JP2008094528A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet supply device having an interference avoiding part formed lower than a connecting surface with an image forming device body within an opening operation range of an opening-closing part. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming device 10 has the image forming device body 12, a paper feeding unit 18 and a manually feeding tray 56. The the paper feeding unit 18 is connected to a lower part of the image forming device body 12, and supplies paper to the image forming device body 12. The manually feeding tray 56 stores the paper supplied by manual feeding, and is openably-closably supported by the image forming device body 12. The paper feeding unit 18 is provided with the interference avoiding part 70 in its end part so as not to hinder opening operation of the manually feeding tray 56. The interference avoiding part 70 is formed in a position lower than the connecting surface with the image forming device body 12 in the opening operation range of the manually feeding tray 56. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, or a facsimile.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that in an image forming apparatus paper feeding device, an accessory storage unit is disposed using a dead space so that the accessory can be stored in the apparatus without increasing the exclusive area of the apparatus. Disclosed
Further, in Patent Document 2, in the paper feed cassette, the dead space formed on both sides of the concave portion can be used as a component accommodating portion, so that the concave portion can be formed on the outer wall without increasing the overall length of the cassette case. The invention discloses a structure in which the protrusion length of the handle from the cassette case can be reduced by connecting both sides of the recess with the handle.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses that in a paper feeding device, when paper is replenished, the paper stacking unit is pulled out while narrowing the interval between the paper stacking unit and the cover unit, and when the paper stacking unit is set in the apparatus main body, Disclosed is an apparatus that can be loaded with a small amount of movement and can occupy a substantial occupied area by widening the interval.
Further, Patent Document 4 discloses a mechanism in which an opening that penetrates up and down is provided in the handle of the paper feed cassette so that a finger can be hooked on the handle from either up and down, and the paper feed cassette can be attached and detached.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-1224736 JP-A-6-329279 JP-A-10-101237 JP 2003-201028 A

  The present invention has been made from the above-described background, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the height of the entire apparatus to be low.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body in which an image forming unit is disposed, an opening / closing part provided on the image forming apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, and the image forming apparatus. A sheet supply device provided below the main body and configured to supply a sheet to the image forming unit, the sheet supply device being within an opening operation range of the opening / closing unit and connected to the image forming apparatus main body And an interference avoidance portion formed lower than that.
The connection surface is not limited to a physical surface that physically exists, but includes a virtual surface that does not physically exist.

  Preferably, when the opening / closing part is opened to the maximum position with respect to the image forming apparatus, the opening / closing part contacts the interference avoiding part.

  Preferably, the position at which the opening / closing part is opened to the maximum with respect to the image forming apparatus is determined by the contact of the opening / closing part with the interference avoiding part.

  Preferably, a portion of the interference avoiding portion that contacts the opening / closing portion is formed in a surface shape, a portion of the opening / closing portion that contacts the interference avoiding portion is formed in a surface shape, and the opening / closing portion is The portion formed in the surface shape of the opening / closing portion is held by contacting the portion formed in the surface shape of the interference avoidance portion.

  Suitably, the said opening-closing part is a manual sheet supply apparatus.

  Preferably, the open / close unit is a manual sheet supply device, and the interference avoidance unit is provided in a paper feed cassette provided in a freely retractable manner in the sheet supply device.

  Preferably, the manual sheet supply device and the paper feed cassette are provided on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, by providing the interference avoiding unit in the sheet feeding device, it is possible to avoid interference with the opening operation of the opening / closing unit, and to suppress the height of the entire apparatus to be low.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
1 and 2 show an outline of an image forming apparatus 10 according to the present invention.

The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 12, an image forming unit 14 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 12, and a discharge unit 16 is provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 12. A paper feed unit 18 is disposed below the image forming apparatus main body 12.
Further, in the image forming apparatus main body 12, a paper transport path 17 for transporting paper is formed, and the paper transport path 17 has a reverse path 50 as a transport path for double-sided printing described later.

The paper feed unit 18 stores paper as a transfer material, and includes a paper feed cassette 20, paper feed rolls 22 a and 22 b, and a separating roll 23 that are provided in the image forming apparatus main body 12 so as to be freely drawn out.
The sheets loaded in the sheet feeding cassette 20 are separated and fed to the registration roll 24 by the cooperation of the sheet feeding roll 22 b and the separating roll 23.
An image carrier 28 and a transfer device 36 of a process cartridge (developing cartridge) 46, which will be described later, face each other on the downstream side of the registration roll 24, and a fixing device 40 is further provided on the downstream side thereof.

  Accordingly, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette 20 of the sheet feeding unit 18 to the sheet conveying path 17 by the sheet feeding rolls 22a and 22b is temporarily stopped by the registration roll 24, and the image carrier 28 and the transfer device are timed. A developer image is transferred through the space 36, the transferred developer image is fixed by the fixing device 40, and discharged to the discharge portion 16 by the discharge roll 26.

However, in the case of duplex printing, it is returned to the duplex printing unit 48 as duplex printing means.
That is, the double-sided printing unit 48 is divided into two forks in front of the discharge roll 26, and a switching claw (not shown) is provided in the divided part, and for double-sided printing returning from the divided part to the resist roll 24. A reverse path 50 is formed as a transport path.
The reverse path 50 is provided with transport rolls 52a to 52c, and in the case of double-sided printing, a switching claw (not shown) is switched to the side that opens the reverse path 50 and At the time when the front end is applied, the discharge roll 26 is reversed, and the sheet is guided to the reversing path 50. The sheet guided to the reversing path 50 is discharged to the discharge unit 16 through the resist roll 24, the transfer device 36 and the image carrier 28, and the fixing device 40.

  The image forming means 14 is of an electrophotographic type, and includes an image carrier 28 made of a photoconductor, a charging device 30 made of, for example, a charging roll that uniformly charges the image carrier 28, and the charging device 30. An optical writing device 32 for writing a latent image on the charged image carrier 28 by light, a developing device 34 for visualizing a latent image of the image carrier 28 formed by the optical writing device 32, and a developing device 34 The transfer device 36 for transferring the developer image to the paper, the cleaning device 38 for cleaning the developer remaining on the image carrier 28, and fixing the developer image on the paper transferred by the transfer device 36 to the paper. For example, the fixing device 40 is composed of a pressure roll and a heating roll.

The optical writing device 32 is composed of, for example, a scanning laser exposure device, and traverses the process cartridge 46 to form a latent image on the image carrier 28.
The cleaning device 38 includes a cleaning blade 42 that comes into contact with the image carrier 28 and a developer recovery unit 44 that stores the developer scraped off by the cleaning blade 42.
The optical writing device 32 may use an LED or a surface emitting laser as another embodiment.

  In the process cartridge 46, the image carrier 28, the charging device 30, the developing device 34, and the cleaning device 38 are integrated, and these can be replaced as a unit.

  The paper feed cassette 20 described above is provided with a paper transport path 60. When a plurality of paper cassettes are arranged in multiple stages by this paper transport path 60, paper fed from other paper feed cassettes arranged on the lower side is transported.

Further, a manual feed unit 54 as a manual paper feeding unit is disposed on a side surface (the left side surface in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the image forming apparatus main body 12.
The manual feed unit 54 includes a manual feed tray 56 and a manual feed roll 58, and the paper stored in the manual feed tray 56 is picked by the rotation of the manual feed roll 58.
The paper fed from the manual pick roll 58 is discharged between the registration roll 24, the transfer device 36 and the image carrier 28, and the fixing device 40, similarly to the paper fed from the paper feeding unit 18. To be discharged.

  The manual feed tray 56 is provided with a side guide 62 and a manual feed roll 64. The side guide 62 is provided so as to be movable in accordance with the size of the paper so as to contact the side surface of the paper stored in the manual feed tray 56. The manual feed roll 64 is disposed at a position facing the manual feed roll 58, and the paper stored in the manual feed tray 56 is separated and fed by the cooperation of the manual feed roll 64 and the manual feed roll 58. It has become.

The manual feed tray 56 stores paper supplied manually, and closes when rotated in the direction of arrow A (indicated by a dotted line in FIGS. 1 and 2), and opens when rotated in the direction of arrow B (FIGS. 1 and 2). And is supported by the image forming apparatus main body 12 so as to be openable and closable.
The paper feed unit 18 is provided with an interference avoidance unit 70 at an end thereof so as not to hinder the opening operation of the manual feed tray 56. The interference avoiding unit 70 is formed in a position within the opening operation range of the manual feed tray 56 and lower than a connection surface (indicated by a broken line C in FIG. 2) with the image forming apparatus main body 12.
The paper supply unit 18 is exemplified as being provided integrally with the image forming apparatus main body 12, but is provided separately from the image forming apparatus main body 12 and connected to the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body 12. It may be.

Here, when the allowable amount of sheets stacked on the manual feed tray 56 is increased, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the manual feed tray 56 in order to secure a space for stacking sheets.
At this time, when the interference avoidance unit 70 is not provided, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the manual feed tray 56 is to be fully opened, the manual feed tray 56 and the paper feeding unit 18 come into contact at the D portion. Resulting in.
In order to avoid contact, it is necessary to raise the position of the rotation fulcrum (not shown) of the manual feed tray 56, and accordingly, the height H (shown in FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus 10 is increased. There is a need.
The paper feeding unit 18 of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present invention is provided with an interference avoiding unit 70 at a position within the opening operation range of the manual feed tray 56 and lower than the connection surface with the image forming apparatus main body 12. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the height H of the image forming apparatus 10 so as not to hinder the opening operation of the manual feed tray 56, and it can be kept low.

On the other hand, in order to keep the height H of the image forming apparatus 10 low, it is necessary to advance the position of the rotation fulcrum (not shown) of the manual feed tray 56 to the left side of the drawing. It is necessary to increase the width or depth L (shown in FIG. 2). In other words, as shown in FIG. 3B, it is conceivable to avoid interference by shortening the end of the paper feeding unit 18 and separating it from the manual feed tray 56.
However, if this is done, the width W required for strength to form the paper transport path 60 cannot be secured. Further, the operability such as insertion / removal of the paper feed cassette 20 is also deteriorated.
In the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to shorten the end of the paper feeding unit 18, a width W required for strength to form the paper transport path 60 can be secured, and the paper feeding cassette 20 Operability such as insertion and removal can be maintained.

The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present invention can increase the rigidity of the manual feed tray 56 by bringing the interference avoidance unit 70 and the manual feed tray 56 into contact when the manual feed tray 56 is fully opened.
Further, by bringing the interference avoidance unit 70 and the manual feed tray 56 into contact with each other, the position of the manual feed tray 56 in the fully opened state can be stabilized, thereby improving the paper feed performance of the manual feed unit 54.
Further, the interference avoiding unit 70 is formed into a surface shape, and the portion of the manual feed tray 56 that contacts the interference avoiding unit 70 is also formed into a surface shape so that the interference avoiding unit 70 and the manual feed tray 56 are brought into surface contact, thereby the manual feed tray 56 in the open state. It is also possible to further improve the rigidity and stability of the.

Further, by providing the interference avoidance unit 70 in the paper feed cassette 20 and the paper feed unit 18 that are provided in the paper feed unit 18 so as to be freely drawn out, the manual feed tray 56 and the paper feed cassette 20 can be moved simultaneously during the operation of the image forming apparatus 10. It is not actuated, and the above-described goodness can be exhibited without causing problems with the image forming apparatus 10.
For example, the height and depth of the image forming apparatus 10 can be suppressed, and when the manual feed tray 56 is not used, when the manual feed tray 56 is closed, the sheet feeding cassette 20 is visually recognized when compared with an apparatus that does not include the interference avoiding unit 70. In particular, even if the manual feed tray 56 is arranged on the front side of the image forming apparatus 10, a handle (not shown) of the manual feed tray 56 is easily noticeable without being separated from or bent from the image forming apparatus 10, The drawing operation can be facilitated.
Further, when the manual feed tray 56 is used, the paper feed cassette 20 and the paper feed unit 18 are supported when the manual feed tray 56 is used, even if the manual feed tray 56 is not configured to be more robust than necessary. Large capacity, large size, etc. can be facilitated.

  In this embodiment, the open / close unit supported by the image forming apparatus main body 12 so as to be openable / closable is a manual tray. However, the open / close unit may be a front cover, a double-sided unit, or the like. Good.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a side view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the problem at the time of thickening the thickness of a manual feed tray, without providing an interference avoidance part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Image forming apparatus main body 14 Image forming means 16 Discharge part 17 Paper conveyance path 18 Paper feed unit 20 Paper feed cassette 54 Manual feed unit 56 Manual feed tray 60 Paper conveyance path 70 Interference avoidance part

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus main body in which an image forming unit is disposed; an opening / closing portion provided on the image forming apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed;
A sheet supply device provided below the image forming apparatus main body and configured to supply a sheet to the image forming unit;
The sheet supply apparatus includes an interference avoidance unit that is within an opening operation range of the opening / closing unit and is formed lower than a connection surface with the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the opening / closing part is opened to a maximum position with respect to the image forming apparatus, the opening / closing part contacts the interference avoiding part. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a position where the opening / closing part is opened to the maximum with respect to the image forming apparatus is determined by the opening / closing part contacting the interference avoiding part. A portion of the interference avoidance portion with which the opening / closing portion abuts is formed in a surface shape,
A portion of the opening / closing portion that contacts the interference avoiding portion is formed in a surface shape,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the opening / closing portion is held by a portion formed in a surface shape of the opening / closing portion coming into contact with a portion formed in the surface shape of the interference avoiding portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing unit is a manual sheet supply device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing unit is a manual sheet supply device, and the interference avoiding unit is provided in a paper feed cassette provided to be freely drawable in the sheet supply device. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the manual sheet supply device and the paper feed cassette are provided on a front side of the image forming apparatus main body.

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