JP2001072307A - Sheet receptor, image reading device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet receptor, and an image reading device a and image forming device using the same, wherein the receptor can improve sheet loading performance onto a sheet loading tray as well as can prevent and correct skewing of discharged sheets. SOLUTION: A pair of ribs 1a, 1b for guiding feeding of sheets are formed along a sheet feeding direction on a sheet loading surface 1g (an upper surface) of a sheet loading tray 1) positioned upstream of a sheet accepting body, which is disposed on a sheet acceptor. An interval X between the pair of ribs 1a, 1b is formed to be somewhat larger than a small sized sheet width L in such a manner that a small sized sheet discharged from a discharging means can be loaded between the pair of ribs 1a, 1b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet receiver capable of appropriately receiving a discharged sheet, and an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image reading apparatus or an image forming apparatus has at least a discharge means for reading out image information of a sheet or an image formed on a sheet, and receives the sheet discharged by the discharge means. And a sheet receiver.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional structure of an image reading apparatus provided with the discharging means and the sheet receiver. FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the discharging means, and FIG.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of FIG. 16, and FIGS. 14 and 15 are perspective views of the sheet receiver. The image reading apparatus is formed so that the downstream side is inclined downward to reduce the installation space of the apparatus.

The sheet receiver 15 is disposed downstream of the discharge means 16 and comprises an auxiliary member 3 for assisting sheet conveyance and a sheet stacking tray 1 for stacking sheets. The sheet stacking tray 1 is formed with a plurality of ribs 1A along the sheet conveying direction in order to smoothly convey the sheet, and includes a stopper portion 1s for stopping and stacking the sheet. The auxiliary member 3
Is disposed between the discharge unit 16 and the sheet stacking tray 1 to assist in transporting sheets to the sheet stacking tray 1.

The discharge means 16 includes a discharge roller 4 and a discharge roller 5 for pinching and discharging the sheet. The discharge roller 4 has a surface formed of a high friction member, and is configured to rotate from a motor (not shown) via some drive transmission means (for example, gears). Further, the discharge roller 5 is rotatably held by a holder 6 urged by an urging means 7, and is pressed against the discharge roller 4 via a sheet at a predetermined pressure by the urging force of the urging means 7. It has become. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, four sets of discharge means 16 of the same mode (4a to 4d, 5a
To 5d) are arranged along the sheet width direction.

In the image reading apparatus, a sheet feed tray 14 for accommodating sheets, a pick-up roller 12 for feeding the sheet from the sheet feed tray and feeding the sheet into the image reading apparatus main body, and a sheet fed by the pickup roller 12 are provided. A separation pad 13 for separating the sheets one by one;
There are provided a pair of transport rollers 10 and 11 for transporting the sheet fed into the image reading apparatus main body, a leading edge detecting means 9 for detecting a leading edge of the transported sheet, and an image reading means 8 for reading image information of the sheet. ing.

In the image reading apparatus, the sheets stored in the paper feed tray 14 are separated and fed one by one by a pick-up roller 12 and a separation pad 13, and are conveyed to conveying roller pairs 10, 11. Is done. When the leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 10 and 11 is detected by the leading edge detecting means 9 and the timing for reading the image information is determined, the image information formed on the sheet by the image reading means 8 is determined. Is read.
The sheet for which the reading of the image information has been completed is output to the discharging unit 16.
And is carried into the pressure contact portion between the discharge roller 4 and the discharge roller 5. The sheet discharged by the rotation of the discharge roller 4 is transported on the upper surface of the rib 1A of the sheet stacking tray 1 (contact surface with the sheet) through the auxiliary member 3 and is stacked on the sheet stacking tray.

The image information read by the image reading means is input to an image processing section of a control circuit (not shown), and a series of image forming steps are executed based on an image forming start signal.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional structure of an image forming apparatus provided with a discharge means and a sheet receiver.

The image forming apparatus has a discharge means 16 and a sheet receiver 15 in the same manner as the image reading apparatus.
And a paper feed tray 14 for accommodating sheets, a pickup roller 12 for feeding out the sheets from the paper feed tray 14 and feeding the sheet into the image forming apparatus main body, and a separation pad for separating the sheets fed out by the pickup rollers 12 one by one. 13 and an image forming unit 17 for forming an image on a sheet fed into the image forming apparatus main body.
The image forming section 17 includes a transfer drum on which a latent image (not shown) is formed, a developing unit for developing the latent image, and a transfer roller which presses the transfer drum with a sheet interposed therebetween.

In the image forming apparatus, the sheets stored in the sheet feed tray 14 are separated and fed one by one by a pickup roller 12 and a separation pad 13 and are conveyed to an image forming unit 17. . The sheet conveyed to the image forming unit 17 forms an image on the transfer drum by the action of the transfer roller. The sheet on which the image formation has been completed is conveyed to the discharge unit 16, carried into the pressure contact portion between the discharge roller 4 and the discharge roller 5, similarly to the above-described image reading apparatus, and discharged by the rotation of the discharge roller 4. The sheet is stacked on the sheet stacking tray 1 through the auxiliary member 3.

[0012]

By the way, in the above-described image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus, usually, sheets of business card size to A4 size (recording paper, OHP sheet, cloth or thin plate, etc.) are used.

In the case of a large-size sheet such as an A4-size sheet (hereinafter, referred to as a large-size sheet), the four sets of discharge means 16 (4a to 4d, 5a to 5d) are used.
When the sheet is discharged according to d) and the sheet size is reduced to some extent, the four sets of discharging means 16 (4a to 4a) are used.
4d, 5a to 5d).
(b, 4c, 5b, 5c), the sheet is discharged.

As described above, the two discharge means 16 (4
b, 4c, 5b, and 5c) (hereinafter, referred to as small-size sheets), the number of discharge units 16 is reduced from four to two so that the sheet discharging force is reduced. For this reason, the following problems have occurred.

That is, the auxiliary member is influenced by the variation in the frictional state of the sheet due to the variation in the surface state of the surface that comes into contact with the sheet (for example, the variation in the surface state of the upper surface of the rib 1A formed on the sheet stacking tray 1). 3
Alternatively, the sheet being conveyed on the sheet stacking tray 1 may be skewed.

Alternatively, the sheet is skewed and discharged from the discharge unit 16 due to the variation in the diameter of the discharge roller 4 and the discharge roller 5 and the variation in the discharge capacity of the discharge unit 16 due to the variation in the urging force of the urging unit 7. There was sometimes.

The skewed sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking tray 1 without correcting the skew. Therefore, when a plurality of sheets are continuously discharged, the sheets are stacked. In some cases, the sheets are cumbersomely stacked on the tray 1 or the sheets drop from the sheet stacking tray 1. As a result, the efficiency of work after sheet discharge may be reduced.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and can prevent and correct skew of a discharged sheet, thereby improving the stackability of sheets on a sheet stack tray. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet receiver capable of performing the above-mentioned operations, and an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus employing the same.

[0019]

According to the present invention, a sheet having a first width or a sheet having a second width having a predetermined size smaller than the first width is slidable on the upper side. A sheet receiving body comprising: a sheet receiving main body; and a stopper portion for stopping and stacking the sheet slid on the sheet receiving main body, wherein the sheet receiving main body has a first sheet sliding portion in which the upper side is slidable. A second seat sliding portion in which the upper side of the seat is slidable, the second seat sliding portion having a concave shape sandwiched between both sides in the width direction by the first seat sliding portion;
Are respectively formed along the sliding direction of the seat, and the second
The width of the seat sliding portion is substantially equal to the second width,
It is characterized by the following.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the first seat sliding portion is a plurality of ribs extending in the sliding direction of the seat.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the first seat sliding portion is a smooth surface along the sliding direction of the seat.

Further, according to the present invention, the sheet receiving main body is constituted by a plurality of portions on an upstream side and a downstream side, and the second sheet sliding portion is provided in at least one of the plurality of portions. Is formed.

Further, as in the present invention, a first sheet sliding portion and a second sheet sliding portion are formed in the sheet receiver, and the upper side of the first sheet sliding portion or the second sheet sliding portion is seated. Is slidable to prevent or correct skew of the sheet.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The present invention relates to a sheet receiver provided in an image reading apparatus or an image forming apparatus,
Since the other parts are the same as those of the related art, in the embodiment of the present invention, only the sheet receiver will be described.

The same components as those described in the related art (FIGS. 12 to 17) are denoted by the same reference numerals and the same names, and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet stacking tray which is an upstream portion of a sheet receiving main body provided in the sheet receiving device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state where small-size sheets, which are sheets having a second width, are stacked on the sheet stacking tray in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the sheet stacking tray in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which large-size sheets as sheets are stacked.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a sheet loading tray 1 has two ribs 1a and 1b serving as a first sheet sliding portion for guiding sheet conveyance. 1g of the stacking tray 1 is formed along the sheet conveying direction. Also, ribs 1a, 1b
The width (rib interval) X of the rib gap portion, which is the second sheet sliding portion, is small so that the small size sheet discharged from the discharging means 16 is stacked between the two ribs. It is set slightly wider than the sheet width L of the size sheet (see FIG. 3).

By forming the two ribs 1a and 1b on the sheet stacking tray 1 as described above, the small-size sheet discharged from the discharging means 16 is guided by the ribs 1a and 1b without causing skew. The sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking tray 1. As a result, it is possible to improve the stackability of sheets on the sheet stacking tray 1.

Also, as described above, the sheet stacking tray 1
By forming the ribs 1a and 1b, the discharging means 1
The small-size sheet discharged obliquely from 6 is
The skew is corrected by the guides a and 1b, and the sheet is stacked on the sheet stacking tray 1. As a result, it is possible to improve the stackability of sheets on the sheet stacking tray 1.

In the case of a large-size sheet, since skew is unlikely to occur as described above, the upper surfaces of the ribs 1a and 1b are conveyed and stacked on the sheet stacking tray 1 without skew (see FIG. 4). ).

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sheet stacking tray which is an upstream portion of a sheet receiving main body provided in a sheet receiving device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a small-size sheet, which is a sheet having a second width, is stacked on the sheet stacking tray. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a sheet having a first width on the sheet stacking tray. It is a perspective view showing signs that a size sheet is loaded.

In the present embodiment, a step portion 1f, which is a second sheet sliding portion for guiding sheet conveyance, is formed on the upstream side of the sheet stacking tray 1. The stepped portion 1f is formed at a position depressed from the sheet stacking surface 1g of the sheet stacking tray 1 with a step of a predetermined size, and has a surface parallel to the sheet stacking surface 1g. Then, the step portion 1f is arranged such that small-size sheets discharged from the discharge means 16 are stacked in the step portion 1f.
Are set slightly larger than the sheet width L and length M of the small size sheet (see FIG. 6).

As described above, the stepped portion 1 is
By forming f, the small-size sheet discharged from the discharge unit 16 is guided by the step of the step portion 1f and is stacked in the step portion 1f without skew. As a result, it is possible to improve the stackability of sheets on the sheet stacking tray 1.

Further, by forming the step portion 1f on the sheet stacking tray 1 as described above, the small-size sheet skewed and discharged from the discharge means 16 is corrected by the step portion 1f. It is configured to be loaded in the step portion 1f. Then, as a result, the sheet stacking tray 1
It is possible to improve the loadability of sheets on the sheet.

In the case of a large-size sheet, since skew is unlikely to occur as described above, the sheet is conveyed on the upper surface of the step portion 1f and stacked on the sheet stacking tray 1 without skew (see FIG. 7). .

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 8 shows a small-size sheet, which is a sheet having a second width, conveys an auxiliary member, which is a downstream portion of a sheet receiving main body provided in a sheet receiver according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a large-size sheet, which is a sheet having a first width, is conveyed by the auxiliary member.

In this embodiment, the auxiliary member 3 includes
2 which is a first sheet sliding portion for guiding sheet conveyance
The ribs 3a and 3b are formed on the sheet conveying surface (the upper surface of the auxiliary member 3) 3g along the sheet conveying direction. The width (rib interval) X of the rib gap, which is the second sheet sliding portion formed by the ribs 3a and 3b, is such that the small size sheet discharged from the discharging means 16 is conveyed between the two ribs. The width is set slightly larger than the sheet width L of the small size sheet (see FIG. 8).

As described above, the auxiliary member 3 has two ribs 3a,
By forming 3b, the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

In the case of a large-size sheet, since skew is unlikely to occur as described above, the upper surface of the ribs 3a and 3b is conveyed and stacked on the sheet stacking tray 1 without skew (see FIG. 9). .

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 10 shows a small-size sheet, which is a sheet having a second width, conveyed to an auxiliary member, which is a downstream portion of a sheet receiving main body provided in a sheet receiver according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a large-size sheet, which is a sheet having a first width, is conveyed by the auxiliary member.

In this embodiment, the auxiliary member 3 includes
A stepped portion 3f, which is a second sheet sliding portion for guiding sheet conveyance, is formed. The step portion 3f is formed at a position depressed from the sheet conveying surface 3g by a step of a predetermined size, and has a surface parallel to the sheet conveying surface 3g.
The step 3f is set so that the width Y of the step 3f is slightly larger than the sheet width L of the small-size sheet so that the small-size sheet discharged from the discharge unit 16 is transported through the step 3f. The length Z of the step 3f is set to be the same as the length of the auxiliary member 3 in the sheet conveying direction (see FIG. 10).

By forming the step 3f in the auxiliary member 3 as described above, the same operation and effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

In the case of a large-size sheet, since skew is unlikely to occur as described above, the sheet is conveyed on the upper surface of the step portion 3f and is stacked on the sheet stacking tray 1 without skew (see FIG. 11). .

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another example of the sheet stacking tray.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a rib 1c having a smaller projection than the two ribs 1a and 1b may be provided between the two ribs 1a and 1b. In this case, the functions of the ribs 1a and 1b can be similarly exhibited, and the small-sized sheets can be smoothly conveyed and stacked via the ribs 1c.

In the first embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 2, ribs 1d and 1e may be provided outside the two ribs 1a and 1b with the same amount of protrusions as the ribs 1a and 1b. In this case, the functions of the ribs 1a and 1b are the same. In addition to this, large-size sheets can be smoothly conveyed and stacked via the ribs 1d and 1e.

Similarly, the ribs according to the third embodiment are provided between the ribs 3a and 3b with a smaller projection than the two ribs 3a and 3b, or the ribs 3a and 3b Ribs may be provided on the outside with the same amount of protrusions as the ribs 3a and 3b.

In the second and fourth embodiments, the number of steps is not limited to one as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. A plurality of steps that can correspond to the small-sized sheet may be provided.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A second sheet sliding portion is formed in the sheet receiver, and the sheet having the second width discharged from the discharging means is guided by the second sheet sliding portion and is stacked on the stopper portion. Skew of a sheet having a second width can be prevented and corrected, thereby improving the stackability of sheets having a second width.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet stacking tray according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another example of the sheet stacking tray.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which small-sized sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking tray.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state where large-size sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking tray.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sheet stacking tray according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which small-size sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking tray.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state where large-size sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking tray.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which a small-sized sheet is conveyed through an auxiliary member according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which a large-size sheet is conveyed through the auxiliary member.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a small-size sheet is conveyed through an auxiliary member according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a large-size sheet is conveyed through the auxiliary member.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional structure of an image reading apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional structure of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a conventional structure of a sheet stacking tray and an auxiliary guide.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a conventional structure of a sheet stacking tray and an auxiliary guide.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional structure of the discharging means.

FIG. 17 is a view as seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 16;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 sheet loading tray (sheet receiving body) 1A rib 1a to 1e rib (first sheet sliding portion) 1f step portion (second sheet sliding portion) 1g sheet loading surface of sheet loading tray 1h rib gap (second portion) Sheet sliding portion) 1s Stopper portion 2 Sheet 3 Auxiliary member (sheet receiving body) 3a, 3b Rib (first sheet sliding portion) 3f Step (second sheet sliding portion) 3g Sheet conveying surface of auxiliary member 3h Rib gap Section (second sheet sliding section) 4 discharge roller 5 discharge roller 6 holder 7 biasing means 8 image reading means 9 leading edge detection means 10, 11 transport roller pair 12 pickup roller 13 separation pad 14 paper feed tray 15 sheet receiver 16 Ejecting unit 17 Image forming unit L Sheet width of small-size sheet (sheet having second width) M Small-size sheet (second width) Length of sheet with width) X Rib interval Y Width of stepped portion Z Length of stepped portion

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sheet having a first width or a sheet having a second width having a predetermined size smaller than the first width,
A sheet receiving device comprising: a sheet receiving main body having an upper side slidable; and a stopper portion for stopping and stacking the sheet slid on the sheet receiving main body. A first sheet sliding portion and a second sheet sliding portion having a concave shape sandwiched between both sides in the width direction by the first sheet sliding portion, the upper portion of which is slidable along the sheet sliding direction. A width of the second sheet sliding portion is made substantially equal to the second width. 2. The sheet receiver according to claim 1, wherein said first sheet sliding portion is a plurality of ribs extending in a sliding direction of the sheet. 3. The sheet receiver according to claim 1, wherein the first sheet sliding portion is a smooth surface along a sliding direction of the sheet. 4. The sheet receiving main body includes a plurality of upstream and downstream portions, and the second sheet sliding portion is formed in at least one of the plurality of portions. The sheet receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 5. An image reading device for reading image information of a sheet, a discharging device for discharging a sheet whose image has been read by the image reading device, and a sheet disposed so as to be capable of receiving the sheet discharged from the discharging device. An image reading apparatus comprising: the sheet receiver according to any one of Items 1 to 4. 6. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, a discharge unit for discharging a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit, and a sheet disposed to receive the sheet discharged from the discharge unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: the sheet receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 4.