JPH06348160A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the positional relationship between the discharge port of a fixing device and a passage selecting member from being largely drifted by arranging the opening/closing support shaft of a holding member holding the passage selecting member on a fixing device portion. CONSTITUTION:This image forming device is provided with a fixing device 1 for fixing a transfer image to a sheet material and a passage selecting member 2 for selectively guiding the sheet material applied with the fixing process by the fixing device 1 to one of multiple passages. The opening/closing support shaft 5A of a holding member 5 for holding the passage selecting member 2 is arranged on a fixing device portion 1F. The discharge port 1B of the fixing device 1 and the passage selecting member 2 held by the holding member 5 can be set to their positions while the position of the opening/closing support shaft 5A of the holding member 5 is used as the fitting reference position. The positional relationship between the discharge port 1B of the fixing device 1 and the passage selecting member 2 is not drifted largely regardless of some part errors and assembling errors.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile or a copying machine, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a fixing device for transferring a transfer image (toner image) transferred from a photosensitive drum onto a sheet material. It is equipped.

The sheet material, which has been subjected to the fixing process by the fixing device, is guided to a selected one of a plurality of paths.

As a path for conveying the sheet material after the fixing processing, for example, a paper discharge path to a face-up tray for accommodating the sheet material with the image side facing up, or a sheet material with the image surface facing down. There is a paper discharge path to the face-down tray. Further, in the case of an image forming apparatus which performs double-sided and multiplex image formation, a sheet re-feeding path for re-feeding the sheet material, which has been subjected to image formation once, to the image forming section (photosensitive drum), or a predetermined image formation. There is a paper discharge path for conveying the finished sheet material to the paper discharge tray.

Further, a switchable flapper (route selection member) is provided as a means for selecting one of a plurality of routes.

6 and 7 show the configuration of a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus (printer). 6 is a perspective view of the entire appearance, and FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of essential parts.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a fixing device and reference numeral 2
Is a flapper, reference numeral 3 is a face-up tray, and reference numeral 4 is a face-down tray.

The fixing device 1 comprises a fixing roller pair 1A, a fixing paper discharging roller pair 1B, an inlet chute 1C, and upper and lower guides 1D and 1E. The fixing device 1 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 6.

When the flapper 2 opens the face-up tray 3 in the state shown in the phantom line, the flapper 2 is switched to the position shown in the phantom line to guide the sheet material to the face-up tray 3 in conjunction with its operation. When the face-up tray 3 is closed to the state shown by the solid line, the flapper 2 is switched to the position shown by the solid line for guiding the sheet material to the face-down tray 4 in conjunction with its operation. The flapper 2 is attached to a paper discharge side cover member (holding member) 5.

The face-up tray 3 is attached to the paper-discharging side cover member 5 so as to be openable and closable around the support shaft 3A. This face-up tray 3
When the sheet material is discharged face-up, the sheet is opened in the state shown by the imaginary line, and when the sheet material is discharged face down, it is closed in the state shown by the solid line.

The paper discharge side cover member 5 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 6 so as to be openable and closable around the support shaft 5A. This discharge side cover member 5 is usually
When the jam is generated in the fixing device 1 or the paper discharge unit, the paper is closed in the state illustrated by the solid line and the jam processing is performed by opening the state illustrated in the phantom line.

When the paper discharge side cover member 5 is closed in the state shown by the solid line, it is locked by the latch 7 which engages with the lock pin 6A on the image forming apparatus main body 6 side. Further, when the latch release button 8 (see FIG. 6) is pressed, the paper discharge side cover member 5 is released from the locked state and can be opened to the state shown by the imaginary line.

Inside the paper discharge side cover member 5, a paper discharge guide 5B for guiding the sheet material to the face-down tray 4 is provided.

The face-down tray 4 is installed above the image forming apparatus main body 6. The face-down tray 4 is provided with a pair of discharge rollers 9 for discharging the sheet material guided to the discharge guide 5B to the face-down tray 4.

In this image forming apparatus, the flapper 2 is switched to the position indicated by the solid line with respect to the fixing unit discharge roller pair 1B which is the discharge port of the fixing device 1, so that the fixing unit discharge roller pair 1B is used. The sheet material discharged from the fixing device 1 is guided to the face-down tray 4 without being caught by the flapper 2. Further, the fixing unit discharge roller pair 1B
On the other hand, when the flapper 2 is switched to the position shown by the imaginary line, the sheet material discharged from the fixing device 1 by the fixing unit discharge roller pair 1B is guided to the face-up tray 3 without being caught by the flapper 2. Get burned.

As described above, in this image forming apparatus,
In order to guide the sheet material discharged by the fixing section discharge roller pair 1B which is the discharge port of the fixing device 1 to the face-up tray 3 or the electric face-down tray 4 without any trouble,
The flapper 2 switched to the predetermined position must be at an appropriate position (position shown in the figure) with respect to the fixing unit discharge roller pair 1B.

[0017]

However, like the image forming apparatus of the above-mentioned conventional example, the opening / closing support shaft 5A of the sheet discharge side cover member 5 holding the flapper 2 is on the image forming apparatus body 6 side. In this case, since the mounting reference positions of the fixing section discharge roller pair 1B and the flapper 2 are different, a large deviation may occur in the positional relationship between the fixing section discharge roller pair 1B and the flapper 2 due to a component error or an assembly error.

In this way, when the positional relationship between the fixing section discharge roller pair 1B and the flapper 2 is greatly deviated, the flapper 2 causes the sheet material discharged by the fixing section discharge roller pair 1B to reach a predetermined path. You will not be able to lead it, or the sheet material will get caught and cause a jam.

In the image forming apparatus for performing double-sided and multiple image formation, the flapper for selectively guiding the sheet material fixed by the fixing device to the re-feeding path or the paper discharging path is also the image of the conventional example. Like the flapper 2 of the forming device,
There has been a problem that a large deviation occurs in the positional relationship between the fixing unit discharge roller pair of the fixing device.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and includes a path selecting member and a fixing device for selectively guiding the sheet material, which has been fixed by the fixing device, to one of a plurality of paths. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of keeping a positional relationship with a paper discharge port without a large deviation.

[0021]

According to the present invention, a fixing device (1) for fixing a transfer image to a sheet material and a sheet material which has been fixed by the fixing device (1) are provided among a plurality of paths. (2) A route selection member for selectively guiding to one of the
And an image forming apparatus including:

In the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a holding member (5) for holding the route selecting member (2).
The opening / closing support shaft (5A) is arranged in the fixing device portion (1F).

[0023]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the opening / closing support shaft (5A) of the holding member (5) is used as a reference position for attachment and the discharge port (1B) of the fixing device (1) is provided.
The position can be set on the route selection member (2) held by the holding member (5).

Therefore, the discharge port (1B) of the fixing device (1)
The positional relationship between the path selection member (2) and the path selection member (2) does not greatly shift even if there are some component errors and assembly errors.

As a result, the sheet material which has been subjected to the fixing process by the fixing device (1) is properly guided to the predetermined path by the path selection member (2). Further, the sheet material that has been subjected to the fixing process in the fixing device (1) is not caught by the path selecting member (2) and jamming occurs.

The reference numerals in parentheses refer to the drawings and do not limit the structure of the present invention.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a main portion (invention portion) of an image forming apparatus (printer) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In the description of this image forming apparatus, the same members and the like as those of the conventional image forming apparatus (FIGS. 6 and 7) are designated by the same reference numerals and are functionally and structurally unchanged. The description thereof will be omitted. The same applies to the description of the image forming apparatus (FIG. 4) of Example 2 described later.

In this image forming apparatus, the support shaft of the discharge side cover member 5 holding the flapper 2 (opening / closing support shaft).
5A is arranged on the frame 1F of the fixing device 1. That is, the paper discharge side cover member 5 is attached to the frame 1 of the fixing device 1.
It is attached to F so as to be openable and closable around the spindle 5A.

Further, in the case of this image forming apparatus, with the supporting shaft 5A position on the frame 1F of the paper discharge side cover member 5 as the mounting reference position, the fixing section paper discharge roller pair 1B which is the discharge port of the fixing device 1, The position of the flapper 2 held by the paper discharge side cover member 5 is set so as to have an appropriate positional relationship.

Therefore, in the present image forming apparatus, even when the sheet material that has undergone the fixing process by the fixing device 1 is guided to the face-down tray 4 as shown in FIG. 2 is guided to the face-up tray 3 as well, the flapper 2 switched to a predetermined position has an appropriate positional relationship with the fixing unit discharge roller pair 1B.

The flapper 2 and the fixing section discharge roller pair 1B
The positional relationship between and does not change significantly even if there are some component errors and assembly differences.

FIG. 3 shows the state in which the latch 7 is released from the locked state and the paper discharge side cover member 5 holding the flapper 2 is opened for jam clearance.

The discharge side cover member 5 opened in this way
When is closed as shown in FIG. 1, the flapper 2 returns to a position where it maintains an appropriate relationship with the fixing unit discharge roller pair 1B. <Embodiment 2> FIG. 4 shows the structure of a main portion (invention portion) of an image forming apparatus (printer) according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

In the present image forming apparatus, the fixing unit discharge roller pair 1B and the upper and lower guides 1D and 1E are made detachable from the set position in order to make it easy to handle the jam generated in the fixing unit 1. An opening / closing member 10 is provided, and the flapper 2 is attached to the fixing unit opening / closing member (holding member) 10.

The fixing portion opening / closing member 10 is attached to the frame 1F of the fixing device 1 so as to be openable / closable about a support shaft (opening / closing support shaft) 10A.

Here, the mounting positions of the fixing unit discharge roller pair 1B and the flapper 2 with respect to the fixing unit opening / closing unit 10 are set with the position of the support shaft 10A on the frame 1F as the mounting reference position.

The paper discharge side cover member 5 which does not hold the flapper 2 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 6 so as to be openable and closable around the support shaft 5A. The paper discharge side cover member 5 may be attached to the frame 1F so as to be openable and closable around the support shaft 5A.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the paper discharge side cover member 5 and the fixing unit opening / closing unit 10 are opened for jam clearance.

The fixing portion opening / closing member 10 opened in this way
4 is closed as shown in FIG. 4, it is locked by a locking means (not shown), and the fixing unit discharge roller pair 1B and the upper and lower guides 1
D, 1E and flapper 2 return to the set position.

According to the present invention, a path selecting member for selectively guiding the sheet material fixed by the fixing device to the re-feeding path or the paper discharging path in the image forming apparatus for performing double-sided and multiplex image formation is held. It can be similarly applied to the holding member.

[0042]

As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the path selecting member for selectively guiding the sheet material, which has been fixed by the fixing device, to one of the plurality of paths. Since the opening / closing support shaft of the holding member to be held is arranged in the fixing device portion, a large displacement does not occur in the positional relationship between the discharge port of the fixing device and the route selection member.

Therefore, the route selection member can appropriately guide the sheet material, which has been subjected to the fixing process by the fixing device, along the predetermined route. Further, the sheet material that has been subjected to the fixing process in the fixing device will not be caught by the path selection member and cause a jam.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a configuration of a main part (invention part) of an image forming apparatus (printer) according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a state in which a sheet material is discharged to a face-down tray.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a state in which a sheet material is discharged to a face-up tray in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a state in which the sheet discharge side cover member is opened for jam processing in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view showing a configuration of a main part (invention part) of an image forming apparatus (printer) according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a state in which the sheet discharge side cover member and the fixing unit opening / closing member are opened for jam processing in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing the overall configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus (printer).

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a configuration of a main part of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Fixing Device 1F Frame of Fixing Device (Fixing Device Part) 2 Flapper (Path Selection Member) 5 Paper Discharge Side Cover Member (Holding Member) 5A Support Shaft (Opening / Closing Support Shaft) 10 Fixing Part Opening / Closing Part (Holding Member) 10A Support Shaft (supporting shaft for opening and closing)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A fixing device for fixing a transferred image to a sheet material, and a path selecting member for selectively guiding a sheet material, which has been fixed by the fixing device, to one of a plurality of paths. In the image forming apparatus including, the opening / closing support shaft of the holding member that holds the route selection member,
An image forming apparatus arranged in the fixing device portion. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is a paper discharge side cover member having a paper discharge path. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is a fixing unit opening / closing member that holds the path selecting member and a fixing unit discharge roller pair.