JPH01273059A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the occurrence of failures such as crinkled and jammed sheets by selectively loading an electrophotographic image producing unit and a printer unit of heat development type and adjusting the press-bond force of a fixing part when the printer unit is loaded. CONSTITUTION:A photosensitive body, an electrostatic charger, a developing device and a cleaner are united in the image producing unit 2, while a heat sensitive head, an ink ribbon roller, a take-up roll, etc., are united in the printer unit 22. When the unit 22 is loaded, a cam 53 on the side of the unit 22 pushes a pressure lever 51 to reduce pressure applied to an upper fixing frame 44 supported by a journal 43. Thus, the press-bond force between fixing rollers 41 and 42 is reduced enough to carry sheets, whereby failures such as their crinkles and 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 function as both an electrophotographic copying machine and a digital signal printer.1 (Prior Art) Traditionally, electrophotographic copying machines have been subject to maintenance, management, (
To facilitate processing, etc., the photoreceptor, charging changer,
It is known that an image forming unit including a developing device, a cleaner, etc. is detachably attached to the main body.

On the other hand, in recent years, with the development of electronic devices, various types of information are increasingly being electronically filed, and the need for printers to output the filed information is increasing. 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 for copying (copying) by connecting an image sensor using a CCD, etc. In recent years, laser beam printers with a copying function have been proposed, and thermal transfer copying machines are also known. .

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, when using both a printer and a copying machine, using a laser beam printer is very expensive, and using a thermal transfer printer as a copying machine has insufficient resolution. There is a problem. .

The present invention is similar to the above-mentioned conventional problem, and has both a high-resolution multifunction function using an electrophotographic method and a printer function, and switching between the two functions is possible by attaching and detaching the unit from the main body. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which can smoothly transport paper in a fixing section used in an electrophotographic method when it is equipped with a printer function.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the objects mentioned above, the present invention provides an electronic device in which an image forming unit 71, in which a photoconductor, a charger, a developer, a cleaner, etc. are integrated into a unit, is removably attached to a main body. The photographic image forming apparatus 15 is equipped with a thermal IS and an ink ribbon supply means, and is provided with a detachable printer unit according to the installation space of the image forming unit of the main body of the crime, and is formed by the image forming unit 71. The present invention is characterized in that means is provided for adjusting the pressure X (force) applied to the constant Xf portion of the printed image by installing the printer function unit 1.

(Function) Since the present invention has the above configuration, by selectively attaching the image forming unit 1 and the printer unit to the main body, it can be used as an electrophotographic copying machine or a digital thermal transfer printer. can. Also, when a printer unit is installed, the fixing unit required for electrophotography does not need to function, and if the pressure remains unchanged, it may cause wrinkles or jams in the paper.
When the printer unit is installed, the pressing force of the fixing section is adjusted to the level necessary for paper passing, or so that it is almost released, so such trouble does not occur.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 16.

In Figures 1 to 3, 1 is the main body of the electrophotographic copying machine;
and the lower body is divided into 11 parts, as shown in Figure 3, -
The main body 1a is supported so as to be able to swing upward with its left end in the 1' direction as a pivot support. An image forming unit /12 that can be attached and removed by pushing or pulling out in the die cutting direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of the figure) is disposed at the lower center of the four-part main body 1u. There is. The image forming unit 1/2 is constructed by combining a photoreceptor 3, a charger 1, a developing device 5, and a cleaner 6 into a unit.

Said "two-part main body 1. , I is provided with a document platen glass 7 movable in the left and right direction on which a document is placed on its "-" surface. Further, there are provided a light source 8 for illuminating the original on the original table glass 7, and a convergent light transmitting body array 9 for projecting an image based on the reflected light onto the surface of the photoreceptor 3 in the exposure section 10.

In the lower main body 1l), a paper feed section 12 is disposed at one end in the left and right direction to feed paper sheets one by one into a paper passage path 11, and the paper feed section 12 feeds the paper sheet one sheet at a time to the rotation of the photoreceptor 3. A timing roller 13 is provided for transporting the paper toward its lower end. A transfer charger 14 is disposed opposite the lower end of the photoreceptor 3, and a transfer portion 15 is formed between them. .

The fixing unit 16 is located below the transfer unit 1!3 of the serious crime paper passage route 11.
, a discharge roller] 7 are disposed, and a discharge tray 18 is provided at the other end of the lower main body 11. Also, the upper main body 1a
is equipped with one 11 air fan for exhaust heat and ozone output.

As the photoreceptor 3 rotates, the surface of the photoreceptor 3 is charged by the charger 1, and the exposure unit 10 exposes the original image to form a Toden latent image. The toner is developed by the developer P145, and the paper feed section 1
2 kara O (transferred by the transfer unit 15 onto the fed paper and synchronously fed in by the timing roller 13, further fixed by the fixing unit 16, and then transferred to the output tray 18-J- by the ejection roller 17) It is configured so that the angle is extended by 1°.

Further, since the image forming unit 12 is configured to be detachably attached to the main body 1, for example, by replacing it with an image forming unit 2 equipped with a developing unit 5 containing a color 1 developer, it is possible to use a different color. Images can be formed using Note that the developing unit 5 may be replaced with J=J in the image forming unit 2.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, a printer unit 122 may be attached to the main body 1 in place of the image forming unit 12. This printer unit 22 is a thermal transfer type printer unit, and includes a heat-sensitive gutter 23, a suppression roller 24 that presses against the printing surface of the heat-sensitive gutter 23 via an ink ribbon and paper, and an ink roller 24. The ribbon roll 25, the take-up roll 2G, guide rolls 27 on both sides of the heat-sensitive gutter 23, an image league 28 consisting of a CCD receiver, and a control section 29 for controlling these are integrated into one unit. has been done.

With this printer unit 22 at 1K, 1, the paper passing path 11 of the main body 1 is configured to pass between the ink ribbon in contact with the heat-sensitive gutter 23 and the press loaf 24. Further, the receiving surface of the image league 28 is arranged so as to be located at the focal plane of the focusing beam transmitter array 9, so that the original on the original table glass 7 can be read. There is. Furthermore, to prevent interference between the suppression roller 27I and the transfer charger 14, the transfer charger 14 is elastically supported so that it can be retracted downward, and is suppressed from the bottom surface of the printer unit 122, as shown in FIG. A bracket 24a that supports the roller 24 is projected, and the transfer charger 14 is pushed down by the bracket 24a.

Further, the three driving forces of the printer unit 22, that is, the driving force for feeding the ink ribbon, etc., are configured to be obtained from the main body 1 side. The specific information is shown in Figure 5 and fI.
As shown in FIG.
A drive bearing part 30 having a pin receiver 32 is provided, and a gear 34 is provided on the main body 1 side, which is rotatable around a shaft 33 and has a pin 35 projecting from the side surface 1 to the pin receiver 321 to engage with the drive bearing part 30. The gear 34 is rotatably driven by a drive gear 36i. 37 is each Uniso 1-
2.22 is a guide member for attachment and detachment.

5 and 6, the main body 1 is provided with monthly microswitches 38a and 38b, and the image forming unit 2 and the printer unit 22 are provided with protrusions 39a and 391 as necessary to face the microswitches 38a and 38b. ) is provided, and when these units 2 or 22 are installed, the configuration is such that the discrimination signal can be obtained from the microswitches 38a, 381+.

Further, 40a and 401] are connectors for data transmission provided in the main body 1 and the printer unit 22, respectively.

When printing using the thermal transfer method with the printer unit 22 installed, if the printed paper is subjected to heat and pressure again in the fixing section 16, it will have an adverse effect on the printed image, so do not turn off the heater lamp. In addition to being activated, the pressure force of the two upper and lower fixing rollers of the fixing unit 16 is reduced or released to the extent necessary for paper passing.

The detailed configuration will be explained based on FIGS. 7 and 8.

In the illustrated fixing unit 16, the second fixing roller 41 is
A support shaft 431 provided in the lower body 1 ( )
The lower fixing roller 42 is attached to the lower fixing frame fixed to the lower main body 1b via the pressure spring 5. Supported by 4G. Then, when the two-part main body 1a is closed and its long lever 4.7 is engaged with the long hole 48 of the lower main body 1b and locked, the upper fixing frame 44 is pushed down by the protrusion 50 on the upper main body 1a side and is crimped. When the spring 45 is compressed, the compressive reaction force exerts a necessary pressing force (usually 6 to 20) between the upper and lower fixing rows 241 and 12.

The protrusion 50 is provided with a mechanism for selectively moving between an engaged position shown in solid lines in FIG. .

A pair of crimping levers 51 are provided on the two-part main body 1a so as to be movable in the left-right direction.

The compression lever 51 is urged toward the engagement position by a tension spring 52, and is moved to the non-engagement position by engaging a pair of cams 53 formed on the side surface of the printer unit 7122. It is composed of Reference numeral 54 indicates a guide hole formed in the crimp lever 51, and reference numeral 55 indicates a guide hole provided in the upper body 1a so as to engage with the guide hole 54.

4 is a collar that engages with the upper surface of the upper fixing 7 frame to regulate its upper limit position, and as shown by the imaginary line, when engaged with this stopper 49, the fixing rollers 41 and 42 are pressed together. The force is the amount necessary to transport the paper (usually several 100g)
The height is set so that Incidentally, if the fixing rollers 241, 42 are not necessary for conveying the paper, the stopper 49 may be omitted and the upper fixing 7 frame 44 may be urged upward so that the upper and lower fixing rollers are separated from each other.

Furthermore, a microswitch 56 is provided to detect when the crimp lever 51 moves to a non-engaging position,
By the operation of this microswitch 56, the fixing roller 4
1 is configured to turn off a built-in heater lamp 41a, and when the printer unit 22 is attached, the heater lamp 'lla is automatically turned off.

In FIGS. 1 to 4 above, an example is shown in which the printer unit 22 is provided with the pressure roller 24 that presses the ink ribbon and paper by marking the thermal head 23. In addition, the suppression roller 24 and transfer charger 1 can be connected by attaching and detaching the printer unit 22.
4 can also be selectively moved into the active position.

To explain in detail based on FIGS. 9 to 12, the 12th
As shown in the figure, a pressing roller 24 is attached between one end of a pair of swinging rods 62 whose intermediate portions are swingably supported by a pair of support shafts 61 provided at the front and rear of the lower body 1b. , the transfer charger 1 is attached to the other end of these swinging rods 62.
A mounting bracket 63 is provided for fitting and fixing both ends of 4.

A voltage application terminal 64 is formed on one mounting bracket 63, and a power cord 65 is connected thereto.

Further, the suppression roller 24 is driven by meshing between a drive gear 66 disposed on the same axis as the support shaft 61 and a gear 67 fixed to the drive shaft of the pressure roller 24 .

The swinging rod 62 is connected to the transfer charger 14 by a compression spring 68.
In this state, as shown in FIG. 10, the transfer charger 14 faces the lower end of the photoreceptor 3 of the image forming unit 2, and the suppression roller 24 is used to convey the paper after transfer. Configured to function as a robe.

On the other hand, an engagement protrusion 69 is projected upward from the other end of the swinging rod 62, and after the printer unit 22 is installed,
When the upper body 1a is closed and locked to the lower body 11],
A projection 70 protruding downward from the printer unit 22
As a result, this engaging protrusion 69 is pushed down (see FIG. 11), and as shown in FIG. 9, the suppression roller 2 is moved upward and pressed against the thermal head 23.

In FIG. 11, 71 is an idle roller before transfer, and 72 is a paper conveyance guide plate.

In the following explanation, only the printer unit 22 equipped with the image league 28 is shown, but there is also a printer unit 22 that can omit the image league 28 and only perform printing. It can be installed on.

Next, the usage pattern and control of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be explained.

FIG. 13 shows a control block diagram. The image forming apparatus 80 configured as described above is controlled mainly by a main CPU 81 comprised of a microcomputer in the main body 1. That is,
Charging, transfer, fixing, illumination, scanning of the original image, exhaust by the exhaust fan, paper feeding timing by the timing roller, and other controls are performed in the main body 1 according to inputs from the key manual unit 82, and the fixing temperature is controlled by the thermistor 49. It is configured to monitor and display necessary information on the display unit 83. Further, the image forming unit 2 or the printing unit 22 is configured to be driven by the driving means of the main body 1 controlled by the main CPU 81. Further, the main CPU 81 is configured to receive data signals from external devices 90 such as a 7Axly 91, a word processor 92, and a video processor 93, and to operate by transmitting data to and from the print unit 22.

In addition, a determination signal is manually inputted from each unit 2.22 to the main CPU 81 so that the control of the main body 1 can be changed depending on the type of image forming unit 2 or print unit 22 installed in the main body 1. Further, the CPU 81 outputs a thermal transfer operation permission signal only when the print unit 22 is attached and the thermal transfer operation permission flag is set.

Next, the control operation will be explained. FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of overall control of the image forming apparatus. When the main power is turned on, initial values are first set in step #1. This initial value sets a standard mode for performing common control for all image formations, and selects dedicated control and unnecessary control for the image forming unit or print unit. Next, an internal timer is set to set the time required for one routine to perform various controls (step #2).

After that, it is determined whether image formation is possible or not (Step #3)
If possible, perform key manual processing from the operation panel (step #4), perform other processing such as setting display data, and perform image forming operations according to the mode set in step #1 (step #4). 5). Finally, when the end of the internal timer is detected (step #6), the process returns to step #2 and the control is repeated. Also, step #3
If it is determined that image formation is not possible, abnormality processing such as correction, cancellation, and display of the abnormality is performed (Step 7).
.

Next, the above initial value setting operation will be explained based on the chart 70 shown in FIG. First, in step #11, the initial value of the main CPLJ81 and the unit discrimination 7 lags F, , F
Reset 2. In step #12, 7 lugs F, , F2 are added depending on the type of unit 1 installed in the main body 1.
Set. Signals for setting this flag are inputted from two microswitches 38u and 38b shown in FIG. 6, and four types of states are determined. Here, F,=1,F
It is assumed that 2=0 is an image forming unit, F,=0, F2-1 is a printer unit, and F1=1, F2=1 is a printer unit 71 equipped with an image league.

Next, in steps #13 to #29, a determination is made as to which operations are necessary and which are unnecessary when the three types of units described above are used. When you summarize the results of those decisions, you become like an adult.

In the table, ◯ indicates operation, × indicates inhibition of operation, and unit t with IR indicates printer unit I equipped with an image league.

Thereafter, in step #30, other initial values are set, and the process returns to the main routine.

-16= By performing the above control, it becomes possible to selectively cancel unnecessary operations during operations other than the electrophotographic method, and operations that are harmful to the operations of other methods can be canceled.
It also saves unnecessary power consumption.

Furthermore, if the printer unit 22 is used immediately after the image forming unit 2 is used, the high temperature of the fixing unit 16 may cause the ink on the ink ribbon transferred to the paper to melt and be offset by the fixing roller 41. There is.

To prevent this, when the temperature of the contact portion of the image surface of the fixing unit 16 is higher than the melting point of the ink (usually about 70°C), the image forming operation is prohibited and this is displayed on the operation panel. The determination as to whether or not image formation is possible in step #3 of the main routine includes control shown in the fIS16 diagram.

In FIG. 16, first, in step #31, the above 7 lag F
, , F2+2 determines whether or not the thermal transfer method is used by the printer unit 22, and if it is the thermal transfer method, step #
At 32, the temperature of the fixing section 16 is determined. Usually, fixing section 1
6, the image surface comes into contact with the second fixing roller 41, and its surface temperature is measured by a thermistor 49 (see Figure 7).
It is determined whether or not the temperature is below 70° C., which is the melting point of the ink. If the ink is not melted (γI), a flag is set to permit the thermal transfer operation in step #33.

If the copy prohibition display is still displayed, the display is also stopped and the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, the fixing section 16
If the temperature is 70° C. or higher, the thermal transfer operation is prohibited in step #34, and a message such as “1 wait” is displayed on the operation panel. Then, the process returns to step #32, repeats the above operations, and waits until the temperature drops below 70°C.

Note that 1 in step #32! The reference temperature for cutting can be varied depending on the type of ink.

In the above embodiment, the nrU control of the printer unit 22 is performed by the control 1 section 29 of the printer unit 22 that operates in conjunction with the main CPU 81, but it is controlled by the main CPU 81. You may choose to do so. Further, the determination of the unit 1 may be manually input 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 1 and the printer unit on the main body as described above, it is possible to use an electrophotographic copying machine or a digital thermal transfer printer. It can be used as In addition, when the printer unit is installed, the pressure of the fixing unit is adjusted to the level necessary for transporting the paper, or so that it is almost released, so problems such as paper wrinkles and jams do not occur. The sheet conveyance in the fixing section is carried out smoothly, and since the pressure force is reduced, the torque required for driving can also be reduced, which provides great effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 16 show an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view of an electrophotographic system;
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional front view of the thermal transfer system, Figure 3 is a vertical sectional front view of the unit when the upper body is opened and the unit can be replaced, and Figure 4 is a view of the link unit from below. 5 is a perspective view of the printer unit seen from the back, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the printer unit and the mounting section in the main body, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the detailed configuration of the fixing section. @Figure 8 is a first view of the opening needle, Figures 19 to 12 show modifications of the above embodiment, Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the thermal transfer system, and Figure 10 is the electrophotographic system. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the main parts of the transfer charger and press roller cut-out structure, Figure 32 is an enlarged perspective view of the same part, Figure 13 is 1FI.
Figure 15 is the 70-chart of the main routine for overall control, Figure 15 is the 70-chart 1 of the initial value setting subroutine, and Figure 16 is the 70-chart 1 of the subroutine for determining whether thermal transfer is possible. It is. 2...Image forming unit 3...Photoreceptor 4...Charger 5...Developer 6... ...Cleaner 16 ...Fixing section 22 ...Printer unit 23 ...
...Thermal hand 25...Ink ribbon roll 26...
...... Winding roll 41 ...... Upper fixing roller 42 ...... Lower fixing roller 44 ...... Upper fixing frame 45. ...
...Crimping spring 50...Protrusion 51...Crimping L' bar 53... Cam agent Patent attorney Masaru Ishihara Fig. 4 Section 14 Fig. 15 Initial value setting #11 Initial value reset unit student discount flag "F+-, Fz reset #12 Flag set F, = 1, F2 = 0... - Electronic photo F 1 = O1 F2 = 1. -Thermal transfer printer F, =L F
t=1--IR/thermal transfer printerttL(N

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, The present invention is characterized in that a printer unit is provided that is removably attached to the mounting space of the image forming unit, and means is provided for adjusting the pressure force at the fixing portion of the image formed by the image forming unit by mounting the printer unit. Image forming device.