JPH03266856A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need of management at the time of exchanging a device and to perform copying on a back surface without the occurrence of jamming by making the lives of the devices which execute copying process coincident, housing the devices in the same supporting body and providing the supporting body on the back side of a transfer paper so that it can be inverted. CONSTITUTION:An electrostatic charging device 3, an optical write device 4, a developing device 5 and a cleaning device 7, etc., are arranged around a photosensitive drum 2, and the lives of the devices are made coincident and housed in the same supporting body, thereby obtaining a supporting unit 10. Then, the unit 10 is provided at a position on the back side of the transfer paper S so that it can be inverted by 180 deg.. In the case of one-surface copying, the copying is performed on the surface of the transfer paper S in a state where the unit 10 is at a position shown by a continuous line in figure and in the case of performing the copying on the back surface, the copying is performed in a state where the unit 10 is inverted to a position shown by an alternate long ad short dash line in figure. Therefore, the management is not needed because the respective devices are simultaneously exchanged as the unit in its entirety, and jamming does not occur because the unit 10 is inverted in the case of performing the copying on the back surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image recording device, and more particularly to a structure for executing an image forming process in the device.

(Prior Art) As is well known, in image recording devices such as copying machines and printers, when copying from an original, for example, an optical writing device is used in combination with a laser light source and an imaging optical system. By writing an original image on a photoreceptor carrying a photoconductive layer on its surface, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed, and this electrostatic latent image is made visible by a developer using toner or the like. After image processing, the image is transferred to a transfer medium such as plain paper to obtain a copy.

The transfer medium after the above-mentioned visible image is transferred is fixed by heating, for example.

An example of such an image recording apparatus is one having the structure shown in FIG.

That is, the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 6 has a structure that allows copy images to be formed on both the front and back sides of a transfer medium,
A drum-shaped photoreceptor is used. The electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor by, for example, an optical writing and scanning mechanism using laser light.

In FIG. 6, a charging device B for carrying out a copying process, an exposing or writing device IC1 developing device D, transfer device E
Furthermore, a registration roller F1 is provided upstream of the transfer device E.
The paper feed devices F including the paper feed devices F are arranged respectively.

Although the details are not shown, the above-mentioned writing device c is, for example, a combination of a laser light source made of a semiconductor laser and a convergent light transmission body for focusing scanning light from this light source on a photoreceptor. something is being used.

In the image recording apparatus having such a structure, the laser light source in the writing device wC controls the light emission according to the output signal from the image memory (not shown), so that electrostatic charge is generated on the photoreceptor drum A. A latent image is formed, and this latent image is the developing device! The visible image is processed by D and electrostatically transferred by transfer device E onto a transfer paper fed from paper feeding device F, and this transfer paper is fed to fixing device FIG to fix the image on the transfer paper. Ru. The photosensitive drum A that has passed through the fixing device G is subjected to removal of residual developer and neutralization of residual charges by a cleaning device H, and is prepared for the next image formation.

On the other hand, in this image forming apparatus, images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper, so in the case of double-sided copying, the transfer paper with the image fixed is moved through the switchback conveyance path indicated by the symbol. After being once fed to the reversing path, it returns to the feeding position in the paper feeding device, and
After synchronization between the leading edge of the image and the leading edge of the transfer paper is set by the registration roller F1, a new image is transferred and the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray J.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the image recording apparatus described above, the replacement timing of each device arranged around the photoreceptor drum A is not constant. If the structure requires replenishment or replacement of the replenishment tank as a replenishment structure when the developer is consumed, the time for replacement will be determined automatically, and the photoreceptor itself may also be susceptible to latent image bearing due to optical fatigue. Since it must be replaced when its performance decreases or if it is no longer able to maintain its function as a photoreceptor due to other reasons, it is less likely to be replaced or refilled than writing device C, which is said to be relatively durable. Therefore, the layout of each device within the image recording device may be restricted. Such restrictions may become an obstacle to the need to maintain maintenance management to determine when to replace each device mentioned above, or to miniaturize the device or require easy handling. It may happen.

In addition, when such an image recording device forms images on both sides of transfer paper, if each of the above-mentioned devices is fixed, the paper conveyance path becomes complicated depending on the location of each device. It may be set to
This is a remote cause of problems such as ejection processing when a jam occurs on the conveyance path, distortion of the image carried on the paper, or wrinkles in the paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems with conventional image recording devices, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to reduce the burden of maintenance management by uniformizing the frequency of replacing parts within the device, and to reduce the size of the device. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device capable of preventing the occurrence of an adverse influence on a transfer medium.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve this object, the present invention forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor by an optical writing mechanism using an optical writing scanning element, and subsequently forms a visible image of the latent image. In an image recording apparatus that performs imaging processing and visible image transfer processing on the photoreceptor, the photoreceptor and a device that performs each image forming process of charging processing, writing processing, and development processing on the photoreceptor; The present invention proposes that each of these devices be arranged in the same support section including the photoreceptor so as to have the same life span, and that this same support section is supported so as to be reversible in the front and back directions of the medium to which the image is transferred. It is.

Moreover, the present invention supports the same support part described above so as to be movable along the transfer path of the transfer medium, and faces both the front and back sides of the transfer medium with the transfer position of the photoreceptor being reversed. This is a proposal.

(Function) According to the present invention, the devices arranged in the same support section and performing image forming processing are replaced at the same time. Further, according to the present invention, when copying is performed on both sides of a transfer medium, the same support section described above moves along the conveyance path of the transfer medium and is reversed in the middle of the movement, so that both sides of the transfer medium are exposed to light. Make the transfer positions of the body face each other.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, details of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram schematically showing the main parts of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 uses a drum-shaped photoreceptor as in the case shown in FIG. The electrostatic latent image is formed using, for example, an optical writing device using laser light.

Around the photoreceptor drum 2 described above, a charging device 3 . An optical writing device 4 and a developing device 5 are respectively arranged, and a cleaning device 7 and a static eliminator 8 are arranged downstream of a position facing the transfer/separation device 6 in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 2. It is.

Further, at a position upstream of the transfer/separation device i6 in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 2, the transfer paper S fed out from the paper feeder g9 and synchronized with the leading edge of the image via the registration roller 9A joins. It is supposed to be done.

Each device including the photoreceptor drum 2 described above is attached to the same support body consisting of the support unit 10 described later, after matching the lifespan according to the device that requires replacement, including the photoreceptor drum 2. It is being

That is, the support unit 10, as shown in FIG.
It consists of a housing having an opening on the lower peripheral surface side of the photosensitive drum 2 so as to face the transfer paper S.

On the side plate, supporting parts of each device except the transfer/separation device 6, including the photosensitive drum 2 described above, are attached. Note that the transfer/separation device [6 is attached, for example, to a support frame 11 that extends downward in the figure from the side plate of the support unit 10 to an extent that it does not interfere with a conveyor belt, which will be described later.

For example, a support shaft 2A of the photoreceptor drum 2 extends in the axial direction from the side plate of the support unit 10, and the swing end of the swing arm 12 is attached to the end of this extension. It's a dress.

The above-mentioned swing arm 12 has its base end swingably supported by a shaft 10A with respect to a movement guide section (not shown) provided on the main body side of the image recording apparatus.

The base end position of the support unit 10 in the image recording apparatus is set at 1 phase in the vertical direction corresponding to the front and back directions of the transfer paper S with the transfer/separation device 6 shown in FIG.
It is said to be in a position where it can be flipped 80 degrees.

Furthermore, the movement guide section supporting the swinging arm 12 has a structure that allows it to move during image transfer along a conveyance path of the transfer paper S set by a conveyance belt 13, which will be described later. Specifically, the conveyor belt 13
The structure is such that it is inverted at one end.

Therefore, the support unit 10 moves along the conveyance path of the transfer paper S when transferring to one side of the transfer paper S by the movement guide section described above, and the swing arm 12 moves in the middle of the conveyance path.
When the image is transferred during double-sided copying of the transfer paper S, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 2 is positioned to face the back surface of the transfer paper S through the opening, and the front surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is set to face the back surface of the transfer paper S by swinging. The position will be set as follows.

The attitude of this swinging arm 12, in other words, the attitude of the support unit 10, is determined by, for example, providing a notch groove 12A at the swinging end of the swinging arm 12, and
A is set by using a structure in which a latch mechanism (not shown) is removably provided, and this latch mechanism is set to lock by, for example, a drive command from a control unit (not shown).

Further, in the case where the swing end side of the swing arm 12 is pivotally connected to the support shaft 2A of the photoreceptor 2 as described above, the swing end side of the swing arm 12 can be released from the pivot and rotate the photoreceptor drum 2. The support unit 10 can be removed from the support shaft 2A and taken out of the image recording apparatus.

Note that the shape of the support unit 10 described above is selectively set depending on the type of copying process, for example,
In the case of one copy per rotation, in which the image is transferred onto the photoreceptor with one rotation of the photoreceptor drum 2, as shown in FIG.
As shown in Figure 3.

The shape is such that devices necessary for the above-described image forming process, that is, a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a cleaning device can be attached to the device.

On the other hand, for such a copying process, the photosensitive drum 2
2 Rotation 1 Transfers one image on the photoreceptor by rotating
In the case of copying, as shown in FIG.
By bias-controlling the developing device for developing the upper image, it can be used as a developer removing device, and the shape is such that it can be attached without the cleaning device.

Since this embodiment has the above-described structure, image formation on the photoreceptor drum 2 is performed in the same manner as in the case of the structure shown in FIG. The image moves to the transfer process.

On the other hand, the transfer paper S that receives the image transfer on the photoreceptor 2 described above
In the case of single-sided copying, instead of being synchronized by the registration roller 9A, the entire area on the transfer paper S that receives the image transfer is placed on the conveyor belt 13 at the beginning of the movement of the conveyor belt 13. It is rolled out and waits so that its position can be determined.

Then, with respect to the transfer paper S positioned in this way, the support unit 10 starts to move along the conveyor belt 13 on which the transfer paper S is placed by starting to drive the movement guide section, and starts to move to the photosensitive area. The image from the body 2 is transferred to a transfer paper S on a conveyor belt 13.

In addition, when performing image transfer to the transfer paper S placed on such a conveyor belt 13 by electrostatic transfer, a transfer/separation device 6 provided on the support unit 10 side is used.
In place of this device, a transfer device W (not shown) that moves within the conveyor belt 13 in synchronization with the movement of the support unit 10 is used.

In this way, as the photoreceptor 2 side moves, the transfer paper S carrying the transferred image is transferred to the conveyor belt 13 after the transfer.
The fixing bag is driven in the opposite direction! 14 and is discharged to a paper discharge tray 15 after being fixed.

The above-mentioned operation is performed when an image is copied onto one side of the transfer paper S in the image recording apparatus, but next, a case where image formation is performed on both sides of the transfer paper S will be described.

In this case, first, image copying on one side of the transfer paper S is performed in the same manner as described above, and once the transfer is completed, the transfer paper S is temporarily placed on standby on the conveyor belt 13.

When the control unit (not shown) determines that the image transfer to the transfer paper S on the conveyor belt 13 has been completed and that the copying type is double-sided copying, the movement guide unit on the image recording apparatus main body side moves the transfer paper Specifically, as shown by the dashed-dotted line in FIG. Turn around and move to a position where you are facing the person.

On the other hand, when the control section determines that the photoreceptor 2 on the support unit 10 side faces the back surface of the transfer paper S due to the movement of the movement guide section, the conveyor belt 13 is driven in the opposite direction.
The image is transferred from the photoreceptor 2 to the back side of the transfer paper S at a position off the conveyor belt 13, and the transfer paper S that has undergone the image transfer is transferred to the fixing device 14 as in the case described above.
The paper can be ejected onto the paper ejection tray 15 via the .

When transferring to the back side of the transfer paper S described above, for example, in the case of electrostatic transfer, the transfer/separation device 6 on the support unit 10 side, which was inactive during transfer to one side, is activated again to perform the electrostatic transfer. Then, the transfer device within the conveyor belt 13 is placed in an inactive position.

In the above example, the transfer paper S was explained as being sheet-shaped, but it is also possible to replace such transfer paper S with a roll-shaped one and apply it to the structure of the above example. In some cases, as shown in FIG. 5, especially when copying is performed on one side of the transfer paper S, the rolled transfer paper is positioned on one side in the feeding direction of the transfer paper S and fixed on the other side in the feeding direction. By arranging the device 14 and the paper discharge tray 15, cutting the transfer paper S by the cutter 16 before discharging it, and moving the support unit 10 when the transfer paper S obtained up to that point is in a stretched state. Perform image transfer. Also, although I will not explain the details, if the above-mentioned roll-shaped transfer paper S is cut in the middle, the transfer paper
Double-sided copying is also possible.

According to this embodiment, it is only necessary to set the transport path length of the transfer paper to a length that matches the maximum length of the transfer paper.

It becomes possible to downsize the device.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, since the lifespans of the devices that execute the copying process for forming an image on a photoreceptor are made the same and the devices are provided on the same support, There is no need to manage the timing of replacement, and by providing the devices on the same support, the layout of the device can be more flexible, making it easier to handle.

Further, according to the present invention, the device that performs the copying process on the photoreceptor described above can be moved along the conveyance path of the transfer paper and can be reversed in the front and back directions of the transfer paper across the conveyance path. By organizing the transfer paper into a simple system, the conveyance path of the transfer paper can be made into a simple path, which makes it easier to eject the transfer paper when it jams during the conveyance path, and to prevent distortion of the image on the transfer paper during the conveyance path. It is possible to prevent wrinkles and wrinkles, and to obtain high-quality copies.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram showing the overall configuration of an image recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing main parts of the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are 2 is a model diagram showing a modification of the main parts shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a schematic layout diagram for explaining a modification of the transfer paper used in the image recording device shown in FIG. The figure is a schematic layout diagram for explaining an example of a conventional image recording device. 1... Image recording device, 2... Photosensitive drum, 3...
- Charging device, 4... Optical writing device, 5... Developing device, 6... Transfer/separation device, 10... Support unit, IOA... Shaft, 12... Swinging arm. Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Following the formation of an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor by an optical writing mechanism using an optical writing scanning element, the latent image is visualized, and the visible image is transferred. In an image recording apparatus that executes on the photoreceptor, the lifespan of the photoreceptor and the device that performs each image forming process such as charging processing, writing processing, and development processing on the photoreceptor are the same, and each of these devices is connected to the photoreceptor. 1. An image recording apparatus characterized in that the image recording apparatus is disposed in the same support part including the medium, and the same support part is supported so as to be reversible in the front and back directions of a medium to which an image is transferred. 2. In the image recording apparatus according to claim 1, the same support section is movably supported along the transport path of the transfer medium, and the transfer position of the photoreceptor is reversed with respect to both the front and back surfaces of the transfer medium. An image recording device characterized in that the image recording device is configured to face each other.