JP4826955B2 - Recording paper stacker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording paper stacker that holds recording paper discharged by a transport mechanism.

  Printers, facsimile machines, and the like employ a configuration in which recording paper on which image recording or printing has been performed is conveyed and discharged to a recording paper stack. A similar recording paper conveyance and discharge process is performed in an image reading apparatus such as a scanner. In such a recording paper stack, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus, a configuration in which the recording paper holding surface is inclined deeply toward the discharge port side and the recording paper is sequentially stacked thereon is generally used.

  However, in such a recording paper stacker, when the number of recording paper stacks increases, the recording paper may block the discharge port and cause paper jam. In order to avoid this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-72312 (Patent Document 1) urges the stacker toward the upper side by a spring around the discharge port side of the stacker, and gradually moves downward by loading the recording paper. A stacker configuration has been proposed.

  In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-72265 (Patent Document 2), the number of recording paper discharged is counted, and when the number of discharged recording paper reaches a predetermined count value, the discharge port side of the recording paper supporting portion is rotated downward. A recording paper receiving tray for dropping a loaded recording paper into a recording paper storage box is disclosed.

JP 2000-72312 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-72265

  However, in the above-described recording paper stacker or recording paper receiving tray, when the curled recording paper is stacked, the recording paper may block the discharge port and be pushed out of the stacker by the next discharged recording paper. .

  Further, in the configuration in which the recording paper support unit for loading the recording paper is rotated, if the inclination of the recording paper support unit is increased in order to increase the recording paper load as much as possible in a limited space, the loaded recording paper Drops into the gap between the recording paper support and the recording paper stack wall.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a recording paper stacker that enables stable recording paper stacking.

The recording paper stacker according to the present invention is a recording paper stacker for stacking the recording paper discharged from the discharge port, and is inclined so that the discharge port side becomes deep and is rotatable with respect to the stacker wall on the discharge port side. biasing a recording paper holding plate provided such that said inclination of the recording paper holding plate is changed by the weight of the recording paper stacked on the paper holding plate, the recording paper holding plate upward to And a plurality of recording paper guide plates provided on the wall surface of the stacker wall on the discharge port side, and each of the plurality of recording paper guide plates is provided at a tip portion of the recording paper holding plate. A plurality of cutout portions are provided so as to enter, and the recording paper holding plate is rotatable along the plurality of recording paper guide plates in a state where the plurality of cutout portions and the plurality of recording paper guide plates overlap. There, the recording paper holding by the rotation of the recording paper holding plate An angle between the plate of the plurality of recording paper guide plate is changed, the recording sheet discharged from said discharge port are stacked plurality of being induced on the recording paper guide plate on the recording paper holding plate, It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, stable recording paper can be stacked.

  FIG. 1A is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the recording paper stacker according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a side sectional view showing the state of the recording paper stacker when the recording paper is stacked. 2A is a plan view showing the shape and positional relationship of the recording paper holding plate and the recording paper guide plate of the recording paper stacker of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 2B is the recording paper stacker of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which the recording paper is discharged to the recording paper stacker of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. It is a perspective view showing the shape and positional relationship of a recording paper holding plate and a recording paper guide plate of the recording paper stacker. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the recording paper stacker according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an inclined surface that becomes deeper toward the discharge unit 100 is provided between the discharge unit 100 that discharges the recording paper and the support base 101, and the recording paper holding plate 102 is held on the inclined surface. It is provided so as to be rotatable about a plate mounting shaft 103. In this embodiment, the holding plate mounting shaft 103 is located at the upper end portion of the inclined surface facing the discharge portion 100. The recording paper holding plate 102 is urged upward (in the direction of a white arrow) by a coil spring 104 provided on the support base 101. The coil spring 104 is an example of an urging means, and a member or material having a spring property may be used. For example, sponges having elasticity, rubber, leaf springs, cantilevered mold members, and the like can be used. Here, as shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 3, two coil springs 104 are provided to stabilize the recording paper holding plate 102, but the weight and size of the recording paper holding plate 102 are taken into consideration. An appropriate number may be used.

  When recording paper is not stacked, the recording paper holding plate 102 is maintained at a constant angle (slight inclination) with respect to the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the recording paper 108 curled in the sub-scanning direction is stacked, further deterioration of curling can be prevented. As the recording paper is stacked, the recording paper holding plate 102 moves downward about the mounting shaft 103 against the urging force of the coil spring 104 due to the weight of the recording paper, and the inclination angle gradually increases. Therefore, a large number of recording sheets can be discharged in a limited space.

  A plurality of recording paper guide plates 105 are provided on the recording paper stacking side wall of the discharge unit 100 to guide the discharged recording paper onto the recording paper holding plate 102. The discharge unit 100 is provided with a discharge port 106, and when the recording paper 108 conveyed by the conveyance roller 107 is discharged through the discharge port 106, it drops onto the recording paper holding plate 102 inclined along the recording paper guide plate 105. To do. Accordingly, the discharged recording paper 108 forms a recording paper stack 109 arranged on the recording paper holding plate 102 according to the shape of the recording paper guide plate 105 as shown in FIG. Note that the recording paper guide plate 105 has a function of guiding the discharged recording paper 108 onto the recording paper holding plate 102 and stacking it in an aligned state, and hence is called a recording paper guide or a recording paper guide plate. You can also.

  The rotation of the recording paper holding plate 102 around the mounting shaft 103 is performed along the vertical direction of the recording paper guide plate 105. As shown in FIG. 2A, a notch 102a is formed at a position corresponding to the recording paper guide plate 105 of the recording paper holding plate 102, and the recording paper guide plate 105 is inserted into the notch 102a. . That is, as shown in FIG. 1, when viewed from the side, the leading end portion of the recording paper holding plate 102 is in a positional relationship overlapping the recording paper guide plate 105. Therefore, the recording paper 108 falling along the recording paper guide plate 105 does not slide down from the inclined recording paper holding plate 102 and is stable in a state where it is aligned on the recording paper holding plate 102 by the recording paper guide plate 105. Loaded.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, when the recording paper 108 is not stacked, the recording paper holding plate 102 is maintained at a constant angle (slight inclination) with respect to the horizontal direction. Even if the recording paper 108 is stacked, the surface thereof is stacked on the recording paper holding plate 102 with a gentle inclination. Accordingly, even if the leading edge of the next recording sheet comes into contact with the stacked recording sheet 108, it only hits a sloping inclined surface, so that it is stacked on the loaded recording sheet so as to slide without great resistance. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the discharged recording paper from being further curled. As the recording paper is stacked as shown in FIG. 1B, the recording paper holding plate 102 moves downward along the recording paper guide plate 105 against the urging force of the coil spring 104 due to the weight of the recording paper. It rotates and the inclination angle gradually increases. Therefore, a large number of recording sheets can be discharged in a limited space. At that time, at least the front end portion of the recording paper holding plate 102 always maintains a state where it overlaps the recording paper guide plate 105, so that the recording paper stack 109 is connected to the recording paper holding plate 102 as shown in FIG. It can be stably held in the space formed by the recording paper guide plate 105 without dropping.

2. Other Embodiments In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the notch 102a is formed at a position corresponding to the recording paper guide plate 105 of the recording paper holding plate 102. The invention is not limited to this. Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the shape and positional relationship of the recording paper holding plate and the recording paper guide plate of the recording paper stacker according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is the recording paper holding plate and recording of the recording paper stacker of FIG. It is a top view which shows the shape and positional relationship of a paper guide plate. According to this embodiment, the sheet 102 b having high rigidity is arranged at the front end portion of the recording paper holding plate 102 so as to enter between the recording paper guide plates 105. Therefore, the recording paper holding plate 102 can always maintain a state where it overlaps the recording paper guide plate 105 by the sheet 102b at the leading end. As in FIG. It can be stably held in the space formed by 102 and the recording paper guide plate 105 without dropping.

  It is not necessary to arrange the sheet 102b between all of the recording paper guide plates 105. In consideration of the material of the sheet 102b and the stability of the recording paper stack, the sheets 102b may be provided at regular intervals.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the shape and positional relationship of the recording paper holding plate and the recording paper guide plate of the recording paper stacker according to the third embodiment of the present invention. According to the present embodiment, the conductive brush 102 c is provided over the entire front end portion of the recording paper holding plate 102. The conductive brush 102c can enter between the recording paper guide plates 105 due to its elasticity. The recording paper holding plate 102 can always maintain a state where it overlaps the recording paper guide plate 105 by the brush 102c at the tip, and the recording paper stack 109 is connected to the recording paper holding plate 102 in the same manner as in FIG. It can be stably held in the space formed by the recording paper guide plate 105 without dropping.

  It is not necessary to provide the brush 102c over the entire tip portion of the recording paper holding plate 102. In consideration of the material of the brush 102c, the stability of the recording paper stack, and the like, the brush 102c can be provided at regular intervals. Further, if the brush is made of a conductive material, the charge can be removed.

  The same effect can be obtained at the front end portion of the recording paper holding plate 102 by using not only the sheet 102b and the brush 102c but also an elastic member such as a leaf spring.

  The present invention can be applied not only to a printer or a facsimile apparatus but also to a recording paper stacker of a scanner, and can be applied to a general recording paper stacker of a system in which discharged paper is sequentially stacked.

(A) is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the recording sheet stacker according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a side sectional view showing the state of the recording sheet stacker when the recording sheets are stacked. 1A is a plan view showing the shape and positional relationship of the recording paper holding plate and the recording paper guide plate of the recording paper stacker of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of the recording paper stacker of FIG. It is the block diagram of the recording paper discharge | emission part seen. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a state in which recording paper is discharged to the recording paper stacker of FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the shape and positional relationship of a recording paper holding plate and a recording paper guide plate of the recording paper stacker of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the shape and positional relationship of the recording paper holding plate and the recording paper guide plate of the recording paper stacker according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the shape and positional relationship of a recording paper holding plate and a recording paper guide plate of the recording paper stacker of FIG. 5. It is a top view which shows the shape and positional relationship of the recording paper holding plate and recording paper guide plate of the recording paper stacker by 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Recording paper discharge part 101 Support stand 102 Recording paper holding plate 102a Notch part 102b Sheet 102c Conductive brush 103 Holding plate attachment shaft 104 Coil spring 105 Recording paper guide plate 106 Discharge port 107 Conveying roller 108 Recording paper 109 Recording paper stack

Claims (1)

A recording paper stacker for stacking recording paper discharged from the discharge port,
A recording paper holding plate that is inclined so that the discharge port side is deep, and is rotatable with respect to the stacker wall on the discharge port side;
Urging means for urging the recording paper holding plate upward so that the inclination of the recording paper holding plate changes depending on the weight of the recording paper loaded on the recording paper holding plate;
A plurality of recording paper guide plates provided on the wall surface of the stacker wall on the discharge port side;
And a plurality of cutout portions are provided at the front end of the recording paper holding plate so that the plurality of recording paper guide plates respectively enter, and the plurality of cutout portions overlap the plurality of recording paper guide plates. In this state, the recording paper holding plate is rotatable along the plurality of recording paper guide plates, and the recording paper holding plate and the plurality of recording paper guide plates are formed by the rotation of the recording paper holding plate. A recording paper stacker characterized in that an angle viewed from a side surface direction is changed, and the recording paper discharged from the discharge port is guided and stacked on the recording paper holding plate by the plurality of recording paper guide plates. .

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