Patent Grant
9665053
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-162649 filed Aug. 20, 2015.
The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including an opening and closing unit attached to an image forming apparatus body. The opening and closing unit includes an exterior member pivotably attached to the image forming apparatus body via a first shaft; a base member provided inside the exterior member and pivotably attached to the image forming apparatus body via a second shaft so as to be able to move with the exterior member; and an extension member attached to the base member in a manner capable of being pulled out and retracted.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the exemplary embodiments described below show examples of an opening and closing unit and an image forming apparatus for embodying a technical idea of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention to such embodiments, and the exemplary embodiments described below are equally applicable to other exemplary embodiments included in the scope of the claims.
Referring to
A manual feed unit 80, serving as an opening and closing unit, is provided on a side surface (i.e., the left side surface in
The recording-medium feed device 18 includes a recording medium storage container 50 that stores a stack of recording media 78, a transport roller 52 that picks up a recording medium 78 at the top of the stack stored in the recording medium storage container 50 and transports the recording medium 78 toward the image forming unit 14, and a retard roller 54 that separates the recording media 78 into individual sheets to prevent more than one recording medium 78 from being transported to the image forming unit 14 in a stacked manner.
The image forming unit 14 includes image forming units 20 corresponding to, for example, four colors, namely, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K); a light writing device 22; and a transfer device 24. The image forming units 20 and the components thereof have the same configurations except for the colors of the images formed.
The image forming units 20, serving as replaceable members, are removably attached to the image forming apparatus body 12. The image forming units 20 corresponding to Y, M, C, and K are arranged in this order from the rear side (i.e., the right side in
The image forming units 20 use, for example, an electrophotographic system for forming color images. The image forming units 20 each include an image forming unit body 26, which accommodates a drum-shaped image carrier 28, which supports a developer image; a charging device 30, serving as a charging unit, having a charging roller for uniformly charging the image carrier 28; a developing device 32 that develops a latent image written on the image carrier 28 with developer (toner); and a cleaning device 34 that removes waste developer remaining on the image carrier 28 by, for example, scraping off.
The developing devices 32 develop latent images formed on the corresponding image carriers 28, using Y, M, C, and K developers accommodated therein.
Furthermore, the light writing device 22, serving as a latent-image forming device, is formed of, for example, a scanning laser exposure device and forms a latent image on the surface of each image carrier 28. In another exemplary embodiment, the light writing device 22 may employ an LED, a surface emitting laser, or the like.
The transfer device 24 is formed of a transfer-receiving member 38, serving as a transfer body; first transfer rollers 40, serving as a first transfer device; a second transfer roller 42, serving as a second transfer device; and a cleaning device 44.
The transfer-receiving member 38 has the shape of, for example, an endless belt and is supported by five support rollers 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, and 46e so as to be able to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow in
A support roller 46a is provided so as to oppose the second transfer roller 42 and functions as a backup roller for the second transfer roller 42. A portion nipped between the second transfer roller 42 and the support roller 46a forms a second transfer position.
The first transfer rollers 40 transfer developer images formed on the surfaces of the image carriers 28 by the corresponding developing devices 32 to the transfer-receiving member 38.
The second transfer roller 42 transfers the Y, M, C, and K developer images transferred to the transfer-receiving member 38 to the recording medium 78.
The cleaning device 44 includes a scraper 48 that scrapes off color the developer remaining on the surface of the transfer-receiving member 38 after the color developer images have been transferred to the recording medium 78 by the second transfer roller 42. The developer scraped off by the scraper 48 is recovered in the body of the cleaning device 44.
The transport path 56 is formed of a principal transport path 56a and a reversing transport path 56b.
The principal transport path 56a transports a recording medium 78, fed from the recording-medium feed device 18, to the image forming unit 14 and discharges the recording medium 78, having an image formed thereon, onto the discharge part 16. The transport roller 52, the retard roller 54, registration rollers 58, the transfer device 24, the fixing device 36, and discharge rollers 60 are arranged along this principal transport path 56a, in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium 78.
The registration rollers 58 temporarily stop the leading end of the recording medium 78 transported from the recording-medium feed device 18 and send the recording medium 78 toward the transfer device 24, in accordance with the timing of image formation.
The fixing device 36 includes a heating roller 66, serving as a heating part, and a pressure part 76. By applying heat and pressure to the recording medium 78 passing between the heating roller 66 and the pressure part 76, the developer image is fixed to the recording medium 78.
The discharge rollers 60 discharge the recording medium 78, to which the developer has been fixed by the fixing device 36, onto the discharge part 16.
The reversing transport path 56b is a transport path in which the recording medium 78 having the developer image formed on one surface thereof is reversed and fed again to the image forming unit 14. The reversing transport path 56b has, for example, two reversing transport rollers 62a and 62b.
When the discharge rollers 60 are reversely rotated with the trailing end of the recording medium 78 transported from the principal transport path 56a to the discharge rollers 60 nipped between the discharge rollers 60, the recording medium 78 is fed to the reversing transport path 56b. The recording medium 78 fed to the reversing transport path 56b is transported to a position upstream of the registration rollers 58 by the reversing transport rollers 62a and 62b.
A recording medium 78 placed on the manual feed unit 80 is fed out by the manual-feed pick-up rollers 82, passes through the registration rollers 58, the transfer device 24, and the fixing device 36, and is discharged onto the discharge part 16, similarly to the above-described recording medium 78 fed out by the recording-medium feed device 18.
Next, the manual feed unit 80 will be described. The manual feed unit 80 according to the first exemplary embodiment includes, as shown in
The exterior member 84 and the base member 104 are attached to the image forming apparatus body 12 via different shafts, thus having a double-shaft configuration in which the exterior member 84 and the base member 104 pivot about different fulcrums. The exterior member 84 and the base member 104 are configured such that, when the exterior member 84 is operated, the base member 104 moves with the exterior member 84, and are freely opened and closed. A recording medium 78 placed on the base member 104 is picked up by rotating manual-feed pick-up rollers 82, provided in the image forming apparatus body 12, and is transported.
The base member 104 of the manual feed unit 80 according to the first exemplary embodiment is provided with the extension member 120. The extension member 120 is accommodated in the base member 104 in a manner capable of being pulled out and retracted in the direction in which the recording medium 78 is transported. By pulling out the extension member 120, a recording medium 78 longer than the base member 104 may be placed.
The exterior member 84 is formed in the shape of a box having a predetermined area that covers the side surface of the image forming apparatus body 12. The exterior member 84 has, at a portion adjacent to the image forming apparatus body 12, an accommodating space 86 in which the base member 104 is accommodated. The accommodating space 86 is delimited by a wall 88a and another wall 88b formed at ends and standing upright. These walls 88a and 88b are each provided with the first shaft 90, which is rotatably attached to the image forming apparatus body 12.
Furthermore, the walls 88a and 88b are each provided with a slot 92 that allows the base member 104, disposed in the accommodating space 86, to move in a state attached to the exterior member 84. The slot 92 is formed in a partially inclined shape, so that the exterior member 84 and the base member 104, which pivot about different shafts, may be moved in an attached state when the manual feed unit 80 is opened and closed.
Furthermore, the exterior member 84 is provided with a cut-away portion 94 at a side from which the extension member 120 is pulled out (see
The base member 104 is formed in the shape of a plate having a size capable of being accommodated in the accommodating space 86 in the exterior member 84. The surface of the base member 104 adjacent to the image forming apparatus body 12 serves as a recording-medium mounting part 110, on which the recording medium 78 is placed. The recording-medium mounting part 110 is provided with adjuster members 112 that may be moved according to the size of the recording medium 78 used. By moving the adjuster members 112, the position of the recording medium 78 is adjusted.
Furthermore, a side surface 106a and another side surface 106b of the base member 104 are each provided with a second shaft 108, which is rotatably attached to the image forming apparatus body 12. The side surfaces 106a and 106b are also provided with projections 114, which are fitted to the slots 92, provided in the exterior member 84, in a movable manner. When the manual feed unit 80 is opened and closed, the projections 114 provided on the base member 104 slide in the slots 92 in the exterior member 84, enabling smooth opening and closing.
The base member 104 also has, therein, an extension-member provision portion 118 to which the extension member 120 is attached. This extension-member provision portion 118 is surrounded by the back surface of the recording-medium mounting part 110 and the side surfaces 106a and 106b of the base member 104. Furthermore, the side surfaces 106a and 106b of the base member 104 are each provided with a guide slot 116, in which the extension member 120 moves in a guided manner. These guide slots 116 are formed linearly, so as to extend in the direction in which the extension member 120 is moved. These guide slots 116 receive guide members 124 (described below) formed on the extension member 120.
The extension member 120 is formed in the shape of a plate having a size capable of being accommodated in the extension-member provision portion 118 of the base member 104 so as to be able to move. This extension member 120 has, on the side adjacent to the image forming apparatus body 12, an extension recording-medium mounting part 128, on which the recording medium 78 is placed. When the extension recording-medium mounting part 128 and the recording-medium mounting part 110 of the base member 104 form a flat surface, a long recording medium may be placed thereon.
A side wall 122a and another side wall 122b of the extension member 120 are each provided with the guide member 124 formed along the guide slot 116 and fitted to the guide slot 116 in the base member 104 so as to be able to move. The guide member 124 according to the first exemplary embodiment has guide projections 126 provided at the front and rear ends in the moving direction. This configuration allows the extension member 120 to move linearly, without rotating.
Furthermore, a manipulating hole 130, serving as a manipulating portion, into which a user's finger is inserted, is provided in the extension member 120, on the extension recording-medium mounting part 128 side, at a portion corresponding to the cut-away portion 94 in the exterior member 84.
The operation of the manual feed unit 80 according to the first exemplary embodiment will be described. By pulling the exterior member 84 in a direction away from the image forming apparatus body 12, the manual feed unit 80 is pivoted about the first shaft 90 of the exterior member 84 and the second shaft 108 of the base member 104 and is opened, thereby allowing a recording medium 78 to be placed on the recording-medium mounting part 110 of the base member 104. At this time, the projections 114 formed on the base member 104 move in the slots 92 provided in the exterior member 84, allowing the exterior member 84 and the base member 104 to be opened in an attached state.
Thereafter, by pulling the extension member 120 out of the base member 104, the extension member 120 is pulled out, and the recording-medium mounting part 110 of the base member 104 and the extension recording-medium mounting part 128 of the extension member 120 are arranged in a flat surface. At this time, a user may easily pull out the extension member 120 by inserting the finger into the manipulating hole 130 provided at a portion corresponding to the cut-away portion 94 formed in the exterior member 84. More specifically, in a state in which the manual feed unit 80 is open, the ends of the exterior member 84 and base member 104 are located at different positions (i.e., the base member 104 is located below the exterior member 84), because the exterior member 84 and the base member 104 pivot about different fulcrums. Hence, without the manipulating hole, it is difficult to pull out the extension member 120. However, in the first exemplary embodiment, by providing the manipulating hole 130, the extension member 120 is easily pulled out.
Furthermore, by providing the extension member 120 in the base member 104, a linear movement is possible. Thus, compared with a case where the extension member 120 is moved along a curved path, the extension member 120 is smoothly pulled out.
Modification
Although the manipulating hole 130 is provided in the extension recording-medium mounting part 128 of the extension member 120 according to the first exemplary embodiment, instead, a manipulating projection 132, serving as a manipulating portion, may be provided in an extension member 120′, as shown in
The manual feed unit 80 of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment is configured such that the extension member 120 is located below a distal end 96 of the exterior member 84, when the exterior member 84 is opened. A manual feed unit 80A of an image forming apparatus 10A according to a second exemplary embodiment is configured such that the extension member 120A is engaged with the distal end 96 of the exterior member 84. Because the manual feed unit 80A according to the second exemplary embodiment differs from the manual feed unit 80 according to the first exemplary embodiment only in the configuration of part of the exterior member and extension member, the components common to those according to the first exemplary embodiment will be denoted by the same reference signs, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.
The manual feed unit 80A of the image forming apparatus 10A according to the second exemplary embodiment will be described primarily with reference to
Furthermore, as shown in
When the exterior member 84A and the base member 104 are fitted together, the extension member 120A stored in the base member 104 is attached such that the second engaging part 136 at the distal end 134 is engaged with the first engaging part 98 of the exterior member 84A.
In this manual feed unit 80A according to the second exemplary embodiment, when the manual feed unit 80A is opened, the base member 104 is located below the exterior member 84A, as shown in
Thereafter, the extension member 120A is pulled out. At this time, as shown in
Furthermore, in the manual feed unit 80A according to the second exemplary embodiment, when the second engaging part 136 of the extension member 120A is engaged with the first engaging part 98 of the exterior member 84A, the distal end 96 of the exterior member 84A is covered by the second engaging part 136 of the extension member 120A. Thus, the appearance is improved.
Although the manual feed unit 80 of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment is configured such that the extension member 120 is located below the distal end 96 of the exterior member 84 when the exterior member 84 is opened, a manual feed unit 80B of an image forming apparatus 10B according to a third exemplary embodiment is configured such that a proximal end side of the extension member 120B is supported by the exterior member 84B. Because the manual feed unit 80B according to the third exemplary embodiment differs from the manual feed unit 80 according to the first exemplary embodiment only in the configuration of part of the exterior member and extension member, the components common to those according to the first exemplary embodiment will be denoted by the same reference signs, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.
The manual feed unit 80B of the image forming apparatus 10B according to the third exemplary embodiment will be described primarily with reference to
Furthermore, in the extension member 120B according to the third exemplary embodiment, a support projection 140 projecting toward the exterior member 84B is formed at a proximal end side 138 of the extension member 120B, opposite from the distal end 134.
The support part 102 of the exterior member 84B and the support projection 140 of the extension member 120B are formed such that the distal end 134 of the extension member 120B and the distal end 96 of the exterior member 84B are located at the same position when the manual feed unit 80B is opened (see
With this configuration, in the manual feed unit 80B according to the third exemplary embodiment, although the base member 104 is located below the exterior member 84B when the manual feed unit 80B is opened, because the extension member 120B is opened with the support projection 140 being supported by the support part 102 of the exterior member 84B, the distal end 134 of the extension member 120B is located at the same position as the distal end 96 of the exterior member 84B.
Thereafter, the extension member 120B is pulled out. At this time, by holding a portion of the extension member 120B corresponding to the cut-away portion 94 provided in the exterior member 84B, the extension member 120B may be pulled out (see
A manual feed unit 80C of an image forming apparatus 100 according to a fourth exemplary embodiment will be described primarily with reference to
As shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
With this configuration, in the manual feed unit 80C according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, although the base member 104 is located below the exterior member 84C when the manual feed unit 80C is opened, because the extension member 120C is opened with the first engaging part 98 being engaged with the second engaging part 136 at the distal end 134 of the exterior member 84C and with the support projection 140 being supported by the support part 102 at the proximal end side 138, the distal end 134 of the extension member 120C is located at the same position as the distal end 96 of the exterior member 84B.
Furthermore, in the manual feed unit 80C according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, because the second engaging part 136 of the extension member 120C is engaged with the first engaging part 98 of the exterior member 84C, the distal end 96 of the exterior member 84C is covered by the second engaging part 136 of the extension member 120C. Thus, the appearance is improved.
Thereafter, the extension member 120C is pulled out. At this time, by holding a portion of the extension member 120C corresponding to the cut-away portion 94 provided in the exterior member 84C, the extension member 120C may be pulled out (see
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-162649 | Aug 2015 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7395991 | Kuo | Jul 2008 | B2 |
| 7748691 | Mizuguchi | Jul 2010 | B2 |
| 8757794 | Takemura et al. | Jun 2014 | B2 |
| 9409734 | Tahara | Aug 2016 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 05-004727 | Jan 1993 | JP |
| 2013-039797 | Feb 2013 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170052504 A1 | Feb 2017 | US |
