JPH09240092A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent collision of a connector or a printer cable by a constitution wherein a region for connecting a transmission medium is provided on a rear face side of a body and a paper tray which loads a paper supplied to the body is extended so that the rear end section is overlapped with the region for connecting the transmission medium in a plane view. SOLUTION: A projection image 11 of an upper end section 2a of a paper supply tray 2 to a printer setting face 10 is projected from a rear face section 4a of an upper housing 4 by a length roughly equal to a projection length L of a connector 8 or a printer cable 9. Since the projection length L is varied corresponding to a kind of the connector 8 or printer cable 9, a size and a shape of the paper supply tray 2 is designed by, for example, estimating a maximum projection length. When an operator puts the upper end section 2a of the paper supply tray 2 along the wall in order to dispose a rear face of the printer along the wall, it is possible to prevent the connector 8 or printer cable 9 from being collided with the wall.

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 such as a small printer for personal use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent trend of downsizing of computers, individuals are often using personal computers (personal computers) or workstations on their desks. Along with this trend, there is a demand for a small printer that can be placed on a personal desk so that documents and tables created by a personal computer can be easily printed out.

In such a small-sized printer, a paper feed tray on which paper is placed is usually attached to the printer body for use. On the other hand, since the small printer is used by mounting it on a personal desk as described above, its planar installation space (hereinafter simply referred to as "installation space") needs to be as narrow as possible. Therefore, a configuration is proposed in which the mounting portion of the paper feed tray is formed on the upper part of the printer body and the paper feed tray does not protrude from the printer body when the printer is viewed in plan with the paper feed tray mounted on the printer body. (JP-A-63-187273, JP-A-3-
See Japanese Patent No. 192041 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-361923. ).

[0004]

By the way, there are cases where the printer is handled, for example, with the front surface of the printer, in which the sheet discharge port is formed, facing you. In such a case, the rear surface of the printer may be installed along the side wall. At this time, the person who installs the printer tries to align the rear surface of the printer with the side wall with the upper end of the paper feed tray, which is easy to be the reference, as the reference.

On the other hand, the printer is equipped with a connector for electrical connection with a personal computer or the like.
The mounting location is usually on the back of the printer. Therefore, if you try to align the rear surface of the printer with the side wall with respect to the upper end of the paper feed tray, the connector may accidentally collide with the side wall, or the printer cable connected to the connector may accidentally collide with the side wall. is there.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above technical problems and to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably preventing a collision of a connector or a printer cable.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 for achieving the above object is an image forming apparatus for recording an image on a sheet, comprising a main body having an image forming mechanism,
A paper tray provided on the upper part of the main body and extending obliquely upward toward the rear of the main body for loading sheets of paper to be transferred to and from the main body, and a region for connecting the transmission medium provided on the rear side of the main body. In addition, the paper tray is an image forming apparatus characterized in that, in a plan view, the rear end thereof extends rearward to a position where the rear end thereof overlaps with a region for connecting a transmission medium.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the area for connecting the transmission medium includes a connector protruding from the rear surface of the main body and a space for connecting the transmission medium located behind the connector. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The invention according to claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the paper tray is removable from the main body.

In the present invention, the paper tray extends rearward so that its rear end overlaps with the area for connecting the transmission medium in plan view, so that the rear surface of the image forming apparatus is installed along the wall. , Even if the paper tray is used as a reference, the connector and the cable do not collide with the wall. Moreover, since the paper tray protrudes only in the essential area of the main body, it is possible to meet the demand for a smaller installation space.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a simplified external configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing the printer as viewed from the left side in order to explain the internal configuration of the printer. Is. In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in order to emphasize the internal configuration of the printer, the configuration relating to the external appearance is shown by a chain double-dashed line.

First, an outline and an external configuration of this printer will be described below. This printer is of a so-called personal use that is used by being placed on the desk of each individual. That is, this printer is connected to a personal computer (personal computer) or the like used by each individual, and is used for the purpose of easily printing out documents, tables and the like created by the individual on the personal computer.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, this printer has a structure including an apparatus main body 1 and a paper feed tray 2.
The external appearance of the apparatus main body 1 is constituted by an openable / closable cover 3, and an upper housing 4 and a lower housing 5 which are fitted to each other. The paper feed tray 2 is for holding paper to be printed, and is removable from the apparatus body 1.

The cover 3 is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,
It is attached to the apparatus main body 1 so as to cover the upper front part of the printer. The cover 3 can be opened in the direction of arrow A from the front surface of the printer toward the rear surface around the fulcrum portion 6. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the cover 3 is opened.
Note that it is preferable to remove the paper feed tray 2 when the cover 3 is opened.

A tray insertion port 7 is formed on the rear side of the cover 3. The paper feed tray 2 can be attached by inserting it into the tray insertion port 7, and can be removed by pulling it out from the tray insertion port 7.
A connector 8 is attached to the rear surface portion 4a of the upper housing 4. The connector 8 is for connecting this printer to a personal computer or the like. That is, the printer cable 9 having one end connected to the personal computer is connected to the connector 8.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector 8 and the printer cable 9 project from the rear surface portion 4a of the upper housing 4. That is, on the rear side of this printer, the printer cable 9 is attached to the apparatus main body 1.
There is an area needed to connect to. The protruding length L of the connector 8 and the printer cable 9 is determined by the type of the connector 8 and the type of the printer cable 9 used.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper feed tray 2 is shaped so as to extend obliquely upward and rearward from the apparatus main body 1 when inserted into the tray insertion port 7. At this time, the paper feed tray 2 has its upper end 2a in plan view.
Overlaps the above area. That is, the projected image 11 of the upper end portion 2a of the paper feed tray 2 on the printer installation surface 10 projects from the rear surface portion 4a of the upper housing 4 by substantially the same length as the projection length L of the connector 8 and the printer cable 9.

The protruding length L differs depending on the type of the connector 8 and the type of the printer cable 9 used as described above, but here, the maximum protruding length is predicted and the size of the paper feed tray 2 is determined. The shape and is designed. As a result, when installing the rear surface of this printer along the wall,
The operator does not collide the connector 8 and the printer cable 9 with the wall by setting the upper end 2a of the paper feed tray 2 as a reference and aligning the upper end 2a with the wall.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of installation work on the operator and prevent damage to the connector 8.

In addition, the printer installation surface 10 of the upper end 2a
The length of the projected image 11 with respect to the rear surface portion 4a of the upper housing 4 is determined by the length of the connector 8 and the printer cable 9.
Is almost the same as the protrusion length L of Therefore, it is possible to meet the demand for a smaller installation space. Next, the internal configuration of this printer will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this printer is provided with a paper feeding section 20, a laser beam irradiation unit 30, an imaging unit 40, a developing unit 50, a transfer unit 60 and a fixing unit 70. A discharge port 80 is formed on the front surface of the printer. The discharge port 80 has an upper housing 4 and a lower housing 5.
It is formed near the boundary with.

The paper placed on the paper feed tray 2 is fed by the paper feed unit 20, the imaging unit 40, the transfer unit 60, and the fixing unit 70 along the conveyance path 90 formed by the broken line on the apparatus main body 1. The sheets are sequentially conveyed, and finally discharged from the discharge port 80 to the outside of the apparatus. Transport route 90
2, is formed in a substantially straight line having a downward slope from the paper feed tray 2 toward the discharge port 80. This is because the shape is optimal for downsizing the printer.

The paper feed section 20 is for feeding the paper placed on the paper feed tray 2 to a conveyance path 90 formed in the apparatus main body 1. The paper feeding unit 20 is attached to the cover 3, and is lifted together with the cover 3 when the cover 3 is opened. The sheet feeding unit 20 is provided with a sheet feeding roller 21 (the sheet feeding roller 21 includes a separation roller and a conveyance roller as described later).
The paper feed roller 21 is provided at a position where it abuts the surface of the paper feed tray 2 when the paper feed tray 2 is inserted into the tray insertion port 7.

The paper feed section 20 is also provided with a paper detection switch 22. The paper detection switch 22 is for detecting the presence or absence of paper in order to perform paper feed control.
It is provided immediately downstream of the separation roller 21 in the transport path 90. Paper feed control is performed as follows. That is, when the sheet feeding is instructed while the sheet is placed on the sheet feeding tray 2, the sheet feeding roller 21 starts to rotate. As a result, the paper is taken out by the paper feed roller 21 and sent to the conveyance path 90. After the first predetermined time has elapsed from the start of rotation of the paper feed roller 21, the paper is
The paper detection switch 22 is reached. That is, the paper detection switch 22 is turned on.

The rotation of the paper feed roller 21 is stopped after a predetermined second time has elapsed since the paper detection switch 22 was turned on. During the second time, the supplied paper is the fixing unit 7.
It is set long enough to reach zero. The sheet that has reached the fixing unit 70 is conveyed and discharged by the fixing unit 70. When it is necessary to supply the next sheet, the sheet feeding roller 21 is rotated again after a lapse of a predetermined time from the rotation stop.

If the paper detection switch 22 does not turn on even after the first time has elapsed from the start of rotation of the paper feed roller 21, it is recognized that the paper is out. Laser light irradiation unit 3
0 is for outputting a laser beam corresponding to the image signal. The laser light irradiation unit 30 is provided in the lower housing 5 of the apparatus body 1.

The laser light irradiation unit 30 is provided with a laser light source 31 and an optical system 32. The laser light source 31 is composed of a semiconductor laser or the like. Optical system 3
2 is composed of a plurality of reflecting mirrors, lenses, polygon mirrors, and the like. The laser light generated by the laser light source 31 is applied to the imaging unit 40 via the optical system 32.

The laser light irradiation unit 30 has a connector 8
Is electrically connected to Laser light irradiation unit 30
From the personal computer to the printer cable 9 and connector 8
The irradiation light amount of the laser light and the like are determined on the basis of the image data given via the. Then, the laser light is generated from the laser light source 31 based on the determined irradiation amount of the laser light and the like.

The imaging unit 40, the developing unit 50 and the transfer unit 60 are for forming an image on the paper fed from the paper feeding section 20. In the imaging unit 40, the photoconductor 41 that is exposed by the above-mentioned laser light is installed. A charging charger 42 and a paper dust collecting brush 43 are provided along the periphery of the photoconductor 41. As the photoconductor 41, a small one having a diameter of 16 (mm) is used for downsizing of the printer.

The photosensitive member 41 rotates at a constant speed along the arrow B direction during image formation. After the surface of the photoconductor 41 is uniformly charged to a predetermined high potential by the charging charger 42,
It is exposed to laser light from the laser light irradiation unit 30. In the exposed area that receives the light, the electric charge in that area escapes to a low potential. As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a high potential region and a low potential region is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 41.

When the photoconductor 41 further rotates and the electrostatic latent image reaches the developing unit 50, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by the developing unit 50. Developing unit 50
Is provided in the upper housing 4 and includes a toner hopper 51,
The configuration includes the sub roller 52 and the developing roller 53. The toner hopper 51 is for filling the toner.

The sub roller 52 and the developing roller 53 are
They are rotated in the same direction as each other. By this rotation, the toner filled in the toner hopper 51 is frictionally charged,
Toner is electrostatically adsorbed on the peripheral surface. Sub roller 52
Are provided to more effectively triboelectrically charge the toner. The sub roller 52 and the developing roller 53 include
A predetermined bias voltage is applied. As a result, the toner attached to the peripheral surface of the developing roller 53 is electrostatically
It is adsorbed only on the exposed region of the surface of the photoconductor 41. So-called reversal development is performed. As a result, a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 41.

When the photoconductor 41 further rotates and the toner image reaches the transfer unit 60, the toner image is transferred onto the sheet conveyed along the conveying path 90. That is, the transfer roller 61 is incorporated in the transfer unit 60. The leading edge of the sheet is supplied between the photoconductor 41 and the transfer roller 61 in accordance with the leading edge of the toner image facing the transfer roller 61. As a result, the toner images formed on the photoconductor 41 are sequentially transferred to the paper.

The transfer unit 60 is attached to the cover 3, and is lifted together with the cover 3 when the cover 3 is opened. On the surface of the photoconductor 41 after transfer,
The toner that was not transferred to the paper remains. Further, when the paper comes into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 41, paper dust and the like generated from the paper also adhere to the surface of the photoconductor 41 together with the residual toner.

The paper dust attached to the photoconductor 41 is attached to the tip of the paper dust collecting brush 43 and collected when passing through the paper dust collecting brush 43 in the imaging unit 40.
Further, the residual toner adhering region of the photoconductor 41 is scattered and scattered by the tip of the paper dust collecting brush 43 when passing through the paper dust collecting brush 43, and the residual toner and the surface of the photoconductor 41 are separated from each other. The electrostatic coupling of is weakened. The residual toner having the weakened electrostatic coupling is collected by the developing roller 53 at the time of the next image formation.

The sheet after transfer is supplied to the fixing unit 70. The fixing unit 70 is for fixing the image transferred onto the sheet, and is provided along the transport path 90 between the upper housing 4 and the lower housing 5. The fixing unit 70 is divided into an upper fixing unit 71 and a lower fixing unit 72. The lower fixing unit 72 is fixed to the lower housing 5. The upper fixing unit 71 is rotatably attached to the lower fixing unit 72 by a fulcrum portion 73 in the arrow C direction.

A part of the conveying path 90 is formed between the upper fixing unit 71 and the lower fixing unit 72, and as described above, it is a straight line having a downward slope from the paper feed tray 2 toward the discharge port 80. Has been formed. Further, both units 71 and 72 are provided with an upper fixing roller 74 and a lower fixing roller 75, respectively. A heater (not shown) is provided inside the lower fixing roller 75 along the axis thereof.

The fixing unit 70 is in the closed state as shown in FIG. 2 when the cover 3 is closed. Specifically, the upper fixing unit 71 is pressed by the pressing portion 3a protruding from the inside of the cover 3. Here, the upper fixing roller 74 is attached to the upper fixing unit 71 so as to be displaceable in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction thereof. Then, it is always elastically urged by a spring or the like in the direction opposite to the arrow C direction. As a result, the upper fixing roller 74 is pressed against the lower fixing roller 75 and brought into pressure contact with a predetermined pressure.

The cover 3 is closed during image formation.
Further, the upper fixing roller 74 is rotated in the arrow D direction, and the lower fixing roller 75 is rotated in the arrow E direction. On the other hand, the sheet after transfer is supplied between the upper fixing roller 74 and the lower fixing roller 75 in this pressure contact state. At this time, the lower fixing roller 75 is heated by the heat of the heater. As a result, the toner image is melted by pressing and heating and is fixed on the paper.

The pressure contact state of the fixing unit 70 is released when the cover 3 is opened, as shown in FIG. That is, when the cover 3 is opened, the pressure contact state of the rollers 74 and 75 is released to facilitate the removal of the jammed paper. At this time, the rotation of the upper fixing unit 71 is restricted by the front surface portion 4b of the upper housing 4. The fixing unit 70 also includes an upper discharge roller 76 and a lower discharge roller 77. More specifically,
The upper discharge roller 76 is attached to the upper fixing unit 71, and is rotated in the arrow F direction (see FIG. 2). The lower discharge roller 77 is attached to the lower fixing unit 72, and is in the direction of arrow G (see FIG. 2).
It is something that can be rotated. Each discharge roller 76, 77
By the rotation of, the sheet after fixing is guided to the discharge port 80 and discharged to the outside of the apparatus.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a printer of the type in which the paper feed tray 2 is inserted into the tray insertion opening 7 formed in the upper portion of the apparatus main body 1 is described. However, in the present invention, for example, the device body 1
The present invention can also be applied to a printer of a type in which a paper discharge tray for receiving paper discharged from is inserted in the upper part of the apparatus body 1 so as to extend obliquely upward and rearward from the apparatus body 1.

In addition, it is possible to make various design changes within the scope of the technical matters described in the claims.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the paper tray extends rearward in plan view so that its rear end overlaps with the area for connecting the transmission medium. When installed along a wall, even if the paper tray is used as a reference, connectors, cables, etc. do not collide with the wall. In addition, the burden on the worker is reduced.

In addition, since the paper tray projects only in the essential area of the main body, it is possible to meet the demand for a smaller installation space. In particular, according to the third aspect of the invention, the paper tray can be removed, so that the device can be easily used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a simplified external configuration of a printer to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the printer as viewed from the left side for explaining the internal configuration of the printer when the cover is closed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the printer viewed from the left side for explaining the internal configuration of the printer when the cover is opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 2 Paper Feed Tray 2a Upper End 7 Tray Slot 8 Connector 9 Printer Cable 10 Printer Installation Surface 11 Projected Image L Projection Length

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for recording an image on a sheet, comprising: a main body having an image forming mechanism; and a main body provided at an upper portion of the main body and extending obliquely upward toward the rear of the main body. The tray includes a paper tray on which the paper to be placed is placed and an area for connecting the transmission medium, which is provided on the rear side of the main body. The image forming apparatus is characterized by extending to the rear. 2. The transmission medium connecting region includes a connector protruding from the back surface of the main body and a transmission medium connecting space located behind the connector. Image forming device. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper tray is removable from the main body.