JPH0675214B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, which can change the posture of the apparatus main body in the vertical direction. is there.

(B) Conventional Technology A conventionally known image forming apparatus is installed on the floor or on an upper part of a dedicated stand.
There was no change to any posture other than the posture in use.

However, in recent years, a compact and lightweight image forming apparatus has been developed, and an image forming apparatus that allows an operator to carry it alone has been realized. For example, the one disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 56-11474 is a handle that is fixed to the side wall of the main body of the image forming apparatus disclosed in this publication, and the operator can use this handle. It can happen that the device body is gripped and rotated in the vertical plane. In addition, when not in use, the device body is placed on the floor or the top surface of the desk with this handle in the upper position, but with the device body in this position, the operator accidentally touches the operation switch. Then, the recording operation will start.

Particularly, in the image forming apparatus proposed by the inventor of the present application in Japanese Patent Application No. 59-172911, when the recording paper is jammed, the jammed recording paper is removed after the apparatus main body is erected. Since it is excluded, it is highly likely that the operation switch is accidentally touched during the work of removing the recording paper.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention As described above, in the related art, when the operation switch is touched when the image forming apparatus is in a posture other than the posture in use, the recording operation is started. There was a risk of doing it. However, when the recording operation is started in such a posture, in the case of the one having a document table, the document table moves in the vertical direction, so that its edge collides with a desk or an operator, and There is a risk that the person may be injured or that it may be damaged.

Further, even if the document table is not provided, the recording paper will be wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the conventional technique. When the apparatus body is in a posture other than the posture in use, the recording operation starts even if the operation switch is touched. The present invention is intended to realize an image forming apparatus that is configured so as not to have a problem.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention relates to a carrying handle provided on one side wall of the apparatus main body that intersects the sheet transport direction, a first posture in a recording operation state, and the first posture. Different from the posture, the main body of the apparatus, which can be in the second posture in which the handle is at the top, the paper transport path for transporting the paper, and at least one in the paper transport path are provided to detect the presence or absence of the paper. At the same time, the detection means for detecting the attitude of the apparatus main body and the start of the recording operation of the apparatus are detected when the detection means detects that the apparatus main body is in the second attitude. And an image forming apparatus including means.

(E) Operation In the present invention, when it is detected that the apparatus main body has an attitude other than the attitude in use, the recording operation of the apparatus is prevented from starting.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the outline of an electronic copying machine as an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the electronic copying machine will be outlined based on this figure.
Reference numeral (1) is a main body of a copying machine, and a transparent glass original plate (2) which moves in a horizontal direction is slidably mounted on the upper surface of the main unit, and an original is held on the original plate (2). A document table cover (3) is openably and closably attached to hold a document. (4) is a photoconductor drum, which is formed by coating a polyvinylcarbazole photoconductor on the peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder. Then, on the top of the photoconductor drum (4), a short-focus lens array (for forming an image of the document placed on the document table (2) on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum (4) ( 5) is installed vertically. An exposure lamp (halogen lamp) equipped with a reflecting mirror (8) having an elliptical cross section for illuminating the surface of the document on the right side of the short focus lens array (5).
(6) is provided, and the short focus lens array (5) and the exposure lamp (6) are fixed to the same chassis (7).

A charging corotron (9) for uniformly positively charging (about 600 V) the photosensitive drum (4) is fixedly provided on the upstream side of the short focus lens array (5).

On the downstream side of the short focus lens array (5), the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum (4) by the charging corotron (9), the short focus lens array (5) and the like is transferred to the toner. A developing device (11) for developing at (10) is provided. The developing device (11) mixes the toner and the carrier with a magnet roller (13) for conveying a developer (12) composed of a mixture of the toner and the carrier toward the surface of the photosensitive drum (4). The screw (14) for this is rotatably built in. (15) is a toner hopper integrally fixed to the upper part of the developing device (11), and the toner (10) contained inside is provided at the bottom of the toner hopper (15).
A screw (17) partially provided with a notch (16) is provided for feeding the developing agent (11) to the developing device (11) little by little.

Reference numeral (18) is a manual paper feed table provided in the copying machine body (1), and a start switch (19) also serving as a jam sensor is provided downstream of the paper feed table (18). .

Reference numeral (20) denotes a paper feed cassette that is detachably mounted in the horizontal direction on the inner bottom portion of the copying machine body (1). The paper feed cassette (20) is mounted from the right side to the left side of the copying machine main body (1). Then, a support plate (21) on which copy paper (not shown) is stacked is provided on the inner bottom portion of the paper feed cassette (20).
Is provided in a swingable manner, and at the lower part of the support plate (21), there is a push-up lever (22) whose base end is swingably mounted in a protrusion of the bottom of the copying machine body (1). An opening (23) through which the free end can be inserted is provided. The push-up lever (22) is provided with a torsion spring (24) for urging the push-up lever to rotate clockwise, and the support plate (21) is pushed upward by the torsion spring (24). ing. In addition, above the vicinity of the downstream end of the paper feed cassette (20), a cutout (2) is provided partially for feeding copy paper one by one.
A paper feed roller (26) made of a high-friction material such as rubber in which 5) is cut is provided. (27) is for preventing the cutout (25) from coming into contact with the copy paper when the cutout (25) of the paper feed roller (26) faces the copy paper,
An idler made of a low friction material such as plastic is loosely rotatably fitted on the support shaft (28) of the paper feed roller (26).

(29) is a corner separator for separating the copy paper one by one.

On the downstream side of the paper feed cassette (20), the paper feed roller (2
A guide (30) is provided for making a U-turn upward of the copy paper fed in 6). This guide (3
Reference numeral 0) is integrally formed with the paper feed table (18) and is configured to be rotatable in a counterclockwise direction about a support shaft (31) inserted through a lower end portion as a fulcrum. (32) is the guide (3
It is a torsion spring that urges (0) to rotate clockwise.

Copy paper fed from the paper feed cassette (20) or the paper feed tray (18) is fed to the downstream side of the guide (30) in synchronization with the operation of the document tray (2). A pair of register rollers (33) (34) are provided for. Of the pair of register rollers (33, 34), the lower roller (34) is connected to the drive source and continuously rotates. The pair of register rollers (33) (34) are relatively lightly pressed against each other,
When the copy sheet is not regulated by other means, the copy sheet is fed, but when regulated by other means, the copy sheet slips.

A stopper (36) rotatably attached to the support shaft (35) is provided on the downstream side of the register roller pair (33) (34), and the free end of the stopper (36) is L-shaped. The front end is formed so as to be bent back and forth, and can be moved forward and backward with respect to the paper feed path. Therefore, when a copy sheet arrives when the tip of the stopper (36) enters the paper feed path, the downstream edge of the copy sheet is prevented from advancing at the tip of the stopper (36), and the register roller pair (33). (34) and the copy paper slip. Then, the shutter (3
When the tip of 6) exits from the paper feed path, the stopper (36)
The copy paper, which has been temporarily stopped by, is re-fed by the pair of register rollers (33, 34).

At the lower part of the photoconductor drum (4), the developing device (1
A transfer corotron (37) for transferring the toner image developed in 1) to a copy sheet is provided. Further, on the downstream side of the transfer corotron (37), a peeling claw (38) for peeling the copy paper from the photosensitive drum (4) is provided adjacently. The peeling claw (38) includes a pair of conveyance rollers (3
9) (40), which is rotatably mounted on a support shaft of an upper roller (39), and its tip is rotationally biased toward the surface of the photosensitive drum (4).

The support shaft (4
A lever (42) rotatably attached to 1) is provided with a fixed paper feed guide (43). Then, after pulling out the paper feed cassette (20) from the apparatus body (1) to the right, the apparatus body (1) is pulled up counterclockwise in the drawing,
When the leg portion (44) fixed to the left side wall is raised with the leg portion (44) having a prismatic shape facing down, the paper feed guide (43) moves to the support shaft (4).
It is configured so that it can be rotated counterclockwise around 1) as a fulcrum. Therefore, when the paper feed guide (43) is rotated counterclockwise in such a state, the upstream side end of the paper feed guide (43) from the opening (45) formed at the bottom of the copying machine body (1). It is possible to remove the copy paper from which the portion protrudes and the paper jam has occurred.

A heat roller (47) having a halogen lamp (46) of about 800 W inserted therein and a pressure roller (48) pressed against the heat roller (47) are provided downstream of the paper feed guide (43). ) Is provided.

Above the heat roller (47), a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the roller (47) is embedded in the surface.
A temperature detection member (49) made of silicon rubber is slidably contacted. Reference numeral (65) is a peeling claw for peeling the copy paper attached to the heat roller (47).

A C-shaped lever (51) rotatably held by a support shaft (50) below the center of gravity is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device, and the lever (51) is provided on the downstream side.
Photocoupler (5
2) is provided. The photocoupler (52) serves as a sensor of the lever (51) and is connected to a microcomputer (not shown) via a control circuit.
In the standby state, when the lever (51) does not block the optical path of the photocoupler (52), the copying operation does not start even if the copy start switch connected to the microcomputer is operated. It is configured. When the copy paper is ejected from the fixing device, the lever (51) comes into contact with the copy paper and rotates counterclockwise about the support shaft (50) as a fulcrum to shield the photo. It operates so as to open the optical path of the coupler (52).

Thus, the copy paper on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing device is discharged onto the paper discharge tray (53) provided above the paper feed cassette (20). The paper discharge tray (53) is configured to be retractable in the left-right direction with respect to the copying machine main body (1), and is inserted into the copying machine main body (1) when unnecessary.

On the downstream side (upper side in the figure) of the peeling claw (38) along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum (4), the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum (4) that cannot be completely transferred to the copy paper is removed. A cleaning device (54) for cleaning is provided. The cleaning device (54) includes a rubber blade (55) for scraping off the residual toner on the photosensitive drum (4).
And a screw conveyor (56) for discharging the toner scraped off by the blade (55). Further, the blade (55) is provided with a spring (57) for urging the blade (55) in the counterclockwise direction, that is, the tip edge thereof toward the photosensitive drum (4). At the downstream side (upper side in the figure) of the cleaning device (54), an erase lamp (5) for removing all residual charges on the photoconductor drum (4).
8) is provided. (59) is this erase lamp (5
It is the filter of 8).

Further, on the right side surface of the copying machine body (1), that is, on the side surface opposite to the side surface on which the prismatic leg portion (44) is mounted,
A handle (60) for raising and lifting the copying machine body (1) is fixed.

Reference numeral (61) is a cooling fan provided inside the side wall on which the handle (60) is fixed, and discharges air from a large number of exhaust holes (62) formed in the side wall. It plays a role. In this way, when the cooling fan (61) is provided on the side where the handle (60) is fixed, the copying machine body (1) is erected as described above while the cooling fan (61) is rotating. However, the exhaust hole (62) does not face the floor or the like, and the exhaust efficiency does not decrease.

After placing the original on the original table (2) and then setting the copy start switch to the conductive state, the original table (2)
Moves once to the right and then returns to the left, but during this return, the document image is projected and imaged on the photoconductor drum (4), and on the photoconductor drum (4), An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed. Then, this electrostatic latent image is toner-developed by the developing device (11), and this toner image is transferred by the transfer corotron (37) onto the copy paper fed from the paper feed cassette (20). It In this way
The copy paper on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum (4) by the separation claw (38), heated and pressed by the fixing device to be fixed, and then discharged onto the paper discharge tray (53). .

The residual charge and the toner remaining on the photoconductor drum (4) without being completely transferred to the copy paper are removed by the cleaning device (54) and the erase lamp (58).

Next, the C-shaped lever (51) and the photocoupler (52)
The operation will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and subsequent figures.

2A, 2B, and 2C, the copy paper (63) fixed by the heat roller (47) and the pressure roller (48) comes into contact with the lever (51) to detect its presence. FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view showing a state of being performed. First, when the downstream edge portion of the copy paper (63) comes into contact with the vicinity of the lower end portion of the lever (51), the lever (51) rotates counterclockwise about the support shaft (50). Then, the optical path of the photocoupler (52) shielded at the upper part of the lever (51) is released, and a signal indicating that the copy paper (63) has arrived is output from the photocoupler (52). It The torsion spring (64) for urging the lever (51) to rotate in the clockwise direction is very weak. After the copy paper (63) has passed, the lever (51) is fixed at the fixed position (photocoupler (52)). It is provided for returning to the position where the optical path is blocked).

3 (a) (b) (c) are shown in FIG. 2 (a) (b).
It is a perspective view corresponding to (c).

Next, the operation of the lever (51) when the copying machine body (1) is raised in the counterclockwise direction with the lower left corner of FIG.
An explanation will be given based on (b) and (c). FIG. 4 (a) shows the case where the copying machine main body (1) is in the posture in use,
The state of the lever (51) is shown, and FIG. 4 (c) shows the state of the lever (51) when the copying machine body (1) is erected. Further, FIG. 4 (b) shows an intermediate state between FIG. 4 (a) and FIG. 4 (c).

As can be understood from this figure, when the copying machine body (1) is raised in the counterclockwise direction, the C-shaped lever (51) is formed.
Has its center of gravity G in the upper part, and therefore rotates counterclockwise against the weak torsion spring (64) with its supporting shaft (50) as the fulcrum. Therefore, the optical path of the photocoupler (52) is opened. Therefore, when the photo coupler (52) is opened in the standby state and the copying operation is not started even if the copy start switch is operated, the worker does not start the copying machine body (1). Even if the copy start switch is touched in the state of standing up, the copying operation will not start.

Note that this embodiment is controlled by a microcomputer, and its flowchart is as shown in FIG. Also from this figure, the photo coupler (52) (sensor)
It can be seen that the copying operation does not start when the optical path of is open and working.

(G) Effect of the Invention According to the present invention, when it is detected that the apparatus main body is in a posture other than the posture in use, the recording operation of the apparatus is prevented from starting, and therefore the apparatus main body is prevented. Even if the operator accidentally touches the operation switch in the upright position, the recording operation does not start. Therefore, the recording paper is not consumed unnecessarily and the document table or the like is not damaged. Moreover, the worker is not injured.

When the means for detecting the attitude of the apparatus main body and the recording paper detecting means are combined, it is not necessary to provide a separate detecting means in addition to the recording paper detecting means, and the cost increase can be suppressed. .

[Brief description of drawings]

Each of the drawings shows one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram, FIGS. 2 (a), (b) and (c) are front views of a main part showing a sensor, and FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). ) (C) is FIG. 2 (a)
FIG. 4 (a) and (b) are perspective views corresponding to (b) and (c).
FIG. 5C is a front view of a main part of the sensor when the apparatus main body is rotated, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart. (1) ... Copier body (apparatus body), (51) ... Lever,
(52) ... Photo coupler (sensor).

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-58-14863 (JP, A) JP-A-57-29053 (JP, A) Actually open 61-38167 (JP, U) Actual-open Sho-56- 47535 (JP, U) Actually opened Sho 56-161639 (JP, U) Japanese Patent Publication 1-37734 (JP, B2)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A carrying handle provided on one of the side walls of the main body of the apparatus intersecting the sheet transport direction, a first posture in a recording operation state, and the first posture are different from the first posture. An apparatus main body that can take an upcoming second attitude, a paper conveyance path that conveys paper, and at least one paper conveyance path provided in the paper conveyance path to detect the presence or absence of paper and to detect the attitude of the apparatus main body. And an image forming apparatus that prevents the recording operation of the apparatus from starting when the detecting means detects that the apparatus main body is in the second posture. .