JP4747613B2 - Paper processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a paper receiving portion or a paper discharge tray for storing printed paper.

  Conventionally, an image reading unit (scanner) located at the upper part and an image forming part consisting of a fixing device located at the lower part are separated so that a paper discharge tray for storing printed paper does not protrude from the side surface of the image forming apparatus. A paper receiving portion is disposed in a space formed between the two.

  Recently, a plurality of paper receiving units have been provided, such as setting the discharge destination for each application and sorting the discharge destination for each user against the backdrop of promoting the multifunctionalization of image forming apparatuses. There are many cases.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus in which the sheet receiving unit is formed between the image reading unit and the image forming unit, it has been proposed to improve these sheet receiving units. For example, Patent Literature 1, Patent Literature 2, Patent Literature 3, and the like.

  In Patent Document 1, in an image forming apparatus that discharges a sheet on which an image is formed in a space provided between an image reading unit and an image forming unit, confirmation and take-out of the sheet discharged to the space Suggestions have been made for improvement. Specifically, a plurality of trays for storing the discharged sheets are provided so that the leading end side in the sheet discharging direction is lowered.

  Further, Patent Document 2 aims to provide an image forming apparatus that does not narrow the space for taking out the paper on the paper receiving tray even if another optional unit is mounted between the image forming apparatus main body and the optical unit. The proposal was made. Specifically, the optical unit and the image forming apparatus main body are separable, and the optical unit, the unit to be mounted, and the image forming apparatus main body so that the unit can be mounted between the optical unit and the image forming apparatus main body. Positioning members for determining the horizontal mounting positions are provided on the optical unit and the image forming apparatus main body, respectively.

  Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-228867 proposes a purpose for enabling a large number of sheets to be stacked on the second discharge sheet stacking tray. Specifically, the second sheet stacking tray installed on the upper side of the first discharged sheet stacking tray is supported by two walls.

  These proposals in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are common in that they have a plurality of sheet receiving trays, sheet stacking trays, and the like that are provided in a hierarchy in the vertical direction. In addition, although the arrangement and attachment method have been devised according to the purpose, the paper that has passed through the fixing device arranged at the bottom passes through the discharge roller arranged in the vertical direction, and the target paper receiving tray and sheet stacking This is also common in that it can be distributed to a tray or the like.

Furthermore, a plurality of sheet receiving trays, sheet stacking trays, and the like provided in a hierarchy in the vertical direction have the same mounting angle, curvature, etc., and are common in that they are in a parallel state.
JP 2001-63898 A JP 2001-109211 A JP 2002-308511 A

  In the fixing device in the above-mentioned patent document, after transferring the toner image to the paper, heat and pressure are applied through the paper between the heating roll and the pressure roll, and the toner is melted by heat and fixed on the paper. It is working. For this reason, the paper that has passed through the fixing device is heated, and is easily rounded into a roll shape by passing through the roll in the fixing device. In particular, the paper discharged from the discharge roll closest to the fixing device, that is, the discharge roll positioned immediately above the fixing device, and discharged to the paper receiving portion is easily rounded into a roll. This phenomenon will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheet discharge unit in which discharge rollers are arranged in the order of reference numerals 101, 102, and 103 from the lower side at the upper part of the fixing device 100. As is apparent from the figure, the chute curvature ρ3 of the paper discharged from the discharge roll 103 farthest from the fixing device 100 is the largest, and then the chute curvature ρ2 of the paper discharged from the discharge roll 102 is large. The sheet having the smallest chute curvature is a sheet that is disposed immediately above the fixing device 100 and is discharged from the discharge roll 101 closest to the fixing device 100 (ρ1).

  The paper discharged from the discharge roll 101 passes through the fixing device 100 and is discharged onto the paper receiving portion 104 in the shortest time with the shortest path to the discharge roll. Accordingly, in this case, the time for cooling the heat generated when the paper passes through the fixing device 100 is also the shortest. Furthermore, coupled with the fact that the chute curvature ρ1 when passing through the discharge roll 101 is the smallest as described above, the sheet discharged from the discharge roll 101 is most likely to be bent, and the sheet discharged to the sheet receiving portion 104 is Easy to roll into a roll.

  As described above, when the phenomenon that the sheet is rounded in a roll shape occurs, there is a possibility that the accommodation state of the sheet on the sheet receiving unit may be adversely affected. Such adverse effects include, for example, that the discharged sheets do not overlap uniformly, or that the sheets on the sheet receiving unit are pushed out from the sheet receiving unit by the sheets sequentially discharged later. .

  Each of the proposals in Patent Documents 1 to 3 has a plurality of sheet receiving trays, sheet stacking trays, and the like that are provided in a hierarchy in the vertical direction, and the arrangement, attachment method, and the like are devised according to the purpose. However, it is not intended to solve such a problem, that is, a phenomenon in which the discharged paper becomes a roll, and depending on the proposal of Patent Document 1 or the like, the discharged paper becomes a roll. Could not be solved.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can eliminate the phenomenon that a sheet discharged after passing through a fixing device becomes a roll and the storage state of the discharged sheet deteriorates.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a fixing unit that fixes an image on a sheet, a first sheet discharge unit provided on the downstream side of the fixing unit, and a downstream side of the fixing unit, A second paper discharge portion that is separated from the first paper discharge portion from the fixing portion; and a third paper discharge portion that is downstream of the fixing portion and is further away from the second paper discharge portion than the second discharge portion. A paper discharge section, a sloping first paper receiving section for receiving paper discharged from the first paper discharge section, and a slanted first paper receiving section for receiving paper discharged from the second paper discharge section A second sheet receiving portion and an inclined third sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged from the third sheet discharging portion, and the first, second and third sheet receiving portions In each case, the corresponding paper discharge unit side is the lower side, and the paper is discharged from the corresponding paper discharge unit. A rising slope with the paper discharge direction on the upper side is formed, and the rising slope has two parts, a paper discharge direction base end part and a paper discharge direction front end part, and the first, second and second The inclination angle of the rising slope at the base end portion in the paper discharge direction of the third paper receiving portion is the inclination angle of the rising slope of the second paper receiving portion and the inclination angle of the rising slope of the third paper receiving portion. And the inclination angle of the rising slope of the first paper receiving portion is larger than the inclination angle of the rising slope of the second and third paper receiving portions, and the first, second and third paper receiving portions The inclination angle of the rising slope at the front end portion in the paper discharge direction of the sheet is equal to the inclination angle of the rising slope of the second paper receiving portion and the inclination angle of the rising slope of the third paper receiving portion. The inclination angle of the rising slope of one paper receiving portion is the same as that of the second and third paper receiving portions. The fixing unit is provided in a conveying path provided in a vertical direction for conveying the sheet to the first, second, and third sheet discharging units. One sheet receiving section is provided on a side of the fixing section, and the first sheet receiving section includes a variable tray having a fulcrum on the first sheet discharging section side.
According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the sheets discharged from the fixing unit from being stacked on the sheet receiving unit in a curled state.

  According to the present invention, since the inclination angle of the rising slope of the paper receiving portion is increased toward the lower paper receiving portion, the leading end side in the discharge direction of the paper discharged through the fixing device while being slightly curled can be brought into contact. In other words, it is possible to avoid stacking the sheets on the sheet receiving portion while the sheets are curled, or pushing the discharged sheets after the previously discharged sheets.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram when the paper receiving portions are provided in two stages, and FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram when the paper receiving portions are provided in three stages. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lowermost first sheet receiving portion 9. An image reading device (not shown) is installed on the upper part (downstream side) of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The fixing device 2 is accommodated in the box 3. Further, the box 3 contains an exposure device 4, an image forming unit 5, paper trays 6 and 7, a first discharge roller 8, a black (K) toner cartridge 22, and the like. As shown in the figure, the top 3a of the box 3 forms a first sheet receiving portion 9. The top plate 3a includes a slope portion 3a1 located on the base end side in the paper discharge direction, a horizontal surface portion 3a2 located on the tip side in the paper discharge direction, and a step portion located at a portion where the horizontal surface portion 3a2 and the slope portion 3a1 are continuous. 3a3.

  The variable tray 10 is attached to the top plate 3a so as to overlap the horizontal surface portion 3a2. The fulcrum 10a of the variable tray 10 is located on the base end side in the paper discharge direction, and the fulcrum 10a is attached so as to coincide with the step portion 3a3. Thereby, the upper surface 10b of the variable tray forms a continuous surface with the inclined surface portion 3a1 of the top plate 3a. This continuous surface forms an ascending slope.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5, the fulcrum 10 a of the variable tray 10 has a length in the discharge direction of the maximum sheet size targeted by the image forming apparatus 1 from the discharge direction base end point 9 a of the first sheet receiving portion 9. They are located at least a distance corresponding to 1/2. For example, when the long direction of A3 paper is assumed as the maximum paper size, a distance corresponding to 1/2 of the discharge direction length of the maximum paper size corresponds to the short length of A4 paper. In FIG. 5, a dotted line denoted by reference numeral 13 is a locus drawn by the leading end portion in the paper discharge direction of the A3 paper discharged with the paper discharge direction as the long direction. Further, the point indicated by reference numeral 14 indicates a point separated from the paper discharge direction base end portion 9a by the length in the short direction of the A4 sheet 23.

  As described above, the fulcrum 10a of the variable tray 10 corresponds to ½ of the discharge direction length of the maximum sheet size targeted by the image forming apparatus 1 from the discharge direction base end point 9a of the first sheet receiving unit 9. It is located more than a distance away.

  The variable tray 10 can be rotated with the fulcrum 10a as a fulcrum, but a constant angle is maintained by supporting the front end side in the paper discharge direction with the stopper 12. The angle of the variable tray 10 can be changed stepwise by changing the height of the stopper 12 or changing the supporting position. Further, the variable tray 10 has a recess 10d at the front end in the paper discharge direction as shown in FIG.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, a paper discharge unit is placed on the upper side of the first discharge roller 8. This paper discharge unit has a second paper discharge roller 15 and a paper discharge tray 16, and forms a second paper receiving portion 11 having a rising slope as shown in the figure.

  Here, an angle θ1 with the fulcrum of the rising slope of the first sheet receiving portion 9 as a fulcrum and an angle with the basing end of the ascending slope of the second paper receiving portion 11 as a fulcrum. The relationship with θ2 is θ1> θ2. In this embodiment, θ1 and θ2 correspond to the average inclination angles at the respective sheet receiving portions.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 1 can further place a paper discharge unit on top of the second paper receiving portion 11. This paper discharge unit has a third paper discharge roller 18 and a paper discharge tray 29, and forms a third paper receiving portion 17 having a rising slope as shown in FIG.

  When the sheet receiving portions are provided in three stages in this manner, the angle θ1 with the base end side in the paper discharge direction of the rising slope of the first paper receiving portion 9 as the fulcrum, and the rising slope of the second paper receiving portion 11 The relationship between the angle θ2 with the base end side in the paper discharge direction as a fulcrum and the angle θ3 with the base end side in the paper discharge direction of the rising slope of the third paper receiving portion 17 as θ1> θ2> θ3.

  A description will be given of how sheets are discharged in the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above. Note that the phenomenon that the sheet is rounded is most likely to occur in the sheet discharged from the fixing device 8 to the first sheet receiving unit 9 closest to the fixing device 8, and therefore the sheet discharged to the first sheet receiving unit 9 will be described.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which the sheet 24 is discharged in a state where the variable tray 10 is laid down and stacked on the first sheet receiving portion 9 while the sheet discharge direction front end side 24a is rounded. On the other hand, FIG. 7 shows a state in which the sheet 24 is discharged with the variable tray 10 set up.

  The discharged paper 24 first comes into contact with the variable tray 10 at the front end 24a in the paper discharge direction. When the state of FIG. 6 is compared with the state of FIG. The distance and time until the contact is made in FIG. 6 is longer. Therefore, in the state of FIG. 6, the paper discharge direction front end side 24a is rounded in the meantime, but in the state of FIG. 7, the variable tray is set before the paper discharge direction front end side 24a of the paper 24 is completely rounded. Therefore, the sheet 24 is accommodated on the first sheet receiving unit 9 without curling.

  The phenomenon in which the front end 24a of the paper 24 in the paper discharge direction is rounded differs depending on various conditions such as the paper size. Therefore, the angle of the variable tray 10 is adjusted by adjusting the height of the stopper 12 so that the paper 24 is accommodated without being rounded.

  Note that the direction in which the front end 24a of the paper 24 in the paper discharge direction is rounded up may be upward, but such a case can be dealt with by placing the variable tray 10 in a lying state as shown in FIG. In other words, the sheets 24 stacked on the first sheet receiving portion 9 have an upper bay shape in the vicinity of the fulcrum 10a of the variable tray 10, and are not easily rounded any more.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the paper 24 discharged from the first paper discharge roll 8 in the direction of the arrow 25 contacts the wall surface 9a while moving in the direction of the arrow 26 by its own weight. Are stacked on the paper receiving portion 9.

  The stacked sheets 24 can be taken out by inserting a hand into the recess 10 d of the variable tray 10.

  In the case where the sheet receiving section shown in FIG. 3 has three stages, θ1> θ2> θ3, but the third sheet receiving section and the second sheet receiving section that are not easily affected by rounding of the leading end of the sheet are provided. May be configured as θ1> θ2 = θ3 with the same angle.

  Further, in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the inclination angle θ′1 in the vicinity of the downstream end with respect to the paper discharge direction of the first paper receiving portion and the downstream end with respect to the paper discharge direction of the second paper receiving portion. The relationship with the inclination angle θ′2 near the portion may be θ′1> θ′2. Further, in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the inclination angle θ′1 in the vicinity of the downstream end with respect to the paper discharge direction of the first paper receiving portion, and the vicinity of the downstream end in the paper discharge direction of the second paper receiving portion. And the inclination angle θ′3 in the vicinity of the downstream end with respect to the sheet discharge direction of the third sheet receiving portion is θ′1> θ′2> θ′3 or θ′1>. θ′2 = θ′3 may be set.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the variable tray 10 is supported by the stopper 12, but in this embodiment, the variable tray 10 is elastically supported by incorporating an elastic member between the variable tray 11 and the horizontal surface portion 3a2. is doing.

  As the elastic member, a torsion spring 27 may be used as shown in FIG. 10, or a compression spring 28 may be used as shown in FIG. At this time, the support by the elastic member and the support by the stopper 12 may be used in combination.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second paper receiving portion 11 is provided on the upper portion of the first paper receiving portion 9. For this reason, it is conceivable that the interval with the first sheet receiving portion 9 is narrowed. However, when the elastic member is attached in this way, a large number of sheets are stacked, and the variable tray 10 begins to fall down with the weight. .

  If the variable tray 10 falls down, the distance between the first paper receiving portion 9 and the second paper receiving portion 11 is widened. Therefore, the number of sheets stored in the first paper receiving portion 9 is increased and further stored. This also makes it easier to remove paper.

  At this time, the variable tray 10 comes close to a lying state, but as the sheets are stacked, the surface position of the uppermost sheet approaches the direction of the sheet discharge roll 8. For this reason, the leading end in the paper discharge direction of the discharged paper can contact the topmost stacked paper before it is completely rounded, and the effect of the present invention is not impaired.

  Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the variable tray 10 has a recess 10d at the front end in the paper discharge direction as shown in FIG. 4, but in this embodiment, the notch 10c is used instead of the recess 10d. It has. Correspondingly, the shape of the stopper 12 is different from that of the first embodiment.

  With such a configuration, it is easy to insert a hand between the horizontal surface portion 3a2 and the variable tray 10, and it becomes easier to take out the paper.

  Next, a case where the image forming apparatus 1 is a color image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment or the like has a horizontal inside of the box 3 in addition to the black (K) toner cartridge 22 housed near the lower side of the step portion 3a3. Three toner cartridges, a yellow (Y) toner cartridge 19, a magenta (M) toner cartridge 20, and a cyan (C) toner cartridge 21, are stored below the surface 3 a 2. These three toner cartridges of Y, M, and C (Yellow / Magenta / Cyan) are smaller in diameter than the black (K) toner cartridge 22 as shown in the drawing.

  In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the box 3 that accommodates the fixing device 2 and the like is provided with the horizontal tray 3a2 on the top plate 3a and the variable tray 10 attached thereto. For this reason, the volume of the box 3 is reduced by the amount provided with the horizontal plane portion 3a2, and the space inside the box 3 is limited.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the color toner cartridge having a smaller diameter than the black (K) toner cartridge, that is, three toner cartridges of Y, M, and C (Yellow / Magenta / Cyan) is limited as described above. The image forming apparatus is designed to save space while avoiding the phenomenon of paper curling.

  In the color image forming apparatus in which the color toner cartridges are arranged in this way, the same device as in the second and third embodiments can be applied to the variable tray 10 and the like.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the image forming unit 30 is mounted for color printing. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications of these embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. It is apparent from the above description that various other embodiments are possible within the scope.

  For example, hydraulic pressure can be used to support the variable tray, and the tilt of the variable tray can be changed or controlled.

It is explanatory drawing explaining the difference in the chute curvature in the case of providing multiple paper receiving parts. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment in which the sheet receiving portion of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided in two stages. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment in which the sheet receiving portions of the image forming apparatus of the present invention are provided in three stages. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a first paper receiving portion. It is explanatory drawing which shows the fulcrum of a variable tray. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which sheets are discharged in a state in which a variable tray is lying down and stacked on a first sheet receiving unit while a sheet discharge direction front end side is curled. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a sheet | seat is discharged in the state which stood the variable tray. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which sheets with the leading end in the sheet discharge direction rounded upward are stacked. It is explanatory drawing explaining a mode that the discharged paper is accommodated in the state which gathered. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a sheet receiving unit configured to support a variable tray with a torsion spring. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a sheet receiving unit configured to support a variable tray with a compression spring. It is a perspective view of the paper receiving part which employ | adopted the variable tray provided with the notch. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment in which a toner cartridge for color printing is accommodated below a horizontal plane portion inside a box.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Fixing apparatus 3 Box 3a Top plate 3a1 Slope part 3a2 Horizontal surface part 3a3 Step part 4 Exposure apparatus 5, 30 Image forming part 6, 7 Paper tray 8 First discharge roller 9, 11, 17 Paper receiving part 10 Variable tray 10a fulcrum 10b recess 10c notch 12 stopper 15 second discharge roller 16, 29 discharge tray 18 third discharge roller 19, 20, 21, 22 toner cartridge 27 torsion spring 28 compression spring

Claims (1)

A fixing unit for fixing an image on paper;
A first paper discharge unit provided on the downstream side of the fixing unit;
A second paper discharge section downstream of the fixing section and farther from the fixing section than the first paper discharge section;
A third paper discharge portion downstream of the fixing portion and farther from the fixing portion than the second paper discharge portion;
An inclined first paper receiving portion for receiving paper discharged from the first paper discharge portion;
An inclined second paper receiving portion for receiving paper discharged from the second paper discharge portion;
An inclined third paper receiving portion for receiving the paper discharged from the third paper discharge portion,
Each of the first, second and third paper receiving portions has a rising slope with the corresponding paper discharge portion side as the lower side and the paper discharge direction of the paper discharged from the corresponding paper discharge portion as the upper side. Formed,
The rising slope has two parts, a paper discharge direction base end part and a paper discharge direction front end part,
The inclination angle of the rising slope at the base end in the paper discharge direction of the first, second and third paper receiving portions is the inclination angle of the rising slope of the second paper receiving portion and the third paper receiving portion. The inclination angle of the rising slope of the part is equal, and the inclination angle of the rising slope of the first paper receiving part is larger than the inclination angle of the rising slope of the second and third paper receiving parts,
The inclination angle of the ascending slope at the leading end in the paper discharge direction of the first, second and third sheet receiving parts is the inclination angle of the ascending slope of the second sheet receiving part and the third sheet receiving part. The inclination angle of the rising slope of the first paper receiving portion is greater than the inclination angle of the rising slope of the second and third paper receiving portions,
The fixing unit is provided in a conveying path provided in a vertical direction that conveys the sheet to the first, second, and third sheet discharging units,
The first sheet receiving portion is provided on a side of the fixing portion,
The sheet processing apparatus , wherein the first sheet receiving unit includes a variable tray having a fulcrum on the first sheet discharge unit side .

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