JP3438866B2 - Paper ejection mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to a paper processing apparatus such as a printer for performing a predetermined process such as a printing process on a paper, and a plurality of processed sheets. The present invention relates to a paper discharge mechanism provided with a paper discharge tray for stacking and storing sheets. 2. Description of the Related Art In a paper processing apparatus, such as an image forming apparatus such as a printer, which performs a predetermined process on a paper, the paper is exposed outside the apparatus in order to facilitate the handling of the processed paper. A paper discharge mechanism including a paper discharge tray is provided. The discharge tray is disposed downstream of the discharge port in the discharge direction. Like print processing for image data for multiple pages or print processing for multiple copies for single image data,
When processing is continuously performed on a plurality of sheets, a plurality of processed sheets sequentially discharged from a sheet discharge port are stacked and stored on a sheet discharge tray. [0003] As a conventional paper discharge mechanism provided with such a paper discharge tray, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-77339 discloses a conventional paper discharge mechanism in which one end is slidably provided above a discharge port and discharged from the discharge port. A first swinging member that contacts and guides the leading end of the set sheet, and a first swinging member that has one end swingably disposed at the other end of the first swinging member and presses the sheets stacked on the discharge tray. And a paper press made up of two swinging members, and the discharged paper is pressed against the upper surface of the paper discharge tray, so that even if the paper is curved in the paper discharge direction, a large number of papers can be stored in the paper discharge tray. There is disclosed a configuration in which the sheet can be easily stored. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-106551, a plurality of paper discharge roller pairs are provided in the axial direction, and a plurality of paper trailing end kickers are fixed to a lower roller shaft. A plurality of pressing members arranged at both sides in the axial direction and fixed to the fixing portion are provided, and the pressing member extends the pressing portion at the tip forward from between the shaft of the upper roller and the shaft of the lower roller, A configuration is disclosed in which a rear end of a sheet that has passed through a pair of sheet discharge rollers is wiped off by a sheet rear end kicker so that a plurality of sheets are surely overlapped on a sheet discharge tray. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-171816 discloses that a paper discharge roller which rotates clockwise by driving a driving source, and a projection belt which rotates counterclockwise while pressing against the paper discharge roller. To raise the paper while pushing up the pressing roller, and when the lowermost part of the raised paper reaches the paper discharging roller, the lower part of the paper is pressed against the paper discharging roller by its own weight or the spring force of the pressing roller, There is disclosed a configuration in which a slack at a lower portion of a sheet to be discharged is pressed to stably store the sheet in a sheet discharge tray. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-250897 discloses that a gate having a pair of rollers is arranged so as to be able to move up and down outside a paper discharge port, and the gate is moved up and down in a state where a sheet bundle is held between the pair of rollers. This makes it possible to move the paper bundle to the paper discharge tray and press the upper surface of the rear end of the paper bundle already stored by the pressing plate provided at the gate, so that a new paper bundle can be reliably formed. A configuration capable of being stored is disclosed. However, when a plurality of sheets sequentially discharged from a paper discharge port are stored in a stack on a paper discharge tray, for example, as shown in FIG.
If the punched hole 21 is punched in the sheet P ′ that is first discharged from the sheet discharge port 12 and positioned at the uppermost position on the sheet discharge tray 13, the sheet P discharged from the sheet discharge port 12 The front end of the sheet P 'is caught on the periphery of the punch hole 21 of the sheet P' located at the uppermost position on the sheet discharge tray 13, and the sheet P 'discharged earlier with the movement of the sheet P in the sheet discharge direction is discharged. The plurality of sheets pushed out in the paper direction and stacked on the sheet discharge tray 13 cannot be aligned with each other, or may fall from the sheet discharge tray 13 and be easily handled later. There is a problem that a plurality of sheets cannot be stored in the discharge tray 13. Further, in a paper processing apparatus such as a printer for performing a printing process on a paper, the ink constituting a print image is completely dried on the paper previously discharged from the paper discharge port with an increase in processing time. If the next sheet is not ejected, the next sheet may be ejected from the exit.In such a case, the front edge of the next sheet rubs against the image surface of the sheet that was ejected earlier, causing image distortion. There are problems that arise. In the above-described conventional configuration, these problems are not taken into consideration, and the storage state caused by the sheet stored at the top of the sheet discharge tray abutting the front end of the next sheet to be discharged. And deterioration of the processing state cannot be prevented. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to bend a sheet discharged from a sheet discharge port in a direction orthogonal to a sheet discharge direction, thereby forming a front end of a sheet discharged next to a sheet positioned at the top of a sheet discharge tray. So that some or all of the parts do not touch,
To provide a paper discharge mechanism capable of preventing deterioration of a storage state and a processing state caused by a sheet stored at an uppermost part of a paper discharge tray coming into contact with a front end of a sheet to be discharged next. is there. [0011] The present invention has the following arrangement as means for solving the above-mentioned problems. [0014] A plurality of sheets sequentially discharged from a paper discharge port are
The paper discharge tray located downstream of the paper discharge port in the paper discharge direction
In the paper sheet discharge mechanism for storing stacked on Lee, paper discharge side
Paper in the paper discharge direction
At both ends in the intersecting direction, the interval between the upstream ends is
The width of the paper is larger than the width of the paper
A pair of plate-shaped sides facing each other so as to be narrower than the width of the paper
Surface bending member and the sheet in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction.
An upper curved member abutting on a central portion of the upper surface.
You. In this configuration, a pair of plates are provided at both ends of the sheet moving upstream of the sheet discharge tray in the sheet discharge direction.
While the paper- like side curved member abuts over a predetermined range in the paper discharging direction, and the paper moves from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper discharging direction, the interval between both ends of the paper in the direction orthogonal to the paper discharging direction gradually increases. It becomes narrow. The paper is on the top in the center of the top
Since contact with the bending member, bending before being discharged to the discharge tray in a direction central portion of the downwardly convex in a direction perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction by the contact of a pair of plate-like side surface curved member While the paper discharged from the paper discharge port moves in the paper discharge direction above the paper discharge tray, the paper discharged from the paper discharge tray does not come into contact with the upper surface of the paper positioned at the uppermost part of the paper discharge tray, and is stored or processed. Does not occur. [0018] [0019] [0020] [Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the paper sheet discharge mechanism. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of a bending member included in the paper discharge mechanism. The paper discharge mechanism 1
A paper discharge roller 11 disposed at the end of a paper transport path in a paper processing apparatus such as a printer, a paper discharge port 12 formed on one side of the paper processing apparatus, and a paper discharge port 12 on one side of the paper processing apparatus. Output tray 1 mounted below
3 and an upper curved member 2 and a lower curved member 3 disposed between a paper discharge roller 11 and a paper discharge port 12 in the paper processing apparatus. The sheet subjected to the predetermined processing in the sheet processing apparatus passes between a pair of upper and lower rollers constituting the sheet discharging roller 11 and between the upper bending member 2 and the lower bending member 3 and has a discharge port. The paper 12 is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 13. The upper curving member 2 has a shape in a central portion in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction and is opposed to the upper surface of the sheet over a predetermined range in the sheet discharging direction. The lower curved member 3 has a shape facing the lower surface of the sheet over a predetermined range in the sheet discharging direction in substantially the entire area in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction. The upstream side of the lower surface of the upper curved member 2 in the sheet discharging direction (hereinafter, “upstream side in the sheet discharging direction”)
Is simply referred to as “upstream side”. ) The end 2a is the paper discharge roller 11.
Is located above the path of the sheet P that has passed through, and the downstream side of the lower surface of the upper curved member 2 in the sheet discharging direction (hereinafter, referred to as
The “downstream side in the sheet discharging direction” is simply referred to as “downstream side”. ) The end 2b is located below the path of the sheet P passing through the sheet discharging roller 11. That is, the lower surface of the upper bending member 2 is configured by an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the upstream side to the downstream side. On the other hand, the vertical position of the upstream end 3a and the downstream end 3b at both ends of the upper surface of the lower curved member 3 in the direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction is determined by the path of the sheet P passing through the sheet discharging roller 11. , And both ends of the upper surface of the lower bending member 3 in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction are substantially horizontal.
The upstream end 3c at the center of the lower bending member 3 in the direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction is located at the same vertical position as the upstream end 3a at both ends, and the upper surface of the lower bending member 3 is discharged. Downstream end 3 at the center in the direction perpendicular to the paper direction
d is located below the path of the sheet P that has passed through the sheet discharging roller 11. That is, the central portion of the upper surface of the lower bending member 3 faces the lower surface of the upper bending member 2 with a predetermined gap. Therefore, on the upper surface of the lower bending member 3,
The upstream ends 3a, 3c are located on a substantially horizontal straight line in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharging direction, and the downstream ends 3b, 3d are located on a partial arc curved in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharging direction. Yes,
The upper surface of the lower bending member 3 is formed by a three-dimensional curved surface. With the above configuration, in the paper discharge mechanism 1 according to this embodiment, the paper P that has passed through the paper discharge rollers 11
As shown in FIG. 3, by contacting the lower surface of the upper curving member 2 and the upper surface of the lower curving member 3, as the sheet moves in the sheet discharging direction, it projects downward in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction. The sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge port 12 to the outside of the sheet processing apparatus in a curved state. At this time, both ends of the sheet P in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction are located above the center, and the center of the front end of the sheet P is the uppermost sheet P ′ stored on the sheet discharge tray 13. , The vicinity of both ends of the entire sheet P does not contact the upper surface of the sheet P ′. Therefore, even when the punch hole 21 is punched near one end of the sheet P ′, the front end of the sheet P is not caught on the peripheral edge of the punch hole 21,
The stacked state of the plurality of sheets on the sheet discharge tray 13 does not deteriorate. Further, the strength of the sheet P curved in a direction perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction in the sheet discharging direction is increased due to the so-called paper stiffness.
When it is exposed from the paper discharge port 12 to the outside of the paper processing leave 10, it does not hang down from the paper discharge port 12 and discharges while a part is supported by the paper discharge roller 11 or the curved members 2 and 3. The paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 12 to the outside linearly along the paper direction. Therefore, the trailing end of the paper P is
1 and a part of the sheet P contacts the upper surface of the uppermost sheet P ′ stacked and stored on the sheet discharge tray 13 located below the sheet discharge port 12 until the sheet P passes through the first and second curved members 2 and 3. Nothing. For this reason, for example, when the paper processing apparatus 10 is a printer, the drying time of the ink on the paper P ′ can be lengthened, and the paper P ′ can be formed by a part of the paper P contacting the undried ink. The contamination of the upper surface can be prevented. The upper bending member 2 and the lower bending member 3
Is a shape other than the shapes shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, provided that the sheet P can be bent in a direction perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction by contacting the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet P to be discharged. Can be. For example, the lower curved member 3 does not need to have a shape facing the entire lower surface of the sheet P, and may have a shape facing the lower surface of the sheet P at least at both ends in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction. . In this case, the lower curving member 3 can be automatically or manually moved in a direction perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction in accordance with the size of the sheet P to be discharged, so that the lower curving member 3 is always discharged regardless of the sheet size. The paper can be curved in a direction perpendicular to the paper direction. Further, regardless of whether or not the lower curved member 3 has a shape facing the entire lower surface of the sheet P, the upper curved member 2 may have a shape facing the entire upper surface of the sheet P. . Further, by making the shapes of the upper bending member 2 and the lower bending member 3 upside down,
May be curved so as to be convex upward in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction. [0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a paper output mechanism according to the inventions. FIG. 5 is a plan view and a side view of a main part of the sheet discharging mechanism. The paper discharge mechanism 21 according to this embodiment includes a paper discharge roller 11 disposed at the end of the paper transport path, a paper discharge port 12 formed on one side of the paper processing apparatus, and a paper discharge port 11 formed on one side of the paper processing apparatus. The paper discharge tray 13 mounted below the paper discharge port 12, and the upper curved member 2 and the side curved members 4, 5 disposed between the paper discharge roller 11 and the paper discharge port 12 in the paper processing apparatus. It is comprised including. The sheet that has been subjected to the predetermined processing in the sheet processing apparatus passes between a pair of upper and lower rollers constituting the discharge roller 11 and between the side bending member 4 and the side bending member 5 below the upper bending member 2. The paper passes through the paper discharge port 12 and is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 13. The upper curved member 2 has a shape in a central portion in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction and a shape facing the upper surface of the sheet over a predetermined range in the sheet discharging direction. The side curving members 4 and 5 face both ends in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction of the sheet passing through the sheet discharging roller 11. The distance between the upstream end 4a of the side curving member 4 and the upstream end 5a of the side curving member 5 in the direction perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction is greater than the width of the sheet to be discharged. 4 and the downstream end 5b of the side curved member 5 are narrower than the width of the sheet to be discharged. That is, the side curving member 4 and the side curving member 5 have a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the sheet discharging direction such that the interval in the direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction gradually decreases from the upstream side to the downstream side. It is constituted by an inclined surface. The upper bending member 2 is the same as the upper bending member 2 included in the sheet discharging mechanism 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is located on the upstream side of the lower surface of the upper bending member 2. The end 2a is located above the path of the sheet P that has passed through the sheet discharging roller 11, and the downstream end 2b in the sheet discharging direction of the lower surface of the upper curved member 2 is located at the downstream side of the sheet P that has passed through the sheet discharging roller 11. It is located below the route. That is, the lower surface of the upper bending member 2 is configured by an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the upstream side to the downstream side. With the above configuration, in the paper discharge mechanism 21 according to this embodiment, the paper P that has passed through the paper discharge rollers 11
As shown in FIG. 5, by contacting the lower surface of the upper bending member 2 and the inclined surfaces of the side bending members 4 and 5, in the direction perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction with the movement in the sheet discharging direction. The sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge port 12 to the outside of the sheet processing apparatus in a state of being curved in a downward convex shape. As a result, in the sheet discharging mechanism 21 according to the second embodiment, similarly to the sheet discharging mechanism 1 according to the first embodiment, the sheet is discharged from the sheet processing apparatus 10 to the discharge tray 13 in the state illustrated in FIG. Thus, the stacked state of the plurality of sheets on the sheet discharge tray 13 does not deteriorate, and the upper surface of the sheet P ′ can be prevented from being stained due to a part of the sheet P contacting the undried ink. . In the sheet discharging mechanism 21, instead of the upper bending member 2, the sheet discharging mechanism 1 shown in FIGS.
By providing the lower curved member 3 of the
Can be discharged to the outside of the paper processing apparatus in a state in which the paper P having passed through is curved in a shape that is upwardly convex in a direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction with movement in the paper discharge direction. When it is not necessary to specify the bending direction of the paper discharged from the paper processing apparatus, the upper bending member 2
And the lower bending member 3 need not be provided. In other words, by providing at least only the side bending members 4 and 5, the width of the sheet in the direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction can be gradually narrowed with the movement in the sheet discharging direction, and the sheet can be curved. Further, when the sheet processing apparatus processes sheets of a plurality of sizes, the side curving members 4 and 5
Can be automatically or manually moved in the direction perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction, so that the sheet can always be curved in the direction perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction regardless of the size of the sheet to be discharged. it can. As shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, the bending member included in the paper discharge mechanism of the present invention is formed integrally with a part of the existing member in the paper processing apparatus, thereby forming the bending member. In addition to simplifying the manufacturing work by eliminating the need for mounting work, the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts, and the paper discharge roller 11 and the paper discharge port 12 are formed in the housing of the paper processing apparatus. There is no need to provide a mounting space for the bending member between the side surface and the paper processing apparatus, and the paper processing apparatus can be downsized in the paper discharging direction. FIG.
5 shows an example in which the upper bending member 2 and the lower bending member 3 are integrally formed on the inner side surface of the side surface 22 where the sheet discharge port 12 is formed in the housing of the sheet processing apparatus. FIG.
5 shows an example in which the lower curved member 3 is integrally formed at the downstream end of the paper discharge guide 23 constituting the paper discharge path below the paper discharge roller 11. The present invention has the following effects. [0037] [0038] [0039] opposite ends of the sheet to move the upstream side of the discharge tray in the sheet discharge direction, is abutted against the side surface curved member, the paper is moved from the upstream side of the discharge direction on the downstream side In the meantime, the interval between both ends of the sheet in the direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction gradually decreases , and the upper curved member contacts the upper surface of the sheet.
By it was, in a direction perpendicular to the sheet before being discharged to the discharge tray in the sheet discharge direction can be bent in either direction of the convex upward convex or downward, is discharged from the discharge port While the paper moves in the paper discharging direction above the paper discharge tray, it is possible to prevent the storage state and the processing state from being deteriorated by preventing the paper from being in contact with the upper surface of the paper positioned at the top of the paper discharge tray. it can. [0040]

Is a perspective view showing an BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [Figure 1] for paper discharge mechanism configured. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shape of a bending member included in the sheet discharging mechanism. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a paper discharge state in a paper processing apparatus to which the paper discharge mechanism is applied. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a paper output mechanism according to the implementation embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view and a side view showing a configuration of the paper discharge mechanism. It is a sectional view showing a shape of the curved member in Figure 6 Another use paper discharge mechanism. 7 is a diagram showing the shape of the curved member in another use paper discharge mechanism. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a paper discharge state in a paper processing apparatus to which a conventional paper discharge mechanism is applied. [Description of Reference Numerals] 1,21-sheet discharging mechanism 2-upper curving member 3-lower curving member 4,5-side curving member 11-discharge roller 12-discharge port 13-discharge tray

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 29/70 B65H 31/00 B65H 31/26

Claims (1)

(57) Claims 1. A plurality of sheets sequentially discharged from a paper discharge port are stacked on a paper discharge tray disposed downstream of the paper discharge port in the paper discharge direction. In the paper discharge mechanism for storing the paper , the paper discharge method is located upstream of the paper discharge tray in the paper discharge direction.
At both ends in the direction perpendicular to the
If the gap between the downstream edges is greater than the width of the paper
Pair of plates facing each other so as to be narrower than the width of the paper
-Shaped side curved member and a central portion of the upper surface of the sheet in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction.
A sheet discharging mechanism comprising: an upper curved member that abuts ;