Sheet conveying device and sheet conveying system

Abstract

To provide a sheet conveying device capable of reducing operation force for separating the sheet conveying device from a door unit, and a sheet conveying system including the same.SOLUTION: The sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a housing configured to accommodate the conveyance unit and face the door unit, a lock portion supported by the housing so as to be movable between a lock position where the housing is locked to the door unit and a release position where the lock between the housing and the door unit is released, and a moving member supported by the housing so as to be movable. A moving member that moves to move the lock portion from the lock position to the release position in a state where the housing does not move with respect to the door unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet transporting device that transports a sheet and a sheet transporting system including the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus and a storage device connected to the side of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has an opening / closing member disposed opposite the storage device and capable of opening and closing. The storage device has a link member that is movable up and down relative to an engagement boss provided on a support base fixed to the image forming apparatus, and the link member engages with the engagement boss, thereby locking the storage device to the image forming apparatus via the support base. When the opening / closing member of the image forming apparatus is opened while the storage device is locked to the image forming apparatus, the opening / closing member presses against the storage device. This causes the storage device to move away from the image forming apparatus, and the engagement boss of the support base presses against the slope of the link member, thereby releasing the lock between the engagement boss and the link member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-194543 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in Patent Document 1, when the opening / closing member is opened, the movement of the storage device due to the pressure of the opening / closing member and the upward movement of the link member to unlock the link member from the engagement boss occur in parallel. As a result, in order to open the opening / closing member, a force is needed to horizontally move the storage device, which is a heavy object containing a large amount of sheets, and a force is needed to make the link member climb over the engagement boss, which requires a large operating force.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sheet transporting device that can reduce the operating force required to detach the sheet transporting device from the door unit, and a sheet transporting system including the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a sheet conveying device that is detachably connected to a door unit having an openable and closable door element, comprising: a conveying section that conveys sheets; a housing that houses the conveying section and faces the door unit; a locking section that is movably supported on the housing at a locking position that locks the housing to the door unit and an unlocking position that unlocks the housing from the door unit; and a movable member that is movably supported on the housing, and that is pressed by the door element when the door element is opened, thereby moving the locking section from the locking position to the unlocking position while the housing does not move relative to the door unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the operating force required to detach the sheet transport device from the door unit can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a sheet conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a feeding deck is detached from an image forming apparatus as a comparative example. [Figure 4] (a) is a schematic diagram illustrating the procedure for performing maintenance on the inside of an image forming apparatus, (b) is a schematic diagram illustrating the procedure for performing maintenance on the inside of an image forming apparatus, (c) is a schematic diagram illustrating the procedure for performing maintenance on the inside of an image forming apparatus, and (d) is a schematic diagram illustrating the procedure for performing maintenance on the inside of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 5] 1A is a perspective view showing a feeding deck attached to an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a state in which the feeding deck has been detached from the image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] 1A is a cross-sectional view showing the locking mechanism positioned at a locked position, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing the locking mechanism moving from the locked position to the unlocked position. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an interlocking separation mechanism attached to the feeding deck. [Figure 8] 1A is a cross-sectional view showing the locking mechanism and the interlocking separation mechanism when the upper door is closed, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing the locking mechanism and the interlocking separation mechanism when the upper door is opened. [Figure 9] 1A is a perspective view showing the locking mechanism and the interlocking separation mechanism when the upper door is closed, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the locking mechanism and the interlocking separation mechanism when the upper door is opened. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Overall configuration] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a sheet conveying system 1 according to this embodiment. The sheet conveying system 1 has an image forming apparatus 200 as a door unit, and a feeding deck 300 detachably attached to the right side of the image forming apparatus 200.

[0010] Image forming apparatus 200 is an electrophotographic full-color laser printer that forms and outputs an image on a sheet S used as a recording medium based on image information input from an external computer. The sheet S can be made of a variety of sheet materials with different materials and sizes, including paper such as plain paper and envelopes, glossy paper, plastic film such as sheets for overhead projectors, and cloth.

[0011] The apparatus main body 100 of the image forming apparatus 200 houses an image forming engine 10 equipped with four process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK that form toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and an intermediate transfer belt 21. Each of the process cartridges PY to PK has a photosensitive drum 11 that is an image carrier (electrophotographic photosensitive member), and forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum 11. The toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred onto a sheet S via the intermediate transfer belt 21 that is an intermediate transfer member.

[0012] In the following description and in each drawing, the Z direction refers to the upward direction along the vertical direction (direction of gravity) when the image forming apparatus 200 is installed on a horizontal surface. The Y direction refers to the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 11. The Y direction is the main scanning direction during image formation, and is also the sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction of the sheet conveyed inside the image forming apparatus 200. The Y direction intersects with the Z direction, and is preferably perpendicular thereto. The X direction refers to the horizontal direction perpendicular to the Y direction.

[0013] The process cartridges PY to PK are configured similarly except for the color of the toner used for development. Therefore, the process cartridges and the toner image forming process (image forming operation) will be described using the yellow process cartridge PY as an example. In addition to the photosensitive drum 11, the process cartridge PY includes a charging roller 12 as charging means, an exposure device 13Y as exposure means, a developing device 14 as developing means, and a drum cleaner. The photosensitive drum 11 is a drum-shaped photosensitive body having a photosensitive layer on its outer periphery, and rotates in a direction D1 (clockwise in the figure) along the rotation direction D1 of the intermediate transfer belt 21. The charging roller 12 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, and the exposure device 13Y irradiates the photosensitive drum 11 with laser light modulated in accordance with a signal (video signal) based on the yellow color component of the image information, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 into a toner image.

[0014] The above image forming operations are carried out in parallel in each process cartridge PY to PK. At this time, the exposure devices 13M, 13C, and 13K perform exposure processing based on video signals corresponding to the color components of the respective image information. Then, the developing device 14 performs development processing using developers containing toner of each color, thereby forming magenta, cyan, and black toner images on the photosensitive drum 11. The toner images formed on each photosensitive drum 11 are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 21 by a primary transfer roller 25, which serves as a primary transfer device. Residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 after transfer is removed by a drum cleaner.

[0015] The intermediate transfer belt 21 is wound around an inner secondary transfer roller 22, a tension roller 23, a tension roller 24, and a primary transfer roller 25, and is driven to rotate counterclockwise (D1) in the figure. Four-color toner images are transferred onto the transported intermediate transfer belt 21 so that they overlap each other, thereby forming a full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21. This image is carried by the intermediate transfer belt 21 and transported to a transfer section (secondary transfer section) formed as a nip between the secondary transfer roller 43 and the inner secondary transfer roller 22. A bias voltage of a polarity opposite to the charge polarity of the toner is applied to the secondary transfer roller 43 as transfer means, thereby secondarily transferring the image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 21 to the sheet S. Residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 21 after transfer is removed by a transfer cleaner 26.

[0016] The sheet S onto which the image has been transferred is delivered to a fixing device 50. The fixing device 50 has a pair of fixing rollers 51 that sandwich and transport the sheet S, and a heat source such as a halogen lamp, and applies pressure and heat to the toner image carried on the sheet S. This causes the toner particles to melt and adhere, resulting in a fixed image fixed on the sheet S.

[0017] Next, the sheet S conveying operation by the image forming apparatus 200 will be described. Feeder cassettes 31, 32, 33, and 34, which are an example of a sheet storage unit, store sheets S and are removably attached to the apparatus main body 100. The sheets S stored in a stacked state in the feeder cassettes 31, 32, 33, and 34 are fed one by one by the feeder unit 40. The feeder unit 40 includes a pickup roller 40a that feeds the sheets S from the feeder cassettes 31, 32, 33, and 34, and a feed roller 40b that receives the sheets S from the pickup roller 40a and conveys them. The feeder unit 40 also includes a separation roller 40c that separates the sheet S conveyed by the feed roller 40b from the other sheets S. Note that the pickup rollers 40a corresponding to the feeder cassettes 33 and 34 are not shown in FIG. 1.

[0018] The separation roller 40c applies friction to the sheet S at the separation nip where the feed roller 40b and the separation roller 40c abut, thereby preventing multiple sheets S other than the sheet S (the uppermost sheet S) being conveyed and in contact with the feed roller 40b from being conveyed. The feed unit 40 is an example of a feeding means for feeding the sheet S, and a belt-type feeding means in which a suction fan attracts the sheet S to a belt member for conveyance, or a friction separation type feeding means using a pad may also be used. The user can set the sheet S on a manual feed tray 35 provided on the side of the apparatus main body 100, and the sheet S set on the manual feed tray 35 is fed by the feed unit 36.

[0019] The sheet S sent out from the feeding unit 40 is conveyed to a pair of registration rollers (hereinafter referred to as the registration roller pair) 42 via a pair of pre-registration rollers (hereinafter referred to as the pre-registration roller pair) 41. The pair of pre-registration rollers 41 convey the sheet S so that the leading edge of the sheet S (i.e., the downstream edge in the conveying direction of the sheet) hits the nip portion of the pair of registration rollers 42, which is in a stopped state, and the sheet S is bent (forms a loop), thereby correcting skew of the sheet S. Thereafter, the pair of registration rollers 42 sends the sheet S to the secondary transfer portion in synchronization with the image forming operation by the process cartridges PY to PK. In this way, the pair of registration rollers 42, which is an example of a registration means, aligns the sheet S with the image formed on the sheet S. The sheet S, on which the toner image has been transferred in the secondary transfer portion and the image has been fixed by the fixing device 50, is delivered to a sheet discharge portion 60 and conveyed by a pair of post-fixing rollers 61 toward a switching member 64 that can switch the conveying path of the sheet S.

[0020] When image formation on the sheet S is complete, the sheet S with the image formed on its first side (front side) is discharged to the first discharge tray 80 by the discharge roller pair 62. When an image is to be formed on the second side (back side) of the sheet S, the sheet S is handed over to the reverse conveying section 70 via the conveying roller pair 63 by the switching member 64. The reverse conveying section 70 includes a reverse roller pair 71 that reverses and conveys (switches back) the sheet S, and a duplex path 79 that guides the sheet S switched back by the reverse roller pair 71 toward the registration roller pair 42. The reverse roller pair 71 conveys the sheet S a predetermined distance toward the discharge space above the first discharge tray 80, and then conveys the sheet S in the opposite direction, thereby sending the sheet S into the duplex path 79.

[0021] A plurality of pairs of conveying rollers 72, 73, and 74 are arranged in a double-sided path 79 serving as a conveying path, and the sheet S is conveyed again toward the pair of registration rollers 42. Then, the sheet S, which has an image formed on its second side by passing through the secondary transfer unit and the fixing device 50, is discharged to a first discharge tray 80 by a pair of discharge rollers 62. The pair of reversing rollers 71 can also discharge the sheet to a second discharge tray 81 arranged above the first discharge tray 80.

[0022] The image forming engine 10 is an example of an image forming unit, and may be, for example, a direct transfer type in which a toner image formed on a photosensitive member is directly transferred to a sheet in a transfer unit. Also, the image forming means may be configured as an inkjet type or an offset printing type.

[0023] [Control system] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus 200. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 200 has a control unit 201. The control unit 201 has a CPU (Central Processor Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). Various programs are stored in the ROM, and the CPU reads and executes the programs from the ROM. The RAM is used as a work area for the CPU. The register detection sensor 132, the fixing loop sensor 162, and the deck connection detection unit 203 are connected to the input side of the control unit 201. The register drive motor 133, the secondary transfer drive motor 157, and the fixing drive motor 164 are connected to the output side of the control unit 201. In addition, an operation unit 202 is connected to the control unit 201.

[0024] A registration detection sensor 132 (see FIG. 1) is disposed upstream of the registration roller pair 42 in the sheet conveying direction, and detects the position of the leading edge of the sheet. The control unit 201 controls the drive of the registration roller pair 42 based on the timing when the registration detection sensor 132 detects the leading edge of the sheet S. The fixing loop sensor 162 detects the amount of loop (flexure) of the sheet S formed between the secondary transfer roller 43 and the inner secondary transfer roller 22 and the fixing roller pair 51. The control unit 201 controls the rotation speed of the fixing roller pair 51 based on the detection result of the fixing loop sensor 162.

[0025] The deck connection detection unit 203 detects that the feed deck 300 has been attached to the image forming apparatus 200. When the deck connection detection unit 203 detects that the feed deck 300 has been attached to the image forming apparatus 200, the control unit 201 issues a feed command to the feed deck 300, thereby enabling the sheet S to be fed from the feed deck 300.

[0026] The registration drive motor 133, the secondary transfer drive motor 157, and the fixing drive motor 164 drive the registration roller pair 42, the inner secondary transfer roller 22, and the fixing roller pair 51. The control unit 201 controls the registration drive motor 133, the secondary transfer drive motor 157, and the fixing drive motor 164, thereby controlling the rotation speeds of the registration roller pair 42, the inner secondary transfer roller 22, and the fixing roller pair 51.

[0027] The operation unit 202 is attached to the apparatus body 100 of the image forming apparatus 200 and is configured with an operation panel including a touch panel, physical keys, etc. A user can input attribute information of the sheet S, such as the size and basis weight of the sheet S to be fed, into the operation unit 202. Such attribute information of the sheet S can be set for each feed source, such as the feed cassettes 31, 32, 33, 34, the manual feed tray 35, and the feed deck 300.

[0028] [Comparative Example] Next, the attachment and detachment of the image forming apparatus 200 to and from the feed deck 300B as a comparative example will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 4(d). Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the feed deck 300B as a comparative example is detached from the image forming apparatus 200. Figures 4(a) to 4(d) are schematic diagrams for explaining the procedure for performing maintenance inside the image forming apparatus.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, an upper door 210 and a lower door 290 are provided on the right side of the image forming apparatus 200. The upper door 210 and the lower door 290 are each supported on the apparatus main body 100 so as to be able to open and close. The upper door 210 is disposed above the lower door 290 and is configured to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 214. The rotation shaft 214 extends in the Y direction, which is the intersecting direction. When the lower door 290 is opened, a feeding path 37 through which the sheets S fed by the feeding unit 40 pass is opened. By opening the lower door 290, a user can access the feeding path 37 and perform maintenance such as clearing a jam in the feeding path 37.

[0030] Furthermore, when the upper door 210 is opened, the double-sided path 79 is opened. By opening the upper door 210, the user can access the double-sided path 79 and perform maintenance such as clearing a jam in the double-sided path 79. Note that the apparatus main body 100 may be configured so that maintenance of the image forming engine 10, the fixing device 50, etc. can be performed by opening the upper door 210.

[0031] The feed deck 300B as a comparative example is attached to the right side surface of the image forming apparatus 200 with the upper door 210 and the lower door 290 closed, and is locked to the image forming apparatus 200 by a locking member (not shown). The position where the feed deck 300B is attached to the right side surface of the image forming apparatus 200 is referred to as the attached position. Then, with the lock released by the locking member, the feed deck 300B is detached from the image forming apparatus 200 by moving from the attached position in the X direction, which is the detachment direction.

[0032] 4(a) and 4(c) are diagrams showing procedures for performing maintenance on the interior of image forming apparatus 200. FIGS. 4(b) and 4(d) are diagrams showing procedures for performing maintenance on the interior of image forming apparatus 200B. In FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), after the feed deck 300B is moved in the X direction from its mounting position, the upper door 210 (210B) is opened to attempt access to the interior of image forming apparatus 200 (200B). In FIGS. 4(c) and 4(d), after the upper door 210 (210B) is opened, the feed deck 300B is moved in the X direction from its mounting position to attempt access to the interior of image forming apparatus 200 (200B).

[0033] Image forming apparatus 200B has the same functions as image forming apparatus 200, but differs in that pivot shaft 214b of upper door 210B of image forming apparatus 200B is located higher than pivot shaft 214 of upper door 210 of image forming apparatus 200. More specifically, pivot shaft 214 of image forming apparatus 200 is located lower than upper surface 350 of feed deck 300B located in the mounting position. Pivot shaft 214b of image forming apparatus 200B is located higher than upper surface 350 of feed deck 300B located in the mounting position.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 4(b) and 4(d), the pivot shaft 214b of the upper door 210B of the relatively large image forming apparatus 200B is located above the upper surface 350 of the feed deck 300B when the feed deck 300B is in the mounted position. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4(d), even if the upper door 210B is opened before the feed deck 300B is removed from the mounted position in the direction of arrow X, the upper door 210B and the feed deck 300B do not interfere with each other. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4(b), even if the upper door 210B is opened after the feed deck 300B is removed from the mounted position in the direction of arrow X, the upper door 210B and the feed deck 300B do not interfere with each other. Thus, for the image forming apparatus 200B, the order of the opening operation of the upper door 210B and the removal operation of the feed deck 300B is not particularly limited.

[0035] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(c), the pivot shaft 214 of the upper door 210 of the compact image forming apparatus 200 is located below the upper surface 350 of the feed deck 300B in the attached position. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4(a), there is no particular problem when opening the upper door 210 after removing the feed deck 300B from the attached position in the direction of arrow X. However, a problem occurs when the procedure shown in FIG. 4(c) is followed. That is, as shown in FIG. 4(c), if the upper door 210 is opened before removing the feed deck 300B from the attached position in the direction of arrow X, the upper door 210 and the feed deck 300B interfere with each other. At this time, the upper door 210 cannot be opened because the feed deck 300B is locked to the image forming apparatus 200 by a locking member (not shown). Forcing the upper door 210 open could result in damage to the upper door 210 or the area around the pivot shaft 214. In this way, when the rotation shaft 214 is located below the upper surface 350 of the feeding deck 300B, the procedure for performing maintenance on the inside of the image forming apparatus 200 is limited.

[0036] [Feed deck] Next, the feed deck 300 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 5(a) and (b). Fig. 5(a) is a perspective view showing the feed deck 300 attached to the image forming apparatus 200, and Fig. 5(b) is a perspective view showing the feed deck 300 detached from the image forming apparatus 200.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 5(a), a feed deck 300 serving as a sheet conveying device is detachably connected to the right side of image forming apparatus 200. Feed deck 300 is a product intended for use as an additional installation by users who print a large volume of sheets of a specific size (e.g., A4 size), and can hold, for example, approximately 3,000 sheets of plain paper. Feed deck 300 is compatible with a lineup of multiple types of image forming apparatuses as a common product, and can be attached to, for example, the small, inexpensive image forming apparatus 200 shown in Fig. 4(c) or the mid-range image forming apparatus 200B shown in Fig. 4(d).

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5(b), a deck rail 305 is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus 200. The deck rail 305 is provided along the installation surface of the image forming apparatus 200 and extends downstream of the image forming apparatus 200 in the X direction. The feed deck 300 is movably guided in the X direction by the deck rail 305. When the feed deck 300 has moved in the X direction from the installed position, the upper door 210 and the lower door 290 can be opened. The upper door 210 and the lower door 290 are provided with grips 210a, 290a that can be gripped by a user when opening or closing the upper door 210 and the lower door 290. In this embodiment, the rotation shaft 214 of the upper door 210 is located below the upper surface 350 of the feed deck 300.

[0039] 1, the feed deck 300 includes a housing 340 that includes an upper surface 350 and faces the image forming apparatus 200, and a storage case 301, a pickup roller 302, a pair of separation rollers 302a, and a pair of conveying rollers 303 that are housed in the housing 340. The storage case 301, which serves as a sheet housing unit, houses sheets S. The sheets S housed in the storage case 301 are fed by the pickup roller 302, which serves as a feeding unit, and separated one by one by the pair of separation rollers 302a. The sheets S separated one by one by the pair of separation rollers 302a are conveyed toward the feed path 37 of the image forming apparatus 200 by the pair of conveying rollers 303, which serves as a conveying unit.

[0040] [Locking mechanism] Next, the locking mechanism 310 provided on the feed deck 300 will be described with reference to Figures 6(a) and 6(b). Figure 6(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the locking mechanism 310 positioned at the locked position, and Figure 6(b) is a cross-sectional view showing the locking mechanism 310 moving from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 6(a), the feed deck 300 is provided with a locking mechanism 310 as a locking unit. The locking mechanism 310 has a hook 306 as a rotating member, a hook spring 307, and a deck release switch 304 as an interlocking member. The hook 306 is supported rotatably with respect to the housing 340 (see Fig. 1) around a hook shaft 306c, and is biased in the direction of arrow R1 by the hook spring 307. The hook 306 also has an engaging portion 306a that can engage with a fixed shaft 213 (see Fig. 5) provided in the image forming apparatus 200, and an abutting portion 306b.

[0042] The deck release switch 304 is supported by a rail (not shown) relative to the housing 340 (see FIG. 1) so as to be movable in the X direction. The deck release switch 304 has an abutting portion 304b that can abut against the abutting portion 306b of the hook 306, and an operation surface 304a. As shown in FIG. 5(b), an opening 308 is provided in the top surface 350 of the housing 340, and the operation surface 304a is exposed to the outside of the feed deck 300 through the opening 308. In other words, the opening 308 exposes the operation surface 304a, which is part of the locking mechanism 310, to the outside.

[0043] When the housing 340 of the feed deck 300 and the image forming apparatus 200 are locked by the locking mechanism 310, the locking mechanism 310 is located in the locked position shown in Fig. 6(a). At this time, the contact portion 304b of the deck release switch 304 contacts the contact portion 306b of the hook 306, and the engagement portion 306a of the hook 306 engages with the fixed shaft 213.

[0044] When the user wants to release the lock between the feed deck 300 and the image forming apparatus 200 by the locking mechanism 310, the user accesses the operation surface 304a of the deck release switch 304 through the opening 308. Then, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the user presses the operation surface 304a in the X direction to slide the deck release switch 304 in the X direction. Then, the abutment portion 304b of the deck release switch 304 presses the abutment portion 306b of the hook 306 in the X direction.

[0045] 6(b), hook 306 rotates around hook shaft 306c in the direction of arrow R2, which is opposite to the direction of arrow R1, against the biasing force of hook spring 307. As hook 306 rotates in the direction of arrow R2, engaging portion 306a of hook 306 moves in a direction away from fixed shaft 213 of image forming apparatus 200. When engaging portion 306a of hook 306 is disengaged from fixed shaft 213, the lock between housing 340 of feed deck 300 and image forming apparatus 200 is released. The position of locking mechanism 310 at this time is the release position.

[0046] When the locking mechanism 310 is in the release position and the lock between the housing 340 of the feed deck 300 and the image forming apparatus 200 is released, the biasing force of the separation spring 309 provided on the feed deck 300 causes the feed deck 300 to move in the X direction relative to the image forming apparatus 200. Then, the feed deck 300 is guided by the deck rails 305 to a separation position that is a predetermined distance away from the image forming apparatus 200 in the X direction.

[0047] As described above, the feed deck 300 is compatible as a common product with a lineup of multiple types of image forming apparatuses, and depending on the size of the image forming apparatus to be installed, the position of the top surface 350 of the housing 340 may be higher than the pivot shaft 214 of the upper door 210. As shown in Figures 4(c) and 5(b), the top surface 350 of the housing 340 of the feed deck 300 is located higher than the pivot shaft 214 of the upper door 210 of the image forming apparatus 200 of this embodiment.

[0048] Even with this positional relationship, when performing maintenance on the inside of the image forming apparatus 200, even if the user is instructed to follow the operating procedure on the screen of the operation unit 202 or in an operation manual, there are cases where the user unawares and opens the upper door 210 before moving the feed deck 300. For this reason, there is a demand for a feed deck 300 that does not limit the order of the opening operation of the upper door 210 and the removal operation of the feed deck 300. Therefore, in this embodiment, an interlocking separation mechanism 320, which will be described later, is attached to the upper surface 350 of the feed deck 300.

[0049] [Interlocking separation mechanism] Next, the interlocking separating mechanism 320 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9(b). FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the interlocking separating mechanism 320 attached to the feed deck 300. FIG. 8(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the locking mechanism 310 and the interlocking separating mechanism 320 when the upper door 210 is closed, and FIG. 8(b) is a cross-sectional view showing the locking mechanism 310 and the interlocking separating mechanism 320 when the upper door 210 is opened. FIG. 9(a) is a perspective view showing the locking mechanism 310 and the interlocking separating mechanism 320 when the upper door 210 is closed, and FIG. 9(b) is a perspective view showing the locking mechanism 310 and the interlocking separating mechanism 320 when the upper door 210 is opened. Note that the slider cover 322 is not shown in FIGS. 8(a) to 9(b).

[0050] The interlocking spacing mechanism 320 is an option that is detachably attached to the feed deck 300. The interlocking spacing mechanism 320 has a slider cover 322 fixed to an upper surface 350 of a housing 340 of the feed deck 300 with screws (not shown), and a spacing slider 321 movably supported on slider rails 322a formed on the inner surface of the slider cover 322. The slider cover 322 may be attached to the housing 340 with double-sided tape or the like. The spacing slider 321 is configured to be movable in the X direction by the slider rails 322a of the slider cover 322. That is, the spacing slider 321 as a moving member is supported on the housing 340 via the slider cover 322 so as to be slidable in the X direction.

[0051] The slider cover 322 is provided with an opening 322b that opens upward, and the operation surface 304a of the deck release switch 304 is exposed to the outside of the feed deck 300 through the opening 322b. In other words, the slider cover 322 is fixed to the upper surface 350 so that the operation surface 304a of the deck release switch 304 can be operated through the opening 322b.

[0052] 7 and 8(a), the separation slider 321 has a door abutment surface 321a at one end in the X direction and a switch abutment surface 321b at the other end in the X direction. When the interlock separation mechanism 320 is attached to the feed deck 300, the door abutment surface 321a faces the upper door 210 in the X direction, and the switch abutment surface 321b faces the operation surface 304a of the deck release switch 304 in the X direction. That is, the deck release switch 304 is provided so as to be able to come into contact with the separation slider 321. Furthermore, the door abutment surface 321a, which serves as a pressed portion, is disposed above the rotation shaft 214 of the upper door 210. Note that, when the upper door 210 is closed, the door abutment surface 321a faces the upper door 210 with a slight gap therebetween, but may abut against the upper door 210. Similarly, when upper door 210 is closed, switch contact surface 321b faces upper door 210 with a small gap therebetween, but may be in contact with upper door 210.

[0053] Next, the operation of the interlocking separation mechanism 320 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8(a) to 9(b). As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 9(a), the feed deck 300 is attached to the right side of the image forming apparatus 200 in the attached position and locked to the image forming apparatus 200 by the locking mechanism 310, which is positioned in the locked position. When the upper door 210 is opened in this state, the exterior surface 210c of the upper door 210 presses the door abutment surface 321a of the separation slider 321. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8(b) and 9(b), the exterior surface 210c of the upper door 210 and the door abutment surface 321a abut against each other when the upper door 210 is opened 9° from the closed position. Hereinafter, the opening angle of the upper door 210 from the closed position will be referred to as the opening angle.

[0054] A force F acts on the door abutment surface 321a from the exterior surface 210c of the upper door 210 in the normal direction of the exterior surface 210c. Then, because the opening angle of the upper door 210 when the exterior surface 210c and the door abutment surface 321a come into contact with each other is 9°, the force Fx, which is the X-direction component of the force F, is F×cos9°. Since cos9° is approximately 0.99, the force Fx is approximately 99% of the force F and acts on the separation slider 321.

[0055] Therefore, the separation slider 321 smoothly slides in the X direction due to the force Fx from the exterior surface 210c of the upper door 210. When the separation slider 321 slides in the X direction, the switch abutment surface 321b of the separation slider 321 presses the operation surface 304a of the deck release switch 304 in the X direction. This causes the deck release switch 304 to slide in the X direction, similar to when a user presses the operation surface 304a in the X direction as described above. That is, the deck release switch 304 moves in the X direction, which is the same direction as the separation slider 321, and the locking mechanism 310 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position. In other words, when pressed by the upper door 210, the separation slider 321 moves so as to move the locking mechanism 310 from the locked position to the unlocked position while the housing 340 does not move relative to the image forming apparatus 200. Then, the lock between the housing 340 of the feed deck 300 and the image forming apparatus 200 is released.

[0056] When the lock between the housing 340 of the feed deck 300 and the image forming apparatus 200 is released, the feed deck 300 moves in the X direction relative to the image forming apparatus 200 due to the biasing force of a separation spring 309 serving as a biasing member provided on the feed deck 300.

[0057] As described above, in this embodiment, the interlocking separating mechanism 320 is attached as an option to the upper surface 350 of the feed deck 300. The upper surface 350 is located above the rotation shaft 214 of the upper door 210. Therefore, if the interlocking separating mechanism 320 is not attached, even if an attempt is made to open the upper door 210, the upper door 210 will interfere with the housing 340 of the feed deck 300, and the upper door 210 will not be able to be opened.

[0058] However, because the interlocking separating mechanism 320 is attached to the top surface 350, opening the upper door 210 causes the deck release switch 304 of the locking mechanism 310 to slide in the X direction via the separating slider 321. That is, the locking mechanism 310 moves from the locked position to the separated position in conjunction with the opening operation of the upper door 210. When the locking of the feed deck 300 to the image forming apparatus 200 by the locking mechanism 310 is released, the biasing force of the separating spring 309 causes the feed deck 300 to automatically separate (move) in the X direction from the image forming apparatus 200 and move to a predetermined separated position.

[0059] Here, when the upper door 210 is opened to unlock the locking mechanism 310, the housing 340 of the feed deck 300 does not move relative to the image forming apparatus 200. Therefore, most of the operating force required by the user to open the upper door 210 is used to move the locking mechanism 310 from the locked position to the separated position. This reduces the operating force required by the user to detach the feed deck 300 from the image forming apparatus 200.

[0060] Furthermore, when the locking mechanism 310 releases the lock on the image forming apparatus 200, the feed deck 300 moves in the X direction due to the biasing force of the separating spring 309, so the user does not need to grip the feed deck 300 and move it in the X direction, thereby improving usability.

[0061] Furthermore, when performing maintenance on the interior of the image forming apparatus 200, the user can move the locking mechanism 310 to the release position by operating the separation slider 321 through the opening 322b of the slider cover 322 or by opening and operating the upper door 210. That is, the user can open and operate the upper door 210 either before or after the locking mechanism 310 has moved to the release position. This means that the order of maintenance operations for maintaining the interior of the image forming apparatus 200 is not limited, and the user will not be confused about the order, improving maintainability. Furthermore, when it is desired to detach the feed deck 300 from the image forming apparatus 200 without opening the upper door 210, the user can operate the separation slider 321 alone, improving usability.

[0062] Furthermore, since the locking mechanism 310 moves from the lock position to the release position in conjunction with the opening operation of the upper door 210, damage to the upper door 210 and the housing 340 can be prevented.

[0063] The interlocking separating mechanism 320 may be included as a part of the feed deck 300 and may be attached to the feed deck 300 when the feed deck 300 is connected to the small-sized image forming apparatus 200 shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(c), for example. When the feed deck 300 is connected to the small-sized image forming apparatus 200 shown in Figures 4(b) and 4(d), for example, the interlocking separating mechanism 320 does not need to be attached to the feed deck 300.

[0064] <Other embodiments> In the present embodiment, the configuration for locking or separating the feed deck 300 from or to the image forming apparatus 200 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the locking mechanism 310 and the interlocking separation mechanism 320 may be applied not only to the feed deck 300 but also to other devices. That is, when there is a first unit and a second unit connected to the first unit, the first unit includes a door member such as the upper door 210, and the second unit includes the locking mechanism 310 and the interlocking separation mechanism 320. Such first and second units are not particularly limited except that the second unit has the function of conveying sheets. Examples of the second unit include a feed deck as in the present embodiment, an image reading device that reads images on sheets, and a post-processing device (finisher) that performs post-processing on sheets on which images have been formed. The first unit is not limited to an image forming apparatus as in the present embodiment, and may not have the function of forming images on sheets.

[0065] In addition, in the present embodiment, the locking mechanism 310 includes the hook 306, the hook spring 307, and the deck release switch 304, but is not limited to this. For example, another member may be interposed between the hook 306 and the deck release switch 304.

[0066] In the present embodiment, the spacing slider 321 is configured to be slidable in the X direction, but this is not limiting. For example, the spacing slider 321 may be configured to be slidable in a direction intersecting the X direction, or may be configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis extending in the Y direction.

[0067] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the upper door 210 is configured to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 214 extending in the Y direction, but this is not limiting. For example, the upper door 210 may be configured to be rotatable about a rotation shaft extending in the Z direction. The movement directions of the separation slider 321 and the deck release switch 304 may be changed in accordance with the rotation direction of the upper door 210.

[0068] In addition, in the present embodiment, the exterior surface 210c of the upper door 210 and the door abutment surface 321a of the separating slider 321 abut against each other when the opening angle of the upper door 210 reaches 9°, but this is not limited to this. The opening angle of the upper door 210 when the exterior surface 210c of the upper door 210 and the door abutment surface 321a of the separating slider 321 abut against each other may be set arbitrarily.

[0069] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the opening 308 provided in the top surface 350 of the housing 340 is configured to expose the operation surface 304a of the deck release switch 304 to the outside, but this is not limiting. The opening 308 may be configured to expose at least a portion of the locking mechanism 310 to the outside. In other words, the opening 308 may be provided so that the user can access the locking mechanism 310.

[0070] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the deck release switch 304 is configured to move in the X direction, which is the same direction as the separation slider 321, but this is not limiting. For example, the deck release switch 304 may be pressed by the separation slider 321 to move in a direction intersecting the X direction.

[0071] In addition, although the present embodiment has been described taking as an example the feed deck 300 connected to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 200, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the feed deck 300 may be connected to an inkjet image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet by ejecting ink liquid from nozzles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1: Sheet conveying system / 10: Image forming unit (image forming engine) / 79: Conveying path (duplex path) / 200: Door unit (image forming apparatus) / 214: Rotating shaft / 300: Sheet conveying device (feed deck) / 301: Sheet storage unit (storage cabinet) / 302: Feeding unit (pickup roller) / 303: Conveying unit (pair of conveying rollers) / 304: Interlocking member (deck release switch) / 306: Rotating member (hook) / 309: Pressing member (separating spring) / 310: Locking unit (locking mechanism) / 321: Moving member (separating slider) / 321a: Pressurized portion (door contact surface) / 340: Housing / 350: Top surface / X: Removal direction (direction) / Y: Intersecting direction (direction)

Claims

1. A sheet conveying device detachably connected to a door unit having an openable / closable door member, a conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a housing that houses the transport unit and faces the door unit; a locking portion supported movably with respect to the housing at a locking position where the housing is locked to the door unit and at an unlocking position where the housing and the door unit are unlocked; a moving member that is movably supported on the housing, and that is pressed by the door member when the door member is opened, thereby moving the locking portion from the lock position to the release position while the housing does not move relative to the door unit; A sheet conveying device characterized by:

2. The moving member is supported by the housing so as to be slidable.

2. The sheet transport device according to claim 1.

3. the sheet transport device is removed from the door unit in a removal direction, The moving member slides in the removal direction by being pressed by the door member that rotates around a rotation axis extending in a direction intersecting the removal direction.

3. The sheet transport device according to claim 2.

4. the moving member has a pressed portion that is pressed by the door member that opens downward around the rotation axis, The pressed portion is disposed above the rotation axis of the door member.

4. The sheet transport device according to claim 3.

5. The upper surface of the housing is disposed above the pivot axis of the door member.

4. The sheet transport device according to claim 3.

6. The housing has an opening that exposes at least a portion of the locking portion to the outside.

2. The sheet transport device according to claim 1.

7. The opening is provided on the top surface of the housing.

7. The sheet transport device according to claim 6.

8. the locking portion has a rotating member that is provided so as to be engageable with the door unit and is rotatably supported on the housing, and an interlocking member that is provided so as to be in contact with the moving member and interlocks with the rotating member, At least a portion of the interlocking member is exposed to the outside of the housing through the opening.

7. The sheet transport device according to claim 6.

9. The interlocking member is pressed by the moving member to move in the same direction as the moving member.

9. The sheet transport device according to claim 8.

10. The moving member is detachably provided with respect to the housing.

2. The sheet transport device according to claim 1.

11. Further, a biasing member is provided to bias the housing in a direction away from the door unit, When the locking portion moves from the locking position to the unlocking position, the housing is separated from the door unit by the biasing member.

2. The sheet transport device according to claim 1.

12. a sheet storage section for storing sheets; a feeding unit that feeds the sheets stored in the sheet storage unit, 2. The sheet transport device according to claim 1.

13. The sheet conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 12; The door unit, A sheet transport system characterized by:

14. the door unit has an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet transported from the sheet transport device; 14. The sheet transport system according to claim 13.

15. The door unit has a conveyance path through which a sheet passes, The door member opens the transport path when opened.

14. The sheet transport system according to claim 13.

Images