JP2024019757A - Sheet conveyance device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a sheet conveyance device including a paper discharge tray provided with a plurality of grooves to facilitate picking up of discharged sheets by a machine. A sheet conveying device includes a paper discharge tray, a paper discharge section, and a plurality of groove sections. The paper output tray stacks sheets. The paper discharge section conveys the sheet to the paper discharge tray. A plurality of grooves are provided in the tray in a direction intersecting with a sheet discharge direction. The groove portion is provided in a horizontal direction with respect to the other groove portions. [Selection diagram] Figure 1

Description

This embodiment relates to a sheet conveyance device.

Due to recent changes in the workplace environment, the concept of machines picking up ejected sheets has moved one step closer to reality. Conventionally, the paper output tray shape of a sheet conveying device has been provided with groove-like cut recesses in a direction that intersects with the paper output direction in order to make it easier for users to pick up ejected sheets. . However, there is a problem in that it is not suitable for picking up discharged sheets by a machine.

JP2005-62736

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying device that includes a paper discharge tray provided with a plurality of grooves to facilitate picking up of discharged sheets by a machine.

The sheet conveyance device of this embodiment includes a paper ejection tray, a paper ejection section, and a plurality of grooves. The paper output tray stacks sheets. The paper discharge section conveys the sheet to the paper discharge tray. The plurality of grooves are provided in the tray in a direction that intersects with the sheet discharge direction and in a horizontal direction with respect to other grooves.

External view showing an example of the overall configuration of a sheet conveying device according to an embodiment Hardware block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a sheet conveying device according to an embodiment Diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a printer External view showing a sheet conveyance device and a sheet pickup device according to an embodiment A perspective view schematically showing a paper output tray of a sheet conveying device according to an embodiment. A diagram schematically showing a paper output tray of the sheet conveying device according to the embodiment from above. A front view schematically showing a paper output tray of a sheet conveying device according to an embodiment. A perspective view schematically showing a paper output tray of a first modification. A diagram schematically showing a paper output tray of a first modified example of the embodiment from above. A front view schematically showing a paper ejection tray of a second modified example of the embodiment. A front view schematically showing a paper output tray according to a third modification of the embodiment. A perspective view schematically showing a paper ejection tray according to a fourth modification of the embodiment.

In the sheet conveyance device of the embodiment, it is possible to provide a sheet conveyance device including a paper discharge tray provided with a plurality of grooves for facilitating the pickup of discharged sheets by a machine. Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of the overall configuration of a sheet conveying device 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the sheet conveying device 1 according to the embodiment. First, explanation will be given mainly using FIG. 1. The sheet conveyance device 1 is, for example, a multifunction device. The sheet conveyance device 1 includes a control section 100, a sheet storage section 140, an operation panel 200, a scanner 300, and a printer 400. The sheet conveying device 1 prints on a sheet using a developer. The developer is, for example, toner. In the following description, the developer will be described as toner. The sheet is, for example, paper or label paper. The sheet may be of any type as long as the surface of the sheet can be printed by the sheet conveying device 1.

The operation panel 200 includes one or more operation keys 202 and a display 203. Operation panel 200 accepts user operations. The operation panel 200 outputs a signal to the control unit 100 according to the operation performed by the user.

The display device 203 is an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. The display 203 displays various information regarding the sheet conveying device 1.

The printer 400 prints on a sheet based on image data generated by the scanner 300 or image data received via the network. Printer 400 prints using toner. The sheet on which the image is formed may be a sheet stored in the sheet storage section 140 or a sheet manually fed into the manual feed tray 150.

The sheet storage unit 140 stores sheets used for printing in the printer 400. Sheets used for printing in the printer 400 are placed on the manual feed tray 150.

The scanner 300 reads the image to be read as the brightness and darkness of light. The scanner 300 records read image data. The recorded image data may be transmitted to another information processing device via a network. The image represented by the recorded image data may be printed on a sheet by the printer 400.

Next, explanation will be given mainly using FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the sheet conveyance device 1 includes a control section 100, an operation panel 200, a scanner 300, and a printer 400.

The control unit 100 includes a main CPU, ROM, RAM, NVRAM, network controller, HDD, modem, image processing unit 82, and the like.

The main CPU controls the overall operation of the sheet conveying device 1. The ROM stores data necessary for control such as control programs. RAM temporarily stores data. NVRAM is non-volatile memory. The network controller connects the sheet conveying device 1 and the network. The sheet conveyance device 1 communicates with external devices such as a server and a PC (Personal Computer) via a network controller. The HDD stores data such as images used for printing and images read by the scanner 300. The modem connects the sheet conveying device 1 and a telephone line. The image processing unit 82 performs image processing on image data.

The operation panel 200 has operation keys 202 and a display 203. The operation keys 202 are input devices for inputting processes to be executed, numerical values, and the like. The display 203 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. Display 203 may be configured as a touch panel.

The scanner 300 includes an image correction unit 302, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 304, and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 305. The image correction unit 302 includes, for example, an A/D conversion circuit, a shading correction circuit, and a line memory. The A/D conversion circuit converts the R, G, and B analog signals output from the CCD 304 into digital signals, respectively. ADF 305 is an automatic document transport unit. The ADF 305 takes the sheet installed by the user into the conveyance path in a conveyance direction corresponding to the orientation in which the sheet is installed. The ADF 305 conveys the sheet by rotating a conveyance roller in the conveyance path, and the CCD 304 reads an image on the sheet being conveyed.

The printer 400 includes a laser driver 402 and a transport control section 403. Laser driver 402 drives a laser to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor. A conveyance control unit 403 conveys a sheet to be printed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of printer 400. In the example of FIG. 3, the printer 400 is a quadruple tandem printer. However, the printer 400 is not limited to the four tandem type.

The printer 400 includes a printing section 10, a fixing section 30, and a paper ejection section 40. The printing section 10 includes an intermediate transfer body 11, developing devices 91 to 94, a plurality of primary transfer rollers 17 (17-1 to 17-4), a secondary transfer section 18, and an exposure section 19.

The intermediate transfer body 11 may be configured using, for example, an endless belt. Intermediate transfer body 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow 1010 by a roller. In this embodiment, upstream and downstream are defined based on the direction in which the intermediate transfer body 11 moves. The visible images generated by the developing devices 91 to 94 are transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer body 11.

The developing devices 91 to 94 form visible images using toners having different properties. For example, some developing devices may use toners of different colors. As toners of different colors, toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) may be used. Some development devices may use toners whose color disappears upon external stimulation (eg, heat). In some developing devices, a special toner such as a glossy toner or a fluorescent toner may be used.

In FIG. 3, the developing device 91 is located most upstream among the four developing devices, and the developing device 94 is located most downstream among the four developing devices.

The developing devices 91 to 94 use different toner properties, but have the same configuration. The developing device 91 includes a developing section 121 , a photoreceptor drum 131 , a charger 141 , a cleaning blade 151 , and a developing drum 161 . The developing device 92 includes a developing section 122, a photosensitive drum 132, a charger 142, a cleaning blade 152, and a developing drum 162. The developing device 93 includes a developing section 123, a photoreceptor drum 133, a charger 143, a cleaning blade 153, and a developing drum 163. The developing device 94 includes a developing section 124, a photosensitive drum 134, a charger 144, a cleaning blade 154, and a developing drum 164.

In the following description, each of the developing section 121, the developing section 122, the developing section 123, and the developing section 124 will be expressed as the developing section 12 unless they are particularly distinguished. The same applies to the photosensitive drum 13, the charger 14, the cleaning blade 15, and the developing drum 16.

The developing device will be described below using the developing device 91 as an example. The developing device 91 includes a developing section 121 , a photosensitive drum 131 , a charger 141 , a cleaning blade 151 , and a developing drum 161 . The developing section 121 accommodates toner and carrier. The developing section 121 causes toner to adhere to the photoreceptor drum 131 using the developing drum 161 .

The photoreceptor drum 131 has a photoreceptor (photosensitive area) on its outer peripheral surface. The photoreceptor is, for example, an organic photoconductor (OPC). The photoreceptor drum 131 is exposed to light by the exposure unit 19, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof. The charger 141 uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor drum 131.

The cleaning blade 151 is, for example, a plate-shaped member. The cleaning blade 151 is made of rubber such as urethane resin, for example. The cleaning blade 151 removes toner adhering to the photoreceptor drum 131.

Next, an outline of the operation of the developing device 91 will be explained. The photosensitive drum 131 is charged to a predetermined potential by a charger 141. Next, the photosensitive drum 131 is irradiated with light from the exposure section 19 . As a result, the potential of the area of the photoreceptor drum 131 that is irradiated with light changes. Due to this change, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 131. The electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 131 is developed with toner in the developing section 121. That is, a visible image, which is an image developed with toner, is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 131.

The primary transfer rollers 17 (17-1 to 17-4) transfer the visible images formed on the photoreceptor drums by the respective developing devices 91 to 94 onto the intermediate transfer body 11. The secondary transfer section 18 includes a secondary transfer roller 181 and a secondary transfer opposing roller 182. The secondary transfer unit 18 transfers the visible image formed on the intermediate transfer body 11 all at once to a sheet to be printed. Transfer by the secondary transfer unit 18 is realized, for example, by a potential difference between the secondary transfer roller 181 and the secondary transfer opposing roller 182.

The exposure section 19 forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the photoreceptor drums of the developing devices 91 to 94 with light. The exposure section 19 includes a light source such as a laser or a light emitting diode (LED). In this embodiment, the exposure section 19 includes a laser and operates under the control of a laser driver 402.

The fixing unit 30 fixes the visible image onto the sheet by applying heat and pressure to the visible image transferred onto the sheet. The paper discharge section 40 discharges the sheet on which the visible image has been fixed by the fixing section 30 to the outside of the sheet conveying device 1 .

FIG. 4 is an external view showing the sheet conveyance device 1 and sheet pickup device 500 of the embodiment. The sheet pickup device 500 is a machine that picks up and collects sheets discharged onto the paper discharge tray 41. The sheet pickup device 500 has two arms 501. The arm 501 is provided so as to be insertable into the groove 42 of the paper discharge tray 41 of the sheet conveyance device 1 . The two arms 501 are provided in the horizontal direction. Arm 501 is provided to be movable up and down. The sheet pickup device 500 inserts the arm 501 into the groove 42 and picks up the sheets stacked on the paper discharge tray 41 by raising the arm 501. The sheet pickup device 500 may be capable of communicating with the sheet conveyance device 1 and an information communication device such as a PC (Personal Computer) through wired or wireless communication, or may be of a stand-alone type. It is sufficient that at least two or more arms 501 are provided, and the upper limit of the number of arms 501 is not limited. The plurality of arms 501 may be movable independently in the horizontal direction (directions including the sheet discharging direction D and the direction perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction D). The sheet pickup method of the sheet pickup device 500 is not limited to the sheet pickup method of the embodiment as long as the sheet can be separated from the sheet conveyance device 1. For example, the arm 501 may be a mechanism that holds the sheet by sandwiching it from above and below.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing the paper discharge tray 41 of the sheet conveying device 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the paper discharge tray 41 of the sheet conveying device 1 of the embodiment from above. FIG. 7 is a front view schematically showing the paper discharge tray 41 of the sheet conveying device 1 according to the embodiment. Arrow D in FIGS. 5 to 7 indicates the sheet discharge direction. FIG. 6 shows the recessed portions of the groove portion 42 in a dot pattern. The arrows in FIG. 7 indicate the conveyance route of the sheet. The sheet passes through a sheet storage section 140, a printing section 10, a fixing section 30, and a paper discharge section 40, and is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 41. The paper discharge tray 41 stacks sheets discharged from the paper discharge section 40.

The paper discharge tray 41 of the sheet conveying device 1 of the embodiment has two grooves 42. The groove portion 42 is a groove provided in a direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction D, into which the arm 501 of the sheet pickup device 500 is inserted. The groove portion 42 is provided with a recessed portion in the direction perpendicular to the sheet ejection direction D in the paper ejection tray 41 . The groove portion 42 is a linear groove extending from the front side to the rear side of the sheet conveying device 1. The groove portion 42 is provided so that the center line CL of the bottom portion 43 intersects the sheet conveyance direction D and is parallel to the center line CL of the bottom portion 43 of the other groove portion 42 .

FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing the paper discharge tray 41 of the first modification. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the paper discharge tray 41 of the first modified example of the embodiment from above. Arrow D in FIGS. 8 and 9 indicates the sheet discharge direction. FIG. 9 shows the recessed portions of the groove portion 42 in a dot pattern. The groove portion 42 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has a structure in which the width of the groove portion 42 increases radially from the rear side to the front side of the sheet conveying device 1. This makes it easier to insert the arm 501 of the sheet pickup device 500. In addition, also in the 1st modification, the center line CL of the bottom part 43 of the groove part 42 and the center line CL of the bottom part 43 of the other groove part 42 are provided so that it may become parallel.

FIG. 10 is a front view schematically showing a paper discharge tray 41 according to a second modification of the embodiment. Arrow D in FIG. 10 indicates the sheet discharge direction. Among the side walls 45 forming the groove portion 42 of the paper ejection tray 41 shown in FIG. It has an inclination toward the opening 44 on the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction D. The angle α of the inclination of the side wall 45 shown in FIG. 10 may be any angle that allows the ejected sheet to be conveyed without being delayed even if it comes into contact with the inclined side wall 45. Thereby, it is possible to eliminate the problem that the sheet conveyed to the paper discharge tray 41 comes into contact with the side wall 45 and the conveyance of the sheet is delayed. Note that the angle α of the inclination of the side wall 45 may be different for each of the plurality of groove portions 42 .

FIG. 11 is a front view schematically showing a paper discharge tray 41 according to a third modification of the embodiment. Arrow D in FIG. 10 indicates the sheet discharge direction. The plurality of grooves 42 (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e) surrounded by dotted lines shown in FIG. 11 are the same as the grooves 42 shown in FIG. 10, so description and detailed numbering will be omitted. The paper discharge tray 41 shown in FIG. 11 has five grooves 42. The plurality of grooves 42 are provided, for example, at positions based on the corresponding sheet size of the sheet conveying device 1. The sheet size compatible with the sheet conveying device 1 is a sheet size based on the international standard for finished paper dimensions defined by ISO216, for example. The plurality of arms 501 of the sheet pickup device 500 of the third modification are each movable independently in the horizontal direction, and the arms 501 are inserted into the grooves 42 corresponding to the size of the sheet to be picked up to pick up the sheet. .

For example, by inserting the arm 501 of the sheet pickup device 500 into the grooves 42a and 42b and raising the arm 501, it becomes possible to pick up an A5 size (148 mm x 210 mm) sheet. For example, by inserting the arm 501 of the sheet pickup device 500 into the grooves 42a and 42c and raising the arm 501, it becomes possible to pick up an A4 size (210 mm x 297 mm) sheet. For example, by inserting the arm 501 of the sheet pickup device 500 into the grooves 42a, 42c, and 42e and raising the arm 501, it is possible to pick up an A3 size (297 mm x 420 mm) sheet.

The bottom 43 of the groove 42 is provided below the openings 44 of the other grooves 42 . Alternatively, the bottom 43 of the groove 42 is provided at the same height as the bottom 43 of the other groove 42 . Thereby, even if the plurality of arms 501 of the sheet pickup device 500 move uniformly in the vertical direction, the arms 501 can be inserted into the grooves 42 in any combination of the plurality of grooves 42.

The length of the groove 42 in the depth direction will be explained. FIG. 12 is a perspective view schematically showing a paper discharge tray 41 according to a fourth modification of the embodiment. Arrow D in FIG. 12 indicates the sheet discharge direction. The groove portion 42 shown in FIG. 12 has a structure in which the width of the groove portion 42 increases radially from the rear side to the front side of the sheet conveying device 1. Of the side walls 45 forming the grooves 42 of the paper ejection tray 41 shown in FIG. It has an inclination toward the opening 44 on the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction D. The length L shown in FIG. 12 is the length in the depth direction from the rear end 46 of the paper discharge tray 41 to the side wall 45 that abuts in the depth direction of the groove 42. The length L0 shown in FIG. 12 is the length of the paper discharge tray 41 in the depth direction. The paper discharge tray 41 of the fourth modification has a groove portion 42 having a length L in the depth direction shorter than the length L0 in the depth direction of the paper discharge tray 41 . When a sheet on the paper discharge tray 41 is picked up by the sheet pickup device 500 of the embodiment, if the length L in the depth direction of the groove portion 42 is, for example, L≧1/2×L0, the arm 501 stably picks up the sheet. There are cases where it is possible. Further, the length L0 and the length L may be set based on the width of a sheet having the maximum length in the depth direction (maximum width) that can be ejected by the paper ejecting section 40. For example, the length L0 is the length in the depth direction from the trajectory of the front end of the sheet discharged by the paper discharge unit 40 to the trajectory of the rear end. For example, the length L is the length in the depth direction from the trajectory of the front end of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge section 40 to the side wall 45 that abuts in the depth direction of the groove 42.

According to the sheet conveyance device 1 of the embodiment described above, it is possible to provide a sheet conveyance device equipped with a sheet discharge tray provided with a plurality of grooves for facilitating the pickup of discharged sheets by a machine. It becomes possible.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and gist of the invention as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Sheet conveyance device, 40... Paper discharge part, 41... Paper discharge tray, 42... Groove part, 43... Bottom part, 44... Opening part, 45... Side wall, CL... Center line, D... Sheet conveyance direction

Claims (5)

A paper output tray for stacking sheets;
a paper ejection unit that conveys the sheet to the paper ejection tray;
a plurality of grooves provided in the tray in a direction intersecting the sheet ejection direction;
The groove portion is provided in a horizontal direction with other groove portions,
Sheet conveyance device. In the pair of side walls forming the groove and facing each other in the paper ejection direction, the side wall located on the downstream side in the paper ejection direction has an inclination toward the downstream side in the paper ejection direction.
The sheet conveying device according to claim 1. The groove is provided such that the center line of the bottom of the groove is parallel to the center line of the bottom of another groove.
The sheet conveying device according to claim 1. The bottom of the groove is provided at the same height as the bottom of other grooves,
The sheet conveying device according to claim 1. The groove portion is provided at a position based on a sheet size compatible with the sheet conveying device,
The sheet conveying device according to claim 1.

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