JP4669599B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of image forming apparatus, for example, a configuration as shown in FIG. 7 is known.
[0003]
First, a controller (not shown) sends a signal to the laser oscillator to emit laser light. Next, this laser beam is reflected by a rotating mirror 150 (generally called a polygon mirror), and is further folded back by a reflecting mirror 151 to be irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 152.
[0004]
Through such a series of operations, a so-called latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 152. The latent image is developed by the developing device 153 to form a toner image.
[0005]
On the other hand, the sheets are fed one by one from the sheet cassette by the pickup roller 154 and pass under the photosensitive drum 152. As it passes, the toner image formed by the process described above is transferred onto the paper. Thereafter, the sheet is pressed against the pair of fixing rollers 155 and 156, and is heated by the heat of a heater provided inside the rollers, whereby the toner image is fixed on the sheet.
[0006]
The sheets discharged from the fixing roller pairs 155 and 156 are then discharged and stacked on the upper surface discharge unit 101 via the switching flapper 110.
[0007]
Since the sheets discharged to the upper surface discharge unit 101 are sequentially stacked with the image surface facing downward, the sheets are stacked in the output order when all the outputs are completed. . As an output method from a computer or the like, it is a general discharge method.
[0008]
The documents are stacked on a document tray 158 of the automatic document feeder 157 and are sequentially conveyed to the reading position 159 one by one. The original passes through the reading position 159 as it is, but the image is guided to an image reading element such as a CCD through folding mirrors 160, 161, 162, where the image is converted as an electric signal. The converted image signal is transferred to the lower image forming unit having the image forming process described above, and the laser emits light according to the image signal. The image forming process after the laser is emitted is as described above.
[0009]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to this type of prior art. An operator who operates the apparatus stands and works on the front side of the apparatus as indicated by a broken line.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the prior art as described above, the following problems have occurred.
[0011]
In the apparatus as described above, the conveyance path 130 from the cassette storing the sheet for image formation, or the sheet path 132 for temporarily inverting the sheet to the path 131 for performing the double-sided image formation process, etc. When conveyance paths are required and a paper jam occurs in the middle of these conveyance paths, it is necessary to open these conveyance paths (broken line in FIG. 7).
[0012]
Therefore, when installing the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to secure a sufficiently large area around the apparatus in anticipation of a space necessary for maintenance such as opening a conveyance path.
[0013]
For this reason, even if the main body of the image forming apparatus is downsized, a problem arises that the space required for the installation is not smaller than expected.
[0014]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that can be maintained from the front side of the apparatus and can be installed in a small space.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, storage means for storing a sheet before image formation, an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet stored in the storage means, and the image forming unit, A first unit that is disposed so as to form a first sheet conveyance path that conveys a sheet together with the apparatus main body, and a second unit that forms a second sheet conveyance path that conveys the sheet together with the first unit. And the image forming unit in the first sheet conveyance path after the sheet that has passed through the first sheet conveyance path passes through the second sheet conveyance path. The sheet is conveyed to the upstream side so that an image can be formed on both sides of the sheet by reversing the front and back of the sheet, and the sheet is supplied to the storage means. In the image forming apparatus capable of performing from the front side,
The transport unit is slidably movable toward the front side of the apparatus, and the second unit is configured to be rotatable relative to the first unit. The first sheet transport path is opened, and the second unit is rotated relative to the first unit, so that the second sheet transport path is A sheet that is configured to be opened, is provided at the front of the apparatus and above the storage unit, and is provided with a space in which the transport unit is slidable. The sheet that has passed through the first sheet transport path Is discharged into the space .
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. Absent.
[0027]
(First embodiment)
The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0028]
1, 2 and 3 are schematic cross-sectional views of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, showing a cross-sectional configuration viewed from the side of the apparatus. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
[0029]
In FIG. 1, sheets as sheets are stored in a cassette 20 and are conveyed upward one by one by a pickup roller 54. The sheet conveyed upward passes through a conveyance path 42 serving as a first sheet conveyance path, and passes between the drum 22 and the transfer roller 23 disposed to face the drum 22.
[0030]
Around the drum 22, a developing unit 24 containing toner and a cleaner unit 25 for cleaning the remaining toner on the drum 22 are disposed at a position in contact with the drum 22.
[0031]
Further, the laser light emitted from the laser scanner 50 which is an exposure device for forming a so-called latent image on the drum 22 is changed in its optical path by the reflection mirrors 27 and 28 and is irradiated onto the drum 22.
[0032]
A series of image forming processes in which a laser beam is irradiated by a laser scanner 50 to form a latent image on the drum 22, and then the latent image is converted into a toner image by a developing device 24 and transferred onto a sheet by a transfer roller 23. Is the same as the conventional example.
[0033]
The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer roller 23 is then conveyed further upward and is heated and pressed by a fixing device 29 comprising a pair of rollers, whereby the toner image is fixed on the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to the discharge roller 30 which is a discharge port by the conveyance roller, and is discharged out of the apparatus from there. The discharged sheets are stacked on a discharge tray 40 as a sheet stacking member provided for stacking sheets.
[0034]
When image formation is performed on both the front and back sides of the paper, the paper is once discharged onto the paper discharge tray 40, and the rotation of the discharge roller 30 is reversed before the rear edge of the paper is completely removed from the discharge roller 30. Let As a result, the sheet is conveyed again into the apparatus. The sheet transported again is switched in the transport path by the switching flapper 41 and transported into the double-sided path 43 as the second sheet transport path.
[0035]
The sheet transported into the duplex path 43 passes through the registration roller 44 and is transported through the transport path 42 again. In this way, the paper conveyed by reversing the front and back from the time of the first conveyance is transferred with the toner image on the back surface by the same image forming process as the front surface, passes through the fixing device 29 again, and then the discharge roller 30. It is discharged out of the device.
[0036]
An operator M who operates such an apparatus is indicated by a broken line. As shown in the figure, the sheet is picked up from the back side of the cassette 20 provided at the lower part of the apparatus, and is conveyed upward through a conveyance path 42 provided vertically to form an image before the front of the apparatus. The paper is stacked on a paper discharge tray 40 provided in the space 60. Further, when image formation is performed on both sides, the image is conveyed downward through a double-sided path 43 provided vertically in parallel with the conveyance path 42, and after image formation is performed on the back side, the sheet is discharged to the paper discharge tray 40. .
[0037]
With this configuration, both the operation of supplying paper to the cassette 20 and the processing of the discharged paper can be performed while the operator M is standing at the same position (front of the apparatus).
[0038]
Next, a processing method when a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0039]
If a paper jam occurs somewhere in the paper transport path, the device is quickly stopped.
[0040]
First, the operator turns and folds the paper discharge tray 40 on which the discharged paper is stacked around a rotation center provided on the left as viewed from the operator (FIG. 4).
[0041]
Thereafter, the transfer unit 46 as the first unit constituting the conveyance path 42 and the discharge unit 45 as the second unit constituting the double-sided path 43 together with the transfer unit 46 had been the discharge tray 40 until then. Pull out to space 60. The transfer unit 46 and the discharge unit 45 constitute a transport unit and can move together. In addition, when pulling out, a rail 47 is provided so that the operation can be performed smoothly (FIG. 2).
[0042]
The ejected discharge unit 45 can further rotate around a rotation center 48 provided in the lower part thereof, and the transfer unit 46 can rotate around a similar rotation center 49.
[0043]
By following such a procedure, most of the paper conveyance paths in the apparatus are configured to be opened for processing. Therefore, it is possible to quickly remove the jammed paper or the remaining paper in the paper transport path (FIG. 3).
[0044]
The above-described operation for removing a paper jam can be processed while the paper transport path is opened using the space 60 and the space on the front side of the apparatus, and the operator is positioned on the front surface of the apparatus. Therefore, it is not necessary to consider a corresponding space at the time of paper jam in the installation space of the apparatus, and the apparatus can be installed in a small space.
[0045]
In addition to a paper jam, an operation performed by the operator on the image forming apparatus includes a maintenance operation for parts related to the image forming process. For example, replacement of the drum 22 having a certain lifetime, replacement of the developing device 24, replacement of the cleaner unit 25, or the like.
[0046]
When these maintenance operations are performed by the operator, the discharge unit 45 and the transfer unit 46 are first pulled out to open the conveyance path 42 and then the image forming unit 2 provided in the back thereof, as in the operation procedure described above. By pulling out, maintenance is easily performed.
[0047]
This maintenance work can also be performed from the position where the operator is standing, that is, from the front of the apparatus, similarly to the work at the time of paper jam.
[0048]
As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, when performing operations such as paper replenishment, paper ejection removal, paper jam removal, and component replacement, the image forming apparatus wraps around to the side of the apparatus. It is possible to perform all work at the position of the front of the device, so there is almost no restriction on the installation space of the device, for example, even the front of the device where the operator is standing can be secured. If so, there is no need to secure any extra space in the other three directions of the apparatus, and installation is possible even in extremely narrow places.
[0049]
In addition, since the paper discharge tray 40 on which the paper is loaded is rotated and stored on a rotation center shaft provided substantially parallel to the paper discharge direction, it is also discharged during maintenance of the paper transport path and the image forming unit disposed in the back. The paper tray 40 is not obstructed, and the operation is easy.
[0050]
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment. In the present embodiment, a configuration including control means for controlling the rotation of the paper discharge tray is shown. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 5, paper discharge trays 70 on which discharged paper can be stacked are arranged on both the left and right sides of the space 60. Each of these paper discharge trays 70 is provided with a staple unit 71 that collectively staples the discharged sheets.
[0052]
First, the sheets discharged from the discharge port are sequentially stacked on the discharge tray 70. When a predetermined number of sheets are stacked, the sheets are bundled by the staple unit 71 and stapled. After being stapled, the paper discharge tray 70 is folded in the direction of arrow A in the figure by a control means (not shown). As a result, the paper on the paper discharge tray 70 falls down and is stacked in the space 60.
[0053]
Thereafter, the paper discharge tray 70 is returned to a predetermined position (solid line in FIG. 5) by the control means, and the paper is discharged and stacked in the same manner as described above, and the stapling operation is similarly performed. In the case where a plurality of booklets having the same contents are to be imaged, an apparatus having such a configuration can be suitably used.
[0054]
In an apparatus equipped with the above control means, for example, when an error such as a paper jam or toner replenishment occurs and it becomes necessary to open the paper transport path, the control means receives the error signal and discharges it. The paper tray 70 is automatically folded in the direction of arrow A in the figure.
[0055]
As a result, the subsequent operation of the operator can be performed extremely smoothly as in the embodiment described above.
[0056]
(Third embodiment)
FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment.
[0057]
In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus in which the image forming unit 2, the transport unit, and the space 60 are provided on the upper side of the cassette 20 as the sheet storage unit has been described. In the present embodiment, such an image forming apparatus is provided. The structure which provided the image reading part further on the upper side is shown. By adopting such a configuration, the apparatus can be miniaturized.
[0058]
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the operation panel 91 provided in the image reading unit 90 is naturally disposed on the front of the apparatus so as to be positioned on the front side of the operator, so that image formation also including the image reading unit 90 is performed. Even in the case of the apparatus, as in the above-described embodiment, the operator can perform all the operations only by the operation from the near side, and the installation space of the apparatus can be extremely small.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention is configured such that the sheet conveyance path can be opened by moving the conveyance unit to the space provided in the front part of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to remove the sheet jam only by using it, and it is not necessary to secure extra space on the left and right sides and the rear side of the apparatus, and the installation space of the apparatus can be made very small.
[0060]
In addition, since the apparatus can be reduced in size by providing the conveyance unit on the back side of the space and providing the first and second sheet conveyance paths substantially vertically, the installation space of the apparatus can be further reduced. it can.
[0061]
In addition, since the image forming unit is configured to be detachable from the space where the first sheet conveyance path is opened, maintenance of the image forming unit can be performed from the front surface of the image forming apparatus.
[0062]
In addition, since the sheet stacking member is configured to be retractable from the moving path when the transport unit moves to the space, the sheet stacking member does not get in the way during maintenance of the transport unit and the image forming unit, and the installation space is smaller. An image forming apparatus can be realized.
[0063]
In addition, a control unit is provided that retracts the sheet stacking member from the transport path of the transport unit based on a signal generated when an abnormality occurs in the transport unit or the image forming unit. Therefore, the maintenance work can be performed more smoothly.
[0064]
In addition, since the space is provided above the sheet storage unit and the image reading unit is provided above the space, the image forming apparatus including the image reading unit can be downsized. The installation space can also be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a conventional technique.
FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a conventional technique.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Image forming unit 20 Cassette 22 Drum 23 Transfer roller 24 Developer 25 Cleaner unit 27, 28 Reflection mirror 29 Fixing device 30 Discharge roller 40 Discharge tray 41 Flapper 42 Transport path 43 Double-sided path 44 Registration roller 45 Discharge unit 46 Transfer unit 47 Rail 50 Laser scanner 54 Pickup roller 60 Space 70 Output tray 90 Image reading unit 91 Operation panel

Claims (8)

Storage means for storing a sheet before image formation;
An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet stored in the storage means;
A first unit that is disposed to face the image forming unit and forms a first sheet conveyance path that conveys a sheet together with the apparatus main body, and a second sheet conveyance that conveys the sheet together with the first unit. A transport unit having a second unit forming a path;
With
The sheet that has passed through the first sheet transport path passes through the second sheet transport path and is transported upstream of the image forming unit in the first sheet transport path. In an image forming apparatus configured to be able to form an image on both sides of a sheet by reversing the sheet, and to supply the sheet to the storage means from the front side of the apparatus,
The transport unit is slidable to the front side of the apparatus, and the second unit is configured to be rotatable relative to the first unit;
When the transport unit is slid to the front side of the apparatus, the first sheet transport path is opened, and the second unit is rotated relative to the first unit. The second sheet conveyance path is configured to be opened ,
A space in which the transport unit is slidable is provided at the front of the apparatus and above the storage means, and a sheet that has passed through the first sheet transport path is discharged into the space. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sheet conveyance path and the second sheet conveyance path are provided substantially vertically. The image forming unit includes:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body from a space formed by opening the first sheet conveyance path. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a sheet stacking member that stacks sheets discharged after passing through the first sheet transport path is provided in the space. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the sheet stacking member is configured to be retractable from a moving path when the transport unit slides with respect to the space. The sheet stacking member is
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be retractable from the moving path by being rotatably supported by a rotation center shaft provided in parallel with a sheet discharge direction. The image forming apparatus described in 1. Control means for retracting the sheet stacking member from the moving path based on a signal generated when an abnormality occurs in the first unit, the second unit, or the image forming unit is provided. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 . The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a image reading means for reading an original above the transport unit.

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