JP4235316B2 - Discharging device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a discharge device including a blindfold for blinding a discharge port, and an image forming apparatus including such a discharge device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, various image forming apparatuses are known, and among them, an image forming apparatus that switches a discharged sheet material to a plurality of discharge ports and discharges it is frequently used.
[0003]
Such an image forming apparatus, for example, discharges on an image forming surface that is discharged with the image forming surface facing upward (hereinafter also referred to as FU discharge) or discharges below the image forming surface that discharges with the image forming surface facing down. (Hereinafter, also referred to as FD paper discharge) is generally performed.
[0004]
Here, a conventional image forming apparatus that switches and discharges a sheet material to be discharged to a plurality of discharge ports will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. 5 and 6 are partial structural views of a conventional image forming apparatus.
[0005]
5 and 6, 1 is an opening / closing cover, 2 is a blindfold cover that blinds the FU discharge port, 3 is a guide member, 4 is a switching member that switches the sheet material to the FU discharge port or the FD discharge port, Reference numerals 6 and 7 denote switching levers. In addition, the arrows in the figure indicate the paper passing direction as the sheet material.
[0006]
A sheet material typified by a paper sheet or the like on which an image is fixed by the fixing device is guided and discharged to the FD discharge port or the FU discharge port by the switching member 4 mounted on the guide member 3. The guide member 3 is mounted on the opening / closing cover 1 or the like, and the guide member 3 and the switching member 4 are opened / closed together with the opening / closing cover 1 at the time of jam processing or the like.
[0007]
As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional switching member 4 does not cooperate with the blindfold cover 2 for blindfolding the FU slot, and directly protrudes to the external appearance. The user operates the switching lever 5 to move the switching member 4 to the FD. Switch to paper discharge or FU paper discharge.
[0008]
In the conventional image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the switching lever 5 is composed of one component, and the user switches FU / FD by operating this lever from the outside of the main body.
[0009]
However, due to the design, if the distance between the switching member 4 and the external surface (actually, the switching lever operation unit) is too long, a moment acts on the switching lever 5. Therefore, the operation of the switching member 4 by the operation of the switching lever 5 is difficult to perform a desired operation.
[0010]
In such a case, as shown in FIG. 6, the switching lever is divided into two parts (switching levers 6 and 7) and the switching member 4 is operated using a link to facilitate the operation of the switching member 4. Yes.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the configuration of the conventional switching lever as described above, when the user operates only the switching lever and forgets to open the blindfold cover, the sheet material such as discharged paper sheets loses its exit, and accordion jam or fixing It has the problem that it may cause a device winding jam and the like, and the performance and usability of the product may be significantly reduced.
[0012]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a discharge device and an image forming apparatus that can suppress the occurrence of jam and improve convenience even when the discharge port is blinded by the blindfolding means. The purpose is to provide.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the discharge device according to the present invention comprises:
A plurality of outlets for discharging the sheet material;
Rotatably provided, a blindfold member for blindfold the outlet sac Chi one outlet,
A protrusion provided on the blindfold member;
Switching means for switching whether or not to discharge the sheet material to a discharge port that is blindfolded by a blindfold member having the protrusions;
One end is connected to the switching means, the other end is provided so as to be in contact with the projection, and a lever member that can move up and down,
An urging means provided in the apparatus main body for urging the lever member downward;
In a discharge device comprising:
When the blindfold is blinding the outlet,
The protrusion comes into contact with the other end of the lever member, pushes the lever member upward, and the switching means connected to the lever member by the push-up is a blinding member provided with the protrusion. It is switched to discharge the sheet material to an outlet other than the outlet to be blindfolded, and
By pushing up the lever member, the direction of the force received by the blindfold member from the biasing means via the lever member is directed to the rotation axis of the blindfold member,
When the blindfold member does not cover the discharge port, the urging means pushes down the lever member downward when the protrusion is separated from the other end of the lever member. said switching means being connected to the lever member, the outlet blindfold member comprising said protrusion is blindfolded, characterized Rukoto switched to discharge the sheet material.
[0014]
Further, at least one of the discharge ports is a discharge port on an image forming surface that discharges with the image forming surface of the sheet material facing upward, and at least one of the discharge ports forms an image of the sheet material. It is an image forming surface lower discharge port that discharges with the surface facing down.
[0019]
The switching means is rotatable about a predetermined rotation center point, and the switching means and the drive transmission means are provided on the opposite side of the side on which the sheet material is conveyed to the switching means. It is connected.
[0020]
Furthermore, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the sheet material is discharged by the discharge device.
[0021]
Therefore, according to the discharge device and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, since the operation of the blindfold member , for example, the discharge of the sheet material to the discharge port is switched in conjunction with the opening and closing operation, the user operates the blindfold member , for example. Even if it is forgotten, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of jam such as accordion jam or jam around the fixing device and improve operability.
[0022]
Further, since at least one of the discharge ports is a discharge port on the image forming surface and at least one of the discharge ports is a discharge port below the image forming surface, the convenience can be further improved.
[0023]
Further, as the blindfold member opens and closes, the sheet member of the switching means is switched to be discharged by moving a vertically movable lever member that is in contact with the projection of the blindfold member and connected to the switching means. This is equivalent to automatically switching according to the opening / closing operation of the blindfold member , and it is possible to effectively prevent an outlet switching error or forgetting to switch.
[0027]
Further, the switching means is rotatable around a predetermined rotation center point, and the switching means and the drive transmission means are connected to the switching means on the side opposite to the side on which the sheet material is conveyed. The switching means can be appropriately switched according to the movement of the lever member .
[0028]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. Absent.
[0029]
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of a discharge device and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a partial structural view of a first embodiment of a discharge device according to the present invention.
[0030]
However, the discharge device shown in FIG. 1 is also a discharge device included in the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Therefore, in the following description, the description of the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention also serves as the description of the first embodiment of the discharge apparatus according to the present invention.
[0031]
Also, among the members shown in FIG. 1, the same members as those shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0032]
In FIG. 1, 4 is a switching member as switching means, 8 is a rib as a projection on the blindfold cover 2 as blindfolding means (blindfolding member) , and 9 is drive transmission means (lever member). And 10 is a compression spring as an urging means.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, when the blindfold cover 2 is closed, the rib 8 on the blindfold cover 2 lifts the switching lever 9 to the FU side while compressing the compression spring 10 urging the switching member 4, and the switching member 4 is fixed to the FD.
[0034]
When the user opens the blindfold cover 2 from this state, the rib 8 of the blindfold cover 2 is separated from the switching lever 9 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Extruded in the direction. That is, the switching lever 9 can switch the switching member 4 to the FU paper discharge side.
[0035]
Further, when the user closes the blind cover 2, the switching member 4 is automatically switched to the FD because the rib 8 pushes up the switching lever 9.
[0036]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the switching member 4 can be switched to FD / FU only by operating the blindfold cover 2, and the user can make the blindfold cover 2 without being aware of the operation of the switching lever 9. Accordingly, the sheet material is not discharged to the discharge port, which can prevent accordion jam, jam around the fixing device, and the like, and can improve user convenience.
[0037]
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the discharge device and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a partial structural diagram of a second embodiment of the discharging apparatus according to the present invention.
[0038]
However, the discharge device shown in FIG. 2 is also a discharge device included in the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Therefore, in the following description, the description of the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will also serve as the description of the second embodiment of the discharge apparatus according to the present invention.
[0039]
Also, among the members shown in FIG. 2, the same members as those shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0040]
In FIG. 2, 11 is a rib as a projecting portion, 12 is a switching lever as drive transmission means, and 13 is a tension spring as urging means.
[0041]
The switching lever 12 in the present embodiment is rotatably installed on the opening / closing cover 1.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the rib 11 provided on the blindfold cover 2 as the blindfolding means pushes one end of the switching lever 12 when the blindfold cover 2 is closed. The other end of the switching lever 12 rotates about the rotation center on the opening / closing cover 1 and switches to the FD side while pulling the tension spring 13 that biases the switching member 4 as the switching means toward the FU side.
[0043]
When the blindfold cover 2 is opened, the switching lever 12 is automatically switched to the FU side by the action of the tension spring 13.
[0044]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the switching member 4 can be switched to FD / FU only by operating the blindfold cover 2, and the first embodiment of the discharge device and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention described above. The same effect can be obtained.
[0045]
(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the discharge device and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a partial structural view of a third embodiment of the discharging apparatus according to the present invention.
[0046]
However, the discharge device shown in FIG. 3 is also a discharge device included in the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Therefore, in the following description, the description of the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will also serve as the description of the third embodiment of the discharge apparatus according to the present invention.
[0047]
Also, among the members shown in FIG. 3, the same members as those shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0048]
In FIG. 3, 14 is a rib as a protrusion, 15 is a switching lever as drive transmission means, and 16 is a tension spring as biasing means.
[0049]
In this embodiment, the switching lever 15 is installed on the opening / closing cover 1 or the guide member 3 in a state in which it can be translated (slid) in the longitudinal direction of the lever.
[0050]
In the present embodiment, when the blindfold cover 2 is closed, the rib 14 provided on the blindfold cover 2 as the blindfolding means pushes one end of the switching lever 15 provided so as to be movable in parallel. The other end of the switching lever 15 performs a sliding motion, and the switching member 4 is switched to the FD side while pulling the tension spring 16 urging the switching member 4 as the switching means to the FU side.
[0051]
When the blindfold cover 2 is opened, the switching lever 15 is automatically switched to the FU side by the action of the tension spring 16.
[0052]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the switching member 4 can be switched to FD / FU only by operating the blindfold cover 2, and thus the first and second discharge devices and image forming apparatuses according to the present invention described above. The same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.
[0053]
(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the discharge device and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a partial structural view of a fourth embodiment of the discharging apparatus according to the present invention.
[0054]
However, the discharge device shown in FIG. 4 is also a discharge device included in the fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Therefore, in the following description, the description of the fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will also serve as the description of the fourth embodiment of the discharge apparatus according to the present invention.
[0055]
Also, among the members shown in FIG. 4, the same members as those shown in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0056]
In FIG. 4, 17 is a switching link as drive transmission means, 18 is a tension spring as urging means, 19 is a link rotation center, and 21 is a link groove.
[0057]
The switching link 17 of this embodiment is installed on the guide member 3. In the present embodiment, the switching member 4 as the switching means and the blind cover 2 as the FU slot blinding means are connected by the link rotation center 19 of the switching link 17, and the link groove 21 at the other end of the switching link 17 is switched. It is connected to the member 4.
[0058]
Further, one end of the tension spring 18 is held by the switching member 4 and the other end is held by the guide member 3 and is always biased in a direction to return the switching member 4 to the FD side.
[0059]
With such a configuration, when the blind cover 2 of the FU slot is opened, the switching link 17 is pulled diagonally downward to the left in the figure as shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure, and switched to the FU sheet discharge position.
[0060]
Further, when the blindfold cover 2 is closed, the switching link 17 is lifted and there is no effect on the switching member 4, so that the switching member 4 is switched in the FD paper discharge direction by the action of the tension spring 18.
[0061]
By carrying out this embodiment in this way, it becomes possible to switch the switching member 4 to FD / FU only by operating the blindfold cover 2, and the first and first discharge devices and image forming devices according to the present invention described above. The same effects as those of the second and third embodiments can be obtained.
[0062]
Furthermore, since the first embodiment to the third embodiment described above are biased toward the FU side by a spring, the switching member 4 may be fixed to the FU when a lever or the like is damaged. Even if the user tries to perform FD paper discharge in a state where the lever or the like is damaged, FU paper discharge occurs and the blindfold cover is closed, which may cause a jam or the like.
[0063]
However, in the fourth embodiment, since the switching member can be biased to the FD side, the switching member should be disconnected if the link between the blindfold cover 2 and the switching member 4 is broken due to damage to the parts or the like. Since 4 is biased toward the FD paper discharge side, paper discharge on the FD side is always possible. Therefore, the risk of jams is greatly reduced.
[0064]
In the first to fourth embodiments, the spring is used as the biasing unit. However, the biasing unit used in the discharge device and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the spring. In addition, an elastic member such as rubber or sponge can be used.
[0065]
In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the FD discharge port and the FU discharge port are provided as the discharge port has been described as an example. However, the discharge device and the image formation according to the present invention are described. The number of discharge ports provided in the apparatus is not limited to two, and may be any number such as three or four.
[0066]
Furthermore, the number of outlets that are blindfolded by the blindfolding means is not limited to one, and any number of outlets among the plurality of outlets may be blinded.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it includes a blindfold member for blindfold one Chi more outlet sac for discharging the sheet material, in conjunction with the operation of the blind member, the sheet material since the switching of the discharge, for example, even such as when the user forgets to switch the outlet of the sheet material relative to the opening and closing of the blind member, to discharge the sheet to the discharge port blindfold member is blindfolded Accordingly, it is possible to provide a discharge device and an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of an accordion jam, a jam around a fixing device, and the like and improving the convenience for the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partial structural view of a first embodiment of a discharge device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial structural view of a second embodiment of a discharge device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial structural view of a third embodiment of a discharge device according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a partial structural view of a fourth embodiment of a discharge device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a partial structural diagram of a conventional image forming apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a partial structural diagram of a conventional image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Opening / closing cover 2 Blindfold cover 3 Guide member 4 Switching member 5, 6, 7 Switching lever 8 Rib 9 Switching lever 10 Compression spring 11 Rib 12 Switching lever 13 Tension spring 14 Rib 15 Switching lever 16 Tension spring 17 Switching link 18 Tension spring 19 Link rotation center 21 Link groove

Claims (4)

A plurality of outlets for discharging the sheet material;
A blindfold member that is rotatably provided and blindfolds one of the discharge ports;
A protrusion provided on the blindfold member ;
Switching means for switching whether or not to discharge the sheet material to a discharge port that is blindfolded by a blindfold member having the protrusions;
One end is connected to the switching means, the other end is provided so as to be in contact with the projection, and a lever member that can move up and down,
An urging means provided in the apparatus main body for urging the lever member downward;
In a discharge device comprising :
When the blindfold member is blindfolded said outlet,
Said projection is in contact the other end equivalent of the lever member, pushed upwards the lever member by the push-up, the switching means being connected with said lever member, the blindfold member comprising said protrusions It is switched to discharge the sheet material to an outlet other than the outlet to be blindfolded, and
By pushing up the lever member, the direction of the force received by the blindfold member from the biasing means via the lever member is directed to the rotation axis of the blindfold member,
When the blindfold member is not blind the outlet, by which the projection is separated from said other end of said lever member, depress the biasing means the lever member in a downward direction, by pushing down said, the It said switching means being connected to the lever member, wherein the outlet blindfold member including a protrusion is blindfolded, emissions device you characterized in that it is switched to discharge the sheet material. At least one of the discharge ports is a discharge port on the image forming surface that discharges with the image forming surface of the sheet material facing upward,
The discharging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the discharge ports is an image forming surface lower discharge port that discharges the sheet material with an image forming surface facing down. The switching means is rotatable around a predetermined rotation center point;
3. The discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit and the drive transmission unit are coupled to each other on a side opposite to the side on which the sheet material is conveyed to the switching unit. An image forming apparatus comprising the discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the sheet material is discharged by the discharge device.

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