JPH04333462A - Paper discharge tray - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a paper discharge tray to automatically expand or contract corresponding to the size of a transfer paper sheet. CONSTITUTION:A drive means 7 is provided, to move a moving table 3 from a fixed table 2 in the direction of discharging paper corresponding to the size of a transfer paper sheet when the size of the transfer paper sheet is detected by a transfer paper size detecting means 11, and hence a fall or a habit of bending of the transfer paper sheet is prevented by automatically expanding of the moving table 3, although the transfer paper sheet discharged from an image forming part 4 is of large size.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper discharge tray used in copying machines, facsimile machines, and the like.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some paper discharge trays used in copying machines and the like are extendable and retractable in order to save space. An example of this extendable paper discharge tray will be explained based on FIG. 5. A fixed table 2 is provided on which a small-sized transfer paper 1 discharged from an image forming section (not shown) is placed. A movable table 3 is provided which is held by the fixed table 2 and extends and contracts from the fixed table 2 in the directions indicated by the bidirectional arrows. The movable stage 3 is set so as to place the large-sized transfer paper 1 in a stretched state when the large-sized transfer paper 1 is discharged from the image forming section.

In such a configuration, when carrying out work, the operator retracts the movable table 3 and stores it in the fixed table 2 when handling the small-sized transfer sheet 1, and uses the paper output tray with the transfer sheet 1 stored in the fixed table 2. For the transfer paper 1, a paper discharge tray is used with the movable table 3 extended and pulled out from the fixed table 2.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the case of large-sized transfer paper 1, if the operator forgets to extend the movable table 3, the ejected transfer paper 1 may fall or the transfer paper 1 may There is a problem that it tends to bend. Further, if the movable table 3 is used in an extended state, the function of saving space cannot be achieved.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The invention as set forth in claim 1 is provided with a fixed table on which transfer sheets discharged from an image forming section are sequentially placed, and a movable table which is telescopically held on the fixed table. A transfer paper size detection means for detecting the size of the transfer paper is provided in the paper output tray, and when the size of the transfer paper is detected by the transfer paper size detection means, the moving table is moved according to the size of the transfer paper. A driving means for moving the paper in the paper ejection direction is provided.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a drive means for moving the movable table in a direction opposite to the paper discharge direction when the size of the transfer paper is not detected by the transfer paper size detection means. Ta.

[0007]

[Operation] In the invention as set forth in claim 1, when the size of the transfer paper is detected by the transfer paper size detection means, the driving means moves the movable table in the paper discharge direction according to the size of the transfer paper, thereby forming an image. When a large-sized transfer paper is discharged from the section, the movable stage automatically extends according to the size of the transfer paper, thereby preventing the transfer paper from falling or being bent.

In the invention as set forth in claim 2, when the size of the transfer paper is not detected by the transfer paper size detection means, the driving means moves the moving table in the opposite direction to the paper discharge direction, and the moving table automatically moves when no work is being performed. This makes it possible to use space more effectively.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as those described in the configuration of the conventional example (see FIG. 5). First, the overall configuration of the paper discharge tray of this embodiment will be described based on FIG. 1. A fixing table 2 is provided on which a small-sized transfer paper 1 discharged from the image forming section 4 is placed. A movable table 3 is provided which is held by the fixed table 2 and extends and contracts from the fixed table 2 in the directions indicated by the bidirectional arrows. A rack 5 is formed on the lower surface of the movable table 3 along the paper ejection direction. A drive motor 7 as a drive means which is connected to a gear 6 that meshes with the rack 5 and can freely rotate in forward and reverse directions is disposed on the side surface of the fixed base 2. Further, the image forming section 4
A pair of paper discharge rollers 8 for discharging the transfer paper 1 is provided on the paper discharge side. A paper discharge detection sensor 9 for detecting the discharge of the transfer paper 1 is disposed downstream of the pair of paper discharge rollers 8. This paper ejection detection sensor 9 consists of a lever 10 protruding into the transfer paper conveyance path and a sensor that detects the movement of this lever 10. This detects the discharge of the transfer paper 1. A transfer paper size detection sensor 11 serving as a transfer paper size detection means for detecting the size of the transfer paper 1 is disposed at the front end of the upper surface of the fixing table 2 in the paper discharge direction. This transfer paper size detection sensor 11 includes a lever 12 protruding from the upper surface of the fixing table 2 and a lever 12
The size of the transfer paper 1 is detected by the transfer paper 1 urging the lever 12 counterclockwise.

In such a configuration, in a normal state, the moving section 3 is set at the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. First, the operation of the paper ejection tray will be described based on FIG. 2 in the case where a small size transfer paper 1 having a length L is ejected from the image forming section 4. When the ejection of transfer paper 1 starts,
When the transfer paper 1 urges the lever 10 of the paper discharge detection sensor 9 in the counterclockwise direction, the discharge of the transfer paper 1 is detected and the detection signal A is turned ON. When the ejection of the transfer paper 1 is completed, the detection signal A is turned off, and the transfer paper 1 is placed on the fixed table 2 slightly upstream of the transfer paper size detection sensor 11. That is, the transfer paper 1 is fed by a length L and reaches the position P.
It stops at As a result, the transfer paper size detection sensor 11 does not work, so the detection signal B of the transfer paper size detection sensor 11
The drive signal C of the drive motor 7 remains OFF, and the drive motor 7 is not driven.

[0011] Next, the operation of the paper ejection tray when a large-sized transfer paper 1 is ejected from the image forming section 4 will be described with reference to FIG. When the ejection of transfer paper 1 starts,
When the transfer paper 1 urges the lever 10 of the paper discharge detection sensor 9 in the counterclockwise direction, the discharge of the transfer paper 1 is detected and the detection signal A is turned ON. Then, the leading edge of the transfer paper 1 biases the lever 12 of the transfer paper size detection sensor 11 in the counterclockwise direction, so that the detection signal B of the transfer paper size detection sensor 11 is turned ON, and at the same time as the detection signal B is turned ON, it is driven. The signal C is turned ON to drive the drive motor 7. The drive motor 7 rotates the gear 6 in the counterclockwise direction, and moves the movable table 3 in the paper discharge direction via the rack 5 that meshes with the gear 6. Then, when the paper discharge is completed, the detection signal C of the paper discharge detection sensor 9 turns OFF, and at the same time, the drive signal C
is turned off, the drive motor 7 is stopped, and the movement of the movable table 3 is stopped. As a result, the large-sized transfer paper 1 is placed on the upper surfaces of the fixed table 2 and the extended movable table 3. In this way, when the transfer paper 1 discharged from the image forming section 4 is large in size, the movable table 3 automatically extends from the fixed table 2 in the paper discharge direction according to the size of the transfer paper 1, so that the transfer paper 1 This prevents the transfer paper 1 from falling and the transfer paper 1 from becoming bent.

On the other hand, the transfer paper size detection sensor 11 detects the presence or absence of the transfer paper 1, and if the detection signal A of the paper discharge detection sensor 9 and the detection signal B of the transfer paper size detection sensor 11 are both OFF, the drive is stopped. Rotate the motor 7 in the opposite direction to move the moving table 3
is moved in the opposite direction to the paper discharge direction and stored on the fixing table 2. As a result, the movable table 3 automatically retracts when no work is being performed, thereby making it possible to use space effectively.

In the first embodiment described above, the gear 6 and the rack 5 are used as means for moving the movable table 3, but it is also possible to use a link mechanism or a wire. Further, if the transfer paper size detection sensor 11 used in the first embodiment described above is abolished and the detection signal A of the paper discharge detection sensor 9 remains ON for a certain period of time, the drive motor 7
It is also possible to perform control such that the drive motor 7 is driven and the drive motor 7 is stopped when the paper ejection is completed. In this case, the paper discharge detection sensor 9 also serves as the function of the transfer paper size detection sensor 11. Furthermore, by eliminating the transfer paper size detection sensor 11 and controlling the drive time of the drive motor 7 based on the paper feed size signal used in the main body of the copying machine, the length of the moving table 3 can be reduced. It is also possible to adjust. In this case, the paper feed size signal also serves as the function of the transfer paper size detection sensor 11.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on FIG. 4. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as those described in the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 3), and the description thereof will be omitted. A lever 14 has a claw portion that engages with a recess 13 formed on the top surface of the moving table 3.
It is rotatably attached to the upper surface of the fixing base 2 at the front in the paper ejection direction by a support shaft. Further, both ends of the tension spring 15 are fixed to protrusions attached to the front end of the bottom surface of the fixed base 2 in the paper discharge direction and the rear end of the bottom surface of the movable base 3 in the paper discharge direction. Due to this fastening, the movable table 3 is urged in the paper ejection direction. The lever 14 is set to be removed from the recess 13 of the fixing base 2 when the transfer paper 1 urges the lever 14 in the paper ejection direction.

In such a configuration, when a large-sized transfer paper 1 is discharged from the image forming section 4, the transfer paper 1
The tip of the lever 14 urges the lever 14, and the claw of the lever 14, which was engaged with the recess 13 of the moving table 3, comes off, and the tension spring 15
The tension causes the movable table 3 to extend in the paper ejection direction. Therefore, for the transfer paper 1 which is large in size, the fixed base 2
Since the movable table 3 automatically extends in the paper discharge direction, the transfer paper 1 is prevented from falling and the transfer paper 1 is prevented from being bent.

[0016]

[Effects of the Invention] The invention as set forth in claim 1 provides a paper output tray that includes a fixed table on which transfer sheets discharged from an image forming section are sequentially placed, and a movable table that is telescopically held on the fixed table. , a transfer paper size detection means for detecting the size of the transfer paper is provided, and when the size of the transfer paper is detected by the transfer paper size detection means, the moving table is moved in a paper discharge direction according to the size of the transfer paper. Since a driving means for moving the paper is provided, when the size of the transfer paper is detected by the transfer paper size detection means, the drive means moves the moving stage in the paper ejection direction according to the size of the transfer paper, and the paper is ejected from the image forming section. To prevent the transfer paper from falling by automatically extending the moving table according to the size of the transfer paper when the transferred transfer paper is large in size, and also to prevent the transfer paper from being bent. It has effects such as being able to.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, further comprising a driving means for moving the moving base in a direction opposite to the paper discharge direction when the size of the transfer paper is not detected by the transfer paper size detection means. Therefore, when the size of the transfer paper is not detected by the transfer paper size detection means, the drive means moves the moving table in the opposite direction to the paper ejecting direction, and the moving table automatically retracts when no work is being performed, thereby making space effective. It has an effect that can be used.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing operation signals of the paper ejection tray when small-sized transfer paper is ejected.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing operation signals of the paper ejection tray when a large size transfer paper is ejected.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional paper ejection tray.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Transfer paper 2 Fixed base 3　　　　　　　Moving platform 4 Image forming section 7 Drive means 11 Transfer paper size detection means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a paper output tray that includes a fixed table on which transfer sheets discharged from an image forming section are sequentially placed and a movable table that is telescopically held on the fixed table, the size of the transfer paper is detected. A transfer paper size detecting means is provided, and a driving means is provided for moving the movable table in a paper discharge direction in accordance with the size of the transfer paper when the size of the transfer paper is detected by the transfer paper size detection means. A paper output tray featuring 2. The paper discharge tray according to claim 1, further comprising a drive means for moving the movable table in a direction opposite to the paper discharge direction when the size of the transfer paper is not detected by the paper size detection means. .