JP3033996B2 - Paper jam removal device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a copying machine, a facsimile, and the like using a transfer roller, which is used for removing a paper jam at a transfer portion of a transfer sheet. The present invention relates to a paper jam removing device.

[Conventional technology]

For example, in an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor is visualized by a developing unit, and a transfer sheet (plain paper) is adjusted in timing when the visible image reaches a transfer position. , A film, etc.), and copying is performed by transferring a visible image to the transfer sheet (a fixing device for fixing the transferred image on the sheet after the transfer is provided). ).

The transfer sheet is conveyed by a paper feed conveyance system. If the transfer sheet is warped or is fed obliquely, a paper jam occurs in the middle of the conveyance path.

Generally, a user removes paper jammed in a transport path by exposing the transport path and manually removing the paper. However, as a technique for removing a paper jam more easily, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-2008.
There is one described in No. 44.

This technique allows a hand-operated knob to be connected to a transport drive system when a paper jam occurs, and allows the user to remove the hand-operated knob from the transport path by turning the hand-operated knob.

Also, although paper jams are likely to occur in the fixing unit, a technique has been proposed in which a hand-turn knob is similarly connected to the fixing roller to separate the driving system from the fixing unit in the event of a paper jam so that the fixing roller can be easily rotated. I have.

Incidentally, a paper jam also occurs between the transfer roller and the photoconductor. The details will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing an example of a copying apparatus having a conventional paper jam removing device.

A photoreceptor magazine 2 is provided inside the housing 1. The photoreceptor magazine 2 includes a photoreceptor belt 3 on which an electrostatic latent image of an image to be copied is formed, a driving roller 4a supporting both ends of the photoreceptor belt 3, a driven roller 4b, and a photoreceptor for the driven roller 4b. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer roller 5 that presses the belt 3 and the transfer sheet via the transfer sheet, a cleaner 6 that removes toner remaining on the photosensitive belt 3 after the transfer, and the like.

A developing device 7 provided with a developing roller 8 that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor belt 3 with toner to form a visible image is provided at a stage preceding the transfer position.

In the above-described configuration, when copying is performed, an electrostatic latent image is sequentially formed on the photosensitive belt 3 that is rotated by the rotation of the driving roller 4a by an exposure unit (not shown). When the electrostatic latent image reaches the installation position of the developing roller 8, the developing on the electrostatic latent image is sequentially performed by the developing roller 8. When the developed visible image reaches the transfer position, the visible image is transferred to the supplied transfer sheet by the pressure of the transfer roller 5.

In order to perform transfer accurately in such an apparatus,
It is necessary to maintain the center distance between the driven roller 4b and the transfer roller 5 with high accuracy. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, a biasing force is applied to the common bearing 9 of the transfer roller 5 and the driven roller 4b by a spring 10 in a direction in which the tension of the photoreceptor belt 3 becomes stronger, and a predetermined force is applied to the photoreceptor belt 3. The tension is applied. Note that a bearing shape that allows the driven roller 4b to move due to a change in belt tension or the like is also employed.
With the above configuration, the distance between the axes can be accurately determined, and the bite amount of the transfer roller 5 can be controlled.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when the paper feed knob is manually rotated at the time of paper jam, since the paper feed knob is directly connected to the transfer roller, the photosensitive belt rotates in accordance with the movement of the transfer paper, and the photosensitive belt is rotated. The uncharged portion of the body belt is sent to the developing position, and toner adheres to the photoreceptor belt, which adheres to a transfer sheet or a transfer roller, increasing toner consumption and causing a copy failure. There's a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper jam removing apparatus in which toner does not adhere to a transfer sheet even when a paper jam is removed, and the amount of consumed toner can be reduced.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method of forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a photoreceptor belt in accordance with image information, and developing the electrostatic latent image by toner development using a developing device. In a paper jam removing device for clearing a paper jam in a transfer unit of a copying apparatus that transfers an image to a transfer sheet inserted between a transfer roller and the photoreceptor belt, the image forming apparatus is configured to engage with a shaft end of the transfer roller. A knob that is freely mounted, a switch that operates in conjunction with the engagement of the knob with the transfer roller, and a driving unit that separates the developing device from the photoreceptor belt in accordance with the operation of the switch. This is achieved by means comprising:

[Action]

According to the above-described means, the developing device is separated from the surface of the photoreceptor belt in conjunction with the operation of the switch, so that the toner adhering to the developing roller does not adhere to the photoreceptor belt. Therefore, the paper jam can be removed without soiling the inside of the apparatus or the hand, and the toner is not wasted.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a paper jam removing device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and therefore, the duplicate description will be omitted below.

To one end of the drive roller 4a, a speed reducer 12 composed of a combination of a plurality of gears is connected via a contact / separation member 11 (clutch) operated by a solenoid (not shown). Motor 13 is connected.

On the other hand, a knob 14 that is partially exposed from the side surface of the housing 1 is connected to one end of the transfer roller 5. The knob 14 has an internal thread formed on the inner peripheral surface. When the knob 14 is pulled outward, the knob 14 meshes with a threaded portion on the outer peripheral surface of the gear portion 15 fitted into the transfer roller 5, so that the transfer roller 5 and the knob 14 are integrated. To rotate. Furthermore, a flange 14a protruding in the radial direction is provided at the inner end of the knob 14.
The switch 16 is attached to the side wall of the housing 1 so as to be able to contact the flange 14a.

A gear 17a is attached to the other end of the transfer roller 5, and the transfer roller 5 is engaged with the gear 17a.
A gear 17b is attached to the other end of.

 FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure for contacting and separating the developing device 7.

The developing device 7 is driven to move back and forth in conjunction with the ON operation of the switch 16. The driving is performed by the developing device 7.
The pair of wires 18a and 18b attached to the rear ends of the developing device 7 are wound by a motor 19 against the urging force constantly applied by a spring or the like toward the photosensitive belt 3. As a result, the developing device 7
Retreat away from you.

In the above-described configuration, when copying is performed, the motor 13 is rotated to rotate the photoreceptor belt 3 in the direction of the arrow, and an exposure corresponding to image information is formed on the surface of the preliminarily charged photoreceptor belt. The rotation of the photoreceptor belt 3 rotates the driven roller 4b, and the driving force
The driven roller 4b and the transfer roller 5 rotate at the same speed and in opposite directions to each other, and perform transfer while conveying the transfer sheet inserted between the two rollers.

Here, if a paper jam occurs with the transfer sheet interposed in the transfer roller 5, the front cover (not shown) is opened and the knob 14 is pulled outward and pulled out. By this operation, the inner periphery of the knob 14 meshes with the gear portion 15 and the switch 16 is turned on by the contact of the flange 14a. Switch 16
Is turned on, the solenoid (not shown) is excited, the contact / separation member 11 is disconnected, and the connection with the motor 13 is disconnected.
This allows the user to rotate the knob 14 with a minimum torque required for rotation.

At the same time, when the switch 16 is turned on, the motor 19 rotates to wind up the wires 18a and 18b. As a result, the developing device 7 moves away from the photosensitive belt 3, and the developing roll 8 is separated from the surface of the photosensitive belt 3. As a result, the toner does not adhere to the surface of the photoreceptor belt 3.

Then, with the knob 14 pulled out, the knob 14 is rotated in the direction in which the transfer sheet is to be discharged, whereby the sheet in question is discharged out of the apparatus.

Note that since no urging force for returning the knob 14 to the original position is applied, the knob 14 remains in that state even when the finger is released. So, when you close the front cover,
14 is pushed back and returned to the normal position. When the knob 14 is returned, the switch 16 is turned off.
11 is connected, and the rotational force of the motor 13 is transmitted to the drive roller 4a.

In the above embodiment, an electromagnetic clutch is used as the contact / separation member 11 and the motor is turned on / off by the switch 16.
Although the drive transmission system 13 is brought into and out of contact with the drive transmission system, for example, a centrifugal clutch may be used as the contact / separation member 11. In this configuration, the drive transmission system is cut off when the rotation of the motor 13 is stopped, so that the switch 16 becomes unnecessary, and therefore, it is also unnecessary to move the knob 14 back and forth.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the connection with the transfer roller 5 is made possible by pulling out the knob 14. However, on the contrary, the connection with the transfer roller 5 is made possible by pushing in the knob 14. Good.

〔The invention's effect〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

In the paper jam removing device according to the first aspect, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor belt, and a visible image obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image with toner by a developing device is formed. In a paper jam removing device for clearing a paper jam in a transfer portion of a copying apparatus for transferring to a transfer sheet inserted between a transfer roller and the photosensitive belt, the transfer roller is engaged with and loosely fitted to a shaft end of the transfer roller. A knob that can be freely attached, a switch that operates in conjunction with engagement of the knob with the shaft end of the transfer roller, and a driving unit that separates the developing device from the photoreceptor belt in accordance with the operation of the switch. Is provided, paper jams can be removed without soiling the inside of the apparatus and hands, and waste of toner can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a paper jam removing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of a developing device that contacts and separates from a photosensitive belt, and FIG. 3 shows a conventional paper jam removing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a front sectional view showing an example of the copying apparatus provided, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing details of a tension applying means for the photosensitive belt shown in FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Housing, 2 ... Photoconductor magazine, 3 ... Photoconductor belt, 4a ... Drive roller, 4b ... Follower roller, 5 ... Transfer roller, 11 ... Contacting / separating member, 13, 19 ... Motor, 14… knob, 14 a… flange, 15… gear, 16… switch, 17 a, 1
7b ... gear, 18a, 18b ... wire.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H ^7/ 00-7/20 G03G 15/00 526 G03G 15/16

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed on the surface of a photoreceptor belt, and a visible image obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image with toner by a developing device is transferred to a transfer roller and the photoreceptor. A paper jam removal device for releasing a paper jam in a transfer unit of a copying apparatus that transfers a sheet to a transfer sheet inserted between belts, comprising: a knob that is engaged with a shaft end of the transfer roller and that is freely attached. A switch that operates in conjunction with the engagement of the knob with the transfer roller; and a driving unit that separates the developing device from the photosensitive belt in conjunction with the operation of the switch. Paper jam removal device.