Patent Publication Number: US-7715757-B2

Title: Pullout unit and image forming device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-262730 filed Sep. 27, 2006. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Technical Field 
   The present invention relates to a pullout unit and an image forming device. 
   SUMMARY 
   An aspect of the present invention is a pullout unit including: a pullout component that is provided at a main body of a device so as to be able to be pulled out from the main body of the device, and that faces a conveying route surface of the main body of the device to form a conveying route on which an object to be conveyed is conveyed; and a scraping member that is provided at the pullout component at the inner side in a pullout direction in which the pullout component is pulled out, and that scrapes the object to be conveyed on the conveying route surface when the pullout component is pulled out. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an outline drawing showing the overall configuration of the image forming device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective drawing showing a part of the structural components of the image forming device according to the present exemplary embodiment; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective drawing showing a state where a pullout unit according to the present exemplary embodiment is stored in the main body of the device; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing showing a state where the pullout unit according to the present exemplary embodiment is pulled out from the main body of the device; 
       FIG. 5  is a side surface drawing showing a rubber member provided in the pullout unit according to the present exemplary embodiment; 
       FIG. 6  is a side surface drawing showing a resin component provided in the pullout unit according to the present exemplary embodiment; and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective drawing showing an alternate example of a bottom plate according to the present exemplary embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Hereafter, an example of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. 
   Overall Configuration of the Image Forming Device According to the Present Exemplary Embodiment 
   First, explanations on the overall configuration of the image forming device according to the present exemplary embodiment will be explained. In  FIG. 1 , the overall configuration of the image forming device according to the present exemplary embodiment is shown as an outline drawing. In  FIG. 2 , a part of the structural components of the image forming device according to the present exemplary embodiment is shown as a perspective drawing. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , an image forming device  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment is provided with a device main body  12  that houses each structural part of the image forming device  10 . A paper supply tray  14  that houses paper P as a recording medium is arranged in the lower portion of the device main body  12 . 
   A feed roll  16  is arranged directly above the leading edge side of this paper supply tray  14  (the left-end side in  FIG. 1 ). The feed roll  16  contacts the leading edge side of the upper surface of the paper P, rotates, and sends out the paper P from the paper supply tray  14 . 
   Further, a conveying route  22  is formed at the device main body  12 , and the paper P sent out from the paper supply tray  14  is conveyed by this conveying route  22 . The conveying route  22  extends from the leading edge portion of the paper supply tray  14 , through an image forming section  18  that is in the central portion of the device main body  12 , and up to a discharge tray  23  attached to the device main body  12 . 
   The image forming section  18  is provided with a photosensitive drum  30  that rotates in a preset direction (in  FIG. 1 , in the counterclockwise direction). In the area surrounding the photosensitive drum  30 , the following are each provided in order from the upstream side of the direction of rotation of the photosensitive drum  30 : a charging device (not shown) that charges a surface of the photosensitive drum  30 ; an exposing device (not shown) that exposes the surface of the charged photosensitive drum  30  and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface thereof; and a developing device (also not shown) that makes toner adhere to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  30  and develops it. 
   A transferring device  38  that sandwiches the conveying route  22  is provided beneath the photosensitive drum  30  so as to face it. The transferring device  38  transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  30  to the paper P at a preset transfer-position. 
   A registering section  20  is also provided along the conveying route  22  between the image forming section  18  and the feed roll  16 . The registering section  20  corrects skewing (i.e., slanting) of the paper P sent out from the paper supply tray  14  with pairs of registering rollers  20 A and  20 B and sends the paper P into the transfer-position at preset timing. 
   A fixing device  40  that makes the transferred toner image fix to the paper P and a pair of discharging rolls  44  that discharges the paper P to the discharge tray  23  are arranged along the conveying route  22  at the downstream side of the image forming section  18 . 
   A reverse and discharge section  26  that makes the paper P reverse when the paper P is discharged to the discharge tray  23  is provided between the fixing device  40  and the pair of discharging rolls  44  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). A reverse conveying route  28  is formed at the reverse and discharge section  26  between the fixing device  40  and the pair of discharging rolls  44  as a conveying route connected to the conveying route  22 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , this reverse conveying route  28  is provided so as to extend downward and in the horizontal direction at the lower portion of the device main body  12 . A first claw piece  24  that determines the conveying route of the paper P is provided at a branch point between the conveying route  22  and reverse conveying route  28 . The first claw piece  24  swings downward (the chain double-dashed line position in  FIG. 1 ) to close the reverse conveying route  28 , and open the conveying route  22 , whereby paper P on which the toner image is fixed is led to the pair of discharging rolls  44 . The paper P led to the pair of discharging rolls  44  is discharged to the discharge tray  23  by the pair of discharging rolls  44  as is without being reversed. 
   The first claw piece  24  swings upward to close the conveying route  22  and open the reverse conveying route  28 , whereby the paper P on which the toner image is fixed is led to the reverse conveying route  28 . 
   A pair of conveying rolls  33  is provided at the reverse conveying route  28 , and the paper P led to the reverse conveying route  28  is sent into reversing rolls  32  by the pair of conveying rolls  33 . 
   The reversing rolls  32  send the paper P once to the downstream side of the reverse conveying route  28  and reversely rotate, thereby making the paper P switchback. Note that with the present exemplary embodiment, a part of the reverse conveying route  28  which is at the downstream side of the reversing rolls  32  is referred to as a reverse conveying path  28 A. 
   A reverse and discharge conveying route  36  for sending the reversed paper P to the pair of discharging rolls  44  is connected to the reverse conveying route  28 . A pair of conveying rolls  35  that conveys the paper P to the pair of discharging rolls  44  is provided at the reverse and discharge conveying route  36 . Note that in  FIG. 1 , only one of the pair of conveying rolls  35  is shown. 
   A double-side conveying route  34  for sending back the paper P again on which an image is formed on one surface to the conveying route  22  is connected to the reverse conveying route  28 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the double-side conveying route  34  is formed such that paper guides  42  that guide the paper P are arranged along the conveying route. Plural pairs of conveying rolls  39  (three in the present exemplary embodiment) that convey the paper P to the conveying route  22  are provided at the double-side conveying route  34 . In  FIG. 1 , the conveying rolls  39  are shown with a portion thereof omitted. 
   A second claw piece  37  that determines the conveying route of the paper P is provided at a branch point between this double-side conveying route  34  and the reverse conveying route  28 . 
   The second claw piece  37  swings downward (the chain double-dashed line position in  FIG. 1 ) to close the double-side conveying route  34 , and open the reverse and discharge conveying route  36 , whereby the paper P switch-backed from the reverse conveying path  28 A is led to the reverse and discharge conveying route  36 . The paper P led to the reverse and discharge conveying route  36  is conveyed to the pair of discharging rolls  44  by the pair of conveying rolls  35  provided at the reverse and discharge conveying route  36 . The paper P conveyed to the pair of discharging rolls  44  is discharged on the discharge tray  23  by the pair of discharging rolls  44  in a state of the top and under surfaces being reversed. 
   Further, the second claw piece  37  swings upward to close the reverse and discharge conveying route  36 , and open the double-side conveying route  34 , whereby the paper P switch-backed from the reverse conveying path  28 A is led to the double-side conveying route  34 . The paper P led to the double-side conveying route  34  is sent into the registering section  20  and a toner image is again transferred, by the image forming section  18 , on the one surface side where the image is not formed. Then the transferred toner image is fixed to the paper P by the fixing device  40  and the paper P is discharged to the discharge tray  23  by the pair of discharging rolls  44 . 
   As explained above, the conveying route of the image forming device  10  includes: the conveying route  22  that extends from the front edge portion of the paper supply tray  14  and reaches the discharge tray  23  through the image forming section  18 ; the reverse conveying route  28  that is connected to the conveying route  22  and that extends downward and in the horizontal direction at the lower portion of the device main body  12 ; the reverse conveying path  28 A, which is a part of the reverse conveying route  28  further at the downstream side than the reversing roll  32 ; the reverse and discharge conveying route  36  that is connected to the reverse conveying route  28  and that is for sending the paper P to the pair of discharging rolls  44 ; and the double-side conveying route  34  that is connected to the reverse conveying route  28  and that is for sending the paper P back again to the conveying route  22 . 
   Configuration of the Pullout Unit According to the Present Exemplary Embodiment 
   A pullout unit  50  according to the present exemplary embodiment is a unit that can be pulled out of and pushed in to the device main body  12 , and is provided with a pullout unit main body  52  as a pullout component provided so it can be pulled out from the device main body  12 . Note that in  FIG. 3 , the pullout unit  50  is shown in a state where it is accommodated in the device main body  12 , and in  FIG. 4 , the pullout unit  50  is shown in a state where it has been pulled out from the device main body  12 . 
   The pullout unit main body  52  is configured so that it is pulled out in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the paper P is conveyed, with a pullout mechanism that is formed from, e.g., a rail component and the like (not shown). Note that the pullout direction of the pullout unit main body  52  is not thus limited and can also be made so that, for example, its direction follows the direction in which the paper is conveyed. 
   A frame  53  that supports each of the structural parts is provided in the pullout unit main body  52 . The frame  53  supports the registering section  20 , the transferring device  38 , the fixing device  40 , the reverse and discharge section  26 , the reverse conveying route  28 , and the double-side conveying route  34  that act as each of the structural parts. These structural parts are formed into a unit and are integrally pulled out from and inserted into the device main body  12 . Note that the dotted line portion of  FIG. 1  is the portion that forms the pullout unit  50 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a bottom plate  54  that serves as a bottom panel structuring the frame of the device main body  12  is provided under the pullout unit main body  52 . This bottom plate  54  structures a conveying route surface  27  of the reverse conveying path  28 A at the device main body  12  side. 
   A conveying route surface  29  that faces the conveying route surface  27  is formed on a lower surface of the pullout unit main body  52 . The reverse conveying path  28 A is configured with this conveying route surface  29  and the conveying route surface  27 . 
   Rubber members  60  are provided at the inner side of pullout direction of the pullout unit main body  52 . This rubber member  60  is provided as a scraping member that scrapes out the paper P on the conveying route surface  27  when the pullout unit main body  52  is pulled out. The term “inner side” in this case means a side that is further from an operator, in the pull out direction, at the time when the pullout unit main body  52  is pulled out by the operator. 
   The rubber member  60  is formed from panel-shaped rubber and an area of the portion that is in contact with the paper P is adjusted. Also, the rubber member  60 , when compared to materials such as resin and the like, has higher friction with the paper P so the effect of catching on the paper P is increased. Further, plural rubber members  60  are arranged at intervals narrower than the smallest size paper P conveyed on the reverse conveying path  28 A. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , concave portions  58  are formed in the conveying route surface  27  at the bottom plate  54  of the device main body  12 . Due to the concave portions  58 , spaces are formed at portions lower than the position L through which the paper P passes. 
   Each rubber member  60  is arranged in the concave portion  58  and is designed so as to enter into the space formed by the concave portion  58 . Due to the rubber member  60  entering into the space formed by the concave portion  58 , the amount of protrusion of the rubber member  60  protruding further downward than the position L through which the paper P passes is increased. Due to this, not the bottom end portion of the rubber member  60  but the central portion of the rubber member  60  comes into contact with the paper P. 
   Operation of the Present Exemplary Embodiment 
   Next, the operation of the above-described exemplary embodiment will be explained. 
   In the configuration of the present exemplary embodiment, when the pullout unit  50  is pulled out from the device main body  12 , the rubber members  60  provided at the inner side in the pullout direction of the pullout unit main body  52  scrape out the paper P remaining on the reverse conveying path  28 A. 
   Due to this, the paper P remaining on the reverse conveying path  28 A which is formed with the conveying route surface  27  of the device main body  12  and the conveying route surface  29  of the pullout unit  50  can be easily taken and removed. 
   Also, in the configuration of the present exemplary embodiment, plural rubber members  60  are arranged at intervals narrower than the smallest sized paper P conveyed on the reverse conveying path  28 A. Accordingly, even if the paper P remaining on the reverse conveying path  28 A is the smallest sized paper, it can be removed. 
   Also, in the configuration of the present exemplary embodiment, the rubber members  60  enter into the concave portions  58  formed in the conveying route surface  27  of the device main body  12  along the direction in which the pullout unit  50  is pulled out. Accordingly, the scraping-out effect, where it is easier for the rubber members  60  to catch on the paper P remaining on the conveying route surface  27 , is heightened. 
   Note that the scraping member is not limited to the rubber member  60 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , these can also be cylindrical resin components  70  integrally formed with the pullout unit main body  52 . 
   Also, a bottom plate  64  shown in  FIG. 7  can be the bottom panel provided in the device main body  12 . 
   With this configuration, plural ribs  72  arranged in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction are provided. The rib  72  extends at incline relative to the conveying direction, and guides the paper P such that conveying resistance is not generated on the conveyed paper P. 
   The ribs  72  are arranged at preset intervals along the conveying direction. By forming the protruding ribs  72 , concave portions into which the rubber members  60  enter are formed between the ribs  72 . 
   The rubber members  60  pass through concave portions one step lower than the position through which the paper P passes, and can catch on the paper P with certainty. Note that in  FIG. 7 , the positions through which the rubber members  60  pass are shown with the A arrow. 
   Also, with this configuration, the conveyed paper P is guided by the ribs  72  so the area that is in contact with the paper P can be diminished. Accordingly, dirtying of the paper P due to toner stuck on the bottom plate  64  can be prevented. 
   Note that in the above-described exemplary embodiment, the conveying route formed by the conveying route surface of the device main body side and the conveying route surface of the pullout unit side being faced is the reverse conveying path  28 A where the paper P is switched back. Nonetheless, the present invention is not thus limited. For example, this can be a conveying path through which the paper P passes, as long as it is a conveying route where the paper P is conveyed. 
   Also, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, the conveying route surface of the pullout unit side, facing the conveying route surface of the device main body side, is formed in the lower surface of the pullout unit  50 . Nonetheless, the present invention is not thus limited. This can be configured to be formed on the side surface or the upper surface of the pullout unit  50 . 
   The present invention is not limited to the present exemplary embodiment and various alternatives, changes, and improvements are possible.