Image forming apparatus

Abstract

This reduces downtime for image forming equipment and the burden on operators during maintenance. [Solution] An image forming apparatus having a plurality of modules connected in a first direction, wherein one module included in the plurality of modules comprises a housing, a first unit having a first guide for guiding a sheet, a second unit having a second guide for guiding a sheet, positioned adjacent to the first unit in the first direction and at least partially overlapping with the first unit and the housing when viewed in a line of sight along a second direction intersecting the first direction, a support member positioned on the same side of the second unit as the first unit in the first direction and supporting the second unit, and a positioning member detachably disposed on the front of the housing and engaging with the second unit to position the second unit, the second unit being detachable by removing the positioning member from the front of the housing to release the engagement.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , ,

[0005] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printing machine, a copying machine, or a printer, which is configured by connecting a plurality of modules.

Background Art

[0002] In an image forming apparatus, a commercial printing machine configured by connecting a plurality of modules having independent functions is known. In such an image forming apparatus, a sheet is transferred between a paper feeding module, a fixing module, a reversing module connected to an image forming module, and an optional device attached to a side surface. At that time, if the distance from the discharge port on the upstream side to the transfer inlet on the downstream side is long, the sheet discharged from the discharge port may be displaced, such as curling, before entering the transfer inlet, and a jam may occur by being caught at the transfer inlet.

[0003] Regarding such problems, a technique for maintaining the continuity of a conveyance guide in sheet transfer has been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a guide unit having a wide receiving port is provided between an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus to improve the accuracy of sheet transfer.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As described above, in an image forming apparatus such as a commercial printing machine configured by connecting a plurality of modules having independent functions, the housing is configured using columns for enlargement for handling various paper types and for high robustness.

[0006] Within this system, the transport units arranged in the modules are configured to be pullable out from the front of the housing to access the relevant areas during jamming, motor and roller maintenance, etc. Specifically, the transport units are positioned in the modules to avoid overlapping with the front support columns of the housing. In this case, the aforementioned guide units are provided in the space avoided (behind the front support columns) to facilitate the transfer of sheets between adjacent modules.

[0007] In this case, the transport unit and the guide unit may be configured so that the transport guides that guide the sheet overlap each other in order to improve transportability. In this case, the overlapping portion with the guide unit will interfere when the transport unit is pulled out to the front, so the guide unit must be removed before the transport unit is pulled out.

[0008] However, because the guide unit overlaps with the front support column of the housing, the module on which the transport unit is located can only be accessed from the side of the module after separating it from the adjacent module, making it impossible to remove the guide unit. As a result, the module must be separated each time maintenance is performed, leading to issues such as extended downtime for the image forming apparatus and increased workload for operators.

[0009] The objective of this invention is to reduce downtime and operator burden during maintenance of image forming apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] A typical configuration of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of modules connected in a first direction, each including at least an image forming module equipped with an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, wherein one module included in the plurality of modules comprises a housing, a first unit having a first guide for guiding a sheet, a second unit having a second guide for guiding a sheet, a position adjacent to the first unit in the first direction and at least partially overlapping the first unit and the housing when viewed in a line of sight along a second direction intersecting the first direction, a support member having a second guide for guiding a sheet, a support member positioned on the same side of the second unit in the first direction relative to the first unit and supporting the second unit, and a positioning member detachably disposed on the front of the housing and engaging with the second unit to position the second unit, wherein the second unit is removable by removing the positioning member from the front of the housing and releasing the engagement. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the second unit can be attached and detached without separating the module, thereby reducing the downtime of the image forming apparatus and the workload on operators during maintenance. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus with multiple interconnected modules. [Figure 2] (a) Cross-sectional view of the cooling module, (b) View of the cooling module in the open state from the right side. [Figure 3] Diagram showing the connection between the fixing module and the drying module. [Figure 4] (a) Perspective view showing the part of the enclosure where the transport unit is housed, (b) Perspective view showing a magnified view of the lower right part of the enclosure. [Figure 5] Perspective view of the lower right front portion of the enclosure, seen from the lower right side. [Figure 6] Perspective view showing the cooling section of the transport unit supported by the enclosure. [Figure 7] Perspective view showing a state in which a cooling unit and a guide unit of a transport unit are supported by a housing [Figure 8] (a) Cross-sectional view around the guide unit when the cooling module is viewed from the right side, (b) and (c) Enlarged views around the guide unit of the cooling module [Figure 9] View of the vicinity of the rear regulating portion as seen from above [Figure 10] Perspective view showing the left and right regulating portions of the guide unit [Figure 11] (a) Perspective view showing the rear regulating portion of the guide unit, (b) Cross-sectional perspective view showing the front regulating portion of the guide unit [Figure 12] Perspective view of the guide unit [Figure 13] Perspective view showing a state in which the transport unit stored in the housing is opened [Figure 14] Perspective view of the state where the transport unit is fully pulled out [Figure 15] (a) Cross-sectional view around the guide unit when the cooling module is viewed from the right side, (b) and (c) Enlarged views around the guide unit of the cooling module [Figure 16] (a) Perspective view showing the rear regulating portion of the guide unit, (b) Cross-sectional perspective view showing the front regulating portion of the guide unit

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment will be described using FIG. 1. Here, as the image forming apparatus, a so-called sheet-fed inkjet recording apparatus 100 that forms an image on a sheet using ink and a reaction liquid will be described as an example. The sheet may be any recording material that can receive ink, such as paper such as plain paper or thick paper, plastic film such as a sheet for an overhead projector, special-shaped sheets such as envelopes and index paper, and cloth.

[0014] In this specification, the side where the operator stands when operating the inkjet recording apparatus 100 is referred to as "front (or forward)", and the opposite side is referred to as "back (or rear)". Also, the left side when viewed from the front is referred to as "left", and the right side when viewed from the front is referred to as "right". FIG. 1 shows the inkjet recording apparatus 100 as viewed from the front.

[0015] <Inkjet recording apparatus> As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet recording apparatus 100 includes a paper feeding module 1000, a printing module 2000, a drying module 3000, a fixing module 4000, a cooling module 5000, a reversing module 6000, and a stacking module 7000. The sheet S supplied from the paper feeding module 1000 is subjected to various processes as it is conveyed along the conveyance path within each module, and is finally discharged to the stacking module 7000.

[0016] Note that the paper feeding module 1000, the printing module 2000, the drying module 3000, the fixing module 4000, the cooling module 5000, the reversing module 6000, and the stacking module 7000 may each have separate housings, and these housings may be connected to form the inkjet recording apparatus 100. Alternatively, the paper feeding module 1000, the printing module 2000, the drying module 3000, the fixing module 4000, the cooling module 5000, the reversing module 6000, and the stacking module 7000 may be arranged in one housing.

[0017] The paper feeding module 1000 has storage bins 1500a, 1500b, and 1500c for storing the sheet S, and the storage bins 1500a to 1500c are provided so as to be pullable out to the front side for storing the sheet S. The sheet S is fed one by one by a separation belt and a conveyance roller in each of the storage bins 1500a to 1500c and is conveyed to the printing module 2000. Note that the number of the storage bins 1500a to 1500c is not limited to three, and there may be one, two, or four or more.

[0018] The print module 2000 includes a pre-image transport unit 2400, a print belt unit 2200, and a recording unit 2300. The sheet S transported from the paper feed module 1000 is corrected for tilt and position by the pre-image transport unit 2400 and then transported to the print belt unit 2200. The recording unit 2300 is positioned opposite the print belt unit 2200 in the transport path. The recording unit 2300 is a sheet processing unit that forms an image by performing recording processing (printing) on ​​the sheet S from above using a recording head. The sheet S is transported by suction by the print belt unit 2200, ensuring clearance with the recording head. Multiple recording heads are arranged along the transport direction. In this embodiment, in addition to the four colors Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black), there are a total of five line-type recording heads corresponding to the reaction solution.

[0019] The number of ink colors and recording heads are not limited to five. The inkjet method can employ methods using heating elements, piezoelectric elements, electrostatic elements, MEMS elements, etc. Each color of ink is supplied to the recording head via ink tubes from an ink tank (not shown). The sheet S printed by the recording unit 2300 is transported by the print belt unit 2200, and an inline scanner (not shown) located downstream of the recording unit in the transport direction can detect misalignment and color density of the image formed on the sheet S, thereby correcting the printed image.

[0020] The drying module 3000 includes a decoupling section 3200, a drying belt unit 3300, and a hot air blowing section 3400. The drying module 3000 reduces the liquid content of the ink applied to the sheet S in order to improve the ink fixation to the sheet S by the subsequent fixing module 4000. The image-formed sheet S is transported to the decoupling section 3200 located within the drying module 3000. In the decoupling section 3200, the wind pressure from the wind blown from above creates a frictional force between the sheet S and the belt, and the sheet S is transported by the belt. In this way, the sheet S placed on the belt is transported by frictional force, which prevents the sheet S from shifting as it is transported between the print belt unit 2200 and the decoupling section 3200.

[0021] The sheet S, transported from the decoupling unit 3200, is suction-transported by the drying belt unit 3300, and the ink applied to the sheet S is dried by blowing hot air from the hot air blowing unit 3400 located above the belt.

[0022] The fixing module 4000 has a fixing belt unit 4100. The fixing belt unit 4100 fixes the ink to the sheet S, which has been conveyed from the drying module 3000, by passing it between a heated upper belt unit and a lower belt unit.

[0023] The cooling module 5000 has multiple cooling units 5100, which cool the high-temperature sheet S transported from the fixing module 4000. The cooling units 5100, for example, draw outside air into the cooling box with a fan to increase the pressure inside the cooling box, and then blow air out from the cooling box through nozzles under pressure onto the sheet S to cool it. The cooling units 5100 are positioned on both sides of the transport path of the sheet S, and cool both sides of the sheet S.

[0024] Furthermore, the cooling module 5000 is provided with a transport path switching unit 5003. The transport path switching unit 5003 switches the transport path of the sheet S depending on whether the sheet S is being transported to the inversion module 6000 or to the double-sided transport path for double-sided printing in which images are formed on both sides of the sheet S.

[0025] The inversion module 6000 has an inversion unit 6400. The inversion unit 6400 inverts the front and back sides of the conveyed sheet S, changing the orientation of the sheet S when it is discharged to the loading module 7000. The loading module 7000 has a top tray 7200 and a loading unit 7500, and loads the sheet S conveyed from the inversion module 6000.

[0026] During double-sided printing, the sheet S is transported by the transport path switching unit 5003 to the transport path below the cooling module 5000. The sheet S then passes through the double-sided transport path of the fuser module 4000, drying module 3000, print module 2000, and paper feed module 1000, and is returned to the print module 2000. The double-sided transport section of the fuser module 4000 is provided with a reversal unit 4200 that reverses the front and back sides of the sheet S. Once returned to the print module 2000, an image is formed on the other side where no image has been formed, and the sheet S is discharged to the loading module 7000 via the drying module 3000, fuser module 4000, cooling module 5000, and reversal module 6000.

[0027] Thus, the image forming apparatus includes a print module (image forming module) 2000 as a first module, which includes a recording unit 2300 and a print belt unit 2200. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus includes second modules (1000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000) which are connected adjacent to either the left or right side or both sides of the print module 2000 in the left-right direction, and which have different functions from the print module 2000.

[0028] Here, an example is given in which the image forming apparatus has modules with different functions connected to both sides of the print module 2000 in the left-right direction, but it is not limited to this configuration. The image forming apparatus may also have a configuration in which modules with different functions are connected to the left side of the print module 2000 in the left-right direction. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus may have a configuration in which modules with different functions are connected to the right side of the print module 2000 in the left-right direction.

[0029] The directions used in the following explanation—upward U, downward D, rightward R, leftward L, rearward B, and forward F—are defined as shown in Figures 1 and 12. The side from which the cooling unit 5100 is pulled out relative to the housing 1 is defined as the front side (front or front), and the opposite side is defined as the rear side (back or rear). When the print module 2000 is used as the reference, the side on which the drying module 3000 is located is defined as the left side. When the print module 2000 is used as the reference, the side on which the paper feed module 1000 is located is defined as the right side. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the front-rear and left-right directions defined here, and vertically upward, is defined as the upward direction, and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear and left-right directions defined here, and vertically downward, is defined as the downward direction. The defined forward F, rearward B, rightward R, leftward L, upward U, and downward D are shown in Figures 1 and 12. The left-right direction (first direction) is perpendicular to the vertical direction (up-down direction) and is the same as the conveying direction for transporting the sheet. The front-back direction (second direction) is intersecting the vertical direction and the left-right direction (first direction).

[0030] <Cooling Module> Figure 2(a) is a cross-sectional view of the cooling module 5000. The conveying unit 5001 has a plurality of cooling units 5100. In the conveying unit 5001, the cooling units 5100 are arranged opposite each other via the sheet S so as to cool the sheet S from both sides. The cooling units 5100 are also arranged in parallel in the direction of sheet conveyance. That is, in the conveying unit 5001, cooling units 5100, 5100 are arranged opposite each other on both sides of the sheet, and the opposing cooling units 5100, 5100 are arranged in parallel in the direction of sheet conveyance, so that the sheet S can be cooled from both sides. Upstream and downstream of the cooling units 5100 are conveying roller pairs 5111a, 5111b and conveying roller pairs 5117a, 5117b. The high-temperature sheet S, conveyed from the fixing module 4000 by passing through the fixing belt unit 4100, is conveyed to the downstream device while being cooled by the cooling units 5100. Furthermore, the cooling module 5000 has a transport path switching unit 5003, which can switch the transport path of the sheet S depending on whether the sheet S is being transported to the reversal module 6000 or to the transport unit 5002 used for double-sided printing. During double-sided printing, the sheet S is transported to the transport unit 5002 below the cooling module 5000, and further transported along the double-sided transport path of the fuser module 4000, drying module 3000, print module 2000, and paper feed module 1000, and then transported again to the print belt unit 2200 and recording unit 2300 of the print module 2000, where it is printed. The double-sided transport unit of the fuser module 4000 has a reversal unit 4200 that reverses the front and back sides of the sheet S.

[0031] Similar to the conveying unit 5001, the conveying unit 5002 has cooling units 5100, 5100 facing each other on both sides of the sheet, and the cooling units 5100, 5100 facing each other on both sides of the sheet are arranged in parallel in the direction of sheet transport, so that the sheet S can be cooled from both sides. The cooling units 5100 arranged in the conveying units 5001 and 5002 are provided with comb-shaped transport guides 5101 on the side from which the air is blown, and the sheet S is transported by passing between the transport guides 5101 of the cooling units 5100 on both sides.

[0032] Figure 2(b) shows the cooling module 5000 with its top surface rotated open, viewed from the right side. When processing jams generated in the transport unit 5001 or performing maintenance such as replacing parts of the transport unit 5001, the top of the transport unit 5001 is rotated together with the top surface of the cooling module 5000 to the state shown in Figure 2(b), thereby allowing access to the inside of the transport unit 5001.

[0033] Specifically, the transport unit 5001 includes a lower unit 5001D having a lower transport guide 5101 that guides one side of the sheet, and an upper unit 5001U having an upper transport guide 5101 that guides the other side of the sheet. The upper unit 5001U is rotatable relative to the lower unit 5001D around a hinge 5001h on the rear side in the front-rear direction. The upper unit 5001U is rotated relative to the lower unit 5001D to the open state shown in Figure 2(b). This state makes it possible to access the inside of the transport unit 5001.

[0034] Furthermore, the transport unit 5002, like the transport unit 5001, is configured to open by rotating its upper section. Specifically, in the transport unit 5002, the upper unit 5002U, which has an upper transport guide 5101 that guides the other side of the sheet, is rotated around a hinge 5002h on the rear side in the front-rear direction relative to the lower unit 5002D, which has a lower transport guide 5101 that guides one side of the sheet, to open it as shown in Figure 13. This configuration allows access to the inside of the transport unit 5001.

[0035] However, above the transport unit 5002 are the transport unit 5001 and other frames. Therefore, there may not be enough space inside the cooling module to fully open the top of the transport unit 5002 for maintenance. To address this, the transport unit 5002 is designed to be pulled out to the front during maintenance, as shown in Figure 14, and with the top fully opened in this position, allowing access to the inside of the transport unit 5002.

[0036] Figure 4(a) is a perspective view showing the portion of the housing 1 in which the transport unit 5002 is housed. Figure 4(b) is an enlarged view of the lower right portion of the housing 1 shown in Figure 4(a). Rails 2 for pulling the transport unit 5002 forward are provided at the left and right ends of the lower part of the housing 1. Movable parts 3 are provided on the rails 2, and grooves in the frame of the transport unit 5002 fit into pins 4 provided on the movable parts 3, so that the multiple cooling units 5100 of the transport unit 5002 are supported by the rails 2. The rails 2 support the transport unit 5002 so that it can move in the front-rear direction and so that the transport unit 5002 can be pulled forward. During maintenance, the transport unit 5002 is pulled forward together with the movable parts 3.

[0037] To enable the transport unit 5002 to be pulled out, the transport unit 5002 is positioned so as not to overlap with the housing 1 when viewed from the front in the front-to-back direction. In other words, the transport unit 5002 is positioned so as not to overlap with the housing 1 when viewed from a line of sight along the front-to-back direction. As a result, a space is created at the connection point 5 (behind the support column of the housing 1 at the front right end) between the cooling module 5000 and the fixing module 4000, which is another module connected to the cooling module 5000. Therefore, as shown in Figure 2(a), a guide unit 5300 is provided at the connection point 5 for the transfer of the sheet S between the modules.

[0038] In other words, in the cooling module 5000, the second unit, the guide unit 5300, is provided in the same module as the transport unit 5002, which includes the first unit, the multiple cooling sections 5100. Furthermore, the second unit, the guide unit 5300, is provided on the right side in the left-right direction of the transport unit 5002, which includes the first unit, the multiple cooling sections 5100. Here, a configuration in which the guide unit 5300 is provided on the right side in the left-right direction of the transport unit 5002 is illustrated because a space is created at the connection section 5 with other modules, but the configuration is not limited to this. If a space is created between the transport unit 5002 and other modules to be connected as described above, the guide unit 5300 may be provided on the left side or both sides in the left-right direction of the transport unit 5002 as needed.

[0039] Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the guide unit 5300. The guide unit 5300 has a transport guide 5301 that guides the sheet. The guide unit 5300 has comb-shaped transport guides 5301 on the top and bottom, and the sheet S passes between the upper transport guide 5301 and the lower transport guide 5301. The closer the distance between the upstream and downstream transport guides in the sheet transport direction, the greater the stability when the sheet S is transferred. For this reason, as shown in Figure 7, the transport guide 5301 is positioned so that a part of it overlaps with the transport guide 5101 and the transport roller pairs 5118a, 5118b, etc. of the adjacent transport unit 5002 when viewed from the front in the front-to-back direction. That is, the guide unit 5300 is positioned so that it at least partially overlaps with the transport unit 5002 when viewed from a line of sight along the front-to-back direction. More specifically, in the sheet transport direction, a portion of one transport guide 5301 overlaps a portion of the other transport guide 5101, and this overlapping portion (the overlapping part) overlaps when viewed from the front-to-back direction. Therefore, when pulling the transport unit 5002 forward, it is necessary to avoid the overlap between the guide unit 5300 and the transport unit 5002, that is, to move or remove the guide unit 5300.

[0040] Figure 3 shows the connection section 6 between the fixing module 4000 and the drying module 3000. The fixing module 4000 is configured so that the reversing section 4200 can be pulled out to the front for maintenance. Therefore, a guide unit 4300 is provided at the connection section 6 for the transfer of sheets S between the modules. The guide unit 4300 has a transport guide, similar to the guide unit 5300. The reversing section 4200 and the guide unit 4300 partially overlap when viewed from the front in the front-rear direction, so it is necessary to avoid the overlap in order to pull out the reversing section 4200 to the front. The guide unit 4300 of the fixing module 4000 is configured to rotate in the direction of arrow r around the axis in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when pulling out the reversing section 4200, the guide unit 4300 can be rotated in the direction of arrow r to avoid the overlap.

[0041] Here, by providing a similar rotating mechanism for the guide unit 5300 of the cooling module 5000, overlap with the transport unit 5002 can be avoided, and the transport unit 5002 can be pulled forward. However, space is required to provide a rotating mechanism, so the shape of adjacent transport guides, etc., must be made to correspond to its configuration. In the cooling module 5000, the cooling section 5100 is responsible for transport guides, and in order to provide a rotating mechanism, the configuration of the cooling section 5100 must be made to correspond. However, among the multiple cooling sections 5100 that are common to both the transport unit 5001 and the transport unit 5002, the cooling section 5100 adjacent to the guide unit 5300 will have a different configuration from the other cooling sections 5100, leading to increased costs and complexity of the configuration. Not limited to rotating mechanisms, even if a mechanism is provided to move in the vertical direction, for example, the configuration of the cooling section 5100 adjacent to the guide unit 5300 must be made to correspond. Therefore, in the cooling module 5000, in order to avoid overlapping, it is necessary to use a configuration in which the guide unit 5300 is removed rather than moved, so as not to affect the configuration of the multiple common cooling units 5100.

[0042] Here, since the guide unit 5300 is located in the connecting section 5, it is easily accessible from the right side of the cooling module 5000. Therefore, conventionally, a configuration is used in which the cooling module 5000 and the fixing module 4000 are separated, and the guide unit 5300 is removed from the right side. However, separating the modules increases the downtime of the image forming apparatus and also burdens the operator. Therefore, the above problems can be solved by providing a configuration that allows the guide unit 5300 to be attached and detached without separating the modules. This configuration will be explained in detail in the following embodiment. Note that the embodiment describes a guide unit that receives the sheet S from upstream and passes it to a downstream module, but the upstream-downstream relationship is not relevant. The configuration of the embodiment may also be applied to a guide unit that receives the sheet S from an upstream module and passes it to a downstream module.

[0043] <Example 1> The positioning configuration and attachment / detachment method of the guide unit 5300 according to Example 1 will be described below.

[0044] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the front lower right of the housing 1, taken from the lower right. Figure 6 shows the state in which the cooling unit 5100 of the transport unit 5002 is supported by the housing 1. Figure 7 shows the state in which the cooling unit 5100 and the guide unit 5300 of the transport unit 5002 are supported by the housing 1. Note that in Figures 6 and 7, the lower cooling unit 5100 is shown, and the upper cooling unit is not shown.

[0045] As shown in Figures 4(b) and 5, the front right lower part of the enclosure 1 is composed of the bottom plate 7, the right side plate 8, the front lower support 9, the right lower support 10, the right front support 11, the right front support 12, and other frames.

[0046] Of the enclosure 1, the right front support column 11 and the right front support column 12 are both U-shaped columns when viewed from above. The right front support column 11 and the right front support column 12 are combined by facing each other and combining their U-shapes so that when viewed from above, their cross-section forms a square.

[0047] Furthermore, a support member 13 is provided to fix the rail 2 mentioned above. The support member 13 is fixed to the bottom plate 7. As mentioned above, the transport unit 5002 has a frame supported by the rail 2 and is extendable forward. In addition, wheels (not shown) are provided on the bottom of the transport unit 5002, and the wheels travel on the bottom plate 7 when the unit is extended. When the transport unit 5002 is stored in the housing 1 as shown in Figure 6, it is supported by the bottom plate 7 via the wheels.

[0048] The support member 13 is provided on the right side of the transport unit 5002 in the left-right direction (the same side as the guide unit 5300) and supports the guide unit 5300. As shown in Figure 7, the guide unit 5300 is supported on the support member 13 and positioned next to the transport unit 5002. At this time, the transport guide 5301 of the guide unit 5300 and the transport guide 5101 and transport roller 5118b of the cooling unit 5100 overlap at least partially when viewed from the front in the front-rear direction. Although the upper cooling unit 5100 is not shown in Figures 6 and 7, the transport guide 5101 and transport roller 5118a of the upper cooling unit 5100 also overlap at least partially with the transport guide 5301 of the guide unit 5300.

[0049] Furthermore, the guide unit 5300 is positioned so as to overlap the right front support columns 11 and 12 of the housing 1 when viewed from the front-to-back direction. In other words, the guide unit 5300 is positioned so as to at least partially overlap the housing 1 when viewed from a line of sight along the front-to-back direction. On the other hand, the transport unit 5002 is positioned so as not to overlap the housing 1 when viewed from the front-to-back direction.

[0050] Next, the positioning configuration of the guide unit 5300 will be described.

[0051] Figure 8(a) is a cross-sectional view of the area around the guide unit 5300 when the cooling module 5000 is viewed from the right side. Figures 8(b) and 8(c) are enlarged views of the dotted line frame a and dotted line frame b in Figure 8(a), respectively.

[0052] As shown in Figures 8(b) and 8(c), the support member 13 is provided with a restricting surface 14 for installing the guide unit 5300. The front and rear sides of the guide unit 5300 are provided with installation parts 15 and 16 for installing the guide unit 5300 in relation to the restricting surface 14. The front and rear installation parts 15 and 16 are configured to be in the same vertical position. When installing the guide unit 5300, the vertical position of the guide unit 5300 is determined by installing the installation parts 15 and 16 on the restricting surface 14. In other words, the support member 13 has the restricting surface 14 as an upper and lower restricting part that restricts the vertical position of the guide unit 5300. The restricting surface 14 is provided facing the lower part of the guide unit 5300 in the vertical direction and is a restricting surface for installing the guide unit 5300.

[0053] As shown in Figures 8(b) and 8(c), left and right restricting sections 17 are provided on the front and rear sides of the support member 13 to restrict the left and right position of the guide unit 5300. Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the left and right restricting sections 17 of the guide unit 5300. Left and right restricting pins 18 that protrude upward from the restricting surface 14 are used in the left and right restricting sections 17. The left and right restricting pins 18 are crimped to a fixing plate 19, and the left and right restricting pins 18 are fixed by screwing the fixing plate 19 to the support member 13. Left and right restricting holes 20 are provided on the lower surface of the guide unit 5300 for passing the left and right restricting pins 18 through. When installing the installation sections 15 and 16 on the restricting surface 14, the left and right restricting pins 18 are fitted into the left and right restricting holes 20 to restrict the left and right position of the guide unit 5300. In other words, the support member 13 has left and right restricting sections 17 that restrict the left and right position of the guide unit 5300. The left and right restricting portions 17 are left and right restricting pins 18 that protrude upward from the restricting surface 14. The left and right restricting pins 18 are provided on the front and rear sides of the restricting surface 14 in the front-rear direction and fit into left and right restricting holes 20 provided on the lower surface of the guide unit 5300. This determines the left-right position of the guide unit 5300.

[0054] As shown in Figure 8(c), the rear side of the support member 13 is provided with a rear restricting portion 21 that restricts the left-right tilting of the guide unit 5300. Figure 11(a) is a perspective view showing the rear restricting portion 21 of the guide unit 5300. The rear side of the support member 13 is provided with a rear restricting surface 22 to restrict the rearward movement of the guide unit 5300. A rear restricting pin 23 is provided on the rear side of the guide unit 5300. The rear restricting surface 22 is provided with a rear restricting hole 24 for passing the rear restricting pin 23 through. In other words, the support member 13 has a rear restricting surface 22 that restricts the rearward movement of the guide unit 5300 in the front-rear direction. The rear restricting surface 22 has a rear restricting hole 24 that fits with the rear restricting pin 23 provided on the rear side of the guide unit 5300. When installing the guide unit 5300, the mounting portions 15 and 16 of the guide unit 5300 are placed on the restricting surface 14 of the support member 13, and then the guide unit 5300 is slid backward to engage the rearward restricting pin 23 with the rearward restricting hole 24. This restricts the guide unit 5300 from tilting in the left-right direction.

[0055] Figure 9 is a view of the area around the rear regulating section 21 from above in the vertical direction. When installing the installation sections 15 and 16 on the regulating surface 14, it is necessary to ensure that the transport guide 5301 of the guide unit 5300 and the transport guide 5101 of the transport unit 5002 do not interfere with each other. Also, it is necessary to ensure that the rear regulating pin 23 of the guide unit 5300 and the rear regulating surface 22 of the support member 13 do not overlap and interfere when viewed from above. Therefore, the distance La in the front-rear direction of the overlap portion between the end of the transport guide 5301 and the end of the transport guide 5101 in the left-right direction, and the distance Lb in the front-rear direction between the tip of the rear regulating pin 23 and the rear regulating surface 22 of the support member 13 satisfy the relationship La > Lb. This suppresses the aforementioned interference between the transport guide 5301 and the transport guide 5101, and between the rear regulating pin 23 and the rear regulating surface 22.

[0056] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, the left and right restricting holes 20 of the guide unit 5300, which is installed on the restricting surface 14 of the support member 13, are elongated holes that are long in the front-to-back direction in order to allow the guide unit 5300 to slide in the front-to-back direction. Also, as shown in Figure 11(a), the rear restricting hole 24 provided on the rear restricting surface 22 of the support member 13 is an elongated hole that is long in the vertical direction, and also serves to restrict the upward movement of the guide unit 5300.

[0057] As shown in Figure 8(b), a front restricting portion 25, which acts as a positioning member that engages with the guide unit 5300 to position the guide unit 5300, is detachably fixed to the front of the housing 1. Here, the front restricting portion 25 is provided on the front of the housing 1 and restricts the forward movement of the guide unit 5300.

[0058] Figure 11(b) is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the front restricting section 25 of the guide unit 5300. The front restricting section 25 has a front restricting step shaft 26 that penetrates the right front support 11 and the right front support 12 in the front-rear direction and protrudes in the rear direction. The front restricting step shaft 26 is a shaft member that extends in the front-rear direction, with a small diameter at its tip. The rear end of the front restricting step shaft 26 is crimped to a fixing plate 27, and the front restricting step shaft 26 is fixed to the front of the housing 1 by screwing the fixing plate 27 to the right front support 11. The right front support 11 has a U-shaped cross-section when viewed from above, and through holes 28 and 29 are provided in the walls facing each other in the front-rear direction to allow the front restricting step shaft 26 to pass through in the front-rear direction. A front restricting hole 30 is provided on the front of the guide unit 5300 for the small diameter portion of the front restricting step shaft 26 to pass through. The front restricting hole 30 has a diameter larger than the smaller diameter portion of the front restricting step shaft 26, and smaller than the larger diameter portion. Therefore, the front restricting step shaft 26, which passes through the through holes 28 and 29 of the right front support column 11, has its smaller diameter portion inserted into the front restricting hole 30, and its larger diameter portion abuts against the front surface of the guide unit 5300, thereby restricting the forward movement of the guide unit 5300.

[0059] Next, we will explain the installation procedure for the guide unit 5300.

[0060] When installing the guide unit 5300, first the mounting parts 15 and 16 of the guide unit 5300 are placed on the restricting surface 14 of the support member 13, and the guide unit 5300 is slid backward. Then, the front restricting step shaft 26 of the front restricting part 25 is passed through the through holes 28 and 29 of the housing 1 and the front restricting hole 30 of the guide unit 5300, and the large diameter part of the front restricting step shaft 26 abuts against the front of the guide unit 5300. Then, the fixing plate 27 of the front restricting part 25 is fixed with screws to the right front support column 11, which is the front of the housing 1. This restricts the forward movement of the guide unit 5300. In addition, the front restricting hole 30 is an elongated hole in the vertical direction, and by engaging with the front restricting step shaft 26, it also serves to restrict the upward movement of the guide unit 5300. Furthermore, by engaging with the front restricting hole 30, the front restricting step shaft 26 also serves to restrict the tilting of the guide unit 5300 in the left and right directions.

[0061] With the positioning configuration described above, the guide unit 5300 is attached to the cooling module 5000.

[0062] Next, we will explain the procedure for removing the guide unit 5300.

[0063] First, as shown in Figure 13, with the transport unit 5002 housed inside the casing 1, the top of the transport unit 5002 is opened. At this time, since the transport unit 5001 and other frames are above, it is not opened wide, but only enough to allow the guide unit 5300 to be pulled forward. If a jam occurs and can be processed in the state shown in Figure 13, the transport unit 5002 is not pulled forward during processing.

[0064] Next, the screws of the fixing plate 27 of the front restrictor 25 are removed, and the front restrictor step shaft 26 is pulled out from the front restrictor hole 30 and through holes 28 and 29, thereby releasing the restriction on the forward movement of the guide unit 5300. In other words, the front restrictor 25, which acts as a positioning member, is removed from the front of the housing 1, and the engagement between the front restrictor step shaft 26 and the guide unit 5300 is released. As a result, the guide unit 5300 becomes removable.

[0065] Next, the guide unit 5300 is slid forward, and the rear regulating pin 23 of the guide unit 5300 is pulled out from the rear regulating hole 24 of the support member 13, allowing the guide unit 5300 to move upward and avoiding the overlap between the transport guide 5301 and the transport guide 5101 when viewed from above.

[0066] Next, the guide unit 5300 is lifted upward to avoid overlapping with the transport unit 5002 in the front-to-back direction. Finally, the guide unit 5300 is pulled forward through the open section of the transport unit 5002 (the space between the upper and lower units), completing the removal of the guide unit 5300.

[0067] After removing the guide unit 5300, the transport unit 5002 is pulled forward. At this time, the transport unit 5002 is pulled forward while being supported by the movable part 3 of the rail 2. Figure 14 is a perspective view of the transport unit 5002 in the fully extended state. As shown in Figure 14, by fully extending the transport unit 5002 to the front of the housing 1, the back of the transport unit 5002 can also be accessed, allowing for maintenance of parts. Furthermore, the upper unit of the transport unit 5002 can be opened wide to perform jamming and maintenance of parts inside the transport unit 5002. Once the maintenance work is complete, the transport unit 5002 is stored inside the housing 1, and the guide unit 5300 is attached to the cooling module 5000 in the reverse order of removal.

[0068] With the above procedure, the guide unit 5300 can be attached and detached and the transport unit 5002 can be maintained by working only from the front of the cooling module 5000; in other words, there is no need to separate the cooling module 5000 from the fixing module 4000. Therefore, the downtime of the image forming apparatus and the burden on the operator when separating modules are reduced.

[0069] Furthermore, both the transport unit 5002 and the guide unit 5300 are supported by the same support member 13. By configuring the transport unit 5002 and the guide unit 5300 to be supported by the same support member 13, the number of parts between the transport guides is reduced, the influence of dimensional tolerances is minimized, and the positional accuracy between the transport guides can be improved.

[0070] As described above, according to this embodiment, the guide unit 5300 can be attached and detached without separating the module, thereby reducing the downtime of the image forming apparatus and the burden on the operator during maintenance. Furthermore, the positional accuracy between the transport guides can be improved.

[0071] <Example 2> Next, the positioning configuration and attachment / detachment method of the guide unit 5300 according to Embodiment 2 will be described. Since the general configuration of the image forming apparatus is the same as in the embodiment described above, the same reference numerals are used for components with equivalent functions, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0072] Figure 15(a) is a cross-sectional view of the area around the guide unit 5300 when the cooling module 5000 is viewed from the right side. Figures 15(b) and 15(c) are enlarged views of the dotted line frame a and dotted line frame b in Figure 15(a), respectively.

[0073] As shown in Figures 15(b) and 15(c), the support member 13 is provided with a restricting surface 14 for installing the guide unit 5300. The front and rear sides of the guide unit 5300 are provided with installation parts 15 and 16 for installation with the restricting surface 14. The front and rear installation parts 15 and 16 are configured to be in the same vertical position. When installing the guide unit 5300, the vertical direction of the guide unit 5300 is supported by installing the installation parts 15 and 16 on the restricting surface 14.

[0074] As shown in Figures 15(b) and 15(c), left and right restricting sections 17 are provided on the front and rear sides of the support member 13 to restrict the left and right position of the guide unit 5300. The left and right restricting sections 17 have the same configuration as in the embodiment described above, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0075] As shown in Figure 15(c), a rear regulating portion 21 is provided on the rear side of the support member 13 to restrict the vertical and horizontal position of the guide unit 5300 on the rear side. Figure 16(a) is a perspective view showing the rear regulating portion 21 of the guide unit 5300. A rear regulating surface 22 is provided on the rear side of the support member 13 to restrict the movement of the guide unit 5300 in the rear direction. A rear regulating pin 23 is provided on the rear side of the guide unit 5300. A rear regulating hole 24, which is a round hole for passing the rear regulating pin 23 through, is provided on the rear regulating surface 22. The rear regulating pin 23 has a tapered shape, with its diameter decreasing towards the tip. When installing the guide unit 5300, after setting the installation portions 15 and 16 of the guide unit 5300 on the regulating surface 14 of the support member 13, the guide unit 5300 is slid in the rear direction and the tip of the rear regulating pin 23 is inserted into the rear regulating hole 24. Subsequently, while lifting the guide unit 5300, it is slid along the tapered shape of the rear regulating pin 23, engaging the outermost diameter of the rear regulating pin 23 with the rear regulating hole 24. This restricts the vertical and horizontal position of the rear side of the guide unit 5300. At this time, the mounting portion 16 is separated from the regulating surface 14. The tapered shape of the rear regulating pin 23 makes it easier to insert into the rear regulating hole 24.

[0076] Furthermore, even when the rear regulating pin 23 has a tapered shape, the relationship La > Lb is satisfied between the distance La and the distance Lb, similar to Figure 9 of the embodiment described above. This makes it possible to suppress interference between the transport guide 5301 and the transport guide 5101, and between the rear regulating pin 23 and the rear regulating surface 22.

[0077] As shown in Figure 15(b), a front restricting portion 25, which acts as a positioning member that engages with the guide unit 5300 to position the guide unit 5300, is detachably fixed to the front of the housing 1. Here, the front restricting portion 25 is provided on the front of the housing 1 and restricts the vertical and horizontal movement of the front of the guide unit 5300.

[0078] Figure 16(b) is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the front restricting section 25 of the guide unit 5300. The front restricting section 25 has a front restricting step shaft 26 that penetrates the right front support 11 and the right front support 12 in the front-rear direction and protrudes in the rear direction. The front restricting step shaft 26 is a shaft member that extends in the front-rear direction, with a smaller diameter at its tip. The rear end of the front restricting step shaft 26 is crimped to a fixing plate 27, and the front restricting step shaft 26 is fixed to the front of the housing 1 by screwing the fixing plate 27 to the right front support 11. The right front support 11 has a U-shaped cross-section when viewed from above, and through holes 28 and 29 are provided in the walls facing each other in the front-rear direction to allow the front restricting step shaft 26 to pass through in the front-rear direction.

[0079] The front of the guide unit 5300 is provided with a front regulating hole 30, which is a round hole for the small-diameter portion of the front regulating step shaft 26 to pass through. The front regulating hole 30 has a diameter that is larger than the small-diameter portion of the front regulating step shaft 26 and smaller than the large-diameter portion. Therefore, when the front regulating step shaft 26 passes through the through holes 28 and 29 of the right front support column 11, the small-diameter portion is inserted into the front regulating hole 30, and the large-diameter portion abuts against the front of the guide unit 5300, thereby restricting the forward movement of the guide unit 5300.

[0080] Next, we will explain the installation procedure for the guide unit 5300.

[0081] When installing the guide unit 5300, first the installation parts 15 and 16 of the guide unit 5300 are placed on the restricting surface 14 of the support member 13, and then the guide unit 5300 is slid backward. After that, Next, the rear regulating pin 23 of the guide unit 5300 is fitted into the rear regulating hole 24 of the support member 13. Then, the front regulating step shaft 26 of the front regulating section 25 is passed through the through holes 28 and 29 of the housing 1 and the front regulating hole 30 of the guide unit 5300, and the large diameter portion of the front regulating step shaft 26 is abutted against the front surface of the guide unit 5300. Then, the fixing plate 27 of the front regulating section 25 is screwed to the right front support column 11, which is the front surface of the housing 1. This restricts the forward movement of the guide unit 5300. At this time, the installation portion 16 of the guide unit 5300 is separated from the regulating surface 14 of the support member 13.

[0082] In the embodiment described above, vertical positioning is performed by the restricting surface 14 of the support member 13, and the front restricting hole 30 and the rear restricting hole 24 are elongated holes in the vertical direction. Therefore, in the embodiment described above, when installing the guide unit 5300, it is only necessary to slide it while it is installed on the restricting surface 14, and there is an advantage in terms of ease of assembly, as it is easy to insert the front restricting step shaft 26 and the rear restricting pin 23 into the front restricting hole 30 and the rear restricting hole 24. However, there is a gap in the vertical direction between the front restricting hole 30 and the front restricting step shaft 26, and between the rear restricting hole 24 and the rear restricting pin. Although the downward direction is restricted by the restricting surface 14, the unit can move upward within the range of the gap. Therefore, vibrations during logistics may cause the guide unit 5300 to move upward, potentially resulting in misalignment.

[0083] In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 15(b) and 15(c), the front regulating hole 30 and the rear regulating hole 24 are round holes, and these regulating holes are used to restrict the position in the vertical direction. Therefore, this embodiment is superior in terms of preventing positional displacement due to vibrations during logistics.

[0084] As described above, this embodiment provides the same effects as in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, by making the front regulating hole 30 and the rear regulating hole 24 round holes, it is advantageous against misalignment of the guide unit 5300, and the positional accuracy of the guide unit 5300, i.e., the transport accuracy, can be further improved.

[0085] In the embodiments described above, the inkjet method was used as an example of the recording method, but the invention is not limited to this, and other recording methods such as electrophotography may also be used.

[0086] Furthermore, while the above-described embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the guide unit 5300 as the second unit is provided on the cooling module 5000, the invention is not limited to this, and the second unit may be provided on other modules. Also, while the example illustrates a configuration in which the second unit is provided on the downstream side (or the right side in the left-right direction) of the first unit in the sheet transport direction, the invention is not limited to this, and the second unit may be provided on the upstream side (or the left side in the left-right direction) of the first unit in the sheet transport direction. The arrangement of the second unit relative to the first unit may be set as appropriate as needed. In addition, the second unit may be provided in multiple locations within a single module, rather than just one.

[0087] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, a print module 2000 was given as an example of an image forming module equipped with an image forming unit, which includes a recording unit 2300 and a print head unit (transport unit) 2200. However, the invention is not limited to this. For example, the image forming unit provided in the image forming module may be an image forming unit that does not include a transport unit that transports the sheet in the first direction when an image is being formed on the sheet. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0088] 1 ... cabinet 2...rail 3...Movable part 4... pins 5,6…Connection part 11,12 ...Right front support 13 ...Support member 14…Regulatory aspects 15,16…Installation part 17 ...Left and right restricting sections 18... Left and right regulating pins 20 ... Left and right regulating holes 21 ...Inner Restriction Section 22 ...Rear restricted area 23... Back regulated pin 24 ... Restricted hole at the back 25 ...Previous Regulatory Section 26...Pre-regulation stage axle 30… Front regulation hole 100 ... Inkjet recording device 1000 ... Paper feed module 2000 ... Print Module 2200 ... Printed belt unit 3000 ... Drying module 4000 ... Fuser module 4300 ... Guide unit 5000 ... Cooling module 5001 ... Conveyor unit 5002 ... Conveyor unit 5003 ... Conveyor path switching section 5100...Cooling section 5101 ... Transport Guide 5300 ... Guide unit 5301 ... Conveyor Guide 6000 ... Inverting module 7000 ... Loading module

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising at least an image forming module equipped with an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, and having a plurality of modules connected in a first direction, One module included in the aforementioned plurality of modules is The casing and A first unit having a first guide for guiding the seat, A second unit is positioned adjacent to the first unit in the first direction and, when viewed from a line of sight along a second direction intersecting the first direction, at least partially overlaps the first unit and the housing, and has a second guide for guiding the sheet. A support member is positioned on the same side as the second unit in the first direction relative to the first unit, and supports the second unit. A positioning member is detachably disposed on the front of the housing and engages with the second unit to position the second unit, Equipped with, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the second unit is removable by removing the positioning member from the front of the housing and releasing the engagement.

2. The support member has an upper and lower restricting portion that restricts the position of the second unit in the vertical direction intersecting the first and second directions, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper and lower restricting portion is provided opposite to the lower part of the second unit in the vertical direction and is a restricting surface for installing the second unit.

3. The support member has left and right restricting portions that restrict the position of the second unit in the first direction, The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the left and right restricting portions are pins that protrude upward from the restricting surface, and the pins are provided on the front and rear sides of the restricting surface in the second direction and fit into holes provided on the lower surface of the second unit.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the support member has a rearward restricting portion that restricts the movement of the second unit toward the rearward side in the second direction.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the rear regulating portion has a regulating hole that engages with a regulating pin provided on the rear side of the second unit.

6. The aforementioned housing has a support column that, when viewed from above, has a cross-section that is shaped like a square or a U. The support column has two through holes that penetrate in the second direction, at positions that overlap with the second unit when viewed from the second direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning member is a stepped shaft supported by passing through two through holes in the support column, the small diameter portion at its tip engages with the second unit, and the large diameter portion, which has a larger diameter than the small diameter portion, restricts the movement of the second unit toward the front in the second direction.

7. The first guide of the first unit and the second guide of the second unit each have a comb-like shape. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that in the sheet transport direction, a portion of one guide overlaps with a portion of the other guide, and a portion of the overlaps when viewed from the second direction.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first unit is supported by the support member together with the second unit.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the support member has a rail that supports the first unit so as to be movable in the second direction, and supports the first unit so as to be pullable forward.

10. The first unit comprises a lower unit having a lower guide for guiding one side of the sheet, and an upper unit having an upper guide opposite to the lower guide for guiding the other side of the sheet, and being rotatable relative to the lower unit around a hinge on the rear side in the second direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the second unit can be removed from the space between the open lower unit and the upper unit by removing the positioning member from the front of the housing and releasing the engagement.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the second unit is provided at a connection point with another module connected to the module on which the first unit is provided, and is a unit that transfers sheets between modules.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the second unit is a unit that transfers a sheet, which has been inverted front and back after an image has been formed by the image forming unit, from the module equipped with the first unit to the image forming module.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first unit is positioned so as not to overlap with the housing when viewed from a line of sight along the second direction.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the image forming unit includes a conveying unit that conveys a sheet in a first direction when an image is being formed on the sheet.

Images