JP2000229745A - Paper conveyance device and picture image formation device provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent deformation and breakage of a movable chute, improve the workability at the time of jam removal while increasing sheet visual confirmation property and jam removal property, and reduce cost. SOLUTION: This paper conveyance device is provided with a movable chute 41 constituting a lower part of a paper conveyance path 35a through which paper passes and capable of being opened downward and connection members 47, 53 whose one end side is connected with a fixed side 40 higher than the movable chute 41 and the other end side is connected with the movable chute 41. The connection members 47, 53 include an elastic means 53 generating a tensile force increasing as an open angle of the movable chute 41 increases in the connection members 47, 53. A section between one end side and the other end side of the connection members 47, 53 comes into contact with a part 43f of the movable chute by the tensile force generated by the elastic means 53, and the movable chute 41 is energized in the direction of closing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device and an image forming apparatus having the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is provided with a sheet conveying device for conveying a sheet to or from an image forming section. As shown in FIG. 9B, the paper transport device includes a fixed chute 81 that forms an upper part of a paper transport path 80 through which a sheet passes, and a lower part of the paper transport path 80 that is disposed to face the lower part of the fixed chute 81. And a movable chute 8 that can be opened downward to take out the paper jammed in the paper transport path 80.
And 2. 9 and FIG. 10 and FIG.
In the figure, the left side in the figure is the front side of the copying machine, and the paper is transported in the paper transport path 80 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The movable chute 82 has its rear side (right side in the figure) pivotally attached to the fixed side of the copying machine main body, and its front side is the open side.

In this paper transport apparatus, on the open side,
A tape-shaped member (or a wire-shaped member) 83 having one end fixed to the fixed chute 81 and the other end fixed to the movable chute 82 is provided. When the movable chute 82 is opened downward, FIG. As shown in a), the tape-shaped member 83 is stretched by the weight of the movable chute 82 to stop the movable chute 82, whereby the maximum open position of the movable chute 82 is determined.

[0004] However, in the paper transporting apparatus configured as described above, when the movable chute 82 is opened and the movable chute 82 reaches the maximum open position due to its own weight, the impact is large, and the movable chute 82 is deformed. And may cause breakage. When the movable chute 82 is closed, the tape-shaped member 83 is loosened and the fixed chute 81 and the movable chute 82 are closed as shown in FIG.
And attached parts, the movable chute 82
There is also a problem that the movable chute 82 does not normally open when the camera is opened. To solve this problem, it is sufficient to increase the size of the apparatus, but this is not preferable because it goes against the recent trend of downsizing.

To solve such a problem, there is known a paper transport apparatus shown in FIG. In this paper transport apparatus, instead of the tape-shaped member 83, the other end of one of the two link members 84, 85 having one end pivotally connected thereto is pivotally connected to the fixed chute 81, The other end of the other link member 85 is pivotally connected to the movable chute 82, and the link members 84 and 85 are connected to each other by a tension spring 86. The maximum open position of the movable chute 82 is such that when the movable chute 82 is opened and the link members 84 and 85 are opened, one end of one link member 84 turns to a stopper 85 a provided on one end of the other link member 85. It is determined by moving and contacting. By the action of the tension spring 86, the impact when the movable chute 82 is opened is reduced.

[0006]

Here, in this paper conveying apparatus, the weight of the movable chute 82 and the urging force of the tension spring 86 are adjusted so that the impact is reliably reduced when the movable chute 82 is opened. The balance position is set to a position (a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 10) before the movable chute 82 reaches a maximum open position (a position indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 10). That is, when the movable chute 82 is released, the movable chute 82 is moved by its own weight as shown in FIG.
The impact is alleviated at the position of the balance shown by the solid line, and the operation is stopped.

However, when the movable chute 82 stops at the above-mentioned balanced position, the movable chute 8
2 has a small opening angle, and thus has a problem that the sheet visibility and the jam removal property are poor. When the movable chute 82 is further lowered by hand to open to the maximum open position in order to solve these problems, the movable chute 82 returns to the above-mentioned balanced position by the urging force of the tension spring 86 when the hand is released. Therefore, it is necessary to hold the movable chute 82 at the maximum open position by hand, and the paper must be removed with one hand, and there is a problem that workability at the time of jam removal is poor. In addition, since the link mechanism has a pivotal portion and the like and has a complicated configuration, there is a problem that the cost of the apparatus is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to alleviate the impact when the movable chute is released, prevent the movable chute from being deformed and damaged, and improve the sheet visibility and the jam removal property. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet transporting device that can improve workability at the time of removing a jam, and that can simplify the configuration and reduce cost, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet transporting device which forms a lower portion of a sheet transporting path through which a sheet passes, and has a movable chute which can be opened downward and one end connected to a fixed side above the movable chute. And a connecting member, the other end of which is connected to the movable chute.
The elastic member includes an elastic member that causes the connecting member to generate a tension that increases as the opening angle of the movable chute increases. The tension between the one end and the other end of the connecting member includes a tension generated by the elastic member. The movable chute is biased in the closing direction while the part contacts a part of the movable chute.

According to the paper transport apparatus having the above-described configuration, when the movable chute constituting the lower portion of the paper transport path is opened to the fixed side, the movable chute is connected to the movable chute by its own weight. The contact portion and the connecting member are opened downward while relatively sliding at the contact portion with the member. Here, in the contact portion, since a frictional resistance force increases as the tension force by the elastic means increases against the tension force, the frictional resistance force, the own weight of the movable chute, and the tension by the elastic means. By setting the position of the movable chute where the forces are balanced to a position before reaching the maximum opening position of the movable chute, the opening of the movable chute due to its own weight is stopped at this position. At this time, the impact when the movable chute is released is reduced by the elastic means. Furthermore, when the operator lowers the movable chute to the maximum open position by hand, the tension by the elastic means increases,
Accordingly, the frictional resistance increases, so that even if the user releases his hand at the maximum open position, the movable chute stays at the maximum open position and does not rise upward. Also, the above configuration
It is simpler than when a link mechanism is used.

[0011] Here, as a specific configuration preferable to exhibit such an action, for example, the connecting member includes a contact member formed of a tape-like member or a wire-like member having one end connected to a fixed side, and a movable chute. And a resilient means for acting on the other end of the contact member to apply a tension to the contact member, wherein the contact portion of the movable chute with the contact member is on the front side of the movable chute. The elastic member is provided on the rear side of the movable chute, and the contact member having one end connected to the fixed side is in contact with the contact portion provided on the front side of the movable chute. A configuration is employed in which the side is connected to the elastic means at the rear side of the movable chute.

Preferably, the elastic means is arranged on the lower surface side of the movable chute.

When such a configuration is adopted, since the elastic means is not disposed on the upper surface side of the movable chute which defines the paper transport path, the paper transport is not hindered.
In addition, the movable chute is generally provided with a pair of transport rolls whose upper portions are exposed on the upper surface side of the movable chute on the lower surface side of the movable chute. An elastic means is provided between the pair of transport rolls. The placement eliminates dead space.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a copying machine (image forming apparatus) provided with a sheet conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The copying machine is a color copying machine capable of performing double-sided copying.

As shown schematically in FIG. 1, this copying machine is an automatic document feeder provided so as to openably and closably cover a copying machine body 1 and a copy glass 3 installed on the upper surface of the copying machine body 1. And 2.

An image of a moving document conveyed on the copy glass 3 by the automatic document feeder 2 or a fixed document placed on the copy glass 3 is read into an image signal inside the copier body 1. A document reading section 4 for conversion, an image forming section 5 for forming a visible image on a sheet based on an image signal from the document reading section 4, and a sheet feeding section for supplying a sheet to the image forming section 5 6 are provided.

The original reading section 4 includes an image sensor 19 such as a CCD for receiving reflected light of a moving or fixed original illuminated by a light source 7 such as a halogen lamp through lenses 8 to 10, and the image sensor 19. And an image processing processor unit 20 for performing predetermined image processing on the obtained information.

The paper feed section 6 is provided at the lower portion of the copying machine main body 1 and includes a plurality of paper feed trays 30a, 30b, 30c,
30d. The paper feed trays 30a to 30d are for stacking and storing sheets by size or type, and are removably mounted on the copier main body 1 in a line up and down. Then, any of the paper feed trays 30a to 30d
The paper is sent from.

The lower feed trays 30a to 30c are capable of storing large-sized paper Pa, and leave a space in which a paper reversing section 34 described later is disposed between the paper feeder 30 and the side wall of the copying machine body 1. It is arranged almost completely in the width direction of the machine main body 1 (horizontal direction in the drawing).

The uppermost sheet feeding tray 30d is smaller than the lower sheet feeding trays 30a to 30c for accommodating frequently used A4 size paper Pb, for example. By arranging the paper feed tray 30d above the paper feed trays 30a to 30c capable of storing the large paper Pa in the lower tier, the printout speed of the first frequently used A4-size paper Pb can be improved. (First Print Out Speed) has been improved.

In the following description, any one of the symbols Pa and Pb is used to specify the paper, and the paper P is used to generically refer to the paper without specifying the paper.

The paper P is picked up one by one by a pickup roll 3.
The paper is sent out toward the resist roll 31 by 2.
The registration roll 31 is moved from the lowermost sheet feeding tray 30a to the registration roll 31.
A sheet conveying path 33 is formed between the sheet feeding path 33 and the sheet Pa of the lowermost sheet feeding tray 30a is conveyed along the entire length of the sheet conveying path 33 to reach the registration roll 31, and the sheet feeding above it is performed. The paper P in the trays 30 b to 30 d joins along the paper transport path 33 and is transported to reach the registration roll 31.

The image forming section 5 emits a laser beam modulated by an image signal from the image processing processor section 20, a laser exposure section 21, a charging device 22 such as a charging trocolon, and charged by the charging device 22. The laser beam from the laser exposure unit 21 is
A photosensitive drum (electrostatic latent image carrier) 23 that is exposed by receiving light via the light source 12 and toners of four colors of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) ( Toner supply device 1 for containing and supplying each of the developer
3 to 16 and the four color toners supplied from the toner supply devices 13 to 16 are transferred to the photosensitive drum 23, so that the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 23 by the above-described exposure is colored. A rotary developing device 24 for visualizing or developing the image.

The image forming section 5 further includes an intermediate transfer belt 25 to which the image developed on the photosensitive drum 23 is transferred, and an image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 25 by the registration roll 31 to form a sheet. A transfer device 26 composed of a transfer roll or the like for transferring a sheet P fed between the intermediate transfer belt 25 with the posture and the conveyance timing, and a fixing device for fixing an image transferred on the sheet P to the sheet P 27, and a cleaning device 28 that collects toner remaining on the photoconductor 23 after the transfer.

The paper P on which the image is fixed by the fixing device 27 is discharged to the discharge tray 29 via the discharge conveyance path 36 in the case of one-sided copying.

In the middle of the paper discharge conveyance path 36, a paper reversing section 34 that branches off from the paper discharge conveyance path 36 and extends downward is connected. The sheet reversing unit 34 is provided at the lower sheet feeding tray 30a.
30c and the side wall 1a of the copier body 1,
When the sheet P enters the sheet reversing section 34, the leading end and the trailing end of the sheet are reversed. This paper reversing unit 3
Paper transport paths 35a and 35b are formed between the upper part of the roller 4 and the registration roll 31. Paper transport path 35
a is arranged on the side of the uppermost sheet feeding tray 30d, and the sheet conveying path 35b is arranged above the uppermost sheet feeding tray 30d.

In the case of double-sided copying, the fixing device 2
7 is sent to the sheet reversing unit 34, where the leading and trailing ends of the sheet P are reversed.
Is transported through the paper transport paths 35a and 35b, so that the sheet P is turned upside down and reaches the registration roll 31.
Thereafter, the image is formed and fixed on the back side in the same manner as the case of the front side, and the sheet P on which the image is formed on both sides is discharged to the discharge tray 29 via the discharge conveyance path 36.

The paper transport path 35a and the paper transport path 35b
Is provided with a paper transport device. The paper transport device of the paper transport path 35a will be described below as a representative. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the paper transport device according to the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the paper transport device of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing components of the sheet conveying device shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a mounting portion of a movable chute to which the device is mounted, (b) is a perspective view showing a stop member, and (c) is a perspective view showing a latch hook portion.

As shown in FIG.
A flat fixed chute 40 that forms the upper part of the paper transport path 35a through which the paper P passes, and a lower part of the paper transport path 35a that is disposed opposite to and below the fixed chute 40 and that is jammed in the paper transport path 35a. A substantially flat movable chute 4 that can be opened downward to take out the paper P
And 1. The movable chute 41 has a rear side (right side in the figure) on the fixed side of the copier body 1 or on the fixed chute 4.
It is pivoted to 0 and the front side is open.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a fixed shaft 45 whose axis is parallel to the paper transport direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2) is stretched over the front side of the movable chute 41. The latch hook 43 shown in FIG. 6C is rotatably supported on the fixed shaft 45. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the latch hook 43 is disposed so as to be inserted into an opening 44 opened in the movable chute 41.

3 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the torsion coil spring 46 is disposed so as to wind therearound. As shown in FIG. 4, the torsion coil spring 46 has one end 46a fixed to the movable chute 41 and the other end 46b fixed to the lower end rear portion 43b of the latch hook portion 43. Due to the urging force of the torsion coil spring 46, the latch hook 43 is urged clockwise in FIG.

The upper part of the latch hook part 43 is
As shown in FIG. 4, a hook 43a is provided.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the hook portion 43a projects upward through the opening 44 that allows the hook portion 43a to rotate when the latch hook portion 43 rotates around the fixed shaft 45. As shown in FIG. 2, it is further projected upward through an opening 40 a opened in the fixed chute 40, and is configured to be able to be locked to an edge of the opening 40 a of the fixed chute 40.

At the front end of the movable chute 41, an open / close lever 42 is provided as shown in FIGS. The rear side of the opening / closing lever 42 is, as shown in FIGS.
It is rotatably supported by the fixed shaft 45. As shown in FIG. 4, the opening / closing lever 42 is disposed such that its rear end 42 a contacts the lower end rear 43 b of the latch hook 43 from below.

That is, when the open / close lever 42 is lowered downward against the urging force of the torsion coil spring 46, the open / close lever 4
2, the rear end 42a rotates counterclockwise in FIG.
As a result, the latch hook portion 43 also rotates in the same direction, so that the hook portion 43a is unlocked from the fixed chute 40. When the movable chute 41 is closed, the inclined portion 43 c formed on the locking side of the hook portion 43 a is formed at the edge of the opening 40 a of the fixed chute 40 against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 46. When the hook 43a slides counterclockwise in FIG. 4 while protruding upward from the opening 40a of the fixed chute 40, the hook 43a is biased by the torsion coil spring 46 so that the hook 43a is fixed. It is configured to be locked to 40.

At the front of the latch hook 43, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 (c), a projection 4 having an opening 43d is provided.
3e is provided. One end of a contact member 47 made of a tape-like member is fixed to the front side of the fixed chute 40. The fixing portion at one end of the contact member 47 is further disposed on the front side than the latch hook portion 43 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the contact member 47 has an R-shaped lower surface (a part of the movable chute 41; 43f)
The movable chute 41 is disposed so as to face the rear side while contacting with the contact.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a transport roll 48 for transporting the paper P is provided on the lower surface side of the movable chute 41. The transport roll 48 is a driven roll, and is arranged so that the upper part thereof is exposed on the upper surface side of the movable chute 41. The transport roll set is composed of two transport rolls 48, 48 spaced apart in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3) of the copying machine main body 1, and is respectively disposed before and after in the sheet transport direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3). Be placed.

A channel shape (U-shape) is provided between the pair of transport rolls on the lower surface side of the movable chute 41.
Is fixed so as to cover the lower surface side of the movable chute 41. The cover portion 49 is arranged such that the open end on the front side faces the lower end rear portion 43b of the latch hook portion 43 and extends along the lower surface of the movable chute 41. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 (a), at the front open end, a stop mating member 50 for closing the front open end and having an opening 50a is provided. Be attached. Contact member 4
The other end of the opening 7 is provided with the opening 5 as shown in FIGS.
0a is introduced into the cover part 49.

The other end of the contact member 47 introduced into the cover portion 49 is sandwiched by a stop member 51 shown in FIG. 6B, and as shown in FIG. Screwed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a tension spring (elastic means) 53 is disposed on the rear side of the cover 49. One end of the tension spring 53 is connected to the stopping member 5 by the screw 52.
1 is fastened together with the other end of the contact member 47,
The other end of the tension spring 53 is fixed to a closing member 54 that closes an open end on the rear side of the cover 49. Therefore,
The tension spring 53 and the contact member 47 are
One end is connected to the fixed chute 40, and the other end corresponds to a connecting member connected to the movable chute 41.

The contact member 47 includes a tension spring 53
Contact portion 43 of the latch hook portion 43 by the urging force of
The movable chute 41 is urged in the closing direction while being in a state of being tensioned (tensed) while being in contact with f. The urging force of the tension spring 53 against the contact member 47 (the tension of the contact member 47) increases as the opening angle of the movable chute 41 increases. The maximum open position of the movable chute 41 is determined by the stop member 51 on the moving side abutting against the stop member 50 on the fixed side and the stop member 51 stops. (See the phantom line in FIG. 2).

Next, the operation of the paper transport device having such a configuration will be described. When the opening / closing lever 42 is manually operated to release the locking of the movable chute 41 with respect to the fixed chute 40, the movable chute 41 causes the contact portion 43f of the latch hook portion 43 to contact with the contact member 47f by its own weight. And slide relatively,
It is opened downward.

Here, in the contact portion 43f, a frictional resistance force that increases as the urging force of the tension spring 53 increases increases against the urging force. Also,
In the present embodiment, the open position of the movable chute 41 where the frictional resistance at the contact portion 43f, the weight of the movable chute 41, and the urging force of the tension spring 53 are balanced is the position before the movable chute 41 reaches the maximum open position. Is set to

Therefore, at the position before the movable chute 41 reaches the maximum open position, the frictional resistance at the contact portion 43f,
The weight of the movable chute 41 and the urging force of the tension spring 53 are balanced, and the opening of the movable chute 41 due to its own weight is stopped. At this time, the impact when the movable chute 41 is opened is reduced by the tension spring 54. Therefore, deformation and breakage of the movable chute 41 can be prevented.

Here, when the operator further lowers the movable chute 41 by hand to the maximum open position shown by a virtual line in FIG.
Although the urging force of the tension spring 54 increases,
As a result, the frictional resistance at the contact portion 43f increases, so that even if the hand is released at the maximum open position, the movable chute 4
Numeral 1 stays at the maximum open position so as not to go up. For this reason, the workability at the time of jam removal can be improved while improving the sheet visibility and the jam removal property.

Further, the configuration of the paper conveying apparatus is simpler than that in the case where a link mechanism is used, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, a tension spring 54 is arranged on the lower surface side of the movable chute 41 so that the sheet conveyance is not hindered. Therefore, the paper P can be satisfactorily conveyed.

Further, the tension spring 54 is disposed between the pair of transport rolls to eliminate dead space. For this reason, the space can be effectively used.

In addition, in the paper transport device of the present embodiment,
The movable chute 41 can be normally opened without increasing the size of the apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing a main part of the paper conveying apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a side view of the main part of the paper conveying apparatus shown in FIG.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a tension spring 53 is used in place of the tension spring 53. As shown in FIG. 8, the mainspring-type spring 55 is disposed so as to wind around a rotary shaft 56 rotatably supported on the lower surface side of the movable chute 41, and one end thereof is fixed to the movable chute 41 side. The other end is fixed to the rotating shaft 56. The other end of the contact member 47 described above is fixed to a pulley 57 mounted on the rotating shaft 56, and the other end of the contact member 47 is wound around the pulley 57 by the biasing force of a mainspring spring 55. .

According to the paper transport apparatus of the second embodiment configured as described above, as the opening angle of the movable chute 41 increases, the mainspring spring 55 tightens to increase the pulling force on the contact member 47 ( Since the tension of the contact member 47 is increased), the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

The maximum open position of the movable chute 41 in the second embodiment is determined by eliminating the portion of the contact member 47 wound around the pulley 57.

As described above, the present invention has been specifically described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the contact member 47 is a tape-like member. However, it goes without saying that a wire-like member may be used instead. Further, the tension spring 53 may be replaced with a rubber member. Further, the contact member 47 and the entire tension spring 53 may be replaced by a rubber member (connection member), and one end of the rubber member may be connected to the fixed chute 40 and the other end may be connected to the movable chute 41. In this case, the rubber member as the elastic means
As the opening angle of the movable chute 41 increases, a tension that increases with the rubber member is generated.

Further, in the above embodiment, the contact member 47 is provided on the latch hook 43 provided on the movable chute 41.
Of the movable chute 41 or the movable chute 4
You may make it slide by making contact with one main body. In this case, it is preferable that the shape of the contact portion be an R shape so that the contact member 47 is not degraded due to sliding at the contact portion.

In the above embodiment, one end of the contact member 47 is connected to the fixed chute 40. However, the contact member 47 may be connected to a fixed side of the copying machine body 1 other than the fixed chute 40. good.

In the above embodiment, the transport roll 48 is provided on the movable chute 41. However, the present invention can be applied to a paper transport path having no transport roll 48.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example of application to a color copier capable of performing double-sided copying has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to other copiers. The present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile. That is, the paper transport apparatus of the present invention is applicable to all the paper transport paths through which the paper P heading toward the image forming unit 5 passes and the paper transport path through which the paper P from the image forming unit 5 passes.

[0057]

The paper conveying apparatus according to the present invention has a simple structure without using a complicated mechanism such as a link mechanism, and reduces the impact when the movable chute is released by elastic means.
By generating a frictional resistance against the tension caused by the elastic means between a part of the movable chute and the connecting member,
Even if the movable chute is lowered to the maximum open position below the position where the frictional resistance, the weight of the movable chute, and the tension by the elastic means are balanced, the movable chute remains at the maximum open position and does not rise upward. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent deformation and breakage of the movable chute, and it is possible to improve the workability at the time of jam removal while improving the sheet visibility and the jam removal property. It is also possible to reduce the cost.

By applying such a sheet conveying device, deformation and breakage of the movable chute can be prevented, and the workability at the time of jam removal can be improved while improving the sheet visibility and the jam removal property. In addition, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can reduce the cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front configuration diagram illustrating a copying machine including a sheet conveyance device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the sheet conveying device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the paper transport device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3;

6A and 6B are perspective views showing components of the paper transporting apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, wherein FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing a counterpart member for stopping and a mounting portion of a movable chute for mounting the same; )
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a stop member, and FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing a latch hook portion.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view illustrating a main part of a sheet conveying device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part of the sheet conveying device shown in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are side views showing a sheet conveying apparatus according to the related art, in which FIG. 9A is a state diagram when a movable chute is opened, and FIG. 9B is a state diagram when a movable chute is closed.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a paper transport apparatus according to another related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copier main body, 5 ... Image forming part, 35a, 35b ... Paper conveyance path, 40 ... Fixed chute (fixed side), 41 ... Movable chute, 43 ... Latch hook part, 43a ... Contact part (part of a movable chute) ), 47: contact member (tape member), 53: tension spring (elastic means), 55:
Mainspring spring (elastic means), Pa, Pb: paper.

Claims (4)

[Claims] A movable chute that forms a lower portion of a paper transport path through which the paper passes and that can be opened downward, one end of which is connected to a fixed side above the movable chute, and the other end of which is connected to the movable chute. A connecting member connected to the moving chute, the connecting member including elastic means for causing the connecting member to generate a tension that increases as an opening angle of the movable chute increases. A sheet conveying device wherein a portion between the one end side and the other end side of the connection member comes into contact with a part of the movable chute and the movable chute is urged in a closing direction by a force; . 2. The connecting member is provided on the movable chute, the contact member being a tape-like member or a wire-like member having one end connected to the fixed side, and acting on the other end of the contact member. The elastic means for applying a tension to the contact member, wherein a contact portion of the movable chute with the contact member is provided on an open side of the movable chute, which is a front side of the movable chute, and An elastic means is provided on the rear side of the movable chute, and the contact member having one end connected to the fixed side contacts the contact portion provided on the front side of the movable chute while the other end of the movable chute is connected to the fixed part. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rear portion is arranged to be connected to the elastic means.
Paper transport device according to the above. 3. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic means is disposed on a lower surface side of said movable chute. 4. An image forming section for forming an image on a sheet, and a sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sheet toward the image forming section or a sheet from the image forming section passes therethrough. An image forming apparatus comprising: