JPH02148062A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize a device, to reduce a cost, and to write a character in a specified position by moving a member, which shields reflected light from an original with which an image carrier is irradiated, together with a writing unit in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. CONSTITUTION:The writing unit 71 is movably provided on a screw disposed along the longitudinal direction of a photosensitive drum 10; and a shadow plate 83 is provided on the lower end part of the writing unit 71, the plate 83 shielding a part of incident light Bi to be exposed on the photosensitive drum. The shadow plate 83 shields the incident light Bi so as to prevent electric charges in the part of the photosensitive drum 10, where a character, etc. are written, from being removed by the incident light Bi to be exposed, when a character, etc. are written on the photosensitive drum 10 by means of a writing light-emitting diode array provided on the facing face of the photosensitive drum 10 of the writing unit 71. By the rotary drive of a pulse motor, the shadow plate 83 is driven together with the writing unit 71 in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 10, and moved to a writing position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a writing tool that copies, for example, an original image and writes arbitrary characters or the like at a designated position.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with a knitted fabric.

(Prior art) In recent years, in addition to copying original images, copying [1
An electronic copying machine that writes character information such as A4 and pages has been developed.

The above-mentioned electronic copying machine sets the text writing mode from the operation panel and prints the "date" as text information.

Enter "characters" etc. After manual input, the electronic copying machine switches to character writing mode and writes the character information "rFl"1.
"Move the writing unit to the position where you want to write the letter j etc. on the paper. After moving, the electronic copying machine lights up the LED in response to the character information to be written at the specified writing position, and the character information is formed along with the copy. The formed character information is developed by a developing device and discharged to a paper discharge tray.

Since the writing unit is installed in a narrow space between the exposure section and the fixing device, facing the photosensitive drum (image carrier) 17, the structure of the writing unit itself needs to be made compact.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) Since the structure itself of the conventional device must be made compact, there is a risk of an increase in maintenance costs required for pressurization, etc. to make the constituent parts +4 etc. compact. Ta. This is a cause for concern as an increase in the maintenance cost of the writing unit may lead to an increase in the price of the electronic copying machine itself.

This invention was made in view of the above, and its "1"
The objective is to provide an image forming apparatus that can write characters at specified positions without reducing the size of the apparatus and increasing the price.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object [1], the present invention provides, as a first means, exposure scanning of the original document to irradiate the image carrier. a member for blocking reflected light from the image carrier; a driving means for moving the member together with the writing means relative to the image carrier; and a second means 17 for writing desired information on the image carrier. The present invention further comprises a driving means for moving the writing means from outside the image forming area of the carrier to a size that is less than half of the maximum image forming size.

(Function) In an image forming apparatus having a two-leg configuration, a first means is provided near an image bearing member (photoreceptor drum) on which an original image is formed by exposing and scanning an original; A member (shadow plate) for blocking reflected light from the document irradiated onto the carrier is provided on the writing means for writing desired information. Since this member reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier together with the writing means (writing unit), it is possible to downsize the apparatus and prevent an increase in the price of the apparatus.

By the second means, the writing means is moved from outside the image forming area of the image carrier to a distance equal to or less than the maximum image forming size.
There is no need to add solenoid etc.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an image forming apparatus of the present invention, such as a copying machine. That is, 1 is a main body of a copying machine, and a document table (transparent glass) 2 is fixed to the upper surface of the main body 1 to support a document. The document table 2 is provided with a fixed scale 2I that serves as a reference for setting the document, and furthermore, a document cover 11 that can be opened and closed is provided near the document table 2.

The original placed on the document table 2 is moved by an optical system consisting of an exposure lamp 4 and a mirror 5, 6, 7 along the lower surface of the document table 2 in the direction of arrow a. Exposure scanning is performed during reciprocation. In this case, mirror 6.7 is 1/2 of mirror 5 to maintain the optical path length.
move at a speed of ” - The light reflected from the original by the scanning of the optical distribution system, that is, the light reflected from the original by the light irradiation of the exposure lamp 4, is reflected by the mirror 5.6.7 and then passes through the variable magnification lens block 8. Furthermore, Mira 9,
The light is reflected by 92 and 93 and guided to the photoreceptor drum 10, so that an image of the document is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10.

The photoreceptor drum 10 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and its surface is charged by the charger 11. Thereafter, the image is exposed to slit light at the exposure section Ph, so that the surface has electrostatic potential. An image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is made visible by applying toner by the developing device 12. The developing device 12 has an attachment/detachment port γ1 with respect to the copying machine main body 1, and a member is provided on the side surface of the developing device 12 to indicate code information (not shown) indicating the color of the toner contained therein. When the developing device 12 is inserted into the copying machine main body 1, code information of this member is read by a sensor (not shown) on the copying machine main body 1 side, so that the color of the toner can be determined.

On the other hand, the paper (transfer material) is delivered from the selected bifurcated paper feed cassette 13I2 or the lower paper feed cassette 132 to the feed rollers 14 + 142 and the roller pair 1.51.
1.52, the sheets are taken out one by one, and the paper guide path 16
1 1-62, and is guided to a pair of registration rollers 17, and guided to a transfer section by this pair of registration rollers 17. Here, set the two-leg paper feeding force.
131132 is removably provided at the lower right end of the main body 1, and either one can be selected on the control panel 1 to be described later. In addition, each of the paper feed force sensor +-i3+ 132 is adapted to detect the cassette size by a cassette size detection switch 6C1+6 (12). It is composed of a plurality of microswitches that are turned on and off depending on the paper feed cassette 131.Furthermore, on the second side of the paper feed cassette 131, there is a manual feed guide 13a.
The paper manually inserted through this manual feed guide 13a (2) is guided to the roller pair 151 by the feed roller 1.4a, and then transferred to the paper feed cassette 1.
The paper is conveyed in the same manner as the paper fed from 31.

On the other hand, the paper sent to the transfer section comes into close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10 at the transfer charger 18, so that the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 10'' is transferred by the action of the charger 18. Ru. The transferred paper P is electrostatically peeled off from the photoreceptor drum 10 by the action of a peeling charger 19 and conveyed by a conveyor belt 20, and then transferred to a fixing roller 21 as a fixing device provided at the end of the conveyor belt 20. The transferred image is fixed by passing through this area. After fixing, the paper is transferred to a tray 25 outside the main body 1 by a pair of feed rollers 22.
It is designed to be discharged. After the transfer, the photosensitive drum 10 is returned to its initial state by removing residual toner on the surface with a cleaner 26 and erasing any afterimages with a static elimination lamp 27. In addition, 2
9 is a cooling fan for preventing the temperature inside the main body 1 from rising.

Further, the exposure lamp 4 and the mirror 5 are mounted on the first carriage 4.
1-1, and the mirror 6.7 is mounted on the second carriage 41.
It is provided in 2.

- On the other hand, the first gear carriage 411 is provided with a spot light source 31 that is movable in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the first carriage 411. This spot light source 13
1 is provided with a light emitting element that irradiates a spot light onto the document table 2, and it is possible to specify, for example, an erasing range of the document using this spot light.

Further, an erasing array 150 is provided between the charger 1 for charging the photosensitive drum 10 and the exposure section ph. In the erasing array 150, a plurality of light emitting elements (not shown) are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor drum 10. When erasing a part of a document, etc., these light emitting elements are connected to the spot light source 131. The light is turned on corresponding to the erasing area designated by , and the electric charge accumulated on the photosensitive drum 10 is removed. Therefore, an electrostatic latent image is not formed in the portion from which the charge has been removed even if it is subsequently exposed to light at the exposure portion ph, so that the document image is erased.

Furthermore, between the exposure section P h and the developing device 12,
A writing unit 71 is provided. This writing unit 71 not only copies the original image but also writes required characters and the like on the paper on which the original image is formed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement around the photosensitive drum 10, which is provided opposite the writing unit 71. As shown in FIG.

Around this photoreceptor drum 10, a charging charger 11,
Erase array 1-50, writing unit 71, developer 12
, a charger 18, one stripping charger, a cleaner 26, and a static elimination lamp 27 are provided. The above photosensitive drum 1
A charging device 11 is provided near the second part 0 in the figure, and the surface of the drum 10 is charged. An erasing array 150 including generation elements is provided adjacent to the charging device 11 in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 10 . This erasing array 150 removes charges accumulated on the surface of the drum 10 due to light emission from the light emitting elements. This removed part does not form an electrostatic latent image even if it is exposed by the exposure part ph, so
The original image will be erased. A writing unit 71 is provided adjacent to the exposure section ph. This writing unit 71 writes specified characters, etc. on a sheet of paper on which a document image is formed, at a position on the sheet specified by the user. Further, a developing device 12 that supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is provided at the lower right side of the writing unit +-71. At the bottom of the figure, a charger 18 is provided to charge the paper P in close contact with the photoreceptor drum 10, and adjacent to this charger 18, a peeling charger is provided to separate the paper P from the photoreceptor drum 10. A container 19 is provided.

A cleaner 26 for removing residual toner 181 deposited on the photosensitive drum 10 is provided on the upper left side of one of the stripping chargers in the figure. A neutralizing lamp 27 is provided adjacent to the cleaner 26 for erasing an afterimage on the surface of the drum 10.

FIG. 3 shows an operation panel 30 provided on the main body 1 of the copying machine. A copy key 30a for starting copying is provided at the lower right end in the figure, and a numeric keypad 30b is provided adjacent to this copy key 30a. The above copy key 30a
, numeric keypad: Display section 30 c % displays the operating status of each section and the number of copies of paper P on the -1- side of 30 b Counter command key 30 e and copying key for displaying the total number of copies and the number of copies for each color An interrupt key 30r is provided therein, which is operated when another device makes a copy. Adjacent to the above-mentioned numeric keypad 301) and display section 30c, there is a density setting section 30d for setting the copy density, and an equal magnification key 3 that is operated when setting the copy magnification to equal magnification (1,00%).
0g, magnification key 30 to operate when setting copy magnification
1] and a cassette selection key 30i that is operated to select the upper and lower cassettes 1-131132. The following keys are provided adjacent to the cassette selection key 30i. For example, the edit key 30n described later
When the erasure range, etc. of the original is specified by operating the , the mode memory key 30 is operated to store the specified erasure range, etc. in the memory, or to read out information such as the erasure range, etc. stored in the T-memory. 1. If you want to obtain information according to each mode, for example if a jam occurs, operate this gear and the information key 30 will display information for clearing the jam on the display 3°O, which will be described later. It is provided. Also, 30m has a function key,
By operating this function key 3 C1m, it is possible to display what kind of function is set on the display 30o. Additionally, erase part of the original image (7
Edit key 3 to be operated when deleting a portion of the copy, etc.
(1n are provided. On the left side of the edit key 30n in the figure is a display 300 made of, for example, a liquid crystal dot matrix panel. This display 30o has the above-mentioned various keys 30c, 30r, 30g to 30n. If operated,
Display corresponding to each. On both sides of the display 30o, operation keys 3 [ ] 1 to 304 and 305 to 308 are arranged to select various functions displayed on the display 30o. On the left side of the operation keys 301 to 30B in the figure is a movement key 30P for moving the subboot I/light source 131 described above, and this movement key '30p is set to χ mark -3.
As shown in 0q to 3 C1t, it can be tilted in four directions, and when these arrows 30q to 301 are operated, the spot light source 131 is moved in the same direction as the arrows 30q to 301. A position designation key 30u for inputting the coordinate position indicated by the spot light source 131 is provided above the movement key 30P in the figure.

FIG. 4 shows the writing unit 71.

This writing unit 71 is movably provided on a screw disposed along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 10. One end of this screw 80 is supported by a frame 81, and the other end is connected to a pulse motor 82.

The writing unit 71 reciprocates on the screw 80 by the rotation of the pulse motor 82, and an LED array 71c (described later) inside the unit 71 is turned on and off by power supplied from the flat cable 71d. Further, a shadow plate 83, which will be described later, is provided at the lower end of the writing unit 71.

On the pulse motor 82 side of the frame 81, an initial position sensor 84 is fixed to the frame 81- for detecting the position of the writing unit 71 in the initial state after power is applied to the device or when the writing unit 71 is withdrawn from the incident light Bi. .

The initial position sensor 84 is made of, for example, an optical sensor and detects the presence or absence of the writing unit 71 based on the presence or absence of reflected light from the writing unit 71. The frame 81 equipped with the writing unit 71 has set screws 85a and 85b.
Therefore, it can be attached and detached from the main body 1 of the copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the frame 81 is attached to or detached from the main body of the copying machine. The frame 81 equipped with the writing unit 7 is inserted into the copier main body 1 in the direction of the arrow in the figure from 1088 and fixed with I-female screws 85a and 85b. The units 71 are arranged to face the photoreceptor drum 10 in the longitudinal direction.

”-The substrate 711 has a structure facing the photosensitive drum 10,
Light emitting diode array (hereinafter referred to as LED array) 71
b is provided. This LED array 711) includes a plurality of LEDs arranged along the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor drum 10.
The total length A of this LED array 71b is shorter than 1/2 of the maximum copying width of the photosensitive drum 1-0. The light is selectively turned on in response to a signal corresponding to a character or the like supplied from 107. Further, inside the writing unit 71, a light converging lens 710 is provided that guides the light generated from the LED array 7 lb to the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10. The frame 81 is detachable from one side of the front or rear side of the copying machine main body 1, so the main body 1 of the frame 81
It is easy to remove the frame.
1 is shorter than 1/2 of the maximum copying width of the photosensitive drum 10, so the frame 81 can be made smaller.

Further, at the lower end of the writing unit 71, the L E
D array 711], a shadow plate 83 that blocks part of the incident light Bi that exposes the photoreceptor drum 10 is fixed. This shadow plate 83 is connected to the LED array 7.
When writing characters etc. using l b, photosensitive drum] 0
This is to block the incident light at a position 17 corresponding to the writing position of the characters, etc. so that the charge at the part where the characters, etc. are written is not removed by the incident light Bi.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the writing unit 71 is arranged on the photosensitive drum 10.

” The two-legged writing unit 71 uses the photosensitive drum.

]0, a substrate 711 is provided on the upper part of the unit 7t, and a light focusing lens (product name: self-off lens) 71e is provided on the F plane of the substrate 711, and A shadow plate 80 is fixed to the lower end of the focusing lens 71e.

The shadow plate 83 fixed to the lower end of the writing unit 71 is driven together with the writing unit 71 by rotation of the pulse motor 82 . Therefore, when the position at which a desired character is to be written is specified from the control panel 30, the pulse motor 82 is rotated to drive the character to the writing position. Note that the material of the shadow plate 83 may be any material that has some degree of rigidity, such as sheet metal, for example.

Further, attachment of the shadow plate 83 to the writing unit 71 is also simple.

Next, the relationship between the image formed on the photosensitive drum 1-O''2 by the LED array 71b and the incident light Bi blocked by the shadow plate 83 will be further explained.

As shown in FIG. 8(a), the direction Pf in which the paper P is conveyed is opposite to the rotation direction of the photoreceptor drum ]-0. In addition, the LED array 71 of the writing unit 71
．． The irradiation surface S2 of e, the irradiation surface G1 of the incident light that is reflected light from the document, and the irradiation surface Sl of the erasing array 150 are parallel to the rotational direction l) of the photoreceptor drum 10.

As shown in FIG. 8(b), the total length A of the LED array 71b is longer than the width hO of the shadow plate 83 by h + in each end direction.

When the width ho of the shadow plate 83 is made equal to or shorter than the total length A of the LED array 711), the incident light Bi is blocked by the shadow plate 83, and the photoreceptor drum 1
The width of the charge remaining on the LED array 71b becomes longer than the total length A of the LED array 71b, and this charge cannot be completely erased by the LED array 71b. The corresponding part remains as a black line.

However, by configuring the total length A of the LED array 71-b to be longer than the width ho of the shadow plate 83 by hl in both end directions as described above, the charge is erased (the remaining 7 is You can watch it.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8(C), the portions of the LEDs 71c of the LED array 71b corresponding to the characters are turned off, and the portions other than the characters are turned on. The width of the character C is Nyado board 8
The width is narrower than the width 110 of No. 3. Therefore, within the width C of the character, in the portion where the LED 71C is turned off, the charge on the photoreceptor drum 10 remains, and the character becomes visible when it is developed.

In addition, since the LEDs 7]C corresponding to both ends of the character width C are all lit, the charges in the corresponding parts are erased, and unnecessary black lines are generated in the parts corresponding to both ends of the shadow board 83. There is no such thing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the operation of the writing unit 71.

The writing unit 71 is directed toward the center Pc of the paper P wound around the photoreceptor drum 10.

Then, the desired character is written on the paper P by moving from the center Pc of the paper to the minimum writing position Wm1n. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the writing unit 71 and photosensitive drum 10 of FIG. 9. Regarding the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 10, 1. The writing unit 71 is driven in the vertical direction to write characters from the center Pc of the paper to the minimum writing position Wm1n.

FIG. 11 and FIGS. 1-2 are diagrams showing the initial position of the writing unit 71 and its retreat from the incident light Bi. That is, when the power is turned on to the device or when no characters are written on paper P, the pulse motor 82 is rotated to irradiate the incident light Bi from the document! Distance σ from the edge of Tll G 1
The writing unit 71 is driven to the position of
The end S3 of the shadow plate 83 of No. 1 is separated by a distance σ from the end of the irradiation surface G1 of the incident light Bi. As a result, no characters are written on the paper P. Furthermore, since the writing unit 71 is retracted outside the irradiation surface Gi of the incident light Bi, there is no need to provide a solenoid for switching between enabling and disabling writing of characters.

FIG. 13 shows the configuration of the main parts of the control system. The control section 101 controls the entire copying machine, and the operation panel 30 is connected to this control section 101, and a character pattern consisting of a plurality of dots corresponding to a character specified by the operation panel 3o is connected to the control section 101. A character generator 102 that generates a barcode, a barcode generator 103 that similarly generates a barcode made up of a plurality of dots, and a control unit 1.
01 operation program, etc., a memory 1.4, a driving motor 135 for the spot light source 131, a first carriage 41. drive motor 43, writing unit 71
A motor drive circuit 10 that controls the drive motor 77 of
5. The LED array 71-b is connected to the character generator 1
02, an LED drive circuit 107 that controls lighting in response to character signals supplied from the barcode generator 103 is connected.

Figure 14 shows the position E of characters desired by the clerk on the manuscript.
, and the position y of the LED array 71b.

In the figure, the writing position E of characters on, for example, an A4 size original set on the original platen 2 is Xl from the top edge of the original.
is written at a position centered on . In addition, LED array 7
1. The position y of b is a position centered at X2 from the bottom edge of the A4 size original.

When writing the desired character E mentioned above, use the operation panel 30.
From setting key 30. ~Character writing key 30 out of 308
When 2 is pressed, a message "Write text" is displayed on the display 300. After inputting the mode, the document size is manually set, the writing position is set by pressing the movement key 30p in the direction indicated by the arrows 30q to 30t, and then the position designation key 3011 is pressed.

FIG. 15 shows an example of character information written on the top of paper P using the above configuration. As described above, the clerk can set the character writing mode from the operation panel 30 and write the desired character E on the top of the paper P. The image G is copied at the center of the paper P below the desired character E. Similarly, the position of a desired character E written at a distance β from the top of paper P is shown in FIG. The staff selects the direction keys 30q to 30 of the movement key 30P on the operation panel 30.
The desired character E can be written on the paper P by specifying the position where the desired character E is to be written on the paper P by pressing t.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

First, the staff turns on the main switch to turn on the power to the copying machine main body 1-. When the main switch is turned on, the control unit 101 outputs a drive signal to the motor drive circuit 105 to drive the pulse motor 82 to which the writing unit 71 is coupled. When the motor 82 is driven, the writing unit 7 also drives the initial position sensor 84. After driving, the staff member presses the direction keys 30q to 30t of the movement keys 30 on the operation panel 30 to display the display 3 ('J
The writing position of the character designated as O is displayed, and when the writing position is determined, the position designation key 30I is pressed. When the position designation key 30u is pressed, the control unit 101 outputs a drive signal to the motor drive circuit 105. Motor drive circuit 10
5 outputs a pulse signal in response to the input drive signal to the pulse motor 82, and the rotation of the pulse motor 82 causes the writing unit 71 to be designated by the initial position sensor 84. move to the specified position.

After the writing unit 71 is moved, a copying operation is performed according to the copying magnification and paper size specified from the operation panel 30.

Next, when the photosensitive drum 10 is irradiated with the incident light Bi due to exposure from the original, the writing unit 71-
is driven in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction Pf of the LED.
Array 71. A desired character E is written on paper P by turning e on or off.

From the above, characters can be easily written in the desired position using simple parts and simple mounting, so the device does not become complicated and an increase in the price of the device can be prevented. 1 [I can.

It should be noted that this invention is not limited to the first embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

1. Effects of the Invention] 2. Explanation (-) According to the present invention, the device is miniaturized because the member that blocks the reflected light from the original document that is irradiated onto the image carrier is driven together with the writing unit. 7, any character can be written in a designated position without increasing the cost of the device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a main part view of the side sectional view shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
Figure 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of the operation panel, Figure 4 is a configuration diagram of the writing unit, Figure 5 is a diagram showing the installation of the unit shown in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a layout diagram of the unit shown in Figure 4, Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the LED array, Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the shadow plate and the writing unit, and Figs.
Figure 2 is a diagram showing the operating range and initial position of the writing unit, Figure 13 is a configuration diagram showing the control system, Figure 14 is a diagram showing the positions of desired characters and LED arrays, and Figures 1-5 to 1-5.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of character information written by this device. 1... Copying machine main body 10... Photosensitive drum 1
2...Developer 30...Operation panel 71.
...Writing unit l-71b...LED array 7
1e... Light converging lens 80... Screw 81.
...Frame 82...Pulse motor 83...
・Shadow plate 88...Controller 101...Control unit 105...Motor drive circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An image forming apparatus consisting of an image carrier on which a document image is formed as the document is exposed and scanned, and a writing device that is movable relative to the image carrier and writes desired information on the image carrier. a member for exposing and scanning the original document and blocking reflected light from the original document that is irradiated onto the image carrier; and a driving device for moving this member together with the writing device relative to the image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising: (2) An image forming apparatus consisting of an image carrier on which a document image is formed as the document is exposed and scanned, and a writing device that is movable relative to the image carrier and writes desired information on the image carrier. An image forming apparatus according to the present invention, further comprising a driving means for moving the writing means from outside the image forming area of the image carrier to less than half of the maximum image forming size.