JP2004224573A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily take out a recording paper delivered into a recording paper delivery part. <P>SOLUTION: The recording paper delivery part 4 is provided in a space part between a recording paper preparation part 3 and an image reading part 2. The recording paper delivery part 4 is provided with a delivery tray 20 capable of loading the recording paper 8 delivered from the recording paper preparation part 3, arranged by separating from an upper face of the recording paper preparation part 3 across a space, and supported on a side of a recording paper delivery port 5 and a side opposing to the recording paper delivery port 5. In the mode in which an opening part for taking out the delivered recording paper 8 is opened in the direction orthogonal to the direction of delivery of the recording paper delivered from the recording paper delivery port 5, the recording paper delivery part 4 is provided with the delivery tray 20 arranged by separating from the upper face of the recording paper preparation part 3 across the space and supported on the side of the recording paper delivery port 5, the side opposing to the recording paper delivery port 5, and a side opposing to the opening part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic copying machine, a thermal transfer copying machine, or a digital image forming apparatus having the functions of a facsimile, a printer, and the like.

  An image forming apparatus such as the above-described electronic copying machine is configured as an apparatus in which an image reading unit and a recording paper forming unit are integrally combined, and the reflected light of the image of the document read by the image reading unit is converted into a recording paper forming unit. The image data is transmitted to an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum provided in the image forming section, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the image carrier. Around the image carrier, means for forming a toner image by electrophotography, means for transferring the toner image to paper, and a fixing device are provided, and the paper carrying the toner image is passed through the fixing device. After fixing, a recording paper can be obtained.

  A general electronic copying machine or the like as described above is configured as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1. In the conventional electronic copying machine, an image reading unit is disposed at an upper portion of the apparatus main body, and a recording paper forming unit is provided at a lower portion of the image reading unit. In addition, a paper feed unit for arranging a plurality of paper feed trays is provided at a lower portion of the apparatus body. The above-described electronic copying machine is configured as an apparatus using a method of writing an image by transmitting light obtained by scanning an image of a document directly to a photosensitive drum. On the other hand, a mechanism for outputting information obtained by scanning a document as a digital signal in an image reading section and forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum or the like using a writing means by a laser beam in a recording paper forming section is used. It may be provided.

  The digital-type electronic copying machine is configured to perform an image signal processing operation as in the case of a facsimile. As with the laser printer, a mechanism for creating recording paper using a digital system is provided. As described above, even in an apparatus in which a digital image reading unit and a recording paper creating unit are combined, recording paper is scanned using information obtained by scanning an original image in the same manner as in the case of an optical electronic copying machine. Can be created. Further, the image forming apparatus using the digital system can be used not only as an electronic copying machine but also as a facsimile or as a printer connected to a computer. With the image forming apparatus having the above-described composite function, the functions of the electronic copier, the laser printer, and the facsimile can be arbitrarily used.

  As described above, when an image forming apparatus is configured by combining a digital image reading unit and a recording paper creating unit, the apparatus main body uses a digital mechanism. Can be configured as Further, even when a paper feed cassette, a paper feed tray, or the like is mounted on the paper feed unit in order to supply paper to the recording paper making unit, as shown in Patent Document 1 or the like, the paper feed cassette or the like is not used. It can be mounted from the front side of the device. In addition, since the sheet storage device such as a sheet cassette is configured to be detachable from the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the installation of the image forming apparatus is smaller than a mechanism for detaching the sheet cassette from the side. The space can be reduced, and the operability of the device can be improved.

  However, as described above, even when an image forming apparatus is configured using a digital method, it is necessary to arrange a recording paper discharge unit for discharging recording paper so as to protrude from a side portion of the apparatus main body. In this case, the space of the discharge tray is used extra. Further, in a conventional image forming apparatus, there is a case where a mechanism configured to convey a sheet supplied from a sheet feeding cassette or the like to a recording sheet forming unit via a sheet conveying path arranged on a side portion of the apparatus main body is used. There are many. In addition, an opening / closing door member is disposed on a side of the apparatus main body for performing maintenance on each member constituting the image forming apparatus and for processing jammed paper in a paper conveyance path.

  Therefore, in an apparatus in which an opening / closing door or the like is provided on a side portion of the apparatus main body, it is necessary to install the image forming apparatus in a state where extra space is provided on both sides for opening and closing the door. Even when other devices and the like are arranged on both sides of the image forming apparatus, these devices cannot be arranged in close contact with each other, and a lot of useless space is used for office space and the like. Will be. On the other hand, when another device or the like is arranged close to both sides of the image forming apparatus, when performing maintenance on the image forming apparatus, the other device is moved or the image forming apparatus is moved. There is a problem that it is necessary to move the device, and complicated work is required.

  In order to solve such a problem, a space is provided between the image reading unit and the recording paper forming unit, and the recording paper is discharged into the space, so that the space occupied by the image forming apparatus can be reduced. In addition, there is an apparatus that enables maintenance or the like to be performed from the front side for each mechanism of an image forming apparatus using a digital method.

  Such an image forming apparatus is configured as shown in FIG. 1, in which an image reading section a and a recording sheet forming section b are arranged vertically, and a space is provided between the image reading section a and the recording sheet forming section b. A recording paper discharge section c is disposed, and a mechanism for discharging the recording paper created by the recording paper creation section b from the recording paper discharge port d toward the recording paper discharge section c. Further, an operating means e for controlling the image reading section a and the recording paper creating section b is arranged on the front side of the apparatus, and an opening / closing means is arranged on the front side of each apparatus. In order to discharge the recording sheet toward the section c, a sheet conveyance path in the recording sheet preparation section b is formed on the front side.

  Accordingly, maintenance or the like can be performed only from the front side of the apparatus main body, and the recording paper discharge unit c can be disposed in a space between the image reading unit a and the recording paper creation unit b. Therefore, it is possible to form an apparatus in which there is no protrusion on both sides of the apparatus main body, and it is possible to arrange other apparatuses on both sides of the image forming apparatus in a state of being in close contact with each other. Etc. can be used effectively.

JP-A-2-231324 (Example, FIG. 2) JP-A-1-314256 (Example, FIG. 1)

  However, the recording paper discharge section c in the above-described image forming apparatus does not have a discharge tray for receiving the recording paper, and is configured to be discharged and deposited directly on the bottom of the discharge section. However, there was a drawback that it was very difficult.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to eliminate or improve this disadvantage, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which a recording sheet discharged to a recording sheet discharging section can be easily taken out.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention provides a recording apparatus having an image forming section for forming an image on a sheet and using the recording sheet as a recording sheet, and a recording sheet discharge port for discharging the recording sheet. A paper forming unit, an image reading unit that is provided above the recording paper forming unit via a space, reads a document fixed horizontally, and supplies read image information to the image forming unit; A recording paper discharging unit provided to form a space between an upper surface of a paper forming unit and a lower surface of the image reading unit, and accommodating recording paper discharged from the recording paper discharging port; The paper discharge unit is capable of stacking the recording paper discharged from the recording paper preparation unit, is disposed with a space from the upper surface of the recording paper preparation unit, and is provided with the recording paper discharge port side and the recording paper. Supported on the side opposite the paper exit It is characterized in that it comprises an outgoing tray.
As a typical embodiment of the present invention, an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet and forms a recording sheet is disposed therein, and a recording sheet forming unit having a recording sheet discharge port from which the recording sheet is discharged; An image reading unit which is provided above the recording sheet forming unit via a space and reads a horizontally fixed document, and supplies read image information to the image forming unit; and an upper surface of the recording sheet forming unit A recording paper discharge unit that is provided so as to form a space between the recording paper discharge unit and the recording paper discharge unit, and that is discharged to the recording paper discharge unit. An opening that opens in a direction perpendicular to a recording paper discharge direction that is discharged from the recording paper discharge port to take out the recording paper, wherein the recording paper discharge unit discharges the recording paper from the recording paper forming unit. Recording paper can be loaded, A recording tray is disposed in a state of being separated from the upper surface of the paper forming unit with a space, and includes a discharge tray supported on the recording paper discharge port side, a side facing the recording paper discharge port, and a side facing the opening. Embodiments are described.
In such technical means, the support structure of the discharge tray may be appropriately selected, but from the viewpoint of stably supporting the discharge tray, the discharge tray is placed on the upper surface of the recording paper forming unit. Good to be.
In addition, in order to facilitate the removal of the discharged recording paper, it is preferable that the discharge tray has a shape in which the side from which the recording paper is removed is at least partially cut away.
Furthermore, in order to keep the recording paper take-out property and the recording paper consistency well, it is preferable that the discharge tray is inclined upward from the side adjacent to the recording paper discharge port toward the other side.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the discharge tray is arranged so that the recording paper discharge section is disposed over substantially the entire area on the opposite side from the recording paper discharge port side, and stably stores the recording paper. Dropping can be effectively prevented.
Further, if the discharge tray is made detachable, it can be used as an option.
In this case, when the discharge tray is used, the lower space of the discharge tray can be used as a space for taking out the recording paper, and the work of taking out the recording paper discharged to the recording paper discharge unit accordingly. Can be easily performed. On the other hand, if the discharge tray is detached, the storage capacity of the recording paper can be increased.
In particular, in the present invention, the recording paper discharge unit is provided in the space between the recording paper preparation unit and the image reading unit, so that the amount of recording paper deposited in this space is limited. For this reason, in the limited recording paper storage space, the recording paper can still be discharged even if the discharge tray is removed, and moreover, a large amount of the recording paper discharged using the upper surface portion of the recording paper preparation unit is used. It can be accommodated and is very effective.
Further, a stopper may be provided on the discharge tray at a position on the back side of the main body corresponding to the recording paper size.
Here, the stopper may be made of an elastic material such as Mylar so that when a recording sheet having a size larger than the position of the stopper is discharged, the recording sheet is bent, and when the recording sheet acts as a stopper, the recording sheet may be received at the edge. .
Further, when the stopper is made of an elastic material such as Mylar, a bent portion for imparting rigidity may be provided on the tip side of the Mylar excluding the bending root.

According to the present invention, the recording paper discharge unit is provided in the space between the recording paper preparation unit and the image reading unit, and the recording paper discharged from the recording paper preparation unit can be stacked on the recording paper discharge unit. There is a discharge tray that is arranged with a space from the upper surface of the recording paper forming unit and is supported on the recording paper discharge port side and the side facing the recording paper discharge port. The space can be used as a space for taking out the recording paper, so that the work of taking out the recording paper discharged to the recording paper discharge part can be easily performed, and the recording paper discharge side and Since the discharge tray is supported on the two sides opposite to the recording paper discharge port, it is possible to sufficiently secure the support strength of the discharge tray.
Further, in the aspect of the invention, in the aspect in which the opening for taking out the discharged recording paper is opened in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper discharge direction discharged from the recording paper discharge port, the recording paper discharge unit has The recording paper discharged from the recording paper forming unit can be stacked, is arranged in a state in which the recording paper generating unit is spaced apart from the upper surface of the recording paper forming unit, and has a recording paper discharge side, a side facing the recording paper discharge opening, and an opening. If the discharge tray supported on the side facing the portion is provided, the discharge tray can be supported on three sides other than the opening, and the support strength of the discharge tray can be sufficiently ensured.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The image forming apparatus 1 is configured as an apparatus in which an image reading unit 2 and a recording paper preparing unit 3 are vertically stacked, and a space is formed between the two units 2 and 3 so that a recording paper discharging unit is provided in this portion. A recording paper discharge port 5 is formed in one side of the recording paper discharge section 4 and is connected to the recording paper preparation section 3.

The image reading section 2 is provided with a mechanism for setting an original on the apparatus main body and scanning the image of the original, and a platen cover 6 for pressing and holding the original is provided similarly to a general image reading section. It is.
On the other hand, a control panel 7 is disposed on the same surface as the recording paper discharge unit 4 in the recording paper preparation unit 3, and controls the operations of the image reading unit 2 and the recording paper preparation unit 3 and the like. You can do it.

The image reading section 2 has its front surface shifted rearward by L1 with respect to the lower recording paper forming section 3, and a part of a recording paper discharge section 4 formed on the upper surface of the recording paper forming section 3. It is visible from above.
Thus, the recording paper 8 which has been discharged to the recording paper discharging section 4 can be viewed by the operator from above.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the image forming apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, the image forming unit disposed inside the recording paper forming unit 3 writes the image on the photosensitive drum 9 in the same manner as a general laser printer. A laser beam is output in accordance with a digital signal input from the image reading unit 2, and the laser beam is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 9 to write an image. Around the photosensitive drum 9, a charger, a developing device 11, a cleaning device 12, and a transfer corotron 13 are arranged as in the case of an image forming mechanism using an electrophotographic method. Then, the photosensitive drum 9 is uniformly charged by the charger, and writing is performed by the writing device 10 to form an electrostatic latent image, and toner is supplied from the developing device 11 to the electrostatic latent image. An image is formed, and the toner image is transferred to a sheet by discharging the transfer corotron 13. Reference numeral 14 denotes a discharge roller.

  In addition, in the recording paper forming section 3, a paper feeding section 15 is arranged at a lower portion of the apparatus in order to feed the paper toward the image forming section. The paper sent from the paper supply unit 15 toward the paper conveyance path of the recording paper creation unit 3 is transferred to the leading end of the paper and the photosensitive drum 9 by a registration roller 16 disposed immediately before the image transfer unit from the photosensitive drum 9. The toner is sent out at the same timing as the toner image to be formed. Then, the toner image is transferred to a sheet by discharging the transfer corotron 13, the sheet carrying the toner image is fixed through a fixing device 17 to form a recording sheet, and the recording sheet is discharged from the recording sheet discharge port 5 through a discharge roller 14. It is configured to be discharged toward the part 4.

  FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that the right side in the embodiment shown in FIG. A part of the recording paper discharge unit 4 on the recording paper preparation unit 3 can be seen from the left side of the upper image reading unit 2. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 indicate the same components as those in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a discharge tray provided in the recording paper discharge section 4 toward the recording paper discharge port 5 thereof. The discharge tray 20 is configured as shown in FIG. 5. One end of the discharge tray 20 facing the recording paper discharge port 5 and the other end in the discharge direction abut on the upper surface of the recording paper discharge unit 4, and the other end is It is inclined upward from one end and is separated from the upper surface of the recording paper discharge unit 4. Further, a side wall 21 is provided upright at an inner end of the discharge tray 20. The discharge tray 20 can be inserted into and removed from the recording paper discharge unit 4. A notch 20a for taking out recording paper is provided on the front side of the notch 20a.

A plurality of stoppers 22 are provided on the discharge surface of the discharge tray 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the stopper 22 is located several mm (for example, at the back edge of the recording paper 8 of each size (A6, A5, B5, A4, B4, A3) discharged from the recording paper discharge port 5. At a position corresponding to a distance of about 5 mm, two pieces are provided in the discharge direction.
In this embodiment, each of the stoppers 22 is made of a mylar having a thickness of 0.1 mm. As shown in FIG. 8A, each of the stoppers 22 is located on the back side of a slit 23 provided in the discharge tray 20. It is inserted and projected to the front side and inclined in the discharge direction, and the base located on the back side is fixed with double-sided tape or the like.
Each of the stoppers 22 may be an individual mylar piece, but as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 6, those having the same position in the discharge direction may be integrated.

According to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, the recording paper 8 of each size discharged from the recording paper discharge port 5 is registered with its front side discharged, and each of the rear edges corresponds to each. It is guided by the stopper 22 and is discharged in an orderly manner.
At this time, the stopper 22 on the front side of the corresponding recording paper is not bent and deformed as shown in FIG.

  In order to improve the strength of the stopper 22 as a stopper, the stopper 22 is formed to have a tapered shape as shown in FIG. 9, and a bent portion 22a is provided on the inner edge thereof to increase its rigidity. Note that the bent portion 22a is not provided over the entire length of the edge, but a portion that is not bent by L2 (for example, about 5 mm) from the protruding root is formed. This is because the large size paper must be easily bent when it comes.

  Although the discharge surface of the discharge tray 20 described in the above embodiment is shown as a flat shape, as shown in FIG. 11, the discharge surface of the discharge tray 20 prevents the recording paper from being attracted by static electricity, as in a general discharge tray. Ribs 24 may be provided for the purpose. In this case, the stopper 22 is located between the ribs 24 and serves as a storage space for the stopper including a relief of a bent portion when the recording paper 8 bends.

As shown in FIG. 12, the recording paper 8 discharged onto the discharge tray 20 is guided by the stopper 22 at the rear edge thereof, and is deposited neatly. Then, the recording paper 8 is collectively taken out from the recording paper discharge unit 4. At this time, since the discharge tray 20 is separated from the upper surface of the recording paper discharge section 4, the recording paper 8 can be easily taken out from the discharge tray 20.
In addition, at this time, even if the recording paper 8 is pushed into the back side by mistake, the recording paper 8 does not enter the back side further by the stopper 22, so that the recording paper 8 can be taken out with confidence.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the stopper 22 is formed of a mylar. However, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the stopper 22b is formed in a rigid plate shape of plastic or the like, and is formed into a discharge tray. It may be rotatably supported by 20b, and the leading end side may be maintained in a protruding state by a weight 25 provided at the base thereof, and the weight may be bowed and pulled in by the weight of the paper.

It is a perspective view showing a conventional example. It is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention. It is a perspective view showing other embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an internal structure of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a discharge tray. It is a top view showing a discharge tray. It is a side view which shows a discharge tray. (A), (b) is sectional drawing which shows the structure and effect | action of a stopper attachment part. It is a perspective view showing other examples of a stopper. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which recording paper is discharged and accumulated on a discharge tray. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example in which a rib is provided on an upper surface of a discharge tray. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a recording sheet is taken out from a recording sheet discharge unit. (A), (b) is the perspective view and sectional drawing which show another example from which a stopper further differs.

Explanation of reference numerals

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Image reading part, 3 ... Recording paper preparation part, 4 ... Recording paper discharge part, 5 ... Recording paper discharge port, 6 ... Platen cover, 7 ... Control panel, 8 ... Recording paper, 9 ... Photoreceptor drum, 10: writing device, 11: developing device, 12: cleaning device, 13: transfer corotron, 14: discharge roller, 15: paper feed unit, 16: registration roller, 17: fixing device, 20, 20b: discharge tray , 20a: Notch, 21: Side wall, 22, 22b: Stopper, 22a: Bend, 23: Slit, 24: Rib, 25: Weight

Claims (2)

An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet and forms a recording sheet is disposed inside, and a recording sheet forming unit that has a recording sheet discharge port from which the recording sheet is discharged;
An image reading unit that is provided above the recording paper forming unit via a space and reads a horizontally fixed original, and supplies read image information to the image forming unit;
A recording paper discharging unit that is provided so as to form a space between the upper surface of the recording paper forming unit and the lower surface of the image reading unit, and that stores the recording paper discharged from the recording paper discharging port;
The recording paper discharge unit is capable of stacking recording paper discharged from the recording paper preparation unit, is arranged with a space from the upper surface of the recording paper preparation unit, and has the recording paper discharge port side and An image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge tray supported on a side facing the recording paper discharge port. An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet and forms a recording sheet is disposed inside, and a recording sheet forming unit that has a recording sheet discharge port from which the recording sheet is discharged;
An image reading unit that is provided above the recording paper forming unit via a space and reads a horizontally fixed original, and supplies read image information to the image forming unit;
A recording paper discharging unit that is provided so as to form a space between the upper surface of the recording paper forming unit and the lower surface of the image reading unit, and that stores the recording paper discharged from the recording paper discharging port;
An opening that opens in a direction perpendicular to the recording paper discharge direction discharged from the recording paper discharge port, in order to take out the recording paper discharged to the recording paper discharge unit;
The recording paper discharge unit is capable of stacking recording paper discharged from the recording paper preparation unit, is arranged with a space from the upper surface of the recording paper preparation unit, and has the recording paper discharge port side. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a discharge tray supported on a side facing the recording paper discharge port and a side facing the opening.

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