JP2018034976A - Detachable auxiliary loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detachable auxiliary loading device that can increase the number of loading pages of a recording medium of which thickness is thinner than a recording medium normally used.SOLUTION: A detachable auxiliary loading device 102 has a first loading part 102a installed in a discharge direction of a recording medium in a discharge tray 30 to which the recording medium is discharged and protruded in a curve-surface shape, and is detachably installed on the discharge tray.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a detachable loading assist device.

  In Patent Document 1, a center of rotation provided in a paper discharge portion of a recording medium conveyance path, which is disposed in parallel with the axis of the drive roll in a paper discharge roll that comes in contact with the drive roll to grip and discharge the recording medium. A first roll that is integrally provided coaxially with the rotation center, holds a recording medium between the drive roll and discharges the recording medium, and has a larger diameter than the first roll. A configuration is described in which a second roll provided integrally with the first roll and spaced apart from the roll by a predetermined distance is provided to strengthen the paper when the paper is discharged.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-22766

  In the discharge tray, in order to prevent a bank residue and paper misalignment, a technique is used in which the paper is bent with a difference in outer diameter between the pair of discharge rollers so that the paper is straightened and discharged.

  However, when ejecting paper that is thin and weak, the brake is applied to the leading edge of the paper, and the trailing edge of the paper remains on the wall that aligns the trailing edge of the ejected paper. Due to the returning operation, the paper may be broken and the bank may be left and the paper may be misaligned. In addition, thin paper tends to cause an up curl where the four corners of the paper rise, and the bank tends to remain. For this reason, the number of sheets that can be stacked on the discharge tray without causing problems is about several sheets.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a detachable stacking assist device that can increase the number of stacked recording media when a recording medium having a thickness smaller than that of a recording medium that is normally used is discharged.

  The present invention according to claim 1 has a first stacking portion that is installed in the discharge direction of the recording medium of the discharge tray from which the recording medium is discharged and protrudes in a curved shape, and is detachably installed on the discharge tray. It is a detachable loading assist device.

  The present invention according to claim 2 is the detachable stacking assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the first stacking unit is installed at substantially the center of the discharge tray.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first projection which is configured continuously from the first stacking portion toward the discharge port side in the recording medium discharge direction, and projects in a planar shape at a position higher than the first stacking portion. The detachable stacking auxiliary device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising two stacking units.

  The present invention according to claim 4 is configured such that the second stacking section is longer than the first stacking section in the width direction perpendicular to the recording medium discharge direction. It is a detachable loading assist device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, limiting portions for limiting variations in the width direction of the recording medium are provided at both ends in the width direction of the stacking surface on which the recording medium is stacked. Or a detachable loading assist device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a recording medium having a smaller thickness than that of a recording medium that is normally used is discharged, the number of stacked recording media can be increased as compared with the case where the apparatus is not used. It is possible to provide a detachable stacking auxiliary device that can perform the above-described operation.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to reduce variations in the width direction of the recording medium.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first or second aspect, the recording medium can be held.

  According to the present invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 3, the recording medium can be stably loaded.

  According to the present invention of claim 5, in addition to the effects of the invention of any one of claims 1 to 4, variations in the width direction of the recording medium can be reduced.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the perspective view of the upper tray 32 periphery which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the perspective view of the stacking assistance apparatus 102 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the stacking auxiliary device 102 according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the upper tray 32. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which recording media P are stacked with the stacking auxiliary device 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention mounted on the upper tray 32. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the recording medium P is stacked on the stacking auxiliary device 102 viewed from the direction A in FIG. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the recording medium P is stacked on the upper tray 32 without mounting the stacking auxiliary device 102 viewed from the direction A in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the recording medium P when the stacking auxiliary device 102 is not mounted on the upper tray 32. It is a perspective view which shows the state which mounted | wore the upper tray 32 with the stacking assistance apparatus 202 which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Next, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming system 1 includes a post-processing device 20 including an image forming device 10 and a recording medium stacking device 30 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 is connected to a post-processing apparatus 20.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a control device (not shown), a plurality of paper feeding devices 12A, 12B, and 12C, an image forming unit (not shown), and the like.

  The control device controls, for example, each configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 (image forming unit, paper feeding devices 12A, 12B, 12C, etc.) and each configuration of the post-processing device 20 (processing unit, discharge device, etc.).

  The image forming apparatus 10 forms an image on a recording medium in response to an operation from the operator. The recording medium on which the image is formed is sent to the post-processing device 20.

  The post-processing device 20 includes a paper feeding device 22 that feeds a recording medium that does not require image formation such as a slip sheet.

  The post-processing device 20 has a plurality of processing units, and is for recording media such as printing paper on which an image is formed by the image forming device 10 or paper that does not require image formation fed from the paper feeding device 22. Then, post-processing is performed.

  Further, the post-processing device 20 is provided with a recording medium stacking device 30 for stacking recording media on the upper surface opposite to the side connected to the image forming device 10. The recording medium stacking device 30 discharges and stacks the post-processed recording medium on an upper tray 32 as a discharge tray or a lower tray 34 provided below the upper tray 32.

  Here, the post-processing is processing performed on a recording medium after image formation or a recording medium that does not require image formation. For example, stapling processing, puncher processing, bookbinding processing, paper discharge processing, etc. It is.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the upper tray 32 of the recording medium stacking device 30.

  The upper tray 32 is loaded with a recording medium discharged from a pair of discharge rolls (not shown). A wall 38 is provided at the upstream end of the upper tray 32 in the recording medium discharge direction.

  The discharge roll pair has a difference in outer diameter, and by rotating the discharge roll pair, the recording medium P is bent to have straightness (hereinafter referred to as corrugation), whereby an image is formed through the discharge port 40. The recording medium on which the image is not formed is discharged. The discharged recording medium is stacked on the upper tray 32.

  The wall 38 forms the lower part of the discharge port 40 and is provided so as to intersect the discharge direction of the recording medium. The wall 38 has a function of aligning the rear ends of the recording media P loaded on the upper tray 32.

  A concave portion 32a extending in the recording medium discharge direction is formed at the approximate center of the stack surface of the upper tray 32 in the width direction of the recording medium. A plurality of ribs 32 b extending in the recording medium discharge direction are formed on the stacking surface of the upper tray 32.

On the stacking surface of the upper tray 32, a stacking auxiliary device 102 described later is detachably installed.
The stacking assisting device 102 is used when discharging a recording medium such as thin paper or thin paper coated paper that is thinner than a normal recording medium such as plain paper and is weak.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the stacking auxiliary device 102. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the stacking assisting device 102 is mounted on the upper tray 32.

  The stacking auxiliary device 102 is T-shaped, and a stacking surface on which recording media are stacked protrudes at a plurality of locations. The stacking auxiliary device 102 includes a first stacking unit 102a, a second stacking unit 102b, a third stacking unit 102c, and limiting units 102d and 102d.

  The first stacking portion 102a has a semi-cylindrical shape, extends gently in a mountain shape in the recording medium discharge direction, and protrudes in a curved shape. The first stacking portion 102a is disposed in the approximate center of the upper tray 32 in parallel with the recording medium discharge direction. Thereby, when the recording medium is discharged, the recording medium P is kept corrugated on the first stacking portion 102a so that the recording medium P is kept tight, and the conveyance force of the recording medium P is increased. The influence of resistance is reduced, and variations in the discharge direction are suppressed. Further, since it protrudes in a curved shape, the contact surface between the stacking surface and the recording medium is small, and the frictional resistance is reduced. Further, a convex portion 102f is formed on the back surface side (the stacking surface side of the upper tray 32) of the end portion of the first stacking portion 102a, and when this is mounted on the upper tray 32 as shown in FIG. 102 f is engaged with the recess 32 a of the upper tray 32.

  The second stacking portion 102b has a block shape and is smoothly and continuously formed on the discharge port 40 side of the upper tray 32 than the first stacking portion 102a. The recording medium discharged from the pair of discharge rolls lands on this smoothly formed portion. The upper surface (stacking surface) of the second stacking unit 102b is flat and protrudes in a block shape at a position higher than the first stacking unit 102a. Further, the second stacking portion 102b is arranged at substantially the center of the upper tray 32, and is configured to be longer than the first stacking portion 102a in the width direction orthogonal to the recording medium discharge direction. Accordingly, the up curl of the rear end of the recording medium P is warped downward to give corrugation, whereby the stiffness of the recording medium P is maintained, and the rear end of the recording medium P is aligned with the wall 38. Further, the variation in the width direction of the recording medium is suppressed on the upstream side in the discharge direction of the recording medium, and the recording medium is stably stacked on the upper tray 32.

  The third stacker 102c is formed continuously on both sides of the first stacker 102a and the second stacker 102b in the width direction of the recording medium. The third stacking portion 102c is formed in a planar shape at a position lower than the second stacking portion 102b. As a result, there is a step between the first stacking unit 102a, the second stacking unit 102b, and the third stacking unit 102c, and the contact area between the recording medium P and the stacking surface or the recording medium is reduced. It becomes easy to take out the recording medium P. A plurality of recesses 102e are formed on the back side of the third stacking portion 102c (the stacking surface side of the upper tray 32). As shown in FIG. 4, when the upper tray 32 is mounted, the recesses 102e are formed on the ribs 32b. Engaged.

  The limiting portions 102d are erected along the recording medium discharge direction at both ends in the width direction of the stacking surface and at both ends in the width direction of the recording medium of the third stacking portions 102c and 102c. The limiting units 102d and 102d are used as side guides that guide the discharged recording medium P in the discharging direction, and limit variations in the width direction of the recording medium.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the recording media P are stacked with the stacking auxiliary device 102 mounted on the upper tray 32.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the stacking auxiliary device 102 is mounted, the recording medium P stacked on the stacking surface bends and a gap S is formed between the recording media, and the stacking surface of the recording medium P and the upper tray 32 or There is a portion that is not touched between recording media.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the recording medium P is stacked on the stacking auxiliary device 102 viewed from the direction A in FIG. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the recording medium P is stacked on the upper tray 32 without mounting the stacking auxiliary device 102 viewed from the same direction as that in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, a gap S is formed between the stacking surface and the recording medium P by mounting the stacking auxiliary device 102 on the upper tray 32. Specifically, since the upper surface of the first stacking unit 102a of the stacking assisting device 102 has a curved surface shape, in particular, around the connection portion between the first stacking unit 102a and the stacking surface of the upper tray 32, A gap S is formed above the top of the stacking portion 102a. Also, in the vicinity of the connection portion between the first stacking portion 102a and the second stacking portion 102b, in the vicinity of the connection portion between the first stacking portion 102a and the second stacking portion 102b and the third stacking portion 102c, etc. Since there is a step, a gap S is formed. When this gap S is formed, the contact area between the recording medium P and the stacking surface or the recording medium becomes small, and it becomes difficult for the recording media to adhere to each other. Further, it becomes easy to take out the recording medium P from the stacking surface via the gap S.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the stacking assisting device 102 is not mounted on the upper tray 32, the recording medium P is up-curled by corrugation of the discharge roll pair, and the width of the recording medium P is increased. The end portion is caught by the wall 38, and the adhesion of the recording medium P is particularly strengthened at the central portion of the recording medium P in the discharge direction of the recording medium.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the movement of the recording medium P when the stacking assisting device 102 shown in FIG. 6B is not mounted on the upper tray 32.

  As described above, when the weak recording medium P such as thin paper is ejected without mounting the stacking assisting device 102, the frictional resistance between the recording media is increased at the center of the leading end of the recording medium P, the brake is applied, and FIG. ), The recording medium P cannot be completely discharged from the pair of discharge rolls 36, and the rear end of the recording medium P is broken, resulting in a bank residue or a strong curl tendency in a low temperature environment. In this case, the contact area is reduced due to curling and the frictional resistance is reduced. However, as shown in FIG. 7B, the recording medium P discharged up curled toward the stacking surface of the upper tray 32 is discharged. The bank will be left behind by the return action.

  When the recording medium P, which is weak such as thin paper, is ejected, the stacking auxiliary device 102 is mounted on the upper tray 32, so that the recording medium P is corrugated with a simple configuration, and the recording medium P is kept in a strained state. Thus, defective discharge of the recording medium P is reduced. At this time, the discharge speed is increased to twice as fast as normal, and the brake is prevented from being generated due to the frictional resistance between the recording media, and the reduction of the ejection failure of the recording media P is further improved.

Further, when discharging the thin paper and the thin coated paper, if the stacking auxiliary device 102 is not mounted, the number of stacked sheets that can be stacked without causing the above-described problem is two to four sheets (single digit range). It was about.
On the other hand, when the stacking auxiliary device 102 is mounted, the number of stacked sheets can be increased to 200 to 300 (three digits).

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the stacking assisting device 202 according to another embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the upper tray 32.

  The stacking assisting device 202 according to the present embodiment is detachable and has substantially the same configuration as the stacking assisting device 102 described above, but the restricting unit 103 is in the width direction of the recording medium with respect to the third stacking unit 102c. The only difference is that it can be moved to. In the present embodiment, only portions different from the above-described embodiment will be described below, and the description of the same portions will be omitted.

  The stacking assisting device 202 includes a first stacking unit 102a, a second stacking unit 102b, a third stacking unit 102c, and limiting units 103 and 103.

  The restricting portion 103 is L-shaped and has a flat portion 103a that is slid in the width direction of the recording medium with respect to the third stacking portions 102c and 102c, and both ends of the flat portion 103a in the width direction of the recording medium. And an elevating surface portion 103b erected along the recording medium ejection direction. The limiting units 103 and 103 can be adjusted in position in the width direction of the recording medium with respect to the third stacking unit 102c according to the size of the recording medium. The limiting units 103 and 103 are used as side guides that guide the discharged recording medium P in the discharging direction, and limit variations in the width direction of the recording medium.

  In this embodiment, the T-shaped stacking auxiliary devices 102 and 202 have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an I-shaped stacking auxiliary device that is installed in parallel to the recording medium discharge direction and protrudes in a curved surface shape. Also applies.

  In the present embodiment, the case of mounting on the upper tray 32 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the case of mounting on the lower tray 34 is also applicable.

  In the present embodiment, the post-processing device 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be any stacking device on which a recording medium is stacked. For example, an image forming device such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile device. It can also be used.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming system 10 ... Image forming apparatus 20 ... Post-processing apparatus 30 ... Recording medium stacking apparatus 32 ... Upper tray (discharge tray)
34 ... Lower tray (discharge tray)
38 ... Walls 102, 202 .. Loading assist device (detachable)

Claims (5)

A first stacking unit that is installed in a discharge direction of the recording medium of the discharge tray from which the recording medium is discharged and protrudes in a curved shape;
A detachable stacking auxiliary device which is detachably installed on the discharge tray.   The detachable stacking auxiliary device according to claim 1, wherein the first stacking unit is installed at a substantially center of the discharge tray.   And a second stacking unit that is continuously formed on the discharge port side of the first stacking unit in the recording medium discharge direction and protrudes in a planar shape at a position higher than the first stacking unit. The detachable loading assist device according to 1 or 2.   The detachable stacking assisting device according to claim 3, wherein the second stacking unit is configured to be longer than the first stacking unit in a width direction orthogonal to a recording medium discharge direction.   The detachable stacking auxiliary device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein limiting portions for limiting variations in the width direction of the recording medium are provided at both ends in the width direction of the stacking surface on which the recording medium is stacked.

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