JP2523442Y2 - Paper ejection device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper discharge device that discharges a document such as a document reading device onto a discharge tray by a conveying force of a discharge roller.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, there is a document reading apparatus that can convey a thick document such as a book and read its image. When a document such as a book is to be sent, the page to be copied is opened, placed in a book carrier, which is a storage body, and conveyed with the image surface facing downward. In the case of an image forming apparatus, this may be an exposure section), where the image is read and then discharged onto a discharge tray by a discharge roller of a discharge device provided near a discharge port. You.

However, in the case of a thick and heavy original such as a book placed in the book carrier, as shown in FIG. 12, the center of gravity of the document Pb (including the book carrier) is set to the discharge roller 2.
When the reading optical system 4 is provided close to the paper discharge roller 2 when the document Pb is moved to the outside of the paper discharge tray 3 as shown in FIG. Back-up roller made of flexible material
There is a problem that a focus shift occurs due to pushing up the contact glass 19 and separating it from the contact glass 1, and a good image cannot be obtained.

Such a problem of out-of-focus may also occur in a paper discharge device for discharging a document of a device such as a facsimile or a copying machine, depending on the thickness and length of the document.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and even if a document is a thick document other than a standard product, the image can be read by a reading optical system without defocusing. If the original is thin and it is thin, it must be reliably ejected onto the output tray without being transported by friction with the subsequently ejected original. With the goal.

It is another object of the present invention to select a type of a document to be used so that the sheet discharging device automatically adjusts to an optimum discharge state suitable for the selected document.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a paper discharge device for discharging a document onto a paper discharge tray by a conveying force of a pair of paper discharge rollers arranged vertically, wherein the paper discharge tray comprises: Is located at a position lower than the lower roller of the discharge roller, and has a slope that rises in the document discharge direction, and is close to the discharge side of the discharge roller. Then, a paper guide member having a guide surface for guiding a document in the process of being conveyed by the discharge roller is connected to a horizontal tangent line of the upper end of the lower roller of the discharge roller with the horizontal tangent. A horizontal position substantially equal to or slightly lower than both of the extension of the document guide surface of the transparent document guide means provided on the upper part of the reading optical system on the upstream side of the roller in the document transport direction; The guide surface is close to the discharge roller with respect to the tangent line. That at the end side in which is provided to be displaceable in an inclined position inclined to become lower than the lower rollers.

Further, in the paper discharge device, a document selecting means for selecting a type of a document to be used, a paper guide member driving means for driving the paper guide member to be displaced to the horizontal position and the inclined position, and a document selecting means And control means for controlling the paper guide member driving means in accordance with the type of the document selected by the user.

Hereinafter, a specific description will be given based on an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example in which the paper discharging device according to the present invention is applied to a document discharging portion of a document reading device, and FIG. 2 is an obliquely rear upper portion of the document reading device equipped with the paper discharging device. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked more.

As shown in FIG. 1, this paper discharge device discharges a document P onto a paper discharge tray 7 by a conveying force of a paper discharge roller 2 rotating in the directions of arrows A ₁ and A ₂ , respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the document reading apparatus is attached to a paper discharge section on the upper rear surface of the document reading apparatus.

The document reading device includes a plurality of document selection buttons (details will be described later) that are selectively pressed according to the type of document to be used on the top of the book 10, and various types of buttons that indicate a document size, a reduction ratio, and the like. An operation panel 5 having an instruction button, a display lamp, and the like is provided, and a document table 17 used when a document is inserted into the main body 10 is provided on the front surface (right side in the figure).

As shown in FIG. 1, this paper discharging device is in a conveying process in which the paper is conveyed in the direction of arrow B by the conveying force of the paper discharging rollers 2 in the vicinity of the paper discharging side of the paper discharging rollers 2. A paper guide member 8 having a plurality of guide surfaces 8a and 8b for guiding the document P,
The guide surfaces 8a and 8b are provided so that the angle of the paper discharge tray 7 with respect to the sheet mounting surface 7a can be changed.

The paper discharge tray 7 is formed with a plate width capable of placing a document of the maximum size that can be fed, and a plurality of documents up to a predetermined length, for example, AO size, are spaced apart in the feed direction at the top. It is placed on the formed rib-shaped paper placement surface 7a.

Further, the paper discharge tray 7 is inclined forward so that the document placed on the sheet placement surface 7a is not fed in the direction of arrow B due to friction with a document discharged subsequently. Part 7b
Is formed.

The paper discharge tray 7 has its bottom fixed and supported by a stay member 9 provided orthogonally to the paper discharge direction, and has a plurality of mounting claws 7c formed at the end on the paper discharge roller 2 side. It engages in a groove formed in the body 10 (FIG. 2).

Then, both ends of the stay member 9 are fixed to one ends of angle members 11 and 12 formed of plate members, respectively, and the other ends 11a and 11b and 12a and 12a of the angle members 11 and 12 are fixed.
b (not shown, but located symmetrically to 11a and 11b) is fixed by screwing the main body 10 or the like.

A plurality of (three in this example) paper guide members 8 are provided. A shaft 13 is penetrated near one end of each of the paper guide members 8 and integrally fixed thereto, and the shape of the other paper discharge roller 2 side is formed. A thin guide surface 8a is formed on the upper surface, and a curved curved guide surface 8b (see also FIG. 6) is formed on the lower surface.

Then, the respective paper guide members 8 are placed near the ribs of the paper mounting surface 7a on the upper surface of the paper discharge tray 7.
The upper surface of the paper discharge tray 7 is protruded from the opening 7d formed in accordance with
Most of 8b always projects above its upper surface.

The shaft 13 is rotatably supported in the direction of arrow C by two support members 14 (only one is illustrated in a simplified manner), one end of which is fixed to the stay member 9. The movement in the axial direction indicated by arrow D in FIG. 1 is restricted by a C-ring or the like for preventing lateral displacement, so that only rotation is allowed. At one end, a rotation mechanism 20 for rotating the paper guide member 8 in the direction of arrow C is provided.

Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 denotes a contact glass provided as a transparent document guide means. A predetermined position on the lower surface of the contact glass is illuminated by a lamp (not shown) onto the document on the contact glass 1, and the reflected light is shown. A reading optical system 4 for reading an image data of a document by forming an image on a light receiving unit not provided is provided, and a backup roller 19 is provided on an upper portion thereof.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation mechanism 20
A biasing give the engaging portion 21 for positioning and fixing, as well as the movably guided engagement portion 21 in the axial direction of the shaft 13 (arrow D), always a biasing force to the engaging direction indicated by the arrow D ₁ The pin 16 is integrally fitted into a holding portion 15a formed on the handle 15, and the pin 16 projects from the end surface 15b of the handle 15 on the stay member 9 side by a predetermined amount. .

On the other hand, the biasing guide portion 22 fits the inner tube 24 having good slidability into the small-diameter portion 23a formed in the tube portion 23 of the handle 15 as shown in FIG. One end of the shaft 13 is fitted into the inner tube 24 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow D.

A spring receiver 29 having a flange portion 29a is screwed onto the left end surface of the shaft 13, and a spring 31 is engaged between the flange portion 29a and the left end surface of the shaft 13, and is taken together with the tube portion 23. Hand 15 (4th
FIG. 5 is always biased rightward in FIG.

Furthermore, at the right end of the tube portion 23 (the paper discharge tray 7 side),
A U-shaped notch 23c (see also FIG. 4) is formed, and the inner tube 24 is formed.
To form a long hole 24a at a position corresponding to the notch 23c,
Even if the movement restricting pin 27 is inserted into the notch 23c and the elongated hole 24a and screwed to the shaft 13, the pipe 23 is moved to the left in FIG.
The amount of movement is regulated by the elongated hole 24a and the pin 27, and the shaft 13
To prevent it from falling off.

As shown in FIG. 4, a positioning plate 28 formed in an arc shape corresponding to the rotation position of the pin 16 about the axis 13 is provided.
Is fixed to the left end face 11c of the angle member 11 with screws or the like, and positioning holes 28a, 28b and 28c for determining the fixing position of the paper guide member 8 are formed in the positioning plate 28 at positions corresponding to the pins 16. I have.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 5 has a plurality of document selection buttons that are selected and pressed according to the type of document such as plain paper, book (book), and long, that is, a plain paper button 6a, a book button. 6
b, Nagashakubotan 6c are provided respectively, the display lamp LED _1, LED _2, LED ₃ in each of its buttons are provided corresponding.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

First, the case of using a standard-size plain paper original will be described.

In the case of a plain paper original, the operation panel 5 shown in FIG.
The normal paper button 6a is pressed to automatically adjust the interval between the discharge rollers 2 according to the thickness of the original.

Then, at this time, the pin 16 of the rotating mechanism 20 shown in FIG.
When the paper guide member 8 is at a position fitted in the positioning hole 28a as shown in the figure, the tip of the lower curved guide surface 8b is fixed to the paper discharge tray 7 as shown in FIG. The upper guide surface 8a is in contact with the inclined portion 7b, and is inclined substantially parallel to the inclined portion 7b.

Accordingly, the document P discharged in the direction of arrow F by the paper discharge rollers 2 hangs down by its own weight when passing through the paper discharge rollers 2 as shown in FIG.
And is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 7 while being in contact with the sheet.

In addition, when using this plain paper original, a rotating mechanism
When the pin 16 of 20 is inserted into the position other than the positioning hole 28a (28b or 28c), hold the handle 15 shown in FIG.
Moving to arrow D ₁ and the opposite direction against the biasing force of 31, for the tube portion 23 and the inner pipe 24 shown in FIG. 5 is moved to the left integrally, the pin 16 shown in FIG. 4 Is pulled out of the positioning hole 28b or 28c, and the handle 15 is rotatable in the direction opposite to the arrow E. If the handle 15 is turned to release the handle 15 to release the spring 31, Pin 16 is positioned by positioning force
Fit into 28a.

In addition, even if the pipe portion 23 is moved too much when it is moved to the left, the right end of the elongated hole 24a abuts the movement control pin 27 and the movement amount is restricted. It does not fall off the shaft 13.

Next, when sending an original other than a thick and heavy standard product such as a book, the book button 6b of the operation panel 5 (FIG. 3)
To automatically adjust the distance between the rollers of the discharge rollers 2 in accordance with the thickness of the original, and set the original (in the case of a book, usually put in a book carrier) on the original table 17. .

Thereafter, when the pin 16 of the rotating mechanism 20 shown in FIG. 4 is fitted into the positioning hole 28b, the guide surface 8a of the paper guide member 8 is moved.
The angle θ of the paper discharge tray 7 with respect to the paper
As shown in the figure, the guide surface 8a has an angle at which the guide surface 8a is substantially horizontal, and the height of the guide surface 8a is lower than the roller 2a on the lower side of the discharge roller 2.
At a position substantially equal to or slightly lower than the horizontal tangent at the upper end of.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 7, when the thick document Pb is discharged by the rotation of the discharge roller 2 in the direction of the arrow, the center of gravity (including the book carrier) of the document Pb is changed. Even if it moves to the paper output tray 7 side, the lower surface thereof is substantially equal to or slightly lower than the horizontal tangent at the upper end of the lower roller 2a of the above-mentioned paper discharge roller 2. The document Pb is securely guided by the guide surface 8a
The back side is lifted as shown by the imaginary line to deform the back-up roller 19 (the outer peripheral portion is formed of an elastic material and is easily deformed) shown in FIG. This eliminates such a problem that a focus shift occurs.

Similarly, when using a long document P _L exceeding the AO size, the document is set on the document table 17 after pressing the long button 6c (FIG. 3) of the operation panel 5.

Thereafter, when the pin 16 of the rotating mechanism 20 shown in FIG. 4 is fitted into the positioning hole 28c, the curved guide surface 8b of the paper guide member 8 is brought to a position facing the paper discharge roller 2 as shown in FIG. The guide surface at the circular end of the curved guide surface 8b forms an angle θ with respect to the original placing surface 7a of the paper discharge tray 7, and its guide direction is obliquely upward and reverses to the original table 17 (FIG. 2). Turn around.

In this state, when the document P _L long as shown in FIG. 8 is by connexion discharged to the paper discharge rollers 2, because the document P _L is to reverse as shown while being guided by the curved guide surface 8b the operator also be standing on the document table 17 of the second view are located in the normal case, it is possible to take successively up the document P _L coming Modotsu reversed if a hand reaching in its position, the discharge Paper tray 7
Even if a long document cannot be placed on the paper tray, it can be moved to the rear portion of the paper discharge tray 7 each time, and the trouble of receiving the document can be omitted, so that the work efficiency is improved.

Further, damage and dirt due to the document falling on the floor, which occurs when the document discharged onto the paper discharge tray 7 is left as it is, are also eliminated.

FIG. 9 shows a portion corresponding to FIG. 4 of another embodiment in which the angle of the paper guide member can be automatically changed according to the type of the original to be used, and FIG. 10 shows the control thereof. It is a block diagram of a part.

This paper discharge device is largely different from the above-described embodiment only in the rotation mechanism 40 (corresponding to the rotation mechanism 20 in FIG. 4), and the overall appearance of the device is substantially the same as that in the above-described embodiment (see FIG. 2). The same is true.

A plurality of document selection buttons 6a to 6c on the operation panel 5 shown in FIG. 10 as shown in FIG. 3, which is a document selection means for selecting the type of document to be used, and a plurality of buttons fixed to the shaft 13 as shown in FIG. The provided paper guide member 8 is connected to the paper mounting surface 7a of the guide surface 8a or 8b.
9 (see FIG. 7 and FIG. 8), and a rotation mechanism 40 of FIG. 9 which is a paper guide member driving means for driving so as to change the angle θ, and original selection buttons 6a to 6c of the operation panel 5. A control circuit 50 and a motor drive circuit 51 shown in FIG. 10, which are control means for controlling the rotating mechanism 40 in accordance with the type of the selected sheet, are provided.

The rotating mechanism 40 has a worm wheel 41 fixed to the left end of the shaft 13, and the motor 42 is fixed to the left end surface of the angle member 11 so that the worm 43 fixed to the rotation shaft of the motor 42 meshes with the worm wheel 41. It is fixed to bracket 11c via bracket 44.

A narrow plate-like light shielding plate 45 is fixed to the center of the left end surface 13a of the shaft 13 by, for example, screws.
For example, sensors 46A, 46B, and 46C, which are light transmission type photosensors, are arranged on a rotation locus of the light shielding portion 45a at the tip of 45 via a sensor holding bracket 47, and the sensor holding bracket 47 is attached to the left end surface of the angle member 11. It is fixed to 11c by screws or the like.

The position of each of the sensors 46A, 46B and 46C is such that when the sensor 46A is shielded from light by the light shielding portion 45a of the light shielding plate 45, the paper guide member 8 is at the position shown in FIG. 8 when the sensor 46C is shielded from light.

Then, the control circuit 50 shown in FIG. 10 inputs the detection signals from the sensors 46A, 46B and 46C and the signals generated when the original selection buttons 6a to 6c on the operation panel 5 are pressed. The control circuit is composed of a microcomputer (CPU) having various judgment and processing functions.
A signal is output to the motor drive circuit 51 to control the forward / reverse rotation of the motor 42, and to display the LEDs ₁ to
The lighting of the LED ₃ also controls.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11, of the judgment and processing according to the present invention executed by the CPU of the control circuit.

First, when a main switch (not shown) is turned on, the program starts, and the signal of each input port is read in step 1. Then, it is determined whether or not the sensor 46A is off in step 2, that is, whether or not the paper guide member 8 is at the position shown in FIG. 6; if not (NO), the process proceeds to step 3; Display lamp LED _{1 in} step 4
Lights up.

In step 3, it is determined whether or not the sensor 46B is off, that is, whether or not the paper guide member 8 is at the position shown in FIG. 7. If not, the process proceeds to step 5, and if it is, the display lamp LED ₂ is turned on in step 6. Light.

At step 5, it is determined whether or not the sensor 46C is off, that is, whether or not the paper guide member 8 is at the position shown in FIG. 8. If not, the process proceeds to step 7, and if it is, the display lamp LED ₃ is turned on at step 8. Light.

In step 7, original selection buttons 6a to 6c on operation panel 5
It is determined whether or not any of the various instruction buttons including () is pressed (ON). If any of the buttons is pressed, the process proceeds to step 9; if not, the process waits until it is pressed.

Then, in step 9, it is determined whether or not the plain paper button 6a has been pressed. If so, the process proceeds to step 10; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 11.

In step 10, the sensor 46A is determined whether the OFF, it since the paper guide member 8 if off in the position of Figure 6, and light the display lamp LED ₁ proceeds to step 12 If not turned off, the paper guide member 8 is at a position other than that shown in FIG.
At the same time, it is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow E in FIG.

Then, in step 14, the motor 42 is rotated in the reverse direction until the sensor 46A is turned off.
Move to the position of 46A), stop the motor 42, and
To light the display lamp LED ₁ in 2.

On the other hand, if the process proceeds from step 9 to step 11, it is determined whether or not the book button 6b has been pressed. If so, the process proceeds to step 15, otherwise the process proceeds to step 16.

At step 15, it is determined whether or not the sensor 46A is off. If it is off, the paper guide member 8 is at the position shown in FIG.
In the figure, the paper guide member 8 and the light shielding plate 45 are rotated in the direction of arrow E (rotation direction).

Then, in step 18, the motor 42 is rotated forward until the sensor 46B is turned off.
Move to position 46B) Stop the motor 42, and
To light the display lamp LED ₂ at 9.

Also, when the sensor 46A is not turned off in step 15 (N
To O), the sensor 46B is determined whether the OFF proceeds to step 20, since it is paper guide member 8 if off in the position of the FIG. 7, indicated by step 19 lamps LED ₂
If not turned off, the paper guide member 8 is at the position shown in FIG. 8 if it is not off, so that the motor 42 is rotated in the reverse direction at step 21 to move the paper guide member 8 and the light shielding plate 45 in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow E in FIG. To rotate.

The sensor 46B at step 22 is reversely rotating the motor 42 until turned off, thereby stopping the motor 42 when turned off, the indicator lamp LED ₂ is lit at step 19.

Furthermore, if you proceed from step 11 to step 16,
It is determined whether or not the long button 6c has been pressed. If so, the process proceeds to step 23; otherwise, an instruction button other than the document selection button on the operation panel 5, such as a document size or a reduction ratio, is pressed. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 24 to execute a process based on the contents of the instruction button.

In step 23, the sensor 46C is determined whether the off, since it is paper guide member 8 if off in the position of Figure 8, to light the display lamp LED ₃ at step 25, the off If not, the motor 42 is rotated forward in step 26.

Then, in step 27, the motor 42 is rotated forward until the sensor 46C is turned off.
Move to the position of 46C) Stop the motor 42, and
5 in lighting the indicator lamp LED _3.

The control circuit 50 shown in FIG. 10 executes the above-described various judgments and processes, and when the plain paper button 6a is pressed, the step 1 is performed.
2.If you press the book button 6b, step 19, long button 6c
When is pressed, the process of step 25 is executed, and the control for driving the paper guide member 8 is finished, and the process proceeds to the next step.

Each of the above embodiments has been described with respect to an example in which the paper discharge device is applied to a document reading device. However, the paper discharge device is also applied to a paper discharge unit of a copier or a facsimile automatic document feeder. be able to.

Effects As described above, according to the present invention, even if the original is a thick one other than the standard product, it is substantially equal to the horizontal tangent of the upper end of the lower roller of the discharge roller. Or slightly lower than that, the paper can be smoothly discharged onto the paper discharge tray. Particularly, when a reading optical system is arranged near the paper discharge roller, Image data can be read without defocusing by the system, and a clear image can be obtained.

In the case of a thin document, by setting the paper guide member to the inclined position, the document can be reliably discharged onto the discharge tray by preventing the document from being entrained by a subsequently discharged document. .

Further, by providing control means for driving the paper guide member driving means in accordance with the type of the document selected by the document selection means and controlling the paper guide member to a position suitable for the selected type of the document, By simply selecting the type, the paper guide member can be automatically moved to the optimal position suitable for the document, improving work efficiency and changing the position of the paper guide member when changing the type of document. You can prevent forgetting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example in which the paper discharging device according to the present invention is applied to a document discharging portion of a document reading device, and FIG. 2 is an obliquely rear upper portion of the entire document reading device to which the paper discharging device is mounted. FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of the operation panel 5 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the rotating mechanism 20 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the urging guide portion 22 of FIG. 4, and FIGS. 6 to 8 each show a state in which the guide surfaces of the paper guide members are fixed at different angles to guide the paper. FIG. 9 is a side view, and FIG. 9 is a fourth embodiment of another embodiment in which the angle of the paper guide member can be automatically changed according to the type of the original to be used.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing a portion corresponding to FIG. 10, FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the control unit, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing judgment and processing executed by the control circuit 50 in FIG. 10, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for describing a problem in the paper ejection device of FIG. Reference numeral 2 denotes a discharge roller, 5 denotes an operation panel, 6a to 6c: a paper selection button, 7: a discharge tray 7a: a paper placement surface, 8: a paper guide member 8a: a guide surface, 8b: a curved guide surface 10: a document reading device 13 ... Axis 20,40 ... Rotating mechanism (paper guide member driving means) 41 ... Worm wheel 42 ... Motor, 43 ... Warm 46A-46C ... Sensor 50 ... Control circuit (CPU), 51 ... Motor drive circuit P, Pb, P _L … manuscript (paper)

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A sheet discharge device for discharging a document onto a sheet discharge tray by a conveying force of a pair of sheet discharge rollers arranged in a vertical direction; A lower portion than the lower roller of the paper discharge rollers, and a slope having a slope rising toward the document discharge direction; A paper guide member having a guide surface for guiding a document in the process of being conveyed by the guide roller is disposed such that the guide surface is located at a horizontal tangent to the upper end of the lower roller of the paper discharge roller and upstream of the paper discharge roller in the document conveyance direction. A horizontal position substantially equal to or slightly lower than both of the extension of the document guide surface of the transparent document guide means provided on the upper side of the reading optical system; Of the lower roller at the end side close to the paper discharge roller. Sheet discharging device being characterized in that arranged to be displaced in an inclined position which is inclined so as to lower. 2. A paper discharging device according to claim 1, wherein a document selecting means for selecting a type of the document to be used, and a paper guide member drive for driving said paper guide member to be displaced to said horizontal position and inclined position. And a control means for controlling the paper guide member driving means in accordance with the type of the document selected by the document selection means.