JPH04121361A - Paper discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and surely obtain personal printout in a print server, used in common by a plurality of users, by showing a paper discharge tray, which selects a single paper discharge tray to a takeout position, to come to the takeout position. CONSTITUTION:When paper discharge action is finished, a tray driving lift motor M2 is driven, and a lift 3 is rotated to move an empty side surface paper discharge tray till it comes to a paper discharge position. The tray moving lift motor M2 is driven by a driver d1 to perform a ring circulation motion of the lift 30 so that a specified side surface paper discharge tray comes to a takeout position G in the uppermost part. A position of each side surface paper discharge tray, performing the ring circulation motion, is hourly displayed in an LCD display device 27 through an LCD driver d5, in a CPU, by inputting position information of each side surface paper discharge tray to the paper discharge controlling CPU33 through a tray position sensor S2 and a tray number sensor S3. When the side surface paper discharge tray, which stores a job demanded by a user, comes to the takeout position G, an effect of the tray is displayed in the LCD display device 27.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine.
The present invention relates to a paper ejection device including a plurality of paper ejection trays.

(Prior Art) Fig. 8 shows an example of a laser beam printer equipped with a plurality of paper output trays, and Fig. 8 (1) is a perspective view showing the external appearance.
gJ(2) shows a schematic diagram of the internal configuration.

As shown in the figure, a charger 2. Developing unit 3. Transcription/
Separate charger4. A cleaning unit 5 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 1, and includes an optical writing unit 6, a controller (board) 7, an engine (board) 8, and the like. Further, two sets of paper feed cassettes 10 and 10 are provided on the side wall of the printer main body 9, and a paper feed path is constituted by a paper feed unit 11 and a pair of registration rollers 12.

In addition, a switching claw 1 is provided on the paper ejection path from the fixing unit 13.
4.15, a top paper ejection tray 16 and a side paper ejection tray 17, 18 are provided, from which paper (hereinafter referred to as a sheet) is ejected.

Further, the main motor M1 is for the image forming section, and the motor M1 is for the image forming section.
, is a drive source for each operating mechanism for the paper ejection tray.

The above-mentioned side paper output trays 17 and 18 consist of 10 bins indicated by bin numbers 86 to B at the nursery school, are generally called mailboxes, and are intended to be used exclusively by users. .

To explain the general operation of this laser beam printer, the topmost sheet is fed in the direction of arrow A from a stack of sheets placed on a paper feed cassette 10.10, and the timing is set by a pair of registration rollers 12. and convey it to the photoreceptor drum 1.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow by the main motor M, and after its surface is charged by the charger 2, it is scanned with a modulated laser spot by the writing unit 6 to form an electrostatic latent image. . Then, the developing unit 3 applies toner to this latent image to make it visible.

Further, this toner image is transferred by the transfer/separation charger 4 onto a sheet conveyed by a pair of registration rollers 12, and then conveyed to a fixing unit 13 where it is heated and fixed.

The sheet exiting the fixing unit 13 is conveyed upward and is discharged in the direction of arrow B to a top paper discharge tray 16 provided on the top surface of the printer main body 9.

Further, the sheet exiting the fixing unit 13 by the switching claw 14.15 is discharged in the direction of arrow C to a side paper discharge tray 17.18 provided on the side surface of the printer main body 9.

The illustrated discharge state shows that paper sheets are discharged to the paper discharge tray of bin B by the switching claws 14 and 15 and the switching claw 19-2 of bin number B among the switching claws 19 of each bin.

FIG. 9 shows an information flow diagram of a network such as a LAN where the laser beam printer described above is shared by a plurality of users. As shown in the figure, a plurality of user workstations 21 are connected to the network 20, and a host computer 22, a file server 23, and a print server 24 (controller 7 and engine 8) are shared by each of these workstations. It is connected. Here, a type of printer that can be shared by multiple users without switching is particularly called a print server.

This print server consists of a controller 7 that performs image processing and print management, and an engine 8 that actually writes images.

Table 2 below shows an example of a procedure for printing out data by a user (workstation 21) connected to the conventional network 2o.

To briefly explain the example in the table above, the user starts the printout program (NETPRINT) <a,> from the workstation 21, selects the required file name (FI LENAME) <a,>, prints Ahead (○
UTPUT TRAY)<a,>, print job (
STARTED
<a,> and the end of the print job (ENDED)
Indicates information such as <a,>. Here, bin number B,
The output tray of (b I N 3) is specified.

The host computer 22 displays a message indicating the progress of the printout work on the display unit (CRT) of the workstation 21. This example shows an interactive input method using text, but there are also input methods using icons and a mouse.

The user learns of the end of printout from the message shown on the display (CRT), memorizes and notes the bin number from which the printed sheet was ejected, and installs the print server 24 from the workstation 21. Go to the place where the bin number B is located and place the printed sheet corresponding to the bin number B on the side paper output tray 17 (bin number B.IBI~
B.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As with the mailbox in the above example, the user has to deal with the trouble of searching for the paper output tray (bin) containing his or her printouts (sheets) from among a large number of paper output trays (bins). A lot of work was occurring.

Furthermore, in the unlikely event that you remove the paper from the wrong output tray (bin),
If you take another user's printout (sheet) with you, not only will your own printout be misplaced, but the user who has taken out the printout will have irreparable inconvenience, in other words, confidential information will be known. That will happen.

In addition, when it comes to mailboxes, if the number of users exceeds 100 Å, the configuration becomes quite difficult, and since not all users always print out, most of the paper output trays (bins) remain empty, resulting in a large amount of waste. becomes. Furthermore, since the number of users constantly changes, it is difficult to optimize the number of paper ejection trays (bins), resulting in lack of expandability and flexibility.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the invention described in claim (1) provides a paper ejection device that allows users to easily and reliably obtain their own printouts in a print server shared by a plurality of users. The purpose is to

In addition, the inventions described in claims (2) and (3) provide for a print server that is shared by multiple users to be locked or to display a warning so that the confidentiality of printouts is maintained and they are not taken out by mistake. The purpose is to provide a paper device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objects, the invention as set forth in claim (1) provides an image forming apparatus equipped with a plurality of paper ejection trays. a paper discharge tray moving means for moving the paper to each of a paper discharge position, a storage position, and a take-out position; a paper discharge tray selection means for selecting one of the paper discharge trays as a take-out position; The apparatus is characterized by comprising a display means for indicating that the apparatus has reached the take-out position. The paper ejecting device also includes a locking means for the jam disposal front cover and the sheet ejecting cover as set forth in claims (2) and (3), and a locking means for the front cover for jam disposal and the cover for sheet ejection as set forth in claims (2) and (3). In addition, a means for giving a warning when the cover is opened is provided.

(Function) A series of printout sheets (referred to as a job) that have been printed are transferred to an empty paper output tray at a specified position, where they are stacked and stored. Further, jobs performed by the same user, such as mailboxes, are ejected to the same ejection tray. After the above-mentioned paper ejection operation is completed, the job on the paper ejection tray can be removed by moving the paper ejection tray to the ejection position using a specific code input by the user and removing the removal cover, but if the operation is performed by a person other than the user by mistake. generates a warning sound. The user can monitor and check the status of the moving position of the paper discharge tray by displaying the position.

In addition, the sheet ejecting cover and jam removal front cover at the job ejecting position are locked after the paper output tray has been moved to the ejecting position by the user's correct operation.
When the occurrence of a jam is detected, the cover is released and the cover is opened, and when the cover is closed after each process is completed, the cover is automatically locked, eliminating the need for the user's locking operation.

(Embodiment) Fig. 1 shows a laser beam printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 1 (1) is a perspective view showing the external appearance, and Fig. 1 (2) shows a laser beam printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an internal structural diagram mainly showing the configuration of a recirculating type side paper ejection tray. As shown in the figure, there are an operation panel 25A for the printer main body 9 and an operation panel 25B for the recirculating side paper ejection tray 26 (integrated with 25A) on the operation surface side of the printer main body 9 (paper ejection device 9'). ) and an LD display 27 that displays the position of the side paper ejection tray 26.
has. Also, a sheet ejecting cover 28 for taking out printout sheets (jobs) is provided on the top surface of the printer main body 9.
is attached by a hinge 28A and opens and closes in the direction of arrow DD'. Further, a front cover 29 for handling a jam of the side paper discharge tray 26, which can be opened and closed (in the direction of arrow EE') on the operation surface side, is attached by a hinge 29A.

An example is shown in which the circular-type side paper discharge tray 26 is composed of 10 bins B0 to B, and each bin (paper discharge tray) is connected in a circular shape with a lift 30 shown by an arrow. It is driven by a lift motor M2 for moving the tray so as to return the tray in the F direction, and the motor M2 is controlled by a CPU 33 for controlling paper discharge (to be described later).
(Fig. 2).

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the control section of FIG. 1,
The printer main body 9 is on the right side divided by the chain line, and the paper discharge device 9' is on the left side.

Main body microcomputer (CPU) on the main body side as shown
31 is a serial communication line 32 (transmission TXD, reception RX
D) is connected to the paper ejection control CPtJ33, and the main CPU 31 controls the sheet ejection operation and the sheet job number via the serial communication line 32.

Sends information such as job start/end, jam occurrence, etc.
On the other hand, the paper discharge control CPU 33 of the paper discharge device sends back various information such as paper discharge ready/busy, occurrence of jam, existence of unauthorized access, and cover opening/closing.

On the input CI) side of the paper discharge control CPU 33, there is a jam detection sensor S1. Tray position sensor s3. Tray number sensor S8. Tray empty sensor S 4 t Signals from the front cover open sensor S1, the seed removal cover open sensor S, and the operation panel (input section) 25B are input. In the figure, tray number sensor S, 5, operation panel 25B, 8
each indicates the number of input lines.

Further, on the output (0) side of the paper discharge control CPU 33, a lift motor M3. Motor M for sheet conveyance, cover 28.2
A locking solenoid SQL of 9 and a warning buzzer BZ are connected, and their respective operations are controlled. Also,
Operation panel (display section) 25 via LCD driver d.
Position information regarding the paper discharge tray and the like are displayed on the LCD display 27 of B via the output circuit Ia (number of circuits 16).

The paper discharge control CPU 33 uses a tray position sensor S1 so that sheets with the same job number are stored in the same paper discharge tray (bin). Tray number sensor S.

Drives the lift motor M1 for tray movement based on the output of
The lift 30 is controlled to rotate in the direction of arrow F to move the paper discharge tray (bin) 26 to the desired paper discharge position, and the status is displayed on the LCD display 27.

Further, when there is an instruction to take out a job from the operation panel 25B (input section), the corresponding paper ejection tray is connected to the sensor s,
,'s are used to drive and control the tray moving lift motor M to move the tray back to the sheet take-out position, and its status is displayed on the LCD display 27 of the operation panel.

In addition, when a jam occurs, the front cover 2 is installed to remove the jam.
Front cover open sensor S m l when the sheet take-out cover 28 is opened (in the direction of the arrow E in Fig. 1 (1)) Each detection signal from the sensor S1 is configured to cause a warning buzzer BZ to sound when the user does not input a specific code from the operation panel (input unit) 25B, that is, when the user performs an incorrect operation.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in FIGS. 1 and 2 above and in 1 below.
The explanation will be based on the table.

First, the procedure for the user to print out is shown in Table 1 (a) input work on the workstation 21 and (
b) Separated into printer operations.

As shown in Table 1, the user selects the print destination (○U
TPUT TRAY) <a3> (
<a3> in Table 2 above is missing) program <al>, required file name <a2>, start of print job <
It is sufficient to simply specify a,> and end <a,> using the operation panel 25A.

When the message indicating that the printout is completed is received on the CRT of the workstation 21, the print server 24
, and enters a specific code such as a user ID indicating the identity of the user or the job, a job number, or a password from the operation panel 25B <bl>. Then, the position of the paper discharge tray 26 containing the job is displayed on the LCD display 27, and the process waits until the paper discharge tray 26 is rotated and moved to the take-out position G. When a message indicating that the job has been moved to the take-out position G is displayed on the LCD display 27, open the sheet take-out cover 28 (in the direction of the arrow) and take out your own job <b3>. Then, simply by closing the sheet take-out cover 28, the printout work is completed.

The operations of the main parts of the procedures shown in Table 1 above will be explained below.

The job that has now been printed on the printer main unit 9 side is
The sheets are transferred in the direction of arrow C by the switching claw 14, carried to an empty side sheet discharge tray 26A (lower left in FIG. 1 (2)), and stacked and stored together. In this case, jobs performed by the same user, such as a mailbox, are ejected to the same side ejection tray, so instead of the empty side ejection tray 26A, the side ejection tray 26B is where the same user's jobs are stored. , . . . and so on.

This paper ejection operation is performed by a lift motor M for moving the tray driven by drivers d, d, a motor M for conveying the sheet.
, the lift 30, transfer roller 34, etc. are driven, respectively.

Next, when the paper ejection operation is finished, the lift motor M for driving the tray,
and rotates the lift 30 to move the empty side paper ejection tray until it reaches the paper ejection position.

When a user retrieves a job from the side output tray,
From the operation panel (input section) 25B, the above-mentioned Table 1 <b,
Enter the specific code shown below. Paper discharge control CPU3
3 specifies the position of the side paper ejection tray that stores the job corresponding to the specific code by determining it from the job data added when printing is performed. Then, the tray moving lift motor M is driven by the driver d, and the lift 30 is moved back so that the specified side paper ejection tray comes to the uppermost take-out position G.

The position of each side paper discharge tray 26 that performs the above-mentioned circular return movement is as follows.
The tray position sensor S3 and the tray number sensor S input the position information of each side paper ejection tray to the paper ejection control CPU 33, so that the CPU momentarily displays the information on the LCD display 27 via the LCD driver d. This makes it easy for users to understand.

When the side discharge tray containing the job desired by the user reaches the take-out position G, the LCD display 27 displays this fact. The user opens the sheet take-out cover 28 (in the direction of the arrow) and takes out the job. At this time, a detection signal from the sheet take-out cover open sensor S is input to the paper ejection control CPU 33, and as the above-mentioned job has been taken out and the sheet take-out cover 28 is closed, the detection signal is cut off. becomes.

Therefore, the paper ejection control CPU 33 drives the tray moving lift motor M to move the side paper ejection tray to the position before taking it out, and instructs the main body CPU 31 to resume printing via the serial communication line 32. . Also,
A job retrieval end button or the like may be provided on the operation panel (input unit) 25B to request confirmation from the user.

In addition, while the sheet take-out cover 28 is open to take out a job, the paper ejection control CPU 33 prohibits the drive of the tray moving lift motor M based on the detection signal of the sheet take-out cover open sensor S. Therefore, safety measures are taken by stopping the movement of the lift 30 to the side discharge tray 26.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the example of the mechanism in which the side paper discharge tray 26 is moved back and forth by the lift 30 has been described;
A mechanism (for example, a storage/retrieval system in a parts warehouse) may be used in which the side paper discharge tray 26 is operated to perform sorting operations in the horizontal and vertical directions.

In addition, since the printer in this example uses a top-side printing method, in order to perform face-down paper ejection, the conveyance path was extended to the lower left to set the paper ejection position. This is advantageous because the paper discharge position can be determined immediately downstream of the fixing unit 13.

Although the above embodiment has been explained using a laser beam printer as an example, a facsimile machine equipped with a paper ejecting device according to claim (1) can also produce similar effects.

That is, before sending a fax image, a specific code indicating the identity of the recipient, such as an employee number, is added, and a code corresponding to the code is inputted into the eject tray selection means, so that the print of the fax image can be stored. If the paper ejection tray is configured to move to the take-out position, there is no need to sort fax documents to be received by multiple users, and the risk of document loss can be avoided.

Next, embodiments of the invention according to claims (2) and (3) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the cover locking mechanism in the side paper ejection tray. As shown in the figure, the paper ejection device 9'
A solenoid (S Q L,) for locking the cover 28 for taking out sheets and the cover 29 for removing jams on the side 35.
(SQL,) 36, and each cover is provided with locking holes 28B, 29B through which the locking pins P, P, of the solenoid enter and exit.

Solenoid 35.36 for both covers 28.29 above
Figure 4 shows the control flow for locking. Figure 4 (1)
is the control flow of the sheet ejecting cover 28, in which the user instructs the selection of the paper ejection tray by correct operation (<b, > in Table 1 above) from the operation panel (input section) 25B (Sl), and the corresponding The paper ejection tray is moved by the lift 30 (S3), and when the movement is completed, it is at the sheet ejection position G.
(S,), the paper discharge control CPU 33 turns off the solenoid (S Q L,) 35 via the driver d, removes the locking pin P1 from the locking hole 28B, and releases the lock (S4). . Thereby, the sheet take-out cover 28 can be opened in the direction of the arrow and the user's job (printout) can be taken out from the paper discharge tray. This opening of the cover is detected by the sheet take-out cover open sensor S to the paper discharge control CPU 33.

When the user completes taking out the job and closes the sheet removal cover 28 in the direction of arrow D', the open detection signal of the sensor S is cut off, and the paper ejection control CPU 33 detects this. driver d.

The solenoid (SQL, ) 35 is operated via the solenoid (SQL), and the locking pin P1 is inserted into the locking hole 28B and locked (Sl).

FIG. 4(2) is a control flow of the jam handling front cover 29, in which a detection signal from the jam detection sensor S1 indicates that a jam has occurred in the paper discharging device 9', and the paper discharging control CP
When U33 judges (Sl), the CPU is the driver d.
, the solenoid (S Q L,) 36 is turned off to release the lock (S,).

As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 5, the user can open the front cover 29 (in the direction of arrow E) and remove the jammed sheet (K,, K,). At this time, a detection signal is sent from the front cover open sensor S to the paper ejection control CPU 3.
3. The user closes the front cover after removing the sheets stopped on the paper output tray 26 or the conveyance path (in the direction of the arrow EΦ force and the front cover open sensor S
, the detection signal is cut off and we know that the jam has been recovered (
S.). Based on this, the paper discharge control CPU 33 operates the solenoid (SQL, ) 36 via the driver d.
The jam disposal front cover 29 is locked (the locking bottle P1 enters the locking hole 29B) (S4).

As described above, when a sheet is taken out, unless the user inputs a specific code, the lock is not released, and there is no worry that the job will be taken out by someone else by mistake, and confidentiality can be maintained.

In addition, when a jam occurs, when the jam state is detected, the front cover for jam handling is unlocked, and at this time, the paper ejection operation is temporarily interrupted and stopped, so the user cannot intervene. danger is also prevented.

FIG. 6 shows a warning sound (buzzer) and a warning display when the flat sheet take-out cover 28 or jam disposal front cover 29 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, or 5 is opened by mistake. The perspective view of one embodiment is shown in FIG. An example of character display is shown below.

Figures 7 (1) and (2) show the sheet take-out cover 28, respectively.
The control flow when the front cover 29 for jam removal is opened is shown. That is, the sheet take-out cover 28 is locked immediately after the paper output tray is moved to the take-out position G by the user's correct operation, the cover is opened (S,), the job (printout) is taken out, and the cover is closed again. If the sheet take-out cover open sensor S detects that the cover 28 is opened during a period other than the period until the cover 28 is opened,
In other words, the paper output tray movement has not yet been completed (S
, NO), the buzzer (BZ) 37 or CRT issues a warning sound and text (S,).

In addition, the jam clearing front cover 29 detects that the jam clearing front cover is opened other than when the sensor S,') detects that a jam has occurred. When there is no condition (NO in S yo'), a warning is issued (S,).

In addition, in the embodiment, since a warning is not issued for a cover opening operation performed during a period in which the cover needs to be operated, no warning is issued by mistake.

For the sake of simplicity, the effect can also be obtained by arranging that no warning is issued when the sheet take-out cover 28 is opened or closed, but a warning is issued immediately when the front jam disposal cover 29 is opened.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, in the invention of claim (1) of the present invention, by simply performing the necessary input operation to the tray selection means, the paper output tray containing the prints of the user can be moved to the take-out position. Since the image forming apparatus is configured so that the image forming apparatus can be moved to another location, even when a plurality of users share the image forming apparatus, they can easily and reliably take out their desired prints.

In the invention of claim (2), since the cover that allows access to the printout is configured to be locked, there is no risk that the printout will be taken away by someone other than the user and that confidential information will be leaked. It can be prevented.

Furthermore, in the invention of claim (3), when the cover that allows access to the printout is operated, a warning is issued, so that the printout is not taken away by a person other than the user or the confidential information is leaked. The user or administrator can immediately know that a danger has occurred and can take prompt countermeasures.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the invention according to claim (1) of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a side view of the mechanism implemented in a laser printer, and FIG. 2 is a control section of FIG. 1. FIG. Figures 3 to 7 are claims (2) and (3) of the present invention.
An embodiment of the described invention is shown, FIG. 3 is a side view of the structure of the cover locking mechanism, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the control flow for locking the cover, and FIG. 5 is an explanation of how to open the front cover and clear the jam. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of each embodiment of a warning display when the cover is opened by mistake, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the control flow of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional laser beam printer, and FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of network information when a plurality of users share the laser beam printer. 999. Printer main body, 9'... Paper ejecting device, 25
A, 25B...Operation panel, 26.26A. 26B...Side paper output tray, 28...Cover for taking out sheets 29...Front cover for jam removal 30
... Lift, 31... Main body CPU, 32... Serial communication line, 33... Paper ejection control CPU, 34...
...Transfer roller, 35, 36...Solenoid (SQL)
,p,. Pl...Lock pin, 28B, 29B...Lock hole, buzzer (BZ), Ml. M. motor.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus equipped with a plurality of paper ejection trays, a paper ejection tray moving means for moving the paper ejection tray to each of a paper ejection position, a storage position, and a take-out position; A paper ejection device comprising a paper ejection tray selection means for selecting one paper ejection tray as the ejection position, and a display means for indicating that the paper ejection tray has reached the ejection position. (2) Claim (1) characterized in that it has locking means for the front cover for jam disposal and the cover for taking out the sheet.
) Paper ejection device described. (3) In opening/closing the front cover for jam disposal and the cover for taking out sheets, when the front cover for jam disposal and the cover for sheet removal are opened other than when a specific code is input by the user, a warning is provided. 1) The paper ejecting device described.