JP5380871B2 - Loading mechanism and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a stacking mechanism and an image forming apparatus.

  As an image forming apparatus, there is known a printer in which an opening / closing cover serving as an opening / closing portion is provided on a side surface of a printer body, and a sheet as a load to be fed into the printer body is loaded on the opening / closing cover (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 5).

In such a printer, a tray as a stacking unit for stacking sheets is usually arranged on the opening / closing cover. The tray is arranged on the opening / closing cover in a state where the opening / closing cover is opened, and sheets are stacked on the tray.
JP 2006-62863 A JP-A-11-189338 Japanese Patent No. 2835212 Japanese Patent No. 3745286 Japanese Patent No. 2910021

  An object of the present invention is to prevent a load to be placed on a loading unit from being erroneously inserted into a gap between the opening / closing unit and the loading unit.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a loading mechanism in which an opening / closing portion provided on an apparatus main body is openable / closable, and an opening / closing portion that is opened / closed integrally with the opening / closing section. The stacking unit placed at a predetermined position, and the opening / closing unit and the stacking unit are disposed between the opening / closing unit and the stacking unit, and the opening / closing unit and the stacking unit are located farther from the apparatus body than the predetermined position with the opening / closing unit opened. And an insertion preventing means for preventing insertion of the load into the gap with the section.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the loading mechanism according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the insertion preventing means is arranged at a position where the center of gravity of the loaded object is outside the opening / closing part. It is characterized by preventing the insertion of.

A loading mechanism according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, the projecting portion is a rib extending in a direction intersecting the insertion direction .

The stacking mechanism according to claim 3 of the present invention is such that the insertion preventing means has a base end portion attached to the stacking portion so that the free end portion can rotate in the opening direction that opens the gap, and the direction opposite to the opening direction. The rotation member is a rotation member that is restricted in rotation and closes the gap.

A loading mechanism according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the structure according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising a support protrusion formed on the opening / closing portion and supporting a load loaded on the loading portion. It is characterized by that.

An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention includes the stacking mechanism according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein a recording medium is stacked as the load.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where the configuration is not provided, the load placed on the loading unit is prevented from being erroneously inserted into the gap between the opening / closing unit and the loading unit. be able to.

According to the configuration of the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is more effective that the load to be placed on the loading portion is erroneously inserted into the gap between the opening / closing portion and the loading portion, compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided. Can be suppressed.

According to the configuration of the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the load from being erroneously inserted into the gap between the opening / closing portion and the stacking portion with a simple configuration as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. be able to.

According to the configuration of the third aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, the insertion preventing means does not get in the way when closing the opening / closing portion, and the load is erroneously opened and closed and the loading portion. Can be effectively suppressed from being inserted into the gap.

According to the structure of Claim 6 of this invention, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, a loading part can be made small and size reduction of a structure can be achieved.

According to the configuration of the seventh aspect of the present invention, the recording medium placed on the stacking portion is prevented from being erroneously inserted into the gap between the opening / closing portion and the stacking portion, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. be able to.

Below, an example of an embodiment concerning the present invention is described based on a drawing.
(Whole structure of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment)
First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes an apparatus main body 12, and sheets P as an example of a recording medium are stacked and stored in a lower portion of the apparatus main body 12. A paper feed tray 14 is disposed.

  The recording medium is not limited to paper, and a sheet-like member such as a plastic film or other media on which an image is recorded may be used.

  A pickup roll 16 is disposed immediately above the front end side (right end side in FIG. 1) of the paper feed tray 14 so as to contact the front end side of the upper surface of the paper P and feed the paper P from the paper feed tray 14.

  Further, the apparatus main body 12 is formed with a first conveyance path 22 that extends from the front end of the paper feed tray 14 and is gently curved and extends substantially vertically upward on the front side of the apparatus (right side in FIG. 1). Has been.

  Along the first transport path 22, a plurality of (for example, two) transport roller pairs 24 that sandwich and transport the paper P in order from the upstream side in the paper transport direction, and electrostatically attract the paper P on which an image is to be formed. An endless transport belt 26 is disposed for transporting.

  The conveyor belt 26 is wound around a winding roller 27 disposed above and a winding roller 29 disposed below, and one of the winding roller 27 and the winding roller 29 is in a predetermined direction (see FIG. 1, the conveyance belt 26 is rotated (circulated) in a predetermined direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 1) by being driven to rotate in the clockwise direction.

  On the upstream side of the conveyance belt 26 in the sheet conveyance direction, a charging roll 31 that charges the surface of the conveyance belt 26 and presses the sheet P electrostatically attracted to the conveyance belt 26 against the conveyance belt 26 is attached to the conveyance belt 26. Adjacent to each other.

  A plurality of process cartridges 28Y, 28M, 28C, and 28K corresponding to the respective colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are arranged in the lateral direction facing the conveyance belt 26 with the first conveyance path 22 interposed therebetween. Along the one conveyance path 22, the apparatus main body 12 is arranged in a column in a substantially vertical direction.

  Each process cartridge 28Y, 28M, 28C, 28K is provided with a photosensitive drum 30 that rotates in a predetermined direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1).

  Around the photosensitive drum 30, the charging roller 32 for charging the photosensitive drum 30 and the charged photosensitive drum 30 are exposed to the photosensitive drum 30 in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 30. An exposure device 34 for forming an electrostatic latent image thereon and a developing roller 36 for developing toner by attaching each color toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 30 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the toner images formed on the photosensitive drum 30 are respectively transferred to the paper P at a predetermined transfer position in the lateral direction facing the photosensitive drum 30 on the inner peripheral side of the conveying belt 26 as shown in FIG. A transfer device 38 for transferring is provided.

  On the downstream side in the paper transport direction from the transport belt 26, a fixing device 40 that fixes the transferred toner image onto the paper P, a transport roll pair 42 that sandwiches and transports the paper P, and a discharge roll pair that discharges the paper P to the discharge tray 20. 44 are arranged in this order.

  Further, a second conveyance path 46 for inverting the paper P on which an image is formed on one side and returning it to the first conveyance path 22 is formed facing the first conveyance path 22 with the conveyance belt 26 interposed therebetween. Has been.

  A plurality (for example, three) of conveyance roller pairs 48 for nipping and conveying the paper P downward are arranged in the second conveyance path 46, and when an image is formed on both sides, the image is formed on one side. The discharged paper P is switched back by the discharge roll pair 44 and guided to the second conveyance path 46, conveyed downward by the plurality of conveyance roll pairs 48, and sent back to the first conveyance path 22.

  Further, a third conveyance path 47 connected to the second conveyance path 46 is formed. The third transport path 47 is provided with a pair of feed rolls 49, and the feed rolls 49 feed sheets P loaded on a manual feed tray 74 described later to the second transport path 46.

  Next, an image forming operation for forming an image in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, when an image is formed on the paper P, the paper P taken out from the paper feed tray 14 is first transported upward through the first transport path 22 by the plurality of transport roll pairs 24. Then, it is fed to the conveyor belt 26. The paper P sent to the transport belt 26 is pressed against the transport belt 26 by the charging roll 31 and is electrostatically attracted to the transport belt 26 to be charged and transported upward. Each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black Are sequentially fed to a predetermined transfer position corresponding to the above.

  On the paper P sent to the predetermined transfer position, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 30 are transferred by the transfer device 38 to form a full color image. Further, the toner image conveyed and transferred to the fixing device 40 is fixed by the fixing device 40.

  Paper P loaded on a manual feed tray 74 described later is sent to the transport belt 26 by the feed roll 49 via the second transport path 46 and the first transport path 22, and a full-color image is formed in the same manner as described above. It is formed.

  When an image is formed only on one side of the paper P, the paper P is discharged to the discharge tray 20 by the discharge roll pair 44 after the toner image is fixed.

  When images are formed on both sides of the sheet P, after the image is formed on one side, the sheet P is switched back by the discharge roll pair 44, reversed, and sent to the second conveyance path 46. Further, the image is again sent from the second conveyance path 46 to the first conveyance path 22, and an image is formed on the opposite surface where no image is recorded in the same manner as described above, and an image is formed on both sides of the paper P. As described above, a series of image forming operations are performed.

(Loading mechanism according to image forming apparatus of this embodiment)
Next, the stacking mechanism according to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stacking mechanism 11 according to the image forming apparatus 10 of the present exemplary embodiment includes an opening / closing cover 51 as an example of an opening / closing section that is provided on the apparatus main body 12 so as to be openable / closable.

  The opening / closing cover 51 is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 12 by a support portion 61, and rotates from the apparatus main body 12 side to the outside of the apparatus (in the direction A in FIGS. 2 and 3) and tilts to the open position. As a result, the apparatus main body 12 is opened. Further, the opening / closing cover 51 is closed with respect to the apparatus main body 12 by rotating from the opened state toward the apparatus main body 12 (in the direction B in FIGS. 2 and 3) and standing vertically to the closed position.

  Further, when the opening / closing cover 51 is opened, the feeding port 73 (see FIG. 3) provided in the apparatus main body 12 is opened, and the paper P can be fed into the apparatus main body 12.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a manual feed tray 74 as an example of a stacking unit capable of stacking sheets P as an example of a load is provided on the inner inner surface 51A of the opening / closing cover 51 facing the apparatus main body 12. .

  Note that the load is not limited to the paper P, and for example, a sheet-like member such as a plastic film or other media on which an image is recorded may be used.

  The manual feed tray 74 is opened and closed integrally with the open / close cover 51 and is disposed on the open / close cover 51 when the open / close cover 51 is open. In addition, when the open / close cover 51 is opened, the paper P to be fed into the apparatus main body 12 is placed on a predetermined position on the manual feed tray 74. Specifically, the paper P is stacked on the manual feed tray 74 at a position where the leading end of the paper P comes into contact with the feeding roll 49 (see FIG. 2). The position where the paper P is stacked can be arbitrarily set.

  The manual feed tray 74 is provided with a guide member 75 for guiding the paper P stacked on the manual feed tray 74 from both sides. The guide member 75 is configured to slide in the direction of arrow E corresponding to the paper width of the paper P to be stacked.

Further, on the inner surface 51A of the opening / closing cover 51, there is a vertical rib 52 as an example of a support protrusion that supports the rear end side of the paper P stacked on the manual feed tray 74 (upstream side in the direction C fed to the apparatus main body 12). Is formed.
The vertical ribs 52 are formed along the direction C in which the paper P is fed from the manual feed tray 74.

  Further, a pair of side plates 60 and 62 are provided on the inner surface 51 </ b> A of the opening / closing cover 51 at both ends in the width direction (direction along the axial direction of the rotation axis S of the opening / closing cover 51) W. The pair of side plates 60 is provided on the upper side (side far from the rotation axis S of the opening / closing cover 51), and the pair of side plates 62 is provided on the lower side (side closer to the rotation axis S of the opening / closing cover 51).

  The pair of side plates 60 are respectively formed with first guide holes 66 extending along an orthogonal direction R orthogonal to the rotation axis S of the opening / closing cover 51. The pair of side plates 62 are respectively formed with second guide holes 68 extending along an orthogonal direction R orthogonal to the rotation axis S of the opening / closing cover 51. The second guide hole 68 has substantially the same length as the first guide hole 66.

  On both side surfaces of the manual feed tray 74, a pair of first shaft portions 78 is formed at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the side surface (a tip portion far from the rotation axis S of the opening / closing cover 51). Further, on both side surfaces of the manual feed tray 74, a pair of second shaft portions 80 are formed in the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the side surface.

  The pair of first shaft portions 78 provided on the manual feed tray 74 has their tips fitted into the first guide holes 66, and the pair of second shaft portions 80 provided on the manual feed tray 74 has a second guide. The hole 68 is fitted.

  The pair of first shaft portions 78 slides from one end of the first guide hole 66 to the other end, and the pair of second shaft portions 80 slides from one end of the second guide hole 68 to the other end. The tray 74 is configured to slide along the opening / closing cover 51.

  One end of the link member 84 is rotatably connected to a support shaft 86 provided in the apparatus main body 12. The other end portion of the link member 84 is rotatably connected to the distal end portions of the pair of second shaft portions 80 fitted in the second guide holes 68. Thereby, the manual feed tray 74 is supported by the support shaft 86 at a position different from the rotation axis of the opening / closing cover 51 via the link member 84.

  Thereby, in a state in which the opening / closing cover 51 is closed, as shown in FIG. 4, the pair of first shaft portions 78 is formed at one end portion of the first guide hole 66 (the tip portion far from the rotation axis S of the opening / closing cover 51). The pair of second shaft portions 80 is positioned at one end portion of the second guide hole 68 (the tip portion far from the rotation axis S of the opening / closing cover 51).

  When the opening / closing cover 51 is opened, as shown in FIG. 5, the pair of first shaft portions 78 are linked to the first guide hole 66 along one end of the first guide hole 66 (opening / closing cover 51). The first shaft hole 66 is slid to the other end of the first guide hole 66 (the rear end close to the rotation shaft S of the opening / closing cover 51), and the pair of second shaft portions 80 are secondly moved. Along the guide hole 68, one end of the second guide hole 68 (distal end from the rotation axis S of the opening / closing cover 51) to the other end of the second guide hole 68 (rear end near the rotation axis S of the opening / closing cover 51). The manual feed tray 74 is opened and closed integrally with the open / close cover 51.

  Here, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the stacking mechanism 11 according to the present embodiment has the opening and closing cover 51 and the opening cover 51 at a position farther from the apparatus main body 12 than the position at which the sheets P are stacked in a state where the opening and closing cover 51 is opened. As the insertion preventing means for preventing the paper P from being inserted into the gap with the manual feed tray 74, a horizontal rib 54 and a horizontal rib 56 extending in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the paper P into the gap are provided.

  The horizontal ribs 54 and the horizontal ribs 56 prevent the insertion of the paper P at a position where the center of gravity of the paper P comes outside the opening / closing cover 51.

  The lateral ribs 54 and the lateral ribs 56 are formed on the inner surface 51 </ b> A of the opening / closing cover 51 and are disposed between the opening / closing cover 51 and the manual feed tray 74. The lateral rib 54 is disposed on the upstream side in the insertion direction, and the lateral rib 56 is disposed on the downstream side in the insertion direction.

  On the upstream side in the insertion direction of the horizontal rib 54, no vertical rib is formed on the inner surface 51 </ b> A between the vertical rib 52 and the horizontal rib 54, and the leading edge of the paper P is on the inner surface 51 </ b> A of the opening / closing cover 51. The paper P that directly contacts and is inserted into the gap is guided to the lateral rib 54.

  A vertical rib 53 having a height lower than that of the horizontal rib 56 is formed on the inner surface 51 </ b> A between the horizontal rib 54 and the horizontal rib 56, and the paper P inserted into the gap is guided to the horizontal rib 56. It is like that.

(Operation of this embodiment)
Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when using the manual feed tray 74, first, the opening / closing cover 51 is opened as shown in FIGS. As the opening / closing cover 51 is opened, the manual feed tray 74 is also opened integrally with the opening / closing cover 51. Then, the operator loads the paper P on the manual feed tray 74.

  At this time, when the operator mistakenly inserts the paper P into the gap between the open / close cover 51 and the manual feed tray 74 as shown in FIG. 7, the leading edge of the paper P is aligned with the horizontal rib 54 and the paper as shown in FIG. No further insertion is possible by hitting the lateral rib 56.

  The position where insertion is blocked by the horizontal rib 54 and the horizontal rib 56 is the position where the paper P is stacked on the manual feed tray 74 and the position away from the apparatus main body 12. Therefore, the operator sets the paper P properly. I have come to realize that it has not been done.

  In the present embodiment, when the paper P is stacked on the manual feed tray 74, the paper P is positioned at a position in contact with the feeding roll 49, whereas the paper is in the gap between the open / close cover 51 and the manual feed tray 74. When P is inserted, the paper P is not located at a position where it contacts the feeding roll 49, and the operator is aware that the paper P is not set properly.

  Further, the sheet P is prevented from being inserted by the lateral ribs 54 and the lateral ribs 56 at a position where the center of gravity of the sheet P comes outside the opening / closing cover 51. That is, more than half of the length of the paper P in the delivery direction is disengaged from the open / close cover 51, and the paper P falls from the manual feed tray 74 (open / close cover 51) or hangs down from the open / close cover 51. Become. As a result, the operator notices that the paper P is not set properly.

  As described above, in the stacking mechanism of the present embodiment, the operator is made aware that the paper P is erroneously inserted into the gap between the open / close cover 51 and the manual feed tray 74, and the paper P is stacked on the manual feed tray 74. Prompt.

(Modification of loading mechanism according to this embodiment)
First, the structure of the loading mechanism according to the modification will be described. 9, 10 and 11 are schematic views showing the configuration of a loading mechanism according to a modification.

  The stacking mechanism 70 according to the modified example has a base end portion attached to the manual feed tray 74 so as to be rotatable in an opening direction in which a gap between the open / close cover 51 and the manual feed tray 74 is opened on the free end side as an example of an insertion preventing unit. A rotating member 72 is provided. The rotating member 72 is formed of a plate-like member such as a film, and is in a state of hanging from the manual feed tray 74 when the opening / closing cover 51 is opened.

  The rotation member 72 is restricted in rotation in the direction opposite to the opening direction, and closes the gap between the open / close cover 51 and the manual feed tray 74.

  Specifically, vertical ribs 76 for guiding the rotating member 72 are formed on the inner surface 51 </ b> A of the opening / closing cover 51. The vertical rib 76 has an inclination that is inclined downward in the opening direction that opens the gap, and is guided in the opening direction that opens the gap along the inclination. In the direction opposite to the opening direction, the rotation is restricted by the protrusion 76 </ b> A formed on the vertical rib 76, and the gap between the opening / closing cover 51 and the manual feed tray 74 is closed.

  Thereby, when the opening / closing cover 51 is closed from the opened state, the rotating member 72 moves in the opening direction as shown in FIG. When the opening / closing cover 51 is opened from the closed state, as shown in FIG. 11, the rotating member 72 moves in a direction to close the gap and hits the protrusion 76 </ b> A to close the gap.

  For this reason, when the operator loads the paper P on the manual feed tray 74 and inserts the paper P in the gap between the open / close cover 51 and the manual feed tray 74 by mistake, the leading edge of the paper P hits the rotating member 72. No more can be inserted.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications, changes, and improvements can be made.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the loading mechanism according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the stacking mechanism according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the open / close cover is closed in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which the opening / closing cover is opened in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the open / close cover with the manual feed tray removed in the configuration of the stacking mechanism according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state in which a sheet is erroneously inserted into the gap between the open / close cover and the manual feed tray in the configuration of the stacking mechanism according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the manual feed tray is removed and a sheet is erroneously inserted into the gap between the open / close cover and the manual feed tray in the configuration of the stacking mechanism according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing a loading mechanism according to a modification. FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state in which the opening / closing cover is closed in the loading mechanism according to the modification. FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state in which the opening / closing cover is opened in the loading mechanism according to the modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Loading mechanism 12 Apparatus main body 51 Opening / closing cover (opening / closing part)
52 Vertical rib (support projection)
54 Lateral rib (insertion prevention means)
56 Lateral rib (insertion prevention means)
70 Loading mechanism 72 Rotating member (insertion preventing means)
74 Bypass tray (loading section)
P paper (load)

Claims (7)

An opening / closing part provided on the apparatus main body so as to be opened and closed;
A loading unit that is opened and closed integrally with the opening and closing unit, and in which the load to be sent to the apparatus main body in the open state of the opening and closing unit is placed at a predetermined position;
The load placed between the opening / closing portion and the stacking portion, and in the gap between the opening / closing portion and the loading portion at a position farther from the apparatus body than the predetermined position in a state where the opening / closing portion is opened. Insertion prevention means for preventing the insertion of
With
The insertion preventing means is composed of a protrusion provided in the opening / closing part,
The opening / closing portion has a rib that is lower than the protrusion and guides the load to the protrusion along the insertion direction in which the insertion is performed, on the upstream side in the insertion direction with respect to the protrusion. Formed,
The loading mechanism is configured to block insertion of the load at a position where the center of gravity of the load is outside the opening / closing portion . An opening / closing part provided on the apparatus main body so as to be opened and closed;
A loading unit that is opened and closed integrally with the opening and closing unit, and in which the load to be sent to the apparatus main body in the open state of the opening and closing unit is placed at a predetermined position;
The load placed between the opening / closing portion and the stacking portion, and in the gap between the opening / closing portion and the loading portion at a position farther from the apparatus body than the predetermined position in a state where the opening / closing portion is opened. Insertion prevention means for preventing the insertion of
With
The insertion preventing means is composed of a protrusion provided in the opening / closing part,
The opening / closing portion includes a rib formed along the insertion direction in which the insertion is performed, and a guide surface formed on the upstream side in the insertion direction with respect to the protrusion and guiding the load to the protrusion. And
The loading mechanism is characterized in that the guide surface has a height lower than that of the protrusion without forming the rib. An opening / closing part provided on the apparatus main body so as to be opened and closed;
A loading unit that is opened and closed integrally with the opening and closing unit, and in which the load to be sent to the apparatus main body in the open state of the opening and closing unit is placed at a predetermined position;
The load placed between the opening / closing portion and the stacking portion, and in the gap between the opening / closing portion and the loading portion at a position farther from the apparatus body than the predetermined position in a state where the opening / closing portion is opened. Insertion prevention means for preventing the insertion of
With
The insertion blocking means includes a rotating member that has a base end portion attached to the stacking portion so that a free end portion can rotate in an opening direction that opens the gap, and is restricted in rotation in a direction opposite to the opening direction to close the gap. A loading mechanism characterized by that.   The loading mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a rib extending in a direction intersecting the insertion direction. 5. The loading mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the insertion blocking unit blocks insertion of the load at a position where the center of gravity of the load is outside the opening / closing portion.   The loading mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a support protrusion formed on the opening / closing portion and supporting a load loaded on the loading portion.   An image forming apparatus comprising the stacking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a recording medium is stacked as the load.

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