Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that can reduce a user's time and effort and allow the user to easily take out a sheet.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises: a paper ejection tray 10 on which ejected sheets are loaded; a sheet moving unit 20 that moves a sheet toward a sheet take out port 101 of the paper ejection tray 10; and an elastic member 30 that moves the sheet moving unit 20 toward an ejection port 4 of the paper ejection tray 10. The sheet moving unit 20 has a body part 21 that is in contact with at least part of an upstream end SU of a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction T, and an operating part 22 for a user to move the sheet moving unit 20. The body part 21 is provided on an inside bottom face 10a of the paper ejection tray 10 slidably on the inside bottom face 10a of the paper ejection tray 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Image forming devices such as scanners, facsimiles, copiers, and multifunction devices are equipped with document feeders that automatically read multiple original sheets one by one. In typical image forming devices, the document feeder is located at the top of the image forming device body, and the original sheets to be read can be easily placed on a tray above the document feeder. However, because the original sheets discharged from the document feeder are placed below the tray, the tray gets in the way, making it difficult to remove the discharged original sheets.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that can help solve the above problem. The image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1 includes a paper discharge unit that discharges sheets on which images have been formed, between an imaging unit provided at the bottom of the apparatus housing and a scanner unit provided at the top of the apparatus housing. The paper discharge unit includes a paper discharge tray and a bin tray. The paper discharge tray is slidably attached to the apparatus housing and configured to be removable outside the apparatus housing so that the discharged sheets can be easily removed. The bin tray also includes a jogger for pushing the sheets outside the apparatus housing or a removal mechanism for removing part of the bin tray outside the apparatus housing so that the discharged sheets can be easily removed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-337347 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the user must push the output tray back after pulling it out and removing the sheets, resulting in an increased number of user operations. Also, in a bin tray equipped with a jogger, the jogger pushes a portion of the sheet widthwise to push it out of the device housing. Therefore, when pushing a sheet with the jogger, the sheet advances differently between the portion pushed by the jogger and the portion not pushed by the jogger, causing the sheet to not move straight in the direction of the jogger's movement, resulting in a problem of the sheet being tilted and not being pushed out smoothly. In particular, when pushing stacked sheets with the jogger, each of the stacked sheets may tilt at a different angle, requiring the user to straighten the removed sheets. Also, in a bin tray with a partially removable section, the removed section is configured to return to its original position using a spring, but if a sheet is placed across the non-removable section, it may not be able to be pulled out smoothly.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide an image forming apparatus that can reduce the user's trouble and enable easy removal of sheets. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a paper output tray, a sheet moving unit, and an elastic member. Sheets ejected from the image forming apparatus are stacked on the paper output tray. The sheet moving unit moves the sheets toward the sheet outlet side of the paper output tray. The elastic member moves the sheet moving unit toward the outlet side of the paper output tray. The sheet moving unit has a main body unit that abuts against at least a portion of the upstream edge of the sheet in the sheet transport direction, and an operation unit that allows a user to move the sheet moving unit. The main body unit is provided on the inner bottom surface of the paper output tray so as to be slidable on the inner bottom surface of the paper output tray. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the user can easily remove the sheet without any trouble. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a paper discharge tray of the image forming apparatus of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a paper discharge tray of the image forming apparatus of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a paper discharge tray of the image forming apparatus of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0011] First, the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a front view of the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. In the following, the up-down direction is defined as the up-down direction when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed in a state in which it is generally used, as shown in Fig. 1, and the front-rear direction is defined with the side on which a user generally stands as the front. The direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is defined as the left-right direction.

[0012] The image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a device such as a printer, scanner, facsimile, copier, or multifunction device that reads an image of an original (one example of a sheet) S and forms an electronic image, or forms an image or electronic image of the original S on a sheet. Here, an electronic image means an digitized image that can be displayed on an electronic device such as a computer or smartphone.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment has a document feeder 2 at its top. The document feeder 2 is a device that automatically reads documents to be copied, scanned, or facsimile, one sheet at a time. The document feeder 2 includes a paper feed tray 3 on which documents S to be read are placed, an outlet 4 through which the scanned documents S are discharged, and a paper discharge tray 10 on which the discharged documents S are placed. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a paper discharge tray 7 that discharges sheets on which images have been formed by an image forming unit (not shown) provided inside the apparatus main body 6. In the following, this embodiment will be described using the paper discharge tray 10 of the document feeder 2. Note that the present invention is not limited to the paper discharge tray 10 of the document feeder 2, but can also be applied to the paper discharge tray 7 provided in the apparatus main body 6 of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0014] Next, a specific structure of the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the paper discharge tray 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment. Hereinafter, based on the sheet transport direction T in which the document S is transported, the upstream side of the sheet transport direction T may be simply referred to as the upstream side or upstream, and the downstream side of the sheet transport direction T may be simply referred to as the downstream side or downstream.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper discharge tray 10, a sheet moving section 20, and an elastic member 30.

[0016] The paper output tray 10 is a tray on which the originals S discharged from the document feeder 2 are stacked. As shown in FIG. 1, the document feeder 2 of this embodiment feeds the originals S placed on the paper feed tray 3 located at the top on the left side, reads the image of the originals S inside the right side, and discharges the originals S after the image has been read from the discharge outlet 4 located below the paper feed tray 3. The paper output tray 10 of this embodiment is provided at the bottom on the left side of the document feeder 2, to the left of the discharge outlet 4 and below the paper feed tray 3. The configurations of the paper feed tray 3 and the discharge outlet 4, and the mechanism of the document feeder 2 have any known configuration and mechanism.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 2, the paper output tray 10 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The paper output tray 10 has a pair of side walls 11 erected on both ends of the paper output tray 10 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction T (left-right direction), i.e., in the width direction (front-rear direction) of the paper output tray 10. The top, left, and right sides of the paper output tray 10 are open. The downstream opening of the paper output tray 10, i.e., the opening on the left side, is a sheet take-out opening 101, and a discharge opening 4 is provided near the upstream opening of the paper output tray 10, i.e., the opening on the right side.

[0018] A through groove 12 is formed in one of the pair of side walls 11 of the paper output tray 10 along the sheet conveying direction T. In this embodiment, for the convenience of the user, the through groove 12 is formed in the front side wall 11 on the user side. The through groove 12 has a width (vertical length) that allows an operation unit 22 of the sheet moving unit 20, which will be described later, to protrude. The through groove 12 also has a length (horizontal length) that allows the sheet moving unit 20 to move to a position where the downstream end SD of all sizes of documents S used in the image forming apparatus 1 can protrude outward from the sheet take-out opening 101.

[0019] The sheet moving unit 20 moves the document S discharged from the discharge outlet 4 toward the sheet outlet 101 side of the discharge tray 10. The sheet moving unit 20 has a main body 21 that abuts against at least a part of the upstream end SU (see FIG. 1 ) of the document S in the sheet transport direction T, and an operation unit 22 that allows the user to move the sheet moving unit 20.

[0020] In this embodiment, the main body 21 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open top and right side. The left side of the main body 21 forms a contact surface 21a that contacts the upstream end SU of the document S. The contact surface 21a of the main body 21 has a length in the front-rear direction that allows it to contact the entire upstream end SU of all sizes of document S used in the image forming apparatus 1. Specifically, the contact surface 21a of the main body 21 has a length in the front-rear direction that allows its front and rear surfaces to contact the pair of side wall surfaces 11 of the paper output tray 10. The main body 21 is provided on the inner bottom surface 10a of the paper output tray 10 so as to be slidable on the inner bottom surface 10a of the paper output tray 10.

[0021] The operation unit 22 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The operation unit 22 is large enough to slide within the through groove 12 formed in the side wall surface 11 of the paper discharge tray 10. The operation unit 22 is attached to the front surface of the main body 21. When the main body 21 is installed on the paper discharge tray, the operation unit 22 is installed so as to protrude from the through groove 12 to the outside of the paper discharge tray 10.

[0022] The elastic member 30 moves the sheet moving section 20 upstream in the sheet conveying direction T, that is, toward the discharge outlet 4 side (right side) of the paper discharge tray 10. The elastic member 30 is made up of a string 31 and a spring 32 that winds up the string 31.

[0023] The spring 32 is configured by, for example, a spiral spring. The spring 32 is disposed near the discharge opening 4 of the image forming apparatus 1. In this embodiment, the spring 32 is fixedly attached to the housing of the document feeder 2 near the discharge opening 4 of the document feeder 2.

[0024] The string 31 is configured to be able to protrude and retract from the spring 32 by being pulled out from and wound around the spring 32 as the sheet moving section 20 moves. Any known string having the strength to withstand being used by being protruded and retracted multiple times from the spring 32 can be used as the string 31. One end 31a of the string 31 is attached to the spring 32, and the other end 31b is attached to the upstream end 20a of the sheet moving section 20, i.e., the end 20a on the discharge outlet 4 side.

[0025] The natural length of the elastic member 30 is when the string 31 is wound around the spring 32. At this time, the sheet moving part 20 attached to the string 31 is located at the end (right end) of the paper output tray 10 on the side of the discharge outlet 4. The position where the elastic member 30 is at its natural length is the initial position of the sheet moving part 20. The string 31 has a length that allows it to connect the spring 32 and the sheet moving part 20 when the operation part 22 is moved to the left end of the through groove 12.

[0026] Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figures 3 and 4 are vertical cross-sectional views of the paper discharge tray 10 of the image forming apparatus 1. Figure 3 shows a state in which the sheet moving section 20 is in its initial position, and Figure 4 shows a state in which the sheet moving section 20 has been moved downstream (to the left). Note that the vertical cross-sectional view is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical plane extending in the left-right direction.

[0027] 3, the originals S discharged from the discharge port 4 of the document feeder 2 pass above the sheet moving unit 20 and are stacked on the discharge tray 10. When removing the originals S stacked on the discharge tray 10, the user moves the operation unit 22 leftward along the through groove 12 (see FIG. 2) until the downstream end SD of the originals S protrudes outward from the sheet removal port 101.

[0028] 4, with this operation, the contact surface 21a of the main body 21 comes into contact with the upstream end SU of the document S, and the sheet moving unit 20 moves leftward while pushing the document S stacked on the paper discharge tray 10. As a result, the document S stacked on the paper discharge tray 10 is moved to a position where the downstream end SD of the document S protrudes from the sheet outlet 101. At this time, the string 31 connected to the sheet moving unit 20 is pulled out from the spring 32 and stretched by the distance that the sheet moving unit 20 has been moved.

[0029] The user grasps the downstream end SD of the document S protruding from the sheet outlet 101, removes the document S from the discharge tray 10, and then releases the operation unit 22. When the user releases the operation unit 22, the spring 32 winds up the string 31. As a result, the sheet moving unit 20 is pulled by the string 31 and returns to the initial position (the position shown in FIG. 3).

[0030] As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention is provided with a sheet moving unit 20 that can be operated by the user and an elastic member that moves the sheet moving unit 20 to its initial position. As a result, when removing the document S from the paper output tray 10, the user simply operates the operation unit 22 to move the sheet moving unit 20, and the document S comes out from the sheet outlet 101, making it easier to remove the document S from the paper output tray 10. In addition, the sheet moving unit 20 returns to its initial position simply by the user releasing their hand from the operation unit 22, eliminating the need to return the sheet moving unit 20 to its initial position. As a result, the user can easily remove the document S from the paper output tray 10 without any hassle.

[0031] Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention, the sheet moving section 20 abuts against the entire upstream end SU of the document S. As a result, when the sheet moving section 20 pushes the document S, it pushes the entire upstream end SU of the document S, and a uniform force is applied across the width of the document S (front-to-back direction). This prevents the document S from tilting in the front-to-back direction during the process of pushing out the document S, and ensures that the downstream end SD of the document S protrudes from the sheet outlet 101. Furthermore, the stacked documents S are less likely to become disorganized in the front-to-back direction, which also reduces the effort required of the user to align the removed documents S.

[0032] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be omitted from all components shown in the embodiments. The drawings may be shown mainly in a schematic manner to facilitate understanding. The number of components shown may differ from the actual number for convenience of drawing. Furthermore, the components shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible within a range that does not substantially deviate from the effects of the present invention.

[0033] For example, in the above embodiment, the paper output tray 10 has a side wall surface 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the paper output tray 10 may not have a side wall surface 11, and the surface that forms the housing of the document feeder 2 and extends from the discharge port 4 of the document feeder 2 may serve as the paper output tray 10. In this case, the through groove 12 may be provided on the bottom surface of the paper output tray 10 (the surface that forms the housing of the document feeder 2), and the operation unit 22 may extend downward and forward from the bottom surface of the main body 21 in a substantially L-shape and protrude outward from the front surface of the housing of the document feeder 2.

[0034] In the above embodiment, the inner bottom surface 10a of the paper output tray 10 is illustrated as being parallel to a horizontal plane, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inner bottom surface 10a of the paper output tray 10 may be inclined upward to the left, with the sheet outlet 101 side positioned higher than the outlet 4 side, like the paper output tray of a document feeder of a known image forming apparatus.

[0035] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the main body 21 of the sheet moving unit 20 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that abuts against the entire upstream end SU of the document S, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the main body 21 may be configured to abut against at least a portion of the upstream end SU of the document S. The sheet moving unit 20 may have any known configuration as long as it abuts against the upstream end SU of the document S and the document S abuts against the sheet moving unit 20 when the user operates the operation unit 22, thereby moving the document S toward the sheet outlet 101.

[0036] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the elastic member 30 is composed of the string 31 and the spring 32, which is made of a power spring or the like, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the elastic member 30 can be composed of a tension coil spring, and after the seat moving unit 20 moves toward the seat outlet 101, when the user releases the operating unit 22, the elastic force of the tension coil spring causes the seat moving unit 20 to return to its initial position. Alternatively, the elastic member 30 can have any known configuration as long as it can automatically return the seat moving unit 20 to its initial position. [Industrial Applicability]

[0037] The present invention can be used in the field of image forming devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1. Image forming device 4 Outlet 10 Output tray 10a Inner bottom 101 Sheet outlet 11 Side wall 12 Through groove 20 Seat moving section 21 Main body 22 Control section 30 Elastic member 31 String 32 Spring S Manuscript S SU Upstream end of manuscript S T Sheet transport direction

Claims

1. a paper output tray for stacking discharged sheets; a sheet moving unit that moves the sheet toward a sheet outlet side of the sheet discharge tray; an elastic member that moves the sheet moving portion toward the discharge outlet side of the paper discharge tray; Equipped with The seat moving unit includes: a main body portion that abuts against at least a part of an upstream edge of the sheet in a conveyance direction of the sheet; an operation unit for a user to move the seat moving unit; and The main body is provided on the inner bottom surface of the paper discharge tray so as to be slidable on the inner bottom surface of the paper discharge tray.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the main body contacts the entire upstream edge of the sheet.

3. the discharge tray has a pair of side walls that are erected on both ends of the discharge tray in a width direction, a through groove formed in one of the pair of side wall surfaces along the sheet conveying direction, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the operation portion is provided so as to protrude from the through groove to the outside of the paper discharge tray.

4. The elastic member is String and a spring for winding the string; It consists of the spring is disposed near an outlet of the image forming apparatus, 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one end of the string is attached to the spring and is retractable relative to the spring, and the other end is attached to an end of the sheet moving section on the discharge outlet side.

Images