JP2010132431A - Paper guide tray - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper guide tray using a common pickup part which continuously performs the operation of pulling out tray members and the operation of reversing an auxiliary tray member to a working position, and in which the pickup part hardly becomes hindrance at storage. <P>SOLUTION: The paper guide tray is provided on equipment which has at least either a paper feed port 2 or a paper discharge port 3 in an equipment body 1. The tray includes the tray members 41, 42 slidable between storage positions 41(c), 42(c) where they are stored in the equipment body 1 and working positions 41(o), 42(o) where they can guide paper P passing through the paper feed port 2 or the paper discharge port 3, and the auxiliary tray member 43 having a base edge mounted to the frontmost edges of the tray members 41, 42 via hinges 423, and reversible between a storage position 43(c) where they are overlapped with the tray members 41, 42 and a working position 43(o) where they can guide the paper P. At part of the base edge of the auxiliary tray member 43, the pickup part 431 is provided which is swollen in the direction of the thickness of the auxiliary tray member 43. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper guide tray provided in a paper feed port or a paper discharge port of an apparatus.

  Scanners, printers, facsimiles, and the like are known as devices equipped with a paper feed tray or paper discharge tray (hereinafter referred to as “paper guide tray”) having a role of guiding paper to the paper feed port or paper discharge port. It has been.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a paper guide tray mounted on this type of equipment, a tray member that can slide between a storage position that fits in the equipment body and a use position that can guide paper passing through a paper feed port or a paper discharge port. And an auxiliary tray member that is reversible between a storage position where the base end edge is attached to the leading edge of the tray member via a hinge and overlaps the tray member to a use position where the paper can be guided. There are many things. As an example thereof, there is known a device that includes a handle for pulling out the tray member from the main body of the tray member at the leading edge of the tray member, and raises the auxiliary tray member at a portion other than the handle (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  However, in such a configuration, when the auxiliary tray member is used, an operation of pulling the handle to pull out the tray member from the apparatus main body, and picking the tip of the auxiliary tray member to remove the auxiliary tray member. It was necessary to perform an inversion operation.

  Therefore, in order to eliminate the complexity of performing two types of operations, such as the operation of pulling out the auxiliary tray member and the operation of inverting the auxiliary tray member, the tray member is attached to the front end edge of the auxiliary tray member from the apparatus main body. It is conceivable that a handle for pulling out is provided so as to protrude forward from the leading edge, and the auxiliary tray member is raised using the handle.

However, in such a case, when the tray member is stored in the apparatus main body, the handle protrudes from the front surface of the apparatus main body, and when the paper guide tray is not used, the protrusion of the handle becomes an obstacle. Problems arise.
JP 2006-315867 A

  The present invention has the problem that a complicated operation is necessary because at least two kinds of operations as described above must be performed in order to use the paper guide tray. The goal is to eliminate it without any problems.

  The present invention employs the following configuration in order to solve the above-described problems. In other words, the paper guide tray according to the present invention is a paper guide tray provided in a device having at least one of a paper feed port and a paper discharge port in the device main body, and the paper feed tray from the storage position that fits in the device main body. A tray member slidable up to a use position capable of guiding the paper passing through the opening or the paper discharge opening, and a base end edge thereof is attached to a leading edge of the tray member via a hinge and overlaps with the tray member And an auxiliary tray member that can be reversed between a storage position and a use position where the paper can be guided, and bulges in a part of the base edge of the auxiliary tray member in the thickness direction of the auxiliary tray member. A knob is provided.

  In such a case, the picking part can be picked up and down, so that the paper guide tray can be easily pulled out to the use position, and the edge of the picking part is brought forward with the finger hung on the upper surface side of the picking part. When pulled down, the knob functions as a lever, and the auxiliary tray member can be reversed to the use position at once. If the knob is bulged in the thickness direction of the auxiliary tray member, the edge of the knob will be displaced from the center of rotation of the hinge, and can also serve as an operating lever for reversal. .

  As a suitable example of such a sheet guide tray, a plurality of tray members are combined so as to be able to be drawn out in a telescope shape, and the auxiliary tray is provided at the leading edge of the tray member that can be pulled out at the most distal end side. One with a member attached.

  Furthermore, as long as a notch that allows the operation of picking the knob is formed at a position corresponding to the knob at the leading edge of the tray member, regardless of the degree of bulge in the thickness direction of the knob It is possible to easily perform the operation of picking the knob from above and below and pulling out the paper guide tray to the use position, or the action of pulling down the edge of the knob with the finger hung on the upper surface side of the knob.

  In addition to providing the above-mentioned notch in the most advanced tray member, a tray member that can be pulled out to the most distal end side by forming a receiving recess for receiving the knob at the leading edge of another tray member. In addition, it is easy not only to make it possible to store the leading edge of the tray member so that it can substantially match the leading edge of another tray member, but it is also possible to pick the knob from above and below in the storage state. Become.

  Such an auxiliary tray member is preferably provided with a sheet guide surface substantially continuous with the upper surface of the tray member at the use position.

  According to the present invention, the tray member pulling-out operation and the auxiliary tray member reversing operation to the use position can be continuously performed by using the common knob, and the tab is less likely to become an obstacle when stored. A guide tray can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the device according to the present invention is a scanner will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the scanner is provided on the apparatus main body 1 having a paper discharge port 3 for discharging the paper P in a substantially horizontal direction, and on the bottom wall 11 side of the apparatus main body 1. A paper discharge tray 4 that can be pulled out in the paper direction is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 1 has a paper feed port 2 at the rear of the upper surface, a paper discharge port 3 at the lower part of the front surface, and a sheet that allows the paper feed port 2 and the paper discharge port 3 to communicate with each other. A passage T is formed. This sheet path T is formed between the front and rear wall bodies 13 and 14 provided in the apparatus main body 1. A receiving area T1 that can receive a plurality of sheets P that are bundled in a separable manner is provided on the side of the sheet path T of the sheet path T. Further, the paper feeder 6 that scoops the leading end portions of the plurality of paper sheets P received in the receiving area T1, the paper feeder 7 that draws the paper P that is fed by the paper feeder 6 one by one by the paper feed roller 71, A transport device 8 that transports the paper P drawn by the paper feed device 7 in the direction of the paper discharge port 3 by transport rollers 81 and 82, and an image pickup device 9 that captures both sides of the paper P transported by the transport device 8. Are arranged along the paper path T. The sheet P for which imaging has been completed is sent toward the paper discharge port 3 by the transport rollers 81 and 82, and is discharged from the paper discharge port 3 onto the paper discharge tray 4. As shown in FIG. 8, the device main body 1 has a flat bottom space U surrounded by the inner side surfaces of the side walls 12 and the lower surface of the bottom wall 11 laid between the lower end portions of the side walls 12. The sheet discharge tray 4 is accommodated in the bottom space U so as to be pulled out forward.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 8, the paper discharge tray 4 is a paper guide surface that is curved so that the base end side that first receives the paper P is substantially parallel to the bottom wall 11 and gradually rises toward the front end side. S is provided. The paper discharge tray 4 includes a plurality of tray members 41 and 42 that can be drawn out in a telescope shape. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper discharge tray 4 is moved from the storage position 41 (c) held on the apparatus body 1 and overlapped with the bottom wall 11 to FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown, a first tray member 41 slidable up to a use position 41 (o) where the paper P can be guided, and held by the first tray member 41 and superposed on the first tray member 41. And a second tray member 42 that is slidable from a storage position 42 (c) to a use position 42 (o) where the paper P can be guided. Thus, the sheet guide surface S is constituted by the upper surface of the first tray member 41 and the upper surface of the second tray member 42.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 8, the first tray member 41 includes an upper plate 411 that is curved in a partial arc shape when viewed from the side, and side plates 412 that are formed near both side edges on the lower surface of the upper plate 411. The left and right side edge portions of the upper plate 411 are slidably supported on the curved rail portion 121 disposed on the inner side surface of the side wall 12 in the device main body 1. A guide rail portion (not shown) for slidably supporting the second tray member 42 is formed inside the side plates 412 of the first tray member 41. The guide rail portion is parallel to the side plate 412 and is integrally formed on the lower surface of the second tray member 42. The side plate 412 and the guide rail portion also serve as reinforcing ribs for reinforcing the upper plate 411.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 8, the second tray member 42 includes an upper plate 421 that is curved in a partial arc shape when viewed from the side, and side plates 422 formed on both side edges of the lower surface of the upper plate 421. Thus, the left and right side edges of the upper plate 421 are slidably supported by guide rail portions formed on the inner surface of the side plate 412 of the first tray member 41. The side plate 422 and the guide rail portion also serve as reinforcing ribs for reinforcing the upper plate 421. The upper plate 421 of the second tray member 42 is curved with substantially the same curvature as the lower surface of the upper plate 421 of the first tray member 41. An auxiliary tray member 43 is attached to the leading edge of the second tray member 42 via a hinge 423.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the auxiliary tray member 43 has a narrower width than the second tray member 42, and a storage position 43 (c) that overlaps with the second tray member 42. To the use position 43 (o) where the paper P can be guided. The auxiliary tray member 43 is a plate-shaped member, and is superposed on the second tray member 42 so as to fit into a recessed portion 424 formed on the upper surface of the second tray member 42. The second tray member 42 can be stored under the first tray member 41 in a state in which 43 is superposed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a knob 431 that bulges in the thickness direction of the auxiliary tray member 43 is provided at the central portion of the base edge of the auxiliary tray member 43. Specifically, the knob portion 431 is obtained by causing the central portion of the base end edge of the auxiliary tray member 43 to bulge in a partial spherical shape on the side opposite to the paper guide surface S, and the end of the knob portion 431 is discharged. In a state where the paper tray 4 is completely stored, as shown in FIG. 2, it is formed so as to be substantially continuous with the leading edges of the tray members 41 and 42 in a plan view. In other words, the knob 431 has a shape that does not protrude forward from the leading edge of the tray members 41 and 42 in the stored state. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, a notch 425 is formed in the central portion of the leading edge of the second tray member 42 to allow the knob 431 to be picked up and down. As shown in FIG. 6, a receiving recess 413 for receiving the knob 431 when stored is formed in the central portion of the front end edge of the first tray member 41. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the entire paper discharge tray 4 can be stored to a position where the leading edges of both tray members 41 and 42 substantially coincide with the front edge of the bottom wall 11 of the device body 1 in plan view. Therefore, a receiving recess 111 for receiving the knob 431 is also formed in the central portion of the front edge of the bottom wall 11. Further, the height position at the tip edge of the knob 431 is lower than or substantially the same as the upper surface of the bottom wall 11, and the paper discharge tray 4 is completely stored as shown in FIG. Further, the knob 431 is formed so as to be fitted into the receiving recesses 111 and 413. In other words, the knob 431 has a shape that does not protrude upward from the bottom wall 11 in the stored state. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the bulk in the thickness direction in the housed state, even though the knob 431 bulges in the thickness direction.

  With such a configuration, by pushing the paper discharge tray 4 into the apparatus main body 1, the whole paper discharge tray 4 can be stored almost completely under the bottom wall 11. When the knob 431 is picked up and down from this stored state and pulled forward, the first tray member 41 and the second tray member 42 of the paper discharge tray 4 are telescope-like as shown in FIG. The curved sheet guide surface S is exposed.

  When the scanner is used in this state, the leading edge of the paper P led out from the paper discharge port 3 of the apparatus main body 1 is first guided and supported by the horizontal portion of the paper guiding surface S, and then discharged while being gradually lifted upward. Is done. Therefore, as compared with the case where the paper P is guided in the flat posture, the deceleration action on the paper P is increased, and the possibility that the paper P slides forward beyond the paper discharge tray 4 can be effectively suppressed. . Further, with such a paper discharge tray 4, the leading end of the paper P protrudes obliquely upward and forward. Therefore, the possibility that the protruding portion hangs down can be reduced as compared with the case where the sheet P protrudes in a planar posture without warping. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately receive the paper P having a relatively large size by using the paper discharge tray 4 having a relatively small drawer size.

  Further, since the paper P is discharged so as to run on the knob 431, a gap is formed between the paper P and the periphery of the knob 431. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the discharged paper P from being in close contact with the paper discharge tray 4 and difficult to remove.

  When scanning a larger sheet P, the auxiliary tray member 43 having the sheet guide surface S substantially continuous with the upper surface of the tray members 41 and 42 of the sheet discharge tray 4 can be reversed to the use position 43 (o). That's fine. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, after picking the knob 431 from above and below and pulling out the first and second tray members 42 to the use position 43 (o), the upper surface of the knob 431 is shown in FIG. When the edge of the knob portion 431 is pulled down toward the front and lower with a finger hung on the side, the knob portion 431 exhibits a function as a lever, and the auxiliary tray member 43 is used at a stroke as shown in FIG. It will be inverted to 43 (o). Since the knob portion 431 is bulged in the thickness direction of the auxiliary tray member 43, the edge of the knob portion 431 is shifted from the rotation center of the hinge 423, and serves as an operation lever for reversal. It is because it will also fulfill.

  As described above, the scanner according to the present embodiment has the first mode in which only the first tray member 41 is pulled out, the second mode in which the second tray member 42 is further pulled out, and the auxiliary tray member 43 in the use position 43 (o). The third mode to be reversed, the intermediate mode between the storage state and the first mode without completely pulling out the tray members 41, 42, the intermediate mode between the first mode and the second mode, etc. The mode of the paper discharge tray 4 can be selected in accordance with the size of the paper P to be discharged, and can cope with various situations.

  With the above-described configuration, the paper guide tray according to the present embodiment is a paper guide tray provided in a device that includes at least one of the paper feed port 2 or the paper discharge port 3 in the device body 1. A second tray that is slidable from a storage position 42 (c) that fits in the apparatus main body 1 to a use position 42 (o) that can guide the paper P passing through the paper feed port 2 or the paper discharge port 3. The sheet P is guided from a member 42 and a storage position 43 (c) where the base end edge is attached to the foremost edge of the second tray member 42 via a hinge 423 and overlaps with the second tray member 42. And an auxiliary tray member 43 that can be reversed up to the use position 43 (o) to be obtained, and the central portion of the base end edge of the auxiliary tray member 43 bulges in a partial spherical shape on the side opposite to the sheet guide surface S. Provide a knob 431 Since the picking portion 431 can be picked from above and below, it is easy to pull out the paper guide tray to the use position 43 (o), and it is picked by a finger hung on the upper surface side of the picking portion 431. When the edge of the portion 431 is pulled down toward the front, the knob 431 functions as a lever, and the auxiliary tray member 43 can be reversed to the use position 43 (o) at once. Further, since the knob portion 431 is bulged in the thickness direction of the auxiliary tray member 43, the edge of the knob portion 431 is shifted from the rotation center of the hinge 423, and serves as a reverse operation lever. Also, the auxiliary tray member 43 can be easily reversed.

  In addition, the two tray members 41 and 42 are combined so that they can be drawn out in a telescope shape, and the auxiliary tray member 43 is attached to the leading edge of the second tray member 42 that can be pulled out to the most distal side. Therefore, when pulling out the first tray member 41 and the second tray member 42 from the apparatus main body 1, it is easy to pull out to the use position 43 (o) by the knob 431, and the second When the auxiliary tray member 43 is further reversed while being pulled out to the tray member 42, it is easy to reverse to the use position 43 (o) by the knob 431.

  Since the notch 425 that allows the operation of picking the knob 431 is formed at a position corresponding to the knob 431 at the foremost edge of the second tray member 42, the second tray member 42 and the auxiliary tray Even if the gap in the thickness direction formed between the knob 43 and the member 43 is relatively small with respect to the user's finger, the user can easily pick the knob 431 and operate it. It can be easy.

  The second tray member 42 that can be pulled out to the most front end side can be stored up to a position where the leading edge of the second tray member 42 can substantially match the front end edge of the first tray member 41. Since the receiving recesses 413 and 111 for receiving the knob 431 are formed in the front edge of the member 41 and the central part of the front edge of the bottom wall 11 of the apparatus main body 1, the knob in the state where the paper guide tray is completely stored. Since the portion 431 does not protrude forward from the front end edge of the other tray members 41, 42, it is possible to prevent the conventional paper guide tray from being caught. Further, even if the knob 431 bulges in the thickness direction, the bulged portion is fitted into the receiving recesses 111 and 413 formed in the first tray member 41 and the bottom wall 11 of the apparatus main body 1, so that the first The tray member 41, the second tray member 42, and the auxiliary tray member 43 can be stacked and stored in the lower part of the apparatus main body 1. That is, even if the thickness of the bulging portion of the knob portion 431 is increased to some extent, it can be stored in the apparatus main body 1 while being stacked with the tray members 41 and 42, and the knob 431 is in the stored state even though the knob portion 431 is in the storage state. The operation of picking up the portion 431 from above and below is allowed.

  Further, since the auxiliary tray member 43 is provided with a paper guide surface S that is substantially continuous with the upper surface of the tray members 41 and 42 at the use position, the auxiliary tray member 43 can be used even when relatively large paper P is used. It is possible to reduce the possibility that the paper P is guided on the paper guide surface S on 43, the leading end of the paper P protrudes beyond the paper discharge tray 4, and the protruding portion hangs downward.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made.

  Of course, the paper discharge tray is not limited to that of the embodiment described above, and may not have an auxiliary tray member. Further, in addition to the one provided with two tray members, a combination of three or more tray members in a telescope shape, or one consisting of only one tray member may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the paper discharge tray that guides the paper to the paper discharge port has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be similarly applied to a paper feed tray that guides the paper to the paper feed port.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the apparatus mounted and used on a desk, it is applicable similarly to the apparatus of other forms. However, if the present invention is applied to a desktop device, it is possible to effectively use a desktop that is a limited space. In other words, because the front end of the paper discharge tray is warped diagonally forward, when paper of the same size is discharged, the paper discharge tray of the device main body is compared with the case where the paper is guided in the flat position. The front space can be made smaller. Furthermore, since the lower space on the front end side of the paper discharge tray can be used freely, even if writing instruments, documents, etc. are placed near the outlet of the equipment when they are placed on the tabletop, This structure is effective in that it can be accommodated in the lower space, and there is no need to clean the vicinity of the discharge port of the device when the device is used.

  Further, the knob portion is not limited to the one in which the central portion of the base end edge of the auxiliary tray member as shown in the figure is bulged in a partial spherical shape on the side opposite to the paper guide surface, and the position and shape of the knob portion are variously changed. Is possible. Further, the positions and shapes of the notch and the receiving recess are not limited to those described above as long as the user can easily pick the knob according to the position and shape of the knob.

  In addition, the device is not limited to the scanner described above as long as the device includes a paper discharge tray at the paper discharge port, and may be a printer, a facsimile, or the like.

  Although the present embodiment has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the specific configurations of other parts can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The whole right sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view which shows the state which accommodated the paper discharge tray of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partial side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the paper discharge tray of the embodiment is stored. The perspective view which shows the state which pulled out the 1st and 2nd tray member of the embodiment. The fragmentary sectional side view which shows the state which pulled out the 1st and 2nd tray member of the embodiment. The perspective view which shows the state which pulled out the auxiliary tray of the embodiment. The fragmentary sectional side view which shows the state which pulled out the auxiliary tray of the embodiment. The bottom perspective view showing the state where the 1st tray member of the embodiment was pulled out. The fragmentary sectional side view for demonstrating the effect | action of the embodiment. The fragmentary sectional side view for demonstrating the effect | action of the embodiment. The fragmentary sectional side view for demonstrating the effect | action of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Apparatus body 2 ... Paper feed port 3 ... Paper discharge port (c) ... Storage position (o) ... Use position 423 ... Hinge 43 ... Auxiliary tray member 431 ... Knob part 425 ... Notch part 111, 413 ... Receiving recessed part S ... Paper guide surface P ... Paper

Claims (5)

  A paper guide tray provided in a device having at least one of a paper feed port and a paper discharge port in the device main body, and guides the paper passing through the paper feed port or the paper discharge port from a storage position within the device main body. A tray member slidable up to a usable position, and a use position where a base end edge is attached to the leading edge of the tray member via a hinge and guides the paper from a storage position where it overlaps the tray member And an auxiliary tray member that is reversible between the upper and lower ends, and a knob that bulges in the thickness direction of the auxiliary tray member is provided at a part of the base end edge of the auxiliary tray member. Information tray.   2. The sheet guide tray according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of tray members are combined so as to be able to be drawn out in a telescope shape, and the auxiliary tray member is attached to the foremost edge of the tray member that can be pulled out to the front end side. .   The paper guide tray according to claim 1, wherein a notch portion that allows the operation of pinching the knob portion is formed at a portion corresponding to the knob portion at the most distal edge of the tray member.   A tray member that can be pulled out to the most front end side can be stored up to a position where the leading edge of the tray member can substantially match the front end edge of another tray member. The paper guide tray according to claim 3, wherein a receiving recess for receiving the portion is formed.   The paper guide tray according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the auxiliary tray member includes a paper guide surface substantially continuous with an upper surface of the tray member at a use position.

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