JPH07232459A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image recording device in which a recording paper does not drop even when a part of the device including a recording paper ejection and store section is rotated and opened for correcting jamming. CONSTITUTION:An image recording device, in which the image recording is carried out on a recording paper 4 fed from a paper feed section and carried on a recording paper feed line by an image forming section and the recording paper 4 is ejected out of the device, consists of a first image forming device A including the recording paper feed line and the image forming section and a second image recording device B supported rotatably to the first image recording device A in a manner of exposing at least a part of the recording paper feed line. The second image recording device B comprises a recording paper ejection and store section 27 formed on the upper section of the image recording device, a couple of ejection rollers 26 for ejecting the recording paper 4 onto the recording paper ejection and store section 27 and a extended section 27a extending toward the direction of ejecting the recording paper 4 out of the upper section of a recording paper outlet for ejecting the recording paper 4 and covering the upper section of the recording paper ejection outlet.

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 laser light source is used as an image recording apparatus for recording an information image on a recording sheet, and a recording sheet discharging / accommodating section is provided at the upper part of the apparatus. Printers that eject paper are known. In this printer, when a jam occurs during continuous printing, the recording paper conveyance path is exposed by rotating and opening a part of the apparatus including the recording paper discharge / accommodation unit for jam processing.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned printer, when a jam occurs during continuous printing, if a part of the apparatus including the recording paper discharging / accommodating section is opened to rotate for recording the jam, the recording is performed. There is a problem that the recording paper stored in the paper discharge storage unit falls from the recording paper discharge storage unit and the recording paper is scattered. Also, the recording paper is ejected to the recording paper ejection storage section without being aligned,
It is necessary to re-arrange the recording papers, which causes a problem of low work efficiency.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the recording paper drops even if a part of the apparatus including the recording paper discharge / accommodation portion is opened to rotate for jam clearance. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that does not.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, recording paper fed from a paper feed section and conveyed through a recording paper conveyance path is
In an image recording apparatus that performs image recording by an image forming unit and discharges the recording paper to the outside of the apparatus, a first paper recording apparatus main body including a recording paper conveyance path and an image forming unit, and a part of the image recording apparatus are configured. A second image recording device main body rotatably supported with respect to the first image recording device main body so that at least a part of the recording paper conveyance path is exposed.
The main body of the image recording apparatus includes a recording paper discharge / accommodation section provided at the top of the image recording apparatus, a pair of discharge rollers for discharging the recording paper to the recording paper discharge / storage section, and a recording paper discharge port for discharging the recording paper. It has a configuration in which it extends in a direction in which the recording paper is ejected from the upper portion and covers an upper portion of the recording paper ejection port.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the recording paper discharging and storing section is
It is configured to include a stopper portion extending downward from a lower portion of the recording paper discharge port, and an inclined portion which is continuous with a lower end of the stopper portion and extends obliquely upward with respect to a direction in which the recording paper is discharged.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the second image recording apparatus main body is
The second image recording apparatus main body has a first extension because it has an extension portion that extends in the direction in which the recording paper is ejected from the upper portion of the recording paper ejection opening through which the recording paper is ejected and covers the upper portion of the recording paper ejection opening. Even when the image recording apparatus main body is rotated and opened, the recording sheet on which recording has been completed is pressed by the extension portion. Further, the recording paper discharge / accommodation portion includes a stopper portion extending downward from a lower portion of the recording paper discharge opening, and an inclined portion continuous to a lower end of the stopper portion and extending obliquely upward with respect to a direction in which the recording paper is discharged. Therefore, the recording paper ejected to the recording paper ejection storage portion has its rear end abutted against the stopper portion extending downward from the lower portion of the recording paper ejection opening.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example of a printer as an image recording apparatus using a semiconductor laser.
The printer main body 1 constitutes a part of the image recording apparatus and a first printer main body A including a recording paper conveyance path and an image forming unit, and is rotatably supported with respect to the first printer main body A. It comprises a second printer body B. The outline of the recording process performed by the printer body 1 will be described below.

First, the first printer body A will be described. In FIG. 1, recording papers 4 are bundled and stacked on a bottom plate 3 of a paper feed tray 2 partially stored in the first printer body A, and the uppermost recording paper is recorded by a paper feed roller 5. It is sent toward the pair of paper separating and conveying rollers 6. The separation / conveyance roller pair 6 includes an upper roller 6a and a lower roller 6b,
The lower roller 6b among them rotates in the direction opposite to the recording paper feeding direction (arrow direction) or is held in a stopped state, and a plurality of recording papers have been fed from the paper feed tray 2. At this time, only the uppermost recording sheet is separated and conveyed in cooperation with the upper roller 6a which rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

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, the first
1. An optical housing 9 is provided in the upper part of the printer body A of FIG. 1, and mirrors 11 and 12 are arranged in the optical housing 9 in the position shown in FIG. A laser light source, a hollow scanner, a polygon, etc. are arranged. In a printer equipped with such an optical system, when the printer receives a print signal from the host machine, the recording paper conveyance system described above operates and
The photoconductor 15, which is an endless belt, starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow. With this, 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 fed toward the photoconductor 15 by this rotation is arranged so as to meet with the tip of the visible image on the photoconductor at the transfer portion facing the transfer charger 18.

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 the transfer image of the recording paper is thermally fixed by passing the recording paper between both rollers, and after the fixing, The roller 23a by the peeling claw 24
While being peeled off from the surface of the recording paper, the recording paper is sent toward the second printer body B described later. In the second printer body B, the recording paper is discharged upside down on the printer body 1 with the front and back sides reversed and the recorded image surface facing downward. 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.

A controller 31 and the like are built in the lower portion of the first printer body A. 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. An object is formed, a space is formed in the bottom of the apparatus main body, and a power supply unit 33, a control circuit board 34 of the printer, a controller 31, a fan device 35, and the like are housed therein. As described above, the controller 31 is for converting code information into an image signal and has a plurality of control boards 31a, 31b and the like.

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, 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 the right side of the first printer body A in FIG. A character pattern storage device 39 is installed in the section.

Incidentally, in FIG. 1, the developing unit 47 arranged on the right side in the first printer main body A includes a developing container 48, a toner cartridge 49, a toner stirring member 50,
It is composed of a doctor blade 51, a developing sleeve 17, and the like. The developing unit 47, together with the cover 53, can be taken out of the apparatus to the right in FIG. 1 together with the photoconductor unit 54 having the photoconductor 15 as a main component. In this state, the upper side of the area extending from the recording paper conveyance system to the transfer charger 18 is opened, facilitating maintenance and inspection. In addition, in the first printer body A, the paper feed tray 2 is still attached, and the supply of the recording paper is performed by rotating the cover 55 upward around the fulcrum 55a to open the recording paper. Sliding on the bottom plate 3 is performed.

Further, in FIG. 1, a reinforcing stay 62 for mounting the static elimination lamp 59 and the ground brush 60 whose tip contacts the photoconductor 15, a reinforcing stay 63 for mounting 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.

Next, the second printer body B will be described. In the present invention, in order to facilitate removal of jammed paper and maintenance of the device, the second printer main body in which the paper discharge path 25 is formed and the fixing unit 22 can be rotated and opened.

The second printer main body B includes guide plates 41 and 42 forming the paper discharge path 25, a discharge roller pair 26 for discharging recording paper, a cover 44 provided with these, and a printer main body 1 of the printer main body 1. Recording paper discharge storage unit 27 provided at the upper part
It consists of and. The recording paper discharge / accommodation unit 27 extends from the upper part of the recording paper discharge port through which the recording paper is discharged, in the direction in which the recording paper is discharged, and extends over the recording paper discharge port. A stopper portion 27b extending downward from the lower portion of the outlet, and an inclined portion 2 which is continuous with the lower end of the stopper portion and extends obliquely upward with respect to the direction in which the recording paper is discharged.
7c and a paper discharge tray 27d that is detachably attached to the inclined portion.

The second printer body B is pivotally opened as shown in FIG. 2 by using the shaft 45 on the base end side as a fulcrum. In conjunction with this rotation release, the pressure contact state between the rollers 23a and 23b of the fixing roller pair 23 in the fixing unit 22 is released. By opening the second printer body B, the fixing unit 22 and the cover 44 are widely opened, and the jammed recording paper near the paper discharge path 25 can be easily removed by pulling it out in the direction of the arrow. To be done. Further, if the recording paper having the jam at the fixing roller pair 23 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow, it can be easily removed. It should be noted that the second printer body B may be rotationally opened while the paper discharge tray 27d is removed.

On the other hand, the fixing unit 22 can also be rotated counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 3 about the shaft 46 as a fulcrum, and by this rotation, the space between the photoconductor 15 and the fixing unit 22 is changed. Widely open. In this open state, if the jammed paper at the portion of the fixing roller pair 23 is pulled out in the arrow direction,
This can be easily removed. In addition, the photoconductor 15
The jammed paper at the part can be easily removed by pulling it out in the arrow direction. In this way, it is easy to remove the jammed paper and the maintenance of the device is also easy. This maintenance can be performed simply by rotating the second printer body B and the fixing unit 22.

[0025]

According to the present invention, when a jam occurs during continuous printing, even if the second image recording apparatus main body is rotated and opened for jam processing, the paper is stored in the recording paper discharge storage unit. Since the extended recording portion holds down the recording paper that is being printed, it is possible to prevent the recording paper from falling and improve the work efficiency. Further, the recording paper discharged from the pair of discharge rollers to the recording paper discharge / accommodation section is provided in the opposite direction to the direction in which the recording paper is discharged by the inclined portion extending obliquely upward with respect to the direction in which the recording paper is discharged. Since the trailing edge of the recording paper is moved and abutted against the stopper portion extending downward from the lower portion of the recording paper discharge port, the edges of the recording paper are aligned.

[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 an enlarged view of an essential part showing a state in which a second printer body is opened.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an essential part showing a state in which a second printer body and a fixing unit are opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 15 Photoreceptor 18 Transfer Charger 22 Fixing Unit 28 Cleaning Unit 31 Controller 47 Developing Unit 27a Extending Part 27b Stopper Part 27c Inclined Part 27d Discharging Tray

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical display location G03G 15/00 516 550 // B41J 13/00 (72) Inventor Takashi Yokota Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo 1-3-6, Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming section records an image on a recording sheet fed from a sheet feeding section and conveyed along a recording sheet conveyance path.
An image recording apparatus for ejecting the recording paper to the outside of the apparatus, comprising the recording paper conveyance path, a first image recording apparatus main body including the image forming unit, and a part of the image recording apparatus, And a main body of a second image recording apparatus rotatably supported with respect to the first image recording apparatus main body so that at least a part of the path is exposed, and the second image recording apparatus main body, A recording paper discharge / accommodation section provided on the upper part of the image recording apparatus, a pair of discharge rollers for discharging the recording paper to the recording paper discharge / accommodation section, and a recording paper discharge port through which the recording paper is discharged from above. An image recording apparatus, comprising: an extension portion that extends in a direction in which a recording sheet is ejected and covers an upper portion of the recording sheet ejection port. 2. The recording paper discharging / accommodating portion is provided with a stopper portion extending downward from a lower portion of the recording paper discharge opening and a lower end of the stopper portion, which is oblique with respect to a direction in which the recording paper is discharged. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inclined portion extending upward.