JP4106292B2 - Duplex feeding method, duplex feeding apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Duplex feeding method, duplex feeding apparatus, and image forming apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
JP4106292B2
JP4106292B2 JP2003061404A JP2003061404A JP4106292B2 JP 4106292 B2 JP4106292 B2 JP 4106292B2 JP 2003061404 A JP2003061404 A JP 2003061404A JP 2003061404 A JP2003061404 A JP 2003061404A JP 4106292 B2 JP4106292 B2 JP 4106292B2
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Prior art keywords
sheet material
image
image forming
feeding
unit
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Expired - Fee Related
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JP2004269138A (en
Inventor
尚明 萩原
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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  • Counters In Electrophotography And Two-Sided Copying (AREA)
  • Paper Feeding For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Conveyance By Endless Belt Conveyors (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)

Description

【0001】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、複写機、プリンタ等の電子写真方式の画像形成装置に関し、より詳細には、シート材の両面に画像を形成するために備えられる両面給送装置に関する。
【0002】
【従来の技術】
従来から、シート材の片面に画像を形成した後に、シート材を表裏反転させて再び画像形成部に再給送し、別の片面にも画像を形成する両面印刷機能を備えた画像形成装置が知られている。これらの画像形成装置においては、シート材の給送手段、再給送手段、あるいはまた、反転手段等がジャムを引き起こした場合に、画像形成装置本体に対して回動自在に設けられたカバーを開くことで、それらの内部が開放されて、ジャム処理を容易行える構成としている。
【0003】
特許文献1に開示された画像形成装置は、装置本体に対し回動自在に設けられたシート材給送ガイドの内部にシート材再給送手段を設け、シート材再給送手段を着脱可能な機構とすることで優れたジャム処理操作性を実現した両面給送装置を備えるものである。しかしながら、上記の両面給送装置は、シート材給送ガイド全体にシート材の給送手段を設けた機構となっており、省スペース化が図られていない。また、給送精度に寄与するシート材給送手段に関しては着脱自在な構成になっていることから、交換性に優れているが、その他の部材の交換性については考慮されていない。その他の部材とは、例えば、画像の精度に大きく寄与する転写手段等であり、これらの部材の交換性にも優れることが望まれている。
【0004】
【特許文献1】
特開2001−2330号公報
【0005】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記問題点を解決するために、本発明は、装置の小型化が図れると共に、ジャム処理操作性、並びにシート材の給送精度に寄与するシート材再給送手段及び画像の精度に寄与する転写手段のメンテナンス性を向上させる両面給送方式、及び両面給送装置を提供することを課題とする。また、当該両面給送装置を備え、小型化が可能で、ジャム処理操作性、メンテナンス性に優れた画像形成装置を提供することを課題とする。
【0006】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記課題を解決するために、請求項1に記載の発明は、装置本体に対し、回動自在に形成されたカバーと、シート材給送手段により給送されたシート材に像担持体上のトナー像を転写する転写手段と、該転写手段を通過するシート材の給送経路を形成する給送経路形成部材と、トナー像が形成されたシート材を再給送する再給送手段とを備え、前記転写手段と前記再給送手段とは前記給送経路形成部材に設けられ、前記給送経路形成部材は、前記カバ−とともに回動し、前記給送経路形成部材は、前記カバ−に対し着脱可能に形成されていることを特徴とする。
【0007】
請求項2に記載の発明は、前記カバーと、前記給送経路形成部材との間に形成された空間がシート材の再給送経路を形成することを特徴とする。
【0008】
請求項3に記載の発明は、像担持体を備え、該像担持体上に静電潜像を形成し、該静電潜像をトナーによって現像することにより画像を形成する画像形成部を有し、シート材給送手段によりシート材を画像形成部に給送し、レジスト手段によりシート材の斜行補正を行って、画像形成部で形成された像担持体上のトナー像を転写手段によってシート材に転写し、その後定着手段によってシート材の片面にトナー像を定着させた後、該シート材を反転手段により反転させて、再び前記レジスト手段に向けて再給送手段により再給送し、別の片面にトナー像を転写、定着させる画像形成装置において、請求項1又は2に記載の画像形成装置であることを特徴とする。
【0009】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下に、本発明の実施の形態を図面に基づいて説明する。
図1は、本発明に係る画像形成装置本体の斜視図である。画像形成装置100は、上部に自動原稿搬送装置、原稿読み取り装置を備え、下部に給紙装置を備える。本体中央部には、シート材に画像を形成する画像形成部、両面印刷のためにシート材を表裏反転させる反転手段、両面印刷のために画像形成部へのシート材の給送を司る両面給送装置が備えられている。画像形成部は、像担持体を有し、その周囲に、像担持体表面を帯電させる帯電手段、帯電した像担持体表面を露光して潜像を形成する露光手段、像担持体表面の潜像にトナーを供給して現像する現像手段、像担持体上のトナー像をシート材に転写する転写手段、シート材上のトナー像を定着させる定着手段が配置されている。
【0010】
次に、本発明の両面給送方式、並びに両面給送装置について説明する。両面給送装置は、図1の画像形成装置100本体側面に対し、回動自在に形成されたカバー1内部に備えられている。
図2は、両面給送装置の構成を示す分解斜視図である。図示していないが、図中右手奥側に回動支点があり、図2はカバー1を回動して水平にした状態である。また、図3は、図2の縦断面を拡大して示す図である。本発明の両面給送装置は、装置本体に対し、回動自在に形成されたカバー1と、画像形成装置100下部に備えられた図示しない給紙装置よりシート材給送手段によって画像形成部に給送されてきたシート材のガイド機構としてのシート材給送ガイド2と、転写手段4を通過するシート材の給送経路を形成する給送経路形成部材3とから構成される。シート材給送ガイド2は、シート材の斜行を補正し転写手段4に向けてシート材を給送するレジスト手段8を保持している。また、給送経路形成部材3は、転写手段4、再給送手段5、6を保持し、締結ピン7によってカバー1に固定されている。このように、レジスト手段8、転写手段4をシート材給送ガイド2、給送経路形成部材3等の部材上に設ける構成としたことで、装置の小型を図ることができる。
また、カバー1と、シート材給送ガイド2及び給送経路形成部材3との間に形成される空間は、各部材がシート材再給送ガイドの役目を担うことで、再給送手段5、6によって再びレジスト手段8に向けて給送されるシート材の再給送経路が形成される構成となっている。
【0011】
この両面給送装置によるシート材の給送方式は以下の通りである。レジスト手段8によって斜行補正されたシート材は、シート材給送ガイド2に従って転写手段4の上部に給送され、転写手段4と対向配置されている図示しない像担持体上のトナー像を、像担持体と転写手段4とが形成するニップ部を通過するときに転写される。トナー像を転写された後のシート材は、図示しない定着手段に搬送され、シート材上にトナー像を定着される。これにより、片面の画像形成が終了するが、その後、別の片面に画像を形成するために、シート材は、図示しない反転手段に搬送され、表裏反転される。反転した後のシート材は、再び両面給送装置に戻り、再給送手段5、6によってレジスト手段8に向けて給送され、カバー1と、シート材給送ガイド2及び給送経路形成部材3との間に形成される再給送経路を通過する。
【0012】
図2に示す両面給送装置において、転写手段4と再給送手段5、6とを備える給送経路形成部材3は、締結ピン7の抜き差しにより、シート材給送ガイド2に対し着脱が自在にできるようになっている。締結ピン7は、リベット、ネジ等を用いるものであっても良い。これにより、シート材の再給送経路上で生じたジャムの処理を容易に行うことができる。また、再給送手段5、6の各部材の交換が行えるのはもちろんのこと、再給送手段5、6と共に給送経路形成部材3上に設けられている転写手段4も同様にして、寿命到来等交換が必要になったときには、容易にそれを行うことができ、メンテナンス性に優れた構成である。
【0013】
【発明の効果】
以上説明してきたように、本発明により、転写手段と再給送手段とを同一部材上に設け、シート材給送ガイドに対し着脱自在に形成したことで、シート材のジャム処理操作性、及びメンテナンス性を向上させた両面給送方式、ならびに両面給送装置を提供することができる。また、当該両面給送装置の構成によって、小型化が可能で、ジャム処理操作性、メンテナンス性に優れた画像形成装置を提供することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図1】本発明に係る画像形成装置本体の斜視図である。
【図2】両面給送装置の構成を示す分解斜視図である。
【図3】図2の縦断面を拡大して示す図である。
【符号の説明】
1 カバー
2 シート材給送ガイド
3 給送経路形成部材
4 転写手段
5,6 再給送手段
7 締結ピン
8 レジスト手段
100 画像形成装置
[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer, and more particularly to a double-sided feeding apparatus provided for forming images on both sides of a sheet material.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, after forming an image on one side of a sheet material, an image forming apparatus having a double-sided printing function that reverses the front and back of the sheet material and re-feeds it to the image forming unit again to form an image on another side also Are known. In these image forming apparatuses, when a sheet material feeding means, a refeeding means, or a reversing means or the like causes a jam, a cover provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body is provided. by opening, their internal is opened, has a configuration that allows jam processing easily.
[0003]
The image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a sheet material refeed means inside a sheet material feed guide that is rotatably provided with respect to the apparatus main body, and the sheet material refeed means can be attached and detached. The mechanism includes a double-sided feeding device that realizes excellent jam handling operability. However, the above-described double-sided feeding device has a mechanism in which sheet material feeding means is provided in the entire sheet material feeding guide, and space saving is not achieved. Further, the sheet material feeding means that contributes to the feeding accuracy is detachable, so that the exchangeability is excellent, but the exchangeability of other members is not considered. The other members are, for example, transfer means that greatly contribute to the accuracy of the image, and it is desired that these members be excellent in exchangeability.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2001-2330
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention can reduce the size of the apparatus, and can transfer a sheet material refeeding means that contributes to jam handling operability and sheet material feeding accuracy and image accuracy. It is an object of the present invention to provide a double-sided feeding method and a double-sided feeding device that improve the maintainability of the means. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that includes the double-sided feeding device, can be downsized, and has excellent jam handling operability and maintainability.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an image carrier on a cover formed to be rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body and a sheet material fed by a sheet material feeding means. Transfer means for transferring a toner image, a feed path forming member for forming a feed path of a sheet material passing through the transfer means, and a refeed means for refeeding the sheet material on which the toner image is formed The transfer means and the refeed means are provided in the feed path forming member, the feed path forming member rotates together with the cover, and the feed path forming member is the cover. It is formed so that it can be attached or detached with respect to.
[0007]
The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that a space formed between the cover and the feeding path forming member forms a sheet material refeeding path.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming portion that includes an image carrier, forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, and develops the electrostatic latent image with toner. The sheet material is fed to the image forming unit by the sheet material feeding unit, the skew correction of the sheet material is performed by the registration unit, and the toner image on the image carrier formed by the image forming unit is transferred by the transfer unit. After transferring to the sheet material and fixing the toner image on one side of the sheet material by the fixing means, the sheet material is reversed by the reversing means, and again fed to the registration means by the refeeding means. 3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner image is transferred and fixed on another side.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus main body according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an automatic document feeder and a document reading device at the top, and a paper feeding device at the bottom. An image forming unit for forming an image on the sheet material, a reversing means for reversing the sheet material for double-sided printing, and a double-sided feeding for feeding the sheet material to the image forming unit for double-sided printing A feeding device is provided. The image forming unit includes an image carrier, and a charging unit for charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure unit for exposing the charged image carrier surface to form a latent image, and a latent image on the surface of the image carrier. Developing means for supplying toner to the image for development, transfer means for transferring the toner image on the image carrier to the sheet material, and fixing means for fixing the toner image on the sheet material are arranged.
[0010]
Next, the duplex feeding system and duplex feeding apparatus of the present invention will be described. The double-sided feeding device is provided inside the cover 1 formed so as to be rotatable with respect to the side surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 in FIG.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the duplex feeding device. Although not shown, there is a rotation fulcrum on the back side of the right hand in the figure, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the cover 1 is rotated and leveled. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the longitudinal section of FIG. The double-sided feeding device according to the present invention has a cover 1 formed so as to be rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body and a sheet material feeding unit (not shown) provided at the lower part of the image forming apparatus 100 to an image forming unit by a sheet material feeding unit. The sheet material feeding guide 2 serves as a guide mechanism for the fed sheet material, and a feeding path forming member 3 that forms a feeding path for the sheet material passing through the transfer means 4. The sheet material feeding guide 2 holds a registration unit 8 that corrects the skew of the sheet material and feeds the sheet material toward the transfer unit 4. The feeding path forming member 3 holds the transfer unit 4 and the refeeding units 5 and 6 and is fixed to the cover 1 by fastening pins 7. Thus, the apparatus can be reduced in size by providing the registration means 8 and the transfer means 4 on the members such as the sheet material feeding guide 2 and the feeding path forming member 3.
Further, the space formed between the cover 1 and the sheet material feeding guide 2 and the feeding path forming member 3 is configured so that each member serves as a sheet material refeeding guide, so that the refeeding means 5 is provided. 6, a re-feeding path for the sheet material fed toward the registration means 8 again is formed.
[0011]
The sheet feeding method by this double-sided feeding device is as follows. The sheet material that has been skew-corrected by the registration unit 8 is fed to the upper portion of the transfer unit 4 in accordance with the sheet material feeding guide 2, and a toner image on an image carrier (not shown) disposed opposite to the transfer unit 4 is The image is transferred when passing through the nip formed by the image carrier and the transfer means 4. The sheet material after the toner image is transferred is conveyed to a fixing unit (not shown), and the toner image is fixed on the sheet material. As a result, the image formation on one side is completed. Thereafter, in order to form an image on the other side, the sheet material is conveyed to a reversing unit (not shown) and reversed upside down. The sheet material after the reverse is returned to the double-sided feeding device again, and is fed toward the registration means 8 by the refeeding means 5 and 6, and the cover 1, the sheet material feeding guide 2, and the feeding path forming member. 3 passes through a refeeding path formed between the two.
[0012]
In the double-sided feeding apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the feeding path forming member 3 including the transfer unit 4 and the refeeding units 5 and 6 can be freely attached to and detached from the sheet material feeding guide 2 by inserting and removing the fastening pins 7. You can do it. The fastening pin 7 may use a rivet, a screw or the like. Thereby, it is possible to easily handle a jam that occurs on the sheet material re-feeding path. In addition, each of the refeeding means 5 and 6 can be replaced, as well as the transfer means 4 provided on the feeding path forming member 3 together with the refeeding means 5 and 6. When replacement such as the end of life becomes necessary, it can be easily performed, and the structure is excellent in maintainability.
[0013]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the transfer unit and the refeed unit are provided on the same member, and are detachably formed with respect to the sheet material feeding guide. It is possible to provide a double-sided feeding method and a double-sided feeding device with improved maintainability. Further, the configuration of the double-sided feeding device can provide an image forming apparatus that can be downsized and has excellent jam handling operability and maintainability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main body of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a duplex feeding device.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a longitudinal section of FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cover 2 Sheet material feed guide 3 Feed path formation member 4 Transfer means 5, 6 Refeed means 7 Fastening pin 8 Registration means 100 Image forming apparatus

Claims (3)

装置本体に対し、回動自在に形成されたカバーと、
シート材給送手段により給送されたシート材に像担持体上のトナー像を転写する転写手段と、
該転写手段を通過するシート材の給送経路を形成する給送経路形成部材と、
トナー像が形成されたシート材を再給送する再給送手段とを備え、
前記転写手段と前記再給送手段とは前記給送経路形成部材に設けられ、
前記給送経路形成部材は、前記カバ−とともに回動し、
前記給送経路形成部材は、前記カバ−に対し着脱可能に形成されている
ことを特徴とする画像形成装置
A cover formed to be rotatable with respect to the apparatus body;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image on the image carrier to the sheet material fed by the sheet material feeding means;
A feeding path forming member that forms a feeding path of the sheet material passing through the transfer means;
Refeed means for refeeding the sheet material on which the toner image is formed,
The transfer means and the refeed means are provided in the feed path forming member,
The feeding path forming member rotates together with the cover,
The feeding path forming member is formed to be detachable from the cover.
An image forming apparatus .
前記カバーと、前記給送経路形成部材との間に形成された空間がシート材の再給送経路を形成する  A space formed between the cover and the feed path forming member forms a sheet material refeed path.
ことを特徴とする請求項1に記載の画像形成装置。  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
像担持体を備え、該像担持体上に静電潜像を形成し、該静電潜像をトナーによって現像することにより画像を形成する画像形成部を有し、シート材給送手段によりシート材を画像形成部に給送し、レジスト手段によりシート材の斜行補正を行って、画像形成部で形成された像担持体上のトナー像を転写手段によってシート材に転写し、その後定着手段によってシート材の片面にトナー像を定着させた後、該シート材を反転手段により反転させて、再び前記レジスト手段に向けて再給送手段により再給送し、別の片面にトナー像を転写、定着させる画像形成装置において、
請求項1又は2に記載の画像形成装置である
ことを特徴とする画像形成装置。
An image bearing member, and an image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member and forms the image by developing the electrostatic latent image with toner. The material is fed to the image forming unit, the skew correction of the sheet material is performed by the registration unit, and the toner image on the image carrier formed by the image forming unit is transferred to the sheet material by the transfer unit, and then the fixing unit After fixing the toner image on one side of the sheet material, the sheet material is reversed by the reversing means, and again fed to the registration means by the refeeding means, and the toner image is transferred to the other side. In the image forming apparatus to be fixed,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
An image forming apparatus.
JP2003061404A 2003-03-07 2003-03-07 Duplex feeding method, duplex feeding apparatus, and image forming apparatus Expired - Fee Related JP4106292B2 (en)

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JP2003061404A JP4106292B2 (en) 2003-03-07 2003-03-07 Duplex feeding method, duplex feeding apparatus, and image forming apparatus

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JP2004269138A JP2004269138A (en) 2004-09-30
JP4106292B2 true JP4106292B2 (en) 2008-06-25

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