JP2598849B2 - Paper feeding and discharging device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feeding / discharging device used in an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of paper feed cassettes 101 and a plurality of paper output trays 102 are vertically arranged on both sides of an image forming apparatus 100, and are optionally selected according to the size. The paper in the paper feed cassette 101 is supplied to the image forming apparatus 100 by the paper feed roller 103, and the paper printed by the image forming apparatus 100 is discharged to any of the discharge trays 102 by the discharge roller 104. There is something. For the same purpose, as shown in FIG. 8, a paper feed cassette 101 and a paper output tray 102 which are respectively arranged vertically are arranged below the image forming apparatus 100 at close intervals. There is something

[0003]

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 7, since the sheet feeding cassette 101 and the sheet discharge tray 102 are located outside both sides of the image forming apparatus 100, the overall width becomes large and the area is narrow. Can not be installed in FIG. 8 shows a paper feed cassette 101 and a paper discharge tray 10.
2 can be made smaller than that shown in FIG. 7, but since the paper feed cassette 101 and the paper output tray 102 are arranged one by one in the same plane, There is a limit to reducing the width, and it cannot be installed in a narrow place.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a plurality of paper receiving trays are provided at predetermined intervals in a vertical direction inside a main body on which an image forming apparatus is mounted, and the discharging of the image forming apparatus is performed. A paper discharge path having an upper part connected to the paper path is provided in the main body along the direction of arrangement of the paper discharge path, and the paper discharge path of the main body and the end of each of the paper discharge receivers are respectively branched and discharged. A plurality of paper storage units that are connected by a paper path and store paper are disposed inside the main body so as to face the upper or lower part of the discharge tray, and the upper part is connected to a paper supply path of the image forming apparatus. The paper feed path is provided in the main body along the direction in which the paper storage sections are arranged, and a plurality of paper feed rollers positioned at the tip of the paper storage section are rotatably provided in the paper feed path of the main body. .

[0005]

The paper in the selected paper storage section is supplied from the paper supply path of the main body to the paper supply path of the image forming apparatus by the paper supply roller.
The paper printed by the image forming apparatus is discharged from a paper discharge path of the image forming apparatus to a paper discharge path of the main body, and further discharged to an arbitrary paper discharge tray via a selected branch paper discharge path. In the same plane, only one of the paper storage unit and the paper discharge tray is arranged, and the plurality of paper storage units and the plurality of paper discharge trays are arranged in the vertical direction. Can be made smaller.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. A plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 are provided in a stack on the upper part of the sheet storage device 3. A substantially horizontal paper transport path 5 is provided in the main body 4 of the upper image forming apparatus 1, and a plurality of image forming units 6, 7 are provided along the paper transport path 5.
, One fixing unit 8, transport roller 9, and transport belt 1
0 is provided. The image forming units 6 and 7 according to the present embodiment include a photoconductor 11, an exposure unit 13 and a control circuit 14 held on a support 12 provided inside the photoconductor 11, and a photoconductor 11. The developing unit 16 includes a developing unit 16 having a developing roller 15 facing the exposure unit 13 on the outer periphery, and a transfer unit 17 facing the photoreceptor 11 with the sheet conveyance path 5 interposed therebetween. The exposure section 13 is formed by arranging a number of LEDs along the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor 11, and the operation of the exposure section 13 is controlled by the control circuit 14.

The photoreceptor 11 comprises a transparent cylinder (not shown) and a transparent electrode and a photoconductive layer formed on the outer periphery thereof. The developing roller 15 is composed of an electromagnetic roller and a sleeve rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of the developing roller 15. By rotating the sleeve, a magnetic brush is formed, and the toner in the developing device 16 is raised. A developing bias is applied between the sleeve of the developing roller 15 and the transparent electrode of the photoconductor 11, and an optical signal corresponding to a print signal is emitted from the inside of the photoconductor 11 by the exposure unit 13. The potential of the low-resistance toner in the magnetic brush is substantially equal to the developing bias in any part. Surface of photoconductor 11 (photoconductive layer)
Is low before contact with the magnetic brush,
A strong electric field is generated between the magnetic brush and the photoreceptor 11, and in this state, the surface of the photoreceptor 11 is rubbed by the conductive toner layer, so that the electrical contact is improved and the charge is easily injected. The injected charge is captured by the trap, and the surface of the photoconductor 11 is charged. When the photoconductor 11 is charged to substantially the same potential as the toner layer, no toner adheres to that portion. Here, when an optical signal is emitted from the exposure unit 13 to the inner surface of the photoconductor 11, the potential of the exposed portion is lowered, and toner adheres to the exposed portion according to the principle of reversal development. And
The rotation of the photoconductor 11 causes the toner adhering to the exposed portion to quickly separate from the toner on the sleeve of the developing roller 15, so that the developed toner remains on the photoconductor 11 without being disturbed and is transferred to a sheet by the transfer unit 17. Is done. After the transfer, the residual toner on the photoreceptor 11 comes into contact with the toner layer on the developing roller 15 again by the rotation of the photoreceptor 11, and the outer peripheral portion of the photoreceptor 11 at this contact portion is injected with the electric charge through the residual toner, and the potential is reduced. Rise, and the toner floats. The floating toner is scraped off by the blade of the developing device 16 and is attracted by the magnetic force of the developing roller 15. That is, the image forming units 6 and 7 in this embodiment perform the processes of cleaning, charging, exposing, and developing the photoconductor 11 substantially simultaneously.

Further, a paper feed cassette 18 is provided at the bottom of the main body 4, and the paper in the paper feed cassette 18 is curved into a U-shape and guided to the entrance side of the paper transport path 5. The paper feed path 19 is provided with a paper feed roller 20 driven in a counterclockwise direction. A manual tray 21 and a tractor 22 driven in a counterclockwise direction are rotatably mounted on the entrance side of the paper transport path 5. Further, the exit side of the paper transport path 7 is connected to a paper discharge path 23 curving upward and a paper discharge path 24 curving downward, and the upper paper discharge path 23 is formed on the upper surface of the main body 4. It is connected to a paper tray 25. Paper discharge path 23,2
4 is provided with a direction switching lever 26 which is rotated by a drive unit (not shown), and a paper detecting lever 28 which is displaced by the presence or absence of paper in the paper cassette 18.
Is rotatably mounted.

An operation control unit 27 is provided between the sheet transport path 5 and the sheet cassette 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation control unit 27 is fixed to a circuit board 29, a conductive case 30 having a lower opening as a support member in which the circuit board 29 is housed, and a front surface of the case 30. An operation panel 31 is provided. The operation panel 31 is provided with various operation switches 32, a large-sized display unit 33 formed of a liquid crystal panel, and a display unit 33a such as an LED that lights up according to the operation state of each unit.
A display unit 34 having the same function as the display unit 34 is provided on the upper surface of the case 30. On the front surface of the main body 1, there is formed a storage section 35 into which the sheet cassette 18 and the operation control section 27 are inserted so as to be able to be pulled out.

As shown in FIG. 4, a frame 37 is fixed to a side plate 36 provided on the main body 4, and a motor 38, a control circuit 39 and a connector 40 are fixed to the frame 37. Is fixed to the connecting portion 41. The control circuit 39 and the connector 40 are connected. The connection part 41 is connected to the motor 38 and the power cord 42.
And a connector 44 connected to a cable 44 connected to a print data input device such as a personal computer. The circuit board 29 is fixed to a plurality of bosses 45 formed on the ceiling surface of the case 30 by means of screws or the like. The circuit board 29 detects the operation of the circuit element 46 and the paper detection lever 28. And a photo sensor (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet. The operation switch 32 and the display units 33 and 3
3a is connected to the circuit board 29 by a short line.
A part of the back of the case 30 is connected to the connector 4.
It is open facing 0. Further, handles 47 and 48 for hanging fingers from below are formed on the front surface of the sheet cassette 18 and the front surface of the case 30, and a concave portion 49 for letting the fingers on the handle 48 escape is formed on the upper portion of the handle 47. Have been. The shape of the recess 49 is also shown in FIGS.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Is composed of a heat roller 51 having a built-in heater 50 and a press roller 52 pressed against the heat roller 51. On the outer peripheral surface of the heat roller 51, a temperature control element 53 such as a thermistor or a thermostat,
Claw 54 that separates the paper passing through from heat roller 51
And the cleaning pad 55 are provided in contact with each other. The cleaning pad 55 is inserted into a cover 56 that covers the upper portion of the heat roller 51.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cover 56 is formed with an opening 57 into which the cleaning pad 55 is inserted and drain grooves 58 located on both sides. Both ends of these grooves 58 are closed by plugs 59 and are connected to the outside of the main body 4 by pipes 60.

Next, the structure of the image forming apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIG. A substantially horizontal paper transport path 62 is provided in the main body 61 of the image forming apparatus 2. A plurality of image forming units 6 and 7, a fixing unit 8, and a plurality of transport belts 10 are provided along the paper transport path 62. Is provided. The image forming units 6 and 7 and the fixing unit 8 have the same structure as that of the image forming apparatus 1. On the left side of the main body 61, a paper discharge path 63 connected to the paper discharge path 24 of the image forming apparatus 1 and heading directly below, and branched from the paper discharge path 63 and connected to the left end of the paper conveyance path 62. A paper feed path 64 is formed, and a directional switch lever 26 for changing the sheet conveyance direction is provided in a branch path between the paper discharge path 63 and the paper feed path 64. A transport roller 68 located above the lever 26 is provided. Further, on the right side of the main body 61, the paper discharge paths 65 and 66 connected to the right end of the paper transport path 62 and the paper transport path 62 of the upper image forming apparatus 1 intersecting with the paper transport path 62 are connected. A paper feed path 67 is formed. The paper discharge path 65 is directed to the right side of the main body 61, and the paper discharge path 66 is curved downward of the main body 61. A direction switching lever 26 is provided in a branch path of these paper discharge paths 65 and 66. Further, on the right side of the main body 61, a paper discharge tray 69 for receiving the paper discharged from the paper discharge path 65 is provided rotatably.

Next, the structure of the paper storage device 3 is shown in FIG.
It will be described based on. On both sides of the main body 70 of the paper storage device 3, a paper discharge path 71 connected to the paper discharge path 63 of the image forming apparatus 2 and a paper discharge path 7 connected to the paper discharge path 66.
2 are provided so as to extend right below in parallel, and a plurality of branch discharge paths 73, 74 that are curved inward are branched from these discharge paths 71, 72, respectively. A branch path between the paper discharge path 71 and the branch discharge path 73 and a paper discharge path 72 and a branch discharge path 74
A direction switching lever 26 is provided in the branch path.
The main body 70 of the paper storage device 3 has six paper discharge receivers 75 having an upper surface opening for receiving paper discharged from the branch paper discharge paths 73 and 74, and a paper discharge tray from the top to the fourth level. Receiving 7
5, four paper cassettes 76, which are paper storage units, are arranged. The depth of the discharge tray 75 located at the uppermost stage and the next stage is set to a value deeper than the depth of the discharge tray 75 of the third stage or lower. Further, the paper discharge path 7
A transport roller 77 is provided on the upper part of the paper discharge path 7.
A transport roller 78 is provided on the upper part of the printer 2, a discharge roller 79 is provided in each of the branch discharge paths 73, and a discharge roller 80 is provided in each of the branch discharge paths 74.

Further, a paper feed path 81 connected to the paper feed path 67 of the image forming apparatus 2 is provided on the right side of the main body 70 of the paper storage apparatus 3 in parallel with the paper discharge path 72. A plurality of paper feed rollers 82 for feeding out the paper in the paper feed cassette 76 are arranged in the paper feed path 81.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the front surface of the main body 70 of the paper storage device 3, there is formed a storage portion 83 for removably storing the paper discharge receiver 75 and the paper feed cassette 76. In the center of the lower part of the opening surface of the storage portion 83, a concave portion 84 is provided in order to easily pull out the sheet cassette 76.
Are formed.

In such a configuration, a usage mode in which only the upper image forming apparatus 1 performs one-side printing will be described.
As described above, a developed image is formed on the photoconductor 11, but when the paper in the paper cassette 18 is supplied by the paper feed roller 20 in synchronization with this developing operation, the developed image on the photoconductor 11 is transferred. The image is transferred to a sheet by the unit 17. The sheet is transported by the transport roller 9 and the transport belt 10, and the transfer image is fixed by the fixing unit 8. Here, in the case of monochromatic printing, only one image forming unit 6 is used, and in the case of printing in a plurality of colors, both image forming units 6 and 7 are used. In this case, the color of the toner supplied to the developing device 16 of the image forming units 6 and 7 is different.

As described above, the paper is generally fed from the paper feed cassette 18 built in the image forming apparatus 1, but if the size of the paper to be used is different, the paper is provided in the paper storage device 3. The paper is sent out from a given paper feed cassette 76 by a paper feed roller 82 and fed to paper feed paths 81 and 6.
7 and 19 are supplied to the image forming units 6 and 7. Also, a method of opening the manual feed tray 21 and feeding paper from the right side of the main body 4 or a method of moving the tractor 22 in the horizontal direction as shown by a virtual line and supplying continuous paper from the right side of the main body 4 by the tractor 22 Can also be selected.

There are two paper discharging methods. The first is paper ejection path 2
The second method is to discharge the paper from the left side to an arbitrary paper receiver 75 through the paper discharge paths 24, 63, 71 and the branch discharge path 73. It is. The second method is a use method as a sorter. Switching of the discharge direction is performed by rotating the direction switching lever 26 in an arbitrary direction.

When used as a sorter, the number of paper discharge receivers 75 is required to some extent in accordance with the number of prints issued.
In recent years, the number of printed copies has been limited to one copy to save resources, and one copy is often used as a reserve for a total of two copies. In the present embodiment, six discharge trays 75 are provided in consideration of the case where the number of copies is large, but the height of the main body 70 is reduced by reducing the depth of the third or lower discharge tray 75. Is set to 700 mm, which is approximately the same as the height of the desk that is most convenient to use.
Also, by increasing the depth of the uppermost and next-stage paper discharge receivers 75, in the case of printing two copies most, the printed sheets are stored in the uppermost and next-stage deep paper discharge receivers 75 with sufficient margin. be able to. Thereby, it is easy to put a hand into the front opening of the paper discharge receiver 75, and the operability of taking out the printed material can be improved. In this case, since the paper ejection tray 75 that is frequently used is located at the upper part, the operator does not have to give an unnatural posture to bend down deeply when taking out the printed matter. Although the number of the paper feed cassettes 76 is smaller than the number of the paper discharge trays 75, four is sufficient to correspond to the type of paper size.

When only one-sided printing is performed as described above,
Only the upper image forming apparatus 1 can be installed on a desk and used. This is the most popular form of use. Further, when the size of the paper to be used is various, a plurality of paper feed cassettes 76 may be used without using the image forming apparatus 2 at the next stage.
The image forming apparatus 1 can be directly installed on the paper storage device 3 having At this time, since the upper end of the paper feed path 81 of the paper storage device 3 coincides with the lower end of the tractor 22, the paper supplied to the upper end of the paper feed path 81 is
Can be conveyed to the image forming units 6 and 7. Further, since the paper discharge path 24 of the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the upper part of the paper discharge path 71 of the paper storage device 3, the printed paper can be discharged to an arbitrary paper discharge receiver 75.

Since the angle at which the paper transport path 62 intersects with the paper feed path 67 and the angle at which the paper feed path 81 intersects with the branch discharge path 74 are determined to be nearly right angles, the paper Is not conveyed out of the direction. Although not shown, the paths of the respective sheets are formed by facing the guide plates at predetermined intervals, but the guide plates are positioned at the intersections with other paths to pass the sheets. Slits are formed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a paper discharge port 25a located at the end of the paper discharge receiver 25 is opened at the upper part of the main body 4 substantially at the upper part of the fixing section 8. When spilling beverages such as coffee or tea, water from a vase, or the like on the upper surface of the fixing device 4, the liquid may flow near the fixing unit 8. However, the liquid does not cover the cover 5 as shown in FIGS.
6, flows into the groove 58, and can be led out of the main body 4 by the pipe 60. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid abnormalities such as a state in which the liquid is applied to the heat roller 51 that emits high heat and a vapor is generated, and a state in which the liquid adheres to the electric wiring portion and a short circuit occurs.

Next, a description will be given of a mode of use for performing double-sided printing using the two image forming apparatuses 1 and 2. The principle of printing by the image forming apparatus 2 is the same as the principle of printing by the image forming apparatus 1, and a description thereof will be omitted. As described above, the paper is fed from the paper feed cassette 18 built in the image forming apparatus 1, from the paper feed cassette 76 built in the paper storage device 3, and from the manual feed tray 21. , The paper feed from the right side of the main body 4 by the tractor 22 is selected. The paper printed by the image forming apparatus 1 is inverted into a U-shape by the paper discharge path 24, the paper discharge path 63, and the paper discharge path 64, and is conveyed through the paper conveyance path 62 of the next image forming apparatus 2 to form an image. It is printed by the device 2. Also in double-sided printing, only the image forming unit 6 is operated in the case of single color printing, and both image forming units 6 and 7 are used in the case of printing in a plurality of colors.

In the two-sided printing method, the discharge tray 69 on the right side of the next image forming apparatus 2 is opened in the horizontal direction,
There is a method of discharging paper to this paper discharge tray 69. Further, there is a method in which the sheet is fed from the sheet transport path 62 to the upper part of the sheet discharge path 72 of the sheet storage device 3 via the sheet discharge path 66, and is discharged from the right side to an arbitrary sheet discharge receiver 75 by the branch discharge path 74.

As described above, only one of the paper feed cassette 76 and the paper discharge receiver 75 is arranged in the same plane, and the plural paper feed cassettes 76 and the plural paper discharge receivers 75 are vertically arranged. By doing so, the width dimension of the main body 70 can be reduced, and the installation space can be significantly reduced. Further, since a paper feed cassette 76 for storing paper for printing can be stored in a main body 70 having a plurality of discharge trays 75 built therein, a main body for a large-sized paper feeder can be omitted.

[0027]

According to the present invention, a plurality of paper receiving trays are arranged at predetermined intervals in a vertical direction inside a main body on which an image forming apparatus is mounted, and a plurality of paper receiving trays are provided on a paper discharging path of the image forming apparatus. Are provided in the main body along the arrangement direction of the paper discharge paths, and the paper discharge path of the main body and the end of each of the paper discharge receivers are connected by a branch paper discharge path. A plurality of paper storage units for storing paper are disposed inside the main body so as to face the upper or lower part of the paper discharge tray, and a paper supply path having an upper part connected to a paper supply path of the image forming apparatus; Are provided in the main body along the arrangement direction of the paper storage units, and a plurality of paper feed rollers positioned at the tip of the paper storage unit are rotatably provided in the paper supply path of the main body, respectively. The paper in the paper storage section is fed by the paper feed roller from the paper feed path of the main body to the paper feed path of the image forming apparatus. The paper fed and printed by the image forming apparatus is discharged from a paper discharge path of the image forming apparatus to a paper discharge path of the main body, and further discharged to an arbitrary paper discharge tray via a selected branch paper discharge path. However, the plurality of paper storage units and the plurality of paper discharge receivers are arranged vertically in a state where only one of the paper storage unit and the paper discharge tray is arranged on the same plane. This has the effect that the space can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view showing a mounted state of an operation control unit and a sheet feeding cassette.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a fixing unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cover of a fixing unit.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Image forming apparatus 19 Image forming apparatus paper feeding path 24, 63 Image forming apparatus paper discharging path 67 Image forming apparatus paper feeding path 70 Main body 71, 72 Paper discharging path 73, 74 Branch paper discharging path 75 Paper discharging Receipt 76 Paper storage section 81 Paper feed path 82 Paper feed roller

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location G03G 15/00 530 G03G 15/00 530

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of paper receiving trays are disposed inside a main body on which an image forming apparatus is mounted at predetermined intervals in a vertical direction, and an upper portion is connected to a paper discharging path of the image forming apparatus. A paper discharge path is provided on the main body along the direction in which the paper discharge paths are arranged,
The paper discharge path of the main body and the end of each of the paper discharge receivers are connected by a branch paper discharge path, and a plurality of paper storage units for storing sheets are opposed to the upper or lower part of the paper discharge receiver. A paper feed path disposed inside the main body and having an upper part connected to a paper feed path of the image forming apparatus is provided in the main body along the arrangement direction of the paper storage units, and the paper feed path of the main body is provided. A plurality of paper feed rollers, each of which is located at the tip of the paper storage section, are provided rotatably.