JPH02255438A - Image former - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce a connecting opening of a device body to which a connecting conveying means is connected by forming this connecting conveying means for a main conveying means out of plural numbers of auxiliary feeding means with a single unit, and installing it at the device body side free of detachment. CONSTITUTION:A connecting conveying means 60 out of plural numbers of auxiliary feeding means 40, 50 for a main conveying means 13 of a device body 1 is formed with a single unit, and this connecting conveying means 60 is destined so as to be installed at the side of the device body 1 free of detachment. Accordingly, a connecting opening of the device body 1 to which the connecting conveying means 60 is connected is reducible in size, and that a conveying passage at each of the auxiliary feeding means 40, 50 is no longer required to be set up at the side of the device body 1.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus applied to image formation, such as a laser printer or an electronic copying machine, and in particular,
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus with improved recording medium feeding means.

(Prior Art) In recent years, when feeding recording media (hereinafter referred to as paper), in addition to the usual main feeding device, auxiliary feeding devices such as large-capacity feeding devices or envelope feeding devices are used. Image forming apparatuses that can be used in a variety of ways as a system by connecting a group of options such as a conveyor for double-sided copying to the apparatus have been developed and put into practical use.

However, in such conventional image forming apparatuses, especially in the paper feeding/conveying means of auxiliary feeding devices such as large-capacity feeding devices or envelope feeding devices, the connection to the main body of the device is connected to each paper feeding device. -Currently, one connection conveyance path is provided for each conveyance option, and one connection conveyance path is provided for each paper feeding/conveyance option on the apparatus main body side.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) For this reason, when connecting multiple paper feeding/conveying options, it is necessary to provide multiple connections to the device main body for each paper feeding/conveying option. In addition to increasing the size of the opening for connection with the options formed on the side, it is necessary to arrange paper transport paths corresponding to each option on the main body of the device, which increases the overall weight of the device. There was a problem of high cost.

The present invention was made under the above circumstances.

The purpose is to easily accommodate multiple paper feeds without increasing the size of the opening for connection with paper feed/transport options, and without arranging paper transport paths for each paper feed/transport option on the device main body. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be connected with a paper/conveyance option.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming process means for forming an image on a recording medium provided in an apparatus main body, and an image forming process means for forming an image on a recording medium provided in an apparatus main body. A main conveying means for conveying the recording medium to the main conveying means, and a feeding means for feeding the recording medium one by one to the main conveying means, and the feeding means has a main feeding means for feeding the recording medium to the main conveying means. and a plurality of auxiliary feeding means, and a conveying means for connecting the plurality of auxiliary feeding means to the main conveying means is formed as a single unit and is detachably provided on the apparatus main body side. The structure is as follows.

(Function) That is, the present invention forms a conveyance means for connecting a plurality of auxiliary feeding means to the main conveyance means of the apparatus body in a single unit, and this conveyance means for connection is detachably attached to the apparatus body side. This makes it possible to reduce the connection opening in the device body to which the connection conveyance means is connected, and also allows the conveyance path for each auxiliary feeding means to be placed on the device body side. There is no need to place it.

In addition, since the connecting transport means only needs to be connected to the main body of the device when the auxiliary feeding means is required, costs can be reduced and the weight of the entire device can be reduced if the auxiliary feeding means is not required. It can be reduced.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an illustrated example.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the overall internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and in the figure, 1 is the main body of the apparatus as a laser printer. The upper right side of the device main body 1 is
There is a document table 2 on which an original (not shown) is set, and a laser is installed at an internal position corresponding to the lower side of the document table 2 to scan the document set on the document table 2 from below. A document scanning section (scanner section) 3 consisting of an optical system and an image forming section (printer section) 4 that forms an image corresponding to an image signal from the document scanning section 3 are arranged to constitute an image forming process means. ing.

The image forming section 4 of the image forming process means includes a drum-shaped photoreceptor 5, which is an image bearing member, arranged approximately in the center of the apparatus main body 1, and a drum-shaped photoreceptor 5, which is arranged in sequence around the photoreceptor 5 in the rotational direction. Charging device6. Developing device7. Transfer device 8, peeling device 9. It is composed of a cleaning device 1° and a static eliminator 11.

Inside the device main body 1, there is a rear right side (upstream side)
an image transfer section 12 between the photoreceptor 5 and the transfer device 8;
A main conveyance path 13 as a main conveyance means is formed which extends forward to the left side (downstream side) through A main recording medium (paper) P stored in a main paper feed cassette 14 serving as a feeding means is transported by a paper feed roller 15 and a conveyance guide 16.
, the image transfer section 1 via a pair of aligning rollers 17.
In the second direction, the sheets are fed out and conveyed one by one.

Further, reference numeral 18 in the figure is a fixing device disposed on the conveyance path 13 on the downstream side of the image transfer section 12. This fixing device 18 melts and fixes the developer image transferred onto the paper P by heating and pressurizing the paper P after transfer and peeling, which is transported via the transport belt 19 via the image forming section 12. After fixing, the paper P passes through a transport roller 2o and a pair of paper ejection rollers 21 arranged on the downstream side of the fixing device 18 to a paper ejection tray 2 provided on the upper left side of the apparatus main body 1.
2.It is designed to be discharged onto the top.

In the image forming operation of such a laser printer, when the photoreceptor 5 is rotationally driven by a switching operation (not shown), the surface of the photoreceptor 5 is uniformly charged by the action of the charging device 6. In this state, the photoconductor 5 is exposed to light corresponding to the image signal of the document set on the document table 2 by the document scanning section (scanner section) 3 consisting of a laser optical system, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor 5. is formed.

Next, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 5 is developed with a two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier in a developing device 7, and sent to the image transfer section 12 side as a developer image.

On the other hand, in synchronization with the developer image forming operation, the sheets P are edged one by one from the main paper feed cassette 14 by the paper feed roller 15, and are transferred to the main paper via the transport roller 16 and aligning roller pair 17. The sheet P is conveyed from the upstream side of the conveyance path 13 to the image transfer section 12 , and the developer image formed on the photoreceptor S is transferred onto this sheet P by the action of the transfer device 8 .

Next, the paper P onto which the developer image has been transferred by the transfer device 8 is peeled off from the photoreceptor 5 by a peeling device 9, and sent to the fixing device 18 through the conveyor belt 19, where the developer image is transferred onto the paper P. After the developed developer image is fused and fixed onto the paper P, it is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 22 via a transport roller 20 and a pair of paper discharge rollers 21 arranged downstream of the fixing device 18.

At this time, residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor 5 after the developer image is transferred to the paper P is cleaned by the cleaning device 1°, thereby maintaining the state in which the next copying operation is possible. This is what has become.

Furthermore, reference numeral 23 in FIG. 1 is disposed at the lower part of a conveyance guide 16 that guides and conveys the paper P stored in the main paper feed cassette 14 which is detachably loaded on the right side of the apparatus main body 1 to the aligning roller pair 17. 24 is a feeding port for paper P fed from a large-capacity paper feeding device (multi-cassette feeder) 40 as a first auxiliary feeding means, which will be described later, which is opened at the bottom right side of the apparatus main body 1. , 25 is a loading space that communicates with this feeding port 24 and serves as a connecting portion formed at the lower right rear surface of the device main body 1.
An adapter 60, which is a connection conveying means for connecting an envelope feeding device (envelope feeder) 50, which is a second auxiliary feeding means for feeding envelopes A, is removably loaded in the adapter 60.

That is, the device main body 1 of the laser printer is placed on the multi-cassette feeder 40 together with the envelope feeder 50, so that it can be used in various ways as a system.
When the paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 41 is automatically fed through the paper feed roller 42, conveyance guide 43, and transfer roller 44, this paper P is loaded into the loading space 25 in the apparatus main body 1. The image is guided and conveyed through the loaded adapter 60 and the auxiliary conveyance guide 23 to the main conveyance path 13 in the apparatus main body 1, and a similar image forming operation is performed in the image transfer section 12 described above. .

On the other hand, the envelope feeder 50 is mounted on a mounting table 45 extending from the upper right side of the multi-cassette feeder 40.
The envelope A placed on top and stored in the feeding cassette 51 in the envelope feeder 5o is transported by the paper feeding roller 52,
Transfer roller 53, conveyance guide 54, and feeding roller pair 55
When the envelope A is automatically fed through the apparatus body 1, the envelope A is guided to the main conveyance path 13 within the apparatus main body 1 via the adapter 60 loaded in the loading space 25 within the apparatus body 1 and the auxiliary conveyance guide 23. The image transfer unit 12 performs the same image forming operation as described above.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the adapter 60, which is a conveying means for connecting the multi-cassette feeder 4° and the envelope feeder 5o, is attached to a casing 61 and the bottom of the casing 61. A first paper inlet 62 that faces and communicates with the feed port 24 for paper P fed from the open multi-cassette feeder 40, and a first paper conveyor that faces the first paper inlet 62. A guide 63, a transport roller 64 that feeds the paper P fed from the multi-cassette feeder 40 through the first paper transport guide 63 to the auxiliary transport guide 23 side in the apparatus main body 1, and the casing. a second envelope loading port 65 that opens on the rear surface of the envelope feeder 61 and faces the feeding port 56 for envelopes A fed from the envelope feeder 5o;
It is composed of a second envelope transport guide 66 facing the second envelope carry-in port 65, and has a single unit structure.

Further, at the lower portions of both sides of the adapter 6o, fitting portions 67. which are inserted and fitted into fitting grooves 26.26 formed on both side wall surfaces of the loading space 25, which serve as the connection portions of the device main body 1, are provided.
67, and each of the fitting portions 67.67 has a lock that engages with the jaw portions 27.27 of the fitting grooves 26.26 formed on both side wall surfaces of the loading space 25 of the device main body 1. A mechanism 70.70 is provided.

This locking mechanism 70 has an L-shaped operating lever portion 72 and an operating rod portion 73 that are integrally formed with a shaft 71 as a rotational fulcrum, and the operating lever portion 73 is positioned within the fitting portion 67. At the same time, a locking pawl 74 protruding from the tip thereof is made to protrude from the upper surface of the fitting part 67, so that when the locking claw 74 is inserted into the fitting groove 26, the jaw part 27 of the fitting groove 26 is inserted into the fitting groove 26. It is designed to be elastically engaged and locked by the biasing force of a spring 75, and when released, the operating lever part 72 is rotated forward against the biasing force of the spring 74. , which allows the device main body 1 to be detached from the connecting portion.

Further, in the figure, reference numeral 80 denotes a transmission gear that rotates the transfer roller 64 provided on the adapter 60. As shown in FIG. One rotation torque is transmitted by meshing with a drive gear 3o of a drive transmission system (not shown) on the first side.

In the above embodiment, if the multi-cassette feeder 40 and the envelope feeder 50 are not connected to the apparatus main body 1, the adapter 6o is unnecessary and can be removed from the apparatus main body 1.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, there is provided an image forming process means for forming an image on a recording medium provided in the main body of the apparatus, and a means for transporting the recording medium to the image forming process means. The feeding means includes a main conveying means and a feeding means for feeding the recording medium one by one to the main conveying means, and the feeding means includes a main feeding means for feeding the recording medium to the main conveying means and a plurality of auxiliary feeding means. Since the conveyance means for connecting the plurality of auxiliary feeding means to the main conveyance means is formed in a single unit and is detachably provided on the apparatus main body side, the connection The connection opening in the device main body to which the auxiliary feeding means is connected can be made smaller, and there is no need to arrange a transport path for each auxiliary feeding means on the device main body side, and the need for auxiliary feeding means can be reduced. Since it is only necessary to connect the connection conveying means to the main body of the device in cases where the auxiliary feeding means is unnecessary, costs can be reduced and the weight of the entire device can be reduced. be able to.

Therefore, when paper feeding/conveying options are required, multiple paper feeding/conveying options can be easily installed by connecting the connected paper conveying path unit to the device main body. For users who do not need a paper transport path for each paper feeding/transport option, it is not necessary to arrange a connecting paper transport path on the main body of the machine, so the number of attached parts can be reduced, which reduces the overall equipment cost and reduces costs. This has the excellent effect of reducing the

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged exploded cross-sectional view of the main parts showing the connection state of the adapter of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is the main body of the apparatus. FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the main part showing the connection state between the main body of the apparatus and the adapter, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded sectional view of the main part showing the connection state of the apparatus main body and the adapter. 1 ・ ・ 3 ・ ・ 4 ・ ・ 13 ・ 14 ・ 18 ・ 23 ・ 25 ・ 40 ・ 50 ・ 6o ・ P ・ ・ A ・ ・ Apparatus main body, document scanning section (scanner section), image forming section (printer section),・Main transport means (main transport path), ・Main feed means (main paper feed cassette), ・Fixing device, ・Auxiliary transport guide, ・Loading space, ・First auxiliary feed means (large capacity paper feed device) , - Second auxiliary feeding means (envelope feeding device), - Connection conveying means (adapter), Recording medium (paper), Recording medium (envelope).

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image forming process means that forms an image on a recording medium provided in the apparatus main body, a main conveyance means that conveys the recording medium to the image forming process means, and a feeding means that feeds the recording medium one by one to the main conveyance means. This feeding means comprises:
The recording medium is composed of a main feeding means for feeding the recording medium into the main feeding means and a plurality of auxiliary feeding means, and a carrying means for connecting the plurality of auxiliary feeding means to the main carrying means is formed in a single unit. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus is detachably provided on the apparatus main body side.