JPH11194567A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of preventing it from being enlarged and capable of easily opening a paper conveyance path. SOLUTION: This image forming device 1 is provided with a paper conveyance path 5 conveying paper sheets P to an image forming section 2, an openable cover 12 opening the paper conveyance path 5 and a manual insertion tray 20 feeding the paper sheets P to the middle of the paper conveyance path 5. The manual insertion tray 20 is provided integrally with the cover 12. When a jam occurs on the paper conveyance path 5, the paper conveyance path 5 is opened by merely opening the cover 12 regardless of the erected or prostrated state of the manual insertion tray 20. A worker can easily conduct a jam process without feeling troublesomeness for opening the paper conveyance path 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer and a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recent image forming apparatus, when a paper jam occurs, the side surface of the apparatus main body, that is, the side near the paper transport path and along the paper transport path, is required to easily perform the jam processing. An openable / closable cover is provided. This cover has one end supported by the apparatus main body via a hinge.

On the other hand, in many cases, a manual feed tray is provided on the side surface of the above-described apparatus main body due to a positional relationship with a sheet conveyance path. In this case, the cover and the manual feed tray are provided on the same side surface of the apparatus main body, respectively, in the vertical direction of the apparatus main body, and the size of the apparatus in the vertical direction is increased. In order to prevent an increase in the size of the apparatus, there is an apparatus in which a cover and a manual feed tray are arranged in an overlapping manner, and the side of the apparatus body is flush with each other to reduce the size of the apparatus.

[0004]

However, when the cover and the manual feed tray are placed one on top of the other, it is necessary to open both the manual feed tray and the cover in order to open the paper transport path during jam clearance. There is a problem that it is bothersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which can prevent the apparatus from being enlarged and can easily open a sheet conveying path.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In an image forming apparatus having a paper transport path for transporting paper to an image forming unit, an openable cover for opening the paper transport path, and a manual tray for feeding paper in the middle of the paper transport path, the manual feed tray is This is a configuration provided integrally with the cover.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the image forming section is detachable from the apparatus main body, and the cover covers the image forming section.

[0008] The invention described in claim 3 is claim 1 or 2.
In the image forming apparatus described above, the manual feed tray can be opened and closed with respect to the cover, and the cover and the manual feed tray can be opened and closed independently.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an openable / closable cover which covers an image forming section and has a lower portion pivotally attached to an apparatus body.
The manual feed tray is provided outside the cover and can be turned over with respect to the cover that covers the image forming unit, and the paper insertion slot is provided on the cover and receives paper from the manual feed tray.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a printer as an image forming apparatus. The printer 1 includes an image forming magazine 2 as an image forming unit for forming an image, a toner supply device (not shown) for supplying toner to the image forming magazine 2, and a printer P that is provided below the image forming magazine 2 and forms a sheet P. A paper feed unit 3 that conveys to the image magazine 2 and a paper discharge unit 4 that is provided above the image forming magazine 2 and that discharges the paper P on which an image is formed
And a paper transport path 5 for transporting the paper P from the paper feed unit 3 to the paper discharge unit 4 via the image forming magazine 2.

The image forming magazine 2 is mainly composed of a photosensitive member and a developing device. The photosensitive member and the developing device are integrally housed and unitized. Further, the image forming magazine 2 is detachably attached to the printer 1. The image forming magazine 2 is provided with a pair of handles 2a used when attaching and detaching the magazine.

An image forming magazine 2 and a paper discharge unit 4 in a paper transport path 5
A fixing unit 6 for fusing and fixing the toner image transferred by the image forming magazine 2 to a sheet is provided between the fixing unit 6 and the fixing unit 6. The paper supply unit 3 is provided below the printer 1, and includes a paper supply cassette 31, a paper supply roller 32 for supplying paper P from the paper supply cassette 31, and an image forming magazine for supplying the paper P at a predetermined timing. 2 and a registration roller 33 for sending the sheet toward the second roller. The paper discharge unit 4 is disposed above the image forming magazine 2 and substantially in the center of the printer 1, and opens to the front and side surfaces (the left side in FIG. 1) of the printer 1.

The paper transport path 5 extends in the printer 1 in a substantially vertical direction, and is a transport mode called a vertical transport path system. That is, the paper feed unit 3, the image forming magazine 2, and the paper discharge unit 4 are arranged in this order from below the printer 1, and the paper P is transported substantially vertically.

A paper transport path 5a for transporting the paper P from the manual tray 20, which will be described later, is connected between the registration roller 33 and the paper feed roller 32. The paper transport path 5a is provided with a paper feed roller 35 that transports the paper P from the manual feed tray 20 to the paper transport path 5a.

An opening 1 is provided on the side surface 1a corresponding to the side of the image forming magazine 2 of the printer 1 for attaching and detaching the image forming magazine 2 and for performing jam clearance in the sheet transport path 5.
1 (see FIG. 5). A side cover 12 that covers the opening 11 is provided on the side surface 1 a of the printer 1 so as to be openable and closable. That is, the side cover 12 is rotatable from the storage position shown by the solid line to the open position shown by the two-dot chain line. When the paper feed path 5 is rotated to the open position shown by the two-dot chain line, the paper transport path 5 is opened and the image forming magazine 2 can be attached and detached.

As shown in FIG. 2, shafts 13 protrude from both lower sides of the side cover 12, respectively. This axis 13
Are respectively fitted into holes (not shown) provided in the side plate 1a of the printer 1, and the side cover 12
Around the center.

At the upper edge of the side cover 12, a step portion 14 which comes into contact with the peripheral portion of the opening 11 when the side cover 12 is closed and functions as a stopper, and the side cover 12 is locked to the peripheral portion of the opening 11 (Not shown). The side cover 1 is provided on both lower ends of the side cover 12.
A claw portion 15 is provided which comes into contact with the peripheral portion of the opening 11 when the opening 2 is opened and serves as a stopper.

A handle 16 used to open and close the side cover 12 is provided on an upper outer surface of the side cover 12. In addition, a concave portion 17 having a width substantially similar to the width of the side cover 12 is provided on the outer side surface of the side cover 12 from the central portion to the lower portion. On the opposite side of the side wall of the recess 17 from the shaft 13, there is provided a hole 17 a into which a shaft 21 of a manual tray 20 described later is fitted.

On the outside of the side cover 12, a manual feed tray 20 which engages with the concave portion 17 is provided so as to be able to be turned upside down.
Shafts 21 protrude from both sides of the lower portion of the manual feed tray 20, respectively. The shaft 21 is provided with a hole 17a of the side cover 12.
, And the manual feed tray 20 rotates about the shaft 21. On the upper outer surface of the manual feed tray 20, a handle portion 22 used when the manual feed tray 20 is turned upside down is provided.

Therefore, since the manual feed tray 20 is provided integrally with the side cover 12, the side cover 12 and the manual feed tray 20 can be disposed only in the area occupied by the side cover 12 in the side plate 1a of the printer 1. And the size of the device can be reduced.

The lower end, which forms the bottom surface of the concave portion 17, is cut out to allow the paper P from the manual feed tray 20 to pass therethrough. The cutout forms a paper insertion opening. The paper insertion opening of the printer 1 is provided at the back of the paper insertion opening, and the above-described paper feed roller 35 is disposed at this position. A notch 17 b is provided at the lower end of the bottom of the recess 17 to avoid interference with the paper feed roller 35.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the inner surface of the manual feed tray 20, that is, the sheet stacking surface, when the manual feed tray 20 is stored, locking means (not shown) for locking the manual feed tray 20 to the side cover 12 is provided. Is provided. Also,
On the inner surface of the manual feed tray 20, a pair of guide members 23 for guiding both side edges of the paper P are provided. The guide member 23 is supported so as to be slidable in the sheet width direction (the direction of arrow A in the drawing), and is used by moving according to the size of the sheet P.

An extension tray 24 is provided at the free end of the manual feed tray 20 to increase the stacking area of the sheets P.
The extension tray 24 is slidable with respect to the manual feed tray 20 in the paper feeding direction (in the direction of arrow B in the figure), and as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The user draws out the manual feed tray 20 and uses it.

Assuming that the locking force of the locking means of the side cover 12 by the locking means is F1 and the locking force of the manual tray 20 by the locking means is F2, each locking force is set so that F1> F2. ing. With this setting, the side cover 12 does not open even when the manual feed tray 20 is tilted, that is, it is possible to prevent the side cover 12 from opening due to the manual tray 20 being raised and lowered.

Next, the operation of the above-described printer 1 will be briefly described. Optical writing according to image information from a personal computer is performed on the surface of the photoreceptor whose surface is uniformly charged, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor is visualized by a developing device.

On the other hand, the paper P is fed from the paper feed cassette 31 of the paper feed unit 3 by the paper feed roller 32, sent out to the paper transport path 5, and sent to the registration roller 33. The registration roller 33 sends out the paper P to the image forming magazine 2 at a timing when the toner image on the photoconductor and the paper P coincide with each other. In the image forming magazine 2, the toner image on the photoconductor is
Transcribed above. Thereafter, the sheet P is sent to the fixing unit 6, where the toner image is heated and fixed, and then discharged to the sheet discharging unit 4.

Next, the operation of the side cover 12 and the manual feed tray 20 will be described. When performing manual paper feed using the manual feed tray 20, as shown in FIG. 4, the user places his hand on the handle portion 22, pulls the manual feed tray 20 forward, and falls down the manual feed tray 20. Next, the width of the guide member 23 is adjusted to the width of the paper P by sliding the guide member 23. Next, the paper P is placed on the manual feed tray 20. At this time, the paper P is inserted into the paper insertion slot until the leading end of the paper P comes into contact with the paper feed roller 35. Thereafter, the paper P is sent out to the paper transport path 5 via the paper transport path 5a by the paper feed roller 35,
Sent to The adjustment of the guide member 23 in the width direction is performed as follows.
It may be after the paper P is placed on the manual feed tray 20.

When the paper P is jammed in the paper transport path 5, as shown in FIG. 5, the user puts his hand on the handle 16 and pulls the side cover 12 forward, so that the side cover 12 is
3, the side cover 12 is moved from the storage position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 to the open position shown by the two-dot chain line, that is, the side cover 12 is opened. When the side cover 12 is opened, the paper transport path 5 is opened. Therefore, a space for jam clearance is secured, and the jammed sheet P may be removed therefrom. Further, the side cover 12 and the manual feed tray 20 can be independently opened and closed and turned upside down. When the manual feed tray 20 is used and a jam occurs, the manual feed tray 20 is not returned. Side cover 12
Can be opened, and the jam processing can be easily performed.

When attaching or detaching the image forming magazine 2, as shown in FIG. 5, the side cover 12 is rotated about the shaft 13 to open the side cover 12. When the side cover 12 is opened, a space for attaching and detaching the image forming magazine 2 is secured, so that the image forming magazine 2 can be easily attached and detached. Since the side cover 12 also serves as a cover for opening the paper transport path 5 and a cover for attaching and detaching the image forming magazine 2, the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

When a jam occurs in the above-described paper transport path 5 or when the image forming magazine 2 is attached or detached, the side cover 12 can be opened regardless of whether the manual feed tray 20 is turned upside down. Only by opening the cover 12, a space for clearing the jam is secured and a space for attaching and detaching the image forming magazine 2 is secured. Therefore, the operator is troublesome to secure these spaces. I do not feel. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform the jam processing and the attachment and detachment of the image forming magazine 2.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, the same members as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. 1 to 5, and the description thereof will be omitted, and different points will be described.

The printer 30 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is provided with a paper discharge unit 31 above the printer 30. Printer 3
An opening 32 is provided on the front side of the front panel 0 for performing jam processing and attaching / detaching the image forming magazine 2.
It is covered by a front cover 33. The front cover 33 is provided on the side plate 30 a corresponding to the front of the printer 30 so as to be openable and closable. The front cover 33 has a side end (the left side end in the figure) supported rotatably about a shaft 34. That is, the front cover 33 is of a horizontal opening cover type. The front cover 33 has a side end opposite to the supported side end of the front cover 33, that is, a free end.
A handle 35 for opening and closing the handle 3 is provided. Outside the front cover 33, a manual feed tray 20 substantially the same as in the first embodiment is provided.

When performing manual sheet feeding using the manual tray 20, the manual tray 20 is turned down as shown in FIG. The following operation is substantially the same as the operation in the first embodiment, and will not be described.

When the paper P is jammed or when the image forming magazine 2 is to be attached or detached, the user puts his hand on the handle 35 and pulls the front cover 33 forward as shown in FIG. The front cover 33 is opened by rotating 33 around a shaft 34. When the front cover 33 is opened,
The paper transport path 5 is opened, and the image forming magazine 2 is exposed. Therefore, a space for the jam processing is secured, and a space for attaching and detaching the image forming magazine 2 is secured, so that the jam processing and the attaching and detaching of the image forming magazine 2 can be easily performed. In the embodiment described above,
Although a case has been described where the present invention is applied to a printer as an image forming apparatus, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[0035]

As described above, according to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, the manual feed tray is provided integrally with the cover. Regardless of the tilt, the sheet transport path is opened only by opening the cover. Therefore, the operator does not feel troublesome to open the paper conveyance path, and can easily perform the jam clearance. Further, the cover and the manual feed tray can be arranged on the side of the apparatus only by the area occupied by the cover, and the apparatus can be reduced in size.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the image forming section is detachable from the apparatus main body and the cover covers the image forming section, the cover for opening the sheet transport path and the image forming section are provided. The cover can also serve as a cover for attaching and detaching the forming portion, and the device can be downsized.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the manual feed tray can be opened and closed with respect to the cover, and the cover and the manual feed tray can be opened and closed independently of each other. When a jam occurs, the cover can be opened without returning the manual feed tray, and the jam can be easily removed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a printer.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a side cover and a manual feed tray.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a manual feed tray.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of the printer in a state where a side cover is opened.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of the printer, showing a state where the manual feed tray is lowered.

FIG. 6 is an overall perspective view of a printer showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an overall perspective view of a printer according to a second embodiment with a side cover opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer (image forming apparatus) 1a Side plate 2 Imaging magazine (image forming part) 5, 5a Paper transport path 12 Side cover (cover) 20 Manual feed tray P Paper

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 17, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0032

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The printer 30 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is provided with a paper discharge section 131 above the printer 30. On the front of the printer 30, an opening 132 is provided for removing or inserting a jam processing or imaging magazine 2, the opening 13
2 is covered by a front cover 133 . Front cover 1
33 is provided on a side plate 30a corresponding to the front of the printer 30 so as to be openable and closable. The front cover 133 has its side end (the left side end in the figure) supported rotatably about a shaft 34. That is, the front cover 133 is of a horizontal opening cover type. The side end opposite to the supported side end of the front cover 133 , that is, the free end,
A handle 135 for opening and closing the front cover 133 is provided. Outside the front cover 133 , a manual feed tray 20 substantially the same as in the first embodiment is provided.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0034

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

When the paper P is jammed or when the image forming magazine 2 is to be attached or detached, the user puts his hand on the handle 135 and pulls the front cover 133 forward as shown in FIG. 133 is rotated about the shaft 34, and the front cover 133 is opened. When the front cover 133 is opened, the paper transport path 5 is opened and the image forming magazine 2 is exposed. Therefore, a space for the jam processing is secured, and a space for attaching and detaching the image forming magazine 2 is secured, so that the jam processing and the attaching and detaching of the image forming magazine 2 can be easily performed. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a printer as an image forming apparatus has been described.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 6

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 6

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 7

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 7

Claims (4)

[Claims] An image having a paper transport path for transporting paper to an image forming section, an openable cover for opening the paper transport path, and a manual feed tray for feeding the paper in the middle of the paper transport path. An image forming apparatus, wherein the manual feed tray is provided integrally with the cover. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming section is detachable from an apparatus main body, and said cover covers said image forming section. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manual feed tray can be opened and closed with respect to the cover, and the cover and the manual feed tray can be opened and closed independently. Image forming apparatus. 4. An openable and closable cover having a lower part pivotally attached to the apparatus main body and covering the image forming unit, and being provided outside the cover and falling with respect to the cover covering the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a possible manual feed tray; and a paper insertion port provided in the cover and receiving the paper from the manual feed tray.