JPH07149444A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate paper sheet supply work to a feeder tray while easily preventing the position deviation of a bunch of sheets in the feeder tray. CONSTITUTION:In an image forming device in which a feeder tray 8 is arranged on the side of a device mainframe 1 and a vertical sheet passage 17 is arranged between the device mainframe 1 and the feeder tray 8, the vertical sheet passage 17 is freely opened and closed and the feeder tray 8 is mounted on the device mainframe 1 to be rotationally movable in an approximately horizontal direction with the rear side of the device mainframe 1 as a fulcrum, so that the feeder tray 8 is rotationally moved to set a paper sheet P inserted through the opening in the feeder tray 8. In this way, an end fence 23, if provided in the feeder tray 8 to prevent the position deviation of the bunch of sheets, exerts no interference on the feeder tray 8 for sheet setting work and so the sheet supply work on the feeder tray 8 is improved.

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 having a paper feed tray and a vertical paper path arranged laterally of the main body of the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus having a structure in which a large amount of paper can be stocked in a paper feed tray is widely known. As an image forming apparatus having such a structure,
For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-246029, a paper feed path communicating with the image forming unit is provided substantially horizontally, and a large-capacity paper feed tray having a paper feed port communicating with the paper feed path is provided on the side of the apparatus main body. It is disclosed that the paper feed tray is provided with a paper loading section for loading paper up and down. In the image forming apparatus having such a structure, a large amount of paper is stocked in the paper feed tray, and the paper in the paper feed tray is conveyed to the image forming unit via the paper feed path in accordance with the image forming operation.
A predetermined image is formed on the paper. When the paper in the paper feed tray is consumed in accordance with the image forming operation, the paper is lifted to the paper loading section and the height of the paper feed position is kept constant.

On the other hand, as an image forming apparatus having a structure in which a large amount of paper can be stocked in a paper feed tray, for example, a structure in which a vertical paper path is arranged substantially vertically between the paper feed tray and the main body of the apparatus is special. It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-317930. An example of the image forming apparatus having such a structure is shown in FIG.
Through FIG. In the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the apparatus main body 1 is placed on the upper portion of the sheet holding unit 2. The device body 1 has an AD on top of the contact glass 3.
F4 (ADF is an abbreviation for Auto Document Feeder)
Is provided, and the image forming unit 5 is provided inside. The image forming unit 5 includes an exposure system 5a that scans light on an original document (not shown) placed on the contact glass 3 and guides reflected light to the photosensitive drum 6, and an image forming system 5b centered on the photosensitive drum 6. It is formed by. This imaging system 5b
Is to uniformly charge the photosensitive drum 6 and expose the charged photosensitive drum 6 with the exposure system 5a to form an electrostatic latent image. After toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image, the toner is applied. Is formed on the sheet of paper P through an image forming process of transferring the sheet of paper to the sheet of paper P.

Further, the apparatus main body 1 has a two-stage paper feed cassette 7 accommodated therein, and a large-capacity paper feed tray 8 as a paper feed tray is provided on the side. The large-capacity paper feed tray 8 includes a paper loading unit 9 on which a paper P is loaded and which can be raised and lowered.
A lifting drive unit 9a for driving and lifting the paper loading unit 9
And a side fence 1 that regulates the lateral movement of the paper P.
0 and a tray cover 11 having an open upper surface. The paper feed cassette 7 and the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 are connected to the photosensitive drum 7 of the image forming unit 5 via a paper feed path 12 arranged substantially horizontally. Further, the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a paper discharge path 14 that is connected to the paper feed path 12 and that sends the paper P after image formation to the paper discharge unit 13. In the paper discharge path 14, a fixing device 15 is arranged. Has been done.

Next, a three-stage paper feed cassette 16 is housed inside the paper holding unit 2. Here, inside the apparatus main body 1 and the paper holding unit 2, the paper feed opening 7a of the paper feeding cassette 7 on the apparatus main body 1 side and the paper feed opening 16a of the paper feeding cassette 16 on the paper holding unit 2 side are both provided. Vertical paper path 17 to contact
Are arranged almost vertically. The vertical paper path 17 is connected to the paper feed path 12 in the apparatus body 1 in the vicinity of the paper feed port 8a of the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 directly connected to the paper feed path 12, and each paper feed cassette The sheets P stored in the sheets 7 and 16 are arranged to be sent out to the sheet feeding path 12 through the vertical sheet path 17.

Next, the vertical paper path 17 is formed by a pair of conveyance guide portions 18 arranged so as to face each other. These transport guide portions 18 are formed by a pair of flat plate-shaped transport guide plates 19 facing each other with a slight gap therebetween, and transport rollers 20 attached to these transport guide plates 19 and contacting each other. The vertical sheet path 17 on the side of the apparatus main body 1 includes a main body side conveyance guide section 18a formed on the apparatus main body 1 side and a unit side conveyance guide section 18 that can be brought into contact with and separated from the main body side conveyance guide section 18a.
and b. That is, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the unit-side transport guide portion 18b is integrally formed with the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 to be unitized, and the unit-side transport guide portion 18b and the large-capacity supply tray 18b. The unit including the paper tray 8 is attached to the apparatus main body 1 so as to be rotatable about a fulcrum 21 and to be unlocked. Here, the position of the fulcrum 21 is on the rear side of the apparatus body 1.

Further, the apparatus main body 1 has a control section (not shown) for electrically controlling each section built therein.

In the case of such a structure, the number of images to be formed, the size of paper, etc. are set by operating the operation panel 22 arranged outside the apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIG.
A document is set on the contact glass 3 or the ADF 4. Thereafter, when an image forming operation is instructed, light is scanned on the original on the contact glass 3 by the exposure system 5a, and the reflected light is incident on the photosensitive drum 7. At this time, the paper P of the selected size is fed to the paper feed cassettes 7, 16
Or, the paper is fed from the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 to the photosensitive drum 7,
The image on the document surface is transferred to the sheet P by the image forming process described above. In particular, the paper P fed from the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 to the photosensitive drum 7 is good because there is no portion that is guided substantially linearly in the paper feed path 12 arranged substantially horizontally and is greatly bent. It is also possible to increase the transportation speed by being transported to the.

Here, the paper P fed from the paper feed cassettes 7 and 16 may be jammed in the vertical paper path 17. In such a case, the unit composed of the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the unit-side conveyance guide portion 18b is shown in FIG.
Rotate from the set position A illustrated in to the open position B,
The vertical paper path 17 of the apparatus body 1 is opened. As a result, it is possible to facilitate the jam processing for the paper jam in the vertical paper path 17 in the apparatus body 1.

Further, as the paper P in the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 is consumed, the paper loading unit 9 is driven by the elevating and lowering drive unit 9a to move up, so that the height of the paper P located at the top is constant. To be kept. Then, when all the sheets P in the large-capacity sheet feeding tray 8 are consumed and it is necessary to replenish the sheets P, the tray cover 11 is removed from the large-capacity sheet feeding tray 8 and the side of the apparatus main body 1 is removed. The paper P is set in the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 so that the bundle of paper P is inserted.

[0011]

However, the apparatus main body 1
In the large-capacity paper feed unit 8, due to the impact of opening and closing the unit by the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the unit-side transport guide section 18b and the inertial force generated on the paper P stacked on the paper stacking section 9. There is a problem that paper misalignment is likely to occur.
At this time, since the lateral movement of the paper P is restricted by the side fence 10, such paper misalignment is prevented from occurring in FIG.
As illustrated in 0, it occurs exclusively in the front-back direction of the sheet P, that is, in the same direction as the feeding direction of the sheet P. Then, if such a paper misalignment occurs in the large capacity paper feed tray 8,
This is extremely inconvenient because a paper sensor (not shown) may detect paper out and erroneously detect the position of the upper surface of the paper P.

Therefore, in order to prevent such sheet misalignment, it is conceivable to provide an end fence 23, which is shown in FIG. . However, if such an end fence 23 is provided in the large-capacity paper feed tray 8, it is expected that it will be difficult to set the paper P. In particular, since the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 is bulky, if the end fence 23 illustrated in FIG. 11 is provided on the large-capacity paper feed tray 8, the setting work of the paper P becomes very difficult. Expected and inconvenient.

[0013]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A sheet feeding path that communicates with the image forming unit, a sheet feeding tray that is disposed on the side of the apparatus main body and has a sheet feeding port that communicates with the sheet feeding path, and a pair of conveyance guide sections that are arranged to face each other. In an image forming apparatus having a vertical paper path which is arranged in a substantially vertical direction between a main body and a paper feed tray and communicates with a paper feed path in the vicinity of a paper feed opening of the paper feed tray, a rear side of the apparatus main body is used as a fulcrum. The paper feed tray is attached to the main body of the device so that it can be rotated in a substantially horizontal direction and can be released from the fixed state, and the main body side transport guide part provided on the main body side of the device and the unit side transport that is arranged to face the main body side transport guide part. A conveyance guide unit is formed by the guide unit, and includes a unit-side conveyance guide unit and is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be rotatable in a substantially horizontal direction with the rear side of the apparatus main body as a fulcrum and to be unfixed. Establishment .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the rotation fulcrums of the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide unit are made common, and the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide unit are provided. And a connecting portion for selectively connecting and disconnecting.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect of the invention, a selection is made to select the connection or non-connection state of the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide unit by the connection unit according to a predetermined signal. Means were provided.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a paper jam occurs in the vertical paper path, the paper feed tray is rotated and the transport guide unit is rotated to move the unit side transport guide unit to the main body side transport guide. The paper path and open the vertical paper path. In addition, when replenishing the paper in the paper feed tray, the paper feed tray is rotated, and the paper is set in the paper feed tray such that the opened paper feed tray is inserted from the portion facing the apparatus main body. Therefore, even if the paper feed tray is provided with an end fence that regulates the movement of the paper in the front-rear direction, such an end fence does not interfere with the work of setting the paper in the paper feed tray and does not occur when the paper is replenished in the paper feed tray. Workability is improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, at the time of replenishing the paper to the paper feed tray, the connection between the paper feed tray and the transport guide unit is released by the connecting portion, and the paper feed tray is opened to the apparatus main body. Further, when jamming the vertical paper path, the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide unit are connected by the connecting portion, and both are integrally rotated so that the unit side conveyance guide unit of the conveyance guide unit becomes the main body side guide unit. Retract from so that the vertical paper path is open. As a result, the operability at the time of jam handling in the vertical paper path is improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the selection means selects the connection or non-connection state of the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide unit by the connection portion. Therefore, for example, with respect to the connection state of the paper feed tray and the transport guide unit by the connection unit, a signal is generated that causes the connection release state when replenishing the paper in the paper feed tray and the connection state when the jam processing is performed on the vertical paper path. By letting
Both the operability at the time of replenishing the paper to the paper feed tray and the operability at the time of jam processing of the vertical paper feed unit are improved.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment corresponding to the invention described in claim 1 will be described as a first embodiment with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those described in FIGS. 6 to 11 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. First, the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the unit-side transport guide portion 18b are separate members, and the unit-side transport guide portion 18b is formed in the transport guide unit 30 and provided independently. The transport guide unit 30 and the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 are rotatably attached to a common support shaft 21 whose axial direction is vertical. In addition, the transport guide unit 3
No. 0 can be fixedly released from the apparatus body 1 by the magnet 31 provided in the transport guide unit 30 and the magnetic body 32 provided on the apparatus body 1 side. Similarly, the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 can also be fixedly released from the apparatus main body 1 by the magnet 33 provided on the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the magnetic body 34 provided on the apparatus main body 1 side. is there. Further, the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 has paper P
An end fence 23 that restricts movement in the front-rear direction, that is, the same direction as the feeding direction is attached.

In such a structure, when replenishing the paper P to the large-capacity paper feed tray 8, the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 is used.
Rotate. This state is illustrated in FIG. Then, the paper P is inserted so as to be inserted from the open portion of the large-capacity paper feed tray 8.
Is set and the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 is rotated again to be fixed to the apparatus main body 1. At this time, the movement of the paper P is restricted by the side fence 10 and the end fence 23, and the positional deviation of the paper stack does not occur. Moreover, the presence of the end fence 23 does not impair the workability of setting the paper P, and the work of setting the paper P on the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 can be facilitated.

On the other hand, when the paper P is jammed in the vertical paper path 17 of the apparatus main body 1, the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 is opened and the conveyance guide unit 30 is rotated to convey the main body. The unit-side transport guide portion 18b is retracted from the guide portion 18a, and the vertical paper path 17 is opened. This state is illustrated in FIG. As a result, it is possible to easily perform the jam processing for the vertical paper path 17 of the apparatus body 1.

Next, an embodiment corresponding to the invention of claim 2 will be described as a second embodiment with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The same parts as those described in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 4 that connects the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the conveyance guide unit 30.
0 is provided. The connecting portion 40 includes a pin 41 formed to project on the large-capacity sheet feeding tray 8 and a connecting arm 43 having an engaging portion 42 that is rotatably provided on the transport guide unit 30 and engages with the pin 41. , This connecting arm 4
3 is formed by a spring 44 that biases the engaging portion 42 in the direction in which the engaging portion 42 engages with the pin 41. The spring 44 is provided in the transport guide unit 30.

In such a structure, when the paper P is supplied to the large-capacity paper feed tray 8, the connecting arm 43 is rotated against the force of the spring 44 to release the engagement of the engaging portion 42 with the pin 41. By doing so, the connection between the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the conveyance guide unit 30 by the connecting portion 40 is released, and the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 is opened. During the jam processing for the vertical paper path 17, the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the conveyance guide unit 30 are integrally rotated while maintaining the connection between the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the conveyance guide unit 30 by the connecting unit 40. The conveyance guide portion 18b is retracted from the main body side guide portion 18a so that the vertical paper path 17 is opened. As a result, the operability during the jam processing of the vertical paper path 17 is improved.

Next, an embodiment corresponding to the invention of claim 3 will be described as a third embodiment with reference to FIG. The same parts as those shown in the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the present embodiment, the solenoid 50 is connected to the force point side of the connecting arm 43, and the pivoting operation of the connecting arm 43 depends on the sliding operation of the movable iron core 51 of the solenoid 50. The solenoid 50 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) that electrically controls each unit. That is, a CPU (not shown) that centrally controls each unit by executing various arithmetic processes, a ROM (not shown) that stores fixed data such as operation programs, and a RAM (not shown) that stores variable data including a work area The control unit is configured by being connected to the bus. Therefore, the solenoid 50 is calculated by the calculation processing of the CPU according to the operation program stored in the ROM.
Various electrical components including are controlled. Here, a selection unit is configured to select the connection or non-connection state of the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the conveyance guide unit 30 by the connection unit 40.

In such a structure, the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the conveying guide unit 30 are connected or not connected by the connecting unit 40 according to the sliding state of the movable iron core 51 of the solenoid 50 controlled by the control unit. Is selected.
For example, when the paper sensor (not shown) detects that there is no paper P in the large-capacity paper feed tray 8, a signal to that effect is transmitted to the control unit, and the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the conveyance guide by the connecting unit 40 are transmitted. The solenoid 50 is driven so that the connection with the sub-unit 30 is released. That is, the solenoid 50 is driven so that the movable iron core 51 is pulled in,
As a result, the engagement of the engagement portion 42 with the pin 41 is released, and the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 can be opened and closed independently, so that the workability at the time of the paper P replenishment work is improved. On the other hand, when a jam of the paper P is detected in the vertical paper path 17 by a paper jam sensor (not shown), a signal to that effect is transmitted to the control unit, and the connection unit 40 causes the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the conveyance guide unit. Solenoid 50 to connect with unit 30
Is driven. That is, the solenoid 50 is driven so that the movable iron core 51 is pushed out, whereby the pin 41
On the other hand, the engaging portion 42 engages with each other, and the large-capacity paper feed tray 8 and the conveyance guide unit 30 rotate integrally, so that the workability of the jam processing is improved.

[0026]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a sheet feeding tray disposed on the side of the apparatus main body and a pair of conveyance guide portions arranged to face each other are provided between the apparatus main body and the sheet feeding tray. In the image forming apparatus having a vertical paper path arranged in a substantially vertical direction, a paper feed tray is attached to the main body of the apparatus so as to be rotatable in a substantially horizontal direction with the rear side of the main body as a fulcrum and to be unfixed. The main body side transport guide section provided on the main body side of the apparatus and the unit side transport guide section opposed to the main body side transport guide section form a transport guide section, and the rear side of the main body of the apparatus including the unit side transport guide section Since a conveyance guide unit that is attached to the main body of the device so that it can be rotated in a substantially horizontal direction and that can be unlocked is provided as a fulcrum, when the paper is replenished in the paper feed tray, the paper feed tray is rotated to open it. The paper can be set in the paper feed tray by inserting it from the facing part of the paper feed tray to the main body of the device, and by this, the paper feed tray is provided with an end fence that regulates the movement of the paper in the front-back direction. Also, such an end fence does not interfere with the work of setting the paper in the paper feed tray, and the workability in setting the paper in the paper feed tray can be improved. It is possible to prevent the misalignment of the sheet and facilitate the sheet replenishing work for the sheet feeding tray.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the fulcrum of rotation of the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide unit is made common, and the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide unit are provided. Since a connecting portion for selectively connecting and disconnecting the paper feed tray is provided, the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide unit are connected by the connecting portion during the jam processing for the vertical paper path so that both are integrally rotated. Thus, by opening the vertical paper path, it is possible to improve the operability during the jam processing of the vertical paper feeding unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect of the invention, a selection is made to select the connection or non-connection state of the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide unit by the connection unit according to a predetermined signal. Since the means is provided, regarding the connection state of the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide unit by the connection portion, for example, the connection state is released when the paper is supplied to the paper feed tray, and the connection state is set when the jam processing is performed on the vertical paper path. By generating the signal, it is possible to improve both the operability at the time of replenishing the paper to the paper feeding tray and the operability at the time of jam processing of the vertical paper feeding unit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of the present invention and showing a state in which a unit-side transport guide section is closed with respect to a main-body-side transport guide section and a vertical sheet path is formed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a unit-side transport guide section is opened with respect to a main-body-side transport guide section and a vertical sheet path is opened.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a paper feed tray and a unit-side conveyance guide unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a connecting portion that connects a sheet feeding tray and a unit-side transport guide portion.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a connecting portion that connects a sheet feeding tray and a unit-side conveyance guide portion according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional side view showing an example of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state in which a unit-side transport guide portion is opened with respect to a main-body-side transport guide portion and a vertical paper path is opened.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a unit formed by a unit-side conveyance guide section and a sheet feed tray.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the entire image forming apparatus illustrating an opened / closed state of a unit formed by a unit-side conveyance guide section and a sheet feed tray.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing an example of a conventional paper feed tray.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional paper feed tray.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 5 Image Forming Section 8 Paper Feed Tray 8a Paper Feeding Port 12 Paper Feeding Path 17 Vertical Paper Path 18 Transport Guide Section 18a Main Body Side Transport Guide Section 18b Unit Side Transport Guide Section 21 Support Point 30 Transport Guide Section Unit 40 Coupling Section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A paper feed path communicating with an image forming unit, a paper feed tray disposed on the side of the apparatus main body and having a paper feed port communicating with the paper feed path, and a pair of conveyance guides arranged opposite to each other. And a vertical paper path formed by a unit and arranged in a substantially vertical direction between the apparatus main body and the paper feed tray and communicating with the paper feed path in the vicinity of the paper feed port of the paper feed tray. In the apparatus, the paper feed tray is attached to the apparatus body so as to be rotatable in a substantially horizontal direction with the rear side of the apparatus body as a fulcrum and can be fixedly released, and a main body side conveyance guide portion provided on the apparatus body side. The transport guide portion is formed by the unit-side transport guide portion that is disposed so as to face the main-body-side transport guide portion, and is rotatable in a substantially horizontal direction with the rear side of the apparatus main body as a fulcrum including the unit-side transport guide portion. And fixed An image forming apparatus comprising a conveyance guide unit that is releasably attached to the apparatus body. 2. A connection part is provided which shares a common fulcrum of rotation between the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide part unit and selectively connects and disconnects the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide part unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. 3. The selection means according to claim 2, further comprising selection means for selecting a connection or non-connection state of the paper feed tray and the conveyance guide unit by the connection portion according to a predetermined signal. Image forming apparatus.