JP2009003085A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extinguish ignition caused on paper on a paper tray without impairing any operability of the paper tray. <P>SOLUTION: In this image forming apparatus 100, a manual feed tray 254 for feeding a desired storage medium P into a device main body is slantedly supported to the device main body. The image forming apparatus is provided with an overheat temperature detection means 263 detecting whether a temperature of the storage medium placed on the manual feed tray reaches a predetermined overheat temperature or not, a fire extinguishing means 268 spraying a fire extinguishing agent to an overheated part, and fire extinguishment operation means 263a and 264 operating the fire extinguishing means when the overheat temperature detection means detect that the temperature of the storage medium reaches the predetermined overheat temperature. The overheat temperature detection means detects attainment of the predetermined overheat temperature by a bimetal included in the manual feed tray and bent by thermal deformation when the storage medium reaches the predetermined overheat temperature. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to suppression / prevention of a fire caused by firing from the outside of the apparatus on a sheet serving as a recording medium placed on a manual feed tray.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a so-called multi-function machine having these various functions, a manual feed tray and a paper discharge tray have a sheet placement surface outside the image forming apparatus. The sheet placed on the top is exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, there is a risk of damage caused by burning due to a fire source outside the image forming apparatus such as cigarettes in the vicinity of the paper tray. If the paper on the paper tray burns, the fire should be extinguished quickly. It is preferable to prevent fire.

As a device for extinguishing a fire that has occurred in order to prevent or suppress fire damage caused by various electronic devices such as these image forming apparatuses, in Patent Document 1, a fire extinguisher is applied to the upper part of the casing body of the device. An electronic device box is disclosed in which a housing case is provided, and when the internal temperature of the housing body reaches a certain high temperature, a fire extinguisher is released from the case.
JP-A-8-204352

  However, in the above-described apparatus that has been implemented conventionally, the extinguishing agent is configured to extinguish the occurrence of a fire by dropping, and when a member having the extinguishing agent is arranged on the upper surface in an attempt to make it easy to fall, the member Since the paper tray is covered by this, there is a problem that the operability when placing paper on the paper tray is impaired, and it is difficult to achieve both operability and safety.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of conventional image forming apparatuses, and an object of the present invention is to extinguish a fire without impairing the operability of the paper tray. A new and improved image forming apparatus is provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which a manual tray for supplying a desired recording medium in the apparatus main body is supported by the apparatus main body. Overheating temperature detection means for detecting that the recording medium placed on the tray has reached a predetermined overheating temperature, fire extinguishing means for spraying a fire extinguishing agent on the overheating temperature reaching position, and the recording medium has reached a predetermined overheating temperature There is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a fire extinguishing operation unit that activates the fire extinguishing unit when the heating temperature detecting unit detects this.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the paper on the manual feed tray is ignited by firing, etc., the heating temperature detecting means operates to extinguish the fire extinguishing operation means. Therefore, the spread of fire due to the ignition can be prevented.

  At this time, in the above embodiment, when the recording medium reaches a predetermined overheat temperature, the overheat temperature detecting means reaches the predetermined overheat temperature by bending the bimetal included in the manual feed tray due to thermal deformation. It is good also as detecting this. In particular, the fire extinguishing means is configured to manually feed the apparatus main body by engaging a tray side engaging portion provided at the base end side end of the overheat temperature detecting means with a fire extinguishing means side engaging portion provided at the end of the fire extinguishing means. The fire extinguishing operation means is supported from the fire fighting means side engaging part when the overheat temperature detecting means is bent due to thermal deformation. The fire extinguishing means may be tilted from the upright state toward the manual feed tray by being pulled out.

  By adopting such a configuration, even when the power is not supplied to the apparatus main body, when the paper on the manual feed tray ignites, the bimetal serving as the overheat temperature detecting means is thermally deformed, thereby extinguishing the fire. A fire extinguishing action can be imparted by operating the operating means.

  At this time, in the above embodiment, the fire extinguishing means may hold the fire extinguishing agent on the side of the manual feed tray facing the recording medium mounting surface via a heat-meltable sheet member.

  With this configuration, the sheet on the manual feed tray ignites and the fire extinguishing member is tilted from the upright state toward the ignition location by the fire extinguishing operation means, so that the sheet member in contact with the ignition location is thermally melted. And since a fire extinguishing agent comes to be attached to an ignition location, a digestive action can be reliably given now to an ignition location.

  At this time, in the above-described embodiment, the manual feed tray may include a heat conductive member having thermal conductivity connected to the overheat temperature detecting means over a wide range of the manual feed tray.

  By adopting such a configuration, the temperature rise due to the occurrence of fire such as burning is effectively transmitted to the overheating temperature detection means over a wide range of the manual feed tray, so that the manual tray fire extinguishing operation means can be operated quickly. Because it can, fire suppression performance is improved.

  At this time, in the above embodiment, the overheat temperature detecting means further includes a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature change of the recording medium placed on the manual feed tray, and the apparatus main body has a predetermined recording medium by the temperature sensor. When it is detected that the overheat temperature has been reached, an overheat temperature arrival notification means for notifying other external devices may be provided.

  By adopting such a configuration, the temperature sensor notifies other external devices such as a client PC connected via a communication line that the paper on the manual feed tray has been ignited. Since it is possible to directly extinguish the fire, it is possible to minimize the damage of the fire that has occurred.

  At this time, in the above embodiment, the manual feed tray is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body around a support shaft provided in the apparatus main body, and the overheat temperature detecting means is fixedly provided on the apparatus main body side. In the manual feed tray, a heat conducting member is provided in the longitudinal direction over substantially the entire length of the manual feed tray. When the manual feed tray is open with respect to the apparatus main body, the heat conducting member detects the overheat temperature. When the manual feed tray is in a closed state with respect to the apparatus main body, the heat conducting member may be separated from the overheat temperature detecting means.

  With such a configuration, when the manual feed tray is not used, the manual feed tray is folded with respect to the main body of the apparatus, and the manual feed tray is held in an upright state, so that the use space can be reduced and saved. Space can be achieved.

  At this time, in the above-described embodiment, the apparatus main body is provided with a movable engagement portion that engages with a fire extinguishing means side engagement portion provided at an end of the fire extinguishing means in order to support the fire extinguishing means in an upright state. The fire extinguishing operation means includes a movable engagement portion for tilting the fire extinguishing means from the upright state toward the manual feed tray when the temperature sensor provided in the manual feed tray detects that the recording medium has reached a predetermined overheating temperature. There may be provided a removal drive means for driving the movable engagement portion so as to be removed from the fire extinguishing means side engagement portion.

  With this configuration, after the temperature sensor detects the firing of the paper on the manual feed tray, the drive control is performed so that the movable engagement portion is detached from the first engagement portion on the fire extinguishing member side. The time from the ignition to the paper until the extinguishing member is activated can be shortened, and the spread of the fire can be prevented.

  At this time, in the above-described embodiment, the temperature sensor and the removal drive unit may be supplied with power from a power source that is different from the main power source that supplies power to the device main body.

  With such a configuration, for example, when the power switch of the image forming apparatus main body is turned off at midnight or the like, even if the paper on the manual feed tray ignites, the control unit of the image forming apparatus ignites with the temperature sensor. Is detected, the solenoid serving as the removal drive means is operated, and the solenoid for operating the fire extinguishing member is driven to perform the fire extinguishing action.

  At this time, in the above embodiment, the manual feed tray and the fire extinguishing means may be provided so as to be accommodated in one frame member, and the frame member may be configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body.

  With such a configuration, the manual feed tray and the fire extinguishing member are provided so as to be integrally supported so as to be accommodated in a frame member that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. The fire extinguishing member can be easily attached and detached.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the paper on the manual feed tray is ignited by firing or the like, the fire extinguishing member provided in the image forming apparatus operates, so that the ignition can be extinguished quickly. The spread of fire due to the ignition can be prevented.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of the first embodiment in which the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to an MFP will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 has a so-called front-accessible build-up configuration in which an image reading unit 110 is disposed at the top, an image forming unit 210 is disposed at the center, and a sheet feeding unit 250 is disposed at the bottom. Yes. On the original glass platen 111 placed on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 100, an automatic feeding of a plurality of originals set on the original document set tray onto the original platen 111 one by one automatically. A document conveying device 112 is provided. A post-processing unit 260 is mounted on one side surface of the image forming unit 210, and a multi-stage paper feeding unit 270 that also serves as a mounting table is disposed below the paper feeding unit 250.

  The image reading unit 110 located below the document table 111 includes a first scanning unit 113, a second scanning unit 114, an optical lens 115, and a CCD line sensor 116 as a photoelectric conversion element. The image of the document placed on the document table 111 is relatively scanned and read at a predetermined exposure position. The first scanning unit 113 is equipped with a light source lamp unit 1 including a light source lamp 1a that exposes the original surface, and a first mirror 2a that reflects a reflected light image from the original in a predetermined direction. The amount of light emitted from the light source lamp unit 1 is detected by a light amount sensor 3 (see FIG. 2). The second scanning unit 114 includes a second mirror 2b and a third mirror 2c that guide the reflected light from the document reflected by the first mirror 2a to the CCD line sensor 116 that is a photoelectric conversion element. The optical lens 115 forms an image of the reflected light from the original on the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 116.

  The image forming unit 210 emits laser light according to image data transferred from the charger 223 that charges the photosensitive drum 222 to a predetermined potential, the document reading unit 110, or an external device (not shown), and the photosensitive drum 222. A laser scanning unit (hereinafter referred to as LSU) 227 for forming an electrostatic latent image thereon 227 and toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 222 via a developing roller 228. A developing unit 224 that visualizes the toner image, a transfer unit 225 that transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 222 to a sheet, and a cleaning that collects toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 222 after the transfer process. 226, a peeling device 229 for peeling the paper from the photosensitive drum 222 after the transfer process, and a toner image formed based on desired image data Transfer to printing processing on becomes paper.

  The LSU 227 includes a semiconductor laser 11 that irradiates a laser beam modulated by image data and a polygon mirror 12 that polarizes the laser beam in the main scanning direction by rotation together with a lens group (not shown). The polygon mirror 12 is driven by a motor 13. The rotation speed of the motor 13 is detected by the speed sensor 14.

  The image forming unit 210 is provided with a fixing unit 217 serving as a fixing device that fixes the toner image on the paper by heating and pressing the paper on which the toner image is transferred. The fixing unit 217 includes a pair of rollers including an upper heating roller 21 and a lower pressure roller 22. The heating roller 21 includes a heater 21 a, and the temperature of the heating roller 21 is detected by a temperature sensor 23. Further, on the discharge side of the fixing unit 217, a switchback path 221 that reverses the front and back of the paper in a double-sided image forming mode in which images are formed on both sides of the paper is formed.

  The paper on which the toner image has been fixed in the fixing unit 217 passes through the switchback path 221 as necessary, and is guided to the post-processing device 260 by the paper discharge roller 219. The post-processing device 260 performs stapling processing, punching processing, and the like. After the post-processing, the paper is discharged onto the tray 261.

  The paper feed unit 250 includes a manual feed tray 254, a duplex unit 255, a paper feed tray 251, and paper feed trays 252 and 253 provided in the multi-stage paper feed unit 270, which are mounted on the side surface of the apparatus main body 100a. The paper feed trays 251 to 254 store a plurality of sheets stacked. Further, the paper feeding unit 250 picks up the paper P stacked and accommodated in the paper feeding trays 251 to 254 one by one from the uppermost layer and feeds the paper P toward the image forming unit 210 (paper feeding roller). 256, a plurality of transport rollers 258 for transporting the fed paper to a transfer position between the photosensitive drum 222 and the transfer device 225 in the image forming unit 210, and before the transported paper is fed to the transfer position. In addition, a conveying unit such as a registration roller 257 for aligning the front end of the conveying sheet and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 222 is provided. The double-sided unit 255 communicates with a switchback path 221 that reverses the paper, and temporarily stores the paper whose front and back surfaces are reversed in the double-sided image forming mode. The duplex unit 255 is replaceable with a normal paper feed tray.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a main CPU including a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43 that store control programs for controlling the respective functional units as control means for the entire apparatus. (Central Processing Unit) 41 is provided. The main CPU 41 includes an image memory 44, an image processing circuit 48, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 54, a communication unit 50, a detection unit 51, a NIC 53, an operation panel 70 serving as input operation means, a wireless communication unit 52, and image formation. The unit side sub CPU 60 and the document reading unit side sub CPU 61 are connected, and the main CPU 41 controls the operations of these functional units.

  When power is supplied from a power source (not shown), the main CPU 41 controls each input / output device in the image forming apparatus 100 connected to the main CPU 41 according to a program written in the ROM 42 in advance, The processing operation of the input / output device is executed, various data such as print data input / output during this time is temporarily stored in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 43, and the program read from the ROM 42 is executed. The image data output from the image processing circuit 48 is stored in the image memory 44, and the print data and password transmitted from the client PC 55 serving as a remote information processing apparatus are stored in the HDD 54.

  In the present embodiment, the operation panel 70 includes an input key (not shown) and a liquid crystal display panel, and displays various data such as a use state of the image forming apparatus 100, a usable paper size, and a copy magnification. The user's operation can be received by the input key. The liquid crystal display panel included in the operation panel 70 may be a liquid crystal touch panel that allows input by touching the liquid crystal screen. Further, the user inputs a password for permitting execution of print processing of various print data such as confidential print data, using the input key of the operation panel 70.

  The image processing circuit 48 has a function of developing print data transmitted from a client PC 55, which is an information processing apparatus connected via a communication line N10 such as a LAN, so that it can be printed out. The print data expanded in the image processing circuit 48 so as to be capable of print output is temporarily stored in the image memory 44, and then transmitted to the image forming unit 210, where the image forming unit 210 performs print processing. Is done.

  The communication unit 50 has a function of executing data communication between the removable external storage device 30 such as a USB memory and the main CPU 41, and detects whether the external storage device 30 is connected to the communication unit 50. This is detected by the unit 51. On the other hand, the wireless communication unit 52 is a wireless LAN or the like, and executes wireless communication with an apparatus capable of wireless communication such as a notebook PC.

  The NIC 53 is an abbreviation for A Network Interface Card, and is a communication unit such as an expansion card for performing network communication with the client PC 55 via the communication line N10. The image forming apparatus 100 executes print processing based on print data included in a print job transferred from the client PC 55 via the NIC 53, or receives image data obtained by reading a document in the document reading unit 110. Transfer to the client PC 55.

  In the network environment such as a LAN via the communication line N10, the NIC 53 is remotely connected to the NIC 53 via the communication line N10 to detect temperatures detected by respective temperature sensors 57 and 58 provided inside and outside of the apparatus described later. A management server 56 for recording on the ground is connected and communicates with the image forming apparatus 100.

  In the present embodiment, when the main CPU 41 detects an abnormal temperature with the outside temperature sensor 58 included in the manual feed tray 254, the main CPU 41 notifies the management server 56 of the abnormal situation via the NIC 53. In addition, a plurality of image forming apparatuses such as MFPs are connected to the communication line N10, and perform data communication with the management server 56 in the same manner as the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment.

  The image forming unit 210 is controlled by the image forming unit side sub CPU 60, and includes a heater 21a, a temperature sensor 23, an image forming unit side driver 47, and an A / D converter 62. The temperature sensor 23 detects the temperature of the heating roller 21 in the fixing unit 217 and outputs temperature data to the sub CPU 60. The image forming unit side driver 47 drives the heater 21 a built in the heating roller 21 of the fixing unit 217 based on the control data output from the image forming unit side sub CPU 60.

  The main CPU 41 transmits a predetermined warm-up command to the image forming unit side sub CPU 60 as the first return processing. When the image forming unit side sub CPU 60 receives a predetermined warm-up command from the main CPU 41, the image forming unit side sub CPU 60 energizes the heater 21a and is heated by the heater 21a based on the temperature information obtained from the temperature sensor 23. The energization of the heater 21a is controlled so that the surface temperature of the heating roller 21 is constant at a predetermined temperature. When the surface of the heating roller 21 reaches a predetermined temperature, the image forming unit side sub CPU 60 determines that the image forming process is possible (fixing ready state), and reaches the main CPU 41 in this state. Notify that.

  The document reading unit 110 is controlled by the document reading unit side sub CPU 61, and includes a light source lamp 1 a, a light amount sensor 3, a document reading unit side driver 45, and an A / D converter 63. The light amount sensor 3 detects the amount of light emitted from the light source lamp 1 a of the light source lamp unit 1, and inputs the detected light amount data to the document reading unit side sub CPU 61 via the A / D converter 63. The document reading unit side driver 45 drives the light source lamp 1 a of the light source lamp unit 1 based on the control data output from the document reading unit side sub CPU 61.

  The main CPU 41 transmits a predetermined warm-up command to the document reading unit side sub CPU 61 as the second return processing. When the document reading unit side sub CPU 61 receives a predetermined warm-up command from the main CPU 41, the light source lamp 1a is energized, and the light amount of the light source lamp 1a is fixed to a predetermined light amount based on the light amount information obtained from the light amount sensor 3. The energization of the light source lamp 1a is controlled so that When the light amount of the light source lamp 1a reaches a predetermined light amount, the document reading unit side sub CPU 61 determines that the document reading process is possible (reading ready state), and the main CPU 41 reaches this state. Notify that it has been done.

  In addition to the above, the image forming unit side sub CPU 60 and the document reading unit side sub CPU 61 include images such as motors, clutches, solenoids, and sensors (not shown) provided in the image forming unit 210 and the document reading unit 110, respectively. Various input / output devices that operate during the document forming process and the document reading process are connected. The image forming unit side sub CPU 60 and the document reading unit side sub CPU 61 read the detection data of the temperature sensor 23 and the light amount sensor 3 at predetermined timings during the image forming process and the document reading process, respectively, and according to the detection data, The respective motors and the like provided in the image forming unit 210 and the document reading unit 110 are driven.

  In the present embodiment, an in-device temperature sensor 57 is provided in the image forming apparatus 100 and an outside temperature sensor 58 is provided outside the device. These temperature sensors 57 and 58 are connected to the main CPU 41. Yes. As described above, the outside temperature sensor 58 is provided in the manual feed tray 254.

  The internal temperature sensor 57 adjusts various process conditions such as the photosensitive member surface potential and the developing bias potential so as to compensate for the temperature characteristics of the photosensitive member and the developer and to obtain good print quality during the image forming operation. Used to control. Therefore, the apparatus internal temperature sensor 57 is provided in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 222.

  On the other hand, the apparatus outside temperature sensor 58 measures the outside air temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 and the temperature on the sheet placement surface side of the manual feed tray 254. Further, when an abnormal temperature rise is detected due to a fire caused by similar firing or the like on the paper P placed on the manual feed tray 254 by the outside temperature sensor 58, the main CPU 41 detects an abnormality in an external device via the NIC 53. Notify the situation. A detailed description of the function and the like of the device outside temperature sensor 58 will be described later.

<In copy mode>
Next, a printing process in the copy mode in the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described. The copy mode defined in the text includes an image reading process for reading an image of a document and an image forming process for copying the read image on a sheet.

  In the copy mode, after a document to be copied is placed on the document table 111 of the document reading unit 110, after the user inputs data such as a desired number of copies and a copy magnification with the condition input key of the operation panel 70, When the start key is pressed, a copying operation including an image reading process and an image forming process is started.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 that starts processing in this way, first, when a start key is pressed, a main drive motor (not shown) is started substantially simultaneously, and each drive gear rotates. Thereafter, the paper feed roller 256 rotates to feed the paper, and the fed paper is transported to the registration roller 257 in the transport path. Here, the paper is temporarily stopped to synchronize with the leading edge of the image on the photosensitive drum 222, and the leading edge of the paper is uniformly pressed against the registration roller 257 to correct the leading edge of the paper.

  In the document reading unit 110, the image information during document reading is that the light source lamp 1 a of the light source lamp unit 1 is turned on and the scanning unit 113 moves in a predetermined direction so that exposure scanning is started. Reflected light of the irradiated light on the document image surface is received by the CCD 116 via the mirrors 2a to 2c and the optical lens 115, and read as image information. The read image information is converted into image data which is digital data in the image processing circuit 48. The image data converted into digital data is subjected to image processing under the set conditions, temporarily stored in the image memory 44, and then supplied to the LSU 227 as image data.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 222 that rotates at a predetermined speed is uniformly charged to a predetermined charging potential upon receiving the charge from the charging unit 223. The LSU 227 drives the semiconductor laser 11 based on the image data supplied from the main CPU 41, and irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 222 with the laser beam modulated by the image data through the polygon mirror 12 that rotates at a predetermined speed. To do. By irradiating the laser beam from the LSU 227, an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 222. Toner is supplied from the developing unit 224 to the surface of the photosensitive drum 222 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image.

  The sheet to be transferred is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 222 and the transfer device 25 by a registration roller 256 that starts rotating in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 222, and is transferred by the transfer device 225 to the photosensitive drum. The toner image carried on the surface 222 is transferred. The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 222 is collected by being removed by the cleaner 226 together with paper dust and the like.

  Thereafter, the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 217 and subjected to a heating / pressing process while passing through a fixing nip portion between the heating roller 21 and the pressure roller 22. The toner image transferred onto the paper is melted by heating and pressurizing with the pair of rollers 21 and 22, and is firmly fixed on the paper surface. The sheet on which the transferred toner image is fixed is discharged to the post-processing device 260 via the discharge roller 219, and the printing process in the copy mode is completed.

<In print mode>
The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image of print data input from the client PC 55 which is a remote information processing apparatus via the NIC 53 or image data stored in the external storage device 30 connected via the communication unit 50. After the image data is transferred to the LSU 227 provided in the unit 210 and supplied to the LSU 227 as image data, the printing process is executed in substantially the same manner as in the copy mode described above.

  Next, the structure of the characteristic portion of the manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration around a main part of a manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The manual feed tray 254 is a recording medium such as a non-usable size paper or a surface coated paper that cannot be stored in the paper feed trays 251, 252, and 253 in the apparatus main body 100a, a film sheet made of PET resin, or the like. Is fed to the image forming unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 100. The paper P placed on the manual feed tray 254 is supplied to a paper conveyance path (not shown) in the apparatus main body 100a by a paper take-in mechanism 280 provided in the apparatus main body 100a.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the manual feed tray 254 is inclined and fixed to the apparatus main body 100 a by the manual feed tray support part 100 b having the slope 100 b 1 formed on the top side, and is supplied to the image forming apparatus 100. A desired sheet P can be placed.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes an overheating temperature detection unit 263 formed of a bimetal that is thermally deformed when reaching a predetermined overheating temperature in the manual feed tray 254, and a manual feed tray. A fire extinguishing member 268 having a fire extinguishing agent 267 facing outward is provided on the side surface 100a1 of the apparatus main body 100a on the side where the H.254 is supported.

  The manual feed tray 254 includes an overheat temperature detection unit 263 formed of bimetal along the length direction of the manual feed tray 254. The bimetal constituting the overheat temperature detection unit 263 is formed by, for example, adding metal, manganese, chromium, copper, or the like to an alloy of iron and nickel to form two types of metal plates having different coefficients of thermal expansion. It is formed by bonding by cold rolling.

  As described above, the apparatus outside temperature sensor 58 is included at the front end side of the manual feed tray 254, and detects an outside air temperature of the image forming apparatus 100 and a temperature change on the sheet placement surface side of the manual feed tray 254.

  On the other hand, on the base end side of the manual feed tray 254, in other words, on the base end side of the overheat temperature detection unit 263 on the apparatus main body side, a main body side member fixed to the end portion 268b of the fire extinguishing member 268 is provided. A second engagement portion 263a serving as a tray-side engagement portion formed in a bent shape is provided so as to engage with a substantially key-shaped first engagement portion 264 serving as a joint portion. In the present embodiment, the first engagement portion 264 provided on the fire extinguishing member 268 engages with the second engagement portion 263a formed on the base end side of the overheating temperature detection portion 263, so that the fire extinguishing member 268 is engaged. Are supported upright in the vertical direction.

  The fire extinguishing member 268 is rotatably provided to the side surface 100a1 of the apparatus main body 100a on the side where the manual feed tray 254 is supported via the fire extinguishing member support shaft 268a. In a normal state, the fire extinguishing member 268 is provided so as to stand upright in the vertical direction along the side surface 100a1 of the apparatus main body 100a. Further, the fire extinguishing member 268 is configured such that the extinguishing agent 267 made of powder dihydrogen ammonium phosphate or sodium hydrogen carbonate or the like is placed outside the extinguishing member 268, that is, the side of the manual feed tray 254 facing the paper P placement surface side. Prepare for. The fire extinguisher 267 is fixed to the fire extinguishing member 268 via a sheet member 266 serving as a fire extinguisher holding means formed from a heat-meltable resin.

  As described above, the superheat temperature detection unit 263 made of a bimetal that is deformed by heat when bent to reach a predetermined superheat temperature is included in the manual feed tray 254 so as to be mounted on the manual feed tray 254 by including substantially the entire length of the manual feed tray 254 in the length direction. When a fire such as similar firing occurs on the placed paper, the temperature of the manual feed tray 254 rises, so that the overheat temperature detection unit 263 is bent. By the bending, the second engagement portion 263a formed on the base end side of the overheat temperature detection portion 263 is removed from the first engagement portion 264, and the fire extinguishing member 268 is inclined from the upright state toward the manual feed tray 254. Tilt to the state. For this reason, when the extinguishing member 268 having the extinguishing agent 267 fixed by the sheet member 266 contacts the fire occurrence location, the sheet member 266 holding the extinguishing agent 267 is melted by the heat of the ignition location, so the extinguishing agent 267 at the ignition location. The fire will be extinguished at the ignition point. In order to exhibit such actions and effects more remarkably, the overheating temperature detection unit 263 is more likely to be included in the front side of the manual feed tray 254 on the side of the placement surface that comes into contact with the paper P. Is more preferable because it is more easily transmitted. The details of the fire extinguishing action of the manual feed tray 254 in the present embodiment will be described later.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the paper take-in mechanism 280 is a pickup that takes in the paper P in order to send the paper P placed on the manual feed tray 254 to a paper conveyance path (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 100a. A roller 281 and a roller roller 282 made up of a pair of opposing rollers that separate the paper P taken in by the pickup roller 281 one by one and then introduce the paper P into the paper transport path.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pickup roller 281 is rotatably supported by the pickup arm 283. As shown in FIG. 4, the pickup arm 283 can be moved up and down with respect to the uppermost surface of the paper P placed on the manual feed tray 254 by a solenoid 284 serving as a predetermined direction moving means. It has become.

  That is, when the pickup roller 281 is not in operation, as shown in FIG. 4, the pickup arm 283 is raised by the solenoid 284 to bring the pickup roller 281 away from the uppermost surface of the paper P (home position). Move. On the other hand, when the pickup roller 281 is started to convey the paper from the manual feed tray 254, the pickup 281 is picked up by the solenoid 284 so that the pickup roller 281 contacts the uppermost surface of the paper P as shown in FIG. The arm 283 is lowered, the pickup roller 281 is brought into contact with the paper P, and the paper P is fed out.

  After the pickup roller 281 comes into contact with the uppermost surface of the paper P, the pickup roller 281 is driven to rotate in a direction in which the paper P on the manual feed tray 254 is fed in the direction of the suction roller 282 by a feeding paper feeding motor 285 serving as a driving unit. To do. Thus, the pickup roller 281 always comes into contact with the uppermost surface of the stacked paper P on the manual feed tray 254, and the paper P is fed into the apparatus main body by the rotational driving force of the pickup roller 281.

  The roller roller 282 is provided on the introduction side of the paper conveyance path of the apparatus main body 100a, and is driven to rotate in a direction in which the paper feeding motor 285 serving as a driving unit feeds the paper P fed from the manual feed tray 254 to the apparatus main body 100a. By doing so, the paper P taken in from the pickup roller 281 is supplied to the paper transport path while being separated one by one. In the present embodiment, a common feeding and feeding motor 285 is used as a driving unit for the pickup roller 281 and the sucker roller 282. However, separate driving units may be used for the rollers 281 and 282, respectively.

  Next, an operation for extinguishing a fire generated on a sheet placed on the manual feed tray of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the paper on the manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is ignited. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the overheat temperature detection unit in the manual feed tray according to the present embodiment is heated. FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are disengaged by bending, and FIG. 8 shows that the second engagement portion is detached from the first engagement portion and the fire extinguishing member It is a figure which shows the state which fell from the upright state to the inclination state.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the paper P is being transported from the manual feed tray 254 and the paper P placed on the manual feed tray 254 is damaged by burning due to a fire source such as cigarettes, a fire F1 occurs. When the overheat temperature detection unit 263 included in the manual feed tray 254 reaches a predetermined overheat temperature, as shown in FIG. Due to the bending of the overheat temperature detection unit 263, the second engagement portion 263a provided on the base end side of the overheat temperature detection unit 263 is fixed to the end portion 268a of the fire extinguishing member 268 rotatably provided on the apparatus main body 100a side. The first engaging portion 264 is removed.

  The second engagement portion 263a provided on the base end side of the overheat temperature detection portion 263 engages with the first engagement portion 264, and the fire extinguishing member 268 is held in an upright state in the substantially vertical direction. When the engaging portion 263a is removed from the first engaging portion 264, the fire extinguishing member 268 turns due to its own weight of the extinguishing agent 267 fixed to the fire extinguishing member 268, and from the upright state shown by the dotted line in FIG. Tilt to the tilted state shown by the solid line. As described above, when the paper P on the manual feed tray 254 is ignited, the fire extinguishing member 268 standing upright along the side wall 100a1 of the apparatus main body 100a is tilted toward the placement surface 254a of the manual feed tray 254. The fire extinguishing agent 267 fixed to the fire extinguishing member 268 is pressed against the ignition location F1.

  As a result, the sheet member 266 that holds the extinguishing agent 267 is melted by the heat of the ignition point F1, so that the extinguishing agent is sprayed on the ignition point F1 to extinguish the fire. Even if the predetermined overheat temperature is detected, the overheat temperature detection unit 263 is bent, and the second engagement portion 263a is removed from the first engagement portion 264, the fire extinguishing agent 267 fixed to the fire extinguishing member 268 is removed. When the weight of the fire extinguishing agent 267 that does not turn due to its own weight is insufficient, a weight member is preferably provided on the distal end side of the fire extinguishing member 268 so that the weight can be turned.

  Further, in order to improve the fire suppression performance of the fire generated in the manual feed tray 254, as shown in the plan view of the manual feed tray 254 of the present embodiment in FIG. A heat conductive member 265 such as a metal plate having heat conductivity to be connected may be included in a wide range of the manual feed tray 254. In this way, by providing the heat conducting member 265 connected to the overheat temperature detecting unit 263 via the connecting portion 265a, the paper P on the manual tray 254 is spread over a wide range of the paper placement surface of the manual tray 254. Since the arrival of the overheat temperature due to the fire or the like is efficiently transmitted to the overheat temperature detection unit 263, the fire extinguishing operation of the fire generated in the manual feed tray 254 of the present embodiment is promptly executed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the outside temperature sensor 58 that can detect the temperature change of the paper P placed on the manual feed tray 254 is provided at the front end side of the manual feed tray 254. A function for notifying other external devices such as the remote client PC 55 when the device outside temperature sensor 58 detects that the paper P on the manual feed tray 254 has fired and has reached a predetermined overheating temperature. It may be provided. In this way, the external device temperature sensor 58 notifies other external devices such as the client PC 55 connected via a communication line that a fire has occurred on the paper P on the manual feed tray 254, so that Since the user can directly extinguish the fire, the damage of the fire that has occurred can be minimized.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the overall configuration diagram showing the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment and the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment is an embodiment in which the manual feed tray is fixed to the apparatus main body, but the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment enables the manual feed tray to be folded toward the apparatus main body. The configuration is shown.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the characteristic portion of the manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration around the main part of the manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 shows the manual feed tray of the present embodiment on the apparatus main body side. It is the schematic of the closed state folded in.

  In the present embodiment, the manual feed tray 454 is rotatably supported by the manual feed tray support portion 400b provided in the apparatus main body 400a via the support shaft 462. As described above, the manual feed tray 454 is rotatably supported by the manual feed tray support portion 400b, so that the manual feed tray 454 can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body 400a.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the front side of the manual feed tray 454 is engaged with a third engaging portion 400a2 that is a key-like member provided on the apparatus main body side when the apparatus main body 400a is folded and closed. A fourth engagement portion 454a that is a notch to be joined is provided. In addition, an apparatus outside temperature sensor 58 is included at the front end side of the manual feed tray 254 as in the first embodiment.

  Inside the manual feed tray 454, a heat conductive member 465 such as a metal plate having thermal conductivity for connection to the overheat temperature detection unit 463 made of bimetal is provided in the length direction over substantially the entire length of the manual feed tray 454. ing. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the overheat temperature detector 463 is fixed to the apparatus main body 400a via an overheat temperature detector support member 463b. In addition, on the base end side of the overheating temperature detection unit 463, the fire extinguishing member 268 is engaged with a first engaging portion 464 that is fixed to the end of the fire extinguishing member 468 so as to support the fire extinguishing member 268 upright in the vertical direction. A second engagement portion 463a is provided.

  As in the first embodiment, the fire extinguishing member 468 is rotatably provided to the side surface 400a1 of the apparatus main body 400a on the side where the manual feed tray 454 is supported via the fire extinguishing member support shaft 468a. . In a normal state, the fire extinguishing member 468 is provided so as to be upright in the vertical direction along the side surface 400a1 of the apparatus main body 400a. Further, the fire extinguishing member 468 is configured such that a fire extinguishing agent 467 made of a powder fire extinguishing agent such as ammonium dihydrogen phosphate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is placed on the outside of the fire extinguishing member 468, that is, the side of the manual feed tray 454 facing the paper P placement surface side. Prepare for. The fire extinguisher 467 is fixed to the fire extinguishing member 468 via a sheet member 466 serving as a fire extinguisher holding means formed from a heat-meltable resin.

  By setting the manual feed tray 454 to the above-described configuration, when the paper placed on the manual feed tray 454 is ignited by burning or the like, the temperature of the manual feed tray 454 rises, and the heat conduction member 465 The ignition heat is transmitted to the overheat temperature detector 463, and the overheat temperature detector 463 is bent. By the bending, the second engagement portion 463a formed on the proximal end side of the overheat temperature detection portion 463 is removed from the first engagement portion 464, and the fire extinguishing member 468 is inclined from the upright state toward the manual feed tray 454. Tilt to the state. For this reason, when the extinguishing member 468 having the extinguishing agent 467 fixed by the sheet member 466 comes into contact with the fire occurrence location, the sheet member 466 holding the extinguishing agent 467 is melted by the heat of the ignition location. The fire will be extinguished at the ignition point.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the manual feed tray 454 is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body 400a. Therefore, when the manual feed tray 454 is folded with respect to the apparatus main body 400a when the manual feed tray 454 is not used, the end portion 465a of the heat conducting member 465 is separated from the overheat temperature detecting portion 463 as shown in FIG. In this state, the third engagement portion 400a2 and the fourth engagement portion 454a are engaged, and the manual feed tray 454 is fixed to the apparatus main body 400a side. As described above, when the manual feed tray 454 is not used, by holding the manual feed tray 454 in an upright state, the use space can be reduced and the space can be saved.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An overall configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, when the paper P on the manual feed tray is ignited, the configuration and operation of the fire extinguishing operation unit that extinguishes the fire extinguishing member 568 from the upright support state is different. That is, in the first embodiment, as described above, when the paper P placed on the manual feed tray 254 is ignited, the fire extinguishing operation unit causes the overheat temperature detection unit 263 serving as the overheat temperature detection unit to thermally deform. The second engagement portion 263a is pulled out of the first engagement portion 264 by bending at the same time, and the fire extinguishing member 268 is moved from the upright state to the manual feed tray 254 by the dead weight of the fire extinguishing agent 267 held by the fire extinguishing member 268. Tilt towards. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the fire extinguishing operation means detects the end of the fire extinguishing member when the outside temperature sensor provided in the manual tray detects that the temperature of the paper P on the manual tray has reached a predetermined overheating temperature. By engaging with a first engagement portion provided in the portion, drive control is performed so that the engagement portion that holds the fire extinguishing member in an upright state is removed from the engagement arm provided on the distal end side.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the characteristic portion of the manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a configuration around the main part of the manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is an upright support state of the manual feed tray of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where the head is tilted toward the manual feed tray.

  As in the first embodiment, the manual feed tray 554 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the manual feed tray 554 is a manual feed tray support portion having a slope 500b1 formed on the top side. By 500b, the apparatus main body 500a is supported in an inclined manner so that a desired sheet P to be supplied to the image forming apparatus 500 can be placed thereon. A front-end side of the manual feed tray 554 includes a device outside temperature sensor 558 that detects an outside air temperature of the image forming apparatus 500 and a temperature change on the paper placement surface side of the manual feed tray 554.

  The fire extinguishing member 568 is provided with a fire extinguishing agent 567 made of a powder fire extinguishing agent such as ammonium dihydrogen phosphate or sodium bicarbonate on the outside of the fire extinguishing member 568, that is, on the side facing the paper P placement surface side of the manual feed tray 554. The fire extinguishing agent 567 is held by the fire extinguishing member 568 via a sheet member 566 formed of a heat-meltable resin.

  Further, as in the first embodiment, the fire extinguishing member 568 is rotatably provided to the side surface 500a1 of the apparatus main body 500a on the side where the manual feed tray 554 is supported via the fire extinguishing member support shaft 568a. ing. The end portion 568b of the fire extinguishing member 568 is fixedly provided with a first engaging portion 564 used for supporting the fire extinguishing member 568 upright in the vertical direction.

  In the present embodiment, the fire extinguishing member 568 is held in an upright state by the movable engagement portion 571 provided on the distal end side of the movable engagement arm 570 being engaged with the first engagement portion 564. The movable engagement arm 570 is rotatably supported by a rotation fulcrum 570a and is driven to rotate by a solenoid 572 serving as a driving unit provided in the apparatus main body 500a. As shown in FIG. 12, the movable engagement arm 570 has the movable engagement portion 571 directed toward the first engagement portion 564 by the elastic force of the spring 573 serving as an elastic member. Since the movable engagement portion 571 engages with the first engagement portion 564 provided in the fire extinguishing member 568, the fire extinguishing member 568 stands upright in a substantially vertical direction along the side surface of the apparatus main body 500a. .

  On the other hand, the paper P placed on the manual feed tray 554 is ignited by firing, and the outside temperature sensor 58 provided in the manual feed tray 554 causes the temperature of the paper P on the manual feed tray 554 to reach a predetermined overheating temperature. When it is detected, the movable engagement portion 571 that engages with the first engagement portion 564 turns on the solenoid 572 as the removal drive means, and makes the movable engagement arm 570 the elastic force of the spring 573. Rotate against it. Therefore, the engagement between the movable engagement portion 571 and the first engagement portion 564 is released, and the movable engagement portion 571 is removed from the first engagement portion 564, and as shown in FIG. The fire extinguishing member 568 tilts toward the manual feed tray 554 with the support shaft 568 a serving as a fulcrum by the dead weight of the fire extinguishing agent 567 held by the 568. As a result, when the fire extinguishing member 568 with the extinguishing agent 567 fixed by the sheet member 566 comes into contact with the ignition location, the sheet member 566 holding the extinguishing agent 567 is melted by the heat of the ignition location. Disperse and fire extinguishing points will be executed.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 500 according to the present embodiment includes a ROM 42 and a RAM 43 that store control programs for controlling the respective functional units as control means for the entire apparatus. The main CPU 41 is provided. Similarly to the first embodiment, the main CPU 41 includes an image memory 44, an image processing circuit 48, an HDD 54, a communication unit 50, a detection unit 51, a NIC 53, an operation panel 70 serving as an input operation unit, and a wireless communication unit. 52, the image forming unit side sub CPU 60, and the document reading unit side sub CPU 61 are connected, and the main CPU 41 controls the operations of these functional units. In the present embodiment, a solenoid 572 is further connected to the main CPU 41 via a driver 574, and the operation is controlled by the main CPU 41. Note that other functional units of the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, when the paper P on the manual feed tray 554 is ignited and the apparatus outside temperature sensor 58 detects that the paper P has reached a predetermined overheat temperature, the main CPU 41 performs the movable engagement. The solenoid 572 is driven and controlled so that the portion 571 is removed from the first engagement portion 564. For this reason, the engagement between the movable engagement portion 571 and the first engagement portion 564 is released, and the movable engagement portion 571 is removed from the first engagement portion 564, and the extinguishing agent held by the fire extinguishing member 568. The fire extinguishing member 568 tilts toward the manual feed tray 554 with the support shaft 568a serving as a fulcrum by its own weight of 567.

  As a result, when the extinguishing member 568 having the extinguishing agent 567 fixed by the sheet member 566 comes into contact with the ignition location, the sheet member 566 holding the extinguishing agent 567 is melted by the heat of the ignition location. Disperse and fire extinguishing points will be executed. In this manner, after the apparatus outside temperature sensor 58 provided in the manual feed tray 554 detects the firing of the paper P on the manual feed tray 554, the movable engagement portion 571 is removed from the first engagement portion 564 on the fire extinguishing member side. By controlling the drive in this manner, the time from the firing of the paper P to the operation of the fire extinguishing member 568 can be shortened, and the spread of the fire can be prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 14, each image forming apparatus 500 includes an image forming apparatus 500 that can operate a solenoid 572 that drives the fire extinguishing member 568 even when the main body power supply 581 of the image forming apparatus 500 is turned off. For the temperature sensors 57 and 58 and each drive mechanism, a second power source 582 that is a system different from the first power source 581 serving as the main body side power source may be provided to supply power. That is, the first power supply 581 supplies power from the commercial power supply 584 to all the electric components provided in the image forming apparatus 500 via the power switch 583, but the second power supply 582 includes a battery (not shown). Even when the power switch 583 of the image forming apparatus 500 is turned off, electric power can be supplied to the electric components (components shown within the dotted line in FIG. 14) including the temperature sensors 57 and 58, the control system, and the solenoid 572. .

  For this reason, for example, even if the paper P on the manual feed tray 554 is ignited in the state where the power switch 583 is turned off at midnight or the like, the main CPU 41 serving as the control means detects the ignition by the temperature sensor 58 and the solenoid 572 is operated, and the solenoid 572 for operating the fire extinguishing member 568 is driven to perform the fire extinguishing action. The second power source 582 is an emergency power source that supplies power only when the power switch 583 is off. When the power switch 583 is on, all the electrical power from the first power source 581 serving as the main body side power source is supplied. Supply power to the parts.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the overall configuration diagram showing the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment and the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment is an embodiment in which the manual feed tray is fixed to the apparatus main body, and the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment has a configuration in which the manual feed tray can be folded to the apparatus main body side. However, the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is configured so that the manual feed tray and the fire extinguishing member are accommodated in one frame member, and the frame member is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body. Is.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the characteristic portion of the manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the closed state in which the manual feed tray of the present embodiment is folded to the frame member side.

  In the present embodiment, the manual feed tray 654 is rotatably supported by a manual feed tray support portion 601b provided on a frame member 601 that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body (not shown) via a support shaft 662. As described above, the manual feed tray 654 is rotatably supported by the manual feed tray support portion 601b, so that the manual feed tray 654 can be opened and closed with respect to the frame member 601.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the manual feed tray 654 is engaged with a third engagement portion 601 a that is a key-like member provided on the apparatus main body side when the manual feed tray 654 is folded and closed with respect to the frame member 601. A fourth engaging portion 654a is provided as a mating notch.

  Inside the manual feed tray 654, a heat conductive member 665 such as a metal plate having thermal conductivity for connection to the overheat temperature detection unit 663 made of bimetal is provided in the longitudinal direction over substantially the entire length of the manual feed tray 654. ing. In the present embodiment, the overheat temperature detection unit 663 is fixed to the frame member 601 via the overheat temperature detection unit support member 663b as shown in FIG. In addition, the base end side of the overheat temperature detection unit 663 engages with a first engagement unit 664 that is fixed to the end of the fire extinguishing member 668 so as to support the fire extinguishing member 668 upright in the vertical direction. A second engagement portion 663a is provided.

  The fire extinguishing member 668 is rotatably provided to the frame member 601 on the side where the manual feed tray 654 is supported via a fire extinguishing member support shaft 668a. In a normal state, the fire extinguishing member 668 is provided upright in the vertical direction in the frame member 601. Further, the fire extinguishing member 668 is configured such that a fire extinguishing agent 667 made of a powder fire extinguishing agent such as ammonium dihydrogen phosphate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is placed on the outside of the fire extinguishing member 668, that is, the side of the manual feed tray 654 facing the paper P placement surface side. Prepare for. The fire extinguishing agent 667 is fixed to the fire extinguishing member 668 via a sheet member 666 serving as a fire extinguishing agent holding unit formed of a heat-meltable resin.

  By setting the manual feed tray 654 to the above-described configuration, when the paper placed on the manual feed tray 654 is ignited by burning or the like, the temperature of the manual feed tray 654 rises, and the heat conduction member 665 The ignition heat is transmitted to the overheat temperature detection unit 663, and the overheat temperature detection unit 663 is bent. By the bending, the second engagement portion 663a formed on the base end side of the overheat temperature detection portion 663 is removed from the first engagement portion 664, and the fire extinguishing member 668 is inclined from the upright state toward the manual feed tray 654. Tilt to the state. For this reason, when the fire extinguishing member 668 having the fire extinguishing agent 667 fixed thereto with the sheet member 666 comes into contact with the fire occurrence location, the sheet member 666 holding the fire extinguishing agent 667 is melted by the heat of the ignition location. The fire will be extinguished at the ignition point.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the manual feed tray 654 and the fire extinguishing member 668 are provided so as to be integrally supported so as to be accommodated in the frame member 601 that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Yes. For this reason, the manual feed tray 654 and the fire extinguishing member 668 can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. Therefore, after the fire extinguishing member 668 operates, the maintenance efficiency such as the replacement work of the fire extinguishing member 668 and the manual feed tray 654 is good. become.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the manual feed tray according to the present invention is applied to the MFP as shown in FIG. 1 as the image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus supports the manual feed tray with respect to the apparatus body. If there is, it can be applied to a small printer that can be placed on a desktop.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration around a main part of a manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration around a main part of a manual feed tray in a state where a pickup roller provided in the image forming apparatus of the embodiment has a home position. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration around a main part of a manual feed tray in an operating state in which a pickup roller included in the image forming apparatus of the embodiment is lowered. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet on a manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment is ignited. It is a figure which shows the state from which the overheating temperature detection part with which the manual feed tray of the embodiment was equipped bent by the temperature rise, and the engagement of the 1st engaging part and the 2nd engaging part was disengaged. It is a figure which shows the state which the 2nd engaging part of the embodiment pulled out from the 1st engaging part, and the fire extinguishing member fell from the upright state to the inclined state. It is the top view which looked at the manual feed tray of the embodiment from the top. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration around a main part of a manual feed tray provided in an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic of the closed state which folded the manual feed tray of the embodiment in the apparatus main body side. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration around a main part of a manual feed tray provided in an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the state which the manual feed tray of the embodiment inclined toward the manual feed tray from the upright support state. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. It is the schematic of the closed state which folded the manual feed tray of the 4th Embodiment of this invention to the frame member side.

Explanation of symbols

41 Control means (main CPU)
55 Information processing device (client PC)
58 Outside temperature sensor 100 Image forming apparatus (MFP)
100a Apparatus main body 100a1 Side wall part 210 Image forming part 254 Manual feed tray 254a Placement surface 263 Overheating temperature detection means (overheating temperature detection part)
263a Fire extinguishing operation means (tray side engaging portion)
H.264 Fire extinguishing operation means (fire extinguishing member side engaging portion)
265 Heat conduction member 266 Sheet member 267 Extinguishing agent 572 Removal drive means (solenoid)
N10 Communication line P Recording medium (paper)

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus in which a manual tray for supplying a desired recording medium into the apparatus main body is supported by the apparatus main body.
An overheat temperature detecting means for detecting that the recording medium placed on the manual feed tray has reached a predetermined overheat temperature;
Fire extinguishing means for spraying a fire extinguishing agent on the superheated temperature reaching point,
Fire extinguishing operation means for operating the fire extinguishing means when the heating temperature detecting means detects that the recording medium has reached a predetermined superheat temperature;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The overheat temperature detecting means detects that the predetermined overheat temperature has been reached by bending the bimetal contained in the manual feed tray due to thermal deformation when the recording medium reaches the predetermined overheat temperature. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The fire extinguishing means is configured such that a tray side engaging portion provided at a base end side end of the overheat temperature detecting means engages with a fire extinguishing means side engaging portion provided at an end of the fire extinguishing means. Is supported in an upright state along the side surface on which the manual feed tray is supported,
The fire extinguishing operation means is configured to remove the fire extinguishing means from an upright state by removing the tray side engaging portion from the fire extinguishing means side engaging portion when the overheat temperature detecting means is bent due to thermal deformation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is tilted toward the manual feed tray.   The fire extinguishing means holds the fire extinguisher on the side of the manual feed tray facing the recording medium mounting surface via a heat-meltable sheet member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   5. The thermal feed member having thermal conductivity connected to the overheat temperature detection means is included in the manual feed tray over a wide range of the manual feed tray. The image forming apparatus described in the item. The overheat temperature detecting means further includes a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature change of the recording medium placed on the manual feed tray,
2. The apparatus main body is provided with overheat temperature arrival notifying means for notifying another external device when the temperature sensor detects that the recording medium has reached a predetermined overheat temperature. The image forming apparatus according to any one of?   The manual feed tray is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body around a support shaft provided in the apparatus main body, and the overheat temperature detecting means is fixedly provided on the apparatus main body side, and the manual tray The heat conducting member is provided in the longitudinal direction over substantially the entire length of the manual feed tray, and when the manual feed tray is open with respect to the apparatus main body, the heat conducting member is The heat conduction member is separated from the overheat temperature detection means when the manual feed tray is in contact with the overheat temperature detection means and the manual feed tray is closed with respect to the apparatus main body. 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. The apparatus main body includes a movable engagement portion that engages with a fire extinguishing means side engaging portion provided at an end of the fire extinguishing means in order to support the fire extinguishing means in an upright state.
The fire extinguishing operation means is configured to tilt the fire extinguishing means from the upright state toward the manual feed tray when the temperature sensor provided in the manual feed tray detects that the recording medium has reached a predetermined overheating temperature. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a removal drive unit that drives the movable engagement unit so that the movable engagement unit is removed from the fire-extinguishing-unit-side engagement unit. The image forming apparatus described.   9. The image forming according to claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor and the removal drive unit are supplied with electric power from a power source different from a main body side power source for supplying electric power to the apparatus main body. apparatus.   The said manual feed tray and the said fire extinguishing means are provided so that it may be accommodated in one frame member, and the said frame member is the structure which can be attached or detached with respect to the said apparatus main body, The Claims 1-9 characterized by the above-mentioned. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

Images