JPH10109803A - Discharging guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To guide a recording medium properly and prevent it from having interference with the insertion work of the recording medium. SOLUTION: The third lever shafts 42 of respective individual guide devices 30 are jointed by a jointing plate 44, and one end of a wire 45 is fixed at one end part of the jointing plate 44. The other end of the wire 45 is fixed at a pulley 47 mounted on a guide motor 46. When a guide motor 46 is turned clockwise, facing a paper face, the jointing plate 44 moves in the direction of an arrowhead G, coil spring 43 extends, and a guide member 31 extends in the direction of an arrowhead C. When the guide motor 46 is turned counter-clockwise, facing the paper surface, the jointing plate 44 moves in the opposite direction to an arrowhead G by the spring force of the coil spring 43, and a guide member 31 is stored in the individual guide device 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has an insertion slot into which a recording medium is inserted and an ejection slot from which the recording medium is ejected. The present invention relates to a discharge guide device for guiding a recording medium discharged from a discharge port in a predetermined direction in an image forming apparatus discharging in a predetermined direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an output device of a computer or a work station, an ink jet type image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by discharging ink and an electrophotographic type image forming apparatus are known. These apparatuses generally have an insertion slot into which a recording medium is inserted and an ejection slot from which the recording medium is ejected. An image is formed on the recording medium inserted through the insertion slot, and the recording medium is It is discharged in a predetermined direction from the discharge port. In some image forming apparatuses, the insertion port and the discharge port are located on the same side, and the discharge port is located above the insertion port.

In such an image forming apparatus, when an image is formed on a large-sized recording medium or a recording medium that is long in the recording medium conveyance direction, the recording medium is conveyed to the insertion slot while the recording medium is being conveyed to the insertion slot. The leading end on which an image is formed is discharged from the outlet and hangs down, and the sagging tip rides on the recording medium being conveyed to the insertion opening, is inserted again from the insertion opening, and is guided to the recording medium transport path. . In this case, not only is the recording medium on which the image is formed wasted,
You have to deal with difficult and complicated jam handling.

As a measure to prevent such troubles, the discharge port is arranged so as to extend toward the front side of the insertion port, and even if the leading end of the recording medium discharged from the discharge port hangs, the drooping portion is not removed. There is known a technique for preventing the inserted recording medium from being touched. Further, a plurality of auxiliary guides extending toward the near side from the insertion port are provided at the discharge port so that even if the recording medium discharged from the discharge port hangs, the hanging portion does not touch the inserted recording medium. Is also known.

[0005]

However, in the former technique of the two techniques described above, the discharge port is disposed so as to extend to the near side from the insertion port located below the discharge port.
The upper part is larger than the lower part in the image forming apparatus, and the whole apparatus becomes unstable. In addition, since the discharge port protrudes above the insertion port, there is a problem that the recording medium is difficult to see or difficult to insert when the recording medium is inserted from the insertion port.

Further, in the latter technique of the above two techniques, since the auxiliary guide protrudes above the insertion slot, a convex portion is formed partially, so that the recording is performed similarly to the former technique. Insertion of the medium may be difficult. If the length of the auxiliary guide is shortened to reduce the protrusion in order to facilitate the insertion of the recording medium, the recording medium discharged from the discharge port may hang down, and the hanged portion may be inserted again from the insertion port. There is.

Further, it is necessary to insert a roll paper or a long cut sheet to check the presence or absence of skew of the paper before forming an image, and if there is skew, the operator needs to perform an operation of adjusting the position of the end of the paper. However, if there is a protrusion by the above auxiliary guide,
The work is difficult to do.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a discharge guide device that can appropriately guide a recording medium and does not hinder the insertion of the recording medium.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discharge guide device having an insertion slot into which a recording medium is inserted, and a discharge slot through which a recording medium is discharged. A discharge guide for guiding a recording medium discharged from the discharge port in the predetermined direction in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium inserted from the insertion port and discharges the recording medium in the predetermined direction from the discharge port. In the apparatus, (1) an individual guide device in which the guide member extending in the predetermined direction is stored. (2) the individual guide device is controlled so that the guide member extends in the predetermined direction at a predetermined timing or is stored back. It is characterized by comprising control means.

Here, the control means controls the individual guide device so that the guide member extends in the predetermined direction before an image is formed on the recording medium inserted from the insertion slot. It is preferred that

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discharge guide device having an insertion slot through which a recording medium is inserted and an ejection slot through which a recording medium is discharged. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the recording medium that has been ejected and discharges the recording medium in a predetermined direction from the discharge port, a discharge guide device that guides the recording medium discharged from the discharge port in the predetermined direction includes: 4) A plurality of guide members extending in the predetermined direction are housed side by side in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction, and at least one of the plurality of guide members is extended in the predetermined direction, so that the remaining guide members are also An individual guide device extending in a predetermined direction is provided.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a discharge guide device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a plotter provided with a discharge guide device of the present invention.

The plotter 1 is fixed to an upper part of a stand 2 with casters 2a. The plotter 1 includes an operation unit 3 for operating the plotter 1. By operating various switches and the like provided on the operation unit 3, paper size, online / offline, commands, and the like are instructed. You. The recording paper inserted into the recording medium insertion slot (an example of the insertion slot according to the present invention) 4 from the direction of arrow A is conveyed to the inside of the plotter 1 based on an instruction from the operation unit 3 to print an image. And is discharged from the discharge port 5.

Referring to FIG. 2, the recording paper transport path and the printing (image forming) process will be described.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the path from insertion to ejection of the recording paper by cutting out the plotter of FIG.

The plotter 1 can print on a sheet of recording paper (cut paper) inserted from the recording medium insertion slot 4 and on a recording paper (roll paper) 6 wound in a roll. Here, the transport path of the cut sheet inserted from the recording medium paper insertion slot 4 will be described.

On the cover 7 of the roll paper 6, the alignment member 7a
For example, a large-sized cut sheet is arranged and inserted into the recording medium insertion opening 4 in the direction of arrow A. The inserted cut paper passes between the cover 7 and the upper guide 8, passes through a paper transport roller 10a rotatably fixed to the transport roller support plate 9, and a driven roller 10b rotatably fixed to the roller support plate 11.
While being sandwiched between the two and the drive roller 12, the printing plate 14
Conveyed above. The cut sheet that has passed above the printing plate 14 is then sandwiched between the discharge roller 20 and a spur 22 located above the discharge roller 20, and is discharged from the discharge port 5 in the direction of arrow C (an example of a predetermined direction according to the present invention). Is discharged. In addition,
The spur 22 is rotatably fixed to the spur plate 21.

The plotter 1 has a carriage 16 which reciprocates in the direction of arrow B. This carriage 16
Is provided with a head holder 18.
8, four print heads 19 containing four types of color inks (for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) are mounted. The carriage 16 is fixed to a belt 17 hung on a drive motor (not shown), and the belt 17 reciprocates in the direction of arrow B by forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor. When the belt 17 reciprocates in the arrow B direction, the carriage 16 is also guided by the guide rail 24 and reciprocates in the arrow B direction.

The cut sheet is conveyed intermittently in a direction orthogonal to the direction of arrow B. In forming an image on a cut sheet, the cut sheet is temporarily stopped and the carriage 16 is stopped.
Is reciprocated in the direction of arrow B, ink is ejected based on the image information input to the print head 19, and an image for one band is formed on a portion of the cut sheet located in the image forming area. Thereafter, the cut sheet is conveyed by a predetermined length, and an image for the next band is formed in a portion newly located in the image forming area. This operation is repeated over the entire length of the cut sheet. As a result, a color image is formed on the cut sheet. The cut sheet on which the color image has been formed
It is discharged in the direction of arrow C from the discharge port 5 along the discharge guide 23 while being sandwiched between the zero and the spur 22. Discharge guide 2
Below 3, a discharge guide device 60 including a plurality of individual guide devices 30 is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the arrow C direction. The guide members 31 housed in the plurality of individual guide devices 30 extend in the direction of arrow C and guide the cut sheet discharged from the discharge port 5.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG.
The function of 0 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the plotter 1 showing a state of conveyance of the recording sheet when the discharge guide device 60 is not provided. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state of conveyance of the recording sheet when the discharge guide device 60 is used. FIG.

An image is formed on the recording medium 70 inserted into the recording medium insertion slot 4 in the direction of arrow A, and the recording medium 70
Is discharged from the discharge port 5 in the direction of arrow C. However, the leading end portion 70a of the recording medium 70 ejected from the ejection port 5 in the direction of arrow C curls downward by its own weight, hangs down in the direction of arrow D, and has the recording medium 7 before being inserted into the recording medium insertion port 4.
0 may be re-inserted into the recording medium insertion slot 4. In this case, as described above, the recording medium 70
Is not only wasted, but also becomes a complicated jam and difficult to process.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the recording medium 70 discharged from the discharge port 5 is guided to the front of the discharge port 5 using the guide member 31 extending in the direction of arrow C. Accordingly, even if the leading end portion 70 a of the recording medium 70 curls downward and hangs down, the recording medium 70 does not ride on the recording medium 70 before being inserted into the recording medium insertion port 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, although the number of the guide members 31 depends on the width of the recording medium 70, if the size of the recording medium 70 is A0 (width 840.0 mm), three to six guide members 31 are provided so Trouble at the time can be prevented.

The individual guide device 30 of the discharge guide device 60 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing the individual guide device 30. FIG. 5A shows a state where the guide member 31 is housed, and FIG. 5B shows a state where the guide member 31 is extended. .

The individual guide device 30 includes a guide substrate 32 on which components are arranged. A first guide member 33 through which a substantially U-shaped guide member 31 penetrates is fixed to the tip of the guide substrate 32. A guide plate 35 that slides in the direction of arrow E is provided on the guide substrate 32.
The rear end 31 a of the guide member 31 is fixed to the guide plate 35. A guide groove 35a is formed in the guide plate 35 along the longitudinal direction. A second guide guide member 34 fixed to the center of the guide substrate 32 is fitted into the guide groove 35a.
The guide plate 35 is guided by the guide guide member 34,
It is also stopped.

One end of the lever 38 is rotatably fixed to a first lever shaft 39 fixed to the guide board 32. One end of the lever 40 is rotatably fixed to a second lever shaft 41 fixed to the guide plate 35. On the other hand, the other ends of the levers 38 and 40 are rotatably fixed to a third lever shaft 42 movable on the guide substrate 32. One end of a coil spring 43 is connected to the third lever shaft 42, and the other end of the coil spring 43 is fixed to a fixed plate 32 a formed on the guide substrate 32. The third lever shaft 42 is urged in the direction of arrow F by the coil spring 43. When a force in the direction of extending the coil spring 43 is applied to the third lever shaft 42, the guide member 31
Extends forward (in the direction of arrow C, see FIG. 4), and the recording medium 70
Guide.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, plotter 1 (FIG. 1)
The discharge guide device 60 including five individual guide devices 30 arranged in the width direction (see FIG. 2) will be described.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the discharge guide device 60 in a state in which the guide member 31 is stored, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the discharge guide device 60 in a state where the guide member 31 is extended.

The third of each of the five individual guide devices 30
The lever shaft 42 is connected by a connecting plate 44 extending in the width direction of the plotter 1 (see FIG. 1). One end of a wire 45 is fixed to one end of the connecting plate 44. The other end of the wire 45 is connected to a pulley 47 attached to a guide motor 46.
It is fixed to. When a pulse motor is used as the guide motor 46, a predetermined value can be obtained by counting the number of pulses, so that the length of the guide member 31 extending forward can be determined based on the predetermined value. When the guide motor 46 is rotated clockwise toward the paper surface of FIG. 6, the connecting plate 44 moves in the direction of arrow G and the coil spring 43 extends, and as shown in FIG. Extend to. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, the recording medium 70 discharged from the discharge port 5 is guided forward of the discharge port 5, and even if the leading end 70a of the recording medium 70 curls downward by its own weight and hangs down, It does not ride on the recording medium 70 before being inserted into the recording medium insertion slot 4.

After the recording medium 70 is guided in front of the discharge port 5, when the guide motor 46 is rotated counterclockwise toward the paper surface of FIG. Moves in the direction opposite to the arrow G direction, and the guide member 31 is housed in the individual guide device 30 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the insertion slot 4 (see FIG. 2)
When a recording medium is inserted from above, it is easy to see and insert the recording medium. When a plurality of individual guide devices 30 are arranged, the coil spring 4
3 may be provided. In the above embodiment, the guide motor 46 and the coil spring 43 are used. However, when it is desired to use the guide member 31 at the discretion of the operator without using both, the guide member 31 of any one of the plurality of individual guide devices 30 is used. Is extended in the direction of arrow C, the remaining guide members 31 may also extend in the direction of arrow C.

Here, an example of the timing for driving the guide motor 46 will be described.

The signal to the guide motor 46 is given by using a normally used paper tip detecting means (an example of a control means according to the present invention) such as a photo interrupter and an arm. The signal from the paper leading end detecting means is transmitted to the guide motor 46, and the individual guide is extended so that the guide member extends in a predetermined direction before an image is formed on the recording medium 70 inserted from the insertion slot 4 (see FIG. 2). Control the device. As a result, the vibration when the guide member extends does not affect image formation, and the usability is further improved. In the case of a model capable of switching between a mode using cut paper such as fixed-size paper and a mode using roll paper, a specific mode (for example, the roll paper of this embodiment has a different paper feed path from If there is no possibility that the recording paper will be re-fed, the guide member 31 can be moved in and out based on a signal at the time of the mode using cut paper only). In the above-described embodiment, the guide member 31 is slid by sliding the guide plate 35. However, the guide member 31 may be rotated in and out.

Next, with reference to FIG. 8, a procedure for taking the guide member 31 in and out will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for taking the guide member 31 in and out.

The paper (recording paper) is inserted into the recording medium insertion port 4 (FIG. 1).
), The paper is automatically fed and fed (S1). When the leading end of the sheet being conveyed reaches the paper feed sensor (not shown) and this paper feed sensor is turned on (S2), the guide motor 46 (see FIG. 6) is driven, and is shown in FIG. The guide member 31 extends (S
3). A paper discharge sensor (not shown) arranged near the discharge guide 23 (see FIG. 2) depending on the paper being conveyed.
Is turned on (S4), the sheet is conveyed by 300 mm and stopped (S5). At this time, the leading end of the sheet has been ejected to a sufficient length to reach the recording medium insertion slot 4, but since the guide member 31 is extended, the leading end of the sheet is inserted into the recording medium insertion slot 4 and re-inserted. The problem that paper is fed does not occur.

After the sheet stops, the position of the end of the sheet is measured by a skew sensor (not shown) provided on the carriage 16 to determine whether the skew amount is within the standard (S).
6). If the skew amount is within the standard, the driving roller 12 (FIG. 2)
Reverse to return the leading edge of the paper to the printing position (S
7). The return amount is read by the rotation amount of the drive roller 12, and
When the leading edge of the sheet returns to the printing position, the conveyance is stopped, and printing is started (S8). When printing is completed (S9), the sheet is discharged (S10), the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the sheet discharge sensor, and the sheet discharge sensor is turned off (S11). After the paper discharge sensor is turned off, the guide member 31 is stored to prepare for the next set of paper to be printed (S12), and a series of image forming operations ends. When the operator inserts the next sheet from the recording medium insertion slot 4, the guide member 31 is housed and does not hinder the insertion operation.

When the skew amount is determined to be out of the standard in S6, a warning is issued to the operator to urge the correction of the skew amount, and the guide member 31 is stored (S13). The operator separates the paper transport roller 10a and the driven roller 10b from the drive roller 12, and corrects the skew of the paper (S14).
At the time of this correction, since the guide member 31 is stored, it does not hinder the correction operation. When the operator finishes the correction work and causes the drive roller 12 to press the paper transport roller 10a and the driven roller 10b, the end of the correction work is detected by a sensor (not shown) such as a microswitch (S15). Thereafter, the drive roller 12 is rotated in the reverse direction to return the leading end of the sheet to the sheet feed sensor position (S16), and the preparation process before printing the sheet is performed again.

As described above, even if the leading edge of the sheet is ejected to a sufficient length to reach the recording medium insertion slot 4, the leading end of the sheet is inserted into the recording medium insertion slot 4 because the guide member 31 is extended. There is no problem that the sheet is fed and re-fed. In addition, when the operator inserts the next sheet from the recording medium insertion slot 4, the guide member 31 is housed and does not hinder the insertion operation. Further, when correcting the skew of the sheet, the guide member 31 is housed and does not hinder the correction operation.

[0042]

As described above, according to the first discharge guide device of the present invention, the individual guide device is controlled by the control device such that the guide member extends or returns in a predetermined direction at a predetermined timing. As a result, the recording medium can be appropriately guided, and it is easy to use without hindering the insertion of the recording medium.

Here, if the control means controls the individual guide device so that the guide member extends in a predetermined direction before an image is formed on the recording medium inserted from the insertion slot, the guide member may be used. Vibration at the time of extension does not affect image formation, and is more convenient.

Further, in the second discharge guide device of the present invention, since at least one of the plurality of guide members is extended in the predetermined direction, the remaining guide members are also provided with the individual guide devices extending in the predetermined direction. Easy to use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a plotter provided with an embodiment of a discharge guide device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a path from insertion to ejection of a recording sheet by cutting out the plotter of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating a conveyance state of a recording sheet when there is no discharge guide device, where FIG. 3A illustrates a state where the leading end of the recording sheet is hanging down, and FIG. Shows a state where is inserted again into the insertion slot.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a recording paper conveyance state when the discharge guide device is used.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an individual guide device, and FIG.
Shows a state in which the guide member is stored, and (b)
Shows a state where the guide member is extended.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the discharge guide device in a state where the guide member is stored.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the discharge guide device in a state where the guide member is extended.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for taking a guide member in and out.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plotter 30 Individual guide device 31 Guide member 32 Guide board 35 Guide plate 38, 40 Lever 44 Connection plate 45 Wire 46 Guide motor 60 Discharge guide device 70 Recording medium

Continued on the front page (72) Ryoma Suzuki, Inventor 6-3-3, Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan (72) Inventor Naoki Kiyohara 6-3-3, Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan (72) Inventor Takashi Nakamura 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan (72) Inventor Seiichi 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo, Japan

Claims (3)

[Claims] A recording medium inserted into the recording medium, the recording medium being inserted through the insertion port, and an image being formed on the recording medium inserted through the insertion port. A discharge guide device for guiding a recording medium discharged from the discharge port in the predetermined direction in an image forming apparatus discharging in a predetermined direction; an individual guide device containing a guide member extending in the predetermined direction; and the guide member. Control means for controlling the individual guide device so as to extend or return in the predetermined direction at a predetermined timing. 2. The control means controls the individual guide device so that the guide member extends in the predetermined direction before an image is formed on a recording medium inserted from the insertion slot. The discharge guide device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an insertion slot into which the recording medium is inserted, and an ejection slot through which the recording medium is ejected. In a discharge guide device for guiding a recording medium discharged from the discharge port in the predetermined direction in an image forming apparatus discharging in a predetermined direction, a plurality of guide members extending in the predetermined direction in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. A discharge guide device including an individual guide device in which at least one of the plurality of guide members extends in the predetermined direction so that the remaining guide members also extend in the predetermined direction.