JPH10304117A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save the space of a device main body and to facilitate jam processing and maintenance operation. SOLUTION: This reader has an image read part 2 mounted on a reader mount base 7 on a rack 6 and the device main body 5, equipped with an image formation part 3, mounted on a printer mount base 9 below the rack 6 and is provided with a paper discharge tray part 22a in the space part 23 between the image read part 2 and device main body 5, and a transfer material P having an image formed by the image formation part 3 is discharged to the paper discharge tray part 22a. Consequently, the paper discharge tray need not be provided projecting from the flank of the device main body 5, so the installation occupation area is made small to save the space. Further, the device main body 5 can be drawn out of the rack 6 to the front side integrally with the printer mount base 9, so the device main body 5 is drawn out to the front side without detaching the image read part 2, so that jam processing and maintenance operation for the image formation part 3 can easily be carried out.

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 copying machine and a facsimile, which uses an electrophotographic system and has an image reading section and an image forming section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, such as an electrophotographic copying machine, is configured as an apparatus in which an image reading section and an image forming section are integrally combined. The reflected light of the image is transmitted to a drum type electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter, referred to as a photosensitive member) as an image carrier provided in an image forming section, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive member. Around the photoconductor, there are provided developing means for forming a toner image, transfer means for transferring the formed toner image to a transfer material such as paper, and fixing means for fixing the toner image to the transfer material.

The above-described conventional image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is configured as shown in, for example, JP-A-2-231324.

In such a conventional image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, an image reading section is arranged at an upper portion of the apparatus main body, and an image forming section is provided at a lower portion of the image reading section. In order to supply the transfer material, a paper feed unit having a plurality of paper feed trays is provided below the apparatus main body (below the image forming unit).

The above-described image forming apparatus is configured as an apparatus using a method of writing an image by transmitting light obtained by scanning an image on a document directly to a photosensitive member. On the other hand, there is also a case where a mechanism for outputting information obtained by scanning a document as a digital signal in the image reading unit and forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member using a writing unit using a laser beam in the image forming unit is provided. is there.

The configuration of the conventional digital image forming apparatus such as a copying machine will be described with reference to FIG.

This image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit 101
In addition, an image forming unit 102 is provided below the image reading unit 101, and a sheet feeding unit 103 is installed below the image forming unit 102. The image forming unit 102 and the paper feeding unit 103 are provided in the apparatus main body 100.

The image processing unit 104 of the image reading unit 101
Converts image information of a read original (not shown) into a time-series electric digital pixel signal (image signal) and outputs the signal to an exposure device (laser scanning device) 106 through a signal line 105. Scanning exposure is performed on the charged photoconductor 107 by a laser beam modulated in accordance with an image signal output from the exposure device 106 and output from the image processing unit 104 to the exposure device 106. And photoreceptor 1
07, an electrostatic latent image is sequentially formed. The electrostatic latent images formed on the photoconductor 107 are sequentially developed as toner images by the developing device 108.

On the other hand, the transfer materials P stored in the plurality of paper feed cassettes 109 of the paper feed unit 103 are
10 through the transport path 111 one by one
The paper is fed to a transfer nip between the transfer member 112 and the transfer device 112, and the toner image on the photoconductor 107 is transferred to the transfer material P. The transfer material P on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 114 by a conveyance belt 113 and subjected to a fixing process.
Is discharged to a discharge tray 116 provided on the side surface of.

[0010]

In the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, the transfer material P on which the toner image is fixed is used.
Since the discharge tray 116 from which the paper is discharged protrudes from the side surface of the apparatus main body 100, an extra space is required for the discharge tray 116, and the installation area of the entire apparatus increases.

A transfer path 111 for transferring a transfer material P such as paper supplied from a paper supply unit 103 to a transfer device 112.
When a paper jam occurs, the opening / closing door 117 provided on the side of the apparatus body for opening and closing the jammed paper requires extra space for opening / closing the opening / closing door 117. The area increases. For this reason, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, when other apparatuses and the like are arranged on both sides of the image forming apparatus, those apparatuses and the like cannot be arranged close to the image forming apparatus, and Space is required.

In the case where another device or the like is arranged close to both sides of the above-described conventional image forming device, the other device is moved when maintenance or the like of the image forming device is performed, or It is necessary to move the image forming apparatus.

In addition, during maintenance of the exposure device 106, it is necessary to remove the image reading unit 101 in order to work from above the image forming unit 102.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which can reduce the installation area of the entire apparatus and can easily perform a jam clearing operation and a maintenance operation.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an image forming section for forming an image, a main body containing the image forming section, and reading image information of a document. In an image forming apparatus provided with an image reading section, a storage frame for providing the space above the apparatus main body and disposing the image reading section, and separately storing the apparatus main body and the image reading section, respectively. A discharge unit that discharges a transfer material on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is provided in the space between the apparatus main body and the image reading unit, and the apparatus main body is a front side of the apparatus main body. And is provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the storage frame.

Further, a cassette for storing the transfer material is disposed below the image forming section of the apparatus main body, and the cassette is inserted from the front side of the apparatus main body.

The storage frame includes a first mounting table on which the image reading unit is mounted on an upper part, and a second mounting table on which the apparatus main body is mounted on a bottom plate provided on a lower part. The second mounting table is movably mounted on the bottom plate to the front side of the apparatus body integrally with the apparatus body.

Further, a groove is formed in the bottom plate of the storage frame along the front side of the apparatus main body, and a rotatable roller sliding along the groove is formed on a lower surface of the second mounting table. Provided,
Furthermore, a caster is provided on the front side of the second mounting table, the caster being grounded to the installation surface of the storage frame when the second mounting table is pulled out to the front side of the apparatus body. .

Further, a lock member is provided on the second mounting table so as to releasably fix and hold the second mounting table to the bottom plate.

Further, the image reading section takes in the reflected light image from the document obtained by performing the exposure scanning to reading means and converts it into an image signal, and the image forming section reads the reflected light image from the image reading section. It is characterized in that an image is formed based on an image signal or an image signal input from the outside.

The image forming section includes an image carrier for carrying an image, charging means for charging the image carrier, exposure means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, The image forming apparatus further includes a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and a transfer unit that transfers the toner image to the transfer material.

(Operation) According to the structure of the present invention, a space is provided between the image reading section and the apparatus main body provided with the image forming section, and the image reading section and the apparatus main body are vertically mounted on the storage frame. By arranging and discharging the transfer material on which an image is formed to a discharge portion provided in a space between the apparatus main body and the image reading section, an image is formed by projecting from the side of the apparatus main body as in the related art. Since there is no need to provide a discharge tray for receiving the transferred transfer material, no space is required for the discharge tray, and the installation area can be reduced.

Further, since the apparatus main body having the image forming section is installed so as to be able to be pulled out from the storage frame to the front side of the apparatus main body, the apparatus main body can be pulled out to the front side without removing the image reading section. Accordingly, the jam processing and the maintenance of the image forming unit can be easily performed.

[0024]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view thereof, FIG. 3 and a right side view thereof. As shown in these figures, an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment reads out image information of a document and processes the digital information with a digital signal, and reads image information read by the image reading unit 2. An apparatus body 5 having an image forming unit (printer) 3 for forming an image on a transfer material P such as paper and a paper feeding unit 4, and a rack for vertically arranging and holding the image reading unit 2 and the apparatus body 5 6.

The image reading section 2 is mounted on a reader mounting table 7 provided above the rack 6.
The image forming apparatus 1 is mounted on a printer mounting table 9 that is movable on a rack bottom plate 8 provided at a lower part and is movable in the direction of arrow a (the front-back direction of the image forming apparatus 1). The image reading unit 2 and the apparatus main body 5
Normally, the positioning member (not shown) mounts and fixes the reader mounting table 7 and the printer mounting table 9 at predetermined positions.

The image reading unit 2 scans a control panel 10 for operating the image forming apparatus 1 and an illumination scanning of a document (not shown) placed on a document table glass 11 and pressed and held by a platen cover 12. An image processing unit 14 for processing image information of the document scanned by the scanning unit 13 with a digital signal;

The image forming section 3 includes a drum type photosensitive member 15 as an image carrier, a charging device 16, an exposure device 17, a developing device 18, a transfer device 19, a fixing device 20, and the like.

The plurality of paper cassettes 21 stored in the paper supply unit 4 are inserted from the front of the apparatus main body 5. Device body 5
On the top cover 22 provided on the upper part of the
a is formed. A predetermined space 23 is formed between the top cover 22 of the apparatus main body 5 and the reader mounting table 7 above the rack 6. The image forming section 3 is provided in the front door.

Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

At the time of image formation, the photosensitive member 15 is driven to rotate at a predetermined process speed by a driving means (not shown), and receives a uniform charging process by a charging device 16 to which a bias voltage is applied.

Then, from the image processing section 14 to the exposure device 17
Based on a digital signal (image signal) input through a signal line 25, an image is given to the surface of the charged photoconductor 15 from the exposure device 17, and an electrostatic charge corresponding to image information of a document (not shown) is given. A latent image is formed. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 18 and is visualized as a toner image.

When the toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor 15 reaches the transfer nip between the photoreceptor 15 and the transfer device 19, the transfer material P stored in the sheet cassette 21 is opened and closed at this timing. The paper is conveyed to this transfer nip through a conveyance path 27 provided inside a free right door 26,
The transfer device 19 to which the bias voltage is applied transfers the toner image. The transfer material P on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 20, where the transferred toner image is fixed on the transfer material P as a permanent fixed image and discharged.

The transfer material on which the toner image is fixed is transferred to a reversing path 29 provided inside an openable left door 28 of the apparatus main body 5.
The paper is then discharged to a paper discharge tray 22a provided in the space 23 on the apparatus main body 5.

If a jam occurs during the above-described image formation, the front door 24, the right door 26, and the left door 28 of the apparatus main body 5 are opened, and the jam in the transport path 27 and the reversing path 29 is performed.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
Can be pulled out from the rack 6 to the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 together with the printer mounting table 9 (details will be described later). Therefore, even when there is no space on both sides of the image forming apparatus 1, 1 can be easily pulled out to perform the jam processing.

Also, during maintenance of the exposure device 17 and the like, maintenance can be easily performed by pulling out the apparatus main body 5 to the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 and removing the top cover 22.

Next, the configuration of the rack 6 will be described in detail.

The rack bottom plate 8 of the rack 6 has an apparatus body 5
The rotatable casters 30 for the movement are provided at the four corners, respectively, and are fixed by adjusters (not shown) at the time of installation.

Before and after both sides of the lower portion of the printer mounting table 9,
A rotatable roller 31 that slides in a groove 8 a formed in the rack bottom plate 8 along the front-rear direction of the apparatus body 5 is provided, and a rotatable caster 32 is provided in front of the printer mounting table 9. Are provided, and the casters 32
When the device body 5 is pulled out to the front side, it is grounded to the installation surface to prevent the device body 5 from tipping over.

As shown in FIG. 5, a lock lever 33 for fixing and holding the printer mounting table 9 to the rack bottom plate 8 is rotatably provided on a shaft 34 in front of the printer mounting table 9. The lock portion 3 is provided at one end of the lock lever 33.
3a is formed, and on the other end side, a lock lever 33 is
Is formed as a fulcrum. A stopper 33c is formed on the upper part of the lock lever 33, and the stopper 33c is
, The rotation of the lock lever 33, which is pressed clockwise in the figure by the coil spring 35 provided between the lock lever 33 and the printer mounting table 9, is limited.

In the normal state in which the apparatus main body 5 is stored in the rack 6, as shown in FIG. 5, the lock portion 33 a of the lock lever 33 is provided on the protruding portion 8 a formed on the front side of the rack bottom plate 8. The apparatus main body 5 is fixedly held in the rack 6 by being locked by the pressure of 35. Then, when performing jam clearance or maintenance, as shown in FIG. 6, the handle portion 33b of the lock lever 33 is rotated counterclockwise (in the direction of the arrow b) in the figure, so that the protrusion 8a of the rack bottom plate 8 is The lock of the lock portion 33 a of the lock lever 33 is released, and the apparatus main body 5 placed on the printer mounting table 9 is pulled out integrally with the printer mounting table 9 toward the front side (the direction of the arrow a) of the image forming apparatus 1. be able to.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the space 23 is provided between the image reading section 2 and the apparatus main body 5 having the image forming section 3 so that the image reading section 2 and the apparatus main body 5 are mounted on the rack 6. The transfer material P on which an image is formed is discharged vertically to a paper discharge tray 22a provided in a space between the image reading unit 2 and the apparatus main body 5 as in the related art. Since there is no need to provide a discharge tray that receives the transfer material P on which an image has been formed by projecting from the side surface, a space for the discharge tray is not required, and the occupied area of the image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced.

Further, since the apparatus main body 5 provided with the image forming section 3 can be pulled out from the rack 6 to the front side of the apparatus main body 5, the front door 24, the right door 26, and the left door 28 of the pulled out apparatus main body 5 can be obtained. By opening the cover and removing the top cover 22, it is possible to easily perform the jam processing and the maintenance of the image forming unit 3 without removing the image reading unit 2.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, a space is provided between the image reading section and the apparatus main body provided with the image forming section, and the image reading section and the apparatus main body are mounted on the storage frame. The transfer material on which the image is formed is disposed vertically and discharged to a discharge unit provided in a space between the image reading unit and the apparatus main body, so that the image is projected from the side of the apparatus main body as in the related art. Since there is no need to provide a paper discharge tray for receiving the formed transfer material, no space is required for the paper discharge tray, and the area occupied by the paper discharge tray can be reduced, so that space can be saved.

Further, since the apparatus main body provided with the image forming section can be pulled out from the housing frame to the front side of the apparatus main body, the apparatus main body can be pulled out to the front side without removing the image reading section to perform jam processing and the like. Maintenance of the image forming unit can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing an image forming apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the apparatus main body is pulled out of a rack.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a state where the printer mounting table is fixedly held on a rack bottom plate.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a state where the fixed holding of the printer mounting table is released and the printer mounting table is pulled out.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image reading part 3 Image forming part 4 Paper feeding part 5 Device main body 6 Rack (storage frame) 7 Leader mounting table (1st mounting table) 8 Rack bottom plate 8a Projection section 9 Printer mounting table (2nd) 11) Scanning unit (reading unit) 14 Image processing unit 15 Photoconductor (image carrier) 16 Charging device (charging unit) 17 Exposure device (exposure unit) 18 Developing device (developing unit) 19 Transfer device (transfer unit) 20) Fixing device 22 Top cover 22a Discharge tray section (discharge section) 30, 32 Caster 31 Roller 33 Lock lever 33a Lock section 33b Handle section

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit for forming an image; an apparatus main body containing the image forming unit; and an image reading unit for reading image information of a document. A space portion is provided, the image reading section is arranged, and a storage frame body for separately storing the apparatus main body and the image reading section is provided, wherein the space section between the apparatus main body and the image reading section is provided. A discharge unit for discharging the transfer material on which the image is formed by the image forming unit is provided, and the apparatus main body is installed on the front side of the apparatus main body so as to be able to be pulled out from the storage frame. Image forming device. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cassette that stores the transfer material is disposed below the image forming unit of the apparatus main body, and the cassette is inserted from a front side of the apparatus main body. 3. The storage frame body includes a first mounting table on which the image reading unit is mounted on an upper part, and a second mounting table on which the apparatus main body is mounted on a bottom plate provided on a lower part. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second mounting table is movably installed on the bottom plate on the front side of the apparatus main body integrally with the apparatus main body. 3. 4. A groove is formed in the bottom plate of the storage frame along a front side of the apparatus main body, and a rotatable roller sliding along the groove is formed on a lower surface of the second mounting table. A caster provided on the front side of the second mounting table, the caster being grounded to the installation surface of the storage frame when the second mounting table is pulled out to the front side of the apparatus body. 3. The image forming apparatus according to 3. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a lock member is provided on the second mounting table so as to releasably fix and hold the second mounting table to the bottom plate. 6. The image reading section takes in the reflected light image from the document obtained by performing the exposure scanning into reading means and converts it into an image signal, and the image forming section reads the reflected light image from the image reading section. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus forms an image based on an image signal or an externally input image signal. 7. The image forming section includes: an image carrier for carrying an image; a charging unit for charging the image carrier; an exposing unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image to form a toner image; and a transfer unit that transfers the toner image onto the transfer material.