JPH03114065A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent deformation of a feeding unit or an image forming unit and also damage on a positioning member by sinking a positioning member into the feeding unit against energizing force of an energizing member if an engaging part and the positioning member are misaligned at the time of setting the image forming unit. CONSTITUTION:An electrophotographic copying machine is constituted of a paper feeding unit 1 as the feeding unit and the image forming unit 2 with the paper feeding unit 1 mounted on it. Then, when this image forming unit 2 is set, if the positioning pin 7 of the paper feeding unit 1 and an engaging hole 9 of the image forming unit 2 are misaligned, the positioning pin 7 is lowered down against the pressure force of a spring 14 and sank inside of the paper feeding unit 1. Therefore, the weight of the image forming unit 2 is never concentrated on the positioning pin 7. Thus, a bottom plate 10 of the image forming unit 2 or the top plate 15 of the paper feeding unit 1 are not deformed nor the positioning pin 7 broken.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus used as, for example, an electronic copying machine.

(Prior Art) Some electronic copying machines have an image forming unit placed on a paper feeding unit, and paper is fed from the paper feeding unit to the image forming unit to form an image.

A paper flow port is provided on the top surface of the paper feed unit and the bottom surface of the image forming unit so as to face each other and communicate with each other, and the paper is fed into the image forming unit through the paper flow port.

Further, a positioning pin is provided protruding from the upper surface of the paper feeding unit, and a fitting hole is provided at the lower surface of the image forming unit.

The paper feeding unit is positioned by fitting its positioning bin into the fitting hole of the image forming unit, so that the paper path openings face each other and communicate with each other.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the past, the positioning bin was fixedly provided on the paper feeding unit, so if the image forming unit was placed in a state where the positioning bin and the fitting hole did not correspond, the image There is a problem in that the load of the forming unit acts intensively on the positioning bin, deforming the upper surface of the paper feeding unit or the lower surface of the image forming unit, and causing the positioning bin to break.

In view of the above, the present invention provides that even if the image forming unit is placed in a state where the positioning member of the supply unit and the fitting portion of the image forming unit are misaligned, the supply unit and the image forming unit will not be deformed or the positioning pins will be broken. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that does not cause such problems.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention includes a supply unit for supplying a transfer material, and a material placed on the supply unit and supplied from the supply unit. an image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer material; a positioning member that is protrusively and retractably provided on the upper surface of the supply unit and biased in a protruding direction by a biasing member; The image forming apparatus is characterized by comprising a fitting part that is provided and fits the positioning member to position the image forming unit.

(Function) If the image forming unit is placed in a state where the positioning member of the supply unit and the fitting part of the image forming unit are misaligned, the positioning member resists the biasing force of the biasing member and moves inside the supply unit. This prevents the load of the supply unit from acting intensively on the positioning member.

(Example) The present invention will be described below with reference to an example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an electrophotographic copying machine, which is composed of a paper feed unit 1 as a supply unit and an image forming unit 2 on which the paper feed unit 1 is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 4, an optical system 22 is provided within the image forming unit 2. As shown in FIG. This optical system 22 includes first and second carriages 23, 24, and the first carriage 23 has an exposure lamp 27 and a first mirror 28.
The second carriage 24 is provided with second and third mirrors 29 and 30. Further, a lens 25 and a fourth mirror 26 are disposed on the optical path of the reflected light reflected by the third mirror 30.

Further, a photosensitive drum 31 is rotatably provided in the image forming unit 2, and a charging charger 32, a developing device 33, a transfer/peeling charger 34, and so on are arranged around the photosensitive drum 31 in order along the direction of rotation. 35, a cleaning device 36, and a static elimination charger 37 are provided.

Further, a paper transport path 41 is provided at the lower part of the image forming unit 2, and this paper transport path 41 includes a registration roller 42, the transfer and peeling charger 34, 35, etc. , a conveyor belt 43, a fixing roller 44, and a guide 45 are provided.

Furthermore, paper flow ports 39 and 40 are formed in the bottom plate 8 of the image forming unit 2.

On the other hand, a paper feed cassette 3.4 is housed in the paper feed unit 1 so as to be freely accessible. The sheets P in the paper feed cassettes 3 and 4 are taken out by a take-out roller 46, separated one by one by a sheet feed roller 47 and a separation roller 46, and then fed.

Further, a paper flow port 49 is provided on the upper surface of the paper feed unit 1.
．． 50 are formed, and these paper flow ports 49 and 50 are opposed to and communicated with the paper flow ports 40 and 41 of the image forming unit 2.

Furthermore, paper guides 51 and 52 are attached to the paper flow ports 49 and 50, respectively.

Furthermore, a gate 53 for switching the paper conveyance direction is rotatably attached to the paper flow port 50. When the gate 53 is rotated upward, the paper P is guided downward and from the feed rollers 54 and 55 to the paper feed cassette 3.
．． It is scheduled to be introduced in 4.

Note that 56 is a discharge roller and 57 is a paper discharge tray.

During image formation, the original set on the original glass 21 is irradiated with light from the exposure lamp 27 and scanned, and the reflected light from the original is sent to the first to third mirrors 28.
29 and 30 to the lens 25, and further from this lens 25 to the photosensitive drum 3 via the fourth mirror 26.
The image is focused on 1. The circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is uniformly charged by a charger 32, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by forming the original image. This electrostatic latent image is developed by supplying developer from the developing device 33.

On the other hand, at this time, the paper P is sent out from the paper feed cassette 3 or 4 as shown by the arrow, and the paper
The image is then sent into the image forming unit 2 through the registration rollers 42 to the image transfer section 38 between the photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer charger 34, where the image is transferred. The paper P to which this image has been transferred is attached to the peeling charger 3.
5, it is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 31, transported by the transport belt 43, and sent to the fixing roller 44. Here, the image on the paper P is fixed, and during normal copying, it is guided by the guide 45 and passes through the paper distribution port 40.50.
The paper is sent to the paper ejection roller 56 via the paper ejection roller 56.
The paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray 57 via.

In addition, during double-sided copying or overlapping copying, the gate 53 is rotated upward and the paper P is moved to the feed roller 5 as shown by the arrow.
4 (55) into the paper feed cassette 3 (4). This introduced paper P is again transferred to the image transfer section 3.
8 (in this case, it is once fed back by the feedback roller 59), or
The images are sent without being reversed and are copied on both sides or overlapping each other.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, positioning pins 7 and 7 as positioning members are protruded from approximately the central portions of the upper surface of the paper feeding unit 1 on the front and rear sides, respectively.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a fitting opening 9 is formed in the bottom plate 8 of the image forming unit 1, and the positioning pin 7 is fitted into the fitting opening 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, the positioning bin 7.7 is provided in the paper feeding unit 1 so as to be freely protrusive and retractable. That is, the lower end of the positioning pin 7 is connected to the top plate 1 of the paper feed unit 1.
The paper feed unit 1 is slidably inserted into a mounting hole 11 of a bracket 10 attached to the paper feeding unit 1, and its upper end is slidably inserted into a mounting hole 12 formed in a top plate 15 of the paper feeding unit 1.

A plate 13 is attached to the middle part of the positioning pin 7, and the plate 13 is pressed upward by a spring 14 as a biasing member, so that the upper end of the positioning pin 7 is projected upward. It has become so.

Therefore, when setting the image forming unit 2 on the paper feed unit 1, first, the fitting holes 9, 9 of the image forming unit 2 are opposed to the positioning bins 7.7 of the paper feed unit 1. from the image forming unit 2 to the paper feeding unit 1.
Place it on top.

As a result, the positioning bins 7°7 of the paper feeding unit 1 are inserted into the fitting holes 9, 9 of the image forming unit 2, and the image forming unit 2 is positioned and set.
9, 40, 49, and 50 will be communicated oppositely.

By the way, when setting up this image forming unit 2,
If the positioning pin 7.7 of the paper feed unit 1 and the fitting hole 9.9 of the image forming unit 2 are misaligned, the positioning pin 7.7 is lowered downward against the pressing force of the spring 14. It is inserted into the paper feeding unit 1.

Therefore, the load of the image forming unit 2 is not concentrated on the positioning pin 7.7, and the bottom plate 10 of the image forming unit 2 or the top plate 15 of the paper feed unit 1 is not deformed or the positioning pin 7.7 is It will not break or break.

Note that when the image forming unit 2 is shifted by an appropriate amount on the paper feeding unit 1 so that its fitting holes 9, 9 are opposed to the positioning pins 7.7, the positioning pins 9.9 are raised by the restoring force of the spring 14. It is fitted into the fitting hole 9.9 and positioned.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the positioning member of the supply unit is provided so as to be protrusive and retractable, and the positioning member is biased in the protruding direction by the biasing member, so that the image forming unit can be easily set. In some cases, when the fitting portion and the positioning member are misaligned, the positioning member resists the biasing force of the biasing member and sinks into the supply unit.

Therefore, the load of the image forming unit is not concentrated on the positioning member, and there is no possibility of deforming the supply unit or the image forming unit or breaking the positioning member.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the mounting structure of the positioning pin, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the image forming unit set on the paper feeding unit,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an exploded state of the paper feeding unit and the image forming unit, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of the paper feeding unit and the image forming unit. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Paper feeding unit (supply unit), 2... Image forming unit, 7... Positioning pin (positioning member) 9... Fitting part (fitting hole) 14... Spring (biasing) Element)

Claims (1)

[Claims] a supply unit for supplying a transfer material; an image forming unit placed on the supply unit to form an image on the transfer material supplied from the supply unit; A positioning member provided and biased in a protruding direction by a biasing member; and a fitting portion provided on a lower surface of the image forming unit and fitting the positioning member to position the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus characterized by: