Power unit and image forming apparatus provided with same mounted thereto

ABSTRACT

An electric power unit for an option apparatus selectively mountable to an image forming apparatus, wherein the power unit is mounted to the image forming apparatus with mounting of the option apparatus, includes an electric power generating portion for generating electric power; and a connector for connection with the option apparatus to supply electric power from the electric power generating portion to the option apparatus.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 3, the description will first be made as to a general arrangement of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

An original is placed on an original glass , and a copy key is depressed, in response to which the original exposure device moves in the direction indicated by arrow A while illuminating the original to scan the whole surface of the original. The light reflected by the original in the original exposure device , is folded by second and third mirror v and is image on a CCD204 by a lens. The original read by the CCD204 is converted to an electric signal in the image processor, and is supplied to a laser scanner . Then, image light corresponding to the image information from the laser scanner is scanned by an image writing optical system and is image on the photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device .

On the other hand, recording sheets are accommodated in a sheet feeding cassette disposed at a lower portion of the image forming apparatus. When the sheet feeding cassette is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, an unshown lifter motor is operated to raise the sheet in the sheet feeding cassette to enable sheet supply. The recording paper starts to move by rotation of the sheet feeding roller and is fed out in seriatim by the function of a pair of separation rollers and , and is fed to a pair of registration rollers , through a pair of downstream feeding rollers , .

The recording paper adjusted by the registration rollers , relative to the image on the photosensitive member, is fed to the transfer portion where the image provided by development of the developing device is transferred onto the recording paper by the transfer roller from the photosensitive drum . The recording paper now having the transferred image is separated from the photosensitive drum by a separation charger.

It is fed through a feeding portion to a fixing device where the image on the recording paper is fixed, and then, the recording paper is discharged to outside the apparatus by sheet discharging rollers , thus completing the copy operation.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the description will be made as to the structure of the option voltage source. FIG. 1 shows the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to which the option apparatus is mounted, and (A) is a front view, and (B) is a rear view. The main assembly B of the copying image forming apparatus is constituted by image reading apparatus (reader apparatus) B for reading an image and an image forming apparatus (printer) B for forming an image in accordance with an image signal supplied from the reader apparatus or a computer or the like. Recently, the image forming apparatus is digitalized increasingly, and therefore, it becomes not necessary that original reading station and the image formation station are integral. The reader apparatus and the printer are made separate from each other, and are combined with high latitude of arrangements to permit a handicaped person to freely arrange them and to accomplish larger assortment of items to meet individual needs.

Designated by B is an original feeder apparatus which is one of the option apparatuses and which functions to feed the original to the image reading station; B is a cassette pedestal apparatus which is one of the option apparatuses and which functions to feed the sheet to the image forming apparatus, the cassette pedestal apparatus having a sheet feeding cassette and a sheet feeding device; B is one of the option apparatuses for feeding the sheet to the image forming apparatus. The cassette pedestal apparatus and the paper deck apparatus are recording material supplying device for supplying the recording material. Designated by B is a finishing apparatus which is one of the option apparatuses and which functions to align, staple and/or sort the sheets discharged from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; B is a first voltage source cable for supplying electric power to the feeder apparatus A from the main assembly of the apparatus; B is a first connector for connecting the first voltage source cable B to the main assembly of the apparatus; B is a second voltage source cable for supplying the electric power to the cassette pedestal apparatus B from the main assembly B of the apparatus; B is a second connector for connecting the second voltage source cable B to the main assembly of the apparatus; B is a third voltage source cable for supplying the electric power to t paper deck apparatus B from the main assembly B of the apparatus; B is a third connector for connecting the third voltage source cable B to the main assembly of the apparatus; B is a fourth voltage source cable for supplying the electric power to the finishing apparatus B from the main assembly B of the apparatus; B is a fourth connector for connecting the fourth voltage source cable B to the main assembly of the apparatus; and B, B are outer casings of the main assembly of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the main assembly B of the apparatus with the outer casings B, B omitted, and (A) shows the state in which the option voltage source is not loaded, and (B) shows the state in which the option voltage source B (hatched portion) is loaded. Designated by B is a control board for controlling the main assembly B of the apparatus; B is a main voltage source for supplying 24V in the main assembly B of the apparatus; B is a low and high voltage source for supplying a voltage not more than 23V such as 3, 5, 13V and a high voltage higher than 100V in the main assembly of the apparatus; B is a DC voltage source for supplying a starting and stopping signals to the respective driving sources in the main assembly of the apparatus described with respect to the conventional example. First, a connection type of the feeder B will be described. Feeder apparatus B functions to feed the originals to the image reading means provided in t reader apparatus B. The feeder apparatus B is provided in the reader apparatus B, even when the reader apparatus and the printer are separate. In consideration of the possibility that reader apparatus is frequently disposed on the printer and that reader apparatus is disposed away from the printer for convenience of the disabilities, it is desirable that electric power is supplied thereto separately from the supply of the electric power to the finishing apparatus or t paper deck normally disposed juxtaposed with the printer, since then, it is not necessary to consider the length of the cable and the position of the option power unit is flexible. By making the option apparatus interrelated with the printer B and the voltage source for the feeder apparatus B separation from each other, the necessity for the provision of the voltage source for the unnecessary paper deck or the finishing apparatus can be avoided.

In this embodiment, the feeder apparatus B is supported on the top of the reader apparatus B, and is supplied with a control signal and electric power for operating the feeder apparatus B from the reader controller B in th reader apparatus B through the first connector B and the first cable B. Therefore, the length of t first cable B is short so that radiation noise can be reduced. In the example, the reader apparatus B is not disposed away from the printer B, but is disposed at the top of the printer B (the utilization rate of the feeder B is as high as 50%), and therefore, the electric power for the feeder apparatus B is supplied from the main assembly B. But, it is a possible alternative to supply the electric power to the feeder apparatus B through the reader apparatus B as indicated by broken lines in (B) of FIG. .

When the voltage supply to the feeder apparatus B is desired to be optional, the second option voltage source B detachably mountable into the reader apparatus B may be connected. In such a case, the first connector B may be provided in the second option voltage source, and then, the first connector is optional depending on the necessary property of the feeder apparatus B, as is advantageous from the product cost.

The reader apparatus can be said as being one of the option apparatuses provided in the printer. The utilization ratio of the reader apparatus is also high. When it is disposed at the top of the printer, it may be supplied with the electric power from the main assembly of the printer. When it is separated from the printer, or the utilization ratio is low, the electric power is preferably supplied separately from the printer or option voltage source. As regards the paper deck apparatus B and the finishing apparatus B, the utilization ratio is as low as not more than 30% in the case of the image forming apparatus having a copy speed of not more than 50 per minute, and therefore, the option voltage source B is used as a voltage source for driving them (24V, 5V or the like). The paper deck apparatus and the finishing apparatus is disposed directly adjacent to the printer and is connected to a lower part of the printer at the rear side thereof, in many cases. Since, however, the voltage source is different from that for the feeder apparatus B, the option voltage source B can be disposed at a position lower than half height of the printer. Normally, the paper deck apparatus and the finishing apparatus are disposed at the opposite sides interposing the printer therebetween, and therefore, the option voltage source is preferably disposed neighborhood the central portion of a lower part of the printer. By doing so, the lengths of the third and fourth cable become short, and therefore, the radiation noise at the time of communication through the cable can be reduced, and the cable sandwiching at the time of JAM clearance can be attended. In addition, the option voltage source B can be provided with the third and fourth connectors, and therefore, the option power unit and the connector or provisions may be used in accordance with the users needs. This accomplishes cost reduction of the main assembly of the apparatus, and the connector is mounted to or demounted from the printer integrally y with the option voltage source. This improves the operativity.

The cassette pedestal apparatus B will be described. In this embodiment, the consideration is paid to the fact that utilization ratio of the cassette pedestal apparatus B is as high as not less than 50% in the market. The second connector B for connecting the cassette pedestal apparatus B to the main assembly B of the apparatus is provided in the main assembly B of the apparatus from the beginning, and the second connector B is fixed to the main voltage source B. In order to start the cassette pedestal apparatus B, the electric power is supplied from the main voltage source B and the low and high voltage source B, and the control signal is supplied from the DC voltage source B. By doing so, the necessity for providing the unnecessary voltage source for the option apparatus can be avoided, even if the cassette pedestal apparatus is used. It is often that cassette pedestal apparatus is disposed below the printer . If the probability of use of the paper deck apparatus B and the finishing apparatus is relatively high, the option power unit for supplying the electric power to the paper deck apparatus B and the finishing apparatus is provided with the connector for the cassette pedestal apparatus to permit supply of the electric power from the option power unit to the cassette pedestal apparatus. By doing so, the length of the cable is not made long, and therefore, the cost can be reduced, and the necessity for manipulation of mounting the connector can be omitted, with the result of improvement of the operativity.

As described in the foregoing, the voltage supply for the feeder apparatus B is effected separately from that for the paper deck apparatus, finishing apparatus or the cassette pedestal, and the option power unit for voltage supply for the paper deck apparatus A and the finishing apparatus B is detachably mountable to the printer B together with the integral connectors therefor. By this, a voltage source system is advantageous in the operativity and cost to meet the needs of the option apparatuses.

In addition, the separation structure between the reader apparatus B and the printer B is simple, and the reader apparatus B can be freely disposed. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the reader apparatus B and the feeder apparatus B are disposed at lower positions to permit easy manipulation by a user on a wheel chair. The reader apparatus B and the printer B are supplied with the electric power, separately from each other, and the feeder apparatus B is supplied with the electric power from the reader apparatus B. Between the reader apparatus B and the printer B, only a communication cable B is connected.

In addition, the length of the cable between the option apparatus and the main assembly of the apparatus is made short, so that low noise and low cost are accomplished.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the option voltage source B will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the option voltage source B (A) and a front view thereof (B). In FIG. 4, designated by B is a voltage source substrate for the electric power supply to the option apparatus, B is a first case metal plate for fixing the voltage source substrate B, B is a connector supporting plate which is fixed on the case metal plate B by screws B and on which the third connector B and the fourth connector B are fixed by screws B.

Designated by B is a fifth connector for supply of a remote signal from the control board B shown inn FIG. and for supply of a signal of a connector from the DC voltage source B. Designated by B is a sixth voltage source cable for supply of a signal for generating 24V and 5V in the voltage source substrate B from the main voltage source B shown in FIG. . FIG. 5 shows an example in which the option voltage source B is loaded in the main assembly. The option voltage source B is fixed on the second case metal plate B of the main voltage source B by screws B.

The control board B and the fifth voltage source voltage source cable B from the DC voltage source B are connected to the fifth connector B, and the sixth voltage source cable B is connected to the main voltage source B through the second case metal plate B by the sixth connector B. The main voltage source B is fixed to the main assembly B of the apparatus by screws B as shown inn FIG. .

Referring to FIGS. 6, , steps of mounting the option voltage source in the market will be described. As shown in FIG. 6 by (), the option voltage source B and screws B for fixing it are prepared.

As shown in FIG. 7 by (), the outer casing B at the rear side of the main assembly is removed. After the outer casing B is removed, the option voltage source B is fixed to the main voltage source B by screws B, as shown in FIG. 7 by (). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5 by (), the sixth voltage source cable B is connected to the main voltage source B by the sixth connector B.

As shown in FIG. 7 by (), a cable clamp B is removed, and the voltage source cable B is taken out. As shown in FIG. 7 by (), tv FIG. 7 vis connected to the fifth connector B.

After the fifth connector B is connected, a blind cover B in the outer casing B which has been removed is dismounted from the outer casing B by unthreading two screws, as shown in FIG. 7 by ().

The blind cover B functions to blind the opening B for the third connector B and the fourth connector B provided in the option voltage source in the case that option voltage source is not used. As shown in FIG. 7 by (), the outer casing B is fixed to the main assembly B of the apparatus.

In this manner, the option voltage source is mounted into the main assembly of the apparatus in the market. In the manufacturing step, it is not necessary to remove the blind cover B shown in FIG. 7 by ().

A second embodiment will be described. Depending on the utilization ratios of the reader apparatus and the original feeder apparatus, the electric power therefor may be supplied from the option voltage source as shown in FIG. . If the utilization ratio of the option apparatus connected to the option voltage source is the same, the advantage of unnecessity of the mounting and demounting operation of the connector is more significant than the disadvantage of cost increase in the option power unit due to the provision of the connectors for the reader apparatus and the original feeder apparatus. In such a case, if variations are given to the reader apparatus and the original feeder apparatus which require longer cables, the option power unit has to have performance enough to meet the variations. Therefore, it is desirable that reader apparatus and the original feeder apparatus are supplied with the electric power separately from the voltage source for the paper deck apparatus, finishing apparatus and the pedestal apparatus.

As described in the foregoing, according to the present invention, voltage supply structure for the option apparatus to be connected with the copying image forming apparatus is such that voltage supply for the feeder apparatus B is from the reader apparatus B, and the option power unit integral with the connector is mountable to the printer B for the voltage supply to paper deck apparatus A and the finishing apparatus B. Therefore, the power unit and the connector can be provided in accordance with the necessity of the option apparatus, thus accomplishing the improvement in the operativity for mounting the power unit, the cost reduction and the improvement in the operativity of the image forming apparatus. In the case that reader apparatus and the original feeder apparatus are supplied with the electric power from a voltage source different from the option power unit for supplying the electric power to the paper deck apparatus, pedestal apparatus and the finishing apparatus, the latitude in the disposition of the option power unit is increased. By disposing it at a proper position, the cable between the main assembly of the apparatus and the option apparatus is short, and therefore, the cost of the cable and the noise produced by the cable can be reduced.

The dimensions, materials, configurations, relative disposition among them or the like of the constituent elements in the foregoing description, are not limiting in the present invention, except that description to that effect is particularly made.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purpose of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus loaded with an option apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (A), and a rear view thereof (B).

FIG. 2 is a rear view in which the option voltage source is not loaded (A), and the option voltage source is mounted to the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating separation and connection between the reader apparatus and the printer.

FIG. 4 shows the option voltage source of FIG. 2, and is a perspective view (A) and a front view in which a cover is mounted (B).

FIG. 5 is a front view in which the option voltage source of FIG. 2 is mounted to a main voltage source.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of mounting steps ()-() of the option voltage source shown in FIG. .

FIG. 7 is an illustration of mounting steps ()-() of the option voltage source shown in FIG. .

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a rear view illustrating mounting of the option apparatus to the main assembly of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a structure of an option voltage source in a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

CLAIMS

1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming station, provided in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, for forming an image on a recording material; an option device mounting portion to which a plurality of kinds of option devices are detachably mountable; an option voltage source mounting portion to which an option voltage source corresponding to an option device mounted to said option device mounting portion is detachably mountable; and a main voltage source portion for supplying a voltage to a voltage receiving portion which is selectable in accordance with the plurality of kinds of option devices.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein to one of said plurality of option devices, another option device is mountable, and in said one of said plurality of option devices, a second option voltage source portion for supplying electric power to said another option device is provided.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltage receiving portion is provided in such one of plural option devices simultaneously mounted to said option device mounting portion as is not supplied with the voltage from said option voltage source portion.

4. Am image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each option device includes a cable for supplying a voltage, and each corresponding option voltage source has a connector portion to which the cable is electrically connectable.

5. Am image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of kinds of option devices includes a reading device for reading information from an original, and a document feeder for feeding an original to said reading apparatus.

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