JP5134312B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image based on image information.

  The image forming apparatus includes a frame, an image forming unit that can form an image based on image information, a paper storage unit that can store paper, and a paper in the paper storage unit that is arranged in the main body so that the paper can be pulled out from the frame. A paper transport unit that can be transported to the forming unit.

In this image forming apparatus, an image is formed by the image forming unit based on the image information, and at the same time, the sheet is conveyed from the sheet storage unit to the image forming unit, and the image is transferred to the sheet. When the paper is jammed in the paper transport unit, the paper storage unit and the paper transport unit are pulled out from the frame to remove the jammed paper (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-11-310331

  In the image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228561, the paper storage unit is not stable with respect to the frame. Specifically, there is a possibility that the position of the paper storage unit with respect to the paper transport unit is shifted, and the position of the paper supplied from the paper storage unit is shifted when the position of the paper storage unit with respect to the paper transport unit is shifted. If the sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit in a shifted state, the image transfer position is shifted, and the image quality is deteriorated.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the urging member is arranged on the rear side in the pulling direction of the paper storage unit so that the paper storage unit can be easily pulled out from the frame. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a space for the frame, and it is necessary to make the frame larger than the installation area of the paper storage unit.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent a deterioration in image quality due to shakiness of a paper storage unit. It is another object of the present invention to prevent the paper storage unit from being pulled out and to increase the installation area of the entire apparatus.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a frame, an image forming unit, a paper transport unit, and an urging member. The image forming unit is a part capable of forming an image on a sheet based on image information. The paper transport unit is a portion that is detachably disposed on the frame and supplies paper to the image forming unit. The paper storage unit is a part that is disposed so as to be able to be pulled out from the frame and stores paper. The urging member urges the paper storage unit in the pull-out direction and urges the paper transport unit in a direction opposite to the pull-out direction.

  In this image forming apparatus, an image is formed by an image forming unit based on image information when an image is formed. At this time, the paper in the paper storage unit is supplied to the image forming unit by the paper transport unit, and an image is formed on the surface of the paper. Thereafter, the paper having an image formed on the surface is discharged out of the apparatus. Here, the paper storage unit is urged in the pull-out direction by the urging member, and the paper transport unit is urged in the direction opposite to the pull-out direction by the urging member.

  Here, since the paper storage unit and the paper transport unit are energized, the paper transport unit and the paper storage unit are less likely to be rattled, and deterioration in image quality due to the backlash of the paper storage unit and the paper transport unit can be prevented. .

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect , wherein the paper transport unit is provided on the transport unit main body and the transport unit main body so as to be movable along the pull-out direction. And a handle member for operation that can take a retracted position. The paper storage unit can be brought into contact with the handle member so as to push the handle member into the retracted position while being set in the frame. The urging member is disposed between the conveyance unit main body and the handle member, and urges the handle member toward the pulling operation position.

  Here, it becomes easy to pull out the paper transport unit from the frame by the handle member.

An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect , further comprising a lock mechanism for restricting movement of the paper storage portion in the pull-out direction. The urging member pushes the paper storage portion in the pulling direction via the handle member when the restriction on movement of the paper storage portion by the lock mechanism is released.

  Here, when the lock mechanism is released, the paper storage unit is pushed out by the handle member in the direction in which the paper storage unit is pulled out, so that the paper storage unit is easily pulled out of the frame. For this reason, it becomes easy to set the paper in the paper storage unit and to easily remove the paper jam.

An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the paper transport unit is disposed above the paper storage unit,
The sheet storage unit includes a storage unit main body that stores paper, and a front wall that is provided on the front side of the storage unit main body in the pulling direction and extends from the storage unit main body to the height position of the paper transport unit. The handle member is provided on the front side in the pull-out direction of the paper transport unit and can come into contact with the front wall portion.

  Here, since the handle member and the urging member are arranged at the same height position as the height position of the paper transport unit, it is not necessary to arrange the urging member or the like on the back side in the pulling direction of the paper storage unit, An increase in installation space can be prevented.

  In the present invention, it is possible to easily pull out the paper storage unit and to prevent an increase in the installation area of the entire apparatus. Further, it is possible to prevent the image quality from being lowered due to the shakiness of the paper storage unit.

1. Configuration FIG. 1 shows a color printer 1 which is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for showing the arrangement of each component, and details of each part are omitted. Note that an arrow A in FIG. 1 indicates the circulation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 81.

  The color printer 1 is connected to a computer (not shown) or the like, and is a device that can print a color image on paper based on image information transmitted from an external computer or the like.

  The color printer 1 includes an image forming unit 2 that forms an image based on image information, a paper transport unit 3 that transports a paper, a fixing unit 4 that fixes an image formed by the image forming unit 2 to the paper, A discharge unit 5 that discharges the paper to the top of the color printer 1, a paper feed unit 6 that stores the paper, a transfer device 8 that transfers an image to the paper, and a frame 9 and an anti-rattle mechanism 10 (see FIG. 4). ). The rattling prevention mechanism 10 will be described in detail later.

  The image forming unit 2 includes four toner image forming units 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d for forming toner images of different colors. The four toner image forming units 2a to 2d are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 21, the developing device 22, the charging device 24, and the exposure device 25 are respectively provided. And a cleaning device 26 and a toner container 27. Here, the toner image forming portion 2a is a portion that forms a black image, the toner image forming portion 2b is a portion that forms a yellow image, and the toner image forming portion 2c is a portion that forms a cyan image. The toner image forming unit 2d is a part for forming a magenta image.

  The photosensitive drum 21 is a member capable of carrying an electrostatic latent image formed based on image information. The rotation axis of each photosensitive drum 21 extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.

  The developing device 22 is a device for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum 21, and is disposed adjacent to the photosensitive drum 21. The developing device 22 includes a developing roller 221 disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum 21, a developer storage unit 222 that can store a developer to be supplied to the photosensitive drum 21, and a developer storage unit. A developer agitating member 223 for agitating the developer 222 and a supply roller 224 for supplying the developer in the developer accommodating portion 222 to the developing roller 221 are provided. The developing roller 221 is disposed in parallel to the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 21 and is disposed so as to be close to the photosensitive drum 21. The developer storage unit 222 is a space in which the developer can be stored. The two developer agitating members 223 are arranged side by side in the developer accommodating portion 222, and are members having blades attached to the rotation shaft. The supply roller 224 is a roller for supplying the developer in the developer storage unit 222 to the development roller 221 and is disposed so as to be close to the development roller 221. The supply roller 224 has a plurality of magnets inside.

  The charging device 24 is a device for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 21, and is disposed below the photosensitive drum 21 and adjacent to the photosensitive drum 21.

  The exposure device 25 is a portion that irradiates the photosensitive drum 21 with light based on the image information, and is disposed above the photosensitive drum 21 and at a position where light can be irradiated between the charging device 24 and the developing device 22. Has been. Specifically, it is disposed above the developing device 22 and the toner container 27.

  The cleaning device 26 is a device for cleaning toner remaining without being transferred to the photosensitive drum 21, and includes a cleaning roller 261 and a cleaning blade 262. Further, the cleaning device 26 is disposed on the side of the photosensitive drum 21 in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 21. The cleaning roller 261 is a member that removes transfer residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 to the inside of the apparatus, and is disposed in parallel with the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 21. The cleaning blade 262 is close to the photosensitive drum 21. The cleaning blade 262 is a member for scraping the residual toner that has not been removed by the cleaning roller 261 from the photosensitive drum 21 and collecting it in the cleaning device 26.

  The toner containers 27 of the image forming units are members that store toner that can be supplied to the developing device 22 and are arranged side by side. Each toner container 27 stores magenta, cyan, yellow, black, and black toner from the left side of FIG. When the toner in the developing device 22 decreases, the toner is supplied from the toner container 27 to the developing device 22. Further, the toner container 27 has two stirring members 271 for stirring the toner therein. Here, two toner containers 27 are connected to the black developing device 22. The reason why the two toner containers 27 are arranged with respect to the black developing device 22 is that the black toner is used for both the monochromatic image forming operation and the color image forming operation, and is consumed most.

  The paper transport unit 3 is a part that transports the paper of the paper feed unit 6 in the order of the image forming unit 2, the fixing unit 4, and the discharge unit 5, and includes a transport belt 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheet conveying unit 3 is provided with a drawer unit 32 (conveying unit main body) that can be pulled out from the frame 9 and is movable in the drawer unit 32 along the pulling direction. It has the handle member 12 (handle member) for operation which can take a position. The drawer unit 32 is disposed on the upper side of the paper feed cassette 7. Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the drawer unit 32 is pulled out from the frame 9 together with the paper feed cassette 7. The handle member 12 will be described in detail later.

  The fixing unit 4 is a part for fixing the image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit 2, and includes a pressure roller 41 and a heating roller 42.

  The discharge unit 5 is a part for discharging the paper having the image fixed on the surface thereof to the outside of the color printer 1 and is provided on the side part.

  The paper feed unit 6 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 7 (paper storage units) that can store various types of paper. The paper feeding unit 6 is disposed at the lower part of the color printer 1. The paper feed cassette 7 can be pulled out from the frame 9. Specifically, it can be pulled out to the front side of the sheet of FIG. 1 (see FIG. 2). The paper feed cassette 7 has a handle 71 that can be gripped when being pulled out from the frame 9, and the front wall portion 72 on which the handle 71 of the paper feed cassette 7 disposed on the uppermost side is formed is a paper feed cassette. 7 extends upward to a height position of a part (drawer unit 32) of the sheet transport unit 3 (see FIG. 5). In a state where the drawer unit 32 is set on the frame 9, the handle member 12 is pushed into the retracted position by the front wall portion 72. Further, the paper feed cassette 7 is provided with a lock mechanism 73 that locks the frame 9 by being engaged with each other. The lock mechanism 73 includes a release button (not shown) provided on the handle 71 and a mechanism provided on the side of the paper feed cassette 7 to lock the frame 9 by pushing the paper feed cassette 7 into the frame 9. It has a stop portion 731 (see FIG. 2 or FIG. 3). Further, the lock mechanism 73 is retracted inward when the locking portion 731 presses the release button of the handle, and the locking with the inner wall surface of the frame 9 can be released. Here, FIG. 3 shows the paper feed cassette 7 and the drawer unit 32 when the paper feed cassette 7 and the drawer unit 32 are pulled out simultaneously. FIG. 5 shows the paper feed cassette 7 and the drawer unit 32 in a state in which the paper feed cassette 7 is pulled out.

  The transfer device 8 is a device for transferring an image formed on each photoconductive drum 21 onto a sheet, and is disposed below each photoconductive drum 21. The transfer device 8 includes an intermediate transfer belt 81, a driving roller 82, a tension roller 83, a first transfer roller 84, a second transfer roller 85, a belt cleaning device 86, and a belt support roller 87. doing. The intermediate transfer belt 81 is an annular belt and can carry an image on its surface. The driving roller 82 is a roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt 81, and is rotated by a motor (not shown). The tension roller 83 is a member for applying tension to the intermediate transfer belt 81 and is disposed so as to face the driving roller 82. The first transfer roller 84 is a roller for bringing the intermediate transfer belt 81 into contact with the paper, and supports the intermediate transfer belt 81 from the inside. The second transfer roller 85 is a member for transferring the image on the intermediate transfer belt 81 to the sheet together with the first transfer roller 84, and is disposed at a position facing the first transfer roller 84. The belt cleaning device 86 is a device for cleaning the developer remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 81. The belt support roller 87 is a member for supporting the intermediate transfer belt 81 in contact with the photosensitive drum 21, and is disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum 21.

  The frame 9 is a member in which the image forming unit 2, the sheet conveying unit 3, the sheet feeding unit 6, and the like can be disposed.

2. The rattling prevention mechanism 10 is a mechanism for preventing the paper feed cassette 7 and the paper transport unit 3 from rattling, and as shown in FIG. 4, a coil spring 11 (biasing member). And a handle member 12. Here, FIG. 4 shows a state in which the drawer unit 32 is viewed from above.

  The coil spring 11 is disposed on the side portion of the drawer unit 32, and biases the paper feed unit 6 in the pull-out direction via the handle member 12, and biases the paper transport unit 3 in the reverse direction of the pull-out direction. Yes. The coil spring 11 has one end connected to the paper transport unit 3 and the other end connected to the handle member 12. Further, the coil spring 11 biases the handle member 12 toward the pulling operation position.

  The handle member 12 is a portion that can be gripped when the drawer unit 32 is pulled out from the frame 9, and is disposed on the side of the drawer unit 32. An opening is provided on the side of the drawer unit 32 so that the handle member 12 can protrude, and the handle member 12 protrudes from the opening in a state where the paper feed cassette 7 is pulled out from the frame 9. Furthermore, the handle member 12 is a box-shaped member, and is provided with a stopper 121 (see FIG. 4) that can be locked to the opening so as not to protrude a predetermined amount or more from the opening. . Further, the handle member 12 is a member that can take a drawer operation position when the drawer unit 32 is pulled out and a retracted position retracted in the drawer unit 32. The handle member 12 pushes the paper feed cassette 7 into the frame 9 and urges the front wall portion 72 formed with the handle 71 of the paper feed cassette 7 from the inside when the lock mechanism 73 is operating. ing. The handle member 12 is in a retracted position when the lock mechanism 73 is in operation, that is, is hidden from the outside, and is gripped when the lock mechanism 73 is released and the paper feed cassette 7 is pulled out from the frame 9. It is located in the drawer operation position as possible, that is, exposed to the outside. When the lock is released from the state in which the paper feed cassette 7 is locked, the handle member 12 pushes the paper feed cassette 7 to the outside of the frame 9 by the elastic force of the coil spring 11.

3. Operation When image information is sent from an externally connected computer or the like, the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is charged, light is irradiated from the exposure device 25 based on the image information, and the electrostatic latent image is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 21. Formed. Then, a developer is supplied from the developing device 22 to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21, and a developer image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21. The developer image is transferred while being superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 81, and a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 81. At this time, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 6 is conveyed by the sheet conveying unit 3 to a portion that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 81, and the color image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 81 is transferred to the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 4 by the sheet conveying unit 3, and the color image is fixed on the sheet. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 4 is discharged from the discharge unit 5 to the outside of the apparatus.

  Next, an operation for pulling out a part (drawer unit 32) of the paper transport unit 3 during jam processing will be described.

  When a jam (paper jam) occurs in the paper transport unit 3, the handle of the paper feed cassette 7 is gripped and the release button is pressed. At this time, the handle member 12 urges the front wall portion 72 on which the handle 71 of the paper feed cassette 7 is formed via the coil spring 11 toward the front side of the paper surface of FIG. The cassette 7 is pushed out from the frame 9 (see FIG. 5). When the paper feed cassette 7 is pulled out from the frame 9, the handle member 12 protrudes from the side of the drawer unit 32 and is exposed to the outside so that it can be gripped. The handle member 12 is gripped, the drawer unit 32 is pulled out from the frame 9, and the jam is processed.

  Here, the sheet conveying unit 3 is urged to the frame 9 by the coil spring 11, and the sheet feeding cassette 7 is urged by the handle member 12, so that the sheet feeding cassette 7 and the sheet conveying unit 3 have a backlash. It is possible to prevent blurring and to prevent deterioration in image quality due to rattling. Further, since the handle member 12 is exposed so as to be gripped when the paper feed cassette 7 is pulled out from the frame 9, it is easy to find the handle member 12 and easily pull out the drawer unit 32. Furthermore, since the rattling prevention mechanism 10 is provided at the side of the drawer unit 32, the installation area is smaller than when the drawer unit 32 is disposed at the side of the paper feed cassette 7.

4). Other Embodiments (a) In the above embodiment, a color printer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be a multifunction machine, a copier, or the like.

  (B) In the above embodiment, the tandem image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other types, for example, a juxtaposed fixing type image forming apparatus may be used.

1 is an overall cross-sectional view of a color printer. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where a paper cassette is pulled out from a color printer. The figure which shows a paper feed cassette and a drawer unit. The figure which shows a drawer unit. The side view of a paper feed cassette and a drawer unit.

Explanation of symbols

1 Color printer (image forming device)
2 Image forming section 3 Paper transport section 7 Paper feed cassette (paper storage section)
9 Frame 11 Coil spring (biasing member)
12 Handle member 72 Front wall portion 73 Lock mechanism

Claims (4)

Frame,
An image forming unit capable of forming an image on a sheet based on image information;
A paper transport unit that is arranged so as to be drawable on the frame and that supplies paper to the image forming unit;
A paper storage section that is arranged to be drawable on the frame and stores the paper;
An urging member that urges the paper storage portion in the pull-out direction and urges the paper transport portion in a direction opposite to the pull-out direction;
An image forming apparatus. The paper transport unit includes a transport unit main body, and an operation handle member that is provided in the transport unit main body so as to be movable along a pull-out direction and can take a pull-out operation position and a retracted position.
The paper storage unit can be brought into contact with the handle member so as to push the handle member into the retracted position in a state set in the frame.
The biasing member is disposed between the transport unit main body and the handle member, and biases the handle member toward the drawer operation position.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . A lock mechanism for restricting movement of the paper storage unit in the pull-out direction;
The biasing member pushes out the paper storage portion in the pull-out direction via the handle member when the movement restriction of the paper storage portion by the lock mechanism is released.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 . The paper transport unit is disposed above the paper storage unit,
The paper storage unit has a storage unit main body for storing paper, and a front wall portion provided on the front side in the pulling direction of the storage unit main body and extending from the storage unit main body to a height position of the paper transport unit. ,
The handle member is provided on the front side in the pull-out direction of the paper transport unit, and can contact the front wall.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 .

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