JP2008127185A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of easily performing jam releasing operation of a carrying sheet on the periphery of a switchback passage, while forming a part of the passage for communicating a carrying passage with a reversal passage out of a faceup tray. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming device has the reversal passage 12 sending back the carrying sheet to the upstream side of an image forming part 10 of the carrying passage 8 from the downstream side of the image forming part 10 of the carrying passage 8, the switchback passage 23 used in common on the downstream side of the carrying passage 8 and the upstream side of the reversal passage 12, the faceup tray 24 forming at least a part of the switchback passage 23, rotatably supported by a printer body 2 so as to constitute a part of a back face of the printer body 2 and capable of loading the carrying sheet by opening the switchback passage 23, and a sub-tray 27 supported by the faceup tray 24 and forming the upstream side of the reversal passage 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of so-called double-sided printing, in which an image forming process can be performed on the other side of the transport sheet after the image forming process is performed on the one side of the transport sheet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, or a multifunction machine having these functions, an image forming processing unit performs image forming processing on one side (front surface) of the conveying sheet, and then transfers the conveying sheet. 2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus capable of performing so-called double-sided printing in which an image forming processing unit is returned from a downstream side to an upstream side in an inverted state and image forming processing is performed on the other side (back side) of a conveyance sheet is well known. It is.

  In addition, in such an image forming apparatus capable of duplex printing, an image forming processing unit is disposed in the middle of the conveyance path from the front side to the back side of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the rear surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus. The conveyance sheet that has been subjected to the image formation processing is provided above the image forming apparatus main body with the image forming processing surface (front surface) turned over via a conveyance path from the side to the sheet discharge port provided above the image forming apparatus main body. It is also well known to perform face-down discharge by stacking transport sheets in the order of image formation processing by discharging them to a paper discharge tray.

  At this time, when performing the above-described double-sided printing, if the conveying sheet is looped as it is, the conveying sheet is not reversed, so the sheet discharge port provided above the image forming apparatus body from the back side of the image forming apparatus body A part of the conveyance path leading to is used as a switchback path, and the conveyance sheet is switched back by this switchback path to realize the reverse of the conveyance sheet.

  On the other hand, in the case of the face-down discharge described above, the conveyance sheet is subjected to image formation processing in the image forming processing unit in the process from the front side to the back side of the image forming apparatus main body, and the image forming apparatus main body from the back side of the image forming apparatus main body. After passing the transport path to the sheet discharge port provided above the switchback path as described above, the transport sheet is turned over and discharged to the discharge tray. It goes through the transport route.

  For this reason, for example, when a cardboard having a relatively high shape retaining property such as a postcard is used as a transport sheet, there arises a problem that it is bent in the transport process.

  Therefore, if the process from the image forming process to the discharge is performed using a relatively horizontal conveyance path, the conveyance sheet does not bend as described above. Therefore, the panel portion constituting the rear surface of the image forming apparatus main body is rotated. It is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus so as to be movable, and a part of the switchback path is formed by using the panel part, and the panel part is rotated to open the switchback path, thereby discharging the panel part to face up. A second discharge tray (face-up tray) is considered (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The panel portion (face-up tray) is provided with a function as an operation panel for JAM release operation by removing the transport sheet jammed in the peripheral transport path by opening the switchback path. be able to.
JP 2004-099217 A

  However, in the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the conveyance path downstream of the image forming processing unit, the switchback path, and the upstream side of the reverse path are in close communication with each other, and the conveyance path There is a path that turns back (U-turn) at the communication part from the path (switchback path) to the reverse path.

  Therefore, when a part of the U-turn path of the communication part is formed by the face-up tray, when the face-up tray is rotated and used as a discharge tray, a path-forming part protruding upward (for example, multiple ribs) Has existed, and this has caused a problem that it interferes with the JAM release operation.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention facilitates the JAM release operation of the conveyance sheet around the switchback path while part of the path that connects the conveyance path and the reverse path is formed by the face-up tray. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be used for the following.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention performs an image forming process on a conveyance path for conveying from one surface side of the image forming apparatus main body to the other surface side of the image forming apparatus via an image forming unit, and a back surface of the conveyance sheet. A reversing path that reversely conveys a conveying sheet from a downstream side of the image forming unit of the conveying path to an upstream side of the image forming unit of the conveying path, a downstream side of the conveying path, and a reversing path of the reversing path A switchback path that is shared with the upstream side, and at least a part of the switchback path, and is rotatably supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to constitute a part of the back surface of the image forming apparatus main body. The face-up tray further comprises a face-up tray that enables stacking of the conveyance sheets conveyed to the downstream side by opening the switchback path. Wherein the supported on the tray is provided with a sub-tray to form an upstream side of the reverse path.

  At this time, the sub-tray is supported so as to be rotatable, slidable, and detachable with respect to the face-up tray, and is preferably supported to be rotatable.

  Further, the sub-tray has a pivot point of the face-up tray disposed below the reversing path, and a pivot point of the sub-tray is disposed above the reversing path to rotate the face-up tray. When the switchback path is opened, the sub-tray forms a working space in the vicinity of the reversing path by retracting from the use position to form the upstream side of the reversing path with respect to the face-up tray. It is preferable to rotationally move to the retracted position.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention can easily perform the JAM release operation of the conveyance sheet around the switchback path while part of the path that connects the conveyance path and the reversal path is formed by the face-up tray. it can.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus in the rear direction, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the main part in the face-up tray closed state showing the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 5 is according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the main part in the face-up tray open state showing the image forming apparatus, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the main part in the sub-tray open state showing the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the principal part of the JAM process part open state which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

(Entire printer configuration)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a printer 1 as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a paper cassette housing unit 3 provided in a printer main body 2 as an image forming apparatus main body. A paper feed cassette 4 that is slidably stored, a paper feed unit 5 that takes out a transport sheet (not shown) stored in the paper feed cassette 4, and a printer body 2 that can be tilted up and down. A manual feed tray 6, a manual paper feed unit 7 for taking out a transport sheet (not shown) set in the manual feed tray 6, and a transport path 8 through which the transport sheets supplied from the paper feed units 5 and 7 are transported. A pair of registration rollers 9 arranged on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance path 8 and on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the merging portion of each of the sheet feeding units 5 and 7, Downstream of sheet conveyance direction An image forming unit 10 that forms an image on one surface of the transport sheet, and an image (toner) that is disposed on the transport path 8 downstream of the image forming unit 10 in the sheet transport direction and formed on one surface of the transport sheet. A fixing unit 11 for fixing the image), and a conveyance path from the downstream of the conveyance path to the fixing unit 11 in the conveyance path 8 from the registration roller pair 9 when forming an image on the other surface of the conveyance sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 11. 8 is provided with a reverse path 12 that is pulled back to the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, and a paper discharge section 13 that is provided at the end of the conveyance path 8.

  The image forming unit 10 includes a photosensitive drum 14 and a charging device 15, an exposure device 16, a developing device 17, a transfer device 18, a cleaning device 19, and the like disposed around the photosensitive drum 14.

  The photosensitive drum 14 is rotationally driven at a predetermined process speed (circumferential speed) by a driving unit (not shown). Further, after the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging device 15, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface by the exposure device 16.

  At this time, the exposure device 16 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 with laser light (not shown) based on image data output from a personal computer or the like, and a laser light irradiation portion on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14. The electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed by removing the charges.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is developed as a toner image by electrostatically adhering toner having a charge supplied from the toner container 20 by the developing device 17. Further, the toner image is transferred as a transfer image to the transport sheet by the transfer device 18.

  At this time, the photosensitive drum 14 having the toner image transferred to the conveying sheet is subjected to a removal process of residual toner and the like and a charge removal process for charging at the next image formation by the cleaning device 19.

  On the other hand, the transport sheet on which the transfer image is formed is discharged and stacked from the discharge port 21 of the discharge unit 13 to the discharge tray unit 22 via the transfer path 8 on the back side of the printer body 2. .

  When printing on both sides of the conveyance sheet, after the conveyance path 8 on the back side of the printer main body 2 is also used as the switchback path 23, an image forming process is performed on the reverse side of the conveyance sheet using the reverse path 12. Do.

  On the other hand, a part of the switchback path 23 is formed on the back surface of the printer main body 2, and a face-up tray 24 that can be opened to release a jammed sheet in the vicinity of the switchback path 23. Is rotatably supported.

(Configuration of face-up tray 24)
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the face-up tray 24 is rotatably supported by the printer main body 2 via a shaft 25 at the lower end located below the reversing path 12. The peripheral conveyance path 8 including the switchback path 23 is opened by rotating a part of the rear surface of the outer surface of the lens and rotating the shaft 25 as a fulcrum. When the peripheral conveyance path 8 including the switchback path 23 is opened, the conveyance sheet functions as a second discharge tray that discharges the conveyance sheet to the discharge tray 22 in a face-up state. Further, on the inner surface of the face-up tray 24, a plurality of ribs 24a (only one is disclosed in the figure) for forming the switchback path 23 are formed. Further, a sub-tray 27 is rotatably supported via a shaft 26 near the lower side of the rib 24a at both ends of the face-up tray 24 (the sheet width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the conveyance sheet).

(Configuration of sub-tray 27)
The sub-tray 27 is rotatably supported by the face-up tray 24 with the vicinity of the center in the height direction of the face-up tray 24 above the reversing path 12 as a rotation fulcrum (shaft 26). The sub-tray 27 forms a part of the path from the upstream side of the switchback path 23 to the upstream side of the reversing path 12, and includes multiple ribs (other than the illustrated rib 24 a) formed on the face-up tray 24. ) And a continuous rib (not shown) are guided. Further, the sub-tray 27 is provided with a driven guide roller 30 that contacts the driving roller 29 of the guide roller pair 28 that guides the transport sheet from the transport path 8 to the switchback path 23 and guides the transport sheet to the reverse path 23. It has been.

  It should be noted that a driving roller other than the driving roller 29 may be used. The drive roller 29 is supported by a JAM release unit 32 that is rotatably supported by the printer body 2 via a shaft 31. In the figure, reference numeral 33 denotes an electric control unit arranged below the paper feed cassette 4.

  In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, the face-up tray 24 includes a rotation fulcrum (shaft 25) near its lower end, and the sub-tray 27 is near its upper end (near the height center of the face-up tray 24). Is provided with a rotation fulcrum (shaft 26).

  For example, when it is desired to prevent the conveyance sheet from being bent by using relatively thick paper such as a postcard as the conveyance sheet, the face-up tray 24 is rotated around the shaft 25 as a fulcrum as shown in FIG. By moving, the conveyance sheet fixed by the fixing unit 11 can be stacked on the face-up tray 24 in a face-up state. Further, it is possible to perform a removal (JAM release) operation of the conveyance sheet jammed by the guide roller pair 28 or the like.

  If the conveying sheet is jammed in the reversing path 12 or the like, as shown in FIG. 6, the sub-tray 27 is rotated with the shaft 26 as a rotation fulcrum, thereby reversing the reversing path with respect to the face-up tray 24. Accordingly, a wide working space S can be formed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the reversing path 12 by retreating from the use position that forms the upstream side of 12, and the working efficiency of the JAM releasing operation can be improved.

  Further, when the conveyance sheet is clogged in the vicinity of the fixing unit 11 described above, as shown in FIG. 7, the sub-tray 27 is rotated around the shaft 26 as a rotation fulcrum, so that a work space is provided on the upstream side of the reversing path 12. After securing, by rotating the JAM release unit 32 around the shaft 31 as a rotation fulcrum, maintenance of the vicinity of the fixing unit 11 and the JAM release unit 32 can be performed.

  At this time, since the fixing unit 11 is in a high temperature environment, the JAM release unit 32 is configured so that the operator's hand does not touch the fixing unit 11.

  In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to the printer 1. However, the image forming apparatus is applied to all image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine functionally equipped with these. Of course you can.

  Further, the sub-tray 27 may be slidably or detachably supported with respect to the face-up tray 24.

1 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a rear perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a main part in a face-up tray closed state showing the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a main part in a face-up tray open state showing the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a main part in a sub-tray open state showing the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the principal part of the JAM process part open state which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Printer (image forming apparatus)
2. Printer body (image forming device body)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 ... Conveyance path | route 10 ... Image formation part 12 ... Reverse path 23 ... Switchback path | route 24 ... Face up tray 27 ... Sub tray

Claims (3)

A conveyance path for conveying the image forming apparatus main body from one surface side to the other surface side of the image forming apparatus via an image forming unit, and the image formation on the conveyance path for performing image forming processing on the back surface of the conveyance sheet. A reverse path that reversely feeds the transport sheet from the downstream side to the upstream side of the image forming unit in the transport path, and a switchback that is used both on the downstream side of the transport path and on the upstream side of the reverse path A path and at least a part of the switchback path, and is rotatably supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to constitute a part of the back surface of the image forming apparatus main body and opens the switchback path. In the image forming apparatus provided with a face-up tray that enables stacking of the conveyance sheets conveyed to the downstream side,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a sub-tray that is supported by the face-up tray and forms an upstream side of the reversing path.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sub-tray is rotatably supported by the face-up tray. The turning fulcrum of the face-up tray is disposed below the reversing path, and the rotating fulcrum of the sub-tray is disposed above the reversing path,
The sub-tray when the switch-back path is opened by rotating the face-up tray is a use position that forms an upstream side of the reversing path with respect to the face-up tray, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is rotationally displaced to a retreat position where a work space is formed in the vicinity of the reversing path.

Images