JP2001302070A - Discharged sheet aligning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a discharged sheet aligning device capable of reliably aligning and holding sheets with various sizes while requiring no manual adjustment of the extended length of an extended tray part. SOLUTION: This discharged sheet aligning device 3 has a discharge tray 20 to receive and align sheets S discharged from the device body of a sheet processing device, in the sheet processing device to carry out designated processing by moving the sheets S. The discharge tray 20 is equipped with an extended tray part 22 extensible in the moving direction of the sheets S relative to the device body 1 and a sheet stopper 23 provided on the extended tray part 22. The extended tray part 22 is extended by pushing the sheet stopper 23 with the sheets S discharged from the device body 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus, such as an ink jet recording apparatus, for performing a predetermined process by moving a sheet (sheet) to receive a sheet discharged from a main body of the sheet processing apparatus. The present invention relates to a discharge sheet aligning apparatus for aligning sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a discharge sheet aligning apparatus as described above, there is known an apparatus having a discharge tray. The paper output tray is composed of a fixed tray fixed to the apparatus main body and an extension tray that is attached to the fixed tray so as to be extendable and contractible. The extension of the extension tray is adjusted to the size of the sheet used by the operator. Is adjusted.

[0003]

However, in the above-described paper discharge tray, sheets of various sizes cannot be aligned and held reliably. For example, when a large-sized sheet is used with the extension tray portion contracted, the discharged sheet may fall from the discharge tray. Therefore, it is necessary for the operator to adjust the extension length of the extension tray portion each time according to the size of the sheet to be used, and it is necessary to reduce the extension tray portion to the minimum length position after the use of the discharge sheet alignment device is completed. There is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, to reliably align and hold sheets of various sizes, and to eliminate the need for a person to adjust the length of the extension tray portion according to the sheet size. Is to provide.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A discharged sheet aligning apparatus according to the present invention is a sheet processing apparatus which performs a predetermined process by moving a sheet, and is discharged from an apparatus main body of the sheet processing apparatus. What is claimed is: 1. A discharge sheet aligning device having a discharge tray for receiving and aligning a sheet, wherein the discharge tray is provided on the extension tray portion that can expand and contract in the sheet moving direction with respect to the apparatus main body. And a sheet stopper provided so that the sheet ejected from the apparatus main body pushes the sheet stopper so that the extension tray portion is extended.

In this specification, the rear side (paper feed side) in the sheet moving direction is defined as upstream, and the front side is defined as downstream.

[0007] The extension tray portion may be attached to the apparatus main body so as to be able to expand and contract, or may be attached to a fixed tray portion fixedly provided in the apparatus body so as to be able to extend and contract.

When the operation using the discharged sheet aligning apparatus is started, or when the size of the sheet used during the operation is changed, the extension tray portion is usually contracted to the minimum length position. Then, when the first sheet is ejected from the apparatus main body, the leading end (downstream end) of the sheet hits the sheet stopper and pushes it, and the extension tray section reaches a position necessary for aligning the sheet of the size. extend. Thereafter, with the extension tray stopped at that position, the discharge of sheets is continued. Therefore, sheets of various sizes can be reliably aligned and held at predetermined positions on the paper discharge tray. Further, since the extension length of the extension tray portion is automatically adjusted according to the sheet discharged as described above, there is no need to adjust the extension length of the extension tray portion according to the size of the sheet used by a person. Easy to operate.

For example, when there is a discharge sheet on the discharge tray, the extension tray is held at an extended position and the discharge sheet is removed from the discharge tray, so that the extension tray has a minimum length. It is made to shrink automatically to the position.

When the discharge sheet is removed from the discharge tray when the operation using the discharge sheet aligning device is completed or when the size of the sheet to be used is changed, the extension tray portion is automatically moved to the minimum length position. Shrink. For this reason,
In such a case, there is no need for a person to contract the extension tray portion.

Preferably, a height of the sheet stopper is equal to or higher than a sheet discharge height of a discharge roller of the apparatus main body.

When the height of the sheet stopper is equal to or higher than the sheet discharge height of the discharge roller of the apparatus main body,
The sheet discharged through the discharge roller surely hits the sheet stopper. Therefore, the sheet stopper can be reliably pushed by the discharged sheet, and the extension tray portion can be extended.

Preferably, the angle formed between the surface of the extension tray portion that receives the sheet and the surface of the sheet stopper that the sheet contacts is 90 degrees or less.

If the angle between the surface of the extension tray receiving the sheet and the surface of the sheet stopper hitting the sheet is 90 degrees or less, the sheet hitting the sheet stopper does not move over it. Thus, the sheet stopper can be reliably pushed by the discharged sheet, and the extension tray portion can be extended.

Preferably, when the extension tray portion is at a maximum length position where the extension tray portion is extended most, the length of the storable sheet of the discharge tray controlled by the sheet stopper is:
It is longer than the length of the largest sheet to be used by a predetermined amount.
This predetermined amount is preferably about 2 to 10 mm.

In this way, the maximum size sheet can be reliably aligned and held at a predetermined position on the paper discharge tray.

Preferably, when the extension tray portion is at the minimum length position where the extension tray portion is most contracted, the storable sheet length of the discharge tray controlled by the sheet stopper is:
It is longer than the length of the minimum size sheet to be used by a predetermined amount.
This predetermined amount is preferably about 2 to 10 mm.

In this way, when using the minimum-size sheet, the minimum-size sheet can be reliably aligned and held at a predetermined position of the paper discharge tray with the extension tray portion being contracted most. Further, when the discharge sheet aligning device is not used, the extension tray portion can be contracted most so as not to be in the way.

Preferably, a cushioning member is provided on a surface of the sheet stopper that is in contact with the sheet.

With this configuration, the sheet does not directly hit the sheet stopper but hits the cushioning member, so that the end of the sheet is prevented from being deformed.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, two embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a discharge sheet aligning apparatus of an ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings showing these embodiments, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. Also, in the following description, the left and right of each drawing are left and right, the front side of the drawing is the front, and the back side is the rear.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment.

The ink jet recording apparatus is an apparatus main body.
(1), paper feed tray provided on the lower left side of the main unit (1)
(2) and a discharge sheet aligning device (3) provided on the upper left side of the apparatus main body (1).

The apparatus main body (1) and the paper feed tray (2) are known. Sheets (S) of various sizes can be placed on the paper feed tray (2). The apparatus body (1) includes a pickup roller (4) and a pair of first paper feed rollers.
(5), a sheet transport path (6), a pair of second paper feed rollers (7), a printing unit (8), a pair of transport rollers (9), and a pair of discharge rollers
(10) is the sheet between the paper feed tray (2) and the alignment device (3).
It is provided in order along the movement route of (S). Printing unit (8)
Is provided with an ink carriage (12) that moves along a holding shaft (11) in the front-rear direction. Although not shown in detail, the ink carriage (12) includes an ink head having a plurality of ink nozzles.

This recording apparatus is used, for example, by being connected to a computer (not shown) or the like, and performs printing on a sheet (S) based on a print request and image information from the computer or the like. When a print request and image information are sent from a computer, etc., the sheets placed on the paper feed tray (2)
One sheet (S) is a pickup roller from (S)
The paper is sent to the paper feeding step by (4). The sheet (S) sent out by the pickup roller (4) is sent to the sheet conveying path (6) by the first sheet feeding roller (5), and the leading end of the image information sent from a computer or the like and the sheet (S) The printing section (8) by the second paper feed roller (7) for adjusting the tip of
Sent to In the printing unit (8), the ink carriage (1
While 2) moves in one of the front and rear directions, ink is ejected from predetermined ink nozzles of an ink head corresponding to image information, and printing (recording) is performed on the sheet (S). At this time, the sheet (S) temporarily stops, and when the scanning of one line (one direction) of the ink carriage (12) is completed, the sheet (S) has a length corresponding to a plurality of ink nozzles of the ink head.
The conveyance of (S) is performed, and such processing is repeated in accordance with the image information, so that the image information by ink is recorded on the sheet (S). The sheet (S) on which printing has been completed in the printing unit (8) is discharged to an alignment device (3) to be described later via a discharge roller (10).

The discharge sheet aligning device (3) includes a discharge tray (20) for receiving and aligning the sheets (S) discharged from the discharge rollers (10) of the apparatus main body (1). Output tray (20)
Is a fixed tray (2) fixedly provided on the main unit (1).
1) and an extension tray portion (22) provided on the fixed tray portion (21) so as to be able to expand and contract in the left-right direction. The fixed tray portion (21) is fixed to the left side surface of the apparatus body (1) at the right end, and extends substantially horizontally to the left. The extension tray portion (22) is attached to the fixed tray portion (21) so as to extend substantially horizontally to the left, and is stopped at an arbitrary position. At the left end of the extension tray section (22), a sheet stopper (23) projecting upward is fixedly provided. A buffer member (24) made of a suitable material such as sponge or rubber is attached to the surface (right side) of the stopper (23) on the side of the apparatus body (1) where the sheet (S) comes into contact. Stopper (23)
Is equal to or higher than the sheet discharge height at the discharge roller (10). Also, the entire stopper (23)
The angle formed by the right surface of the cushioning member (24), which is the surface that (S) hits, and the surface of the extension tray portion (22) that receives the sheet (S) on the upper surface is 90 degrees or less.

The paper discharge tray regulated by the stopper (23)
The storable sheet length of (20) is the state where the extension tray part (22) is contracted to the minimum length position (the state indicated by the dashed line A in FIG. 1).
A state in which the extension tray portion (22) is extended to the maximum length position by a predetermined amount (preferably about 2 to 10 mm) longer than the length of the minimum size sheet (S) to be used (not shown).
The length is set to be longer by a predetermined amount (preferably about 2 to 10 mm) than the length of the sheet (S) of the maximum size to be used.

The extension tray section (22) is attached to the fixed tray section (21) so as to be able to expand and contract in the left-right direction with a very small force, and the sheet (S) discharged from the apparatus body (1) is a sheet. By pressing the stopper (23), the extension tray portion (22) is extended. For example, fixed tray (21)
The small sliding bearings are used on the sliding surfaces of the extension tray portion (22) to improve the sliding between them. Alternatively, a slippery resin or the like is stuck to the sliding surfaces of the fixed tray portion (21) and the extension tray portion (22) to improve the slippage between them.

In the above recording apparatus, when the printing operation is not performed, that is, when the alignment device (3) is not used,
As shown by a dashed line (A) in FIG. 1, the extension tray portion (22) is contracted to a minimum length position.

When the printing operation is started, or when the size of the sheet to be used changes during the printing operation, the extension tray section (22) is contracted to the minimum length position. Then, when the first sheet (S) is discharged from the apparatus main body (2), as shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, the leading end of the sheet (S) hits the stopper (23) and pushes it to the left, As a result, the extension tray portion (22) extends to a position necessary for aligning the sheets (S) of that size. And the sheet
When the ejection of the sheet (S) is completed and the sheet (S) is received on the sheet ejection tray (20), the extension tray portion (22) stops at that position, as shown by a two-dot chain line B in FIG. . After that, the extension tray section
With (22) stopped at that position, the second and subsequent sheets (S) discharged from the apparatus main body (1) are aligned and held on the discharge tray (20). When printing is completed, the output tray (20)
Remove the upper sheet (S) and shrink the extension tray section (22) to a minimum length to keep it out of the way.

In the recording apparatus described above, when the printing operation is started, the extension tray (22) is simply contracted to the minimum length position, and thereafter, the extension tray (22) is moved by the discharged sheet (S). 22) The extension length is adjusted automatically. For this reason,
The extension tray (2
It is not necessary to adjust the extension length of 2) and the operation is simple. Since the buffer member (24) is provided on the stopper (23), even if the sheet (S) hits the buffer member (24), the end thereof is not deformed. The height of the stopper (23) is
Since the sheet discharge height of the discharge roller (10) is equal to or higher than that of (1), the sheet (S) discharged through the discharge roller (10) surely hits the stopper (23). Therefore, the stopper (23) can be reliably pushed by the discharged sheet (S), and the extension tray portion (22) can be extended. Stopper for receiving the sheet (S) on the upper surface of the extension tray (22) and stopper
Since the angle formed by the sheet (S) of (23) and the surface on which the sheet (S) hits is 90 degrees or less, the sheet (S) hitting the stopper (23) does not move over the stopper (23), and therefore, is discharged. The stopper (23) can be reliably pushed by the sheet (S) to extend the extension tray portion (22).

FIGS. 2 to 4 show a second embodiment. 2 to 4 show only a portion of the discharged sheet aligning device (30) in the ink jet recording apparatus. In the description of the second embodiment, the rotation direction refers to the drawing.

In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the extension tray portion (22) is attached to the fixed tray portion (21) so as to be able to expand and contract in the left-right direction with a very small force. When the sheet (S) discharged from the apparatus main body (1) presses the sheet stopper (23), the extension tray portion (22) is extended. In addition, as will be described in detail later, when there is a discharge sheet (S) on the discharge tray (20), the extension tray portion (22) is held at the extended position, and By removing the discharge sheet (S), the extension tray section (22) is automatically contracted to a minimum length position corresponding to the minimum sheet size.

A rack (31) extending in the left-right direction is provided on the lower surface of the extension tray portion (22), and a rotating gear (32) meshing with the rack (31) has a front-rear axis on the fixed tray portion (21). It is mounted so that it can rotate freely around the center. Although not shown, a weak torsion coil spring that biases the gear (32) clockwise is provided inside the gear (32), thereby biasing the extension tray (22) rightward. Have been.
The rack (31) and the gear (32) are arranged at positions deviated to the front or rear from the conveyance path of the sheet (S) having the maximum width.

The apparatus body above the right end of the fixed tray section (21)
A shaft (33) extending horizontally in the front-rear direction is attached to the part (1) so as to be freely rotatable. The shaft (33) is provided with a first seat actuator (34) and a second seat actuator (35).
Is fixed at its base end. These actuators (3
4) (35) extends at right angles to the axis (33), and the angle between them in the rotation direction of the axis (33) is constant. The first actuator (34) controls the sheet so that the discharged sheet (S) can be detected.
It is arranged at the center in the front-rear direction of the transport path (S). The second actuator (35) is arranged at a position in the front-rear direction substantially corresponding to the rack (31) in order to avoid interference with the discharge sheet (S). When the shaft (33) rotates, the actuators (34) and (35) also rotate within a predetermined range. Although not shown, the shaft (33) is urged in a counterclockwise direction by an elastic member such as a weak spring, and normally stops at the inoperative position shown in FIG. At this time, the first actuator (34) extends almost directly below the shaft (33), penetrates the center of the fixed tray portion (21) and the extension tray portion (22) in the front-rear direction, and The portion is located slightly below the lower surface of the extension tray portion (22). Also, the second actuator (35)
Extends rightward and slightly downward from the axis (33). As described later, the actuators (34) and (35) rotate from the non-operation position to the maximum operation position shown in FIG. 3 when the first actuator (34) is pushed by the discharge sheet (S). At this time, the first actuator (34) is
It extends forward and slightly downward from 3). Also, the second
The actuator (35) extends almost directly below the shaft (33), and its tip is located slightly below the position corresponding to the lower surface of the extension tray (22). The fixed tray portion (21) and the extension tray portion (22) within the rotation range of the first actuator (34).
Is cut out in order to avoid interference with the first actuator (34).

The apparatus body below the right end of the fixed tray section (21)
The shaft (36) extending horizontally in the front-rear direction is attached to the part (1) so that it can freely rotate, and the part of the fixing leaf spring (37) extending almost in the left-right direction is slightly to the right from the center in the left-right direction. It is fixed to the shaft (36). The leaf spring (37) is disposed at a position corresponding to the second actuator (35) in the front-rear direction. The leaf spring (37) has weak elasticity by itself and can be elastically deformed freely. The left end of the leaf spring (37) is bent upward, and the right end is bent downward. Leaf spring (3
7), since the portion on the left side of the shaft (36) is longer than the portion on the right side, it is urged counterclockwise by gravity and normally stops at the inoperative position shown in FIG. At this time, the leaf spring
The bent portion at the right end of (37) corresponds to the portion of the rack (31) of the extension tray portion (22), and the left end portion is separated below the rack (31). When the actuators (34) and (35) rotate to the maximum operating position shown in FIG. 3, the tip of the second actuator (35) pushes the right side portion of the leaf spring (37) downward, whereby
The leaf spring (37) rotates clockwise to the operating position, the right end of which is separated from the rack (31) of the extension tray (22), and the left end of which engages with the teeth of the rack (31). The leaf spring (37) may be urged counterclockwise by an elastic member such as a weak spring.

The structure of the other parts of the ink jet recording apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In the discharge sheet aligning apparatus according to the second embodiment, when there is no sheet (S) on the discharge tray (20), such as when printing is not being performed or when printing is to be started, FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the actuators (34) and (35)
And the leaf spring (37) stops at the non-operation position, and the left end of the leaf spring (37) is separated downward from the rack (31) of the extension tray section (22). The gear (32) is stopped at the minimum length position by the elastic force of the spring.

In such a state, the printing operation is started,
When the first sheet (S) is discharged through the discharge roller (10), the first actuator (34) is pushed up by the sheet (S) as shown in FIG. , Whereby the second actuator (35) also rotates to the maximum operating position. When the second actuator (35) rotates clockwise and its tip moves below the extension tray (22), the tip hits the right side portion of the leaf spring (37), and this portion moves downward. Push. For this reason, leaf springs
(37) rotates clockwise to the operating direction, the right end of which is separated from the rack (31), and the left end of which engages with the teeth of the rack (31). Then, the second actuator (35) further rotates to the maximum operating position, and elastically deforms the right side portion of the leaf spring (37) downward. Even after the actuators (34) and (35) rotate to the maximum operating position, the sheet (S) moves further to the left so that the leading end of the sheet (S) hits the stopper (23) and pushes it to the left. This allows the extension tray (2
2) grows. Even if the leaf spring (37) rotates to the operating position and the left end of the leaf spring (37) engages with the rack (31), the left end of the leaf spring (37) extends upward and to the left. Spring (3
The left end of (7) is elastically deformed and moves to the left, whereby the extension tray (22) also moves to the left.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the discharge of the sheet (S) is completed and the sheet (S) is received on the discharge tray (20),
The first actuator (34) is rotated counterclockwise from the maximum operating position by the elastic force of the spring, and the tip of the first actuator (34) hits the sheet (S) on the sheet discharge tray (20), as shown in FIG. Stop at intermediate operating position. Accordingly, the second actuator (35) also rotates to the intermediate operating position, but even in this state, the distal end of the second actuator (35) pushes the right side portion of the leaf spring (37) downward, and the leaf spring ( Rack the left end of (37)
It is engaged with the teeth of (31). Extension tray (22) is geared
It is biased rightward by the elastic force of the spring of (32),
The tip of the left end of the leaf spring (37)
The engagement with the teeth of 1) prevents the extension tray portion (22) from moving to the right, and the extension tray portion (22) is held at that position. Then, in such a state, the discharge of the second and subsequent sheets (S) is continued.

When the printing operation is completed and the sheet (S) is removed from the discharge tray (20), there is nothing to prevent the first actuator (34) from rotating counterclockwise. (35) returns to the inactive position. And the second
The actuator (35) rotates to the inoperative position, and the leaf spring
Leaving (37), the leaf spring (37) also returns to the inactive position.
As a result, the left end of the leaf spring (37) is disengaged from the rack (31), and there is no obstacle to prevent the extension tray (22) from moving to the right. 2 and the extension tray section (22) moves to the right,
Shrink to the minimum length position shown in. When the leaf spring (37) returns to the non-operation position, the bent portion at the right end thereof hits the rack (31),
It does not hinder the movement of the extension tray section (22).

The set of the rack (31), the gear (32), the second actuator (35) and the leaf spring (37) may be provided not only on one side but also on both sides.

When there is a sheet (S) on the discharge tray (20), the extension tray section (22) is held at the extended position,
Means for shortening the extension tray portion (22) to the minimum length position by removing the discharge sheet (S) from (20) includes:
The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and can be appropriately changed.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus. However, the present invention can be applied to a sheet processing apparatus other than the ink jet recording apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a part of a discharge sheet alignment device in an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a portion of the discharge sheet aligning device showing a state different from that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a portion of the discharge sheet alignment apparatus showing a state different from that of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 (S) Sheet (1) Main unit (2) Input tray (3) Discharge sheet alignment device (10) Output roller (20) Output tray (21) Fixed tray section (22) Extension tray section (23) Sheet Stopper (24) Shock absorber (30) Discharge sheet alignment device

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hirotoshi Iemura 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside (72) Inventor Atsushi Ueda 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (72) Inventor Ryosuke Sugiyama 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside (72) Inventor Shigeru Yoshida 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term (reference) ) 3F054 AA01 AC01 BA02 BC02 BE04 BG13 BH07

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sheet processing apparatus for performing predetermined processing by moving a sheet, comprising: a sheet discharging tray for receiving and aligning sheets discharged from an apparatus main body of the sheet processing apparatus; The paper discharge tray includes an extension tray portion that can expand and contract with respect to the apparatus main body in a sheet moving direction, and a sheet stopper provided on the extension tray portion. A discharge sheet alignment device, wherein the extension tray portion is extended by pressing the sheet stopper. 2. When there is a discharge sheet on the discharge tray, the extension tray is held at an extended position, and the discharge sheet is removed from the discharge tray, so that the extension tray has a minimum length. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to automatically contract to a height position. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a height of the sheet stopper is equal to or higher than a sheet discharge height of a discharge roller of the apparatus main body.