JP2004029846A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly reliable image forming device that can be installed near the wall, that can realize miniaturization of the entire device, smooth transportation of a sheet, or easy removal work in the occurrence of jamming, in spite of the near-wall installation, and that can stably form a high quality image without sacrificing the miniaturization or the jam processing efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: The direction of taking out a sheet and that of ejecting it are made to coincide on one side, i.e., the side for performing operation, of the body of the device, with passage from the take-out to the ejection formed nearly in a sigmold shape. The device is provided with a control means for properly controlling abnormality particularly in the case of midway interruption during the sheet transportation from taking out a sheet from the storage means to ejecting. In addition, the device is equipped with a reverse transporting means which branches out from the main transporting means and a second transporting means which sends a sheet from the reverse transporting means to a resist means. This second transporting means is made common to other transporting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus in which either the rear side or the left or right side of the apparatus main body can be arranged adjacent to a wall.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, the quality of an image to be formed is excellent, the image forming speed is high and the productivity is excellent, and the operability is excellent and the handling is easy. In addition, the viewpoint of miniaturization of the device is regarded as an important factor in the design of the device. Except for the miniaturization of the device, it is rarely designed in consideration of the installation place and the installation space.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-68574, as shown in FIG. 18, a sheet is conveyed by selecting a double-sided copy mode and a single-sided composite copy mode in addition to a normal sheet conveyance system inside the apparatus housing 1. A multi-transfer type image forming apparatus provided with a paper transport path 7 capable of performing the above-described operations is disclosed. In this apparatus, an automatic document feeder 47 is disposed on the upper surface 1a of the apparatus housing 1, and On the right side 1b side, a sheet feeding cassette 48 and a manual feed tray 49 are arranged at positions protruding from the right side 1b, and further, on the left side 1c of the apparatus, an outlet 4 for a copied sheet provided with a discharge roll is opened. The discharge tray 50 is disposed at a position protruding from the left side surface 1c.

In an apparatus equipped with such a paper transport system, although not particularly shown or described, a jam removal operation for eliminating a jam trouble occurring in the paper transport system is usually performed when paper is used for image formation. If a paper jam occurs on the supply-side conveyance path before the paper is fed to the transfer position of the unit 8, the paper cassette 48 is removed, and the paper cassette 48 is removed from the right side 1b of the apparatus. In the center of the apparatus housing 1 where the paper passes or is temporarily stored when performing double-sided copying or single-sided combined copying, from the image forming unit 8 through the fixing device 9 to the discharge side conveying path. When a jam occurs in the transport path located, the jam is performed from the front of the apparatus. Further, the jam is adjacent to the discharge side transport path or the left side 1c of the apparatus through which the sheet passes when performing double-sided copying or single-sided combined copying. When a jam occurs in the transport path arranged at the position, the jam is performed from the left side surface 1c of the apparatus, and the left and right side surfaces 1b and 1c of the apparatus as well as the upper surface 1a and the front side of the apparatus. Various operations from outside the machine, such as original setting, copying mode selection of the machine, copying operation such as removal of copied paper, removal work when a jam occurs, maintenance such as maintenance and inspection of the image forming unit and fixing device It is a work surface for performing such operations.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-127685 proposes an apparatus in which the paper feed cassettes 48a and 48b are arranged near the center of the inside of the apparatus housing 1 so as not to protrude outside the apparatus, as shown in FIG. However, in this apparatus, the supply side transport path 51 of the paper transport system is disposed between the paper feed cassettes 48a, 48b and the right side surface 1b of the apparatus, and the discharge side transport path 52 of the paper transport system and the duplex copying. The reverse transport path 53 used when performing the image transfer is disposed between the sheet feeding cassettes 48a and 48b and the left side surface 1c of the apparatus. In this apparatus, for example, when a jam occurs in the supply side transport path 51, Must be performed from the right side 1b of the apparatus, and if a jam occurs in the discharge side transport path 52 or the reverse transport path 53, it must be performed from the left side 1c of the apparatus. No. As in the publication, the upper surface 1a and the front of the device, of course, left and right side surfaces 1b of the apparatus, 1c is the working surface for the various tasks from the outside to the device.

Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-338832, as shown in FIG. 20, for the sheet cassettes 48a, 48b to 48d arranged inside the apparatus housing 1, a small one is used as the uppermost sheet cassette 48a. Although a device has been proposed in which this is arranged at a position which is not affected by the sheet conveyance of the sheet feeding cuts 48b to 48d accommodating the sheets of the maximum size, in this apparatus as well, the supply side conveyance path 51 of the sheet conveyance system is supplied. The paper cassettes 48a, 48b to 48d are disposed between the right side 1b of the apparatus and the outlet 4 for the copied paper is disposed on the left side 1c of the apparatus. As in the case of Japanese Patent No. 68574, not only the upper surface 1a and the front surface of the device but also the left and right side surfaces 1b and 1c of the device serve as work surfaces for various operations from outside the device. That.

By the way, in such an image forming apparatus, in order to arrange not only the rear side of the apparatus but also one of the right and left side faces adjacent to the wall, the working surface is any of the upper face, the front face, and the right and left. Due to restrictions on one side, copy operations such as original set, device copy mode selection, removal of copied paper, removal of jams, and maintenance such as maintenance and inspection of image forming units and fixing devices. It is necessary to arrange various mechanisms for performing various operations such as, for example, on these three work surfaces. In particular, in the case of a paper transport system, it is indispensable to perform a removal operation when a jam occurs. Is very important and difficult to design.

In particular, as a method for facilitating the removal operation when a paper jam occurs in such a paper transport system, some means, devices, or portions inside the apparatus main body are collectively unitized, and the unitized It has been proposed to pull out such means, device or part from the main body of the device to the front side to facilitate the removal operation when a jam occurs.

That is, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 53-127727, a paper feed table and a paper transport path frame are configured to be able to be integrally pulled out from the copying machine main body, and the paper feed table is independent of the transport path frame. It has been proposed to allow for quick and easy jam clearance and servicing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-3892 discloses a sheet discharging unit, a sheet holding member, a sheet conveying path, and a method for guiding an image-formed sheet to the discharging unit or guiding the sheet to the conveying path again. It has been proposed that the switching means and the unit be configured as an integral unit, and that this unit be configured to be able to be pulled out from the apparatus main body, thereby facilitating the removal operation when a jam occurs while achieving downsizing of the apparatus.

Further, JP-A-6-161183 discloses an intermediate tray for accommodating and loading single-sided recorded paper conveyed through a reversing conveyance path, and introducing a single-sided recorded paper into the intermediate tray. A sheet introduction / ejection unit for ejecting a single-sided recorded sheet from the intermediate tray, a re-feeding unit attached to the intermediate tray, and a sheet re-supplied via the re-feeding unit and the sheet introduction / ejection unit A re-feeding conveyance path that conveys single-sided recorded paper to the image forming unit is configured as an intermediate tray feeding unit, thereby improving the operability of the jam clearance between the intermediate tray and the image forming unit. It has been proposed.

In addition, JP-A-6-186800 discloses a fixing unit for fixing an unfixed toner image transferred on a sheet material onto a sheet material, and a paper discharging unit for discharging a sheet material subjected to a fixing process outside the apparatus main body. It has been proposed that a component unit including a reversing means for reversing the sheet material of the difference between the two-sided image formation is constituted, and the component unit can be pulled out of the apparatus main body so that a jam clearance space on the side of the paper discharge is unnecessary. I have.

However, in any of these prior arts, although some parts are unitized to facilitate the removal operation when a jam occurs, not only the rear side of the apparatus but also one of the left and right side faces of the apparatus is used. It is not designed to be placed adjacent to the wall, but how the paper transport system is designed on the limited three work surfaces consisting of the top, front and left or right side of the main body of the device, It does not teach how to facilitate removal work at the time.

As described above, in the conventional image forming apparatuses, including the image forming apparatuses described in the above publications, not only the top and front faces of the apparatus but also the left and right sides of the apparatus must be somehow external to the apparatus. It is a work surface necessary for performing the work, and it is not possible to install the side of the device adjacent to the wall due to the necessity of performing the work, and as a result, the installation place is significantly restricted, and the installation space is also limited. In this case, since a working space must be secured on both the left and right sides of the apparatus, there is a disadvantage that a space almost twice as large as the size of the apparatus itself is required.

The inventor of the present invention has made intensive studies in view of this point of view, and has found that all work units for performing work from outside the apparatus are divided into three work sections each consisting of one of the top, front, and left and right sides of the apparatus body. The rear surface and either the left or right side of the device body become non-working surfaces on each of the walls of the corner of the room. Can be installed adjacent to each other, and the operator can operate the device from the top, front, or left or right side of the device main body, which is the work surface, and corner setting is possible and excellent operability. The device was developed and the present invention was completed.

According to the study of the present inventors, by limiting the working surface of the apparatus main body to the two surfaces of the upper surface and the front surface, the space of the room where the device is installed can be more effectively utilized. When the work surface is limited to the upper surface and the front surface of the apparatus main body in this manner, it is difficult to design the paper discharge opening, the installation position of the work opening for jam removal, the installation position of an external device such as a finisher, and the like. It is not preferred.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be installed at a corner of a room such that the rear surface and either one of the left and right sides can be installed adjacent to the wall of the room corner (hereinafter simply referred to as “wall installation”). ), Whereby the installation location of the apparatus is not so limited, the installation space can be used efficiently and effectively, and various operations such as an original supply operation to the apparatus and an operation of taking out copied paper are performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which the image formation can be performed in a concentrated manner from the front side or one of the left and right side surfaces of the apparatus main body, and furthermore, excellent in operability.

Another object of the present invention is to achieve the downsizing of the entire apparatus even when the apparatus is installed near a wall, and to smoothly transport an image carrier typified by a sheet such as a sheet or an OHP sheet. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus provided with an image carrier conveying system capable of realizing the above. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be installed near such a wall, with high workability and operability that can easily perform a removal operation when a jam occurs in the image carrier transport system. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to allow the apparatus to be installed near a wall as described above, and to stably perform high-quality image formation without sacrificing miniaturization of the apparatus and jam removal efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable image forming apparatus that can perform the following.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a screen forming unit for forming a screen on an image carrier, and an image carrier supporting an image formed by the screen forming unit. In an image forming apparatus to be discharged to the outside of the apparatus, all work sections for performing operations on the image forming apparatus from outside the apparatus are provided with three work surfaces including one of a top surface, a front surface, and one of right and left sides. And the other side of either the left or right side of the apparatus is set as a non-work surface.

In the first invention, which of the left and right sides is the work surface and the non-work surface can be appropriately determined according to design convenience or a user's request based on the layout of the room. Since it seems that there are many right-handed operators, it is preferable to set the right side as the work surface and the left side as the non-work surface.

Then, on the upper surface serving as the work surface, the front surface and either one of the left and right sides, the device is operated, and all the work approached from outside the device necessary for performing maintenance of the device, for example, Work units for performing copy operations such as setting originals, copying mode of the machine, taking out copied paper, removing paper jams, performing maintenance such as maintenance and inspection of image forming units and fixing devices, etc. Is arranged.

In an aspect in which an image to be formed is automatically fed and read, the automatic document feeding direction is further arranged on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus, and the automatic feeding direction of the document is directed from the side surface serving as the work surface to the side surface serving as the non-work surface. A document feeder; and an image input means for inputting an image on the document automatically fed by the automatic document feeder as the image. As a result, when the original is set in the automatic document feeder, the wall surface located on the non-working surface side of the apparatus does not become an obstacle, and good operability of the operation of setting the original is ensured. When the working surface of the apparatus is limited to two surfaces, the upper surface and the front surface, it is difficult to improve such operability.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for transferring an image obtained by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor to a sheet and discharging the image to a discharge port provided on one side surface of the apparatus main body, Receiving means for receiving the sheet provided in the apparatus, extracting means for extracting a sheet from the storing means on the one side surface in the direction of the one side surface, and removing the sheet extracted by the extracting means to the apparatus main body. A first conveying means for conveying to the other side, and a downstream end of the first conveying means for forming an image on a sheet facing a photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor provided in an upper portion of the apparatus. Main conveying means for conveying the sheet from the other side to a discharge port provided on the one side, the sheet being generated in a sheet conveying system including the take-out means, the first conveying means and the main conveying means. Solved jam trouble Closing portion of the apparatus main body for jam removing operation for are those provided in the front and the one side surface of the apparatus main body.

In this way, the sheet taking-out direction and the sheet discharging direction are matched on one side surface of the apparatus main body serving as a work surface, and the sheet is formed in a substantially S shape from the sheet taking-out to the sheet discharging. Opening / closing portions are provided on the front surface and the one side surface, so that when a jam trouble occurs, the jam removal operation can be easily and quickly performed from the work surface and the front surface without moving the entire device. At the same time, the distance required for conveying the sheet can be shortened, and the width of the apparatus main body can be shortened, so that the apparatus can be downsized. In addition, the main conveyance means necessary for image formation is provided so as to be conveyed from the other side of the apparatus main body to the discharge port provided on one side, that is, the sheet is conveyed substantially horizontally. High quality image formation can be performed with high reliability.

Further, in a preferred embodiment, a second storage means for storing a sheet having a size smaller than the maximum size sheet stored in the storage means is provided on the storage means so as to be closer to the other side surface. A second take-out means is provided for taking out the sheet of the second storage means in the direction of the other side surface and sending it downstream of the first transport means. That is, the sheet taken out from the second storage means can be sent to the main conveyance section only by flowing through the downstream portion of the first conveyance means, so that image formation can be performed in a short time. For example, sheets of A3 size, B4 size, etc. are stored in the lower storage means, and sheets of A4 size, which are used most often than these sizes, are stored in the second storage means, so that the most frequently used A4 sheets are stored. Since an image can be formed on a sheet of a size in a short time, an image can be efficiently formed on a sheet of a plurality of sizes.

Further, in the aspect in which double-sided printing is performed, a reversing conveyance unit for reversing a sheet having an image formed on the first surface (for example, the front surface) to carry an image on the second surface (for example, the back surface) is provided downstream of the main conveyance unit. And a second conveying means for arranging the sheet inverted by the reversing conveying means to the downstream end of the main conveying means in the direction of the other side surface. Is provided. That is, since the reversing conveyance means and the second conveyance means are also provided on the one side surface serving as the work surface, the jam can be easily removed from the opening / closing portions on the one side surface and the front.

Further, in a mode in which a post-processing device such as a sorter, a stapler, or a finisher having a function of a set holder or the like is attached to the image forming apparatus, for example, the discharge port of the image carrier carrying an image is provided on a side surface serving as a work surface. It is provided so as to protrude from the upper portion, and a space for jam removal work is secured between a post-processing device connected to this discharge port and disposed in front of the image carrier discharge direction and a side surface serving as an upper work surface. Therefore, when a jam trouble occurs, the jam removing operation can be performed from the work surface without removing and moving the finisher each time.

Furthermore, the hot air generated from the fixing device incorporated inside the device is smoothly exhausted to the outside of the device, and the flow of air generated at the time of opening / closing operation of the opening / closing portion formed on the work surface of the device is smoothed. For purposes such as the air conduction port provided in this device, the outlet of the power cord that supplies power to the device, etc., assuming that this device is installed adjacent to the corner wall of the room, Preferably, it is formed on the bottom side of the device.

According to a third aspect, in an image forming apparatus, an image formed on a photoconductor is transferred to a sheet to form an image, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to a discharge port provided on one side surface of the apparatus main body. In addition, all the working units for performing work on the image forming apparatus from the outside of the apparatus are collectively arranged on three working surfaces including one of a top surface, a front surface, and one of left and right sides of the device, and The back surface and the other side surface on either the left or right side are non-working surfaces, and storage means for storing sheets, a takeout means for taking out the sheet from the storage means in the direction of the one side face, and a sheet taken out by the takeout means Transport means for transporting the sheet conveyed toward the other side of the apparatus main body, and folding the sheet transported by the first transport means in the direction of the one side face and positioning the sheet with respect to the photoreceptor. A register means for performing fit, and has a main transfer means for transporting the sheet to the discharge port in order to perform the transfer and discharge to a sheet delivered from said register means.

As described above, in the third aspect, the transport system from the sheet take-out to the discharge is formed in a substantially S-shape as in the second aspect, but the direction is changed from the first transport means to the main transport means. Is performed by the resist means, the width of the apparatus can be further reduced as compared with the second invention.

In the double-sided printing mode, the reverse conveying means for conveying the sheet from the main conveying means for reversing the image forming surface of the sheet on which the image is formed on the first surface further branches off from the downstream of the main conveying means, and the one side surface And a second transport unit for transporting the sheet from the reverse transport unit to the registration unit. With such a configuration, the image forming process conveyed from the first conveying unit and the reversing process of the image forming surface of the sheet on which the image is formed on one side or both sides can be simultaneously performed. At the same time as the operation and effect can be obtained, the operation and effect such that each processing such as double-sided printing, face-up and face-down of an image-formed sheet can be efficiently performed can be obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for transferring an image formed on a photoreceptor to a sheet to form an image, and discharging the sheet on which the image is formed to an outlet provided on one side surface of the apparatus body. In addition, all the working units for performing work on the image forming apparatus from the outside of the apparatus are collectively arranged on three working surfaces including one of a top surface, a front surface, and one of left and right sides of the device, and The back surface and the other side surface on either the left or right side are non-working surfaces, and storage means for storing sheets, a takeout means for taking out the sheet from the storage means in the direction of the one side face, and a sheet taken out by the takeout means Transport means for transporting the sheet conveyed toward the other side of the apparatus main body, and folding the sheet transported by the first transport means in the direction of the one side face and positioning the sheet with respect to the photoreceptor. And a main transport unit that transports the sheet toward the discharge port in order to transfer and discharge the sheet sent from the resist unit, and the first transport unit , A unit integrating the registration unit and the main transport unit, and a pull-out unit for pulling out the unit from the apparatus main body to the front of the apparatus main body.

With this unitization, it is possible to remove all jams generated in the transport system including the first transport unit, the registration unit, and the main transport unit, which require an operation such as a jam removal process from the front, from the outside of the unit body. In addition to the above, the operation of removing jams from the front can be performed only at one place of the unit without checking a plurality of places by an instruction of an unpleasant machine jam position or the like. At the same time, the operation and effect that the operation such as the jam removal processing can be performed easily, quickly, and comfortably can be obtained.

In the double-sided printing mode, a reversing conveyance unit that branches off from the main conveyance unit and conveys a sheet from the main conveyance unit provided along the one side surface to further reverse the image forming surface; And a second conveying unit for conveying the sheet from the unit to the registration unit. Simultaneously with the above-described operation and effect, not only the operation and effect described in the double-sided printing mode of the third invention can be obtained, but also jams that occur in the reverse conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit can be removed from the outside. The operation and effect that the work such as the jam removal processing can be performed more efficiently can be obtained.

In a preferred embodiment having the preferred transport control means (the invention according to claim 1), the apparatus further includes a control means for controlling transport from removal of the sheet from the storage means to discharge of the sheet. Is interrupted, the conveyance of the sheet is controlled so that the sheet in the conveyance process does not straddle between the unit and the apparatus main body. With this control, the sheet is not broken when the unit is pulled out of the apparatus main body, so that, simultaneously with the above-described operation and effect, work such as jam removal processing can be performed more easily and quickly comfortably. The operation and effect can be obtained.

In a further aspect, the first transport means and the second transport means are shared, that is, shared. The effect of such a configuration, the transfer system is simplified, and the height of the apparatus can be reduced, so that the apparatus can be further downsized without lowering its function.

If the transport system is opened outward by unitization, the jam removal processing can be easily performed from the outside. In a preferred embodiment, the first transport unit, the main transport unit, and the reverse transport unit transport the sheet. Including a transport path, the transport path of the first transport unit and the reverse transport unit is provided with at least one pair of rolls that sandwich and feed the sheet along the flow of the sheet. The inner roll is fixed to the main body of the unit, and the outer roll is freely movable toward and away from the inner roll, so that the transport path is opened and closed to the outside of the unit. That is, since the pair of rolls at least in the portion that is opened and closed outside of these transport paths is separated and opened to the outside, the sheet sandwiched between the pair of rolls can be more easily taken out without breaking. Can be done.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the unit, the second transporting means includes a transporting path for transporting the sheet, and the main transporting means includes a transfer unit for performing the transfer upstream, and a sheet transferred by the transfer unit from the photosensitive member. A separating unit for separating, a fixing unit for fixing an image formed on the sheet separated by the separating unit downstream, and a post-separation conveyance path for conveying the sheet separated between the separating unit and the fixing unit. And a sub-unit so that the transfer unit, the separation unit and the post-separation transport path rotate inside the unit main body so as to be separated from the photoconductor when the unit is pulled out, and rotate outside after the unit is pulled out. The sheet is provided on a frame, and a conveying path of the second conveying means is provided with one or more pairs of rolls for feeding a sheet. Of these rolls, an inner roll is the unit. Body fixed with the one in which the conveying path is freely separable outside the roll to the inside of the roll is opened and closed on the outside of the unit. As a result, since the sub-unit frame rotates inward (ie, downward), for example, a jam occurs on the transfer unit, the separation unit, and the post-separation conveyance path of the main conveyance unit, and the sheet is pulled out while being sandwiched. In this case, it is possible to prevent the sheet from being damaged or to damage the photosensitive member, the transfer means, the separation means, etc., and to rotate the sub-unit frame outward (that is, upward), and to reduce the conveyance path of the second conveyance means. Since the sheet can be opened to the outside in a state including the outer roll of the opening / closing portion, the sheet sandwiched between the pair of rolls can be more easily taken out (ie, the upper side) without breaking.

In a preferred aspect of the second transporting means, the first transporting means, the main transporting means, and the reverse transporting means include a transporting path for conveying a sheet, and the second transporting means branches downstream of the transporting path of the reverse transporting means, And a merged conveying path before merging downstream of the conveying path of the first conveying means, and a merged conveying path partially common to the first conveying means after merging with the first conveying means, The Z-shaped transfer path of the first transfer means excluding the transfer path of the main transfer means, the downstream transfer path portion before branching of the reverse transfer means, the pre-merge transfer path of the second transfer means and the post-merge transfer path. It is arranged in a shape. By forming a Z-shape in this way, the length of the transport path of the second transport means required for performing the image forming process and the reversing process of the image forming surface efficiently and simultaneously can be secured with a minimum distance. , The unit can be made compact. Therefore, the size of the apparatus can be further reduced.

In a preferred mode relating to positioning of the unit with respect to the apparatus main body, the unit includes the first transporting unit, the registering unit, and the main transporting unit provided on a frame, and the drawer unit is provided on the apparatus main body and the frame. A rail for sliding the frame in the front-rear direction with respect to the housing of the main body. The positioning of the registration means with respect to the photoconductor is performed by fitting a pin provided in the unit with a hole provided in the housing of the apparatus main body. Is used for positioning. With such a configuration, accurate positioning of the resist means can be easily performed.

In a preferred aspect relating to the positioning of the fixing unit of the unit, a fixing unit for fixing the image of the sheet after the transfer is provided in the unit, and the fixing unit is provided with play in the main body of the unit, and a housing of the fixing unit is provided. Positioning is performed by fitting a pin provided on the body with a hole provided in the housing of the apparatus main body. The registration means and the fixing means can be positioned independently and can be easily performed.

In a preferred embodiment relating to the registration unit and the fixing unit of the unit, the registration unit and the fixing unit are attached as a detachable subunit to a frame of the unit, and the subunit of the fixing unit is attached to a frame mounting position of the unit. And a hole provided on the bottom surface of the housing of the fixing means, which is detachably provided with play. That is, by simply placing the fixing unit in the hole on the bottom surface of the housing of the fixing unit so as to be inserted into the pin of the frame of the unit, the fixing unit can be easily installed by loose fitting, and the positioning can be performed accurately.

In a preferred aspect of the resist means in the third invention and the fourth invention, the resist means is folded back from a junction with the downstream end of the first transport means to a connection at the upstream end of the main transport means in a semicircular shape. Between a transport path, a first roll provided downstream of the transport path for positioning the sheet for the transfer, and a registration position near the first roll provided upstream of the folded transport path; A second roll for feeding the sheet fed into the return path to the loop forming area, a detecting unit provided near the registration position for detecting the leading end of the sheet, and the detecting unit detecting the leading end of the sheet. A first attitude of feeding the sheet to the registration position in a semi-circumferential shape along the folded-back path, and a sheet looping in the loop forming area when the detecting means detects the leading end of the sheet. As formed is intended to include a baffle means in the second position for opening the transport path by the magnitude loop forming region portion between loops of at least loop formed outside. With such a configuration, the positioning of the folded return path can be accurately and reliably performed by the function of the baffle means.

In a fifth invention (an invention according to claim 7), an image formed on a photoreceptor is transferred to a sheet to form an image, and the sheet on which the image is formed is ejected on one side surface of the apparatus main body. In an image forming apparatus that discharges to an outlet, a storage unit that stores a sheet, a removal unit that removes a sheet from the storage unit in the direction of the one side, and the other side of the apparatus main body that removes the sheet that is removed by the removal unit A first conveying unit for conveying the sheet toward the photoconductor, a register unit for folding the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit in the direction of the one side surface, and positioning the sheet with respect to the photoreceptor; A main conveyance unit that conveys the sheet toward the discharge port in order to perform the transfer and discharge on the sheet, and a main conveyance unit downstream of the main conveyance unit for inverting an image forming surface. A unit that is integrated with a reversing conveyance unit that is provided along the one side surface and conveys the sheet from the main conveyance unit, and a second conveyance unit that conveys the sheet from the reversing conveyance unit to the registration unit. And a drawer for pulling out the unit from the apparatus main body to the front of the apparatus main body, wherein the unit is provided above the apparatus main body, and a front face of the apparatus main body is provided to remove jams generated above the unit. A door is provided, a plurality of the storage means are provided below the apparatus main body, and the corresponding take-out means is a separating means for sequentially feeding stored sheets one by one to the one side surface, A sheet feeding path for sending out the sheet sent from these separating means upward and sending the sheet to the first conveying means, and the taking-out means below these; In which a side door provided on a side surface of the one to remove rolling jam occurs in the conveying means is provided.

With such a configuration, the effects of the third and fourth aspects of the invention can be obtained, and at the same time, the work such as the jam removal processing above can be performed by opening the front door and pulling out the unit to perform the work such as the jam removal processing below. Can be easily and quickly performed by opening the side door.

In a preferred aspect of the side door, the reversing conveyance means includes an upper reversing conveyance path for conveying a sheet in a unit, and a lower reversing conveyance path connected to the upper reversing conveyance path and extending outside the unit. Is a double door comprising an outer first door for removing jams in the lower reversing transport path of the reversing transport means and an inner second door for removing jams in the paper feeding transport path. Therefore, a jam that has occurred in the sheet feeding conveyance path deep in the lower reversing conveyance path can be easily removed. More preferably, the first door and the second door are locked by a lock means, and when the first door is opened, the two doors are simultaneously opened, and when the locks are released, the second door is opened. Should be open.

In a further preferred embodiment of the double door, the paper feed path is disposed vertically and one or more pairs of rolls are disposed along the flow of the sheet. A roll is provided on the apparatus body side, and an outer roll is provided on the second door. Since the second door itself constitutes a part of the sheet feeding path, the apparatus can be reduced in size in the width direction, and the sheet can be easily and quickly taken out without being damaged.

In a further preferred aspect of the double door, a holding means for temporarily holding a sheet in a state of hanging downward is provided downstream of the upper reversing conveyance path provided in the unit, and the first door and the With the second door closed, a space is formed as the lower reversing conveyance path between the first door and the second door for temporarily storing the sheet held by the holding means. That is, since the lower reversing conveyance path is formed as a passage for the suspended sheet by a pair of rolls serving also as a holding means, preferably a conveying means, the reversing conveyance means can be simplified, and furthermore, the path is doubled. Since the device is formed between the doors, the device can be further miniaturized in the width direction, and the sheet can be easily and quickly taken out without being damaged.

In another aspect, a sheet for storing a sheet of a size smaller than the maximum size accommodated in the storage means, which is provided between the upper first conveyance means and the lower storage means and is provided close to the other side surface. And a second take-out means for taking out the sheet from the second containment means in the direction of the one side surface and sending the sheet to the first transport means. Since the conveyance distance to the registration unit can be shortened, the productivity of image formation of the sheet stored in the second storage unit can be increased.

In a preferred aspect of the second take-out means, the registration means includes a return transport path that returns in a semicircular shape from a connection with the downstream end of the first transport means to a connection at the upstream end of the main transport means. A registration position for positioning the sheet for the transfer in the vicinity of the downstream end of the path, wherein the second take-out means sequentially feeds the stored sheets one by one to the one side surface; And a second sheet feeding conveyance path that is formed in a semicircular shape in the opposite direction to the folded conveyance path and that sends out the sheet sent from the second separation means upward and sends the sheet to the first conveyance means. And the continuous shape of the folded transport path, the first transport means, and the second paper feed transport path is formed in an S-shape. By forming such an S-shape, the length of the conveyance path can be maximized in a small space, so that it is possible to minimize the distance required for sheet conveyance from the removal of the sheet to the registration position, and to reduce the curve. Is loose, so that it is difficult to cause a jam. Therefore, the size of the device can be reduced without lowering the function, image quality and reliability.

In a preferred aspect of the storage means, at least one of the storage means and the second storage means stores a plurality of types of sheet groups in the corresponding mounting means, and the take-out means is mounted on the selected mounting means. The placed sheet groups are sequentially sent out one by one. That is, by adopting such a multi-tray technique, an image can be formed on many kinds and a small number of sheets without using a manual tray or the like. Therefore, in this case, the present invention can also realize the wall arrangement.

According to a sixth aspect, in an image forming apparatus, an image formed on a photoreceptor is transferred to a sheet to form an image, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to a discharge port provided on one side surface of the apparatus main body. In addition, all the working units for performing work on the image forming apparatus from the outside of the apparatus are collectively arranged on three working surfaces including one of a top surface, a front surface, and one of left and right sides of the device, and A document reading section for reading a document placed on the document placing section, and a document reading section for reading a document placed on the document placing section, An image forming process unit for forming an image read by the document reading unit on a sheet conveyed in the direction, a reversing conveyance path for reversing the sheet conveyance direction from one side serving as a non-working surface to one side serving as a working surface Including After the positioned sheet is positioned, the registration unit sends the image to the image forming process unit, including a reversing conveyance path for reversing the conveyance direction of the sheet from one side to be the work surface to one side to be the non-work surface, A sheet conveyance path for feeding the inverted sheet to the registration unit, a sheet storage unit for storing a sheet fed to the sheet conveyance path is provided, and a feeding direction from the sheet storage unit and a sheet discharging direction to the outside of the apparatus are set. This is one side which is the work surface. For example, when the image forming process unit is an electrophotographic system, the image forming process unit forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an input image on a photoconductor, and develops the formed electrostatic latent image. Is transferred to a sheet provided facing the photoreceptor, a transfer unit provided facing the photoreceptor, a separating unit that separates the sheet transferred by the transfer unit from the photoreceptor, is separated by a separating unit. And fixing means for fixing the image on the sheet, and conveying means provided between the separating means and the fixing means.

(4) By arranging such components, it is possible to arrange the wall surface and reduce the size of the apparatus without deteriorating workability such as jam removal processing, image quality, and productivity of image formation.

In another aspect, a small-sized sheet storage section for storing a sheet smaller in size than a sheet stored in the sheet storage section is provided between the registration section and the sheet storage section.

In the double-sided printing mode, an image forming surface reversing conveyance path for reversing a sheet conveyed from the image forming process unit and having an image formed on one side is arranged along one side serving as the work surface between the sheet conveyance path and the sheet conveyance path. A second conveyance path for conveying a sheet from the image formation reversal conveyance path to the registration section is provided between the sheet conveyance path and the image forming process section.

In the transport system, the sheet transport path from the sheet storage unit and the small-size sheet storage unit to the sheet discharge port of the apparatus is formed in a substantially S-shape.

In an aspect that facilitates the jam removal processing, the image forming process unit includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a conveyance path, and the transfer unit, the fixing unit, the conveyance path, the registration unit, and a part of the sheet conveyance path as a unit. Integrally, the fixing means and the registration unit are positioned as sub-units so as to be detachable from the unit, thereby facilitating jam removal processing.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the first invention, all the working units for performing work from the outside of the apparatus are collectively arranged on three working surfaces including the upper surface, the front surface, and one of the left and right sides, and the rear surface of the device and Since the left or right side is the non-working surface, the device can be installed on each wall of the corner of the room, with the back surface of the device serving as the non-working surface and either the left or right side adjacent to each other, , The operator can operate the device from the top, front, or left or right side of the device, which is the work surface, which increases the degree of freedom in installing the device and enables more efficient and effective use of the installation space. And also excellent in operability.

According to the second invention, the sheet takeout direction and the sheet discharge direction are matched on one side of the apparatus body serving as a work surface, and the process from sheet takeout to sheet discharge is formed in a substantially S-shape. Since the opening / closing portion for the jam removal operation is provided on the front side and the one side surface, the jam removal operation can be easily and quickly performed from the work surface and the front side without moving the entire apparatus when a jam trouble occurs. In addition, the distance required for conveying the sheet can be shortened, and the width of the apparatus main body can be shortened, so that the apparatus can be downsized. In addition, the main conveyance means necessary for image formation is provided so as to be conveyed from the other side of the apparatus main body to the discharge port provided on one side, that is, the sheet is conveyed substantially horizontally. High quality image formation can be performed with high reliability.

According to the third invention, as in the second invention, the conveyance system from the sheet take-out to the discharge is formed in a substantially S shape, but the direction change from the first conveyance device to the main conveyance device is performed by the registration device. Therefore, the width of the apparatus can be further reduced as compared with the second invention.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a unit generated by the fourth aspect of the present invention includes a jam generated in a transport system including a first transporting unit, a registration unit, and a main transporting unit which requires operations such as a jam removal process from the front. Not only can be removed from the outside of the unit body, but also work such as jam removal processing from the front at only one place of the unit without checking multiple places by instructions of unpleasant machine jam positions etc. Therefore, the effect of the third invention can be obtained, and at the same time, the operation such as jam removal processing can be performed easily, quickly, and comfortably.

According to the fifth invention, with the configuration of the fifth invention, the effects of the third and fourth inventions can be obtained, and at the same time, the work such as clearing the jam can be performed by opening the front door and pulling out the unit. The operation of removing the lower jam can be easily and quickly performed by opening the side door.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the arrangement of each part as in the sixth aspect of the present invention enables the wall arrangement without reducing the work such as the jam removal processing, the image quality, and the productivity of the image formation. Can be

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

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of a digital electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a digital copying machine) according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. This digital copying machine has an image input terminal (IIT) 2 having an automatic document feed mechanism (ADF) and a document scanning type reading mechanism (CVT) on an upper surface 1a of an apparatus housing 1 and operating the digital copying machine. An operation panel 3 is provided on the right side 1b of the apparatus housing 1, which is a work surface, and an image carrier (hereinafter simply referred to as "paper" or film) carrying an image thereon. The paper 4) is formed so as to protrude from the general surface of the right side surface 1b, and is connected to a stapler 5a connected to the discharge port 4 and a finisher 5 including a set holder 5b. A predetermined space S is formed between them.

In this digital copying machine, the paper transport system formed in the apparatus housing 1 carries the paper sending directions and images of all the storage cassettes 6a to 6e for storing the paper, as shown in FIG. The paper discharge direction of the discharge port 4 for discharging the discharged paper to the outside of the apparatus housing 1 is directed from the left side 1c which is the non-working surface to the right side 1b which is the work surface. Is formed in a substantially S-shape that extends from the paper feeding direction of the storage cassettes 6a to 6e, passes through the transfer device 8a of the image forming unit 8, and goes to the paper discharging direction at the discharge port 4 of the apparatus housing 1. I have.

At a lower position in the apparatus housing 1, large-sized storage cassettes 6c to 6e for storing relatively large-sized sheets are arranged. Above the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e, there is a non-working surface. The small-sized storage cassettes 6a and 6b for storing relatively small-sized paper are disposed at a position retracted to the left side surface 1c side, and the paper feeding direction of the large-sized storage cassettes 6c to 6e and the small-sized storage cassette 6a. And 6b are directed to the paper discharge direction of the discharge port 4, and the transfer device 8a of the image forming unit 8 is positioned above and forward of the small size storage cassettes 6a and 6b in the paper discharge direction. Are located.

That is, in each of the cassettes 6a to 6e, sheets are stacked by one pick-up roll provided above sheets such as stacked sheets and OHP sheets, and separating means 70a to 70e including a pair of rolls for preventing double feed. The sheets are sent one by one to the right side 1b side, and the fed sheets are guided to the conveying path 7 by a pair of conveying rolls 71a to 71e. In the case of the present embodiment, since the resist section 10 for positioning the sheet with respect to the photosensitive member and the transfer device 8a is located at the upper right in the vicinity of the cassette 6a, it is preferable to use the pair of rolls 71a and the rolls of the resist section 10 together. The sheets taken out from the cassettes 6c to 6e are sandwiched by a pair of rolls 71c to 71e along the S-shaped transport path 7, travel upward in the most downstream portion (the transport path 7b), and then move leftward. Is changed to advance to the conveyance path 7c, and again goes up again by the pair of rolls 71a to 71b via the pair of rolls 74 to change rightward to reach the registration unit 10. Similarly, the sheets taken out from the cassettes 6a to 6b reach the registration unit 10 on the conveyance path 7. The sheet positioned by the registration unit 10 travels substantially horizontally on the conveyance path 7 (conveyance path 7e), and the image on the photosensitive member of the image forming unit 8 is transferred by the transfer device 8a. The sheet transferred by the transfer device 8a is separated from the photoreceptor by the separating device, and the separated sheet is further suctioned and conveyed and fixed by a conveyance belt having suction holes driven by, for example, rolls 75a and 75b. It is sent to the device 9. The sheet is fixed by the fixing device 9 and the image forming process is completed, and the sheet is discharged to the carry-out port 4 via the pair of rolls 75.

In the present embodiment, in the case of double-sided printing or to change the face, the transport path 7 has a reversal transport path 7a including transport paths 7r, 7g, and 7k. It is sent to the reversing conveyance path 7r disposed downward along the right side surface 1b branched from the downstream, is conveyed while being pinched and held by the pair of rolls 76, and is temporarily pinched by the pair of rolls 76. You. When changing to a face, the paper is conveyed upward and further turned right in the conveyance path 7k to be discharged toward the discharge port 4. In the case of double-sided printing, the sheet is similarly conveyed upward, and conveyed to the registration unit 10 by a pair of rolls 78 and 79 on a conveyance path 7g branched from the reversing conveyance path 7r above the pair of rolls 7r.

Further, in this digital copying machine, a sheet reversing conveyance path 7a used for double-sided copying is provided along the right side surface 1b which is a work surface, and is located at the highest position in the apparatus housing 1. The paper accommodated in the small-sized accommodation cassette 6a is configured to be transported relatively linearly in the paper transport path 7, so that it is suitable for transporting relatively thick paper. The function of the tray can also be replaced.

In this digital copying machine, a jam trouble occurring in the paper transport path 7 is basically provided on a side opening / closing door or a front face for jam removal work (not shown) formed on the right side face 1b which is a work surface. A front opening / closing door (not shown) for maintenance and inspection of the image forming unit 8 and the fixing device 9 can be opened, and hot air generated in the device housing 1 can be exhausted. An air conduction port (not shown) for absorbing the flow of air generated at the time of opening / closing operation of an opening / closing door provided in the apparatus housing and an outlet for a power cord (not shown) are formed on the bottom surface 1d side of the apparatus housing 1. ing.

The automatic document feeder (ADF) of the image input terminal 2 provided on the upper surface 1a of the apparatus housing 1 moves the original from the right side 1b which is the working surface of the apparatus housing 1 to the left side which is the non-working surface. After being set in the direction 1c and fed into the left side surface 1c, which is a non-working surface, a U-turn is made to discharge from the left side surface 1c toward the right side surface 1b. That is, when the original is automatically fed by the automatic document feeder 2a of the image input terminal 2, when the original bundle is placed on the mounting table 101, for example, with the reading surface facing upward, the original is placed in the single-sided reading mode. The first page of the uppermost document of the bundle is transported by the transport path 102 in the direction from the right side 1b to the left side 1c, and further transported in the opposite direction by the transport path 103. The image is read by a one-dimensional image sensor 110 such as a CCD. The read document is discharged by a transport path 104 to a document discharge tray 106 provided below the mounting table 101. Similarly, two pages to the last page of the lowermost document are sequentially read.

In the double-sided reading mode, first, one side of the document is conveyed to the reading position of the image sensor 110 and read in the same manner as in the single-sided reading mode, and then the read document is provided below the document discharge tray 106. After being transported to the transport path 105, the paper is again sent upstream to the transport path 103, so that the surface that has already been read is inside and the opposite surface to be newly read is outside and the transport path 103 is downstream. The image is read by the image sensor 110 at the advanced reading position.

On the other hand, when reading documents one by one, for example, by lifting the handle on the front surface of the housing of the automatic document feeder 2a upward, the automatic document feeder supported on the back side of the image forming apparatus The housing 2a is rotated upward, and a platen on which an original is placed appears on the upper surface of the scanning mechanism 2b provided on the upper surface 1a of the apparatus housing 1. When a document is placed on the platen 111, the scanning mechanism 2b scans the document surface on the platen 111 to perform reading.

{Circle around (2)} The image thus read is written on the photosensitive member of the image forming unit 8 by a known technique, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive member, and is developed by the developing device.

Therefore, according to this digital copying machine, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the left side surface 1c and the back surface 1e, which are the non-working surfaces of the apparatus housing 1, are adjacent to the side wall surface Ws and the back wall surface Wb, respectively. The digital copier can be installed and all operations that need to be performed from the outside of the digital copier, such as manuscript setting, copying mode selection of the machine, copying operation such as removal of copied paper, and removal when a jam occurs Work, maintenance such as maintenance and inspection of the image forming unit and the fixing device, and the like can be performed from the upper surface 1a of the apparatus housing 1 and the front and right sides 1b (not shown).

In the example shown above, the right side surface 1b of the apparatus housing 1 is used as a work surface, and the left side surface 1c is used as a non-work surface. It is designed to be easy to operate various operations on this digital copying machine with the right hand by matching the direction toward the surface 1c, but if necessary, the right side 1b is set as the non-working surface and the left side 1c is set as the working surface. Further, the automatic document feeding mechanism may be configured such that the automatic document feeding mechanism is configured to set the automatic document feeding direction from the left side surface 1b to the right side surface 1c so as to be easily operated by a left hand.

FIG. 3 shows another example of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In the digital copying machine of the second embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the upper surface 1a of the apparatus housing 1, the front surface (not shown), and the right side surface 1b are configured as working surfaces. The left side surface 1c and the back surface not shown are non-work surfaces.

In the digital copying machine according to the second embodiment, large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e, which are ordinary paper storage means, are disposed below the apparatus housing 1 near the left side 1c, which is a non-working side. A small-size storage cassette 6f serving as a second sheet storage means is disposed above the lower-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e. A cassette front conveyance path 7b that conveys the paper sent from the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e substantially upward is disposed. In each of the cassettes 6c to 6e and 6f, one of the cassettes provided above the stacked paper is provided. The sheets are sent out one sheet at a time to the right side 1b side by a separating means 70c to 70e and 70f including a pickup roll and a pair of rolls for preventing double feed, and the sheets are sent out. Sheet is guided to the transport path 7b and 7c by a pair of rolls 71c~71e and 71f.

The cassettes 6c to 6e and 6f are preferably trays of a type that draws out a sheet storage section in front of the apparatus housing 1. Further, for example, the large-size upper tray 6c and the small-size tray 6f preferably employ the multi-tray technology 8 (broad sense). That is, a plurality of types of sheet groups are accommodated in the corresponding placing means, and the takeout means sequentially sends out the sheet groups placed on the selected placing means one by one. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 4-209138 discloses an apparatus in which the take-out means moves up, down, left, and right to the position of the selected mounting table and feeds the paper. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 56-117930 discloses an apparatus for feeding a sheet by moving the sheet in a small size. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-22373 discloses an apparatus in which a large-sized mounting table is provided at a lower stage to feed a sheet of a small-sized mounting table at a position where feeding is possible and to feed a sheet of a large-sized mounting table at an impossible position. No. pp. 147-64. Further, as a device for feeding a sheet by moving a selected mounting table to a sheet feeding position, there is one filed by the present applicant as Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 6-330366.

For example, sheets of A3 size, B4 size, etc. are stored in the trays 6c to 6e, and an image of the most frequently used A4 size sheet can be formed in a short time. An image can be efficiently formed. The tray 6f may be a multi-tray for storing postcards together with A4 size sheets. Even a relatively thick postcard can be sufficiently conveyed by forming S-shaped conveyance paths 7d and 7h described later.

A discharge port 4 for discharging recorded paper to the outside is disposed on the right side 1b of the apparatus housing 1, and an image forming unit 8 is disposed opposite to the image forming unit 8. Transfer device (including a separation device) 8a, a fixing device 9 for fixing an unfixed toner image transferred onto a sheet by the transfer device 8a onto the sheet, and a sheet supply to the transfer device 8a The registration device 10 for controlling the timing is arranged in the order of the registration device 10, the image forming unit 8, the transfer device 8a, and the fixing device 9 from the left side 1c side, and the large size storage cassettes 6c to 6e. When the paper conveyed through the cassette front conveyance path 7b or the paper sent from the small size storage cassette 6f is turned in a direction substantially opposite to the sending direction of these papers, The paper is conveyed to the registration position in the registration device 10 while changing the direction in the registration device 10 again in the substantially same direction as the paper sending direction, and then the recorded paper on which the image is recorded is transferred through the transfer device 8a and the fixing device 9. A paper transport path 7e for transporting the paper to the outlet 4 is arranged.

In the second embodiment, the sheet transport path 7 for discharging the paper sent from the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e from the discharge port 4 of the apparatus housing 1 as recorded paper is located in front of the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e. And a cassette front conveyance path 7b for changing the direction of the paper sent from these large-sized storage cassettes 6c to 6e in a substantially horizontal direction to a substantially upward direction and nipping and conveying the sheets by a pair of rolls 7c to 7e. A reverse transport path 7c in which a sheet passing through the cassette front transport path 7b is turned in a direction substantially opposite to the sheet sending direction from the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e and transported by a pair of rolls 73 and 74, and vice versa. The paper that has passed through the directional transport path 7c is redirected again in the same direction as the paper sending direction from the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e, and is transported to the transfer device 8a. It comprises a semicircular redirection changing conveyance path 7d and a main conveyance path 7e extending from the transfer device 8a to the discharge port 4 via the separation device fixing device 9 and the paper from the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e. After the sheet sent in the sending direction is turned twice so as to draw a substantially S-shape, the sheet is conveyed again in substantially the same direction as the sheet sending direction and reaches the image forming unit 8, where a predetermined image is recorded. After the fixing, the sheet is conveyed almost straight through the fixing device 9 to the outside from the outlet 4 of the device housing 1.

The digital copying machine according to the second embodiment has a double-sided copying function for forming images on both sides of a sheet and a face reversing function, and reverses a single-side recorded sheet on which an image is recorded on one side. A reversing conveyance path 7a for a single-side recorded sheet is provided for re-feeding to the image forming unit 8 or discharging to the discharge port 4.

The reversing conveyance path 7a branches from the fixing device 9 and the discharge port 4 of the main discharge conveyance path 7e, and extends downward between the cassette front conveyance path 7b and the right side surface 1b of the apparatus housing 1. Transport path 7f having rolls 76 and 78, and a redirection having a pair of rolls 78 and 79 which branch from above the reversing roller 7r provided in the reverse transport path 7f and join the redirection transport path 7d. It is composed of a reversing reversing conveyance path 7g and a conveyance path 7k that branches rightward upstream of the reversing conveyance path 7f and discharges the face-reversed sheet to the carry-out port 4 by a roll 77. The one-side recorded sheet carrying the fixed image on one side passing through the fixing device 9 is guided from the discharge conveyance path 7e into the reversing conveyance path 7f, and conveyed to the lower end thereof. To the re-direction reversal conveyance path 7g, and then conveyed to the re-direction reversal conveyance path 7d in a direction substantially opposite to the sheet sending direction, and again the registration device 10, the image forming unit 8, the transfer device 8a, and the like. After passing through the fixing device 9, it is guided to the main transport path 7 e, and is discharged from the discharge port 4 of the device housing 1 to the outside.

In the second embodiment, the redirection reversing and reversing conveyance path 7g branches above the pair of reversing rollers 7r of the reversing conveyance path 7f toward the terminal end of the reversing conveyance path 7c located below the main conveyance path 7e. The main transport path 7e and the redirection reversal reverse transport path 7g branched above the reversing roller 7r of the downward transport path 7f branched from the discharge transport path 7e. The reverse direction conveyance path 7c where the redirection reversing reversal conveyance path 7g joins at the end side thereof is arranged in a substantially Z-shape, thereby securing the sheet conveyance distance.

Also, the paper sent from the small-sized storage cassette 6f provided above the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e is turned in a direction changing conveyance direction in which the conveyance direction of the paper is changed in a direction opposite to the direction in which the paper is sent out. After 7h, the sheet is conveyed to the registration position on an S-shaped conveyance path that joins the start end of the redirection changing conveyance path 7d. By forming the conveyance paths 7d and 7h in an S-shape, the length of the conveyance path can be maximized with a small space, so that it is possible to minimize the distance required for taking out the sheet and conveying the sheet to the registration position. At the same time, since the curve is loose, it is possible to prevent a jam from occurring. Therefore, the size of the device can be reduced without lowering the function, image quality and reliability.

In the digital copying machine according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e of the transfer device 8a, the fixing device 9, the registration device 10, and the sheet transport path 7 are used. A portion located above the small-size storage cassette 6f is mounted on a drawer frame 12 and integrally formed as a drawer unit 11. The drawer unit 11 is attached to the apparatus housing 1 by a rail member 13 so as to be able to be pulled out. Have been.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 4 to 6, the portion of the paper transport path 7 incorporated in the drawer unit 11 is located above the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e and the multi-storage cassette 6f. A reverse transport path 7c for transporting the paper from the right side 1b side to the left side side 1c side, and the sheets passing through the reverse direction transport path 7c are transported from the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e and the small-size storage cassette 6f. A semicircular redirection changing conveyance path 7d for changing the direction again in the substantially same direction as the sheet sending direction and conveying the same to the transfer device 8a, and an image forming process from the transfer device 8a to the discharge port 4 via the fixing device 9 The transport path 7e for transporting the sheet, the upper part of the reverse transport path 7f of the reverse transport path 7a, the transport path 7k, and the redirection reversing reverse transport path 7g.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the fixing device 9 is configured as a sub-unit that can be attached to and detached from the drawer frame 12, and the registration device 10 is not shown. It is configured as a sub-unit that can be attached to and detached from the drawer frame 12 together with the semicircular redirection transfer path 7d.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the positioning of the drawer unit 11 between the drawer frame 12 and the apparatus housing 1 includes a rear frame 12a and a front frame 12b. Two positioning pins 14 provided on the frame 12a and one positioning pin 14 provided on the front frame 12b are respectively connected to two positioning holes provided on the rear side of the apparatus housing 1 (one is formed as an elongated hole). The other is formed into a circular hole) 15 and one positioning hole (a long hole in the second embodiment) 15 provided on the front side.

7 and 8, the drawer frame 12 includes a plate 12e that joins the rear frame 12a and the front frame 12b and serves as a support base for the fixing device 9, as shown in FIGS. Two positioning holes 17 provided corresponding to the pins 16 on the bottom surface of the fixing device 9 are fitted to two positioning pins 16 provided on the mounting surface of the plate 12c so as to be spaced upward. Two positioning pins 18 provided on the rear side of the fixing device 9 are inserted into two positioning holes 19 (one is formed as a long hole and the other is formed as a circular hole) provided on the rear side of the apparatus housing 1. Two positioning holes 20 (one of which is formed as a long hole and the other is formed of a circular hole) 20 provided on the front side of the apparatus housing 1 are fitted and provided on the front side of the fixing device 9. book of And it went fitted in-decided Me pin 21, whereby the fixing device 9 is adapted to be precisely positioned relative to the image forming unit 8 which is positioned in housing 1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the sub-unit of the resist device 10 has two mounting plates 22a on the front and back surfaces at the lower right, and the drawer frame 12 further includes a rear frame 12a and a front frame 12b. Combined, it includes a support plate 12d with two mounting plates 22b of the subunit. These mounting plates 22a and 22b are fixed to the drawer frame 12 by screws 22 at two places, and two cutouts 23a provided on the front and back of the upper left of the subunit are used to fix the drawer frame 12 at two places. It is adjustably locked to locking pins 23 provided on the rear frame 12a and the front frame 12b, so that the fixing position of the registration device 10 can be finely adjusted.

In addition, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the registration device 10 is a registration device disposed immediately downstream of the transfer device 8a on the downstream side of the redirection transfer path 7d that turns substantially semicircularly. A first posture A, which is provided downstream of the roller 10a and the redirection changing conveyance path 7d and conveys the leading edge of the sheet to the gate 24 at the registration position (the baffle plate 26 is shown by a solid line in FIG. 9). Baffle means 10b which takes a second posture B (a posture in which the baffle plate 26 is shown by a dashed line in FIG. 9) for forming a resist loop on this sheet, and an upstream side of the redirection transfer path 7d. And a pre-registration roller 10c which feeds the sheet to the loop forming area 25 of the redirection transfer path 7d at a predetermined timing. Here, the baffle means 10b includes a baffle plate 26, a solenoid 27, and a registration sensor 28. When the registration sensor 28 detects the passage of the leading edge of the sheet, the solenoid 27 moves the baffle plate 26 to the second position B. The solenoid 27 moves the baffle plate 26 to the first position A when the registration sensor 28 detects that the rear end of the sheet has passed. The gate 24 is opened and closed by a solenoid 29 that operates in synchronization with the operation of the image forming unit 8.

Further, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, the drawer unit 11 includes a reversing motor 30 for driving a reversing roller 7r composed of a pair of rolls 30a and 30b, and a redirection reversing conveyance. A drive motor 32 for the transport roller 31 composed of two pairs of rolls 78 and 79 for transporting the single-side recorded paper in the path 7g is incorporated. The reversing motor 30 drives the roll 30a to rotate the roll 30b. By doing so, the one-side recorded sheet is forwardly rotated to feed the sheet (sheet) below the reversing conveyance path 7f, and the one-side recorded sheet is reversed and fed into the redirection reversing conveyance path 7g while being reversed. . The single-side recorded paper fed into the redirection reversal conveyance path 7g is driven by the motor 32 to drive the lower rolls of a pair of rolls 78 and 79 via a belt to rotate the upper rolls. It is transported at 31.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the registration roller 10a including a pair of rolls 10o and 10p incorporated in the drawer unit 11 is driven as follows. A gear is engaged with gears 301 and 302 provided on the main body 1 when the drawer unit 11 is mounted from a drive motor 33 mounted on the apparatus housing 1 and driving the photosensitive member and the like of the image forming unit 8. The roll 10o has rotation power, and the roll 10o rotates the roll 10p and the nearby roll 10q. The fixing roller 9a including the heating roller 91 and the pressure roller 92 of the fixing device 9 is connected to a gear 303 provided on the main body 1 side by another driving motor 34 mounted on the apparatus housing 1 side, and when the unit 11 is mounted thereon. The heating roller 91 having a gear engaged with the shaft via a gear 304 provided on the engaging unit side receives rotational power, and rotates the pressure roller 92. Similarly, a lower roll 93 of a pair of rolls 9b provided downstream of the fixing roll 9a in the fixing device 9 is driven by engaging a gear provided on a shaft with the gear 303 on the main body 1 side. , The upper roll 94 rotates.

The conveyance path 7e that conveys the sheet separated from the photoreceptor by the separation device to the sheet transferred by the transfer device 8a to the fixing device 9 includes rolls 75a and 75b wound around a belt having a hole to be sucked downward. . A roller 75b having a shaft engaged with the gear engaged with the gear on the shaft of the heating roller 91 and the gear 307 and gear 308 provided on the unit 11 side is driven. Is driven, and the sheet is sucked and conveyed to the fixing device 9. The pre-registration roller 10c is a roll 10s having a gear as a shaft which is similarly engaged from a drive motor 35 for the pre-registration roller 10c mounted on the apparatus housing 1 side via gears 305 and 306 provided on the main body 1 side. Is driven to rotate the roll 10t. The pulleys 36 (309, 310) corresponding to the transport rollers 73, 74 for transporting the paper in the reverse transport path 7c and the transport rollers 37 (76) of a pair of rolls for feeding one-side recorded paper to the downward transport path 7f. ) Are wound around each other by a timing belt 38 and are driven by a drive source motor 34 on the apparatus housing 1 side via a gear 39, and similarly, a pulley 36 (a pulley 309 on the roll 73 side) having a gear engaged therewith as a shaft. Is driven. As a result, the upper rolls of the rolls 73 and 74 having gears engaged with the pulleys 309 and 310 are rotated, and the lower rolls are rotated accordingly.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the drawer frame 12 of the drawer knit 11 includes a fixing device 9 at a portion corresponding to a reversing conveyance path 7e from the transfer device 8a to immediately before the fixing device 9. A movable frame 12c that can rotate around the side is attached, and a transfer device 8a and a transport belt 40 that constitutes a discharge transport path 7e from the transfer device 8a to immediately before the fixing device 9 are mounted on the movable frame 12c. When the drawer unit 11 is pulled out from the apparatus housing 1 side, the transfer device 8a can be pulled out while being separated from the image forming unit 8 on the apparatus housing 1 side.

Here, as shown in detail in FIGS. 4, 11, and 12, the movable frame 12c on which the transfer device 8a and the transport belt 40 are mounted has a roller 41a on a free end side and a rotation on a base end side. It is supported at a predetermined position by a support rod 41 rotatably supported by a driving shaft 41b, and the rotation shaft 41b of the support rod 41 extends to the front surface of the front frame 12b of the drawer frame 12. An operation handle 42 is attached thereto, and the support rod 41 is operated by the operation handle 42 to release the support state of the movable frame 12c, and the transfer device 8a is separated from the image forming unit 8 to pull out the drawer unit 1. It is designed to draw out.

When a jam trouble occurs in the redirection reversing and reversing conveyance path 7g, an opening / closing portion 43 having one end supported by a shaft 43a is provided on the upper surface of the redirection reversing and reversing conveyance path 7g. 12, the support state of the movable frame 12c by the support rod 41 is released, the drawer unit 1 is pulled out, and then the free end side of the movable frame 12c is lifted upward as shown in FIG. 13, and further as shown in FIG. The free end side of the opening / closing section 43 is lifted to be opened, and the jam in the redirection reversal conveyance path 7g is performed.

Further, as to the work for removing the jam trouble occurring in the upper part of the reverse transport path 7c and the reverse transport path 7f incorporated in the drawer unit 11, as shown by the broken line in FIG. The opening and closing sections 44 and 45 provided in the reverse conveyance path 7f are opened. At this time, among the rolls in the opening and closing portions 44 and 45 of the pair of rollers 73, 74 and 75, the upper roll and the inner roll are fixed to the unit side, and the lower roll and the outer roll are fixed to the opening and closing portion 44. 45. As a result, jam removal is facilitated.

Further, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, an opening / closing section 46 for jam removal work is provided at a lower portion of the right side 1 b which is a working surface of the apparatus housing 1. Is a second opening / closing portion 46b for eliminating a jam trouble occurring in the cassette front conveyance path 7b, and a jam trouble occurring in a lower portion of the reverse conveyance path 7f extending between the cassette front conveyance path 7b and the right side surface 1b. And a first opening / closing portion 46a for solving the problem.

That is, the opening / closing section 46 is preferably configured as follows. First, when the first opening / closing portion 46a forms a lower portion of the outer wall surface of the right side surface 1b of the housing 1 and covers the second opening / closing portion 46b, a pair of the cover portion 461 and the face reversing or screen forming surface reversal are formed. The roll 7r is approximately the lower half of the transport path 7f so that when the sheet is hung while temporarily holding the rear end of the sheet (that is, the leading end after reversal), it becomes a lower path of the sheet. And a rib 462 that rises inward from the cover portion 461 and that constitutes one wall of the passage. The second opening / closing portion 46b includes a frame 46c having an open portion into which the rib 462 enters when the first opening / closing portion 46a is closed, and a pair of rolls 72, 71c attached to the frame 46c on the front side and the back side. , 71d, and 71e, and four sub-assemblies 463 to 466 having outer rolls 722 and 712, respectively. The clockwise outer rolls 722, 712 exit the passages of the two transport paths 7b, 7f and are preferably comprised of the outer walls 468 of the subassemblies 463-466 and the end faces 467 of the ribs 562. At least the outer periphery of the sheet is preferably made of synthetic resin so that the leading end of the sheet is lightly pulled in when dropping it from the entrance 469 of the reversing conveyance path 7f and there is no resistance when the sheet is pulled up.

On the other hand, the pair of rolls 72, 71c, 71d, and 71e, and inner rolls 721 and 711 of the pair of rolls 72, 711 protruding into the passage of the transport path 7b formed by the inner wall 470 of the housing 1 and the inner walls 471 of the sub-assemblies 463 to 466, are disposed in The sheet is conveyed upward toward the exit 472 of the passage by nipping the sheet between the outer rolls 722 and 712 so as to feed the sheet to the conveyance path 7c and rotating the sheet counterclockwise. Preferably, the outer periphery is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The opening / closing part 46 as a double door is rotatably attached to the device housing 1 by a hinge 473 or the like on the back surface of the right side one tail b of the housing 1, that is, preferably, the first opening / closing part 46a and the The second opening / closing section 46b is normally locked, and when the first opening / closing section 46a is opened outward, the second opening / closing section 46b is also opened. When the lock is released, the first opening / closing section 46a and the second opening / closing section 46b are opened. The part 46b may be separated and opened.

FIG. 17 shows the configuration of still another example of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In the digital copying machine of the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, the upper surface 1a of the apparatus housing 1, the front surface (not shown), and the right side surface 1b are configured as working surfaces. The left side surface 1c and the back surface (not shown) are non-work surfaces.

In the digital copying machine according to the third embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, a circumferential redirection change in which the registration device 10 is incorporated from the cassette front conveyance path 7b of the paper conveyance path 7 is performed. The reverse conveyance path 7c leading to the conveyance path 7d and the redirection reversing conveyance path from the reverse conveyance path 7f of the reversing conveyance path 7a to the redirection reversing conveyance path 7d during double-sided copying. 7g is also provided, and a combined transport path 7i is provided, thereby reducing the height of the apparatus. That is, the pair of rolls 73 and 74 of the transport path 7c and the pair of rolls 78 and 79 of the transport path 7g can also be used, so that the corresponding portions of the first and second embodiments can be simplified and the apparatus can be downsized.

In the digital copying machine according to the third embodiment, the sheets sent from the large-size storage cassettes 6c to 6e are conveyed from the cassette front conveyance path 7b to the circumferential redirection conveyance path 7d via the shared conveyance path 7i. Then, the image is sent to the discharge conveyance path 7e by the registration device 10 at a predetermined timing to form an image, and is discharged from the discharge port 4 as it is at the time of one-sided copying, and is reversed at the time of double-sided copying. The sheet is fed to the reversing conveyance path 7f of the path 7a, where it is conveyed reversely and again conveyed to the circular redirection changing conveyance path 7d via the shared conveyance path 7i to perform double-sided copying.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the front of a digital copying machine according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the front of a digital copying machine according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is an explanatory sectional view showing a drawer unit provided in the digital copying machine of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view showing a state where the drawer unit provided in the digital copying machine of FIG. 3 is pulled out from the apparatus main body. FIG. 6 is an explanatory perspective view showing the opening / closing unit for the jam removal operation in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an assembly explanatory view showing a drawer frame of a drawer unit provided in the digital copying machine of FIG. 3 and a fixing device and a registration device of a subunit detachably attached to the drawer frame. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a positioning state of the fixing device and the registration device of the drawer frame of FIG. 7 and subunits attached to the drawer frame. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for specifically explaining the function of the registration device of the drawer unit provided in the digital copying machine of FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a drive system in the drawer unit provided in the digital copying machine in FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a normal support state of a movable frame provided on a drawer frame of a drawer unit provided in the digital copying machine of FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the movable frame of FIG. 11 is lowered so that the drawer unit can be pulled out from the apparatus main body. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the movable frame is opened upward after the drawer unit of FIG. 11 is pulled out from the apparatus main body. FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the movable frame is opened upward after the drawer unit of FIG. 11 is pulled out from the apparatus main body, and then the redirection reversal conveyance path of the single-sided recorded paper is opened for jam processing. is there. FIG. 15 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the opening / closing portion for jam removal work provided at the lower portion of the right side (side work surface) of the apparatus main body of the digital copying machine of FIG. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where the opening / closing unit for jam removal work in FIG. 15 is opened from the first opening / closing unit. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the front of a digital copying machine according to a third embodiment to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the front of a conventional electrophotographic copying machine. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the front of another conventional type of electrophotographic copying machine. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the front of still another type of conventional electrophotographic copying machine.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device housing, 1a ... Top surface, 1b ... Right side surface, 1c ... Left side surface, 1d ... Bottom surface, 1e ... Back surface, 2 ... Image input terminal, 3 ... Operation panel, 4 ... Outlet, 5 ... Finisher, 5a ... Stapler, 5b ... Set holder, 6a, 6b ... Small size storage cassette, 6c-6e ... Large size storage cassette, 6f ... Multi storage cassette, 7 ... Paper transport path, 7a ... Paper reverse transport path, 7b ... Cassette front transport Road, 7c: reverse conveyance path, 7d: redirection conveyance path, 7e: discharge conveyance path, 7f: downward conveyance path, 7g: redirection reversal conveyance path, 7h: redirection conveyance path, 7i: dual-purpose conveyance Road 7r Reversing roller 8 Image forming unit 8a Transfer device 9 Fixing device Ws Side wall surface Wb Back wall surface 10 Registration device 10a Registration roller 10b Bar Full means, 10c pre-registration roller, 11 drawer unit, 12 drawer frame, 12a rear frame, 12b front frame, 12c movable frame, 13 rail member, 14, 16, 18, 21 ... positioning pin, 15, 17, 19, 20 positioning holes, 22 screws, 23 locking pins, 24 gates, 25 loop forming areas, 26 baffle plates, 27, 29 solenoids, 28 resist sensors, 30 reversals Motor, 31: transport roller, 32: drive motor, 33, 34, 35: drive motor, 36, 37: transport roller, 38: timing belt, 39: gear, 40: transport belt, 41: support rod, 41a ... Roller 41b Rotating shaft 42 Operating handle 43 Opening / closing portion 43a Shaft 44/45/46 Opening / closing portion 4 a ... first closing portion, 46b ... second closing part.

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus, an image formed on a photoconductor is transferred to a sheet to form an image, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to a discharge port provided on one side surface of the apparatus main body.
All the working units for performing work from the outside of the image forming apparatus are collectively arranged on three working surfaces including the upper surface, the front surface, and either one of the left and right sides, and The back and the other side either left or right are non-working surfaces, and
Storing means for storing the sheet;
Take-out means for taking out a sheet from the storage means in the direction of the one side surface;
A first transporting unit that transports the sheet taken out by the takeout unit toward the other side surface of the apparatus main body,
Registration means for folding the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance means in the direction of the one side surface and positioning the sheet with respect to the photoconductor;
A main transport unit that transports the sheet toward the discharge port to perform the transfer and discharge on the sheet sent from the registration unit,
A unit integrating the first transport unit, the registration unit, and the main transport unit; and a pull-out unit that pulls out the unit from the apparatus main body to the front of the apparatus main body, and
Control means for controlling conveyance from removal of the sheet from the storage means to discharge, and the control means, when the conveyance of the sheet is interrupted due to an abnormality, the conveyance process between the unit and the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus that controls sheet conveyance so that the sheet does not straddle. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Further, a reversing conveyance unit that branches off from the downstream of the main conveyance unit and conveys a sheet from the main conveyance unit provided along the one side surface in order to reverse the image forming surface, and a sheet from the reversal conveyance unit. An image forming apparatus including, in the unit, a second transport unit that transports the toner to the registration unit. In an image forming apparatus, an image formed on a photoconductor is transferred to a sheet to form an image, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to a discharge port provided on one side surface of the apparatus main body.
All the working units for performing work from the outside of the image forming apparatus are collectively arranged on three working surfaces including the upper surface, the front surface, and either one of the left and right sides, and The back and the other side either left or right are non-working surfaces, and
Storing means for storing the sheet;
Take-out means for taking out a sheet from the storage means in the direction of the one side surface;
A first transporting unit that transports the sheet taken out by the takeout unit toward the other side surface of the apparatus main body,
Registration means for folding the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance means in the direction of the one side surface and positioning the sheet with respect to the photoconductor;
A main transport unit that transports the sheet toward the discharge port to perform the transfer and discharge on the sheet sent from the registration unit,
A unit integrating the first transport unit, the registration unit, and the main transport unit; and a pull-out unit that pulls out the unit from the apparatus main body to the front of the apparatus main body, and
A reversing conveyance unit for branching from the downstream of the main conveyance unit for reversing an image forming surface and provided along the one side surface and conveying a sheet from the main conveyance unit; A second transport unit for transporting to the resist unit;
An image forming apparatus, wherein a first transport unit and a second transport unit are common. In an image forming apparatus, an image formed on a photoconductor is transferred to a sheet to form an image, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to a discharge port provided on one side surface of the apparatus main body.
All the working units for performing work from the outside of the image forming apparatus are collectively arranged on three working surfaces including the upper surface, the front surface, and either one of the left and right sides, and The back and the other side either left or right are non-working surfaces, and
Storing means for storing the sheet;
Take-out means for taking out a sheet from the storage means in the direction of the one side surface;
A first transporting unit that transports the sheet taken out by the takeout unit toward the other side surface of the apparatus main body,
Registration means for folding the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance means in the direction of the one side surface and positioning the sheet with respect to the photoconductor;
A main transport unit that transports the sheet toward the discharge port to perform the transfer and discharge on the sheet sent from the registration unit,
A unit integrating the first transport unit, the registration unit, and the main transport unit; and a pull-out unit that pulls out the unit from the apparatus main body to the front of the apparatus main body, and
A reversing conveyance unit for branching from the downstream of the main conveyance unit for reversing an image forming surface and provided along the one side surface and conveying a sheet from the main conveyance unit; A second transport unit for transporting to the resist unit;
The first transporting means, the main transporting means, and the reversing transporting means include a transporting path for transporting the sheet, the second transporting means branches downstream of the transporting path of the reversing means, and the transporting path of the first transporting means. It merges downstream, and forms a Z-shape in the conveyance path of the main conveyance means, the conveyance path portion before branching in the conveyance path of the reverse conveyance means, the second conveyance means, and the conveyance path of the first conveyance means. An image forming apparatus, which is provided. In an image forming apparatus, an image formed on a photoconductor is transferred to a sheet to form an image, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to a discharge port provided on one side surface of the apparatus main body.
All the working units for performing work from the outside of the image forming apparatus are collectively arranged on three working surfaces including the upper surface, the front surface, and either one of the left and right sides, and The back and the other side either left or right are non-working surfaces, and
Storing means for storing the sheet;
Take-out means for taking out a sheet from the storage means in the direction of the one side surface;
A first transporting unit that transports the sheet taken out by the takeout unit toward the other side surface of the apparatus main body,
Registration means for folding the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance means in the direction of the one side surface and positioning the sheet with respect to the photoconductor;
A main transport unit that transports the sheet toward the discharge port to perform the transfer and discharge on the sheet sent from the registration unit,
A unit integrating the first transport unit, the registration unit, and the main transport unit; and a pull-out unit that pulls out the unit from the apparatus main body to the front of the apparatus main body, and
The unit includes the first transport unit, the registration unit, and the main transport unit provided on a frame, and the pull-out unit is provided on the apparatus main body and the frame, and the frame is provided in a front-rear direction with respect to a housing of the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus for positioning the registration means and the photoconductor by fitting a pin provided in the unit with a hole provided also in a housing of the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,
Further, a reversing conveyance unit that branches off from the downstream of the main conveyance unit and conveys a sheet from the main conveyance unit provided along the one side surface in order to reverse the image forming surface, and a sheet from the reversal conveyance unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein the unit includes a second transport unit that transports the toner to the registration unit. In an image forming apparatus, an image formed on a photoconductor is transferred to a sheet to form an image, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to a discharge port provided on one side surface of the apparatus main body.
All the working units for performing work from the outside of the image forming apparatus are collectively arranged on three working surfaces including the upper surface, the front surface, and either one of the left and right sides, and The back and the other side either left or right are non-working surfaces, and
Storing means for storing the sheet;
Take-out means for taking out a sheet from the storage means in the direction of the one side surface;
A first transporting unit that transports the sheet taken out by the takeout unit toward the other side surface of the apparatus main body,
Registration means for folding the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance means in the direction of the one side surface and positioning the sheet with respect to the photoconductor;
Main transport means for transporting the sheet toward the discharge port to perform the transfer and discharge on the sheet sent from the resist means,
Reversing means for diverging from the main transport means to reverse the image forming surface, and provided along the one side surface and transporting a sheet from the main transport means;
Second conveying means for conveying the sheet from the reversing means to the registration means,
A unit integrating the first transport unit, the register unit, the main transport unit, the reversing unit, and the second transport unit; and a drawer unit that pulls out the unit from the apparatus main body to the front of the apparatus main body, and
The unit is provided above the apparatus main body, and a front door is provided on the front of the apparatus main body to remove jams generated above these units,
A plurality of the storage means are provided below the apparatus main body, and the take-out means provided in correspondence with the storage means includes a separating means for sequentially sending out the stored sheets one by one to the one side surface, and a separating means. A sheet feed path for sending the fed sheet upward and sending it to the first conveying means, and the one side surface for removing the jam generated by the take-out means and the reverse conveying means below these sheets; An image forming apparatus, comprising: a side door provided in the image forming apparatus.

Images