JP2022027469A - Sheet discharge device and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sheet discharge device with improved cooling efficiency of the sheet loaded on a loading surface and an image formation device equipped with the sheet discharge device.SOLUTION: In a sheet discharge device, a wall having a plurality of holes is provided, wherein the wall comprises an abutment part onto which an upstream end in the direction of discharge of the sheet loaded on a loading surface abuts, the plurality of holes has a first hole formed so as to across an extension line along the loading surface when seen in a width direction orthogonal to the discharge direction and a vertical direction, the first hole has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end is situated at a side of the loading surface, and an upper end of the first hole at the first end is situated upward of the extension line and a lower end of the first hole at the first end is situated downward of the extension line in the vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet discharging device for discharging a sheet and an image forming device including the same.

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus for discharging an image-formed sheet to a sheet loading portion has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). The seats loaded on the seat loading portion slide along the loading surface of the seat loading portion and are aligned by the rear end abutting against the rear end receiving member. Due to the weight of the seats, the seats loaded on the seat loading section may stick to each other if the cooling is insufficient. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a blower fan for generating an airflow is provided inside the main body of the apparatus, and a discharge port for discharging the airflow generated by the blower fan is provided in the rear end receiving member. ing.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-1449468

However, the discharge port described in Patent Document 1 is provided above the loading surface of the sheet loading section, and there is a risk that the sheet loaded on the loading surface cannot be sufficiently cooled.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet discharging device having improved cooling efficiency of a sheet loaded on a loading surface and an image forming device provided with the sheet discharging device.

The present invention is a wall having a discharge unit configured to discharge a sheet in the discharge direction, a loading surface on which the sheet discharged by the discharge unit is loaded, and a plurality of holes in the sheet discharge device. The plurality of holes are provided on the upstream side of the loading surface in the discharging direction and include a wall including an abutting portion to which the upstream end of the sheet loaded on the loading surface abuts in the discharging direction. The first hole portion is formed so as to straddle an extension line along the loading surface when viewed in a width direction orthogonal to the discharge direction and the vertical direction, and the first hole portion is a first end portion. And the second end opposite to the first end, the first end is located on the side of the loading surface, and in the vertical direction, the first hole in the first end. The upper end is located above the extension line, and the lower end of the first hole portion at the first end portion is located below the extension line.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency of the sheet loaded on the loading surface.

The whole schematic diagram which shows the printer which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the sheet ejection device. Sectional drawing which shows the sheet ejecting apparatus. Sectional drawing which shows the air flow around a sheet discharge device. A perspective view showing the flow of air by simulation. Sectional drawing which shows the insulation structure of a printer. Sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of a printer. The perspective view which shows the plurality of holes which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the sheet ejecting apparatus. The perspective view which shows the loading surface which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the plurality of holes which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
〔overall structure〕
First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The printer 100 as an image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic laser beam printer that forms a monochrome toner image. In the following description, the sheet S is an image formed by the printer 100, and includes, for example, paper, an OHT sheet, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 100 has a sheet feeding device 4 for feeding a loaded sheet, an image forming unit 3 for forming an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding device 4, and a sheet. It has a fixing portion 63 for fixing the transferred image. Further, the printer 100 has a sheet discharging device 90 that discharges the discharged sheet to the sheet loading unit 5.

When the image forming job is output to the printer 100, the image forming process by the image forming unit 3 is started based on the image information input from an external computer or the like connected to the printer 100. The image forming unit 3 includes a laser scanner 35, a photosensitive drum 31, a charging roller 32, a developing roller 33, and a transfer roller 34. The photosensitive drum 31, the charging roller 32, and the developing roller 33 are integrated into a cartridge so that they can be replaced. The photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer roller 34 form a transfer nip T1 as a transfer portion.

The laser scanner 35 irradiates the photosensitive drum 31 with laser light based on the input image information. At this time, the photosensitive drum 31 is precharged by the charging roller 32, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 31 by being irradiated with the laser beam. After that, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller 33, and a monochrome toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 31.

In parallel with the image forming process described above, the sheet S is fed from the sheet feeding device 4. The sheet feeding device 4 includes a sheet storage unit 41 provided at the lower part of the apparatus main body 2 of the printer 100, and a pair of regulation plates 42 that regulate the positions of both ends of the sheet stored in the sheet storage unit 41 in the width direction. And has a pickup roller 46. Further, the seat feeding device 4 has a slope 43 that regulates the position of the front end of the seat S housed in the seat storage portion 41, a feed roller 45, and a separation roller 44.

When the feeding operation of the seat P is started, the pickup roller 46 is lowered and comes into contact with the upper surface of the seat S housed in the seat storage portion 41. In this state, the pickup roller 46 rotates to feed the seat S. The fed sheet S is separated one by one by the feed roller 45 and the separation roller 44, and is conveyed to the transfer roller pair 61.

When the tip of the sheet S reaches the transport roller pair 61, the separation roller 44 separates from the feed roller 45. As a result, it is possible to reduce the sheet transport speed due to the back tension of the sheet S and reduce the vibration when the sheet S passes through the separation nip formed by the feed roller 45 and the separation roller 44.

Further, the seat storage unit 41 may be provided with a middle plate that can support the seat and can be raised and lowered. For example, the middle plate is raised by inputting an image forming job, and the seat and the pickup supported by the middle plate. It may be brought into contact with the roller 46. Further, as the separation roller 44, a torque limiter method, a retard roller method, or the like can be applied, and the separation roller 44 may be replaced with a pad or the like.

The sheet S passes through the transfer roller pair 61, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 31 is transferred at the transfer nip T1 by the electrostatic load bias applied to the transfer roller 34. The residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 31 is recovered by a cleaning blade (not shown). Predetermined heat and pressure are applied to the sheet S on which the toner image is transferred by the fixing portion 63, and the toner is melt-fixed (fixed). The sheet S that has passed through the fixing portion 63 is discharged to the seat loading unit 5 by the discharge roller pair 64 as the discharge unit.

Next, a case where an image is formed on both sides of the sheet S will be described. A post-fixing sensor 80 is provided between the fixing portion 63 and the discharge roller pair 64. The discharge roller pair 64 rotates in the reverse direction based on the fact that the rear end of the sheet S on which the image is formed on the first surface is detected by the sensor 80 after fixing. As a result, the sheet S is fed into the double-sided transport path 81 by the discharge roller pair 64.

The sheet S fed into the double-sided transport path 81 abuts on a shutter member (not shown) provided in front of the transport roller pair 82. As a result, the sheet S is corrected for skewing. Then, the seat S is guided to the transport roller pair 61 again by the transport roller pair 82. An image is formed on the second surface of the transfer nip T1 of the sheet S, and the sheet S is discharged to the sheet loading unit 5.

As described above, the path configuration in which the fed sheet S is conveyed upward and then discharged in the direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction (right to left in FIG. 1) (left to right in FIG. 1) is This configuration is suitable for miniaturization of the printer 100. However, the path configuration of the printer 100 is not limited to this.

[Sheet ejector]
Next, the configuration of the sheet discharging device 90 will be described with reference to FIG. The sheet discharging device 90 includes a discharging roller pair 64 (see FIG. 1), a seat loading unit 5, and an eaves cover 9. The seat loading portion 5 has a loading surface 6 on which the seat S discharged by the discharge roller pair 64 is loaded, a abutting wall portion 7, and a side wall portion 8.

The abutting wall portion 7 as a wall is arranged on the upstream side of the loading surface 6 in the seat discharge direction DD. The abutting wall portion 7 faces the loading surface 6 and extends upward in the vertical direction VD when viewed from the loading surface 6. The abutting wall portion 7 extends along the vertical VD. The extending direction of the abutting wall portion 7 may be parallel to the vertical direction VD or may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction VD. The side wall portions 8 are arranged on both sides of the loading surface 6 in the width direction WD. The side wall portion 8 extends upward in the vertical direction VD when viewed from the loading surface 6. The extending direction of the side wall portion 8 may be parallel to the vertical VD or may be inclined with respect to the vertical VD. The width direction WD is a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction DD and the vertical direction VD as the discharge direction. Further, the width direction WD is parallel to the direction of the rotation axis of each roller (rotating body) included in the discharge roller pair 64.

The loading surface 6 is inclined downward toward the upstream in the seat discharge direction DD. Therefore, the sheet S discharged to the loading surface 6 by the discharge roller pair 64 slides down along the loading surface 6 toward the abutting wall portion 7. Then, the upstream end of the sheet S in the sheet discharge direction abuts against the abutting wall portion 7, and the sheet S is aligned in the sheet discharge direction DD.

The extension tray 12 is provided on the loading surface 6 so as to be retractable, and the extension tray 12 can be pulled out in the direction along the loading surface 6 with respect to the loading surface 6. When the discharged sheet is a relatively long sheet, the sheet can be supported by the loading surface 6 and the extension tray 12 by pulling out the extension tray 12.

A discharge port 91 through which the sheet S discharged by the discharge roller pair 64 passes is formed in the abutting wall portion 7, and an eaves cover 9 is arranged above the discharge port 91. The eaves cover 9 can prevent foreign matter such as dust from entering the inside of the printer 100 from the discharge port 91 and improve the appearance.

Further, the abutting wall portion 7 has a reference surface 7a extending along the vertical VD, and a rib 11 provided on the reference surface 7a and extending downstream from the reference surface 7a in the sheet discharge direction DD. .. The rib 11 as the abutting portion is arranged on the upstream side of the loading surface 6 in the seat discharge direction DD. It is preferable that the ribs 11 are provided at two or more positions in the width direction WD. The rib 11 abuts on the upstream end of the sheet S loaded on the loading surface 6 in the sheet discharge direction DD.

On the reference surface 7a, a plurality of holes 10 are arranged side by side in the width direction WD and the vertical direction VD. The plurality of holes 10 are located below the discharge port 91. The plurality of holes 10 are arranged at positions overlapping the region through which the sheet S passes in the width direction WD. That is, the plurality of holes 10 are arranged between one end and the other end of the discharge port 91 in the width direction WD. In the present embodiment, the plurality of hole portions 10 are arranged as a first row 10L aligned along the width direction WD and an upper hole portion aligned along the width direction WD and provided above the first row 10L. The second row 10H of the above.

[Arrangement of holes]
Next, the arrangement of the plurality of holes 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a sheet discharging device 90, and one hole portion of the first row 10L in this cross section is referred to as a first hole portion 10a. Each hole of the first row 10L is provided at the same height in the vertical direction VD. In other words, the first hole portions 10a are provided at a plurality of locations so as to be lined up along the width direction WD (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 3, the extension line along the loading surface 6 is defined as the extension line 15 when viewed in the width direction WD. The first hole portion 10a is formed so as to straddle the extension line 15 in the vertical direction VD when viewed in the width direction WD. In other words, for the vertical VD, the upper end 71 of the first hole 10a is located above the extension line 15, and the lower end 72 of the first hole 10a is located below the extension line 15. More specifically, the first hole portion 10a is located on the side of the loading surface 6 and is located on the opposite side of the first end portion 501 connected to the outside of the apparatus main body 2 and the first end portion 501, and is located on the opposite side of the apparatus main body 2. It has a second end 502 connected to the inside. In the present embodiment, with respect to the vertical VD, the upper end 71 of the first hole 10a in the first end 501 is located above the extension line 15, and the lower end of the first hole 10a in the first end 501. 72 is located below the extension line 15. The above relationship between the extension line 15 and the first hole portion 10a may be satisfied at either one of the first end portion 501 and the second end portion 502 of the first hole portion 10a.

Further, in the sheet discharge direction DD, a gap 16 is provided between the loading surface 6 and the reference surface 7a of the abutting wall portion 7. Further, a receiving surface 17 as a receiving portion is arranged below the gap 16. For example, when a foreign substance such as a water droplet enters the gap 16, the receiving surface 17 receives the receiving surface 17 inside the printer 100. It is possible to prevent foreign matter from falling.

[the flow of air]
Next, the air flow around the sheet discharging device 90 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet S is usually conveyed along the arrow SR. At this time, the sheet S is heated in the fixing portion 63, and the high temperature sheet S is discharged to the sheet loading section 5 by the discharge roller pair 64.

Due to the heat of the seat S, the warmed air around the seat loading portion 5 moves laterally (to the right in FIG. 4) along with the transport operation of the seat S, and the updraft due to the warmed air is generated. When it is generated, the air flow shown by the arrow 20 is generated. As a result, the air pressure around the seat loading portion 5 is reduced.

Fresh air 21 flows into the seat loading portion 5 that has a negative pressure in this way from the plurality of holes 10 provided in the abutting wall portion 7. As described with reference to FIG. 3, since the plurality of holes 10 have a first row 10L including a first hole 10a arranged so as to straddle the extension line 15 of the loading surface 6, the first row is particularly high. The air that has passed through the 1st row 10L and has flowed into the seat loading section 5 flows along the loading surface 6.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the flow of air by simulation, and the sheet is not shown in FIG. Then, from FIG. 5, it is confirmed that the air that has passed through the plurality of holes 10 and has flowed into the sheet loading portion 5 is flowing along the loading surface 6. As a result, even if a relatively small amount of the sheet S is loaded on the loading surface 6, the sheet S loaded on the loading surface 6 can be reliably blown by wind, and the sheet can be cooled stably and efficiently. can do.

[Insulation configuration]
Next, the heat insulating configuration of the printer 100 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the fixing portion 63 includes a tubular fixing rotating body 63a composed of a belt, a film, or the like, a heating unit 63b arranged inside the fixing rotating body 63a, and the fixing rotating body 63a. It has a pressure roller 63c that forms a fixing nip T2. The heating unit 63b has a heater as a heating element, and the fixing nip T2 is heated by the heater.

Further, a heat shield sheet metal 150 and a heat shield resin cover 151 arranged along the outer peripheral surface of the fixing rotating body 63a are provided between the fixing portion 63 and the abutting wall portion 7 in the sheet discharge direction DD. There is. The heat shield sheet metal 150 as the first wall is made of a metal material, and the heat shield resin cover 151 as the second wall is made of a resin material. The heat-shielding resin cover 151 is arranged so as to have an air layer 152 of about 1 mm between the heat-shielding resin cover 151 and the heat-shielding sheet metal 150. The heat shield sheet metal 150, the air layer 152, and the heat shield resin cover 151 constitute a first heat shield wall 74 extending along the vertical direction VD, and the first heat shield wall 74 from the fixing portion 63. The heat in the direction of arrow 153 is cut off.

A transport guide 155 is arranged between the abutting wall portion 7 and the heat shield resin cover 151 in the sheet discharge direction DD, and the transport guide 155 extends along the sheet discharge direction DD. The abutting wall portion 7 and the heat shield resin cover 151 are connected by a transport guide 155 with as little gap as possible. The transport guide 155 is made of a resin material. Therefore, the heat in the direction of the arrow 156 transmitted from the sheet passing above the transport guide 155 is effectively blocked by the transport guide 155 as the second heat shield wall.

Therefore, it is possible to suppress the heating of the air in the region 160 indicated by the broken line, which is located between the transport guide 155 and the image forming portion 3 in the vertical VD. Since the air passing through the plurality of holes 10 mainly passes through the region 160, the cooling efficiency of the sheet S can be improved by keeping the region 160 in a low temperature environment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the printer 100 according to the present embodiment. The printer 100 takes in air from an inflow path (not shown) and collects unheated fresh air in the region 172. Then, the region 172 and the region 160 are surely communicated with each other by ensuring the gap 171 and the air passing through the region 172 and the region 160 flows into the sheet loading portion 5 from the plurality of holes 10.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the plurality of hole portions 10 having the first hole portions 10a (and the first row 10L) arranged so as to straddle the extension line 15 of the loading surface 6 are abutted wall portions 7. Since it is provided in, cooling air can flow along the loading surface 6. Thereby, for example, even when a small amount of sheets are loaded on the loading surface 6, the cooling efficiency of the sheets can be improved and the sticking between the sheets can be suppressed.

In particular, in recent years, there has been a tendency for low melting point type toners having a relatively low melting point to be used as the printing speed increases. When a low melting point type toner is used, there is a possibility that sheets may stick to each other even in a low-end type printer having a slightly low printing speed. Therefore, it is further required to improve the cooling efficiency of the discharged sheet. Further, it is conceivable to provide a fan in the printer in order to generate cooling air for cooling the sheet, but it is preferable not to provide a fan in order to reduce the size, cost and noise of the device, for example. .. Although the printer 100 is not provided with a fan in the present embodiment, a fan may be provided.

Here, consider a case where the loading surface 6 and the abutting wall portion 7 are arranged without a gap in the sheet discharge direction DD. In this case, foreign matter such as water droplets that slide along the loading surface 6 intrudes into the printer 100 from the first hole portion 10a because the first hole portion 10a is arranged so as to straddle the extension line 15. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a gap 16 is provided between the loading surface 6 and the reference surface 7a of the abutting wall portion 7 in the sheet discharge direction DD. Further, a receiving surface 17 is provided below the gap 16. This makes it possible to prevent foreign matter such as water droplets from entering the inside of the device through the first hole portion 10a.

Further, the abutting wall portion 7 has a reference surface 7a on which a plurality of hole portions 10 are formed, and a rib 11 that abuts on the upstream end of the sheet S. Therefore, when the upper end of the sheet S abuts on the rib 11, a gap is formed between the upper end and the plurality of holes 10 by the amount of the rib 11, and the sheet S closes the plurality of holes 10. It can be prevented from being lost. This makes it possible to maintain good cooling efficiency of the sheet.

Further, the sheet discharging device 90 defines a region 160 as a passing region by the first heat shield wall 74, the transport guide 155, and the abutting wall portion 7. The air that enters the sheet loading portion 5 through the plurality of holes 10 passes through the region 160, but the region 160 is shielded by the first heat shield wall 74 and the transport guide 155, so that the cooling efficiency of the sheet is improved. Can be improved.

In this embodiment, a duct may be provided in which the outside airflow inlet to the region 172 is made clearer. Further, the loading surface 6 has a linear planar shape, but the shape of the loading surface 6 is not limited to the planar shape. For example, the loading surface 6 may be formed into a curved surface shape when viewed in the width direction WD. In this case, the extension line 15 is a line following the curved surface shape of the loading surface 6. More specifically, the extension line 15 is a tangent line of the loading surface 6 at the upstream end of the loading surface 6 in the sheet discharge direction DD. In other words, the extension line 15 is a tangent to the loading surface 6 and is in contact with the loading surface 6 at the upstream end of the loading surface 6 in the sheet discharge direction DD. In the present embodiment, since the loading surface 6 has a planar shape, the extension line 15 is parallel to the loading surface 6 and passes through the upstream end of the loading surface 6 in the sheet discharge direction DD.

<Second embodiment>
Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described, but the second embodiment is a modification of the configuration of the plurality of holes in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be described by omitting the illustration or adding the same reference numerals to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of holes 10Q according to the second embodiment have a first row 10L, a second row 10H, and a third row 10U. The third row 10U is aligned along the width direction WD and is arranged below the first row 10L.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the sheet discharging device 90B according to the second embodiment, and one hole portion of the third row 10U in this cross section is referred to as a second hole portion 10b. Each hole of the third row 10U is provided at the same height in the vertical direction VD. As shown in FIG. 9, the second hole portion 10b is arranged below the extension line 15 of the first hole portion 10a and the loading surface 6, and is arranged at a position corresponding to the back surface 203 of the loading surface 6. There is.

Therefore, the air that has passed through the second hole portion 10b flows along the back surface 203 of the loading surface 6. This air flow is represented by streamline 204. Therefore, since the loading surface 6 can be cooled from the front side and the back side, the cooling efficiency of the sheet can be improved.

<Third embodiment>
Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described, but the third embodiment is a modification of the configuration of the loading surface of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be described by omitting the illustration or adding the same reference numerals to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 10, the loading surface 5C according to the third embodiment has a flat surface 301 and a plurality of grooves 300 recessed below the flat surface 301 and extending along the sheet discharging direction. There is. The groove 300 is recessed about 1 mm below the plane 301. The arrangement of the plurality of holes 10 according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

As a result, a gap is created below the sheet S loaded on the flat surface 301 of the loading surface 5C by the amount of the groove 300, and air can pass through the gap. Therefore, the air that has passed through the plurality of holes 10 flows along the front surface and the back surface of the sheet loaded on the loading surface 5C, and the cooling efficiency of the sheet can be improved. The cooling efficiency of the sheet is improved when the width of the plane 301 in the width direction WD is set narrower.

<Fourth Embodiment>
Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described, but the fourth embodiment is a modification of the configuration of the plurality of holes in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be described by omitting the illustration or adding the same reference numerals to the drawings.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a plurality of holes 10X according to the fourth embodiment. The figure arranged on the left side in FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the first sheet 402, the second sheet 403, and the third sheet 404 loaded on the loading surface 6. The figure arranged in the center in FIG. 11 is a figure showing a plurality of holes 10W arranged in the orthogonal alignment pattern according to the comparative example, and the figure arranged on the right side in FIG. 11 is the figure according to the fourth embodiment. It is a figure which shows the plurality of holes 10X arranged in this pattern.

As shown in the figure arranged in the center in FIG. 11, the plurality of holes 10W arranged in the orthogonal alignment pattern according to the comparative example are arranged in the first row 101 and the second row, respectively, in the width direction WD. It has 102 and a third column 103. The holes in the first row 101, the second row 102, and the third row 103 are aligned and aligned in the vertical VD, and do not overlap each other in the vertical VD. That is, in the vertical VD, the upper end of the first row 101 and the lower end of the second row 102 are separated from each other, and the upper end of the second row 102 and the lower end of the third row 103 are separated from each other. The first row 101 includes a plurality of first hole portions 10a.

As shown in the figure arranged on the right side in FIG. 11, the plurality of holes 10X arranged in the pattern according to the present embodiment have the fourth row 104 and the fifth having the plurality of holes arranged in the width direction WD, respectively. It has columns 105 and a sixth column 106. The fourth column 104, the fifth column 105, and the sixth column 106 constitute the first column, the second column, and the third column, respectively. In other words, each of the plurality of holes 10X has a plurality of holes arranged along the width direction WD, and has a plurality of rows of holes arranged in the vertical direction VD. The holes in the fourth row 104 and the sixth row 106 are aligned and aligned even in the vertical VD. Each hole in the fifth row 105 is displaced in the width direction WD with respect to each hole in the fourth row 104 and the sixth row 106. In the width direction WD, each hole in the fifth row 105 is located between the holes in the fourth row 104 and the sixth row 106.

Further, the fifth row 105 overlaps the fourth row 104 and the sixth row 106 in the vertical VD. That is, in the vertical VD, the upper end of the fourth row 104 is located at the same position as the lower end of the fifth row 105, or at a position higher than the lower end of the fifth row 105. Further, the upper end of the fifth row 105 is located at the same position as the lower end of the sixth row 106, or at a position higher than the lower end of the sixth row 106. The fourth row 104 includes a plurality of first hole portions 10a.

As shown in the figure arranged on the left side in FIG. 11, the straight line 405 is a line passing through the intersection of the loading surface 6 and the abutting wall portion 7 and parallel to the horizontal direction. The straight line 406 passes through the intersection of the second sheet 403 and the abutting wall portion 7, and is a line parallel to the horizontal direction. The straight line 407 passes through the intersection of the third sheet 404 and the abutting wall portion 7, and is a line parallel to the horizontal direction.

As shown in FIG. 11, the straight line 405 extends across the first row 101 and the fourth row 104, and the straight line 407 extends across the second row 102 and the fifth row 105. On the other hand, the straight line 406 passes between the first row 101 and the second row 102, and extends across the fourth row 104 and the fifth row 105.

In this way, the plurality of holes 10W arranged in the orthogonal alignment pattern shown in the figure arranged in the center in FIG. 11 have a slight gap in the vertical direction VD between the rows, so that the flow of the cooling air is vertical. There is a break in the direction VD. On the other hand, in the plurality of holes 10X arranged in the pattern shown in the figure arranged on the right side in FIG. 11, adjacent rows overlap each other in the vertical direction VD, so that the flow of the cooling air can be increased. There is no break in the vertical VD. Therefore, the sheet can be cooled more efficiently.

<Other embodiments>
The plurality of holes described above are preferably formed of holes having a maximum opening size of 5 mm or less. In each of the above-described embodiments, the hole is circular with a diameter of about 3 mm.

In any of the above-described forms, the plurality of holes may be provided in three or more rows, or may be in one row. Further, each hole portion is not limited to a round hole, and may be a polygonal hole portion. Further, a long hole long in the vertical VD may be used. Further, the plurality of holes may not have two or more holes in each row.

Further, in any of the above-described forms, the rib 11 is provided on the abutting wall portion 7, but the rib 11 may be omitted. That is, the reference surface 7a may be used as the abutting portion so that the upstream end of the sheet S is abutted against the reference surface 7a. Further, the gap 16 between the abutting wall portion 7 and the loading surface 6 may be omitted. Moreover, any of the above-mentioned forms may be arbitrarily combined with each other.

2: Device body / 6: Loading surface / 7: Wall (butting wall) / 7a: Reference surface / 10,10Q, 10W: Multiple holes / 10a: First hole / 10b: Second hole / 10H: Upper hole, 2nd row / 10L: 1st row / 10U: 3rd row / 11: Butt, rib / 15: Extension line / 16: Gap / 17: Receiving part (receiving surface) / 63: Fixing part / 64: Discharge part (discharge roller pair) / 71: Upper end / 72: Lower end / 74: First heat shield wall / 90, 90B: Sheet discharge device / 100: Image forming device (printer) / 150: First Wall (heat shield sheet metal) / 151: 2nd wall (heat shield resin cover) / 152: Air layer / 155: 2nd heat shield wall (transport guide) / 160: Passage area (region) / 300: Groove / 501: 1st end / 502: 2nd end / DD: Discharge direction (sheet discharge direction) / T1: Transfer part (transfer nip) / VD: Vertical direction / WD: Width direction

Claims (14)

A discharge unit configured to discharge the sheet in the discharge direction,
The loading surface on which the sheet discharged by the discharging unit is loaded, and
A wall having a plurality of holes, which is arranged on the upstream side of the loading surface in the discharging direction and includes a abutting portion where the upstream end of the sheet loaded on the loading surface abuts in the discharging direction. Equipped with
The plurality of holes have a first hole formed so as to straddle an extension line along the loading surface when viewed in a width direction orthogonal to the discharge direction and the vertical direction.
The first hole portion has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion.
The first end is located on the side of the loading surface.
In the vertical direction, the upper end of the first hole portion at the first end portion is located above the extension line, and the lower end of the first hole portion at the first end portion is located above the extension line. Located below,
A sheet ejection device characterized by that. A gap is provided between the loading surface and the wall in the discharge direction.
The sheet discharging device according to claim 1. Further provided with a receiving portion arranged below the gap.
The sheet discharging device according to claim 2. The wall has a reference plane that extends along the vertical direction and forms the plurality of holes.
The abutting portion is a rib provided on the reference surface, extending downstream from the reference surface in the discharge direction, and abutting the upstream end of the sheet loaded on the loading surface.
The sheet discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The plurality of holes have a first hole and a second hole arranged below the extension line.
The sheet discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The plurality of holes have an upper hole arranged above the first hole.
The sheet discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The loading surface has a groove extending along the discharging direction.
The sheet discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sheet discharging device is characterized. The plurality of holes have a plurality of holes aligned along the width direction when viewed in the discharge direction, and have a plurality of rows of holes arranged in the vertical direction.
In the holes of the plurality of rows, adjacent rows overlap each other in the vertical direction.
The sheet discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The plurality of holes have a first row having a plurality of holes arranged in the width direction and a plurality of holes arranged in the width direction when viewed in the discharge direction, and are above the first row. It has a second row located and a third row having a plurality of holes aligned in the width direction and located above the second row.
The second row overlaps the first row and the third row in the vertical direction.
The sheet discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The abutting portion is configured to regulate the movement of the sheet when the sheet loaded on the loading surface moves toward the wall.
The sheet discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sheet discharging device is characterized. The loading surface is inclined so that the sheet loaded on the loading surface moves toward the wall.
The sheet discharging device according to claim 10. Further equipped with the main body of the device,
The discharging unit is configured to discharge the sheet from the inside of the apparatus main body to the outside.
The first end is connected to the outside of the device body, and the second end is connected to the inside.
The sheet discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. A transfer unit that transfers the toner image to the sheet,
A fixing portion for fixing the toner image transferred by the transfer portion to the sheet, and a fixing portion.
The sheet discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which discharges a sheet that has passed through the fixing portion, is provided.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that. A first heat shield wall arranged between the fixing portion and the wall in the discharge direction and extending along the vertical direction.
A second heat shield wall extending in the discharge direction and arranged between the first heat shield wall and the wall in the discharge direction is further provided.
The first heat shield wall, the second heat shield wall, and the wall define a passage region through which air flowing toward the plurality of holes passes.
The first heat shield wall has a first wall made of a metal material and a second wall made of a resin material and arranged so as to have an air layer between the first wall and the first wall. ,
The second heat shield wall is made of a resin material.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 13.

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