JP2724221B2 - Paper ejection device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet discharging device for sequentially stacking and processing sheets discharged from an apparatus main body such as an electronic copying machine or a printer.

<Prior Art> FIG. 3 shows an example of the internal structure of a general electronic copying machine and a conventional paper discharging processing system provided with a paper discharging device for sequentially stacking and processing sheets discharged from the electronic copying machine. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram shown.

In the figure, a photoconductor 2, a charger 3 for uniformly charging the photoconductor 2, and a latent image corresponding to an input signal are written on the photoconductor 2 inside an apparatus main body 1 as an electronic copying machine. Developing unit 5 for developing the latent image with toner
And a recording unit using a well-known electrophotographic recording method, such as a transfer charger 6 for transferring a toner image to a sheet and a fixing unit 7 for fixing the transferred toner image onto the sheet. A plurality of (two in this embodiment) paper discharge roller pairs 8 are provided in the paper discharge unit 4 of the apparatus main body 1, and the paper on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 7 is formed by the paper discharge rollers. The pair 8 is sent to the outlet 1a, and is discharged from the outlet 1a to the outside of the apparatus body 1. In this case, the paper discharged from the discharge port 1a is discharged with the print side up.

On the other hand, on the outside of the apparatus main body 1, a sheet discharge device 9 for sequentially stacking and processing the sheets discharged from the discharge port 1a is provided as a unit. The paper discharge device 9 is provided with a plurality of paper discharge stacking members 10 stacked vertically apart from each other, and these paper discharge stacking members 10 are moved up and down by a motor (not shown) to sequentially discharge the discharge ports 1a. Move to this outlet 1a
The paper discharged onto the paper discharge stacking member 10 that has been moved to the second position is sequentially placed and sorted. In the case of the paper discharge device 9, the paper discharged from the discharge port 1a with the print surface facing upward is stacked on the paper discharge stacking member 10 with the print surface facing upward.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional sheet discharging processing system in which a sheet reversing device 11 is provided between the apparatus main body 1 and the sheet discharging device 9 shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 3 indicate the same components as those in FIG.

In the sheet reversing device 11 in the sheet discharge processing system shown in FIG. 4, a sheet reversing travel path 12 into which the sheet is once introduced is provided in the middle of a path 19 through which the sheet discharged from the discharge port 1a is sent. Is provided.

A fixed roller 16 is provided at the entrance of the paper reversing path 12.
And a movable roller 17 are provided. Among these, the movable roller 17 can be brought into contact with and separated from the fixed roller 16 by the swing switching of the swing lever 18. Also, a paper reversing path
A portion 19b of the passage 19 opposing the entrance portion 12 is gently bent from a position slightly deviated toward the movable roller 17 and protrudes inward.

In the sheet reversing device 11 configured as described above, the movable roller 17 is normally kept away from the fixed roller 16 in a normal state. Further, in this state, when the sheet is discharged from the discharge port 1a with the printing surface facing upward, this sheet is fed by the drive roller pair 20 in the entrance side passage 19a. And part 19b in passage 19
Is fed into the paper reversing travel path 12 by the bent shape of the part 19b. When the trailing edge of the sheet is completely introduced into the sheet reversing path 12, the operation stops. At the same time, the swing lever 18 is rotated clockwise in the figure to bring the movable roller 17 into contact with the fixed roller 16. Next, a motor (not shown) is driven in reverse rotation,
Accordingly, the paper feed roller in the paper reversing travel path 12 also rotates in the reverse direction, and the paper is conveyed in a direction opposite to the direction in which the paper has been introduced, and is discharged from the paper reversal travel path 12. At this time, since the movable roller 17 is moved to the outlet side passage 19c side beyond the part 19b of the passage 19 by the rotation operation by the previous swing lever 18 and is in contact with the fixed roller 16, the traveling for paper reversal is performed. The sheet discharged from the path 12 is sent to the exit side path 19c side, and further discharged from the discharge port 11a via the pair of rollers 22 and 23. Further, when the paper is discharged from the paper reversing travel path 12, the printed surface of the paper is reversed from the upper side to the lower side. Then, the sheet is sequentially discharged to the sheet discharge device 9 in the inverted state, and the sheets are stacked on the sheet discharge stacking member 10 with the printing surface facing down. As a result, the sheet is discharged.

Next, FIG. 5 shows another example of a conventional paper discharge processing system using a paper discharge device in which a part of the paper discharge device 9 shown in FIG. 3 is modified. In FIG. 5, the third
4 and FIG. 4 are the same as those in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the sheet discharging device 14 in the sheet discharging processing system shown in FIG. 5, the sheet discharged from the discharge port 1a of the apparatus main body 1 is conveyed by a transporting unit 24a, contrary to the structure shown in FIGS. ,
The sheet is guided to the opposite side of the sheet discharge stacking member 10 at 24b. Then, by sequentially stacking the sheets on the sheet discharge stacking member 10 from the opposite side, the sheet discharged with the printing surface facing upward is stored with the printing surface facing downward. It was done.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in the conventional paper discharge devices 9 and 14 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, both the print surfaces are stored with the print surface facing upward, and conversely, with the print surface facing downward. It was not designed to be freely switchable for storage. For this reason, there is a problem that it is very inconvenient to use since only one of the paper discharging processes, that is, the printing surface is stacked facing upward or the printing surface is stacked facing downward, can be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper discharge device that allows a user to freely select a process of stacking the discharged paper with the print surface facing upward and a process of stacking the discharged paper downward with simple switching. is there.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, a paper discharge device according to the present invention
A sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet discharged from the printing apparatus in a substantially horizontal direction, and a plurality of sheets disposed above the sheet conveying unit at a predetermined interval in a substantially horizontal direction to convey the sheet upward. A drive-side feeding unit that performs an operation, a main body unit that is provided between the adjacent drive-side feed units, and has a discharge loading surface capable of loading the paper on both surfaces, and a vicinity of one end of the main unit. A support shaft provided, a paper receiving portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to both sides of the main body portion, and a driven-side feed provided near each end of the paper-receiving portion so as to be opposed to the drive-side feeding means. Means, and a plurality of discharge stacking members rotatably formed around the support shaft, and by rotating the discharge stacking member, among the discharge stacking surfaces on both surfaces of the main body portion. While tilting so that one of them faces upwards, Switching selecting means for causing the driven feeding means on the discharge stacking surface side, which is inclined upwards, of the driven feeding means near both ends of the paper receiving portion to face the driving feeding means; and Guide means for selectively guiding the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means is provided between the driving side feeding means and the driven side feeding means which are opposed to each other due to the rotation of the sheet discharge stacking member. Is what you do.

<Operation> According to the paper discharge device having the above configuration, when the paper is discharged from the printing device, the paper transport means transports the paper in the horizontal direction. At this time, the switching selecting means rotates the sheet discharge stacking member so that one of the sheet discharge stacking surfaces on both sides of the main body of the sheet discharge stacking member is inclined so as to face upward, and the switching selecting means is turned upward. The driven-side feeding means on the side of the inclined discharge stacking surface faces the driving-side feeding means. Therefore, if the guide means guides the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means between the driving-side feeding means and the driven-side feeding means opposed thereto, the guided sheet is driven by the driving-side feeding means and the driven-side feeding means. The sheet is transported upward by a pair of feeding means including a feeding means. Then, the sheet conveyed upward is discharged onto a discharge stacking surface that is inclined upward and out of the discharge stacking surface of the main body of the discharge stacking member, and is stacked on the discharge stacking surface. Is done.

In this state, when the switching selection means rotates the discharge stacking member, the other discharge stacking surface of the discharge stacking member, that is, the surface opposite to the discharge stacking surface that has already been inclined upward is raised. , And the driven-side feed means on the opposite side faces the drive-side feed means. That is,
By the rotation of the discharge stacking member by the switching selection means,
The front and back sides of the discharge stacking surface that is inclined upward are switched. Therefore, when the sheet from the sheet conveying means is discharged onto the discharge stacking surface by the pair of feeding means after the front and back surfaces of the discharge stacking surface are switched, the discharged sheet is placed on the surface of the discharge stacking surface. The sheets are stacked with the other surface facing upward before the back surface switching.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a paper ejection device according to the present invention applied to a paper ejection processing system in a general electronic copying machine, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. is there. 1 and 2, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 3 to 5 indicate the same as those in FIGS. 3 to 5. That is, the internal structure of the apparatus main body 1 as the electronic copying machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the same as the internal structure of the apparatus main body 1 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. Further, the paper discharge device 30 according to the present invention is provided corresponding to the discharge port 1a of the apparatus main body 1.

More specifically, the paper discharge device 30 is provided with a guide member 32 having an opening 31 into which the paper discharged from the discharge port 1a is sequentially inserted. The sheet inserted through the opening 31 is guided by the guide member 32 and is guided further inward.

On the other hand, at the end of the guide member 32, a paper transport mechanism 33 is disposed below the guide member 32. This paper transport mechanism 33
It is composed of a pair of rollers 34 provided at a distance from each other and a plurality of transport belts 35 stretched between the pair of rollers 34. The plurality of transport belts 35 are arranged along the rollers 34 in a state where they are separated from each other, with a gap provided between adjacent transport belts 35 (not shown). The rollers 34 are rotated by a motor (not shown).
Also travels at the same time, and the paper placed on the transport belt 35 can be transported in one direction.

Further, above each conveyor belt 35, each conveyor belt 35
A plurality of guide rollers 36 are provided at substantially equal intervals in such a state that the guide rollers 36 are in contact with the upper surfaces of the respective belts and lie at right angles to the respective conveyor belts 35. A plurality (7 pairs in this embodiment) of paper capture members 37, discharge rollers 38, and discharge stacking members 39 are arranged in pairs between the guide rollers 36, respectively. I have.

Among them, the sheet capturing member 37 is provided with a pair of guide walls 37a and 37b which are vertically separated from each other in accordance with a gap between a pair of adjacent conveyor belts 35. This paper catching member 37
Is integrally rotatable with a support shaft 40 whose rotation is controlled in both directions by a solenoid or the like. When the support shaft 40 rotates clockwise in FIG. 2, the entirety of the paper capturing member 37 also rotates clockwise so that the lower end of the guide wall 37b is above the conveyor belt 35, that is, the guide wall 37b is The paper catching member 37 is rotated and moved to a “discharge-disabled position” on the conveyor belt 35, which is located outside the paper traveling path.
Conversely, when the support shaft 40 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, the entirety of the paper capturing member 37 also rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the lower end side of the guide wall 37b moves from the gap of the transport belt 35 to the paper transport mechanism. 33, and the guide wall 37b is rotationally moved to the “paper discharge position” in which the guide wall 37b is disposed in the paper traveling path on the transport belt 35. In addition, in the state where the sheet is disposed at the “sheet discharge position”, the upper outlets of the pair of guide walls 37a and 37b are opened substantially directly above. Further, in this embodiment, the switching of the movement of each sheet catching member 37 that rotates integrally with the support shaft 40 from the “discharge position” to the “discharge impossible position” is sequentially performed from the side closer to the guide member 32, and conversely, “ The movement from the “discharge-disabled position” to the “discharge-discharge position” is configured by a control unit including a solenoid (not shown) and a control circuit so that all the sheet capturing members 37 are simultaneously performed. It can be changed variously depending on the purpose.

The discharge roller 38 is provided above the sheet capturing member 37 and at a position adjacent to the upper portions of the pair of guide walls 37a and 37b when the sheet capturing member 37 is moved to the "sheet discharging position". The motor is rotatable in two forward and reverse directions by the driving force of a motor (not shown).

Next, the paper discharge stacking members 39 are provided between the discharge rollers 38, respectively, and one end of each paper discharge stacking member 39 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 41. Further, an arm portion 39b extending at a right angle in the front-rear direction with respect to the main body portion 39a is integrally formed on one end side of each of the paper discharge stacking members 39 supported by the support shaft 41. Note that rollers 43 are rotatably attached to both ends of the arm portion 39b. Then, when the paper output stacking member 39 rotates around the support shaft 41, each roller 43 collides with the output roller 38 on its rotation side, and restricts further rotation of the paper output stacking member 39. It has become.

Further, each of the paper output stacking members 39 is rotatable via a pin 42 on a single link member 44 provided on the upper side of each of the discharge rollers 38 and reciprocatingly lying in the front-rear direction. Are connected in common. This link member 44
Is a switching means, one end of which is a sheet catching member 37.
A solenoid 46 (see FIG. 2), which is different from the above-described solenoid, is mounted. When the solenoid 46 is driven, the solenoid 46 is selectively driven in the front-rear direction, that is, in the directions of arrows A and B shown in FIGS. It is movable. The moving operation of the link member 44 may be configured to be manually switched. Then, when the link member 44 is moved in the direction of arrow A, the respective paper output stacking members 39 rotate clockwise, respectively, and the respective paper output stacking members 39 are rotated.
As shown in FIG. 7A, one surface F (front surface) of all the discharge stacking members 39 faces obliquely upward, and one surface R on the opposite side.
(Back surface) is inclined obliquely downward. Also,
Conversely, when the link member 44 is moved in the direction of arrow B, the paper discharge stacking member 39 rotates counterclockwise, and one side R of the paper discharge stacking member 39 faces obliquely upward as shown in FIG. At the same time, the one side F is inclined obliquely downward.

In the paper discharging processing system configured as described above, the paper recorded by the apparatus main body 1 is discharged with the printing surface facing upward. However, when the inclination of the paper discharging stacking member 39 is switched by the rotation switching, the paper is discharged. The print surface can be stacked on the discharge stacking member 39 with the print surface facing upward, or can be stacked with the print surface facing downward. Next, this operation will be described.

First, when the sheets discharged from the discharge port 1a with the printing surface facing upward, and the sheets are sequentially stacked with the printing surface facing upward,
As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 2 (b), the solenoid
Under the control of 46, the link member 44 is moved in the direction of arrow A. Then, each paper output stacking member 39 rotates around the support shaft 41 in the clockwise direction in the figure until the roller 43 collides with the output roller 38 and is regulated, and the one side F of each paper output stacking member 39 is rotated. Is tilted upward. On the other hand, the sheet catching members 37 are separately controlled, and at first, all the sheet catching members 37 are moved to the "sheet discharging position".

When the recording on the apparatus main body 1 side is disclosed, the driving of the paper transport mechanism 33 is also started, and the transport belt 35 continuously rotates clockwise in FIG. Start rotating in the circumferential direction. In this state, the paper discharged from the discharge port 1a with the printing surface facing upward is inserted from the opening 31, and further conveyed onto the discharge belt 35 through the guide member 32. Then, the sheet is transported in the direction of arrow A by the transport belt 35.

When the sheet is conveyed by the conveyance belt 35 in this way and reaches the first sheet catching member 37 that has been moved to the “sheet discharging device”, the sheet is guided by a pair of guide walls 37a and 37b of the sheet catching member 37. Then, the leading end side of the sheet is guided and inserted between the discharge roller 38 and the roller 43 which are in contact with each other. Then, the paper is fed upward by the rotation of the discharge rollers 38 and 43, and the discharge stacking member
The sheet 39 is placed on one side F which is inclined upward and is stacked with the printing surface facing upward. Then, when this first sheet is placed on the first sheet discharge stacking member 39,
The sheet catching member corresponding to the first sheet discharging stacking member 39
37 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 7 together with the support shaft 40, and is moved to the “discharge impossible position”. Then, the next conveyed sheet is captured by the second sheet capturing member 37, and falls down on one side F of the second sheet discharging and stacking member 39 which is also inclined upward and changes the printing surface. It is placed facing upward. Thereafter, the paper catching member 37 corresponding to the second paper discharge stacking member 39 is also rotated clockwise in FIG. 10 together with the support shaft 40, and is moved to the “paper discharge impossible position”. That is, this operation is sequentially shifted to the rear side, and the sheets are sequentially placed in the same manner from the first to the Nth (up to the seventh in this embodiment) discharge stacking members 39. FIGS. 1 (a) and 2 (a) show a state in which the paper is placed on the fourth discharge stacking member 39 with the printing surface facing upward. I have. When the Nth sheet is placed in this manner, all the sheet catching members 37 are rotated together with the support shaft 40 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. Next, the next sheet is sequentially stacked on the already placed sheet with the printing surface facing upward. Thus, the required number of copies can be made by aligning the pages.

Next, when stacking the paper discharged from the discharge port 1a with the printing surface facing upward, and sequentially stacking the paper with the printing surface facing downward,
As shown in FIGS. 1 (b) and 2 (b), the solenoid
Under the control of 46, the link member 44 is moved in the direction of arrow B. Then, each paper output stacking member 39 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5 with the support shaft 41 as a fulcrum until the roller 43 collides with the discharge roller 38 and is regulated. R is inclined toward the upper surface. In addition, apart from this, all the paper catching members 37 are moved to the “paper discharging position”, and the discharge ports of the respective paper capturing members 37 correspond between the discharging rollers 38 and the rollers 43 which are in contact with each other. Becomes

Then, when the recording on the apparatus main body 1 side is started, the driving of the sheet conveying mechanism 33 is also started, and the conveying belt 35 continuously rotates clockwise in FIG. At the same time, the discharge roller 38 also starts to rotate clockwise in FIG. In this state, the paper discharged from the discharge port 1a with the printing surface
When inserted from 31 and further conveyed onto the conveyor belt 35 through the guide member 32, it is conveyed by the conveyor belt 35 in the direction of the arrow B.

When the sheet is conveyed by the conveying belt 35 in this way and reaches the portion of the first sheet catching member 37 that has been moved to the “discharge position”, the leading end side of this sheet is the first sheet catching member.
It is guided by a pair of guide walls 37a and 37b in 37, and is further inserted between the discharge roller 38 and the roller 43 which are in contact with each other. Then, the discharge roller 38 and the roller 43
With this rotation, the sheet is sent upward, falls on one side R that is tilted upward on the sheet discharge stacking member 39, and is placed with its print surface turned downward. When the first sheet is placed on the first paper output stacking member 39, the paper catching member 37 corresponding to the first paper output stacking member 39 and the spindle 40 together with the clock shown in FIG. It is rotated in the rotation direction and is moved to the “discharge impossible position”. Then, the next conveyed sheet is captured by the second sheet capturing member 37, and falls down on the one side R of the second sheet discharge stacking member 39 which is also inclined upward and the printing surface faces downward. It is put in place. In this case as well, similarly to the case where the paper is placed with the printing surface facing upward, the first to Nth (in this embodiment, the seventh),
The printing surface is turned downward, and the sheets are sequentially placed. When the sheet reaches the Nth position, all the sheet capturing members 37 together with the support shaft 40 in FIG.
It is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, moves to the “paper discharge position”, and returns to the first position again. Then, the next sheet is stacked on the already placed sheet with the printing surface turned downward. FIGS. 1 (a) and 2 (b) show a state in which the paper of the third paper output stacking member 39 is placed with its printing surface turned downward. That is, even in the case of this process, the required number of copies of the material can be created by aligning the pages.

Accordingly, in the sheet discharging device according to this embodiment, the operation of the solenoid 46 moves the link member 44 in the direction of arrow A or the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. When the one surface F serving as the front surface of 39 is selectively switched to a first position where the one surface F inclined upward and the one surface R serving as the back surface is inclined upward and the second position, the wafer is conveyed. The direction in which the sheets fall can be changed, and by this switching, the stacking direction can be freely selected and processed. As a result, the discharged paper can be easily processed, and workability can be improved.

The means for switching the rotational movement position of the paper discharge stacking member 39 is not limited to the structure of the above embodiment, but may be variously changed. Further, the number of the paper output stacking members 39 is not limited to the number shown in the structure of this embodiment, but can be set to one or more freely. Further, in this embodiment,
Although the structure in which the sheet discharging device 30 is provided outside the apparatus main body 1 has been described, it may be integrated into the apparatus main body 1 to be integrally formed.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the paper ejection device of the present invention, when a sheet is ejected from the apparatus main body, the sheet is sent out onto an ejection stacking surface that is inclined upward. The paper discharge stacking surface is stacked on the paper discharge stacking surface, and further, by rotating the paper discharge stacking member, the front and back sides of the paper discharge stacking surface inclined upward are switched. Therefore, in this paper discharge device, the direction of the front and back surfaces of the stacked paper can be freely selected, such as stacking the paper with the front side facing upward, or conversely, stacking the paper with the back side facing upward. Therefore, the sheet discharged from the apparatus main body can be easily processed, and the effect of improving workability can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 (a) and 1 (b) are schematic configuration diagrams showing an example of a paper discharge processing system to which a paper discharge device according to the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a paper ejection processing system to which a conventional paper ejection device is applied, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a paper ejection to which another conventional paper ejection device is applied. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a paper discharge processing system to which another conventional paper discharge device is applied. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device body, 1a ... Discharge port, 30 ... Discharge device, 39 ... Discharge stacking member, 44 ... Link member (switching means).

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of paper transporting means for transporting the paper conveyed from the printing apparatus in a substantially horizontal direction; and a plurality of paper transporting means disposed above the paper transporting means at predetermined horizontal intervals. And a main unit provided on both sides with a discharge stacking surface capable of stacking the paper, the driving unit being provided between each of the driving-side feeding units for performing an operation for transporting the paper to the main unit. A support shaft provided in the vicinity of one end of the portion, a paper receiving portion extending from the main body in a direction substantially perpendicular to both sides thereof,
A plurality of paper discharge stacks, each of which is provided near the opposite ends of the paper receiving portion with driven side feeding means provided so as to be opposed to the driving side feeding means, and is rotatably formed around the support shaft. And rotating the sheet discharge stacking member so that one of the sheet discharge stacking surfaces on both sides of the main body portion is inclined upward, and a driven side feeding means near both ends of the sheet receiving portion. The switching selecting means for causing the driven-side feeding means on the discharge stacking surface side inclined upward to face the driving-side feeding means, and the switching selecting means is opposed to each other by the rotation of the discharge stacking member by the switching selection means. And a guide unit for selectively guiding the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit between the driving side feeding unit and the driven side feeding unit.