JP2008114996A - Image forming device, driver software and sheet feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sort paper sheets as recording media with a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: Paper sheets P are stored in a sheet-feeding cassette 13 by shifting them in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a carrying direction A of the paper sheets P. The sheet-feeding cassette for carrying the paper sheets P thereto is changed over to the sheet-feeding cassette 13 with the paper sheets P stored by being shifted to a sheet-feeding cassette 14 with the paper sheets P stored without being shifted on a predetermined image-writing sheet number basis; and images are written to the paper sheets P stored by being shifted by an image writing part 18 by shifting the image writing positions in response to the sifting amounts thereof. Thereby, the paper sheets P are sorted by being ejected to an ejection tray 20 by being shifted in the orthogonal direction B on the predetermined image-writing sheet number basis. Thereby, since the need of mechanically shifting the paper sheets P in the ejection part, and the need of executing a process of rotating the image at 90° is obviated, the paper sheets P can be sorted with a simple structure relative to a conventional method. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, driver software, and a paper feeding apparatus.

  As an image forming apparatus, the paper as a recording medium is discharged onto the paper discharge tray while shifting the paper discharge tray or the discharge roll in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction. An image forming apparatus that sorts paper P for each print job is known.

Also, the paper feed tray with the paper set vertically and the paper feed tray with the paper set horizontally are used for each print job, and the paper is stacked by shifting it 90 ° on the paper output tray. An image forming apparatus is known (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
JP-A-4-58670 JP-A-3-79541

  However, in the former configuration in which the paper discharge tray or the discharge roll is shifted in the orthogonal direction, the mechanism is complicated. Further, in the latter configuration in which the stack is shifted by 90 °, it is necessary to perform a process of rotating the image by 90 ° and write it on a sheet, so that the process becomes complicated.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to sort recording media with a simple configuration.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of recording medium accommodating units that accommodate recording media, and a conveyance that conveys the recording medium from the recording medium accommodating unit to an image writing unit that writes an image on the recording medium. And a recording medium discharge unit for discharging the recording medium on which an image is written, and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium, so that the recording medium can be stored in the recording medium storage unit. A storage unit, a control unit that shifts the image writing position in accordance with the amount of shift to the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage unit, and writes the image writing unit to the recording medium; In addition, a recording medium accommodating unit that conveys the recording medium by the conveying unit, a recording medium accommodating unit that accommodates the recording medium in a shifted manner, and a recording medium accommodating that accommodates the recording medium without shifting. And switching means for switching the parts, to, characterized by comprising a.

  According to this configuration, the recording medium accommodated in the recording medium accommodating unit is conveyed to the image writing unit that writes an image on the recording medium. The recording medium on which the image is written is discharged to the recording medium discharge unit.

  Here, in the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the recording medium can be accommodated in the recording medium accommodating portion while being shifted in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

  For each predetermined number of written images, the recording medium accommodating unit to which the recording medium is conveyed is switched between a recording medium accommodating unit that accommodates the recording medium and a recording medium accommodating unit that accommodates the recording medium without shifting. . The recording medium accommodated in the recording medium accommodating portion is written in the image writing means while the image writing position is shifted corresponding to the amount of deviation. As a result, the recording medium is shifted in the orthogonal direction and discharged to the recording medium discharge section for every predetermined number of image writing sheets.

  In the configuration of claim 1, it is not necessary to mechanically shift the recording medium at the discharge unit, and it is not necessary to perform processing for rotating the image by 90 degrees. Can be sorted.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the recording medium accommodating portion is provided with a detecting means for detecting that the recording medium has been shifted and accommodated. The image writing position is shifted based on the detection signal of the detection means.

  According to this configuration, the detection unit detects that the recording medium has been shifted and accommodated, and the control unit shifts the image writing position based on the detection signal of the detection unit.

  For this reason, if the recording medium is shifted and accommodated, the image writing position is automatically shifted, and the shift of the image can be prevented.

  As described in claim 3 of the present invention, the storage means according to the present invention is provided rotatably between a pair of guide members that hold down a side end portion of the recording medium and the pair of guide members. A pinion, and a pair of racks having one end connected to the guide member and the other end meshing with the pinion, and supporting means for supporting the pinion so as to be movable in the orthogonal direction. May be.

  As a storage means according to the present invention, as described in claim 4 of the present invention, a pair of guide members that hold the recording medium in a predetermined storage position by pressing a side end of the recording medium, A undulating guide member capable of undulating and holding the recording medium at an accommodation position shifted in the orthogonal direction from the accommodation position of the guide member by pressing a side end portion of the recording medium with one of the guide members. May be configured.

  As a storage means according to the present invention, as described in claim 5 of the present invention, a pair of guide members for storing the recording medium in a predetermined storage position by pressing a side end of the recording medium, A detachable guide member that holds the recording medium at a storage position that is shifted in the orthogonal direction from the storage position of the guide member by pressing a side edge of the recording medium with one of the guide members. May be configured.

  An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the configuration according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, wherein the guide member, the undulating guide member, and the detachable guide member are upstream in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. It is characterized in that the side end of the is pressed.

  According to this configuration, the guide member, the undulating guide member, and the detachable guide member press the side end portion on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Therefore, by storing the recording medium in a shifted manner, the recording medium is conveyed even if the position of the conveying means (for example, a paper feed roll that rotates while contacting the recording medium) and the center of the recording medium are shifted. The recording medium is less likely to be skewed (the recording medium is inclined obliquely).

  An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the storage unit stores the recording medium in the recording medium storage unit by shifting in advance in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. It is provided with.

  According to this configuration, the recording medium is accommodated in the recording medium accommodating portion while being shifted in advance in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. For this reason, the recording medium accommodating portion in which the recording medium is accommodated by the accommodating means becomes a dedicated recording medium accommodating portion that accommodates the recording medium while being shifted in the orthogonal direction. Thereby, since the recording medium is surely shifted and accommodated, the recording medium can be reliably sorted without forgetting to shift the recording medium.

  An image forming apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the configuration of the first aspect, a sorting mode function that sorts the recording medium by the switching means switching the recording medium accommodating portion, and a normal mode function that does not sort. , Provided.

  According to this configuration, the switching unit can select the sorting mode function for sorting the recording media by switching the recording medium accommodating portion, and the normal mode function for not sorting, and when the sorting mode is not required, the recording medium can be selected. You can avoid sorting.

  The driver software according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the driver software used in the image forming apparatus according to the eighth aspect, wherein the sorting mode function can be set.

  A paper feeding device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is a paper feeding device used in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, and includes the recording medium housing portion and the housing means. And

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to sort recording media with a simple configuration.

  Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment according to an image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes an apparatus main body 12, and a paper feeding device 17 that feeds paper P as a recording medium is provided below the apparatus main body 12. Yes.

  The paper feeding device 17 includes paper feeding cassettes 13 and 14 as recording medium accommodating portions for accommodating paper P as recording media. The sheet feeding cassettes 13 and 14 are configured to store the sheets P stacked in a bundle.

  Immediately above the leading end side (left end side in FIG. 1) of the paper feeding cassettes 13 and 14, as shown in FIG. 1, the paper P is conveyed from the paper feeding cassettes 13 and 14 in a predetermined direction (conveying direction A in FIG. 1). Feed rolls 15 and 16 are disposed as conveying means. The feed rolls 15 and 16 are rotated in contact with the front end side of the upper surface of the paper P, and feed the paper P from the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 toward the image writing unit 18.

  Further, the apparatus main body 12 is formed with a conveyance path 22 that extends from the leading ends of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 and is gently curved and extends substantially vertically upward on the front side of the apparatus (left side in FIG. 1). Has been.

  Along the transport path 22, in order from the upstream side in the paper transport direction, a pair of transport rolls 24 that sandwich and transport the paper P, and a photosensitive drum 30 that constitutes a part of the image writing unit 18 as an image writing means for writing an image. Is provided. The photosensitive drum 30 is configured to rotate in a predetermined direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 1).

  Around the photosensitive drum 30, a charging roller 32 for charging the photosensitive drum 30 in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 30, and the charged photosensitive drum 30 are exposed to be exposed on the photosensitive drum 30. An exposure device 34 that forms an electrostatic latent image, and a developing device 36 that develops the toner by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 30 are provided.

  A transfer device 38 that transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 30 to the paper P at a predetermined transfer position is provided across the conveyance path 22 in the lateral direction facing the photoconductive drum 30.

  A fixing device 40 that fixes the transferred toner image onto the paper P is disposed downstream of the transfer device 38 in the paper conveyance direction.

  A discharge tray 20 as a recording medium discharge unit for discharging a recording medium (paper P) on which an image is written is provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 12, and the paper P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 40 is The paper is discharged to the discharge tray 20 by the discharge roll pair 44.

  Further, the apparatus main body 12 is provided with a manual feed tray 26 as a recording medium storage unit for storing paper P as a recording medium, and the paper P stacked on the manual feed tray 26 is image-written by a feed roll 28. It is sent to the section 18.

  Next, an image forming process (printing process) for forming an image in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, first, the paper P is fed from one of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 and the manual feed tray 26 by the feed rolls 15, 16 and 28. The paper P sent out from any of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 and the manual feed tray 26 is transported upward along the transport path 22 by the transport roller pair 24, and is formed between the photosensitive drum 30 and the transfer device 38. It is sent to the transfer position.

  The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 30 is transferred by the transfer device 38 to the paper P sent to a predetermined transfer position. Further, the toner image conveyed and transferred to the fixing device 40 is fixed by the fixing device 40. After the toner image is fixed, the paper P is discharged to the discharge tray 20 by the discharge roll pair 44. As described above, a series of image forming operations are performed.

  Here, the configuration of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 according to the present embodiment are formed in a box shape with an open top, and are attached to the apparatus main body 12 so as to be drawable. As a result, the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 are pulled out from the apparatus main body 12 and the paper P is accommodated from above. After the paper P is stored, the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 are pushed into the apparatus main body 12 and mounted.

  The paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 are provided with a paper stacking plate 58 on which the paper P is stacked. The sheet stacking plate 58 is inclined so that the leading end (the end on the downstream side in the transport direction A) rises and tilts with the rear end (the upstream end in the transport direction A) as a fulcrum by a drive unit (not shown). The leading end of the paper P stacked on the paper stacking plate 58 is lifted to a position where it contacts the feed roll 16.

  Further, an end guide 54 is provided in the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 to hold down the rear end portion (upstream end portion in the transport direction A) of the paper P. The end guide 54 is attached to a guide hole 55 formed in the bottom plate 50 of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14. The guide hole 55 is formed along the conveyance direction A, and the end guide 54 is slidable in the conveyance direction A and the opposite direction along the guide hole 55.

  By sliding the end guide 54 to the paper P accommodated in the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 and setting the end guide 54 on the paper P, the end guide 54 hits the rear end portion of the paper P and the paper P The rear end is pressed to restrict the movement of the paper P in the transport direction A and the opposite direction.

  Further, a pair of side guides 52 as guide members for holding the side edges of the paper P (ends in the orthogonal direction B perpendicular to the transport direction A) are provided in the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (A), a pinion 56 is rotatably provided between the pair of side guides 52 and in the central portion in the orthogonal direction B of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14. Between the pinion 56 and the side guide 52, a pair of racks 57 having one end connected to the side guide 52 and the other end meshing with the pinion 56 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the side guide 52 is attached to a guide hole 53 formed in the bottom plate 50 of the sheet feeding cassette 13 or 14. The guide hole 53 is formed along an orthogonal direction B orthogonal to the transport direction A, and the side guide 52 is slidable in the orthogonal direction B along the guide hole 53.

  By sliding the side guide 52 to the paper P stored in the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 and setting the side guide 52 on the paper P, the side guide 52 hits the side edge of the paper P and the paper P The side edge is pressed to restrict the movement of the paper P in the orthogonal direction B. In this way, by pressing the side edge portion of the paper P with the side guide 52, the paper P is accommodated in a central position with the central portion in the orthogonal direction B as a reference, as shown in FIG.

  In the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14, detachable guide members 60 and 61 for holding the side edges of the paper P are provided.

  A mounting hole 62 is formed in the paper stacking plate 58 as a mounting portion to which the detachable guide member 60 can be mounted. The attachment / detachment guide member 60 is attached to the sheet stacking plate 58 by inserting the lower portion of the attachment / detachment guide member 60 into the attachment hole 62.

  An attachment hole 63 is formed in the bottom plate 50 of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 as an attachment portion to which the attachment / detachment guide member 61 can be attached. By inserting the lower part of the attachment / detachment guide member 61 into the attachment hole 63, the attachment / detachment guide member 61 is attached to the bottom plate 50 of the sheet feeding cassette 13, 14.

  By pressing the side edge of the paper P with one of the detachable guide members 60 and 61 and one of the side guides 52 (right side in FIG. 3A), the paper P is as shown in FIG. The central position is stored in a storage position shifted by a predetermined amount in the orthogonal direction B.

  The detachable guide member 61 is provided on the rear end side (upstream side in the transport direction A), and is configured to press the side end portion on the rear end side (upstream side in the transport direction A) of the paper P.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the side guide 52 is also provided so as to extend to the rear end side (upstream side in the transport direction A), and on the rear end side (upstream side in the transport direction A) of the paper P. You may comprise so that an edge part may be hold | suppressed.

  Further, in either one of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14, the detachable guide members 60 and 61 may be fixed to the paper feed cassette, and a dedicated paper feed cassette that accommodates the paper P while being shifted in the orthogonal direction B may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 are provided with a micro switch 66 as a detection unit that detects that the paper P has been shifted and stored. The microswitch 66 is provided in each of the attachment holes 62 and 63, and is configured to detect that the attachment / detachment guide members 60 and 61 are attached to the attachment holes 62 and 63, respectively. That is, by detecting that the attachment / detachment guide members 60 and 61 are attached, it can be seen that the storage position for storing the paper P is shifted, and thereby indirectly detecting that the paper P is stored shifted. It is supposed to be.

  In addition, it may be configured to detect that the sheet P is shifted and stored by directly detecting the sheet P.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus main body 12 is provided with an ESS (control means, switching means) 70 for controlling the image forming operation, and the ESS 70 includes the micro switch 66 and the paper supply cassette 13. The micro switch 66 of the paper cassette 14 is connected.

  When the microswitch 66 detects that the attachment / detachment guide members 60 and 61 are attached, the detection signal is sent to the ESS 70.

  Further, an exposure device 34 is connected to the ESS 70, and a control signal for shifting the image writing position written on the photosensitive drum 30 is sent to the exposure device 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the amount of shift of the sheet P is a fixed value set in advance, and the exposure device 34 shifts to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 30 correspondingly. By developing the electrostatic latent image, a shifted toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 30, and the toner image is transferred to the paper P.

  Further, an external image input device 72 such as a personal computer is connected to the ESS 70, and every time a print job (image formation command to form a predetermined unit image) is received from the external image input device 72, the paper P The paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 for feeding out the paper are switched.

  That is, when a print job is received from the external image input device 72, for example, a control signal is sent to the feed roll 15 to drive it, and the paper P is sent out from the paper feed cassette 14 to execute one continuous image forming process. Next, when a print job is received from the external image input device 72, a control signal is sent to the feed roll 16 to drive it, and the paper P is sent out from the paper feed cassette 13 to execute one continuous image forming process.

  In this way, by switching the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 that send out the paper P every time a print job is received, the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 are switched for every predetermined number of written images. Therefore, by storing the paper P in one of the paper feeding cassettes 13 and 14, the paper feeding cassette 13 and 14 to which the paper P is transported, and the paper feeding cassette 13 in which the paper P is shifted and the paper P are stored. It can be switched to a paper feed cassette stored without shifting. As a result, the paper P is stacked on the discharge tray 20 in a shifted state as shown in FIG.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 10, a sorting mode function for sorting the sheets P by the ESS 70 switching between the sheet feeding cassettes 13 and 14 is set by the driver software.

  In addition, an input unit 74 capable of selecting a sorting mode function and a normal mode in which the paper P is not sorted is connected. By selecting the sorting mode from the input unit 74, as described above, the ESS 70 The paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 are switched. In addition, by selecting the normal mode, the ESS 70 does not switch the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 but transports the paper P from one of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14.

  Next, an example of a control flow in the configuration of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the operator selects the sorting mode function by inputting from the input unit 74, the sorting mode starts.

When the sorting mode is started, it is determined in step 100 whether or not a print job has been received.
If no print job is received within a predetermined time, the process ends (end). On the other hand, if a print job is received within a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step 104 where the state of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 is detected by the micro switch 66. That is, the attachment / detachment guide members 60 and 61 are attached to the sheet feeding cassettes 13 and 14 to detect whether the accommodation position for accommodating the paper P is shifted.

  Next, the process proceeds to step 106, where it is determined whether or not the storage position of the paper feed cassette 13 is shifted. As a result of the determination, if the storage position of the paper feed cassette 13 is shifted, the process proceeds to step 108 and the image writing position is shifted. That is, the position of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 30 is shifted.

  Next, the process proceeds to step 110 where the paper P is conveyed from the paper feed cassette 13 and an image is formed on the paper P.

  On the other hand, if the storage position of the paper feed cassette 13 is not shifted, the image writing position is not shifted, and the process proceeds to step 110 where the paper P is conveyed from the paper feed cassette 13 and an image is formed on the paper P. Is done.

  Next, the process proceeds to step 112 to determine whether or not a print job has been received. If no print job is received within a predetermined time, the process ends (end). On the other hand, if a print job is received within a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step 116, where it is determined whether the accommodation position of the paper feed cassette 14 is shifted. As a result of the determination, if the accommodation position of the paper feed cassette 14 is shifted, the process proceeds to step 118 to shift the image writing position. That is, the position of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 30 is shifted.

  Next, the process proceeds to step 120, where the paper P is conveyed from the paper feed cassette 14, an image is formed on the paper P, and the process returns to step 100.

  On the other hand, if the storage position of the paper feed cassette 14 is not shifted, the image writing position is not shifted and the process proceeds to step 120 where the paper P is conveyed from the paper feed cassette 14 and an image is formed on the paper P. Then, the process returns to step 100.

  In the present embodiment, the operator shifts the accommodation position of one of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 and goes through the control flow described above, whereby the paper P is discharged and sorted in a state of being shifted to the discharge tray 20 for each print job. Is done.

  According to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to move the paper P mechanically by moving the discharge unit (the discharge tray 20 or the discharge roll pair 44) in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and the image is rotated by 90 degrees. Since there is no need for processing, the paper P can be sorted with a simple configuration.

  Further, the feed roll 16 is accommodated at a position shifted by pressing the side edge of the rear end side (upstream side in the transport direction A) of the paper P with the attachment / detachment guide member 61 and the side guide 52. Even if the hit position is not the central portion of the paper P but a biased position, the paper P is not easily skewed.

[First Modification]
In the configuration described above, the detachable guide members 60 and 61 are used, but instead of this, as shown in FIG. 7A, undulating guide members 80 and 81 that can be undulated may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the undulating guide members 80 and 81 are attached to the bottom plate 50 of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 by a mounting portion 82 such as a hinge, and are placed on the bottom plate 50 of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14. The mounting portion 82 is pivoted between the standing position where it stands and the lying position where it falls on the bottom plate 50 of the paper feed cassette 13.

  By rotating the undulating guide members 80 and 81 to the inclining position and pressing the side edge portion of the paper P with the side guide 52, the paper P has a central portion in the orthogonal direction B as shown in FIG. It is housed in a central position as a reference.

  By pressing the side edge of the paper P with the undulating guide members 80 and 81 rotated to the upright position and one of the side guides 52 (the right side in FIG. 3), the paper P is changed to FIG. As shown, the center position is stored in a storage position shifted in the orthogonal direction B by a predetermined shift amount.

  The undulation guide member 81 is provided on the rear end side (upstream side in the transport direction A), and is configured to press the side end portion on the rear end side (upstream side in the transport direction A) of the paper P.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, the side guide 52 is also provided so as to extend to the rear end side (upstream side in the transport direction A), and on the rear end side (upstream side in the transport direction A) of the paper P. You may be comprised so that an edge part may be hold | suppressed.

  Further, in either one of the paper feeding cassettes 13 and 14, the undulating guide members 80 and 81 are fixed to the paper feeding cassette in an upright state, and the paper feeding cassette 13 can be used as a dedicated paper feeding cassette that stores the paper P shifted in the orthogonal direction B. Good.

[Second Modification]
In the configuration described above, the accommodation position of the paper P is shifted by pressing the side edge of the paper P with the detachable guide members 60 and 61 or the undulating guide members 80 and 81 and one of the side guides 52. However, instead of this, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, the accommodation position of the paper P may be shifted by moving the pinion 56 in the orthogonal direction B.

  In this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a support body 88 is provided as support means for supporting the side guide 52, and the guide hole 53 is formed in the support body 88. A side guide 52 is attached to the guide hole 53, and the side guide 52 is slidable in the orthogonal direction B along the guide hole 53.

  A pinion 56 is rotatably supported on the support 88 between the pair of side guides 52. Between the pinion 56 and the side guide 52, a pair of racks 57 having one end connected to the side guide 52 and the other end meshing with the pinion 56 are provided.

  An opening 84 through which the side guide 52 can pass is formed in the bottom plate 50 of the sheet feeding cassette 13, 14, and the side guide 52 is passed through the opening 84 from below, and a support body 88 is provided on the bottom surface of the bottom plate 50. Is attached.

  The support 88 is formed with a plurality of long holes 90, and a plurality of screws 86 are passed through the long holes 90, and the support 88 is attached to the bottom plate 50 of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14. Yes. The long hole 90 is formed long in the orthogonal direction B, and the screw 86 moves relative to the long hole 90. Accordingly, the support 88, the side guide 52, the pinion 56, and the rack 57 are movable in the orthogonal direction B with respect to the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14.

When the support 88 is moved in the orthogonal direction B (leftward in FIG. 10) and the screw 86 hits the edge at one end of the long hole 90 (left end in FIG. 10), the support 88 is positioned. When the support body 88 is positioned at this position, the pinion 56 supported by the support body 88 is positioned at the center portion in the orthogonal direction B of the sheet feeding cassettes 13 and 14. This
By sliding the side guide 52 to the paper P accommodated in the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 and pressing the side edge of the paper P with the side guide 52, the paper P is based on the central portion in the orthogonal direction B. (See FIG. 8B).

  When the support 88 is moved in the orthogonal direction B (rightward in FIG. 10) and the screw 86 hits the edge at the other end (right end in FIG. 10) of the elongated hole 90, the support 88 is positioned.

  When the support body 88 is positioned at this position, the pinion 56 supported by the support body 88 is positioned at a position away from the central portion in the orthogonal direction B of the sheet feeding cassettes 13 and 14.

  Accordingly, the side guide 52 is slid and moved to the paper P stored in the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14, and the side edge of the paper P is pressed by the side guide 52, so that the paper P is orthogonal to the center position. It is accommodated at a position shifted to B (see FIG. 8A).

  The side guide 52 is provided to extend to the rear end side (upstream side in the transport direction A) and press the side end portion on the rear end side (upstream side in the transport direction A) of the paper P, as shown in FIG. It may be configured as follows.

  Further, in either one of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14, the support 88 is fixed to the paper feed cassette so that the pinion 56 is located at a position away from the center in the orthogonal direction B, and the paper P is placed in the orthogonal direction B. It may be a dedicated paper feed cassette that is shifted and accommodated.

  In the above embodiment, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that transfers a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum to a recording medium is used as the image forming apparatus. In this case, the paper P accommodated in the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 may be liquid corresponding to the amount of deviation. An image is written by shifting the droplet discharge position for discharging the droplet.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the paper P is accommodated while being shifted in the orthogonal direction B is applied to the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14. However, the configuration in which the paper P is accommodated by being shifted in the orthogonal direction B is applied to the manual feed tray 26. May be.

  The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and various modifications, changes, and improvements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the paper feed cassette according to this embodiment. 3A and 3B are plan views showing the paper feed cassette according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 3A shows a state in which the paper is stored shifted from the central position, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the paper is stored in the central position. (C) is a figure which shows the structure which lengthened the side guide to the rear-end side. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating how sheets are sorted in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a control flow of the sorting mode according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a view showing a modified example using an undulating guide member in place of the attaching / detaching guide member according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a modification example in which the pinion according to the present embodiment is movable. FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a modified example in which the pinion according to the present embodiment is movable. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific configuration that enables the pinion according to the present embodiment to move.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 13 Paper feed cassette (recording medium accommodating part)
14 Paper feed cassette (recording medium container)
15 Feed roll (conveying means)
16 Feed roll (conveying means)
17 Paper feeder 18 Image writing unit (image writing means)
26 Bypass tray 52 Side guide (guide member)
56 Pinion 57 Rack 60 Attachment / detachment guide member 61 Attachment / detachment guide member 66 Micro switch (detection means)
70 ESS (control means, switching means)
80 undulation guide member 81 undulation guide member 88 support (support means)
A transport direction B orthogonal direction P paper (recording medium)

Claims (10)

A plurality of recording medium accommodating portions for accommodating recording media;
Transport means for transporting the recording medium from the recording medium container to image writing means for writing an image on the recording medium;
A recording medium discharge unit for discharging the recording medium on which an image is written;
A storage means for shifting the recording medium in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium and allowing the recording medium to be stored in the recording medium storage portion;
Control means for writing to the image writing means by shifting the image writing position corresponding to the amount of deviation to the recording medium accommodated in the recording medium accommodating portion,
For each predetermined number of written images, a recording medium accommodating unit that conveys the recording medium by the conveying unit, a recording medium accommodating unit that accommodates the recording medium by shifting, and a recording medium accommodating that accommodates the recording medium without shifting Switching means for switching to,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The recording medium storage unit is provided with detection means for detecting that the recording medium is stored in a shifted manner.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit shifts an image writing position based on a detection signal of the detection unit. The accommodating means is
A pair of guide members for holding side end portions of the recording medium;
A pinion rotatably provided between the pair of guide members;
A pair of racks having one end connected to the guide member and the other end meshing with the pinion;
Support means for supporting the pinion so as to be movable in the orthogonal direction;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided. The accommodating means is
A pair of guide members for holding the recording medium in a predetermined receiving position by pressing a side end of the recording medium;
A undulating guide member capable of undulating and holding the recording medium at a storage position shifted in the orthogonal direction from the storage position of the guide member by pressing a side end of the recording medium with one of the guide members;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided. The accommodating means is
A pair of guide members for holding the recording medium in a predetermined receiving position by pressing a side end of the recording medium;
A detachable detachable guide member for holding the recording medium at a storage position shifted in the orthogonal direction from the storage position of the guide member by pressing a side end of the recording medium with one of the guide members;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guide member, the undulating guide member, and the detachable guide member press a side end portion on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit configured to store the recording medium in the recording medium storage unit by shifting the recording medium in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium in advance.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a sorting mode function for sorting the recording media by the switching unit switching the recording medium accommodation unit; and a normal mode function for not sorting.   The driver software used in the image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sorting mode function can be set.   The paper feeding device used in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper feeding device includes the recording medium housing unit and the housing unit.

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