JP2928394B2 - 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 such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of image recording apparatuses such as copying machines and printers are used. For example, as an image forming method, there are a powder developing method, a thermal transfer printing method, an ink jet printing method, and the like. In each method, a black and white image and a color image are used separately.

[0003] In the conventional image recording apparatus, apparatuses of each system are individually manufactured, and if it is desired to use the ink jet printing system and the thermal transfer printing system, at least two printers must be prepared. Further, when there is a printer for black and white and color printing is required, a printer for color printing must be additionally prepared or replaced with a device that can be used for black and white and color. Therefore, a lot of expense is required for the user, and there is a problem that a maker has to manufacture many devices.

[0004] In order to solve the conventional problems described above, the applicant, even without least stores an electrical control device in one case, and the base unit detachable paper feed cassette, based on the image signal An image forming unit in which each component for forming an image is formed in one case, and a transport unit in which transport means for transporting recording paper to an image recording position of each image forming unit is stored in one case, An image recording apparatus has been proposed in which the image forming unit is detachably superimposed on the base unit, and the image forming unit is operated by an electric control device and a mechanical driving device to record an image on recording paper.

[0005] In the image recording apparatus proposed by the applicant of the present invention, it is unsolved that the positioning between a plurality of image forming units and the positioning of each image forming unit with respect to the transport unit are ensured with high accuracy.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been developed from the above-mentioned invention of the present applicant by providing an image recording apparatus capable of securing mutual positioning accuracy when a plurality of image forming units are combined. Make it an issue.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus which can ensure mutual positioning accuracy by ensuring the positioning accuracy of a plurality of image forming units with respect to a transport unit.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by providing a base unit in which an electric control device for controlling image information signals and the like is housed in one case and a paper feeder is provided, A plurality of image forming units each containing an image forming component for forming an image by a single case, and a conveying unit for conveying recording paper to an image recording position of each image forming unit.
And a transport unit stored in one case, wherein an image forming component is stored in a floating manner in a case of the image forming unit,
The problem is solved by an image recording apparatus characterized in that a part of the image forming component can be exposed outside the case.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the image forming members are supported by the case in a floating manner, and a part of the image forming members is exposed outside the case. The imaging component or the support member on which the component is supported can be positioned directly between them.

Positioning means engaging with each other for positioning between adjacent image forming units or between the transport unit and the image forming unit, for example, a positioning means comprising a convex member one of which is a concave member and the other of which fits into the concave member. Is formed on the imaging member or the support member.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

Various image recording apparatuses basically control a paper feed portion for storing and supplying recording paper, an image forming portion for recording an image on the fed recording paper, and a paper feeding portion and an image forming portion. The image forming unit further includes a writing unit for writing an image based on the image signal, and an image processing unit for processing the written image to be recordable on a recording sheet. When the image recording apparatus which can be understood is disassembled into several components, a combination as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

FIG. 1A is the most basic and shows a base unit 1 including an electric control unit and, if necessary, a drive unit.
And a sheet feeding unit 2 including a sheet feeding cassette and a first image forming unit 3 including a component for forming an image are detachably assembled. In this case, the paper feed unit 2 can be incorporated into the base unit 1 to form one unit, and only the paper feed cassette can be formed to be detachable from the base unit 1. The type shown in FIG. 1A is referred to as an A-1 type.

In the image forming unit, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a latent image forming body such as a photoreceptor, and visualized by a powdered developing body (powder developer) such as toner, and the developed image is recorded. In an image forming method such as an electrophotographic method in which the image is transferred onto paper, it is necessary to fix a visible image of the recording sheet after the transfer. This fixing device is connected to the first image forming unit 3
The fixing unit 4 can be provided as a single unit as shown in FIG. 1B separately from the image forming unit.
Is formed, and can be detachably assembled to the image forming unit. The configuration of the fixing unit 4 separately is advantageous when a plurality of image forming units described later are used and the recording paper is conveyed through each of the image forming units. When the fixing unit 4 is provided separately, the image forming unit does not need to include a fixing device, so that the image forming unit can be modified to a configuration excluding the fixing device. The modified combination of the second image forming unit 3a and the fixing unit 4 is the type shown in FIG. 1B, and this type is called A-2 type.

When the latent image forming body in the image forming unit 3 or 3a is a photoreceptor, an optical device such as a laser scanning optical device can be used as the image writing device. When a writing optical system such as an LED array or a liquid crystal shutter is used as the writing device, the writing device can be easily incorporated into the image forming unit, so that the writing device can be applied as an A-1 type or an A-2 type. In the configuration in which the He-Ne laser or the semiconductor laser is scanned, it is convenient to form the writing unit as one unit and to be detachably attached to the image forming unit. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a writing device in the image forming unit. The combination of the writing unit 5 and the third imaging unit 3b modified so as not to have a writing device is of the type shown in FIG. 1C.
This type is called A-1a type. Similarly, as a modification of the second image forming unit 3a, the configuration shown in FIG. 1D is obtained by combining the fourth image forming unit 3c and the writing unit 5 without the writing device. This corresponds to A-2 shown in FIG. 1B.
This is a modification of the mold and is referred to as A-2a type.

Each of the types shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D is provided with one image forming unit 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, and has a configuration based on a normal single-color image recording apparatus. It is necessary to use two or more image forming units in order to cope with the case of forming a color single-color image or multi-color image or using an image forming system of a different system. For this purpose, as a modification of the A-1 type shown in FIG. 1A, a type in which a plurality of first image forming units 3 are stacked as shown in FIG. 1E can be considered. In the figure, an example in which two first image forming units 3 are overlapped is shown as a representative, but it is not particularly limited to two. The same applies to other examples. The model shown in FIG. 2A is called A-1 'type.

A-2, A-1a, and A-2 shown in FIGS.
Each type of A-2a can be similarly modified to a type using a plurality of image forming units 3a, 3b, 3c. A modification to FIG. 1B is as shown in FIG. 1F,
This type is called A-2 'type. Similarly, the modification to FIG. 1C is as shown in FIG. 1G, and the modification to FIG. 1D is as shown in FIG. 1H, and are called A-1′a type and A-2′a type, respectively.

In the case where a plurality of fourth image forming units 3c are provided, as shown in FIG. 1H, a plurality of fourth image forming units 3c are provided, whereas the writing units 5 are individually assembled to the fourth image forming units 3c. One writing unit 5 'can be incorporated into the imaging unit 3c as a common writing unit as shown in FIG. 1I. This type is called A-2'b type. Similarly, the example of FIG. 1G can also be configured such that the writing units 5 are individually assembled. A-1'b
Called type.

In the image recording apparatus of the type shown in FIGS. 1A to 1I, the recording paper fed from the paper feed cassette 2 passes through a feed path provided in each of the image forming units 3, 3a, 3b and 3c. When a plurality of image forming units 3, 3 a, 3 b, and 3 c are used, the conveying unit 6 is configured as a single unit of the recording paper conveying unit, and the base unit 1 and the image forming unit are formed. Units 3, 3a, 3
b, 3c can be configured to be detachable.

FIGS. 1J to 1N show an example in which a separately configured transport unit 6 is used for an image recording apparatus of the type shown in FIGS. 1E to 1I. In this case, FIG.
FIG. 1K is a modification to the A-1 ′ type shown in FIG.
1L is a modification to the A-2 ′ type shown in FIG.
1M is a modification to the A-1′a type shown in FIG.
H is a modification to the A-2'a type, and FIG. 1N is a modification to the A-2'b type shown in FIG. 1I. FIG. 1K,
1M and 1N show an example in which the transporting and fixing unit 6 'in which the transporting unit 6 and the fixing unit 4 are configured as one unit is used, but it is needless to say that they can be separated.

In the examples of FIGS. 1J to 1N, the transport unit 6
Since the transport fixing unit 6 'is separately configured, each of the image forming units 3, 3a, 3b, and 3c can be modified into a structure in which the recording paper transport portion is omitted. In FIG. 1J, FIG.
As a modified example of the first image forming unit 3 shown in E, a fifth image forming unit 3 'in which the transport portion is omitted is used. Similarly, in FIG. 1K, the sixth image forming unit 3a of FIG. In FIG. 1L, the seventh image forming unit 3a ′ is a modification of the third image forming unit 3b of FIG. 1G.
An image forming unit 3b 'is provided. In FIGS. 1M and 1N, an eighth image forming unit 3c' as a modification of the fourth image forming unit 3c in FIGS. 1H and 1I is provided.

The external appearance of each of the above constituent units can be configured as schematically shown in FIG.

FIG. 2A shows a transport unit 6, which includes an upper discharge tray 6a and a horizontal discharge tray 6b for discharging recording paper.
And the recording paper can be switched between the upper discharge tray 6a and the horizontal discharge tray 6b.

FIG. 2B shows a transport fixing unit 6 ', in which the transport unit 6 and the fixing unit 4 of FIG. 2A are integrally formed. The upper discharge tray 6a and the horizontal discharge tray 6b can be formed similarly to the transport unit 6.

FIG. 2C shows the fixing unit 4, FIG. 2D shows the first image forming unit 3 or the second image forming unit 3a,
FIG. 2E shows an example in which the image forming main unit 3 'and the transport unit 3 "are configured to be splittable as a modification of the image forming units 3 and 3a. Each of the image forming units 3b and 3c can be similarly configured to be dividable.

FIG. 2F shows the base unit 1 and the sheet feeding unit 2.
This shows an example in which are integrated.

FIG. 2G shows a writing unit 5 in which a laser beam is turned ON and OFF by AO modulation or a rotating polygon mirror for scanning a He-Ne laser or a semiconductor laser.
A member for performing FF control, an fθ lens, a reflection mirror, and the like are incorporated, and the laser light emitted from the exit opening 5a of the case of the writing unit 5 has a third image forming unit 3b, as indicated by an arrow.
It is introduced into the fourth image forming unit 3c.

FIG. 2G shows a writing unit individually assembled to each image forming unit. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1I, the writing unit is configured as one writing unit 5 'which can be used in common for a plurality of image forming units. The result is shown in FIG. 2H.
In the writing unit 5 ', a plurality of openings 5a can be provided so that a laser beam can be emitted at a position corresponding to each image forming unit.

An example of a more detailed structure of each unit will be described.

The base unit 1 has a case 11 provided with a paper feed port 12 as shown in FIG. 3. The case 11 includes an electric control unit, for example, an image processing system including a CPU, an interface, a signal memory, and the like. A substrate 13 and a drive motor 14 that constitute a drive system circuit for moving a system in the image forming unit, and a mechanical drive device 15 for transmitting the driving force of the drive motor 14 to the image forming unit 3 are stored. .

The mechanical drive unit 15 is provided with, for example, a first bevel gear 16a. The first bevel gear 16a is provided, for example, with a bevel gear provided in the image forming unit 3 and the like mounted on the base unit 1. The gear 17 meshes. The second bevel gear 16b meshes with a bevel gear provided in the image forming unit 3 further above.

In the image forming unit, the bevel gear 17 is connected to the transmission shaft 1.
8 from the transmission shaft 18 through a worm 19a, a worm gear 19b, and other mechanisms such as a clutch or a solenoid, and a transmission ON / OFF mechanism 19c including a transmission ON / OFF mechanism 19c. Is transmitted.

In each of the image forming units 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, etc., similarly to the base unit 1, a transmission shaft 15b connectable to the transmission shaft 15a for driving and transmitting to the image forming unit mounted thereon. And the transmission shaft is provided with a bevel gear 16b and the like.

The above example is an example, and any structure can be used as long as the drive can be transmitted from one unit to another unit.

As the image forming unit 3, a 1a-th image forming unit 3A shown in FIG. 4 is used as an example of a powder developing system.
The first-a image forming unit 3A has one case 21, in which a paper feed port 22 and a paper discharge port 23 are formed.

In the case of the thermomagnetic writing system, a heating roller 24 and a pressure roller 2 pressed against the heating roller are provided in the middle of a substantially linear paper passage which enters from the paper supply port 22 and exits from the paper discharge port 23.
5 is provided.

A latent image belt 27 is wound around a heating roller 24 and a tension roller 26. As the latent image belt, for example, a magnetic belt (for example, made of a magnetic material containing CrO ₂ ) is used. The latent image belt 27 is driven in the direction of the arrow, and an image forming process is performed by a writing head 28, a developing device 29, a cleaner 30, and an eraser 31 arranged along the traveling path of the latent image belt 27. That is, a write head 28 records an image latent image on a latent image belt 27 in response to a write signal from the base unit 1, develops the latent image by a developing roller 29 a of a developing device 29, and develops the latent image into a latent image. The image is transferred to the recording paper 32 passing between the pressure roller 24 and the pressure roller 25 and is simultaneously fixed. The latent image belt 27 after transfer is cleaned of residual developer by a cleaner,
The latent image is erased by the eraser 31. Heating roller 24
In order to prevent the latent image belt 27 and other parts from being unnecessarily heated by the heat, a heat insulating member 33 is provided beside the heating roller 24, and a heat radiating member 34 for cooling the latent image belt 27 is further provided. Is arranged.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the heating roller 24, the pressure roller 25, the tension roller 26, and the developing roller 29a can form a flat unit by arranging their respective central axes substantially in the same plane. In this case, it is convenient that the container of the developing device 29 is also configured as a thin container extending along the plane on which the rollers are arranged.

The image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1A can be formed by the base unit 1 and the 1a-th image forming unit 3A. On the upper surface of the case 21 of the first-a image forming unit 3A, a concave portion 21a used as a paper discharge tray is formed.

When it is desired to switch between a black image and a monochromatic color image as required, as shown in FIG. 1E, a plurality of the same 1a image forming apparatuses 3A are stacked, and one is provided with a black developer and the other is provided with a black developer. Can accommodate the demand by containing the developers of the respective colors.

In FIG. 4, at the time of image formation, the recording paper 32 fed by the paper feed roller 2a from the paper feed cassette 2 in the base unit 1 disposed below the 1a image forming unit 3A is a 1a The paper is fed from the paper feeding inlet 22 of the image forming unit 3A, is transferred and fixed by the heating roller 24, and is discharged.
3 is discharged. In the case of one 1a image forming unit 3A, the discharged recording paper is immediately stored in the concave portion 21a,
When two or more first-a image forming units 3A are overlapped, the sheet is passed to the uppermost image forming unit and discharged. When a plurality of the first 1a image forming units 3A are used in an overlapping manner, the desired first 1a image forming unit 3A is operated to form an image so as not to form an image in another 1a image forming unit 3A. There is a need. For this reason, it is preferable that one or both of the pressure roller 25 and the heating roller 24 move to release the pressure contact state, so that transfer is not performed.

When the image forming system is the thermal transfer system, for example, a 1b image forming unit 3B shown in FIG. 5 can be used as the image forming unit 3. The first image forming unit 3B includes a case 41 having a paper feed port 42 and a paper discharge port 43.
Having.

A thermal head 44 capable of printing one line in a substantially straight paper path from the paper supply port 42 to the paper discharge port 43
And a printing position by a back roller 45 facing the thermal head 44. The ink ribbon 46 is arranged so as to be able to move between the recording paper to be passed and the thermal head 44 in the same direction as the recording paper. Ink ribbon 4
6 is sent out from the supply roll 47 and the first deflecting roller 48
The print position is guided by the second deflecting roller 49 and the second deflecting roller 49, and guided by the winding roller 51 by the third deflecting roller 50 to be wound.

The thermal head 44, the back roller 45, the supply roll 47, and the take-up roll 51 are arranged such that their respective axes are substantially in the same plane, so that the case 41 can be formed flat. In the case 41, if necessary,
Two transport roller pairs 52 and 53 are arranged in the paper passage.

The recording paper discharged from the paper discharge port 43 is placed in the case 4.
1 and a switching claw 5 for switching between the case where the sheet is directed toward the discharge tray concave portion 41a provided in FIG.
4 can be provided. The paper discharge direction can be switched by tilting the switching claw 54 to the right or left.
It is possible to provide a configuration in which the center of rotation of the switching claw 54 is moved in order to direct the recording paper toward the paper feed port of the image forming unit arranged above. The switching claw 54 is the case 2 of FIG.
1 can be provided in the same manner.

The thermal head 44 presses the recording paper against the back roller 45 as shown by the arrow, and prints the position.
It is formed so as to be movable between a standby position where it is separated from the back roller 45. A plurality of 1b image forming units 3B each having an ink ribbon of a desired color arranged as an ink ribbon 46 for color image formation are arranged, and color switching printing becomes possible.

In the case of the ink jet image forming system, for example, a 1c image forming unit 3C shown in FIG. 6 can be used as the image forming unit 3.

The first c image forming unit 3C has a case 61 provided with a paper feed port 62 and a paper discharge port 63. The recording head 6 is provided in a substantially straight paper path from the paper feed port 62 to the paper discharge port 63.
4 is provided. A platen 65 and an ink absorber 66 are provided to face the recording head 64.

An ink tank 67 is detachably mounted on the recording head 64, and the recording head 64 ejects ink according to an image information signal from the base unit 1 to print on recording paper. A recording head 64, a platen 65, an ink absorber 66, and an ink tank 67 are arranged in a line, and the case 61 can be formed flat. Case 6
In 1, a pair of transport rollers 68 and 69 are arranged as needed.

The case 61 has a concave portion 61a for forming a paper discharge tray for receiving the recording paper discharged from the paper discharge port 63. A switching claw can be provided in the paper discharge port 63 as in the example of FIG.

By selecting the color of the ink contained in the ink tank 67, a plurality of the first c image forming units 3C are arranged in an overlapping manner, and the image forming units for actually forming the images in accordance with the recording colors are changed from the base unit 1. Can be selected by the command.

The ink jet image forming system includes an on-demand type such as a gould type, a valve jet type and a slit jet, a demand type of a pressurized vibration type or a charge amount control type, and the like. In a simple case to form one unit. The on-demand type is advantageous for reducing the size of the image forming unit.

As the image forming method, there are an electrophotographic method, a thermal method, a wire dot method, and the like. In each case, the image is stored in a case similar to each of the above examples, and one image forming unit is formed. can do. Here, the description with reference to the drawings is omitted.

In each image forming unit, a cooling fan, a detecting device and a circuit for satisfactorily performing the image forming, a solenoid, a small motor, and the like can be stored as necessary in addition to the above-mentioned constituent members.

When forming an image recording apparatus, an image forming unit 3 is superimposed on a base unit 1 as shown in FIG. 1A. If necessary, another image forming unit is superimposed on the image forming unit 3 as shown in FIG. 1E.

When stacking, alignment and fixed connection between the base unit 1 and the image forming unit 3 and between the image forming units 3 and connection of mechanical and electrical systems are required.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the unit cases 11, 21, 41, and 61 can be easily connected simply by placing another unit on one unit.
A first joint 8 for connecting to a unit to be mounted on the upper part is provided on the upper surface of the base unit 11 (shown in FIG.
The first and second joints 82, the drive system connection port 83 for connection of the mechanical drive system, the electric system high voltage connector 84, the electric system signal connector 85, the third joint 86, and the fourth joint 87 are located at the same position in each unit. Are provided in the same form. These components are also provided on the upper surface of the image forming unit.

Cases 21, 41, 61 of each image forming unit
FIG.
As shown in the figure, the joints 81, 82, 86, 87 and 83 and the joint 8
1 ', 82', 86 ', 87', a drive system connection port 83 '(not shown), an electric high voltage connector 84', and an electric signal connector 85 'are formed.

Third joint 86 and fourth joint 8
One specific example of 7 is as shown in FIG. Base unit 1
On the upper surfaces of the case 11 and the case 21 of each image forming unit, flat support members 86b and 87b rotatably supported by support shafts 86a and 87a as joints 86 and 87 are angled by springs or the like as shown in the drawing. It is kept open by θ. As a member facing the third joint 86 and the fourth joint 87, the supporting member 8 is attached to the case 21 of the image forming unit.
The sockets for inserting 6a and 87a respectively are joints 86 ',
87 '.

When the image forming unit 3 is mounted on the base unit 1, the support members 86a, 87a are inserted obliquely into the joints 86 ', 87' serving as receiving ports, and are tilted and mounted on the base unit 1. . The base unit 1 includes a first joint 81, a pin 81a as a second joint 82,
Hooks 81b each rotatably supported by 82a,
Joints 81 ′ and 82 ′ formed as engaging holes (or engaging pins) with which 82 b engage are provided, respectively. Since the hooks 81b and 82b are held at the engagement positions by springs or the like, when the case (for example, 21) of the imaging unit is placed on the base 1, the hooks 81b and 82b are automatically set in the engagement holes 81 ', 82 '. When the engagement is released, the hook 81 is disengaged by appropriate means such as pins 81c and 82c.
b and 82b are moved to release the engagement with the engagement holes 81 'and 82'. Since the joint is only an example, any structure can be used as long as the structure can connect and lock the image forming units or the image forming unit and the base unit.

The third and fourth joints 86 and 87 can be provided not only on the case 11 of the base unit 1 but also on the upper surface of the case 21 of each image forming unit. A circuit constituting a control device as shown in FIG. 9 is formed on a substrate 13 (FIG. 3) in the base unit 1. In FIG. 9, the AC power input supplies the AC input from the power cord to the inside of the base.
The low voltage DC power supply supplies DC power to each electric circuit board and motor. The control unit drives the entire apparatus and controls image signals and the like to the image forming unit.

The display device is a device for displaying the operating state of the base and the image forming unit to the operator.

The operation switch is set in accordance with the image forming unit to perform manual operation or feature detection (reading) of the image forming unit.

For image processing and memory control, an image signal is transmitted to a thermal head or an ink jet driving circuit in the image forming unit.

The motor and the solenoid control the operation and drive of the image forming unit.

A to e indicate the input and output of electric signals. a supplies a DC voltage to an electrical circuit in the imaging unit. b sends operation signals of solenoids in the same unit. c receives signals from sensors and the like from within the imaging unit. d transmits an image signal. "e" is a connector connected to a facsimile, a scanner, and a word processor.

A to d are composed of Centronics. e
Is composed of RS-232C. A indicates a rotating shaft that transmits the rotational drive of the motor to the image forming unit.

Although a driving source and a control device are not provided in each image forming unit in principle, a cooling fan, a detecting device and a circuit, a solenoid, Small motors and the like may be incorporated.

For color image formation, as shown in FIG. 1E, a plurality of image forming units 3 of the same type of image forming method are stacked on the base unit 1. The number to be stacked is determined by the number of colors to be imaged. On the recording paper fed from the base unit 1, an image of one color is formed by the first image forming unit 3, and an image of another color can be formed by superimposing an image of another color on the next image forming unit 3.

When forming a full-color image, three or four
It is necessary to overlap two imaging units. In this case, the discharge direction can be selected by switching the discharge of the uppermost image forming unit, and the switching of the switching claw is selected so that the intermediate image forming unit passes vertically.

The paper can be fed not only from the cassette but also from the outside.

When a plurality of image forming units 3 are superposed on the base unit 1 to form a color image, a transport roller (for example, 35) in which recording paper is disposed in each image forming unit 3 as described above. , 36, 52, 53, 68, 69
And the like, when the recording paper is conveyed by the conveyer, if the recording paper is sagged or bent, the color shift of the image may occur and the image quality may be degraded.

To solve this problem, it is convenient to convey the recording paper by a common conveying means to a plurality of image forming units.

In order to enable transport by such a common transport means, the 1a image forming unit 3A, the 1b image forming unit 3B and the 1c image forming unit 3C are respectively shown in FIG.
5 and 6, the image forming main body including the image forming unit and the conveying unit, that is, the conveying roller 3
5, 36 and the pressure roller 25 or the transport rollers 52, 53
And the rear roller 45 or the conveyance rollers 68 and 69 and the conveyance section including the platen 65 and the ink container 66 are formed so as to be separable.

As shown in FIG. 1E, in an image recording apparatus in which a plurality of first image forming units 3 are stacked, as shown in FIG. 10, the transport unit 6 is arranged so as to close the opening 37 of the main body case 21 '. I do. That is, they are arranged on the base unit 1 and the image forming units 3a ', 3b' or 3c ', and the transport unit 6 is mounted so as to bridge between the base unit and the image forming units and between the image forming units. For example, the transport unit 6 is mounted on the image forming main body 21 ′ of the first image forming unit 3.

In the first image forming unit 3D shown in FIG. 10, the latent image belt 27 is wound around the first roller 24 'and the tension roller 26'. A photosensitive belt is used as a latent image belt. The latent image belt 27 is driven in the direction of the arrow,
The image forming process is performed by the primary charging roller 34 ′, the writing optical system 28, the developing device 29, the cleaner 30, and the eraser 31 arranged along the traveling path of the latent image belt 27.
That is, it is uniformly charged by the primary charging roller 34 ',
Write optical system 2 based on a write signal from base unit 1
8. For example, the LED array is driven, an image latent image is recorded on the latent image belt 27, and the latent image is developed by the developing roller (or sleeve) 29a of the developing device 29 to be visualized. Transfer roller 2 arranged opposite roller 24 '
The transfer is performed on the recording paper 32 passing between 5 ′. The recording paper 32 is sent out by the paper feed roller 2 a by the paper feed cassette 2 of the base unit 1, and is transported by the transport unit 6. The residual developer is removed from the latent image belt 27 after the transfer by the cleaner 30, and the residual charge is erased by the eraser 31. The latent image belt 27 can be a dielectric belt on which a latent image can be formed by a stylus or a thermal head, or a ferroelectric material.

The transfer roller 25 'can be connected to an independent power source for generating an electric field necessary for transferring the visualized particles. If necessary, a common power supply may be used.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the first roller 24 ', the tension roller 26', and the developing roller 29a can form a flat unit because their respective central axes are arranged substantially in the same plane. In this case, it is convenient that the container of the developing device 29 is also configured as a thin container extending along the plane on which the rollers are arranged.

When it is desired to switch between a black image and a monochromatic color image and use it or to form a multicolor image, one image forming unit is provided with a black developer and the other is provided with a multicolored developer. In this case, it is possible to meet the demand by containing a developer of a color corresponding to the separated color, for example, a developer of three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, or four colors including black as needed.

As shown in FIG. 11, the transport unit 6 has a case 91, a driving roller 92 and a driven roller 93 disposed in the case 91. A transport belt 94 is wound around the driving roller 92 and the driven roller 93. Although a drive motor for driving the drive roller 92 is not shown, the case 91
Can be located within.

The driven roller 93 is interposed with the conveying belt 94 therebetween.
, A potential forming roller 95 is rotatably supported. The potential forming roller 95 is connected to a potential forming power supply 96. The driven roller 93 is grounded.

The transport belt 94 is formed as a dielectric sheet, and is applied with a voltage by a potential forming roller 95 and has a pattern suitable for adsorbing and transporting the recording paper, for example, a positive potential and a negative potential in a striped or checkered pattern. An electric potential is formed.

The transport belt 94 is guided by a guide roller 97 between the driving roller 92 and the driven roller 93. Each guide roller 97 can be configured to also serve as the back roller 45 in the first image forming unit 3B. The platen 65 and the ink absorber 66 in the first c image forming unit 3C are arranged in the case 91 of the transport unit 6, and the recording heads 44, 6 of each image forming unit 3B, 3C are arranged.
4 may be arranged to face.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, the recording paper 32 fed from the paper feed cassette 2 by the paper feed roller 2a is adsorbed and conveyed by the conveyance belt 94 formed with the electric potential by the paper feed roller 95. 3A, 3B, 3
Images are sequentially formed on the recording paper 32 at the C and 3D recording positions. When the guide roller 97 is also used as the transfer roller 25 ′, an image is transferred from the latent image belt 27 while the recording paper 32 is pressed against each guide roller 97.

The recording paper 32 is suction-conveyed by the conveyance belt 94 and passes through a plurality of image forming units to sequentially form an image. Therefore, the positional deviation of the recording paper and the color deviation are prevented.

The recording paper on which the image formation by all the image forming units is completed is separated from the conveyor belt 94 by the separation claw 98 and is discharged to the upper discharge tray 6a by switching of the switching claw 99 or to the horizontal discharge tray 6b. Is discharged to The upper discharge tray 6a and the horizontal discharge tray 6b can be fixed to or integrally formed with the case 91. The upper end of the case 91 is covered by a cover 100.

When the image forming unit 3 uses a powder developer as shown in FIG. 4 or 10, fixing is required. Although a fixing device can be provided for each image forming unit, it is often the case that all image forming units 3 have been transferred and fixed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, a transport fixing unit 6 'in which the transport unit 6 and the fixing unit 4 are integrated can be used.

The transport fixing unit 6 'has a fixing device 105 (corresponding to the fixing unit 4 in FIGS. 1 and 2) integrally provided on the transport unit 6 shown in FIG.
The same or corresponding parts of the transport unit as those of the transport unit shown in FIG.

The transport belt 94 is guided by a guide roller 97 between the driving roller 92 and the driven roller 93. Each guide roller 97 may have a structure that also serves as the transfer roller 25 'in the 1d image forming unit 3D.

A power supply for applying a voltage to the transfer roller can be built in the case 91. The drive motor and various power supplies are controlled by the CPU in the base unit 1.

10 and 12, the sheet cassette 2
The recording paper 32 sent out from the paper feed roller 2a is transported by a potential forming roller 95 to form a transport belt 94.
The image is sequentially transferred to the recording sheet by the latent image belt 27 at the transfer position of the first image forming unit 3D. When the guide roller 97 is also used as the transfer roller 25 ', each guide roller 97 is connected to the first roller 24' of the respective 1d image forming unit 3D by the transport belt 2 '.
7 and the recording paper 32 are arranged so as to be pressed against the latent image belt 27.

The recording paper 32 which has been transferred by all the 1d image forming units 3D is separated from the conveyor belt 94 by the curvature of the drive roller 92 and the separation claw 98, and is fixed by the fixing device 105 provided in the case 91. , Outlet 1
08. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the fixing device 105 is integrated into the transport unit 6 to form a transport fixing unit. However, the fixing device may be configured as a separate unit and attached to the transport unit 6.

After the separation of the recording paper, the conveyor belt 94 is cleaned by a cleaner 101 having a cleaning blade 102, and is gradually charged by a discharging roller 103 or a discharging brush. The process from the potential formation by the roller 95 is repeated.

The cleaner 101 has a container 1 for storing toner, paper powder, and the like removed by the cleaning blade 102.
04 can be provided.

A switching claw 109 is provided at the discharge port 108 of the fixing device 105, and the upper discharge tray 6a and the horizontal discharge tray 6b are integrated with the case 91 as shown in FIG. 1K or as shown in FIG. Alternatively, when the recording paper 32 is detachably formed, the recording paper 32 is discharged to the upper discharge tray 6a or the horizontal discharge tray 6b.
Is switched to discharge.

The fixing device 105 is provided with a heat fixing roller 106 and a pressure roller 107 as shown in the figure as an example.

The conveying belt 94 is set to an appropriate length in advance so that it can be applied to a case where a large number of image forming units such as three or four stages are stacked. A part of the transport belt can be used only for transporting the recording paper without facing the image forming unit. In order to prevent the recording paper from being unnecessarily transported unnecessarily, the state of attachment of the transport unit 6 to the base unit 1 can be changed according to the number of image forming units 3. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a guide rod 11a is attached to the case 11 of the base unit 1, and a guide member provided on the case 91 of the transport unit 6 and the fixing transport unit 6 ', for example, a slide ball bearing 91c is engaged with the guide rod 11a. Then, the transport unit 6 and the fixing transport unit 6 'are vertically slid and guided. When a plurality of, for example, two or three image forming units are stacked, the upper discharge tray 6 fixed to or integrally formed with the transport unit 6 and the case 91 of the fixing transport unit 6 '.
a is placed on the uppermost image forming unit 3 and is positioned. When only one image forming unit is stacked, a stopper (not shown) provided on the case 11 of the base unit 1. Consideration is made so that the case 91 of the conveyance unit 6 and the fixing conveyance unit 6 ′ is positioned and does not protrude below the case 11 of the base unit 1.

As shown in FIG. 13, the transport unit 6 and the fixing transport unit 6 ′
To a structure having a movable member 91b whose lower part is rotatably supported by a stationary member 91c to which a slide member is fixed, for example, a guide member 91c slidably mounted on a guide rod 11a provided at the bottom. Can be. In this example, the movable case 91b is supported rotatably around the axis of the driven roller 93, a driving roller 92, a motor for driving the driving roller 92, a transport belt 94, a guide roller 97, a cleaning blade 102, a cleaner 10
1. The charging roller 103 and the container 104 are movable cases 91b.
And tilts with the movable case 91b.

The fixing device 105 and the switching claw 98 are provided on the stationary case 91a.

When the movable case 91b is set to the operating position as shown by the broken line, the guide roller 97 is the first roller 2 used as the respective transfer roller of each image forming unit 3.
4 ′ is in contact with a latent image belt 27.

When a jam occurs or a check is made on the recording paper being conveyed, the movable case 91b is tilted and opened in a state shown by a solid line.

It is convenient if a handle is provided to easily open and close the movable case 91b.

It is also possible to form the movable case 92b so as to be rotatable around the axis of the drive roller 92 and to open the lower part of the transport unit 6 in the opposite manner to the example shown in the figure.

The movable case 92b of the transport unit 6 is configured to be openable and closable, so that only the leading end is caught by the transport belt 94 during transport (arrow 1), the exit of the sheet cassette 2 (arrow 2), and the fixing roller 106. The removal of jammed paper in the state (arrow 3) or the like becomes easy.

In FIG. 14, a 1d image forming unit 3D 'shown as an example of the image forming unit 3 has an image forming member floating in a case 21', that is, free in all directions, as shown in FIG. 14A. Is movably accommodated. When the image forming members are accommodated in a floating state, it is not necessary to accommodate all the members in a floating state. In particular, members that require high positional accuracy in relation to image formation on recording paper are accommodated in a floating state. It is also possible to attach a support member 111 to the imaging member, and to accommodate the support member 111 in a floating state, that is, freely movable in all directions. A developing device 29 having an electrophotographic image forming component such as a first roller 24 ′, a tension roller 26 ′, and an initialization unit 34 ′ such as a charge removing / charging member, a writing member 28, and a developing roller 29 a on a support member 111; The cleaner 30 and the like are attached, and the latent image belt 27 is wound around the first roller 24 'and the tension roller 26'. In order to prevent rattling between the case 21 'and the support member 111, for example, a cushion material or the like is inserted between the case 21' and the support member 111.

The case 21 'is so exposed that a part of the image forming component or a part of the support member 111 can be exposed outside the case 21'.
An opening 112 is formed at a required position, and a positioning means 113 is formed at a position corresponding to the opening 112 in the image forming component or the support member 111 (only the support member will be described below). The positioning means 113 is provided for performing a positioning operation between the support members 111 of the adjacent image forming units, and includes a concave portion (concave portion) and a convex portion (convex portion) which are fitted to each other. In order to facilitate the distinction, a concave portion is indicated by 113a and a convex portion is indicated by 113b. In order to facilitate the positioning operation, the positioning means 113 serving as the recess 113 a is provided with the projection arm 1 protruding out of the case 111 from the opening 112.
11a.

The end adjacent to the transport unit 6 of the image forming unit 3, for example, the first image forming unit 3D 'is the case 2
1 'is a cover 1 supported by a shaft 114 so as to be capable of opening and closing.
15 so as to be openable and closable. When mounting on the transport unit 6, the cover 115 is opened as shown in FIG. 14A to expose the first roller 24 '.

In a state where the first roller 24 'is detached from the transport unit 6 and carried, as shown in FIG. 14B, the first roller 24' is shut off from the outside. Cover 11
5, a shaft fixing recess 11 which fits on the shaft 24'a of the first roller 24 'when closed and fixes the position of the first roller 24'.
6 are formed. When the image forming units 3 are overlapped, an avoidance hole 117 is formed in the case 21 'as necessary to prevent the shaft fixing recess 116 from abutting.

In FIG. 15, the image forming units 3 shown in FIG. 14 are arranged so as to be superimposed on the base unit 1, and assembled so that the ends of the image forming units 3 are joined to the transport fixing unit 6 '. Indicates the status. Positioning means for engaging with the positioning means 113 of the image forming unit 3, for example, a positioning recess 113 a is also formed in the case 11 of the base unit 1. Although not shown, a paper feed cassette (not shown) is mounted on the base unit 1, and is formed so that recording paper can be fed. Although the figure shows the transport fixing unit 6 ', the transport unit 6 may be used.

The base unit 1 and the transport fixing unit 6 'are formed integrally, and are formed as one L-shaped unit. In this case, the transport fixing unit 6 ′ may be configured to be detachable from the base unit 1 and may be formed separately from the base unit 1 and arranged in an L-shape.

The image is transferred by the first roller 24 'of each image forming unit 3 to the recording paper conveyed by the conveyance belt 94 as the conveyance means of the conveyance fixing unit 6', and is transferred to the heat fixing roller 106 of the fixing device 105 '. , Pressure roller 92
Is fixed and discharged. The pressure roller 92 is also used as a roller around which the conveyor belt 94 is wound, but may be formed separately from the drive roller 92 of the conveyor belt 94 and formed as shown in FIG. The transport belt 94 is wound around a drive belt 92 and a driven belt 93. A transfer roller or the like is used for transfer by the first roller 24 ', but is omitted in the figure.

In the figure, an example of the first d image forming unit 3D 'of the electrophotographic system is shown. However, various image forming units such as a thermal transfer system and an ink jet system can be positioned with respect to the image forming component or the support member 111 by the same technical idea. An associated configuration of the means 113 can be formed. The same applies to the following embodiments.

The case 2 is constructed as shown in FIG.
Since 1 'has nothing to do with positioning, the support member 111
The assembling error and the like between the case 21 'and the case 21' are prevented from affecting the positioning, and the positioning accuracy is improved.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the supporting member 111 'is accommodated in the case 21' in a floating state, and
In the example of the electrophotographic system, a first roller 24 ', a tension roller 26', and an initialization unit 3 as image forming components
4 ', a writing member 28, a developing device 29 having a developing roller 29a, a cleaner 30 and the like are attached. A latent image belt 27 is wound around the first roller 24' and the tension roller 26 '.

FIG. 16A showing a plan sectional view and FIG. 16C showing a front sectional view show that a support pin 118 is provided on the end member opposite to the first roller 24 'on the support member 111'.
It is engaged with the hole of the case 21 '. From FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B showing the left side view, both ends of the shaft 24'a of the first roller 24 'are formed so as to be able to engage with the recess 119 of the case 21' with play. 111 '
Is supported.

As shown in FIG. 17, the case 21 '
The cover 115 is openably supported by the shaft 114. As shown in FIG. 17A, when the cover 115 is attached to the transport fixing unit 6 ', the cover 115 is opened. As shown in FIG. 17B, the cover 115 is removed from the transport fixing unit 6' and transported. Cover 11
5 is closed. Shaft fixing recess 11 provided on cover 115
6 is fitted on the shaft 24'a of the first roller 24 ', so that the position of the first roller 24' is fixed to the case 21 '.

FIG. 18 shows an example in which the 1d image forming unit 3D 'shown in FIG. 17 is assembled to the base unit 1 and the transport fixing unit 6' formed in the same manner as in FIG. The same or corresponding portions of the base unit 1 and the transport fixing unit 6 'are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The transport unit 6 can be used instead of the transport fixing unit 6 '.

The transport fixing unit 6 'is provided with a pin 120 as an attachment means, and is provided with a case 2 of the image forming unit 3D'.
A hook 121 is formed at 1 '. When the hook 121 of the case 21 'is hooked on the pin 120 and the state is shifted from the inclined state to the horizontal state, the shaft 24'a of the first roller 24' of the 1d image forming unit 3D 'is formed on the case of the transport fixing unit 6'. It engages with the recess 122.

The recess 122 and the first engaging with the recess 122
The shaft 24'a of the roller 24 'constitutes a second positioning means for positioning the image forming unit 3 with respect to the transport fixing unit 6'. Plural recesses 12 of transport fixing unit 6 '
By forming the relative position of 2 with high precision, the positioning of the adjacent image forming units 3 becomes highly accurate. The position and orientation of the image forming unit 3 with respect to the transport fixing unit 6 'are determined by the second positioning means and the attaching means. When the hook 121 of the attachment means is formed on the support member 111 'instead of the case 21', the second positioning means is
2 and a pair of shafts 24'a, a pair of pins 120 and hooks 121, and higher accuracy can be secured.

In the image forming unit shown in FIG. 17, a shaft fixing recess 116 is provided in the cover 115, and when the cover 115 is closed, the shaft of the first roller 24 'is engaged with the shaft fixing recess 116 to be fixed to the case 21'. However, as shown in FIG. 19, the cover 115 is not provided with the shaft fixing concave portion 116, but is deformed so as to perform a simple lid function, and has an elongated hole 124 that engages with the pin 123 provided in the case 21 ′. Shaft fixing plate 1
25, and a shaft engaging recess 126 into which the shaft 24'a of the first roller 24 'is fitted with almost no play can be modified. When the shaft engaging recess 126 of the shaft fixing plate 125 is engaged with the shaft 24'a of the first roller 24 ', the first roller 2 as an image forming component is formed.
4 'is fixed to the case 21'. Contrary to the figure, a long hole 124 is provided in the case 21 ', and a pin 12
3 can also be provided.

The shaft fixing plate 125 is urged by a spring or the like (not shown) to give the habit of moving the shaft engaging recess 126 in the direction of engaging with the shaft 24'a of the first roller 24 '. The other parts are the same as in the example of FIG.

When the image forming unit 3 shown in FIG. 19 is mounted on the transport unit 6 or the transport fixing unit 6 ', the cover 1
15 and open Case 2 as shown in FIGS.
1 ′ or the pin 1 having the hook 121 of the support member 111 attached to the case of the transport unit 6 or the transport fixing unit 6 ′.
It is hooked on 20 and rotates from an oblique state shown on the upper side to a horizontal state shown on the lower side. In the initial state (the upper state in the figure) hooked on the hook 121, the shaft fixing plate 125 is in a state where the shaft engaging recess 126 is engaged with the shaft 21'a.

When the case 21 'is rotated about the pin 120 , the end of the shaft fixing plate 125 comes into contact with the case of the transport unit 6 or the transport fixing unit 6'. The fixed plate 125 moves relative to the case 21 ', the shaft engaging recess 126 is separated from the shaft 24'a, and the shaft 24'a is almost at the same time as the lower 1d imaging unit 3D' shown in FIG. The shaft 24'a, that is, the first roller 24 'is positioned by fitting into the concave portion 122 as the second positioning means.

On the contrary, when removing, the case 21 'is
When rotated around 20 and tilted, the shaft engaging recess 126 of the shaft fixing plate 125 which is moved by being pressed by a spring or the like engages with the shaft 24'a which is separated from the recess 122, thereby fixing the shaft 24'a. State. After that, the hook 121 is
The first d imaging unit 3D 'can be detached and transported. Then, the cover 115 is closed and transported.

When the shaft 24'a is engaged with the shaft fixing recess 116 or the shaft engaging recess 126 of the shaft fixing plate 125, the first roller 24 'and the support member 111, which are the image forming members, are connected to the case 21'. The first state, which is a fixed state, is established,
When 4'a is separated from the shaft fixing recess 116 and the shaft engaging recess 126, the case 21 ', the support member 111, and the first roller 24' are in a state of being connected in a floating manner with a degree of freedom. There are two states. The shaft fixing plate 125 having the shaft fixing concave portion 116 and the shaft engaging concave portion 126 functions as a fixing connecting means for fixing and connecting the supporting member 111 as an image forming component to the case 21 '.

In the example of FIG. 17, the support member 111 can be switched between the floating second state and the fixed first state in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cover 115.

When extracting the intermediate image forming unit in FIG. 21, the image forming unit immediately above the image forming unit to be extracted is rotated so as to be lifted and tilted as in the image forming unit shown in FIG. At this time, the upper image forming unit is also lifted and inclined in the same manner.

Since a gap G is formed between the image forming unit to be extracted and the image forming unit inclined above, the lower image forming unit can be tilted and lifted so as to remove the hook 121 from the pin 120 and can be pulled out. . In this case, the gap G is set so as to be longer than the length H required to remove the hook 121 from the pin 120.

Even after one image forming unit is pulled out, if the user releases his / her hand from the upper image forming unit, the upper image forming unit returns to a substantially horizontal position, and each image is formed by the engagement of the shaft 24'a and the concave portion 122. The unit is held in place in a substantially horizontal state.

The shaft fixing recess 1 provided on the cover 115 in the example of FIG.
25 can also be provided. FIG. 22 shows an example of this case. Members that are the same as or correspond to those shown in FIGS. 14 and 19 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 22 differs from FIG. 14 in that a cover 21 is not provided with a shaft fixing
Is that a shaft fixing plate 125 is provided so as to be slidable.

One image forming unit is positioned with respect to the base unit 1 by the engagement of the positioning means 113 formed of the concave portion 113a provided on the base unit 1 and the positioning means 113 formed of the convex portion 113b of the first d image forming unit 3D '. And set it.

Until the setting, the support member 111 is engaged with the shaft engaging recess 126 of the shaft fixing plate 125 as in the first image forming unit 3D 'shown at the top of FIG. Is in a first state fixed to the case 21 '.

The positioning means 11 near the shaft fixing plate 125
A fan gear 127 is rotatably supported concentrically on the third protrusion 113b, and a pin 128 is fixed to the fan gear 127.

When the image forming unit 3 is set on the base unit 1 or another image forming unit 3, the concave portion 113b engages with the convex portion 113a.
The upper end surface of the one protruding arm portion 111a contacts the pin 128 and pushes up the pin 118, whereby the sector gear 127 is rotated clockwise in the drawing. The sector gear 127 is the shaft fixing plate 12
5, the shaft fixing plate 125 is moved to the right in the figure to free the shaft 24'a. Thus, the support member 111 is switched from the fixed state, the first state, to the floating state, the second state.

[0136]

According to the present invention, since the imaging member or the support member as a part of the imaging member performs the positioning operation between the respective image forming units or the base unit, the case is required for positioning. It does not work, and accurate positioning can be achieved without the influence of an assembly error between the case and the image forming unit. Therefore, when a large number of images are superimposedly recorded by the respective image forming units, a great effect was obtained in improving the image quality, particularly in the case of color recording.

It is also possible to directly position each component that requires relative positioning without the interposition of a support member, in which case the accuracy is further improved.

According to the present invention, the support member of the image forming unit can be positioned with respect to the transport unit, and the positioning between the image forming units can be performed simultaneously with the positioning with respect to the transport unit. Position accuracy has been improved.

According to the present invention, fixed connection means for fixedly connecting an image forming member or a support member for supporting the image forming member to the case is provided. When the image forming member is mounted on the recording apparatus, the image forming member is floated with respect to the case. When detached from the recording device, the image forming member can be switched to the fixed connection state to the case by the fixed connection means, and high accuracy positioning at the time of mounting and prevention of rattling of the image forming member with respect to the case at the time of conveyance. Obtained.
It is also possible to provide a fixed connecting means on the cover and to link the opening and closing of the cover.

According to the present invention, by stacking the image forming unit on the base unit or the image forming unit, the image forming component member or the support member is automatically switched between the fixed connection state and the floating state with respect to the case and the assembling operability is improved. improves.

According to the present invention, by attaching and detaching the image forming unit to and from the transport unit, switching between the fixed connection state of the image forming section constituting member or the supporting member to the case and the floating state is automatically performed, and the assembling operation is performed. Improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in which A to N are diagrams showing changes in combinations of respective constituent units.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing units that can be disassembled in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, and A to H are diagrams showing each unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a base unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an image forming unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the image forming unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of another embodiment of an image forming unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an upper surface of a base unit or an image forming unit.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a connection state between the base unit and the image forming unit.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing components in the base unit.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming main body of the image forming unit and an exploded view of a transport unit.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of a transport unit.

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of a transport fixing unit.

FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view of a modified example of the transport fixing unit.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming unit, wherein A is a state at the time of mounting, and B is a view at the time of transportation.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus formed by combining the image forming units of FIG.

FIG. 16 shows another example of the image forming unit, wherein A is a plan sectional view, B is a left side sectional view, and C is a front sectional view.

17A and 17B show another example of the image forming unit, wherein A is a cross-sectional view in a mounted state, and B is a cross-sectional view in a transported state.

18 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus formed by combining the image forming units of FIG.

19 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the image forming unit of FIG.

20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the image forming unit in FIG. 19 is being mounted.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus formed by combining the image forming units of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus formed by combining a modification of the image forming unit of FIG. 14;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 base unit 3, 3D ′ image forming unit 6 transport unit 6 ′ transport fixing unit 21 ′ case 111 support member 24 ′ first roller (image forming member)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Mori 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akira Ishida 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-64-42661 (JP, A) JP-A-3-128254 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 29 / 00 B41J 15/00 G03G 15/00 550

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] An electronic control unit for controlling an image information signal and the like is housed in a single case and a base unit provided with a paper feeder, and an image forming component for forming an image based on the image signal in one case. A plurality of image forming units stored in the image forming unit, and a conveying unit storing conveying means for conveying recording paper to an image recording position of each image forming unit in one case. An image recording apparatus, wherein constituent members are accommodated in a floating state, and a part of the image forming constituent members can be exposed outside a case. 2. The image forming member according to claim 1, wherein the member comprises a support member and a member supported by the support member, and a part of the support member is exposed outside the case.
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming member has a positioning unit that engages with an image forming member of an image forming unit arranged adjacent to the image forming unit. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming component has a second positioning unit that engages with the transport unit. 5. A fixed connection means for fixedly connecting the image forming component housed in the case to the case, wherein the support member is formed so as to be switchable between a floating state and a fixed connection state. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1. 6. A cover which is openable and closable on a surface of the case facing the conveying means, wherein the cover is provided with the fixed connecting means, and the cover is opened and closed when the cover is mounted on the conveying unit. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming member is configured to be switchable from a floating state to the case to a fixed connection state.