JP5915047B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a unit take-out mechanism in the apparatus.

As is well known, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, a plotter, or a multi-function machine having these functions, the devices constituting the image forming unit are grouped as a unit in a casing constituting the device body. May be equipped.
In the case of adopting an electrophotographic method as an image formation process, after a latent image carrier is uniformly charged, a process of forming an electrostatic latent image according to image information is performed by a writing device. After the latent image is developed, the visible image is processed, and then transferred to a recording sheet or the like to obtain a copy.

As a member used in the writing device, a configuration using an LED has been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).
Usually, since the writing process is a process before development, when a drum is used as the latent image carrier, the latent image carrier is more circumferential than the position where the developing device is installed. For example, it may be arranged on the upper peripheral surface side on the upstream side in the moving direction (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  On the other hand, some image forming apparatuses require maintenance in an apparatus provided in an internal image forming unit, and the configuration in which the inside of the casing of the apparatus main body is opened is disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above.

  In the above patent document, when the inside of the housing is opened, the inside is exposed to the outside by opening the paper discharge tray and the upper wall located at the top of the housing. It is possible to replace or inspect parts that have reached

The LED used in the writing device has the above-described configuration in order to prevent the maintenance of the devices and parts to be maintained when the inside of the housing is opened and maintenance of each component and device is performed. The opening member is provided.
That is, the support portion of the LED is suspended and supported on the inner surface of the upper wall of the paper discharge cover or the housing, and when the paper discharge cover or the upper wall is opened, the position facing the latent image carrier located in the image forming portion together with these members You can leave.

  In the configuration disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, the configuration of the developing device is premised on a configuration in which a toner container is provided in the developing device.

  In each of the above-mentioned patent documents, no measures are taken for maintenance as described above when the replenishment member installation portion is provided separately from the development device installation portion.

  An object of the present invention is directed to a configuration in which a replenishment member installation unit is provided above an image forming unit including a developing device at a position different from the developing device in view of the problems in the conventional image forming apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a configuration capable of easily performing maintenance at an image forming unit located below a replenishment member installation unit.

  In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a configuration capable of improving maintenance workability by enabling maintenance from the same side even when the image forming unit and the developer supply member are separate.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention includes a discharge tray that can be opened and closed at an upper part of a casing constituting the apparatus main body, and an image reading device positioned above the discharge tray. A storage space for a developer replenishing member for a developing device provided in an image forming unit provided in a housing is provided, and a recording sheet onto which an image formed in the image forming unit is transferred is placed on the discharge tray. In addition to the paper discharge tray, the image forming apparatus includes a replenishment member support means that forms a space for supporting the developer replenishment member and can be opened and closed, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray. The open / close fulcrum of the paper discharge tray and the replenishing member support means is located on the same side in the discharge direction of the recording paper to be discharged, the open / close fulcrum of the paper discharge tray is outside the open / close fulcrum of the replenishment member support means, and the replenishment Member support Than closing fulcrum of stages is positioned upward, and the link member having both ends to said discharge tray which is opposed to said image reading apparatus and the image reading apparatus is arranged a first elastic member therein respectively connected, One end is fixed to the image reading device, the other end is connected to a non-moving portion in the housing, and the image reading device is brought closer to the discharge tray side when the image reading device rotates together with the discharge tray. A pulling member set to a length to be moved, and the gravity center position of the image reading device is such that the link member and the first elastic body are used while utilizing the tension of the pulling member when the discharge tray is opened. by the deflating closer to the image reading apparatus to the sheet discharge tray, in the image forming apparatus according to claim Rukoto brought close to the housing side.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to maintain the image forming section and the replenishment member from the upper surface of the apparatus by opening both the paper discharge tray and the replenishment member support means. In particular, when opening the paper discharge tray and the replenishing member support means, the open / close fulcrum of the paper discharge tray is located outside and above the open / close fulcrum of the replenishment member support means in the recording paper discharge direction. Even when the paper discharge tray and the replenishing member support means are separate, it is possible to maintain the image forming section and the replenishing member without hindering the opening of the replenishing member support means.

1 is a diagram for describing an example according to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a main configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect | action of the principal part shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining another example according to the embodiment of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect | action of the structure shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example according to the embodiment of the image forming apparatus 1.
In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 is a color printer including a plurality of image forming units Y, C, M, and B inside a housing 1A that forms the apparatus main body.
The image forming unit will be described below with reference to yellow (Y) in FIG. It should be noted that the configuration in the image forming unit for colors other than yellow is the same.

  The image forming unit Y is provided with a drum-shaped photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) 2 as a latent image carrier, and around the photosensitive drum 2 in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 2. A charging device 3, a writing device 4, a developing device 5, and a cleaning device 6 for performing image forming processing are arranged along the line.

  The devices equipped in the image forming unit Y are collectively accommodated in a unit, and a visible image formed through uniform charging, writing processing and developing processing is transferred in the process of rotating the photosensitive drum 2. When the image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 7A of the apparatus 7 by applying a transfer bias from the transfer roller 7B, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2 is removed by the cleaning apparatus 6 to prepare for new image formation.

In FIG. 1A, the superimposed image sequentially transferred from each image forming unit to the intermediate transfer belt 7A of the transfer device 7 is 2 on the recording paper fed from the paper supply device 8 through the registration roller 9. Batch transfer is performed through transfer bias application from the next transfer device 10.
The recording paper carrying the batch-transferred image is subjected to image fixing by the fixing device 11 and is then discharged via a paper discharge roller 12 onto a paper discharge tray 1B provided at the top of the housing. Reference numeral RP denotes a reverse conveyance path of the recording paper, which is expressed by the recording paper conveyed toward the paper discharge tray 1B by the paper discharge roller 12 being conveyed toward the position of the registration roller 9. The back side is reversed. As a result, image transfer onto both sides of the recording paper becomes possible.

  In FIG. 1A, a paper discharge tray 1B is provided so as to be openable and closable around a support shaft 1B1 provided downstream in the recording paper discharge direction (direction indicated by EX). It can be opened clockwise.

  On the other hand, a toner cartridge 13 for replenishing the developer is connected to the developing device 5 provided in each image forming unit, and the toner cartridge 13 is disposed in the paper discharge tray 1B corresponding to a dead space in the housing. It is provided in a space below and above each image forming unit.

  The toner cartridges 13 provided corresponding to the respective image forming units are collectively accommodated in supply member support means 14 having a space for supporting the toner cartridge 13 in a dead space in the housing.

  The replenishing member support means 14 is provided so as to be openable and closable around a support shaft 14A provided downstream in the recording paper discharge direction EX as in the case of the paper discharge tray 1B. It can be done.

The features of the present embodiment will be described below with the above configuration as an object.
The feature of this embodiment is that the toner cartridge 13 is installed below the paper discharge tray 1B. When the maintenance of the image forming unit arranged in the housing is necessary, the image forming unit can be easily set to the outside. It is in the point which can be exposed.

  In FIG. 1, the support shaft 1B1 of the paper discharge tray 1B and the support shaft 14A of the supply member support means 14 are both provided on the downstream side of the recording paper discharge direction EX, and the relationship between the support shafts is as follows. The following relationship is assumed.

In the recording paper discharge direction EX, the support shaft 1B1 of the discharge tray 1B is positioned outside the support shaft 14A of the replenishing member support means 14, and the support shaft 1B1 of the discharge tray 1B is supported by the replenishment member support means 14. It is positioned above the shaft 14A.
That is, when the center of the length of the housing 1A (the position indicated by the reference sign CL in FIG. 1A) is defined in the horizontal direction parallel to the recording paper discharge direction EX, the support shaft 14A of the supply member support means 14 is used. The position of the support shaft 1B1 of the paper discharge tray 1B (the position indicated by the reference sign H1) is disposed outside the support shaft 14A of the replenishing member support means 14 with a distance H. .

  In addition, the position of the support shaft 1B1 (position indicated by reference numeral V1) of the paper discharge tray 1B with respect to the bottom position of the casing 1A (position indicated by reference numeral V0 in FIG. 1A) in the vertical direction is the replenishment member support. It is positioned above the position of the support shaft 14A of the means 14 (reference V2) with a distance indicated by reference V.

Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, its operation will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2A shows the state of the paper discharge tray 1B and the replenishing member support means 14 when they are not opened, and FIG. 2B shows the state where both members are opened.

When the discharge tray 1B is opened, the position of the support shaft 1B1 is located outside and above the support shaft 14A of the supply member support means 14, thereby preventing the supply member support means 14 from being opened. There is nothing.
Moreover, the replenishment member support means 14 is opened because the support shaft 14A is located on the inner side of the support shaft 1B1 by the distance H, in other words, because there is a shift amount corresponding to the distance indicated by the symbol H. The opening angle in the horizontal direction can be increased by an angle corresponding to the distance H.

  That is, if the support shafts are in the same position in the horizontal direction, the open position of the replenishing member support means 14 is regulated by the open position of the paper discharge tray 1B. In this embodiment, the distance H in the horizontal direction described above is used. The replenishment member support means 14 can be opened as much as the amount of deviation exists. Therefore, for example, even when the discharge tray 1B is opened at a right angle to the horizontal direction, the replenishment member support means 14 is at a right angle or more. It is allowed to rotate.

Thereby, even when the developing member support means 14 is arranged above the developing device 5 of the image forming unit, it is possible to secure a space necessary for maintenance work in the image forming unit. As a result, both the discharge tray 1B and the developing member support means 14 are opened on the upper surface of the apparatus, so that maintenance can be performed from above the apparatus even when the image forming unit and the developer supply member are separate.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the LED used in the writing device 4 is supported in a suspended state on the replenishment member support means 14, and the LED can be displaced in the direction of gravity when the replenishment member support means 14 is opened. Yes.
In order to avoid inadvertently colliding with the bottom surface of the replenishing member support means 14, a slow speed mechanism such as a damper is provided in the hinge portion of the LED that is displaced in the gravity direction when the replenishing member support means 14 is opened. It is desirable.
By adopting such an LED support mechanism, the direction of the LED always moves in the same direction as during the writing operation when the supply member support means 14 is opened, so that the LED is fixed to the supply member support means 14. Unlike the case, the charging device 3 and the developing device 5 located near the LED are not inadvertently contacted.

  In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, when the paper discharge tray 1B is opened, the toner cartridge 13 mounted on the replenishing member support means 14 is exposed to the outside (see FIG. 3A). When the replenishing member support means 14 is opened after the toner cartridge 13 is taken out, the image forming unit is exposed to the outside (see FIG. 3B).

  Therefore, since the opening angle of the replenishing member support means 14 can be made large, even when the replenishing member support means 14 is disposed below the paper discharge tray 1B, the image forming portion is exposed to a portion other than the simple maintenance. Work can be performed. In FIG. 3B, the arrows indicate the direction of taking out the image forming unit.

  In the state shown in FIG. 3A, the toner cartridge 13 can be replaced. In the state shown in FIG. 3B, the photosensitive drum 2 provided in the image forming unit and an apparatus for performing image forming processing on the photosensitive drum 2 are provided. Exchange is possible.

When the paper discharge tray 1B and the replenishing member support means 14 are opened, an elastic body, that is, a coil spring (illustrated) that can give the opening / closing fulcrum of the paper discharge tray 1B, that is, the support shaft 1B1, to move in the opening direction. It is also possible to provide a locking mechanism (not shown) for defining the open position.
Further, the replenishing member support means 14 is provided with a knob (not shown) that can be gripped on its open end (swinging end) side, so that the opening operation after the discharge tray 1B is opened is good. It is also possible to do so. Of course, the supply member support means 14 can also be provided with a lock mechanism for maintaining the open position and an elastic body for imparting a movement habit in the opening direction.

Next, a modification of the main part of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is intended for a configuration in which when the image reading device 20 is installed above the paper discharge tray 1B, the image reading device 20 also rotates in accordance with the opening of the paper discharge tray 1B.
That is, the image reading device 20 is attached to the housing 1A in a state of being disposed above the paper discharge tray 1B.

  When the paper discharge tray 1B is opened, the image reading device 20 also rotates simultaneously. At this time, the gravity center position G of the image reading device 20 with respect to the housing 1A changes. Specifically, the center-of-gravity position G ′ after the rotation with respect to the center-of-gravity position G before the rotation is the side wall of the housing 1A when the position of the side wall of the housing 1A (the position indicated by the symbol HB) is used as a reference. It changes to the position shown by distance H4 toward the outside from the position of. For this reason, the attitude | position of the housing | casing 1A tends to become unstable, and there exists a possibility that the housing | casing 1A may fall down in an extreme case.

The present embodiment is characterized in that when the image reading device 20 is rotated, a change in the center of gravity due to the rotation of the image reading device 20 is reduced. A configuration for that purpose will be described below.
In FIG. 5, the image reading device 20 contacts and separates from the paper discharge tray 1 </ b> B via fitting guide members 20 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B 2 provided between the upper surface of the paper discharge tray 1 </ b> B and the image reading device 20. It is supported so that it can move in the direction it can.

On the other hand, both ends of a link member 21 such as a pantograph are connected to the bottom surface of the image reading device 20 and the sheet discharge tray 1B facing the image reading device 20, and an elastic body such as a compression spring disposed inside the link member 21. 22 is arranged.
The elastic body 22 has a habit of separating the image reading device 20 from the paper discharge tray 1B, and holds the image reading device 20 in a predetermined position on the upper surface of the paper discharge tray 1B.

  One end of a pulling member 23 such as a wire connected to a stationary part in the housing 1A is fixed to the bottom surface of the image reading device 20, and the length of the image reading device 20 rotates together with the paper discharge tray 1B. In this case, the length is set such that the image reading device 20 can be moved closer to the paper discharge tray 1B. Accordingly, the tension of the pulling member 23 is increased according to the amount of rotation of the image reading device 20.

In the configuration as described above, when the paper discharge tray 1B is opened, the image reading device 20 also rotates in the opening direction of the paper discharge tray 1B, as shown in FIG. 5B.
When the image reading device 20 rotates, the tension of the pulling member 23 increases, so that the elastic body 22 and the link member 21 are both contracted and displaced, and the image reading device 20 is brought closer to the paper discharge tray 1B side.

When the image reading device 20 is brought closer to the paper discharge tray 1B side, the position of the center of gravity in the image reading device 20 changes (as indicated by reference numeral G1 in FIG. Displace toward).
As a result, the center of gravity G when the paper discharge tray 1B is not opened is closer to the paper discharge tray 1B side than the position when the paper discharge tray 1B is opened (a position indicated by reference numeral G ′). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the casing 1A from falling down easily.

  On the other hand, when the sheet discharge tray 1B is closed from the opened position and is positioned above the housing 1A, if the elastic force of the elastic body 22 is greater than the pulling force of the pulling member 23, the elastic body 22 and the link The members 21 are both extended and displaced, and the position of the image reading device 20 is restored from the paper discharge tray 1B to a predetermined position.

The above configuration is summarized as follows.
In the image forming apparatus 1 including the image reading device 20 above the paper discharge tray 1B, the link member 21 and the image reading device 20 are disposed between the image reading device 20 and the paper discharge tray 1B. And an elastic body 22 having a habit of moving away from the image forming apparatus, and the immovable portion on the side of the image reading apparatus 20 and the housing 1A has a length that allows the image reading apparatus 20 to be positioned at a predetermined position above the paper discharge tray 1B. The pulling member 23 is connected, and when the paper discharge tray 1B is opened, the elastic body 22 and the link mechanism 21 are contracted and displaced using the increased tension of the pulling member 23 to bring the image reading device 20 closer to the paper discharge tray 1B. The center of gravity position of the image reading device 20 can be brought closer to the housing side.

  Further, guide members 20A and 1B2 that are slidably fitted to each other are provided between the bottom surface of the image reading device 20 and the top surface of the paper discharge tray 1B, so that the image reading device 20 faces the paper discharge tray 1B. It is configured to be able to absorb fluctuations in the distance between the image reading device 20 and the paper discharge tray 1B by guiding each time it approaches and leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 1A Housing | casing 1B Paper discharge tray 1B1 Spindle 2 Photosensitive drum
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Charging device 4 Writing device 5 Developing device 7 Transfer device 7A Intermediate transfer belt 13 Toner cartridge 14 Supply member support means 14A Support shaft H1 Position of support shaft on the discharge tray side in the horizontal direction H2 Supply member support means side in the horizontal direction Position of the support shaft V1 Position of the support shaft on the discharge tray side in the vertical direction V2 Position of the support shaft on the supply member supporting means side in the vertical direction H Position shift amount between the support shafts in the horizontal direction V Support shaft in the vertical direction Misalignment between each other Y, C, M, B Image forming part

JP 2009-157001 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-106814 JP 2010-164614 A

Claims (5)

A discharge tray that can be opened and closed at an upper part of a housing forming the apparatus main body, and an image reading device positioned above the discharge tray;
A storage space for a developer replenishing member for the developing device provided in the image forming unit provided in the housing is provided below the discharge tray.
In the image forming apparatus having a configuration for discharging the recording sheet onto which the image formed in the image forming unit is transferred onto the discharge tray,
In addition to the paper discharge tray, a replenishing member support means that constitutes a space for supporting the developer replenishing member and can be opened and closed,
In the discharge direction of the recording paper discharged to the discharge tray, the discharge tray and the opening / closing fulcrum of the replenishing member support means are located on the same side,
The open / close fulcrum of the discharge tray is positioned outside the open / close fulcrum of the replenishing member support means and above the open / close fulcrum of the replenishment member support means,
Link members having both ends connected to the image reading device and the paper discharge tray facing the image reading device, and a first elastic body disposed therein,
One end is fixed to the image reading device, the other end is connected to a non-moving portion in the housing, and the image reading device is brought closer to the discharge tray side when the image reading device rotates together with the discharge tray. A pulling member set to a length to be
The position of the center of gravity of the image reading device is such that when the paper discharge tray is opened, the link member and the first elastic body are contracted while utilizing the tension of the pulling member, so that the image reading device is placed on the paper discharge tray. by close, the image forming apparatus according to claim Rukoto brought close to the housing side. Of the open / close fulcrums of the discharge tray and the replenishing member support means, at least the open / close fulcrum of the discharge tray is provided with a second elastic body having a habit of opening the discharge tray. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replenishing member supporting unit supports a writing member used in a writing device provided in the image forming unit.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the writing member is supported in a suspended manner with respect to the replenishing member, and the writing member is displaced toward the direction of gravity when the replenishing member supporting means is opened.   The replenishing member support means is such that the opening / closing fulcrum of the paper discharge tray is located outside the opening / closing fulcrum of the replenishing member support means in the discharge direction of the recording paper with respect to the opening angle of the paper discharge tray. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening angle can be set large.

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