Recording medium transporting device and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9829847-B2
Application number	US-201615050924-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2016
Priority date	Sep 24, 2015
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A recording medium transporting device includes a transport path, a first open-close portion, and a second open-close portion. A recording medium on which an image is formed is transported over the transport path. The first open-close portion is disposed on a side surface of the transporting device so as to be openable to cover and closeable to uncover the transporting device. The first open-close portion renders a first portion of the transport path open when the first open-close portion is opened so as to uncover the transporting device. The second open-close portion is located inside the transporting device at a position further inward of the first open-close portion so as to be openable to cover and closeable to uncover the transporting device. The second open-close portion renders a second portion of the transport path open when the second open-close portion is opened so as to uncover the transporting device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A recording medium transporting device, comprising:
a transport path along which a recording medium on which an image is formed is transported;
a first open-close portion disposed on a side surface of the transporting device so as to be openable to uncover and closeable to cover the transporting device, the first open-close portion rendering a first portion of the transport path open when the first open-close portion is opened so as to uncover the transporting device;
a second open-close portion disposed inside the transporting device at a position further inward of the first open-close portion so as to be openable to uncover and closeable to cover the transporting device, the second open-close portion rendering a second portion of the transport path different from the first portion of the transport path open when the second open-close portion is opened so as to uncover the transporting device; and
a third open-close portion disposed below the first open-close portion so as to be openable to uncover and closeable to cover the transporting device, the third open-close portion rendering a third portion of the transport path different from the first portion and the second portion of the transport path open when the third open-close portion is opened so as to uncover the transporting device,
wherein the first open-close portion is configured to be opened in response to opening of the third open-close portion.

2. The recording medium transporting device according to claim 1 , wherein the second open-close portion is configured to be opened in response to opening of the first open-close portion.

3. The recording medium transporting device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a downstream transporting portion configured to transport to a downstream side the recording medium transported from an upstream side in a transportation direction,
wherein the transport path includes a first transport path, over which the recording medium is transported further downstream in the transportation direction beyond the downstream transporting portion, and
wherein the first transport path is rendered open when the first open-close portion and the third open-close portion are opened.

4. The recording medium transporting device according to claim 3 , wherein the first transport path is a portion of the transport path located in an area extending from the downstream transporting portion toward the first open-close portion.

5. The recording medium transporting device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the transport path includes a second transport path, over which the recording medium located upstream of the downstream transporting portion in the transportation direction is transported, and
wherein the second transport path is rendered open when the second open-close portion is opened.

6. The recording medium transporting device according to claim 5 , wherein the second transport path is located opposite to the first transport path with respect to the downstream transporting portion.

7. The recording medium transporting device according to claim 5 , further comprising:
an upstream transporting portion disposed on the second transport path and configured to exert a pressing force on the recording medium transported over the second transport path to transport the recording medium downstream in the transportation direction,
wherein the upstream transporting portion is configured to push the first open-close portion and the second open-close portion to open the first open-close portion and the second open-close portion.

8. The recording medium transporting device according to claim 7 , wherein, as the second open-close portion is opened, the pressing force of the upstream transporting portion is reduced.

9. The recording medium transporting device according to claim 1 , wherein the second open-close portion is configured to be closed so as to cover the transporting device as a result of being pushed by the first open-close portion.

10. A recording medium transporting device, comprising:
a transport path along which a recording medium on which an image is formed is transported;
a first rotatable door disposed on a side surface of the transporting device, the first rotatable door rendering a first portion of the transport path open when the first rotatable door is opened so as to uncover the transporting device by rotating around a rotation shaft of the first rotatable door;
a second rotatable door rendering a second portion of the transport path different from the first portion of the transport path open when the second rotatable door is opened so as to uncover the transporting device by rotating around a rotation shaft of the second rotatable door different from the rotation shaft of the first rotatable door; and
a third rotatable door disposed below the first rotatable door, the third rotatable door rendering a third portion of the transport path different from the first portion and the second portion of the transport path open when the third rotatable door is open so as to uncover the transporting device,
wherein the first rotatable door is configured to be opened in response to opening of the third rotatable door.

11. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming section configured to form an image on a recording medium;
an ejection portion to which the recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming section is ejected;
a transport path along which the recording medium is transported downstream in a transportation direction or toward the ejection portion;
a first open-close portion disposed on a side surface of the transporting device so as to be openable to uncover and closeable to cover the transporting device, the first open-close portion rendering a first portion of the transport path open when the first open-close portion is opened so as to uncover the transporting device;
a second open-close portion located inside the transporting device at a position further inward of the first open-close portion so as to be openable to uncover and closeable to cover the transporting device, the second open-close portion rendering a second portion of the transport path different from the first portion of the transport path open when the second open-close portion is opened so as to uncover the transporting device; and
a third open-close portion disposed below the first open-close portion so as to be openable to uncover and closeable to cover the transporting device, the third open-close portion rendering a third portion of the transport path different from the first portion and the second portion of the transport path open when the third open-close portion is opened so as to uncover the transporting device,
wherein the first open-close portion is configured to be opened in response to opening of the third open-close portion.

Assignees

• Fuji Xerox Co Ltd

Inventors

• Arai Mizuki
• Tomioka Hiromitsu
• Takahashi Kohei
• Miyauchi Riwako

Classifications

• B65H5/26

  Duplicate, alternate, selective, or coacting feeds · CPC title

• B65H29/60 Primary

  diverting the stream into alternative paths (B65H29/62 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65H2801/12

  Single-function printing machines, typically table-top machines · CPC title

• B65H5/068

  between one or more rollers or balls and stationary pressing, supporting or guiding elements · CPC title

• B65H29/12

  by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands {or rollers} · CPC title