JP2632481B2 - Image generator - 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 forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine, in particular, a member (second frame) provided with a sheet member receiver is provided with respect to another member (first frame). The present invention relates to an image generator mounted so as to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image generator, for example, an electrostatic copying machine, has a supporting base on which a photoreceptor is disposed, and a charging corona discharger corresponding to a charging area is provided around the supporting base.
Irradiation lamp and optical system in relation to the exposure area, developing device corresponding to the development area, corona discharger for transfer corresponding to the transfer area,
Further, a cleaning device is provided corresponding to the cleaning area. Then, the support base is moved in a predetermined direction, and the following copying process is performed as the support base moves. That is, in the charging area, a charge of a specific polarity is applied to the surface of the photoreceptor of the supporting base by the action of the charging corona discharger. Thus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the document is formed on the photoconductor. In the development area, the toner particles in the developing device are applied to the surface of the photoconductor, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor is developed into a toner image. In the transfer area, the toner image on the photoconductor is transferred to the sheet member conveyed through the sheet member conveyance path by the action of the transfer corona discharger. The sheet member onto which the toner image has been transferred is discharged to a sheet member receiver via a pair of discharge rollers provided on a fixing device and a discharge support structure. In the cleaning area, toner particles remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after transfer are removed by the action of the cleaning device. In the electrostatic copying apparatus of the above-mentioned type, in order to facilitate the jam processing, the fixing device and the reversing device are unitized as a drawer unit, and are provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the main body by a slide member. There is a known one in which an upper portion is provided as a release portion so as to be freely rotatable with respect to the drawer unit (see Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 58-188658).

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, the reversing device is provided with a sheet member receiver (discharge tray), and this sheet member receiver has conventionally been detachably attached to the apparatus side. Have been. Therefore, when performing the jam processing, the sheet member receiver needs to be detached from the reversing device in advance, and the opening operation leading to the jam processing is troublesome. In addition, when the reversing device is opened without detaching the sheet member receiver from the reversing device, the opening of the reversing device is restricted, and the reversing device cannot be opened relatively large as desired. Maybe. This problem is caused by a problem that an image generating apparatus in which a member (second frame) provided with a sheet member receiver is rotatably mounted between another member (first frame) between an open position and a closed position. It exists in common.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a member (second frame) having a sheet member receiver with respect to another member (first frame) without detaching the sheet member receiver.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved image generator that can be opened relatively wide.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first frame is pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the first frame. Second attached
And a sheet member receiver provided on the second frame member, wherein the second frame member and the sheet member receiver move the second frame member with respect to the first frame member. A first turning state in which the second frame body is turned together with the sheet member receiver when the sheet member is turned toward the open position, and the sheet member is continuously provided after the first turning state. Rotation of the tip of the receiver is restricted, and the second frame is configured to take a second rotation state in which the second frame is rotated to the open position with respect to the sheet member reception whose rotation is restricted. An image generator is provided.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned invention, the second frame and the sheet member receiver are provided with the second frame when the second frame is turned toward the open position with respect to the first frame. A second turning state in which the second frame is turned together with the sheet member receiver;
After the turning state, the turning of the leading end of the sheet member receiver is restricted, and the second frame is turned to the open position with respect to the restricted sheet member receiver. State. As a result, despite the relatively long length of the sheet member receiver, the second frame member is relatively widely opened with respect to the first frame member without detaching the sheet member receiver from the second frame member. And facilitates jam processing and other necessary processing.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated electrostatic copying apparatus includes a copier housing indicated generally by the reference numeral 2 (in a specific example, as described later, a main support structure, Discharge support structure, photoreceptor unit, developing unit,
(Specified by the front cover, the rear cover and the transport unit). An original placing mechanism 8 is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 2 so as to be able to reciprocate in directions indicated by arrows 4 and 6. The original placing mechanism 8 includes a transparent plate 12 and a transparent plate 12 on which the original 10 to be copied is placed, and an openable and closable original presser 14 for covering the original 10 placed thereon (the transparent plate 12 in FIG. 1). FIG. 2 illustrates a transparent plate 12 and a document 10 placed on the transparent plate 12 in a closed position that covers the original 10.

Referring mainly to FIG. 2, a support base having a photoreceptor is disposed at a lower portion in the housing 2 at least on a part of the peripheral surface, in a specific example, substantially all around the peripheral surface. . The illustrated support base is constituted by an endless belt 16. A pair of rollers 18 and 20 are provided in the housing 2 at intervals in the horizontal direction (the horizontal direction in FIG. 2).
Is disposed, and the endless belt 16 is wound between the pair of rollers 18 and 20. The upper running portion 16a of the endless belt 16 is moved in a predetermined direction indicated by an arrow 22 and an arrow 2
It is designed to be moved in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction indicated by reference numeral 4.

A corona discharger 26, a lamp 28 and an optical system 30 are disposed above the endless belt 16 in the housing 2. The corona discharger 26 is disposed corresponding to a discharge area 32 existing around the belt 16,
A corona discharge is applied toward. The corona discharger 26 selectively functions as a corona discharger for discharging, a corona discharger for transfer, and a corona discharger for charging. The lamp 28 and the optical system 30 are disposed in relation to an irradiation area 34 existing around the belt 16, and are illuminated from the lamp 28 and the original placing mechanism 8 (the original 10 is placed on the original placing mechanism 8). In this case, the light reflected from the original 10) is irradiated to the irradiation area 34 via the optical system 30. The optical system 30 includes a plurality of rod-shaped lenses 36 (such rod-shaped lenses are, for example, trade names “Selfoc” from Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. of Japan).
The lamp 28 selectively functions as a document irradiation lamp and a discharge lamp. The upper traveling portion 16a of the belt 16 has a discharge area 32 and an irradiation area 34 so that the charging by the corona discharger 26 and the irradiation by the lamp 28 are performed as desired. A support plate 38 is disposed under the corresponding upper traveling portion 16 over substantially the entire width thereof.

A developing and cleaning device 40 is provided at one end (right end in FIG. 2) of the housing 2 so as to face the roller 18. Developing and cleaning device 4
0 is a hollow sleeve 4 rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow 42.
4 and a magnetic brush mechanism 48 (constituting a developer applying unit) having a permanent magnet 46 disposed in the hollow sleeve 44. The magnetic brush formed by the magnetic brush mechanism 48 is applied to the roller 18 of the belt 16. It acts on the surface of the photoreceptor existing at the site where it is wound. The developing and cleaning device 40 selectively functions as a developing device and a cleaning device.

Above the belt 16 in the housing 2,
There is a sheet member transport path 50 for feeding a sheet member, which may be copy paper, as required. The illustrated sheet member conveying means that defines the sheet member conveying path 50 includes feeding rollers 52 and 54, conveying rollers 56 and 58, an upper roller 62 and a lower roller 64 of the fixing device 60, and discharging rollers 66 and 6.
8 is included. In the lower roller 64 of the fixing device 60,
A heating means 70 such as a heater is provided. A sheet feeding table 72 for guiding the sheet member to the sheet member conveying path 50 is provided at an upstream end of the sheet member conveying path 50, and the sheet is discharged through the sheet member conveying path 50 to a downstream end side of the sheet member conveying path 50. A sheet member receiver 74 for receiving the sheet member to be formed is provided. Further, a cooling fan 76 for discharging air in the housing 2 to the outside and cooling the housing 2 is provided in the housing 2. 1 is a sheet member placed on the sheet supply table 72.

Next, referring mainly to FIGS. 1 to 3,
The support structure of the electrostatic copying apparatus will be described. The illustrated electrostatic copying apparatus has a main support structure 84 (constituting a first frame) and a discharge support structure 86 (constituting a second frame).
It has. The main support structure 84 is spaced apart from the bottom wall 88 by a front-rear direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2, a direction from the lower left to the upper right in FIG. 3), and a vertical front wall 90 and a vertical rear wall. A wall 92 is included. Vertical front wall 9
0 extends substantially vertically upward from the front end of the bottom wall 88, and the vertical rear wall 92 extends substantially vertically upward from the rear end of the bottom wall 88. The main support structure 84 including the bottom wall 88, the vertical front wall 90 and the vertical rear wall 92 is formed by integral molding of a synthetic resin. Between the vertical front wall 90 and the vertical rear wall 92, an additional element such as a connection guide portion 94 and a connection mounting portion 96 are provided, and the connection guide portion 94 and the connection mounting portion 96 are integrally formed with the main support structure 84. Is molded. A guide member 98 extending toward the paper feed table 72 is fixed to one end of the connection guide portion 94 with an adhesive. Vertical front wall 9 of main support structure 84
0 and the vertical rear wall 92, between the feeding roller 52, the conveying roller 56, the lamp 28, the reflecting plate 100, the rod-shaped lens 3
6 and a corona discharger 26 are provided. The feed roller 52 and the transport roller 56 are connected to the vertical front wall 90 and the vertical rear wall 9.
It is rotatably mounted between the two. The ramp 28 is supported between a vertical front wall 90 and a vertical rear wall 92 as required. The rod-shaped lens 36 is fixed in an elongated through hole formed in the connection mounting portion 96. In addition, the corona discharger 26 has a frame 102, and the frame 102 is mounted in a recess formed on the lower surface of the connection mounting portion 96.
One end of the frame body 102 is further provided integrally with a guide member 104 extending above the irradiation area 34 toward the transport roller 58, and the guide member 104 is provided with the lamp 28.
An elongated slit opening 106 for restricting light projected on the photoreceptor through the rod-shaped lens 36 is formed.
The reflecting plate 100 has one side end fixed to the upper surface of the connection mounting portion 96 passing over the upper surface of the rod-shaped lens 36, and the other end fixed to a part of a fixing unit 108 described later. In addition, in the specific example, an elongated opening is formed at one end of the reflection plate 100 so that light from the lamp 28 is incident on the rod-shaped lens 36.

The illustrated electrostatic copying apparatus includes a front cover 110 that defines a front surface of the housing 2 and a rear cover 112 that defines a rear surface of the housing 2. Front cover 110
Are formed integrally with the main support structure 84 and the vertical front wall 9
0 in the front-rear direction. The rear cover 112 is formed separately from the main support structure 84 and is mounted on the rear surface of the vertical rear wall 92 as required. The main support structure 84 described above is further provided with a fixing unit 108, a transport unit 114, and a document placing mechanism 8, and in a specific example, the discharge support structure 86 is further mounted on the fixing unit 108.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the main support structure 8
4, the fixing unit frame 116 mounted on the bottom wall 88 is
The bottom wall 118 and the front wall 12 extending upward from the bottom wall 118
0, a rear wall 122, a right side wall 124, a left side wall 126, and an upper wall 128. An upper roller 62 and a lower roller 64 are rotatably mounted between the front wall 120 and the rear wall 122, and the cooling fan 76 is rotatably supported by the rear wall 122. Further, between the front wall 120 and the rear wall 122, plate members 130 and 131 are provided below the cooling fan 76, and plate members 132
Are fixed respectively. An opening is formed in the right side wall 124, and an air discharge opening 134 is
Openings are respectively formed in the intermediate portions. In the specific example,
The lower upper end portion 126a of the left wall 126 extends toward the discharge roller 66 and acts to guide the sheet member to the nip portion between the discharge rollers 66 and 68.

The transport unit 114 is a transport unit frame 13
6 and the transport unit frame 136 includes a front wall 138 and a rear wall 1
40 and an upper wall 142. A feed roller 54 and a transport roller 58 are rotatably mounted between the front wall 138 and the rear wall 140. Further, a plurality of guide projections 143 projecting downward at intervals in the front-rear direction are provided between the front wall 138 and the rear wall 140 on the lower surface of the upper wall 142, and the transport unit frame 136 and the guide projections 143 are provided. It is formed by integral molding of a synthetic resin. In a specific example, the transport unit 114 is rotatably mounted on the vertical front wall 90 and the vertical rear wall 92 of the main support structure 84 via the pin member 144, and the pin member 144 (the transport roller 58 is mounted). (A pivot center is formed at the upper end on the side), and is pivotable between a closed position shown in FIG. 2 and an open position shown in FIG.

The original placing mechanism 8 is supported on the upper ends of the vertical front wall 90 and the vertical rear wall 92 of the main support structure 84 so as to be movable in the directions shown by arrows 4 and 6. The document placing mechanism 8 includes a transparent plate 12, and support members 145 and 146 are mounted on the front and rear ends of the transparent plate 12. A document positioning member 15 is disposed over substantially the entire width of the left end upper surface of the transparent plate 12.
2 (FIG. 1) are adhered, and the original positioning member 15
2, a tape 154 having a white surface is attached to the lower surface of the transparent plate 12 (FIG. 2). The document placing mechanism 8 as described above is capable of reciprocating from a scanning exposure start position shown in FIG. 4 to a charge eliminating position to be described later through a scanning exposure end position.

The discharge support structure 86 is mounted on the fixing unit 108 described above. The illustrated discharge support structure 86
Bottom wall 156, front wall 158, rear wall 160, left side wall 162
And a front wall 158 and a rear wall 160 provided on the front wall 120 of the fixing unit frame 116.
20a (FIG. 3) and the projection 12 provided on the rear wall 122
2a (FIG. 2) is rotatably mounted via a pin member 166 (FIG. 2). Each pin member 166 forms a horizontal axis as is apparent from FIG. The discharge support structure 86 is formed by integral molding of a synthetic resin. In the specific example, a discharge opening is further formed in the left side wall 162 of the discharge support structure 86, and a sheet member receiver 74 is provided in relation to the discharge opening.
Are formed integrally with the discharge support structure 86. The base of the sheet member receiver 74 (the portion connected to the left side wall 162) is desirably flexible, as will be easily understood from the following description. In a specific example, as shown in FIG. It is tapered in a wedge shape from the tip side to the base side. In connection with the sheet member receiver 74, the discharge support structure 8
6 is further provided with a stop piece 168. Stop piece 1
2 extends leftward in FIG. 2 from one end fixed to the bottom wall 156 of the discharge support structure 86 toward the other end, further extends upward, and has another end which is an upper end extending upward. A contact portion 168a is provided. Therefore, the lower surface of the sheet member receiver 74 abuts against the abutting portion 168a of the stop piece 168 due to its own weight, and is held at the receiving position (a position convenient for receiving the sheet member) shown in FIG.

The above-described discharge support structure 86 is provided with discharge rollers 66 and 68 and a separation mechanism 170. Discharge rollers 66 and 68 constituting a discharge roller pair
Is rotatably mounted between the front wall 158 and the rear wall 160 of the discharge support structure 86. The separation mechanism 170 has an upper support shaft 172 and a lower support shaft 174, and the upper support shaft 1
A plurality of separation claws 176 are mounted on the lower support shaft 72 and the lower support shaft 174 at intervals in the axial direction, and the upper support shaft 172 and the lower support shaft 174 are vertically spaced apart from each other. It is mounted between the front wall 158 and the rear wall 160. The discharge support structure 86 as described above is movable between the closed position shown in FIG. 2 and the open position shown in FIG. In connection with the fact that the discharge support structure 86 is movable, the main support structure 84 and the discharge support structure 86 have a lock mechanism that releasably holds the discharge support structure 86 in the closed position. 178 are attached. With reference to FIG. 4, the illustrated lock mechanism 178 is provided on the main support structure 84 side with the front wall 120 and the rear wall 12 of the fixing unit 108.
A shaft member 180 fixed between the two, and a discharge support structure 86
On the side, it includes a locking member 184 pivotally mounted on a support shaft 182 fixed between the front wall 158 and the rear wall 160. The locking member 184 is L-shaped, and at one end thereof is provided a locking portion 184a capable of engaging with a shaft member 180 provided on the main support structure 84 side.
Is projected upward through an opening formed in the upper wall 164 of the discharge support structure 86 (see also FIG. 3).

In the illustrated electrostatic copying apparatus, the endless belt 16 on which the photoreceptor is disposed is configured as a photoreceptor unit 186, and the developing and cleaning device 40 is configured as a developing unit 188. The developing unit 188 is configured to be detachably attached to the main support structure 84. The photoconductor unit 186 and the developing unit 188 will be described later.

With such a configuration, the upper wall 1 of the transport unit 114 can be easily understood from FIGS.
42 and the upper wall 128 of the fixing unit 108 define the upper surface of the housing 2, and the upper wall 142 and the upper wall 128
In the meantime, the lamp 28 irradiates the original placed on the original placing mechanism 8 and reflects the reflected light from the original to the rod-shaped lens 3.
There is an opening to lead to 6. Further, the fixing unit 1
08 and the left side wall 1 of the discharge support structure 86
62 and the like define the left surface of the housing 2 and the main support structure 8
6 defines a front surface of the housing 2, and a rear cover 112 mounted on the vertical rear wall 92 of the main support structure 86 defines a rear surface of the housing 2.
Further, a bottom wall 88 of the main support structure 84 defines a lower surface of the housing 2 together with a part of the photoconductor unit 186. Further, regarding the sheet member transport path 50, the guide member 9
8, the feed roller 52, the connection guide 94, and the transport roller 5
6 defines the lower side of the upstream side for guiding the sheet member to the discharge area 32, and the guide protrusion 14 of the transport unit 114.
3. The feeding roller 54, the conveying roller 58, and the guide portion 104 provided integrally with the frame body 102 of the corona discharger 26 define the upper side of the upstream side portion, and the lower roller 64 and the lower support shaft 174 Separating claw 176 mounted, fixing unit 1
The lower left upper portion 126a of the left side wall 126 and the discharge roller 66 define the lower side of the downstream side for discharging the sheet member from the discharge area 32 to the outside of the housing 2, and the upper roller 62 and the upper support shaft 172 The mounted separation claw 176 and the discharge roller 68 define the upper side of the downstream side portion.

Further, in the illustrated electrostatic copying apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, a part of the above-described sheet member conveyance path is configured to be opened at a plurality of positions, and the clogged sheet member at each position can be easily removed. Can be removed. In connection with the upstream side of the sheet member conveyance path 50, the conveyance unit 1
14 is rotatable between a closed position shown in FIG. 2 and an open position shown in FIG.

Further, with respect to the downstream side of the sheet member conveyance path 50, the discharge support structure 86 is pivotable between a closed position shown in FIG. 2 and an open position shown in FIG. When held in the closed position by the lock mechanism 178, as shown in FIG. 2, the distal end of the separation claw 176 mounted on the lower support shaft 174 acts on the peripheral surface of the lower roller 64 and acts on the upper support shaft 172. The tip of the attached separation claw 176 acts on the upper roller 62, and the sheet member can be discharged onto the sheet member receiver 74 as described above. To move from the closed position to the open position, the locking member 184
Is turned in the direction indicated by the two-dot chain line arrow 192 (FIG. 4) to release the engagement between the locking portion 184a and the shaft member 180 (by releasing the engagement, the discharge support structure 86 is released). The discharge support structure 86 may then be swiveled in the direction indicated by the arrow 194 (FIG. 4). The discharge support structure 86 is first provided with the sheet member receiver 7.
4 (first turning state). FIG.
As will be understood from FIG. 4, when the electrostatic copying apparatus is placed on the support table 196 as shown by the dashed line in FIG.
After the first turning state, the tip of the sheet member receiver 74 continuously acts on the upper surface of the support table 196 to restrict the turning, and the discharge supporting structure is provided for the sheet member receiver 74 whose turning is restricted. 86 is pivoted to the open position (second pivot state) and is held in the open position. For example, when it is placed on the edge of the support table 196, a part of the stop piece 168 is partially supported by the main support structure. The discharge support structure 86 is held in the open position by abutting a portion of the body 84. In the open position, the separation claw 176 of the separation mechanism 170 is separated from the upper roller 62 and the lower roller 64 of the fixing device 60, and is located on the downstream side of the sheet member conveyance path 50 (in the specific example, the upper roller 62 of the fixing device 60). And the nip between the lower roller 64 and the nip between the discharge rollers 66 and 68). That is, the discharge support structure 8
6 is in the open position, the fixing device 60 and the discharge roller pairs 66 and 68
Opened between As is clear from the above description, the discharge support structure 86 and the sheet member receiver 74 move when the discharge support structure 86 is pivoted toward the open position with respect to the main support structure 84. Is turned together with the sheet member receiver 74, and
The turning of the leading end of the sheet member receiver 74 is continuously controlled after the turning state of the sheet member receiver 74, and the sheet member receiver 74 whose turning is restricted is controlled.
In a second swirling state in which the discharge support structure 86 is swung to the open position. as a result,
Although the length of the sheet member receiver 74 is relatively long, the discharge support structure 86 can be connected to the main support structure 84 without detaching the sheet member receiver 74 from the discharge support structure 86.
Can be relatively widened, thereby facilitating jam processing and other necessary processing.

In a specific example, the discharge support structure 86 is integrally provided with a sheet member receiver 74 for receiving the sheet member conveyed by the action of the sheet member conveying means. Is formed by integral molding of a synthetic resin. as a result,
When performing the jam processing, the discharge support structure 86 is set in advance.
Since the discharge support structure 86 can be turned without detaching the sheet member receiver 74 from the sheet feeding device, the operation leading to the jam clearance operation is significantly facilitated. Further, the configuration near the downstream end of the sheet member transport path 50 can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced. Further, the manufacture of the discharge support structure 86 is also facilitated. Further, in the specific example, since the base of the sheet member receiver 74 is flexible, when the apparatus is mounted as shown in FIG. 4, the discharge support structure 86 is swung in the direction shown by the arrow 194. After the leading end of the sheet member receiver 74 contacts the upper surface of the support table 196, the sheet member receiver 74 is moved to the discharge support structure 8
4, the discharge support structure 86 is held in the state shown in FIG. 4, and the sheet member receiver 74 is moved in the left-right direction (FIGS. 2 and 4).
(Left and right directions), the downstream side of the sheet member transport path 50 can be opened relatively large. That is, due to the flexibility of the base of the sheet member receiver 74, the image generator is placed on the support table 196, and
When the discharge support structure 86 is turned in the opening direction, the top end of the sheet member receiver 74 is supported by the support table 19.
After allowing the discharge support structure 86 to slightly rotate after contacting the upper surface of the support 6, the turning position of the discharge support structure 86 is maintained. For this reason, even though the length of the sheet member receiver 74 is relatively long, the discharge support structure 8 does not separate from the discharge support structure 86 and does not separate.
6 can be opened relatively widely, thereby facilitating jam clearance. Further, since the stopper for defining the open position of the discharge support structure 86 can be omitted, the configuration is further simplified.

Next, referring mainly to FIGS. 2 and 3,
The configurations of the photoconductor unit 186 and the developing unit 188 will be described. The photoconductor unit 186 includes a support unit frame 198, and the support unit frame 198 includes a bottom wall 200,
A front wall (not shown) and a rear wall 202 are provided on the bottom wall 200 at intervals in the front-rear direction, and a front cover wall 204 is provided in front of the front wall. It is formed by integral molding of a synthetic resin. Front and rear walls 202
In between, one end of the roller 18 in FIG.
Is rotatably mounted, and the other end roller 20, which is the left end side in FIG. 2, is rotatably mounted. An endless belt 16 is wound between the rollers 18 and 20, and a photoconductor is disposed on the surface of the endless belt.
In a specific example, the upper traveling portion 16 of the endless belt 16 is used.
a is moved in the direction indicated by arrow 22 during image formation and is moved in the direction indicated by arrow 24 during transfer, so that the length of the photosensitive member in the moving direction is substantially equal to the maximum copy length that can be copied. It is important to be the same or longer than the maximum copy length. The photoreceptor unit 186 is moved in the front-rear direction so as to be attached to or detached from the main support structure 84, but the description is omitted.

The illustrated developing unit 188 has a developing unit frame 216. The developing unit frame 216 includes a front wall (not shown) and a rear wall 218 that are disposed at an interval in the front-rear direction, and a front cover wall 22 that is disposed in front of the front wall.
0, and these walls are formed together with the housing wall 222 by integral molding of a synthetic resin. The developing unit 188 has an upper wall 224 and a partition wall 226 formed by integral molding of a synthetic resin. The upper wall 224 covers an upper surface between the front cover wall 220 and the rear wall 218. The space between the front wall (not shown) and the rear wall 218 is partitioned into a developing container 228 and a toner particle container 230. In the developing container 228, a magnetic brush mechanism 48 constituting a developer applying unit, a developer stirring unit 232, and a guide plate 234 are provided.
Inside, a toner particle supply roller 236 is disposed in an opening existing between the inner surface of the housing wall 222 and the tip of the partition wall 226. As described above, the magnetic brush mechanism 48
A hollow sleeve 44 and a permanent magnet 46 disposed in the hollow sleeve 44;
Are rotatably supported between a front wall (not shown) and a rear wall 218.

In connection with the permanent magnet 46, operating means (not shown) is provided. The actuating means comprises an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown), and the output end of the electromagnetic solenoid is operatively connected to one support (not shown) of the permanent magnet 46. The permanent magnet 46 has a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of magnetic poles are arranged on the peripheral surface thereof at intervals in the circumferential direction (in the specific example, there are two S poles and one N pole. The N pole is disposed between both S poles). When the electromagnetic solenoid is energized, the permanent magnet 46 develops at a first angular position shown in FIG. 2, that is, a specific S pole (the lower S pole) of the two S poles of the permanent magnet 46 is developed. Located in the area where
Also, the north pole is positioned at a position substantially opposed to region 78 (FIG. 2). As a result, the developer in the developing container 228 is held by the magnetic brush mechanism 48 in the developer pumping area, and the magnetic brush generated by the magnetic brush mechanism 48 acts on the photoconductor of the endless belt 16 in the area 78. On the other hand, when the electromagnetic solenoid is de-energized, the permanent magnet 46 is rotated somewhat counterclockwise in FIG.
The poles deviate somewhat from the position facing the area 78, the specific south pole deviates somewhat from the developer pumping area, and the magnetic brush generated by the magnetic brush mechanism 48 substantially causes the magnetic brush on the photoconductor surface in the area 78. It does not work.

The developing and cleaning device 4 as described above
At 0, the developer stirred by the stirring means 232 is supplied to the magnetic brush mechanism 48, and the magnetic brush mechanism 4
Numeral 8 conveys the developer through the area 78 while holding the developer on the peripheral surface of the hollow sleeve 44 in the developer pumping area.
In the region 78, the developer held on the surface of the hollow sleeve 44 acts on the surface of the photoreceptor on the endless belt 16, so that at the time of image formation, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor is developed into a toner image. Further, at the time of cleaning, toner particles remaining on the photoreceptor are removed (when the permanent magnet 46 is positioned at the first angular position). The developer conveyed through the region 78 is thereafter peeled off from the surface of the hollow sleeve 44 and the guide plate 23
4 and fall down on the stirring means 232. On the other hand, when the ratio of the toner particles in the developer decreases, the toner particle supply roller 236 is rotated as required, and the toner particles in the toner particle container 230 are present between the housing wall 222 and the partition wall 226. The developer is supplied to the stirring means 232 in the developing container 228 through the opening. The developing unit 188 is provided with a paper feed table 72 as shown in FIG. The paper feed table 72 is located at the table 25.
0 and one end of the table portion 250 has a guide portion 252 protruding substantially vertically upward. The developing unit 188 described above can also be moved in the front-rear direction so as to be attached to or detached from the main support structure 84.

The copying operation in the above-described electrostatic copying apparatus will be described below. During image formation for forming an image on the photoreceptor surface, the original placing mechanism 8 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow 4, and the upper running portion 16 a of the belt 16 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow 22. At this time, the corona discharger 26, the lamp 28, and the developing and cleaning device 4
0 acts as an actuating means. That is, the corona discharger 26 functions as a charging corona discharger, the lamp 28 functions as a document irradiation lamp, and the developing and cleaning device 40 functions as a developing device. During the image formation, the corona discharger 26 uniformly applies a charge of a specific polarity to the surface of the photoconductor existing in the discharge area 32. The lamp 28 irradiates the original placed on the original placing mechanism 8,
Light reflected from the document is projected onto the irradiation area 34 via the rod-shaped lens 36. Thus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the document is formed on the photosensitive member of the endless belt 16. The photoreceptor on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed is further moved in the direction indicated by arrow 22, and in a region 78 around roller 18, magnetic brush mechanism 48 of developing and cleaning device 40 applies toner particles to the photoreceptor surface. Thus, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image.

Next, at the time of transferring the toner image formed on the photoreceptor to the copy paper as described above, the upper running portion 16a of the belt 16 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 24. At this time, the corona discharger 26 acts as a corona discharger for transfer. At the time of such transfer, the copy paper conveyed through the copy paper conveyance path 50 is brought into close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor of the endless belt 16, and in the discharge area 32, the corona discharger 26 is brought into close contact with the photoreceptor. Corona discharge is applied to the back surface of the copy paper, and the toner image thus formed on the photoreceptor is transferred to the copy paper. The copy paper on which the toner image has been transferred is then transferred to roller 2
In the peeling area 80 existing around 0, the toner is peeled off from the photoreceptor surface as required, and is further conveyed downstream to be subjected to the action of the fixing device 60. In the fixing device 60, the toner image on the copy paper is fixed on the surface thereof by the action of the upper roller 62 and the lower roller 64 having the heating means 70, and the copy paper on which the toner image is fixed is formed on the left wall of the housing 2. The paper is discharged onto the copy paper receiver 74 through the formed opening 82.

At the time of cleaning for cleaning the surface of the photoreceptor after the transfer, the upper running portion 16a of the belt 16 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow 22. At this time, the corona discharger 26, the lamp 28, and the developing and cleaning device 40 function as cleaning means. That is, the corona discharger 26 acts as a corona discharger for static elimination (as will be easily understood, in a specific example, a DC current is supplied when acting as a corona discharger for charging and a corona discharger for transfer, When acting as a corona discharger for static elimination, an alternating current is supplied, but when acting as a corona discharger for cleaning at the time of cleaning, instead of the alternating current, a polarity opposite to the charge applied to the photoreceptor surface during image formation is used. The direct current for imparting electric charge, that is, the direct current having the opposite polarity to the direct current supplied during image formation may be supplied.) The lamp 28 functions as a lamp for removing electricity, and the developing and cleaning device 40 is a cleaning device. Act as In the discharge region 32, the corona discharger 26 performs a corona discharge on the surface of the photoconductor after the transfer, so that the residual charges remaining on the photoconductor are eliminated. Further, in the irradiation area 34, light from the lamp 28 is projected onto the surface of the photoconductor via the rod-shaped lens 36, and the residual charges on the photoconductor are more reliably eliminated. Further, in the region 78, the magnetic brush generated by the magnetic brush mechanism 48 of the developing and cleaning device 40 acts on the photoconductor surface, and the residual toner particles remaining on the photoconductor are removed as required.

Although one embodiment of the electrostatic copying apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It can be modified. For example, in the above embodiment, the first frame is composed of the main support structure, and the second frame is composed of the discharge support structure, but the first frame and the second frame are members of the embodiment. There is no reason to be limited.

[0033]

As described above, despite the relatively long length of the sheet member receiver, the second member can be kept in the second position without detaching the sheet member receiver.
Can be opened relatively large with respect to the first frame, and jam processing and other necessary processing can be facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a specific example of an electrostatic copying apparatus configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the electrostatic copying apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the electrostatic copying apparatus of FIG. 1 in an exploded manner.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where each part of a sheet member conveyance path of the electrostatic copying apparatus in FIG. 1 is opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Copier Housing 8 Original Placement Mechanism 16 Endless Belt 26 Corona Discharger 28 Lamp 40 Developing and Cleaning Device 50 Sheet Member Transport Path 74 Sheet Member Receiver 84 Main Support Structure 86 Ejection Support Structure

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A first frame and an opening relative to the first frame.
Second frame pivotally mounted between a closed position and a closed position
And a sheet member receiver provided on the second frame.
The second frame and the sheet member receiver are provided with the second frame.
When pivoted toward the open position with respect to the first frame,
The first frame in which the second frame is pivoted together with the sheet member receiver
Continuously after the turning state of and the first turning state.
The pivoting of the tip of the seat member receiver is restricted, and the pivoting is restricted.
The second frame is in the open position with respect to the received sheet member receiver.
Is configured to take a second turning state, which is turned to
Are, the image forming machine, characterized in that. 2. The first frame comprises a main support structure,
The second frame comprises a discharge support structure, and the main support structure includes a support base on which a photosensitive member is disposed, an image forming means for forming an image on the surface of the photosensitive member, and the photosensitive member. Most of the sheet member conveying means for conveying the sheet member to which the image formed on the body surface is transferred as required is mounted. The discharge support structure includes a discharge roller pair located downstream of the fixing device. including, at least the remainder attachment of the sheet member conveying means, when said discharge support structure is in the open position, the downstream side of the sheet member conveying path defined by the sheet member conveying means, and fixing device The discharge support structure is opened between the discharge roller pair, and when the discharge support structure is in the closed position, the sheet member is received in the sheet member receiver through the sheet member conveyance path as required. The sea Receiving the sheet member receive the sheet member conveyed by the action of the member conveying means is provided integrally with receiving the said discharge supporting structure and said sheet member is formed by integral molding of synthetic resin, the base of the receiving the sheet member It has flexibility, claim
2. The image generator according to 1 . Wherein said base of receiving the sheet member is made thinner in a wedge shape toward the base portion side from the front end side, claim 2
The image generator described. The wherein the outlet support structure, stop piece for holding the sheet member receives a receiving position for receiving the required through the sheet member to be conveyed through the sheet member transport path is provided, according to claim 3 The image generator described.