JPH04133643U - Recording paper detection sensor arrangement structure of image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To shorten the time required to eject and introduce recording paper,
A recording paper detection sensor arrangement structure for an image forming apparatus that enables faster image formation. [Structure] A recording paper sensor 80 that detects that there is no recording paper in the corresponding recording paper path portion and sends a signal to the control device of the image forming apparatus and uses this as information for introducing new recording paper from the paper feed section 30. is arranged facing the recording paper transport path from the paper feed section 30 to the recording section 60.

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea]

0001

[Industrial application field]

This invention is used as an output device for computers, etc., and the output information is transferred to the paper feeder. For more information on image forming devices that print or draw on recording paper conveyed from The record sheet is placed facing the recording paper conveyance path, and records corresponding to recording paper conveyance control information. The present invention relates to an arrangement structure of a paper discharge sensor that detects the presence or absence of recording paper in a paper conveyance path.

0002

[Conventional technology]

Traditionally, output devices such as computers, word processors, and facsimiles have been used. The output information is printed or drawn on the recording paper conveyed from the paper feeder to make a hard copy. Image forming devices (so-called printers) that obtain There are various types of image forming devices in terms of image forming methods and recording paper used. , Recently, paper that has been cut to a predetermined size is used as recording paper. Many, especially word processors, are like this. An image forming device that forms images on such cut paper is housed in a paper feed cassette, etc. The cut paper set in the paper feed section is introduced into the device, and the image forming section It is configured to form an image and eject the paper, but conveyance of the cut paper and control of image formation are Because it is necessary to synchronize conveyance of cut paper and image formation, it is installed facing the recording paper path. Records from the paper sensor that detects the presence or absence of cut paper in the corresponding paper path. This is done by the control device based on the paper detection information.

0003 Here, if the recording paper becomes jammed in the device, image formation and paper ejection will be interrupted. Even though this was not done, new recording paper was introduced one after another, making paper jams even worse. To prevent this from happening and causing malfunctions, it is usually A recording paper sensor is installed nearby, and when forming images on multiple consecutive pages, the control device The cut paper on which image formation has been completed is recorded based on the detection information from this recording paper sensor. After confirming that the paper has been ejected from the recording paper path (that is, the paper sensor After detecting the trailing edge of the recording paper), a new cut paper for forming the next page image is introduced into the device. The recording paper conveyance is controlled so that the

0004

[Problem that the idea aims to solve]

However, as mentioned above, a recording paper sensor is provided near the paper ejection position in the recording paper path. In the recording paper conveyance control configuration in which a new recording paper is introduced after the recording paper is ejected, Eject the recording paper on which image formation has been completed, temporarily leaving the device free of recording paper, and then Since new recording paper is introduced after the The recording paper that is transported (image forming ), which is extremely inefficient in the case of continuous image formation; This was a factor that hindered speeding up of image formation. This problem can be solved as an image forming method. The longer the recording paper transport path within the device, such as those that use electrophotography, the larger the be.

[0005]

[Purpose of invention]

In view of the above circumstances, this invention shortens the time required to eject and introduce recording paper. The arrangement structure of recording paper detection sensors in image forming apparatuses enables faster image formation. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above objective, the recording paper detection sensor arrangement structure of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is , an image forming section prints an electrophotographic image on the recording paper that is introduced from the paper feed section and transported through the device. In an image forming apparatus that forms images using methods such as A signal indicating that there is no recording paper in the corresponding recording paper path is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. The paper sensor sends information to the control device about the introduction of new paper from the paper feed unit. It is arranged facing the recording paper conveyance path from the paper section to the image forming section.

[0007]

[Example of idea]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the recording paper detection sensor arrangement structure of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. A schematic configuration of an electrophotographic facsimile machine, which is an applied image forming apparatus, is shown. figure corresponds to a side view, and the right side in the figure is the front side of the device. The illustrated facsimile machine has recording paper for reception or transmission at the rear upper part of the main body 10. A paper feed section 30 is provided for supplying or introducing original documents into the apparatus, and a front end side The upper part is pivoted to the paper feed section 30 side (rear side) end of the apparatus main body 10 via an arm 21A. The upper structure 20 is made up of The upper surface of the upper structure 20 is formed as a gently sloped surface that becomes lower toward the front end of the device. This inclined surface portion serves as an operation section 23 where a display panel, operation buttons, etc. are arranged. It has become. A reading head 50 is provided within the upper structure 20, and an electric power source is provided on the device main body 10 side. A recording section 60 is provided which includes each working mechanism section of the child photography method, and the transmission original is fed into the recording section 60. The information is conveyed from the section 30 through the upper structure 20 and written information is read by the reading head 50. The recording paper for reading and outputting the received information is sent from the paper feed section 30 to the device main body 10 and the upper structure. The received information is recorded by the recording unit 60 while being conveyed between the bodies 20. There is. Conveying these originals and recording paper, reading the originals by the reading head 50, and recording Image formation by the unit 60 is performed by the control unit 70 (shown in FIG. 1) as shown in the block diagram of FIG. (not shown).

[0008] Each part will be explained in detail below. The paper feed section 30 includes a recording paper cassette 40 containing recording paper for reception, which is cut paper. a cassette mounting section 31 which is removably mounted on the recording paper introduction site; A document holder 32 for transmitting documents is provided on the front end side of the device (on the right side in the figure) of the loading section 31. has been done. The cassette mounting section 31 includes a recording paper cassette mounted on the cassette mounting section 31. A recording paper introducing roller 33 is placed at a position corresponding to the upper side of the leading edge of the recording paper stored in the recording paper 40. is located.

[0009] The upper structure 20 has an operation panel 22 on the upper side of the panel frame 21 and a paper feed section thereof. It has a double structure with the end on the 30 side pivotally connected by a pin 25. The apparatus main body 10 is connected to the apparatus main body 10 via an arm 21A extending to the rear end side of the apparatus of the flannel frame 21. It is pivotably attached to the upper rear end of the. On the inside (lower side) of the operation panel 22, there is a document upper guide plate 22B and a document upper guide plate 22B. A contact type reading sensor 51 is installed adjacent to the document introduction side (paper feed section 30 side) of the plate 22B. A reading head 50 having a document introduction roller 52 is provided, and a document introduction roller 52 is provided. The flannel frame 21 has a lower document guide plate 21 at a position corresponding to the upper document guide plate 22B. B indicates that the conveyance roller 26 is located at a position corresponding to the reading sensor 51 of the reading head 50. , an introduction lower guide 21C is provided at a position corresponding to the reading head 50, respectively. The rear end side (adjacent to the paper feed section 30) of the introduction lower guide 21C is connected to the paper feed section 3. It is formed as an inclined surface continuous with the original holder 32 of No. 0. The document guide member (reading sensor 51, document top guide) on the operation panel 22 side as described above plate 22B) and the original guide member on the panel frame 21 side (lower introduction guide 21C, original A document path is formed between the document guide plate 21B) and the document path is formed between the document guide plate 21B and A pair of paper ejection rollers 27 is arranged approximately in the center so as to sandwich this document path. . Document introduction roller 52 of the reading head 50, conveyance roller 2 of the panel frame 21 6 and the lower roller 27A of the paper ejection roller pair 27 constitute the document conveyance system 71 in FIG. The document is rotated at a predetermined circumferential speed by a drive motor (not shown) to rotate the original as shown in the figure. The document is conveyed through the document path along a conveyance path indicated by a dashed line. Its operation ( rotation) and the reading sensor 51 of the reading head 50 are controlled by a control unit 70, The original placed on the original holder 32 is transferred to the upper structure 20 by the original introduction roller 52. The information recorded on the top surface of the document is read and conveyed by the conveyance rollers 26. The sheet is read by the sensor 51 and conveyed by the pair of discharge rollers 27 to the front end side of the main body 10 of the apparatus. It is designed to be discharged from

0010 On the other hand, on the side of the main body 10 of the apparatus, as described above, there is a screen equipped with various operating mechanisms for electrophotography. A recording section 60 is provided as an image forming section. That is, the photosensitive drum 6 is rotationally driven at a predetermined circumferential speed by a drive motor (not shown). Center around 1 and clean the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor. A cleaning mechanism 62 that uniformly charges the photoreceptor on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 61. Rona Charger 63, a laser beam that is turned on and off based on image information A scanning optical system unit 64 exposes and scans the surface of the optical drum 61, and charges are generated by exposure. A developing device that attaches toner to the photoreceptor part that has fallen off and turned into a latent image, turning it into a toner image. 65, a transfer charger 6 that charges the recording paper and transfers the toner image onto the recording paper; 6, are arranged respectively, and a record to which a toner image is transferred by a transfer charger 66. A fixing device 67 is arranged at the front in the paper conveyance direction.

[0011] A cleaning mechanism 62 moves a blade formed of an elastic body to the photosensitive drum 61. is configured so as to be in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 and the corona charger 63. They are mounted on one frame and integrated as a photosensitive drum unit 61A. . The developing device 65 has a magnet inside a cylindrical sleeve at one end of the toner storage container section 65A. It is configured to rotatably support a developing roller 65B formed by inserting a net roller, The developing roller 65B is arranged close to a substantially horizontal portion of the photosensitive drum 61 on the rear end side of the device. has been completed. The scanning optical system unit 64 is a laser beam that is turned on and off based on image information. Each component of the scanning optical system that scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 with a unit frame The developing device 65 and the paper feed section 30 are integrated into the system. The scanning optical system unit 64 is suspended on the lower surface side of the lower main body chassis 11. The laser beam from the photosensitive drum passes between the corona charger 63 and the developing device 65. The light is irradiated toward the ram 61 (scans the photosensitive drum 61). The transfer charger 66 is placed above the photosensitive drum 61 in the pattern of the upper structure 20 described above. It is supported by a flannel frame 21. The fixing device 67 includes a heat roller 67A heated at a predetermined temperature. The heat roller 67A is configured by pressing a press roller 67B above the It is rotated by a drive motor (not shown) at a circumferential speed that is synchronized with the circumferential speed of the photosensitive drum 61. As a result, the fixing device automatically transports the recording paper at the same time as the fixing action. ing.

0012 As mentioned above, the upper surface of the recording section 60 constituted by each operating mechanism section of the electrophotographic method is The overall structure is such that it becomes slightly lower towards the front end of the device, and On the lower surface side of the corresponding upper structure 20, a panel frame 2 is provided above the developing device 65. The recording paper upper guide plates 21E provided in 1 are arranged close to each other with a predetermined interval, , from the transfer charger 66 to the upper side between the photosensitive drum 61 and the fixing device 67 at the front end of the device. The arc-shaped recording paper conveyance path regulating plate 21F facing the fixing device 67 diagonally below the side is a panel. The guide plate 21B is attached to the lower surface of the document lower guide plate 21B of the frame 21. With the configuration of the recording section 60 and the upper structure 20 as described above, the recording section 60 can be recorded on the upper surface of the recording section 60. The recording paper guide member (on the top surface of the developing device 65) and the recording paper guide member on the bottom surface of the upper structure 20 ( A recording paper path is formed between the recording paper upper guide plate 21E and the recording paper transport path regulating plate 21F. The recording paper transport path is sandwiched between the developing device 65 and the photosensitive drum 61. A drive roller pair 69 is provided.

[0013] Recording paper introduction roller 33 of cassette loading section 31, drive roller pair 69, and fixing device 67 heat rollers 67A constitute the recording paper conveyance system 72 in FIG. They are rotated at a predetermined circumferential speed by a drive motor (not shown). Ru. Its operation (rotation) and each action mechanism including the photosensitive drum 61 are controlled by a control unit 70. The recording paper transport system 72 moves the recording paper path along the chain double-dashed line in the figure. The recording section 60 records the received information on the recording paper conveyed along the conveyance path shown by the electrophotographic method. It forms images based on information. That is, the recording paper cassette is inserted into the recording paper cassette by the rotation of the recording paper introduction roller 33 of the cassette loading section 31. The recording paper stored in the cut 40 is introduced into the recording paper path sequentially from the upper side. , from the scanning optical system unit 64 modulated based on the received print or image information. Main scanning (exposure) of the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 in the direction of its rotation axis with a laser beam. At the same time, the photosensitive drum 61 is rotated (sub-scanning), and the developing device 65 rotates the photosensitive drum 61. The latent image formed on the surface is developed into a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to a pair of driving rollers 69. is transported at a speed synchronized with the circumferential speed of the photosensitive drum 61 and transferred to the transfer charger 66. Therefore, the toner image is transferred to the charged recording paper, and then the fixing device 67 fixes the toner image on the recording paper. The liquid is then discharged from the front end of the device.

[0014] Here, facing the recording paper conveyance path from the paper feed section 30 to the photosensitive drum 61, A paper sensor 80 is provided to detect the presence or absence of recording paper in the recording paper conveyance path. Ru. Although not shown in detail, the recording paper sensor 80 has a sensor arm 80A at one end. The sensor arm 80A is connected to the shaft formed with a shielding plate on the other end. It projects into the recording paper conveyance path, is rotatably supported by the upper structure 20, and is equipped with a shielding plate. It is placed between the optical paths of a transmission type photointerrupter placed on the side of the photointerrupter. There is no recording paper in the recording paper conveyance path corresponding to sensor arm 80A, and the sensor When the sa arm 80A protrudes into the recording paper conveyance path, the shielding plate Interrupting the optical path of the interrupter, there is no signal output from the photointerrupter, and the sensor There is a recording paper in the recording paper conveyance path corresponding to the sensor arm 80A. This means that the sensor arm 80A is oscillated and retracted from the recording paper conveyance path. In this case, the shielding plate moves out from between the optical paths of the photointerrupter and blocks the photointerrupter. A signal is output from. So from this photo interrupter The signal becomes the recording paper detection signal at the location of the recording paper sensor 80. This is what is happening. Then, the sensor arm 80A is driven with the recording paper introduction roller 33. Recording on the upper surface of the developing device 65 between the moving roller pair 69, slightly closer to the introduction roller 33 The recording paper sensor 80 is arranged so as to protrude into the paper conveyance path. The detection signal is sent to the control section 70.

[0015] The control unit 70 then performs the following based on the recording paper detection signal from the recording paper sensor 80. Control the introduction of recording paper as shown below. In other words, during image formation, As the recording paper is conveyed as the image is formed, the trailing edge of the recording paper reaches the recording paper sensor. Recording from the recording paper sensor 80 by moving forward from the recording paper path portion corresponding to 80. When the paper detection signal is interrupted, if there is a next page that is continuous with the current page, it will be recorded immediately. The paper introducing roller 33 is rotated to feed the next recording paper from the recording paper cassette 40. The recording paper is introduced into the path, and the recording paper is conveyed to form an image continuously from the previous page. control As a result, the next page of recording paper can be printed at short intervals even while the image is being formed on the previous page of recording paper. This allows for efficient recording paper transport by shortening the interval between paper sheets being transported. It can be sent. After that, as a new recording paper is introduced into the recording paper path, the leading edge of the new recording paper is When the recording paper path portion corresponding to the recording paper sensor 80 is reached, the recording paper sensor 80 The recording paper is detected, and the control unit 70 performs the introductory recording based on this detection signal. The recording paper is conveyed until its leading edge is at a position corresponding to the drive roller pair 69, and then stopped. , to prepare for the start of image formation for the next page, and therefore the recording paper sensor 80 not only detects the trailing edge of the recording paper, but also has the function of detecting the leading edge of the introduced recording paper. It is something that we have together. In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine equipped with a reading head. However, it is applicable to general image forming devices such as printers that do not have a reading head. Needless to say, it's a good thing to do.

[0016]

[Effect of the idea]

As described above, the recording paper detection sensor arrangement structure of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention According to The recording paper set is sent to the control device of the forming device to provide information on the introduction of new recording paper from the paper feed section. The sensor is placed facing the recording paper transport path from the paper feed section to the image forming section. This allows the next page of recording paper to be introduced into the device at short intervals even while the previous page is forming an image. This allows for efficient recording paper transport by shortening the interval between the paper sheets being transported. This makes it possible to shorten the time required for continuous image formation.

[Submission date] July 9, 1992

[Procedural amendment 1]

[Name of document to be amended] Specification

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction details]

0001

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that is used as an output device of a computer or the like and prints or draws output information on a recording paper conveyed from a paper feeding section. The present invention relates to an arrangement structure of a recording paper detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of recording paper in a recording paper transport path portion corresponding to recording paper transport control information.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram equivalent to a side view showing a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic facsimile machine to which an embodiment of the recording paper detection sensor arrangement structure of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

10...Device body 30...Paper feed section 60... Recording section (image forming section) 80...Recording paper sensor

Continuing from the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location H04N 1/00 108 H 7170-5C

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Claim 1: In an image forming apparatus in which an image forming unit forms an image on a recording paper introduced from a paper feed unit and conveyed within the apparatus, the recording paper is arranged facing a recording paper path and corresponds to the recording paper. A recording paper sensor sends a signal detecting that there is no recording paper in a path part to a control device of the image forming apparatus as information for introducing a new recording paper from the paper feeding section, and the recording paper sensor sends a signal detecting that there is no recording paper in the passage part to the control device of the image forming apparatus as information for introducing a new recording paper from the paper feeding section. What is claimed is: 1. A recording paper detection sensor arrangement structure for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that the recording paper detection sensor is disposed facing a recording paper conveyance path leading to an action section. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus utilizes an electrophotographic method, and the image forming operation section is constituted by each operation section of the electrophotography method.
A recording paper detection sensor arrangement structure of the image forming apparatus described above.