JP2009107767A - Recording material housing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of the occurrence of mutually adhered recording materials in a paper housing section. <P>SOLUTION: This recording material housing device is provided with a paper housing container 42 for housing a paper P with an image formed therein in a vertical direction, and a fan 63 generating an airflow directed to the side section of the paper P housed in the paper housing container 42. The side position of the paper P housed in the paper housing container 42 having the airflow generated by the fan 63 blown thereto is moved from above to below or expanded by an airflow moving section 65. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording material accommodation device and an image forming apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier using an electrophotographic system, recording materials on which a toner image is fixed by heat are collectively stored in a sheet storage unit. At that time, there is a case where a toner image in a state of not being sufficiently solidified exists due to heat remaining in the recording material due to fixing. In this case, the recording materials are pressed against each other by the weight of the recording materials stacked on the upper side, and the overlapping recording materials are bonded to each other by a solid image. Therefore, the recording material stored in the paper storage unit is cooled by the airflow.
For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for cooling a recording material by blowing compressed air onto the recording material in a stacker in which recording materials after toner fixing are stacked.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-129378

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the number of recording materials that are adhered to each other by a toner image that is heat-fixed in a recording material container.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording material storage portion for storing in a vertical direction a recording material on which a heat-fixed toner image is formed, and at least an upper side of the recording material stored in the recording material storage portion. An air flow spraying means for blowing an air flow toward the recording material surface obliquely downward with respect to the recording material surface is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the air flow spraying means includes an air flow generation unit that generates an air flow toward a side portion of the recording material stored in the recording material storage unit, and an air flow generation unit. And an air flow movement expansion unit that moves or expands the side position of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation unit to which the generated air flow is blown. The recording material accommodation device according to claim 1.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the air flow blowing means further includes a deflecting member that deflects the air flow generated by the air flow generation unit in a direction inclined obliquely downward, and the air flow movement expansion 3. The recording material storage device according to claim 2, wherein the portion moves or expands a side position of the recording material to which the air flow deflected by the deflecting member is blown from the upper side to the lower side. .
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the air flow movement expansion unit performs an operation of moving or expanding a side position of the recording material to which the air flow is sprayed from the upper side to the lower side a plurality of times. The recording material accommodation apparatus according to claim 2.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the air flow generation unit is formed on the recording material, the basis weight of the recording material stored in the recording material storage unit, the type of the recording material, the size of the recording material, and the recording material. 3. The recording material storage device according to claim 2, wherein the flow rate of the air flow to be generated is set according to any one or more of the area ratio of the recorded image and the temperature of the recording material.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the air flow movement expansion unit has a side portion position of the recording material to which the air flow is sprayed according to a loading amount of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation unit. 3. The recording material accommodation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an amount of movement to be moved downward from above or an amount of expansion to be expanded are set.
The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the air flow generation unit sets a flow rate of the air flow to be generated according to a loading amount of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation unit. A recording material accommodation apparatus according to claim 2.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers a toner image formed by the toner image forming unit onto a recording material, A fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the recording material, and a recording material storage unit that stores the recording material fixed by the fixing unit. The recording material storage unit is heated and fixed. A recording material container for vertically storing a recording material on which a toner image is formed, and air that is directed obliquely downward on the surface of the recording material with respect to at least the upper side of the recording material accommodated in the recording material container An image forming apparatus comprising an air flow spraying means for spraying a flow.

The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that the airflow spraying means of the recording material accommodation means generates an airflow toward the side of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation part, An air flow movement expansion unit that moves or expands a side position of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation unit to which the air flow generated in the air flow generation unit is blown from above to below. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the recording material accommodation means further includes a deflecting member that deflects the air flow generated by the air flow generation unit in a direction inclined obliquely downward, and the air flow movement expansion The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the part moves or expands a side position of the recording material to which the air flow deflected by the deflecting member is blown from the upper side toward the lower side.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the air flow movement expansion unit of the recording material accommodation means performs a plurality of operations for moving or expanding the side position of the recording material to which the air flow is sprayed from the upper side to the lower side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image forming apparatus is performed once.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the recording material accommodation means is configured such that the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation portion has a low position on the air flow movement expansion portion side, The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recording material accommodating portion is disposed to be inclined so that the position on the opposite side is higher.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner image forming means for forming a toner image, a transfer means for transferring the toner image formed by the toner image forming means onto a recording material, and the transfer means on the recording material. A fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the recording material, a recording material storage unit that stores in a vertical direction a recording material on which the toner image heated and fixed by the fixing unit is formed, and the recording material storage An air flow spraying means for spraying an air flow directed obliquely downward on the recording material surface from the upper side to the lower side of the recording material while being moved or expanded from the upper side to the lower side of at least the upper side of the recording material accommodated in the recording unit; A control unit that controls a flow rate of the air flow sprayed by the air flow spraying means, and the control unit controls the flow of the air according to information on the recording material stored in the recording material storage unit. An image forming apparatus characterized by setting the amount.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the control unit is formed in the basis weight of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodating unit, the type of the recording material, the size of the recording material, and the recording material. The flow rate of the air flow according to the information relating to any one or more of the area ratio of the image and the temperature of the recording material and / or the information relating to the loading amount of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodating portion The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: is set.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the control unit further sets a movement amount for moving the side portion position of the recording material to which the air flow is blown from the upper side to the lower side or an expansion amount for the expansion according to the information. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where the present invention is not adopted, it is possible to reduce the number of the recording materials adhered to each other by the toner image heat-fixed in the recording material container.
According to claim 2 of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted, the recording material is floated in order from the upper portion of the recording material accommodating portion, and the air flow is generated in the area where the recording materials are in contact with each other. It can be made easy to invade.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted, the force that the air flow enters into the area where the recording materials are in contact with each other is increased. The ability to efficiently cool the toner image and separate the recording materials one by one can be improved.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the ability to separate the recording materials one by one can be improved as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted, the air flow rate is set according to the characteristics of the recording material, the toner image is efficiently cooled, and the recording materials are separated one by one. Ability can be improved.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the moving amount / expansion amount of the air flow is set according to the loading amount of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodating portion, and the air flow is reduced as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted. It can be used efficiently.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted, the air flow is set according to the amount of heat held by the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodating portion to efficiently cool the toner image. The ability to separate the recording materials one by one can be improved.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the present invention is not employed, the number of recording materials adhered to each other by the heat-fixed toner images in the recording material accommodating portion of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. it can.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted, the recording material is floated in order from the upper portion of the recording material accommodating portion, and the air flow is generated in the area where the recording materials contact each other. It can be made easy to invade.
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted, the force with which the air flow enters into the area where the recording materials are in contact with each other is increased, and the intruding air flow causes The ability to efficiently cool the toner image and separate the recording materials one by one can be improved.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the ability to separate the recording materials one by one can be improved as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted.
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the air flow is blown to the surface of the recording material in an inclined manner from the upper side to the lower side. It is possible to increase the force that the air flow enters.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where the present invention is not adopted, the number of recording materials adhered to each other by the toner image heat-fixed in the recording material container can be reduced.
According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where the present invention is not adopted, the air flow rate is set according to the recording material and the load amount thereof, the toner image is efficiently cooled, and the recording material is separated for each sheet. The ability to separate can be improved.
According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the movement amount of the air flow is set in accordance with the loading amount of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodating portion, and the air flow is efficiently compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted. Can be used.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. An image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called tandem color printer, and an image forming process unit 10 that forms an image corresponding to image data of each color, and a control unit 30 that controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 1. For example, an image processing unit 35 that performs predetermined image processing on image data received from an external device such as a personal computer (PC) 3 or an image reading device 4, and various data such as a control program and image data are stored. For example, an external storage unit 36 composed of a hard disk (HDD) is provided.
The image forming apparatus 1 also supplies a sheet supply unit 70 that supplies a sheet P as an example of a recording material to the image forming process unit 10, and a recording material that stores the image-formed sheet P discharged from the image forming process unit 10. A sheet storage unit 40 as an example of a storage device (recording material storage unit), and a main power supply 50 that supplies power to each unit are provided.

The image forming process unit 10 includes four image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K (also collectively referred to as “image forming unit 11”), which are examples of toner image forming units that are arranged in parallel at regular intervals. It has. Each of the image forming units 11 is a photosensitive drum 12 as an example of an image carrier that forms an electrostatic latent image and holds a toner image, and a charger 13 that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 with a predetermined potential. A developing unit 14 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 12 and a cleaner 15 for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 after transfer are provided.
Each image forming unit 11 here is configured in substantially the same manner except for the toner stored in the developing device 14. Each image forming unit 11 forms a toner image of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

  Furthermore, the image forming process unit 10 exposes the photosensitive drums 12 disposed in the respective image forming units 11 to expose the color toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 12 of the image forming units 11. The multiple transfer intermediate transfer belt 20 and the respective color toner images formed by the respective image forming units 11 are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 in sequence (primary transfer), the primary transfer roll 21 and the intermediate transfer belt 20 superimposed on each other. A secondary transfer roll 22 that batch-transfers (secondary transfer) each color toner image to the paper P, and a fixing device 19 that fixes the secondary-transferred color toner images on the paper P are provided. In the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 20, the primary transfer roll 21, and the secondary transfer roll 22 constitute a transfer unit.

  The paper supply unit 70 includes a plurality of paper storage containers 71A and 71B that respectively store a plurality of different sizes of paper P. Each of the paper storage containers 71A and 71B is provided with a pickup roll 72 that takes out the paper P to be stored, and sends the paper P to the transport paths L1 and L2 at a predetermined timing.

The paper storage unit 40 includes a paper storage container 42 as an example of a recording material storage unit that stores the paper P on which an image is formed by the image forming process unit 10, and the paper P discharged from the fixing device 19 of the image forming process unit 10. Is provided with a transport roll 45 that transports the paper P to the paper storage container 42 and a transport guide 46 that guides the paper P transported by the transport roll 45 to the paper storage container 42.
The paper storage unit 40 also includes a container stage 41 that supports the paper storage container 42, a lifting mechanism 44 that lifts and lowers the container stage 41 according to the amount of paper P loaded in the paper storage container 42, and a pedestal 43 that supports the lifting mechanism 44. It has.
Further, an air flow spray is applied to the paper storage unit 40 to blow the air flow from the side to the paper P stored and loaded in the paper storage container 42 and separate the paper P one by one. A paper handling device 60 as an example of means is provided.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the image data input from the PC 3 or the image reading apparatus 4 is subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing unit 35 and then each image is formed via an interface (not shown). Sent to unit 11. For example, in the image forming unit 11K that forms a black (K) color toner image, the photosensitive drum 12 rotating in the direction of arrow A is uniformly charged by the charger 13 at a predetermined potential. Then, scanning exposure is performed with laser light whose lighting is controlled based on the image data transmitted from the image processing unit 35 by the laser exposure unit 38. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image related to a black (K) color image is formed on the photosensitive drum 12. Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 12 is developed by the developing device 14, and a black (K) color toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 12. Similarly, yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) toner images are formed in the image forming units 11Y, 11M, and 11C, respectively.

Each color toner image formed by each image forming unit 11 is sequentially electrostatically transferred by a primary transfer roll 21 onto an intermediate transfer belt 20 that circulates and moves in the direction of arrow B to form a superimposed toner image in which the respective color toner images are superimposed. Is done. The superimposed toner image is conveyed toward the secondary transfer portion T as the intermediate transfer belt 20 moves.
On the other hand, in the paper supply unit 70, the designated paper P is taken out from either one of the paper storage containers 71A and 71B by the pickup roll 72, and sent out to the transport path L1 or the transport path L2. Then, the paper P is guided through the transport path L3 by the transport belt 73, the transport roll 74, and the transport guide 75, and is transported to the position of the registration roll 76.
The sheet P conveyed to the position of the registration roll 76 is supplied to the secondary transfer unit T in accordance with the timing at which the superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 20 is conveyed. The superimposed toner images are collectively electrostatically transferred (secondary transfer) onto the paper P by the action of the transfer electric field formed by the secondary transfer roll 22 in the secondary transfer portion T.

Thereafter, the sheet P on which the superimposed toner image is electrostatically transferred is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 20 and conveyed to the fixing device 19. The superimposed toner image on the paper P conveyed to the fixing device 19 is fixed on the paper P by being subjected to a heat fixing process by the fixing device 19. Then, the paper P on which the fixed image is formed is conveyed to the paper storage unit 40 provided in the discharge unit of the image forming process unit 10.
In the paper storage unit 40, the paper P discharged from the image forming process unit 10 is transported by the transport roll 45. The paper P is stored in the paper storage container 42 while being guided by the conveyance guide 46, and is sequentially stacked in the paper storage container 42.

At that time, the control unit 30 measures the stacking amount of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42 using, for example, a number counter. Then, the control unit 30 keeps the uppermost part of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42 at a predetermined distance from the position of the conveyance guide 46 according to the stacking amount of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42. Then, the container stage 41 that supports the paper container 42 is moved up and down by the lifting mechanism 44. As a result, the variation in the stacking position of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42 is reduced.
Further, in the paper storage unit 40, the paper handling device 60 blows an air flow from the side surface to the paper P loaded in the paper storage container 42 to separate the paper P one by one.
In this way, image formation in the image forming apparatus 1 is repeatedly executed for the number of printed sheets.

Next, the paper handling device 60 provided in the paper storage unit 40 of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the paper handling device 60 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper handling device 60 has a frame 61 formed of a cylindrical body, and air that generates an air flow toward the paper P accommodated in the paper storage container 42 inside the frame 61. A fan 63 as an example of the flow generation unit, and an air flow movement unit 65 as an example of an air flow movement expansion unit that moves the blowing position of the air flow with respect to the paper P from above to below are provided.
The frame 61 is formed so that the length in the width direction is, for example, about the same as the width of the maximum size paper P stored in the paper storage container 42. Then, it is fixed to a support frame 62 provided on the container stage 41. The frame body 61 is formed of a cylindrical body whose surfaces on the support frame 62 side and the paper storage container 42 side are openings. Inside the frame body 61, the fan 63 holds the paper storage container 42 from the support frame 62 side. An air stream flowing to the side is generated.
As the fan 63, for example, a propeller fan, a cross flow fan, a sirocco fan, or the like is used. One or a plurality of frames 61 are arranged along the width direction of the frame body 61, and the air volume in the width direction of the frame body 61 is set to be constant. Note that the setting is not limited to setting the air volume in the width direction of the frame body 61 to be constant, and the air volume in the width direction of the frame body 61 may be set to be different. For example, the arrangement position of the fan 63, the airflow generating force of the fan 63, and the like may be set so that the air volume at the center in the width direction of the frame 61 is increased.

In the air flow moving part 65, two parallel side walls (fan side side walls) 65a and side walls (paper side side walls) 65b having a width extending over the entire surface of the frame 61 on the paper container 42 side are integrated. Configured. The fan-side side wall 65a and the paper-side side wall 65b are supported by a support member 67 provided on the frame body 61 so as to slide integrally in the vertical direction. Each of the fan side wall 65a and the sheet side wall 65b has the same height direction position, and has a fan side opening 66a and a sheet side opening formed in, for example, a rectangle along the width direction of the sheet P. Part 66b.
Further, in the air flow moving unit 65, one or more deflecting members as an example of a deflecting member that gives an angle in a diagonally downward direction to the air flow entering from the fan side opening 66a formed in the fan side wall 65a. A deflection plate 64 is disposed. As a result, the air flow sent out from the paper-side opening 66b formed in the paper-side side wall 65b toward the paper-receiving container 42 is the paper P stored in the paper-containing container 42 as shown in FIG. Is sprayed diagonally downward.

Next, the operation of the paper handling apparatus 60 of this embodiment will be described. In the paper-sheet-spreading device 60, when image formation is started in the image forming process unit 10, the fan 63 starts to rotate. At the same time, the position of the air flow moving unit 65 is moved so that the fan side opening 66a and the paper side opening 66b of the air flow moving unit 65 face the top of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42. . Then, when the paper P discharged from the image forming process unit 10 is stacked in the paper storage container 42 (on the way) or immediately after being stacked in the paper storage container 42, the air flow moving unit 65 is moved downward. Let Accordingly, an air flow is blown from the paper side opening 66b of the air flow moving unit 65 toward the side surface of the paper P in the paper container 42 while moving downward from the top of the stacked paper P.
Thereafter, when the airflow moving unit 65 is lowered to a predetermined position, the fan side opening 66a and the paper side opening 66b are again returned to a position facing the uppermost part of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42. The air flow moving part 65 is moved. Then, an air flow is blown again while moving downward from the top of the stacked paper P. Such an upward / downward movement of the airflow moving unit 65 is performed when the paper-sheet-spreading device 60 performs the paper-sheet-rolling device 60 while the paper-sheet P is being stacked in the paper-containing container 42. It is repeated until it finishes accommodating. Further, in the case where the whirling operation is performed immediately after the paper P is stacked on the paper storage container 42, it is performed once or a plurality of times.

  Here, FIG. 3 is a view showing a side surface of the paper container 42 on the paper handling device 60 side. As shown in FIG. 3, the side surface of the paper container 42 on the side of the paper handling device 60 has side walls 42A for holding the paper P formed at both ends, and openings 42B other than the side walls 42A at both ends. Yes. Thereby, the air flow from the paper side opening 66b of the air flow moving unit 65 is blown onto the paper P from the opening 42B on the side surface of the paper container 60 in the paper container 42.

As described above, when the paper P is stacked in the paper storage container 42 or immediately after being stacked in the paper storage container 42, the stacked paper P is placed on the side surface of the paper P in the paper storage container 42. By blowing an air flow while moving downward from the top of the sheet, the sheet P on which the toner image has been subjected to fixing processing by heat and pressure by the fixing device 19 of the image forming process section 10 is cooled. As a result, it is possible to prevent the sheets P in a semi-molten state in which the toner image has not been sufficiently solidified from being bonded to each other.
That is, when the sheets P are stacked one after another in the sheet storage container 42, the semi-molten toner image is formed between the sheet P and the sheet P immediately above the sheet P due to the weight of the succeeding sheets P stacked on the sheet P. Crimped with. For this reason, the paper P and the paper P stacked on the paper P are brought into a bonded state by solidifying the semi-molten toner image. When such a state occurs, when the two sheets of paper P are to be peeled off, a part of the toner image is transferred to the back surface of the paper P stacked thereon, and the toner image is lost. Further, the paper P on which the toner image has been transferred is also stained on the back side. In particular, when printing on both sides, such a phenomenon is likely to occur because toner images exist on both sides.

Therefore, in the paper handling device 60 according to the present embodiment, when the paper P is stacked in the paper storage container 42 or immediately after being stacked in the paper storage container 42, the side surface of the paper P in the paper storage container 42. On the other hand, the sheet P immediately after receiving the fixing process is cooled by blowing an air flow while moving downward from the top of the stacked sheets P. Thereby, solidification of the semi-molten toner image that has not been sufficiently solidified is promoted, and the sheets P stacked one after another in the sheet container 42 are prevented from being bonded to each other.
The term “immediately after loading” on the paper container 42 refers to a time shorter than the time required for solidification of a semi-molten toner image that has not been sufficiently solidified.

Here, in the paper handling device 60 of the present embodiment, the air flow moving unit 65 is moved downward from above, so that the air flow is sequentially directed downward from the paper P stored at the top of the paper storage container 42. Is blowing. At the uppermost part of the paper container 42, the load amount of the paper P stacked thereon is small, so the weight of the subsequent paper P stacked on the paper P is small. As a result, the air flow easily enters the inside of the area where the sheets P are in contact with each other, and easily floats while separating the sheets P one by one. Once the paper P is lifted, it becomes easier for the air flow to enter. Furthermore, when the upper sheet P is lifted, the levitation force acting on the lower sheet P is also increased, and the amount of air easily enters the area where the lower sheet P contacts each other. Such a phenomenon occurs in a chain, and in the paper P stacked one after another in the paper storage container 42, an air flow enters the area where the paper P contacts each other, and one toner image is formed. Cools effectively every time. As a result, adhesion between the sheets P is suppressed, and a state in which the sheets P are separated one by one is generated.
On the other hand, when the air flow moving unit 65 is moved from the lower side to the upper side, the air flow is blown to the paper P in a state where a large amount of paper P is loaded, so that the paper having a large weight is applied. A situation occurs in which an air flow enters the inside of the P-contacting area. Therefore, the paper P is difficult to lift and the toner image is hardly cooled effectively.

In addition, in the paper handling apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, an air flow is blown obliquely downward on the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42. Thus, by blowing an air flow obliquely downward on the paper P, air easily enters between the paper P and the paper P, and the upper paper P is easily lifted. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the upper sheet P is lifted by blowing an air flow obliquely downward on the sheet P. As shown in FIG. 4, the air flow blown obliquely downward with respect to the paper P rebounds on the upper surface of the lower paper P where the paper P contacts each other, and the bounced air flow further flows into the upper The sheet P is repeatedly bounced on the lower surface of the sheet P, and enters the area where the sheets P are in contact with each other. On the other hand, the diagonally downward air flow also acts on the paper P to press downward. For this reason, the diagonally downward air flow enters the area where the paper P contacts each other while holding the paper P downward. That is, the downward force on the paper P and the upward force due to the air flow entering the area where the paper P are in contact with each other are balanced, and the paper P is in mutual contact with the air flow. The force that penetrates the inside of the region that contacts the surface acts effectively. As a result, the stacked paper P floats while being separated one by one. As a result, the toner image in the semi-molten state is efficiently cooled by the invading air flow, and the paper P is separated one by one.
Furthermore, since the slanting downward air flow has a high ability to float the stacked sheets P while being separated one by one, when the sheets P stored in the sheet storage container 42 are displaced from each other. Also, the sheet P is lifted while being separated one by one.

  On the other hand, when an air flow that is blown obliquely upward on the paper P is used, the upward force caused by the air flow being blown on the paper P and the area where the paper P contacts each other Only the upward force acts on the paper P, such as the upward force due to the air flow entering the inside. For this reason, the force to lift the paper P becomes too strong, and it is difficult for the air flow to effectively enter the area where the paper P contacts each other. As a result, the paper P is lifted at the end where the air flow is blown, but the air flow is less likely to enter the inside, and the entire paper P is hardly lifted. In addition, the entire sheet P receives a lifting force, and a phenomenon in which a plurality of sheets P try to lift as a group easily occurs. Therefore, the sheets P may not be separated one by one, and the frequency of adhesion between the sheets P increases compared to the case where the airflow is blown obliquely downward.

Subsequently, the control related to the paper handling device 60 performed by the control unit 30 of the present embodiment will be described. The control unit 30 controls the thickness (basis weight) of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42, the paper type and size, the area ratio (image density) of the image formed on the paper P, and the temperature of the paper P. The flow rate of air generated by the fan 63 is controlled according to the above. That is, as the air flow rate generated by the fan 63, for example, a first air flow rate and a second air flow rate lower than the first air flow rate are set. The control unit 30 controls the thickness (basis weight) of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42, the paper type and size, the area ratio (image density) of the image formed on the paper P, and the temperature of the paper P. In accordance with the above, control is performed to switch between the first air flow rate and the second air flow rate.
Here, the temperature of the paper P is detected immediately before the paper P is stored in the paper storage container 42 by, for example, a temperature detection sensor (not shown) disposed in the conveyance guide 46 that guides the paper P to the paper storage container 42. Is done. Information regarding the detected temperature is sent to the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 determines the temperature of the paper P. Further, the basis weight, paper type, and size of the paper P are determined based on information indicating which of the paper storage containers 71A and 71B of the paper supply unit 70 is selected by the control unit 30. Further, the area ratio (image density) of the image formed on the paper P is determined by the control unit 30 by acquiring information about the image data from the image processing unit 35.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure when the control unit 30 controls the air flow rate generated by the fan 63. As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 30 is a sheet P whose basis weight of the sheet P is, for example, 105 g / m ² or more based on the information related to the sheet P stored in the selected sheet storage containers 71A and 71B. Is determined (S101), the first air flow rate, which is a large air flow rate, is set as the air flow rate generated by the fan 63 (S106). This is because the sheet P having a large basis weight and a large thickness is difficult to cool because it accumulates a large amount of heat.
Next, when the control unit 30 determines from the information related to the image data from the image processing unit 35 that the image ratio on the paper P is, for example, 5% or more (S102), the control unit 30 generates it with the fan 63. As the air flow rate, a first air flow rate that is a large air flow rate is set (S106). This is because when the image ratio is large, it is necessary to cool a larger area of the paper P.

Further, when the control unit 30 determines from the information regarding the paper P stored in the selected paper storage containers 71A and 71B that the paper P is coated paper (S103), A first air flow rate that is a large air flow rate is set as the air flow rate generated by the fan 63 (S106). This is because the coated paper has a high surface smoothness and easily adheres to each other, so that a large air flow rate is used to allow an air flow to enter the area where the paper P is in contact with each other.
Subsequently, when the control unit 30 determines from the information regarding the paper P stored in the selected paper storage containers 71A and 71B that the size of the paper P is, for example, B4 size or more (S104), the fan 30 A first air flow rate, which is a large air flow rate, is set as the air flow rate generated at 63 (S106). This is because a large-size sheet has a heavy weight per sheet, so that it is difficult for the air flow to enter the area where the sheets P contact each other.

Further, when the control unit 30 determines that the temperature of the sheet P is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (for example, 60 ° C.) from information on the temperature detected by a temperature detection sensor (not shown) (S105), the fan 30 A first air flow rate, which is a large air flow rate, is set as the air flow rate generated at 63 (S106). This is because if the temperature of the paper P is high, it is necessary to increase the cooling capacity using a large air flow rate.
In cases other than the above, the control unit 30 sets the second air flow rate, which is a small air flow rate, as the air flow rate generated by the fan 63 (S107). This is because the sheet P is sufficiently cooled even with a relatively small air flow rate.
In addition, the numerical value used as a reference | standard for each determination element in each said step is an example, Comprising: It is not limited to these. Further, elements other than the thickness (basis weight) of the paper P, the paper type, the size, the area ratio (image density) of the image formed on the paper P, and the temperature of the paper P may be used as the determination elements.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the case where the air flow rate generated by the fan 63 is controlled has been described. In addition to the control of the air flow rate, in addition to the control of the air flow rate, the timing of generating the air flow is set. You may control. Furthermore, a setting that does not generate an air flow may be included when controlling the air flow rate.

Further, in addition to the control shown in FIG. 5 or instead of the control shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 30 sprays the paper P according to the stacking amount of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42. The air flow rate may be changed, and the amount of movement for moving the air flow moving unit 65 from the upper side to the lower side may be changed.
When the stacking amount of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42 exceeds a predetermined value, the amount of heat of the entire paper P stored in the paper storage container 42 increases, so that the top of the paper storage container 42 The newly accommodated paper P is difficult to cool. Therefore, the control unit 30 controls to increase the flow rate of air blown against the paper P when the load amount of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42 exceeds a predetermined value. Specifically, the air flow rate generated by the fan 63 is increased. Alternatively, the opening areas of the fan-side opening 66a formed in the fan-side side wall 65a and the paper-side opening 66b formed in the paper-side side wall 65b are configured to be variable, and the fan-side opening 66a and the paper-side opening 66b Set the opening area large. Thereby, the cooling capacity for the paper P is enhanced, and the paper P is easily separated one by one.

Further, in the control unit 30, the movement amount for moving the airflow moving unit 65 from the upper side to the lower side is changed according to the loading amount of the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42. Thereby, the movement amount according to the loading amount of the paper P is set with respect to the air flow, and the air flow is used efficiently.
Note that the stacking amount of the sheets P stored in the sheet storage container 42 is, for example, a sheet number counter (not shown) provided in the control unit 30 or a height detection sensor (on the side of the sheet storage container 42). (Not shown). Then, it is sent to the control unit 30 as information regarding the load amount of the paper P.

Here, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the control unit 30 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 30 executes a digital arithmetic processing according to a predetermined processing program when executing control related to the paper handling device 60, a RAM 302 used as a working memory of the CPU 301, and the like. ROM 303 storing a processing program executed by CPU 301, rewritable nonvolatile data 304 such as SRAM or flash memory that can retain data even when power supply is interrupted, and control unit 30 An interface unit 305 that controls input / output of signals with each unit to be connected is provided.
A control program executed by the control unit 30 is provided by being loaded from the hard disk as the external storage unit 36 into the ROM 303 when the image forming apparatus 1 is started up, for example. As another provision form, there is a form provided in a state stored in the ROM 303 in advance. Further, when a rewritable ROM 303 such as an EEPROM is provided, there is a form in which only the program is provided and installed in the ROM 303 after the control unit 30 is assembled. Further, there is a form in which the program is transmitted to the control unit 30 via a network such as the Internet and installed in the ROM 303 of the control unit 30. Furthermore, there exists a form provided in the state stored in storage media, such as CD-ROM.

By the way, in the paper storage unit 40 of the present embodiment, an air intake device that sucks air may be provided in the vicinity of the paper storage container 42 at a position opposite to the paper handling device 60 with respect to the paper storage container 42. By sucking the air flow sent from the paper handling device 60 and passing through the paper P in the paper storage container 42 with an air intake device disposed at a position opposite to the paper handling device 60 with respect to the paper storage container 42, The opposite side of the paper container 42 to the paper handling device 60 is set to a negative pressure. Therefore, the air flow easily passes through the paper P in the paper storage container 42, and the paper P is easily separated one by one.
Further, in the paper handling device 60, a cooling device for cooling the air may be provided in the vicinity of the surface of the frame body 61 on the support frame 62 side. Since the air sucked from the surface of the frame 61 on the support frame 62 side is cooled by the cooling device, the cooling capacity for the paper P in the paper container 42 is increased. Thereby, the paper P is easily separated for each sheet.

Furthermore, a ventilation device that sends an air flow from above to the paper P in the paper storage container 42 may be provided at an upper position of the paper storage container 42. By sending an air flow to the paper P from above in the paper storage container 42, the cooling capacity for the paper P in the paper storage container 42 is increased. Thereby, the paper P is easily separated for each sheet.
Further, a plurality of paper handling devices 60 may be arranged in the vertical direction. As a result, the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42 is divided into a plurality of sheets in the stacking direction by the respective paper handling devices 60 and cooled, so that the cooling capacity for the paper P in the paper storage container 42 is increased. Thereby, the paper P is easily separated for each sheet.
Furthermore, the paper handling device 60 may be disposed at any position as long as it is a side portion of the paper storage container 42.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the paper handling device 60 is provided in the paper storage unit 40. Then, in the paper handling device 60, when the paper P is stacked in the paper storage container 42, or immediately after being stacked in the paper storage container 42, the stacking is performed on the side surface of the paper P in the paper storage container 42. The sheet P immediately after receiving the fixing process is cooled by blowing an air flow while moving downward from the top of the sheet P. Accordingly, solidification of the toner image in a semi-molten state that has not been sufficiently solidified is promoted, and the sheets P stacked one after another in the sheet container 42 are prevented from being bonded to each other. It is easy to separate every sheet.

[Embodiment 2]
In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the air flow moving unit 65 provided with the fan-side opening 66a and the sheet-side opening 66b is moved from the upper side to the lower side so as to be stacked in the paper container 42. The configuration in which the air flow is blown while moving downward from the top of the paper P has been described. In the present embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the shutter is moved from the upper side to the lower side so that the air flow is blown from the uppermost part of the paper P toward the lower side. In addition, the same code | symbol is used about the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted here.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the paper handling device 60 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the paper handling device 60 includes a frame body 61, a fan 63, one or a plurality of deflection plates 64 that give an angle in an obliquely downward direction to the air flow generated by the fan 63, and the frame body. A shutter 69 is provided as an example of the air flow moving expansion portion having a width extending over the entire surface of the 61 on the side of the paper container 42.
The shutter 69 is supported by a support member 67 provided on the surface of the frame body 61 on the side of the paper container 42 so as to slide and move in the vertical direction. When the shutter 69 slides downward from above, an opening 68 is formed on the surface of the frame 61 on the side of the paper container 42. By increasing the amount of movement of the shutter 69, the opening 68 moves downward. To be expanded.

In the paper handling apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, the rotation of the fan 63 is started when image formation is started in the image forming process unit 10. At the same time, the shutter 69 is moved to the uppermost position where the opening 68 is closed. Then, when the paper P discharged from the image forming process unit 10 is stacked in the paper storage container 42 (on the way) or immediately after being stacked on the paper storage container 42, the shutter 69 is slid downward. Thereby, an opening 68 is formed on the surface of the frame 61 on the side of the paper container 42, and the opening 68 is further expanded downward. As a result, an air flow is blown toward the side surface of the paper P in the paper container 42 while spreading downward from the top of the stacked paper P.
Thereafter, when the shutter 69 is lowered to a predetermined position, the shutter 69 is moved again to the uppermost position where the opening 68 is closed. Then, an air flow is blown again while moving downward from the top of the stacked paper P. Such an upward / downward movement of the airflow moving unit 65 is performed when the paper-sheet-spreading device 60 performs the paper-sheet-rolling device 60 while the paper-sheet P is being stacked in the paper-containing container 42. It is repeated until it finishes accommodating. Further, in the case where the whirling operation is performed immediately after the paper P is stacked on the paper storage container 42, it is performed once or a plurality of times.

As described above, the shutter 69 is provided on the surface of the frame 61 on the side of the paper container 42, and the shutter 69 is slid downward from above to form the opening 68 that extends downward. Thereby, an air flow is blown against the side surface of the paper P in the paper storage container 42 while spreading downward from the top of the stacked paper P. Accordingly, solidification of the toner image in a semi-molten state that has not been sufficiently solidified is promoted, and the sheets P stacked one after another in the sheet storage container 42 are suppressed from being bonded to each other. It is easy to separate every sheet.
Here, the air flow rate generated by the fan 63 may be controlled to increase as the shutter 69 is slid downward from above. Thereby, even if the opening 68 is widened, the strength of the air flow blown against the side surface of the paper P in the paper container 42 is suppressed from decreasing.

[Embodiment 3]
In the image forming apparatus 1 of the first and second embodiments, the air flow generated by the fan 63 by the one or a plurality of deflecting plates 64 is given an angle in a diagonally downward direction and stored in the paper storage container 42. The configuration in which the air flow is blown obliquely downward on the paper P has been described. In the present embodiment, a configuration will be described in which an air flow is blown obliquely downward on the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42 by arranging the paper storage container 42 at an angle. In addition, the same code | symbol is used about the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted here.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the paper handling device 60 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the paper-sheet-spreading device 60 includes a shutter 69 as an example of an airflow moving expansion unit having a width over the entire surface of the frame 61, the fan 63, and the frame 61 on the side of the paper container 42. It has.
The shutter 69 is supported by a support member 67 provided on the surface of the frame body 61 on the side of the paper container 42 so as to slide and move in the vertical direction. When the shutter 69 slides downward from above, an opening 68 is formed on the surface of the frame 61 on the side of the paper container 42. By increasing the amount of movement of the shutter 69, the opening 68 moves downward. To be expanded.

In the paper storage unit 40 of the present embodiment, the paper storage container 42 is disposed with its upper portion inclined toward the paper handling device 60 side. Therefore, an air flow parallel to the surface of the paper P stacked on the paper storage container 42 is sent out from the paper handling device 60, but the paper P stored in the paper storage container 42 due to the inclination of the paper storage container 42. The air stream is blown obliquely downward. As a result, the sheets P stacked in the sheet storage container 42 are lifted while being separated one by one, and the toner image in a semi-molten state is efficiently cooled by the invading air flow. It becomes easy to separate.
Furthermore, even when the sheets P stored in the sheet storage container 42 are displaced from each other due to the air flow obliquely downward, the sheets P are lifted while being separated one by one. Separate every sheet.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a paper handling apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is the figure which showed the side by the side of the paper handling apparatus of a paper storage container. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an upper sheet is lifted by blowing an air flow obliquely downward on the sheet. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the procedure of the process at the time of controlling the air flow rate which a control part produces | generates with a fan. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a control part. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a paper handling apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a paper handling apparatus according to a third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 30 ... Control part, 40 ... Paper storage part, 42 ... Paper storage container, 60 ... Paper spreading apparatus, 61 ... Frame body, 63 ... Fan, 64 ... Deflection plate, 65 ... Airflow moving part, 65a ... Fan side wall, 65b ... Paper side side wall, 66a ... Fan side opening, 66b ... Paper side opening, 68 ... Opening, 69 ... Shutter

Claims (15)

A recording material container for vertically storing a recording material on which a heat-fixed toner image is formed;
A recording material accommodation device comprising: an air flow spraying means for blowing an air flow directed obliquely downward of a recording material surface to at least an upper side of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation portion. . The air flow spraying means is
An air flow generation unit that generates an air flow toward a side portion of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation unit;
An air flow movement expansion unit that moves or expands a side position of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation unit to which the air flow generated in the air flow generation unit is blown from above to below. The recording material accommodation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The air flow blowing means further includes a deflecting member that deflects the air flow generated by the air flow generation unit in a direction inclined obliquely downward,
3. The recording according to claim 2, wherein the air flow moving expansion unit moves or expands a side position of the recording material to which the air flow deflected by the deflecting member is blown from the upper side to the lower side. Material storage device.   3. The recording material accommodation according to claim 2, wherein the air flow movement expansion unit performs an operation of moving or expanding a side position of the recording material to which the air flow is blown from the upper side to the lower side a plurality of times. apparatus.   The air flow generation unit includes a basis weight of the recording material stored in the recording material storage unit, a type of the recording material, a size of the recording material, an area ratio of an image formed on the recording material, and the The recording material accommodation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a flow rate of the air flow to be generated is set according to any one or a plurality of temperatures of the recording material.   The air flow movement extension unit moves the side position of the recording material to which the air flow is blown from the upper side to the lower side according to the loading amount of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation unit. The recording material accommodation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an amount or an expansion amount to be expanded is set.   3. The recording material storage device according to claim 2, wherein the air flow generation unit sets a flow rate of the air flow to be generated according to a loading amount of the recording material stored in the recording material storage unit. . Toner image forming means for forming a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image formed by the toner image forming means onto a recording material;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording material by the transfer means to the recording material;
Recording material storage means for storing the recording material fixed by the fixing means;
The recording material accommodating means is
A recording material container for vertically storing a recording material on which a heat-fixed toner image is formed;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an air flow blowing unit that blows an air flow directed obliquely downward on a recording material surface toward at least an upper side of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation unit. The air flow spraying means of the recording material accommodating means is
An air flow generation unit that generates an air flow toward a side portion of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation unit;
An air flow movement expansion unit that moves or expands a side position of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation unit to which the air flow generated in the air flow generation unit is blown from above to below. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: The recording material storage means further includes a deflection member that deflects the airflow generated by the airflow generation unit in a direction inclined obliquely downward,
10. The image according to claim 9, wherein the air flow movement expansion unit moves or expands a side position of the recording material to which the air flow deflected by the deflecting member is blown from an upper side toward a lower side. Forming equipment.   The air flow movement expansion unit of the recording material accommodation unit performs an operation of moving or expanding a side position of the recording material to which the air flow is blown from the upper side to the lower side a plurality of times. The image forming apparatus according to 9.   The recording material accommodation means is arranged so that the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodation portion has a low position on the air flow movement expansion portion side and a position opposite to the air flow movement expansion portion side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recording material accommodating portion is disposed to be inclined. Toner image forming means for forming a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image formed by the toner image forming means onto a recording material;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording material by the transfer means to the recording material;
A recording material container for vertically storing a recording material on which a toner image heated and fixed by the fixing unit is formed;
An air flow that blows while moving or expanding an air flow directed obliquely downward on the surface of the recording material toward the lower side of the recording material with respect to at least the upper side of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodating portion. Spraying means;
A control unit for controlling the flow rate of the air flow sprayed by the air flow spraying means,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control unit sets a flow rate of the air flow in accordance with information on the recording material stored in the recording material storage unit.   The control unit includes a basis weight of the recording material stored in the recording material storage unit, a type of the recording material, a size of the recording material, an area ratio of an image formed on the recording material, and the recording material. The flow rate of the air flow is set according to the information related to any one or a plurality of temperatures and / or the information related to the loading amount of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodating portion. Item 14. The image forming apparatus according to Item 13.   The control unit further controls, according to the information, an amount of movement or an amount of expansion to move a side position of the recording material to which the airflow is blown from the upper side to the lower side. 14. The image forming apparatus according to 13.

Images