JP2002356267A - Sheet discharge device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet discharge device capable of smoothly discharging a recording sheet without impairing the visibility of discharge status of the recording sheet and without any increase in cost so as to improve stacking efficiency in the case where a relay carrying means is provided with a function of a discharged paper tray and a post-treating means is connected adjacent to the discharged paper tray. SOLUTION: This sheet discharge device is provided with the post-treating means 3 for post-processing the recording sheet bearing an image, a relay carrying means 14 capable of carrying a recording sheet carried from an image forming part toward the post-treating means, and a discharged paper tray 14A loaded with the recording sheets using the top face of the relay carrying means 14. In the sheet discharge device, the post-treating means is provided with a discharged paper tray extending part 3A1 functioning as a part of the discharged paper tray 14A when the length in the discharging direction of the recording sheet is above a designated value. In the sheet discharge device, the discharge paper tray extension part 3A1 is formed by the top face of the post-treating means formed by a horizontal surface parallel to the discharged paper tray 14A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a sheet discharging device and an image forming apparatus using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine or a printing machine, when an image formed on a photosensitive member as a latent image carrier is transferred to a recording sheet, the image is fixed. Thereafter, the recording sheet is discharged to a discharge tray or the like. As a configuration related to the recording sheet discharge tray, a discharge tray that protrudes to the side of the image forming apparatus is often installed. In this configuration, the occupied space required for installation of the image forming apparatus including the discharge tray is included. Is large. Therefore, a configuration has been proposed in which the function of the paper discharge tray is provided in a part of the image forming apparatus (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-157725,
JP-A-2000-10768).

In each of the above publications, there is provided a relay conveying means having a paper discharge tray on the upper surface behind a fixing unit inside the image forming apparatus. The relay conveyance unit is used to convey a recording sheet discharged after fixing toward a post-processing unit that performs post-processing including stapling processing and performing post-processing such as classification discharge processing as a group of plural sheets. Device. By forming a part of the paper discharge tray in the relay conveyance means, it is possible to eliminate a portion that protrudes from the side of the image forming apparatus, thereby making it possible to reduce the occupied space.

The post-processing means is provided therein with a driving device for exhibiting functions such as a stapling device, a sorter or a collator, and a tray for discharging a recording sheet having completed these processes is provided in an image forming apparatus. Is provided on the side opposite to the connection position.

[0005]

The opening of the paper discharge tray provided on the upper surface of the relay conveying means is large enough to take out the stacked recording sheets.
In the configuration disclosed in the above publication, the tray on the post-processing means side is provided above the opening of the paper discharge tray, so that the post-processing means stands in front of the opening of the paper discharge tray. Are located. For this reason, it is difficult to visually recognize the inside of the paper discharge tray from the post-processing means side. In particular, depending on the size of the recording sheet discharged to the output tray,
For example, in the case of a so-called small-sized recording sheet that can be accommodated in the paper discharge tray, the discharge state on the paper discharge tray cannot be visually recognized from the post-processing means side, that is, the opening side of the paper discharge tray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems in the conventional sheet discharging apparatus, particularly, in a case where a post-processing means is connected adjacent to a paper discharging tray for a configuration in which a relay tray has a function of a paper discharging tray. And a sheet discharging apparatus having a structure capable of improving the stacking property by smoothly discharging the recording sheet without impairing the visibility of the discharge state of the recording sheet without increasing the cost. It is to provide a device.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Post-processing means for post-processing the recording sheet carrying the image,
A relay conveyance unit that can convey the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit toward the post-processing unit; and a discharge tray that can stack the recording sheet using an upper surface of the relay conveyance unit. In a sheet discharging apparatus provided with the post-processing means, a discharge tray extension functioning as a part of the discharge tray when a length of the recording sheet in a discharge direction is equal to or longer than a predetermined length. Is characterized by being constituted by a top surface of the post-processing means formed in a horizontal plane parallel to the paper discharge tray. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the top surface of the post-processing means has a horizontal surface having substantially the same height as the discharge tray extension, except for the surface of the discharge tray extension.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the discharge tray extension and the discharge tray are set at substantially the same height.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a sheet take-out portion is provided in the discharge tray extension portion along a conveying direction of the recording sheet.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the sheet take-out portion is constituted by a concave portion formed in the sheet discharge tray extension.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the post-processing means is provided with a transport path parallel to the discharge tray extension below the discharge tray extension. It is characterized in that it is configured to open the road.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet discharging device according to the first aspect is used.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the post-processing means conveys the non-post-processed recording sheet through the conveyance path, and branches the recording sheet to be post-processed from the conveyance path downward. It is transported through a post-processing transport path that is extended.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet discharge device according to an example according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 performs writing according to image information. Is a possible copier. The present invention can naturally be applied not only to the copying machine shown in FIG. 1 but also to an image forming apparatus capable of discharging sheets into an apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, or a printing machine. In FIG. 1, a printer 1 has a configuration in which a finisher 3 used as a post-processing unit, which will be described later, is connected to a paper discharge unit in an apparatus main body 2 that executes an image forming process. For the apparatus main body 2, not only the finisher 3 but also a reading scanner 4 having an automatic document feeder (ADF) 4A on the upper surface, and a paper feed unit provided in the image forming processing unit. Separately, a large number of paper trays 5 capable of supplying a large amount of paper are connected.

Inside the apparatus main body 2, there is provided an image forming processing section 2A in which various devices for executing image forming processing on the photosensitive member 6 as a latent image carrier are arranged. In the image forming processing unit 2A, a charging device (not shown), a writing device 7, a developing device 8, a transfer device 9, and a cleaning device (not shown) are provided around the photoconductor.

In the vicinity of the image forming processing section 2A, there is provided a sheet feeding device 10 capable of feeding a recording sheet of a selected size from a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes 10A toward the transfer device 9. As a part for feeding paper other than the paper feeding device 10,
In addition to the large-volume sheet tray 5, the manual feed tray 1
1 is provided.

The image forming processing section 2A is provided with a fixing device 12 for fixing an image carried on the transferred recording sheet, and the recording sheet passing through the fixing device 12 is
The transport direction can be switched by the switching unit 15 to one of the automatic double-sided unit 13 and a relay transport unit 14 described later.

The automatic double-sided unit 13 is used to form an image on both sides of a recording sheet. Although not described in detail, the recording sheet discharged from the fixing device 12 is subjected to a switchback process, and the transfer device 9 is again transferred. The paper is fed after the registration timing setting.

The relay conveying means 14 is a means that is detachably provided in the paper discharge section T inside the apparatus main body 2 and has a conveying path connecting the sheet discharge port of the apparatus main body 2 and the sheet introduction port of the finisher 3. In addition, the user can select between a case where the fixed recording sheet is conveyed toward the finisher 3 and a case where the recording sheet is discharged to the paper discharge unit T.

The upper surface of the relay conveying means 14 when mounted on the apparatus main body 2 is configured as a paper discharge tray 14A for discharging the fixed recording sheet to the paper discharge section T. Function as an inner tray located at A switching claw 16 is disposed at a position where the fixed recording sheet is introduced in the relay conveying means 14. The switching claw 16 is not shown, but depending on a conveying mode instructed by a control unit, the sheet discharging tray 14A side or the finisher 3 side. The conveyance path of the recording sheet is switched to any one of the above.

The finisher 3 has the configuration shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, a finisher 3 is arranged adjacent to a recording paper discharge section 14B of the relay conveyance means 14 in the apparatus main body 2. In the finisher 3, a switching direction in which the recording sheet transport direction can be switched in order to direct the recording sheet discharged from the relay transport unit 14 to one of the proof tray 17, the large-volume discharge tray 18, and the post-processing unit. Means 19 are provided.

In the present embodiment, a transport path toward the proof tray 17 (for convenience, indicated by reference numeral P1 in FIG. 3) is parallel to a part 3A1 of a top surface 3A described later. Further, a transport path P2 toward the mass discharge tray 17 or the post-processing section branches off from the transport path P1 and extends downward. The switching means 19 (see FIG. 2) is arranged at this branching position.

A switching means 20 for switching the conveying direction of the recording sheet conveyed by the conveying path P2 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the switching means 20 is connected to the mass discharge tray 18 side and the stapler 21 side. The transport direction can be switched in order to move to any one of the above.

The finisher 3 sorts and binds the recording sheets discharged from the relay conveying means 14. In the binding operation, the recording sheet introduced in the post-processing unit is aligned by the side jogger 22 at the edge in the width direction and by the rear fence 23 at the rear end side in the transport direction. Thereafter, the sheets are stapled in a state of being bundled together by a stapler 21 movable along the width direction of the recording sheet corresponding to the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The recording sheet group for which the binding operation has been completed is transferred to and discharged from the mass discharge tray 18 by the latching claws 24A provided on the belt 24.

The paper discharge tray 14A located on the upper surface of the relay conveying means 14 can store the size of the recording sheet by its own length, but when storing the recording sheet longer than that length, A part of the top surface of the finisher 3 is used as a paper output tray extension. For this reason, in this embodiment, a part 3A1 (FIG. 3) of the top surface 3A of the finisher 3 adjacent to the paper discharge tray 14 in FIG.
(B) is formed on a horizontal plane parallel to the sheet mounting surface of the paper discharge tray 14A, and has substantially the same height as the paper discharge tray 14A so that the horizontal plane can be obtained (FIG. 3A).
See).

The top surface 3A of the finisher 3 shown in FIG.
The surface other than the part 3A1 used as the paper output tray extension is also substantially horizontal with the same height as the part 3A1 serving as the paper output tray extension. It is a flat surface parallel to 14A. Note that the top surface 3 of the discharge tray 14A and the finisher 3
A at the edge facing the part 3A1 of the sheet tray A
The upper side 3A1 of the top surface 3A is provided with an inclined surface on which the leading end of the recording sheet can be lifted to improve the transferability of the recording sheet. Thus, it is possible to prevent the leading end of the recording sheet from falling into the gap between the opposed edges.

Part 3 of the top surface 3A forming an extension of the discharge tray
As shown in FIG. 3B, A1 is provided with a sheet take-out unit 3A2 along the recording sheet conveyance direction, and the sheet take-out unit 3A2 is provided on one of the top surfaces 3A forming the discharge tray extension. It is constituted by a concave portion formed in the portion 3A1. As a result, the recording sheets stacked on the discharge tray extension 3A1 are moved from the front side in the recording sheet discharge direction 3A2 as indicated by reference numeral H in FIG.
You will be able to take it out with your hand inserted and supported.

Since the present embodiment has the above configuration,
A paper discharge tray 14A using the upper surface of the relay conveyance means 14 and a paper discharge tray extension using a part 3A1 of the top surface 3A of the finisher 3 are both horizontal surfaces having substantially the same height. For this reason, when a recording sheet of a size that cannot be accommodated in the paper discharge tray 14A is discharged, as shown in FIG. 4, the top of the finisher 3 which is linearly continuous with the paper discharge tray 14A in a horizontal direction. The surface 3A is discharged with its tip reaching a part 3A1 of the surface 3A. As a result, the recording sheet moving from the discharge tray 14A to the part 3A1 of the top surface 3A does not increase the sliding resistance, that is, the so-called conveyance resistance, because the shape of the conveyance path does not change during the conveyance process. Therefore, smooth discharge is performed and deterioration of the stacking property at the time of lamination is prevented.

On the other hand, the top surface 3A of the finisher 3 has a surface other than the part 3A1 forming the extension of the sheet discharge tray, and the surface is substantially the same height as the part 3A1, so that the entire top surface 3A is flat. It is configured. For this reason, the discharge tray 14A
Since there is no member standing outside the apparatus main body 2 from the opening at the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of FIG.
As shown in (1), the discharge state of the recording sheet can be easily visually recognized. Thereby, it is possible to easily check the discharge state of the recording sheet, and when taking out the recording sheet when the discharge is completed, as shown by a two-dot chain line H in FIG. Since it can be easily taken out simply by pulling it out in the transport direction, it is possible to take out at the position where it is visually recognized. As a result, it is not necessary to perform the operation of checking the discharge state of the recording sheet and the operation of taking out the recording sheet in different places, and it is possible to improve the workability of taking out the recording sheet.

According to this embodiment, the top surface 3 of the finisher
3A, the surface other than the portion 3A1 forming the extension portion of the paper discharge tray is also formed of a horizontal plane having substantially the same height as the portion 3A1.
A, so that the recording sheet can be set to a height at which the recording sheet can be easily taken out.

Next, another embodiment according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 has a top surface 3A formed to be openable and closable on the top surface 3A of the finisher 3 so as to expose the transport path P1 inside the finisher.
Is also used as a discharge tray extension.

5 to 7, a part 3 of the top surface 3A is shown.
A1 has an opening / closing lid structure having a support shaft 25 provided on the finisher 3 side near the paper discharge tray 14A at the base end, and the opening / closing operation is performed on the handle portion 3 formed on the side opposite to the base end.
This is performed using A3 (see FIG. 6).

Part 3A of top surface 3A that can be opened and closed
Reference numeral 1 denotes a horizontal plane having substantially the same height in parallel with the paper discharge tray 14A as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, and is provided inside the finisher 3 and transported toward the proof tray 17. It is parallel to the road P1. In FIGS. 6 and 7, feed rollers R1 and R2 opposed to each other across the transport path P1 are arranged along the transport direction.
Among these feed rollers, a feed roller R1 located on the part 3A1 side of the top surface 3A and located above the transport path P1 is:
The top surface 3A is supported by a part 3A1 of the top surface 3A, and can be moved toward and away from the transport path P1. When the part 3A1 of the top surface 3A is opened as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the transport path P1 inside the finisher 3 can be exposed, and the transport path P
Opening / closing operation is performed at the time of jam clearance in step 1.

The top surface 3 which is also used as a discharge tray extension portion
A part 3A1 of A is provided with a configuration for setting the open / closed state as shown in FIGS. In FIG. 6, a part of the top surface 3 </ b> A which is also used as a paper discharge tray extension (for convenience, this part is represented as a paper discharge tray extension and denoted by reference numeral 3 </ b> A <b> 1) has The feeding roller R1 opposing the feeding roller R2 provided in the printer, the switching means 19 pivotally supported via a support bracket 26, and the discharge tray extension 3A1 A link lever 28 is provided for maintaining a state of standing up from 3A (a state in which the transport path P1 is opened). The link lever 28 is a lever member using a flexible resin in which the support pin 27 is inserted at one end in the longitudinal direction. The link lever 28 is formed with a long hole 28A parallel to the longitudinal direction, and the fixed hole 29 attached to the finisher 3 side is formed in the long hole 28A.
Is inserted. A locking projection 28A1 protruding toward the inside of the elongated hole 28A is provided in the middle of the elongated hole 28A in the longitudinal direction, and the locking projection 28A1 can engage with the immovable pin 29 according to the movement of the link lever 28. It has become. The locking projection 28A1 is capable of being slightly deformed and deformed, so that when the immobile pin 29 rides on, it contracts and deforms so that the immobile pin 29 can pass therethrough. The position of the locking projection 28A1 in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole 28A is such that the rotational moment due to the weight of the discharge tray extension 3A1 when the discharge tray extension 3A1 is raised from the top surface 3A and opened is immovable pin 29. , So that the discharge tray extension 3A1 can be maintained in an open state.

Since the present embodiment has the above configuration,
The conveyance path P1 in the finisher 3 is the discharge tray extension 3A.
Since it is parallel to 1, the length of the transport path toward the proof tray 17 can be reduced unlike the case where the transport path is curved. In addition, the paper discharge tray extension 3A is parallel to each other.
1 and the transport path P1, the space occupied by the transport path P1 and the discharge tray extension 3A1 in the height direction can be reduced. In the finisher 3, a recording sheet to be subjected to non-post-processing that does not require post-processing is transported to the transport path P.
1 to the proof tray 17, and the recording sheet to be post-processed, which requires post-processing,
The sheet is conveyed toward a large-volume sheet discharge tray 18 or a post-processing section through a conveyance path 2 extending downward from the sheet feeding path 1. For this reason, the finisher 3 can be provided with a post-processing section below the transport path P1, so that it is not necessary to install the finisher above the discharge tray 14A, so that the height in the height direction is reduced and the finisher 3 becomes bulky. Can not be.

The conveyance path P1 in the finisher 3 corresponds to a portion where the recording sheet conveyed from the relay conveyance means 14 first moves, that is, the entrance of the conveyance path different from the apparatus main body 2 side. It is also the part where the delivery is performed. Therefore, if a jam occurs during the transfer, a part 3A1 of the top surface 3A located above the transport path P1 is opened and a hand or the like for removing jammed paper is inserted toward the transport path P1. Can be used.

According to the present embodiment, even if it is not necessary to provide a configuration as a paper output tray extension, a part 3A1 of the top surface 3A that can be opened and closed, which is an existing configuration, can be used to simply provide a different function. It can be composed of one member, that is, a part 3A1, and the cost of parts and assembly can be reduced.

[0038]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the discharge tray extension is constituted by the top surface of the post-processing means which is formed in a horizontal plane parallel to the discharge tray, the discharge tray and the discharge tray are formed. The paper tray extension is formed on the straight line in the horizontal direction. For this reason, the recording sheet discharged from the discharge tray can be smoothly discharged without generating extra transport resistance.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, on the top surface of the post-processing means, the extended portion of the discharge tray and the surface other than this portion are also substantially horizontal with the same height as the extended portion of the discharge tray. It is possible to improve the visibility around the discharge side opening of the discharge tray. In particular, since there is no member that stands outside the apparatus main body from the opening in the sheet discharge tray on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, the discharge side opening can be easily checked without obstructing the discharge side opening from view. can do.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the paper discharge tray and the paper discharge tray extension are formed at substantially the same height, visibility from the discharge side opening of the paper discharge tray is improved. The recording sheet can be discharged with reduced conveyance resistance. Moreover, the height of the post-processing means in the height direction is reduced by positioning the discharge tray extension formed by the top surface of the post-processing means at the same height as the discharge tray, thereby preventing the post-processing means from becoming large. be able to.

According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, a sheet take-out section is provided in the discharge tray extension along the direction in which the recording sheet is conveyed, and the sheet take-out section is formed by a concave portion. The recording sheet conveyed to the paper tray extension can be taken out in the conveyance direction with a hand inserted into the recess and supported. Thus, when a large-sized recording sheet is to be taken out, it is only necessary to pull out the recording sheet in the transport direction.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the post-processing means is provided with a transport path parallel to the discharge tray extension below the discharge tray extension, and the discharge tray extension opens the transport path. Therefore, it is possible to use both the portion for eliminating the jam generated in the conveyance path of the post-processing means, that is, the portion where the conveyance path can be exposed to the outside, and the large-size recording sheet flower delivery section. it can. In particular, since the length of the receiving portion of the recording sheet can be reduced in a state in which conveyance resistance is unlikely to occur and in parallel with the conveyance path, it is possible to prevent the cost from being increased by using existing components and prevent the stacking property from deteriorating. Can be reduced in size.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the conveyance resistance of the recording sheet so as not to deteriorate the stacking property, and it is possible to easily confirm the discharge state of the recording sheet. Since the recording sheet can be taken out, the work of taking out the recording sheet can be facilitated.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the post-processing means conveys the non-post-processed recording sheet through a conveying path parallel to the discharge tray extension, and the post-processing target recording sheet is Since it is conveyed through the post-processing conveyance path that branches off from the conveyance path and extends downward,
The post-processing conveyance path can be arranged below the conveyance path parallel to the sheet discharge tray extension. This makes it possible to prevent the height in the height direction from being increased, unlike a case where another transport path is provided above the transport path, thereby reducing the size of the finisher and stabilizing the installation. (Height of the center of gravity)
Can be secured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus including a sheet discharge device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a post-processing unit provided in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an arrangement relationship between a discharge tray on a relay conveying means side and an extension of a discharge tray on a post-processing means side in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4B is a side view, and FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a recording sheet is discharged using a discharge tray and a discharge tray extension on the relay conveyance unit side illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a sheet discharge device according to another example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the sheet discharging device illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a main part configuration shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer which is one of image forming apparatuses 2 Device main body 2A Image forming part 3 Finisher which is a post-processing means 3A Top surface of a finisher 3A1 Part of the top surface which forms an extension of a discharge tray 14 Relay transport means 14A Relay transport means Discharge tray P1 located on the upper surface of the sheet P1 transport path parallel to the discharge tray extension in the finisher P2 transport path of the recording sheet to be post-processed S recording sheet

Claims (8)

[Claims] A post-processing means for post-processing a recording sheet carrying an image; a relay conveying means capable of conveying a recording sheet conveyed from an image forming section toward the post-processing means; A discharge tray on which the recording sheets can be stacked by using the upper surface, and a discharge tray extension portion functioning as a part of the discharge tray when the length of the recording sheet in the discharge direction is a predetermined length or more. In the sheet discharge device provided in the post-processing means, the discharge tray extension portion is configured by a top surface of the post-processing means formed in a horizontal plane parallel to the discharge tray. Sheet ejection device. 2. A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of said post-processing means has a horizontal surface having substantially the same height as the discharge tray extension, except for the surface of the discharge tray extension. A sheet discharging device. 3. The sheet discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge tray extension and the discharge tray are set at substantially the same height. 4. The sheet discharge device according to claim 1, wherein a sheet take-out portion is provided in the discharge tray extension portion along a conveying direction of the recording sheet. A sheet discharging device. 5. The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said sheet take-out portion is constituted by a concave portion formed in said discharge tray extension. 6. A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said post-processing means includes a conveying path parallel to said discharge tray extension below said discharge tray extension. The sheet discharge device provided, wherein the sheet discharge tray extension is configured to open the conveyance path. 7. An image forming apparatus using the sheet discharging device according to claim 1. Description: 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said post-processing means conveys a non-post-processed recording sheet through said conveyance path and moves a recording sheet to be post-processed from said conveyance path. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is conveyed through a post-processing conveying path that branches off and extends downward.