JP2008247522A - Paper sheet delivery device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To deliver a paper sheet, while sucking the paper sheet to the surface of a paper delivery roller, without providing a dedicated suction fan motor or the like when delivering the paper sheet formed with an image by an image forming device. <P>SOLUTION: The paper delivery roller 25 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 51 having a plurality of suction holes 51h for sucking air opened on the peripheral surface thereof and an end forming member integrally provided with the opening parts in both ends of the hollow cylindrical body 51. At least one of the end forming members is formed with a vane portion 52f for discharging air inside the paper ejection roller 25 to the outside with rotation of the paper delivery roller 25. With rotation of the paper delivery roller 25, air is sucked from the plurality of suction holes 51h opened on the peripheral surface into the paper delivery roller 25, and while discharging outside through the vane portion 52f of the end forming member. With this structure, suction force to be applied to the recording paper is generated on the peripheral surface of the paper delivery roller 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a paper discharge unit provided with a paper discharge roller for discharging a paper image formed by an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine of these to a discharge unit such as a paper discharge tray. The present invention relates to a paper device.

Conventionally, a paper discharge device disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described below is known. In Patent Document 1, a plurality of suction holes for adsorbing a sheet are formed on the conveyance belt 65, the vicinity of the conveyance belt is adsorbed by an adsorption unit to be negative pressure, and the sheet is conveyed in a state of being adsorbed on the conveyance belt. Is. Patent Document 2 discloses a paper discharge roller mainly composed of a hollow shaft in an ink jet printer, a plurality of suction holes opened on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a suction device such as a suction fan motor at an open end of the hollow shaft. Are connected, and the inside of the hollow shaft is set to a negative pressure, so that the sheet is conveyed while being attracted to the suction hole on the outer peripheral surface of the sheet discharge roller.
JP 2003-5567 A JP 2004-196536 A

  However, the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 require, for example, a suction fan motor for sucking paper, and there is a problem that the apparatus becomes complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of discharging a sheet while sucking a sheet without requiring a special suction device such as a suction fan motor.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

The present invention relates to a paper discharge device including a paper discharge roller for discharging a paper image formed by the image forming device toward a discharge portion.
The paper discharge roller includes a hollow cylindrical main body having a plurality of suction holes for sucking air on an outer peripheral surface, and end forming members provided integrally at both end openings of the hollow cylindrical main body. ,
And at least one of the end portion forming members is formed with a blade portion for exhausting the air in the paper discharge roller to the outside by the rotation of the paper discharge roller,
As the paper discharge roller rotates, air is sucked into the paper discharge roller from a plurality of suction holes opened in the outer peripheral surface and exhausted to the outside through the blade portion of the end forming member. A suction force for the paper is generated on the outer peripheral surface of the paper discharge roller.

  In this way, it is not necessary to provide a suction device such as a dedicated suction fan motor for exhausting the air in the hollow paper discharge roller, and suction is performed to suck the paper to the outer peripheral surface of the paper discharge roller while simplifying the configuration. It is possible to generate a force and transport the paper more stably.

  Further, the blade portions are formed on the end portion forming members located at both ends of the main body of the paper discharge roller, respectively, and the direction of the blade portion formed on one end portion forming member and the other end portion forming are formed. The direction of the blades formed on the member is opposite to each other, and the air in the paper discharge roller is discharged to the outside from both sides in the roller axial direction as the paper discharge roller rotates. Can do.

  In this way, since air can be exhausted from both ends of the paper discharge roller, the inside of the hollow paper discharge roller can be efficiently put into a negative pressure state.

  In addition, a flange member separate from the main body as the end portion forming member is fitted to both end openings of the main body of the paper discharge roller, and at least one flange member is fitted to the main body. A fitting cylindrical portion, a flange portion projecting radially outward from the outer end portion of the fitting cylindrical portion, and abutting the opening end surface of the main body; and at least one of the flange portion and the fitting cylindrical portion The blade portion may be integrally formed with an axial flow configuration that allows passage of air in the axial direction of the paper discharge roller.

  In this way, since the blades are individually formed using the flange members indispensable for the configuration of the hollow paper discharge roller, it is not necessary to provide dedicated parts for exhausting air, and the flange members By simply changing the shape to a shape having a blade portion, it is possible to realize an air exhaust mechanism and, consequently, a suction function for a sheet at low cost.

  Further, the flange member includes a fitting cylindrical portion that is fitted to the main body, a flange portion that protrudes radially outward from an outer end portion of the fitting cylindrical portion, and abuts against an opening end surface of the main body, A boss portion positioned on the center line of the flange portion, and the boss portion and both or one of the inner peripheral surfaces of the flange portion and the fitting cylindrical portion are connected at a plurality of positions and in the axial direction of the paper discharge roller. And the blade portion formed in an axial flow configuration that allows air to pass therethrough.

  In this way, since the wing portion is formed integrally with the flange portion and the fitting cylindrical portion with the boss portion as the center, the design of the wing portion is facilitated and the strength thereof is easily obtained, and the paper discharge is performed. An air flow can be generated smoothly in the axial direction of the roller.

  Further, one or more paper discharge rollers can be arranged on the same roller axis.

  In this way, the total length of the paper discharge roller (or roller array) can be set in correspondence with the paper size, so that the paper can be efficiently attracted to the roller according to the paper size.

  Furthermore, a fixed-position cover is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the paper discharge roller, and the cover has an opening that exposes a part of the outer periphery of the paper discharge roller, and the paper is rotated within the cover. In the part where the roller is exposed from the opening of the cover, the roller can be configured to generate a suction force with respect to the paper passing through the opening.

  In this case, since the cover having the opening arranged so as to surround the paper discharge roller is provided, the suction force generated in the suction hole on the surface of the paper discharge roller passes through the opening. It acts on only the sheet conveying surface, reduces the loss of suction force, and allows the sheet to be efficiently sucked by the roller.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to some examples shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying system (copying apparatus) provided with an image forming apparatus 1, an intermediate transport unit 2, and a paper discharge device 3. Since the image forming apparatus 1 is well-known, a detailed description is omitted, but a predetermined image is formed on the sheet as a copy or printer function on the sheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit to the image forming unit (for example, In the ink jet printer, it passes through the intermediate conveying means 2 and is sent to the paper discharge device 3 side.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram specifically showing the paper discharge device 3 taken out. The sheet discharge device 3 includes a sheet transfer unit 15 that discharges and discharges the sheet conveyed to the sheet discharge unit 3 from the image forming apparatus 1 via the intermediate transfer unit 2 and onto the stacking tray 14. When the paper is discharged onto the paper 14, the paper sorting means 16 shifts in the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction, and the tray up-and-down moving means that moves the stacking tray 14 up and down according to the stacking condition of the paper discharged onto the stacking tray 14. 18 is provided. The paper transport unit 15 includes a transport motor 20 and a paper discharge roller 25 that transmits the rotation of the transport motor 20 via a timing belt 21. Then, the sheet discharge roller 25 is rotated by the conveyance motor 20, and the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 is conveyed in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 2 and discharged from the apparatus casing onto the stacking tray 14.

  The paper sorting means 16 is supplied with a sorting motor 28, a worm 30 that transmits the rotation of the sorting motor 28 via a timing belt 29, a worm wheel (not shown) that meshes with the worm 30, and an illustration that transmits the rotation of the worm wheel. With a rack that does not. The rack is provided integrally with the stacking tray 14. When the sheets are discharged onto the stacking tray 14, the sorting motor 28 is driven to shift the stacking tray 14 in a direction orthogonal to the sheet transport direction a, and the sheets are sorted in the width direction and stacked. To do.

  The tray vertical movement means 18 includes a vertical movement motor 40, a drive shaft 43 provided along the bottom in the apparatus casing and transmitting the rotation of the vertical movement motor 40 via the engagement of the two gears 41 and 42. A lower pulley 44 provided at both ends of the drive shaft 43, an upper pulley 45 provided in an upper portion of the apparatus housing in correspondence with the upper pulley 44, and between the corresponding lower pulley 44 and the upper pulley 45 And a timing belt 46 stretched up and down so as to be wound around.

  Both ends of the stacking tray 14 are attached to the timing belt 46. Each time sheets are stacked on the stacking tray 14, the vertical movement motor 40 is driven to lower the stacking tray 14, and from the sheet discharge position in the apparatus casing, the topmost sheet to be stacked on the stacking tray 14. The drop height to the upper surface is made constant, and the sheets are dropped without being disturbed, so that the stackability of the sheets on the stacking tray 14 is improved. Conversely, when the paper is removed from the stacking tray 14, the stacking tray 14 is raised to the home position, and the stacking tray 14 moves up and down according to the stacking condition of the sheets.

  3 and 4 show the configuration of the paper discharge roller 25. FIG. The paper discharge roller 25 includes a hollow cylindrical main body 51 and a pair of flange members 52 a and 52 b that are fitted to both end openings of the main body 51. A plurality of suction holes 51 h are formed in the hollow cylindrical main body 51 so as to penetrate in the thickness direction and open to the surface of the main body 51. The flange members 52a and 52b fitted to both ends of the main body 51 and integrated therewith are formed in a blade shape. That is, referring to one of the flange members 52a, the flange member 52a protrudes radially outward from the fitting cylindrical portion 52c fitted to the main body 51 and the outer end portion of the fitting cylindrical portion 52c. A flange portion 52d that abuts on the opening end surface of 51, a boss portion 52e located on the center line of the flange portion 52d, and both or at least one inner peripheral surface of the boss portion 52e, the flange portion 52d, and the fitting cylindrical portion 52c Are provided at a plurality of positions (four in this example) with blade portions 52f formed in an axial flow configuration that allows the passage of air in the axial direction of the paper discharge roller 25 (main body 51).

  In this case, the number of blades constituting the blade portion 52f is, for example, about 2 to 10 and is twisted in the same direction three-dimensionally. Thus, when the flange member 52a rotates integrally with the main body 51 in the paper transport direction, it plays the role of an axial fan that discharges the air in the main body 51 outward in the axial direction. A similar flange member 52b (FIG. 4) is fitted and integrated with the other opening of the main body 51, but the blade portion 52f of the flange member 52b is not seen from the flange member 52a. The blades 52 f are formed so that the twisting directions are reversed, and such a flange member 52 b is fitted and fixed to the other opening end of the main body 51.

  The boss portions 52e of the flange members 52a and 52b are formed in a cylindrical shape (for example, a cylindrical shape) in this example, and the inside is a hollow portion 52i. The air in the main body 51 is discharged to the outside through a space between the blade portions 52f of the flange members 52a and 52b and through the hollow portion 52i of the boss portion 52e.

  FIG. 4 explains the mechanism of the exhaust, and consequently the sheet suction. The discharge roller 25 in which the flange members 52a and 52b are integrated at both ends of the main body 51 is in the sheet discharge direction. When rotating in the direction, the air in the main body 51 is discharged to the outside from both end portions in the axial direction by the action of the blade portions 52f of the flange members 52a and 52b at both ends. Air is sucked from a large number of suction holes 51h on the outer peripheral surface of the paper discharge roller 25 so as to eliminate the negative pressure, whereby the paper is conveyed while being sucked to the outer peripheral surface of the paper discharge roller 25 with negative pressure. Become.

  5 shows a plurality of paper discharge rollers 25 shown in FIG. 3 (part units, which are indicated by new reference numerals 50a and 50b in FIG. 5) (each axis length may be the same or different). Is attached to the same shaft 56 to form a composite paper discharge roller 50. In this example, the discharge roller 50 is formed by connecting three discharge roller units for convenience, one discharge roller unit 50a and two discharge roller units 50b arranged on both sides thereof. An example is shown.

  The length L in the axial direction of the paper discharge roller unit 50a at the center is equal to or smaller than the minimum width size of paper that can be passed through the paper discharge device. For example, when the A6 size vertical feed has the minimum width, the length L is 105 mm or less. By doing so, all the suction holes 51h on the surface of the paper discharge roller unit 50a can be closed, and the suction force generated by the rotation acts effectively, and the sheet is adsorbed on the surface of the paper discharge roller unit 50a. be able to.

  Further, the total length L1 in the axial direction of the discharge roller 50 including the three roller rows is set to be equal to or less than the maximum width size so that the maximum width size of the paper that can be passed through the paper discharge device can be effectively sucked. It has become. For example, when the A3-size vertical feed has the maximum width, the length L1 is 297 mm or less.

  6 and 7 show an example of the configuration around the paper discharge roller 50. FIG. In this example, a position-fixed cover 53 is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the paper discharge roller 50, and the cover 53 includes an opening 53 a that exposes a part of the paper discharge roller 50 in the outer peripheral direction. In the portion where the paper discharge roller 50 rotating at the position exposed from the opening 53a of the cover 53, a suction force is generated for the paper passing through the opening.

  More specifically, the cover 53 has a discontinuous cylindrical shape having a band-shaped opening 53 a extending in a direction parallel to the center line, and the inner diameter thereof is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the paper discharge roller 50. Then, the opening 53a of the cover 53 is arranged so as to face the sheet conveyance path. Then, in a state where the paper discharge roller 50 is passed through the cover 53, flange members 54 as end members are attached to both ends of the cover 53 by fitting or the like. Are set on the front and rear side plates 57, 57. Further, a bearing member 55 is mounted from the outside of each side plate 57 into a mounting hole 57a formed in the side plate 57, and the bearing member 55 is formed in a non-circular shape (in this case, an oval shape) formed in the center of each flange member 54. The cover 53 is fixedly attached to the side plates 57 on both sides.

  Further, by attaching a retaining ring 58 to the roller shaft 56 of the paper discharge roller 50, the paper discharge roller 50 covers the cover 53 in a state where the axial movement of the roller shaft 56 (and hence the paper discharge roller 50) is restricted. It is rotatably supported within. That is, the cover 53 is supported in a fixed position by the bearing member 55 being fitted into the fitting recess 54a of the flange member 54 through the mounting hole 57a of the side plate 57, and the opening 53a is formed on the sheet conveying surface. The fixed position is defined so as to face each other. The roller shaft 56 of the paper discharge roller 50 is rotatably supported by a bearing member 55, and is connected to the motor 20 of FIG. In this example, the cover 53 has a hollow cylindrical shape. However, the cover 53 may have a rectangular shape or the like as long as the opening is positioned on the sheet conveyance surface.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the paper P is conveyed. The negative pressure in the main body 51 generated by the rotation of the paper discharge roller 50 causes the cover 53 to be inserted into the suction hole 51 h on the surface of the main body 51. The paper P is adsorbed in the opening 53a, and in this state, the paper P is transported for paper discharge according to the rotation of the paper discharge roller 50.

  As described above, since the paper P is attracted and conveyed to the paper discharge roller 50, the ink is dry when the image forming apparatus uses ink or when the image formation (fixability) is not good. Even when the toner is not fixed or the toner is not sufficiently fixed, nip conveyance by a conventional roller (the sheet image is smeared by the ink transferred to the roller by pressing the sheet surface (image surface) by the roller) Unlike the above, such image smearing is avoided.

  And by using the flange members 52a and 52b that are normally indispensable at both ends of the hollow paper discharge roller 50, the blade portions for discharge are formed here, so that a dedicated drive source such as a suction fan becomes unnecessary, Sheet suction can be performed at low cost. In addition, since the flange members 52a and 52b at both ends of the paper discharge roller (paper discharge roller unit) 50 have opposite blade portions, the flange members 52a and 52b are efficiently moved by the rotation of the paper discharge roller 50. Air can be exhausted.

  In addition, by arranging a plurality of paper discharge roller units on the same axis, the length can be set according to the paper size, and the paper can be efficiently attracted to the roller according to the paper size. Further, by providing the cover 53 that is disposed so as to surround the paper discharge roller 50 and has the opening 53a, the suction force generated in the suction hole 51h of the paper discharge roller 50 acts only on the sheet conveying surface, and the suction force. Thus, the sheet can be efficiently adsorbed to the roller.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying system that is an example of an application target of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the paper discharge device in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a paper discharge roller (paper discharge roller unit) in the paper discharge device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an air exhaust mechanism of a paper discharge roller in FIG. 3. The perspective view which shows the example which comprised the paper discharge roller by the triple roller row | line | column. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration in which a sheet discharge roller illustrated in FIG. 5 is covered with a cover. Sectional drawing which shows the state which fixed the paper discharge roller and the cover to the apparatus housing | casing. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sheet is sucked and conveyed by a sheet discharge roller and a cover in FIG. 7.

Explanation of symbols

3 Paper discharge device 25, 50 Paper discharge roller 50a, 50b Paper discharge roller unit 51 Main body 52a Flange member 52c Fitting cylindrical part 52d Flange part 52e Boss part 52f Blade part 51h Suction hole 53 Cover 53a Opening part

Claims (6)

In a paper discharge device having a paper discharge roller for discharging a paper image formed by the image forming device toward a discharge portion,
The paper discharge roller includes a hollow cylindrical main body having a plurality of suction holes for sucking air on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and end forming members provided integrally at both end openings of the hollow cylindrical main body. ,
And at least one of the end portion forming members is formed with a blade portion for exhausting the air in the paper discharge roller to the outside by the rotation of the paper discharge roller,
As the paper discharge roller rotates, air is sucked into the paper discharge roller from a plurality of suction holes opened in the outer peripheral surface and exhausted to the outside through the blade portion of the end forming member. A paper discharge device in which a suction force to the paper is generated on the outer peripheral surface of the paper discharge roller.   The blade portions are formed on the end portion forming members at both ends of the main body of the paper discharge roller, respectively, and the direction of the blade portions formed on one end portion forming member and the other end portion forming member are The direction of the formed blade | wing part is mutually opposite direction, The air in the paper discharge roller is discharged | emitted from the both sides of the roller axial direction to the exterior with rotation of the paper discharge roller. Paper discharge device.   A flange member separate from the main body as the end portion forming member is fitted to both end openings of the main body of the paper discharge roller, and at least one flange member is fitted to the main body. A cylindrical portion, a flange portion projecting radially outward from an outer end portion of the fitting cylindrical portion, and abutting against an opening end surface of the main body; and at least one of the flange portion and the fitting cylindrical portion; The sheet discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising: the blade portion formed in an axial flow configuration that allows passage of air in an axial direction of the discharge roller.   The flange member includes a fitting cylindrical portion that is fitted to the main body, a flange portion that protrudes radially outward from an outer end portion of the fitting cylindrical portion, and abuts against an opening end surface of the main body, and the flange portion. The boss portion located on the center line of the boss portion and the boss portion and the flange portion and / or the inner peripheral surface of the fitting cylindrical portion are connected to each other at a plurality of positions, and the air flow in the axial direction of the paper discharge roller The sheet discharge device according to claim 3, further comprising: the blade portion formed in an axial flow configuration that allows passage.   5. The paper discharge device according to claim 1, wherein at least one discharge roller is disposed on the same roller axis. 6.   A fixed-position cover is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the paper discharge roller, and the cover includes an opening that exposes a portion of the outer periphery of the paper discharge roller, and a paper discharge roller that rotates within the cover. The paper discharge device according to claim 1, wherein a suction force is generated for a paper passing through the opening in a portion exposed from the opening of the cover.

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