JPH0585662A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To discharge the transfer paper recorded with an image while the image face is selected upward or downward and a number of sheets are separated by a sorter. CONSTITUTION:A sorter 50 is constituted of surface/back-reversible bins 53A-53F, forward/backward-reversible paper discharge rollers 55A-55F, and prostratable guide plates 56A-56F, 57A-57F, the surface or back of the bins 53A-53F and the rotation direction of the paper discharge rollers 55a-55F are selected according to the direction of the image recorded on the transfer paper P to be discharged, the guide plates 56A-56F, 57A-57F are erected or prostrated according to the number of copies, thus the transfer paper P is aligned in the order of pages and discharged on the bins 55A-55F.

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 capable of discharging a transfer sheet by selectively switching the image side of a transfer sheet between the front and back.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a transfer paper on which an image is recorded is often discharged to a discharge tray outside the apparatus in a so-called face-up state with the image side facing up. It is said that it is convenient for

However, with a laser type image forming apparatus,
Since it is not necessary to check the image tone each time when a FAX image is recorded, it may be better to eject the image surface downward so that the originals are arranged in page order.

For such a purpose of use, an image forming apparatus has been provided in which the image surface of the transfer paper can be arbitrarily selected to be directed upward or downward and discharged.

[0005]

However, in an image forming apparatus that sorts and discharges the transfer paper in a sorter, it is very complicated in structure to discharge the transfer paper by changing the direction of the transfer paper onto the bin of the sorter. Since it is difficult to realize, it has not been provided yet.

The proposal according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-130355 is
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of double-sided copying, and when images are formed on both sides, the first image surface is consequently discharged in a downward state, which does not serve the above-mentioned purpose.

As a result of solving and improving this point, the present invention provides
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with a sorter which has an extremely simple structure and can select and discharge an image surface of a transfer paper in an arbitrary direction.

[0008]

In the image forming apparatus provided with a sorter that sorts and discharges a transfer sheet on which an image is recorded according to a copy order, a plurality of bins constituting the sorter can be inverted. This is achieved by an image forming apparatus characterized in that the transfer paper is discharged onto the bin by selecting the image surface upward or downward.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an example of a color image forming apparatus according to the present invention. This image forming apparatus comprises an image reading system A, a laser writing system B, an image forming section C and the like.

An original table made of a transparent glass plate or the like is provided above the image forming apparatus, and an original document D placed on the original table.
There is a document placing section 11 composed of a document cover or the like for covering the first mirror unit in the main body of the apparatus below the document table.
12, second mirror unit 13, main lens 20, color CCD 23
An image reading system A including the above is provided. The first mirror unit 12 is provided with an exposure lamp 14 and a first mirror 15 and is mounted parallel to the document table and linearly movable in the horizontal direction of the drawing, and optically scans the entire surface of the document D. The second mirror unit 13 integrally includes a second mirror 16 and a third mirror 17, and linearly moves in the same direction in the left and right directions at a speed of 1/2 of that of the first mirror unit 12 so as to always maintain a predetermined optical path length. Of course, the movement of the second mirror unit 13 is the same as that of the first
Similar to the mirror unit 12, it is parallel to the document table.
Document D on a document table illuminated by the exposure lamp 14
Image of the first mirror 15 and the second mirror 1 by the main lens 20.
6. The image is formed on the color CCD 23 through the third mirror 17. After scanning, the first mirror unit 12
And the second mirror unit 13 returns to the original position and stands by until the next copy.

The image data of each color obtained by the color CCD 23 is image-processed and output from the laser writing system B as an image signal.

The image forming section C includes a charger 35, an image exposing section 55, developing units 36Y, 36M, 36C and 36BK, a transfer unit 37, and a separator, which are arranged around the periphery of the photosensitive drum 30 which is an image forming body. 38, a cleaning device 39, a paper feed cassette 40 arranged near the photosensitive drum 30, a conveyor belt 44, and the fixing device according to the present invention.
It consists of 45.

The developing devices 36Y, 36M, 36C and 36BK are provided with a developing device 36Y at the most upstream part of the peripheral edge of the photosensitive drum 30 and a developing device 36BK containing black toner BK at the most downstream part. Well-known color toners and black toners BK contained in the developing units 36Y, 36M, 36C, and 36BK are used, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

When the copy button is pressed, the processes of the image reading system A, the laser writing system B and the image forming section C described above are activated to form a color copy image. That is, when the image signal from the image reading system A is input to the writing system B including the drive motor 31, the polygon mirror 32, and the semiconductor laser, the fθ lens, the correction lens and the like (not shown) under the control of the CPU of the control unit, a copy is made. Start operation. That is, the photosensitive drum 30 rotates clockwise as shown by the arrow, and the charger
35, the yellow (Y) image corresponding to the image of the original D is written by the laser beam by the laser writing system B, and an electrostatic latent image of the Y image is formed. It The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 30 is subjected to reversal development with Y toner by the developing device 36Y to become a visible Y toner image. That is, the developing device 36
A DC or even AC bias voltage is applied to the developing sleeve containing the Y magnet roll, and non-contact development is performed with a two-component developer that is a developing means to form a Y toner image. The photosensitive drum 30 on which this Y toner image is formed passes under the retracted cleaning device 39,
Subsequently, charging by the charger 35 and laser beam writing of a magenta (M) image by the laser writing system B are performed, and the Y
An electrostatic latent image of a magenta (M) image is formed on the toner image. This latent image is a developing device 36M containing magenta toner.
Is reversely developed to form an M toner image. Subsequently, a cyan (C) toner image and a black (BK) toner image are similarly formed in an overlapping manner.

When the document D is a monochrome image, the developing unit 36
Only BK operates to form a toner image of only black toner BK.

Next, the transfer paper P fed by the paper feed roller 41 one by one from the paper feed cassette 40 containing the transfer paper P which is the transfer material is synchronized with the toner image on the photosensitive drum 30. It is delivered onto the photoconductor drum 30 by an operating timing roller 42. The toner image on the photoconductor drum 30 is transferred to the transfer paper P by the action of the transfer device 37.
After being separated from the photosensitive drum 30 by the separator 38, the toner image is sent to the fixing device 45 via the conveyor belt 44 with the toner image facing upward.

The transfer paper P sent to the fixing device 45 is heated from both sides in a nip portion formed by a heating belt 45B that winds around the heating roller 45A and a pressure roller 45C that is in pressure contact with the heating belt 45B, and melts the toner image. After that, by controlling the cooling speed by the upper and lower fans F, the image is fixed as a glossy image.

The transfer sheet P which has been subjected to the fixing action in the fixing device 45 is discharged to the sheet discharging section through the sheet discharging roller 46, while the photosensitive drum 30 continues to rotate and remains on the surface without being transferred. The toner thus collected is collected and cleaned by the cleaning device 39 having the cleaning blade 39A, etc., of which the evacuation has been released, and stands by for the next copy.

The transfer paper P discharged to the paper discharge section is placed in order to sort the transfer paper in rows in parallel with the upper part of the apparatus through the respective conveying rollers 47, 48 and 49 arranged in the vertical direction. Delivered to 50.

FIG. 1 shows the details of the structure of the sorter 50. Reference numeral 51 denotes a conveyor belt stretched between a driving roller 52B and a driven roller 52A, which is driven by the power of the driving roller 52A rotating clockwise. It is always circulated in the clockwise direction and conveyed.

The conveyor belt 51 is composed of, for example, three belts having a limited width as shown in FIG.
They are arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance.

Reference numerals 53A to 53F are bins for storing the transfer paper P, and the lower end portions of the bins are connected to the rotation shafts of the gears 54A to 54F on both outer sides of the conveyor belt 51, and the gears 54A to 54F are connected. By the clockwise rotation, the positions shown by the solid lines are rotated to the positions shown by the one-dot chain line.

The gears 54A to 54F are simultaneously rotated by the horizontal movement of the rack plate 58 meshing with the gears 54A to 54F to determine the positions of the bins.

55A to 55F are discharge rollers which can be switched between forward and reverse, and 56A to 56F and 57A to 57F.
Are guide plates that are rotatable from the position indicated by the broken line to the position indicated by the solid line or the alternate long and short dash line, respectively, as shown by the arrows.

FIG. 2 shows the above-mentioned transport belt 51, the discharge rollers 55A, the guide plates 56A and the bins 53A for the bin 53A.
It shows each positional relationship with 57A.

Next, the paper discharging action of the transfer paper P with respect to the sorter 50 will be described.

When the discharge mode (A) of the transfer sheet P with the image surface facing upward is selected by the operation of the operation panel (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body, the conveyor belt 51 starts rotating, At the same time, the respective discharge rollers 55A to 55F are simultaneously rotated in the normal direction, that is, start rotating clockwise, while the rack plate 58 is kept in a state in which a drive member of the rack plate, for example, a motor (not shown) is OFF. Depending on each bottle 53A to 53
Both F are held at the positions indicated by the solid line.

When the first transfer sheet P having the image of the first page recorded thereon is conveyed by the conveyor belt 51 and the leading edge thereof is detected by the photosensor PS, the guide plate
56A is erected at the angle shown by the solid line by the operation of the solenoid, and guides the transfer paper P to its peripheral surface so as to turn its direction and follow the rotational direction of the paper discharge roller 55A.

Therefore, the transfer paper P is pressed against the peripheral surface of the paper discharge roller 55A and is conveyed upward by the frictional force of the transfer roller 55A so that the image surface is directed upward by its own weight and the surface of the bin 53A (right side surface when viewed from the front of FIG. ) And stored in the recording paper receiver 531A
(... 531F).

The guide plate 56A detects a trailing edge of the transfer sheet P of the first page by the photosensor PS, and a predetermined time T ₁ (while the transfer of the first transfer sheet P from the discharge roller 55A is completed. ), The guide plate 56A becomes O of the solenoid.
The FF returns to the position shown by the broken line again.

An interval 1 (time interval Δt) between the front end of the second transfer paper P on which the image of the first page is recorded next to the first transfer paper P and the rear end of the first transfer paper P is formed by the image forming sequence. with upright said guide plate 56B and is detected by the photo sensor PS, end detection after a predetermined time T ₂ to the trailing edge of transfer sheet P in the second sheet discharging the transfer sheet P to the bottle 53B by the aforementioned same action Then, the guide plate 56 is similarly returned. The predetermined time T (T ₁ , T _2, ...) Has different values depending on the length of the transfer material. The transfer time t from the front end to the rear end of the transfer material detected by the photosensor PS and the rear end of the transfer material. Is detected, the time is set differently depending on the position of the bin where the transfer material is transferred and discharged. (T = t + t ').

Thus, when the remaining number of the transfer sheets P of the first page have been sequentially discharged onto each bin, the discharge of the transfer sheets P of the second and subsequent pages is repeated continuously, and as a result, the transfer sheets P are discharged.
Can be ejected after being sorted by the required number of copies with the image surface facing upward.

On the other hand, when the paper discharge mode (B) with the image surface facing downward is selected, the paper discharge rollers 55A to 55F start reverse rotation, that is, counterclockwise rotation, when the conveyance of the conveyor belt 51 starts. When the rack plate drive motor (not shown) is turned on, the rack plate 58 slides to the left to rotate each of the bins 53A to 53F to the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line.

As in the case of the paper discharge mode (A), when the first transfer sheet P on which the image of the first page is recorded is conveyed by the conveyor belt 51 and detected by the photosensor PS, the guide plate 57A is used. Is erected at the angle indicated by the alternate long and short dash line by the operation of the solenoid, and guides the transfer paper P to its peripheral surface by turning its direction and following the rotational direction (counterclockwise direction) of the paper discharge roller 55A.

Therefore, the transfer sheet P is pressed against the peripheral surface of the discharge roller 55A and is conveyed upward by the frictional force thereof so that the image surface is directed downward by its own weight and the rear surface of the bin 53A (the left side surface of the plate when viewed from the front of the figure) ) And stored.

With respect to the second and subsequent transfer sheets P on which the image of the first page is recorded and the second and subsequent page transfer sheets P, the same process as in the discharge mode (A) described above is performed for each bin. Paper is discharged to the back.

As a result, since the image surface of the transfer paper P is discharged downward, the transfer paper P is discharged in a required number of copies in a state where the page order matches the page order of the original.

As described above, when image processing is performed by the image forming process of FIG.
The paper discharge mode (B) may be automatically set when image processing is performed by an external communication function (not shown).

[0040]

According to the present invention, the transfer paper on which an image is recorded can be selected by the sorter with the image surface facing upward or downward by a very simple mechanism, and the pages can be ejected in a uniform page order for each copy. An image forming apparatus is provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a sorter included in an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the sorter.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A image reading system B laser writing system C image forming section D document P transfer paper 47, 48, 49 transport roller 50 sorter 51 transport belt 53A to 53F bin 54A to 54F gear 55A to 55F paper discharge roller PS photo sensor 56A to 56F, 57A-57F Guide plate

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hisao Sato 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji City, Tokyo Konica Stock Company

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus equipped with a sorter for sorting and ejecting a transfer sheet on which an image is recorded according to a copy order, wherein a plurality of bins constituting the sorter can be reversed.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the transfer paper is discharged onto the bin by selecting the image surface upward or downward.