JPS5937558A - Electrophotographic copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a mechanism for supporting a copying paper conveying route, by uniting said route in one body, supporting it rotatably on a vertical axis, making it possible to take it out of the main body of the copying machine, and perfectly releasing U-turn pass. CONSTITUTION:The conveying route of copying paper consists of a paper feed cassette 40, guide plates 43, 45, 46, a transfer charger 13, a separation belt and a separation roll 54, a fixation device 47, timing and ejecting rolls 44, 49, and a tray 41, and the paper is turned U-shapedly below a photoreceptor 10 with the guide plate 45, and these members for constituting the paper conveying route are united in one body. This conveying unit 60 is held rotatably in a horizontal plane with a hinging set in the vertical direction at the point Y of the main body 1 of the and when it is turned in the direction of arrow D, the paper conveying route is perfectly release, the unit supporting mechanism is simple and its strength can be made high enough.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electrophotographic copying machine, and particularly to the structure of a copy paper conveyance path portion thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In general, small electrophotographic copying machines employ a structure in which the entire copy paper conveyance path is opened in order to remove paper jams from copy paper or maintain a transfer charger or the like.

An example of such a copying machine is one in which the main body of the copying machine is divided into upper and lower halves by a copy paper transport path, and the upper part is rotated upward to open the transport path. However, in this case, it is necessary to provide a spring means or the like to reduce the force required to lift the upper part, resulting in a complicated structure. Moreover, in the case of a type in which the fed copy paper is made a U-turn inside the copying machine main body and is ejected above the paper feed section after image formation, the U
It has the disadvantage that the lower passage of the turn path is not completely opened, making it unsuitable for this type of U-turn type.

Another example is one in which the copy paper transport path portion is integrated into a unit, and this transport unit is slidably mounted on a rail provided in the main body of the copying machine so that it can be pulled out of the main body. However, this type of linear drawer requires considerable strength from the rails and sliding members.
This has the disadvantage that not only the reinforcing structure becomes complicated but also the cost increases.

Purpose Therefore, an object of the present invention is to be suitable for a copying machine in which the copy paper transport path is U-turn, that is, to completely release the U-turn path, and to simplify the support mechanism of the transport unit, thereby reducing costs. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic copying machine that does not cause problems.

In order to achieve the object 1-1, the present invention provides an electrophotographic copying machine in which fed copy paper is made a U-turn within the copying machine main body and is discharged to the paper feed section side after image formation. The copy paper transport path from the paper feed section to the ejection section is integrated into a unit.
This electrophotographic copying machine is characterized in that the transport unit is rotatably supported around a vertical axis and can be pulled out of the copying machine main body.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electrophotographic copying machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the overall structure of the copying machine and its copying operation will be explained with reference to FIG.

Approximately in the center of the copying machine body (1) is a photosensitive drum (10).
is installed so that it can be rotated in the direction of the arrow (a+), and around it are a charging charger (11), a magnetic brush developing device (12), a transfer charger (13), a separation bell) (50) ( (see Figure 5) and separation roller 6
4) A blade type cleaning device (14) is installed.

The automatic document feeder (20) installed on the top surface of the copying machine main body (1) transfers the sheet document placed on the document table (21) between the guide rollers 1, (22+) and the lower auxiliary J roller (23+). , (23) transports the original on the glass to the left in Figure 1.In the case of single-sheet copying, the original is immediately ejected to the left H side, but in the case of continuous copying, the upper auxiliary The original is rotated around the guide roller (221, +22+) using the roller (241), and after passing over the original glass for the number of continuous copies, it is discharged to the left side.

The optical system c30) is composed of a light source lamp (31) equipped with reflectors +321 and +331 and a lens array (341) consisting of a light-converging light transmitter, and the illumination light is emitted from the document glass (on the document surface passing above the holes). It is reflected and the lens array 4 (
A photoreceptor drum 00) is charged with a constant charge by a charger f111 via a circle and rotates in the direction of arrow (a).
J- is exposed to slit light to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image. This electrostatic latent image is developed (
toner image) and moves to the transfer section. Also, the lamp (
The illumination light of 31) is directly connected to the photoreceptor drum (1) of the charger (11) by another reflecting shade 133).
0) Irradiate the top and erase the residual charge.

On the other hand, copy paper is stored in advance in a removable automatic paper feed cassette +40+, and is fed one by one as the paper feed roller (42) rotates in the direction of arrow (b). The paper is moved to the guide plate (45) by the timing roller pair (44).
) while being guided to the transfer section. The timing roller pair +441 adjusts the conveyance timing of the copy paper in order to align the leading edge of the copy paper with the leading edge of the toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum (101j-) in the transfer section.Here, The toner image is transferred to the copy paper by the discharge of the transfer charger (13), and the copy paper is separated from the photosensitive drum (10) by a separation belt +50+ and a separation roller (54), which will be described in detail below. Equipment (47
) in the fixing roller pair (48), the toner image is fused, and the toner image is transferred to the tray (41+) provided on the paper feed cassette f4Oj by the ejection roller pair (49).
” is discharged second.

Note that the photosensitive drum (10) continues to rotate in the direction of the arrow (a1) even after the transfer, residual toner is removed by the cleaning device (14), residual charge is erased by the illumination light of the lamp 131), and the next Prepare for copying.

That is, in this embodiment, the copy paper conveyance path includes a paper feed cassette (40), a guide plate (43), a pair of timing rollers +441, a guide plate (451), a transfer charger (13),
), separation belt (50), separation roller (54), guide plate +461. Fixing device (4η, ejection roller pair +49),
The copy paper is made a U-turn by a guide plate (451) below the photoreceptor drum (10).The members constituting these conveyance paths are integrated into a unit. There is.

This transport unit l-+601, as shown in FIG.
The copying machine body (1) is rotatably supported on a horizontal plane by a vertically extending hinge provided at the (Y) point. In detail, as shown in Figure 3, the main body base plate (2)''-
The lower hinge pin (3) provided on the main body, and the - side hinge pin (6) provided on the rear side plate (4) of the main body via the bracket (5).
), holes formed in the horizontally bent plates f621, +621 of the rear plate (61) of the transport unit [iol+
631 and +631 are loosely fitted. The transport unit (60) is now hinged! 31, +61 as a fulcrum, it can be rotated freely in the water-seeking plane -, as indicated by the arrow (
When they are simultaneously moved in the +) direction, the entire transport unit +601 is pulled out to the right side of the copying machine main body (1), and the copy paper transport path is opened.

Next, a description will be given of the locking means when the transport unit is attached and the means for approaching and separating the separation belt +50) that interlocks with the locking means.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the separation bell 1-+50) has one end attached to a guide lever (51) and the other end attached to a tension lever 551, and the guide lever (51) is attached to a conveyor unit (60). The pin (5) provided on the front plate (64) of
21 so as to be rotatable, and is constantly biased in the direction of arrow (A) by a spring means (not shown). On the other hand, the separation roller (54J) is installed between the front side plate (64) and the rear side plate (61) of the unit via a bearing (not shown), and can be driven to rotate in the direction of arrow fc1 at the same circumferential speed as the copy paper conveyance speed. be.

The idle lever (51) is positioned by a rotatable pressure roller (53) provided at the tip thereof coming into contact with the upper part of the separation roller (54).

The tension lever (55) connects the elongated hole t561 to the unit W.
The arrow (■3
) direction, and a tension lever is applied to the separation belt (50) approximately horizontally. In addition, the tension lever (hard) is the front side plate of the unit (circle and its bent part (65)).
The projecting piece is positioned in the front-back direction.

Therefore, the separation belt (50) is pressed against the front end of the photosensitive drum (10) from below in the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and one end of the copy paper is conveyed on the separation belt 60). ,
It is sandwiched between a separation roller 64) and a pressure roller ■) and separated from the photosensitive drum (10), and is conveyed to the fixing device (4η) based on the rotation of the separation roller (in the direction of the arrow (C)). When the conveyor unit (60) is put in and taken out with the separation bell l-(501 in pressure contact), the separation belt (50)
,: Since the photoconductor drum (10) slides into contact with the photoconductor drum (10) and causes damage, it is necessary to separate the separation belt 60) downward as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 when loading and unloading the conveyance unit (60). .

On the other hand, the lock lever (7o) is connected to the unit front plate (64).
The lock lever (7o) is rotatably mounted on a support shaft (76) provided on the bent portion (65) of the lock lever (7o), and is constantly biased in the direction of the arrow (q) at the lower part of the lever (not shown). The lock piece (71) is bent rearward, and the other end is an actuation piece (75) that protrudes rearward.
11 has a corner part (72), an inclined part (73), and a curved part (74), and the front side plate (7) of the copying machine main body (1)
It can be inserted into the lock hole (8) formed in the. Actuation piece t
751 is the tension lever (four parts of 551 (57I)
and moves the tension lever +551 up and down based on the rotation of the lock lever -ffO+ about the support shaft f7Gl. In addition, it is logical that the engagement between the actuating piece (75) and the recess bn has a play that does not prevent the tension lever (55) from rotating around the pin (58). be.

Here, the engagement relationship between the lock piece (71) of the lock lever (70) and the lock hole (8) and the interlocking relationship between the separation belt 60) will be explained.

When the lock piece (71) is inserted into the lock hole (8), the transport unit f601 is attached to the hinge pin [31,
When an attempt is made to rotate the lock piece (71) in the direction of the arrow p using the fulcrum 61, the lock piece (71) tries to move in an arc in the direction of the arrow p, but the power button on the right side of the lock piece ff1l in FIG. It comes into contact with the right side of the pick hole (8) and prevents it from moving.

In other words, the transport unit l-+601 is prevented from being pulled out from the main body (1) 1F (locked). At this time, the lock lever (7o) is attached to the bent piece (641) of the unit front side plate +641.
5) is positioned by coming into contact with the end face of the arrow 1G+ from the direction of arrow 1G. In addition, the actuation piece (751 is a tension lever (5)
5) and remove the photoreceptor drum (1) of the separation belt (2)).
0) is maintained in pressure contact state.

Next, when the lower end of the lock lever qOl is lifted by hand and the lever (70) is rotated in the opposite direction of the arrow fcl, the protruding part of the lock piece ffl+ is pulled out to the front side through the lock hole (8). . That is, the lock is released, and at this time, the tension lever (551) moves downward based on the rotation in the opposite direction to the operating piece (arrow C of 751), and the separation belt ω
) is also released from pressure contact with the photoreceptor drum (10), and the transport unit is rotated in the direction of the arrow (+) to be pulled out).
It becomes possible.

On the other hand, when closing the transport unit 601 from the pulled out state (turn 41 in the opposite direction to the arrow (1)), the lock lever (70) is connected to the bent piece (65) of the side plate (64) of the unit 07. The arrow (q
While maintaining the rotation angle in the direction, move in the opposite direction to the arrow p), and first press the tip corner (72) of the lock piece (71) or the right side of the lock hole (8) of the front side plate (7) of the main body. Abuts against the edge. Furthermore, when a rotating force in the direction opposite to the arrow (1)) is applied to the transfer unit tet++, the inclined portion σ3) or the main body m
The lock lever (70) moves in the direction approaching the side plate (7) (in the direction opposite to the arrow (q)) against the spring means (not shown), and the tip corner ff2) moves in the direction of the lock hole (8). Sliding. At this time, the tension lever (551) moves downward in the same way as when releasing the lock, and the separation lever (+50) moves downward.
is once separated downward. When the inclined part (73) of the lock piece (71) becomes almost parallel to the front side plate (7) of the main body, the lock lever (C0) is rotated in the direction of the arrow (q) and the lock piece (71) is inserted into the lock hole (8). ) and becomes locked.

At the same time, the tension lever (lung) rises and the separation belt 5
0) is pressed against one end of the photoreceptor drum (lO) from below.

Note that the sloped part (7) formed at the tip of the lock piece l71)
3) is the lock lever (7o) when unlocking.
so that the lock piece (71) comes out of the lock hole (8) when it rotates in the direction opposite to arrow C), and the lock lever (70) itself automatically moves when locked (arrow IC).
It functions to rotate in the opposite direction. Further, the curved portion (oil) is formed to prevent the lock piece (71) from coming into contact with the lower edge of the lock hole (8) when it rotates within the lock hole (8).

That is, in the above configuration, the drawer of the transport unit (60) is always locked by the lock piece (711) of the lock lever (70) engaging with the lock hole (8), and the separation bell 11501 is locked with respect to the photoreceptor drum (10). ).To release the lock, the lock lever (70) should be rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow (C1), at which time the separation bell (50) will be separated downward, Transfer unit l-+60+ without damaging the photoreceptor drum (river)
can be rotated in the direction of arrow (I) (to release the copy paper conveyance path).

On the other hand, to close the transport unit l-ff1O), simply rotate the transport unit 60) in the direction opposite to the arrow ([)), and the lock piece (71) of the lock lever (70) will automatically close. It enters the lock hole (8) and becomes locked.

Further, when the lock lever (70) enters the lock hole (8), it once rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow (q), and at the same time, the separation heald 50 is also separated downward, and the photoreceptor drum (10) is After reaching the lower part, it is brought into pressure contact with the photosensitive drum (10) in conjunction with the rotation of the lock lever (70) in the direction of arrow G). Therefore, when locked, the separation belt (2)
) is avoided from coming into contact with the photoreceptor drum (10) in the direction opposite to the arrow (I), thereby preventing damage to both.

Note that the electrophotographic copying machine according to the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be variously modified within the scope of the gist thereof. For example, the second rotation fulcrum of the transport unit mallet
In addition to (Y) shown in the figure, it may be (■) on the front side. Furthermore, any member may be incorporated into the U-turn location of the copy paper transport path or the transport unit (60+). In addition, a separating bell) +50), minute β is used as a means for separating copy paper.
1 roller (541) may be used.

Effects As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention provides an electrophotographic copying machine in which the fed copy paper is made a U-turn within the copying machine main body and then discharged to the paper feed unit after image formation. The copy paper transport path leading to the ejection section is integrated into a unit, and this transport unit is rotatably supported around a vertical axis and can be pulled out of the copying machine body, making it possible to completely eliminate the U-turn path of the copy paper transport path. In addition, compared to the conventional unit support mechanism with vertical movement and horizontal rails, using a vertical axis as a fulcrum like the present invention allows for a simpler structure and a particularly high cost. The strength of the support mechanism can be made sufficient without causing problems.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of an electrophotographic copying machine according to the present invention,
Figure 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the unit support mechanism, Figure 4 is a front view of the transfer section, and Figure 5. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the interlocking relationship between the locking means and the separation belt. (1)... Copying machine body, +3), (6)... Hinge pin, (Rule... Photosensitive drum, (13)... Transfer charger, (40)... Paper feed cassette, (41)... )・
・Ejection tray, t431, (451, f46]
...Guide plate, (persimmon...timing roller pair, (47
)... Constant volume device, (49)... Discharge 71: To-ra pair, 1601... Conveyance unit, ff13)...
hinge hole.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an electrophotographic copying machine in which the fed copy paper is made a U-turn inside the copying machine body and then ejected to the paper feed section after image formation, the copy paper transport path from the paper feed section to the ejection section is integrated. An electrophotographic copying machine characterized in that the transport unit is formed into a unit, is rotatably supported around a vertical axis, and can be pulled out from the main body of the copying machine.