JP2003118918A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the visibility and removability of discharged sheets in an arrangement for discharging the sheets onto the upper surface of a printer, with a reader and the printer placed respectively in upper and lower positions. SOLUTION: An abutting part for discharged sheets is provided in the vicinity of a side of an image forming apparatus on the downstream side of feed direction and an output paper tray is tilted with its downstream side lower along the feed direction, so that the tips of sheets of all sizes are aligned with the side of the apparatus, resulting in better visibility and removability of the sheets. Further, a plurality of different discharge rollers for different sizes of sheets are provided to ensure alignment with the abutting part.

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 for arranging a digital image reading unit and an image forming unit vertically to form a recording sheet, and more particularly to a discharge tray for the image reading unit and the image forming unit. It relates to a device arranged between and.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional examples are shown in FIGS. FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the entire apparatus. As shown in the figure, the conventional image forming apparatus main body is composed of a reader 1 for reading image information of a document and processing it with a digital signal, and a printer 2 for forming recording paper based on the image information read by the reader 1. The sheet on which the image is formed is the reader 1 and the printer 2.
This is a so-called in-body discharge configuration that is discharged during the period.

The reader 1 includes a control panel 11 for operating the image forming apparatus, a platen cover 5 for setting a document on the upper part of the apparatus body and holding the document, and an image for scanning the image of the document. A scanning mechanism 6 and a controller 7 for processing the image information of the original with a digital signal are provided. When the image forming apparatus is operated, the image information of the original is processed with the digital signal and transmitted to the printer 2.

Further, by forming the paper discharge tray 3 on the upper surface of the printer 2 to discharge the recording paper, it is possible to reduce the installation occupation area of the device as compared with the structure for discharging the recording paper to the outside of the device. Since the paper feeding unit 3 employs a front loading method in which a paper cassette is inserted from the front of the apparatus main body, paper can be replenished from the front of the main body.

The space for taking out the paper discharge tray 3, that is, the space between the paper discharge tray 3 and the reader 1 is determined by the size of the reader 1 / printer 2 and the height restriction of the document surface of the reader 1.

As shown in FIG. 6, the sheet is discharged by the discharging roller 8 in the direction a in the figure, but since the sheet is inclined so that the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction is low, the sheet is abutted on the abutting portion 9. The sheets are aligned and loaded so that the rear ends are abutted.

[0007]

However, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the sheet discharged to the sheet discharge tray 3 is taken out, the operator puts his or her hand on the sheet discharge tray 6 below the leader 1 to remove the sheet. You need to grab it by hand and take it out,
In the above-mentioned conventional example, there is a problem that the sheet is discharged right below the reader 1, so that the visibility for the user is poor, and the space between the paper discharge tray 6 and the reader 1 is small, and it is difficult to take out the sheet. Further, in the conventional example, since the rear end of the sheet is abutted against the abutting portion 9 and stacked regardless of the size of the sheet, the sheet is located on the left side in the drawing particularly in the case of a small size sheet, and the sheet is placed below the leader. There was a problem that you could not check the seat unless you looked into it.

Further, if the space between the paper discharge tray 6 and the reader 1 is unnecessarily widened, the height of the reader 1 becomes high and the original glass surface becomes high, so that the operability of the original set deteriorates. There's a problem.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a contact portion for a discharged sheet near the side surface of the apparatus (side opening 10 in the discharge area), and the discharge tray conveys the sheet. By sloping so that the downstream side in the direction becomes lower, the leading ends of the sheets of all sizes are aligned with the side surface of the apparatus, so that it is possible to improve the visibility and the removability of the sheet.

Further, by providing a plurality of discharge rollers which differ depending on the size of the sheet, the alignment with the abutting portion can be ensured.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 4 are views for explaining an image forming apparatus embodying the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view, FIG. 2 is a right side view, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a method of taking out a sheet. Similar to the conventional example, the main body of the image forming apparatus is composed of a reader 1 that reads image information of a document and processes it with a digital signal, and a printer 2 that forms recording paper based on the image information read by the reader 1.

The mechanism inside the reader 1 and the printer 2 will be described. The reader 1 has a control panel for operating the image forming apparatus, a platen cover 5 for setting an original on the upper part of the apparatus main body and holding the original, an image scanning mechanism 6 for scanning an image of the original, Controller 7 for processing the image information of the original with a digital signal
Is provided, the image forming apparatus is operated, and at the same time, the image information of the original is processed by a digital signal and transmitted to the printer 2. The printer 2 receives a digital signal input from the reader 1 and irradiates a photoconductor with a laser beam to write an image, and a writing device (laser scanner) 12 and an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by writing the image. An image forming unit 13 that forms a toner image after forming an image and transfers the toner image to a sheet, a fixing device 14 that fixes the toner image, and a sheet feeding unit 4 located below the device are provided.

The image forming operation will be described. When the user presses the copy start button or outputs a printout signal from the personal computer, the paper is fed from the paper feeding unit 4 and placed on the side of the apparatus main body. The toner image formed on the photoconductor is transferred to a sheet, the sheet carrying the toner image is passed through a fixing device 14 to be fixed, and passes through a reversing path 16 to the upper surface of the printer. The sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 3 provided in the.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet discharge tray 3 is inclined so that the downstream side in the transport direction becomes lower, and the sheet discharged in the vicinity of the side surface of the apparatus is on the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction of the sheet discharge tray. An abutting member 17 for abutting is provided. When the sheet is discharged from the paper discharge roller 8, the leading end of the sheet hits the abutting member 17 and is stacked on the paper discharge tray 3. When ejecting a small-sized sheet, the sheet can be ejected reliably until the abutting member 17 is abutted by increasing the conveying speed of the ejecting roller 8. With the above configuration, it is possible to stack all the sheets aligned near the side surface of the apparatus regardless of the size of the sheets.

As shown in FIG. 3, since the abutting member is rotatably supported on the paper discharge tray, when the user takes out the sheets stacked on the paper discharge tray 3, the abutting member 17 is shown in the figure. The sheet can be taken out by rotating in the b direction. At this time, the discharged sheet can be easily confirmed from the side surface portion 10 of the apparatus without looking under the user reader 1.

As described above, the abutting portion of the discharged sheet is provided in the vicinity of the side surface of the apparatus, and the discharge tray is inclined so that the downstream side in the conveying direction becomes lower, so that the leading end of the sheet of all sizes is on the side surface of the apparatus. Since the sheet is aligned with the portion, it is possible to improve the visibility and the takeout property of the sheet.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an image forming apparatus using a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the discharge tray 3 and the abutting member 17 are the first
Since it is the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. The present embodiment is characterized in that the conveying path until the image-formed sheet is conveyed to the sheet discharge tray 3 is different between a small size and a large size.

Sheet conveyance will be described. The sheet on which the image is formed is conveyed to the conveyance path switching unit through the reversing path 16. Here, the flapper 19 is rotatable depending on the size of the sheet. When the sheet is large, the flapper 19 rotates clockwise in the drawing to guide the sheet to the discharge roller 8. When the sheet is of small size, the flapper 19 rotates counterclockwise in the drawing, so that the sheet is of small size conveyance unit 20.
And is discharged to the paper discharge tray 3 by the small size discharge roller 21. With the above configuration, a small-sized sheet can be reliably abutted against the abutting member 17.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the abutting portion of the discharged sheet is provided in the vicinity of the side surface of the apparatus, and the discharge tray is inclined so that the downstream side in the conveying direction becomes lower, so that all sizes can be obtained. Since the front end of the sheet comes to be aligned with the side surface of the apparatus, it is possible to improve the visibility and the removability of the sheet.

Further, by providing a plurality of discharge rollers which differ depending on the size of the sheet, the alignment with the abutting portion can be ensured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus using the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the image forming apparatus using the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram when a discharged sheet is taken out of the image forming apparatus using the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of taking out a discharged sheet of the image forming apparatus using the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus using a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram when a discharged sheet is taken out by the conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a right side view of a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 leader 2 printer 3 Output tray 17 Abutting member 19 flapper 20 Small size transport path 21 Small size discharge roller

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A recording paper discharge unit for arranging an image reading unit and an image forming unit up and down, processing image information obtained by reading an image of an original with a digital signal, and discharging a formed recording paper. In the image forming apparatus arranged between the reading unit and the image forming unit, the recording paper discharge unit is inclined such that the downstream side in the transport direction is lower than the upstream side, and the recording paper discharge unit is downstream in the transport direction. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that an abutting member with which the edge of the recording paper abuts is provided near the side edge of the apparatus main body at the side edge. 2. The abutting member is configured to be rotatable in a direction that does not interfere with the removal of the recording paper with respect to the direction in which the recording paper is taken out of the apparatus. Image forming device. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of discharge rollers for discharging the recording paper to the recording paper discharging unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a discharge roller that discharges to the recording paper discharging unit is different depending on a size of the recording paper that is discharged. 5. The conveyance speed of a discharge roller for discharging the recording paper to the recording paper discharge unit is variable depending on the size of the discharged sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The conveying speed of the discharge roller for discharging the recording paper to the recording paper discharge portion is set so that the small size is higher than the large size. Image forming device.