JPH047256A - image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the disposing of a jam by providing a unit lift means, which raises a rise conveying path unit to a position exposed from a device main unit, and a pair of guide plates and a pair of conveying rolls in drive and driven sides separably from each other. CONSTITUTION:A pair of guide plates 61, 62 and drive/driven side conveying rolls 63, 64 are provided speparably from each other, while providing unit lift means 65A, 65B for raising a unit 40 to a position exposed from a device main unit 2, by forming a rise conveying path 60 in a unit shape to make a rise conveying path unit 40 of it. In the case of generating a jam in the rise conveying path 60, it is raised in a unit condition by the unit lift means 65A, 65B to a position exposed from the device main unit 2, and the guide plates 61, 62 and the conveying rolls 64, 64 of the rise conveying path 60 are separated from each other. In this way, transcription paper jammed in a condition that it is caught between the guide plates and the conveying rolls, can be easily taken out.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention conveys a transfer paper from the front side of the apparatus where the operation section of the apparatus body is provided toward the rear of the apparatus, and transfers the transfer paper after image formation. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine or a printer, in which the image is discharged from the upper part of the apparatus main body.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, for example, in a copying machine, a transfer paper is conveyed from the front side of the copying machine body where the operation section is installed toward the rear of the machine, and after an image is formed and fixed on the transfer paper, it is transferred to a pair of The sheet is conveyed upward by a rising conveyance path consisting of a guide plate and a plurality of conveyance rollers in which the driving side and the driven side are arranged opposite to each other, and is discharged to a paper discharge tray provided at the top of the copying machine main body. There is something I did.

A copying machine equipped with such a conveyance/ejecting path can be installed on the left and right sides of the copying machine with almost no gaps left on walls, etc., and only requires a very small gap on the rear side. Since the installation space in the office can be minimized, it saves a lot of space compared to other types of equipment that transport transfer paper from side to side in front of the device.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the case of a copying machine such as this, which can be installed with the left, right, and rear sides in close contact with a wall, etc., it is very advantageous in terms of the installation space of the device, but for example, it is difficult to form images. If the transfer paper that has been fixed is jammed in the upward conveyance path, the jam occurs at the rear of the copying machine, making it difficult to remove the jammed paper. In such cases, it is necessary to remove the heavy copying machine from a location surrounded by walls on three sides, and then open the door on the rear of the copying machine to clear the jam. So,
The work was extremely tedious.

This invention was made in view of the above problems,
The purpose is to easily handle a jam from the front side of the device if a jam occurs in an image forming device that can be installed in a space-saving manner that transports transfer paper from the front side of the device to the rear of the device. shall be.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, this invention conveys a transfer paper from the front side of the device where the operating section of the device main body is provided toward the rear of the device, forms an image on the transfer paper, fixes it, and then transfers the image. An image forming apparatus in which paper is conveyed upward through an ascending conveyance path consisting of a pair of guide plates and a plurality of conveyance rollers in which driving and driven sides are arranged opposite to each other, and the paper is discharged to the upper part of the apparatus main body. In the above, the ascending conveyance path is formed into a unit shape, and is provided so that substantially the whole thereof can rise from within the apparatus main body to a position where it is exposed at the upper part thereof, and a unit that raises the unit to a position where it is exposed from the apparatus main body. A lifting means is provided, and the pair of guide plates and the driving side and driven side conveying rollers are provided so as to be able to be separated from each other.

Further, in the above image forming apparatus, the final pair of conveyance rollers that feed the transfer paper from the fixed conveyance path in the apparatus main body to the upward conveyance path within the unit are brought into pressure contact with the unit of the upward conveyance path. A roller pressure release mechanism is provided to release the unit in conjunction with the rise of the unit.

[For production]

According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, when a jam occurs in the ascending conveyance path at the rear of the apparatus, the unit lifting means raises the ascending conveyance path as a unit to a position where it is exposed from the main body of the apparatus. By separating the pair of guide plates of the ascending conveyance path and the conveying rollers on the driving side and the driven side from each other, it is possible to easily take out the jammed transfer paper that is sandwiched between them.

In addition, in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, if a roller pressure release mechanism is provided that releases the pressure of the final pair of transport rollers that feed the transfer paper into the ascending transport path in conjunction with the rise of the unit, the transfer Even if the paper jams between the unit on the ascending transport path and the final transport roller, the roller pressure release mechanism works in conjunction with the rise of the unit and releases the pressure on the pair of transport rollers. As a result, the transfer paper is released from the conveyance rollers and rises together with the rising unit to a position where it is exposed from the main body of the apparatus.

Therefore, by separating the pair of guide plates of the ascending conveyance path and the conveyance rollers on the drive side and the driven side from each other, it is possible to easily take out the jammed transfer paper that is sandwiched therebetween.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ascending conveyance path unit of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is projected to the upper part of the main body of the apparatus, and FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram seen from the side showing an example of a copying system configured in combination with a feeding device; FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, this copying machine 1 is placed on a multi-stage paper feeder 4 in which paper feed trays 3A to 3E are arranged in multiple stages, and an automatic document feeder 1o is mounted on the upper part. ing.

The copying machine 1 conveys a transfer paper P from the front side of the machine body 2, which is the main body of the machine, where the operation section 3o is provided, toward the rear of the machine (from right to left in FIG. 2). The image on the photoreceptor drum 11 is formed on the transfer paper P and the image is transferred to the fixing device 37.
After fixing the image, it is conveyed upward by an ascending conveyance path 60 consisting of a pair of guide plates 61 and 62 and a plurality of conveyance rollers 63 and 64, the driving side and the driven side of which are arranged opposite to each other. The paper is ejected to a paper ejection tray 41 at the top of the main body 2.

Then, the ascending conveyance path 60 is formed into a unit shape that can be raised to a position where substantially the entire part is exposed at the upper part of the copying machine main body 2 (the position shown in FIG. 1), and the ascending conveyance path unit 40 is formed. A unit lifting means is provided which includes a pair of gas spring devices 65A, 65B, etc., which will be described in detail later, for lifting the lifting conveyance path unit 40 to a position where it is exposed from the upper surface of the copying machine main body 2.

One guide plate 61 of the pair of guide plates 61 and 62 has
As shown in FIG. 1, a large number of drive-side conveyance rollers 63 are rotatably arranged at regular intervals in the direction of arrow A, which is the conveyance direction of the transfer paper, and in the width direction perpendicular thereto. A portion of the roller protrudes slightly from each square hole 61a formed in the guide plate 61.

Further, on the other guide plate 62 facing it, a large number of driven-side conveying rollers 64 are rotatably arranged in correspondence with the respective conveying rollers 63 and square holes 61a of the guide plate 61, and they are arranged at each corner. It is made to protrude slightly from the hole 62a.

Hinge 67.6 is provided on both sides below the guide plate 61.
At the same time, one end of the guide plate 62 is fixed to the other end, and the lower both sides of the guide plate 62 are attached to the other end with pins or the like, as indicated by the arrow B in FIG.
A handle 66 is formed on the upper part of the guide plate 62.

Therefore, when the guide plate 62 is opened in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1, the pair of guide plates 61, 62 and the respective conveying rollers 63, 64 on the drive side and the driven side are separated from each other.

A multi-bypass table 5 is attached to the front of the copier body 2, which is the right side in FIG. 2, so that it can be opened and closed. A calling roller 6 is provided to feed the transfer paper P set on the transfer paper P 5, and a paper feeding roller 7 and a separating roller 8, which are in pressure contact with each other vertically, and a registration roller 9 are provided on the transport path on the downstream side of the paper feeding. Each photoreceptor drum 11 is provided rotatably in the direction of the arrow.

On the other hand, a contact glass 12 is provided on the top surface of the copying machine main body 2, on which a document to be copied is placed. An optical system 42 is provided to scan an image on a document in the direction of arrow C.

The optical system 42 is composed of a light source 21 for document illumination, a reflector 22, movable mirrors 23, 24 and 25, a zoom lens 26, and fixed mirrors 27, 28 and 29. 21, reflector 22, and movable mirror 23 constitute a first scanner, and movable mirrors 24 and 25 constitute a second scanner.
The second scanner moves at a speed of V/m (m is the copying magnification) in the direction of arrow C in FIG.
Similarly, it is moved in the direction of arrow C at a speed of 2 m by a drive motor (not shown).

Further, around the photoconductor tram 11, there is a charger 14 for uniformly charging the photoconductor drum 11, an eraser 15 for erasing charges from unnecessary portions of the photoconductor drum 11, and an optical system 42 to control the photoconductor drum 11. A first developer 16 and a second developer 17 make the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 visible by applying toner powder using a magnetic brush, and transfer the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 11 to a transfer paper. A belt transfer device 18 that transfers the image to the photosensitive drum
A cleaning device 19 that cleans toner remaining on the surface of the cleaning device 19
etc. are provided respectively.

A fixing device 37 is provided on the paper feeding downstream side of the photosensitive drum 11, and conveyance rollers 31 and 32 are provided on the paper feeding downstream side, and upward conveyance in the ascending conveyance path unit 40 from the conveyance path in the copying machine main body 2. A final pair of transport rollers 33 for feeding the transfer paper P into the path 60 are provided.

On the other hand, in the multistage paper feeding device 4, a movable paper feeding section 48 including a calling roller 45, a paper feeding roller 46 and a separation roller 47 that are vertically in contact with each other in a press-contact and rotatable manner, and the like is moved to the paper feeding tray 3A by an elevating device (not shown). When a transfer paper size is selected using the operating section 3o formed on the upper right surface of the copying machine main body 2, the movable paper feed section 48 moves to each stage from 3E to 3E. Move to the paper tray position and transfer the transfer paper P1 to P5 on the paper feed trays 3A to 3E.
feed paper.

As described above, this copying system is capable of feeding paper in two ways by using either the multi-manual feed table 5 or the multi-stage paper feeder 4 as required.

The automatic document feeder 10 feeds documents in page order starting from the first page, and has a document tray 75 on which a document is placed on the right side of the document feed port 80 formed with a gently curved surface in the horizontal direction. (
(It may be a flat surface), and a paper ejection tray 41 for placing the copied transfer paper P ejected from the paper ejection lower 0 on the upper part, and a paper ejection tray 41 for placing the copied transfer paper P ejected from the document ejection port 44 on the lower part, and a paper ejection tray 41 for placing the copied transfer paper P ejected from the document ejection port 44 on the lower part. The original discharge trays 13 on which the originals are placed are formed substantially parallel to each other, and the originals are conveyed to a predetermined original scanning position (exposure position) while sliding the originals to the right in FIG. 2 on the contact glass 12. A belt conveying device 90 is provided.

Next, the case of copying using the copying system according to this embodiment will be explained.

First, place the original to be copied onto the original tray 75 shown in FIG.
Set it so that it is on the page and insert it to the left.

Then, a feeding system consisting of various rollers provided in the automatic document feeder 10 feeds the document to the left in FIG. By rotating the bag [90 in the counterclockwise direction, the rear end (the left end side in FIG. 2) becomes the document scanning reference side and is stopped at a predetermined exposure position.

When the exposure is completed by scanning in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2 by the optical system 42, the belt conveying device 90 rotates clockwise to send the document to the left in FIG. is the conveying roller 9 rotating in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
9 once conveyed in the direction of the document ejection port 44,
The document is returned by the conveyance roller 99 that rotates in the opposite direction to the arrow, and passes through the upper surface of the gate pawl provided below the conveyance roller 99 and rotated to the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. The document is then discharged onto the document discharge tray 13 with the image side facing downward.

In this way, the second and subsequent pages of the document are sequentially discharged in the same manner.

On the other hand, the transfer paper is placed on the multi-bypass table 5 as described above.
Paper feeding is possible using either of the and multi-stage paper feeding device 4,
When feeding paper from the multi-bypass table 5, open it as shown in Fig. 2, set the transfer paper P on top of it, and push it in. The call roller 6, which was in the raised position, will lower and move as shown by the arrow. The rotation in the direction sends it between the feed roller 7 and the separation roller 8.

If two or more sheets of transfer paper P are fed at the same time,
The paper is separated into one sheet by the paper feed roller 7 and separation roller 8, sent to the registration roller 9, and stopped once, and if any skew has occurred, it is corrected.
The paper is fed again in synchronization with the image on the photoreceptor drum 11, and transferred to the belt transfer device 1.
8 transfers the image, and the fixing device 37 fixes the image.

When feeding paper using the multi-stage paper feeder 4, if the transfer paper size is selected in advance on the operation panel 30 of the copying machine main body 2 as described above, the multi-stage paper feeder 4 (not shown) is automatically selected. The elevating device is driven, and the movable paper feed section 48 moves to a position in one of the paper feed trays 3A to 3E corresponding to the selected transfer paper size, and feeds the transfer paper P of that stage.

Then, the transfer paper P on which the image has been fixed by the fixing device 37 is conveyed to the conveyance roller 33 via the conveyance rollers 31 and 32, and then passes through the upward conveyance path 60 of the upward conveyance path unit 40 to the automatic document feeder. Conveyance roller 53 in 10
, 54, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 41 with the image side facing downward.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of a gas spring device for raising the ascending conveyance path unit 40.

The gas spring devices 65A and 65B are similar and well-known devices, and have a double tube structure of an outer tube 71 and an inner tube 72, and a piston 73 that is slidable inside the inner tube 72 allows the gas spring devices 65A and 65B to be connected to the body 74 side. Gas chamber Ra and piston rod 7
It is divided into two rooms: gas chamber Rb on the 6th side.

A valve 77 is slidably provided in the body 74, and the valve 77 is pushed in by rotating a valve adjustment lever 78 in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 3 about a shaft 79 as a fulcrum. Rh communicates with each other through a gap Rc between the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72.

In this state of communication between the gas chambers Ra and Rb, the piston door 6 protrudes in the direction of the arrow F due to the gas pressure, and a reaction force of the gas is applied to the piston door 6 in the direction opposite to the arrow F in FIG. By adding the above, the piston door 6 will contract.

When the rotation operation of the valve adjustment lever 78 in the direction of arrow E is released, the valve 77 automatically returns to the position shown in FIG. 3 due to the gas pressure, and communication between the gas chambers Ra and Rb is cut off again. , the piston door 6 is locked at an arbitrary position.

In this state, if an external force is applied to the piston door 6 in the compression direction (direction opposite to arrow F in FIG. 3).

The gas in the gas chamber Ra is compressed, and gas spring characteristics different from those when the valve 77 is pushed in are obtained.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a unit lifting means for lifting the lifting conveyance path unit 40 from the upper surface of the copying machine main body 2 to a position where it is exposed.

The unit lifting means operates the pair of gas spring devices 65A and 65B described in FIG. (Fig.) is raised to a position where it is exposed from the top surface.

Its composition is each gas spring device 65A.

Mounting members 82 and 82 fixed to the respective tips of the gas spring devices 65A and 65B are fixed to both sides 40a and 40b of the ascending conveyance path unit 40 via mounting plates 83 and 83, respectively. Each outer tube 71
．． 71 to the fixed part of the copying machine main body 2 (see Figure 2)
are doing.

Also, the front side of the copying machine main body 2 shown in Fig. 2 (right side in the figure)
The operating lever 81 is mounted so as to be movable up and down by a guide member (not shown), and wires 86. Fix one end of each
Each wire 86°86 is connected to two pulleys 84,
85, and the other end is connected to a pair of gas spring devices 65A.

65B is fixed to each valve adjustment lever 78, respectively.

Therefore, in the unit lifting means configured in this manner, when the operating lever 81 is lifted upward in FIG. be lowered.

Therefore, the adjustment lever 78 rotates in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 3, and the valve 77 protrudes into the gas chamber Ra.
As described above, the gas chambers Ra and Rb communicate through the gap Re, and the piston door 6 is thereby protruded in the direction of the arrow F by the gas pressure, and the ascending conveyance unit 40 rises to a position where it comes into contact with a stopper (not shown). And that's the first
As shown in the figure, the copying machine main body 2 is raised from the top surface to a position where substantially the entire body is exposed.

When the upward lifting of the operating lever 81 is released at the raised position, the valve adjustment lever 78 is automatically returned by gas pressure as explained in FIG. 3, and the piston door 6 is locked in that position. Therefore, the ascending conveyance unit 40 can maintain its position without falling.

When the ascending conveyance unit 40 is in the ascending position, when the handle 66 of the guide plate 62 shown in FIG. A pair of guide plates 61.
62 and the drive-side and driven-side transport rollers 63 and 64 are spaced apart from each other.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, even if the transfer paper P becomes jammed in the ascending conveyance path 60 disposed at the rear side of the copying machine main body 2, it can be removed from the front side of the apparatus with just the above-mentioned simple operation. Jam paper can be easily taken out.

In addition, when returning the ascending transport unit 40 to its original position, close the guide plate 62 and hold it in a position facing the guide plate 61 with a magnet (not shown), and then hold the operation lever 81 up. An external force (gas spring devices 65A, 65B) is applied to the upper surface of the ascending conveyance unit 40.
If you push down by applying a force greater than the gas pressure inside, you can lower it.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a roller pressure release mechanism provided within the main body of the copying machine.

In the copying machine according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a fixed conveyance path 91 consisting of guide plates 92 and 93 in the copying machine main body 2 (FIG. 2) is connected to the ascending conveyance path unit 40. A roller pressure release mechanism 50 is provided that releases the pressure of the last pair of conveyance rollers 33 that feed the transfer paper P into the ascending conveyance path 60 in the ascending conveyance path 60 in conjunction with the rise of the ascending conveyance unit 40.

The roller pressure release mechanism 50 has a support plate 94 fixed to the lower surface of a guide plate 93 fixed to the copying machine main body, and can be swung there by a fulcrum shaft 96 slightly to the right of the middle of the pressure lever 95. The lower roller 33a of the conveyance roller 33 is rotatably attached to the right end of the pressure lever 95 in FIG.

In addition, a compression coil spring 97 is interposed between the upper surface of the left end of the pressure lever 95 and a spring receiver 40c formed on the lower surface of the unit on the guide plate 61 side. Pressure lever 95 is pressed downward by compression coil spring 97 and swings in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 33b with a predetermined pressure suitable for transporting the transfer paper P.

By the way, the jam of the transfer paper does not necessarily occur only within the ascending conveyance path 60.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if the paper jams astride both the pair of conveyor rollers 63 and 64 on the ascending conveyance unit 40 side and the pair of rollers 33a and 33b on the copying machine main body side, a jam occurs. To do this, lift the operating lever 81 as described in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
The transfer paper P, which is held under pressure between the transfer paper P and the copying machine 33b, is bound to the main body of the copying machine, so it may not be able to rise, or in some cases, the transfer paper P may be torn. Relaxing.

However, in this embodiment, since the roller pressure release mechanism 50 is provided as described above, the ascending conveyance unit 4
0 rises a little, the compression coil spring 97 no longer presses the left end of the pressure lever 95, and the pressure lever 95 swings in the direction opposite to the arrow G in FIG. 5 with the help of the weight of the roller 33a. .

Therefore, since the pressure contact of the roller 33a with the roller 33b is released, the ascending conveyance unit 40 is released from being restrained by the transfer paper P, and therefore rises.

The above description has been made regarding the case where the present invention is applied to a copying machine, but the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be similarly applied to printers other than copying machines.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the ascending conveyance path formed in a unit shape can be raised from inside the apparatus main body to a position where substantially the whole is exposed at the upper part of the apparatus body by means of the unit elevating means, so that from the front side of the apparatus Even if an image forming device that can be installed in a space-saving manner that conveys transfer paper toward the rear of the device is surrounded by walls on three sides other than the front of the device, the transfer paper cannot be transferred on the upward conveyance path. If paper becomes jammed, the jammed paper can be easily removed from the front side of the apparatus by raising the unit-shaped ascending conveyance path.

In addition, if a roller pressure release mechanism is provided to release the pressure of the final pair of transport rollers that feed the transfer paper into the unit of the ascending transport path, the roller pressure contact mechanism is Since the release mechanism releases the pressure contact between the final pair of conveyance rollers, in the unlikely event that the transfer paper is pinched between the final pair of conveyance rollers on the apparatus main body side and the conveyance rollers of the ascending conveyance path. Even if a jam occurs in this state, when the above unit rises, the pressure on the transfer roller side that forms the final pair of transfer paper is released, making it easy to remove the jammed transfer paper without tearing it. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, showing a state in which the ascending conveyance path unit is projected to the top of the main body of the apparatus, and FIG. An overall configuration diagram seen from the side showing an example of a copying system configured in combination with a feeding device, FIG. 3 shows the ascending conveyance path unit 4.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a gas spring device that raises the copying machine. FIG. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a roller pressure release mechanism provided within the main body. 1... Copying machine 2... Copying machine main body (apparatus main body) 30... Operation section 33... Conveyance roller 40
... Ascent conveyance path unit 60 ... Ascent conveyance path 61
．． 62... Guide plate 63, 64... Conveyance roller 6
5A, 65B...Gas spring device 81...Operation lever 84.85...Pulley 86...Wire 91...Fixed conveyance path P...Transfer paper Fig. 1 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. Lead

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Transfer paper is conveyed from the front side of the device where the operating section of the device main body is provided toward the rear of the device, and after forming and fixing an image on the transfer paper, the transfer paper is transferred to a pair of In an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is configured to transport the image upwardly by an ascending transport path including a guide plate, a driving side, and a driven side and a plurality of transport rollers arranged opposite to each other, and discharge the image to the upper part of the apparatus main body. The ascending conveyance path is formed into a unit shape, and is provided so that substantially the whole thereof can rise from within the apparatus main body to a position where it is exposed at the upper part thereof, and a unit lifting means for raising the unit to the position where it is exposed from the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the pair of guide plates and the driving side and driven side conveying rollers are provided so as to be able to be separated from each other. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a final pair of conveyance rollers for feeding the transfer paper from a fixed conveyance path in the apparatus main body to a rising conveyance path in the unit are brought into pressure contact with the unit of the ascending conveyance path. . An image forming apparatus comprising: a roller pressure release mechanism that releases the roller pressure in conjunction with the rise of the unit.