JPH11184193A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an image processor compact by eliminating a useless space without lowering a function, workability and the like. SOLUTION: When a manual paper supply device 150 and a developer recovery container 148 are loaded in a copying machine main body 1, the space α280 obtained by projecting the container 148 in parallel in the loading direction (direction B) thereof is formed between the container 148 and a rear frame 303. Then, the supply device 150 is loaded so that one part 150a thereof is arranged at the space α280. The loaded container 148 is arranged outside a space β281 where the supply device 150 is passed when it is moved in a direction X and in a direction Y. The loaded supply device 150 is arranged outside a space α282 where the container 148 is passed when it is moved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a detachable functional unit such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or a scanner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image processing apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, or a scanner,
The miniaturization is being promoted by minimizing wasted space inside.
However, it is not merely a matter of reducing the space, and it is necessary to promote the miniaturization while securing the necessary space without lowering the functions and workability as much as possible.

For example, maintenance and inspection of an image processing apparatus, maintenance,
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 58-126460 discloses that a functional unit can be attached to and detached from an image processing device from two adjacent side surfaces of the image processing device for repair or the like. According to this technology, when a detachable photoconductor unit is attached to or detached from the upper surface side of the image processing apparatus, the functional unit located below the photoconductor in the image processing apparatus is retracted to the side of the image processing apparatus as a functional unit. In addition to the above state, the developing device is pulled out to the upper side of the image processing apparatus, and an opening / detachment open space is formed around the photosensitive member, so that the photosensitive member is attached / detached.

In such a technique, in order to reduce the number of operations at the time of attaching and detaching and to improve the simplicity of attaching and detaching, a functional unit including a functional unit located below the photosensitive member is provided on the side. It is conceivable to make the photoreceptor detachable from the upper surface side of the image processing apparatus without being evacuated. That is, it is conceivable that the functional unit above the photoconductor including the photoconductor is made into one functional unit, and is detachable from the upper surface side of the image processing apparatus. In such an image processing apparatus, it is necessary to promote downsizing so as not to sacrifice operability.

Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-71947 discloses a sheet feeding apparatus which separates sheets placed on a sheet placing means one by one and feeds the sheets downstream in a conveying direction. In this sheet feeding apparatus, the feeding and feeding means is disposed upstream of the separation feeding means for separating the sheets one by one in the conveying direction, and the feeding and feeding means is arranged so that the feeding and feeding means is separated from the sheet placed on the sheet placing means. Moving the sheet from the separated position to a position in contact with the sheet and feeding the sheet toward the separation feeding means,
It is a configuration. Such a sheet feeding device employs a configuration in which the feeding means rotates vertically about a rotation axis and moves up and down.

Since such a sheet feeding apparatus handles a sheet having a specified size, miniaturization in the planar direction of the sheet cannot be less than the maximum size of the sheet to be handled. With respect to the direction, a considerable size reduction (thinning) can be expected.

A specific description will be made with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26. FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a sheet feeding device portion of a conventional copying machine, and FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing a sheet feeding state of the sheet feeding device. FIG. 26 (a)
The drawing shows the case where the feeding device is not in the calling state, and FIG. 3B shows the case where the calling device is in the calling state.

[0008] This manual feeder includes a sheet placing means 1
The sheet P placed on the sheet feeding device 51 is fed toward the separation / feeding means 153 by the feeding / feeding means 152, and
In step 3, the sheet is separated and fed one by one, and further fed downstream in the feeding direction. As shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 52 is rotatably supported on a rotation shaft supported on both sides by the arm 700. Intake feeding means 152
The solenoid 7 serving as a drive source is provided between a position in contact with the sheet P placed on the sheet placing means 151 and a position separated from the sheet P with the drive input shaft 701 as a rotation axis.
02 and a moving lever 704 connected to a spring 703. The moving lever 704 is 2
The arm 700 can be engaged with a part of a connecting plate 705 that integrally connects the two arms 700. When the solenoid 702 is off, the spring 703 urges the feeder 152, the arm 700, the connecting plate 705, etc. integrally upward around the drive input shaft 701 by the elastic force of the spring 703. 152 is separated from the sheet P.

[0009] As shown in FIG.
When 02 is turned on, the moving lever 704 rotates counterclockwise, and the gravity of the portion that rotates integrally with the feeding and feeding means 152 and the elastic force of the urging spring 706 cause the feeding and feeding means 152 to seat. Evacuate so that it can be pressed against P. The driving force for rotating the separating and feeding means 153 and the attracting and feeding means 152 for feeding the sheet is input from the main body side by a clutch or the like.

[0010] The portion which is integrally rotated with the feeding and feeding means 152 is turned upward to move the feeding and feeding means 152.
Is designed to output a driving force for separating the sheet from the sheet from the solenoid 702. Since an elastic means such as a spring for urging the attracting / feeding means 152 toward the sheet is necessary, the urging force of the elastic means for urging the attracting / feeding means 152 toward the sheet, and the integral feeding / rotating means 152 rotate. A driving force that resists the gravitational force of the part to be driven is required. Considering this and the duty of the solenoid for turning on the solenoid when the manual feeding device is not used, the solenoid must be increased in size. Therefore, by configuring as shown in FIG. 25, the solenoid 702 is turned on when the manual feeding device is used, and the solenoid 702 is rotated integrally with the feeding device 152 by a spring 703 connected to the moving lever 704. The moving part is pivoting upward. In this case, the solenoid 702 only needs to have a driving force for rotating the moving lever against the spring 703.
The smaller the size, the better.

[0011]

However, when miniaturizing an image processing apparatus in which the functional blocks described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 58-126460 are detachable, the functions of the functional units must be reduced. The part which must be in a predetermined position is stopped at that position, and the other parts are moved. In addition, in order to prevent an obstruction of attachment / detachment of an adjacent functional unit, there is no projecting portion in one of the functional units in the attaching / detaching direction of the adjacent functional unit so as to obstruct attachment / detachment. Should be almost uniform. Therefore, the functional unit has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and if limited to this shape, the functional unit occupies a useless space.
Thus, the space volume occupied by the functional units could not be reduced, and thus the miniaturization of the image processing apparatus could not be promoted. This remarkably appears in a functional unit having a function related to a sheet, such as an exposure scanning unit, a sheet feeding unit, an image forming unit, and a fixing unit.

Also, consider a case where the thickness of a sheet feeding apparatus having a vertically movable type of feeding means described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-71947 is reduced. Considering that the size of the separation feeding means and the feeding means is considerably smaller than the maximum allowable sheet size, and that the feeding means moves up and down, the size of the feeding means is perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. A space that is not used as a sheet feeding device is easily formed on both sides in the direction. Inside the image processing apparatus, other devices and components are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, particularly in a central portion over a considerable area,
Considering the detachability of the devices and components arranged inside the image processing apparatus, it is difficult to arrange other devices and components other than the sheet feeding device in the space on both sides of the attracting and feeding means. To waste.

In the case where the vertical driving device and the driving source of the feeding device are arranged in the space on both sides of the feeding device, the driving device is located on both sides with respect to the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction of the feeding device. In addition, since the vertical driving device and the driving source are arranged on the center side close to the feeding and feeding means, the vertical driving device and the driving source have hindered further miniaturization.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26,
When the solenoid 702 is directly connected to the rotatable moving lever 704, the arrangement of the plunger of the solenoid 702 must be such that the moving lever rotates the moving lever 704 counterclockwise in the drawing.
Will be located below. Even if the position of the solenoid 702 is lowered, the open space for the sheet to pass through is reduced, and the positions of the solenoid 702 and the moving lever 704 cannot be lowered. Also, although the solenoid 702 is small, it is considerably larger than the size of the feeding means 152. By these,
The moving lever 704 protrudes above the feeding means 152. Therefore, the size of the manual feeder in the direction in which the sheets are stacked increases accordingly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of reducing unnecessary space and reducing the size without reducing functions and workability.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of functional units which can be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body and perform a predetermined function at a predetermined mounting position. That is, it is installed and arranged in a space excluding a space through which another functional unit passes when it is mounted and unloaded, and furthermore, a part of another functional unit can be arranged in a space in which one functional unit is projected parallel to the mounting direction. It is an image processing apparatus characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of functional units which can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and perform a predetermined function at a predetermined mounting position. Is mounted and arranged in a space excluding the space through which the device is inserted, and furthermore, a space in which one functional unit is projected parallel to the mounting direction and a space in which the functional unit is projected parallel to the removal direction of another functional unit. An image processing apparatus characterized in that a part of another functional unit can be arranged in a space overlapping with the function unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of function units which can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and perform a predetermined function at a predetermined mounting position. Is mounted and arranged in a space excluding a space through which the device is inserted, and further, one functional unit is parallel-projected in the mounting direction and parallel-projected in a direction substantially orthogonal to the mounting direction of the functional unit. An image processing apparatus characterized in that a part of another functional unit can be arranged in a space that overlaps with a space and excluding a space occupied by the functional unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the functional unit abuts on the sheet and the first functional unit which is directly involved in feeding. A space other than a space in which the first functional unit is parallel-projected in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding surface and which is perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. The second functional unit is mounted and arranged in a space in an end area of the maximum allowable width of feeding. First
The second functional unit is mounted and arranged in a space other than the space in which the functional unit is projected parallel to a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the functional unit has an apparatus main body or means for connecting the functional units, and the functional unit includes A part has at least a part of the connecting means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein the connecting means is arranged by being classified according to types.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the functional unit is a container whose volume can be changed.

In the present invention, since a part of the functional unit other than the functional unit which is performing the loading / unloading operation is not arranged in the space through which the functional unit is loaded / unloaded, the loading / unloading of the functional unit is performed. In such a case, an operation such as moving or detaching another functional unit is not required. That is, it is possible to maintain the simplicity of attaching / detaching the functional unit by preventing an increase in the number of operations related to attaching / detaching one functional unit in one direction and then operating in another direction. The space that tends to be wasted when the functional unit is mounted is changed to the space occupied by the functional unit itself by changing the arrangement of components in each functional unit, as compared with the case where the functional unit is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. Can be reduced. Thus, the size of the image processing apparatus can be reduced.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] Based on FIGS. 1 to 3,
The configuration and schematic operation of the copying machine will be described below. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a main cross-sectional view illustrating a first embodiment of a copying machine that is an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the circulating automatic document feeder, the manual document placing device, and the optical device. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the image forming device, the fixing device, and the sheet feeding device.

First, a schematic configuration of a copying machine as an image processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. A recirculating automatic document feeder 20 and a manual document placement device 30 for manually setting a document are arranged above the copying machine body 1. The optical device 40 is arranged on the upper inside of the copying machine main body 1, the image forming device 50 and the fixing device 60 are arranged in the center of the copying machine main body 1, and the sheet feeding device 100 is arranged on the lower inside of the copying machine main body 1. . Further, a post-processing device 70 is disposed on the left side of the copying machine body 1.

The basic configuration and schematic operation of each of the above devices will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the document table 21 of the circulating automatic document feeder 20
The originals placed on the originals are separated one by one by an original separating and feeding means 22, and the originals are fed by original feeding rollers 23a, 23b and 23.
c and 23d, the sheet is sent to the first document exposing section 24 on which a transparent member such as a contact glass is arranged, and one surface is set to the first
The document is exposed to the document exposure unit 24. After passing through the first document exposure unit 24, the document is reversed by document reversing means 25 including a switchback mechanism, and the surface opposite to the surface facing the first document exposure unit 24 faces the second document exposure unit 26. . After passing through the second document exposure section 26, the document is returned to the lowermost portion of the document placed on the document table 21 by the document return means 27a and 27b. As described above, the circulating automatic document feeder 20 includes the first
The document is sequentially moved to the document exposing unit 24 and the second document exposing unit 26, and a document traveling scan is performed, which is performed by exposing and scanning the optical device 40 described below.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the manual document placing device 30 includes a contact glass 31 and a document cover 32 provided above the contact glass 31 so as to be openable. When placing a document, the document cover 32 is manually opened, the document is placed at the document placement reference position on the contact glass 31, and the document cover 32 is closed.
Is pressed against the contact glass 31. In this manual document placing apparatus 30, the contact glass 31
An original stationary scan is performed in which the original stationary above is exposed and scanned by the optical device 40 described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 2, an optical device 40 provided inside the copying machine main body 1 includes an exposure lamp 41 and a first
A scanning unit 43 in which a mirror 42 is integrally formed;
It comprises a movable mirror unit 46 in which the second mirror 44 and the third mirror 45 are integrally formed, a variable power lens 47, a fourth mirror 48a, a fifth mirror 48b, and a sixth mirror 49. The reflected light from the original when the original is scanned by irradiating the original with the exposure lamp 41 is transmitted to a first mirror 42, a second mirror 44, a third mirror 45, a variable power lens 47, a fourth mirror 48a, and a fifth mirror 48a. The mirror 48b and the sixth mirror 49 guide the light to the surface of the photoconductor 51 described below to form an original image. When scanning a document using the automatic recirculating document feeder 20, when scanning the document surface on the side facing the first document exposure unit 24, the scanning unit 43 is provided with a stop position 43a for the first document exposure unit. To the first document exposure unit 2
When the document passing through the document 4 is exposed and the surface of the document facing the second document exposure unit 26 is scanned, the document stops at the stop position 43 b for the second document exposure unit and passes through the second document exposure unit 26. Expose the original. When scanning the surface of the original document resting on the contact glass by using the manual original placing device 30, the scanning unit 43 is connected to the standby position 4 at the left end of the contact glass.
The original is exposed while moving from 3c to the right in the figure, and the moving mirror unit 46 moves in the same direction at half the speed of the scanning unit 43.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 50 provided in the center of the copying machine main body 1 is provided around the photosensitive member 51 in the rotation direction of the photosensitive member 51 (direction A in FIG. 3).
Main components such as a charger 52, an exposure light path 53, a developing unit 54, a transfer unit 55, a discharge unit 56, a cleaner 57, and a discharge lamp 58 are sequentially arranged. The charger 52 supplies a charge to the surface of the rotating photoconductor 51, and
Is uniformly charged. When the surface of the photoreceptor 51 uniformly charged by the charger 52 reaches the exposure opening 51, the surface of the photoreceptor 51 is made uniform by the reflected light of the document guided through the exposure optical path 53 by the optical device 40. Such an electric charge becomes an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image. When the surface of the photoreceptor 51 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed moves to a position facing the developing unit 54, the developing unit 54 supplies a developer having a polarity opposite to the charge of the electrostatic latent image, and Developer adheres to the surface by electrostatic force, and the electrostatic latent image becomes a visualized developer image.

When the surface of the photoconductor 51 on which the developer image has been formed reaches a position facing the transfer unit 55, electric charges having the same polarity as the electric charge on the electrical surface of the photoconductor 51 are transferred from the transfer unit 55 to the sheet feeding device. 100 feeds the sheet fed toward the photoconductor 51. The potential of the sheet in close contact with the photoreceptor 51 becomes higher than the surface potential of the photoreceptor 51, and the developer image on the surface of the photoreceptor 51 is sucked to the sheet side, and the developer image is transferred from the surface of the photoreceptor 51 onto the sheet. Let it. A charge having a polarity opposite to the charge supplied to the transfer device 55 is supplied by the peeling discharge device 56 adjacent to the transfer device 55, and the adhesion between the surface of the photoreceptor 51 and the sheet is reduced, and the sheet becomes a developer image. Is peeled off from the surface of the photoreceptor 51 in a state where is carried.

Further, when the surface of the photosensitive member 51 moves to reach a position facing the cleaner 57, the developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive member 51 without transferring to the sheet during transfer is transferred.
1 from the surface. When the surface of the photoconductor 51 from which the residual developer has been removed moves to the position of the static elimination lamp 58, static elimination light is radiated from the static elimination lamp 58, and the surface potential of the photoconductor 51 is reduced to a substantially uniform low potential. When the photoconductor 51 is charged by the photoconductor 51, the surface potential of the photoconductor 51 is prevented from becoming too high, and the uniformity of the surface potential is prevented from being reduced. Such a process is continuously performed, and the scanned original image is
It is formed on a sheet as a developer image. Note that the developer collected by the cleaner 57 is sent to the developer collecting device 148 via a developer collecting and conveying path (not shown).

The sheet feeding apparatus 100 for feeding a sheet to the transfer section of the image forming apparatus 50 will be described with reference to FIG. The sheet feeding device 100 provided on the lower side inside the copying machine main body 1 includes a first sheet feeding device 110 and a second sheet feeding device 110.
It comprises a sheet feeding device 120, a third sheet feeding device 130, a duplex feeding device 140, and a manual feeding device 150. The main means for each sheet feeding device are:
Sheet placing means 111, 121, 131, 141, 15
1, and the feeding means 112, 122, 132,
142, 152 and separation feeding means 113, 123, 13
Feeding units 114, 12 comprising 3,143,153
4,134,144,154 are arranged.

Each of the sheet feeding devices 110, 120, 1
In the conveyance path for guiding the sheets fed one by one by 30, 140, and 150 to the photoconductor 51, a synchronization alignment unit 160 provided immediately before the photoconductor 51 and each sheet feeding device 11 are provided.
Conveying rollers are appropriately disposed between 0, 120, 130, 140, and 150.

The sheet feeding devices 110, 120, 130,
The sheet fed from 150 is sent to the synchronization aligning means 160 by a transport roller disposed in the middle of the transport path, and the front edge of the sheet and the axial direction of the photoconductor 51 are made parallel by the synchronous alignment means 160. The developer is fed toward the photoconductor 51 in synchronization with the position of the developer image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 51. Transfer device 5
The sheet carrying the developer image at 8 is peeled off from the photoconductor by the peeling discharger 56 and sent to the fixing device 60 by the transport belt 85.

The fixing device 60 includes a heat roller 61 formed by coating a surface of a metal pipe made of aluminum or the like with a heat-resistant release resin, and a heat-resistant elastic layer made of silicon rubber or the like around a metal core. Pressure roller 62, a heater lamp 63 that is disposed inside the heat roller 61 and is a heating source for supplying heat,
Temperature sensor 6 such as a thermistor arranged in contact with the outer periphery of the heat roller 61 to maintain the temperature of the heat roller 61 at a predetermined temperature.
4, a peeling claw 65 arranged in contact with the outer periphery of the heat roller 61 or the pressure roller 62 to peel the sheet from the heat roller 61 or the pressure roller 62, and a pressurizing pressure between the heat roller 61 and the pressure roller 62. It is composed of main parts such as means (not shown).
When the sheet carrying the unfixed developer image formed by the image forming device 50 is conveyed by the sheet feeding device 100 to the fixing device 60 and passes between the heat roller 61 and the pressure roller 62, Heat and pressure are applied to the sheet, and the unfixed developer image is fixed on the sheet. Thereafter, the unfixed developer image is separated from the heat roller 61 or the pressure roller 62 by the separation claw 65 and sent out from the fixing device 60.

The sheet sent from the fixing device 60 is
After passing through the transport roller 86, the transport path is switched to the transport path by the switching gate A87, and the copying machine main body 1 is switched by the discharge roller 88.
Or is sent to the switchback conveyance path 91 by the conveyance roller 89 and the forward / reverse rotation roller 90. The sheet carried into the switchback conveyance path 91 is
When the transport path is switched by the switching gate B92 and the reverse rotation of the forward / reverse rotation roller 90 is performed, the paper is discharged toward the duplex feeding device 140. It is carried out from the switchback conveyance path 91,
The sheet that has passed the feed roller 93 is fed to the duplex feeding device 14.
0 are sequentially stacked and placed. Double-sided feeding device 14
0, the sheet temporarily placed on the feeding means 1
The sheet 42 is separated and fed one by one by the separation feeding means 143. The sheet fed to the double-sided feeding device 140 is again fed toward the photoconductor so that the surface of the sheet on which the image is not formed faces the photoconductor 51.

When the one-side mode is selected by an operation panel (not shown), the sheet placing means 111, 121, 1
The sheets fed from 31, 31 form an image on one side and are fixed, and then are discharged out of the copying machine main body 1. On the other hand, when the duplex mode is selected, the sheets fed from the sheet placement units 111, 121, 131, and 151 form an image on one side and are fixed, and then placed on the duplex feeder 140. And is fed again to the photoreceptor to form an image on the opposite side where no image is formed, and then discharged to the outside of the copier body 1 as in the case of the single-sided mode. You.

The sheet discharged out of the copying machine main body 1 as described above is carried into the post-processing device 70 shown in FIG. The post-processing device 70 includes a staple tray 74, a stapler 75, a pusher 76, a binding sheet discharge tray 7
7, and main components such as a stack tray 80. The sheet discharged from the copying machine main body 1 is sent to the entrance roller 71, the conveyance path is switched by the switching gate C72, and is sent to be stacked on the staple tray 74 via the conveyance roller 73, or Tray 8 via a transport roller 78 and a discharge roller 79
Sent to be loaded on zero. Staple tray 74
After the sheets stacked on the sheets are bound by the stapler 75 for each predetermined copy, the sheets are discharged by the pusher 76 into the bound sheet discharge tray 7.
It is discharged to 7. This is the end of the description of the configuration and the schematic operation of the copying apparatus.

By the way, when the size of the copying machine is reduced, the relevance of the devices arranged inside the copying machine becomes important. As described above, the copier main body 1 incorporates devices having various functions. These devices are, for example, optical units 40, image forming devices 50, sheet feeding devices 100, and the like, and are functional units that are unitized in each functional unit or a plurality of functional units. Further, for example, like the developing unit 54, the developer collection container 148, the charger 52, the cleaner 57, and the like in the image forming apparatus 50, or the sheet feeding devices 110, 120, and 13
0, 140, 150
21, 131, 141, 151, the feeding unit 114,
As in 124, 134, 144, 154, etc., these functional units are also divided into subunits.
This is performed in order to improve the simplicity at the time of replacement of a faulty component or a supply component or at the time of jam clearance, or at the time of assembling or disassembling by dividing into sub-units.

In general, in a sheet-related apparatus such as a copying machine, since the object to be involved is a sheet,
When the apparatus is miniaturized, the sheet size and sheet material that can be handled are greatly affected. For example, with respect to the direction along the sheet feeding, the sheet placement property (a predetermined placement plane is required to prevent a stack shift or the like) and the sheet conveyance property (difference in sheet waist). Has an effect on the shape of the sheet path such as the minimum radius of curvature of the sheet path), so that the size can be reduced only to the extent permitted by these conditions. In addition, in the direction perpendicular to the direction along which the sheet is fed, it is necessary to take into account the sheet placement and sheet conveyance, or the efficiency of image formation and the quality of the formed image. For this reason, the sheet feeding device and the image forming device that forms an image on the sheet occupy a space covering substantially the entire area facing the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the direction along the sheet feeding. Will do. Also, the direction perpendicular to the direction along the sheet feeding is
It is often the direction in which each functional unit is attached and detached. Therefore, in this direction, if another functional unit is to be disposed in a space where a certain functional unit passes, a plurality of functional units must be moved and attached and detached at the time of attachment and detachment, which impairs the simplicity of attachment and detachment. become.

However, regarding the thickness direction of the sheet,
The thickness for accommodating the sheet and the size of the device related to the sheet are factors that restrict downsizing, but the factor that can be handled in design is the size of the device related to the sheet in the sheet thickness direction. Each of the above functional units needs to be thinned. For this purpose, it is necessary to reduce the size of the components in the functional unit, and to freely arrange the other components while keeping the components that must be located at a specific place in design within the functional unit.

The inside of such a copying machine, in which the present invention is applied to reduce the size of the copying machine and the size or thickness of each functional unit, will be described in detail by taking a sheet feeding device as an example. Will be described. Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to the manual feeding device 150 and the developer collection container 148, which are a kind of sheet feeding device, will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the manual feeding device 150 is disposed on the right side of the copying machine main body 1 in the drawing, and a developer collecting container 148 is disposed above the manual feeding device 150. . Next to the developer collection container 148, a developing unit 54 is arranged. First, the details of the manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 148 will be described, and then, the mutual relationship of the arrangement according to the present invention when the manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 148 are mounted will be described. .

First, details of the manual feeding device 150 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view of the manual feeder 150, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part thereof.

As shown in FIG. 4, the manual feeding device 150
Is a sheet placing means 15 for placing a sheet.
1. A feeding unit 152, a separation feeding unit 153, and a sheet stopper 155 for feeding the sheet P placed on the sheet mounting unit 151 to the downstream side in the feeding direction of the manual feeding device 150. Have been.

Next, the sheet placing means 151 will be described.
At the center of the sheet placing means 151, a width regulating plate 170 is provided. The width regulating plate 170 regulates both side edges of the sheet placed on the sheet placing means 151 in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The rack 170a is provided with the width regulating plate 1
70 are provided integrally with each other, and the sheet placing means 151
Through an opening 151a of the sheet mounting means 151, the pinion gear 171 rotatably provided on the back side of the sheet placing means 151. When one width regulating plate 170 is operated, each of the width regulating plates 170 approaches or separates from the other width regulating plate 170. Thus, even if the size of the sheet regulated by the width regulating plate 170 changes, the center of the sheet does not change with the size. Note that the sheet placing means 151 is fixed to the sheet feeding frame 181.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, a description will be given of the feeder 152, the separation feeder 153, and the driving means disposed downstream of the sheet placement means 151 in the feed direction. I do. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the feeding means, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the pulley B. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the manual feeding device.

As shown in FIG. 5, a feed roller 180 (which is one of the separation feed means 153) and a pulley A 184 are mounted on a drive input shaft 183 rotatably supported on a feed frame 181 via a bearing 182. Is fixed. Further, one ends of the support arm A 185 and the support arm B 186 are rotatably supported via a bearing 187 and are regulated by an E-ring or the like (not shown) so as not to move in the thrust direction of the drive input shaft 183. I have.

Support arm A 183 and support arm B 186
, A rotation support shaft 188 is fixed. With this rotation support shaft 188, a hole 190a (see FIG. 6A) provided on the end face of the feeding and feeding means 152 and a protruding portion 189a (see FIG. 6B) provided on the end face of the pulley B189 are fitted. And are integrally rotatably supported.
The positions of the feeding and feeding means 152 and the pulley B189 are regulated by an E-ring or the like (not shown) so as not to move in the thrust direction of the rotation support shaft 188. Further, the supporting arm A185 and the supporting arm B186 are connected by a connecting plate 191, and the pulley A184 and the pulley B18 are connected.
A belt 192 is wrapped around 9.

At the end of the drive input shaft 183, a drive connecting portion 193 from the main body to the manual feeding device 150 is provided. The drive connecting portion 193 is constituted by a feed clutch 194 having an input gear 194a. Driving force from a motor (not shown) arranged on the copying machine main body side is supplied to a main body side gear B1 rotatably supported by the rear frame 303.
95 to the input gear 194a and the drive input shaft 18
3, transmitted in the order of the feed roller 180, the feed roller 1
Rotate 80. Further, the driving force transmitted to the drive input shaft 183 is transmitted to the pulley A 184, the belt 192, the pulley B 189, and the feeder 152 in this order.
The intake feeding means 152 is rotated.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the separation pad 1 is
96 is an elastic member 197 such as a compression spring,
And is in contact with the feed roller 180. A sheet guide 198 is provided between the feeding roller 180 and the feeding means 152 and fixed to the supporting arms A185 and B186. The separating / feeding means 153 includes a feeding roller 180 and a separating pad 196. Further, a transporting unit 230 is disposed downstream of the separating and feeding unit 153 in the feeding direction. A sheet detection sensor S2 is disposed immediately downstream of the conveyance unit 230.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8, a description will be given of a mechanism for moving the pickup feeding means 152 up and down. FIGS. 8A and 8B show the feeding and feeding means 152.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of a mechanism for moving the vertical direction.

A lever A 202 is rotatably supported on a lever support shaft 201 provided on the paper feed frame 181. At the end of the paper feed frame 181, an attracting solenoid 200 as a drive source is fixedly arranged. ing. A lever B2 is provided between the solenoid A200 and the lever A202.
A hole at one end is fitted into a pin of a plunger 200a of the attracting solenoid 200, and a projection 203a at the other end is fitted into a long hole 202a of the lever A202. The return spring 204 is connected to the lever B20.
3 and the sheet feeding frame 181
Is provided in engagement with the cut-and-raised portion 181a.

Further, a drive input shaft 183 is inserted through the outside of the support arm B 186 so that the coil-shaped feeding bias spring 20
5 are provided. One end of the paper feed urging spring 205 is engaged with the engaging portion 186a of the support arm B186, and the other end of the paper feed urging spring 205 is engaged with the back surface of the paper feed frame 181 to place the support arm B186 on the sheet. It is urged toward the placement means 151 side. A sheet supply urging spring 205 is also provided outside the support arm A 185 as in the case of the support arm B 186, and both the sheet supply urging springs 205 function to fetch and feed the sheet feeding means 152. Biased to the side.

With the above configuration, the attracting solenoid 2
When 00 is off, the elastic force of the return spring 204 acts in the longitudinal direction of the lever B203 to move the lever B203 to the left side in the figure as shown in FIG.
2 is rotated clockwise around the lever support shaft 201, and the back surface of the connecting plate 191 is pushed by the lever A202. This allows
The urging force of the paper feeding urging spring 205 and the support arm A18
5. Against the weight of a portion of the support arm B186 or the like that rotates integrally with the feeder 152, the feeder 152 is turned around the drive input shaft 183 to move upward, The sheet is separated from the sheet placed on the placing means 151. At this time, in order to prevent the lever B203 from moving to the left in the drawing for a predetermined time or more, the lever B203
A stopper (not shown) for locking the lock is provided. At this time, the feeding means 152 is located above the maximum sheet set height Pmax.

On the other hand, when the attracting solenoid 200 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 8B, the lever B203 is moved to the right in the drawing against the urging force of the return spring 204, and the lever A is turned on.
The lever 202 is rotated counterclockwise around the lever support shaft 201, and the contact portion 202b of the lever A202 is lowered. As a result, the weight of the sheet feeding unit 152 is adjusted by the weight of the part that rotates integrally with the feeding unit 152 and the urging force of the sheet feeding urging spring 205. Then, it descends to Pset and contacts the sheet.

Next, the driving mechanism of the sheet stopper will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 7, the attracting feeding means 152 and the feeding roller 18 are used.
A sheet stopper 155 is disposed on the side of the sheet placing means 151 between zero. This is the sheet placing means 1
The sheet placed on the sheet 51 is too small to be separated and fed.
This is for aligning the sheet placed on the sheet placing means 151 together with the width regulating plate 170 without depending on the side. On the opposite side of the sheet stopper 155 from the side where the sheet is placed on the manual feed stand 151, a rack A210 is integrally formed.
The rack A210 is provided with a pinion A2.
11 is engaged. The pinion A211 is driven,
The sheet stopper 155 moves up and down. That is,
The sheet stopper 155 descends from the opening 151 b provided in the manual feed stand 151 and sinks into the inside of the manual feed stand 151, rises through the manual feed stand 151, and protrudes upward from the opening 198 a provided in the sheet guide 198. It can be moved to the position where it blocks the sheet. A sheet set sensor S1 for detecting a sheet placed on the sheet placing means 151 is disposed between the sheet stopper 155 and the feeding / feeding means 152.

Referring to FIG. 9, the sheet stopper 1
The drive mechanism 55 will be described in further detail. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a driving mechanism of the sheet stopper 155. A drive mechanism for the sheet stopper 155 is arranged on the back side of the sheet placing means 151 as shown in FIG. As described above, the rack A21 provided on the sheet stopper 155
0 and the pinion A211 mesh with each other, and the pinion A2
A pinion B 213 is fixed to an end of the rotating shaft 212 to which 11 is fixed. The pinion B213 meshes with a rack B215 provided integrally with the lever C214. Pins 216a and 217a are attached to slide support bases 216 and 217 integrally attached to sheet mounting means 151.
Are provided, and the long holes 214a, 2b provided in the lever C214 are provided.
Pins 216a and 217a fit into 14b. The lever C214 has the long holes 2 on the slide supports 216 and 217.
14a, 214b and pins 216a, 217a are slidable by a distance regulated by the pins.

The return spring 218 is connected to the slide support 216
The lever C214 is urged in the direction of arrow M in FIG. A pin 214d is provided on the back surface of the end of the lever C214 on the slide support base 217 side. The pin 214d is connected to the rotation support base 221.
Lever D rotatable around the rotating shaft 222 provided at
219 is inserted into the long hole 219a. Lever D219
The other end of the long hole 219a is provided with a long hole 219b, and the plunger 2 of the stopper solenoid 220 is
A pin 220b provided on 20a is fitted. The lever C214 is regulated by an E-ring or the like (not shown) so that the lever C214 does not fall out of the pins 216a and 217b, and the lever D219 does not fall out of the rotation shaft 220a.

With this configuration, the stopper solenoid 220 is turned off, and the attracting solenoid 20 is turned off.
0 is also off (state shown in FIG. 8A), the return spring 2
The lever C214 moves in the M direction due to the elastic force of 18,
The sheet stopper 155 is raised to move to a position where the sheet is blocked. When the stopper solenoid 220 is turned on, the plunger 2 resists the elastic force of the return spring 218.
20 is sucked, the lever C214 is moved in the N direction, the pinion 211 is rotated in the Q direction, the sheet stopper 155 is lowered, and the sheet stopper 155 is moved to a position immersed inside the manual feed stand 151.

The structure has been described above. The operation flow of these mechanisms at the time of paper feeding will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 10. Here, FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image processing apparatus during paper feeding. When the sheet set sensor S1 detects that a sheet has been placed on the sheet placing means 151 (STEP
1) Wait until a print start key on an operation panel (not shown) is operated (STEP 2). When the print start key is operated, turn on the stopper solenoid 220,
The sheet stopper 155 is immersed inside from the sheet placing means 151 (STEP 3). Induction solenoid 2
00 is turned on, and the feeding and feeding means 152 is brought into contact with the sheet (STEP 4). Next, the feed clutch 194
Is turned on, and the feed roller 180 and the feeder 15
2 is rotated to separate and feed the sheets placed on the sheet placing means 151 one by one (STEP 5).

The sheet detection sensor S2 waits until the sheet detection sensor S2 detects that the sheet is nipped by the conveyance means 230 disposed immediately downstream of the separation feeding roller 180 in the sheet feeding direction (STEP 6). Turns off the feed clutch 194 when the sheet is detected (STEP
7). Next, the timer T1 is set for a predetermined time (t1 in this case) from the time when the sheet detection sensor S2 detects the leading edge of the sheet (STEP 8), and waits for the timer T1 to increase (STEP 9). When the timer T1 is up, it is determined whether or not the sheet set sensor S1 has detected the absence of a sheet (STEP 10). If the detection result of the sheet set sensor S1 indicates that there is a sheet, the process returns to immediately before STEP5. At this time, the reason why the feed roller 180 and the attracting / feeding means 152 are stopped after a predetermined time (t1) after turning on the feed clutch 194 by applying the timer T1 is as follows.
This is for keeping the sheet feeding interval constant.

In STEP 10, the sheet set sensor S1
If the detection result is that there is no sheet, the feeding clutch 194
Is turned off (STEP 11) and the attracting solenoid 20 is turned off.
0 is turned off (STEP 12). Next, it waits for the sheet detection sensor S2 to detect the passage of the sheet (STEP 1).
3). That is, when the signal of the sheet detection sensor changes from a signal when there is a sheet to a signal when there is no sheet corresponds to the rear end of the sheet, the detection of the rear end of the sheet corresponds to the passage of the sheet. . When the sheet detection sensor S2 detects the passage of the sheet, the stopper solenoid 220 is turned off (STEP 14).

Next, mounting of the manual feeding device 150 for fixing to the main body of the copying machine and drawer for removing from the main body of the copying machine will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a side view of the copying machine main body in the manual feeding device.

As described above, the manual feeder 150
The unit (within the dashed line) is a unit configured to be able to be inserted into and removed from the copying machine main body 1 while various components are integrally held, and has a function of feeding a manually inserted sheet. It is a functional unit. When the manual feeding device 150 is mounted on the copying machine, a predetermined mounting is performed in the direction from the right side to the left side of the copying machine main body 1 (in FIG. 11, the direction from the near side to the back side with respect to the sheet). The mounting is performed at the position.

First, the manual feeding device 150 is tilted, and the drive connecting portion 1 from the main body to the manual feeding device 150 is set.
93 is inserted into the other side of the rear chassis 301 through the opening 303 a provided in the rear frame 303. After that, the manual feeding device 150 is moved in the mounting direction, and the stopper 181a of the paper feeding frame 181 is fixed by a fixing means such as a screw in a state of being in contact with the front chassis 300 and the rear chassis 301. Next, the connector 271 of the manual feeder 150, which bundles the signal lines of the sheet set sensor S1 and the power lines of the attracting solenoid 200 and the stopper solenoid 220, is connected to the connector 272 of the copying machine main body, and the power is supplied. Related Connection 270
And the attachment of the manual feeding device 150 to the copying machine body 1 is completed. In order to pull out the manual feeder 150 from the copier, the mounting procedure is reversed.

The feeder 152 and the separation feeder 153 provided in the manual feeder 150 need to directly contact the sheet to feed the sheet. Therefore, the sheet is arranged within the maximum allowable width H (width in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction) of the sheet that can be fed and at a position where the sheet can be brought into contact with the sheet, that is, in the vicinity of the sheet mounting table 151. Also, there are various sheet sizes to be fed within the maximum allowable width H, so that sheets of any size can be fed.
The sheet is always arranged at the center of the maximum allowable width H of the sheet.
Therefore, in order to reduce the size, the attracting solenoid 200 is used.
For example, it is conceivable to arrange a unit that does not need to directly touch the sheet at a position avoiding the feeding and feeding unit 152 and the separating and feeding unit 153.

As shown in FIG. 11, a pickup solenoid 200 is provided in a space α 280 except for a space where the pickup feeding means 152 and the separation feeding means 153 are projected vertically upward of the sheet mounting table 151 in parallel. Are located. Since the feeding feeding means 152 and the separation feeding means 153 are located at the central portion of the maximum allowable width H of the sheet, the space where the feeding solenoid 200 is arranged is limited to the end of the maximum allowable width H of the sheet and the outside thereof. The sheet mounting table 151
Is a space parallel-projected vertically upward. In this manner, the feeding feeding means 152 and the separation feeding means 153 in feeding are performed.
Means directly involved in the sheet, etc., are disposed at the center of the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, and means for supporting the means directly involved in the sheet are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. In the direction of the edge area or outside the edge of the sheet. For this reason, by adjusting the arrangement of the functional units and components arranged in the periphery, the space can be used efficiently and the size can be reduced. This concludes the description of the manual feeding device.

Next, the details of the developer collection container 148 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the developer collection container 148. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the developer collection container 148 and the main body side connection portion. As shown in FIG. 13A, the developer container 1
The developer collected from the photoreceptor 51 by the cleaner 57 is provided in the upper portion of the back side in the mounting direction of the developer container 48.
8 is provided with a connecting portion 251 for carrying in the developer on the main body side. A main body side driving connecting portion 252 is provided at a lower part on the back side in the mounting direction of the developer storage container 148, and sends the developer conveyed into the developer storage container 148 to the front side in the mounting direction. As shown in FIG. 11, the developer container connecting portion 260 between the developer container 148 and the copying machine main body 1 is connected to the rear frame 303 and the developer container 1.
The developer accommodating container 148 sandwiched between the projections 48 is disposed in a space where the developer accommodating container 148 is projected on the back side in the mounting direction, and is located on the back side in the device direction of the manual feed device 150. As described above, the manual feeding device 150 is located on the front side in the mounting direction of the manual feeding device 150 in the space where the developer container 148 sandwiched between the rear frame 303 and the developer container 148 is projected to the rear side in the mounting direction. Is arranged.

The main body side developer carrying-in connecting portion 251 is connected to the conveying pipe 24 fixedly provided on the rear frame 303.
1. Spiral coil-shaped developer conveying means 240 rotatably arranged in the conveying pipe 241 by the driving force of the copying machine main body side, and the conveying pipe 241 urged to the left in FIG. And a shutter 242 movable at a position covering the opening 241a and an opening position provided at the end of the transfer pipe 241 and a mounting stopper 244 provided integrally with the transport pipe 241.
The main body side drive connecting portion 252 includes a transport drive shaft 250 rotatably supported via a bearing on a rear frame 303 of the copier main body side, and a coupling B fixed thereto.
249.

The front frame 302 and the front frame 3 of the copier main body are located on the near side in the mounting direction of the developer container 148.
A tongue 245a is fitted in an opening 302b provided in the bent portion 302a of the second 02, and a disengagement prevention member 245 and a spring 253 for urging the disengagement prevention member 245 downward are provided. In addition, a connection opening 148b is provided on a wall surface in the mounting direction of the developer container 148. In the developer container 148, an in-container conveying means 246 is rotatably supported by a bearing 148a provided on the inner wall of the developer container 148. In-vessel conveying means 246
Is a transfer shaft 24 provided with a coupling A248, which is a drive connecting portion on the side of the developer container 148, at the opposite end.
7 is fixed.

Next, the developer collection container 1 to the copying machine main body 1
The attachment and withdrawal of 48 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 12, the developer collection container 14
8 is attached to the copying machine body 1, the cap 148c is removed, and the developer collecting container 1 is attached to the connecting member on the copying machine body side.
The connection opening 148b for connecting the connection 48 is opened. Next, as shown in FIG.
8 is a mounting opening 30 provided in the front frame 302 of the copying machine.
When the developer collection container 148 is inserted into the copier main body from the main body 2c, the upper end of the developer collection container 148 is
abuts on c. When the developer collecting container 148 is inserted, the prevention member 245 rises against the elastic force of the spring 253, so that the mounting of the developer collecting container 148 is not hindered. Further, when the developer collecting container 148 is pushed toward the inside of the copying machine main body (in the direction B in the drawing), the front frame 302 fixed to the front chassis 300 of the copying machine main body 1 and the rear side fixed to the rear chassis 301 The user slides on the guide plate 149 provided between the rear frame 303 and the frame 303.

Further, when the developer collecting container 148 is inserted, the opening 2 is opened so that the developer does not spill into the image processing apparatus.
The shutter 242 at the position closing the shutter 41a is pushed by the outer wall of the developer collection container 148 and moves rightward in the drawing, and the end of the transport pipe 241 is moved to the developer collection container 14a.
8 enters the developer collection container 148 through the connection opening 148b.

As shown in FIG. 13B, when the developer collection container 148 is inserted and the shutter 242 reaches a position where the movement is stopped by the mounting stopper 244, the detachment preventing member 245 is developed by the spring 253. The developer recovery container 148 is moved to a position where the developer recovery container 148 is locked, and the developer recovery container 148 is prevented from coming off. An opening 241a is exposed at the end of the transport pipe 241 that has entered the developer collection container 148, and the developer transported by the developer transport means 240 can be carried into the developer collection container 148. In this way, the developer collecting container 148 is mounted at a predetermined position, and the connection of the developer collecting container 148 and the copying machine main body with respect to the developer conveying path is completed. On the other hand, when the developer collection container 148 is mounted, the coupling A 248 and the coupling B 2
The engagement between the developer collecting container 148 and the copying machine main body 1 is completed at the same time.

With the above-described mechanism, the developer conveyed by the developer conveying means 240 falls into the developer collecting container 143 from the opening 241a, and is conveyed in the container.
To the developer collecting container 148 in the separating direction.
As a result, the developer is substantially uniformly stored in the developer collection container 148 from the mounting direction side to the detaching direction side.

When the developer collecting container 148 is detached from the copying machine main body 1, if the stopper member 245 is pushed up by hand, the developer collecting container 148 is pushed out in the direction A in the figure by the elastic force of the shutter spring 243. , Developer collection container 148
The connection relating to the developer transport path and the connection relating to the driving force transmission between the printer and the copying machine main body 1 are released. In this state, if the developer collecting container 148 is gripped and pulled out at the end in the pull-out direction, the developer collecting container 148 can be taken out of the copying machine main body 1.

The manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 1
4 and FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Developer collection container 148
Of the manual feeding device 150 in the mounting direction (B direction).
Is formed slightly smaller than the width H of the maximum sheet P that is allowed to be placed on the developer collection container 148. Do not occupy.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state in which the manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 148 are mounted. FIG.
As shown in the figure, in a state where the manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 148 are mounted on the copying machine main body 1, the developer collecting container 148 is mounted in the mounting direction (B) of the developer collecting container 148.
The projection space α280 is generated between the developer collection container 148 and the rear frame 303 when the projection is performed in parallel in the direction (direction). Here, the projection space α280 does not include the space occupied by the developer collection container 148. A part 150a of the manual feeding device 150 is disposed in the space α280, and the manual feeding device 150 is mounted. This manual feeder 15
The portion 150a of the cartridge 0 includes the attracting solenoid 200 shown in FIGS. 4 and 11, the connector 271 on the side of the manual feeding device 150, and the like. The body side connector 272 is also arranged in the space α280.

The developer collection container 14 in the mounted state
8 is the direction in which the manual feeder 150 is pulled out (X direction)
And the space β that passes when moving in the mounting direction (Y direction)
14B, the manual feed device 150 in the mounted state is disposed outside the space γ 282 through which the developer collection container 148 moves. (Shown in FIG. 14 (c)). Further, the copier main body side connecting portions 241, 249, 250, and 250 with respect to one of the manual feeding device 150 and the developer collection container 148.
270 is arranged in a place where it does not interfere with the other loading (shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C).

As described above, when the manual feed device 150 and the developer collecting container 148 are mounted on the copying machine main body 1, the manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 148 are arranged in the above-described arrangement relationship. Therefore, there is no need to move the other even if one of them is unloaded, and the number of operations at the time of unloading does not change.
Further, in the present embodiment, since both functional units have a connection portion with the copying machine main body, the main body side is located at a predetermined position in the space α that does not hinder the loading and unloading of one of the functional units. Although the connecting portion is arranged, the connecting portion is not necessarily the space α
It is not necessary to dispose the function unit in the position, and it is sufficient if it is disposed in a position that does not hinder the loading of the other functional unit. Even in this case, the space volume occupied by the connecting portion itself is smaller than the space volume occupied by the functional unit, so that the space can be used efficiently. As described above, the feeding device and the developer collecting container to which the present invention is applied have been described in detail.

However, the present invention can be applied to a sheet feeding device that is not only fixed as in this embodiment but also movable up and down. The separating / feeding means of the present embodiment is one in which a separating pad is abutted on a feeding roller. Various modifications are possible, such as the following. Further, with respect to the feeding means, another modified example such as a belt instead of a roller is also possible. Further, the container for collecting the developer may be a developer supply container for replenishing the developing means 54 with the developer. As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the case of the manual feeding device. However, the functional unit is not limited to the feeding device and the developer collecting device, but can be applied to various other functional units.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
The second embodiment has a configuration in which a sheet feeding device 100, which is one of the functional units of a copying machine, and a developer collecting container 148 that collects a developer are attached and detached. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mounted state of the developer collection container 148 and the manual feeding device 150. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which the manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 148 are mounted.

FIG. 15A shows a state in which the developer collecting container 148 is being mounted, FIG. 15B shows a state in which the mounting of the developer collecting container 148 is completed, and FIG. The rear frame 30 of the copying machine main body when both the functional units of the agent recovery container 148 and the manual feed device 150 are mounted.
3 shows a state in the vicinity. In the first embodiment, in order to further increase the capacity of the developer collection container 148 shown in FIG.
The container wall 48 on the back side in the mounting direction is configured to protrude beyond the rear frame 303. In this case, the main body side developer carrying-in connecting portion 251 and the transport drive shaft 250 are supported by another support plate 370 (not shown) fixed to the rear frame 303. The operation related to loading and unloading of the developer collecting container 148 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore, the description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 15C, the attracting solenoid 200, which is a part of the manual feeding device 150, is supported by the support plate 371 fixed to the paper feeding frame 181, and the concave portion 372 of the developer collecting container 148 is formed. Are located in The lever B203 is connected to the attraction solenoid 200. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
As shown in (b), a space δ373 in which the developer collection container 148 is projected in parallel to the mounting direction, and the developer collection container 148
Is in the space where the space ε 374 in which the image is projected in the pull-out direction of the manual feeding device 150 overlaps, and the developer collection container 14
8 into the space η 375 outside the space occupied by the manual feeding device 150,
Place. Accordingly, both the increase in the capacity of the developer collection container 148 and the loading / unloading of the manual feed device 150 can be performed.

In this embodiment, the developer collection container 148
Is mounted by sliding in the direction B in FIG. 16A and is extracted by sliding in the direction A, so that the loading operation is the same as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, when the manual feed device 150 is mounted, the manual feed device 150 is tilted so that the portion of the feed clutch 194, the input gear 194a, and the portion of the attracting solenoid 200 are formed in the opening 303b provided in the rear frame 303. After passing through, it is moved in the Y direction and mounted. The fixing of the manual feeding device 150 is the same as that of the first embodiment. After that, similarly to the first embodiment, the connection portions related to the current are connected by hand, and the mounting of the manual feed device 150 is completed. Extraction of the manual feeding device 150 is performed in the reverse procedure. As described above, the present invention has been described using the embodiment of the manual feeding device. However, the functional unit is not limited to the feeding device and the developer collecting device, but can be applied to various other functional units.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG.
1 shows a cross-sectional view of a copying machine main body 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 1A is an overall sectional view, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged sectional view of a main part. The basic configuration of the third embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, except for the point that the feeding unit 154 of the manual feeding device 150 is arranged beside the developer collecting container 148, and This is the configuration of the collection container 148 and the members related to the loading and unloading thereof. Below the guide plate 149 for guiding the loading and unloading of the developer collecting container 148, a sheet conveying means and a sheet conveying guide are arranged.

The developer collecting container 148 and members related to loading and unloading of the developer collecting container 148 will be described below with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounted state of the developer collection container 148.

A plurality of openings 148c are provided on the top wall of the developer collecting container 148. Developer collection container 148
A transport pipe body 380 for transporting the developer to the rear frame 303 is fixed. A plurality of discharge openings 380a are provided on the lower surface side of the transport pipe body 380. A shutter 381 is provided around the discharge opening 380a. The shutter 381 is also provided with an opening 381a. Further, a part of the transport pipe body 380 is a locking portion 380b of the shutter 381. Shutter 3
A spring 383 is provided between 81 and the flange portion 380c of the transport pipe body 380. Conveying pipe body 38
The inside of 0 is hollow, and a developer carrying screw 382 for carrying the developer from the cleaner 57 is arranged.

Hereinafter, mounting of the developer collecting container 148 will be described with reference to FIG. When the developer collecting container 148 is inserted into the copier through the mounting opening 302 c provided in the front frame 302, the upper end of the developer collecting container 148 on the back side in the mounting direction comes into contact with the inclined portion 245 c of the removal preventing member 245,
The detachment prevention member 245 is pushed up against the spring 253.
When the developer collecting container 148 moves on the guide plate 149 in the direction B, the container wall on the back side in the mounting direction of the developer collecting container 148 pushes the shutter 381 against the spring 383. Further, until the shutter 381 contacts the flange portion 380c serving as the slide stopper, the developer collection container 148
When sliding, the stopper member 245 is pushed down by the spring 253 and descends, so that the developer collecting container 148 cannot be pulled out. Thus, the developer collection container 14
8 is completed. When the mounting of the developer collection container 148 is completed, the detachment assisting plate 385 and the rear frame 303 are removed.
The release spring 386 provided between them is compressed. In addition, when the mounting of the developer collection container 148 is completed,
Opening 381a of shutter 381, transport pipe body 380
Discharge opening 380a and opening 1 of developer collection container 148
The developer conveyed by the developer conveying screw 382 through the communication of the developer 48c can be discharged into the developer collecting container 148.

In order to pull out the developer collecting container 148 from the copying machine main body 1, the pull-out preventing member 245 is pushed upward by hand, and
Release the lock. Then, the developer collecting container 148 is pushed by the separation assisting plate 385 by the action of the elastic force of the spring 383, and is pushed out in the extracting direction (A direction). When the developer collection container 148 moves in the direction A, the shutter 381
Also moves in the direction A, stops in contact with the locking portion 380b. At this time, since the opening 381a of the shutter 381 and the discharge opening 380a of the transport pipe body 380 are not in communication, the developer does not leak. Developer collection container 148
Is pulled out of the copier, the opening 148c of the developer collecting container 148 is closed with a lid for the container, and the developer collecting container 14 is removed.
8 prevents the developer from leaking.

The mechanism and loading / unloading of the manual feeder 150 will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state before the manual feeding device 150 is mounted. FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a mounted state of the manual feeding device 150. An initiating solenoid 200 that moves up and down the infeeding means 152 of the manual feeding device 150 includes:
The return spring 204 of the paper feed frame 181 is fixed to the stage where the return spring 204 is arranged, and the attracting solenoid 200 is connected to the lever B203. For these actions,
This is the same as the first embodiment.

In the bent portion 181b of the sheet feeding frame 181,
The connector 271 on the manual feeder side is fixed. A feed clutch 194 and a pulley C356 are disposed on a drive input shaft 183 rotatably supported by the paper feed frame 181. Also, the paper feed frame 181
Has a pulley / gear integrally formed with a pulley /
Gear A351 is rotatably supported. pulley/
The rotation shaft of the gear A351 has a pulley / gear A3 at the end.
The input gear 352 is supported by the drive connection plate 353 in a state in which it meshes with the gear portion 51. A spring 355 is hung on the drive connection plate 353 between the drive connection plate 353 and the boss 354.
A belt B350 is hung between the pulley C356 and the pulley portion of the pulley / gear A351.

The driving force transmitted to the input gear 352 is equal to the pulley / gear A 351, belt B 350, pulley C 3
The information is transmitted in the order of 56. When the feeding clutch 194 is on, the driving force is transmitted to the driving input shaft 183, and when the feeding clutch 194 is off, the driving force is not transmitted to the driving input shaft 183.

On the other hand, in the rear frame 303 of the copying machine main body, a connector 272 of the copying machine main body is held by a connector fixing plate 357. Further, the developer collection container 14
A pulley D359 is provided on the output shaft 358 which fixes the coupling 249 for rotating the in-container conveying means 246 of FIG. Also, the rear frame 30
3, a pulley / gear B361 is rotatably supported, and a belt C360 is stretched between the pulley / gear B361 and the pulley D359. Further, a boss 363 is erected on the rear frame 303, and a shielding plate 362 is fixed.

The manual feeding device 150 is mounted on the front chassis 3
20 and fixed to the rear chassis 301, and when the mounting to the copying machine body 1 is completed, as shown in FIG. 20, the connector 272 on the copying machine body side and the connector 271 on the manual feeder side are connected, The connection of the connection portion 270 related to energization of the present embodiment is completed. Thus, the sheet set sensor S1 and the attracting solenoid 200 provided in the manual feeding device 150 can be operated.

When the drive connecting plate 353 contacts the boss 363 while the manual feeder 150 is being mounted,
The drive connection plate 353 rises around the rotation axis of the pulley / gear A 351 against the spring 355, and the input gear 352 also rises. When the mounting of the manual feeding device 150 is completed, the input gear 352 meshes with the gear portion of the pulley / gear B 361, and the driving force of the copying machine main body side can be transmitted to the manual feeding device 150. Conversely, when pulling out the manual feeding device 150, it is pulled by the spring 355 and the drive connecting plate 353 is pulled out.
Falls with the input gear 352. With this configuration, the connector fixing plate 357 does not hinder the loading and unloading of the manual feed device 150.

The manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 1
48 (not shown in FIGS. 19 and 20), the shield plate 362 and the connector fixing plate 357
As a result, the manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 148
The connection unit related to the developer carry-in, the connection unit related to the drive input, and the connection unit 270 related to the energization are shielded,
It is classified according to the type of the connecting means.

The manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 1
The mutual arrangement relationship with 48 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 148 are mounted on the copying machine main body 1.
It is the figure seen from the side which inserts 0. FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a state in which the manual feeding device 150 and the developer collecting container 148 are mounted.

In the concave portion 390 of the developer collecting container 148, a connecting portion for connecting the manual feeding device 150 and the copying machine main body 1 is arranged. As shown in FIG. 22B, the developer collection container 148 at the mounting position is moved in the mounting direction (B direction).
A space 391 projected parallel to the space 391 and a space λ392 projected parallel to the direction (G direction) substantially perpendicular to the mounting direction (B direction) of the developer collection container 148 at the mounting position, A part 150 of the manual feeder 150 is placed in a space μ390 that is not occupied by the developer collection container 148.
a is arranged. As described above, the connecting portion that connects the manual feeding device 150 and the copying machine main body 1 is disposed on a part 150a of the manual feeding device 150. As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the case of the manual feeding device.
The functional unit is not limited to the feeding device and the developer collecting device, but can be applied to other various functional units.

[Fourth Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 11, the left side in the drawing of the feeding means 152 and the feeding roller 180 of the manual feeding device 150 has a step shape as shown in FIG. The space in this part is not used. Therefore, in order to increase the capacity of the developer collection container 148, the developer collection container 1 is extended to the unused space.
Increase 48.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the developer collecting container 148, and FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a state where the manual feeder and the developer collecting container are mounted. Developer collection container 1
Since there is an unused space on the bottom side of the container 48, if the developer collecting container 148 is enlarged only in the effective use space, it becomes unstable when the developer collecting container 148 is placed outside the machine. Therefore, the height of the other bottom was raised by the height protruding toward the space to be effectively used, and the stability when mounted outside the machine was measured. As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the bottom surface portion of the developer collecting container 148 has a concave portion 395 except for a space occupied by the feeding and feeding means 152 and the feeding roller 180 at the time of mounting.

The recovered amount of the developer, that is, the amount of the developer remaining on the photoreceptor without being transferred to the sheet at the time of transfer is very small as compared with the replenishment amount of the developer. The replacement time of the agent recovery container 148 can be extended to a certain degree of practicality. As described above, when the function of the functional unit has a basic function of accommodating a fluid such as a developer,
The deformation of the container of the fluid can be changed so as not to affect its function, which is convenient for enhancing the function.

In the present embodiment, the container for the fluid has been described with respect to the developer collecting container 148 having a particularly effective function of storing the collected developer. However, the container of the fluid may be a developer replenishing container for storing a replenishing developer, a stirring chamber provided in the developing means for stirring the developer, or a photosensitive container. It may be a storage room for a cleaner for temporarily storing the residual developer removed from the body.

[0105]

According to the present invention, since a part of a functional unit other than the functional unit for which the loading / unloading operation is performed is not arranged in the space through which the functional unit is loaded / unloaded, the functional unit is not mounted. When loading or unloading a function unit, an operation such as moving or detaching another functional unit is not required, and simplicity of loading and unloading of a functional unit is maintained. The arrangement of components in each functional unit can be changed so that it does not hinder the loading and unloading of the functional unit and places a part of the functional unit in an unused space. The space occupied can be reduced, and the image processing apparatus can be downsized.

In addition to these effects, the following effects can be obtained. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the second functional unit is mounted and arranged in a space other than the space in which the first functional unit is projected in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction.
An operation range in which the functional unit comes into contact with and separates from the seat can be secured. In addition, the second functional unit can be arranged in the space in the end area having the maximum allowable width in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, and the image processing apparatus can be reduced in thickness.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the connector means for connecting the power supply line or the signal line of the functional unit to the main body, the drive connecting means for guiding the driving force from the main body side into the functional unit, or the developer. Since the developer conveying means to be carried in and out of the container is localized without connecting the connecting means to the main body with respect to the functional units arranged adjacently in the image processing apparatus, such as the connecting portion, the space on the main body side The space that can be widely used in the image processing apparatus increases, and the flexibility in arranging other functional units and other components arranged in the image processing apparatus is increased. Therefore, the design is simplified when the image processing apparatus is downsized. Further, the connection means on the main body side can be made into a unit that is more locally integrated, and the assemblability on the main body side is also improved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the same type of connecting means of adjacent functional units come close to each other, the same type of connecting means also comes close to the main body side connecting means. For this purpose, the parts separately required can be used or reduced, and the same unitized connecting means can be reduced in size. Further, for example, when the connector means and the drive connection means are arranged together, the lubricant of the drive connection means adheres to the connector means and impairs electrical connectivity, or When the connecting parts of the developer conveying means are arranged together, the developer scattered from the connecting parts of the developer conveying means adheres to the connector means and impairs the electrical connectivity, or adheres to the driving connecting means to withstand. It is possible to suppress adverse effects due to different types of connecting means in the vicinity, which are caused when the places where different types of connecting means are arranged are not complicated and are arranged in a complicated manner, such as reducing abrasion.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the functional unit is formed into a container for a fluid, for example, which has a high degree of freedom in arranging the volume portion, that is, a container whose external shape can be freely changed to some extent. Therefore, the flexibility in arranging adjacent functional units in the image processing apparatus is increased, and the design flexibility is improved when the capacity of the container is increased or when the image processing apparatus is downsized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a copying machine that is an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
It is a principal sectional view showing an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a recirculating automatic document feeder, a manual document placing device, and an optical device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming device, a fixing device, and a sheet feeding device.

FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view of the manual feeding device.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the manual feeding device.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the feeding means.
(B) is a sectional view of the pulley B.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part of the manual feeding device.

FIGS. 8 (a) and (b) are explanatory views showing the operation of a mechanism for moving a feeding and feeding means up and down.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a driving mechanism of a sheet stopper.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processing apparatus during paper feeding.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a copying machine main body in the manual feeding device.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a developer collection container.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views of a developer collecting container and a main body side connecting portion.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are perspective views showing a state in which a manual feeding device and a developer collecting container are mounted.

FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C are cross-sectional views illustrating a mounted state of a developer collection container and a manual feeding device according to a second embodiment.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective views showing a state in which a manual feeding device and a developer collecting container according to a second embodiment are mounted.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are cross-sectional views showing a third embodiment of a copying machine which is an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are cross-sectional views illustrating a mounted state of a developer collection container according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a state before the manual feeder according to the third embodiment is mounted.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a mounted state of the manual feeder according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a manual feeder and a developer collection container according to a third embodiment are mounted on a copying machine main body.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are perspective views illustrating a state in which a manual feeder and a developer collection container according to a third embodiment are mounted.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a developer collection container according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a manual feeding device and a developer collection container according to a fourth embodiment are mounted.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a sheet feeding device portion of a conventional copying machine.

FIGS. 26A and 26B are side views showing a sheet feeding state of the sheet feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier main body 50 Image forming apparatus 100 Sheet feeding device 148 Developer collection container 150 Manual feeding device 151 Sheet mounting means 152 Call-in feeding means 153 Separating feeding means 200 Solenoid A 251 Main body side developer carrying-in connection part 252 Body-side drive connecting portion 280 Space α 281 Space β 282 Space γ 300 Front chassis 301 Front frame 302 Rear chassis 303 Rear frame

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Sugita 22-22, Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Tairacho Yamamoto 22-22, Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka In the company

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of function units that can be attached to and removed from an apparatus main body and perform a predetermined function at a predetermined mounting position, and each of the function units has another function unit inserted and removed. An image processing apparatus which is mounted and arranged in a space other than a space which sometimes passes, and further, a part of another functional unit can be arranged in a space where one functional unit is projected parallel to the mounting direction. 2. A plurality of function units that can be mounted and removed from the apparatus main body and perform a predetermined function at a predetermined mounting position, and each of the function units has another function unit inserted and removed. In some cases, it is installed in a space other than the space through which it passes, and in a space where a space where one functional unit is projected parallel to the mounting direction and a space where this functional unit is projected parallel to the removal direction of another functional unit overlap. An image processing apparatus characterized in that a part of another functional unit can be arranged. 3. A plurality of function units that can be mounted and removed from the apparatus main body and perform a predetermined function at a predetermined mounting position, and each of the function units has another function unit mounted thereon. A space that is mounted in a space other than a space that sometimes passes, and a space in which one functional unit is projected parallel to the mounting direction and a space that is parallel projected in a direction substantially orthogonal to the mounting direction of the functional unit overlaps An image processing apparatus, wherein a part of another functional unit can be arranged in a space excluding a space occupied by the functional unit. 4. The functional unit includes a first functional unit which is in contact with a sheet and directly involved in feeding and a second functional unit which is not in contact with a sheet and is involved in feeding. The second functional unit is mounted and arranged in a space other than a space parallel projected in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding surface and in a space perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction and in an end area having a maximum allowable width of feeding. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The functional unit includes a device main body or a connecting means for connecting the functional units, and the part of the other functional unit includes at least a part of the connecting means. To 3
The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connecting means is arranged by being classified by type. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the functional unit is a container whose volume can be changed.