JP2007320689A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of enhancing a jam processing work efficiency of a fixing unit. <P>SOLUTION: A printer 1 has a fixing unit 4 for fixing an image transferred by an image forming unit 3 to a paper sheet by a heat roller 81. The fixing unit 4 can be longitudinally drawn out/stored from/in a storage space H of a device body 1a, and includes a fixing guide 83 long in the axial direction of the heat roller 81 to guide the paper sheet fixed by the heat roller 81 along a main conveying passage L. The fixing guide 83 is turnable between the open position for opening the main conveying passage L and the guide position for closing the main conveying passage L to guide the paper sheet around a shaft 83c substantially parallel to the axis of the heat roller 81. When the fixing unit 4 which is drawn out of the storage space H while the fixing guide 83 is located at the open position is stored in the storage space H, the fixing unit is brought into contact with an external wall 1d of the device body 1a and turned to the guide position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a fixing unit that is pulled out from an apparatus main body and performs paper jam processing.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer, when a paper jam occurs in a fixing unit that fixes a toner image onto a sheet, the fixing unit is pulled out from the apparatus main body to perform jam processing. It has become.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus having a configuration in which a fixing unit capable of fixing a sheet with a heat roller is pulled out to the side of the apparatus main body (in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the heat roller). In the state where the fixing unit is pulled out from the apparatus main body, the jam release cover of the fixing unit is rotated to expose the sheet conveyance path. The jam release cover is elongated in the axial direction of the heat roller, and rotates in the horizontal direction around the vertical axis with the end of the apparatus main body side in the longitudinal direction being pivotally supported by the vertical axis. It is configured as follows.

In this image forming apparatus, when the fixing unit is accommodated in the apparatus main body after the jam processing, the jam release cover is automatically closed by contacting the apparatus main body. Forgetting to close the jam release cover. This prevents jamming at the fixing unit.
JP 2000-305392 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the jam release cover that is long in the axial direction of the heat roller rotates in the horizontal direction around the vertical axis that supports the end in the longitudinal direction. Since it is configured to move, there is an inconvenience that the length from the rotation base end to the rotation front end of the jam release cover becomes long. As a result, the rotational movement of the jam release cover for opening and closing the transport path is increased, and there is a problem in that workability when performing jam processing of the fixing unit is lowered.

  Further, since the length from the rotation base end to the rotation front end of the jam release cover is increased, there is a disadvantage that the length of the jam release cover protruding from the apparatus main body in a state where the conveyance path is opened is increased. As a result, it is difficult to reduce the working space when the jam processing of the fixing unit is performed, so that there is a problem that the jam processing workability is further lowered.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of improving the jam handling workability of a fixing unit.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image forming unit that transfers an image onto a sheet conveyed along a conveying path in the apparatus main body, and the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing unit that fixes a transferred image onto the sheet with a fixing roller, wherein the fixing unit is on a horizontal plane about the axis of the fixing roller with respect to a housing space in the apparatus body. A guide member elongated in the axial direction of the fixing roller that guides the sheet subjected to the fixing process by the fixing roller along the conveyance path, The guide member is rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the fixing roller between an open position that opens the conveyance path and a guide position that closes the conveyance path and guides the paper. Withdrawn from said containment space and When the fixing portion in a state where the guide member is located at the open position is accommodated in the accommodation space, the guide member is rotated to the guide position by contacting an outer wall of the apparatus main body. Image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, as described above, the guide member elongated in the axial direction of the fixing roller is rotated about an axis substantially parallel to the axial center of the fixing roller. Compared with the case where the guide member is rotated about a vertical axis that is substantially orthogonal to the axis of the fixing roller, the length from the rotation base end to the rotation front end of the guide member can be shortened. The conveyance path can be opened and closed with a simple rotation. Accordingly, it is possible to improve workability in the case where the fixing member is jammed by rotating the guide member to the open position. In addition, since the length from the rotation base end to the rotation front end of the guide member can be shortened, the protrusion length of the guide member arranged at the open position from the fixing unit main body can be shortened. Therefore, the working space for performing the above-described jam processing of the fixing unit can be reduced, so that the jam processing workability can be further improved.

  Further, a guide member that is long in the axial direction of the fixing roller and is rotatable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the axial center of the fixing roller, and a direction in which the fixing portion is substantially orthogonal to the axial center of the fixing roller on the horizontal plane. Since the contact length between the guide member and the outer wall of the apparatus main body can be increased by being configured to contact the outer wall of the apparatus main body when being accommodated in the accommodating space in the apparatus main body The impact of time can be dispersed and reduced. Thereby, it can suppress that the outer wall of a guide member or an apparatus main body is damaged.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, it is preferable that the guide member has a protrusion that limits a contact portion between the guide member and the outer wall of the apparatus main body (claim 2). If comprised in this way, since a projection part can be made to contact the outer wall of an apparatus main body at the time of accommodation to the apparatus main body of a fixing part, it can suppress that a guide member is damaged.

  3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is preferably configured such that the fixing portion is accommodated in the accommodation space and the guide member is positioned at the guide position. Contact the wall (Claim 3). As described above, the protrusion of the guide member is configured to come into contact with the ceiling wall of the accommodation space in a state where the fixing portion is accommodated in the accommodation space, so that the guide member is directed toward the open position in the accommodation state of the fixing portion. Since rotation can be suppressed, the guide member can be reliably positioned at the guide position. Thereby, the stable paper conveyance property can be obtained easily. In addition, since the protrusion that contacts the outer wall of the apparatus main body during the housing operation of the fixing unit is brought into contact with the ceiling wall of the housing space in the housing state of the fixing unit, the protrusion for damage prevention is used as the positioning protrusion. be able to. Thereby, the structure of a guide member can be simplified.

  4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is preferably extended along a pulling-out / accommodating direction of the fixing unit in a state where the guide member is located at the guide position. Ribs are included (claim 4). According to this configuration, the protrusion is less likely to be caught on the apparatus main body during the housing operation of the fixing unit, so that the housing operation can be performed smoothly.

  In the image forming apparatus according to claim 4, preferably, the apparatus main body includes a wide flat rib provided on an inner wall on the ceiling side of the housing space and in contact with the rib. . If comprised in this way, the rib of a guide member and the wide flat rib of an accommodation space can be made to contact reliably.

  In the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, preferably, the fixing unit includes a biasing unit that biases the guide member toward the open position. 6). According to this configuration, when the fixing unit is pulled out from the apparatus main body, the guide member is automatically rotated to the open position by the biasing force of the biasing means. It becomes covered with the member. This prevents the high temperature part from being exposed to the public.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the length from the rotation base end to the rotation front end of the guide member can be shortened, the conveyance path can be opened and closed by a compact rotation operation. Accordingly, it is possible to improve workability in the case where the fixing member is jammed by rotating the guide member to the open position. In addition, since the length from the rotation base end to the rotation front end of the guide member can be shortened, the protrusion length of the guide member arranged at the open position from the fixing unit main body can be shortened. Therefore, the working space for performing the above-described jam processing of the fixing unit can be reduced, so that the jam processing workability can be further improved.

  Further, according to this image forming apparatus, since the contact length between the guide member and the outer wall of the apparatus main body can be increased, the impact at the time of contact can be dispersed and reduced. Thereby, it can suppress that the outer wall of a guide member or an apparatus main body is damaged.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 are perspective views showing an overall configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an internal configuration of the printer shown in FIG. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing the configuration of the fixing unit of the printer shown in FIG. 2, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are diagrams for explaining the housing operation of the fixing unit in the apparatus main body. It is sectional drawing. First, the overall configuration of the printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, an example in which the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to the printer 1 will be described.

  The printer 1 of this embodiment is provided with the box-shaped apparatus main body 1a as shown in FIGS. 1-3, and follows the main conveyance path L (refer FIG. 3) provided in the apparatus main body 1a. An image is formed on the paper based on image data transmitted from a terminal (not shown) while the paper is being conveyed. The main transport path L is an example of the “transport path” in the present invention. The main conveyance path L includes a horizontal conveyance path L1 extending substantially horizontally from the front to the rear of the printer 1 and a vertical conveyance path L2 rising substantially vertically from the rear end of the horizontal conveyance path L1. It is comprised so that it may become a substantially L shape by vision.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a rear opening 1b is formed on the rear surface of the apparatus main body 1a, and an accommodation space H continuous with the rear opening 1b is formed inside the apparatus main body 1a (see FIG. 5). Is provided. The accommodation space H can accommodate a fixing unit 4 described later. The fixing unit 4 is an example of the “fixing unit” in the present invention.

  The printer 1 stores a sheet and supplies the sheet to the image forming unit 3 described below, an image forming unit 3 that forms an image on the sheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit 2, and image formation And a fixing unit 4 for fixing the toner image transferred to the sheet by the unit 3 to the sheet.

  The paper feed unit 2 includes a paper feed cassette 21 that can store and store paper. The paper feeding unit 2 takes out the paper in the paper feeding cassette 21 one by one by the pickup roller 22, and sends the paper to the horizontal conveying path L1 of the main conveying path L by the paper feeding rollers 23, 24, 25 and 26. Further, the image forming unit 3 is configured to be temporarily waited by the registration roller 27 and then supplied to the image forming unit 3 at a predetermined timing.

  The paper feed unit 2 has a manual feed tray 28 attached to the front of the apparatus main body 1a. The paper placed on the manual feed tray 28 is taken out by a pickup roller 29, and the paper is taken out by a paper feed roller 24 and 26 can be fed one by one to the horizontal transport path L1 of the main transport path L.

  The image forming unit 3 is configured to transfer a toner image to a sheet after forming the toner image on the drum surface of the photosensitive drum 31. In other words, the image forming unit 3 includes a photosensitive drum 31 disposed substantially at the center in the front-rear direction of the horizontal conveying path L1 of the main conveying path L, and a charging unit 32 disposed above the photosensitive drum 31. A developing unit 33 disposed in front of the photosensitive drum 31, a transfer unit 34 disposed below the photosensitive drum 31, a cleaning unit 35 disposed behind the photosensitive drum 31, The image forming unit 3 and a laser scanner unit (LSU) 36 disposed above the fixing unit 4 are provided.

  The photosensitive drum 31 rotates clockwise in FIG. 3. After the drum surface is uniformly charged by the charging unit 32, the photosensitive drum 31 is converted into image data by the laser scanner unit 36. An electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating the laser beam based on between the charging unit 32 and the developing unit 33, and toner is supplied from the developing unit 33 to the drum surface on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. As a result, a toner image is formed.

  The paper supplied from the paper supply unit 2 is conveyed while being pressed against the photosensitive drum 31 by the transfer roller 34a of the transfer unit 34, thereby forming the drum surface of the photosensitive drum 31 on the surface of the paper. The toner image is transferred and then sent to the fixing unit 4. Note that the toner and residual charges remaining on the drum surface of the photosensitive drum 31 after the transfer are removed by the cleaning unit 35.

  The fixing unit 4 includes a heat roller 81 and a press roller 82 that is in pressure contact with the heat roller 81, and heat and pressure are sandwiched between the rollers 81 and 82 with the paper onto which the toner image is transferred. The toner image is fixed on the sheet. The heat roller 81 is an example of the “fixing roller” in the present invention.

  The sheet on which the toner image is fixed is discharged by a discharge roller 51 to a discharge unit 5 formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1a. A conveying roller 12 is disposed between the fixing unit 4 and the discharge roller 51.

  In addition, the printer 1 includes a switchback unit 11 disposed between the horizontal conveyance path L1 of the main conveyance path L and the paper feed cassette 21 so that image forming processing can be performed on both sides of the sheet. It has become. In other words, the sheet that has been subjected to image forming processing on one side by the image forming unit 3 and subjected to fixing processing by the fixing unit 4 is pulled out of the fixing unit 4 by the forward rotation of the transporting roller 12, and then the transporting roller 12. The reverse direction of the rotation switches the conveyance direction, and the sheet is fed into the switchback conveyance path L ′ of the switchback unit 11. The sheet fed into the image forming unit 3 by the transport roller 11a provided in the switchback transport path L ′ is configured to be subjected to image forming processing on the other side.

  Next, the configuration of the fixing unit 4 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fixing unit 4 has an elongated shape in the axial direction (left-right direction) of the heat roller 81, and the heat roller with respect to the housing space H in the apparatus main body 1a. It can be pulled out and accommodated in the front-rear direction substantially orthogonal to the 81 axial center on a horizontal plane. That is, the fixing unit 4 is movable in the front-rear direction so as to pass through the rear opening 1b of the apparatus main body 1a. When a jam occurs in the fixing unit 4, the fixing unit 4 is moved backward from the housing space H. By pulling it out, paper jam processing can be performed.

  As described above, since the fixing unit 4 that is long in the left-right direction is configured to be pulled out backward with respect to the housing space H of the apparatus main body 1a, the fixing unit 4 that is long in the left-right direction is Compared with the case where the fixing unit 4 is pulled out in the direction, the drawing size of the fixing unit 4 from the apparatus main body 1a can be shortened. As a result, the working space for pulling out the fixing unit 4 from the housing space H of the apparatus main body 1a and performing the jam processing of the fixing unit 4 can be reduced, so that the jam processing workability can be improved.

  The fixing unit 4 includes a frame 6, a rear cover 7, and a unit body 8. The frame 6 is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction along rails (not shown) installed on the left and right inner wall surfaces facing the accommodation space H of the apparatus main body 1a.

  The rear cover 7 is attached to the rear end of the frame 6 in such a posture that the cover surface is a vertical surface, and constitutes a part of the rear surface of the apparatus main body 1a in a state where the fixing unit 4 is accommodated in the accommodating space H. ing. The rear cover 7 is provided with a rear discharge roller 71 so that paper of a predetermined standard can be discharged from a rear discharge port 72 formed in the rear cover 7.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the unit body 8 is attached to the frame 6, and is fixed to the heat roller 81 and the press roller 82 described above and the axial direction (left and right direction) of the heat roller 81. A guide 83 and a conveyance roller 84 are provided. The fixing guide 83 is an example of the “guide member” in the present invention.

  The fixing guide 83 is disposed at a boundary portion between the horizontal conveyance path L1 and the vertical conveyance path L2, and guides the sheet subjected to the fixing process by the heat roller 81 and the press roller 82 along the main conveyance path L. Has a function for.

  4 to 8, the fixing guide 83 includes a first rib 83a, a second rib 83b, a shaft 83c, a separation claw 83d, and a guide portion 83e. At the center, it rotates between an open position (see FIGS. 5 and 6) for opening the main transport path L and a guide position (see FIGS. 4 and 8) for closing the main transport path L and guiding the paper. It is configured as follows. Each of the first rib 83a and the second rib 83b is an example of the “projection” in the present invention.

  The first rib 83a is provided in the vicinity of both ends of the fixing guide 83 in the left-right direction so as to extend linearly in the front-rear direction with the fixing guide 83 positioned at the guide position. These first ribs 83a come into contact with the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a during the fixing operation of the fixing unit 4, and limit the contact portion between the fixing guide 83 and the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a. It has a function.

  The second rib 83b protrudes at a position closer to the center in the left-right direction of the fixing guide 83 so as to extend linearly in the front-rear direction with the fixing guide 83 positioned at the guide position. These second ribs 83b are formed on the ceiling wall 1e (see FIG. 6) of the housing space H in a state where the fixing unit 4 is housed in the housing space H of the apparatus main body 1a and the fixing guide 83 is positioned at the guide position. The flat rib 1c is relatively wide in the left-right direction.

  The shaft 83 c is disposed so that its axis is substantially parallel to the axis of the heat roller 81. The separation claw 83 d has a function for contacting the peripheral surface of the heat roller 81 and separating the paper from the heat roller 81. The guide portion 83e has a function of contacting the upper surface of the paper transported along the main transport path L and guiding the paper to the downstream side of the main transport path L.

  The fixing guide 83 is always urged toward the open position by the urging force of a not-illustrated torsion coil spring (urging means) attached to the shaft 83c. As a result, the fixing guide 83 is automatically rotated to the open position by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring simply by pulling the fixing unit 4 out of the apparatus main body 1a. The guide 83 is covered. This prevents the high temperature part from being exposed to the public. An urging means other than the torsion coil spring may be used.

  In the fixing unit 4 of the present embodiment, when the fixing unit 4 with the fixing guide 83 pulled out from the storage space H of the apparatus main body 1a and positioned in the open position is stored in the storage space H, When the first rib 83a comes into contact with the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a, the fixing guide 83 is gradually rotated to the guide position against the urging force of the torsion coil spring so as to interlock with the housing operation of the fixing unit 4. It is configured as follows.

  In the accommodated state of the fixing unit 4, the second rib 83 b of the fixing guide 83 comes into contact with the flat rib 1 c of the ceiling wall 1 e of the accommodation space H. By this contact, the rotation operation of the fixing guide 83 to the open position is restricted. Accordingly, the fixing guide 83 is positioned at a predetermined guide position in the accommodated state.

  When a jam occurs in the fixing unit 4 configured as described above, the fixing unit 4 is pulled out from the housing space H of the apparatus main body 1a. At this time, the fixing guide 83 is rotated to the open position by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring in conjunction with the drawing operation of the fixing unit 4 (see FIG. 6). As a result, a part of the main conveyance path L included in the fixing unit 4 is exposed, and a jam handling operation in the fixing unit 4 is performed.

  Then, after the jam handling operation, the fixing unit 4 pulled out from the apparatus main body 1a is accommodated again in the accommodating space H of the apparatus main body 1a.

  That is, the fixing unit 4 that is pulled out of the storage space H and in which the fixing guide 83 is located at the open position is moved toward the storage space H of the apparatus main body 1a. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, the first rib 83a of the fixing guide 83 contacts the outer wall 1d on the rear side of the apparatus main body 1a. Then, by pushing the fixing unit 4 into the accommodation space H, as shown in FIG. 7, the fixing guide 83 receives a force from the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a and is directed toward the guide position while resisting the biasing force of the torsion coil spring. Move. Thus, the fixing guide 83 rotates from the open position to the guide position in conjunction with the housing operation of the fixing unit 4. It should be noted that the first rib 83a of the fixing guide 83 moves while being in sliding contact with the upper opening edge of the rear opening 1b during the housing operation.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in a state where the fixing unit 4 is housed in the housing space H, the second rib 83 b of the fixing guide 83 comes into contact with the planar rib 1 c provided on the ceiling wall 1 e of the housing space H. . Thereby, the rotation operation of the fixing guide 83 to the open position is restricted, and the fixing guide 83 is fixedly positioned at the guide position.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the fixing guide 83 that is long in the axial direction of the heat roller 81 is rotated around the axis 83 c that is substantially parallel to the axial center of the heat roller 81, thereby the fixing guide 83. The length from the rotation base end (shaft 83c) to the rotation front end of the fixing guide 83 can be shortened as compared with the case where 83 is rotated around a vertical axis substantially orthogonal to the axis of the heat roller 81. Therefore, the main transport path L can be opened and closed with a compact rotation operation. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the workability when the fixing guide 83 is rotated to the open position and the fixing unit 4 is jammed. Further, since the length from the rotation base end to the rotation front end of the fixing guide 83 can be shortened, the protruding length of the fixing guide 83 arranged at the open position from the unit main body 8 can be shortened. . Accordingly, the work space for performing the jam processing of the fixing unit 4 described above can be reduced, so that the jam processing workability can be further improved.

  Further, in this embodiment, as described above, the fixing guide 83 that is long in the axial direction of the heat roller 81 and is rotatable about the shaft 83c that is substantially parallel to the axial center of the heat roller 81 is provided as a fixing unit. 4 is configured to come into contact with the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a when being accommodated in the accommodation space H in the apparatus main body 1a along the front-rear direction substantially orthogonal to the axis of the heat roller 81 on the horizontal plane. Since the contact length between the fixing guide 83 and the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a can be increased, the impact at the time of contact can be dispersed and reduced. Thereby, it is possible to suppress damage to the fixing guide 83 and the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the fixing guide 83 is provided with the first rib 83a that limits the contact portion between the fixing guide 83 and the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a. Since the first rib 83a can be brought into contact with the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a during the accommodation in the la, the fixing guide 83 can be prevented from being damaged.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the second rib 83b that contacts the ceiling wall 1e of the housing space H in the state in which the fixing unit 4 is housed in the housing space H in the apparatus main body 1a is provided on the fixing guide 83. By providing, it is possible to suppress the rotation of the fixing guide 83 toward the open position in the accommodated state of the fixing unit 4, so that the fixing guide 83 can be reliably positioned at the guide position. Thereby, the stable paper conveyance property can be obtained easily.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the first rib 83a and the second rib 83b are arranged along the drawing / accommodating direction (front-rear direction) of the fixing unit 4 with the fixing guide 83 positioned at the guide position. By configuring so as to extend, the first rib 83a and the second rib 83b are not easily caught by the apparatus main body 1a during the accommodating operation of the fixing unit 4, so that the accommodating operation can be performed smoothly.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the wide flat rib 1c that contacts the linear second rib 83b of the fixing guide 83 is provided on the ceiling wall 1e of the housing space H in the apparatus main body 1a. The second rib 83b of the fixing guide 83 and the flat rib 1c of the accommodation space H can be reliably brought into contact with each other.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the fixing guide 83 that is long in the axial direction of the heat roller 81 is rotated about the shaft 83 c that is substantially parallel to the axial center of the heat roller 81, thereby Compared to the case where the fixing guide 83 is rotated about a vertical axis substantially orthogonal to the axis of the heat roller 81, the length from the rotation base end (axis 83c) to the rotation front end of the fixing guide 83 is shortened. Therefore, even when the portion near the shaft 83c of the fixing guide 83 contacts the apparatus main body 1a when the fixing unit 4 is stored in the storage space H, a large load is applied to the contact portion between the fixing guide 83 and the apparatus main body 1a. Can be sufficiently suppressed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the fixing guide 83 and the apparatus main body 1a from being damaged.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to the printer 1 as an example of the image forming apparatus has been described. Is possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fixing guide 83 is provided with the second rib 83b that linearly extends in the front-rear direction and the flat wall rib 1c that is wide in the left-right direction on the ceiling wall 1e of the housing space H. Although the example in which the second rib 83b of the fixing guide 83 is reliably brought into contact with the wide planar rib 1c of the accommodating space H in the accommodated state has been shown, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the fixing guide 83 is provided with a wide planar rib in the lateral direction. In addition, linear ribs may be provided in the front-rear direction on the ceiling wall 1e of the storage space H so that the flat ribs of the fixing guide 83 are reliably brought into contact with the ribs of the storage space H in the storage state of the fixing unit 4. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the fixing guide 83 is always biased to the open position by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring, and the fixing guide 83 is automatically rotated to the open position simply by pulling out the fixing unit 4 from the apparatus main body 1a. Although an example has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and there is no urging means for urging the fixing guide 83 to the open position. After the fixing unit 4 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 1a, the fixing guide 83 is manually opened. The structure moved to a position may be sufficient. In this case, when the fixing unit 4 is housed, the fixing guide 83 comes into contact with the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a and rotates toward the guide position by its own weight.

  In the present embodiment, the protruding height of the first rib 83a is set to be larger than the protruding height of the second rib 83b, and only the first rib 83a is the outer wall of the apparatus main body 1a when the fixing unit 4 is housed. Although the example configured to contact 1d is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and the protruding heights of the first rib 83a and the second rib 83b are made substantially equal so that not only the first rib 83a but also the second rib 83b. Alternatively, the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a may be contacted. In this case, since the damage prevention function can be added to the second rib 83b having the positioning function, the configuration of the fixing guide 83 can be simplified. In addition, since the impact at the time of contact can be further dispersed, it is possible to sufficiently prevent the fixing guide 83 and the outer wall 1d of the apparatus main body 1a from being damaged.

  Further, not only the second rib 83b but also the first rib 83a may come into contact with the ceiling wall 1e of the accommodation space H in the accommodation state of the fixing unit 4.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the printer illustrated in FIG. 1 is viewed from the A direction. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an internal configuration of the printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a fixing unit of the printer illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the fixing unit illustrated in FIG. 4 is pulled out from the apparatus main body. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view for explaining an operation of housing the fixing unit in the apparatus main body. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view for explaining an operation of housing the fixing unit in the apparatus main body. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view for explaining an operation of housing the fixing unit in the apparatus main body.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer (image forming device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a Apparatus main body 1c Planar rib 1d Outer wall 1e Ceiling wall 3 Image formation part 4 Fixing unit (fixing part)
81 Heat roller (fixing roller)
83 Fixing guide (guide member)
83a First rib (protrusion)
83b Second rib (protrusion)
83c Axis H Storage space L Main transport path (transport path)

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that transfers an image to a sheet conveyed along a conveying path in the apparatus main body; and a fixing unit that fixes an image transferred by the image forming unit to the sheet by a fixing roller. Because
The fixing unit is
It can be drawn out and accommodated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the fixing roller with respect to the accommodation space in the apparatus main body,
A guide member elongated in the axial direction of the fixing roller that guides the sheet subjected to the fixing process by the fixing roller along the conveyance path;
The guide member is
Centering on an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the fixing roller, it is possible to rotate between an open position for opening the conveyance path and a guide position for closing the conveyance path and guiding the paper,
When the fixing unit that is pulled out from the housing space and the guide member is located at the open position is housed in the housing space, it contacts the outer wall of the apparatus main body and rotates to the guide position. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide member has a protrusion that limits a contact portion between the guide member and an outer wall of the apparatus main body.   The said protrusion part contacts the ceiling wall of the said accommodation space in the state in which the said fixing | fixed part was accommodated in the said accommodation space, and the said guide member was located in the said guide position. Image forming apparatus.   4. The image according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion includes a rib extending along a drawing-out / accommodating direction of the fixing unit in a state where the guide member is positioned at the guide position. 5. Forming equipment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus main body includes a wide flat rib provided on a ceiling wall of the housing space and in contact with the rib.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit includes a biasing unit that biases the guide member toward the open position.

Images