JP4444735B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a sheet stacking tray for stacking sheets on which images are formed, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that improves stacking consistency of sheets discharged to a sheet stacking tray.

  A multifunction printer (hereinafter referred to as “MFP”) as an image forming apparatus is generally based on an image forming apparatus main body having a function of forming an image on a sheet in an image forming apparatus such as a fax machine or a printer. For the purpose of adding an additional function (for example, a copying function), another apparatus (a document reading apparatus in the case of the copying function) is added to the main body of the image forming apparatus to form an integrated product. For example, as an MFP, there is a multifunction machine including an image forming apparatus main body and a document reading unit.

  MFPs often have a discharge stacking unit disposed on the side of the image forming apparatus main body, which tends to increase the installation area as a whole. As a result, in recent years, MFPs have a space-saving type in which another device is placed on the upper side, the image forming apparatus main body is placed on the lower side, and a paper discharge space for discharging and stacking sheets therebetween is disposed as a discharge stacking unit. Is popular.

  In general, an image forming apparatus supplies and conveys a sheet in the main body of the image forming apparatus, forms an image on the sheet, and then conveys the sheet by a discharge roller and discharges the sheet as a sheet stacking tray. It is designed to be loaded on top. The sheets stacked on the paper discharge tray are usually arranged so as to be aligned from the bottom in the order of being discharged along the tray shape of the paper discharge tray as a whole.

  On the other hand, the curled sheet after image formation does not follow the shape of the tray as a whole even if it is discharged to the paper discharge tray, and is stacked with the curled portion partially away from the paper discharge tray. Therefore, the sheet curled and stacked on the sheet discharge tray may block the sheet discharge port and interfere with the leading edge of the next sheet to be discharged. As a result, the sheet to be discharged next may be bent at the corners or be accordion-shaped as a whole and clog the sheet discharge port. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the sheet to be discharged next may push the trailing end of the preceding sheet already stacked on the sheet discharge tray and drop the preceding sheet.

  As countermeasures against this problem, four things shown in FIGS. 16 to 19 can be considered. In each figure, a portion indicated by reference numeral A111 is an image forming apparatus main body that forms an image on a sheet. A portion denoted by reference numeral A112 is an image reading unit that reads an original as an example of another apparatus.

As a countermeasure 1, as shown in FIG. 16, even if the curled sheet is stacked on the discharge tray 109 by increasing the distance L1 between the sheet stacking surface 108a of the discharge tray 109 and the discharge roller pair 106. It is conceivable that the sheet discharge port 140 is not blocked.

  As countermeasure 2, as shown in FIG. 17, a sheet pressing member 105 is provided on the downstream side of the discharge roller pair 106, and the trailing edge of the curled sheet stacked on the discharge tray 109 by the sheet pressing member 105 is provided. It is conceivable that the sheet discharge port 140 is not blocked by pressing the portion (upstream end in the sheet discharge direction) (see Patent Document 1).

  As a countermeasure 3, as shown in FIG. 18, a sheet passing guide 107 is provided on the bottom surface of the document reading unit A112, and the curled sheet is caught on the bottom surface of the document reading unit A112 to prevent the sheet from being bent or jammed. It is possible.

  As countermeasure 4, as shown in FIG. 19, a discharge paper guide member 117 is fixedly provided on the upper side of the discharge tray 109 from the image forming apparatus main body A111 to guide the discharge sheet over almost the entire area in the sheet discharge direction. Accordingly, it is conceivable that the curled sheet is caught on the bottom surface of the document reading unit A112 and the corner is not bent or jammed.

  In the above description, the problem that occurs when, for example, the sheet discharged to the discharge tray is curled in an MFP having an image forming apparatus main body on the upper side and the countermeasures have been described. A similar problem has occurred even in an image forming apparatus that does not include the above.

  That is, when a sheet stacked on a paper discharge tray of an image forming apparatus that does not include another device is curled, the sheet may block the sheet discharge port and interfere with the leading edge of the next discharged sheet. there were. As a result, the sheet to be discharged next may be bent at the corners or be accordion-shaped as a whole and clog the sheet discharge port. In addition, the next discharged sheet may push the trailing end of the preceding sheet already stacked on the sheet discharge tray and drop the preceding sheet.

  As measures against this problem, the following measures 5 and 6 can be considered. The countermeasure will be described with reference to FIGS. In this case, in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, it is assumed that there is no document reading unit A112 as a separate device.

As a countermeasure 5, for example, in FIG. 16, even if the distance L1 between the sheet stacking surface 108a of the discharge tray 109 and the discharge roller pair 106 is increased and the curled sheets are stacked on the discharge tray 109, the sheet discharge The outlet 140 is not blocked.

  As countermeasure 6, for example, in FIG. 17, a sheet pressing member 105 is provided on the downstream side of the sheet discharge roller pair 106, and the trailing end portion of the curled sheet stacked on the sheet discharge tray 109 by this sheet pressing member 105 ( The upstream end in the sheet discharge direction) is held down so that the sheet discharge port 140 is not blocked.

JP-A-7-277581 JP-A-11-165934

(Problems to be solved in an image forming apparatus provided with another apparatus)
However, in the MFP A 101 shown in FIG. 16 as an image forming apparatus incorporating the measure 1, as the distance L1 between the sheet stacking surface 109a of the paper discharge tray 109 and the paper discharge roller pair 106 becomes longer, the original reading unit A112. , And the height of the MFP A 101 is also increased, which makes it difficult to place a document on the document reading unit A 112 and makes it difficult to use.

  An MFP machine A102 shown in FIG. 17 as an image forming apparatus incorporating the measure 2 includes a document reading unit A112 above the image forming unit A111. Therefore, the MFP A102 holds only the trailing edge of the sheet curled in the entire conveyance direction. However, the curl at the leading end of the sheet (downstream end in the sheet discharge direction) cannot be pressed. For this reason, the leading edge of the curled sheet is rubbed against the bottom surface of the document reading unit A112, resulting in corner breakage and sheet stacking failure. Further, when the user once takes out the sheet on the discharge tray 109 and then returns it to the discharge tray 109 again, the discharge tray 109 is blocked by the document reading unit A112 and is hardly visible. The sheet may be returned onto the sheet pressing member 105, and if an image forming operation is performed as it is without being aware of this, the subsequent sheet is placed under the sheet overlapping the sheet pressing member 105. The sheet stacking order may be out of order, or in the worst case, subsequent sheets may be jammed.

  An MFP machine A103 shown in FIG. 18 as an image forming apparatus incorporating measure 3 is premised on having an original reading unit A112 provided with a sheet passing guide A107, and does not include another apparatus. It cannot be applied to.

  The MFPs A103 and A104 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 as image forming apparatuses incorporating the measures 3 and 4 guide the leading end of the sheet by the sheet passing guide A107 and the discharge guide member 117. Can be prevented. However, since the sheet is stacked on the sheet discharge tray 109 with the trailing edge of the sheet curled, the sheet closes the sheet discharge port 140, and the subsequent sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 109 by the discharge roller pair 106. When it is done, it may cause catching of the succeeding sheet or corner breakage. Further, there is a possibility that the succeeding sheet pushes and drops the preceding sheet from the discharge tray 109.

  Further, the MFP A 104 shown in FIG. 19 as an image forming apparatus incorporating Measure 4 is used when a cartridge (not shown) in the image forming apparatus main body A 111 (for example, a part indicated by reference symbol C shown in FIG. 1) is attached and detached. The cartridge cover 111 constituting a part of the paper discharge tray 109 is opened. For this reason, in order to be able to open the cartridge cover 111 completely, it is necessary to make the length of the fixed paper discharge guide member 117 long enough not to interfere with the cartridge cover 111. The sheet guidance by 117 and the curl pressing of the sheet may be uncertain.

(Problems to be solved in an image forming apparatus not provided with a separate device)
In the image forming apparatus incorporating the measure 5, for example, in the state where the document reading unit A112 is not provided in FIG. 16, as the distance L1 between the sheet stacking surface 109a of the discharge tray 109 and the discharge roller pair 106 increases, Since the height of the forming apparatus main body A111 is increased, the height of the entire image forming apparatus is also increased.

  For example, in the image forming apparatus incorporating the measure 6, if the sheet is curled over the entire conveyance direction in the state where the document reading unit A112 is not provided in FIG. The curl at the leading end (downstream end in the sheet discharge direction) cannot be pressed down. For this reason, the sheet to be discharged next rubs against the leading end side of the curled already stacked sheets and stops in the middle, which may cause a sheet stacking failure. In addition, when the user once takes out the sheet on the discharge tray 109 and then returns it to the discharge tray 109 again, the user may accidentally return the sheet onto the sheet pressing member 105. If the image forming operation is performed as it is, the succeeding sheet enters under the sheet overlapping the sheet pressing member 105, and the stacking order of the sheets is out of order. The sheet may become jammed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which the stacking consistency of sheets discharged to a sheet stacking tray formed on the upper surface of an image forming apparatus main body is improved.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an original reading unit that reads an original, an image forming unit that is positioned below the original reading unit and forms an image on a sheet based on reading information of the original reading unit, and the original reading A sheet stacking tray provided between the image forming unit and the image forming unit on which a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is stacked, and the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit A sheet discharge means for discharging the sheet, a sheet trailing edge guide member positioned between the document reading section and the sheet stacking tray and pressing the trailing edge of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge means, and the document reading part and and a sheet front end guide member for guiding the top leading edge of the sheet discharged by said sheet discharge means positioned between said sheet stacking tray, said sheet trailing edge The tip of the id member is positioned above the lower surface of the seat front guide member.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet stacking tray on which a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is stacked, and the image that is formed by the image forming unit. A sheet discharge means for discharging the sheet to the sheet stacking tray, a sheet rear end guide member positioned above the sheet stacking tray and pressing the rear end portion of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge means, and the sheet stacking A sheet leading end guide member that is positioned above the tray and guides the leading end of the upper surface of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging unit, and the leading end of the sheet trailing end guide member is above the lower surface of the sheet leading end guide member Is located .

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an original reading unit that reads an original, an image forming unit that is positioned below the original reading unit and forms an image on a sheet based on reading information of the original reading unit, and the original reading A sheet stacking tray provided between the image forming unit and the image forming unit on which a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is stacked, and the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit A sheet discharge means for discharging the sheet, a sheet leading end guide member that is positioned between the document reading section and the sheet stacking tray and that guides the top end of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge section, and the document reading section and a sheet trailing end guide member for holding the rear end of the sheet discharged by said sheet discharge means positioned between said sheet stacking tray and the sea Of front guide member, disposed for movement in a vertical direction between at least a portion of the sheet discharge direction on the downstream side the document reading section and the sheet stacking tray, among the sheet stack tray, at least a portion of the upper and lower Ri rotatable der in direction, the leading end of the sheet trailing edge guide member is positioned above the lower surface of the seat front guide member.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet stacking tray on which a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is stacked, and the image that is formed by the image forming unit. A sheet discharge means for discharging the sheet to the sheet stacking tray, a sheet leading end guide member that is positioned above the sheet stacking tray and guides the top end of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging means, and the sheet stacking tray A sheet trailing edge guide member that is positioned above the sheet and presses the trailing edge of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging means , and at least a part of the sheet leading edge guide member on the downstream side in the sheet discharging direction is It is arranged to be movable in the vertical direction, of the sheet stacking tray state, and are rotatable at least partially vertically, the Sea The tip of the trailing edge guide member is positioned above the lower surface of the seat front guide member.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the leading edge of the sheet being discharged is stably guided by the sheet leading edge guide member, and the trailing edge of the sheet is pressed by the sheet trailing edge guide member. For this reason, the image forming apparatus can prevent the sheet from being bent and reduce the curling of the sheet to prevent the sheet stacking failure and to stack the sheet on the sheet stacking tray in an orderly manner. . Further, unlike the prior art, even if the distance between the sheet stacking tray and the sheet discharging means is shortened, the sheets can be stacked on the sheet stacking tray with the curled sheets almost not blocking the sheet discharging means. . In addition, when the distance between the sheet stacking tray and the sheet discharging unit is shortened, the sheet dropping distance is shortened, and the sheets are less likely to be disturbed and stacked on the sheet stacking tray, thereby improving the consistency of the sheets. In addition, the overall height of the image forming apparatus can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the above-described effects, when the distance between the sheet stacking tray and the sheet discharge unit is shortened, the height position of the document reading unit is reduced, and the user can easily place the document on the document reading unit. This makes it easy to use the image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when at least a part of the sheet stacking tray is rotated in the vertical direction, at least a part of the sheet leading end guide member on the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction can also move in the vertical direction. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, even if the sheet leading end guide member is lengthened, the curling of the sheet can be almost certainly performed without hindering the opening and closing of the sheet stacking tray. Further, when at least a part of the sheet stacking tray is rotated in the vertical direction while the sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking tray, the sheet is sandwiched between the sheet stacking tray and the sheet leading end guide member, It is possible to prevent the sheet from dropping due to the rotation of the sheet stacking tray.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Image forming apparatuses include multi-function printers (hereinafter referred to as “MFP machines”) that include other apparatuses in the image forming apparatus main body, and printers that include only the image forming apparatus main body that does not include another apparatus. Description will be made in the order of an MFP having another apparatus in the image forming apparatus main body and a printer having only the image forming apparatus main body. In addition to the document reading unit, for example, there are a sheet processing apparatus, a sheet reversing apparatus, and the like as another apparatus. Therefore, another apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus main body is not limited to the document reading unit.

(MFP machine equipped with a separate device in the main body of the image forming apparatus)
The MFP machine includes the first embodiment of the present invention indicated by reference numeral A1 in FIGS. 1 to 5, the second embodiment of the present invention indicated by reference numeral A2 in FIGS. 8 and 9, and FIGS. There is a thing of a 3rd embodiment of the present invention shown by numerals A3. Each MFP machine A1, A2, A3 is based on an image forming apparatus main body having a function of forming an image on a sheet in an image forming apparatus such as a fax machine or a printer, for the purpose of adding an additional function (for example, a copying function). A separate device (a document reading device in the case of a copying function) is added to the main body of the image forming apparatus to form an integrated product. That is, each of the MFPs A1, A2, and A3 is a complex machine of the image forming apparatus main body A11 and the original reading unit A12, and paper is loaded into the paper stacking space AR between the image forming apparatus main body A11 and the original reading unit A12. It is designed to discharge and load.

  The document reading unit A12 rotates about a connecting shaft 34 provided on the upstream end side in the paper discharge direction to easily open and close the exterior cover of the image forming apparatus main body A11. It is easy to maintain. The document reading unit A12 does not necessarily need to be openable and closable. The connecting shaft 34 rotatably connects the document reading unit A12 to the image forming apparatus main body A11. As an example of maintenance, the process cartridge C is taken out and toner is supplied to the process cartridge C.

(Image Forming Apparatus (MFP Machine) of First Embodiment of the Present Invention)
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention along the paper conveyance direction. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the MFP machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial top view of the image forming apparatus main body when the document reading unit A12 is opened. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the MFP when the document reading unit A12 is opened. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the MFP when the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body is opened and the process cartridge C is detached in order to supply toner to the process cartridge C from the state of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining inconveniences when there is no discharge leading guide. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the MFP when the upper part of the main body of the image forming apparatus is opened and the process cartridge C is attached / detached with sheets stacked on the paper discharge tray.

  The MFP A1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body A11 and a document reading unit A12. The image forming apparatus main body A11 includes a scanner S, a process cartridge C, a fixing device T, and the like. Note that one electrophotographic photosensitive drum Cd is incorporated in the process cartridge C constituting the image forming unit. Above the fixing device T, a portion from the fixing device T to the paper discharge roller pair 6 is provided. The fixing device T is provided with a fixing paper discharge roller pair 3.

  A sheet P, which is a sheet, is developed and transferred with a process cartridge C, and the toner image is fixed with a fixing device T. The sheet P is used as a sheet stacking tray that also serves as an outer cover that forms the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body. The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 9 and the cartridge cover 11 and stacked sequentially.

  A rear end pressing member 4 as a sheet rear end guide member provided in the paper discharge portion is rotatably provided on a fulcrum shaft 21 on the sheet discharge port 40 side, and is formed in a V shape in a front view of FIG. It is. Although the fulcrum shaft 21 is provided in the vicinity of the upper portion of the paper discharge roller pair 6 as the sheet discharge means in FIG. 1, it may be coaxial with the rotation center of the paper discharge roller pair 6. The rear end pressing member 4 is pushed up and rotated by the leading end of the sheet when the sheet is discharged, and is rotated downward to return to the original position when the sheet is completely discharged. . The rear end of the paper discharged onto the paper discharge tray 9 is pressed by its own weight or a spring force or a stopper (not shown) at the V-shaped lowermost part 4a. Therefore, the trailing edge pressing member 4 prevents the discharged paper from blocking the sheet discharge port 40 even if the discharged paper is curled.

  A sheet leading end guide member and a sheet discharging leading end guide 12 as a sheet leading end guide piece, which are features of the MFP A1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, will be described. The discharge leading end guide 12 is rotatably provided on a rotation center shaft 22 on the upper cover 10 and abuts against the upper cover 10 by its own weight so as not to contact the sheet stacking surface 9a which is a sheet stacking surface of the discharge tray 9. The position is fixed. The rotation center shaft 22 is disposed near the upper portion of the paper discharge roller pair 6 of the image forming apparatus main body A11.

  The attachment position of the paper discharge leading end guide 12 with respect to the paper discharge roller pair 6 will be described. In general, curled paper has a small amount of curl in a state where the behavior is restricted by an existing member such as a conveyance roller or a conveyance rib (not shown), but the curl amount tends to increase without such a restriction member. . Therefore, after the curled discharged paper is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body A11 by the paper discharge roller pair 6, the paper curl becomes large, and the paper is guided by the guide member at a position away from the paper discharge roller pair 6. In this case, since the position of the leading edge of the paper being discharged is not stable, corner folding or entanglement may occur, and paper stackability and alignment may deteriorate.

  For this reason, the discharge leading end guide 12 guides the guide portion 12b from the vicinity of the discharge roller pair 6 so that the curled paper starts to be guided immediately after being discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A11 by the discharge roller pair 6. It is formed.

  The paper discharge leading guide 12 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body A11 and positioned in the same manner as the paper discharge roller pair 6 for discharging paper. This is because it is easier to align the paper discharge roller pair 6 with the paper discharge roller pair 6 than when the paper discharge front guide 12 is attached to the document reading portion A12, and the paper discharge front guide 12 can easily guide the paper.

  Further, the guide portion 12 b of the paper discharge leading end guide 12 is positioned in the image forming apparatus main body A 11 at and around the rotation center portion 22 and is in a state of floating so as not to contact the paper stacking surface 9 a of the paper discharge tray 9. It has become. This is to prevent the paper being discharged from being pressed against the paper stacking surface 9a of the paper discharge tray 9 unnecessarily. If the discharged paper is pressed against the paper discharge tray 9, the next discharged paper comes into contact with the upper surface of the paper discharged first onto the paper discharge tray 9, and the previously discharged paper is pushed out and dropped. There is a risk of causing. For this reason, the paper discharge leading end guide 12 is provided at a height position where the paper discharged later is not in strong contact with the paper on the paper discharge tray 9. Also, if the paper discharge tip guide 12 is guided at a high position that is too far from the paper discharge tray 9, the paper cannot be pressed with a sufficient paper pressing force as the guide portion 12 b of the paper discharge tip guide 12. When the curl amount of the paper is large, the discharged paper is warped and curled before guiding, thereby degrading the paper stackability and alignment.

  For this reason, it is necessary to set the height position of the paper discharge leading end guide 12 to a position where the paper is not pressed too much against the paper discharge tray 9 and the pressing force is not too weak. According to the experimental results, it was found that the guide portion 12b of the paper discharge leading end guide 12 is preferably provided at a position above the paper stacking surface 9a of the paper discharge tray 9 by about 15 mm to about 70 mm.

  As a result, the MFP A1 presses the curled portion Pa of the discharged paper P by the paper discharge leading edge guide 12 as shown in FIGS. Can be loaded.

  Incidentally, a pair of paper discharge leading guides 12 are provided on both sides along the paper discharge direction so as to be able to press both ends of the discharged paper that are likely to curl. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the pair of paper discharge leading guides 12 are arranged so that the left and right intervals become wider (open outward) as they go downstream in the paper discharge direction. Even if a narrow sheet that is not guided by these two discharge leading guides 12 is discharged slightly obliquely with respect to the transport direction, it enters inside the left and right discharge leading guides 12. This is in order not to get caught in the inner edge portion of the tip guide 12. Note that the number of the paper discharge leading end guides 12 is not necessarily two. The pair of discharge leading end guides 12 may be a single plate-like member. Three or more may be provided. However, any paper discharge leading edge guide needs to be able to guide both sides of the paper along the paper discharge direction.

  As described above, the MFP A1 according to the present embodiment stably guides the leading edge of the sheet being discharged by the discharge leading guide 12 and presses the trailing edge of the sheet by the trailing edge pressing member 4. For this reason, the MFP A1 reduces the occurrence of corner folding of the paper and reduces the curling of the paper to prevent the paper stacking failure and to stack the paper on the paper discharge tray 9 in an orderly manner. it can. Further, unlike the conventional case, even if the distance between the paper stacking surface 9a and the paper discharge roller pair 6 is shortened, the sheet discharge port 40 is hardly blocked by the curled paper, and the paper is placed on the paper discharge tray 9. Can be loaded. In addition, when the distance between the paper stacking surface 9a and the paper discharge roller pair 6 is shortened, the paper fall distance is shortened, and the paper is less likely to be disturbed and stacked on the paper discharge tray 9, thereby improving the consistency of the paper. be able to. Further, if the distance between the sheet stacking surface 9a and the paper discharge roller pair 6 is shortened, the height position of the document reading unit A12 is lowered, and the user can easily place the document on the document reading unit A12. It becomes easy. Further, the overall height of the MFP A1 can be reduced to make it smaller.

  The fulcrum shaft 22 of the paper discharge leading end guide 12 prevents the paper discharge leading end guide 12 from rotating upward and preventing the cartridge cover 11 from being opened and closed when the cartridge cover 11 is rotated to open and close. It is provided. The cartridge cover 11 is provided on the paper discharge tray 9 so as to be opened and closed by a rotation center shaft 24.

  When the cartridge cover 11 is closed, the paper discharge leading guide 12 can naturally guide the discharged paper at the position shown in FIG. When the cartridge C is replaced or jammed, the original reading unit A12 is opened as shown in FIG. 5, and then the cartridge cover 11 is opened. Then, a part of the cartridge cover 11 on the paper stacking surface 11a side is opened. Comes into contact with the front end of the paper discharge front guide 12. If the cartridge cover 11 is pushed up and rotated together with the discharge leading end guide 12 as it is, the leading end of the discharge leading end guide 12 rotates while sliding on the discharge tray surface side of the cartridge cover 11. In the state shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge cover 11 abuts against a stopper (not shown) and is tilted toward the sheet discharge tray 9 and the sheet discharge leading end guide 12 leans against the cartridge cover 11 side. Retained. In this way, the paper discharge leading end guide 12 rotates in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cartridge cover 11.

  Further, when it is necessary to replace the cartridge or perform jam processing during printing, the cartridge cover 11 may be opened with the discharged paper loaded on the paper discharge tray 9. If the paper discharge leading edge guide of the present invention is not provided as shown in FIG. 6, even if the bundle of discharged paper is turned over so as to be bent and the cartridge cover 11 is closed, the alignment of the paper deteriorates. The paper may fall from the image forming apparatus main body A11. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the MFP machine of the present embodiment is provided with a paper discharge leading edge guide 12. Therefore, if the cartridge cover 11 is opened with the discharged paper loaded on the paper discharge tray 9, the paper is discharged. The discharged paper on the paper tray 9 pushes up the paper discharge leading guide 12, and depending on the number of discharged paper, the paper discharge leading guide 12 abuts against the document reading portion A12. For this reason, when it becomes a stopper and the number of stacked sheets exceeds a certain level, the leading end of the bundle of discharged sheets is sandwiched between the discharge leading end guide 12 and the cartridge cover 11 and the discharge leading end guide 12 rotates. Since it is regulated, it is possible to maintain the alignment of the discharged paper and prevent the discharged paper from falling. Therefore, the MFP A1 according to the present embodiment can prevent deterioration of alignment due to opening and closing of the cartridge cover 11 and dropping from the paper discharge tray 9 even when paper is discharged on the paper discharge tray 9. Yes.

  In the MFP according to the present embodiment, when the cartridge cover 11 is rotated upward, the paper discharge leading guide 12 can also be rotated upward. However, the curl pressing of the paper can be performed almost certainly without obstructing the opening and closing of the cartridge cover 11.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 17, in the conventional MFP A 102 having only the trailing edge pressing member 105 and not having the discharge leading edge guide of the present embodiment, the discharged sheets on the discharge tray 109 are When the paper is once taken out and then returned again onto the paper discharge tray 109, it is expected that the paper is erroneously returned onto the trailing edge pressing member 105. However, the MFP A1 according to the present embodiment has a discharge leading end guide 12 in addition to the trailing end pressing member 4, and discharges the downstream leading end 4b of the trailing end pressing member 4 as shown in FIG. Since it is arranged above the lower surface 12 a of the front end guide 12, unlike the conventional case, the user does not mistakenly return the discharged paper on the rear end pressing member 4, and the discharged paper is not put on the rear end pressing member 4. There is no need to get caught and good usability can be realized.

  Here, in FIG. 1, the MFP A1 of the present embodiment is provided with a through hole 23 in the paper discharge leading end guide 12, and the downstream end 4b of the trailing end pressing member 4 is passed through the through hole 23, thereby The downstream end 4 b of the end pressing member 4 is positioned above the lower surface 12 a of the discharge leading end guide 12. In addition, instead of the through-hole 23, a concave portion for receiving the downstream end portion 4 b of the rear end pressing member 4 is formed, and the downstream end portion 4 b of the rear end pressing member 4 enters the concave portion to discharge the discharge front end guide 12. The downstream end portion 4b may be positioned above the lower surface 12a of the lower end.

(Image Forming Apparatus (MFP Machine) of Second Embodiment of the Present Invention)
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the MFP according to the second embodiment of the present invention along the paper transport direction. FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of the MFP when the upper part of the main body of the image forming apparatus is opened and the process cartridge C is attached / detached in order to supply toner to the process cartridge C from the state of FIG.

  The MFP A2 of the present embodiment is different in configuration from the discharge leading guide 31 of the MFP A1 of the first embodiment of the present invention. Since the other parts are the same as those of the MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The sheet front end guide member and the sheet discharge front end guide 31 as the sheet front end guide piece include an upstream side guide piece 13, a downstream side guide piece 14, a connecting shaft 32 that rotatably connects both guide pieces 13 and 14, and the like. It consists of The upstream guide piece 13 is fixed to the upper cover 10 in the vicinity of the upper portion of the discharge roller pair 6 of the image forming apparatus main body A11, and does not come into contact with the paper stacking surface 9a of the discharge tray 9 so as to be on the discharge tray 9. The guide surface is formed partway through. The downstream guide piece 14 is provided on the upstream guide piece 13 so as to be rotatable about a connecting shaft 32 provided at the tip of the upstream guide piece 13 as a rotation fulcrum. The discharge paper is guided in a state where it does not come into contact with the paper stacking surface 9a of the paper discharge tray 9 from the upstream side to the downstream side. The upstream guide piece 13 may be a part of the upper cover 10.

  The paper discharge leading edge guide 31 of the present embodiment suppresses the curl of the discharged paper in the same positional relationship as the paper discharge leading edge guide 12 of the first embodiment, thereby improving the stackability and alignment of the discharged paper. Further, like the paper discharge front guide 12 of the first embodiment, the paper discharge front guide 31 cooperates with the rear end pressing member 4 to prevent paper stacking failure, and the paper is neatly placed on the paper discharge tray 9. It can be loaded on.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the process cartridge C is replaced or jammed, the document reading unit A12 is opened, and then the cartridge cover 11 is opened, so that a part of the cartridge cover 11 on the sheet stacking surface 11b side is opened. Contacts the distal end portion 14c of the downstream guide guide piece 14. If the cartridge cover 11 is pushed up and rotated together with the downstream guide guide piece 14 as it is, the distal end portion 14c of the downstream guide guide piece 14 rotates while sliding on the sheet stacking surface 11b side of the cartridge cover 11. Then, when the cartridge cover 11 abuts against a stopper (not shown) at the position shown in FIG. 9 and the rotation is restricted, the downstream guide piece 14 is also held while leaning to the cartridge cover 11 side. As described above, in the MFP machine A2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, similarly to the MFP machine A1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the paper discharge leading edge guide 31 is interlocked when the cartridge cover 11 is opened and closed.

  Also in the MFP of this embodiment, when the cartridge cover 11 is rotated upward, the paper discharge leading guide 31 can also be rotated upward. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the paper discharge leading guide 31 is lengthened. However, the curl pressing of the paper can be performed almost certainly without obstructing the opening and closing of the cartridge cover 11.

  Note that the discharge leading end guide 31 of the present embodiment is also provided in the paper discharge direction so that the both ends of the discharged paper that are easily curled can be pressed, similarly to the discharge leading end guide 12 of the first embodiment of the present invention. One pair may be provided on both sides along. Further, the pair of paper discharge leading guides 12 may be arranged so that the left and right intervals become wider (open outward) as going downstream in the paper discharge direction.

  Also in the MFP A3 of the present embodiment, a through hole 23 is provided in the discharge leading end guide 13, and the downstream end 4b of the trailing end pressing member 4 is passed through the through hole 23 so that the trailing end pressing member 4 is provided. The downstream tip 4b is positioned above the lower surface 13a of the upstream guide piece 13.

  The MFP A2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention described above is not shown in the figure, but the paper discharge tray 9 and the cartridge cover when the process cartridge C needs to be replaced or jammed during printing are required. As with the MFP A1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the discharged paper stacked on the paper 11 is not likely to be deteriorated in alignment or dropped from the main body. In addition, the same effects as those of the MFP A1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention are achieved.

(Image Forming Apparatus (MFP Machine) of Third Embodiment of the Present Invention)
FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the MFP according to the third embodiment of the present invention along the sheet conveying direction. FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of the MFP when the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body is opened and the process cartridge C is attached / detached in order to supply toner to the process cartridge C from the state of FIG.

  The MFP A3 of the present embodiment is different in configuration from the discharge leading guide 31 of the MFP A1 of the first embodiment of the present invention. Since the other parts are the same as those of the MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The sheet front end guide member and the paper discharge front end guide 32 as the sheet front end guide piece are composed of an upstream side guide piece 15, a downstream side guide piece 16, and the like. The upstream guide piece 15 is fixed to the upper cover 10 in the vicinity of the upper portion of the discharge roller pair 6 of the image forming apparatus main body A11, and does not come into contact with the paper stacking surface 9a of the discharge tray 9 so as to be on the discharge tray 9. The guide surface is formed partway through. The upstream guide piece 15 may be a part of the upper cover 10.

  The downstream guide piece 16 is provided on the cartridge cover 11 by a pair of support pieces 33 provided at a position wider than the width of the sheet, and is not connected to the upstream guide piece 15. However, the downstream guide piece 16 is disposed such that the lower surface 16 a is higher than the lower surface 15 a of the upstream guide piece 15. For this reason, the paper discharge leading end guide 32 of the present embodiment can guide the discharged paper without being caught by the lower surface 16a of the downstream side guide piece 16 after the discharged paper is first guided by the lower surface 15a of the upstream side guide piece 15. It has become. The cartridge cover 11 is not connected to the paper discharge tray 9 and is detachably attached to the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body A11.

  As described above, the MFP A3 according to the present embodiment also easily stacks the discharged paper while suppressing the curl of the discharged paper by the paper discharge leading end guide 32 constituted by the upstream guide piece 15 and the downstream guide piece 16. In addition, the alignment of the discharged paper is improved. Further, the paper discharge leading end guide 32 cooperates with the rear end pressing member 4 in the same manner as the paper discharge leading end guide 12 of the first embodiment to prevent paper stacking failure, and the sheets are neatly placed on the paper discharge tray 9. It can be loaded on.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the process cartridge C is replaced or jammed, the document reading unit A12 is opened and then the cartridge cover 11 is opened. Then, the downstream guide piece 16 is integrated with the cartridge cover 11 as well. It rotates at the same time. By appropriately setting the rotation center (not shown) of the cartridge cover 11, the downstream guide piece 16 becomes the upstream guide piece 15 fixed to the upper cover 10 even when the cartridge cover 11 is opened as shown in FIG. 11. The cartridge cover 11 is not hindered from opening and closing without causing problems such as interference.

  Also in the MFP A3 of the present embodiment, a through hole 23 is provided in the upstream guide piece 15, and the downstream end 4b of the rear end pressing member 4 is passed through the through hole 23 so that the downstream end of the rear end pressing member 4 is downstream. The side tip 4b is positioned above the lower surface 15a of the upstream guide piece 115.

  The MFP A3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention described above is not shown in the figure, but the paper discharge tray 9 and the cartridge cover when the process cartridge C needs to be replaced or jammed during printing are required. Similarly to the MFPs A1 and A2 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the discharged paper loaded on the paper 11 is not likely to deteriorate the alignment of the discharged paper or fall from the main body. In addition, the same effects as those of the MFPs A1 and A2 of the first and second embodiments of the present invention are achieved.

(A printer that does not have a separate device in the main body of the image forming apparatus)
The printer which is an image forming apparatus includes a printer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention indicated by A4 in FIG. 12, a printer according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention indicated by A5 in FIG. 13, and A6 in FIG. Some of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. A fax machine may be used instead of a printer. The printers A4, A5, and A6 of the fourth to sixth embodiments are configured by omitting the document reading unit A12 from the MFPs A1, A2, and A3 of the first to third embodiments .

(Image Forming Apparatus (Printer) of Fourth Embodiment of the Present Invention)
FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention along the paper transport direction. A printer A4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which the document reading unit A12 of the MFP A1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is omitted. The same parts as those of the MFP A1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of the structure is omitted. The printer A4 of the present embodiment also has the same effect as the MFP A1 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the printer A4, since the trailing edge pressing member 4 prevents the discharged paper from blocking the sheet discharge port 40 even if the discharged paper is curled, the discharged paper can be smoothly discharged to the discharge tray 9. It has become.

  The printer A4 also presses the curled portion Pa of the discharged paper P even on the curled discharged paper by the paper discharge leading end guide 12, and stacks the paper on the paper discharge tray 9 in an orderly manner, as shown in FIGS. Can be done.

  That is, the printer A4 of the present embodiment also stably guides the leading edge of the sheet being discharged by the discharge leading guide 12 and the trailing edge of the trailing edge of the sheet by the trailing edge pressing member 4, similarly to the MFP A1 of the present embodiment. Is supposed to hold down. For this reason, the printer A4 can reduce the curl of the paper, prevent the paper stacking failure, and stack the paper on the paper discharge tray 9 in an orderly manner. Further, unlike the conventional case, even if the distance between the paper stacking surface 9a and the paper discharge roller pair 6 is shortened, the sheet discharge port 40 is hardly blocked by the curled paper, and the paper is placed on the paper discharge tray 9. Can be loaded. In addition, when the distance between the paper stacking surface 9a and the paper discharge roller pair 6 is shortened, the paper fall distance is shortened, and the paper is less likely to be disturbed and stacked on the paper discharge tray 9, thereby improving the consistency of the paper. be able to. Also, the overall height of the printer A4 can be reduced to make it smaller.

  The paper discharge leading end guide 12 can guide the discharged paper at the position shown in FIG. When the cartridge cover 11 is opened at the time of replacement of the cartridge C or at the time of jam processing, a part of the cartridge cover 11 on the side of the paper stacking surface 11 a comes into contact with the front end portion of the paper discharge front end guide 12. If the cartridge cover 11 is pushed up and rotated together with the discharge leading end guide 12 as it is, the leading end of the discharge leading end guide 12 rotates while sliding on the discharge tray surface side of the cartridge cover 11. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge cover 11 abuts against a stopper (not shown) and is held in an inclined state toward the discharge tray 9 side, and the discharge leading end guide 12 leans against the cartridge cover 11 side. It is held in the state. In this way, the paper discharge leading end guide 12 rotates in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cartridge cover 11.

  Further, when it is necessary to replace the cartridge or perform jam processing during printing, the cartridge cover 11 may be opened with the discharged paper loaded on the paper discharge tray 9. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the printer A4 of the present embodiment is provided with a paper discharge leading guide 12, so that if the cartridge cover 11 is opened with the discharged paper loaded on the paper discharge tray 9, the paper discharge is guided. The discharged paper on the paper tray 9 pushes up the discharge leading end guide 12. For this reason, the leading end portion of the bundle of discharged paper is sandwiched between the discharge leading end guide 12 and the cartridge cover 11 so that the discharge leading end guide 12 is restricted from being rotated. The fall of the discharged paper can be prevented. Therefore, the printer A4 of the present embodiment can prevent deterioration of alignment due to opening and closing of the cartridge cover 11 and dropping from the paper discharge tray 9 even when paper is discharged on the paper discharge tray 9. .

  Also, in the printer of this embodiment, when the cartridge cover 11 is rotated upward, the paper discharge leading guide 12 can also be rotated upward. The curl pressing of the paper can be almost certainly performed without obstructing the opening and closing of the card ridge cover 11.

  Here, when the printer has only the trailing edge pressing member and does not have the discharge leading edge guide of the present embodiment, the discharged paper on the discharge tray is once taken out and then again on the discharge tray. When returning to, it is expected that the discharged paper will be erroneously returned onto the trailing edge pressing member. However, the printer A4 of the present embodiment has a discharge leading end guide 12 in addition to the trailing end pressing member 4, and as shown in FIG. 12, the downstream leading end portion 4b of the trailing end pressing member 4 is connected to the discharging leading end. Since it is arranged above the lower surface 12a of the guide 12, the user will not accidentally return the discharged paper onto the rear end pressing member 4, and the discharged paper will not be caught on the rear end pressing member 4. Good usability can be realized.

(Image Forming Apparatus (Printer) of Fifth Embodiment of the Present Invention)
FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the paper transport direction of the printer of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. A printer A5 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which the document reading unit A12 of the MFP A2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 8 is omitted. The same parts as those of the MFP A2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of the structure is omitted. The printer A5 of this embodiment also has the same effect as the MFP machine A2 of the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The paper discharge leading end guide 31 of the present embodiment suppresses the curl of the discharged paper in substantially the same positional relationship as the paper discharge leading end guide 12 of the first embodiment of the present invention, thereby improving the stackability and alignment of the discharged sheets. . Further, like the paper discharge front guide 12 of the second embodiment, the paper discharge front guide 31 cooperates with the rear end pressing member 4 to prevent paper stacking failure, and the paper is neatly placed on the paper discharge tray 9. It can be loaded on.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the cartridge cover 11 is opened when the process cartridge C is exchanged or jammed, a part of the cartridge cover 11 on the paper stacking surface 11 b side becomes a downstream guide guide piece 14. It contacts the front end portion 14c. If the cartridge cover 11 is pushed up and rotated together with the downstream guide guide piece 14 as it is, the distal end portion 14c of the downstream guide guide piece 14 rotates while sliding on the sheet stacking surface 11b side of the cartridge cover 11. For example, when the cartridge cover 11 hits a stopper (not shown) at the position shown in FIG. 9 and the rotation is restricted, the downstream guide piece 14 is also held while leaning to the cartridge cover 11 side. . As described above, in the printer A5 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, similarly to the MFP A2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the paper discharge leading end guide 31 is interlocked when the cartridge cover 11 is opened and closed.

  Also, in the printer of this embodiment, when the cartridge cover 11 is rotated upward, the paper discharge leading guide 31 can also be rotated upward. The curl pressing of the paper can be almost certainly performed without obstructing the opening and closing of the card ridge cover 11.

  The printer A5 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention described above is not shown in the figure, but the paper discharge tray 9 and the cartridge cover 11 when the process cartridge C needs to be replaced or jammed during printing are required. Similarly to the MFP A2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the discharged paper stacked on the printer does not deteriorate the alignment of the discharged paper or drop from the main body.

(Image Forming Apparatus (Printer) of Sixth Embodiment of the Present Invention)
FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the paper transport direction of the printer of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. A printer A6 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which the document reading unit A12 of the MFP A3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10 is omitted. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same part as printer A3 of 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and description of a structure is abbreviate | omitted. The printer A6 of the present embodiment also has the same effect as the MFP A3 of the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The printer A6 of the present embodiment also facilitates stacking of discharged sheets while suppressing curl of discharged sheets by a discharge leading end guide 32 constituted by the upstream guide piece 15 and the downstream guide piece 16, and also allows the discharged sheets to be stacked. Alignment is improved. Further, like the paper discharge front guide 32 of the third embodiment, the paper discharge front guide 31 cooperates with the rear end pressing member 4 to prevent paper stacking failure, and the paper is neatly placed on the paper discharge tray 9. It can be loaded on.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the cartridge cover 11 is opened when the process cartridge C is replaced or jammed, the downstream guide piece 16 is also rotated together with the cartridge cover 11 at the same time. By appropriately setting the rotation center (not shown) of the cartridge cover 11, for example, the downstream guide piece 16 is fixed to the upper cover 10 even when the cartridge cover 11 is opened as shown in FIG. 11. The cartridge cover 11 can be opened and closed without causing any troubles such as interference to 15.

  The printer A6 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention described above is not shown in the figure, but the paper discharge tray 9 and the cartridge cover 11 when the process cartridge C needs to be replaced or jammed during printing are required. Similarly to the printers A4 and A5 according to the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention, the discharged paper stacked on the paper does not deteriorate the alignment of the discharged paper or fall from the main body.

  In the fourth to sixth embodiments of the present invention, the sheet discharge tray 9 is provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body A11. For example, the image forming apparatus includes a sheet stacking tray on the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body. The present invention can also be applied to the sheet stacking tray. Therefore, the paper discharge tray 9 is not limited to being provided at the top of the image forming apparatus main body A11.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention along the paper conveyance direction. 1 is an external perspective view of an MFP according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the image forming apparatus main body when an original reading unit of the MFP machine of FIG. 1 is opened. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when a document reading unit is opened. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the MFP when the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body is opened and the process cartridge is attached / detached in order to supply toner to the process cartridge from the state of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining inconvenience when there is no discharge leading end guide. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the MFP machine in FIG. 1 when the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body is opened while sheets are stacked on a paper discharge tray and a process cartridge is attached and detached. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the MFP according to the second embodiment of the present invention along the paper conveyance direction. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the MFP when the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body is opened and the process cartridge is attached / detached in order to supply toner to the process cartridge from the state of FIG. 8. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an MFP machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention along a paper conveyance direction. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the MFP when the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body is opened and the process cartridge is attached / detached in order to supply toner to the process cartridge from the state of FIG. 10. It is a schematic sectional drawing along the paper conveyance direction of the printer of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing along the paper conveyance direction of the printer of 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing along the paper conveyance direction of the printer of 6th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of an MFP machine showing a state in which discharged paper is pushed and dropped in a conventional MFP machine. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional MFP machine to which measure 1 is applied. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional MFP machine to which measure 2 is applied. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional MFP machine to which measure 3 is applied. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional MFP machine to which measure 4 is applied.

Explanation of symbols

A1 MFP (image forming apparatus) according to the first embodiment of the present invention
A2 MFP machine (image forming apparatus) according to second embodiment of the present invention
A3 MFP (image forming apparatus) according to the third embodiment of the present invention
A4 Printer (Image Forming Apparatus) of Fourth Embodiment of the Invention
A5 Printer of the fifth embodiment of the present invention (image forming apparatus)
A6 Printer of the sixth embodiment of the present invention (image forming apparatus)
A11 Image forming apparatus main body A12 Document reading unit A21 Image forming apparatus main body AR Paper stacking space P Paper (sheet)
4 Rear end holding member (sheet rear end guide member)
4a Lowermost part of rear end pressing member 4b Front end of rear end pressing member 6 Paper discharge roller pair (sheet discharge means)
9 Output tray (sheet stacking tray)
9a Paper stacking surface (sheet stacking surface)
10 Top cover
11 Cartridge cover (sheet stacking tray)
11a Paper stacking surface 12 Discharge front end guide (sheet front end guide member, sheet front end guide piece)
12a Discharge tip guide bottom surface 12b Discharge tip guide guide portion 13 Upstream guide piece 13a Upstream guide piece bottom surface 14 Downstream guide piece 14c Downstream guide piece tip 15 Upstream guide piece 15a Upstream guide piece Lower surface 16 downstream guide piece 16a lower surface of downstream guide piece 17 discharge paper guide member 21 fulcrum shaft of rear end pressing member 22 rotation central axis of paper discharge front guide 23 through hole 24 rotation central axis 31 of cartridge cover 11 Discharge tip guide (sheet tip guide member, sheet tip guide piece)
32 Discharge tip guide (sheet tip guide member, sheet tip guide piece)
34 Connecting shaft between the document reading unit and the image forming apparatus main body 40 Sheet discharge port

Claims (12)

A document reading section for reading a document;
An image forming unit that is positioned below the document reading unit and forms an image on a sheet based on reading information of the document reading unit;
A sheet stacking tray provided between the document reading unit and the image forming unit on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked;
Sheet discharge means for discharging the sheet on which an image has been formed in the image forming unit to the sheet stacking tray;
A sheet trailing edge guide member that is positioned between the document reading unit and the sheet stacking tray and presses the trailing edge of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging unit;
A sheet leading end guide member that is positioned between the document reading unit and the sheet stacking tray and guides the top end of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging unit ,
The front end of the sheet rear end guide member is located above the lower surface of the sheet front end guide member.
An image forming apparatus. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A sheet stacking tray on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked;
Sheet discharge means for discharging the sheet on which an image has been formed in the image forming unit to the sheet stacking tray;
A sheet trailing edge guide member that is positioned above the sheet stacking tray and presses the trailing edge of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging means;
A sheet front end guide member that is positioned above the sheet stacking tray and guides the upper end of the upper surface of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge unit ,
The front end of the sheet rear end guide member is located above the lower surface of the sheet front end guide member.
An image forming apparatus.   The sheet leading end guide member is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction, the sheet stacking tray is pivotable in the vertical direction, and can be brought into contact with the sheet leading end guide member when pivoted up. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. A document reading section for reading a document;
An image forming unit that is positioned below the document reading unit and forms an image on a sheet based on reading information of the document reading unit;
A sheet stacking tray provided between the document reading unit and the image forming unit on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked;
Sheet discharge means for discharging the sheet on which an image has been formed in the image forming unit to the sheet stacking tray;
A sheet leading end guide member that is positioned between the document reading unit and the sheet stacking tray and that guides the top end of the upper surface of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging unit;
A sheet rear end guide member that is positioned between the document reading unit and the sheet stacking tray and that presses the rear end of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge unit ,
Of the sheet leading end guide member, at least a part of the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction is disposed so as to be vertically movable between the document reading unit and the sheet stacking tray.
Among the sheet stacking tray, Ri pivotally der at least a portion the vertical direction,
The front end of the sheet rear end guide member is located above the lower surface of the sheet front end guide member.
An image forming apparatus. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A sheet stacking tray on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked;
Sheet discharge means for discharging the sheet on which an image has been formed in the image forming unit to the sheet stacking tray;
A sheet leading edge guide member that is positioned above the sheet stacking tray and that guides the leading edge of the upper surface of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging means;
A sheet trailing edge guide member that is positioned above the sheet stacking tray and presses the trailing edge of the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging means ,
Of the sheet leading end guide member, at least a part of the downstream side in the sheet discharging direction is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction,
Among the sheet stacking tray, Ri pivotally der at least a portion the vertical direction,
The front end of the sheet rear end guide member is located above the lower surface of the sheet front end guide member.
An image forming apparatus. Wherein among the sheet front guide member, a portion of the downstream side of at least the sheet discharging direction, according to claim 4, characterized in that the upstream side of the sheet discharging direction is rotatable in the vertical direction in the rotational center, or 5 The image forming apparatus described in 1. Wherein among the sheet front guide member, the image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that at least a portion of the sheet discharge direction on the downstream side is integral with the sheet stacking tray. It said sheet tip guide member of the sheet discharging direction toward the downstream side of any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is set so as to expand the distance between the sheet stacking tray Image forming apparatus. The sheet leading end guide member is divided into at least two sheet leading end guide pieces in a direction intersecting with the sheet discharging direction, and the at least two sheet leading end guide pieces are arranged at both ends along the sheet discharging direction. the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is disposed at a position in contact. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the interval between the at least two sheet front end guide pieces increases toward the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction. The document reading unit, the upstream end of the sheet discharging direction in the rotational center, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that provided to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body. It said sheet stacking tray, the preceding claims, characterized in that it is also used as the exterior cover that constitutes the upper portion of the image forming unit 1,2,4,5,6, image formation according to any one of the 8 apparatus.

Images