JP2005035683A

JP2005035683A - Sheet discharge device

Info

Publication number: JP2005035683A
Application number: JP2003196929A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Tetsuo Asada; 哲男浅田; Masatane Tanahashi; 真種棚橋
Original assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2003-07-15
Filing date: 2003-07-15
Publication date: 2005-02-10

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet discharge device capable of using the face-down discharge assuring a high convenience for the user even in case the user must make only face-up discharge by all means owing to a poor transporting ability in the inverted transport path, for example in case its recording part works with an ink jet head. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet discharge device 2 comprises the inverted transport path 13 to invert the transported sheet as recording medium approximately in a U-turn form and an inverted discharge part 14 to discharge the inverted sheet. The arrangement includes an opening/closing transporting member 22 forming a part of the inverted transport path 13 and arranged capable of opening and closing, whereby in the closed condition, the sheet transported from the recording part can be discharged to an inverted discharge part 13 upon being inverted, and in the open condition, the sheet transported from the recording part can be discharged to a non-inversion discharge part 29 without inversion, a sensing means 30 installed between the recording part and the transporting part 22 for sensing the stiffness of the sheet, and a control means 50 to control the following motions based on the sensing result given by the sensing means 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、記録部にて画像が記録された記録媒体を略Ｕターン形状に搬送して反転させる反転搬送路と、この反転搬送路の搬送方向下流側に設けられ、反転された記録媒体を排出する反転排紙部とを有する排紙装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
記録媒体に画像を記録する画像形成装置に適用される排紙装置として、例えば特許文献１に記載されているようなレーザービームプリンタ等の排紙装置においては、従来から、画像が記録された画像面を上にして記録媒体を排出する所謂フェイスアップ排紙と、前記画像面を下にして記録媒体を排出する所謂フェイスダウン排紙とが行われることが知られている。前記フェイスダウン排紙は、記録後の記録媒体が原稿の読取順に積層されるので、後で記録媒体を整理しなおす手間が無くユーザにとって利便性に優れている。
【０００３】
画像形成装置では、通常は記録部によって記録媒体の上面に画像が記録されるので、前記フェイスダウン排紙を行うためには、記録媒体を画像面が下面となるように反転させる略Ｕターン形状の反転搬送路が必要であった。
【０００４】
そのため、フェイスダウン排紙は、略Ｕターン形状の反転搬送路に沿って搬送されやすい記録媒体、例えば普通紙等の場合に適用され、反転搬送路での搬送に適さない厚さや大きさの記録媒体、例えば厚紙やはがき等に対してはフェイスアップ排紙が適用される。そして、通常は、フェイスダウン排紙が行われ、特殊な記録媒体の場合のみユーザからの指示でフェイスアップ排紙が指定されるように構成されている。
【０００５】
【特許文献１】
特開２００２−１０４７０７号公報（図１参照）
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、前述したようなフェイスダウン排紙が可能な画像形成装置は、一般的には、特許文献１のレーザビームプリンタ等のような記録後の記録媒体に対して定着処理が行われる画像形成装置であった。このような画像形成装置では、定着処理後に記録媒体を反転搬送路へ搬送する。従って、略Ｕターン形状の反転搬送路を搬送される記録媒体の浮きを防止するために、搬送の内周側となる原稿面においても搬送（または案内）手段としてローラを配置して、ローラを記録媒体に密着させることができる。
【０００７】
ところが、記録部がインクジェットヘッドである画像形成装置の場合には、画像が記録された後の記録媒体におけるインクが即座に乾燥するわけではなく、また通常はインクに対する定着処理が施されないため、反転搬送路の内周側に搬送（または案内）手段としてローラを配置すると、ローラと原稿面とが擦れてインク汚れを生じやすい。
【０００８】
これを防止するために、原稿面と当接する搬送（または案内）手段としては、拍車ローラを用いることが望ましいが、拍車ローラは記録媒体に密着しないため、前述したようなローラに比べて搬送能力が低く、記録媒体を反転搬送路において精度良く搬送することが困難であった。そのため、反転搬送路で紙詰まり等のトラブルを発生しやすく、実際に、インクジェットプリンタではフェイスダウン排紙を適用せず、フェイスアップ排紙のみを行うように構成することが一般的であった。
【０００９】
本発明は、このような課題を解消し、記録部がインクジェットヘッドである場合のように、反転搬送路における搬送能力が低いためにやむを得ずフェイスアップ排紙を行うような場合においても、ユーザにとって利便性の高いファイスダウン排紙を利用できるようにした排紙装置を提供することを目的とするものである。
【００１０】
また、本発明は、ローラを記録媒体に密着させることができるため搬送能力の高いレーザビームプリンタであっても、腰の強い厚い紙を記録媒体として用いる場合には、反転搬送路ではなく記録後の記録媒体を装置外へと排出するまで略直線的に搬送することのできる排紙装置を提供することを目的とするものである。
【００１１】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するために、請求項１に記載の発明における排紙装置は、記録部にて画像が記録された記録媒体を略Ｕターン形状に搬送して反転させる反転搬送路と、この反転搬送路の搬送方向下流側に設けられ、反転された記録媒体を排出する反転排紙部とを有する排紙装置において、前記反転搬送路の一部をなすとともに開閉可能に設けられ、閉状態では前記記録部から搬送されてきた記録媒体を反転させて前記反転排紙部に排出することができ、開状態では前記記録部から搬送されてきた記録媒体を反転させないで非反転排紙部に排出することができる開閉搬送部材と、前記記録部と前記開閉搬送部材との間に設けられ、前記記録媒体の腰の強さを検出する検出手段と、当該検出手段の検出結果に基づいて、後続動作を制御する制御手段とが備えられていることを特徴とするものである。
【００１２】
また、請求項２に記載の発明は、請求項１に記載の排紙装置において、前記後続動作は、前記開閉搬送部材の開閉を制御する動作であることを特徴とするものである。
【００１３】
また、請求項３に記載の発明は、請求項１または２に記載の排紙装置において、前記検出手段により前記記録媒体が所定以上の腰の強さを有していると検出された場合、前記制御手段は開閉搬送部材を開状態とし、前記検出手段により前記記録媒体が所定以上の腰の強さを有していると検出されない場合、前記制御手段は開閉搬送部材を閉状態とするように制御することを特徴とするものである。
【００１４】
また、請求項４に記載の発明は、請求項１から３のいずれかに記載の排紙装置において、前記開閉搬送部材が開状態となった場合には、この開閉搬送部材の一部が、排出された記録媒体を載置する排紙トレイとなることを特徴とするものである。
【００１５】
また、請求項５に記載の発明は、請求項１から４のいずれかに記載の排紙装置において、前記開閉搬送部材を開閉するための開閉機構を備え、この開閉機構は前記開閉搬送部材を閉状態で保持可能な保持部からなり、この保持部は前記制御手段からの指示に従って前記開閉搬送部材を非保持とすることを特徴とするものである。
【００１６】
また、請求項６に記載の発明は、請求項１から４のいずれかに記載の排紙装置において、前記開閉搬送部材を開閉するための開閉機構を備え、この開閉機構は前記開閉搬送部材を自在に開閉する機構からなり、前記制御手段からの指示に従って前記開閉搬送部材を開閉駆動することを特徴とするものである。
【００１７】
また、請求項７に記載の発明は、請求項１に記載の排紙装置において、前記開閉搬送部材の開閉に関する情報を報知する報知手段を更に備え、前記後続動作は、前記報知手段により前記開閉搬送部材の開閉に関する情報を報知する動作であることを特徴とするものである。
【００１８】
また、請求項８に記載の発明は、請求項７に記載の排紙装置において、前記検出手段で前記記録媒体が所定以上の腰の強さを有していると検出された場合に、前記報知手段で報知するとともに、前記記録媒体の搬送を前記開閉搬送部材の搬送方向上流側で一時停止し、前記開閉搬送部材が開状態となった場合に、前記記録媒体の搬送を再開させることを特徴とするものである。
【００１９】
また、請求項９に記載の発明は、請求項１から８のいずれかに記載の排紙装置において、前記検出手段には、固定軸を中心として回動可能に設けられ当該固定軸より搬送方向下流側に配置されたアーム板と、当該アーム板に配置された被検出部と、前記アーム板が所定量以上に回動したときに前記被検出部を検出する検出部とが備えられることを特徴とするものである。
【００２０】
また、請求項１０に記載の発明は、請求項１から９のいずれかに記載の排紙装置において、前記記録部はインクジェットヘッドであり、画像が記録された前記記録媒体の搬送における案内手段として、記録媒体の画像面側に１または複数の拍車ローラが配置され、前記検出手段では、搬送される記録媒体の湾曲の度合いから腰の強さを検出し、前記拍車ローラの少なくとも１つが、記録媒体の湾曲部分から力を受ける前記検出手段の部材として兼用されることを特徴とするものである。
【００２１】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の第１の実施形態について、図面に基づいて説明する。図１は第１の実施形態の排紙装置を搭載した画像形成装置の側断面図、図２は開閉搬送部材及び非反転排紙トレイが開状態となる動作を示す説明図、図３は検出手段における変動部の要部斜視図、図４（ａ）〜図４（ｃ）は開閉搬送部材の開閉機構の動作を示す説明図、図５は手差しトレイが開状態となった場合の要部断面図、図６（ａ）〜図６（ｄ）は開閉搬送部材の開閉機構における変形例の動作を示す説明図である。
【００２２】
本発明の第１の実施形態は、インクジェットプリンタヘッドを有する画像形成装置１に搭載される排紙装置２に適用したものである。
【００２３】
図１に示すように、第１の実施形態の画像形成装置１は、略箱状の本体４を有し、この本体４の内部の略中央部にインクジェットプリンタヘッドである記録ヘッド８を、上部に原稿の読取部５を、下部に記録媒体である用紙Ｐを積層して収容しておく給紙カセット６を備えている。
【００２４】
記録ヘッド８が下向きに装着されたキャリッジ３は、本体４の奥行き方向に延びる丸軸状のガイド軸７に摺動可能に取り付けられている。記録ヘッド８は、カラーインクジェット式のカートリッジタイプで、イエロー、マゼンタ、シアン、ブラックの各色のインクを吐出するためのノズル部９をその下面側に有している。そして、このノズル部９に対向してプラテン１５が設けられ、ノズル部９とプラテン１５との間が記録部となっている。
【００２５】
読取部５には、図示していないが、原稿を載置するための透明板や、ＣＣＤによる読取装置等の公知の読取手段が適用されている。
【００２６】
また、この他に本体４には、各種作業を指示するためのテンキーやボタンキー、指示内容表示やエラー表示等を行う液晶パネル等を備えた操作パネル部（図示せず）も設けられている。
【００２７】
給紙カセット６には、ローラアーム１０に支持された給紙ローラ１１が配置されており、ローラアーム１０の自重あるいはローラアーム１０に取り付けられた付勢手段（図示せず）により、給紙カセット６に積層されている用紙Ｐの最上面に給紙ローラ１１を常に当接させている。そして、この給紙ローラ１１によって、用紙Ｐが１枚ずつ分離されて、後述する搬送路１２に搬送される。
【００２８】
また、本体４には、一方の側面（図１における右側面）に手差しトレイ４０が、この側面に対向する他方の側面（図１における左側面）に非反転排紙トレイ２３が設けられ、いずれも閉状態においては、手差しトレイ４０が給紙部を、非反転排紙トレイ２３が非反転排紙部２９をそれぞれ塞ぐように、本体４の側面に取り付けられている。これら手差しトレイ４０、非反転排紙トレイ２３及び非反転排紙部２９については後述する。
【００２９】
用紙Ｐを搬送するための基本的な経路としては、給紙カセット６から供給された用紙Ｐの上面に記録部で画像を記録し、そのまま画像が記録された面（以降、画像面と記載する）を上面としたまま搬送する搬送路１２と、この搬送路１２に連続して、用紙Ｐの画像面が下面となるように用紙Ｐを略Ｕターン形状に搬送して反転させる反転搬送路１３とが設けられている。そして、反転搬送路１３の搬送方向下流側には、反転された用紙Ｐを排出する反転排紙部１４が設けられている。反転排紙部１４の外側で読取部５の下方となる本体４の窪み部分が、反転排紙部１４から排出された用紙Ｐの排紙トレイ４４となっている。
【００３０】
搬送路１２の始端部は、本体４の下部に設けられた給紙カセット６から、本体４の略中央部に設けられたプラテン１５上に用紙Ｐを搬送するために、略Ｕターン形状に形成されている。記録部においては、ノズル部９とプラテン１５との間隙が搬送路１２となる。
【００３１】
搬送手段としては、搬送路１２において記録部の搬送方向上流側に、用紙Ｐを所定量ずつ記録部側へ送り出すために、第１駆動ローラ（ＬＦローラ）１６とこれに対峙する上方に第１従動ローラ１７が設けられている。また、記録部の搬送方向下流側には、第２駆動ローラ１８とこれに対峙する上方に第２従動ローラ１９が設けられている。さらに反転搬送路１３においては、反転排紙部１４の手前に、用紙Ｐを排出するための第３駆動ローラ２０とこれに対峙する下方に第３従動ローラ２１が設けられている。そして、第２従動ローラ１９と第３従動ローラ２１は、画像が記録された後の用紙Ｐの画像面と接触する側に配置されているため、画像面を汚染しないように拍車ローラとなっている。
【００３２】
なお、必要に応じて、反転搬送路１３の中途部にも搬送手段を設けても良いが、その場合も用紙Ｐの画像面と接触する側に配置される搬送手段は、インクによる汚染を防止するために拍車ローラとすることが望ましい。
【００３３】
そして、前記反転搬送路１３には、反転搬送路１３の一部をなすとともに開閉可能に設けられ、閉状態では記録部から搬送されてきた用紙Ｐを反転させて反転排紙部１４に排出することができ、開状態では記録部から搬送されてきた用紙Ｐを反転させないで非反転排紙部２９に排出することができる開閉搬送部材２２が設けられている。この開閉搬送部材２２は、閉状態では反転搬送路１３の外周側壁面となる壁面部材である。また、開閉搬送部材２２を非反転排紙トレイ２３に連動させるために、非反転排紙トレイ２３と開閉搬送部材２２との間に連結部材を設けている。この非反転排紙トレイ２３は、その下部に設けられた回動軸２３ａによって、上方が開口するように本体４の側面に取り付けられている。
【００３４】
前記壁面部材の第１の実施形態は、いずれも湾曲形状に形成されている第１壁面部材２４及び第２壁面部材２５の２つの部材から構成されている。そして、第１壁面部材２４の下部に設けられた回動軸２４ａ及び第２壁面部材２５の下部に設けられた回動軸２５ａがそれぞれ本体４の内部に取り付けられ、第１壁面部材２４及び第２壁面部材２５は各上部が外側に向かって傾倒するように回動可能となっている。また、第１壁面部材２４の先端部は、第２壁面部材２５の側面に沿って摺動自在となるように第２壁面部材２５に連結されている。また、前記連結部材も第１連結部材２６と第２連結部材２７の２つの部材からなり、これらは略Ｌ字状でその屈曲角度が変更自在となるように組み付けられ、第１連結部材２６の基端部が第２壁面部材２５の先端部に、第２連結部材２７の先端部が非反転排紙トレイ２３の先端部に、各々回動自在に取り付けられている。また、第１壁面部材２４の下部には取付部２４ｂが突設され、この取付部２４ｂに開閉搬送部材２２を開状態となる方向に付勢する手段としてコイルバネ２８が取り付けられている。そのため、開閉搬送部材２２に連結された非反転排紙トレイ２３も前記コイルバネ２８で開状態となるように付勢されている。
【００３５】
この構成では、開閉搬送部材２２及び非反転排紙トレイ２３がコイルバネ２８の付勢力に抗して閉状態となっている場合には、図１に示すように、第１壁面部材２４と第２壁面部材２５とが組み合わされて、反転搬送路１３の一部として滑らかに湾曲した外周側壁面を形成し、この開閉搬送部材２２と非反転排紙トレイ２３との間に、第１連結部材２６と第２連結部材２７とが屈曲角度を小さくして収納される。
【００３６】
一方、開閉搬送部材２２と非反転排紙トレイ２３とが、コイルバネ２８の付勢力に従って本体４の外側に傾倒して開状態となる場合には、図２に示すように、反転搬送路１３が形成されずに、非反転排紙部２９が形成される。この非反転排紙部２９は、反転排紙部１４とは別に、本体４の内外を連通するもう一つの排紙部である。また、開閉搬送部材２２と非反転排紙トレイ２３の傾倒に際して、第１連結部材２６と第２連結部材２７との屈曲角度が大きくなり、これら開閉搬送部材２２、非反転排紙トレイ２３、第１連結部材２６及び第２連結部材２７が連続して略一体化した形状となる。そのため、開閉搬送部材２２が搬送路１２と非反転排紙トレイ２３を繋ぐとともに、開閉搬送部材２２の外側寄りの一部が、非反転排紙トレイ２３とともに、非反転排紙部２９から排出された用紙Ｐを画像面が上面となる状態で載置するためのトレイとして機能する。
【００３７】
また、本発明では反転搬送路１３に搬送される用紙Ｐが、反転搬送路１３の湾曲の度合いや内周側に配置された拍車ローラ等に基づく搬送能力で搬送可能か否かを判断するために、用紙Ｐの腰の強さを検出する検出手段３０が設けられている。この実施形態では、図１に示すように、検出手段３０を記録部と開閉搬送部材２２との間に配置し、詳細には、略直線状に形成された搬送路１２の終端部と略Ｕターン形状に形成された反転搬送路１３の始端部とに跨る位置に配置し、反転搬送路１３の始端部で用紙Ｐに生じる湾曲を利用して、用紙Ｐの腰の強さを検出するように構成している。なお、用紙Ｐの腰の強さの検出の方法にはその他の公知の技術を利用してよい。
【００３８】
この検出手段３０は、用紙Ｐの湾曲によって力を受ける位置に変動部３１を備え、この変動部３１の変動を検出する位置に検出部３２を備えている。変動部３１には、図３に示すように、複数の拍車ローラ３４が回転自在に取り付けられた固定軸３３が設けられている。拍車ローラ３４は、用紙Ｐと当接する位置に配置され、搬送における案内手段として作用するが、これら拍車ローラ３４を省略して、固定軸３３のみとしてもよい。また、この固定軸３３は後述するアーム板３５を支持できれば、直線状の一本の軸でなくてもよい。
【００３９】
この固定軸３３に対する用紙Ｐの搬送方向下流側には、上面に突起部３８（請求項の被検出部に相当）を有するアーム板３５が設けられ、このアーム板３５が固定軸３３に回動自在に取り付けられている。そして、このアーム板３５の先端部、すなわち用紙Ｐの搬送方向下流側の端部には、複数の拍車ローラ３７（図３では３個）が回転自在に取り付けられた弾性軸３６が設けられている。弾性軸３６はコイルバネ状の軸である。拍車ローラ３７も用紙Ｐと当接する位置に配置され、用紙Ｐに対して案内手段として作用するが、回動自在のアーム板３５の先端部に取り付けられているため、用紙Ｐが浮き上がると用紙Ｐに持ち上げられて拍車ローラ３７も上昇するようになっている。そして、拍車ローラ３７の上昇によって、アーム板３５が固定軸３３を中心に上方に回動すると、その回動が所定角度以上となった場合に、換言するとアーム板３５の上面の突起部３８が検出部３２に対して所定距離以上に近接あるいは接触した場合に、用紙Ｐが所定以上の腰の強さを有していると検出部３２で検出するように構成している。
【００４０】
検出部３２には、突起部３８の近接あるいは接触を検出する任意の手段を適用でき、例えば、光センサ、磁気センサ、静電容量型センサ、圧力センサ、メカニカルスイッチ等から適宜選択される。この検出部３２によって、用紙Ｐが所定量以上の腰の強さを有していることが検出されると、後続動作を制御する制御手段５０に信号が送られるようになっている。また、変動部３１の上方には、変動部３１が所定角度以上に過剰に回動することを防止するストッパ部３９が設けられている。
【００４１】
前述した開閉搬送部材２２を開閉するための開閉機構４５は、この実施形態では、開閉搬送部材２２を閉状態で保持可能な保持部であって、制御手段５０からの指示に従って開閉搬送部材２２を非保持とするように構成されている。開閉機構４５の保持部としてはソレノイド４６が利用されており、図４（ａ）〜図４（ｃ）に示すように、ソレノイド４６には、その励磁及び消磁によって往復運動する軸部４７が取り付けられ、この軸部４７の先端部に、側面視Ｌ字状に形成された係合部材４８の基端部が取り付けられている。そして、この係合部材４８の先端部は、下面側が鉤型に形成されており、非反転排紙トレイ２３の内面側上方に取り付けられて上面側が鉤型に形成された係合受部４９に係合する。ソレノイド４６には、検出手段３０で用紙Ｐの腰の強さが所定以上であることが検出された場合に、制御手段５０からの指示の信号が入力されるようになっており、この信号によって軸部４７を引き込むようにソレノイド４６が動作し、係合部材４８の先端部と前記係合受部４９との係合が解除される。
【００４２】
また、この本体４の側面（図１の右側面）に設けられた手差しトレイ４０（あるいは多目的（ＭＰ）トレイ）は、その下部に設けられた回動軸４０ａが本体４に取り付けられているため、図５に示すように、上部が本体４の外側に開いて開状態とすることにより、用紙Ｐを載置可能となる。手差しトレイ４０の内面側には、第１延長部材４１と第２延長部材４２とが重ねて収納されており、第１延長部材４１は手差しトレイ４０に対してスライド自在に設けられ、第２延長部材４２は第１延長部材４１に対して回動自在に設けられている。そのため、手差しトレイ４０は開状態とすることで、トレイとして機能するが、重ねられている第１延長部材４１と第２延長部材４２とを引き出したり、さらに第２延長部材４２を外側に回動させて開くことで、サイズの大きな用紙に段階的に対応できる拡大サイズのトレイが形成されるようになっている。また、手差しトレイ４０の内面側（開状態では上面側）には、用紙Ｐの幅方向に可動自在なサイド板４３が取り付けられており、このサイド板４３によって手差しトレイ４０に載置される用紙Ｐの幅方向の位置決めを行うことができる。
【００４３】
また、閉状態の手差しトレイ４０の内面側となる本体４には、アーム体５２がその一端部に設けられた回動軸５２ａによって回動自在に取り付けられている。このアーム体５２の他端部には、先端部に給紙ローラ５１を有する給紙ローラユニット５３が回動自在に取り付けられている。アーム体５２及び給紙ローラユニット５３は、手差しトレイ４０が閉状態の場合には、折り畳まれて手差しトレイ４０の内面側に収納され、手差しトレイ４０が開状態の場合には、折り畳み角度を広げながら、外側に飛び出すように構成されている。アーム体５２の回動軸５２ａは、用紙搬送用の駆動源からの駆動力が伝達される軸であり、回動軸５２ａに伝達された駆動力は、アーム体５２及び給紙ローラユニット５１を介して給紙ローラ５１にも伝達される。そして、駆動された給紙ローラ５１によって、手差しトレイ４０上に載置された用紙Ｐが、１枚ずづ分離されて搬送路１２の中途部である第１駆動ローラ１６と第１従動ローラ１７の直上流部に搬送される。
【００４４】
このように構成された排紙装置２の動作について説明する。まず、通常、給紙カセット６には、反転搬送路１３での搬送が可能な腰の強さを有する普通紙が、用紙Ｐとして収容されている。そのため、この給紙カセット６の用紙Ｐに対して画像の記録が指示されると、ローラアーム１０の先端部に取り付けられた給紙ローラ１１により、用紙Ｐが１枚ずつ分離されて、給紙カセット６から搬送路１２への搬送が開始される。上方に向かって略Ｕターン形状に湾曲して形成された搬送路１２の始端部を通過した用紙Ｐは、第１駆動ローラ１６と第１従動ローラ１７とによって、所定量ずつプラテン１５上に搬送され、記録部でノズル部９からインクが噴射されて画像が記録される。
【００４５】
記録部から出た用紙Ｐの前端縁部は、第２駆動ローラ１８と第２従動ローラ１９とによって、さらに搬送方向下流側へ搬送される。このとき、第２従動ローラ１９は拍車ローラであるため、用紙Ｐの画像面が擦れて汚染されることなく搬送が行われる。さらに、用紙Ｐの前端縁部は、固定軸３３に取り付けられた拍車ローラ３４及び弾性軸３６に取り付けられた拍車ローラ３７に案内されて搬送路１２から反転搬送路１３に差し掛かる。
【００４６】
この用紙Ｐは、反転搬送路１３での搬送が可能な程度の腰の強さを有しているため、反転搬送路１３の始端部での湾曲形状に沿ってしなやかに湾曲し、拍車ローラ３７をほとんど持ち上げることなく反転搬送路１３に搬送される。そのため、検出手段３０において、変動部３１の突起部３８は、検出部３２に検出されず、用紙Ｐはそのまま反転搬送路１３を搬送されて、第３駆動ローラ２０及び拍車ローラである第３従動ローラ２１に挟持されて反転排紙部１４から排紙トレイ４４上へと排出される。このとき、用紙Ｐの画像面が下面となるフェイスダウン排紙であるので、上述の動作が連続して行われると、反転排紙部１４から排出された用紙Ｐは、読取部５で原稿が読み取られた順番、あるいは外部から画像の記録が指示された順番に、画像面を下面側として積層されるため、ユーザが整理しなおす手間が不要となっている。
【００４７】
次に、給紙カセット６に収容されている用紙とは異なる用紙Ｐに対して画像を記録する場合には、図５に示すように、手差しトレイ４０が開状態とされる。必要に応じて手差しトレイ４０から第１延長部材４１及び第２延長部材４２を重ねて引き出したり、第２延長部材４２を第１延長部材４１に対して回動させて広げたりして、トレイサイズを大きくしてもよい。また、手差しトレイ４０の開放に連動して前記アーム体５２及び給紙ローラユニット５３が飛び出し、給紙ローラ５１の下面に用紙Ｐの最上面が当接するように、任意の用紙Ｐが手差しトレイ４０に載置される。
【００４８】
次に、手差しトレイ４０の用紙Ｐに対して画像の記録が指示されると、用紙Ｐが、給紙ローラ５１によって１枚ずつ分離されて、第１駆動ローラ１６及び第１従動ローラ１７の直上流である搬送路１２の中途部に搬送される。そして、前述した給紙カセット６からの搬送の場合と同様に、用紙Ｐは記録部で画像が記録され、略直線状に搬送されて搬送路１２から反転搬送路１３に差し掛かる。
【００４９】
用紙Ｐの腰が強い場合には、しなやかに撓み難いため、すなわち湾曲し難いため、図２に示すように、用紙Ｐは反転搬送路１３の始端部の湾曲形状に沿わずにその湾曲（曲率）が小さくなり、用紙Ｐが拍車ローラ３７を持ち上げる。このとき弾性軸３６の軸方向において用紙Ｐに起伏が生じても、拍車ローラ３７は弾性軸３６に支持されているため、その各々が用紙Ｐの起伏に沿って持ち上げられる。仮に拍車ローラ３７が固定軸で支持されていると、用紙Ｐの起伏における突出部分に最初に当接した拍車ローラ３７の荷重がその突出部分に集中することになり、用紙Ｐに破れ等を発生することも懸念される。そのため、上述したように拍車ローラ３７を弾性軸３６で支持することで、用紙Ｐの起伏に対する拍車ローラ３７の荷重の集中を避けることができる。
【００５０】
そして、拍車ローラ３７が所定量以上に持ち上げられると、アーム板３５が固定軸３３を支点として上方に大きく回動し、アーム板３５の上面に設けられた突起部３８が検出部３２に検出され、用紙Ｐが所定以上の腰の強さを有していることが認識される。
【００５１】
このように検出手段３０で検出されると、制御手段５０に信号が伝達され、制御手段５０は直ちに開閉搬送部材２２を開状態とするように開閉機構４５に信号を出力する。その結果、保持部であるソレノイド４６が、軸部４７をソレノイド４６内に引き込むように動作する。この動作によって係合部材４８はその基端部がソレノイド４６側に引き込まれて傾倒し、係合部材４８の先端部と非反転排紙トレイ２３に取り付けられた係合受部４９との係合が解除される。
【００５２】
非反転排紙トレイ２３を閉状態に保持していた前記係合が解除されると、第１連結部材２６及び第２連結部材２７とによって非反転排紙トレイ２３と連結されている開閉搬送部材２２も非保持の状態となる。開閉搬送部材２２の第１壁面部材２４の取付部２４ｂには、開閉搬送部材２２を開状態側に付勢するコイルバネ２８が取り付けられているため、コイルバネ２８の付勢力に従って、開閉搬送部材２２及び非反転排紙トレイ２３は連動して開状態となり、反転搬送路１３が中断されて非反転排紙部２９が形成される。その結果、反転搬送路１３の始端部に差し掛かっていた用紙Ｐは、反転搬送路１３を搬送されることなく、非反転排紙部２９から画像面を上面としたまま非反転排紙トレイ２３上に排出される（フェイスアップ排紙）。
【００５３】
仮に腰の強い用紙がそのまま反転搬送路１３に搬送されると、紙詰まりを生じたり、内周側に配置されている拍車ローラ（第３従動ローラ２１及び拍車ローラ３７）と強く接触して破れを生じたりすることも懸念されるが、上述したように非反転排紙部２９から排出させることで、トラブルを生じること無く排出させることができる。
【００５４】
勿論、手差しトレイ４０に載置された用紙Ｐが所定以上の腰の強さを有していると検出されない場合には、給紙カセット６から給紙された用紙と同様に、反転搬送路１３を搬送されて反転排紙部１４から排出される（フェイスダウン排紙）。
【００５５】
また、給紙カセット６に誤って所定以上の腰の強さを有している用紙Ｐを収容し、この用紙Ｐに対して画像の記録を指示した場合でも、検出手段３０が搬送の度に用紙Ｐの腰の強さを検出し、検出結果に基づいて開閉搬送部材２２を開状態として非反転排紙部２９へ用紙Ｐを排出させるため、反転搬送路１３での前述したようなトラブルを未然に防ぐことができる。
【００５６】
なお、この実施形態では、係合部材４８と係合受部４９との係合解除後に、開閉機構４５のソレノイド４６を、軸部４７が突出する元の位置に復帰させている。そのため、非反転排紙トレイ２３と開閉搬送部材２２とを開状態から閉状態（保持状態）とする場合には、利用者が非反転排紙トレイ２３に対して手動で閉塞動作を行うことにより、前記係合受部４９と係合部材４８が再び係合し、これにより、開閉搬送部材２２も連動して保持状態となり、反転搬送路１３が復元される。
【００５７】
この開閉搬送部材２２の開閉機構４５における変形例を図６（ａ）〜図６（ｄ）に示す。この変形例は、開閉機構６０として開閉搬送部材を自在に開閉駆動する機構を適用した例であり、モータ６１を利用している。この開閉機構６０として、図６（ａ）に示すように、まず、非反転排紙トレイ２３の下部に対して、周面に外歯を有する円弧部材６２が固定的に取り付けられ、第１壁面部材２４の下部近傍にモータ６１が配置されている。そして、円弧部材６２とモータ６１の駆動軸に取り付けられた外歯車６３との間に、奇数個の外歯車６４が噛合って連結されている（図６では３個の歯車を介在させている）。
【００５８】
そして、搬送される用紙Ｐが所定以上の腰の強さを有していることが検出手段３０で検出された場合には、制御手段５０からの指示により開閉機構６０では、図６（ｂ）に示すように、モータ６１を図中における反時計方向に回転させる。このモータ６１の回転により、外歯車６３、６４が順次連動して回動し、円弧部材６２を上方に変位させる。この変位に伴って、図６（ｃ）に示すように非反転排紙トレイ２３が本体４の外側に傾倒し、この非反転排紙トレイ２３に連結されている開閉搬送部材２２（第１壁面部材２４、第２壁面部材２５）も外側に傾倒して、これらが開状態となり非反転排紙部２９が形成される。
【００５９】
一方、開状態にある非反転排紙トレイ２３及び開閉搬送部材２２を閉状態とする場合には、図６（ｄ）に示すように、制御手段５０からの指示により開閉機構６０では、モータ６１を図中における時計方向に回転させる。これにより、外歯車６３、６４が順次連動して回動し、円弧部材６２を下方に変位させる。その結果、図６（ａ）に示すように、非反転排紙トレイ２３は本体４の内側に向かって引き戻されて起立するとともに、非反転排紙トレイ２３に連結されている開閉搬送部材２２（第１壁面部材２４、第２壁面部材２５）が閉状態となり非反転排紙部２９が無くなって反転搬送路１３が復元される。
【００６０】
このようにこの変形例では、非反転排紙トレイ２３及び開閉搬送部材２２を開状態とする場合だけでなく、閉状態とする場合にも制御手段５０による制御で行うことができる。
【００６１】
次に、本発明の第２の実施形態について説明する。図７は第２の実施形態の排紙装置を搭載した画像形成装置の側断面図、図８は開閉搬送部材及び非反転排紙トレイが開状態となる動作を示す説明図である。なお、第１の実施形態と同じ構成には同一符号を付し詳細な説明を省略する。
【００６２】
この第２の実施形態では、第１の実施形態で、手差しトレイ４０から用紙Ｐを搬送する場合に、搬送の度に用紙Ｐの腰の強さを検出し、開閉搬送部材２２を開状態とするか否かを決定していたことに替えて、手差しトレイを使用する場合には、自動的に開閉搬送部材２２を開状態として非反転反排紙部２９を形成し、必ず用紙Ｐを反転させずに排出（フェイスダウン排紙）するように構成したことを特徴としている。
【００６３】
すなわち、第２の実施形態の画像形成装置１０１に搭載される排紙装置１０２には、手差しトレイ１４０を開状態とすると、これに連動して自動的に開閉搬送部材１２２及び非反転排紙トレイ１２３を開状態とする機構が設けられている。
【００６４】
具体的には、図７に示すように、本体４の側面に回動自在に取り付けられた手差しトレイ１４０と非反転排紙トレイ１２３とは、各々の下部１４０ｂ、１２３ｂが、各々の回動軸１４０ａ、１２３ａより下方に延びて位置するように設けられている。そして、手差しトレイ１４０の下部１４０ｂと非反転排紙トレイ１２３の下部１２３ｂとを連結するために、本体４の間口方向に渡って複数の連結杆（ここでは３つの連結杆７１、７２、７３）が、それぞれ回動自在に組み合わされている。そして、連結杆７１、７２の連結部分には、上方へ突出するようにレバー部材７４が取り付けられている。
【００６５】
また、反転搬送路１１３における始端部には、反転搬送路１１３の一部をなすとともに開閉可能に設けられた開閉搬送部材１２２が設けられている。この開閉搬送部材１２２は、反転搬送路１１３の外周側の壁面を構成する壁面部１２２ａと、前記レバー部材７４に押圧されると、壁面部１２２ａを変位させる切替部１２２ｂとを有している。壁面部１２２ａは切替部１２２ｂによって変位させられると、反転搬送路１１３への用紙Ｐの搬送を阻止して、用紙Ｐを非反転排紙トレイ１２３へ搬送できる開状態となる。
【００６６】
この構成によると、図８に示すように、利用者により手差しトレイ１４０が開状態となると、手差しトレイ１４０の下部１４０ｂに連結された連結杆７１、７２、７３が連動して変位し、非反転排紙トレイ１２３を開状態する。またこの連結杆７１、７２、７３の動作に伴い、連結杆７１、７２の連結部分に取り付けられていたレバー部材７４が開閉搬送部材１２２の切替部１２２ｂを押圧するように傾倒し、開閉搬送部材１２２の壁面部１２２ａが開状態となる。これにより、開閉搬送部材１２２の壁面部１２２ａ及び非反転排紙トレイ１２３がともに開状態となったことで非反転排紙部１２９が形成される。その結果、手差しトレイ１４０から搬送された用紙Ｐは、反転せずに非反転排紙部１２９へ排出される（フェイスアップ排紙）。従って、この第２の実施形態によれば、利用者により手差しトレイ１４０が開状態にされると、非反転排紙トレイ１２３も連動して開状態とされるため、給紙から排紙に至るまでの非反転搬送路がすぐに形成されるので、腰の強い用紙Ｐに画像形成を行う場合等に極めて便利である。
【００６７】
なお、この第２の実施形態においても、記録部と開閉搬送部材１２２との間に第１の実施形態と同様の検出手段３０が設けられているため、手差しトレイ１４０が開放されずに、給紙カセット６から用紙Ｐが供給される場合に、検出手段３０で用紙Ｐが所定以上の腰の強さを有していると検出されると、制御手段５０によって開閉搬送部材１２２の壁面部１２２ａ及び非反転排紙トレイ１２３を開状態とする。
【００６８】
また、この実施形態では、開閉搬送部材２２と非反転排紙トレイ１２３との間にも第４駆動ローラ７５とこれに対峙する上方に拍車ローラからなる第４従動ローラ７６とが設けられ、非反転排紙トレイ１２３への排紙を促している。
【００６９】
次に、本発明の第３の実施形態について図面に基づいて説明する。図９は第３の実施形態の排紙装置を搭載した画像形成装置の側断面図である。なお、第１の実施形態と同様の構成には、同一符号を付して詳細な説明は省略する。
【００７０】
この第３の実施形態の画像形成装置２０１に搭載された排紙装置２０２では、第１の実施形態で、検出手段３０での検出結果に基づいて、制御手段５０が後続動作として開閉搬送部材の開閉を制御するように構成していたことに替えて、検出手段３０の検出結果に基づいて、制御手段５０が後続動作として、開閉搬送部材２２の開閉に関する情報を報知手段８０で報知するように制御する構成としたことを特徴としている。
【００７１】
この第３の実施形態では、検出手段３０で用紙Ｐの腰の強さが所定以上であることが検出された場合に、制御手段５０を介して、報知手段８０で開閉搬送部材２２を開状態とするようにユーザに促す情報を報知する。報知手段８０では、例えば、読取部５または本体４に設けられた液晶パネル等において、開閉搬送部材２２に連動する非反転排紙トレイ２３を開くように報知するメッセージを表示したり、ブザー等の警告音を発して報知したりする。
【００７２】
用紙Ｐは、検出手段３０で腰の強さが所定以上であると検出された時点で、開閉搬送部材２２の搬送方向上流側で一時停止し、誤って反転搬送路１３に搬送されないように待機する。そして、報知手段８０の報知によって開閉搬送部材２２が開状態となるように操作されると、用紙Ｐの搬送は再開され、開閉搬送部材２２及び非反転排紙トレイ２３の双方の開状態によって形成された非反転排紙部２９へ排出される。開閉搬送部材２２を開状態とするための操作は、開閉搬送部材２２に連動する非反転排紙トレイ２３を手動で開放しても、あるいは本体４に設けられた操作パネル等を操作して、開閉搬送部材２２及び非反転排紙トレイ２３を開放駆動するように指示してもよい。
【００７３】
但し、レーザ方式や電子写真方式の記録方式を採用する画像形成装置では、記録の途中で用紙Ｐの搬送を一時停止することは困難であるので、第３の実施形態をそれらの方式の画像形成装置で実現するのは困難であろう。
【００７４】
なお、上述の説明では、排紙トレイ４４の上方に読取部５が配置されているが、この配置に限ったものではなく、更には、本体４と読取部５とがケーブル等でデータを送信／受信できるように接続されている構成でもよい。
【００７５】
また、画像形成装置１、１０１、２０１は読取部５を持たないプリンタであってもよい。
【００７６】
更に、本発明は記録方式もインクジェット方式に限ったものではなく、レーザ方式や電子写真方式、熱転写方式の画像形成装置にも適用可能であることは言うまでもない。すなわち、腰の強い厚い紙を記録媒体として用いる場合に、反転搬送路ではなく、記録後の記録媒体を装置外へと排出するまで略直線的に搬送する構成を記録方式にか拘わらず採用可能である。
【００７７】
【発明の作用・効果】
以上に説明したように、請求項１に記載の発明における排紙装置は、記録部にて画像が記録された記録媒体を略Ｕターン形状に搬送して反転させる反転搬送路と、この反転搬送路の搬送方向下流側に設けられ、反転された記録媒体を排出する反転排紙部とを有する排紙装置において、前記反転搬送路の一部をなすとともに開閉可能に設けられ、閉状態では前記記録部から搬送されてきた記録媒体を反転させて前記反転排紙部に排出することができ、開状態では前記記録部から搬送されてきた記録媒体を反転させないで非反転排紙部に排出することができる開閉搬送部材と、前記記録部と前記開閉搬送部材との間に設けられ、前記記録媒体の腰の強さを検出する検出手段と、当該検出手段の検出結果に基づいて、後続動作を制御する制御手段とが備えられていることを特徴とするものである。これによれば、記録媒体の腰の強さが検出され、検出された結果に基づいて後続動作を制御することが可能となる。
【００７８】
また、請求項２に記載の発明は、請求項１に記載の排紙装置において、前記後続動作は、前記開閉搬送部材の開閉を制御する動作であることを特徴とするものである。これによれば、記録媒体の腰の強さに基づいて制御手段で開閉搬送部材の開閉を制御し、記録媒体を、反転搬送路に搬送して反転排紙部へ排出するか、反転搬送路に搬送せずに非反転搬排紙部へ排出するかを使い分けすることができる。
【００７９】
また、請求項３に記載の発明は、請求項１または２に記載の排紙装置において、前記検出手段により前記記録媒体が所定以上の腰の強さを有していると検出された場合、前記制御手段は開閉搬送部材を開状態とし、前記検出手段により前記記録媒体が所定以上の腰の強さを有していると検出されない場合、前記制御手段は開閉搬送部材を閉状態とするように制御することを特徴とするものである。
【００８０】
これによれば、反転搬送路の搬送能力に応じて、検出手段における腰の強さの検出の基準が決められる。そして、所定以上の腰の強さを有していると検出された記録媒体は、制御手段により開閉搬送部材が開状態とされて反転搬送路へは搬送されないので、画像面を上面として排出され、反転搬送路に生じる紙詰まり等のトラブルを未然に防ぐことが可能となる。また、所定以上の腰の強さを有していると検出されない記録媒体は、制御手段により開閉搬送部材が閉状態とされて反転搬送路に搬送され、画像面を下面として排出される。これにより、ユーザにとって利便性の高いフェイスダウン排紙が可能となる。
【００８１】
また、請求項４に記載の発明は、請求項１から３のいずれかに記載の排紙装置において、前記開閉搬送部材が開状態となった場合には、この開閉搬送部材の一部が、排出された記録媒体を載置する排紙トレイとなることを特徴とするものである。これによれば、開閉搬送部材が記録媒体の搬送路を排紙トレイに繋ぐように作用するため、非反転排紙部へ記録媒体を速やかに排出することができる。
【００８２】
また、請求項５に記載の発明は、請求項１から４のいずれかに記載の排紙装置において、前記開閉搬送部材を開閉するための開閉機構を備え、この開閉機構は前記開閉搬送部材を閉状態で保持可能な保持部からなり、この保持部は前記制御手段からの指示に従って前記開閉搬送部材を非保持とすることを特徴とするものである。これによれば、開閉機構が開閉搬送部材を保持状態から非保持状態とするきわめて簡単な動作により、開閉搬送部材を開状態にすることができる。
【００８３】
また、請求項６に記載の発明は、請求項１から４のいずれかに記載の排紙装置において、前記開閉搬送部材を開閉するための開閉機構を備え、この開閉機構は前記開閉搬送部材を自在に開閉する機構からなり、前記制御手段からの指示に従って前記開閉搬送部材を開閉駆動することを特徴とするものである。これによれば、開閉搬送部材を開状態とする場合でも、閉状態とする場合でも、制御手段の制御により行うことができるため、ユーザが手動で開閉搬送部材自体を操作をすることが不要となる。
【００８４】
また、請求項７に記載の発明は、請求項１に記載の排紙装置において、前記開閉搬送部材の開閉に関する情報を報知する報知手段を更に備え、前記後続動作は、前記報知手段により前記開閉搬送部材の開閉に関する情報を報知する動作であることを特徴とするものである。これによれば、記録媒体の腰の強さに基づいて報知手段で開閉搬送部材の開閉に関する情報を報知し、記録媒体を、反転搬送路に搬送して反転排紙部へ排出するか、反転搬送路に搬送せずに非反転搬排紙部へ排出するかを使い分けすることができる。
【００８５】
また、請求項８に記載の発明は、請求項７に記載の排紙装置において、前記検出手段で前記記録媒体が所定以上の腰の強さを有していると検出された場合に、前記報知手段で報知するとともに、前記記録媒体の搬送を前記開閉搬送部材の搬送方向上流側で一時停止し、前記開閉搬送部材が開状態となった場合に、前記記録媒体の搬送を再開させることを特徴とするものである。これによれば、報知手段の報知に対応したユーザの操作が行われるまでは、記録媒体の搬送が一時停止されるから、腰の強い記録媒体が誤って反転搬送路に搬送されることが防止される。
【００８６】
また、請求項９に記載の発明は、請求項１から８のいずれかに記載の排紙装置において、前記検出手段には、固定軸を中心として回動可能に設けられ当該固定軸より搬送方向下流側に配置されたアーム板と、当該アーム板に配置された被検出部と、前記アーム板が所定量以上に回動したときに前記被検出部を検出する検出部とが備えられることを特徴とするものである。これによれば、記録媒体の腰の強さによってアーム板の回動の量が変化することを利用して、記録媒体が所定以上の腰の強さを有しているか否かを簡便に判定することができる。
【００８７】
また、請求項１０に記載の発明は、請求項１から９のいずれかに記載の排紙装置において、前記記録部はインクジェットヘッドであり、画像が記録された前記記録媒体の搬送における案内手段として、記録媒体の画像面側に１または複数の拍車ローラが配置され、前記検出手段では、搬送される記録媒体の湾曲の度合いから腰の強さを検出し、前記拍車ローラの少なくとも１つが、記録媒体の湾曲部分から力を受ける前記検出手段の部材として兼用されることを特徴とするものである。これによれば、記録媒体の画像面のインクによる汚染を防止するために配置される案内手段としての拍車ローラを、検出手段の部材に兼用しているため、配置スペースを有効利用できる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】第１の実施形態の排紙装置を搭載した画像形成装置の側断面図である。
【図２】開閉搬送部材及び非反転排紙トレイが開状態となる動作を示す説明図である。
【図３】検出手段における変動部の要部斜視図である。
【図４】（ａ）〜（ｃ）は開閉搬送部材の開閉機構の動作を示す説明図である。
【図５】手差しトレイが開状態となった場合の要部断面図である。
【図６】（ａ）〜（ｄ）は開閉搬送部材の開閉機構における変形例の動作を示す説明図である。
【図７】第２の実施形態の排紙装置を搭載した画像形成装置の側断面図である。
【図８】開閉搬送部材及び非反転排紙トレイが開状態となる動作を示す説明図である。
【図９】第３の実施形態の実施形態の排紙装置を搭載した画像形成装置の側断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１、１０１、２０１画像形成装置
２、１０２、２０２排紙装置
３キャリッジ
４本体
５読取部
６給紙カセット
７ガイド軸
８記録ヘッド
９ノズル部
１０ローラアーム
１１給紙ローラ
１２搬送路
１３、１１３反転搬送路
１４反転排紙部
１５プラテン
１６第１駆動ローラ
１７第１従動ローラ
１８第２駆動ローラ
１９第２従動ローラ
２０第３駆動ローラ
２１第３従動ローラ
２２、１２２開閉搬送部材
２３非反転排紙トレイ
２４第１壁面部材
２５第２壁面部材
２６第１連結部材
２７第２連結部材
２８コイルバネ
２９、１２９非反転排紙部
３０検出手段
３１変動部
３２検出部
３３固定軸
３４拍車ローラ
３５アーム板
３６弾性軸
３７拍車ローラ
３８突起部
３９ストッパ部
４０、１４０手差しトレイ
４１第１延長部材
４２第２延長部材
４３サイド板
４４排紙トレイ
４５、６０開閉機構
４６ソレノイド
４７軸部
４８係合部材
４９係合受部
５０制御手段
５１給紙ローラ
５２アーム体
７１、７２、７３連結杆
７４レバー部材
７５第４駆動ローラ
７６第４従動ローラ
８０報知手段
１２２ａ壁面部
１２２ｂ切替部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a reverse conveyance path for conveying a recording medium on which an image is recorded by a recording section into a substantially U-turn shape and inverting the recording medium, and a reversed recording medium provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the reverse conveyance path. The present invention relates to a paper discharge device having a reverse paper discharge unit for discharging.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a paper discharge device applied to an image forming apparatus that records an image on a recording medium, for example, in a paper discharge device such as a laser beam printer described in Patent Document 1, an image on which an image has been recorded has been conventionally used. It is known that so-called face-up paper discharge in which the recording medium is discharged with the surface up and so-called face-down paper discharge in which the recording medium is discharged with the image surface down. The face-down paper discharge is excellent in convenience for the user because the recording media after recording are stacked in the order of reading of the original, and there is no need to rearrange the recording media later.
[0003]
In an image forming apparatus, an image is normally recorded on the upper surface of a recording medium by a recording unit. Therefore, in order to perform the face-down paper discharge, a substantially U-turn shape that reverses the recording medium so that the image surface is the lower surface is used. The reverse conveyance path was necessary.
[0004]
For this reason, face-down paper discharge is applied to a recording medium that is easy to be conveyed along a substantially U-turn-shaped reversal conveyance path, such as plain paper, and has a thickness or size that is not suitable for conveyance on the reversal conveyance path. Face-up paper discharge is applied to media such as cardboard and postcards. Normally, face-down paper discharge is performed, and face-up paper discharge is designated by an instruction from the user only in the case of a special recording medium.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-104707 A (see FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the image forming apparatus capable of face-down paper discharge as described above is generally an image forming apparatus in which a fixing process is performed on a recording medium after recording, such as a laser beam printer disclosed in Patent Document 1. Met. In such an image forming apparatus, the recording medium is conveyed to the reverse conveyance path after the fixing process. Accordingly, in order to prevent the recording medium conveyed along the substantially U-turn reversal conveyance path from being lifted, a roller is disposed as a conveying (or guiding) means on the document surface on the inner circumferential side of the conveyance. It can be brought into close contact with the recording medium.
[0007]
However, in the case of an image forming apparatus in which the recording unit is an ink jet head, the ink on the recording medium after the image is recorded is not dried immediately, and usually the fixing process for the ink is not performed. If a roller is arranged as a conveying (or guiding) means on the inner peripheral side of the conveying path, the roller and the document surface are rubbed and ink stains are likely to occur.
[0008]
In order to prevent this, it is desirable to use a spur roller as the conveying (or guiding) means that comes into contact with the document surface. However, since the spur roller does not adhere to the recording medium, the conveying ability is higher than that of the roller described above. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately convey the recording medium in the reverse conveyance path. For this reason, troubles such as a paper jam are likely to occur in the reverse conveyance path, and in fact, the inkjet printer is generally configured to perform face-up discharge only without applying face-down discharge.
[0009]
The present invention solves such problems and is convenient for the user even when face-up paper discharge is unavoidable due to the low transport capability in the reverse transport path, such as when the recording unit is an inkjet head. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper discharge device that can use highly reliable fiss-down paper discharge.
[0010]
In addition, since the present invention enables the roller to be in close contact with the recording medium, even if the laser beam printer has a high conveyance capability, when using thick paper with strong stiffness as the recording medium, it is not the reverse conveyance path but the post-recording path. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper discharge device that can convey the recording medium substantially linearly until it is discharged to the outside of the device.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a paper discharge device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a reversing conveyance path for reversing a recording medium on which an image is recorded by a recording unit in a substantially U-turn shape, and this reversal. In a paper discharge device provided on the downstream side of the transport path in the transport direction and having a reverse paper discharge section for discharging the reversed recording medium, the paper discharge device forms a part of the reverse transport path and is openable and closable. The recording medium conveyed from the recording unit can be reversed and discharged to the reverse paper discharge unit. In the open state, the recording medium conveyed from the recording unit can be discharged to the non-reverse paper discharge unit without being reversed. An openable / closable conveying member, a detecting unit provided between the recording unit and the openable / closable conveying member, for detecting the waist strength of the recording medium, and based on a detection result of the detecting unit, Control hand to control the operation It is characterized in that the bets is provided.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to the first aspect, the subsequent operation is an operation for controlling opening / closing of the open / close conveying member.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to the first or second aspect, when the detection unit detects that the recording medium has a waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined level, The control means opens the opening / closing conveyance member, and the control means closes the opening / closing conveyance member when the detection means does not detect that the recording medium has a waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined level. It is characterized by controlling to.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to any one of the first to third aspects, when the open / close conveying member is in an open state, a part of the open / close conveying member is It is a discharge tray on which the discharged recording medium is placed.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the opening / closing conveying member is provided, and the opening / closing mechanism includes the opening / closing conveying member. The holding unit can be held in a closed state, and the holding unit makes the opening / closing conveying member non-holding according to an instruction from the control means.
[0016]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the paper discharge device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects further comprises an opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the opening and closing conveying member, and the opening and closing mechanism includes the opening and closing conveying member. It comprises a mechanism that freely opens and closes, and opens and closes the opening and closing conveying member in accordance with instructions from the control means.
[0017]
The invention according to claim 7 is the paper discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for notifying information on opening / closing of the opening / closing conveying member, wherein the subsequent operation is performed by the notifying means. This is an operation for notifying information on opening and closing of the conveying member.
[0018]
The invention according to claim 8 is the paper discharge device according to claim 7, wherein the detection means detects that the recording medium has a waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined level. Notifying by the notifying means, and temporarily stopping the conveyance of the recording medium on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the opening / closing conveyance member, and resuming the conveyance of the recording medium when the opening / closing conveyance member is opened. It is a feature.
[0019]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the detection means is provided so as to be rotatable about a fixed shaft, and is transported from the fixed shaft. An arm plate disposed on the downstream side; a detected portion disposed on the arm plate; and a detection portion that detects the detected portion when the arm plate rotates more than a predetermined amount. It is a feature.
[0020]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the recording unit is an ink jet head, and serves as a guide means for conveying the recording medium on which an image is recorded. One or a plurality of spur rollers are disposed on the image surface side of the recording medium, and the detecting means detects the strength of the waist from the degree of curvature of the recording medium being conveyed, and at least one of the spur rollers is a recording medium. It is also used as a member of the detecting means that receives a force from a curved portion of the medium.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper discharge device according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an operation in which an open / close conveying member and a non-reverse paper discharge tray are opened, and FIG. 4 (a) to 4 (c) are explanatory views showing the operation of the opening / closing mechanism of the opening / closing conveying member, and FIG. 5 is a main portion when the manual feed tray is opened. 6A to 6D are explanatory views showing the operation of a modification of the opening / closing mechanism of the opening / closing conveying member.
[0022]
The first embodiment of the present invention is applied to a paper discharge device 2 mounted on an image forming apparatus 1 having an inkjet printer head.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment has a substantially box-shaped main body 4, and a recording head 8, which is an ink jet printer head, is disposed at an upper portion of the main body 4. A document reading section 5 is provided, and a sheet feeding cassette 6 is provided in the lower portion for storing sheets P as recording media in a stacked manner.
[0024]
The carriage 3 on which the recording head 8 is mounted downward is slidably attached to a round shaft-shaped guide shaft 7 extending in the depth direction of the main body 4. The recording head 8 is a color ink jet type cartridge type, and has a nozzle portion 9 on the lower surface side for discharging ink of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. A platen 15 is provided to face the nozzle portion 9, and a recording portion is provided between the nozzle portion 9 and the platen 15.
[0025]
Although not shown in the drawing, known reading means such as a transparent plate for placing a document or a reading device using a CCD is applied to the reading unit 5.
[0026]
In addition, the main body 4 is also provided with an operation panel (not shown) including a numeric keypad and button keys for instructing various operations, a liquid crystal panel for displaying instruction contents, error display, and the like. .
[0027]
A paper feed roller 11 supported by a roller arm 10 is disposed in the paper feed cassette 6, and the paper feed cassette 11 can be driven by its own weight or by an urging means (not shown) attached to the roller arm 10. 6 is always in contact with the uppermost surface of the paper P stacked on the paper 6. The paper P is separated one by one by the paper feed roller 11 and conveyed to a conveyance path 12 described later.
[0028]
Further, the main body 4 is provided with a manual feed tray 40 on one side surface (the right side surface in FIG. 1) and a non-reversing paper discharge tray 23 on the other side surface (the left side surface in FIG. 1) opposite to the side surface. In the closed state, the manual feed tray 40 is attached to the side surface of the main body 4 so as to block the paper feeding unit and the non-reverse paper discharge tray 23 covers the non-reverse paper discharge unit 29. The manual feed tray 40, the non-reverse paper discharge tray 23, and the non-reverse paper discharge unit 29 will be described later.
[0029]
As a basic path for transporting the paper P, an image is recorded by the recording unit on the upper surface of the paper P supplied from the paper feed cassette 6, and the image is recorded as it is (hereinafter referred to as an image surface). ) With the upper surface being the upper surface, and a reverse conveyance path 13 that is continuous with the conveyance path 12 and reverses the paper P in a substantially U-turn shape so that the image surface of the paper P becomes the lower surface. And are provided. A reverse paper discharge unit 14 that discharges the reversed paper P is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the reverse transport path 13. A recessed portion of the main body 4 outside the reverse discharge portion 14 and below the reading portion 5 is a discharge tray 44 for the paper P discharged from the reverse discharge portion 14.
[0030]
The starting end of the transport path 12 is formed in a substantially U-turn shape for transporting the paper P from the paper feed cassette 6 provided at the lower portion of the main body 4 onto the platen 15 provided at the substantially central portion of the main body 4. Has been. In the recording unit, the gap between the nozzle unit 9 and the platen 15 serves as the conveyance path 12.
[0031]
As the conveying means, a first driving roller (LF roller) 16 and a first upper side facing the first driving roller (LF roller) 16 are sent to the recording unit side by a predetermined amount upstream of the recording unit in the conveying direction in the conveying path 12. A driven roller 17 is provided. A second drive roller 18 and a second driven roller 19 are provided above the second drive roller 18 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording unit. Further, in the reverse conveyance path 13, a third drive roller 20 for discharging the paper P and a third driven roller 21 below the opposite side are provided in front of the reverse paper discharge unit 14. Since the second driven roller 19 and the third driven roller 21 are arranged on the side in contact with the image surface of the paper P after the image is recorded, they are spur rollers so as not to contaminate the image surface. Yes.
[0032]
If necessary, a conveying means may be provided in the middle of the reverse conveying path 13, but in this case as well, the conveying means arranged on the side in contact with the image surface of the paper P prevents contamination by ink. Therefore, it is desirable to use a spur roller.
[0033]
The reversing conveyance path 13 forms a part of the reversing conveyance path 13 and can be opened and closed. In the closed state, the sheet P conveyed from the recording unit is reversed and discharged to the reversing discharge unit 14. An open / close conveying member 22 is provided that can discharge the sheet P conveyed from the recording unit to the non-inverted sheet discharging unit 29 without being reversed in the open state. The open / close conveying member 22 is a wall surface member that becomes the outer peripheral side wall surface of the reverse conveying path 13 in the closed state. Further, a connecting member is provided between the non-reversed paper discharge tray 23 and the open / close transport member 22 in order to link the open / close transport member 22 to the non-reverse paper discharge tray 23. The non-reversing paper discharge tray 23 is attached to the side surface of the main body 4 so as to open upward by a rotating shaft 23a provided at the lower portion thereof.
[0034]
1st Embodiment of the said wall surface member is comprised from two members, the 1st wall surface member 24 and the 2nd wall surface member 25 which are formed in the curved shape. Then, a rotation shaft 24a provided at the lower portion of the first wall surface member 24 and a rotation shaft 25a provided at the lower portion of the second wall surface member 25 are attached to the inside of the main body 4, respectively. The two wall surface members 25 are rotatable so that each upper part is inclined outward. Further, the front end portion of the first wall surface member 24 is connected to the second wall surface member 25 so as to be slidable along the side surface of the second wall surface member 25. Further, the connecting member is also composed of two members, a first connecting member 26 and a second connecting member 27, which are assembled in an approximately L shape so that the bending angle thereof can be changed. The proximal end portion is attached to the distal end portion of the second wall surface member 25 and the distal end portion of the second connecting member 27 is attached to the distal end portion of the non-inverted discharge tray 23, respectively, so as to be rotatable. Further, a mounting portion 24b projects from the lower portion of the first wall surface member 24, and a coil spring 28 is attached to the mounting portion 24b as means for biasing the opening / closing conveying member 22 in the opening direction. Therefore, the non-reversed paper discharge tray 23 connected to the opening / closing conveying member 22 is also biased by the coil spring 28 so as to be opened.
[0035]
In this configuration, when the open / close conveying member 22 and the non-reversing paper discharge tray 23 are closed against the urging force of the coil spring 28, as shown in FIG. A wall surface member 25 is combined to form a smoothly curved outer peripheral side wall surface as a part of the reverse conveying path 13, and the first connecting member 26 is provided between the open / close conveying member 22 and the non-inverted discharge tray 23. And the second connecting member 27 are stored with a small bending angle.
[0036]
On the other hand, when the open / close conveying member 22 and the non-reversing paper discharge tray 23 are inclined to the outside of the main body 4 according to the urging force of the coil spring 28 and are opened, as shown in FIG. The non-reversing paper discharge unit 29 is formed without being formed. The non-reverse paper discharge unit 29 is another paper discharge unit that communicates with the inside and outside of the main body 4 separately from the reverse paper discharge unit 14. Further, when the opening / closing conveying member 22 and the non-reversing discharge tray 23 are tilted, the bending angle between the first connecting member 26 and the second connecting member 27 increases, and the opening / closing conveying member 22, the non-reversing discharging tray 23, The first connecting member 26 and the second connecting member 27 are continuously integrated. For this reason, the open / close conveying member 22 connects the conveyance path 12 and the non-reverse paper discharge tray 23, and a part of the outside of the open / close conveying member 22 is discharged from the non-reverse paper discharge unit 29 together with the non-reverse paper discharge tray 23. The paper P functions as a tray for placing the paper P in a state where the image surface is the upper surface.
[0037]
Further, in the present invention, it is determined whether or not the sheet P conveyed to the reversal conveyance path 13 can be conveyed with a conveyance capability based on the degree of curvature of the reversal conveyance path 13 or a spur roller disposed on the inner peripheral side. In addition, a detecting means 30 for detecting the stiffness of the paper P is provided. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the detection means 30 is disposed between the recording unit and the opening / closing conveyance member 22, and more specifically, the end portion of the conveyance path 12 formed substantially linearly and substantially U-shaped. It is arranged at a position straddling the start end of the reverse conveyance path 13 formed in a turn shape, and the waist strength of the paper P is detected by using the curvature generated in the paper P at the start end of the reverse conveyance path 13. It is configured. It should be noted that other known techniques may be used for the method of detecting the waist strength of the paper P.
[0038]
The detection unit 30 includes a variation unit 31 at a position where a force is received by the curvature of the paper P, and a detection unit 32 at a position where the variation of the variation unit 31 is detected. As shown in FIG. 3, the variable portion 31 is provided with a fixed shaft 33 to which a plurality of spur rollers 34 are rotatably attached. The spur roller 34 is disposed at a position where the spur roller 34 comes into contact with the sheet P, and acts as a guiding unit in conveyance. However, the spur roller 34 may be omitted and only the fixed shaft 33 may be provided. The fixed shaft 33 may not be a single linear shaft as long as it can support an arm plate 35 described later.
[0039]
An arm plate 35 having a protruding portion 38 (corresponding to a detected portion in claims) on the upper surface is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P with respect to the fixed shaft 33, and the arm plate 35 rotates on the fixed shaft 33. It is attached freely. An elastic shaft 36 to which a plurality of spur rollers 37 (three in FIG. 3) are rotatably attached is provided at the tip of the arm plate 35, that is, the end on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P. Yes. The elastic shaft 36 is a coil spring-shaped shaft. The spur roller 37 is also disposed at a position in contact with the paper P and acts as a guide for the paper P. However, since the spur roller 37 is attached to the tip of the pivotable arm plate 35, the paper P is lifted when the paper P is lifted. As a result, the spur roller 37 is also raised. When the arm plate 35 is rotated upward about the fixed shaft 33 due to the rise of the spur roller 37, when the rotation becomes a predetermined angle or more, in other words, the protrusion 38 on the upper surface of the arm plate 35 is When close to or in contact with the detection unit 32 at a predetermined distance or more, the detection unit 32 detects that the paper P has waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined distance.
[0040]
Arbitrary means for detecting the proximity or contact of the protrusion 38 can be applied to the detection unit 32. For example, the detection unit 32 is appropriately selected from an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, a capacitive sensor, a pressure sensor, a mechanical switch, and the like. When the detection unit 32 detects that the paper P has a waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, a signal is sent to the control means 50 that controls the subsequent operation. Further, a stopper portion 39 is provided above the changing portion 31 to prevent the changing portion 31 from excessively rotating beyond a predetermined angle.
[0041]
In this embodiment, the opening / closing mechanism 45 for opening / closing the opening / closing conveyance member 22 described above is a holding unit that can hold the opening / closing conveyance member 22 in a closed state, and the opening / closing conveyance member 22 is opened according to an instruction from the control means 50. It is configured to be non-retained. A solenoid 46 is used as a holding part of the opening / closing mechanism 45. As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c), a shaft 47 that reciprocates by its excitation and demagnetization is attached to the solenoid 46. The proximal end portion of the engaging member 48 formed in an L shape in a side view is attached to the distal end portion of the shaft portion 47. The front end portion of the engagement member 48 is formed in a hook shape on the lower surface side, and is attached to the upper side of the non-reversed paper discharge tray 23 and is engaged with an engagement receiving portion 49 formed on the upper surface side in a hook shape. Engage. When the detecting means 30 detects that the stiffness of the paper P is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the solenoid 46 is supplied with an instruction signal from the control means 50. The solenoid 46 operates so as to pull the shaft portion 47, and the engagement between the distal end portion of the engagement member 48 and the engagement receiving portion 49 is released.
[0042]
Further, the manual feed tray 40 (or multipurpose (MP) tray) provided on the side surface of the main body 4 (the right side surface in FIG. 1) is provided with a rotating shaft 40 a provided at the lower portion thereof and attached to the main body 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the paper P can be placed when the upper portion is opened to the outside of the main body 4 to be in the open state. On the inner surface side of the manual feed tray 40, a first extension member 41 and a second extension member 42 are accommodated in an overlapping manner. The first extension member 41 is provided slidably with respect to the manual feed tray 40, and is provided with a second extension. The member 42 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the first extension member 41. Therefore, when the manual feed tray 40 is opened, it functions as a tray. However, the stacked first extension member 41 and second extension member 42 are pulled out, and the second extension member 42 is further rotated outward. By opening them, an enlarged size tray that can cope with a large-size sheet step by step is formed. Further, a side plate 43 movable in the width direction of the paper P is attached to the inner surface side (upper surface side in the open state) of the manual feed tray 40, and the paper placed on the manual feed tray 40 by the side plate 43. Positioning in the width direction of P can be performed.
[0043]
Further, the arm body 52 is rotatably attached to the main body 4 on the inner surface side of the manual feed tray 40 in the closed state by a rotation shaft 52a provided at one end thereof. A paper feed roller unit 53 having a paper feed roller 51 at the tip is rotatably attached to the other end of the arm body 52. The arm body 52 and the paper feed roller unit 53 are folded and stored on the inner surface side of the manual feed tray 40 when the manual feed tray 40 is closed, and widen the folding angle when the manual feed tray 40 is open. However, it is configured to jump out. The rotation shaft 52 a of the arm body 52 is a shaft to which a driving force from a paper feed driving source is transmitted. The driving force transmitted to the rotation shaft 52 a causes the arm body 52 and the paper feeding roller unit 51 to be transmitted. To the sheet feeding roller 51 through the transmission line. Then, the sheet P placed on the manual feed tray 40 is separated one by one by the driven sheet feeding roller 51, and the first driving roller 16 and the first driven roller 17 that are in the middle of the conveyance path 12. It is conveyed to the immediate upstream part.
[0044]
The operation of the paper discharge device 2 configured as described above will be described. First, in the paper feed cassette 6, plain paper having a firmness that can be transported in the reverse transport path 13 is normally stored as paper P. Therefore, when image recording is instructed on the paper P of the paper feed cassette 6, the paper P is separated one by one by the paper feed roller 11 attached to the tip of the roller arm 10 and fed. The conveyance from the cassette 6 to the conveyance path 12 is started. The sheet P that has passed through the starting end of the conveyance path 12 that is curved in a substantially U-turn shape upward is conveyed onto the platen 15 by a predetermined amount by the first driving roller 16 and the first driven roller 17. Then, the recording unit ejects ink from the nozzle unit 9 to record an image.
[0045]
The front edge portion of the paper P that has come out of the recording unit is further conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction by the second driving roller 18 and the second driven roller 19. At this time, since the second driven roller 19 is a spur roller, the image surface of the paper P is conveyed without being rubbed and contaminated. Further, the front edge portion of the paper P is guided by a spur roller 34 attached to the fixed shaft 33 and a spur roller 37 attached to the elastic shaft 36 and reaches the reverse conveyance path 13 from the conveyance path 12.
[0046]
Since the sheet P has a waist strength that can be conveyed in the reverse conveyance path 13, the sheet P is flexibly bent along the curved shape at the start end of the reverse conveyance path 13, and the spur roller 37. Is conveyed to the reverse conveyance path 13 with little lifting. Therefore, in the detecting means 30, the protrusion 38 of the changing portion 31 is not detected by the detecting portion 32, and the sheet P is conveyed through the reverse conveying path 13 as it is, and the third driven roller 20 and the third driven roller which is a spur roller. The paper is sandwiched between the rollers 21 and discharged from the reverse paper discharge unit 14 onto the paper discharge tray 44. At this time, since the image side of the paper P is face-down paper discharge, the paper P discharged from the reverse paper discharge unit 14 is read by the reading unit 5 when the above operation is continuously performed. Since the image surfaces are stacked with the image surface as the lower surface in the order of reading or the order in which image recording is instructed from the outside, there is no need for the user to reorder.
[0047]
Next, when an image is recorded on a paper P different from the paper stored in the paper cassette 6, the manual feed tray 40 is opened as shown in FIG. If necessary, the first extension member 41 and the second extension member 42 are pulled out from the manual feed tray 40, or the second extension member 42 is rotated with respect to the first extension member 41 to expand the tray size. May be increased. In addition, the arm body 52 and the paper feed roller unit 53 pop out in conjunction with the opening of the manual feed tray 40, and an arbitrary paper P is placed in the manual feed tray 40 so that the uppermost surface of the paper P contacts the lower surface of the paper feed roller 51. Placed on.
[0048]
Next, when an image recording is instructed on the paper P of the manual feed tray 40, the paper P is separated one by one by the paper feed roller 51, and is directly connected to the first driving roller 16 and the first driven roller 17. It is conveyed to the middle part of the conveyance path 12 that is upstream. As in the case of conveyance from the paper feed cassette 6 described above, the sheet P is recorded with an image by the recording unit, conveyed in a substantially straight line, and reaches the reverse conveyance path 13 from the conveyance path 12.
[0049]
When the sheet P is strong, it is difficult to bend flexibly, that is, it is difficult to bend. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the sheet P does not follow the curved shape of the starting end portion of the reverse conveyance path 13 (curvature). ) Becomes smaller, and the paper P lifts the spur roller 37. At this time, even if the paper P is undulated in the axial direction of the elastic shaft 36, the spur roller 37 is supported by the elastic shaft 36, and each of them is lifted along the undulation of the paper P. If the spur roller 37 is supported by a fixed shaft, the load of the spur roller 37 that first contacts the protruding portion of the undulation of the paper P is concentrated on the protruding portion, and the paper P is torn. There are also concerns. Therefore, by supporting the spur roller 37 with the elastic shaft 36 as described above, concentration of the load of the spur roller 37 on the undulation of the paper P can be avoided.
[0050]
When the spur roller 37 is lifted by a predetermined amount or more, the arm plate 35 pivots upward with the fixed shaft 33 as a fulcrum, and the protrusion 38 provided on the upper surface of the arm plate 35 is detected by the detection unit 32. Then, it is recognized that the paper P has a waist strength greater than a predetermined level.
[0051]
When detected by the detection means 30 in this way, a signal is transmitted to the control means 50, and the control means 50 immediately outputs a signal to the opening / closing mechanism 45 so that the opening / closing conveying member 22 is opened. As a result, the solenoid 46 as a holding portion operates so as to pull the shaft portion 47 into the solenoid 46. By this operation, the engaging member 48 is tilted with its proximal end being pulled toward the solenoid 46, and the distal end portion of the engaging member 48 is engaged with the engaging receiving portion 49 attached to the non-reversed paper discharge tray 23. Is released.
[0052]
When the engagement that has held the non-reversing paper discharge tray 23 in the closed state is released, the opening / closing conveying member connected to the non-reversing paper discharge tray 23 by the first connecting member 26 and the second connecting member 27. 22 is also in a non-holding state. Since the coil spring 28 for urging the open / close conveying member 22 toward the open state is attached to the mounting portion 24b of the first wall member 24 of the open / close conveying member 22, the open / close conveying member 22 and the coil spring 28 according to the urging force of the coil spring 28 are attached. The non-reverse paper discharge tray 23 is opened in conjunction with it, and the reverse conveyance path 13 is interrupted to form a non-reverse paper discharge unit 29. As a result, the paper P that has reached the starting end of the reverse conveyance path 13 is not conveyed on the reverse conveyance path 13, and is transferred from the non-reverse discharge section 29 onto the non-reverse discharge tray 23 with the image surface as the upper surface. (Face-up paper discharge).
[0053]
If a stiff sheet is conveyed to the reverse conveyance path 13 as it is, a paper jam occurs, or it comes into strong contact with the spur rollers (the third driven roller 21 and the spur roller 37) disposed on the inner peripheral side and is torn. However, if the paper is discharged from the non-inverted paper discharge unit 29 as described above, the paper can be discharged without causing a trouble.
[0054]
Of course, if it is not detected that the paper P placed on the manual feed tray 40 has a stiffness higher than a predetermined level, the reversal conveyance path 13 is the same as the paper fed from the paper feed cassette 6. Are discharged from the reverse discharge section 14 (face-down discharge).
[0055]
Further, even when the paper P having the predetermined strength or more is erroneously accommodated in the paper feed cassette 6 and the recording of the image is instructed on the paper P, the detection means 30 is conveyed each time it is conveyed. Since the strength of the sheet P is detected and the opening / closing conveying member 22 is opened based on the detection result and the sheet P is discharged to the non-inverted sheet discharge unit 29, the above-described trouble in the reverse conveying path 13 is caused. It can be prevented in advance.
[0056]
In this embodiment, after the engagement between the engagement member 48 and the engagement receiving portion 49 is released, the solenoid 46 of the opening / closing mechanism 45 is returned to the original position from which the shaft portion 47 protrudes. Therefore, when the non-reverse paper discharge tray 23 and the opening / closing transport member 22 are changed from the open state to the closed state (holding state), the user manually closes the non-reverse paper discharge tray 23. The engagement receiving portion 49 and the engagement member 48 are engaged again, whereby the open / close conveyance member 22 is also interlocked and held, and the reverse conveyance path 13 is restored.
[0057]
Modification examples of the opening / closing mechanism 45 of the opening / closing conveying member 22 are shown in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (d). This modification is an example in which a mechanism that freely opens and closes an opening / closing conveying member is applied as the opening / closing mechanism 60, and a motor 61 is used. As the opening / closing mechanism 60, as shown in FIG. 6A, first, an arc member 62 having external teeth on the peripheral surface is fixedly attached to the lower portion of the non-inverted discharge tray 23, and the first wall surface is fixed. A motor 61 is disposed near the lower portion of the member 24. An odd number of external gears 64 are engaged and connected between the arc member 62 and the external gear 63 attached to the drive shaft of the motor 61 (three gears are interposed in FIG. 6). ).
[0058]
When the detection unit 30 detects that the conveyed paper P has a stiffness greater than or equal to a predetermined level, the opening / closing mechanism 60 in FIG. As shown, the motor 61 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure. The rotation of the motor 61 causes the external gears 63 and 64 to sequentially rotate to displace the arc member 62 upward. With this displacement, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the non-inverted discharge tray 23 tilts to the outside of the main body 4, and the opening / closing conveying member 22 (first wall surface) connected to the non-inverted discharge tray 23. The member 24 and the second wall surface member 25) are also tilted outward, so that they are opened and a non-reversed paper discharge portion 29 is formed.
[0059]
On the other hand, when the non-reversed paper discharge tray 23 and the open / close conveying member 22 in the open state are closed, as shown in FIG. Is rotated clockwise in the figure. As a result, the external gears 63 and 64 are sequentially rotated to displace the arc member 62 downward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6A, the non-reversing paper discharge tray 23 is pulled back toward the inside of the main body 4 and stands, and the opening / closing conveying member 22 ( The first wall surface member 24 and the second wall surface member 25 are closed, and the non-reversed paper discharge unit 29 is eliminated, so that the reverse conveyance path 13 is restored.
[0060]
As described above, in this modified example, not only when the non-reversed paper discharge tray 23 and the open / close conveying member 22 are opened, but also when the non-reversed paper discharge tray 23 and the open / close conveying member 22 are closed, the control by the control unit 50 can be performed.
[0061]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with the paper discharge device of the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an operation in which the open / close conveying member and the non-reverse paper discharge tray are opened. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0062]
In the second embodiment, when the paper P is transported from the manual feed tray 40 in the first embodiment, the waist strength of the paper P is detected each time the paper is transported, and the open / close transport member 22 is opened. When the manual feed tray is used instead of determining whether or not to perform, the open / close conveying member 22 is automatically opened to form the non-inverted reverse paper discharge unit 29, and the paper P is always reversed. It is characterized in that the sheet is discharged without discharging (face-down sheet discharging).
[0063]
In other words, in the paper discharge device 102 mounted on the image forming apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment, when the manual feed tray 140 is opened, the open / close conveying member 122 and the non-reversed paper discharge tray are automatically linked to this. A mechanism for opening 123 is provided.
[0064]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the manual feed tray 140 and the non-inverted paper discharge tray 123 that are rotatably attached to the side surface of the main body 4 are configured such that the lower portions 140b and 123b are respectively connected to the rotation shafts. 140a and 123a are provided so as to extend downward. Then, in order to connect the lower portion 140b of the manual feed tray 140 and the lower portion 123b of the non-inverted paper discharge tray 123, a plurality of connecting rods (here, three connecting rods 71, 72, 73) across the front end direction of the main body 4. Are combined in a freely rotatable manner. And the lever member 74 is attached to the connection part of the connection rods 71 and 72 so that it may protrude upwards.
[0065]
In addition, an opening / closing conveyance member 122 that forms a part of the reverse conveyance path 113 and that can be opened and closed is provided at the start end portion of the reverse conveyance path 113. The open / close conveying member 122 includes a wall surface portion 122a constituting the outer peripheral wall surface of the reverse conveying path 113, and a switching portion 122b that displaces the wall surface portion 122a when pressed by the lever member 74. When the wall surface portion 122 a is displaced by the switching portion 122 b, the conveyance of the paper P to the reverse conveyance path 113 is blocked and the paper P can be opened to the non-reversed paper discharge tray 123.
[0066]
According to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, when the manual feed tray 140 is opened by the user, the connecting rods 71, 72, 73 connected to the lower portion 140 b of the manual feed tray 140 are displaced in association with each other, and are not reversed. The paper discharge tray 123 is opened. Further, with the operation of the connecting rods 71, 72, 73, the lever member 74 attached to the connecting portion of the connecting rods 71, 72 tilts so as to press the switching portion 122 b of the opening / closing conveying member 122, and the opening / closing conveying member The wall surface part 122a of 122 will be in an open state. As a result, the wall surface portion 122a of the open / close conveying member 122 and the non-reverse paper discharge tray 123 are both opened, so that the non-reverse paper discharge portion 129 is formed. As a result, the paper P conveyed from the manual feed tray 140 is discharged to the non-reverse paper discharge unit 129 without being reversed (face-up paper discharge). Therefore, according to the second embodiment, when the manual feed tray 140 is opened by the user, the non-reversed paper discharge tray 123 is also opened in conjunction with it, so that the paper is discharged from the paper feed. The non-reversing conveyance path up to is immediately formed, which is extremely convenient when an image is formed on the stiff paper P.
[0067]
In the second embodiment, the detection unit 30 similar to that in the first embodiment is provided between the recording unit and the opening / closing conveyance member 122, so that the manual feed tray 140 is not opened and is fed. When the paper P is supplied from the paper cassette 6 and the detecting means 30 detects that the paper P has a stiffness greater than or equal to a predetermined level, the control means 50 causes the wall surface portion 122a of the open / close conveying member 122 to be supplied. And the non-reversing paper discharge tray 123 is opened.
[0068]
Further, in this embodiment, a fourth drive roller 75 and a fourth driven roller 76 made of a spur roller are provided between the open / close conveying member 22 and the non-inverted discharge tray 123, and a spur roller is provided on the upper side. The paper discharge to the reverse paper discharge tray 123 is urged.
[0069]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with the paper discharge device of the third embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0070]
In the paper discharge device 202 mounted on the image forming apparatus 201 of the third embodiment, in the first embodiment, based on the detection result of the detection unit 30, the control unit 50 performs the subsequent operation of the opening / closing conveyance member. Instead of being configured to control the opening and closing, based on the detection result of the detecting means 30, the control means 50 notifies the information about the opening and closing of the opening and closing transport member 22 by the notifying means 80 as a subsequent operation. It is characterized by having a configuration to control.
[0071]
In the third embodiment, when the detecting means 30 detects that the stiffness of the paper P is greater than or equal to a predetermined level, the opening / closing conveying member 22 is opened by the notification means 80 via the control means 50. Information that prompts the user to be notified. In the notification unit 80, for example, on a liquid crystal panel or the like provided in the reading unit 5 or the main body 4, a message for informing the user to open the non-reversed sheet discharge tray 23 linked to the opening / closing conveyance member 22 is displayed, or a buzzer or the like is displayed. A warning sound is emitted and notified.
[0072]
When the detecting means 30 detects that the waist strength is equal to or greater than a predetermined level, the paper P is temporarily stopped upstream in the transport direction of the open / close transport member 22 and waits so as not to be transported to the reverse transport path 13 by mistake. To do. When the opening / closing conveying member 22 is operated to be opened by the notification of the notification means 80, the conveyance of the paper P is resumed and formed by the open state of both the opening / closing conveying member 22 and the non-reversing discharge tray 23. The non-reversed paper discharge unit 29 is discharged. The operation for opening the open / close conveying member 22 can be performed by manually opening the non-reversed paper discharge tray 23 interlocked with the open / close conveying member 22 or by operating an operation panel or the like provided on the main body 4. The opening / closing conveying member 22 and the non-reversing sheet discharge tray 23 may be instructed to be opened.
[0073]
However, in an image forming apparatus that employs a recording method such as a laser method or an electrophotographic method, it is difficult to temporarily stop the conveyance of the paper P in the middle of recording. It would be difficult to implement with a device.
[0074]
In the above description, the reading unit 5 is arranged above the paper discharge tray 44. However, the reading unit 5 is not limited to this arrangement. Furthermore, the main body 4 and the reading unit 5 transmit data via a cable or the like. It may be configured to be connected so that it can be received.
[0075]
Further, the image forming apparatuses 1, 101, and 201 may be printers that do not have the reading unit 5.
[0076]
Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the ink jet recording method, and can be applied to an image forming apparatus of a laser method, an electrophotographic method, or a thermal transfer method. In other words, when using thick, stiff paper as a recording medium, it is possible to adopt a configuration that conveys the recording medium after recording, approximately linearly, until the recording medium is discharged out of the apparatus, instead of the reverse conveyance path. It is.
[0077]
[Operation and effect of the invention]
As described above, the paper discharge device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes the reverse conveyance path that conveys and reverses the recording medium on which the image is recorded in the recording unit in a substantially U-turn shape, and the reverse conveyance. In a paper discharge device provided downstream of the path in the transport direction and having a reverse paper discharge unit for discharging a reversed recording medium, the paper discharge device forms a part of the reverse transport path and is openable and closable. The recording medium conveyed from the recording unit can be reversed and discharged to the reverse paper discharge unit, and in the open state, the recording medium conveyed from the recording unit can be discharged to the non-reverse paper discharge unit without being reversed. An openable / closable conveyance member, a detection unit that is provided between the recording unit and the openable / closable conveyance member and detects the waist strength of the recording medium, and a subsequent operation based on a detection result of the detection unit Control means for controlling It is provided and is characterized in. According to this, the waist strength of the recording medium is detected, and the subsequent operation can be controlled based on the detected result.
[0078]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to the first aspect, the subsequent operation is an operation for controlling opening / closing of the open / close conveying member. According to this, the opening / closing conveyance member is controlled by the control means based on the stiffness of the recording medium, and the recording medium is conveyed to the reverse conveyance path and discharged to the reverse discharge section, or the reverse conveyance path It is possible to select whether to discharge the paper to the non-reverse carrying paper discharge section without being conveyed.
[0079]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to the first or second aspect, when the detection unit detects that the recording medium has a waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined level, The control means opens the opening / closing conveyance member, and the control means closes the opening / closing conveyance member when the detection means does not detect that the recording medium has a waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined level. It is characterized by controlling to.
[0080]
According to this, in accordance with the conveyance capability of the reverse conveyance path, a reference for detecting waist strength in the detection means is determined. The recording medium detected to have a waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined level is discharged with the image surface as the upper surface because the control member opens the open / close conveyance member and is not conveyed to the reverse conveyance path. Thus, it is possible to prevent troubles such as a paper jam occurring in the reverse conveyance path. In addition, a recording medium that is not detected as having a waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined level is transported to the reverse transport path with the open / close transport member closed by the control means, and discharged with the image surface as the lower surface. Thus, face-down paper discharge that is highly convenient for the user is possible.
[0081]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to any one of the first to third aspects, when the open / close conveying member is in an open state, a part of the open / close conveying member is It is a discharge tray on which the discharged recording medium is placed. According to this, since the open / close conveying member acts so as to connect the conveyance path of the recording medium to the sheet discharge tray, the recording medium can be quickly discharged to the non-reversed sheet discharge portion.
[0082]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the opening / closing conveying member is provided, and the opening / closing mechanism includes the opening / closing conveying member. The holding unit can be held in a closed state, and the holding unit makes the opening / closing conveying member non-holding according to an instruction from the control means. According to this, the opening / closing conveyance member can be opened by an extremely simple operation of the opening / closing mechanism to change the holding mechanism from the holding state to the non-holding state.
[0083]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the paper discharge device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects further comprises an opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the opening and closing conveying member, and the opening and closing mechanism includes the opening and closing conveying member. It comprises a mechanism that freely opens and closes, and opens and closes the opening and closing conveying member in accordance with instructions from the control means. According to this, even when the open / close conveying member is in the open state or in the closed state, it can be performed under the control of the control means, so that it is unnecessary for the user to manually operate the open / close conveying member itself. Become.
[0084]
The invention according to claim 7 is the paper discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for notifying information on opening / closing of the opening / closing conveying member, wherein the subsequent operation is performed by the notifying means. This is an operation for notifying information on opening and closing of the conveying member. According to this, information on opening / closing of the opening / closing conveyance member is notified by the notifying means based on the strength of the recording medium, and the recording medium is conveyed to the reverse conveyance path and discharged to the reverse discharge section, or the reverse It is possible to use properly whether to discharge to the non-reverse carrying discharge unit without being transferred to the transfer path.
[0085]
The invention according to claim 8 is the paper discharge device according to claim 7, wherein the detection means detects that the recording medium has a waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined level. Notifying by the notifying means, and temporarily stopping the conveyance of the recording medium on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the opening / closing conveyance member, and resuming the conveyance of the recording medium when the opening / closing conveyance member is opened. It is a feature. According to this, since the conveyance of the recording medium is temporarily stopped until the user's operation corresponding to the notification of the notification means is performed, the stiff recording medium is prevented from being erroneously conveyed to the reverse conveyance path. Is done.
[0086]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the detection means is provided so as to be rotatable about a fixed shaft, and is transported from the fixed shaft. An arm plate disposed on the downstream side; a detected portion disposed on the arm plate; and a detection portion that detects the detected portion when the arm plate rotates more than a predetermined amount. It is a feature. According to this, it is easily determined whether or not the recording medium has a waist strength greater than a predetermined value by utilizing the amount of rotation of the arm plate depending on the waist strength of the recording medium. can do.
[0087]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the recording unit is an ink jet head, and serves as a guide means for conveying the recording medium on which an image is recorded. One or a plurality of spur rollers are disposed on the image surface side of the recording medium, and the detecting means detects the strength of the waist from the degree of curvature of the recording medium being conveyed, and at least one of the spur rollers is a recording medium. It is also used as a member of the detecting means that receives a force from a curved portion of the medium. According to this, since the spur roller as the guiding means arranged to prevent the contamination of the image surface of the recording medium by the ink is also used as the member of the detecting means, the arrangement space can be effectively used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper discharge device according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation in which an open / close conveying member and a non-reversed paper discharge tray are opened.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of a variable part in a detection means.
4A to 4C are explanatory views showing the operation of an opening / closing mechanism for an opening / closing conveying member. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part when a manual feed tray is opened.
FIGS. 6A to 6D are explanatory views showing the operation of a modification of the opening / closing mechanism of the opening / closing conveying member.
FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper discharge device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation in which an open / close conveying member and a non-reversed paper discharge tray are opened.
FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper discharge device according to an embodiment of a third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 101, 201 Image forming apparatus
2, 102, 202 Paper discharge device
3 Carriage
4 Body
5 Reading unit
6 Paper cassette
7 Guide shaft
8 Recording head
9 Nozzle
10 Roller arm
11 Paper feed roller
12 Transport path
13, 113 Reverse transfer path
14 Reverse paper discharge unit
15 Platen
16 First drive roller
17 First driven roller
18 Second drive roller
19 Second driven roller
20 Third drive roller
21 Third driven roller
22, 122 Open / close conveying member
23 Non-reversing output tray
24 first wall member
25 Second wall member
26 First connecting member
27 Second connecting member
28 Coil spring
29, 129 Non-reversing paper discharge unit
30 detection means
31 Variable part
32 detector
33 Fixed shaft
34 Spur Roller
35 Arm plate
36 Elastic shaft
37 Spur Roller
38 Protrusion
39 Stopper
40, 140 Bypass tray
41 First extension member
42 Second extension member
43 Side plate
44 Output tray
45, 60 Opening / closing mechanism
46 Solenoid
47 Shaft
48 engaging member
49 engagement receiving part
50 Control means
51 Paper feed roller
52 Arm body
71, 72, 73
74 Lever member
75 Fourth drive roller
76 4th driven roller
80 Notification means
122a Wall surface
122b switching unit

Claims

A reversing conveyance path for reversing the recording medium on which the image is recorded in the recording unit in a substantially U-turn shape;
In a paper discharge device that is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the reverse transport path and has a reverse paper discharge unit that discharges the reversed recording medium,
The reversal conveyance path forms a part of the reversal conveyance path and can be opened and closed. In the closed state, the recording medium conveyed from the recording unit can be reversed and discharged to the reversal discharge unit. An opening / closing conveying member capable of discharging the recording medium conveyed from the recording section to the non-reversing discharging section without inverting the recording medium;
A detecting means provided between the recording unit and the open / close conveying member for detecting the waist strength of the recording medium;
A paper discharge apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls a subsequent operation based on a detection result of the detection unit.

The paper discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the subsequent operation is an operation of controlling opening and closing of the opening and closing conveyance member.

When the detection means detects that the recording medium has a waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the control means opens the open / close conveyance member, and the detection means causes the recording medium to move above the predetermined waist. 3. The paper discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the open / close conveying member to be in a closed state when it is not detected that the strength of the paper is strong.

4. When the open / close conveying member is in an open state, a part of the open / close conveying member serves as a paper discharge tray on which the discharged recording medium is placed. The paper discharge device described in 1.

An opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the opening / closing conveyance member is provided, and the opening / closing mechanism includes a holding unit capable of holding the opening / closing conveyance member in a closed state. The paper discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the paper discharge device is not held.

An opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the opening / closing conveyance member is provided, the opening / closing mechanism is a mechanism for freely opening / closing the opening / closing conveyance member, and the opening / closing conveyance member is driven to open / close in accordance with an instruction from the control means. The paper discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4

A notification means for notifying information on opening and closing of the opening and closing conveyance member;
The paper discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the subsequent operation is an operation of notifying information about opening / closing of the opening / closing conveyance member by the notification unit.

When the detection means detects that the recording medium has a waist strength greater than or equal to a predetermined level, the notification means notifies the conveyance of the recording medium upstream of the opening / closing conveyance member. The paper discharge device according to claim 7, wherein the conveyance of the recording medium is resumed when the opening / closing conveyance member is in an open state.

The detection means is provided with an arm plate provided so as to be rotatable about a fixed shaft and disposed downstream in the transport direction from the fixed shaft, a detected portion disposed on the arm plate, and the arm plate. The paper discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising: a detection unit that detects the detected portion when the rotation is greater than a predetermined amount.

The recording unit is an inkjet head, and one or a plurality of spur rollers are arranged on the image surface side of the recording medium as guide means for transporting the recording medium on which an image is recorded. 10. The waist strength is detected from the degree of curvature of the medium, and at least one of the spur rollers is also used as a member of the detection means that receives a force from the curved portion of the recording medium. The paper discharge device according to any one of the above.