JP2009080147A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus having configuration, wherein a cover part supporting a holding part holding an exposure part is disposed so that the holding part is positioned at the side surface of an apparatus main body and the holding part is tilted at a prescribed angle accompanying the opening operation of the cover part and the exposure part is faced upward when the cover part is opened, the image forming apparatus consequently dispensing with opening of the upper part of the apparatus main body for the maintenance of the exposure part, the image forming apparatus therefore having good operability and providing high visibility of the exposure part when the cover part is opened and facilitating the cleaning of the exposure part. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is provided with the exposure part for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier, the holding part for holding the exposure part and the openable and closable cover part for supporting the holding part so that the holding part is positioned at the side surface of the apparatus main body when closed. A surface of the cover part which supports the holding part is faced upward when the cover is opened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a facsimile machine using an electrophotographic process, a charging process for storing charges on a photosensitive drum, an exposure process for irradiating light on a position where image data exists, and exposure By an electrophotographic process performed in the order of a development process for attaching a toner image to a part, a transfer process for transferring the developed toner to a printing medium, and a fixing process for fixing the toner image on the printing medium with heat and pressure An image is formed on a print medium such as paper.

  In the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, an OPC (Organic Photo Conductor) drum as a photosensitive drum is provided inside a mechanical frame in which the upper cover of the apparatus main body is rotatably supported. There is a type in which a toner image forming unit is provided. In this case, the rotation support shaft formed inside the side plate behind the mechanical frame is inserted into a rotation support shaft hole provided behind the upper cover. Thus, the upper cover is attached so as to cover the opening of the mechanical frame by being pivotally supported by the mechanical frame.

In addition, a print head holding member is provided on the front inner side of the upper cover, and a print head having a light source such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) array is movably held at a tip portion of the print head holding cover. ing. The print head is united with the toner image forming unit by an arc motion when opening and closing the upper cover (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-181165 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, if a heavy object such as a scanner is loaded on the upper cover, the heavy object must be opened and closed simultaneously with the upper cover. It must be strong enough to withstand the weight of a heavy object, resulting in a problem that the apparatus main body becomes large.

  The present invention solves the problems of the conventional image forming apparatus, and disposes a cover portion that supports the holding portion so that the holding portion that holds the exposure portion is positioned on the side surface of the apparatus body. It is necessary to open the upper part of the apparatus main body for maintenance inspection of the exposure unit by tilting the holding unit by a predetermined angle with the opening operation of the unit and opening the cover unit so that the exposure unit faces upward Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that improves operability, has high visibility of the exposed portion when the cover portion is opened, and can be easily cleaned.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the exposure unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, the holding unit that holds the exposure unit, and the opening and closing unit that can be opened and closed. Has a cover portion that supports the holding portion so that the holding portion is positioned on a side surface of the apparatus main body, and a surface of the cover portion that supports the holding portion faces upward when the cover portion is opened.

  In another image forming apparatus of the present invention, an exposure unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier, a holding unit that holds the exposure unit, and an opening and closing unit that can be opened and closed. And a cover portion that supports the holding portion so as to be positioned on a side surface of the apparatus main body, and the cover portion opens and closes by rotating about a rotation axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the exposure portion.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, it is not necessary to open the upper part of the apparatus main body, so that the operability is improved, and when the cover part is opened, the exposure part is highly visible and can be easily cleaned. it can.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view of the head holding member and the link member according to the first embodiment of the present invention from the right side of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an image forming apparatus, for example, a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine (MFP) having the functions of a copier. It may be. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 forms an image by an electrophotographic method, and an image forming unit 30 and a fixing unit 50 are disposed along the conveyance path of the medium 11 therein. Yes. Then, an electrophotographic development process is performed in the image forming unit 30 to form a toner image on the medium 11, and a fixing process is performed in the fixing unit 50 to fix the toner image on the medium 11. The image forming apparatus 10 may be an apparatus that forms a color image, or may be an apparatus that forms a black and white image such as a monochrome electrophotographic printer. A case where the image forming apparatus 10 is a so-called tandem color electrophotographic printer will be described.

  A detachable sheet feeding unit 12 is disposed below the image forming apparatus 10. The paper feed unit 12 includes a paper feed tray 13, a push-up plate 14, and a hopping roller 15. In this case, the medium 11 stored in the paper feed tray 13 receives a pressing force from a pressing means (not shown) via the push-up plate 14 and is brought into pressure contact with the hopping roller 15. When the hopping roller 15 is rotated by a motor (not shown) in a state where the medium 11 is pressed against the hopping roller 15, the medium 11 stacked inside the paper feed tray 13 is sequentially fed out from above. . The fed medium 11 is separated and conveyed one by one by a medium feeding unit 20 including a feed roller 21 and a retard roller 22. The paper feeding unit 12 includes sensors 16 such as a rise detection sensor that detects the rise of the medium 11, a medium presence / absence detection sensor that detects the presence / absence of the medium 11, and a medium remaining amount detection sensor that detects the remaining amount of the medium 11. To 18 are disposed.

  Further, the medium 11 is sent to the registration roller pair 23 to correct skewing, and then passes through the image writing sensor 24 to the medium 11 and is conveyed to the secondary transfer roller 46. The toner image transferred to the medium 11 by the secondary transfer roller 46 is formed by the image forming unit 30.

  Here, the image forming unit 30 will be described.

  The image forming unit 30 includes four toner image forming units 31 arranged in series, and a transfer unit 41 that transfers the toner image formed by the toner image forming unit 31 to the upper surface of the medium 11. The toner image forming unit 31 includes an OPC drum 32 as an image carrier for carrying a toner image, a charging roller 33 as a charging unit for charging the surface of the OPC drum 32, and a charged OPC drum 32. An exposure unit 34 comprising an LED array for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface, a developing roller 35 for developing the electrostatic latent image by frictional charging to form a toner image, and a toner supply for supplying toner to the developing roller 35 A portion 36 is disposed.

  Further, the transfer unit 41 is rotated by an intermediate transfer belt 42 that electrostatically attracts and conveys the medium 11, a drive unit (not shown), and a drive roller 43 that drives the intermediate transfer belt 42, and the intermediate transfer belt 42. A tension roller 44 to be mounted, a transfer roller 45 that faces the toner image forming unit 31 and is placed in pressure contact with the OPC drum 32 and applies a voltage so as to transfer the toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 42, and an intermediate A secondary transfer roller 46 for applying a voltage so as to transfer the toner image on the transfer belt 42 to the medium 11 is provided.

  Then, the medium 11 on which the toner image is transferred by the image forming unit 30 is sent to the fixing unit 50. In the fixing unit 50, the toner image is fused to the medium 11 with heat and pressure. Thereafter, the medium 11 is discharged to a stacker unit 52 located at the upper part of the apparatus main body by a discharge roller pair 51 for discharging the medium 11 to the outside of the apparatus main body.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is held by a mechanical frame 70 and protected by a cover unit. The cover portion includes a stacker cover 61 provided with a stacker portion 52 that covers the top surface of the apparatus body, a left side cover 62 that covers the left side surface, a right side cover 81 that covers the right side surface, a rear cover that covers the back surface (not shown), and a front surface. It is comprised by the front cover which covers. In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that FIG. 1 is a front surface and a surface for transporting the medium 11 is a left side surface.

  A rotation support shaft 71 formed on the lower inner side of the right side cover 81 is attached to the mechanical frame 70. The rotation support shaft 71 is inserted into a rotation support shaft hole disposed below the right side cover 81, whereby the right side cover 81 is rotatably supported by the mechanical frame 70, It is attached so as to cover the right opening portion of the frame 70. The right side cover 81 is used for pivotally supporting a pivot support shaft 83 and link members 86 and 87 for pivotally supporting a head holding member 82 as a holding portion for holding the exposure portion 34 formed of an LED array. The rotation support shaft 84 is disposed. The exposure unit 34 is movably held at the tip of the head holding member 82.

  Here, since the image forming apparatus 10 is a tandem color electrophotographic printer, the image forming apparatus 10 includes four sets of the exposure unit 34 and the head holding member 82. In the present embodiment, each of the four sets of head holding members 82 will be described as a head holding member 82a, a head holding member 82b, a head holding member 82c, and a head holding member 82d from below.

  Further, the mechanical frame 70 has a rotation support shaft 85 that rotatably holds the head holding member 82a and the link member 86. The rotation support shaft 85 is inserted into a rotation support shaft hole provided in the link member 86. That is, the link member 86 connects the mechanical frame 70 and the head holding member 82a. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotation support shaft holes are formed at both ends of the link member 87, and the head holding members 82a, 82b, 82c and 82d are disposed in the rotation support shaft holes. The rotation support shafts 84 are respectively inserted.

  Next, an opening / closing operation of the right side cover 81 of the image forming apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the right side cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention is housed in the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 4 is an opening / closing operation of the right side cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which the right side cover is completely opened in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a right view in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus in a state in which the right side cover is completely opened in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  When the right side cover 81 is opened, the right side cover 81 inclines to the right side as indicated by an arrow A with the rotation support shaft 71 as a support shaft in FIG. At this time, the head holding member 82a connected to the link member 86 uses the rotation support shaft 85 provided on the link member 86 and the mechanical frame 70 and the rotation support shaft 83 of the head holding member 82a as a fixed shaft. The head holding member 82a and the link member 86 are tilted in the direction indicated by the arrow c with the pivot shaft 84 as the swing axis. Similarly, the head holding members 82b, 82c, and 82d connected by the link member 87 are tilted in the direction indicated by the arrow c with the rotation support shaft 84 of each head holding member 82 and the link member 87 as a swing axis. To do.

  By continuing to tilt the right side cover 81, the head holding member is moved by the link mechanism when the right side cover 81 is finally opened as shown in FIG. 5 through the state shown in FIG. 82 is tilted by a predetermined angle α. In the present embodiment, the tilting angle α is preferably 45 degrees, but is not limited to this, and the exposure unit 34 faces outward and the exposure units 34 do not overlap each other. Any angle can be set.

  6 and 7 show the state of the image forming apparatus 10 in which the right side cover 81 is completely opened. As is apparent from this state, when the right side cover 81 is opened, the exposure unit 34 is exposed (exposed), and the toner image forming unit 31 is also exposed.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, since the exposure unit 34 is mounted on the right side cover 81, the right side cover 81 may be opened and closed for maintenance and inspection of the toner image forming unit 31. Since it is no longer necessary to open and close the stacker cover 61, which is difficult to open and close, the operability is improved.

  Further, since the stacker cover 61 is not opened / closed, optional devices can be arranged on the apparatus main body when the MFP is used. In this case, since it is not necessary to open and close the stacker cover 61, it is possible to reduce the number of members for opening and closing the stacker cover 61 together with heavy items such as optional equipment.

  Further, in a state where the right side cover 81 is opened, the exposure unit 34 is exposed upward, so that the visibility of the exposure unit 34 is very good and the exposure unit 34 can be easily cleaned. .

  Further, in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the right side cover 81, the exposure unit 34 made of an LED array tilts outward by a predetermined angle, that is, tilts with respect to the vertical direction. Even if foreign matter is dropped on the surface, the surface of the exposure unit 34 does not face directly upward, so that the surface of the exposure unit 34 is prevented from being damaged or scratched.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about what has the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted by providing the same code | symbol. The description of the same operation and the same effect as those of the first embodiment is also omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a structural view of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, and FIG. 9 is a structural view of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. 10 is a perspective view showing a movable mechanism of the exposure unit in the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state when the right side cover is closed. FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the right side cover 81 is attached so that the rotation axis thereof is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the exposure unit 34, and covers the right opening portion of the mechanical frame 70. Therefore, a rotation support shaft 91 formed so that the rotation shaft of the right side cover 81 extends in the vertical direction is attached to the mechanical frame 70. The rotation support shaft 91 is inserted into a rotation support shaft hole formed in the longitudinal direction of the exposure portion 34 of the right side cover 81, whereby the side cover 81 is pivoted to the mechanical frame 70. Be supported. As shown in FIG. 9, the right side cover 81 rotates about the rotation support shaft 91 as a rotation axis, and opens and closes as indicated by the opening / closing direction d.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the rotating support shaft 91 is provided with a mechanism for moving the exposure unit 34. A fan-shaped gear 92 is rotatably disposed on the rotation support shaft 91, and an idle gear 93 that meshes with the fan-shaped gear 92 and a rotating shaft 94 that rotates together with the idle gear 93 are provided. Arranged. Similarly, bevel gears 95 and 96 that rotate together with the idle gear 93 and change the rotation in an orthogonal direction, and a gear train that meshes with a spur gear formed on the bevel gear 96 are formed. The gear 97 is fitted so that the head holding member 82 can rotate.

  Next, the operation of the right side cover 81 of the image forming apparatus 10 in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the movable mechanism of the exposure unit in the second embodiment of the present invention, showing the state when the right side cover is open, and FIG. 12 in the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the movable mechanism of an exposure part, and is a figure which shows the inclination of an exposure part.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the right side cover 81 is closed, the exposure unit 34 is held in the horizontal direction. When the right side cover 81 starts to open, the sector gear 92 starts to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow e. Then, the idle gear 93, the rotating shaft 94 and the bevel gear 95 are rotated, and the rotation direction is converted to a right angle by the bevel gears 95 and 96 and transmitted to the gear 97. Since the gear 97 is fixed to the head holding member 82, the head holding member 82 rotates about the rotation support shaft 91.

  When the right side cover 81 is fully opened, the head holding member 82 is directed obliquely downward as shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a view of the head holding member 82 as viewed from the front, and shows that the head holding member 82 is tilted downward by a predetermined angle β. In the present embodiment, the tilting angle β is preferably 30 degrees, but is not limited to this, and the exposure unit 34 faces obliquely downward, and the exposure units 34 do not overlap each other. If it is such an angle, it can be set arbitrarily.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the right side cover 81 is held in the direction in which the rotation support shaft 91 is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the exposure unit 34. Thereby, since the opening / closing radius in opening / closing can be made smaller than that in the first embodiment, the maintenance space at the time of exchanging consumables can be narrowed. In addition, the occupied area when the right side cover 81 is opened can be reduced.

  Further, when the right side cover 81 is open, the exposure unit 34 is exposed and faces the front, so that the visibility of the exposure unit 34 is further improved and the exposure unit 34 can be easily cleaned. It can be carried out. In addition, in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the right side cover 81, the exposure unit 34 tilts downward by a predetermined angle, so even if foreign matter may be dropped on the opened right side cover 81, Since the surface of the exposure unit 34 does not face directly above, the surface of the exposure unit 34 is prevented from being damaged or scratched.

  In the first and second embodiments, the example applied to the electrophotographic printer has been described. However, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer that form an image on a recording material using the electrophotographic system. It can be used for an image forming apparatus such as the above. In addition, although an example in which the intermediate transfer method is applied as an electrophotographic method has been described, it can also be used for a direct transfer method.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made based on the spirit of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of the head holding member and the link member according to the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from the right side of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the right side cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention is housed in the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the one part state in the opening / closing operation | movement of the right side cover in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which the right side cover in the 1st Embodiment of this invention opened completely. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus in a state where a right side cover is completely opened according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus in a state where a right side cover is completely opened according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the block diagram which looked at the image forming apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention from the front direction. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. It is a perspective view which shows the movable mechanism of the exposure part in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and is a figure which shows a state when a right side cover is closed. It is a perspective view which shows the movable mechanism of the exposure part in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and is a figure which shows a state when a right side cover is open. It is a front view which shows the movable mechanism of the exposure part in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and is a figure which shows the inclination of an exposure part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 32 OPC drum 34 Exposure part 82, 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d Head holding member 94 Rotating shaft

Claims (6)

(A) an exposure unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier;
(B) a holding unit for holding the exposure unit;
(C) a cover portion that is openable and closable and that supports the holding portion so that the holding portion is positioned on a side surface of the apparatus main body when closed;
(D) The image forming apparatus characterized in that the surface of the cover portion that supports the holding portion faces upward when the cover portion is opened. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit is tilted with the opening operation of the cover unit, and when the cover unit is opened, the exposure unit is tilted by a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined angle is approximately 45 degrees. (A) an exposure unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier;
(B) a holding unit for holding the exposure unit;
(C) a cover portion that is openable and closable and that supports the holding portion so that the holding portion is positioned on a side surface of the apparatus main body when closed;
(D) The image forming apparatus characterized in that the cover portion opens and closes by rotating about a rotation axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the exposure portion. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the holding portion tilts with the opening operation of the cover portion, and when the cover portion is opened, the exposure portion is directed obliquely downward by a predetermined angle. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined angle is approximately 30 degrees.

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