JP2011203528A - Jam processing device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform jam processing with a simple structure and to facilitate operation for returning a jam processing device to an original coupled state.SOLUTION: The jam processing device 30 includes a driving force transmitting means 32, a cover 29 to be opened so as to remove a jammed sheet, and a release means 33 canceling transmission of driving force by the driving force transmitting means 32, linked with opening operation of the cover 29. The driving force transmitting means 32 includes a driving gear 36, a transmission gear 37 coupled with the driving gear 36 and meshed with a conveyance gear of a sheet conveying means, and a shaft body 39 to which the driving gear 36 and the transmission gear 37 are coaxially attached. By moving the transmission gear 37 along the shaft body 39, the transmission gear 37 is coupled with the driving gear 36 or it is released from coupling therewith.

Description

  The present invention relates to a jam processing apparatus that performs processing when a sheet of transfer paper or the like is jammed in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a combination machine that combines these using an electrophotographic system. And an image forming apparatus provided with the jam processing apparatus.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, after a toner image is transferred to a sheet by an image forming unit, the sheet is heated and pressed by a fixing device to fix the toner image, and then the sheet is discharged from the apparatus main body. Yes. Accordingly, these processes are performed while the sheet is conveyed in the apparatus main body. While such a sheet is being conveyed, the sheet may be caught in a roller such as a fixing device and a sheet jam (jam) may occur. In such a case, it is necessary to remove the sheet from the apparatus main body.

  Conventionally, a clutch is configured by an operating member that slides by opening and closing the cover of the apparatus main body, a swinging member that can swing as the operating member slides, and a solenoid that swings the swinging member. By switching, the connection between the main motor and a roller such as a fixing device is released, and the fixing device or the like is pulled out from the apparatus main body to perform jam processing (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-28298 A

  However, in the conventional structure, there are many members constituting the clutch, and the structure is complicated. Further, there is a problem that the operation for returning the clutch to the original connected state after the jam processing is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a jam processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can perform jam processing with a simple structure and can be easily returned to the original connected state. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a jam processing apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a driving source and transmits a driving force for conveying a sheet to a sheet conveying unit, and jammed on the sheet conveying unit side. A cover that is opened to remove the removed sheet, and a release unit that releases the driving force transmission of the driving force transmission unit in conjunction with the opening operation of the cover, the driving force transmission unit comprising: A driving gear to which a rotational force is transmitted; a transmission gear connected to the driving gear and meshed with the conveying gear of the sheet conveying means; and a shaft body on which the driving gear and the transmission gear are coaxially mounted; The transmission gear moves along the shaft body to connect and release the drive gear.

  And the release means of the jam processing apparatus according to the present invention is urged to move in the opening direction of the cover in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the cover with one end of the shaft inserted. It is preferable that a release lever formed with a receiving hole for receiving the movement of the transmission gear along the shaft body and a release spring that urges the transmission gear to move along the shaft body are provided. .

  In the jam handling device according to the present invention, a connecting body movable along with the movement of the transmission gear is disposed between the drive gear and the transmission gear, and the connection between the transmission gear and the drive gear and the release thereof. Is preferably made via the connector.

  Furthermore, in the jam processing apparatus according to the present invention, a coupling convex portion and a coupling concave portion that can be fitted to each other are formed on the facing surface of the drive gear and the coupling body and the facing surface of the coupling body and the transmission gear. The drive gear and the transmission gear are preferably connected via the connection body by fitting the connection convex portions and the connection concave portions.

  Furthermore, in the jam processing apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that a conical convex surface is formed on the release lever side of the transmission gear so that the conical convex surface can enter the receiving hole portion.

  Further, the present invention may be an image forming apparatus including the above-described jam processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect such that jam processing can be performed with a simple structure and the operation of returning to the original connected state is simplified.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus equipped with a jam processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing the whole jam processing device concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the jam processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view from another direction of the jam processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the jam processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing before the jam processing of the jam processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the middle of jam processing of the jam processing apparatus which concerns on the implementation type | system | group of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an image forming apparatus equipped with a jam processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the entire jam processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view from another direction of the jam processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the jam processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the jam processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention before the jam processing, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the jam processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention during the jam processing.

(External configuration of image forming apparatus 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) 3 that is disposed on an upper part of an apparatus body 2 and reads a document as various functions of a copying machine, a facsimile, and a scanner. And an operation unit 5 for setting and selecting various functions and the like in combination with a display screen 4 such as a liquid crystal monitor disposed on the upper front side of the apparatus main body 2.

  Note that the shape, configuration, function, and the like of the image forming apparatus 1 are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and prevent installation of known optional devices such as an ADF 3 and a sorter (not shown), for example. It is not a thing.

(Internal configuration of image forming apparatus 1)
The image forming apparatus 1 is arranged in a lower part of the apparatus main body 2 so that the image forming apparatus 1 can be pulled out from the front of the apparatus main body 2, and is provided with a three-stage supply of sheets (not shown) such as recording paper before printing. Separately from the paper cassette 6, the sheet stacked and stored in each paper feed cassette 6, one sheet at a time from the uppermost one, and the side wall surface of the apparatus main body 2 separately from the paper feed cassette 6. A manual feed tray 8 that is provided so as to be capable of being stacked and on which sheets (not shown) can be stacked and stored, and a manual paper feed conveyance that separates and conveys the sheets stacked and stored in the manual feed tray 8 one by one from the uppermost one. Unit 9, a sheet feeding / conveying unit 10 for conveying sheets stacked and stored in an optional sheet feeding cassette (not shown) installed on the bottom surface of the apparatus body 2, and each sheet feeding / conveying unit 7, 9, An image form for forming an image to be transferred to a sheet conveyed from 10 Unit 11, a secondary transfer unit 12 that transfers an image formed by image forming unit 11 to a sheet, and a sheet that is disposed upstream of secondary transfer unit 12 in the sheet transport direction and transports to secondary transfer unit 12. A pair of registration rollers 13 that controls sheet abutting alignment and conveyance timing, a fixing device 14 that fixes the toner image after transfer onto the sheet, a discharge unit 15 that discharges the fixed sheet, and a discharge unit 15 And a reversing path 17 for switching back the sheet to the secondary transfer unit 12 when an image is formed on the back surface of the sheet.

  The fixing device 14 includes a fixing roller 26 that heats the sheet, and a pressure roller 28 that is disposed opposite to the fixing roller 26 and presses against the fixing roller 26. The sheet is conveyed between these rollers 26 and 28, and is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the sheet. In the present embodiment, the fixing device 14 constitutes a sheet conveying unit. The jam processing device 30 shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 is arranged corresponding to the fixing device 14 constituting the sheet conveying means, and performs jam processing of the sheet in the fixing device 14. Further, a cover 29 constituting a part of the outer frame of the apparatus main body 2 is provided in an openable and closable manner around the jam processing apparatus 30 in the apparatus main body 2 (see FIG. 5).

(Configuration of the image forming unit 11)
The image forming unit 11 irradiates a laser beam L based on image data of a document image read using the ADF 3 or image data included in print data transmitted from an external computer (not shown) or the like. A belt-like intermediate transfer member 19 and a plurality of image forming devices 20 arranged in a tandem manner below the intermediate transfer member 19.

  The intermediate transfer member 19 is supported by being wound around a plurality of rollers, and is rotated in a predetermined direction by a driving device (not shown) (see an arrow in FIG. 1). The intermediate transfer member 19 is configured by an elastic belt in which a rubber layer is laminated on the surface of a base layer made of synthetic resin or the like.

  The image forming devices 20 are arranged in a row in a tandem manner from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotational movement direction so as to follow the rotational movement direction of the intermediate transfer body 19. The four image forming devices 20 are arranged in order of magenta, cyan, yellow, and black, for example, in order from the upstream side. These image forming devices 20 include toner containers 21 corresponding to the respective colors. Developer (toner) is replenished. Note that well-known devices are used for the image forming device 20 and the toner container 21, and the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.

  Each image forming device 20 includes a photosensitive drum 22 on which an electrostatic latent image of a document image is formed by the laser light L irradiated by the exposure device 18, and toner is transferred from the electrostatic latent image to the photosensitive drum 22. The image is developed. Further, the toner image is primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member 19 by a primary transfer unit 23 provided above each image forming device 20. Then, the toner image of each image forming device 20 is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 19 at a predetermined timing by the rotational movement of the intermediate transfer body 19, so that the surface of the intermediate transfer body 19 has magenta A color toner image is formed by superimposing four color toner images of cyan, yellow, and black.

  On the other hand, the secondary transfer unit 12 includes a secondary transfer roller 24, and the color toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer body 19 conveys the nip of the sheet accompanying the press contact between the intermediate transfer body 19 and the secondary transfer roller 24. The image is transferred to the surface of the sheet by applying a transfer bias at the time.

  At this time, deposits such as unfixed toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 19 after the secondary transfer are cleaned by the cleaning device 25 disposed on the side opposite to the secondary transfer unit 12.

(Configuration of the jam processing device 30)
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the jam processing device 30 releases the driving force transmission of the driving force transmission means 28 connected to the main motor 31 as a driving source and the driving force transmission means 28 in response to the occurrence of the jam. And release means 33.
The driving force transmitting means 32 transmits the rotational force of the main motor 31 to the pressure roller 28 in the fixing device 14 as a sheet conveying means. As a result, the driving force for conveying the sheet is transmitted to the pressure roller 28. The main motor 31 is attached to the motor board 34 and is fixed to a motor attachment plate 35 provided in the apparatus main body 2 via the motor board 34.

  The driving force transmission means 32 includes a driving gear 36, a transmission gear 37, a coupling body 38 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), and a shaft body 39. The shaft body 39 extends in the direction of the fixing device 14 so as to be parallel to the output shaft 31a of the main motor 31 in a state of being attached to the motor attachment plate 35. The drive gear 36, the transmission gear 37, and the coupling body 38 are coaxially attached to the shaft body 39.

  The drive gear 36 is attached to the shaft body 39 so as to be positioned on the main motor 31 side, and is fixed to a fixed position with respect to the shaft body 39. The transmission gear 37 is attached to the shaft body 39 so as to sandwich the drive gear 36 with the main motor 31. The transmission gear 37 is movable along the axial direction of the shaft body 39. At the time of jam processing, the transmission gear 37 moves in the direction away from the drive gear 36 along the axial direction of the shaft body 39 as shown in FIG. The driven gear 40 meshes with the transmission gear 37, and the rotational force is transmitted to the pressure roller 28 when the driven gear 40 meshes with the conveying gear 41 of the pressure roller 28 as shown in FIG.

  The coupling body 38 is disposed between the drive gear 36 and the transmission gear 37 in a state of being attached to the shaft body 39. The coupling body 38 is formed in a circular ring shape with the shaft body 39 as the center, and is movable along the axial direction of the shaft body 39 along with the movement of the transmission gear 37. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a connection convex portion 42 extending in parallel with the shaft body 39 is formed on the surface of the drive gear 36 that faces the connection body 38 toward the connection body 38. The connecting projections 42 are formed at a plurality of locations along the circumferential direction of the drive gear 36. On the other hand, on the surface of the coupling body 38 facing the drive gear 36, coupling concave portions 43 corresponding to the coupling convex portions 42 are formed at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction. The drive gear 36 and the connecting body 38 are connected by fitting. When the coupling body 38 moves away from the drive gear 36 and the coupling convex portion 42 and the coupling concave portion 43 are disengaged, the coupling between the coupling body 38 and the driving gear 36 is released.

  Also on the surface of the transmission gear 37 that faces the coupling body 38, the coupling convex portions 44 corresponding to the coupling concave portions 43 of the coupling body 38 are formed at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction. By fitting into the connecting recess 43, the connecting body 38 and the transmission gear 37 are connected. That is, in this embodiment, the drive gear 36 and the transmission gear 37 are connected via the connecting body 38, and this connection is performed along the axial direction of the shaft body 39.

  In addition, a connection recessed part is formed in the opposing surface with the connection body 38 in the drive gear 36 and the transmission gear 37, and a connection convex part is formed in these opposing surfaces in the connection body 38, and the drive gear 36 and the connection body 38 are connected. The coupling body 38 and the transmission gear 37 may be coupled.

  The release means 33 includes a release lever 45 and a release spring 46. The release lever 45 is formed of a horizontally long plate material and is disposed so as to be positioned inside the transmission gear 37. As shown in FIG. 4, the release lever 45 is connected to the shaft body 39 by inserting one end of the shaft body 39, and is linearly movable in the left-right direction around the shaft body 39. Further, the tip 45a of the release lever 45 is in contact with the cover 29 of the apparatus main body 2 as shown in FIG. The release lever 45 includes a moving spring 47 and is urged by the moving spring 47 so as to move in the direction of the cover 29. Accordingly, when the cover 29 is opened, the release lever 45 automatically moves linearly toward the cover 29 with the shaft body 39 as the center.

  The release lever 45 is formed with an insertion hole portion 48 through which one end of the shaft body 39 is inserted, and a receiving hole portion 49 communicating with the insertion hole portion 48. The receiving hole portion 49 is a large-diameter hole that extends along the moving direction of the release lever 45, and receives movement along the shaft body 39 of the transmission gear 37. On the other hand, a conical convex surface 50 is formed on the release lever 45 side of the transmission gear 37, and the conical convex surface 50 enters the receiving hole 49 of the release lever 45 by the movement of the transmission gear 37 described above. ing. The conical convex surface 50 is in contact with the side surface of the release lever 45 in a normal state, but the conical convex surface 50 is reached when the receiving hole 49 reaches the opposing position by the movement of the release lever 45 when the cover 29 is opened. 50 enters the receiving hole 49.

  The release spring 46 is a compression spring and is arranged from the drive gear 36 to the release lever 45. An intermediate portion of the release spring 46 is locked to the transmission gear 37, thereby urging the transmission gear 37 to move away from the drive gear 36.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a sub-release spring 51 made of a compression spring is wound around the shaft 39. The sub release spring 51 is locked to the connecting body 38 and urges the connecting body 38 to move away from the drive gear 36 as the transmission gear 37 moves.
(Operation of the jam processing device 30)
4 to 6 show a normal state in which image formation is performed on a sheet. In the normal state, since the cover 29 is closed, the release lever 45 is pushed by the cover 29. In this state, the conical convex surface 50 of the transmission gear 37 is in contact with the side surface of the release lever 45, so that the transmission gear 37 is pressed. In this state, the driving gear 36 and the connecting body 38 are connected by the connecting convex portion 42 fitting into the connecting concave portion 43. Further, since the connecting convex portion 44 of the transmission gear 37 is fitted in the connecting concave portion 43 of the connecting body 38, the connecting body 38 and the transmission gear 37 are connected. Accordingly, the drive gear 36 and the transmission gear 37 are coupled via the coupling body 38 and can rotate integrally, and the rotational force of the main motor 31 is transmitted to the transmission gear 37 via the driving gear 36 and the coupling body 38. The Since the driven gear 40 meshes with the transmission gear 37, the rotational force is transmitted to the conveying gear 41 of the fixing device 14 via the driven gear 40, and the sheet can be conveyed in the fixing device 14.
When the sheet is jammed, the cover 29 is opened. Since the release lever 45 is released from the restraint of the cover 29 when the cover 29 is opened, it moves linearly toward the cover 29 by the urging force of the moving spring 47. This movement is performed around the shaft 39. The movement of the release lever 45 causes the receiving hole 49 to reach a position corresponding to the conical convex surface 50 of the transmission gear 37, so that the transmission gear 37 moves away from the drive gear 36 by the biasing force of the release spring 46. The convex surface 50 enters the receiving hole 49. Since the movement of the transmission gear 37 is performed along the axial direction of the shaft body 39, the transmission gear 37 and the driven gear 40 are not disengaged.
Since the coupling body 38 is biased by the sub release spring 51, the coupling body 38 moves away from the drive gear 36 as the transmission gear 37 moves. This movement is performed along the axial direction of the shaft body 39. Since the coupling concave portion 43 and the coupling convex portion 42 are disengaged by the movement of the coupling body 38, the coupling between the drive gear 36 and the transmission gear 37 is released as shown in FIG. Thus, by releasing the connection with the drive gear 36 on the main motor 31 side, the transmission gear 37 and the driven gear 40 and the transport gear 41 engaged therewith can be rotated with a light force. Therefore, the sheet biting by the fixing device 14 can be removed, and the jam processing can be finished.
After completion of the jam processing, the cover 29 is closed and the release lever 45 is pushed, so that the release lever 45 is linearly moved in the opposite direction to return to the original position. At this time, the release lever 45 slides on the conical convex surface 50. However, since the conical convex surface 50 is conical, the release lever 45 can slide smoothly. When the release lever 45 returns to the original position, the conical convex surface 50 is disengaged from the receiving hole 49, and the conical convex surface 50 is pushed against the side surface of the release lever 45, so that the transmission gear 37 moves to the drive gear 36 side. To return to the original position. In this case, the transmission gear 37 is meshed with the driven gear 40, and moves along the axial direction of the shaft body 39 in this meshed state. As the transmission gear 37 returns, the connecting body 38 also moves to the drive gear 36 side. By this movement, the connecting convex portion 42 of the drive gear 36 and the connecting concave portion 43 of the connecting body 38 are fitted, and the connecting convex portion 44 of the transmission gear 37 and the connecting concave portion 43 of the connecting body 38 are fitted. The drive gear 36 and the transmission gear 37 are connected via the body 38, and the rotational driving force of the main motor 31 can be transmitted.

  According to such a jam processing device 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the drive gear 36 on the main motor 31 side and the transmission gear 37 on the fixing device 14 side are coaxially attached to the shaft body 39, and the transmission gear 37. As the shaft moves along the axial direction of the shaft body 39, the connection with the drive gear 36 and the release thereof are performed, so that jam processing can be performed with a simple structure. Further, since the transmission gear 37 moves along the axial direction of the shaft body 39, the meshing state with the driven gear 40 can be continued. For this reason, the operation of returning to the original connected state is simplified.

  Further, since the drive gear 36 and the transmission gear 37 are connected and released via the connecting body 38, the connection and release can be performed with a simple structure.

  Furthermore, since the drive gear 36 and the transmission gear 37 are connected via the connection recess 43 by fitting the connection protrusions 42 and 44 and the connection recess 43, these connections can be performed with a simple structure.

  Furthermore, since the conical convex surface 50 is formed in the transmission gear 37 and the conical convex surface 50 can enter the receiving hole portion 49 of the release lever 45, the transmission gear 37 moves away from the drive gear 36. The movement can be performed reliably. In addition, the release lever 45 can be returned to the original state smoothly.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Fixing device 30 Jam processing device 31 Main motor 32 Driving force transmission means 33 Release means 36 Drive gear 37 Transmission gear 38 Connection body 39 Shaft body 42 Connection convex part 43 Connection recessed part 45 Release lever 46 Release spring 49 Receiving hole part 50 Conical shape convex

Claims (6)

A driving force transmission unit that is connected to a driving source and transmits a driving force for sheet conveyance to the sheet conveyance unit, a cover that is opened to remove a jammed sheet on the sheet conveyance unit side, and an opening operation of the cover Release means for releasing the driving force transmission of the driving force transmission means in conjunction with,
The drive force transmission means includes a drive gear to which the rotational force of the drive source is transmitted, a transmission gear connected to the drive gear and meshing with a conveyance gear of the sheet conveyance means, and the drive gear and the transmission gear. And a shaft body attached coaxially, wherein the transmission gear moves along the shaft body to connect and release the drive gear.   The release means is urged to move in the opening direction of the cover in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the cover in a state where one end of the shaft body is inserted, and the movement of the transmission gear along the shaft body 2. The jam processing according to claim 1, further comprising: a release lever formed with a receiving hole portion for receiving the first and second release springs for biasing the transmission gear so as to move along the shaft body. apparatus.   A connecting body movable along with the movement of the transmission gear is disposed between the driving gear and the transmission gear, and the transmission gear and the driving gear are connected and released via the connecting body. The jam processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:   A connecting convex portion and a connecting concave portion that can be fitted to each other are formed on an opposing surface of the drive gear and the connecting body and an opposing surface of the connecting body and the transmission gear. The jam processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the driving gear and the transmission gear are connected via the connecting body by fitting the recess.   The conical convex surface is formed on the release lever side of the transmission gear, and the conical convex surface can enter the receiving hole portion. The jam processing apparatus according to the description.   An image forming apparatus comprising the jam processing device according to claim 1.

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