Sheet stacking device, and image forming device

Abstract

To prevent a user from touching a sheet on a carriage by mistake during jam processing, without large-sizing a discharging / stacking module.SOLUTION: A discharging / stacking module 7000 comprises a conveyance path 73 for conveying a sheet, an opening / closing guide 901 openable / closable to the conveyance path by forming a part of the conveyance path, a latch 907 for locking the opening / closing guide so as to maintain a closed state CS where the opening / closing guide is closed to the conveyance path, and a carriage 120. When the carriage is arranged at a predetermined position PP in the discharging / stacking module, the opening / closing guide is maintained in the closed state by inhibiting that a fixed state LS where the latch locks the opening / closing guide is released. When the carriage is not arranged at the predetermined position, the fixed state becomes releasable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet stacking device and an image forming apparatus that are equipped with a dolly. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is a sheet stacking device (stacker) that aligns and stacks sheets on which images are formed by an image forming device. Some such sheet stacking devices include a stacking tray on which sheets are stacked, and a dolly having an operating section (handle) for a user to carry the stacking tray on which the sheets are stacked out of the sheet stacking device (Patent Document 1). In addition, the sheet stacking device includes an opening and closing guide that opens and closes to remove jammed sheets that have stopped during transport inside the sheet stacking device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-215015 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional sheet stacking devices, because jam clearance is possible with sheets stacked on the dolly, a user may accidentally touch the stack of sheets aligned and stacked on the dolly during jam clearance, causing the stack of sheets to become misaligned or crumble. If the dolly is located far from the opening and closing guide for jam clearance so that a user does not touch the stack of sheets on the dolly during jam clearance, the sheet stacking device becomes large.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides a sheet stacking device that can prevent a user from accidentally touching a sheet on a cart when clearing a jam, without increasing the size of the sheet stacking device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A sheet stacking device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a conveying path along which the sheet is conveyed; a guide that forms a part of the transport path and is openable and closable relative to the transport path; a locking member that locks the guide so as to maintain the guide in a closed state relative to the transport path; A trolley and Equipped with When the carriage is disposed at a predetermined position in the sheet stacking device, the locking member is prohibited from releasing the locking state in which the guide is locked, and the guide is maintained in the closed state, The present invention is characterized in that the locked state can be released when the cart is not located at the predetermined position. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a user from accidentally touching a sheet on a cart when clearing a jam, without increasing the size of the sheet stacking device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] An explanatory diagram of the trolley. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the positional relationship between an operation unit and a knob. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a lock control system for an opening / closing guide according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing an unlocking control operation performed by a control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims. Also, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to solving the problems of the present invention. EXAMPLES

[0010] (Image forming device) Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 is an inkjet recording apparatus (inkjet recording apparatus) that forms an ink image on a sheet as a recording medium. However, the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus 1 is a sheet-fed inkjet recording apparatus that forms an ink image (image) on a sheet using two liquids, a reaction liquid and an ink. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a feeding module 1000, a print module 2000, a drying module 3000, a fixing module 4000, a cooling module 5000, a reversing module 6000, and a discharge stacking module 7000. A sheet (cut sheet) fed from the feeding module 1000 is conveyed along a conveying path, processed in each module, and discharged to the discharge stacking module 7000.

[0011] (Feeding module) The feeding module 1000 includes three storages 1100a, 1100b, and 1100c, each of which stores a plurality of sheets. The storages 1100a, 1100b, and 1100c are configured so as to be able to be pulled out to the front side of the feeding module 1000. The sheets stored in the storages 1100a, 1100b, and 1100c are fed one by one by a separation belt (not shown) and a conveying roller (not shown) arranged corresponding to each storage, and conveyed to the print module 2000. Note that the number of storages 1100a, 1100b, and 1100c is not limited to three, and may be one, two, four or more.

[0012] (Print Module) The print module 2000 has a pre-imaging registration correction section 2100, a print belt unit 2200, and a recording section (image forming section) 2300. The sheet transported from the feeding module 1000 has its inclination and position corrected by the pre-imaging registration correction section 2100, and is transported to the print belt unit 2200. The recording section 2300 is disposed at a position facing the print belt unit 2200 across the transport path. The recording section 2300 is an image forming section that performs recording processing (printing) on ​​the sheet transported in the transport direction CD from above using a recording head to form an image on the sheet. The sheet is attracted to and transported by the print belt unit 2200, ensuring clearance with the recording head.

[0013] A plurality of recording heads are arranged along the conveying direction CD. In this embodiment, the recording head has a total of five line-type recording heads corresponding to the reaction liquid in addition to four colors of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black). The number of colors and the number of recording heads are not limited to five. The inkjet method can adopt a method using a heating element, a method using a piezoelectric element, a method using an electrostatic element, a method using a MEMS element, etc. Ink of each color is supplied to the recording head from an ink tank (not shown) through an ink tube (not shown). The sheet printed by the recording unit 2300 is conveyed by the print belt unit 2200 to an in-line scanner (not shown) arranged downstream of the recording unit 2300 in the conveying direction CD. The in-line scanner (not shown) can detect the misalignment and color density of the image formed on the sheet and output the detection result for correcting the image.

[0014] (Drying module) The drying module 3000 includes a decoupling section 3200, a drying belt unit 3300, and a hot air blowing section 3400. The drying module 3000 is a unit that reduces the liquid contained in the ink applied to the sheet by the recording section 2300 and enhances the fixation of the sheet and the ink. The sheet on which an ink image is formed by the recording section 2300 of the print module 2000 is transported to the decoupling section 3200 arranged in the drying module 3000. The decoupling section 3200 applies air pressure from above to weakly hold the sheet on the belt, and transports the sheet by the frictional force of the belt. This prevents the sheet on which the ink image is formed from being shifted on the print belt unit 2200. The sheet transported from the decoupling section 3200 is adsorbed and transported by the drying belt unit 3300, while hot air is blown from the hot air blowing section 3400 arranged above the drying belt unit 3300, and the ink-applied surface of the sheet is dried.

[0015] (Fixing module) The fixing module 4000 includes a fixing belt unit 4100. The fixing belt unit 4100 passes the sheet conveyed from the drying module 3000 between a heated upper belt unit and a lower belt unit, thereby allowing the ink solvent to sufficiently permeate the sheet.

[0016] (Cooling module) The cooling module 5000 has multiple cooling units 5100 that cool the high-temperature sheet transported from the fixing module 4000. The cooling units 5100 take in outside air into a cooling box with a fan, increase the pressure inside the cooling box, and cool the sheet by blowing air from nozzles formed in the transport guide onto the sheet. The cooling units 5100 are arranged on both sides of the transport path and cool the sheet from both sides.

[0017] The cooling module 5000 also has a conveying path switching unit 5200. The conveying path switching unit 5200 switches the conveying path of the sheet according to whether the sheet is conveyed to the inversion module 6000 or to the double-sided conveying path 1800 used for double-sided printing. During double-sided printing, the sheet is conveyed to a conveying path 5300 below the cooling module 5000 by the conveying path switching unit 5200. The sheet is conveyed from the conveying path 5300 to the double-sided conveying path 1800 in the feeding module 1000 via the conveying path 4300 in the fixing module 4000, the conveying path 3500 in the drying module 3000, and the conveying path 2400 in the print module 2000. The sheet is conveyed from the double-sided conveying path 1800 to the pre-image registration correction unit 2100, the print belt unit 2200, and the recording unit 2300 of the print module 2000 again, where an ink image is formed by the recording unit 2300. In addition, a first reversing section 4200 that reverses the sheet is provided on a conveying path 4300 of the fixing module 4000.

[0018] (Inversion module) The reversing module 6000 has a second reversing unit 6400. The second reversing unit 6400 reverses the front and back of the sheet being conveyed. This allows the reversing module 6000 to change the front and back orientation of the sheet being discharged.

[0019] (Discharge Loading Module) The discharge stacking module 7000 has a top tray 7100 and a stacking tray 7200. The discharge stacking module 7000 aligns and stacks the sheets transported from the reversing module 6000 on the top tray 7100 or the stacking tray 7200.

[0020] (Basic operation of the discharge and loading module) Next, a configuration of the discharge stacking module 7000 as a sheet stacking device will be described. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the discharge stacking module 7000. The sheet stacking operation of the discharge stacking module 7000 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The discharge stacking module 7000 has an inlet roller 701, a first switching member 702, a conveyance guide 703, a second switching member 704, a third switching member 705, a fourth switching member 706, a discharge roller 707, a gripper belt 708, and a gripper 709. The discharge stacking module 7000 further has a leading end stopper 713, a retraction belt 714, and an opening / closing guide 901.

[0021] A sheet discharged from the reversing module 6000 is transported to an inlet roller 701 along a transport guide 703. A first switching member 702 switches the transport path between the first transport path 71 and the second transport path 72 in accordance with a selection instruction from a console unit (not shown). When a user operates the console unit (not shown) to specify the top tray 7100 provided on the upper surface of the discharge stacking module 7000 as the sheet stacking unit, the first switching member 702 switches the transport path to the first transport path 71 and discharges the sheet to the top tray 7100.

[0022] When a user operates a console unit (not shown) to specify the sheet stacking section as the stacking tray 7200, the first switching member 702 switches the conveying path to the second conveying path 72 and conveys the sheet to the second switching member 704. The second switching member 704 switches the conveying path to the third conveying path 73. The sheet is conveyed by conveying rollers 74, 75, and 76 as a conveying means, and is conveyed to the discharge rollers 707 by the third switching member 705 and the fourth switching member 706 switching the conveying path. The sheet conveyed by the discharge rollers 707 is gripped by either one of the first gripper 709a and the second gripper 709b (hereinafter referred to as the gripper 709) attached to the gripper belt 708 and conveyed. The gripper belt 708 is suspended by a driving pulley 710 and a driven pulley 711, and rotates in a rotation direction 712 by being driven by a belt motor (not shown).

[0023] The sheet is conveyed above the stacking tray 7200 while being gripped by the gripper 709 and the discharge roller 707. The sheet conveyed in this manner comes into contact with the contact slope (contact portion) 713a of the leading end stopper 713, and is released from the gripper 709. The sheet is guided by the retracting belt 714 to the contact slope 713a of the leading end stopper 713, and the position of the leading end of the sheet is aligned. At the same time, the rear end of the sheet is separated from the discharge roller 707, and the sheet is stacked on the stacking tray 7200 with the leading end position regulated. Here, the distance between the retracting belt 714 and the discharge roller 707 is set to be shorter than the length of the sheet to be discharged. At this time, the position of the stacking tray 7200 in the height direction is controlled so that the retracting belt 714 comes into contact with the upper surface of the sheet stack stacked on the stacking tray 7200. Thereafter, the next sheet discharged from the discharge rollers 707 is conveyed above the stacking tray 7200 while its leading edge is gripped by the next gripper 709, and is stacked on the stacking tray 7200. When the stacked sheets are to be removed after the job is finished or during the job, the stacking tray 7200 is lowered by the lifting section (lifting means) 730 to a lower position where the sheets can be removed.

[0024] A discharge option (not shown) can be further connected downstream of the discharge stacking module 7000. The conveying path can be switched by the second switching member 704, the third switching member 705, or the fourth switching member 706 according to the discharge height of the discharge option, and the sheet can be conveyed to the downstream discharge option.

[0025] (Description of the trolley) Next, the configuration of the transport dolly (hereinafter, dolly) 120 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the dolly 120. FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view of the dolly 120. FIG. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view of a discharge stacking module 7000 in which the dolly 120 is stored. The dolly 120 is stored at a predetermined position PP in the discharge stacking module 7000. A sheet conveyed along the sheet conveying path is discharged by a discharge roller 707 and loaded onto a loading tray 7200. The dolly 120 is used to transport a sheet stack S loaded onto the loading tray 7200. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the dolly 120 is provided in the discharge stacking module 7000. The dolly 120 has a total of four casters 125, one at each corner, and an operation unit (handle) 126. The dolly 120 can be separated from the discharge stacking module 7000 by a user operating the operating unit 126, and can be moved to transport the sheet stack S.

[0026] When the sheet stack S stacked on the stacking tray 7200 is to be removed, the stacking tray 7200 is lowered by a motor (not shown). The stacking tray 7200 is stopped at a lower limit position, lowered a predetermined distance from a position detected by a full load position detection sensor (not shown). With the stacking tray 7200 stopped at the lower limit position, a door (not shown) provided on the discharge stacking module 7000 covering the cart 120 is opened. When the cart 120 is pulled out of the discharge stacking module 7000, the sheet stack S together with the lowered stacking tray 7200 can be transported to the outside of the discharge stacking module 7000. The door (not shown) is configured to be openable and closable by a hinge (not shown) provided on the discharge stacking module 7000.

[0027] (Opening and closing guide explanation) Next, the configuration of the opening / closing guide 901 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the opening / closing guide 901. FIG. 4(a) is a diagram showing a closed state CS (closed position shown by a solid line) in which the opening / closing guide 901 is closed, and an open state OS (open position shown by a dotted line) in which the opening / closing guide 901 is open. The opening / closing guide 901 forms a part of the third conveying path 73. That is, in the closed state CS shown in FIG. 4(a), the opening / closing guide 901 guides a sheet. The opening / closing guide 901 can be opened and closed to remove a sheet (jammed sheet) stopped on the third conveying path 73. When the opening / closing guide 901 is in the open state OS, at least a part of the third conveying path 73 is opened. The opening / closing guide 901 is provided with a knob (grip portion) 902 and a latch (lock portion) 907 that a user grips when opening or closing the opening / closing guide 901. 4(b) is a diagram showing a fixed state (locked state) LS (solid line) in which the latch 907 is engaged with the fixed portion (engaged portion) 906, and a free state (unlocked state) FS (dotted line) in which the latch 907 is separated from the fixed portion 906. The latch 907 is a locking member that is rotatably provided on the opening / closing guide 901 and can be engaged with the fixed portion 906, and that engages with the fixed portion 906 to lock the opening / closing guide 901 in the closed state CS.

[0028] In this embodiment, the opening / closing guide 901 has a knob (knob) 902, a rotating shaft 903, and a latch 907. The knob 902 is gripped by a user to operate the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing guide 901. The rotating shaft 903 rotatably supports the opening / closing guide 901 and serves as a fulcrum for the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing guide 901. The rotating shaft 903 may be provided in the discharge stacking module 7000. The opening / closing guide 901 only needs to be rotatable about the rotating shaft 903. The latch 907 maintains the opening / closing guide 901 in the closed state CS when engaged with the fixed portion 906.

[0029] The discharge stacking module 7000 is provided with an opening / closing restricting portion 904 and a fixing portion 906. The opening / closing restricting portion 904 restricts the opening operation of the opening / closing guide 901 by contacting the opening / closing guide 901 so that the opening / closing guide 901 does not open beyond a predetermined angle when the opening / closing guide 901 is opened. The fixing portion 906 is fixed to the discharge stacking module 7000 so as to engage a latch 907 to maintain the opening / closing guide 901 in the closed state CS.

[0030] The latch 907 and knob 902 are connected to a rotation shaft 908 provided on the opening / closing guide 901. The latch 907 and knob 902 are configured to rotate integrally around the rotation shaft 908. When a user rotates the knob 902 in the rotation direction R, the latch 907 rotates integrally with the knob 902 around the rotation shaft 908. The knob 902 is always subjected to a moment (biased) in the direction opposite to the rotation direction R by the biasing force of a torsion coil spring (not shown) serving as a biasing member.

[0031] When the user operates the knob 902 to engage the latch 907 with the fixed portion 906, the opening / closing guide 901 is maintained in the closed state CS. At this time, the latch 907 is maintained in the fixed state LS. When the user rotates the knob 902 in the rotation direction R, the latch 907 and the fixed portion 906 are released from the engagement, the closed state CS is released, and the latch 907 goes from the fixed state LS to the free state FS. Note that the configuration for maintaining the closed state CS in which the opening / closing guide 901 is closed is not limited to the engagement between the latch 907 and the fixed portion 906, and may be another configuration.

[0032] When removing a jammed sheet stopped in the third transport path 73, the user rotates the knob 902 of the opening / closing guide 901 in the rotation direction R to separate the latch 907 from the fixing portion 906 and place the opening / closing guide 901 in the free state FS. In the free state FS, the user can open the opening / closing guide 901. The user can open the opening / closing guide 901 up to the point where it hits the opening / closing restricting portion 904 and remove the jammed sheet.

[0033] (Explanation regarding the location of the trolley's control unit) Next, the positional relationship between the operation unit 126 of the cart 120 and the knob 902 of the opening / closing guide 901 will be described. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the positional relationship between the operation unit 126 and the knob 902. Fig. 5(a) is a front view showing the positional relationship between the operation unit 126 of the cart 120 and the knob 902 of the opening / closing guide 901. Fig. 5(b) is a right side view showing the positional relationship between the operation unit 126 of the cart 120 and the knob 902 of the opening / closing guide 901.

[0034] In the first embodiment, when the cart 120 is stored inside the discharge stacking module 7000, the operation unit 126 is disposed at a position that prevents the knob 902 from rotating in the rotation direction R and prevents the opening and closing guide 901 from being opened (FIG. 5). Therefore, before rotating the knob 902 in the rotation direction R to open the opening and closing guide 901 during jam removal, the cart 120 must be moved outside the discharge stacking module 7000 to perform the jam removal operation. In other words, the series of operations that unlock the opening and closing guide 901 and move the opening and closing guide 901 from the closed position to the open position is restricted by the cart. On the other hand, if the cart 120 is separated from the discharge stacking module 7000, the knob 902 of the opening and closing guide 901 becomes rotatable in the rotation direction R, and the fixed state LS of the latch 907 becomes unlockable. The user can rotate the knob 902 in the rotation direction R to open the opening and closing guide 901 and remove the jam.

[0035] According to the first embodiment, the rotation of the knob 902 is restricted by the operation unit 126 of the dolly 120, so that the user can easily understand that he or she must take the dolly 120 out of the discharge stacking module 7000 to make the knob 902 rotatable. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the user can have the user take the dolly 120 out of the discharge stacking module 7000 before performing jam clearance. This allows the user to perform jam clearance without disturbing the sheets aligned and stacked on the dolly 120.

[0036] The rotation of the knob 902 in the rotation direction R may be restricted by any part of the cart 120, not limited to the operation unit 126 of the cart 120. A restricting unit that restricts the operation of the knob 902 may be provided on the cart 120. The restricting unit that restricts the operation of the knob 902 may be, for example, an end restricting unit provided on the cart 120 to restrict the end of the sheet. The restricting unit that restricts the operation of the knob 902 may be a part of the cart 120. According to the first embodiment, the sheets stacked on the cart 120 are not displaced by jam processing in the discharge stacking module 7000 as a sheet stacking device, so that the alignment of the sheets can be improved. According to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent a user from accidentally touching a sheet on the cart 120 during jam processing without increasing the size of the discharge stacking module 7000.

[0037] In addition, in this embodiment, the operation unit 126 of the dolly 120 and the knob 902 are close to each other. Generally, when trying to make a sheet stacking device more compact, the position suitable for user operation becomes more limited, but in this embodiment, both the operation unit 126 and the knob 902 can be disposed in positions suitable for user operation. In other words, in this embodiment, it is possible to achieve both a compact sheet stacking device and high user operability. EXAMPLES

[0038] Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The image forming apparatus 1 of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, and therefore the description will be omitted. In the first embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the knob 902 of the opening / closing guide 901 is prevented from rotating in the rotation direction R by the operation unit 126 of the dolly 120, thereby prohibiting jam processing while the dolly 120 is stored in the discharge stacking module 7000. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The discharge stacking module 7000 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it has a lock control system 80. Below, the differences will be mainly described.

[0039] 6 is a block diagram of a lock control system 80 for an opening / closing guide 901 according to a second embodiment. The lock control system 80 includes a solenoid 81, a control unit 82, a dolly detection sensor 83, and a ROM (read-only memory) 84. The solenoid 81 is a lock mechanism that locks the opening / closing guide 901 in a closed state CS. The dolly detection sensor 83 detects whether the dolly 120 has been carried out of the discharge stacking module 7000. The control unit 82 is electrically connected to the solenoid 81, the dolly detection sensor 83, and the ROM 84. The control unit 82 drives the solenoid 81 according to the detection result of the dolly detection sensor 83. The ROM 84 is a storage unit that stores a control program executed by the control unit 82.

[0040] The solenoid 81 is fixed to the discharge stacking module 7000. The plunger 81a of the solenoid 81 is movable in a predetermined direction X to a prohibited position (first position) P1 (FIG. 6(a)) and a release position (second position) P2 (FIG. 6(b)). FIG. 6(a) is a diagram showing a state in which the plunger 81a is in the prohibited position P1. When the plunger 81a is in the prohibited position P1 as shown in FIG. 6(a), the plunger 81a protrudes in the direction X and can abut against the knob 902. Even if the user tries to rotate the knob 902 in the rotation direction R, the plunger 81a abuts against the knob 902, and the knob 902 is prohibited from rotating in the rotation direction R. Since the user cannot rotate the knob 902 in the rotation direction R, the opening and closing guide 901 cannot be opened, and the opening and closing guide 901 is maintained in the closed state CS.

[0041] Fig. 6(b) is a diagram showing a state in which the plunger 81a is in the release position P2. When the plunger 81a is in the release position P2 as shown in Fig. 6(b), the plunger 81a retracts in the direction X, allowing the knob 902 to rotate in the rotation direction R. When the plunger 81a is in the release position P2, the user can rotate the knob 902 in the rotation direction R to open the opening / closing guide 901.

[0042] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the unlocking control operation by the control unit 82. The control unit 82 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 82 executes the unlocking control operation according to a control program stored in the ROM 84. When the door (not shown) of the discharge stacking module 7000 is opened, the control unit 82 starts the unlocking control operation. The control unit 82 judges whether the dolly 120 has been carried out of the discharge stacking module 7000 based on a detection signal from the dolly detection sensor 83 (S1). When the dolly 120 is stored in the discharge stacking module 7000 (NO in S1), the control unit 82 advances the process to step S5 with the plunger 81a maintained at the prohibited position P1. The control unit 82 judges whether the door (not shown) has been closed (S5), and when the door (not shown) remains open (NO in S5), returns the process to step S1. When the dolly 120 is discharged to the outside of the discharge stacking module 7000 (YES in S1), the control unit 82 controls the solenoid 81 to retract the plunger 81a of the solenoid 81 and move the plunger 81a to the release position P2. Since the dolly 120 is discharged to the outside of the discharge stacking module 7000 and the plunger 81a is at the release position P2, the user can rotate the knob 902 in the rotation direction R to open the opening and closing guide 901. The user can remove the sheet stopped in the third transport path 73.

[0043] The control unit 82 judges whether the cart 120 is stored in the discharge stacking module 7000 based on a detection signal from the cart detection sensor 83 (S3). If the cart 120 is not stored in the discharge stacking module 7000 (NO in S3), the control unit 82 repeats step S3 with the plunger 81a maintained in the release position P2. If the cart 120 is stored in the discharge stacking module 7000 (YES in S3), the control unit 82 controls the solenoid 81 to protrude the plunger 81a of the solenoid 81 and move the plunger 81a to the prohibition position P1 (S4). Since the cart 120 is stored in the discharge stacking module 7000, the plunger 81a in the prohibition position P1 prohibits the user from rotating the knob 902 in the rotation direction R, thereby preventing the opening and closing guide 901 from being opened.

[0044] The control unit 82 judges whether the door (not shown) is closed or not based on a detection signal from a door sensor (not shown) (S5). If the door (not shown) is not closed (NO in S5), the control unit 82 returns the process to S1. If the door (not shown) is closed (YES in S5), the control unit 82 ends the unlock control operation.

[0045] In the second embodiment, a transport cart (plate cart) not provided with the operation unit 126 may be used instead of the cart 120 provided with the operation unit (handle) 126. According to the second embodiment, it is possible to prevent a user from accidentally touching a sheet on the cart 120 during jam clearance without increasing the size of the discharge stacking module 7000. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 73 Third Transport Path 120 Cart 901 Opening and closing guide 907 Latch 7000 Discharge Load Module CS closed state PP in place

Claims

1. a conveying path along which the sheet is conveyed; a guide that forms a part of the transport path and is openable and closable relative to the transport path; a locking member that locks the guide so as to maintain the guide in a closed state relative to the transport path; A trolley and A sheet stacking device comprising: When the carriage is disposed at a predetermined position in the sheet stacking device, the locking member is prohibited from releasing the locking state in which the guide is locked, and the guide is maintained in the closed state, A sheet stacking device, characterized in that the locked state can be released when the dolly is not disposed at the predetermined position.

2. The cart is provided with an operation unit for operating the cart, 2. The sheet stacking device according to claim 1, wherein, when the carriage is disposed at the predetermined position, the operation unit restricts movement of the locking member to prohibit the locking state from being released.

3. A sensor that detects that the cart is placed at the predetermined position; a control system that, when it is determined based on a detection result of the sensor that the carriage is located at the predetermined position, restricts movement of the locking member to prohibit the locking state from being released; and The sheet stacking device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

4. 2. The sheet stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is capable of taking a locked state in which the guide is locked so that the guide is maintained in the closed state, and an unlocked state in which the guide is allowed to move from the closed state to the open state.

5. 5. The sheet stacking device according to claim 4, wherein the guide can be opened to open the transport path when the locking member is in the unlocked state.

6. The locking member further includes a lockable portion to which the locking member can be locked, The locking member is rotatably provided on the guide, 2. The sheet stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is engaged with the engaged portion to maintain the closed state in which the guide is closed relative to the transport path.

7. The guide further includes a grip portion that is gripped by a user when opening and closing the guide, 5. The sheet stacking device according to claim 4, wherein the gripping portion is rotatable integrally with the locking member.

8. 8. The sheet stacking device according to claim 7, wherein when the cart is not disposed at the predetermined position, the locking member can be switched between the locked state and the unlocked state by rotating the gripping portion.

9. The sheet stacking device according to claim 8, characterized in that when the trolley is positioned at the predetermined position, a portion of the trolley abuts against the gripping portion, thereby preventing the locking member from being in the unlocked state.

10. 10. The sheet stacking device according to claim 9, wherein the part of the dolly is an operating portion for operating the dolly.

11. 3. The sheet stacking device according to claim 2, wherein when the trolley is not positioned at the specified position, the locking member is capable of assuming an unlocked state that allows the guide to change from the closed state to the open state.

12. The sheet stacking device according to claim 3, characterized in that the control system allows the movement of the locking member and allows the locked state to be released when it determines based on the detection result of the sensor that the cart is not positioned at the specified position.

13. a grip portion that is gripped by a user when opening or closing the guide is provided on the guide and is rotatable integrally with the locking member; the control system is provided with a solenoid having a plunger capable of contacting the gripping portion, when the control system determines that the cart is located at the predetermined position based on the detection result of the sensor, the control system controls the solenoid to bring the plunger into contact with the gripping portion, thereby restricting the movement of the locking member and prohibiting the locking state from being released; The sheet stacking device of claim 3, characterized in that when the control system determines based on the detection result of the sensor that the trolley is not positioned at the specified position, it controls the solenoid to move the plunger away from the gripping portion, thereby allowing the movement of the locking member and releasing the locked state.

14. 2. The sheet stacking device according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation shaft that rotatably supports the guide.

15. 2. The sheet stacking device according to claim 1, further comprising a restricting portion that restricts an opening operation of the guide.

16. the locking member is a latch; 7. The sheet stacking device according to claim 6, wherein the engaged portion is a fixed portion.

17. a stacking tray on which the sheets conveyed along the conveying path are stacked; A lifting means for lifting and lowering the loading tray; Equipped with 2. The sheet stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the stacking tray is placed on the carriage by the lifting means.

18. 2. The sheet stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the carriage is disposed below the guide.

19. a conveying path along which the sheet is conveyed; a guide that forms a part of the transport path and is movable between a closed position for guiding a sheet and an open position for opening the transport path; A dolly; A sheet stacking device, wherein the movement of the guide from the closed position to the open position is limited by the dolly.

20. an image forming section for forming an image on the sheet; The sheet stacking device according to claim 1 , wherein the sheets on which the images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images