JP2837938B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile.

(Prior art)

Various types of image recording apparatuses such as copying machines and printers are used. For example, as an image forming method, there are a powder developing method, a thermal transfer printing method, an ink jet printing method, a wire dot printing method, and the like. In each method, a monochrome image and a color image are used separately.

In the conventional image recording apparatus, the apparatuses of the respective systems are individually manufactured, and if it is desired to use the ink jet printing system and the thermal transfer printing system, at least two printers must be prepared. Further, when there is a printer for black and white and color printing is required, a printer for color printing must be additionally prepared or replaced with a device that can be used for black and white and color. Therefore, a lot of expense is required for the user, and there is a problem that a maker has to manufacture many devices.

In order to solve this problem, the present applicant has not yet publicly known, but the electric control device and, if necessary, the mechanical drive device as one base unit, and various types of image forming devices,
It has been proposed to construct an arbitrary image recording apparatus by assembling one base unit and a plurality of image forming units side by side.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus which is an improvement of the above-described image recording apparatus proposed by the present applicant and which facilitates maintenance and inspection of an imaging unit.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention solves the above problems by providing a base unit in which an electric control device for controlling an image information signal or the like is housed in one case and a paper feeding device is provided, and each constituent member for forming an image based on the image signal. An imaging unit stored in one case,
A transport unit that is movably provided between a position facing the image forming unit and a position at which the image forming unit is released, and that conveys a recording sheet to the image forming unit at the position facing the image forming unit; Are connected side by side, and each image forming unit becomes detachable when the transport unit is moved to the facing release position.

Further, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by providing a base unit in which an electric control device for controlling an image information signal or the like is housed in one case and a paper feeding device is provided, and each component for forming an image based on the image signal. An image forming unit in which members are stored in one case, and a transport unit connected to the base unit and transporting recording paper to the image forming unit, wherein a plurality of the image forming units are arranged and connected to the base unit. The plurality of image forming units are movably supported at a connection position and a disconnection position, and when the image formation units are moved to the disconnection position, each image formation unit is detachable. The problem was solved by the image recording apparatus described above.

The present invention further solves the above problems by providing a base unit in which an electric control device for controlling an image information signal and the like is housed in one case and a paper feeding device is provided, and constituent members for forming an image based on the image signal. An image forming unit housed in one case, and a frame, wherein the base unit and the image forming unit are individually movably connected to the frame, and each image forming unit is mounted on the frame in a predetermined direction. The image recording apparatus is characterized in that the image recording apparatus is detachably moved by relative movement of the image recording apparatus and locked or unlocked by moving in another direction.

[Action]

According to the present invention, the base unit and the plurality of image forming units are connected in a state of being arranged, and the transport unit is arranged to face each image forming unit. Normally, the image forming unit is opposed to the transport unit, and recording is performed by each image forming unit on the recording paper transported by the transport unit. Then, when the transport unit is moved to the facing release position, each image forming unit becomes detachable. This allows you to clear paper jams and check /
Work such as replacement can be performed easily and reliably.

Further, in an image recording apparatus in which a plurality of image forming units are movably supported at a connection position and a connection release position, and each image formation unit is detachable when the image formation unit is moved to the connection release position, When performing operations such as paper jam processing and inspection / replacement of each unit, each image forming unit can be detached by moving the image forming unit to the disconnection position.

Further, according to the present invention, the image forming unit is attached to the frame by approaching the frame, and the image forming unit is locked to the frame by rotating in the same plane or moving in another direction. Form a recording device. When removing the image forming unit for replacement or the like, the lock is released by rotating the image forming unit with respect to the frame or moving the image forming unit in one direction. When the lock is released, a gap is formed between the image forming unit and another image forming unit, so that the image forming unit can be easily grasped, and the image forming unit can be grasped from the frame. If you move away, the frame will be 2 in the same plane.
The simple movement of moving in two directions allows easy and reliable removal and installation.

〔Example〕

 The details of the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a base unit 1 and a plurality of image forming units 2 are arranged vertically or horizontally and connected to a frame 3. A transport unit 4 is movably attached to the frame 3 so as to face the end surface of each image forming unit 2 so as to be vertically open. Although the base unit 1 and the image forming unit 2 are vertically stacked in the figure, the same applies to the case where they are arranged side by side.

It has a transfer belt on which an image is formed by an image forming unit instead of the transport unit, and can be replaced with a display unit having a window or the like as a display unit for displaying an image on the transfer belt. Can also be used. In this specification, the expression “transport unit” is used as a mode including a display unit and a display unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the transport unit 4 is opened, an opening (recording opening) as a recording position of the image forming unit 2 and an entrance and exit of the sheet cassette 85 of the base unit 1 are opened to perform various maintenance and inspections and supplies. Can be replaced.

Although a paper feed cassette 85 as a paper feed device is incorporated in the base unit 1 in the drawing, a structure is adopted in which only the paper feed device is disposed as a separate unit between the base unit 1 and the image forming unit 2. This structure is also included in the scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 4 is
When is closed, the recording paper fed from the paper feed cassette 85 is conveyed, formed in predetermined or all the image forming units 2, and discharged.

In FIG. 3, a groove 8 extending vertically in a closed position is formed on both side surfaces of the transport unit 4, and a pin 7 is provided in the groove 8 so as to be slidably guided and not fall off. One end of a lever 5 is pivotally attached to 7, and the other end of the lever 5 is pivotally attached to the frame 3. The lever 5 is formed to be rotatable around a fulcrum 6 with respect to the frame 3.

An engagement recess 9 is formed at the upper end of the groove 8. When the pin 7 is engaged with the engagement recess 9, the relative position with respect to the transport unit 4 is fixed.

One end of the upper link bar 10 is pivotally connected directly to the transport unit 4 or indirectly via the pin 7,
Is pivotally attached to a lower link bar 11 which is supported by the frame 3 so as to be vertically movable.

The lower link bar 11 is provided with a hooking claw 12 for each of the image forming units 2, and each hooking claw 12 is engaged with a connector 13 provided on the corresponding image forming unit 2 and pulls up the connector 13. Thus, the image forming unit 2 is configured to be pulled up.

An upper link bar 10, a lower link bar 11, a hook 12 and a connector 13 act as connecting means for connecting the image forming units.

From the closed position in FIG.
When the lever 7 is lifted upward, the pin 7 is engaged with the engaging recess 9, so that the general-purpose unit 4 moves in the state shown in FIG. 3B according to the rotation of the lever 5 around the branch (pin) 6 of the frame 3. I can jump up. At this time, since the pin 7 moves up, the upper link bar 10 moves up and rotates around the pin 6. At this time, the lower link bar 11 is pulled up according to the rise of the pin 7. The interval between the hooking claws 12 provided on the lower link bar 11 is set to be larger than the interval between the connectors 13 of the image forming units 2 at the time of the contact arrangement. The hooking claw 12 corresponding to the connector 13 of the image unit 2 is set so as to be in contact with the connector 13 or to have a slight interval. Therefore, as you go down, the hook 12
The distance between the connector 13 and the connector 13 of the lowermost image forming unit 2 is gradually increased.

When the transport unit 4 is lifted upward from the closed position, that is, from the operating position, the connector 13 of the uppermost image forming unit 2 is first pulled up by the hooks 12
After being pulled up slightly, the hook 13 engages with the connector 13 of the next image forming unit 2 and the connector 13
Then, the image forming unit 2 is sequentially pulled up from above in accordance with the upward movement of the lower link bar 11, and FIG.
In the state where the image forming unit 2 is flipped up to the uppermost position, the space between the image forming units 2 and the space between the image forming units 2 and the base unit 1 are separated from each other at an end facing the transport unit 4. The opposite end of each imaging unit 2, that is, the end remote from the frame 3 is located immediately below the imaging unit 2 or the base unit 1.
, So that they do not separate by only sliding relatively slightly.

The pin 7 is disengaged from the engagement recess 9 from the state shown in FIG. 3B so as to be movable along the groove 8, and the transport unit 4 can be further pushed into the state shown in FIG. 6C to be fixed in a stable state. .

As shown in FIG. 4, each of the connectors 13 engages with a vertically extending groove 14 formed in the frame 3 and is slidably and rotatably guided by the groove 14, and is separated from the groove 14. Do not engage.

The connector 13 has a square head 13a, and can be slidably inserted into a connector groove 15 formed on the side surface of each image forming unit 2. Since the head 13a is rectangular, it does not rotate relative to the image forming unit 2, and furthermore, the head 13a is inserted into a connector receiver 16 formed of a concave portion formed at the end of the connector groove 15, so that the opening, which is the recording position of the image forming unit 2, is formed. Even if the side of the transfer surface 2a is raised, for example, the image forming unit 2 is held in engagement with the connector 13 by gravity and does not easily fall off. In response to the tilt of the image forming unit 2, the connector 13 can easily rotate, for example, by the angle θ. If the structure is such that the image forming unit 2 does not fall off and one end of the image forming unit 2 can smoothly tilt up and down, the connector
The 13 heads can also be formed in a circular shape. In this case, the connector 13 can make a relative rotational movement with the image forming unit 2 without rotating.

By pulling out the recording position side end of the image forming unit 2 with the recording position side pulled up as shown in FIG. 3C, the image forming unit 2 can be easily removed from the connector 13, and conversely, the image forming unit 2 2 can be easily attached to the connector 13. Since a space is formed between each of the image forming units 2 and the adjacent upper and lower image forming units 2 or the base unit 1, it is easy to insert a hand, and it is easy to grasp and work by hand.

In the example shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the base unit 1 and the transport unit 4 are connected to each other (can be fixed or removable), and the image forming units 2 on the base unit 1 are stacked side by side.

On both sides of the base unit 1 and the image forming unit 2, two parallel link levers 21 constituting, for example, a pantograph mechanism are connected as connecting means by, for example, connecting pins 22. When one of the image forming units 2 or the link lever 21 is moved, it is moved from the normal state of FIG. 6A to the exchange position of FIG. 6B, and between the base unit 1 and the image forming unit 2 and each image forming unit. 2 are simultaneously spaced apart from each other, and at the same time, the space between the transport unit 4 and the end of each image forming unit 2 is opened. In this state, each image forming unit 2 can be grasped by hand, so that the image forming unit replacement operation can be performed reliably and easily, and the paper jam processing and the inspection or replacement operation of each part can be easily performed. It is convenient to form a guide groove on the side surface of the image forming unit 2 so that the connection pin 22 attached to the link lever 21 is slidably guided in the guide groove. When the image forming unit 2 is attached or detached, the pin 22 is slid in the guide groove.

FIG. 6C shows an example in which the lid 2c can be opened to further replace the supply package 2b such as toner in the state shown in FIG. 6B. By moving each image forming unit 2 to a state where the interval is increased, not only the top unit but also the top unit. The intermediate unit can be easily replaced or inspected as in the top unit.

In order to easily attach and detach the image forming unit 2, as shown in FIG.
Is provided at a position corresponding to each image forming unit 2, and a slider groove into which the slider 23 is inserted into a side surface of each image forming unit 2.
Form 24. When the ring lever 21 is moved, each slider 23
Move parallel to each other and move closer and farther apart. FIG. 6B
The image forming unit 2 can be easily inserted or pulled out while the slider groove 24 is separated in a state corresponding to the above. slide
A slider connector is provided at an end of the slider 23 so that the slider 23 is fitted to the slider connector of the slider groove 24 when the image forming unit 2 is securely set.

A slider 23 for each image forming unit 2 is provided on the link lever 21.
In addition, if the tray 6 is similarly mounted on the top, the tray 6 approaches the transport unit 4 in a state corresponding to FIG. 6A shown in FIG. The recording paper discharged from the paper discharge port 4a of the transport unit 4 can be received. Tray 6 in the state of FIG.
Is provided to the case of the transport unit 4, and a hand is put on a lever frame 25 provided at the front end of the tray 6, a finger is put on the lever 26, and the lever 26 is pulled as shown in FIG. Is released, the finger is released, and the lever 26 is returned by a spring or the like, so that the lever 26 can be locked. The lever frame 25 and the lever 26 can be provided on the link lever 21. The locking device can simply be formed by a hook and an engagement recess.

If the length of the slider 23 is the same for the upper slider and the lower slider, the slider groove
24 lengths will be different. Due to this difference, the position where the imaging unit is mounted can be identified.

Conversely, if the lengths of the slide grooves 24 of the image forming unit are all the same, the length of the slider 23 differs depending on the vertical position. In this case, the image forming unit 2 can be mounted at any position.

The wiring from the base unit 1 to the slider connector is connected to the slider connector through the link lever 21 and the pin 22.

The movement of the lock release lever 26 and the ON of the electric system,
The switching operation of OFF may be linked, and the electric system may be turned OFF in a state where the lever 26 is pulled, and the power supply to each unit may be cut off.

The pantograph mechanism is different from the example in which two parallel levers shown in FIG. 5 are used, as shown in FIG.
The structure using the link lever 21 'can be modified. FIG. 9A shows a state in which the normal image forming unit 2 is approaching, and slider pieces 23 'pivotally attached to the ends of the levers 21' are respectively provided in the parallel slider grooves 24 on the side surfaces of the adjacent image forming units. It is slidably inserted. The slider piece 23 'is pivotally attached to the link lever 21' by a pin 22 '. When the adjacent link levers 21 'are configured so as to be simultaneously pivotally connected to the slider pieces 23', a multi-stage pantograph for simultaneously moving a plurality of image forming units toward and away from each other is formed. When the multi-stage pantograph is extended by moving the link lever 21 'or moving the image forming unit 2, the state shown in FIG. 9B is obtained, and a space is formed between the image forming units 2, so that the image forming unit 2 can be easily formed. Can be detached. At this time, the detachment / removal operation is performed by the relative sliding between the slider groove 24 and the slider piece 23 '.

FIG. 9 shows an example in which the image forming units 2 are arranged vertically in FIG.
The image forming units 2 can be connected by a multi-stage pantograph in the same manner even when the image forming units 2 are arranged side by side as shown in the figure.

As a modification of FIG. 9, a multi-stage pantograph is provided only on one side surface or one end surface in the front-rear direction, and a link lever 21 ', a slider piece 23' and a pin 22 'are used to move between the imaging units 2 and between the base unit 1 and the imaging unit 2. When the opposite sides are pivotally connected to each other at a fulcrum 27 in a hinge-like manner, a space may be formed between the image forming units 2 only at one end as shown in FIG. In contrast to the example in which the image forming units 2 are directly pivotally connected, the connecting plates on which the image forming units 2 are mounted may be formed in a hinged manner with each other.

As another example, as shown in FIG. 12, a structure in which the base unit 1 and the image forming unit 2 are connected to the solid frame 28 may be employed.

As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG.
a, a fitting portion 28b which is fixed or formed integrally with the support 28a, and which corresponds to each image forming unit 2 and a connector 28c.
And On the other hand, a fitting hole 29 having a support 28 a and an insertion opening 29 a into which a fitting 28 b having a width substantially equal to the diameter of the support 28 a can be inserted is formed in the image forming unit 2. Mating part 28
b is a shape in which a part of the circular portion fitted into the fitting hole 29 is separated by a parallel surface having substantially the same width as the column portion 28a, and a parallel surface portion having a width smaller than the diameter of the circular portion fits into the insertion port 29a. When the image forming unit 2 is inserted close to the frame 28 and rotated after the insertion to move the circumferential surface so as to face the insertion port 29a, the operating unit 2 is in a locked state in which the operating unit 2 cannot be removed from the frame 28. If the connector portion 28c is rotatably mounted on the column portion 28a, the connector portion 28c is connected to the image forming unit 2 when the image forming unit 2 is inserted into the frame.
When the image forming unit 2 is rotated with respect to the frame 28, the connector 28c is rotated with respect to the support 28a. Connector part 28
Wiring and the like for c are performed through the hollow portion of the support 28a.

The image forming unit 2 performs an attaching / detaching operation and a locking / unlocking operation by approaching / separating movement to / from the frame 28 and rotation around the frame 28 in one plane. FIG. 13A shows a state before mounting or after detachment, and FIG. 13B shows a state after mounting and locking.

As a modification of the movement with respect to the example of FIG. 13, the locking or unlocking movement due to rotation can be changed to a linear movement as shown in FIG. 15 and FIG.

15 and 16, a connector 32 is provided on one surface of the frame 31 and a fitting hole 33 is formed on the opposite surface of the image forming unit 2 that faces the surface of the frame 31. When approaching, the connector 32 is inserted into the fitting hole 33 or when the connector 32 is separated, the connector 32 and the fitting hole 33 are separated. connector
When the image forming unit 2 is moved in the direction perpendicular to the insertion movement indicated by the arrow B in the same plane (horizontal plane or vertical plane) as the insertion movement in a state where 32 is fitted in the fitting hole 33, Hook provided
A hook receiver 35 provided on the image forming unit 2 is engaged with and locked by 34. It is also possible to dispose the connector 32 and the fitting hole 33 in the example shown in FIG. Thus, the image forming unit 2 can be attached and detached by the approach and detachment movements in the direction A and the locking and unlocking movements in the orthogonal direction.

Normally, the image forming units 2 are in a state of being overlapped with each other, but by linearly moving or rotating in one direction by the unlocking movement, the corresponding image forming unit is protruded from the adjacent image forming unit, so that the image forming unit 2 can be easily operated by hand. You can grab it. Therefore, it can be easily removed by grasping it and moving it. Conversely, a similar effect can be obtained when the camera is mounted.

 Hereinafter, each unit will be briefly described.

As shown in FIG. 17, the base unit 1 has a case 41 provided with a paper feed port 42. The case 41 includes an image processing system including an electric control device, for example, a CPU, an interface, a signal memory, and the like. A substrate 43 and a drive motor 44, which constitute a drive system circuit for moving a system in the image forming unit, and a mechanical drive device 45 for transmitting the driving force of the drive motor 44 to the image forming unit 2 are stored.

The mechanical drive device 45 is provided with, for example, a first bevel gear 46a, and the first bevel gear 46a is provided with, for example, a bevel gear 47 provided in the image forming unit 2 and the like mounted on the base unit 1.
Smile. The second bevel gear 46b meshes with a bevel gear provided in the image forming unit 2 above.

In the image forming unit, a bevel gear 47 is supported by a transmission shaft 48,
Transmission ON, OF of a combination of a worm 49, a worm gear 50 and other mechanisms and a clutch or a solenoid from the transmission shaft 48.
It is transmitted to each rotating body such as a roller via an acceleration / deceleration mechanism 52 including an F mechanism 51.

The base unit 1 has a built-in tray as a sheet feeding device, or a sheet feeding cassette 85 is detachably formed. It is also possible to form the sheet feeding device as a single unit separately from the base unit 1.

In each of the image forming units 2, similarly to the base unit 1, a transmission shaft 45 b connectable to a transmission shaft 45 a is provided for driving transmission to the image forming units arranged side by side, and a bevel gear 46 b and the like are provided on the transmission shaft. Provide.

The above example is an example, and any structure can be used as long as the drive can be transmitted from one unit to another unit.

The image forming unit 2 can be formed as shown in FIG. 18 as an example of a powder developing system. Imaging unit 2
Has one case 61 in which a recording opening 71 for a recording sheet is formed.

In the case of the electrophotographic system, a first roller 62 and a transfer roller 63 pressed against the first roller are provided in the middle of a substantially straight paper passing path.
And the print position is provided.

A latent image belt 65 is provided between the first roller 62 and the tension roller 64.
Is wound. The latent image belt 65 is driven in the direction of the arrow,
Writing optical system arranged along the traveling path of the latent image belt 65
Image forming processing is performed by 69, a developing device 66, a cleaner 67, and an eraser 68. In other words, the writing optical system 69 is uniformly charged by the primary charging roller 70 and a writing signal from the base unit 1 drives an LED array, for example, to record an image latent image on the latent image belt 65, and develops the latent image into a developing device. 66 is developed by a developing roller (or sleeve) 66a to be visualized, and the visualized image is transferred to a transfer roller facing the first roller 62.
The transfer is performed on a recording paper 53 passing between the recording paper 53 and the recording paper 53. The recording paper 53 after the transfer is fixed later. Recording paper 53 is a paper cassette
85 and fed by the paper feed roller 85a,
Transported by The latent image belt 65 after transfer is a cleaner
The residual developer is removed by 67, and the residual charge is erased by the eraser 68. The latent image belt 65 may be a dielectric belt on which a latent image can be formed with a stylus or a thermal head, or a ferroelectric material.

The transfer roller 63 can be connected to an independent power source for generating an electric field necessary for transferring the visualized particles. If necessary, a common power supply may be used.

In the example of FIG. 18, the first roller 62, the tension roller 64, and the developing roller 66a can form a flat unit by arranging their respective central axes substantially in the same plane. In this case, it is convenient to form the container of the developing device 66 as a thin container extending along the plane on which the rollers are arranged.

When it is desired to switch and use a black image and a monochromatic color image as appropriate or to form a multicolor image, one image forming unit is provided with a black developer, and the other color developer is provided with a multicolor. It is possible to meet the demand by containing a developer of a color corresponding to the separated color, for example, a developer of three colors of yellow, magenta, and silane, or four colors including black as needed.

A thermomagnetic writing method can be similarly formed instead of the electrophotographic method. Further, an image forming unit can be configured by disposing a thermal head instead of the primary roller 62 and disposing a supply roll and a take-up roll of the ink ribbon in the case 61. Similarly, an image forming unit of an ink jet or wire dot system can be formed.

A circuit constituting a manufacturing apparatus as shown in FIG. 19 is formed on a substrate 43 in the base unit 1. In FIG. 19, AC
The power input supplies an AC input from a power cord to the inside of the base. The low-voltage DC power supply supplies DC to each electric circuit board and motor. The control unit drives the entire apparatus and controls image signals and the like to the image forming unit.

The display device is a device for displaying an operating state of the base and the image forming unit to an operator.

The operation switch is set in accordance with the image forming unit to perform manual operation or feature detection (reading) of the image forming unit.

For image processing and memory control, an image signal is transmitted to a driving circuit such as a thermal head and an ink jet in the image forming unit.

The motor and the solenoid control the operation drive of the image forming unit.

a to e indicate input / output of electric signals. a supplies a DC voltage to an electrical circuit in the imaging unit. b sends operation signals of solenoids in the same unit. c receives signals from sensors and the like from within the imaging unit. d transmits an image signal. "e" is a connector connected to a facsimile scanner or word processor.

a to d are composed of Centronics. e is RS-232C
It consists of. A indicates a rotating shaft that transmits the rotational drive of the motor to the image forming unit.

Each image forming unit is not provided with a drive source and a control device in principle, but a cooling fan,
Detectors and circuits, solenoids, small motors, and the like for good image formation may be incorporated.

For color image formation, a plurality of image forming units 2 of the same type of image forming method are stacked on the base unit 1. The number to be stacked is determined by the number of colors to be imaged. On the recording paper fed from the base unit 1, an image of one color is formed by the first image forming unit 2, and an image of another color can be formed on the next image forming unit 2 by overlapping.

In forming a full-color image, it is necessary to overlap three or four image forming units.

As shown in FIG. 20, the transport unit 4 has a case 71, and a driving roller 72 and a driven roller 73 disposed in the case 71. A transport belt is provided between the driving roller 72 and the driven roller 73.
74 is wound. Although not shown, a drive motor for driving the drive roller 72 can be disposed in the case 71.

A potential forming roller 75 is rotatably supported opposite the driven roller 73 with the conveyance belt 74 therebetween. The potential forming roller 75 is connected to a potential forming power source 66. The driven roller 73 is grounded.

The transport belt 74 is formed as a dielectric sheet, and a voltage is applied by a potential forming roller 75 to form a pattern convenient for adsorbing and transporting the recording paper, for example, a positive potential and a negative potential in a striped or checkered pattern. You.

The transport belt 74 is guided by a guide roller 77 between the drive roller 72 and the driven roller 73. Each guide roller
Reference numeral 77 denotes a structure that also serves as the transfer roller 73 in the image forming unit 2. In the image forming unit 2 of another system, the platen, the ink absorber, and the like may be arranged in the case 71 of the transport unit 4 so as to be opposed to the recording head of each image forming unit.

18 and 20, the recording paper 53 sent out from the paper supply cassette 85 by the paper supply roller 85a is adsorbed and conveyed by the conveyance belt 74 formed with the potential by the potential formation roller 75, and is conveyed by each image forming unit 2. Recording paper at the recording position
Images are sequentially formed at 53. When the guide roller 77 is also used as the transfer roller 63, the recording paper 53
Is formed in a state where is pressed.

Since the recording paper is suction-conveyed into the transport belt and passes through a plurality of image forming units to sequentially form images, the positional deviation of the recording paper and the color deviation are prevented.

The recording paper on which the image formation by all the image forming units is completed is separated from the transport belt 74 by the separation claw 78, and the switching claw 81
Is discharged to the upper discharge tray 79 or discharged to the horizontal discharge tray 80. Upper output tray 79 and horizontal output tray
80 can be fixed to or integrally formed with the case 61. The upper end of the case 71 is covered by a cover 72.

When the image forming unit 2 uses a powder developer as shown in FIG. 18, fixing is required. Although a fixing device can be provided for each operating unit, fixing is often performed after transfer of all the image forming units 2 is completed. In this case, a transport fixing unit in which the transport unit 4 and the fixing unit are integrated can be used.

Since the transport fixing unit itself is not the gist of the present invention, the description is omitted.

〔effect〕

According to the present invention, each image forming unit can be detached by moving the transport unit to the facing release position, so that unit replacement, maintenance and inspection, and article replacement are facilitated.

According to the present invention, an appropriate image recording apparatus can be formed by adding an image forming unit using a combination of one image forming unit and one base unit as a base, and an image forming unit of a different image forming method can be arbitrarily set. A combined device can be formed, a color recording device can be optionally formed, and an arbitrary color recording device can be constructed by adding devices as needed.

Combine any imaging unit with a common base unit,
One image forming apparatus can be configured, and the production cost can be reduced by using a common unit.

According to the present invention, a plurality of image forming units of the same type can be superimposed and assembled on one base unit, and a plurality of image forming units can be switched and formed by one base unit, and a plurality of different image forming units can be formed. The device can now be used at low cost. For example, by adding only an electrophotographic imaging unit with a high printing speed to a thermal imaging unit with a low running cost, it is possible to use a high-speed image forming apparatus without changing the base unit. became. Further, the color image can be appropriately switched and formed without much expense, and the user can freely respond to high image quality by selecting the image quality.

According to the present invention, a plurality of image forming units can be exchanged for one unit. Therefore, only the unit having a color defect needs to be exchanged or repaired, and maintenance is facilitated.

According to the present invention, since the image recording apparatus is divided into units, it is possible for one worker to carry and set the image recording apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the opened state, FIG. 3 is a side view showing the operation of FIG. 2, A, B, and C show the progress of the operation, respectively, and FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the image forming unit and the connector. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another example, FIG. 6 is a view showing a change in movement of FIG. 5, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified example of FIG. 5, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a tray portion, FIG. 9 is another side view, in which A is a normal state, B is an open state, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view in which the example of FIG. 9 is arranged horizontally, FIG. 11 is an open view of a modification of FIG. 9, FIG. 12 is a perspective view of still another example, and FIG. 13 is a plan view of FIG. A shows the state before mounting, B shows the locked state, and FIG.
12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the example of FIG. 12, FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a modification to FIG. 12, FIG. 16 is a partial plan view of FIG. 15, FIG. 17 is an explanatory view of a base unit, and FIG. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the unit, FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the relationship between components of the substrate of the base unit, and FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of the transport unit. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Base unit 2 ... Image forming unit 3 ... Frame body 4 ... Transport unit 10 ... Upper link bar, 11 ... Lower link bar 12 ... Hook claw, 13 ... Connector 21 ... Lever , 22 ... pin 28,31 ... frame

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Noguchi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Takashi Mori 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd. Ricoh (72) Inventor Koichiro Jinnai 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-71971 (JP, A) JP-A-2-193828 (JP) , A) JP-A-63-296968 (JP, A) JP-T-61-501227 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 29/00 G03G 15/00

Claims (11)

(57) [Claims] An electric control device for controlling an image information signal or the like is housed in one case and a base unit provided with a paper feeder, and each component for forming an image based on an image signal is formed in one case. The base unit includes: a stored image forming unit; and a transport unit movably provided at a position facing the image forming unit and a position at which the image forming unit is released, and transporting a recording sheet to the image forming unit at the position facing the image forming unit. An image recording apparatus, wherein a plurality of the image forming units are arranged side by side and connected to each other, and each of the image forming units is detachable when the transport unit is moved to the facing release position. 2. A distance between the image forming units and between the image forming units and the base unit at an end facing the transfer unit by moving the transport unit to the facing release position. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit is rotatably supported by a fixed frame, and the plurality of image forming units are connected to each other by a link bar which is guided and supported by the fixed frame so as to move linearly. A plurality of hooks which can be engaged with a connector provided in the image unit, wherein the distance between the hooks is greater than the distance between the connectors of the image forming unit at a position facing the transport unit; 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the image forming units is connected to the transport unit, and sequentially moves each image forming unit by turning the transport unit to form the interval between the image forming units. 4. A base unit in which an electric control device for controlling image information signals and the like is housed in one case and a paper feeder is provided, and each component for forming an image based on an image signal is formed in one case. A storage unit connected to the base unit, and a transport unit configured to transfer recording paper to the image formation unit; a plurality of the image formation units being connected to the base unit side by side; An image recording apparatus, wherein an image unit is movably supported between a connection position and a connection release position, and each image formation unit becomes detachable when the image formation unit is moved to the connection release position. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising lock means for locking and unlocking the movement of the image forming unit. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the on / off operation of the device electric system is linked to the locking and unlocking operation of the lock means, and the power supply to each unit is cut off by the unlocking. Image recording device. 7. The base unit and each image forming unit are connected and supported by a pantograph mechanism, and each image forming unit is moved to the uncoupling position to thereby allow a connection between each image forming unit and between the image forming unit and the base unit. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an interval is formed. 8. The base unit and each image forming unit are connected and supported only on one side by a pantograph mechanism, and by moving each image forming unit to the uncoupling position, the base unit and each image forming unit are moved. 5. A space is formed between each image forming unit and between the image forming unit and the base unit at one end.
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1. 9. A base unit in which an electric control device for controlling an image information signal and the like is housed in one case and a paper feeder is provided, and each component member for forming an image based on an image signal is formed in one case. A frame unit, wherein the base unit and the image forming unit are individually movably connected to the frame, and each of the image forming units relatively moves to the frame in a predetermined direction. An image recording apparatus characterized in that the image recording apparatus is detachably moved by the above operation, and is locked or unlocked by moving in another direction. 10. The image forming unit according to claim 9, wherein the image forming unit is attached to and detached from the frame by being moved toward and away from the frame, and is rotated around the frame to be locked or unlocked. Image recording device. 11. The image forming unit is attached to and detached from the frame by moving toward and away from the frame in one direction, and is moved to another direction in the same plane to lock or lock the image forming unit to the frame. The image recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image recording apparatus is released.