JP2729376B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of increasing a degree of freedom of an installation place.

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus, for example, a copying machine having a pressure plate, at the time of copying, a document placed on a document table is covered with a pressure plate so that the document is uniformly and closely contacted on the document table, and the document is placed inside and outside the apparatus. The light is blocked. FIG. 10 shows a conventional example of an electrophotographic copying apparatus of a fixed platen type provided with such a pressure plate.

In the copying apparatus of this example, a pressure plate 2 is hingedly connected to an apparatus main body 1 at the back of the figure, and a platen 3 made of transparent glass is provided.
The document O placed on the platen is covered by the pressure plate 2 closed as shown in FIG. In this state, the scanning optical systems 4 and 5 move in the directions of the arrows, respectively, and the original is scanned. At this time, the scanning light image is formed and projected on the photosensitive member 6 so that the surface of the photosensitive member is An electrostatic latent image is formed. Then, the electrostatic latent image is visualized by the developing device 7.

On the other hand, a recording paper 9 is sent from the paper feed cassette 8 toward the photoreceptor 6, and the above-mentioned visual image is transferred to the recording paper by a transfer charger.
The sheet is transferred by a transfer roller 11, and after this transfer, the sheet is discharged as copy paper to a recording sheet discharge tray 13 via a pair of fixing rollers 12.

By the way, an operator who handles such a copying apparatus stands facing the copying apparatus shown in the figure, and performs various operations on an operation unit on which a print button and the like are installed on the front side, and feeds the sheet cassette. 8 is inserted and loaded into the apparatus main body 1 from the right side, and the recording paper is conveyed straight from the right to the left in the apparatus and discharged to the discharge tray 13.

In this conventional copying apparatus, the paper feed cassette 8 and the discharge tray 13 protrude, and a large area is required for installing the copying apparatus. That is, in this copying apparatus, the right area and the left area in the drawing of the apparatus main body must be widely opened. To put it the other way around, the copier must be installed in such a space having a horizontally long area.

Therefore, a copying apparatus as shown in FIG. 11 has been proposed in which at least the portion of the sheet cassette 8 is prevented from traveling in the horizontal direction. In the copying apparatus of this example, the loading direction of the sheet feeding cassette 8 'is the front side, which can be called a front loading cassette type. The right side of the apparatus main body 1 is attached to a wall or the like, for example. Can be installed.

However, in such a type of copying apparatus, in order to cause the recording paper in the paper feed cassette 8 'to move toward the photoconductor 6 (see FIG. 10), the recording paper is turned at the turn section 14. If the recording paper is jammed from the cassette 8 'to the turn section 14, the cassette 8' may be pulled out by mistake. Is broken and inconvenient.

On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 10, since the direction of insertion / removal of the paper feed cassette 8 and the direction of feeding / conveying of the recording paper are the same, the recording paper is jammed when the cassette is ejected. Even if it is pulled out, the recording paper will not be broken.

In such a point, the example shown in FIG. 10 is more advantageous, but on the other hand, there is a problem that the device travels in the lateral direction, and the degree of freedom of installation of the device is restricted.

The various problems described above also occur in an image forming apparatus other than a copying apparatus using a photoconductor, for example, a facsimile or a printer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus capable of further increasing the degree of freedom of an installation position as compared with a conventional apparatus.

Configuration In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pressure plate that covers a document placed on a document table, a unit that feeds and conveys recording paper toward an image transfer unit, and an image transfer unit. A first conveyance path for directly conveying the recording paper to the recording paper discharge section without changing the recording paper state, and a second conveyance for turning the recording paper after transfer and conveying the recording paper toward the pressure plate Path and
A path switching means for selectively guiding the recording paper to one of the two conveying paths; and a direction substantially parallel to the recording paper feeding direction and a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction with respect to the apparatus main body. And an operation unit which can be installed also in the direction of, and the first and second conveyance paths are selectively used according to the installation position of the operation unit.

Examples Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on one example.

In FIG. 1, a pressure plate 22 for covering a document (not shown) placed on a document table 23 of an apparatus main body 21 includes a left hinge shaft 24.
Can be opened and closed around the center. Paper cassette
Numeral 28 has a manual feed table 28a, which is stored and loaded in the apparatus except for this portion. This loaded cassette
A recording paper (not shown) is fed from a paper feed roller 29 in the direction of arrow a by a paper feed roller 29. The recording paper is turned at a turn roller pair 27. Is transferred to the image transfer unit 31 onto which the visualized image is transferred. The process of forming a visible image on the photoreceptor 26 is the same as in FIG.

Paper feed roller 29, turn roller pair 27, registration roller pair
Reference numeral 30 and the like constitute a unit that feeds and conveys the recording paper from the cassette paper feeding unit to the image transfer unit 31. In addition, manual feed table
From 28a, a copy can also be obtained by manually inserting the recording paper.

The direction of insertion / removal of the paper feed cassette 28 is the direction A. Since this direction is parallel to the recording paper feeding / conveying direction, even if the recording paper jams at the pair of turn rollers 27, it is torn. Never do.

In the image transfer unit 31, the recording paper on which the visible image has been transferred by the transfer charger 32 is conveyed by the conveyance belt 33,
When passing through the portion of the fixing roller pair 34, the transferred visual image is fixed.

On the downstream side of the pair of fixing rollers 34 with respect to the direction of conveyance of the recording paper after the transfer, the recording paper after the transfer is not changed from the image transfer unit 31 to the discharge tray 35 which is a recording paper discharge unit. A first transfer path 36 for direct transfer is provided.

A second conveying path 37 is provided downstream of the pair of fixing rollers 34 for turning the recording sheet after the transfer and conveying the recording sheet toward the pressure plate 22. The switching claw 38 includes first and second switching claws.
And a path switching means for selectively guiding the recording paper to one of the two conveying paths 36 and 37. Instead of the switching claw, a switching means composed of, for example, a roller may be used.

The switching claw 38 is manually operated by a switching knob (not shown), or is switched by a driving means such as a solenoid (not shown).

When the switching claw 38 is switched to the solid line position, the recording paper after transfer is discharged straight to the discharge tray 35 via the first conveyance path 36, and when it is switched to the broken line position, The recording paper is turned through a second conveyance path 37 and discharged to a discharge tray 39 which is another recording paper discharge section provided above the pressure plate 22. The copying apparatus illustrated in this manner is provided with a plurality of, in this example, two, recording paper discharge units.

Here, with the side facing the copying apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as the front side, the operator stands and operates the front side or the right side. That is, in this copying apparatus, the operator may use the copying apparatus while standing on the front side, or may use the copying apparatus while standing on the right side. For example, standing on the right side is as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. When used in such a position, for example, the switching claw 38 (FIG. 1) is switched to the broken line position, and the recording paper after the transfer is discharged to the discharge tray 39 on the pressure plate 22 side as shown in FIG. If,
This is because if the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 35 (FIG. 1), the user has to go to take it out.

From such a point, it is also possible to use only the discharge tray 39 and remove the discharge tray 35, and in this case, the back surface 21A of the copying apparatus can be brought close to, for example, a wall. Of course, in this case, the B and C areas can be effectively used as shown in FIG. 3, and the copying apparatus can be installed in a narrow space. The fifth
Instead of using the discharge tray 39 shown in the drawing, the upper surface shape of the pressure plate 22 may be changed so that the pressure plate 22 has an alternate function of the discharge tray.

On the other hand, if the operator stands on the front side with respect to the copying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the situation is as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. If there is enough space in the installation space, for example, if the discharge tray 35 can be used for business trips, the discharge tray 35 may be used in such a position. In this case, the switching claw 38 (FIG. 1) may be used. The recording paper is discharged to the discharge tray 35 by switching to the solid line position. Therefore, the other ejection tray 39 can be removed.

In the mode of use shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to use the upper discharge tray 39 in addition to the discharge tray 35 shown in FIG. For example, if you want to discharge recording paper with the image side facing up by using
If the user wants to use 35 and discharge the image with the image surface facing downward, the other tray 39 is used. In the latter case, the copy paper is in page order. In addition, both trays 35 and 39 may be used together as a 2-bin sorter.

The hinge portion of the pressure plate 22 is configured to be freely detachable from the apparatus main body, and the hinge portion is changed depending on the use mode of the copying machine, and the opening and closing direction thereof can be freely changed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is convenient to be able to change to

For example, if the opening and closing directions are as shown in FIG.
The discharge tray 39 can be used, for example, both trays 3
5,39 can be used simultaneously. On the other hand, if the opening and closing direction of the pressure plate 22 is as shown in FIG.
Will be in the way.

Further, by changing the opening / closing direction of the platen 22, the platen can be changed according to the usage mode (FIG. 2 or FIG. 3) of the copying apparatus.
22 can be made easy to use.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 41 denotes an operation unit provided with a print button, a copy number setting button, and the like, which is usually provided at a position indicated by a solid line, and is arranged in a recording paper direction. Is almost parallel to the feeding direction.

If the operation unit 41 is fixedly provided at such a position, the operation mode shown in FIG. 2 may be used, but in the usage mode shown in FIG. It becomes difficult to do.

Therefore, the operation section can be installed at a plurality of locations. In this embodiment, the operation section 41 is arranged so that the It is configured to be installable in any direction of the direction substantially orthogonal to the direction. That is, the operation unit 41 can be set at the position of the solid line in FIG. 2 or at the position of the virtual line.

On the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21, an operation unit 41 is fitted, for example, a rectangular concave portion is provided over both the solid line and the imaginary line position. In the usage mode shown in FIG. Is fitted in the concave portion at the position of the solid line, and in the usage mode shown in FIG. 3, the operation section 41 is fitted to the position of the virtual line in FIG. 2 (the position of the solid line in FIG. 3). A connector terminal for electrical connection is provided in the concave portion, and when the operation section 41 is fitted, the operation section and the apparatus main body are electrically connected.

The portion where the operation unit 41 is placed may be a frame. Unused concave portions and frame-shaped portions may be covered, or may be used as a place for storing office supplies such as clips.

The image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is configured to selectively use the first and second transport paths 36 and 37 (FIG. 1) according to the installation position of the operation unit 41.

For example, in the usage mode as shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 41 is placed at the position shown by the solid line in the figure. In such a case, for example, the switching claw 38 in FIG. After the transfer, the transfer paper is guided toward the discharge tray 39.

Further, in the usage mode shown in FIG. 2, the operation section 41 is placed at the position shown by the solid line in the figure. In such a case, the switching claw 38 is appropriately switched and only the discharge tray 35 is moved. Or the discharge tray 39 is used.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of the installation location of the copying apparatus, and to change the operation unit to any convenient position according to the installation location. The same operation can be performed.

In the usage mode shown in FIG. 3, the paper feed cassette is completely front-loading, and the insertion and removal of this cassette and the removal of the obtained copy paper can all be performed from the front. .

FIGS. 6 and 7 show examples in which the operating portions 41 are provided on the pressure plates 42 and 42 ', respectively.

The pressure plate 42 shown in FIG. 6 is basically used in the mode of use shown in FIG. 2, and it is hinged to the apparatus main body by a hinge portion 43, and is electrically connected to the apparatus main body side by a connector 44.

The pressure plate 42 'shown in FIG. 7 is used in the mode of use shown in FIG. A two-way hinge mounting portion is provided on the apparatus main body side, and one of the two pressure plates 42, 42 'is selectively hinged to the apparatus main body side.

As shown in FIG. 8, a lead wire 45 may be pulled out from the apparatus main body 21 side, and the operation section 41 may be connected to this terminal section. Such an operation section is located at a desired position on the apparatus main body. Can be placed.

When the copying apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is configured so as to be divided and opened by the upper unit and the lower unit as shown in FIG. 9, it is easy to remove a recording sheet having a jam and to maintain the inside. Become. When the upper unit is opened as shown in the figure with the paper passing path upside down, the copy paper discharged to the discharge tray 39 does not fall. In this configuration example, in the case of the use mode shown in FIG. 5, in addition to the above-mentioned maintenance, insertion and removal of the paper feed cassette and removal of the obtained copy paper can all be performed on the front side of the apparatus.

The present invention can be applied not only to the copying apparatus as described above, but also to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile or a printer.

Effects According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of the installation location of the image forming apparatus, and even if the installation location changes,
The operation on the operation unit can be performed favorably as before.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a copying apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a usage mode of the copying apparatus, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another example of the usage mode. 4 is a front view corresponding to the use mode of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a front view corresponding to the use mode of FIG. 3, and FIGS. 6 and 7 show examples in which an operation section is provided on the pressure plate. FIG. 8 is a view showing an example in which an operation unit is provided separately from a copying apparatus main body, FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a copying apparatus in which a unit is divided and opened, and FIG. 10 is a conventional copying apparatus. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the apparatus, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing still another example of the copying apparatus. 22, 42, 42 ': pressure plate, 23: platen 31: image transfer section, 36: first transport path 37: second transport path, 41: operation section

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A pressure plate for covering a document placed on a platen;
Means for feeding and transporting the recording paper toward the image transfer unit, and a first transport path for directly transporting the transferred recording paper from the image transfer unit to the recording paper discharge unit without changing the recording paper orientation. ,
A second conveying path for turning the recording sheet after the transfer and conveying the recording sheet toward the pressure plate; a path switching means for selectively guiding the recording sheet to one of the two conveying paths; On the other hand, an operation unit that can be installed in any direction of a direction substantially parallel to the recording paper feeding direction and a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction is provided, and the operation unit is provided in accordance with the installation position of the operation unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein the first and second transport paths are selectively used.