JPS6341356A - Paper loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit the arrangement and prevent the destruction of the discharged paper sheets whose top edge is curled, without deteriorating the operation performance, by installing the stoppers for stopping the paper sheet and preventing the destruction onto the first surface inclined in the direction of shift of paper and the horizontal second surface continuous to the first surface and at the edge of the second surface. CONSTITUTION:A paper loading device 2 consists of the first member 21 having the first inclined surface 21a for guiding paper at the top surface and the second member 22 which has the nearly horizontal second surface 22a coutinuous to the first surface 21a and has a stopper 22b erected on the second surface 22a, and the member 22 is installed in demountable ways onto the member 21. When the device is used on an image forming device 1, the device 2 is installed onto the flat part on the top surface of the lower case body 1a of the device 1, and the paper loading device 2 is prevented from being obstructed in the jam processing work or cartridge replacing work in the device 1, and the need of demounting the device 2 is avoided. Therefore, the paper can be stopped at a constant position, in order to prevent the drop of paper, and can be superposed, and the deterioration of the operation performance of the device 1 can be prevented.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a paper stacking device used by being attached to an image forming device such as an electrophotographic device, and in particular, the present invention relates to a paper stacking device used by being attached to an image forming device such as an electrophotographic device, and particularly to a paper stacking device that is used by being attached to an image forming device such as an electrophotographic device. The present invention relates to a paper stacking device suitable for this type of image forming apparatus.

[Background of the invention]

In conventionally known image forming apparatuses, for example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, paper P1 on which an image has been recorded is ejected from a tray TK provided at the top of the apparatus. There are structures that do this. In the image forming apparatus having such a structure, the paper P1 discharged into the tray T has a downward curl formed at its leading end, as shown in the figure, so that the leading end is close to the casing of the image forming apparatus 1. If the pattern paper P1 protrudes from the edge of the body and stops, not only does it tend to fall off the casing, but subsequent papers that are also curled are piled up one after another on top of the first paper P, resulting in a paper stack. Once a (stacked body) is formed, the stack also has the disadvantage of easily collapsing.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, la denotes two lower parts of the image forming apparatus 1, 1b denotes an upper fluid which is pivotally connected to the lower housing 1aK by a pin IC so as to be able to open and close vertically, and ld.
1e is a fixing device installed in the lower housing la, K is a paper ejection roller installed in the upper housing lb, and 1f is a lower housing 1a.
K is a removable paper feed center, and P is an unused paper in the paper feed center lf.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus as described above.
In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a removable paper stacking device (i.e., a paper stacking attachment) capable of stacking recorded papers without falling from the housing of the device, and in particular, to It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper stacking device that can be installed without deteriorating operability.

[Summary of the invention]

The paper stacking device according to the present invention has a first surface that is inclined along the moving direction of the paper that is transferred diagonally upward, and is arranged adjacent to the first surface at the highest position of the first surface. The almost horizontal second surface and the desired position on the second surface! A stopper is provided to protrude from the paper to stop the paper at a predetermined position on the first and second surfaces and to prevent the papers stacked on the first and second surfaces from collapsing. It is characterized by the fact that

In the embodiments of the present invention shown below, the paper stacking device of the present invention includes a first member having the first surface, and a second member having the second surface and the stopper. The first member is shown in FIGS. 11 and 1.
The second member is easily attached to and detached from the top surface of the lower casing 1a of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and the second member is easily attached to and detached from the first member.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the stopper is adjustable in its fixed position over a wide range from a position close to the first surface to a position far from the first surface. In an embodiment, the stopper is capable of collapsing into a groove in the second surface.

By attaching the paper stacking device of the present invention to the casing of an image forming apparatus as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, recorded sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus are automatically placed in a predetermined position without falling. It is possible to stack up.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show the structure of a paper stacking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the paper stacking device 2 of this embodiment includes a first member 21 having an inclined first surface 21a for guiding paper (a top surface), and a first surface 21aK that is continuous with the first member 21. It consists of a second member 22 having a horizontal second surface 22a and a stop bar 22b erected above the second surface 22, and the second member 22 is detachable from the first member 21. installed on.

FIG. 2(a) is a plan view of the first member 21 with the second member 22 removed. As shown in the figure, the first member 2
1 has a recessed mounting surface 21b for attaching the second member adjacent to the highest part of the first surface 21a, and the center part of the mounting surface 21b (i.e., the end position of the first surface 21a) A and a second member mounting hole 210 having a shape in which a circular hole portion and a long groove portion communicate with each other are formed on the line of distance X from the terminal position of the mounting surface 21b. (The mounting hole 210
After inserting a bolt head with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the circular hole into the circular hole, the bolt head is moved to a narrower long groove than the circular hole to facilitate screw tightening operations. Eliminates unnecessary one-touch installation. ) On the other hand, a mounting pin 21d for mounting the first member 21 to the casing of the image forming apparatus is provided protruding from the back surface of the first surface 21a. Further, the back surface of the first member 21 is configured as a uniform flat surface assuming that the surface to which the image forming apparatus is attached is flat.

The second member 22 has a substantially horizontal second surface 22a formed on its surface, and a pair of stoppers 22b are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the terminal edge d of the paper stacking surface 22a. It is protruded from the top. The length 2x between the start end gc and the end edge d of the second 0th surface 22a of the second member 22 is equal to the length 2X of the mounting surface 21b of the first member 21,
The second member 22 is designed to fit into the mounting surface 21b.

The back surface of the second member 22 is formed into a flat surface corresponding to the mounting surface 21b, and the center part of the back surface (i.e., the second surface 22
A bolt 22Q, which is inserted into a second member attachment hole 21C provided in the first member 21, is protrudingly provided on a line at a distance of X from the starting edge C and the ending edge d of a. This bolt 2
2C has a bolt head with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the circular hole portion of the mounting hole 2100 and larger than the width of the long groove portion of the cough mounting hole, and has a shaft portion with a diameter slightly smaller than the width of the long groove portion. are doing.

Therefore, when attaching the second member 22 to the first member 21, the bolts 22e' of the second member 22? After inserting the second member 22 into the circular hole portion of the mounting hole 21C of the first member 21, by manually sliding the second member 22 slightly to the right in FIG. It can be fixed by pressing the button, and conversely, when removing it, just perform the operation opposite to the above.

Since the second member mounting hole 21C is provided in the center of the mounting surface 21b, the second member 22 should be oriented in the opposite direction to that shown in FIG.
It can also be attached to the first member 21 (adjacent to the terminal end of 1a).

The paper stacking device 2□ of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 has a combination structure of the first member 21 and the second member 220 shown in FIGS. It is constructed by attaching it to the first member 21 in the opposite direction.

In the paper stacking device 2□ of FIG. 4, the stopper 22b is disposed facing the end of the first surface 21a, so that
If the paper transported along 1a stops on the first surface 21a, a stack of paper will be formed on the first surface 21a.

5 and 6 show the paper stacking devices 2 and 2 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the image forming apparatus 1 is installed and used in the image forming apparatus 1 having the structure as shown in FIG. 12. When the image forming apparatus No. 1'c as shown in FIG. Attach it to the flat part of the top surface of the housing. In this case, the image forming apparatus IK is attached to either the apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 or the apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 4 depending on the size of the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus. That is, when the size of the paper P□ is large, the device 2 of FIG. 1 is installed and used as shown in FIG. 5, and when the size of the paper is small, the device 2 of FIG. Attach and use as shown in Figure 6.

The paper stacking device of the present invention shown in FIGS.
Since it is attached to the top surface of the lower casing 1a of the image forming apparatus ltl of which the upper casing can be opened and closed as shown in the figure, the paper stacking device is used when performing jam clearing work or cartridge replacement work in the image forming apparatus. This does not interfere with the work, and there is no need to remove the paper stacking device at that time.

Therefore, the paper stacking device of the present invention not only has the function of being able to stop and stack papers at a fixed position to prevent them from falling, but also has the advantage of not deteriorating the operability of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 shows a paper stacking device 28 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, which is a partially modified version of the device shown in FIG. In the apparatus of this embodiment, the first surface 21. of the first surface 21a of the first member 21 in the apparatus of FIG.
The first member 21 is provided with a.

Also, the second member 22. Second side 22. A has a shape in which the center portion of the second surface 22& of the device shown in FIG.

Further, in this embodiment, the second member 22. has a concave or groove shape as shown in the figure, and the first member 21. It is configured to be fixed by simply fitting it into the

However, in this device as well, the stopper 22. b is the second surface 22. It is constructed integrally with a.

In the case of the device of FIG. 7, the second surface 22. Since there are two apart from each other, the second surface 22. The paper sheets supported on the paper are stacked on the device with only both end portions held at a high level.

Therefore, the second surface 22. At the positions a and υ inside, gaps are created between the second member 222 and the paper and between the papers, making it easier to grasp the paper by hand.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing still another embodiment.

The paper stacking device zi of this embodiment is characterized in that the second member 223 is rotatably supported on the first member 21s about a vertical axis. That is, in the device 2s, as shown in FIG. 8(a), the first member 213
A pin hole is opened at the center of the second member mounting surface of the second member 221, and a pin 22 is provided protruding from the center of the back surface of the second member 221. C can be rotatably inserted into the bottle hole as shown by arrow e in FIG. 8(b). Therefore, when attaching the second member 22m to the first member 21g, the second member 221 is rotated about the axis of the pin 22AQ, and the stopper 22. Fix the second member 223 to the first member 21s either when b comes to the solid line position in FIG. 8(a) or when the stopper 221b comes to the dotted line position. A paper stacking device having the same structure and function as the paper stacking device shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

In addition, in FIG. 8(a), 211a is the same first surface as the first surface of each of the above embodiments.

The paper stacking device 24 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 does not have the second member as in the previous embodiments, but includes a first surface 214a, a second surface 214b, and a first stopper 2140. It is composed of a device main body 214 and a second stopper No. 22 which is pivotally connected to the main body No. 21 with a pin 2146 or the like so that it can lie down in the groove 21ad formed in the second surface 214t). There is. Therefore, the paper stacking device 24 in FIG.
When the second stopper No. 22 is used in an upright position as shown by the solid line in the figure, it becomes a relatively small paper stacking device similar to the device shown in FIG.
When used in a state where it is laid down within 14d, it becomes a paper stacking device for relatively large sheets of paper, similar to the device shown in FIG.

Figure 10 shows the paper stacking devices 21 and 24 in Figures 8 and 9.
This figure shows a state in which one of the above is attached to the image forming apparatus 1 and used. When in use, the stopper 22, b (
In some cases, it may also be necessary to place the stopper (or stopper No. 22) upright at the dotted line position in the figure, but with the devices shown in Figures 8 and 9, the operation to position the stopper at the dotted line position in Figure 10 is not necessary. As already explained, the second member 221 is rotated relative to the first member 21mK, or the second stopper No. 22 is raised from within the groove No. 21 d.
This can be easily done with the following operations.

When the paper stacking apparatus of each of the above-mentioned Examples was used on a trial basis, it was confirmed that even paper whose leading edge was curled downward could be naturally stacked in vertical alignment without collapsing.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to align and stack paper with curled ends discharged from an image forming apparatus without collapsing the paper, which also deteriorates the operability of the image forming apparatus. A fear-free paper loading device is provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the paper stacking device of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing the constituent members of the device shown in FIG. In each case, (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a side view. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention, Figs.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 4 is attached to an image forming apparatus and used, Figure 7 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 8 (a) is FIG. 8('b) is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8('b) is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 8(a); FIG.
The figure is a diagram for explaining the state in which the devices shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are attached to an image forming apparatus and used, and FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a phenomenon that has been considered a problem in a one-sided image forming apparatus. , FIG. 12 is a diagram showing one type of a known image forming apparatus. 1... Image forming device 1a... Lower housing 1b...
- Upper housing L 2+ + 21+ 23* 24...Paper loading device 21.21, 213...First member 22, 22m, 22m...Second member 21a, 2
1! al 21aa) 214a...first side 2
2a, 221a, 22Aa, 214b-20th surface 22b, 22. b, 22. b--Stopper 21
No. C...First stopper 224...Second stopper. Figure 3 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first inclined surface extending in the direction of movement of the paper being transferred diagonally upward, and a substantially inclined surface connected to the first surface at the highest position of the first surface. a horizontal second surface; and a horizontal surface protruding from a predetermined position on the second surface to stop the paper at a predetermined position on the first and second surfaces; A stopper that prevents the paper stacked on top from collapsing,
A paper loading device that is used by being attached to the top of an image forming apparatus. 2. A first member having an inclined first surface extending in the direction of movement of the paper being transferred diagonally upward, and a substantially horizontal surface extending from the first surface at the highest position of the first surface. a second member having a second surface and a stopper projecting upward from the second surface, the second member being detachably supported with respect to the first member. A paper stacking device, wherein the first member is configured to be detachably attached to the top of an image forming device. 3. In claims 1 and 2, the stopper is capable of being lowered to the same level as the second surface, and the second surface is provided with a recess for accommodating the stopper. A paper loading device featuring: 4. The paper stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is provided near a boundary between the first surface and the second surface. 5. The paper stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is provided on the second surface at a position farthest from the terminal end of the first surface. 6. In claim 2, the second member is rotatably supported on the first member about an axis perpendicular to the second surface, and the stopper is rotatably supported about the axis. A paper loading device characterized in that it is configured to be able to stop at any position on a circumference.