Image forming apparatus

Details Image forming apparatus Image forming apparatus

2002-02-19

2004-05-25

Tran, Hoan (Department: 2852)

Electrophotography

Having particular structure

Modular or displaceable

C399S125000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06741820

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a flat bed type image scanner is disposed above a printer.
2. Description of Related Art
An image forming apparatus has long been well known, in which a flat bed type image scanner is disposed above a laser printer of electrophotography.
As shown in
FIG. 14
, in the image forming apparatus, a scanner unit
91
is disposed directly under an image scanner
90
, and a cartridge
92
is installed under the scanner unit
91
. The scanner unit
91
emits a laser beam to a photosensitive drum
93
mounted in the cartridge
92
. A conveying mechanism
94
that conveys a recording medium (for example, a sheet of paper) is installed under the cartridge
92
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, if a cartridge
92
needs replacing, then a cover
95
provided at a side of the image forming apparatus is opened, and the cartridge
92
is pulled out through a narrow space provided between the scanner unit
91
and the conveying mechanism
94
. Replacement of the cartridge
91
is difficult at the narrow space, thereby deteriorating the workability.
The space between the scanner unit
91
and the conveying mechanism
94
can be widened enough by raising the position of the scanner
91
. However, in this case, the scanner unit
91
is located at a further high position, and the image forming apparatus becomes tall by the amount the scanner unit
91
is elevated, thereby the image forming apparatus increases in size.
If a portion where the scanner unit
91
is disposed is structured so as to move up and down, the scanner unit
91
can be moved upward so as to widen the space provided between the scanner unit
91
and the conveying mechanism
94
only for replacement of the cartridge
92
. However, with the movable structure, some mechanical play persists in a movable area. A positioning accuracy of the scanner unit
91
decreases due to the play in the movable area, a formation accuracy of an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum
93
also decreases, and a quality of the image to be produced finally tends to be degraded.
The invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a flat bed type image scanner is disposed on a printer so as to make it easy to replace a cartridge without increasing the size of the apparatus.
According to one aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus includes a flat bed type image reading device, an upper body that includes the image reading device, an image forming device, a lower body that accommodates the image forming device and is disposed under the upper body, and a hinge member that connects the upper body and the lower body. The flat bed type image reading device reads an image from an original document, as image data. To form the image on a recording medium, the image forming device includes a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium; a light emitting unit that emits a light according to the image data read by the image reading device or data externally input; a photosensitive member where an electrostatic latent image is formed by the light of the light emitting unit; a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member as a visible image; a transfer unit that transfers the visible image developed by the developing unit onto the recording medium; a fixing unit that fixes the visible image transferred onto the recording medium by the transfer unit; and a detachable cartridge that accommodates at least the photosensitive member. The upper body is pivoted about the hinge member between an open position where the upper body is opened with respect to the lower body and a close position where the upper body is closed with respect to the lower body. The light emitting unit is fixed to the lower body. The cartridge is disposed above the light emitting unit. The transfer unit is disposed above the photosensitive member accommodated in the cartridge. The cartridge is detachable from the lower body via a space provided between the upper body and the lower body by pivoting the upper body toward the open position.


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Brother—Overview, MFC-9100c, 6 in 1 Color Flatbed FC, Explain the possibilities . . . http//www.brother.com/usa/fax/info/mfc9100c/mfc9100c_ove.html.

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