JPH0640192Y2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer.

[Prior art and its problems]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called paper discharge tray that receives a paper on which an image is formed is generally used in an image forming apparatus. The paper discharge tray is detachably provided so as to project from the apparatus main body. Further, due to the space limitation when installing the image forming apparatus or the operability, there are many cases where the paper ejection tray and the paper cassette insertion / removal opening are provided on the same end face.

In the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, since the insertion / removal opening of the paper cassette is formed under the paper discharge tray, the visibility of the paper discharge tray is obstructed when the paper cassette is replaced,
I had to dig in and out of the cassette. Therefore, the workability of replacing the paper cassette is poor, and the cassette and the insertion / removal opening are damaged.

[Purpose of device]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not hinder the insertion and removal of a paper cassette by moving the paper ejection tray in association with the insertion and removal of the paper cassette.

[Key points of device]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a paper sheet after an image forming process, which is discharged from a mounting opening for mounting a paper cassette accommodating paper and a paper discharging opening formed on the same surface as the mounting opening. In an image forming apparatus having a paper discharge tray provided under the discharge port for stacking paper sheets, the paper discharge tray is retracted from a state in which it projects from the surface in association with a detaching operation of the paper cassette. And a mechanism for returning the paper discharge tray from the retracted state to the protruding state in association with a mounting operation for mounting the paper cassette into the mounting opening.

[Embodiment of the Invention] Hereinafter, a printer which is an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the configuration of the printer.

In FIG. 1, the printer includes a charger 2 arranged around the photoconductor drum 1, an optical head 3 for performing image exposure on the photoconductor drum 1 according to recording information, and a static drum formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 1. A developing device 4 for developing the electrostatic latent image, a transfer device 5 for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 by the development onto the transfer paper 7 by corona discharge, etc., and removing untransferred toner on the photoconductor drum 1. A cleaner 6, a paper feed roller 9 for picking up and feeding the transfer papers 7 one by one from a paper cassette 8 in which a large number of transfer papers 7 are stacked, and a transfer paper in synchronization with a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. Standby roll 10 for transporting 7, fixing roll 11 for heating and fixing the toner image on the transferred transfer paper, discharge roll 12 for discharging the transfer paper on which the image is copied, and discharge paper for receiving the discharged transfer paper Constructed from tray 13 etc. It is.

Further, the paper discharge tray 13 is supported by the shaft 14 so as to be semi-rotatably supported by the main body of the apparatus.
When used as a paper discharge tray, it is caught by the locking tool 15 provided on the side of the apparatus body and stopped at the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line.
It is locked by a stopper (not shown) and is in the position shown by the solid line. The locking tool 15 may be a simple one such as a magnet or a hook. This is because the rotation moment toward the opening direction is extremely small when the discharge tray is set up substantially vertically.

The operation of the printer configured as above will be described.

The surface of the photoconductor drum 1 is charged by a charger 2 that uniformly charges electrostatic charges by corona discharge or the like. The photosensitive drum 1 charged with a uniform electrostatic charge is image-exposed by an optical head that irradiates light according to recording information from the outside to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image thus formed is toner-developed by the developing device 4 to be visualized.
On the other hand, a large number of transfer papers 7 stacked in the paper cassette 8 are conveyed in synchronization with the image on the photosensitive drum 1, and the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper 7 by the transfer device 5. The transfer paper 7 on which the toner image is transferred is fixed on the guide plate by the fixing roll 11
It is fixed by being conveyed to a position and being pressed there by a heated roll pair. Transfer paper 7 with the toner image fixed
Is discharged to the outside of the machine through the discharge roller 12.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an essential part showing the paper cassette 8. In the figure, protrusions are provided on both side edges of the upper surface of the paper cassette 8.
8a is provided upright, and the protrusion 8a has an engagement plate 16 to be described later.
An engaging pin 8b that engages with is provided parallel to the bottom plate of the paper cassette 8. Then, the paper cassette 8 moves in the arrow direction and is attached to the apparatus main body.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are operation state diagrams showing the rotating mechanism of the paper discharge tray 13. In the figure, engaging plates 16 are fixedly attached to the shafts 14 at both ends of the paper discharge tray 13 indicated by broken lines, and rotate integrally with the paper discharge tray 13 about the shaft 14. The engagement plate 16 has a substantially horseshoe shape and has two engagement arms.
It has 16a and 16b. The operation of the rotating mechanism configured as described above will be described.

In FIG. 3A, the paper cassette 8 is inserted into a mounting opening (not shown) of the printer body, and the engagement pin 8b provided upright on the paper cassette 8 contacts the engagement arm 16a of the engagement plate 16. Indicates the status. At this time, the discharge tray 13 is standing vertically,
It is locked by a locking tool 15 at the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. When the paper cassette 8 is further advanced in the direction of arrow B, as shown in FIG. 3B, the engagement arm 16a is further pushed, and when the engagement plate 16 rotates, the paper discharge tray 13 provided integrally therewith. Rotates in the direction of arrow C, and the copied paper is set so that it can be received. At this time, the paper cassette 8 is also set at the paper feed possible position of the printer.
As described above, in the printer of the present invention, the locking device 15
By mounting the paper cassette 8 on the paper discharge tray 13 which is locked at a position where it does not interfere, the paper can be automatically set at the paper receiving position and the efficiency of the printing operation can be improved.

Further, a case where the paper cassette 8 is replaced or removed will be described. In the case of replacement or removal, the above operation is executed in reverse. In this case, when the paper cassette 8 is pulled out by hand, the engagement arm 16b comes into contact with the engagement pin 8b, and by further pulling out, the engagement plate 16 rotates about the shaft 14 and is provided integrally with the engagement plate 16. The paper discharge tray 13 stands vertically and is locked by the locking tool 15. Further, contrary to this operation, first, the paper discharge tray 13 may be raised to be locked by the locking tool 15, and then the paper cassette 8 may be pulled out. In this case, since the paper cassette is pulled out by a predetermined amount when the paper discharge tray 13 is raised, the paper cassette 8 can be easily taken out. In the above embodiment, an example in which the engaging plates 16 are provided on both sides of the paper discharge tray has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same effect can be obtained even on one side.

[Effect of device]

As described in detail above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the ejection tray is set in association with the mounting operation of the paper cassette, and the ejection tray is retracted in association with the removal operation of the paper cassette. Therefore, the work of attaching and detaching the paper discharge tray is simplified and efficient. Further, since the discharge tray is retracted when the cassette is removed, it does not interfere with the movement or storage of the apparatus body. In addition, you will never forget to attach the output tray or lose it by removing it. Further, when the paper cassette is inserted or removed, the workability can be improved without blocking the view of the paper discharge tray.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the printer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main part of a paper cassette, and FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are explanatory views showing the operating state of the present invention. It is a figure. 1 ... Photosensitive drum, 2 ... Charging device, 3 ... Optical head, 4 ... Developing device, 5 ... Transfer device, 6 ... Cleaner, 7 ... Transfer paper, 8 ... Paper cassette, 8a ... … Protrusion, 8b …… Engagement pin, 9 …… Feeding roller, 10 …… Standing roll, 11 …… Fixing roll, 12 …… Discharging roll, 13 …… Discharging tray, 14 …… Axis, 15 …… Locking tool, 16 ... Engaging plate, 16a, 16b ... Engaging arm.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ejecting port for accommodating a sheet cassette for accommodating sheets and an ejecting port formed on the same surface as the attaching port for ejecting a sheet after the image forming process to eject the sheet. An image forming apparatus having a discharge tray provided at a lower portion of an outlet, in which a mechanism for storing the discharge tray in a retracted state from a state protruding from the surface in association with a detaching operation of the sheet cassette, An image forming apparatus comprising: a mechanism for returning the paper discharge tray from the retracted state to the projected state in association with a mounting operation of mounting a cassette in the mounting port.