JP2715370B2 - Image generation device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine or a printer, and more specifically, to discharge a sheet member to a receiving section after conveying the sheet member through a conveying path. The present invention relates to an image generation device. 2. Description of the Related Art An electrostatic copying apparatus as an example of an image generating apparatus includes a copy paper supply means for supplying copy paper and a copy paper transport path for transporting the copy paper supplied from the copy paper supply means. The image is generated on the surface of the copy paper supplied from the copy paper supply means while the copy paper is transported through the copy paper transport path. In such an image generating apparatus, a sheet member such as a recording sheet supplied from a supply unit is conveyed through a conveying path and then discharged to a receiving unit in a stacked state. [0003] In a conventional image generating apparatus, the outside of the apparatus is covered by an exterior cover, and the transport path is defined by a guide plate. As a result, there is a disadvantage that the configuration of the device becomes complicated. [0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and a main technical problem thereof is to simplify the structure of the apparatus by providing a function of defining a part of a transport path in an exterior cover. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image generating apparatus capable of effectively cooling a sheet member conveyed through a conveying path. According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, after a sheet member supplied from a supply unit is conveyed through a conveyance path, an apparatus housing is discharged from a sheet member discharge unit. An image forming apparatus that is discharged to a receiving portion defined on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus and generates an image on the surface of the sheet member while the sheet member is conveyed through the conveying path; A part of the exterior cover is formed by an inclined surface inclined downward toward the sheet member discharge side, and one side of the outer cover functions as an end regulating surface that regulates one end of the sheet member discharged to the receiving portion. A plurality of regulating ridges are provided on one side at intervals in the width direction, and the other side is configured to define a part of the transport path by one side of another part of the exterior cover, A plurality of holes for cooling a sheet member conveyed through the conveyance path are formed in a part of the exterior cover where the regulating protrusion does not exist, and an image generating apparatus is provided. Is done. The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the present invention is applied to a laser beam printer as an example of an image generating apparatus. In FIG. 1, which is a simplified cross-sectional view of a laser beam printer, the illustrated laser beam printer includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 2. This housing 2
Is defined by various exterior covers 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e and 2f formed of a synthetic resin material as shown in FIG. A process unit 4 is disposed substantially at the center of the housing 2. The illustrated process unit 4 includes a unit frame 6 detachably mounted in the housing 2, and a rotating drum 8 is rotatably mounted on the unit frame 6. On the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 8, an electrophotographic photosensitive member is disposed. A charging corona discharger 1 is provided around a rotating drum 8 which is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow 10.
2, a developing device 14, a transfer corona discharger 16 and a cleaning device 18 are provided, and a charging corona discharger 12,
The developing device 14 and the cleaning device 18 are mounted on the unit frame 6. The charging corona discharger 12 charges the photoconductor on the rotating drum 8 to a specific polarity. Developing device 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a magnetic brush mechanism 20 for developing an electrostatic latent image formed as described later into a toner image. The transfer corona discharger 16 performs corona discharge on the back surface of the sheet member conveyed through the conveyance path as described later. The cleaning device 18 includes an elastic blade 22 acting on the photoconductor surface.
To remove toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor. An optical unit 24 is disposed above the housing 2, that is, above the process unit 4. The illustrated optical unit 24 includes a box-shaped unit housing 26, in which a laser light source (not shown), a rotating polygon mirror 28 rotated in a predetermined direction, and a first imaging lens 30, the second imaging lens 3
2, a first reflecting mirror 34, a second reflecting mirror 36, and a cylindrical lens 38 are provided. A laser light source (not shown) irradiates a laser beam based on image information output from a computer, for example, to the rotary polygon mirror 28. The laser light reflected from the rotary polygon mirror 28 is, as shown by a dashed line in FIG. 1, a first imaging lens 30 and a second imaging lens 32.
To the first reflecting mirror 34, and the first reflecting mirror 3
After being reflected by the fourth and second reflecting mirrors 36, the light is further projected on the surface of the rotary drum 8 in a projection area 40 through a cylindrical lens 38. A transport mechanism indicated by reference numeral 42 is provided below the housing 2, that is, below the process unit 4. The illustrated transport mechanism 42 includes a transport roller pair 44, a guide plate 46, a guide plate 48, a fixing roller pair 50, a guide claw 52, and a transport roller pair 54, which define a transport path for transporting a sheet member such as recording paper. I do. In the illustrated embodiment, the upstream end of the transport path is branched into two, one of which extends linearly rightward, and a manual supply means 56 is provided at the upstream end thereof; The other side is curved and extends downward, and its upstream end (specifically, below the transport mechanism 42 and
(A bottom part) is provided with automatic supply means 58. The illustrated manual supply unit 56 includes a table 60 that is pivotable between a supply position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a storage position (not illustrated) that is pivoted upward. The table 60 is positioned at the supply position. When the sheet member is positioned on the table 60 and inserted through the opening 62 formed in the right wall surface of the housing 2, the sheet member is formed by the guide protrusions 66 provided on the lower surface of the guide plate 64 and the inner surface of the exterior cover 2 b. It is guided to the conveying roller pair 44 through the space between the upper edges. Also,
The illustrated automatic supply means 58 includes a cassette 68 in which sheet members are loaded in a stacked state. This cassette 68
Is detachably mounted on a cassette receiving portion 72 defined on the bottom of the housing 2 through an opening 70 formed on the left wall surface of the housing 2. Above the cassette receiving portion 72, a feed roller 74 is provided. Therefore,
When the feed roller 74 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 76, the sheet members in the cassette 68 are sent out one by one, and the sheet members thus sent out are provided on the upright wall portion of the outer cover 2a. It is guided by the ridge 78 and the guide ridge 66 of the exterior cover 2b, and is guided to the transport roller pair 44. The downstream end of the transport path is also branched into two parts. In this connection, the outer cover 2f is further divided into a first position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and a second position shown by a solid line in FIG. The position can be selectively positioned. When the outer cover 2f is at the first position, the transport roller pair 5
4 is discharged directly into the housing 2 and received on the inner surface (upper surface in the state indicated by the two-dot chain line) of the outer cover 2f (accordingly, the outer cover 2f).
Functions as a first receiving unit). On the other hand, the outer cover 2f
Is in the second position, the sheet member delivered from the pair of transport rollers 54 is further transported upward, and the receiving portion 80 (second receiving portion) defined on the upper surface of the housing 2 by the action of the pair of discharge rollers 78. Function as a part). The receiving portion 80 defined on the upper surface of the housing 2 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the sheet is formed by an inclined surface which is inclined downward toward the pair of discharge rollers 78 provided in the sheet member discharge section. The operation of the above-described laser beam printer will be outlined as follows. While the rotating drum 8 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 10, the charging corona discharger 1
2 charges the photoreceptor of the rotating drum 8 and then the projection area 40
Then, a laser beam from a laser light source (not shown) of the optical unit 24 is projected on the photoconductor, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is thus formed on the photoconductor surface. After a while
The magnetic brush mechanism 20 of the developing device 14 applies toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor, and develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. Next, the sheet member supplied to the conveyance path from the manual supply unit 56 or the automatic supply unit 58 is brought into contact with the photoconductor, and the toner image on the photoconductor is transferred to the sheet member by the action of the corona discharger 16 for transfer. . The sheet member onto which the toner image has been transferred is peeled off from the rotating drum 8 and then conveyed to the fixing roller pair 50, and the toner image is fixed on the surface of the sheet member by the action of the fixing roller pair 50. The sheet member on which the toner image is fixed is transported to the transport roller pair 54, and is discharged onto the exterior cover 2f as it is when the exterior cover 2f is at the first position. In the case where the sheet member is discharged onto the outer cover 2f, FIG.
As can be understood from the above, the image is discharged with the surface on which the image is formed facing up. On the other hand, when the outer cover 2f is at the second position, the sheet member transported to the transport roller pair 54 is further transported upward, and then the sheet roller 78
Is discharged to the receiving portion 80 on the housing 2. When the sheet member is discharged onto the receiving portion 80, as shown in FIG. 1, the sheet member is discharged with the surface on which the image is formed facing down, and therefore, the page alignment of the discharged sheet member is performed. No need to do it later. On the other hand, the rotating drum 8 continues to rotate, and the residual toner is removed from the surface of the photoconductor by the action of the cleaning device 18. Next, the configuration near the upstream end of the transport path will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 together with FIG. A first detection mechanism 82 is provided at one of the branches (one connected to the manual supply means 56) at the upstream end of the transport path. The first detection mechanism 82 has a detection switch 84 which can be constituted by, for example, a reed switch. The detection arm 86 of the detection switch 84 is connected to the upstream end of the transport path through a notch 88 formed in the guide plate 64. Protrude to one of the above. Therefore, when the sheet member is inserted from the table 60 through the opening 62, the sheet member acts on the detection arm 86, and thus the detection switch 8
4 changes from the open state to the closed state. A second detection mechanism 90 is provided at the other end (the other end connected to the automatic supply means 58) at the upstream end of the transport path. The illustrated second detection mechanism 90
Is provided with an optical detection means 92 which can be constituted by, for example, a photo interrupter, and a detected member 94 which is detected by the optical detection means 92. Mainly Figure 2
2, the detected member 94 is substantially L-shaped, and has an operating portion 96 extending rightward in FIG. 2 and a detected portion 98 extending upward in FIG. Such detected member 94
Is rotatably mounted on a rotating shaft 100 on which a feed roller 74 is mounted, and is a first shaft shown in FIG. 1 and shown by a solid line in FIG.
2 and a second position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The optical detection means 92 is composed of a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and light from the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element. The optical detecting means 92 is provided on the mounting member 1 provided adjacent to the rotating shaft 100.
02. In the second detecting mechanism 90, when the detected member 94 is positioned at the second position, the detected portion 98 is located between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the optical detecting means 92, and thus the light emitting element Is blocked by the detection section 98. Further, the following configuration is provided in relation to the detected member 94. That is, the action portion 96 of the detected member 94 also functions as a guide unit for guiding the sheet member, and extends rightward in FIG. 2 and defines the other side of the upstream end of the transport path. . The other end of the upstream end of the transport path is provided with a guide ridge 78 provided on an upright wall portion of the exterior cover 2a (the guide ridge 78 is shown in FIG. 1).
2 and a plurality of guide protrusions 66 provided on the inner surface of the exterior cover 2b (the plurality of guide protrusions 66 are provided at intervals in a width direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2). (A plurality of which are spaced apart in the same direction). Then, the sheet member sent from the cassette 68 is transferred to the transport roller pair 4.
The leading edge of the action portion 96 of the detected member 94 extends upward in an arc shape so as to reliably lead to the nip portion of No. 4, and the upper end edge of the guide protrusion 78 and the upper end edge of the guide protrusion 66 are also conveyed. It extends in an arc shape toward the nip portion of the roller pair 44. First detection mechanism 82 and second detection mechanism 9
The operation control with 0 is performed as follows. When the sheet member is supplied using the manual supply unit 56, the operation of the transport roller pair 44 is controlled by the first detection mechanism 82. That is, when the sheet member is positioned on the table 60 and inserted into the housing 2 through the opening 62, the detection switch 84 detects the sheet member and enters a closed state. Vs. 4
4 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow for a short time. The first time is, for example, the detection arm 86 of the detection switch 84.
May be slightly longer than the time required for insertion to the nip portion of the conveying roller pair 44, whereby the tip of the sheet member inserted by hand abuts the nip portion of the stopped conveying roller pair 44, Thereby, the inclination correction of the sheet member is performed, and the oblique feeding is prevented. Also,
The certain short time is sufficient for the time required for the leading end of the sheet member in contact with the nip portion of the transport roller pair 44 to move to a position that slightly protrudes through the nip portion. By rotating, the leading end of the sheet member is reliably nipped by the conveying roller pair 44. Thus, after the transport roller pair 44 rotates, it stops. Thereafter, by pressing a start switch (not shown), the conveying roller pair 44 is rotated again, and conveyance of the sheet member is started. Then, when the sheet member is conveyed and the detection switch 104 detects this sheet member, the rotating drum 8 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow 10
The projection of laser light containing image information on the surface of the
Thus, the timing of the toner image formed on the rotating drum 8 and the timing of the sheet member conveyed through the conveyance path are achieved. Next, when the sheet member is supplied using the automatic supply means 58, the operation of the conveying roller pair 44 is controlled by the second detection mechanism 90. That is, in such a case, a start switch (not shown) is pressed. Then, the feed roller 74 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 76,
The sheet member accommodated in the cassette 68 is sent out by the action of the feed roller 74, and the sheet member sent out is fed to the action portion 96 of the detected member 94 and the guide ridge 78.
, And is guided upward by the guide ridge 66 to be guided to the nip portion of the transport roller pair 44.
When the sheet member is guided to the conveying roller pair 44, the sheet member acts on the action portion 96 of the detected member 94 to lift it upward, and the detected member 94 is moved to the first position (the detected member 94 is under its own weight). 2 is held clockwise in FIG. 2 and is normally held at the first position by the distal end of the action portion 96 abutting against the upper end of the vertical wall of the exterior cover 2a). Can be In this way, the optical detection means 92 detects the detected member 94 by blocking the light from the light emitting element by the detected section 98.
, And the optical detection means 92 is closed. In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyance roller pair 44 is rotated after a predetermined second time has elapsed after the optical detection means 92 has detected the sheet member. The second time may be somewhat longer than the time required for the leading end of the sheet member to be conveyed to the nip portion of the conveying roller pair 44 after the optical detection means 92 detects the sheet member. The leading end of the sheet member delivered from the cassette 68 abuts on the nip portion of the stopped conveying roller pair 44, whereby the inclination of the sheet member is corrected. When the conveying roller pair 44 rotates after the lapse of the second time, the conveyance of the sheet member is started,
When the detection switch 104 detects the conveyed sheet member, the projection of the laser beam including the image information is started in the same manner as described above, whereby the toner image formed on the rotating drum 8 is conveyed through the conveyance path. Timing of the sheet member is achieved. In the illustrated embodiment, the detected member 9
Since the action section 96 of 4 defines a part of the transport path, the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified by partially omitting the guide plate and the like. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, since the detected member 94 is attached to the rotating shaft 100 on which the feed roller 74 is mounted, the configuration of the second detection mechanism 90 can be simplified. The sheet member delivered from the cassette 68 by the action portion 96 of the detected member 94 can be reliably guided toward the nip portion of the transport roller pair 44.
The detected member 94 can be rotatably mounted on a shaft member separate from the rotating shaft 100. In the illustrated embodiment, a first detection mechanism 82 is disposed on one side of the branch at the upstream end of the transport path, and a second detection mechanism 90 is disposed on the other side of the branch. However, a common detection mechanism can be used when both of the two branches exist close to each other. Although not shown, for example, a single detection switch may be provided above the two branched paths, and the detection arm of this detection switch may be made to protrude through the one path and further to the other path. . With this configuration, the detection switch detects the sheet member supplied from the manual supply unit, and also detects the sheet member supplied from the automatic supply unit. The number may be small, the configuration may be simplified and the cost may be reduced. Next, the configuration near the downstream end of the transport path will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. In the illustrated embodiment, a path that branches off from the transport roller pair 54 and extends upward (one of the branches at the downstream end of the transport path)
Is defined by the inner surface of the outer cover 2d and the inner surface of the outer cover 2f, as understood from FIG. A guide ridge 106 extending in the vertical direction in FIG. 1 is provided on the inner surface of the outer cover 2d in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper in FIG. 1,
A plurality is provided at intervals from the lower left to the upper right in FIG. 3). Also, on the inner surface of the outer cover 2f,
In FIG. 1, a plurality of guide projections 108 extending in the vertical direction are provided at intervals in the width direction. Therefore, the sheet member passing through this path (that is, between the exterior covers 2d and 2f) is guided upward by the guide projections 106 and 108 and transported upward, and furthermore, the projection provided on the inner surface of the exterior cover 2e. It is guided by the upper edge of the guide protrusion 110 and the guide ridge 106 and guided to the nip portion of the discharge roller pair 78. In the illustrated embodiment, holes for cooling are formed in the outer covers 2d and 2f. That is, in the exterior cover 2d, a plurality of cooling holes 112 are formed at positions between the guide protrusions 106 at intervals in the vertical direction. Also, in the outer cover 2f, the guide ridge 1
A plurality of cooling holes 114 are formed in the area between the holes 08 at intervals in the vertical direction. With such a configuration, the sheet member conveyed between the exterior covers 2d and 2f (when the toner image on the sheet member is heated and fixed by the fixing roller pair 50, the sheet is heated by the heat given at the time of fixing the toner image. The members are also considerably heated) are holes 112 and 114 formed in the exterior covers 2d and 2f.
The sheet member, which has been effectively cooled by the air flowing therethrough, is discharged to the receiving portion 80. In the illustrated embodiment, since the guide projections 106 and 108 are provided on the inner surfaces of the outer covers 2d and 2f as described above, the sheet members substantially correspond to the holes 112 and 114 formed in the outer covers 2d and 2f. The sheet member is always cooled without being closed. The receiving portion 80 provided on the upper surface of the housing 2 is provided between the outer surface of the inclined portion of the outer cover 2c and the outer cover 2d.
Is defined by the outer surface of The outer cover 2d
1 extends in the vertical direction slightly to the left of FIG. The inclined portion of the exterior cover 2c is inclined upward rightward in FIG. 1, and the lower end of the inclined portion is connected to the lower end of the exterior cover 2d. This receiving part 80 (in detail, receiving surface)
Is inclined from one end to the other end, that is, about 45 degrees upward toward the right in FIG. 1, in order to receive the sheet members discharged from the discharge roller pair 78 in a stacked state as required. Is preferred. In order to discharge the sheet member to the receiving portion 80 as required by the action of the discharge roller pair 78, the discharge roller pair 78 discharges the sheet member upward at an angle of about 10 to 15 degrees from the horizontal direction. Is preferred. Because it is composed in this way,
The sheet member discharged from the discharge roller pair 78 to the receiving portion 80 moves downward on the inclined portion of the exterior cover 2c, and thus moves to the lower left in FIG. 2, and its rear end contacts the outer surface of the exterior cover 2d. As shown by numeral 118 in FIG. In the laser beam printer configured as described above, the outer surface of the outer cover 2d functions as an end regulating surface that regulates the rear end of the sheet member discharged to the receiving portion 80. The inner surface defines part of the transport path, which can simplify the construction of the device. In order to prevent the sheet member discharged to the receiving portion 80 from closing the hole 112 formed in the outer cover 2d, as shown in FIG. 1, a regulating ridge 120 extending vertically on the outer surface of the outer cover 2d. Are provided at intervals in the width direction (for example, these restricting ridges 120 can be provided at a position opposite to the guide ridges 106). With this configuration, the sheet member discharged to the receiving portion 80 is discharged in a stacked state as shown in FIG. 1 by the rear end abutting on the regulating ridge 120, and thus the outer cover 2d
A space remains between the outer surface of the sheet member and the rear end of the sheet member, and the hole 1
12 is not substantially blocked. In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the receiving portion defined on the upper surface of the apparatus housing is formed by an inclined surface inclined downward toward the sheet member discharge side, and the exterior constituting the apparatus housing. One surface of a part of the cover functions as an end regulating surface that regulates one end of the sheet member discharged to the receiving portion, and the other surface of the part of the exterior cover is combined with one surface of another part of the exterior cover. Since the configuration is such that a part of the transport path is defined, there is no need to separately provide a guide plate or the like that configures the transport path, and the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified. Further, a plurality of regulating ridges are provided on the one surface of the part of the exterior cover at intervals in the width direction, and the part is conveyed through the conveying path to a part where the regulating ridge does not exist. Since a plurality of holes for cooling the sheet member are formed, the sheet member discharged to the receiving portion is stacked with its rear end in contact with the regulating ridge, so that the hole is not closed. Therefore, the cooling of the sheet member conveyed through the conveyance path by the air flowing through the conveyance path through the holes can be always and effectively performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a laser beam printer as an example of an image generating apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of an upstream end of a transport path in the laser beam printer of FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the laser beam printer of FIG. 1 in a state where a part of an outer cover is opened. [Description of Signs] 2: Housings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2e and 2f: Exterior cover 4: Process unit 8: Rotating drum 12: Corona discharger 14 for charging: Developing device 16: Corona discharger 18 for transfer 18: Cleaning device 24: optical unit 28: rotating polygon mirror 30: first imaging lens 32: second imaging lens 34: first reflecting mirror 36: second reflecting mirror 38: cylindrical lens 42: transport mechanism 44: Conveying roller pair 50: Fixing roller pair 52: Guide claw 54: Conveying roller pair 56: Manual supply means 58: Automatic supply means 60: Table 68: Cassette 72: Cassette receiving section 80: Receiving section 82: First detection mechanism 90 : Second detection mechanism 92: Optical detection means 94: Detected member 96: Working part 98: Detected parts 106 and 108: Guide protrusions 112 and 114: Cooling hole 120: Control protrusion

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] After the sheet member supplied from the supply unit is conveyed through the conveying path, the apparatus housing is discharged from the sheet member discharge unit.
The receiving portion defined in the upper surface of said housing; is discharged receiving portion defined on the upper surface of the grayed image on the surface of an image generating apparatus that is generated while the sheet member is transported through the transport path , Seat
Formed by a slope that slopes downward toward the material discharge side.
Is a part of the outer instrumentation cover functions as an end regulating surface for regulating the end of the sheet member to which the one side is discharged to the receiving unit, the
Multiple regulation ridges are provided on one side at intervals in the width direction
And the other side is part of the outer cover.
And is configured to define a part of the transport path,
An image generating apparatus, wherein a plurality of holes for cooling a sheet member conveyed through the conveyance path are formed in a part of the exterior cover where the regulating protrusion does not exist. 2. One side of the other part of the outer cover is spaced in the width direction.
And a plurality of regulating ridges are provided.
It is transported through the transport path to the area where no ridge exists.
A plurality of holes for cooling the sheet member
The image generation device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The other part of the exterior cover and the part of the exterior cover
Therefore, the position defining a part of the transport path and the lower end
And rotate to a position where one side constitutes the receiving part.
The image generation device according to claim 1, wherein the image generation device is configured to be movable.
Place.