JP3912899B2 - Stacker device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is mounted on a digital printer that transfers information including characters and images to a transfer sheet material and prints it out, or an analog copying machine that copies the information on a copy sheet material. The present invention relates to a stacker device that can orderly collect a large number of sheets when discharging.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, in a digital printer device, for example, as a stacker structure for temporarily storing sheet materials printed after transfer, a built-in type in which a paper discharge stacker is built in the printer main body and an outside attached to the outside of the printer main body. There is a mold.
[0003]
The external type includes a horizontal paper discharge stacker 2 attached outside the printer main body 1 shown in FIG. In this case, large format printing such as A0 in the standard specification can be handled, and the printed sheet material is stored on the paper discharge tray 3 in a state of being discharged horizontally.
[0004]
Similarly, a bowl-shaped paper discharge tray 4 attached to the outside of the printer main body 1 shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the large-sized printed sheet material 5 such as A0 is stored such that the upper end portion of the sheet material 5 hangs outward from the upper end 4a of the discharge tray 4.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the case of the horizontal discharge stacker 2 shown in FIG. 10, the printed discharge is horizontally discharged onto the discharge tray 3, so that the stacker structure is enlarged horizontally and the entire apparatus including the printer main body 1 is installed large. There is a disadvantage of taking up space.
[0006]
Further, in the case of the saddle-shaped paper discharge tray 4 of FIG. 11, when the preceding printed sheet material 5 having a large size such as A0 hangs down on the upper end 4a of the paper discharge tray 4 as shown in FIG. There is no problem in storing the subsequent printed sheet material 6.
[0007]
However, as shown in FIG. 13, the preceding printed sheet material 7 accommodated in the sheet discharge is a medium / small size, and does not hang down from the upper end 4a of the sheet discharge tray 4, and is completely stood against the tray. This causes a problem when it is stored in an area. That is, there is a problem that the leading end of the subsequent printed sheet material 8 interferes with the upper end of the preceding sheet material 7 and is pushed out of the tray and dropped.
[0008]
On the other hand, both tray structures of FIGS. 10 and 11 have the following common problems to be solved. In general, digital printers often print out a large number of different sizes, including large-sized ones such as A0, or a large number of sheets continuously.
[0009]
In this case, the sorting operation for printed sheet materials in which a large number of different sizes are stacked and stored is very troublesome and requires a lot of labor. In both tray structures of FIGS. 10 and 11, it is difficult or impossible to cope with such a problem.
[0010]
In particular, with regard to the discharge tray 4 shown in FIG. 11, when such printed sheet materials having different sizes and paper qualities are continuously discharged, the subsequent printed sheet material 8 is placed in the tray as shown in FIG. Problems such as falling outside tend to occur frequently. Therefore, the object of the present invention is particularly suitable as a stacker device for a large-sized digital printer, can minimize installation space, and collect and store a large number of printed sheet materials of different sizes or different paper qualities. It is another object of the present invention to provide a stacker device that can cope with such a case.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The stacker device according to claim 1 of the present invention is an external type or a built-in type attached to the machine body of the recording apparatus, and discharges an image recorded on a sheet of a specified size from a paper discharge port of the machine body. And a stacker device for stacking and storing the stacker body and the stacker body supported by the stacker body so as to be movable in parallel with the paper transport direction via a support shaft. A first paper discharge guide that moves between a distance to a predetermined paper discharge pull-out position to be discharged, and a movably supported by the stacker body via a support shaft that is parallel to the first paper discharge guide; the central portion of the paper is lowered from the original position in order to clamp in a direction close to the first discharge guide, a first sheet discharge pre Symbol while holding the central portion of the paper from the lowered position Integrated with the guide to the paper output drawer position And row movement, further comprising a second paper discharge guide that a series of motion path and can reciprocate to circular motions from the sheet discharging the extracted position to the required angular displacement in the direction toward the discharge outlet, the It is configured.
[0012]
With the above configuration, the second paper discharge guide descends from the original position in the direction approaching the first paper discharge guide in order to sandwich the central portion of the paper, and the central portion of the paper is sandwiched from this lowered position. In this state, it reciprocates along a series of operation paths that move in parallel with the first paper ejection guide to the paper ejection position. As a result, when the second paper discharge guide returns to the original position on the return path, the paper is carried on the first paper discharge guide at the center in the longitudinal direction by hanging both ends.
[0013]
By executing this series of operations in a minimum space, papers of different sizes or different paper qualities are sequentially accumulated on the first paper discharge guide at the center in the longitudinal direction for each large number of sheets and stored accurately. can do.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, as an embodiment of a stacker apparatus according to the present invention, an application example to a digital printer which is a kind of a recording apparatus or an image forming apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a stacker device 20 according to this embodiment attached to a main body 11 of a digital printer 10. In the printer main body 11, information such as characters and images input from a scanner (image scanning reading device) or a computer is formed on a transfer sheet material, printed out, and discharged to the stacker device 20. In addition, information such as characters and images read from a storage medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM can be formed on a transfer sheet material and printed out.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2 and the following figures, in the printer main body 11, paper of various width dimensions corresponding to standard standard sizes such as A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, etc., which is continuously fed as a transfer sheet material. A roll 12 is loaded. The length of the designated standard size is detected by unwinding from the paper feed roll 12 of the designated paper size. A cutter 14 for cutting the sheet material into a predetermined length dimension based on the length detection signal is incorporated.
[0017]
As the transfer paper, instead of the paper supply roll 12 in the illustrated example, a sheet cut by regular cutting, a film material, or the like can be used.
[0018]
Further, the printer main body 11 incorporates device devices such as a photosensitive drum 15, a heater device 16, and a pair of upper and lower discharge feed rollers 17 that transfer information onto a cut sheet as a printer central mechanism.
[0019]
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and subsequent figures, the stacker device 20 attached to the outside of the printer main body 11 has a main body 21 configured in a frame shape, and can be moved by a caster 22 attached to the bottom plate. It has become.
[0020]
A first paper discharge guide 23 is pivotally supported on the upper portion of the stacker main body 21 in the vertical direction in parallel with the main body width direction. Further, the second paper discharge guide 24 moves together with its spindle shaft 25 from the upper original position, and can come close to and contact the first paper discharge guide 23, and can come back and return to the original position. It has become. One or more second paper discharge guides 24 are mounted on a shaft 25 parallel to the axis of the support shaft of the first paper discharge guide 23, for example, at equal intervals.
[0021]
Specifically, as shown in an operation diagram of FIG. 6B described later, the first paper discharge guide 23 is moved from the return original position indicated by symbol A to the paper discharge position B indicated by symbol B in FIG. The distance can be moved by the parallel movement of the spindle. On the other hand, in FIG. 6B, the second paper discharge guide 24 is moved integrally with the shaft 25, for example, the forward path indicated by solid arrow signs (1) to (3) in the figure, and the broken line arrow sign. It is possible to move on the return path indicated by (4) to (6).
[0022]
The first and second paper discharge guides 23 and 24 that move in parallel as described above cooperate, and the printed sheet material discharged by the print output after transfer in the printer main body 11 as described in the following operation. C1, C2... Are held and accommodated.
[0023]
Next, the operation and action of the digital printer stacker apparatus of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.
[0024]
In FIG. 2, the printer main body 11 receives a signal for forming and printing out information such as characters and images read from a computer or a storage medium on a transfer sheet material of a specified standard size. . By this designation signal, for example, one of the paper feed rolls 12 having a width corresponding to a standard size such as A0, A1, A2, A3, and A4 is driven. When the designated paper size is unwound from the paper supply roll 12, the length of the designated standard size is detected, and the cutter 14 cuts the transfer paper into a predetermined length based on the length detection signal.
[0025]
The transfer sheet cut into a required standard size is carried toward the photosensitive drum 15, and information is transferred onto the transfer sheet material through, for example, charging, exposing, developing, and transferring steps of a known image forming method. The transfer sheet material onto which the information has been transferred is sent to the heater device 16 and is discharged as a printed sheet material C1 from the paper discharge port of the printer main body 11 by the upper and lower paper discharge feed rollers 17.
[0026]
Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the printed sheet material C <b> 1 discharged from the printer main body 11 is fed onto the first paper discharge guide 23 in the stacker device 20.
[0027]
Next, at the stage shown in FIG. 4, the center position in the length direction of the transfer sheet material that has been printed by transfer and is being discharged is dimensionally detected. Under the control of the microcomputer based on the detection signal, the second paper discharge guide 24 descends from above and comes into close contact with the first paper discharge guide 23 with its axes aligned in parallel. The lowering operation of the second paper discharge guide 24 is indicated by a symbol arrow (1) in FIG.
[0028]
Subsequently, the lower first sheet discharge guide 23 and the upper second sheet discharge guide 24 integrally discharge to the left side of the drawing while sandwiching the central portion in the length direction of the printed sheet material C1. It moves parallel to the drawing position B (see arrow sign (2) in FIG. 6B).
[0029]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the second paper discharge guide 24 is moved in an arc to an optimum phase angle position, for example, an angle phase position of approximately 90 °, that is, retreats toward the paper discharge port. The position is changed integrally with the shaft 25 [arrow symbol (3) in FIG. 6B]. The second half of the printed sheet material C1 is forcibly hung downward by the displacement of the second paper discharge guide 24 due to the arc movement at this time. The second paper discharge guide 24 which has achieved the initial purpose rotates backward along the circular arc locus by 90 ° of the same angle, and returns to the upper position of the first paper discharge guide 23 which is the original position [FIG. Arrow sign (4) of b)].
[0030]
Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the upper and lower first and second paper discharge guides 23 and 24 holding the printed sheet material C1 whose both ends are suspended from the central portion are arranged on the right side of the drawing. It moves toward the position and returns [arrow symbol (5) in FIG. 6B]. Subsequently, the second paper discharge guide 24 moves upward and is separated from the first paper discharge guide 23, and the central portion of the printed sheet material C1 is released to return to the original position [FIG. Arrow sign (6) of b)]. At this time, the third paper discharge guide 26 performs the holding of the printed sheet material C1 that is held and released by releasing the second paper discharge guide 24. That is, the third paper discharge guide 26 cooperates with the first paper discharge guide 23 to sandwich the vicinity of the central portion of the printed sheet material C1 to ensure the holding.
[0031]
As described above, the first paper discharge guide 23 and the second paper discharge guide 24 repeat a series of parallel movements from the forward path to the return path. Accordingly, in the state shown in FIG. 6A, a plurality of printed sheet materials of different sizes are temporarily held in a state where they are sequentially stacked on the first paper discharge guide 23 at the respective central portions.
[0032]
As is clear from this, even if there are a plurality of sheets of different sizes or sheet materials of different paper qualities, both ends of the paper are suspended from the central portion and reliably stacked. Therefore, as in the structure of FIG. 11 of the conventional example, the problem of storage omission due to the hold-off of the discharged printed sheet material is solved. Further, each guide moving distance related to holding the printed sheet material is limited to the shortest parallel movement. As a result, the overall size of the stacker device 20 is minimized, and a large installation is provided for the large-size tray 3 corresponding to a large-size sheet like the horizontal discharge stacker 2 shown in FIG. Space is not required.
[0033]
Note that the stacker device 20 of the present embodiment can be another embodiment in which a part of the structure is changed as follows. The same or common members and devices are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
[0034]
In the above-described embodiment, the main body external type of the digital printer 10 has been disclosed. Instead of the digital printer 10, the stacker device 20 can be applied to an analog copying machine.
[0035]
Further, the second paper discharge guide 24 is rotated by the rotation control mechanism by the microcomputer control only during the forward movement of the circular arc shown in FIG. 6B ((3) movement in the figure). Thus, the structure may be rotated in the counterclockwise direction in the figure. In this case, the transfer sheet is effective for a material having a so-called “waist” having rigidity. That is, it cooperates with the fixed first sheet discharge guide 23 and rotates the second sheet discharge guide 24 so as to make an arc movement while contacting the second half of the printed sheet material C1. This is effective in pushing down the second half of the strong transfer sheet material and forcibly hanging it down, and increases the certainty of accumulation.
[0036]
FIG. 7 shows a specific example of another embodiment. In this case, instead of the integral parallel movement structure by the first paper discharge guide 23 and the second paper discharge guide 24 in the first embodiment shown in the drawings up to FIG. It is a one-piece pendulum movement system.
[0037]
FIG. 8 shows a case in which a separately provided fourth paper discharge guide 27 is used in place of the movement method based on the circular arc operation by 90 ° angular displacement of the second paper discharge guide 24 in the first embodiment of FIGS. A structure in which the second half of the printed sheet material C1 is forcibly suspended by moving up and down in the direction is also possible.
[0038]
Further, FIG. 9 shows a curve in which the guide body 27a is curved in accordance with the outer peripheral curvature of the first paper discharge guide 23, instead of the second paper discharge guide 24 having a circular cross section shown in the above embodiments. A plate 27 b is provided to form a second paper discharge guide 27.
[0039]
This structure is effective because the curved plate 27b further enhances the retention of the printed sheet material C1 by cooperating with the first paper discharge guide 23.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the stacker apparatus according to the present invention can be applied particularly as an external type of a digital printer apparatus, can minimize installation space, and has a large number of printed sheet materials having different sizes or different paper qualities. Can be collected and stored accurately. In addition, there is an advantage that it is possible to reduce the work of sorting the discharged paper after stacking. In particular, by moving the second sheet discharge guide in an arc along the first sheet discharge guide, even when a transfer sheet material having “waist” is used, the transfer sheet material is directed downward. Since the sheet is pushed down, the transfer sheet material can be reliably accumulated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a stacker device for a digital printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an initial operation of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a paper discharge holding operation according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a paper discharge holding operation according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a paper discharge holding operation of the present embodiment.
6A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the discharge holding operation is finished in the present embodiment, and FIG. 6B is an operation mode of the first and second discharge guides of the main part. It is a schematic diagram which shows.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a pendulum swing type holding structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertically moving holding structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a side view showing a modified example of the second paper discharge guide in each embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a horizontal discharge stacker as an example of a conventional external type.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a bowl-shaped paper discharge tray as another example of a conventional external mold.
12 is a cross-sectional view showing a storing mode of large-size paper discharge in the conventional paper discharge tray shown in FIG.
13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mode leading to dropping of a printed sheet material in the conventional paper discharge tray shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Digital printer main body 12 Continuous feed roll 14 provided for each standard size Paper cutting cutter 15 Photosensitive drum 16 Heater device 17 Paper discharge feed roller 20 Stacker device 21 Stacker main body 23 First paper discharge guide 24 Second paper discharge guide 25 Shaft 26 Third sheet ejection guide C1 Printed sheet material

Claims (2)

A stacker device that is an external type or a built-in type attached to the body of the recording apparatus, and that records an image on a sheet of a specified size and discharges it from the paper outlet of the body and stores it in a stack.
The stacker body,
The stacker body is supported so as to be movable in parallel with the transport direction of the sheet via a support shaft, and moves between a distance from the original position to a predetermined sheet discharge position where the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge port. 1 paper discharge guide,
Is movably supported in the stacker body through the first discharge guide parallel to the support shaft, adjacent to the first discharge guide from the original position a central portion of the a paper in order to clamp drops in the direction, the sheet discharge from the previous SL first the translate to sheet ejection extracted position discharge guide and integrally, further the sheet discharging extended position in a state where the central portion is sandwiched in the paper from the lowered position A second discharge guide capable of reciprocating through a series of operation paths that circularly move to a required angular displacement in a direction toward the mouth ;
A stacker device comprising: 2. The stacker device according to claim 1, wherein the second discharge guide is rotatable during the arc operation and moves while rotating along the sandwiched sheet .

Images