JP2014084187A - Containment device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a containment device or the like that can contain sheets while being made to fall in a relatively narrow area, even if there are a plurality of auxiliary containers capable of secondarily supporting a portion of sheets contained while being stacked on a loading surface in a partial area of the loading surface.SOLUTION: A containment device includes: a containing body having a loading surface for containing the sheets discharged from a sheet discharge port while being dropped and stacked; and a plurality of containing auxiliary bodies turnably attached at each position spaced apart in a direction of discharging the sheets, respectively, by using an axis with one end extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a discharge direction as a supporting point, in a partial area of the loading surface of the containing body, and held by switching between a risen state and a fallen state with respect to the loading surface by the turning and also capable of secondarily supporting a portion of the sheets contained on the loading surface. The plurality of containing auxiliary bodies are configured such that at least the containing auxiliary bodies adjacent to each other are held while being overlapped in at least a portion thereof in the direction of discharging the sheets when being brought into the fallen state.

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage device and an image forming apparatus.

  For example, the following is known as an accommodation apparatus that accommodates sheets discharged after being subjected to processing such as image formation.

That is, an extension member is provided with a variable installation angle on a discharge tray that accommodates a sheet (recording material: paper) that is discharged after an image is formed in the image forming apparatus, and a support member that supports the extension member is provided. This is a paper discharge stacking device (Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1 shows that according to this paper discharge stacking device, the operability is good, the stackability of discharged sheets is good, the sheets can be prevented from falling and a large number of sheets can be stacked. ing.

In the paper discharge tray having a first tray surface that is inclined upward in the paper discharge direction and a substantially horizontal second tray surface that is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the first tray surface in the paper discharge direction. A slope forming portion that is rotatably supported in the vicinity of the boundary between the surface and the second tray surface, and a support portion having one end pivotally connected to a rotation side end of the slope forming portion. A first position in which the forming portion and the support portion extend horizontally and are received in a receiving portion that is recessed in the second tray surface, and a slope by locking the support portion at a predetermined position on the second tray surface. The paper discharge tray is provided with a slope extending member that is selectively disposed at a second position where the forming portion and the support portion are bent in a mountain shape and extend on the first tray surface in the paper discharge direction (Patent Document 2).
According to Patent Document 2, according to this paper discharge tray, a paper discharge tray capable of correctly stacking discharged paper at an appropriate position regardless of the paper size can be realized with a simple configuration. It is shown that since the slope forming member is supported by the support portion, the durability of the slope forming portion against the load of the paper is improved.

JP 04-85260 A JP 2007-246281 A

  In the present invention, despite the fact that there are a plurality of auxiliary storage bodies that can support a part of the paper stored in a stacked state on the stacking surface in a partial area of the stacking surface, the sheet is folded in a relatively narrow area. It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage device that can be stored in such a state, and an image forming apparatus including the storage device.

The storage device of this invention (A1)
A storage body having a stacking surface for storing the paper discharged from the paper discharge port in a state of being dropped and stacked;
One end of each of the stacking surfaces of the housing main body is pivotally attached at each position spaced in the paper discharge direction with a shaft extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the discharge direction as a fulcrum. A plurality of storage aids that can be switched and held between the raised state and the fallen state with respect to the stacking surface and can support a part of the sheets stored on the stacking surface.
The plurality of storage aids are configured such that, when in the collapsed state, at least a part of the storage aids adjacent to each other in the paper discharge direction is held in a superposed state. To do.

The storage device of the invention (A2) is the storage device of the invention A1,
The plurality of storage aids rise as a result of the remaining storage aids turning in conjunction with the turning operation of the single storage aid in the raised state or the collapsed state. It has an interlocking mechanism that can be brought into a tilted or fallen state.

The storage device of the invention (A3) is the storage device of the invention A1 or A2,
A partial region of the loading surface of the housing main body is configured as a hollow-shaped structure portion having a space in which the plurality of housing auxiliary bodies can be housed when the housing body is in the collapsed state.

The storage device of the invention (A4) is the storage device of the invention A2,
The interlocking mechanism contacts the holding auxiliary bodies adjacent to each other in the paper discharge direction to the plurality of holding auxiliary bodies to transmit a rotational movement, and at least holds the state when the rising state is reached. A part is provided.

The storage device of the invention (A5) is the storage device of the invention A2 or A4,
The interlocking mechanism is configured such that the one auxiliary storage body is disposed at a position that is the most downstream side in the paper discharge direction, and the shaft is a fulcrum at a portion that is the downstream side in the paper discharge direction in the collapsed state. As a first storage auxiliary body attached to be used by rotating to an angle exceeding 90 °,
The fall state of the second accommodation auxiliary body arranged at the first position on the upstream side in the paper discharge direction at a position below the shaft when the first accommodation auxiliary body is in the collapsed state. In this case, a first contact holding portion is provided to contact a portion that is lower and transmit a rotational motion and hold at least the state when the raised state is reached.

  The storage device according to the present invention (A6) is the storage device according to any one of the inventions A1 to A5, wherein the plurality of storage auxiliary bodies are at a highest position relative to the loading surface when the storage auxiliary body is in the raised state. The highest portion is located so as to be relatively higher as it becomes a storage auxiliary body disposed downstream in the paper discharge direction.

The storage device according to the present invention (A7) is the storage device according to any one of the inventions A1 to A6, wherein the stacking surface of the storage main body is located on the upstream side in the paper discharge direction and below the paper discharge port in the gravity direction. A slope portion formed in a rising slope from the position toward the downstream side in the paper discharge direction, and a horizontal plane portion formed in a state extending substantially horizontally from the upper end of the slope portion to the downstream side in the paper discharge direction And consists of
The plurality of storage auxiliary bodies are attached to a partial region of the horizontal surface portion of the stacking surface.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention (B1) is characterized by including any one of the above-described storage devices according to the present invention A1 to A7.

  According to the storage device of the invention A1, although there are a plurality of auxiliary storage bodies that can support a part of the paper stored in a stacked state on the stacking surface in a partial area of the stacking surface, It can be accommodated in a tilted state within a narrow area.

  In the storage device of the invention A2, the plurality of auxiliary storage bodies can be easily raised and fallen down by a rotation operation of one auxiliary storage body, compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided. Can do.

  In the storage device of the invention A3, it is possible to orderly accommodate a plurality of auxiliary storage bodies in a collapsed state in one depression-shaped structure portion as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided.

  In the storage device of the invention A4, the interlocking mechanism in the plurality of auxiliary storage bodies can be made simpler than in the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided.

  In the storage device of the invention A5, the interlocking mechanism in the plurality of auxiliary storage bodies can be made simple and excellent in operability as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided.

  In the storage device of the invention A6, compared to the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided, the sheet in which the highest portion is discharged as the storage auxiliary body is disposed on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction among the plurality of auxiliary storage bodies. It can be made to function as a part which stops the tip part.

  In the storage device according to the invention A7, compared to the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided, the storage auxiliary body arranged on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction among the plurality of auxiliary storage bodies is disposed at the front end in the discharge direction of the discharged paper. It can function as a member that supports and stops the portion.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the invention B1, in the storage device, there are a plurality of auxiliary storage bodies that can support a part of the paper stored in a stacked state on the stacking surface in a partial region of the stacking surface. Nevertheless, it can be accommodated in a relatively narrow area, and it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the accommodation apparatus and thus the image forming apparatus provided with the accommodation apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance (an appearance when two auxiliary trays are brought into a collapsed state) of an image forming apparatus including the storage device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance (an appearance when two auxiliary trays are raised) of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of a storage device in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 and the like. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a part of structure of the accommodating apparatus of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a part of other structure of the accommodating apparatus of FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state when a plurality of auxiliary trays of the storage device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where two auxiliary trays of the storage device of FIG. 4 are raised. It is a partial cross section figure which shows the operation | movement process when making the state which raised two auxiliary trays of the accommodating apparatus. It is a partial cross section figure which shows the next operation | movement process when making the state which raised two auxiliary trays of the accommodating apparatus. It is a partial cross section figure which shows the further next operation | movement process when making the state which raised two auxiliary trays of the accommodating apparatus. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing still another next operation process when two auxiliary trays of the storage device are raised. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state in which sheets are stacked and stored in a storage device when two auxiliary trays are raised. It is an enlarged explanatory view showing a part of the configuration of the interlocking mechanism of two auxiliary trays. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory diagram illustrating a storage device as a comparative example for comparison with the storage device according to the first embodiment and a state example when the storage device stores paper. It is a partial cross section explanatory view which shows the state (state when three auxiliary trays are made to fall down) of the principal part of the accommodation device concerning Embodiment 2. FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state when three auxiliary trays are raised in the storage device of FIG. 16. FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view showing the configuration of three auxiliary trays and their interlocking mechanism in the storage device of FIG. 16. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state in which sheets are stacked and stored in a storage device when three auxiliary trays are raised.

[Embodiment 1]
1 to 4 show an image forming apparatus provided with a storage device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the image forming apparatus when the two auxiliary trays in the storage apparatus are brought down, and FIG. 2 shows the image forming apparatus when the two auxiliary trays in the storage apparatus are raised. FIG. 3 shows an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 4 shows an enlarged appearance of the storage device when the auxiliary tray is raised.

<Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a housing 10 made of a support structure material, an exterior material, or the like. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 10 has a substantially box-like appearance as a whole, and a required space is formed inside. Further, the housing 10 is formed with a housing body 50 of the housing device 5 for housing the recording paper 19 discharged after the image is formed on the upper surface portion 10a. A stacking surface 51 is formed in the storage main body 50 for storing the recording sheets 19 to be discharged in a stacked state. Further, a paper discharge port 13 for discharging the recording paper 19 toward the stacking surface 51 is formed in a portion of the housing main body 50 near the stacking surface 51. Details of the storage device 5 will be described later.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is configured as a printer. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 1 as a printer forms a toner image composed of toner as a developer in an internal space of a housing 10 and forms a recording sheet as an example of a recording material. The image forming unit 2 to be transferred to the image forming unit 19, the recording paper 19 to be supplied to the image forming unit 2, and the paper feeding device 3 that conveys the image forming unit 2. A device 4 or the like is installed.

  The image forming unit 2 is configured using, for example, a known electrophotographic system, and includes a photosensitive drum 21 that is rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow A (a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3), and a photosensitive drum 21. A charging device 22 for charging the outer peripheral surface, which is an image forming region, to a required potential, and an electrostatic latent image having a potential difference by irradiating the outer peripheral surface of the charged photosensitive drum 21 with light based on required image information (signal). An exposure device 23 that forms an image, a developing device 24 that develops the electrostatic latent image with toner into a toner image, a transfer device 25 that transfers the toner image from the photosensitive drum 21 to the recording paper 19, and a post-transfer And a cleaning device 26 that removes toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 and cleans it.

  The photosensitive drum 21 is obtained by laminating a required layer such as a photosensitive layer on a grounded cylindrical or columnar conductive base material, and rotates by receiving rotational power from a driving device (not shown). Yes. As the charging device 22, for example, a contact type device such as a charging roll that rotates in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is applied, and a required charging voltage is supplied to the charging roll from a power supply unit (not shown). It has become so. As the exposure device 23, for example, an LED array configured by using a light emitting diode, an optical component, or the like is applied. The exposure device 23 is configured to operate after image information input from the outside to the image forming apparatus 1 is subjected to necessary image processing and the like.

  As the developing device 24, a developing device using a two-component developer including toner and carrier particles is applied. Further, the developing device 24 passes a member that drives the two-component developer to stir and convey the two-component developer in a container body that accommodates the two-component developer, or a developing area that faces the photosensitive drum 21. A developing roll or the like to be conveyed is disposed. The developer (mainly toner) is supplied from the developer storage container 27 to the developing device 24 via the supply device 28. As the transfer device 25, for example, a contact type device such as a transfer roll that rotates in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is applied, and a required transfer voltage is supplied to the transfer roll from a power supply unit (not shown). It has become so. The cleaning device 26 includes a cleaning plate 26a that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 and scrapes and removes residual toner, a container 26b that stores the removed residual toner, and the like. .

  The sheet feeding device 3 accommodates a plurality of recording sheets 19 of a required size and type used for forming an image in a stacked state, and a sheet accommodating body 31 such as a tray type or a cassette type, and the sheet accommodating And a delivery device 32 that sends out the sheets 19 stored in the body 31 one by one toward the conveyance path. The paper container 31 is detachably attached by sliding, for example, with respect to the housing 10 and is configured to be able to replenish the recording paper 19. The delivery device 32 is configured by, for example, a paper delivery roll, a paper stopping pad, and the like. The paper feeding device 3 is configured to feed the required recording paper 19 stored in the paper container 31 one by one by the sending device 32 when the paper feeding time comes.

  The fixing device 4 is held in a casing (not shown) in which an introduction port and a discharge port through which the recording paper 19 passes are formed by being heated to a required temperature by a heating unit and rotated in a required direction. A heating rotator 41 such as a driven roll form or a belt form, and a pressurizing rotator 42 such as a roll form or a belt form that are driven to rotate in contact with a required pressure so as to be substantially along the axial direction of the heating rotator 41. And are arranged. The fixing device 4 introduces and passes the recording paper 19 after the toner image has been transferred to a contact portion (fixing processing portion) formed by contact between the heating rotator 41 and the pressure rotator 42. By doing so, a fixing process (heating and pressing) is performed.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the sheet is fed from the sheet feeding device 3 to a portion between the sheet feeding device 3 of the housing 10 and the transfer position of the image forming unit 2 (between the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer device 25). A paper feed path 33 is provided for transporting the recording paper 19 toward the transfer position. The paper feed path 33 is formed by a paper transport guide material, a pair of paper transport rolls 34a, 34b, and the like. The pair of paper transporting rolls 34 b is configured as a roll that adjusts the timing for feeding the recording paper 19 to the transfer position of the image forming unit 2.

  Further, intermediate conveyance for conveying the recording sheet 19 after transfer sent from the image forming unit 2 toward the fixing device 4 between the fixing device 4 of the housing 10 and the transfer position of the image forming unit 2. A path 43 is provided. In addition, in a portion between the fixing device 4 of the housing 10 and the paper discharge port 13 of the transport housing 10, the discharge is performed by transporting the recording sheet 19 after being sent out from the fixing device 4 toward the discharge port 13. A path 44 is provided. The discharge path 44 is configured by arranging a sheet conveyance guide material, a sheet discharge roll pair 45, and the like. Further, in a portion between the discharge path 44 and the paper feed path 33 of the housing 10, the recording paper 19 on which one side is formed and discharged through the discharge path 44 is in a state where the front and back surfaces are reversed. A reverse retransmission path 46 for retransmitting to the paper feed path 33 is provided. The reverse retransmission path 46 is configured by arranging a sheet conveyance guide material, a conveyance destination switching claw, a sheet conveyance roll pair 47, and the like.

<Basic operation of image forming apparatus>
Image formation by the image forming apparatus 1 is performed as follows.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, when an image forming operation start command is received, the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 that starts rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the image forming unit 2 is charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging device 22. After that, the exposure device 23 performs exposure based on image information on the charged outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 to form an electrostatic latent image having a required potential. Subsequently, when the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 passes through the developing device 24, it is developed with toner charged to a required polarity supplied from the developing device 24 (developing roll thereof). As a result, the toner image is visualized.

  Next, when the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 is conveyed to the transfer position facing the transfer device 25 by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 21, the toner image is transferred from the paper feeding device 3 through the conveyance path 33 in accordance with the image forming timing. It is electrostatically transferred by the transfer device 25 to the supplied recording paper 19. The outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 after the transfer is cleaned by a cleaning device 26.

  Subsequently, the recording paper 19 onto which the toner image has been transferred in the image forming unit 2 is transported so as to be introduced into the fixing device 4 through the intermediate paper feed path 43 after being peeled off from the photosensitive drum 21 and heated in the fixing device 4. When passing through the contact portion between the rotator 41 and the pressure rotator 42, it is heated under pressure, whereby the toner image is melted and fixed on the recording paper 19. In the case of the image forming operation on one side, the recording paper 19 after the fixing is completed is discharged from the discharge port 13 of the housing 10 through the discharge path 44 after being discharged from the fixing device 4 and finally. It is dropped and accommodated on the loading surface 51 of the accommodation body 50 of the accommodation device 5.

  In this way, a single color image composed of one color toner is formed on one side of one sheet of recording paper 19, and the basic image forming operation is completed. When there is an instruction for a plurality of image forming operations, the above-described series of operations are similarly repeated for the number of sheets. Further, the recording sheets 19 continuously discharged from the sheet discharge port 13 are stored in a state of being sequentially stacked on the stacking surface 51.

<Constitution of accommodation device>
Next, the storage device 5 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 to 8, and the like, the storage device 5 includes a storage main body 50 in which a stacking surface 51 that also serves as a part of the housing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 is formed, and the storage thereof. One end of each of the stacking surfaces 51 of the main body 50 is pivotally attached to each of the positions 52 spaced apart from each other in the paper discharge direction B. As a result of the rotation, the one ends up with respect to the stacking surface 51. Two assists that can be switched between the state (FIGS. 2, 4, and 8) and the collapsed state (FIGS. 1 and 7) and can support a part of the sheet 19 accommodated on the stacking surface 51. Trays 61 and 62 are provided.

  The stacking surface 51 of the storage main body 50 is formed on the upstream side in the paper discharge direction B from the position below the paper discharge port 13 in the gravity direction G toward the downstream side in the paper discharge direction B with a rising gradient. 51A, and a horizontal plane portion 51B formed in a state extending substantially horizontally from the upper end of the slope portion 51A to the downstream side in the paper discharge direction B.

  The horizontal surface portion 51B of the stacking surface 51 in the first embodiment is formed in such a relationship that the height of the surface is the same height as the paper discharge port 13 (upper side portion) or slightly higher than that. ing. In addition, a partial region 52 is formed in the horizontal surface portion 51B for attaching and accommodating two auxiliary trays 61 and 62. The partial region 52 is a region having a substantially rectangular planar contour shape, and is a region having a length from the center to the downstream end in the sheet discharge direction B in the sheet discharge direction B of the horizontal plane portion 51B. In the direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction B, the width is present in the center. In addition, the position of the partial area 52 is set, for example, based on the position where the leading edge of the sheet 19 to be discharged is present when the discharging is completed when the leading edge of the sheet 19 is present in the horizontal surface portion 51B.

  The two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 are arranged such that the first auxiliary tray 61 is rotatably arranged at a position downstream of the partial sheet 52 in the sheet discharge direction B in the partial area 52 of the stacking surface 51. Of these, the second auxiliary tray 62 is rotatably arranged at a position upstream of the paper discharge direction B.

  The first auxiliary tray 61 has a plate-like main body portion 61a and a pair of side plate portions 61b and 61c that rise substantially vertically on the left and right side portions with respect to the paper unloading direction B on one end side of the main body portion 61. It is a structure composed of The main body 61 a has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and has a shape (slightly smaller) having the same width as the planar contour shape of the partial region 52 of the stacking surface 51. The main body portion 61a is provided with column-shaped rotation shafts 61d and 61e that protrude toward the outside of the side plate portions 61b and 61c at the end portions on the side where the pair of side plate portions 61b and 61c exist. Yes. The main body 61a is formed with a notch 61f for inserting a user's finger when the first auxiliary tray 61 is raised at the end on the side where the pair of side plates 61b and 61c are present. Yes. The pair of side plate portions 61b and 61c are substantially triangular in appearance, and a columnar shape as a part of the interlocking mechanism 7 protruding toward the inside of the side plate portions 61b and 61c at the top of the triangle shape. Contact holding portions 71a and 71b are provided.

  The second auxiliary tray 62 has a main body portion 62a having a substantially H-shaped planar shape, and a pair that rises substantially vertically at the side portions on the left and right sides with respect to the paper carry-out direction B at one end portion of the main body portion 62a. Is a structure composed of the rising legs 62b and 62c. The main body 62 a has a planar shape that is slightly shorter than the planar shape of the main body 61 a of the first auxiliary tray 61 in the paper discharge direction B and the direction perpendicular thereto. The main body portion 62a is provided with columnar rotating shafts 62d and 62e protruding toward the outer side at left and right end portions opposite to the end portions where the rising leg portions 62b and 62c exist. The pair of rising leg portions 62b and 62c are linked to the contact holding portions 61g and 61h of the first auxiliary tray 61 and rotate the second auxiliary tray 62 to guide it to a rising state. A curved guide surface portion 72 is formed as a part thereof. The guide surface portion 72 starts from the left and right sides of the main body portion 62a, and is guided to the top of the rising legs 62b and 62c. It comprises a concave holding surface 72b that finally stops and holds the contact holding portions 71a, 71b of the auxiliary tray 61.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 and the like, the partial region 52 on the stacking surface 51 of the storage main body 50 is a recess having a space in which the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 can be stored in a collapsed state. It is configured as a structural part 53 having a shape. The recess-shaped structure 53 has a shallowest first recess 53a from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper discharge direction B, and the next deepest recess, and the recess gradually deepens toward the downstream side. It has the form which has three hollow parts, the 2nd hollow part 53b which inclines, and the 3rd hollow part 53c which consists of a semi-cylindrical curved surface where a hollow becomes deepest.

  A hole-like shape in which the rotation shafts 62d and 62e of the second auxiliary tray 62 are attached to the upstream end portions on the left and right sides of the second recess portion 53b with respect to the paper discharge direction B of the second recess portion 53b. A bearing portion 54 is provided. In addition, hole-shaped bearing portions 55 to which the rotation shafts 61d and 61e of the first auxiliary tray 61 are attached are provided at the downstream end portions on the left and right sides with respect to the sheet discharge direction B of the third recess portion 53c. ing. The third recess 53c is provided with a semi-disc-shaped partition wall 53d for preventing displacement and disengagement of the first auxiliary tray 61 during rotation of the cutout portion 61f of the first auxiliary tray 61. It is provided in a state of being present inside each.

  The attachment work of the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 is performed in the following order, for example. First, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second auxiliary tray 62 is fixed on one end side so that the rising legs 62 b and 62 c face the partial area 52 of the stacking surface 51. The shafts 62d and 62e are attached by being fitted into the bearing portion 54 in the second recessed portion 53b in the partial region 52 of the stacking surface 51. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the first auxiliary tray 61 is in a state where the pair of side plate portions 61 b and 61 c face the partial region 52 of the stacking surface 51 and the second auxiliary tray 62. Thus, the fixed shafts 61 d and 61 e on one end side thereof are rotatably attached by being fitted into the bearing portion 55 in the third recess portion 53 c in the partial region 52 of the stacking surface 51. This order of attachment may be the order in which the first auxiliary tray 61 is attached first and then the second auxiliary tray 62 is attached.

  As a result, the first auxiliary tray 61 has fixed shafts 61d and 61e at positions close to the downstream end in the paper discharge direction B in the partial area 52 of the stacking surface 51, as shown in FIGS. Is rotated in the direction indicated by arrows C1 and C2 with fulcrum as a fulcrum. The second auxiliary tray 62 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrows D1 and D2 with the fixed shafts 62d and 62e as fulcrums at a position near the upstream end in the paper discharge direction B in the partial area 52 of the stacking surface 51. To come.

  In the storage device 5, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, when the two auxiliary trays 61, 62 are brought down, the two auxiliary trays 61, 62 adjacent in the paper discharge direction B are adjacent to each other. The elements are configured to be held in a state where at least a part thereof is overlapped. The two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 in the first embodiment are held in a state in which a part of the first auxiliary tray 61 is overlapped with the entire surface of the second auxiliary tray 62 when the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 are in the collapsed state. It has become. A symbol M in FIG. 7 indicates a portion (range) in which the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 in a collapsed state are overlapped in the paper discharge direction B. Thereby, in the accommodating apparatus 5, although there are a plurality of auxiliary trays, the auxiliary trays 61 and 62 can be accommodated in a tilted state in a relatively narrow area as compared with the case where the above configuration is not adopted. it can.

  Here, the state in which the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 are tilted with respect to the stacking surface 51 is the following state.

  In other words, as shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the second auxiliary tray 62 is to keep at least the surface portion of the main body 62a in a posture that is substantially parallel to the stacking surface 51. In the second auxiliary tray 62 in the first embodiment, the pair of rising legs 62b and 62c are further directed downward in the direction of gravity so as to face the recessed structure portion 53 (actually the third recessed portion 53a). It includes making it into a state. For example, the second auxiliary tray 62 in the collapsed state is held in a stopped state when the main body 62a contacts a part of the second recess 53b.

  As for the first auxiliary tray 61, as shown in FIG. 7 and the like, at least the surface portion of the main body portion 62a is maintained in a posture that is substantially parallel to the stacking surface 51. In the first auxiliary tray 61 according to the first embodiment, the pair of side plate portions 61b and 61c are further recessed in the outer side of the left and right side ends of the second auxiliary tray 62 (actually the third recessed portion 53a). And a state in which the main body portion 62a is covered with the upper portion of the main body portion 62a of the second auxiliary tray 62. For example, the first auxiliary tray 61 in the collapsed state is held in a stopped state when the free front end 61aa of the main body 61a contacts a part of the first recess 53a.

  Further, in the storage device 5, when the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 are brought into the collapsed state, as shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 overlap each other as described above. In addition to being held in the combined state, the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 are collectively accommodated (stored) in the space of the single recess-shaped structure portion 53 formed in the partial region 52 of the stacking surface 51. .

  Specifically, after the second auxiliary tray 62 is accommodated in the depression-shaped structure portion 53 in the state of being tilted first, the first auxiliary tray 62 overlaps with the second auxiliary tray 62 in the first state. An auxiliary tray 61 is accommodated. Thereby, when the state at this time is observed from the outside of the containing main body 50, the first auxiliary tray 61 (the main body portion 61 a) has a hollow shape in a partial region 52 on the stacking surface 51 as shown in FIG. The structure portion 53 is covered and a loading surface substantially continuous with the loading surface 51 is formed. Further, at this time, the second auxiliary tray 62 is accommodated and covered under the first auxiliary tray 61 (the main body portion 61a), so that it cannot be seen from the outside.

  On the other hand, the state in which the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 are raised with respect to the stacking surface 51 is the following state.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the first auxiliary tray 61 is rotated at least in the direction of the arrow C1 with the rotation shafts 61d and 61e as fulcrums, so that the main body 62a is moved in the paper discharge direction B. It is to keep the posture in an upward gradient state toward the downstream side. In the first auxiliary tray 61 in the first embodiment, the pair of side plate portions 61b and 61c are in a state in which the contact holding portions 71a and 71b are positioned at least on the upper side in the gravitational direction than the rotation shafts 61d and 61e. Including keeping. The first auxiliary tray 61 when it is raised is, for example, a part of the main body portion 61a downstream of the sheet-shaped direction B of the recess-shaped structure portion 53 (third recess portion 53c). It is held in a stopped state by contacting the protruding portion 53e formed to protrude from the end portion (FIG. 8).

  As for the second auxiliary tray 62, as shown in FIG. 8 and the like, at least the rotation shafts 62d and 62e are rotated in the direction of the arrow D1 with the rotation shafts 62d and 62e as fulcrums. It is to keep the posture to become a state of rising slope toward the. The second auxiliary tray 62 according to the first embodiment has a pair of first auxiliary trays 61 that are in the raised state on the holding surface portions 72b of the guide surface portion 72 of the pair of rising legs 62b and 62c. When the contact holding portions 71a and 71b in the side plate portions 61b and 61c are fitted, the holding surface portion 72b is supported from below by the contact holding portions 71a and 71b, and the second auxiliary tray 62 is raised. Kept in a state. For example, the second auxiliary tray 62 in the raised state is the first auxiliary tray 61 in the raised state on the holding surface portion 72b of the guide surface portion 72 in the rising legs 62b and 62c. The contact holding portions 71a and 71b of the pair of side plate portions 61b and 61c are fitted and supported to be held in a stopped state.

  Further, in the storage device 5, when the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 are raised, the horizontal portion 51B of the stacking surface 51 of each auxiliary tray 61 and 62 is shown in FIG. The highest portions 61k and 62k at the highest position are configured to be relatively higher as the auxiliary tray (first auxiliary tray 61) disposed on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction B is reached. A two-dot chain line H in FIG. 8 indicates a line extending in the horizontal direction at the position of the highest portion 62k of the second auxiliary tray 62. Further, in the first auxiliary tray 61 in the second embodiment, one oblique side portion 61cx of the substantially triangular pair of side plate portions 61b and 61c is stopped and held in a state substantially parallel to the horizontal surface portion 51B of the stacking surface 51. In this state, the oblique side portion 61cx functions as a portion that supports a part of the discharged paper 19.

  Further, in the storage device 5, the remaining second auxiliary tray 62 is rotated in conjunction with the rotation operation when the first auxiliary tray 61 is raised or falls. It has an interlocking mechanism 7 that can be raised or fallen.

  The interlocking mechanism 7 in the first embodiment is configured as follows. First, when one of the first auxiliary trays 61 is disposed at a position that is the most downstream side in the paper discharge direction B in the partial area 52 of the stacking surface 51 as shown in FIG. At one end on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction B, the rotary shafts 61d and 61e are pivoted to an angle θ1 (> 90 °) exceeding 90 ° for use. Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 to 12, the first auxiliary tray 61 exists below the rotation shafts 61 d and 61 e when the first auxiliary tray 61 is in the collapsed state. When the second auxiliary tray 62 arranged at the first position upstream of the first auxiliary tray 61 in the paper discharge direction B is tilted at the top of each of the side plate portions 61b and 61c to be lowered, The body portion 62a and the lower leg portions 62b and 62c of the rising leg portions 62b and 62c (guide surface portion 72) are contacted to transmit the rotational motion and at least keep the state when it gets up. The contact holding portions 71a and 71b described above are provided.

  Hereinafter, the operation when the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 including the interlocking mechanism 7 are raised (from the collapsed state) will be described.

  First, the first auxiliary tray 61 (FIGS. 1 and 7) that is in a collapsed state is raised with the pivot shafts 61d and 61e existing on the downstream side in the paper transport direction B as fulcrums. It is rotated in the direction of arrow C1, which is also the direction. The rotation operation of the first auxiliary tray 61 at this time is performed by inserting the user's hand of the image forming apparatus 1 from the cutout portion 61f (FIG. 1 or FIG. 4) of the first auxiliary tray 61. This is performed by moving the first auxiliary tray 61 (the main body portion 61a) so that the first auxiliary tray 61 (the main body portion 61a) is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow C1 while touching a part of the lower side surface of the main body portion 61a. .

  By this turning operation, as shown in FIG. 9, the first auxiliary tray 61 has a portion on the free end side of the main body 61a opposite to the end where the turning shafts 61d and 61e are located. 51 in a state where it has escaped from the hollow-shaped structure portion 53 (the first hollow portion 53a, the second hollow portion 53c, etc.) in the partial region 52 and protruded above the loading surface 51 (the horizontal surface portion 51B). Become. Further, the pair of side plate portions 61b and 61c move upward while rotating in the third recess portion 53c of the recess-shaped structure portion 53, and a part thereof (part on the one oblique side portion 61cx side) is the third. It will be in the state which escaped from the inside of the hollow part 53c and protruded above the horizontal surface part 51B of the loading surface 51. FIG.

  When the first auxiliary tray 61 is rotated by a predetermined angle θa in the direction of the arrow C1, the contact holding portions 71a and 71b, which are part of the interlocking mechanism 7 at the top of the side plate portions 61b and 61c, fall down. After coming close to the guide surface portion 72 (starting end portion of the guide curved surface portion 72a) which is a part of the interlocking mechanism 7 in the lower portion of the second auxiliary tray 62 in the state of contact.

  Further, by rotating the first auxiliary tray 61 further in the direction of the arrow C1 from the predetermined angle θa, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the contact holding portions 71a and 71b are rotated by the rotation shafts 61d and 61e. The contact holding portions 71a and 71b move upward while drawing and supporting the guide curved surface portion 72a of the guide surface portion 72 of the second auxiliary tray 62. As a result, the second auxiliary tray 62 starts moving so as to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow D1 with the rotation shafts 62d and 62e as fulcrums.

  At this time, when the first auxiliary tray 61 is rotated from the collapsed state to an angle exceeding 90 °, the main body portion 61a (the lower side surface) rises toward the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction B. It becomes the posture which formed the slope. On the other hand, the second auxiliary tray 62 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow D1 in conjunction with the rotation operation for setting the first auxiliary tray 61 to the rising state. The leg portions 62b and 62c gradually escape from the hollow-shaped structure portion 53 and protrude above the horizontal surface portion 51B of the loading surface 51. Further, the main body 62a of the second auxiliary tray 62 has a posture in which an inclined surface having an upward slope toward the downstream side in the paper transport direction B is formed.

  Thereafter, when the first auxiliary tray 61 is finally rotated in the direction of the arrow C1 to a predetermined angle θb (> θa), as shown in FIG. 12, the contact holding portions on the side plate portions 61b and 61c. 71a and 71b reach the end portion 72ae of the guide curved surface portion 72a of the guide surface portion 72 in the second auxiliary tray 62.

  When the first auxiliary tray 61 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow C1 so as to exceed the predetermined angle θb from that state and is rotated to a state where the angle θ1 is reached, the contact holding portions 71a, 71b enters and is held (stopped) in the holding surface portion 72b of the recessed shape of the guide surface portion 72 in the second auxiliary tray 62.

  At this stage, the first auxiliary tray 61 and the second auxiliary tray 62 are raised as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG.

  As described above, in the storage device 5, the first auxiliary tray 61 is rotated in the direction in which the first auxiliary tray 61 is raised (direction indicated by the arrow C <b> 1), thereby interlocking with the rotation operation. Thus, the second auxiliary tray 62 can also be rotated in the direction in which the second auxiliary tray 62 rises (direction of the arrow D1), and finally both the first auxiliary tray 61 and the second auxiliary tray 62 are raised. It can be in the state. Incidentally, in principle, the storage device 5 is used after raising the first auxiliary tray 61 and the second auxiliary tray 62 when it is necessary to store the discharged recording paper 19. Further, the storage device 5 is a sheet having a short length (length in the discharge direction B) such that the recording sheet 19 to be discharged does not get on either the first auxiliary tray 61 or the second auxiliary tray 62. If it is apparent that the first auxiliary tray 61 and the second auxiliary tray 62 are tilted, it can be used.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of a state in which the sheet 19 is stored after the first auxiliary tray 61 and the second auxiliary tray 62 are raised in the storage device 5.

  In the storage device 5, the sheet 19 to be stored includes, for example, a front side portion 19 a that is downstream in the sheet discharge direction B of the sheet 10 in addition to the inclined surface portion 51 A of the stacking surface 51 and also to the horizontal surface portion 51 B. In the case of a size that exists, the leading portion 19b of the front side portion 19a of the paper 10 is accommodated, for example, supported by the highest portion 62k of the second auxiliary tray 62. At this time, the rear portion 19 c that is upstream in the discharge direction B of the paper 10 is accommodated in a state of being stacked on the inclined surface 51 A of the stacking surface 51.

  Accordingly, the sheet 19 is accommodated in a state where the front side portion 19 is lifted to a position (up to a height) above the horizontal plane portion 51B of the stacking surface 51 by the second auxiliary tray 62. At least above the horizontal surface portion 51 of the loading surface 51, it is accommodated in a rising gradient posture close to the slope portion 51A. As a result, when the subsequent sheet 19 is stored in such a state and the subsequent sheet 19 is stacked on the sheet 19, the subsequent sheet 19 drops on the preceding sheet 19 stored first. After that, the front side portion 19a of the preceding sheet is sufficiently inclined, so that it slides in the direction in which the inclined surface 51B of the stacking surface 51 exists as shown by the two-dot chain line with arrows in FIG. The rear side portion 19c of the succeeding sheet is correctly present on the inclined surface portion 51A and is accommodated in an orderly manner.

  On the other hand, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 15, in the case of a storage device in which one auxiliary tray 60 is rotatably attached, there are the following problems. That is, even if the leading portion 19b of the paper 10 to be stored stacked on the stacking surface 51 of the storage device is stored in a state supported by a part of the auxiliary tray 60, restrictions on the installation location of the auxiliary tray 60, etc. Thus, when the leading portion 19b of the sheet 10 is stored in a state where it is not lifted to a sufficient height from the horizontal surface portion 51B of the stacking surface 51, the succeeding sheet 19 is stored on the previously stored sheet 19. At this time, the inclination of the front side portion 19a of the preceding sheet 19 becomes gentle, so that it is difficult to slide down in the direction in which the inclined surface portion 51B of the stacking surface 51 exists. As a result, the rear side portion 19c of the succeeding sheet does not exist correctly on the inclined surface 51A, and the entire sheet is accommodated in a state of being displaced with respect to the stacking surface 51.

  Further, in the storage device 5, for example, when the leading end 19 b of the sheet 19 is discharged in a state where it has passed the highest portion 62 k of the second auxiliary tray 62, it is disposed downstream of the sheet discharging direction B. As described above, the highest portion 61k of the first auxiliary tray 61 is relatively higher than the highest portion 62k of the second auxiliary tray 62, so that the leading portion 19b of the sheet 19 is the second auxiliary tray. It stops in the state which contacted a part of 62 main-body part 61a. As a result, the sheet 19 is prevented from dropping from the stacking surface 51. Further, even if the leading portion 19b of the sheet 19 hangs downward after passing through the highest portion 62k of the second auxiliary tray 62, the storage device 5 causes the leading portion 19b of the first auxiliary tray 61 to The side plate portion 61c can be accommodated while being supported by being placed on the oblique side portion 61x.

  Further, in this storage device 5, even when a large amount of sheets 19 are stacked and stored in the second auxiliary tray 62, the second auxiliary tray 62 is naturally rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow D2 by the load of the sheets 19. Thus, it is configured so that it does not occur to fall.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 14, in the storage device 5 of the first embodiment, the holding surface portion 72b of the guide surface portion that is a part of the interlocking mechanism 7 of the second auxiliary tray 62 is also free in the direction indicated by the arrow C2. It is configured to be shifted to the upstream side in the paper discharge direction B with respect to the gravity direction as a boundary from the rotation shafts 61d and 61e of the first auxiliary tray 61 that can rotate. Therefore, depending on the direction of the force F generated so that the holding surface portion 72b of the guide surface portion of the second auxiliary tray 62 pushes the contact holding portions 71a and 71b of the first auxiliary tray 61 downward due to the load of the sheet 19, This acts as a force for rotating the auxiliary tray 61 in the direction indicated by the arrow C2, and as a result, the second auxiliary tray 62 also rotates in the direction of the arrow D2 and falls. Therefore, in the storage device 5, the load is generated so that the contact holding portions 71 a and 71 b of the first auxiliary tray 61 are pushed downward from the holding surface portion 72 b of the guide surface portion of the second auxiliary tray 62 due to the load of the paper 10 to be stored. The direction of the force F to be applied is designed to be a direction located downstream of the rotation shafts 61 d and 61 e of the first auxiliary tray 61 in the paper discharge direction B.

  By designing in this way, the pressing force F can be obtained as shown in FIG. 14 by contacting the holding surface portion 72b of the guide surface portion of the second auxiliary tray 62 and the contact holding portions 71a and 71b of the first auxiliary tray 61. Of the first component force Fa directed along a line connecting P1 and the center P2 of the rotation shafts 61d, 61e of the first auxiliary tray 61, and the center P2 of the rotation shafts 61d, 61e and the force F from the contact point P1. It is decomposed into a second component force Fb that faces in a direction parallel to the straight line connecting the leading ends (paper transport direction B). Since the first component force F at this time is a force that presses the fixed rotation shafts 61 d and 61 e and is not canceled out, the second component force Fb is actually in contact with the first auxiliary tray 61. The force acts on the holding portions 71a and 71b. As a result, since the second component force Fb does not become a force for rotating the first auxiliary tray 61 in the direction of the arrow C2, the first auxiliary tray 61 is not rotated in the direction of the arrow C2 by the force F. Therefore, there is no possibility that the second auxiliary tray 62 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow D2 and falls. 14 is a tangent line (contact plane) at a portion where the cylindrical contact holding portions 71a and 71b of the first auxiliary tray 61 contact the holding surface portion 72b of the guide surface portion of the second auxiliary tray 62. Indicates. An arc-like alternate long and short dash line S indicates a trajectory (surface) when the contact holding portions 71a and 71b (outermost portions) of the first auxiliary tray 61 rotate about the rotation shafts 61d and 61e.

  Next, the operation when the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 provided with the interlocking mechanism 7 are changed from the raised state to the collapsed state will be described.

  First, the first auxiliary tray 61 (FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 8, etc.) in the rising state is turned in the direction of the arrow C2 which is also a direction for making it fall with the rotating shafts 61d and 61e as fulcrums. Rotate in the direction.

  As a result of this turning operation, as shown in FIG. 12, when the first auxiliary tray 61 is turned in the direction from the collapsed state to the rising state, the angle returns to the predetermined angle θb. The contact holding portions 71a and 71b on the side plate portions 61b and 61c are released from the holding surface portion 72b having the depressed shape of the guide surface portion 72 in the second auxiliary tray 62 and released from the holding state by the holding surface portion 72b, and are moved in the direction of the arrow C2. Is in a state where it can be freely rotated.

  Thereafter, by rotating the first auxiliary tray 61 in the direction of the arrow C2 from the predetermined angle θb (FIG. 9), as shown in the order of returning from FIG. 11 to FIG. Is moved downward to draw an arc centered on the rotation shafts 61 d and 61 e, while the contact holding portions 71 a and 71 b are in contact with and supported by the guide curved surface portion 72 a of the guide surface portion 72 of the second auxiliary tray 62. Move down in the state. As a result, the second auxiliary tray 62 starts to move in the direction indicated by the arrow D2 with the rotation shafts 62d and 62e as fulcrums.

  When the first auxiliary tray 61 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C1 by an angle exceeding the predetermined angle θa (FIG. 9), the contact holding portions 71a and 71b at the tops of the side plate portions 61b and 61c are 2 The state is released from the contact state with the guide surface portion 72 of the auxiliary tray 62 (the start end portion of the guide curved surface portion 72a). At this stage, as shown in FIG. 9, the second auxiliary tray 62 is in a state where a part of the main body 62 a comes into contact with a part of the second depression 53 b of the depression-shaped structure 53 and stops. Is held, and thus held in a fallen state.

  Subsequently, when the first auxiliary tray 61 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow C2, as shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the free end portion 61aa of the main body portion 61a is a first recess portion of the structure portion 53 having a recess shape. It is held in a stopped state in contact with 53a, and thus held in a collapsed state.

  As described above, the first auxiliary tray 61 and the second auxiliary tray 62 are brought into a collapsed state as shown in FIGS. As described above, in the storage device 5, by performing an operation of rotating the first auxiliary tray 61 in the tilted direction (direction indicated by the arrow C <b> 2), the second auxiliary tray is interlocked with the rotation operation. 62 can also be rotated in the direction in which it falls (direction of arrow D2), and finally both the first auxiliary tray 61 and the second auxiliary tray 62 can be brought into a fallen state.

  In the storage device 5, when the first auxiliary tray 61 and the second auxiliary tray 62 are brought into a collapsed state, the two auxiliary trays 61 and 62 are placed on the stacking surface 51 as shown in FIG. It can be accommodated in a space in the structure portion 53 of one depression shape in the partial region 52.

  Specifically, for the second auxiliary tray 62, the main body portion 61a and the rising leg portions 61b and 61c are either in the second recessed portion 53b or the third recessed portion 53c of the structure portion 53 having a recessed shape. Be in a housed state. As for the first auxiliary tray 61, the pair of side plate portions 61b and 61c are accommodated in the third recess portion 53c of the recess-shaped structure portion 53, and the main body portion 61a is an opening of the recess-shaped structure portion 53. It will be in the state of being accommodated in the posture which lies in almost all areas. In addition, the first auxiliary tray 61 in the collapsed state is in a collapsed state in a state of being superimposed on the second auxiliary tray 62, and the opening of the hollow structure portion 53 is almost blocked. A surface substantially continuous with the horizontal surface portion 51B of the surface 51 is formed.

[Embodiment 2]
16 and 17 show (a part of) the storage device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 16 shows the appearance of the image forming apparatus when the three auxiliary trays in the storage device are brought down, and FIG. 17 shows image formation when the three auxiliary trays in the storage device are raised. The appearance of the device is shown.

  The storage device 5B according to the second embodiment includes one auxiliary tray and is provided with a total of three auxiliary trays 66, 62, and 63, except that one structure is added as the interlocking mechanism 7. It has the same configuration as the storage device 5 according to the first embodiment. In the following description and related drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the components common to the storage device 5 according to the first embodiment, and the description of the common components is omitted unless necessary.

  The three auxiliary trays 61, 62, and 63 are a first auxiliary tray 61 that is rotatably arranged at a position that is the most downstream side in the paper discharge direction B in the partial area 52 of the stacking surface 51, and a part thereof. A second auxiliary tray 62 that is rotatably arranged at a position that is the second downstream side in the paper discharge direction B in the region 52, and a position that is the most upstream side in the paper discharge direction B in the partial region 52. And a third auxiliary tray 62 which is rotatably arranged.

  Among these, the first auxiliary tray 61 and the second auxiliary tray 62 have substantially the same configuration as the auxiliary trays 61 and 62 in the first embodiment. As described above, the first auxiliary tray 61 includes the main body portion 61a and the pair of side plate portions 61b (61c). The main body portion 61a is provided with a columnar rotation shaft 61d (61e), and the pair The side plate portion 61b (61c) is provided with a cylindrical contact holding portion 71a (71b) as a part of the interlocking mechanism 7. As described above, the second auxiliary tray 62 includes the main body portion 62a and the pair of rising legs 62b (62c). The main body portion 62a is provided with a columnar rotation shaft 62d (62e). Further, the rising leg portion 62b (62c) is provided with a guide surface portion 72 (a guiding curved surface portion 72a and a holding surface portion 72b) as a part of the interlocking mechanism 7.

  The third auxiliary tray 63 has a substantially rectangular planar shape, a vertical cross-sectional shape bent in the middle, and a main body having a first surface portion 63b and a second surface portion 63c having different heights. It is a structure composed of only the part 63a. The first surface portion 63b is a surface that is located on the lower side of the main body portion 61a of the first auxiliary tray 61 and serves as an overlapping portion when the third auxiliary tray 62 is in a collapsed state. The second surface portion 63c is a surface of a portion that is located slightly above the first surface portion 63b and has substantially the same height as the horizontal surface portion 51B of the stacking surface 51 when the third auxiliary tray 62 is in a collapsed state. . The second surface portion 63c is provided with a cylindrical rotation shaft 63d (63e) that protrudes outward on both sides of a lower end portion that is bent so as to hang downward at an end portion on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction B. It has been. Further, the second surface portion 63c has a spherical shape as an additional configuration of the interlocking mechanism 7 that protrudes toward the upper surface of the main body portion 62a of the second auxiliary tray 62 on the lower surface of both ends of the upstream end in the paper discharge direction B. Alternatively, a cylindrical contact holding portion 73a (73b) is provided.

  In a partial region 52 on the loading surface 51 of the housing main body 50, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 16 or the like, a recessed structure portion 53 is formed as in the case of the first embodiment. Similar to the structure portion 53 in the first embodiment, the recess-shaped structure portion 53 includes a first recess portion 53a, a second recess portion 53b, and a third recess portion 53c that are sequentially formed from the upstream side in the paper discharge direction B. It is configured. A hole-shaped bearing portion (not shown) to which the rotation shaft 63d (63e) of the third auxiliary tray 63 is attached is provided at the left and right upstream ends of the first recess portion 53a with respect to the paper discharge direction B. ing.

  The third auxiliary tray 63 is attached by fitting a fixed shaft 63d (62e) on one end side of the main body 63a into the bearing (not shown) in the first recess 53a. As a result, the third auxiliary tray 61 has a fixed shaft 63d (63) at a position near the downstream end in the paper discharge direction B in the partial area 52 of the stacking surface 51, as shown in FIGS. ) As a fulcrum and rotates in the direction indicated by arrows E1 and E2.

  Also in the storage device 5B, as shown in FIG. 16, when the three auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 are brought into a tilted state, the two auxiliary trays 61, 62 adjacent to each other in the paper discharge direction B are also shown. The auxiliary trays 62 and 63 are configured such that the auxiliary trays 62 and 63 are held at least partially overlapped with each other. Thereby, even in the accommodating device 5B, although there are a plurality of auxiliary trays, the auxiliary trays 61, 62, and 63 are accommodated in a tilted state in a relatively narrow area as compared with the case where the above configuration is not adopted. be able to.

  The three auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 in the second embodiment are held in a state in which a part of the first auxiliary tray 61 is overlapped with the entire surface of the second auxiliary tray 62 when in the collapsed state. In addition, a part of the third auxiliary tray is held in a state of being overlapped with a part of the second auxiliary tray 62. Moreover, in the second embodiment, a part of the first auxiliary tray 61 is held in a state of being overlapped with a part of the third auxiliary tray 63 (first surface portion 63b). Reference numerals M1, M2, and M3 in FIG. 16 indicate portions (ranges) in which the three auxiliary trays 61, 62, and 63 in a collapsed state are overlapped in the paper discharge direction B as described above.

  Further, the interlocking mechanism 7 provided in the three auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 in the storage device 5B is configured as follows. First, with respect to the interlocking mechanism 7 between the first auxiliary tray 61 and the second auxiliary tray 62, the first auxiliary tray 61 is located on the most downstream side in the paper discharge direction B as in the case of the first embodiment. After being arranged and rotated to an angle θ1 exceeding 90 °, contact holding portions 71a and 71b provided on the first auxiliary tray 61 and a guide surface portion 72 provided on the second auxiliary tray 62, It consists of Further, the interlocking mechanism 7 between the second auxiliary tray 62 and the third auxiliary tray 63 is configured by a contact auxiliary portion 73 a (73 b) provided on the third auxiliary tray 63. The contact auxiliary portion 73 a (73 b) of the third auxiliary tray 63 is formed so as to contact the upper side surface of the main body portion 62 a of the second auxiliary tray 62.

  Hereinafter, the operation when the three auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 provided with the interlocking mechanism 7 are raised (from the collapsed state) will be described.

  First, the first auxiliary tray 61 (FIG. 16) that is in a collapsed state is also a direction for getting up with the rotation shafts 61d and 61e existing on the downstream side in the paper transport direction B as fulcrums. Rotate in the direction of arrow C1. At this time, if the first auxiliary tray 61 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C1 by a predetermined angle θa (see FIG. 9) as in the case of the first embodiment, the contact holding at the top of the side plate portions 61b and 61c is maintained. The portions 71a and 71b come into contact with each other after approaching the guide surface portion 72 (starting end portion of the guide curved surface portion 72a) on the lower side portion of the second auxiliary tray 62 in the collapsed state.

  Subsequently, when the first auxiliary tray 61 is further rotated from the predetermined angle θa in the direction of the arrow C1, the contact holding portions 71a and 71b are lifted so as to draw an arc around the rotation shafts 61d and 61e. On the other hand, the contact holding portions 71 a and 71 b move upward while being in contact with and supported by the guide curved surface portion 72 a of the guide surface portion 72 of the second auxiliary tray 62. Accordingly, the second auxiliary tray 62 starts to move so as to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow D1 with the rotation shafts 62d and 62e as fulcrums (see FIGS. 10 to 12).

  At this time, when the second auxiliary tray 62 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow D1, the contact auxiliary portion 73a (73b) in the third auxiliary tray 63 comes into contact with the upper side surface of the main body portion 62a of the second auxiliary tray 62. Therefore, in conjunction with the rotation of the second auxiliary tray 62, the third auxiliary tray 63 starts to move in the direction indicated by the arrow E1 with the rotation shaft 63d (63e) as a fulcrum.

  Thereafter, when the first auxiliary tray 61 is finally rotated in the direction of the arrow C1 to a predetermined angle θb (see FIG. 12), the contact holding portions 71a and 71b of the guide surface portion 72 of the second auxiliary tray 62 After reaching the terminal end portion 72ae of the guide curved surface portion 72a, the contact holding portions 71a and 71b enter the holding surface portion 72b of the recessed shape of the guide surface portion 72 in the second auxiliary tray 62 and are held (stopped). It becomes a state. At this time, the third auxiliary tray 63 is rotated and stopped in the direction indicated by the arrow E1 to a position corresponding to the position where the second auxiliary tray 63 is raised and stopped. At this time, the third auxiliary tray 63 is maintained in a posture in which the main body portion 63 a forms an inclined surface that is inclined upward in the paper discharge direction B.

  As described above, all of the three auxiliary trays 61, 62, and 63 are in the raised state as shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. As described above, also in the storage device 5B, by performing an operation of rotating the first auxiliary tray 61 in the direction in which the first auxiliary tray 61 is raised (the direction indicated by the arrow C1), the second is interlocked with the rotation operation. The auxiliary tray 62 can also be rotated in the direction in which it rises (in the direction of the arrow D1), and the third auxiliary tray 63 also rises in conjunction with the rotation of the second auxiliary tray 62. It can be rotated in the direction (direction of arrow E1) in which it is in a closed state, and finally all three auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 can be brought up.

  Here, also in this storage device 5B, when the three auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 are raised, the loading surfaces of the auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 are shown in FIG. The highest portions 61k, 62k, and 63k at the highest position with respect to the horizontal portion 51B of the 51 become relatively higher as the auxiliary tray (first auxiliary tray 61) disposed downstream in the paper discharge direction B is reached. It is configured. A two-dot chain line H in FIG. 19 indicates a line extending in the horizontal direction at the position of the highest portion 62 k of the third auxiliary tray 62.

  In the third embodiment, the increased third auxiliary tray 63 is disposed at a position closer to the inclined surface portion 51B of the stacking surface 51 than the second auxiliary tray 62, and the highest portion 63k is the most. It is arranged such that the slope becomes lower and the slope of the slope becomes more gradual in the paper discharge direction B. Accordingly, when the paper 19 is stored in a state of being stacked on the highest portion 62k of the second auxiliary tray 62 and the inclined surface portion 51B as in the paper 19 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 19, the second auxiliary tray 62 on the paper 19 is stored. The portion between the highest portion 62k and the slope portion 51B is also supported by the third auxiliary tray 63, so that the sheet 19 can be prevented from being bent and deformed more than necessary.

  Next, the operation when the three auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 provided with the interlocking mechanism 7 are changed from the raised state to the collapsed state will be described.

  First, the first auxiliary tray 61 (FIGS. 17 and 18 and the like) in the rising state is turned in the direction of the arrow C2, which is also a direction for bringing the first auxiliary tray 61 into a tilted state with the rotation shafts 61d and 61e as fulcrums. Move. By this turning operation, the first auxiliary tray 61 has its contact holding portion at a stage where the angle when the first auxiliary tray 61 is turned in the direction to rise from the collapsed state returns to the predetermined angle θb (see FIG. 12). 71a and 71b come out of the holding surface portion 72b of the guide surface portion 72 of the second auxiliary tray 62 and are released from the holding state by the holding surface portion 72b, so that the rotation in the direction of the arrow C2 can be freely performed.

  Thereafter, the first auxiliary tray 61 is further rotated from the predetermined angle θb in the direction of the arrow C2, so that the contact holding portions 71a and 71b descend so as to draw an arc centered on the rotation shafts 61d and 61e. On the other hand, the contact holding portions 71a and 71b move downward while contacting and supporting the guiding curved surface portion 72a of the guide surface portion 72 of the second auxiliary tray 62. As a result, the second auxiliary tray 62 starts to move in the direction indicated by the arrow D2 with the rotation shafts 62d and 62e as fulcrums. Further, the third auxiliary tray 63 in a state of being placed on the second auxiliary tray 62 via the contact holding portion 73a (73b) in conjunction with the rotation of the second auxiliary tray 62 in the direction of the arrow D2 is also rotated. It begins to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow E2 with the moving shaft 63d as a fulcrum.

  When the first auxiliary tray 61 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C1 by an angle exceeding the predetermined angle θa (FIG. 9), the contact holding portions 71a and 71b are guided surface portions 72 of the second auxiliary tray 62. It is released from the contact state with the (starting end portion of the guiding curved surface portion 72a) and is separated. At this stage, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, the second auxiliary tray 62 stops with a part of the main body 62 a coming into contact with a part of the second depression 53 b of the depression-shaped structure 53. Is held in a collapsed state. Further, the third auxiliary tray 63 is also held in a stopped state in accordance with the rotation stop of the second auxiliary tray 62, and thereby held in a collapsed state.

  Subsequently, when the first auxiliary tray 61 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow C2, as shown in FIG. 16 and the like, the free end portion 61aa of the main body portion 61a is a first recess portion of the structure portion 53 having a recess shape. It is held in a stopped state in contact with 53a, and thus held in a collapsed state.

  As described above, the three auxiliary trays 61, 62, and 63 are in a collapsed state as shown in FIG. As described above, in the storage device 5B, by performing an operation of rotating the first auxiliary tray 61 in the direction in which the first auxiliary tray 61 is tilted (direction indicated by the arrow C2), the second auxiliary tray is interlocked with the rotation operation. 62 can also be rotated in the direction in which it falls down (the direction of arrow D2), and the third auxiliary tray 63 also in the state of falling down due to the rotation of the second auxiliary tray 62 (in the direction of arrow E2). Finally, all of the three auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 can be brought into a fallen state.

  Also in this storage device 5B, when the three auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 are in a collapsed state, the three auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 are placed on the stacking surface 51 as shown in FIG. It can be accommodated in a space in the structure portion 53 of one depression shape in the partial region 52.

  Specifically, for the second auxiliary tray 62, as in the case of the first embodiment, the main body portion 61a and the rising leg portions 61b and 61c are entirely recessed in the second recessed portion 53b of the structural portion 53. And it will be in the state accommodated in either of the 3rd hollow parts 53c. Next, about the 3rd auxiliary tray 63, the whole main-body part 63a of the shape which has the level | step difference is in the state accommodated in either the 1st hollow part 53a of the hollow-shaped structure part 53, and the 2nd hollow part 53b. Become. In addition, the third auxiliary tray 63 in the collapsed state is in a collapsed state in a state of being overlaid on a part of the main body 62a of the second auxiliary tray 62. Finally, for the first auxiliary tray 61, the pair of side plate portions 61b and 61c are accommodated in the third recess portion 53c of the recess-shaped structure portion 53, and the main body portion 61a is a recess-shaped structure portion. It will be in the state accommodated in the attitude | position which lies in the substantially whole area except a part of 53 opening. The part of the opening of the hollow-shaped structure portion 53 to be removed is a portion where the second surface portion 63c of the third auxiliary tray 63 exists. In addition, the first auxiliary tray 61 in the collapsed state is in a collapsed state in a state of being overlaid on the second auxiliary tray 62, and a part of the third auxiliary tray 63 (first surface portion 63b). It will be in the state where it fell down in the state where it was piled up.

[Other embodiments]
In the storage devices 5 and 5B in the first and second embodiments, the interlocking mechanism 7 in the plurality of auxiliary trays 61, 62, and 63 may be omitted.

  In this case, the auxiliary trays 61, 62, and 63 may be individually rotated to be in a raised state and a collapsed state. In this case, the auxiliary trays 61, 62 and 63 need to be supported so that the auxiliary trays 61, 62, and 63 are stopped and supported so that the state is maintained when they are raised. As described above, even when the plurality of auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 are not provided with the interlocking mechanism 7, when the plurality of auxiliary trays 61, 62, 63 are brought into a tilted state, at least adjacent auxiliary trays in the paper discharge direction B are mutually adjacent. Is held in a state in which at least a part thereof is overlapped, so that it can be accommodated in a tilted state in a relatively narrow area even though there are a plurality of auxiliary trays.

  Further, in the storage devices 5 and 5B in the first and second embodiments, two cases and three cases are illustrated as auxiliary trays, but it is also possible to provide four or more auxiliary trays.

  In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the case where the storage device 5 (5B) is applied to an image forming apparatus that forms an image composed of a developer is exemplified. The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus that employs an image forming method, or can be applied as a storage device in an apparatus in another field that stacks and stores a plurality of sheets.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 5, 5B ... Accommodating apparatus 7 ... Interlocking mechanism 50 ... Accommodating main body 51 ... Loading surface 51A ... Slope part 51B ... Horizontal surface part 52 ... Partial area 53 ... Recessed-shaped structure parts 61, 62, 63 ... Auxiliary Tray (accommodating aid)
61d, 61e, 62d, 62e, 63d, 63e ... rotation axis (axis)
61k, 62k, 63k ... highest part 65a ... inclined part (inclined part)
71a, 71b ... contact holding part (first contact holding part)
73a, 73b ... contact holding part B ... paper discharge direction C1, D1, E1 ... rotation direction C2, D2, E2 of each auxiliary tray (when it is raised) ... each auxiliary tray (falling state) Rotation direction θ when turning the auxiliary tray from the tilted state

Claims (8)

A storage body having a stacking surface for storing the paper discharged from the paper discharge port in a state of being dropped and stacked;
One end of each of the stacking surfaces of the housing main body is pivotally attached at each position spaced in the paper discharge direction with a shaft extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the discharge direction as a fulcrum. A plurality of storage aids that can be switched and held between the raised state and the fallen state with respect to the stacking surface and can support a part of the sheets stored on the stacking surface.
The plurality of storage aids are configured such that, when in the collapsed state, at least a part of the storage aids adjacent to each other in the paper discharge direction is held in a superposed state. Storage device.   The plurality of storage assisting bodies are raised when the remaining storage assisting bodies are rotated in conjunction with a turning operation when the one storage assisting body is in the raised state or the collapsed state. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising an interlocking mechanism that is brought into a stagnation state or a collapsed state.   The partial region of the loading surface of the housing body is configured as a hollow-shaped structure portion having a space in which the plurality of housing auxiliary bodies can be housed in the collapsed state. Containment device.   The interlocking mechanism contacts the holding auxiliary bodies adjacent to each other in the paper discharge direction to the plurality of holding auxiliary bodies, transmits a rotational movement, and holds at least the state when the rising state is reached. The storage device according to claim 2, wherein the storage device is provided with a portion. The interlocking mechanism is configured such that the one storage auxiliary member is disposed at a position that is the most downstream side in the paper discharge direction, and the shaft is a fulcrum at a portion that is the downstream side in the paper discharge direction in the collapsed state. As a first storage auxiliary body attached to be used by rotating to an angle exceeding 90 °,
The fall state of the second accommodation auxiliary body arranged at the first position on the upstream side in the paper discharge direction at a position below the shaft when the first accommodation auxiliary body is in the collapsed state. Or a first contact holding portion for holding the state when at least the state of getting up is provided while contacting with the lower portion and transmitting the rotational motion. 4. The storage device according to 4.   The plurality of storage auxiliary bodies are relatively relative to each other so that the highest portion located at the highest position with respect to the stacking surface is the storage auxiliary body arranged on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction when the raised auxiliary body is in the raised state. The storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the storage device is configured to be higher. The loading surface of the housing main body is a slope portion formed in an upward gradient from a position below the paper discharge port toward the downstream side in the paper discharge direction on the upstream side in the paper discharge direction, A horizontal surface portion formed in a state extending substantially horizontally from the upper end of the slope portion to the downstream side in the paper discharge direction,
The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage auxiliary bodies are attached to a partial region of the horizontal surface portion of the stacking surface.   An image forming apparatus comprising the housing device according to claim 1.

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