JPH05201603A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image forming device by which a space for installation is saved and paper discharge operation is facilitated. CONSTITUTION:A sheet loading part 400 is formed on the upper surface of an image making engine box 100 in a recessed shape and a scanner means 200 is installed above the sheet loading part 400 with a space, and grooves 410a whose depth is the same as that of the bottom surface of the recessed part are formed on the box part surrounding the recessed part of the sheet loading part at least in the right/left side of a sheet carrying direction. Trays are installed in the sheet loading part and a drive means for elevating these trays is arranged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, introduction of office automation equipment has been promoted in offices, and therefore many office automation equipments are installed. At present, a large space is occupied for the installation of these office automation equipment, and as a result, a large office floor area is required. On the other hand, especially in urban areas, office rents increase and become expensive, and the office floor area is reduced as much as possible.
It is desired to save as much space as possible for the installation of equipment.

[0003]

In consideration of the layout of office equipment such as desks, chairs, bookshelves, equipment shelves, personal computers, and copying machines in offices, in the case of OA equipment such as copying machines, the housing of the equipment is used. Space saving can be achieved by eliminating the paper feed tray, the paper discharge tray, and the like protruding outward from the inside and arranging them in the housing. However, in that case, it is unavoidable that the operation of taking out the sheet from the sheet stacking unit on which the sheet on which the image is formed and discharged is stacked is troublesome.

It is an object of the present invention to propose an image forming apparatus which saves space for installation and solves the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, and a sheet for discharging the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming engine. Discharging means, an image forming engine casing for forming a sheet stacking portion for stacking the sheets discharged by the sheet discharging means above the image forming engine, and a space above the sheet stacking portion, which are arranged with a space therebetween. The sheet stacking unit has a scanner unit for converting document image information into an electric signal and supplying the image forming engine to the image forming engine, and a supporting unit for supporting the scanner unit above the sheet stacking unit with a space. A recess is formed on the upper surface of the image forming engine housing, and a groove having the same depth as the bottom surface of the recess is formed on the housing surrounding the recess at least on the left and right sides in the sheet conveying direction. It is more resolved.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem when the sheet is taken out from the sheet discharging direction of the sheet stacking section, the sheet stacking section is provided with another position where the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharging means. It is proposed that the height of the tray is lower than that of the portion, the tray is arranged in the lower portion, and a drive means for moving the tray up and down is provided.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention proposes that the tray is located at the uppermost position and above the sheet discharge port of the sheet discharge means.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention responds to an image forming operation start signal of an image forming apparatus by
It is proposed to provide a tray lowering instruction means for instructing the tray driving means to lower the tray.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is arranged such that the moving time from the uppermost position to the lowermost position of the tray is such that the leading edge of the sheet is discharged from the generation of the image forming operation start signal. It is proposed that the tray is driven by the tray drive means so that it takes less time to reach the outlet.

[0010]

In the casing of the image forming engine, the image forming engine, the sheet discharging unit for discharging the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming engine, and the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging unit above the image forming engine are stacked. A concave sheet stacking section is provided, and the scanner means is arranged above the sheet stacking section with a space. Further, grooves are formed at least on the left and right sides in the sheet conveying direction in the casing portion surrounding the concave sheet stacking portion. When taking out a sheet from the sheet stacking unit, the sheet has to be taken out by overcoming the housing portion surrounding the sheet stacking unit, but the sheet is easily taken out because of the groove as described above.

Further, when a driving means for moving the tray of the sheet stacking section up and down is provided and the sheet is taken out, the tray is raised above the sheet discharge port of the sheet discharging means and the sheet is taken out from the sheet discharging direction. To facilitate.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to a copying machine constructed according to the present invention shown in the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the copying machine 1 includes an image forming engine casing 100 and a scanner means 20 which are formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped.
0, and a supporting means 180 for supporting the scanner means 200 above the image forming engine housing 100 with a space. In the image forming engine casing 100, an image forming engine 2, a sheet feeding device 3 below the image forming engine 2, and a sheet stacking unit 400 above the image forming engine 2 are arranged.

The sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding device 3 by the sheet feeding roller 4 is conveyed to the image carrier composed of the drum-shaped photoconductor 10 after the timing is adjusted by the registration roller 5 and the skew is corrected. It The photoreceptor is
It is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the figure. During rotation, the surface of the photoconductor is charged by corona discharge by the charging unit 12, and the laser light from the optical unit 13 is irradiated.
This laser light is emitted so that the digital image information read by the scanner means 200 is converted into a latent image. In addition to the scanner means, it is also possible to issue digital image information sent through an external interface so as to form a latent image. A latent image is formed on the photoconductor by these laser beams. This latent image
When passing through the developing unit 6, it is visualized by toner. This visible image is electrostatically transferred to the sheet conveyed to the photoconductor by the transfer unit 9 utilizing corona discharge or the like. The transferred image is fixed by the fixing unit 8. Next, the sheet exiting the fixing unit is fed by the sheet discharging means 402 to the sheet stacking unit 40
0 is discharged to the upper tray 403. On the other hand, the residual toner is removed from the photoconductor after the transfer of the visible image by the cleaning unit 7, and the removed toner is collected and stored in the cleaning unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging engine housing 10
0 is the sheet stacking unit 400 above the image forming engine 2.
Have. Further, the scanner means 200 is arranged above the image forming engine 2 with a space provided by a supporting means 180. The supporting means is hollow, and a cable for transmitting the image information converted into an electric signal by the scanner means to the image forming engine, a cable connected to the operation panel, and the like are arranged inside.

With this configuration, it is possible to provide a tray outside the main body of the copying machine, and discharge the sheets discharged there into the main body. Further, by providing the space described above, the discharged sheet can be taken out without the operation of opening the drawer or the like. Similarly, it becomes possible to visually check the image-formed sheet without the operation, As a result, it is possible to reduce the proportion of the copier in the used space, and at the same time, it becomes possible to work without impairing the operability.

The supporting means 180 is formed integrally with the housing of the image forming engine 2. Here, the supporting means is
Do not block any one of the four sides of the copier,
The copying machine is arranged only at the apex position of the horizontal plane or at one point on each of the planes so that the entire surface is not blocked. As a result, no matter which direction the copying machine is operated, the sheet cannot be taken out by the supporting means, and the operability is improved. Also,
Since the sheet can be taken out from four directions, the degree of freedom of the installation location of the device is increased.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, two columns 180a and 180b are provided as a support means.
Are arranged on the upper side surface of the image forming engine casing 100 at two approximately apex positions on a diagonal line. This allows
When the operator is performing the copying work from the direction A, if the sheet is taken out from the right side of the operator, the operability is further improved because there is no support on the right side. Further, when operated from the D direction, if the sheet is taken out from the left, the sheet can be taken out without being obstructed by the support. Similarly, in the B direction and the C direction, one of the left and right directions is a free space, which improves the operability. As described above, by providing the columns of the diagonal support means, it is possible to provide a device having a small number of columns and excellent operability.

As already described with reference to FIG. 1, the sheet stacking portion 400 is formed in a concave shape below the upper surface 14 of the image forming engine casing 100, and the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging means 402 naturally falls by free fall. Tray 40
It is supposed to be accumulated in 3. In this structure,
As shown in, the user must get over the imaging engine housing and remove the sheet. In this case, the posture of the user is unreasonable and the operability is poor.

In order to improve this, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, grooves 410a and 410b are formed in the image forming engine casing.
To provide. This groove is provided on the left and right with respect to the sheet conveying direction B → D. Further, the depth of this groove is provided at substantially the same height as the bottom surface of the sheet stacking section 400, or below the surface thereof, so that the sheets accumulated in the sheet stacking section can be easily taken out. .. Further, by providing this groove at least on the right and left sides in the sheet conveying direction, the operability from the multiple surfaces of the copying machine main body is also improved.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet stacking unit 400
Is configured such that the sheet discharging unit 402 side is lower than the other portions. As a result, the sheet discharged from the sheet discharging unit naturally slides on the slope in accordance with the inclination of the sheet stacking unit, is face-aligned with the surface on the sheet discharging unit side, and a large number of sheets are discharged. The seats are designed so that they will not fall apart. However, if a sheet is to be taken out from the side of the sheet discharging means, the sheet must be taken out of the image forming engine casing, and the operability thereof is extremely poor (see FIG. 3). In order to improve this, a tray 403 for discharging the sheet is provided to the sheet stacking unit without directly discharging the sheet. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the tray has tray driving means. The tray drive means is composed of a tray drive motor 404a and a tray drive gear 404b that transmits a driving force to the tray. On the other hand, the tray 403 is configured to be rotatable around a fulcrum 405,
The sheet discharging means side has an arc shape, and the gear portion 406
Is formed and meshes with the tray drive gear 404b.
The gear unit 406 receives a driving force from the tray driving unit and moves the tray up and down. By bringing the tray to the upper position, it becomes easy to take out the sheet and the operability thereof is improved.

After the sheet is discharged onto the tray 403, the tray 403 is driven, and the movement amount thereof can be set arbitrarily. Here, the amount of movement is set so that the lowermost portion of the sheet on the bottom surface of the tray is above the sheet discharging means. This is because, as shown in FIG. 7, the bottom surface of the tray is set above the sheet discharging means so that the discharged sheet can be easily taken. Because otherwise, the bottom of the seat would be hidden by the main body, and you would have to squeeze your hand around without seeing it.

FIG. 8 is a control block diagram relating to drive control of the tray drive means 404 that enables the tray 403 to move up and down. In this figure, the drive control of the tray drive motor 404a, which is a component of the tray drive means 404, is performed by the C on the control engine board of the copying machine which serves as the tray lowering command means.
Indicates that the operation is performed by PU. Further, the timing chart of the control signal shown in FIG. 9 will be explained. In response to the copy operation start signal, the CPU sends a tray drive motor control signal to the tray drive motor 404a, and the tray drive motor 404a is operated during the time T in the figure. The tray 403 is lowered. In this case, when the tray drive control signal is LOW, the tray drive motor 404a rotates in the direction to lower the tray 403.

In the timing chart of the control signals shown in FIG. 10, the sensors 404e and 404f such as photo interrupters indicate the uppermost position and the lowermost position of the tray 403 in the copying machine.
(FIG. 8), the output of the tray drive motor control signal is detected by using the detection signal.
It can be controlled by U. In this timing chart, the tray drive motor control signal is output from the CPU in response to the copy operation start signal, and as in FIG.
The tray drive motor 404a is driven for the time T. As a result, the tray 403 at the uppermost position is lowered,
The tray top position detection signal from the tray top position detection sensor 404e also changes from the LOW state to the HIGH state indicating that the tray 403 is not at the top position. Then, the tray 403 reaches the lowermost position, and first, the tray lowermost position detection signal from the tray lowermost position detection sensor 404f is HI.
The GH state changes to the LOW state. When the CPU recognizes the change in the tray bottom position detection signal, the tray drive motor control signal can be set to the HIGH state and the tray drive motor 404a can be stopped. Therefore, according to this method, the tray drive motor 40 is set such that the time T is shorter than the time from the generation of the copy operation start signal to the arrival of the leading edge of the sheet at the sheet discharge port.
It is possible to determine the rotation speed of 4a.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a space saving image forming apparatus by providing a concave sheet stacking portion in an image forming engine casing, a groove is formed in a casing portion surrounding the sheet stacking portion. This makes it easy to take out the sheets from the sheet stacking unit.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the sheets can be easily taken out from the sheet stacking portion in the sheet discharge direction, and the operability is improved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, it becomes easier to take out the sheet from the paper discharge direction.

With the structure of claim 4, the movement of the tray in the sheet stacking part of claim 2 to the operating position is automated,
Furthermore, it prevents malfunctions in the paper discharge section during manual operation and prevents jamming.

According to the constitution of claim 5, in addition to the effect of the preceding paragraph, the operation time of the device is shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a cross section of a part of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet takeout mode in a sheet stacking unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a copying machine having a groove provided according to the present invention.

5 is a perspective view of the copying machine of FIG. 4 seen from another direction.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a vertically movable tray at a lowermost position in the sheet stacking unit.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the tray at the uppermost position.

FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of a tray driving unit.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of drive control signals of the tray drive means.

FIG. 10 is another timing chart of the drive control signal of the tray drive means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 2 Image forming engine 100 Image forming engine housing 180 Supporting means 200 Scanner means 400 Sheet stacking section 402 Sheet discharging means 403 Tray 404a Tray drive motor 404b Tray drive gears 410a, 410b Grooves

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuo Yamanaka 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Masakazu Oshita 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock company Ricoh

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming engine for forming an image on a sheet, a sheet discharging unit for discharging a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming engine, and a sheet stacking unit for stacking the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging unit. An image forming engine casing for forming a section above the image forming engine, and a scanner arranged above the sheet stacking section with a space therebetween, for converting document image information into an electric signal and supplying the electric signal to the image forming engine. And a supporting unit that supports the scanner unit above the sheet stacking unit with a space therebetween, and the sheet stacking unit is formed in a concave shape on the upper surface of the image forming engine casing. An image forming apparatus, wherein a groove having the same depth as the bottom surface of the concave portion is formed in at least the left and right sides in the sheet conveying direction in the surrounding casing portion. 2. An image forming engine for forming an image on a sheet, a sheet discharging unit for discharging the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming engine, and a sheet stacking unit for stacking the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging unit. An image forming engine casing for forming a section above the image forming engine, and a scanner arranged above the sheet stacking section with a space therebetween, for converting document image information into an electric signal and supplying the electric signal to the image forming engine. And a supporting unit that supports the scanner unit above the sheet stacking unit with a space therebetween, and the sheet stacking unit is configured such that the position where the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharging unit is lower than the other portions. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a tray is arranged in the lower portion, and drive means for moving the tray up and down is provided. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the tray is located at an uppermost position and above a sheet discharge port of the sheet discharge unit. 4. The tray lowering instruction means for instructing the tray driving means to lower the tray in response to an image forming operation start signal of the image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 5. The moving time from the uppermost position to the lowermost position of the tray is shorter than the time from the generation of the image forming operation start signal until the leading edge of the sheet reaches the sheet discharge port. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tray is driven by the tray driving unit.