Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a recording section configured to eject ink onto a sheet to form an image; a conveying portion facing the recording portion in a vertical direction and configured to convey the sheet in a first direction orthogonal to the vertical direction; a main body frame configured to support the recording portion and the conveying portion; and an outer cover disposed on a front side of the recording portion in a front-back direction orthogonal to a vertical direction and the first direction and attached to the main body frame, in which the outer cover includes a transparent cover formed of a transparent material and a cover frame disposed on at least a portion of a periphery of the transparent cover, and the outer cover is configured to be opened and closed by rotating around a rotation axis located on the upper end side of the outer cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printing press, a copying machine, or a printer that performs image formation using an inkjet method. Background Art

[0002] In the industrial printing industry, it is desirable that an operator can visually check the operating state of an image forming device. As a large inkjet printer, an image forming device that can visually check the scanning state of an inkjet head has been provided. Similarly, as a label printer, an image forming device that can visually check the operating state has been put on the market.

[0003] In the case of such an image forming apparatus, the height of the apparatus body is generally less than the height of a person. A configuration may be adopted in which the recording portion of the image forming apparatus is not covered with an exterior cover to enable visual inspection of the operating state in such an image forming apparatus. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which an exterior cover is provided on the front surface of the image forming apparatus and a transparent window is arranged on a portion of the exterior cover. In addition, a configuration may also be adopted in which lighting is provided inside the image forming apparatus to improve visibility (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2016-215522).

[0004] As a commercial printer for cutting sheets / flat sheets, a printer with a visible recording section is put on the market. Compared with a large inkjet printer or a label printer, this printer is relatively large and has a height of about 2m, and the door used as an exterior cover is usually opened horizontally (double door).

[0005] However, in the related art, since the door provided on the front surface of the image forming apparatus opens horizontally, when the maintenance work of the image forming apparatus is performed by opening the door, the working space may be restricted by the opened door. For example, in the case where the maintenance work is performed by opening the double-hinged door and pulling out a unit such as a recording section in the apparatus to the front of the apparatus, the working space becomes narrow because the opened door is located on the side of the pulling-out unit. In addition, the opened door may block the moving path of the operator. Therefore, it is desired to improve the operability.

[0006] In a configuration in which a transparent window is arranged in a part of an exterior cover, the range in which the operating state can be visually checked is limited. Even when a transparent window is provided in each of the double-hinged doors, the joint between the doors becomes a blind spot, and thus the range in which the operating state can be visually checked is limited. Therefore, it is desirable to improve operability. Summary of the invention

[0007] According to a representative construction of the present invention, an image forming device includes: a recording unit, which is configured to eject ink onto a sheet to form an image; a conveying unit, which faces the recording unit in a vertical direction and is configured to convey the sheet in a first direction orthogonal to the vertical direction; a main frame, which is configured to support the recording unit and the conveying unit; and an exterior cover, which is arranged on the front side of the recording unit in a front-to-rear direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the first direction and is attached to the main frame to form a front exterior, wherein the exterior cover includes a transparent cover formed of a transparent material and a cover frame arranged on at least a portion of the periphery of the transparent cover, and the exterior cover is configured to be opened and closed by rotating around a rotation axis located on the upper end side of the exterior cover.

[0008] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus;

[0010] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a printing module;

[0011] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the printing module with the front door open when viewed from the front;

[0012] Figure 4 is a stereogram of a printing belt unit;

[0013] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the recording head when viewed from the ink ejection surface direction;

[0014] Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a retracted position of a recording head;

[0015] Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating a printing position of a recording head;

[0016] Fig. 8A and Figure 8B is a diagram for explaining the movement of the recording head to the printing position;

[0017] Fig.9A and Fig. 9B is a diagram for explaining the movement of the recording head to the printing position;

[0018] Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B is a diagram for explaining the movement of the recording head to the printing position;

[0019] Fig.11is a perspective view illustrating a state before a recording head is attached to a head holder;

[0020] Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B is a perspective view illustrating a moving operation of a scanner unit;

[0021] Fig.13A and Fig. 13B is a perspective view illustrating a moving operation of a scanner unit;

[0022] Fig.14 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state in which a recording unit and a maintenance unit are mounted on a main body frame of a printing module;

[0023] Fig.15 is a schematic diagram of the main frame of the printing module when viewed from directly above;

[0024] Fig.16 is a left cross-sectional view of the printing module;

[0025] Fig.17 It is along Fig.16 A cross-sectional view of the printing module taken along line GG;

[0026] Fig.18A and Fig.18B It is an overall schematic diagram of the front door of the printing module;

[0027] Fig.19 is an exploded view illustrating the construction of the front door of the printing module;

[0028] Fig. 20A and Fig. 20B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the front door of the printing module is opened upward; and

[0029] Fig.21 It is a figure for demonstrating the strap of the front door which opens upwards. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that, unless otherwise specified, the size, material, relative position, etc. of the components of the image forming apparatus described below do not limit the scope of the present invention. In addition, the components indicated by the same reference numerals in the respective drawings have the same structure or function, and their repeated description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0031] <Image Forming Apparatus>

[0032] Will refer to Figure 1 A schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus is described. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus. Figure 1The illustrated image forming apparatus is an example of an inkjet image forming apparatus that performs image formation using an inkjet method.

[0033] In the image forming apparatus, processing is performed on a paper sheet (recording medium) fed from a sheet feeding module 1000 in the order of a printing module 2000, a drying module 3000, a fixing module 4000, a cooling module 5000, a reversing module 6000, and a discharged sheet stacking module 7000. An image is formed on a paper sheet fed from the sheet feeding module 1000 by the printing module 2000. The drying module 3000 is a unit that reduces the liquid content in the ink to improve the fixability between the paper sheet and the ink, and the fixing module 4000 heats the paper sheet to soften the applied ink. The paper sheet fixed by the cooling module 5000 is cooled to solidify the softened ink, and the change in the temperature of the paper sheet downstream of the cooling module is suppressed. The reversing module 6000 adjusts the orientation of the paper sheet to a desired orientation. The discharged sheet stacking module 7000 aligns and stacks the printed paper sheets.

[0034] At the time of double-sided printing, the paper sheet is conveyed by the cooling module 5000 so as to be returned toward the printing module, and the front and back sides of the paper sheet and the front and rear sides of the paper sheet are changed by the reversing device 4200 provided in the fixing module 4000. Thereafter, the paper sheet is conveyed again to the printing module 2000 via the double-sided conveying path of the drying module 3000 and the sheet feeding module 1000, and is subjected to back-side printing.

[0035] As described above, the image forming apparatus includes a printing module 2000 as a first module, and the printing module 2000 includes a recording section 2300 and a printing belt unit 2200. The image forming apparatus also includes second modules (1000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, and 7000) that are connected to one or both of the left and right sides of the printing module 2000 in the left-right direction and have functions different from those of the printing module 2000. The left-right direction in the present embodiment is a sheet conveying direction when image formation is performed. The sheet conveying direction may be referred to as a first direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the first direction is a left-right direction. In the embodiment, the right side of the left-right direction corresponds to the upstream side of the conveying direction, and the left side of the left-right direction corresponds to the downstream side of the conveying direction.

[0036] Here, a configuration in which the image forming apparatus is formed by connecting modules having different functions to both sides of the printing module 2000 in the left-right direction has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The image forming apparatus may have a configuration in which modules having different functions are connected to the left side of the printing module 2000 in the left-right direction. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus may have a configuration in which modules having different functions are connected to the right side of the printing module 2000 in the left-right direction.

[0037] <Printing Module>

[0038] Will refer to Figure 2 The structure of the printing module 2000 will be described. Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printing module 2000 .

[0039] The printing module 2000 is an image forming unit that performs recording processing on a paper sheet (recording medium) as a conveying sheet by forming an image on the paper sheet from above using the recording head 10. The printing module 2000 includes a pre-image formation registration correction unit 2400, a printing belt unit 2200 as a conveying unit, a recording unit 2300, a maintenance unit 2600, and a scanner unit 11. The paper sheet is sucked and conveyed by the printing belt unit 2200, so that a gap with the recording head is ensured.

[0040] The paper sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding module 1000 is conveyed to the printing belt unit 2200 after the inclination and position of the paper sheet are corrected by the pre-image formation registration correction section 2400. The recording section 2300 is arranged at a position facing the printing belt unit 2200 across the conveying path. The recording section 2300 performs a recording process (printing) on ​​the paper sheet as the conveying sheet by forming an image on the paper sheet using the recording head 10 from above. In the conveyance of the paper sheet in the recording section 2300, the printing belt unit 2200 that attracts and conveys the paper sheet is arranged to stabilize the paper sheet conveying behavior just below the recording head 10. In the printing belt unit 2200, the paper sheet conveyed on the paper sheet conveying surface 24 as the sheet conveying surface is conveyed in a state where a gap relative to the recording head 10 is ensured. The recording head 10 performs image formation by ejecting ink onto the conveying paper sheet at the ejection timing. A plurality of recording heads 10 are arranged along the conveying direction. In this example, in addition to providing four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk), a total of five line type recording heads corresponding to the reaction liquids are provided.

[0041] The scanner unit 11 is installed downstream of the recording head 10 in the conveying direction. The scanner unit 11 checks the image just after the ink is applied by reading the sheet and the image on the conveying surface 24 of the printing belt unit 2200. When an image defect such as ink ejection failure due to clogging of the ink ejection hole is detected, the device is immediately stopped to minimize the generation of defective products. The scanner unit 11 is a unit (reading unit) that not only detects the ink ejection state but also reads the image formed on the paper sheet by the recording unit during printing, detects the deviation or density of the image, and corrects the printing.

[0042] The maintenance unit 2600 is arranged on the right side of the recording unit 2300. The recording head 10 of the recording unit 2300 can be raised and lowered, and can be moved vertically to an upper retreat position as required (see FIG. Figure 6). The maintenance unit 2600 moves to a position directly below the recording head 10 at the retreat position to perform maintenance on the recording unit 2300 (recording head 10).

[0043] The maintenance unit 2600 includes a cover plate 18 in which a cover mechanism (not shown) for protecting the inkjet surface of the recording head 10 is arranged. The maintenance unit 2600 includes a cleaning plate 19 in which a cleaning mechanism (not shown) for recovering the ejection performance of the recording head 10 is arranged. The maintenance unit 2600 is a two-layer unit including the cover plate 18 in the upper section and the cleaning plate 19 in the lower section. The inkjet surface is a nozzle surface (nozzle surface) on which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink in the recording head 10 are arranged.

[0044] When the operation of the device is stopped, the cover disk 18 is directly below the recording portion 2300, and the recording head 10 is lowered and covered by a covering mechanism (not shown) in the cover disk, thereby preventing the ink ejection surface of the recording head 10 from drying. In response to a print start command from a controller (not shown), the recording head 10 is first raised to the retreat position and separated from the cover disk 18, and then the cover disk 18 is retreated to the retreat position, and then the recording head 10 is lowered to the printing position and the printing operation is performed. In response to a print end command, the recording head 10 is raised to the retreat position. Thereafter, when the cover disk 18 is moved from the retreat position to a position directly below the recording portion 2300, the recording head 10 is lowered, landed on the cover disk, covered, and then stopped.

[0045] Even during printing, when a predetermined continuous operation time is reached, a cleaning command is issued from a controller (not shown). In response to the cleaning command, the recording head 10 is raised to the retreat position, and then the cleaning disk 19 of the maintenance unit 2600 in the lower section is moved to a position directly below the recording unit 2300. Thereafter, the recording head 10 is lowered and landed on the cleaning disk 19, and a cleaning operation such as wiping or vacuuming is performed. After the cleaning is completed, the recording head 10 is raised to the retreat position, the cleaning disk 19 is moved from a position directly below the recording unit 2300 to the retreat position, and the recording head 10 is lowered to the printing position to restart printing. In the case where printing is not restarted after the cleaning is completed, the recording head 10 is raised to the retreat position after the cleaning is completed, the cleaning disk 19 is moved from a position directly below the recording unit 2300 to the retreat position, and the cover disk 18 is moved from the retreat position to a position directly below the recording unit 2300. Then, the recording head 10 is lowered, lands on the cover disk 18, is covered, and then stops. The head cleaning during the printing operation may be performed after the printing process of the paper sheets circulating in the apparatus is completed and the supply of new paper sheets is stopped. Alternatively, the head cleaning during the printing operation may be performed by temporarily stopping the operation in a state where the paper sheets are circulating.

[0046] Note that the number of colors and the number of recording heads in the image forming apparatus are not limited to five. In addition, a method using a heating element, a method using a piezoelectric element, a method using an electrostatic element, a method using a MEMS element, or the like may be adopted as the ink jet method.

[0047] <Structure of Recording Unit>

[0048] Next, we will refer to Figures 3 to 11 The structures of the recording section 2300 and the printing tape unit 2200 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the printing module 2000 when viewed from the front with the front door (exterior cover) covering the recording unit 2300 opened. Figure 4 It is a perspective view of the printing belt unit 2200. Figure 5 It is a perspective view of the recording head 10 when viewed from the ink ejection surface direction. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the recording head 10 is located at the retracted position. Figure 7 It is a perspective view showing a state where the recording head 10 is located at the printing position. FIG. 8A to FIG. 10B This is a diagram for explaining the movement of the recording head 10 to the printing position. Fig.11 is a perspective view illustrating a state before the recording head is attached to the head holder.

[0049] like Figure 3 An upward direction U, a downward direction D, a rightward direction R, a leftward direction L, a backward direction B, and a forward direction F used in the following description are defined as shown. Figure 3 The side of the main body frame 200 (printing module 2000) shown, where the front door 100 as an exterior cover is arranged, is defined as the front side (front surface side), and the side opposite thereto is defined as the rear side (back side or rear surface side). Based on the recording section 2300, the scanner unit 11 (see Figure 2 ) is defined as the left side. Based on the recording section 2300, the side where the maintenance section 2600 is arranged is defined as the right side. In addition, an upward direction in the vertical direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction defined herein is defined as the upward direction, and a downward direction in the vertical direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction defined herein is defined as the downward direction. Figure 3 , the forward direction F, the backward direction B, the rightward direction R, the leftward direction L, the upward direction U, and the downward direction D are defined. The left-right direction is a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction (up-down direction) and is the same as the conveying direction in which the paper sheet as the sheet is conveyed. The front-back direction is a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the left-right direction (first direction).

[0050] like Figure 4As shown, the printing belt unit 2200 includes a printing belt 2201, a belt roller 2202, a suction unit 2203, a cleaning unit 2210, etc. The printing belt 2201 serves as a contact surface that contacts the paper sheet when the paper sheet is conveyed, and is provided with a plurality of suction holes 2201a in the left-right direction and the front-back direction. The suction holes 2201a are through holes that penetrate the printing belt 2201 in the thickness direction, and are arranged to be distributed on the inside and outside of the area through which the paper sheet passes when the paper sheet is conveyed. The belt roller 2202 keeps the tension of the printing belt 2201 constant. The suction unit 2203 absorbs the paper sheet through the suction holes 2201a. The cleaning unit 2210 abuts against the printing belt 2201 and wipes off the mist and paper powder attached to the surface of the printing belt 2201. In the present embodiment, the number of suction units 2203 configured in the printing belt unit 2200 is four, but the number of suction units 2203 is not limited to four.

[0051] The printing belt unit 2200 is arranged just below the recording head 10. That is, the printing belt unit 2200 is arranged at a position facing the recording section 2300 in the vertical direction. The printing belt unit 2200 has a height adjustment function of adjusting the height of a paper sheet conveying surface (sheet conveying surface) according to the thickness of the paper sheet so that the surface of the paper sheet has a predetermined gap with the recording head 10. As described above, the printing belt unit 2200 has an adsorption conveying function of conveying the paper sheet while keeping the surface of the paper sheet along the conveying belt flat.

[0052] A positioning member 811 for positioning the recording head 10 at the printing position (recording position) is provided on the housing 81 of the printing tape unit 2200. Specifically, for one recording head 10, one positioning member 811a is provided on the front side (the front surface side of the device) in the front-back direction (the width direction of the paper sheet), and two positioning members 811b and 811c are provided on the back side (the back side of the device), and the printing tape 2201 is interposed between the positioning member 811a and the positioning members 811b and 811c.

[0053] like Figure 5As shown, in the recording head 10, a nozzle plate 223 including a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink is aligned in the longitudinal direction of the recording head 10 (the paper sheet width direction or the front-rear direction), and abutment portions 221 are provided at both ends of the recording head 10. Specifically, a first abutment portion 221a, a second abutment portion 221b, and a third abutment portion 221c are provided, the first abutment portion 221a being formed by a concave portion having a conical inclined surface and being located on the front side in the longitudinal direction of the recording head 10, the second abutment portion 221b being formed by a groove portion having two V-shaped flat surfaces on the back side in the longitudinal direction, and the third abutment portion 221c being formed by a plane portion. Here, a guide shape 221d is provided near the third abutment portion 221c formed by the plane portion, and is used to solve the following problem: when the third abutment portion 221c and the recording head positioning member 811c abut each other, the recording head (inkjet head) 10 slips, the ball does not enter the positioning portion, and positioning cannot be performed.

[0054] Figure 6 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state in which the recording head 10 is located at a retracted position to which the recording head 10 is retracted upward from the printing tape unit 2200 . Figure 7 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state where the recording head 10 is located at a printing position (recording position) where an image is printed on a paper sheet. The recording head 10 is detachably attached to a head holder 26. Between a printing position close to a paper sheet conveying surface 24 and a retreat position where printing is not performed, the recording head 10 is automatically raised and lowered integrally with the head holder 26 by a driving mechanism (not shown) along an elevating rail 29 provided in a recording head elevating frame 28.

[0055] Will refer to FIG. 8A to FIG. 10B The state where the recording head 10 moves from the retracted position to the printing position and engages with the positioning member 811 is described. FIG. 8A to FIG. 10B middle, Fig. 8A , Fig.9A and Fig. 10A It is a diagram of the recording head 10 when viewed from the rear in the front-rear direction. Figure 8B , Fig. 9B and Fig. 10B 1 is a diagram of the recording head 10 when viewed from the front in the front-rear direction. The recording head 10 in the retracted position ( Fig. 8A and Figure 8B ) is lowered integrally with the head holder 26, and lands on the positioning members 811a to 811c of the printing belt unit 2200 ( Fig.9A and Fig. 9B ). Thereafter, as the head holder 26 is further lowered, the weight of the recording head 10 is applied to the positioning members 811a to 811c, which causes the spherical shapes of the positioning members 811a to 811c to be strongly engaged with the conical recessed shapes of the positioning portions 211a to 211c of the recording head 10 ( Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B ). Therefore, the recording head 10 and the printing belt unit 2200 can be positioned with high accuracy. The recording head 10 can abut on the positioning members 811a to 811c simply by the weight of the recording head 10 or by applying abutment pressure by another pressurizing unit (not shown).

[0056] Next, we will refer to Fig.11 The attaching operation when setting the recording head 10 in the printing module 2000 will be described. Fig.11 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state before the recording head 10 is attached to the printing module 2000 .

[0057] like Fig.11 As shown, when the recording head 10 is set in the printing module 2000, first, the recording head lifting frame 28 is pulled out from the printing module 2000 to the front side in the front-to-back direction. The recording section 2300 includes a handle 13 provided at the front end in the front-to-back direction of the recording head lifting frame 28. The operator pulls the recording head lifting frame 28 out from the printing module 2000 to the front side in the front-to-back direction by using the handle 13. Then, the operator moves to the left side of the pulled recording head lifting frame 28, faces the left surface of the head holder 26, and attaches the recording head 10. The recording head 10 is held by the head holder 26 having an automatic lifting function as described above, and is connected to the head holder 26 by the pins and the like described below.

[0058] When attaching the recording head 10 to the head holder 26, first, the first pin 27a provided on the back side of the recording head 10 is inserted into the first hole 261 of the head holder 26. Thereafter, the second pin 27b provided on the front side of the recording head 10 is guided into the second hole 262 through the second notch 262c of the head holder 26, and the third pin 27c is guided into the third hole 263 through the third notch 263c. In addition, the first pin 27a, the second pin 27b, and the third pin 27c are supported by the first groove portion 261a of the first hole 261, the second groove portion 262a of the second hole 262, and the third groove portion 263a of the third hole 263, respectively. Therefore, the recording head 10 can be attached to the head holder 26 in a state where the posture of the recording head 10 relative to the head holder 26 is determined. At this time, as Fig.11 As shown, the first pin 27a and the first hole 261 are arranged on the back side in the paper sheet width direction, and the second pin 27b, the third pin 27c, the second hole 262, and the third hole 263 are arranged on the front side in the paper sheet width direction. Therefore, on the back side away from the operator's hand, it is only necessary to insert the first pin 27a into the first hole 261, and on the front side close to the hand, the second pin 27b and the third pin 27c are guided to the second hole 262 and the third hole 263, respectively. Therefore, the recording head 10 can be easily set on the head holder 26.

[0059] As described above, the printing belt unit 2200 includes the printing belt 2201 as a conveying belt that absorbs and conveys a paper sheet. The printing belt 2201 has a color (dark color) with a high contrast with the paper sheet (sheet).

[0060] <Structure of Reading Unit>

[0061] Next, we will refer to Fig. 12A , Fig. 12B , Fig.13A and Fig. 13B The structure of the scanner unit 11 as a reading section will be described. FIG. 12A to FIG. 13B 1 is a perspective view illustrating a lifting operation and a rotating operation as a moving operation of the scanner unit 11 .

[0062] The scanner unit 11 is provided so as to be movable between a reading position at which an image of a paper sheet can be read and a separation position which is farther from the printing tape 2201 than the reading position. Fig. 12A The figure shows the situation where the scanner unit 11 is located at the reading position. Fig. 12B The figure shows the situation where the scanner unit 11 is in the separated position. Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B As shown, the scanner unit 11 is moved between the reading position and the separation position by the lifting unit 400 in the vertical direction in a state where the reading surface 112 faces downward in the vertical direction and faces the printing tape 2201. In the present embodiment, when the scanner unit 11 is located at the reading position and the separation position, the reading surface 112 is located at the facing position where the reading surface 112 faces the printing tape 2201.

[0063] Will refer to Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B The lifting unit 400 is described. Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B As shown, the lifting unit 400 includes a rotating shaft 401, a handle 402, and a pair of lifting parts 403. The rotating shaft 401 extends in a front-to-rear direction (paper sheet width direction) orthogonal to the conveying direction and the vertical direction of the conveyed paper sheet. The handle 402 is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 401 in the width direction so that the user (operator) can grasp and rotate the rotating shaft 401.

[0064] The pair of lifting parts 403 are arranged at both ends of the rotating shaft 401 in the width direction in a manner facing each other, and support the rotating shaft 401 to be rotatable. The lifting parts 403 lift and lower the scanner unit 11 in the vertical direction according to the rotation of the rotating shaft 401. However, the holding plate 601 is provided below each lifting part 403 in the vertical direction, and the holding plate 601 holds the scanner unit 11 in a manner that the scanner unit 11 is rotatable. In the present embodiment, when the user rotates the handle 402, the holding plate 601 moves in the vertical direction together with the lifting parts 403 and the rotating shaft 401, and the scanner unit 11 held by the holding plate 601 is lifted and lowered accordingly.

[0065] By using the lifting unit 400, the user can lift the scanner unit 11 in the vertical direction by operating the handle 402. In this embodiment, when the user wants to clean the reading surface 112 of the scanner unit 11, the user first needs to move the scanner unit 11 from the reading position (see FIG. Fig. 12A ) moves to the separated position (see Fig. 12B ). In this case, the user grasps the handle 402 and operates the rotating shaft 401 to rotate in the clockwise direction. Then, the lifting part 403 moves upward in the vertical direction, and thus, the scanner unit 11 held by the holding plate 601 moves to the separation position. The separation position is a position farther from the printing tape 2201 than the reading position.

[0066] In addition, when the scanner unit 11 is located in the above-mentioned separated position (see Fig. 12B ) state, the scanner unit 11 is configured to be movable between a facing position and a non-facing position (hereinafter referred to as a pulled-out position), wherein the facing position is a position where the reading surface 112 faces the printing tape 2201, and the non-facing position is a position where the reading surface 112 does not face the printing tape 2201. Fig.13A The figure shows the scanner unit 11 in the pulled-out position. Fig.13A As shown, in a state where the reading surface 112 faces downward in the vertical direction, the scanner unit 11 is slid and moved between the separation position (facing position) and the pulled-out position in the width direction by the pulling unit 500 .

[0067] Will refer to Fig. 12B and Fig.13A The pulling unit 500 is described.

[0068] Notice, Fig. 12B The figure shows a state where the scanner unit 11 is located at the separated position, that is, a state before the scanner unit 11 is pulled out to the pulled-out position. Fig. 12BAs shown, the pulling unit 500 includes a pair of slide rails 501 extending in the width direction at intervals in the conveying direction, and a moving frame 502, the pair of slide rails 501 extending in the width direction, and the moving frame 502 holding the lifting unit 400 and provided to be slidable along the slide rails 501 in a manner movable between a separation position and a pulling position. The slide rail 501 is fixed to the housing of the printing module 2000. A frame gripping portion 503 that can be gripped by a user to slide the moving frame 502 is provided at one end side of the moving frame 502 in the width direction.

[0069] When the user wants to clean the reading surface 112 of the scanner unit 11, the user needs to move the scanner unit 11 from the reading position (see Fig. 12A ) moves to the separated position (see Fig. 12B ), and then moves from the separated position (facing position) to the pulled-out position (see Fig.13A ).

[0070] In this case, the handle 402 is manually rotated to raise the scanner unit 11 from the reading position to the separation position ( Fig. 12B ). Thereafter, the user grasps the frame grasping portion 503 and pulls the movable frame 502 toward the front side. Then, the movable frame 502 slides along the slide rail 501 to the pulled-out position. Therefore, the lifting unit 400 is also moved to the pulled-out position, and thus, the scanner unit 11 held by the holding plate 601 is moved to the pulled-out position. In the present embodiment, when the scanner unit 11 is located at the pulled-out position, the scanner unit 11 is in a state of being pulled out from the inside of the housing of the printing module 2000 toward the front side of the housing to the outside of the housing, and the reading surface 112 is exposed to the outside of the housing of the printing module 2000.

[0071] Then, the user keeps rotating the operating lever 111 and rotates the scanner unit 11 by approximately 90° to facilitate the wiping operation (see FIG. Fig. 13B ), and clean the reading surface 112 so that the reading surface 112 can be visually recognized. In the present embodiment, the lifting function is implemented by operating the handle 402, but the lifting of the scanner unit 11 can be performed manually or automatically by electricity.

[0072] Note that the scanner unit 11 disposed downstream of the recording section 2300 has a positioning structure similar to that of the recording head 10 described above, and differs in whether the lifting operation is automatically performed or manually performed. Since the scanner unit 11 is lifted and lowered only when the reading surface 112 is cleaned, the frequency of lifting and lowering the scanner unit 11 is low, and therefore, a method of manually performing the lifting operation is adopted.

[0073] <Structure of the Maintenance Department>

[0074] Will refer to Figure 2 The structure of the maintenance unit 2600 will be described.

[0075] As described above, the maintenance section 2600 includes the cover tray 18 provided with a cover mechanism (not shown) and the cleaning tray 19 provided with a cleaning mechanism (not shown). The cover tray 18 and the cleaning tray 19 are configured to be individually movable in the left-right direction of the printing module 2000 along a rail (not shown) provided in the printing module 2000. The rail is a guide mechanism that guides movement in the left-right direction while supporting the ends of the cover tray 18 and the cleaning tray 19 in the paper sheet width direction (front-rear direction).

[0076] In a recording state in which recording is performed on a paper sheet by the recording head 10, the cover tray 18 and the cleaning tray 19 are located upstream (right) of the recording portion 2300 in the paper sheet conveying direction. In the recording state, the cover tray 18 is located just above the cleaning tray 19. The positions of the cover tray 18 and the cleaning tray 19 in the recording state are also referred to as standby positions.

[0077] When the ink ejection surface of the recording head 10 is in the covering state in which the ink ejection surface is covered by the covering mechanism, the covering tray 18 is located just below the recording head 10 of the recording section 2300, and the cleaning tray 19 is located upstream of the recording section 2300 in the paper sheet conveying direction. That is, in the covering state, the covering tray 18 is located in the covering position by moving along the track from the standby position to the covering position located downstream in the paper sheet conveying direction, and the cleaning tray 19 is located in the standby position.

[0078] In a cleaning state in which the ink ejection surface of the recording head 10 is cleaned by the cleaning mechanism, the cleaning tray 19 is located just below the recording head 10 of the recording section 2300, and the cover tray 18 is located upstream of the recording section 2300 in the paper sheet conveying direction. That is, in the cleaning state, the cleaning tray 19 is located at the cleaning position by moving along the track from the standby position to the cleaning position located downstream in the paper sheet conveying direction, and the cover tray 18 is located at the standby position.

[0079] Each of the covering mechanisms in the covering disk 18 includes a plurality of spherical positioning members (not shown) for positioning the recording head 10 relative to the covering mechanism. The positioning members are arranged at both ends of each covering mechanism in the paper sheet width direction (front-rear direction). That is, the positioning members are arranged similarly to the positioning members 811a to 811c in the printing belt unit 2200. By engaging the positioning portions 211a to 211c of the recording head 10 with the positioning members of the covering mechanism, the recording head 10 and the covering mechanism can be positioned.

[0080] Similar to the positioning members of the covering mechanism, the cleaning disk 19 includes a plurality of spherical positioning members (not shown) for positioning the recording head 10 relative to the cleaning disk 19. That is, the positioning members are provided similarly to the positioning members 811a to 811c in the printing belt unit 2200. The recording head 10 and the cleaning disk 19 can be positioned by engaging the positioning portions 211a to 211c of the recording head 10 with the positioning members of the cleaning disk 19.

[0081] The cleaning tray 19 includes a moving mechanism (not shown) that moves a cleaning mechanism (not shown) for recovering the ejection performance of the recording head 10 in a wiping direction (front-rear direction) orthogonal to the paper sheet conveying direction. The cleaning mechanism recovers the ejection performance of the recording head 10 by removing ink and dust attached to the ink ejection face of the recording head 10 while being moved in the wiping direction by the moving mechanism.

[0082] <Main frame structure>

[0083] Next, we will refer to Fig.14 , Fig.15 , Fig.16 and Fig.17 The main frame 200 of the printing module 2000 will be described. Fig.14 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the recording unit 2300 and the maintenance unit 2600 are mounted on the main frame 200 of the printing module 2000 . Fig.15 is a schematic diagram of the main frame of the printing module when viewed from directly above. Fig.16 is a left cross-sectional view of the printing module 2000 . Fig.17 It is along Fig.16 A cross-sectional view of the printing module 2000 taken along line GG.

[0084] The printing module 2000 includes a main frame 200 supporting a recording portion 2300 and a printing belt unit 2200. The main frame 200 includes an upper horizontal column 201, a middle horizontal column 202, a left supporting column 203, a right supporting column 204, and the like.

[0085] The main frame 200 includes a left support column 203 and a right support column 204 provided on both sides in the left-right direction. Each of the left support column 203 and the right support column 204 extends in the vertical direction. In other words, the left support column 203 and the right support column 204 are provided to face each other in the left-right direction of the main frame 200. The left support column 203 is arranged on the left front side of the main frame 200, and the right support column 204 is arranged on the right front side of the main frame 200.

[0086] The recording section 2300, the scanner unit 11, and the maintenance section 2600 are supported by the main body frame 200. The recording section 2300, the scanner unit 11, and the maintenance section 2600 are arranged between the left support column 203 and the right support column 204 of the main body frame 200. The scanner unit 11 is arranged on the left side of the recording section 2300 between the left support column 203 and the right support column 204 of the main body frame 200. That is, the scanner unit 11 is arranged between the left support column 203 and the recording section 2300. The maintenance section 2600 is arranged on the right side of the recording section 2300 between the left support column 203 and the right support column 204 of the main body frame 200. That is, the maintenance section 2600 is arranged between the right support column 204 and the recording section 2300.

[0087] In the main body frame 200, an upper horizontal column 201 is provided in such a manner as to extend in the left-right direction between the left support column 203 and the right support column 204 of the main body frame 200. The upper horizontal column 201 is connected to the upper ends of the left support column 203 and the right support column 204. An intermediate horizontal column 202 is provided in such a manner as to extend in the left-right direction between the left support column 203 and the right support column 204 of the main body frame 200, and the intermediate horizontal column 202 is provided below the upper horizontal column 201. The intermediate horizontal column 202 is connected to each of the left support column 203 and the right support column 204. Fig.14 As shown, each of the upper horizontal column 201 and the middle horizontal column 202 is arranged in such a manner as to extend in the left-right direction.

[0088] The recording section 2300, the scanner unit 11, and the maintenance section 2600 are arranged to be lower than the upper horizontal column 201 of the main body frame 200. As for the relative relationship with the middle horizontal column 202, the recording section 2300 is arranged to be higher than the middle horizontal column 202. In other words, the recording section 2300 is arranged between the upper horizontal column 201 and the middle horizontal column 202 of the main body frame 200. On the other hand, the scanner unit 11 is arranged to be lower than the middle horizontal column 202. The maintenance section 2600 is arranged vertically over the middle horizontal column 202.

[0089] <Dimensions of the main frame>

[0090] Here, the dimension of the main body frame 200 in the front-rear direction will be described.

[0091] As described above, the recording section 2300 includes a plurality of sets of recording heads 10, a head holder 26, etc., and is attached to the upper horizontal column 201 and the middle horizontal column 202 of the main body frame 200. The dimension of the recording section 2300 in the front-to-rear direction (front-to-rear dimension) is mainly determined based on the following requirements (1) and (2).

[0092] (1) The width of the recording head 10 in the longitudinal direction (front-back direction) of the nozzle plate 223 is the maximum size of the paper sheet width + α (the ink application margin area for absorbing the positional deviation of the paper sheet). (2) The abutment portion 221 that engages with the positioning member 811 configured to land the recording head 10 on the printing belt unit 2200 is arranged in the front and back area of ​​the nozzle plate 223 of the recording head 10. Based on these requirements, the recording head 10 needs to have a front-back (longitudinal) dimension, and the front-back dimension of the recording portion 2300 is determined by additionally considering the recording head lifting frame 28 having the function of lifting and lowering the head holder 26 and the recording head 10.

[0093] In addition, the front-to-back (longitudinal) dimensions of the maintenance section 2600 are determined by the following requirements (1) to (4).

[0094] (1) The front-to-back dimension of the landing part of the recording head 10 is similar to the printing belt unit 2200 for landing the recording head 10 on the covering mechanism or the cleaning mechanism. (2) The front-to-back dimension of the covering plate 18 and the head landing part that hold the covering mechanism. (3) The front-to-back dimension of the cleaning plate 19 and the head landing part that hold the cleaning mechanism. (4) The front-to-back dimension of the rail part that moves each of the covering plate 18 and the cleaning plate 19 in the left-right direction under the recording section 2300. The front-to-back dimension of the maintenance section 2600 is determined based on these requirements.

[0095] The position of the middle horizontal column 202 in the main frame 200 in the front-to-back direction is determined according to two construction requirements for the front-to-back dimension of the recording section 2300 and the front-to-back dimension of the maintenance section 2600. In order to use the space inside the front door 100 serving as an exterior cover described below, the middle horizontal column 202 has its connection with the left and right support columns offset to the back side.

[0096] Specifically, Fig.15 As shown, the middle horizontal column 202 has a recess 202L, a protrusion 202C and a recess 202R. The protrusion 202C is located between the recess 202L and the recess 202R in the left-right direction. That is, the middle horizontal column 202 extends in the left-right direction. The recess 202L of the middle horizontal column 202 is connected to the left support column 203. The recess 202R of the middle horizontal column 202 is connected to the right support column 204. The protrusion 202C is offset to the front side in the front-to-back direction relative to the recess 202L and the recess 202R. That is, the middle horizontal column 202 has an offset portion (protrusion 202C) protruding forward in the front-to-back direction. In other words, the portion of the front door frame 120 located on both sides in the left-to-right direction and facing the front door 100 described below (that is, the recess 202L and the recess 202R) is offset to the back side. The protrusion 202C between the recess 202L and the recess 202R on both sides of the middle horizontal column 202 is received in the inner space ( Fig.17In other words, the position of at least a portion of the protrusion 202C in the front-to-back direction is the same as the position of the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 in the closed state in the front-to-back direction. That is, when viewed along the left-right direction, the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 and the protrusion 202C at least partially overlap each other.

[0097] The recording unit 2300 is attached to and held by the middle horizontal column 202 and the upper horizontal column 201 located on the front surface of the main body frame 200. Fig.11 The recording section 2300 is supported in a manner movable in the front-rear direction as shown, and the recording section 2300 can be pulled out to the front side of the main body frame 200 .

[0098] The middle horizontal column 202 is arranged between the left support column 203 and the right support column 204 located on the front surface of the main body frame 200, and supports internal units such as the recording section 2300 and the maintenance section 2600 that moves in the paper sheet conveying direction. In the main body frame 200, an internal space 209 in which the recording section 2300 and the maintenance section 2600 are arranged is provided on the back side of the middle horizontal column 202 (the inner side of the main body frame). The recording section 2300 passes through the internal space 209 on the back side of the middle horizontal column 202 in the lifting operation in the vertical direction. In addition, the maintenance section 2600 passes through the internal space 209 on the back side of the middle horizontal column 202 in the moving operation in the left-right direction.

[0099] Generally, from the viewpoint of frame rigidity, it is desirable that the middle horizontal column 202 having the function of a supporting unit linearly connects the inside of the region sandwiched between the left and right supporting columns in a horizontal section.

[0100] Here, in the middle horizontal column 202, a part or the entire area of ​​the area where the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 does not exist when viewed from the front protrudes to the front side of the space sandwiched between the left support column 203 and the right support column 204. That is, the protrusion 202C between the recessed portion 202L and the recessed portion 202R located on both sides of the middle horizontal column 202 protrudes to the front side of the left support column 203 and the right support column 204. Therefore, a wider internal space 209 having a size corresponding to the thickness of the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 on the back side of the middle horizontal column 202 can be maximally ensured, and thus the overall size of the main body frame 200 can be reduced.

[0101] In addition, since the front door 100 described below opens upward and the transparent cover 110 covers the entire space, a wide and uniform protruding area of ​​the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 can be ensured without the front door frame 120 between the left and right support pillars. For example, in the case where the front door 100 does not open upward but is a double-hinged door, a frame is required at the dividing portion of the door, and in this area, the middle horizontal pillar 202 is hindered from protruding forward. Therefore, the protruding area cannot be uniformly ensured, and thus it is difficult to ensure the rigidity of the middle horizontal pillar 202.

[0102] As described above, the rigidity of the middle horizontal column 202 is ensured by taking a uniform protruding shape and ensuring the rigidity of the end region of the middle horizontal column 202 which is not included in the driving path of the internal unit.

[0103] <Structure of the front door>

[0104] Next, we will refer to Fig.16 , Fig.17 , Fig.18A , Fig.18B and Fig.19 The front door 100 as an exterior cover forming the front exterior of the printing module 2000 located in front of the recording unit 2300 will be described. Fig.18A is a general schematic diagram of the front door of the printing module. Fig.18B It is along Fig.18A A cross-sectional view of the front door of the printing module taken along line XX. Fig.19 is an exploded view illustrating the construction of the front door of the printing module.

[0105] The printing module 2000 includes a front door 100 as an exterior cover forming a front exterior of the printing module 2000 on the front side of the recording section 2300 in the front-rear direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the left-right direction. The front door 100 is arranged on the front side of the recording section 2300 in the front-rear direction, and is attached to the main body frame 200 in such a manner as to form a front exterior. The front door 100 includes a transparent cover 110 formed of a transparent material on the entire front surface. The front door 100 is opened and closed by rotating around a rotation axis on the upper end side in the vertical direction.

[0106] That is, the front door 100 is attached to the front side of the main body frame 200. The front door 100 includes a transparent cover 110 and a front door frame 120 as a cover frame having a certain thickness to maintain the rigidity of the front door 100. The front door frame 120 is arranged at least a portion of the periphery of the transparent cover 110. In the present embodiment, the front door frame 120 surrounds the four sides of the transparent cover 110. As a modified example, the front door frame 120 may surround only three sides or only two sides of the transparent cover. Alternatively, the front door frame 120 may be provided only at a portion of one side of the transparent cover. The transparent cover 110 is attached to the outer side of the front door frame 120 in the thickness direction. In other words, the transparent cover 110 is arranged at the front end side of the front door frame 120 in the front-to-back direction. Here, the front end side refers to the area between the center and the front end of the front door frame 120 in the front-to-back direction.

[0107] Furthermore, when the front door 100 is closed, the front door frame 120 is located at a position supported by the main body frame 200 when viewed from the front, so the front door 100 does not enter the internal space 209 located inside the middle horizontal column 202 of the main body frame 200 .

[0108] The entire area T above the paper sheet conveying surface 24 of the printing belt 2201 conveying the paper sheet is covered (see Fig.16 ) to form the front door 100. In addition, the front door 100 includes Fig.18A and Fig.18B The transparent covers 110 shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B make it possible to visually identify the recording section 2300 and other units in the apparatus from outside the apparatus even during printing operation. The fact that the inside of the apparatus can be visually identified not only helps to visually identify the operating state of the image forming apparatus, but also helps to determine whether the inside of the apparatus needs to be cleaned due to adhesion of ink mist.

[0109] The paper sheet conveying surface 24 (see Fig.14 ) and the front door 100 above the paper sheet conveying surface 24 are constructed as one unit (front door unit), so that from the design point of view, not only the recording section 2300 but also as wide an area as possible can be visually identified through the transparent cover 110. The transparent cover 110 occupies 85% of the area of ​​the front door 100 in the longitudinal direction.

[0110] Specifically, the front door frame 120 as a cover frame has a left side portion and a right side portion, the left side portion is a cover frame portion facing the left support column 203, and the right side portion is a cover frame portion facing the right support column 204. The transparent cover 110 is arranged from the left side portion to the right side portion. As described above, the part of the front door 100 from the left support column 203 to the right support column 204 in the left-right direction of the main frame 200 is formed using the transparent cover 110.

[0111] In addition, a portion of the front door 100 from the upper horizontal column 201 to the paper sheet conveying surface 24 of the printing tape unit 2200 in the vertical direction of the main body frame 200 is formed using the transparent cover 110. Fig.14 As shown, the paper sheet conveying surface 24 of the printing belt unit 2200 is positioned lower than the middle horizontal column 202 of the main frame 200. Therefore, it can also be said that the part of the front door 100 from the upper horizontal column 201 to the middle horizontal column 202 in the vertical direction of the main frame 200 is formed using the transparent cover 110.

[0112] With this configuration, the operating state of the printing module 2000 can be visually checked through the transparent cover 110 without opening the front door 100. For example, the lifting and lowering operation and position of the recording head 10, the operation and position of the maintenance section 2600, the position of the scanner unit 11, the state of conveying a paper sheet, etc. can be visually recognized. Furthermore, even when the apparatus is in operation, the contamination state near the recording section can be visually recognized, and the necessity of cleaning can be determined from the outside of the apparatus.

[0113] A transparent resin plastic material is selected for the transparent cover 110, and in view of weight and crack resistance, the transparent resin plastic material is made as thin as possible (= light) without compromising the texture. Since the transparent cover 110 is made of a thin resin plastic material, the rigidity of the front door 100 is ensured by making the thickness of the front door frame 120 in the front-to-back direction (region E) greater than the thickness of the transparent cover 110 in the front-to-back direction. That is, the thickness of the front door frame 120 in the front-to-back direction is greater than the thickness of the transparent cover in the front-to-back direction. Specifically, the thickness of the transparent cover 110 is 5 mm, and the thickness of the front door frame 120 (region E) is equal to or greater than the thickness of the transparent cover 110 (more than 30 mm).

[0114] Here, the front door frame 120 has a thickness of 50 mm in the front-to-back direction. The transparent cover 110 has a thickness of 5 mm in the front-to-back direction. The transparent cover 110 is arranged on the front end side of the front door frame 120 in the front-to-back direction. That is, the transparent cover 110 is arranged on the surface of the front door 100 facing the outside. Therefore, in the front door 100, an inner space (area E) of 45 mm is formed on the inner side of the transparent cover 110.

[0115] Then, if Fig.16 As shown, since the components of each element in the device are arranged in the space (area E) inside the front door 100, the front and rear dimensions of the device can be reduced. Fig.17 As shown, in a state where the recording portion 2300 is attached to the middle horizontal column 202 of the main body frame 200 , the middle horizontal column 202 and the recording portion 2300 are received inside a portion (region E) corresponding to the thickness of the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 .

[0116] In other words, in the above-mentioned main body frame 200, the left support column 203, the right support column 204, and the upper horizontal column 201 of the main body frame 200 facing the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 in the front-to-back direction are offset to the back side of the front end portion of the recording unit 2300 supported by the main body frame 200. Therefore, the size of the main body frame 200 is reduced, and the front end portion of the recording unit 2300 in the front-to-back direction enters the internal space corresponding to the thickness (45 mm) of the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 in the front-to-back direction.

[0117] Specifically, as described above, the recording unit 2300 includes the handle 13, which is provided at the front end of the recording head lifting frame 28 in the front-to-back direction. The recording unit 2300 is supported in a movable manner relative to the main frame 200 in the front-to-back direction. The handle 13 is arranged in an inner space (area E) surrounded by the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 on the front side of the upper horizontal column 201 of the main frame 200. In other words, the position of at least a part of the handle 13 in the front-to-back direction is the same as the position of the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 in the front-to-back direction in the closed state. That is, when viewed along the line of sight in the left-right direction, the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 and the handle 13 at least partially overlap each other.

[0118] As described above, the scanner unit 11 includes the handle 402 provided at the front end in the front-rear direction of the scanner unit 11. The handle 402 is arranged in the inner space (area E) surrounded by the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 on the front side of the upper horizontal column 201 of the main body frame 200.

[0119] Since the inner space (region E) corresponding to the thickness of the front door frame 120 of the front door 100 in the front-rear direction is formed as described above, the front-rear size of the apparatus can be reduced.

[0120] Will refer to Fig.19 The configuration of the front door 100 is described in more detail. The front door 100 includes a transparent cover 110, a front door frame 120 forming the periphery of the transparent cover 110, a gas spring 130 assisting opening and closing, an upper hinge 140, and a hanging belt 150.

[0121] The front door frame 120 of the front door 100 has a design using two coating colors. The front door frame 120 includes a first frame 121 and a second frame 122. After welding and fastening a plurality of parts in a quadrilateral shape, the first frame 121 is coated. After welding and fastening a plurality of parts in a quadrilateral shape, the second frame 122 is coated with a color different from that of the first frame 121. The front door frame 120 is formed by fastening the first frame 121 and the second frame 122 with screws after coating. The first frame 121 and the second frame 122 including a plurality of parts are coated after welding so as to provide rigidity when assembled in a quadrilateral shape.

[0122] The transparent cover 110 is coupled and fixed to the front end side of the front door frame 120 in the front-rear direction using an adhesive. In addition, the gas spring 130, the upper hinge 140, and the suspension belt 150 are attached to predetermined positions on the front door frame 120.

[0123] <Opening and Closing of the Front Door>

[0124] An upper hinge 140 is attached to the upper end of the front door 100, and the upper hinge 140 is attached to the upper horizontal column 201 of the main body frame 200. The front door 100 can be opened and closed by rotating around the upper hinge 140. In this way, the front door 100 is supported by the main body frame 200 in an openable and closable manner.

[0125] Will refer to Figure 3 , Fig. 20A , Fig. 20B and Fig.21 The opening and closing operation of the front door 100 of the printing module 2000 will be described. Fig. 20A and Fig. 20B 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the front door of the printing module is opened upward. Fig.21 It is a figure for demonstrating the strap of the front door which opens upwards.

[0126] like Figure 3 As shown, the front door 100 covering the recording section 2300 of the printing module 2000 opens upward at the upper end base point of the printing module 2000. The front door 100 includes a lever (not shown) for releasing a latch at the center of the lower side of the front door 100. When the lever is grasped to release the latch, the front door 100 opens upward through the upper hinge 140, is assisted in the opening direction by the gas spring 130, abuts on a stopper (not shown) provided at the opening position, and remains open.

[0127] In the case where the front door 100 is not opened upward but is a double-hinged door in the left-right direction, when replacing the recording head, after the recording section is pulled out to the front side from the printing module, it is not possible to ensure enough space for the operator to move to the left side of the recording section and perform the operation, so it is difficult for the operator to perform the operation. Therefore, the front door 100 can be opened upward. In addition, since the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is formed by connecting a plurality of modules having different functions, when an error or a paper jam occurs and a paper sheet remains inside the main body, it is necessary to continuously access a plurality of modules. In this case, from the viewpoint of not hindering the horizontal movement of the printing module to the adjacent module, the front door 100 can be opened upward.

[0128] That is, when the front door 100 is opened upward, the opened front door does not hinder the horizontal movement of the printing module 2000 to the adjacent module when a paper jam across multiple modules is recovered. In addition, when replacing the recording head 10, it is easy to access the side of the recording portion 2300 pulled out to the front, so that the replacement can be easily performed. In addition, since the transparent cover 110 is provided in the front door 100 that opens upward, even when the front door 100 is opened, light from the ceiling passes through the transparent cover 110 and illuminates the inside of the device, making it easy to observe the inside of the device.

[0129] The maximum opening angle α when the front door 100 is opened upward around the upper end is set as follows. Here, in the state where the front door 100 is opened to the maximum opening angle, the vertical height of the image forming device from the mounting surface 190 of the image forming device to the free end 100e which is the lower end of the front door 100 is h. The lower limit height of the operator is h1 (for example, 1470 mm), and the upper limit height of the operator is h3 (for example, 1970 mm). The predetermined height of the workbench 191 used by the operator with the lower limit height h1 is h2 (for example, 320 mm). In addition, Fig. 20A The height h4 shown is the height of the eyes (eye height) of the operator having the lower limit height h1 standing on the workbench 191, and the height h2 of the workbench 191 is set so that the height h4 is a predetermined height (e.g., 1670 mm). The opening angle α of the front door 100 is set so that, when the opening angle is α, the height h to the free end 100e of the front door 100 in the vertical direction is higher than the height h2+h3 in the vertical direction when the operator having the upper limit height h3 stands on the workbench 191 having the predetermined height h2 for the operator having the lower limit height h1.

[0130] Specifically, the opening angle α of the front door 100 around the upper end is set to 100±10°. That is, the maximum opening angle α of the front door 100 falls within the range of 90 to 110 degrees.

[0131] For a short person with a lower limit height h1, in order to access the maintenance section 2600, it is necessary to stand at a height of Fig. 20A In addition, even when a tall person with an upper limit height h3 stands on the workbench 191, it is necessary to prevent the head from hitting the front door 100 (which opens upward). Fig. 20B ). From the perspective of such human dimensions, the opening angle α around the upper end of the front door 100 is set.

[0132] However, in a state where the front door 100 is opened at an opening angle of 100°, a short person cannot close the front door 100 because the short person cannot reach the far end (free end 100e) of the front door 100. Fig.21 As shown, the front door 100 includes a strap 150 for the operator to grasp when closing the front door 100. The strap 150 is attached to the inner side of the front door 100. As described above, the strap 150 is provided on the inner side of the front door 100, and the operator first pulls the strap 150 with one hand to lower the front door 100, and then grasps the distal end of the front door 100 with the other hand to close the front door 100.

[0133] Furthermore, in the case where the strap 150 is too long or the attachment position of the strap 150 is too close to the distal end side of the front door 100, the strap 150 is exposed from the front door 100 when the front door 100 is closed, which may impair the appearance. On the other hand, in the case where the strap 150 is too short, the hand of a short person cannot reach the strap 150, and thus cannot close the front door 100. Furthermore, in the case where the attachment position of the strap 150 is too close to the base side of the front door 100, the front door 100 may hit the operator when the front door 100 is closed.

[0134] From these viewpoints, in the front door 100 in which the upper end base point of the printing module 2000 opens upward, the sling 150 is attached at a position closer to the free end than the center portion 100c between the upper end (upper hinge 140) serving as a rotation fulcrum of the front door 100 and the free end 100e.

[0135] The total length L1 of the strap 150 is set to be shorter than the length L2 from the attachment position 100 a of the strap 150 on the front door 100 to the free end 100 e of the front door 100 .

[0136] Furthermore, in a state where the front door 100 is opened at the maximum opening angle α, a height h5 from the image forming apparatus installation surface 190 to the lower end 150 e of the strap 150 is equal to or less than a set value that can be reached by the operator's hand having the lower limit height h1.

[0137] Specifically, the upper limit height h5 of the sling 150 is set to 1700 mm, and the attachment position 100a of the sling 150 is set to 360 mm from the far end (free end 100e) of the front door 100 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the operator with the lower limit height h1 closes the front door 100, the arm angle when the second finger is hooked on the sling 150 becomes about 160°, and the operator with the lower limit height h1 can be outside the rotation trajectory of the front door 100, so that even when the operator with the lower limit height h1 closes the front door 100, the front door 100 can avoid hitting the operator.

[0138] Note that the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is required to have an interlock and a door lock from the viewpoint of safety, and has specifications that the front door cannot be unlocked even if the latch lever is grasped during operation of the main body and thus cannot be opened.

[0139] According to the present embodiment, since the front door 100 provided on the front surface of the image forming apparatus opens upward, when performing maintenance work of the image forming apparatus by opening the front door 100, the restriction of the working space by the opened front door 100 can be reduced. Therefore, an image forming apparatus with improved operability can be provided.

[0140] As described above, in the state that the front door 100 is closed, the recording part, the handle of the recording part, the middle horizontal column, the maintenance part, the reading part, the conveyor belt, etc. are visually identified by the transparent cover 110. For each element, only a part of the element can be visually identified, or the entire element can be visually identified. In addition, among the above-mentioned elements, some elements (for example, the reading part) do not necessarily have to be visually identified. The transparent cover 110 is arranged on the front door 100 that opens upwards, and covers the front surface of the device. Therefore, compared with the double-hinged door structure, the scope of visually inspectable operating state can be expanded. Therefore, an image forming device with improved operability can be provided.

[0141] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

[0142] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-170078 filed on September 29, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. An image forming device, comprising: a recording section configured to eject ink onto a sheet to form an image; a conveying portion facing the recording portion in a vertical direction and configured to convey the sheet in a first direction orthogonal to the vertical direction; a main body frame configured to support the recording section and the conveying section; and an exterior cover which is arranged on the front side of the recording section in a front-rear direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the first direction and is attached to the main body frame to form a front exterior, wherein The exterior cover includes a transparent cover formed of a transparent material and a cover frame arranged at least a portion of the periphery of the transparent cover, and The exterior cover is configured to be opened and closed by rotating about a rotation axis located on an upper end side of the exterior cover.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The main frame includes a first support column and a second support column respectively arranged on both sides of the main frame in the first direction, each of the first support column and the second support column extending in a vertical direction, The recording portion is arranged between the first supporting column and the second supporting column in the first direction, The cover frame includes a first cover frame portion facing the first support column of the main body frame and a second cover frame portion facing the second support column of the main body frame, and The transparent cover is provided from the first cover frame portion to the second cover frame portion.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a maintenance section configured to perform maintenance on the recording section; and a reading section configured to read the image on the sheet, wherein The maintenance section is supported by the main frame and is arranged between the recording section and the first support column in the first direction, and The reading section is supported by the main body frame and is arranged between the recording section and the second supporting column in the first direction.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: At least a portion of the recording unit, at least a portion of the maintenance unit, and at least a portion of the reading unit are visually recognized through the transparent cover in a state where the exterior cover is closed.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: At least a portion of the recording unit is visually recognized through the transparent cover when the exterior cover is closed.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: The main frame includes a third support column connecting the upper end of the first support column and the upper end of the second support column and extending along the first direction, The recording section is arranged below the third supporting column, and The exterior cover is arranged in a vertical direction at least from a third support column of the main frame to the conveying portion.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: The main frame includes a fourth support column connecting the first support column and the second support column and extending along the first direction, and The recording section is arranged above the fourth supporting column.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: The thickness of the cover frame in the front-to-back direction is greater than the thickness of the transparent cover in the front-to-back direction, The transparent cover is disposed at the front side of the cover frame in the front-rear direction. The fourth support column includes a protrusion protruding forward in the front-rear direction, and In a state where the exterior cover is closed, at least a portion of the protruding portion is arranged at the same position as the cover frame in the front-rear direction.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: The recording section is attached to a protruding portion of the fourth supporting column and supported by the main body frame.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: When the exterior cover is closed, at least a portion of the recording unit and at least a portion of the fourth supporting column are visually recognized through the transparent cover.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The thickness of the cover frame in the front-to-back direction is greater than the thickness of the transparent cover in the front-to-back direction, and The transparent cover is disposed at a front side in a front-rear direction of the cover frame.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: The recording unit is configured to be movable in a front-rear direction relative to the main frame. The recording portion includes a handle disposed at a front end in a front-rear direction of the recording portion, and In a state where the exterior cover is closed, at least a portion of the handle of the recording section is arranged at the same position as the cover frame in the front-rear direction.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: When the exterior cover is closed, the handle of the recording unit is visually recognized through the transparent cover.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a reading section configured to read the image on the sheet, wherein The reading unit is configured to be movable relative to the main frame. The reading section includes a handle provided at a front end in a front-rear direction of the reading section and configured to move the reading section, and When the exterior cover is closed, at least a portion of the handle of the reading section is arranged at the same position as the cover frame in the front-rear direction.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: When the exterior cover is closed, the handle of the reading unit is visually recognized through the transparent cover. 16 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a gas spring configured to assist rotation of the exterior cover.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The maximum opening angle of the outer cover is set so that the vertical height of the image forming device from the mounting surface of the image forming device to the free end of the outer cover when the outer cover is opened at the maximum opening angle is greater than the vertical height of the operator when an operator with an upper limit height stands on a workbench with a predetermined height for an operator with a lower limit height.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The maximum opening angle of the exterior cover falls within the range of 90 degrees to 110 degrees.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a strap attached to an inner side of the exterior cover and configured to be grasped by an operator when closing the exterior cover, in, The strap is attached at a position closer to the free end of the exterior cover than a center portion between an upper end serving as a rotation fulcrum of the exterior cover and the free end.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein The overall length of the strap is less than the length from the attachment position of the strap on the exterior cover to the free end of the exterior cover.

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein: In a state where the exterior cover is opened at a maximum opening angle, a height from a mounting surface of the image forming apparatus to a lower end of the strap is equal to or less than a set value reachable by a hand of an operator having a lower limit height.

22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The conveying section includes a conveyor belt configured to absorb and convey the sheet, and The conveyor belt has a color that contrasts highly with the sheet material.

23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The image forming apparatus includes a first module including the recording section and the conveying section, and The image forming apparatus further includes a second module connected adjacent to the first module in the first direction.

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