JP2008174350A - Recording medium storage device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording medium storage device capable of storing a plurality of recording media to be discharged after the recording in a superposed manner without damaging a recording surface, and an image forming device using the storage device. <P>SOLUTION: The recording medium storage device 40 for storing recording media S which are discharged from a paper discharge port 13 of an image forming device 10 along a paper discharge guide 14 and dropped from the paper discharge guide comprises a recording medium guide means 50 having a fore end supporting part 55 to which a fore end of the dropping recording medium is butted, and a push-out means 60 for pushing out a non-recorded surface of the discharged recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium accommodating device for accommodating a recording medium discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a plotter, and an image forming apparatus using the recording medium accommodating device.

  As an output device of a computer or a workstation, an image forming apparatus that records on a recording material based on image information by a recording head is used. There are various types of recording methods of the image forming apparatus. As an example, an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by selectively discharging ink from a plurality of discharge ports formed in a recording head is known. Also, a serial type that performs recording by alternately repeating main scanning by a recording head mounted on a reciprocating carriage and sub-scanning in the recording medium conveyance direction, and a recording medium conveyance direction using a recording head that is long in the width direction of the recording medium There is a line type that records only by sub-scanning.

As an image forming apparatus, recording is performed while discharging and lowering a recording portion of a recording medium wound in a roll shape (hereinafter referred to as roll paper). There is known an image forming apparatus including a recording medium storage device. The recording medium storage device is disposed below a paper discharge port for discharging the recorded recording medium. In addition, as an image forming apparatus in this case, various recording system recording apparatuses can be used in addition to an ink jet recording apparatus that records by discharging ink from an ejection port of a recording head. A conventional example of an image forming apparatus that performs recording on roll paper is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-122867.
JP 2001-002307 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, there is a tendency that the roll paper that has been recorded and cut and discharged into the recording medium accommodating device is rounded with its recording surface outward due to its winding. For this reason, when the next roll paper is stored on the discharged roll paper, the recording surfaces of the roll paper come into contact with each other, and the recording surface of the roll paper is damaged such as peeling. In addition, the trailing edge of the roll paper after recording remains in the vicinity of the paper discharge port, which prevents the next roll paper from entering the recording medium accommodation device, and can accommodate only one sheet.

  The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium storage device capable of storing a plurality of recording media discharged after recording without damaging the recording surface, and an image forming apparatus using the storage device. It is.

  The present invention provides a recording medium storage device that stores a recording medium that is discharged from a discharge outlet of an image forming apparatus along a discharge guide and descends from the discharge guide. It is characterized by comprising recording medium guiding means having a leading end support portion that abuts and pushing means for pushing out the non-recording surface of the discharged recording medium.

  According to the present invention, there are provided a recording medium storage device capable of storing a plurality of recording media discharged after recording without damaging the recording surface, and an image forming apparatus using the storage device. .

  Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts throughout the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus to which a recording medium accommodation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached. FIG. 2 is a side view of the image forming apparatus of FIG. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 such as a printer or a plotter is fixed on a pedestal 21 provided on the left and right stands 20, 20 fixed on a base 30. A reinforcing stay 22 is provided between the stand 20 and the seat 21. Moreover, in this embodiment, the caster 25 with a brake is attached to the base 30 so that it can move easily.

  A paper feed cassette 11 in which a cut recording medium (referred to as cut paper) is set is detachably mounted on the front side of the image forming apparatus 10. On the rear side of the image forming apparatus 10, a roll unit 12 in which a recording medium (referred to as roll paper) wound in a roll shape is set is disposed. The image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is configured to be able to record not only on roll paper but also on cut paper. Usually, cut paper is smaller in size than roll paper and also has a different paper type. For example, the roll paper may be A1 size and the cut paper may be A2 size. In some cases, the roll paper is plain paper and the cut paper is glossy paper.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is provided with an operation unit 17 for operating the image forming apparatus, and the paper size, online / offline, command, and the like are instructed by various switches installed in the operation unit. The The recording unit inside the image forming apparatus can be used in various forms. For example, ink jet recording in which ink is selectively ejected from a plurality of ejection openings formed in the recording head based on image information. Parts are used. Either a serial type that records with a recording head mounted on a carriage that moves in the main scanning direction, or a line type that records only with sub-scanning using a long recording head that covers the width of the recording medium May be used.

  A paper discharge port 13 is provided on the front surface of the image forming apparatus. The paper feed cassette 11 is mounted below the paper discharge port 13, and a paper discharge tray 14 is mounted on the paper feed cassette. In the present embodiment, the paper discharge tray 14 also serves as a paper discharge guide for guiding the roll paper discharged from the paper discharge port 13. However, the paper discharge tray and the paper discharge guide may be composed of different members. The cut sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette 11 to the inside of the image forming apparatus 10 is recorded by the recording head based on the image information, then discharged from the sheet discharge outlet 13 and stacked on the sheet discharge tray 14. .

  Below the image forming apparatus 10, a recording medium accommodation device 40 for accommodating the recorded roll paper is attached. The roll paper unwound from the roll unit 12 is discharged from the paper discharge port 13 while being recorded by the image forming apparatus 10. The discharged roll paper is guided and lowered by a paper discharge guide 14 that also serves as a paper discharge tray, and is stored in a recording medium storage device 40 disposed below the paper discharge guide.

  The recording medium accommodating device 40 is configured between the base 30 and the image forming apparatus 10. The recording medium accommodation device 40 includes a front rod 41, left and right rotating rods 42, 42, a rear rod 43, a sheet material 44, left and right rotation support portions 45, 45, and a recording medium guiding means 50. Yes. The left and right rotation support portions 45, 45 are provided on the left and right sides of the base 30. The left and right rotating rods 42 and 42 are supported by rotation support portions 45 and 45 at their respective bases so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction and fixed at arbitrary rotational positions. The front rod 41 is held by the rotating rod by fixing both ends to the tips of the left and right rotating rods 42, 42. The rear rod 43 is fixed to the left and right stands 20 at both ends thereof. The sheet material 44 is formed of a deformable material such as cloth. The sheet material 44 is held by the front rod 41 at the front end edge thereof, and is held by the rear rod 43 at the rear end portion, and is suspended in a U shape between the rods 41 and 43. .

  The recording medium guide means 50 includes an abutting rod 51 and a guide sheet 52. The butting rod 51 has left and right vertical rod portions 51a and a lateral rod portion 51b that connects the lower ends of the left and right rod portions. One edge portion of the guide sheet 52 is detachably connected to the vicinity of the edge portion of the sheet material 44 on the front rod 41 side by a surface fastener 52A. The other end edge portion of the guide sheet 52 is connected to the lateral rod portion 51 b of the butting rod 51. In the state where the guide sheet 52 is connected to the sheet material 44, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a guide space for guiding the discharged recording medium (roll paper) between the butting rod 51 and the inner sheet material 52. Is formed. Further, a leading end support portion 55 is formed at the connecting portion of the lateral rod portion 51b of the abutting rod 51 so that the leading end of the recording medium that has entered is abutted.

  The recording medium guiding means 50 is configured to guide both the front and back surfaces of the discharged recording medium S (FIG. 3) between the butting rod 51 and the guide sheet 52. From this guiding position and the guiding position. It is possible to switch to the retracted position (FIG. 6). A position slightly above the intermediate portion of the butting rod 51 is a convex portion 51A that protrudes to the front side. In this embodiment, the recording medium guiding means 50 is composed of two members, that is, the abutting rod 51 and the guiding sheet 52. However, if the recording medium guiding means 50 has the same shape and structure, it is composed of one integral member. Also good.

  Extruding means 60 for pushing the ejected recording medium in the ejecting direction below the sheet ejection guide is disposed at a position near the bottom of the front portion of the image forming apparatus 10. The push-out means 60 includes a moving member 61 that is guided and supported by a holding member 26 attached to the front lower portion of the upper base 21 of the stand 20 so as to be movable (slidable) in the front-rear direction. The pushing means 60 can slide the moving member 61 in conjunction with the recording operation of the image forming apparatus 10. This pushing means operates to push the moving member 61 in the direction of arrow A after the image forming apparatus 10 finishes recording and the discharged recording medium (roll paper) is cut by a cutter (not shown). .

  The recording medium pushed out by the pushing means 60 is stacked on the front rod 41 in a state of being folded with the recording surface facing down (FIG. 5). That is, the front rod 41 constitutes a paper discharge stacking section on which the recording medium pushed out by the pushing means 60 is loaded. In the present embodiment, the moving member 61 is configured to be pushed out by sliding, but this may be another form such as a mechanism for rotating and pushing out the recording medium or a mechanism for pushing out the recording medium by blowing air. Extruding means may be used.

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state immediately after the recording medium is discharged from the image forming apparatus of FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the recording medium ejected from the image forming apparatus of FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which the recording medium discharged and cut from the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 to the recording medium accommodation apparatus is pushed out and stacked on the discharge stacking unit. 6 is a side view showing a state in which the butting rod of the recording medium accommodation device is retracted in the image forming apparatus of FIG. Next, the operation of the recording medium accommodation device 40 will be described.

  3 to 5, the recorded recording medium (roll paper) S is guided by a discharge guide (discharge tray in the present embodiment) 14 and descends, and abutting rod constituting the recording medium guide means 50. Guided between 51 and the guide sheet 52. The recording medium S is advanced until the leading edge of the recording medium abuts against the leading edge support portion 55, and the trailing edge is cut by a cutter (not shown) (usually disposed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the delivery port 13) with a predetermined length. At this time, the convex portion 51 </ b> A of the abutting rod 51 prevents the rear end of the cut recording medium S from falling between the abutting rod 51 and the guide sheet 52. Further, since the recording surface of the recording medium is the outer surface indicated by B in FIG. 3, the curl as shown in the figure remains and the rear end tends to remain on the paper discharge guide 14. Further, the position of the tip support portion 55 can be changed in the length direction of the recording medium. That is, the front end support portion (front end abutting portion) 55 of the recording medium guiding means 50 can be changed according to the size (length) of the recording area, and in the case of a short size, it can be moved and adjusted in the direction of arrow C. it can.

  After cutting, as shown in FIG. 4, the pushing means 60 is operated, and the moving member 61 is slid in the direction of arrow A to push out the back surface (non-recording surface) of the recording medium S. Then, the tip of the moving member 61 is moved to the vicinity of the front rod 41 that constitutes the paper discharge stacking unit, and the recording medium is pushed all the way. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the recording medium S is folded around the front rod 41 as a fulcrum, and is stacked and accommodated on the front rod 41 in a folded state with the back side facing outward. In this accommodated state, the recording surface is on the back side. Therefore, even if the recording surface is continuously accommodated (stacked) on the second and third sheets, there is no damage such as peeling on the recording surface. After the first sheet is accommodated, the moving member 61 is retracted to the initial position shown in FIG. 3 before the recording of the second sheet is started, and the same movement is repeated when the second sheet is recorded. .

  When the recording medium accommodation device 40 is not used, the hook-and-loop fastener 52A of the guide sheet 52 is removed from the sheet material 44, and the butting rod 51 is rotated in the direction of arrow D in FIG. In other words, the recording medium guiding means 50 comprising the abutting rod 51 and the guide sheet 52 has a guiding position (FIG. 3) for guiding both the front and back surfaces of the recording medium S to be discharged and a retracted position (FIG. 6) deviating from the guiding position. ). Thus, the recording medium guiding means 50 is eliminated by switching to the retracted position, but even in this state, it can be used as a conventional recording medium accommodation apparatus. In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus capable of recording on both cut paper and roll paper as an example of the recording medium has been described as an example. However, the present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus capable of recording only on roll paper. The same applies.

  The present invention can be similarly applied regardless of the type and form of the recording method of the image forming apparatus. The material of the recording medium can be similarly applied regardless of the material as long as it can record such as paper plastic.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus to which a recording medium accommodation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached. FIG. 2 is a side view of an image forming apparatus to which the recording medium accommodation device of FIG. 1 is attached. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state immediately after the recording medium is cut and discharged from the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 to the recording medium accommodation apparatus. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state when a recording medium ejected from the image forming apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a state in which a recording medium that has been discharged from the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 and cut into a recording medium accommodation apparatus is pushed out and stacked on a discharge stacking unit. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the butting rod of the recording medium accommodation device is retracted in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Roll unit 13 Paper discharge port 14 Paper discharge guide 40 Recording medium accommodation apparatus 41 Paper discharge stacking part (front rod)
44 Sheet material 50 Recording medium guide means 51 Abutting rod 51A Convex part 52 Guide sheet 60 Extruding means 61 Moving member

Claims (9)

In a recording medium storage device that stores a recording medium that is discharged from a discharge outlet of an image forming apparatus along a discharge guide and descends from the discharge guide.
A recording medium guide means having a tip support portion against which the tip of the recording medium descending comes into contact;
Extrusion means for extruding the non-recording surface of the discharged recording medium;
A recording medium accommodation apparatus comprising:   The recording medium accommodating device according to claim 1, further comprising a paper discharge stacking unit that accommodates the recording medium extruded by the extruding unit.   The recording medium accommodating device according to claim 1, wherein the paper discharge stacking unit accommodates the recording medium in a folded state with the non-recording surface facing outward.   4. The recording medium guiding means can be switched between a guiding position for guiding both front and back surfaces of the recording medium to be ejected and a retracted position deviating from the guiding position. The recording medium accommodation device according to item.   5. The recording medium accommodation device according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium guiding means has a convex portion for preventing a trailing end of the discharged recording medium from falling.   6. The recording medium accommodating device according to claim 1, wherein the position of the tip support portion can be changed in the length direction of the recording medium. In an image forming apparatus that records on a recording medium based on image information,
An image forming apparatus using the recording medium accommodation apparatus according to claim 1.   8. The image according to claim 7, wherein a paper feed cassette in which cut paper is set is mounted, and the recorded cut paper is discharged from the paper discharge port to a paper discharge tray disposed on the paper feed cassette. Forming equipment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the paper discharge tray also serves as the paper discharge guide.

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