JPH03142433A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly radiate heat generated from a light source to an outside by movably providing an original platen on a retreating position never facing the light source and equipping a guard member provided with a vent hole on a position facing the light source when the original platen moves to the retreating position. CONSTITUTION:The original platen 2 is carried, an exposure lamp 10 is turned off, an original platen carrying motor 55 is driven and the original platen 2 is carried to an exposure starting position. When a copying switch 53 is turned on and copying is carried out, the original platen 2 is provided above the exposure lamp 10 so that an original on the original platen 2 can be irradiated with light. Whereas when a prescribed time lapses while the copying switch 53 is turned off and the exposure lamp does not need to be turned off, a metal gauze 5 is provided above the lamp 10. Thus, when the prescribed time lapses after the exposure lamp 10 is turned off, the upper side of the lamp 10 is opened to the outside through the metal gauze 5, therefore, the heat generated from the lamp 10 can be rapidly discharged by a cooling fan 13.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus with a movable document table.

[Prior Art] In this type of apparatus, when the document table is moved, a light source is turned on to irradiate the document placed on the document table with light, and the photosensitive recording medium is exposed to the reflected light. A cooling fan is provided near the light source to release heat generated from the light source to the outside when the light source is turned on.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the past, the document table was always placed opposite to the top of the light source, so the heat generated from the light source was likely to be trapped between the light source and the document table, and this heat could be absorbed. There was a problem in that a large cooling fan had to be used to discharge the air. In particular, in image forming apparatuses that use photosensitive paper carrying photocurable microcapsules encapsulating dyes or dye precursors as photosensitive recording media, the exposure resistance is greater than in image forming apparatuses that use photosensitive drums as the photosensitive recording medium. This is a major problem because light energy is required and a light source that generates a large amount of heat is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention aims to efficiently dissipate heat generated from a light source in an image forming apparatus with a movable document table. The present invention, which was developed for the purpose of the present invention, includes a document table and a light source that are arranged to face each other, and the document table moves by irradiating light onto the document on the document table with the light source and exposing a photosensitive recording medium with the reflected light. type image forming apparatus, a document table is movably provided to a retracted position not facing the light source, and a ventilation hole is provided in the document table at a position facing the light source when the document table moves to the retracted position. A guard member having the following features is provided.

[Function] In the image forming apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, when the document table is moved to the retracted position where it does not face the light source,
A guard member having a ventilation hole is disposed at a position facing the light source. Outside air is introduced around the light source through the ventilation hole. Therefore, the heat generated from the light source during exposure of the photosensitive recording medium is quickly released to the outside, and the area around the light source is quickly cooled.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a photosensitive and pressure sensitive copying machine for making full color copies to which the present invention is applied.

The photosensitive paper and recording paper used for color copying, which will be described later, are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-88739.
This method has been proposed in a number of publications, etc., and will not be described in detail here.

As shown in the figure, the top plate of a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive copying machine (hereinafter simply referred to as "copying machine J") 1 is provided with a transparent document table 2 and document table cover 3. Original table 2
A desired original 4 is set face down on the top. Also, on the side of the document table 2 (on the right side in the figure),
A wire mesh 5 serving as a guard member is continuously formed.

Each of these parts is attached to the main body of the copying machine so as to be movable in the left and right directions in the figure. Although not shown, a rack is formed on the lower surface of the document table 2 and the wire mesh 5 along the direction of movement thereof, and a pinion gear meshed with this rack is used to drive the document table transfer motor attached to the main body of the copying machine. By rotating it, the positions of the document table 2 and the wire mesh 5 can be controlled.

Next, in the upper area of the copying machine 1, an exposure lamp O consisting of a halogen lamp is disposed as a light source. The exposure lamp 10 cooperates with the reflector 1 and the reflection plate 12 to emit light in a line toward the document table 2, and causes the emitted light to pass through the document table 2. That is, the light emitted from the exposure lamp 10 is reflected by the original 4 set on the original table 2, and the original 4 is exposed and scanned by moving the original table 2 rightward in the figure. A cooling fan 13 is provided behind the exposure lamp 10 to exhaust heat generated from the exposure lamp 10 when it is turned on to the outside.

Further, the reflected light from the original 4 is color-adjusted by a filter 14 and then passed through a projection lens 15 to a pair of reflection mirrors 1.
6a and 16b. a pair of reflective mirrors 16a,
16b! After receiving the light projected by the projection lens 15, the direction of the light is changed as shown in the figure, and the exposure stage 17
The image is formed on a photosensitive paper 18 placed at

The photosensitive paper 18 carries on its surface a photocurable micronop cell in which a dye precursor for color image formation is sealed, and when it is irradiated with reflected light from the original 4 on the exposure table 17, The microcapsules harden, thereby forming a color image of the document 4 as a latent image. Further, the photosensitive paper 18 is constructed as a roll-shaped continuous paper and is rotatably housed in one tag cartridge, and is housed in the main body of the copying machine via this cartridge 19.

One end of the photosensitive paper]8 is connected to a pull-out roller 20, a feed roller 21. Exposure table 17. Feed roller 22, dancer roller 23. Pressure developing machine 24. Feed roller 252 separation mechanism 26. It reaches the winding shaft 28 via a conveyance path formed by the guide rollers 27 and the guide rollers 27, and is wound onto the winding shaft 28 via these parts E. The conveyance speed of the unexposed photosensitive paper 18 (the unexposed state is maintained by the light shielding cover 29 immediately after leaving the cartridge) 9 is the same as that of the original platen 2 when the exposure lamp 10 is lit. The speed of the photosensitive paper when passing through the exposure table 17] 8
, a latent image of a predetermined line of j'(,:'''I/1) is sequentially formed.

Next, a paper feed cassette 31 containing recording paper 30 coated with a color developer that reacts with the dye precursor in the microcapsules of the upper photosensitive paper 18 to form a color is placed below the pressure developing machine 24 (in the main body of the copying machine). A suction cup 32 is provided which is detachably attached to the recording paper cassette 31 and uses negative pressure suction to suck the recording paper in the paper feed cassette 31.Then, the recording paper 301 and the suction cup 32 take out the recording paper one by one and feed it. After the leading edge is aligned by the recording paper roller 35 conveyed by the roller 33 and the pinch roller 34 and the registration gate 36,
It is carried into the pressure developing machine 24.

Through the process described above, the photosensitive paper 18 and the recording paper 30 are supplied to the pressure developing machine 24 in a state in which they are in close contact with each other and are integrated. Then, in the pressure developing machine 24, the microcapsule surface on which the latent image of the photosensitive paper 18 is formed by exposure and the color developer coated surface of the recording paper 30 are in contact with each other on the inside, and are integrated into the work roller 24a and the backup roller. 24b
Pressure is applied to the bill. This pressure destroys the unexposed microcapsules.Recording Paper 3
A color image is formed on 0.

The photosensitive paper 18 and recording paper 30 that come out of the pressure developing machine 24 are as follows.
After being separated by the separation mechanism 26, the recording paper 30 is conveyed to a heat fixing device 37. Then, in the heat fixing device 37, the color development of the recording paper 30 is promoted by the dryer 37a, an image is formed on the recording paper 30, and the recording paper 30 is conveyed to the paper discharge tray 38 by the paper discharge roller 37b. A cooling fan 39 is provided above the heat fixing device 37 to release heat generated from the heat fixing device 37 to the outside via a deodorizing filter 40e.

In this way, in the copying machine 1 of this embodiment, light is irradiated onto the original 4 on the exposure table 2 that moves above the exposure lamp 10, and the reflected light forms a color latent image on the photosensitive paper 18, and then the photosensitive paper 18 is exposed to light. Although it is configured to form a color image on the recording paper 30 by laminating and press-bonding the paper 18 and the recording paper 30, a wire mesh 5 is provided as a guard member, which is the main part related to the present invention. rir! The manuscript table 4 is (transfer) controlled by a control circuit 50 shown in FIG.

That is, the control circuit 50 includes a CPU 50a, a ROM 50b,
It is configured as a well-known microcomputer with a RAM 50c, an input/output port 50d, etc., and receives signals from the copying switch 53 and original size setting switch 54 provided on the operation panel 52 of the copying machine 1 via the input/output port 50d. The exposure lamp 10 and the document table transport motor 55 are driven in accordance with the input signal, thereby controlling the document table 4 to be transferred. The transfer control process for the document table 4 executed by the control circuit 50 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG.
3 is in the OFF state and no copying command has been issued from the outside, the process moves to Sl 10, and it is determined whether or not that state, that is, the OFF state of the copy switch 53, has elapsed for a predetermined period of time. At step I 5120, the document table 2 is moved to the retreat position shown in FIG.

Note that this transfer is executed by driving the document table transfer motor 55, but if the document table 2 is already in the retracted position,
The document table transport motor 55 is not driven.

Furthermore, if it is determined that the OFF state of the copy switch 53 has not elapsed for a predetermined period of time, the process is temporarily terminated.

Next, in 5100, when it is determined that the copy switch 53 is in the ON state and a copy command has been issued from the outside, the process moves to 5130, and it is determined whether or not the document table 2 is controlled to the above-mentioned retracted position. , if the document table 2 is in the retracted position, 514
After driving the document table transport motor 55 at step 0, the document table 2 is moved to the exposure start position shown in FIG. If not, the process directly proceeds to 5150.

At 5150, the exposure lamp 10 is turned on and the photosensitive paper 18 is exposed.
Start exposure. Then, in the continuation (S160), the original platen transport motor 55 is driven to r
L:':+'lj 2 to original size setting switch 54
The document is moved rightward by a distance corresponding to the document size set by . Note that when the document table 2 is transferred in this manner, the recording paper 18 is transferred inside the copying machine in synchronization with this transfer, so a latent image is formed on the recording paper 18 by the light reflected from the document 4. , pressure developing machine 24. By the operation of the heat fixing device 37, a color image is formed on the recording paper 30.

Next, when the transfer of the document table 2 by 8160 is completed, 51
Step 70 turns off the exposure lamp 10, and step 5180 drives the document table transport motor 55 to transport the document table 2 to the above-mentioned exposure start position.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the copy switch 53 is turned on and copying is performed, the document table 2 is set to the exposure lamp 10 so that the exposure lamp 10 can irradiate the document on the document table 2 with light. ○ "" of the bill copy switch 53 arranged above
If the state has passed for a predetermined period of time and there is no need to turn on the exposure lamp 10 (nine wire mesh 5 is disposed above the exposure lamp 10. Therefore, if a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the exposure lamp) O is turned off, The upper part of the exposure lamp 10 is opened to the outside through the wire mesh 5, and the exposure lamp 10 is exposed by copying.
The heat generated can be quickly discharged by the cooling fan 13.

Note that the transfer of the document table 2 to the retracted position is controlled by the copy switch 53.
The reason why this is done when the OF state has elapsed for a predetermined period of time is that when copies are made many times in a row, the document table 2 is moved to the evacuation position after every - copying. This is because it takes time to make copies, resulting in a device that is difficult to work with for the user.

Furthermore, by controlling the transfer of the document table 2 as described above, the document table 2 is normally placed in the retracted position. The document table 2 may be moved to the retracted position only when this occurs, and the document table 2 may normally be placed at the exposure start position. By doing this, when the copying machine is not used for a long time, the upper part of the exposure lamp 10 can be covered with the document table 2 to prevent dust from entering the exposure system.

[Effect 1 of the Invention As detailed above, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
By moving the document table to a retracted position where it does not face the light source, outside air can be introduced around the light source via the guard member. Therefore, by moving the document table to the retracted position after exposing the photosensitive recording medium, it is possible to quickly release the heat generated from the light source to the outside and quickly cool the area around the light source.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the photosensitive pressure-sensitive copying machine of the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system that controls the transfer of the document table, and FIG. 3 shows the transfer control of the document table. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the process, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing changes in the position of the document table due to the transfer control.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A movable document table comprising a document table and a light source disposed facing each other, the light source irradiating the document on the document table with light and exposing a photosensitive recording medium with the reflected light. In the image forming apparatus, the document table is movably provided to a retracted position not facing the light source, and the document table is arranged at a position facing the light source when the document table moves to the retracted position. An image forming apparatus comprising: a guard member having a ventilation hole.