JP3154337B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called digital image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A document placed immovably on a document table is scanned by a predetermined optical scanning system, and a scanning light image at this time is guided to a reading element having a photoelectric conversion function, and a laser beam or the like is emitted. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a digital image forming apparatus in which optical writing is performed on a photoreceptor.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional example of such a digital image forming apparatus.

In this image forming apparatus, a document table 50
A reading unit 53 is provided below the unit, and is housed in a unit frame plate 55 together with other optical systems and the like. The area where such a reading section 53 and other optical systems are provided is hereinafter referred to as a reading unit section. The writing unit 54 is provided below the reading unit 71, and the optical path space and the like are secured. The image forming unit 56 is located below the writing unit 72, which is the installation area of such a device.
Also, a fixing device section 57, a recording paper transport path 58, and the like are provided.

The first optical traveling body 51 includes a document illumination light source 59.
And one mirror 60, and a second optical traveling body 52
Is composed of two mirrors 61 and 62,
The originals O placed immovably on the original platen 50 are optically scanned by the traveling movements of the reference numerals 1 and 52 in the direction of the arrow at a speed ratio of 2: 1.

At this time, the scanning light image passes through the imaging lens 61 and enters the reading element 62. The reading element 62 is composed of a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD and reads image information of a document as an electric signal. After that, the signal processing unit 63
In, correction, amplification, processing, and the like of such a signal are performed.

The writing section 54 achieves a function of modulating or deflecting a laser beam or the like, and the signal subjected to the above-described correction and amplification is converted into an optical signal as an optical signal.
4 out. Then, the optical signal is reflected by the optical path bending mirror 64 and guided to the drum-shaped photoconductor 100. That is, optical writing scanning is performed on the photoconductor 100.

The surface of the photosensitive member 100 is charged by the charging means 65.
, And the above-described optical writing scan is performed on the charged surface to form a predetermined electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor. The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by a developing unit 66, and the toner image is transferred by a transfer unit 67 to a recording sheet carried on a conveyance path 58. After this transfer, the recording paper passes through the fixing device section 57 and is discharged out of the image forming apparatus. on the other hand,
The surface of the photoreceptor 100 is cleaned by the cleaning unit 68 and is prepared for the next image formation.

In a conventional image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, a writing unit 72 is disposed below a reading unit 71. Such a configuration has the following disadvantages.

[0010] (1) on the upper side of the image forming section 56, the height H ₁ of the reading unit 71, summed housed height between height H ₂ of the writing unit portion 72 (H ₁ + H ₂₎ is As a result, the document table 50 and the recording paper transport path 58
And the distance in the height direction increases. Further, the length of the copying apparatus is increased. As a result, when removing jammed paper in the recording paper transport path 58 or replenishing the recording paper, the operator must take a low bending posture, and the operability at the time of this type of work deteriorates. . Further, the image forming apparatus becomes bulky in the height direction, which leads to an increase in the weight and cost of the product.

(2) The reading unit 71 and the writing unit 72 have a stacked structure, so that separate storage unit frame frames are required. As a result, the unit structure becomes more complicated,
It leads to weight increase and cost increase.

(3) In the upper part of the writing unit 72,
Since the reading unit 71 is provided, and the image forming unit 56 is disposed below the reading unit 71, when assembling, maintaining, or exchanging the writing unit 72, the other unit 71 is used. Must be removed.
Such an operation is very troublesome, and the accuracy of the relative position with respect to the photoreceptor 100 is degraded at the time of attachment, and it is difficult to restore the accuracy to a predetermined accuracy.

In the case of the conventional configuration, such a problem occurs, but such a configuration has to be forced for the following reason.

That is, the range of movement of the second optical traveling body 52 (the sum of the width of the optical traveling body and the actual travel distance) L ₃ ,
From the reading unit 53, than the sum of the distance L ₄ to the second optical running body 52 at a position closest to this, due to the person from the write unit 54 of the distance L ₂ to the mirror 64 is large.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can be made compact in the height direction.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a first optical traveling body having a document illumination light source and one mirror, and at least one mirror, A second optical traveling body that moves together with the optical traveling body and scans a document placed on a document table in cooperation with the optical traveling body; and an imaging lens that transmits a light image when the document is scanned. A reading section for irradiating the light image transmitted through the imaging lens to obtain a reading signal; a writing section for generating writing scanning light for performing writing scanning on the photosensitive member; and writing from the writing section. An optical path bending mirror for first bending the optical path of the scanning light to guide it to the photoconductor, and a first optical traveling body, a second optical traveling body, an imaging lens, and a reading unit located above the photoconductor. Shape with a structure to contain In the apparatus, an imaging lens, farthest distance between the second optical traveling body in the moving first train position and L _1, light bending the optical path emitted from the writing unit and the writing unit from the image forming lens when the length of the space was L ₂ of the optical path to reach the use mirror is proprietary,
L ₁ > L ₂ , the writing section and the optical path bending mirror are arranged while maintaining the positional relationship such that the exclusive space length L ₂ is within the distance L ₁ , and the movement of the second optical traveling body In the lower part of the area, a writing unit and an optical path bending mirror are arranged in the optical path direction, and the writing unit is provided in the structure so that the reading unit and the writing unit do not overlap in the optical path direction. The present invention proposes an image forming apparatus characterized by the above.

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows an upper structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Of the members shown in FIG.
The same reference numerals are used, and a detailed description of the function is omitted.

In the figure, a first optical traveling body 1 has a document illumination light source 5 and one mirror 6, and a second optical traveling body 2 has two mirrors 7, 8. Note that this second
Some optical traveling bodies 2 are provided with only one mirror, and the second optical traveling body only needs to have at least one mirror. The second optical traveling body 2 moves together with the first optical traveling body 1 in the direction of the arrow, and
The document O placed on the document table 50 is optically scanned in cooperation with the document O.

The scanning of the original is performed in this manner. At this time, the scanning light image passes through the imaging lens 11 and is incident on the light receiving section of the reading element 12 composed of a CCD or the like. The reading element 12 has a photoelectric conversion function as described above, and outputs a predetermined reading signal therefrom. As described above, the reading unit 3 is for obtaining a reading signal by making the light image transmitted through the imaging lens 11 incident.

The writing section 4 modulates or deflects light such as laser light, and the scanning light emitted from the writing section 4 reaches an optical path bending mirror 14, where it is bent to form a photosensitive member 100. It is led to. As described above, the writing section 4 serves to generate writing scanning light to perform writing scanning on the photoconductor 100, and the optical path bending mirror 14 first bends the optical path of the writing scanning light from the writing section 4. To the photoconductor 100. First
Optical traveling body 1, second optical traveling body 2, imaging lens 11
The reading unit 3 is housed in a unit frame 15 which is a structure located above the photoconductor 100.

The second optical traveling body 2 is adapted to travel from a starting position indicated by a solid line to a position indicated by a broken line. An optical path of the scanning light, which is emitted from the mirror to the optical path bending mirror 14, is arranged. Hereinafter, the optical path of the scanning light is simply referred to as “optical path”, and is denoted by reference numeral 69.

In FIG. 1, the sum of the length of the writing section 4 and the length l of the optical path 69 is represented by L ₂ , and the moving range of the second optical traveling body 2 (the width of the optical traveling body 2 and the actual The sum of the amount of movement and the moving amount is L ₃ , and the distance from the imaging lens 11 to the second optical traveling body 2 at the closest position (travel end position indicated by a broken line) is L _4. As L ₁
Is the sum of the distances L ₃ and L _4, and is also the distance between the second optical traveling body 2 at the starting position farthest from the imaging lens 11 and the imaging lens 11.

The differences between the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the conventional example (FIG. 4) are as follows.

(1) A document table 50 is provided in the unit section 21.
On the optical path from the original O to the imaging lens 11, three
Mirrors 6, 7, 8 are provided.
Each optical path length between these mirrors (FIG. 2) was shortened. L from the original O to the first mirror 6₁  Optical path length l from the first mirror 6 to the second mirror 7_Two  Optical path length l from the second mirror 7 to the third mirror 8_Three

In FIG. 2, the broken lines show the mirrors of the conventional example (FIG. 4).
The distance between the original O and the third mirror 8 is reduced by reducing the size of the mirrors 7 and 8 and the mirror support members (not shown), thereby reducing the distance from the third mirror 8 to the imaging lens shown in FIG. The distance L ₁ (L ₃ + L ₄ ) to 11 was increased.

As a result, the reading section 3 can be moved to the left in the drawing from the position of the conventional example. That is, the reading unit 3 can be placed at a position further away from the second optical traveling body 2 at the starting position. Such a position is the position shown in FIG. In this way, a space for providing the writing section 4 and the optical path 69 having a length of l is secured.

(2) On the other hand, these are arranged so that the writing section 4 and the optical path 69 having a length of l can be accommodated in the reserved space. That is, conventionally, the distances L ₁ and L ₂ have a magnitude relationship of L ₁ (L ₃ + L ₄ ) <L ₂ , but in this example, the magnitude relationship is L ₁ > L ₂ , so that the writing is performed. and parts 4, and the optical path 69, it came to each be housed in a range of L _1. Conversely, in order to achieve this, the distance L ₁ is extended, and the length of the optical path from the document O to the third mirror 8 is shortened by the extension.

Conventionally, in FIG. 4, the area A surrounded by the imaginary line is a dead space. However, using such a space, in the case of this example, such a space is used as a dead space.
The writing section 4 and the optical path 69 are provided.

In any case, the image forming lens 11 and the second moving position farthest from the image forming lens 11
The distance between the optical traveling body 2 and L ₁ of the write portion 4
And a mirror 1 for bending the optical path where light emitted from the writing section
The space length occupied by the optical path 69 up to the distance 4 is L ₂
In this case, the magnitude relationship becomes L ₁ > L ₂ , and the writing unit 4 and the optical path bending mirror 14 are arranged while maintaining the positional relationship such that the occupied space length L ₂ is within the distance L ₁ . It was set up.

In the case of this example, as shown in FIG. 1, the writing section 4 and the optical path bending mirror 14 are arranged below the moving range of the second optical traveling body 2 in the direction of the optical path 69. Things. By doing so, the unit 21
Is assumed to be a reading unit section, the writing unit section can be housed in such a reading unit section 21, and the vertical positional relationship between these unit sections and the image forming section is disturbed. Can not be. Further, since the image forming apparatus can be made compact in the height direction and the distance between the document table surface and the paper transport path in the height direction can be narrowed, it is easy to remove jammed paper and supply recording paper.

Further, as shown in FIG.
In order that the writing unit 4 does not overlap in the optical path direction,
The writing section 4 is provided on the unit frame 15 which is the above-described structure. Thereby, not only can the structure of the structures for the reading unit 3 and the writing unit 4 be further simplified, but also the weight and cost can be further reduced. Also, the reading unit 3 and the writing unit 4
Can be individually assembled from above, exchanged, and maintained, and this kind of work can be easily performed, and the optically related position of the writing unit 4 with respect to the photoconductor 100 can be changed. There is no danger of doing so.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the embodiment shown in FIG.
The traveling directions of the second optical traveling bodies 1 and 2 are opposite, and they move from the left side to the right side in the figure. Therefore, the reading unit 3 is disposed so as to be closer to the right side in the drawing than the center of the unit unit 21. On the other hand, the writing unit 4 is disposed below the region of the second optical traveling unit 2 in the traveling direction. Further, the optical path bending mirror 14 is disposed at a position closer to the center, closer to the left side than the reading unit 3. The image forming section 16 is configured similarly to the conventional example together with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
A belt-shaped photoconductor as indicated by reference numeral 101 is used. In such an embodiment, the writing section 4 and the optical path 69 can be accommodated in the dead space as described above, just like the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0035]

According to the present invention, the optical path from the writing section and the mirror to the optical path bending mirror is set within the distance range between the second optical traveling body at the starting position and the reading section. Therefore, it is not necessary to adopt a structure in which the reading unit and the writing unit overlap each other, and the image forming apparatus can be made more compact in the height direction. Moreover, it is possible to individually assemble, replace, and maintain the reading unit and the writing unit individually from above, thereby facilitating this kind of work, and making the optical relationship between the writing unit and the photosensitive member easier. There is no danger of shifting the position.

[0036]

[0037]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an upper structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a scanning mirror unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an upper structure of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st optical traveling body 2 2nd optical traveling body 3 Reading part 4 Writing part 5 Original illumination light source 6 Mirror 7 Mirror 8 Mirror 11 Imaging lens 14 Optical path bending mirror 15 Unit frame as structure 50 Document table 69 Optical path 100 Photoconductor 101 Photoconductor

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1 further comprising a first optical traveling body that have a document illumination light source and one of the mirrors, at least one mirror,
A second optical traveling unit that moves together with the first optical traveling unit and scans the original placed on the original plate in cooperation with the optical traveling unit; and transmits an optical image when the original is scanned. An image forming lens, a reading section for irradiating a light image transmitted through the image forming lens to obtain a reading signal, a writing section for generating writing scanning light to perform writing scanning on the photosensitive member, and the writing section An optical path bending mirror for first bending the optical path of the writing scanning light from the optical path to guide the optical path to the photoconductor, and a first optical traveling body positioned above the photoconductor,
2 to accommodate the optical traveling body, the imaging lens and the reading unit.
In the image forming apparatus having a Zotai, an imaging lens, the distance between the second optical traveling body in the farthest moved first train position from the image forming lens and L _1, from the writing unit and the writing unit when exiting light is the length of the space and the optical path is proprietary to reach the mirror for bending the optical path and the L _2,
L _1> L _2, and the keeping proprietary space length L ₂ is a positional relationship such as that contained within the distance L _1, with disposing the mirror for bending the writing unit及beauty optical path, a second optical traveling body
Writing section and optical path bending mirror below the moving area of
And the reading unit and the writing unit
So that the writing portion does not overlap in the optical path direction.
Image forming apparatus, wherein a is provided on the structure.