Medium body guide mechanism and image formation device

Abstract

To make change in posture of a guide member, caused when an opening / closing cover varies in closing position in the moving direction of the opening / closing cover smaller than when the guide member is configured to change in posture associatively as a press member pressed in the moving direction of the opening / closing cover changes in posture.SOLUTION: A medium guide mechanism comprises: a press member which is pressed by an opening / closing cover, opening and closing an opening of a main body, in the moving direction of the opening / closing cover while the opening / closing cover moves to a closing position for closing the opening; a contact member which has its posture determined by coming into contact with the press member in a crossing direction crossing the moving direction while the opening / closing cover moves to the closing position; and a guide member which changes in posture associatively as the contact member changes in posture to guide a recording medium being conveyed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a media guide mechanism and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] The paper transport path switching mechanism described in Patent Document 1 is a paper transport path switching mechanism having a branch claw for switching paper transport paths in an image forming device and an opening / closing cover that opens the area around the branch claw for jam processing, and is a mechanism that includes a support member that supports the branch claw so that it can swing, and a branch claw support member that has a first fulcrum that supports the branch claw and a second fulcrum that rotates the support member independently of or integrally with the opening / closing cover. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-39602 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The media guide mechanism includes a pressing member that is pressed by the opening / closing cover in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover when the opening / closing cover that opens and closes the opening of the main body is moved to a closing position that closes the opening, and a guide member that changes its position in conjunction with the change in position of the pressing member and guides the recording medium being transported.

[0005] In such a configuration, if the closed position of the opening / closing cover varies in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover, the attitude of the guide member also varies.

[0006] The objective of the present disclosure is to reduce the change in posture of the guide member that occurs when the closing position of the opening / closing cover varies in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover, compared to a configuration in which the posture of the guide member changes in conjunction with the change in posture of the pressing member that is pressed in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The media guide mechanism according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is characterized by comprising: a pressing member that is pressed by the opening / closing cover in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover when the opening / closing cover is moved to a closed position that closes the opening; a contact member whose posture is determined by contact with the pressing member in a transverse direction that intersects with the movement direction when the opening / closing cover is moved to the closed position; and a guide member whose posture changes in conjunction with the change in posture of the contact member, and which guides the recording medium being transported.

[0008] The media guide mechanism according to the second aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the media guide mechanism described in the first aspect, it comprises a first shaft portion that extends along a direction that intersects the movement direction and the intersecting direction and rotatably supports the contact member and the guide member, and a second shaft portion that is arranged along the first shaft portion and rotatably supports the pressing member.

[0009] A media guide mechanism according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the media guide mechanism described in the second aspect, the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion are spaced apart from each other in the movement direction.

[0010] A media guide mechanism according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the media guide mechanism described in the first aspect, the contact member is formed with a contact portion that contacts the pressing member, the pressing member is formed with a contacted portion that contacts the contact portion, and one of the contact portion or the contacted portion is formed with a plane facing the intersecting direction.

[0011] A media guide mechanism according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the media guide mechanism described in the fourth aspect, the other of the contact portion or the contacted portion has a curved surface formed thereon that contacts the flat surface.

[0012] An image forming device according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is characterized by comprising a media guide mechanism according to any one of the first to fifth aspects that guides a transported recording medium, and an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium guided by the media guide mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The media guide mechanism according to the first aspect of the present disclosure can reduce the variation in the posture of the guide member that occurs when the closing position of the opening / closing cover varies in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover, compared to a configuration in which the posture of the guide member changes in conjunction with the change in posture of the pressing member that is pressed in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover.

[0014] The medium guide mechanism according to the second aspect of the present disclosure can bring the pressing member and the contact member into contact with each other in the cross direction more effectively than when the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion are coaxial.

[0015] The media guide mechanism according to the third aspect of the present disclosure can effectively bring the pressing member and the contact member into contact in the intersecting direction, compared to when the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion overlap in the movement direction.

[0016] The media guide mechanism according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure can reduce the change in posture of the guide member that occurs when the closing position of the opening / closing cover varies in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover, compared to when both the contact portion and the contacted portion are composed of curved surfaces.

[0017] The media guide mechanism according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure can reduce the change in posture of the guide member that occurs when the closing position of the opening / closing cover varies in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover, compared to when both the contact portion and the contacted portion are constructed as flat surfaces.

[0018] The image forming device according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure can reduce jamming of the transported recording medium compared to a device equipped with a media guide mechanism in which the posture of the guide member changes in conjunction with the posture change of the pressing member pressed in the movement direction of the opening / closing cover. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit provided in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 10 is a front view showing a guide member and the like provided in a media guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 10 is a front view showing a pressing member, a contact member, etc. provided in the media guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, with the opening / closing cover moved to the closed position. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a front view showing a pressing member, a contact member, etc. provided in the media guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, with the opening / closing cover moved to the open position. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a media guide mechanism according to a comparative example to the embodiment of the present disclosure, with the opening / closing cover moved to the closed position. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a media guide mechanism according to a comparative example to the embodiment of the present disclosure, with the opening / closing cover moved to the open position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] An example of a medium guide mechanism and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. Note that arrow H shown in each figure indicates the vertical direction and the up-down direction of the apparatus, arrow W is perpendicular to arrow H and is horizontal and indicates the width direction of the apparatus, and arrow D is perpendicular to arrows H and W and is horizontal and indicates the depth direction of the apparatus.

[0021] (Overall configuration of image forming apparatus) As shown in Figure 1, the image forming device 10 is configured to include, from bottom to top, a paper storage section 12 in which recording medium P is stored, an image forming section 14 provided above the paper storage section 12 and which forms an image on the recording medium P supplied from the paper storage section 12, a document reading section 16 provided above the image forming section 14 and which reads a document to be read (not shown), and a control section 20 provided within the image forming section 14 and which controls the operation of each section of the image forming device 10.

[0022] [Paper storage section 12] 1, the paper storage unit 12 is provided with a first storage unit 22, a second storage unit 24, and a third storage unit 26 that store recording media P of different sizes. The first storage unit 22, the second storage unit 24, and the third storage unit 26 are provided with feed rolls 32 that send out the stored recording media P to a transport path 28 provided in the image forming apparatus 10. Further, on the transport path 28, pairs of feed rolls 34 and 36 that transport the recording media P one by one are provided downstream of the feed rolls 32. Further, on the transport path 28, downstream of the feed rolls 36 in the transport direction of the recording media P, alignment rolls 38 that temporarily stop the recording media P and send them to a secondary transfer position (described later) at a predetermined timing are provided.

[0023] [Document reading unit 16] As shown in FIG. 1, the document reading unit 16 includes a document transport device 52 that automatically transports documents to be read one by one, a platen glass 54 that is disposed below the document transport device 52 and on which one document to be read is placed, and a document reading device 56 that reads the document transported by the document transport device 52 or the document placed on the platen glass 54.

[0024] [Image forming unit 14] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming section 14 includes an image forming unit 60 that forms a developer image (toner image), an intermediate transfer belt 62 that is rotatable (moves in a circular motion) in the direction of arrow A and holds a toner image on its outer periphery, four primary transfer rolls 64 that perform a primary transfer of the toner image formed by the image forming unit 60 onto the intermediate transfer belt 62, and one secondary transfer roll 66 that performs a secondary transfer of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 62 onto a recording medium P.

[0025] An image forming unit 60 is provided for each toner color, and as shown in Figure 2, multiple image forming units 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K are provided to form toner images of each color, Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black). Note that the image forming units 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K have the same basic configuration except for the toner colors. Therefore, only image forming unit 60K will be described.

[0026] In addition, in the following explanation, when it is necessary to distinguish between toner colors (Y, M, C, K), the letters Y, M, C, K representing the toner color are added to the end of the reference numeral to distinguish between them, and when it is not necessary to distinguish between toner colors (Y, M, C, K), each component may be described using a reference numeral that omits Y, M, C, K.

[0027] The image forming unit 60K is configured to include an image carrier 72 as an example of an image carrier member that carries an electrostatic latent image and a toner image on its outer peripheral surface, a charging unit 74 that charges the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 72, an exposure device 76 that exposes the outer peripheral surface of the charged image carrier 72 to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 72, a developing device 68 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier 72 with K-color toner to form a toner image (K color), and a cleaning unit 78 that cleans the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 72 after primary transfer.

[0028] The image carrier 72 is disposed opposite the intermediate transfer belt 62 and is supported by a driving means (not shown) so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow R (the circumferential direction, i.e., the clockwise direction in the drawing). The charging unit 74 charges the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 72 with the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner.

[0029] The exposure device 76 emits laser light B based on image information, and irradiates (exposes) the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 72 charged by the charging unit 74, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image.

[0030] The cleaning unit 78 collects toner, dust, and the like remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 72 after the primary transfer.

[0031] The intermediate transfer belt 62 is endless. Inside the intermediate transfer belt 62, from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction of arrow A, there are provided a drive roll 61 that moves the intermediate transfer belt 62, a primary transfer roll 64 that performs primary transfer of a toner image on the image carrier 72 onto the intermediate transfer belt 62, a support roll 63, a tensioning roll 65, an opposing roll 67 that serves as an opposing electrode of the secondary transfer roll 66, and a support roll 69, each of which is rotatable in a counterclockwise direction as shown in the figure.

[0032] The intermediate transfer belt 62 is wound around and supported by a drive roll 61, four primary transfer rolls 64, a support roll 63, a tensioning roll 65, an opposing roll 67, and a support roll 69, and moves in a circular motion in the direction of arrow A when the drive roll 61 is driven to rotate by a drive means (not shown).

[0033] In this configuration, the primary transfer roll 64 primarily transfers the toner image on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 72 to the intermediate transfer belt 62 at a primary transfer position QA. Furthermore, the secondary transfer roll 66 secondarily transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 62 to the recording medium P at a secondary transfer position QB.

[0034] Meanwhile, a transport unit 79 that transports the recording medium P downstream is provided downstream of the secondary transfer position QB on the transport path 28. Further, a fixing device 80 is provided downstream of the transport unit 79 on the transport path 28.

[0035] The fixing device 80 has a heating roll 82 and a pressure roll 84 that presses the recording medium P against the heating roll 82. In the fixing device 80, the recording medium P enters a contact portion (nip portion) between the heating roll 82 and the pressure roll 84 and is heated and pressurized, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording medium P.

[0036] (Action of image forming device) Next, the image forming operation in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described. When the image forming device 10 is operated, as shown in FIG. 2, image data for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is output sequentially to the exposure device 76 from an image processing device (not shown) or externally.

[0037] Next, light emitted from the exposure device 76 in accordance with the image data is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 72, which has been charged by the charging unit 74. Then, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data for each color is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 72. Furthermore, the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 72 is developed into a toner image of each color by the developing device 68. Then, the toner images of each color on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 72 are primarily transferred (multiple transferred) to the intermediate transfer belt 62 by the primary transfer roll 64.

[0038] 1 and transported along the transport path 28 is transported to the secondary transfer position QB by the alignment roll 38 in synchronization with the multiple transfer of each toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 62. The multiple toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 62 are then secondarily transferred by the secondary transfer roll 66 onto the recording medium P transported to the secondary transfer position QB.

[0039] Furthermore, the recording medium P onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported in the direction of arrow C (to the right in the figure) towards the fixing device 80. Then, in the fixing device 80, the toner image is heated and pressed by a heating roll 82 and a pressure roll 84, and is fixed onto the recording medium P. Furthermore, the recording medium P onto which the toner image has been fixed is transported by a transport roll 86 and is discharged to a paper discharge section 15 (see FIG. 1).

[0040] (Main part configuration) Next, the medium guide mechanism 100 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the medium guide mechanism 100 is provided in the curved portion 28a where the transport path 28 changes from the vertical direction to the width direction. In other words, the medium guide mechanism 100 is provided in the portion where the transport direction of the recording medium P changes. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the medium guide mechanism 100 includes a guide member 110 that contacts the recording medium P to guide the recording medium P, a pressing member 130 that is pressed by the opening / closing cover 98, and a contact member 150 that contacts the pressing member 130 to determine its position. Specifically, the opening / closing cover 98 is provided with a protrusion 98a that protrudes toward the inside of the main body 10a. The pressing member 130 is pressed by the protrusion 98a of the opening / closing cover 98.

[0041] The opening / closing cover 98 is rotatably attached to the main body 10a around an axis extending in the depth direction so as to open and close an opening 96 formed on one side of the main body 10a of the image forming device 10 in the width direction (left side in the figure).

[0042] In this configuration, the opening / closing cover 98 moves between an open position (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) where it opens the opening 96, and a closed position (indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1) where it closes the opening 96. When the opening / closing cover 98 has moved to the closed position, the recording medium P is guided along the transport path 28 by the medium guide mechanism 100. When the opening / closing cover 98 has moved to the open position, the curved portion 28a of the transport path 28 is opened to the outside by the medium guide mechanism 100.

[0043] [Guide member 110] As shown in FIG. 3, when the open / close cover 98 is moved to the closed position, the guide member 110 moves to a guide position where it guides the recording medium P along the conveyance path 28 (shown by the solid line in FIG. 3). The guide member 110 is plate-shaped with its thickness direction as the depth direction, and multiple guide members 110 are provided lined up in the depth direction. The multiple guide members 110 are attached to a shaft portion 128 that extends in the depth direction. Specifically, the multiple guide members 110 are arranged at predetermined intervals in a range that faces the recording medium P being conveyed in the width direction. The depth direction is an example of one direction, and the shaft portion 128 is an example of a first shaft portion.

[0044] In this configuration, with the opening / closing cover 98 moved to the closed position, the guide member 110 moves to a guide position where it guides the recording medium P along the conveyance path 28 (solid line shown in FIG. 3). Furthermore, with the opening / closing cover 98 moved to the open position, the guide member 110 rotates about the shaft 128, thereby moving to an open position where it opens the curved portion 28a of the conveyance path 28 to the outside (two-dot chain line shown in FIG. 3). The movement of the guide member 110 will be described in detail later.

[0045] Specifically, the guide member 110 that has moved to the guide position is disposed outside the curved portion 28a of the conveying path 28, and has the shape of an isosceles triangle with a portion cut out when viewed from the depth direction. The base end portion of the guide member 110 is supported by a shaft portion 128, and the guide member 110 is rotatable around the shaft portion 128.

[0046] The guide member 110 is disposed such that the top of the guide member 110 is located on one side in the width direction and below the base end of the guide member 110. The guide member 110 is further formed with a guide portion 110a that is concavely curved and contacts the conveyed recording medium P to guide the recording medium P. A guide member 94 having a convexly curved surface is disposed inside the curved portion 28a of the conveyance path 28. In other words, the guide member 94 is disposed on the opposite side of the guide member 110 with the curved portion 28a in between.

[0047] Furthermore, the guide member 110 (shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) rotates around the shaft 128 and moves to the open position, opening the curved portion 28a of the conveying path 28 to one side in the width direction.

[0048] [Pressing member 130] As shown in FIG. 4, the pressing member 130 is disposed on the rear side of the guide members 110 in the depth direction.

[0049] The pressing member 130 is supported by a shaft 148 extending in the depth direction, and the pressing member 130 is rotatable about the shaft 148. The shaft 148 is disposed along the shaft 128, and is disposed above the shaft 128 and on one side in the width direction (the left side in the figure) when viewed from the depth direction. In other words, the shaft 128 and the shaft 148 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction. The shaft 148 is an example of a second shaft.

[0050] A coil spring 149 (torsion spring) is attached to the shaft portion 148, and the coil spring 149 biases the pressing member 130 so as to rotate clockwise around the shaft portion 148.

[0051] In this configuration, when the opening / closing cover 98 has moved to the closed position, the pressing member 130 moves to a pressing position where it is pressed against the protrusion 98a of the opening / closing cover 98 (see FIG. 4). Furthermore, when the opening / closing cover 98 has moved to the open position, the pressing member 130 rotates around the shaft 148 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 149, and the rotation is restricted by a stopper (not shown), so that the pressing member 130 moves to a restricted position (see FIG. 5).

[0052] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the pressing member 130 that has moved to the pressing position extends in the vertical direction when viewed from the depth direction, and the upper end portion of the pressing member 130 is attached to the shaft portion 148.

[0053] The pressing member 130 is formed with a flat pressing surface 130a that presses against the open-close cover 98a. When the open-close cover 98 is in the closed position, the pressing surface 130a faces one side in the width direction. Furthermore, a flat contact surface 130b that contacts a peripheral surface 154a of an embossment 154 (described later) in the up-down direction is formed in the lower portion of the pressing member 130. When the open-close cover 98 is in the closed position, the contact surface 130b faces downward. The pressing member 130 is also formed with a flat other surface 130f that is connected to the contact surface 130b via an arcuate surface 130e on the other side (the right side in the figure) and above the contact surface 130b in the width direction. When the open-close cover 98 is in the closed position, the other surface 130f faces the other side in the width direction. The contact surface 130b is an example of a contact portion.

[0054] Furthermore, the pressing member 130 is formed with a planar contact surface 130c that first comes into contact with the protrusion 98a of the opening / closing cover 98 that moves from the open position to the closed position as shown in Fig. 5 when the pressing member 130 rotates about the shaft 148 and moves to the restricted position. This contact surface 130c faces one side in the width direction as shown in Fig. 4 when the opening / closing cover 98 moves to the closed position. Specifically, the contact surface 130c is disposed below and on one side of the pressing surface 130a in the width direction, and the pressing member 130 is formed with an inclined surface 130d that connects the contact surface 130c and the pressing surface 130a.

[0055] [Contact member 150] As shown in FIG. 4, the contact member 150 is disposed on the rear side of the guide members 110 in the depth direction and on the front side of the pressing member 130 in the depth direction.

[0056] Furthermore, the contact member 150 is supported by a shaft 128 extending in the depth direction. That is, the contact member 150 and a plurality of guide members 110 are supported by the shaft 128, and when the contact member 150 rotates around the shaft 128, the guide members 110 rotate together with the rotating contact member 150 around the shaft 128. In other words, the posture of the guide members 110 changes in conjunction with the posture change of the contact member 150.

[0057] A coil spring 129 (torsion spring) is attached to the shaft portion 128, and the coil spring 129 biases the contact member 150 to rotate clockwise around the shaft portion 128.

[0058] In this configuration, when the open-close cover 98 is moved to the closed position, the contact member 150 comes into contact with the contact surface 130b of the pressing member 130 in the pressing position and moves to a positioning position where its position is determined (see FIG. 4). Furthermore, when the open-close cover 98 is moved to the open position, the contact member 150 rotates around the shaft 128 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 129 and comes into contact with the other surface 130f of the pressing member 130 in the pressing position and moves to a restriction position where its rotation is restricted (see FIG. 5).

[0059] Specifically, when the contact member 150 is moved to the positioning position, it extends in an inclined direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction when viewed from the depth direction, as shown in FIG. 4, and the central portion of the contact member 150 in the vertical direction is attached to the shaft portion 128.

[0060] The contact member 150 also has a plate-shaped main body 152 whose thickness direction faces the depth direction, and an embossment 154 that protrudes from the main body 152 in the depth direction.

[0061] In this configuration, when the open-close cover 98 is moved to the closed position, the peripheral surface 154a of the embossment 154 of the contact member 150 comes into contact with the contact surface 130b of the pressing member 130 in the pressing position in the vertical direction. This causes the contact member 150 to move to the positioning position (see FIG. 4). The peripheral surface 154a is an example of a contacted portion.

[0062] Meanwhile, when the opening / closing cover 98 is moved to the open position, the pressing member 130 moves from the pressing position to the restricted position, causing the contact member 150 to rotate around the shaft 128 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 129. Then, the peripheral surface 154a of the embossment 154 of the contact member 150 comes into contact with the other surface 130f of the pressing member 130 at the restricted position, causing the contact member 150 to move to the restricted position (see FIG. 5).

[0063] As described above, the posture of the guide member 110 changes in conjunction with the posture change of the contact member 150. As a result, when the pressing member 130 at the pressing position moves to the restricting position, the guide member 110 at the guiding position moves to the open position (see FIG. 5).

[0064] (Function of main components) Next, the operation of the medium guide mechanism 100 associated with the opening and closing of the opening / closing cover 98 will be described in comparison with a medium guide mechanism 200 according to a comparative embodiment. First, the configuration of the medium guide mechanism 200 according to the comparative embodiment will be described, focusing on the parts that differ from the medium guide mechanism 100 according to this embodiment.

[0065] [Medium guide mechanism 200] 6 and 7, the medium guide mechanism 200 includes a guide member 110 that comes into contact with the recording medium P to guide the recording medium P and is supported by a shaft portion 128, and a pressing member 230 that is pressed against the opening / closing cover 98. The pressing member 230 is disposed on the far side in the depth direction relative to the multiple guide members 110.

[0066] Further, pressing member 230 is attached to shaft portion 128. Furthermore, a coil spring 249 (torsion spring) is attached to this shaft portion 128, and this coil spring 249 urges pressing member 230 to rotate clockwise around shaft portion 128. The posture of guide member 110 changes in conjunction with the change in posture of pressing member 230.

[0067] In addition, the pressing member 230 is formed with a flat pressing surface 230a that is pressed against the protrusion 98a of the opening / closing cover 98, and when the opening / closing cover 98 is moved to the closed position, the pressing surface 230a faces one side in the width direction.

[0068] In this configuration, when the opening / closing cover 98 has moved to the closed position, the pressing member 230 moves to a pressing position where it is pressed against the protrusion 98a of the opening / closing cover 98 (see FIG. 6). Furthermore, when the opening / closing cover 98 has moved to the open position, the pressing member 230 rotates around the shaft 128 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 249, and the rotation is restricted by a stopper (not shown), so that the pressing member 230 moves to a restricted position (see FIG. 7).

[0069] Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the pressing member 230 that has moved to the pressing position extends in the vertical direction when viewed from the depth direction, and the upper end portion of the pressing member 230 and the portion on the other side in the width direction are attached to the shaft portion 128.

[0070] On the other hand, when the pressing member 230 moves to the pressing position, the guide member 110 moves to the guiding position (see FIG. 6), and when the pressing member 230 moves to the restricting position, the guide member 110 moves to the open position (see FIG. 7).

[0071] [Operation of the medium guide mechanisms 100 and 200] -The opening and closing cover 98 has been moved to the closed position- 4 and 6, when the opening / closing cover 98 is moved to the closed position, the pressing members 130, 230 move to a pressing position where the pressing surfaces 130a, 230a are pressed against the protrusions 98a of the opening / closing cover 98. Specifically, the pressing surfaces 130a, 230a are pressed by the protrusions 98a in the movement direction of the opening / closing cover 98. Here, the movement direction of the opening / closing cover 98 refers to the movement direction of the opening / closing cover 98 when the opening / closing cover 98 rotates from the open position to the closed position to close the opening 96, and in this embodiment, it is the width direction.

[0072] 6 and 7, in the medium guide mechanism 200 according to the comparative embodiment, the guide member 110 changes its posture in conjunction with the posture change of the pressing member 230. In other words, the posture of the guide member 110 changes in conjunction with the posture change of the pressing member 230, which is pressed in the movement direction of the opening / closing cover 98.

[0073] On the other hand, in the medium guide mechanism 100 according to the present embodiment, the peripheral surface 154a of the embossment 154 of the contact member 150 comes into contact with the contact surface 130b of the pressing member 130 at the pressing position in the vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 4. The vertical direction is an example of the intersecting direction.

[0074] Here, the peripheral surface 154a is a curved surface, and the contact surface 130b is a flat surface facing downwards. Therefore, the posture of the contact member 150 is prevented from changing in conjunction with the posture change of the pressing member 130 that is pressed in the movement direction of the open-close cover 98.

[0075] Furthermore, the peripheral surface 154a of the embossment 154 comes into contact with the contact surface 130b of the pressing member 130 in the vertical direction, whereby the contact member 150 moves to the positioning position.

[0076] Here, in the medium guide mechanism 100, the guide member 110 is configured to change its posture in conjunction with a change in the posture of the contact member 150. As described above, the posture of the contact member 150 is prevented from changing in conjunction with a change in the posture of the pressing member 130 that is pressed in the movement direction of the opening / closing cover 98. In other words, the posture of the guide member 110 is prevented from changing in conjunction with a change in the posture of the pressing member 130 that is pressed in the movement direction of the opening / closing cover 98.

[0077] -Operations of each part when opening / closing cover 98 is moved from the closed position to the open position- When the opening / closing cover 98 is moved from the closed position to the open position, the pressing members 130, 230 in the pressing position rotate clockwise around the shafts 148, 128 due to the biasing force of the coil springs 149, 249, and as shown in Figures 5 and 7, the rotation is restricted by a stopper (not shown), causing the pressing members to move to the restricted position.

[0078] Here, in the medium guide mechanism 200 according to the comparative embodiment, the guide member 110 changes its posture in conjunction with the change in posture of the pressing member 230. That is, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the guide member 110 moves to the open position in conjunction with the movement of the pressing member 230 to the restricted position.

[0079] On the other hand, in the medium guide mechanism 100 according to the present embodiment, in the process of the pressing member 130 moving to the restricting position, the contact position between the peripheral surface 154a of the embossment 154 and the pressing member 130 changes, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Specifically, the peripheral surface 154a of the embossment 154, which is in contact with the contact surface 130b, comes into contact with the arcuate surface 130e, and then comes into contact with the other surface 130f, causing the contact member 150 to move to the restricting position.

[0080] Here, in the medium guide mechanism 100, the guide member 110 changes its posture in conjunction with the change in posture of the contact member 150. In other words, the guide member 110 moves to the open position in conjunction with the movement of the contact member 150 to the restricting position.

[0081] -Operations of each part when opening / closing cover 98 is moved from the open position to the closed position- When the opening / closing cover 98 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the pressing surfaces 130a, 230a of the pressing members 130, 230 are pressed in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover 98, and as shown in Figures 4 and 6, the pressing members 130, 230 move to the pressing positions.

[0082] Here, in the medium guide mechanism 200 according to the comparative embodiment, the guide member 110 changes its posture in conjunction with the posture change of the pressing member 230. That is, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the guide member 110 moves to the guiding position in conjunction with the movement of the pressing member 230 to the pressing position.

[0083] On the other hand, in the medium guide mechanism 100 according to the present embodiment, as the pressing member 130 moves to the pressing position, the contact position between the protrusion 98a of the opening / closing cover 98 and the pressing member 130 changes, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Specifically, the protrusion 98a of the opening / closing cover 98 presses the contact surface 130c of the pressing member 130, and then presses the inclined surface 130d, and then presses the pressing surface 130a, causing the pressing member 130 to move to the pressing position.

[0084] 4 and 5, the contact position between the circumferential surface 154a of the embossment 154 and the pressing member 130 changes as the pressing member 130 moves to the pressing position. Specifically, the circumferential surface 154a of the embossment 154, which is in contact with the other surface 130f, comes into contact with the arcuate surface 130e and then with the contact surface 130b, and the contact member 150 moves to the positioning position.

[0085] Here, in the medium guide mechanism 100, the guide member 110 changes its posture in conjunction with the change in posture of the contact member 150. In other words, the guide member 110 moves to the open position in conjunction with the movement of the contact member 150 to the positioning position.

[0086] (summary) As described above, in medium guide mechanism 100, the posture of guide member 110 changes in conjunction with the change in posture of contact member 150, whose posture is determined by contact with pressing member 130 in the vertical direction. As a result, compared to medium guide mechanism 200 according to the comparative embodiment, in which the posture of the guide member changes in conjunction with the change in posture of the pressing member that is pressed in the movement direction of the opening / closing cover, the change in posture of guide member 110 that occurs when the closing position of opening / closing cover 98 varies in the movement direction (width direction) of opening / closing cover 98 is smaller.

[0087] Furthermore, in the medium guide mechanism 100, the shaft 128 that supports the guide member 110 and the contact member 150 is arranged along the shaft 148 that supports the pressing member 130. As a result, compared to when the shaft that supports the guide member and the contact member and the shaft that supports the pressing member are coaxial, the rotational trajectories of the members easily differ, and the pressing member 130 and the contact member 150 effectively come into contact in the vertical direction.

[0088] Furthermore, in the medium guide mechanism 100, the shafts 128 and 148 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction. Therefore, compared to when the shafts to which the guide member and contact member are attached and the shaft to which the pressing member is attached overlap in the width direction, the rotation trajectories of the two members are significantly different, and the pressing member 130 and the contact member 150 come into effective contact in the vertical direction.

[0089] Furthermore, in the medium guide mechanism 100, the contact surface 130b of the pressing member 130 that comes into contact with the peripheral surface 154a of the embossment 154 of the contact member 150 is a flat surface facing the vertical direction. This reduces the change in posture of the guide member 110 that occurs when the closed position of the opening-closing cover 98 varies in the movement direction (width direction) of the opening-closing cover 98, compared to when the respective members come into contact with each other at their curved surfaces.

[0090] Furthermore, in the medium guide mechanism 100, the contact surface 130b of the pressing member 130 that comes into contact with the peripheral surface 154a of the embossment 154 of the contact member 150 is a flat surface facing the vertical direction, and the peripheral surface 154a of the embossment 154 is a curved surface. This reduces the change in posture of the guide member 110 that occurs when the closed position of the opening-closing cover 98 varies in the movement direction (width direction) of the opening-closing cover 98, compared to when the respective members come into contact with each other on their flat surfaces.

[0091] Furthermore, in the image forming device 10, by being equipped with the media guide mechanism 100, the change in posture of the guide member 110 is reduced compared to when the image forming device 10 is equipped with the media guide mechanism 200 of the comparative embodiment, thereby suppressing clogging of the recording medium P being transported.

[0092] While the present disclosure has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to such embodiments and that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the medium conveying device is used in an image forming apparatus, but it may also be used in a pre-processing device of an image forming apparatus, a post-processing device of an image forming apparatus, a ticket vending machine that conveys and sells tickets, an ATM that conveys and dispenses banknotes, etc.

[0093] Furthermore, although the pressing member 130 rotates around the shaft 148 when pressed by the open / close cover 98, it may also move linearly along a rail or the like. In this case, however, the effect achieved by the rotational movement of the pressing member will not be achieved.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the shafts 128 and 148 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, but they do not have to be spaced apart from each other in the width direction. In this case, however, the effect achieved by spaced apart from each other in the width direction will not be achieved.

[0095] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the pressing member 130 is formed with the contact surface 130b, which is a flat surface facing in the vertical direction, and the peripheral surface 154a of the embossment 154, which is a curved surface that comes into contact with the contact surface 130b, is formed on the contact member 150, but a curved surface may be formed on the pressing member, and a flat surface that comes into contact with the curved surface of the pressing member may be formed on the contact member.

[0096] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the opening / closing cover 98 is a bottom hinge, but it may be a top hinge, a horizontal hinge, or a detachable type.

[0097] (((1))) a pressing member that is pressed by the opening / closing cover in a moving direction of the opening / closing cover when the opening / closing cover is moved to a closing position that closes the opening; a contact member whose posture is determined by contacting the pressing member in a direction intersecting the movement direction when the opening / closing cover is moved to the closed position; a guide member whose posture changes in conjunction with a posture change of the contact member to guide the conveyed recording medium; A media guide mechanism comprising:

[0098] (((2))) a first shaft portion that extends along a direction intersecting the movement direction and the intersecting direction and rotatably supports the contact member and the guide member; a second shaft portion that is disposed along the first shaft portion and rotatably supports the pressing member, The medium guide mechanism according to (((1))).

[0099] (((3))) The first shaft portion and the second shaft portion are spaced apart from each other in the movement direction. The medium guide mechanism according to (((2))).

[0100] (((4))) the contact member is formed with a contact portion that comes into contact with the pressing member, the pressing member is formed with a contacted portion that comes into contact with the contact portion, A plane facing the intersecting direction is formed on one of the contacting portion and the contacted portion. A medium guide mechanism according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))).

[0101] (((5))) The other of the contact portion and the contacted portion has a curved surface that comes into contact with the flat surface. The medium guide mechanism according to (((4))).

[0102] (((6))) A medium guide mechanism according to any one of (((1))) to (((5))) that guides a conveyed recording medium; an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium guided by the medium guide mechanism; An image forming apparatus comprising:

[0103] The media guide mechanism according to (((1))) can reduce the variation in the posture of the guide member that occurs when the closing position of the opening / closing cover varies in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover, compared to a configuration in which the posture of the guide member changes in conjunction with the change in posture of the pressing member that is pressed in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover.

[0104] The medium guide mechanism according to (((2))) can bring the pressing member and the contact member into contact with each other in the cross direction more effectively than when the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion are coaxial.

[0105] The media guide mechanism according to (((3))) can effectively bring the pressing member and the contact member into contact in the cross direction, compared to when the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion overlap in the movement direction.

[0106] The media guide mechanism according to (((4))) can reduce the change in posture of the guide member that occurs when the closing position of the opening / closing cover varies in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover, compared to when both the contacting portion and the contacted portion are composed of curved surfaces.

[0107] The media guide mechanism according to (((5))) can reduce the change in posture of the guide member that occurs when the closing position of the opening / closing cover varies in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover, compared to when both the contacting portion and the contacted portion are constructed as flat surfaces.

[0108] The image forming device according to (((6))) can prevent jamming of the recording medium being transported compared to a device equipped with a media guide mechanism in which the posture of the guide member changes in conjunction with the change in posture of the pressing member pressed in the direction of movement of the opening / closing cover. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 10 Image forming device 10a body 14 Image forming unit 98 Opening and closing cover 98a protrusion 100 Media guide mechanism 110 Guide member 128 Shaft (example of first shaft) 130 Pressing member 130a Pressing surface 130b contact surface (an example of a contacted part) 148 Shaft (example of second shaft) 150 Contact member 154a Circumferential surface (an example of a contact part)

Claims

1. a pressing member that is pressed by the opening / closing cover in a moving direction of the opening / closing cover when the opening / closing cover is moved to a closing position that closes the opening; a contact member whose posture is determined by contacting the pressing member in a direction intersecting the movement direction when the opening / closing cover is moved to the closed position; a guide member whose posture changes in conjunction with a posture change of the contact member to guide the conveyed recording medium; A media guide mechanism comprising:

2. a first shaft portion that extends along a direction intersecting the movement direction and the intersecting direction and rotatably supports the contact member and the guide member; a second shaft portion that is disposed along the first shaft portion and rotatably supports the pressing member, The media guide mechanism of claim 1 .

3. The first shaft portion and the second shaft portion are spaced apart from each other in the movement direction. The media guide mechanism of claim 2 .

4. the contact member is formed with a contact portion that comes into contact with the pressing member, the pressing member is formed with a contacted portion that comes into contact with the contact portion, A plane facing the intersecting direction is formed on one of the contacting portion and the contacted portion. The media guide mechanism of claim 1 .

5. The other of the contact portion and the contacted portion has a curved surface that comes into contact with the flat surface. The media guide mechanism of claim 4 .

6. a medium guide mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5 that guides a conveyed recording medium; an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium guided by the medium guide mechanism; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images