JP4807791B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a tray structure for receiving a sheet-like document and a sheet-like recording medium, and various display units.

  In a conventional image forming apparatus, trays for receiving documents and sheets are provided at the document discharge port of the document reading unit and the sheet discharge port of the image forming unit so as to protrude from the main body of the document. It was a problem.

  Also, if the installation positions of the document discharge port and the paper discharge port in the apparatus main body are separated, there is a problem that it takes time for the user to collect the document and paper, and the configuration of the apparatus main body becomes complicated.

  Therefore, in recent years, the mainstream is a configuration in which the original and the paper are discharged in the same direction, and the tray is configured so that the original and the paper are not confused (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, in a wide paper compatible device with a large paper size, since the tray itself has a large space, it is configured to stack the paper discharged to the rear of the device by reversing it to the front side to improve workability. (See Patent Document 2).
JP-A-5-63932 JP-A-7-225507

  In the conventional image forming apparatus, when the paper is reversed and stacked from the rear side to the front side as described above, the original is also inserted from the front side of the apparatus and reversed so as not to block the paper conveyance path. It must be configured to drain forward.

  As a specific configuration, there are a configuration in which the document is reversed downward with respect to the document conveyance surface and a configuration in which the document is inverted upward. In order to invert the document downward, it is necessary to raise the document insertion slot in order to secure a reversal space, and there is a problem that the configuration is complicated and the cost is increased.

  Therefore, although the method of flipping up is advantageous, it is necessary to pay attention to interference with already stacked sheets, and an operation display body is usually installed above the document conveying surface. In many cases, the discharged document covers the upper portion of the display body, which hinders the next operation on the display body.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, enable a recording medium such as a manuscript and paper to be taken out on the front side of the apparatus main body, and save the advantages of space saving and operability without sacrificing the advantages of the apparatus main body. visibility of the operation display body provided in the upper, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not interfere with the operability.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is provided with an original reading unit for reading a sheet-like original, and an image formed on a sheet-like recording medium , which is disposed below the original reading unit. an image forming section for performing, by the table示面upward; and a deployed operating display body on the original reading portion, toward the front in the depth direction, the an operation display body, the document reading In an image forming apparatus in which a document discharge port from which a document read by a section is discharged and a recording medium discharge port from which a recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming section are disposed are arranged in this order. A document receiving tray for receiving a document discharged from the document discharge port is erected between the operation display body and the document discharge port, and the document discharge port is disposed between the document discharge port and the recording medium discharge port. Recording that receives the recording medium discharged from the recording medium outlet Erected a medium receiving tray, the surface of the recording medium outlet side of the recording medium receiving tray, and a recording medium receiving surface for receiving a recording medium discharged from the recording medium outlet, wherein the recording medium receiving tray of the document discharge The exit side surface is a document guide surface that guides the document discharged from the document discharge port along the document receiving tray , and the document on the document receiving tray when the document is received by the document receiving tray. A document portion that hangs down through the downstream end in the transport direction and a recording medium that hangs down through the downstream end in the recording medium transport direction of the recording medium receiving tray when the recording medium is received by the recording medium receiving tray In order to prevent the display surface of the operation display body from being covered by any of the portions, the downstream end in the document transport direction of the document receiving tray and the recording medium receiving tray Independence and recording medium conveying direction downstream side end, characterized in that located above the display surface of the operation display body, this configuration a recording medium after the document and the image formation after the reading process As a result, the recording medium and the document are discharged to a tray that is erected without interfering with each other, and the problem of covering the display portion of the operation display body in the discharged state is eliminated. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the downstream end in the recording medium conveyance direction of the recording medium receiving tray is located above the downstream end in the original conveyance direction of the original receiving tray , According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, when the recording medium is received by the recording medium receiving tray, the recording medium receiving tray passes the downstream end in the recording medium conveyance direction. The shape of the tip of the recording medium receiving tray on the downstream end side in the recording medium conveyance direction is set so that the recording medium portion that hangs down does not block the downstream end of the original document receiving tray in the document conveyance direction. it features a has, by these configurations, hanging by stacked recording medium is its own weight, it is not possible to give a trouble in ejection or extraction of the document, or along document tray It is discharged smoothly along the recording medium sagging state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the document receiving tray is supported so as to be swingable between the recording medium receiving tray and the document reading unit. This feature makes it possible to move the document away from the recording medium receiving tray when taking out the document, prevent the occurrence of document breakage due to interference with the recording medium receiving tray, and increase the size of the outlet. Opening improves workability.

According to the present invention, the original after the reading process and the recording medium after the image formation can be satisfactorily discharged to each tray independently without interfering with each other, and the original and the recording medium can be taken out from the front side of the apparatus main body. allowing, moreover, since the recording medium and the document is discharged to a tray which is respectively erected and also eliminates inconvenience that would overhanging the like display / operation unit in the operation display body at the discharge state, the space saving An image forming apparatus that does not hinder the visibility and operability of the display body provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body without impairing the workability is realized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic apparatus for wide paper, which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, wherein 100 is an image forming unit, 200 is a document reading unit, and 300 is a sheet as a recording medium. A paper feed unit for feeding paper, 400 is a tray setting unit, A is a document insertion direction, B is a manual feed direction, C is a roll paper feed direction, D is a paper discharge direction, and E is a document discharge direction. .

In FIG. 1, 1 is a document insertion port of the document reading unit 200, 2 is a document discharge port of the document reading unit 200, 3 is an image sensor for reading a document, 4 is various modes and operation settings by the user. and setting state, for displaying the operation state, the display portion of the operation display member provided on the upper portion of the document reading unit 200, 5 action of the image-shaped forming portion 100 for forming an image on a sheet An image unit, 6 is a fixing unit that performs a fixing process on an image formed on a sheet, 7 is a discharge roller provided in a recording medium discharge port 8 for discharging the fixed sheet, and 9 is a document on an upper surface 9a. A document receiving tray 10 for receiving a document discharged from the discharge port 2 is a sheet-like recording medium discharged from the recording medium discharge port 8 , that is, a recording medium (sheet) receiving a sheet at a recording medium receiving surface (upper surface) 10a. It is a receiving tray .

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged configuration diagram showing the image forming unit 5 of the image forming unit 100 in FIG. 1, 11 is a rotatable photoconductor, 12 is a charging unit for charging the photoconductor 11, and 13 is on the photoconductor 11. On the other hand, an exposure unit that forms an electrostatic latent image by performing exposure after charging, 14 is a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11 with the toner developer T to form a toner image, and 15 is a photoconductor. 11 is a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the paper P to the paper P, 16 is a registration roller that feeds the paper P to the transfer unit 15 at the transfer timing, and 17 is a separation unit that separates the paper P from the photoconductor 11. The separated paper P is conveyed to the fixing unit 6 shown in FIG. 1 and heated and pressed to be subjected to image fixing processing.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 18 denotes a cleaning unit that removes and collects the toner T remaining on the photoconductor 11, and 19 denotes a static elimination unit that neutralizes the surface of the photoconductor 11.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged configuration diagram of the document reading unit 200 in FIG. 1, 20 is a document insertion sensor for detecting the document S inserted into the document insertion slot 1, and 21 is detection information from the document insertion sensor 20. In response to this, the document entrance roller for transporting the document S and setting the document S on the document registration sensor 22 part, 23 is a document size detection sensor for detecting the document width and outputting warning information such as erroneous document setting, 24 A white guide plate 25 for pressing the document S toward the image sensor 3 side for reading the document image information conveys the document S after reading to the document discharge port 2 and along the lower surface 10 b of the sheet loading tray 10. A document discharge roller 26 for discharging upward is installed in the vicinity of the document discharge roller 25, and mainly detects the trailing edge of the document and detects whether or not the document S is left in the document transport path. Paper discharge center It is.

  Next, the conveying operation of the original S and the paper P in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the document S is inserted from the document insertion direction A toward the document insertion port 1, the document S is conveyed by the document inlet roller 21 and the document discharge roller 25, and image information is read by the image sensor 3, and the document discharge port 2. It is conveyed to. The document S after reading is guided and reversed in the document discharge direction E along the document guide surface (the left side surface in the drawing ) which is the lower surface 10b of the recording medium receiving tray 10, and as shown in FIG. Stacked on the upper surface 9a of the document receiving tray 9 standing in parallel with the recording medium (paper) receiving tray 10, but the leading end of the document receiving tray 9 hangs down at the document exit, which is the downstream end 9b in the document conveying direction . It becomes a state.

On the other hand, the sheet P, which is a sheet-like recording medium, is fed from either the manual feed direction B or the roll paper feed direction C and an image is formed by the image forming unit 5, and then the fixing unit 6. Thus, the image is fixed and discharged from the recording medium discharge port 8 by the discharge roller 7. The discharged paper P is conveyed by the stiffness of the paper P in the paper discharge direction D along the upper surface 10a opposite to the lower surface 10b which is the document reversing surface of the recording medium receiving tray 10 and receives the recording medium. The tray 10 is stacked in a suspended state due to its own weight at the paper exit at the downstream end 10c in the recording medium conveyance direction of the tray 10.

The document receiving tray 9 and the sheet receiving tray 10 are arranged at positions where the display unit 4 installed on the document reading unit 200 is not covered with the stacked sheets P and documents S.
As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present example includes a document reading unit 200 that reads a sheet-shaped document S, and a sheet-shaped recording medium, that is, a sheet P, which is disposed below the document reading unit 200. An image forming unit 100 that forms an image, and an operation display configured as the display unit 4 disposed on the document reading unit 200 with the display surface facing upward. In addition, in the image forming apparatus of this example, the above-described operation display body and the document discharge port through which the document S read by the document reading unit 200 is discharged from the front side toward the back side of the image forming apparatus. 2 and a recording medium discharge port 8 through which a recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 100 are discharged are arranged in this order. Further, in the image forming apparatus of this example, a document receiving tray 9 for receiving the document S discharged from the document discharge port 2 is erected between the operation display body and the document discharge port 2 so as to discharge the document. A recording medium receiving tray 10 for receiving the recording medium discharged from the recording medium discharge port 8 is provided between the outlet 2 and the recording medium discharge port 8. At that time, the surface on the side of the recording medium discharge port 8 of the recording medium receiving tray 10, that is, the upper surface 10a thereof is used as a recording medium receiving surface for receiving the recording medium discharged from the recording medium discharging port 8, and the recording medium receiving tray 10 is used. The surface on the side of the document discharge port 2, that is, its lower surface 10 b is a document guide surface for guiding the document S discharged from the document discharge port 2 along the document receiving tray 9. Further, when the document S is received by the document receiving tray 9, the portion of the document that hangs down through the downstream end (document exit) 9 b in the document transport direction of the document receiving tray 9 and the recording medium are the recording medium receiving tray 10. The display surface of the operation display body is formed by any portion of the recording medium receiving tray 10 and the recording medium portion that hangs down after passing through the downstream end (paper exit) 10c in the recording medium conveyance direction. The downstream end 9b of the document receiving tray 9 in the document conveying direction and the downstream end 10c of the recording medium receiving tray 10 in the recording medium conveying direction are disposed above the display surface of the operation display body so as not to be covered. positioned.

  The stacking state of the original S and the paper P and the positional relationship of the display unit 4 in this embodiment will be described in more detail.

Here, the paper size will be described as a fixed size in a general row A (horizontal). If the depth of the recording medium receiving tray 10 is about 500 mm from the recording medium discharge port 8, sheets can be stacked without protruding to A2 (420 mm) size. However, from A1 (594 mm) recording medium conveyance direction downstream side end of the recording medium receiving tray 10 is the size (paper outlet) 10c, are stacked in a state of protruding approximately 100 mm, protruding portion is in a state of hanging the sheet own weight .

Depth of the original receiving tray 9, as a short 350mm than the depth of the recording medium receiving tray 10, but the document conveying direction downstream side end (the document outlet) 9b or we slightly protrudes in A2 size, recording medium conveying a recording medium receiving tray 10 without protruding from the downstream end, it is in the positional relationship where the document S and the sheet P and the tip portion does not interfere.

That is, in the document S, similarly to the A1 size recording medium receiving tray 10, the portion protruding from the document conveying direction downstream side end 9b is becomes in a state of hanging down by its own weight, the original conveying direction downstream side end of the original receiving tray 9 The distance from 9b to the upper side of the display unit 4 is about 250 mm, and the upper side to the lower side of the display unit 4 is 130 mm, so that the display unit 4 is covered even when the A1 (594 mm) size document S is stacked. Without using the display unit 4 (see FIG. 6A).

  However, in the case of a conventional apparatus that does not employ the tray configuration as in the present embodiment, when the A3 (294 mm) size document S is discharged, there is a problem that the upper portion of the display unit 4 is covered ( (Refer FIG.6 (b)).

With reference to FIGS. 4A to 4D, the shapes of the document receiving tray 9 and the recording medium receiving tray 10 and the positional relationship between the trays 9 and 10 in this embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, it is ideal that the tip of the recording medium receiving tray 10 has an arc shape or the like and is guided until the document S is sufficiently reversed. However, a small-sized document that does not reach the tip of the recording medium receiving tray 10. In this case, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to take out the document. Therefore, it is a premise that the openings of both trays 9 and 10 face the front which is the user operation surface in the apparatus.

  4A to 4D, the thin line indicates the stacked state of the sheets P, and the arrow indicates the entry path of the document S.

FIG. 4A shows a configuration in a case where the tip shape of the recording medium receiving tray 10 and the positional relationship between the two trays 9 and 10 are in appropriate conditions. The document S is smoothed by the lower surface 10b of the recording medium receiving tray 10. And hangs down under its own weight without interfering with the paper P.

FIG. 4B shows a case where the inclination angle α of the leading end shape 10 d of the recording medium receiving tray 10 is too small, and the original S is in contact with the leading end shape 10 d portion, so that a good guide is not performed. FIG. 4C shows a case where the inclination angle α of the leading end shape 10 d of the recording medium receiving tray 10 is too large, and the document S does not contact the leading end shape 10 d but contacts the paper P. Both cases are not appropriate conditions.

FIG. 4D shows a case where there is no problem with the shape of the recording medium receiving tray 10, but the document receiving tray 9 is set too far from the recording medium receiving tray 10. In this case, a weakly original document S such as thin paper is buckled between the trays 9 and 10 and is not normally stacked. A problem in the case where stacking is not normally performed in this way is to ensure stacking performance when the original S and the paper P are both A1 size (depth 594 mm) protruding from the trays 9 and 10. For example, with special paper that is easy to bend such as thin paper of 70 μm or less or tracing paper, the document stops at that portion when the angle of the conveying surface is suddenly changed.

Therefore, the document conveying direction downstream side end or these original receiving tray 9, a document tip be reversed by the weight of the paper so as to draw a more parabolic radius 60mm is ideal. In the case where the document receiving tray 9 and the recording medium receiving tray 10 are installed in the apparatus main body with an inclination of 40 ° with respect to the vertical direction, the document receiving tray 9 and the recording medium receiving tray are used to draw a parabola with their own weight. 10 is required to be 20 mm or more apart from each other in the transport direction downstream end in the transport direction, and the stacked sheet P transports the original S at the downstream end of the recording medium receiving tray 10 in the recording medium transport direction. The positional relationship does not protrude on the route.

Further, the distance between the planes of the document receiving tray 9 and the recording medium receiving tray 10 is normally narrow (3 to 15 mm) so as not to give room for buckling of weak paper.

On the other hand, thick paper exceeding 100 μm is stiff and difficult to reverse. Therefore, the guide shape of the lower surface 10b of the recording medium receiving tray 10 at the document discharge port 2 is 60 ° or less with respect to the traveling direction of the document S. Guide the reversal. Without this guide, that is, the recording medium receiving tray 10, the document S enters the stocked paper P at an angle close to vertical and buckles.
As can be understood from the above description, in the image forming apparatus of this example, the downstream end (paper outlet) 10c of the recording medium receiving tray 10 in the recording medium conveyance direction is the downstream end (paper outlet direction) of the original receiving tray 9 ( When the recording medium is received by the recording medium receiving tray 10 and is positioned above the original exit 9b, the recording medium portion that hangs down through the downstream end 10c in the recording medium conveyance direction of the recording medium receiving tray 10 is The shape of the tip of the recording medium receiving tray 10 on the downstream end 10c side in the recording medium conveyance direction is set so as not to block the downstream end 9b in the original conveying direction of the original receiving tray 9.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which the document receiving tray in the present embodiment is tilted toward the recording medium receiving tray, and the lower end portion of the document receiving tray 9 is the main body of the apparatus (in this example, the document discharge port of the document reading unit 200). 2), the document receiving tray 9 is supported so as to be able to rotate between the document reading unit 200 and the recording medium receiving tray 10, and The document receiving tray 9 is always held at a position that satisfies an appropriate installation condition by a spring 31 or the like, and can be returned to its original position even if it is rotated.

For this reason, even when the conveyance surface is opened as shown in FIG. 5 in the case of a configuration that can be opened and closed with the conveyance surface in the document reading unit 200 as a boundary due to jam or maintenance on the document conveyance surface or the sheet conveyance surface, The document receiving tray 9 and the recording medium receiving tray 10 are not damaged by interference.

  The present invention provides a display unit in a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine in which these and other functions are combined, after conveying and moving a document and a recording medium to a predetermined part, and then discharging the same. It is applied to the image forming unit provided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic apparatus for wide paper, which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is an enlarged configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit of the image forming unit in FIG. 1 is an enlarged configuration diagram illustrating a document reading unit in FIG. 1 according to the present embodiment. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing about the shape of the document receiving tray and recording medium receiving tray in this embodiment, and the positional relationship of both trays The block diagram which shows the state of the collapsible state of the document receiving tray in this embodiment (A) is a perspective view for explaining a document discharge state in the case of this embodiment, and (b) is a view for explaining a document discharge state in the case of a conventional apparatus that does not employ the tray configuration of this embodiment. Perspective view

2 Document exit
8 Recording medium outlet 9 Document receiving tray
9b Document conveyance direction downstream end 10 Recording medium receiving tray
10c Downstream end 100 in recording medium conveyance direction Image forming unit 200 Document reading unit S Document

Claims (4)

A document reading section for reading a sheet document, be disposed below the document reading section, and an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet-like recording medium, the document reading by the table示面upward An operation display body disposed on the section, from the front toward the back direction, the operation display body, a document discharge port through which the document read by the document reading section is discharged, In the image forming apparatus in which the recording medium discharge port for discharging the recording medium on which the image is formed in the image forming unit is arranged in this order,
A document receiving tray for receiving a document discharged from the document discharge port is erected between the operation display body and the document discharge port, and the document discharge port is disposed between the document discharge port and the recording medium discharge port. A recording medium receiving tray for receiving the recording medium discharged from the recording medium discharge port is set up, and a recording medium receiving tray side surface of the recording medium receiving tray receives the recording medium discharged from the recording medium discharge port. a medium receiving surface, a surface of said recording medium receiving tray document discharge port side of the document discharged from the document discharge port to a document guide surface for guiding along a said document receiving tray, the document receives the document A document portion that hangs down by passing through the downstream end in the document conveying direction of the document receiving tray when received by the tray, and a recording medium of the recording medium receiving tray when the recording medium is received by the recording medium receiving tray Carrying In order to prevent the display surface of the operation display body from being covered with any portion of the recording medium portion that has passed through the downstream end in the direction and hangs down, An image forming apparatus , wherein a downstream end of the recording medium receiving tray in a recording medium conveyance direction is positioned above a display surface of the operation display body . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 wherein that the recording medium conveyance direction downstream side end of the recording medium receiving tray is located above the document conveying direction downstream side end of the document receiving tray. When the recording medium is received by the recording medium receiving tray, the portion of the recording medium that hangs down after passing through the downstream end of the recording medium receiving tray in the recording medium conveying direction is connected to the downstream end of the original receiving tray in the original conveying direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a shape of a tip portion of the recording medium receiving tray on the downstream end side in the recording medium conveyance direction is set so as not to be blocked . 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document receiving tray is supported so as to be swingable between the recording medium receiving tray and the document reading unit.

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