JP3242054B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

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 a copying machine and a printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a double-sided recording function for recording an image on both sides of a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional image forming apparatus having a double-sided recording function will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a conventional example. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is configured by attaching a re-feed unit to an image forming apparatus main body 50 which is an image forming unit.

In the apparatus main body 50, a recording sheet P, which is a loaded recording medium, is fed by a feed roller 51, a toner image is transferred by an image carrier 52, and then fixed by a fixing device 53 to form an image. Be recorded. The conveyance path of the recording sheet P on which the image is recorded is switched by the switching member 54,
Whether the sheet is conveyed to the discharge tray 55 or the re-feed unit 56 through the conveyance path K1 is selected.

Next, the re-feed unit 56 will be described.
The recording sheet P conveyed to the re-feed unit 56 by the switching member 54 is sent to the first conveying path K3 of the reversing unit by the reversing roller 58 via the reversing sensor 57 by the conveying path K2.

When the reversing sensor 57 detects the trailing edge of the recording sheet P, the reversing roller 58 stops conveying the recording sheet and rotates in the reverse direction. Thereby, the recording sheet P is transported in the reverse direction,
The sheet passes through the second transport path K4 of the reversing section and is sent to the re-feed section 59. The recording sheet P conveyed to the re-feeding section 59 is
The paper is conveyed in the conveyance path formed by the lower guide 61 and the conveyance roller 62, and is conveyed again into the image forming apparatus main body 50 by the conveyance rollers 62, and images are recorded on both sides.

[0006]

However, in the image forming apparatus according to the above-mentioned conventional example, since the recording sheet P needs to be once stored in the first conveying path K3, the recording sheet P is moved from the reversing roller 58 of the conveying path K3. It is necessary to ensure the maximum length of a recording medium that can be used in this image forming apparatus.
For example, if it can be used up to legal size, it must secure a length near 356mm. In order to secure this length, there is a method of providing a transport path below the re-feeding unit or increasing the width of the apparatus, but in any case, the size of the apparatus becomes large, and it is difficult to reduce the size. there were. In addition, it is wasteful to increase the size of the device for the legal size that is used less frequently.

Further, when the recording medium is jammed in the first conveyance path, there is a problem that the longer the conveyance path, the more difficult the jam processing becomes.

Therefore, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is capable of reducing the size of the apparatus without being affected by the maximum length of a usable recording medium, and has an image having a double-sided recording function which facilitates jam processing. It is intended to provide a forming apparatus.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a typical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming section for forming an image on a recording medium, and an image forming apparatus for discharging an image from the image forming section. An image forming apparatus comprising a re-feed unit for feeding the recording medium again to the image forming unit, wherein the re-feed unit conveys the recording medium once conveyed to a first conveyance path in a reverse direction. And a reversing unit for sending out the recording medium sent from the second conveying path of the reversing unit to the image forming unit. And a re-feeding section provided with a first feeding path and the re-feeding section so that the leading end side of the recording medium conveyed to the first feeding path can enter the conveying path of the re-feeding section. The feeding path of the feeding section is continuous.

Further, a releasable opening / closing portion is provided at a part of the transport guide constituting the transport path of the first transport path, so that the transport path can be easily viewed from the outside and the jam processing can be easily performed. And

[0011]

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is configured by attaching a re-feed unit 2 to an image forming apparatus main body 1 which is an image forming unit.

At the lower part of the apparatus main body 1, a recording sheet P as a recording medium is stacked. The recording sheet P is sent out by the feed roller 3 and is conveyed by the conveying roller 4 to the registration roller pair 5. The registration roller pair 5 stops rotating, and the recording sheet P abuts against the nip to correct the skew, and then starts conveyance in synchronization with the rotation of the image carrier 6.

The image carrier 6 has an electrostatic latent image formed on a uniformly charged surface by a light beam oscillated from the optical means 8.
A toner image is formed by developing means (not shown). The toner image formed on the image carrier 6 is transferred to the recording sheet P by a nip between the image carrier 6 and the transfer roller 7.

The recording sheet P to which the toner image has been transferred is heated and pressed by the fixing device 9 to fix the image. A switching member 10 for switching the conveyance path of the recording sheet P is attached downstream of the fixing device 9, and is discharged to the discharge tray 12 by the discharge roller pair 11 through the conveyance path K 1, or to the re-feed unit 2. Whether to be transported is selected.

The re-feed unit 2 includes a reversing unit 13 and a re-feed unit 14.
The recording sheet P conveyed from the image forming apparatus main body 1 is conveyed to the reversing unit 13 by the conveyance path K2.

The recording sheet P is conveyed to a first conveying path K5 by a pair of reversing rollers 16 via a reversing sensor 15 in a reversing section 13. The reversing roller pair 16 includes a reversing roller 16a and a reversing roller 16b pressed against the reversing roller 16a by a pressing means (not shown).

Here, the downstream side of the transport path K5 is formed continuously with the transport path K7 of the re-feed unit 14 as shown in FIG. That is, the guide member 21 on the upstream side of the transport path K7 is
6 and the upper surface of the transport path K5. Both the transport paths K5 and K6 are configured to be continuous with the transport path K7.

With this configuration, the transport path K
5, the leading end of the recording sheet P is conveyed to the conveyance path K7.
And the recording sheet P longer than the length of the transport path K5 can be stored. For example, the transport path K5
Only the letter size (length 279 mm) can be stored with only the original, but it can be stored even if it is legal size (length 356 mm).

That is, the leading end of the recording sheet P that has passed through the pair of reversing rollers 16 enters the conveyance path K7, and when the reversing sensor 15 detects the rear end of the recording sheet P, the pair of reversing rollers 16 is conveyed after a predetermined time. Is stopped and the recording sheet P is rotated in the reverse direction to convey the recording sheet P in the reverse direction. As a result, the recording sheet P is turned into
Is transported to the second transport path K6. When the trailing edge of the recording sheet P reaches the transport path K7, the leading edge of the recording sheet P has already retreated to the transport path K5, so that they do not interfere.

The recording sheet P sent to the re-feeding section 14 is further conveyed by a first re-feeding roller pair 17 and a second re-feeding roller pair 18, and is conveyed by a conveying roller 19 to the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus.
Will be re-fed.

[0021]

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram of the re-feed unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a top view of the re-feed unit. And the description is omitted.

In this embodiment, the transport path K8 of the re-feed unit 14 is the same as the transport path K7 of the first embodiment.
5 and the transport path K6, but shorter than the transport path K7. Therefore, the transport path K
The leading edge of the recording sheet P that has entered 5 reaches the downstream side of the position of the first re-feed roller pair 17.

First, the first re-feed roller 17b of the first re-feed roller pair 17 has a structure that is conventionally separated from the first re-feed roller 17a. This will be described with reference to FIG.

Due to the reverse rotation of the pair of reversing rollers 16, the recording sheet P reaches the re-feeding unit 14 via the conveying path K6, and is conveyed by the first re-feeding roller pair 17 and the second re-feeding roller pair 18. When the tip reaches the sensor 20 (see FIG. 1), it temporarily stops.

Here, the first re-feed roller 17b of the first re-feed roller pair 17 and the second re-feed roller of the second re-feed roller pair 18
By separating 18b by a mechanism not shown,
The recording sheet P is released. Next, the re-feed unit 14
The side regulating members 21a and 21b provided inside the recording sheet P are moved to a predetermined position in the width direction of the recording sheet P to correct the skew or lateral position of the recording sheet P.

Therefore, when the recording sheet P enters from the transport path K5, the first re-feed roller 17b of the first feed roller pair is separated from the first re-feed roller 17a to be on standby. In the separating operation of the first re-feed roller 17b, the pair of reversing rollers starts reverse rotation, and the leading end of the recording sheet P moves from the transport path K8 to the transport path K.
It is continued until it escapes to 5.

With the above configuration, the transport path K
8 can be set short, and the entire apparatus can be downsized.

Further, by configuring the re-feed unit 14 to be able to be pulled out from the re-feed unit 2, even if the recording sheet P is jammed in the state of being caught between the re-feed roller pair 17, By pulling out 14, jam processing can be performed.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.
4A is a main part configuration diagram of a re-feed unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a diagram viewed from A in FIG. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those described above, and the description is omitted.

In this embodiment, the exterior 2a of the re-feed unit 2 is configured to be rotatable about an opening / closing fulcrum 2b. Further, the guide member 22 forming a part of the first transport path K5 is arranged so as to be swingable about a swing fulcrum 22a. Therefore, by opening the exterior 2a and the guide member 22, the inside of the first transport path K5 can be seen,
In addition, jam processing can be performed.

Further, a guide member 23 constituting the first transport path K5 below the re-feeding unit 2 has
An opening 23a is provided as shown in FIG. Thereby, when the guide member 22 is opened, the inside of the first transport path K5 can be easily seen. The visibility of the inside of the opening 23a can also be improved by providing a plurality of holes in the guide member 23.

With the above configuration, it is possible to easily perform the jam clearance in the first transport path K5 on the downstream side of the pair of reversing rollers 16 and to perform the first transport path K5.
This makes it possible to prevent the recording sheet P jammed inside from being forgotten.

[0034]

As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the leading end of the recording medium conveyed to the first conveying path can enter the conveying path of the re-feeding section. Since the one transport path and the transport path of the re-feed unit are configured to be continuous, there is no need to secure the maximum length of the usable recording medium in the first transport path, and the size of the entire image forming apparatus having the double-sided recording function is reduced. Can be reduced.

Further, by separating the pair of re-feed rollers in the re-feed section, the leading end of the recording medium conveyed to the first conveying path can enter the downstream side of the pair of re-feed rollers. Therefore, the first conveyance path can be further shortened, and the size of the image forming apparatus can be further reduced.

Further, by opening the re-feed unit and the guide member of the first conveyance path, it is possible to easily perform a jam clearing operation when the recording sheet is jammed in the first conveyance path and to determine whether the recording sheet exists. This makes it easier to see, and prevents forgetting to take the recording sheet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram of a refeed unit of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the re-feed unit.

4A and 4B are re-feed units of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment, wherein FIG. 4A is a configuration diagram of a main part, and FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 K1 ... conveying path K2 ... conveying path K5 ... first conveying path K6 ... second conveying path K7 ... conveying path K8 ... conveying path P ... recording sheet 1 ... image forming apparatus main body 2 ... re-feeding unit 2a ... exterior 2b ... opening and closing Fulcrum 3… feeding roller 4… transport roller 5… registration roller pair 6… image carrier 7… transfer roller 8… optical means 9… fixing device 10… switching member 11… discharge roller pair 12… discharge tray 13… reversing section 14 … Re-feed unit 15… Reversing sensor 16… Reversing roller pair 16a… Reversing roller 16b… Reversing roller 17… First re-feed roller pair 17a… First re-feed roller 17b… First re-feed roller 18… Two re-feeding roller pairs 19 ... convey rollers 20 ... sensors 21 ... guide members 22 ... guide members 22a ... swing fulcrums 23 ... guide members 23a ... openings

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 29/58 B65H 85/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; and a re-feed unit that re-feeds the recording medium discharged from the image forming unit to the image forming unit. The re-feeding unit is a reversing unit that conveys the recording medium once conveyed to the first conveyance path in the reverse direction and sends it out from the second conveyance path, and is sent out from the second conveyance path of the reversing unit. A re-feeding section having a transport path that is continuous with the second transport path for re-feeding the recording medium to the image forming section, and the leading end side of the recording medium transported to the first transport path is The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transport path and the transport path of the re-feed unit are connected so as to be able to enter the transport path of the re-feed unit. 2. A re-feed roller pair provided on a transport path of the re-feed section is configured to be detachable, and a leading end side of a recording medium transported to the first transport path is provided to the re-feed section. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the re-feed roller pair is separated during the movement. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a releasable guide member is provided at a part of a transport guide that forms a transport path of the first transport path.