rotate. A feeding unit is disposed below the photosensitive drum, and the sheets stacked and accommodated in the cassette are separated and fed one by one by a pickup roller, and synchronized with the developer image on the intermediate transfer belt by a registration roller. It is fed to the secondary transfer section. The color toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt are secondarily transferred collectively onto the sheet fed to the secondary transfer portion.

  Then, the sheet that has passed through the secondary transfer portion reaches a fixing device that is a fixing means above the photosensitive drum, and heat and pressure are applied to melt the toner and fix the image. The sheet on which the image is fixed is discharged and stacked on the upper part of the apparatus with the image surface facing down.

  Further, an upper lid that can be opened and closed is provided on the upper surface of the color laser printer described in Patent Document 1, so that each process cartridge can be replaced and an intermediate transfer belt can be replaced. Among these, the intermediate transfer belt is provided so as to rotate together with the upper lid. In addition, this printer can be used as a multi-function machine having a printer and a scanner by attaching a scanner for reading an image of a document to the upper part of the apparatus.

JP 2001-249521 A

  However, when a scanner is attached to the printer described in Patent Document 1 and used as a multifunction machine, the scanner is attached to the top of the printer as described above. For this reason, in order to replace the process cartridge and the intermediate transfer belt, it is necessary to open the scanner attached to the upper portion of the upper lid before opening the upper lid, which causes a problem that the operability is deteriorated.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent the deterioration of operability when exchanging consumables in a printer, and to realize good operability even in an image forming apparatus provided with a scanner at the top of a printer.

  In order to achieve the above object, a typical configuration of the present invention includes an image forming unit having an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier, and an upper side of the image carrier that is disposed in close proximity to each other. An endless belt member, a cover member provided together with the belt member so as to be rotatable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body in order to secure an operation space above the image forming unit, and the cover member And an image reading unit that is rotatably provided with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and for rotating the cover member in conjunction with the rotation operation of the image reading unit. An interlocking mechanism is provided.

  According to the present invention, when exchanging consumables such as the image carrier, the process means, and the endless belt member, the cover member is also opened simultaneously by opening the image reading unit, and the endless belt member is rotated together with the cover member. Move. Therefore, even in the image forming apparatus in which the image reading unit is provided above the cover member, the operability when replacing the consumables is improved.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in the following embodiments should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. Therefore, unless specifically stated otherwise, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto.

[First Embodiment]
The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, a color complex machine having an image forming unit and an image reading unit will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the color multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment as viewed from the front side of the apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the operation when the process cartridge is replaced.

  The color multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 1 includes a color printer unit (image forming unit) 21 and an image reading unit (image reading unit) 22 on the front side of the hand in the drawing. Hereinafter, the configuration of each unit will be described.

  The color printer unit 21 includes photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d that are image carriers for the respective colors, and process means that act on the photosensitive drums. Then, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums are superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6 which is an intermediate transfer member, and finally a color image is obtained on the sheet P. This printer unit 21 includes photosensitive drums 1a to 1d for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) and process means arranged substantially horizontally in series vertically below the intermediate transfer belt 6. It is arranged. This is a so-called four-drum type (inline) printer, and this configuration achieves high speed.

  The photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are detachable as process cartridges 17a to 17d in the direction of the arrow in FIG. In each of the process cartridges 17a to 17d, in addition to the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, primary charging rollers 2a to 2d and developing units 3a to 3d as process means are integrally disposed. The configuration of the process cartridge is not limited to this. That is, in addition to the photosensitive drum, a process cartridge that integrally includes any one of charging means, developing means, and cleaning means as process means acting on the photosensitive drum may be used.

  Further, below each process cartridge, an optical unit (exposure means) 4 for irradiating each photosensitive drum with laser light corresponding to image information is arranged.

  The intermediate transfer belt 6 is an endless belt member, is stretched around a driving roller 7, a driven roller 8, and a tension roller 9, and is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A in the figure. The intermediate transfer belt 6 is disposed in close proximity to and above the four photosensitive drums 1a to 1d arranged in a substantially horizontal series. In addition, primary transfer rollers 5a to 5d are disposed at positions opposed to the respective photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt 6 to form a primary transfer portion N1.

  A feeding unit is disposed below the photosensitive drum. In the feeding unit, the sheets P stacked and accommodated in the cassette 13 are separated and fed one by one by the pickup roller 14, and are transferred to the secondary transfer unit N2 by the registration roller 15 so as to be synchronized with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 6. Then, it is conveyed in the direction of arrow B. The color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 6 is secondarily transferred collectively to the sheet P fed to the secondary transfer portion N2 by the secondary transfer roller 10.

  Then, the sheet P that has passed through the secondary transfer portion N2 reaches the fixing device 11 that is fixing means above the photosensitive drum, and heat and pressure are applied to melt the toner and fix the image. The sheet P on which the image is fixed is discharged and stacked on the upper cover 16 as a cover member by the discharge roller 20.

  The secondary transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 6 is removed by the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 12 and used for the next image formation.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an upper lid 16 that can be opened and closed is provided on the upper surface of the printer unit 21, and replacement of consumables (photosensitive drum 1, developing device 3, intermediate transfer belt 6, etc.) in the printer unit 21 is performed. Can be done. Among these, the intermediate transfer belt 6 is configured to rotate together with the upper lid 16.

  The upper lid 16 has a rotation center shaft 16a for opening and closing. The rotation center shaft 16a is rotatably supported with respect to a rotation center support portion 21b provided in the color printer section 21. Thus, the upper lid 16 is pivotally supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body.

  On the other hand, an image reading unit 22 is provided above the color printer unit 21. Note that the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment has a discharge space 23 for discharging a sheet on which an image is formed below the image reading unit 22. In the discharge space 23, the upper surface of the upper lid 16 functions as a stacking unit for stacking sheets.

  The image reading unit 22 includes a flat bed scanner unit 30 and a pressure plate 31 for pressing a document placed on the flat bed scanner unit 30.

  Here, the original placed on the flat bed scanner unit 30 is to read an image by the reading means 32 moving in the direction of arrow C. In this embodiment, a CIS (contact image sensor) is used as the reading unit 32.

  The flat bed scanner unit 30 is provided with a support shaft 30 a, and the image reading unit 22 is rotatably supported with respect to the color printer unit 21.

  Reference numeral 33 denotes a lock lever as a lock mechanism, which is pivotally supported with respect to a support shaft 30 c provided in the flat bed scanner unit 30. The lock lever 33 is engaged with a support shaft 21a provided in the color printer unit 21 so as to be unlocked. When the image reading unit 22 is closed, the lock lever 33 is locked to the support shaft 21a, and the image reading unit 22 is kept closed. Further, in the present embodiment, the lock lever 33 also serves to hold the upper lid 16 in a closed state, and holds the closed state together with the image reading unit 22.

  Furthermore, the color multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment has an interlocking mechanism for rotating the upper lid 16 in conjunction with the rotation operation of the image reading unit 22. Hereinafter, this interlocking mechanism will be described.

  Reference numeral 35 denotes a connecting plate constituting an interlocking mechanism. The connecting plate 35 is provided with a hole 35a and a hole 35b. One hole 35 b of the connecting plate 35 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 30 b of the flat bed scanner unit 30 so as to be swingable. The connecting plate 35 is pivotally supported so that the other hole 35 a can swing with respect to the support shaft 16 b of the upper lid 16.

  Reference numeral 34 denotes a stopper as a stopper mechanism, which is supported so as to straddle the flat bed scanner unit 30 and the color printer unit 21. When the image reading unit 22 is opened by a predetermined angle, the opened state is held by the stopper 34.

  When the user opens the upper cover 16 in order to replace the process cartridge 17 and the intermediate transfer belt 6 in the color printer unit 21 in the color multifunction peripheral having the above-described configuration, the lock lever 33 is first moved away from the support shaft 21a. Release the lock. As a result, the image reading unit 22 and the upper lid 16 can be opened.

  Then, the image reading unit 22 is rotated around the support shaft 30a. At this time, since the image reading unit 22 and the upper lid 16 are connected by the connecting plate 35 so as to rotate in the same direction, the upper lid 116 can be opened in the same direction by opening the image reading unit 22. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the image reading unit 22 is opened by a predetermined angle α, the opened state can be held by the stopper 34. At this time, the upper lid 16 can also be kept open via the connecting plate 35.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the user can exchange consumables such as the photosensitive drum 1, the developing device 3, and the intermediate transfer belt 6 with the image reading unit 22 and the upper lid 16 opened.

  When the image reading unit 22 is closed, the image reading unit 22 can be closed by releasing the holding by the stopper 34 by a release mechanism (not shown) of the stopper 34. At this time, the upper lid 16 is also closed in conjunction. Then, the lock lever 33 is locked to the support shaft 21a, whereby the image reading unit 22 and the upper lid 16 are held in a closed state and are prevented from opening.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the upper lid 16 can be opened and closed only by the opening and closing operation of the upper image reading unit 22 for the user to replace consumables such as the photosensitive drum, the developing device, and the intermediate transfer belt. Good. That is, when the consumables in the printer unit 21 are replaced, the upper lid 16 is simultaneously opened by simply opening the image reading unit 22. Therefore, even in the image forming apparatus in which the image reading unit 22 is provided above the upper lid 16, the operability when replacing the consumables is improved.

  In addition, as described above, by sharing the lock mechanism for holding the upper lid 16 and the image reading unit 22 in a closed state, it is not necessary to provide a lock mechanism for each of them, and the operability is improved. The cost can be reduced by sharing.

  Further, by sharing the stopper 34 in a state where the upper lid 16 and the image reading unit 22 are opened, it is not necessary to provide a stopper for each of them, so that the operability is improved and the cost can be reduced by the common use.

  In addition, by using the stopper 34 in common, the operability of releasing the holding of the stopper 34 can be improved and the cost can be reduced by using the stopper 34 in common.

  Furthermore, a load unit such as a damper for applying a load so as not to close the image reading unit 22 and the upper lid 16 when closing the image reading unit 22 and the upper lid 16 may be provided. Also in this case, it is possible to share the load means, and it is not necessary to provide the load means for each of the image reading unit and the upper lid, so that the operability is improved and the cost can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, an example of an image forming apparatus in which the toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are transferred onto the sheet after being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 6 is exemplified. However, the present invention is limited to this. It is not a thing. For example, instead of the intermediate transfer belt, a conveyance belt (sheet carrying conveyance body) that conveys and conveys a sheet is used, and a toner image formed on each photosensitive drum is directly transferred to the sheet carried on the conveyance belt. The image forming apparatus may be of a type. In this case, since the sheet on which the image has been transferred is conveyed in the left direction in FIG. 1, a fixing device is provided on the left side of the apparatus, but the sheet after fixing is similarly discharged to the upper surface of the upper lid that functions as a stacking unit. And loaded. The upper cover is provided with the conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt is also opened when the upper lid is opened.

  Even in such an image forming apparatus, an upper lid for exchanging consumables such as a process cartridge and a conveyor belt can be configured by opening the image reading unit and the upper lid in conjunction with each other as in the above-described embodiment. The opening / closing operation of the image reading unit only needs to be performed by the upper image reading unit. That is, when replacing the consumables in the printer unit, the upper lid is also opened at the same time by simply opening the image reading unit. Therefore, even in an image forming apparatus in which an image reading unit is provided above the upper lid, the operability when replacing the consumables is improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the image reading unit and the upper lid are opened in the same direction so as to provide the opening on the same side surface of the apparatus is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image reading unit and the upper lid may be configured to open in opposite directions (left and right in the case of FIG. 1) with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. Also in this case, as in the above-described embodiment, the image reading unit and the upper lid are opened in conjunction with each other, so that the upper lid can be opened and closed only for opening and closing the upper image reading unit in order to replace consumables in the printer unit. It's okay. That is, when replacing the consumables in the printer unit, the upper lid is also opened at the same time by simply opening the image reading unit. Therefore, even in an image forming apparatus in which an image reading unit is provided above the upper lid, the operability when replacing the consumables is improved.

  Further, by adopting a configuration in which the image reading unit and the upper lid are opened in opposite directions, the respective rotation centers are arranged to face both sides of the apparatus. For this reason, even if the image reading unit and the upper lid are opened in conjunction with each other, it is possible to provide a stable image forming apparatus in which the movement of the center of gravity is small compared to the configuration in which the image reading unit and the upper lid are opened only on one side.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus including four image forming units having different colors is illustrated. However, the number of image forming units is not limited thereto, and may be appropriately set as necessary. It is.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge in which the image carrier and the process means acting on the image carrier are integrated is illustrated as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an image forming apparatus in which an image carrier and process means (charging means, developing means, cleaning means) acting on the image carrier can be attached and detached can be used.

Schematic sectional view seen from the front side of the color multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment Schematic sectional view for explaining the operation when replacing the process cartridge of the color multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

N1 ... primary transfer portion N2 ... secondary transfer portion P ... sheets 1a to 1d ... photosensitive drum (image carrier)
2a to 2d: Primary charging roller (charging means)
3a to 3d: Developing device (developing means)
4 Optical unit (exposure means)
5a to 5d Primary transfer roller 6 Intermediate transfer belt (endless belt member)
7 ... Driving roller 8 ... Follower roller 9 ... Tension roller 10 ... Secondary transfer roller 11 ... Fixing device (fixing means)
12 ... Intermediate transfer belt cleaner 13 ... Cassette 14 ... Pickup roller 15 ... Registration roller 16 ... Upper lid (cover member)
16a ... rotation center shaft 16b ... support shafts 17a to 17d ... process cartridge 20 ... discharge roller 21 ... color printer section 21a ... support shaft 21b ... rotation center support section 22 ... image reading section (image reading unit)
23 ... Discharge space 30 ... Flat bed scanner sections 30a, 30b, 30c ... Support shaft 31 ... Pressure plate 32 ... Reading means 33 ... Lock lever (lock mechanism)
34… Stopper (Stopper mechanism)
35 ... Connecting plate (interlocking mechanism)
35a, 35b ... holes

Claims (8)

An image forming unit having an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier;
An endless belt member disposed close to and opposed to the upper side of the image carrier;
A cover member rotatably provided with respect to the image forming apparatus main body together with the belt member in order to secure an operation space above the image forming unit;
An image reading unit provided above the cover member and rotatably provided to the image forming apparatus main body,
An image forming apparatus comprising an interlocking mechanism for rotating the cover member in conjunction with a rotation operation of the image reading unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover member and the image reading unit open in the same direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover member and the image reading unit are opened in opposite directions with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lock mechanism for holding the cover member and the image reading unit in a closed state.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper mechanism for holding the cover member and the image reading unit in an opened state.   The image forming apparatus includes a discharge space for discharging a sheet on which an image is formed below the image reading unit, and the upper surface of the cover member functions as a stacking unit that stacks the sheet in the discharge space. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus uses, as the belt member, an intermediate transfer member that temporarily holds a toner image formed on the image carrier, and sequentially transfers toner images of respective colors onto the intermediate transfer member, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner images carried on the intermediate transfer member are collectively transferred onto a sheet.   The image forming apparatus uses, as the belt member, a sheet carrying and conveying body that carries and conveys the sheet, and sequentially transfers toner images of respective colors onto the sheet carried on the sheet carrying and conveying body. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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