JP2003054820A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device of in-barrel paper discharge type which can easily take out paper loaded on a paper discharge tray by eliminating forming of a cutout in the paper discharge tray, simultaneously with work high efficient under the paper discharge tray. SOLUTION: This image forming device 1 has a perpendicular axis 56 arranged in almost the perpendicular direction to support a tray 7 capable of turning with this almost perpendicular direction serving as the center toward a sheet takeout position with at least partly the tray 7 occupying a position except a space 100 and/or a horizontal axis 59 arranged in almost the horizontal direction to support the tray 7 capable of swiveling with this almost horizontal direction serving as the center.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile and a printer, which is an in-body discharge type image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to reduce the size of image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, facsimiles, printers, etc., a paper discharge tray is formed in the image forming apparatus main body rather than outside the image forming apparatus. The number of devices arranged in a space opened to the outside is increasing. Such an image forming apparatus is a wingless type of in-body sheet discharge type, and is a so-called in-body sheet discharge type image forming apparatus.

However, in the in-body discharge type image forming apparatus,
The space described above is limited in size due to space restrictions, so it is important how to easily take out the paper from the paper discharge tray. Particularly in the in-body discharge type image forming apparatus, as in the case where the discharge tray is provided outside the image forming apparatus, the tray for discharging the sheet after image formation by copying, the sheet after image formation by facsimile reception Since the discharge trays and other discharge trays are often divided into jobs according to the type of sheets to be stacked, the space allocated to each discharge tray is limited and it is difficult to take out the sheets from the discharge tray.

Conventionally, by making a large cutout in the paper ejection side of the paper ejection tray so that the end face of the paper on the paper ejection tray protrudes from the paper ejection tray, the paper can be easily taken out. ing.

[0005]

However, if such a notch is provided in the paper discharge tray, the strength of the paper discharge tray is reduced and the paper flexes when the paper is loaded, so that the paper slips and scatters, and stacking defects occur. There is a problem. In particular,
If such a cutout is provided in the vicinity of the base of the tray in order to accommodate small-sized sheets, the strength of the discharge tray is significantly reduced, and the above-mentioned problems occur even if only a small number of sheets are stacked. Further, in the in-body discharge type image forming apparatus,
When a conveyance failure such as a jam occurs in the sheet conveyance path located below the tray, there is also a problem that the jam processing or the like is difficult because the space below the tray is small.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily take out the sheets stacked on the paper discharge tray without forming a notch in the paper discharge tray, and to improve the efficiency of work below the paper discharge tray. It is an object of the present invention to provide an internally discharging type image forming apparatus.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a space that is opened to the outside, and a tray for discharging sheets in a cylinder that has a tray that is arranged in this space and stacks sheets. Type image forming apparatus has a vertical shaft which is arranged substantially vertically and rotatably supports the tray around the vertical direction toward a sheet take-out position where at least a part of the tray occupies a position outside the space. It is characterized by

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the vertical shaft is rotationally driven to displace the tray between the home position in the space and the sheet take-out position. The rotary drive means and the operating means for operating the rotary drive means.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the image forming apparatus described above, a tray detection unit that detects whether the tray is at the home position in the space and a sheet detection unit that detects whether sheets are stacked on the tray are provided. Then, when the tray detecting means detects that the tray is not in the home position and the sheet detecting means detects that there is no sheet on the tray, it warns that the tray is not in the home position. It is characterized by having a warning means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, tray detecting means for detecting whether or not the tray is at the home position in the space,
Sheet detecting means for detecting whether or not sheets are stacked on the tray, and for rotatively driving the vertical shaft to displace the tray between the home position in the space and the sheet take-out position. Rotation drive means, and when the tray detection means detects that the tray is not at the home position and the sheet detection means detects that there is no sheet on the tray, the rotation drive means It is characterized in that the tray is located at the home position.

The invention according to a fifth aspect is the first to the fourth aspects.
The image forming apparatus described in any one of the above 1 to 3 is characterized in that the tray has a handle for rotating the tray about the vertical axis toward the sheet taking-out position.

The present invention as defined in claim 6 is any one of claims 1 to 5.
In the image forming apparatus according to any one of the items 1 to 3, there is a discharging unit that discharges a sheet to the tray, and the tray is arranged so that the discharging unit side is inclined.
The vertical axis is arranged at an end of the tray on the side of the discharging means.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claims 1 to 5.
In the image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5, the tray is disposed above a sheet conveyance path different from a sheet conveyance path that conveys a sheet to the tray, and is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction. It has a horizontal axis that supports the tray so that the tray can swing.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the tray is arranged above a sheet conveying path different from a sheet conveying path for conveying a sheet to the tray, It is characterized in that it has a horizontal shaft which is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction and which supports the tray so as to be swingable around this.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the horizontal shaft is arranged at an end of the tray opposite to the discharging means.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a space which is opened to the outside and a tray which is arranged in the space and stacks sheets, and the tray is a sheet conveying path for conveying the sheets to the tray. An in-cylinder sheet discharge type image forming apparatus arranged above another sheet conveying path is characterized by having a horizontal shaft arranged in a substantially horizontal direction and rotatably supporting the tray around this. And

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the seventh to tenth aspects, further comprising elastic means for supporting the horizontal axis so as to be displaceable in a substantially vertical direction. To do.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the tray is inserted into the upper surface of the tray from below the sheet when the sheet is taken out. It is characterized in that it has a concave shape bent downward so as to form a groove for holding, and the groove extends substantially parallel to the direction of taking out the sheet from the tray.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, the groove is the smallest size sheet among the sheets on which an image is formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. Are formed within the range where they are stacked on the tray and occupy positions.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, a plurality of the trays are vertically arranged in the space. To do.

[0021]

FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 2 that forms an image forming apparatus main body, and a finisher 4 as an example of a post-processing unit that is a sheet post-processing apparatus mounted on the left side surface of the apparatus main body 2.
And a relay transport unit 6 having a unit structure that transports a sheet, which is a sheet-like medium and a sheet as a recording medium, which is a part of the apparatus main body 2 and is discharged from the apparatus main body 2, to the finisher 4, and a relay transport unit 6. An inner tray 7 serving as a paper discharge tray disposed above the sheet, a reading scanner 8 installed on the uppermost surface of the apparatus main body 2, an automatic document feeder or ADF 10 installed on the upper surface of the reading scanner 8, and a finisher 4. It is mainly composed of an automatic double-sided unit 12 which is a double-sided unit as an optional device provided on the side opposite to the above, and a manual feeding unit 14 as an optional device. A paper tray 16 and the like are provided.

The apparatus main body 2 has a tray 38 serving as a stacking tray composed of the upper surface of the relay conveying means 6 at the bottom thereof.
The front surface of the paper surface in FIG. 1 and the two left surfaces of the paper surface continuous with the paper surface have a space 100 that is open to the outside.
The inner tray 7 is arranged in this space 100. Since the reading scanner 8 and the ADF 10 have well-known configurations, description of their configurations and functions will be omitted. It should be noted that in FIG. 1, a large number of black triangles indicate paper detection sensors.

The apparatus main body 2 has a so-called vertical transport path system structure in which the image forming unit 18 is located at the center, the paper feeding unit 20 is located below the paper, and the paper discharging unit 22 is located above the paper. In the vicinity of the right side surface of the apparatus main body 2 in which the unit 12 is provided, a target image is formed while being conveyed substantially vertically from below to be discharged.

In the image forming section 18, the reading scanner 8
A writing unit 24 forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum 26 as an image carrier based on image data transmitted from an external device such as a computer or a personal computer, and the electrostatic latent image is developed as a developing device. Unit 28
The developer on the developing roller 27 as a developer carrying member provided in is supplied and visualized, that is, developed. Code 2
Reference numeral 9 denotes a developer collecting device that supplies the developer to the developing unit 28.

When a sheet is selected by an operator, that is, an operator operates an operation panel (not shown), or automatic sheet selection and image formation are started, a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes 20a, 20b, 20c of the sheet feeding unit 20 are selected. , 20d or a corresponding one of the manual feed units 14 is fed. The sheet is conveyed to the transfer portion after adjusting the timing with the image front end position of the visible toner image on the photosensitive drum 26, and the toner image is transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit 32. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 34 and fixed there, and then sent to the sheet discharge unit 22.

The paper discharge section 22 in this embodiment has the following four types.
It has a paper discharge route as a type of sheet conveying route.

Solid line discharge route R1 entering the automatic duplex unit 12 Dotted line discharge route R2 discharged to the inner tray 7 Dotted line discharge route R3 discharged to the tray 38 Inside the relay conveying means 6 Entering the finisher 4 through the sheet discharge route R4 and the sheet discharge route R2 indicated by solid lines
Is selectively switched by the branch claw 40 and the branch claw 42, and the paper discharge route R3 and the paper discharge route R4 are selectively switched by the branch claw 40 and the branch claw 44. The paper discharge route R2 is located above the paper discharge routes R3 and R4.

The sheet discharged to the automatic double-sided unit 12 by the sheet discharge route R1 is switchback reversed inside the automatic double-sided unit 12, and is conveyed from before the registration roller 30 into the vertical conveyance path. When the paper is fed through the manual feed unit 14 or the paper feed tray 16 for a large number of sheets,
The sheet is conveyed in the vertical conveyance path as shown by the arrow.

The finisher 4 has a paper discharge tray extension 46 that functions as a part of the tray 38 when the size of paper is a predetermined size or more, and also has a tray 48. Inside the finisher 4, a stapler 50 for binding a bundle of sheets and a discharging unit 5 for pushing up the bundle of sheets bound by the stapler 50 and discharging them to the tray 48.
Equipped with 2. The paper discharge route R4 entering the finisher 4 is a solid line paper discharge route R5 that directly discharges to the tray 48 without performing post-processing, and the paper discharge route R4 after performing post-processing.
To a paper discharge route R6 indicated by a dotted line, which is selectively switched by a branch claw 54.

Although not shown in detail, a raised portion is integrally formed in the central portion of the tray 38 from the viewpoint of reducing the contact resistance of the sheet to the tray 38. Relay carrier 6
A plurality of transport rollers 49 are provided inside the sheet, so that the sheet after image formation can be received and transported to the finisher 4.

On the right side surface of the device body 2, the device body 2
Side plate 81 as an opening / closing member that can occupy a release position that exposes the inside of the device and a shield position that covers the device body 2.
Is provided. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the side plate 81 occupies the shielding position. The side plate 81 integrally has the transfer means 32 inside the apparatus main body 2, and when the side plate 81 occupies the release position, the transfer means 32 and the photoconductor 26 are separated from each other. The automatic double-sided unit 12 can be mounted on the apparatus main body 2 so as to cover the side plate 81.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the paper is discharged to the inner tray 7, a paper discharge roller 55 as a discharging means.
The paper is discharged onto the inner tray 7 via the
When the sheet is discharged to the sheet 8, the sheet is discharged onto the tray 38 via the sheet discharge roller 56. When the image is formed by copying or the like, the paper is stacked on the tray 38, and when the image is formed by the facsimile reception, the paper is stacked on the inner tray 7.
Each tray 7, 38 is divided into jobs. Hereinafter, in the inner tray 7, the discharge roller 55 side, that is, the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction is the base side, and the discharge roller 55.
The opposite side, that is, the downstream side in the paper transport direction is referred to as the front end side. The inner tray 7 is arranged so as to be inclined so that the root side thereof is lowered. Further, the inner tray 7 has a paper aligning portion 76 which is erected upward on the root side. The paper discharged by the paper discharge roller 55 once moves to the leading end side due to inertia, and then slides down to the root side due to the inclination. Then
The sheet aligning unit 76 aligns the edges.

As shown in FIG. 3 or 4, the image forming apparatus 1 has a vertical shaft 56 which is disposed substantially vertically and which rotatably supports the inner tray 7 around this. The vertical shaft 56 is provided at the base side of the inner tray 7 at the corner on the front side in FIGS.
The inner tray 7 is engaged with the home position stored in the space 100 around the vertical shaft 56,
As shown in FIG. 3, at least a part of it occupies a position outside the space 100 and is rotatable with respect to a sheet take-out position suitable for taking out a sheet.

The image forming apparatus 1 has a horizontal shaft 59 which is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction and which supports the inner tray 7 so that the inner tray 7 can swing about the center. The horizontal shaft 59 is arranged in a support member 60 arranged on the tip side of the inner tray 7. The support member 60 is internally provided with a spring 63 as elastic means.
The horizontal shaft 59 is supported by a spring 63 so as to be displaceable in a substantially vertical direction. Therefore, the inner tray 7
Since its leading end is displaced downward as the number of sheets loaded increases, it occupies a position suitable for loading sheets regardless of the number of sheets on the inner tray 7, and the sheets are always loaded. It can be done orderly and well. Further, when no sheets are stacked on the inner tray 7, the space on the tray 38 below the inner tray 7 becomes large, so that the sheets on the tray 38 can be easily taken out.

The base side of the inner tray 7 has a vertical shaft 56.
Is supported on a surface 58 arranged so as to project. The supporting member 60 corresponds to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIGS.
Is smoothly supported on the upper edge 62 of the side plate 61 disposed on the left side of the drawing. The lower surface of the support member 60 is wide, and the support member 60 is always supported on the upper edge 62 even when the inner tray 7 rotates between the home position and the sheet take-out position. When taking out the paper on the inner tray 7, the paper is taken out after turning the inner tray 7 from the home position to the sheet take-out position, so that the paper can be taken out easily.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 64 indicates a rotation supporting member for supporting the root side of the inner tray 7 in a state of being displaced upward with the horizontal shaft 59 as the center. The rotation support member 64 normally occupies the solid line position in FIG.
Although it does not interfere with the inner tray 7, the tray 38
The finisher 4 passes above or through the relay conveyance means 6.
When a jam etc. occurs in the paper discharge route R4
As shown by a broken line in FIG. 4, by rotating the inner tray 7 and supporting it in a state in which the root portion of the inner tray 7 is displaced upward, the jam treatment and the like can be easily performed. is there. Place the inner tray 7 on the horizontal axis 5
In the state of swinging upward around 9 as a center, the engagement between the inner tray 7 and the vertical shaft 56 is released.

As shown in FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus 1 has a rotation driving means 65 for rotationally driving the vertical shaft 56 to displace the inner tray 7 between the home position and the sheet take-out position. There is. The rotation drive means 65 includes a motor 66 that is a stepping motor as a drive source,
It has a gear 68 arranged at the end of the line of the motor shaft 67, and a gear 69 that engages with the gear 68 and integrally rotates the vertical shaft 56. The vertical shaft 56 is a ridge 70 extending in the axial direction.
have. The inner tray 7 has a hole 71 having a notch 72 corresponding to the ridge 70.
6 is inserted into the hole 71. As a result, the inner tray 7 is rotated about the vertical shaft 56 by driving the motor 66.

Although not shown, operation means for the operator to operate the rotation driving means 65 is arranged on the operation panel above the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 so that the operator can take out a sheet when taking out a sheet. By operating the rotation driving means 65 by the operating means, the inner tray 7 can be rotated so as to occupy the sheet take-out position. In this case, when the operation means indicates that the inner tray 7 should be rotated, the motor 66 is normally rotated by a pulse corresponding to the position where the inner tray 7 is rotated by 45 °, and the inner tray 7 is taken out of the sheet. Occupy a position.
The inner tray 7 can be rotated manually.

As shown in FIG. 6, on the image forming apparatus 1 main body side, a transmissive sensor 7 as tray detecting means for detecting whether or not the inner tray 7 is at the home position.
7 is provided, and the inner tray 7 is
A filler 78 is arranged above the sensor 77 when the inner tray 7 occupies the home position. Therefore, when the inner tray 7 is at the home position shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, the filler 78 blocks the light of the sensor 77, and it is detected that the inner tray 7 is at the home position, and the inner tray 7 is detected as shown in FIG.
At the sheet take-out position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line, the filler 78 does not block the light of the sensor 77, so that it is detected that the inner tray 7 is not at the home position.

On the paper stacking surface of the inner tray 7,
A reflection type sensor 79 is provided as a sheet detecting means for detecting whether or not the sheets are stacked on the inner tray 7. The sensor 79 detects the light reflected from the lower surface of the sheet to detect the inner side. It is configured to detect that the sheets are stacked on the tray 7. A display device (not shown) as a warning unit is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, the sensor 77 detects that the inner tray 7 is not at the home position, and the sensor 79
When it is detected that there is no paper on the inner tray 7, the display device warns the operator that the inner tray 7 is not at the home position. By issuing this warning, the paper is ejected from the paper ejection roller 55 in a state where the inner tray 7 is not at the home position, and transport troubles such as scattering of the paper and damage to the inner tray 7 are prevented in advance. Is possible.

In the image forming apparatus 1, the sensor 77
However, if it is detected that the inner tray 7 is not in the home position and the sensor 79 detects that there is no paper on the inner tray 7, the display device only warns that the inner tray 7 is not in the home position. Instead, the motor 66 is rotated in the reverse direction by the control device (not shown) until the sensor 77 detects that the inner tray 7 is at the home position. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the above-described transport trouble such as paper scattering and damage to the inner tray 7 described above.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the inner tray 7 is bent downward so as to form a groove 80 on the upper surface of the inner tray 7 for inserting a hand from below the sheet when taking out the sheet. It may have a concave shape 82. The groove 80 extends substantially parallel to the direction in which the paper is taken out from the inner tray 7. The groove 80 is formed within a range in which the smallest size of the sheets on which an image is formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 is stacked on the inner tray 7 and occupies a position on the inner tray 7. This allows
It is possible to easily take out the smallest size sheet even when the smallest size sheet is stacked on the inner tray 7 without lowering the strength of the inner tray 7.

As shown in FIG. 9, the inner tray 7 also has a handle 83 for rotating the inner tray 7 toward the sheet take-out position and for rotating the inner tray 7 toward the home position. May be. When the handle 83 is provided, the inner tray 7 can be easily rotated without using the rotation driving means 65.

Although the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied has been described above, at least one of the rotation driving means 65 and the display device as the warning means is provided in order to solve the above-mentioned problems such as paper scattering. If you have. The inner tray 7 may have a handle 83 as well as the groove 80. The inner tray 7 to which the present invention is applied has a space 10
A plurality of them may be arranged in parallel in the vertical direction within 0.
If the number of inner trays 7 is large, it is possible to divide a larger number of types of jobs. The image forming apparatus 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in 0, a sheet post-processing device may be omitted. The image forming apparatus 1 does not include the discharge route R4 of the above-described discharge route and the transport rollers and the like associated therewith.

[0045]

According to the present invention, an in-body sheet discharge type image forming apparatus having a space opened to the outside and a tray for stacking sheets arranged in this space is arranged substantially vertically. Since the tray has a vertical shaft that rotatably supports the tray around at least a portion thereof toward a sheet take-out position occupying a position outside the space, the tray does not have to be formed with a notch. It is possible to provide an in-body discharge type image forming apparatus that can easily take out sheets stacked on top.

A rotary drive means for rotating the vertical shaft to displace the tray between the home position and the sheet take-out position in the space; and an operating means for operating the rotary drive means. By doing so, it is possible to provide an in-body sheet discharge type image forming apparatus in which an operator can displace the tray to the sheet take-out position when taking out the sheet and easily take out the sheets stacked on the tray. You can

The tray detecting means has a tray detecting means for detecting whether or not the tray is at the home position in the space, and a sheet detecting means for detecting whether or not the sheets are stacked on the tray. If there is a warning means for warning that the tray is not at the home position when it detects that the tray is not at the home position and the sheet detection means detects that there is no sheet on the tray,
It is possible to warn the operator that the tray is not at the home position, prevent sheets from being discharged onto the tray when the tray is not at the home position, and prevent transport problems such as sheet scattering and the tray. It is possible to provide an in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus capable of preventing breakage of the sheet in advance.

Tray detecting means for detecting whether or not the tray is at the home position in the space, and sheet detecting means for detecting whether or not the sheets are stacked on the tray,
Rotation driving means for rotatively driving the vertical axis to displace the tray between the home position in the space and the sheet take-out position, and the tray detection means detects that the tray is not in the home position and If the rotation drive means positions the tray at the home position when the detection means detects that there is no sheet on the tray,
It is possible to warn the operator that the tray is not in the home position, prevent paper from being discharged onto the tray when the tray is not in the home position,
It is possible to provide an in-body sheet discharge type image forming apparatus capable of reliably preventing transport troubles such as scattering of sheets and breakage of a tray.

If the tray has a handle for rotating the tray about the vertical axis toward the sheet take-out position, the tray is turned toward the sheet take-out position for taking out the sheet and the sheet is taken out. When the tray is rotated toward the home position after taking it out, the operator can perform the rotation by grasping the handle, so that the rotation can be easily performed when the rotation is manually performed, and the operability is improved. It is possible to provide the in-body discharge type image forming apparatus.

It has discharge means for discharging the sheet to the tray, the tray is arranged so as to be inclined so that the discharge means side is lowered, and the vertical axis is arranged at the end of the tray on the discharge means side. By doing so, since the sheets are stacked on the discharge means side of the tray, even if the tray is rotated around the vertical axis and the tray occupies the sheet take-out position, it is possible to prevent the sheets from being scattered from the tray. An internally ejected image forming apparatus can be provided.

The tray is arranged above the sheet conveying path different from the sheet conveying path for conveying the sheet to the tray, and is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction. By having an axis, by swinging the tray upward about the horizontal axis, it is possible to improve the efficiency of work such as jam processing in another sheet conveyance path below the tray, including other trays. Provided is an in-body discharge type image forming apparatus capable of easily taking out a sheet stacked on a tray without forming a notch in the tray and when another tray is located below the notch. be able to.

Assuming that the horizontal shaft is arranged at the end of the tray opposite to the discharging means, even if the tray is arranged so as to be inclined so that the discharging means side of the tray is lowered, By swinging the tray upwards around the center of the tray, it is possible to prevent the sheets on the tray from slipping off easily, and it is possible to secure a large working space for jam handling, etc. It is possible to provide an in-cylinder discharge type image forming apparatus in which the horizontal axis can be easily arranged due to the design.

The present invention has a space opened to the outside and a tray arranged in this space for stacking sheets, and the tray is different from the sheet transport path for transporting sheets to this tray. In the in-body sheet discharge type image forming apparatus disposed above the path, since the horizontal axis is provided in a substantially horizontal direction and rotatably supports the tray around this, the horizontal axis is centered. By swinging the tray upward, it is possible to improve the efficiency of work such as jam clearance in the other sheet conveying path including other trays below the tray, and to lower the tray without forming a notch. When there is another tray, it is possible to provide an in-body discharge type image forming apparatus that can easily take out the sheets stacked on the tray.

If the elastic means for supporting the horizontal axis so as to be displaceable in the substantially vertical direction is provided, the tray is displaced downward as the number of stacked sheets increases, so that the number of sheets on the tray does not matter. Instead, it occupies a position suitable for stacking sheets, so that it is possible to always stack sheets satisfactorily and satisfactorily, and when there is no sheet on the tray, if there is another tray below it, Since the space on the tray becomes large, it is possible to provide the in-body sheet discharge type image forming apparatus that can easily take out the sheet on the tray.

The tray has a concave shape bent downward so as to form a groove on the upper surface of the tray for inserting a hand from below the sheet when the sheet is taken out. As long as it extends substantially parallel to the take-out direction, it does not reduce the strength of the tray.
It is possible to provide an in-body sheet discharge type image forming apparatus that can easily take out sheets stacked on a tray.

Assuming that the groove is formed within the range in which the smallest size sheet among the sheets on which an image is formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus is stacked on the tray and occupies the position, the smallest size sheet is formed. It is possible to provide an in-body sheet discharge type image forming apparatus capable of easily taking out the sheets even when they are stacked on the tray.

There are a plurality of trays vertically in the space,
If they are arranged side by side, it is possible to separate sheets from each tray without forming cutouts, and to improve the workability such as jam handling in the lower trays. It is possible to provide an in-body sheet discharging type image forming apparatus that can also be applied to the above.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing how a vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft, and a tray are rotated.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the vertical axis, the horizontal axis, and the swinging state of the tray.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a rotation driving means for rotating the tray.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing tray detecting means and sheet detecting means.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a tray having a concave shape.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a tray having a concave shape.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tray having a handle formed thereon.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image forming device 7 trays 56 vertical axis 59 Horizontal axis 63 Elastic means 65 rotation drive means 77 Tray detection means 79 sheet detection means 80 grooves 82 concave shape 83 handle 100 space R2 sheet transport path R3 and R4 separate sheet transport path

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03G 21/16 G03G 15/00 554 F term (reference) 2H071 AA35 AA38 DA24 DA32 2H072 AA17 AA22 AB11 AB27 CA01 CB01 FB10 JA02 3F048 AA02 AA04 AA05 AB01 BA05 BC03 BD08 CB02 CB05 CB15 CC01 DA09 DB01 DC05 EA03 EB40 3F054 AA01 AC02 AC03 AC05 BA02 BF02 BF09 BF24 BJ02 BJ15 CA10 CA16 CA23 CA37 DA05 DA17

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An in-body sheet discharge type image forming apparatus having a space opened to the outside and a tray arranged in the space for stacking sheets, the image forming apparatus being arranged substantially vertically. An image forming apparatus comprising: a vertical shaft that rotatably supports the tray so that at least a part of the tray is rotatable toward a sheet take-out position that occupies a position outside the space. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vertical shaft is rotationally driven to displace the tray between a home position in the space and a sheet take-out position. An image forming apparatus comprising: operating means for operating the rotation driving means. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein tray detecting means for detecting whether or not the tray is at a home position in the space, and whether or not sheets are stacked on the tray. A sheet detecting means for detecting whether or not the tray detecting means detects that the tray is not in the home position and the sheet detecting means detects that there is no sheet on the tray. An image forming apparatus comprising: a warning unit that warns that the vehicle is not in the home position. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising tray detecting means for detecting whether or not the tray is at a home position in the space, and whether or not sheets are stacked on the tray. The sheet detection means for detecting, and the rotation drive means for rotationally driving the vertical shaft to displace the tray between the home position in the space and the sheet take-out position, the tray detection means When the tray is not in the home position and the sheet detecting means detects that there is no sheet on the tray, the rotation driving means positions the tray in the home position. Image forming apparatus. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray has a handle for rotating the tray about the vertical axis toward the sheet take-out position. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising discharge means for discharging a sheet to the tray, wherein the tray is arranged so as to be inclined so that the discharge means side is lowered. An image forming apparatus, wherein the vertical shaft is provided at an end portion of the tray on the side of the discharging means. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray is provided above a sheet conveying path different from a sheet conveying path for conveying a sheet to the tray. An image forming apparatus having a horizontal shaft which is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction and which swingably supports the tray around the horizontal shaft. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the tray is arranged above a sheet conveying path different from a sheet conveying path for conveying a sheet to the tray, and is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction. An image forming apparatus having a horizontal axis that supports the tray so that the tray can swing around the center. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the horizontal axis is arranged at an end of the tray opposite to the discharging means. 10. A space having an opening to the outside, and a tray arranged in the space for stacking sheets, the tray being provided in a sheet transport path different from the sheet transport path for transporting the sheets to the tray. An in-cylinder sheet discharge type image forming apparatus arranged above has a horizontal shaft which is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction and which rotatably supports the tray around this. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising elastic means for supporting the horizontal axis so as to be displaceable in a substantially vertical direction. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray has a groove formed on an upper surface of the tray for inserting a hand from below the sheet when the sheet is taken out. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that it has a concave shape bent downward so that the groove extends substantially parallel to the direction of taking out a sheet from the tray. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the groove, the smallest size sheet among sheets on which an image is formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus is stacked on the tray. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is formed within a range occupying a predetermined position. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the trays are vertically arranged in the space.