JPH0633473Y2 - Image recorder - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus capable of ejecting a recording sheet with the image forming surface thereof facing up or down. is there.

(B) Prior Art In an image recording apparatus such as an electronic copying machine or an optical printer, the recording surface is up (face-up) or the recording surface is down (face-down), as shown in JP-A-60-238856. There is one having a configuration capable of ejecting the recording paper in any one of the directions.

Switching between the face-up discharge path and the face-down discharge path is performed by a guide member configured to be rotatable so that when one of the discharge paths is closed, the other discharge path is opened. The position of the guide member can be switched by an operation from the outside of the main body of the apparatus, mostly by urging the guide member by a switching knob.

(C) Problems to be solved by the invention With such a two-way paper discharge path, at least one of the paper discharge paths is relatively long, so jams (paper jams) are likely to occur. Therefore, it becomes necessary to make the paper discharge path releasable for jam clearance. Moreover, in that case, it is desirable that the position regulation of the guide member from the outside of the recording apparatus is released so as not to interfere with the jam processing.

However, if the paper discharge path for jam clearance is opened and then returned to its original state, if the position restriction from the outside is once released by the opening, the guide member will be displaced and the position restriction will not work properly. There is a risk that it will not fit in the correct position. Then, the paper ejection path was not properly selected, which could cause a jam.

D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention is directed to an image recording apparatus having a first transport path and a second transport path for ejecting the recording paper. Guide member for switching to the transport path, switching means for restricting the position of the guide member for switching the transport path, and abutting against the switching means for absorbing the biasing force of the switching means while maintaining the guide member. The relay means for moving, the detecting means for detecting which of the first and second transport paths is switched by the switching means, and the sheet provided on one of the first and second transport paths are detected. And a control means for controlling the paper detection means to detect the paper when the detection means detects the conveyance path provided with the paper detection means. The image recording apparatus is characterized by having.

(E) Action Since the switching means for restricting the position of the guide member contacts the relay means for buffering the urging force and moving the guide member, even if the positional relationship between the switching means and the guide member is slightly displaced, the relay means is used. The positional deviation is absorbed, and the position of the guide member is appropriately regulated.

F) Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention is shown in each of the drawings. Fig. 1 is an external view, Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram, and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show different modes. FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the main part.

First, an outline of an optical printer as an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Reference numeral (1) is a print main body, and a photosensitive drum (2) as a latent image carrier is rotatably incorporated in the printer main body (1). Above the photosensitive drum (2), an LED array (3) which is a light source for exposing and forming a latent image, and an LED head (5) which is an optical head including a short focus lens array (4) are provided. ing.

A charging corotron (6) for uniformly positively charging (about 600V) the photosensitive drum (2) is provided on the upper end side of the LED head (5), and on the photosensitive drum (2) on the downstream side. A developing device (7) is provided for developing the formed latent image with toner.

Furthermore, the downstream side of the developing device (7) (photosensitive drum (2)
A transfer corotron (8) for transferring the toner image developed by the developing device (7) to the recording paper is provided on the lower surface of the sheet.

Toner remaining on the photosensitive drum (2) that cannot be completely transferred by the transfer corotron (8) is cleaned by the cleaning device (9).
The residual charge is also removed by the erase lamp (10).

The LED head (5), the charging corotron (6) and the erase lamp (10) are held by a single holder (11) and provided inside the printer body (1).

(12) and (13) are paper feed cassettes in which recording papers are stacked and stored, and the recording papers are sent out by paper feed rollers (14) and (15), respectively. (16) (17) is a pair of registration rollers for conveying the recording paper at a timing, (18) is a separation belt for separating the recording paper on which the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum (2), (19) (20) is a pair of conveyance rollers that convey the recording paper to the fixing device.

The fixing device is composed of a heat roller (21) which has a halogen lamp of about 800 W installed therein and is rotationally driven, and a pressure roller (22) which is in pressure contact with the heat roller (21). The recording paper on which the toner image has been fixed by being heated and pressed by the pair of fixing rollers (21) and (22) has its switching path (23) provided outside the printer body (1) selected for the discharge path, and the face up. The sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray (24) or the face-down sheet discharge tray (25).

The separation claw (26) for separating the recording paper comes into contact with the pressure roller (22), and the recording paper separated from the pressure roller (22) is guided by the guide (27) to a pair of conveying rollers (28). ) (29) is sent. Reference numeral (30) is a first jam sensor which serves as a final jam detecting means in the case of face-up paper discharge.

The recording paper sent from the pair of conveying rollers (28) and (29) is discharged to the discharge tray (24) as it is for face-up discharge, and the discharge path for face-down discharge. The sheet is ejected to the sheet ejection tray (25) through a switching guide (31) which is a guide member for switching the sheet and the face-down guides (32) (33). Reference numeral (34) is a second jam sensor which serves as a final jam detecting means in the case of discharging the paper face down.

Next, switching of the paper discharge path will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. The switching knob (23) is fixed to the rotary shaft (35), and when the switching knob (23) is rotated, the rotary shaft (3
5) rotates, and the switching lever (36) fixed to the rotating shaft (35) as a switching unit rotates. The rotation of the switching lever (36) is rotated by the relay means (37).
The position of the switching guide (31) is determined by rotating the rotary shaft (38) to which the switching guide (31) is fixed.

The relay means (37) includes a rotating lever (3) and a first lever (39) with which the pressing portion (36a) of the switching lever (36) directly abuts.
8) and a second lever (40) fixed to rotate the rotary shaft (38). The first lever (39) and the second lever (40) are screwed (42) via a buffer spring (41). ) Are linked together. , The first lever (39) has sufficient play with respect to the rotary shaft (38) and the second lever (40), and the pin (43)
Is held in. Reference numeral (44) is a spring for switching the second lever (40) so as to urge the guide (31) to discharge the paper facedown.

As shown in FIG. 3, when ejecting paper face down, the switching knob (23) is rotated clockwise, and the switching lever (36) is also rotated in the same direction. Therefore, the first lever (39) is not pressed by the switching lever (36), and the switching guide (31) from the switching lever (36).
Is not regulated. And second by the spring (44)
The lever (40) is pulled, the switching guide (31) rotates clockwise, and the recording paper conveyed from the delivery roller pair (28) (29) is guided down for face down (32) (33).
And passes it to the face-down paper ejection tray (25).

When ejecting the paper face up, as shown in FIG. 4, the switching knob (23) is rotated counterclockwise and the switching lever (36) is also rotated in the same direction. Then, the pressing portion (36a) of the switching lever (36) is moved to the first lever (39).
Urging against, and the urging force due to the pressure is applied to the buffer spring (4
While being buffered by 1), it joins the second lever (40) and rotates the rotary shaft (38) counterclockwise against the spring (44). Then, the switching guide (31) rotates counterclockwise with the rotation of the rotating shaft (38) to close the conveying path to the face-down guides (32) (33), and eject the face-up paper. The position is regulated so that the recording paper from the pair of transport rollers (28) (29) to the tray (24) is discharged.

When a jam occurs, the cover (1a) is rotated with respect to the printer body (1) about the support shaft (45) so that the conveyance path formed by the long face-down guides (32) (33) is opened. Let At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the relay means (37) and the switching guide (31) are held on the cover (1a) side, and the switching lever (36) is held on the main body (1) side. Therefore, the pressing of the first lever (39) by the switching lever (36) is released, and the switching guide (31) is positioned in the face-down paper discharge state as shown in FIG. It is opened. Then, when the cover (1a) is closed again, even if the switching lever (36) is in the position for face-up discharge, the positional relationship between the switching lever (36) and the first lever (39) is the same as the original one. Even if it deviates from the state of No. 1, the deviation is absorbed by the first lever (39), the second lever (40), and the buffer spring (41), and the switching guide (31) according to the state of the switching lever (36). The position regulation of is made accurate. Therefore, since the position of the switching guide (31) does not shift due to the jam processing, a new jam can be suppressed.

The switch (46), which is the final jam sensor selection unit in the paper ejection according to the face-down or paper ejection, is turned on according to the operation of the switching lever (36).
Turn off (see Fig. 6). That is, when the switching lever (36) is set to discharge the paper face down, the switch (46) is OFF as shown in FIG. 6A. Then, the CPU (not shown), which is the control unit of the recording apparatus, determines that the face-down has occurred, and operates the second jam sensor (34) as the final jam sensor. When the recording paper is sent from the fixing device and passes through the first jam sensor (30), detection of the recording paper by the second jam sensor (34) is started. When the recording paper is detected by the second jam sensor (34) in the middle of the face-down guides (32) (33) within a predetermined time, the recording paper is safely conveyed, but nothing is done. ,
When the recording paper is not detected, the occurrence of a jam between the first jam sensor (30) and the second jam sensor (34) is notified by display means or a buzzer.

When the switching lever (36) is set for face-up paper ejection, the switch (46) is turned on as shown in FIG. 6B.
It is turned on. Then, similarly, the CPU determines that the face is up and operates the first jam sensor (30) as the final jam sensor. That is, after the recording paper is detected by the first jam sensor (30), no judgment is made on the signals from any of the jam sensors (including the second jam sensor (34)). If the recording paper is detected in (30), the jam is not notified thereafter.

Therefore, since the final jam sensor in the recording process is selected by the switch (46) according to the paper discharge path, the jam detection can be performed without error.

G) Effect of the Invention As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the control means for controlling the paper detection means to detect the paper when the detection means detects the conveyance path provided with the paper detection means. Therefore, it is possible to detect the paper quickly and accurately. Therefore, the jam of the paper can be detected quickly without malfunction.

[Brief description of drawings]

Each of the drawings shows an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an external view, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram, and FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are principal configuration diagrams showing different aspects. 6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams of the operation. (1) ... Printer main body, (1a) ... Cover, (21) ... Heat roller, (22) ... Pressure roller, (23) ... Switching knob, (24) ... Face-up paper ejection tray, (25) …
Paper output tray for face down, (27) ... Guide, (2
8) (29) ... Pair of conveying rollers, (30) ... First jam sensor, (31) ... Switching guide, (32) (33) ... Face down guide, (34) ... Second jam sensor, (36) …
Switching lever, (36a) ... Pressing part, (37) ... Relay means, (39) ... First lever, (40) ... Second lever, (41)
... buffer spring, (42) ... screw, (43) ... pin, (44) ... spring, (46) ... switch.

Continuation of the front page (56) References Microfilm (JP, U) where the contents of the specification and drawings attached to the application for Japanese Patent Application No. Sho 60-101122 (No. Sho 62-8260) were taken.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An image recording apparatus having a first transport path and a second transport path for discharging a recording sheet, a guide member for switching the transport path of the recording sheet to the first and second transport paths, Switching means for restricting the position of the guide member for switching the transport path; relay means for contacting the switching means to move the guide member while buffering the biasing force of the switching means; and the switching means Detection means for detecting which of the first or second conveyance paths is switched by means of: a sheet detection means for detecting a sheet provided on one of the first or second conveyance paths; and the detection means. Has a control means for controlling the sheet detection means to detect the sheet when the conveyance path provided with the sheet detection means is detected. Image recording device.