JP2018194655A - Conveying device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to improve performance to remove unnecessary paper, while maintaining performance to separate a recording medium.SOLUTION: A conveying device 300 comprises: a fixing device 200 that passes a recording medium through a fixing nip part to fix a toner image; and conveyance guide parts 301 and 302 that are provided downstream of the fixing device 200 in the conveyance direction of the recording medium and guide the conveyance of the recording medium. A second separation member 212 that separates the recording medium from a roller member or a belt member forming the fixing nip part is fixedly provided on the fixing device 200; the second conveyance guide member 302 provided downstream of the second separation member 212 toward one face of the recording medium is separated from the first conveyance guide member 301 and fixing device 200 to open a conveyance path of the recording medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyance device and an image forming apparatus.

  Various image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic system have been devised as image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, facsimiles, and printers, and are well-known techniques. In the image forming process, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum as an image carrier based on image information, and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum can be developed with toner as a developer. By visualizing and developing the developed image onto a recording medium (also called paper) by a transfer device to carry the image, and fixing the unfixed toner image on the recording medium by a fixing device using pressure, heat, or the like It is established.

  In such a fixing device in the image forming apparatus, separation means for urging separation of the recording medium from the belt member and roller member forming the fixing nip portion, and discharge from the downstream side of the fixing nip portion in the recording medium conveyance direction. It is known to have a guide plate (guide member) that also serves as a conveyance guide means for guiding conveyance of the recording medium to the paper portion side. In addition, when a jam or the like occurs in the conveyance path in the downstream process from the fixing process, the guide plate can be rotated so that unnecessary paper can be removed, and the exit side of the fixing apparatus is opened. It is known.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet by an image forming unit while conveying the sheet substantially vertically by a sheet feeding device, and discharges the sheet on which the image is formed to an upper surface portion. An image forming apparatus is disclosed in which a side cover having an outlet guide plate for guiding a sheet discharged from the apparatus to an upper surface portion can be opened, and the outlet guide plate opens a sheet discharge path when the side cover is opened. .

  Also, in Patent Document 2, an opening is formed in the fixing unit housing, and when the cover provided in the image forming apparatus housing is closed, the opening is closed by a guide member attached to the cover. An image forming apparatus is disclosed in which when a cover is opened, an opening is opened by a guide member, and the guide member also serves to guide a recording sheet discharged from the fixing unit in a predetermined direction.

  In the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2, by providing the cover (open / close cover) that can open and close the guide plate, it is possible to improve the removability of unnecessary paper.

  However, the leading end of the separating means that facilitates separation of the recording medium from the belt member or roller member and the belt member or roller member are in contact with each other at least within the range of the sheet passing width of the recording medium, or a predetermined gap is provided. It is necessary to arrange, and high arrangement accuracy is required. For this reason, in the configuration in which the separating means is displaced together with the opening / closing cover, it is difficult to increase the accuracy of the arrangement of the separating means and it is difficult to maintain the separation performance well.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a transport device that can improve the removability of unnecessary paper while maintaining the separation performance of a recording medium.

  In order to achieve such an object, a fixing device according to the present invention is provided on a downstream side of the fixing unit in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image by passing the recording medium through the fixing nip. A separation unit that separates the recording medium from the roller member or the belt member that forms the fixing nip portion, and a conveyance unit that includes a conveyance unit that guides conveyance of the recording medium. In the conveyance unit, a conveyance guide member provided on the downstream side of the separation member on one side of the recording medium is separated from the conveyance guide member provided on the other side and the fixing unit to open the conveyance path of the recording medium. Is.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the removability of unnecessary paper while maintaining the separation performance of the recording medium.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the conveying apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which an opening / closing cover of an image forming apparatus according to a reference example is closed. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which an opening / closing cover of an image forming apparatus according to a reference example is opened. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which an opening / closing cover of an image forming apparatus including the conveyance device according to the present embodiment is closed. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which an opening / closing cover of an image forming apparatus including the conveyance device according to the present embodiment is opened. It is explanatory drawing of the connection part of a 2nd separation member and a 2nd conveyance guide member.

  Hereinafter, a configuration according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiment shown in FIGS.

(Image forming device)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a tandem type color copier that is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The outline and operation of the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is a photosensitive as an image carrier that can form images as images corresponding to colors separated into yellow, cyan, magenta, and black. It has a tandem structure in which body drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk are juxtaposed. In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 has a system in which a sheet feeding unit is disposed at the bottom of the apparatus, an image forming unit is disposed above the image forming unit, a fixing device and a sheet discharging unit are disposed above the image forming unit, and the recording medium is conveyed vertically upward. The conveyance path of the recording medium is short.

  The image forming apparatus 100 has an endless belt in which visible images formed on the respective photoconductive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk can move in the direction of the arrow A1 while facing the photoconductive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk. By performing a primary transfer process on an intermediate transfer body (hereinafter referred to as a transfer belt) 11 in which the image is used, each image is superimposed and transferred, and then a secondary transfer process is performed on the recording medium S. It is designed to be batch transferred.

  Around each photosensitive drum, an apparatus for performing image forming processing is arranged according to the rotation of the photosensitive drum, and the photosensitive drum 20Bk that performs black image formation will be described. The rotation of the photosensitive drum 20Bk is described. A charging device 30Bk, a developing device 40Bk, a primary transfer roller 12Bk, and a cleaning device 50Bk that perform image forming processing are arranged along the direction. The optical writing device 8 is used for writing performed after charging.

  In the superimposing transfer to the transfer belt 11, the visible image formed on each of the photoconductive drums 20 </ b> Y, 20 </ b> C, 20 </ b> M, and 20 </ b> Bk is transferred to the same position on the transfer belt 11 while the transfer belt 11 moves in the A1 direction. As described above, voltage application by the primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk disposed to face the respective photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk with the transfer belt 11 interposed therebetween causes the A1 direction upstream. The timing is shifted toward the downstream side.

  The photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the A1 direction, and the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk respectively display yellow, cyan, magenta, and black images. It is provided in an image station for forming.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is disposed so as to face four image stations that perform image forming processing for each color, and above each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk, and the transfer belt 11 and the primary transfer roller 12Y. , 12C, 12M, and 12Bk, and a secondary transfer roller 5 that is disposed opposite to the transfer belt 11 and is a transfer roller as a transfer member that is driven by the transfer belt 11 and rotates. A cleaning device 13 disposed opposite to the transfer belt 11 to clean the surface of the transfer belt 11, and an optical writing device 8 serving as an optical writing device disposed below the four image stations. have.

  The optical writing device 8 is equipped with a semiconductor laser as a light source, a coupling lens, an fθ lens, a toroidal lens, a folding mirror, a rotating polygonal mirror as a deflecting means, and the like, and each photosensitive drum 20Y, 20C, 20M, Write light Lb corresponding to each color with respect to 20 Bk (in FIG. 1, for convenience, a reference is given only to a black image station, but the same applies to other image stations), and a photoconductor An electrostatic latent image is formed on the drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a sheet feeding device 61 serving as a sheet feeding cassette on which a recording medium S conveyed between the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk and the transfer belt 11 is stacked, and a sheet feeding device. The transfer section between the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20Bk and the transfer belt 11 at a predetermined timing that matches the recording timing of the toner image formed by the image station with the recording medium S conveyed from the feeding device 61. And a sensor for detecting that the leading edge of the recording medium S has reached the registration roller pair 4.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a fixing device 200 for fixing the toner image on the recording medium S to which the toner image is transferred, and a paper discharge roller 7 for discharging the fixed recording medium S to the outside of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. A paper discharge tray 17 that is disposed on the top of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 and is loaded with the recording medium S discharged to the outside of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 by the paper discharge roller 7; And toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, and 9Bk filled with toners of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black.

  In the single-sided printing mode in which an image is formed on one side of the recording medium S, the recording medium S is discharged from the paper discharge roller 7. In the double-sided printing mode in which an image is formed on both sides of the recording medium S, the paper is discharged. The recording medium S is guided from the roller 7 to the reverse path 80 for duplex printing. The reversing path 80 is provided on the opening / closing cover of the casing of the image forming apparatus 100. The opening / closing cover will be described later.

  In addition to the transfer belt 11 and primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk, the transfer belt unit 10 includes an elastic roller 72 and a driven roller 73 around which the transfer belt 11 is wound.

  The driven roller 73 also has a function as a tension urging unit for the transfer belt 11. For this reason, the driven roller 73 is provided with an urging unit using a spring or the like. Such a transfer belt unit 10, the primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk, the secondary transfer roller 5, and the cleaning device 13 constitute a transfer device 71.

  The sheet feeding device 61 is disposed at the lower part of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, and includes a feeding roller 3 as a feeding roller that contacts the upper surface of the uppermost recording medium S. The uppermost recording medium S is fed toward the registration roller pair 4 by being rotationally driven 3 in the counterclockwise direction.

  The cleaning device 13 provided in the transfer device 71 has a cleaning brush and a cleaning blade disposed so as to face and contact the transfer belt 11, and removes foreign matters such as residual toner on the transfer belt 11. The transfer belt 11 is cleaned by scraping and removing with a cleaning brush and a cleaning blade. The cleaning device 13 also has discharge means for carrying out and discarding the residual toner removed from the transfer belt 11.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus has been described as an example of a color printer using a tandem system in which image forming units that form a plurality of color images are juxtaposed along the belt extending direction. Possible image forming apparatuses are not limited to this method. Further, the present invention is not limited to a printer, and can be applied to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and the like.

(Fixing device / transport device)
The conveyance device according to the present embodiment includes a fixing unit (fixing device 200) that fixes a toner image by passing a recording medium (recording medium S) through a fixing nip portion, and a downstream side of the fixing unit in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. In a conveying device (conveying device 300) provided with a conveying unit (conveying guide members 301 and 302) for guiding the conveyance of the recording medium, a roller member or a belt member that forms a fixing nip portion is formed on the fixing unit. A separation member (second separation member 212) for separating the recording medium is fixed, and the conveyance unit is a conveyance guide member (second conveyance guide member 302) provided on the one surface side of the recording medium and downstream of the separation member. However, the recording medium conveyance path is opened apart from the conveyance guide member (first conveyance guide member 301) provided on the other surface side and the fixing unit. In addition, the code | symbol in embodiment and the example of application are shown in a parenthesis.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the transport apparatus according to the present invention. With reference to FIG. 2, the configuration and operation of the transport apparatus will be described. Here, the fixing device 200 (fixing unit) and the conveyance guide members 301 and 302 (conveyance unit) immediately downstream of the fixing device 200 are referred to as a conveyance device 300.

  In the fixing device 200, a pressure roller 203 as a pressure rotator and a fixing belt 201 as a rotatable endless fixing member are disposed to face each other. Inside the fixing belt 201, there are a nip forming member 206 that forms a nip by pressing of the pressure roller 203 through the fixing belt 201, a stay 207 as a support member that supports a load applied to the nip forming member, and an outer side of the nip forming member. A halogen heater 202 as a heat source for heating the fixing belt 201 that can rotate while sliding on it, a reflection member 209 that reflects radiant heat, a flange 208 as a holding member for holding those members, and an end side of the fixing belt 201 are suspended. A belt holding member 210 is disposed.

  The nip forming member 206 slides directly on the inner surface of the belt or indirectly through a sliding sheet. In the example of FIG. 2, the upper portion of the nip forming member 206 slightly protrudes toward the pressure roller 203 and the nip has a concave shape, but may be a flat shape or other shapes. However, when the nip shape is concave, the discharge direction at the front end of the recording medium is closer to the pressure roller 203 and the separation of the recording medium is improved, so that jamming is suppressed.

  The resin portion of the nip forming member 206 is desirably an injection-molded product of heat-resistant resin, and the type of heat-resistant resin is desirably LCP (heat resistant temperature of about 330 ° C.), PEK (heat resistant temperature of about 350 ° C.), or the like.

  The pressure roller 203 has a metal roller 205 and a silicone rubber layer 204 around the metal roller 205, and a release layer (PFA or PTFE layer) is provided on the surface in order to obtain releasability. The pressure roller 203 is rotated by a driving force transmitted from a driving source such as a motor provided in the image forming apparatus 100 via a gear. The pressure roller 203 is pressed against the fixing belt 201 by a spring or the like, and has a predetermined nip width when the rubber layer is crushed and deformed. The pressure roller 203 may be a solid roller or a hollow roller, but a hollow roller may have a smaller heat capacity. The pressure roller 203 may have a heating source such as a halogen heater. The silicone rubber layer 204 may be solid rubber, but if there is no heater inside the pressure roller 203, sponge rubber may be used. Sponge rubber is more preferable because heat insulation is increased and heat of the fixing belt 201 is less likely to be taken away.

  The fixing belt 201 is composed of a metal belt such as nickel or SUS or an endless belt (or film) using a resin material such as polyimide. The surface layer of the fixing belt 201 has a release layer such as a PFA or PTFE layer, and has a release property so that toner does not adhere. There may be an elastic layer made of a silicone rubber layer or the like between the base material of the fixing belt 201 and the PFA or PTFE layer. When there is no silicone rubber layer, the heat capacity is reduced and the fixability is improved, but when the unfixed image is crushed and fixed, the subtle irregularities on the belt surface are transferred to the image and the image has a crusty skin shape. There may be a problem that the trace remains. In order to improve this, it is necessary to provide a silicone rubber layer of 100 μm or more. Due to the deformation of the silicone rubber layer, subtle irregularities are absorbed and the skin image is improved.

  Also, a stay 207 as a support member for supporting the nip is provided inside the fixing belt 201 to prevent the nip forming member 206 that receives pressure from the pressure roller 203 from being bent, and in the axial direction (perpendicular to the paper surface). So that a uniform nip width can be obtained. The stay 207 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, iron or stainless steel in order to ensure rigidity. The stay 207 is held by the flange 208 at both axial ends.

  In addition, a reflection member 209 is provided between the halogen heater 202 and the stay 207, and the reflection member 209 reflects radiant heat from the halogen heater 202, thereby suppressing energy waste due to the stay 207 being heated by radiant heat or the like. doing. Here, the same effect can be obtained even if the surface of the stay 207 is heat-insulated or mirror-finished instead of having the reflecting member 209.

  The fixing belt 201 is directly heated by radiant heat from the inner peripheral side by the halogen heater 202. In the example of FIG. 2, the halogen heater 202 is two heaters having different light distributions in the axial direction, but the number of heaters may be one or three or more. In addition to the halogen heater 202, an IH coil, a resistance heating element, a carbon heater, or the like can be used as a heat source.

  The fixing belt 201 is rotated by an external roller. In the case of FIG. 2, the pressure roller 203 is rotated by a driving source (not shown), and the driving force is transmitted to the fixing belt 201 through the nip, whereby the fixing belt 201 rotates. The fixing belt 201 rotates while being pinched at the fixing nip portion, and the end portion of the fixing belt 201 is guided by the belt holding member 210 and rotates except for the fixing nip portion.

  The pressure roller 203 is supported with its axis fixed. On the other hand, the assembly part (nip forming member 206 and the like) on the heating side can be pressed toward the pressure roller 203 by a pressing mechanism (not shown). That is, when the sheet is passed, the fixing nip is formed by applying pressure to the pressure roller 203 side, and when the sheet is not passed, the pressure roller 203 is released from the compressed state by being depressurized or retracted. Thereby, the permanent compression distortion of the pressure roller 203 can be eliminated. In addition, even when non-sheet passing occurs, the pressure is released to facilitate the removal of the recording medium S.

  With the above-described configuration, it is possible to shorten the first print time from the heating standby time by heating the entire endless fixing belt having a small heat capacity, thereby realizing the fixing device 200 that can be warmed up quickly.

  A first separation member 211 that promotes separation of the recording medium S from the fixing belt 201 is fixed to the main body (side plate, casing, etc.) of the fixing device 200 on the downstream side of the fixing nip portion of the fixing device 200. The first separation member 211 is provided to peel off the sticky recording medium S from the fixing belt 201 by sticking to the fixing belt 201. For example, a metallic material is used so that the recording medium S attached can be positioned at a close position where the recording medium S can be lifted from the surface of the fixing belt 201.

  Further, the second separation member 212 that promotes separation of the recording medium S from the pressure roller 203 is also fixed to the main body of the fixing device 200. In addition, since the pressure roller 203 is also supported with the shaft center fixed as described above, a minute gap between the second separation member 212 and the pressure roller 203 can be accurately maintained.

  Further, the first separation member 211 and the second separation member 212 have a shape in which the surface on the conveyance path side of the recording medium S guides the conveyance of the recording medium S, and also serves as a conveyance guide.

  On the downstream side of the first separation member 211, a first conveyance guide member 301 that constitutes at least a part of a conveyance path from the fixing device 200 to the paper discharge unit (paper discharge roller 7) is disposed. For example, the first conveyance guide member 301 is fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. The first conveyance guide member 301 may be fixed on the fixing device 200 side. Further, the first conveyance guide member 301 may be provided in the fixing device 200 integrally with the first separation member 211.

  A second transport guide member 302 that constitutes at least a part of the transport path from the fixing device 200 to the paper discharge unit is connected to the second separation member 212 immediately downstream of the second separation member 212. . Note that a predetermined gap may be provided between the second separation member 212 and the second transport guide member 302.

  Further, the second conveyance guide member 302 in the conveyance device 300 is not fixed to the main body of the fixing device 200 but is disposed in the opening / closing cover of the image forming apparatus 100, and together with the opening / closing cover along with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover. Displaced and separated from the opposing first conveyance guide member 301 and the fixing device 200.

  Further, in the transport device 300, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the recording medium S is transported from the fixing nip portion substantially upward in the vertical direction toward the transport guide members 301 and 302. In the conveyance path 302, the conveyance direction of the recording medium S is changed to a substantially horizontal direction. Further, a paper discharge roller 7 is provided on the downstream side of the transport guide members 301 and 302 in the transport direction, and the recording medium S is guided to the reverse path 80 for duplex printing by rotating the paper discharge roller 7 in the reverse direction. .

  The separation of the second transport guide member 302 from the fixing device 200 will be described below. First, for comparison with the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, an image forming apparatus 101 (reference example) in which a conveyance guide member 92 having a function of a separating unit is provided on an open / close cover 91 (shown by a dotted line in the drawing). 3) is an explanatory view of the state in which the open / close cover 91 is closed, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the state in which the open / close cover 91 is opened.

  In the image forming apparatus 101, the fixing device 200 includes a conveyance guide member 92 that guides conveyance from the exit of the fixing device 200 to the paper discharge unit and has a function as a separating unit. This is because the separation means for separating the recording medium S is required to be arranged with high accuracy with respect to the roller member, and therefore it is easier to obtain the accuracy when it is arranged in the fixing device 200.

  However, in the image forming apparatus 101, when a paper failure occurs due to some abnormality from the exit of the fixing device 200 to the paper discharge unit, a hand is put on the upper side of the fixing device 200 to remove the paper failure. Space is required.

  For this reason, the conveyance guide member 92 is provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation center 92a, the opening / closing cover 91 is opened, and the conveyance guide member 92 is rotated as shown in FIG. It is conceivable to secure a space for removal.

  However, when the conveyance guide member 92 is provided in the fixing device 200, as shown in FIG. 4, a sufficient space for removing unnecessary paper cannot be secured, and workability at the time of removal is good. is not. For this reason, when the removal cannot be performed, the fixing device 200 itself needs to be pulled out.

  That is, when the conveyance guide member 92 that also serves as a separating unit is provided in the fixing device 200 as in the image forming apparatus 101, it is difficult to secure a space for removing the non-passing paper, and there is a problem in the removal of unnecessary paper. It can be said that there is. Further, if a sufficient space for removing the non-passing paper is to be secured, the apparatus will be increased in size.

  In addition, as in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, when the separating means is displaced together with the opening / closing cover, it is difficult to increase the accuracy of arrangement of the separating means, and it is difficult to maintain good separation performance.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 100 including the conveying device 300 according to the present embodiment, the separation member (second separation member 212) on one side of the fixing nip portion is fixed to the fixing device 200, and immediately downstream of the separation member. The conveyance guide member (second conveyance guide member 302) to the paper discharge unit provided on the image forming apparatus 100 is provided on the opening / closing cover 90 side of the image forming apparatus 100.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 including the transport apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 5 shows an explanatory diagram in a state where the open / close cover 90 is closed, and FIG. 6 shows an explanatory diagram in a state where the open / close cover 90 is opened.

  Thus, in a state where the opening / closing cover 90 is opened (FIG. 6), one side of the conveyance path from the fixing device 200 to the paper discharge unit is opened, so that the gap between the exit of the fixing nip unit and the paper discharge unit is reached. Thus, it is possible to secure a space for removing the recording medium when a jam occurs in the paper and to ensure the removability when the paper does not pass. Further, since the separation member is fixed to the fixing device 200, the separation performance of the recording medium S can be ensured.

  FIG. 7 is a side view of the pressure roller 203, the second separation member 212, and the second conveyance guide member 302 as seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. With reference to FIG. 7, the connection part of the 2nd separation member 212 and the 2nd conveyance guide member 302 is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the second separation member 212 and the second conveyance guide member 302 are respectively provided with convex portions 212a and 302a on the conveyance surface side of the recording medium S, and the convex portions 212a and 302a are combed with each other. By adopting a tooth shape, the conveying path on one side is formed by two members.

  In the example of FIG. 7, the convex portions 212a and 302a are illustrated as being formed in parallel with the transport direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the convex portions 212a and 302a may be provided with a predetermined inclination. Providing it with an inclination makes it possible to suppress image streaks.

  In addition, in the configuration including a branching claw that branches the conveyance path at the time of double-sided image formation at the upper part of the fixing device (for example, the configuration shown in FIG. Is disadvantageous. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the recording medium S is discharged by the discharge roller 7 provided on the upper side of the discharge tray 17 during duplex printing. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 is advantageous in size reduction in the height direction.

  The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

3 Feed roller 4 Registration roller pair 5 Secondary transfer roller 7 Paper discharge roller 8 Optical writing device 9 Toner bottle 10 Transfer belt unit 11 Transfer belt 12 Primary transfer roller 13 Cleaning device 17 Paper discharge tray 20 Photosensitive drum 30 Charging Device 40 Developing device 50 Cleaning device 61 Sheet feeding device 71 Transfer device 72 Elastic roller 73 Followed roller 80 Reverse path 90, 91 Opening / closing cover 92 Conveying guide member 100, 101 Image forming device 200 Fixing device 201 Fixing belt 202 Halogen heater 203 Addition Pressure roller 204 Silicone rubber layer 205 Metal roller 206 Nip forming member 207 Stay 208 Flange 209 Reflecting member 210 Belt holding member 211 First separating member 212 Second separating member 300 Conveying device 301 First conveying guide member 302 Second conveying gas De member S recording medium

Japanese Patent No. 3877367 JP 2004-264518 A

Claims (6)

A fixing unit for fixing the toner image by passing a recording medium through the fixing nip; and
A transport device provided downstream of the fixing unit in the transport direction of the recording medium and guiding the transport of the recording medium,
A separation member for separating the recording medium from the roller member or belt member forming the fixing nip portion is fixed to the fixing portion, and
In the conveyance unit, a conveyance guide member provided on the downstream side of the separation member on one side of the recording medium is separated from the conveyance guide member provided on the other side and the fixing unit to open the conveyance path of the recording medium. A conveying apparatus characterized by that. The recording medium is conveyed substantially vertically upward from the fixing nip portion toward the conveyance unit,
The transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit sets a transport direction of the recording medium in a substantially horizontal direction during the transport. A paper discharge unit on the downstream side of the transport unit;
The transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording medium is reversed toward a transport path for double-sided printing in the vicinity of the paper discharge unit.   Each of the conveyance guide member provided on one surface side of the conveyance unit and the separation member provided on the upstream side of the conveyance guide member are provided with convex portions, and the convex portions are connected in a comb shape. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   An image forming apparatus comprising the transport device according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a conveyance guide member provided on one surface side of the conveyance unit is fixed to an opening / closing cover of the image forming apparatus.