JPH02743Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and particularly to a cassette loading mechanism.

[Prior art]

In image forming devices such as electrophotographic copiers and printers using electrophotographic technology, the amount of paper used varies depending on the purpose of use of the user, and if the amount of paper used at one time is about a few dozen sheets, Paper feeding using a normal cassette is sufficient, but when copying a large number of sheets, each of which uses several hundred sheets, the cassette must be replaced several times during the process, which is inconvenient. As a method for solving this inconvenience, there is a method described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 17960/1983.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the electrophotographic copying machine 1 is equipped with two cassettes 2 and 3 containing sheets of paper, and also has a cassette 2 and 3 containing sheets of paper separately from the main body of the electrophotographic copying machine 1. A paper unit 4 is provided, and if a large number of sheets of paper are required in succession, the paper feed unit 4 can be attached to the main body of the electrophotographic copying machine 1 in place of the cassette 3.
The electrophotographic copying machine 1 and paper feed unit 4 are placed on a dedicated stand 5 (see FIG. 2). When the paper feed unit 4 is attached to the main body of the electrophotographic copying machine 1, the paper feed unit 4
The paper inside is fed out one by one.

That is, when copying several dozen sheets, the cassette 2 or 3 is used, and when copying a large number of sheets, the paper feed unit 4 is used.

[Problems with conventional technology]

According to the method described in the above-mentioned publication, it is possible to suitably meet the user's request for copying a small number of copies or a large number of copies. In order to be able to feed paper in the same way as normal cassette paper feeding by attaching it to a paper cassette, not only would the structure become very complicated, but the cost would also increase significantly. In particular, it is not appropriate to adopt such a configuration for small and medium-sized aircraft.

[Purpose of invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional image forming apparatus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which has a simple structure and can suitably load a cassette for a small number of sheets and a cassette for a large number of sheets.

[Key points of the idea]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a paper cassette is housed at the bottom of a machine body, characterized in that the bottom of the machine body is cut out, and the paper cassette is housed in the cutout. .

[Example of idea]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

3 and 4 are configuration diagrams of an image forming apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, a charger 7, a developer 8, a transfer device 9,
A cleaning device 10 is provided, and a light source 12 and a lens 1 are provided above the photoreceptor 6 for exposing an image of a document placed on a document table 11.
3 is provided. Further, a fixing device 14 is provided in front of the paper discharge section.

Paper can be fed from the manual feed tray 16 or from the cassette 1.
Any configuration from 7 is possible. The bottom of the main body of the image forming apparatus is cut out, and the entire cassette 17 is accommodated therein. The loading of the cassette 17 is carried out using guide members 18 and 19 provided at the bottom of the main body of the image forming apparatus.
The patient is guided by the camera and placed in a stereotaxic position.

Further, a stand 20 for supporting the image forming apparatus main body on the installation stand 15 is attached to the bottom of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the stand 20 is provided with a threaded portion to adjust the height of the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is structured so that it can be done.

The operation of the image forming apparatus configured as above will be explained.

First, the surface of the photoreceptor 6 is uniformly charged by the charger 7, and then an original (not shown) placed on the original platen 11 is image-exposed. Image exposure is from light source 1
This is done by irradiating the surface of the photoreceptor 6 with light reflected by the original No. 2 through the lens 13, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 6. The electrostatic latent image is visualized by toner in a developing device 8. Subsequently, the toner image on the photoreceptor 6 is transferred by the transfer device 9 onto a sheet of paper fed from the manual feed table 16 or the cassette 17 at the same timing. After the transfer, the paper is separated from the photoreceptor 6, fixed by the fixing device 14, and then discharged outside the machine. After the transfer, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 6 is cleaned by a cleaning device 10 in preparation for starting a new process.

Image formation is performed through the steps described above, and especially when forming a large number of images, a cassette capable of storing a large number of images is loaded into the main body of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 shows the state in which a cassette for multiple sheets is loaded. The cassette 21 can store, for example, about twice as much paper as the cassette 17, and when the cassette 21 is loaded into the main body of the apparatus, the bottom of the main body of the apparatus is cut out.
1 is stored with a portion of the device protruding from the bottom of the main body.

Therefore, when loading the cassette 21, the main body of the apparatus is lifted from the installation stand 15 by unscrewing the threaded portion provided on the stand 20, thereby securing a loading space for the cassette 21. Cassette 21
are guided by guide members 18 and 19 and set in a fixed position, and similarly to the case of cassette 17, sheets are fed one by one from cassette 21.

In this way, when forming images on a large number of sheets, a cassette for a large number of sheets can be easily loaded in place of a cassette for a small number of sheets. Note that the stand 20 can also be formed by stacking rubber seats, etc., and the insertion direction of the cassettes 17 and 21 is not limited to the direction toward the front in the drawing as in this embodiment, but can also be constructed from either the left or right direction. .

5 and 6 are configuration diagrams of an image forming apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention. Incidentally, the same parts as in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanation will be omitted.

Charging, exposure, and
The image forming steps of development, transfer, fixing, and cleaning are completely the same as in the first embodiment. The difference in configuration from the first embodiment is that the main body of the image forming apparatus is placed over the cassette 22 placed on the installation stand 15, and the main body of the image forming apparatus and the cassette are integrated. This is what is being done.

That is, the bottom plate of the image forming apparatus main body is cut out at the base end portions 23a and 23b, and the cassette 22 is provided with cassette protrusions 24a and 24b, so that when the main body of the image forming apparatus is placed on the cassette 22, the base end portion 23a is cut out. and the cassette protrusion 24a, and the base end 23b and the cassette protrusion 24b are configured so that they are respectively engaged and integrated, and when the main body of the apparatus and the cassette 22 are integrated, sheets are fed from the cassette 22 one by one. (See Figure 6).

Therefore, when forming images on a small number of sheets, it is sufficient to set the image forming apparatus main body in a cassette for forming a small number of sheets, and when forming images on a large number of sheets, it is sufficient to set the main body of the image forming apparatus in a cassette for forming a large number of sheets. This is particularly effective for small and lightweight devices.

[Effect of idea]

As described above in detail, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has a simple and inexpensive structure, and can suitably load a cassette for a small number of sheets and a cassette for a large number of sheets.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are respectively a front view and a perspective view of a conventional electrophotographic copying machine, FIGS. 3 and 4 are a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 1...electrophotographic copying machine, 2, 3, 17, 21,
22...Cassette, 4...Paper feed unit, 6...
Photoreceptor, 8... Developing device, 10... Cleaning device, 12... Light source, 14... Fixing device, 15... Installation stand, 16... Manual feed stand, 18, 19... Guide member, 20... Stand , 23a, 23b... base end, 24a, 24b... cassette protrusion.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) An image forming apparatus in which a paper cassette is housed at the bottom of a machine body, characterized in that the bottom of the machine body is cut out, and the paper cassette is housed in the cutout. image forming device. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the height of the member supporting the machine body is adjustable. (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper cassette is housed in the machine body while being guided by a guide member provided on the machine body. (4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the machine main body is placed on the paper cassette from above.