JPH0633859U - Paper ejection mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide an excellent paper ejection mechanism that favorably ejects paper. [Structure] A curved guide 18 made of a flexible material is attached to the printing apparatus main body 1 in a state where its tip portion is in the paper running path 5 more than the paper guides 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a paper ejection mechanism for ejecting recording paper.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, in a recording device such as a printing device, when the recording paper after recording is discharged, the central portion of the recording paper is curved so that the recording paper can be discharged smoothly.

The structure of a conventional paper discharge mechanism will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a conventional printing apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a conventional paper discharge mechanism. In FIG. 3, a sheet cassette 3 for accommodating recording sheets 2 is provided in the printer body 1, and a sheet feed roller 4 is attached above the leading end of the sheet cassette 3 in the sheet feeding direction. . A transport roller 6 that transports the recording sheet 2, an image forming unit 7 that performs each printing process by an electrophotographic process such as exposure to light, development, and transfer, and a fixing unit 8 that fixes the image on the recording sheet 2 in the sheet traveling path 5. A transport roller 9 for discharging the recording paper 2 after recording, a discharge roller 10a, and a pressure contact roller 10b are provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the discharge roller 10a is attached to a support shaft 11 supported by the printing apparatus main body 1, and is rotated in the direction of arrow A by a drive unit (not shown). The pressure roller 10b is rotatably held by the support member 12 fixed to the printer main body 1, contacts the discharge roller 10a by a predetermined pressing force, and the discharge roller 10a rotates in the arrow A direction. , Rotate in the direction of arrow B.

The paper discharge section 13 is provided with a curved guide 14 for guiding the recording paper 2 to the discharge roller 10a and the pressure contact roller 10b, and paper guides 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 16a, 16b and 16c. The curving guide 14 and the paper guides 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d are curved, and the curving guide 14 located in the center projects further into the traveling path 5 than the other paper guides 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d. Therefore, the recording paper 2 to be ejected is curved almost at its central portion. Further, the printing apparatus main body 1 is provided with a paper discharge placement section 17 for mounting the discharged recording paper 2.

Next, the operation of transporting the recording paper 2 having the above configuration will be described. In FIG. 3, the paper feed roller 4 is rotated by a command from a higher-order device (not shown), and the recording papers 2 stored in the paper cassette 3 are fed one by one. The fed recording paper 2 is conveyed to the image forming unit 7 by the conveying rollers 6 along the traveling path 5, and the image is transferred according to the electrophotographic process. After that, the image is fixed on the recording sheet 2 by the fixing device 8, and the recording sheet 2 on which the image is fixed is conveyed by the conveying roller 9 to the sheet discharge unit 13 shown in FIG. The recording sheet 2 is curved by the curved guide 14, and in this state, the recording sheet 2 is placed on the sheet ejection section 17 by the ejection roller 10a and the pressure contact roller 10b.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the above-described conventional paper discharge mechanism has the following problems. The bending guide that protrudes into the paper path and forms a curve on the recording paper is a plastic material.If the recording paper has different thickness, rigidity, etc., the rigidity may prevent the recording paper from bending, and it can be used. There was a drawback that the paper was limited.

For example, when the rigidity of the recording paper is large, the guide surface of the curved guide has an angle, and therefore, when the leading end of the recording paper hits against this guide surface, the recording paper follows the curved guide due to its difficulty in bending. If the recording paper is not conveyed, it may be jammed as it is, and the conveyance property of the recording paper may deteriorate. On the other hand, when the rigidity of the recording paper is low, the curvature once formed tends to return to its original shape, and after the leading edge of the recording paper passes the discharge roller and the pressure contact roller, the curvature disappears and the recording paper falls onto the discharge tray. When it is carried out, it rolls downward and is folded into two, so the recording paper to be ejected next collides with this curled recording paper and stays in the paper ejection section, causing a jam. In addition, if the leading edge of the recording paper is curled in this way, the curled portion may push out the recording paper already placed on the paper output tray, which causes uneven placement. There was a flaw.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the conventional paper ejection mechanism, and provides an excellent device for curving the recording paper corresponding to the rigidity of the recording paper, thereby ejecting the paper satisfactorily. The purpose is to

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a flexible member which is arranged in a conveying path of a recording sheet and which makes a curve by coming into contact with the recording sheet being conveyed.

[0011]

[Action]

 When the recording paper has a high rigidity, when the recording paper comes into contact with the flexible member, the recording paper causes the flexible member to bend due to the rigidity. As a result, the recording paper is easily conveyed along the flexible member, and therefore, even if the recording paper comes into contact with the flexible member, it is not jammed. On the other hand, when the rigidity of the recording paper is small, the flexible member is hardly bent by the recording paper, so that a deep curve is formed in the recording paper. Therefore, the leading edge of the recording paper does not curl, and the discharged recording paper is placed in a neat state.

[0012]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to the elements common to each drawing. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a paper ejection mechanism of an embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a curving guide and recording paper of an embodiment. The structure of the printing apparatus other than the paper ejection mechanism in the present invention is the same as that of the conventional art, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, the discharge roller 10a is attached to a support shaft 11 supported by the printing apparatus main body 1 and rotated in the direction of arrow A by a drive unit (not shown), as in the conventional example. The pressure roller 10b is rotatably held on the support member 12 fixed to the printer body 1, and contacts the discharge roller 10a by a predetermined pressing force so that the discharge roller 10a rotates in the direction of arrow A. Thus, it rotates in the direction of arrow B.

The paper discharge unit 13 is provided with paper guides 15 a, 15 b, 15 c, 15 d, 16 a, 16 b, 16 c for guiding the recording paper 2 to the discharge roller 10 a and the pressure contact roller 10 b, and a curved guide 18. The paper guides 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d are curved, and the curved guide 18 is located substantially in the center between the discharge rollers 10a and is made of a flexible material. For example, it is formed of a leaf spring. The base of the curving guide 18 is fixed to the printer main body 1, and the leading end of the curving guide 18 is inserted into the traveling path 5 rather than the discharge rollers 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d. It is designed to be curved. Further, the tip end 18 a of the bending guide 18 is rounded upward so as not to damage the recording paper 2. Further, the printing apparatus main body 1 is provided with a paper discharge placement section 17 for mounting the discharged recording paper 2.

Next, an operation of transporting the recording paper 2 having the above configuration will be described. The operation of transporting the recording paper 2 other than the paper discharging mechanism in the present invention is the same as in the prior art, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The recording paper 2 that has been conveyed along the traveling path 5 to the paper discharge unit 13 shown in FIG. 1 by the conveyance rollers 9 shown in FIG. 3 is guided by the paper guides 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 16a, 16b, 16c and the curved guide 18. It is sent to the discharge roller 10a and the pressure contact roller 10b.

Here, for example, when the recording paper 2 having high rigidity comes into contact with the bending guide 18 which is a flexible member, the bending guide 18 is located inside the traveling path 5 rather than the paper guides 15a, 15b, 15c and 15d. Since it is inside, the central portion of the recording paper 2 is curved. However, since the rigidity of the recording paper 2 is large, the bending guide 18 is pushed up in the direction of arrow C as shown in FIG. 2 (from the position shown by the broken line to the position shown by the solid line), so that the bending guide 18 is moved in the direction of arrow C. Bend. Therefore, the recording paper 2 is easily conveyed along the curved guide 18. After that, the recording paper 2 is placed on the paper delivery platform 17 by the delivery roller 10a and the pressure contact roller 10b. On the other hand, when the recording paper 2 having low rigidity comes into contact with the bending guide 18, the bending guide 18 is hardly bent. Since the recording sheet 2 is conveyed in this state, as shown by the broken line, the substantially central portion of the recording sheet 2 is curved deeper than the recording sheet 2 having high rigidity.

The recording sheet 2 having a curved center portion is then ejected by the ejection roller 10a and the pressure contact roller 10b shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the recording sheet 2 is curved from above into the traveling path 5, but the recording sheet 2 can be curved into the traveling path 5 from below. Further, although the bending guide 18 is one in this embodiment, it may be plural.

[0018]

[Effect of device]

 As described in detail above, in the present invention, since the bending guide for bending the substantially central portion of the recording sheet is the flexible member, the bending corresponding to the rigidity of the recording sheet can be performed. As a result, since the recording paper having a high rigidity is conveyed as it is by bending the curved guide, the recording paper does not jam. In addition, since the recording paper with low rigidity has a larger curvature than the recording paper with high rigidity, the leading edge of the recording paper is normally ejected without curling. Therefore, misalignment of the leading edge of the paper and paper jam at the paper ejection section will not occur. Therefore, it is possible to provide an excellent apparatus that can satisfactorily discharge the paper regardless of the rigidity of the recording paper used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a sheet ejection mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a bending guide and a recording sheet according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a conventional printing device.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a conventional paper discharge mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Recording paper 18 Curved guide

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A paper ejecting mechanism for ejecting a recording paper, comprising a flexible member which is disposed in a conveyance path of the recording paper and which makes a curve by contacting the recording paper being conveyed. Ejection mechanism. 2. The flexible member is a leaf spring.
The paper ejection mechanism described.