JP2012030938A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate inhibition of removal of recording paper placed on a paper discharge tray.SOLUTION: In an image forming apparatus, when inversion discharge where a conveying means is driven to discharge the recording paper to a paper outlet for inversion discharge, an inversion guide is moved by a drive means to a supporting posture supporting the recording paper while being operatively connected to the drive. When the paper is not discharged in the inversion discharge mode, the inversion guide is brought into a retreat posture by the drive means while being operatively connected to the drive, where the same does not support the recording paper.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of forming images on both sides of a recording sheet.

  The image forming apparatus employs a switchback method in which the recording paper is reversed using a reversing roller as a method of inverting the recording paper at the time of duplex printing. In the switchback method, a part of the recording paper pinched by the reversing roller is discharged from the reversing paper discharge port, and from this situation, the reversing roller is rotated in reverse to reversely take in the recording paper. Normally, the reversing paper discharge port is provided above the paper discharge port from which the recording paper after image formation is discharged, so that the recording paper hanging from the reversing paper discharge port is discharged from the paper discharge port and discharged. Recording paper stocked on the tray may be pushed out or bent when touched. For this reason, a reversing guide made of a plate material is attached to the reversing discharge port, and the recording paper is supported by the reversing guide so as not to hang down. However, since the reversing guide is installed in the space above the paper discharge tray, it obstructs the user from taking out the recording paper, which is in the way. For this reason, Patent Document 1 below proposes an image forming apparatus including a flexible reversing guide as an invention that does not hinder the removal of the recording paper on the paper discharge tray.

JP 2006-21903 A

  By the way, in the above prior art, when the recording paper on the paper discharge tray is taken out, even if the reversing guide hits the user's hand, the reversing guide is bent so that the recording paper can be taken out. Although it is possible to alleviate the obstruction of taking out, instead of hitting the reversing guide, it is not possible to prevent it completely.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the removal of the recording paper on the paper discharge tray more than before.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first solving means related to an image forming apparatus, an image forming unit that forms an image on one surface of a recording sheet, and a paper discharge tray that receives the recording sheet on which image formation has been completed, A reversing discharge port for discharging a part of the recording paper when reversing the recording paper on which the image is formed on one side, and a reversing discharge port. An image forming apparatus comprising a reversing guide for supporting recording paper discharged from a reversing paper discharge port, wherein the reversing guide performs an operation related to conveyance of the recording paper; Driving means for changing the attitude of the guide for the recording medium, and the driving means is linked to the driving in the case of reverse discharge for driving the conveying means so as to discharge the recording paper to the reverse discharge port. The reversing guide Go to support posture for supporting the Rokushi, besides the case of the reverse discharge employs means that the retracted position is not in conjunction with the drive and support the recording paper the reversing guide.

  In the present invention, as the second solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in the first solving means, the conveying means sets the conveyance destination of the recording paper on which the image is formed to the discharge tray or the reverse discharge sheet. A branch guide that switches to a mouth, and the drive means drives the branch guide in conjunction with the drive when driving the branch guide to a position where the recording paper transport destination is switched to the reversal discharge port. When the branch guide is driven to a position where the recording paper is transported to the paper discharge tray in a support posture for supporting the recording paper, the reversing guide is not supported on the recording paper in conjunction with the driving. Adopting a retreat posture.

  In the present invention, as a third solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in the first solving means, the conveying means conveys the recording paper so that a part of the recording paper is discharged from the reversing discharge port. And a reversing roller that conveys the recording paper partially ejected from the reversing paper discharge port, and the driving means ejects a part of the recording paper from the reversing paper ejection port. When the reversing roller is driven, the reversing guide is set to a support posture for supporting the recording paper in conjunction with the driving, and the recording paper partially ejected from the reversing discharge port is taken in. When the reversing roller is driven, a means is adopted in which the reversing guide is set in a retracted position not supporting the recording paper in conjunction with the driving.

  In the present invention, as a fourth solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in any one of the first to third solving means, the reversing guide is supported in a freely changeable posture and is in the retracted posture. In this case, a means is employed in which the recording paper on the paper discharge tray is brought into contact with the recording paper so as to function as a sensor for detecting the stacking amount of the recording paper on the paper discharge tray based on the posture at that time.

  In the present invention, as a fifth solving means according to the image forming apparatus, in any one of the first to fourth solving means, the driving means takes in the recording sheet from the reversing discharge port and the image In the case where the conveying component is driven so as to face the forming unit, a unit is employed in which the reversing guide is set to a posture as a trailing end press of the recording sheet on the sheet discharge tray.

  According to the present invention, in the case of reverse discharge for driving the conveying means so as to discharge the recording paper to the reverse discharge port, the driving means supports the reverse guide in conjunction with the drive. Except for the case of moving to the support posture and reversely discharging, the reverse guide is set to the retracted posture not supporting the recording paper in conjunction with the driving. In the case where the supporting position for supporting the recording paper is maintained by providing flexibility to the reversing guide as in the past, the user's hand hits the reversing guide when taking out the recording paper on the paper discharge tray. However, as in the present invention, when the reversing guide is in a retracted position that does not support the recording paper, that is, the reversing guide is in a position that does not hinder the removal of the recording paper on the discharge tray, the user's hand is used for reversing. You can avoid hitting the guide. Accordingly, in the present invention, it is possible to prevent the recording paper from being taken out from the paper discharge tray.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing details of characteristic components of the multifunction peripheral A according to the embodiment of the present invention and showing a retracted posture of the reversing guide 10. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating details of characteristic components of the multifunction peripheral A according to the embodiment of the present invention and a supporting posture of the reversing guide 10. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) A according to the present embodiment has a copy function, a print function, a scan function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and an e-mail transmission function, and forms an image on a recording sheet based on an electrophotographic method. 1-3, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the fixing roller 1, the transport roller 2, the branch guide 3, the paper discharge roller 4, the paper discharge port 5, the paper discharge tray 6, the reverse roller 7, the reverse paper discharge port 8, A link mechanism 9, a reversing guide 10, an actuator 11, and a photosensitive drum 12 are provided. As for the multi-function device A, only the characteristic components described above will be described, and description of other components will be omitted. The actuator 11 and the link mechanism 9 constitute a driving unit in the present embodiment. Further, the fixing roller 1 and the photosensitive drum 12 constitute an image forming unit in the present embodiment that forms an image on one surface of recording.

The fixing roller 1 is composed of a heating roller having a heater inside and a pressure roller pressed against the heating roller, and the recording paper with the toner image transferred by the two rollers is sandwiched and conveyed to heat and heat the recording paper. Pressure is applied to fix the toner image on the recording paper. The recording paper on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing roller 1 is conveyed toward the conveying roller 2.
The conveyance roller 2 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), and changes the position of the branch guide 3 to switch the recording paper along either the paper discharge path L1 (see FIG. 2) or the reverse path L2 (see FIG. 3). Transport.

  The branch guide 3 is driven by the actuator 11 so that the recording paper transport destination from the transport roller 2 becomes the paper discharge tray 6 or the reverse path L2 that makes the transport destination the reversal discharge port 8. Switch to. Further, when switching to the paper discharge path L1, the branch guide 3 reverses the recording paper on which the image is formed on one side, and uses the recording paper transport destination as an image forming unit in order to form an image on the back side of the recording paper. Switch to the back image forming path L3 (see FIG. 2).

The paper discharge roller 4 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), and discharges the recording paper transported from the transport roller 2 along the paper discharge path L1 from the paper discharge port 5 to the paper discharge tray 6.
The paper discharge port 5 is an opening through which the recording paper conveyed by the paper discharge roller 4 is discharged toward the paper discharge tray 6.
The paper discharge tray 6 is a tray that receives the recording paper discharged from the paper discharge port 5 by the paper discharge roller 4.

The reversing roller 7 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). When the recording paper is conveyed from the conveying roller 2, the reversing roller 7 rotates in the direction of discharging the recording paper from the reversing paper discharge port 8, and sandwiches the recording paper. A part of the recording paper is conveyed so as to be discharged from the reverse discharge port 8. Further, the reversing roller 7 rotates in the reverse direction from this state, that is, rotates in the direction in which the recording paper is taken in from the reversing paper discharge port 8 and takes in the recording paper partially ejected from the reversing paper ejection port 8. To be conveyed.
The reverse discharge port 8 is an opening through which the recording paper conveyed by the reverse roller 7 is discharged.

The link mechanism 9 is a plate material that transmits the power of the actuator 11 to the reversing guide 10 in order to change the posture of the reversing guide 10 by being driven by the actuator 11.
The reversing guide 10 is a plate material that is supported by the movable shaft 10 a so that its posture can be freely changed. This prevents the recording paper from being touched.
The reversing guide 10 is moved to a support posture for supporting the recording paper shown in FIG. In general, the reversing guide 10 is in the posture shown in FIG. 2 by its own weight, that is, in the retracted posture in which the recording paper is not supported.

  The actuator 11 is composed of, for example, a solenoid and drives the branch guide 3 and the reversing guide 10 by linear movement. Specifically, when the actuator 11 is pulled, the branch guide 3 moves to the position shown in FIG. 3 to create the reverse path L2, and the link mechanism 9 pops out to the position shown in FIG. It moves to the support posture (refer FIG. 3) to support. When the actuator 11 returns, the branch guide 3 moves to the position shown in FIG. 2 to create the back surface image formation path L3 and the link mechanism 9 retracts to the position shown in FIG. Is in a retracted position that does not support (an attitude that does not hinder the removal of the recording paper on the paper discharge tray 6 (see FIG. 2)).

  The photosensitive drum 12 is a cylindrical member that supports a toner image formed based on the electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface and transfers the toner image onto a recording sheet. A drive source (not shown) that is extended and arranged and capable of speed adjustment, such as a motor, rotates in the circumferential direction during image formation.

Next, the operation of the MFP A according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.
First, a user who wants to copy a document with the multifunction peripheral A sets the document in an image reading unit (not shown). Then, the user causes the MFP A to start copying.
In the multifunction machine A, when the copy is duplex printing, the actuator 11 moves the branch guide 3 to the position shown in FIG. 3 when the recording paper is conveyed from the fixing roller 1 to the conveyance roller 2. By driving, a reversing path L2 is created, and in conjunction with the driving, the link mechanism 9 jumps to the position shown in FIG. 3 to move the reversing guide 10 to a support posture (see FIG. 3) for supporting the recording paper. . At the same time, the reverse roller 7 starts to rotate in the direction of discharging from the reverse discharge port 8.

  The transport roller 2 transports the recording paper to the reverse roller 7 along the reverse path L2. The reversing roller 7 discharges a part of the recording paper from the reversing paper discharge port 8 while sandwiching the recording paper. A part of the recording paper discharged from the reverse discharge port 8 is supported by the reverse guide 10. As a result, it is possible to prevent the recording paper discharged from the reversing paper discharge port 8 from hanging down and pushing out the recording paper stocked on the paper discharge tray 6 or from being bent due to contact.

  Thereafter, the reversing roller 7 rotates in a direction in which the recording paper is taken from the reversing discharge port. At that time, the actuator 11 drives the branch guide 3 so as to move to the position shown in FIG. 2, thereby creating the back surface image formation path L3, and retracts the link mechanism 9 to the position shown in FIG. 2 in conjunction with the drive. By doing so, the reversing guide 10 is brought into a retracted posture of a two-dot chain line (see FIG. 2) by its own weight, that is, a posture that does not hinder the removal of the recording paper on the paper discharge tray 6. Then, the recording paper is conveyed along the back surface image forming path L3 to the image forming means (consisting of the fixing roller 1 and the photosensitive drum 12). When an image is formed by the image forming means, the recording paper passes through the paper discharge path L1. And discharged to the paper discharge tray 6.

  As described above, in the MFP A according to the present embodiment, the actuator 11 drives the branch guide 3 to a position where the recording paper transport destination is switched to the reverse discharge port 8 (in the case of reverse discharge). When the reversing guide 10 is moved to a support posture for supporting the recording paper in conjunction with the driving, and the branch guide 3 is driven to a position where the recording paper transport destination is switched to the paper discharge tray (in the case of reverse discharging). In other cases, the reversing guide 10 is set to a retracted posture not supporting the recording paper in conjunction with the driving. If the reversing guide is made flexible so that the recording paper is supported, the user's hand hits the reversing guide when taking out the recording paper on the paper discharge tray. However, in this embodiment, when the reversing guide 10 is in the retracted position in which the recording paper is not supported, that is, in the position in which the reversing guide 10 is not hindered from taking out the recording paper on the paper discharge tray 6, Can be prevented from hitting the reversing guide 10. Thereby, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the removal of the recording paper on the paper discharge tray 6 from being hindered.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.
(1) In the above embodiment, the actuator 11 drives the reversing guide 10 in conjunction with the driving of the branch guide 3, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, a motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the reverse roller 7 may be used as a driving unit instead of the actuator 11. Specifically, when the reversing roller 7 is driven so that a part of the recording paper is ejected from the reversing paper discharge port 8, the motor supports the reversing guide 10 in association with the driving. When the reversing roller 7 is driven so as to take in the recording paper partially ejected from the reversing paper discharge port 8, the reversing guide 10 is moved to the recording paper in conjunction with the driving. You may make it the retracting posture which does not support.

  Further, in the above-described case, by connecting a one-way clutch to the motor, a rotational force in a direction in which the recording paper of the reverse roller 7 is discharged from the reverse discharge port 8 is transmitted, and the reversing guide 10 is moved to the recording paper. The reversing guide 10 is brought into the retracted position shown in FIG. 2 by its own weight so that the reversing guide 10 is moved to the supporting supporting position and the rotational force in the direction in which the recording sheet is taken in from the reversing discharge port 8 is not transmitted. It may be. Further, by connecting a torque limiter to the motor, the power of the motor may not be transmitted to the reversing guide 10 any more when the reversing guide 10 is in a posture to support the recording paper.

(2) In the above embodiment, the reversing guide 10 may function as a full load detection sensor. Specifically, the reversing guide 10 is supported by the movable shaft 10a so that its posture can be freely changed. In the retracted posture, the reversing guide 10 contacts the recording paper on the paper discharge tray 6 and is based on the posture at that time. Then, it may function as a sensor for detecting the amount of recording paper loaded on the paper discharge tray 6.

(3) In the above embodiment, the reversing guide 10 may function as a trailing edge presser of the recording paper on the paper discharge tray 6. Specifically, the actuator 11 records the reversing guide 10 on the paper ejection tray 6 when taking the recording paper from the reversing paper ejection port 8 and driving the branch guide 3 so as to face the image forming means. By adopting the posture as a paper rear end press, the reversing guide 10 can function as the rear end press.

  A: MFP, 1 fixing roller, 2 conveyance roller, 3 branch guide, 4 discharge roller, 5 discharge port, 6 discharge tray, 7 reverse roller, 8 reverse discharge port , 9: Link mechanism (driving means), 10: Reversing guide, 11: Actuator (driving means), 12: Photosensitive drum, L1: Paper discharge path, L2: Reversing path, L3: Back surface image forming path

Claims (5)

An image forming unit that forms an image on one side of the recording paper, a paper discharge tray that receives the recording paper on which image formation has been completed, and a recording paper that is disposed above the paper discharge tray and that is image-formed on one side is reversed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a reversing discharge port through which a part of the paper is discharged; and a reversing guide that is disposed above the discharge tray and supports the recording paper discharged from the reversing discharge port. Because
Conveying means for performing operations relating to conveyance of recording paper;
Driving means for driving the conveying means and changing the posture of the reversing guide,
In the case of reverse discharge that drives the conveying means so as to discharge the recording paper to the reverse discharge port, the driving means supports the reverse guide in response to the drive. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the reversing guide is set in a retracted position not supporting the recording paper in conjunction with the driving, except when moving to the reverse and discharging in reverse. The transport unit includes a branch guide that switches a transport destination of the recording paper on which the image is formed to the paper discharge tray or the reversal paper discharge port.
When driving the branch guide to a position where the recording paper conveyance destination is switched to the reversing paper discharge port, the driving means sets the reversing guide to a support posture for supporting the recording paper in conjunction with the driving. When the branch guide is driven to a position where the recording paper transport destination is switched to the paper discharge tray, the reversing guide is set to a retracted position not supporting the recording paper in conjunction with the driving. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The conveying means conveys the recording paper so that a part of the recording paper is discharged from the reversing discharge port, and conveys the recording paper partially discharged from the reversing discharge port. Including reversing rollers,
When the driving unit drives the reversing roller so that a part of the recording paper is discharged from the reversing paper discharge port, the driving unit supports the reversing guide in association with the driving. When the reversing roller is driven so as to take in the recording paper partially discharged from the reversing paper discharge port, the reversing posture in which the reversing guide does not support the recording paper in conjunction with the driving. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The reversing guide is supported so that its posture can be freely changed. In the retracted posture, the reversing guide is in contact with the recording paper on the paper discharge tray, so that the recording on the paper discharge tray is performed based on the posture at that time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus functions as a sensor that detects a paper stacking amount. The drive means takes the reversing guide after the recording paper on the paper discharge tray when taking the recording paper from the reversing paper discharge port and driving the conveying component so as to face the image forming means. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus has an attitude as an end presser.

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