JPH04213466A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need of a different space in art power unit and to attain miniaturization by arranging the power unit in a space surrounded by means of the inversion path of an image forming part. CONSTITUTION:A recording sheet 5 fed by a paper feeder 7 is sent to a latent image carrier 1 in the side opposite to the paper feeder 7, through the inversion path 9, has the transfer and fixing of an actual image on the image carrier 1, and ejected, the power unit is arranged in the space surrounded by the inversion path 9. Therefore, the different space is not required in the power unit, but attachment/detachment can be easily carried out.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, facsimiles, and electrophotographic printers.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, there has been a demand for smaller image forming apparatuses. For example, in the case of electrophotographic printers, there is a growing tendency to save space by downsizing personal computers, and of course the electrophotographic printers used in personal computers are also becoming smaller.

[0003] In conventional image forming apparatuses, an image forming section, a driving section, and a power supply section are arranged in separate locations, and there is a limit to miniaturization.

0004

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide an image forming apparatus that can be downsized.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem in that recording paper fed from a paper feeding device is sent through a reversing path to a latent image carrier on the opposite side of the paper feeding device, and the recording paper is The problem has been solved by an image forming apparatus in which a developed image on an image carrier is transferred, fixed, and discharged, and a power supply device is disposed in a space surrounded by the reversing path. The power supply device can be configured to be removable and removable to a connector provided in a space surrounded by the reversing path.

[0006]

[Operation] According to the present invention, the power supply device is disposed in the space surrounded by the reversing path in the image forming section that feeds the recording paper from the paper feeding device to the latent image carrier through the reversing path. The power supply unit can be placed within the space, eliminating the need for a separate space for the power supply unit, making it possible to downsize and save space.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be explained based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0008] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, explanation will be given based on an example of a laser printer.

An electrostatic latent image carrier 1, for example a photosensitive drum, is driven to rotate clockwise, and at this time its surface is charged by a charger 2, and is irradiated with a laser beam L from a laser optical system 3 based on an image signal. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 1. The latent image is developed by the developing device 4 to form a visible image, for example, a toner image. The visible image is transferred to the recording paper 5 under the action of a transfer charger 6.

The recording paper 5 is fed one by one from a paper feeding device 7, for example a paper feeding tray, by a paper feeding roller 8, and is guided by a guide plate forming a reversing path 9 to a pair of registration rollers 10 in the direction of an arrow A. The paper is further fed to the photosensitive drum 1 on the side opposite to the paper feeding device 7 by the pair of registration rollers 10 .

The recording paper 5 onto which the visible image of the photosensitive drum 1 has been transferred is fixed in a fixing device 11, and then transferred to a paper ejection roller 12.
The sheet is discharged to the discharge section 13, for example, a paper discharge tray, in the direction of arrow B.

After the transfer, the photosensitive drum 1 is exposed to a static elimination lamp 16.
The charge is removed by exposure to light, and the cleaning blade 14
The residual toner is removed by a cleaning device 15 having a cleaning device 15, and the image forming process from charging by the charger 2 is repeated again.

The toner removed from the photosensitive drum 1 is collected in a toner collection chamber 17.

In an image forming apparatus having a structure in which the recording paper 5 is conveyed from the lower paper feeder 7 to the upper side of the photoreceptor 1 using the reversing path 9 as described above, the space surrounded by the reversing path 9 is Because of the narrow space, it was difficult to place any kind of equipment, and in most cases they were left idle. So power supply 1
8 has a compact structure in which each member is assembled into a substrate 18a, and is formed to a size that fits in the space surrounded by the reversing path 9,
A half body 19a of the connector 19 is attached to the substrate 18a, and the other half body 19b of the connector 19 is provided in a space surrounded by the reversing path 9 of the machine frame 20 of the image forming apparatus, and the power supply device 18 is installed inside the machine frame 20. By inserting the power supply device 18 into the machine frame 20 in the direction of arrow C and inserting the connector half body 19a into the other connector half body 19b, the power supply device 1
8 is now working. With this configuration, the power supply device 19
can be housed in a space within the area of the image forming unit, eliminating the need to provide a separate space for the power supply. If the power supply device 18 and the main motor 21 can be arranged side by side in the same space, the space can be further saved. The board 18a has an input/output operator and the board 18.
A side plate 18b can be provided for the purpose of protecting the members provided on the side plate 18a.

[0015]

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the power supply device can be placed in the space surrounded by the reversing path of the image forming section, and the space surrounded by the reversing path can be used effectively, which makes the device more compact. This made it possible to save space. According to the present invention, the power supply device can be easily attached and detached, and maintenance and inspection work on the power supply device is facilitated, thereby improving service efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of the entire image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the relationship between a reversing path and a power supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Latent image carrier 2　Electrical charger 3 Laser optical system 4 Developing device 5 Recording paper 6 Transfer charger 7 Paper feeding device 8 Paper feed roller 9 Reverse path 10 Registration roller pair 18 Power supply device 18a Board 19 Connector 19a Connector half 19b Connector half

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Recording paper fed from a paper feeding device is sent through a reversing path to a latent image carrier on the opposite side from the paper feeding device, and the developed image on the latent image carrier is transferred and fixed. An image forming apparatus that is ejected, wherein a power supply device is disposed within a space surrounded by the reversing path. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a connector is disposed in a space surrounded by the reversing path, and the power supply device is formed to be removable and attachable to the connector.