JP6848351B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a Marichi function printer.

In an image forming apparatus such as a general multifunction printer (MFP), an image forming unit, an image scanning unit (scanner; SCN; scanner) mounted on the image forming unit, and an image scanning unit are used. It is equipped with an automatic document feeder (ADF) mounted on the top.

In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the upper surface of the housing accommodating the image forming portion is opened, and this opening is closed by a cover (paper ejection tray for recording sheet), and the image is read on the cover. The unit and the automatic document feeder are placed in order. In this image forming apparatus, by raising the image reading unit to the rear side of the device, the automatic document feeder overlapping the image reading unit is also started up at the same time, and further, the cover is also started up to the rear side of the device at the same time. The upper surface of the image forming part is opened so that toner can be replaced and other maintenance can be performed.

In this image forming apparatus, when the image reading unit is raised to the rear side of the apparatus with momentum, the automatic document feeder may fall further rearward with respect to the image reading unit, and the ADF is U. Since the turning side is heavy, the center of gravity is also closer to the U-turning side. Therefore, if the automatic document feeder falls backward, the image forming device may fall backward.

Therefore, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus provided with a connection lock for eliminating the above-mentioned fear and opening the cover at the same time by opening the image reading unit to facilitate replacement of toner and the like (Patent Document 1). reference).

In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the operator performs an operation of switching the connection lock and unlock between the automatic document feeder and the image reading unit, and an operation of switching the connection lock and unlocking of the image reading unit and the cover. It is equipped with a locking means that can be realized by different operations.

However, the locking means attached to the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that different switching operations are required by the operator, and in addition, the number of parts is large, and the locking means extends to the front and back in the housing. It occupies a large space, and there is a problem that it is expensive in terms of cost such as it takes time to assemble.
Further, a model different from the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, specifically, the lower portion of the housing on the document inversion side of the automatic document transporting apparatus is lowered so as to cover the side surface portion of the image reading unit. The image forming apparatus has a problem that the locking means attached to the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot be adopted.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and even if the automatic document transfer device and the image forming unit are vigorously opened, there is no possibility that the automatic document transfer device will fall horizontally to the rear side of the device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent the machine from tipping over when exchanging consumables such as toner and does not require an empty space behind the apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is connected to the image forming portion housed in the apparatus main body to the rear end of the apparatus main body via a first hinge. An image reading unit that is provided so as to be openable and closable so as to overlap the device main body and stand up toward the rear end side of the device with respect to the device main body so as to read an image of a conveyed document or a placed document, and the image. By being connected to the rear end of the device of the reading unit via a second hinge, the image reading unit is provided so as to be openable and closable in a state of overlapping on the image reading unit and a state of standing up toward the rear end of the device with respect to the image reading unit. An automatic document transporting device that U-turns and inverts the document and transports the document to the image reading position of the image reading unit, and the image scanning unit and the automatic document transporting device are provided in the image reading unit. when it opened the image reading unit in a state where the conveying device is overlap, in conjunction with this, and a automatic coupling mechanism for integrally connecting the automatic document feeder and the image reading unit, the automatic document The lower portion of the housing on the document reversing side of the transport device is lowered so as to cover the side surface portion of the image reading unit, and the lower portion of the housing of the automatic document transport device and the upper surface of the device body are described. The image reading unit has an extension member that extends integrally from the lower surface portion on the document inversion side, and the automatic connection mechanism is provided over the extension member and the lower portion of the housing of the automatic document transfer device .

In the present invention, even if the automatic document transfer device and the image forming unit are vigorously opened, there is no risk that the automatic document transfer device will fall horizontally toward the rear side of the device, and the machine can be prevented from falling when replacing consumables such as toner. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that does not require an empty space behind the apparatus.

It is a schematic front view of the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The main part of the image reading unit constituting the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown, FIG. 3A is a schematic longitudinal front view in the flatbed scanner mode, and FIG. 3B is a mode. FIG. 3C is a schematic vertical sectional front view showing the movement of the integrated optical scanning unit at the time of switching, and FIG. 3C is a schematic vertical sectional front view showing the DF scanner mode. It is a schematic plan view of the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic front view in the DF scanner mode of the image reading apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic front view in the flatbed scanner mode of the image reading apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic perspective view of the main part of the automatic document transporting apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic side view of the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which an automatic document transporting apparatus, an image reading unit, and a paper ejection tray for a recording sheet are opened at a small angle with respect to the apparatus main body. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which an automatic document transporting apparatus, an image reading unit, and a paper ejection tray for a recording sheet are opened 90 degrees with respect to the apparatus main body.

Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 1 has a paper feeding unit 2 for accommodating a recording sheet P inside, an image forming unit 3 and an operation unit 150 on the outer front surface for instructing an operation or the like by a user. The device main body 1M, the recording sheet output tray 303 which is a cover for opening and closing the opening of the upper surface of the device main body 1M, the image reading unit (scanner) 4 overlapping on the recording sheet output tray 303, and further the image reading unit. A digital composite machine including an automatic document transporting device (also referred to as ADF) 5 that overlaps the 4 and an automatic connecting mechanism 310 that connects the ADF 5, the image reading unit 4, and the paper ejection tray 303 for a recording sheet. Is. The image reading unit 4 and the ADF 5 form the image reading device 6.

The automatic connection mechanism 310 does not operate when the ADF 5 is opened with respect to the image reading unit 4 in order to read the image in the flatbed scanner mode of the image reading unit 4, and opens the upper surface opening of the apparatus main body 1M. When the ADF 5 and the image reading unit 4 are overlapped with each other and the image reading unit 4 is opened with respect to the apparatus main body (housing) 1M to open the paper ejection tray 303 for the recording sheet, the image reading unit 4 automatically operates. The ADF 5, the image reading unit 4, and the recording sheet output tray 303 are connected to each other. As a result, even if the ADF 5 is opened vigorously, the angle at which consumables such as the photoconductor and toner can be taken out, preferably 90 degrees, is guaranteed when the ADF5, the image reading unit 4, and the recording sheet output tray 303 are overlapped with each other. It is configured in. Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given.

The image forming unit 3 in the apparatus main body 1M will be described.
The image forming unit 3 includes, for example, an exposure unit, a plurality of photoconductor drums, a developing device using four color toners of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), and a transfer belt. , A secondary transfer unit, a fixing unit, and the like. The image forming unit 3 exposes the photoconductor drums of each color by, for example, an exposure unit based on the scanned image read by the image reader 6 or the print data transmitted from an external device such as a PC, and electrostatically acts on each photoconductor drum. A latent image is formed, and toner is supplied onto the latent image of each photoconductor drum in the developing unit of each color of the developing apparatus to develop the latent image. Further, the image forming unit 3 primary transfers the toner image on the photoconductor drum of each color to the transfer belt, and superimposes the toner image of the secondary transfer unit on the recording sheet fed from the paper feeding unit 2 to perform the secondary transfer. After that, the toner image on the recording sheet is heated and pressed by the fixing portion to be fixed, and a color image can be formed.

Next, the image reading device 6 including the ADF 5 and the image reading unit 4 will be described.
The image reading device 6 transports the document S1 by the ADF 5, and while the document S1 is automatically transported on the DF contact glass 42, the image scanning device 6 has a DF scanner mode (conveyed document reading mode) called a sheet-through method for reading the document image and an automatic document reading mode. It is configured to be switchable between a flatbed scanner mode (placed document reading mode) in which the ADF5 is opened without transporting, the document S2 is set on a flat contact glass, and the ADF5 is closed to read the image of the document S2. ing. Further, the DF scanner mode is configured so that a single scanner mode and a double scanner mode can be selected.

When reading the image of the document S1 set on the document table 51 in the DF scanner mode and the single scan mode, the document S1 is picked up by the paper feeding means on the upper side of the tip of the document table 51 in the carry-in direction. The original (conveyed original) S1 is fed by the first scanning unit 45 located under the DF contact glass 42 while being fed to the original transfer path 52, conveyed in a U-turn, and further conveyed on the DF contact glass 42. It is designed to read the image of the downward surface.

Further, when reading the image of the hard sheet H set on the side opposite to the paper feeding direction by the document table 51 in the DF scanner mode and the single scan mode, the hard sheet H is placed on the DF contact glass 42. The image of the downward surface of the hard sheet H is read by the first reading unit 45 while being conveyed to.

Further, in the case of the DF scanner mode and the double scan mode, in addition to reading the image in the single scan mode described above while transporting the document S1 or the hard sheet H onto the DF contact glass 42, the DF contact glass 42 The image of the upward surface of the document S1 or the hard sheet H is read by the second document reading device 68 arranged at the position on the downstream side of the document S1.

Further, in the flatbed scanner mode, the ADF5 is opened in the raised state, the document (placed document) S2 is set on the flatbed contact glass 41 of the image forming section 3, and the ADF5 is placed on the image forming section 3. The image of the downward surface of the document S2 is read by the reading means 45 that scans the underside of the flatbed contact glass 41 after stacking the images.

Hereinafter, the image reading unit 4 and the ADF 5 will be described in detail in order.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 (A), 3 (B), and 3 (C), the image reading unit 4 has a DF contact glass 42 and a flatbed contact glass 41. The DF contact glass 42 is tilted so as to form a preset tilt angle θ while the flatbed contact glass 41 is installed horizontally.

Inside the image reading unit 4, a first reading unit 45 and a guide rod 46 extending in the left-right direction in FIG. 3 are provided. The first reading unit 45 is a plurality of compression coils incorporated in a compressed state between the integrated optical scanning unit 47, the bracket 48 holding the integrated optical scanning unit 47, and the integrated optical scanning unit 47 and the bracket 48. It is composed of a spring (elastic member) 49.

The integrated optical scanning unit 47 is configured as a close contact image sensor in which, for example, a mold frame holds a roof mirror lens array of 1x imaging elements, an optical path separation mirror, a 1x image sensor, an illumination light source, and the like. The main scanning direction of the integrated optical scanning unit 47 is the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG.

The integrated optical scanning unit 47 has a large depth of focus capable of reading an image of a book document or the like, and is placed on the image of the mounted document S2 placed on the flatbed contact glass 41 and on the DF contact glass 42. Line scanning with high resolution is possible so as to correspond to any of the images of the conveyed document S1 placed at an angle. The integrated optical scanning unit 47 is not limited to a specific method as long as it can support the DF scanner mode and the flatbed scanner mode.

The bracket 48 includes a lower slider portion 48a supported by a guide rod 46 and guided in the sub-scanning direction, a pair of holding arm portions 48b that hold the integrated optical scanning unit 47 on both sides in the main scanning direction, and these lower slider portions. It has a bracket main body portion 48d to which a portion 48a and a pair of holding arm portions 48b are integrally mounted.

The bracket 48 is fixed to one place of an endless timing belt that is hung on a plurality of timing pulleys without slack, and one of the timing pulleys is rotationally driven by a reading motor 103 or the like shown in FIG. 9 to be described later. As a result, it is guided by the guide rod 46 and moves in the sub-scanning direction.

The lower slider portion 48a is a tubular body fixed to the lower surface of the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the bracket main body portion 48d. Further, the pair of holding arm portions 48b are a pair of plate-like bodies projecting upward on both ends in the main scanning direction of the bracket main body portion 48d. The pair of holding arm portions 48b are vertical so as to hold the pivot shaft portion 47a projecting vertically from both end faces in the main scanning direction of the integrated optical scanning unit 47 so as to be able to change the posture around the axis and to be displaceable in the vertical direction. It has a long hole (oval hole) 48c in the direction.

The plurality of compression coil springs 49 are adapted to press the lower surface portion of the integrated optical scanning unit 47 upward at a plurality of flatbed contact glass 41 side and DF contact glass 42 side in the main scanning direction, respectively. ..

Further, on the upper surface of the integrated optical scanning unit 47, an upper portion that smoothly slides in the sub-scanning direction guided by the guide rod 46 while being in contact with the lower surface of at least one of the flatbed contact glass 41 and the DF contact glass 42. The slider portion 47b is attached.

The upper slider portion 47b may be composed of a plurality of hemispherical protrusions, a rectangular annular body, or the like. Further, the upper slider portion 47b may be a protrusion that extends in the longitudinal direction or the lateral direction of the integrated optical scanning unit 47 and is separated from each other in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction. In either case, the upper slider portion 47b is a material that has a low coefficient of friction, good slidability and sliding property, and can slide without lubrication with respect to the lower surface of the flatbed contact glass 41 and the DF contact glass 42 or a guide surface that replaces the lower surface. It is better to be formed with.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, the first reading unit 45 can be located on the lower side of the flatbed contact glass 41 and the lower side of the DF contact glass 42 in the sub-scanning direction. A horizontal first reading posture in which the integrated optical scanning unit 47 can read an image of the mounted document S2 located on the flatbed contact glass 41 according to the position in its own sub-scanning direction. The posture of the conveyed document S1 conveyed on the DF contact glass 42 is changed to an inclined second reading posture capable of reading an image.

More specifically, the integrated optical scanning unit 47 slidably abuts on one of the upper flatbed contact glass 41 and the DF contact glass 42, depending on its position in the sub-scanning direction. As a result, although the integrated optical scanning unit 47 is movable in the sub-scanning direction along the guide rod 46, the inclination of the pivot shaft portion 47a around the axis is restricted. The integrated optical scanning unit 47 may be provided in a long length so as to abut on both the flatbed contact glass 41 and the DF contact glass 42 at the position shown in FIG. 3 (B).

The first scanning unit 45 having the integrated optical scanning unit 47 line-scans the lower surface of the mounted document S2 on the flatbed contact glass 41 in the main scanning direction and moves in the sub-scanning direction to form a flat surface. The area can be scanned to read the image of the mounted document S2, and the flat surface area can be read by repeating line scanning in the main scanning direction on the lower surface of the conveyed document S1 passing over the DF contact glass 42. Can be scanned to read the image of the conveyed document S1.

When performing the reading operation in the flatbed scanner mode, the first reading unit 45 moves from the home position shown by the solid line position in FIG. 3A to one side in the sub-scanning direction (the right side in FIG. 3A). .. Then, line scanning (main scanning in the direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction) is executed by the integrated optical scanning unit 47 for each minute movement distance, and the surface (lower surface) of the mounted document on the flatbed contact glass 41 is executed. Read the image. When the reading operation is completed, the first reading unit 45 returns to the home position again.

When performing the reading operation in the DF scanner mode, the integrated optical scanning unit 47 moves downward in the tilt direction of the DF contact glass 42 from the home position shown by the solid line position in FIG. 3C, and reads shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. It stops at the operating position (specific working position) Pd1 and reads the image of the surface of the conveyed document passing over the DF contact glass 42.

When performing the double-sided scanning operation in the DF scanner mode, a close-contact image sensor or the like arranged at the second document scanning position on the upstream side in the tilt direction of the DF contact glass 42 in the ADF5 shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6 is used. A second document reading device 68 reads the back surface image of the conveyed document S2 or the hard sheet H. When the reading operation is completed, the first reading unit 45 returns to the home position again.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ADF5 has a document table 51 as a document mounting table on which a standard sheet can be placed, and a document S fed from the document table 51 as a paper feed port (second supply port). ) A document transport path 52, which is a transport path for carrying U-turns from 55a to the paper ejection port 56 in the middle and passing through an image reading position on the DF contact glass 42, and paper is ejected from the paper ejection port 56. A paper ejection tray 53 for stacking originals after reading an image is provided. The document table 51 and the document output tray 53 are provided so as to be vertically separated from each other and at least a part of them overlap each other in a plan view for the purpose of miniaturization.

As shown in FIG. 4, the document table 51 includes a pair of side guide plates 54 that abut and position the mounted document S1 on both sides in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction. The pair of side guide plates 54 have the center in the width direction of the document table 51 as the center reference for positioning, and can be relatively approached and separated from each other with respect to the center reference. The center in the width direction of the document S1 is the center of the document table 51. It is designed to match the center in the width direction. It should be noted that one side guide plate 54 is immovable, the document contact surface is used as a one-side reference for positioning, and the other side guide plate 54 is configured to be able to approach and separate from one side guide plate 54. May be good.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ADF 5 includes a cover 55 that covers the upper surface portion and the three side surface portions on the downstream side in the transport direction of the document S1, and by removing the cover 55, the inside is greatly opened and maintenance becomes possible. The cover 55 may be configured to cover at least the upper surface portion on the downstream side in the transport direction of the document S. The cover 55 has a paper feed port 55a corresponding to the document table 51. The document table 51 is provided so that the tip of the document S to be placed is slightly inserted into the cover 55. Further, in the ADF 5, the main guide portion of the document transport path 52 from the paper feed port 55a to the paper output port 56 is formed by ribs or the like formed on the inner surface of the cover 55.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ADF5 guides one or more original sheets S1 from the top of the document bundle placed on the original document table 51 into the paper feed port 55a, and is arranged behind the paper feed port 55a. The separation unit 52a constituting the paper feeding means separates the uppermost document S1 and feeds it into the document transport path 52.

The document transport path 52 of the ADF 5 reverses the fed document S1 so as to make a U-turn from the upper side to the lower side by a plurality of transport rollers 52b, 52c, 52d arranged in the middle of the transport path. It is designed to be shed. Subsequently, the document transport path 52 reads the inverted document S1 in the middle of the upper surface of the inverted document S1 along the DF contact glass 42 having an upward slope straight toward the output port 56 on the lower side of the paper feed port 55a. It is designed to pass through the operating position (specific work position) Pd1. When the conveyed document S1 passes over the DF contact glass 42, the integrated optical scanning unit 47 shown in FIG. 3C repeatedly performs line scanning at the scanning operation position Pd1 to read the image of the conveyed document. It has become. Further, in the document transport path 52, the document S1 whose image has been read is ejected onto the document output tray 53 by the output roller pairs 52e and 52f arranged at the output port 56 at the end position of the transfer path. Let it flow through. The number and location of the rollers for reverse transfer and paper ejection can be arbitrarily set according to the route setting conditions of the document transfer path 52, the length of the minimum size of the document S1 in the document transfer direction, and the like. Is.

When the first scanning unit 45 is located at the scanning operation position Pd1 shown in FIG. 3C, the image of the document being conveyed is passed over the DF contact glass 42 by the integrated optical scanning unit 47. The original image can be read. Then, the document S1 after reading the image is ejected to the document ejection tray 53 by the paper ejection rollers 52e and 52f.

The separation unit 52a, the plurality of transfer rollers 52b, 52c, 52d and the paper ejection roller pairs 52e, 52f together with a plurality of sensors arranged on the document transfer path 52 and a controller that executes transfer control based on their detection information. , Consists of the document transport section 50. The document transport unit 50 carries in the document S from above the document table 51, folds and transports the document S so as to pass through the reading operation position Pd1, and transports the document S by folding back so that the document S passes through the reading operation position Pd1. Eject paper into the upper stack area.

The plurality of sensors arranged on the document transport path 52 are, for example, known paper feed appropriate position sensors, bump sensors, document width sensors, reading inlet sensors, resist sensors, ejection sensors, and the like, and these sensors are documents. The sensors are arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of S1. Of course, the ordinary manuscript S1 is a PPC or other easily bendable sheet that can form an image recording surface.

Next, the supply port (second supply port) 72 and the straight transfer path 61 of the ADF 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7.
The ADF 5 has a card supply unit 71 for reading an image of a hard sheet H such as a card or cardboard that cannot be conveyed by reverse transfer by a U-turn. The card supply unit 71 includes a supply port 72, a card supply tray 73, and a card pickup roller 74.

The card supply tray 73 is normally closed, and when it is in the closed state, the card supply tray 73 constitutes a part of the side surface of the cover 55 while functioning as a part of a transport guide for the document S, which is a normal document that is conveyed in a U-turn. , As shown in FIG. 7, when the supply port 72 is opened to the outside, the supply port 72 is opened.

The document transport path 52 is a straight transport path in which the transport path portion from the nip portion of the transport rollers 52c and 52d to the paper ejection rollers 52e and 52f through the inclined upper surface of the DF contact glass 42 is a flat surface. .. When the card supply tray 73 is opened to the outside, the card mounting surface coincides with the extension surface of the inclined surface of the DF contact glass 42. The straight transport path 61 is a short transport path portion that includes the card mounting surface of the card supply tray 73 and reaches the nip portions of the transport rollers 52c and 52d, and is a nip portion of the document transport path 52 and the transport rollers 52c and 52d. Merge from the tangential direction at.

The card pickup roller 74 takes in a small-sized hard sheet H that is set and inserted into the card mounting surface of the card supply tray 73, and supplies the card to the nip portions of the transport rollers 52c and 52d. The document transport path 52 allows the hard sheet H to pass through a predetermined reading operation position Pd1 on the DF contact glass 42. The hard sheet H is scanned by an integrated optical scanning unit 47 that stops below the reading operation position Pd1 for an image of a surface that is in close contact with the DF contact glass 42, and subsequently, in the double-sided scanning mode, a second The image on the upper surface side (back side of the sheet) is scanned by the document reading device 68, and the images are ejected onto the document ejection tray 53 by the paper ejection rollers 52e and 52f arranged in the paper ejection port 56. ..

The small-sized hard sheet H referred to here is a standard standard-sized card made of resin or the like (thick paper may be used), for example, a driver's license, an ID card (identification card), a transportation card, or the like. Therefore, the small size here means, for example, one of ISO / IEC 7810 ID-1, ID-2, or ID-3, which is an international standard that defines the shape of an identification card, or a card equivalent thereto. The size. However, the width of the card size in the lateral direction is set to be smaller than the width in the lateral direction of the smallest size cut sheet among the standard cut sheet sizes set on the document table 51.

As shown in FIG. 8, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 100 for automatic document transport control, a main body control unit 111 for controlling the main body of the device, and an operation unit 150 attached to the main body control unit 111. ..

The control unit 100 and the main body control unit 111 are connected via the interface 107. When the print key of the operation unit 150 is pressed, the main body control unit 111 transmits a document paper feed signal and a reading start signal to the control unit 100 via the interface 107.

The control unit 100 includes various sensors such as a home position sensor 83, a bump sensor 85, a document width sensor 86, a reading inlet sensor 87, and a paper ejection sensor 89, in addition to the document set sensor 58, the manual feed set detection sensor 59, and the registration sensor 57. It is designed to capture the detection signal of.

The control unit 100 includes a pickup motor 101 that drives the pickup roller of the separation unit 52a, a paper feed motor 102 that drives the transfer rollers 52b, 52c, and 52d, and a reading motor 103 that drives the timing pulley that moves the bracket 48. And the paper ejection motor 104 that drives the paper ejection rollers 52e and 52f, respectively, are operated.

Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11, the automatic connection mechanism 310, which is a characteristic component of the present embodiment, will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a paper feeding unit 2 housed in the apparatus main body 1M, an image forming unit 3 having a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing unit, and an apparatus main body. It includes a recording sheet output tray 303 as a cover for opening and closing the upper surface opening of 1M, an image reading unit 4, and an ADF 5.

The recording sheet output tray 303 has either a configuration that opens and closes integrally with the image reading unit 4 in conjunction with the opening and closing of the image reading unit 4, and a configuration that opens and closes independently without interlocking with the opening and closing of the image reading unit 4. It may be. In this embodiment, the former configuration is adopted. Specifically, in the recording sheet output tray 303, the upper part of the rear end of the recording sheet output tray 303 is rotatably connected to the hinge shaft 321 which is the center of rotation when the image reading unit 4 is opened and closed, which will be described later. ing. Further, the recording sheet output tray 303 is connected to the side surface of the upper surface opening of the device main body 1M via a connector 327 that can be disconnected from the device front side position by a small amount from the connection position with the hinge shaft 321. ing. Therefore, in the present embodiment, since the recording sheet output tray 303 opens and closes in conjunction with the opening and closing of the image reading unit 4, it is more convenient than opening and closing the recording sheet output tray 303 independently.

The image reading unit 4 is connected to the rear end of the device main body 1M via a first hinge 320 so that the hinge shaft 321 is centered on rotation, and is overlapped on the recording sheet output tray 303, and after the device. It is provided so that it can be opened and closed when it opens 90 degrees to the end side (stands up). Further, the ADF 5 is connected to the rear end of the device of the image reading unit 4 via a second hinge 323 and overlaps the image reading unit 4, and stands up toward the rear end of the device with respect to the image reading unit 4. It is provided so that it can be opened and closed.

Therefore, in order to set the document S2 on the flatbed contact glass of the image reading unit 4, the ADF 5 is opened and closed with respect to the image reading unit 4. Then, in order to open the opening on the upper surface of the paper ejection tray 303 for the recording sheet to replace the toner tank and perform other maintenance, the image reading unit 4 is closed and the ADF 5 is closed on the image reading unit 4. By opening the image reading unit 4 90 degrees toward the rear end side of the device from the state, as shown in FIG. 11, the ADF 5 is opened while overlapping the image reading unit 4, and the recording sheet output tray 303 is also opened 90 degrees. It will be in a state of being

In this case, when the image reading unit 4 is vigorously opened 90 degrees by the operator, the ADF 5 opens 90 degrees away from the image reading unit 4 and falls horizontally to the rear of the device. The automatic connection mechanism 310 described below is provided so that the ADF 5 remains overlapped with the image reading unit 4 even if the image reading unit 4 is vigorously opened 90 degrees.

The automatic connection mechanism 310 is provided over the image reading unit 4 and the ADF 5, and when the image reading unit 4 is opened with the ADF 5 overlapping the image reading unit 4, the automatic document transporting device and the image reading are interlocked with the automatic document conveying mechanism 310. It is provided so as to integrally connect the portion and the cover.

In particular, the lower portion 5a of the housing on the document inversion side of the ADF 5 is lowered so as to cover the side surface portion 4a of the image reading unit 4 on the DF contact glass 42 side, and the lower portion 5a of the housing of the ADF 5 and the upper surface of the device main body 1M. An extension member 302 extending integrally from the lower surface portion 4b on the document inversion side of the image reading unit 4 is provided between the extension member 302, and the automatic connecting mechanism 310 is provided between the extension member 302 and the lower portion 5a of the housing of the ADF5. Has been done.

The automatic connecting mechanism 310 is provided on the hook member 313 and the tension spring 318 provided in the through hole 311 penetrating in the vertical direction at a position away from the rear end of the device of the extension member 302, and the lower portion 5a of the housing of the ADF5. Mainly located in the middle position in the through hole 311 and the hook portion 315 located in the recess 316 provided, the engaging recess 317 provided in the wall surface portion on the second hinge 323 side in the hook portion 315, and the through hole 311. Includes a pin shaft 312 laid horizontally in the scanning direction. Both ends of the pin shaft 312 are supported by the wall surface portion of the through hole 311.

The hook member 313 has a hook portion 315 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the engaging recess 317 at the upper end, and has a contact portion 314 that can come into contact with the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body 1M at the lower end. Is rotatably supported by the pin shaft 312 and rotates about the pin shaft 312. The tension spring 318 is located in the hook portion 315 on the second hinge 323 side of the hook member 313, one end of which is locked to the wall surface portion of the through hole 311 and the other end of which is closer to the pin shaft 312 of the hook member 313. It is locked in the upper position.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the image reading unit 4 overlaps the device main body 1M, the hook member 313 abuts the contact portion 314 on the upper surface portion of the device main body 1M to be in an inclined posture, and the hook portion 315 is in an inclined posture. Is in a non-connected state to disengage from the engaging recess 317 provided in the ADF 5, and as shown in FIG. 10, when the image reading unit 4 is opened with respect to the apparatus main body 1M, the contact portion 314 Is separated from the main body 1M of the apparatus and is in an upright posture by the urging of the tension spring 318, the hook portion 315 is engaged with the engaging recess 317 provided in the ADF 5, and the image reading portion 4 and the ADF 5 are connected to each other. Has been done.

Therefore, when the document S2 is set on the flatbed contact glass 41 of the image reading unit 4, the automatic connection mechanism 310 is in the released state, so that the ADF 5 can be opened and closed with respect to the image reading unit 4. Further, when the upper surface opening of the apparatus main body 1M is opened, the automatic connection mechanism 310 automatically changes from the released state to the connected state in conjunction with opening the image reading unit 4, and as shown in FIG. 11, the image The reading unit 4 and the ADF 5 are opened while overlapping. The recording sheet output tray 303 opens and closes integrally with the image reading unit 4 when the connector 327 is connected, and is separated from the image reading unit 4 and independently when the connector 327 is not connected. It is opened and closed.

As shown in FIG. 9, further, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the load gradually increases when the image reading unit 4 is opened, and the load increases when the image reading unit 4 is closed. A compression spring 325 that functions with respect to the first hinge 320 is provided so as to be smaller, and the load increases immediately before the image reading unit 4 is closed and overlaps with the device main body 1M, so that the image reading unit 4 becomes smaller. It is equipped with a hydraulic damper 326 that reduces the closing speed.

The first hinge 320 is provided integrally with the extension member 302. The first hinge 320 has a first cam 322. The first cam 322 is in contact with the second cam 324. The second cam 324 is urged upward by the compression spring 325 and is fixed to the upper end of the piston 328 of the hydraulic damper 326 provided on the lower side. As a result, the load on the first hinge 320 gradually increases when the image reading unit 4 is opened due to the correlation between the first cam 322, the second cam 324, and the compression spring 325, and the image reading is performed. It functions to reduce the load as the unit 4 is closed, so that the operator does not notice that the ADF5, the image reading unit 4, and the recording sheet output tray 303 are not opened vigorously. Giving. Further, the first hinge 320 pushes down the hydraulic damper 326 with respect to the piston 328 via the second cam 324 just before the first cam 322 closes the image reading unit 4 and overlaps with the device main body 1M. Starting, the operator functions to increase the load and reduce the closing speed of the image reading unit 4, and the ADF 5, the image reading unit 4, and the recording sheet output tray 303 can be closed vigorously. Avoided.

According to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, no operation for connecting lock is required, and the automatic connecting mechanism 310 automatically connects the original at the moment when the image reading unit 4 is lifted regardless of the speed at which the image reading unit 4 is lifted. Since the transport device 5 and the image reading unit 4 are connected, even if the automatic document transporting device 5 and the image reading unit 4 are vigorously opened, there is no risk that the automatic document transporting device 5 will fall horizontally to the rear side of the device. The output tray 303 for the recording sheet is opened to prevent the machine from tipping over when replacing consumables such as toner, and there is no need to take up empty space behind the device. The upper surface can be opened, making maintenance such as replacement of consumables such as toner easy. Further, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the automatic connecting mechanism 310 has a smaller number of component parts and is provided in a small space as compared with the conventional case, so that it is excellent in assembling workability and manufacturing cost. Can be significantly reduced.

According to the present invention, even if the automatic document transfer device and the image forming unit are vigorously opened, there is no risk that the automatic document transfer device will fall horizontally toward the rear side of the device, and the machine will tip over when replacing consumables such as toner. It has the effect that it is not necessary to leave an empty space behind the device, and it has a function to raise the automatic document transfer device, the image forming part, and the cover that opens and closes the opening on the upper surface of the device body to the rear side of the device. It is useful for all image forming devices.

1 Image forming device 1M Device body 4 Image reading part 4a Side part 4b Bottom part 5 ADF (Image forming part)
5a Lower part of housing 6 Image reader 302 Extension member 303 Paper output tray (cover) for recording sheet
310 Automatic connection mechanism 312 Pin shaft 313 Hook member 314 Contact part 315 Hook part 316 Recess 317 Engagement recess 318 Tension spring 320 First hinge 321 Hinge shaft 322 Cam 323 Second hinge 325 Compression spring 326 Hydraulic damper S1 Manuscript S2 Placed manuscript

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-86628

Claims (5)

The image forming part housed in the main body of the device and
By being connected to the rear end of the device of the device body via a first hinge, the device can be opened and closed so as to be overlapped on the device body and to stand up to the rear end side of the device with respect to the device body. , An image reader that is designed to read images of conveyed or placed originals,
By being connected to the rear end of the device of the image reading unit via a second hinge, it can be opened and closed so as to overlap the image reading unit and to stand up toward the rear end side of the device with respect to the image reading unit. An automatic document transfer device provided in the
The automatic document transporting device is provided between the image reading unit and the automatic document transporting device, and when the image reading unit is opened with the automatic document transporting device overlapping the image reading unit, the automatic document transporting device is interlocked with the image reading unit. It is provided with an automatic connection mechanism for integrally connecting the image reader and the image reading unit .
The lower part of the housing on the document inversion side of the automatic document transporting device is lowered so as to cover the side surface portion of the image reading unit, and is between the lower part of the housing of the automatic document transporting device and the upper surface of the device main body. An extension member extending integrally from the lower surface portion of the image reading unit on the document inversion side is provided, and the automatic connection mechanism is provided over the extension member and the lower portion of the housing of the automatic document transfer device. An image forming apparatus characterized by being present. The automatic connecting mechanism is provided so as to extend in the vertical direction at a position away from the rear end of the device of the extension member, the middle portion is fixed to the pin shaft, the hook portion is provided at the upper end, and the contact portion is provided at the lower end. A hook member, a tension spring having one end locked to the extension member and the other end locked to a position above the pin axis of the hook member, and an engaging recess provided in the automatic document transfer device. Have,
When the image reading portion overlaps the device main body, the hook member abuts the contact portion on the device main body to be in an inclined posture, and the hook portion engages with the engaging recess. When the image reading unit is opened with respect to the device main body in a disengaged state, the contact portion is separated from the device main body and is in an upright posture due to the urging of the tension spring, and the hook portion is in the engaging recess. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be engaged with the image forming state. Any one of claims 1 and 2 , characterized in that a cover is provided so as to open and close the upper surface portion opening of the apparatus main body and to open and close integrally with the image reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to the section. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the cover is a paper ejection tray for a recording sheet. Said second hinge, characterized in addition to the compression spring and cams, before closing from just before the image reading unit is closed with respect to the apparatus main body, having a hydraulic damper which results in resistance of the piston in contact with it The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images