JP2007261735A - RECORDER LOADING DEVICE, IMAGE READING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Even if a recording medium stacking device is opened while a recording medium is loaded on the recording medium stacking section, the recording medium is prevented from dropping from the recording medium stacking section.
The recording medium stacking device opens at a predetermined timing before the recording medium stacking device opens, and the recording medium stacking unit takes a posture at which the recording medium can fall from the recording medium stacking surface. The recording body which starts the operation of suppressing the fall of the recording body from the recording body stacking surface and continues the operation while the recording body stacking portion takes the posture in which the recording body can fall from the recording body stacking surface. Drop suppression means is provided.
[Selection] Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording body stacking apparatus that stacks a plurality of recording bodies on a recording body stacking section, and an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the recording body stacking apparatus.

The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a rotating shaft extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, specifically, a rotation extending in the horizontal direction so as to easily handle a jam occurring in the image forming apparatus. The cover has a cover that is attached to the side surface of the image forming apparatus so as to be openable and closable around the moving axis, and this cover is provided with a recording body stacking section for stacking recording bodies before image formation.
The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2 is attached to the image forming apparatus in a state that it can be opened and closed around a rotation shaft extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, specifically, a rotation shaft extending in the horizontal direction. The cover is provided with a cover locking means for keeping the cover closed, and a recording body stacking section on which the recording body before image formation can be stacked. Then, in a state where the recording medium is stacked on the recording medium stacking portion, the cover is locked so as not to open by the cover locking means.

JP 2005-195759 A JP-A-9-188436

In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the recording body does not fall from the recording body stacking portion when the cover is closed with respect to the image forming apparatus, but the recording is performed when the cover is open with respect to the image forming apparatus. The recording medium falls from the body loading section.
This problem is caused by having a recording body stacking section for loading a recording body that is fed into or discharged from the apparatus main body onto the recording body stacking surface, and is opened and closed around a rotating shaft that extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. The same problem arises if a recording body loading apparatus that is attached to the apparatus main body in a possible state is one to which the configuration as in Patent Document 1 is applied.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, when the cover is opened, the recording medium does not fall from the recording medium stacking portion. The cover is locked so as not to open. In the case of this configuration, when a jam that occurs in the image forming apparatus is processed by opening the cover, there is an inconvenience that the trouble of removing the recording body of the recording body stacking section and the procedure of unlocking the cover increase. There is. Furthermore, there is a problem that the apparatus is damaged because a large force is applied to open the cover without noticing that the cover is locked.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to record in the recording medium stacking section when the recording medium stacking apparatus is opened when the recording medium is loaded in the recording medium stacking section. Solves the problem of increasing the procedure for removing the body and unlocking the cover, and the recording body remains in the recording body even if the recording body stacking device is opened while the recording body is loaded on the recording body stacking section. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording material stacking device that can suppress falling from a stacking unit, and an image reading device or an image forming device including the recording material stacking device.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 has a recording body stacking section for loading a recording body fed into the apparatus main body or discharged from the apparatus main body onto the recording body stacking surface, and is perpendicular to the vertical direction. In a recording medium stacking apparatus that is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable around a rotation axis extending in an intersecting direction, the recording medium stacking unit is in a state where the recording medium stacking apparatus is closed with respect to the apparatus main body. The first posture in which the recording body does not fall from the recording body loading surface, and the second posture in which the recording body can fall from the recording body loading surface in a state where the recording body loading device is opened with respect to the apparatus main body. A predetermined timing from when the recording medium stacking device is opened until the recording medium stacking portion takes the second posture. From the recording material loading surface An operation for suppressing the fall of the recording body is started, and a recording body dropping suppression means is provided for continuing the operation while the recording body stacking portion is in the second posture. .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording member stacking apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the recording member dropping suppression means is in contact with or separated from the upper surface of the recording member stacked on the recording member stacking surface. And the contact member is pressed against the upper surface of the recording member at the predetermined timing to press the recording member against the recording member stacking surface to suppress the falling of the recording member. It is characterized by.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium stacking apparatus according to the second aspect, the contact / separation member is a feed roller for feeding the recording body from the recording body stacking section.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium stacking apparatus according to the third aspect, the feeding roller is restricted from rotating in a direction opposite to the recording body feeding direction.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium stacking apparatus according to the first aspect, the recording medium dropping suppression means records the recording medium on the recording medium when the recording medium stacking portion assumes the second posture. The recording material stacking surface portion that is positioned below the recording material stacking surface moves between a protruding position that protrudes above the recording material stacking surface portion and a retreat position that retracts below the recording material stacking surface. It has a possible stopper, and the fall of the recording medium is suppressed by moving the stopper to the protruding position at the predetermined timing.
Further, the invention of claim 6 is the recording body stacking apparatus of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, further comprising detection means for detecting the predetermined timing, The operation of suppressing the fall of the recording medium from the recording material stacking surface is performed at the detection timing of the detection means.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium stacking apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the detection means is an opening detection means for detecting that the recording medium stacking apparatus is opened. When the opening detection unit detects that the recording material stacking device is opened with respect to the apparatus main body, the operation is performed by the operation control unit.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium stacking apparatus according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the recording medium has a stack detection means for detecting whether or not the recording body is stacked on the recording body stacking surface. The drop suppression means is characterized in that it does not operate regardless of the detection result of the detection means when the stack detection means detects that the recording body is not stacked on the recording body stacking surface. Is.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording medium stacking apparatus according to the eighth aspect, wherein the stacking detection means can load the recording medium stacking apparatus from an end of the recording medium stacking section on the recording medium stacking apparatus side. It is characterized in that it is provided on the side of the recording material stacking device rather than the minimum length of the recording material up to the length in the recording material conveyance direction.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording body stacking section for feeding a recording body that is sent to an image reading section for reading an image of the recording body or discharged from the image reading section on a recording body stacking surface, and in a vertical direction. In the image reading apparatus provided with the recording material stacking means attached to the image reading unit in a state that can be opened and closed around a rotation axis extending in a direction intersecting with the recording medium, the recording material stacking means is defined as claim 1, It is characterized by comprising 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 recording material stacking devices.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, an image reading unit that feeds a recording body stacked on the recording body stacking unit to an image reading unit and reads an image of the recording body, and an image read by the image reading unit are used. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit 1 that forms an image on another recording medium includes the image reading apparatus according to claim 10 as the image reading unit.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording body stacking portion for stacking a recording body to be sent to the apparatus main body or discharged from the apparatus main body on the recording body stacking surface and extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. In an image forming apparatus comprising a recording material stacking means attached to the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable around a moving axis, and an image forming section 1 for forming an image on the recording material, Item 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 The recording material stacking device is provided.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the recording medium stacking apparatus is a replacement part for the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh or twelfth aspect, and the recording medium stacking apparatus starts from a predetermined time before the recording medium stacking apparatus opens to the apparatus main body. At a predetermined timing until the recording medium stacking device opens and the recording medium stacking portion takes the second posture, an operation for suppressing the recording medium from dropping from the recording medium stacking surface is started. While the recording material stacking portion takes the second posture, there is provided a recording material drop suppression means that continues the operation.

  In the present invention, the recording medium dropping suppression means at a predetermined timing from when the recording medium stacking device is opened to when the recording medium stacking portion takes the second posture from a predetermined time before the recording medium stacking device is opened. Starts the operation and continues the operation while the recording material stacking portion takes the second posture. As a result, the recording medium stacking device opens with respect to the apparatus main body, and even if the recording medium stacking portion takes the second posture in which the recording medium can fall from the recording medium stacking surface, the recording medium from the recording medium stacking surface falls. Is suppressed.

According to the present invention, the recording medium can be prevented from dropping from the recording medium stacking surface even when the recording medium stacking apparatus is opened with respect to the apparatus main body with the recording medium stacked on the recording medium stacking section. Excellent effect is achieved.
In addition, when opening the recording medium loading device with the recording medium loaded on the recording medium loading section, there is no need to remove the recording medium from the recording medium loading section, so there is no need to remove the recording medium from the recording medium loading section. Further, unlike Patent Document 2, it is not necessary to lock the recording material stacking device so that it does not need to be locked.

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment to which the invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. The image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment is an application example of the copying machine 100 that employs a so-called tandem method. FIG. 1 is a central sectional view showing an outline of the copying machine 100.

  First, a basic configuration of an automatic image reading apparatus 300 that reads an image from a recording body Sr on which an image is formed according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1, the automatic image reading apparatus 300 includes an image reading unit 310 and a recording body automatic feeding unit 350. The image reading unit 310 includes a housing that includes a recording body frame 301 and a first contact glass 302 and a second contact glass 303 fixed to the top of the recording body frame 301. In the image reading unit 310, a first traveling body 305 having a light source 304 and a first mirror and a second traveling body 306 having a second mirror and a third mirror move in parallel to the first contact glass 302. The recording body Sr is optically scanned. The second traveling body 306 employs a known optical system that moves at half the speed of the first traveling body 305. The scanning light emitted from the light source 304 and reflected by the recording medium is sequentially reflected on the first mirror, the second mirror, and the third mirror, and is imaged by the fixed lens 307, and then the solid-state imaging device (CCD) 308. Is taken in. The captured image data is appropriately processed as a digital signal, and sent to a remote place via a telephone line or sent to the image forming unit 1 by a facsimile function.

  The automatic recording body feeder 350 includes a first pressure plate 363 and a second thick plate 357 that are pressed toward the first contact glass 302 and the second contact glass 303. And it can be opened with the contact glass as a boundary by being rotated around a rotation shaft (not shown). In the closed state, even a thick recording body Sr such as a book can be brought into close contact with the first contact glass by the first pressure plate 363. For the sheet-like recording bodies Sr that are not bound like a book, a plurality of stacked recording bodies Sr are set on the movable plate 362 of the feeding recording body stacking section 361 with the first surface (odd page) as the upper surface. can do. When the scan start command is sent by the operator, the feeding roller 352352 that is in contact with the uppermost recording body Sr rotates in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, and sends the recording body Sr to the recording body feeding section 351. In the recording material feeding unit 351, even if the recording material Sr is fed in a state where two or more sheets overlap each other, the recording material feeding unit 351 is surely separated and conveyed one by one by the separation roller pair 353. Then, the recording material is conveyed through a conveying roller pair 354, conveying rollers 355 and 358, and a feeding roller pair 359, which are recording medium conveying means, sequentially discharged to the arrow in the figure, and stacked on the recording medium conveying tray 360 with the first side down. Is done. The image information on the second surface (even-numbered pages) of the recording body Sr is read by the image sensor 356 until it is discharged. Thereafter, when the recording body Sr passes between the second pressure plate 357 and the second contact glass 303, the image information of the first surface is read by the image reading unit 310. At this time, the image reading unit 310 can perform optical scanning without moving the first traveling body 305 and the second traveling body 306. A white sheet 363a is attached to a portion of the first pressure plate 363 that contacts the recording body Sr. This is because the color of the pressure plate 363 is read as a background by the reading means when the recording body Sr is thin so that the back surface is transparent. For the same reason, the conveying roller 355 and the second pressure plate 357 are also white.

  FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing the image sensor 356. The image sensor 356 includes a glass 356a that faces the recording body Sr, an LED array 356b that is a light source that illuminates an image reading surface, a lens array 356c that is an imaging element, a unity magnification sensor 356d, and the like. It is also possible to employ a contact sensor that does not use an imaging lens. A thick recording body Sr such as a book is set on the contact glass 302 and pressed by the pressure plate 363. At this time, the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is lifted from the normal position. For this reason, the second thick plate 357 is also lifted from the second contact glass 303. Therefore, a lift detection sensor 364 for detecting the lift of the second pressure plate 357 from the second contact glass 303 is provided. Based on the detection result by the lift detection sensor 364, reading by the image sensor 356 is prohibited. Therefore, there is no problem that the recording body Sr is read while the thick recording body Sr is set on the first contact glass 302. When the image information of the recording body Sr is read by the image sensor 356, the image reading unit 310 is used to print out another recording body Sr by interrupt processing. Specifically, first, an “interrupt interruption button” (not shown) is pressed to interrupt image reading by automatic feeding. Next, after the recording body Sr is stacked on the recording body stacking section 361 and the recording body feeding tray 360, the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is opened, and a new recording body is connected to the first contact. Set on glass 302. Then, after closing the automatic recording body feeding unit 350, an “interrupt scan button” (not shown) is pressed to perform an interrupt scan.

Next, the internal configuration of the copying machine 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a central sectional view schematically showing the image forming unit 1 in the copying machine 100.
In the copying machine 100, four latent images are carried as image forming means for forming images of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (Bk). Drum-shaped photoconductors 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2Bk, which are bodies, are arranged in parallel at equal intervals in the left-right direction in the drawing. When the copying machine 100 is operated, it is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive source (not shown).
Around the photosensitive member 2, members and devices necessary for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a developing device are provided and configured as an image forming unit 1, which corresponds to the toner color of an image to be formed. For the sake of convenience, Y (yellow), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Bk (black) representing the color are appended as subscripts after the number indicating each image forming device for convenience. In particular, in the general description, these subscripts may be omitted. The four image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1Bk all have the same configuration.

If attention is paid to the image forming unit 1Y provided with the photoreceptor 2Y for yellow image shown in FIG. 3, the charging device 4Y provided with the charging roller 4aY, the developing roller 5aY, and the developing blade 5bY around the photoreceptor 2Y according to the electrophotographic process. An image forming member such as a developing device 5Y having a screw 5cY and the like, a cleaning brush 3aY, a cleaning blade 3bY, a recovery screw 3bY and the like, and a cleaning device 3Y are sequentially arranged.
The photoreceptor 2Y has a layer structure in which an organic semiconductor layer, which is a photoconductive substance, is provided on the surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of about 30 to 120 mm. The members provided around the other photoconductors 2C, 2M, and 2Bk are the same. That is, only the color of the toner used for image formation is different. It is possible to use a belt-like photoconductor.

As shown in FIG. 1, laser light corresponding to image data for each color is scanned below the photoreceptors 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2Bk on the surface of each photoreceptor 2 that has been uniformly charged by the charging means. An exposure device 8 for forming an electrostatic latent image is provided. Between each charging device 4 and each developing device 5, an elongated space is secured in the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive member 2 so that the laser light irradiated by the exposure device 8 enters the photosensitive member. .
An exposure apparatus 8 in the illustrated example is a laser scanning type exposure apparatus using a laser light source, a polygon mirror, and the like. Beam light 8Y and 8C modulated from four semiconductor lasers (not shown) according to image data to be formed. , 8M, 8Bk. The exposure apparatus 8 accommodates optical parts and control parts by a metal or resin casing, and is provided with a light-transmitting dustproof member at the emission port on the upper surface. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a single housing, but a plurality of exposure apparatuses may be provided in each image forming unit 1 individually. In addition to an exposure apparatus that employs the above laser, an exposure apparatus that combines a known LED array and an imaging means can also be employed.

  When the yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (Bk) toners are consumed by the developing devices 5Y, 5C, 5M, and 5Bk that handle the respective colors, they are detected by a toner detection unit (not shown). The toner cartridges 40Y, 40C, 40M, and 40Bk that store toner of each color provided in the upper part of the image forming apparatus 100 are supplied to each developing device 5 by a supply unit (not shown). The outer shell of each toner cartridge is a container made of resin or paper, and is provided with a discharge port in part, and can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting portion TS of the copying machine 100. Combined with the individual toner replenishing means provided. In order to prevent the toner cartridge 40 of each color from being erroneously mounted and supplying toner to a developing device that handles different colors, the mounting portion TS and the toner cartridge 40 are paired with each other to provide a wrong mounting prevention means. is there.

  The developing device 5 includes two screws 5c for stirring and conveying the toner and the carrier. When the developing device 5 is mounted on the copying machine 100, one end of the toner replenishing means is connected to the upper portion of the left screw 5c in the drawing. The toner is supplied to the developing roller 5a rotating in the direction of the arrow by the screw 5c, but the thickness of the toner layer on the surface of the developing roller 5a is regulated to a predetermined thickness by the blade 5b. The developing roller 5a is a cylinder made of stainless steel or aluminum, and is supported by the frame of the developing device so as to be rotatable and a distance from the photosensitive member is properly secured, and a predetermined line of magnetic force is formed inside. A magnet is provided. The electrostatic latent image for each color formed on the surface of each photoconductor 2 by the laser beam is developed by a developing device 5 that handles toner of a predetermined color to become a visible image.

An intermediate transfer unit 6 is disposed above the photoreceptors 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2Bk. The roller 6b rotates so that the intermediate transfer belt 6a as an image carrier supported and stretched by a plurality of rollers 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e runs in the direction of the arrow.
The intermediate transfer belt 6a is endless, and is stretched and arranged so that a part of each photoconductor after the development process comes into contact. Primary transfer rollers 7 </ b> Y, 7 </ b> C, 7 </ b> M, and 7 </ b> K are provided on the inner peripheral portion of the belt so as to face each photoconductor.
A cleaning device 6h is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt 6a at a position facing the roller 6e. The cleaning device 6h wipes off unnecessary toner remaining on the surface of the belt 6a and foreign matters such as paper dust. The roller 6e facing the cleaning device 6h includes a mechanism that applies tension to the belt 6a. Although it always moves to ensure an appropriate belt tension, the opposing cleaning device can also move in conjunction.
The intermediate transfer belt 6a is, for example, a belt based on a resin film or rubber having a base thickness of 50 to 600 μm, and a toner image carried by each photoconductor 2 is applied to the primary transfer roller 7. It has a resistance value that enables electrostatic transfer to the belt surface by the bias. The members related to the intermediate transfer belt 6 a are configured as the intermediate transfer unit 6 and can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 100.
As an embodiment of the intermediate transfer belt, the intermediate transfer belt 6a is obtained by dispersing carbon in polyamide and adjusting the volume resistance of about 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹² Ωcm. Belt detent ribs for stabilizing the running of the belt are provided on one side or both ends of the belt.
In one embodiment of the primary transfer roller, the primary transfer roller 8 is a metal roller that is a core metal, and the surface of the metal roller is coated with a conductive rubber material, and a bias is applied to the core metal part from a power source (not shown). In the conductive rubber material, carbon is dispersed in urethane rubber, and the resistance is adjusted to a volume resistance of about 10 ⁵ Ωcm. A metal roller that does not have a rubber layer can also be used.

A secondary transfer roller 14a is provided on the outer periphery of the intermediate transfer belt 6a in the vicinity of the support roller 6b. The secondary transfer roller 14a is made of a metal roller serving as a core metal and is coated with conductive rubber, and a bias is applied to the core metal part from the power source 14b. Carbon is dispersed in the rubber, and the volume resistance is adjusted to about 10 ⁷ Ωcm. The toner image carried by the intermediate transfer belt 6a is electrostatically transferred to the recording medium S by applying a bias while passing the recording medium between the intermediate transfer belt 6a and the secondary transfer roller 14a.

A plurality of stages, for example, two stages of feeding cassettes 9A and 9B are arranged below the exposure device 8 so as to be able to be pulled out. The recording bodies S housed in these feeding cassettes are selectively sent out by the rotation of the corresponding feeding rollers 10A and 10B, and are fed and conveyed by the separating means 11A and 11B and the conveying roller pairs 12A and 12B. Sent to P1.
A pair of registration rollers 13 is provided in the feeding conveyance path P1 in order to take a feeding timing for feeding the recording medium S to the secondary transfer portion. The recording body S is conveyed from the registration roller pair 13 toward a secondary transfer portion configured by the intermediate transfer belt 6a and the secondary transfer roller 14a.
The manual feed tray 25a provided on the right side of FIG. 1 can be rotated and stored in a part of the frame F of the copying machine 100 when not in use. The uppermost recording material S stored in the manual feed tray 25a is fed by the feeding roller 26 and separated by the separating means 27 so that only one sheet is reliably conveyed. It is sent to the pair of registration rollers 13 through the conveyance path P1.

A fixing device 15 having a heating unit is provided above the secondary transfer unit. In this example, it is composed of rollers 15a and 15b with built-in heaters, but a type employing a belt and a heating method employing IH can also be appropriately employed.
The switching guide G1 can be rotated. In the state shown in the figure, the recording body after fixing is guided to the discharge path P3, and is discharged to the discharge stack portion T above the copier 100 by the pair of discharge rollers 16. , Make it stack.

The copying machine 100 in FIG. 1 includes a conveyance path and rollers for reversing and re-feeding the recording body S so that images can be automatically formed on both sides of the recording body S.
Specifically, a switchback path P5 and a refeed path P6 are provided inside the frame F, and the switching guides G1, G2 and the reversal are made so that the recording medium S on which image formation has been completed on one side is conveyed to the feed path P1. And a reversible roller 22 and the like. Rollers 23 and 24 are in contact with the reversible drive roller 22, and when the roller 22 rotates in the clockwise direction, the recording medium is conveyed from the manual feed tray 25a in cooperation with the roller 24. When rotating in the counterclockwise direction, the recording medium is fed again in the direction of the registration roller 13 in cooperation with the roller 23. When the switching guide G1 is rotated clockwise from the state shown in the figure, the fixed recording body Sp is guided to the transport path P4 by the roller pair 17, and is transported to the rollers 18a and 18b through the switching guide G2, and once. It is sent to the switchback path P5. As the roller 18a rotates counterclockwise and the switching guide G2 rotates counterclockwise, the recording body S is sent to the refeed path P6. The recording material conveyed by the roller pairs 15 c, 20 and 14 c, 21 is further conveyed to the roller pairs 22, 23 and reaches the registration roller pair 13.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes another feeding device 50 at the lower part. In this example, the two feeding cassettes 9C and 9D are provided. However, a type in which the number of recording cassettes is increased can be adopted, and a type having a built-in feeding cassette having a larger number of stored recording bodies may be used.
Above the fixing device 15, the fourth switching guide G4, which is downstream in the conveying direction of the roller pair 18, rotates counterclockwise from the state of FIG. 1 to guide the recording body Sp after fixing, and the conveyance path P8. And can be discharged to the discharge tray 28.

An operation during single-sided printing in which an image is formed on one side of the recording medium S in such a configuration will be described.
First, an electrostatic latent image is obtained by irradiating the surface of the photoreceptor 2Y uniformly charged by the charging roller 4aY with the laser light 8Y corresponding to the image data for yellow emitted from the semiconductor laser by the operation of the exposure device 4. Is formed. This electrostatic latent image is subjected to development processing by the developing roller 5aY and is developed with yellow toner, becomes a visible image, and receives a transfer action by the primary transfer roller 7Y on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6a that moves in synchronization with the photoreceptor 2Y. The primary transfer. Such latent image formation, development, and primary transfer operations are sequentially performed in the same manner on the photoconductors 2C, 2M, and 2Bk.
As a result, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (Bk) color toner images are carried on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6a as four-color toner images that overlap one another. It is moved together with the transfer belt 6a in the direction of the arrow. On the other hand, the remaining toner and foreign matter are cleaned on the surface of the photoreceptor 2 by the cleaning device 3.

The four-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 6a is transferred onto the recording medium S conveyed in synchronization with the intermediate transfer belt 6a by receiving a transfer action by the secondary transfer roller 14a. The surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6a is cleaned by a belt cleaning device 6h to prepare for the next image formation / transfer process.
The recording body S to which the image has been transferred is subjected to a fixing action by the fixing device 15, and is discharged to the discharge stack portion T by the discharge roller 16 with the image surface facing downward (face down).

  An operation during double-sided recording in which an image is formed on both sides of the recording medium S in such a configuration will be described. By the operation as described above, an image is first transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 6a to one side of the recording body S, and the recording body S that has passed through the fixing device 15 is guided toward the roller pair 17 by the first switching guide G1. The recording body S, which travels above the second switching guide G2 at the rotation position in FIG. 1 through the third switching guide and the transport path P4 provided downstream of the transport path of the roller pair 17, is transferred to the transport path P5. Although it is conveyed by 18a and 18b, the reversible drive roller 18a rotates clockwise. The roller pair 19 is also a roller that can be rotated forward and backward, and once the recording body S is received in the switchback conveyance path P5, the recording body S is reversely rotated to reversely feed the recording body S. At that time, the second switching guide G2 is rotated counterclockwise from the posture shown in the figure, and the pair of rollers 15c, 20 and 14c, 21 is used as the leading end to the conveyance path P4 with the former rear end of the recording body. Transport to the direction. After that, the registration roller pair 13 is reached as described above. The registration roller pair 13 takes the timing, and the recording medium S having an image on one side is conveyed again toward the secondary transfer portion having the secondary transfer roller 14a, whereby the toner on the intermediate transfer belt 6a. The image is transferred to the other side of the recording material S.

  Images to be formed on the second surface of the recording body S are sequentially formed by an image forming process that is started when the recording body S is conveyed to a predetermined position. The image forming process in this case is also the same as the above-described full-color toner image formation during single-sided printing, and this full-color toner image is carried on the intermediate transfer belt 6a. However, since the recording medium is reversed in the conveyance path, the image data emitted from the exposure device is created so that the image is formed in the opposite direction in the recording medium conveyance direction compared to the first image formation. Control and execute.

  The recording medium S having the full-color toner image transferred on both sides in this way is again fed onto the feeding stack section T by the feeding roller 16 after the fixing process by the fixing device 15. In order to increase the efficiency of double-sided image formation, several recording media can be simultaneously conveyed along the conveyance path. The formation timing of the images to be formed on the front and back sides of the recording medium S is executed by control means (not shown).

  In this embodiment, the polarity of the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 2 is negative, and the toner image on the photoreceptor 2 is transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6a by applying a positive charge to the primary transfer roller 7. Is done. Further, the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6a is transferred to the recording medium S by applying a positive charge to the secondary transfer roller 14a.

  The single-sided printing operation and the double-sided printing operation have been described with reference to an example in which full-color printing is performed. However, there are photosensitive members that are not used during black-and-white monochrome printing. Not only the unused photoreceptors 2Y, 2C, 2M or the developing devices 5Y, 5C, 5M are operated, but also a mechanism for keeping these unused photoreceptors and the intermediate transfer belt 6a in non-contact. In the present embodiment, the inner frame 6f that supports the roller 6d and the primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7C, and 7M is supported so as to be rotatable about the shaft 6g, and in a direction away from the photoreceptor 2 (clockwise in FIG. 1). By rotating, only the photoconductor 2Bk comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 6a, and an image forming process is executed to create a monochrome image using black toner. This is advantageous in terms of improving the service life.

When the need for maintenance or parts replacement occurs, the exterior cover (not shown) is opened and maintenance is performed. The members constituting the image forming unit 1 shown in FIG. It is convenient to exchange.
When the image forming unit 1 shown in FIG. 3 is configured as a process cartridge, a guide unit and a handle for mounting on the copying machine 100 are provided to facilitate attachment / detachment. In addition, it is convenient to provide a storage device (for example, an IC tag) for storing the characteristics and operation status of the process cartridge, which is a guideline for maintenance. Further, when maintenance or replacement is performed with respect to the intermediate transfer belt unit 6, the belt and the photosensitive member 2 can be separated and the intermediate transfer belt unit can be pulled out.

4 is a partial view showing a state in which the frame F is opened from the state shown in FIG. The lower rotation axis Fa is the rotation center, and the upper part can be opened. Prior to opening, most of the transport path can be opened by opening a lock lever (not shown), so that the jammed recording body S can be easily treated. The secondary transfer unit 14 in which the conveyance paths P2 and P5 are formed on both sides has the center of the roller 23 as a rotation center, and when the frame F is opened as shown in FIG. 4, the secondary transfer roller 14a is moved to the intermediate transfer belt 6a. Rotation behavior is given to the secondary transfer unit 14 so that the roller 14c is separated from the roller 21. The secondary transfer unit 14 includes a power supply 14b inside, and a unit having a recording medium conveyance function outside the case.
The fixing device 15 also has a conveyance roller 15c and a conveyance guide surface, and a part thereof constitutes a conveyance path P6. The fixing device 15 is supported in the state of FIG. 4 so that it can be pulled out to the right in the drawing. Accordingly, it is possible to easily handle the recording medium jam occurring in the fixing device.

  Details of the manual feed unit 25 will be described. As described above, the manual feeding unit 25 is provided with the feeding roller 26 (hereinafter referred to as the pickup roller 26) that calls the uppermost recording body S. When the user sets the recording medium S on the manual feed tray 25a, that is, before feeding, the pickup roller 26 is maintained at a position where it does not contact the uppermost recording body S (non-feeding position). When the copy command is received, the pickup roller 26 descends and can be pressed against the uppermost recording body S. In this state, the recording medium S is sent out when receiving rotational driving from the driving source. If the pickup roller 26 is moved up to the non-feeding position after being conveyed by a predetermined recording body length, the next recording body S will not be sent out continuously. If there is a subsequent copy command, the pickup roller 26 descends and rotates again.

  A configuration for raising or lowering the pickup roller 26 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. First, the relationship between the pickup roller 26 and the pickup arm 71 will be described. The pickup roller 26 is driven by a feed roller 73 via an idler gear 72. The pickup roller 26 can rotate with the shaft 77 of the pickup arm 71 as a fulcrum, the other end of the pickup arm 71 coincides with the feed roller drive shaft 73, and the pickup arm 71 rotates in the A direction with the feed roller drive shaft 73 as a fulcrum. It can be done. The pickup arm 71 is tensioned by a pressure spring 70.

Next, the pickup solenoid 67 and the link will be described.
The solenoid 65 moves the plunger 65 horizontally in the C direction by switching energization ON / OFF. A link is attached to the plunger 65, and the link can rotate in the B direction around the rotation fulcrum. The link is tensioned by a release spring 64. The pickup arm 71 and the link are in contact with each other at the contact X, and the mechanical balance is achieved when the force by which the link by the tension of the release spring 64 pushes the pickup arm 71 coincides with the force by which the pickup arm 71 pushes the link by the tension of the pressure spring 70. Thus, the position as shown in FIG. 5 can be maintained. In FIG. 6, when the solenoid 67 is energized in this balanced state and a suction force of the plunger 65 exceeding the tension of the release spring 64 is generated, the plunger 65 moves in the C ′ direction. Then, the dynamic balance is lost, the link moves in the D ′ direction, the contact point of the pickup arm 71 moves in the E ′ direction, and the pickup arm 71 rotates in the A ′ direction. That is, the pickup arm 71 can be lowered. When the pickup arm 71 reaches the uppermost surface of the loaded recording body, the pickup arm 71 recovers the mechanical balance by the reaction of the force with which the pickup roller 26 pushes the recording body S and stops it. At this time, the pickup roller 26 is pressurizing the recording body S. When the roller rotates, the recording body S is sent out.
When the energization of the solenoid 67 is turned off, the attraction force of the plunger 65 is lost, and the balance state of FIG. 5 is restored.
With the above mechanism, the pickup arm 71 is lowered and raised in conjunction with the ON and OFF of the solenoid 67.

  The copying machine 100 has a controller for controlling each unit as shown in FIG. This controller includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes various calculations, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various programs and fixed data for the calculations performed by the CPU, and a RAM that functions as a work area for the CPU. (Random Access Memory) and the like are connected by a bus line. The CPU is connected to a motor (which rotates the recording medium transport roller) via a motor control unit, a sensor via a sensor control unit, a solenoid 67 via a solenoid 67 control unit, and the like.

  A characteristic configuration of the manual feeding unit 25 according to the first embodiment will be described in configuration example 1, configuration example 2, and configuration example 3. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the recording medium S is loaded from the manual feeding tray 25a when the frame F is opened while the recording body S is loaded on the manual feeding tray 25a of the manual feeding section 25. A method for preventing the fall will be described.

[Configuration example 1]
When a jam occurs in the conveyance path of the image forming unit 1, the frame F is opened so that the jammed portion in the apparatus main body can be accessed from the outside in order to process the jam. This frame F is provided with a manual feeding portion 25 having a manual feeding tray 25a on which the recording medium S is loaded. When the frame F is closed with respect to the copying machine 100 main body, the manual feeding tray 25a is placed on the manual feeding tray 25a. The recording material S stacked on the paper does not fall from the manual feed tray 25a. However, when the frame F is opened to the copying machine 100 main body and the manual feed tray 25a is inclined downward, the recording medium S on the manual feed tray 25a falls from the manual feed tray 25a. Therefore, when the jam processing is performed, it takes time and effort to remove the recording medium S from the manual feed tray 25a before the frame F is opened.

As a configuration example 1, first, an open / close detection sensor 29 that detects that the frame F is opened with respect to the copying machine 100 main body is provided between the copying machine 100 main body and the frame F. When the frame F is opened to access the inside of the apparatus body from the outside for jam processing, the open / close detection sensor 29 detects the opening of the frame F. At this detection timing, the sensor control unit provided in the main body of the copying machine 100 transmits information on the opening of the frame F to the solenoid 67 control unit in the lifting device that lifts and lowers the pickup roller 26. The solenoid 67 control unit controls the solenoid 67 so that the pickup roller 26 descends toward the recording body S on the feeding tray when the information that the frame F is released is obtained. The pickup roller 26 pressurizes the recording medium S toward the manual feed tray 25a with a pressure Pa generated by a pressure spring 70 provided in the lifting device. As a result, even when the frame F is opened for jam processing, the recording body S on the manual feeding tray 25a is held in place by the pressure Pa of the pickup roller 26, so that the recording body S is manually fed. It does not fall from the tray 25a.
Further, if the pressurizing spring 70 is set to a pressure that can support the weight of the maximum loading capacity of the recording medium, the recording medium S falls even if the maximum number of recording bodies S that can be stacked on the manual feed tray 25a is loaded. Can be prevented.

  As described above, when the pickup roller 26 is used to prevent the recording body S from falling from the manual feed tray 25a when the frame F is opened, the pickup roller 26 is moved in the recording body conveyance direction M1 as shown in FIG. If a rotating and reverse rotation R having a regulated one-way clutch is used, an even higher effect of suppressing the recording material fall can be obtained. In other words, if the pickup roller 26 restricts the rotation R in the direction opposite to the recording material conveyance direction, in other words, the rotation in the direction in which the recording material falls, the recording material S moves from the pickup roller 26 to the recording material conveyance direction M1, that is, the falling. Since the resisting force is received in the direction opposite to the direction, the fall suppressing effect is improved.

[Modification]
As a modified example of the configuration example 1, as shown in FIG. 10, the manual feed unit 25 of the present embodiment includes a stack detection sensor 31 that detects whether or not the recording medium S is stacked on the manual feed tray 25a. This is the case. As the stack detection sensor 31, in this embodiment, a lever type sensor is disposed on the downstream side L1 in the recording material conveyance direction of the minimum conveyance size L2 of the recording material that can be conveyed to the apparatus main body of the manual feed tray 25a. . The stacking detection sensor 31 can be rotated from the vertical direction to the upstream side in the recording medium transport direction M1 by a rotation shaft supporting the sensor below the recording body stacking surface.
When the recording medium S is not stacked on the manual feed tray 25a, the stack detection sensor 31 has a part of the sensor appearing above the recording medium stacking surface of the manual feed tray 25a as shown in FIG. Taking a stance. When the recording material S is stacked on the manual feed tray 25a, the portion of the stacking detection sensor 31 that is above the recording material stacking surface is pushed by the recording material S as shown in FIG. No. 31 takes a posture of being tilted to the upstream side in the recording material conveyance direction M1.
Therefore, the stacking detection sensor 31 can detect the presence or absence of the recording material on the manual feed tray 25a by changing the output signal indicating the detection result depending on whether or not the posture of the sensor itself is tilted.
In this embodiment, the load detection sensor 31 is a lever type. In addition, any type that can detect whether or not the recording medium S is loaded on the recording medium stacking section, such as a type using reflected light, can be used regardless of the configuration.

By combining the detection result of the stack detection sensor 31 and the detection result of the open / close detection sensor 29, a control flow for suppressing the recording medium fall can be assumed as shown in FIG.
For example, the control means for the jam processing first determines whether or not the frame F is open to the main body of the copying machine 100 by the open sensor of the open / close detection sensor 29 (step 1: hereinafter, step S). ). This control is repeated until the frame F is opened to the copying machine 100 main body (N in S1). If it is determined that the frame F is open with respect to the copying machine 100 main body (Y in S1), then whether or not the recording medium S is stacked on the manual feed tray 25a by the stack detection sensor 31. Judgment is made (S2). When it is determined that the recording medium S is loaded on the manual feed tray 25a (Y in S2), the solenoid 67 is activated to lower the pickup roller 26 toward the recording medium S loaded on the manual feed tray 25a. (S3). After the jam processing is completed, it is determined whether or not the frame F is closed with respect to the copying machine 100 main body by the closing sensor of the open / close detection sensor 29 (S4). If it is determined that the frame F is not closed with respect to the copying machine 100 main body (N in S4), the control in S4 is repeated until it is detected that the frame F is closed. If it is determined that the frame F is closed with respect to the copying machine 100 main body (Y in S4), the solenoid 67 is actuated to raise the pickup roller 26 to the original position (S5), and a series of control is completed.

  Here, the most characteristic configuration of the modified example of the configuration example 1 is the control flow when the recording medium S is not stacked on the manual feed tray 25a. Specifically, when it is determined in S2 that the recording medium S is not stacked on the manual feed tray 25a by the stack detection sensor 31 (N in S2), the series of control ends. That is, even if the frame F is opened, the solenoid 67 does not operate and the pickup roller 26 does not descend. As a result, the pickup roller 26 descends despite the absence of the recording medium S to be pressed by the pickup roller 26, the manual feeding tray 25a and the pickup roller 26 collide, and the pickup roller 26 and the manual feeding tray 25a are damaged. Can be prevented.

[Configuration example 2]
Next, as a configuration example 2, a stopper 32 for preventing the recording body S from falling on the manual feed tray 25a is provided as a recording body dropping suppression means.
As shown in FIG. 13, the stopper 32 has a rotation shaft in the manual feed tray 25a, and an opening portion 25c of the manual feed tray 25a is formed on the recording material stacking surface of the manual feed tray 25a. And a retreat position where the stopper 32 retreats below the recording material stacking surface. Specifically, the state of FIG. 14A is when the frame F is closed with respect to the copying machine 100 main body, and in FIG. 14 with the hatching portion shown in FIG. Has a weight balance that rotates counterclockwise. As a result, the stopper 32 is positioned below the recording material stacking surface. In the state of FIG. 14B, the frame F is opened with respect to the main body of the copying machine 100, and the stopper 32 is centered on the rotation fulcrum by the weight of the white portion shown in FIG. Balance the weight to rotate around. Thereby, a part of the stopper 32 comes out above the recording material stacking surface.
For example, when the frame F is opened so that the upper part is opened with respect to the copying machine 100 main body, the manual feed tray 25a is inclined downward toward the upstream side in the recording material transport direction M1, and thus the manual feed tray. The recording medium S on 25a falls from the upstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction M1 of the manual feed tray 25a. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, the stopper 32 is provided at the upstream end of the manual feed tray 25a in the recording material transport direction M1 so that the rotation axis of the stopper 32 is orthogonal to the recording material transport direction M1. Thus, even when the manual feed tray 25a is inclined downward from the horizontal toward the upstream side in the recording material transport direction M1, the recording material comes into contact with the portion of the stopper 32 that protrudes above the recording material stacking surface. It will not fall.

[Configuration example 3]
Next, as a configuration example 3, recording is performed by a recording member dropping suppression pressing member 33 that presses the recording body S on the manual feeding tray 25a toward the manual feeding tray 25a as a recording body dropping suppression unit. The fall of the body S is suppressed.
As shown in FIG. 16, the pressing members 33 are provided on both sides of the pickup roller 26 of the manual feed portion 25. When the frame F is closed with respect to the copying machine 28 main body, the pressing member 33 is in a position where it does not come into contact with the recording body S on the manual feed tray 25a. When the frame F is opened, the pressing member 33 is lowered toward the recording body S on the manual feed tray 25a by the lifting device provided in the manual feeding portion 25 different from the lifting device of the pickup roller 26, The recording body S is pressed with a pressure Pb toward the manual feed tray 25a. Thus, even when the frame F is opened, the recording body S on the manual feed tray 25a is held in place by the pressing member 33, and therefore the recording body S does not fall from the manual feed tray 25a.

[Embodiment 2]
As a second embodiment, a copying machine 100 including an image reading apparatus 300 according to the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the recording body Sr is dropped when the automatic recording body feeding section 350 of the image reading apparatus 300 is opened to the image reading section 310 while the recording body Sr is loaded on the feeding recording body stacking section 361. A characteristic configuration of the image reading apparatus 300 in the case of prevention will be described in configuration example 4, configuration example 5 and configuration example 6.
In the second embodiment, the other basic configuration of the copying machine 100 other than the image reading apparatus 300 having a characteristic configuration has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.

[Configuration example 4]
When the recording medium Sr is loaded on the feeding recording medium stacking section 361 and when the new recording body Sr is set on or removed from the first contact glass 302, the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is opened. Needs to be opened widely with respect to the image reading unit 310. Accordingly, when the automatic recording body feeding unit 350 is widened with respect to the image reading unit 310 as shown in FIG. 17 with the recording body Sr loaded on the feeding recording body stacking unit 361, the feeding recording body stacking unit 361 is provided. Is inclined downward, the recording body Sr on the feeding recording body stacking section 361 may fall.

As the configuration example 4, a feeding roller 352 that feeds the recording body Sr on the feeding recording body stacking unit 361 to the image reading unit 310 uses the recording body Sr on the feeding recording body stacking unit 361 for feeding. By pressing toward the recording material stacking portion 361, the recording material is prevented from dropping from the recording material stacking portion 361 for feeding. This is Configuration Example 4 of Embodiment 1 in which the recording medium is recorded by the pickup roller 26 in the manual feeding unit 25 pressing the recording body on the manual feeding tray 25a in the direction of the recording body feeding tray. The same means as the means for suppressing the fall from the body feeding tray is used.
Specifically, this will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the lift of the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is detected by a lift detection sensor 364 that detects that the second pressure plate 357 in the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is lifted from the second contact glass 303. Then, at this detection timing, the sensor control unit provided in the image reading unit 310 transmits the information released by the automatic recording body feeding unit 350 to the solenoid control unit in the lifting device that moves the feeding roller 352 up and down. The solenoid control unit controls the solenoid 370 so that the feeding roller 352 descends toward the recording body S on the feeding recording material stacking unit 361 when the automatic recording body feeding unit releases information. The feeding roller 352 pressurizes the recording body Sr in the direction of the feeding recording body stacking section 361 with a pressure Pc generated by a pressure spring 371 provided in the lifting device.
As a result, when the recording body Sr is loaded on the feeding recording body stacking section 361, the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is set when the new recording body Sr is set on or removed from the first contact glass 302. Even when the paper is opened, the recording body Sr on the feeding recording material stacking portion 361 is held in place by the pressure of the feeding roller 352, so that the recording body Sr falls from the feeding recording material stacking portion 361. do not do.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 19, the feeding detection sensor 372 used in the modification of the configuration example 1 of the first embodiment is arranged so as to have the same positional relationship as that of the configuration example 1 of the first embodiment. It is also possible to provide it on the downstream side in the recording material transport direction M2. Thereby, even if the automatic recording body feeding unit 350 is opened, the solenoid 370 does not operate and the feeding roller 352 does not descend according to the same control flow as in the configuration example 1 of the first embodiment. As a result, the feeding roller 352 descends despite the absence of the recording material S to be pressed by the feeding roller 352, the feeding recording material stacking portion 361 and the feeding roller 352 collide, and the feeding roller 352 or Problems such as damage to the feeding recording material stacking portion 361 can be suppressed.

[Configuration example 5]
Next, as a configuration example 5, a stopper 373 for preventing the recording body Sr from dropping on the recording body stacking portion 361 as shown in FIG. The stopper 373 has the same configuration as that of the configuration example 2 of the first embodiment.
Specifically, when the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is opened so that the front side of FIG. 20 opens with respect to the apparatus main body, the feeding recording body stacking section 361 is horizontally directed toward the back side of FIG. Also, the recording body Sr on the feeding recording material stacking portion 361 falls from the back side of the feeding recording material stacking portion 361 in FIG. Therefore, the stopper 32 is provided at the rear end in FIG. 20 of the feeding recording material stacking portion 361 so that the rotation axis of the stopper 32 is parallel to the recording material feeding direction M2. As a result, even if the feeding recording material stacking portion 361 is inclined downward toward the back in FIG. 20, the recording material S comes into contact with the portion of the stopper 32 that protrudes above the recording material stacking surface. Does not fall because it is held in place.

[Configuration Example 6]
Next, as the configuration example 6, as the recording body dropping suppression unit, the recording body Sr of the feeding recording body stacking unit 361 is pressed toward the feeding recording body stacking unit 361 and is dedicated to the recording body dropping suppression. The pressing member 374 suppresses the recording body Sr from falling. The recording body drop suppression means using the pressing member 374 has the same configuration as that of the configuration example 3 of the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 21, the pressing member 374 is provided on both sides of the feeding roller 352 of the recording material feeding unit. The pressing member 374 is in a position where it does not come into contact with the recording body Sr of the feeding recording body stacking section 361 when the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is closed with respect to the image locking picture section 310. When the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is opened, the pressing member 374 is recorded on the feeding recording body stacking section 361 by an elevating device provided in the automatic recording body feeding section 350 different from the elevating device of the feeding roller 352. The recording body S descends toward the body S and presses the recording body S toward the recording body stacking portion 361 for feeding with the applied pressure Pd. As a result, even when the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is opened, the recording body Sr of the feeding recording body stacking section 361 is held in place by the pressing member 374, so that the recording body Sr is loaded on the feeding recording body. It does not fall from the part 361.

[Embodiment 3]
As a third embodiment, a copying machine 100 provided with a recording material discharge unit 28 according to the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, recording is performed when the recording body S is loaded on the recording body discharge tray 28a of the recording body discharge section 28 and the recording medium S is prevented from dropping when the frame F is opened to the copying machine 100 main body. A characteristic configuration of the body delivery unit 28 will be described.
In the third embodiment, the basic configuration of the image forming apparatus other than the recording material discharge unit 28 having a characteristic configuration has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.
When a jam occurs in the conveyance path of the image forming unit 1, the frame F is opened so that the jammed portion in the apparatus main body can be accessed from the outside in order to process the jam. The frame F includes a recording body discharge section 28 that discharges the recording body Sp on which an image is formed by the image forming section 1 to the outside of the apparatus. The recording body discharge section 28 is provided with a recording body discharge tray 28a to be stacked. When the frame F is closed with respect to the apparatus main body, the recording bodies Sp stacked on the recording body discharge tray 28a are The recording material discharge tray 28a does not fall. However, when the frame F is opened to the copying machine 100 main body and the recording material discharge tray 28a is inclined downward, the recording material Sp on the recording material discharge tray 28a falls from the recording material discharge tray 28a. . Therefore, when the jam processing is performed, it takes time and effort to remove the recording material Sp from the recording material discharge tray 28a before the frame F is opened.

Therefore, a stopper 34 for preventing the recording body Sp from falling on the recording body discharge tray 28a is provided as a recording body drop suppression means. The stopper 34 has the same configuration as that of the configuration example 2 of the first embodiment.
When the frame F is opened with respect to the main body of the copying machine 100 so that the upper part is opened, the recording medium discharge tray 28a is inclined downward toward the downstream side in the recording medium discharge direction M3. The recording material Sp on the tray 28a falls from the downstream side in the recording material discharge direction M3 of the recording material discharge tray 28a. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22, the stopper 32 is provided at the downstream end of the recording material discharge tray 28a in the recording material discharge direction M3 so that the rotation axis of the stopper 32 is orthogonal to the recording material discharge direction M3. As a result, even if the recording material discharge tray 28a is inclined downward from the horizontal toward the downstream side in the recording material discharge direction M3, the recording material is located above the recording material stacking surface of the stopper 32. It touches and is held in place so it doesn't fall.

As described above, according to each embodiment, the copying machine 100 which is an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the manual feed tray 25 which is a recording body stacking unit on which the recording bodies S to be fed into the copying machine 100 main body are stacked. . Further, the copying machine 100 includes a recording body discharge tray 28 that is a recording body stacking unit on which the recording bodies Sp discharged from the copying machine 100 main body are stacked. The copying machine 100 further includes an image reading apparatus 300 that feeds the recording body Sr loaded on the feeding recording body stacking section 361 to the image reading section 310 by the automatic recording body feeding section 350 and reads the image of the recording body Sr. Yes.
The frame F of the copying machine 100 and the automatic recording body feeding section 350 provided with the manual feeding section 25 having the manual feeding tray 25a or the recording body discharging section 28 having the recording body discharge tray 28 are arranged in the vertical direction. Are attached to the copying machine 100 main body or the image reading unit 310 in a state that can be opened and closed around a rotation axis extending in a direction intersecting with the image forming apparatus.
The manual feed tray 25a, the recording material discharge tray 28a, or the feeding recording material stacking unit 361 performs recording when the frame F or the automatic recording material feeding unit 350 is closed with respect to the copying machine 100 main body or the image reading unit 310. In a state where the recording body S, Sp, Sr does not fall from the body stacking surface and the frame F or the automatic recording body feeding unit 350 is opened with respect to the copying machine 100 main body or the image reading unit 310, the recording body stacking is performed. The recording medium S, Sp, Sr is provided so as to take a second posture in which it can fall from the surface.
In the copying machine 100, the frame F or the automatic recording body feeding unit 350 is opened from a predetermined time before the frame F or the automatic recording body feeding unit 350 is opened, and the manual feeding tray 25a, the feeding recording body stacking unit 361 or the recording is performed. At a predetermined timing until the body discharge tray 28a takes the second posture, an operation for suppressing the drop of the recording bodies S, Sp, Sr from the recording body stacking surface is started, and the recording body stacking is started. While the unit is in the second posture, there is provided a recording body drop suppressing means for continuing the operation.
As a result, even if the frame F or the automatic recording material feeding unit 350 is opened while the recording material is stacked on the manual feeding tray 25a, the feeding recording material stacking unit 361 or the recording material discharge tray 28a, recording is performed at a predetermined timing. It is possible to suppress the recording body from dropping from the recording material stacking surface by the body dropping suppression means.
Further, in each embodiment, the recording body fall suppressing means includes an contacting / separating member that contacts and separates from an upper surface of the recording body stacked on the recording body stacking surface. By bringing the contact / separation member into contact with the upper surface of the recording body S at the predetermined timing, the recording body S is pressed against the recording body stacking surface side. As a result, even if the frame F or the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is opened with respect to the apparatus main body while the recording body S is loaded on the manual feeding tray 25a, the feeding recording body stacking section 361 or the recording body discharge tray 28a. Since the contact / separation member presses the recording body against the recording body stacking surface, the recording body S can be prevented from falling from the manual feed tray 25a, the feeding recording body stacking section 361 or the recording body discharge tray 28a.
In each embodiment, the contact / separation member is the pickup roller 26 or the feeding roller 352 that feeds the recording bodies S and Sr from the manual feeding tray 25a or the feeding recording body stacking section 361. Accordingly, since the pickup roller 26 or the feeding roller 352 is used for suppressing the recording body fall, it is not necessary to newly provide a member for suppressing the recording body fall in the apparatus. Thereby, since a new member is not added in the apparatus for suppressing the recording body falling, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost.
In each embodiment, the pickup roller 26 is restricted from rotating R in the direction opposite to the recording material feeding direction. As a result, the recording body S receives a resistance force from the pickup roller 26 in the direction opposite to the recording body conveyance direction, that is, the dropping direction. Therefore, by restricting the rotation R of the pickup roller 26 in the direction opposite to the recording body delivery direction, the recording body is pressed against the pickup roller 26 so that the recording body S is not dropped by the pickup roller 26. Since it becomes larger than the case where it only has, the fall suppression effect improves.
In each of the embodiments, the recording body drop suppression unit is configured to record the recording bodies S and Sr when the manual feeding tray 25a, the automatic recording body feeding section 350, or the recording body discharge tray 28a takes the second posture. , Sp with respect to the recording material stacking surface portion located on the lower side in the inclination direction of the recording material stacking surface, a protruding position protruding above the recording material stacking surface portion and a retreating position retracting below the recording material stacking surface It has a stopper that can move between the two. Accordingly, the recording bodies S, Sr, Sp on the manual feed tray 25a, the feeding recording material stacking portion 361 or the recording material discharge tray 28a are moved to the stopper by moving the stopper to the protruding position at the predetermined timing. , And held in place, it is possible to suppress the fall from the manual feed tray 25a, the feeding recording material stacking portion 361 or the recording material discharge tray 28a.
Moreover, in each embodiment, it has a detection means for detecting the predetermined timing. The recording body drop suppression means starts to suppress the falling of the recording bodies S, Sr, Sp from the recording body stacking surface at the detection timing of the detection means. As a result, the drop suppression means can be operated at an optimal timing for suppressing the fall of the recording bodies S, Sr, Sp by the detection means.
In each embodiment, the detection means is the open / close detection sensor 29 or the lift detection sensor 364 that detects that the frame F or the automatic recording body feeding unit 350 is opened. The recording body drop suppression means operates when the open / close detection sensor 29 or the lift detection sensor 364 detects that the frame F or the automatic recording body feed section 350 is opened to the copying machine 100 main body or the image reading section 310. . As a result, when the frame F or the automatic recording body feeding section 350 is opened, the recording body drop suppressing means can be operated at an appropriate timing.
In each embodiment, the stack detection sensors 31 and 372 detect whether or not the recording bodies S and Sr are stacked on the recording body stacking surface of the manual feed tray 25a or the feeding recording body stacking section 361. There is. As a result, when the recording member is prevented from dropping by the contact / separation member as the recording member dropping suppression means, the stack detection sensors 31 and 372 detect that the recording members S and Sr are not stacked on the recording member stacking surface. In some cases, the recording body drop suppression means does not operate regardless of the detection result of the open / close detection sensor 29 or the lift detection sensor 364. Accordingly, the contact / separation member descends despite the absence of the recording bodies S and Sr to be pressed by the contact / separation member, and the manual feed tray 25a or the feeding recording body stacking portion 361 collides with the contact / separation member, Problems such as damage to the contact / separation member, the manual feed tray 25a, or the feeding recording material stacking portion 361 can be suppressed.
In each embodiment, the stack detection sensors 31 and 372 are configured to feed the manual feed section 25 or the automatic recording body from the downstream end of the manual feed tray 25a or the feeding recording body stacking section 361 in the recording medium conveyance direction. L2 from the downstream end of the manual feed tray 25a or the feed recording material stacking portion 361 in the recording material conveyance direction, rather than the length L2 of the minimum recording material S, Sr that can be conveyed by the section 350 to the length in the recording material conveyance direction. It is provided with a length L1 from the downstream side in the recording material conveyance direction. Thereby, the stack detection sensors 31 and 372 can manually feed the tray 25a or the feeding record for all sizes of the recording bodies S and Sr that can be conveyed by the manual feeding unit 25 or the automatic recording body feeding unit 350. Whether or not the recording bodies S and Sr are stacked on the body stacking unit 361 can be reliably detected.
In each embodiment, the manual feeding unit 25 including the manual feeding tray 25, the automatic recording body feeding unit 350 including the feeding recording body stacking unit 361, or the recording including the recording body discharge tray 28a. The body discharge unit 28 is a replacement part for the copying machine 100. As a result, the replacement part can be obtained by opening the frame F or the automatic recording body feeding unit 350 from a predetermined time before the frame F or the automatic recording body feeding unit 350 is opened with respect to the copying machine 100 main body or the image reading unit 310. The recording bodies S, Sr from above the recording body stacking surface at a predetermined timing until the differential feeding tray, the feeding recording body stacking section 361 or the recording body discharge tray 28a takes the second posture. , And a recording body drop suppression means for starting to suppress the fall of Sp. Therefore, even if the manual feeding unit 25, the automatic recording body feeding unit 350, or the recording body discharging unit 28 breaks down, it is only necessary to replace the corresponding parts, so that the equipment maintenance cost can be suppressed. Further, when a new copying machine 100 is purchased, the replacement part can be provided only in a necessary part as an option, so that the capital investment cost can be suppressed.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copier according to an embodiment. The top view of an image sensor. The center sectional view showing the outline of an image forming part. FIG. 7 is a partial view showing a state where the frame F is opened. The schematic block diagram of the raising / lowering apparatus which raises / lowers a pick-up roller. Explanatory drawing when a pick-up roller descends and sends out a recording medium. FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a controller for controlling each unit in the apparatus. The schematic block diagram at the time of open | releasing the flame | frame F provided with the manual feeding part which concerns on this embodiment. Explanatory drawing when the rotation of a pick-up roller in the recording material conveyance direction is controlled. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram when a manual feed tray is provided with a load detection sensor. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the posture of the stack detection sensor when a recording medium is stacked on the manual feed tray or when it is not stacked. FIG. 5 is a control flow diagram for suppressing a recording body drop by a loading detection sensor and an open / close detection sensor. The schematic block diagram of a stopper. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of a stopper. The schematic block diagram when providing a stopper in the manual feed tray. The schematic block diagram when the press member only for recording body fall suppression is used in the manual feeding part. The block diagram when an automatic recording body feed part is opened with respect to the apparatus main body. The schematic block diagram when using the raising / lowering apparatus provided with the structure similar to a pick-up roller for the raising / lowering means of a feed roller. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram when a stack detection sensor is provided in a feeding recording material stacking unit. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram when a stopper is provided on a feeding recording material stacking unit. The schematic block diagram when the press member only for recording body fall suppression is used in the automatic recording body feed part. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram when a stopper is provided on a recording material discharge tray.

Explanation of symbols

25 Manual Feeding Section 25a Manual Feeding Tray 26 Pickup Roller 28 Recording Body Discharge Part 28a Recording Body Discharge Tray 29 Opening / Closing Detection Sensor 31 Loading Detection Sensor 32 Stopper 33 Pressing Member 34 Stopper 67 Solenoid 70 Pressure Spring 310 Image Reading Section 350 Automatic Recorder Feed Unit 352 Feeding Roller 361 Feeding Recorder Stacking Unit 364 Lifting Detection Sensor 370 Solenoid 371 Pressure Spring 372 Stacking Detection Sensor 373 Stopper 374 Pressing Member

Claims (13)

A recording medium stacking section for loading a recording medium fed into or discharged from the apparatus main body onto the recording medium stacking surface and capable of opening and closing around a rotation shaft extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. In the recording material stacking apparatus attached to the apparatus main body,
The recording material stacking unit takes a first posture in which the recording material does not fall from the recording material stacking surface when the recording material stacking device is closed with respect to the device main body. In the open state, the recording medium is provided to take a second posture in which the recording medium can fall from the loading surface,
From a predetermined timing before the recording medium stacking device opens to a predetermined timing from when the recording medium stacking device opens until the recording medium stacking unit takes the second posture, The recording medium is provided with a recording medium drop suppression means for starting the operation for suppressing the recording medium from falling and continuing the operation while the recording medium stacking portion is in the second posture. Loading device. The recording material stacking apparatus according to claim 1,
The recording body dropping suppression means has an contacting / separating member that contacts and separates from an upper surface of the recording body stacked on the recording body stacking surface, and the contacting / separating member is moved to the upper surface of the recording body at the predetermined timing. A recording material stacking apparatus, wherein the recording material is pressed against the recording material stacking surface side by bringing the recording material into contact with the recording material, thereby preventing the recording material from dropping. The recording material stacking apparatus according to claim 2,
The recording body stacking apparatus, wherein the contact / separation member is a delivery roller for feeding the recording body from the recording body stacking section. In the recording material stacking apparatus according to claim 3,
The recording material stacking apparatus, wherein the feeding roller is restricted from rotating in a direction opposite to the recording material feeding direction. The recording material stacking apparatus according to claim 1,
The recording body drop restraining means is a recording body stacking surface portion that is located below the recording body stacking surface in the inclination direction with respect to the recording body when the recording body stacking portion takes the second posture. A stopper that is movable between a protruding position that protrudes above the recording material stacking surface portion and a retracted position that retracts below the recording material stacking surface, and the stopper is moved to the protruding position at the predetermined timing. A recording material stacking apparatus characterized in that the recording material is prevented from falling by being moved. The recording material stacking apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
The recording apparatus has a detecting means for detecting the predetermined timing, and the recording body drop suppressing means performs an operation for suppressing the falling of the recording body from the recording body loading surface at the detection timing of the detecting means. A recording material stacking device characterized in that: The recording material stacking apparatus according to claim 6,
The detection means is an opening detection means for detecting that the recording material stacking device is opened,
The recording medium stacking apparatus, wherein the recording body dropping suppression means is activated when the opening detection means detects that the recording body stacking apparatus is opened with respect to the apparatus main body. The recording material stacking apparatus according to claim 6 or 7,
Loading detection means for detecting whether or not the recording body is loaded on the recording body loading surface;
The recording body drop suppression means is not activated regardless of the detection result of the detection means when the stack detection means detects that the recording body is not stacked on the recording body loading surface. A recording material stacking device. The recording material stacking apparatus according to claim 8,
The stack detection means is more than a length from an end of the recording body stacking section on the recording body stacking apparatus side to a minimum length of the recording body that can be stacked by the recording body stacking apparatus. A recording material stacking device provided on the recording material stacking device side. There is a recording body stacking section for loading the recording medium that is sent to an image reading section for reading an image of the recording body or discharged from the image reading section on the recording body stacking surface, and extends in a direction that intersects the vertical direction. In an image reading apparatus provided with a recording material stacking unit attached to the image reading unit in a state that can be opened and closed around a moving axis,
An image reading apparatus comprising: the recording material stacking device according to claim 1, as the recording material stacking unit. An image reading unit that feeds the recording material loaded on the recording material stacking unit to the image reading unit and reads an image of the recording material, and an image for another recording material based on the image read by the image reading unit In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit 1 to be formed,
An image forming apparatus comprising the image reading apparatus according to claim 10 as the image reading means. A recording medium stacking section for loading a recording medium fed into or discharged from the apparatus main body onto the recording medium stacking surface and capable of opening and closing around a rotation shaft extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. In an image forming apparatus comprising a recording material stacking unit attached to the apparatus main body and an image forming unit 1 for forming an image on the recording material.
An image forming apparatus comprising the recording material stacking device according to claim 1, as the recording material stacking unit. The recording material stacking apparatus is a replacement part for an image forming apparatus according to claim 11 or 12,
The recording is performed at a predetermined timing from when the recording medium stacking device is opened to when the recording medium stacking unit takes the second posture from a predetermined time before the recording medium stacking device is opened with respect to the apparatus main body. An operation for suppressing the fall of the recording body from the body stacking surface is started, and a recording body dropping suppression means is provided for continuing the operation while the recording body stacking portion takes the second posture. Replacement parts for the recording medium loading device.

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