JPS59121038A - Composite function device for copying and printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a titled device small-sized and lightweight and also to execute easily its maintenance by converting a main part for executing a formation of a latent image and a development of a copying device, to a cartridge, and using a focusing optical fiber element array. CONSTITUTION:In case a titled device is used as a copying device, a switching mirror 8 is displaced in the direction as indicated with a right arrow, scanning is executed by illuminating an original platen 1 on which an original is placed, by an illuminating lamp 2, and moving it horizontally, and the reflected light is made to form an image on the surface of a photosensitive drum 5 which is being rotated, through a focusing optical fiber element array 3. Subsequently, a development by a developing device in a cartridge unit 4, and a transfer to a transfer paper 6, and a fixation are executed. Also, when this device is used as a printing device in accordance with an information signal from the outside, the mirror 8 is displaced in the direction as indicated with a left arrow and placed at a position for shutting off a copying optical path, a light passing through a condensing system 7'' from a light source 7''' is intermittent by each optical shutter of an optical shutter array 7', converted to an optical dot signal, made to form an image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 which is being rotated, through the mirror 8 and the array 3, and a corresponding dot latent image is formed. In this way, a main part for executing a latent image formation and a development is converted to a cartridge, and also the array 3 is used, by which the titled device can be made small-sized and lightweight.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 本発明は通常の電子写真複写機能と外部情報信号によっ
て動作するプリンター機能とを併せ備えた複合機能装置
に関するものである。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multifunction device that has both a normal electrophotographic copying function and a printer function operated by an external information signal.

（１） 情報化社会の発展につれて、複写と外部情報信号による
プリンティングとは益々需要が多くなるが、複写機とプ
リンターの両方を別個に用意することは経済的にも保守
の上からも負担が大きい。(1) As the information society develops, the demand for copying and printing using external information signals increases, but providing both a copying machine and a printer separately is burdensome both economically and in terms of maintenance. big.

特に個人の場合には尚更そうである。This is especially true in the case of individuals.

そこで、電子写真複写装置の機能と外部信号に応動する
プリンターの機能の双方を備えた複写機能装置が考えら
れた。この種の複合機能装置としては米国特許４２４１
９９０号明細書、特開昭５５−４５００３、特開昭５７
−８５６１、特開昭５６−１１４９５９号各公報等に技
術的に開示されたものがある。Therefore, a copying function device was devised that has both the functions of an electrophotographic copying device and the functions of a printer that responds to external signals. U.S. Patent No. 4241 is a multifunctional device of this type.
Specification No. 990, JP-A-55-45003, JP-A-57
-8561, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-114959, etc., there are some technical disclosures.

米国特許４２４１９９０に示されたものは、通常の電子
写真複写装置の結像レンズ之反射型に構成して、その反
射面を電子写真複写装置とレーザープリント装置との両
方に兼用するものであるが、特にレーザープリント装置
は構成が複雑で高価格になシ、小型低価格の例えば個人
用途の複合機としては技術的に成立たない。The device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,990 is configured as a reflective type imaging lens of a normal electrophotographic copying device, and its reflective surface is used for both the electrophotographic copying device and the laser printing device. In particular, laser printing devices have complicated structures and are expensive, and are not technically viable as small, low-priced multifunction devices for personal use, for example.

特開昭５５−４５００３に示されたものも、本ｒ　９　
） 質的構成は上記の米国特許と同じであって、やはシ小型
低価格化に向かない。The one shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-45003 is also
) The qualitative structure is the same as the above US patent, and it is no longer suitable for miniaturization and low cost.

特開昭５７−８５６１には、ある程度の小型を狙った装
置構成と思われるものが示されている。Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-8561 discloses a device configuration that seems to be aimed at a certain degree of compactness.

即ち通常の電子写真複写装置と全く別々に小型のプリン
ト装置として半導体発光素子アレイが構成されている。That is, the semiconductor light emitting element array is configured as a small printing device completely separate from a normal electrophotographic copying device.

しかし、空間的配置が構成要素から必然的に決められる
ため、超小型で現像器、感光体ドラム等がキットになっ
た複合装置として構成しようとすれば、光学的共通要素
を考慮しなければ目的達成は出来ない。この面からみて
特開昭５７−８５６１のものは、その点の考慮がないた
め小型化には限界がある。However, since the spatial arrangement is inevitably determined by the constituent elements, if you try to construct an ultra-compact composite device that includes a developing unit, photoreceptor drum, etc. as a kit, you will have to consider common optical elements. It cannot be achieved. From this point of view, the method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 57-8561 does not take this point into account, so there is a limit to miniaturization.

また特開昭５６−１１４９５９に示されたものは複写用
結像レンズとして集束性光学繊維素子アレイを用いた小
型複写装置の構成を備えると共に、更にプリント装置と
してポリゴンスキャンを用いる構成を備えている。この
ためプリント装置の小型化、低コスト化が技術的に困難
である。Furthermore, the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-114959 has a configuration of a compact copying device using a converging optical fiber element array as an imaging lens for copying, and further includes a configuration using a polygon scan as a printing device. . Therefore, it is technically difficult to reduce the size and cost of printing devices.

上述の公知例に見られる様に従来のこの種の複合化装置
は、複写装置に全く別個にプリント装置を附加したもの
と、複写装置の一部分をプリント装置に兼用したものと
に分類することができる力ζこれらはいずれも、上述の
様に小型化低コスト化には技術的に適していない。As seen in the above-mentioned known examples, conventional multifunction devices of this type can be classified into those in which a printing device is added completely separately to a copying device, and those in which a part of the copying device is also used as a printing device. None of these are technically suitable for miniaturization and cost reduction as described above.

本発明は従来例における上述の問題を解決し、技術的に
小型化低コスト化の可能なこの種の複合機能装置を提供
することを目的とする。It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional example and to provide a multi-function device of this type that can be technically reduced in size and cost.

本発明の複合機能装置の特徴は、感光体ドラム、コロナ
放電器、現像器及び感光体クリーナーを含む潜像形成及
び現像手段を内蔵したカートリッジと、該感光体ドラム
に投光する集束性光学繊維アレイと、原稿からの光及び
外部情報信号にょ多動作するアレイ配置された光シャッ
タ又は発光ダイオード素子等の固体スキャナーにょシ生
じたプリント用のドツト信号光のいずれかを選択的に該
集束性光学繊維束に導く光学的光路切換手段とを備えて
いる点である。The multifunctional device of the present invention is characterized by a cartridge containing a latent image forming and developing means including a photoreceptor drum, a corona discharger, a developer, and a photoreceptor cleaner, and a focusing optical fiber that projects light onto the photoreceptor drum. The focusing optical system selectively selects either the dot signal light for printing generated by the array and the solid-state scanner, such as an optical shutter or a light emitting diode element, arranged in an array that operates on the light from the document and the external information signal. The fiber bundle is provided with an optical light path switching means for guiding the light to the fiber bundle.

次に本発明の実施例を図面によって説明する。Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

図面において、１は原稿台、２は原稿照明ランプ、３は
集束性光学繊維素子アレイ、４は感光体ドラム５並びに
コロナ放電器５′、現像器５”及びクリーット４は装置
本体に固定されたガイドレール４′ニ沿って装置本体に
対して着脱可能である。６はローラで送られる転写紙で
ある。７はプリント機能装置であって、光シヤツターア
レイ７′、集光系７“、光源７″′からなる。８は切換
えミラーである。光シヤツターアレイ７′としては、例
えば、電気信号の印加によシ透明・不透明に切換わる液
晶利用の光シヤツター素子をアレイ状配置したものを用
いることができる。原稿台１、光シヤツタ−アレイ７１
集束性光学繊維アレイ３、感光体ドラム５の配置関係は
、原稿台１上に置かれた原稿からの反射光、及び光シヤ
ツターアレイ７′を出た光が、（後者の光の場合は切換
ミラー８で反射されて）集束性光学繊維アレイ３を通る
ことによシ感光体ドラム５の表面に結像するようになっ
ている。つまシ原稿台１及び光シヤツターアレイ７′と
感光体ドラム表（５） 面との位置関係は光学的に共役な関係にある。In the drawing, 1 is a document table, 2 is a document illumination lamp, 3 is a focusing optical fiber element array, 4 is a photosensitive drum 5, a corona discharger 5', a developer 5'', and a cleat 4 are fixed to the main body of the apparatus. It can be attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus along the guide rail 4'. Reference numeral 6 is a transfer paper sent by a roller. Reference numeral 7 is a printing function device, which includes an optical shutter array 7', a condensing system 7'', It consists of a light source 7''. 8 is a switching mirror. The optical shutter array 7' is, for example, an array of optical shutter elements using liquid crystals that can be switched between transparent and opaque by applying an electric signal. Document table 1, optical shutter array 71
The arrangement relationship between the focusing optical fiber array 3 and the photosensitive drum 5 is such that the reflected light from the document placed on the document table 1 and the light exiting the optical shutter array 7' (in the case of the latter light, The light is reflected by the switching mirror 8), passes through the focusing optical fiber array 3, and forms an image on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 5. The positional relationship between the paper platen 1, the optical shutter array 7', and the photosensitive drum surface (5) is optically conjugate.

通常の電子写真複写装置として機能させる場合には、切
換えミラー８を複写光路の外へ右矢印方向に変位してお
き、原稿を載せた原稿台１を照明ランプ２で照明しつつ
水平に移動して走査を行ない、その反射光を集束性光学
繊維素子アレイ３を通して回転中の感光体ドラム５０表
面に結像させる。When functioning as a normal electrophotographic copying device, the switching mirror 8 is moved out of the copying optical path in the direction of the right arrow, and the document table 1 on which the document is placed is moved horizontally while being illuminated by the illumination lamp 2. The reflected light passes through the focusing optical fiber element array 3 and forms an image on the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 50.

これによシ該表面に潜像が形成される。次いで公知のプ
ロセスに従いカートリッジユニット４内の現像器での現
像、転写紙６への転写及び定着が行なわれる。This forms a latent image on the surface. Next, development using a developing device in the cartridge unit 4, transfer to the transfer paper 6, and fixing are performed according to a known process.

また外部からの情報信号に応じてプリントするプリント
装置として機能させる場合には、切換ミラー８を左矢印
方向に変位させて複写光路を遮る位置に置き、光源７′
′′から集光系７“を通った光を外部情報信号により動
作する光シヤツタアレイ７′の夫々の光シャッタで断続
して光ドツト信号に変換し、この光ドツト信号を切換ミ
ラー８及び集束性光学繊維アレイ３を経て回転中の感光
体ドラム５の表面に結像させて対応するドツト潜像を形
成す（６） る。その後のプロセスは前記複写の場合と同じである。In addition, when functioning as a printing device that prints in response to information signals from the outside, the switching mirror 8 is moved in the direction of the left arrow to place it in a position where it blocks the copying optical path, and the light source 7'
The light that has passed through the condensing system 7'' from '' is intermittently converted into an optical dot signal by each optical shutter of the optical shutter array 7'' operated by an external information signal, and this optical dot signal is sent to the switching mirror 8 and the focusing system. The image is formed on the surface of the rotating photoreceptor drum 5 via the optical fiber array 3 to form a corresponding dot latent image (6).The subsequent process is the same as in the case of copying.

光シヤツターアレイ７′の代シに発光ダイオード（ＬＥ
Ｄ　）素子アレイと用いても上記と全く同じプリント機
能を奏することができる。但し、この場合には集光系７
“及び光源７″からなる照明系の部分は不要となる。A light emitting diode (LE) is installed in place of the optical shutter array 7'.
D) Exactly the same printing function as above can be achieved even when used with an element array. However, in this case, the condensing system 7
The part of the illumination system consisting of "and light source 7" becomes unnecessary.

また、切換ミラー８の変位は並行移動でも回動でもよい
。Moreover, the displacement of the switching mirror 8 may be parallel movement or rotation.

以上の説明から明らかなように、本発明の複合機能装置
では、複写装置の潜像形成及び現像を行なうメイン部分
がカートリッジ化されていること、及び集束性光学繊維
素子アレイを用いたことによシ、小型軽量化且つメンテ
ナンスが容易であると共に、プリント機能を行なう構成
部分に光シヤツターアレイ又はＬＥＤアレイ等の固体ス
キャナーが用いられているので上記複写装置の機能及び
長所を損うことがないのであって、プリント機能部分に
固体スキャナーを利用することは所要スペース、コスト
、メンテナンス等の観点から従来例よりｉかに有利であ
シ、この有利性は複写装置の主要部分が前記のようにカ
ートリッジ化されていること及び集束性光学繊維アレイ
を用いることにょシ増幅されるという効果がある。As is clear from the above description, in the multi-function device of the present invention, the main part of the copying device that performs latent image formation and development is a cartridge, and the use of a convergent optical fiber element array makes it possible to In addition, it is small and lightweight and easy to maintain, and since a solid-state scanner such as an optical shutter array or LED array is used in the component that performs the printing function, the functions and advantages of the above-mentioned copying device are not impaired. Therefore, using a solid-state scanner for the printing function part is more advantageous than the conventional example from the viewpoint of required space, cost, maintenance, etc., and this advantage is due to the fact that the main part of the copying machine is The effect of amplification is achieved by using a cartridge and a focusing optical fiber array.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

図面は本発明の一実施例を示す概要断面図である。 １・・・原稿台、　　　　　２・・・照明ランプ、３・
・・集束性光学繊維アレイ、 ４・・・カートリッツ、　　５・・・感光体ドラム、６
・・・転写紙、７′光シヤツターアレイ、７”・・・集
光系、７＃・・・光源、 ８・・・切換ミラー。The drawing is a schematic sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention. 1... Document table, 2... Illumination lamp, 3.
... Focusing optical fiber array, 4... Cartlitz, 5... Photoreceptor drum, 6
...Transfer paper, 7' optical shutter array, 7"...Condensing system, 7#...Light source, 8...Switching mirror.

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 感光体ドラム、コロナ放電器、現像器及び感光体クリー
ナー等を含む潜像形成及び現像手段を内蔵し装置本体に
着脱可能なカートリッジと、該感光体ドラムに投光する
集束性光学繊維アレイと、原稿からの光を該集束性光学
繊維プレイに導く複写用光路と、外部情報信号によ多動
作してプリント用光ドツト信号を生ずるアレイ配置され
た固体スキャナーと、該プリント用光ドツト信号を該集
束性光学繊維プレイに導くプリント用光路と、上記複写
用光路とプリント用光路とを切換える光学的切換手段と
、を備えたことを特徴とする複写−プリント複合機能装
置。a cartridge that incorporates a latent image forming and developing means including a photoreceptor drum, a corona discharger, a developer, a photoreceptor cleaner, etc. and is removable from the apparatus body; a focusing optical fiber array that projects light onto the photoreceptor drum; an optical path for copying that guides light from an original to the focusing optical fiber play; a solid-state scanner arranged in an array that operates in response to external information signals to generate optical dot signals for printing; 1. A copying-printing multifunctional device comprising: a printing optical path leading to a focusing optical fiber play; and an optical switching means for switching between the copying optical path and the printing optical path.