JP3585211B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus configured by connecting general image forming apparatuses such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile.
[0002]
Problems to be solved by the prior art and the invention
At present, as network environments such as personal computers are becoming widespread, a plurality of image forming apparatuses (printers, copiers, facsimile machines, printing machines, etc.) are used in a plurality of processing terminals (personal computers, etc.) in various fields such as workplaces and homes. The environment for sharing is becoming common. Along with this, the image forming apparatus has also been adapted to the network, and it is now possible to easily form a required image from a processing terminal to an arbitrary image forming apparatus.
[0003]
As the number of users and processing terminals per image forming apparatus increases in such a manner, the image forming apparatus has an improved processing speed of the apparatus itself and a function of processing discharged paper (sorter, stapler, finisher, mail, etc.). Functions such as a box) are required.
[0004]
However, in general, the apparatus becomes large to have these functions, and it is difficult to attach these paper processing apparatuses to a number of image forming apparatuses, both in terms of cost and space. is there.
[0005]
In general, the larger the number of users who share the image, the higher the processing speed of the image forming apparatus is required, and the larger the apparatus is. Considering the actual usage pattern in a company, etc., when a small image forming apparatus with a low processing speed and low cost is first introduced, and a new apparatus is needed due to an increase in the number of users and the amount of processing, etc. In such a case, in such a case, secure the location of the new equipment and operate the old equipment owned by the current equipment together, or process the new equipment to obtain even if the current one is discarded. It is necessary to choose whether or not the ability is high enough not to cause the above problem. In such a case, it is generally difficult to secure a separate space for the new device inside the office, and the operation mode becomes troublesome. Although current devices are often discarded, they are not very favorable from the viewpoint of environmental problems and the like.
[0006]
In addition, when there are already a plurality of apparatuses having a low processing speed, the processing speed of the two apparatuses is not necessarily the same as that of an image forming apparatus having twice the processing speed. Is processed by one device, the processing speed itself from the viewpoint of the user cannot be increased. That is, a general image forming apparatus does not always operate, but operates when a processing command is received. Therefore, for example, an environment in which there are two apparatuses at 5 sheets / minute and an apparatus in which 10 sheets / minute are 1 If the user issues a print command for ten sheets in an environment with multiple platforms, the processing time is two minutes in the preceding environment and one minute in the later environment.
[0007]
In recent years, attention has been paid to environmental destruction in recent years, and efforts have been widely made to effectively use paper, which is a general printing medium, to reduce its consumption. Functions are recognized as more important items. However, a general double-sided printing function has a complicated configuration and requires a relatively large space and cost. In addition, it is difficult to provide a double-sided printing function in a relatively low-cost image forming apparatus due to cost and space issues, and even an attachable apparatus is generally expensive. Further, in a printing apparatus configured to increase the printing speed of the first sheet by shortening the transport path, it is difficult to provide the double-sided printing function itself in terms of layout.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Pertaining to claim 1 of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the light of the conventional problems, their respective independently consists operable plurality of image forming units as the image forming apparatus, the image forming units the connecting portion for combining provided together, Ri Na in combination by connecting Aitonaru image forming units each other, each image forming unit forms the feed path of the shared passing between the image forming unit which combines the above has a communicating feeding path for, via the communicating feeding path, Rukoto one of the image forming unit, such as a can supply a sheet from the paper feed unit of the other image forming unit such as when out of paper It is characterized by.
[0009]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, in order to reduce the installation area, the connecting portion is connected to each of the image forming units so as to be connectable to another image forming unit that is vertically adjacent to the image forming unit. It is characterized by being provided and combined.
[0010]
In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, a third aspect of the present invention is to make it possible to efficiently use options related to paper discharge such as a mailbox while suppressing costs by sharing a paper discharge unit. Further, each of the image forming units has a communication discharge path for forming a common discharge path passing between the combined image forming units.
[0011]
In order to substantially increase the processing speed of image formation in an environment having a plurality of apparatuses, each of the image forming units independently performs image processing. It is characterized in that it has a paper discharge path when operated as a forming apparatus, together with the above-mentioned communication paper discharge path.
[0012]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention , in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, a sheet on which image formation has been completed on one side between one image forming unit is discharged between a pair of the image forming units. And a double-sided device for feeding paper to another image forming unit with the rear end side in the paper discharging direction as the front end side .
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As an image forming apparatus as an image forming unit targeted in the present invention, a general printer or the like can be used. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing a structure of a general laser printer at present. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a paper feeding unit, 2 denotes an image forming unit, and 3 denotes a paper discharging unit. In the type shown in FIG. 1A, the transport path 4 is generally short, and the speed of the first sheet of the printing process is high. The type shown in FIG. 1B is generally slow for the first sheet, but is excellent in paper compatibility and expandability. Further, as an extension function to the paper discharge unit, there are a sorter, a stapler, a mailbox, and the like generally used in a copying machine. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically showing the structure of a currently general laser printer having such a function. The type shown in FIG. . In the type of FIG. 2B, a sorter 5 is provided beside the image forming unit 2. Further, in the type of FIG. 3A, a double-sided unit 6 for providing a double-sided printing function is partially exposed to the outside, and in the type of FIG. It is stored in. In these printers, it is necessary to reverse the sheet after passing through the fixing unit and convey the sheet to the sheet feeding unit, so that the required size is generally large, complicated, and expensive. Further, FIG. 4 shows an example of an image forming apparatus often used for low-cost color printing or the like typified by an ink-jet printer or the like. Department. As shown in the figure, the paper transport path 11 once descends from above the apparatus, and is turned upward again after the completion of image formation to discharge the paper.
[0016]
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a pair of image forming units (for example, printers) 20, 20 that can operate independently as image forming apparatuses. .. Are provided and adjacent image forming units are connected and combined. With such a connection structure, the required installation area is small, and the stability of the entire apparatus is improved.
[0017]
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a pair of image forming units (for example, an ink jet printer similar to that shown in FIG. 4) 22 and 23 are provided, and a connecting plate 24 provided on the rear side of the image forming unit 22 located on the front side has a rear side. The paper discharge guide 25 of the image forming unit 23 located at the position shown in FIG. As in the first embodiment, the required installation area can be reduced, and the stability of the entire apparatus can be increased.
[0018]
FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A, a pair of image forming units (for example, printers) 26, 26, which can operate independently as image forming apparatuses, are vertically combined three-dimensionally. The number of devices can be increased without requiring an increase. Although not shown, the number of cables and outlets that tend to be complicated can be reduced by commonly using a power supply and the like. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7B is obtained by adding another image forming unit 26 to the embodiment shown in FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7C, the pair of upper and lower image forming units 27, 27 is, for example, the ink jet printer shown in FIG. Although illustrations of these connecting mechanisms are omitted, they may be provided on the periphery of the top surface and the bottom surface (the same applies to the following embodiments).
[0019]
FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8A, a pair of image forming units (for example, printers) 28, 28, which can operate independently as image forming apparatuses, are combined three-dimensionally up and down. By providing another existing transport path 4a, expandability and functionality of the apparatus itself are greatly improved. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8B, a sorter 5 is provided at the top. Although the lowermost image forming unit 28 is illustrated as not having another transport path 4a in the drawing, it is needless to say that all the image forming units 28 may have another transport path 4a.
[0020]
In addition to such a common use of the paper discharge path, if one print processing can be performed by a plurality of image forming units, one print processing itself can be performed no matter how many image forming apparatuses are conventionally provided. Cannot be increased, but as the number of image forming units increases, the speed of one printing process also increases. For example, if the processing speed of one image forming unit is 5 sheets / minute, even if the number is 2 or 3 units, conventionally it takes 2 minutes to execute the print processing of 10 sheets. In the present embodiment, for example, the upper image forming unit 28 can print the odd-numbered pages, and the lower image forming unit 28 can print the even-numbered pages at the discharge destination. Therefore, the process is completed in one minute. In other words, by sharing the paper transport path and the discharge port, it is not necessary to generally provide expensive discharge peripheral devices respectively, which is advantageous in terms of cost.
[0021]
FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, a pair of image forming units 29, 29 is vertically combined as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, but from the lower image forming unit 29 to the upper image forming unit 29. When the paper is cut in the paper feeding unit 1 of the upper image forming unit 29, the paper is fed from the paper feeding unit 1 of the lower image forming unit 29.
[0022]
FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a sixth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 10A, a pair of image forming units 30, 30 is vertically combined like the embodiment shown in FIGS. And a large-volume paper feed unit 31 is connected to the paper feed unit 1 of each image forming unit 30 from the large-volume paper feed unit 31, and also from the lower image forming unit 30 to the upper image forming unit 30. Paper can be fed. If the paper is fed to the other image forming units other than during the printing process, the burden on the user can be reduced and the efficiency can be improved. As shown in FIG. 10B, it is efficient to connect only one image forming unit 30 and the large-volume sheet feeding unit 31.
[0023]
FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a seventh embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a pair of image forming units 32, 32 are vertically combined and connected with a duplex device 33 interposed therebetween. In a general printer, the paper is discharged with the print surface facing downward. Therefore, the paper discharged from the lower image forming unit 32 to the paper discharge unit 3 is fed to the upper image forming unit 31 as it is. It has a simple and reliable double-sided printing function that reduces the load on the paper and does not lower the printing speed. In a general image forming apparatus, the number of single-sided prints is determined by the process linear speed for forming an image. However, in the present embodiment, printing can be performed at a process linear speed that is half that of a single device. As a result, the reliability of the device and the margin in manufacturing the device are increased.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a plurality of adjacent units operable independently as image forming apparatuses are connected to each other and combined , and each image forming unit is combined with each other . It has a communication paper feed path for forming a common paper feed path passing between the image forming units, and through this communication paper feed path, when one of the image forming units is out of paper, another image formation is performed. since thereby enabling supplying the paper from the input of the unit, more secure and stable can be utilized efficiently plurality of devices, it is possible to supply paper from other units in one unit, usually Expensive large paper feeders can be used in common, and paper can be supplied to one unit while the apparatus is not performing printing processing, so that the apparatuses can be shared more efficiently. There is an effect that can be made to so that.
[0025]
As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect is configured by connecting vertically operable units which are independently operable as an image forming apparatus. There is an effect that it is not necessary to increase the installation area by combining the above devices.
[0026]
As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect has the communication discharge path for forming the common paper discharge path passing between the combined units. In addition, the paper discharge port can be commonly used, and the cost and the installation space can be efficiently used.
[0027]
In the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, as described above, a discharge path when each unit independently operates as the image forming apparatus is provided together with the communication discharge path. In addition, a plurality of combined units can perform one process at the same time, and further, there is an effect that a plurality of devices can be used efficiently.
[0028]
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, as has been described above, since the distribution of the double-side unit between a pair of units coupled, in addition to the above common effect, after performing printing on one side in one of the units By printing the paper on the remaining surface by another unit, there is an effect that double-sided printing with little speed reduction can be performed without damaging the paper .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing the structure of a currently general laser printer.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically showing the structure of a currently general laser printer having a sorter.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view schematically showing the structure of a currently general laser printer having a duplex unit.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view schematically showing a structure of an image forming apparatus used for low-cost color printing and the like represented by an ink jet printer.
FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a sixth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a seventh embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 8 Paper feed unit 2, 9 Image forming unit 3, 10 Paper discharging unit 4, 4a, 11 Separate transport path 5 Sorter 6, 7 Duplex unit 20, 22, 23, 26-30, 32 Image forming unit 21 Connection Unit 24 connecting plate 25 discharge guide 31 high-volume paper feed unit 33 double-sided device

Claims (5)

Each of the image forming units includes a plurality of image forming units that can independently operate as an image forming apparatus, and a connecting portion is provided for combining the image forming units with each other. The image forming unit has a communication sheet feeding path for forming a common sheet feeding path passing between the combined image forming units, and one of the image forming units is out of paper via the communication sheet feeding path. An image forming apparatus capable of supplying a sheet from a sheet feeding unit of another image forming unit in the case of (i). 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the image forming units is provided with the connecting portion so as to be connectable to another image forming unit adjacent in the vertical direction. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the image forming units has a communication discharge path for forming a common discharge path passing between the combined image forming units. 4. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the image forming units has a paper discharge path when the image forming apparatus operates independently as the image forming apparatus, together with the communication paper discharge path. Between the pair of image forming units, the sheet on which image formation has been completed on one side between one image forming unit is discharged, and the rear end side of the sheet in the sheet discharging direction is set as the leading end side to another image forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a double-sided device for feeding paper.

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