JP2614032B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an information image on recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image recording apparatus for recording an information image on a recording sheet, there is known a printer using a laser light source and having a control device for converting code information into an image signal. This control device is arranged at a lower part in the image recording device.

[0003]

However, in the above-described image recording apparatus, since the control substrate is disposed in the lower portion of the image recording apparatus, the developer scattered from the developing means, the cleaning means, and the like, is left on the control substrate. In such a case, a contact failure or the like occurs and the control board becomes inoperable. Further, there is another problem that heat generated from the heat fixing unit increases the temperature in the image recording apparatus and adversely affects a control board and the like. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to provide an image recording apparatus that prevents a developer floating in the image recording apparatus or an adverse effect on a control substrate due to heat of a heat fixing unit. .

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feeder.
A recording paper fed from a paper feeding unit including a tray is constituted by at least an image carrier, a latent image forming device, a developing device containing toner, a transfer device, and a cleaning device for removing residual toner on the surface of the image carrier. After the image is recorded in the image forming unit, and the image on the recording paper is fixed by the fixing unit,
In an image recording apparatus for discharging the recording paper outside the apparatus,
A recording paper discharge storage section provided at the top of the apparatus, a recording paper transport path for transporting recording paper from a paper feeding section to a fixing unit,
The recording paper after passing through the fixing unit is formed under the recording paper discharge path for reversing the front and back of the recording paper and discharging the recording paper to the recording paper discharge storage section, the image forming section, the recording paper conveyance path, and the fixing unit. A first shield made of a synthetic resin, which is disposed between the control substrate and the image forming unit, the recording paper transport path, and the fixing unit and the control substrate disposed in a space to cover the upper portion of the control substrate. And a second shielding unit that hangs down from the periphery of the first shielding unit toward the bottom plate of the image recording apparatus so as to cover a part other than the upper part of the control board, and forms a space with the first shielding unit. A space provided in a second shielding portion located upstream of the fixing unit with respect to a recording paper transport direction of the recording paper transport path, and an air flow path communicating the outside of the space , Means are located above the input tray
And the paper tray covers the top of the air passage.
It is a configuration arranged as follows.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the upper portion of the control substrate is covered with the first shielding portion made of synthetic resin, and the portion other than the upper portion of the control substrate is covered with the second shielding portion. The toner scattered from the cleaning means or the like is prevented from flying to the control substrate disposed below the image forming unit, and the conduction of heat generated in the image forming unit and the fixing unit to the control substrate is suppressed. In addition, since the space formed by the first shielding portion and the second shielding portion and the air passage communicating the outside of the space are provided in the second shielding portion, heat in the space, that is, Heat generated from the control board is released to the outside of the space. Further, the developing means is a paper tray.
The paper tray over the top of the air flow path.
Since they are respectively disposed above the air flow path, the developing means
Is prevented from flying into the air flow path.

[0006]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a printer as an image recording apparatus using a semiconductor laser.
An outline of the recording process performed by the computer is described below. In FIG. 1, recording paper 4 is bundled and stacked on a bottom plate 3 of a paper feed tray 2 partially stored in a printer 1, and the uppermost recording paper 4 is separated and conveyed by a paper feed roller 5. It is sent to the roller pair 6. The separation / conveyance roller pair 6 includes an upper roller 6a and a lower roller 6b, and the lower roller 6b rotates in a direction opposite to the recording paper feeding direction (arrow direction) or is held in a stopped state. When a plurality of recording papers 4 have been sent from the paper feed tray 2, only the uppermost recording paper 4 is separated and conveyed in cooperation with the upper roller 6a rotating in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. The paper feed tray 2 is still attached to the printer 1, and the recording paper 4 is supplied by rotating and opening the cover 55 around the fulcrum 55 a and sliding the recording paper 4 onto the bottom plate 3. Do.
A push-up lever 66 that pushes up the recording paper 4 in the paper feed tray 2 is provided below the paper feed tray 2. The push-up lever 66 is rotated counterclockwise by a driving force of a motor (not shown) via a reduction gear or the like in a state in which the push-up lever 66 is in contact with the bottom plate 3. It is designed to push up. The recording paper end detection lever 67 in contact with the upper surface of the recording paper 4 falls downward by its own weight when the recording paper 4 runs out, and detects the recording paper end in cooperation with the photo interrupter 68.

The recording paper 4 sent by the recording paper separating / conveying roller pair 6 is continuously fed after reaching the position of the registration roller pair 7, and the leading end of the recording paper 4 reaches the position of the recording paper leading end detection sensor 8. In this state, the registration roller pair 7 temporarily stops, and the recording paper 4 also stops this movement. At this time, the recording paper separating / conveying roller pair 6 also stops. After feeding the recording paper 4 by a predetermined amount, the paper feed roller 5 releases a clutch (not shown) and idles. A sheet feeding unit is constituted by the sheet feeding tray 2, the recording sheet separating and conveying roller pair 6, the registration roller pair 7, and the like. Recording from this paper feeding unit to the fixing unit 22 described later
A recording paper transport path for transporting paper 4 is formed continuously from the paper feed unit
Have been.

Above the paper feed tray 2, toner as a developer is stored, and a photosensitive member 15 as an image carrier is stored.
Developing means 47 for supplying toner to the printer is provided. The developing means 47 includes a developing container 48, a toner cartridge 4
9, a toner stirring member 50, a doctor blade 51, a developing sleeve 17, and the like.

Incidentally, inside the printer 1, an optical housing 9 as a latent image forming means is provided on the upper portion thereof, and mirrors 11 and 12 are provided in the optical housing 9 in the position shown in FIG. A semiconductor laser light source (not shown), a holographic scanner, a polygon, and the like are arranged at the back of these mirror systems. In the printer 1 having such an optical system, now, when a print signal from the host machine printer 1 receives a photoreceptor 15 of the endless belt is not adapted to start rotating in the direction of the arrow, to Accompanying
First, the surface of the photoconductor is uniformly charged by the charger 16.

On the other hand, signal light corresponding to image information is emitted from the semiconductor laser light source, and this signal light is converted into scanning light by a rotating holographic scanner or polygon.
This scanning light is guided by mirrors 11 and 12, passes through a cylindrical lens 13, and is applied to a uniformly charged surface of the photoreceptor 15, and due to the accompanying exposure, an electrostatic latent is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor. An image is formed. Reference numeral 14 denotes a dust-proof glass.

The electrostatic latent image thus formed is visualized by toner, which is a one-component developer, carried on the surface of the developing sleeve 17. By the way, as described above, the recording paper 4 temporarily stops once the leading end of the recording paper 4 reaches the position of the recording paper leading end detection sensor 8.
After this stop, the registration roller pair 7 starts rotating again,
The leading end of the recording paper 4 sent toward the photoreceptor 15 by this rotation is aptly associated with the leading end of a visible image on the photoreceptor in a transfer section facing a transfer charger 18 as a transfer unit.

Next, in the transfer section, the photosensitive member 15
The recording paper 4 that moves while contacting the
Transfers the toner image on the photoconductor 15, and thereafter,
The leading edge of the recording paper 4 separates from the photoreceptor due to the strength of its own waist,
Thereafter, the recording paper 4 is sent toward the fixing roller pair 23 of the heat fixing unit 22 while being guided by the guide members 19 and 20. The fixing roller pair 23 has a heat source on at least one of the rollers 23a and 23b. When the recording paper 4 passes between the two rollers, the transferred image on the recording paper 4 is thermally fixed, and this fixing is performed. Thereafter, the recording paper 4 is sent toward the recording paper discharge path 25 including the guide plates 41 and 42 while being peeled off from the surface of the roller 23a by the peeling claw 24. While passing through the paper discharge path 25, the recording paper 4 is inverted by 180 ° and discharged from the paper discharge roller pair 26 with the recording image surface facing downward, and is discharged to a paper discharge tray 27 as a recording paper discharge storage unit. Is stored. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 15 is removed by the fur brush 29 of the cleaning unit 28, and the photoconductor is cleaned.
Be prepared for the next record. The aforementioned photoreceptor 15, optical housing 9,
An image forming unit includes the developing unit 47, the transfer charger 18, the cleaning unit 28, and the like.

Below the image forming unit and the bottom of the printer 1
Between the printer 1 which is integrally molded of synthetic resin or the like .
The shielding wall 70 extending from the base portion 32 allows
A space partitioned in the vertical direction of the image recording device 1 is formed.
I have. The shield wall 70 is a first shield substantially along the recording paper transport path.
A shielding upper wall 70a as a shielding portion, and a shielding upper wall 70a
A second drooping from the periphery toward the bottom plate of the image recording apparatus 1
Is formed in a box shape from the shielding side wall 70b as a shielding portion of
ing. The illustration of both side walls of the shielding side wall 70b is omitted.
You. Box-shaped interior formed by the shielding wall 70,
In the above-mentioned space, a power supply unit 3 as an electrical component is provided.
3. Control circuit board 34 of printer 1, controller 31
Further, a fan device 35 and the like as blowing means are stored. The controller 31 converts code information into an image signal, and has a plurality of control boards 31a and 31b. Also, the control board 31 of the controller 31
In addition to a and 31b and the control circuit board 34, a related printed board 38 relating to the optical system is provided on the upper part of the optical housing 9, and FIG.
1, a character pattern storage device 39 is provided on the right side of the printer 1.

Above the space in which the controller 31 and the like are arranged is a shield frame 36, and the control boards 31a and 31b
Are covered with metal plates 52, respectively. Metal plate 5
2 is detachably attached to the printer 1 by screws. The control boards 31a and 31b are arranged in space,
Since the signal line is covered with the metal plate 52, the signal line is not exposed, noise is not generated, or the noise is not picked up. As a result, occurrence of malfunction can be avoided, The reliability of the printer 1 can be further improved. The power supply unit 33 and the controller 31 are isolated from each other by a shield frame 36.

Charger 16 and transfer charger 18
Ozone is generated from various chargers such as the above , and the ozone enters the lower space of the shielding upper wall 70a.
Is shielded by the shielding upper wall 70a. Furthermore, the shielding side
The wall 70b has an empty space in which the control circuit board 34 and the like are stored.
Air as an air flow path that communicates the space inside and the outside of this space.
An air intake opening 37 is provided. Air intake opening 37
Is the fixing unit in the recording paper transport direction of the recording paper transport path.
And is located upstream of the port 22. And, this pre
In fan 1, the fan device 35 is operated to take in air.
A space in which the control circuit board 34 and the like are stored from the opening 37
Allow air to flow inside and purify the air inside this space.
The power supply unit 33 and the
The controller 31 and the like are cooled. In this case, the side 33a of the power supply unit 33 or the side 36a of the shield frame 36
Of the power supply unit 3
3 and the control boards 31a and 31b can also be cooled.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, since the control boards 31c and 31d are arranged at the lower part in the printer 1, the control boards can be arbitrarily added downward as needed. FIG. 2 shows two control boards 31c and 31d.
Is shown, but the number is arbitrary. When the control board layer bulges below the bottom of the apparatus main body with the addition of the control board, long legs 5 as shown by reference numeral 56 are used.
By attaching 6, the height of the printer can be adjusted appropriately.

[0017]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the toner scattered from the developing means and the cleaning means from flying to the control substrate disposed below the image forming section. At the same time, the conduction of heat generated in the image forming unit and the fixing unit to the control board is suppressed, so that the adverse effect of the toner on the control board can be prevented, the stable operation of the control board can be obtained, and the reliability of the image recording apparatus can be improved. The performance is also improved. Further, it is possible to prevent the control substrate from being adversely affected by heat from the image forming unit, particularly the fixing unit. Further, heat in the space formed by the first and second shields,
That is, since the heat generated from the control board is released to the outside of the space, the control board is cooled, and the durability of the control board is improved. In addition, toner scattered when replenishing toner, etc.
Even the upper part of the air passage is covered by the paper feed tray
Air flow path of toner scattered from the developing means
To the control board, etc.
Thus, the reliability of the control board can be ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image recording apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of an embodiment in which a control board is added.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording apparatus 2 Paper feed tray 6 Recording paper separation conveyance roller pair 7 Registration roller pair 4 Recording paper 9 Optical system as a latent image forming means 15 Photoreceptor as an image carrier 18 Transfer charger as a transfer means 22 Thermal fixing unit 28 Cleaning means 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d Control board 35 Fan device 37 as blowing means Air intake opening 47 as air passage 47 Developing means 70 Shielding wall 70a Shielding upper wall 70b as first shielding part Second shielding Shielding side wall as shielding part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Yokota 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-58-136473 (JP, A) 58-182495 (JP, U) Fully open 1988-120558 (JP, U) Really open 1983-52559 (JP, U) Really open 1983-180693 (JP, U) Really open 158-155898 (JP) , U) Tokuji 8-25301 (JP, B2)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image carrier, a latent image forming device, a developing device containing toner, a transfer device, and a residual image on a surface of the image carrier are provided on a recording sheet fed from a sheet feeding section including a sheet feeding tray. An image recording apparatus that records an image in an image forming unit including a cleaning unit that removes toner, fixes an image on a recording sheet by a fixing unit, and then discharges the recording sheet out of the apparatus. A recording paper discharge storage section, a recording paper transport path for transporting the recording paper from the paper supply section to the fixing unit, and a recording paper having passed through the fixing unit. A recording paper discharge path for discharging to a discharge storage section, a control board disposed in a space formed below the image forming section, the recording paper conveyance path, and the fixing unit, the image forming section, Paper transport A first shielding portion made of a synthetic resin, disposed between the path and the fixing unit and the control board, so as to cover an upper part of the control board, so as to cover other than the upper part of the control board, A second shielding unit that hangs down from a peripheral edge of the first shielding unit toward a bottom plate of the image recording apparatus and forms the space with the first shielding unit; and a recording sheet in the recording sheet transport path. It provided in said second shielding portion located upstream of the fixing unit in the conveyance direction, and the space outside said space possess an air passage communicating the said developing unit said sheet feeding Located above the tray
With the paper feed tray covering the upper part of the air flow path
An image recording apparatus characterized by being arranged as follows .