JPH0388671A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To well correct a curl by providing a discharge means for discharging a recorded material, picture-fixed in a fixing means, and a flow path of air for allowing the air to flow from the fixing means to the discharge means. CONSTITUTION:A fixing roll 7b in a fixing means 7 is heated, and by heat of this roll, inflow air from a cassette hole 4c, bottom plate hole 9a and a louver 9c is allowed to flow always by a convection phenomenon as shown by an arrow head (d) from the upper, that is, from the fixing means 7 to a discharge means 8. Under this condition, recording paper 3 is conveyed by conveying means such as conveying rolls 11a, 11b or 12a, 12b with a toner image transfer-recorded in the recording paper 3 in a recording means 6, and this recording paper 3 is conveyed to the fixing means 7 and applied with heat and pressure. Here water, contained in the recording paper 3, is evaporated, and steam of the water rides in a flow of air to flow into the discharge means 8. On the other hand, the recording paper 3, passing through the fixing means 7, is heated at a high temperature further dried and easily humidified, and the steam is absorbed by the recording paper 3 with its generated curl removed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a recording device that performs heat fixing after recording, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a recording device that performs heat fixing after recording, and more specifically, uses water vapor generated from the recording material during heat fixing to curl the recording material. The present invention relates to a recording device for correcting.

<Prior Art> In devices and the like that record images using an electrophotographic process, the recorded image is fixed on recording paper before being ejected.

For example, in a recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 6, a photosensitive drum 54 is charged and an image is developed on a recording paper 53 transported from a cassette 50 by a paper feed roller 51 and a transport roller 52 by exposure from a scanner unit 55. Then, an image is recorded by an electrophotographic process in which the image is transferred onto recording paper 53 by a transfer charger 56.

Then, an aluminum heating roller 56a with a built-in heater and a rubber pressure roller 56b are applied to the recording paper 53 on which the image has been formed.
The image is fixed by applying heat and pressure by a fixing device 56 consisting of a conveyance roller 57 and a discharge roller 58, and is discharged to a discharge section 59 by a conveyance roller 57 and a discharge roller 58.

In the above configuration, the moisture contained in the recording paper 53 evaporates due to the heat applied when the recording paper 53 passes through the fixing device 5G, and the humidity of the recording paper 53 decreases, so that pressure is applied to the heating roller 56a. It curls in the same direction as the shape of the dip with the roller 56b (the direction in which the rubber pressure roller 56b in pressure contact with the aluminum heating roller 56a increases in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6). This curl is further increased because the conveyance path is bent in the same direction as the curl direction.

Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 6, a curl removing roller 59a is attached to the discharge roller 58 using a spring or the like (not shown).

59b to forcibly bend the recording paper 53 in the direction opposite to the curl (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 6), thereby correcting the curl.

<Problem to be solved by the invention> However, as described above, the curl removing roller 5 is not provided on the discharge roller 58.
In the configuration in which 9a and 59b are pressed, if the recording paper 53 is wide, it is necessary to provide many rollers, which increases the number of parts and increases the cost and assembly cost. There is a problem in that this requires a large amount of space, which becomes an obstacle to miniaturizing the device.

Further, if the recording paper 53 is strongly curled, it is necessary to increase the amount of curl correction by increasing the spring pressure that presses the curl removing roller. There is a problem in that a large load is placed on the motor that rotates the recording paper 53, and roller marks are left on the discharged recording paper 53, reducing the quality of the recording paper 53.

Furthermore, the curling of the recording paper 53 is affected by the apparatus environment, especially the temperature. That is, in a low-temperature, low-humidity environment, the recording paper 53 whose moisture has evaporated by being heated by the fixing device 56 is placed in a dry state, resulting in a large amount of curl, and in a high-temperature, high-humidity environment, the evaporated moisture is re-recorded. The amount of curl decreases because the paper 53 absorbs moisture.

Therefore, if you increase the roller pressure and set a large amount of curl correction, reverse curls will occur under high temperature and high humidity conditions.
On the other hand, if the curl correction amount is set to a small value, curls will not be removed under low temperature and low humidity conditions. For this reason, there are problems such as the need to make adjustments such as increasing the number of curl removal rollers or changing the spring pressure depending on the device environment.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide a recording device that can perform good curl correction even if the curl correction by the rollers is weakened by reducing the number of curl removing rollers or the like or by reducing the spring pressure. That is.

<Means for Solving the Problems> Typical means according to the present invention for solving the above problems include a conveying means for conveying a recording material, and forming an image on the conveyed recording material. a fixing means for fixing the recorded image by applying at least heat to the recorded material on which the image has been formed by the recording means; and a fixing means for discharging the recorded material on which the image has been fixed by the fixing means. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a discharge means and an air flow path for flowing air from the fixing means to the discharge means.

As another means, the ejection means is provided above the fixing means, and the air flow path is formed so that air flows from the fixing section to the ejection means.

<Function> In the above means, the moisture evaporated from the recording material by the fixing means flows to the discharge means through the air flow path, and is absorbed by the recording material again. As a result, the curls formed on the recording material when passing through the fixing means are removed.

Furthermore, by providing the fixing means above the air intake provided at the bottom of the device body and providing the discharge means above it, the air flowing in from the air intake flows upward due to natural convection due to the heat of the fixing means. The moisture evaporated in the fixing means is absorbed by the recording material discharged to the discharge means even without forced air blowing by a fan or the like.

<Embodiment> Next, an embodiment in which the above means is applied to a recording apparatus using an electrophotographic process will be described.

[First embodiment]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the recording apparatus.

First, to explain the overall structure of the apparatus, a cassette loading section 2 is formed at the bottom of the apparatus main body 1, and a cassette 4 containing recording paper 3 as a recording material is loaded into this loading section 2. Further, a paper feed tray 5 has a grooved bottom to enable manual paper feeding.

Then, the top layer of recording paper 3 in the cassette 4 or the recording paper 3 manually fed from the paper feed tray 5 is conveyed upward by a conveyance roller, and after a predetermined image is formed on the recording means 6, it is conveyed to the fixing means 7. Here, heat and pressure are applied to fix the recorded image, and the recording paper 3 after the fixed image is discharged by a discharge means 8.

Further, an air passage 9 is formed so that air flows from the fixing means 7 to the ejection means 8 during image recording and fixing on the recording paper 3, and ejection.

Next, the configuration of each of the above sections will be specifically explained.

The cassette 4 housed in the lower part of the apparatus main body 1 has a case-like recording paper accommodating part 4a with a handle part 4b formed at the tip thereof, and the handle part 4b has a plurality of air intake ports as shown in FIG. The cassette holes 4c are formed in a row.

The recording paper 3 stored in the cassette 4 is fed to the paper feed roller 1
The paper is fed one by one by
The cassette is transported upward by a pair of transport rollers 12a and 12b to the recording means 6 located above the cassette.

In addition, the paper feed tray 5 is rotatably attached to the front part of the apparatus main body 1 about a shaft 5a, and when not in use, it functions as an exterior cover for the apparatus main body (■) by standing up as shown by the broken line in Figure 1. However, when in use, the paper feed tray 5 is folded down as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, and the recording paper 3 is placed so that both ends are guided by side guides 5b that are attached so as to be slidable in the width direction. . When the conveying roller 12a rotates, this recording paper 3 is separated one by one by a separation pant 13 that is in pressure contact with the roller 12a.
It is configured as if it were to be transported to

The cassette 4 stores recording paper 3 of commonly used sizes, and when recording on other sizes of recording paper 3, the paper is fed from the paper feed tray 5.

During recording, the recording paper 3 is selectively conveyed to either the cassette 4 or the paper feed tray 5 in response to a signal from the host computer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording means 6 for recording an image on the conveyed recording paper 3 includes a charger 6b surrounding a photosensitive drum 6a that rotates in the direction of arrow a.

An exposure section 6C, a toner development section 6d, a transfer roller 6e, and a cleaning section 6f are arranged in this order, and are configured as a recording means using a so-called electrophotographic process.

That is, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 6a whose surface is uniformly charged by the charger 6b by irradiating the exposure section 6c with laser light corresponding to the image signal from the scanner unit 6g.
This latent image is visualized by toner in the developing section 6d. This toner image is transferred and recorded on the recording paper 3 that is conveyed between the transfer roller 6e rotating in the direction of the arrow and the photosensitive drum 6a, and the remaining toner on the photosensitive drum 6a is cleaned by the cleaning section 6f.

The recording paper 3 on which the image has been recorded by the recording means 6 is guided by a guide member 14 and conveyed to the fixing means 7. This fixing means 7 is arranged above the recording means 6, and as shown in FIG. 3, its structure includes a built-in halogen lamp 7a serving as a heat source, and an aluminum fixing roller 7b that rotates in the direction of the arrow. , and a pressure roller 7c made of rubber that is pressed against this by a spring means (not shown), etc. When the recording paper 3 passes between both rollers 7b and Tc, heat and pressure are applied, and the toner image is transferred to the recording paper. 3.

The recording paper 3 on which the image has been fixed by the fixing means 7 is transferred to the ejection means 8.
This ejecting means 8 is disposed above the fixing means 7, and is configured to eject the sheet face-up or face-down by the operation of a flapper 8a. That is, a flapper 8a is provided above the fixing means 7 and is rotatable about a shaft 8a1 by a solenoid or the like (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 3, a face-up discharge roller 8b is provided above the pressure roller 7c and below the flapper 8a so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow by a motor or the like. On the other hand, above the flapper 8a, a face-down paper discharge roller 8c is similarly provided which can be rotated in the direction of the arrow by a motor or the like. Therefore, when the flapper 8a is in the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, the recording paper 3 that has passed through the fixing means 7 is discharged by the face-up paper discharge roller 8b in the direction indicated by the arrow, and exits the apparatus with the recording surface facing up. is discharged to. On the other hand, when the flapper 8a is in the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, the sheet is conveyed upward as shown by arrow C, and is ejected onto the ejection tray 8d with the recording surface facing down by the face-down ejection roller 8c. It is something that

Note that the operation of the flapper 8a can be changed as appropriate by the user.

Next, the configuration of the air flow path 9 will be explained.
A hole 4c formed in the cassette hole 4c communicates with the outside of the apparatus, and a bottom plate hole 9a is formed in the bottom of the apparatus main body 1 to communicate with the cassette hole 4c. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a front cover 9b is provided between the conveyance roller 12a, the recording means 7, and the paper feed tray 5, and this front cover 9b is provided with a fixing means 7.
A looper 9C is formed at the bottom.

Therefore, when the paper feed tray 5 is upright as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, air flows from the cassette hole 4C to the bottom plate hole 9a.
The paper enters the apparatus through the front cover 9b and the paper feed tray 5, passes through the looper 9C, reaches the fixing means 7, and is heated by the fixing means 7, causing natural convection to the discharge means 8 located above it. An air flow path is formed.

On the other hand, when the paper feed tray 5 is tilted down as shown by the solid line in FIG. A flow path is formed therein.

Next, a description will be given of the curl correction function of the recording paper 3 when recording is performed using the recording apparatus having the above configuration.

The surface of the fixing roller 7b in the fixing means 7 is controlled via a temperature detection means such as a thermistor (not shown) so that it is maintained at the fixing temperature (for example, about 150° C.) during the recording operation, and is also in a recording standby state. If there is, the residual heat temperature (for example, about 12
0°C). Due to this heat, the air that has entered through the cassette hole 4c, the bottom plate hole 9a, and the looper 90 always flows upward, that is, from the fixing means 7 to the discharge means 8, by convection, as shown by the arrow d in FIG.

When a recording signal is input in the above state, the recording paper 3 is transferred from the cassette 4 or the paper feed tray 5 to the transport rollers lla and ll.
b, or 12a, 12b, etc.,
A toner image is transferred and recorded onto the recording paper 3 in the recording means 6. This recording paper 3 is conveyed to the fixing means 7 and heat and pressure are applied thereto, but at this time, the moisture contained in the recording paper 3 evaporates, and the water vapor rides on the air flow to the discharge means 8. flows.

On the other hand, the recording paper 3 that has passed through the fixing means 7 has a high temperature and is in a dry state, so that it easily absorbs moisture. Therefore, the water vapor is absorbed by the recording paper 3, and the curling on the recording paper 3 is reduced and removed by the absorption of the water vapor by the recording paper 3.

In the above configuration, even when the humidity inside the apparatus is low, in order to re-wet the moisture that has evaporated from the recording paper 3, -
Curl correction is effectively performed from the first sheet.

In addition, since air intake ports such as the cassette hole 4C or the looper 9c are not provided on the front or side of the device main body 1,
This prevents foreign matter such as dust from entering the device from this part.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, if the shape of the cassette hole 4c formed in the cassette 4, which serves as an air intake port, has a length in the width direction <tl, as shown in FIG. 4, the cassette hole 4C can be used as a handle. , it is convenient to attach and detach the cassette 4, and to carry it.

Further, in the above embodiment, heat and pressure are applied to the recording paper 3 in the fixing means 7, but it is also possible to apply only heat to fix the recording paper 3.

[Second example]

Next, as a second embodiment, an example of a recording apparatus in which the transport path of the recording paper 3 is bent to make the entire apparatus compact is shown in FIG.

Note that parts having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In this device, recording paper 3 stored in a cassette 4 is fed one by one by a paper feed roller lO, and is transported in a U-turn by a pair of transport rollers 15a, 15b, 16a, and f6b, and then transferred to a recording means 6. After the image is formed, the fixing means 7 applies heat and pressure to fix the image, and the image is conveyed upward along the apparatus main body 1 by a pair of conveying rollers 17a and 17b, and is then conveyed to a paper ejecting roller 18 and a sheet (not shown). The paper is configured to be discharged onto a discharge tray 20 by curl removing rollers 19a and 19b pressed together by springs or the like.

Note that 21 in FIG. 5 is a mirror for reflecting the laser beam from the scanner unit 6g.

Even in the above-mentioned apparatus, a discharge means 8 is arranged above the fixing means 7, and a discharge means 8 is disposed at the rear of the cassette from a cassette hole 4d which serves as an air intake port. An air flow path is formed so that the air that has entered the recording paper 3 flows upward along the discharge path of the recording paper 3 as shown by arrow e by natural convection due to the heat from the fixing means 7.

Therefore, even in the recording apparatus having the above configuration, the water evaporated from the recording paper 3 by the fixing means 7 is absorbed by the discharged recording paper 3, so that the curl is corrected.

Further, in the recording apparatus, curls are further removed by the ejection roller 18 and the curl removal rollers 19a and 19b.

By configuring as described above, the entire device becomes compact, and since there is no need to provide an air intake port on the side or back of the device main body 1, the device can be installed closely against a wall.
Alternatively, books, computers, etc. can be placed close together.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, in the present invention, by providing an air flow path for flowing air from the fixing means to the discharge means, the moisture evaporated in the fixing means is absorbed into the recording material again, and curls are corrected. be done. Therefore, since curl correction is performed in areas other than the curl removal rollers, that is, in the air flow path, the number of parts in the curl removal roller section can be reduced or the curl removal rollers can be eliminated, and assembly is facilitated. Cost reduction can be achieved.

Further, it is possible to perform good curl correction without being affected by the environment of the device.

Furthermore, by providing the discharge means above the fixing means and allowing air to flow through natural convection, parts and space for forming air flow such as fans and ducts are not required, and the apparatus can be made more compact. be.

Further, even if the number of rollers is reduced or the spring pressure is weakened, good curl correction is possible, the load on the motor can be reduced, and it is possible to prevent roller marks from forming on the recording sheet.

Furthermore, by attaching a cassette for storing recording materials to the lower part of the apparatus main body and providing an air intake port in the cassette, the apparatus main body can be installed in close contact with a wall or the like.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a cassette hole, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration around the fixing means, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art. ■ is the device main body, 2 is the cassette loading section, 3 is the recording paper, 4 is the cassette, 4a is the recording paper storage section, 4b is the handle, 4C is the cassette hole, 5 is the paper feed tray, 5a is the shaft, 5b is the side 6 is a recording means, 6a is a photosensitive drum, 6b is a charger, 6c is an exposure section, 6d is a toner developing section, 6e is a transfer roller, 6f is a cleaning section, 6g is a scanner unit, 7 is a fixing means, 7a is a halogen lamp, 7b is a fixing port roller, 7c is a pressure roller, 8 is a discharge means, 8a is a flapper, 13a is a shaft, 8b is a face-up paper discharge roller,
8C is a face-down paper ejection roller, 8d is a paper ejection tray,
9 is an air flow path, 9a is a bottom plate hole, 9b is a front cover, 9c is a louver, 10 is a paper feed roller, 1)a, llb are cassette conveyance rollers, 12a, 12b are conveyance rollers, 13 is a separation bat, 14 is a Guide members 15a, 15b, 16
a, 16b, 17a, and 17b are conveyance rollers, 18 is a paper discharge roller, 19a and 19b are curl removal rollers, 20 is a paper discharge tray, 21 is a mirror, and 22 is a bottom plate hole.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A conveying means for conveying a recording material, a recording means for forming an image on the conveyed recording material, and applying at least heat to the recording material on which an image has been formed by the recording means. a fixing means for fixing the recorded image by the fixing means; an ejection means for ejecting the recording material on which the image has been fixed by the fixing means; and an air flow path for flowing air from the fixing means to the ejection means. A recording device characterized by being provided with. (2) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge means is provided above the fixing means, and the air flow path is formed so that air flows from the fixing means to the discharge means. (3) An air intake port is provided at the bottom of the apparatus main body for air to flow in, and a cassette housing portion is provided for accommodating the recording material, and the cassette is provided with a cassette hole communicating with the air intake port. The recording device according to claim (2), characterized in that: