JPH11255403A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize a device whole body, while reducing the installation space of the device. SOLUTION: This image formation device is provided with an image formation part which forms an image on a paper sheet so as to set it to recording paper, a recording paper discharge means which discharges the recording paper having the image formed on the image formation part, a recording paper discharge part 5 which is provided in the upper part of the image formation part and stores the recording paper discharged by the recording paper discharge means, and an image read-out part 2 which is provided in the upper part of the recording paper discharge part 5, reads out the image on a document, converts the read-out image information into digital signals, and feeds them to the image formation part; and the image read-out part 2 and the device main body having the image formation part in its inside are set to an approximately same size.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an improvement in an image forming apparatus in which a recording paper discharge section is disposed between an image reading section and an image forming section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional digital image forming apparatus, for example, a recording paper discharge section is provided above an image forming section such as an electrophotographic system, and a document moving type image reading apparatus is provided above the recording paper discharge section. A mode in which a unit is provided is already known (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-120125). According to this aspect, an advantage that the installation space of the apparatus can be reduced as compared with an aspect in which a discharge tray as a recording paper discharge section is protrudingly arranged at the side of the apparatus main body (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-131668). There is.

[0003]

However, in this type of image forming apparatus, there is no clear criterion as to from which point of view the size of the entire apparatus should be reduced. It is a technical problem to be solved how to achieve the above efficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problems, and an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently realizing a compact apparatus as a whole while reducing the installation space of the apparatus. Is provided.

[0005]

That is, the present invention provides an image forming section for forming an image on a sheet to form a recording sheet, and a recording sheet discharging means for discharging the recording sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming section. A recording paper discharging unit provided above the image forming unit and containing the recording paper discharged by the recording paper discharging unit, and provided above the recording paper discharging unit to read an image of a document, An image reading unit that converts read image information into a digital signal and supplies the digital signal to the image forming unit, wherein the image reading unit and an apparatus main body having the image forming unit therein are substantially the same size. Is what you do.

In such technical means, the configuration of the image reading section may be appropriately selected. However, in the case of the original moving image reading section, the original to be handled is likely to be distorted due to skew of the original. Are limited to sheet-like types, it is difficult to handle thick originals such as books, and there is a risk of streaks appearing on the image if dust adheres to the image reading unit. Therefore, from the viewpoint of solving these technical problems, it is preferable that the image reading section be a fixed document image reading section having a document pressing section.

Further, in a mode provided with a paper feeding means provided below the image forming section and configured to be insertable into the apparatus main body, from the viewpoint of maintaining good workability of taking out the recording paper, It is preferable that the discharge unit is provided with an opening for taking out the recording paper, which is opened in the insertion direction of the paper feeding means.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as an apparatus in which an image reading unit 2 and a recording paper preparing unit 10 are overlapped, and a recording paper discharge is provided between the two apparatuses. A unit 5 is formed to discharge the recording paper. The image reading section 2 has a mechanism for setting an original on the apparatus main body and scanning the image of the original, as in the case of a general image reading apparatus, and for pressing and holding the original. A platen cover 3 is provided. The image reading unit 2 is supported via a hinge 4 with respect to a recording paper forming unit 10 disposed below, and swings the image reading unit 2 rearward via the hinge 4. Be made to be able to.

The recording paper forming unit 10 disposed below the image reading unit 2 is configured such that the front frame 12 side of the apparatus main body can be opened and closed via a hinge 13, and the front frame 12 is opened. The maintenance of each internal device and the processing of jammed paper in the paper transport path 40 in the apparatus main body can be performed. Further, an opening 15 for inserting the sheet feeding unit 20 is formed in the front frame 12, and the sheet feeding unit 20 can be detached from the opening 15. further,
By arranging the control panel 11 at a predetermined position of the recording paper preparing unit 10, the operation of the image reading unit 2 and the recording paper preparing unit 10 can be controlled.

In the above-described image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a recording paper forming unit 10 can be configured. That is, in the image forming unit disposed inside the recording paper forming unit 10,
As in the case of a general laser printer, the photosensitive drum 3
0 and the image reading unit 2
A laser beam is output in accordance with a digital signal input from the printer, and the laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 30 to write an image. A charger 38 and a developing device 3 are provided around the photosensitive drum 30 in the same manner as in the case of an image forming mechanism using an electrophotographic method.
2, transfer corotron 33, cleaning device 3
4 are arranged. Then, the photosensitive drum 30 is uniformly charged by the charger 38, writing is performed by the writing device 31 to form an electrostatic latent image, and toner is supplied from the developing device 32 to the electrostatic latent image. Then, a toner image is formed, and the toner image is transferred to a sheet by discharging the transfer corotron 33.

In order to feed the paper toward the image forming unit, the recording paper forming unit 10 uses a system in which a paper feeding unit 20 is mounted at a lower portion of the apparatus main body. The handle 21 is disposed on the sheet storage device 22, and the sheet P is mounted on the sheet storage device 22. Further, a transport roller device 24 is disposed at a portion connected to a paper supply port located at a lower end of a paper transport path 40 in the apparatus main body with respect to the paper feed unit 20, and is fed by a paper feed roller 23. The paper P is transported toward the paper transport path 40 of the apparatus main body. A paper feed roller 23 for sending out the paper P from the paper storage device 22 is connected to a support means and a drive mechanism (not shown). The roller 23 is pressed against the end of the sheet P so that the sheet P can be sent out.

The sheet storage device 22 can be any device having any configuration. In addition to the mechanism in which the transport roller device 24 is provided in the sheet cassette, a conventional general sheet cassette may be used. And paper trays,
It is also possible to use a unit that functions only as a sheet storage device. Further, in addition to the paper feeding means by the paper feeding unit 20, in the recording paper making unit 10, a manual feed tray 26 is arranged at the front portion of the apparatus main body, and the paper P is transported by a paper feeding roller 27 using a paper feeding roller 27. 40 can be sent.

Further, a fixing device 35 is provided in a sheet conveying path 40 located on the downstream side of the transfer portion of the image forming section, and is conveyed to the sheet conveying path 40 located further downstream of the fixing device 35. A roller device 36 and a discharge roller 37 are provided, and the upper end of the paper transport path 40 is the recording paper discharge port 6. In this example, the transport roller device 36 and the discharge roller 3
The recording paper discharge port 7 and the recording paper discharge port 6 constitute the recording paper discharge means of the present invention.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, a space used as a recording paper discharging unit 5 is formed between the image reading unit 2 and the recording paper forming unit 10, and in this embodiment, , The recording paper discharging unit 5 is connected to the image reading unit 2.
The hand is inserted into the recording paper discharge unit 5 from the space S formed on the front side between the image reading unit 2 and the recording paper preparation unit 10, The recording paper can be taken out. As shown in FIG. 1, when the recording paper discharge unit 5 is configured as a mechanism having an opening also at the side, the recording paper can be taken out from the side of the apparatus main body. Further, the portion of the space S is configured as a space leading from the rear side to the front side of the apparatus main body, and a hand is inserted into the space S from either the left or the right of the apparatus main body, and the recording paper is inserted. Can be taken out.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the recording paper discharge section 5 has a recording paper placement surface 5a.
A substantially V-shaped groove 5b which is lower than other portions is formed on the recording paper discharge surface 6 side of the recording paper mounting surface 5a.

As described above, the paper P sent from the paper feeding unit (the paper feeding unit 20 or the manual feed tray 26) to the paper transport path 40 in the apparatus main body of the recording paper creating unit 10 is transferred to the photosensitive drum 30. The paper P is fed out by the registration roller 25 disposed immediately before the image transfer section (transfer corotron 33) at the leading edge of the paper P and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 30. Then, by discharging the transfer corotron 33, the toner image is transferred onto the sheet P, and the sheet P carrying the toner image is fixed through a fixing device 35 to form a recording sheet. Through the recording paper outlet 6
From the recording paper discharge section 5.

The recording paper discharged to the recording paper discharge section 5 is sequentially placed on the recording paper placement surface 5a, and is substantially V-shaped toward the recording paper discharge port 6 side of the recording paper placement surface 5a. Is formed, so that the trailing end of the recording paper discharge is
The recording paper is naturally moved to the b side by its own weight, and the recording paper is stored in the recording paper discharge unit 5 with the rear end of the recording paper being aligned with the concave groove 5b. Therefore, the recording paper can be easily taken out by inserting a hand from the space S formed on the front side. Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the image reading unit 2 is swung rearward via the hinge 4, the upper part of the recording paper discharge unit 5 is completely opened, so that the recording paper can be more easily taken out. Is also possible.

The recording paper making unit 1 shown in FIG.
0, a member on the front side of the paper transport path 40 is provided on the front frame 12 and the front frame 12
Is opened from the apparatus main body. As described above, by configuring the front frame 12 of the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, it is possible to perform processing when a jam occurs in the paper transport path 40 or perform maintenance for each mechanism of the image forming apparatus. The work can be done from the front side of the device. Further, by configuring a mechanism for pulling out each constituent member disposed inside the recording paper forming unit 10 to the front side, it is possible to pull out such a member outside the machine and perform an inspection or the like.

In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a hand is inserted from the front side and both sides into the recording paper discharge section 5 for storing the recording paper. ,
Instead of a configuration in which the recording paper can be taken out, a device as shown in FIG. 4 can be configured. In the image forming apparatus 1a shown in FIG. 4, rising portions 7 and 8 are disposed on both sides of the recording sheet forming section 10, and a recording sheet discharge port 6 is formed on one of the rising sections 7 to form a recording sheet. The recording paper created by the creation unit 10 is discharged toward the recording paper discharge unit 5. Further, the image reading unit 2 supported on the upper part of the recording paper creating unit 10 includes:
As in the case of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus is configured to output information obtained by scanning a document as digital information to the recording paper creating unit 10.

In the image forming apparatus 1a shown in FIG. 4, a mechanism for swinging the image reading section 2 to the rear side via the hinge 4 is provided, and the front frame 12 is configured to be openable and closable. Can be. In addition, a control panel 11, an insertion slot 15 for the paper feed unit 20, and the like can be provided on the front side of the recording paper making unit 10, and a manual feed tray or the like can be arranged with respect to the front frame 12 as necessary. It is possible. Therefore,
In the example shown in FIG. 4 as well, maintenance or the like can be performed from the front side of the apparatus with respect to each mechanism of the electrophotographic system arranged inside the recording paper forming unit 10.

Further, in still another embodiment of the present invention,
An image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 5 can also be configured. In the image forming apparatus 1b shown in FIG.
An image reading unit 2 for reading an image by pressing and holding an original by a platen cover 3 is disposed on an upper portion of the apparatus main body including the recording paper creating unit 10. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the image reading section 2 and the apparatus main body having the image forming section therein are substantially the same size, the entire apparatus is compact. In addition, an opening of the recording paper discharge unit 5 is provided below the image reading unit 2. Further, a paper feeding unit 20 is mounted on a lower portion of the apparatus main body, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto the paper through a paper conveying path arranged on the side of the apparatus main body. The paper carrying the image is fixed through the fixing device and discharged to the recording paper discharge unit 5. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the opening of the recording paper discharge unit 5 is opened in the insertion direction of the paper supply unit 20, so that the work of replacing the paper supply unit 20 and taking out the recording paper from the recording paper discharge unit 5 are performed. Work can be easily performed from the same side.

As shown in FIG. 5, when a paper transport path and an image forming section are arranged on the side of the apparatus main body, when the opening / closing frame 12 is opened / closed to perform a jam processing, etc. As in the case of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4, the jam clearance and the maintenance of the apparatus cannot be performed only from the front of the apparatus. However, by configuring the image forming apparatus 1b as shown in FIG. 5, the space occupied by the image forming apparatus can be reduced as compared with the image forming apparatus in which the discharge tray projects to the side. Further, since the image forming apparatus 1b can be configured to be relatively small, when an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is jammed in a sheet conveying path or maintenance is performed on the apparatus, the apparatus is not used. Can be easily moved. Therefore, when the opening / closing frame 12 disposed on the side of the apparatus main body is opened, even if there is some inconvenience, it does not cause a serious problem in a normal use state.

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 5, a recording paper discharge section 5 is arranged at the center of the image forming apparatus, and the recording paper can be taken out from the front side of the recording paper discharge section 5. The image forming apparatus configured as described above can be used not only as an electronic copying machine but also as a laser printer or a facsimile using a digital function. For example, in the case of configuring an apparatus that combines the functions of an electronic copying machine and a facsimile, if a mechanism for automatically sending a document to the image reading unit 2 is provided, a large number of A function of continuously transmitting originals can be provided. Further, when a connection mechanism with a device such as a computer is provided for the multifunction peripheral, the multifunction peripheral can be used as a laser printer. And, even when such an image forming apparatus having multiple functions is arranged in a state of being closely attached to a computer or another apparatus, the recording paper can be taken out from the front side, and maintenance work of the apparatus can be performed. It can be done only from the front side.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the recording paper discharge section is provided between the image reading section and the image forming section,
Since the image reading section and the apparatus main body having the image forming section inside are substantially the same size, the entire apparatus can be easily made compact while reducing the installation space of the apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording sheet creation unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image forming apparatus 2 image reading section 4 hinge 5
... Recording paper discharge unit, 6 ... Recording paper discharge port, 10 ... Recording paper creation unit, 11 ... Control panel, 12 ... Front frame, openable frame, 20 ... Paper feeding unit, 23 ... Paper feeding roller, 26 ... Manual tray, 30 photoreceptor drum, 31
... writing device, 32 ... developing device, 35 ... fixing device

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet to form a recording sheet; a recording sheet discharging unit that discharges the recording sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit; and a recording sheet discharging unit provided above the image forming unit. A recording paper discharge unit for storing the recording paper discharged by the recording paper discharge means, and provided above the recording paper discharge unit for reading an image of a document and converting read image information into a digital signal. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image reading unit that supplies the image forming unit; and the image reading unit and an apparatus main body having the image forming unit therein are substantially the same size. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading unit is a fixed image reading unit having a document pressing unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet feeding unit provided below the image forming unit and configured to be insertable into an apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus comprising: an opening portion for taking out recording paper, which is opened in a direction in which paper feeding means is inserted.