JP3000171B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer material such as a copying machine or a printer, and more particularly, to a multi-stage discharge tray in a discharge section. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus to which can be attached.

[Background of the Invention]

In general, in a digital image forming apparatus that inputs image data obtained by a separate image reading apparatus, whether monochrome or color, and records an image, the upper surface of the apparatus main body is discharged with a transfer material on which an image is recorded. It is a paper section, which can prevent the discharge tray from protruding outside the apparatus.

The paper discharge section on the upper surface of the apparatus main body is moved and retracted in order to open the transfer path of the transfer material when performing jam processing of the transfer material and maintenance of the material. A type in which the apparatus main body is movably mounted and supported is adopted.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Therefore, when a multi-stage discharge tray is provided in addition to the above-described apparatus to provide a sorter function, these discharge trays hinder the rotation of the paper discharge unit. Need to be removed each time.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing jam processing and maintenance without any trouble even in a state in which a multi-stage discharge tray for a sorter is provided in parallel, as a result of improving this point. .

[Means for solving the problem]

An object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge in which at least an image carrier and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed opposite to the image carrier are integrated with each other, the process cartridge can be moved from a predetermined image forming position to a direction in which a transfer position is opened. A transfer material storage section is provided below the cartridge, and the transfer material is inverted and discharged to a multi-stage discharge tray above the process cartridge.A top cover is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus together with the multi-stage discharge tray. When the upper lid is opened upward, the multi-stage discharge tray is configured to move to a position where it does not interfere with the upper lid, and the transfer of the transfer material is performed by moving the process cartridge and opening the upper lid upward. This is achieved by an image forming apparatus characterized in that an area is opened.

〔Example〕

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
Shown in the figure.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a flexible photoreceptor belt serving as a belt-shaped image carrier. The photoreceptor belt 1 is bridged between rotating rollers 2 and 3 and is driven clockwise by driving the rotating roller 2. Transported to

Reference numeral 4 denotes a support member, that is, a guide member fixed so as to be in contact with the photoreceptor belt 1. The photoreceptor belt 1 is tensioned by the urging action of the rotating roller 3 to the outside so that the inner periphery thereof is rotated. The surface is rubbed against the guide member 4.

Accordingly, the photosensitive member on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 is always kept at a fixed relation to the surface of the guide member 4 even during the conveyance, so that a stable image forming surface can be formed.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a scorotron charger as charging means, 7 denotes a laser writing system unit as image exposure means, and 8 to 11 denote a plurality of developing means or developing devices each containing a developer of a specific color. The means is disposed facing the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 with the guide member 4 on the back.

As the laser writing system unit 7, in addition to the optical system shown in the figure, an optical system or the like in which a light emitting unit and a converging light transmitter are integrated is used.

Each of the developing units 8, 9, 10, and 11 accommodates, for example, a developer of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and includes a developing sleeve for maintaining a predetermined gap from the photosensitive belt 1. 1 has a function of visualizing the latent image on the substrate 1 by a non-contact developing method. Unlike the contact development, the non-contact development has an advantage of not hindering the movement of the photosensitive belt.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a transfer unit, 12A denotes a static elimination bar, 13 denotes a cleaning unit or a cleaning device, and a blade 13A and a toner conveying roller 13B of the cleaning device 13 are kept at positions separated from the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 during image formation. It is pressed against the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 as shown in FIG.

The process of forming a color image by the color image forming apparatus is performed as follows.

First, the formation of a multicolor image according to the present embodiment is performed according to the following image forming system. That is, data obtained by a color image data input unit in which an image sensor scans an original image is processed by an image data processing unit to create image data, which is temporarily stored in an image memory. Next, the image memory is taken out at the time of recording and is a recording unit, for example, the first memory.
The data is input to the color image forming apparatus shown in the embodiment of FIG.

That is, when a color signal output from an image reading device separate from the printer is input to the laser writing unit 7, the laser writing unit 7 generates a laser beam generated by a semiconductor laser (not shown). Is a photoreceptor belt which is rotationally scanned by a polygon mirror 7B rotated by a drive motor 7A, and whose optical path is bent by mirrors 7D, 7E and 7F via an fθ lens 7C, and which is previously charged by a charger 6 as charging means. The light is projected on the peripheral surface of No. 1 to form a bright line.

On the other hand, when scanning is started, the beam is detected by the index sensor, modulation of the beam by the first color signal is started, and the modulated beam is transmitted to the photosensitive belt 1.
Is scanned on the peripheral surface of. Therefore, a latent image corresponding to the first color is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 by the main scanning by the laser beam and the sub-scanning by the conveyance of the photosensitive belt 1. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 8 loaded with yellow (Y) toner (a visual medium) in the developing means.
A toner image is formed on the belt surface. The obtained toner image passes under the cleaning device 13 as a cleaning means separated from the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 while being held on the belt surface, and enters the next copy cycle.

That is, the photoreceptor belt 1 is charged again by the charger 6, and then the second color signal output from the signal processing unit is input to the writing system unit 7. Similarly, writing is performed on the belt surface to form a latent image. The latent image is developed by the developing device 9 loaded with magenta (M) toner as the second color.

The magenta (M) toner image is formed in the presence of the previously formed yellow (Y) toner image.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a developing device having cyan (C) toner, and forms a cyan (C) toner image on the belt surface based on a control signal generated by a signal processing unit.

Further, reference numeral 11 denotes a developing device having a black toner, which forms a black toner image on the belt surface by the same processing. A DC or further bias is applied to each sleeve of each of these developing devices 8, 9, 10 and 11, and a jumping development is performed by a two-component developer as a visualizing means, and a photosensitive member whose base is grounded The belt 1 is developed in a non-contact manner. As the development, non-contact development using a one-component developer can also be used.

The color toner image thus formed on the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor belt 1 is transferred to a transfer material sent from the paper feed cassette 14 via the paper feed guide 15 at the transfer section.

That is, one of the uppermost layers of the transfer material accommodated in the paper feed cassette 14 is carried out by the rotation of the paper feed roller 16, and the transfer material is transferred to the transfer device 12 via the timing roller 17 in synchronization with the image formation on the photosensitive belt 1. Supplied to.

The transfer material having undergone image transfer and charge elimination is surely separated from the photoreceptor belt 1 which suddenly changes its direction along the rotating roller 2 and is directed upward via an attraction type conveyance belt 17A to be fixed. After the image is welded by the roller 18, the sheet discharging path A
Then, the paper is discharged onto a tray formed on the upper lid 20 through the paper discharge rollers 19.

On the other hand, the photoreceptor belt 1 after the transfer to the transfer material is further conveyed and the remaining toner is removed by the cleaning device 13 in which the blade 13A and the toner conveying roller 13B are pressed against each other. The blade
13A, and slightly after that, the toner supply roller 13B
After the toner accumulates on the tip of the blade 13A, the toner supply roller 13B is separated to start a new image forming process.

The photoreceptor belt 1 is assembled into an independent color process cartridge 30 as a process material for image formation together with a charger 6 and respective developing devices arranged opposite to the lower peripheral edge and a cleaning device 13 arranged at a lateral end. It is installed integrally.

That is, the process cartridge 30 has a built-in developer supply unit 30A for supplying toner to each of the above-described developing units and a waste toner cartridge 30B for collecting the toner removed by the cleaning device 13. It is placed and accommodated on a gantry 50 that moves upward, and is slid obliquely from above and inserted into the apparatus.

Therefore, the process cartridge 30 is easily detached outside the apparatus by sliding it out diagonally upward together with the gantry 50 to open the transfer section, and further performs maintenance such as maintenance of each process material, replenishment of toner, and disposal of waste toner. Can also be performed.

The upper lid 20 can be opened and held largely counterclockwise from the position shown in the drawing via a hinge H. At the same time as the upper lid 20 is opened, the upper side of the integrated discharge path A and the upper The member can be moved to open the transfer material feeding area.

Therefore, by removing the process cartridge 30 and opening the upper cover 20, the feeding area of the transfer material including the transfer portion is widely opened, and operations such as removal of jammed paper, cleaning, inspection, and the like are extremely easily performed.

Further, the above-described apparatus is provided with the guide piece 60 together with the above-described paper discharge path A.
A transfer path B for the transfer material, which is switched by the rotation of, is provided, and the transfer material after fixing the image may be discharged to a discharge apparatus having a sorter function specially provided in the apparatus via the discharge path B. It is possible.

FIG. 2A shows an example in which a paper discharge device 70 of a type directly integrated with the apparatus main body is provided.

In the paper discharging device 70, the transfer material discharged to the paper discharging path B by switching the guide piece 60 is a plurality of rows stretched between a driving roller 71 and a driven roller 72 that rotate counterclockwise. The conveyance belt 73 is sandwiched between the plurality of pressure rollers 74 in contact with the conveyance belt 73, and is discharged vertically to the upper portion of the apparatus and conveyed.

Next, in response to the selection of the paper discharge mode, the transfer material collides with the sorting plate 75A that rotates at an angle indicated by a dashed line in synchronization with the paper discharge timing, and changes its direction. And is sorted by the page order or the number of copies of the document as is well known.

Each of the multi-stage discharge trays 80 has a rotatable support shaft.
It is held by support pins 82 on a slide plate 81 that can move up and down with 80A. The slide plate 81 is a tension spring.
By the urging of 83, the lower end thereof is brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the eccentric cam 84 fixed coaxially with the hinge H.

Accordingly, when the upper lid 20 is opened during a jam clearance or the like, as shown in FIG. 2 (B), the rotation of the eccentric cam 84 causes the slide plate 81 to rise, whereby the discharge trays 80 are simultaneously rotated counterclockwise. It rotates in the direction to be in a folded state, and moves and retracts from the upper part of the upper lid 20.

As a result, each discharge tray 80 is moved to the non-interfering position of the upper lid 20, and the upper lid 20 can be opened without any trouble.

FIG. 3A shows an example in which a sheet discharging device 170 integrated with the upper lid 20 is provided.

In this case, each of the discharge trays 180 is fixed without having to rotate as in the previous example, and as shown in FIG. Therefore, each discharge tray 180 is always kept at a non-interfering position with respect to the upper lid 20.

Further, FIG. 4 shows an example in which the paper discharge device 270 supported by the main body of the apparatus is further moved upward to move each discharge tray 280 to a non-interfering position at the top of the apparatus.

In this example, the motor M starts to rotate clockwise in the initial stage of opening the upper cover 20, and the paper discharge device 27
0 is slid on the mounting board 270A and moved upward of the apparatus. After the upper lid 20 is closed, the motor M is rotated in the reverse direction to return to the state shown in FIG.

It is to be noted that a paper discharge device that moves each discharge tray in the horizontal direction on the left side of the device and retracts to the non-interfering position of the upper lid 20 can be additionally provided by a similar mechanism.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to attach a paper discharge device having a sorter function also to the upper part of the apparatus main body, and as a result, it is possible to provide a compact and easy to perform transfer material jam processing and maintenance work while having various paper discharge functions. Thus, an image forming apparatus having excellent performance has been provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional configuration view of an image forming apparatus main body according to the present invention,
2 to 4 are cross-sectional views of a main part of the device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photoreceptor belt, 6 ... Charging device 7 ... Laser writing system unit 8, 9, 10, 11 ... Developing device, 12 ... Transfer device 13 ... Cleaning device 14 ... Paper feed cassette, 15 ... … Supply guide 17… Timing roller 18… Fixing roller 19… Discharge roller 20… Top cover 30… Process cartridge 70,170,270… Discharge device 73… Conveyer belt, 75A, 75B… Sorting plate 80,180,280 …… Ejection tray 81 …… Slide plate, 84… Eccentric cams A, B …… Ejection path

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masakazu Fukuchi 2970 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation Inspector Kazuo Sekiya (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 31 / 00-31/40

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A process cartridge in which at least an image carrier and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed opposite to the image carrier are integrated, the process cartridge can be moved in a direction from a predetermined image forming position to open a transfer position; A transfer material storage section is provided below the process cartridge, and the transfer material is inverted and discharged to a multi-stage discharge tray above the process cartridge. An upper lid is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus together with the multi-stage discharge tray. When the upper cover is opened upward, the multi-stage discharge tray is moved to a position where it does not interfere with the upper cover. The transfer of the transfer material is performed by moving the process cartridge and opening the upper cover upward. An image forming apparatus in which a transfer area is opened.