JP2012017201A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor in which an upper conveying member can be largely opened without coming in contact with a cabinet, thereby operation for eliminating jamming which has occurred in a relay conveyance unit is easily performed.SOLUTION: The upper conveying member 22 is provided so as to freely open/close around a fulcrum 25 and freely move relative to a lower conveying member 23. A slot 26 for supporting the fulcrum 25 so as to freely slide and freely turn is formed in the lower conveying member 23. A guide part 30 for guiding opening of the upper conveying member 22 is provided in the upper conveying member 22. A boss 31 coming in contact with the guide part 30 is provided in the lower conveying member 23. When the upper conveying member 22 is opened, the guide part 30 comes in contact with the boss 31 to thereby regulate opening of the upper conveying member 22. The upper conveying member 22 is pulled out forward further than the lower conveying member 23, and an opening angle of the upper conveying member 22 becomes large. Even when the upper conveying member 22 is largely opened, it does not come in contact with the cabinet 110.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus including a relay conveyance unit that conveys an image-formed sheet discharged to a post-processing apparatus.

  The image processing apparatus has a housing that includes an image forming unit. The sheet on which the image is formed is discharged from the housing. For example, as described in Patent Document 1, a space for discharging paper is formed in a part of the housing. Since the sheet is not discharged outside the housing, the installation area of the apparatus can be reduced.

  A reading unit that reads an image of a document is provided on the upper portion of the housing of the image processing apparatus, an operation unit is provided on the upper surface of the housing, and the operation unit is located on the front side of the housing. The image forming unit is provided below the reading unit, and a recess is formed in a part of the housing between the reading unit and the image forming unit, and a space by the recess is a space.

  In such an image processing apparatus, a post-processing apparatus for performing post-processing such as stapling is mounted. The post-processing device is provided outside the housing. In order to transport the paper discharged from the housing to the post-processing device, a relay transport unit is provided in the space.

  The relay conveyance unit includes a lower conveyance member and an upper conveyance member. Each of the upper and lower transport members includes a transport roller, and a relay transport path is formed between the both transport members. When the transport roller is rotationally driven, the paper discharged from the housing is transported to the post-processing device through the relay transport path.

  The relay transport unit is movable with respect to the housing, and the relay transport unit can be pulled out from the housing in the horizontal direction. The upper conveying member can be freely opened and closed with respect to the lower conveying member. When a jam occurs in the relay transport path, the relay transport unit is pulled out and the upper transport member is opened upward. By exposing the relay conveyance path, it is possible to remove the jammed paper.

JP 2004-70374 A

  When a jam occurs in the relay transport unit, the user pulls the relay transport unit forward from the housing in order to open the upper transport member. However, there is a limit to the amount that the relay transport unit can be pulled out so that the relay transport unit does not come off the casing. Since the operation unit is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the housing, when the user opens the upper conveyance member, the upper conveyance member interferes with the operation unit. At this time, if the upper transport member hits the operation unit, any of them may be damaged. Alternatively, even if the upper conveying member does not hit the operation unit, the opening of the upper conveying member is restricted and the opening angle cannot be increased. As a result, it becomes difficult for the user to remove the paper jammed in the relay conveyance path.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can easily open an upper conveying member and eliminate a jam that occurs in a relay conveying unit.

  According to the present invention, a space portion in which an image-formed sheet is discharged is formed in a part of a housing having an image forming portion, and a post-processing device is provided outside the housing, and the space portion is discharged. A relay transport unit for transporting the printed paper to the post-processing device, and the relay transport unit is an image processing apparatus that can be pulled out from the housing in an outward direction. The lower conveyance member and the upper conveyance member are formed. The lower conveyance member is provided movably on the casing, and the upper conveyance member is provided so as to be movable with respect to the lower conveyance member and openable and closable around a fulcrum. When the relay transport unit is pulled out, the upper transport member moves outward from the lower transport member, the fulcrum moves as the upper transport member moves, and the upper transport member opens to the housing when the upper transport member opens. On top to prevent contact In which regulating portion for regulating the opening of the timber is provided.

  When a jam occurs in the relay transport path, the relay transport unit is pulled out from the housing. At this time, the upper conveying member is drawn outward from the lower conveying member, and the fulcrum also moves outward simultaneously. Since the fulcrum approaches the edge of the housing, the upper conveying member can be opened greatly. However, the opening of the upper conveyance member is restricted by the restriction unit. For this reason, even if the upper transport member is greatly opened, the upper transport member can be prevented from coming into contact with the edge of the casing.

  The restricting portion has a guide portion that guides the opening of the upper conveying member so that the opening angle of the upper conveying member becomes larger as the pull-out amount of the upper conveying member becomes larger. In order to prevent the opened upper conveying member from coming into contact with the casing when the upper conveying member is pulled out slightly, it is necessary to reduce the opening angle of the upper conveying member. Therefore, the guide portion regulates the opening angle of the upper conveying member to be small. Even when the upper transport member is opened while the relay transport unit is being pulled out, the upper transport member does not contact the housing. On the other hand, when the relay transport unit is pulled out largely, the upper transport member must be opened wide. At this time, the upper conveying member can be opened to the maximum by the guide portion so that the upper conveying member does not contact the casing.

  A guide part is provided in the upper conveyance member, and a boss that contacts the guide part is provided in the lower conveyance member. When the upper conveying member is opened, the guide portion contacts the boss. The upper conveying member is no longer opened, and the opening of the upper conveying member is restricted.

  The guide portion has a guide surface that comes into contact with the boss, and the guide surface is formed so as to be inclined so as to increase in the outward direction. When the upper conveying member is opened while being pulled out, the guide surface comes into contact with the boss, the opening of the upper conveying member is restricted, and the opening angle of the upper conveying member is set in accordance with the pulling amount of the upper conveying member.

  When the upper transport member moves relative to the lower transport member, the distance between the guide surface and the boss increases. As the pull-out amount of the upper conveying member increases, the upper conveying member can be opened greatly, and the opening angle of the upper conveying member increases. Thereby, the opening angle of the upper conveying member can be set by adjusting the pull-out amount of the upper conveying member.

  The lower conveyance member is provided with a moving unit that moves a fulcrum provided on the upper conveyance member in the outward direction. The moving unit guides the fulcrum outward. Therefore, the upper transport member can move outward with respect to the lower transport member.

  Here, the moving part is a long hole extending outward, and a fulcrum is slidably and rotatably fitted in the long hole. The fulcrum slides outward in the long hole as the upper conveying member moves. Alternatively, the moving part is a link part rotatably attached to the lower transport member, and the fulcrum is rotatably supported by the link part. When the link portion rotates with the movement of the upper conveying member, the fulcrum moves outward.

  According to the present invention, when the relay transport unit is pulled out from the housing, the upper transport member can be further pulled out outward than the lower transport member. And since the fulcrum of an upper conveyance member also moves to an outward direction, an upper conveyance member can be opened largely. At this time, by restricting the opening of the upper conveying member, the upper conveying member can be prevented from coming into contact with the casing. Therefore, when a jam occurs in the relay transport unit, the upper transport member can be opened as much as possible, so that it is easy to remove the paper jammed in the relay transport path.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. Diagram showing the operation panel Front view of an image processing apparatus equipped with a post-processing apparatus The figure which shows the state when the relay conveyance unit is pulled out and the upper conveyance member is opened The figure for demonstrating the condition when pulling and opening an upper conveyance member The figure which shows the state which contacted the housing | casing when the upper conveyance member in the past was opened The figure which shows a state when an upper conveyance member is opened by the moving part of another form

  An image processing apparatus of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The image processing apparatus 100 is a complex machine that forms multicolor and single color images on a predetermined sheet according to image data input from the outside, such as copying, printing, and facsimile communication. The image processing apparatus 100 includes a cabinet 110 that is a casing and an automatic document feeder 120. The cabinet 110 includes an image forming unit including an exposure unit 1, a developing unit 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a cleaner unit 4, a charger 5, an intermediate transfer belt unit 6, and a fixing unit 7.

  A document placing table 92 made of transparent glass for placing a document is provided on the upper portion of the cabinet 110, and an automatic document feeder 120 is attached to the upper side of the document placing table 92. The automatic document feeder 120 automatically conveys the document onto the document table 92. The automatic document feeder 120 is rotatable in the direction of arrow M. By opening the automatic document feeder 120, a document can be placed on the document table 92 by hand.

  A reading unit 90 is disposed in the cabinet 110 below the document table 92. The reading unit 90 includes a light source, a mirror, a lens, a CCD, and the like. The reading unit 90 reads an image of a document on the document table 90 and inputs image data.

  The image data handled in the image processing apparatus 100 corresponds to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Accordingly, four each of the developing device 2, the photosensitive drum 3, the charger 5, and the cleaner unit 4 are provided so as to form four types of latent images corresponding to each color of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Constitutes four image stations.

  The charger 5 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential. The exposure unit 1 is a laser scanning unit (LSU) including a laser emitting unit and a reflection mirror. That is, the exposure unit 1 includes a polygon mirror that scans a laser beam and optical elements such as a lens and a mirror that guide laser light reflected by the polygon mirror to the photosensitive drum 3.

  The exposure unit 1 exposes the charged photosensitive drum 3 according to the input image data. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3. The developing device 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. ing. 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 so as to be in contact with each photoconductor drum 3, and the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoconductor drum 3 are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 61 and transferred. Then, a color toner image (multicolor toner image) is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 61. 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 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 is used as the transfer electrode, but a brush or the like can also be used.

  The electrostatic images visualized according to the respective colors on the respective photosensitive drums 3 are laminated on the intermediate transfer belt 61. As described above, the stacked images are conveyed to the position of the transfer roller 10 facing the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 61. When the sheet is conveyed to the contact position between the intermediate transfer belt 61 and the transfer roller 10, the toner image is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 10.

  The intermediate transfer belt 61 and the transfer roller 10 are pressed against each other at a predetermined nip, and the transfer roller 10 has a voltage for transferring the toner to the sheet, that is, a high polarity (+) opposite to the toner charging polarity (−). A voltage is applied. Further, in order to obtain the nip constantly, either the transfer roller 10 or the intermediate transfer belt drive roller 62 is made of a hard material (metal or the like), and the other is a soft material such as an elastic roller (elastic rubber roller or foaming). Resin roller).

  The toner adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 61 due to contact with 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 causes toner color mixing in the next step. Therefore, it is removed and collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65. The intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 includes a cleaning blade that is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 61, for example, as a cleaning member. The intermediate transfer belt 61 in contact with the cleaning blade is supported by an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63 from the back side.

  The paper feed cassette 81 is a tray for storing paper used for image formation, and is provided below the exposure unit 1 of the cabinet 110. A sheet used for image formation can also be placed in the manual sheet feeding cassette 82. A paper discharge tray 91 is provided in the upper part of the cabinet 110. The paper discharge tray 91 is a tray for collecting printed sheets face down. In the case of face-down, the paper is discharged so that the printing surface of the paper printed on one side faces downward.

  Formed in the cabinet 110 is a paper transport path S for sending the paper in the paper feed cassette 81 and the manual paper feed cassette 82 to the paper discharge tray 91 via the transfer roller 10 and the fixing unit 7. A paper transport path S from the paper feed cassette 81 and the manual paper feed cassette 82 to the paper discharge tray 91 is formed in the cabinet 110 in a substantially vertical direction, and along the paper transport path S, pickup rollers 11a and 11b and a plurality of paper transport paths S are formed. Conveying rollers 12a to 12d, a registration roller 13, a transfer roller 10, a fixing unit 7 and the like are arranged.

  The conveyance rollers 12 a to 12 d are a pair of small rollers for promoting and assisting conveyance of a sheet, and a plurality of the conveyance rollers 12 a to 12 d are provided along the sheet conveyance path S. The pickup roller 11 a is disposed near the end of the paper feed cassette 81, picks up paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 81, and supplies it to the paper transport path S. Similarly, the manual pick-up roller 11 b is arranged near the end of the manual paper feed cassette 82, picks up paper one by one from the manual paper feed cassette 82, and supplies it to the paper transport path S.

  The registration roller 13 temporarily holds the paper conveyed through the paper conveyance path S. Then, the sheet is conveyed 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 by the control unit to reach a predetermined fixing temperature based on a signal from a temperature detector (not shown). When the sheet passes through the fixing unit 7, unfixed toner on the sheet is melted and fixed by heat, and the multicolor toner image transferred to the sheet is thermally fixed. Further, an external fixing belt 73 for fixing the heat roller 71 from the outside is provided.

  The image processing apparatus 100 is connected to a network such as a LAN and also connected to a telephone line. The image processing apparatus 100 includes a communication unit that performs data communication with an external device such as a personal computer or another image processing apparatus via a network. It also has a modem that performs facsimile communication through a telephone line.

  In the image processing apparatus 100, a space 20 is provided in a part of the cabinet 110 to discharge the sheet on which an image is formed. A part of the cabinet 110 is formed to be recessed between the paper discharge tray 91 and the reading unit 90, and this recess serves as the space 20. The space part 20 is a space in which the front surface and one side surface in the left-right direction are open.

  An operation unit 10 as shown in FIG. 2 is provided on the upper surface of the cabinet 110. The operation unit 10 is disposed on the front side of the document placing table 92 and covers the upper part of the front side of the space unit 20. The operation unit 10 includes an input unit 16 having a plurality of input keys and a display unit 17 such as a liquid crystal display, and the display unit 17 is a touch panel. Through the input unit 16 and the display unit 17, the entire apparatus is operated and various settings are input, and the input content and operation status are displayed on the display unit 17.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image processing apparatus 100 includes a post-processing device 130 for performing post-processing such as stapling and punch hole processing. The post-processing device 130 is mounted on one side in the left-right direction of the cabinet 110 so as to face the space portion 20. In order to convey the paper discharged from the cabinet 110 to the post-processing device 130, a relay conveyance unit 21 is provided in the space portion 20.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the relay conveyance unit 21 is movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the cabinet 110 and can be pulled out toward the front, which is the outer direction of the cabinet 110. The relay conveyance unit 21 includes an upper conveyance member 22 and a lower conveyance member 23. The upper conveyance member 22 is disposed above the lower conveyance member 23, and a relay conveyance path is formed in the left-right direction between the upper and lower conveyance members 22, 23. Each transport member 22, 23 has a transport roller 24. Each transport roller 24 is disposed to face the top and bottom across the relay transport path. At this time, the upper conveying member 22 is in a set position facing the lower conveying member 23, and paper can be conveyed.

  When the transport roller 24 is driven to rotate, the paper discharged from the cabinet 110 is transported through the relay transport path from the other side in the left-right direction toward one side. The paper transported from the relay transport path to the post-processing device 130 is discharged to the paper output tray of the post-processing device 130 regardless of whether post-processing is performed.

  The upper conveyance member 22 is provided in the lower conveyance member 23 so that opening and closing is possible. The upper conveying member 22 rotates around the fulcrum 25 and is opened upward. The lower conveyance member 23 is movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the cabinet 110. A guide rail is provided on the cabinet 110 below the space 20 in the front-rear direction, and the lower conveyance member 23 is slidably supported on the guide rail.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the upper transport member 22 is movably provided on the lower transport member 23. The lower conveyance member 23 is formed in a box shape with an upper surface and a front surface opened, and an opening through which a sheet passes is formed on the left and right side walls. The upper transport member 22 is housed in the lower transport member 23. Guide rails are formed on the left and right side walls of the lower conveying member 23 in the front-rear direction. The upper conveying member 22 is movably supported on the guide rail. The guide rail is inclined so as to increase from the rear side toward the front side. The transport roller 24 does not get in the way, and the upper transport member 22 can be smoothly moved toward the front side.

  A lock member that locks the upper transport member 22 when the upper transport member 22 is in the set position is provided on the lower transport member 23. When the upper conveying member 22 is locked, the upper conveying member 22 moves integrally with the movement of the lower conveying member 23. However, the upper conveying member 22 cannot be opened during locking. When the lock is released, the upper conveying member 22 can be opened and closed with respect to the lower conveying member 23 and can be moved.

  The fulcrum 25 is provided on the upper transport member 22 and is supported by the lower transport member 23 so as to be rotatable and movable. The fulcrum 25 is formed in a cylindrical shape on both the left and right sides of the rear side of the upper conveying member 22. And the moving part which moves the fulcrum 25 in the front-back direction is provided.

  The moving part is a long hole 26, and the long hole 26 is formed on the left and right side walls of the lower conveying member 23 so as to extend from the rear side toward the front side. A fulcrum 25 is slidably and rotatably fitted in the long hole 26, and the fulcrum 25 can be moved in the front-rear direction. When the upper conveying member 22 is in the set position, the fulcrum 25 is located at the rear end of the long hole 26. Accordingly, the upper transport member 22 can be opened and closed while moving with respect to the lower transport member 23.

  When the relay transport unit 21 is pulled out, the upper transport member 22 is pulled out together with the lower transport member 23. When the lower conveyance member 23 comes into contact with a stopper provided in the cabinet 110, the lower conveyance member 23 is not pulled out any more. The relay conveyance unit 21 does not come off the cabinet 110. Since the upper conveying member 22 is further movable by the length of the long hole 26, the upper conveying member 22 can be pulled out more forward than the lower conveying member 23.

  When the lower conveying member 23 comes into contact with the stopper and stops, the front end of the long hole 26 is located behind the front end of the cabinet 110. Therefore, the fulcrum 25 does not move further forward than the front end of the cabinet 110. As the fulcrum 25 approaches the front end of the cabinet 110, the upper conveying member 22 can be greatly opened compared to the case where the fulcrum 25 is behind.

  Here, when a jam occurs in the relay transport unit 21, the user pulls the relay transport unit 21 forward in order to remove the jammed paper. Then, the user lifts and opens the upper conveyance member 22 to open the relay conveyance path. However, in the conventional relay conveyance unit 21, as shown in FIG. 6, the rear side of the pulled-up upper conveyance member 22 does not move forward than the front side of the cabinet 110. When the upper transport member 22 is opened, the upper transport member 22 may come into contact with the front end of the operation unit 10 of the cabinet 110. Therefore, a nylon band 27 is provided between the upper conveyance member 22 and the lower conveyance member 23 in order to restrict the opening of the upper conveyance member 22. The band 27 regulates the opening angle of the upper transport member 22 so that the cabinet 110 does not interfere with the upper transport member 22. The maximum opening angle at this time is 20 degrees.

  On the other hand, in the image processing apparatus 100, in order to prevent the upper conveyance member 22 from coming into contact with the cabinet 110 when the upper conveyance member 22 is opened, a restriction unit that restricts the opening of the upper conveyance member 22 is provided. . The restricting portion includes a guide portion 30 provided on the upper conveying member 22 and a boss 31 provided on the lower conveying member 23. When the guide part 30 contacts the boss 31, the opening of the upper conveying member 22 is restricted. As the pull-out amount of the upper conveying member 22 increases, the opening angle of the upper conveying member 22 increases.

  The bosses 31 are formed on the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls of the lower transport member 23 and project in the horizontal direction. The guide unit 30 protrudes from the outer surface side of the left and right side walls of the upper conveying member 22. The guide part 30 is located below the boss 31.

  The upper surface of the guide portion 30 is a guide surface 32 that faces the boss 31 and guides the opening of the upper conveying member 22. The boss 31 contacts the guide surface 32 when the upper conveying member 22 is opened. The guide surface 32 is formed so as to become higher from the rear side toward the front side, and includes a rear horizontal portion, a front horizontal portion that is higher than the rear side, and an inclined portion that connects the horizontal portions on both sides. Have. The length of the guide surface 32 in the front-rear direction is equal to or longer than the length of the long hole 26.

  When the upper conveying member 22 moves forward with respect to the lower conveying member 23, the distance between the boss 31 and the guide surface 32 of the guide portion 30 increases. The opening angle of the upper transport member 22 is set according to the amount of withdrawal of the upper transport member 22. That is, when the horizontal portion on the front side of the guide portion 30 contacts the boss 31, the upper transport member 22 opens small. When the inclined portion of the guide portion 30 comes into contact with the boss 31, the upper conveying member 22 is greatly opened. When the horizontal portion on the rear side of the guide portion 30 comes into contact with the boss 31, the upper conveying member 22 opens small. The opening angle of the upper conveying member 22 varies depending on the position of the upper conveying member 22 with respect to the lower conveying member 23. Therefore, the opening angle of the upper conveying member 22 can be set based on the pulling amount of the upper conveying member 22.

  When the upper conveying member 22 is opened while moving forward, the fulcrum 25 also moves. Thereby, as the upper conveyance member 22 moves forward, the opening angle of the upper conveyance member 22 increases. At this time, the opening of the upper conveyance member 22 is regulated by the guide portion 30 according to the position of the fulcrum 25. Regardless of the amount by which the upper conveying member 22 is pulled out, the upper conveying member 22 can be prevented from contacting the front end of the cabinet 110.

  When a jam occurs in the relay transport unit 21, the user pulls the relay transport unit 21 forward. As shown in FIG. 5A, the lower transport member 23 and the upper transport member 22 are pulled out integrally. When the lower conveyance member 23 comes into contact with the stopper, the movement of the lower conveyance member 23 is prevented. The user operates the lock member to release the lock on the upper transport member 22. The upper conveying member 22 can move forward. When the user further pulls out the upper transport member 22, the upper transport member 22 is pulled out until the fulcrum 25 reaches the front end of the long hole 26 as shown in FIG.

  When the user opens the upper transport member 22 upward, the upper transport member 22 rotates around the fulcrum 25 and is released. When the guide part 30 contacts the boss 31, the rotation of the upper transport member 22 is restricted, and the upper transport member 22 can no longer be opened. At this time, the maximum opening angle is 30 degrees. The opened upper conveyance member 22 does not contact the front end of the cabinet 110.

  Since the relay conveyance path is exposed, the user removes the jammed paper. Thereafter, the user closes the upper conveyance member 22 and pushes the upper conveyance member 22 to return to the set position. Then, the user operates the lock member to lock the upper transport member 22 and push in the relay transport unit 21. The relay conveyance unit 21 is fixed at a fixed position in the space 20.

  Thus, when the relay conveyance unit 21 is pulled out, the upper conveyance member 22 moves to the front side with respect to the lower conveyance member 23, so that the opening angle becomes larger than in the conventional case. For this reason, the relay conveyance path is largely opened, and it becomes easy to remove the paper. Moreover, even if the upper conveying member 22 is largely opened, the opening of the upper conveying member 22 is restricted by the restricting portion, and the upper conveying member 22 can be prevented from coming into contact with the cabinet 110.

  Next, FIG. 7 shows a relay transport unit 21 having another form of moving unit. The moving unit is a link unit 40 provided on the lower conveyance member 23. The link portions 40 are provided in a pair of left and right, and the link portions 40 formed in an elongated flat plate shape are attached to the left and right side walls of the lower conveyance member 23 so as to be rotatable around the support shaft 41. A shaft hole 42 that supports the fulcrum 25 is formed on the upper side of the link part 40, and the fulcrum 25 is fitted into the shaft hole 42 so as to be rotatable. The other configurations including the restricting portion in the intermediate transport unit 21 are the same as those described above.

  In the figure, the upper conveying member 22 is at the set position as indicated by a two-dot chain line. After unlocking, when the upper conveying member 22 is pulled forward, the link portion 40 is rotated forward. The upper conveying member 22 is lowered while moving forward relative to the lower conveying member 23 as indicated by a one-dot chain line. The fulcrum 25 also moves down while moving forward. Depending on the rotation angle of the link portion 40, the amount of pulling out from the lower conveying member 23 of the upper conveying member 22 is determined. In addition, when the stopper which regulates rotation of the link part 40 is provided and the link part 40 contact | abuts to a stopper, the link part 40 cannot rotate any more. Further, although the upper conveying member 22 is lowered by the rotation of the link portion 40, the upper and lower conveying rollers 24 are separated from each other, so that the conveying roller 24 does not hinder the movement of the upper conveying member 22.

  When the user lifts the upper transport member 22, the upper transport member 22 opens as shown by the solid line. At this time, the guide portion 30 comes into contact with the boss 31 and the opening of the upper conveying member 22 is restricted. The upper conveyance member 22 opens without contacting the front end of the cabinet 110.

  By using the rotating link part 40, the fulcrum 25 moves forward and the position of the fulcrum 25 is lowered. Therefore, the distance between the fulcrum 25 and the front end of the cabinet 110 becomes longer than when the fulcrum 25 moves linearly in the horizontal direction, so that the opening angle of the upper conveying member 22 can be further increased. In addition, since the upper conveying member 22 moves when the link portion 40 falls down, the upper conveying member 22 is not twisted, and the upper conveying member 22 can be pulled out smoothly.

  By the way, in said relay conveyance unit 21, regardless of the form of a moving part, when opening the upper conveyance member 22, the upper conveyance member 22 is pulled out first, and the upper conveyance member 22 is opened after that. Alternatively, the upper conveying member 22 may be opened while being pulled out. In this case, the position of the fulcrum 25 changes according to the amount by which the upper conveying member 22 is pulled, and the guide portion 30 moves while always contacting the boss 31. The opening of the upper conveying member 22 is restricted, and the maximum opening angle is set according to the amount of withdrawal of the upper conveying member 22. The upper conveying member 22 is opened without contacting the front end of the cabinet 110.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. As the moving unit, a long hole may be provided in the upper conveyance member, and a fulcrum may be provided in the lower conveyance member. Further, as the restricting portion, a boss may be provided on the upper conveying member, and a guide portion may be provided on the lower conveying member. The relay conveyance unit may be drawable to either the left or right side of the cabinet.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Space part 21 Relay conveyance unit 22 Upper conveyance member 23 Lower conveyance member 25 Support point 26 Long hole 30 Guide part 31 Boss 32 Guide surface 40 Link part 41 Support axis

Claims (7)

A space part for discharging the image-formed paper is formed in a part of the housing having the image forming unit therein, a post-processing device is provided outside the housing, and the paper discharged in the space part Is provided to the post-processing device, and the relay transport unit is an image processing device that can be pulled out from the housing in the outward direction. The lower conveyance member is formed of a lower conveyance member and an upper conveyance member that form a path. The lower conveyance member is movably provided in the casing, and the upper conveyance member is movable with respect to the lower conveyance member and around a fulcrum. When the relay transport unit is pulled out, the upper transport member moves outward from the lower transport member, the fulcrum moves as the upper transport member moves, and the upper transport member moves. When the transfer member opens The image processing apparatus characterized in that the for the upper conveyor member to the housing to prevent contact, regulating portion for regulating the opening of the upper conveying members is provided. 2. The regulating portion includes a guide portion that guides the opening of the upper conveying member so that the opening angle of the upper conveying member becomes larger as the pull-out amount of the upper conveying member becomes larger. Image processing apparatus. The upper conveying member is provided with a guide portion, and the lower conveying member is provided with a boss that contacts the guide portion. When the upper conveying member is opened, the guide portion contacts the boss, and The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein opening of the conveying member is restricted. The guide portion has a guide surface that comes into contact with the boss, and the guide surface is formed to be inclined so as to increase in the outward direction, and when the upper conveying member is opened while being pulled out, the guide surface is The image processing according to claim 3, wherein the guide surface comes into contact, the opening of the upper conveying member is restricted, and the opening angle of the upper conveying member is set according to the pulling amount of the upper conveying member. apparatus. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower conveyance member is provided with a moving unit that moves a fulcrum provided on the upper conveyance member in an outward direction. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the moving portion is a long hole extending outward, and a fulcrum is slidably and rotatably fitted in the long hole. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the moving unit is a link unit rotatably attached to the lower conveyance member, and a fulcrum is rotatably supported by the link unit.

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