JP2001199615A - Paper discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper discharge device for preventing paper discharged to a paper discharge stacker from being pulled into an image forming device body through a clearance between a paper stopping member and a discharge roller. SOLUTION: This paper discharge device comprises a roller shaft and the discharge roller provided at a discharge opening of the image forming device body, the paper discharge stacker for receiving the paper discharged from the discharge opening, the paper stopping member provided under the discharge roller for preventing the paper received by the stacker provided under the discharge roller from moving to the upstream side in the paper discharge direction, and a clearance stopper vertically crossing a clearance occurring between the discharge roller and the top of the paper stopping member to prevent the paper from passing through the clearance. The clearance stopper comprises a part rotatably engaged and supported by the roller shaft, a part vertically crossing the clearance between the discharge roller and the top of the paper stopping member, and a part abutting on the side surface on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction of the paper stopping member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a sheet discharging device provided in an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus used as a facsimile machine, a copying machine, or a printer, a recording sheet on which an image is recorded by an image recording mechanism provided inside the image forming apparatus main body is ejected from the image forming apparatus main body. A paper discharge device is provided for discharging the recording paper from the outlet to the outside, and receiving and stacking the discharged recording paper.

FIG. 6 shows a sheet discharging device provided in a conventional image forming apparatus. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, 2 denotes a discharge port provided in the apparatus main body 1, 3
Is a roller shaft provided horizontally at the discharge port 2 and provided with rotation, 4 is a discharge roller attached to the roller shaft 3, and 5 is a pinch provided so as to oppose and contact the discharge roller 4 on its upper side. A roller 6 is provided on the downstream side of the paper discharge direction with respect to the discharge port 2 (outside of the discharge port 2), and is a discharge stacker inclined so as to become lower toward the upstream side in the paper discharge direction. This is a paper stopper member that is located directly below and provided upright.

The recording paper P on which an image has been recorded inside the apparatus main body 1 is conveyed to a discharge port 2, then nipped by a rotating discharge roller 4 and a pinch roller 5, discharged from the discharge port 2 to the outside, and discharged. The recording paper P that has fallen onto the paper stacker 6 and dropped onto the paper discharge stacker 6 moves according to the inclination of the paper discharge stacker 6 and hits the paper stopper 7 and stops. Recording paper P
Are sequentially discharged and stacked on the paper discharge stacker 6 in a state where the positions are aligned by the paper stopper member 7.

The reason why the paper stopper member 7 is a plate-shaped member is provided below the roller shaft 3 (discharge roller). When the recording paper P is stacked on the paper discharge stacker 6, the upstream end of the upper recording paper P is in contact with the discharge roller 4 and comes into contact with it, so that the subsequent discharge and lamination of the recording paper P cannot be performed reliably. When the recording paper P is provided upstream of the roller shaft 3 in the paper discharging direction, the discharged recording paper P
This is because, when the recording paper P is stacked on the recording paper P, the recording paper P in the upper layer cannot move to the paper stopping member 7, and the recording paper P thereafter cannot be discharged and laminated reliably.

Since the paper stopper 7 is located below the discharge roller 4, when its upper end contacts the discharge roller 4, the rotation of the discharge roller 4 is hindered and becomes unstable, and the recording paper is discharged. Will cause problems. Further, even when the upper end of the paper stopper 7 is located very close to the discharge roller 4, the above-described situation may occur due to contact with the discharge roller 4 due to a component dimensional error or an assembly error. Therefore, a gap is formed between the upper end of the sheet stopper 7 and the outermost peripheral portion of the discharge roller 4. The gap between the upper end of the paper stopping member 7 and the outermost peripheral portion of the discharge roller 4 has such a size that the upper end of the paper stopping member 7 does not contact the discharge roller 4 due to a component dimensional error or an assembly error.

[0007]

The upper end of the paper stopping member 7 and the outermost periphery of the discharging roller 4 are set so that the upper end of the paper stopping member 7 does not come into contact with the discharge roller 4 due to the influence of component dimensional errors and assembly errors. The gap between the sheet and the set is larger than the thickness of the generally used recording paper P, and is therefore a size that allows the recording paper P to pass through.

When the recording paper P discharged by the discharge roller 3 at the upstream end in the recording paper discharge direction is stacked on the discharge stacker 6 to a height near the upper end of the paper stopping member 7, the upper recording paper P is removed. When the recording paper P comes into contact with the rotating discharge roller 4, the recording paper P is pulled toward the inside of the apparatus main body 1 by the discharge roller 4, and the recording paper P is moved between the upper end of the paper stopper 7 and the outermost peripheral portion of the discharge roller 4. A situation may occur in which the robot moves through the gap and is drawn into the apparatus main body 1. In particular, when the recording paper P is curled so as to warp, the upstream end in the recording paper discharge direction comes into contact with the discharge roller 4 and a gap between the upper end of the paper stopper 7 and the outermost peripheral portion of the discharge roller 4 is formed. Easy to enter. Thereby, the device body 1
A situation has occurred in which the recording paper P pulled into the inside of the printer inhibits the discharge of the recording paper P.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a sheet is ejected to a sheet ejection stacker by an ejection roller and is drawn into the image forming apparatus main body through a gap between the sheet stopper and the ejection roller. It is an object to provide a paper discharge device.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet discharging apparatus, wherein a roller shaft is provided horizontally at a discharge port of an image forming apparatus main body and is provided with rotation, and is mounted on the roller shaft and rotated. A discharge roller for discharging a sheet sent from the inside of the image forming apparatus main body to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body, and a discharge roller provided downstream of the discharge roller in a paper discharge direction by the discharge roller A discharge stacker for receiving and stacking the sheets discharged to the outside of the paper stacker, and a sheet positioned below the discharge rollers and standing upright at a lower height than the discharge rollers and stacked on the discharge stacker And a gap formed between the discharge roller and the upper end of the paper stopping member in the vertical direction by pressing the downstream end of the paper stopping direction to prevent movement in the paper discharging direction. And the cross-sectional characterized by comprising a gap stopper to prevent passage of the sheet in the gap.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the gap stopper moves the paper discharged to the discharge stacker by the discharge roller into the image forming apparatus main body through the clearance between the paper stopper and the discharge roller. To block.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to the first aspect, the gap stopper is rotatably engaged with and supported by the roller shaft, and is provided between the discharge roller and the paper stopper. It is characterized in that it has a portion that crosses the gap formed between the upper end and the upper end in the vertical direction, and a portion that contacts the downstream surface of the paper stopper in the paper discharge direction.

According to the structure of the present invention, the gap stopper can be supported at a fixed position with a simple structure and can serve as the gap stopper.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharging apparatus according to the second aspect, the gap stopper rides on an upper end of the paper stopper and supports a portion rotatably engaged and supported by the roller shaft. It has a portion that floats from the roller shaft.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the gap stopper can be supported at a fixed position by a simple configuration without impairing the rotation of the gap stopper on the roller shaft of the discharge roller.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharging apparatus according to the second aspect, the gap stopper is positioned upstream of the paper stopping member in the paper discharging direction and is in contact with the paper stopping member. The paper stopping member is located downstream of the paper stopping member in the paper discharging direction, and is combined with a portion in contact with the paper stopping member to sandwich the paper stopping member.

According to the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the gap stopper from swinging about the roller shaft because the paper discharged by the rotating discharge roller collides with the gap stopper.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharging device according to the second aspect, a rib is formed along a vertical direction on a side surface of the paper stopping member on the downstream side in the paper discharging direction,
A height of the rib from the side surface is larger than a thickness of a portion of the gap stopper that comes into contact with the paper stopper.

According to the structure of the present invention, the rib formed on the downstream side of the paper stopper in the paper discharge direction comes into contact with the edge of the paper stacked on the paper discharge stacker, and this edge is formed on the paper. It is possible to prevent the stopper member from pushing up the portion of the gap stopper abutting on the side surface on the downstream side in the sheet discharging direction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to the first aspect, the paper stoppers are provided at both ends of the roller shaft.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the gap stopper presses both sides of the discharged sheet, and the sheet moves into the image forming apparatus main body through the gap between the sheet stopper and the discharge roller. Can be reliably prevented.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

This embodiment is applied to a facsimile apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus, and is applied to a recording paper discharge apparatus as an example of a sheet carry-out apparatus. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a facsimile apparatus, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording paper discharge apparatus in the facsimile apparatus, FIG. 3 is a side view showing the recording paper discharge apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a roller shaft and a gap stopper used in the recording paper discharging device.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an apparatus main body of a facsimile apparatus. Inside the apparatus main body 11, an image forming mechanism (not shown) employing an electrophotographic system and a cassette (not shown) for accommodating recording paper as an example of paper. A document reading unit 12 and a document mounting table 13 on which a document to be sent to the document reading unit 12 is set are provided above the apparatus main body 11.

An original reading unit 12 is provided at the upper part of the apparatus main body 11.
A discharge port 14 is formed along the horizontal direction at a location aligned with the printer, and the discharge port 14 is connected to a transport path 15 provided inside the apparatus main body 11, and an image is recorded by an image forming mechanism. The recording paper P passes through the conveyance path 15 and is discharged from the discharge port 14.
It is to be transported to.

In the apparatus main body 11, a recording paper discharge device is provided at a position where the discharge port 14 is provided. This recording paper discharge device will be described with reference to FIGS. A roller shaft 21 is disposed at a discharge port 14 of the apparatus main body 1 along the horizontal direction. Both ends of the roller shaft 21 are rotatably supported by bearings (not shown) provided on the apparatus main body 11 and rotate. It is rotated in the recording paper discharge direction (clockwise in FIG. 4) by the drive mechanism. A discharge roller 22 made of, for example, rubber is attached to the roller shaft 21 entirely in the axial direction except for both end portions that support a gap stopper described later. The discharge roller 22 discharges the recording paper to the outside of the apparatus main body 1, and a plurality of claws 2 are provided at two positions separated from both ends with equal intervals from the center in the roller axial direction.
3 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. These claws 2
Numeral 3 is for pushing the recording paper P to the outside of the discharge port 14 by pushing the upstream edge of the recording paper in the discharge direction.

The discharge port 14 is provided with a pinch roller 26 located above the discharge roller 22 and in contact with the discharge roller 22. The pinch roller 26 rotates following the rotation of the discharge roller 22. I do.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a recording sheet P discharged from the discharge port 14.
The discharge stacker 24 has a rectangular shape having a length and width necessary to receive the recording paper P. The paper discharge stacker 24 is disposed outside the apparatus main body 1 below the discharge port 14 on the downstream side in the recording paper discharge direction, and its upstream end in the recording paper discharge direction is connected to the apparatus main body 11.
Mounted on That is, the discharge stacker 24 is provided so as to rise obliquely upward from the upstream end in the recording paper discharge direction to the downstream side, and the upstream end of the discharge stacker 24 is a predetermined distance from the discharge roller 21. It is located on the lower side. The provision of the inclined discharge stacker 24 in this manner prevents the recording paper P discharged from the discharge port 14 to the discharge stacker 24 from dropping from the discharge stacker 24, and a recording paper stopper member described later. This is for aligning the recording paper P at a certain position in combination with the above.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a recording paper stopper member. The recording paper stopper member 25 stands upright at a height lower than the discharge roller at the upstream end of the discharge stacker 24 in the recording paper discharge direction, that is, directly below the discharge roller 22. The recording paper P stacked on the paper discharge stacker 24 is brought into contact with the upstream end in the recording paper discharge direction to align the recording paper P at a predetermined position. That is, the recording paper stopping member 25 is
And a plate material having a height close to the outer peripheral surface of the discharge roller 22 and the claw 23 with a predetermined gap from the upstream end in the recording paper discharge direction and a length corresponding to the width of the discharge stacker 24. .

The upper end of the recording paper stopper 25 is horizontal,
The horizontal upper end, the outer peripheral surface of the discharge roller 22 and the claw 23
The gap L between the discharge roller 22 and the outermost position is formed for the following reason. Since the diameter of the circle drawn by the claw 23 is larger than the diameter of the discharge roller 22, the upper end portion facing the claw 23 is slightly lower than the other upper end portions. Since the recording paper stopper member 25 is located below the discharge roller 22, when the upper end thereof contacts the discharge roller 22, the rotation of the discharge roller 22 is hindered and becomes unstable, which hinders the discharge of the recording paper P. Will come. Further, even when the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25 is located very close to the discharge roller 22, the above-described situation may occur due to contact with the discharge roller 22 due to a component dimensional error or an assembly error. Therefore, a gap is formed between the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25 and the outermost peripheral portion of the discharge roller 22. The upper end of the recording paper stopper 25 and the discharge roller 2
The gap L between the outermost peripheral portion 2 and the outermost peripheral portion of the recording paper stopper member 25 is such that the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25 does not contact the discharge roller 22 due to the effects of component dimensional errors and assembly errors.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a pair of gap stoppers made of, for example, a synthetic resin. The gap stoppers 27 are provided at the above-mentioned portions of the roller shaft 21 which are not provided with the discharge rollers 22 equidistantly spaced from the center in the longitudinal direction at both ends. Supported. That is, the gap stopper 27 is placed on and supported by the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25, and
2 is rotatably supported by the roller shaft 21, the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25, the outer peripheral surface of the discharge roller 22,
(The outermost peripheral position of the discharge roller 22) to prevent the recording paper P from passing through the gap L.

The gap stopper 27 is a gap L formed between the first portion 27 a rotatably engaged with the roller shaft 21 and the upper end of the discharge roller 22 and the recording paper stopper 25.
, A third portion 27c abutting on the downstream side of the recording paper stopper member 25 in the paper discharge direction, and the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25 is rotated by the riding roller shaft 21. First part 2 freely engaged and supported
A fourth portion 27d for lifting 7a from the roller shaft 21;
A fourth position, which is located on the upstream side in the sheet discharging direction with respect to the recording paper stopper member 25, contacts the upstream side surface of the recording paper stopper member 25 in the sheet discharging direction, and contacts the downstream side surface of the recording paper stopper member 25 in the sheet discharging direction. And a fifth portion 27e for holding the recording paper stopper member 25 in combination therewith.

The first portion 27a is formed in a cylindrical shape having a cross section that surrounds the periphery of the roller shaft 21 by, for example, about three-quarters. The first portion 27a is one of the outer halves of the outer peripheral surface of the roller shaft 21 in the recording paper discharge direction. The lower part (a quarter part) is open, and the inner circumferential circle has a diameter larger than the diameter of the roller shaft 21. The reason why the open portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the roller shaft 21 on the upstream side in the recording paper discharge direction is that the discharge port 14
The recording paper P discharged from the paper tray can smoothly move along the first portion 27a, and the end of the recording paper P stacked on the paper discharge stacker 24 has an open end in the arcuate first portion 27a. This is to prevent a force from being applied upward to the hooked first portion 27a, that is, in a direction away from the roller shaft 21. In the first portion 27a, the lower portion (a quarter portion) of the upstream half of the outer peripheral surface of the roller shaft 21 in the recording paper discharging direction is opened because the upper portion is opened to discharge through the transport path 15. This is to prevent a situation in which the downstream end of the recording paper P conveyed to the roller 22 in the recording paper discharging direction hits the opening and cannot move smoothly.

The first portion 27a has elasticity, and the operator opens the open portion and engages with the outer peripheral portion of the roller shaft 21 described above. At the portion of the roller shaft 21 where the first portion 27a is engaged, the end surfaces of the discharge roller 22 sandwiching the first portion 27a press both end surfaces of the first portion 27a to prevent movement in the roller axis direction. Thereby, the positioning of the gap stopper 27 can be performed. Thereby, the pair of gap stoppers 27 are supported by the roller shaft 21.
Since the first portion 27a has an inner peripheral portion having a diameter larger than that of the roller shaft 21, the load applied to the roller shaft 21 is small and the rate of obstructing the rotation of the roller shaft 21 is small.

The second portion 27b extends downward from the first portion 27a and vertically crosses a gap L formed between the outer peripheral surface of the discharge roller 22 and the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25. It is in a state. This second portion 27b
A gap formed between the outer peripheral surface of the discharge roller 22 and the upper end of the recording paper stopper 25 where the recording paper P stacked on the paper discharge stacker 24 is located downstream of the recording paper stopper 25 in the recording paper discharging direction. L is prevented from passing through.

The third portion 27c is formed in a belt shape continuously downward from the second portion 27b.
5 is in contact with the side surface on the downstream side in the recording paper discharge direction. Thus, the third portion 27c prevents the gap stopper 27 from swinging in the same direction as the roller shaft 21 rotates in the recording paper discharging direction.

The fourth portion 27d protrudes from the second portion 27b toward the upstream side in the recording paper discharge direction, and rides on the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25 to support the gap stopper 27. I have. The dimension of the fourth portion 27d is set so that the inner peripheral surface of the arc-shaped first portion 27a floats (separates) from the outer peripheral surface of the roller shaft 21. This can be easily performed because the diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the first portion 27a is larger than the roller shaft 21. The gap between the inner peripheral surface of the first portion 27a and the outer peripheral surface of the roller shaft 21 has a size that does not hinder the support of the gap stopper 27.
The fourth portion 27d has a width equal to the thickness of the recording paper stopper 25.

The fifth portion 27e extends downward from the upstream end of the fourth portion 27d in the recording paper discharge direction and is formed in a plate shape. Abut. The fifth portion 27e is combined with the fourth portion 27d which contacts the downstream side surface of the recording paper stopper member 25 in the recording paper discharge direction to form the recording paper stopper member 2.
5 is pinched on both sides in the recording paper discharge direction. As a result, the gap stopper 27 is prevented from swinging around the roller shaft 21 toward the upstream side and the downstream side in the recording paper discharging direction, and is stopped at the position of the recording paper stopping member 25. That is,
The downstream end of the recording paper P conveyed along the conveyance path 15 contacts the first portion 27a to rotate the gap stopper 27 in the recording paper discharge direction. The swing of the gap stopper 27 can be prevented.

As described above, the pair of gap stoppers 27 are supported and provided at both ends of the roller shaft 21, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of ribs 28 extending fully in the member height direction are provided on the side surface of the recording paper stopper member 25 on the downstream side in the recording paper discharging direction. And are formed at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the direction. The plurality of ribs 28 are provided so that the upstream end of the recording paper P discharged from the discharge roller 22 in the recording paper discharge direction can smoothly contact the side surface of the recording paper stopper member 25 on the downstream side in the recording paper discharge direction. belongs to.

The height of each rib 28 from the side surface of the recording paper stopper member 28 is larger than the thickness of the third portion 27c of the gap stopper 27 that contacts the downstream side surface of the recording paper stopper member 25 in the recording paper discharge direction. . That is, the gap stopper 2
The third portion 27 c of the seventh does not protrude from each rib 28. Therefore, the rib 2 formed on the recording paper stopper 25
Reference numeral 8 denotes an edge portion of the recording paper P stacked on the paper discharge stacker 24, and this edge portion contacts the third portion 27 c of the gap stopper 27 abutting on the side surface of the recording paper stopper member 25. It is possible to prevent the action of pushing up the lever from occurring. A pair of ribs 28 are formed on both sides of the third portion 27c of the gap stopper 27 on the side surface of the recording paper stopper member 25 to move the third portion 27c along the axial direction of the roller shaft 21. When this is stopped, the positioning of the gap stopper 25 can be performed.

The operation of the recording paper discharge device having such a configuration will be described. The recording paper P on which an image is recorded by an image recording mechanism provided inside the apparatus main body 11 is conveyed through a conveyance path 14 to a discharge roller 22 provided at a discharge port 14. The discharge roller 22 is rotated in the recording paper discharge direction by the rotation driving mechanism, and the pinch roller 26 is also rotated. The recording paper P includes a discharge roller 22 and a pinch roller 26.
Between the main body 11 and the discharge port 14.
Is discharged to the outside. The discharged recording paper P falls onto the paper discharge stacker 24, slides upstream in the recording paper discharge direction according to the inclination of the paper discharge stacker 24, and the upstream edge of the recording paper discharge direction is discharged from the recording paper stopper member 25. It collides with the side surface on the downstream side in the direction and stops. Thereafter, the recording paper P on which the image has been recorded is discharged onto the discharge stacker 24 in this manner and is sequentially stacked.

Here, when the upstream end in the recording paper discharge direction of the recording paper P discharged by the discharge roller 3 is stacked on the discharge stacker 24 up to near the upper end of the recording paper stop member 25, the upper recording paper P When the downstream end of the recording paper discharge direction contacts the rotating discharge roller 22 and makes contact therewith, the recording paper P is moved by the discharge roller 22 into the gap between the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25 and the outermost peripheral portion of the discharge roller 22. Pulled toward. In particular, when the recording paper P is curled so as to warp, the upstream end in the recording paper discharging direction comes into contact with the discharging roller 22 and the gap between the upper end of the recording paper stopping member 25 and the outermost peripheral portion of the discharging roller 22. It is easy to be pulled toward.

In this recording paper discharging device, the second portions 27b of the pair of gap stoppers 27 supported at both ends of the roller shaft 22 are connected to the upper end of the output recording paper stopping member 25 and the discharging roller 2.
2 traverses a gap L between the outermost portion and the outermost portion. The discharge roller 2 on which the recording paper P stacked on the discharge stacker 24 rotates.
2 and the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25 and the discharge roller 2
2 is pulled toward the gap L between the outermost periphery of the recording paper stopper member 25 and the outermost periphery of the discharge roller 22 by colliding with the second portions 27 b of the pair of gap stoppers 27. It is stopped outside the gap L between them. Thereby, the recording paper P
Is prevented from moving through the gap L between the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25 and the outermost peripheral portion of the discharge roller 22 to the inside of the apparatus main body 11, and the recording paper P is returned to the inside of the apparatus main body 1 again. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the recording paper P enters and hinders discharge of the recording paper P. Further, since the pair of gap stoppers 27 are provided at both ends of the roller shaft 21, the gap stoppers 27 can stably receive the both ends of the recording paper P stacked on the paper discharge stacker 24 and prevent movement. And the gap stopper 2
Reference numeral 7 denotes a first portion 27a rotatably engaged and supported by the roller shaft 21, and a second portion vertically traversing a gap L formed between the discharge roller 22 and the upper end of the recording paper stopper member 25. 27b, and a third portion 27c abutting on the downstream side surface of the paper stopper member 25 in the paper discharge direction. The gap stopper 27 is rotatably engaged with and supported by the roller shaft 21 to perform recording on the recording paper stopper member 25. Since it comes into contact with the downstream side surface in the paper discharge direction, it can be supported at a fixed position with a simple configuration and can serve as a gap stopper.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications. Note that, in the above-described embodiment, an apparatus for discharging a recording sheet on which an image has been recorded as a sheet from the image forming apparatus main body is targeted. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It can also be applied to a device that discharges.

[0046]

According to the paper discharging apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the gap stopper stops the paper discharged by the discharge roller to the discharge stacker through the gap between the paper stopper and the discharge roller to form an image. Prevents movement inside the device body. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a sheet discharged from the discharge roller to the discharge stacker is drawn into the image forming apparatus main body through a gap between the sheet stopper and the discharge roller. The paper discharge device can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the gap stopper is rotatably engaged with and supported by the roller shaft, and is in contact with the downstream surface of the sheet stopper in the sheet discharging direction. To serve as a gap stopper.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the gap stopper is placed on the upper end of the paper stopper and the portion rotatably engaged and supported by the roller shaft is lifted off the roller shaft. Thus, it can be supported at a fixed position with a simple configuration without impairing its rotation.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the gap stopper is provided so as to sandwich the paper stopper member, so that the paper ejected by the rotating ejection roller collides with the gap stopper. Swinging about the axis can be prevented.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the rib formed on the downstream side of the sheet stopper in the sheet discharging direction comes into contact with the edge of the sheet stacked on the sheet discharging stacker, and this edge is formed. It is possible to prevent the gap stopper that is in contact with the downstream side surface of the paper stopper in the paper discharge direction from being pushed up.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the gap stopper presses both sides of the discharged sheet, and the sheet moves into the main body of the image forming apparatus through the gap between the sheet stopper and the discharge roller. Can be reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an image forming apparatus provided with a recording paper discharge device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording paper discharge device provided in the image forming apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the recording paper discharge device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the recording paper discharge device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a discharge roller and a gap stopper used in the recording paper discharge device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional recording paper discharge device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Device main body, 14 ... Document discharge port, 15 ... Conveyance path, 21 ... Roller shaft, 22 ... Discharge roller, 23 ... Claw, 24 ... Discharge stacker, 25 ... Recording paper stopper member, 26 ... Pinch roller, 27 ... Gap stopper, 27a: first portion, 27b: second portion, 27c: third portion, 27d: fourth portion, 27e: fifth portion, L: gap.

Claims (6)

[Claims] A roller shaft horizontally provided at a discharge port of the image forming apparatus main body and provided with rotation; and a sheet attached to the roller shaft and rotated to be sent out from the inside of the image forming apparatus main body. A discharge roller that discharges outside the image forming apparatus main body, and a discharge sheet that is provided downstream of the discharge roller in the sheet discharge direction and receives and stacks the sheets discharged outside the image forming apparatus main body by the discharge roller A stacker, which is located below the discharge roller and is provided upright at a lower height than the discharge roller, presses the downstream end of the paper stacked in the discharge stacker in the paper discharge direction, and moves the stacker toward the paper discharge direction. A sheet stopping member for preventing movement, and a gap for vertically traversing a gap formed between the discharge roller and the upper end of the sheet stopping member and for preventing passage of a sheet in the gap. A sheet discharging device comprising a stopper. 2. A gap stopper rotatably engaged and supported by the roller shaft, a section vertically traversing a gap formed between the discharge roller and an upper end of the sheet stopper, The sheet discharging device according to claim 1, further comprising a portion that contacts the downstream side of the sheet stopping member in the sheet discharging direction. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gap stopper rides on an upper end of the paper stopper and has a portion for floating a portion rotatably engaged and supported by the roller shaft from the roller shaft. 2. The paper discharge device according to 1. 4. The paper stopper according to claim 1, wherein the gap stopper has a portion located upstream of the paper stopper in the paper discharging direction and in contact with the paper stopper. The sheet discharging device according to claim 2, wherein the sheet discharging device is combined with a portion located downstream and in contact with the sheet stopping member to sandwich the sheet stopping member. 5. A rib is formed along a vertical direction on a side surface on the downstream side of the sheet stopping member in the sheet discharging direction, and a height of the rib from the side surface is a portion of the gap stopper in contact with the sheet stopping member. 3. The sheet discharging device according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the sheet discharging device is larger than the thickness of the sheet discharging device. 6. The sheet discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet stoppers are provided at both ends of the roller shaft.