JPH02225237A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress noise and prevent the generation of clogging of sheet material after opening a guide surface by installing a relaying transporting means having an introducing projection which slightly projects toward a feeding means, between the feeding means for the sheet material and the guide surface which can be opened and closed. CONSTITUTION:A relaying transporting means 10 equipped with an introducing projection 110 which is slightly projecting towards a feeding means 2 is installed between the feeding means 2 for feeding a sheet material Pa to a transport passage 6 and a guide surface 40 which can open and close one side of a feeding passage 4 for introducing the sheet material Pa sent out from the feeding means 2 to a transport passage 6. With this constitution, the generation of noise due to the contact of the rear edge of the sheet material Pa which passes through a curved passage with a part of the passage is prevented. Further, even if the guide surface 40 is opened to dissolve the clogging of sheet material Pa, the clogging of the sheet material Pa in the succeeding process is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying apparatus or a laser printer.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in image forming apparatuses such as electrostatic copying machines and laser printers, the passage of transfer paper from the paper feed cassette to the photoreceptor and the transfer area between the transfer devices has been conveyed in a curved manner. There is something I did.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the configuration of an image forming apparatus in which the transfer paper passage path is curved in this manner.

To explain FIG. 4 in detail, the passage path of the transfer paper includes a supply means 2 at the most upstream side that supplies the transfer paper Pa downstream, and a supply means 2 that supplies the transfer paper Pa from the supply means 2 further downstream. A feeding path 4 is used to feed the transfer paper, and the transfer paper fed from the feeding path 4 is transferred to a photoreceptor.

It has a conveyance path 6 for conveying to a transfer area between transfer devices (both not shown).

The supply means 2 located at the most upstream side is the substrate 8 of the image forming apparatus.
and a cassette receiver integrally or attached to two side plates 10 (the rear side plate is shown in FIG. 4) provided at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. It has 12. The cassette receiving part 12 consists of an abutment plate 18 that defines the insertion position of the front edge 16 of the cassette 14 in the insertion direction, and a height regulation part 22 that comes into contact with the bottom plate 20 of the cassette 14 to regulate the height of the cassette. .

The abutment plate 18 is erected in a plate shape from the base plate 8, and extends from the front side plate to the rear side plate 10 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. It is provided parallel to the insertion direction of the cassette 14. still,
Although not shown in FIG. 4, a detection means for detecting the size of the transfer paper Pa stored in the cassette 14 is attached to the contact plate 18. A working member is attached to perform the operation. Further, the cassette 14 constituting the supply means 2 includes a mounting table 24 on which the transfer paper Pa is placed, and a feeding roller 26 which will be described later on the mounting table 24.
It consists of a biasing spring 28 that biases the transfer paper Pa in the cassette insertion direction, and separation claws 30 that come into contact with both ends of the transfer paper Pa and separate the transfer paper Pa when viewed in the cassette insertion direction.

The front edge 16 of the cassette 14 is provided with a predetermined notch 32 corresponding to the width of the cassette 14 in a direction perpendicular to the paper plane of FIG. Therefore, the upper edge 34 of the front edge 16 defines substantially the same plane as the upper edge 36 of the abutting plate 18. Further, the feeding roller 26 constituting the feeding means 2 is connected to the front and rear side plates 1.
It is constructed by attaching a plurality of rollers made of rubber members to a rotating shaft (not shown) that is supported between the two.

Next, to describe the feeding route 4 specifically, the feeding route 4
has an upper guide surface 38 that defines its upper surface, a lower guide surface 40 that defines its lower surface, and an upper guide surface 42 that is on the downstream side of the lower guide surface 40 and defines the same surface as the lower guide surface 40. ,
A feed roller 44 and a transfer paper handling mechanism 46 are arranged at this appropriate location.

The upper guide surface 38 is integrally formed with a partition wall 48 made of resin or the like, and a guide roller 44 and a feed roller 50 of the transfer paper handling mechanism 46 are attached to a part of the upper guide surface 38 . The lower guide surface 40 includes a plurality of ribs 54 spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper on the side of a hollow block member 52 made of resin or the like that faces the upper guide surface 38 . The rib 54 includes an introduction part 66 that gradually rises from near the top of the vertical wall 64 of the hollow block 52, an intermediate part 69 that stands up on the curved upper inclined wall 68 of the hollow block 52, and a claw of the locking member 56, which will be described later. Terminating portion 72 gradually falling near portion 70
It consists of A hollow block 52 integrally provided with a rib 54 defining a lower guide surface is configured to be openable and closable in order to facilitate removal of the transfer paper in the event of a transfer paper jam. That is, in FIG. 4, a protrusion 60 is provided at the lower left of the hollow block 52, and a shaft 62 is loosely fitted over the protrusion 60 over the side plate 10, so that the hollow block 5 is
2 can be opened and closed in the direction shown by arrow A in FIG. Further, the rotation of the hollow block 52 in the A direction is controlled by the lower inclined wall 76.
comes into contact with the substrate 8, thereby preventing rotation beyond a predetermined amount. A locking member 56 is provided on the upper right side of the hollow block 52, and a claw portion 70 formed in a part of the locking member 56 engages with a hole 74 provided in a housing 58 of the device main body to be held in the closed position. I try to do that. The upper guide surface 42 includes a rib 78 that is integrally erected from the housing 58.
have. The rib 78 has an introduction portion 80 protruding downward from the vicinity of the hole 74 of the housing 58 in FIG. 4, and its end portion gradually moves away from the guide surface 40.

The introducing portions 80 are arranged to alternately intersect with the terminal end portion 72 of the rib 54 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 4, and prevent the leading edge of the transfer paper from being caught at the joint between the two. The rib 78 formed from the introduction portion 80 curves along the shape of the housing 58 and ends near the registration roller pair 82 .

Note that this housing 58 is provided with pad rollers 84 of the transfer paper handling mechanism 46.

The conveying path 6 is a part that conveys the transfer paper sent from the feeding path to the transfer area between the photoreceptor and the transfer device (both not shown), and is a part that conveys the transfer paper sent from the feeding path to the transfer area between the photoreceptor and the transfer device (both not shown). The transport path on the downstream side of the pair 82 and the registration roller pair 82 includes a lower transport plate 86 that defines the upper surface thereof, and a lower transport plate 88 that defines the lower surface thereof.

In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, as shown in FIG.
Only one sheet receiving the action of 0 is sent to the feeding path 4.

The guide rollers 44° are guided by the ribs 54 of the lower guide surface 40 and reach the transfer paper handling mechanism 46. The transfer paper handling mechanism 46 is provided here because normally the above-mentioned separation claw 30 controls the transfer paper Pa so that only one sheet is sent out, but if this is not done properly, the transfer paper separation mechanism 46 is provided. This is to prevent more than one sheet of transfer paper from being sent to the path 6. Further, the transfer paper is guided by the lip 78 on the upper guide surface 42 and reaches a pair of registration rollers 82 on the conveyance path 6, where the timing of the leading edge thereof is adjusted. Thereafter, the sheet passes between upper and lower transport plates 86 and 88 and is sent to a transfer area (not shown), where an image is formed on the transfer sheet.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the image forming apparatus having the above configuration has the following drawbacks.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the transfer paper Pa is transported along the feeding path 4. Immediately before the transfer paper is sent out to the conveyance path 6 and its rear end leaves the vicinity of the separation claw 30, a force shown in the direction of arrow C is generated due to the stiffness of the transfer paper PbO paper due to the curve of the feed path 4. . Therefore, when the rear end of the transfer paper PaO leaves the vicinity of the separating claw 30, the upper edge 34 of the cassette 14 is affected by the force in the direction of arrow C. .

The upper edge 36 of the abutment plate 18, or most commonly the trailing edge of the transfer paper, hits the vicinity of the introduction part 66 constituting the lower guide surface 40 with force (as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4) and generates noise. It was the cause.

Furthermore, if a transfer paper jam occurs near the feeding path 4, it is necessary to remove it. At this time, the hollow block 52 provided with the lower guide surface 4O that defines the lower surface of the feeding path 4 is rotated about the shaft 62 in the direction shown by arrow A in FIG. It opens to make it easier to remove paper jams.

By the way, if a paper jam occurs in the transfer paper near the feeding path 4, the transfer paper is not properly separated by the separation claw 30, and the two sheets of transfer paper Pc protrude somewhat into the feeding path 4. In some cases, the hollow block 52 is opened to remove jammed transfer paper (not shown in FIG. 5). In such a case, the user determines whether or not to remove the transfer paper PC based on the amount of protrusion of the transfer paper PC. If this is not removed when the hollow block 52 is opened, the leading end of the transfer paper will enter a place other than the feeding path due to its own weight, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. If the hollow block 52 is closed in this state, there is a drawback that when the feeding roller 26 is rotated for subsequent image formation, the transfer paper will jam again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that solves the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks.

(Means for Solving the Problems) An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a conveyance path for conveying a sheet member to a transfer area, a supply means for supplying the sheet member to the conveyance path, and a sheet fed out from the supply means. In an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a feeding path that guides the member to the feeding path, and an openable and closable guide surface defining one side of the feeding path extends in a curved manner from the feeding device toward the feeding path. It is characterized in that an intermediate conveying means is provided between the opening and closing guide surface and is provided with an introduction protrusion that somewhat projects toward the supply means.

(Function) Defines one side of the feeding route. The openable and closable guide surface facilitates the removal of sheet members when they become jammed near the feeding path, and the introduction protrusion of the intermediate conveyance means provided between the guide surface and the supply means allows the sheet to be curved. The rear end of the member is smoothly guided to the guide surface. Furthermore, since the relay conveyance means can support sheet members that protrude somewhat from the supply means, even if the guide surface is opened to remove a sheet member that has become jammed near the feeding path, the sheet member will not become jammed again. .

(Example) Next, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In the embodiments of the present invention, parts that are equivalent to the configuration of the image forming apparatus described in the prior art section will be described with the same reference numerals.

A characteristic feature of the present invention is that an intermediate conveyance means 100 is provided between the supply means 2 and the feeding path 4. To explain in more detail, the relay conveyance means 100 includes a mounting portion 102 that is attached to the contact plate 18 with screws or the like, and a base 1 that has ribs 104 erected on the upper surface of the mounting portion 102.
It consists of 06.

The base 106 spans the width direction (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1, in the direction from the lower right to the upper left in FIG. 2), and is attached to the support base 108 provided on the part 102 and the support base 108. An introduction protrusion 110 that protrudes into the cassette 14 is provided at the center in the width direction. The introduction projection 110 passes through a notch 32 provided in the front edge 16 of the cassette 14,
It protrudes to near the leading edge of the transfer paper Pa in the cassette 14.

Approximately triangular ribs 104 are erected at both ends of the support base 108 in the width direction and at the central portion in the width direction where the introduction protrusion 110 is provided, at predetermined intervals. The rib 104 erected on the support base 108 has a slightly different shape from the rib 112 at the center in the width direction and the rib 114 erected at both ends in the width direction (the rib 112 at the center has a smaller shape than the introduction protrusion). The ribs 114 at both ends are formed from the upstream end of the introduction protrusion 110 to the position extending beyond the downstream end of the support stand 10B).
There is no change in the fact that they each have a substantially triangular shape that gradually rises from the upstream end of the ribs 54 and alternately intersects with the ribs 54 near the introduction portion 66 of the ribs 54 forming the lower guide surface 40 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rib 54 and the rib 10
4 and 4 intersect with each other, the seam between the two is substantially eliminated, so that the transfer paper is not caught in the conveyance. Further, the upper surface of the introduction protrusion llO (specifically, the upper surface of the rib 112) defines approximately the same surface as the uppermost sheet of the transfer paper Pa placed on the mounting plate 24 of the cassette 14, or
Alternatively, the introduction protrusion 110 is positioned so that the upper surface thereof is slightly lower.

It should be noted that parts of the configuration of the present invention that are not particularly explained are the same as those described in the prior art.

In the image forming apparatus configured in this way, the transfer paper P
The leading end of the sheet a passes through the relay conveying means 100 and the feeding path 4 by the rotation of the paper feed roller 26 in the direction of arrow B, and then reaches the conveying path 6.
sent to. Further, the transfer paper Pa is sent out, and its rear end passes through the separation claw 30 and reaches the relay conveyance means 100 (the relationship between the leading edge position and the trailing edge position of the transfer paper differs depending on the size of the transfer paper). The relay conveying means 100 has an introduction protrusion 11 that projects into the cassette 14 at the center in the width direction.
0, and this introduction protrusion 110 protrudes to near the tip of the transfer paper Pa placed on the mounting table 24 in the cassette 14. Moreover, the upper surface of the rib 112 provided upright on the introduction protrusion 110 defines approximately the same surface as the uppermost sheet of the transfer paper Pa on the mounting table 24, or is located at a slightly lower position, so that the trailing edge of the transfer paper is The transfer paper can be fed out smoothly without causing noise due to strong contact with a part of the passage path due to the waist.

Further, a paper jam of transfer paper occurs near the feeding path 4, and in order to clear the jam, the hollow block 52 defining one side of the feeding path 4 may be opened to dispose of the jammed transfer paper. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 3, the leading edge of the transfer paper Pd, which has not been properly separated by the separating claw 30 following the jammed transfer paper (not shown), is slightly moved toward the feeding path 4. Even if it protrudes, this tip is connected to the relay conveyance means 10.
Since it is supported at zero, it will not enter anywhere other than the path of the transfer paper due to its own weight. Therefore, after closing the hollow block 52 that defines one side of the feeding path 4, even if the transfer paper Pd is sent toward the feeding path 4 and the transport path 6 by the feeding roller 26 for the next image formation, the paper jams again. will not occur.

In the above configuration, the upper surfaces of the ribs 112 and 114 are slightly sloped, but this need not be different, and the slopes may be such that both define the same surface. .

Further, although the upper surfaces of the ribs 112 and 114 are linear, they may be formed into a curved surface that is continuous with the curved surface of the curved rib 54 that stands up on the lower guide surface 40.

Further, although the relay conveying means 100 is attached to the abutment plate 18 via the attachment portion 102, the base 106.
The rib 104 may be continuous from the abutting plate 18, or may be integrally formed with a separate member from the abutting plate 18 from the main body of the device.

Moreover, although the introduction protrusion 110 provided on the relay conveying means 100 is provided only at the center in the width direction, it may be provided over the entire width direction.

Furthermore, since the purpose of providing the ribs 104 on the relay conveying means 100 is to reduce the friction between the transfer paper and the conveying surface, there is no particular need to provide these ribs, and the shape thereof can be changed as appropriate.

In addition, various design changes are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

(Effects) The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a transport path for transporting a sheet member to a transfer area, a supply means for supplying the sheet member to the transport route, and a guide for guiding the sheet member sent out from the supply means to the transport route. In an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is provided with a feeding path, and an openable/closable guide surface defining one side of the feeding path extends in a curved manner from the feeding means toward the conveying path. Since an intermediate conveyance means is provided between the two and has an introduction protrusion that protrudes somewhat toward the supply means, the rear end of the sheet member passing through the curved path hits a part of the passage path and generates noise. There's nothing to do. Moreover, even if the guide surface is opened to dispose of a jammed sheet member, the sheet member will not become jammed again.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing an embodiment of the invention, and FIG.
Sectional view when the guide surface is opened in the embodiment shown in the figure, No. 4
1 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing an example of the prior art. 2... Supply means 4... Feeding route 6... Conveying route 12... Cassette receiver 14... Cassette 26... - Feeding roller 38... ...Upper guide surface 40...Lower guide surface 100...Intermediate conveyance means 110...Introduction projection Fig. 1

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) comprising a conveyance path for conveying the sheet member to the transfer area, a supply means for supplying the sheet member to the conveyance path, and a feed path for guiding the sheet member sent out from the supply means to the conveyance path, In an image forming apparatus in which an openable and closable guide surface defining one side of the feeding path extends in a curved manner from the supply means toward the conveyance path, there is a space between the supply means and the openable and closable guide surface. An image forming apparatus characterized in that an intermediate conveying means is provided with an introduction protrusion that somewhat projects toward the image forming apparatus. (2) The supply means includes a cassette receiving section defined in the main body of the device, a cassette loaded with a sheet member inside and detachably attached to the cassette receiving section, and a feeding section provided above the cassette receiving section. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a feeding roller, and wherein the relay conveying means is provided at a downstream end of the cassette receiving section. (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim (2), wherein the introduction protrusion of the relay conveying means projects somewhat into the cassette mounted in the cassette receiving portion, and its upper surface defines substantially the same surface as the upper surface of the sheet member of the cassette. .