JP4077931B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus having an improved layout of components such as a copying machine and a facsimile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as LBP), in order to stabilize the transferred toner, the recording sheet conveyance path of the transfer portion is made substantially horizontal, and a drum, toner, etc. are accommodated accordingly. (Hereinafter, referred to as CRG) is often configured to be attached and detached in the upper direction perpendicular to the transport path. In this case, there is an advantage that the configuration can be simplified because it is not necessary to release the transfer roller, compared with a method in which the CRG is pulled forward (in a direction parallel to the conveyance path).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when a copying machine or a facsimile is configured using this LBP as a recording unit, if a reading unit for reading a book document is arranged at the top of the printer, a space for attaching / detaching the CRG is secured. A certain gap must be provided between the recording unit and the reading unit. As a result, there has been a problem that the height of the entire apparatus is increased, operability is deteriorated, and cost is increased due to the use of a dedicated pedestal.
[0004]
In a device that does not have a moving mirror table or a moving contact sensor, that is, a device having a reading table moving type reading unit, only the document table glass and a thin pressure plate are slid to attach and detach the CRG upward. It can also be configured. However, in an apparatus having a moving mirror table, a moving contact sensor, and a document table fixing type reading unit that needs to mount heavy DF, ADF, and RDF, only the document table glass is slid. However, the CRG cannot be easily attached / detached because the moving optical system such as a mirror base and the hinge part such as the DF get in the way.
[0005]
Also, it can be a so-called crocodile type that opens the entire reading unit like a large lid, but it is difficult to keep the balance of the device at the time of opening and closing when heavy DF, ADF, and RDF are installed. Therefore, it is necessary to widen the installation portion of the device to improve the sitting, and as a result, the device takes up a large installation area.
[0006]
There is also a method of opening the upper part of the recording unit by sliding the entire reading unit. However, since the frame structure is largely divided vertically, the upper and lower sides (the reading unit and the recording unit are secured in order to ensure mechanical strength when sliding). ) An extra reinforcing member is required for each frame.
[0007]
In order to solve this problem, there has been proposed an apparatus capable of pulling out the recording unit from the frame and attaching / detaching the CRG above the recording unit. As a result, while using a CRG that can be attached and detached upward and a space-saving platen-type reading unit to which various reading accessories can be added, the height is low and the installation area is small, and the operability is good. It is an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile.
[0008]
However, in consideration of the operability of the apparatus, if it is attempted to adopt a front loading system in which the paper cassette is pulled out to the front of the frame body separately from the recording section, when the recording section is pulled out from the frame body, A new problem has arisen that the paper absence detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the paper interferes with the paper cassette.
[0009]
The paper absence detection sensor is usually configured such that a paper absence detection arm in contact with the paper as the sheet material escapes up and down in accordance with the drawer of the paper cassette. This paper absence detection arm is provided so as to hang down from the recording unit to the paper cassette, and supports the paper absence detection arm by a pivot, and on the side wall of the paper cassette according to the withdrawal of the paper cassette, It runs on the slope of the paper-free detection arm and automatically rotates to avoid upward. Here, if the recording unit is pulled out from the frame sideways, the direction is different from the normal avoidance direction, so the paper absence detection arm does not rotate well and is caught on the side wall of the paper cassette or other structures. End up.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to save a space-saving manuscript table to which a CRG that can be attached and detached and various reading accessories can be added even if the paper cassette is a front loading type image recording apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile with good operability that has a low height and a small installation area.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The invention according to claim 1 is a recording device unit that records image information on a recording sheet material;
  Recording sheetMaterialA cassette for storing
  A cassette provided in the recording device sectionInsideRecord sheetMaterialA sheet material presence sensor for determining the presence or absence of
  A frame that holds the recording device unit and the cassette so that they can be pulled out,
  The recording device section and the cassette are mutually pulled out.DifferentIt is characterized by becoming.
[0012]
  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the sheet material presence / absence sensor includes a paper absence detection arm in contact with a recording sheet surface in the cassette,
  The paper absence detection arm is a recording sheet.MaterialIt is possible to move up and down in accordance with the presence or absence of the cassette and the insertion and removal of the cassette and the recording device section from the frame.
[0013]
  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the paper absence detection arm has a spoon shape including a cup portion and a handle portion integral with the cup portion, and the cup portion is a recording sheet with the handle portion of the paper absence detection arm as a rotation center.MaterialIt is characterized by rotating up and down in contact with.
[0014]
  The invention according to claim 4SaidThe paper absence detection arm is provided with urging means for urging in a direction to reduce the weight of the cup portion of the paper absence detection arm.
[0015]
  The invention according to claim 5SaidThe paper absence detection arm is characterized in that a rotation center is provided in the vicinity of the cup portion of the handle portion of the paper absence detection arm.
[0016]
  The invention according to claim 6 is detachable from the recording device section, and the recording sheetMaterialRecording means for recording an image on
  The recording means includes the recording devicePartThe recording apparatus after the frame is pulled out from the framePartIt is characterized by being detachable above.
[0017]
The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the recording means is a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum.
[0018]
  The invention according to claim 8 is disposed above the recording device section., Equipped with a reading unit that can read the document
  SaidImage information from the reading unit or from an external devicePaintingImage information stored in the recording devicePartIs input.
[0019]
  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the reading unit collects a reflected light image obtained by exposing and scanning a document on a reading sensor to generate an image.informationThe image information can be converted toNoteRecorderPartInput to orSaidIt is possible to output to an external device.
[0020]
[Action]
Based on the above configuration, the cassette for storing the sheet material and the recording device unit for recording the image information on the sheet material are pulled out in different intersecting directions. Thereby, for example, the recording means included in the image recording apparatus can be detachable upward, and for example, a space-saving original table fixing type reading unit that can add various reading accessories to the image recording apparatus. Thus, an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile with good operability is realized with a low height and a small installation area.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
<Embodiment 1>
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention configured as a facsimile apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal front view of the image recording apparatus.
[0023]
[Overview of the entire device]
First, the outline of the entire apparatus and each part will be described.
[0024]
In FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, reference numeral 130 denotes a flat bed scanner which reads a document B placed on a document table glass 130a. Reference numeral 102 denotes a pressure plate that can be opened and closed by the user as shown in FIG. 4 and presses the document B placed on the document table glass 103a. A CCD image sensor 108 reads an image.
[0025]
On the upper surface of the pressure plate 102, there is a document table 102b configured so that a plurality of documents S can be stacked. Reference numeral 106 denotes a document transport unit that transports the document S while separating the documents S one by one, and reads the document S while transporting the document S to the sheet reading unit 107. Here, the document conveying unit 106 is provided in a part of the pressure plate 102 and moves up and down as the pressure plate 102 is opened and closed. Reference numeral 109 denotes a document discharge tray on which the discharged document S is stacked.
[0026]
Reference numeral 104 denotes a recording apparatus unit including a laser beam printer, 112 a cassette paper feeding unit, 125 a manual paper feeding unit, 111 a process cartridge for forming an image, 116 a fixing unit, 117 a pair of paper discharge rollers, and 113 a paper discharge This is a recording paper discharge tray on which the recorded recording paper is stacked.
[0027]
Reference numeral 105 denotes an operation unit constituted by a display unit, an input unit, and the like, and 120 (FIG. 13) denotes a control unit of the facsimile apparatus.
[0028]
The flat bed scanner 130, the recording device unit 104, and the operation unit 105 are provided in a frame 200 that mechanically configures the entire apparatus.
[0029]
[Flatbed scanner section]
The flatbed scanner unit 130 is provided with a platen glass 130a on which a document is placed in order to read a thick book document such as a sheet-shaped document or a book in a stationary state.
[0030]
Reference numeral 102e denotes a document pressing plate that is fixedly supported with respect to the pressure plate 102. By closing the pressure plate 102 and pressing the document on the document table glass 130a, the document floats and the CCD image sensor 108 The read image is prevented from being disturbed by being out of the depth of focus. Reference numeral 130b denotes a frame serving as a structure of the flatbed scanner unit 130, and supports the document table glass 130a.
[0031]
Here, the pressure plate 102 is provided with hinges 150a and 150b between the frame 130b and a rotation center axis. The pressure plate 102 is configured to be able to rotate and open by a predetermined angle with respect to the frame 130b. The document is placed on the platen glass 130a. The hinges 150a and 150b incorporate a damper mechanism composed of a spring and a cam. The pressure plate 102 stops without dropping when the angle is about 10 degrees or more, and the flatbed scanner unit when the angle is about 10 degrees or less. 130 is closed by its own weight. Further, the hinge 150a is provided in the vicinity of the center of gravity of the pressure plate, and the hinge 150b is provided at a position away from the center of gravity G. Accordingly, the force of the spring also makes the hinge 150a stronger. In other words, 150a functions as a main hinge and 150b functions as a sub hinge. By doing in this way, because of a strong spring or structure, it is possible to make only one costly hinge and the other cost-effective.
[0032]
[Optical system / CCD image sensor]
When reading the document S while it is conveyed to the sheet reading unit 107, the mirror table 108a holding the light source is fixed to the lower part of the sheet reading unit 107, and the document S passes through the sheet reading unit 107, thereby reading the document. Is done. When reading the book document B, the book document B is set on the document table glass 103a, and the mirror table 108a is moved in the sub-scanning direction (arrow 108b), thereby reading the document.
[0033]
[Original transport section]
The document conveying unit 106 first conveys the document S stacked on the document placing table 102b by the preliminary conveying roller 102d and the preliminary conveying pressing plate 102c, and one by one with the separation roller 106b pressed against the separation piece 106a. The sheet is separated and further conveyed to the sheet reading unit 107 by the feeding roller 106f and the document feeding roller 106e pressed by the pressing spring. Reference numeral 107a denotes a document presser. When reading a sheet document, the reading is performed with the mirror table 108a being stationary under the document holder 107a. The read document S is discharged to the document discharge tray 109 by the document discharge roller 106h and the document discharge roller 106g.
[0034]
As described above, the document conveying unit 106 is provided on a part of the pressure plate 102. When the pressure plate 102 is opened, the document conveying unit 106 is also lifted upward. It can be released easily.
[0035]
The document placement table 102b is provided with a slider 102a that is slidable in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the document S (the width direction of the document S), and the document placed on the document placement table 102b by the slider 102a. Both sides of S can be aligned.
[0036]
[Recording device section]
The recording device unit 104 is disposed at the lower part of the device. The sheet material P in the cassette 112a in which the general-purpose sized sheet material P is stacked and accommodated is separated one by one by the feeding roller pair 112b, the skew of the sheet material P is corrected by the registration roller pair 124, and the control unit 120 The sheet material P is fed to the image forming portion where the transfer roller 111f is positioned in synchronization with the print signal from the image forming apparatus.
[0037]
The charging member 111b uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 111a, which is an electrostatic latent image carrier, and the surface is exposed by the laser scanner 110 based on the image information. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 111a, and the toner as the developer of the image forming unit is transferred to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 111a by the developing sleeve 111c as a developer carrier. As a result, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 111a. The toner image on which the toner image is formed is transferred to the sheet material P by the transfer roller 111f, and the sheet material P is further conveyed to the fixing unit 116. In the fixing unit 116, the toner transferred onto the sheet material P is conveyed by the fixing roller 116b and the pressure roller 116a and fixed on the sheet material P by heat and pressure. The paper is sequentially discharged to the recording paper discharge tray 113 by 117. The photosensitive drum 111a, the charging member 111b, and the developing sleeve 111c form an integral process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as CRG) 111 together with the toner container 111d so that the entire CRG can be replaced during maintenance due to toner exhaustion or drum wear. (Described later).
[0038]
On the other hand, the sheet material P stacked on the manual sheet feeding unit 125 is separated into one sheet by a separation pad 125b disposed at a position facing the sheet feeding roller 125a, and the sheet material P is skewed by a registration roller pair 124. The sheet material P is conveyed as described above, the toner image is transferred by the image forming unit, fixed by the fixing unit 116, and similarly, the sheet material P is sequentially discharged to the recording paper discharge tray 113. It has become.
[0039]
In the recording apparatus unit 104, the cassette 112a of the cassette paper feeding unit 112 and the recording paper discharge tray 113 are set on the frame 200, and the remaining feeding roller pair 112b, registration roller pair 124, and manual feed The paper feeding unit 125, the image forming unit, the fixing unit 116, and the paper discharge roller pair 117 are combined into a single frame structure (drawer frame structure) as the recording engine unit 114. As will be described later, the recording engine unit 114 is supported by the rail units 10a and 10b so that it can be pulled out from the frame body 200.
[0040]
[Control unit]
An example of a block diagram of the control unit (control unit) 120 of the facsimile apparatus embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0041]
The reading unit, recording unit, operation unit, communication control unit, LCD (display unit), speaker, CPU (central processing circuit), MPU, RAM, ROM, and image processing unit are included. Reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU that controls the entire facsimile apparatus, the MPU 311, a ROM 312 that stores a control program of the MPU 311, a RAM 313 that is used as a work area for various data processing and a temporary storage unit for image information, An image processing unit 314 that performs resolution conversion and the like is configured. The CPU 301 is provided with a calendar having a known configuration, a clock function, and the like, and an area for storing important system setting information such as one-touch key destination information and software switch information in the RAM 313 is inadvertent such as a power failure due to battery backup. Protected from failure. The control system of the facsimile apparatus has a configuration in which the above-described CPU 301 and the elements 302 to 306, 341 and 310 connected by the interface 340 are coupled through the interface 309.
[0042]
The reading unit 304 includes a driving unit such as a reading motor (not shown), a reading sensor that reads an image, an image processing unit that performs shading and binarization of the read image, and various sensors that perform document detection and the like.
[0043]
The recording unit 305 includes a driving unit such as a recording motor (not shown), a recording unit that controls a laser scanner and an electrophotographic process, an image processing unit that performs smoothing of an image to be recorded, and various sensors that detect recording paper and the like. Become.
[0044]
A communication control unit 306 that performs outgoing / incoming calls, image data encoding, and the like has a connection unit such as MODEM and NCU (not shown), and a communication network and a handset are connected to the connection unit.
[0045]
The CPU external interface 309 is an interface that directly transmits and receives data from the CPU 301. For example, the CPU external interface 309 is connected to a computer outside the apparatus through a line such as RS232C, SCSI, or LAN, so that the apparatus can be used as a scanner printer of an external computer. To do. The HDD 310 is used as a large-capacity nonvolatile memory for storing image information and the like.
[0046]
Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 3, the facsimile apparatus can be replaced by pulling out the recording engine unit 114 from the frame body 200 in the lateral direction B, opening the insertion portion of the CRG 111 widely, opening the lid 150, and replacing the CRG 111. Yes. At this time, the flatbed scanner 130 remains stationary on the frame body 200.
[0048]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the jammed recording sheet material P is processed, the CRG 111 is similarly extracted to open the conveying path, and the jammed recording sheet material P can be easily removed. . On the other hand, the cassette 112a can be pulled out in the C direction (front side of the operator) in front of the apparatus to set the recording sheet material P. This method is generally called a front loading method, and has better operability than a method of pulling out the cassette 112a to the side of the apparatus. The recording engine unit 114 is pulled out in the B direction on the side, and the cassette 112a is pulled out in the C direction on the front, and in different directions (in the present embodiment, crossing directions).
[0049]
A mechanism for pulling out the recording engine unit 114 will be described.
[0050]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3, and the frame body 200 and the recording engine unit 114 are connected by rail units 20a and 20b. The rail portions 20a and 20b are symmetrical in this apparatus. FIG. 6 shows details of the rail portion 20a. In the figure, 1 is a frame of the recording engine unit 114, 2 is a rail base fixed to the frame 1, 3 is a slide rail fixed to the rail base, and from the frame 1 to the slide rail 3, the recording device unit 104 side The rail is configured. Reference numeral 4 denotes a shaft fixed to the frame body 200, 5 denotes a ball bearing instructed to rotate freely on the shaft 4, and 6 denotes an E-ring for preventing the ball bearing 5 from coming off. A rail on the reading unit side is constituted by the frame body 200 and the shaft 4 to the E-ring 6, and the ball bearing 5 rolls along the slide rail 3, so that the recording engine unit 114 slides (draws) with respect to the frame body 200. To work. Two sets of ball bearings are provided on the rail portion 20a, and two sets of ball bearings are provided on the rail portion 20b, so that the entire recording engine portion 114 is smoothly pulled out without rattling. When the recording engine unit 114 is pulled out and opened and closed, a locking mechanism (not shown) is provided so that the recording engine unit 114 is fixed at each position.
[0051]
In this facsimile apparatus, the recording engine unit 114 is provided with sheet material presence / absence sensors 11 and 10 for detecting the presence / absence of a recording sheet material. As shown in FIG. 7, the sheet material presence / absence sensor includes a polystyrene paper absence detection arm 10, a photo interrupter 11, a paper absence detection holder 12 that holds the photo interrupter 11, and the like. The paper absence detection holder 12 pivotally supports the paper absence detection arm 10 at a fulcrum 10a, and the paper contact portion 10c of the paper absence detection arm 10 moves up and down according to the presence or absence of a recording sheet material.
[0052]
The recording sheet material P is stacked on the middle plate 112c in the cassette 112a, and when the recording sheet material P is exhausted, the paper contact portion 10c of the paper absence detection arm 10 passes through the hole formed in the middle plate 112c as shown in FIG. The paper 10 hangs down to the position, and the actuator 10 b of the paper absence detection arm 10 blocks the detection light of the photo interrupter 11 accordingly, thereby determining the presence or absence of the recording sheet material.
[0053]
The paper absence detection holder 12 is further attached to the recording engine unit 114 while holding the paper absence detection arm 10 and the photo interrupter 11, and the recording engine unit 114 slides (draws) with respect to the frame body 200. In operation, the paper absence detection holder 12 operates together. On the other hand, the cassette 112a remains on the frame body 200 side.
[0054]
However, as shown in FIG. 8, the paper absence detection arm 10 has a spoon-like shape made up of the cup portion 10A and the handle portion 10h, so that the slide operation of the recording engine portion 114 is performed as shown in FIG. Accordingly, it smoothly rotates up and down around the fulcrum 10a and does not get caught in the side wall of the cassette 112a or the edge of the hole in the intermediate plate 112c. This is because the gentle slopes 10d and 10e of the cup portion 10A of the paper absence detection arm 10 receive from the recess 112f or the like of the side wall 112d of the cassette 112a (the resultant force of the tangential friction force and the normal normal force). ) Works in a direction to rotate the paper absence detection arm 10 clockwise around the fulcrum 10a, and lifts the paper absence detection arm 10 upward.
[0055]
Further, as can be seen from FIG. 10 as viewed from the direction B of FIG. 9, even when the cassette 112a is being pulled out, the oblique upward force received by the inclined surfaces 10f, 10g of the paper absence detection arm 10 from the side wall of the cassette 112a, etc. Since the paper absence detection arm 10 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 9 with the fulcrum 10a as the center, the paper absence detection arm 10 is lifted upward.
[0056]
As described above, this facsimile apparatus employs a front loading system in which the CRG 111 that can be attached and detached upward and the space-saving original platen-type reading unit that does not take up space when used, and the cassette 112a is pulled out to the front of the apparatus. In spite of this, the height of the apparatus is kept low by pulling out the recording part (recording apparatus part) to the side while retracting the paper absence detection arm 10 of the sheet material presence sensor 10, 11. Has succeeded. As a result, even when the apparatus is on a normal desk, the manuscript table glass surface is positioned at an appropriate height, so that the operability is not impaired. Moreover, since a dedicated mounting table is not necessary, it is possible to prevent a user from spending unnecessary expenses.
[0057]
Furthermore, compared to the method in which the flatbed scanner 130 is divided and slid from the frame body 200, the frame structure can be made mechanically strong, so that it has excellent static pressure resistance, drop and vibration, and has a failure. The apparatus can be reduced.
[0058]
<Embodiment 2>
In the first embodiment, the paper absence detection arm is made of polystyrene. However, by using PPS (polyphenylene sulfite) having a small surface friction coefficient, metal, or the like, the slope of the cup portion 10A of the paper absence detection arm 10 is changed. Even if it is somewhat steep, it can be prevented from being caught on the side wall of the cassette 120a. As a result, the paper absence detection arm 10 itself can be downsized, and as a result, the apparatus can be made small and low cost.
[0059]
<Embodiment 3>
As shown in FIG. 11, the paper absence detection arm 10 can be urged by a spring 13 against the paper absence detection holder 12 to reduce the weight of the paper contact portion 10 c. In this way, when the recording sheet material P becomes a little remaining, the paper absence detection arm 10 pushes the recording sheet material P through the hole in the intermediate plate 112c to partially deform it, thereby reducing the recording quality. Or, there is no possibility of erroneously detecting that there is no paper even though the recording sheet material P is present.
[0060]
<Embodiment 4>
The effect similar to that of the third embodiment is not a spring, but a center of rotation is provided in the vicinity of the cup portion 10A of the paper absence detection arm 10 as shown in FIG. 12, and the handle portion 10h is extended to balance. Can also be achieved. Although the paper absence detection arm 10A itself becomes large, it is not necessary to use a spring, so that a low-cost device can be obtained.
[0061]
<Embodiment 5>
In the first embodiment, the facsimile apparatus is taken up as the image recording apparatus. However, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention can achieve the same effect even when applied to a copying machine.
[0062]
<Embodiment 6>
In addition to the pressure plate with ADF as described in the first embodiment, various reading accessories such as an RDF that can read both sides and a simple pressure plate can be attached to the reading unit. In any case, since the frame body 200 is fixed as an integral structure, it is easy to mount these accessories.
[0063]
<Embodiment 7>
In the first embodiment, a laser beam printer is used as the recording device unit 104, but a thermal transfer type or ink jet type recording device unit 104 may be used instead. Even when the recording device unit 104 is a thermal transfer system, the ink film is made into a cartridge type so that it can be attached to and detached from the top, so that the operability is improved. It is necessary to configure so that it can be detached from the upper part, and by applying the present invention, it is possible to expect the same effect as in the first embodiment.
[0064]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a recording apparatus unit that records image information on a recording sheet material and a cassette that stores the sheet material are provided with a sensor that detects the presence or absence of the sheet material in the cassette. In spite of being provided, since it can be pulled out in different directions with respect to the frame, it is possible to easily store the sheet material in the cassette, perform the maintenance operation to the recording apparatus unit, and the like. As a result, for example, a space-saving original platen-type original reading unit that does not take up space during use can be arranged above the recording apparatus unit without increasing the height of the apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a facsimile apparatus as an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal front view of the facsimile apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an operation diagram showing a drawing state of the recording unit of the facsimile apparatus.
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the image recording apparatus showing the cassette being pulled out and the recording apparatus unit being pulled out.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3 of the facsimile apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a view of the image recording apparatus as seen from B in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal side view showing the operation of the sheet material presence / absence sensor unit.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a paper absence detection arm of the sheet material presence sensor.
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal front view of the recording apparatus unit that has been pulled out.
10 is a view as seen from B in FIG. 9 of the sheet material presence / absence sensor unit. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a side view showing another embodiment of a paper absence detection arm.
FIG. 12 is a side view showing another embodiment of a paper absence detection arm.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram related to the control of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
P Sheet material for recording
10 Paper detection arm
10A Cup part of paper detection arm
10h Pattern part of paper detection arm
11 Photo interrupter
10, 11 Sheet material presence / absence sensor
104 Recording unit
107 Sheet reading unit (document reading unit)
111 Process cartridge (recording means)
112a cassette
114 Recording engine section
130a Document platen glass (document reading unit)
108 CCD image sensor (reading sensor)
200 frame

Claims (9)

A recording device for recording image information on a recording sheet material;
A cassette for storing the recording sheet material ;
A sheet material presence / absence sensor that is provided in the recording device section and determines the presence / absence of a recording sheet material in a cassette;
A frame that holds the recording device unit and the cassette so that they can be pulled out,
The recording and the device unit and the cassette, the image recording apparatus to which the pull-out direction, characterized in that it is different to one another. The sheet material presence / absence sensor includes a paper absence detection arm in contact with the recording sheet surface in the cassette,
2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper absence detecting arm is movable up and down in accordance with the presence / absence of a recording sheet material and the insertion and removal of the cassette and the recording apparatus unit from the frame. . The paper absence detection arm has a spoon shape including a cup portion and a handle portion integral with the cup portion, and the cup portion rotates up and down in contact with the recording sheet material with the handle portion of the paper absence detection arm as a rotation center. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the paper absence detecting arm is provided with a biasing means for biasing in a direction to reduce the weight of the cup portion of the paper absence detecting arm. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the paper absence detection arm is provided with a rotation center in the vicinity of the cup portion of the handle portion of the paper absence detection arm. A recording unit that is detachable from the recording unit and records an image on the recording sheet material ,
The recording means, wherein after the recording unit was pulled out from the frame, the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said detachable above the recording unit .   The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording unit is a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum. A reading unit disposed above the recording device unit and capable of reading a document;
Image information from the reading unit, or images information from the external device, an image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that input to the recording device section. The reading unit condenses on the sensor reads the reflected light image obtained by exposing and scanning a document can be converted into image information, the image information is input or said external Previous handed recording apparatus section 9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein output to a device is possible.

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