Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To improve a discharge performance of an image forming apparatus when discharging sheets of different lengths.SOLUTION: In an image forming apparatus (1), a second discharge roller (37) is located downstream from and above a first discharge roller (35) in a discharge direction (D3), and a length of the shortest distance along a placement surface (23) from a first end (231) of the placement surface (23) on a side of the first discharge roller (35) to a reference point (24) of the placement surface (23) located vertically below the second discharge roller (37), is shorter than a length of a sheet discharged from the second discharge roller (37).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus provided with a cutting section that cuts a sheet on which an image has been formed. For example, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the cut sheet cut by the cutting section is discharged to a discharge tray. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-160228 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] However, in the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1, sheets having different sheet lengths are discharged to the same discharge tray by the same discharge roller. There is still room for further improvement in the discharge performance of the image forming apparatus when discharging sheets having different sheet lengths as described above.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problem, and an object of the present disclosure is to achieve improvement in the discharge performance of an image forming apparatus when discharging sheets having different sheet lengths. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus of the present disclosure comprises an apparatus body, an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, a cutting mechanism having a blade capable of cutting a sheet, a discharge tray provided on the apparatus body and having a mounting surface on which the discharged sheet is placed, a first discharge roller for discharging a sheet on the discharge tray on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit and which has not been cut by the cutting mechanism, and a second discharge roller for discharging a sheet on the discharge tray on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit and which has been cut by the cutting mechanism, wherein the second discharge roller is located downstream and above the first discharge roller in the direction of discharging the sheet, and the length of the shortest distance along the mounting surface from the first end of the mounting surface on the side of the first discharge roller in the discharge direction to a reference point of the mounting surface located vertically below the second discharge roller is shorter than the length of the sheet discharged from the second discharge roller.

[0007] According to the image forming apparatus described above, since the second discharge roller is located downstream of the first discharge roller in the discharge direction, the cut sheets can be discharged by the second discharge roller, making it easier to remove the cut sheets discharged into the discharge tray. Furthermore, on the mounting surface, the shortest distance from the first end on the first discharge roller side to the reference point is shorter than the length of the cut sheet. Therefore, the possibility of the cut sheets discharged from the second discharge roller getting stuck between sheets already loaded in the discharge tray can be reduced. As a result, even if the cut sheets are discharged into the discharge tray, the order of the discharged sheets will not be changed. Thus, the discharge performance of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

[0008] Furthermore, the discharge tray of the image forming apparatus of this disclosure may have a vertical wall that protrudes upward from the first end of the mounting surface described above.

[0009] According to the image forming apparatus described above, the vertical wall-side edge of the sheet after discharge can be brought into contact with the vertical wall. This makes it possible to align the vertical wall-side edge of the sheet after discharge.

[0010] Furthermore, the mounting surface of the image forming apparatus of this disclosure may have an inclined surface formed between the first end and the second end such that the first end is located lower than the second end opposite to the first end.

[0011] According to the image forming apparatus described above, the discharged sheet can be moved along the mounting surface toward the first end by the inclined surface. As a result, the sheet that has moved toward the first end comes into contact with the vertical wall positioned at the first end. This makes it possible to align the ends of the sheets on the vertical wall side before they are placed on the discharge tray.

[0012] Furthermore, the mounting surface of the image forming apparatus of this disclosure has a horizontal surface formed on the second end side of the inclined surface, and the horizontal surface may be below the second discharge roller.

[0013] According to the image forming apparatus described above, the horizontal surface formed on the second end side of the mounting surface, relative to the inclined surface, is located below the second discharge roller. Therefore, a space can be formed between the second discharge roller and the mounting surface of the discharge tray. This makes it easier to remove jammed sheets when they get stuck in the second discharge roller.

[0014] Furthermore, the main body of the image forming apparatus of the present disclosure may have a first transport path on which the first discharge roller is arranged and which guides the sheet on which the image has been formed to the first discharge roller, and a second transport path on which the second discharge roller and the cutting mechanism are arranged and which guides the sheet on which the image has been formed to the second discharge roller.

[0015] According to the image forming apparatus described above, the image-formed sheet can be cut by a cutting mechanism and then discharged into a discharge tray by a second discharge roller.

[0016] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus of the present disclosure further comprises: a first stack lever rotatably mounted on the apparatus body and extending toward the aforementioned mounting surface, and capable of contacting a sheet discharged to the discharge tray by the first discharge roller; and a second stack lever rotatably mounted on the apparatus body and extending toward the aforementioned mounting surface, and capable of contacting a sheet discharged to the discharge tray by the second discharge roller, wherein the second discharge roller is positioned above an upper limit position, which is the upper limit position in the rotation range of the first stack lever.

[0017] In the image forming apparatus described above, the second discharge roller is positioned above the upper limit position of the first stack lever. Therefore, even if the first stack lever rotates to the upper limit of its rotational range relative to the apparatus body, the first stack lever will not interfere with the second discharge roller. As a result, the first stack lever can perform its normal operation without any restrictions during sheet discharge.

[0018] Furthermore, the first stack levers of the image forming apparatus of this disclosure may be arranged in multiple positions corresponding to the third end on one side and the fourth end on the other side in the width direction of the mounting surface described above, which is perpendicular to the discharge direction.

[0019] According to the image forming apparatus described above, in the width direction of the sheet, which is perpendicular to the discharge direction, both ends of the uncut sheet after discharge can be held down by the first stack lever. This prevents the sheet placed on the discharge tray from curling in the width direction.

[0020] Furthermore, the second stack lever of the image forming apparatus of this disclosure may be positioned in the width direction of the mounting surface described above, which is perpendicular to the discharge direction, at a position corresponding to the central portion of the mounting surface described above.

[0021] According to the above image forming apparatus, the cut sheet discharged by the second discharge roller can be easily brought into contact with the second stack lever. Therefore, although the gap between the front half portion and the rear half portion of the discharged cut sheet is shortened, the second stack lever can discharge the front half portion of the sheet toward the discharge tray more quickly. This reduces the risk that the order of the discharged sheets is reversed due to the front half sheet being pressed by the rear half sheet.

[0022] Further, the image forming apparatus of the present disclosure may be provided with a static elimination brush that is provided downstream of the second discharge roller in the discharge direction, and eliminates static electricity charged on the sheet by coming into contact with the sheet being discharged by the second discharge roller.

[0023] According to the above image forming apparatus, static electricity charged on the cut sheet discharged from the second discharge roller can be removed. This prevents a plurality of sheets discharged onto the discharge tray from being attracted to each other by static electricity.

[0024] Further, the discharge tray of the image forming apparatus of the present disclosure has a stopper that protrudes upward from a second end side opposite to the first end on the placement surface and has an abutment surface capable of abutting against a discharged sheet, and a length in the discharge direction from the second discharge roller to the abutment surface may be longer than a maximum sheet length of the cut sheet discharged by the second discharge roller.

[0025] According to the above image forming apparatus, when the sheets discharged by the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller abut against the stopper, the risk of the sheets moving to the outside of the discharge tray can be reduced. This allows discharged sheets to be stacked on the discharge tray. Further, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the sheet discharged by the second discharge roller enters between stacked sheets. This can prevent the order of sheets from being reversed after discharge.

[0026] Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present disclosure, the image forming section includes a photosensitive drum, a developing roller that supplies toner onto the photosensitive drum, a transfer roller that transfers the toner supplied onto the photosensitive drum to a sheet, and a fixing device that includes a pressure rotating body and a heating rotating body and fixes the toner transferred onto the sheet onto the sheet.

[0027] Further, the reference point of the placement surface in the image forming apparatus of the present disclosure may be an end point on the downstream side in the discharge direction of a region projected onto the placement surface when the second discharge roller is projected from above toward the placement surface in the vertical direction.

[0028] In order to solve the above problem, the image forming apparatus of the present disclosure is an image forming apparatus capable of discharging sheets having different sheet lengths in a conveyance direction, which is the direction in which sheets are conveyed, the image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body; a discharge tray provided in the apparatus main body and having a placement surface on which discharged sheets are placed; a plurality of conveyance rollers that convey sheets along the conveyance direction; an image forming section that forms an image on a sheet; a first discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming section to the discharge tray; and a second discharge roller that discharges, to the discharge tray, a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming section, the sheet having a sheet length shorter than the sheet length of the sheet discharged by the first discharge roller, wherein the second discharge roller is arranged at a position downstream and above the first discharge roller in the discharge direction, which is the direction in which sheets are discharged, and the shortest distance along the placement surface from a first end of the placement surface on the first discharge roller side in the discharge direction to the reference point of the placement surface, which is a position corresponding to vertically below the second discharge roller, is shorter than the length in the conveyance direction from the second discharge roller to the conveyance roller located closest to the second discharge roller in the conveyance direction.

[0029] According to the image forming apparatus described above, since the second discharge roller is located upstream of the first discharge roller in the discharge direction, the second discharge roller discharges shorter sheets, making it easier to remove the shorter sheets discharged into the discharge tray. Furthermore, on the mounting surface, the shortest distance from the first end on the first discharge roller side to the reference point is shorter than the distance in the transport direction from the second discharge roller to the transport roller located closest to the second discharge roller in the transport direction. Therefore, the possibility of shorter sheets discharged from the second discharge roller getting stuck between sheets already loaded in the discharge tray can be reduced. As a result, even if shorter sheets are discharged into the discharge tray, the order of the sheets after discharge can be prevented from being rearranged. Thus, the discharge performance of the image forming apparatus can be improved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] According to one aspect of this disclosure, it is possible to improve the discharge performance of an image forming apparatus when discharging sheets of different lengths. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0031] [Figure 1] This figure shows the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a diagram illustrating how to cut a sheet with a cutter. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the arrangement relationship between each component and the mounting surface of the discharge tray near the first and second discharge ports. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view illustrating the general structure of the cutter. [Figure 6] This figure shows a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of this disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] [Embodiment 1] The image forming apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure.

[0033] [Configuration of the image forming apparatus] As shown in Figure 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is a monochrome laser printer and comprises a main body 2, a transport unit 3, an image forming unit 4, a flapper 8, a cutter 10, a pre-cash sensor 110, a post-cash sensor 111, and an ejection sensor 112. For the sake of explanation, the vertical, horizontal, and left-right directions of the image forming apparatus 1 are defined below as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1 and other figures.

[0034] Note that the vertical direction shown in Figure 1, etc., refers to the vertical direction when the image forming apparatus 1 is placed on a horizontal surface and used in normal operation. In this embodiment, the front-to-back direction shown in Figure 1, etc., is the same direction as the sheet P discharge direction D3, and the left-to-right direction shown in Figure 4 is the width direction of the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22.

[0035] The device body 2 includes a front cover 20, a supply tray 21, a discharge tray 22, a first discharge port 25, and a second discharge port 26. The front cover 20 is located on the front of the device body 2. The front cover 20 is openable and closable.

[0036] The supply tray 21 is located at the bottom of the main body 2 of the apparatus. Sheets P are placed on the supply tray 21. Sheets P can be, for example, plain paper, cardboard, glossy paper, label paper, or envelopes. The number of supply trays 21 in the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to one, but may be multiple.

[0037] The supply tray 21 can be pulled out from the main unit 2 by moving it forward, and can be attached to the main unit 2 by moving it backward after being pulled out. When the supply tray 21 is removed from the main unit 2, the user can replenish the sheets P in the supply tray 21, replace the sheets P placed on the supply tray 21, etc. Of the sheets placed on the supply tray 21, A4 size sheets are placed so that their long side is aligned in the front-to-back direction. That is, the long side of the A4 size sheet is transported along the transport direction. Note that the sheet size is just an example and is not limited to A4 size.

[0038] The supply tray 21 has a sheet pressing plate 21A. The sheet pressing plate 21A pushes the sheet P inside the supply tray 21 upward. When the sheet P is pushed up by the sheet pressing plate 21A, the sheet P becomes ready to be transported from the supply tray 21 to the image forming unit 4.

[0039] The discharge tray 22 is provided on the main body of the device 2 and is located outside the main body of the device 2. More specifically, the discharge tray 22 constitutes a part of the upper surface of the main body of the device. The discharge tray 22 has a mounting surface 23, a stopper 27, and a vertical wall 221.

[0040] The mounting surface 23 is the surface on which the sheet P, which will be discharged by the first discharge roller 35 and the second discharge roller 37 (described later), is placed. The mounting surface 23 has an inclined surface 23A and a horizontal surface 23B. The inclined surface 23A is formed between the first end 231 and the second end 232 such that the first end 231 of the mounting surface 23 is located below the second end 232 of the mounting surface 23. The first end 231 is located on the side of the first discharge roller 35 in the discharge direction D3, and the second end 232 is located on the opposite side of the first end 231 in the discharge direction D3. The inclined surface 23A is a surface that inclins upward as you move from the first end 231 towards the second end 232, that is, as you move from rear to front in this embodiment.

[0041] The horizontal surface 23B is formed on the second end 232 side of the inclined surface 23A in the discharge direction D3. The horizontal surface 23B is a horizontal surface that is continuous with the inclined surface 23A on the second end 232 side and extends to the second end 232. The horizontal surface 23B is located below the second discharge roller 37, which will be described later. A horizontal surface may also be formed between the first end 231 and the inclined surface 23A. That is, the mounting surface 23 may be formed in a continuous sequence from the first end 231 toward the discharge direction D3, consisting of a horizontal surface, an inclined surface 23A, and a horizontal surface 23B.

[0042] The stopper 27 is provided on the second end 232 side of the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22. The stopper 27 comes into contact with the sheet P discharged into the discharge tray 22, thereby loading the sheet P into the discharge tray 22.

[0043] The stopper 27 is rotatable around the pivot axis 28 between the storage position 27A and the usage position 27B. The storage position 27A is the state in which the stopper 27 is housed in the recess of the discharge tray 22. Therefore, when the stopper 27 is in the storage position 27A, the sheet P moving forward of the device body 2, for example, the sheet P being discharged in the discharge direction D3, does not come into contact with the contact surface 271 of the stopper 27. In other words, when the stopper 27 is in the storage position 27A, the forward movement of the sheet P is not restricted by the stopper 27.

[0044] The stopper 27 is in use position 27B, where it is extended out of the recess of the discharge tray 22. When the stopper 27 is in use position 27B, it protrudes upward from the mounting surface 23. Therefore, the contact surface 271 of the stopper 27 can come into contact with the sheet P moving forward of the device body 2, for example, the discharged sheet P moving in the discharge direction D3. As a result, the forward movement of the sheet P is restricted by the stopper 27, and the sheet P can be stored inside the discharge tray 22.

[0045] The vertical wall 221 is a wall that projects upward from the first end 231 of the mounting surface 23. The vertical wall 221 is located below the first discharge port 25 formed in the main body of the device 2. The vertical wall 221 can come into contact with the rear end of the sheet P as it moves downward along the inclined surface 23A. Therefore, the rear end of the sheet P after discharge can be aligned.

[0046] The main body of the apparatus 2 has a transport path 200 and a re-transport path 201. The transport path 200 is a path for transporting the sheet P from the supply tray 21 to the outside of the main body of the apparatus 2 via the image forming unit 4 and fuser 5, which will be described later. The re-transport path 201 will be described later.

[0047] The transport route 200 has a first transport route 200A and a second transport route 200B. The transport route 200 branches into the first transport route 200A and the second transport route 200B from branching point 200C.

[0048] The first transport path 200A is part of the transport path 200 and is located downstream of the branching point 200C. The first transport path 200A is the path from the branching point 200C to the first discharge port 25 for discharging the sheet P to the outside of the device body 2. The first transport path 200A is the path that guides the sheet P on which the image has been formed to the first discharge roller 35.

[0049] The second transport path 200B is part of the transport path 200 and is located downstream of the branching point 200C. The second transport path 200B is located above the first transport path. The second transport path 200B is the path from the branching point 200C to the second discharge port 26 for discharging the sheet P to the outside of the device body 2. The second transport path 200B is the path that guides the sheet P on which the image has been formed to the second discharge roller 37.

[0050] Near the branching point 200C, a flapper 8 is provided for distributing the sheet P to either the first transport path 200A or the second transport path 200B. The flapper 8 can rotate between a first position 8A, shown by a solid line, and a second position 8B, shown by a dashed line, by the driving force of a drive motor (not shown).

[0051] When the flapper 8 is in the first position 8A, the sheet P is transported in the first transport direction D1 of the first transport path 200A and guided to the first discharge port 25. On the other hand, when the flapper 8 is in the second position 8B, the sheet P is guided along the first transport direction D1 of the second transport path 200B to the second discharge port 26.

[0052] The conveying unit 3 includes a pickup roller 30, a separation roller 31, a paper dust removal roller 32, a registration roller 33, a roller 34, a first discharge roller 35, a conveying roller 36, a second discharge roller 37, and re-conveying rollers 38 and 39. The conveying unit 3 also includes a main motor 108 and a discharge motor 109, which will be described later using Figure 2. The driving force transmitted from the main motor 108 or the discharge motor 109 rotates each part of the conveying unit 3 to convey the sheet P.

[0053] The pickup roller 30 rotates due to the driving force transmitted from the main motor 108 (Figure 2). The pickup roller 30 picks up the sheets P that have been pushed upward by the sheet pressing plate 21A in the supply tray 21. The separation roller 31 separates the sheets P picked up by the pickup roller 30 one by one. The sheets P are fed from the supply tray 21 to the transport path 200 by the pickup roller 30 and the separation roller 31. The paper dust removal roller 32 removes paper dust and other debris from the surface of the sheets P.

[0054] The registration roller 33 is positioned upstream of the image forming unit 4 in the transport path 200. The registration roller 33 aligns the direction of the leading edge of the sheet P and then transports the sheet P toward the image forming unit 4. The roller 34 is positioned downstream of the fuser 5 and transports the sheet P toward the branching point 200C after it has passed through the fuser 5.

[0055] The first discharge roller 35 is positioned in the first transport path 200A. The first discharge roller 35 is positioned upstream of the first end 231 of the mounting surface 23 in the discharge direction D3. The first discharge roller 35 rotates due to the driving force transmitted from the discharge motor 109 (Figure 2), thereby discharging the sheet P from the first discharge port 25 towards the outside of the device body 2 along the first transport path 200A. The sheet P discharged from the first discharge port 25 by the first discharge roller 35 is placed on the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22. The first discharge roller 35 consists of a drive roller 35A driven by the discharge motor 109 and a driven roller 35B that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the drive roller 35A.

[0056] The conveyor roller 36 and the second discharge roller 37 are positioned in the second conveying path 200B. The conveyor roller 36 and the second discharge roller 37 rotate due to the driving force transmitted from the discharge motor 109 (Figure 2). The conveyor roller 36 conveys the sheet P toward the second discharge roller 37. The conveyor roller 36 is the conveyor roller located closest to the second discharge roller 37 in the first conveying direction D1. The conveyor roller 36 consists of a drive roller 36A driven by the discharge motor 109 and a driven roller 36B that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the drive roller 36A.

[0057] The second discharge roller 37 discharges the sheet P from the second discharge port 26 toward the outside of the device body 2 along the second transport path 200B. The sheet P discharged from the second discharge port 26 by the second discharge roller 37 is placed on the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22. The second discharge roller 37 is located downstream of the first discharge roller 35 in the discharge direction D3, that is, on the front side of the device body. The second discharge roller 37 is also located above the first discharge roller 35. The second discharge roller 37 consists of a drive roller 37A driven by the discharge motor 109 and a driven roller 37B that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the drive roller 37A.

[0058] The image forming unit 4 comprises a drum cartridge 6, a laser unit 7, and a fuser 5, and forms an image on the sheet P. The drum cartridge 6 includes a photoreceptor drum 61, a toner storage unit 62, a supply roller 63, a developing roller 64, a pinch roller 66, and a transfer roller TR. The drum cartridge 6 is detachable from the main body 2 of the device.

[0059] The pinch roller 66 of the drum cartridge 6 is positioned opposite the registration roller 33. The pinch roller 66 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the registration roller 33, and together with the registration roller 33, it conveys the sheet P.

[0060] The photoreceptor drum 61 rotates around the drum shaft 61X due to the driving force transmitted from the main motor 108 (Figure 2).

[0061] The laser unit 7 emits laser light B based on the image data and exposes the surface of the photoreceptor drum 61, which has been uniformly charged by a charger (not shown). An electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed on the exposed surface of the photoreceptor drum 61.

[0062] The supply roller 63 of the drum cartridge 6 supplies toner from the toner storage section 62 to the developing roller 64. The developing roller 64 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 61. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is made visible, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 61.

[0063] The transfer roller TR of the drum cartridge 6 is positioned opposite the photoconductor drum 61. The transfer roller TR transfers the toner supplied onto the photoconductor drum 61 to the sheet P. As the sheet P is transported between the photoconductor drum 61 and the transfer roller TR, the toner image is transferred to the sheet P.

[0064] The fuser unit 5 fixes the toner transferred to the sheet P onto the sheet P. The fuser unit 5 includes a heating roller 51, a pressure roller 52, a heater 53 (Figure 2), and a temperature sensor 54 (Figure 2). The heater 53 is, for example, a halogen heater and heats the heating roller 51. The heating roller 51 is an example of a heating rotating body. The temperature sensor 54 is, for example, a thermistor and detects the temperature of the heating roller 51. The temperature sensor 54 may also be a thermocouple or a resistance thermometer.

[0065] The pressure roller 52 forms a nip N between itself and the heating roller 51. The pressure roller 52 is an example of a pressure rotating body. The pressure roller 52 rotates due to the driving force transmitted from the main motor 108 (Figure 2), causing the sheet P to be conveyed so as to pass through the nip N. The sheet P that has passed through the nip N is heated by the heating roller 51, and the toner image is heat-fixed to the sheet P that has passed through the nip N. Instead of the pressure roller 52, a nip-forming member having a belt and a pad that presses the belt between itself and the pressure roller may be provided as a pressure rotating body.

[0066] The cutter 10 has a blade 11 capable of cutting the sheet P. The cutter 10 is an example of a cutting mechanism. The cutter 10 is located in the second transport path 200B. The cutter 10 cuts the sheet P by moving the blade 11 in a cutting direction perpendicular to the first transport direction D1 of the second transport path 200B. In this embodiment, the cutting direction perpendicular to the first transport direction D1 is perpendicular to the front-rear direction and parallel to the rotational axis of the second discharge roller 37. Note that the cutting direction is not limited to a direction perpendicular to the first transport direction D1, but may be any direction intersecting the first transport direction D1.

[0067] Here, the general configuration of the cutter 10 will be described based on Figure 5. Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the general configuration of the cutter 10. As shown in Figure 5, the cutter 10 includes a support guide 10C, a slide rail 12, a fixed blade 10A, a blade 11, a cutter carriage 13, a cutting motor 106, a drive pulley 14, a driven pulley 15, and a pulley belt 16.

[0068] The support guide 10C extends in the sub-scanning direction, which is perpendicular to the sheet transport direction. In this embodiment, the sub-scanning direction is the left-right direction and the direction of the rotation axis of the first discharge roller 35 and the second discharge roller 37. It also corresponds to the width direction of the sheet P. The slide rail 12 is a rail formed in the support guide 10C that extends in the sub-scanning direction. The fixed blade 10A is a flat plate-shaped blade fixed to the support guide 10C that extends in the sub-scanning direction. The support guide 10C has a space 10D formed by the slide rail 12 and the fixed blade 10A. The sheet P passes through the space 10D formed by the slide rail 12 and the fixed blade 10A. The blade 11 is a disc-shaped blade that is rotatably fixed to the cutter carriage 13.

[0069] The cutter carriage 13 engages with the slide rail 12 and is mounted on the support guide 10C so as to be slidable along the slide rail 12. The cutter carriage 13 is movable from the initial position shown by the solid line in Figure 5 to the completed cutting position shown by the dashed line. Before cutting the sheet P, the cutter carriage 13 is in the initial position shown by the solid line in Figure 5. When the cutter carriage 13 moves along the slide rail 12 to the completed cutting position, one sheet P is sandwiched between the fixed blade 10A and the blade 11 and cut into a first sheet P1 and a second sheet P2.

[0070] The cutter 10 cuts the sheet P by moving the cutter carriage 13 in the sub-scanning direction using the rotational force of the cutting motor 106. As a result, the sheet P is cut by the fixed blade 10A and the blade 11, and the sheet P is completely separated into a first sheet P1 and a second sheet P2 that move back and forth in the transport direction.

[0071] The drive pulley 14 is located on the other side of the support guide 10C in the sub-scanning direction, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction. The drive pulley 14 is rotatable in both forward and reverse directions by receiving the driving force from the cutting motor 106. The driven pulley 15 is located on one side of the support guide 10C in the sub-scanning direction. The pulley belt 16 is wrapped around the drive pulley 14 and the driven pulley 15. The cutter carriage 13 is also fixed to the pulley belt 16.

[0072] This causes the cutter carriage 13 to slide in the sub-scanning direction in response to the rotation of the pulley belt 16. Specifically, when the cutting motor 106 is rotated forward, the cutter carriage 13 slides from one side to the other in the sub-scanning direction, and when the cutting motor 106 is rotated backward, the cutter carriage 13 slides from the other side to the one side in the sub-scanning direction.

[0073] The cutting of sheet P by cutter 10 will be explained with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the cutting of sheet P by cutter 10. Figure 3(A) shows sheet P before it is cut by cutter 10. Figure 3(B) shows the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 after they have been cut by cutter 10. The length of sheet P in the first transport direction D1 before cutting is PL. Hereinafter, the length of sheet P in the first transport direction D1 will simply be referred to as "sheet length" (the same applies to the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 after cutting). In Figure 3, the case in which sheet P is divided into two equal parts by cutter 10 will be explained as an example.

[0074] When the sheet P shown in Figure 3(A) is transported from the cutting position CL to the cutting position C of the cutter 10 shown in Figure 1, the sheet P is cut by the cutter 10. As shown in Figure 3(B), the sheet is cut into a first sheet P1, which is the sheet on the upstream side of the first transport direction D1, and a second sheet P2, which is the sheet on the downstream side of the first transport direction D1. The first sheet P1 is the first half of the sheet after cutting, and the second sheet P2 is the second half of the sheet after cutting. The sheet length PL1 of the first sheet P1 and the sheet length PL2 of the second sheet P2 are half the length PL of the sheet P. For example, in this embodiment, A4 size (210 mm x 297 mm) and letter size (216 mm x 279 mm) sheets P are set to be cut. Therefore, when an A4 size sheet is cut in half, it becomes an A5 size (210 mm x 148 mm) first sheet P1 and second sheet P2. Furthermore, the letter-sized sheet P will have dimensions of (216mm x 139mm) compared to the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 after cutting.

[0075] As shown in Figure 1, the first stack lever 40 is rotatably mounted on the main body 2 of the device around a pivot axis 41. The first stack lever 40 is located downstream of the first discharge roller 35 and is located near the first discharge port 25. The first stack lever 40 extends toward the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22 and can come into contact with the sheet P discharged onto the discharge tray 22 by the first discharge roller 35. The first stack lever 40 can also come into contact with the sheet P placed on the mounting surface 23.

[0076] The first stack lever 40 is movable between a lower limit position 40A, shown by a solid line, and an upper limit position 40B, shown by a dashed line. That is, the rotation range of the first stack lever 40 is the range between the lower limit position 40A and the upper limit position 40B. The lower limit position 40A is the lower limit position in the rotation range of the first stack lever 40. The upper limit position 40B is the upper limit position in the rotation range of the first stack lever 40. The second discharge roller 37 is positioned above the upper limit position 40B.

[0077] The arrangement relationship between the first stack lever 40 and the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22 will be explained with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement relationship between each component and the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22 in the vicinity of the first discharge port 25 and the second discharge port 26. Figure 4 is a view of each component arranged in the vicinity of the first discharge port 25 and the second discharge port 26, seen from the front to the rear of the image forming apparatus 1. In Figure 4, in order to make the arrangement relationship of each component easier to see, the apparatus body 2 and components not used in the explanation of the arrangement relationship are omitted from the illustration.

[0078] As shown in Figure 4, multiple first stack levers 40 are provided. In this embodiment, the multiple first stack levers 40 are positioned to correspond to the third end 233 on one side and the fourth end 234 on the other side of the mounting surface 23 in the left-right direction. That is, they are positioned so as to be able to contact both ends in the width direction of the sheet P discharged by the first discharge roller 35.

[0079] As shown in Figure 1, the second stack lever 45 is rotatably mounted on the main body 2 of the device around a pivot axis 46. The second stack lever 45 is located downstream of the second discharge roller 37 and is located near the second discharge port 26. The second stack lever 45 extends toward the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22 and can come into contact with the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 that are discharged onto the discharge tray 22 by the second discharge roller.

[0080] As shown in Figure 4, the second stack lever 45 is positioned to correspond to the central portion of the mounting surface 23. Therefore, it can come into contact with the central portions of the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 that are discharged by the second discharge roller 37. Note that multiple second stack levers 45 may be provided.

[0081] As shown in Figure 1, the first discharge port 25 and the second discharge port 26 are provided with static elimination brushes 42 and 47, respectively. The static elimination brushes 42 and 47 eliminate static electricity charged on the sheet P by coming into contact with it. The static elimination brush 42 is located downstream of the first discharge roller 35 and comes into contact with the sheet P discharged by the first discharge roller 35. The static elimination brush 47 is located downstream of the second discharge roller 37 and comes into contact with the sheet P discharged by the second discharge roller 37. As shown in Figure 4, the static elimination brushes 42 and 47 are positioned to correspond to the central portion of the mounting surface 23. That is, the static elimination brush 42 comes into contact with the central portion of the sheet P discharged by the first discharge roller 35, and the static elimination brush 47 comes into contact with the central portions of the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 discharged by the second discharge roller 37.

[0082] As shown in Figure 1, the pre-register sensor 110 is located between the separation roller 31 and the registration roller 33 in the first transport direction D1, and directly in front of the registration roller 33. The pre-register sensor 110 detects the presence or absence of sheet P at its sensor position and outputs a signal according to the presence or absence of sheet P. In the following, the output signal of the pre-register sensor 110 will be assumed to be ON when sheet P is present at its sensor position and OFF when it is not present.

[0083] The post-register sensor 111 is located between the registration roller 33 and the photoreceptor drum 61 in the first transport direction D1. The post-register sensor 111 detects the presence or absence of sheet P at its sensor position and outputs a signal corresponding to the presence or absence of sheet P. In the following, the output signal of the post-register sensor 111 will be on when sheet P is present at its sensor position and off when it is not.

[0084] The discharge sensor 112 is located between the fuser 5 and the flapper 8 in the first transport direction D1. The discharge sensor 112 detects the presence or absence of sheet P at its sensor position and outputs a signal corresponding to the presence or absence of sheet P. In the following, the output signal of the discharge sensor 112 will be assumed to be ON when sheet P is present at its sensor position and OFF when it is not.

[0085] For example, the pre-cash register sensor 110, the post-cash register sensor 111, and the discharge sensor 112 can be sensors having actuators that swing when the sheet P comes into contact with them, optical sensors, and the like.

[0086] The re-transport path 201 is the path through which the sheet, after passing through the fuser 5, is transported toward the image forming unit 4. The sheet P passes through the re-transport path 201 in order to form an image on the back surface, which is the opposite side of the front surface of the sheet P from which the image has been formed by the fuser 5.

[0087] The re-transport route 201 is the route from position 201A, downstream of the discharge sensor 112 and upstream of the first discharge roller 35 in the first transport direction D1 of the first transport route 200A, to position 201B, upstream of the pre-cash register sensor 110 in the first transport direction D1 of the transport route 200.

[0088] When fixing the toner image to the back surface of the sheet P using the re-transport path 201, the flapper 8 is positioned at the first position 8A and guides the sheet P toward the first discharge roller 35. When the sheet P leaves the fuser 5, the first discharge roller 35 rotates in the reverse direction and transports the sheet P toward the re-transport path 201. The re-transport rollers 38 and 39 transport the sheet P along the re-transport path 201 by the driving force transmitted from the main motor 108 (Figure 2). In the re-transport path 201, the sheet P is transported in the second transport direction D2, which is opposite to the first transport direction D1.

[0089] [Electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus] Next, the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in Figure 2, the image forming apparatus 1 further comprises an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 105, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, an NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) 104, an electromagnetic clutch 107, a main motor 108, an operation panel 120, a communication interface (I / F) 130, and an ejection motor 109.

[0090] The ASIC105 is equipped with a CPU101. The CPU101 performs overall control of all parts of the image forming apparatus 1. The ROM102 stores various control programs for controlling the image forming apparatus 1. The CPU101 uses the RAM103 as a workspace to execute programs. The NVRAM104 stores settings for various processes of the image forming apparatus 1 and data used for those processes.

[0091] The ASIC105 is electrically connected to the laser unit 7, charger (not shown), transfer roller TR, heating roller 51 and temperature sensor 54 of the fuser 5, electromagnetic clutch 107 of the pickup roller 30, main motor 108, discharge motor 109, pre-cash sensor 110, post-cash sensor 111, discharge sensor 112, temperature and humidity sensor 113, operation panel 120, ROM 102, RAM 103, NVRAM 104, cutting motor 106 of the cutter 10, flapper 8, and communication interface (I / F) 130.

[0092] The CPU 101 acquires output signals from the pre-cash register sensor 110, the post-cash register sensor 111, and the discharge sensor 112. The CPU 101 can connect to a LAN via a communication interface (I / F) 130 and communicate with an external information terminal located outside the image forming apparatus 1. The CPU 101 can accept print jobs from the external information terminal via the communication interface 130.

[0093] The CPU 101 may also acquire print jobs via an interface other than the communication interface 130, such as a USB interface. Furthermore, the CPU 101 may acquire print commands to fix toner images onto sheet P based on print jobs stored in ROM 102, RAM 103, or NVRAM 104, in response to input via the operation panel 120.

[0094] The CPU 101 obtains information about the temperature of the heating roller 51 from the temperature sensor 54, controls the heater 53, and adjusts the temperature of the heating roller 51.

[0095] The CPU 101 controls the cutting motor 106. The cutting motor 106 is a motor that transmits driving force to the cutter carriage 13, which is equipped with the blade 11 of the cutter 10. The cutting motor 106 is controlled by the CPU 101, and the driving force of the cutting motor 106 is transmitted to the cutter carriage 13, causing the blade 11 to move in the cutting direction.

[0096] The main motor 108 transmits driving force to the pickup roller 30, registration roller 33, re-transport rollers 38 and 39, pressure roller 52, photoreceptor drum 61, and developing roller 64.

[0097] The main motor 108 is driven in either forward or reverse direction under the control of the CPU 101. When the main motor 108 is driven in forward direction, the pickup roller 30, registration roller 33, pressure roller 52, photoreceptor drum 61, and developer roller 64 can be rotated in the forward direction. When the pickup roller 30, registration roller 33, pressure roller 52, photoreceptor drum 61, and first discharge roller 35 are rotated in the forward direction, the sheet P is transported along the transport path 200 shown in Figure 1. When the developer roller 64 is rotated in the forward direction, toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 61.

[0098] When the main motor 108 is driven in reverse, the pickup roller 30, registration roller 33, pressure roller 52, photoreceptor drum 61, and developing roller 64 stop.

[0099] The re-transport rollers 38 and 39 rotate in the forward direction regardless of whether the main motor 108 is driven in the forward or reverse direction, and transport the sheet P along the re-transport path 201.

[0100] The pickup roller 30 has an electromagnetic clutch 107. The electromagnetic clutch 107 is controlled by a CPU 101. By turning on the electromagnetic clutch 107, the CPU 101 enables the driving force of the main motor 108 to be transmitted to the pickup roller 30. Conversely, by turning off the electromagnetic clutch 107, the CPU 101 prevents the driving force of the main motor 108 from being transmitted to the pickup roller 30.

[0101] The CPU 101 can control the discharge motor 109. The driving force of the discharge motor 109 is transmitted to the transport roller 36 and the second discharge roller 37, and the sheet P is transported along the second transport path 200B. The driving force of the discharge motor 109 is also transmitted to the first discharge roller 35, and the sheet P is transported along the first transport path 200A. When the discharge motor 109 reverses direction, the first discharge roller 35, the transport roller 36, and the second discharge roller 37 rotate in the opposite direction.

[0102] The CPU 101 controls the position of the flapper 8 by controlling a drive motor (not shown). More specifically, the CPU 101 moves the flapper 8 to the first position 8A in order to transport the sheet P, which has had an image formed by the image forming unit 4 but is not cut by the cutter 10, to the first transport path 200A. The CPU 101 also moves the flapper 8 to the second position 8B in order to transport the sheet P, which has had an image formed by the image forming unit 4 and is cut by the cutter 10, to the second transport path 200B.

[0103] The control panel 120 is located on the upper front outer surface of the main body 2 of the device. The control panel 120 is, for example, a touch panel. The user can use the control panel 120 to change the settings of the image forming apparatus 1, start image formation on the sheet P, and perform other operations. For example, by operating the control panel 120, the user can set the paper type, sheet size, etc., of the sheet P to be placed on the supply tray 21. The paper type of the sheet P can be, for example, plain paper, cardboard, glossy paper, label paper, or envelope. The sheet size of the sheet P can be, for example, A4 size, A5 size, letter size, square envelope No. 2, long envelope No. 3, etc.

[0104] Furthermore, regarding the printing method, the control panel 120 can be used to specify printing conditions such as single-sided printing, which forms and fixes a toner image on only one side of the sheet P, or double-sided printing, which forms and fixes a toner image on both sides of the sheet P, as well as to specify whether or not to cut the sheet P with the cutter 10. In addition, it can be used to support a print command, that is, a print command that starts printing according to the paper type, sheet size, and printing method specified on the control panel 120. The control panel 120 may consist of a display device and multiple buttons.

[0105] [Regarding the arrangement between the discharge tray and the second discharge roller] Referring to Figure 1, the arrangement relationship between the discharge tray 22 and the second discharge roller 37 will be explained. The second discharge roller 37 is positioned above the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22. That is, when the image forming apparatus 1 is viewed from above, the second discharge roller 37 and the mounting surface 23 are arranged to overlap in the discharge direction D3.

[0106] Here, the reference point 24 on the mounting surface located vertically below the second discharge roller 37 is defined as follows. The reference point 24 is the position corresponding to the vertically below the second discharge roller 37 in the normal operating state with the image forming apparatus 1 placed on a horizontal plane. More specifically, in the normal operating state with the image forming apparatus 1 placed on a horizontal plane, when the second discharge roller 37 is projected from above onto the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22 in the vertical direction, the reference point 24 is the downstream endpoint in the discharge direction D3 of the area projected onto the mounting surface 23. As shown by the dashed line in Figure 1, let VL be a virtual line extending vertically from the downstream end of the outer diameter of the second discharge roller 37 in the discharge direction D3. The reference point 24 is the intersection of the virtual line VL and the mounting surface 23.

[0107] In this embodiment, the reference point 24 is determined by the outer diameter of the driven roller 37B, which is located below the drive roller 37A of the second discharge roller 37. When the drive roller 37A is located below the driven roller 37B, the reference point 24 is determined by the outer diameter of the drive roller 37A. Furthermore, if multiple second discharge rollers 37 are arranged, the second discharge roller located furthest downstream in the discharge direction D3 is the one to be considered.

[0108] The length L1 of the shortest distance along the mounting surface 23 from the first end 231 of the mounting surface 23 to the reference point 24 of the mounting surface 23 is shorter than the sheet length PL1 of the first sheet P1 and the sheet length PL2 of the second sheet P2 discharged from the second discharge roller 37. In other words, the second discharge roller 37 is positioned such that the length L1 is shorter than the sheet length of the sheet after cutting. The sheet length of the sheet after cutting that is compared with length L1 is the minimum sheet length of the sheet after cutting that the image forming apparatus 1 can discharge. In this embodiment, since a sheet obtained by dividing a letter size in half corresponds to the minimum sheet length, L1 is shorter than 139 mm.

[0109] Furthermore, the length L2 in the discharge direction D3 from the second discharge roller 37 to the contact surface 271 of the stopper 27 is longer than the sheet length PL1 of the first sheet P1 and the sheet length PL2 of the second sheet P2 discharged by the second discharge roller 37. More specifically, length L2 is the shortest distance from the downstream end of the outer diameter of the driven roller 37B of the second discharge roller 37 in the discharge direction D3 to the contact surface 271. The second discharge roller 37 is positioned such that its length L2 is longer than the maximum sheet length of the sheet after cutting.

[0110] <Effects of Embodiment 1> In the image forming apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1, since the second discharge roller 37 is located downstream of the first discharge roller 35 in the discharge direction D3, the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 after cutting are discharged by the second discharge roller 37, making it easier to remove the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 discharged into the discharge tray 22. Furthermore, on the mounting surface 23, the shortest distance L1 from the first end 231 on the first discharge roller 35 side to the reference point 24 is shorter than the sheet lengths PL1 and PL2 of the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2. Therefore, the possibility of the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 discharged from the second discharge roller 37 getting stuck between sheets already loaded into the discharge tray 22 can be reduced. As a result, even if the cut sheets are discharged into the discharge tray 22, it is possible to prevent the order of the discharged sheets from being changed. Thus, the discharge performance of the image forming apparatus 1 can be improved.

[0111] More specifically, the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2, discharged from the second discharge roller 37, fall onto the mounting surface 23 along the imaginary line VL, and may then move along the inclined surface 23A of the mounting surface 23 until their rear ends contact the vertical wall 221. If the length L1 on the mounting surface 23 is longer than the sheet lengths PL1 and PL2 of the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2, the rear ends of the first sheet P1 and / or the second sheet P2 may stop at the reference point 24. For example, if the first sheet P1, which is discharged first, moves to the vertical wall 221, and then the rear end of the second sheet P2 stops at the reference point 24, the order of the sheets will be reversed when the user picks them up, with the second sheet P2 being the first sheet and the first sheet P1 being the second. Furthermore, if, while multiple sheets P have already been discharged into the discharge tray 22, the discharged first sheet P1 and second sheet P2 move to the vertical wall 221, and the rear end of the subsequently discharged sheet P remains at the position of the reference point 24, the order of the discharged sheets P, the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 will be reversed.

[0112] Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus 1, the discharge tray 22 may have a vertical wall 221 that protrudes upward from the first end 231 of the mounting surface 23. With the discharge tray 22 having a vertical wall 221, the ends of the sheet P, the first sheet P1, and the second sheet P2 on the vertical wall 221 side can be brought into contact with the vertical wall 221 after discharge. This makes it possible to align the ends of the sheet P, the first sheet P1, and the second sheet P2 on the vertical wall 221 side after discharge.

[0113] Furthermore, with a configuration in which the mounting surface 23 has an inclined surface 23A, the discharged sheet P, the first sheet P1, and the second sheet P2 can be moved along the mounting surface 23 toward the first end 231 by the inclined surface 23A. As a result, the sheet P, the first sheet P1, and the second sheet P2 that have moved toward the first end 231 come into contact with the vertical wall 221 located at the first end 231. This makes it possible to align the ends of the sheet P, the first sheet P1, and the second sheet P2 on the vertical wall 221 side when they are placed on the discharge tray 22.

[0114] Furthermore, with the configuration in which the horizontal surface 23B of the mounting surface 23 is lower than the second discharge roller 37, the horizontal surface 23B formed on the second end 232 side of the mounting surface 23 is located lower than the second discharge roller 37 than the inclined surface 23A. Therefore, a space can be formed between the second discharge roller 37 and the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22. This makes it easier to remove the jammed first sheet P1 or second sheet P2 when it gets stuck in the second discharge roller 37.

[0115] With a configuration having a first transport path 200A and a second transport path 200B, the sheet P after image formation can be cut by the cutter 10 and then discharged to the discharge tray 22 by the second discharge roller 37.

[0116] In this configuration, the second discharge roller 37 is positioned above the upper limit position 40B of the first stack lever 40. As a result, even if the first stack lever 40 rotates to the upper limit position 40B of its rotation range relative to the device body 2, the first stack lever 40 will not interfere with the second discharge roller 37. This allows the first stack lever 40 to perform normal operation without any restrictions on its movement when discharging the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2.

[0117] With the configuration in which the first stack lever 40 is positioned on the third end 233 side and the fourth end 234 side of the mounting surface 23, the first stack lever 40 can hold down both ends of the uncut sheet P after discharge in the width direction of the sheet, which is perpendicular to the discharge direction D3. This prevents the sheet P placed on the discharge tray 22 from curling in the width direction.

[0118] By positioning the second stack lever 45 at a location corresponding to the center of the width direction of the mounting surface 23, it is possible to make it easier for the cut first sheet P1 and second sheet P2 discharged by the second discharge roller 37 to come into contact with the second stack lever 45. As a result, the gap between the first sheet P1, which is the front half of the sheet, and the second sheet P2, which is the back half, becomes shorter, but the second stack lever 45 allows the first sheet P1 to be discharged quickly toward the discharge tray 22. This reduces the risk of the first sheet P1 being pressed by the second sheet P2 and the order of the discharged sheets being reversed.

[0119] The configuration with the static elimination brush 47 makes it possible to remove static electricity accumulated on the first sheet P1 and second sheet P2 after cutting, which are discharged from the second discharge roller 37. This prevents the multiple first sheets P1 and second sheets P2 discharged into the discharge tray 22 from being attracted to each other by static electricity.

[0120] By configuring the length L2 from the second discharge roller 37 to the contact surface 271 of the stopper 27 to be longer than the maximum sheet length of the first sheet P1 and second sheet P2 that are discharged after cutting, the sheets P, first sheet P1 and second sheet P2 discharged by the first discharge roller 35 and the second discharge roller 37 come into contact with the stopper 27, reducing the risk of the sheets P, first sheet P1 and second sheet P2 moving outside the discharge tray 22. This allows the discharged sheets P, first sheet P1 and second sheet P2 to be loaded onto the discharge tray 22. Furthermore, the possibility of the sheets P, first sheet P1 and second sheet P2 discharged by the second discharge roller 37 getting stuck between the loaded sheets P, sheet P, first sheet P1 or second sheet P2 is reduced. This prevents the order of the sheets from being changed after discharge.

[0121] [Embodiment 2] Other embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figure 6. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. For the sake of convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals are used for components having the same function as those described in Embodiment 1, and their descriptions will not be repeated. The image forming apparatus 1A according to Embodiment 2 differs from the image forming apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 in that it does not have a cutter 10.

[0122] The image forming apparatus 1A is an image forming apparatus capable of discharging sheets P with different sheet lengths in a first transport direction D1, which is the direction in which the sheet P is transported. The image forming apparatus 1A changes the transport path for transporting the sheet P according to the sheet length. More specifically, the image forming apparatus 1A transports the sheet P to either the first transport path 200A or the second transport path 200B according to the sheet length.

[0123] The image forming apparatus 1A has multiple supply trays 21. Each supply tray 21 can hold sheets of different lengths. Note that in Figure 6, only one supply tray 21 is shown, and the other supply trays 21 are not shown.

[0124] In the image forming apparatus 1A, the CPU 101 moves the flapper 8 to the first position 8A in order to transport sheets P that have an image formed by the image forming unit 4 and have a sheet length longer than a predetermined sheet length to the first transport path 200A. The CPU 101 also moves the flapper 8 to the second position 8B in order to transport sheets P that have an image formed by the image forming unit 4 and have a sheet length less than or equal to a predetermined sheet length to the second transport path 200B. Therefore, sheets P with a sheet length longer than a predetermined sheet length are discharged to the discharge tray 22 by the first discharge roller 35, and sheets P with a sheet length less than or equal to a predetermined sheet length are discharged to the discharge tray 22 by the second discharge roller 37.

[0125] The length L1 of the shortest distance along the mounting surface 23 from the first end 231 of the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22 to the reference point 24 of the mounting surface 23 is shorter than the length L3 in the first transport direction D1 from the second discharge roller 37 to the transport roller 36. Therefore, the second discharge roller 37 is positioned such that the length L1 is shorter than the minimum sheet length P that can be discharged by the second discharge roller 37. Note that the length L3 is also the length in the first transport direction D1 from the nip point between the drive roller 36A and driven roller 36B of the transport roller 36 to the nip point between the drive roller 37A and driven roller 37B of the second discharge roller 37.

[0126] Furthermore, the length L2 is longer than the maximum sheet length P that can be discharged by the second discharge roller 37. In other words, the length L2 is longer than a predetermined sheet length.

[0127] <Effects of Embodiment 2> In the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1A according to Embodiment 2, since the second discharge roller 37 is located upstream of the first discharge roller 35 in the discharge direction D3, the second discharge roller 37 discharges the sheets P with shorter sheet lengths, making it easier to remove the sheets P discharged to the discharge tray 22. Furthermore, on the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22, the shortest distance L1 from the first end 231 on the first discharge roller 35 side to the reference point 24 is shorter than the length L3 in the first transport direction D1 from the second discharge roller 37 to the transport roller 36 located closest to the second discharge roller 37 in the first transport direction D1. Therefore, the possibility of the sheets P with shorter sheet lengths discharged from the second discharge roller 37 getting stuck between the sheets P already loaded on the discharge tray 22 can be reduced. As a result, even if sheets P with shorter sheet lengths are discharged to the discharge tray 22, the order of the sheets P after discharge can be prevented from being changed. Thus, the discharge performance of the image forming apparatus 1A can be improved.

[0128] [Other Embodiments] In the embodiments described above, the image forming apparatus 1 and 1A were described as monochrome laser printers, but they may also be color laser printers. In the case of a color laser printer, it may be configured to include an intermediate transfer belt and a transfer roller that transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt to a sheet. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 and 1A may be inkjet printers that form images by ejecting ink.

[0129] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the mounting surface 23 of the discharge tray 22 is disclosed to have an inclined surface 23A and a horizontal surface 23B, but the invention is not limited to this configuration. The mounting surface 23 may consist only of an inclined surface, or it may consist only of a horizontal surface.

[0130] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment discloses a configuration in which the discharge tray 22 has vertical walls 221, the invention is not limited to this configuration. The discharge tray 22 may also be configured without vertical walls 221.

[0131] Furthermore, while the embodiments described above disclose that the first discharge roller 35, the conveying roller 36, and the second discharge roller 37 are composed of a drive roller and a driven roller, the invention is not limited thereto. At least one of the first discharge roller 35, the conveying roller 36, and the second discharge roller 37 may be composed of only a drive roller.

[0132] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the cutter 10 as a cutting mechanism is disclosed to cut the sheet P by moving the blade 11 in the cutting direction, but it is not limited to this. For example, it may be a configuration in which two blades longer than the width of the sheet P move in an up-and-down direction, like scissors, to clamp and cut the sheet. Alternatively, it may be a configuration with a single blade longer than the width of the sheet P that moves substantially perpendicular to the surface of the sheet P, i.e., in an up-and-down direction, for example, a configuration with a guillotine-type blade. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0133] 1, 1A Image forming apparatus, 2 Main body of the apparatus, 4 Image forming unit, 5 Fuser, 10 Cutter, 22 Discharge tray, 23 Mounting surface, 23A Inclined surface, 23B Horizontal plane, 24 Reference point, 27 Stopper, 35 First discharge roller, 37 Second discharge roller, 40 First stack lever, 42, 47 Static elimination brush, 45 Second stack lever, 200A First transport path, 200B Second transport path, 221 standing wall, 271 contact surface,

Claims

1. The main body of the device, An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, A cutting mechanism having a blade capable of cutting a sheet, The device body is provided with a discharge tray having a mounting surface on which the discharged sheets are placed, A first discharge roller discharges a sheet, on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit and which has not been cut by the cutting mechanism, to the discharge tray. The system includes a second discharge roller that discharges the sheet, which has an image formed by the image forming unit and has been cut by the cutting mechanism, to the discharge tray. The second discharge roller is located downstream and above the first discharge roller in the discharge direction, which is the direction in which the sheet is discharged. The shortest distance along the aforementioned mounting surface from the first end on the side of the first discharge roller in the discharge direction to the reference point of the aforementioned mounting surface located vertically below the second discharge roller is shorter than the sheet length of the sheet discharged from the second discharge roller. Image forming apparatus.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge tray has a vertical wall that protrudes upward from the first end of the mounting surface described above.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mounting surface has an inclined surface formed between the first end and the second end such that the first end is located below the second end opposite to the first end.

4. The mounting surface has a horizontal surface formed on the second end side of the inclined surface, The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the horizontal plane is below the second discharge roller.

5. The main body of the aforementioned device is A first transport path is provided on which the first discharge roller is positioned and which guides the sheet on which the image is formed to the first discharge roller, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second discharge roller and a cutting mechanism arranged therein; and a second transport path that guides the sheet on which the image has been formed to the second discharge roller.

6. A first stack lever is rotatably mounted on the main body of the apparatus, extends toward the aforementioned mounting surface, and is capable of contacting the sheet discharged to the discharge tray by the first discharge roller, The device further comprises a second stack lever that is rotatably mounted on the main body of the device, extends toward the aforementioned mounting surface, and is capable of contacting the sheet discharged to the discharge tray by the second discharge roller, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second discharge roller is positioned above the upper limit position, which is the upper limit position in the rotational range of the first stack lever.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the first stack levers are arranged at positions corresponding to the third end on one side and the fourth end on the other side in the width direction of the mounting surface described above, which is perpendicular to the discharge direction.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second stack lever is positioned in the width direction of the mounting surface described above, which is perpendicular to the discharge direction, at a position corresponding to the central portion of the mounting surface described above.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an anti-static brush provided downstream of the second discharge roller in the discharge direction, which contacts the sheet being discharged by the second discharge roller to discharge static electricity that has accumulated on the sheet.

10. The discharge tray has a stopper that protrudes upward from the second end side opposite to the first end on the aforementioned mounting surface and has a contact surface that can come into contact with the sheet after discharge. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the length in the discharge direction from the second discharge roller to the contact surface is longer than the maximum sheet length of the cut sheet discharged by the second discharge roller.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit comprises a photoreceptor drum, a developing roller for supplying toner onto the photoreceptor drum, a transfer roller for transferring the toner supplied onto the photoreceptor drum to a sheet, and a fuser having a pressurizing rotating body and a heating rotating body for fixing the toner transferred to the sheet onto the sheet.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference point of the mounting surface is the downstream endpoint in the discharge direction of the region projected onto the mounting surface when the second discharge roller is projected from above toward the mounting surface in the vertical direction.

13. An image forming apparatus capable of discharging sheets with different sheet lengths in the conveying direction, which is the direction in which the sheets are conveyed, The main body of the device, The device body is provided with a discharge tray having a mounting surface on which the discharged sheets are placed, Multiple conveying rollers that convey the sheet along the aforementioned conveying direction, An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, A first discharge roller discharges the sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit to the discharge tray, The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet, and the second discharge roller discharges a sheet with a sheet length shorter than the sheet length of the sheet discharged by the first discharge roller to the discharge tray. The second discharge roller is positioned downstream and above the first discharge roller in the discharge direction, which is the direction in which the sheet is discharged. The shortest distance along the aforementioned mounting surface from the first end on the side of the first discharge roller in the discharge direction to the reference point of the aforementioned mounting surface, which is a position corresponding to the vertically downward position of the second discharge roller, is shorter than the distance in the transport direction from the second discharge roller to the transport roller that is located closest to the second discharge roller in the transport direction. Image forming apparatus.

Images