JPH01271363A - Image former - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the function of a device so easily by installing each discharge port discharging a sheet to a turnover discharge tray and a non-turnover discharge tray, another discharge port separate from these ports and a means transferrable to each discharge port all in an image former for a copying machine or the like. CONSTITUTION:A branch point is installed in such a conveying passage that is more upstream than a transfer material turnover discharge port and more downstream than a non-turnover discharge part, and there is provided with a transfer paper discharge port capable of transfer conveyance selectively by a flapper 29 rotatable with a shaft as the center. When non-turnover discharge is carried out, a flapper 21 is selected toward a tray 20, and at the time of other cases, since this flapper 21 takes a turnover position, transfer paper is directed at the upper part. Accordingly, if a newly installed flapper 29 is turned round from a broken-line position to a full-line position with the shaft as the center, the transfer paper is guided by the flapper 29 and discharged to a third discharge port. This transfer paper is conveyed to a sheet storage device 24b by discharge rollers 30a, 30b, and guided to a paper discharge roller 26 by a conveyor guide 25, then it is discharged to a pin 27.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine, or a laser beam printer.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet,
2. Description of the Related Art Image recording apparatuses are known in which sheet materials are turned over and discharged so that the resulting sheets are piled up in the same order as the recording order, with the image recording surface of the sheet facing down.

FIG. 8 is a conventional example of such an image forming apparatus, and is a cross-sectional view of a laser beam printer 1a when a sheet storage device is attached to the reversal discharge port as a transfer paper post-processing device.

The specific configuration is that the transfer material P is fed out one sheet at a time by the paper feed roller 3 from a paper feed unit consisting of a cassette 2 that stores the transfer material and a paper feed roller 3, and the transfer material P is fed out one by one by the paper feed roller 3, and
b is supplied in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 5 in the process cartridge C. Further, a corona charger 6 is arranged near the photosensitive drum 5 in the process cartridge C to uniformly charge the surface of the drum 5 with Wf. The mirror 8 is rotated by the scanner 7 according to an external control signal.
The pre-exposure lamp 9 uniformly exposes the photosensitive drum 5 with optical information, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. Furthermore, the toner image developed by the developing device 11 loaded with the toner 10 is transferred onto the transfer material conveyed from the conveyance section by a transfer section provided with a transfer charger 12. Then, residual toner, paper dust, and the like on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 are removed by a cleaning device 13 having a blade. On the other hand, the sheet material to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 5 due to the curvature of the drum, and is transported to the fixing device 15 via the transport guide 14 . After the toner is fixed by heat or the like in the fixing device 15, the transfer material P changes its direction at the top and is ejected by a paper ejection roller 16 to an open/close cover 17 which also serves as a paper ejection tray. A paper ejection tray 20 that can be opened and closed is provided.

In the conventional image forming apparatus described above, the flapper 21 selectively switches and conveys sheets in the direction of the upper cover 17, which is a five-reversal discharge section, and in the direction of the foldable paper discharge tray 20, which is a non-reversal discharge section.

This figure 2 shows the paper output tray 20 installed in the non-reversing output section.
is rotated upward by the hinge 20a and folded. In this state, the paper ejection tray 20 is a part of the exterior of the image forming apparatus, and care is taken not to spoil the appearance as an extra accessory. The transfer paper P that has passed through the pair of fixing rollers 15a and 15b of the fixing unit 15 is then moved to a flapper 21, which is a switching means provided on the downstream side.
Since it is in the inverted position, it is directed upward, guided by the inversion guide 22, and discharged onto the upper cover 17 with its front and back turned upside down.

Next, if the transfer paper is a thick sheet such as a postcard or business card and it is difficult to invert and eject it, the paper ejection tray 20 provided in the non-inversion ejection section is rotated around the hinge 20a and the transfer paper is loaded. set to possible state. Accordingly, the flapper 21 formed integrally with the paper discharge tray 20 also rotates about the shaft 23. When the transfer paper P is conveyed in this state, the transfer paper P that has passed through the pair of fixing rollers f5a and 15b is not guided upward by the flapper 21, but is instead directed to the non-reversing discharge section where the paper discharge tray 20 is set. Paper is ejected.

When installing a sheet storage device (sorter) 24a as a transfer paper post-processing device in such an image forming apparatus, it is conceivable to install the sheet storage device (sorter) 24a to a discharge port for a transfer paper storage tray of the image forming apparatus, as shown in the figure.

The transfer paper that is to be ejected to the paper ejection tray 17 by the paper ejection roller 16 is transferred to the sheet storage device 2 by the conveyance guide 25.
4a, and is discharged by a pair of paper discharge rollers 26a and 26b to a bin selected in advance by known means from among the bins 27 of the sheet storage device. The topmost bin is provided as a bin with a large storage capacity, and when a sheet storage device is attached, the reversible large capacity tray 17 is blocked, so when a large number of images are to be output, this topmost bin is selected and discharged. It will be done.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, when a transfer paper post-processing device is installed in the image forming apparatus as described above, the large-capacity sheet storage tray is blocked, and an important mechanical part originally included is lost. In fact, it had become 7.

Attempts have been made to avoid this by using a large-capacity tray as part of the transfer paper post-processing device, but this has led to the transfer paper post-processing device becoming larger and heavier, as well as making it difficult to install. Although the transfer paper post-processing device should have improved workability, it sometimes increased the burden on the user.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. An ejection port different from the ejection port to the reversing tray can be selectively switched between the reversing and non-reversing ejection ports, and by installing a transfer paper post-processing device there, the paper can be deposited in the same order as the image output order. The paper can be stored in the two trays of the image forming apparatus while the transfer paper post-processing device is installed, so it can be used for a variety of image outputs, such as outputting a small number of copies, a large number of sheets, and even using thick paper. This image forming apparatus is characterized in that it is possible to improve transfer paper storage capacity accordingly.

[Example] The present invention will be explained below based on the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram that best represents the features of the present invention, and the same members as in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals and repeated explanations will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, a branch point is provided in the conveyance path upstream of the transfer material reversal discharge port and downstream of the non-reversal discharge portion, and the shaft 28
A transfer paper discharge port is provided which can be selectively switched and conveyed by a flapper 29 which is interlocked with the paper and can be rotated about a shaft 28.

Since the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, when performing non-reversal ejection, the flapper 21 is selected in the direction of the tray 20, and if not, the flapper 21 is in the inverted position, so that the transfer paper is directed upward. directed towards. Therefore, if the newly installed flapper 29 is rotated around the shaft 28 from the dashed line position to the solid line position as shown in FIG. 2, the transfer paper will be guided by the flapper 29 to the third discharge port. and will be delivered. The flapper 29 is rotated by operating a knob member 28', shown in FIG. 3, which is interlocked with the shaft 28.

FIG. 2 above shows a sheet storage device (bin movable sorter) 24b installed as a transfer paper post-processing device at this third discharge port. As described above, the transfer paper conveyed to the third discharge port is conveyed to the sheet storage device by the discharge rollers 30a and 30b, and is conveyed to the sheet storage device by the conveyance guide 25 in the sheet storage device.
The paper is guided to the paper discharge roller 26 by the paper discharge roller 26. Then, it is discharged into a bin 27 selected in advance by a known bin moving means.

Note that the sorter 24b is positioned on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus by a positioning means. Furthermore, they are electrically connected using a connector or the like.

In this way, if the third discharge port to which the transfer paper post-processing device can be attached is provided in the conveyance path that is divided into the reversing discharge port and the non-reversing discharge port so that the transfer paper can be selectively switched and conveyed, the image output order can be adjusted. A transfer paper post-processing device can be installed to enable deposition matching. In addition, when outputting a large number of sheets, use the reversing tray of an image forming apparatus with a large sheet capacity, or when using a thick sheet, operate the flapper 21 and transfer to the non-reversing tray 20. When two trays cannot handle the paper, it is sufficient to discharge the paper to a suitable transfer paper post-processing device.

The drive for moving the bins and rotating the rollers in the sorter 24b may be provided by an independent printing unit power source or may be provided from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

In this way, if you provide a third paper output port without blocking the paper output tray of the image forming apparatus and install the transfer paper post-processing device there, you can attach and detach it each time depending on the image output. There is no need to perform extremely difficult operations such as repeating the steps, and it is possible to output small numbers of large numbers of copies, large numbers of sheets, and use thick sheets with simple operations such as rotating the flapper. Furthermore, since the transfer paper post-processing device can be installed without blocking the large-capacity tray of the image forming apparatus, there is no need to use a part of the transfer paper post-processing device as a multi-sheet storage tray.

[Other Examples] In the above embodiments, the mounting direction of the transfer paper post-processing device is the same direction as the transfer discharge direction, that is, the opposite direction to the non-reversing discharge direction, but the mounting direction of the transfer paper post-processing device The direction is not limited to this.

For example, an image form that allows images to be formed on both sides of the transfer material! &
This apparatus is known in the art. First, generally, after forming a first page of a first image, the transfer paper is reversed by a known reversing unit, and a second page of a second image is formed on the reverse side. When forming an sth double-sided image, if the sheets are not discharged in the non-reversing discharge direction, the output order of the double-sided image and the discharged stack will be different. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an image forming device IC capable of double-sided image output.
Even when outputting a double-sided image with the 7-rapper 21.29 installed, you can eject sheets to the non-reversing tray 20 and the sheet storage device 124c as described below. It is possible to easily accommodate some of them.

That is, in the case of a small number of parts, the flapper 21.degree. 29 may be rotated to the position shown by the solid line, and in the case of a large number of parts, the flapper 21 should be rotated to the position shown by the broken line.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the direction in which the transfer material is discharged from the third discharge port is directed upward, and the transfer paper post-processing device is loaded on the image forming apparatus. In the illustrated embodiment, the third discharge port is located at the rear of the image forming apparatus, and the sheet storage device ri24d is installed. In this way, by providing the third discharge port at the rear of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to easily arrange the transfer sheet post-processing apparatus side by side on the image forming apparatus instead of stacking them on top of the image forming apparatus. In other words, instability caused by stacking on the image forming apparatus, load on the image forming apparatus, and vj11! when the transfer paper post-processing device is installed! These problems can be overcome, and wearability can be improved.

Further, although the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus in which the image processing on the transfer paper is carried out along a horizontal conveyance path, the present invention is not limited to this horizontal conveyance.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus 1e that performs an image process on a transfer material or has a substantially vertical and substantially straight sheet material conveyance path, and a transfer paper post-processing device is connected to a third discharge port. This is an example in which a sheet material storage device 324e is installed.

A transfer material feeding cassette 302 is disposed approximately horizontally at the top of the main body of the apparatus, and the conveying path of the transfer paper sent out from the cassette 302 is formed approximately vertically. The members having the same functions are given the same reference numerals (number 300) and will not be described again.

The transfer paper sent out from the cassette 302 is conveyed along a substantially vertical conveyance path. laser beam printer 30
1e obtains the upper part of the image from an external device, and the developed image formed on the photosensitive drum 305 in the same process as described above is transferred to the transfer paper that is conveyed substantially vertically. Then fuser 3
15, and if the flappers 321 and 329 are operated in the position shown by the broken line in FIG.
If the flapper 329 is placed in the position shown by the broken line, the sheet storage device 324 is guided to the inverted (face-down) discharge port, or if both flappers are placed in the position shown by the solid line, it is guided to the third discharge port.
transported to e.

Reference numeral 330 denotes a bed space in which the image forming apparatus is installed.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the third discharge port, which is detachable from a transfer paper post-processing device such as a sheet storage device, is sandwiched between the non-reversing discharge port and the reversing discharge port. By providing a selectively switchable conveyance path,
It is possible to match the image output order and the stack of ejected transfer sheets. Moreover, there is no need to newly provide a long conveyance path. Furthermore, or a large-capacity tray suitable for outputting a large number of sheets, which the image forming apparatus has, and a non-reversing tray, which is suitable for use with thick paper, are sealed off, that is, both of the above-mentioned trays which the image forming apparatus has. A transfer paper post-processing device that further increases the transfer paper storage capacity without impairing the transfer paper storage capacity of the transfer paper can be installed.

In other words, the transfer paper post-processing device can be installed so that it can be stacked in the order of outputting one image without installing a new conveyance path, and even when it is installed, it can be used to store multiple sheets prepared in advance by the image forming device. It is possible to eject the transfer paper to a reversible or non-reversible tray as needed. Therefore, it is possible to output a large number of sheets without repeatedly attaching and detaching the transfer paper post-processing device. Furthermore, there is no need to make a part of the transfer paper post-processing device a large-capacity tray, so that the transfer paper post-processing device can be made smaller and lighter, and the installation workability can be improved accordingly.

[Effects of the Invention] Since the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has the configuration as described above, the functions of the image forming apparatus can be easily improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of FIG. 1 when the sheet storage device is installed. FIG. 3 is a front view of the third discharge port switching means. 4 is a side view, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of still another embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view of yet another embodiment. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a conventional image forming apparatus. C indicates the process cartridge 17, the inverted discharge tray 20, the non-inverted discharge tray 24, the sheet storage device 29, and the third discharge port selection flapper.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A first discharge port that reverses the conveyed sheet material and discharges it to a sheet storage device, and a second discharge port that discharges the sheet material to another sheet storage tray without reversing it. What are the discharge ports? An image forming apparatus comprising: another third discharge port; and means capable of selectively switching to each discharge port. (2) The image according to claim 1, wherein the third discharge port is provided in a conveyance path sandwiched between the first discharge port and the second discharge port. Forming device. (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transfer paper post-processing device is removably attached to the third discharge port.