JP3493787B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support structure for a post-processing apparatus used in combination with an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer, and more particularly to a support structure in which the post-processing apparatus is formed separately from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a device which is supported via a body and which does not directly transmit vibrations and the like of a post-processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser beam printer, a post-processing device such as a sorter is connected to process a prepared recording sheet to automatically sort the recording sheets. By doing so, the burden on the operator is reduced. As a device such as the sorter, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 64-29353, it is known to configure a large device arranged on the side of the image forming apparatus. In the sorter apparatus as described above, the sorting operation of the recording sheets can be performed at high speed in correspondence with the image forming apparatus having a large number of recording sheets prepared per unit time. In addition, JP-A-59-4
A small sorter device such as the one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3769 is equipped with 10 trays corresponding to a small image forming apparatus, and the trays are moved up and down in correspondence with a paper receiving portion, and I am able to sort.

In the conventional sorter apparatus as described above, it is arranged on the side portion of the image forming apparatus main body, and the sheet receiving port of the sorter is directly connected to the recording sheet discharging port of the image forming apparatus. It is arranged so that it protrudes greatly. However, arranging the sorter device on the side of the image forming apparatus as described above has a problem that the image forming apparatus including the sorter requires a large floor area. For example, when a device such as a small laser beam printer is used on a desk, the image forming device occupies the desk. Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, as shown in JP-A-62-201775 and JP-A-63-160972, an image forming apparatus such as a small laser beam printer is used. Then, it is proposed that the sorter device is integrally arranged on the upper part thereof. In the example in which the sorter device is arranged on the upper part of the small-sized image forming apparatus, the sorter device does not occupy an extra floor area. Therefore, even when the image forming device is arranged on the desk, it is relatively large in the surrounding area. It is possible to exert the advantage of being able to configure a margin portion.

[0004]

However, as described above, when the sorter device is integrally arranged on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus, the vibration of the solenoid or other driving device provided in the sorter causes the image forming apparatus to vibrate. There is a problem that it is directly transmitted to the main body. In particular, when the image forming device is a device such as a laser beam printer, if vibration is applied to the writing device by laser light, an image formed on the photosensitive drum is disturbed. . Therefore, in a state where the vibration of the sorter is transmitted to the main body of the image forming apparatus, there arises a problem that the image quality of the recording paper cannot be maintained in good condition.

In order to deal with the above-mentioned problems, a buffer member is arranged between the image forming apparatus main body and a sorter apparatus arranged above the image forming apparatus main body to form a mechanism that does not transmit vibration. However, arranging such a cushioning member has a problem that the design of the image forming apparatus becomes complicated. Further, in an apparatus such as a laser beam printer, a laser beam writing apparatus or the like is arranged on an upper portion of an image forming apparatus main body, and a sorter apparatus arranged on the upper portion becomes an obstacle when performing maintenance for those constituent members. There are also problems such as. Therefore, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when performing maintenance on the members arranged on the upper portion of the apparatus main body, it is necessary to remove the sorter device and then open the cover or the like on the upper portion of the apparatus. Then, after performing maintenance in the procedure as described above,
In order to position the sorter again on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body, a worker is required to raise and lower the sorter, which is relatively unhandled, and the positioning work, which causes an extra burden in maintenance. There was a problem of forcing.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks when the sorter device is arranged on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body, and the post-processing such as a sorter is provided separately from the image forming apparatus main body. A support for supporting the device is arranged to configure a mechanism that does not transmit vibration to the device main body.
To provide a post-processing device for an image forming apparatus, which is rotatably provided on a support body via a vertical axis and is easily moved from the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body. It is an object.

According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus main body has a discharge tray on the upper surface, and the post-processing apparatus is arranged so as to correspond to a sheet discharging section of the image forming apparatus main body to the discharge tray. Regarding According to a first aspect of the present invention, a support mechanism is provided at a predetermined position above the main body of the image forming apparatus to dispose the post-processing device so that the post-processing apparatus can be retracted from the predetermined position. On the other hand, in a state where the post-processing device does not come into direct contact with each other, a paper transport path for discharging the paper of the image forming apparatus main body and a paper transport path for receiving the paper of the post-processing device are provided via the paper discharge section. The post-processing devices are supported with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus so that the sheets face each other and are sent out from the main body of the image forming apparatus to the post-processing device. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the support mechanism has a side member that extends from bottom to top outside one side of the image forming apparatus main body, the side member is provided with a vertical shaft, and the post-processing device is It is characterized in that it is rotatably supported by the vertical shaft in a horizontal plane above the main body of the image forming apparatus. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the post-processing device has a cover member, and the cover member is arranged so as to form a small gap with the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[0008]

As described above, on the upper part of the main body of the image forming apparatus,
By arranging the post-processing device via the support configured separately, the image forming apparatus including the sorter device can be downsized, and the image forming apparatus can be mounted on the lower paper feeding unit or the like. The floor space occupied by the devices combined in the mounted state can be reduced. Further, in the present invention, since it is possible to fix the support of the post-processing device such as the sorter to the paper feeding unit or the like arranged at the bottom of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the support of the sorter can be attached. Can be performed easily. Further, since the vibration of the driving member generated inside the apparatus such as the sorter is not directly transmitted to the main body of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent an adverse effect when writing an image. Further, in the present invention, since the sorter device is provided on the post-processing support so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction via the vertical axis, the maintenance of the writing device and the like arranged inside the image forming apparatus main body is performed. When performing the above, the sorter device can be easily moved, the operator does not need to move a heavy object, and maintenance work can be easily performed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A post-processing device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a sorter device 20 is arranged on an upper portion of an image forming apparatus main body 1 configured as a laser beam printer to configure an apparatus that automatically sorts recording sheets created by the image forming apparatus. There is. The image forming apparatus 1 includes, as will be described later,
One or a plurality of paper feed trays can be arranged, and one printer can be configured with only the image forming apparatus main body. A lower sheet feeding unit 15 equipped with a plurality of sheet feeding trays is provided below the image forming apparatus main body 1.
And the image forming apparatus main body is supported via the anti-vibration block members 17 and 17a arranged on the lower sheet feeding unit 15 at a predetermined interval. Anti-vibration block member 17 ...
Is made of rubber or the like in the form of a block, and is configured as a member that exerts vibration damping properties so that vibrations and the like are not transmitted between the devices arranged in a stack. In addition, FIG.
In this embodiment, a support base or the like can be arranged in the lower part of the main body of the image forming apparatus in place of the lower paper feeding unit 15. Even when the support base as described above is used, it will be described below. Fixing the base of the support frame can be performed in the same manner.

The sorter device 20 arranged on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 1 has side members 41, 42 on both sides of the lower sheet feeding unit 15 via fixing frame members 43, 43a.
Is attached, and the two side members are connected using a horizontal frame member 45 at the upper part of the main body of the image forming apparatus. Then, the sorter device 20 is provided through the upper projecting member 46 of the support frame 40.
Is provided so that the sorter device does not come into direct contact with the image forming apparatus main body 1. However, a mechanism for connecting the image forming device and the sheet conveying path of the sorter device and feeding the sheet toward the sorter device is configured. ing. Further, a discharge tray 9 is arranged above the image forming apparatus to form a means for directly discharging the sheets that do not need to be sorted to the discharge tray 9. As will be described later, a gate member that guides the paper toward the paper transport path of the sorter device is arranged at the end of the path, and the paper is transferred to the discharge tray 9 through the gate member only when sorting is not specified. It constitutes a guide mechanism.

In the sorter device 20 arranged above the image forming apparatus main body 1, the sorter main body 21 is supported by the upper projecting member 46 of the support frame 40, and the sorter main body 21 has a large number of discharge trays 27. Are arranged in the vertical direction at a predetermined interval, and the sheets are accommodated in the discharge tray in accordance with the sorting mode set in the image forming apparatus. Further, the cover member 30 is detachably arranged on the sorter body 21, and the flange 3 of the cover member 30 is provided via the studs 35, 35a arranged on the rear portion of the sorter body 21.
1, 32 are respectively supported, and the cover member 30 is swingably provided with respect to the sorter body via the two support shafts. By supporting the cover member 30 with respect to the sorter main body 21 as described above, when a jam occurs in the sheet conveying path of the sorter device, the cover member is swung via the support shaft. , To enable maintenance of the paper transport path of the sorter body. A slider member 33 is provided on the lower portion of the cover member 30 so as to project. When the cover member is opened via a support shaft and then closed toward the back of the sorter body, The lower part is lightly contacted with the lower frame of the sorter body to assist the opening / closing operation. The slider member 33 is also used to prevent the cover member from hanging down.

As described above, in order to support the sorter device 20 above the image forming apparatus, the side members of the support frame 40 are fixed to the lower sheet feeding unit 15 as shown in FIG. In order to fix the lower part of the side member 42, a fixing frame member 43 using an angle member or the like is attached to a fixing screw 44,
It is attached via 44a. Then, the upper frame member 50 is swingably arranged on the upper portion of the support frame body 40 supported by the side member, and the sorter device is fixedly held via the upper frame member 50. The upper frame member 50 is a base bracket 51 arranged at one end of a horizontal frame member 55.
It is provided so as to be swingable with respect to the support frame 40 via the. The bracket 47 provided on the upper projecting member 46 of the support frame and the horizontal frame member 45 have a vertical positional relationship. The upper and lower flanges 52, 53 provided on the base bracket 51 of the upper frame member 50 with respect to the arranged studs 48, 49.
The holes 52a and 53a are engaged with each other. Then, the upper frame member 50 supporting the sorter device can be swung via the studs as vertical shafts provided above and below.

A horizontal frame member 55 arranged on the upper frame member 50.
, Two vertical frame members 56 and 57 are arranged, and a sorter support frame 58 is integrally provided in the horizontal direction. Each of the vertical frame member and the sorter support frame 58 arranged on the horizontal frame member 55 is provided with a screw hole 59 ... to fix and hold the sorter body 21 of the sorter device 20, as shown in FIG. The sorter device 20 is provided so as to be swingable with respect to the upper protruding member 46 of the support frame via a vertical support shaft. Therefore, by supporting the sorter device by the support frame 40 shown in FIG. 2, the entire sorter device is supported by the image forming device when performing maintenance on the device such as the image writing device arranged on the upper portion of the image forming device main body. The upper cover member of the image forming apparatus is configured to be openable and closable by moving the upper cover member 1 from above.

With respect to the upper protruding member 46 of the support frame,
In order to support the upper frame member 50, attachment means as shown in FIG. 3 can be used. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the base bracket 51 is supported by the stud 48 provided on the bracket 47 arranged on the upper protruding member 46 and the stud 49 provided on the lateral frame member 45. In the base bracket 51, holes 52a, 5 are formed in the upper flange 52 and the lower flange 53, respectively.
3a is provided to engage the holes of the flanges with the studs 48 and 49 so that the sorter device can be swung together with the support frame through the longitudinal axis of the studs. When the base bracket of the upper frame member is attached to the upper protruding member, the bracket member 60 can be arranged to adjust the attachment position.

The bracket member 60 is formed as an angle member, and a large hole or a square hole 61 is provided in the upper flange, and a screw hole 62 is also provided in the hanging flange. Also, the base bracket 5
A screw hole 63 corresponding to the screw hole 62 provided in the vertical member of the bracket member 60 is arranged in the vertical member 1 and the bracket member 60 can be fixed to the base bracket 51 by using the fixing screw 64. It can be so. When the base bracket 51 is attached to the upper portion of the upper protruding member 46, the upper flange 5 of the base bracket 51 is attached.
2 and the upper flange 52 of the upper projecting member 46, the bracket member 60 is arranged and the mounting position of the horizontal frame member 55 is adjusted, so that the gap between the image forming apparatus main body and the sorter apparatus can be arbitrarily set. To be set to.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, when the sorter device 20 is arranged on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 1, the support frame 40 is fixed through the lower paper feeding unit 15, and the sorter device 20 is fixed. By arranging them so that they do not come into direct contact with the main body of the image forming apparatus, vibrations and the like generated from the driving member of the sorter device are prevented from being transmitted to the main body of the image forming apparatus. Further, since the vibration-proof block member is arranged between the image forming apparatus main body and the lower paper feeding unit 15 that supports the support frame, the vibration or the like generated in the lower paper feeding unit is also prevented.
It is not directly transmitted to the image forming apparatus body.
Further, when the sorter device 20 is supported by the upper projecting member 46 provided on the support frame 40 via the cantilevered upper frame member 50, the weight of the sorter device 20 causes the upper frame member to be supported. It is feared that the 50 will be bent. Therefore, in order to cope with the occurrence of bending of the upper frame member, as shown in FIG. 3, the bracket member 60 is arranged with respect to the stud 48 as the vertical axis, and the upper frame is adjusted by the weight of the sorter device. Even when the member is bent, the sorter device or the upper frame member is prevented from coming into direct contact with the main body of the image forming apparatus.

In the apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, as shown in FIG.
An optional cover member may be arranged between the sorter device 20 and the lower part thereof so that a gap is not formed in the connection portion of both devices. Further, the cover member can be arranged such that a cover member arranged on the frame of the sorter device is extended downward and a very small gap is provided between the cover member and the image forming apparatus main body. Then, the apparatus configured by integrally combining the sorter apparatus and the lower sheet feeding unit can be made to have a sense of unity as a whole by not forming a gap or the like.

[0018]

Second Embodiment As described above, the main body of the image forming apparatus that supports the sorter device 20 on the upper portion thereof can be configured as shown in FIG. Image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
Then, similarly to the conventional small-sized laser beam printer, one or a plurality of paper feed trays 2 are arranged at the bottom of the apparatus main body 1, and the paper feed device 3 is made to correspond to the paper feed side of the paper feed tray 2.
Is provided. The paper feeding device 3 can be configured by combining a pickup roller and a paper separating device, but can also be configured as a combination member of a snubber claw provided on a paper feeding tray and a pickup roller. The sheet carried out from the sheet feeding tray 2 by the sheet feeding device 3 is aligned by the registration roller device 4, and constitutes a means for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 5 to the sheet by discharging the transfer corotron 6. .

The image writing device 10 is made to correspond to the photoconductor drum 5 like a general laser beam printer.
A developing device, a cleaning device, and a device such as a charging corotron (not shown) are arranged. Then, after uniformly charging the photosensitive drum with a charging corotron, writing is performed by the laser beam output from the image writing device 10, and toner is supplied from the developing device to form a visible image as a toner image. Transfer and transfer corotron 6
The toner image is transferred to the paper by the discharge of. Further, after the toner image is transferred onto the paper, the toner, paper dust and the like remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum are cleaned by a cleaning device so as to cope with the next toner image forming operation. The image writing device 10 is configured by combining a laser light output device, a rotating mirror device, a plurality of reflection mirrors, and the like, and is exposed based on an image signal sent from a device such as a computer connected to the image forming device. Image information is output to the body drum.

The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred from the photoconductor drum 5 is fixed by passing through the fixing device 7 and discharged toward the discharge tray 9 through the discharge roller device 8 on the upper side. Further, in the image forming apparatus main body 1, a paper transport path 12 from a lower paper feeding unit arranged below is arranged with respect to a paper transport path from a paper feed tray, and a registration roller unit 13 is used to transfer the paper to the registration roller. The roller device is connected to the upstream confluence. Then, the registration roller device 4 and the transport roller device 13 perform an aligning action on the paper sent from the lower paper feeding unit so that recording paper can be created. The discharge tray and each process device arranged inside the image forming apparatus main body 1 are provided so as to be pulled out from the front side of the apparatus main body, and maintenance for each device such as the photosensitive drum, the developing device, and the cleaning device is performed. Make it easy to do.

A sorter device 20 is arranged above the image forming apparatus 1 via the above-mentioned support mechanism, and a solenoid as a driving member of a gate member arranged in the sorter device and a lower branch gate 29. The vibrations and the like output from the actuating members such as solenoids and the driving members for the driving rollers are not directly transmitted to the image forming apparatus main body. The lower branch gate 29 of the sorter device 20 is connected to the discharge tray 9 of the main body.
Then, the paper is sent out to any one of the paper transport paths 22 of the sorter device. In the sorter device 20 in which the lower branch gate 29 is arranged, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sorter main body 21 is provided with the vertical paper transport path transport path 22 partitioned by the guide plate and the drive roller. Pinch rollers 24, 24a, ... Are arranged at a predetermined interval on the guide plate 23, and the conveyance operation is performed while the sheet is nipped between the drive roller and the pinch roller. Further, a large number of discharge trays 27, 27a ... Are arranged in the sorter main body 21 at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, and drive rollers 25, 25a ..
Gate members 26, 26a ... Are arranged respectively.

If the paper sent from the image forming apparatus does not require sorting, the lower branch gate 2
9 is swung to the position shown by the phantom line in FIG. 5 so that the paper is discharged toward the discharge tray 9 of the main body. Further, when the sorting mode using the sorter device 20 is set, the lower branch gate 29 is swung to the position shown by the solid line in the figure to guide the paper toward the paper transport path 22, and to drive the drive roller. It conveys upward while nipping between the pinch rollers. In the paper transport path 22, drive rollers 25, 2
The sheet is guided between the guide plates 5a and the guide plates 23, and the conveying action is performed along the vertical back surface of the gate member 26. As described above, while the sheet is being conveyed upward, the gate member corresponding to the designated discharge tray is swung so that the sheet is discharged toward the discharge tray. Further, in the middle of the operation of discharging the paper to the discharge tray, it may be necessary to close the gate member in order to guide the succeeding paper to the lower discharge tray. Even when the member is closed, the operation of guiding the paper by the gate member can be continued through the biasing member such as the spring provided in the gate member until the paper has finished passing.

As described above, in the sorter device 20 arranged on the upper part of the image forming apparatus, the sorter main body 21 is supported on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body through the support frame 40, and the paper is attached to the sorter main body 21. A transport path and a transport roller device,
A guide plate 23 and a large number of discharge trays 27 are arranged respectively. Further, the cover member 30 of the sorter device 20 is removably arranged with respect to the sorter main body 21, and when a jam or the like occurs in the paper transport path, the cover member 30 can be removed for maintenance. To do so. In addition to the above configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is disposed on the upper portion of the main body via a support frame, and is provided so as to be swingable with respect to the frame via a vertical axis. Therefore, when performing operations such as maintenance on a device such as the image writing device 10 disposed inside the image forming apparatus main body, the sorter device is retracted from the upper surface of the image forming device via the support shaft. It is possible to open the upper cover member without removing the one that blocks the upper surface of the apparatus body 1.

[0024]

The post-processing apparatus of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is
Since it is configured as described above, by arranging the post-processing device on the upper part of the main body of the image forming apparatus via the support configured as a separate body, the image forming apparatus including the sorter device can be made compact. It is possible to reduce the floor area occupied by the combined apparatus in which the image forming apparatus is mounted on the lower sheet feeding unit or the like. Further, in the present invention, since it is possible to fix the support of the post-processing device such as the sorter to the paper feeding unit or the like arranged at the bottom of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the support of the sorter can be attached. Can be performed easily. Then, the vibration of the drive member generated inside the device such as the sorter is
Since it is not directly transmitted from the main body of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent an adverse effect when writing an image. Further, in the present invention, since the sorter device is provided on the post-processing support so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction via the vertical axis, the maintenance of the writing device and the like arranged inside the image forming apparatus main body is performed. When performing the above, the sorter device can be easily moved, the operator does not need to move a heavy object, and maintenance work can be easily performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus integrally provided with a sorter device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a frame body that supports a sorter device on an upper portion of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an upper frame member support portion of a support frame body.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus used in the present invention and a configuration of a connecting portion with a sorter device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a sorter device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image forming apparatus main body, 9 discharge tray, 10
Image writing device, 15 lower paper feeding unit, 2
0 sorter device, 21 sorter body, 25
Drive roller, 26 gate member, 27 discharge tray, 29 lower branch gate, 30 cover member,
40 support frame, 41/42 side member, 43
Fixed frame member, 45 horizontal frame member, 46 upper protruding member, 48/49 stud, 50 upper frame member,
51 base bracket, 52/53 flange,
55 horizontal frame member, 56/57 vertical frame member, 58
Sorter support frame, 60 bracket members.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which a main body of an image forming apparatus has a discharge tray on an upper surface, and a post-processing device is arranged in correspondence with a sheet discharging portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus to the discharge tray. At a predetermined position above the main body of the image forming apparatus, there is provided a supporting mechanism for arranging the post-processing device so that the post-processing device can be retracted from the predetermined position. In a state where they are not in direct contact with each other, the sheet conveying path for discharging the sheet of the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet conveying path for receiving the sheet of the post-processing apparatus face each other through the sheet discharging section, and the sheet is An image forming apparatus, which supports the post-processing apparatus with respect to the image forming apparatus main body so that the post-processing apparatus is delivered from the image forming apparatus main body. 2. The support mechanism includes a side member extending from bottom to top outside one side of the image forming apparatus main body, a vertical shaft is provided on the side member, and the post-processing apparatus includes the image processing apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is rotatably supported by the vertical shaft in a horizontal plane above the main body of the forming apparatus. 3. The post-processing device has a cover member,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is arranged so as to form a small gap between the cover member and the main body of the image forming apparatus.