Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6219507
-
Patent Number
6,219,507
-
Date Filed
Friday, December 11, 199826 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 17, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 399 110
- 399 111
- 399 113
- 399 125
- 399 120
- 399 392
- 399 367
- 271 909
- 271 164
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
When the manual feeder and developer collecting container is attached to the copier body, there is a space which is formed by translating the developer collecting container in the attaching direction (the B-direction) of the developer collecting container, between the developer collecting container and the rear frame. The manual feeder is attached so that part of the manual feeder is disposed in this space. The attached developer collecting container, is arranged out side of a space which is the paths of the manual feeder for movement in the X-direction and in the Y-direction. The attached manual feeder is disposed outside the space which is the path of the developer collecting container. A lever as a shifting element of shifting a pickup feeding element between active and inactive positions resides in a space defined by translating the mid area across the full sheet width of the acceptable maximum size, in the direction of the sheet thickness. The space of the path of the pickup feeding element for movement between the active and inactive positions, is arranged so as to be in contact with the two planes normal to the direction of the sheet thickness, and the lever resides within this space. This lever is extended to a space defined by translating a boundary area of the full sheet width of the acceptable maximum size in the direction of the sheet thickness so that the extended portion is coupled to a pickup solenoid as the movement drive source for the pickup feeder.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image information processing apparatus such as a copier, printer, facsimile machine, scanner and the like as well as relating to a sheet feeder usable in an image information processing apparatus and having a function of feeding sheets, one by one, from a stack of sheets.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Concerning image information processing apparatuses including: a copier which scans the image of an original and produces a printed output of the scanned image information; a printer which produces a printed output of transferred image information; a facsimile machine which transmits the image information obtained by scanning the image of an original; and a scanner which scans the image of an original to obtain its image information and the like, wasted interior space is attempted to be reduced as much as possible to make the image information processor compact. However, when miniaturizing, simply reducing the space is not effective enough, it is necessary to develop the miniaturization whilst securing necessary space, without any deterioration of the functions and operativities as much as possible.
For example, in order to enable maintenance, checks, adjustment, repair etc. of an image processing apparatus, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Application Sho 58 No. 126,460 discloses an image processing apparatus in which its functional units can be detachably attached from two adjoining sides thereof. In this prior art, when the detachable photosensitive member unit is attached or detached from the top of the image processing apparatus, the functional unit, located below the photosensitive member inside the image processing apparatus and having functional parts, are shifted to the side of the image processing apparatus while the developing unit is pulled out of the top, so as to create an open space around the photosensitive member for its attachment and detachment. Thus, the photosensitive member is attached or detached.
Concerning this technology, in order to improve the easiness of the attachment and detachment by reducing the number of working steps upon attachment and detachment, it is possible to configure an arrangement in which the photosensitive member can be attached and detached from the top of the image processing apparatus without shifting the functional unit, including the functional part located below the photosensitive member, to the side of the image processing apparatus. Illustratively, the functional parts, including the photosensitive member, located above the photosensitive member are integrated into a single functional unit so that the unit can be attached or detached from the top of the image processing apparatus. In such an image processing apparatus, it is necessary to develop miniaturization without compromising the attachment and detachment performance.
However, in the case where the image processing apparatus having detachable functional blocks, disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Application Sho 58 No. 126,460 is miniaturized, in order to effect the function in the functional unit, the parts inevitably residing at their predetermined positions are kept as they are while parts other than the above-mentioned parts are configured to be moved. Further, in order to avoid interference of one functional unit with an adjacent one during attachment and detachment thereof, each functional unit is configured so as not to have any projection which would be an obstacle to the attaching or detaching movement of an adjacent functional unit and hence the functional unit is preferably configured so that the width of the space required for attachment and detachment may be substantially uniform. Therefore, the overall shape of functional units tends to be a rectangular prism. However, if the functional units are limited to this shape, they produce wasted space. In this way, it was not possible to reduce the volume of the space occupied by the functional units, and hence it was not promoted to miniaturize of the image processing apparatus. This problem becomes marked for the functional units having functions relating to the sheets, such as an exposure scanner unit, sheet feeding unit, image forming unit, fixing unit and the like.
For miniaturization of the image information processing apparatus, the following two points are of importance:
(1) To miniaturize individual parts; and
(2) To eliminate the wasted space within the image information processing apparatus as much as possible. However, the first point ‘miniaturization of individual parts’ can be attained only to a limited extent, limited by the fact that each part should present the specified functionality expected by the design requirements.
For the purpose of explanation, a feed roller in a sheet feeding device having the function of separating and feeding sheets, one by one, from a stack of sheets will be a typical example. The sheet feeding performance of a feed roller varies widely depending upon the size of the sheets (length, width and thickness), the characteristics of sheets (friction coefficient with respect to the feed roller and the stiffness) or the environment under which sheets are handled by the feeder. Therefore, in order to expect a stable sheet feeding performance for handling a variety of sheet types under various environment conditions, the feed roller needs certain minimum dimensions. For example, to prevent skew during feeding, the feed roller needs to abut the sheet with a predetermined nipping length or greater, which means that the feed roller needs to be longer than a predetermined length. To separate sheets, one by one, the feed roller needs to abut the sheet with a predetermined nipping width or greater, which means that the diameter and the rubber thickness of the feed roller need to be greater than predetermined values.
Concerning the sheet stopper means of a sheet feeder for preventing the stack of sheets from reaching the feed roller, this device needs to move and retract from the sheet blocking position when a sheet needs to be delivered. Therefore, the movable distance of the stopper is determined by the height of the stack of sheets to be allowed. As for some examples of the functional parts disposed in the image forming units, such as the photosensitive member, the developing roller in the developing unit, the cleaning blade, the charger, the transfer device, etc., the sizes of these elements are determined by the maximum size of sheets to be handled since image forming needs to be done for the sheets of the acceptable maximum size.
In this way, not only the functional parts directly acting on the sheets, such as the feed roller, photosensitive member, charger, transfer device etc., but also the functional parts indirectly acting on the sheets, such as the developing roller, cleaning blade etc., will be determined as to their dimensions by the size of the sheets to be handled. Further, similar to the sheet stopper means, there are functional parts having a predetermined movable range. But the movable range is also determined depending on the sheets. Accordingly, these functional parts relating to the sheets, because they relate to sheets, may be modified as to their dimensions and their positional relationship relative to the sheets, to some permissible extent depending upon their relationship with the sheets, but still cannot be said to have a large flexibility in their design.
On the other hand, parts other than the functional parts relating to the sheets, such as, the drive transmitting parts for transmitting driving force to the functional parts relating to the sheets, support parts and casings for accommodating functional parts relating to the sheets, drive sources, parts for electrical connections and the like, are rather flexible in design with regard to miniaturization and their layout, compared to the functional parts relating to the sheets.
Next, the second point, ‘elimination of the wasted space within the image information processing apparatus as much as possible’ will be discussed.
In the interior of an image information processing apparatus, there are many functional units which each can be attached and pulled out integrally and still have both the functional parts relating to the sheets and the other parts. Each functional unit having these functional parts relating to the sheets tends to have unused spaces, but these spaces are scattered. Therefore, the volume of unused spaces unnecessarily has made the image information processing apparatus bulky.
Further, due to the possibility of malfunction from the increase of the number of working steps and complexity of working procedures at attachment and detachment of a functional unit, the simplest handling during attachment and detachment of the functional unit is the main matter of interest during design. As a result of this, if a functional unit has a projected portion in the mid part thereof with respect to the direction of the sheet width, around other adjacent components in the image information processing apparatus, the functional unit is disposed apart from other adjacent components so that the projected portion will not interfere when it is attached and detached. Accordingly, wasted space arises between adjacent functional units; this has also made the image information processing apparatus bulky.
The above described problem will now be described taking a specific example of a sheet feeder comprising a pickup feeding means, a separation feeding means and a sheet stopper means, all being the functional parts directly acting on sheets.
A sheet feeder for separating and feeding sheets, one by one, from a stack of sheets placed on a sheet stacking means, in the downstream direction with respect to its conveyance, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Hei 6 No. 71,947. In this sheet feeder, the pickup feeding means is disposed on the upstream side of the separation feeding means for separating sheets, one by one, with respect to the sheet conveying direction, and the pickup feeding means moves from a position away from the top of the sheet stack on the sheet stacking means, to the abutting position on the sheet stack so as to deliver a sheet toward the sheet separation feeding means. The pickup feeding means of this sheet feeder is configured to move up and down as it rotates about a rotary axle.
In general, since such a sheet feeder handles sheets of regular sizes, it is not possible to reduce the dimensions with respect to the planer directions of the sheets, to smaller than the maximum size of the sheets to be handled, but a miniaturization (development of a thinner configuration) can be expected with respect to the direction of the sheet thickness.
Now, the development of thinning a sheet feeder having an up-and-down moving type pickup feeding means, disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Hei 6 No. 71,947 will be considered. When considering the facts that the dimensions of the separation feeding means and pickup feeding means are considerably smaller than the maximum acceptable sheet size and that the pickup feeding means moves up and down, the sheet feeder tends to have wasted space on both sides of the pickup feeding means with respect to the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. Since other devices and components also tend to occupy a considerably large space in the central portion with respect to the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction within the image processor, it is difficult to lay out devices and components other than the sheet feeder, in the spaces on both sides of the pickup feeding means because of the consideration of attaching and detaching performance of the devices and components disposed inside the image processing apparatus.
When the up-and-down driver and/or drive source of the pickup feeding means were laid out on both sides of the pickup feeding means, the up and down driver and drive source, in general, were arranged in both sides of the pickup feeding means with respect to the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, rather near the center in proximity to the pickup feeding means. Accordingly, this up-and-down driver and drive source were the obstacles to further miniaturization.
Further, the pickup feeding means and sheet stopper means disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Hei 6 No. 71,947, are configured so as to move between the active position where they act on the sheets and the inactive position where they are away from the sheets. The pickup feeding means, separation feeding means and sheet stopper means do not extend across the full width of the acceptable maximum sheet size, but are formed with certain dimensions, with respect to the direction of the sheet width, which are shorter than the maximum sheet width. On the other hand, with regards to the direction of the sheet thickness, since the pickup feeding means and sheet stopper means move up and down, the spaces occupied by these components, when considering the space of their movable ranges, are bulky in their mid parts compared to other parts. If another functional unit needs to be disposed adjoining this sheet feeder, the functional unit must be arranged apart therefrom so that the space for movement of this functional unit will not interfere with this bulged portion of the sheet feeder. This produces wasted space.
In the sheet feeder disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Hei 6 No. 71,947, the mechanism for shifting the positions of the pickup feeding means (pickup roller) and the sheet stopper means (shutter 12), are arranged close to the pickup feeding means and the sheet stopper means with respect to the direction of the sheet width. Further, the mechanism for transmitting a driving force for moving the stopper means, is constructed so that the driving force from the drive source is transmitted by combination of a rotary transmitting element and a rotary drive transmitting element (in Japanese Patent Publication Hei 6 No. 71,947, the drive transmitting element of the pickup feeding means is a first cam 39 while the drive transmitting element of the sheet stopper means is a second cam 72). Because of these arrangements, the shifting mechanism is comparable to or greater in size than the pickup feeding means and sheet stopper means.
Next, another case will be explained in which a rotary drive transmitting element and a solenoid as the drive source are arranged adjacent to a pickup feeding means with respect to the direction of the sheet width. Now, the factors hindering the development of a thinner configuration of the sheet feeder with respect to the direction of the sheet thickness will be described with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
FIG. 1
is a perspective view showing a sheet feeder in a conventional copier, and
FIGS. 2A and 2B
are sectional views of the operating states of this sheet feeder.
FIG. 2A
shows the case where the pickup feeding device is in its non-pickup state, and
FIG. 2B
shows the case where the pickup feeding device is in its pickup state.
In this manual feeder, a pickup feeding means
152
picks up sheets P from a stack of sheets placed on a sheet stacking means
151
to a separation feeding means
153
, where the sheets are separated and fed, one by one, towards the downstream side with respect to the sheet conveying direction.
Pickup feeding means
152
is rotatably supported about a rotary shaft, i.e., drive input shaft
701
by means of support members including the rotary shaft, support arms
700
for supporting the rotary shaft and a coupling plate
705
for coupling the arms. Pickup feeding means
152
is configured so that it can be moved by a solenoid
702
, a return spring
703
, a rotary shift lever
704
and an urging spring
706
, between the active position where the pickup feeding means abuts sheets P stacked on the sheet stacker and the inactive position where it is kept away from sheets P. This configuration is further detailed below.
Rotary shift lever
704
can be engaged with part of the supporting means (coupling plate
705
in this case) of pickup feeding means
152
. When solenoid
702
is activated, rotary shift lever
704
rotates counterclockwise in
FIG. 2
, opposing the elastic force of return spring
703
so as to disengage the supporting means of pickup feeding means
152
. Upon this disengagement, the rotatably supported pickup feeding means
152
comes down due to gravity acting on the support members and pickup feeding means
152
itself and due to elastic force of urging spring
706
so as to press sheets P (at the active position) enabling the feed of the sheets.
When solenoid
702
is deactivated, rotary shift lever
704
is turned clockwise in
FIG. 2
by the elastic force of return spring
703
, and separates pickup feeding means
152
away from the sheets and returns it to the inactive position, opposing the gravity acting on pickup feeding means
152
itself and the support members and the elastic force of urging spring
706
.
Suppose that solenoid
702
is designed so as to be activated to output a driving force to rotate the rotatable portion rotating integrally with pickup feeding means
152
upperwards and hence separate pickup feeding means
152
from the sheet. In this case, an elastic means such as a spring etc., urging pickup feeding means
152
toward the sheets is needed, so the driving force needs to oppose the urging force from the elastic means urging the pickup feeding means
152
toward the sheets and also oppose gravity acting on the portion integrally rotating with pickup feeding means
152
. Under consideration of this fact and also considering the duty ratio of solenoid
702
or the activation of solenoid
702
when the manual feeder is not used, the solenoid
702
inevitably needs to be made large or high powered. Therefore, to avoid this situation, solenoid
702
is adapted to become active when the manual feeder is used, so that the portion rotating integrally with pickup feeding means
152
is designed to move upwards by means of spring
703
coupled to shift lever
704
. In this case, solenoid
702
only needs to have a driving force for rotating the shift lever, opposing only spring
703
, so a low powered solenoid
702
is adequate for this operation.
Depending upon the length of active duration of solenoid
702
and/or the size of solenoid
702
, the following limitations need to be imposed for making solenoid
702
compact.
That is, when solenoid
702
is directly coupled with rotary shift lever
704
as stated above, the solenoid needs be active when pickup feeding means
152
moves to the active position (since the time during which the solenoid is in the inactive position is overwhelmingly longer than that in the active position). For this purpose, the plunger which is at the mid point of the height of solenoid
702
must rotate rotary shift lever
704
in the counterclockwise direction so that the plunger is disposed below the rotary shaft of rotary shift lever
704
.
As seen from
FIG. 2
, if the location of the solenoid
702
is set downward, the open space for passing the sheet therethrough becomes narrow. So it is impossible to dispose solenoid
702
and rotary shift lever
704
below the space for stacking sheets. Yet, pickup feeding means
152
needs to be configured so as to move down to sheet stacker
151
.
Even if a solenoid
702
of a compact type is used, the size is considerably larger when compared to the size of pickup feeding means
152
.
Because of these conditions and requirements, rotary shift lever
704
and solenoid
702
will project upwards above the level of pickup feeding means
152
when it is positioned at its highest position, i.e., the inactive position. Accordingly, the actual height of the sheet feeder, with respect to the direction of the sheet thickness becomes greater by the dimension of the aforementioned projection.
In
FIG. 1
, the driving force for turning separation feeding means
153
and pickup feeding means
152
when feeding sheets is input from the machine body side by means of a clutch etc.
Next, the sheet stopper means as a functional part which is disposed in the sheet feeder and moves between the active position and inactive position will be described.
When sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking means, the sheets are pushed in to the position of the sheet separation feeding means. The sheet stopper means of the sheet feeder is to prevent erroneous feed such as multifeed and the like when sheet feeding is started. Therefore, the stopper means needs to be positioned on the upstream side, with respect to the sheet conveying direction, of the separation feeding means. On the other hand, the stopper means needs to be laid out on the downstream side, with respect to the sheet conveying direction, of the pickup feeding means, in order to enable the pickup feeding means to feed the topmost sheet from the sheet stacking means when sheet feed is started. Accordingly, the stopper means is arranged between the pickup feeding means and separation feeding means. In the case of a feeder of this mechanism, the pickup feeding means is supported by the support assembly so as to come into and out of contact with the sheets. Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Hei 6 No. 71,947, the known stopper means is configured to be coupled with the support assembly pivotally provided on the separation feeding means side so as to go from above the sheet stacking means down to between the pickup feeding means and separation feeding means.
The use of this mechanism, however, makes the sheet feeder thicker with respect to the direction of the sheet thickness because the support assembly of the stopper means rotates and moves over the separation feeding means. Further, since the sheet stopper means is configured to rotate and move up and down, when a stack of sheets is placed on the sheet stacking means, the stopper means is liable to move upwards when pressed by the sheets, which would cause mal-feeding of sheets.
Up to now, negative factors in miniaturizing the sheet feeder which moves between the active and inactive positions were discussed. All the other functional units of the image information processing apparatus have hindering factors against their miniaturization.
For solving the above problems concerned with miniaturization of the image information processing apparatus, it is necessary to improve the design flexibility of each functional unit having functional parts relating to the sheets, especially that of the parts other than functional parts relating to the sheets in that unit. More specifically, it is necessary to prevent the parts other than functional parts relating to the sheets from becoming projected into the center with respect to the direction of the sheet width, and hence prevent functional units from becoming bulky. That is, it is necessary to design the layout so that parts other than functional parts relating to the sheets will not produce wasteful space between adjoining functional units.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a compact image processing apparatus which is reduced in wasted space without lowering the functions and working performances and the like.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeder which can be thinned with respect to the direction of the sheet thickness and can be used to promote miniaturization of the image information processing apparatus, keeping its sheet feeding performance and attaching and detaching performance of functional units.
In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention is configured as follows:
In accordance with the first aspect of the invention, an image processing apparatus, comprises: a plurality of functional units each having a predetermined function for processing an image, disposed in a predetermined position so as to be attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body, and is characterized in that each functional unit is disposed and attached in a space excepting a space which is the path of any other unit during movement for attachment and detachment thereof; and a space defined by translating a first functional unit in the attaching direction thereof can accommodate a part of a second functional unit.
In accordance with the second aspect of the invention, an image processing apparatus, comprises: a plurality of functional units each having a predetermined function for processing an image, disposed in a predetermined position so as to be attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body, and is characterized in that each functional unit is disposed and attached in a space excepting a space which is the path of any other unit during movement for attachment and detachment thereof; and a space defined by crossing of a space defined by translating a first functional unit in the attaching direction thereof and a space defined by translating the first functional unit in the detaching direction of a second functional unit can accommodate a part of the second functional unit.
In accordance with the third aspect of the invention, an image processing apparatus comprises: a plurality of functional units each having a predetermined function for processing an image, disposed in a predetermined position so as to be attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body, and is characterized in that each functional unit is disposed and attached in a space excepting a space which is the path of any other unit during movement for attachment and detachment thereof; and a space defined by overlapping of a space defined by translating a first functional unit in the attaching direction thereof and a space defined by translating the first functional unit in a direction substantially perpendicular to the attaching direction thereof, excluding a space occupied by the first functional unit, can accommodate a part of the second functional unit.
In accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention, the image processing apparatus having the above first through third features is characterized in that one of the multiple functional units has a first functional portion which directly comes in contact with the sheets and directly relates to sheet feeding and a second functional portion which relates to sheet feeding but is kept away the sheets; the first functional unit is arranged for attachment within a space which is defined by translating an area extending in the direction perpendicular to sheet feeding direction and having the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction normal to the sheet feeding surface; and/or the second functional unit is arranged for attachment within a space which is defined by translating an area lying in the direction perpendicular to sheet feeding direction but outside the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction normal to the sheet feeding surface.
In accordance with the fifth aspect of the invention, the image processing apparatus having the above first through third features is characterized in that the first functional unit has a coupling means for coupling with the apparatus body or any other functional unit and at least a part of the coupling means disposed in a second functional unit.
In accordance with the sixth aspect of the invention, the image processing apparatus having the above fifth feature is characterized in that multiple coupling means are classified and partitioned on the basis of the types of the coupling means.
In accordance with the seventh aspect of the invention, the image processing apparatus having the above first through third features is characterized in that the first functional unit is a container which can be modified in volume.
In accordance with the above first through seventh features, in the space of the path for movement of a functional unit when it is attached or detached, no part of other functional units are located other than the functional unit which is being attached or detached. Therefore, when the functional unit is attached or detached, no manipulative operation is needed such as moving, attaching and detaching any other functional unit. For example, for attachment or detachment of a functional unit, a simple attachment and detachment of a functional unit can be ensured without needing any increase of steps relating to attachment and detachment, unlike a configuration in which a certain functional unit is attached or detached, other units are needed to be moved once in a certain direction, and then moved in another direction. Wasted space which tends to arise when functional units are configured in substantially rectangular prism forms, can be reduced by changing the arrangement of the parts within each functional unit, thus making it possible to reduce the volume of the space occupied by the functional unit itself. This contributes to miniaturization of the 22 image processing apparatus.
In accordance with the eighth aspect of the invention, a sheet feeder comprises:
a sheet stacking means for stacking sheets;
a sheet-feeding related means which is movable between the active position of the sheet feeding action and the inactive position unrelated to the sheet feeding action; and
a transmitting element for transmitting the driving force for moving the sheet-feeding related means between the active position and inactive position, and is characterized in that, when, in a space defined by translating the mid area of the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet to be set on the sheet stacking means in the direction of the sheet thickness of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means, a space of the path of the sheet feeding related means for movement between its active and inactive positions, is arranged between two planes perpendicular to the direction of the sheet thickness, the transmitting element is arranged in the space enclosed by two planes; and the transmitting element is extended to a space which is defined by translating a boundary area of the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet to be set on the sheet stacking means in the direction of the sheet thickness, or is extended to a space which is defined by translating an area beyond the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet to be set on the sheet stacking means in the direction of the sheet thickness.
In accordance with the ninth aspect of the invention, the sheet feeder having the above eighth feature is characterized in that the sheet stacking means, sheet feeding related means and transmitting element can be attached and detached with respect to the main body; a space overlapped between the space which is defined by translating a boundary area of the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet to be set on the sheet stacking means, in the direction of the sheet thickness and/or the space which is defined by translating an area beyond the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet to be set on the sheet stacking means, in the direction of the sheet thickness, and a space which is defined by translating the space of the path of the sheet feeding related means for movement between its active and inactive positions, in the direction of sheet width, is occupied by the transmitting element and a part of the drive source for driving the transmitting element.
In accordance with the tenth aspect of the invention, a sheet feeder comprises:
a sheet stacking means for stacking sheets;
a pickup feeding means which is supported by a supporting portion so as to be movable between a sheet feeding position where it comes in contact with the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking means and a retracted position where it is kept away from the sheet;
a first driving system, which provides a driving force to the supporting portion so as to shift the pickup feeding means between the sheet feeding position and the retracted position;
a second driving system for providing a driving force to the pickup feeding means;
a separation feeding means for separating the sheets which are fed by the pickup means, at the sheet feeding position, driven by the driving force from the second driving system, one by one, and delivering the separated sheet to the downstream side with respect to the sheet feeding direction;
a third driving system which provides a driving force to the separation feeding means to cause the separation feeding means to separate sheets, one by one; and
a control means for controlling the first, second and third driving systems so that the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means can be delivered, characterized in that the first driving system comprises:
a rotary driving force transmitting element and a parallel movement type driving force transmitting element coupled to the rotary driving force transmitting element, and the rotary driving force transmitting element is disposed closer to the pickup feeding means than the parallel movement type transmitting element.
In accordance with the eleventh aspect of the invention, the sheet feeder having the above tenth feature is characterized in that the first driving system further comprises an urging spring urging the parallel movement type driving force transmitting element, in the direction opposing the driving force from the drive source; and the urging spring is provided along the direction in which the parallel movement type transmitting element moves, and is engaged with the parallel movement type transmitting element.
In accordance with the twelfth aspect of the invention, the sheet feeder having the above tenth feature is characterized in that the first driving system further comprises a compression spring urging the rotary driving force transmitting element, in the direction opposing to the driving force from the drive source; and the compression spring is engaged between the fixed side and the rotary driving force transmitting element, via a rotatable supporting means.
In accordance with the thirteenth aspect of the invention, a sheet feeder comprises:
a sheet stacking means for stacking sheets;
a pickup feeding means which is supported by a supporting portion so as to be movable between a sheet feeding position where it comes in contact with the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking means and a retracted position where it is kept away from the sheet;
a first driving system, which provides a driving force to the supporting portion so as to shift the pickup feeding means between the sheet feeding position and the retracted position;
a second driving system for providing a driving force to the pickup feeding means;
a separation feeding means for separating the sheets which are by the pickup means, at the sheet feeding position, driven by the driving force from the second driving system, one by one, and delivering the separated sheet to the downstream side with respect to the sheet feeding direction;
a third driving system which provides a driving force to the separation feeding means to cause the separation feeding means to separate sheets, one by one;
a stopper means which is movable between the blocking position for stopping the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means, from moving toward the separation feeding means, and the retracted position for allowing the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means to be fed;
a fourth driving system for driving the stopper means between the blocking position and the retracted position; and
a control means for controlling the first, second, third and fourth driving systems so that the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means can be delivered, and is characterized in that the stopper means is lowered under the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking means when it is at the retracted position, and is moved in parallel in the direction crossing the sheet stacking surface when the stopper means moves between the blocking position and the retracted position.
In accordance with the fourteenth aspect of the invention, the sheet feeder having the above thirteenth feature is characterized in that the fourth driving system comprises a parallel movement type driving force transmitting element integrally provided on the side opposite to the sheet blocking side of the stopper means, and a rotary driving force transmitting element which abuts the parallel movement type driving force transmitting element to transmit the driving force; and when two planes perpendicular to the direction of the sheet thickness are formed so as to be in contact with a space of the path for movement of the stopper means between the blocking position and the retracted position, the rotary driving force transmitting element is arranged within the space enclosed by the two planes and in the side opposite to the sheet blocking side of the stopper means.
In accordance with the above configurations of the above eighth through fourteenth features, if a functional unit having functional parts relating to the sheets is arranged next to the sheet feeder, no wasted space will arise so that it is possible to promote miniaturization of the image information processing apparatus whilst keeping the attachment and detachment of the functional unit and the sheet feeder simple.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view showing a sheet feeder portion of a conventional copier;
FIGS. 2A and 2B
are side views showing the sheet pickup states of a sheet feeder portion of a conventional copier;
FIG. 3
is a main sectional view showing the first embodiment of a copier as an image processing apparatus in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 4
is a schematic sectional view showing a circulating type automatic document feeder, a manual document setting device and an optical system;
FIG. 5
is a schematic sectional view showing an image forming unit, a fixing unit and sheet feeders;
FIG. 6
is an overall perspective view showing a manual sheet feeder;
FIG. 7
is an enlarged perspective view showing essential parts of a manual sheet feeder;
FIG. 8A
is a sectional view showing a pickup feeding means, and
FIG. 8B
is a sectional view showing a pulley B;
FIG. 9
is a sectional view showing essential parts of a manual sheet feeder;
FIGS. 10A and 10B
are illustrative views showing the operation of a mechanism for shifting up and down a pickup feeding means;
FIG. 11
is a sectional view showing a mechanism for shifting up and down a pickup feeding means;
FIG. 12
is a sectional view showing another mechanism for shifting up and down a pickup feeding means;
FIG. 13
is a perspective view showing a drive mechanism of a sheet stopper;
FIG. 14
is a flowchart showing the operation of an image processing apparatus during sheet feeding;
FIG. 15
is a section view of a copier body with a manual sheet feeder;
FIG. 16
is an exploded perspective view showing a developer collecting container;
FIGS. 17A and 17B
are sectional views showing a developer collecting container and a coupling portion on the main body side;
FIGS. 18A
,
18
B and
18
C are perspective views showing a manual feeder and a developer collecting container in their attached state;
FIGS. 19A
,
19
B and
19
C are sectional views showing the states of attaching procedures of a developer collecting container and a manual feeder according to the second embodiment;
FIGS. 20A and 20B
are perspective views showing a developer collecting container and a manual feeder according to the second embodiment, in their attached state;
FIGS. 21A and 21B
are sectional views showing the third embodiment of a copier as an image processing apparatus in accordance with the invention;
FIGS. 22A and 22B
are sectional views showing a developer collecting container of the third embodiment, in its attached state;
FIG. 23
is a perspective view showing a manual feeder in accordance with the third embodiment, before its attachment;
FIG. 24
is a perspective view showing a manual feeder in accordance with the third embodiment, in its attached state;
FIG. 25
is a sectional view showing a manual feeder and a developer collecting container in accordance with the third embodiment, in their attached state to a copier body;
FIGS. 26A and 26B
are perspective views showing a manual feeder and a developer collecting container in accordance with the third embodiment, in their attached state;
FIG. 27
is a perspective view showing a developer collecting container in accordance with the fourth embodiment; and
FIG. 28
is a perspective view showing a manual feeder and a developer collecting container in their attached state in accordance with the fourth embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(The First Embodiment)
Referring to
FIGS. 3
to
5
, the configuration of a copier and its overall operation will be described hereinbelow.
FIG. 3
is a main sectional view showing the first embodiment of a copier as an image processing apparatus in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 4
is a schematic sectional view showing a circulating type automatic document feeder, a manual document setting device and an optical system.
FIG. 5
is a schematic sectional view showing an image forming unit, a fixing unit and sheet feeders.
Referring first to
FIG. 3
, the overall configuration of the copier as an image processing apparatus will be described.
Provided above a copier body
1
are a circulating type automatic document feeder
20
and a manual original setting device
30
for manual setting of an original. Copier body
1
further includes: in the interior thereof, an optical system
40
in the upper portion thereof; an image forming unit
50
and a fixing unit
60
in the central portion thereof; and a sheet feeding unit
100
in the lower portion thereof. A post-processing unit
70
is arranged on the left side of copier body
1
. The configuration of post-processing unit
70
will be described later.
Referring now to
FIGS. 4 and 5
, the basic configuration and overall operation of each unit will be described. As shown in
FIG. 4
, originals stacked on document stacker
21
of circulating type automatic document feeder
20
are separated, sheet by sheet, by original separation feeding means
22
, and the original document is conveyed by document feed roller
23
a
,
23
b
,
23
c
and
23
d
to a first original exposure portion
24
made up of a transparent element such as contact glass or the like, so that one side of the original may face the first original exposure portion
24
. After passing through the first original exposure portion
24
, the original is turned upside down by means of an original inverting means
25
made up of a switchback mechanism, so that a face opposite to the face facing the first original exposure portion
24
will face a second original exposure portion
26
. After passing through the second original exposure portion
26
, the original is returned to the bottom of the originals stacked on document stacker
21
by means of document collecting means
27
a
and
27
b
. In this way, circulating type automatic document feeder
20
successively conveys the originals, passing through the first original exposure portion
24
and the second original exposure portion
26
whilst each original is being exposed and scanned by optical system
40
, which will be detailed later. Thus, in this mode, travelling document type scanning is performed.
On the other hand, as shown in
FIG. 4
, manual original setting device
30
comprises a contact glass
31
and an original cover
32
provided so as to be openable upward, away from contact glass
31
. For setting an original, the operator opens original cover
32
by hand, places the original at the original setting reference position on contact glass
31
and closes original cover
32
. Thus, the original is pressed down onto contact glass
31
by original cover
32
. In this manual original setting device
30
, the original still set on contact glass
31
is exposed and scanned by optical system
40
, which will be detailed hereinbelow. That is, in this mode document-still scanning is implemented.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, optical system
40
provided in the upper interior of copier body
1
comprises: a scanning unit
43
integrally composed of an exposure lamp
41
and a first mirror
42
; a movable mirror unit
46
integrally composed of a second mirror
44
and a third mirror
45
; a zooming lens
47
; a fourth mirror
48
a
, a fifth mirror
48
b
and a sixth mirror
49
. The reflected light from the original when the original is illuminated and scanned by exposure lamp
41
passes through first mirror
42
, second mirror
44
, third mirror
45
, zooming lens
47
, fourth mirror
48
a
, fifth mirror
48
b
and sixth mirror
49
, and is lead to the surface of a photosensitive member
51
, on which the original image is focused. This photosensitive member
51
will be explained below. When an original is scanned using circulating type automatic document feeder
20
, while the original surface facing the first original exposure portion
24
is scanned, scanning unit
43
stands still at a standstill position
43
a for the first original exposure portion so as to expose the original to light as it passes through the first original exposure portion
24
. On the other hand, while the original surface facing the second original exposure portion
26
is scanned, scanning unit
43
stands still as another standstill position
43
b
for the second original exposure portion so as to expose the original to light as it passes through the second original exposure portion
26
. When the surface of an original placed on the contact glass is scanned using manual original setting device
30
, scanning unit
43
irradiates the original with light whilst moving from a ready position
43
c
on the left end of the contact glass to the right in the drawing, while movable mirror unit
46
moves in the same direction at half the speed of scanning unit
43
.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, image forming unit
50
provided in the interior central portion of copier body
1
has photosensitive member
51
. Around photosensitive member
51
in the rotational direction of the photosensitive member
51
(in the direction of the arrow A in
FIG. 5
) are arranged sequentially the important members such as a charger
52
, an exposure light path
53
, a developing means
54
, a transfer device
55
, a separation charger
56
, a cleaner
57
and a charge erasing lamp
58
and the like. Charger
52
supplies charge onto the surface of photosensitive member
51
as it rotates so as to uniformly electrify the surface of photosensitive member
51
. As the surface of photosensitive member
51
uniformly charged by charger
52
reaches the exposure aperture, the photosensitive member is exposed to the light, reflected from the original, directed by optical system
40
and passing through exposure light path
53
, so that the uniformly distributed charge on the surface of photosensitive member
51
is discharged whereby a static latent image corresponding to the original image is formed. As the surface of photosensitive member
51
with a static latent image thus formed moves to the station opposing developing means
54
, the developer having a polarity opposite to that of the static latent image is supplied from developing means
54
so that the developer adheres to the static latent image by electrostatic force, thus forming a visualized, developer image.
As the surface of photosensitive member
51
with a developer image thereon reaches the station opposing transfer device
55
, the charge having a like polarity as that of the conductive surface of photosensitive member
51
is supplied to the sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding unit
100
to photosensitive member
51
. The potential of the sheet in close contact with photosensitive member
51
becomes higher than surface potential of photosensitive member
51
. Therefore, the developer image on the surface of photosensitive member
51
is attracted to the sheet so that the developer image is transferred from the surface of photosensitive member
51
surface to the sheet. Separation charger
56
disposed next to transfer device
55
supplies the sheet with charge of an opposite polarity to that supplied from transfer device
55
so that the attraction between photosensitive member
51
surface and the sheet becomes weakened, whereby the sheet carrying the developer image is separated from the surface of photosensitive member
51
.
When the surface of photosensitive member
51
further moves and reaches the station opposing cleaner
57
, the leftover developer which has not transferred to the sheet during transfer and remains on the surface of photosensitive member
51
is removed from the surface of photosensitive member
51
. When the surface of photosensitive member
51
free from the leftover developer reaches the station opposing charge erasing lamp
58
, charge erasing lamp
58
radiates charge erasing light onto the photosensitive member
51
so as to lower the surface potential of photosensitive member
51
to a substantially uniform, low level. This charge erasing is performed to prevent the surface potential of photosensitive member
51
from becoming too high or uneven when the photosensitive member
51
is next charged by charger
52
. The above steps are sequentially preformed so that the scanned original image is reproduced as a developer image on the sheet. Here, the developer collected by cleaner
57
is conveyed through an unillustrated developer collection conveying passage to a developer collecting container
148
.
Next, referring to
FIG. 5
, the description will be made of sheet feeding unit
100
for feeding sheets to the transfer station in the image forming unit
50
. Sheet feeding unit
100
provided in the interior lower side of copier body
1
comprises a first sheet feeder
110
, a second sheet feeder
120
, a third sheet feeder
130
, a duplex printing feeder
140
and manual feeder
150
. Each sheet feeder includes: a sheet stacking means
111
,
121
,
131
,
141
,
151
; and a sheet delivering unit
114
,
124
,
134
,
144
,
154
of a sheet pickup feeding means
112
,
122
,
132
,
142
,
152
and a separation feeding means
113
,
123
,
133
,
143
,
153
.
The sheet conveying path for guiding sheets, one by one, from each of sheet feeders
110
,
120
,
130
,
140
and
150
to photosensitive member
51
, is provided appropriately with conveying rollers, between a synchronization registering means
160
located immediately before photosensitive member
51
and each of sheet feeders
110
,
120
,
130
,
140
and
150
.
A sheet delivered from sheet feeder
110
,
120
,
130
and
150
, is conveyed to synchronization registering means
160
by the conveying rollers disposed along the conveying path thereto. At the synchronization registering means
160
, where the leading edge of the sheet is aligned with the axial direction of photosensitive member
51
and the sheet is delivered out toward photosensitive member
51
at a timing synchronized with the position of the developer image formed on the surface of photosensitive member
51
.
The sheet bearing the developer image at transfer device
55
is separated from the photosensitive member by separation charger
56
, and then is conveyed by a conveyer belt
85
to fixing unit
60
.
Fixing unit
60
is mainly comprised of: a heat roller
61
made up of a metal pipe of aluminum or the like, coated with a heat resisting resin having a good separation performance; a pressure roller
62
made up of a metallic core covered with a heat resisting elastic layer such as silicone rubber; a heater lamp
63
disposed as a heat source inside heat roller
61
for heating; a temperature sensor
64
such as a thermistor and the like, disposed in contact with the peripheral surface of heat roller
61
for maintaining heater lamp
63
at the predetermined temperature; separation claws
65
disposed in contact with the peripheral surface of heat roller
61
or pressure roller
62
for separating the sheet from heat roller
61
or pressure roller
62
; and a pressurizing means (not shown) for pressing heat roller
61
and pressure roller
62
to each other. The sheet carrying an unfixed developer image formed by the above image forming unit
50
, but not yet fixed, is conveyed by conveyer belt
85
to reach fixing unit
60
. As the sheet passes through heat roller
61
and pressure roller
62
, the sheet is heated and pressed so that the developer image not yet fixed is fixed to the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is separated from heat roller
61
or pressure roller
62
by means of separation claws
65
and is discharged from fixing unit
60
.
The sheet discharged from fixing unit
60
passes through conveying rollers
86
, and then is either discharged or conveyed further. That is, depending upon the path selection of a switching gate
87
, the sheet is either discharged by discharging rollers
88
to the exterior of copier body
1
or conveyed to a switch-back conveying path
91
by means of conveying rollers
89
and normal/reversal rollers
90
. The sheet fed into switch-back conveying path
91
is guided by the path selection of a switching gate
92
and the reversal rotation of normal/reversal rollers
90
toward duplex printing feeder
140
. The sheets delivered out from switch-back conveying path
91
and having passed through feed rollers
93
, are successively stacked onto duplex printing feeder
140
. The sheets temporarily stacked on duplex printing feeder
140
are separated and fed, one by one, by the function of sheet pickup feeding means
142
and separation feeding means
143
. The sheets stacked on duplex printing feeder
140
are fed again toward the photosensitive member so that the unprinted side faces photosensitive member
51
.
When the one-sided printing mode is selected through an unillustrated control panel, the sheet delivered from sheet stacking means
111
,
121
,
131
or
151
, is formed with an image on its one side, and after its fixing, the sheet is discharged from copier body
1
to the machine exterior. On the contrary, when the duplex printing mode is selected, the sheet delivered from sheet stacking means
111
,
121
,
131
or
151
, is formed with an image on its one side, and after its fixing, the sheet is stacked onto duplex printing feeder
140
, and then the sheet is fed again toward the photosensitive member so that another image is formed on the opposite, unprinted side, thereafter, the sheet is discharged from copier body
1
to the machine exterior, in the same manner as in the one-sided printing mode.
The sheet thus discharged from copier body
1
is then conveyed into post-processing unit
70
shown in FIG.
3
. Post-processing unit
70
is mainly composed of a staple tray
74
, a stapler
75
, a pusher
76
, a bound sheet discharge tray
77
, a stack tray
80
and the like. The sheet discharged from copier body
1
is sent to entrance rollers
71
, and then is either delivered via conveying rollers
73
to be stacked on staple tray
74
, or conveyed by convening rollers
78
and discharging rollers
79
to be stacked onto stack tray
80
, depending upon the path selection of a switching gate
72
. Sheets stacked on staple tray
74
are bound by stapler
75
every predetermined number of copies, then the bound sheets are discharged to bound sheet discharge tray
77
by pusher
76
.
The description of the configuration and overall operation of the copier has been completed.
For making the copier compact, the correlation between the devices laid out inside the copier is important, so this will be described next.
Copier body
1
as already described, incorporates a variety of devices having diverse functions. These devices are, for example, optical system
40
, image forming unit
50
, sheet feeding unit
100
and the like, and are provided as functional units each having a single function or a plurality of functions. In practice, like image forming means
50
, for example, which includes developing means
54
, developer collecting container
148
, charger
52
, cleaner
57
or like sheet feeder
110
,
120
,
130
,
140
,
150
which includes sheet stacking means
111
,
121
,
131
,
141
,
151
and sheet delivering unit
114
,
124
,
134
,
144
,
154
and the like, each functional unit may be divided into sub-units therein. This divided configuration into sub-units, provides easiness for replacement of broken parts and/or supply parts and for releasing jams, and facilitates assembly and disassembly.
In general, miniaturization of an apparatus handling the sheets such as a copier is markedly affected by the size of sheet and the type of the sheet material because the handling target is a sheet. For example, as regards the direction of conveying the sheet, it is necessary to consider the stacking performance of sheets (a certain flatness is needed for placement in order to avoid the stacked sheet being skewed etc.) and the conveying performance of sheets (the conveying performance is affected by the sheet path shape such as the smallest radius of curvature in the sheet path, depending upon the stiffness of the sheet), so that miniaturization of the apparatus can be attained only to an extent in which the above conditions are satisfied. Further, as regards the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, stacking performance of the sheets, conveying performance of sheets, the efficiency of image formation, the quality of formed images need to be considered. Therefore, devices such as the sheet feeder and the image forming unit for forming images onto sheets, will occupy substantially the whole area facing the sheet, across a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. Further, the functional units are often attached and detached in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. Accordingly, if functional units or part of functional units need to be laid out in the space or path of a certain functional unit in this direction, multiple functional units must be moved for attachment and detachment of the functional unit, degrading ease of attachment and detachment.
However, concerning the direction of the sheet thickness, the thickness with which the sheets can be accommodated and the dimensions of the device relating to the sheets are the factors limiting the miniaturization. Of these factors, the factor which can be dealt with by design is the dimension in the direction of the sheet thickness of a device relating to the sheets. So, each of the above-referred functional units needs to be made thinner. For this purpose, it is necessary to miniaturize the parts in each functional unit and it is also necessary to enhance the flexibility of layout of the parts excepting those which cannot be modified as to the positions and are required to be positioned at the particular sites in the functional unit from design requirements.
Next, an embodiment of the invention for making the functional units in a copier thin and compact and hence miniaturizing the copier itself, will be described in detail with an example of a sheet feeder.
Referring now to
FIGS. 3
,
5
through
16
, detailed description will be made of a manual feeder
150
as a type of sheet feeders and a developer collecting container
148
to which an embodiment of the invention is applied.
As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 5
, manual feeder
150
is disposed on the right side of copier body
1
while developer collecting container
148
is laid out thereabove. Next to developer collecting container
148
is a developing means
54
.
Manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
will be described first and then the mutual relationship, in the arrangement of the invention, between manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
in their attached state will be explained next.
Referring first to
FIGS. 6 and 7
, manual feeder
150
will be explained in detail.
FIG. 6
is an overall perspective view of manual feeder
150
and
FIG. 7
is a partial enlarged perspective view showing elements thereof.
As shown in
FIG. 6
, manual feeder
150
comprises: a sheet stacking means
151
for stacking a sheet, a pickup feeding means
152
for feeding a sheet P placed on sheet stacking means
151
downstream with respect to the feeding direction of manual feeder
150
, a separation feeding means
153
and a sheet stopper
155
.
Now a description of sheet stacking means
151
will be made. There are width constraining plates
170
in the central portion of sheet stacking means
151
. These width constraining plates
170
constrain sheets at both side-edges with respect to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the sheets placed on sheet stacking means
151
. A rack portion
170
a
is provided under the sheet stacking means
151
and integrally formed via an opening
151
a
with each width constraining plate
170
and is meshed with a pinion gear
171
which is rotatably disposed on the underside of sheet stacking means
151
. These constraining plates are configured so that when one of width constraining plates
170
is moved, the other width constraining plate
170
will move, mutually approaching each other or mutually moving away from each other. By this mechanism, the center of the sheets will not vary with the sheet size, even if the sheets to be constrained by width constraining plates
170
varies in size. Here, sheet stacking means
151
is fixed to a sheet feeder frame
181
.
Components designated at
181
a
,
193
,
200
,
270
,
271
,
272
,
301
and
303
will be described later.
Referring next to
FIGS. 7 through 9
, description will be made of pickup feeding means
152
, separation feeding means
153
and driving means for these, all disposed downstream of sheet stacking means
151
, with respect to the sheet conveying direction.
FIG. 8A
is a sectional view showing pickup feeding means
152
, and
FIG. 8B
is a sectional view of a pulley.
FIG. 9
is a sectional view showing essential elements of the manual feeder.
As shown in
FIG. 7
, a drive input shaft
183
is supported rotatably via bearings
182
by feeder frame
181
and has a feed roller
180
(one part of separation feeding means
153
) and a pulley
184
fixed thereon. Further, support arms
185
and
186
are rotatably supported by the drive input shaft at their one end via bearings
187
and restricted by E-rings (not shown) or the like so that these arms will not move in the thrust direction of drive input shaft
183
.
A rotary support shaft
188
is fixed to support arms
185
and
186
at their other end. With holes
190
a
(see
FIG. 8A
) on the end face of pickup feeding means
152
mated with a projection
189
a
(see
FIG. 8B
) on the end face of a pulley
189
, pickup feeding means
152
and pulley
189
are integrally supported so as to be rotatable by means of rotary support shaft
188
. Pickup feeding means
152
and pulley
189
are positioned and restricted by E-rings (not shown) or the like so that these elements will not move in the thrust direction of rotary support shaft
188
. Support arms
185
and
186
are coupled with each other by a coupling plate
191
while a belt
192
is wound between a pulleys
184
and
189
.
Provided at one end of drive input shaft
183
is a drive coupler
193
from the machine body side to manual feeder
150
(see FIG.
6
). Drive coupler
193
is composed of a feeder clutch
194
having an input gear
194
a
. Driving force from an unillustrated motor disposed on the copier body side is transmitted from a gear
195
rotatably supported by a rear frame
303
(see
FIG. 6
) on the copier body side to input gear
194
a
, and then transmitted to drive input shaft
183
and feed roller
180
, in this order, to rotate feed roller
180
. The drive force thus transmitted to drive input shaft
183
is further transferred to pickup feeding means
152
through pulley
184
, belt
192
and pulley
189
in this order, so as to rotate pickup feeding means
152
.
As shown in
FIGS. 7 and 9
, a separation pad
196
is disposed in the sheet stacking means
151
on the side facing feed roller
180
, and is urged by an elastic element
197
such as a compression spring etc., so as to be abutted against feed roller
180
. Provided fixedly to support arms
185
and
186
between feed roller
180
and pickup feeding means
152
, is a sheet guide
198
. Separation feeding means
153
is configured of feed roller
180
and separation pad
196
. Disposed downstream of separation feeding means
153
with respect to the feeding direction is a conveying means
230
. A sheet detecting sensor S
2
is arranged directly downstream of conveying means
230
.
Here, reference numeral
155
designates a sheet stopper, and S
1
designates a sheet set sensor for detecting the sheets set on sheet stacking means
151
. Components designated by reference numerals
151
b
,
198
a
,
210
and
211
in
FIG. 9
will be described later.
Referring next to
FIGS. 7 and 10A
and
10
B, the mechanism for shifting pickup feeding means
152
up and down will be described.
FIGS. 10A and 10B
are illustrative views showing the operation of the mechanism for shifting pickup feeding means
152
up and down.
A lever support shaft
201
disposed in feeder frame
181
has a lever
202
rotatably supported thereon. A pickup solenoid
200
as the drive source is fixedly arranged at one end of feeder frame
181
. A lever
203
is provided between solenoid
200
and lever
202
, with its hole at one end thereof receiving a pin from a plunger
200
a
of pickup solenoid
200
and a projection
203
a
at the other end thereof fitted into a slot
202
a
of lever
202
. A return spring
204
is engaged between a projection
203
b
provided in the mid portion of lever
203
and a cut and bent portion
181
a
of feeder frame
181
.
Further, a feeder pressing spring
205
of a coil type is fitted on drive input shaft
183
on the outer side of support arm
186
. One end of feeder pressing spring
205
is engaged with an engaging portion
186
a
of support arm
186
while the other end of feeder pressing spring
205
is engaged with the rear side of feeder frame
181
so as to urge support arm
186
toward sheet stacking means
151
. Similarly, another feeder pressing spring
205
is provided on the outer side of support arm
185
, in the same manner as in the case of support arm
186
. Thus, pickup feeding means
152
is urged toward sheet stacking means
151
by the action of the two feeder pressing springs
205
.
In the above arrangement, when pickup solenoid
200
is turned off, the elastic force from return spring
204
acts on lever
203
in the longitudinal direction thereof so as to move the lever
203
to the left in FIG.
10
A. This causes lever
202
to rotate clockwise about lever support shaft
201
and hence press the rear side of coupling plate
191
. By this pressing, pickup feeding means
152
rotates about drive input shaft
183
, opposing the urging force of feeder pressing spring
205
and gravity acting on the portion integrally rotating with pickup feeding means
152
such as support arms
185
and
186
, etc., thus moving upwards and hence separating from the sheets set on sheet stacking means
151
. In this case, in order to limit lever
203
so that it does not move leftward, in the drawing, beyond a predetermined extent, an unillustrated stopper for stopping lever
203
is provided. In this situation, pickup feeding means
152
is located above the maximum sheet set height Pmax. The distance between the maximum sheet set height Pmax and the level of a sheet guide surface (the bent portion of frame
181
opposing the sheets)
181
d
integrally formed with feeder frame
181
is set appropriately so as not to make it difficult to supply sheets into sheet stacking means
151
.
Reference numerals, S
1
,
189
and
192
designate a sheet set sensor, a pulley and a belt, respectively.
When pickup solenoid
200
is activated, lever
203
moves to the right as shown in
FIG. 10B
, opposing the urging force of return spring
204
. This causes lever
202
to rotate counterclockwise about lever support shaft
201
so as to press an abutting portion
202
b
of lever
202
down. Resultantly, pickup feeding means
152
is lowered to the level of the height Pset of the sheets placed on sheet stacking means
151
, by the urging force of feeder pressing spring
205
and due to gravity acting on the portion integrally rotating with pickup feeding means
152
, thus abutting the sheets. Here, S
1
designates a sheet set sensor.
As shown in
FIG. 11
, lever
203
as the shifting means for shifting pickup feeding means
152
between the active position and inactive position, resides within a space by translating a mid area across the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction of the sheet thickness. That is, the space required for pickup feeding means
152
to move between the active position and the inactive position is arranged so as to be in contact with two planes perpendicular to the direction of the sheet thickness, and lever
203
moves within the range between the two planes. This lever
203
extends to a space defined by translating a boundary area of the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction of the sheet thickness, and is coupled therein with pickup solenoid
200
as the drive source of shifting pickup feeding means
152
. As will be described in another embodiment hereinbelow, this lever
203
may extend to a space defined by translating an area beyond the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction of the sheet thickness.
In this other embodiment, lever
203
is extended, in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, to a space defined by translating a boundary area of the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet in the direction of the sheet thickness, or is extended, in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, to a space defined by translating an area beyond the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet in the direction of the sheet thickness. This configuration creates open space around the maximum size sheet except on the leading side of the maximum size sheet in the sheet conveying direction. If the sheet stacking means is arranged outside the image information processing apparatus, a large open space can be ensured above the sheets, whereby sheets can be easy to be set onto the sheet stacking means. If the sheet stacking means of the sheet feeder is laid out within the image information processing apparatus, the open space can be used for allotting other parts and/or adjacent functional units, thus promoting the miniaturization of the image information processing apparatus.
The lever
203
may be disposed in another way. If that other parts and/or functional units need to be laid out, in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, within a space defined by translating a boundary area of the full width of the maximum size sheet, in the direction of the sheet thickness, or if the other parts and/or functional units need to be laid out, in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, within a space defined by translating an area beyond the full width of the maximum size sheet, in the direction of the sheet thickness. In such a case, lever
203
is arranged in an inclined manner so that the lever may be extended in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction to a space (other than the above space) defined by translating a boundary area of the full width of the maximum size sheet, in the direction of the sheet thickness, or the lever
203
may be extended in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction to a space (other than the above space) defined by transplanting an area beyond the full width of the maximum size sheet, in the direction of the sheet thickness.
Since this lever
203
is adapted to transmit the driving force by movement in the longitudinal direction, this configuration does not need large space for the moving path of lever
203
when the functional part relating to sheet feeding is moved between the active and inactive positions, thus contributing the miniaturization of manual feeder
150
.
Reference numerals
151
,
181
,
181
a
,
183
,
185
,
186
,
189
,
191
,
192
,
201
,
202
,
202
a
,
202
b
,
203
a
,
203
b
,
205
and S
1
designate the same components shown in FIG.
10
.
Although it was illustrated that return spring
204
is hooked to lever
203
, a return spring (a compression spring)
204
may be engaged between a spring engaging part
400
which is pivotally supported at the end of the part having a slot
202
a
of lever
202
and a spring support part
401
fixed to a bent portion
181
a
from feeder frame
181
, so as to permit the elastic force of return spring
204
to act on lever
202
, to thereby move pickup feeding means
152
from the active position to the inactive position. In this case, return spring
204
is engaged with the spherical part of spring support part
401
, and both ends of return spring
204
will not bend when lever
202
moves, so that it is possible to avoid buckling.
Further, lever
203
of this embodiment is bent in the direction perpendicular to its direction of movement, but as will be described with reference to another example (see FIGS.
22
A and
22
B), the lever can be formed without bending, depending upon the situation of the layout of the drive source.
Reference numerals
151
,
183
,
185
,
186
,
189
,
191
,
192
,
201
,
202
b
,
203
a
,
205
and S
1
designate the same components shown in FIG.
10
.
Next, referring to
FIGS. 9 and 13
, the drive mechanism of a sheet stopper will be described. First, as shown in
FIG. 9
, a sheet stopper
155
is disposed on the side of sheet stacking means
151
between pickup feeding means
152
and feed roller
180
. This layout of the stopper is to prevent the sheets set on sheet stacking means
151
from excessively moving up toward separation feeding means
153
, and to register the sheet set on sheet stacking means
151
in cooperation with width constraining plates
170
. Racks
210
are integrally provided on the side, of sheet stopper
155
, opposite to the side where sheets are set. These racks
210
mesh with corresponding pinions
211
. As pinions
211
are driven, sheet stopper
155
moves up and down. That is, sheet stopper
155
, can move down, through an opening
151
b
formed in manual feeder table
151
, into the plugged position in manual feeder table
151
and goes up, through manual feeder table
151
and through and above an opening
198
a
formed in sheet guide
198
, to a position where the stopper can block the sheets. Disposed between sheet stopper
155
and pickup feeding means
152
is a sheet set sensor S
1
for detecting the sheets set on sheet stacking means
151
.
Referring to
FIG. 13
, the drive mechanism of this sheet stopper
155
will be described in further detail.
FIG. 13
is a perspective view showing a drive mechanism of sheet stopper
155
.
Arranged on the underside of sheet stacking means
151
is a drive mechanism of a sheet stopper
155
, as shown in FIG.
13
. As has been already described, racks
210
provided in sheet stopper
155
mesh pinions
211
. A rotary shaft
212
having pinions
211
fixed thereon has another pinion
213
at the end thereof. Pinion
213
is engaged with a rack
215
which is integrally formed with a lever
214
. Sheet stacking means
151
has a pair of slide supports
216
and
217
integrally attached thereto, each having a pin
216
a
and
217
a
. A pair of slots
214
a
and
214
b
provided in lever
214
and fit on pins
216
a
and
217
a
, respectively. Lever
214
, can be slid over slide supports
216
and
217
within the distance limited by slots
214
a
and
214
b
and pins
216
a
and
217
a.
Return spring
218
is hooked between an engaging portion
216
b
provided in slide support
216
and an engaging portion
214
c
provided in lever
214
, so as to urge lever
214
in the direction of arrow M in the figure. Lever
214
has a pin
214
d
on its rear side at the end near slide support
217
. This pin
214
d
is inserted into a slot
219
a
of a lever
219
which is rotatable about a pivot
222
provided on pivot support
221
. Formed at the other end of lever
219
opposite slot
219
a
is a slot
219
b
, into which a pin
220
b
provided for a plunger
220
a
of a stopper solenoid
220
is fitted. Here, unillustrated E-rings or other stoppers are provided so as to avoid lever
214
slipping off from pins
216
a
and
217
b
, and lever
219
from pivot
222
.
Because of the configuration described above, when stopper solenoid
220
is off (the state shown in FIG.
10
A), lever
214
moves in the M direction from the elastic force of return spring
218
so as to raise sheet stopper
155
to the sheet blocking position. When stopper solenoid
220
is activated, plunger
220
a
is pulled in opposing the elastic force of return spring
218
, so that lever
214
moves in the N direction and hence pinions
211
rotate in the Q direction, to thereby move down sheet stopper
155
to the sunken position inside manual feeder table
151
.
Similarly to the above case described concerning the arrangement of the drive transmitting assembly of pickup feeding means
152
, the space required for sheet stopper
155
to move between the active position and the inactive position is arranged so as to be in contact with two planes perpendicular to the direction of the sheet thickness, and the drive transmitting assembly for sheet stopper
155
, including racks
210
, pinions
211
, rotary shaft
212
, lever
214
and lever
219
, is arranged within this space. Further, stopper solenoid
220
as the drive source and return spring
218
are also arranged in the same space.
In this case, differing from the case of the drive transmitting mechanism of pickup feeding means
152
, racks
210
as parallel movement type drive transmission means, are provided integrally with sheet stopper
155
, on the side opposite the sheet blocking side. Further, pinions as rotary type drive transmission means
211
are used to transfer the driving force to these racks
210
. Rotary shaft
212
for pinions
211
extends to a space defined by translating a boundary area of the full width of the maximum size sheet, in the direction of the sheet thickness, or rotary shaft
212
extends to a space defined by translating an area beyond the full width of the maximum size sheet in the direction of the sheet thickness. This rotary shaft is engaged with rack
215
in this area.
In this example, stopper solenoid
220
is coupled with lever
214
having a rack
215
via lever
219
, so that the movement of plunger
220
a
of stopper solenoid
220
is enhanced by the principle of leverage, i.e., by lever
219
, and is transferred to lever
214
. If the attraction of stopper solenoid
220
is strong enough and the stroke of the plunger
220
a
can be secured large enough, lever
214
may be directly moved by stopper solenoid
220
.
As the mechanisms have been described heretofore, the operation flow of these mechanisms upon sheet feeding will be described with reference to
FIGS. 6
,
7
,
10
A and
10
B and
14
. Here,
FIG. 14
is a flowchart showing the operation during sheet feeding in the image processing apparatus.
When sheet set sensor S
1
detects the setting of sheets on sheet stacking means
151
(Step
1
), operation is waited for until the input of the print start key on the control panel (not shown) (Step
2
). When the print start key is operated, stopper solenoid
220
is activated so as to move sheet stopper
155
projected from sheet stacking means
151
, down therein (Step
3
). Then pickup solenoid
200
is turned on so as to abut pickup feeding means
152
against the sheet (Step
4
). Subsequently, feeder clutch
194
is activated so as to rotate feed roller
180
and pickup feeding means
152
, whereby sheets set on sheet stacking means
151
are separated and fed, one by one (Step
5
).
Operation is waited for until sheet detecting sensor S
2
detects that the sheet is nipped at conveying means
230
, arranged downstream directly of separation feeding roller
180
with respect to sheet feeding direction (Step
6
). When sheet detecting sensor S
2
detects the sheet, feeder clutch
194
is turned off (Step
7
). Next, timer T
1
is started (Step
8
) as soon as sheet detecting sensor S
2
detects the leading edge of the sheet, for the predetermined period of time (t
1
in this case). The operation is waited for until the time on timer T
1
is up (Step
9
). When the time on timer T
1
is up, it is judges whether sheet set sensor S
1
has detected the non-sheet state (Step
10
). If the detection result from sheet set sensor S
1
shows the presence of a sheet, the operation returns to Step
5
. In this case, the reason feed roller
180
and pickup feeding means
152
are stopped by turning off feeder clutch
194
until timer T
1
reaches the predetermined time (t
1
), is to keep the feeding interval between sheets constant.
At Step
10
, if the detection result of sheet set sensor S
1
shows absence of any sheet, feeder clutch
194
is turned off (Step
11
), and pickup solenoid
200
is turned off (Step
12
). Next, the operation is waited for until sheet detecting sensor S
2
detects the end of the passage of the sheet (Step
13
). That is, since the timing at which the signal from the sheet detecting sensor changes from the state of sheet presence to the state of sheet absence, indicates the rear end of a sheet, the detection of the rear end of the sheet corresponds to the end of the passage of the sheet. When sheet detecting sensor S
2
detects the end of the passage of the sheet, stopper solenoid
220
is deactivated (Step
14
).
Next, the attachment for fixing manual feeder
150
to the copier body and the method of withdrawal for detaching the feeder from the copier body will be described with reference to
FIGS. 6 and 15
.
FIG. 15
is a side view showing a manual feeder in the copier body.
As has been described, manual feeder
150
(enclosed by the chain line) is provided in a unit form which integrally holds various parts and can be attached and detached with respect to copier body
1
, forming a functional unit having the function of feeding sheets which are manually set. Upon attachment of this manual feeder
150
to the copier, this feeder is attached to the predetermined position from the right side toward the left side of copier body
1
(from the front to the rear in the document in FIG.
15
).
First, with manual feeder
150
kept angled with respect to the copier body, driver coupler
193
for transmitting driving force from the machine body to manual feeder
150
is fitted through an opening
303
a
of rear frame
303
into the rear of the rear-side chassis (designated at
301
). Then manual feeder
150
is moved in the attaching direction until a pair of fixtures
181
a
of feeder frame
181
abut front-side and rear-side chassises
300
and
301
, respectively. In this state, the manual feeder is fixed to the chassises with fixing means such as screws, etc. Then, a connector
271
, on manual feeder
150
side, including the signal line of sheet set sensor S
1
, power lines for pickup solenoid
200
and stopper solenoid
220
(see
FIG. 13
) and the copier side connector
272
are joined to complete an electric coupling
270
. Thus the attachment of manual feeder
150
to copier body
1
is completed.
Withdrawal of manual copier
150
is done in the reverse direction as done in the above attachment procedures.
Pickup feeding means
152
and separation feeding means
153
provided in manual feeder
150
need to directly abut the sheets to feed them. Therefore, pickup feeding means
152
is arranged in a position able to come in contact with the sheet, that is, near and above sheet stacker
151
, within the acceptable maximum width H (the width in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction) of sheets to be fed. Since there are various sizes of sheets to be handled within the acceptable maximum width H, both means
152
and
153
are necessarily arranged in the mid portion of the acceptable maximum sheet width H so as to feed any size of sheets. Therefore, for the purpose of miniaturization, it is contemplated that the means other than those that are needed to come in contact with the sheets, such as pickup solenoid
200
and the like, may be arranged away from pickup feeding means
152
and separation feeding means
153
.
As shown in
FIG. 15
, pickup solenoid
200
is arranged in the space excepting a space defined by translating the occupied areas of pickup feeding means
152
and separation feeding means
153
(see FIG.
4
), in the vertical direction upwards over sheet stacker
151
, within space
280
(to be described later). Since pickup feeding means
152
and separation feeding means
153
are located around the center of the full width of the acceptable maximum sheet size H, the space with pickup solenoid
200
arranged therein lies in a space defined by translating the boundary areas of the acceptable maximum sheet width H and outside the full width, in the vertical direction upwards over sheet stacker
151
. In this way, the feeding means directly relating to the sheets, such as pickup feeding means
152
, separation feeding means
153
and the like are laid out in the sheet center with respect to the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction while the means for supporting the means directly relating to the sheets are arranged in the boundary areas or areas outside the full sheet width, with respect to the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. Thus, it is possible to use space efficiently and hence make the apparatus compact by adjusting the layout of the functional units and parts relative to those nearby. Here, reference numerals
155
,
149
and
302
designate a sheet stopper, a guide plate and a front frame, respectively.
The description as to the manual feeder is ended at this point.
Next, referring to
FIGS. 16 and 17A
and
17
B, a developer collecting container
148
will be described in detail. Here,
FIG. 16
is an exploded perspective view of developer collecting container
148
.
FIGS. 17A and 17B
are sectional views showing developer collecting container
148
and the copier body side coupling portion.
As shown in
FIG. 17A
, provided in the interior-side upper portion with respect to the attaching direction of developer collecting container
148
is a copier body-side coupler for developer conveyance
251
for conveying the developer collected from photosensitive member
51
by cleaner
57
(see
FIG. 5
) into developer collecting container
148
. A copier body-side drive coupler
252
is arranged in the interior-side lower portion with respect to the attaching direction of developer collecting container
148
, whereby the developer conveyed into developer collecting container
148
is sent to the exterior-side with resect to the attaching direction. As shown in
FIG. 15
, a coupling portion for developer collecting container
260
for coupling between developer collecting container
148
and copier body
1
, is located between rear frame
303
and developer collecting container
148
, or in a space defined by translating developer collecting container
148
, to the interior side with respect to its attaching direction and in the interior side with respect to the attaching direction of manual feeder
150
. As stated above, pickup solenoid
200
of manual feeder
150
is laid out between rear frame
303
and developer collecting container
148
, or in a space defined by translating developer collecting container
148
to the interior side with respect to its attaching direction and to the exterior side with respect to the attaching direction of manual feeder
150
.
Main body-side coupler for developer conveyance
251
comprises: a conveyance pipe element
241
fixed to rear frame
303
, a developer conveying means
240
of a spiral configuration, disposed inside conveyance pipe element
241
, so as to be rotated by the driving force from the copier body side; a shutter
242
which is urged by a shutter spring
243
toward the left side in
FIGS. 17A and 17B
and is movable between a closed position where an opening
241
a
formed at the end of conveyance pipe element
241
is closed thereby and an open position; and an attachment stopper
244
integrally formed with conveyance pipe element
241
. Copier body-side drive coupler
252
comprises: a conveyance drive shaft
250
supported rotatably by a bearing disposed in rear frame
303
of the copier body; and a coupling
249
fixed thereto.
Provided on the front side with respect to the attaching direction of developer collecting container
148
are front frame
302
of the copier body, a securing stopper
245
having a flap
245
a
fitted into an opening
302
b
formed in a bent portion
302
a
of front frame
302
and a spring
253
urging securing stopper
245
downwards.
A coupling opening
148
b
is formed on the interior-side wall, of developer collecting container
148
, in the attaching direction thereof. An in-container feeding means
246
is disposed inside developer collecting container
148
and is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings
148
a
provided on the interior walls of developer collecting container
148
. This in-container feeding means
246
is fixed on the interior side to a feed shaft
247
, to which coupling
248
as the drive coupler on the developer collecting container
148
side is fixed.
Next, referring
FIGS. 16 and 17A
and
17
B, attachment and withdrawal of developer collecting container
148
with copier body
1
will be described.
As shown in
FIG. 16
, before attachment of developer collecting container
148
to copier body
1
, cap
148
c
is removed so as to open coupling opening
148
b
for joining developer collecting container
148
to the coupling portion on the copier body side. Next, as shown in
FIG. 17A
, when developer collecting container
148
is inserted into the copier body through attachment mouth
302
c
formed in front frame
302
of the copier, the top edge of developer collecting container
148
abuts the inclined portion (
245
c
) of securing stopper
245
. As developer collecting container
148
is inserted, securing stopper
245
moves up opposing the elastic force of spring
253
. So this stopper will not be an obstacle to the attachment of developer collecting container
148
. As developer collecting container
148
is further pressed to the copier body interior (in the B-direction in the figure), the container slides over a guide plate
149
provided between front frame
302
fixed to the front-side chassis
300
of copier body
1
and rear frame
303
fixed to the rear-side chassis
301
, toward rear frame
303
.
As developer collecting container
148
is further inserted, shutter
242
residing at the closed position of opening
241
a
for preventing the developer from polluting the interior of the image processing apparatus, is moved to the right side in the figure, by being pressed by the exterior wall of developer collecting container
148
while the end of conveyance pipe element
241
is inserted into developer collecting container
148
through coupling opening
148
b
of developer collecting container
148
.
As shown in
FIG. 17B
, when developer collecting container
148
is inserted to reach the position where a further movement of shutter
242
is stopped by attachment stopper
244
, securing stopper
245
is moved by spring
253
to such a position as to engage the developer collecting container
148
to prevent developer collecting container
148
from being displaced. The end part of conveyance pipe element
241
fitted in developer collecting container
148
has its opening
241
a
exposed thus allowing the conveyance of the developer conveyed by developer conveying means
240
into developer collecting container
148
. In this way, developer collecting container
148
has been attached to the predetermined position, and the coupling relating to the conveyance of the developer between developer collecting container
148
and the copier body side has been completed.
As developer collecting container
148
is being completely attached in place, coupling
248
and coupling
249
also fit to each other so that in-container feeding means
246
can rotate, thus the connection relating to the driving force transmission between developer collecting container
148
and copier body
1
also is completed.
By the above described mechanism, the developer conveyed by developer conveying means
240
falls into developer collecting container
143
from opening
241
a
, then the collected developer is conveyed by in-container feeding means
246
in the detaching direction of developer collecting container
148
. Thus, the developer can be stored approximately uniformly across the bottom of developer collecting container
148
, from the interior side to the exterior side.
For detachment of developer collecting container
148
from copier body
1
, securing stopper
245
is lifted by hand, developer collecting container
148
is pushed out in the A-direction in the figure from the elastic force of shutter spring
243
, the coupling relating to the developer conveyance and the coupling relating to the driving force transmission between developer collecting container
148
and copier body
1
(see
FIG. 3
) are freed. In this condition, developer collecting container
148
can be taken out from copier body
1
by the operator grasping the front end part of developer collecting container
148
and pulling it out.
Next, referring to
FIGS. 6
,
15
and
18
A,
18
B and
18
C, the positional relationship between manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
in their attached state will be described.
The depth of developer collecting container
148
, with respect to the direction of attachment (the B-direction), is formed to some degree shorter than the width H of the acceptable maximum sheet P to be set on manual feeder
150
, therefore, the container leaves some space in the interior side, with respect to the attaching direction of developer collecting container
148
, not occupying the space across the full width of the acceptable maximum sheet, or not exceeding the side edge of the maximum sheet.
FIGS. 18A
,
18
B and
18
C are perspective views showing manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
in their attached state. As shown in
FIGS. 18A
,
18
B and
18
C, with manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
in their attached state to copier body
1
(see FIG.
3
), when developer collecting container
148
is translated in parallel in the attaching direction (in the B direction) of developer collecting container
148
, a space of translation
280
is produced between developer collecting container
148
and rear frame
303
. Here, this space of translation
280
does not include the space occupied by developer collecting container
148
. Manual feeder
150
is attached in a manner that a part
150
a
of manual feeder
150
is located within this space
280
. This part
150
a
of manual feeder
150
includes pickup solenoid
200
, connector
271
and the like on the manual feeder
150
side. Arranged also within space
280
is a copier side connector
272
. Here, reference numerals
300
,
301
and
302
designate components in FIG.
18
.
Developer collecting container
148
in its attached state, is arranged outside space
281
which is the path of manual feeder
150
(see
FIG. 18B
) during movement for the detachment (in the X-direction) and attachment in the Y-direction). Similarly, manual feeder
150
in its attached state, is arranged outside space
282
which is the path of developer collecting container
148
(see
FIG. 18C
) for movement. Further, parts
241
,
249
,
250
and
270
for coupling either manual feeder
150
or developer collecting container
148
to the copier body are arranged in areas so as not to interfere with movement for attachment and detachment of the other unit (FIGS.
18
B and
18
C).
In this way, when manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
have been attached to copier body
1
, these two components are arranged in the above described relationship, so that it is not necessary to shift one unit of the two when the other unit needs be attached or detached and hence the number of steps during attachment or detachment does not change. In this embodiment, since both of these two functional units has couplings with the copier body, the couplings on the copier side are arranged in predetermined positions within space
280
which will not interfere with the attachment and detachment of either functional units. However, this example does not mean that the couplings should be disposed necessarily within space
280
. The couplings may be positioned anywhere as long as they will not be an obstacle to the attachment and detachment of other functional units. Also in this case, the volume of the space occupied by the couplings is small compared to that occupied by functional units, so it is possible to achieve efficient use of space.
Up to now, the manual feeder and developer collecting container, applied to the invention, have been described in detail.
Concerning the pickup feeder, the sheet stacking means of a fixed type is used in the above embodiment, but the present invention can also be applied to a pickup feeder of a up and down movable type. The separation feeding means of this embodiment uses a feed roller abutted against a separation pad but a variety of modifications can be made such as, for example, use of a feed roller abutted against a reversing roller, or a feed belt in place of a feed roller, etc. Further, as to the pickup feeding means, other modifications can be made such as use of a belt in place of a roller.
Further, instead of arranging a container for collecting the developer, it is also possible to arrange a developer supplying container for supplying the developer to developing means
54
.
As the present invention has been described with the case of a manual feeder, the functional unit is not limited to the pickup feeder and/or develop collector, the present invention can be applied to other various types of functional units.
(The Second Embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment in accordance with the invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 19A
,
19
B,
19
C,
20
A and
20
B. Here, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be allotted with the same reference numerals.
The second embodiment is a sheet feeder
100
as a functional unit detachably arranged adjacent to another detachable functional unit of a copier, a developer collecting container
148
. In this embodiment, the drive transmission assembly for transmitting a driving force to the feeding-related means which moves between the active and inactive positions, is disposed in a space defined by translating an area beyond the full width of the acceptable maximum size of the sheets set on the sheet stacking means, in the direction of the thickness of the sheets.
FIGS. 19A
,
19
B and
19
C are sectional views showing developer collecting container
148
and manual feeder
150
in their attached state.
FIG. 20A
is a perspective view showing manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
in their attached state.
FIG. 19A
shows a state where developer collecting container
148
is about to be attached,
FIG. 19B
shows a state where developer collecting container
148
has been attached in place, and
FIG. 19C
shows a state around rear frame
303
of the copier body with two functional units, i.e., developer collecting container
148
and manual feeder
150
attached in place. In order to further increase the volume of the developer collecting container
148
shown in
FIG. 15
of the first embodiment, the developer collecting container of this embodiment is configured as shown in
FIGS. 19A
,
19
B and
19
C, so that when it is attached, the rear-side container wall with respect to the attaching direction of developer collecting container
148
is projected out beyond rear frame
303
. In this case, copier body-side coupler for developer conveyance
251
and conveyance drive shaft
250
are supported by another supporter plate
370
fixed to rear frame
303
.
The operations concerning the attachment and detachment of developer collecting container
148
are the same as the first embodiment so the description will not be repeated.
As shown in
FIG. 19C
, pickup solenoid
200
as a part of manual feeder
150
is supported by a supporter plate
371
fixed to feeder frame
181
and is arranged in a depressed portion
372
formed in developer collecting container
148
. Pickup solenoid
200
is coupled with lever
203
.
In this way, lever
203
as a shifting means for shifting the pickup feeding means
152
between the active and inactive positions, resides in a space which is defined by translating the central area of the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction of the sheet thickness. When the space of the path of pickup feeding means
152
for movement between its active and inactive positions, is arranged so as to be in contact with two planes perpendicular to the direction of the sheet thickness, lever
203
moves within the space between the two planes. Lever
203
extends to a space defined by translating the outside area beyond the edge of the width of the acceptable maximum sheet, in the direction of the sheet thickness. Further, since this lever
203
moves along the longitudinal direction thereof to transmit the driving force, this configuration does not need much space for the movement, thus contributing to miniaturization of manual feeder
150
.
Next, the positional relationship between developer collecting container
148
and manual feeder
150
in their attached state, will be described with reference to
FIGS. 20A
and
20
B. As shown in
FIG. 20B
, pickup solenoid
200
is arranged in part
150
a
of manual feeder
150
, within the space overlapped by a space
373
which is defined by translating the developer collecting container
148
in the attaching direction thereof and another space
374
which is defined by translating the developer collecting container
148
in the detached direction of manual feeder
150
, and yet within a space
375
which is outside the space occupied by developer collecting container
148
. This arrangement enables both the increase in volume of developer collecting container
148
and the attachment and detachment of manual feeder
150
.
In this embodiment, since developer collecting container
148
is attached by being slid in the B-direction in FIG.
20
A and detached by being slid in the A-direction, the attachment and detachment are the same as in the case of the above first embodiment. On the contrary, manual feeder
150
is attached by fitting the portion of feeder clutch
194
and its input gear
194
a
, and the portion of pickup solenoid
200
(see
FIG. 7
) into an opening
303
b
(not shown) formed in rear frame
303
, with manual feeder
150
kept angled with respect to the copier body, and then moving the feeder in the Y-direction. Fixture of manual feeder
150
is the same as in the first embodiment. Thereafter, the couplers for electrical connection are coupled by hand in the same manner as in the first embodiment, to complete the attachment of manual feeder
150
. The detachment of manual feeder
150
is performed in the reverse direction to that above.
As the present invention has been described with the case of a manual feeder, the functional unit is not limited to the pickup feeder and develop collector, the present invention can be applied to other various types of functional units.
(The Third Embodiment)
Next, the third embodiment will be described with reference to
FIGS. 21A
,
21
B through
26
A,
26
B. Here, the same components as those in the above embodiments will be allotted with the same reference numerals.
FIGS. 21A and 21B
are sectional views of a copier body
1
of the third embodiment.
FIG. 21A
is an overall sectional view and
FIG. 21B
is an enlarged view showing essential parts. The basic configuration of the third embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, except in that a feeder unit
154
of manual feeder
150
is provided on the side next to developer collecting container
148
and excepting the configuration of developer collecting container
148
and parts relating to its attachment and detachment. Disposed below a guide plate
149
for guiding attachment and detachment of developer collecting container
148
, are the sheet conveying means and sheet conveyance guide.
Now, as to developer collecting container
148
and parts for attachment and detachment therefor will be described with reference to
FIGS. 22A and 22B
. Here,
FIGS. 22A and 22B
are sectional views showing developer collecting container
148
in its attached state.
The top wall of developer collecting container
148
is formed with a plurality of openings
148
c
. A conveyance pipe element
380
for conveying the developer to developer collecting container
148
, is fixed to rear frame
303
. Formed on the underside of conveyance pipe element
380
are a plurality of discharge openings
380
a
. A shutter
381
is provided around the conveyance pipe element
380
. Shutter
381
also has openings
381
a
. Part of conveyance pipe element
380
constitutes a stopper
380
b
for shutter
381
. A spring
383
is provided between shutter
381
and a flange
380
c
of conveyance pipe element
380
. Conveyance pipe element
380
has a hollow in which a developer conveying screw
382
for conveying the developer from cleaner
57
(see FIG.
21
A).
Attachment of developer collecting container
148
is described with reference to
FIGS. 22A and 22B
.
When inserted into the copier body through attachment mouth
302
c
formed in front frame
302
, the top edge on the interior side with respect to the attaching direction of developer collecting container
148
abuts the inclined portion (
245
c
) of securing stopper
245
and raises securing stopper
245
opposing the elastic force of spring
253
. As developer collecting container
148
moves in the B-direction over guide plate
149
, the container wall on the interior side with respect to the attaching direction of developer collecting container
148
, presses shutter
381
, opposing spring
383
. Further, as developer collecting container
148
slides until shutter
381
abuts the slide stopper, i.e., a flange
380
c
, securing stopper
245
is pressed down by spring
253
, to thereby prohibit developer collecting container
148
from being pulled out. Thus, the attachment of developer collecting container
148
is completed. When developer collecting container
148
is completely attached, a detachment spring
386
interposed between a separation assist plate
385
and rear frame
303
is compressed. When developer collecting container
148
is completely attached, openings
381
a
of shutter
381
, discharge openings
380
a
of conveyance pipe element
380
, openings
148
c
of developer collector container
148
are all aligned with one another forming paths so that the developer conveyed by developer conveying screw
382
can be discharged therethrough into developer collecting container
148
.
For detachment of developer collecting container
148
from copier body
1
(see FIG.
22
B), securing stopper
245
is lifted by a hand, to undo the engagement. Then, developer collecting container
148
is pushed out in the A-direction by detachment assist plate
385
due to the action of the elastic force of spring
383
. As developer collecting container
148
moves in the A-direction, shutter
381
also moves in the same direction and abuts a stopper
380
b
and stops at that point. In this situation, openings
381
a of shutter
381
and discharge openings
380
a
of conveyance pipe element
380
are closed, so no developer will leak. After developer collecting container
148
has been pulled out of the copier, openings
148
c
of developer collecting container
148
are covered with a container lid so as to prevent the developer from leaking from developer collecting container
148
.
Next, referring to
FIGS. 23 and 24
, the configuration of a manual feeder
150
and the attachment and detachment thereof will be described.
FIG. 23
is a perspective view showing a state before attachment of manual feeder
150
.
FIG. 24
is a perspective view showing the attached state of manual feeder
150
.
A pickup solenoid
200
for moving a pickup feeding means
152
of manual feeder
150
up and down is fixed to the step where a return spring
204
of feeder frame
181
is disposed. Pickup solenoid
200
is coupled with a lever
203
. The operations of these elements are the same as in the first embodiment.
Fixed to a bent portion
181
b
of feeder frame
181
is a manual feeder-side connector
271
. A feeder clutch
194
and pulley
356
are arranged on a drive input shaft
183
rotatably supported by feeder frame
181
. A pulley/gear
351
having a pulley and a gear integrally formed is rotatably supported on feeder frame
181
. The rotary shaft of pulley/gear
351
is supported by a drive coupling plate
353
while an input gear
352
which is meshed with the gear portion of pulley/gear
351
is also supported by drive coupling plate
353
. A spring
355
is hooked between drive coupling plate
353
and a boss
354
. A belt
350
is wound between pulley
356
and the pulley portion of pulley/gear
351
.
Drive force transmitted from input gear
352
is transferred from pulley/gear
351
to pulley
356
via belt
350
. When feeder clutch
194
is on, the driving force is transmitted to drive input shaft
183
, whereas when feeder clutch
194
is off, no drive force will be transmitted to drive input shaft
183
.
Fixed on rear frame
303
of the copier body side is a connector fixture plate
357
which holds a copier-side connector
272
. An output shaft
358
has a coupling
249
for rotating in-container feed means
246
of developer collecting container
148
, fixed at its distal end, and is provided with a pulley
359
. A pulley/gear
361
is rotatably supported on rear frame
303
while a belt
360
is wound between pulley gear
361
and pulley
359
. Rear frame
303
further has an upright boss
363
thereon and a shielding plate
362
fixed thereto.
When manual feeder
150
has been fixed to front chassis
300
(see
FIG. 25
) and rear chassis
301
to complete the attachment to copier body
1
(see FIG.
3
), connector
272
on the copier side and connector
271
on the manual feeder side are joined as shown in
FIG. 24
to complete the coupling of coupling portion
270
relating to electrical connection of this embodiment. As a result, sheet set sensor S
1
(see
FIG. 25
) provided for manual feeder
150
and pickup solenoid
200
can operate.
During attachment of manual feeder
150
, when drive coupling plate
353
abuts boss
363
, drive coupling plate
353
rotates upward about rotary shaft of pulley/gear
351
(see FIG.
23
), opposing spring
355
, so input gear
352
also goes up. When manual feeder
150
has been completely attached, input gear
352
meshes the gear portion of pulley/gear
361
, thus the driving force from the copier body side can be transmitted to manual feeder
150
. Conversely, when manual feeder
150
is pulled out, drive coupling plate
353
is pulled by spring
355
so that it goes down together with input gear
352
. Because of this configuration, connector fixture plate
357
will not be an obstacle when manual feeder
150
is attached and detached.
When manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
(not shown in
FIGS. 25 and 26
) are attached, shielding plate
362
and connector fixture plate
357
shield the coupling portions of manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
, specifically, the coupling portion relating to developer conveyance, the coupling portion relating to drive input and coupling portion
270
(see
FIG. 24
) relating to electrical connection so as to partition each coupling means from the others.
The relationship of the arrangement between manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
will be described with reference to
FIGS. 25 and 26A
and
26
B.
FIG. 25
is a sectional view showing manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
in their attached state to copier body
1
(see FIG.
3
), viewed from the side where manual feeder
150
is attached or detached with respect to copier body.
FIG. 26A
is a perspective view showing the attached state of manual feeder
150
and developer collecting container
148
.
Developer collecting container
148
has a depressed portion
390
, where the coupler for coupling manual feeder
150
to copier body
1
(see
FIG. 3
) is laid out. As shown in
FIG. 26B
, part
150
a
of manual feeder
150
is arranged, within the space overlapped by a space
391
which is defined by translating developer collecting container
148
in its attached position in the attaching direction (the B-direction) and another space
392
which is defined by translating developer collecting container
148
in the direction (the G-direction) substantially perpendicular to the attaching direction (the B-direction), and yet within a space
390
which is outside the space occupied by developer collecting container
148
, as shown in FIG.
26
A. As already described, the coupling portion for coupling manual feeder
150
with copier body
1
is laid out in this part
150
a
of manual feeder
150
.
(The Fourth Embodiment)
As shown in
FIG. 15
, the left side portion of pickup feeding means
152
and feed roller
180
of manual feeder
150
is configured in a step-like form, as shown in
FIG. 15
, and this space is not used. For the purpose of using this wasted space, the volume of developer collecting container
148
is increased to enlarge developing collecting container
148
.
FIG. 27
is a perspective view showing a developer collecting container
148
.
FIG. 28
is a perspective view showing a manual feeder and a developer collecting container in their attached state. Since unused space is present on the bottom side of developer collecting container
148
, if the volume to be utilized is simply added to developer collecting container
148
, the stability of developer collecting container
148
when it is placed outside the machine cannot be ensured. To deal with this, all the bottom surface is enlarged by the height of the space to be efficiently used, to thereby produce a good stability when it is placed outside the machine. As shown in
FIGS. 27 and 28
, the bottom area of developer collecting container
148
is formed with a depressed portion
395
, which is the space occupied by pickup feeding means
152
and feed roller
180
when they are attached. In the above first to third embodiments, the same components are allotted with the same reference numerals for the purpose of simplifying the description.
Since the amount of collection of the developer, that is, the amount of the leftover developer on the photosensitive member, which has not been transferred to the sheet during transfer, is very small compared to the supplied amount of the developer, a small increase in volume is effective to prolong the time of replacement of developer collecting container
148
to some practical extent.
As in this case, when a functional unit has a primary function of collecting a fluid matter such as a developer, etc., it is convenient to enhance the function because the container of the fluid matter can be modified as to its shape without affecting the function.
In the above, a developer collecting container
148
having the function of holding the collected developer was used as an example of a container of a fluid matter, to explain the present embodiments, because its high efficiency. However, the container of a fluid matter may be a developer supply container for storing the developer for supply, may be an agitating chamber which is provided in the developing means for agitating the developer, or may be a collecting chamber of a cleaner, for temporarily storing the leftover developer removed from the photosensitive member.
As the present invention has been described with the case of a manual feeder, the functional unit is not limited to the pickup feeder and develop collector, the present invention can be applied to other various types of functional units.
In accordance with the present invention, in the space of the path for movement of a functional unit when it is attached or detached no part of other functional units are located other than the functional unit which is being attached or detached. Therefore, when the functional unit is attached or detached, no manipulative operation is needed such as moving, attaching and detaching any other functional unit. Thus a simple attachment and detachment of a functional unit can be ensured. Further, the layout of the parts within each functional unit can be modified so as to arrange a certain part of the functional unit in an unused space, without losing the operativity of the attachment and detachment of the functional unit and other functional units, thus making it possible to reduce the volume of the space occupied by the functional unit itself. Resultantly, it is possible to miniaturize the image processing apparatus.
In accordance with the fourth feature of the invention, one of the multiple functional units has a first functional portion which directly comes in contact with the sheets and directly relates to sheet feeding and a second functional portion which relates to sheet feeding but is kept away of the sheets, and the first functional unit is arranged for attachment within a space which is defined by translating an area extending in the direction perpendicular to sheet feeding direction and having the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction normal to the sheet feeding surface. Accordingly, it is possible to secure an adequate movable range within which the first functional portion moves between the contact and separated positions. Further, since the second functional unit is arranged for attachment within a space which is defined by translating an area lying in the direction perpendicular to sheet feeding direction but outside the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction normal to the sheet feeding surface, the image processing apparatus can be configured to be thinner.
In accordance with the fifth feature of the invention, a multiple number of connector means of the functional units adjacently disposed within the image processing apparatus for coupling them to the main apparatus body side, such as connector means for connecting the power lines and signal lines of the functional units with the main apparatus body, drive coupling means for receiving the driving forces for functional units from the main apparatus side, or the coupling portion for the developer conveying means for inputting the developer to, or outputting the developer from, a container, are not arranged diversely but are laid out integrally. Therefore, a greater space can be secured inside the machine body, and hence it is possible to enhance the flexibility of the layout of other functional units and parts to be arranged within the image processing apparatus. Thus, the design for miniaturization of an image processing apparatus can be further promoted. Coupling means on the main apparatus side can be further localized and integrated into units. This also improves the assembly performance as to the main machine side.
In accordance with the sixth feature of the invention, since multiple coupling means of the same type of adjacent functional units are laid out close to each other, the coupling means of the same type can be arranged closely also on the main apparatus side. Because each coupling means was disposed away from others in the conventional configuration, separate parts were needed for the coupling means. However, as a result of the above configuration, common parts can be used and hence the number of parts can be reduced, so that coupling means of the same type can be integrated into units and hence can be made compact. Further, for example, when connector means and drive coupling means are arranged closely, the lubricant for the drive coupling means may adhere to the connector means causing trouble with electrical connection. Alternatively, when connector means, drive coupling means and the coupling portion of the developer conveying means are laid out together, the developer may scatter from the coupling portion of the developer conveying means and adhere to the connector means causing trouble with electrical connection, or may adhere to the drive coupling means lowering the wear resistance. The present configuration can eliminate such adverse effects from different types of adjacent coupling means when different types of coupling means are laid out without being themselves separated.
In accordance with the seventh feature of the invention, since the functional unit is one which has a geometric flexibility in its volumed part, such as a container for a fluid matter, or in other words, since the functional unit is a container which can be modified in shape and dimensions to some extent, the flexibility of the layout of adjacent functional units within the image processing apparatus can be enhanced, thus increasing the capacity of the container and enhancing the design flexibility for miniaturization of the image processing apparatus.
In accordance with the eighth feature of the invention, the transmitting element for shifting the sheet-feeding related means between the active position and the inactive position can be extended to the space which is defined by translating a boundary area of the full width of the maximum size sheet in the direction of the sheet thickness, or can be extended to the space which is defined by translating an area beyond the full width of the maximum in the direction of the sheet thickness, and hence the drive source for driving the transmitting element can also be laid out within the space. As a result, the sheet feeder can be made thinner with respect to the direction of the sheet thickness, around the mid area across the sheet width where the sheet-feeding related means that moves between the active and inactive positions is arranged. Accordingly, when another functional unit having functional parts relating to the sheets is laid out adjacent to the sheet feeder inside the image information processing apparatus, no wasted space will arise between the sheet feeder and the other functional unit. Resultantly, it is possible to promote miniaturization of the image information processing apparatus whilst keeping the ease of attachment and detachment of the sheet feeder and other units.
In accordance with the ninth feature of the invention, in addition to the effects of the above eighth feature, since the drive transmitting element for shifting the sheet-feeding related means between the active position and the inactive position, can be extended, in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, to the space which is defined by translating a boundary area of the full width of the maximum size sheet in the direction of the sheet thickness, or can be extended, in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, to the space which is defined by translating an area beyond the full width of the maximum in the direction of the sheet thickness, and hence the drive source for driving the transmitting element can also be laid out within the space. As a result, it is possible to create open space around the sheets except on the leading side thereof with respect to the sheet feeding direction. Accordingly, when the sheet stacking means of a sheet feeder is exposed outside the image information processing apparatus (for example, in the case of a manual feeder or the like), a large open space can be secured over the sheets and hence enabling easy setting of the sheets onto sheet stacking means. On the other hand, the sheet stacking means of a sheet feeder is provided inside the image information processing apparatus (for example in the case of a drawer type sheet feed cassette, etc.), the open space can be used for the arrangement of other parts or adjacent functional units, thus making it possible to promote miniaturization of the image information processing apparatus.
In accordance with the tenth feature of the invention, concerning the driving force transmitting elements for transmitting a driving force for shifting the pickup feeding means as a functional part relating to the sheet, between the active and inactive position, the drive transmission path to the pickup feeder means is configured so that the rotary driving force transmitting element is disposed closer to the pickup feeding means than the parallel movement type transmitting element. As a result, the driving force transmitting elements do not project more when compared with the case where the pickup feeding means is shifted by a rotary type drive transmitting element and a drive source coupled therewith. Further, since a drive source comparable to or greater in size than the pickup feeding means, can be arranged freely away from the pickup feeding means, it is also possible to eliminate wasted space or vacant space by adjusting the geometry relative to adjacent functional units, otherwise the drive source bulges out and hence wasted space will be created with other adjacent functional units when the sheet feeder is attached inside the image information processing apparatus. Moreover, even when a driving force transmitting element is reciprocated by providing a means for switching the moving direction of the driving force transmitting element (clutch, etc.), instead of using a solenoid and/or a spring, in a space defined, in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, by translating an area beyond the full width of the maximum in the direction of the sheet thickness, it is possible to easily extend, the driving force transmitting element, if it is of a parallel movement type, to the space generated, in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, by translating an area beyond the full width of the maximum in the direction of the sheet thickness. (If a rotary type driving force transmitting element is extended, it needs a much greater space for movement because it moves in a rotational manner.)
In accordance with the eleventh feature of the invention, in addition to the effects of the above tenth feature, since a spring as a driving force for moving the pickup feeding means, is provided along the direction in which the parallel movement type transmitting element moves, it is possible to promote a configuration thinner with respect to the direction of the sheet thickness, compared to the configuration where the spring is engaged with a rotary type driving force transmitting element.
In accordance with the twelfth feature of the invention, in addition to the effects of the above tenth feature, since, when a spring as a driving force for moving the pickup feeding means is engaged with the rotary type driving force transmitting element, the spring will no longer buckle, the movement of the pickup feeding means can be stabilized.
In accordance with the thirteenth feature of the invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is, in the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Hei 6 No. 71,947, the stopper means supported by the supporting portion having a pivot axle on the separation feeding means side, rotationally moves up and down between the retracted position (inactive position) over the sheet stacking means and the blocking position (active position) with its lower end lowered. Compared to this configuration, in this invention, the sheet feeding means can be made thinner by the space which would be required for the path of the supporting portion of the stopper means as it rotates. Further, in this configuration, no erroneous displacement of the stopper means, stemming from the fact that the stopper means rotates about a rotary axle, will occur any longer, to thereby prevent erroneous feed of sheets.
Since the stopper means moves in parallel, the space of the path of the movement of the stopper means itself is also relative small, so this also contributes to miniaturizing the sheet feeder.
In accordance with the fourteenth feature of the invention, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects from the above thirteen features. That is, the rotary driving force transmitting element is arranged, within the space enclosed by the two planes, which are perpendicular to the direction of the sheet thickness which are formed so as to be in contact with the space of the path for movement of the stopper means between the blocking position and the retracted position, and on the side opposite to the sheet blocking side of the stopper means, and the mechanism of transmitting a driving force to move the stopper means between the blocking position and the retracted position is configured in such a geometry that, within the space enclosed by the aforementioned two planes, the parallel movement type drive transmitting element which is integrally formed on the side opposite to the sheet blocking side of the stopper means for preventing the sheets from reaching the separation feeding means, receives a driving force from the rotary driving force transmitting element. Therefore, it is possible to easily arrange a rotary type transmission element which will not need moving space for drive transmission, in the space between the pickup feeding means and the separation feeding means, which would be difficult to arrange because drive transmission parts of the stopper means. On the other hand, the parallel movement type drive transmission element moves integrally with the sheet stopper means, so not to be an obstacle to the arrangement of the stopper. Thus, this configuration contributes to the miniaturization.
Claims
- 1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:a plurality of functional units each having a predetermined function for processing an image, disposed in a predetermined position so as to be attachable and detachable with respect to an apparatus body, characterized in that each functional unit is disposed and attached in a space not including a space which is the path of any other unit during movement for attachment and detachment thereof; a space defined by translating a first functional unit in the attaching direction thereof can accommodate a part of a second functional unit.
- 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of functional units has a first functional portion which directly comes in contact with sheets and directly relates to sheet feeding and a second functional portion which relates to sheet feeding but is kept away the sheets; the first functional unit is arranged for attachment within a space which is defined by translating an area extending in the direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction and having the full width of an acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction normal to a sheet feeding surface; and/or the second functional unit is arranged for attachment within a space which is defined by translating an area lying in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction but outside the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction normal to the sheet feeding surface.
- 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first functional unit has a coupling means for coupling with the apparatus body or any other functional unit and at least a part of the coupling means disposed in a second functional unit.
- 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein multiple coupling means are classified and partitioned on the basis of the types of the coupling means.
- 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first functional unit is a container which can be modified in volume.
- 6. An image processing apparatus, comprising:a plurality of functional units each having a predetermined function for processing an image, disposed in a predetermined position so as to be attachable and detachable with respect to an apparatus body, characterized in that each functional unit is disposed and attached in a space not including a space which is the path of any other unit during movement for attachment and detachment thereof; a space defined by overlapping of a space defined by translating a first functional unit in the attaching direction thereof and a space defined by translating the first functional unit in the detaching direction of a second functional unit can accommodate a part of the second functional unit.
- 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein one of the multiple functional units has a first functional portion which directly comes in contact with sheets and directly relates to sheet feeding but is kept away the sheets; the first functional unit is arranged for attachment within a space which is defined by translating an area extending in the direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction and having a full width of an acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction normal to a sheet feeding surface; and/or the second functional unit is arranged for attachment within a space which is defined by translating an area lying in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction but outside the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction normal to the sheet feeding surface.
- 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first functional unit has a coupling means for coupling with the apparatus body or any other functional unit and at least a part of the coupling means disposed in a second functional unit.
- 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first functional unit is a container which can be modified in volume.
- 10. An image processing apparatus, comprising:a plurality of functional units each having a predetermined function for processing an image, disposed in a predetermined position so as to be attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body, characterized in that each functional unit is disposed and attached in a space not including a space which is the path of any other unit during movement for attachment and detachment thereof; a space defined by overlapping of a space defined by translating a first functional unit in the attaching direction thereof and a space defined by translating the first functional unit in a direction substantially perpendicular to the attaching direction thereof, excluding a space occupied by the first function unit, can accommodate a part of the second functional unit.
- 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein one of the multiple functional units has a first functional portion which directly comes in contact with sheets and directly relates to sheet feeding and a second functional portion which relates to sheet feeding but is kept away the sheets; the first functional is arranged for attachment within a space which is defined by translating an area extending in the direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction and having the full width of an acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction normal to a sheet feeding surface; and/or the second functional unit is arranged for attachment within a space which is defined by translating an area lying in the direction perpendicular to sheet feeding direction but outside the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet, in the direction normal to the sheet feeding surface.
- 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first functional unit has a coupling means for coupling with the apparatus body or any other functional unit and at least a part of the coupling means disposed in a second functional unit.
- 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first functional unit is a container which can be modified in volume.
- 14. A sheet feeder comprising:a sheet stacking means for stacking sheets; a sheet-feeding related means which is movable between the active position of the sheet feeding action and the inactive position unrelated to the sheet feeding action; and a transmitting element for transmitting the driving force for moving the sheet-feeding related means between the active position and inactive position, characterized in that, when, in a space defined by translating the mid area of the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet to be set on the sheet stacking means in the direction of the sheet thickness of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means, a space of the path of the sheet feeding related means for movement between its active and inactive positions, is arranged between two planes perpendicular to the direction of the sheet thickness, the transmitting element is arranged in the space enclosed by two planes; and the transmitting element is extended to a space which is defined by translating a boundary area of the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet to be set on the sheet stacking means in the direction of the sheet thickness, or is extended to a space which is defined by translating an area beyond the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet to be set on the sheet stacking means in the direction of the sheet thickness.
- 15. The sheet feeder according to claim 14, wherein the sheet stacking means, sheet feeding related means and transmitting element can be attached and detached with respect to the main body; a space overlapped between the space which is defined by translating a boundary area of the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet to be set on the sheet stacking means, in the direction of the sheet thickness and/or the space which is defined by translating an area beyond the full width of the acceptable maximum size sheet to be set on the sheet stacking means, in the direction of the sheet thickness, and a space which is defined by translating the space of the path of the sheet feeding related means for movement between its active and inactive positions, in the direction of sheet width, is occupied by the transmitting element and a part of the drive source for driving the transmitting element.
- 16. A sheet feeder comprising:a sheet stacking means for stacking sheets; a pickup feeding means which is supported by a supporting portion so as to be movable between a sheet feeding position where it comes in contact with the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking means and a retracted position where it is kept away from the sheet; a first driving system, which provides a driving force to the supporting portion so as to shift the pickup feeding means between the sheet feeding position and the retracted position; a second driving system for providing a driving force to the pickup feeding means; a separation feeding means for separating the sheets which are fed by the pickup means, at the sheet feeding position, driven by the driving force from the second driving system, one by one, and delivering the separated sheet to the downstream side with respect to the sheet feeding direction; a third driving system which provides a driving force to the separation feeding means to cause the separation feeding means to separate sheets, one by one; and a control means for controlling the first, second and third driving systems so that the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means can be delivered, characterized in that the first driving system comprises: a rotary driving force transmitting element and a parallel movement type driving force transmitting element coupled to the rotary driving force transmitting element, and the rotary driving force transmitting element is disposed closer to the pickup feeding means than the parallel movement type transmitting element.
- 17. The sheet feeder according to claim 16, wherein the first driving system further comprises an urging spring urging the parallel movement type driving force transmitting element, in the direction opposing the driving force from the drive source; and the urging spring is provided along the direction in which the parallel movement type transmitting element moves, and is engaged with the parallel movement type transmitting element.
- 18. The sheet feeder according to claim 16, wherein the first driving system further comprises a compression spring urging the rotary driving force transmitting element, in the direction opposing to the driving force from the drive source; and the compression spring is engaged between the fixed side and the rotary driving force transmitting element, via a rotatable supporting means.
- 19. A sheet feeder comprising:a sheet stacking means for stacking sheets; a pickup feeding means which is supported by a supporting portion so as to be movable between a sheet feeding position where it comes in contact with the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking means and a retracted position where it is kept away from the sheet; a first driving system, which provides a driving force to the supporting portion so as to shift the pickup feeding means between the sheet feeding position and the retracted position; a second driving system for providing a driving force to the pickup feeding means; a separation feeding means for separating the sheets which are by the pickup means, at the sheet feeding position, driven by the driving force from the second driving system, one by one, and delivering the separated sheet to the downstream side with respect to the sheet feeding direction; a third driving system which provides a driving force to the separation feeding means to cause the separation feeding means to separate sheets, one by one; a stopper means which is movable between the blocking position for stopping the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means, from moving toward the separation feeding means, and the retracted position for allowing the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means to be fed; a fourth driving system for driving the stopper means between the blocking position and the retracted position; and a control means for controlling the first, second, third and fourth driving systems so that the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means can be delivered, characterized in that the stopper means is lowered under the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking means when it is at the retracted position, and is moved in parallel in the direction crossing to the sheet stacking surface when the stopper means moves between the blocking position and the retracted position.
- 20. The sheet feeder according to claim 19, wherein the fourth driving system comprises a parallel movement type driving force transmitting element integrally provided on the side opposite to the sheet blocking side of the stopper means, and a rotary driving force transmitting element which abuts the parallel movement type driving force transmitting element to transmit the driving force; and when two planes perpendicular to the direction of the sheet thickness are formed so as to be in contact with a space of the path for movement of the stopper means between the blocking position and the retracted position, the rotary driving force transmitting element is arranged within the space enclosed by the two planes and in the side opposite to the sheet blocking side of the stopper means.
- 21. An image processing apparatus comprising:an apparatus body; a first functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a first predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in first attachment and detachment directions, respectively; and a second functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a second predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in second attachment and detachment direction, respectively; wherein the first predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by the movement of the second functional unit in its attachment/detachment path and wherein the second predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by movement of the first functional unit in its attachment/detachment path; wherein the first attachment direction is different than the second attachment direction and the first detachment direction is different than the second detachment direction; and wherein a part of the second functional unit occupies a space defined by translating the first functional unit in its attaching direction.
- 22. The image processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first attachment direction is substantially perpendicular to the second attachment direction and the first detachment direction is substantially perpendicular to the second detachment direction.
- 23. An image processing apparatus comprising:an apparatus body; an image processing unit; a first functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a first predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in first attachment and detachment directions, respectively; a second functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a second predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in second attachment and detachment direction, respectively; wherein the first predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by the movement of the second functional unit in its attachment/detachment path and wherein the second predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by movement of the first functional unit in its attachment/detachment path; wherein the first attachment direction is different than the second attachment direction and the first detachment direction is different than the second detachment direction; wherein the second functional unit is a feeder which feeds sheets to the image processing unit; and wherein a part of the feeder occupies a space defined by translating the first functional unit in its attaching direction.
- 24. An image processing apparatus comprising:an apparatus body; an image processing unit; a first functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a first predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in first attachment and detachment directions, respectively; a second functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a second predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in second attachment and detachment direction, respectively; wherein the first predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by the movement of the second functional unit in its attachment/detachment path and wherein the second predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by movement of the first functional unit in its attachment/detachment path; wherein the first attachment direction is different than the second attachment direction and the first detachment direction is different than the second detachment direction; wherein the second functional unit is a feeder which feeds sheets to the image processing unit; and wherein the first functional unit is a container which collects developer unused by the image processing unit.
- 25. An image processing apparatus comprising:an apparatus body; an image processing unit; a first functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a first predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in first attachment and detachment directions, respectively; a second functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a second predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in second attachment and detachment direction, respectively; wherein the first predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by the movement of the second functional unit in its attachment/detachment path and wherein the second predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by movement of the first functional unit in its attachment/detachment path; wherein the first attachment direction is different than the second attachment direction and the first detachment direction is different than the second detachment direction; wherein the second functional unit is a feeder which feeds sheets to the image processing unit; and wherein the first functional unit is container which collects developer unused by the image processing unit.
- 26. An image processing apparatus comprising:an apparatus body; a first functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a first predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in first attachment and detachment directions, respectively; and a second functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a second predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in second attachment and detachment direction, respectively; wherein the first predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by the movement of the second functional unit in its attachment/detachment path and wherein the second predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by movement of the first functional unit in its attachment/detachment path; wherein the first attachment direction is different than the second attachment direction and the first detachment direction is different than the second detachment direction; and wherein a part of the second functional unit occupies a space defined by the overlap between a space defined by translating the first functional unit in its attaching direction and a space defined by translating the first functional unit in the detaching direction of the second functional unit.
- 27. The image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the first attachment direction is substantially perpendicular to the second attachment direction and the first detachment direction is substantially perpendicular to the second detachment direction.
- 28. The image processing apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising an image processing unit and wherein the second functional unit is a feeder which feeds sheets to the image processing unit.
- 29. The image processing apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising an image processing unit and wherein the first functional unit is container which collects developer unused by the image processing unit.
- 30. The image processing apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising an image processing unit and wherein the first functional unit is container which collects developer unused by the image processing unit.
- 31. An image processing apparatus comprising:an apparatus body; a first functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a first predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in first attachment and detachment directions, respectively; and a second functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a second predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in second attachment and detachment direction, respectively; wherein the first predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by the movement of the second functional unit in its attachment/detachment path and wherein the second predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by movement of the first functional unit in its attachment/detachment path; wherein the first attachment direction is different than the second attachment direction and the first detachment direction is different than the second detachment direction; and wherein a part of the second functional unit occupies a space defined by an overlap between of a space defined by translating the first functional unit in its attaching direction and a space defined by translating the first functional unit in a direction substantially perpendicular to the attaching direction thereof, and wherein the space occupied by the part of the second functional unit excludes the predetermined position of the first functional unit.
- 32. The image processing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first attachment direction is substantially perpendicular to the second attachment direction and the first detachment direction is substantially perpendicular to the second detachment direction.
- 33. The image processing apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising an image processing unit and wherein the second functional unit is a feeder which feeds sheets to the image processing unit.
- 34. The image processing apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising an image processing unit and wherein the first functional unit is container which collects developer unused by the image processing unit.
- 35. The image processing apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising an image processing unit and wherein the first functional unit is container which collects developer unused by the image processing unit.
- 36. An image processing apparatus, comprising:an apparatus body; a first functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a first predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in first attachment and detachment directions, respectively; and a second functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a second predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in second attachment and detachment direction, respectively; wherein the first predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by the movement of the second functional unit in its attachment/detachment path and wherein the second predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by movement of the first functional unit in its attachment/detachment path; and wherein a part of the second functional unit occupies a space defined by translating the first functional unit in its attaching direction.
- 37. An image processing apparatus, comprising:an apparatus body; a first functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a first predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in first attachment and detachment directions, respectively; and a second functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a second predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in second attachment and detachment direction, respectively; wherein the first predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by the movement of the second functional unit in its attachment/detachment path and wherein the second predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by movement of the first functional unit in its attachment/detachment path; and wherein a part of the second functional unit occupies a space defined by the overlap between a space defined by translating the first functional unit in its attaching direction and a space defined by translating the first functional unit in the detaching direction of the second functional unit.
- 38. An image processing apparatus, comprising:an apparatus body; a first functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a first predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in first attachment and detachment directions, respectively; and a second functional unit which is attached to the apparatus body in a second predetermined position, and which is attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus body by movement in a path in second attachment and detachment direction, respectively; wherein the first predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by the movement of the second functional unit in its attachment/detachment path and wherein the second predetermined position is non-interfering with a space defined by movement of the first functional unit in its attachment/detachment path; and wherein a part of the second functional unit occupies a space defined by an overlap between of a space defined by translating the first functional unit in its attaching direction and a space defined by translating the first functional unit in a direction substantially perpendicular to the attaching direction thereof, and wherein the space occupied by the part of the second functional unit excludes the predetermined position of the first functional unit.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9-349731 |
Dec 1997 |
JP |
|
9-351081 |
Dec 1997 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
58-126460 |
Aug 1983 |
JP |
6-71947 |
Sep 1994 |
JP |