JPH11184018A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device more excellent in locking performance than the conventional image forming device. SOLUTION: A fixing member 13 is provided on an upstream side in a scanning direction from the read starting position of an image read means 12, and a moving member 21 energized by an energizing means 24a toward the member 13 is moved together with the means 12 against the energizing force of the means 24a when the means 12 is moved in the scanning direction. When the means 12 is moved to the image read finishing position, the member 21 moved together with the means 12 is locked by a locking means 17 against the enerizing force, while locking by the locking means 17 is released when a main body is moved. Thus, the member 21 is moved to be restored toward the member 13 by the energizing force, and the means 12 is pressed by the member 21 and is moved to a position where it is fixed by the member 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a fixing structure of image reading means when the image forming apparatus is transported.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus provided with an image reading means for placing a sheet on an upper surface of a main body while being arranged below the sheet and moving in a scanning direction to read an image of the sheet. In such an image forming apparatus, particularly, an image reading means such as a mirror scanning table is precisely assembled.

[0003] Therefore, when a strong external force such as vibration is applied during product shipment or when the apparatus is moved, the mirror or lens is shaken and displaced, so that good image formation is not performed. Therefore, in order to prevent this, conventionally, a transport lock screw for locking and fixing the lens and the mirror base has been tightened in advance and shipped. The transport lock screw is designed to be easily detachable by a user, and can be copied by removing the lock screw at the time of initial installation.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having better lock performance than a conventional image forming apparatus.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for placing a sheet on an upper surface of a main body and disposing the sheet below the sheet and moving in a scanning direction to read an image of the sheet. In the image forming apparatus provided with, a fixing member provided on the scanning direction upstream side of the reading start position of the image reading means and fixing the image reading means, and biased by the biasing means in the direction of the fixing member Together, when the image reading means moves in the scanning direction,
A moving member that moves with the image reading means while resisting the urging force of the urging means, and a moving member that moves with the image reading means resists the urging force when the image reading means moves to the reading end position. Locking means for releasing the locking of the moving member when the main body is moved, and the locking by the locking means is released when the main body is moved. The image reading unit is pressed by the moving member that returns in the direction of the fixing member by the urging force, and the image reading unit is moved to a position fixed to the fixing member. .

Further, according to the present invention, the image reading means has an engaging portion which engages with the fixing member, and the fixing member has
After the movement of the main body is completed, an operation is performed to release the engagement with the engagement portion.

Further, according to the present invention, the engaging portion includes a holding hole for holding the fixing member, and an engaging claw provided at a tip of the holding hole so as to be rotatable only inward. It is characterized by being.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the fixing member and the engaging portion elastically engage with each other.

Further, in the present invention, the locking means is configured to move in a direction for releasing the locking of the moving member in conjunction with a lifting operation of the main body when the main body is moved. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, the locking means is provided at one end thereof,
A rotating unit configured to be pressed and rotated by a moving member that moves together with the image reading unit, to return to and rotate after passing through the moving member, and to lock the moving member. It is.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the main body is provided with guide means for guiding the movement of the moving member.

Further, as in the present invention, the image reading means is fixed upstream of the reading start position of the image reading means for reading the image of the sheet placed on the upper surface of the main body by moving in the scanning direction. A fixing member is provided, and the moving member urged by the urging means in the direction of the fixing member is moved together with the image reading means while resisting the urging force of the urging means when the image reading means moves in the scanning direction. To When the image reading means moves to the image reading end position, the moving member moved together with the image reading means is locked by the locking means while resisting the urging force. By releasing the lock, the moving member is returned in the direction of the fixed member by the urging force, and the image reading means is pressed by the moving member to move the image reading means to a position fixed to the fixed member.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the overall configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which forms an image using an electrophotographic image forming method as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. . In FIG. 1, reference numeral A denotes an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus A includes an image reading unit 1, a photosensitive drum 7 serving as an image carrier, a developing unit 9, a fixing unit 5, and the like. .

Here, the image reading means 1 includes a sheet (not shown) placed with its image surface facing down on a document glass 1a provided on the upper surface of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body) A1. The original is irradiated with light from a light source 1b, and the reflected light is reflected from first, second and third mirrors 1
e, 1f, 1g, the focusing lens 1d, and the fourth and fifth mirrors 1c, 1c 'to irradiate the photosensitive drum 7 in the process cartridge B to form a latent image. Thereby, a visible image is formed as a toner image.

In synchronization with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium 2 is picked up from a paper feed cassette 3a by a pickup roller 3a.
b, a reversing roller 3c, and a conveying means 3 including a conveying roller pair 3d, a registration roller pair 3e, and the like. Thereafter, in the image forming section, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred to the recording medium 2 by the transfer roller 4 as a transfer unit.

Thereafter, the recording medium 2 is transported by the transport belt 3f to the fixing rotator 5a which receives heat from the heater.
And a driving roller 5b that presses and conveys the recording medium 2 to the fixing rotator 5a, and is applied when passing between the fixing rotator 5a and the roller 5b. The toner image is fixed on the recording medium 2 by heat and pressure. The recording medium 2 that has passed the fixing unit 5 is discharged to a discharge tray 6.

In the process cartridge B constituting the image forming means, the photosensitive drum 7 having the photosensitive layer is rotated, and the surface thereof is uniformly charged by applying a voltage to a charging roller 8 as a charging means. The light image from the means 1 is exposed to the photosensitive drum 7 through an exposure opening to form a latent image, and is developed by the developing means 9.

The developing means 9 sends out the toner in the toner reservoir 9a by a toner sending member 9b, rotates a developing roller 9c having a fixed magnet therein, and removes the toner layer provided with a triboelectric charge by a developing blade 9d. The toner image is formed on the surface of the developing roller 9c, and the toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 in accordance with the latent image, thereby forming a toner image and visualizing the toner image.

After the transfer roller 4 has transferred the toner image to the recording medium 2 as described above, the process cartridge B uses the cleaning blade to scrape off the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 and store the waste toner. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by the cleaning means 10 for collecting the toner.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a first mirror base for holding the first mirror 1e, and reference numeral 12 denotes a second mirror base for holding the second and third mirrors 1f and 1g. , 12 are provided with an optical motor (not shown) and an optical wire (not shown) driven by a gear train.

When reading an original, the optical motor operates, and the mirror tables 11 and 12 move and scan in the direction of arrow C from the image reading start position shown in FIG. When the original is read, an arrow D is displayed.
, And returns to the image reading start position again.

On the other hand, in the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes the image reading means 1, specifically a lock device for locking the mirror bases 11 and 12, and 13 a lock member which is a fixed member which swings around a swing shaft 14 as a fulcrum. , 12a are engaging portions, and the engaging portions 12a protrude from side portions of the second mirror base 12 so as to engage with the lock members 13. The lock member 13 and the engagement portion 12a constitute a part of the lock device 20. The details of the engaging portion 12a will be described later.

Here, at the upper end of the lock member 13,
As shown in FIG. 2, a lock claw 13 a that engages with the engagement portion 12 a of the second mirror base 12 is formed. The lock member 13 is urged in the clockwise direction by a lock spring 15 attached between the lock claw 13a and the swing shaft 14, so that the lock member 13 is engaged with the engagement portion 12a of the second mirror base 12. It is held in a possible position.

Further, a plunger 16a of a solenoid 16 is connected to the lower end of the lock member 13, and when the power is turned on and the copy button is pressed as described later, the solenoid 16 is operated, whereby the solenoid 16 is operated. It swings in the direction in which the engagement with the second mirror base 12 is released, that is, in the counterclockwise direction.

In the same figure, reference numeral 31 denotes an opening 31a.
An optical frame plate provided with the first and second mirror bases 11,
When the second mirror stand 12 is at the reading start position,
Is in a state of protruding from the opening 31a. Since the lock member 13 is provided on the upstream side in the scanning direction from the reading start position of the second mirror base 12, even if the engagement portion 12a is in a protruding state, as shown in FIG. Does not engage.

On the other hand, reference numeral 30 denotes the first and second
The optical guide frame 30 extends in the scanning direction of the mirror bases 11 and 12. The optical guide frame 30 has a guide groove 30a extending in the scanning direction. Reference numeral 12c denotes an arm formed on the second mirror base 12, and this arm 12c
When the second mirror base 12 moves in the scanning direction, it moves along the guide groove 30a.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a moving piece which is a moving member which moves on a moving rail 22 along a guide groove 30a which is a guide means. When the second mirror base 12 moves in the scanning direction, an arm 21 is used. 12c
It moves in the scanning direction together with the mirror base 12. Further, a return strip 23 fed from a reel box 24 is fixed to the moving piece 21.

Here, in the reel box 24, there is provided a winding means 2 which is an urging means using a spring or the like.
4a, the moving piece 21 is always taken up by the take-up means 24a via the returned strip 23 in the direction in which it is taken up into the reel box, that is, the lock member 13 is provided.
It is urged in the direction of.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a moving frame 21 which locks the moving frame 21 urged in the direction of the lock member 13.
The slide bar 17 is a locking means for preventing movement of the rotary member 17 in the direction of the lock member.
a, the main body 17b, the return spring 17c, and the projection spring 1
7g. The remaining portion of the lock device 20 is constituted by the slide bar 17 and the moving piece 21.

Here, the rotating portion 17a is rotatably supported on the upper end of the main body portion 17b.
When the moving member 2 moves in the scanning direction, the moving member 21 is pressed by the moving frame 21 that moves together with the second mirror base 12, and rotates in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving frame 21. Thereby, the moving piece 21 can pass through the slide bar 17.

The rotating portion 17a is connected to the main body 17b.
When the movable piece 21 passes and the pressing by the movable piece 21 is released, the return spring 17c returns to the original state in which the movement of the movable piece 21 shown in FIG. It is designed to rotate.

When the rotating portion 17a returns to the original state, when the second mirror base 12 after reading is returned to the reading start position, the second mirror base 12 is biased by the winding means 24a. Moving top 2 trying to return with
1 comes into contact with the abutting portion 17e formed on the rotating portion 17a as shown in FIG. 3, so that the movement of the movable piece 21 is prevented.

In the figure, reference numeral 17h denotes a contact portion of the rotating portion 17a with which the moving piece 21 moving together with the second mirror base 12 contacts, and the moving piece 21 is turned on this contact portion 17h. A tapered surface is provided so that the moving part 17a can pass through while rotating.

The main body 17b is provided with a protruding spring 17g.
Accordingly, the lower end portion 17f is urged to protrude from the hole 18 formed in the bottom surface A2 of the apparatus main body A1. Normally, when the apparatus main body A1 is installed, the lower end of the main body portion 17b comes into contact with an installation surface (not shown), so that the slide bar 17 compresses the projecting spring 17g while moving the moving piece 21. It is in a state of preventing movement.

On the other hand, when the apparatus main body A1 is lifted when the apparatus main body A1 is moved, the main body 1 is moved by the projecting spring 17g.
7b moves in a direction in which the lower end portion 17f protrudes, and when the main body portion 17b moves downward as described above, the rotating portion 17a also moves downward, whereby the contact with the moving piece 21 is released. As a result, the movable piece 21 moves in the direction of the lock member 13 by the urging force of the winding means 24a, and collides with the arm 12c of the second mirror base 12.

Here, when the moving piece 21 collides in this way, the second mirror base 12, which has not been engaged with the lock claw 13a, moves in a direction to further protrude the engaging portion 12a. Thus, the engaging portion 12a comes into engagement with the lock claw 13a.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views for explaining in detail the engagement between the engagement portion 12a of the second mirror base and the lock claw 13a. 4 and FIG.
e is a holding hole provided in the engaging portion 12a so as to hold the lock claw 13a, and 12b is a pair of upper and lower engaging claws provided at the tip of the holding hole 12e so as to be rotatable only inward.
2d is a leaf spring.

When the second mirror base 12 passes the reading start position due to the collision of the moving frame 21,
As shown in FIG. 4, the locking claw 12b approaches the lock claw 13a of the lock member 13, and the two locking claws 12b are eventually pushed down by the lock claw 13a as shown in FIG.

After that, the second mirror base 12 is left as it is.
Is further moved in the direction of the arrow, the lock claw 13a is held in the holding hole 12e. After the lock claw 13a has passed, the locking claw 12b is pushed back by the leaf spring 12d and returns to the state shown in FIG. Here, since the locking claw 12a does not rotate in the direction in which the locking claw 13a comes out, the second
Even when an external force is applied to the mirror base 12, the lock claw 13a does not come off. Thus, the second mirror base 12 is locked and fixed to the lock member 13 via the engagement portion 12a and the lock claw 13a.

The first mirror base 11 is connected to the second mirror base 1
2 is connected to the second mirror base 1 by an optical wire.
At the same time as 2 is locked, the first mirror base 11 is also locked. Therefore, even when an external force due to transportation is applied, neither of the mirror stands 11 and 12 moves.

When the power is turned on and the copy button (not shown) is pressed after the apparatus main body A1 is installed, a sensor (not shown) detects that the second mirror base 12 is at the lock position, and thereby the solenoid 16 Operates, and the lock member 13 swings and is released from the engagement portion 12a as described above.

Thereafter, the second mirror base 12 starts reading and scanning together with the first mirror base 11, and the lock claw 13a
Move from the position where it can be engaged with, and the locked state is released. After that, the energization of the solenoid 16 is terminated, and the lock member 13 is again brought into the vertical state.

On the other hand, when the second mirror base 12 starts reading scanning, the moving piece 21 moves in the direction of the slide bar 17 together with the second mirror base 12 and comes into contact with the rotating part 17a. Further, since the second mirror table 12 continues to scan, the moving piece 21 also continues to move, and the rotating part 17a is moved by the mutual contact between the moving piece 21 and the contact part 17h having a tapered surface of the rotating part 17a. The moving piece 21 is retracted from the moving path.

Next, the apparatus main body A1 constructed as described above
Will be described.

First, the operation in normal copying will be described. In this case, when the copy button is pressed, the second mirror base 12 at the reading start position shown in FIG. 2 starts reading scanning, and eventually moves to the vicinity of the reading end position as shown in FIG. In normal copying,
The moving piece 21 is in a state formed by the slide bar 17.

After that, the arm 12c of the second mirror base 12 abuts on the projection 21a of the moving piece 21 projecting from the slit 30a of the optical guide frame 30, and continues scanning slightly further with the moving piece 21. The second mirror base 12 reaches the reading end position. Next, the second mirror base 12 returns to the reading start position shown in FIG. 2 again. As described above, during the normal copy operation, the second mirror base 12
And the position shown in FIG.

Next, a case where the apparatus main body A1 is lifted for carrying (moving) will be described.

Here, the second mirror base 12 is mounted on the apparatus main body A1.
Assume that the robot was at an arbitrary position between the positions shown in FIG. Then, in this state, the apparatus body A1
7, the slide bar 17 is slid by a predetermined amount in the direction in which the lower end portion 17f is protruded by the protruding spring 17g, that is, downward by a predetermined amount. The contact with 21 is released.

As a result, the movable piece 21 is moved in the direction of the lock member 13 by the return strip 23, and
The second mirror table 12 in the middle of scanning moves to the lock position. That is, the second
The mirror base 12 continues to move beyond the reading start position by the moving piece 21, and as a result, the engaging portion 12a engages with the lock claw 13a of the lock member 13 as shown in FIG. As a result, the movement of the second mirror base 12 at an arbitrary position and its lock are established.

On the other hand, after the second mirror base 12 is locked in this way, the transport is performed, and the apparatus main body A1 is placed on the floor again, and the slide bar 17 is pushed back from the floor as shown in FIG. Then, the rotating portion 17a enters the moving path of the moving piece 21. At this time, the second mirror base 12 remains locked.

In this state, when the power is turned on again and the copy button is pressed, the solenoid 16 operates based on the detection signal from the sensor. As a result, the lock claw 13a swings counterclockwise as shown in FIG.
Release from 2a.

Thereafter, when the second mirror base 12 starts reading scanning together with the first mirror base 11, the engaging portion 12a moves from the locked position as shown in FIG. 10, and the locked state is released. After that, as shown in FIG. 11, the energization of the solenoid 16 is terminated, and the lock member 13 returns to the vertical state.

On the other hand, the moving piece 21 is
Moves in the direction of the slide bar 17 in accordance with the scanning, and comes into contact with the rotating portion 17a as shown in FIG. After this,
Since the second mirror base 12 continues to scan, the moving frame 21 also continues to move, and as a result, is pressed by the moving frame 21, and the rotating portion 17 a rotates and retreats from the moving path of the moving frame 21.

Thereafter, the second mirror table 12 continues scanning, and finally reaches the position shown in FIG. As a result, the moving piece 21 passes through the rotating portion 17a and at the same time, the rotating portion 17a
Returns to the vertical state again. In addition, since the return strip 23 is unreeled from the reel box 24 with the operation during this time, the biasing force for rewinding the return strip 23 is stored again in the winding means 24a.

After the reading scan is completed, the second mirror base 12 returns to the position shown in FIG. 2 again. However, since the moving piece 21 is prevented from moving by the rotating portion 17a, the return strip 23 is provided.
This state is maintained until the apparatus main body A1 is lifted again without being returned.

As described above, the slide bar 1 is moved while moving the moving piece 21 moving with the second mirror base 12 against the urging force.
7, while the device body A1 is moved,
The second mirror base 12 can be fixed to the lock member 13 by releasing the lock by the slide bar 17 and pressing the second mirror base 12 by the moving piece 21.

Thus, when the user moves the apparatus main body A1 over a long distance and for a long time, for example, when the user moves.
Even if you forget to attach the transport lock screw or turn off the power during copying, and the mirror table is transported regardless of the mirror table being in the middle of scanning, the mirror table shifts and the image deteriorates Such a phenomenon can be prevented from occurring. In addition, the lock screw for the scanning mirror for transportation is not required, and the trouble of mounting and removing the lock screw can be omitted.

In this embodiment, one idler gear in a gear train after the optical motor for driving the mirror bases 11 and 12 is constituted as a swing gear, and the apparatus is similar to the slide bar 17. If the swing gear is released in synchronization with the lifting operation of the main body A1 and the transmission of the gear train is cut off here, when the mirror bases 1 and 12 are returned, the optical motor is rotated in reverse. This is advantageous because power can be saved and the spring force of the winding means 24a can be reduced.

In the above description, the case where the mirror bases 11 and 12 are driven by optical wires has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the system without optical wires, that is, the mirror scanning base is used. In the case of a direct drive linear motor drive system or an ultrasonic motor drive system, when the power is not supplied, the mirror base is movable, so vibration countermeasures during transportation are essential, and the effect of the present invention is enormous. .

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the image reading means moves to the image reading end position,
The moving member that moves together with the image reading means is locked while resisting the urging force, and when the main body is moved, the locking is released and the moving member is returned toward the fixed member to press the image reading means. By doing so, the image reading means can be fixed to the fixing member.

Thus, even if the image reading means is at any position in the scanning range and the power is turned off at that time, the image reading means can be locked by lifting the apparatus main body. Forgetting can be resolved, and the locking performance is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a lock device of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a rotating portion of a slide bar constituting the lock device.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state before an engaging portion of a second mirror base is engaged with a lock claw of a lock portion constituting the lock device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which an engagement portion of the second mirror base and a lock claw of a lock portion are engaged.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the second mirror base has moved from a reading start position to a position near a reading end position.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which when the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is lifted, the slide bar slides downward to release contact with a moving frame;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the slide bar is pushed back from the floor surface when the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is installed, and a rotating unit enters a moving path of a moving piece.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which a lock claw of the lock portion is released from an engagement portion.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state when the second mirror base starts reading scanning together with the first mirror base.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state where the lock member is in a vertical state and a moving piece comes into contact with a slide bar.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Image forming apparatus A1 Main body 1 Image reading means 11 First mirror base 12 Second mirror base 12a Locking portion 12b Locking claw 12c Arm 12e Holding hole 13 Locking member 13a Locking claw 16 Solenoid 17 Slide bar 17a Rotating portion 17c Return spring 18 hole 20 locking device 21 moving piece 23 return strip 24 reel box 24a winding means 30 optical guide frame 30a guide groove

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image reading unit for placing a sheet on an upper surface of a main body, disposed below the sheet, and moving in a scanning direction to read an image on the sheet. A fixing member provided upstream of the reading start position of the image reading means in the scanning direction and fixing the image reading means; and a biasing means in the direction of the fixing member for urging the image reading means to scan the image reading means. A moving member that moves with the image reading means while resisting the urging force of the urging means when moving in the direction, and a moving member that moves with the image reading means when the image reading means moves to the reading end position. And locking means for releasing the locking of the moving member when the main body is moved, while the main body is moved. When being moved, the locking by the locking means is released, and the image reading means is pressed by the moving member which returns in the direction of the fixing member by the urging force, and the image reading means is moved to the fixing member. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is moved to a fixed position. 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging portion for engaging with the fixing member, wherein the fixing member releases the engagement with the engaging portion after the movement of the main body is completed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus operates. 3. The engaging portion includes a holding hole for holding the fixing member, and an engaging claw provided at the tip of the holding hole so as to be rotatable only inward. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member and the engaging portion elastically engage with each other. 5. The locking means is configured to move in a direction to release the locking of the moving member in conjunction with a lifting operation of the main body when the main body is moved. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 6. A structure in which said locking means is rotated at one end thereof by being pressed by a moving member which moves together with said image reading means, and is returned and rotated after passing through said moving member to lock said moving member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a rotating unit. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body is provided with guide means for guiding the movement of the moving member.