JP2016159607A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability of the maintenance work of a maintenance unit.SOLUTION: In a printer 1, a sheet conveyance unit 8 is arranged on the lower side of each recording head 17, and a lifting device 10 holds a sheet conveyance unit 8 in a manner of being capable of ascending/descending between a printing position and a retreat position. Carriages 25, 26 are provided so as to be movable between the initial position displaced from the lower side of each recording head 17 and the head lower position on the lower side of each recording head 17. A cap unit 23 and a wipe unit 24 are placed respectively on the carriages 25, 26. The sheet conveyance unit 8 mounts the cap unit 23 or the wipe unit 24 placed on the carriage 25 or 26 by being lifted up from the lower side by the lifting device 10 with respect to the carriage 25 or 26 moved to the head lower position, and can be withdrawn via a front opening part 20 on the front side of a printer body 2 in the state of mounting the cap unit 23 or the wipe unit 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet image forming apparatus including a maintenance unit that performs maintenance of an image forming unit such as a recording head.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an ink jet image forming apparatus, an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on image data information, for example, a recording head that ejects ink onto the sheet, and a sheet is conveyed below the recording head. A paper transport unit. The main body of such an image forming apparatus is provided with an opening on the front surface (front side) and a front cover attached to the opening so that the paper transport unit can be accessed by opening the front cover. Thus, it is possible to handle a jam that has occurred in the paper transport unit.

  Further, the ink jet image forming apparatus includes a maintenance unit for performing maintenance of the recording head. The maintenance unit is, for example, a cap unit that prevents the ink in the nozzle provided in the recording head from drying by covering the nozzle of the recording head with a cap, or an ink that adheres to the ink ejection surface of the recording head provided with the nozzle. A wipe unit and the like for removing with a wipe are provided. The maintenance unit is configured to be movable between an initial position, which is a home position on the side of the paper transport unit, and a work position below the recording head. The maintenance unit moves to the work position during work, and otherwise the initial position. Wait at. The apparatus body of such an image forming apparatus has an opening on the side surface and a side cover attached to the opening. By opening the side cover, the maintenance unit at the initial position can be accessed. Maintenance work such as replacement of maintenance members such as caps and wipes of the maintenance unit can be performed.

  For example, an inkjet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a recording unit having a recording head that discharges ink to a recording medium, a cap unit that caps the recording head, and a wipe unit that performs recovery processing of the recording head. I have.

JP 2014-0665261 A

  In the image forming apparatus such as the above-described ink jet recording apparatus, the maintenance work of the maintenance unit is performed from the side of the apparatus, so that the operability is lowered as compared with the work on the front side. Further, when an external device such as a finisher is provided adjacent to the side surface of the image forming apparatus, maintenance work of the maintenance unit is performed from the opening on the side surface of the apparatus main body unless the image forming apparatus or the external device is moved. I can't.

  If the maintenance unit at the initial position can be accessed from the front side of the apparatus main body, it is considered that the operability of maintenance work of the maintenance unit is improved. However, the maintenance unit has a configuration that can move in the left-right direction. For example, the maintenance unit is configured to move the carriage on which the maintenance unit is mounted along a guide rail that extends in the left-right direction. For this reason, the configuration in which the maintenance unit at the initial position is pulled out to the front side is complicated by being obstructed by the carriage and the guide rail, and the operability of the maintenance work may be lowered. In addition, since an opening for accessing the paper transport unit has already been opened on the front side of the apparatus main body, if a new opening for accessing the maintenance unit is provided, the strength of the main body becomes weak. There is a fear.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to improve the operability of maintenance work of a maintenance unit.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus main body having an opening formed on a front surface, an image forming section provided in the apparatus main body for forming an image on a sheet, and disposed below the image forming section. The sheet conveying unit is configured to be movable up and down between a sheet conveying unit having a conveying belt for conveying the sheet, and a printing position approaching the image forming unit and a retreating position separated from the image forming unit. A lifting device, a carriage provided movably between a first position deviated from below the image forming unit and a second position below the image forming unit, and mounted on the carriage A maintenance unit, and the sheet transport unit is placed on the carriage by being lifted from below by the lifting device with respect to the carriage moved to the second position. Serial stacked maintenance unit, characterized in that the made possible lead through the opening in a state loaded with the maintenance unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability of maintenance work of the maintenance unit.

1 is a diagram illustrating a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a paper transport unit of the printer and its lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the raising / lowering apparatus in the printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the raising / lowering apparatus in the printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view from the front side showing the paper transport unit at the printing position, the maintenance unit at the initial position, and the periphery thereof in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view from the front side showing the paper transport unit at the retracted position, the maintenance unit at the initial position, and the periphery thereof in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a right side view illustrating a paper transport unit and a maintenance unit in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention, and the periphery thereof. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view from the front side showing a state where the cap unit is moved to a position below the head in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view from the front side showing a state where the cap unit is stacked on the paper transport unit in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view from the front side showing a state in which only the carriage of the cap unit is returned to the initial position in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view from the front side showing a state where the paper transport unit loaded with the cap unit is moved to the pull-out position in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, an overall configuration of a color printer 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “printer 1”) as an ink jet image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the front side in FIG. 1 is the front side (front side) of the printer 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a box-shaped printer main body 2. A paper feed cassette 3 for storing paper P is accommodated in a lower portion of the printer main body 2 so as to be drawn out.

  A conveyance path 4 for the paper P is provided on the right side of the printer body 2. A paper feed roller 5 is provided near the paper feed cassette 3 at the lower end of the transport path 4, and a transport roller pair 6 is provided downstream of the paper feed roller 5. A registration roller pair 7 is provided at the upper end of the conveyance path 4.

  A paper transport unit 8 is provided at the center of the printer main body 2 so as to be lifted and lowered by a lifting device 10. The paper transport unit 8 includes a transport frame 11 (see FIG. 2), a driving roller 12, a driven roller 13, a tension roller 14, an endless transport belt 15, and an intake section 16. The lifting device 10 will be described later. In addition, it is good for the conveyance frame 11 to equip the upper surface with the positioning convex part (not shown) for positioning the cap unit 23 and the wipe unit 24 when loading the cap unit 23 and the wipe unit 24 which are mentioned later.

  The driving roller 12 is rotatably supported on the upper left part of the transport frame 11, the driven roller 13 is rotatably supported on the lower right part of the transport frame 11, and the tension roller 14 is rotatable on the lower part of the transport frame 11. It is supported.

  The conveyor belt 15 is wound around the driving roller 12, the driven roller 13 and the tension roller 14. The conveyance belt 15 is provided with a number of intake holes (not shown).

  The intake portion 16 is disposed so as to be surrounded by the conveyance belt 15, and includes a plurality of intake ports (not shown) on the upper side, and is configured to intake air from above the conveyance belt 15.

  Further, four sets of recording heads 17 (17K, 17C, 17M, and 17Y) are arranged in parallel at the center of the printer body 2 above the paper transport unit 8. Each recording head 17 corresponds to each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) in order from the upstream side (right side in the present embodiment) in the conveyance direction of the paper P. . Hereinafter, the symbols “K”, “C”, “M”, and “Y” are omitted for the recording head 17, unless otherwise specified. Each recording head 17 is provided with a large number of nozzles 33 (see FIG. 7) along the front-rear direction so as to face the upper surface of the conveyance belt 15, and the lower surface of each recording head 17 is connected to the ink ejection surface 34. It has become.

  Four ink containers 18 (18K, 18C, 18M, and 18Y) are arranged in parallel on the upper portion of the printer main body 2 so as to be detachable in the front-rear direction. The four ink containers 18 are provided for each ink color, and in order from the upstream side (the right side in the present embodiment) in the transport direction of the paper P, black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), The ink of each color of yellow (Y) is accommodated. Hereinafter, the symbols “K”, “C”, “M”, and “Y” are omitted for the ink container 18 except when the color is specifically described.

  Each ink container 18 is connected to each recording head 17 via a sub-container (not shown), and the ink stored in each ink container 18 is temporarily stored in the sub-container (not shown). These are supplied to each recording head 17. The sub-container (not shown) is provided corresponding to each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), similarly to the recording head 17 and the ink container 18.

  On the front side (front side) of the printer main body 2, a front opening 20 is provided at a position corresponding to the lifting device 10, and the front opening 20 can be opened and closed by a front cover (not shown). Further, a first guide rail 21 extending from both sides of the front opening 20 to the rear is provided at the center of the printer body 2 (see FIGS. 2 to 4). In the printer main body 2, a second guide rail 22 extending in the left-right direction is provided above the lifting device 10 (see FIGS. 5 to 11).

  On the left side of the printer main body 2, a maintenance unit such as a cap unit 23 and a wipe unit 24, a carriage 25 on which the cap unit 23 is placed, and a carriage 26 on which the wipe unit 24 is placed include a paper transport unit 8. And on the left side of the lifting device 10. The cap unit 23, the wipe unit 24, the carriage 25, and the carriage 26 will be described later.

  Also, on the left side of the printer main body 2, a second belt conveyance unit 27 provided continuously on the left side of a paper conveyance unit 8 at a printing position described later, and a drying provided above the second belt conveyance unit 27. A device 28, a discharge roller pair 30 provided on the left side of the drying device 28, a discharge port 31 formed on the left side surface of the printer main body 2 in the vicinity of the discharge roller pair 30, and a printer main body from below the discharge port 31. 2 and a paper discharge tray 32 protruding to the outside.

  Next, an image forming operation of the printer 1 having such a configuration will be described.

  When the printer 1 receives image data from an external computer or the like, the paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 3 is sent out to the transport path 4 by the paper feed roller 5. The paper P sent out to the transport path 4 is transported to the downstream side of the transport path 4 by the transport roller pair 6, and sent out from the transport path 4 to the upper surface of the transport belt 15 by the registration roller pair 7.

  At this time, the air intake unit 16 is operated, and from the upper surface side of the transport belt 15 to the air intake unit 16 via the air intake hole (not shown) of the transport belt 15 and the air intake port (not shown) of the air intake unit 16. Air is aspirated. Then, the paper P sent out to the upper surface of the transport belt 15 is adsorbed on the upper surface of the transport belt 15 by the suction force of the intake portion 16.

  On the other hand, each recording head 17 is supplied with ink from each ink container 18. Each recording head 17 ejects ink to the paper P that is attracted to and transported by the transport belt 15 based on image data information received from an external computer or the like. Thereby, a color ink image is formed on the surface of the paper P. The paper P on which the color ink image is formed is transported by the second belt transport unit 27, the surface ink is dried by the drying device 28, and then discharged from the discharge port 31 onto the discharge tray 32 by the discharge roller pair 30. Is done.

  Next, the lifting device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The elevating device 10 moves the paper transport unit 8 below the recording heads 17 between an upper printing position (see FIG. 2), a lower retraction position (see FIG. 3), and a central drawing position (see FIG. 11). It is provided to move up and down. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the lifting device 10 includes a device main body frame 40, a unit placement portion 41, a wire 42, a hoisting shaft 43, a drive portion 44, and a wire support portion 45. .

  The apparatus main body frame 40 is a box-shaped housing that can store the paper transport unit 8 and is open on the upper side and the left side. Flange portions 46 extending in the front-rear direction are formed on both sides of the apparatus main body frame 40, and the flange portions 46 engage with the first guide rails 21 of the printer main body 2 so that the lifting device 10 is moved to the first guide rails. 21 is movable in the front-rear direction. Further, the apparatus main body frame 40 is provided with a plurality of main body side pulleys 47. The plurality of main body side pulleys 47 are, for example, at least the left front part, the left rear part, the right front part, and the right rear part of the apparatus main body frame 40. It is provided so that it can rotate about the front-rear direction as an axial direction.

  The unit mounting portion 41 is disposed below the plurality of main body side pulleys 47 and includes a bottom plate 48 and a plurality of side plates 50. On the bottom plate 48 of the unit mounting portion 41, the paper transport unit 8, particularly the transport frame 11, is placed. The plurality of side plates 50 of the unit mounting portion 41 are erected on, for example, the left front portion, the left rear portion, the right front portion, and the right rear portion of the bottom plate 48, and each of the plurality of side plates 50 has a mounting portion side pulley 51. Is provided to be rotatable about the front-rear direction as an axial direction.

  The hoisting shaft 43 is provided at the upper right side in the apparatus main body frame 40 so as to be rotatable about the front-rear direction as an axial direction. The drive unit 44 is, for example, a motor or the like, and is attached to the apparatus main body frame 40 so as to rotationally drive the hoisting shaft 43. The wire support portions 45 are provided at the left front portion and the left rear portion in the apparatus main body frame 40, respectively, and only the left rear wire support portion 45 is shown in FIGS.

  In the lifting device 10 as described above, the wires 42 are provided at the front and rear portions of the lifting device 10. One wire 42 is wound around the main body side pulley 47 at the left front portion and the right front portion of the apparatus main body frame 40 and the mounting portion side pulley 51 at the left front portion and the right front portion of the unit mounting portion 41. One end of the wire 42 is fixed to the front portion of the hoisting shaft 43, and the other end of the wire 42 is supported by the wire support portion 45 at the left front portion of the apparatus main body frame 40. The other wire 42 is wound around the main body side pulley 47 at the left rear portion and the right rear portion of the apparatus main body frame 40, and the mounting portion side pulley 51 at the left rear portion and the right rear portion of the unit mounting portion 41. One end of the wire 42 is fixed to the rear portion of the hoisting shaft 43, and the other end of the wire 42 is supported by a wire support portion 45 at the left rear portion of the apparatus main body frame 40.

  Next, the cap unit 23 and the carriage 25 on which the cap unit 23 is placed will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the cap unit 23 includes caps 60 that cover the nozzles 33 (see FIG. 7) of the recording heads 17, and has a width that is larger in the front-rear direction than the paper transport unit 8. When the cap unit 23 is placed on the carriage 25 and loaded on the paper transport unit 8 (transport frame 11), the cap unit 23 is positioned with respect to the carriage 25 and the paper transport unit 8 (not shown). ) On the lower surface. The cap unit 23 is stacked on the paper conveyance unit 8 (conveyance frame 11), so that the elevating device 10 can move up and down between the head lower position and the work position where each cap 60 approaches the recording head 17. Become.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the carriage 25 includes a first opening 61 formed in the lower portion, a second opening 62 formed in the right portion, and a unit placement portion 63 on which the cap unit 23 is placed. .

  For example, the first opening 61 is provided at the center in the front-rear direction of the lower portion of the carriage 25, and has a size that allows the paper transport unit 8 to be inserted from below and opens to the right end. The second opening 62 is provided, for example, at the center in the front-rear direction of the right portion of the carriage 25, and has a size that allows continuous opening from the first opening 61 and allows the cap unit 23 to be inserted from the right side.

  The unit placement portion 63 is configured by the edge portion of the first opening 61 so that only the lower surface edge portion of the cap unit 23 is placed. That is, the unit mounting portion 63 is provided around the first opening 61. The unit mounting portion 63 may include a positioning convex portion (not shown) for positioning the cap unit 23 on the upper surface when the cap unit 23 is mounted.

  The upper portion of the carriage 25 is attached to the second guide rail 22 of the printer main body 2 and is movable in the left-right direction along the second guide rail 22. The carriage 25 moves between an initial position (first position) that is a left home position of the paper transport unit 8 and the lifting device 10 and a head lower position (second position) below the recording head 17. To do.

  Next, the wipe unit 24 and the carriage 26 on which the wipe unit 24 is placed will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the wipe unit 24 includes each wipe 65 that removes ink adhering to the ink discharge surface 34 (see FIG. 7) that is the lower surface of each recording head 17, and the front and rear of the paper transport unit 8. Has a large width in the direction. The wipe unit 24 is a positioning recess (not shown) for positioning with respect to the carriage 26 and the paper transport unit 8 when being placed on the carriage 26 and when being stacked on the paper transport unit 8 (transport frame 11). ) On the lower surface. The wipe unit 24 is stacked on the paper conveyance unit 8 (conveyance frame 11), so that the lifting device 10 can move up and down between the head lower position and the work position where each wipe 65 approaches the recording head 17. Become.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the carriage 26 includes a first opening 66 formed in the lower portion, a second opening 67 formed in the right portion, and a unit placement portion 68 on which the wipe unit 24 is placed. .

  For example, the first opening 66 is provided at the center in the front-rear direction of the lower portion of the carriage 26, and has a size that allows the paper transport unit 8 to be inserted from below and opens to the right end. The second opening 67 is provided, for example, in the center in the front-rear direction of the right part of the carriage 26, and has a size that allows the wipe unit 24 to be inserted from the right side by opening continuously from the first opening 66.

  The unit placement portion 68 is configured by the edge portion of the first opening 66 so that only the lower surface edge portion of the wipe unit 24 is placed. That is, the unit mounting portion 68 is provided around the first opening 66. The unit mounting portion 68 may include a positioning convex portion (not shown) for positioning the wipe unit 24 when the wipe unit 24 is mounted on the upper surface.

  The upper portion of the carriage 26 is attached to the second guide rail 22 of the printer main body 2 and is movable in the left-right direction along the second guide rail 22. The carriage 26 moves between an initial position (first position) that is a left home position of the paper transport unit 8 and the lifting device 10 and a head lower position (second position) below the recording head 17. To do.

  The wipe unit 24 is provided below the cap unit 23, and the carriage 26 of the wipe unit 24 is configured to include not only the wipe unit 24 but also the cap unit 23 and its carriage 25.

  Next, in the printer 1 having such a configuration, an operation of taking out the cap unit 23 when performing maintenance work on the cap unit 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 8 to 11.

  First, when performing the operation of taking out the cap unit 23 in the printer 1, the sheet conveying unit 8 is lowered to the retracted position by the lifting device 10, and the carriage 24 on which the cap unit 23 is placed and the carriage 26 on which the wipe unit 24 is placed. Is moved to the initial position (see FIG. 6). Normally, since the carriage 25 and the carriage 26 are waiting at the initial position, it is detected whether or not the carriage 25 and the carriage 26 are at the initial position. May be determined to be possible.

  Next, the carriage 25 on which the cap unit 23 is placed is moved from the initial position to the head lower position along the second guide rail 22 (see FIG. 8).

  Then, the sheet conveying unit 8 is raised by the lifting device 10 and inserted into the first opening 61 of the carriage 25, and the cap unit 23 placed on the unit placing portion 63 is pushed up by the sheet conveying unit 8. As a result, the cap unit 23 is stacked on the paper transport unit 8 and is separated from the carriage 25 (see FIG. 9). For example, the cap unit 23 is stacked on the transport frame 11 of the paper transport unit 8. The lifting device 10 does not need to raise the paper transport unit 8 to the printing position as long as the cap unit 23 can be stacked on the paper transport unit 8.

  Thereafter, the carriage 25 is moved from the head lower position to the initial position along the second guide rail 22 (see FIG. 10). At this time, the cap unit 23 not placed on the carriage 25 does not follow the carriage 25, passes through the second opening 62 of the moving carriage 25, and remains stacked on the paper transport unit 8. It is.

  Next, the lifting / lowering device 10 moves the paper transport unit 8 loaded with the cap unit 23 to the drawing position (see FIG. 11). At this time, in this embodiment, since the cap unit 23 is stacked on the paper transport unit 8 above the pull-out position, the paper transport unit 8 is lowered, but the cap unit 23 is transported below the pull-out position. In the case of a configuration in which the unit 8 is stacked, the paper transport unit 8 is raised. In the state where the cap unit 23 is stacked on the paper transport unit 8 and the paper transport unit 8 is held by the lift device 10 at the pull-out position, the lift device 10, the paper transport unit 8, and the cap unit 23 are integrated. The configuration has a smaller area than the front opening 20 of the printer body 2 when viewed from the front side.

  When the front cover (not shown) of the printer main body 2 is opened, the lifting device 10 can be pulled out along the first guide rail 21 through the front opening 20, and the cap unit 23 is moved together with the lifting device 10. The paper is pulled out while being stacked on the paper transport unit 8. As a result, the cap unit 23 can be taken out and maintenance work can be performed.

  Note that the operation of removing the wipe unit 24 when performing maintenance work on the wipe unit 24 can be performed in the same manner as the operation of removing the cap unit 23 as described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the printer 1 includes the printer main body 2 (apparatus main body), each recording head 17 (image forming unit), the paper transport unit 8, the lifting device 10, the carriage 25, and the carriage 26. , A cap unit 23 and a wipe unit 24 (maintenance unit). The printer body 2 has a front opening 20 (opening) formed on the front surface. Each recording head 17 is provided in the printer body 2 and forms an image by ejecting ink onto the paper P. The paper transport unit 8 includes a transport belt 15 that is disposed below each recording head 17 and transports the paper P. The elevating device 10 holds the paper transport unit 8 so as to be movable up and down between a printing position approaching each recording head 17 and a retracted position separated from each recording head 17. The carriage 25 and the carriage 26 are movably provided between an initial position (first position) deviated from below each recording head 17 and a head lower position (second position) below each recording head 17. . The cap unit 23 and the wipe unit 24 are placed on the carriage 25 and the carriage 26, respectively. The paper transport unit 8 loads the cap unit 23 or the wipe unit 24 placed on the carriage 25 or the carriage 26 by being lifted from below by the lifting device 10 with respect to the carriage 25 or the carriage 26 moved to the head lower position. The cap unit 23 or the wipe unit 24 can be pulled out through the front opening 20 in a state where the cap unit 23 or the wipe unit 24 is loaded.

  Thereby, since the cap unit 23 and the wipe unit 24 can be taken out from the front side of the printer main body 2, the operability of maintenance work such as replacement of the cap unit 23 and the wipe unit 24 is improved. Further, since the front opening 20 already provided in the printer main body 2 for accessing the paper transport unit 8 can be used for taking out the cap unit 23 and the wipe unit 24, a new one is added to the printer main body 2. There is no need to form an opening, and the strength of the printer body 2 is prevented from being reduced. Further, for removing the cap unit 23 and the wipe unit 24, the already-provided mechanism for moving the cap unit 23 and the wipe unit 24 (second guide rail 22 and the like) and the lifting device 10 of the paper transport unit 8 are used. Therefore, it can be realized with a simple configuration.

  In the present embodiment, the lifting device 10 is provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and can be pulled out through the front opening 20 while holding the paper transport unit 8 loaded with the cap unit 23 or the wipe unit 24. Is provided. As described above, since the pull-out mechanism (the first guide rail 21, the flange portion 46, etc.) of the lifting device 10 that has already been provided can be used for taking out the cap unit 23 and the wipe unit 24, a simple configuration is possible. Can be realized.

  In the present embodiment, the carriage 25 of the cap unit 23 and the carriage 26 of the wipe unit 24 are attached to the second guide rail 22 of the printer main body 2 at their upper portions, so that they can move along the second guide rail 22. The structure which becomes is explained. However, the moving mechanism of the carriage 25 and the carriage 26 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and other configurations may be used as long as the carriage 25 and the carriage 26 can be moved between the initial position and the head lower position.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration including the cap unit 23 and the wipe unit 24 as the maintenance unit has been described. However, the configuration of the maintenance unit is not limited to these, and other different embodiments include other maintenance members. The maintenance unit may be provided.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the sheet conveying unit 8 is moved up and down by the wire 32 has been described as the lifting device 10. However, the configuration of the lifting device 10 is not limited to this, and in other different embodiments, the lifting device 10. May be configured to raise and lower the paper transport unit 8 by a cam or other lifting member.

  In this embodiment, the case where the configuration of the present invention is applied to the printer 1 has been described. However, in another different embodiment, the configuration of the present invention is applied to other different image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine. It is also possible to do.

1 Color printer (image forming device)
2 Printer body (device body)
8 Paper transport unit 10 Lifting device 15 Transport belt 17 Recording head (image forming unit)
20 Front opening (opening)
21 First guide rail 22 Second guide rail 23 Cap unit (maintenance unit)
24 Wipe unit (maintenance unit)
25 Carriage 26 Carriage 60 Cap 61 First Opening 62 Second Opening 63 Unit Placement 65 Wipe 66 First Opening 67 Second Opening 68 Unit Placement

Claims (4)

An apparatus body having an opening formed on the front surface;
An image forming unit provided in the apparatus main body and forming an image on a sheet;
A paper transport unit disposed below the image forming unit and having a transport belt for transporting the paper;
An elevating device that holds the paper transport unit so as to be able to move up and down between a printing position approaching the image forming unit and a retreating position separated from the image forming unit;
A carriage movably provided between a first position deviated from below the image forming unit and a second position below the image forming unit;
A maintenance unit placed on the carriage,
The paper transport unit is loaded with the maintenance unit placed on the carriage by being lifted from below by the lifting device with respect to the carriage moved to the second position, and the maintenance unit is loaded The image forming apparatus can be pulled out through the opening. The image forming unit is a recording head that ejects ink onto a sheet by a nozzle,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance unit includes a cap that covers the nozzle of the recording head. The image forming unit is a recording head that ejects ink onto a sheet by a nozzle,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance unit includes a wipe that removes ink attached to an ink ejection surface on which the nozzles of the recording head are formed.   The lifting device is provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and can be pulled out through the opening while holding the paper transport unit loaded with the maintenance unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.

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