JPH01261661A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the occurrence of the wrinkles and jam of a sheet by switching not to pass through a fixing part but to pass through a bypass route by means of a switching means when a printer unit is loaded. CONSTITUTION:When the title device is used as a printer, an image producing unit is removed and the printer unit 42 is loaded. Based on an inputted data from the exterior, a heat sensitive head 43 is operated by a controlling part 49 through a main body 1 synchronized with feeding the sheet from a paper- feeding part 12. When the sheet passes through between a pressing roller 44 and an ink ribbon, the sheet is printed by the heat sensitive head 43 by performing thermal transfer. The printed sheet is led to the bypass route 25 and is ejected onto a paper ejection tray by a ejecting roller 37 without passing through the fixing part 16. Thus, the occurrence of the wrinkles and arising of problems such as jam can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that can serve both as an electrophotographic copying machine and a printer using digital signals.

(Prior art) Conventionally, in electrophotographic copying machines, maintenance, management, n.
For ease of filling, etc., as shown in Figures 6 and 7,
The main body 61 includes an image forming unit (image forming unit) 62 which includes a photoreceptor 63, a charging unit 64, a developing device 65, a cleaner 66, etc.
It is known that the image forming unit 62 is configured to be detachable from the upper body 61a, and the image forming unit 62 is attached to and detached from the lower body 61b by using one side of the upper body 61a as a fulcrum.

On the other hand, in recent years, with the development of electronic devices, various types of information are often stored electronically in seven files, and the need for printers to output filed information has increased. Currently, the mainstream printers are laser beam printers for high-end models and thermal transfer printers for low-end models.

All of these printers can also be used as copiers by connecting an image league using COD etc.
In recent years, laser beam printers having a copying function have been proposed, and thermal transfer copying machines are also known.

(The problem that the invention seeks to solve 2i1i) However,
When a printer and a copying machine are used together, a laser beam printer becomes very expensive, and a thermal transfer printer has a problem in that its resolution of 5α is insufficient.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems by solving α and π, and has both a high-resolution copying function and a printer function using an electrophotographic method. j! An image forming apparatus that can change functions by attaching and detaching the unit to the main body, and that when equipped with a printer function, there is no risk of paper wrinkles or blemishes occurring in the fixing section used in electrophotography. The purpose is to provide.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a photoreceptor, a Wl charger, and a developing i! Is the image forming unit removably attached to the main body? In the lt P photographic image forming apparatus, a printer unit which is equipped with a heat-sensitive nozzle and an ink ribbon supply means and is capable of performing an ia operation between the N2 of the image forming unit of the main body, In addition to providing a bypass passage that bypasses the fixing section that fixes the formed image,
The present invention is characterized in that a switching means is provided at a branching point between the paper passing path passing through the section I and the bypass path to guide the paper toward the bypass path when the printer unit is installed.

(Function) Since the present invention has the above configuration, it can be used as an electrophotographic copying machine or a digital thermal transfer printer by selectively IWing the image forming unit and the printer function F with respect to the main body. . Also, when the printer unit is installed, the paper does not need to pass through the fixing unit, which is required only in the electrophotographic method. Since the paper is switched so that it passes through the bypass passage without passing through the fixing section, such trouble does not occur, and the influence on the image due to offset in the fixing section can be completely eliminated.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 5.

1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes the main body of an electrophotographic copying machine, with an upper main body 1a bordering a part of the paper passage path 11.
and a lower body 1b, and similarly to that shown in FIG. 7, the upper body 1a is supported so as to be swingable upward with one end in the left and right direction as a pivot point.

As shown in FIG. 2, an image forming unit 2 that can be attached and detached by pushing in or pulling out in the backward direction (perpendicular to the plane of the figure) is disposed at approximately the center position in the left-right direction at the bottom of the upper body 1a. has been done.

The image forming unit 2 includes a photoreceptor 3 and a charger 4.
, a developing device 5, and a cleaner 6 are integrated into a unit.

A document table plus 7 for placing a document on the upper surface of the upper body 1& is installed so as to be movable in the left-right direction. Also, a light source 8 that illuminates the FXf 7m on the document table glass 7
A converging light transmitting body array 9 is provided which projects an image based on the reflected light onto the surface of the photoreceptor 3 at the ``M'' face section 10.

In the lower main body 1b, a busy paper feeding section 12 is disposed at one end in the left and right direction, and feeds the paper one sheet at a time to the paper passing path 11, and feeds the paper one sheet at a time in synchronization with the rotation of the moeki sensor 3. A timing roller 13 is provided for conveying toward the lower end. A transfer charger 14 is disposed so as to face the lower end of the photoreceptor 3, and a transfer section 15 is formed between them.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3, below the transfer section 15 of the sheet passage path 11, an upper fixing roller 21 having a built-in heater lamp 23 is biased to be pressed against the upper fixing roller 221. and a fixing row 222; 4 parts 1
A6 is arranged.

A discharge roller 17 is disposed below the fixing section 16.
A discharge tray 18 is provided at the other end of the lower body 1b.

Further, the lower main body 1b includes the fixing section 16 and the ejection roller 1.
A bypass passage 25 is provided that bypasses the paper passage 11 and discharges the paper to the discharge tray 18''2.
A switching plate 26 is disposed at the branching point between the two. The switching plate 26 has two positions, as shown in FIG. , the entrance of the bypass passage 25 is opened and the paper is passed through the bypass passage 25 (IlI
-i is fixed to a rod 28 that is rotatably supported by a bearing 27 provided in the lower body 1b so that it can swing between the second position and the second position where it is guided to the lower body 1b. . A link 29 is fixed to one end of this rod 28.
9 f6! , the ends thereof are configured to be swing-driven by a thread maid 30 via a link 31.

Note that in Figure #S3, 32 and 33 are side plates 3 and 3 that form the paper passage path 11 from the transfer section 15 to the fixing section 16.
Reference numeral 4 indicates an idle plate forming the bypass passage 25, and reference numeral 35 indicates a fixing roller drive gear. Further, in the ttSI diagram and the PIS2 diagram, 37 is a discharge roller disposed in the bypass passage 25, and 38 is an exhaust fan disposed in the upper body 1a for exhausting heat and ozone.

As shown in FIG. 1, a printer unit 42 can be attached to the main body 1 instead of the surface image forming unit 2.

This printer unit 42 is a thermal transfer type printer unit, and includes a thermal head 43 and a thermal head 4.
3, an ink ribbon roll 45, a take-up roll 46, idle rolls 47 on both sides of the heat-sensitive plate 43, and a CCD light-receiving element. The image league 48 and a control section 49 that controls the image league 48 are formed into a unit.

When the printer unit 42 is installed, the paper passage path 11 of the main body 1 is configured to pass between the ink ribbon in contact with the heat-sensitive pad 43 and the pressure roller 44. Further, the light receiving surface of the image league 48 is arranged to be located at the focal plane of the convergent light transmitting body array 9, so that it is possible to read the original on the original table plus 7''. Further, in order to prevent the pressure roller 44 and the transfer charger 14 from interfering with each other, the transfer charger 14 is supported so as to be elastically retractable downward, and the pressure roller 44 is supported from the bottom surface of the printer unit 42 as shown in FIG. The bracket 44a is made to protrude, and the transfer charger 14 is pushed down by this bracket 14a.

Further, the mechanical driving force of the printer unit 42, that is, the driving force for feeding the ink ribbon, etc., is configured to be obtained from the main body 1 side. Specifically: etS4 diagram and tlS5
As shown in the figure, a drive bearing part 50 is provided on the back side of the printer unit 42 and is connected to the winding roll 46 and has a shaft hole 51 and a bottle receiver 52.
It is rotatable around the pongee 53 and has the bottle holder 52 on the side.
A gear 54 protruding from a pin 55 that engages with is provided, and the gear 54 is configured to be rotationally driven by a drive gear 56. 57 is for attaching and detaching each unit 2.42
It is an ID member.

In addition, in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of microswitches 58a and 581+ are provided on the main body 1, and protrusions 59a and 59bhtB are provided on the image forming unit 2 and the printer unit 42 as needed to face the microswitches 58a and 581+. ing. When the image forming unit 2 or the printer unit 42 is installed, its tq-specific multiplication signal microswitches 58a, 5
8b and when the printer unit 42 is 1m,
The solenoid 30 is operated to perform a suction operation to swing the switching plate 26 upward, thereby guiding the paper to the bypass passage 25. Further, 60a and 60b are connectors for data transmission provided on the main body 1 and the printer unit 22, respectively.

In the above description, the printer unit 42 is equipped with the image league 48, but the image league 48 may be omitted and a printer unit 42 capable of only printing may be provided.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be explained.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 2 is attached to the I! When copying the original on Xv4 unit γ input 7,
As the photoreceptor 3 rotates, the surface of the photoreceptor 3 is charged by the charger 4, and the exposure section 10 exposes the original image to form a static latent image.The latent image is transferred to the developer 5. The toner image is developed by the paper feed section 1.
Since the switching plate 26 closes the bypass passage 25, The sheet is conveyed through the paper path 11 toward the fixing section 16, fixed by the fixing section 16, and then discharged onto the discharge tray 18 by the discharge roller 17.

The image forming unit 2 is detachably attached to the main body 1 in the form of N4, so even if it is 1! By replacing the image forming unit 2 with the image forming unit 2 equipped with the developing device 5 that has grown color toner, it is possible to form an image in another color. Furthermore, the developing device 5 may be replaced with the image forming unit 2.

Next, when used as a printer, the image forming unit 2
Remove the printer unit 4 as shown in Figure 1.
Attach 2. Then, based on the input data from the outside, the controller 811 section 49 inputs the heat sensitive rad 43 via the main body 1.
is activated, and the paper is fed from the paper feed section 12 in synchronization. Then, the paper passes between the suppression roller 44 and the ink ribbon, and the thermal head 43 prints onto the paper by thermal transfer. As a result, the switching plate 2G is rotated upward, so that it is guided to the bypass passage 25 side, and is ejected onto the ejection tray 18 by the ejection roller 37 without passing through the fixing section 16.

In addition, by placing a document on the document table plus 7, moving the document table 48 and the image league 48 by 4%, and operating the thermal radar 43 based on the input signal, it is also possible to copy based on the digital signal. .

Furthermore, the data read by the image league 48 can also be transmitted to the outside.

In the above embodiment, the printer unit 42 is provided with the control ff1s49, but it may be possible to control it all with the main body 1g1Il.
It would be better to input l manually from the operation panel.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, by selectively mounting the image forming unit and the printer unit on the main body as described above, it can be used as an electrophotographic copying machine or a digital thermal transfer printer. can be used. However, once the printer unit is installed, the paper is ejected through the bypass passage without passing through the fusing unit, so problems such as paper (-wag) or paper jams do not occur, and the fusing unit does not pass through the fusing unit. This has great effects, such as completely eliminating the effects on the image due to offset, etc.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

! 1S1 to 5 show an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the thermal transfer method in a rectangular state, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional front view of the electrophotographic method, Third
The figure is a perspective view of the branching part of the paper passage path and the bypass passage, FIG.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional front view of a conventional electrophotographic copying machine, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the same with the upper body thereof being removed. 2......Production (t unit 3...Photoconductor 4...Charger 5...Developer Pa 6...Cleaner 16...Fixing section 25...Bypass passage 26...Switching plate 30. ......Solenoid 42...Printer unit 7 43...
...Thermal head 45...Ink ribbon roll 46...
...Take-up roll agent Patent attorney Masaru Ishihara Figure 3 Figure 4 M? Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which an image forming unit including a photoreceptor, a charger, a developer, a cleaner, etc. is removably attached to the main body, which is equipped with a thermal head and an ink ribbon supply means, A printer unit is provided that is detachable from the mounting space of the image forming unit, and a bypass passage that bypasses a fixing section that fixes the image formed by the image forming unit is provided in the main body, and a bypass passage that bypasses a fixing section that fixes the image formed by the image forming unit is provided, and a paper passing through the fixing section is provided. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a switching means is provided at a branching point between the path and the bypass passage for guiding the paper toward the bypass passage when the printer unit is installed.