JP2010189154A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device without requiring a wide space in a peripheral part of a device body, without making a paper ejecting tray a hindrance in jam processing. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming device 100 has the paper ejecting tray 130, a paper ejecting unit 140, a first support part 115 and a second support part 117. The paper ejecting tray 130 is a tray for storing an ejected sheet. The paper ejecting unit 140 constitutes a part of a casing, and while exposing a carrying passage 30A outside the casing by being positioned in an opening position, the carrying passage 30A is stored inside the casing by being positioned in a closing position. The first support part 115 is constituted so that the paper ejecting tray 130 can be supported in a position capable of storing the sheet. The second support part 117 is constituted so that the paper ejecting tray 130 can be supported in a position where the paper ejecting tray 130 does not contact with the paper ejecting unit 140 moving to the opening position from the closing position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of jamming from the side of an apparatus body.

  When a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, the user opens the door of the apparatus main body and performs jam processing. When a jam occurs in the transport path near the paper discharge tray, if you try to perform jam processing with the paper discharge tray fixed at the normal position, the paper discharge tray may interfere with the user, making it difficult to handle the jam. there were.

  Thus, by integrating the paper discharge tray with the door of the apparatus main body, it is possible to move the paper discharge tray together with the door, and an image forming apparatus is disclosed in which the paper discharge tray does not get in the way during jam processing (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

JP-A-11-143156

  However, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that a large space is required in the peripheral portion of the image forming apparatus because it is necessary to move the paper discharge tray together with the door during jam processing.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not obstruct a discharge tray during jam processing and does not require a large space in the periphery of the apparatus main body.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a paper discharge tray, a paper discharge unit, a first support portion, and a second support portion. The paper discharge tray is a tray for storing discharged sheets. The paper discharge unit constitutes a part of the housing, and is positioned at an open position to expose the transport path to the outside of the housing, while being positioned at a closed position to place the transport path in the housing. Store inside. The first support portion is configured to be able to support the paper discharge tray at a position where the sheet can be accommodated. The second support portion is configured to support the paper discharge tray at a position where the paper discharge tray does not contact the paper discharge unit that moves from the closed position to the open position.

  In this configuration, when a jam occurs in the conveyance path near the paper discharge unit, the paper discharge unit moves the paper discharge tray from the normal position (the position supported by the first support portion) from the closed position to the open position. The paper discharge unit can be moved from the closed position to the open position after being moved to a position where it does not come into contact (position supported by the second support portion). Accordingly, the transport path can be greatly opened by moving the paper discharge unit to the open position, so that the paper discharge tray does not get in the way during jam processing. In addition, since the paper discharge tray is not integrated with the paper discharge unit, the paper discharge tray does not move with the opening operation of the paper discharge unit, and a large space is not required in the periphery of the apparatus main body.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention preferably further includes a guide unit capable of moving the paper discharge tray between the first support unit and the second support unit.

  In this configuration, since the paper discharge tray can be moved along the guide portion, the user can easily move the paper discharge tray.

  The paper discharge unit is preferably supported at the lower end portion so as to be swingable between the open position and the closed position with the horizontal direction as an axis.

  In this configuration, the paper discharge unit can be opened and closed around the horizontal axis at the lower end of the paper discharge unit, and its open / close path overlaps the space for placing the paper discharge tray. Does not require a large space in the section.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the paper discharge tray does not get in the way at the time of jam processing, and a large space is not required in the peripheral portion of the apparatus main body.

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 illustrating an arrangement of each configuration when a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of each configuration when a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a support unit for supporting the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a support unit for supporting the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a first position and a second position of a paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for attaching and detaching a paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a paper discharge tray and a guide unit of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 100 forms multi-color and single-color images on a predetermined sheet according to image data transmitted from the outside, and includes an apparatus main body 110 and an automatic document processing apparatus 120. Yes. The apparatus main body 110 includes an exposure unit 1, a developing device 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a cleaner unit 4, a charger 5, an intermediate transfer belt unit 6, a fixing unit 7, a paper feed cassette 81, a paper discharge tray 130, and the like. It is configured.

  A document placing table 92 made of transparent glass on which a document is placed is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 110, and an automatic document processing device 120 is attached to the upper side of the document placing table 92. The automatic document processing device 120 automatically conveys the document on the document placing table 92. Further, the document processing device 120 is configured to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow 20, and the document can be placed manually by opening the document table 92.

  The image data handled in this image forming apparatus corresponds to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Accordingly, four developing devices 2, photosensitive drums 3, charging devices 5, and cleaner units 4 are provided to form four types of latent images corresponding to the respective colors, and are respectively provided in black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. These are set to form four image stations.

  The charger 5 is a charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential. In addition to the charger type as shown in FIG. 1, a contact type roller type or brush type charger is used. Sometimes used. The exposure unit 1 corresponds to an image writing apparatus according to the present invention, and is configured as a laser scanning unit (LSU) including a laser emitting unit, a reflection mirror, and the like. The exposure unit 1 includes a polygon mirror that scans a laser beam and optical elements such as a lens and a mirror for guiding the laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror to the photosensitive drum 3. As the exposure unit 1, for example, a technique using an EL or LED writing head in which other light emitting elements are arranged in an array can be employed. The exposure unit 1 has a function of forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data on the surface thereof by exposing the charged photosensitive drum 3 according to the input image data. The developing unit 2 visualizes the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 3 with toner of four colors (YMCK). The cleaner unit 4 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after development and image transfer.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 6 disposed above the photosensitive drum 3 includes an intermediate transfer belt 61, an intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62, an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, an intermediate transfer roller 64, and an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65. I have. Four intermediate transfer rollers 64 are provided corresponding to each color for YMCK.

  The intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62, the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, and the intermediate transfer roller 64 are driven to rotate while the intermediate transfer belt 61 is stretched. Each intermediate transfer roller 64 provides a transfer bias for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 onto the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  The intermediate transfer belt 61 is provided in contact with each photosensitive drum 3. A function of forming a color toner image (multicolor toner image) on the intermediate transfer belt 61 by sequentially superimposing and transferring the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 3 onto the intermediate transfer belt 61. have. The intermediate transfer belt 61 is formed in an endless shape using, for example, a film having a thickness of about 100 μm to 150 μm.

  Transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 61 is performed by an intermediate transfer roller 64 that is in contact with the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 61. A high-voltage transfer bias (a high voltage having a polarity (+) opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)) is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 64 in order to transfer the toner image. The intermediate transfer roller 64 is a roller whose base is a metal (for example, stainless steel) shaft having a diameter of 8 mm to 10 mm and whose surface is covered with a conductive elastic material (for example, EPDM, urethane foam, or the like). With this conductive elastic material, a high voltage can be uniformly applied to the intermediate transfer belt 61. In this embodiment, a roller shape is used as the transfer electrode, but a brush or the like can also be used.

  As described above, the electrostatic images visualized on the respective photosensitive drums 3 according to the respective hues are stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 61. As described above, the laminated image information is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 10 disposed at the contact position between the sheet and the intermediate transfer belt 61 described later by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 61 and the transfer roller 10 are pressed against each other at a predetermined nip, and a voltage for transferring the toner to the sheet is applied to the transfer roller 10 (a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)). (+) High voltage). Further, in order to obtain the nip constantly, the transfer roller 10 uses either the transfer roller 10 or the intermediate transfer belt drive roller 62 as a hard material (metal or the like) and the other as a soft material (elasticity such as an elastic roller). A rubber roller or a foamable resin roller is used.

  In addition, as described above, the toner adhered to the intermediate transfer belt 61 by contacting the photosensitive drum 3 or the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61 without being transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 10 is used in the next step. Therefore, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 is configured to remove and collect the toner. The intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 includes a cleaning blade as a cleaning member that comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 61. The intermediate transfer belt 61 that comes into contact with the cleaning blade is supported by an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63 from the back side. ing.

  The paper feed cassette 81 is a tray for storing sheets used for image formation, and is provided below the exposure unit 1 of the apparatus main body 110. A sheet used for image formation can also be placed in the manual paper feed cassette 82. A paper discharge tray 130 provided on the side of the apparatus main body 110 is a tray for storing printed sheets.

  Further, the apparatus main body 110 is provided with a substantially vertical sheet conveyance path 30 for sending the sheets of the paper feed cassette 81 and the manual paper feed cassette 82 to the paper discharge tray 130 via the transfer roller 10 and the fixing unit 7. It has been. In the vicinity of the sheet conveying path 30 from the sheet feeding cassette 81 or the manual sheet feeding cassette 82 to the sheet discharge tray 91, pickup rollers 11A and 11B, a plurality of conveying rollers 12A to 12D, a registration roller 13, a transfer roller 10, and a fixing unit. 7 etc. are arranged.

  The conveyance rollers 12 </ b> A to 12 </ b> D are small rollers for promoting and assisting conveyance of the sheet, and a plurality of conveyance rollers 12 </ b> A to 12 </ b> D are provided along the sheet conveyance path 30. The pickup roller 11 </ b> A is provided near the end of the paper feed cassette 81, picks up one sheet at a time from the paper feed cassette 81, and supplies it to the sheet conveyance path 30. Similarly, the pickup roller 11 </ b> B is provided near the end of the manual paper feed cassette 82, picks up sheets one by one from the manual paper feed cassette 82, and supplies them to the sheet conveyance path 30.

  The registration roller 13 temporarily holds the sheet conveyed in the sheet conveyance path 30. The sheet has a function of conveying the sheet to the transfer roller 10 at the timing when the leading edge of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 and the leading edge of the sheet are aligned.

  The fixing unit 7 includes a heat roller 71 and a pressure roller 72, and the heat roller 71 and the pressure roller 72 rotate with the sheet interposed therebetween. The heat roller 71 is set so as to reach a predetermined fixing temperature by a control unit based on a signal from a temperature detector (not shown), and the toner is thermocompression bonded to the sheet together with the pressure roller 72. It has the function of fusing, mixing, and pressing the transferred multicolor toner image and thermally fixing the sheet. An external fixing belt 73 for fixing the heat roller 71 from the outside is provided.

  Next, the sheet conveyance path will be described in detail. As described above, the image forming apparatus is provided with the paper feed cassette 81 and the manual paper feed cassette 82 for storing sheets in advance. Pickup rollers 11A and 11B are arranged to feed sheets from these sheet feeding cassettes 81 and 82, respectively, and guide the sheets one by one to the conveyance path 30.

  A sheet conveyed from each of the sheet feeding cassettes 81 and 82 is conveyed to the registration roller 13 by the conveying roller 12A of the sheet conveying path 30, and the transfer roller is aligned with the leading edge of the sheet and the leading edge of the image information on the intermediate transfer belt 61. 10 and image information is written on the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet passes through the fixing unit 7, whereby the unfixed toner on the sheet is melted and fixed by heat, and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 130 through the conveyance roller 12 </ b> B disposed thereafter.

  The above-mentioned conveyance path is for a single-sided printing request for a sheet. On the other hand, when a double-sided printing request is made, the trailing edge of the sheet that has finished single-sided printing and has passed through the fixing unit 7 as described above. It is gripped by the final transport roller 12B, and a transport path switching unit (not shown) is switched in a direction to guide the sheet to the switchback transport path, and the transport roller 12B rotates in the reverse direction to guide the sheet to the transport rollers 12C and 12D. Then, after printing is performed on the back surface of the sheet through the registration roller 13, the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 130.

  The paper discharge unit 140 constitutes a part of the housing of the apparatus main body 110. The paper discharge unit 140 can be positioned at an open position where the conveyance path 30A is exposed to the outside of the housing and a closed position where the conveyance path 30A is housed inside. The paper discharge unit 140 is supported by the apparatus main body 110 so as to be swingable between an open position and a closed position with the support shaft 141 as an axis.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of each configuration when a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement of each configuration when a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  2 and 3 are diagrams showing a processing procedure when a jam occurs in the conveyance path 30A in the vicinity of the paper discharge unit 140 in FIG. When the jam occurs, the user moves the paper discharge tray 130 to the paper discharge unit 140 that moves from the first position that can store sheets as shown in FIG. 1 to the open position as shown in FIG. It moves to the 2nd position where 130 does not contact. Thereafter, the user moves the paper discharge unit 140 from the closed position as shown in FIG. 2 to the open position as shown in FIG. 3 to perform jam processing.

  The paper discharge unit 140 may be urged toward the open position on the support shaft 141. As this configuration, for example, a spring is fitted on the support shaft 141, and the paper discharge unit 140 is biased toward the open position by the force of the spring. In this case, when the paper discharge tray 130 is located at the first value, the paper discharge tray 130 prevents the paper discharge unit 140 from moving to the open position, and when the paper discharge tray 130 moves away from the first position, the paper is discharged. The paper unit 140 naturally moves to the open position. In this configuration, it is possible to save the user from moving the paper discharge unit 140 to the open position.

  In the present embodiment, the second position of the paper discharge tray 130 is a position below the first position. Accordingly, since the space for disposing the paper discharge tray 130 at the first position and the space for disposing the paper discharge tray 130 at the second position overlap in the height direction, no extra space is required in the peripheral portion of the apparatus body, and the image The installation space for the forming apparatus 100 can be reduced.

  Further, the second position of the paper discharge tray 130 is a position where the paper discharge tray 130 does not contact the open position of the paper discharge unit 140. Therefore, the paper discharge tray 130 does not hinder the movement of the paper discharge unit 140 to the open position, and can greatly open the transport path 30A, so that jam processing can be easily performed.

  Further, when the paper discharge unit 140 moves from the closed position to the open position, the upper part moves downward with the support shaft 141 at the lower end as an axis. The movement path of the paper discharge unit 140 overlaps the movement path between the first position and the second position of the paper discharge tray 130. Accordingly, since it is not necessary to secure an extra movement path for the paper discharge unit 140, a large space is not required around the apparatus main body 110, and the installation space for the image forming apparatus 100 can be reduced.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram corresponding to the closed position of the paper discharge unit 140. FIG. 4B is a diagram corresponding to the open position of the paper discharge unit 140. The paper discharge unit 140 includes a support shaft 141 penetrating in the horizontal direction at the lower end thereof. Both ends of the support shaft 141 are supported by the apparatus main body 110. Accordingly, the paper discharge unit 140 is supported to be swingable between the closed position in FIG. 4A and the open position in FIG. 4B with the support shaft 141 as an axis.

  Since the paper discharge unit 140 does not require a complicated configuration as described above, the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus 100 can be reduced even if this embodiment is applied.

  FIG. 5 is a view showing a support portion for supporting the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view showing a support portion for supporting the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the first position and the second position of the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram of the support portion viewed from the right side to the left direction (or from the left side to the right direction) of the image forming apparatus 100 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a view of the support portion viewed from the near side of the image forming apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 toward the back. The wall of the apparatus main body 110 is provided with a first support portion 115 for supporting the paper discharge tray 130 in the first position and a second support portion 117 for supporting the paper discharge tray 130 in the second position. ing. Since the first support portion 115 and the second support portion 117 have an opening shape, it is only necessary to insert the foot portion 131 as shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, since a complicated configuration for supporting the paper discharge tray 130 is not required, the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus 100 can be suppressed even if this embodiment is applied.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a method for attaching and detaching the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 8A is a diagram in which the paper discharge tray 130 is supported by the first support portion 115 via the foot portion 131. In order to move the paper discharge tray 130 from the first support portion 115 to the second support portion 117, first, as shown in FIG. The paper tray 130 is detached from the first support part 115. Then, the discharge tray 130 is moved to the position of the second support portion 117, and the foot portion 131 is bent and inserted into the second support portion 117, so that the discharge tray 130 is attached to the second support portion 117. In order to move the paper discharge tray 130 from the second support portion 117 to the first support portion 115, a procedure reverse to the above procedure may be performed.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, a complicated configuration for moving the paper discharge tray 130 from the first support unit 115 to the second support unit 117 is not required, and thus the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus 100 can be applied even when the present exemplary embodiment is applied. Can be suppressed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the paper discharge tray and the guide portion of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, since the guide portion 137 penetrates a part of the paper discharge tray 130, the paper discharge tray 130 moves between the first support portion 115 and the second support portion 117 along the guide portion 137. It is possible. The guide portion 137 penetrates a part of the paper discharge tray 130 at a position outside the maximum accommodation width of the sheet in the paper discharge tray 130 so as not to obstruct the sheet to be carried in.

  In the present embodiment, with the above-described configuration, the discharge tray 130 can be moved along the guide portion 137, so that the user can easily move the discharge tray 130.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the configuration for manually moving the discharge tray 130 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. A configuration for automatically moving the discharge tray 130 may be provided. Examples of the configuration include a configuration including a discharge tray slide unit, a motor, a jam detection unit, and a control unit. When the jam detection unit detects that a jam has occurred in the conveyance path 30A, the control unit drives the motor to operate the discharge tray slide unit, and the discharge tray 130 is supported from the first support unit 115 to the second support. The unit 117 is automatically moved. When the jam processing is completed, the control unit drives the motor to operate the discharge tray slide unit, and automatically moves the discharge tray 130 from the second support unit 117 to the first support unit 115.

By providing the configuration for automatically moving the paper discharge tray 130 as described above, the user does not have to move the paper discharge tray 130, so that jam processing can be easily started. Further, since the paper discharge tray 130 is positioned on the second support portion 117 during the jam processing, the paper discharge tray 130 does not get in the way during the jam processing, and a large space is not required in the peripheral portion of the apparatus main body 110. Finally, the description of the above-described embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above-described embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

30-conveyance path 100-image forming apparatus 115-first support unit 117-second support unit 130-discharge tray 137-guide unit 140-discharge unit 141-support shaft

Claims (3)

A paper discharge tray for storing the discharged sheets;
A part of the housing that is located in the open position exposes the transport path to the outside of the housing, and is positioned in the closed position to store the transport path in the housing. A paper unit,
A first support portion configured to be able to support the discharge tray at a position where the sheet can be stored;
A second support portion configured to support the paper discharge tray at a position where the paper discharge tray does not contact the paper discharge unit moving from the closed position to the open position;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide unit capable of moving the discharge tray between the first support unit and the second support unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper discharge unit is supported at a lower end portion so as to be swingable between the open position and the closed position with a horizontal direction as an axis.

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