JPH06133092A - Picture forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eject and collect a transferred paper at the same position on a top side without degrading its handling workability and missing conpactness even in the case of a picture forming device obtained by connecting a reading device to the top of the picture forming device composed of only a writing device as option. CONSTITUTION:The writing device is constituted so as to eject the transferred paper fixed with a toner image to a tray on the top side. A space part, which is constituted by engaging a channel part 91 provided for the bottom of the reading device 90 to the outside of the side wall of the tray provided on the top side at the time of loading/connecting the reading device on the top side of the picture forming device, is set to be a transferred paper accumulation part so as to eject the transferred paper onto the tray 15 also at this time.

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, and more particularly to a transfer paper collecting means when a reading apparatus is installed as an option of a color image forming apparatus in which a plurality of developing devices are arranged on the peripheral surface of an image forming body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a color image forming apparatus, since image processing of a plurality of colors is performed, a plurality of developing devices each having a monochromatic developing function are provided on the peripheral portion of the image forming body, and a developing device for each of these developing devices. A plurality of toner storage containers that supply toner to the toner are incorporated.

On the other hand, since the developing device group is frequently maintained, the developing device group is often housed in a process cartridge together with an image forming body and a cleaning device so as to be easily taken out from the main body of the device. Under the present circumstances, the developing device and the toner storage container are connected and disconnected each time the cartridge is attached or detached.

In such an image forming apparatus, the image data read by another reading apparatus and subjected to image processing is temporarily stored in the image memory as write data required only by the normal image writing apparatus, and is stored when necessary. It can be used as a write-only image forming apparatus by pulling it out and inputting it, or by directly connecting an image reading apparatus as an option and placing a document or the like on the reading apparatus,
A method of scanning and reading the data and immediately writing the read data may be adopted.

[0005]

It is highly desirable to mount such an image reading apparatus on the upper part of the writing apparatus main body as an image forming apparatus in consideration of the installation space in the room and the handling workability.

Similarly, it can be said that the discharge position of the transfer sheet is preferably above from the viewpoint of handling workability such as the operation of the operator and the position where the image reading device is placed when viewed from the installation space.

The present invention is compact and has good workability including the case where the image writing apparatus is operated independently by solving the above problems and the case where the image reading apparatus is optionally mounted and operated. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus.

[0008]

This object is achieved by any of the following technical means a and b.

(A) An image forming apparatus in which a transfer device having a toner image fixed thereon is discharged to a tray on an upper surface to constitute a writing device, and a reading device is mounted on and connected to the upper surface of the image forming apparatus. At this time, a space portion formed by fitting a channel portion provided at the bottom of the reading device to the outside of the side wall of the tray provided on the upper surface is a transfer paper stacking portion, and the transfer paper is also on the tray at this time. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to discharge the sheet to a sheet.

(B) An image forming apparatus in which a writing device is configured so that a transfer sheet having a toner image fixed thereon is discharged upward, and when the reading device is mounted on and connected to the upper surface of the image forming apparatus, the image is formed. The upper part of the forming device is formed so as to form a channel-shaped transfer paper stacking portion (95, 105) in the transfer paper discharge direction,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the transfer paper is always discharged to the transfer paper stacking unit (95, 105) even when the reading device is placed on both sides of the channel.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A color image forming apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 1A shows a first embodiment, in which reference numeral 1 is a flexible photosensitive belt which is a belt-shaped image forming member, and the photosensitive belt 1 is composed of rotating rollers 2 and 3. It is installed in the horizontal direction between and is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow by driving the rotating roller 2.

Reference numeral 4 is a charging device which also serves as transfer means, 5 is a laser writing system unit, 6 to 9 are respective developing devices for accommodating a developer of a specific color, and 10 is a cleaning device.
11 is a fixing device. The developing devices 6, 7, 8 and 9 are arranged in parallel on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor belt 1 and accommodate, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black developers, respectively. The developing sleeves 6A, 7A, 8A, and 9A for maintaining the above are provided, and have a function of visualizing the latent image on the photosensitive belt 1 by the non-contact reversal developing method. Unlike the contact development, the non-contact development has an advantage that it does not hinder the movement of the photosensitive belt 1.

Further, the blade 10 of the cleaning device 10
A is kept at a position apart from the surface of the photosensitive belt 1 during image formation and is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive belt 1 as shown in the figure only during cleaning after image transfer.

The color image forming process by the above-mentioned color image forming apparatus is performed as follows.

First, the formation of a multicolor image according to this embodiment is performed according to the following image forming system. That is, the image sensor scans the original image with the image data input section of the reading device 90 as a separate or option and reads the data, and the image data processing section of the reading device 90 performs arithmetic processing on the data to obtain the image data. Created and stored once in image memory. Then, the image memory is taken out at the time of recording (at the time of writing) and is a recording device (writing device) 100, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is input to the color image forming apparatus shown in the embodiment of (a).

That is, when a color signal output from an image reading apparatus separate from the image forming apparatus is input to the laser writing system unit 5, a semiconductor laser (not shown) is provided in the laser writing system unit 5. The laser beam generated in 1. is rotationally scanned by the polygon mirror 5B rotated by the drive motor 5A, the optical path is bent by the mirror 5D via the f.theta. Lens 5C, and the photoconductor belt 1 previously charged by the charger 4 is charged. Is projected onto the peripheral surface to form a bright line.

The charging device 4 has a built-in charging electrode which also serves as a transfer electrode. As shown in FIG. 5, when an image forming start signal is input to the control section by operating the copy button, the charging is performed by operating the changeover switch. The power is turned on and a charging voltage is applied to the photosensitive belt 1. At that time, the transfer power source is switched off.

On the other hand, when the scanning is started, the beam is detected by the index sensor, the modulation of the beam by the first color signal is started, and the modulated beam scans the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1. . Therefore, a latent image corresponding to the first color is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 by the main scanning by the laser beam and the sub-scanning by the conveyance of the photosensitive belt 1. This latent image is subjected to reversal development in a non-contact state by the developing device 6 in which yellow (Y) toner (visual medium) is loaded in the developing means to form a toner image on the belt surface. The obtained toner image passes through the cleaning device 10, which is a cleaning means separated from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 while being held on the belt surface, and enters the next copy cycle.

That is, the photoconductor belt 1 has the charger 4
Then, the second color signal output from the signal processing unit is input to the laser writing system unit 5, and writing is performed on the belt surface in the same manner as the case of the first color signal described above. A latent image is formed. The latent image is reversely developed in a non-contact state by the developing device 7 loaded with magenta (M) toner as the second color.

The magenta (M) toner image is formed in the presence of the previously formed yellow (Y) toner image.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a developing device having cyan (C) toner, which forms a cyan (C) toner image on the belt surface based on a control signal generated by a signal processing section.

Further, 9 is a developing device having a black toner, and a black toner image is formed on the surface of the belt by superimposing it by the same process. DC or further AC bias is applied to each sleeve of each of these developing devices 6, 7, 8 and 9 to perform jumping development with a one-component or two-component developer which is a developing means, and a base is set. The reversal development is performed on the photoconductor belt 1 in a non-contact manner.

Thus, the color toner image formed on the peripheral surface by the four revolutions of the photosensitive belt 1 is transferred onto the transfer paper by the paper feed cassette 12 in the charger 4 and driven by the timing roller 13. Transcribed.

That is, before or after the drive signal of the timing roller 13 from the control section, the transfer power is turned on by the operation of the changeover switch, the transfer voltage is applied to the transfer sheet, and the toner image on the photosensitive belt 1 is formed. Transcribed. At that time, the charging power source is switched off.

The transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the peripheral surface of the photoconductor belt 1 and has a suction function.
After the toner image is fused in the fixing device 11 via 14, the tray 15 is provided on the upper surface 51 of the writing device so that the transfer paper is discharged and accumulated. When the reading device 90 is mounted, the transfer paper stacking portion 95 is a space portion formed by fitting the outside of the side wall of the reading device 90 with the outer surface of the channel portion 91 of the reading device 90, and the tray 15 is The transfer paper is discharged onto the tray 15 while being arranged in the transfer paper stacking unit 95. Of course, even when the tray 15 is not attached to the writing device 90 which is the main body of the image forming apparatus, the transfer paper can be discharged and accumulated in the transfer paper accumulating portion 95.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 1 (a) and its XX view in FIG. 1 (b), the reader 90 has a channel portion 91 having a groove-shaped lower portion and a side portion 92A. Recording device (writing device) 10 with rubber feet 93A and 93B attached to
It is placed on the upper surface 51 of the image forming apparatus, which is 0. At that time, the upper surface 51 has a recess so that the rubber feet 93A are not displaced.
It is desirable that 51A and 51B are attached.

The channel portion 91 has three parts along the paper discharge direction.
One side is surrounded by a wall portion 92, and the four sides form a wall-shaped tunnel-shaped transfer paper accumulating portion 95 which is fitted on the side surface of the tray 15 attached to the upper surface 51 of the writing device 100 as described above. .

Then, the transfer sheet fixed by the fixing device 11 is discharged and accumulated from the discharge port 11D to the accumulating section 95 via the fixing roller 11A, the conveying path 11B and the discharge roller 11C. The accumulated transfer paper can be taken out from the right side by hand.

That is, the transfer paper is discharged and accumulated directly on the same tray 15 whether or not the writing device 90 is mounted. In this way, the transfer paper stacking unit 95 is formed.

As a second embodiment, a channel unit 101 is provided in the writing device 100 as shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 2 (a) and its XX view in FIG. 2 (b), and a reading unit is provided. 90 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape.

In this embodiment, the channel portion 101 is surrounded by side walls 102A, 102B and a bottom wall 102C on three sides along the paper discharge direction to form a channel shape, and rubber feet 93A, 93B are provided on the upper portion thereof. The bottom surface of the reading device 90 on which the sheet is placed is formed as a transfer paper stacking portion 105 in the form of a tunnel on the four sides.

Then, the fixed transfer paper is fixed to the fixing roller 11
After passing through A, the conveyance path 11B and the discharge roller 11C, the sheet is discharged and accumulated in the accumulating section 105 from the discharge port 11D. Of course, even when the writing device 90 is not mounted, it is similarly discharged and accumulated in the accumulating portion 105.

As described above, even if the reading device 90 is installed as an option, the handling workability is not impaired, and
It is possible to configure an image forming apparatus that is compact and has good workability, like the image forming apparatus that only configures the writing device 100, without occupying a large installation space.

On the other hand, the photosensitive belt 1 from which the transfer paper is separated
Is the blade 10A of the cleaning device 10 on the fifth lap
The residual toner is removed / cleaned by receiving the pressure contact of No. 1, and after one round, the charging is performed again by the charger 4 to start the next image forming process.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a rectangular parallelepiped toner container for containing toner to be supplied to the developing device 6, which is connected and integrated in a form orthogonal to the developing device 6.

On the other hand, the toner accommodating containers 17, 18 and 19 for the other developing devices 7, 8 and 9 are also connected and integrated in the same manner as the toner accommodating container 16 in a form orthogonal to the respective developing devices. Therefore, FIG. 1 (a) and FIG.
It is located in parallel on the back side of the toner storage container 16 shown in FIG.

Each of the above-mentioned toner storage containers 16, 17, 18 and
Each of the units 19 has a belt-shaped carrier member 20 that is rotated clockwise as shown in FIG.

A plurality of flexible fins 20A are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the conveying member 20 so as to convey the contained toner in the direction of the arrow, and the receiving port on the developing device side from the dropping port 21 on the bottom surface.
Toner is dropped to 22 and supplied. At that time, the fin
The toner 20A slidably contacts the ironing plate 22A of the receiving port 22 to efficiently drop the transported toner.

The toner supply port 23 for each of the toner storage containers is provided in series at the end of each toner storage container as shown in the drawing, and the plain is covered by a cap 24.

The above-mentioned developing devices and toner storage containers are incorporated in a process cartridge 30 (indicated by a chain double-dashed line) together with the above-mentioned photosensitive belt 1, charging device 4, and cleaning device 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the process cartridge 30 can be moved rightward along a guide rail (not shown) by opening a door 31 on the side of the apparatus.

Therefore, in the apparatus of the present invention, the toner cartridge T can be attached to all the toner storage containers described above while the process cartridge 30 is slightly pulled out at the time of toner replenishment, and the toner replenishment work can be extremely performed. It can be easily implemented.

In each of the first and second embodiments described above, when the developer used is a two-component developer, a developing device of the type shown in FIG. 6A is used, and the conveying member 20 is used.
The toner supplied by the toner tank 6B once enters the toner tank 6B, and then the toner supply roller 6C rotates in accordance with the decrease in the toner concentration in the developer tank 6D.
The toner is conveyed into D, is uniformly mixed with the carrier by the operation of the stirring member 6E, and is then supplied to the developing sleeve 6A.

On the other hand, in the case of a one-component developer, FIG.
The developing device of the type shown in FIG. 4 is used, and the toner supplied by the conveying member 20 directly consumes the developer tank 6D depending on its consumption.
The toner is conveyed inside, and the old and new toners are stirred by the operation of the stirring member 6E so as to be evenly distributed, and then supplied to the developing sleeve 6A.

[0046]

According to the present invention, even when a reading device is optionally mounted and connected to the upper part of an image forming apparatus composed only of a writing device, the discharging / collecting position of the transfer sheet having been developed and fixed is changed to another position. Therefore, the compact image forming apparatus can be maintained without impairing the workability by enabling the discharge and collection in the upward direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a color image forming apparatus of the present invention. (B) is the X-X direction view.

FIG. 2A is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the color image forming apparatus of the present invention. (B) is the X-X direction view.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a status of toner supply of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection between each developing device and each toner storage container.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing power supply switching of the charger.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a developing device used in each of the devices.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,101 Photoconductor belt 4,104 Charging device 5,105 Laser writing system unit 6,7,8,9,106,107,108,109 Developing device 10 Cleaning device 11 Fixing device 11A Fixing roller 11B Conveying path 11C Discharging roller 11D Ejection port 12 Paper cassette 13 Timing roller 14 Conveyor belt 16, 17, 18, 19 Toner storage container 20 Conveyor member 20A Fin 21 Drop port 22 Receiving port 22A Ironing plate 23 Replenishing port 24 Cap 30 Process cartridge 31 Door 90 Reader 95,105 Transfer paper stacking unit 100 Recording device (writing device) T Toner cartridge

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising a writing device configured to discharge a transfer sheet having a toner image fixed thereon to a tray on an upper surface, wherein a reading device is mounted on and connected to the upper surface of the image forming apparatus. The transfer paper stacking unit is a space formed by fitting a channel unit provided at the bottom of the reading device to the outside of the side wall of the tray provided on the upper surface, and the transfer paper is also placed on the tray at this time. An image forming apparatus characterized by being discharged. 2. An image forming apparatus comprising a writing device for discharging a transfer sheet having a toner image fixed thereon, wherein the image forming is performed when a reading device is mounted on and connected to an upper surface of the image forming apparatus. The upper part of the apparatus is formed so as to form a channel-shaped transfer paper stacking portion in the transfer paper discharge direction, and the transfer paper is always discharged to the transfer paper stacking part even when the reading device is placed across both sides of the channel. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above.