JPH11202579A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an opening/closing part from being left half-open in a state where an external device is closed in an image forming device to which the external device is attached to cover over the opening/closing part. SOLUTION: A pressing part 56 pressing the opening/closing part 53 toward a main body with the closing action of the external device 4 is attached to the external device 4. The pressing part 56 is constituted so as to simultaneously press the outer surfaces of the opening/closing part 53 and the main body by the same plane in a state where the external device 4 is closed. Thus, the opening/closing part 53 is prevented from being left half-open in the state where the external device 4 is closed, and the opening/closing part 53 positioned so that its surface is at the same level as that of the main body is not pressed toward the inside of the main body further, whereby the positioned state is surely held.

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 or a printer, and more particularly, to an opening / closing unit provided on an outer surface of a main body of the image forming apparatus, and an external device attached to cover the opening / closing unit. Related to the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows a conventional general image forming apparatus A.
0 schematically shows the configuration of 0. As shown in the figure, in the conventional image forming apparatus A0, the photoconductor 105
The transfer roller 106, which is provided to face the printer, is formed integrally with the registration roller 104b as a transport unit 116, and can be rotated in the direction of the arrow X toward the outside of the main body around the fulcrum 116a. . The mounting surface 131 of the transfer roller 106 and the registration roller 104b in the transport unit 116 is
A transport path 132 connected to the transport path 133 on the fixing roller 107 side is formed. Therefore, the transfer unit 11
6, the registration rollers 104a are opened.
Between -104b, the conveyance path between the photoreceptor 105 and the transfer roller 106 can be opened to perform a jam processing or the like. The transfer unit 116 has an engagement claw 116b that is engaged with the engagement piece 117 fixed to the main body 101 in a state where the transfer unit 116 is closed and its outer surface is flush with the outer surface of the main body 101. Installed. That is,
The transport unit 116 is in a state in which the engagement claws 116b and the engagement pieces 117 are engaged (that is, the main body 101).
In this state, the transfer path 132 and the transfer path 133 are accurately connected. Also, on the side of the main body 101,
The paper discharge port 11 is formed so as to cover the outer surface of the transport unit 116.
9, or the sheet discharged from the discharge port 119 is returned to the main body 101.
An external device 112 such as a paper circulating device that circulates the inside is attached.

[0003]

In the conventional image forming apparatus A0, for example, the external device 11 is used.
If the transport unit 116 is opened and the external device 112 is erroneously mounted with the transport unit 116 opened halfway after the transport unit 116 is opened to perform a jam clearing or the like after the main unit 101 is separated from the main unit 101, The external device 11
2 has to be separated from the main body 101 and the transport unit 116 must be closed again, which is very inconvenient. In the above example, the transport unit 116 is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and generally solves the problem of opening / closing means that can be freely opened / closed toward the outside of the main body. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a device in which the opening / closing means is automatically closed at an accurate position when an external device is closed.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an opening / closing means provided along the outer surface of an image forming apparatus main body, the opening / closing means being openable to the outside of the main body. An image forming apparatus comprising: an external device mounted on an outer surface to cover the opening / closing means and openable to the outside of the main body, wherein the external device is provided with the opening / closing means in accordance with a closing operation of the external device. The image forming apparatus is provided with a pressing means for pressing in the direction of the main body. Further, a second transport path that is accurately connected to the first transport path on the image forming apparatus main body side while the outer surface of the open / close means and the outer surface of the image forming apparatus main body are flush with each other. Is provided,
If the pressing means is configured to simultaneously press the outer surface of the opening / closing means and the outer surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus in the same plane in the closed state of the external device, the opening / closing means moves further from the positioning state to the inner side of the main body. Without being pushed in any direction, the above-described positioning state is reliably maintained. Therefore, paper jam does not occur due to positional deviation between the first transport path and the second transport path. Further, if the pressing means is connected to one of the conveying rollers movable in the body direction to open a conveying path formed in the external device, the pressing means can be operated in a state where the external device is closed. Due to the reaction of pressing the opening / closing means and the main body, the one-side conveying roller is pressed in a direction to close the conveying path, that is, a direction pressed against the other-side conveying roller. That is, by the pressing means,
The action of automatically pressing the opening / closing means in the closing direction to eliminate the half-open state and the action of pressing the one-side conveying roller against the other-side conveying roller are performed simultaneously. Since two operations can be performed simultaneously by one component, the configuration of the device is simplified and no waste is caused. The opening / closing means may include a photosensitive member or a device having a built-in transfer roller provided opposite to the photosensitive member. However, the opening / closing means is not limited to this. The same can be applied if it is used. The external device also includes various types of devices such as a paper circulation device that circulates paper discharged from the main body after image transfer to the image forming unit in the main body again, and a finisher that processes paper discharged from the main body. Things are conceivable.

[0005]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the process of closing the external device, the opening / closing means is pushed in the closing direction by the pressing means, so that the half open state of the opening / closing means is automatically canceled. . Therefore, when the external device is closed, the opening / closing means does not become half open. The pressing means simultaneously presses the outer surface of the main body and the outer surface of the opening / closing means on the same plane when the external device is closed, so that the opening / closing means and the main body are flush with each other, that is, the first surface. The opening / closing means is not pushed further toward the inside of the main body as compared with a state in which the transfer path and the second transfer path are accurately connected, and the positioning state is reliably maintained. Therefore, paper jam does not occur due to positional deviation between the first transport path and the second transport path. Further, when the pressing means is connected to one of the transport rollers movable in the body direction to open a transport path formed in the external device, the external device may be closed. In the above, due to the reaction when the pressing means presses the opening / closing means and the main body, the one-side conveying roller is pressed in a direction to close the conveying path, that is, a direction pressed against the other-side conveying roller. That is, the pressing means automatically presses the opening / closing means in the closing direction to eliminate the half-open state, and simultaneously presses the one-side conveying roller against the other-side conveying roller. Since two operations can be performed simultaneously by one component, the configuration of the device is simplified and no waste is caused.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments and examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention. The following embodiments and examples are mere examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing the internal configuration of a copying machine A1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. A copying machine A1 according to the present embodiment is an embodiment in which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is embodied as a copying machine.
As shown in FIG. 1, a copying machine main body 1 and a double-sided copy transport unit 4 (an example of an external device) mounted on a side surface of the main body 1 so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow Y3 about a fulcrum 4b.
Are provided. First, copy machine A
1 will be described in accordance with a copying operation. When a copy start button (not shown) is pressed, the paper P in the paper feed cassette 11 is pulled out by the paper feed roller 23, and thereafter,
Between the pair of registration rollers 24a-24b, the photoconductor 13-
An image is formed on one side in the process of being sequentially conveyed between the transfer roller 15 and the pair of fixing rollers 17a-17b. The sheet P passing between the fixing rollers 17a and 17b is guided by the branch claws 29 and 30 set in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. The paper discharge port 1 in order from the leading end
8 is discharged outside. When copying only one side, paper P
Is discharged face-down onto the discharge tray 20 as it is, but in the case of double-sided copying, the paper P is discharged to a state where the rear end is sandwiched between the discharge rollers 31, 31 and once there. Stopped. Subsequently, the branch claws 29,
After the roller 30 is set in the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, the discharge rollers 31, 31 start to rotate in a direction opposite to the above.
As a result, the paper P is drawn into the paper discharge port 18 again, and the branch claws 29, 30 cause the paper discharge port 1 to be pulled out.
It is guided in nine directions, and is discharged by the discharge rollers 32, 32. By the switchback operation described above, the sheet P is turned upside down in the transport direction. The sheet P discharged from the sheet discharge port 19 is directly conveyed into the double-sided copy conveying unit 4. The sheet P conveyed into the double-sided copy conveying unit 4 is guided by a branching claw 33 set in a state shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 and further conveyed by rollers 48a and 38b, a sheet circulation path 4a, and a conveying roller 39.
a and 39b, and the leading end thereof is inserted into the manual paper feed port 12. When the leading edge of the paper P is inserted into the manual paper feed port 12, the state is detected by the detection switch 35. After receiving the detection signal from the detection switch 35, the control section starts the rotation of the paper feed roller 36 at a predetermined timing. Paper feed roller 3
When the roller 6 rotates, the paper P is conveyed in the direction of the registration rollers 24a and 24b. Thereafter, the paper P is conveyed again through the photoconductor 13, the transfer roller 15, and the fixing roller 17 in order. An image is formed on one side of the. The sheet P that has passed through the fixing roller 17
Is guided by the branch claws 29 and 30, conveyed toward the paper discharge port 18, and discharged onto the paper discharge table 20.

Subsequently, the configuration according to the features of the present invention will be further described. The transfer roller 15 and the registration roller 24a are integrally formed as a transport unit 53 (an example of opening / closing means). This transport unit 53
The outer side of the main body around the fulcrum 53a, that is, the arrow Y4
Can be opened in any direction. Further, an engaging portion 54 is attached to the transport unit 53 in a state where the engaging portion 54 is rotatable about a fulcrum 54c and is elastically urged in the arrow Y1 direction. The transport unit 53 is fixed to the main body 1 by hooking the engaging claws 54a of the engaging portion 54 to the engaging pieces 55 fixed to the main body 1, and in this state, the outer surface of the transport unit 53 is fixed. 53b is positioned so as to be flush with the outer surface 1a of the main body 1. In this positioned state, the inner surface 53c of the transport unit 53 is smoothly connected to the transport guide 61 fixed to the main body, and the photoconductor 13, the transfer roller 15 to the fixing rollers 17a, 17b.
Is formed, a conveyance path 62 capable of stably guiding the sheet P up to the point is formed. When the transport unit 53 is opened, the handle 54b of the engaging portion 54 may be pulled out from the right side of the main body 1 with the duplex copy transport unit 4 opened. Thereby, the engaging claw 54a is disengaged from the engaging piece 55, and the transport unit 53 is opened in the direction of arrow Y4. Further, the transfer unit 4 for double-sided copying is used.
Is mounted on the side surface of the main body 1 so as to cover the transport unit 53. The transport guide 63 forming the paper circulation path 4a is rotatably attached to the transport unit 4 for duplex copying about a fulcrum 63a. The transport guide 63 further includes transport rollers 38b and 39.
b (an example of a predetermined member) is attached. That is,
When the conveyance unit 63 is opened in the direction of the arrow Y3 and the conveyance guide 63 is rotated in the direction of the arrow Y5 around the fulcrum 63a, the jammed paper in the paper circulation path 4a is taken out. Can be easily performed. The transport guide 63 has an arrow Y4
A projection 56 (an example of a pressing unit) elastically biased in the direction is fixedly attached. Here, the protrusion 56
Is set at a position where the front end portion 56a contacts both the outer surface 1a of the main body 1 and the outer surface 53b of the transport unit 53 in a state where the transport unit 4 for duplex copying is closed. Therefore, in the state in which the double-sided copy transport unit 4 is closed, the projection 56 elastically presses both the outer surface 1a of the main body 1 and the outer surface 53b of the transport unit 53 in the direction of arrow Y4, whereby The outer surface 1a of the main body 1 and the outer surface 53b of the transport unit 53 are brought into a flush state, and at the same time, the transport rollers 38b, 39b are elastically connected to the transport rollers 38a, 39a via the transport guide 63 by the reaction. It has the effect of pressing against.

With the above configuration, for example, when the transport unit 53 is half-opened with the duplex copy transport unit 4 opened in the arrow Y3 direction, the duplex copy transport unit 4 is opened. The following operation is performed in the process of closing. First, the distal end portion 56a of the projection 56 comes into contact with the outer surface 53b of the transport unit 53 which is in a half-open state. The projection 56 moves the transport unit 53 in the closing direction in accordance with the closing operation of the duplex copy transport unit 4, and eventually reaches a position where it contacts the outer surface 1 a of the main body 1. at this point,
The outer surface 53b of the transport unit 53 is flush with the outer surface 1a of the main body 1, and the engaging claw 54a automatically engages with the engaging piece 55 by urging force. Here, the transport unit 53 is accurately positioned with respect to the main body 1, that is, the inner surface 53c of the transport unit 53 is smoothly connected to the transport guide 61. Thereafter, in the process until the double-sided copy transport unit 4 is further pushed in the closing direction and engages with the main body 1, the protrusion 56
Presses the outer surfaces 1a and 53a further, but the transport unit 53 does not move any further toward the inside of the main body, and the positioning state is maintained. On the other hand, due to the reaction of the pressing by the projection 56, the transport guide 63
The conveying rollers 38b and 39b are elastically pressed against the conveying rollers 38a and 39a respectively through
The paper can be conveyed.

As described above, in the copying machine A1, since the transport unit 53 is pushed in the closing direction by the projection 56 in the process of closing the transport unit 4 for duplex copying, the transport unit 53 is in the half-open state. Is automatically resolved. Therefore, the transport unit 53 does not enter a half-open state with the duplex copy transport unit 4 closed. The projection 56 presses the outer surface 1a of the main body 1 and the outer surface 53b of the transport unit 53 simultaneously on the same plane when the double-sided copy transport unit 4 is closed. The transport unit 53 positioned in the state is not pushed further inward of the main body, and the above-described positioning state is reliably maintained. As a result, the state in which the inner surface 53c of the transport unit 53 and the transport guide 61 are smoothly connected is maintained.
There is no paper jam. Further, since the protrusion 56 simultaneously performs the action of elastically pressing the transport rollers 38b and 39b against the transport rollers 38a and 39a, the apparatus configuration is simplified and there is no waste. In the copying machine A1 according to the present embodiment, such various effects can be obtained, thereby solving the above-described problems in the conventional image forming apparatus.

[0010]

In the above embodiment, the transport unit 53 having a transfer roller is described as an example of the opening / closing means. However, for example, an image forming unit having a photoconductor may be used as the opening / closing means. Further, it may be a simple opening / closing door that does not incorporate these main components. In the above embodiment, the transfer unit 4 for duplex copying is used as an external device.
Although the (paper circulation device) is used, the invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, a finisher or the like for processing the paper discharged from the main body may be used.

[0011]

As described above, the present invention provides an opening / closing means provided along the outer surface of an image forming apparatus main body and openable to the outside of the main body, and the opening / closing means provided on the outer surface of the image forming apparatus main body. And an external device which is mounted so as to cover the external device and is openable to the outside of the main body, wherein the opening / closing means is pressed toward the main body by the external device in accordance with the closing operation of the external device. Since the image forming apparatus is provided with the pressing means, the half open state of the opening / closing means is automatically canceled in the process of closing the external device. Therefore, when the external device is closed, the opening / closing means does not become half open. Further, the second opening / closing means is connected to the first conveyance path on the image forming apparatus main body side with the outer surface of the opening / closing means and the outer surface of the image forming apparatus main body being flush with each other.
If the pressing means is configured to simultaneously press the outer surface of the opening / closing means and the outer surface of the image forming apparatus main body on the same plane when the external device is closed, The means is not pushed further inward from the positioning state, and the positioning state is reliably maintained. Therefore, paper jam does not occur due to positional deviation between the first transport path and the second transport path. Further, if the pressing means is connected to one of the conveying rollers movable in the body direction to open a conveying path formed in the external device, the pressing means can be operated in a state where the external device is closed. Due to the reaction of pressing the opening / closing means and the main body, the one-side conveying roller is pressed in a direction to close the conveying path, that is, a direction pressed against the other-side conveying roller. That is, the pressing means automatically presses the opening / closing means in the closing direction to eliminate the half-open state, and simultaneously presses the one-side conveying roller against the other-side conveying roller. Since two operations can be performed simultaneously by one component, the configuration of the device is simplified and no waste is caused.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an internal configuration of a copying machine A1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing the internal configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus A0.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copy machine main body (an example of an image forming apparatus) 4 ... Transport unit for double-sided copying (an example of an external device) 53 ... Transport unit (an example of an opening / closing means) 56 ... Projection part (an example of a pressing means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shuichi Akito 1-2-28, Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Eijiro Masaki 1-chome, Tamazo-chu, Osaka-shi No. 28 No. 28 in Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] An opening / closing means provided along an outer surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the opening / closing means being openable to the outside of the main body; and an outer surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus mounted to cover the opening / closing means. An image forming apparatus comprising: an external device that can be opened in a direction, wherein the external device is provided with a pressing unit that presses the opening / closing unit toward the main body in accordance with a closing operation of the external device. Image forming apparatus. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said opening / closing means is accurately connected to a first conveyance path on the image forming apparatus main body side while an outer surface of said opening / closing means and an outer surface of said image forming apparatus main body are flush. 2. The conveying path of claim 1, wherein the pressing means is configured to simultaneously press the outer surface of the opening / closing means and the outer surface of the image forming apparatus main body in the same plane when the external device is closed. Image forming apparatus. 3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressing means is connected to one side of a conveying roller movable in a main body direction to open a conveying path formed in said external device. . 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing means includes a photoconductor or a transfer roller provided to face the photoconductor. 5. The paper circulating device according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a finisher or a paper circulating device that recirculates the paper discharged from the main body after the image is transferred to the image forming unit in the main body. Image forming apparatus.