Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent increase in a size in a cutting direction.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises: an image forming unit 3; a fuser 7; a first housing 10; a cutter mechanism 4 having a movable blade 412 that is located at a standby position separated from a sheet SH on one side in a cutting direction DC1 until the sheet SH reaches a cutting position, and when the sheet SH reaches and stops at the cutting position, moves in the cutting direction DC1 in a cut area AC1 where the sheet SH is present; an image reading unit 35; a second housing 30; and a joint cover 50 that supports, above the first housing 10, the second housing 30 from below, the joint cover 50 having a recess 55 that is a portion located on one side in the cutting direction DC1 relative to the cut area AC1 and is recessed to accommodate the movable blade 412 at the standby position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a conventional image forming apparatus. This image forming apparatus includes a cutting device. The cutting device has a cutter mechanism including a first cutting unit and the like, and cuts the sheet that has passed through the fixing device using the cutter mechanism. This image forming apparatus also includes a first housing that houses the image forming unit and the fixing device, a second housing that houses the image reading unit, and a joint cover that supports the second housing from below above the first housing.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a cutter mechanism having a moving blade. The cutter mechanism cuts a sheet by moving the moving blade in a cutting direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-19469 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2011-235428 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, in the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus, when the cutter mechanism has a moving blade as in Patent Document 2, the moving blade needs to be retracted to a standby position where it does not get in the way of the sheet until the sheet is guided into the cutting area of ​​the cutter mechanism and reaches the cutting position.

[0006] Furthermore, there is a problem in that it becomes difficult to prevent the size of the cutting device from increasing by providing a space inside the image forming apparatus to accommodate the moving blade in the standby position.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and has an object to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing an increase in size in the cutting direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image by transferring a toner image onto a sheet transported in a transport direction; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image onto the sheet that has passed through the image forming unit; a first housing that houses the image forming unit and the fixing unit; a cutter mechanism that cuts the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit in a cutting direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, the cutter mechanism being located at a standby position away from the sheet in one of the cutting directions until the sheet reaches a cutting position, and having a moving blade that moves in the cutting direction through a cutting area, which is an area where the sheet exists, when the sheet reaches the cutting position and stops; an image reading unit having a reading sensor for reading an image of a document; a second housing that houses the image reading unit; a joint cover that supports the second housing from below above the first housing, the joint cover having a recess that is recessed in a portion located on the one side in the cutting direction relative to the cutting area so as to accommodate the moving blade in the standby position; The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with:

[0009] In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a space for accommodating the moving blade in the standby position can be secured simply by partially recessing the joint cover for supporting the second housing from below to form a recess.

[0010] Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can suppress an increase in size in the cutting direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus of the embodiment, showing a state in which the second guide is in the first guide position, the pre-cutting cover is in the first cover position, and the exterior cover is closed. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating a state in which the second guide is in the second guide position, the pre-cutting cover is in the second cover position, and the exterior cover is open. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a main part of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a unit including the cutter mechanism, the first guide and the pre-cutting guide. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a front view showing the cutter mechanism. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment, mainly showing the attachment / detachment opening. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partial top view mainly showing the cutter mechanism and the joint cover. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view mainly showing the cutter mechanism, the joint cover, and the first housing. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the main part of FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view in which a main part of FIG. 4 is enlarged, and is a diagram for explaining the moving distance of the sheet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] (Example) 1 to 3, an image forming apparatus 1 of the embodiment is an example of a specific aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, the image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine including an image forming section 3 and a fixing device 7 that form an image on a sheet SH by an electrophotographic method, and an image reading section 35 that reads an image of a document.

[0014] In Fig. 1, the side of the operation panel 37 of the image forming apparatus 1 is the front. The left-right direction of the image forming apparatus 1 is a direction that is perpendicular to the front-rear direction and extends horizontally. The side that is to the left when facing the operation panel 37 is the left side. The directions shown in Fig. 2 and subsequent figures are all displayed in accordance with the directions shown in Fig. 1.

[0015] <Overall composition> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a first housing 10, a second housing 30, and a joint cover 50. The first housing 10 includes a first fixing member 12 and a second fixing member 13. The first fixing member 12 is a fixing member for fixing the first fixing member 12.

[0016] The first housing 10 is a generally box-shaped body. The second housing 30 is a generally box-shaped body with a flat shape whose vertical length is significantly smaller than that of the first housing 10. The second housing 30 is spaced upward from the first housing 10. The joint cover 50 supports the second housing 30 from below above the first housing 10.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 4, the first housing 10 accommodates a sheet cassette 10C in its lower portion. The sheet cassette 10C supports sheets SH on which images are to be formed in a stacked state. The sheets SH are paper, overhead projector sheets, etc. The first housing 10 accommodates an image forming unit 3 and a fixing unit 7 above the sheet cassette 10C.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first housing 10 has a maintenance opening 19 and an exterior cover 90.

[0019] The maintenance opening 19 is a large, generally rectangular opening that exposes a portion of the rear surface of the first housing 10 that is located above the rear end of the sheet cassette 10C.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 4, the exterior cover 90 closes the maintenance opening 19 in an upright state, and constitutes part of the exterior surface of the rear of the first housing 10. As shown in Fig. 5, the exterior cover 90 opens the maintenance opening 19 by rotating so as to move its upper end backward and downward about its lower end as the rotation axis.

[0021] 4 and 6, the joint cover 50 has a discharge tray 9. The discharge tray 9 is located in the center in the left-right direction on the top surface of the first housing 10. The discharge tray 9 extends horizontally rearward from the front end side of the top surface of the first housing 10, then bends and slopes downward rearward.

[0022] The discharge tray 9 defines the lower side of a discharge space AD1 defined between the first housing 10 and the second housing 30. A sheet SH on which an image has been formed after passing through the image forming unit 3 and the fixing unit 7 is discharged to the discharge space AD1. The discharge tray 9 supports the sheet SH discharged to the discharge space AD1.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 6, the joint cover 50 has inner wall surfaces 58 and 59 .

[0024] The inner wall surface 58 is the right side surface of a portion of the joint cover 50 that is located to the left of the discharge tray 9 and protrudes upward. The inner wall surface 58 defines the left side of the discharge space AD1.

[0025] 4 and 6, the inner wall surface 59 is the left side surface of a portion of the joint cover 50 that is located to the right of the discharge tray 9 and protrudes upward. The inner wall surface 59 defines the right side of the discharge space AD1, that is, one side of a cutting direction DC1 described later.

[0026] As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the second housing 30 houses the image reading unit 35. The image reading unit 35 is located at a position spaced above the discharge tray 9. The image reading unit 35 has a well-known configuration and will not be described briefly, but as shown in Fig. 2, the image reading unit 35 has a reading sensor 35S. The image reading unit 35 reads an image of a document placed on the upper surface of the second housing 30 by the reading sensor 35S. The document is a book, a sheet, or the like.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second housing 30 has a document cover 40 whose top surface can be opened and closed, and an automatic document feed mechanism 45 housed in the document cover 40.

[0028] The document cover 40 has a feed tray 41 and a discharge tray 42 located at the right portion thereof. The feed tray 41 is spaced apart from the discharge tray 42 above.

[0029] The automatic document feed mechanism 45 has a well-known configuration and will not be described briefly, but has an insertion opening 45H for inserting a document to be read. As shown in Fig. 2, the automatic document feed mechanism 45 conveys a sheet-like document supported by the supply tray 41 and inserted into the insertion opening 45H to a position where it can be read by the reading sensor 35S of the image reading unit 35, and then discharges the document onto the discharge tray 42. The reading sensor 35S reads the image of the document being conveyed.

[0030] 1, the operation panel 37 protrudes forward from a portion located to the left of the discharge space AD1 on the front end surface of the second housing 30. The operation panel 37 is supported from below by the front end of a portion of the joint cover 50 that is located to the left of the discharge tray 9 and protrudes upward.

[0031] The operation panel 37 has an operation surface that receives operation input by a user's finger, and a display unit such as an LCD located below the operation surface. The operation panel 37 displays information indicating the operating state and settings of the image forming apparatus 1, and notifies the user by displaying error messages, etc.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, in the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming section 3 includes a developing device 3A, a photoconductor 5, and a scanner section 8.

[0033] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a first feed roller 21, a first separation roller 22, a separation pad 22A, a conveying roller pair 23, a registration roller pair 24 and a post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 housed in a first housing 10 together with the image forming section 3 and the fixing unit 7.

[0034] A first feeding roller 21, a first separation roller 22, a separation pad 22A, and a transport roller pair 23 are located in the front portion of the first housing 10. A post-fixing transport roller pair 25 is located in the rear portion of the first housing 10.

[0035] A transport path P1 is provided inside the first housing 10. The transport path P1 is a path that starts from the front end of the sheet cassette 10C, makes a U-turn upward, passes through a first feeding roller 21, a first separation roller 22, a separation pad 22A, and a transport roller pair 23, and then proceeds approximately horizontally backward, passes through a registration roller pair 24, a photoconductor 5, and a fixing device 7, and reaches a post-fixing transport roller pair 25.

[0036] The first feeding roller 21 is located at the most upstream end of the conveying path P1. The first separation roller 22 and the separation pad 22A are located downstream of the conveying path P1 from the first feeding roller 21. The conveying roller pair 23 is located downstream of the first separation roller 22 and the separation pad 22A from the conveying path P1, midway through the portion of the conveying path P1 that makes an upward U-turn.

[0037] The registration roller pair 24 is located downstream of the transport roller pair 23 on the transport path P1 and upstream of the photoconductor 5 on the transport path P1, midway along the portion of the transport path P1 that advances substantially horizontally backward.

[0038] The first feeding roller 21 feeds the sheet SH supported by the sheet cassette 10C toward the photoconductor 5. If there are multiple sheets SH sent to the conveying path P1 by the first feeding roller 21, the first separation roller 22 and the separation pad 22A separate the sheets SH one by one. Then, the conveying roller pair 23 and the registration roller pair 24 convey the sheet SH to the photoconductor 5.

[0039] The developing device 3A has a toner storage chamber 3D that stores toner, and a developing roller 3B to which toner is supplied from the toner storage chamber 3D. The photoconductor 5 is located behind and below the developing roller 3B, and is in contact with the developing roller 3B.

[0040] The photoreceptor 5 is a cylindrical rotating body centered on a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction. A positively charged photosensitive layer is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 5 in correspondence with the positively charged toner. Note that a negatively charged photosensitive layer may also be formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 5, in which case a negatively charged toner is used.

[0041] The photoreceptor 5 can come into contact with the sheet SH transported along a portion of the transport path P1 that moves rearward and approximately horizontally from above. A transfer roller 5A is located below the photoreceptor 5. The transfer roller 5A faces the photoreceptor 5 from below, with the transport path P1 in between.

[0042] The developing device 3A further includes a charger 3E. The charger 3E faces the rear of the photoconductor 5. The charger 3E is a well-known Scorotron charger.

[0043] The scanner unit 8 is located above the developing device 3A and the photoconductor 5. The scanner unit 8 has a laser light source, a polygon mirror, an fθ lens, a reflecting mirror, and the like, which are well-known components. The scanner unit 8 irradiates the surface of the photoconductor 5 with a laser beam.

[0044] The surface of the photoreceptor 5 is uniformly positively charged by the charger 3E as it rotates, and then exposed to high-speed scanning of a laser beam emitted from the scanner unit 8. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be formed on the sheet SH is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 5.

[0045] Then, the developing roller 3B supplies toner to the photoreceptor 5 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 5. As a result, a toner image is carried on the surface of the photoreceptor 5. The photoreceptor 5 transfers the toner image to the upward surface of the sheet SH that passes through the nip position between the photoreceptor 5 and the transfer roller 5A.

[0046] The fixing unit 7 is located behind the photoconductor 5 and in front of the post-fixing transport roller pair 25. The fixing unit 7 has a heating member 7A located above the transport path P1, and a pressure roller 7B facing the heating member 7A from below with the transport path P1 in between.

[0047] The heating member 7A has an endless belt, a guide member that supports the endless belt from the inner circumference so that it can circulate, and a heater that heats the endless belt from the inner circumference. The heating member 7A and the pressure roller 7B nip the sheet SH at the fixing nip portion 7N. The heating member 7A may be composed of a heating roller having a heater such as a halogen heater, or may be composed of a heater, a nip plate that receives radiant heat from the heater, and a heating belt that rotates around the nip plate.

[0048] The fixing unit 7 heats and presses the sheet SH onto which the toner image has been transferred, by using a heating member 7A and a pressure roller 7B, thereby thermally fixing the toner image onto the sheet SH. A post-fixing transport roller pair 25 transports the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing unit 7 upward and backward.

[0049] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit C1, a pre-registration sheet sensor S1, a post-registration sheet sensor S2, and a post-fixing sheet sensor S3.

[0050] The first housing 10 houses a control unit C1. The control unit C1 is an electronic circuit unit including a CPU, an interface circuit, and a storage unit (not shown). The control unit C1 performs overall control over each unit of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0051] The control unit C1 is electrically connected to the pre-registration sheet sensor S1, the post-registration sheet sensor S2, and the post-fixing sheet sensor S3.

[0052] The pre-registration sheet sensor S1 is located immediately before the pair of registration rollers 24 on the transport path P1, detects the passage of the sheet SH, and transmits the detection result to the control unit C1. The control unit C1 performs control to correct the skew of the sheet SH that reaches the pair of registration rollers 24 based on the detection result of the pre-registration sheet sensor S1.

[0053] The post-registration sheet sensor S2 is located immediately behind the pair of registration rollers 24 on the transport path P1, and detects the passage of the sheet SH and transmits the detection result to the control unit C1. The control unit C1 controls the timing of the image forming operation by the image forming unit 3 and the fixing unit 7 based on the detection result of the post-registration sheet sensor S2.

[0054] The post-fixing sheet sensor S3 is located between the fixing unit 7 and the post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 on the conveying path P1, detects the passage of the sheet SH, and transmits the detection result to the control unit C1. The control unit C1 controls the timing of a plurality of operations performed until the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing unit 7 is discharged to the discharge tray 9, based on the detection result of the post-fixing sheet sensor S3.

[0055] The pre-registration sheet sensor S1, the post-registration sheet sensor S2, and the post-fixing sheet sensor S3 may be a sensor having an actuator that swings when the sheet SH comes into contact with it, a light reflection type sensor, a light transmission type sensor, or the like.

[0056] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a flapper 26. The flapper 26 is located above the post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 and is connected to a solenoid (not shown). The control unit C1 controls the solenoid (not shown) to swing the flapper 26 between the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 4 and the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4.

[0057] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a first discharge path PD1 and a second discharge path PD2. The upstream ends of the first discharge path PD1 and the second discharge path PD2 are connected to the downstream end of the transport path P1.

[0058] The first discharge path PD1 is an effective discharge path when the flapper 26 is in the position shown by the solid line in Fig. 4. The second discharge path PD2 is an effective discharge path when the flapper 26 is in the position shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 4.

[0059] The first discharge path PD1 advances upward between the flapper 26, which is positioned as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, and the outer cover 90, and discharges the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing device 7 into the discharge space AD1 by making the conveying direction DT1 of the sheet SH face forward and substantially horizontal above the flapper 26.

[0060] 4, the sheet SH is guided in a conveying direction DT1 of the sheet SH toward a substantially horizontal forward direction, and the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing unit 7 is discharged to the discharge space AD1. The second discharge path PD2 discharges the sheet SH to the discharge space AD1 at a position lower than the first discharge path PD1 and upstream of the first discharge path PD1 in the conveying direction DT1.

[0061] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a pre-cutting cover 80, a first conveying roller 71, and a second conveying roller 72, which are arranged at a portion of the first discharge path PD1 where the conveying direction DT1 changes from upward to forward.

[0062] As shown in Figures 4, 7 and 8, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a pre-cutting guide 300, a cutter mechanism 4, a first guide 100, a second guide 200, a sheet sensor S4 and a first discharge roller pair 29 arranged along the portion of the first discharge path PD1 where the conveying direction DT1 is substantially horizontal and forward-facing.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a second discharge roller pair 28 disposed at the most downstream end of the second discharge path PD2.

[0064] The second discharge roller pair 28 is located above an upstream end 9U in the transport direction DT1 of the discharge tray 9. The second discharge roller pair 28 discharges the sheet SH that passes through the fixing unit 7 and is transported without passing through the cutter mechanism 4 onto the discharge tray 9.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the first discharge roller pair 29 is located below the image reading unit 35 and above the second discharge roller pair 28. The first discharge roller pair 29 is located downstream of the second discharge roller pair 28 in the transport direction DT1. The first discharge roller pair 29 is located above the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the downwardly inclined portion of the discharge tray 9. The first discharge roller pair 29 is located downstream of the cutter mechanism 4 in the transport direction DT1. The first discharge roller pair 29 passes through the fixing unit 7 and discharges the sheet SH (SH1) cut by the cutter mechanism 4 to the discharge tray 9. Note that the image forming apparatus 1 in this embodiment cuts the sheet SH so that the length of the side along the transport direction DT1 is halved.

[0066] 2 and 3, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a second motor M2. The second motor M2 drives a first discharge roller pair 29 and a second discharge roller pair .

[0067] <Pre-cutting cover, first conveyor roller and second conveyor roller> 4 and 5, the pre-cutting cover 80 is located at the lower end of the pre-cutting cover 80 and is rotatable around a cover axis X80 parallel to the left-right direction. The cross section of the pre-cutting cover 80 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 shows the center in the left-right direction of the pre-cutting cover 80. Although not shown, the lower end of the pre-cutting cover 80 is located outside the sheet SH transported along the first discharge path PD1 in the left-right direction and extends to the cover axis X80.

[0068] The pre-cutting cover 80 supports the first conveyor roller 71 and the second conveyor roller 72. The second conveyor roller 72 is located below the first conveyor roller 71 and faces the first conveyor roller 71.

[0069] The second motor M2 drives the second conveyor rollers 72. The first conveyor rollers 71 are driven by the second conveyor rollers 72 to rotate.

[0070] The pre-cutting cover 80 can be moved between a first cover position shown in FIG. 4 and a second cover position shown in FIG. 5 by rotating about a cover axis X80 with the exterior cover 90 open.

[0071] 4, when the pre-cutting cover 80 is in the first cover position, it covers the upstream side of the cutter mechanism 4 in the transport direction DT1 and guides the sheet SH toward the cutter mechanism 4. In this state, the first transport roller 71 and the second transport roller 72 are located upstream of the cutter mechanism 4 in the transport direction DT1. The first transport roller 71 and the second transport roller 72 transport the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing unit 7 toward the cutter mechanism 4.

[0072] 5, when the pre-cutting cover 80 rotates to the second cover position with the exterior cover 90 open and the maintenance opening 19 open, it moves away from the cutter mechanism 4 and is unable to guide the sheet SH toward the cutter mechanism 4. In this state, the first conveyor roller 71 and the second conveyor roller 72 also move rearward and downward away from the cutter mechanism 4. This causes the maintenance opening 19 to expose the pre-cutting cover 80 at the second cover position to the outside of the first housing 10. As a result, the user can remove the sheet SH that has become stuck around the exterior cover 90 and the pre-cutting cover 80 in the first discharge path PD1.

[0073] In addition, in a state in which the exterior cover 90 is opened to expose the maintenance opening 19 and in a state in which the pre-cutting cover 80 is in the first cover position, the user can carry out the operation of removing the sheet SH that is clogged in the second discharge path PD2.

[0074] <Pre-cutting guide, cutter mechanism, first guide, second guide, sheet sensor, and first discharge roller pair> 7 to 9, the pre-cutting guide 300, the cutter mechanism 4, and the first guide 100 are fastened together to form a unit. As shown in Fig. 4 and Figs. 10 to 12, the pre-cutting guide 300, the cutter mechanism 4, and the first guide 100 are assembled to the joint cover 50 as a unit and fixed to the joint cover 50. During maintenance work, etc., the pre-cutting guide 300, the cutter mechanism 4, and the first guide 100 are removed from the joint cover 50 as a unit.

[0075] As shown in Fig. 4, the pre-cutting guide 300 is provided downstream in the conveying direction DT1 of the pre-cutting cover 80 at the first cover position. As shown in Fig. 8, the pre-cutting guide 300 is provided upstream in the conveying direction DT1 of the cutter mechanism 4. As shown in Fig. 7, the pre-cutting guide 300 is a resin molded product manufactured by injection molding of thermoplastic resin or the like.

[0076] 8, the pre-cutting guide 300 has guide surfaces 301 and 302 that guide the sheet SH passing through the cutter mechanism 4. The guide surface 301 faces the guide surface 302 from above. The guide surface 301 is formed by the lower ends of a plurality of ribs that are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction.

[0077] The sheet SH conveyed by the first conveying roller 71 and the second conveying roller 72 toward the cutter mechanism 4 passes between the guide surface 301 and the guide surface 302 and reaches the cutter mechanism 4.

[0078] The cutter mechanism 4 has a cutter carriage 420 shown in FIGS. 7 to 13, a cutter frame 400 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, and a moving blade 412 and a fixed blade 411 shown in FIGS.

[0079] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cutter carriage 420 rotatably holds a circular moving blade 412.

[0080] As indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8, the moving blade 412 is formed into a unit 412U together with a resin member for being held by the cutter carriage 420 and the like.

[0081] The cutter carriage 420 detachably holds the moving blade 412. Specifically, the cutter carriage 420 has a carriage lever 422.

[0082] 8, the unit 412U of the moving blade 412 is lowered to enter the cutter carriage 420, and then the carriage lever 422 is returned to its original position, whereby the unit 412U of the moving blade 412 is attached to the cutter carriage 420. The unit 412U of the moving blade 412 is removed from the cutter carriage 420 by performing the reverse operation.

[0083] As will be described later with reference to Figure 13 etc., the cutter carriage 420 can attach and detach the unit 412U of the moving blade 412 by opening the attachment / detachment opening cover 54C while the moving blade 412 is in the standby position and then operating the carriage lever 422.

[0084] The cutter frame 400 is made of metal, and specifically, is manufactured by pressing, punching, bending, etc., a steel plate. A cutter frame opening 409 is formed in the cutter frame 400. The cutter frame opening 409 has an inner width in the left-right direction larger than the width of the sheet SH so that the sheet SH guided by the guide surfaces 301 and 302 of the pre-cutting guide 300 can pass through the cutter frame opening 409. As shown in FIG. 8, the downstream side of the guide surface 301 in the conveying direction DT1 enters the cutter frame opening 409.

[0085] 8 and 9, the cutter frame 400 has a guide portion 402 above the cutter frame opening 409 and on the opposite side to the pre-cutting guide 300. The guide portion 402 guides the cutter carriage 420 in a cutting direction DC1 perpendicular to the conveying direction DT1, i.e., in the left-right direction, and regulates the cutter carriage 420 so as not to come off the guide portion 402. In other words, the cutter frame 400 holds the cutter carriage 420 so as to be movable in the cutting direction DC1. Therefore, the cutter mechanism 4 cuts the conveyed sheet SH along the cutting direction DC1 perpendicular to the conveying direction DT1.

[0086] In this embodiment, one of the cutting directions DC1 is to the right, and the other of the cutting directions DC1 is to the left.

[0087] 7, the cutter frame 400 has a first motor M1 and a timing belt 430. The first motor M1 is located on the left end side of the cutter frame 400 and above the cutter frame opening 409.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 9, the first motor M1 is located above the cutter frame opening 409 when viewed along the conveying direction DT1, and the first motor M1 entirely overlaps with the cutter frame opening 409 in the cutting direction DC1.

[0089] The cutter mechanism 4 includes a drive pulley 431 , a plurality of driven pulleys 432 , 433 , 434 , a belt tensioner 435 , and a tension spring 436 .

[0090] The longitudinal direction of the cutter frame opening 409 is the same as the cutting direction DC1, i.e., the left-right direction. The drive pulley 431 is located at one end of the longitudinal direction of the cutter frame opening 409, i.e., to the left of the left end, and is rotatably supported by the cutter frame 400. The driven pulley 432 is located on the left end side of the cutter frame opening 409, below the cutter frame opening 409, and is rotatably supported by the cutter frame 400.

[0091] The driven pulley 433 is housed in an upper portion of the belt tensioner 435. In this state, the driven pulley 433 is located at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the cutter frame opening 409, i.e., to the right of the right end, and is rotatably supported by the cutter frame 400. The belt tensioner 435 is capable of swinging coaxially with the driven pulley 433. This makes it possible to achieve space saving compared to a case in which the swing shaft of the belt tensioner 435 is not coaxial with the driven pulley 433.

[0092] The driven pulley 434 is housed in a lower portion of the belt tensioner 435. The lower end of the belt tensioner 435 protrudes downward further than the driven pulley 434. The tension spring 436 is a metallic compression coil spring. One end of the tension spring 436 is engaged with a right lower corner of the cutter frame 400. The other end of the tension spring 436 is engaged with the lower end of the belt tensioner 435.

[0093] Timing belt 430 is wound around driving pulley 431 and driven pulleys 432, 433, and 434, and surrounds cutter frame opening 409. Belt tensioner 435 is biased by tension spring 436 to swing, and driven pulley 434 moves to the right, thereby applying tension to timing belt 430. As a result, even if timing belt 430 that is easily affected by heat from fixing and the like is used, the compression coil spring made of a metal with high heat resistance can stably apply appropriate tension to timing belt 430.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 7, the cutter carriage 420 is connected to a portion of the timing belt 430 that extends in the left-right direction above the cutter frame opening 409 .

[0095] The first motor M1 drives the drive pulley 431 via a gear train to rotate it in the forward and reverse directions, whereby the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412 move in the cutting direction DC1.

[0096] 7, the cutter carriage 420 (420A) is shown in a standby position at the right end side of the cutter frame opening 409 so as not to interfere with the right edge of the sheet SH. The standby position (420A) of the cutter carriage 420 is a position away from the sheet SH to one side in the cutting direction DC1, i.e., to the right.

[0097] The cutter carriage 420 (420B) is shown in a state in the middle of moving in the cutting direction DC1. The cutter carriage 420 (420C) is shown in a state in which it is at a folding position on the left end side of the cutter frame opening 409 and does not interfere with the left edge of the sheet SH. That is, the cutter carriage 420 can move between the position of cutter carriage 420A, which is the standby position in FIG. 7, and the position of cutter carriage 420C, which is the folding position.

[0098] The cutter carriage 420 (420A) shown in Figure 2 and Figures 9 to 13 is in the standby position. The cutter carriage 420 (420C) shown in Figure 9 is in the return position.

[0099] 8 and 9, the fixed blade 411 is fastened to the cutter frame 400 below the lower edge of the cutter frame opening 409. The fixed blade 411 extends upward and then bends to extend downstream in the conveying direction DT1. The cutting edge of the fixed blade 411 extends linearly in the cutting direction DC1.

[0100] When moving in the cutting direction DC1, the moving blade 412 comes into sliding contact with the cutting edge of the fixed blade 411. The cutter mechanism 4 cuts the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing device 7 in the cutting direction DC1 with the fixed blade 411 and the moving blade 412. Since the fixed blade 411 is fixed to the cutter frame 400, the sheet SH is cut by the movement of the moving blade 412.

[0101] 9, the area in which the sheet SH exists when the cutter mechanism 4 cuts the sheet SH in the cutting direction DC1 with the fixed blade 411 and the movable blade 412 is the cut area AC1. The cut area AC1 is an area surrounded by inner peripheral edges 409E1, 409E2, 409E3, and 409E4 of the cutter frame opening 409, and is a two-dimensional area that includes the cutting positions of the fixed blade 411 and the movable blade 412 and extends in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0102] 7 and 8, the first guide 100 is provided downstream in the conveying direction DT1 from the cutter mechanism 4. The first guide 100 has a bottom wall 105 and a plurality of ribs 107. The first guide 100 is a resin molded product manufactured by injection molding of a thermoplastic resin or the like.

[0103] The bottom wall 105 is curved and extends in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction. Each rib 107 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the bottom wall 105 and extends in the front-rear direction. Each rib 107 is spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction.

[0104] The first guide 100 has a first guide surface 101. The first guide surface 101 is formed by the tips of the front ribs 107. The first guide 100 guides the sheet SH, which is transported from the cutter mechanism 4 to the first discharge roller pair 29, by the first guide surface 101.

[0105] The first discharge roller pair 29 includes a first discharge roller 29A which is a driven roller, and a second discharge roller 29B which is a drive roller.

[0106] The first guide 100 rotatably supports the first discharge roller 29A. The first discharge roller 29A is rotatably supported on the downstream end 100D side of the first guide 100 in the transport direction DT1.

[0107] 7, the first guide 100 has a left wall 106L and a right wall 106R. The left wall 106L is connected to the left end of the bottom wall 105, extends upward, and also extends in the front-to-rear direction. The right wall 106R is connected to the right end of the bottom wall 105, extends upward, and also extends in the front-to-rear direction.

[0108] A shaft hole 102H is formed in the rear and lower position of the right wall 106R so as to penetrate in the left-right direction. The shaft hole 102H is a circular hole centered on a rotation axis X200 extending in the left-right direction. Although not shown in the figure, a shaft hole 102H is also formed in the left wall 106L.

[0109] 6 and 8, the second guide 200 has an upper wall 205. The upper wall 205 is bent so that the front portion is one step higher than the rear portion, and extends in the front-rear direction and also in the left-right direction. The second guide 200 is a resin molded product manufactured by injection molding of a thermoplastic resin or the like.

[0110] The second guide 200 has a pair of rotation shafts (not shown) provided to the left of the left end of the upper wall 205 and to the right of the right end of the upper wall 205. The pair of rotation shafts (not shown) are inserted into shaft holes 102H in the left wall 106L and right wall 106R of the first guide 100, so that the second guide 200 can rotate about a rotation axis X200. The joint cover 50 to which the first guide 100 is fixed supports the second guide 200 to be rotatable about the rotation axis X200.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 8, the rotation axis X200 is located on the upstream end 200U side of the second guide 200 in the conveying direction DT1.

[0112] The second discharge roller 29B is rotatably supported by the second guide 200. The second discharge roller 29B is rotatably supported on the downstream end 200D side of the second guide 200 in the transport direction DT1.

[0113] The second guide 200 is movable between a first guide position where the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B are in a nipped state, as shown in Figures 4 and 8, and a second guide position where the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B are in a separated state, as shown in Figure 5.

[0114] The position of the second discharge roller 29B when the second guide 200 is in the second guide position is spaced above the discharge tray 9 further than the position of the second discharge roller 29B when the second guide 200 is in the first guide position.

[0115] 8, the second guide 200 has a plurality of ribs 207. Each rib 207 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the upper wall 205 and extends in the front-rear direction. Each rib 207 is separated from each other in the left-right direction.

[0116] The second guide 200 has a second guide surface 202. The second guide surface 202 is formed by the tip of each front rib 207. The second guide surface 202 faces the first guide surface 101 when the second guide 200 is in the first guide position. The rotation axis X200 is located between the first guide surface 101 and the second guide surface 202 when the second guide 200 is in the first guide position.

[0117] When the second guide 200 is in the first guide position, the upstream side 202U of the second guide surface 202 in the conveying direction DT1 is inclined away from the first guide surface 101 toward the upstream end 200U of the second guide 200, relative to the downstream side 202D of the second guide surface 202 in the conveying direction DT1.

[0118] The second guide 200 guides the sheet SH, which is transported from the cutter mechanism 4 to the first discharge roller pair 29, by the second guide surface 202.

[0119] 7 and 8, the sheet sensor S4 is provided on the first guide 100. The sheet sensor S4 is located between the cutter frame 400 and the first discharge roller pair 29 in the conveying direction DT1.

[0120] The sheet sensor S4 is an actuator that swings when the sheet SH comes into contact with it, and detects the sheet SH passing through the cutter mechanism 4. The swing of the sheet sensor S4 is converted into an electric signal by a photointerrupter (not shown) and transmitted to the control unit C1. The control unit C1 controls the timing when the cutter mechanism 4 cuts the sheet SH based on the detection result of the sheet sensor S4.

[0121] Specifically, the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412 are positioned at a standby position (420A) until the sheet SH reaches a cutting position of the fixed blade 411 and the moving blade 412.

[0122] The control unit C1 determines the timing when half the length of the sheet SH will reach the cutting position of the fixed blade 411 and the movable blade 412 based on the elapsed time since the sheet sensor S4 detected the leading edge of the sheet SH passing through the cutter mechanism 4 and the conveying speed of the sheet SH, and when that timing arrives, stops the first conveying roller 71, the second conveying roller 72, and the first discharge roller pair 29 that nip the sheet SH. Then, the control unit C1 controls the first motor M1 to move the movable blade 412 in the cutting direction DC1.

[0123] That is, when the sheet SH reaches and stops at the cutting position of the fixed blade 411 and the movable blade 412, the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412 move in the cutting direction DC1 through the cutting area AC1. As a result, the cutter mechanism 4 cuts the sheet SH in half.

[0124] Thereafter, the control section C1 rotates the first conveying roller 71, the second conveying roller 72, and the first discharge roller pair 29 to discharge the sheet SH (SH1) that has been cut into two pieces onto the discharge tray 9.

[0125] 5, when a sheet SH becomes jammed around the cutter mechanism 4, the user moves the second guide 200 from the first guide position to the second guide position. This separates the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B, allowing the user to easily grab and pull out the jammed sheet SH. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can easily remove the jammed sheet SH around the cutter mechanism 4.

[0126] <First Edge and Second Edge of Image Forming Apparatus> 2, one edge in the cutting direction DC1, i.e., the right edge, of the image forming apparatus 1 is a first edge 1E1. The other edge in the cutting direction DC1, i.e., the left edge, of the image forming apparatus 1 is a second edge 1E2.

[0127] On the first edge 1E1 side of the image forming apparatus 1, a first length by which the second housing 30 protrudes rightward relative to the first housing 10 is defined as LP1. The first length LP1 is equal to or greater than zero. In this embodiment, the first length LP1 is zero.

[0128] At the second end edge 1E2 side of the image forming apparatus 1, the second length by which the second housing 30 protrudes leftward relative to the first housing 10 is defined as LP2. The second length LP2 is longer than the first length LP1. In this embodiment, the second length LP2 is approximately 10 to 15% of the length of the first housing 10 in the left-right direction.

[0129] An insertion port 45H of the automatic document feeder mechanism 45 opens in a direction facing the first edge 1E1 side of the image forming apparatus 1, that is, in the right direction.

[0130] <Joint cover storage recess> 10 to 12, the joint cover 50 has an accommodating recess 55. The accommodating recess 55 is an example of the "recess" of the present invention. The accommodating recess 55 is recessed such that a portion of the joint cover 50 located on one side in the cutting direction DC1, i.e., on the right side, from the cutting area AC1 is recessed to accommodate the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412 in the standby position (420A).

[0131] The accommodation recess 55 is recessed rightward from the inner wall surface 59 and accommodates the moving blade 412 together with the cutter carriage 420 which is in the standby position (420A).

[0132] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the joint cover 50 has a first support portion 51, a second support portion 52, and a connecting wall 53.

[0133] The first support portion 51 is located to the right of the discharge tray 9 and downstream in the transport direction DT1 of the moving blade 412. The first support portion 51 supports a part of the second housing 30 on the first edge 1E1 side from below.

[0134] The second support portion 52 is located to the right of the discharge tray 9 and upstream of the moving blade in the transport direction DT1. The second support portion 52 supports another part of the second housing 30 on the first edge 1E1 side from below.

[0135] The connecting wall 53 connects the first support part 51 and the second support part 52. The connecting wall 53 is located at a position retreated to the right from the cutting area AC1 relative to the first support part 51 and the second support part 52 so as to be able to accommodate the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412.

[0136] The accommodating recess 55 is defined by the first support portion 51, the second support portion 52, and the connecting wall 53. In other words, the joint cover 50 is thin in the left-right direction so that a space is formed between the first support portion 51 and the second support portion 53 to form the accommodating recess 55.

[0137] As shown in FIG. 9, when the cutter carriage 420 and the movable blade 412 are in the standby position (420A), the end 420E of the cutter carriage 420 on the cutting area AC1 side is positioned above the cutting area AC1 when viewed along the conveying direction DT1, and protrudes toward the cutting area AC1 side more than the inner wall surface 59.

[0138] When the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412 are in the standby position (420A), a part of the cutter carriage 420, i.e., an end 420E of the cutter carriage 420 on the cutting area AC1 side, is located above the cutter frame opening 409 when viewed along the conveying direction DT1, and overlaps with the cutter frame opening 409 in the cutting direction DC1. Furthermore, when viewed along the conveying direction DT1, most of the cutter carriage 420A in the standby position, except for the end 420E, overlaps with the first support part 51. Since the second guide 200 is located in front of the cutter mechanism 4, i.e., downstream of the conveying direction DT1, the cutter carriage 420 is covered by the second guide 200 and the joint cover 50 and cannot be seen from the outside when viewed from the front of the device along the conveying direction DT1.

[0139] <Detachable opening of joint cover and detachable opening cover> 1 and 13, the connecting wall 53 has an attachment / detachment opening 54. The attachment / detachment opening 54 is located on the first end edge 1E1 side of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0140] 13, the attachment / detachment opening 54 is an opening having a size that allows the unit 412U of the moving blade 412 to pass through in order to attach and detach the unit 412U of the moving blade 412 in the standby position to the cutter carriage 420. The lower portion of the attachment / detachment opening 54 is smaller than the upper portion of the attachment / detachment opening 54. The front edge of the lower portion of the attachment / detachment opening 54 and the front edge of the upper portion of the attachment / detachment opening 54 extend continuously in the vertical direction.

[0141] A removable opening cover 54C is supported so as to be openable and closable at the connection portion between the connecting wall 53 and the second support portion 52. The removable opening cover 54C can swing between a position in which the removable opening 54 is closed as shown in Fig. 1 and a position in which the removable opening 54 is open as shown in Fig. 13. The removable opening cover 54C is substantially rectangular and larger than the removable opening 54.

[0142] As shown in FIG. 13, the cutter carriage 420 is capable of attaching and detaching the unit 412U of the moving blade 412 while the moving blade 412 is in the standby position.

[0143] With the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412 in the standby position (420A), the attachment / detachment opening cover 54C is opened, and then the upper end of the carriage lever 422 is moved forward and downward from the position shown in Fig. 13. This allows the unit 412U of the moving blade 412 to be removed from the cutter carriage 420 by pulling it out to the right while lifting it upward. Also, by performing the reverse operation, the unit 412U of the moving blade 412 can be attached to the cutter carriage 420.

[0144] <Arrangement of the first motor and the second motor> As shown in FIG. 2, the first motor M1 and the second motor M2 are located on the second edge 1E2 side of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0145] As shown in FIG. 3, almost the entire first motor M1 except for its upper end portion overlaps with the joint cover 50 when viewed in the cutting direction DC1, that is, the left-right direction.

[0146] The entire second motor M2 overlaps with the joint cover 50 when viewed along the cutting direction DC1, that is, the left-right direction.

[0147] <Layout of control board, communication board, speaker, exhaust vent and exhaust fan> As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control board 60 and a communication board 61.

[0148] The control board 60 has an electronic circuit that constitutes the main part of the control unit C1, and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0149] The communication board 61 has a communication circuit for the image forming apparatus 1 to communicate with the outside, and is connected to the control board 60. The communication board 61 performs short-range wireless communication, such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or NFC.

[0150] The control board 60 and the communication board 61 are located on the second edge 1E2 side of the image forming apparatus 1, and are arranged along the inner wall surface of the left wall of the first housing .

[0151] As shown in FIG. 2, the first housing 10 has a speaker 64, an exhaust port 63H, and an exhaust fan 63.

[0152] The speaker 64 is controlled by the control unit C1 to emit sounds such as voice messages, warning sounds, etc. The speaker 64 is located on the second edge 1E2 side of the image forming apparatus 1 and is attached to the inner wall surface of the left wall of the first housing 10.

[0153] As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of small holes 10H are formed in the left wall of the first housing 10 at positions facing the speaker 64 for diffusing sound emitted by the speaker 64 to the outside of the first housing 10.

[0154] The exhaust port 63H is located on the first edge 1E1 side of the image forming apparatus 1. The exhaust port 63H has an opening formed in the right wall of the first housing 10 and a lattice connected to the inner peripheral edge of the opening. The exhaust port 63H connects the inside and outside of the first housing 10.

[0155] The exhaust fan 63 is attached to the inner wall surface of the right wall of the first housing 10, and faces the exhaust port 63H. The exhaust fan 63 exhausts the air inside the first housing 10 through the exhaust port 63H.

[0156] <Sheet movement distance> 14, the movement distance of the sheet SH from the fixing nip 7N to the nip position 29N of the first discharge roller pair 29 is defined as LR1. The movement distance of the sheet SH from the fixing nip 7N to the nip position of the second discharge roller pair 28 is defined as LR2. The movement distance LR2 is shorter than the movement distance LR1. Note that the movement distance LR1 is the distance that the sheet SH actually moves, or a design value that is set assuming a state in which the sheet SH will ideally pass from the fixing nip 7N to the nip position 29N of the first discharge roller pair 29. The same is true for the movement distance LR2.

[0157] As shown in Fig. 4, the maximum length of the sheet SH that the image forming apparatus 1 can accommodate is the maximum length of the sheet SH supported by the sheet cassette 10C. The maximum length of the sheet SH that the image forming apparatus 1 can accommodate is designated as LS1. More specifically, the sheet cassette 10C of the image forming apparatus 1 is configured to be capable of supporting a letter-sized (215.9 mm x 279.4 mm) sheet SH with the long side of the sheet SH aligned in the conveying direction DT1. If the maximum length of the sheet SH that the image forming apparatus 1 can accommodate is designated as LS1, then LS1 in this embodiment is 279.4 mm.

[0158] 14, the movement distance of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the cutting position of the fixed blade 411 and the movable blade 412 in the cutter mechanism 4 is set to LC1. The movement distance LC1 is half the maximum length LS1, i.e., longer than 139.7 mm. In other words, when the sheet SH to be cut by the cutter mechanism 4 stops, the rear end of the sheet SH is away from the fixing nip portion 7N downstream in the conveying direction DT1. Note that the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment can cut an A4 size (210 mm×297 mm) sheet SH and discharge two A5 size (210 mm×148 mm) sheets in addition to the letter size sheet SH.

[0159] The movement distance of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the nip position of the post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 is LD1. The movement distance of the sheet SH from the nip position of the post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 to the cutting position of the fixed blade 411 and the movable blade 412 in the cutter mechanism 4 is LC1-LD1. The movement distance LC1-LD1 is longer than half of the maximum length LS1. In other words, when the sheet SH to be cut by the cutter mechanism 4 stops, the rear end of the sheet SH is away from the nip position of the post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 downstream in the conveying direction DT1.

[0160] <Action and effect> As shown in FIG. 12, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the embodiment, space can be secured to accommodate the moving blade 412 in the standby position simply by partially recessing the joint cover 50 for supporting the second housing 30 from below to form an accommodating recess 55.

[0161] Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 of the embodiment can suppress an increase in size in the cutting direction DC1.

[0162] In addition, in this image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the joint cover 50 has an inner wall surface 59 that defines one side of the cutting direction DC1 of the discharge space AD1. As shown in FIG. 12, the accommodation recess 55 is recessed from the inner wall surface 59 to one side of the cutting direction DC1, that is, to the right, and accommodates the moving blade 412 together with the cutter carriage 420. As shown in FIG. 9, the end 420E of the cutter carriage 420 on the cutting area AC1 side when the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412 are in the standby position (420A) is located above the cutting area AC1 as viewed along the conveying direction DT1, and protrudes toward the cutting area AC1 side from the inner wall surface 59. With this configuration, it is possible to reliably suppress the enlargement of the cutting direction DC1 of the image forming apparatus 1, compared to a case in which the accommodation recess 55 is recessed to accommodate the entire cutter carriage 420. Furthermore, with this configuration, the empty space above the cutting area AC1 can be effectively utilized for the end 420E of the cutter carriage 420 on the cutting area AC1 side.

[0163] 13, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412 are in the standby position (420A), the unit 412U of the moving blade 412 can be detached from the cutter carriage 420. With this configuration, the worn moving blade 412 can be replaced, so that the cutter mechanism 4 can provide stable cutting performance for a long period of time.

[0164] In addition, in this image forming apparatus 1, as shown in Fig. 8, the cutter carriage 420 detachably holds the unit 412U of the moving blade 412. As shown in Fig. 13, the joint cover 50 has an attachment / detachment opening 54 for attaching and detaching the unit 412U of the moving blade 412 to and from the cutter carriage 420 when the cutter carriage 420 is in the standby position (420A). With this configuration, worn moving blade 412 can be easily replaced via the attachment / detachment opening 54, so that the cutter mechanism 4 can exhibit stable cutting performance for a long period of time.

[0165] 12, the image forming apparatus 1 has a first support portion 51, a second support portion 52, and a connecting wall 53 connecting the first support portion 51 and the second support portion 52. The connecting wall 5 is located in a position retreated from the cutting area AC1 to one side in the cutting direction DC1 from the first support portion 51 and the second support portion 52 so as to be able to accommodate the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412. The storage recess 55 is defined by the first support portion 51, the second support portion 52, and the connecting wall 53. With this configuration, the joint cover 50 supports the second housing 30 from below by the first support portion 51 and the second support portion 52, and the storage recess 55 can be largely defined by the first support portion 51, the second support portion 52, and the connecting wall 53.

[0166] In addition, in this image forming apparatus 1, as shown in Fig. 8, the cutter carriage 420 detachably holds the unit 412U of the moving blade 412. Then, as shown in Fig. 13, the connecting wall 53 has an attachment / detachment opening 54 for attaching and detaching the unit 412U of the moving blade 412 to and from the cutter carriage 420 when the cutter carriage 420 is in the standby position (420A). With this configuration, worn moving blade 412 can be easily replaced via the attachment / detachment opening 54, so that the cutter mechanism 4 can exhibit stable cutting performance for a long period of time.

[0167] 9, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412 are in the standby position (420A), a part of the cutter carriage 420, i.e., an end 420E of the cutter carriage 420 on the cutting area AC1 side, is located above the cutter frame opening 409 when viewed along the conveying direction DT1 and overlaps with the cutter frame opening 409 in the cutting direction DC1. With this configuration, it is possible to more reliably suppress an increase in size of the cutting direction DC1 of the image forming apparatus 1, compared to a case in which the entire cutter carriage 420 when the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412 are in the standby position does not overlap with the cutter frame opening 409 in the cutting direction DC1 when viewed along the conveying direction DT1.

[0168] 9, in the image forming apparatus 1, the first motor M1 is located above the cutter frame opening 409 when viewed along the conveying direction DT1, and the first motor M1 entirely overlaps with the cutter frame opening 409 in the cutting direction DC1. With this configuration, it is possible to more reliably prevent the image forming apparatus 1 from becoming larger in the cutting direction DC1, compared to a case in which the first motor M1 entirely does not overlap with the cutter frame opening 409 in the cutting direction DC1 when viewed along the conveying direction DT1.

[0169] Further, in this image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the attachment / detachment opening 54 is located on the first edge 1E1 side, which is one edge of the image forming apparatus 1 in the cutting direction DC1, and as shown in FIG. 2, the control board 60 is located on the second edge 1E2 side of the image forming apparatus 1. A large number of connection cables for connecting to the image forming unit 3, the fixing unit 7, the cutter mechanism 4, and the image reading unit 35 are wired to the control board 60. For this reason, the design freedom for arranging the attachment / detachment opening 54 on the second edge 1E2 side where the control board 60 is located tends to be low. In this regard, by the configuration in which the attachment / detachment opening 54 is located on the first edge 1E1 side opposite to the second edge 1E2, it is not necessary to consider interference between the attachment / detachment opening 54, the control board 60, and the connection cables, so that the design freedom for arranging the attachment / detachment opening 54 can be improved.

[0170] Moreover, in this image forming device 1, the communication board 61 is located on the second edge 1E2 side and is connected to the control board 60. With this configuration, the communication board 61 can be disposed in a position close to the control board 60, and the connection cable for connecting the communication board 61 and the control board 60 can be shortened.

[0171] 3, the entire second motor M2 overlaps with the joint cover 50 when viewed along the cutting direction DC1, i.e., the left-right direction. With this configuration, the empty space within the joint cover 50 can be effectively used as a storage space for the second motor M2, thereby realizing a reduction in size in the vertical direction.

[0172] In addition, in this image forming apparatus 1, almost the entire first motor M1 except for its upper end portion overlaps with the joint cover 50 when viewed along the cutting direction DC1, i.e., the left-right direction. With this configuration, the empty space within the joint cover 50 can be effectively used as a storage space for the first motor M1, thereby achieving a reduction in size in the vertical direction.

[0173] 1, the attachment / detachment opening 54 is located on the first edge 1E1 side of the image forming device 1, and as shown in Fig. 2, the first motor M1 and the second motor M2 are located on the second edge 1E2 side of the image forming device 1. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the driving sounds of the first motor M1 and the second motor M2 from leaking to the outside via the attachment / detachment opening 54.

[0174] 2, in the image forming device 1, the first length LP1 by which the second housing 30 protrudes in one direction in the cutting direction DC1 from the first housing 10 at the first edge 1E1 side of the image forming device 1 is equal to or greater than zero. The second length LP2 by which the second housing 30 protrudes in the other direction in the cutting direction DC1 from the first housing 10 at the second edge 1E2 side of the image forming device 1 is greater than the first length LP1. The attachment / detachment opening 54 is located on the first edge 1E1 side. With this configuration, when replacing the moving blade 412 through the attachment / detachment opening 54, one side of the second housing 30 in the cutting direction DC1, i.e., the right side, is unlikely to get in the way.

[0175] 1, the attachment / detachment opening and the exhaust port 63H are located on the first edge 1E1 side of the image forming apparatus 1. With this configuration, when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed, the first edge 1E1 side where the exhaust port 63H is located is placed away from the wall surface. Therefore, the user can easily reach the attachment / detachment opening 54, and the moving blade 412 can be easily replaced.

[0176] In addition, in this image forming apparatus 1, the attachment / detachment opening 54 is located on the first edge 1E1 side of the image forming apparatus 1, and as shown in FIG. 2, the speaker 64 is located on the second edge 1E2 side of the image forming apparatus 1. The side on which the speaker 64 is located needs to have a relatively large wall for reverberating sound. For this reason, the degree of freedom in designing to place the attachment / detachment opening 54 on the second edge 1E2 side on which the speaker 64 is located tends to be low. In this regard, by using a configuration in which the attachment / detachment opening 54 is located on the first edge 1E1 side opposite to the second edge 1E2, it is easy to ensure a large wall for reverberating sound, and therefore the degree of freedom in designing to place the attachment / detachment opening 54 can be improved.

[0177] 1, in this image forming apparatus 1, the attachment / detachment opening 54 is located on the first edge 1E1 side of the image forming apparatus 1, and the insertion opening 45H of the automatic document feeder mechanism 45 opens in a direction facing the first edge 1E1 side of the image forming apparatus 1. With this configuration, when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed, a space is secured on the first edge 1E1 side for a user to insert a document into the insertion opening 45H. This space makes it easy for the user to reach the attachment / detachment opening 54, so that the moving blade 412 can be easily replaced.

[0178] 14, in the image forming apparatus 1, the movement distance LR2 of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the second discharge roller pair 28 is shorter than the movement distance LR1 of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the first discharge roller pair 29. With this configuration, the sheet SH that does not need to be cut can be quickly discharged.

[0179] Furthermore, in this image forming apparatus 1, the travel distance LC1 of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the cutter mechanism 4 is longer than half the maximum length LS1 of the sheet SH that the image forming apparatus 1 can accommodate. With this configuration, when the cutter mechanism 4 cuts the sheet SH in half, the entire sheet SH always passes through the fixing nip portion 7N, so that the sheet SH does not become overheated in the fixing nip portion 7N.

[0180] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0181] In the embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is embodied as the image forming apparatus 1, which is a multifunction machine equipped with an image reading device on the upper side, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the configuration of the present invention may be applied to an image forming apparatus that is not a multifunction machine. Furthermore, the configuration of the present invention may be applied not only to a monochrome electrophotographic image forming apparatus as in the present embodiment, but also to a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus or a printing apparatus of another printing method, such as an inkjet method or a thermal method.

[0182] In the embodiment, the cutter mechanism 4 is configured with the fixed blade 411 and the movable blade 412, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a sheet may be cut by sandwiching it between two movable blades without a fixed blade, or the movable blade itself may extend in the cutting direction like the fixed blade, and the movable blade may move in the vertical direction to sandwich the sheet between the fixed blade and the movable blade to cut the sheet. Also, a sheet may be cut with a single blade. [Explanation of symbols]

[0183] 1...Image forming device DT1: Transport direction SH…Sheet 3...Image forming section 7. Fixing unit 10…1st cabinet DC1…Cutting direction 4…Cutter mechanism AC1: Cut area 412...moving blade 35S…Read sensor 35...Image reading unit 30…Second housing 50…Joint cover 55...Recess (accommodating recess) AD1…Discharge space 29...First discharge roller pair 420…Cutter carriage 400…Cutter frame 59…Inner wall surface 420E...Part of the cutter carriage when the moving blade is in the standby position (end on the cutting area side) 54…Removable opening 9…Outlet tray 51...First support part 52…Second support part 53…Connecting wall 430…Timing belt 431...Drive pulley 432, 433, 434...Driven pulleys M1: First motor 402…Guide section 409…Cutter frame opening 409E1, 409E2, 409E3, 409E4...Inner edge of cutter frame opening 60…Control board 1E1…First edge 1E2…Second edge 61...Communication board M2: Second motor LP1: A first length by which the second housing protrudes in one direction in the cutting direction relative to the first housing on the first edge side of the image forming apparatus LP2: A second length by which the second housing protrudes in the other cutting direction from the first housing on the second edge side of the image forming apparatus 63H…Exhaust port 63…Exhaust fan 64…Speaker 45H…insertion port 45...Automatic document feed mechanism 28...Second discharge roller pair 7N…Fixing nip LR2: Distance traveled by the sheet from the fixing nip to the second pair of discharge rollers LR1: Distance traveled by the sheet from the fixing nip to the first pair of discharge rollers LC1: Sheet travel distance from the fixing nip to the cutter mechanism LS1: Maximum sheet length that the image forming device can handle

Claims

1. an image forming unit that transfers a toner image onto a sheet transported in a transport direction to form an image; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image onto the sheet that has passed through the image forming unit; a first housing that houses the image forming unit and the fixing unit; a cutter mechanism that cuts the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit in a cutting direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, the cutter mechanism being located at a standby position away from the sheet in one of the cutting directions until the sheet reaches a cutting position, and having a moving blade that moves in the cutting direction through a cutting area, which is an area where the sheet exists, when the sheet reaches the cutting position and stops; an image reading unit having a reading sensor for reading an image of a document; a second housing that houses the image reading unit; a joint cover that supports the second housing from below above the first housing, the joint cover having a recess that is recessed in a portion located on the one side in the cutting direction relative to the cutting area so as to accommodate the moving blade in the standby position; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. a first discharge roller pair that discharges the sheet cut by the cutter mechanism into a discharge space between the first housing and the second housing, the cutter mechanism includes a cutter carriage that holds the moving blade, and a cutter frame that guides the cutter carriage in the cutting direction; The joint cover has an inner wall surface that defines one side of the discharge space in the cutting direction, the recess is recessed from the inner wall surface toward the one side in the cutting direction to accommodate the moving blade together with the cutter carriage, 2. An image forming apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein when the movable blade is in the standby position, the end of the cutter carriage on the cutting area side is positioned above the cutting area when viewed along the conveying direction and protrudes toward the cutting area further than the inner wall surface.

3. The cutter mechanism has a cutter carriage that holds the moving blade, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable blade is detachable from the cutter carriage when the movable blade is in the standby position.

4. The cutter mechanism has a cutter carriage that detachably holds the moving blade, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the joint cover has an opening for attaching and detaching the moving blade in the standby position to and from the cutter carriage.

5. The joint cover includes a discharge tray for supporting the sheet to be discharged after being cut by the cutter mechanism; a first support portion that is located on the one side of the cutting direction relative to the discharge tray and downstream of the moving blade in the conveying direction and that supports a part of the second housing from below; a second support portion that is located on the one side of the cutting direction relative to the discharge tray and is located upstream of the moving blade in the conveying direction, and that supports another part of the second housing from below; a connecting wall that connects the first support portion and the second support portion, the connecting wall being located at a position retreated from the cutting region to one side in the cutting direction relative to the first support portion and the second support portion so as to be able to accommodate the moving blade; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recess is defined by the first support portion, the second support portion, and the connecting wall.

6. The cutter mechanism has a cutter carriage that detachably holds the moving blade, 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the connecting wall has an attachment / detachment opening for attaching and detaching the moving blade in the standby position to and from the cutter carriage.

7. the cutter mechanism includes a cutter carriage that holds the moving blade, a timing belt that connects the cutter carriage, a drive pulley and a driven pulley around which the timing belt is wound, a first motor that drives the drive pulley, and a cutter frame that has a guide portion that guides the cutter carriage in the cutting direction and in which a cutter frame opening is formed, The cutting area is an area surrounded by an inner peripheral edge of the cutter frame opening, 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the moving blade is in the standby position, a portion of the cutter carriage is positioned above the cutter frame opening when viewed along the conveying direction and overlaps with the cutter frame opening in the cutting direction.

8. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first motor is located above the cutter frame opening when viewed along the transport direction and overlaps with the cutter frame opening in the cutting direction.

9. a control board for controlling an operation of the image forming apparatus; the attachment / detachment opening is located on a first edge side, which is one edge in the cutting direction of the image forming apparatus, 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control board is located on a second edge side which is the other edge of the image forming apparatus in the cutting direction.

10. The image forming apparatus includes a communication board for communicating with an external device, The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the communication board is located on the second edge side and is connected to the control board.

11. a first discharge roller pair that discharges the sheet cut by the cutter mechanism into a discharge space between the first housing and the second housing; A second motor that drives the first pair of discharge rollers; Equipped with 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second motor overlaps with the joint cover when viewed along the cutting direction.

12. The cutter mechanism has a first motor for moving the movable blade, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first motor overlaps with the joint cover when viewed along the cutting direction.

13. a first discharge roller pair that discharges the sheet cut by the cutter mechanism into a discharge space between the first housing and the second housing; A second motor that drives the first pair of discharge rollers; Equipped with The cutter mechanism has a first motor for moving the movable blade, the attachment / detachment opening is located on a first edge side, which is one edge in the cutting direction of the image forming apparatus, 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first motor and the second motor are positioned on a second edge side which is the other edge of the image forming apparatus in the cutting direction.

14. a first length by which the second housing protrudes in the one direction in the cutting direction relative to the first housing at a first edge side that is the one edge in the cutting direction of the image forming apparatus is equal to or greater than zero; a second length by which the second housing protrudes in the other direction in the cutting direction relative to the first housing at a second edge side that is the other edge of the image forming apparatus in the cutting direction is greater than the first length, 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the attachment / detachment opening is located on the first edge side.

15. the first housing has an exhaust port that communicates an inside of the first housing with an outside, and an exhaust fan that exhausts air from within the first housing through the exhaust port; 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the attachment / detachment opening and the exhaust port are positioned on a first edge side which is the one edge in the cutting direction of the image forming apparatus.

16. The first housing has a speaker that emits sound, the attachment / detachment opening is located on a first edge side, which is one edge in the cutting direction of the image forming apparatus, 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the speaker is positioned on a second edge side which is the other edge of the image forming apparatus in the cutting direction.

17. the second housing includes an automatic document feed mechanism having an insertion port for inserting a document to be read, the automatic document feed mechanism feeds the document inserted into the insertion port to a position where the document can be read by the reading sensor; the attachment / detachment opening is located on a first edge side, which is one edge in the cutting direction of the image forming apparatus, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the insertion port is open in a direction facing the first edge side.

18. a first discharge roller pair that discharges the sheet cut by the cutter mechanism; a second discharge roller pair that discharges the sheet that passes through the fixing unit and is conveyed without passing through the cutter mechanism, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a moving distance of the sheet from a fixing nip portion in the fixing unit that nips the sheet to the second pair of discharge rollers is shorter than a moving distance of the sheet from the fixing nip portion to the first pair of discharge rollers.

19. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a moving distance of the sheet from a fixing nip portion in the fixing unit that nips the sheet to the cutter mechanism is longer than half the maximum length of the sheet that the image forming apparatus can accommodate.

Images