JPH09188465A - Recording paper placing device and image forming device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a paper discharge tray from being an obstacle, prevent dust from entering through a paper discharge port, and provide a neat design. SOLUTION: During formation of a non-image, and a paper discharge port is closed by a paper discharge tray 12. At the same time when it is detected by a paper discharge sensor 11 that a recording paper is discharged, the paper discharge port is released, and the paper discharge tray 12 is moved to a paper take-out position. Thereafter, when a recording paper is removed from the discharge paper tray 12, the recording paper is detected by a recording paper sensor 17, and the paper discharge tray 12 is returned to a first position based on a command from a CPU 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic copying machine,
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile and a printer, and more particularly to a recording sheet placing device that places a recording sheet such as a paper on which an image or character information is recorded at the time of discharging, and an image forming device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording sheet placing device of this type of image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, as shown in FIG. (Shown) is provided, and a loading tray 51 is attached to the sheet discharge port in a substantially horizontal direction, or a loading space 53 for loading a printing sheet, which is a printing sheet, on an upper surface 52a of a housing 52 as shown in FIG. There was a structure with.

In addition to the above, recently, there is provided a structure in which a space for mounting the recording paper is provided inside the housing, and further, a recording sheet is mounted such that the recording paper is ejected in a substantially vertical direction in order to save space. There is also a storage device.

Further, the sheet discharge port of the housing to which the loading tray is attached has a structure such that the static eliminator and the discharge roller can be seen from the outside so as to prevent the recording paper from clinging to the discharge roller.

[0005]

However, when the conventional recording sheet stacking device has a structure as shown in FIG. 6, it is mounted on a device for frequently forming an image and discharging a large amount of recording paper. In such a case, even if the recording paper loading tray 51 projects from the housing 50, the loading tray 51 is less likely to be a hindrance, but image formation is not performed so much. In the case where the mounting tray 51 is mounted on another device, the space where the mounting tray 51 projects from the housing 50 is occupied, which causes a problem that it becomes an obstacle. For this reason, the loading tray 51 is often disposed at a position where the handling priority is lower than the operating unit of the image forming apparatus when in use, and there is a problem that recording paper is difficult to remove. Further, if the mounting tray 51 is erroneously contacted, the mounting tray 51 may be detached from the housing 50, or at worst, the mounting tray 51 may be broken.

Further, in the case of the structure as shown in FIG. 7, it is difficult to dispose a flat bed type scanner or the like on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus.

Further, since the sheet discharge port is always open in the case of FIGS. 6 and 7, dust is not generated in the image forming apparatus installed in a place where many people come in and out. Since it enters through the sheet discharge port, there is a problem that it is likely to cause a failure. Then, depending on the case, there is a risk of mischief such as dust being put in the sheet discharge port of the housing.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the invention according to claim 1 is such that the sheet placing member becomes an obstacle or dust enters from the sheet discharge port. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording sheet placing device and an image forming apparatus using the recording sheet placing device that are designed to obtain a neat design.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the object of the first aspect of the present invention, a recording sheet placing device and a recording sheet placing device for ejecting the recording sheet substantially horizontally so as to be easily taken out. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus using the.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in place of the object of the first aspect of the invention, the apparatus main body is configured to open and close the sheet placing member so that the recording sheet is placed substantially vertically at the time of discharging. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording sheet placing device and an image forming apparatus using the recording sheet placing device that reduce the required area.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the recording sheet stacking apparatus according to the present invention ejects a recording sheet on which an image or character information is recorded. And a sheet placing member for placing the recording sheet ejected by the sheet ejecting means in a sheet ejecting port of the image forming apparatus main body. Sheet discharge detecting means for detecting the discharge of the recording sheet from the recording sheet, recording sheet detecting means for detecting whether or not the recording sheet exists on the sheet placing member, and the sheet discharge detecting means for detecting the recording sheet. When the discharge of the sheet is detected, the sheet discharge port is opened and the sheet placing member is operated so that the recording sheet can be taken out. Characterized by comprising a control means for operating said sheet placing member so as to close the sheet discharge port by removing the sheet.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the sheet mounting member is pulled out substantially horizontally from the sheet discharging port of the image forming apparatus main body in a state where the recording sheet is mounted to open the sheet discharging port. Alternatively, the recording sheet may be stored in the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet discharge port may be closed by removing the recording sheet.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the sheet placing member rotates so as to open the sheet ejection port while the recording sheet is placed substantially vertically when the recording sheet is ejected. The structure is such that the recording sheet is rotated so as to close the sheet discharge port by removing the recording sheet.

An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is provided with an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording sheet and a sheet discharge port of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the image forming unit stores image and character information. A recording sheet placing device for ejecting a recorded recording sheet, and a recording sheet placing device having a sheet placing member for placing the recording sheet ejected by the sheet ejecting means. A sheet discharging detection unit that detects discharging of the recording sheet from the sheet discharge port by the sheet discharging unit, and a recording that detects whether or not the recording sheet exists on the sheet mounting member. When the sheet detection unit and the sheet discharge detection unit detect the discharge of the recording sheet, the sheet discharge port is opened and the recording sheet can be taken out. A control means for operating the sheet placing member and controlling the operation of the sheet placing member so as to close the sheet discharge port by removing the recording sheet from the sheet placing member. Characterize.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the image forming apparatus, the sheet placing member is pulled out substantially horizontally from the sheet ejecting port of the image forming apparatus main body while the recording sheet is placed, and the sheet is ejected. The structure is such that the outlet is opened and the recording sheet is removed to be stored in the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet discharge port is closed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the sheet placing member opens the sheet ejection port with the recording sheet placed substantially vertically when the recording sheet is ejected. It is a structure that rotates and rotates so as to close the sheet discharge port by removing the recording sheet.

[Operation] Based on the above construction, the invention according to claim 1 discharges the recording sheet by closing the sheet discharge port by the sheet placing member during non-image formation. Upon detection by the detection means, at the same time, the sheet discharge port is opened and the sheet placing member moves to the sheet take-out position. After that, when the recording sheet is removed from the sheet placing member, the recording sheet detecting means detects this, and the sheet placing member returns to the initial position.

In this case, according to the second aspect of the invention, the sheet mounting member is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body or stored in the image forming apparatus main body so that the recording sheet is ejected substantially horizontally. This makes it easier to take the recording sheet.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sheet placing member is opened and closed so that the recording sheet is placed substantially vertically when discharged. As a result, the area required by the image forming apparatus to which the recording sheet placing device is attached can be reduced.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1A shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
Is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sheet placing member of the embodiment is stored, and FIG. 6B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sheet placing member is also pulled out. FIG. 2 (a)
6B is a perspective view showing a state in which the sheet placing member is also housed, and FIG. 9B is a perspective view showing a state in which the sheet placing member is also pulled out. FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the recording sheet placing device.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, reference numeral 1 is an image forming apparatus, 2 is an image forming apparatus main body (housing), and a housing 3 is provided with a display 3 with an operation section for displaying and inputting data. It is provided. Reference numeral 4 denotes an image forming unit (image forming unit), which will be described later, for forming an image on the recording sheet P which is a recording sheet. The image forming unit 4 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is configured as shown in FIG. A recording paper cassette 5 is provided on the bottom surface of the housing 2. Reference numeral 7 denotes a sheet discharge port formed on the side surface of the housing 2 for discharging the recording paper P. The sheet discharge port 7 is provided with a discharge roller pair 8 as a sheet discharging unit for discharging the recording paper P. Has been. Then, the power of the paper discharge motor 9 is transmitted to the discharge roller pair 8 via the timing belt 10 to rotate.

The above-mentioned image forming section 4 is composed of a cylindrical photosensitive member 3.
A primary charger 34 that uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 30 to a predetermined negative potential around the circumference of 0 in the order of rotation, and the surface of the charged photoconductor 30 is image-exposed and electrostatically charged. A laser exposure device 35 that forms a latent image, a developing device 31 that adheres toner to the electrostatic latent image to develop it, a transfer charger 32 that transfers the toner image on the photoconductor 30 onto the recording paper P, and a transfer charger after transfer. A cleaner 33 for removing the transfer residual toner on the photoconductor 30 is arranged. Further, a fixing unit 6 for fixing the unfixed toner image transferred onto the recording paper P is provided on the downstream side of the image forming unit 4.

The surface of the photoconductor 30 is uniformly charged to a predetermined negative potential by the primary charger 34. Next, the laser exposure device 35 receives the laser light irradiation based on the image information to remove the electric charge in the irradiated portion and form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. Toner contained in the developing device 31 is attached to the electrostatic latent image and developed as a toner image. After that, the toner image on the photoconductor 30 is
The transfer charger 32 takes the sheets one by one from the recording paper cassette 5 by the paper feed roller 36 and transfers the recording paper P onto the recording paper P supplied from the registration rollers 37 to the photoconductor 30. The toner image transferred onto the recording paper P is fixed in the fixing unit 6. On the other hand, after the toner image is transferred, the residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor 30 is removed by a cleaner to prepare for the next image formation.

A discharge sensor 11 is a sheet discharge detecting means for detecting the discharge of the recording paper P. When the discharge sensor 11 detects the discharge of the recording paper P, a discharge tray 12 is a sheet placing member. The tray driving motor 13 is operated so that the tray is projected from the housing 2. That is, when the paper discharge sensor 11 detects the discharge of the recording paper P, the control means C
The tray drive motor 13 is rotated by a command from the PU 14.

A rack 12a is integrally formed on the bottom side of the paper discharge tray 12 on which the recording paper P is placed, and a rising portion 12b for closing the sheet discharge port 7 is provided at the leading end. Has been formed. Guides 15 for sliding the paper discharge tray 12 are provided on both inner sides of the housing 2, and the rotation of the tray drive motor 13 is transmitted to the intermediate gear 16 to output the paper through the rack 12a. 12 is slid along the guide 15 to be pulled out from the housing 2 or stored.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a recording sheet sensor as a recording sheet detecting means for detecting whether or not the recording sheet P is present on the discharge tray 12, and when the recording sheet sensor 17 detects the presence of the recording sheet P. , CPU 14 issues a command to operate the tray drive motor 13.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a tray sensor as a mounting member detecting means for detecting that the discharge tray 12 is at the home position where it is stored.
When the presence of the discharge tray 12 is detected by the CP, the CP is issued to issue a command to stop the reverse rotation of the tray drive motor 13.
Send a detection signal to U14.

Next, the operation will be described.

When an output image is selected by the display 3 with an operating section and an image is formed by this, the image forming section 4 is activated by an instruction from a personal computer (not shown) or the like. The image forming unit 4 takes out one recording sheet P from the recording sheet cassette 5 and forms an image on the recording sheet P.
The recording paper P on which an image has been formed is conveyed to the paper discharge roller pair 8 through the fixing unit 6. When the paper ejection sensor 11 detects that the recording paper P has been ejected to the paper ejection roller pair 8, the paper ejection motor 9 starts rotating in the direction in which the recording paper P is ejected, and almost at the same time. 13 is rotated and the paper discharge tray 12 is pulled out from the housing 2. In this case, the rotation of the tray drive motor 13 rotates slightly faster than the rotation of the paper discharge motor 9, so that the leading end of the recording paper P does not come into contact with the rising portion 12b which is the leading end of the paper discharge tray 12.

As a result, the recording paper P is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 12 pulled out from the housing 2 through the sheet discharge port 7. The recording paper sensor 17 detects the presence of the recording paper P on the paper discharge tray 12.

Thereafter, when the recording paper sensor 17 detects that the recording paper P has been removed from the paper ejection tray 12, the tray drive motor 13 rotates in the reverse direction, and the paper ejection tray 12 moves in the storage direction. Then, when the tray sensor 18 detects that the discharge tray 12 is housed in the housing 2, the tray driving motor 13 stops rotating. In this state, the rising portion 12b of the paper discharge tray 12 closes the sheet discharge port 7 of the housing 2.

In the description of the present embodiment, the paper discharge motor 9 for discharging the recording paper P and the tray drive motor 13 for sliding the paper discharge tray 12 are provided. By using an electromagnetic clutch or the like, one motor may be used to both discharge the recording paper P and slide the discharge tray 12. By doing so, the housing 2 can be downsized and the cost can be reduced. Can be achieved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the image formation is described by using the electrophotographic recording method, but it goes without saying that the electrostatic recording method may be used. <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the structure of the sheet mounting member, and the other components are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the structure of the sheet mounting member will be described. To do.

That is, according to the second embodiment, the lid for opening and closing the sheet ejection port 7 is the sheet ejection cover 20 in which the sheet placing member is used.
As shown in FIG. 5, the paper discharge lid 20 is formed in an inverted L shape having a lid portion 20a and a mounting portion 20b that is bent substantially at right angles to the lid portion 20a. A fulcrum 21 is provided on the bent portion 20c and the fulcrum 21
The paper discharge lid 20 is configured to open and close around the. Further, a rack 20d is integrally formed on the bottom surface side of the mounting portion 20b,
A pinion 22 rotated by the tray driving motor 13 is meshed with the rack 20d.

Next, the operation will be described.

The recording paper P on which an image is formed is conveyed to the paper discharge roller pair 8 through the fixing section 6. Ejection roller pair 8
The discharge sensor 11 indicates that the recording paper P has been discharged up to
Is detected, the paper discharge motor 9 starts rotating in the direction in which the recording paper P is discharged, and substantially at the same time, the tray drive motor 1
3 rotates and the paper discharge lid 20 opens the sheet discharge port 7. In this case, the rotation of the tray drive motor 13 rotates slightly faster than the rotation of the paper discharge motor 9, so that the leading end of the recording paper P does not come into contact with the lid portion 20a which is the leading end portion of the paper discharge lid 20. However, when the paper discharge lid 20 is opened by a predetermined angle, the rack 20d and the pinion 22 are disengaged from each other and cannot be opened any further. Therefore, the recording paper P still ejected by the rotation of the paper ejection motor 9
Comes into contact with the lid portion 20a at an angle, and the recording paper P
The tip of the will rise diagonally along the lid 20a. Then, when the rear end of the recording paper P comes off the paper discharge roller pair 8, the rear end of the recording paper P falls on the mounting portion 20b, and the recording paper P is mounted in a substantially vertical state.

Thereafter, when the recording paper sensor 17 detects that the recording paper P has been removed from the paper discharge lid 20, the tray drive motor 13 rotates in the reverse direction, and the paper discharge lid 20 closes the sheet discharge port 7. Then, the tray sensor 18 is replaced by the paper discharge lid 20.
When the blockage is detected, the tray drive motor 13 stops rotating.

[0039]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the sheet placing member projects or is stored in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the sheet placing member does not interfere when not in use. Therefore, there is an effect that it has a clean design, and that dust or the like does not enter from the sheet discharge port, so that it is not mischievous.

According to the invention of claim 2, the first
In addition to the effect of the invention described above, the recording sheet can be easily taken out by ejecting the recording sheet substantially horizontally.

According to the invention described in claim 3, the first
In addition to the effect of the invention described above, since the recording sheet is placed almost vertically on the sheet placing member when ejected, there is an effect that the area required by the apparatus main body can be reduced even when the apparatus is used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 1A is a schematic sectional view showing a state in which a sheet placing member is housed, and FIG. 1B is a state in which the sheet placing member is pulled out. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state which was opened.

2A and 2B also show the first embodiment, FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a state in which a sheet placing member is housed, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a state in which the sheet placing member is pulled out. is there.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the recording sheet stacking device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a recording sheet placing device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Description of Reference Signs] 2 Image Forming Apparatus Main Body 4 Image Forming Means (Image Forming Section) 7 Sheet Ejection Port 8 Ejection Roller Pair 11 Sheet Emission Detection Means (Paper Ejection Sensor) 12 Sheet Placement Member (Paper Ejection Tray) 14 Control Means (CPU) 17 recording sheet detecting means (recording paper sensor) 20 sheet placing member (paper discharge lid) P recording sheet (recording paper)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sheet ejecting unit for ejecting a recording sheet on which an image or character information is recorded, and a sheet placing member for placing the recording sheet ejected by the sheet ejecting unit. In a recording sheet stacking device provided at an exit, a sheet discharge detection unit that detects discharge of the recording sheet from the sheet discharge port by the sheet discharge unit, and whether the recording sheet exists on the sheet mounting member. Recording sheet detection means for detecting whether the recording sheet is discharged or not, and when the sheet discharge detection means detects discharge of the recording sheet, the sheet discharge port is opened and the sheet mounting member is operated so that the recording sheet can be taken out. , The operation of the sheet placing member to close the sheet discharge port by removing the recording sheet from the sheet placing member. A recording sheet stacking device comprising: a control unit for controlling the recording sheet. 2. The sheet mounting member is pulled out substantially horizontally from the sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus main body to open the sheet discharge port or remove the recording sheet while the recording sheet is mounted. The recording sheet stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the recording sheet stacking device has a structure in which the sheet discharge port is closed by being housed in the image forming apparatus main body. 3. The sheet mounting member rotates so as to open the sheet discharge port while the recording sheet is mounted substantially vertically when the recording sheet is discharged, and the recording sheet is removed. The recording sheet stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the recording sheet stacking device is configured to rotate so as to close the sheet discharge port. 4. An image forming unit for forming an image on a recording sheet, and a sheet discharging unit provided at a sheet discharging port of the main body of the image forming apparatus for discharging a recording sheet on which an image and character information are recorded by the image forming unit. And an image forming apparatus including a recording sheet placing device having a sheet placing member for placing the recording sheet ejected by the sheet ejecting means, A sheet ejection detecting unit that detects ejection of the recording sheet from the sheet ejection port, a recording sheet detecting unit that detects whether or not the recording sheet exists on the sheet placing member, and a sheet ejection detecting unit. When the discharge of the recording sheet is detected, the sheet discharge port is opened and the sheet placing member is moved so that the recording sheet can be taken out. Together is, and a control means for controlling the operation of the sheet placing member so as to close the sheet discharge port by removing the recording sheet from the sheet placing member, the image forming apparatus characterized by. 5. The sheet mounting member is pulled out substantially horizontally from the sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus main body in a state where the recording sheet is mounted to open the sheet discharge port or remove the recording sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is housed in the image forming apparatus main body to close the sheet discharge port. 6. The sheet placing member is rotated so as to open the sheet ejection port while the recording sheet is placed substantially vertically when the recording sheet is ejected, and the recording sheet is removed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to rotate so as to close the sheet discharge port.