JPH06171184A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve reliability by preventing signal wires connecting a controller to a printer from producing or catching noises. CONSTITUTION:Described herein is an image recording apparatus that executes the recording of images with an image formation part on recording paper 4 fed from a sheet-feeding part, and control substrates 31a and 31b for converting code information into image signals are arranged in a space formed to the lowermost part of the apparatus main body, and the space is covered with a metal sheet 52 that can be attached to and detached from the bottom part of the apparatus main body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an information image on recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer using a laser light source is known as an image recording apparatus for recording an information image on recording paper. In this printer, a controller is used as a control apparatus for converting code information into an image signal. . Such a controller is conventionally installed outside the printer.

[0003]

Therefore, the signal line connecting the printer and the controller to each other is exposed to the outside, and
When the signal line becomes long, noise is generated or picked up to cause a malfunction, and reliability is impaired.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording sheet fed from a sheet feeding section by an image forming section, which includes a control board for converting code information into an image signal. It is arranged in a space formed at the bottom of the main body, and the space is covered with a metal plate that is attachable to and detachable from the bottom of the apparatus main body.

[0005]

According to the present invention, the control device for converting the code information into the image signal is arranged in the space formed at the bottom of the main body of the device, so that the control board can be easily added and the control board can be easily added. Since the space in which is arranged is covered with a metal plate, the harmful effects caused by generating or picking up noise are eliminated.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example of a printer as an image recording apparatus using a semiconductor laser, and an outline of the recording process performed by this printer will be described below. In the figure, recording paper 4 is bundled and stacked on a bottom plate 3 of a paper feed tray 2 which is partially stored in a printer body 1, and the uppermost recording paper is separated and conveyed by a paper feed roller 5. It is sent toward the roller pair 6. The separation / conveyance roller pair 6 is composed of an upper roller 6a and a lower roller 6b, of which the lower roller 6b rotates in a direction opposite to the recording paper feeding direction (arrow direction) or is held in a stopped state.
When a plurality of recording sheets have been fed from the paper feed tray 2, in cooperation with the upper roller 6a that rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure,
Only the uppermost recording paper is separated and conveyed.

The recording paper fed by the recording paper separating / conveying roller pair 6 is continuously fed even after reaching the portion of the registration roller pair 7, and the leading end of the recording paper reaches the portion of the recording paper leading edge detecting sensor 8. The registration roller pair 7 is temporarily stopped, and the recording paper is also stopped from moving. At this time, the recording paper separating / conveying roller pair 6 is also stopped. The paper feed roller 5 is designed so that after a predetermined amount of recording paper has been fed, a clutch (not shown) is disengaged and idle.

By the way, in this printer, an optical housing 9 is arranged in the upper part of the printer body.
Inside, mirrors 11 and 12 are arranged in a position as shown in the figure,
A semiconductor laser light source (not shown), a hollow scanner, a polygon, and the like are arranged in the inner portion of these mirror systems. In a printer equipped with such an optical system,
When the printer receives a print signal from the host machine, the recording paper transport system described above operates and the photoconductor 15 composed of an endless belt starts to rotate in the arrow direction. First, the surface of the photoconductor is uniformly charged by the charging charger 16.

On the other hand, signal light corresponding to image information is emitted from the semiconductor laser light source, and this signal light is converted into scanning light by a rotating hollow scanner or polygon,
The scanning light is guided to the mirrors 11 and 12, passes through the cylindrical lens 13, and is applied to the surface of the photoconductor 15 that is uniformly charged. An image is formed. Reference numeral 14 indicates dustproof glass. The electrostatic latent image thus formed is visualized by the toner, which is a one-component developer carried on the surface of the developing sleeve 17. By the way, it has already been described that the recording sheet temporarily stops in the state where the leading edge of the recording sheet reaches the portion of the recording sheet leading edge detection sensor 8. However, after this stop, the registration roller pair 7 starts rotating again. , The tip of the recording paper sent toward the photoconductor 15 by this rotation is
At the transfer portion facing the transfer charger 18, the tip of the visible image on the photoconductor is brought into opportune association.

Next, in the transfer section, the photoconductor 15
The toner image on the photoconductor 15 is transferred by the transfer charger 18 to the recording paper moving while being in contact with the recording paper. Thereafter, the leading end of the recording paper is separated from the photoconductor due to the strength of the waist of the recording paper. While being guided by the guide members 19 and 20, it is sent toward the fixing roller pair 23 of the fixing unit 22.
The fixing roller pair 23 has a heat source for at least one roller 23a of the rollers 23a and 23b, and when the recording paper passes between both rollers, the transfer image of the recording paper is thermally fixed. The roller 23a by the peeling claw 24
While being separated from the surface of the recording paper, the recording paper is sent toward the recording paper discharge path 25. While passing through the paper discharge path 25, the recording paper is
The direction thereof is reversed by 180 °, the recording image surface faces downward, and the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge roller pair 26 and stored in the sheet discharge tray 27. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 15 is removed by the fur brush 29 of the cleaning unit 28, and the photoconductor is cleaned to prepare for the next recording.

By arranging the recording paper discharging and accommodating portion above the printer, a space is formed below the printer. Utilizing this space, the controller 31
Etc. are built in. A shielding wall 32a extends rearward and obliquely upward from a base portion 32 of the apparatus main body integrally formed of synthetic resin or the like, and the shielding wall 32a and both side walls (not shown) connected to the shielding wall 32a have a box shape. Objects are formed, a space is formed at the bottom of the device body, and the power supply unit 3 is provided inside the space.
3, a printer control circuit board 34, a controller 31, a fan device 35, and the like are stored. As described above, the controller 31 converts the code information into an image signal, and includes a plurality of control boards 31a, 31.
b, etc.

Above the space in which the controller 31 and the like are arranged is a shield frame 36, and control boards 31a and 31b.
The lower part of each is covered with a metal plate 52. Metal plate 5
2 is detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus with screws. The control board is placed in space and the metal plate 52
Since the signal line is not exposed, noise is not generated or noise is not picked up, so that malfunction can be avoided and the reliability of the recording apparatus is improved. Can be further improved. Further, the power supply unit 33 and the controller 31 are isolated from each other by a shield frame 36.

Charging charger 16 and transfer charger 18
Although ozone is generated from various chargers such as the above, the shielding wall 32a blocks the ozone from entering the lower space of the shielding wall 32a. By operating the fan device 35 and allowing air to flow in from the air intake opening 37, the power supply unit 33, the controller 31 and the like can be air-cooled. In this case, a part of the side portion 33a of the power supply unit 33, the side portion 36a of the shield frame 36, or the like has a wire mesh structure, so that the inside of the power supply unit 33 or
The control boards 31a, 31b and the like can be cooled.

In this printer, the controller 3
In addition to the control boards 31a and 31b and the control circuit board 34 of FIG. 1, an associated printed board 38 related to the optical system is provided on the upper side of the optical housing 9, and a character pattern is provided on the right side of the printer in the figure. A storage device 39 is installed.

The developing unit 47 comprises a developing container 48, a toner cartridge 49, a toner stirring member 50, a doctor blade 51, a developing sleeve 17 and the like. The paper feed tray 2 is still attached to the printer, and the recording paper is replenished by rotating the cover 55 around the fulcrum 55a and sliding the recording paper onto the bottom plate 3.

The control boards 31a and 31b can be taken out of the apparatus main body by pulling the shield frame 36 together with the control circuit board 34 to the left in the figure. In this case, each control board may be configured independently and only the necessary board may be taken out. Further, the power supply unit 33, the control circuit board 34 of the printer, the controller 31, the fan device 35, etc. may be housed in the unit box, and the unit box itself may be taken out of the main unit. In the present invention, the control boards 31c and 31d are arranged in the lower part of the apparatus main body, so that the control boards can be arbitrarily added downward as necessary. FIG. 2 shows an example in which two control boards 31c and 31d are added, but the number is arbitrary. When the control board layer bulges downward from the bottom of the apparatus main body as a result of the addition of this control board, by attaching long legs 56 as indicated by reference numeral 56,
The height of the printer can be adjusted appropriately. The metal plate 152 has a shape suitable for the addition of control boards.

It should be noted that, in FIG. 1, a reinforcing stay 62 for attaching the static elimination lamp 59 and the ground brush 60 whose tip contacts the photoconductor 15, a reinforcing stay 63 for attaching the guide rail 64 of the charging charger 16, and a guide rail for the transfer charger 18. 65 and the like are horizontally assembled between a pair of side plates (not shown) and are integrally assembled. Shield frame 36 and metal plate 52 to which the controller 31 is attached
Also contributes to ensuring the strength of the base portion 32. A part of the shield frame 36 made of a metal plate is connected to the ground side of the image forming apparatus, which simplifies the grounding method and ensures its reliability.

[0018]

According to the present invention, since the control device for converting the code information into the image signal is arranged in the space formed at the bottom of the main body of the device, the control board can be easily added. In addition, since the space in which the control board is arranged is covered with the metal plate, the harmful effects of noise generation or noise pick-up are eliminated, and the strength of the bottom of the apparatus body is secured. Furthermore, since the metal plate that covers the space where the control board is placed can be attached to and detached from the bottom of the device body, the control board layer may bulge below the bottom of the device body when adding control boards. Even if there is, it is possible to use a metal plate having a shape suitable for it, and the strength of the bottom of the apparatus body is secured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image recording apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an essential part of an embodiment in which a control board is added.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 31a, 31b Control board 36, 52 Metal plate

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Yokota 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording sheet fed from a sheet feeding section by an image forming section, wherein a control board for converting code information into an image signal is formed at the bottom of the apparatus main body. An image recording apparatus, wherein the image recording apparatus is arranged in a space, and the space is covered with a metal plate that is attachable to and detachable from the bottom of the apparatus body.