KR100781365B1 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus is provided to rotate an actuator according to opening/closing operation of an exit cover and then sense an opening/closing state of the exit cover using a sheet jam sensor, thereby reducing the number of sensors and manufacturing cost and improving the assembling efficiency. An image forming apparatus includes a mounting unit, an exit cover(101), a push lever unit(110), an actuator(200), and a sensor(300). The mounting unit mounts a toner image transferred in a sheet. The exit cover has a compressing projector. The push lever unit is selectively contacted to the compression projector and rotated according to opening/closing operation of the exit cover. The actuator is rotated, associating with sheet transfer and the push lever unit. The sensor transmits a sheet jam generating signal and an exit cover opening signal while turning on/off by rotation of the actuator.

Description

Image forming apparatus

1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a general image forming apparatus;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the structure and operation of the jam sensor and cover sensor provided in the fire forming apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is a side view of FIG.

4 is a perspective view of the discharge cover open state,

5 is a perspective view showing main parts of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a perspective view showing an operating state of the push lever when the discharge cover is opened, and

7 is a view showing an operating state of the push lever at the time of paper transfer.

<Description of main parts of drawing>

One; An image forming apparatus main body 101; Badge cover

102; Pressing protrusion 100; Push lever unit

110; Push lever 111; Hinge

112; Pressure support 113; Pushbu

120; Elastic member 200; Actuator

210; A first sensing piece 220; 2nd sensing piece

230; Sensor lever 300; Sensor

400; Control

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus for detecting a discharge cover opening state using a paper jam detection sensor.

In general, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus picks up the paper stored in the paper feeding unit 10, transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive medium 20 to the paper through the transfer unit 30, and fixes the paper. In the unit 40, heat and pressure are applied to the paper, the toner image is fixed and discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus opens and closes the jam sensor 60 capable of detecting the occurrence of paper jams in the fixing unit 40 and the image forming apparatus main body 1 so as to remove jams generated in the fixing unit 40. It is provided with a cover sensor 70 that can detect the open state of the discharge cover 51 installed possibly.

2 and 3 are a perspective view and a side view showing the operation of the jam sensor 60.

As shown, when the paper P conveyed from the paper feeding unit 10 (see FIG. 1) pushes up the paper sensing piece 61a of the actuator 61, the sensing lever (located in the sensing area of the jam sensor 60) ( 61b) turns away from the sensing area by turning a predetermined angle. Accordingly, the jam sensor 60 is turned off, and the control part recognizes the paper feed. However, if the jam sensor 60 is still off after a predetermined time after the jam sensor 60 is turned off, the control unit determines that the paper is jammed in the fixing unit 40. Output jam generation signal.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4, when the discharge cover 51 is opened, the cover detecting piece 51a provided on the discharge cover 51 leaves the sensing area of the cover sensor 70 and the cover sensor 70 is turned off. The control unit detects the off signal to display the cover open and simultaneously stops the operation of the fixing unit 40. Then, when the discharge cover 51 is closed, the cover open display is eliminated and normal operation is possible.

As described above, the conventional image forming apparatus may know whether the paper is jammed in the fixing unit 40 by using the jam sensor 60, and also by using the signal of the cover sensor 70 to open the discharge cover 51. The operation of the printer can be controlled by determining the state.

However, when the image forming apparatus is downsized, if the jam sensor 60 and the cover sensor 70 are separately installed as described above, each sensor should be installed in a very close space. There is a problem that it is not easy to secure space for constructing a path. In addition, there is a problem in that the manufacturing cost increases because of the dual configuration of the similar type of sensor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having an improved structure to detect whether a paper jam occurs and a discharge cover opening state with one sensor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of detecting an open state of a discharge cover using an existing jam sensor.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object is to detect whether or not the discharge cover and the jam occurs in the fixing unit by using one sensor, opening and closing the discharge cover The sensor is configured to be turned on / off in conjunction with the rotational operation of the actuator rotatably installed by any one of the operation and the paper conveyed along the paper feed path.

An image forming apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises: a fixing unit for fixing a toner image transferred to a sheet; A discharge cover covering the fixing unit; A push lever unit which rotates in association with an opening and closing operation of the discharge cover; An actuator that rotates in conjunction with the push lever unit and the paper feed; A detection sensor which transmits a discharge cover opening signal and a paper jam generation signal while being turned on / off by the rotation of the actuator; And when the detection sensor is kept off for a predetermined time during printing standby or during printing, the discharge cover is determined to be open, and after the predetermined time has elapsed while the detection sensor is turned off from the on state during printing, it is turned on again. If it does not become a control unit for determining the occurrence of the jam; characterized in that it comprises a.

Preferably, further comprising a discharge guide for guiding the discharge of the paper passing through the fixing unit, the push lever unit, the push lever rotatably installed on the discharge guide to selectively contact with the pressing projection formed on the discharge cover ; And an elastic member for elastically supporting the push lever.

The push lever may include a hinge portion of one end supported by the discharge guide; A central pressing support part in contact with the pressing protrusion; And a push part of the other end pushing the actuator, wherein the elastic member is disposed under the pressure support part.

The actuator may include a first sensing piece that rotates in interference with the push unit; A second sensing piece rotated in interference with the paper to be conveyed; And a sensor lever formed integrally with the first and second sensing pieces and positioned in the sensing area of the sensing sensor.

The actuator is preferably supported by the discharge guide.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 to 7, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a fixing unit 90, a discharge guide 95, a discharge cover 101, a paper jam generation and a discharge cover opening detecting unit 99, and the like. It includes.

The fixing unit 90 includes a heating roller 91 and a pressure roller 92 to apply heat and pressure to the paper to pass through to fix the toner image on the surface of the paper.

The discharge guide 95 is installed on the conveyance path of the paper passing through the fixing unit 90 to guide the paper on which the image is fixed is discharged along a predetermined path.

The discharge cover 101 is rotatably installed on the image forming apparatus main body 1 (see FIG. 1). The discharge cover 101 is provided with a pressing protrusion 102.

The paper jam generation and discharge cover opening detection unit 99 includes a push lever unit 100, an actuator 200, a detection sensor 300, and a controller 400.

The push lever unit 100 rotates in conjunction with the rotation operation of the discharge cover 101.

The push lever unit 100 is composed of a push lever 110 and the elastic member 120 to elastically support the push lever 110 is configured by the pressing projection (102).

The push lever 110 includes a hinge 111, a pressing support 112, and a push portion 113.

The hinge portion 111 is hinged to the discharge guide 95 to rotatably support the push lever 110.

The pressing support 112 is in contact with the pressing protrusion 102 on the upper side, and is elastically supported by the elastic member 120 on the lower side.

The push part 113 is formed at the other end of the hinge part 111 and pushes and rotates the actuator 200 when the push lever 110 is rotated.

The actuator 200 is installed in the discharge guide 95 to rotate in conjunction with the push lever unit 100 and the paper feed.

The actuator 200 is provided with a first sensing piece 210, a second sensing piece 220, and a sensor lever 230 on the rotating shaft 201. The first and second sensing pieces 210 and 220 and the sensor lever 230 may be integrally formed with the rotation shaft 201 or may be coupled to the rotation shaft 201 as a separate component.

The first sensing piece 210 interferes with the rotating push part 113 and rotates the actuator 200 while being pushed by the rotation of the push part 113.

The second sensing piece 220 is installed so as to overlap the conveying path of the sheet, and interferes with the sheet to be conveyed. Therefore, when the paper is conveyed, the tip of the paper pushes the second sensing piece 220, so that the actuator 200 rotates according to the rotation of the second sensing piece 220.

The sensor lever 230 is provided to rotate together with the first and second sensing pieces 220. The sensor lever 230 is positioned to overlap the sensing area of the sensing sensor 300, and thus the sensing sensor 300 is rotated according to the rotation of the first and second sensing pieces. ) On / off.

On the other hand, the rotating shaft 201 constituting the actuator 200 is preferably installed in parallel with the rotating shaft of each roller constituting the paper feed path.

The detection sensor 300 may be configured as a general optical sensor having a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and outputs an ON signal when the sensor lever 230 is located in the detection area, and detects the detection area as the sensor lever 230. Outputs OFF signal.

The control unit 400 determines that the discharge cover 101 is open when the sensor 300 remains off for a predetermined period of time during printing or printing, and the sensor 300 is turned off while printing. If it does not turn on again after a certain time has passed, it is determined as a paper jam.

Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to paper discharge and discharge cover opening.

5 and 6 are push lever unit 100 is operated in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the discharge cover to rotate the actuator 200, the sensor 300 outputs an on (ON) signal while the off (OFF) signal It is a figure which shows the state to output.

As shown, in the state in which the discharge cover 101 is closed, the pressing projection 102 presses the pressing support 112 of the push lever 110.

Since the push lever 110 is elastically supported by the elastic member 120, when the discharge cover 101 is opened and the pressing force disappears, the push lever 110 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 7 around the hinge 111. The actuator rotates the actuator 200 while the pusher 113 pushes the first sensing piece 210.

When the actuator 200 rotates, the sensor lever 230 formed at one end thereof is out of the detection area of the detection sensor 300, and thus the detection sensor 300 is turned off.

When the detection sensor 300 in the on state is turned off for a predetermined time, the controller 400 determines that the discharge cover 101 is open, outputs a message indicating that the discharge cover is open, and operates the image forming apparatus. Stop.

In particular, in the case of a device operating at a high temperature and high pressure such as a fixing unit, an accident may occur due to carelessness of a user, so that the controller 400 immediately turns on the power supply when it is determined that the discharge cover 101 is opened. Prevent accidents by blocking the back.

Then, when the discharge cover 101 is closed, the pressing projection 102 presses the pressing support 112, the push lever 110 returns to the initial position. Therefore, the actuator 200 returns to the position where the sensor lever 230 is located in the sensing area of the sensing sensor 300.

7 is a view showing a state at the time of paper discharge.

In this case, as described in the related art, while the paper P passes through the fixing unit 40, the tip of the paper P pushes the second sensing piece 220 to rotate the actuator 200 to rotate the sensor lever ( 230 is moved out of the detection area of the sensor 300.

When the paper is normally conveyed and discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus through the discharge unit, since there is no paper interfering with the second sensing piece 220 after a predetermined time, the actuator 200 returns to its original position. Therefore, while the sensor lever 230 is positioned again in the sensing area of the sensing sensor 300, the sensing sensor 300 is turned on again. By the way, if a jam occurs on the paper passing through the fixing unit, even after a predetermined time elapses, the detection sensor 300 is not ON again, and continues to be OFF.

In this case, the controller 400 recognizes that jam has occurred on the fixing unit side and stops the operation of the image forming apparatus.

In this way, if the actuator 200 for turning on / off the sensor 300 is configured to rotate in conjunction with both the opening and closing operation of the discharge cover 101 and the paper transfer operation, detecting each operation as in the prior art. For example, the image forming apparatus may be controlled in the same manner without installing a separate sensor.

According to the present invention as described above, since the actuator can be rotated in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the discharge cover, it is possible to detect whether the discharge cover is opened or closed by using a jam sensor, the number of sensors is reduced, manufacturing cost is reduced, assembly Sex can be improved.

Claims (6)

A fixing unit for fixing the toner image transferred to the paper; A discharge cover covering the fixing unit and having a pressing protrusion; A push lever unit which rotates in conjunction with an opening and closing operation of the discharge cover and selectively contacts the pressing protrusion; An actuator that rotates in conjunction with the push lever unit and the paper feed; And And a sensing sensor which transmits a discharge cover opening signal and a paper jam generation signal while being turned on / off by the rotation of the actuator. A fixing unit for fixing the toner image transferred to the paper; A discharge cover covering the fixing unit and having a subscription protrusion; A push lever unit which rotates in conjunction with an opening and closing operation of the discharge cover and selectively contacts the pressing protrusion; An actuator that rotates in conjunction with the push lever unit and the paper feed; A detection sensor which transmits a discharge cover opening signal and a paper jam generation signal while being turned on / off by the rotation of the actuator; And When the sensor is kept off for a certain period of time during printing or printing, it is determined that the discharge cover is opened, and the printer is turned on again after a predetermined time has elapsed while the sensor is turned off while printing. If not, the image forming apparatus comprising a control unit for determining that the jam occurs. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Further comprising a discharge guide for guiding the discharge of the paper passing through the fixing unit, The push lever unit, the push lever rotatably installed on the discharge guide; And And an elastic member for elastically supporting the push lever. The method of claim 3, wherein the push lever, A hinge portion of one end supported by the discharge guide; A central pressing support part in contact with the pressing protrusion; And It includes; push portion of the other end for pushing the actuator; And the elastic member is disposed under the pressing support. The method of claim 4, wherein the actuator, A first sensing piece rotated in interference with the push unit; A second sensing piece rotated in interference with the paper to be fed; And And a sensor lever formed integrally with the first and second sensing pieces and positioned in the sensing area of the sensing sensor. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is supported by the discharge guide.

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