JPH08323633A - Sheet material grasping tool and image forming device with sheet material clamping tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a grasping tool to peel off a sheet statically attracted to a photosensitive material or a belt unit for an image forming device. CONSTITUTION: An image forming device for a full-color copying machine attracts a sheet, given electrostatic charges, to a photosensitive material or a belt unit to be carried. When trouble such as jam occurs, the stop of a process and the removal of the sheet attracted to the photosensitive material or the belt unit are required. A grasping tool 100 has a plastic mainbody 102 and a metal plate 104, the metal plate 104 being connected to an earth member for the image forming device via a cord 108. If a user inserts the end 102a of the grasping tool between the sheet and the belt unit and pushes the metal plate 104 to grasp the sheet, then the sheet is subjected to static elimination and easy to separate and the user is also subjected to static elimination.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet material gripping tool for gripping and taking out a sheet material in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the gripping tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses, such as electrophotographic copying machines and laser beam printers, are becoming more multifunctional, more color, and faster. Particularly in a so-called tandem type full-color copying machine in which a plurality of image forming devices are arranged in series along the paper transport path for high-speed full-color printing, a large number of sheet materials are supplied to the paper transport path. are doing. Further, due to multi-functionalization (for example, double-sided printing), the path for conveying the sheet material is complicated like switchback inversion.

[0003]

Although there is no problem if the sheet material is conveyed normally, there is a jam that may stay in the machine or be delayed due to some abnormality in the machine or some abnormality in the sheet material. When it occurs, a problem occurs. For example, in the above-mentioned tandem-type full-color copying machine in which a yellow, magenta, and cyan image forming apparatus and a black image forming apparatus are arranged in series along a belt unit for conveying paper, The sheet material is adsorbed on the conveyor belt by using electrostatic charge, and the toner is transferred to the sheet material. When a trouble such as a jam occurs in the copying machine, the user needs to remove the sheet material on the conveyor belt. The attraction force of the electrostatic charge of the sheet material on the conveyor belt is quite large, and the sheet material cannot be easily peeled off from the belt surface with a fingertip or the like.

According to experiments, for example, when a potential of minus 1000 V is applied to the belt surface when a recording sheet material is adsorbed onto the belt, this potential rises to minus 2000 V in the first transfer. Then, in the second transfer, the voltage rises to −3000V. It has been confirmed below that the surface potential increases in accordance with the third transfer and the fourth transfer. Therefore, it becomes difficult to peel the sheet material from the belt when a jam or the like occurs.

Further, during the peeling work, electric charges are accumulated in the user, and if the user subsequently touches the ground member, the electric charges are discharged, which causes an unpleasant shock. This charge discharge shock, for example, when getting off a car in winter
It is exactly the same as the electric shock felt at the moment of touching the door handle, especially when the temperature is low and the humidity is low. Especially in a tandem type copying machine, it is possible to supply a large number of sheet materials by making the distance between the sheet materials on the belt as small as possible during continuous printing. Charge discharge shock is a big problem.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-297648 discloses an image forming apparatus in which a belt device or the like is arranged so as to be pulled out from the main body to facilitate removal of a sheet material. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 360774 discloses a sheet material gripping tool used in a copying machine or the like. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a sheet material gripping tool that easily peels off a sheet material adsorbed on a belt and does not allow a user to accumulate electric charges.

[0007]

A grasping tool for a sheet material provided in an image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided in the image forming apparatus,
A main body that a user grips and operates, a metal plate member that is at the tip of the main body and that grips the sheet member, and a cord that connects the metal plate member and the ground member of the image forming apparatus are provided.

[0008] When the user grips the sheet material gripping tool and grips the sheet material, the sheet material sandwiched by the metal plate material is discharged.
It becomes easy to peel the sheet material from the conveying device. Further, when the user pushes the metal plate material, the user is also discharged.

[0009]

1 is a perspective view showing an outline of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 20 in a main body 10.
The image forming unit 20 can be accessed by opening the doors 12 and 14 on the front surface of the main body 10. The image forming unit 20 has a frame 30 and a frame 3
0 is attached to and detached from the main body 10 by operating the handle 40. The image forming unit 20 includes the doors 12 and 1 of the main body.
The main body 10 is separated by opening 4 and rotating the handle 40. Then pull the handle 40,
Rails 22, 24 in which the entire frame 30 is provided on both left and right sides
Is guided to and pulled out to the front side.

A belt unit 60 and a fixing unit 70 are mounted on the frame 30 of the image forming unit 20. With the image forming unit 20 mounted in the main body 10, three toner image forming units corresponding to the three primary colors and a black toner image forming apparatus are arranged in the main body 10 above the belt unit 60. .

The belt unit 60 has a belt endlessly wound around a plurality of rolls attached to the frame 30, and the belt is driven so as to run in the arrow F direction. Sheet materials such as recording paper and OHP film are prepared in a paper feed tray (not shown) provided in the main body 10 and are supplied onto the belt unit 60 at the start of the process. The sheet material supplied to the belt unit 60 is charged by means of a means such as a corotron and is attracted to the belt. The toner image of each color of the sheet material adsorbed on the belt is transferred onto the sheet material in each toner forming device. The sheet material on which the toner image is transferred is fixed to the fixing device 7 provided on the downstream side of the belt unit 60.
0, and the image is fixed.

When a trouble such as a jam occurs during the process, it is necessary to stop the process and remove the sheet material already adsorbed on the belt unit 60. At this time, the image forming unit is pulled out from the main body 10 in the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the sheet material on the belt unit 60 is removed using the gripping tool of the present invention. A storage portion 50 is formed on the upper surface of the cover 32 on the front surface of the image forming unit 30, and the sheet material gripping tool 100 is formed in the storage portion 50.
Is stored. There are various possible configurations of the sheet material gripping tool 100. In the gripping tool of the present invention, at least a part of the members for gripping the sheet material is made of a conductive material. The member is the main body 1 via the cord
It is grounded to the frame 0 side of 0. The conductive member is also touched by the user to prevent the user from being charged.

3 to 6 show the details of the sheet material gripping tool 100. The sheet material gripping tool 100 comprises a main body 102 made of plastic or the like, and a conductive metal plate material 104 which separates from and contacts the main body 102. Have. The rear end portion of the metal plate material 104 is attached to the main body 102 with screws 106. The front end portion 102a has a thickness necessary for picking up the sheet adsorbed on the belt by a factor of 50 μm to 200 μm.
Is appropriate. The metal plate member 104 has elasticity, and when the upper surface of the metal plate member 104 is pushed by the user, it is elastically deformed and comes into contact with the main body 102. The metal plate member 104 is connected to one end of the cord 108, and the other end of the cord 108 is grounded to the frame 30 side of the apparatus body.

In order to remove the sheet material adsorbed on the belt unit, the user takes out the gripper 100 from the accommodating portion 50, and the tip portion 1 formed on the taper of the main body 102.
Insert 02a between the belt and the sheet material. With the sheet material sandwiched in the gap G ₁ between the main body 102 and the metal plate material 104, the user presses the upper surface of the metal plate material 104 with a finger. Since the metal plate material 104 is a conductive material and is grounded via the cord 108, the electric charge of the sheet material is removed and the metal plate material 104 is easily separated from the upper surface of the belt. By pulling up the gripping tool 100 in this state, the sheet material can be easily separated from the upper surface of the belt.

Since the user is also connected to the ground, he is not charged. When attaching the cord with the screw 106, the burring portion 105 is attached to the metal plate member 104.
Is provided and tightened with the screw 106, it is possible to surely connect electrically. Hereinafter, various examples of the present invention will be shown.

The gripping tool 200 shown in FIG. 7 has a body of a pair of plate members 202 and 204 made of a conductive material, and the tip of each plate member 202 and 204 has a thin metal plate 203 of, for example, about 100 μm without burrs. , 205 are installed. One metal plate 203 needs to be touched by the user, but the other metal plate 205 does not necessarily need to be touched by the user and may be covered with a plastic cover 206. The entire gripper 200 is grounded via a cord 208.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The grasping tool 210 has conductive plate-like members 212 and 214 facing each other, and thin metal plates 213 and 215 having a burr having a size of, for example, about 100 μm and having no burr are attached to the tip end portion thereof. At least one plate member 212 can be covered with a cover 216. The entire gripper 210 is grounded with a cord 218.
8A, 8B, 8C and 8D show modified examples of the tip shape of the metal plate.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a usage state of the gripping tool 200 of the present invention. The image forming unit 20 to the main body 10
The user H grasps the grasping tool 200, peels off the sheet material P ₁ on the belt unit 60, and removes it.
As described above, since the gripper 200 is grounded via the cord, the sheet material P ₁ and the user H are both grounded, and the sheet material P ₁ is also easily separated from the belt unit. Therefore, workability is also improved. The gripping tool after use is stored in the storage unit 50, and the image forming unit 20 is pushed back into the main body 10.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The gripping tool 220 has a pair of plate-shaped members 222 and 224 facing each other, and is provided with thin burr-free metal plates 223 and 225 of, for example, about 100 μm at the tip. The entire gripper 220 is grounded via a cord 228.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The gripper 230 has a pair of plate-shaped members 232 and 234 facing each other, and is provided with thin burr-free metal plates 223 and 225 of, for example, about 100 μm at the tip. The entire gripper 230 is grounded via a cord 238.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The grasping tool 250 is equipped with a thin metal plate material 260 in a main body composed of a pair of plate-shaped members 252 and 254 facing each other. Since the thin metal plate 260 has sharp edges, it is desirable to store it in the body when not in use. Therefore, in this embodiment, this thin metal plate material 260 is slidably attached to the main body. The main body 252 has a slit 262, and the knob 264 is fixed to a thin metal plate material 260.
The thin metal plate material may be taken in and out by operating 4 with a finger.
The free shape of the thin metal plate material 260 is as shown in FIG.
The shape shown in FIG. Thin metal plate 2
60 is connected to ground at cord 258.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The grasping tool 300 has a pair of arms 302 and 304 which are opposed to each other and are openably and closably arranged. Inner wall surfaces of the arms 302 and 304 are formed into tapered surfaces 302a and 304a, and the ring member 320 is sandwiched between them. The ring member 320 is attached to the thin metal plate member 310, and the arms 302, 30
When 4 is closed, the tapered surfaces 302a and 304a
It is pushed to the tip side of the arm. By this action, the thin metal plate material 310 projects from the tip of the arm, and the sheet material can be sandwiched. When the arm is opened, the elastic force of the coiled cord 309 pulls the thin metal plate material 310 together with the ring member 320 into the inside of the arm.

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The grasping tool 400 has a pair of arms 402 and 404 which swing via a pin 406 arranged in the center. The spring 410 always acts to open the ends of the arms 402 and 406. The user grips the sheet material at the gap G ₁ and peels it from the belt. The arm is made of conductive material, code 3
It is connected to the ground through 08. Although some examples have been described above, in any of the examples, the effect is exhibited by using a conductive material having a resistance value of about 10 to 10 ³ Ωcm for the plastic member of the gripping tool.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a gripping tool according to still another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 16 is a side view, and FIG. 17 is R- of FIG.
18 and 19 are detailed views of the connecting portion of the gripping tool. A gripping tool, generally designated by the numeral 500, has a pair of grips 510, 530 made of plastic or the like. The grips 510 and 530 are integrally connected by a screw 550 made of a conductive material.
Conductive plate materials 520 and 540 are joined to the surfaces of 0 and 530 using a double-sided tape 560, and the rear end portion of the conductive plate material is bent and comes into contact with the screw 550.

18 and 19 show a mounting portion of the screw 550, and a nut 55 embedded in one grip 530.
The screw hole 554 provided on the other grip 510 for 2
The screw 550 is passed through and screwed in to connect the pair of grips 510 and 530, and at the same time, the terminal 572 of the wire 570 is fixed by the seat 551 of the screw 550. Wire 5
The other terminal 574 of 70 is connected to a ground member. Each grip 510, 530 has a plate member 520, 540 at the center.
Has concave portions 511 and 531 to be fitted with each other.
Tapered portions 512 and 532 are provided on the front end sides of the reference numerals 1 and 531 so that fingers can be easily caught.
0 and 530 are provided with slits 514 and 534 connecting the front and back of the grip at the tips of the tapered portions 512 and 532. The conductive plate members 520 and 540 pass through the slits 514 and 534 and are exposed on the back surfaces of the grips 510 and 530.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the tip of the gripping tool. The structure in which the tip of the conductive plate members 520 and 540 is used as it is as a member for gripping a sheet material, and this conductive member is used. 2 shows a structure in which an insulating plate member 580 such as a plastic sheet is attached to the tip ends of the plate members 520 and 540.

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing the structure of one grip 530, FIG. 22 is a side view, FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of portion N of FIG. 22, FIG. 24 is an enlarged view of portion M of FIG. 22, and FIG. Is Figure 2
26 is a left side view of FIG. 22.
The grip 530 is made of a flexible plastic material and has a concave portion 5 for receiving a conductive plate member on the surface side.
31 and a tapered portion 532 are formed, and an opening 534 to the back surface is formed at the tip of the tapered portion. Grip 530
Stepped surfaces 533 and 535 are formed on the rear portion, and the nut 552 is inserted into the first stepped surface 533 and the protrusion 537 is provided upright. A hole 538 is formed in the second stepped surface 535. The other grip 510 is also provided with a similar stepped surface, a protrusion and a hole, and the two grips are connected by fitting the protrusion and the hole into each other.

A screw 550 is exposed in the gap formed by the first stepped surface and the second stepped surface, and the rear end of the conductive plate material is machined in this gap to a width that fits the gap. Insert and make contact with screws. A nut 552 is inserted into the first contact surface 533 of the grip 530, and a screw through hole is formed in the other grip 510. The grips 510 and 530 have a symmetrical structure except for this portion. . A rib 517 is provided at the front end of the surface of the grip, and the user is guided to avoid the rib 517 and to grip the tapered portion 512 where the conductive plate member 520 is exposed.

When the user holds the conductive plate members 520 and 540, the user is electrically connected to the ground member via the wire 570 and grounded. User grip 5
When the grips 10, 530 are gripped, the grips 510, 530 are elastically deformed, and the sheet material can be gripped by the leading end portions. The sheet material is also grounded via the conductive plate material. The rear ends of the insides of the pair of grips 510 and 530 are arcuate openings 5
25 can be formed, and the grasping tool 500 can be hung on a pin that is erected on the apparatus side by using the opening 525.

[0030]

As described above, the present invention is an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and is provided with a gripping tool for removing a sheet material adsorbed to a photoconductor or a conveyor belt by electrostatic charge. By connecting to the ground with a cord, grip the sheet material and at the same time remove the electric charge that the sheet material has,
The sheet material can be easily peeled off from the belt or the like. For this reason, a member for holding the sheet material at the tip of the holding tool is made of a conductive material and is connected to the cord. The earth cord is preferably flexible and flexible such as conductive fiber, coil spring, and coil spring-shaped electric wire.

The user grips the gripping tool, pushes the tip end, etc., and grips the sheet material by elastic deformation of the member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from being charged by forming a member that the user touches with a conductive material and connecting it to the cord. The sheet material that is given an electric charge and adsorbed to the belt adheres to the belt with a large adsorption force. In order to insert the tip of the gripping tool between the belt and the sheet material against the suction force, the tip of the gripping tool needs to be formed in a thin and sharp shape. If the user's finger or the like touches this sharp tip, it is easily damaged. Therefore, only when using
It is desirable that the tip portion protrude from the gripper body. The gripping tool of the present invention may have a structure in which the tip portion automatically projects only when the user operates the gripping tool to grip the sheet material.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of an image forming apparatus to which the invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the gripping tool.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the gripping tool.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a usage state of the gripping tool.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

16 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 17 is an RR arrow view of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of the connecting portion of the gripping tool.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of a connecting portion of the gripping tool.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the tip of the gripping tool.

FIG. 21 is a plan view of one grip.

FIG. 22 is a side view.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of part N of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged view of part M in FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 is a view on the arrow P-P of FIG. 21.

FIG. 26 is a left side view of FIG. 22.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image forming apparatus, 10 image forming apparatus main body, 20
Image forming unit, 30 frame, 40 handle, 50 gripping tool storage section, 60 belt unit,
70 fixing unit, 100 gripping tool, 102
Grip tool body, 104 metal plate material, 108 cord.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Junichiro Samejima 2274 Hongo, Ebina, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yukio Hayashi 2274, Hongo Ebina City, Kanagawa Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mikio Kobayashi 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A main body having a pair of substantially plate-shaped members disposed opposite to each other, a flexible conductive material disposed at the tips of the pair of substantially plate-shaped members, and having a flexible material and one end A sheet material gripping tool comprising a grounding member connected to the conductive material and having the other end connected to a grounding member. 2. A main body having a pair of substantially plate-shaped members disposed opposite to each other, and a flexible member disposed at the tip of the pair of substantially plate-shaped members to sandwich a sheet material, A gripping tool for a sheet material, which comprises an exposed conductive material and a grounding member having one end connected to the conductive material and the other end connected to a grounding member. 3. A main body having a pair of substantially plate-shaped members disposed to face each other, and a flexible insulating material disposed at the tip of the pair of substantially plate-shaped members to sandwich a sheet material, A sheet material comprising a conductive material which is disposed at a portion other than the front end portion and which is exposed from a body having a pair of substantially plate-shaped members, and a grounding member whose one end is connected to the conductive material and whose other end is connected to a grounding member. Grasping tool. 4. A conductive main body having a pair of substantially plate-shaped members arranged opposite to each other and sandwiching a sheet material, one end of which is connected,
A sheet material gripping tool having a grounding member whose other end is connected to a grounding member. 5. The gripping tool for a sheet material according to claim 4, wherein the pair of substantially plate-shaped members are provided with a flexible insulating material sandwiching the sheet material at the tips thereof. 6. The gripping tool for a sheet material according to claim 4, wherein the pair of substantially plate-shaped members are provided with a conductive material having flexibility for sandwiching the sheet material at the tip ends thereof. 7. The sheet material gripping tool according to claim 1, wherein the pair of substantially plate-shaped members forming the main body elastically deform to sandwich the sheet material. 8. The gripping tool for a sheet material according to claim 1, 2, 4 or 6, wherein a conductive material having flexibility for sandwiching the sheet material sandwiches the sheet material by elastically deforming. 9. The gripping tool for a sheet material according to claim 1, further comprising means for sliding a flexible conductive material sandwiching the sheet material. 10. The sheet material according to claim 1, further comprising means for automatically sliding a flexible conductive material that sandwiches the sheet material in response to an operation of the main body. Grasping tool. 11. A sheet material conveying device and a main body having a tip portion inserted between the sheet material, and a flexible conductive material, and the sheet material is sandwiched between the main body and the conductive material. A gripping tool for a sheet material, which is a gripping tool and includes a grounding member having one end connected to the conductive material and the other end connected to a grounding member. 12. An image forming apparatus having a sheet material for recording an image, a sheet material conveying device, and a means for applying an electric charge to the sheet material, wherein a pair of substantially plate-like members are arranged to face each other. A body having
A conductive material having flexibility disposed between the ends of the pair of substantially plate-shaped members and sandwiching the sheet material, and one end thereof connected to the conductive material,
An image forming apparatus comprising a sheet material gripping tool having a grounding member whose other end is connected to a grounding member of the image forming apparatus. 13. An image forming apparatus having a sheet material for recording an image, a sheet material conveying device, and a means for applying an electric charge to the sheet material, wherein a pair of substantially plate-like members are arranged to face each other. A body having
A pair of substantially plate-shaped members, which are flexible and sandwich a sheet material, have a conductive material exposed from the main body, one end of which is connected to the conductive material, and the other end of which is provided in the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising a sheet material gripping tool having a ground member connected to a ground member. 14. An image forming apparatus having a sheet material for recording an image, a sheet material conveying device, and a means for applying an electric charge to the sheet material, wherein a pair of substantially plate-like members are arranged to face each other. A body having
A flexible insulating material disposed at the tip portions of the pair of substantially plate-shaped members and sandwiching the sheet material; and a conductive material disposed at a portion other than the tip portions and exposed from the main body having the pair of substantially plate-shaped members. An image forming apparatus comprising a sheet material gripping tool having a grounding member having one end connected to the conductive material and the other end connected to a grounding member of the image forming apparatus. 15. An image forming apparatus having a sheet material for recording an image, a sheet material conveying device, and a means for applying an electric charge to the sheet material, the pair being arranged to face each other and sandwiching the sheet material. An image forming apparatus comprising: a conductive main body having a substantially plate-shaped member, and a sheet material gripping tool having one end connected to the ground member and the other end connected to the ground member of the image forming apparatus.