JP2005138967A - Paper carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To compose a paper carrying passage to be provided at a side part of an image forming device using a cover body that can be opened and closed with respect to an opening in the side part, so that jam handling can be easily conducted as an opening body is opened, with constitution of the opening body simplified. <P>SOLUTION: In this paper carrying device, the opening body 50 is provided as the cover body to be opened and closed with respect to the opening provided in the side part of a main body of the image forming device. For providing it with action of a reversal passage 32, a guide part is integrally provided on an inner surface of it. At an upstream part of the opening body 50, a curvature guide 56 is provided, and a middle guide body 35 is provided at a downstream part. At an installation part of a guide member, carrying roller devices 33 and 34 are provided. In the paper carrying device, the constitution of a guide means is simplified by use of the guide body disposed on the inner surface side. Even when a jam is generated close to a fixing device, jam handling can be easily conducted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cover body that is provided by combining a guide plate and a transport roller device with respect to a paper transport path that is arranged in a curved manner in an image forming apparatus, and the cover body is provided on the side surface of the apparatus body so as to be openable and closable. The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device.

In a paper conveyance device provided in an image forming apparatus or the like, guide plates are arranged in parallel on both sides of a paper conveyance path via a predetermined interval, and the paper is conveyed in a conveyance path defined by the guide plate. . In the paper transport path, a transport roller device is provided at a predetermined position so that the paper transport function can be performed satisfactorily. The guide plate is curved according to the curved shape of the paper transport path. A corresponding processing means such as a reading device or a recording unit is optionally provided at a predetermined position in the paper conveyance path. In addition, a roller device is provided at the upstream and downstream positions of the processing means to perform the paper transporting action, and the guiding action is well performed by the guide means against the paper feeding action by the transporting roller device. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-10-190939

  In an image forming apparatus such as a small-sized double-sided copying machine, the space for disposing the paper conveyance path is very limited. For example, an inversion path for returning one-side recorded paper toward a back-side copy Are arranged on the side of the apparatus main body, and the arrangement position thereof is limited. Further, even in the small image forming apparatus, a cover body that can be opened and closed is provided on the front side and the side surface side of the apparatus main body, and is used for replacement and maintenance of devices arranged inside. However, when the reverse conveyance path corresponding to both sides is provided on the side of the apparatus main body and the guide plate and the cover member of the paper conveyance path are configured separately, it is possible to combine the respective plate members separately. It is not preferable.

  According to the present invention, a cover body that also serves as a guide plate is provided in correspondence with a paper conveyance path as a reversing path provided on a side portion of the apparatus main body, and the paper guide member and the conveyance mechanism can be well guided. It aims at providing the apparatus which simplified the structure of (1).

The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device of an image forming apparatus provided with a cover body that can be opened and closed with respect to an opening provided in a side surface of an apparatus main body.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guide means for restricting the paper conveyance path formed on the inner side of the cover body, and a conveyance roller device arranged in combination with the guide means, so that the paper conveyance apparatus is reversed. Used as
A first paper guide portion disposed on the upstream side in the paper conveyance direction on the reversing path and a second paper guide portion provided on the downstream side are provided in combination with the conveyance roller device. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a fixing device that supports a paper guide member inside the paper conveyance path as the reversing path is provided inside the apparatus main body corresponding to the cover body, and the paper guide member and the guide of the cover body are provided. The sheet conveying path is defined by the section.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the first guide portion and the second guide portion are integrally formed on the cover body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a punch hole for inserting the roller shaft of the transport roller device is formed between the first guide portion and the second guide portion by biting.
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that a cover member that covers the biting hole is provided outside the cover body.
The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that the cover member also functions as a member for releasing the lock of the cover body to the apparatus main body.

  In the present invention, an openable / closable cover body (open / close body) is used as a guide plate for the sheet conveyance path, and a part of the opposing guide plate is supported by the cover member of the fixing device. By opening, the sheet conveyance path (reversing path) can be easily opened, and jam processing near the fixing device can be easily performed. Further, by providing guide means such as ribs and a conveying roller device on the cover body, the structure of the reversing path can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. Become. Further, by configuring the guide plate means of the reverse path of the small double-sided image forming apparatus with the cover body, it can be easily provided even for a small apparatus, and the operability of the apparatus can be improved. it can.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. The image forming apparatus 1 in FIG. 1 is described as a so-called multi-function machine having both functions of a copying machine and a FAX (facsimile). The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 2 provided with a recording unit for forming an image using an electrophotographic method, and a paper feeding unit 3 combined with the lower part of the main body 2. The paper feed unit 3 can be equipped with a paper feed tray 4 that accommodates one or a plurality of different sizes of paper. Then, according to the input information such as the document size and the enlargement / reduction ratio, the paper of the size required by the recording unit can be selected from those stored in the paper feed tray 4 and fed. . In the illustrated embodiment, one sheet feeding tray 4 is set at the lower portion of the apparatus main body 2 and sheets are fed one by one by the cooperative action of the sheet feeding roller 5 and a separation pad, which will not be described. It is configured to send out toward the path 5b. In the embodiment described below, the number of paper feed trays 4 mounted on the paper feed unit 3 and the configuration of the paper handling device are not the gist of the present invention. A description will be given assuming that such a mechanism can be arbitrarily adopted.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the paper taken out from the paper feed tray 4 set in the paper feed unit 3 first passes through the paper feed path 5 b to the other paper feed path in the combined flow path 7 a at the lower part of the paper transport path 7. To join. Then, the paper is transported through the main transport path 7 formed upward, the leading end of the paper is positioned by the registration roller device 6, and the recording unit 10 is synchronized with the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11. Sent to. The sheet on which the toner image is transferred by the recording unit 10 passes through the fixing device 20 disposed on the upper side of the recording unit 10, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet at that time. 26, the paper is discharged to the discharge tray 8. The recording unit 10 is configured as an apparatus for recording an image using an electrophotographic system. The recording unit 10 includes a writing device 12, a developing device 15, a transfer roller 14, and the like that irradiate the photosensitive drum 11 with laser light. It is arranged. An LED array head can also be applied as the writing device 12. Further, a member disposed around the photosensitive drum 11, a member that charges the photosensitive drum 11, a member that performs an operation such as memory removal after the toner image is transferred to a sheet, and the developing device 15 and the periphery thereof. A detailed configuration of the members to be described will be described later.

  The fixing device 20 disposed above the recording unit 10 provided in the apparatus main body 2 is disposed with a heat roller and a pressure roller facing each other, and a sheet on which a toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 11 is disposed. Then, fixing is performed between the two rollers of the fixing device 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the main transport path 7 for transporting the sheet by the recording section is a confluence section 7a of the sheet feed path from the sheet feed tray 4 of the sheet feed section 3 and the lower sheet feed path. And the sheet discharge junction 7d at the top of the fixing device 20 are connected. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred by the recording unit and has been fixed through the fixing device 20 is discharged from the main conveyance path 7 in a substantially lateral direction at the discharge junction 7d at the top of the fixing device 20. The paper is conveyed through the path 25 and discharged to the discharge tray 8 by the discharge roller device 26. When the image forming apparatus 1 is a model that supports only single-sided printing, the discharge roller device 26 is configured to perform a conveying operation only in the direction in which the sheet is discharged toward the discharge tray 8.

  On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus 1 is configured as a device capable of duplex printing, the discharge roller device 26 is configured as a device capable of conveying in the forward and reverse directions. When the double-sided printing mode is selected as the printing mode of the image forming apparatus 1, the discharge roller device 26 is driven reversely during the operation of discharging the single-side printed paper toward the discharge tray 8. Thus, in the paper discharge junction 7d, the switching gate 29 feeds back toward the reverse path 30 communicating with the discharge path 25. The paper passing through the reversing path 30 is returned to the main transport path 7 in the paper feed junction 7a of the main transport path 7 and transported so that the back surface of the paper faces the photosensitive drum 11, so that the toner image is photosensitive. Transferred from the body drum 11. Thereafter, when the paper passes through the fixing device 20, the paper on which the toner images are fixed on both sides is discharged toward the discharge tray 8 by the discharge roller device 26.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a manual feed tray 40 on the side of the apparatus main body 2. From the manual feed tray 40, a special size paper that cannot be accommodated in the paper feed tray 4 set in the paper feed unit 3 or a different size from the paper accommodated in the paper feed tray, only a few sheets. Sheets that require copying are set in the manual feed tray 40 so that images can be formed on these sheets. The detailed configuration of the manual feed tray 40, the configuration of the image reading apparatus 100 provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 2, the operation of reading an image of a document, and the like will be described in detail later.

  A detailed configuration of the sheet conveying member disposed along the main conveying path 7 and each component disposed in the recording unit 10 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that a description will be given of an example in which a cylindrical roller is provided as the paper supply roller 5 provided in the paper supply unit 3 to which the paper supply tray 4 is mounted. As the paper supply roller 5, a half-moon shaped roller is used. May be. Further, in the illustrated example, a separation pad 5a facing the sheet feeding roller 5 is used as a sheet separating apparatus for separating and feeding sheets from the sheet feeding tray 4 one by one. It is also possible to use a separation claw instead. The sheet fed from the sheet feeding tray 4 is subjected to an additional feeding action by the sheet feeding roller 5 with the leading end of the sheet entering the nip portion of the registration roller device 6 that is stopped. To align the leading edge of the paper. Next, in synchronization with the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11, the registration roller device 6 is driven to further feed the paper, and the toner image from the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred.

  In the recording unit 10, a charger 13, a developing device 15, and a transfer roller 14 are disposed around the photosensitive drum 11, and the main sheet is passed between the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer roller 14. A conveyance path 7 is provided. The main transport path 7 includes a vertical path 7b that extends substantially vertically from the paper feed junction 7a to the transfer nip portion of the photosensitive drum 11, a curved path 7c that is curved from the transfer nip portion to the fixing device 20, A conveyance path called a discharge junction 7d of the switching device 29 from the fixing device 20 is combined in series. Further, as shown in the figure, the developing device 15 uses a horizontally long device, and a paddle 19 as agitating / feeding means is provided inside a toner container (housing) 16 so that toner inside the container is provided. Is being transported. Inside the housing, toner is supplied to the developing roller 17 through the supply roller 18, and a thin layer of toner is formed on the surface of the developing roller 17 by the blade member 17a. Supply toner toward

  In the recording unit 10, the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged on the surface of the photosensitive member by the charger 13, and light is irradiated by the writing device to form an electrostatic latent image. Then, toner is supplied from the developing roller 17 and attached to the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image as a toner image. A transfer voltage is applied to the transfer roller 14 located on the back surface of the paper, and the toner image is transferred to the paper. After the toner image is transferred onto the paper, paper dust remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is removed by the cleaning member 13a.

  As described above, the sheet on which the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 11 is sent to the heat roller 22 disposed in the housing 21 of the fixing device 20 so that the toner image carrying surface of the sheet faces the sheet. In the fixing device 20, the paper is pressed against the heat roller 22 by the pressure roller 23, and the toner melted by heat is pressed from the back surface of the paper with a predetermined pressure to be fixed on the paper. The sheet fixed through the fixing device 20 is conveyed toward the discharge tray 8 through the discharge path 25 connected to the downstream end of the main transport path 7.

  A sensor S is provided at a predetermined position of the discharge path 25 in order to detect the leading or trailing edge of the discharged paper. When the duplex printing mode is selected, the single-side printed paper is not completely discharged by the discharge roller device 26, but is stopped in the middle of the discharge, and then the reverse conveyance operation is performed. In other words, using the information that the sensor S detects the trailing edge of the single-side printed paper in the discharge direction, the discharge roller device 26 is driven while the trailing edge of the single-sided printing paper is nipped by the discharge roller device 26. Thereafter, the discharge roller device 26 is driven in the reverse direction, and the single-side printed paper is caused to flow into the reverse path 32.

  At the paper discharge junction 7a where the main conveyance path 7 and the discharge path 25 merge, the reversing path 32 and the discharge path 25 merge, and this paper discharge junction 7a switching gate 29 is provided. The switching gate 29 is configured to block the communication portion between the main conveyance path 7 and the discharge path 25 by its own weight. When the paper is guided from the main transport path 7 to the discharge path 25, the paper lifts the switching gate 29 by the strength of its own strength to open the communication portion between the main transport path 7 and the discharge path 25. When the trailing edge of the paper has passed through the paper discharge junction 7a, the switching gate 29 operates to close the communication portion between the main transport path 7 and the discharge path 25 by its own weight. It should be noted that the switching gate 29 may be swung by a solenoid so as to open and close the paper discharge junction 7a. In addition, one end of a plastic sheet-like member is fixed to the paper discharge junction 7a, and the paper is discharged from the fixing device to open the sheet member and guide the paper toward the discharge path. When the sheet conveyed in the returning direction is fed toward the reversing path 32, a guiding action may be performed so that the sheet member does not interfere.

  The reversing path 32 is configured to join the main transport path 7 in the paper feed junction 7 b and to extend up and down substantially parallel to the main transport path 7. A plurality of conveying roller devices 33 and 34 are provided in the middle of the reversing path 32. When the minimum size supported by the image forming apparatus 1 is a postcard size, the interval between the conveying roller devices 33 and 34 in the direction along the reversing path 32 is as follows. It is supposed to be smaller than the postcard size. In addition, the reversing path 32 is provided with a curved portion 32a that draws a large arc at the top, and a circular portion 32b having a small turning radius that is joined to the paper feeding and joining portion 7a. The curved path 32a and the arc portion 32b An arc portion 32c is formed on the opposite side so as to curve the sheet. More specifically, it is composed of a curved portion 32a connected to the paper discharge merging portion 7d, an arc portion 32b connected to the paper feed merging portion 7a, and a curved portion 32c connected to these, and the curved portion 32a and the circular arc portion 32b. The center of curvature is disposed on the main conveyance path 7 side when viewed from the reverse path 32, and the center of curvature of the curved portion 32 c is disposed on the manual feed tray 40 side when viewed from the reverse path 32. In addition to the above configuration, the radius of curvature of the curved portion 32c is formed to be larger than the radius of curvature of the curved portion 32a and the arc portion 32b. With this layout, even when a relatively thick and stiff sheet is transported, the sheet can be transported in a stable state.

  The examples shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 describe the configuration of the manual feed tray 40 provided on the side portion of the apparatus main body 2. The manual feed tray 40 is arranged on the right side surface of the apparatus main body 2 as shown in FIG. The two wall bodies 2a and 2a facing each other in the depth direction are supported by a hinge portion 43 so as to be openable and closable. The manual feed tray 40 is instructed through a main body member 41 movably provided with side guides 42 and 42a for positioning a paper to be set, and a support shaft 46 so as to be foldable with respect to the main body member 41. A first tray 47 and a second tray 48 attached to the first tray 47 via a support shaft 47a so as to be foldable. At the left end of the main body member 41 of the manual feed tray 40, a separation pad 44a is provided corresponding to the manual feed roller 44 provided in the apparatus main body 2, and the paper set on the tray is fed to the feed roller. At the time of feeding by 44, the pad 44a is applied with a separating action.

  However, if the second tray member 48 is not held so as to be surely overlapped with the first tray member 47, the second tray member 48 opens around the hinge 47a when being folded with respect to the first tray member 47 and the main body member 41. Thus, there is a problem that the opposite end 48 a hits the surface of the main body member 41. Therefore, in the conventional foldable manual feed tray, it is necessary to fold the two tray members so that they are stacked on the main body member 41 while being held by hand, and the manual feed tray 40 is placed in the storage portion 2a. There was an inconvenience that the operation when storing was troublesome.

  The manual feed tray 40 described in the above embodiment solves the problem of folding the conventional manual feed tray as described above, and the first and second tray members 47 and 48 are folded with one hand to the main body member 41. It is configured so that it can be easily stacked. Therefore, in the manual feed tray 40 described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, in particular, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the hinge portion by the support shaft 46 for supporting the first tray member 47 with respect to the main body member 41. Correspondingly, a plurality of ribs 45... Are provided on the first tray member 47 side of the main body member 41 at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the sheet conveying path. These ribs 45 are composed of a first step portion 45 a formed on the lower side of the first tray member 47 and a second step portion 45 b formed on the main body member 41 side. A sheet can be smoothly guided between the one tray member 47 and the main body member 41. Further, among the rib members, rib members 45c and 45c provided so that the end of the second tray member 48 abuts are configured as stepped portions formed slightly higher than the second stepped portion 45b. .

  When the second tray member 48 is folded with respect to the first tray member 47 and when folded with respect to the main body member 41, the second tray member 48 is the first stage of the operation of folding the first tray member 47. The end 48a of 48 is in a state of being caught by the step 45c. Further, when the first tray member 47 is folded with respect to the tray main body member 41, the step 45c is effective even when the main body member 41 is inclined at a predetermined angle as shown in the figure. Therefore, the inconvenience that the folding of the tray is hindered by the second tray 48 swinging freely is eliminated. Therefore, the two rib members 45 c and 45 c formed high are folded so as to overlap the main body member 41 around the support shaft 43 in a state where the second tray member 48 is folded with respect to the first tray member 47. In doing so, it is possible to limit the free swinging of the second tray member in a state where both side portions of the free-side front end portion of the second tray 48 are locked to the rib member 45c.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the manual feed tray 40 is configured to be able to be held so as to enter the accommodating portion 2 a provided as a recess in the side portion of the main body. In a state where the manual feed tray 40 is opened via the support shaft 43, the paper feed roller 44 provided at the base portion of the main body member 41 is positioned corresponding to the pad as a separating member. In addition, the paper feed path from the manual feed tray 40 is a junction where the paper feed path from the paper feed tray 4 and the reverse path 32 are provided upstream of the registration roller device 6 as shown in FIG. 39 is configured to be merged. The registration roller device 6 holds the leading end of the paper against the nip portion of the roller and stops it, and then drives it in time with the information of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum. Then, the sheet is sent out toward the recording unit to record an image.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the paper feeding unit from the manual feed tray 40, the paper fed by the paper feed roller 44 of the manual feed tray is communicated with the pad member 44 a provided at the front end on the main body side of the main body member 41. It can be configured to be held between. On the other hand, in practice, it is performed between the pad member 49 a provided in the paper guide portion 49 and the paper feed roller 44 at the end of the apparatus main body side adjacent to the main body portion of the manual feed tray 40. . The pad 44a provided on the end of the main body member 41 of the manual feed tray 40 on the upstream side of the separation pad member 49a is also provided as a resistance member having a large friction coefficient, and the paper stored in the manual feed tray is When the paper is fed by the paper feed roller 44, it is possible to exert an effect of applying resistance to the bottom surface of the accumulated paper. Therefore, even if each tray member of the manual feed tray is made of plastic and the paper is slippery, it prevents multiple sheets from entering the separation section at the same time, and double feed occurs. It works effectively to prevent.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the sheet guide portion 49 of the sheet feeding path of the apparatus main body, the separation pad member 49a is formed to be the highest, and the separation pad member 49a is the apex, and gradually decreases on both sides thereof. A plurality of rib members 49b, 49c,... Are provided at a predetermined interval in parallel to the paper transport direction. Further, a concave groove portion formed to be lower is formed between the rib members 49b, 49c,..., And the sheet is slid on the sheet feeding roller or the separation pad, and the sheet is fluttered. Even if it occurs, the sheet is lightly slid on the guide surface (upper surface) of the rib member, and the sheet is protected from being affected by the fluttering of the sheet. In practice, if the rib member is formed so that the height of each guide surface decreases by about 2 mm from the sheet guide surface 49a to the rib 49b. It has been found that this can be done in the state.

  The manual feed tray 40 is supported so as to be swingable (openable and closable) via a hinge portion 43 with respect to the storage portion 2a provided on the side portion of the apparatus main body 2, and the manual feed tray 40 is folded so that the storage portion In the state leaned in 2a, it hold | maintains so that it may not protrude to the outer surface of the side surface 2 of an apparatus main body. Then, it opens as shown in FIG. 3 only when the manual feed tray 40 is used. When the paper set on the manual feed tray 40 is large, all of the first and second tray members 47 and 48 are expanded. Thus, paper can be placed and fed. On the other hand, when the size of the paper to be used is small, the first tray member 47 may be opened from the main body member 41 and the paper may be set using two tray members. Then, the side guides 42 and 42a are pressed to both sides of the paper set on the manual feed tray 40 to position the paper on the paper feed tray and perform the paper feeding operation.

  In the state in which the manual feed tray 40 is folded into the storage portion 2a, the manual feed tray 40 is held as shown in FIGS. It is provided so as to be openable and closable via a shaft support 51. At the upper part of the opening / closing body 50, the side surface of the apparatus main body 2 is locked and fixed by a lock member 53 provided with a handle 52, and the sheet guide member provided in the apparatus main body 2 and the opening / closing body 50 are provided. Each of the sheet guide members constitute sheet guide means in the main transport path 7 and the reverse path 32. The inner surface of the frame 31 of the opening / closing body 50 is formed as the outer guide surface 31a of the reversing path 32 as described in FIG. A curved paper guide surface is provided according to the shape. The structure of the support mechanism in the shaft support 51 for supporting the opening / closing body 50 to be openable / closable with respect to the side portion of the apparatus body 2 and for making the opening / closing body detachable will be described later. .

  On the inner surface side of the opening / closing body 50, a middle guide body 35 is supported at the lower part. Further, although not described in FIG. 2 and FIG. The bending guide 56 is supported by using support means that omits. Then, by performing an operation of opening the opening / closing body 50 from the apparatus main body 2, the description is omitted in FIG. 8, but the curved guide 56 provided near the side of the fixing device 20 also moves together with the opening / closing body 50. Is done. Accordingly, with the opening / closing body 50 opened, the guide member on the side portion side and the transfer roller 14 are removed at the lower portion of the fixing device 20 in the main transport path 7 while leaving the guide plate member on the main body side. Therefore, the main transport path is greatly opened.

  The middle guide body 35 supported by the opening / closing body 50 is provided with the other guide surface 35a on the frame side of the reversing path 32 and the guide surface 35b of the main transport path 7 through which the sheet passes through the recording unit 10 of the main body. It has been. The middle guide body 35 is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body using an arbitrary positioning means. The intermediate guide body 35 is also provided so as to be fixedly held with respect to the frame 51 of the opening / closing body 50 using a conventionally known holding means. Yes. When a jam occurs in the reversing path 32 of the paper transport path, the opening / closing body 50 is opened so that the paper is pulled out from the gap between the upper and lower portions by either the curved guide 56 or the middle guide body 35. Thus, the jam can be processed. For a jam in which the paper is completely hidden on either the back surface side of the middle guide body 35 or the curved guide 56, the guide body in which the jam occurs after the opening / closing body 50 is opened. Is removed, and the paper can be removed while the nip of the roller with respect to the jammed paper in the reversing path 32 is released.

  The opening / closing body 50 is provided with driving roller members 33a, 34a of conveying roller devices 33, 34 disposed in the reversing path 32. The intermediate guide body 35 has a pinch roller member of the conveying roller device 34, and A pinch roller member of the registration roller device 6 is provided. That is, since the middle guide body 35 is not provided with a driving mechanism, any roller member that functions as a pinch roller member is disposed, and further, a transfer provided corresponding to the photosensitive drum 11. A roller 14 is disposed. Further, the pinch roller member of the conveying roller device 33 disposed on the upper portion of the reversing path 32 is provided on a curved guide 56 disposed corresponding to the side portion of the fixing device 20 as described later.

  As described above, the conveying roller device arranged in the reversing path 32 forms a conveying path by arranging roller devices at an interval narrower than the length of the minimum size paper that can be used in the image forming apparatus. That is, in this embodiment, the interval between the discharge roller device 26 and the conveyance roller device 33, the interval between the two conveyance roller devices 33 and 34, and the interval between the conveyance roller device 34 and the registration roller device 6 are used in the apparatus. They are arranged with an interval shorter than the minimum sheet size possible. The interval between the roller devices can be considered to cover generally used size paper, for example, based on the length in the width direction of A4 size paper. By narrowing, it becomes possible to target A5 size paper such as a reciprocating postcard. In addition, as described above, the arrangement interval of the conveying roller device may be set for a postcard.

  As described in the above embodiment, when the middle guide body 35 is configured to be able to be taken out of the apparatus together with the opening / closing body 50 that also serves as one side plate of the apparatus main body, a paper jam (jam paper) occurs. It is possible to cope with all the stop positions that can be assumed. And in the state which opened the said opening-and-closing body 50, with respect to the conveyance roller apparatus arrange | positioned between the middle guide body 35 and the opening-and-closing body side guide member of the inversion path 32, the drive roller member and the pinch roller member In this case, the state in which the paper is strongly nipped is automatically canceled, and the paper can be easily pulled out. Further, when the opening / closing body 50 is opened around the shaft support portion 51, a locking member (stopper string) 55 is provided to adjust the degree of opening.

  The locking member 55 uses a string-like member, one end of which is fixed to the frame of the apparatus body with a screw or the like via a fixing portion 55a, and the other end is connected to the frame of the opening / closing body 50. The part 55b is attached. When the end of the locking member 55 is fixed to the opening / closing body 50, the back surface of the shaft 34b of the drive roller member 34a of the transport roller device 34 is not simply screwed to the end of the string. Means are used to secure the end of the string through the side. As described above, by fixing the end portion of the locking member 55 to the frame of the opening / closing body 50, the tension applied to the string 55 as the locking member is placed on the roller shaft 34b, and the end portion A means for ensuring the stability of the fixing portion is used so that a large tensile force does not act on the portion fixed with the screw.

  Therefore, when the opening / closing body 50 is opened, the weight of the opening / closing body and the impact when the opening / closing body is swung are not directly borne on the fixing portion of the string, but on the shaft of the roller. Most of the force acts, and acts as a force to remove the shaft from the bearing. In general, the shaft 34b of the driving roller member of the transport roller device 34 is supported by a strong support means that does not easily disengage from the bearing. Therefore, even if such a large force acts on the string-like locking member 55, the shaft support state of the driving roller member is uncertain due to an impact such as an inertial force when the opening / closing body 50 is opened. It will not be. Further, even if the tension applied to the string-like member is applied to the screw fixing portion in a state where the tension is relaxed so as to be indirectly applied through the portion that contacts the shaft, It is fixed so that it can withstand an impact and can exhibit a stable support state.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the state where the manual feed tray 40 is accommodated / held with respect to the opening / closing body 50, as shown in FIG. 9, the opening / closing body 50 has a function as an integrated side plate. The opening formed in the side part of the main body can be closed. A handle member 52 is provided at the upper part of the opening / closing body 50 so as to slightly protrude from the side so that the finger can be inserted a little to release the lock when opening. The hole in the handle member 52 into which the finger can be inserted is provided with an opening for releasing the heat of the fixing device arranged adjacent to the inside of the hole. This is configured as described in FIG.

  Further, in the examples shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and FIGS. 13 and 14, the side plate 54 of the frame of the opening / closing body 50 is provided with a recess 54 a with respect to the driving roller member of the conveying roller device 34 provided in the reversing path 32. ing. Further, in addition to the recess 54a, a hole 54b can be provided at a position corresponding to the handle portion that opens the opening / closing body. In the driving roller member of the conveyance roller device, the single-sided copied paper passing through the reversing path passes through the reversing path while maintaining heat. Therefore, the roller member of the conveying roller apparatus is heated by the heat of the sheet. There is concern about expansion. In particular, in the case where a large number of double-sided copies are continuously executed, a sheet heated to a high temperature through the fixing device 20 passes through the inside of the reversing path while maintaining the heat. It is assumed that it will be in a high temperature state by the heat of. Therefore, when the driving roller member expands due to heat and is pressed by the pinch roller member provided with the urging means, an inconvenient state occurs in which the roller surface slides on the adjacent wall. If the thin part by the recessed part 54a provided in the wall 54 of an opening-closing body is formed with respect to the said problem, or the hole is formed, the heat | fever accumulated in the inversion path will be released outside from the part which is easy to radiate. As a result, the sheet conveying action can be maintained in a good state.

  In addition, as described above, the opening / closing body 50 provided on the side of the apparatus main body is detachably provided on the side of the apparatus main body while holding the manual feed tray 40. In order to hold the opening / closing body 50 on the side of the apparatus main body, a pair of leg members 80 and 80a are provided projecting downward at the lower portion of the opening / closing body 50. As shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b), the leg members 80 and 80a are integrally provided with a shaft support portion 82 for holding the support shaft 51 protruding from the apparatus main body with the opening / closing body frame. . The shaft support portion includes a guide portion 82a having a width enough to allow a narrow portion 51a cut through both sides of the support shaft 51 as parallel planes, and an arcuate accommodation portion 82b. Is inserted into the arc portion 82b, and the opening / closing body 50 is supported to be openable / closable with respect to the main body.

  One leg member 80 provided to project from the lower part of the opening / closing body 50 is provided with a positioning projection member 85, and the positioning projection 85 has a shape obtained by dividing a circle into quarters. Provided. The positioning projection 85 and the shaft support portion 82 are formed integrally when the opening / closing body 50 is manufactured by resin molding, and are located at positions corresponding to the support shaft 51 provided in the apparatus main body. When the opening / closing body 50 is mounted, column members 86 and 86a for positioning the protrusion 85 at the mounting position are arranged. Therefore, when the opening / closing body 50 is first assembled on the side of the apparatus main body, the initial positioning is performed by inserting the positioning protrusions 85 between the column members 86 and 86a of the apparatus main body. Next, the shaft support portions 82 and 82 provided on the leg members 80 and 80a on both sides are positioned corresponding to the respective support shafts, and the combination is accurate at the position where the support shaft enters the arc portion 82b by pushing down the opening and closing body. It is supposed to be done.

  As described above, by installing the opening / closing body 50 in the opening on the side of the apparatus main body, the opening / closing bodies are provided in a swingable combination as described with reference to FIGS. After that, as described in FIG. 8, the opening when the opening / closing body 50 is opened by using a string-like member as the locking member 55 and fixing the end portions to the opening / closing body 50 and the main body frame, respectively. The condition can be defined according to the length of the locking member. In addition, the said locking member can use arbitrary string-shaped things, The material, thickness, etc. in particular are not restrict | limited.

  As a cover body for closing the opening provided in the side portion of the apparatus main body 2, on the side where the opening / closing body 50 is provided, shaft members 51 are provided so as to substantially face both sides of the opening frame of the apparatus main body 2. Protrusions are provided. In addition, as described above, the shaft support portion corresponding to the shaft member 51 is provided at the lower part of the frame of the opening / closing body 50, which is disclosed in FIGS. 9 and 10A and 10B, respectively. As shown, it is provided to allow the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing body. In addition to the above-described configuration, a detection projection member 90 corresponding to the sensor is provided at a predetermined position on the inner surface of the opening / closing body 50, as will be described with reference to FIG. The sensor 91 is provided in the opening of the apparatus main body. The sensor 91 is provided with a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element facing each other, and detects a state in which the detection-purpose protruding member 90 enters between the two elements. Therefore, the opening / closing of the opening / closing body 50 can be easily detected by providing the sensor 91 in the apparatus main body. The position where the detection member and the member to be detected are arranged is not particularly limited, and can be dealt with by providing a sensor in the margin space of the apparatus main body.

  Further, on the inner surface side of the opening / closing body 50, in order to detect the passage of the paper in the paper conveyance path as the reversing path, it is possible to provide paper detection means at an arbitrary position. As the paper detection means provided in the reversing path, for example, an arm member can be provided so as to protrude into the paper conveyance path, and the arm member can be provided so as to swing by the passage of the paper. It is possible to use a means similar to the detecting means. For the arm member, a sensor or the like is disposed at an arbitrary position on the end of the shaft, and jamming in the paper transport path is performed using information on the swing of the arm member for detection. Means for performing detection can be configured. The configuration of the arm member that is swung by the paper and the member that is detected by the sensor is not particularly limited, and the detection means includes a shaft member that is rotatably supported by the cover body or the apparatus main body, A first arm member that is formed continuously with the end portion of the shaft member and is operated according to the presence or absence of a sheet conveyed along the widthwise central portion of the cover body, and is formed continuously with the other end portion of the shaft member. The operation of the first arm member may be combined with a second arm member that is linked via a shaft member and a sensor member that detects whether the second arm member is swinging.

  An inner guide member 56 disposed on the opening / closing body 50 and forming the upper part of the reversing path 32 has a sheet guiding means on the reversing path as shown in FIG. Further, the guide member 56 supports the pinch roller member 33b of the transport roller device 33 configured as described in FIG. The curved guide 56 is provided with ribs 57a... Protruding from the surface of the main body 57 at a predetermined interval, and is configured to have a small sliding resistance when the sheet is slid. The mounting portion 58 provided in the curved guide 56 is provided with a concave portion for accommodating the roller body and fixing portions 58a for mounting a coil spring 33d as a shaft support member on both sides thereof, and is pressed by the driving roller member 33a. The pinch roller member 33b is supported.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the pinch roller member 33b of the conveying roller device 33 is provided on the mounting portion 58 of the bending guide 56 using a coil spring 33d. In the above-described embodiment, the rollers constituting the pinch roller member 33b are provided with protruding flange members 33c on both sides corresponding to the shaft support holes so as to restrict lateral movement in the guide mounting portion. Is provided. Therefore, even when a force in the oblique feeding direction is applied to the paper transported by the roller, even if a force that causes the pinch roller member to move in the lateral direction of the paper transport path is applied by the paper, The member 33c is pressed to either side of the roller mounting portion provided in the curved guide. Then, since the pinch roller member is not moved any more, the paper conveying action is performed in a good state while the force for moving the paper sideways is eliminated, and the pinch roller member is released when the force for skewing the paper is eliminated. The roller member is automatically returned to the normal position by the force of the elastic shaft.

  The example illustrated in FIG. 13 describes the positional relationship between the constituent members disposed on the upper portion of the fixing device 20, and the paper discharged from the fixing device 20 is substantially omitted in the paper discharge junction 7d. Connected to the discharge path 25 and the reversal path 32 formed horizontally, the sheet is guided by the switching gate 29 at the junction of the transport path. The switching gate 29 is expressed as having a slightly different shape from the gate described in the other embodiments, but the lower surface 28 and the upper surface 28a of the gate body supported by the shaft 29a and capable of swinging are provided on the fixing device. A guide surface (28) for guiding the sheet from 20 toward the discharge path 25 and a guide surface (28a) from the discharge path 25 toward the reversing path 32 are caused to act. The shaft 29a of the switching gate 29 is provided with a torsion spring, and can be urged so that the lowering operation can be performed at a higher speed when the gate 29 swings due to its own weight.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, the handle 52 provided at the top of the opening / closing body 50 is provided with a hole into which a finger can be inserted from below the protruding portion. At a position corresponding to the driving roller member 33a of the transport roller device 33, a hole 54 penetrating the guide member is provided. Since the hole 54 is provided at a position close to the fixing device 20, the heat generated from the device and the paper at the upper part of the fixing device 20 is provided so that the heat can be easily released from the hole 54. . Further, in correspondence with the drive roller member 33a, an opening that communicates with the hole 54 as a biting hole is formed in the portion where the roller is located with respect to the paper guide rib provided on the guide surface. Yes. Furthermore, when the handle 52 is provided via the support shaft 52a and the handle member is swung, the lock member 53 is swung to unlock the opening / closing body 50 with respect to the apparatus main body. The lower support shaft 51 is provided so as to be swingable.

  In the embodiment of the opening / closing body 50, any conventionally known interlocking means can be used as the interlocking mechanism for locking the opening / closing body 50 to the side portion of the apparatus main body 2. In addition to the above configuration, the pinch roller member 33b is supported by a curved guide 56 as a part of the outer frame of the fixing device frame, corresponding to the driving roller member 33a supported by the opening / closing body 50. In the embodiment of FIG. 13 and FIGS. 14 and 15 described below, the opening / closing body 50 is disposed as a cover body with respect to the opening provided in the side portion of the apparatus main body 2. The opening / closing body 50 is provided to be rotatable with a slight margin (play) with respect to the opening of the main body.

  The opening / closing body 50 has a structure as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, and a guide member for the inversion path 32 is formed on the inner surface of the frame of the opening / closing body 50. In addition, a bending guide 56 is integrally provided on the opening / closing body 50 at a position corresponding to the transport roller device 33. As shown in FIG. 13, the convex guide 59 provided so as to protrude from the rear surface side of the curved guide 56 to the left side of the drawing is in contact with the frame 21 of the fixing device 20 as shown in FIG. When the opening / closing body 50 is closed, the opening / closing body 50 can be positioned together with the lock member 53 when the opening / closing body 50 is closed.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, the opening / closing body 50 is provided with the middle guide body 35 at the lower portion in addition to the curved guide 56 being detachably provided at the upper portion. And with respect to the outer side guide 31a of the conveyance path 32 provided in the frame 31 of the opening / closing body 50 itself, the guide surface of the curved guide 56 and the middle guide body 35 is used as an opposing guide member to constitute an inversion path. It is what. The middle guide 35 is also provided with a guide member integrally with the main conveyance path 7 through which the sheet passes through the recording unit, and the main conveyance path 7 of the apparatus main body is opened by opening the opening / closing body 50. Can be released. In addition, when the opening / closing body 50 is opened, the reversing path 32 is in a state where a large gap is formed between the upper and lower guides 56 and 35, so that a paper jam has occurred in the reversing path 32. Even in this case, the operation of taking out the jammed paper can be easily performed. In the example of the opening / closing body 50, the opening / closing body 50 whose lower end is engaged with the shaft member 51 is provided with detecting means as described above with reference to FIG. A protruding member 90 as a detected member of the detecting means is provided on the apparatus main body side from the inner surface of the opening / closing body 50. In addition, as a detection means for detecting opening / closing of the opening / closing body 50, an arbitrary detection mechanism can be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the driving roller member of the conveying roller device is supported on the frame 31 side of the opening / closing body 50, and the conductive belt 67 is connected to the two driving roller members for driving transmission to the driving roller member. It is provided so as to be driven around the shaft pulley. Note that the drive system of the main body is driven and transmitted to the drive roller member of the transport roller device 33 through the gear 33G, but the description of the configuration is omitted. The middle guide body 35 provided in the opening / closing body 50 is provided with a pinch roller member of the registration roller device 6 in the main transport path and a transfer roller 14. These rollers function as driven rollers. No drive source is needed because it does.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, in order to transmit the driving force to the roller devices and the like disposed in the paper feeding unit 3 and the recording unit 10 of the apparatus main body 2, the driving and driving as shown in FIGS. A conduction device 60 is provided. The driving / conducting device 60 includes a first driving system 61 for transmitting driving transmission to the photosensitive drum disposed in the recording unit 10 and each rotating body of the developing device 15, and a conveying roller disposed in the reversing path 32. It comprises a second drive system 65 for driving the devices 33 and 34. In the first drive system 61 for transmitting the drive to the rotating member provided in the recording unit, the paper 17 is conveyed from the output gear 62 of the first drive motor to the gear 17G of the developing device via the gear 11G of the photosensitive drum. The driving force is transmitted to the gear 22G of the fixing device disposed in the downstream portion of the path and the lower sheet feeding roller and registration roller device (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 17, the two drive systems 61 and 65 provided in the drive / conduction device 60 have motors 62 and 66, respectively. Corresponding to the case of the duplex mode, the drive transmission system for the discharge roller device 26 is changed. That is, when the image forming apparatus is configured as a single-sided mode apparatus, in the drive transmission gear group in the first drive system 61, the discharge roller apparatus via the drive gear 22 </ b> G of the fixing device 20 and the idler gear 63 from the motor 62. Drive transmission to 26 is performed. On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus is configured as a double-sided mode apparatus, drive transmission is performed from the motor 66 of the second drive system 65 to the discharge roller apparatus 26 via the gear 64, and By driving the discharge roller device 26 in the forward and reverse directions, the single-sided copy paper is fed toward the reverse path.

  In the apparatus for reversing and transporting paper using the second drive system 65, a drive / conduction mechanism as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is provided for the paper transport path described in FIG. A sensor S and a switching gate 29 are provided at a predetermined position of the discharge path for guiding the sheet toward the discharge tray 8. In the second drive system 65, the motor 66 is configured to be capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions. During the operation of discharging the single-sided copy sheet toward the discharge tray, the motor is driven in reverse to remove the sheet. An operation for returning to the reversing path is performed. That is, when the image forming apparatus is configured as a single-sided mode apparatus, the drive transmission mechanism of the second drive system 65 is not provided, and therefore the drive transmission from the motor 62 is transmitted to the gear 22G of the fixing device 20. To the gear 26G of the discharge roller device through the idler gear 63, and drive transmission is performed so that the single-sided copy paper is discharged toward the discharge tray 8.

  Further, when the image forming apparatus is configured as an apparatus capable of making a double-sided copy, a second drive system 65 is provided in combination. When the second drive system 65 is combined with the first drive system 61, a motor 62 that rotates in one direction and a motor 66 that rotates in the forward and reverse directions can be individually connected to the discharge roller device 26. It is said that. Therefore, when the device is configured as a double-sided mode device, the drive transmission is transmitted from the gear transmission portion of the second drive system to the discharge roller device 26 via the gear 64 without mounting the idler gear 63 of the first drive system 61. Like that. In other words, when the second drive system 65 is provided, a gear 64 for transmitting the drive to the discharge roller device is provided, so that the idler gear 63 cannot be subsequently mounted. Set the ranking. Therefore, when the second drive system 65 is provided and configured as a device capable of double-sided recording, the idler gear 63 of the first drive system 61 is made to correspond using a member that cannot be mounted later.

  In the sheet conveying device of the image forming apparatus configured as described above, a mechanism for driving and transmitting using the conductive belt 67 is configured between the conveying roller devices 33 and 34 arranged on the reverse path. This is because the gap between the two conveying roller devices is large for gear transmission, but the driving rollers of the conveying roller devices 33 and 34 are provided in the opening / closing body 50 as described in FIG. Therefore, it corresponds to the purpose of configuring the apparatus, such as reducing the weight as much as possible.

  When the drive conduction system 60 is provided in combination with the first and second drive systems and configured as a device capable of double-sided printing, the sheet conveying apparatus shown in FIG. Done. First, the paper separated from the paper feed tray and fed out one by one is aligned by the registration roller device 6, and then the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred and fixed through the fixing device 20. , And sent out by a roller of the fixing device. The sheet produced as the single-sided copy is conveyed from the gate 29 through the discharge path 25 to the discharge tray 8 by the discharge roller device 26 in the discharge direction.

  When the rear end of the one-side printed paper is detected by the sensor S provided in the discharge path, the discharge is performed in a state where the rear end of the paper is nipped by the discharge roller device 26 based on the information. The roller device 26 is stopped, and then the motor 66 is driven in the reverse (reverse) direction so that the paper is returned by the discharge roller device 26. The returned single-side printed paper passes through the guide surface on the gate 29 and is conveyed by the discharge roller devices 33 and 34 inside the reversing path 32, and from the curved portion at the lower end of the reversing path 32, the registration roller It joins to the alignment position by the apparatus 6. The reverse side of the single-sided printed paper is such that the back side thereof corresponds to the photosensitive drum 11, the next image is recorded on the back side of the paper, and the paper printed on both sides thereof is the fixing device 20. Then, the toner is fixed and passes through the discharge roller device 26 toward the discharge tray 8.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 18 to 21, the upper image reading device is removed to explain the configuration of the apparatus main body. As shown in FIG. 18, an opening / closing body 50 is provided on one side of the apparatus main body. A front door 70 is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body. The front door 70 covers the upper part of the mounting portion of the paper feed tray. When the door 70 is opened, the space of the unit mounting portion 71 of the recording unit is exposed. Note that, as described above, the space portion 71 of the recording unit is configured so that the photosensitive drum, the devices arranged in the periphery thereof, and the developing device can be mounted in combination.

  As described above, the opening / closing body 50 provided on the side portion of the apparatus main body 2 is provided with the outer guide 31a of the return path on the inner surface thereof. The guide 31a is arranged by combining a plurality of ribs extending in the direction of the sheet conveying apparatus, and the upper surface of the rib is formed in a predetermined curved surface. In addition, an inner guide member corresponding to the outer guide surface and an outer surface of the middle guide body are used, and the inner guide surface 35a of the return path is also configured by providing a large number of ribs that are long in parallel in the sheet conveying direction. doing. In addition, a conveyance roller device or the like is provided on the guide surface of the return path, and these mechanisms are as described above.

  As described in FIG. 19, as a device to be mounted on the recording unit, a photosensitive unit and a developing unit 73 are provided in combination. In order to combine the two units, the shaft 11a of the photosensitive drum 11 is provided. Is positioned in the hole of the shaft holder 74 provided at the tip of the developing device unit 73. The shaft holder 74 has a long hole for driving. The drum shaft 11a is inserted into the long hole and the lever member 75 is operated to define the position of the developing roller relative to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. Each member can be positioned at the development position. Note that a charging member, a cleaning device, and the like disposed around the photosensitive drum can be mounted on the photosensitive unit 72 while maintaining a predetermined positional relationship. By mounting the two units 72 and 73 in a predetermined order, the relationship between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller is automatically set.

  The unit attached to the recording unit of the apparatus main body is exposed by opening the front door, and can be taken out as necessary. However, if the unit can be taken out as it is when the front door is opened, it may touch an object to be attached or detached or a unit that does not require maintenance. Therefore, an example of making it possible to prevent an erroneous operation or an unreasonable operation by making one action added after opening the front door 70 an indispensable requirement of the operation. This will be described below.

  In the example illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 21, two units arranged in the recording unit of the image forming apparatus, that is, the photosensitive unit and the developing unit 73 cannot be removed only by opening the front door 70. An example of this is described. When the front door 70 is opened, the lever member 75 is stopped at a predetermined position on the front side of the developing unit 73 so as to obstruct. Further, a stopper member 78 is provided on the front side of the combined portion of the photosensitive unit and the developing unit so as to be stopped. As described in FIG. 21, the stopper member 78 is a plate-like member that can be swung via a support shaft 79. The stopper member 78 includes a shutter member 78a having a large area at the bottom and a sharp member 78b at the top. , Provided above and below the shaft support portion by the support shaft 79. In the example of the stopper member 78, the upper pointed member 78b is not particularly important to be present, and is used only when it is used for confirmation of swinging or the like.

  The shutter member 78a as the lower member of the stopper member 78 is in a state in which the opening / closing body 50 as a side plate is bound, and a part of the opening / closing body 50 comes into contact, and the shutter member 78a hides the combined portion of the two units. Are positioned as follows. Since the pressing action is released when the opening / closing body 50 is opened, the shutter member 78a is swung from the chain line position of FIG. 21 to the position indicated by the solid line by its own weight. Therefore, by opening the opening / closing body 50 after opening the front door 70, the connecting portion of the unit disposed in the recording portion is exposed. However, even if the connecting portion between the two units is exposed, the developing device 15 of the developing device unit 73 is blocked by the lock lever 75 at the front portion thereof, and the developing device unit cannot be taken out. Has been. Therefore, in order to take out the developing device 15, the lock lever 75 is rotated about the shaft 76 in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing so that the unlocking operation can be performed after unlocking.

  As described above, the stopper member 78 provided so as to be swingable around the support shaft 79 can be held at a predetermined position so as to cover the front portion of the unit with its own weight, for example. It is. In addition, a torsion spring or the like can be provided on the support shaft 79 so that the main body portion 78a of the stopper member 78 can be positioned and held so as to always close the unit mounting portion 71. The biasing means can be composed of an arbitrary elastic body, and an elastic body such as a coil spring is connected to a predetermined position of the upper member 78b and the main body and biased to a closed position. It is also possible to hold it.

  Further, since the shutter member 78a of the stopper member 78 is configured as a member having a relatively large area, the area where the surface portion is exposed is a member such as a pillar provided in the front portion of the main body frame. Related and appropriately set. Therefore, in the exposed portion of the front surface of the shutter member, an explanation related to the unit to be mounted on the unit mounting portion, for example, a procedure for attaching and detaching the unit, etc. is provided at a position where it is easy to see in text or illustrated. It is possible. In addition, it is possible to provide a user-friendly device by describing the handling instructions of the units and the like arranged in the apparatus and other important matters on the inner surface of the front door of the image forming apparatus. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image reading apparatus 100 is arranged on the upper part of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, and information obtained by reading an image of a document is transmitted to a recording unit of the apparatus main body for recording. Create paper. For the recording unit of the image forming apparatus 1, a recording sheet is created using image information received by FAX in the same manner as an image information processing unit provided in a conventional general multifunction peripheral. As shown in FIG. 22, the image reading apparatus 100 includes a large platen 104 corresponding to an FBS (flat bed scanner) function and an ADF (automatic document transport) on an upper surface of a frame 102 on which a scanning device 105 is movably disposed. The reading unit 101 is configured by arranging a small platen 103 corresponding to the apparatus. The reading unit 101 is provided with driving means (not shown) that moves the scanning device 105 at a predetermined speed along the lower surface of the large platen 104 in the frame 102.

  In the scanning device 105, a lamp 106 is provided on the moving frame 105a, and a plurality of mirrors 107, a lens 108, and a CCD 109 are provided inside the frame 105a. The plurality of mirrors 107... Are arranged in a predetermined arrangement state and an interval so as to set the length of the optical path by reflecting light between the image surface of the document and the CCD and between the many mirrors. Many are provided. Then, the scanning light of the image is sequentially reflected between the plurality of mirrors, focused on the CCD 109 by the lens 108, converted into a digital signal, and transmitted to an image information processing circuit (not shown). However, when creating the recording paper as it is, the image information is transmitted to the recording unit.

  The ADF 110 provided on the upper portion of the reading unit 101 is provided with a document conveyance path 116 formed in a substantially U shape in a horizontal direction, and is conveyed at a portion corresponding to the small platen 103 of the document conveyance path 116. The original image is read. In the ADF 110, a cover member that can be opened and closed via a hinge (not shown) provided on the rear side of the apparatus above the reading unit 101 supports the ADF 110 integrally with the cover member. A sheet or a book original set on the large platen 104 is provided so as to be pressed and held. The cover member serves as a discharge tray 120, and a document tray 111 is disposed above the discharge tray 120. The document set on the large platen 104 is read by the scanning device 105 moved at a predetermined speed along the lower surface of the large platen 104 in the FBS mode.

  In the ADF 110, a pickup roller 112 and a sheet separating device 113 are provided in a portion connected to the document conveying path 116 of the document tray 111. In the sheet separating device 113, a sheet feeding roller 114 and a separating pad 115 are provided. Are arranged so as to face each other, and the originals that have entered the cutting section in the double feed state are separated one by one and sent out toward the original conveyance path 116. In the document transport path 116, the document is transported at a predetermined speed by the transport roller device 117, and the image is read by the scanning device 105 waiting on the small platen 113. Then, the document that has been read is discharged to the discharge tray 120 by the discharge roller device 119 through the discharge path 118.

1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is an expansion explanatory view of a recording part. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state where a manual feed tray is opened. It is explanatory drawing of the state which folded the 2nd tray. It is explanatory drawing of the relationship with the base in the middle of folding a 1st tray. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a structure of a paper feeding unit from a manual feed tray. It is explanatory drawing of the positional relationship of a paper feed roller and a pad. It is explanatory drawing of the state which open | released the inversion path. 1 is a side view of an image forming apparatus. (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing of the structure of the leg part and shaft support part which are provided in an opening / closing body, (c) is explanatory drawing of the mechanism which detects opening / closing of an opening / closing body. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a sheet reverse conveyance unit. It is a perspective view of the inner side guide provided in the upper part of an inversion path. It is explanatory drawing of the roller provided in the guide of FIG. It is a side view of an opening-closing body. It is explanatory drawing of the structure of the member arrange | positioned inside an opening-closing body. It is explanatory drawing of the drive transmission system of a recording part. It is explanatory drawing of the combined state of two drive systems. It is explanatory drawing in the state which opened the door of the front side and side part of an apparatus main body. It is explanatory drawing of the state which opened the front door of the apparatus main body. It is explanatory drawing of the state which opened the side door in addition to the front door. It is explanatory drawing of the operation | movement of rocking | fluctuation of a stopper member. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of an image reading apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 image forming apparatus, 2 apparatus main body, 3 paper feed unit, 4 paper feed tray,
5 paper feed roller, 6 registration roller device, 7 paper transport path,
8 discharge tray, 10 recording section, 11 photosensitive drum,
12 writing device, 13 charging member, 14 transfer roller,
15 developing device, 16 toner container, 17 developing roller,
18 supply roller, 20 fixing device, 21 housing,
22 heating roller, 23 pressure roller, 25 discharge path,
26 discharge roller device, 29 switching gate, 29a shaft 30 reversing device, 31 frame, 31a guide surface, 32 reversing path, 33/34 conveying roller device, 35 middle guide body, 40 manual feed tray,
41 body member, 42 side guide, 43/46 / 47a hinge part,
44 paper feed roller, 45 steps, 47 first tray,
48 Second tray, 50 Opening / closing body, 51 Support shaft, 52 Handle,
53 Locking member, 55 Stopper, 56 Curved guide,
57 inner guide, 58 rib, 59 convex part,
60 drive / conduction device, 61 first drive system, 62 motor shaft,
63 idler gear, 64 gear, 65 second drive system,
66 motor 2, 67 conduction belt, 70 front door,
71 unit mounting portion, 72 photosensitive unit, 73 developing unit,
74 shaft holder, 75 lever member, 78 stopper, 79 support shaft, 80/81 projecting member, 82 shaft support, 85 positioning projection,
90 projecting member for detection, 91 sensor,
100 image reading device, 101 reading device, 102 frame,
103/104 platen, 105 scanning device, 106 lamp,
107 mirror, 108 lens, 109 CCD, 110 ADF, 111 document tray, 112 pickup roller,
113 paper separating device, 114 paper feeding roller, 115 paper separating pad,
116 Document transport path, 117 transport roller device, 118 discharge path,
119 discharge roller device, 120 discharge tray.

Claims (6)

A sheet conveying device of an image forming apparatus provided with a cover body arranged to be openable and closable with respect to an opening provided on a side surface portion of the apparatus main body,
A guide means for regulating a paper conveyance path formed on the inner side of the cover body;
A conveying roller device arranged in combination with the guide means, and using the sheet conveying device as a reversing path;
Each of the first sheet guide unit disposed on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction on the reverse path and the second sheet guide unit disposed on the downstream side is provided in combination with the conveyance roller device. Paper transport device. A fixing device that supports a paper guide member inside a paper conveyance path as the reversing path is provided inside the apparatus main body corresponding to the cover body,
The paper transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a paper transport path is defined by the paper guide member and a guide portion of the cover body.   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover body is formed by integrating the first guide portion and the second guide portion.   4. The sheet conveying device according to claim 3, wherein a punching hole for inserting a roller shaft of the conveying roller device is formed between the first guide portion and the second guide portion by biting. 5. .   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a cover member that covers the biting hole is provided outside the cover body.   6. The paper conveying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cover member also functions as a member for releasing the lock of the cover body to the apparatus main body.

Images