JPH06316125A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and certainly confirm the recording state of a recorded sheet from the front in an image recording apparatus discharging a sheet in such a state that the recording surface of the sheet is turned downwardly. CONSTITUTION:A chargeover guide pawl 27 changing over the feed direction of a recorded sheet to a discharge direction B and a recording state confirming direction C is provided and a feed means 40 feeding the sheet changed over to the recording state confirming direction C by the changeover guide pawl 27 in such a state that the recording surface of the sheet is turned toward the front A is provided. The feed means 40 is equipped with a circulating passage 35 forming a loop shape starting from the changeover position of the changeover guide pawl 27 and the discharge roller 33 and feed rollers 36, 37 provided to the circulating passage 35. The circulating passage 35 is covered with the transparent recording confirming part 45 of a front cover 12 a on the side of the front A thereof and the recording state of the recorded sheet passing on the side of the front of the circulating passage 35 can be confirmed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printer, a copying machine,
The present invention relates to an image recording device that records an image on a sheet such as a facsimile and a printing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, an image recording apparatus of this type, for example, a laser printer, is provided with a sheet feeding cassette 2 on the bottom side of an apparatus main body 1, while the sheet feeding cassette 2 is provided. There is a configuration in which the stack portion 3 is provided on the apparatus main body 1 on the upper left side in FIG. In this printer, the sheet S is sent upward from the sheet feeding cassette 2 by the sheet feeding roller 4, inverted, and conveyed to the upper side of the photoconductor 5,
After recording an image on the lower surface of the sheet S, the recorded sheet S is discharged as it is in the direction indicated by the arrow A, and is sequentially stacked on the stacking portion 3 with the lower surface (recording surface) facing down in page order. .

However, in such a printer, since the recorded sheets S are stacked with the recording surface facing down, there is a problem that the recording state cannot be confirmed at the time of ejection.

Therefore, among other laser printers that discharge a sheet with the recording surface facing down, a recorded sheet S is placed on the rear side on the left side of the apparatus main body 1 in the figure, as shown in FIG. 6, for example. The reverse discharge path 6 of the above is provided toward the upper discharge port 1a, and a part 1b of the outer case having the discharge port 1a opened and the front guide plate 7 of the reverse discharge path 6 are formed of a transparent member. There is one in which the recording surface of the recorded sheet S passing through 6 can be confirmed from the front surface A side. Then, in this printer, at the time of discharge, the recorded sheet S is conveyed through the reverse discharge path 6 with the upper surface (recording surface) facing the front surface A side, and the recording state is confirmed by looking at the recording surface during the conveyance. Then, the paper is discharged from the discharge port 1a by the paper discharge roller 8 in the direction indicated by the arrow B,
The sheets were sequentially stacked on the stack unit 3 with the recording surface facing down.

[0005]

However, in the case of FIG. 6, for example, when the stack sheets S are stacked high as shown by the chain line in the figure, the stack sheets S disturb the recording. There was a problem that it was difficult to check the state from the front side A side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily and surely check the recording state of a sheet in an image recording apparatus that ejects the sheet with the recording surface facing down.

[0007]

Therefore, the present invention provides
For example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiments, in an image recording apparatus that discharges the sheet S with the recording surface facing down,
Switching means such as a switching guide claw 27 for switching the conveying direction of the recorded sheet S between the discharging direction B and the recording state confirmation direction C at the switching position, and the sheet S switched to the recording state confirmation direction C by the switching means. The outer case 1 that allows the conveyance unit 40 that conveys the recording surface to the front side A and the recording surface of the sheet S that is conveyed by the conveyance unit 40 to be confirmed from the outside.
2 is provided with the recording confirmation unit 45.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, for example, as in the following illustrated embodiment, in the image recording apparatus of the first aspect, the conveying means 40 causes the recording state confirmation sheet S to move to the switching position. It is characterized in that a circulation path 35 for returning to is formed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, for example, as in the following illustrated embodiment, in the image recording apparatus of the first aspect, the conveying means 40 is controlled to control the conveying speed of the recording state confirmation sheet S. It is characterized in that it comprises variable electric control means.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the image recording apparatus of the first aspect, for example, the recording confirmation section 45 can be opened and closed as in the following illustrated embodiment.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, for example, as in the following illustrated embodiment, in the image recording apparatus of the first aspect, all or part of the recording confirmation section 45 is directed to the front surface A and It is characterized by being inclined upward.

[0012]

In the present invention, when confirming the recording state of the recorded sheet S, the switching means switches the conveying direction of the recorded sheet S from the discharge direction B to the recording state confirmation direction C. Then, the recorded sheet S is conveyed by the conveying means 40 with the recording surface facing the front side A, and the conveyed sheet S is conveyed.
The recording state is confirmed by externally seeing the recording surface of No. 2 through the recording confirmation unit 45.

According to the second aspect of the invention, after the recording state is confirmed through the circulation path 35, the recording state confirmation sheet S is returned to the switching position of the switching means. And
The transporting direction is switched to the discharging direction B by the switching means, and the recording state confirmation sheet S is discharged. On the other hand, when the recording state is carefully checked, the recording direction confirmation sheet C is conveyed again through the circulation path 35, and the recording confirmation unit 45 reconfirms the recording state.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when confirming the recording state in this way, the electric control means appropriately controls the conveying means 40 to adjust the conveying speed of the sheet S and, if necessary, the The recording confirmation section 45 makes the recording surface easy to see by slowing down or pausing.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, for example, when a recording error is found in the recording state confirmation sheet S, the recording confirmation section 45 is opened and the sheet S is taken out.

According to the fifth aspect, when confirming the recording state in such a manner, the recording surface of the recording state confirmation sheet S is usually viewed from above the front surface A orthogonal to the recording confirmation portion 45.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a double-sided recordable laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 10 in the figure denotes the apparatus main body. The apparatus body 10 includes a base frame 11 on the lower side, and an internal case mounted on the base frame 11 is covered with an outer case 12.

A belt-shaped photosensitive member 13 is provided on the front side A (on the right side in FIG. 1) of the apparatus main body 10 and is stretched between the rollers 13a and 13b. Around the photosensitive member 13, the charging roller 14 ,.
A developing device 15, a transfer roller 16, a fixing device 17, and a cleaning device 18 are arranged. An image forming magazine M is constituted by the photoconductor 13, the charging roller 14, the developing device 15, the cleaning device 18, etc., and the image forming magazine M is replaceably provided. An optical writer 19 and an electrical component 20 are arranged on the left side of the image forming magazine M in the figure. Optical writer 1
A printed circuit board 21 and a ventilation fan 22 are arranged behind 9 and the electrical component 20. Then, the paper feed cassette 23 accommodating the sheets S is detachably attached to the lower side of the electrical components 20 and the like.

Further, the apparatus main body 10 is provided with a stack portion 25 on the upper side thereof, and a discharge port 26 is opened on the upper right side of the stack portion 25 in the drawing, and a switch guide claw (switching means) 27 is provided at the discharge port 26. It is provided so as to be rotatable around 24.

Then, the sheet S is sent out from the inside of the sheet feeding cassette 23 by the sheet feeding roller 28, and is further conveyed upward by the conveying roller 29 through the conveying path 30.
At 1, the sheet is conveyed to the photoconductor 13 with a timing. The photoconductor 13 is driven in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow, and at that time, the surface thereof is uniformly charged by the charging roller 14, and the laser beam L from the optical writer 19 is irradiated to electrostatically charge the photoconductor 13. Form a latent image. This latent image is visualized with toner when passing through the position of the developing device 15. This visible image is transferred by the transfer roller 16 onto the surface of the sheet S conveyed to the photoconductor 13. Then, the transfer image on the sheet S after the image transfer is fixed by the fixing device 17. Then, the single-sided recorded sheet S that has exited the fixing device 17 is discharged from the discharge port 26 through the discharge path 32 from the discharge port 26 in the discharge direction indicated by the arrow B in the figure, and is sequentially printed on the stack portion 25 on the front surface (recording). Stack in page order with face side down. On the other hand, the surface of the photoconductor 13 is cleaned by the cleaning device 18.

By the way, in the illustrated laser printer according to the present invention, the apparatus main body 10 is provided with the conveying means 40 above the fixing device 17. The transport means 40 includes a circulation path 35 formed in a loop shape. The circulation passage 35 forms a passage between the outlet 17 a of the fixing device 17 and the discharge outlet 26 so as to overlap with the discharge passage 32. The transporting means 40 is provided with transport rollers 36 and 37 in the middle of the circulation path 35 along with the discharge roller 33 so as to be able to rotate forward and backward, respectively.

Below the circulation path 35, a re-conveyance path 41 is provided branching from the circulation path. The re-conveyance path 41 is provided in a U shape that merges with the conveyance path 30.

The front side of the apparatus body 10 is covered with the front cover 12a of the outer case 12. Front cover 12
a is a lower cover portion 43 and an upper cover portion 4 each having an L-shaped cross section.
4 and a recording confirmation section 45 between both cover sections 43 and 44. The recording confirmation unit 45 is made of a transparent member, and is provided with its upper end side facing the front surface A and inclined upward. The recording confirmation portion 45 may be formed of a large number of thin line-shaped parts that allow the front side A of the circulation path 35 to be visually recognized. Then, the recording confirmation portion 45 is attached to the upper cover portion 44 by a shaft 46 on the upper end side thereof.
Is attached so as to be openable and closable with the fulcrum as a fulcrum, and detachably connected to the lower cover portion 43 at the lower end side. And then
The entire front cover 12a is provided in the apparatus main body 10 so as to be openable and closable around the support shaft 47 as a fulcrum.

Further, the stack portions 25 are both cross-section L
The rear end plate portion 49, the front end plate portion 50, and the intermediate plate portion 51 between the both end plate portions 49 and 50 are formed. The intermediate plate portion 51 slidably connects the rear end plate portion 49 to the left end in the figure, while the front end plate 5 is centered on the shaft 52 at the right end.
0 is connected so that it can be opened and closed.

When performing double-sided recording in the illustrated laser printer, that is, when performing recording on the back side of the one-sided recorded sheet, the switching guide claw 27 is rotated based on an external command, and the one-side recorded sheet S is rotated. The conveyance direction of is switched from the discharge direction B to the recording state confirmation direction C. Then, the single-sided recorded sheet S exiting the fixing device 17 is ejected from the discharge roller 33.
While the sheet is conveyed by the conveying roller 36 to the front side A through the circulation path 35, the rollers 33 and 36 are controlled by the electric control means when the rear end comes out of the outlet 17a of the fixing device 17.
Reverse. Then, the one-side recorded sheet S is switched back and is conveyed to the re-conveyance path 41 with its rear end as the leading end, is reversed there, and is conveyed again through the conveyance path 30 to the photoconductor 13 by the registration roller 31. Then, while recording is performed on the back surface of the sheet S, the conveyance direction is switched to the discharge direction B by the switching guide claw 27, and the double-sided recorded sheet S is first transferred to the stack portion 25 by the normal rotation discharge roller 33. And discharge.

By the way, when it is desired to confirm the recording state of the above-described recorded (single-sided or double-sided recorded) sheet S, the switching guide claw 27 is rotated based on an external command to switch the conveyance direction to the recording state confirmation direction C. . And the fixing device 17
The recorded sheet S exiting the exit 17a of the
Then, the recording medium is reversed by the conveying roller 36 through the circulation path 35, and the recording surface is conveyed toward the front surface A side. At that time, the recording state is confirmed by observing the recording surface from the front upper side through the recording confirmation unit 45. Then, while the switching guide claw 27 switches the transport direction to the discharge direction B again, the sheet S whose recording state has been confirmed is returned to the original switching position of the switching guide claw 27 by the transport roller 37. Then, for the first time, the sheet is discharged to the stack portion 25 by the discharge roller 33.

On the other hand, when it is desired to carefully record the recording state confirmation sheet S, the conveyance direction is set to the recording state confirmation direction C as it is, and the recording state confirmation sheet S is conveyed again to the front side A, and the recording confirmation unit 45 is provided. Check the recording status again when passing through. However, in some cases, the recording state confirmation sheet S can be circulated through the circulation path 35 several times to repeat the confirmation of the recording state.

When it is desired to check the recording state in more detail, the electric control means controls the driving of the drive system of the conveying means 40 to appropriately adjust the conveying speed of the recording state confirmation sheet S passing through the circulation path 35. For example, the speed is slowed down so that the recording surface becomes easy to see. Alternatively, when the recording state confirmation sheet S faces the front side A, it can be temporarily stopped.

When a recording error is found during such recording confirmation, the operation of the drive system of the conveying means 40 is temporarily stopped, and as shown in FIG.
6 is opened counterclockwise with the fulcrum as a fulcrum and the recording error sheet is taken out from the circulation path 35. In addition, the circulation path 35 and the re-conveyance path 4
When the sheet is jammed due to 1 or the like, the trouble confirmation sheet 45 can be similarly opened to take out the trouble sheet.

Further, in the illustrated printer, when the image forming magazine M is replaced, as shown in FIG. 3, the front cover 12a is opened clockwise about the support shaft 47 and the front end plate 50 of the stack portion 25 is rotated. The device main body 10 is opened by opening it counterclockwise around 52. Then, the image forming magazine M is taken out of the apparatus main body 10.

By the way, in the above-described illustrated embodiment, the present invention is applied to the double-sided recordable laser printer provided with the re-conveyance path 41. However, as shown in the illustrated embodiment below,
It can also be applied to a laser printer capable of single-sided recording only.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, a circulation path 35 is provided in the apparatus main body 10 by extending downward to the front side A on the right side of the photoconductor 13 in the drawing, and the front side A is provided. The area through which the recording surface of the recording state confirmation sheet S can be seen through the recording confirmation unit 45 is made as wide as possible. In this circulation path 35, in addition to the discharge roller 33 and the transport rollers 36 and 37 described above, a transport roller 60 is further provided.
And 61 are provided.

[0034]

Therefore, according to the present invention, when confirming the recording state, the conveying direction of the recorded sheet is switched to the recording state confirming direction by the switching means, and the recording surface is directed to the front side by the conveying means. Since the recording surface can be confirmed from the outside through the recording confirmation section while being conveyed, in an image recording apparatus that ejects the sheet with the recording surface facing down, the recording state of the recorded sheet can be easily and reliably confirmed from the front side. You can check.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the recording state confirmation sheet is returned to the switching position of the switching means through the circulation path, and when the recording state is to be carefully checked,
It is possible to circulate the recording state confirmation sheet appropriately in the circulation path to repeat the confirmation of the recording state, and thereby to make the confirmation of the recording state more reliable.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the electric control means controls the conveying means to make the conveying speed of the recording state confirmation sheet variable, and the recording is performed by slowing the speed or temporarily stopping the conveying. Allows more detailed confirmation of the condition.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the recording confirmation portion can be opened and closed, the recording confirmation portion is opened and the recording error sheet is taken out before discharging, so that the recording is performed on the stack portion at the time of discharging. It is possible to prevent the miss sheet from being mixed with the normal sheet. Further, by opening the recording confirmation unit and taking out a trouble sheet such as a jam sheet, various trouble processes can be facilitated.

According to the fifth aspect, since all or part of the recording confirmation section is provided so as to be inclined toward the front and upward, normally, it is possible to further confirm the recording state from the front side and above. Can be easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a laser printer which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a recording error sheet removal state of the printer.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming magazine exchange state of the printer.

FIG. 4 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a laser printer which is another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a conventional laser printer.

FIG. 6 is a partial schematic configuration diagram of another conventional laser printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Outer case 27 Switching guide claw (switching means) 35 Circulation path 40 Conveying means 45 Recording confirmation section A Front side B Discharging direction C Recording state confirmation direction S sheet

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for ejecting a sheet with a recording surface facing down, a switching means for switching a conveying direction of a recorded sheet between a discharging position and a recording state confirmation direction at a switching position, and the recording means by the switching means. Conveying means for conveying the sheet switched to the state confirmation direction with the recording surface facing the front side,
An image recording apparatus, comprising: a recording confirmation unit provided on an outer case so that a recording surface of a sheet conveyed by the conveying unit can be confirmed from the outside. 2. The circulation means for returning the recording state confirmation sheet to the switching position is formed by the conveying means.
The image recording device described in 1. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an electric control unit that controls the conveying unit to change the conveying speed of the recording state confirmation sheet. 4. The recording confirmation section can be opened and closed.
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all or part of the recording confirmation unit is inclined toward the front and upward.