JP3352379B2 - 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 in which an upper surface of an apparatus main body is used as a document placing section and an electrophotographic apparatus is provided therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a facsimile apparatus, the upper surface of the apparatus main body is used as a document placing section, and the inside of the apparatus main body is used as an image recording section. This document placing section places a document to be transmitted,
The loaded document is sequentially conveyed to an image reading device provided in the apparatus main body. The document placing portion is provided with a document guide mechanism for guiding the loaded document to the image reading device. The document guide mechanism is configured to hold a document placed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body according to the size of the opening formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body and the lower side of the upper surface. I have.

Further, an image recording section of the apparatus main body is provided with an image recording apparatus, and an electrophotographic apparatus is generally used as the image recording apparatus. In this electrophotographic apparatus, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a photoconductor drum by an exposure unit such as a laser unit, and the electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor is recorded as a visible image by a transfer unit by a developing unit. It is to be transferred to paper. In general, the electrophotographic apparatus performs each of the above-described processes while rotating the photosensitive drums horizontally and rotating the photosensitive drums. Has formed. For this reason, the exposure unit needs to be arranged above the photosensitive drum, and is arranged above the inside of the apparatus main body, specifically, below the upper surface of the apparatus main body.

However, when the exposure unit is disposed near the lower side of the upper surface of the apparatus main body, light outside the apparatus main body enters the apparatus main body through an opening formed in the upper surface of the apparatus main body. The external light may reach light emitted from the exposure unit toward the photosensitive drum. Then, the light emitted from the exposure unit toward the photosensitive drum may be disturbed by being affected by the external light, which may adversely affect the exposure of the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum by the exposure unit.

Therefore, external light blocking means for blocking external light entering the apparatus main body through an opening formed in the upper surface of the apparatus main body so as not to reach light emitted from the exposure unit toward the photosensitive drum. It is necessary to provide.

Conventionally, the following configuration has been adopted as this external light blocking means. Since the above-described document guide mechanism is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body, means for holding the components constituting the document guide mechanism is required. Therefore, the holding member is disposed at a position below the opening formed in the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and the component constituting the document guide mechanism is held by the holding member. A portion is formed to block external light that has entered the inside of the apparatus main body through the section from light emitted from the exposure unit.

[0007]

However, with such a configuration, an opening in the upper surface of the apparatus main body and a light-exposure device are provided in order to provide means for holding the components constituting the document guide mechanism and external light blocking means. It is necessary to provide a special holding member between the unit and the unit, and the number of parts increases in order to facilitate special parts other than the exposure unit.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus in which a means for holding components constituting a document guide mechanism and an external light blocking means are provided with a simple configuration. .

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus, wherein an upper surface portion of the apparatus main body is used as a document placing portion, and an opening formed in the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body. A document guide mechanism for holding a document placed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body in accordance with its size is provided below the upper surface of the apparatus main body. An electrostatic latent image is formed, the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor is transferred as a visible image to recording paper, and the exposure unit is disposed below an opening on the upper surface of the apparatus body. A photographic device is provided, and the exposure unit has a holding unit that holds a component configuring the document guide mechanism provided on an upper surface of the apparatus main body,
The exposure unit has an external light blocking unit that prevents light that enters from the outside of the apparatus main body through the opening in the upper surface of the apparatus main body from reaching the light emitted toward the photoconductor by the exposure unit. And

According to the structure of the present invention, the means for holding the parts constituting the document guide mechanism and the external light blocking means are provided integrally with the exposure unit, so that special parts are prepared for providing these means. No need. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the exposure by the exposure unit from being adversely affected by the external light, and it is not necessary to increase the number of components for blocking the external light.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus of the first aspect, the external light blocking portion of the exposure unit is formed near a periphery of an opening on an upper surface of the apparatus main body. Features.

According to the structure of the present invention, the external light blocking portion blocks external light in the vicinity of the periphery of the opening on the upper surface of the apparatus main body to enhance the external light blocking effect.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus. FIG. 1 is a view showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a document guide section and an exposure unit in the facsimile apparatus. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Z-Z of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a document guide section in the facsimile apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which a document is placed on the facsimile apparatus. It is.

A schematic configuration of the facsimile machine will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body. A half of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1 is open and an upper surface cover 2 is provided so as to be swung up and rotatable. The upper cover 2 can be swung up and turned to open the upper opening of the apparatus body 1. The other half of the upper surface of the apparatus body 1 is an upper panel 3 provided with operation keys and a display unit as shown in FIG.
The upper surface of the upper cover 2 serves as a document mounting portion on which the transmission document F is stacked, and holds the document F stacked and mounted on the upper surface of the upper cover 2 to hold the lower side of the upper panel 3 of the apparatus body 1. Is provided with a document guide mechanism 4 for guiding the image reading device 5 provided in the printer. The image reading device 5 separates the originals F stacked on the upper surface of the upper cover 2 from the separation roller 11 and the separation pad 1.
2, the separated original F is conveyed to the sensor 14 by the conveying roller 13, the image written on the original F is read by the sensor 14, and then the conveying roller 1
5 sends it out of the apparatus main body 1.

An electrophotographic apparatus 5 is provided inside the apparatus main body 1, and a received image signal is recorded on a recording paper P by an electrophotographic apparatus 6. The electrophotographic apparatus 6 is configured as described below. The photosensitive drum 21 disposed horizontally is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow by a rotation driving mechanism (not shown). Around the photosensitive drum 21, a charger 22 and a developing device 2 are arranged in the order of the rotation direction.
3. Transfer device 24, static eliminator 25 and cleaning device 26
Are arranged. A laser unit 27, which is an example of an exposure unit, is disposed above the photosensitive drum 21 and below the above-described document guide mechanism 4. The laser unit 27 has a laser beam R at the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 between the charger 22 and the developing device 23.
To expose the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21. Further, on the lower side of the photosensitive drum 21, a recording paper P
And a feed roller 29 that feeds out the recording paper P stacked and stored in the recording paper cassette 28 and conveys it between the photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer unit 24.

Then, while the photosensitive drum 21 makes one rotation, an image is recorded in the following process. The charger 22 charges the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21, and then charges the laser unit 2.
A laser beam representing the image information received by the photosensitive drum 2
The developing device 23 applies the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 21 to visualize the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and then forms a toner image. Transfer device 2
4, the toner image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred onto the surface of the recording paper P fed from the recording paper cassette 28, and then the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is neutralized by the static eliminator 25. 26 removes the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21. In addition,
The recording paper P on which the toner image of the recording paper P is transferred is fixed by a fixing device 30 provided in the apparatus main body 1 and then discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 1.

Next, the document guide mechanism 4 and the laser unit 2
7 will be described with reference to FIGS.

An upper surface cover 2 provided on the apparatus main body 1 has two sides along a direction perpendicular to the document conveying direction with respect to a center axis O along the document conveying direction at the document placing position where the document F is placed. Are formed with a pair of openings 41 each forming a square at a predetermined distance from the central axis O. The space S1 between the inner edges of the pair of openings 41 facing each other is the minimum size of the document F to be placed (the size in the direction perpendicular to the document conveyance direction), and the space between the outer edges of the pair of openings 41. S2 is the maximum dimension of the original F to be placed (dimension in a direction perpendicular to the original transport direction). That is, the dimension of the pair of openings 41 in the direction perpendicular to the document transport direction is half the difference between the minimum size and the maximum size of the document F. A pair of document guides 42 are arranged over the pair of openings 41 and the lower side (inside) of the upper surface cover 2 in which the pair of openings 41 are formed.

A pair of document guides 42 are inserted into the opening 41 and extend vertically between the inside and outside of the upper cover 2, and a pair of original guides 42 are located inside the upper cover 2 and extend from the lower end of the guide 42 a. A base 42b extends toward the center of the document placement position. The width dimension of the opening 41 of the pair of document guides 42 along the document transport direction is a size that can be inserted into the opening 41. The guide portions 42a of the pair of document guides 42 are inserted into the openings 41, and the base portions 42b are respectively held by holders 52 provided in the laser unit 27 in a direction perpendicular to the document transport direction, as described later. It is held movably. The moving distance of the pair of document guides 42 is a dimension in a direction perpendicular to the document conveying direction in the opening 41.

Base 42b of one document guide 42
In the document conveying direction, for example, located on the upstream side, and the base 42b of the other document guide 42 is positioned in the document conveying direction, for example, on the downstream side, and each has a width of, for example, approximately half the width of the base 42b. An operating piece 43 is formed to extend toward the opposing document guide 42 along a direction perpendicular to the document conveying direction. The operation piece 43 is formed at a position lower than the base 42 b of the document guide 42, and does not collide with the base 42 b of the other document guide 42 due to the movement of the document guide 42. A rack 44 is formed on each side edge of the operation piece 43 provided on each document guide 42 so as to face each other in a direction perpendicular to the document conveyance direction.

The lower portion of the upper cover 2 corresponding to the central portion of the portion between the pair of openings 41 in the upper cover 2 (the central axis O of the document placing position) (the portion between the operating pieces 43). A pinion 45 is disposed at the (location), and the pinion 45 is attached to a vertical rotation shaft 46. In addition,
The vertical rotating shaft 46 is held by a bearing 53 provided in the laser unit 27 described later. And pinion 45
Is a rack 4 of an operation piece 43 provided on a pair of document guides 42.
4 is engaged.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when one document guide 42 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the document conveying direction, the operation piece 43 moves together and the pinion 45 is moved through the rack 44. Rotated. When the pinion 45 rotates, the other operation piece 43 moves via the rack 44 and moves the other document guide 42 along a direction perpendicular to the document conveyance direction. Accordingly, by manually moving one document guide 42 in a direction to approach or separate from the central axis O of the document transport position, the other document guide 42 is moved.
Also move toward and away from each other.

That is, as shown in FIG.
When the document F is placed thereon, the pair of document guides 42 are moved in accordance with the size of the document F to adjust the distance between the guide portions 42a therebetween, and the guide portions 42a press both edges of the document. Thus, the document F can be stably conveyed to the image reading device 5.

On the other hand, the laser unit 27 accommodates, for example, components (not shown) necessary for oscillating a laser in a case 51, and has a pair of openings 41 formed in the upper cover 2. It is located below the part. Each of the document guides 42 is provided at a position corresponding to the pair of document guides 42 on the upper surface of the case 51.
Are formed movably. A bearing 53 is formed on the upper surface of the case 51 at a position facing the vertical rotating shaft 46 to which the pinion 45 is attached. The bearing 53 supports the lower end of the rotating shaft 46 in a rotatable manner. I have. Thus, the laser unit 27
Has a structure in which a holding portion for holding the components constituting the document guide mechanism 4 is integrally provided.

Further, the case 51 of the laser unit 27
An external light blocking portion 54 for preventing light from entering the inside from the outside of the apparatus main body 1 through the opening 41 of the top cover 2 from reaching the light emitted from the exposure unit toward the photosensitive member Are formed. The external light blocking portion 54 is a continuous upstanding projection that forms a rectangular ridge surrounding the rectangular region where the pair of openings 41 of the top cover 2 is present, and in particular, the side of the pair of openings 41. The portion along the edge is formed as close as possible to the side edge of the opening 41. These are to attempt to block external light from entering the inside of the apparatus main body 1 through the opening 41 from the apparatus main body 1 at a position as close to the opening 41 as possible. Also,
The height of the external light blocking unit 54 rising from the upper surface of the case 51 is such that external light that has entered the inside of the apparatus through the opening 41 is unlikely to pass between the upper end of the external light blocking unit 54 and the lower surface of the upper cover 2 as much as possible. Is good.

That is, when the laser unit 27 which is an example of the exposure unit is disposed near the lower side of the upper surface cover 2 which is the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, light outside the apparatus main body 1 emits light. When the light enters the inside of the apparatus main body 1 through the opening 41 formed in the second unit 2, the external light may reach light emitted from the laser unit 27 toward the photosensitive drum 21. Then, the laser unit 2
The light emitted toward the photoconductor drum 21 from the photoconductor 7 may be disturbed by being affected by external light, which may adversely affect the latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 21.

Therefore, in the present invention, the laser unit 27
Has a holding portion 52 and a bearing portion 53 for holding components constituting the document guide mechanism 4 provided on the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body 1, and also has an upper surface cover (upper surface portion) 2 of the apparatus main body 1 from outside the device main body 1. An external light blocking unit 5 that prevents light entering the interior through the opening 41 of the laser unit (exposure unit) from reaching light emitted toward the photoconductor 21.
Four. That is, the external light blocking portion 54 prevents the exposure by the exposure unit from being adversely affected by the external light.

According to this configuration, the means for holding the components constituting the document guide mechanism 4 and the external light blocking means are integrally provided in the laser unit 27 (exposure unit) which is a component of the electrophotographic apparatus 6. Therefore, it is not necessary to newly prepare special parts for providing these means. Further, since the external light blocking portion 54 is formed near the periphery of the opening 41 on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, light that tries to enter the inside of the apparatus main body 1 from outside the apparatus main body 1 through the opening 41. Can be blocked near the periphery of the opening 41 to enhance the external light blocking effect.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the document guide mechanism is provided on the upper cover provided on the apparatus main body, but is not limited thereto, and may be provided on the upper panel of the apparatus main body. Further, the configurations of the exposure unit, the document guide mechanism, and the external light blocking means are not limited to those of the above-described embodiment.
The present invention is not limited to a facsimile machine, but can be applied to a printer and a copying machine.

[0032]

According to the image recording apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the means for holding the components constituting the document guide mechanism and the external light blocking means are provided integrally with the exposure unit, so that the exposure unit can use the external light. It is possible to prevent the exposure from being adversely affected, and it is not necessary to prepare special components for providing the external light blocking means, and it is necessary to provide the means for holding the components constituting the document guide mechanism and the external light blocking means. The increase in score has been prevented to increase economic efficiency.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the external light blocking portion blocks external light in the vicinity of the periphery of the opening on the upper surface of the apparatus main body to enhance the external light blocking effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a document guide unit and an exposure unit in the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a document guide section and an exposure unit in the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view showing a document guide unit in the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where a document is placed on the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Apparatus main body, 2 ... Top cover (upper part), 4 ... Original guide mechanism, 5 ... Image reading apparatus, 6 ... Electrophotographic apparatus, 14 ... Sensor, 21 ... Photoconductor drum, 23 ... Developing device, 27 ... Laser Unit (exposure unit), 41: opening, 42: document guide, 42a: guide, 42b: base, 43: movable piece, 44: rack, 45: pinion, 46: rotating shaft, 51: case, 52: holding Part, 53 ... bearing part, 54 ... external light blocking part.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface portion of the apparatus main body is a document placing portion.
On the upper surface of the apparatus main body, an opening formed in the upper surface and an original guide mechanism for holding an original placed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body in accordance with the size thereof over the lower side of the upper surface are provided. And forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor by an exposure unit inside the apparatus main body, transferring the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor as a visible image to recording paper, and An electrophotographic apparatus is provided below the opening in the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and the exposure unit includes a holding unit configured to hold a component constituting the document guide mechanism provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body. And an external light blocking unit that prevents light that enters from the outside of the apparatus main body through the opening in the upper surface of the apparatus main body from reaching the light emitted by the exposure unit toward the photoconductor. Image recording apparatus characterized by. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external light blocking portion of the exposure unit is formed near a periphery of an opening on an upper surface of the apparatus main body.