Image formation system

Abstract

To improve workability when a discharged sheet is taken out.SOLUTION: An image formation system comprises: an image formation device 10 having an image formation unit 30 for forming an image on a sheet S; and a discharge device 100 detachably attached to an upper part of the image formation device 10. The discharge device 100 includes: a first discharge tray 111 which can move to a discharge position and a take-out position where a downstream side in a discharge direction of the sheet is lower than when positioned at the discharge position, and supports the discharged sheet; and a first stopper 161 for restricting the sheet discharged to the first discharge tray 111 from moving to an upstream side in the discharge direction when the first discharge tray 111 is positioned at the discharge position. The first discharge tray 111 includes a second stopper 141 for restricting the sheet discharged to the first discharge tray 111 from moving to the downstream side in the discharge direction when positioned at the take-out position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system in which a discharge device for discharging sheets is attached to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or printer that employs an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, an inkjet method, or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known an image forming system such as a copier or printer that includes an image forming device having an image forming unit and a discharge device that is detachably attached to the image forming device and discharges sheets transported from the image forming device (see Patent Document 1). In this image forming system, in order to save space, the discharge device is attached to the top of the image forming device, and therefore the sheet transport path in the discharge device is set up vertically.

[0003] This discharge device has multiple stages of discharge trays arranged in a vertical direction. Each discharge tray is inclined so that the upstream side is lower in the sheet discharge direction on a support surface that stacks and supports discharged sheets, thereby aligning the sheets. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-194543 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the image forming system described in Patent Document 1, the discharge tray of the discharge device is positioned so that it faces diagonally upward in the sheet discharge direction, resulting in a narrow gap between the upper and lower discharge trays. Furthermore, because the discharge device is attached to the top of the image forming device, the discharge tray is located at a high position. For these reasons, the ease of removing discharged sheets is poor.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system that can improve the workability when removing discharged sheets. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is an image forming system comprising an image forming device having an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, and an ejection device that is removably attached to an upper part of the image forming device, wherein the ejection device is movable between a first position and a second position in which the downstream side of the sheet in the ejection direction is lower than when the ejection device is in the first position, and has a support portion that supports the ejected sheet, and a first stopper that prevents the sheet ejected to the support portion from moving upstream in the ejection direction when the support portion is in the first position, and wherein the support portion has a second stopper that prevents the sheet ejected to the support portion from moving downstream in the ejection direction when the support portion is in the second position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the workability when removing discharged sheets can be improved in an image forming system. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cover is closed in the image forming system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the image forming system according to the embodiment with the cover open. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a positioning mechanism for a discharge tray in the image forming system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams showing a positioning mechanism for a discharge tray in an image forming system according to an embodiment, in which (A) is a side view and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in (A). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In this embodiment, an image forming system 1 has an image forming apparatus 10 and a discharge apparatus 100. As an example, a tandem-type full-color printer is used as the image forming apparatus 10. However, the present invention is not limited to the tandem-type image forming apparatus 10, and may be applied to other types of image forming apparatuses, and is not limited to full-color, but may be monochrome or monocolor, or may even be applied to an inkjet recording type image forming apparatus.

[0011] [Image forming equipment] The overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming system 1 in which a discharge device 100 and an image reading device 50 are attached to the image forming apparatus 10 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the front side of the image forming system 1 in the drawing is referred to as the front direction F, the back side as the rear direction B, the upper side as the upper direction U, and the lower side as the lower direction D. The direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction and the up-down direction is referred to as the left-to-right direction.

[0012] The image forming apparatus 10 has a feeding unit 20, an image forming unit 30 which is an example of an image forming section, and a discharge unit 40. The feeding unit 20 has a sheet cassette 21 which stores sheets S, a feeding section 22 which is made up of a roller pair which feeds the sheets S, and a registration roller pair 23 which registers the fed sheets S with the image forming unit 30 and transports them. The registration roller pair 23 is a registration roller pair.

[0013] The image forming unit 30 forms an image on the sheet S fed and conveyed by the feeding unit 20. The image forming unit 30 has four process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK that form toner images of four colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively, an exposure unit 31, and an intermediate transfer belt 32. The four process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK have the same configuration except for the colors of the images they form. Therefore, only the configuration and image forming process of the process cartridge PY will be described, and a description of the process cartridges PM, PC, and PK will be omitted. The image forming unit 30 also has a secondary transfer unit 33 and a fixing unit 34.

[0014] The process cartridge PY has a photosensitive drum 35, which is a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging roller (not shown), and a developing roller 36. The photosensitive drum 35 is rotatably supported by the image forming apparatus 10 and is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown). The charging roller charges the photosensitive drum 35. The developing roller 36 deposits toner of a different color (yellow, magenta, cyan, or black) onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 for each of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK. The developing roller 36 develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 by depositing the toner onto the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35. The exposure unit 31 irradiates the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 35 with laser light based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image.

[0015] The intermediate transfer belt 32 is wound around a drive roller 32a and a tension roller 32b and rotatably tensioned. A primary transfer roller 37 is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 32, facing the photosensitive drum 35 and in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 32. A secondary transfer roller 38 is provided in the secondary transfer unit 33, facing the drive roller 32a, to transfer the image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 32 to the sheet S. The fixing unit 34 is disposed above the secondary transfer roller 38 in the direction U, and includes a heating roller and a pressure roller. The sheet S on which the toner image has been formed is subjected to heat and pressure in a roller nip formed by the heating roller and pressure roller, causing the toners of each color to melt and mix, and the color image is fixed on the sheet S.

[0016] The discharge unit 40 is disposed in the upward direction U of the fixing unit 34, and includes a main body transport path P1, a main body discharge path P2, a pair of main body discharge rollers 43 that discharge the sheet S, a main body discharge tray 41 to which the sheet S is discharged from the pair of main body discharge rollers 43, and a main body switching unit 42. The main body transport path P1 is provided above the fixing unit 34, and communicates with a delivery opening 44 formed in the top plate of the image forming apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the main body transport path P1 extends linearly in the vertical direction (upward direction U).

[0017] The main body discharge path P2 branches off from the main body transport path P1 and is connected to a main body discharge roller pair 43. The sheet S transported along the main body discharge path P2 is discharged from the main body discharge roller pair 43 onto a main body discharge tray 41 and stacked thereon. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 has only the main body discharge tray 41 as a discharge section to which the sheet S is discharged. However, this is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 10 may have a plurality of discharge roller pairs and a plurality of discharge trays corresponding to the plurality of discharge roller pairs.

[0018] The main body switching unit 42 is disposed downstream in the conveying direction of the branch point between the main body conveying path P1 and the main body discharge path P2. The main body switching unit 42 can swing about a support shaft 42a extending in the left-right direction, and can selectively swing between an upward position where the sheet conveyed from the fixing unit 34 is conveyed to the main body conveying path P1, and a discharge position for the main body discharge path P2. When the main body switching unit 42 is located in the discharge position, the sheet S is discharged to the main body discharge tray 41.

[0019] [Discharge device] Next, the configuration of the discharge device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The discharge device 100 is detachably attached to the upper part of the image forming apparatus 10. The discharge device 100 has a housing 101, a cover 102, and a rotating shaft 103. The housing 101 is fixed to the image forming apparatus 10. The rotating shaft 103 is disposed at the bottom of the discharge device 100. In this embodiment, the cover 102 is disposed on the opposite side of the first transport path P11 from the discharge unit 110, i.e., in the rear direction B. The cover 102 is rotatable about the rotating shaft 103 between an open position (shown in FIG. 2) that opens the first transport path P11 and a closed position (shown in FIG. 1) that closes the first transport path P11. A receiving opening 104 that communicates with the delivery opening 44 is formed in the bottom surface of the housing 101. The delivery port 44 and the receiving port 104 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction and overlap when viewed vertically.

[0020] The discharge device 100 has a discharge section 110 to which sheets are discharged, and a first transport path P11 along which sheets S received from the image forming apparatus 10 via the receiving opening 104 are transported. The discharge section 110 has a first discharge tray 111, a second discharge tray 112, a third discharge tray 113, and a fourth discharge tray 114 onto which the sheets S are discharged. In this embodiment, the first discharge tray 111 corresponds to a first support section (support section), the second discharge tray 112 corresponds to a second support section, the third discharge tray 113 corresponds to a third support section, and the fourth discharge tray 114 corresponds to a fourth support section. The second discharge tray 112 is disposed above the first discharge tray 111. The third discharge tray 113 is disposed above the second discharge tray 112. The fourth discharge tray 114 is disposed above the third discharge tray 113.

[0021] The first transport path P11 is formed in a straight line. The discharge device 100 has a fifth transport path P15 that is continuous with the first transport path P11. The fifth transport path P15 is disposed at an angle with respect to the first transport path P11, and transports the sheet S received from the first transport path P11 to a fourth discharge tray 114 of the discharge section 110. The discharge device 100 also has a fourth transport roller pair 124 that transports the sheet S on the first transport path P11. The fourth transport roller pair 124 has a seventh roller 124a that is a drive roller rotatably supported by the housing 101, and an eighth roller 124b that is a driven roller rotatably supported by the cover 102 and in contact with the seventh roller 124a. When the cover 102 is in the closed position, the seventh roller 124a and the eighth roller 124b are pressed against each other. The sheet S, which has been delivered from the image forming apparatus 10 and conveyed by the fourth conveying roller pair 124, is conveyed to the fourth discharge tray 114 via a fifth conveying path P15.

[0022] The discharge device 100 has a fourth transport path P14 that branches off from the first transport path P11 upstream of the fourth transport roller pair 124 in the sheet transport direction. The fourth transport path P14 is disposed at an angle with respect to the first transport path P11, and transports the sheet S received from the first transport path P11 to a third discharge tray 113 of the discharge section 110. The discharge device 100 also has a third switching unit 133 and a third transport roller pair 123 that is disposed upstream of the third switching unit 133 in the sheet transport direction and transports the sheet S on the first transport path P11. The third transport roller pair 123 has a fifth roller 123a that is a drive roller rotatably supported by the housing 101, and a sixth roller 123b that is a driven roller that is rotatably supported by the cover 102 and is in contact with the fifth roller 123a. When the cover 102 is in the closed position, the fifth roller 123a and the sixth roller 123b are pressed against each other. The third switching unit 133 is pivotable about a support shaft 133a extending in the left-right direction, and is selectively switched between a fifth switching position and a sixth switching position by the pivoting. The fifth switching position is a position where the sheet S delivered from the image forming apparatus 10 is guided toward the third discharge tray 113 via the first transport path P11. The sixth switching position is a position where the sheet S delivered from the image forming apparatus 10 is guided toward the third discharge tray 113 via the fourth transport path P14.

[0023] The discharge device 100 has a third transport path P13 branching off from the first transport path P11 upstream of the third transport roller pair 123 in the sheet transport direction. The third transport path P13 is disposed at an angle with respect to the first transport path P11, and transports the sheet S received from the first transport path P11 to a second discharge tray 112 of the discharge section 110. The discharge device 100 also has a second switching unit 132 and a second transport roller pair 122 disposed upstream of the second switching unit 132 in the sheet transport direction and transporting the sheet S on the first transport path P11. The second transport roller pair 122 has a third roller 122a which is a drive roller rotatably supported by the housing 101, and a fourth roller 122b which is a driven roller rotatably supported by the cover 102 and comes into contact with the third roller 122a. When the cover 102 is in the closed position, the third roller 122a and the fourth roller 122b are pressed against each other. The second switching unit 132 is pivotable about a support shaft 132a extending in the left-right direction, and is selectively switched between a third switching position and a fourth switching position by the pivoting. The third switching position is a position where the sheet S delivered from the image forming apparatus 10 is guided toward the third switching unit 133 via the first transport path P11. The fourth switching position is a position where the sheet S delivered from the image forming apparatus 10 is guided toward the second discharge tray 112 via the third transport path P13.

[0024] The discharge device 100 has a second transport path P12 branching off from the first transport path P11 upstream of the second transport roller pair 122 in the sheet transport direction. The second transport path P12 is disposed at an angle with respect to the first transport path P11, and transports the sheet S received from the first transport path P11 to a first discharge tray 111 of the discharge section 110. The discharge device 100 also has a first switching unit 131 and a first transport roller pair 121 disposed upstream of the first switching unit 131 in the sheet transport direction and transporting the sheet S on the first transport path P11. The first transport roller pair 121 has a first roller 121a which is a drive roller rotatably supported by the housing 101, and a second roller 121b which is a driven roller rotatably supported by the cover 102 and in contact with the first roller 121a. When the cover 102 is in the closed position, the first roller 121a and the second roller 121b are pressed against each other. The first switching unit 131 is pivotable about a support shaft 131a extending in the left-right direction, and is selectively switched between a first switching position and a second switching position by the pivoting. The first switching position is a position where the sheet S delivered from the image forming apparatus 10 is guided toward the second switching unit 132 via the first transport path P11. The second switching position is a position where the sheet S delivered from the image forming apparatus 10 is guided toward the first discharge tray 111 via the second transport path P12.

[0025] [cover] A pivot shaft 103 extending in the left-right direction is provided at the bottom of cover 102, and cover 102 pivots about pivot shaft 103 to open the interior of housing 101. A locking member 105 for holding cover 102 in a closed state is pivotably provided on cover 102. Housing 101 is provided with an engagement pin 106 with which a claw portion of locking member 105 engages when cover 102 is closed. When cover 102 is closed, the claw portion of locking member 105 engages with the engagement pin, thereby locking cover 102 in the closed position. Furthermore, when cover 102 is closed, locking member 105 can be rotated to move the claw portion away from engagement pin 106, thereby releasing cover 102 from the closed state and making it openable.

[0026] In addition, the locking member 105 is provided with a biasing member such as a torsion coil spring (not shown), which constantly biases the locking member 105 in the F1 direction. As a result, the locking member 105 is biased in the direction in which it engages with the engaging pin 106, so that the cover 102 shown in FIG. 2 is maintained in the closed state.

[0027] 2, when the cover 102 is in the open position, the pressure on each conveying roller pair is released. This releases the pressure for conveying the sheet S and opens the first conveying path P11, allowing the user to clear any jams that have occurred inside the discharge device 100.

[0028] [First transport path and cover] The first transport path P11 is formed in a straight line by a guide member (not shown). That is, the nip lines of the four transport roller pairs, from the first transport roller pair 121 to the fourth transport roller pair 124, are arranged so as to be linear and overlap the first transport path P11. In this embodiment, the first transport path P11 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction so that its upper portion is located further forward in the forward direction F than its lower portion. That is, the first transport path P11 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction so that its upper portion is located closer to the discharge unit 110 than its lower portion.

[0029] The cover 102 has an outer surface 102a facing the rear direction B. The outer surface 102a is disposed substantially parallel to the first conveying path P11 and is inclined relative to the vertical direction so that its upper portion is positioned further forward in the forward direction F than its lower portion. In this embodiment, when the cover 102 is in the open position, the outer surface 102a is positioned vertically as shown in FIG. 2. The cover 102 is rotatable from the closed position to the open position, and during normal use, it is configured not to open beyond the open position where the outer surface 102a is positioned vertically. In this embodiment, when the cover 102 is in the open position, the cover 102 is positioned so that the entire cover 102 overlaps the image forming apparatus 10 when viewed from above. This prevents the cover 102 from extending beyond the installation area (installation region) of the image forming apparatus 10 when the cover 102 is in the open position.

[0030] [Discharge section] Next, the configuration of each discharge tray of the discharge section 110 in this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The first discharge tray 111 is rotatable about a rotation axis 111a relative to the housing 101, and can be positioned at a discharge position which is an example of a first position shown by a solid line in Figure 3, and a take-out position which is an example of a second position shown by a two-dot chain line. That is, the first discharge tray 111 can move between the discharge position and the take-out position where the downstream side of the discharge direction of the sheet S is lower than when it is positioned at the discharge position, and supports the discharged sheet S. The rotation shaft 111a is an example of a fulcrum, and is arranged upstream in the ejection direction so as to be rotatable between an ejection position and a removal position. In this embodiment, the position of the rotation shaft 111a is fixed relative to the housing 101, but this is not limiting, and the rotation shaft 111a may be movable up and down, forward and backward, etc. relative to the housing 101.

[0031] The discharge position is a position where the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction is higher than the upstream side, and the support surface 111b that supports the sheet is inclined at an angle of 10° relative to the horizontal. The removal position is a position where the support surface 111b is horizontal, for example. In this embodiment, the case where the support surface 111b is horizontal at the removal position is described, but this is not limited to this, and the leading edge may be lower than the horizontal. In other words, when the first discharge tray 111 is located at the removal position, the angle of the support surface 111b that supports the sheet S is equal to or less than the horizontal.

[0032] The housing 101 has a first stopper 161 on a vertical wall surface between the discharge opening 151 of the second transport path P12 and the first discharge tray 111. The first stopper 161 prevents the sheet S discharged to the first discharge tray 111 from moving upstream in the discharge direction when the first discharge tray 111 is located at the discharge position. As a result, when a sheet is discharged to the first discharge tray 111 located at the discharge position, the sheet S slides upstream in the discharge direction and its upstream edge abuts against the first stopper 161, thereby aligning the sheet stack. Note that in this embodiment, the first stopper 161 is formed on the wall surface of the housing 101, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be formed on the first discharge tray 111, for example.

[0033] A second stopper 141 is provided downstream in the sheet discharge direction of the first discharge tray 111. The second stopper 141 prevents the sheets S discharged onto the first discharge tray 111 from moving downstream in the discharge direction when the first discharge tray 111 is located at the removal position. The height of the second stopper 141 from the support surface 111b is preferably higher than the maximum number of sheets S to be stacked. The second stopper 141 is provided so as to be movable upstream and downstream in the sheet discharge direction relative to the first discharge tray 111, and can be set according to the size of the sheets to be discharged.

[0034] When discharging the sheet S, the first discharge tray 111 is set to the discharge position, and the sheet S is discharged. As a result, the sheet slides upstream in the discharge direction, and its upstream edge abuts against the first stopper 161, aligning the sheet. After discharging is complete, the user lowers the first discharge tray 111 from the discharge position to the removal position, widening the gap between the first discharge tray 111 and the second discharge tray 112, and removes the sheet S. By widening the gap between the first discharge tray 111 and the second discharge tray 112, the sheet removal process becomes easier. At this time, the alignment of the sheets, which was once aligned upstream, may be disrupted by horizontalizing the first discharge tray 111. In contrast, in this embodiment, the second stopper 141 is provided, which prevents the sheet from moving in the discharge direction and prevents the sheet alignment from becoming distorted. Even if the first discharge tray 111 is tilted so that its leading edge is lower than horizontal at the removal position, the second stopper 141 prevents the sheet S from falling.

[0035] The second discharge tray 112 is rotatable about a pivot 112a between a discharge position (third position) shown in FIG. 3 and a take-out position (fourth position) where the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction is lower than when the second discharge tray 112 is at the discharge position. In this embodiment, the take-out position is a horizontal position. The housing 101 has a third stopper 162 on a vertical wall surface between the discharge opening 152 of the third transport path P13 and the second discharge tray 112. The third stopper 162 prevents the sheet S discharged onto the second discharge tray 112 from moving upstream in the discharge direction when the second discharge tray 112 is at the discharge position. The second discharge tray 112 has a fourth stopper 142 that prevents the sheet S discharged onto the second discharge tray 112 from moving downstream in the discharge direction when the second discharge tray 112 is at the take-out position.

[0036] When removing the sheets discharged onto second discharge tray 112, second discharge tray 112 is rotated to the removal position, but if first discharge tray 111 is located at the discharge position at that time, there is a risk of interference. In this case, by lowering first discharge tray 111 to the removal position and then lowering second discharge tray 112 to the removal position, it is possible to avoid second discharge tray 112 interfering with first discharge tray 111.

[0037] The third discharge tray 113 is rotatable about a pivot 113a between a discharge position (fifth position) shown in FIG. 3 and a take-out position (sixth position) where the downstream side of the sheet discharge direction is lower than when the third discharge tray 113 is at the discharge position. In this embodiment, the take-out position is a horizontal position. The housing 101 has a fifth stopper 163 on a vertical wall surface between the discharge opening 153 of the fourth transport path P14 and the third discharge tray 113. The fifth stopper 163 prevents the sheet S discharged onto the third discharge tray 113 from moving upstream in the discharge direction when the third discharge tray 113 is at the discharge position. The third discharge tray 113 has a sixth stopper 143 that prevents the sheet S discharged onto the third discharge tray 113 from moving downstream in the discharge direction when the third discharge tray 113 is at the take-out position.

[0038] When removing the sheets discharged onto the third discharge tray 113, the third discharge tray 113 is rotated to the removal position, but if the second discharge tray 112 is located at the discharge position at that time, there is a risk of interference. In this case, by lowering the second discharge tray 112 to the removal position and then lowering the third discharge tray 113 to the removal position, it is possible to avoid interference between the third discharge tray 113 and the second discharge tray 112.

[0039] The fourth discharge tray 114 is rotatable about a pivot 114a between a discharge position (seventh position) shown in FIG. 3 and a take-out position (eighth position) that is lower than when the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction is at the discharge position. In this embodiment, the take-out position is a horizontal position. The housing 101 has a seventh stopper 164 on a vertical wall surface between the discharge opening 154 of the fifth transport path P15 and the fourth discharge tray 114. The seventh stopper 164 prevents the sheet S discharged to the fourth discharge tray 114 from moving upstream in the discharge direction when the fourth discharge tray 114 is at the discharge position. The fourth discharge tray 114 has an eighth stopper 144 that prevents the sheet S discharged to the fourth discharge tray 114 from moving downstream in the discharge direction when the fourth discharge tray 114 is at the take-out position.

[0040] Here, when removing sheets discharged onto the fourth discharge tray 113, although there are no other discharge trays further above, it is preferable to rotate the fourth discharge tray 114 to the removal position and lower the work position because it is located at a high position. If the third discharge tray 113 is located at the discharge position at that time, there is a risk of interference. In this case, by lowering the third discharge tray 113 to the removal position and then lowering the fourth discharge tray 114 to the removal position, it is possible to avoid the fourth discharge tray 114 interfering with the third discharge tray 113.

[0041] [Outlet tray positioning mechanism] Next, the positioning mechanisms that position each discharge tray at the discharge position and the removal position will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Discharge device 100 has a first positioning mechanism 171 that positions first discharge tray 111, a second positioning mechanism 172, a third positioning mechanism 173, and a fourth positioning mechanism 174. The second positioning mechanism 172 positions second discharge tray 112, the third positioning mechanism 173 positions third discharge tray 113, and the fourth positioning mechanism 174 positions fourth discharge tray 114. The first positioning mechanism 171, second positioning mechanism 172, third positioning mechanism 173, and fourth positioning mechanism 174 have the same configuration, so only the first positioning mechanism 171 will be described here.

[0042] The first positioning mechanism 171 has an engaging member 61 provided on the first discharge tray 111, and a support claw 62 and a stopper 63 provided on the housing 101. The engaging member 61 of the first discharge tray 111 is placed on top of the support claw 62 of the housing 101, thereby positioning the first discharge tray 111 at the discharge position.

[0043] When a user applies force downward on the first discharge tray 111 to remove the discharged sheets S, the first discharge tray 111 is pushed downward by the engagement members 61 provided on the first discharge tray 111, and the support claws 62 provided on the housing 101 are elastically deformed laterally. At this time, the support claws 62 are positioned outward of the engagement members 61, and the engagement members 61 become able to rotate below the support claws 62. When the engagement members 61 reach a stopper 63 provided on the housing 101 as shown by the two-dot chain line, the engagement members 61 and the stopper 63 stop the rotation of the first discharge tray 111, and the first discharge tray 111 is positioned at a removal position where it is supported approximately horizontally. At this time, the tip of the first discharge tray 111 may point slightly downward, but the second stopper 141 prevents the sheets from falling.

[0044] In this embodiment, the engaging member 61 and the support claw 62 each have an inclined upper and lower surface to make it easier to climb over them. That is, the support claw 62 has an upper inclined surface 62a facing upward and a lower inclined surface 62b facing downward. The engaging member 61 has an upper inclined surface 61a facing upward and a lower inclined surface 61b facing downward. When the first discharge tray 111 is located at the discharge position, the edge of the lower surface 61b of the engaging member 61 abuts against the upper inclined surface 62a of the support claw 62 to position it. When the first discharge tray 111 is located at the removal position, the lower surface 61b of the engaging member 61 abuts against the upper surface 63a of the stopper 63 to position it. In addition, when the first discharge tray 111 is rotated from the removal position to the discharge position, the edge of the upper inclined surface 61a of the engaging member 61 abuts against the lower inclined surface 62b of the support claw 62 to be guided.

[0045] In the support claw 62, the upper inclined surface 62a is more inclined in the up-down direction than the lower inclined surface 62b. That is, the upper inclined surface 62a is closer to the horizontal direction than the lower inclined surface 62b. The inclination angle of this inclined surface will be described with reference to FIG. 4(B). First, when the first discharge tray 111 rotates from the discharge position to the removal position, the smaller angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the first sliding direction D1 in which the engagement member 61 slides against the upper inclined surface 62a is defined as a first angle. In this case, when the first discharge tray 111 rotates from the removal position to the discharge position, the smaller angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the second sliding direction D2 in which the engagement member 61 slides against the lower inclined surface 62b is defined as a second angle that is larger than the first angle. That is, the first angle is the smaller angle with respect to the protruding direction (here, the forward direction F) of the protrusion 66 of the first sliding direction D1 in which the engagement protrusion 61c (described later) slides against the first engagement recess 64. The second angle is the smaller angle of the second sliding direction D2 in which the engaging protrusion 61c slides relative to the second engaging recess 65 with respect to the protruding direction of the protrusion 66 (here, the forward direction F).

[0046] Similarly, the external force required for the engaging member 61 to overcome the upper inclined surface 62a when the first discharge tray 111 rotates from the discharge position to the removal position is defined as a first external force. In this case, the external force required for the engaging member 61 to overcome the lower inclined surface 62b when the first discharge tray 111 rotates from the removal position to the discharge position is a second external force that is smaller than the first external force. This prevents the user from needing a large external force to rotate the first discharge tray 111 from the discharge position to the removal position, thereby preventing malfunction, and allows the user to easily return the first discharge tray 111 to the discharge position with a small external force when rotating it from the removal position to the discharge position, improving operability. In this embodiment, both the upper inclined surface 62a and the lower inclined surface 62b are smooth surfaces and have the same frictional resistance, and the external force is varied depending on the inclination angles of the upper inclined surface 62a and the lower inclined surface 62b. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the frictional resistance may be made different between the upper inclined surface 62a and the lower inclined surface 62b, so that the external force applied when sliding the engaging member 61 is made different.

[0047] Furthermore, a pressing portion 62c may be provided above the upper inclined surface 62a of the support claw 62 to stabilize the positioning of the first discharge tray 111 when it is positioned at the discharge position. A first engagement recess 64 is formed between the upper inclined surface 62a and the pressing portion 62c, and the engagement protrusion 61c of the engagement member 61 is held in the vertical direction. This stabilizes the positioning of the first discharge tray 111 when it is positioned at the discharge position. Furthermore, a second engagement recess 65 is formed between the lower inclined surface 62b and the stopper 63, and is arranged so that the engagement protrusion 61c of the engagement member 61 is held in the vertical direction when the first discharge tray 111 is positioned at the removal position. This stabilizes the positioning of the first discharge tray 111 when it is positioned at the removal position. In this case, the support claw 62 has a protrusion 66 disposed between the first engagement recess 64 and the second engagement recess 65. The protruding portion 66 is a portion over which the engaging convex portion 61c moves from the first engaging recess 64 to the second engaging recess 65 when the first discharge tray 111 rotates from the discharge position to the removal position.

[0048] In the above-described embodiment, the engaging member 61 is provided on the first discharge tray 111, and the support claw 62 is provided on the housing 101, but this is not limiting and the reverse may also be true. That is, one of the first discharge tray 111 and the housing 101 may have the engaging protrusion 61c, and the other of the first discharge tray 111 and the housing 101 may have the first engaging recess 64, the second engaging recess 65, and the protrusion 66.

[0049] [Image reader] The image reading device 50 has a reading unit 51 that reads an image of a placed document, and an openable and closable document holder 52 that covers the reading unit 51. The document holder 52 is provided on the reading unit 51 so as to be swingable about a swing shaft 54. The reading unit 51 has a flat document table 53, and an image of a document placed on the document table 53 can be read by a reading sensor (not shown) located inside. A user can swing the document holder 52 and place a document directly on the document table 53 to have the document read by the image reading device 50. The discharge device 100 is located above the image reading device 50. A transport roller 45 is provided above the main body switching unit 42. The sheet S that has passed through the fixing unit 34 is transported to the delivery port 44 by the transport roller 45.

[0050] In this embodiment, the discharge section 110 of the discharge device 100 is disposed above the document holder 52 and is disposed at a position where it does not interfere with the document holder 52 when the document holder 52 is opened. Therefore, the sheet S can be discharged to the discharge section 110 without interfering with the document reading operation.

[0051] As described above, according to the image forming system 1 of this embodiment, the first discharge tray 111 has the second stopper 141 that restricts the movement of the sheets S discharged onto the first discharge tray 111 downstream in the discharge direction when the first discharge tray 111 is located at the take-out position. Therefore, even if the first discharge tray 111 is rotated to the take-out position and placed at an angle below horizontal, it is possible to prevent the sheets that have been aligned from becoming disorganized. This allows the sheet removal operation to be performed without disrupting the sheet alignment, improving operability.

[0052] Furthermore, according to the image forming system 1 of this embodiment, the first positioning mechanism 171 that positions the first discharge tray 111 at the discharge position and the removal position has a simple configuration, so that good operability can be obtained while suppressing cost increases.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the image forming system 1 of this embodiment, when the cover 102 is positioned in the open position, it is possible to prevent the cover 102 from protruding from the installation area of ​​the image forming apparatus 10. Therefore, even if a jam occurs in the discharge device 100 and the cover 102 is opened to remove the trapped sheets, the cover 102 does not protrude from the rear surface of the image forming apparatus 10, making it possible to remove the sheets. This makes it possible to save space occupied by the image forming apparatus 10, and to reduce restrictions on installation locations in an office or the like.

[0054] In the above-described embodiment, the discharge section 110 has been described as having four stages of discharge trays, but this is not limiting. For example, it may have a single stage having only the first discharge tray 111, a two stage having only the first discharge tray 111 to the second discharge tray 112, or a three stage having only the first discharge tray 111 to the third discharge tray 113. Alternatively, it may have five or more stages of discharge trays.

[0055] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the sheets S are discharged when the first discharge tray 111 is located at the discharge position, but this is not limiting. For example, the sheets S may be discharged when the first discharge tray 111 is located at the take-out position. In this case, since the first discharge tray 111 is located in a horizontal position, the sheets S are not aligned by the first stopper 161 on the upstream side, but this may be performed if there is no problem with aligning the sheets, such as when the number of sheets is small. In this case, since opening the document holder 52 of the image reading device 50 interferes with the first discharge tray 111, the first discharge tray 111 may be raised to the discharge position at that time. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1...image forming system, 10...image forming apparatus, 30...image forming unit (image forming section), 50...image reading device, 51...reading section, 52...document holder, 61c...engaging convex portion, 64...first engaging recess, 65...second engaging recess, 66...protruding portion, 100...discharge device, 101...casing, 111...first discharge tray (support portion, first support portion), 111a...rotating shaft (fulcrum), 11 1b...support surface, 112...second discharge tray (second support portion), 113...third discharge tray (third support portion), 114...fourth discharge tray (fourth support portion), 141...second stopper, 142...fourth stopper, 143...sixth stopper, 144...eighth stopper, 161...first stopper, 162...third stopper, 163...fifth stopper, 164...seventh stopper, S...sheet

Claims

1. an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a discharge device that is detachably attached to an upper portion of the image forming apparatus, The discharge device is a support portion that is movable between a first position and a second position, the second position being lower than when the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction is located at the first position, and that supports the discharged sheet; a first stopper that restricts the movement of the sheet discharged onto the support portion to the upstream side in the discharge direction when the support portion is located at the first position, the support portion has a second stopper that, when located at the second position, restricts the sheet discharged onto the support portion from moving downstream in the discharge direction. An image forming system comprising:

2. The support portion is a fulcrum that is disposed upstream in the discharge direction and that allows the nozzle to rotate between the first position and the second position; When the seat is positioned at the second position, the angle of the support surface that supports the seat is equal to or smaller than the horizontal.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1.

3. the discharge device has a housing fixed to the image forming apparatus, one of the support portion and the housing has an engaging protrusion, The other of the support portion and the housing has a first engagement recess with which the engagement protrusion engages to position the support portion at the first position, a second engagement recess with which the engagement protrusion engages to position the support portion at the second position, and a protrusion that is disposed between the first engagement recess and the second engagement recess, and that the engagement protrusion moves from the first engagement recess to the second engagement recess while climbing over it when the support portion rotates from the first position to the second position.

3. The image forming system according to claim 2.

4. When the external force required for the engaging protrusion to move from the first engaging recess to the second engaging recess when the support portion rotates from the first position to the second position is defined as a first external force, an external force required for the engagement protrusion to move from the second engagement recess to the first engagement recess when the support portion rotates from the second position to the first position is a second external force that is smaller than the first external force; 4. The image forming system according to claim 3.

5. When the support portion rotates from the first position to the second position, a smaller angle of a first sliding direction in which the engaging convex portion slides relative to the first engaging concave portion with respect to a protruding direction of the protruding portion is defined as a first angle, When the support portion rotates from the second position to the first position, a smaller angle of the protrusion portion in a second sliding direction in which the engagement convex portion slides relative to the second engagement concave portion with respect to the protrusion direction is a second angle that is larger than the first angle.

5. The image forming system according to claim 4.

6. an image reading device provided on an upper portion of the image forming apparatus, the image reading device having a reading unit for reading an image of a document and an openable document pressing unit for covering the reading unit; the support portion is disposed above the document pressing portion, and is disposed at a position where it does not interfere with the document pressing portion even when the document pressing portion is released when the support portion is located at the first position.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1.

7. the support portion is a first support portion, The discharge device is a second support portion that is movable between a third position and a fourth position, the fourth position being lower than when the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction is located at the third position, the second support portion being disposed above the first support portion, and that supports the discharged sheet; a third stopper that restricts the sheet discharged to the second support portion from moving upstream in the discharge direction when the second support portion is located at the third position, the second support portion has a fourth stopper that, when located at the fourth position, restricts the sheet discharged onto the second support portion from moving downstream in the discharge direction.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1.

8. The discharge device is a third support portion that is movable between a fifth position and a sixth position, the sixth position being lower than when the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction is located at the fifth position, the third support portion being disposed above the second support portion, and that supports the discharged sheet; a fifth stopper that restricts the sheet discharged to the third support portion from moving upstream in the discharge direction when the third support portion is located at the fifth position, the third support portion has a sixth stopper that, when located at the sixth position, restricts the sheet discharged to the third support portion from moving downstream in the discharge direction.

8. The image forming system according to claim 7,

9. The discharge device is a fourth support portion that is movable between a seventh position and an eighth position, the eighth position being lower than when the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction is located at the seventh position, the fourth support portion being disposed above the third support portion, and that supports the discharged sheet; a seventh stopper that restricts the sheet discharged to the fourth support portion from moving upstream in the discharge direction when the fourth support portion is located at the seventh position, the fourth support portion has an eighth stopper that, when located at the eighth position, restricts the sheet discharged to the fourth support portion from moving downstream in the discharge direction.

9. The image forming system according to claim 8.

Images