JPH05147806A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the operation for sorting paper sheets where image information is recorded by moving a paper feed cassette in the directions intersecting perpendicularly to the supply direction alternately at the time of supplying a paper sheet. CONSTITUTION:An inner cassette 31 is moved to reciprocate in the directions Y, Z intersecting perpendicularly to the direction X of supplying a paper sheet P repeatedly by a moving means 40 on every receiving so as to displace the discharge position of a paper sheet P discharged on a paper discharge tray 11 in the direction intersecting perpendicularly to the discharge direction of the paper sheet P inresponse to the movement of the inner cassette 31. Thus, paper sheets on which image information is recorded are distributed to the right and left on every receiving, so that even if the paper sheets discharged by receiving plural times are left as they are, the discharged paper sheets can be easily sorted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile and a small copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile, when receiving image information from a destination, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive drum based on the received image information, and the image is transmitted from the destination. It is configured to provide information to the user.

[0003]

Generally, a facsimile is powered on so that it can be received day and night. By the way, when the user is absent at night or the like, and when the information from a large number of the other parties is transmitted one after another, a large amount of sheets on which the image information is transferred are accumulated in the sheet discharge tray. Therefore, the sorting work for each reception performed by the user in the next morning or the like is complicated.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that facilitates the work of sorting a sheet on which image information is recorded according to the type of information.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a paper feed cassette for feeding paper to an image forming section, wherein the paper feed cassette is set in a paper feeding direction when the paper is fed. The moving means is provided for moving in a direction orthogonal to.

[0006]

In the above means for solving problems, the paper feed cassette is
When the paper is supplied, the moving means moves the paper in the direction perpendicular to the paper supply direction. Therefore, the paper ejection position of the paper ejected outside the apparatus corresponds to the movement of the paper feeding cassette in a direction orthogonal to the paper ejection direction. Can be displaced.

Therefore, in the case of use in a facsimile, for example, if the position of the paper feed cassette is alternately moved to the opposite side for each reception, the work of sorting the recording paper for each reception becomes easy. Further, even in a small-sized copying machine, if the user moves the paper feeding cassette at a desired timing, it becomes easy to sort the copied sheets.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 by taking a facsimile forming an image by an electrophotographic system as an example. First, the structure of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the sectional view showing the schematic configuration of FIG.

In FIG. 4, 1 is the main body of the apparatus, 2 is an original placing table on which an original is placed, 3 is information of the original placed on the original placing table 2 at the time of transmission, is transmitted to the other party of reading, and at the time of reception A transmission / reception unit for receiving an image signal from the other party, a laser scanning unit (hereinafter, referred to as LSU) 4 for outputting a laser beam according to the image signal received by the transmission / reception unit 3 at the time of reception, and a laser 5 for outputting from the LSU 4. An image forming unit that forms an image by light, 6 is a sheet feeding device that supplies a sheet to the image forming unit 5, 7 is a registration roller that adjusts the timing at which the sheet is supplied to the image forming unit 5, and 8 is an image forming unit 5. A fixing device having a fixing roller 8a for fixing the formed image, 9 is a conveying device for conveying the paper on which the image is transferred in the image forming section 5 to the fixing device 8, and 10 is a fixing device 8 for the discharge tray 11. Eject the paper on which the image is fixed That is a sheet discharge roller.

The image forming section 5 includes a photosensitive drum 20 which is exposed by a laser beam output from the LSU 4 to form an electrostatic latent image, a main charger 21 which charges the photosensitive drum 20 with a predetermined voltage, and a photosensitive drum. The developing device 22 that visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the body drum 20, the transfer charger 23 that transfers the toner image on the photoconductor drum 20 onto the paper supplied from the paper feeding device 6, and the toner from the photoconductor drum 20 A peeling charger 24 that peels off the sheet on which the image is transferred, and a cleaner 25 that removes the residual toner on the photoconductor drum 20.
Further, a charge eliminating lamp 26 for removing the residual charge on the photosensitive drum 20 is provided. The main charging charger 21, the developing device 22, the transfer charger 23, the peeling charger 24, the cleaner 25, and the charge eliminating lamp 26 are sequentially arranged along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 20.

Next, the construction of the sheet feeding device 6 which is the main part of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the structure of the sheet feeding device, and FIG. 2 is the same as FIG.
FIG. The sheet feeding device 6 is arranged at the bottom of the apparatus main body 1 (see FIG. 4), and the outer cassette 30 is detachably mounted in the apparatus main body 1 and the paper is set inside the outer cassette 30 to set the sheets. In order to guide the inner cassette 31 and the paper P set in the inner cassette 31 to the registration roller 7 through the paper feed path 32 (see FIG. 4), the roller shaft 3
2a and a pair of paper feed rollers 32 that can rotate integrally. One end of the roller shaft 32a is the inner cassette 31.
Is rotatably supported by the inner cassette 31 through
A main motor (not shown) is provided at one end of the roller shaft 32a.
The feed drive gear 3 that meshes with the drive connection gear 33 that is connected to
4 is fitted. Further, the sheet feeding device 6 is provided with moving means 40 for reciprocating the inner cassette 31 in the directions Y and Z orthogonal to the feeding direction X of the sheet P when feeding the sheet. The drive connection gear 33 is configured to feed the feed roller gear 3 to the paper feed roller 32 even when the paper feed roller 32 moves along with the movement of the inner cassette 31 in the Y and Z directions.
It is formed wide so that the driving force can be transmitted via 4.

The moving means 40 moves the inner cassette 31 into the paper P.
And a cassette moving motor (stepping motor) 41 that can be rotated forward and backward in order to reciprocate in directions Y and Z that are orthogonal to the supply direction X of the cassette.
The pinion shaft 42 connected to the first pinion 43, the pair of pinions 43 fitted to the pinion shaft 42 so as to be integrally rotatable, and the pinion 43 fixed to the bottom surface of the inner cassette 31 meshes the inner cassette 31 with Y, Z. It is composed of a pair of racks 44 that move in the direction. And the inner cassette 31
2 is normally located at the central position C in FIG. 2, and when the inner cassette moving motor 41 is normally rotated, it moves in the Y direction to the left position L.
When is reversed, it moves in the Z direction and is positioned at the right position R. Note that the rotation of the cassette moving motor 41 is as shown in FIG.
It is controlled by the control unit 50 shown in.

The electrical construction of the above facsimile will now be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 50 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, a data RAM, and a program ROM, and controls the operation of the device according to a pre-cram stored in the ROM in advance. And the control unit 5
The transmitter / receiver 3, the LSU 4 and the inner cassette moving motor 41 are connected to 0, count the number of times of reception of the transmitter / receiver 3, and based on the received signal of the transmitter / receiver 3, the LSU 4
And the drive of the inner cassette moving motor 41 is controlled.

In the above structure, when the transmitting / receiving unit 3 receives the image signal from the other party for the first time, the control unit 50 performs signal processing on the received signal from the transmitting / receiving unit 3 and outputs the image signal received by the transmitting / receiving unit 3. Output to LSU4. Then L
The SU 4 outputs laser light according to the image signal and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 20. Next, the developing device 2
By 2, the toner is supplied onto the photosensitive drum 20, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized by the toner. In synchronism with this operation, the sheet is supplied by the sheet feeding device 6, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 20 is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer charger 23. Then, the paper on which the toner image is transferred is
The separation charger 24 separates the photosensitive drum 20 from the photosensitive drum 20 and sends it to the fixing device 8. After the transfer image is fixed, the discharge roller 10 discharges the transferred image onto the discharge tray 11. At this time,
The inner cassette 31 in which the paper P of the paper feeding device 6 is set is
As shown in FIG. 2, since it is at the central position C, the discharge tray 1
The paper ejection position of the paper P ejected on the first sheet is the central position C1 shown in FIG.

When the transmitter / receiver 3 receives the second image signal from the other party, the controller 50 controls the LSU 4 as described above.
At the same time, the motor 41 for moving the inner cassette of the moving means 40 is normally rotated based on the received signal from the transmitting / receiving unit 3. Then, the pinion 43 rotates forward, the rack 44 meshing with the pinion 43 is pushed by the rotational force of the pinion 43, and the inner cassette 31 moves in the Y direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction X, as shown in FIG. It is located at the left position L. As a result, the paper discharge position of the paper P discharged onto the paper discharge tray 11 becomes the left position L1 shown in FIG.

When the transmitter / receiver 3 receives the image signal from the third party for the third time, the controller 50 drives the LSU 4 and at the same time reverses the inner cassette moving motor 41 based on the received signal from the transmitter / receiver 3. Let Then, the pinion 43 reversely rotates, the rack 44 meshing with the pinion 43 is pulled by the rotational force of the pinion 43, the inner cassette 31 moves in the Z direction orthogonal to the feeding direction X of the paper P, and the center shown in FIG. Located at position C. This allows
The paper discharge position of the paper P discharged onto the paper discharge tray 11 is the central position C1 shown in FIG.

When the transmitter / receiver 3 receives the image signal from the other party for the fourth time, the controller 50 drives the LSU 4 and, at the same time, further drives the inner cassette moving motor 41 based on the received signal from the transmitter / receiver 3. Reverse. Then, the pinion 43 further reverses, the rack 44 meshing with the pinion 43 is pulled by the rotational force of the pinion 43, the inner cassette 31 further moves in the Z direction, and is positioned at the right position R shown in FIG. As a result, the paper discharge position of the paper P discharged onto the paper discharge tray 11 becomes the right position R1 shown in FIG.

When the transmitter / receiver 3 receives the image signal from the other party for the fifth time, the controller 50 drives the LSU 4 and at the same time drives the inner cassette moving motor 41 based on the received signal from the transmitter / receiver 3. Turn over. Then, the pinion 43 further rotates in the normal direction, the rack 44 meshing with the pinion 43 is pushed by the rotational force of the pinion 43, the inner cassette 31 moves in the Y direction, and the central position C shown in FIG.
Located in. As a result, the paper discharge position of the paper P discharged onto the paper discharge tray 11 becomes the central position C1 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the above operation is repeated for each reception.

As described above, since the inner cassette 31 is reciprocally moved in the directions Y and Z orthogonal to the feeding direction X of the paper P by the moving means 40 every time the paper is received, the paper discharge tray 11
The paper discharge position of the paper P discharged above can be displaced in a direction orthogonal to the discharge direction of the paper P corresponding to the movement of the inner cassette 31. Therefore, the paper on which the image information is recorded is distributed to the left and right for each reception and is ejected. Therefore, even if the paper ejected by multiple receptions is left unattended, it is easy to sort the ejected paper. Becomes

A selection button may be provided for selecting whether to feed the sheet at the central position C or to sort and feed the sheet in the Y and Z directions. Next, a second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the configuration of the paper feeding device according to the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a moving state of the inner cassette.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
, A pair of eccentric cams 61 are fitted to the output shaft 60 of the inner cassette moving motor 41 so as to be integrally rotatable.
A pair of guide rails 62 for guiding the inner cassette 31 to be reciprocally movable in the directions Y and Z orthogonal to the paper feeding direction X of the paper P are provided at the bottom portion of the inner cassette 31, and between the left end portion of the inner cassette 31 and the outer cassette 30. A pair of urging springs 63 for urging the inner cassette 31 in the Z direction are interposed between the eccentric cam 61 and the right end portion of the inner cassette 31 so that the inner cassette 31 is fed in the feeding direction X of the paper P. It is configured to reciprocate in directions Y and Z orthogonal to the above, and other configurations and image forming operations are similar to those of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the eccentric cam 61 has a center dead center a for locating the inner cassette 31 at the central position C, and the inner cassette 3.
1 has a top dead center b for moving 1 from the central position C in the Y direction to the left position L, and a bottom dead center c for moving the inner cassette 31 from the central position C in the Z direction to the right position R. is doing. In the above configuration, when the transmitting / receiving unit 3 receives the first image signal from the partner, the moving unit 4
Since the center dead center a of the eccentric cam 61 of 0 is in contact with the inner cassette 31, the inner cassette 31 on which the paper P of the paper feeding device 6 is set is at the central position C as shown in FIG. The paper discharge position of the paper P discharged onto the paper discharge tray 11 is shown in FIG.
The center position C1 shown in FIG.

When the transmission / reception unit 3 receives the image signal from the other party for the second time, the control unit 50 causes the inner cassette moving motor 41 of the moving means 40 to rotate normally based on the received signal from the transmission / reception unit 3. Then, the eccentric cam 61 rotates normally, the top dead center b of the eccentric cam 61 comes into contact with the inner cassette 31, the inner cassette 31 moves in the Y direction orthogonal to the feeding direction X of the sheet P, and the left side shown in FIG. Located at position L. As a result, the paper discharge position of the paper P discharged onto the paper discharge tray 11 becomes the left position L1 shown in FIG.

When the transmitter / receiver 3 receives the image signal from the other party for the third time, the controller 50 reverses the inner cassette moving motor 41 based on the received signal from the transmitter / receiver 3. Then, the eccentric cam 61 reversely rotates, and the eccentric cam 61
The inner dead point a comes into contact with the inner cassette 31 and the inner cassette 31
6 moves in the Z direction orthogonal to the feeding direction X of the paper P, and FIG.
It is located at the central position C shown in. As a result, the paper discharge position of the paper P discharged onto the paper discharge tray 11 becomes the central position C1 shown in FIG.

When the transmission / reception unit 3 receives the image signal from the other party for the fourth time, the control unit 50 further reverses the inner cassette moving motor 41 based on the reception signal from the transmission / reception unit 3. Then, the eccentric cam 61 is further reversed,
The bottom dead center c of the eccentric cam 61 comes into contact with the inner cassette 31, the inner cassette 31 further moves in the Z direction, and is positioned at the right position R shown in FIG. As a result, the paper discharge position of the paper P discharged onto the paper discharge tray 11 becomes the right position R1 shown in FIG.

When the transmitting / receiving unit 3 receives the image signal from the other party for the fifth time, the control unit 50 causes the inner cassette moving motor 41 to rotate normally based on the received signal from the transmitting / receiving unit 3. Then, the eccentric cam 61 rotates forward, and the eccentric cam 61
The inner dead point a comes into contact with the inner cassette 31 and the inner cassette 31
Moves in the Y direction and is located at the central position C shown in FIG.
As a result, the paper discharge position of the paper P discharged onto the paper discharge tray 11 becomes the central position C1 shown in FIG.

Therefore, even with the configuration of this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and many modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example,
In the above-described embodiment, the moving means 40 has a structure in which the paper feed cassette is moved by using a gear mechanism or a cam mechanism. However, in addition to this, the moving means 40 is
Any structure may be used as long as the paper feed cassette is moved in the direction orthogonal to the paper supply direction when the paper is supplied. For example, as shown in FIGS.
Is provided with a pair of driven pulleys 72 which are integrally rotatably fitted to a gear shaft 70a of a drive gear 70 meshed with a motor gear 41a of a cassette moving motor 41 and which is driven by the drive pulley 71. , Drive pulley 7
1. Wrap an endless pulley belt 73 between the driven pulley 72, and further attach a paper feed cassette 75 to the pulley belt 73 via a locking piece 74 to rotate the pulleys 71, 72 and the pulley belt 73. Paper cassette 7
A configuration in which the sheet 5 is reciprocally moved in the directions Y and Z orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction X is conceivable. In this case, a single paper feed cassette is sufficient. 7. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the configuration of the paper feeding device according to the modified example of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a side view taken along the arrow D in FIG.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a facsimile using a cut sheet, an ink jet type or a thermal transfer type, or a small copying machine.
When the present invention is applied to a small-sized copying machine, the paper is Y, Z
A selection button for feeding in the direction is provided. For example, if the number of originals is 5, the number of originals is input with a ten-key or the like, and the paper feed cassette is moved in the Y and Z directions for each number of originals to supply the paper. It may be configured to distribute.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the paper feeding cassette is moved in the direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction by the moving means at the time of feeding the paper. The paper discharge position can be displaced in the direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction in accordance with the movement of the paper feed cassette.

Therefore, there is an excellent effect that the work of sorting the paper on which the image information is recorded becomes easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a configuration of a sheet feeding device according to an image forming apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the configuration of a sheet feeding device according to the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a moving state of an inner cassette.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a configuration of a paper feeding device according to a modified example of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view taken along the arrow D in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 outer cassette 31 inner cassette 40 moving means

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical indication location H04N 1/00 108 L 4226-5C (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Yamaguchi 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Issue Mita Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus provided with a paper feed cassette for feeding paper to an image forming unit, wherein a moving means for moving the paper feed cassette in a direction orthogonal to a paper feed direction at the time of paper feed. An image forming apparatus characterized by being provided.