JPH10120313A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent such a possibility that a horizontal conveying part might collide with a device body by mistake, thereby having damaged it, by installing such a mechanism that hinders an intermediate tray to be stored in the image forming device body in case of releasing the horizontal conveying part on this intermediate tray. SOLUTION: In an intermediate tray 29, its left rail 29b is drawn out of the front of a copying machine along another left rail 91 installed in the body side. At this time, a horizontal conveying part is closed and paralleled with this intermediate tray 29. In addition, an intermediate tray lock pin 150 is put back by a return spring 151 and it is released from an opening part 91a installed in the left rail 91, whereby delivery of the intermediate tray 29 to or from a copying machine body becomes freed. In addition, the horizontal conveying part is released with a turning center as the center, pushing the intermediate lock pin 150 by a pushing member installed in the end of a paper discharge flapper support plate, rotating and then it is inserted into the opening part 91a in stalled in the left rail 91. Therefore, an amount of any travel of the intermediate tray 29 in the storage direction to the copying machine is thus regulable in this way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an intermediate tray, which is a reloading sheet stacking means, which is used in a multiplex mode for performing single-sided printing of a sheet a plurality of times and a duplex mode for printing on both sides of a sheet. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including:

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine provided with an intermediate tray, a sheet once copied is stacked on an intermediate tray in the apparatus, and the stacked sheet is re-fed to the same side or both sides. By forming an image again, multiple copying (hereinafter, copying in the multiple mode) and double-side copying (hereinafter, copying in the double-side mode) can be performed.

When a jam or the like occurs around the intermediate tray, the intermediate tray is pulled out of the image forming apparatus for maintenance of the intermediate tray, and the upper lid (horizontal transport section) is rotated and opened. Situation occurs.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the intermediate tray section in a state where the horizontal transport section of the intermediate tray is opened.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 50 denotes a horizontal transport section,
In the multiplex mode or the duplex mode, the sheet is conveyed through this portion and discharged to the intermediate tray.

Reference numeral 50a denotes a sheet stacking section of the intermediate tray, which temporarily stacks sheets discharged from the horizontal transport section 64 until re-feeding.

Reference numerals 51 to 54 denote a discharge roller pair, 55 to 58 a discharge flapper, 59 a discharge flapper support plate, 60 an auxiliary roller, 61 a movable shutter, 62 a guide sheet, 6
3 is a left rail.

The intermediate tray is pulled out along the left rail 63.

Reference numeral 50c denotes a left rail of the intermediate tray,
Combined with the intermediate tray. S indicates a stacked sheet.

Conventionally, there has been provided an image forming apparatus provided with an intermediate tray in which both the opening angles α and β of the horizontal transport unit 64 are 90 ° or less.
When the support is removed, the horizontal transfer unit is closed by its own weight, and the open state cannot be maintained without the support of the horizontal transfer unit 64 from outside.

On the other hand, the opening angle β of the horizontal transport section
There is also an image forming apparatus provided with an intermediate tray that can maintain the open state of the horizontal conveyance unit without external support by setting the angle α to 90 ° or more and α as close as possible to 90 ° or 90 ° or more. I have.

[0012]

However, in such an image forming apparatus, the intermediate tray is pulled out of the image forming apparatus, and when the horizontal conveying section is opened, the intermediate tray is stored again in the image forming apparatus. Can not do.

If the intermediate tray is inadvertently pushed toward the image forming apparatus while the horizontal conveying section is open, the horizontal conveying section may collide with the front of the image forming apparatus.

This has a problem in that the horizontal transport section, which is an important transport path for transporting sheets to the sheet stacking section of the intermediate tray, is damaged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a purpose thereof is to interlock with the opening of the horizontal transport unit when the intermediate tray is pulled out from the image forming apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having a mechanism for preventing damage to a horizontal transport unit that operates as a unit.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an image having a stacking means for stacking sheets and a conveying means for conveying the sheets provided on the stacking means. A drawer for pulling out the stacking means and the transporting means from the image forming apparatus main body; an opening means for releasing the transporting means drawn out by the pulling means on the stacking means; Fixing means for fixing the conveying means opened by the means to the image forming unit.

Another aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and includes stacking means for stacking sheets and stacking the sheets to form an image on the sheets stacked on the stacking means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a re-feeding stacking unit; and a conveying unit configured to convey a sheet stacked on the re-feeding stacking unit. The image forming apparatus comprises: a drawer for pulling out from the main body; an opening means for opening the transporting means pulled out by the pulling means on the re-feeding stacking means; and a transporting means opened by the opening means. Fixing means for fixing to the main body.

Another aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an image forming apparatus having a stacking unit for stacking sheets, and a conveying unit provided on the stacking unit and conveying a sheet. In the above, the loading means and the transporting means, drawer means for pulling out from the image forming apparatus main body, opening means for opening the transporting means pulled out by the drawer means on the loading means, and the transporting means Detecting means for detecting that the conveying means has been opened, and fixing means for fixing the conveying means to the image forming apparatus main body when the detecting means detects that the conveying means has been opened. It is characterized by the following.

Another aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and includes a stacking unit for stacking sheets, an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet stacked on the stacking unit, and the image forming device. In order to further form an image on a sheet on which an image has been formed by the forming unit, there is provided a re-feeding stacking unit for stacking the sheet, and a conveying unit for conveying the sheet stacked on the re-feeding stacking unit. In the image forming apparatus, the re-feeding stacking means is a pull-out device for pulling out the transfer device from the image forming apparatus main body, and the conveying means pulled out by the pull-out means is placed on the re-feeding loading means. Opening means for opening the transport means, detecting means for detecting that the transport means has been opened, and moving the transport means forward when the detecting means detects that the transport means has been opened. And having a fixing means for fixing the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a copying machine, which is an image forming apparatus having an intermediate tray for a multiplex mode and a duplex mode.

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given along the flow of the sheet.

The copying machine 100 is provided with a plurality of front loading type sheet cassettes 1-4.

Sheets S1 to S4 in sheet cassettes 1 to 4
Are selectively fed.

The sheets S1 to S4 loaded and stored in the sheet cassettes 1 to 4 are sequentially fed out from the uppermost sheet by a sheet feeding roller 5 rotating counterclockwise in FIG.

The sheet S fed out by the paper feed roller 5 is separated only by the separation roller pair 6 into one sheet at the highest position. Sent.

The conveying roller pairs 7 to 11 convey the sheet S until the leading end of the sheet strikes the nip of the registration roller pair 13 to form a predetermined amount of loop.

The skew state of the sheet S is corrected by the formation of the loop.

The sheet S whose skew has been corrected starts rotating at the timing of aligning the position of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 14 rotating counterclockwise in FIG. By pair 13
It is sent to a transfer section between the photosensitive drum 14 and the transfer charger 15.

While passing through the transfer section, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 14 is sequentially transferred to the sheet surface by the transfer charger 15.

The sheet S on which the transfer of the toner image has been completed is sent to a pair of fixing rollers 17 by a conveyor belt 16.

Then, while passing through the nip of the fixing roller pair 17, the toner is heated and pressed to fix the transferred toner image on the sheet surface.

After the fixing process of the toner image, the sheet S conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers is in the normal mode.
The paper is sent to a paper discharge roller pair 20 through a paper discharge path 19, and is discharged onto a paper discharge tray outside the apparatus by the paper discharge roller pair 20.

In the normal mode, the flapper 22 opens the paper discharge path and closes the vertical path 23 as shown by the solid line.

Further, the sheet S conveyed by the conveying roller pair 18 after the fixing process of the toner image is sent to the vertical path 23 leading to the intermediate tray 29 in the case of the multiplex mode and the duplex mode.

In this case, the flapper 22 closes the discharge path 19 and opens the vertical path 23 as shown by the dotted line.

In the case of the multiplex mode, the sheet S sent to the vertical path 23 is sent to the carry-in path 27 by the pair of carry rollers 24-26, and is sent to the intermediate tray 2 by the pair of carry-in rollers 28.
The sheet 9 is sent to the discharge path 30 above and is discharged onto the intermediate tray 29 via the discharge path 30. In this multiplex mode, the flapper 31 opens the carry-in path 27 and closes the reverse path 32 as shown by the dotted line.

In the sheet conveying direction of the discharge path 30, a plurality of discharge roller pairs 33 to 36 and discharge flappers 37 to 40 are provided.
Indicates any of the discharge roller pairs 33 to 36 or the discharge steel 4
1, and are discharged onto the intermediate tray 29.

The sheet S discharged onto the intermediate tray 29 is
In the figure, the sheet is conveyed by an auxiliary roller 43 rotating in a counterclockwise direction until the leading end of the sheet comes into contact with a movable shutter 44 standing upright.

In this case, the leading end of the sheet is guided by a sheet guide 45 fixed in an inclined state, so that the curl is suppressed.

The auxiliary roller 43 stands by as indicated by the dotted line at the time of discharging the sheet, and immediately after discharging the sheet, descends as illustrated by the solid line to convey the sheet S.

An opening is formed in the sheet guide 45 so that the auxiliary roller 43 and a re-feed roller 46 described later can be moved up and down.

Sheets S stacked on the intermediate tray 29
Are sequentially fed from the uppermost sheet by a sheet re-feed roller 46 rotating in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing. In this case, the sheet re-feed roller 46 descends from the standby position shown by the solid line as shown by the dotted line, and feeds out the sheet S.

Further, the movable shutter 44 falls down in an inclined state, and guides the fed sheet S to the nip of the separation roller pair 47.

From the sheet S fed out by the re-feed roller 46, only the uppermost sheet is separated by the separation roller pair 47, and the rotation of the registration roller pair 13 is stopped via the conveyance roller pairs 9 to 12. Sent to

Thereafter, the second transfer of the toner image to the sheet S is performed. When the transfer is completed by the second transfer, the toner image is discharged onto the discharge tray 21 in the same manner as in the normal mode. Paper.

In the case of the double-side mode, the sheet S sent to the vertical path 23 is first sent to the reversing path by the conveying roller pairs 24-26.

In this case, the flapper 31 closes the carry-in path 27 and opens the reverse path 32 as shown by the solid line.

Then, the sheet S sent to the reversing path 32
Means that the rear end of the sheet is flapper 3
1 until it passes. Then, the reversing roller pair 4
8 is reversed and is switched back to pass through the carry-in path and sent to the discharge path.

In this case, the flapper 31 closes the vertical path 25 and opens the carry-in path 27 as shown by the dotted line.

The sheet S sent to the discharge path 30 is discharged to and stacked on the intermediate tray 29 in the same manner as in the case of the multiplex mode, and is re-fed by the re-feed roller 26.

From the sheet S fed out by the re-feed roller 46, only the uppermost sheet is separated by the separation roller pair 47, and the rotation is stopped via the conveyance roller pairs 9 to 12 to the registration roller pair 13 in a stopped state. Sent.

Thereafter, a second transfer of the toner image to the sheet S is performed, and when the transfer is completed in the second transfer,
The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 21 in the same manner as in the normal mode.

Next, a schematic configuration of the intermediate tray 29 of the copying machine will be described with reference to FIG.

In order to remove a jam occurring around the intermediate tray 29 or perform maintenance, the intermediate tray 29 is provided with an intermediate tray left rail 29b on the left rail 9 provided on the main body side.
1 can be pulled out from the front of the copying machine.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal transport section 50 is closed, and the intermediate tray (sheet stacking section) 29 is closed.
It is parallel to.

The intermediate tray 29 is provided with an intermediate tray lock pin 150 and a lock pin return spring 151.

In the state of FIG. 2 in which the horizontal transport section 50 is closed,
The intermediate tray lock pin 150 is returned by a return spring 151, and is opened through an opening 91a provided in the left rail 91, so that the intermediate tray 29 can be freely taken in and out of the copying machine main body.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the horizontal transport unit 50 is rotated and opened. When the horizontal transport unit 50 is opened around the center of rotation 37a and fixed as shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate tray lock pin 150 is pushed by the pushing member 90a provided at the end of the paper discharge flapper support plate 90, It is configured to rotate and be inserted into an opening provided in the left rail.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the vicinity of the intermediate tray lock pin 150 provided on the intermediate tray 29.

When the horizontal transport section 50 is closed, the intermediate tray lock pin 150 is at the position shown by the solid line, and the intermediate tray 29 is separated from the opening 91a formed in the left rail 91 and the intermediate tray 29 is moved to the image forming apparatus. Can be stored within.

When the horizontal transfer unit 50 is opened and fixed, the pushing member 90a is moved from the cutout portion 29a provided in the intermediate tray 29 to the intermediate tray lock pin end portion 15a.
0a is pushed in the direction of arrow a to bring the lock pin 150 to the position shown by the broken line.

Thus, the lock pin 150 is inserted into the opening 91a provided in the left rail 91.

As a result, the amount of movement of the intermediate tray 29 in the direction in which the intermediate tray 29 is stored in the copying machine is restricted, and it is possible to prevent the intermediate tray 29 from being stored in the copying machine when the horizontal transport unit 50 is opened.

As a result, when the horizontal transport unit 50 is opened, damage to the horizontal transport unit 50 caused by erroneously storing the intermediate tray 29 and causing the intermediate tray 29 to collide with the front of the copier can be prevented.

<< Embodiment 2 >> FIG. 5 shows another embodiment 2 of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, the intermediate tray lock pin provided on the copying machine side is inserted into and removed from the left rail 91 and the opening provided on the intermediate tray left rail 29b on the copying machine side. The operation is performed by a solenoid 186.

First, in a state where the horizontal transport unit 50 is closed,
The sensor arm 180 provided on the rear surface of the horizontal transfer unit 50 is pushed down by a protrusion 92c provided on the horizontal transfer unit (upper) 92, and is at a position indicated by a solid line in the drawing.

When the horizontal transport section 50 is rotated and opened in the direction of arrow b, the sensor arm 180 is pulled and rotated by the tension spring 181, lifts the sensor flag 182, and cuts off the sensor 183. That is, the position is indicated by a broken line in the figure.

The solenoid 186 is operated by a signal from the sensor 183 via a control circuit, and the intermediate tray lock pin 150 rotates, and is inserted into the openings formed in the left rail 91 and the intermediate tray left rail 29b. Will be.

As a result, similarly to the first embodiment, the amount of movement of the intermediate tray 29 in the storage direction of the copier is restricted.
When the horizontal transport unit 50 is opened, it can be prevented from being stored in the copying machine main body.

As a result, the intermediate tray is stored erroneously,
It is possible to prevent the horizontal transport unit 50 from being damaged due to collision with the front of the copying machine.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By providing a mechanism that prevents the intermediate tray from being stored in the main body of the image forming apparatus when the horizontal conveyance section on the intermediate tray is opened, the horizontal conveyance section collides with the apparatus main body by mistake,
It will not be damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a copying machine, which is an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an intermediate tray section according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an intermediate tray section according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the intermediate tray section according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another intermediate tray according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional intermediate tray unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 29 Intermediate tray (sheet stacking section) 29a Notch section 29b Intermediate tray left rail 50 Horizontal transport section 51 Left rail 150 Intermediate tray lock pin

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: loading means for loading sheets; and transport means provided on the loading means for transporting sheets, wherein the loading means and the transport means are pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. Drawer means, an opening means for opening the transport means pulled out by the drawer means on the stacking means, and a fixing means for fixing the transport means opened by the open means to the image forming apparatus main body. And an image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit is a lock mechanism that locks the transport unit in conjunction with an opening operation of the opening unit. 3. A stacking unit for stacking sheets, an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet stacked on the stacking unit, and an image forming unit for forming an image on the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a re-feeding stacking unit for stacking the sheet; and a conveying unit configured to convey the sheet stacked on the re-feeding stacking unit. A drawer for pulling out from the image forming apparatus main body, an opening means for opening the transporting means pulled out by the drawer on the re-feeding stacking means, and a transporting means opened by the opening means. Fixing means for fixing the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus main body. 4. The fixing device according to claim 3, wherein the fixing unit is a lock mechanism that locks the re-feeding stacking unit and the transporting unit in conjunction with an opening operation of the opening unit.
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 5. An image forming apparatus having a stacking unit for stacking sheets and a conveying unit provided on the stacking unit for conveying a sheet, wherein the stacking unit and the conveying unit are pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body. A loading means for opening the transport means pulled out by the pulling means on the stacking means; a detecting means for detecting that the transport means has been opened; and Fixing means for fixing the conveying means to the image forming apparatus main body when it is detected that the means is opened. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising control means for controlling said fixing means according to a detection result of said detection means. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fixing unit includes a solenoid that operates in accordance with a detection result of the detection unit, and a lock mechanism that locks the conveyance unit by the solenoid. . 8. A stacking unit for stacking sheets, an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet stacked on the stacking unit, and an image forming unit for forming an image on the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit. In an image forming apparatus having a re-feeding stacking unit that stacks the sheet and a conveying unit that conveys a sheet stacked on the re-feeding stacking unit, the re-feeding stacking unit and the conveying unit A drawer for pulling out from the image forming apparatus main body, an opening means for opening the transporting means pulled out by the drawer on the re-feeding stacking means, and detecting that the transporting means is opened. And a fixing unit for fixing the transport unit to the image forming apparatus main body when the detection unit detects that the transport unit has been opened. An image forming apparatus characterized by. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising control means for controlling said fixing means according to a detection result of said detection means. 10. The image according to claim 8, wherein the fixing unit is a solenoid that operates according to a detection result of the detection unit, and a lock mechanism that locks the transport unit by the operation of the solenoid. Forming equipment.