Sheet storage device

Abstract

To store sheets with their positions aligned precisely.SOLUTION: An envelope discharge tray 1 has a storage box 11 for loading and storing envelopes 50, the storage box 11 has a first envelope abutment surface 16a on the downstream side of the envelope conveying direction Y and a rear side surface 11c on one side in a conveying orthogonal direction X that is the direction perpendicular to the envelope conveying direction Y and the direction of gravity; the storage box 11 has a first inclined portion that is formed by the first abutment contact surface 16a inclined downward in the direction of gravity from the downstream side to the upstream side in the envelope conveying direction Y, and also has a second inclined portion that is inclined downward in the direction of gravity toward the rear side surface 11c in the conveying orthogonal direction X.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet storage device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art As a sheet storage device for stacking and storing sheets, there has been a conventional sheet storage device for storing sheets such as envelopes discharged from a discharge unit of an image forming apparatus.

[0003] In such a sheet storage device, there is a problem that the arrangement and posture of the stored sheets may become distorted, or the sheets may become misaligned, resulting in the sheets not being stored correctly in the sheet storage device.

[0004] In response to this, for example, Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication 2000-185867 A) describes a configuration in which a sheet ejection tray provided in an image forming apparatus is biased by a spring and lowers according to the weight of the sheets stacked on it. As a result, when the number of sheets stacked on the sheet ejection tray is small, the sheet ejection tray can receive the discharged sheets at a high position, so that the falling distance from the discharge position to the sheet ejection tray can be kept short. This prevents the sheets from curling before falling onto the sheet ejection tray, preventing them from being stored correctly in the sheet ejection tray. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The configuration of lowering the sheet placement surface in accordance with the amount of loaded sheets as in Patent Document 1 requires a configuration for the lowering operation, which increases the cost of the device and is not necessarily an effective measure.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to store sheets while aligning them with high positional accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a sheet storage device having a sheet storage section for stacking and storing sheets, wherein the sheet storage section has a first sheet abutment surface on the downstream side in the sheet transport direction and a second sheet abutment surface on one side in a transport orthogonal direction that is a direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction and the direction of gravity, and the sheet storage section is characterized in that the first sheet abutment surface has a first inclined portion formed by inclining downward in the direction of gravity from the downstream side to the upstream side in the sheet transport direction, and has a second inclined portion inclined downward in the direction of gravity toward the side of the second sheet abutment surface in the transport orthogonal direction. Effect of the Invention

[0008] In the present invention, the sheets can be stored while being aligned with high positional accuracy. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an envelope ejection tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows an envelope, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a bottom view. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of envelopes stacked together. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a discharge section and an envelope discharge tray of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a discharge section and an envelope discharge tray of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 7] 4 is a perspective view showing a more detailed configuration of an envelope storage section. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an inclination of the transport direction inside the storage box. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the inclination of the inside of the storage box in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how envelopes are stored in a storage box. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how envelopes are stored in a storage box. [Figure 12]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how envelopes are stored in a storage box. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the C1-C1 cross section in FIG. 12, showing the behavior of the envelope on the downstream side in the transport direction in FIGS. 10 to 12. FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the cross-section C2-C2 in FIG. 12, showing the behavior of the envelope on the upstream side in the conveying direction in FIGS. 10 to 12. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the envelope discharge tray. [Figure 16] FIG. 3 shows an envelope having a different shape from that shown in FIG. 2, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a bottom view. [Figure 17] 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a storage box loaded with the envelopes shown in FIG. 16. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a discharge section of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 19] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be appropriately simplified or omitted. Hereinafter, as an embodiment of a sheet storage device of the present invention, an envelope discharge tray for stacking envelopes as sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus will be described.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the envelope discharge tray 1 includes an envelope storage section 10 as a sheet storage section and a support frame 12. The envelope storage section 10 stacks and stores envelopes. The envelope storage section 10 has a storage box 11 as a sheet storage member. The storage box 11 stacks and stores envelopes inside. In FIG. 1, members provided inside the storage box 11 are omitted. The support frame 12 holds the storage box 11 in a circumferential manner from its outer periphery side and supports the storage box 11 from its lower surface side. This positions the storage box 11 within the support frame 12 and holds it so that it does not fall off. The support frame 12 of this embodiment is formed of an aluminum pipe. The support frame 12 has a handle portion 14 on one side in the width direction of the envelope discharge tray 1. The handle portion 14 is a frame portion extending in the horizontal direction supported by a frame portion extending upward. Support frame 12 has a handle portion 15 on the other widthwise side of envelope discharge tray 1. Support frame 12 also has legs 13. Legs 13 are provided at the four corners of envelope discharge tray 1 and have casters at their bottoms. The casters allow envelope discharge tray 1 to be movable. An operator can move envelope discharge tray 1 by operating handle portion 14.

[0012] The directions X, Y, and Z in FIG. 1 are mutually orthogonal. The direction X is the front-rear direction of the envelope discharge tray 1, and is also the main scanning direction in the image forming apparatus. The front side of FIG. 1 is the front side of the envelope discharge tray 1. The direction Y is the envelope transport direction (sheet transport direction) and its opposite direction, the width direction (left-right direction) of the envelope discharge tray 1, and is also the sub-scanning direction in the image forming apparatus. The right side of the direction Y in FIG. 1 is the image forming apparatus side, and is the upstream side of the envelope transport direction. The direction Z is also the gravity direction and its opposite direction. The direction X is the envelope transport direction and the transport orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the gravity direction. However, these directions X, Y, and Z do not need to be orthogonal to each other strictly. In addition, as described later, the envelope transport direction is not parallel to the direction Y, but has a component of the direction Z. Here, the direction Y being the envelope transport direction means that the main transport direction of the envelope is the direction Y.

[0013] The storage box 11 of this embodiment is a cardboard box made of polypropylene (plastic) and is open at the top. The area of ​​the opening is set to 440 mm x 320 mm. The storage box 11 has a thickness of 5 mm and a basis weight of 1000 g / m 2 The storage box 11 has an internal loadable height of 300 mm and can hold 500 No. 2 square envelopes. The storage box 11 is also arranged so that the creases in the cardboard extend in the Z direction so as not to impede the falling of the envelopes.

[0014] The storage box 11 is detachably attached to the support frame 12. Handles 11a are provided on the upper front and rear wall surfaces of the storage box 11. When removing the storage box 11 from the support frame 12, an operator can hold the handles 11a. The envelope discharge tray 1 can also be transported by holding and lifting the handles 11a.

[0015] Next, the envelopes stored on the envelope discharge tray 1 of this embodiment will be described.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b), the envelopes loaded on the envelope discharge tray of this embodiment have an overlapping portion 50a as a thick portion on one side (downstream side in this embodiment) of the envelope transport direction, which is the longitudinal direction. That is, the overlapping portion 50a is provided on one side of the transport direction in order to form the envelope 50 into a bag shape. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, the thickness of the envelope 50 becomes large at the overlapping portion 50a, and the thickness is not constant. That is, at the overlapping portion 50a, the envelope is made of three sheets of paper that are stacked and adhesive is provided on top of them, so that the thickness is 1.5 times or more thicker than the other two-ply portions. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, if a plurality of envelopes 50 are stacked horizontally, the difference in thickness causes the peaks of the envelopes 50 to tilt, causing them to collapse to the opposite side of the overlapping portion 50a. Note that the overlapping portion 50a is provided downstream in the transport direction so that air is not trapped inside the envelope 50 during image formation in the image forming device.

[0017] Next, the manner in which envelopes discharged from the image forming apparatus are stored in storage box 11 will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the discharge section and envelope discharge tray of the image forming apparatus, and Fig. 6 is a front view.

[0018] 5 and 6, an envelope discharged from inside image forming apparatus 100 to the outside is transported in the direction of arrow A through discharge section 101 and discharged into storage box 11 of envelope discharge tray 1. Storage box 11 is open at the top.

[0019] 6, the downstream side of the storage box 11 in the direction Y is inclined downward in the direction of gravity by an angle θ with respect to the upstream side with respect to the horizontal plane which is the placement surface of the envelope discharge tray 1. The inclination angle θ of this storage box 11 is set to 15 to 20 degrees, and is set to 17 degrees in this embodiment.

[0020] The envelope discharge tray 1 is positioned in the left-right direction relative to the image forming apparatus 100 by abutting casters against the left side surface of the image forming apparatus 100 in Fig. 6. Also, the storage box 11 is positioned in the front-rear direction relative to the image forming apparatus 100 by abutting the left side surface of the image forming apparatus 100 in Fig. 6. With the envelope discharge tray 1 positioned in the image forming apparatus 100 in this manner, envelopes are discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 to the envelope discharge tray 1. However, Fig. 5 shows the state before the envelope discharge tray 1 is positioned in the image forming apparatus 100.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the detailed configuration of the envelope storage unit 10. As shown in FIG. 7, a reinforcing portion 11b is provided at the open end of storage box 11, and in this embodiment, in particular, reinforcing portion 11b is formed around the entire periphery of the open end. In this embodiment, reinforcing portion 11b is formed by fixing a resin member to the open end side of storage box 11 with an adhesive or the like. By providing reinforcing portion 11b, the strength of the open end of storage box 11 is increased, and deformation of storage box 11 is suppressed.

[0022] The envelope storage section 10 has an envelope abutment plate 16 as a sheet abutment member, a guide member 17 as an inclined member, and an envelope placement member 18 as a sheet placement member inside the storage box 11. The envelope abutment plate 16 is provided on the downstream side of the envelope conveying direction inside the storage box 11, and has a first envelope abutment surface 16a as a first sheet abutment surface. As an example, in this embodiment, the envelope abutment plate 16 is provided on the storage box 11 so that the first envelope abutment surface 16a is parallel to the downstream side surface of the storage box 11 in the conveying direction. The first envelope abutment surface 16a is a portion that is abutted by the downstream end of the envelope in the conveying direction discharged from the image forming device to the storage box 11. The guide member 17 is provided on the front side inside the storage box 11. The envelope placement member 18 is provided on the bottom surface of the storage box 11 behind the guide member 17 inside the storage box 11.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the inclination of the inside of a storage box in the conveying direction. As shown in Figure 8, an envelope 50 is discharged from the image forming device and enters storage box 11 in the direction of arrow A, where it falls against first envelope abutment surface 16a of envelope abutment plate 16 and is loaded onto envelope loading surface 18a, which is the upper surface of envelope loading member 18.

[0024] Envelope placement surface (sheet placement surface) 18a, which is the upper surface of storage box 11, is provided below discharge section 101 (see FIG. 6). Due to the inclination of storage box 11 with respect to the horizontal plane, first envelope contact surface 16a is inclined downward in the direction of gravity from the downstream side to the upstream side in the envelope transport direction (it is inclined downward from the left side to the right side in FIG. 8). In other words, a first inclined portion is formed on first envelope contact surface 16a (it functions as the first inclined portion).

[0025] Since the first envelope abutting surface 16a has a first inclined portion, the space in the transport direction in which the envelope 50 can be stored in the storage box 11 is narrowed toward the upstream side in the envelope transport direction as it moves downward in the direction of gravity. As a result, even if the posture of the envelope 50 varies when it falls due to variations in the amount of pushback of the envelope 50 toward the upstream side in the envelope transport direction due to collision of the envelope 50 with the envelope abutting surface 16a, the variation in the leading end position of the envelope 50 in the envelope transport direction when it is finally stored in the storage box 11 can be suppressed, and the envelope 50 placed on the envelope placement surface 18a can be arranged in alignment with the envelope abutting surface 16a. As an example of the behavior of the envelope 50 until it is stored in the storage box 11, the leading end of the envelope 50 is pushed back toward the upstream side in the envelope transport direction by the impact of first colliding with the envelope abutting surface 16a. Then, the envelope 50 falls, its leading edge comes into contact with the envelope contact surface 16a again, and falls along the envelope contact surface 16a. The envelope 50 is then placed on the envelope placement surface 18a with its leading edge along the envelope contact surface 16a.

[0026] Furthermore, due to the inclination of the storage box 11 with respect to the horizontal plane, the envelope placement surface 18a is inclined downward in the direction of gravity from the upstream side to the downstream side in the envelope transport direction. The overlapping portion 50a of the envelopes 50 stored in the storage box 11 is disposed on the downstream side in the envelope transport direction. As a result, the overlapping portion 50a side, which is the thicker side of the envelope stack 500, bulges, and the envelope stack 500 is prevented from inclining toward the overlapping portion 50a side. This allows a larger number of envelopes 50 to be loaded and stored in the storage box 11 without collapsing the envelope stack 500. Furthermore, when the inclination of the envelope placement surface 18a is large, the envelopes 50 placed on the envelope placement surface 18a can be guided toward the envelope abutment surface 16a.

[0027] The envelope abutment plate 16 is attached to the surface of the storage box 11 downstream in the envelope transport direction via a shock absorbing member 19. The shock absorbing member 19 is provided on the back surface of the envelope abutment plate 16 other than the portion that contacts the envelope. The shock absorbing member 19 is formed, for example, from a sponge. By providing the shock absorbing member 19, the shock caused by the envelope 50 colliding with the envelope abutment plate 16 can be mitigated, and wear on the envelope abutment plate 16 can be suppressed. In addition, the distance that the envelope 50 is pushed back when it collides with the envelope abutment surface 16a can be reduced, and the variation in the distance can be reduced.

[0028] Next, the inclination in the front-rear direction inside the storage box 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0029] 9, guide member 17 provided in front of storage box 11 is trapezoidal with inclined surface 17a on the upper side. By providing guide member 17 in storage box 11, storage width B for storing envelopes in storage box 11 is limited and reduced. Specifically, in this embodiment, storage width B is set to 245 mm.

[0030] The envelope mounting member 18 is disposed on the bottom surface of the storage box 11. The upper surface of the envelope mounting member 18, that is, the envelope mounting surface 18a, is a surface on which the envelopes 50 in the envelope storage section 10 are placed and stacked. The envelope mounting member 18 has a vertical surface 18b on the guide member 17 side and faces the vertical surface 17b of the guide member 17.

[0031] Inclined surface 17a and envelope placement surface 18a are inclined downward in the direction of gravity from the front side to the rear side (from left to right in FIG. 9) of storage box 11. In other words, inclined surface 17a and envelope placement surface 18a constitute a second inclined portion of this embodiment that is inclined downward in the direction of gravity toward rear side surface (second sheet contact surface) 11c of storage box 11.

[0032] Next, how envelopes 50 are stored in storage box 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12, 13, and 14. FIG.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 10, the leading end of the envelope 50 discharged from the discharge section 101 to the storage box 11 in the direction of the arrow A abuts against the envelope abutting surface 16a. The envelope 50 falls toward the bottom of the storage box 11, mainly at a downstream side in the conveying direction (the upper left part in FIG. 10) on one side of the width direction, while being guided along the inclined surface 17a. As a result, the envelope 50 moves to the right in FIG. 10 (see the arrow D1 in FIG. 10), and as shown in FIG. 11, the upstream side in the conveying direction on the other side of the width direction (the lower right part in FIG. 11) first collides with the rear side surface 11c of the storage box 11. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the envelope 50 is stored in the storage box 11 along the rear side surface 11c. In this embodiment, the width direction of the envelope refers to a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and thickness direction of the envelope.

[0034] Figure 13 is a view corresponding to the C1-C1 cross section in Figure 12, and is a cross-sectional view showing the behavior of envelope 50 on the downstream side in the conveying direction in Figures 10 to 12. For convenience, envelope 50 is shown in an undeflected state in Figure 13, but in reality it is deflected as in Figures 10 to 12. As shown in FIG. 13, the envelope 50 that collides with the envelope contact surface 16a falls while being guided along the inclined surface 17a to the right in FIG. 13 (see arrow D1 in FIG. 13). Then, the envelope 50 abuts against the rear side surface 11c and falls onto the envelope placement surface 18a. Alternatively, the envelope 50 is first placed on the envelope placement surface 18a, and is guided along the inclination of the envelope placement surface 18a and abuts against the rear side surface 11c. In this way, the inclined surface 17a guides the envelope 50 toward the rear side surface 11c at a position higher than the envelope placement surface 18a. This allows the envelope 50 to move toward the rear side surface 11c by utilizing the falling distance, and the envelope 50 can be placed on the envelope placement surface 18a with its side edge aligned with the rear side surface 11c.

[0035] Figure 14 is a view corresponding to the C2-C2 cross section in Figure 12, and is a cross-sectional view showing the behavior of envelope 50 on the upstream side in the conveying direction in Figures 10 to 12. For convenience, envelope 50 is shown in an undeflected state in Figure 14, but in reality it is deflected as in Figures 10 to 12. As shown in FIG. 14, the envelope 50 that collides with the envelope contact surface 16a is guided by the inclined surface 17a, mainly at the downstream side in the conveying direction (see FIG. 13), and the upstream side of the envelope 50 in the conveying direction is also urged in the direction of the arrow D1'. As a result, the other widthwise side of the envelope 50 collides with the rear side surface 11c and receives a repulsive force in the direction of the arrow D2. As a result, the upstream side of the envelope 50 in the conveying direction is temporarily returned to the left in FIG. 14. Then, the envelope 50 is placed on the envelope placement surface 18a, and is guided along the inclination of the envelope placement surface 18a and abuts against the rear side surface 11c. As described above, the upstream side of the envelope 50 in the conveying direction swings like a pendulum from side to side in FIG. 14 while falling inside the storage box 11, and is finally stored aligned on the rear side surface 11c side.

[0036] As described above, in this embodiment, the first inclined portion allows the envelopes 50 to be stored in the storage box 11 while being aligned on the downstream side in the conveying direction. Furthermore, the second inclined portion allows the envelopes 50 to be stored in the storage box 11 while being aligned on the rear side surface 11c side. As described above, by providing an inclination in each of the conveying direction and the conveying direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, the envelopes 50 can be stored in the storage box 11 while being aligned on each surface, and the envelopes 50 can be stored in the storage box 11 while being aligned with high positional accuracy. Therefore, even if a large number of envelopes 50 are stacked and stored in the storage box 11, it is possible to suppress the position and posture of each envelope 50 in the envelope stack from being disturbed. Furthermore, the envelopes 50 can be stored in the storage box 11 with high positional accuracy without providing a movable part such as a spring or a mechanism for vertical movement by a drive part in the storage box 11, and an inexpensive and safe envelope discharge tray can be provided.

[0037] As described above, by inclining envelope placement surface 18a downward in the direction of gravity toward the downstream side in the envelope transport direction, as shown in Fig. 8, even if the thickness of envelope 50 is greater on the downstream side in the transport direction, bulging of envelope stack 500 is suppressed and a greater number of envelopes 50 can be stored in storage box 11. Furthermore, the second inclined portion allows envelopes 50 to be stored aligned in the orthogonal transport direction, and even if one side of envelope 50 in the orthogonal transport direction is thicker, bulging of envelope stack 500 is suppressed and a greater number of envelopes 50 can be stored in storage box 11 (details will be described later).

[0038] In addition, the guide member 17 regulates the swing width of the envelope 50 in the left-right direction in Fig. 14, so that the falling behavior of the envelope 50 is stabilized and the envelope 50 can be placed on the envelope placement surface 18a with good positional accuracy. Specifically, in this embodiment, the swing width is set to 245 mm for a square No. 2 envelope with a width of 240 mm.

[0039] In particular, in this embodiment, the inclined surface 17a guides the envelope 50 toward the rear side surface 11c at a high position, and the envelope 50 placed on the envelope placement surface 18a can be guided toward the rear side surface 11c by the inclination of the envelope placement surface 18a to be aligned. However, as shown in FIG. 15, the second inclined portion may be formed only by the envelope placement surface 20a of the envelope placement member 20. The second inclined portion formed on the envelope placement surface 20a allows the envelope 50 to be placed on the envelope placement surface 20a in an aligned manner toward the rear side surface 11c. Also, as in the above-mentioned embodiment, the first inclined portion is formed on the envelope placement surface 20a by the storage box 11 being inclined in the envelope conveying direction. The configuration of FIG. 15 is suitable, for example, when the number of envelopes that can be loaded in the storage box 11 is small. Also, the guide member 17 and the envelope placement member 18 in FIG. 9 can be provided as an integrated member.

[0040] In addition, an example has been given of transporting an envelope 50 (see Figure 10) having an overlapping portion 50a at one end side in the paper transport direction, but the envelope 50 may also be configured to have an overlapping portion 50a at one side in the width direction, as shown in Figures 16(a) and 16(b).

[0041] In this case, as shown in Figure 17, by positioning the overlapping portion 50a of the envelope 50 below the envelope loading surface 18a of the envelope loading member 18, it is possible to prevent the overlapping portion 50a side of the envelope stack 500 from bulging and causing the envelope stack 500 to tilt.

[0042] Next, the configuration of the discharge section provided in the image forming apparatus will be described. After printing an image on an envelope, the image forming apparatus discharges the envelope from the discharge section toward the envelope discharge tray.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 18, the discharge section 101 includes a shooter 102, a pair of side fences 103, and a ball bearing roller 105. The shooter 102 is formed of a metal plate, for example. The shooter 102 is inclined downward in the direction of gravity in the direction of arrow B. The shooter 102 is fixed to the image forming apparatus body by screwing, for example, using screw holes for connecting peripheral devices provided in the image forming apparatus. An envelope discharged from inside the image forming apparatus has its side end position regulated by the side fences 103 and falls on the shooter 102 toward the envelope discharge table. In addition, a ball bearing roller 105 without lubricant is provided on the shooter 102. By providing the ball bearing roller 105, the envelope 50 can fall smoothly along the shooter 102.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 19, a magnetic sheet 104 is attached to the underside of side fence 103. Magnetic sheet 104 is attached to side fence 103 with, for example, double-sided tape. Side fence 103 can be attached to any position on chute 102 by the magnetic force of magnetic sheet 104. This makes it possible to change the position at which side fence 103 regulates the widthwise position of an envelope, and to change the position to match the width of envelope 50. In addition, fluorine tape 106 is wrapped around the side of side fence 103 and magnetic sheet 104 through which envelope 50 passes. This prevents envelope 50 from getting caught on the edge of side fence 103, and allows envelope 50 to fall smoothly over side fence 103.

[0045] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0046] In the above description, an envelope is given as an example of a sheet, but the sheets stored by the sheet storage device of the present invention are not limited to this. In addition to envelopes, the sheets include paper P (plain paper), cardboard, postcards, thin paper, coated paper (coated paper, art paper, etc.), tracing paper, OHP sheets, plastic film, prepreg, copper foil, etc. Also, the sheet is not necessarily limited to one having a thickness.

[0047] In the above description, a sheet storage device that stacks and stores sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0048] In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the first inclined portion is formed on the first envelope contact surface 16a by the storage box 11 being inclined in the envelope transport direction (see FIG. 5). However, the first inclined portion may be formed by the inclination of the first envelope contact surface 16a relative to the storage box 11. Also, the second inclined portion may be formed by the storage box 11 being inclined in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction. Also, the envelope contact plate 16, guide member 17, and envelope placement member 18 provided in the storage box 11 may be fixed to the storage box 11.

[0049] For example, aspects of the present invention are as follows. <1> A sheet storage device having a sheet storage section for stacking and storing sheets, the sheet storage section has a first sheet contact surface on a downstream side in a sheet conveying direction, and a second sheet contact surface on one side in a conveying orthogonal direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction and a gravity direction; The sheet storage section is a sheet storage device characterized in that the first sheet abutment surface has a first inclined portion formed by inclining downward in the direction of gravity from the downstream side to the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction, and has a second inclined portion inclined downward in the direction of gravity toward the second sheet abutment surface in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. <2> The sheet storage section has the second inclined portion on the opposite side to the second sheet contact surface side in the conveyance perpendicular direction and on the opposite side to the gravity direction from the sheet placement surface in the sheet storage section. <1> 2 is a sheet storage device according to the present invention. <3> the sheet storage section has a sheet storage member for storing the sheet, The sheet storage section has an inclined member that is detachably provided on the sheet storage member and has the second inclined portion. <2> 2 is a sheet storage device according to the present invention. <4> the sheet storage section has a sheet storage member for storing the sheet, The sheet storage member is provided removably. <1> from <3> The sheet storage device according to any one of the preceding claims. <5> the sheet storage section has a sheet storage member for storing the sheet, the sheet storage section includes a sheet placement member that is detachably attached to the sheet storage member and has a sheet placement surface on which a sheet is placed, The sheet placement surface has the second inclined portion. <1> from <4> The sheet storage device according to any one of the preceding claims. <6> the sheet storage section has a box-shaped sheet storage member for storing the sheet, The sheet storage member is inclined downward in the direction of gravity toward the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction, whereby the first inclined portion is formed on the first sheet contact surface. <1> from <5> The sheet storage device according to any one of the preceding claims. <7> the sheet storage section has a sheet storage member for storing the sheet, The sheet storage section includes a sheet contact member having the first sheet contact surface, and an impact absorbing member provided between the sheet contact member and the sheet storage member. <1> from <6> The sheet storage device according to any one of the preceding claims. <8> the sheet storage section has a sheet placement surface on which the sheets are placed, The sheet placement surface is inclined downward in the direction of gravity from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction. <1> from <7> The sheet storage device according to any one of the preceding claims. <9> the sheet has a thick portion on one side in a sheet conveying direction, The sheet storage unit stores the sheet such that the thick portion is disposed downstream in the sheet conveying direction. <8> 2 is a sheet storage device according to the present invention. <10> the sheet has a thick portion on one side in the perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction that is thicker than the other side, The sheet storage unit stores the sheet such that the thick portion is disposed on the second sheet contact surface side in the conveyance orthogonal direction. <1> from <7> The sheet storage device according to any one of the preceding claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Envelope discharge tray (sheet storage device) 10 Envelope storage section (sheet storage section) 11 Storage box (seat storage material) 11c Rear side (2nd sheet contact surface) 16 Envelope contact plate (sheet contact member) 16a First envelope contact surface (first sheet contact surface) 17 Guide member (inclined member) 17a Slope 18 Envelope placement member (sheet placement member) 18a Envelope placement surface (sheet placement surface) 19 Shock absorbing materials 50 envelopes 50a Overlapped part (thick part) X: Orthogonal conveying direction Y Envelope transport direction (sheet transport direction) Z: Gravity direction and its opposite direction [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0051] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-185867 A

Claims

1. A sheet storage device having a sheet storage section for stacking and storing sheets, the sheet storage section has a first sheet contact surface on a downstream side in a sheet conveying direction, and a second sheet contact surface on one side in a conveying orthogonal direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction and the gravity direction; The sheet storage device is characterized in that the sheet storage section has a first inclined portion formed by the first sheet abutment surface being inclined downward in the direction of gravity from the downstream side to the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction, and has a second inclined portion inclined downward in the direction of gravity toward the second sheet abutment surface in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

2. The sheet storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet storage section has the second inclined portion on the opposite side to the second sheet contact surface side in the conveying perpendicular direction and on the opposite side to the gravity direction from the sheet placement surface in the sheet storage section.

3. the sheet storage section has a sheet storage member for storing the sheet, The sheet storage device according to claim 2 , wherein the sheet storage section includes an inclined member that is detachably provided on the sheet storage member and that has the second inclined portion.

4. the sheet storage section has a sheet storage member for storing the sheet, 2. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet storage member is detachably provided.

5. the sheet storage section has a sheet storage member for storing the sheet, the sheet storage section includes a sheet placement member that is detachably attached to the sheet storage member and has a sheet placement surface on which a sheet is placed, The sheet storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet placement surface has the second inclined portion.

6. the sheet storage section has a box-shaped sheet storage member for storing the sheet, 2. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet storage member is inclined downward in the direction of gravity toward the downstream side in the sheet transport direction, so that the first inclined portion is formed on the first sheet contact surface.

7. the sheet storage section has a sheet storage member for storing the sheet, 2. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet storage section includes a sheet contact member having the first sheet contact surface, and a shock absorbing member provided between the sheet contact member and the sheet storage member.

8. the sheet storage section has a sheet placement surface on which the sheets are placed, 2. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet placement surface is inclined downward in the direction of gravity from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sheet transport direction.

9. the sheet has a thick portion on one side in a sheet conveying direction, The sheet storage device according to claim 8 , wherein the sheet storage section stores the sheet such that the thick portion is disposed downstream in the sheet transport direction.

10. the sheet has a thick portion on one side in the perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction that is thicker than the other side, The sheet storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet storage section stores the sheet such that the thick portion is disposed on the second sheet contact surface side in the conveyance orthogonal direction.

Images