US20180141774A1 - Sheet stacking device and image forming apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Sheet stacking device and image forming apparatus including the same Download PDF

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Publication number
US20180141774A1
US20180141774A1 US15/814,018 US201715814018A US2018141774A1 US 20180141774 A1 US20180141774 A1 US 20180141774A1 US 201715814018 A US201715814018 A US 201715814018A US 2018141774 A1 US2018141774 A1 US 2018141774A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
sheet
airflow
exhaust ports
side exhaust
width direction
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US15/814,018
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Rina OKADA
Terumitsu Noso
Yasunori Ueno
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Original Assignee
Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kyocera Document Solutions Inc filed Critical Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Assigned to KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC. reassignment KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: NOSO, TERUMITSU, OKADA, RINA, UENO, YASUNORI
Publication of US20180141774A1 publication Critical patent/US20180141774A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/12—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers
    • B65H29/125—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers between two sets of rollers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/12—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers
    • B65H29/14—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers and introducing into a pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/24—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by air blast or suction apparatus
    • B65H29/245—Air blast devices
    • B65H29/246—Air blast devices acting on stacking devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/70—Article bending or stiffening arrangements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
    • B65H31/04—Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates
    • B65H31/08—Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates the articles being piled one above another
    • B65H31/10—Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates the articles being piled one above another and applied at the top of the pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
    • B65H2301/446—Assisting moving, forwarding or guiding of material
    • B65H2301/4461—Assisting moving, forwarding or guiding of material by blowing air towards handled material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
    • B65H2301/51—Modifying a characteristic of handled material
    • B65H2301/512—Changing form of handled material
    • B65H2301/5121—Bending, buckling, curling, bringing a curvature
    • B65H2301/51214—Bending, buckling, curling, bringing a curvature parallel to direction of displacement of handled material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
    • B65H2406/40—Fluid power drive; Fluid supply elements
    • B65H2406/42—Distribution circuits
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2801/00—Application field
    • B65H2801/03—Image reproduction devices
    • B65H2801/06—Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2801/00—Application field
    • B65H2801/24—Post -processing devices
    • B65H2801/27—Devices located downstream of office-type machines

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a sheet stacking device for sheet stacking and an image forming apparatus including the sheet stacking device.
  • a sheet stacking device is known in general that ejects a sheet after image formation onto an exit tray.
  • An image forming apparatus is also known that includes a sheet stacking device including a mechanism that blows wind toward a sheet that is being ejected.
  • a sheet stacking device includes a sheet stacking section, pairs of ejection rollers, an airflow generator, and an airflow guide.
  • a sheet is stacked on the sheet stacking section.
  • the pairs of ejection rollers eject the sheet toward the sheet stacking section.
  • the airflow generator generates airflows.
  • the airflow guide guides the airflows toward a lower surface of the sheet ejected from the pair of ejection rollers toward the sheet stacking section.
  • the airflow guide has a center exhaust port and paired side exhaust ports. The center exhaust port is located downstream of the pairs of ejection rollers.
  • An airflow generated by the airflow generator is blown out from the center exhaust port toward a central part of the lower surface of the sheet in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the sheet.
  • the paired side exhaust ports are located on respective opposite sides of the central exhaust port in the sheet width direction. Airflows generated by the airflow generator are blown out from the respective paired side exhaust ports toward respective sides of the lower surface of the sheet. An amount of the airflow blown out from the center exhaust port is larger than those of the airflows blown out from the respective paired side exhaust ports.
  • An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section and the above sheet stacking device.
  • the image forming section forms an image on the sheet.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of an image forming apparatus including a sheet stacking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a main unit of the image forming apparatus.
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view schematically illustrating an internal configuration of the sheet stacking device.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a configuration of the sheet stacking section and a vicinity thereof.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an airflow generator and a duct.
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sheet stacking device in a state in which an airflow is blown toward a sheet.
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sheet in a situation in which airflows are blown toward the sheet.
  • FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sheet stacking device in a situation in which failure in sheet ejection occurs.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of an image forming apparatus S including a post-printing processing unit 5 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a main unit 1 of the image forming apparatus S.
  • the main unit 1 of the image forming apparatus S refers to a so-called in-body ejection type monochrome copier.
  • the main unit 1 of the image forming apparatus S may be a color copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction peripheral.
  • the multifunction peripheral has any of functions of a color copier, a printer, and a facsimile machine.
  • the image forming apparatus S includes the main unit 1 and the post-printing processing unit 5 .
  • the main unit 1 performs image formation on a sheet P.
  • the post-printing processing unit 5 is disposed next to the main unit 1 .
  • the post-printing processing unit 5 includes a post-printing processing section.
  • the post-printing processing section performs specific post-printing processing on a sheet P or a sheet set (sheet sheaf) subjected to image formation.
  • the post-printing processing refers to for example at least one of punching, stapling, folding, and aligning.
  • Punching refers to processing to punch a binding hole in the sheet P.
  • Stapling refers to processing to staple the sheet set.
  • Folding refers to processing to fold the sheet P.
  • Aligning refers to processing to shift or align the sheet P in width.
  • the main unit 1 includes a main unit casing 100 , an image scanning section 2 a, an auto document feeder (ADF) 2 b, and an operation section 10 .
  • the image scanning section 2 a is disposed above the main unit casing 100 .
  • the auto document feeder 2 b is disposed on the upper surface of the image scanning section 2 a.
  • the operation section 10 is mounted on a front surface of the image scanning section 2 a.
  • the main unit casing 100 accommodates in the interior thereof a sheet feed section 3 a, a conveyance path 3 b, an image forming section 4 a, a fixing section 4 b, and a sheet ejecting section 3 c (see FIG. 2 ).
  • the operation section 10 receives user input for various settings and operation instructions to the image forming apparatus S.
  • the operation section 10 includes a numeric keypad 11 , a start key 12 , and a touch panel 13 .
  • the numeric keypad 11 receives numeric input.
  • the numeric keypad 11 receives for example setting of the number of copies.
  • the start key 12 receives input of an instruction to execute a copy operation.
  • the touch panel 13 displays various operation keys and guidance.
  • the auto document feeder 2 b automatically feeds a document sheet that is a copy target toward a predetermined first document scanning position.
  • the predetermined first document position is located at a position where first contact glass 24 is mounted.
  • the auto document feeder 2 b is opened upward.
  • the predetermined second document position is located at a position where second contact glass 25 is mounted.
  • the auto document feeder 2 b includes a document teed tray 21 , a document conveyance section 22 , and a document exit tray 23 .
  • the document sheet is loaded on the document feed tray 21 .
  • the document conveyance section 22 conveys the document sheet via an auto document scanning position.
  • the document sheet after being scanned is ejected onto the document exit tray 23 .
  • the image scanning section 2 a has a box casing shape.
  • the first contact glass 24 and the second contact glass 25 are fitted in the upper surface of the image scanning section 2 a.
  • the first contact glass 24 is glass for scanning the document sheet automatically fed from the auto document feeder 2 b.
  • the second contact glass 25 is glass for scanning the document sheet loaded using the hand.
  • the image scanning section 2 a optically scans an image of the document sheet.
  • the sheet feed section 3 a in the main unit casing 100 includes a plurality of cassettes 31 .
  • the cassettes 31 include for example a first cassette 31 A, a second cassette 31 B, a third cassette 31 C, and a fourth cassette 31 D arranged in four stages.
  • the first to fourth cassettes 31 A to 31 D are disposed in descending order from above.
  • the cassettes 31 each accommodate sheets P having a specific size.
  • the specific size refers to for example A4 size or B4 size.
  • Alternative examples of the specific size include A-type sheet size such as A4 size and B-type sheet size such as B4 size.
  • the cassettes 31 each accommodate a specific type of sheets P.
  • the specific type of sheets P refers to for example copy paper, recycled paper, thick paper, or viewgraphs.
  • a plurality of sheet feed rollers 32 that are driven to rotate are each provided for a corresponding one of the cassettes 31 .
  • the sheet feed rollers 32 include for example a first sheet feed roller 32 A, a second sheet feed roller 32 B, a third sheet feed roller 32 C, and a fourth sheet feed roller 32 D.
  • the first sheet feed roller 32 A feeds one at a time the sheets P accommodated in the first cassette 31 A to the conveyance path 3 b.
  • the second sheet feed roller 32 B feeds one at a time the sheets P accommodated in the second cassette 31 B to the conveyance path 3 b.
  • the third sheet feed roller 32 C feeds one at a time the sheets P accommodated in the third cassette 31 C to the conveyance path 3 b.
  • the fourth sheet feed roller 32 D feeds one at a time the sheets P accommodated in the fourth cassette 31 D to the conveyance path 3 b.
  • the conveyance path 3 b is a conveyance path through which the sheet P is conveyed in the main unit casing 100 from the sheet feed section 3 a to an in-body ejection tray 33 .
  • the conveyance path 3 b is also a conveyance path through which the sheet P is conveyed in the main unit casing 100 from the sheet feed section 3 a to the post-printing processing unit 5 .
  • a guide plate, conveyance roller pairs 34 , and a registration roller pair 35 are provided on the conveyance path 3 b.
  • the guide plate guides the sheet P.
  • the conveyance roller pairs 34 rotate to convey the sheet P toward the image forming section 4 a.
  • the conveyance roller pairs 34 include a plurality of conveyance roller pairs such as a first conveyance roller pair 34 A, a second conveyance roller pair 34 B, and a third conveyance roller pair 34 C.
  • the registration roller pair 35 temporarily stops the sheet P before the image forming section 4 a and feeds the sheet P to the image forming section 4 a in synchronization with toner image transfer.
  • the image forming section 4 a generates a toner image and transfers the toner image onto the sheet P. That is, the image forming section 4 a forms an image on the sheet P.
  • the image forming section 4 a includes a photosensitive drum 41 , a charger 42 , an exposure device 43 , a developing device 44 , a transfer roller 45 , and a cleaner 46 .
  • the charger 42 , the exposure device 43 , the developing device 44 , the transfer roller 45 , and the cleaner 46 are disposed around the photosensitive drum 41 .
  • the photosensitive drum 41 forms an electrostatic latent image and an toner image on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 41 by rotating about a shaft of the photosensitive drum 41 .
  • the charger 42 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 .
  • the exposure device 43 includes a laser light source and an optical device such as a mirror or a lens. The exposure device 43 irradiates the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 41 with a laser beam L based on image data of the image of the document sheet to form an electrostatic latent image.
  • the developing device 44 supplies toner to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 41 to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 41 .
  • the transfer roller 45 forms a transfer nip part in cooperation with the photosensitive drum 41 into a toner image. Transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 45 .
  • the toner image on the photosensitive drum 41 is transferred to the sheet P passing through the transfer nip part.
  • the cleaner 46 includes a cleaning roller and cleans the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 41 after toner image transfer.
  • the fixing section 4 b fixes to the sheet P the toner image having been transferred to the sheet P.
  • the fixing section 4 b includes a heating roller 47 and a pressure roller 48 .
  • the heating roller 47 includes a heating element therein.
  • the pressure roller 48 is in press contact with the heating roller 47 to form a fixing nip.
  • the sheet ejecting section 3 c includes an out-body ejection roller pair 36 A and an in-body ejection roller pair 36 B.
  • the out-body ejection roller pair 36 A feeds the sheet P subjected to image formation toward the post-printing processing unit 5 .
  • the in-body ejection roller pair 36 B feeds the sheet P subjected to image formation toward the in-body ejection tray 33 .
  • the out-body ejection roller pair 36 A and the in-body ejection roller pair 36 B each are driven to rotate in an ejection operation to eject the sheet out of the main unit casing 100 .
  • the sheet ejecting section 3 c further includes a switch lever 37 that switches a feed direction of the sheet P. The switch lever 37 turns to guide the sheet P toward an ejection destination specified through the operation section 10 .
  • the post-printing processing unit 5 stacks the sheet P after performing specific post-printing processing.
  • the post-printing processing unit 5 includes a post-printing processing unit casing 500 (casing) and a post-printing processing section.
  • the post-printing processing unit casing 500 is disposed next to the main unit casing 100 .
  • the post-printing processing section is disposed in the interior of the post-printing processing unit casing 500 and performs the post-printing processing on the sheet P.
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view schematically illustrating an internal configuration of the post-printing processing unit 5 .
  • the post-printing processing unit 5 includes a shaft 51 , ejection rollers 52 (ejection roller pairs), driven rollers 53 (upper ejection rollers), a main exit tray 54 (sheet stacking section), and a sub-exit tray 55 .
  • the post-printing processing unit casing 500 has a side surface facing the main unit casing 100 and having an unillustrated conveyance inlet.
  • the post-printing processing unit casing 500 receives the sheet P subjected to image formation through the conveyance inlet.
  • the post-printing processing unit casing 500 has a left surface having a main conveyance outlet and a sub-conveyance outlet from each of which the sheet P is ejected out of the post-printing processing unit casing 500 .
  • the left side surface of the post-printing processing unit casing 500 is located opposite to the side surface facing the main unit casing 100 .
  • the main exit tray 54 and the sub-exit tray 55 are mounted in correspondence with the main conveyance outlet and the sub-conveyance outlet, respectively, on the left side surface of the post-printing processing unit casing 500 (see FIG. 1 ).
  • the main exit tray 54 is mounted on the post-printing processing unit casing 500 .
  • the main exit tray 54 is a tray on which a sheet P or a sheet set is stacked.
  • the sheet P or the sheet set is for example subjected to stapling, shifting, and width aligning and then ejected onto the main exit tray 54 by the ejection rollers 52 .
  • the main exit tray 54 has an inclined surface 54 a ascending downstream in a conveyance direction DP of the sheet P.
  • the inclined surface 54 a increases in height downstream in the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P.
  • the sub-exit tray 55 is a tray on which a sheet P ejected from the sub-conveyance outlet is stacked.
  • the sub-exit tray 55 is spaced above the main exit tray 54 .
  • a sheet P having been conveyed into the post-printing processing unit casing 500 is selectively ejected onto either the sub-exit tray 55 or the main exit tray 54 .
  • either or both a sheet P not subjected to any post-printing processing in the post-printing processing unit 5 and a sheet P subjected to only punching are stacked on the sub-exit tray 55 .
  • the ejection rollers 52 are supported to the post-printing processing unit casing 500 in a rotatable manner.
  • the ejection rollers 52 are supported through the shaft 51 in the present embodiment.
  • the shaft 51 is supported to the post-printing processing unit casing 500 through a unillustrated bearing.
  • the ejection rollers 52 convey in a predetermined conveyance direction (leftward) the sheet P having been conveyed into the post-printing processing unit casing 500 from the sheet ejecting section 3 c of the main unit 1 .
  • the ejection rollers 52 eject the sheet P toward the main exit tray 54 .
  • the ejection rollers 52 eject the sheet P, which has been conveyed into the post-printing processing unit casing 500 from the sheet ejecting section 3 c of the main unit 1 , toward the main exit tray 54 .
  • the ejection rollers 52 include four ejection rollers 52 spaced from one another in a sheet width direction (front-back direction) W in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3 . It is only required in the present disclosure that at least two ejection rollers 52 are provided. Four or more ejection rollers may be disposed in an alternative embodiment. The ejection rollers 52 in plural number are spaced from one another in the sheet width direction W.
  • the ejection rollers 52 includes two ejection rollers (paired inside ejection rollers) 52 a and paired ejection rollers (paired outside ejection rollers) 52 b.
  • the two ejection rollers 52 a are disposed between the paired ejection rollers 52 b.
  • the paired ejection rollers 52 b include a first ejection roller (first lower ejection roller) 521 and a second ejection roller (second lower ejection roller) 522 .
  • the sheet width direction W refers to a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction DP (see FIG. 6 ) of the sheet P ejected from the ejection rollers 52 (nip parts 56 ) toward the main exit tray 54 .
  • the sheet width direction W is parallel to the sheet surface P 1 .
  • the driven rollers 53 are supported to the post-printing processing unit casing 500 on the ejection rollers 52 in a rotatable manner.
  • the driven rollers 53 are supported to the post-printing processing unit casing 500 on the ejection rollers 52 in a rotatable manner.
  • Respective nip parts 56 through which the sheet P passes are formed between the driven rollers 53 and the ejection rollers 52 .
  • Some of the ejection rollers 52 are each opposite to a corresponding one of the driven rollers 53 .
  • the nip parts 56 are formed between the ejection rollers 52 and the driven rollers 53 opposite thereto. Two nip parts 56 are formed in the present embodiment.
  • the driven rollers 53 are spaced from one another in the sheet width direction W.
  • the driven rollers 53 are spaced from one another in the front-back direction.
  • the respective nip parts 56 are formed between the ejection rollers 52 and the driven rollers 53 opposite thereto.
  • the sheet P passes through the nip parts 56 .
  • the sheet P passes through the nip parts 56 and is ejected toward the main exit tray 54 .
  • An unillustrated conveyance roller and an unillustrated driven roller each for ejecting the sheet P onto the sub-exit tray 55 are further provided in the interior of the post-printing processing unit casing 500 .
  • the post-printing processing unit 5 further includes a first fan 71 (airflow generator, first airflow generator), a second fan 72 (airflow generator, second airflow generator), and a duct 73 (airflow guide).
  • FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a configuration of the main exit tray 54 of the post-printing processing unit 5 and the vicinity thereof.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the first and second fans 71 and 72 and the duct 73 .
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the post-printing processing unit 5 in a state in which airflows DF are blown toward the sheet P.
  • the first and second fans 71 and 72 each generate an airflow DF blowing toward the sheet P.
  • the first and second fans 71 and 72 each are a known sirocco fan in the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the first and second fans 71 and 72 are disposed below the ejection rollers 52 in the post-printing processing unit casing 500 and spaced from each other in the front-back direction in the present embodiment. Note that the first fan 71 disposed in front is illustrated in FIG. 6 .
  • the second fan 72 is spaced from the first fan 71 in the rear of the first fan 71 in FIG. 6 .
  • the first and second fans 71 and 72 each have an air outlet open upward.
  • the duct 73 is disposed in the interior of the post-printing processing unit casing 500 .
  • the duct 73 communicates the first and second fans 71 and 72 with a space above the main exit tray 54 .
  • the duct 73 guides the airflows DF toward the downwardly facing sheet surface P 1 of the sheet P ejected from the ejection rollers 52 (nip parts 56 ) toward the main exit tray 54 .
  • the sheet surface P 1 is a surface of the sheet P that faces downward.
  • the duct 73 has a center exhaust port 61 and parried side exhaust ports 62 and includes a first duct 73 J and a second duct 73 K.
  • the center exhaust port 61 and the side exhaust ports 62 are located below the ejection rollers 52 , as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 .
  • the center exhaust port 61 and the side exhaust ports 62 are located above the base end of the main exit tray 54 .
  • the center exhaust port 61 and the side exhaust ports 62 are located in the left side surface of the post-printing processing unit casing 500 .
  • the center exhaust port 61 and the side exhaust ports 62 are aligned with one another in the sheet width direction W.
  • the center exhaust port 61 is located between the side exhaust ports 62 .
  • the center exhaust port 61 and the side exhaust ports 62 are located below the ejection rollers 52 .
  • An airflow D 61 is blown out from the center exhaust port 61 toward a central portion P 11 of the sheet surface P 1 of the sheet P, which is ejected by the ejection rollers 52 , in the sheet width direction (front-back direction) W.
  • the side exhaust ports 62 are located on respective opposite sides of the center exhaust port 61 in the sheet width direction W.
  • the side exhaust ports 62 are spaced from each other in the sheet width direction W. Airflows D 62 are blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 toward respective sides of the sheet surface P 1 of the sheet P in the sheet width direction W.
  • One of the airflows D 62 is blown out from a corresponding one of the side exhaust ports 62 toward a part of the sheet surface P 1 of the sheet P ejected by the ejection rollers 52 that is located on one side thereof in the sheet width direction W.
  • the other of the airflows D 62 is also blown out from the other of the side exhaust ports 62 toward another part of the sheet surface P 1 of the sheet P ejected by the ejection rollers 52 that is located on the opposite side thereof in the sheet width direction W.
  • the respective airflows D 62 are blown out in substantially the same direction from one (first side exhaust port 621 ) and the other (second side exhaust port 622 ) of the side exhaust ports 62 .
  • a direction in which the airflow D 61 is blown out from the center exhaust port 61 and directions in which the airflows D 62 are blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 are parallel to the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P.
  • the direction in which the airflow D 61 is blown out from the center exhaust port 61 and the directions in which the airflows D 62 are blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 each cross the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P at a predetermined angle as viewed in a horizontal direction (front-back direction).
  • the center exhaust port 61 is located below a region E between the two ejection rollers 52 a.
  • the side exhaust ports 62 include the first side exhaust port 621 and the second side exhaust port 622 .
  • the side exhaust ports 62 are each located below a corresponding one of the ejection rollers 52 b of the pair of ejection rollers 52 b.
  • the first side exhaust port 621 is located blow the first ejection roller 521 and the second side exhaust port 622 is located blow the second ejection roller 522 .
  • the side exhaust ports 62 each have an outside edge in the sheet width direction W that is substantially aligned in the sheet width direction W with an outside edge of a corresponding one of the ejection rollers 52 b of the pair of ejection rollers 52 b in the sheet width direction W.
  • the side exhaust ports 62 each have an inside edge in the sheet width direction W that is located more inside in the sheet width direction W than an inside edge of a corresponding one of the ejection rollers 52 b of the pair of ejection rollers 52 b in the sheet width direction W.
  • the side exhaust ports 62 each extend inside of a corresponding one of the ejection rollers 52 b of the pair of ejection rollers 52 b in the sheet width direction W.
  • the first side exhaust port 621 has a first outside edge L 1 located at an outside end thereof in the sheet width direction W and a first inside edge M 1 located at an inside end thereof in the sheet width direction W.
  • the second side exhaust port 622 has a second outside edge L 2 located at an outside end thereof in the sheet width direction W and a second inside edge M 2 located at an inside end thereof in the sheet width direction W.
  • the first ejection roller 521 has a third outside edge Q 1 located at an outside end thereof in the sheet width direction W and a third inside edge R 1 located at an inside end thereof in the sheet width direction W.
  • the second ejection roller 522 has a fourth outside edge Q 2 located at an outside end thereof in the sheet width direction W and a fourth inside edge R 2 located at an inside end thereof in the sheet width direction W.
  • the first outside edge L 1 is aligned in the sheet width direction W with the third outside edge Q 1 .
  • the second outside edge L 2 is aligned in the sheet width direction W with the fourth outside edge Q 2 .
  • the first inside edge M 1 is located inside of the third inside edge R 1 in the sheet width direction W.
  • the second inside edge M 2 is located inside of the fourth inside edge R 4 in the sheet width direction W.
  • the phrase outside in the sheet width direction W refers to a location close to a specific point in the sheet width direction W.
  • the phrase inside side in the sheet width direction W refers to a location away from the specific point in the sheet width direction W.
  • the specific location refers to a central part of a region between the two nip parts 56 in the sheet width direction W.
  • the first duct 73 J divides an airflow generated by the first fan 71 into two airflows and guides the respective airflows to the center exhaust port 61 and one (second side exhaust port 622 ) of the side exhaust ports 62 .
  • the second duct 73 K divides an airflow generated by the second fan 72 into two airflows and guides the respective airflows to the center exhaust port 61 and the other (first side exhaust port 621 ) of the side exhaust ports 62 .
  • Respective parts of the airflows generated by the first and second fans 71 and 72 are merged together. Accordingly, the amount of the airflow D 61 blown out from the center exhaust port 61 is larger than those of the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 . As such, the amount of the airflow D 61 blown out from the center exhaust port 61 is set larger than those of the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 . Specifically, the amount of the airflow D 61 blown out from the center exhaust port 61 is set larger than that of the airflow D 62 blown out from the first side exhaust port 621 and that of the airflow D 62 blown out from the second side exhaust port 622 .
  • the airflow generated by the first fan 71 and the airflow generated by the second fan 72 are each blown out from the center exhaust port 61 and a corresponding one of the side exhaust ports 62 in the present embodiment. Specifically, the airflow generated by the first fan 71 and the airflow generated by the second fan 72 are each blown out leftward from the center exhaust port 61 and a corresponding one of the side exhaust ports 62 . The airflow generated by the first fan 71 and the airflow generated by the second fan 72 are blown at specific angles relative the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P.
  • the opening length of the center exhaust port 61 in the sheet width direction (front-back direction) W is double the opening length of each of the side exhaust ports 62 in the sheet width direction W.
  • the opening length in a height direction (up-and-down direction) of the center exhaust port 61 is a half of the opening length of each of the side exhaust ports 62 in the height direction.
  • the center exhaust port 61 has an upper edge aligned in the height direction with the upper edges of the respective side exhaust ports 62 .
  • the center exhaust port 61 has a lower edge located above the lower edges of the respective side exhaust ports 62 .
  • the amount of the airflow D 61 blown out from the center exhaust port 61 is larger than the amounts of the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 .
  • the center exhaust port 61 and the side exhaust ports 62 are directed (see FIG. 3 ) such that a blowing direction of the airflow D 61 blown out from the center exhaust port 61 and blowing directions of the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 ascend downstream in the conveyance direction DP and cross the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P when viewed from the front.
  • the blowing direction of the airflow D 61 is a direction indicated by an arrow D 61 in FIG. 3 .
  • the blowing directions of the respective airflows D 62 are directions indicated by respective arrows D 62 in FIG. 3 .
  • the phrase the blowing direction of the airflow D 61 and the blowing directions of the airflows D 62 cross the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P refers to a route of the sheet P moving in the conveyance direction DP crossing a first imaginary line extending from the center exhaust port 61 in the blowing direction of the airflow D 61 and second imaginary lines extending from the respective side exhaust ports 62 in the blowing directions of the respective airflows D 62 .
  • the phrase the directions ascend downstream in the conveyance direction DP refers to the airflows D 61 and D 62 each flowing in a specific direction.
  • the specific direction refers to a direction inclined upward at an acute angle relative to a downstream direction of the conveyance direction DP.
  • the center exhaust port 61 and the side exhaust ports 62 are directed such that an angle G made by the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P and the blowing direction of the airflow D 61 blown out from the center exhaust port 61 is larger than an angle made by the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P and the blowing directions of the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 .
  • the center exhaust port 61 and the side exhaust ports 62 are directed such that the angle G is greater than a first blowing angle G 1 and a second blowing angle G 2 .
  • the first blowing angle G 1 refers to an angle made by the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P and the blowing direction of the airflow D 62 blown out from one of the side exhaust ports 62 .
  • the blowing second angle G 2 refers to an angle made by the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P and the blowing direction of the airflow D 62 blown out from the other of the side exhaust ports 62 .
  • the blowing direction of the airflow D 61 blown out from the center exhaust port 61 ascends downstream in the conveyance direction DP at an angle larger than the blowing directions of the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 .
  • the airflow D 61 blown out from the center exhaust port 61 strikes on a part of the sheet surface P 1 of the sheet P located closer in height to the ejection rollers 52 than a part of the sheet surface P 1 thereof on which the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 strike.
  • the main exit tray 54 has the inclined surface 54 a ascending downstream in the conveyance direction of the sheet P, as described above.
  • the respective side exhaust ports 62 are directed such that the first and second blowing angles G 1 and G 2 between the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P and the blowing directions of the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 are larger than a blowing angle G 3 made by the inclined surface 54 a of the main exit tray 54 and the conveyance direction DP of the sheet P.
  • the respective side exhaust ports 62 are directed such that the first and second blowing angles G 1 and G 2 each are larger than the blowing angle G 3 .
  • blowing directions of the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 ascend downstream in the conveyance direction DP at a larger angle than inclination of the inclined surface 54 a of the main exit tray 54 . That is, angles of elevation of the blowing directions of the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 are larger than that of the inclined surface 54 a of the main exit tray 54 .
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sheet P in a situation in which the airflows DF including the airflow D 61 and the airflows D 62 is blown toward the sheet P. Note that the conveyance direction of the sheet P ejected by the ejection rollers 52 and the driven rollers 53 is indicated by an arrow DP in FIG. 7 .
  • FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the post-printing processing unit 5 in a situation in which failure in sheet ejection occurs.
  • the sheet P is liable to be charged when being conveyed into the main unit 1 and the post-printing processing unit 5 of the image forming apparatus S. Accordingly, when the sheet P having the sheet surface P 1 that has been electrostatically charged is ejected by the ejection rollers 52 , a leading edge P 2 of the sheet P is attracted to the main exit tray 54 , as illustrated in FIG. 8 . As a result, the sheet P cannot be stacked on the main exit tray 54 in a favorable fashion, which may cause failure such as a jam.
  • the duct 73 has the three exhaust ports 61 and 62 through which the airflows are blown out in the present embodiment in order to obviate failure as above.
  • the airflows blown out from the duct 73 strike on the sheet surface P 1 of the sheet P facing downward and enters a space between the sheet P and the main exit tray 54 , as indicated by an arrow DF in FIG. 6 .
  • the amount of the airflow (arrow D 61 in FIG. 7 ) blown out from the center exhaust port 61 is larger than those of the airflows (arrows D 62 in FIG. 7 ) blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 .
  • a central part of the sheet P having passed through the nip parts 56 warps upward and in the conveyance direction, as illustrated in FIG. 7 .
  • remarkable resilience can be imparted to the sheet P ejected onto the main exit tray 54 in a secure manner, thereby achieving sheet alignment in a secure manner.
  • an air layer is formed between sheets P in continuous printing, with a result that adhesion (or sticking) between the sheets P can be reduced.
  • the airflow D 61 blown out from the center exhaust port 61 ascends downstream in the conveyance direction DP at a larger angle than the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7 .
  • the airflow D 61 blown out from the center exhaust port 61 strikes on the sheet surface P 1 at a steeper angle than the airflows D 62 . Therefore, the sheet P having passed through the nip parts 56 can readily warp. The central part of the sheet P warps upward and in the conveyance direction of the sheet P.
  • blowing directions of the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 ascend downstream in the conveyance direction DP at a larger angle than the inclination of the inclined surface 54 a of the main exit tray 54 .
  • a situation in which the airflows D 62 blown out from the respective side exhaust ports 62 strike hard on the inclined surface 54 a of the main exit tray 54 before striking on the sheet surface P 1 of the sheet P can be prevented. Accordingly, airflow turbulence can hardly occur between the ejected sheet P and the main exit tray 54 , thereby achieving improved sheet alignment.
  • first and second fans 71 and 72 each start blowing the airflows DF before the leading edge P 2 of the sheet P passes through the respective nip parts 56 between the ejection rollers 52 and the driven rollers 53 in the present embodiment. Furthermore, the first and second fans 71 and 72 each stop generating the airflows DF before a trailing edge P 3 of the sheet P passes through the nip parts 56 .
  • the leading edge P 2 of the sheet P can warp in a secure manner. The airflows strike not so hard on the trailing edge P 3 of the sheet P having passed through the nip parts 56 . As a result, stacking failure caused due to a lift of the trailing edge P 3 of the sheet P can be avoided.
  • the leading edge P 2 of the sheet P refers to an edge of the sheet P located downstream in the conveyance direction DP.
  • the trailing edge P 3 of the sheet P refers to an edge of the sheet P located upstream in the conveyance direction DP.
  • the two fans 71 and 72 are provided in the present embodiment.
  • the airflow D 61 having a large amount can be blown out from the center exhaust port 61 .
  • the airflow D 61 blown out from the center exhaust port 61 can be ensured.
  • the center exhaust port 61 is located below the region E between the two ejection rollers 52 a that are spaced from each other in middle in the sheet width direction W among the four ejection rollers 52 .
  • the sheet P can readily warp upward by blowing the strong airflow D 61 from the center exhaust port 61 between the two ejection rollers 52 a, as illustrated in FIG. 7 .
  • the side exhaust ports 62 are located blow the respective ejection rollers 52 b disposed outside in the sheet width direction W among the four ejection rollers 52 (see FIG. 4 ).
  • the airflows D 62 from the respective side exhaust ports 62 strike on respective specific regions of the sheet surface P 1 .
  • the specific regions each refer to a region of the sheet surface P 1 that is being located downstream in the conveyance direction DP of a region of the sheet surface P 1 that is being nipped by a corresponding one of the ejection rollers 52 b located outside in the sheet width direction W.
  • airflows D 62 are blown from the respective side exhaust ports 62 toward regions of the sheet surface P 1 that are being located downstream of the respective ejection rollers 52 in the conveyance direction DP.
  • the regions that are being nipped by the respective ejection rollers 52 b refer in other words to regions of the sheet surface P 1 that are in contact with the respective ejection rollers 52 b.
  • the outside edges (first and second outside edges L 1 and L 2 ) of the respective side exhaust ports 62 in the sheet width direction W are substantially aligned in the sheet width direction W with the outside edges (third and fourth outside edges Q 1 and Q 2 ) of the respective ejection rollers 52 b in the sheet width direction W that are disposed outside in the sheet width direction W.
  • the inside edges (first and second inside edges M 1 and M 2 ) of the respective side exhaust ports 62 in the sheet width direction W are each located inside in the sheet width direction W from the inside edge (third and fourth inside edges R 1 or R 2 ) of a corresponding one of the corresponding ejection rollers 52 b in the sheet width direction W.
  • the above embodiment describes the post-printing processing unit 5 as an example of the sheet stacking device, which however should not be taken to limit the present disclosure.
  • the present disclosure is adaptable to any device that can eject and stack a sheet P on which an image has been formed.
  • the above embodiment describes the post-printing processing unit 5 having the single center exhaust port 61 and the two side exhaust ports 62 , which however should not be taken to limit the present disclosure.
  • the post-printing processing unit 5 may have a single center exhaust port 61 and four or any other plural number of side exhaust ports 62 located outside of the center exhaust port 61 in the sheet width direction W.
  • the four ejection rollers 52 are provided in the above embodiment. However, two pairs of ejection rollers 52 and driven rollers 53 may be spaced in the front-back direction so as to nip the central part of the sheet P in the sheet width direction W. In the above configuration, it is possible that the center exhaust port 61 is located below a region between the two pairs of the rollers and the respective side exhaust ports 62 are located below the respective two pairs of the rollers.
  • the ejection rollers 52 and the driven rollers 53 in the above embodiment correspond to the lower ejection rollers and the upper ejection rollers, respectively, in the present disclosure.
  • the ejection rollers 52 and the driven rollers 53 may be the upper ejection rollers and the lower ejection rollers, respectively, in the present disclosure.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pile Receivers (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
  • Paper Feeding For Electrophotography (AREA)
US15/814,018 2016-11-18 2017-11-15 Sheet stacking device and image forming apparatus including the same Abandoned US20180141774A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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JP2016225060A JP6604316B2 (ja) 2016-11-18 2016-11-18 シート積載装置およびこれを備えた画像形成装置
JP2016-225060 2016-11-18

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US20180141774A1 true US20180141774A1 (en) 2018-05-24

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JP7238572B2 (ja) * 2019-04-23 2023-03-14 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 シート積載装置、シート後処理装置及び画像形成システム

Citations (6)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5190276A (en) * 1990-03-13 1993-03-02 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Sheet feeding apparatus
US5956554A (en) * 1995-03-25 1999-09-21 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Sheet drying prevention device
US20010046398A1 (en) * 1998-09-21 2001-11-29 Jun Horikoshi Image forming apparatus
US20050163615A1 (en) * 2004-01-23 2005-07-28 Chheda Sachin N. Redundant fan system in a turbo cooler assembly
JP2015054743A (ja) * 2013-09-11 2015-03-23 株式会社リコー 用紙積載装置、用紙後処理装置及び画像形成装置
US20170010582A1 (en) * 2015-07-08 2017-01-12 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Cooling device and image forming apparatus incorporating the cooling device

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001122490A (ja) * 1999-10-28 2001-05-08 Canon Inc 画像形成装置
JP2014114115A (ja) * 2012-12-10 2014-06-26 Ricoh Co Ltd シート排出装置、シート処理装置、画像形成装置
JP2016033545A (ja) * 2014-07-31 2016-03-10 キヤノン株式会社 画像形成装置

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5190276A (en) * 1990-03-13 1993-03-02 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Sheet feeding apparatus
US5956554A (en) * 1995-03-25 1999-09-21 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Sheet drying prevention device
US20010046398A1 (en) * 1998-09-21 2001-11-29 Jun Horikoshi Image forming apparatus
US20050163615A1 (en) * 2004-01-23 2005-07-28 Chheda Sachin N. Redundant fan system in a turbo cooler assembly
JP2015054743A (ja) * 2013-09-11 2015-03-23 株式会社リコー 用紙積載装置、用紙後処理装置及び画像形成装置
US20170010582A1 (en) * 2015-07-08 2017-01-12 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Cooling device and image forming apparatus incorporating the cooling device

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