Image formation apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus capable of easily performing work for removing a sheet jammed around a cutter mechanism.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus 1 includes: an image formation part 3; a fuser 7; a cutter mechanism 4; a first ejection roller pair 29; an ejection tray 9; a first guide 100 for rotatably supporting a first ejection roller 29A of the first ejection roller pair 29 to guide a sheet SH conveyed from the cutter mechanism 4 to the first ejection roller pair 29; and a second guide 200 for rotatably supporting a second ejection roller 29B of the first ejection roller pair 29 to guide the sheet SH conveyed from the cutter mechanism 4 to the first ejection roller pair 29. The second guide 200 is movable at a first guide position where the first and second ejection rollers 29A and 29B are in a nip state and at a second guide position where the first and second ejection rollers 29A and 29B are in a separation state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a conventional image forming apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing device, a cutting device, a pair of discharge rollers, and a discharge tray.

[0003] The cutting device has a cutter mechanism consisting of a first cutting section and the like, and cuts the sheet that has passed through the fixing device with the cutter mechanism. The pair of discharge rollers discharges the sheet cut by the cutter mechanism. The discharge tray supports the sheet discharged by the pair of discharge rollers. During this cutting, the pair of discharge rollers stops while holding the sheet, so that the position of the sheet to be cut does not change. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-19469 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional image forming apparatus described above, when a sheet becomes jammed around the cutter mechanism, there is no disclosure or suggestion of a configuration for removing the jammed sheet. Therefore, if the discharge roller pair continues to hold the jammed sheet, there is a problem that it is difficult to remove the jammed sheet.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and has an object to provide an image forming apparatus that allows easy removal of a sheet that has become jammed around a cutter mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image by transferring a toner image onto a sheet transported in a transport direction; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image onto the sheet that has passed through the image forming unit; a cutter mechanism for cutting the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit; a first discharge roller pair having a first discharge roller and a second discharge roller, the first discharge roller pair discharging the sheet cut by the cutter mechanism; a discharge tray for supporting the sheet discharged by the first discharge roller pair; a first guide that rotatably supports the first discharge roller and guides a sheet conveyed from the cutter mechanism to the pair of first discharge rollers; a second guide that rotatably supports the second discharge roller and guides a sheet conveyed from the cutter mechanism to the pair of first discharge rollers; Equipped with The second guide is characterized in that it is movable between a first guide position where the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller are in a nipped state, and a second guide position where the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller are in a separated state.

[0008] In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when a sheet becomes jammed around the cutter mechanism, the user moves the second guide from the first guide position to the second guide position, which separates the first and second discharge rollers, allowing the user to easily grab and pull out the jammed sheet.

[0009] Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can easily remove a sheet that has become jammed around the cutter mechanism. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment, illustrating a state in which the second guide is in the first guide position, the pre-cutting cover is in the first cover position, and the exterior cover is closed. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating a state in which the second guide is in the second guide position, the pre-cutting cover is in the second cover position, and the exterior cover is open. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a main part of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a unit including the cutter mechanism, the first guide and the pre-cutting guide. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the biasing member applies a first biasing force to the second guide located at the first guide position. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the biasing member applies a second biasing force to the second guide located at the second guide position. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view in which a main part of FIG. 2 is enlarged, illustrating the moving distance of the sheet. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart when the control unit executes a print command. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment, illustrating a state in which the second guide is in the first guide position, the pre-cutting cover is in the first cover position, and the exterior cover is closed. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 11, illustrating a state in which the second guide has moved to the second guide position. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart when the control unit executes a print command. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] Example 1 As shown in Fig. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment is an example of a specific aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine including an image forming unit 3 and a fixing unit 7 that form an image on a sheet SH by an electrophotographic method, and an image reading unit 35 that reads an image of a document.

[0013] In Fig. 1, the side of the operation panel 37 of the image forming apparatus 1 is the front. The left-right direction of the image forming apparatus 1 is a direction that is perpendicular to the front-rear direction and extends horizontally. The side that is to the left when facing the operation panel 37 is the left side. The directions shown in Fig. 2 and subsequent figures are all displayed in accordance with the directions shown in Fig. 1.

[0014] <Overall composition> 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a first housing 10, a second housing 30, and a joint cover 50. The first housing 10, the second housing 30, and the joint cover 50 are examples of the "housing" of the present invention.

[0015] The first housing 10 is a generally box-shaped body. The second housing 30 is a generally box-shaped body with a flat shape whose vertical length is significantly smaller than that of the first housing 10. The second housing 30 is spaced upward from the first housing 10. The joint cover 50 supports the second housing 30 from below above the first housing 10.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 2, the first housing 10 accommodates a sheet cassette 10C in its lower portion. The sheet cassette 10C supports sheets SH on which images are to be formed in a stacked state. The sheets SH are paper, overhead projector sheets, etc. The first housing 10 accommodates an image forming unit 3 and a fixing unit 7 above the sheet cassette 10C.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first housing 10 has a maintenance opening 19 and an exterior cover 90.

[0018] The maintenance opening 19 is a large, generally rectangular opening that exposes a portion of the rear surface of the first housing 10 that is located above the rear end of the sheet cassette 10C.

[0019] 2, the exterior cover 90 closes the maintenance opening 19 in an upright state, and constitutes part of the exterior surface of the rear of the first housing 10. As shown in Fig. 3, the exterior cover 90 opens the maintenance opening 19 by rotating its lower end portion as a rotation axis and moving its upper end portion rearward and downward.

[0020] 2 and 4, the joint cover 50 has a discharge tray 9. The discharge tray 9 is located in the center in the left-right direction on the top surface of the first housing 10. The discharge tray 9 extends horizontally rearward from the front end side of the top surface of the first housing 10, and then bends and slopes downward rearward.

[0021] The discharge tray 9 defines the lower side of a discharge space AD1 defined between the first housing 10 and the second housing 30. A sheet SH on which an image has been formed after passing through the image forming unit 3 and the fixing unit 7 is discharged to the discharge space AD1. The discharge tray 9 supports the sheet SH discharged to the discharge space AD1.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, the joint cover 50 has inner wall surfaces 58 and 59 .

[0023] The inner wall surface 58 is the right side surface of a portion of the joint cover 50 that is located to the left of the discharge tray 9 and protrudes upward. The inner wall surface 58 defines the left side of the discharge space AD1.

[0024] 2 and 4, the inner wall surface 59 is the left side surface of a portion of the joint cover 50 that is located to the right of the discharge tray 9 and protrudes upward. The inner wall surface 59 defines the right side of the discharge space AD1.

[0025] 2, the second housing 30 houses the image reading unit 35. The image reading unit 35 is located at a position spaced above the discharge tray 9. The image reading unit 35 has a well-known configuration and will not be described briefly, but reads an image of a document placed on the upper surface of the second housing 30 by a reading sensor (not shown). The document is a book, a sheet, or the like.

[0026] The second housing 30 also has a document cover 40 whose top surface can be opened and closed, and an automatic document transport mechanism 45 housed in the document cover 40.

[0027] 1, the document cover 40 has a supply tray 41 and a discharge tray 42 located on the right side thereof. The supply tray 41 is spaced above the discharge tray 42.

[0028] The automatic document feed mechanism 45 is a well-known configuration and will not be described here, but it feeds the sheet-like document supported on the supply tray 41 to a position where it can be read by a reading sensor (not shown) of the image reading unit 35, and then discharges the document onto the discharge tray 42. The reading sensor (not shown) reads the image of the document being fed.

[0029] The operation panel 37 protrudes forward from a portion located to the left of the discharge space AD1 on the front end surface of the second housing 30. The operation panel 37 is supported from below by the front end of a portion of the joint cover 50 that is located to the left of the discharge tray 9 and protrudes upward.

[0030] The operation panel 37 has an operation surface that receives operation input by a user's finger, and a display unit such as an LCD located below the operation surface. The operation panel 37 displays information indicating the operating state and settings of the image forming apparatus 1, and notifies the user by displaying error messages and the like. The operation panel 37 is an example of the "notification unit" of the present invention.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, in the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming section 3 includes a developing device 3A, a photoconductor 5, and a scanner section 8.

[0032] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a first feed roller 21, a first separation roller 22, a separation pad 22A, a conveying roller pair 23, a registration roller pair 24 and a post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 housed in a first housing 10 together with the image forming section 3 and the fixing unit 7.

[0033] A first feeding roller 21, a first separation roller 22, a separation pad 22A, and a transport roller pair 23 are located in the front portion of the first housing 10. A post-fixing transport roller pair 25 is located in the rear portion of the first housing 10.

[0034] A transport path P1 is provided inside the first housing 10. The transport path P1 is a path that starts from the front end of the sheet cassette 10C, makes a U-turn upward, passes through a first feeding roller 21, a first separation roller 22, a separation pad 22A, and a transport roller pair 23, and then proceeds approximately horizontally backward, passes through a registration roller pair 24, a photoconductor 5, and a fixing device 7, and reaches a post-fixing transport roller pair 25.

[0035] The first feeding roller 21 is located at the most upstream end of the conveying path P1. The first separation roller 22 and the separation pad 22A are located downstream of the conveying path P1 from the first feeding roller 21. The conveying roller pair 23 is located downstream of the first separation roller 22 and the separation pad 22A from the conveying path P1, midway through the portion of the conveying path P1 that makes an upward U-turn.

[0036] The registration roller pair 24 is located downstream of the transport roller pair 23 on the transport path P1 and upstream of the photoconductor 5 on the transport path P1, midway along the portion of the transport path P1 that advances substantially horizontally backward.

[0037] The first feeding roller 21 feeds the sheet SH supported by the sheet cassette 10C toward the photoconductor 5. If there are multiple sheets SH sent to the conveying path P1 by the first feeding roller 21, the first separation roller 22 and the separation pad 22A separate the sheets SH one by one. Then, the conveying roller pair 23 and the registration roller pair 24 convey the sheet SH to the photoconductor 5.

[0038] The developing device 3A has a toner storage chamber 3D that stores toner, and a developing roller 3B to which toner is supplied from the toner storage chamber 3D. The photoconductor 5 is located behind and below the developing roller 3B, and is in contact with the developing roller 3B.

[0039] The photoreceptor 5 is a cylindrical rotating body centered on a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction. A positively charged photosensitive layer is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 5 in correspondence with the positively charged toner. Note that a negatively charged photosensitive layer may also be formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 5, in which case a negatively charged toner is used.

[0040] The photoreceptor 5 can come into contact with the sheet SH transported along a portion of the transport path P1 that moves rearward and approximately horizontally from above. A transfer roller 5A is located below the photoreceptor 5. The transfer roller 5A faces the photoreceptor 5 from below, with the transport path P1 in between.

[0041] The developing device 3A further includes a charger 3E. The charger 3E faces the rear of the photoconductor 5. The charger 3E is a well-known Scorotron charger.

[0042] The scanner unit 8 is located above the developing device 3A and the photoconductor 5. The scanner unit 8 has a laser light source, a polygon mirror, an fθ lens, a reflecting mirror, and the like, which are well-known components. The scanner unit 8 irradiates the surface of the photoconductor 5 with a laser beam.

[0043] The surface of the photoreceptor 5 is uniformly positively charged by the charger 3E as it rotates, and then exposed to high-speed scanning of a laser beam emitted from the scanner unit 8. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be formed on the sheet SH is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 5.

[0044] Then, the developing roller 3B supplies toner to the photoreceptor 5 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 5. As a result, a toner image is carried on the surface of the photoreceptor 5. The photoreceptor 5 transfers the toner image to the upward surface of the sheet SH that passes through the nip position between the photoreceptor 5 and the transfer roller 5A.

[0045] The fixing unit 7 is located behind the photoconductor 5 and in front of the post-fixing transport roller pair 25. The fixing unit 7 has a heating member 7A located above the transport path P1, and a pressure roller 7B facing the heating member 7A from below with the transport path P1 in between.

[0046] The heating member 7A includes an endless belt, a guide member that supports the endless belt from its inner periphery so as to be circulable, and a heater that heats the endless belt from its inner periphery. The heating member 7A and the pressure roller 7B nip the sheet SH at the fixing nip portion 7N.

[0047] The fixing unit 7 heats and presses the sheet SH onto which the toner image has been transferred, by using a heating member 7A and a pressure roller 7B, thereby thermally fixing the toner image onto the sheet SH. A post-fixing transport roller pair 25 transports the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing unit 7 upward and backward.

[0048] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit C1, a pre-registration sheet sensor S1, a post-registration sheet sensor S2, and a post-fixing sheet sensor S3.

[0049] The first housing 10 houses a control unit C1. The control unit C1 is an electronic circuit unit including a CPU, an interface circuit, and a storage unit (not shown). The control unit C1 performs overall control over each unit of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0050] The control unit C1 is electrically connected to the pre-registration sheet sensor S1, the post-registration sheet sensor S2, and the post-fixing sheet sensor S3.

[0051] The pre-registration sheet sensor S1 is located immediately before the pair of registration rollers 24 on the transport path P1, detects the passage of the sheet SH, and transmits the detection result to the control unit C1. The control unit C1 performs control to correct the skew of the sheet SH that reaches the pair of registration rollers 24 based on the detection result of the pre-registration sheet sensor S1.

[0052] The post-registration sheet sensor S2 is located immediately behind the pair of registration rollers 24 on the transport path P1, and detects the passage of the sheet SH and transmits the detection result to the control unit C1. The control unit C1 controls the timing of the image forming operation by the image forming unit 3 and the fixing unit 7 based on the detection result of the post-registration sheet sensor S2.

[0053] The post-fixing sheet sensor S3 is located between the fixing unit 7 and the post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 on the conveying path P1, detects the passage of the sheet SH, and transmits the detection result to the control unit C1. The control unit C1 controls the timing of a plurality of operations performed until the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing unit 7 is discharged to the discharge tray 9, based on the detection result of the post-fixing sheet sensor S3.

[0054] As the pre-registration sheet sensor S1, the post-registration sheet sensor S2, and the post-fixing sheet sensor S3, a sensor having an actuator that swings when the sheet SH comes into contact with it, a light reflection type sensor, or the like can be used.

[0055] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a flapper 26. The flapper 26 is located above the post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 and is connected to a solenoid (not shown). The control unit C1 controls the solenoid (not shown) to swing the flapper 26 between the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 and the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2.

[0056] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a first discharge path PD1 and a second discharge path PD2. The upstream ends of the first discharge path PD1 and the second discharge path PD2 are connected to the downstream end of the transport path P1.

[0057] The first discharge path PD1 is an effective discharge path when the flapper 26 is in the position shown by the solid line in Fig. 2. The second discharge path PD2 is an effective discharge path when the flapper 26 is in the position shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 2.

[0058] The first discharge path PD1 advances upward between the flapper 26, which is positioned as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, and the outer cover 90, and discharges the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing device 7 into the discharge space AD1 by making the conveying direction DT1 of the sheet SH face forward and substantially horizontal above the flapper 26.

[0059] 2, the sheet SH is guided in a conveying direction DT1 of the sheet SH toward a substantially horizontal forward direction, and the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing unit 7 is discharged to the discharge space AD1. The second discharge path PD2 discharges the sheet SH to the discharge space AD1 at a position lower than the first discharge path PD1 and upstream of the first discharge path PD1 in the conveying direction DT1.

[0060] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a pre-cutting cover 80, a first conveying roller 71, and a second conveying roller 72, which are arranged at a portion of the first discharge path PD1 where the conveying direction DT1 changes from upward to forward.

[0061] As shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a pre-cutting guide 300, a cutter mechanism 4, a first guide 100, a second guide 200, a sheet sensor S4 and a first discharge roller pair 29 arranged along the portion of the first discharge path PD1 where the conveying direction DT1 is substantially horizontal and forward-facing.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a second discharge roller pair 28 disposed at the most downstream end of the second discharge path PD2.

[0063] The second discharge roller pair 28 is located above an upstream end 9U in the transport direction DT1 of the discharge tray 9. The second discharge roller pair 28 discharges the sheet SH that passes through the fixing unit 7 and is transported without passing through the cutter mechanism 4 onto the discharge tray 9.

[0064] 2 and 4, the first discharge roller pair 29 is located below the image reading unit 35 and above the second discharge roller pair 28. The first discharge roller pair 29 is located downstream of the second discharge roller pair 28 in the transport direction DT1. The first discharge roller pair 29 is located above the middle part in the front-to-rear direction of the downwardly inclined portion of the discharge tray 9. The first discharge roller pair 29 discharges the sheet SH (SH1) that has passed through the fixing unit 7 and has been cut in half in length by the cutter mechanism 4 onto the discharge tray 9.

[0065] <Pre-cutting cover, first conveyor roller and second conveyor roller> 2 and 3, the pre-cutting cover 80 is located at the lower end of the pre-cutting cover 80 and is rotatable around a cover axis X80 parallel to the left-right direction. The cross section of the pre-cutting cover 80 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 shows the center in the left-right direction of the pre-cutting cover 80. Although not shown, the lower end of the pre-cutting cover 80 is located outside the sheet SH transported along the first discharge path PD1 in the left-right direction and extends to the cover axis X80.

[0066] The pre-cutting cover 80 supports the first conveyor roller 71 and the second conveyor roller 72. The second conveyor roller 72 is located below the first conveyor roller 71 and faces the first conveyor roller 71.

[0067] The pre-cutting cover 80 can be moved between a first cover position shown in FIG. 2 and a second cover position shown in FIG. 3 by rotating about a cover axis X80 with the exterior cover 90 open.

[0068] 2, when the pre-cutting cover 80 is in the first cover position, it guides the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing unit 7 and is transported along the first discharge path PD1 toward the cutter mechanism 4. In this state, the first transport roller 71 and the second transport roller 72 are located upstream of the cutter mechanism 4 in the transport direction DT1. The first transport roller 71 and the second transport roller 72 transport the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing unit 7 toward the cutter mechanism 4.

[0069] 3, the pre-cutting cover 80 moves away from the cutter mechanism 4 upstream in the conveying direction DT1 by rotating to the second cover position with the exterior cover 90 open to open the maintenance opening 19. In this state, the first conveying roller 71 and the second conveying roller 72 also move rearward and downward away from the cutter mechanism 4. This causes the maintenance opening 19 to expose the pre-cutting cover 80 at the second cover position to the outside of the first housing 10. As a result, the user can remove the sheet SH that is jammed around the exterior cover 90 and the pre-cutting cover 80 in the first discharge path PD1.

[0070] In addition, in a state in which the exterior cover 90 is opened to expose the maintenance opening 19 and in a state in which the pre-cutting cover 80 is in the first cover position, the user can carry out the operation of removing the sheet SH that is clogged in the second discharge path PD2.

[0071] <Pre-cutting guide, cutter mechanism, first guide, second guide, sheet sensor, and first discharge roller pair> 5 and 6, the pre-cutting guide 300, the cutter mechanism 4, and the first guide 100 are fastened together to form a unit. As shown in FIG. 2, the pre-cutting guide 300, the cutter mechanism 4, and the first guide 100 are assembled to the joint cover 50 in this unit state and fixed to the joint cover 50.

[0072] As shown in Fig. 2, the pre-cutting guide 300 is provided downstream in the conveying direction DT1 of the pre-cutting cover 80 at the first cover position. As shown in Fig. 6, the pre-cutting guide 300 is provided upstream in the conveying direction DT1 of the cutter mechanism 4. As shown in Fig. 5, the pre-cutting guide 300 is a resin molded product manufactured by injection molding of thermoplastic resin or the like.

[0073] 6, the pre-cutting guide 300 has guide surfaces 301 and 302 that guide the sheet SH passing through the cutter mechanism 4. The guide surface 301 faces the guide surface 302 from above.

[0074] The sheet SH conveyed by the first conveying roller 71 and the second conveying roller 72 toward the cutter mechanism 4 passes between the guide surface 301 and the guide surface 302 and reaches the cutter mechanism 4.

[0075] The cutter mechanism 4 has a cutter carriage 420 and a cutter frame 400 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and a moving blade 412 and a fixed blade 411 shown in FIG.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 6, the cutter carriage 420 rotatably holds a circular moving blade 412 .

[0077] A cutter frame opening 409 is formed in the cutter frame 400. The cutter frame opening 409 has an inner width in the left-right direction larger than the width of the sheet SH so that the sheet SH guided by the guide surfaces 301 and 302 of the pre-cutting guide 300 can pass through the cutter frame opening 409. The downstream side of the guide surface 301 in the conveying direction DT1 enters the cutter frame opening 409.

[0078] The cutter frame 400 has a guide portion 402 above the cutter frame opening 409 and on the opposite side to the pre-cutting guide 300. The guide portion 402 guides the cutter carriage 420 in a cutting direction DC1 perpendicular to the conveying direction DT1, i.e., in the left-right direction, and regulates the cutter carriage 420 so as not to come off the guide portion 402. In other words, the cutter frame 400 holds the cutter carriage 420 movably in the cutting direction DC1.

[0079] 5, the cutter frame 400 has a first motor M1 and a timing belt 430. The first motor M1 is located on the left end side of the cutter frame 400 and above the cutter frame opening 409.

[0080] The timing belt 430 is wound around a drive pulley and a plurality of driven pulleys (not shown) and surrounds a cutter frame opening 409. The drive pulley and a plurality of driven pulleys (not shown) are supported by the cutter frame 400 so as to be rotatable.

[0081] The cutter carriage 420 is connected to a portion of the timing belt 430 that extends in the left-right direction above the cutter frame opening 409 .

[0082] The first motor M1 drives a drive pulley (not shown) via a gear train to rotate it in the forward and reverse directions, thereby moving the cutter carriage 420 and the moving blade 412 in the cutting direction DC1.

[0083] 5, the cutter carriage 420 (420A) is shown in a standby position at the right end of the cutter frame opening 409 where it does not interfere with the right edge of the sheet SH. The cutter carriage 420 (420B) is shown in a state in the middle of moving in the cutting direction DC1. The cutter carriage 420 (420C) is shown in a folded-back position at the left end of the cutter frame opening 409 where it does not interfere with the left edge of the sheet SH.

[0084] 6, the fixed blade 411 is fastened to the cutter frame 400 below the lower edge of the cutter frame opening 409. The fixed blade 411 extends upward and then bends to extend downstream in the conveying direction DT1. The cutting edge of the fixed blade 411 extends linearly in the cutting direction DC1.

[0085] When moving in the cutting direction DC1, the moving blade 412 comes into sliding contact with the cutting edge of the fixed blade 411. The cutter mechanism 4 cuts the sheet SH that has passed through the fixing device 7 by the fixed blade 411 and the moving blade 412 in the cutting direction DC1.

[0086] 5 and 6, the first guide 100 is provided downstream in the conveying direction DT1 from the cutter mechanism 4. The first guide 100 has a bottom wall 105 and a plurality of ribs 107. The first guide 100 is a resin molded product manufactured by injection molding of a thermoplastic resin or the like.

[0087] The bottom wall 105 is curved and extends in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction. Each rib 107 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the bottom wall 105 and extends in the front-rear direction. Each rib 107 is spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction.

[0088] The first guide 100 has a first guide surface 101. The first guide surface 101 is formed by the tips of the front ribs 107. The first guide 100 guides the sheet SH, which is transported from the cutter mechanism 4 to the first discharge roller pair 29, by the first guide surface 101.

[0089] The first discharge roller pair 29 includes a first discharge roller 29A which is a driven roller, and a second discharge roller 29B which is a drive roller.

[0090] The first guide 100 rotatably supports the first discharge roller 29A. The first discharge roller 29A is rotatably supported on the downstream end 100D side of the first guide 100 in the transport direction DT1.

[0091] A pressure spring (not shown) is positioned between the first guide 100 and the first discharge roller 29A. When the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B are in a nip state, the pressure spring (not shown) applies a pressure force to the first discharge roller 29A to ensure a nip pressure.

[0092] 5, the first guide 100 has a left wall 106L and a right wall 106R. The left wall 106L is connected to the left end of the bottom wall 105, extends upward, and also extends in the front-to-rear direction. The right wall 106R is connected to the right end of the bottom wall 105, extends upward, and also extends in the front-to-rear direction.

[0093] A shaft hole 102H is formed in the rear and lower position of the right wall 106R so as to penetrate in the left-right direction. The shaft hole 102H is a circular hole centered on a rotation axis X200 extending in the left-right direction. Although not shown in the figure, a shaft hole 102H is also formed in the left wall 106L.

[0094] A substantially box-shaped biasing member accommodating portion 108 is formed at the front upper corner of each of the left wall 106L and the right wall 106R. Each biasing member accommodating portion 108 protrudes toward the center of the first guide 100 in the left-right direction.

[0095] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a biasing member 280. Each biasing member housing 108 houses the biasing member 280. The left biasing member 280 and the right biasing member 280 have the same configuration but on opposite sides. For this reason, in Figs. 6 to 8, the right biasing member 280 is illustrated, and illustration and description of the left biasing member 280 are omitted.

[0096] 7, biasing member 280 has a metallic torsion coil spring 289 and a resin spring cover 281 that covers torsion coil spring 289. Torsion coil spring 289 is an example of the "spring" of the present invention.

[0097] The spring cover 281 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 108S located in the biasing member accommodating portion 108. The spring cover 281 protrudes rearward, and its rear portion is exposed from the biasing member accommodating portion 108.

[0098] The coil portion of the torsion coil spring 289 surrounds the support shaft 108S. One end of the torsion coil spring 289 is engaged with the spring cover 281. The other end of the spring cover 281 is engaged with a locking portion (not shown) formed around the periphery of the biasing member accommodating portion 108. The torsion coil spring 289 biases the spring cover 281 in a direction that moves the rear portion of the spring cover 281 downward.

[0099] The spring cover 281 has a pressing portion 284 and a sliding contact portion 283. The pressing portion 284 and the sliding contact portion 283 are formed separately on the rear portion of the spring cover 281.

[0100] The pressing portion 284 extends linearly in the front-rear direction while facing downward. The sliding contact portion 283 is connected to the rear end of the pressing portion 284 and is curved upward.

[0101] 5 and 7, a block-shaped stopper 102S is formed at a front and lower position on the right wall 106R. Although not shown, a stopper 102S is also formed on the left wall 106L. Each stopper 102S protrudes toward the center of the first guide 100 in the left-right direction.

[0102] 4 and 6, the second guide 200 has an upper wall 205. The upper wall 205 is bent so that the front portion is one step higher than the rear portion, and extends in the front-rear direction and also in the left-right direction. The second guide 200 is a resin molded product manufactured by injection molding of a thermoplastic resin or the like.

[0103] The second guide 200 has a pair of rotation shafts (not shown) provided to the left of the left end of the upper wall 205 and to the right of the right end of the upper wall 205. The pair of rotation shafts (not shown) are inserted into shaft holes 102H in the left wall 106L and right wall 106R of the first guide 100, so that the second guide 200 can rotate about a rotation axis X200. The joint cover 50 to which the first guide 100 is fixed supports the second guide 200 to be rotatable about the rotation axis X200.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 6, the rotation axis X200 is located on the upstream end 200U side of the second guide 200 in the conveying direction DT1.

[0105] 4, the second guide 200 has a sliding surface 273 provided to the left of the left end of the upper wall 205 and to the right of the right end of the upper wall 205. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the sliding surface 273 is located on the downstream end 200D side of the second guide 200 in the conveying direction DT1.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 7, the sliding surface 273 is an arc-shaped curved surface centered on the rotation axis X200, and faces outward in the radial direction of the rotation axis X200.

[0107] 6 to 8, the second guide 200 has a pressed portion 274 and a stopper recess 201S provided to the left of the left end of the upper wall 205 and to the right of the right end of the upper wall 205. The pressed portion 274 and the stopper recess 201S on the left side and the pressed portion 274 and the stopper recess 201S on the right side have the same configuration but on opposite sides. For this reason, the pressed portion 274 and the stopper recess 201S on the right side are illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, and the illustration and description of the pressed portion 274 and the stopper recess 201S on the left side are omitted.

[0108] The pressed portion 274 is connected to the upper end of the sliding contact surface 273 and curves rearward in a small radius arc. The stopper recess 201S is recessed upward at a position slightly rearward from the lower end of the sliding contact surface 273.

[0109] The second guide 200 is movable between a first guide position in which the stopper 102S abuts the stopper recess 201S from below, as shown in FIG. 7, and a second guide position in which the stopper recess 201S moves upward away from the stopper 102S, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0110] The position of the second guide 200 shown in Figures 2 and 6 is the first guide position. The position of the second guide 200 shown in Figure 3 is the second guide position.

[0111] 7, the biasing member 280 applies a first biasing force FG1 to the second guide 200 at the first guide position in a direction from the second guide position to the first guide position, i.e., a downward force. At this time, the pressing portion 284 presses the pressed portion 274 downward, thereby applying the first biasing force FG1 to the pressed portion 274. The first biasing force FG1 makes it difficult for the stopper recess 201S to move upward from the stopper 102S, and the second guide 200 is held at the first guide position with high reliability.

[0112] 8, the biasing member 280 comes into sliding contact with the sliding contact surface 273 when the second guide 200 rotates between the first guide position and the second guide position, and applies a second biasing force FG2 to the second guide 200 in a direction toward the inside in the radial direction of the rotation axis X200. At this time, the sliding portion 283 comes into sliding contact with the sliding contact surface 273, thereby applying the second biasing force FG2 to the sliding contact surface 273. As a result, the posture of the second guide 200 can be stopped at a position that provides a desired rotation angle by the frictional force acting between the biasing member 280 and the sliding contact surface 273 of the second guide 200.

[0113] The torsion coil spring 289 and the spring cover 281 are located on the outer side of the sliding contact surface 273 in the radial direction of the rotation axis X200 with the sliding contact portion 283 in sliding contact with the sliding contact surface 273.

[0114] 6, the second guide 200 rotatably supports the second discharge roller 29B. The second discharge roller 29B is rotatably supported on the downstream end 200D side of the second guide 200 in the transport direction DT1.

[0115] When the second guide 200 is in the first guide position, the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B are in a nip state. The first biasing force FG1 is set to a magnitude that can prevent the second guide 200 from escaping from the first guide position to the second guide position due to the pressing force for ensuring the nip pressure.

[0116] 3, when the second guide 200 is in the second guide position, the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B are separated from each other. When the second guide 200 is in the second guide position, the position of the second discharge roller 29B is further upwardly from the discharge tray 9 than the position of the second discharge roller 29B when the second guide 200 is in the first guide position.

[0117] 6, the second guide 200 has a plurality of ribs 207. Each rib 207 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the upper wall 205 and extends in the front-rear direction. Each rib 207 is separated from each other in the left-right direction.

[0118] The second guide 200 has a second guide surface 202. The second guide surface 202 is formed by the tip of each front rib 207. The second guide surface 202 faces the first guide surface 101 when the second guide 200 is in the first guide position. The rotation axis X200 is located between the first guide surface 101 and the second guide surface 202 when the second guide 200 is in the first guide position.

[0119] As shown in Figures 3 and 6 to 8, when the second guide 200 rotates between the first guide position and the second guide position, the entire second guide 200, including the upper wall 205, moves, and therefore the entire second guide surface 202 moves.

[0120] As shown in Figure 6, when the second guide 200 is in the first guide position, the upstream side 202U of the second guide surface 202 in the conveying direction DT1 is inclined away from the first guide surface 101 toward the upstream end 200U of the second guide 200, relative to the downstream side 202D of the second guide surface 202 in the conveying direction DT1.

[0121] The second guide 200 guides the sheet SH, which is transported from the cutter mechanism 4 to the first discharge roller pair 29, by the second guide surface 202.

[0122] 5 and 6, the sheet sensor S4 is provided on the first guide 100. The sheet sensor S4 is located between the cutter frame 400 and the first discharge roller pair 29 in the conveying direction DT1.

[0123] The sheet sensor S4 is an actuator that swings when the sheet SH comes into contact with it, and detects the sheet SH passing through the cutter mechanism 4. The swing of the sheet sensor S4 is converted into an electric signal by a photointerrupter (not shown) and transmitted to the control unit C1. The control unit C1 controls the timing when the cutter mechanism 4 cuts the sheet SH based on the detection result of the sheet sensor S4.

[0124] Specifically, the control unit C1 determines the timing when the portion of the sheet SH that is half the length of the sheet SH reaches the cutting position of the fixed blade 411 and the moving blade 412 based on the elapsed time since the sheet sensor S4 detected the leading edge of the sheet SH passing through the cutter mechanism 4 and the conveying speed of the sheet SH, and when that timing arrives, stops the first conveying roller 71, the second conveying roller 72, and the first discharge roller pair 29 that nip the sheet SH. Then, the control unit C1 controls the first motor M1 to move the moving blade 412 in the cutting direction DC1. As a result, the cutter mechanism 4 cuts the sheet SH to half its length. Thereafter, the control unit C1 rotates the first conveying roller 71, the second conveying roller 72, and the first discharge roller pair 29, and discharges the sheet SH (SH1) that has been cut into two pieces to the discharge tray 9.

[0125] <Second guide handle> 4, the second guide 200 has a handle 260. The handle 260 is integrally formed with the second guide 200. The handle 260 has a plate shape extending in the conveying direction DT1 from a downstream end 200D of the second guide 200 in the conveying direction DT1. A user can move the second guide 200 between the first guide position and the second guide position by holding the handle 260 and moving it up and down.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 6, the handle 260 is located downstream of a nip position 29N between the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B in the transport direction DT1 and above the nip position 29N.

[0127] The downstream end 260D of the handle 260 in the conveying direction DT1 is located above the sheet SH (SH1) discharged by the first discharge roller pair 29 when the second guide 200 is in the first guide position, and above the upper surface SHm of the maximum number of sheets SH that can be loaded on the discharge tray 9.

[0128] <Sheet movement distance> 9, the movement distance of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the nip position 29N of the first discharge roller pair 29 is defined as LR1. The movement distance of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the nip position of the second discharge roller pair 28 is defined as LR2. The movement distance LR2 is shorter than the movement distance LR1.

[0129] 2, the maximum length of the sheet SH that the image forming apparatus 1 can accommodate is the maximum length of the sheet SH supported by the sheet cassette 10C. The maximum length of the sheet SH that the image forming apparatus 1 can accommodate is designated as LS1.

[0130] 9, the movement distance of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the cutting position of the fixed blade 411 and the movable blade 412 in the cutter mechanism 4 is designated as LC1. The movement distance LC1 is longer than half of the maximum length LS1. In other words, when the sheet SH to be cut by the cutter mechanism 4 stops, the rear end of the sheet SH is away from the fixing nip portion 7N downstream in the transport direction DT1.

[0131] The movement distance of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the nip position of the post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 is LD1. The movement distance of the sheet SH from the nip position of the post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 to the cutting position of the fixed blade 411 and the movable blade 412 in the cutter mechanism 4 is LC1-LD1. The movement distance LC1-LD1 is longer than half of the maximum length LS1. In other words, when the sheet SH to be cut by the cutter mechanism 4 stops, the rear end of the sheet SH is away from the nip position of the post-fixing conveying roller pair 25 downstream in the conveying direction DT1.

[0132] <Second guide sensor and control operation in response to print command> 5 and 7, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a second guide sensor S5. The second guide sensor S5 is a microswitch in which an internal contact is connected or disconnected by the swinging of a detection lever.

[0133] The second guide sensor S5 is held at a portion of the right wall 106R of the first guide 100, spaced rearward and downward from the stopper 102S.

[0134] As shown in FIG. 7, when the second guide 200 is at the first guide position, the detection lever is pushed down, so that the second guide sensor S5 detects that the second guide 200 is at the first guide position.

[0135] As shown in FIG. 8, when the second guide 200 rotates to the second guide position and moves upward away from the detection lever, the second guide sensor S5 detects that the second guide 200 is not at the first guide position.

[0136] The second guide sensor S5 transmits the detection result to the control unit C1. The control unit C1 performs a control operation for a print command based on the detection result of the second guide sensor S5. Specifically, the control unit C1 executes the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0137] First, in step S101, the control unit C1 determines whether or not a print command has been received. The control unit C1 receives a print command by a user's operation input to the operation panel 37, or receives a print command from an information processing terminal or the like via a network.

[0138] The control unit C1 repeats step S101 until it receives a print command. When the control unit C1 receives a print command and the determination in step S101 is "Yes," the control unit C1 proceeds to step S102.

[0139] When the control section C1 proceeds to step S102, it determines whether or not a printing with cutting command for cutting the sheet SH on which an image has been formed by the cutter mechanism 4 has been received.

[0140] If the answer is "No" in step S102, the control unit C1 proceeds to step S103 and executes a no-cut printing command that does not cut the sheet SH on which an image has been formed by the cutter mechanism 4. That is, when the control unit C1 receives a no-cut printing command, it starts the no-cut printing command regardless of the detection result of the second guide 200. Then, the control unit C1 moves the flapper 26 to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 to enable the second discharge path PD2, and forms an image on the sheet SH by the image forming unit 3 and the fixing unit 7, and discharges the sheet SH to the discharge tray 9 by the second discharge roller pair 28. Thereafter, the control unit C1 ends the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 and repeats the process from the beginning.

[0141] If "Yes" in step S102, the control section C1 proceeds to step S104, and determines whether or not the second guide 200 is in the first guide position based on the detection result of the second guide sensor S5.

[0142] If the answer is "Yes" in step S104, the control unit C1 proceeds to step S105 and executes the print with cutting command. Then, the control unit C1 moves the flapper 26 to the position shown by the solid line in Fig. 2 to enable the first discharge path PD1, and forms an image on the sheet SH by the image forming unit 3 and the fixing unit 7. Then, the control unit C1 cuts the sheet SH in half length by the cutter mechanism 4, and discharges it onto the discharge tray 9 by the first discharge roller pair 29. Thereafter, the control unit C1 ends the flowchart shown in Fig. 10 and repeats the process from the beginning.

[0143] If the result in step S104 is "No," the control unit C1 proceeds to step S106, does not start the print with cut command, notifies the user that the second guide 200 is not at the first guide position, and starts timing. The notification is made by displaying an error message on the operation panel 37 or by transmitting an error message via the network to the information processing terminal that issued the print command.

[0144] Next, the control section C1 proceeds to step S107, and determines whether or not the second guide 200 is at the first guide position based on the detection result of the second guide sensor S5.

[0145] If the user who has received the notification moves the second guide 200 to the first guide position, the result in step S107 becomes "Yes", and the control unit C1 proceeds to step S105. The process from step S105 onwards is as described above.

[0146] If the answer is "No" in step S107, the control unit C1 proceeds to step S108 and determines whether the elapsed time is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The threshold value is set in consideration of the time required for the user who has received the notification to move the second guide 200 to the first guide position.

[0147] If step S108 is "No", the control unit C1 repeats steps S107 and S108. If step S108 is "Yes", the control unit C1 determines that the print command with disconnection cannot be executed and proceeds to step S109, where it executes error processing to cancel the print command. After that, the control unit C1 ends the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 and repeats the process from the beginning.

[0148] <Action and effect> 3, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the embodiment, when a sheet SH becomes jammed around the cutter mechanism 4, the user moves the second guide 200 from the first guide position to the second guide position. This causes the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B to move away from each other, so that the user can easily grab and pull out the jammed sheet SH.

[0149] Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the sheet SH that has become jammed around the cutter mechanism 4 can be easily removed.

[0150] In addition, in the image forming apparatus 1, the first guide 100 is fixed, and the second guide 200 is rotatable around the rotation axis X200. As shown in FIG. 6, the first discharge roller 29A is rotatably supported on the downstream end 100D side of the first guide 100 in the conveying direction DT1, and the second discharge roller 29B is rotatably supported on the downstream end 200D side of the second guide 200 in the conveying direction DT1, and the rotation axis X200 is located on the upstream end 200U side of the second guide 200 in the conveying direction DT1. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, the second guide 200 rotated to the second guide position opens the downstream side of the conveying direction DT1 from the cutter mechanism 4. Therefore, the user can easily insert his / her hand from the downstream of the conveying direction DT1 into the space formed between the first guide 100 and the second guide 200 rotated to the second guide position, and can easily pick up the jammed sheet SH.

[0151] 7, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a biasing member 280 that applies a first biasing force FG1 to the second guide 200 at the first guide position. With this configuration, when the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B are in a nip state, a pressing force for ensuring the nip pressure acts on the second discharge roller 29B from the first discharge roller 29A, but the first biasing force FG1 of the biasing member 280 can suppress the second guide 200 from escaping from the first guide position to the second guide position due to the pressing force. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can suppress the variation in the nip pressure between the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B.

[0152] 8, in the image forming apparatus 1, the biasing member 280 comes into sliding contact with the sliding contact surface 273 when the second guide 200 rotates between the first guide position and the second guide position, and applies a second biasing force FG2 to the second guide 200. With this configuration, the posture of the second guide 200 can be stopped at a position where a desired rotation angle is achieved by the frictional force acting between the biasing member 280 and the sliding contact surface 273 of the second guide 200. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can suppress rattling of the second guide 200, and can improve the operability when rotating the second guide 200.

[0153] 7 and 8, in the image forming apparatus 1, the second guide 200 has a pressed portion 274 on which the first biasing force FG1 acts, and the pressed portion 274 and the sliding surface 273 are continuously connected. With this configuration, there is no step between the pressed portion 274 and the sliding surface 273, so that the biasing member 280 can smoothly transition between a state in which the first biasing force FG1 acts on the pressed portion 274 and a state in which the second biasing force FG2 acts on the sliding surface 273.

[0154] 7, the biasing member 280 has a torsion coil spring 289 and a spring cover 281, and the spring cover 281 has a sliding portion 283 that slides against the sliding surface 273 when the biasing member 280 applies the second biasing force FG2 to the second guide 200. With this configuration, the sliding portion 283 of the spring cover 281 that covers the torsion coil spring 289 slides against the sliding surface 273, so that the contact surface pressure can be reduced compared to a case in which the torsion coil spring 289, which has a small contact area, directly slides against the sliding surface 273. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can suppress wear of the sliding surface 273 and improve durability.

[0155] Furthermore, in this image forming apparatus 1, the spring cover 281 has, in addition to the sliding contact portion 283, a pressing portion 284 that presses the pressed portion 274 when the biasing member 280 applies the first biasing force FG1 to the second guide 200. With this configuration, the direction in which the biasing member 280 applies the first biasing force FG1 can be easily changed from the direction in which the biasing member 280 applies the second biasing force FG2 to the second guide 200.

[0156] Furthermore, in this image forming apparatus 1, the torsion coil spring 289 makes it easier to reduce the space required for arranging the urging member 280 compared to a tension coil spring or a compression coil spring.

[0157] 8, in the image forming apparatus 1, the torsion coil spring 289 and the spring cover 281 are located radially outward of the sliding surface 273 with the sliding portion 283 in sliding contact with the sliding surface 273. This configuration prevents the torsion coil spring 289 and the spring cover 281 from protruding outward in the direction of the rotation axis X200 from the second guide 200. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can be prevented from becoming large in size in the direction of the rotation axis X200.

[0158] 6, in the image forming apparatus 1, the rotation axis X200 is located between the first guide surface 101 and the second guide surface 202 when the second guide 200 is in the first guide position. With this configuration, even if the second guide 200 is rotated to the second guide position, the cutter mechanism 4 is prevented from being opened more than necessary, so that the user's hand inserted from downstream in the conveying direction DT1 does not easily reach the cutter mechanism 4.

[0159] Furthermore, in this image forming apparatus 1, when the second guide 200 is at the first guide position, the upstream side 202U of the second guide surface 202 in the transport direction DT1 is inclined with respect to the downstream side 202D of the second guide surface 202 in the transport direction DT1 so as to move away from the first guide surface 101 toward the upstream end 200U of the second guide 200. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, when the second guide 200 rotates to the second guide position, it is possible to prevent a jammed sheet SH from being pinched.

[0160] 6, in the image forming apparatus 1, the first guide surface 101 is formed by the tips of a plurality of ribs 107, and the second guide surface 202 is formed by the tips of a plurality of ribs 207. This configuration can reduce the conveying resistance when the first guide surface 101 and the second guide surface 202 guide the sheet SH.

[0161] 3, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the second guide 200 rotates between the first guide position and the second guide position, the entire second guide surface 202 moves. With this configuration, the entire width of the second guide surface 202 moves, so that a user can easily reach the jammed sheet SH, compared to a case in which only a part of the range of the second guide surface 202 in the direction of the rotation axis X200 moves when the second guide 200 rotates between the first guide position and the second guide position.

[0162] 9, in the image forming apparatus 1, the movement distance LR2 of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the nip position of the second discharge roller pair 28 is shorter than the movement distance LR1 of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the nip position 29N of the first discharge roller pair 29. With this configuration, the sheet SH that does not need to be cut can be quickly discharged onto the discharge tray 9.

[0163] 2, in the image forming apparatus 1, the second discharge roller pair 28 is located above the upstream end 9U of the discharge tray 9 in the transport direction DT1, and the first discharge roller pair 29 is located downstream of the second discharge roller pair 28 in the transport direction DT1. With this configuration, the cut sheet SH discharged by the first discharge roller pair 29 is discharged downstream of the uncut sheet SH discharged by the second discharge roller pair 28 in the transport direction DT1 on the discharge tray 9. This makes it easier for the user to reach the small cut sheet SH (SH1) while it is supported on the discharge tray 9. With this configuration, the user's hand can also easily reach the second guide 200, making it easier to rotate the second guide 200.

[0164] In addition, in this image forming apparatus 1, the first discharge roller pair 29 is located below the image reading unit 35 and above the second discharge roller pair 28. With this configuration, even if uncut sheets SH are stacked in a fully loaded state on the discharge tray 9, this does not affect the discharge of the cut sheets SH.

[0165] 6, the second guide 200 has a handle 260 located downstream of a nip position 29N between the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B in the conveying direction DT1 and above the nip position 29N. With this configuration, the user can rotate the second guide 200 by holding the handle 260, improving the operability when rotating the second guide 200.

[0166] In the image forming apparatus 1, the handle 260 has a plate shape extending in the transport direction DT1 from the second guide 200. A downstream end 260D of the handle 260 in the transport direction DT1 is located above the sheets SH (SH1) discharged by the first discharge roller pair 29 when the second guide 200 is at the first guide position, and is located above the upper surface SHm of the maximum number of sheets SH that can be stacked on the discharge tray 9. This configuration can prevent the handle 260 from interfering with the cut sheets SH (SH1) discharged by the first discharge roller pair 29, and can also prevent the handle 260 from interfering with the uncut sheets SH stacked on the discharge tray 9.

[0167] 3, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the second guide 200 is in the second guide position, the position of the second discharge roller 29B is located above the discharge tray 9, further away from the discharge tray 9 than the position of the second discharge roller 29B when the second guide 200 is in the first guide position. With this configuration, the second guide 200 in the second guide position opens upward and away from the discharge tray 9, and the space formed between the first guide 100 and the second guide 200 becomes larger. This makes it easier for the user to visually check the jammed sheets SH, regardless of whether or not sheets SH are stacked on the discharge tray 9, and makes it easier to remove the jammed sheets SH.

[0168] 10, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the control unit C1 receives a print with cutting command and the second guide sensor S5 does not detect that the second guide 200 is at the first guide position in step S104, the control unit C1 proceeds to step S106, does not start the print with cutting command, and causes the operation panel 37 to notify that the second guide 200 is not at the first guide position. With this configuration, the user can recognize that the second guide 200 is not at the first guide position, and can rotate the second guide 200 to the first guide position.

[0169] Furthermore, in this image forming apparatus 1, when the control unit C1 receives a no-cut printing command, it starts the no-cut printing command in step S103 regardless of the detection result of the second guide 200. With this configuration, even if the second guide 200 is not at the first guide position, there is no problem in starting the no-cut printing command, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in convenience for the user.

[0170] 2 and 9, in this image forming apparatus 1, the movement distance LC1 of the sheet SH from the fixing nip portion 7N to the cutting position of the fixed blade 411 and the movable blade 412 in the cutter mechanism 4 is longer than half the maximum length LS1 of the sheet SH that the image forming apparatus 1 can accommodate. With this configuration, when the cutter mechanism 4 cuts the sheet SH in half, the entire sheet SH is always in a state having passed through the fixing nip portion 7N, so that the sheet SH is not overheated in the fixing nip portion 7N.

[0171] Example 2 As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment includes a first guide 1100 and a second guide 1200 instead of the first guide 100 and the second guide 200 of the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment.

[0172] The first guide 1100 is located above the second guide 1200 and is fixed to the joint cover 50. The second guide 1200 is movable between a first guide position shown in FIG. 11 and a second guide position shown in FIG.

[0173] In the second embodiment, the vertical relationship between the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B is reversed from that in the first embodiment. The guide 1100 rotatably supports the first discharge roller 29A. The second guide 1200 rotatably supports the second discharge roller 29B.

[0174] As shown in FIG. 11, when the second guide 1200 is in the first guide position, the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B are in a nip state.

[0175] 12, when the second guide 1200 is in the second guide position, the first discharge roller 29A and the second discharge roller 29B are separated from each other. When the second guide 1200 is in the second guide position, the position of the second discharge roller 29B is closer to the discharge tray 9 than the position of the second discharge roller 29B when the second guide 1200 is in the first guide position.

[0176] In the embodiment 2, a second guide sensor S5B is provided instead of the second guide sensor S5 according to the embodiment 1. The second guide sensor S5B detects whether or not the second guide 1200 is at the first guide position.

[0177] The second guide sensor S5B transmits the detection result to the control unit C1. The control unit C1 performs control operations for a print command based on the detection result of the second guide sensor S5B. Specifically, the control unit C1 executes the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0178] Other configurations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0179] 13, the control unit C1 first determines whether or not a print command has been received in step S201. The control unit C1 receives a print command by a user's operation input to the operation panel 37, or receives a print command from an information processing terminal or the like via a network.

[0180] The control unit C1 repeats step S201 until it receives a print command. When the control unit C1 receives a print command and the answer is "Yes" in step S201, the control unit C1 proceeds to step S202.

[0181] When the control unit C1 proceeds to step S202, it determines whether or not the second guide 1200 is at the first guide position based on the detection result of the second guide sensor S5B.

[0182] If the answer is "Yes" in step S202, the control unit C1 proceeds to step S207. The process after step S207 will be described later.

[0183] If the result in step S202 is "No," the control unit C1 proceeds to step S203, does not start the print command, notifies the user that the second guide 1200 is not at the first guide position, and starts timing. The notification is made by displaying an error message on the operation panel 37 or by transmitting an error message via the network to the information processing terminal that issued the print command.

[0184] Next, the control section C1 proceeds to step S204, and determines whether or not the second guide 1200 is at the first guide position based on the detection result of the second guide sensor S5B.

[0185] If the user who has received the notification moves the second guide 1200 to the first guide position, the result in step S204 becomes "Yes", and the control unit C1 proceeds to step S207. The process after step S207 will be described later.

[0186] If the answer is "No" in step S204, the control unit C1 proceeds to step S205 and determines whether the elapsed time is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The threshold value is set in consideration of the time required for the user who has received the notification to move the second guide 1200 to the first guide position.

[0187] If the result in step S205 is "No", the control unit C1 repeats steps S204 and S205. If the result in step S205 is "Yes", the control unit C1 determines that the print command cannot be executed and proceeds to step S206, where it executes an error process to cancel the print command. After that, the control unit C1 ends the flow chart shown in FIG. 13 and repeats the process from the beginning.

[0188] When the process proceeds from step S202 or step S204 to step S207, the control section C1 determines whether or not a command for printing with cutting has been received.

[0189] If the answer is "Yes" in step S207, the control unit C1 proceeds to step S208 and executes the print with cutting command. Then, the control unit C1 moves the flapper 26 to the position shown by the solid line in Fig. 2 to enable the first discharge path PD1, and forms an image on the sheet SH by the image forming unit 3 and the fixing unit 7. Then, the control unit C1 cuts the sheet SH in half length by the cutter mechanism 4, and discharges it onto the discharge tray 9 by the first discharge roller pair 29. Thereafter, the control unit C1 ends the flowchart shown in Fig. 13 and repeats the process from the beginning.

[0190] If the answer is "No" in step S207, the control unit C1 proceeds to step S209 and executes a print command without cutting. Then, the control unit C1 moves the flapper 26 to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 2 to enable the second discharge path PD2, and causes the image forming unit 3 and the fixing unit 7 to form an image on the sheet SH, and discharges the sheet SH onto the discharge tray 9 by the second discharge roller pair 28. After that, the control unit C1 ends the flowchart shown in Fig. 10 and repeats the process from the beginning.

[0191] <Action and effect> In the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment, similarly to the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the operation of removing the sheet SH that has become jammed around the cutter mechanism 4 can be easily performed.

[0192] 12, in this image forming apparatus, the position of the second discharge roller 29B when the second guide 1200 is in the second guide position is closer to the discharge tray 9 than the position of the second discharge roller 29B when the second guide 1200 is in the first guide position. With this configuration, the second guide 1200 in the second guide position opens downward and approaches the discharge tray 9, and the space formed between the first guide 1100 and the second guide 1200 becomes larger. As a result, the jammed sheet SH tends to fall due to gravity, making it easier for the user to remove the jammed sheet SH.

[0193] 13, in this image forming apparatus, when the control unit C1 receives a print with cutting command and the second guide sensor S5B cannot detect that the second guide 1200 is at the first guide position, the control unit C1 proceeds to step S203, does not start the print with cutting command, and causes the operation panel 37 to notify that the second guide 1200 is not at the first guide position. With this configuration, the user can recognize that the second guide 1200 is not at the first guide position, and can rotate the second guide 1200 to the first guide position.

[0194] Furthermore, in this image forming apparatus, when the control unit C1 receives a no-cut printing command and the second guide sensor S5B cannot detect that the second guide 1200 is at the first guide position, the control unit C1 proceeds to step S203, does not start the no-cut printing command, and causes the operation panel 37 to notify that the second guide 1200 is not at the first guide position. With this configuration, if the no-cut printing command is started, there is a risk that the second guide 1200 at the second guide position or the handle of the second guide 1200 may interfere with the sheet SH discharged by the second discharge roller pair 28. In this regard, with the above configuration, it is possible to suppress a problem in which the sheet SH becomes jammed due to interference from the second guide 1200 at the second guide position, etc.

[0195] In the above, the present invention has been described based on Examples 1 and 2. However, the present invention is not limited to the above Examples 1 and 2, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0196] In the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is embodied as the image forming apparatus 1 which is a multifunction machine equipped with an image reading device on the upper side, and in the second embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is embodied as the image forming apparatus which is a multifunction machine, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the configuration of the present invention may be applied to an image forming apparatus that is not a multifunction machine. [Explanation of symbols]

[0197] 1...Image forming device DT1: Transport direction SH…Sheet 3...Image forming section 7. Fixing unit 4…Cutter mechanism 29A…First discharge roller 29B…Second discharge roller 29...First discharge roller pair 9…Outlet tray 100, 1100…First Guide 200, 1200…Second Guide X200: Rotation axis of the second guide 10, 30, 50...Housing (10...First housing, 30...Second housing, 50...Joint cover) 100D…Downstream end of the first guide in the conveying direction 200D…Downstream end of the second guide in the conveying direction 200U: upstream end of the second guide in the conveying direction FG1…1st biasing force 280... Urging member 273…Sliding surface FG2…Second biasing force 274...Pressed part 289...Spring (torsion coil spring) 281...Spring cover 283...Sliding contact part 284…Pressing section 101…First guide surface 202…Second guide surface 202U: upstream side of the second guide surface in the conveying direction 202D...downstream side of the second guide surface in the conveying direction 107...Multiple ribs formed on the first guide 207...Multiple ribs formed on the second guide 28...Second discharge roller pair 7N…Fixing nip LR2: Distance traveled by the sheet from the fixing nip to the second pair of discharge rollers LR1: Distance traveled by the sheet from the fixing nip to the first pair of discharge rollers 9U: upstream end of the discharge tray in the transport direction 35...Image reading unit 29N: Nip position of the first and second discharge rollers 260…Handle 260D…Downstream end of handle in conveying direction SHm: The upper surface of the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded on the output tray S5, S5B: Sensor for second guide C1: Control section 37...Notification section (operation panel) LC1: Sheet travel distance from the fixing nip to the cutter mechanism LS1: Maximum sheet length that the image forming device can handle

Claims

1. an image forming unit that transfers a toner image onto a sheet transported in a transport direction to form an image; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image onto the sheet that has passed through the image forming unit; a cutter mechanism for cutting the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit; a first discharge roller pair having a first discharge roller and a second discharge roller, the first discharge roller pair discharging the sheet cut by the cutter mechanism; a discharge tray for supporting the sheet discharged by the first discharge roller pair; a first guide that rotatably supports the first discharge roller and guides a sheet conveyed from the cutter mechanism to the pair of first discharge rollers; a second guide that rotatably supports the second discharge roller and guides the sheet conveyed from the cutter mechanism to the pair of first discharge rollers; Equipped with An image forming apparatus characterized in that the second guide is movable between a first guide position where the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller are in a nipped state, and a second guide position where the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller are in a separated state.

2. a housing to which the first guide is fixed and which supports the second guide rotatably about a rotation axis; the first discharge roller is rotatably supported on a downstream end side of the first guide in the conveying direction, the second discharge roller is rotatably supported on a downstream end side of the second guide in the conveying direction, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axis is located on an upstream end side of the second guide in the transport direction.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a biasing member that applies a first biasing force to the second guide in the first guide position in a direction from the second guide position toward the first guide position.

4. The second guide has an arc-shaped sliding surface centered on the rotation axis, 4. An image forming apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein the biasing member slides against the sliding surface when the second guide rotates between the first guide position and the second guide position, and applies a second biasing force to the second guide in a direction radially inward of the rotation axis.

5. the second guide has a pressed portion on which the first biasing force acts, 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pressed portion and the sliding contact surface are continuously connected.

6. The biasing member includes a spring and a spring cover that covers the spring.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spring cover has a sliding contact portion that comes into sliding contact with the sliding contact surface when the biasing member applies the second biasing force to the second guide.

7. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the spring cover has a pressing portion, separate from the sliding contact portion, that presses the pressed portion when the biasing member applies the first biasing force to the second guide.

8. 8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the spring is a torsion coil spring.

9. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the spring and the spring cover are located radially outward of the sliding contact surface with respect to the rotation axis when the sliding contact portion is in sliding contact with the sliding contact surface.

10. The first guide has a first guide surface that guides a sheet, the second guide has a second guide surface that faces the first guide surface and guides the sheet when the second guide is at the first guide position; 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rotation axis is located between the first guide surface and the second guide surface when the second guide is at the first guide position.

11. An image forming apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein the upstream side of the second guide surface in the transport direction is inclined away from the first guide surface relative to the downstream side of the second guide surface in the transport direction, as the upstream end side of the second guide approaches the first guide surface when the second guide is in the first guide position.

12. The first guide surface is formed by tips of a plurality of ribs formed on the first guide, 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second guide surface is formed by tips of a plurality of ribs formed on the second guide.

13. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second guide surface moves in its entirety when the second guide rotates between the first guide position and the second guide position.

14. a second discharge roller pair configured to discharge onto the discharge tray the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit and is conveyed without passing through the cutter mechanism; 8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a moving distance of the sheet from a fixing nip portion that nips the sheet in the fixing unit to the second pair of discharge rollers is shorter than a moving distance of the sheet from the fixing nip portion to the first pair of discharge rollers.

15. the second discharge roller pair is located above an upstream end of the discharge tray in the transport direction, 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first discharge roller pair is located downstream of the second discharge roller pair in the transport direction.

16. an image reading unit that is located above and spaced apart from the discharge tray and that reads an image of a document; 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first discharge roller pair is located below the image reading unit and above the second discharge roller pair.

17. 17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the second guide has a handle located downstream of a nip position between the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller in the transport direction and above the nip position.

18. The handle has a plate shape extending from the second guide in the conveying direction, 18. An image forming apparatus as described in claim 17, wherein the downstream end of the handle in the transport direction is located above the sheets discharged by the first discharge roller pair when the second guide is in the first guide position, and above the top surface of the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded onto the discharge tray.

19. 17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the position of the second discharge roller when the second guide is in the second guide position is farther from the discharge tray than the position of the second discharge roller when the second guide is in the first guide position.

20. a second guide sensor that detects whether the second guide is at the first guide position; A control unit that controls the image forming apparatus; A notification unit that issues a notification; Equipped with The image forming apparatus of claim 19, wherein when the control unit receives a printing with cutting command to cut a sheet on which an image is formed using the cutter mechanism, if the second guide sensor cannot detect that the second guide is at the first guide position, the control unit does not start the printing with cutting command and notifies the notification unit that the second guide is not at the first guide position.

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein when the control unit receives a no-cut printing command in which the sheet on which an image is formed is not cut by the cutter mechanism, the control unit initiates the no-cut printing command regardless of the detection result of the second guide.

22. 17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the position of the second discharge roller when the second guide is in the second guide position is closer to the discharge tray than the position of the second discharge roller when the second guide is in the first guide position.

23. a second guide sensor that detects whether the second guide is at the first guide position; A control unit that controls the image forming apparatus; A notification unit that issues a notification; Equipped with The image forming apparatus of claim 22, wherein when the control unit receives a printing with cutting command to cut a sheet on which an image is formed using the cutter mechanism, if the second guide sensor cannot detect that the second guide is at the first guide position, the control unit does not start the printing with cutting command and notifies the notification unit that the second guide is not at the first guide position.

24. The image forming apparatus of claim 23, wherein when the control unit receives a no-cut printing command in which the sheet on which an image is formed is not cut by the cutter mechanism, and the second guide sensor cannot detect that the second guide is at the first guide position, the control unit does not start the no-cut printing command and notifies the notification unit that the second guide is not at the first guide position.

25. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a moving distance of the sheet from a fixing nip portion in the fixing unit that nips the sheet to the cutter mechanism is longer than half the maximum length of the sheet that the image forming apparatus can accommodate.

Images