JPH0572829A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the collision of an original cover and a placing surface and to safely execute maintenance work by connecting a door with a gear mechanism, so as to move the original cover in a prescribed direction by means of interlocking to the releasing action of a door for maintenance. CONSTITUTION:When the operational lever m11 of a lock releasing mechanism M2 is pushed, and a device main body 2 is lifted to make the retreating side of the original cover 1 high, the door for the maintenance 25d is turned centering around a supporting shaft 25c, the sector rack RC fixed on the door 25d is engaged with the output pinion P1b of a gear mechanism G, and simultaneously, the pinion P1b is driven counterclockwise. Thus, the door 25d is opened, a form carrying path is released, and simultaneously, the original platen 1 can be driven in a direction where the collision of the original platen 1 with the placing surface is evaded, accompanying the releasing action of the door 25d.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine, and more particularly to a so-called manuscript table moving type in which a manuscript table is horizontally reciprocated to illuminate and scan a manuscript. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image forming apparatus is for illuminating and scanning an original to visualize an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member as a toner image and then transferring the toner image onto a sheet. Known illumination scanning methods include an optical system moving type in which an original system is fixed and an optical system in the apparatus main body is moved, and a original table moving type in which an original table placed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body reciprocates. ing. Of these, the movable platen type is widely used for portable image forming apparatuses for home and personal use because it is easy to downsize the entire apparatus (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-17453). See the bulletin).

The structure includes an apparatus main body for accommodating functional parts therein, and an original table arranged on the upper part of the apparatus main body and reciprocating for original document illumination scanning. The functional components include an image forming unit that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor by original document illumination scanning into a toner image and then transfers the toner image onto a sheet, and a sheet conveying path in the apparatus body. It includes at least a paper transport unit for transporting paper, a drive system for driving these, and a gear mechanism for transmitting the power of the drive system to the document table to reciprocate the document table.

A door for maintenance is provided at the bottom of the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body is once completely erected with one side surface of the apparatus main body facing downward, and the posture of the maintenance main body is maintained. By rotating the door and pulling out the respective components attached to the maintenance door from the apparatus main body, a part of the paper transport path can be opened.

According to the image forming apparatus having the above-described structure, a part of the sheet conveying path can be opened from the bottom of the apparatus body.
Maintenance work such as jam clearance and maintenance inspection can be performed to some extent, but when the platen mover is completely upright, when the platen is free,
There is a problem that it slides down due to its own weight and collides with the mounting surface.

Therefore, a stopper member is provided on the main body of the apparatus,
The one in which the document table is locked to the apparatus body by the stopper member and then the apparatus body is erected is in practical use. Further, a ratchet that rotates integrally with a gear mechanism for reciprocating the document table and a stopper claw that meshes with the ratchet as the apparatus body tilts are provided. There is also known a structure in which the ratchet is engaged with the ratchet to restrict the rotation of the ratchet so as to prevent the document table from moving due to its own weight.

[0007]

However, in the case where the apparatus main body is erected after the stopper member is operated, if the apparatus main body is erected without operating the stopper member, the original document is naturally There was a problem that the table slipped down due to its own weight and collided with the mounting surface.

Further, in the case where the stopper claw is engaged with the ratchet by inclining the main body of the apparatus, the platen can be automatically locked, but the platen is projected from the home position. When the apparatus is tilted in this state, there is a problem that the platen collides with the placing surface before the main body of the apparatus stands upright, and it is still impossible to completely prevent the platen from colliding.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned configurations, since the configuration is such that the apparatus body is upright and the maintenance door is opened, there is a problem that toner in the image forming section easily scatters in the apparatus body. It was The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can completely prevent the document table from colliding with the placing surface when the main body of the apparatus is tilted during the maintenance process, and the main body of the apparatus can be completely prevented. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can open a maintenance door without standing up.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with an apparatus main body for accommodating functional parts therein, and an upper portion of the apparatus main body for scanning an illumination of a document. An image forming unit that includes a reciprocating document table, the functional component visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor by document illumination scanning into a toner image, and then transfers the image onto a sheet,
A paper transport unit for transporting paper along a paper transport path in the apparatus main body, a drive system for driving them, and a gear mechanism for transmitting the power of the drive system to the document platform to reciprocate the document platform. In an image forming apparatus including at least, a maintenance door pivotally supported on the bottom of the apparatus body and opening the paper transport path by tilting the apparatus body in a predetermined posture; and a maintenance door. In order to move the document table in a predetermined direction in conjunction with the opening operation of the above, a connecting portion for connecting the maintenance door to the gear mechanism is provided.

The apparatus body may be provided with a lock releasing means for opening the maintenance door. Further, the apparatus body may be provided with a lock mechanism that locks the maintenance door when the maintenance door is opened to a predetermined angle.

[0012]

According to the image forming apparatus having the above structure, the maintenance door can be opened by inclining the main body of the apparatus to a predetermined posture, and the document table can be moved along with the opening operation of the maintenance door. , It can be driven in a direction avoiding that it collides with the mounting surface.

Further, since the maintenance door is provided to open the conveyance path of the sheet conveying section by inclining the apparatus body to a predetermined posture, the maintenance door can be opened by merely inclining the apparatus body to some extent. The transport path can be opened. Further, when the device main body is provided with the unlocking means for opening the maintenance door, there is no risk of unnecessarily opening the maintenance door when carrying the device.

Further, in the case where a lock mechanism is provided in the main body of the apparatus for locking the maintenance door when the maintenance door is opened up to a predetermined angle,
After locking the maintenance door, the maintenance door can be kept open even if the hand supporting the apparatus body is released.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a state in which a copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention has a maintenance door opened, and FIG.
It is a perspective view of the copying machine.

With reference to these figures, the copying machine illuminates an original placed on the original table 1 by moving the original table 1 made of a transparent glass plate in the horizontal direction in FIG. This is a so-called manuscript table moving type for scanning, and a manuscript holder 11 for pressing a placed manuscript is provided above the manuscript table 1 so as to be rotatable and openable.

In the copying machine, an optical system 3 for illuminating and scanning a document moved by a document table 1 inside the apparatus main body 2 and an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum (not shown) as a developing device. After being visualized by, the image forming unit 4 that transfers the image onto the sheet, the sheet conveying unit 5 that conveys the sheet from the sheet feeding port through the image forming unit 4 to the sheet discharging port, and the sheet conveying route A fixing unit 6 arranged in the middle of the sheet for fixing the toner image transferred to the sheet, and a drive system 7 for driving the original table 1, the image forming unit 4, the sheet conveying unit 5, and the fixing unit 6.
(See FIG. 3), a gear mechanism G for transmitting the power of the drive system 7 to the document table 1, and functional parts such as electric components including a control circuit such as a microcomputer for controlling the drive of these.

The document table 1 in this embodiment is once retracted from the home position (the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) (retracted in the direction of arrow Y2 in FIG. 1), and then moved forward for exposure scanning ( (Advance in the direction of the arrow Y1 in FIG. 1), and further, when the exposure scanning is completed, the direction is changed to move back, and is controlled by the control circuit of the electric component so as to return to the home position. The movement from the start of the movement to the return to the home position is performed for a preset time by the control circuit.

The casing of the apparatus main body 2 is composed of an upper casing 24 and a lower casing 25 made of a resin product, which are screwed so as to be separable from each other. The optical system 3 as the above-mentioned functional parts and the image forming section are provided. 4, the paper transport unit 5, the drive system 7, and the gear mechanism G are held by the upper casing 24 and the lower casing 25, respectively. The outer shape of the casing can be changed by the user from the apparatus main body 2
In order not to stand upright, the document table 1 has an advancing side and a retreating side each formed in an arc shape.

The case of the optical system 3 and the image forming frame of the image forming unit 4 are fixed to the upper casing 24 with screws, whereby the entire optical system 3 and the image forming unit 4 are held by the upper casing 24. There is. Although not specifically shown, the upper side of the sheet conveying unit 5 and the heat roller of the fixing unit 6 are held by the upper casing 24.

The original table 1 is movably mounted on the upper surface of the upper casing 24, and a rack gear 92 is fixed to the lower surface of the original table 1 to reciprocate the original table 1. A drive pinion P2 of the gear mechanism G meshes with the rack gear 92 via a communication hole h formed in the upper portion of the upper casing 24. More specifically with reference to FIG. 3, the gear mechanism G includes a first gear group G1 supported on a first support shaft A1 and a second support shaft A1.
Second gear group G2 supported on the second support shaft A3 and third support shaft A3
The input side pinion group P1 supported above and the fourth support shaft A
4, and a drive pinion P2 that meshes with the rack gear 92. Each of the gear groups G1 and G2 includes an input gear G1a and G2a and a coupling gear G1b and G2, respectively.
b and the input gear G1a of the first gear group G1.
And the connecting gear G1b are the first spring clutch CL.
1, the input gear G2a and the coupling gear G2b of the second gear group G2 can be switched to the connected or disconnected state by the second spring clutch CL2.

The input gear G1a of the first gear group G1 includes a drive gear 7a which works in conjunction with the drive system 7 and a transmission gear G3.
And are in mesh. The transmission gear G3 is supported on the fifth support shaft A5, and is for transmitting the rotational force of the drive gear 7a to the input gear G2a of the second gear group G2. The connecting gear G1b of the first gear group G1 and the connecting gear G2b of the second gear group G2 mesh with each other. Further, the first gear group G1 is provided with an output gear G1c configured to rotate integrally with the connecting gear G1b, and the output gear G1c meshes with the input gear P1a of the input side pinion group P1. Is outputting power.

The input side pinion group P1 includes the input pinion P1a and an output pinion P1b which rotates integrally with the input pinion P1a, and the output pinion P1b meshes with the drive pinion P2. Next, the spring clutches CL1 and CL2 arranged in the first and second gear groups G1 and G2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 as well. The input gears G1a and G2a and the connection gears G1b and G2b will be described.
The boss cylinders are integrally formed with each other, and the boss cylinders are joined to face each other. The coil springs SP1 and SP2 of the clutches CL1 and CL2 are arranged across both boss cylinders. Collars cr1 and c are provided on the outer circumferences of the coil springs SP1 and SP2, respectively.
r2 is provided, the collars cr1 and cr2 are fixed, and the respective input gears G1a and G2a are fixed to the collars cr1 and cr.
2, the coil springs SP1 and SP2 are reduced in diameter by rotating relative to each other, and the respective coupling gears G1b,
G2b can be connected to each of the input gears G1a and G2a to rotate integrally.

In order to drive each of the collars cr1 and cr2, ratchet wheels W1 and W2 are provided on the outer circumferences thereof via annular friction linings r1 and r2, respectively. When the ratchet wheels W1 and W2 are prevented from rotating, the ratchet wheels W1 and W2 transmit the force in the rotational direction to the collars cr1 and cr2 through the friction linings r1 and r2, and the corresponding rotational force causes the corresponding coil springs SP1 and SP2.
To reduce the diameter. It should be noted that the time lag at the time of switching between the spring clutches CL1 and CL2 is absorbed, and when one clutch CL1 (CL2) is switched to the other clutch CL2 (CL1), both clutches CL are
In order to prevent 1 and CL2 from connecting, the output pinion P1b of the input side pinion group P1 is formed with a pair of circumferentially extending arcuate grooves g, and the arcuate grooves g are separated from the input pinion P1a. A pair of protrusions pr protruding in the axial direction
Are loosely fitted in the circumferential direction with a predetermined gap. The projection pr is brought into contact with the end surface of the circular arc groove g to connect the input pinion P1a and the output pinion P1b.

In order to selectively block the rotation of the ratchet wheels W1 and W2, the gear mechanism G is provided with a clutch switching mechanism M1 as shown in FIG. 3, particularly FIG. The clutch switching mechanism M1 includes an actuator AC pivotally supported by the fulcrum shaft PV1, a toggle portion TG driven by the actuator AC, and a ratchet pawl CW driven by the toggle portion TG.

The ratchet pawl CW is provided with first and second pawl parts CW1 and CW2 at both ends of a main body CW0 extending substantially horizontally, and the main body CW0 is centered around a fulcrum PV2 at the center of the main body CW0. By swinging, the ratchet wheels W1 and W2 are selectively meshed with each other. From the central portion of the main body CW0, an arm portion CW3 that integrally extends upward and constitutes a part of the toggle portion TG, and a leg portion CW4 that extends downward are integrally formed. A long hole CW5 is formed on the free end side of the arm CW3, and a fulcrum shaft PV3 is fitted in the long hole CW5. The fulcrum shaft PV3 is fixed to the lower end of the rotating arm TG1 of the toggle part TG.

The rotating arm TG1 is a rod-shaped member extending in a substantially vertical direction, and an intermediate portion thereof is swingably supported by a fulcrum shaft PV4. Further, a long annular portion TG2 is integrally formed at the upper end of the rotating arm TG1, and the annular portion TG2 has a leg portion AC1 of the actuator AC.
The fulcrum shaft PV5 fixed to is fitted. One end of the tension coil spring SP3 is fixed to the fulcrum shaft PV5.
The other end of 3 is fixed to a fulcrum shaft PV6 fixed to the end of the leg CW4 of the ratchet pawl CW.

The actuator AC integrally includes bifurcated arms AC2 and AC3 that extend upward with a predetermined angle difference. The rotation angle is the leg AC1 and the toggle TG.
Is determined by the long hole of the annular portion TG2. The upper half of each of the arms AC2 and AC3 projects from the upper surface of the apparatus body 2 on different paths. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the arms AC2, A on the lower surface of the document table 1 are respectively formed.
At a predetermined position corresponding to the path of C3, the driving member X1,
X2 is fixed. These drive members X1 and X2 are
By selectively driving each of the arms AC2 and AC3,
The toggle portion TG is driven, and the ratchet pawls CW1 and CW2 are alternatively operated in conjunction therewith to selectively drive the ratchet wheels W1 and W2.
It is for meshing with. It should be noted that the manuscript table 1 has ratchet claws CW1 and CW2 that abut against one arm (arm AC2 in this embodiment) of the ratchet claw.
1, Neutral drive member X3 for releasing relative to W2
(Illustrated only in FIG. 5) is fixed in place.

Referring to FIG. 1, the lower casing 25 described above.
A lower guide 25a on a large number of ribs for guiding the lower surface side of the conveyed sheet is integrally formed at the bottom of the. An opening 25b is provided at the bottom of the lower casing 25, and a maintenance door 25d is introduced into the opening 25b. This maintenance door 25
Reference numeral d denotes a resin molded product, which supports the pressure roller 62 of the fixing unit 6 at the downstream side portion of the sheet conveyance path.
Then, the support shaft 25 set on the downstream side of the fixing unit 6
It is rotatably supported around c. Here, the maintenance door 25d is integrally formed with a fan-shaped rack RC as a connecting portion that rotates around the support shaft 25c. As shown in FIG. 3, the fan-shaped rack RC is in a free state when the maintenance door 25d closes the bottom portion of the lower casing 25, and when the maintenance door 25d is open, the gear rack is in a free state. This is for meshing with the output pinion P1b of the input side pinion group P1 of the mechanism G and forcibly driving the output pinion P1b.

On the upper surface side of the maintenance door 25d,
Rib-shaped lower guide 2 that guides the lower surface of the conveyed sheet
Many 5e are arranged side by side by integral molding. By rotating the maintenance door 25d in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 around the fulcrum 25c, the lower casing 25
The bottom portion of the sheet can be opened, whereby a part of the sheet conveying path is opened so that jam processing and the like can be easily performed.

A ratchet recess d that is recessed downstream is provided at the upstream end of the sheet conveyance path of the maintenance door 25d.
1 is provided, and an unlocking mechanism M2 is provided on the upstream side of the lower casing 25 in the sheet conveyance path.
The lock release mechanism M2 includes a claw portion m10 that is attached to and detached from the ratchet recess d1, a fulcrum shaft PV10 that pivotally supports the claw portion m10 on a wall portion 25f that is erected on the lower casing 25, and a claw portion. One end is axially supported on the base end side of m10, and the other end is contracted between the operation lever m11 protruding through a hole 25g formed in the lower casing 25, the claw part m10 and the wall part 25f. And a coil spring m12 for urging the free end side of the claw portion m10 in the ratchet engagement direction.

Further, the free end side of the maintenance door 25d is connected to the side wall of the lower casing 25 via a toggle arm M3 as a lock mechanism. The toggle arm M3 has a first arm m21 whose base end is pivotally supported by the side wall of the lower casing 25, and one end is pivotally supported by the free end of the arm m21, and the other end is for maintenance. Door 25
and a second arm portion 22 pivotally supported on the free end portion of d. Then, when the maintenance door 25d is opened to a predetermined angle, the first arm portion m21 and the second arm portion m2.
When the shaft support part of 2 crosses the dead center PT, both arms m2
1 and m22 are provided to extend between the lower casing 25 and the maintenance door 25d, and lock the maintenance door 25d in this state.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, with reference to FIG. 3, a case where the document table 1 is reciprocally moved for normal document illumination scanning will be described. As described above, the document table 1 in this embodiment is once retracted (in the direction of arrow Y2 in FIG. 3) and then moved forward for exposure scanning (FIG. 3).
The direction of arrow Y1) is further changed, and when the exposure scanning is completed, the direction is changed to retreat, and the home position is restored.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the document table 1 is at the home position, the second arm AC3 of the actuator AC is driven by the driving member X2 to drive the ratchet pawl of the gear mechanism G. The CW is engaged with the second ratchet wheel W2 side, the spring clutch CL2 is connected, and the spring clutch CL1 is set to the released state (state (A) of FIG. 5). In this state, when the drive gear 7a of the drive system 7 rotates clockwise, for example, the rotational force is input from the first input gear G1a to the second input gear G2a via the transmission gear G3. Therefore, the second input gear G2a rotates counterclockwise, and the rotational force thereof is transmitted to the connecting gear G2b connected to the input gear G2a by the spring clutch CL2 and further meshes with the connecting gear G2b. Connection gear G of G1
As a result of being transmitted to 1b, the connecting gear G1b rotates clockwise.

When the connecting gear G1b rotates clockwise,
The output gear G2 of the first gear group G1 also integrally rotates clockwise, and the input pinion P1a of the input side pinion group P1 rotates counterclockwise. This rotational force is the input pinion P
It is transmitted from the pair of protrusions pr of 1a to the output pinion P1b. As a result, the output pinion P1b rotates the drive pinion P2 clockwise, so that the drive pinion P2 is rotated.
Drives the rack 92 in the backward direction (arrow Y2 direction).

Next, when the rack 92 is driven by a predetermined amount and the driving member X1 provided on the document table 1 drives the first arm portion AC2 of the actuator AC as shown in FIG. As a result of the TG interlocking with the side opposite to that of FIG. 5A, the second pawl portion CW2 of the ratchet pawl CW is released from the ratchet wheel W2, and instead the first pawl portion CW1 meshes with the ratchet wheel W1. When the drive gear 7a of the drive system 7 continues to rotate in the clockwise direction in this state, the rotational force is transmitted to the first input gear G1a to rotate the first input gear G1a counterclockwise. Then, the clutch CL1 causes the first input gear G1a to move to the first connecting gear G.
As a result of being transmitted to 1b, the output gear G2 that rotates integrally with the first connecting gear G1b rotates counterclockwise, and rotates the input pinion P1a of the input side pinion group P1 clockwise. Then, this rotational force is transmitted to the output pinion P1b from the pair of protrusions pr of the input pinion P1a, and the output pinion P1b rotates the drive pinion P2 counterclockwise, so that the drive pinion P2 moves the rack 92 in the forward direction. Drive in the direction of arrow Y1. Then, the exposure scanning of the document is started from the time when the movement in the forward direction is started.

After that, when the document table 1 moves forward and reaches the position where the exposure scanning of the placed document is completed, the driving member X2 contacts the second arm portion AC3 of the actuator AC, and the actuator AC again. Is switched to the posture shown in FIG. As a result, the moving direction of the document table 1 is changed to the backward direction again and the document table 1 is moved backward. Then, time control is performed from the time when the document table 1 starts to move backward by the control of a microcomputer (not shown) of electrical equipment, and the motor of the drive system 7 is stopped after a predetermined time has passed to return the document table 1 to the home position. Complete the copying work.

Next, referring to FIG. 1, in order to open the maintenance door 25d for performing maintenance work, first, the manuscript table 1 is manually moved slightly from the home position to drive the neutral drive member. By X3 (FIG. 5), the first arm portion AC2 is pressed to the extent that the second arm portion AC3 of the actuator AC is not completely erected, and the ratchet pawl CW
Claws CW1 and CW2 of both are ratchet wheels W1 and W
The state is released from 2 (state of (C) of FIG. 5).

In this state, the lock release mechanism M shown in FIG.
By pushing the operation lever m11 of No. 2, the claw portion m10
Is released from the ratchet recess d1 formed in the maintenance door 25d, and the apparatus main body 2 is lifted up so that the backward side of the document table 1 is raised, the maintenance door 25d remains on the placement surface due to its own weight. As a result, support shaft 25
Rotate around c to open the bottom of the apparatus main body 2. Along with this pivoting operation, the fan-shaped rack RC fixed to the maintenance door 25d has the output pinion P1 of the gear mechanism G.
The output pinion P1b is driven counterclockwise while meshing with b. As a result, the drive pinion P2 of the gear mechanism G rotates clockwise and drives the rack gear 92 in the backward direction. As a result, the maintenance door 25d can be opened to open the sheet conveyance path, and the document table 1 can be opened in accordance with the opening operation of the maintenance door 25d.
Can be driven in a direction in which it avoids hitting the mounting surface. Therefore, it is possible to completely prevent the problem that the document table 1 collides with a mounting surface such as a table or a counter. Particularly in the above embodiment, the fan-shaped rack R
As a result of C meshing with the output side pinion P1b, the gear mechanism G
Even if the maintenance door 25d is opened while either of the spring clutches CL1 and CL2 is connected,
It is possible to reliably move the maintenance door 25d and avoid a collision with the mounting surface.

Further, since the maintenance door 25d is provided to open the conveyance path of the sheet conveying section 5 by inclining the apparatus body 2 to a predetermined posture, the maintenance door can be formed by merely inclining the apparatus body 2 to some extent. 25d can be opened to open the paper transport path. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the problem that the toner of the image forming unit 4 is scattered in the apparatus main body 2.

Further, in the above embodiment, since the lock releasing mechanism M2 for opening the maintenance door 25d is provided in the apparatus main body 2, there is a risk that the maintenance door 25d is opened unnecessarily when carrying the apparatus. There is no. Further, when the maintenance door 25d is opened to a predetermined angle, the apparatus main body 2 is provided with the toggle arm M3 as a lock mechanism that locks the maintenance door 25d in that state. After locking the maintenance door 25d, the maintenance door 25 is released even if the hand supporting the apparatus main body 2 is released.
There is an advantage that the state where d is opened can be maintained and the maintenance work can be completed with both hands.

The device main body 2 is supported by one hand, and the connecting portion of the toggle arm M3 is folded by the other hand as shown by the chain double-dashed line to return the device main body 2 horizontally to the mounting surface for maintenance. Ratchet recess d1 formed on the door 25d
The opened maintenance door 25d can be closed by fitting the claw portion m10 to the. The above-described embodiments are merely examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention,
The subject matter of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

For example, as a lock mechanism, instead of the toggle arm M3, a ratchet mechanism is provided on the support shaft 25c,
When the maintenance door 25d is opened to a predetermined angle, the maintenance door 25d may be locked in that state, and it goes without saying that various design changes can be made within the scope of the present invention. Nor.

[0044]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to surely prevent the document table from colliding with the placing surface, so that the maintenance work can be performed safely. There are advantages. Moreover, since it is not necessary to erect the apparatus main body, it is possible to prevent the problem that the toner in the image forming unit is scattered in the apparatus main body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention has a maintenance door opened.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a structure of a gear mechanism and a fan-shaped rack of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the gear mechanism as seen from above.

5 is a view on arrow V in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Document Plate 2 Device Main Body 3 Optical System 4 Image Forming Section 5 Paper Conveying Section 7 Drive System 25d Maintenance Door G Gear Mechanism RC Fan Rack (Connecting Section)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A device main body for accommodating functional parts therein, and a document table arranged on an upper part of the device main body and reciprocating for scanning for illuminating a document. After the electrostatic latent image formed on the toner image is visualized as a toner image, it is transferred to a sheet, and an image forming section that conveys the sheet along the sheet conveying path in the main body of the apparatus and drives these. An image forming apparatus including at least a drive system for driving the drive unit and a gear mechanism for transmitting the power of the drive system to the document table so as to reciprocate the document table. By inclining it to a predetermined posture, the maintenance door for opening the paper transport path and the maintenance door for moving the document table in a predetermined direction in conjunction with the opening operation of the maintenance door are opened. Door up An image forming apparatus, comprising: a connecting portion connected to the gear mechanism. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body is provided with a lock releasing means for opening the maintenance door. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body is provided with a lock mechanism for locking the maintenance door when the maintenance door is opened to a predetermined angle.