JP2004145357A - Digital image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lower the cost of a digital image forming apparatus, which is provided selectively with a printer function, a copying function, and a facsimile function, by facilitating process control by making its production line common. <P>SOLUTION: An apparatus main body is composed of a lower structure B and an upper structure C which is fitted on the lower structure B when necessary. The lower structure B supports an image formation part which is common to the printer function, copying function, and facsimile function. When a digital image forming apparatus with the printer function is assembled, the image formation part is supported by the lower structure B and printer function components are fitted. When a digital image forming apparatus with the printer function and copying function and/or facsimile function is assembled and the upper structure C is fitted on the lower structure B; and a scanner part is supported by the upper structure C, and copying function components and/or facsimile function components are fitted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a digital image forming apparatus that selectively provides a printer function, a copy function, and a facsimile function.

Conventionally, in this type of digital image forming apparatus, multi-functioning has become easier as the digitization has progressed, and not only printers, copiers and facsimile machines, but also, for example, multifunction printers having a combination of a printer function, a copying function, and a facsimile function. There are machines.

However, conventionally, since such a plurality of types of digital image forming apparatuses are separately assembled on separate production lines for each type, human management and process management become troublesome and cost increases. There was a problem of getting it.

Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital image forming apparatus in which a printer function, a copy function, and a facsimile function are selectively provided as shown in the following embodiments, A lower structure B for supporting the printer unit 12 and mounting a printer function component as necessary, and mounting the scanner unit 14 on the lower structure B as necessary and mounting a copy function component and / or a facsimile function component. And a structure C.

(4) When assembling the digital image forming apparatus having the printer function, the image forming section 12 is supported by the lower structure B, and the printer function part is mounted. On the other hand, when assembling a digital image forming apparatus having a copy function and / or a facsimile function as well as a printer function, the digital image forming apparatus is mounted on the lower structure B on the upper structure C, and the upper structure C supports the scanner unit 14 to copy. Attach functional parts and / or facsimile functional parts.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when assembling a digital image forming apparatus having a printer function, the apparatus main body is composed of a lower structure and an upper structure mounted on the lower structure as necessary. When a digital image forming apparatus having a printer function, a copy function, and / or a facsimile function is assembled as required by supporting the image forming unit with the lower structure, the upper structure is mounted on the lower structure. Since the copy function part and / or the facsimile function part are mounted on the body, and the scanner unit is supported by the structure on the body, the production line of the different models can be made common, thereby enabling human Management and process management can be facilitated, and significant cost reduction can be realized.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 4 is a digital image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and is an overall schematic configuration diagram of an internal mechanism as viewed from the front side. This image forming apparatus has a copy function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, and has an apparatus main body 10 mounted on a bank 11. The apparatus main body 10 includes a paper discharge stack unit 13 on the image forming unit 12 and a scanner unit 14 thereon.

First, the image forming unit 12 includes a recording unit 16 for transferring an image formed on the photoconductor 15 and recording the image on a sheet, a fixing unit 17 for fixing the image on the sheet recorded by the recording unit 16, and a fixing unit 17. A discharge unit 18 that discharges the sheet after fixing to the sheet discharge stack unit 13 by the unit 17 is provided below the recording unit 16 and the fixing unit 17. A reversing unit 20 for feeding paper to the recording unit 16, a paper cassette 21 removably stored under the reversing unit 20, and a paper feeding unit for feeding paper fed from the paper cassette 21 to the recording unit 16 22 and the like.

紙 The paper discharge stack unit 13 includes paper discharge trays 24 and 25 for receiving the paper discharged from the discharge unit 18 in two upper and lower stages.

The scanner unit 14 includes a known document reading optical mechanism 27 therein, a contact glass 28 on which a document to be read is placed on the upper surface, and an openable / closable pressing plate 29 for holding the document on the contact glass 28. .

In addition, the apparatus main body 10 is provided with a manual paper feed tray 31 on its right side and a face-up discharge tray 32 on its left side so that it can be opened as needed.

The bank 11 on which the apparatus main body 10 is placed as described above includes paper cassettes 35 and 36 in two upper and lower stages, and a bank paper feeding section 37 communicating with the paper feeding section 22 of the apparatus main body 10. Prepare. And, on the lower surface, casters 38 are attached at four corners.

When a copy is to be made using this image forming apparatus, the pressing plate 29 is opened, a document is set on the contact glass 28, the pressing plate 29 is closed, and the document is pressed. Then, an image on the original is read by the original reading optical mechanism 27 by operating an operation panel (not shown), and the recording unit 16 performs charging, writing, and development to form the read image on the photoconductor 15.

On the other hand, paper is appropriately fed out from one of the three paper feed cassettes 21, 35, and 36, and is fed from the paper feed unit 22 to the recording unit 16, where the read image formed on the photoconductor 15 is read. Transfer and record on paper.

After that, the recording image on the sheet is fixed by the fixing unit 17, and in the case of single-sided recording, the recording image is directly discharged through the discharge unit 18 onto appropriate discharge trays 24 and 25 of the discharge stack unit 13. In the case of double-sided recording, the sheet is sent to the reversing unit 20, switched back by the switchback unit 19, reversed, fed again to the recording unit 16 from the middle of the sheet feeding unit 22, and is also recorded on the back side of the sheet. Then, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge stack 13.

When making a copy on a thick paper such as a postcard, the face-up discharge tray 32 is opened together with the manual paper feed tray 31, the thick paper is set on the manual paper feed tray 31, and an operation panel (not shown) is similarly operated to operate the recording unit 16. Then, the read image is recorded and fixed by the fixing unit 17, and then discharged onto the face-up discharge tray 32.

As described above, when making a copy using the copy function of the image forming apparatus, as shown in the arrow in FIG. 4, the paper is fed out from the paper feed cassettes 21, 35, 36 or the manual paper feed tray 31, and the paper is fed out. The sheet is conveyed from the paper supply unit 22 to the fixing unit 17 through the recording unit 16, is reversed through the reversing unit 20 as necessary, passes again through the recording unit 16 and the fixing unit 17, and is discharged from the discharge unit 18 to the discharge stack unit 13. Or directly onto the face-up paper discharge tray 32.

Next, when transmitting using the facsimile mechanism of this image forming apparatus, an original is similarly set on the contact glass 28, pressed by the pressing plate 29, and the contents of the original are read and modulated and transmitted. When receiving, the received content is demodulated and recorded on a sheet by the recording unit 16, similarly fixed by the fixing unit 17 and discharged to the discharge stack unit 13.

When printing is performed using the printer function, a signal from the host is received, the recording is performed on a sheet by the recording unit 16, the same is fixed by the fixing unit 17, and the sheet is discharged to the discharge stack unit 13.

By the way, such an image forming apparatus includes a support structure A assembled in the apparatus main body 10 as shown in FIG. The support structure A includes a lower structure B and an upper structure (support means) C thereon.

The lower structure B includes a bottom plate 39, a front plate 40, a rear plate 41, and the like, each of which has a substantially rectangular shape. Then, the front and rear side plates 40 and 41 are fixed to the front and rear sides on the bottom plate 39 so as to be parallel to each other. The upper structure C includes a pair of columns 42 and 42 and stays 43 and 43 each having a U-shaped cross section, and a second rear plate 44. Then, the base plates of the columns 42 are screwed to the front plate 40 along the bent pieces 40a and 40b of the right and left edges, and the front ends thereof are projected upward. Also, the second rear side plate 44 is placed on the rear side plate 41, and the bent pieces are screwed to each other. Further, reinforcing brackets 48, 48 having an L-shaped cross section are screwed to the left and right sides of their joint position. And reinforce. Thus, one end of the stay 43 is screwed to the left and right corner of the upper end of the second rear side plate 44, and the other end is screwed to the upper end of the column 42.

The support structure A supports the above-described image forming unit 12 with the lower structure B, and includes a printer function, a copy function, and a component included in the image forming unit 12, that is, a printer function component unique to the printer function. Attach parts required in common for facsimile functions.

Mount various motors and clutches as shown in FIG. 2, for example. Reference numeral 50 in the figure is a main motor. 51 is a toner bottle motor for development, and 52 is a polygon motor of a polygon mirror for optical writing. Reference numeral 53 denotes an exhaust fan, and reference numeral 54 denotes a transport fan that guides the sheet after the transfer to the fixing unit 17. Reference numeral 55 denotes a face-up solenoid of a switching claw that switches a sheet discharging direction of the sheet fixed by the fixing unit 17.

{Overscore (57)} is a developing clutch for development, and 58 is a clutch for contacting and releasing the charging roller. Reference numerals 59 to 61 denote a first sheet feeding clutch, a registration clutch, and a manual sheet feeding clutch provided in the sheet feeding section 22, respectively. Reference numerals 62 to 64 denote a second paper feed clutch, a first relay clutch, and a second relay clutch provided in the bank paper feed unit 37, respectively.

Furthermore, various control boards are attached to the lower structure B as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 65 in the figure denotes an IOCSS (Input-Output & Custmor Support System) board, which has a communication function for an I / O function and a remote diagnosis function. Reference numeral 66 denotes an MSU (Memory Surper-charger Unit) board for compressing and expanding image data, holding data, and processing (rotating). Reference numeral 67 denotes a PSU (Power Supply Unit) board, which supplies power for a control system, a drive system, and a sensor system. 68 is a high voltage power supply board.

On the other hand, the upper structure C shown in FIG. 1 supports the discharge stack 13 and attaches the discharge tray 24 of the discharge stack 13. Further, the upper structure C supports the scanner unit 14 on the sheet discharge stack unit 13 and attaches components specific to the copy function and the facsimile function included in the scanner unit 14, respectively.

(4) For example, various optical components of the original reading optical mechanism 27 shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a scanner motor indicated by reference numeral 70 is attached.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, various control boards specific to the copy function and the facsimile function are attached. Reference numeral 72 in the figure denotes a BICU (Base-engine Image Control Unit) board, which controls an operation mode and an operation mode, and performs video bus control (magnification and image processing). Reference numeral 73 denotes an FCU (Fax Control Unit) board, which controls a FAX function, and determines an operation according to data compression, decompression, and each transmission / reception mode. Reference numeral 74 denotes an SBU (Scaner Block Unit) board, which converts data read by the CCD into video data. Reference numeral 75 denotes an NCU (Network Control Unit) board for performing line switching for FAX and the like. Reference numeral 76 denotes an operation unit board.

In the first aspect of the present invention, when assembling the digital image forming apparatus as a so-called printer, for example, the lower structure B shown in FIG. 5 is used.

下 The lower structure B is provided with printer supports 80, 80, which are different from the supports 42, and are shorter than those. Both the columns 80, 80 have a U-shaped cross section, and their respective proximal ends are screwed along the bent and raised pieces on the left side edges of the front and rear side plates 40, 41 in the drawing. And the front-end | tip part 80a is made to protrude upward from the front-and-rear side plates 40 and 41, respectively.

{Circle around (2)} The lower structure B supports the above-described image forming unit 12, and the components provided in the image forming unit 12, that is, the above-mentioned common components are attached together with the printer functional components.

(4) For example, various motors such as the main motor 50 and the toner bottle motor 51 shown in FIG. 2 and various clutches such as the developing clutch 57 and the on / off clutch 58 are attached. Also, various control boards such as the IOCSS board 65 and the MSU board 66 shown in FIG. 3 are attached.

(6) The printer is configured as shown in FIG. 6, and the apparatus main body 10, that is, the image forming unit 12 is mounted on the bank 11 and used. When an image is recorded on a sheet using this printer, the image is recorded on the sheet by the recording unit 16 in response to a signal from the host, and is also fixed by the fixing unit 17 to be discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 25 or face-up. The sheet is discharged onto the paper tray 32.

The above-described digital image forming apparatus has a copy function, a printer function, and a facsimile function. However, the invention described in claim 1 is not limited to such a digital image forming apparatus. For example, the present invention can be applied to various multifunction peripherals having 1) a printer function, 2) a copy function, 3) a facsimile function alone, and 4) a combination of the functions 1) to 3) as required. .

1 is a perspective view of a support structure provided in a digital image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an arrangement relationship of motors and clutches common to the printer function, copy function, and facsimile function of the digital image forming apparatus and other motors and clutches. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an arrangement relationship between a control board common to a printer function, a copy function, and a facsimile function of the digital image forming apparatus and other control boards. FIG. 2 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of an internal mechanism of the digital image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lower structure used when assembling the digital image forming apparatus as a printer. FIG. 2 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of an internal mechanism of the digital image forming apparatus assembled as a printer.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Apparatus main body 12 Image forming part 13 Discharge stack part 14 Scanner part B Lower structure C Upper structure (supporting means)

Claims (1)

In a digital image forming apparatus that selectively provides a printer function, a copy function, and a facsimile function, a lower body that supports an image forming unit and mounts a printer functional part as needed, and a lower structure as needed. A digital image forming apparatus comprising an upper structure mounted on a body to support a scanner unit and mount a copy function component and / or a facsimile function component.

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