JP2003104616A - Sheet stacking device and sheet processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet stacking device and sheet processing device capable of being folded up, preventing any sheet, in particular a large size sheet, from falling off, and equipped with an enhanced effectiveness in conducting the stacking operation. SOLUTION: The angle α formed by the sheet stacking surface of a main tray 55 with respect to a horizontal plane is set smaller than the angle β formed by the sheet stacking surface of an auxiliary tray 56 relative to the horizontal plane.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a copying machine provided with a function of forming an image on a recording medium such as a sheet.
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile apparatus, and particularly to a sheet stacking apparatus provided in these apparatuses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a sheet processing apparatus of this type,
For example, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer is provided with a sheet stack tray such as a sheet discharge tray for stacking sheet-shaped sheets discharged after an image is formed.
As such a sheet stacking tray, for example, JP-A-1
There is a paper discharge tray described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 0-250894.

Such a discharge tray is rotatably supported with respect to the main body of the apparatus with a fixed portion as a center, and an auxiliary tray (drawer) is provided inside the discharge tray (base).
Is provided so that it can be pulled out. Therefore, the angle of the auxiliary tray with respect to the paper discharge tray is 0 °, and the width of the auxiliary tray is wide.

Further, as a document discharge tray in the document conveying device, there is a tray which is foldable at a predetermined portion (for example, a substantially central portion) in the document conveying direction. In the case of such a document tray, the shape of the discharged document does not change so much, so that the width of the auxiliary tray can be narrowed and the size of the entire tray can be reduced.

[0005]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned prior art, the following problems have occurred.

When such a foldable original tray is used as a tray for stacking transferred sheets, it is advantageous in that the structure is easy and there is a cost advantage, but the shape of the transferred sheets is unstable due to curling or the like. Therefore, it is very difficult to properly align and stack the transferred sheets on the sheet stacking tray, especially for a large size sheet.

Further, when the discharged large size sheet has a lower curl shape, there arises a problem that both front end portions of the sheet hang down and fall from the sheet stacking tray.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the purpose thereof is to be foldable and particularly to prevent a large size sheet from falling. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet stacking apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus with improved stackability.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a sheet stacking member having a sheet stacking surface for stacking sheets discharged from a sheet processing apparatus main body, and the sheet stacking member. A first member rotatably provided at the downstream end and folded on the upper surface of the sheet stacking surface.
Position and an auxiliary stacking member located at a second position that rotates from the first position to stack sheets of a size larger than the sheet stacking surface, and is attachable to and detachable from the sheet processing apparatus. In the sheet stacking device provided in the above, when the auxiliary stacking member is located at the second position, the size of the angle formed by the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member with respect to the horizontal plane is It is characterized in that the sheet stacking surface is set to be smaller than the angle formed by the horizontal surface.

The height of the downstream end of the auxiliary stacking member when the auxiliary stacking member is located at the second position may be higher than the extension of the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member. It is suitable.

A sheet stacking member having a sheet stacking surface for stacking sheets discharged from the main body of the sheet processing apparatus, and a rotatably provided at a downstream end of the sheet stacking member, on the upper surface of the sheet stacking surface. A folded first position; and an auxiliary stacking member located at a second position that rotates from the first position and allows stacking of sheets of a size larger than the sheet stacking surface, In the sheet stacking device detachably provided to the processing device, the height of the downstream end of the auxiliary stacking member when the auxiliary stacking member is located at the second position is the sheet of the sheet stacking member. It is characterized by being higher than the extension of the loading surface.

A sheet stacking member having a sheet stacking surface for stacking sheets discharged from the main body of the sheet processing apparatus, and a rotatably provided at a downstream side end portion of the sheet stacking member, on the upper surface of the sheet stacking surface. A folded first position; and an auxiliary stacking member located at a second position that rotates from the first position and allows stacking of sheets of a size larger than the sheet stacking surface, In the sheet stacking device detachably provided to the processing device, the length of the auxiliary stacking member in the sheet discharge direction is set to a value on the downstream side of the auxiliary stacking member when the auxiliary stacking member is located at the second position. It is characterized in that the height of the leading end is set to be higher than on the extension line of the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member.

A position at which the auxiliary stacking member is located at the second position by contacting the upstream end of the auxiliary stacking member with a surface of the sheet stacking member opposite to the sheet stacking surface. It is also preferable that a regulation part is provided.

It is also preferable that the length of the auxiliary stacking member is about one-fourth or less of the length of the sheet stacking member in the sheet width direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction.

It is also preferable that the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member includes a curved portion that curves in the sheet width direction.

It is also preferable that the curved portion has a concave center portion with respect to both end portions of the sheet stacking surface in the sheet width direction.

It is also preferable that a plurality of ribs are formed in the sheet discharging direction on the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member.

Of the plurality of ribs, it is also preferable that two ribs on both sides of the center in the sheet width direction are formed higher than the other ribs.

A sheet processing apparatus is characterized by including the above-mentioned sheet stacking apparatus and discharging the sheet to the sheet material stacking apparatus after performing an image forming process for forming an image on the sheet. .

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The material, the shape, and the relative arrangement of them should be appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the device to which the invention is applied and various conditions, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

First, the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 as a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the image forming apparatus 100, in which (a) is a right side of the apparatus and (b) is a left side of the apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the image forming unit.

The image forming apparatus 100 shown in this figure includes an apparatus main body 101, a paper feed table 103 optionally attached to a lower portion of the apparatus main body 101, and the apparatus main body 10.
1 and an automatic document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as ADF) 102 which is also optionally mounted on the upper surface of the sheet 1.

The image forming apparatus 100 has both the function of a copying machine and the function of a facsimile, and is a so-called digital multi-function peripheral that converts image information (optical signal) of a read document into an electric signal to form an image. Is.

In the main body 101 of the image forming apparatus 100, an image forming section 1 is arranged at a substantially central portion thereof, and a sheet feeding section 2 is arranged below the image forming section 1. Further, the scanner unit 3 serving as an image reading unit is arranged at the top of the apparatus main body 101. A space is provided between the scanner unit 3 and the image forming unit 1 to form a paper discharge space unit 4.

Image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment
The apparatus main body 101 of FIG. 1 uses the characteristics of the digital machine to separate the image forming unit 1 and the scanner unit 3 from each other to form a paper discharge space between them, thereby achieving a wingless structure, and saving the protrusion on the side surface of the device. This is a realization of a space-saving image forming apparatus.

In the main body 101 of the apparatus, the image forming section 1 is constructed as a conventionally well-known electrophotographic print engine, and has a laser writing device (not shown), electrophotographic process means 150, fixing device 151, etc. built therein (FIG. 2). ).

The paper feeding unit 2 has a two-stage paper feeding cassette 21, and feeds sheets to the image forming unit 1. Each sheet feeding cassette 21 is a front loading type that pulls out toward the front side of the apparatus to supply sheets, and a pulling handle is provided at the center of the front surface of the cassette.

A contact glass (not shown) is arranged on the upper surface of the scanner section 3, and a scanner unit (not shown) is arranged below the contact glass.

The paper discharge space 4 is surrounded by the optional paper discharge unit 44 on the left side of the apparatus in FIG. 2 and the wall surface on the back side of the apparatus, and is further surrounded by the scanner section 3 and the image forming section 1 in the upper and lower sides.

The paper discharge tray 41 provided at the bottom of the paper discharge space 4 is provided on the upper surface of the image forming unit 1.
The sheet recorded by the image forming unit 1 is ejected from the first paper ejection port 51 onto the paper ejection tray 41.

An optional paper discharge unit 44 is provided above the first paper discharge port 51. A second sheet discharge port 5 for discharging a sheet is provided in the optional sheet discharge unit 44.
2 and a third paper discharge port 53 are provided.

Above the paper ejection tray 41 of the paper ejection space 4 and
A second paper ejection tray 42 is provided below the scanner unit 3,
A third sheet discharge tray 43 as a sheet stacking device is provided on the left side of the apparatus and the left side of the optional sheet discharge unit 44.

The sheet recorded by the image forming unit 1 is the second
The sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge port 52 onto the second sheet discharge tray 42. In addition, the sheet recorded by the image forming unit 1 has the second sheet ejection port 5
After reversing at 2, the third sheet discharge tray 53 to the third sheet discharge tray 4
3 discharged on top.

The ADF 102 is mounted on the upper part of the apparatus main body 101 by a hinge (not shown) provided on the rear side of the apparatus, and is installed so as to cover the contact glass on the upper surface of the scanner section 3 so that it can be opened and closed. .

Since the structure and operation of the ADF 102 are the same as those conventionally known, detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the original stack (not shown) set on the original table 71 is contacted one by one from the bottom. The document that has been conveyed onto the glass and has been read and scanned by the scanner unit 3 is discharged onto the document discharge tray 72.

The ADF 102 can be used as a pressure plate for copying that does not rely on automatic paper feeding or for copying books or notebooks. ADF, which is an optional equipment
When the 102 is not attached, the upper surface of the scanner unit 3 is
A pressure plate for pressing the document on the contact glass is attached.

The paper feed table 103 has a two-stage paper feed cassette, like the paper feed unit 2 of the apparatus body 101. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the sheet feeding section is composed of a total of four sheet feeding cassettes. The upper side cassette of the paper feeding unit 2 may be changed to an automatic double-sided unit (double-sided tray) to enable double-sided copying.

Here, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ADF 102 regarding the copying operation in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.
An example will be described where is used as a pressure plate.

First, a document is placed on the contact glass on the upper surface of the scanner section 3.

Then, after closing the ADF 102, the number of copies and the like are designated by the operation unit 60 and the start button is pushed.

Then, the reading of the original by the scanner unit is started, and the image information of the read original is digitized by photoelectric conversion and image-processed.

Based on the processed signal, the laser writing device of the image forming unit 1 is driven to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. The latent image is visualized as a toner image, and the sheet feeding unit 2 of the apparatus main body 101 or the sheet feeding table 10 is formed.
3 is transferred to the sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette 21.

The toner image transferred on the sheet is fixed by the fixing device 151, and is sent to the first paper ejection port 51 or the paper ejection port selected by the user, for example, the third paper ejection port 53.

Then, the sheet on which the image has been formed is discharged onto a discharge tray corresponding to the discharge port.

Next, the structure of the third sheet discharge tray 43 as the sheet stacking device, which is a feature of this embodiment, will be described.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the third paper ejection tray 43 with the auxiliary tray 56 opened, and FIG. 4 is a state in which the auxiliary tray 56 is folded on the upper surface of the main tray 55 of the third paper ejection tray 43. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the main tray 55, FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the auxiliary tray 56, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part of the main tray 55 shown in FIG.
9 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the main tray 55 and the auxiliary tray 56, FIG.
6A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the third paper discharge tray 43, FIG. 7A shows a state in which the auxiliary tray 56 is folded on the upper surface of the main tray 55, and FIG. 9B shows a state in which the auxiliary tray 56 is open.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a case where the main tray 55 and the auxiliary tray 56 have the same angle, and FIG.
10 is a diagram showing a state in which sheets are stacked on the tray in the state of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which sheets are stacked on the third discharge tray 43.

The third discharge tray 43, as shown in the figure,
A main tray 55 as a sheet stacking member and an auxiliary tray 56 as an auxiliary stacking member are configured. The main tray 55 and the auxiliary tray 56 stack sheets on their respective sheet stacking surfaces. .

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the auxiliary tray 56 has a columnar protruding pin 12 protruding from both ends in the width direction.
Is provided (FIG. 6), and the protruding pin 12 is attached to the main tray 55.
The auxiliary tray 56 is pivoted about the hinge y by the main tray 55 through the holes 11 and the projecting pins 12 by inserting the auxiliary tray 56 into the holes 11 respectively provided at the corresponding positions (FIGS. 7 and 8). It is supported so that it can be folded to the upper surface side of the main tray 55, and can be folded into the first position folded to the upper surface side of the main tray 55 and the second position rotated from the first position. To position.

As shown in FIG. 5, the main tray 55 has a curved portion on the side portion. It is preferable that the curved portion has a concave shape at the center with respect to both end portions in the sheet width direction which is a direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction, and thereby the strength (tension) of the stacked sheets is increased. Can be given.

A plurality of paper passing ribs 15 are provided on the surface of the main tray 55. This supports the stacked sheets and prevents the stacked sheets from sticking to the surface of the main tray 55.
Further, the strength of the main tray 55 can be increased.

Further, on the surface of the main tray 55, the sheet passing ribs 15 are provided at two positions on both sides with respect to the substantial center in the sheet width direction.
A sheet passing rib 17 having a height higher than that is provided. Accordingly, by making the stacked sheets concave, it is possible to give the sheets a firmness (tension).

Further, a rib 18 having a short length in the sheet discharging direction is provided at the center of the surface of the main tray 55.
When the auxiliary tray 56 is folded with respect to the main tray 55, the auxiliary tray 56 projects from the auxiliary tray 56 so that the discharged paper is not caught at the step between the two.

When the auxiliary tray 56 is located at the pivotable angle with respect to the main tray 55, that is, the second position opened at the maximum opening angle, as shown in FIG. The arc-shaped protruding rib 16 as a position restricting portion provided on the rear end side edge of the back surface (the surface that faces upward when the auxiliary tray 56 is opened) is restricted by contacting the back surface of the main tray 55. It

Then, in the third paper discharge tray 43,
The maximum opening angle of the auxiliary tray 56 (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9B) is set smaller than 180 ° with respect to the main tray 55, and in this embodiment, the protruding rib is set to be 165.5 °. 16 are provided.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9B, the third
When the paper discharge tray 43 is installed in the apparatus main body 101, the angle α (0 ° ≦ α <90 °) of the main tray 55 is 30 ° with respect to the horizontal plane. Further, the angle β (0 ° ≦ β <90 °) of the auxiliary tray 56 at this time is
It is 44.5 ° and α <β.

The width z of the main tray 55 is determined by the maximum width of the sheet, and is set to 300 mm in this embodiment.

It is desired that the width x of the auxiliary tray 56 is set to be narrow from the viewpoint of operability when rotating from the main tray 55 and cost, and the width x of the auxiliary tray 56 is the width of the main tray 55. It is set to approximately 1/4 or less of z.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the auxiliary tray 56 is opened, the height of the tip of the auxiliary tray 56 is higher than the extension of the stacking surface C of the main tray 55. The length of the auxiliary tray 56 is set.

Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the main tray 5
Assuming that the angle α of 5 and the angle β of the auxiliary tray 56 have a relationship of α = β, when the large-sized discharge paper P is stacked on the third discharge tray 43, as shown in FIG. In addition, both end portions on the downstream side may hang down below the auxiliary tray 56, and the discharged paper P may drop from that portion.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the relationship of α <β causes the leading edge of the discharged paper P to be lifted, so that the downstream side both side portions of the leading edge do not hang down and the discharged paper P is discharged. The stackability of the paper P can be improved.

As described above, when the width x of the auxiliary tray 56 is narrow, the state shown in FIG.
By setting the relationship between the angle α of the main tray 55 and the angle β of the auxiliary tray 56 to be α <β, it is possible to improve the stackability of the paper discharge tray 43. Furthermore, by making the height of the tip of the auxiliary tray 56 higher than the stacking surface of the main tray 55, a greater effect can be obtained.

Further, as described above, a curved portion is provided on the side portion of the main tray 55, or the main tray 55 has a curved surface.
By providing the sheet passing ribs 17 at some places, it is possible to give the sheet a firmness (tension), so that it is possible to make it difficult to hang down the both end portions on the downstream side of the stacked sheets, and The loadability can be improved.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, a method of attaching the third sheet discharge tray 43 to the apparatus main body 101 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 13, the third discharge tray 43 is attached to the apparatus main body 101 so that the upstream side edge portion 14 of the main tray 55 is continuous with the third discharge port 53, and the third discharge tray 53 is projected. It is attached by inserting the section 13 into the insertion port 45 of the option paper discharge unit 44.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the third paper ejection tray attachment 61 is attached to the main body, and the convex portion 13 of the main tray 55 is attached to the third paper ejection tray attachment 61.
You may make it attach by inserting in the insertion port 62 of.

In this case, since the frontage of the third paper ejection port 53 is widened, it is possible to increase the number of sheets stacked on the third paper ejection tray 43.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By making the angle of the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member with respect to the horizontal plane smaller than the angle of the sheet stacking surface of the auxiliary stacking member with respect to the horizontal plane, the downstream end of the stacked sheets Is not lifted and both side portions of the leading edge are not hung down as in the prior art, so that it is possible to prevent the tray of large size paper from falling, and it is possible to improve the stackability of discharged paper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the sheet stacking apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which an auxiliary stacking member is opened.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a sheet stacking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which an auxiliary stacking member is folded.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a sheet stacking member.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing an auxiliary stacking member.

7 is an enlarged view of a main part of the sheet stacking member shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of a sheet stacking member and an auxiliary stacking member.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sheet stacking device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a case where the angles of the sheet stacking member and the auxiliary stacking member are the same with respect to the horizontal plane.

11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking device in the state of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a method of attaching the sheet stacking apparatus to the sheet processing apparatus main body.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a method of attaching the sheet stacking apparatus to the sheet processing apparatus main body.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Imaging department 2 paper feeder 3 Scanner section 4 Paper ejection space 11 holes 12 protruding pin 13 convex 14 upstream edge 15 Passing rib 16 protruding ribs 17 Paper Rib 18 ribs 21 Paper feed cassette 41 Output tray 42 Second output tray 43 Third output tray 44 Optional paper discharge unit 45 outlet 51 First Paper Exit 52 Second output port 53 Third Paper Exit 55 Main tray 56 Auxiliary tray 60 Control 61 Third Output Tray Attachment 62 outlet 71 Platen 72 Document ejection tray 100 image forming apparatus 101 Device body 102 ADF 103 paper feed table 150 Electrophotographic process means 151 Fixing device

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A sheet stacking member having a sheet stacking surface for stacking sheets discharged from a sheet processing apparatus main body, and a rotatably provided at a downstream end of the sheet stacking member, A first position folded on the upper surface, and an auxiliary stacking member located at a second position that rotates from the first position and allows stacking of sheets of a size larger than the sheet stacking surface. A sheet stacking apparatus detachably provided in the sheet processing apparatus, wherein when the auxiliary stacking member is located at the second position,
The size of the angle formed by the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member with respect to the horizontal plane is set to be smaller than the size of the angle formed by the sheet stacking surface of the auxiliary stacking member with respect to the horizontal plane. apparatus. 2. The height of the downstream end of the auxiliary stacking member when the auxiliary stacking member is located at the second position is higher than the extension of the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member. The sheet stacking device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A sheet stacking member having a sheet stacking surface for stacking sheets discharged from the main body of the sheet processing apparatus, and a sheet stacking member rotatably provided at a downstream side end of the sheet stacking member. A first position folded on the upper surface, and an auxiliary stacking member located at a second position that rotates from the first position and allows stacking of sheets of a size larger than the sheet stacking surface. A sheet stacking apparatus detachably provided in the sheet processing apparatus, in the case where the auxiliary stacking member is located at the second position,
A sheet stacking apparatus, wherein a height of a downstream end of the auxiliary stacking member is higher than an extension of the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member. 4. A sheet stacking member having a sheet stacking surface for stacking sheets discharged from the sheet processing apparatus main body, and a sheet stacking member rotatably provided at an end portion on the downstream side of the sheet stacking member. A first position folded on the upper surface, and an auxiliary stacking member located at a second position that rotates from the first position and allows stacking of sheets of a size larger than the sheet stacking surface. In the sheet stacking device detachably provided in the sheet processing apparatus, the length of the auxiliary stacking member in the sheet discharge direction is downstream of the auxiliary stacking member when the auxiliary stacking member is located at the second position. The sheet stacking apparatus, wherein the height of the leading end on the side is set to be higher than an extension of the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member. 5. The auxiliary stacking member is positioned at the second position by abutting an upstream end of the auxiliary stacking member against a surface of the sheet stacking member opposite to the sheet stacking surface. The sheet stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a position restricting portion that allows the position to be controlled. 6. The length of the auxiliary stacking member is about one-fourth or less of the length of the sheet stacking member in the sheet width direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction. The sheet stacking device according to any one of items 1 to 5. 7. The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member includes a curved portion that curves in the sheet width direction. 8. The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the curved portion has a concave center portion with respect to both end portions of the sheet stacking surface in the sheet width direction. 9. The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking member is formed with a plurality of ribs in a sheet discharging direction. . 10. A rib according to claim 9, wherein two ribs on both sides of the plurality of ribs with respect to substantially the center in the seat width direction are formed higher than the other ribs. Sheet stacking device. 11. A sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming process for forming an image on a sheet, and then discharging the sheet to the sheet material stacking apparatus. A sheet processing apparatus.