JP3685464B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine or the same printer.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved]
In a known image forming apparatus configured to obtain an image by sending an image signal obtained by scanning a document with an appropriate light source to an image forming part, the document placed on the document table is stopped and traveled Scanning the original surface sequentially with a light source to obtain an image signal (mirror scan mode), and scanning the original with a fixed light source by running the original on the original table using, for example, an automatic document feeder It is well known that there is a system that has a method (a sink mode) to perform.
[0003]
According to such an image forming apparatus, the former mode may be used when making occasional copies on a single recording sheet, but particularly when making copies of a large number of continuous documents. Workability can be greatly improved by using the latter mode.
[0004]
Hereinafter, the scanning mode of the document surface in both modes will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. “FIG. 7” shows the case of the mirror scan mode, in which a document placed on the top of the image forming apparatus main body is disposed on the first mirror base 2 that is disposed below and travels along the document. Irradiated by the light source L, the image signal as the reflected light is received by the mirror 1, and then the reflected light is received by the mirrors 3 and 4 mounted on the second mirror base 5 that travels in a predetermined relationship with the first mirror base. Thereafter, this is fed to the image forming portion. The subsequent image forming process is not directly related to the present invention, and is therefore omitted.
[0005]
“FIG. 8” shows the case of the flow-off mode, in which the original conveyed from the original feeder DF placed on the top of the apparatus main body to the original placement position travels along the glass plate on the top of the main body, and the light source It is assumed that the reflected light irradiating the original with L is sent to the image forming portion through the fixedly arranged mirror 11.
[0006]
As described above, in the case of the mirror scan mode and in the case of the flow-out mode, the mode of sending the light beam as the image signal to the image forming part is different, so the position and number of mirrors arranged in the optical path are also different. These mirrors need to be switched each time depending on the image forming mode.
[0007]
“FIG. 9” schematically shows a mode in which the mirror position is changed depending on the image forming mode. The mirrors corresponding to those shown in “FIG. 7” and “FIG. It is attached.
[0008]
The solid line in the figure shows the case of the sinking mode. At this time, since the mirrors 1, 3, and 4 used in the mirror scanning mode are not used, these mirrors are located outward in the document scanning direction from the dotted line position shown in the figure. Moved and retracted to the solid line position. In the mirror scan mode, the mirror 11 is retracted to the dotted line position.
[0009]
In such a configuration, in order to prevent the mirrors 3, 4, etc. used in the mirror scan mode from blocking the optical path in the flow-out mode, the second mirror stage including the mirror, and further the first Since it is necessary to retreat from the optical path of the sink mirror 11 up to the first mirror base including the light source L connected to the two mirror bases, as shown in FIG. A large extra evacuation space was required, and it was inevitable to increase the size and cost of the device.
[0010]
The present invention has been made to cope with such a situation. In the sink mode, the light source in the mirror scan mode, mirrors 1, 3, 4 (refer to “FIG. 7”) and the like are in operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can be brought to a scanning position and can be rotated so as not to hinder the formation of an optical path at the time of sinking so as to avoid the expansion of the entire width of the image forming apparatus. To do.
[0011]
[Structure of the invention]
[Technical means for solving the problem and its operation]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention travels with a mirror scan mode in which a light beam, which is an image signal obtained by reading an original placed on a platen, is converted to an optical path direction by a mirror pair and then sent to an image forming portion. Means for mirror scan mode on an optical path in a sink mode in an image forming apparatus having a sink mode in which a light beam as an image signal obtained by reading an original is sent to an image forming portion along an optical path different from the optical path The image forming apparatus (1), characterized in that it comprises means for retracting from the optical path, or
In the above (1), the retracting means is configured such that the mirror pair is rotatably supported about an axis perpendicular to the document scanning direction, and the mirror pair has a mirror scan mode position and a sink mode position. An image forming apparatus (2), or a holding means for selectively taking
In any one of the above (1) and (2), the holding means is a holding member that engages and disengages when the mirror pair moves in the scanning direction. It is.
[0012]
With this configuration, in the image forming apparatus that can selectively use the mirror scan mode and the flow-out mode, both modes can be switched with a simple configuration, and an extra space for switching is required. The increase in size and cost of the equipment can be avoided.
[0013]
[Explanation of Examples]
"FIG. 1" shows only the portion corresponding to the second mirror base 5 having the mirrors 3 and 4 of the image forming apparatus having the mirrors 1, 3, and 4 shown in the above-mentioned "FIG. 7" as the mirror scan mode. FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG.
[0014]
The second mirror table 5 is provided with a shaft 7 in a direction orthogonal to the scanning traveling direction. A plate-like support member is rotatably disposed on the shaft 7, and a mirror 3 and a mirror 4 are disposed on the shaft 7 to form a mirror pair 6.
[0015]
The mirror pair 6 is rotatable about the shaft 7 and is always biased clockwise by a spring 10 in contact with the shaft 7 as viewed in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a stopper 9 having a buffer member 8 made of rubber or the like is disposed at an appropriate position of the mirror base 5, and the mirror pair 6 having a turning behavior in the clockwise direction is provided. It is assumed that the light beam as an image signal is projected in a predetermined direction during the mirror scan mode.
[0016]
Reference numeral 13 in “FIG. 3” and “FIG. 4” is a pair of guide rails for the second mirror stand 5 having mirrors 3, 4, etc. to travel during document scanning. A means for retracting the mirror pair is disposed below the position of the mirror, and the position thereof is on the document scanning side with respect to the home position of the mirror table.
[0017]
One of them is shown in FIG. 3, and as shown in the figure, a holding member 12 is attached to a shaft 14 rotatably provided on a rail-side support portion, and a motor connected to the shaft 14. 15, the holding member 12 is rotated between a solid line position and a dotted line position. As will be described later, the holding member 12 assumes a dotted line position in the mirror scan mode and a solid line position in the sink mode.
[0018]
Next, the operation of this apparatus will be described. Assuming that the mirror pair 6 is in the solid line position in FIG. 2 and is in the mirror scan mode, the holding member 12 is in the dotted line position in FIG.
[0019]
When the mirror table 5 moves in the scanning direction from the home position and exceeds the holding member 12 by the command of the sinking mode, the motor 15 is driven and the holding member 12 takes the solid line position of “FIG. 3”. . The state at this time is schematically shown in FIG.
[0020]
Next, when the mirror table 5 stops once and moves in the opposite direction, the mirror pair 6 comes into contact with the holding member 12 and resists the action of the spring 10, as shown in FIG. 5 (b). Is turned counterclockwise.
[0021]
Further, the mirror pair 6 rotates approximately 90 degrees as shown in FIG. 5C as the mirror table 5 moves, and stops the mirror table 5 at this position. The mirror pair 6 is supported by the holding member 12, and then the sinking mirror is raised to complete the sinking mode. As described above, since the mirror pair 6 is disposed above the sink mirror, as can be seen from FIG. 6, the mirror pair 6 shields the sink optical path below the mirror pair 6. There is no.
[0022]
In the present embodiment, the holding member 12 is used for rotating the mirror pair 6, but the rotating means is not limited to this, and for example, the mirror pair 6 is rotated by a motor disposed on the mirror base 5. It will be readily understood that the object of the present invention can be achieved by other configurations.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the mirror scan mode and the sink mode, the mirror means used for the mirror scan mode is not interrupted in the sink mode. Therefore, since the mirror means for the mirror scan mode can be arranged on the optical path of the sink mode mirror, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus can be reduced, which contributes to cost reduction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a perspective view of a main part of a mirror pair for mirror scan mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the same. FIG. 3 is a main part showing a configuration of a mirror pair holding member for mirror scan mode. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main part showing the configuration of the relationship between the mirror pair for mirror scanning and the holding member. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the operational relationship between the mirror pair and the holding member. FIG. 7 is a side view of the image forming apparatus showing the positional relationship of the members for the mirror scan mode when in the mode. FIG. 7 is a schematic side sectional view of a known apparatus for forming an image in the mirror scan mode. FIG. 9 is a schematic side sectional view of a known device for forming a side view. FIG. 9 is a side view showing a positional relationship of mirrors of the known device in a mirror scan mode and a sink mode.
1, 3, 4 Mirror 2 First mirror stand 5 Second mirror stand 6 Mirror pair 7 Shaft 8 Buffer member 9 Stopper 10 Spring 11 Mirror for sink mode 12 Holding member 13 Guide rail 14 Shaft 15 Motor

Claims (1)

A mirror scan mode in which a light beam, which is an image signal obtained by reading a document placed on a document table, is converted into a light path direction by a mirror pair provided in a mirror table that scans in the document scanning direction, and then sent to an image forming portion. In an image forming apparatus having a casting mode for sending a light beam, which is an image signal obtained by reading a document, to an image forming portion along an optical path different from the optical path,
A holding member that is selectively provided at any one of the position in the sinking mode and the position in the mirror scanning mode, which is rotatably provided near the position where the mirror stage scans the document;
The mirror pair is
Supported so as to freely rotate about an axis fixed to the mirror base, and
Is selectively held at a mirror scan mode position or a sink mode position on the mirror stage,
When the holding member is positioned at the position in the sinking mode, the mirror base scans to come into contact with the holding member and retreats from the optical path in the sinking mode. Image forming apparatus.

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