JPH03111352A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a flexural load being applied to a hand feed tray and construct it in a small wall thickness structure by mounting the tray, supported at a front loading cassette protruding by a certain dimension in connection with the outside of No.1 transport means, on the body of an image formation device. CONSTITUTION:When a hand fed sheet S is transported to No.1 transport means, a front loading cassette 6 is drawn out by a certain specified dimension, and a hand feed tray 3 is supported at the cassette 6, and the had fed sheet S is inserted along the tray 6. The front loading cassette 6 is drawn out by a certain dimension, and another hand feed tray 7 accommodated in the cassette 6 is rotated, followed by connection with the No.1 transport means, and it may also be applicable that the hand fed sheet S is inserted along this tray 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer or an electronic copying machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus in which sheets are manually fed from the front of the apparatus main body.

(0) Prior Art A conventional front manual feed type electronic copying machine 50 will be described with reference to FIG. A manual feed slot 53 is provided, and a manual feed tray 5 is provided.
A front loading cassette 54 is attached to the lower part of 2 so as to be freely inserted and removed.

Moreover, the tray 52 is formed strongly so that it will not be damaged even if an excessive external force is applied to the manual tray 52 from the direction of the arrow, and the length of the manual tray 52 is formed to be sufficiently long.

Also, sheets manually fed from the manual paper feed slot 53 are
It is designed to be transported as shown in the figure.

Upper and lower guide plates 55a and 55 forming the first conveyance means F1
b is attached to the main body 51, and the manual feed tray 52 is connected to this lower guide plate 55b. Note that 52a is a side edge guide plate that guides the right edge of the manual sheet. Further, conveyance rollers 56a and 56b that convey manual sheets in the direction of arrow A are connected to upper and lower guide plates 55a and 55.
5b, and a sensor lever 57a and an interrupter 57b for detecting the front and rear ends of the sheet are provided in front of the conveyance rollers 56a and 56b.

Further, a conveyance path 58 forming a second conveyance means F2 is provided slightly below and perpendicular to the upper and lower guide plates 55a and 55b, and a conveyance roller 59 that conveys the sheet in the direction of arrow B is provided on this conveyance path 58. , 60 are arranged. Further, regulation plates 61a and 61b are provided on both sides of the conveyance path 58 to regulate both sides of the sheet in the conveyance direction. In addition, 62a,
62b is a conveyance roller provided on the main body 51.

In this way, the sheet is transferred to the manual feed tray 52 and the lower guide plate 5.
5b and the side edge guide plate 52a, the sheet is inserted in the six directions of the arrows, and when the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the sensor lever 57a and the interrupter 57b, the conveying roller 56a,
56b is started, the sheet is conveyed in the direction of arrow A, the trailing edge of the sheet is detected, and after a predetermined time, the conveying rollers 56a,
56b stops. During this time, the width of the sheet is calculated based on the rotation speed and rotation time of the rollers 56a and 56b, and the regulation plate 61b is moved based on this width data.
The distance between a and 61b or the sheet width is set. and,
In response to the signal that the conveyance rollers 56a, 56b have stopped, the conveyance rollers 59, 60 are started to convey the sheet in the direction of arrow B, and then the sheet is further conveyed in the direction of arrow B by the conveyance rollers 62a, 62b.

Further, with reference to FIG. 5, the relationship among sheets, cassettes, conveyance paths, etc. will be further explained. It is attached so that it can be inserted and removed freely.

The sheet S stored in the cassette 54 is picked up by a pickup roller 63 and conveyed by a feeding roller 64 to a registration roller 65, and is conveyed by this registration roller 65 in cooperation with a photosensitive drum 66 to form an image. After that, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 68, and the paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray 69 as it is. As described above, the manual sheet S is conveyed to the conveyance path 58, conveyed to the right by the conveyance rollers 59 and 60, and then conveyed to the right by the conveyance roller 62a.

62b, the paper is conveyed to the registration rollers 65, and then the paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray 69 in the same manner as described above.

Further, when the flapper 70 is rotated counterclockwise, the fixing section 6
The sheet S fixed in step 8 is conveyed to a conveyance path 58, and a double image is formed by a photosensitive drum 66.

Further, with the flapper 70 in the state shown in the figure, the sheet S that has been almost discharged by the discharge roller 71 is conveyed to the conveyance path 58 with the flapper 70 rotated clockwise by reversing the roller 71, and is further exposed to light. An image is formed on the back surface of the sheet S on the drum 66.

As described above, the manual sheet S is fed to the conveyance path 58 used in double-sided multiple printing.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the electronic copying machine 50 described above, the manual feed tray 52 is formed firmly and is formed long on the front side, so that the installation area of the copying machine 50 is increased and However, there is a drawback that it becomes a hindrance when replenishing the front loading cassette 54 with sheets S.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a manual feed tray that has a thin wall structure and can be stored by being disposed so as to be supported by a front loading cassette that is detachably attached below the manual feed tray. It is something.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and for example, as shown with reference to FIGS. A first conveyance means (Fl) for conveying a manually fed sheet (S) provided on the front side, and a first conveyance means (Fl) for conveying a manual sheet (S), and a first conveyance means (Fl) for conveying the sheet (S) in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet (S) by the first conveyance means (Fl). In an image forming apparatus (1) comprising a sheet conveying device having a second conveying means (F2) for conveying a sheet, a front loading sheet is connected to the outside of the first conveying means (Fl) and protrudes by a predetermined dimension. cassette(
6), the manual feed tray (3) supported by the apparatus main body (
2).

Also, a first conveyance means (Fl) for conveying a manual sheet (S) provided on the front side of the apparatus main body (2), and a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet (S) by the first conveyance means (Fl). a second conveyance means (for conveying the sheet (S) in the direction of
F2), when the front rope ink cassette (6) comes out by a predetermined dimension, the image forming apparatus (1) is connected to the first conveying means (Fl), and It is characterized in that a manual feed tray←7) which can be stored in the cassette (6) is pivotally supported on the cassette (6).

(f) Function Based on the above configuration, the manual feed sheet (S) is transported by the first transport means (Fl), and then the second transport means (F2)
The first conveying means (Fl) conveys the object in a direction perpendicular to the direction conveyed by the first conveying means (Fl). When conveying the manual sheet (S) to the first conveying means (Fl), the front loading cassette (6) is pulled out by a predetermined dimension, and the manual tray (3) is supported by the cassette (6);
Manual feed sheet (S) along the manual feed tray (6)
Insert.

In addition, front loading cassettes (6
), rotate the manual feed tray (7) stored in the cassette (6), and transfer the first transport means (F
1), and the manual sheet (S) may be inserted along the tray (7).

Note that the symbols in parentheses above are examples and do not limit the configuration in any way.

(f) Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 1 designates an electronic copying machine showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which a manual paper feed port 5 is provided on the front side of a main body 2 for copying ml, and a front loading cassette 6 is installed below the paper feed port 5 so as to be freely inserted and removed. has been done.

Above this paper feed port 5 and on both sides of the front side of the main body 2, a manual feed tray 3 is installed by a bin 4 on both side plates 3a.
It is supported by The tray 3 includes L-shaped side plates 3a and a vertical plate 3b connecting the side plates 3a, and a horizontal piece 3c is curved at the upper end of the vertical plate 3b. Then, as shown in FIG. 1(b), arrow C
When the tray 3 is rotated in the direction shown in FIG.

Since this embodiment is configured as described above, when inserting the manual sheet S, the tray 3 is removed from the state where it is housed in close contact with the main body 2, as shown in FIG. 1(a). As shown in FIG. 1(b), when the cassette 5 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C, the cassette 5 automatically escapes, the horizontal piece 3c of the tray 3 engages with the cassette 6, and is supported by the cassette 6. Ru. As shown in Fig. 4 in the section on conventional technology,
The vertical plate 3b of the tray 3 is connected to the lower guide plate 55b of the first transport means (Fl). (In other words, the vertical plate 3b becomes the manual feed tray 52.The side end guide plate 52a is replaced by the vertical plate 3b.
If the vertical plate 3b is attached to the vertical plate 3b, the vertical plate 3b cannot be brought into close contact with the main body 2, so it is better to move the vertical plate 3b to both sides of the lower guide plate 55b.) Next, the manual feed sheet S is inserted along the vertical plate 3b. The manual feed sheet S is printed as follows. When the sheet S is not manually fed, the first
The tray 3 is stored as shown in Figure (a).

As shown in FIG. 2(b), since the tray 3 is supported by the cassette 6 and is not subjected to bending load, it can be formed into a thin structure even if an excessive external force F is applied. Furthermore, since it has a thin structure, it can be stored in close contact with the main body 2, as shown in FIG.
It does not get in the way when replenishing.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2(b) and 2(c), a tray 7 having an angular cross section is pivotally supported on the upper side of the front side plate 6a of the cassette 6. As shown in FIGS.

Therefore, pull out the cassette 6, rotate the tray 7 in the opposite direction of the arrow, and while returning the cassette 6 a little, connect it to the lower guide plate 55b shown in FIG. and form the image as described above.

If you do not want to manually feed the sheets S, pull out the cassette 6 a little from the state shown in Figure 2(b) and rotate the tray 7 in the direction of the arrow.The tray 7 will be inserted into the cassette 6 as shown in Figure 2(C). is stored in. In this state, the cassette 7
The sheet S is transported in the same manner as from the cassette 54 shown in FIG. 5, and an image is formed thereon. Also, in this state,
When pulling out the cassette 6 and replenishing the manual feed sheets S, the tray 7 does not get in the way. In addition, since the tray 7 is supported by the cassette 6, it does not receive bending load.
Can be formed into a thin structure.

Incidentally, at a position where the cassette 6 is pulled out and the tray 7 is supported, a spring protrusion that can be engaged with and detached from the cassette 6 may be provided on the main body 2, and a groove for positioning the cassette 6 to be engaged with the cassette 6 may be provided.

(g) As described in detail, according to the present invention, the manual feed sheet (S
When inserting the cassette (6), the cassette (6) is supported on the extracted cassette (6) and can be formed into a thin structure so as not to receive bending loads. 6) It does not get in the way when replenishing the sheet (S).

In addition, since the manual feed tray (7) is pivotally supported on the cassette (6) and connected to the first conveyance means (Fl), no bending load is applied to the manual feed tray (7), so that it has a thin wall structure. Since it is formed in the shape of a sheet, it is stored in the cassette (6) and does not get in the way when replenishing the sheet (S) to the cassette (6).

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view showing a state in which the tray is stored, FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view showing a state in which the tray is set in a manual feed state, and FIG. Figure 2 shows another embodiment, where Figure 2 (a) is a perspective view showing the tray set so that it can be fed manually, Figure 2 (b) is a vertical side view thereof, and Figure 2 (c) is A vertical side view showing a state in which the tray is stored; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional electronic copying machine;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the conveying device, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional front view of FIG. 3. 1... Image forming device (electronic copying machine) 2... Apparatus body 3... Manual feed tray 6.7.
...Front loading cassette F1...first conveyance means, F2...second conveyance means, S...sheet

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first conveying means provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body for conveying a manually fed sheet, and a second conveying means for conveying the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet is conveyed by the first conveying means. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet conveying device having two conveying means, a manual feed tray connected to the outside of the first conveying means and supported by a front loading cassette that is removed by a predetermined dimension is attached to the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus characterized by: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manual feed tray is rotatably attached to the main body of the apparatus. 3. It has a first conveyance means provided on the front side of the apparatus main body for conveying a manual sheet, and a second conveyance means for conveying the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet is conveyed by the first conveyance means. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet conveying device, a manual feed tray is pivotally supported on the cassette, and is connected to the first conveying means and can be stored in the cassette when the front loading cassette is removed by a predetermined dimension. An image forming apparatus characterized by: