JP2720885B2 - Sorter - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorter for separating and collecting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine or a printer or a printing machine as required. Things.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, a relatively small sorter called a compact sorter has been proposed and put to practical use.

In the conventional sorter, the bin tray is provided in a state where the bin tray body is provided to be inclined to support the surface of the paper, and at a certain angle from the inclined lower end surface side of the bin tray body to the receiving surface of the bin tray body. And an end surface support portion for supporting the lower end surface of the sheet. Then, the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus is discharged to a bin tray 93 by a frame forming the paper discharge device side or a guide guide 92 which is located in the middle of a discharge roller 91 having a plurality of leading ends arranged as shown in FIG. You.

At this time, the discharged paper may be caught on the upper portion of the frame or the guide, and may not be properly dropped on the bin tray. In addition, the jammed paper may block the discharge unit and cause a jam.

In particular, in the case where the bin tray moves up and down, the tray is disposed at a steep angle, so that the leading edge of the discharged paper comes into contact with the tray quickly, and the deterioration of the discharging property is more remarkable. Becomes

That is, in the sheet discharge device, the sheet that has passed through the discharge roller pair first contacts the bin tray, and then is sent to the downstream end of the bin tray. However, if the ejection force of the pair of discharge rollers is insufficient at the time of this discharge, the front end does not advance due to frictional resistance between the front end of the paper and the bin tray, and the vicinity of the rear end of the paper is in contact with the discharge roller.

This is because the frictional force between the discharge roller and the sheet alone cannot overcome the contact resistance between the sheet and the bin tray. Then, the trailing edge of the sheet may remain near the discharge roller pair, and may not be stocked on the bin tray in a normal state. In particular, this is likely to occur when the rotation speed of the discharge roller pair is low and the paper is slowly discharged, or when the stiffness of the paper is weak such as at high temperatures and high humidity. If the trailing end of the sheet remains in the vicinity of the discharge roller pair in this manner, a jam may occur at this portion, or the sheet may be interposed between the discharge roller pair and the frame.

If the bin tray is raised without the sheets being properly stocked on the tray, the sheets may bite into the already raised bin tray, which may cause damage to the sheets.

The sorter must have the original function of first stacking sheets of paper on the bin tray. For this reason, it is desirable that the paper to be ejected be set aside, and the leading end be fed as far as possible without contacting the bin tray.

For this reason, the paper has been stiffened at the time of paper ejection,
It has been attempted to improve the dischargeability. For example,
There is a type in which a brim portion having a larger diameter than the other portion is formed on both or one end surface of the drive roller, thereby stiffening the sheet and forcibly sending the rear end of the sheet to the bin tray.

Furthermore, as a countermeasure, there is provided a sheet discharge device in which projections for providing a ejection force are radially arranged around a rotating flange provided coaxially with a discharge roller, and a trailing end portion of the discharged paper can be hooked and pushed out. (JP-A-62-230557). According to this method, there is an advantage that the sheet can be reliably ejected regardless of the material of the discharge roller.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In recent years, in an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine or a printer, a side opposite to an operation side 62 where an operation panel of an apparatus main body 61 is provided as shown in FIG. In some cases, a sheet cassette 63 and a bypass table 64 are mounted on the rear side (that is, on the rear side).

In addition, as shown in FIG.
72 is mounted, but there is also a rear side on which a cassette 73 is mounted. In the case of FIG. 7, a feeder cassette is provided on the rear side via a feeder 74.
Although 73 is attached, there is also a configuration in which it is directly attached to the main body without passing through the feeder 74.

FIG. 8 schematically shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus of the system shown in FIG. 7 for easy understanding. However, the shape of the feeder 82 is slightly changed from that of FIG. 7 so that the feeder cassette 83 is mounted diagonally in consideration of operability.

Here, when a sorter is attached to the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, it is necessary to tilt the sorter body itself. In such a case, even if the ejection force of the sheet by the sheet ejection device is increased, the sheet is ejected to the bin tray so that the lower end of the sheet abuts the guide and the frame, rather than dropping to the receiving surface of the lower bin tray. You.

That is, since the sorter body itself is inclined, the paper is not discharged to a position where the bin tray is located immediately below when the bar is slightly protruded. Then, the sheet falls onto the guide guide and the frame located between the receiving surface of the bin tray and the discharge position of the sheet discharge device. There was a case where it did not fall well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sorter that can be stacked neatly on a bin tray without disturbing sheets discharged from the apparatus main body even when the sorter main body itself is used in an inclined state.

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, a plurality of movable bin trays arranged in a vertical direction, a transfer mechanism for sequentially moving up and down each of the bin trays, and a method of feeding sheets to the bin trays A sorter provided with a sheet discharging device for discharging, a tray body in which the bin tray is provided in an inclined state to support the surface of a sheet, and an angle with respect to a lower end side of the tray body and a receiving surface of the tray body. An end surface supporting portion provided to support the lower end surface of the sheet, and a position below the position where the rear end of the sheet discharged from the discharge roller of the sheet discharge device to the bin tray is separated from the discharge roller. An elastic body having a curved surface curved in the paper discharging direction from the leading end into a notch provided in an end surface support portion of the bin tray from the leading end. A sorter characterized by being arranged is provided.

(Operation) According to the present invention, the sheet discharged from the sheet discharge device onto the bin tray approaches the receiving surface of the bin tray main body due to the curved surface of the elastic body when the lower end surface of the sheet collides with the elastic body. You will be guided as follows. In other words, due to the elasticity and lubricity of the elastic body, the sheet does not get caught on the elastic body, but falls downward to be flipped. Therefore, the sheets are stacked neatly on the receiving surface on the bin tray.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 uses a laser beam printer as an example of a clamshell type image forming apparatus, and its paper discharge direction (arrow A). 1 shows an example in which the sorter of the present invention is provided on the downstream side surface of the present invention.

The laser beam printer is an example, and the present invention is applicable to a copying machine, a facsimile, and other image forming apparatuses. When the sorter is mounted on a laser beam printer, an address may be determined for each bin tray and used as a mail boxer.

Referring to FIG. 5, reference numeral 50 denotes a printer, and the paper inserted in the paper supply cassette 51 is discharged from the paper supply cassette 51 by the paper supply roller 52 and is arranged by the registration roller pair 53. Thereafter, the registration roller pair 53 is started, the sheet is carried between the photosensitive drum 54 and the transfer charger 55, and the toner image is transferred. Further, the paper is heated and pressed by the toner by the fixing roller pair 56, guided through the paper discharge roller pair 57, 58 and the paper discharge port 59, along the wall surface 500 at the top of the printer, and fed from the guide opening 503 to the sorter 1 described later. The paper 37 is introduced.

40 is the rear side of the printer 50 (the side opposite to the operation surface 501)
Is a feeder that is attached to the
Is a paper feed roller, and a feeder cassette 42 is mounted. The paper is fed into the printer 50 through the opening 502 by the rotation of the paper feed roller 41.

Here, the figure shows the state during normal operation, but the printer 50 main body is configured as a clamshell type for easy internal inspection, and is divided into an upper main body and a lower main body as a feature (FIG. Not shown). The upper main body is rotated clockwise with respect to the rod, that is, the operation surface 50.
One side is opened upward and opened.

Sorter 1 has guide plate 3 in guide opening 503 of printer 50.
5 comes into contact with the sorter main body 100 and is mounted in an inclined state. Therefore, when the upper main body of the printer 50 is opened in this state as described above, the upper end of the upper main body on the downstream side in the sheet discharging direction comes into contact with the guide plate 35 of the sorter 1. For this reason, in this embodiment, the sorter 1 is divided into a sorter main body 100 as a movable part and a support part 101 as a pedestal, and the sorter main body 100 is connected to the lower end of a support rod 102 so as not to come into contact with the feeder cassette 42. 5, so that the sorter body 100 and the printer 50 and the feeder cassette 42 can be prevented from interfering with each other.

Next, regarding the specific configuration of the sorter 1, FIGS.
The description will be made with reference to the drawings.

In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a sorter main body, the sorter main body 100 has a support frame 4, a plurality of bin trays (discharge trays) 5 to 8, a transfer mechanism for lifting and lowering the bin trays 5 to 8, and a sheet. A discharge device is supported by the support frame 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bin trays 5 to 8 are formed of substantially rectangular plates, and are provided with a bin tray body 5g provided to support the surface of a sheet, and a bin tray from an inclined lower end face side of the bin tray body 5g. The end face supporting portion 5e supports the lower end face of the sheet provided in a state bent in a direction perpendicular to the receiving surface of the main body 5g. And end face support
5e, as shown in FIG. 1, has two cutout portions 5f. Both side portions 5a at the tips of the bin trays 5 to 8 are supported by a support portion 9 formed at the tip of the support frame 4 on the downstream side (the left side in FIG. 3). In addition, each bin tray 5
At both ends on the upstream side (right side in FIG. 3) of Nos. 8 to 8, locking portions 5b projecting sideways are formed. The locking portion 5b has a laterally protruding amount gradually decreasing toward the lower bin tray, and is locked to a cam portion 12a of the cam rotating body 12 described later. Further, a spacer block 5c is mounted on the upstream side of the locking portion 5b, and the bin trays 5 to 8 are stacked via the spacer block 5c (see FIG. 3). Notch 5d in the spacer block 5c
The notch 5 d is engaged with the transfer guide 10 of the support frame 4. The bin trays 5 to 8 are arranged such that the sheet discharge device side of the sorter main body 100 described later is directed obliquely downward.

The bin tray is raised or lowered by a transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism mainly includes a tray motor 11 as a drive source and left and right cam rotating bodies 12 as transfer members, as shown in FIG. . The tray motor 11 and the cam rotating body 12 are respectively housed in the support frame 4. The tray motor 11 is connected to one of the cam rotors 12 via gears 13 and 14.

The left and right cam rotators 12 have a cam portion 12a and a gear portion 12b.The two cam rotators 12 have a pinion 15 that meshes with each gear portion 12b, and a shaft to which the pinion 15 is fixed.
Connected by 16. A female screw is formed at the center of the gear portion 12b of each cam rotating body 12. The female screw is formed in the opposite direction by the left and right cam rotating bodies 12 and is screwed to the male screw 17 fixed to the support frame 4 respectively. In this way, the left and right cam rotors 12 slide in opposite directions while rotating in the same direction, so that when rotating in one direction, they approach each other and rotate in the other direction. If they are performed, they are configured to be separated from each other. Reference numeral 18 denotes a paper input switch for detecting the passage of the paper.

Next, a paper discharging device will be described. Reference numeral 25 denotes a discharging roller pair, which has two sets of a driving roller 21 fixed to a driving shaft 20 and a driven roller 22 which is pressed against the driving roller 21. The driven roller 22 is fixed to a driven shaft 23, and the driven shaft 23
Is supported by a frame (not shown) so as to be rotatable, and the driven roller 22 is pressed against the drive roller 21 by a spring or the like. The outer peripheral surface of each of the drive rollers 21 has a first
As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 3, one projection 21a projecting in the radial direction is provided, and the projections 21a of each roller 21 have the same phase. Then, the projection 21a hooks the rear end of the sheet to give a driving force. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the paper discharge device has a gear 30 fixed to the other end of the drive shaft 20 and is connected to a gear 32 fixed to the tip of a feed motor 31 for discharging the paper. ing.

A guide plate 35 for guiding a sheet is provided from a position where the discharge roller pair 25 is provided to an upstream side in a sheet discharge direction. The guide plate 35 is bent vertically from the position where the discharge roller pair 25 is provided to the downstream side, and forms a gap between the bin trays 5 to 8 and the paper discharge device side.
Is formed. Then, the sheet falls onto the bin trays 5 to 8 with the lower end portion abutting on the frame 38.

Further, the frame 38 closes the gap between the end of the end face support portion 5e of the bin trays 5 to 8 and the frame 38.
An elastic body 39 made of plastic (for example, polyethylene terephthalate film) having lubricity and flexibility for securely stocking paper is adhered to the receiving surface of the bin tray body 5g.

The elastic body 39 is curved so as to form a mountain above the vertical center, and the upper end as the starting end on the upstream side in the paper discharging direction from the lower part where the rear end of the paper discharged from the roller 21 is separated from the roller. Is bonded to the upper edge of the frame 38, and the lower end is bonded to the lower edge of the frame 38. Further, it is mounted so as to protrude from the notch portion 5f of the end surface support portion 5e in the sheet discharging direction from the upper end portion of the end surface support portion 5e. Then, when the sheet is fed, the sheet is moved to the end face support 5e.
The lower edge of the paper is not
And slides along the inclined surface, and guides the sheet to the corner between the end surface supporting portion 5e and the bin tray main body 5g.

In this case, the elastic body 39 does not become a resistance when the paper falls, and the elastic body 39 is used to securely stack and accommodate the paper.
The shape of 39 is appropriately set so that the distance D2 from the frame 38 to the top of the inclined surface of the elastic body 39 is smaller than the distance D1 from the frame 38 when the protrusion 21a of the drive roller 21 is positioned in the sheet discharging direction. (See FIG. 2).

Numeral 36 denotes an inclined member formed by cutting and raising a part of the guide plate 35, and serves to stiffen the paper.

 Next, the operation will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet on which image formation, fixing, and the like have been completed is guided by the guide plate 35 following the wall surface 500 and is conveyed to the sorter 1 side. Then, the leading end of the sheet pushes down the contact member of the paper input switch 18, and the switch 18 is turned on.
When the paper input switch 18 is turned on, the feed motor 31 shown in FIG. 4 starts operating. The drive roller 21 is driven by the feed motor 31 through the gears 32, 30 and the drive shaft 20.
Rotates.

When the trailing edge of the paper passes the paper input switch 18,
The paper input switch 18 is turned off. By the time the trailing edge of the paper passes the paper input switch 18, the paper has already been
The nip is discharged to the bin trays 5 to 8 side.

At this time, although the sheet is stiffened by the inclined member 36, the rear end of the sheet may remain near the discharge roller pair 25. In such a case, the projection 21 of the rotating drive roller 21
a comes into contact with the trailing edge of the sheet, and the roller 21 (protrusion 21a) further rotates to force the trailing edge of the sheet to the bin trays 5-8. Thus, the sheet is discharged onto the bin trays 5 to 8 in a normal state.

When the sheet is discharged, the lower end surface collides with the elastic body 39 and is guided by the curved surface of the elastic body 39 so as to approach the receiving surface of the bin tray main body 5g. In other words, the paper is not limited to the upper end of the end support 5e of the bin trays 5 to 8 or the elastic body.
It does not catch on the elastic body due to the slipperiness and elasticity of 39, but falls downward to be flipped. Therefore, the sheets are stacked neatly on the receiving surface on the bin tray body 5g.

The bin tray starts moving (upward) after the paper is stored in a normal state.

The sorter 1 sorts the sheets discharged by the same operation as before in the bin trays 5 to 8. This operation will be described in brief. The rotation of the tray motor 11 shown in FIG. 4 causes the left cam rotating body via the gears 13 and 14-the right cam rotating body 12-pinion 15-shaft 16-pinion 15 in the figure. 12
Rotates. Due to the rotation of the two cam rotating bodies 12, the bin tray engaged with the cam portion 12a rises to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Then, as described above, when the left and right cam rotors 12 rotate in one direction, they come closer to each other. The rotation of the cam rotator 12 is controlled by a sensor or the like, stops once after making one rotation and raising one bin tray, and once again when the next paper is conveyed, makes one rotation and raises the next bin tray. As described above, both move so as to approach each other, and sequentially raise the lower bin tray. Each raised bin tray is a spacer block
Stacked by 5c.

Since the elastic body 39 guides the paper when the bin trays 5 to 8 are moved, even if the elastic body 39 projects to the bin tray main body 5g side, the elastic body 39 is deformed to be smooth. The bin tray is moved. Thereafter, the elastic body 39 returns to the original state again.

In this way, the sheets are sorted and discharged to the bin trays 5 to 8. The lowering is performed by the reverse rotation of the motor.

In this embodiment, a polyester film, which is a plastic thin plate having a high elasticity and a small coefficient of friction, may be curved as the elastic body 39 so as to form a mountain above the upper and lower centers, and may be bonded.

Alternatively, a sponge having a highly lubricating film such as Teflon resin may be used as the elastic body.

(Effects) As described above, according to the present invention, in the sorter, the elastic body having the curved surface curved in the paper discharging direction is protruded from the notch provided in the end surface support of the bin tray in the vicinity of the paper discharging device. Due to the attachment, the paper discharged from the paper discharge device onto the bin tray does not catch the lower end surface of the paper on the upper end portion of the end surface support portion of the bin tray, and the elasticity is achieved by the smoothness and elasticity of the curved surface of the elastic body. It does not get caught on the body and falls down like a flip.
Then, the bin tray is guided so as to approach the receiving surface of the bin tray body, and is stacked neatly on the receiving surface on the bin tray.

Also, when the bin tray is moved, even if the elastic body protrudes, the elastic body does not become an obstacle by being deformed. And the protrusion on the bin tray main body can be increased.

Further, there is an effect that the dischargeability can be improved with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic view for explaining the main part, FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the sorter of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view of the sorter of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an overall schematic view of a printer equipped with the sorter of the present invention, FIGS. 6 to 8 are schematic views for explaining a conventional image forming apparatus, and FIG. It is a principal part perspective view explaining a prior art. 1 ... sorter, 5-8 ... bin tray, 25 ... discharge roller pair, 39 ... elastic body, 5f ... notch, 5e ... end face support, 5g ... bin tray body, 100 ... sorter body

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of movable bin trays arranged in a vertical direction, a transfer mechanism for sequentially moving up and down each of the bin trays, and a sheet discharging device for discharging sheets to the bin tray. In the sorter, a tray body in which the bin tray is provided in an inclined state to support the surface of the sheet, and a sheet body provided in a state in which the inclined lower end side of the tray body and an angle with respect to a receiving surface of the tray body are provided. An end surface supporting portion for supporting a lower end surface, and a rear end portion of the paper discharged from the discharge roller of the paper discharge device to the bin tray is located upstream of a lower portion at a position away from the discharge roller in a paper discharge direction. A saw having an initiating end, and an elastic body having a curved surface curved in the sheet discharging direction protrudingly arranged in a notch provided in an end surface supporting portion of the bin tray from the initiating end. .