JP3199489B2 - Recording paper ejection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording paper discharging device for discharging a recording paper passing through a fixing device in a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electrophotographic recording is performed by a copying machine,
Widely used in facsimile machines, printers, etc.
In these apparatuses, a recording paper discharging device for discharging the recording paper passing through the fixing device is provided. The present invention relates to this recording paper discharge device. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by taking a facsimile machine as an example.

[0003] In recent years, facsimile apparatuses have become widespread as one of communication means, and expectations for plain paper facsimile apparatuses have increased, for example, using received recording paper as a document as it is. Furthermore, various facsimile machines have been used in the same space, and accordingly,
There is a demand for further miniaturization of the device.

[0004] Among such facsimile apparatuses, there is a facsimile apparatus in which a discharge portion of a recording paper is formed in a recessed portion inside the apparatus in order to reduce the size. As a result, the length of the recording paper tray is shortened, and the size of the apparatus is reduced accordingly.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional facsimile apparatus of this type, wherein 1 is an apparatus main body, and 2 is a paper feed cassette. Plain paper is set in the paper feed cassette 2 as recording paper. 3 is a process cartridge for recording image information on a recording paper sent from the paper feed cassette, the photoreceptor 4, a part of the periphery has to be exposed to the outside. Although not shown, the process cartridge 3 includes a charger for uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor 4, a developing device for supplying toner to the surface of the photoconductor, and removing residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor. A cleaning device and the like are provided.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a paper feed roller for sending recording paper from the paper feed cassette 2 to the photoconductor 4, and reference numeral 6 denotes a registration roller for further conveying the recording paper carried by the paper feed roller 5 toward the photoconductor 4. Reference numeral 7 denotes an LSU (laser scan unit) that converts a received image signal into a laser beam and irradiates the surface of the photoconductor 4, 8 denotes a transfer unit that transfers toner attached to the surface of the photoconductor 4 onto recording paper, Reference numeral 9 denotes a fixing device that heats the toner transferred on the recording paper and fixes the toner on the recording paper by applying pressure, 10 denotes a recording paper discharge device arranged downstream of the fixing device 9, and 11 denotes a discharged recording. Paper 12
And is disposed in a portion deeper than the side of the apparatus.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged schematic sectional view showing the fixing device 9, the recording paper discharge device 10, and the like. The fixing device 9 includes a fixing device frame 13 and the fixing roller 1 disposed therein.
4 and 15 (one fixing roller 14 is a heating roller, and the other fixing roller 15 is a pressing roller for pressing the recording paper against the heating roller). The recording paper discharge device 10 includes a discharge frame 16 that can swing around a support shaft 16 a near the lower end, a discharge roller 17 and a pinch roller 18 held by the discharge frame 16, and a fixing unit 9. A paper discharge guide 19 fixed to the paper discharge frame 16 and the like are provided to guide the recording paper from the rollers 14 and 15 between the paper discharge roller 17 and the pinch roller 18. Furthermore,
The paper discharge frame 16 is provided with a recording paper guide wall 16b that is substantially downstream of and below the paper discharge rollers 17.
During normal operation of the facsimile machine, the discharge frame 16 is fixed to a substantially vertical operation position shown in FIG. 12 by a suitable latch mechanism (not shown).

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration will be described. In FIG. 11, when the apparatus main body 1 receives an image signal and starts a recording operation, recording paper is pulled out from the paper supply cassette 2 by the paper supply roller 5 and supplied to the photoconductor 4. The image signal transmitted from the communication line is demodulated and decompressed and stored in a recording memory (not shown) in the apparatus. When an image signal for one page is stored in the memory, a recording process is sequentially performed. That is, the image signal stored in the memory is converted into a laser beam by the LSU 7 and irradiated onto the rotating photoconductor 4.
The portion of the surface of the photoconductor 4 irradiated with the laser beam is discharged, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device to form a toner image, and the portion having the toner image moves toward the transfer device 8. On the other hand, the recording paper is fed by the paper feed roller 5 and the registration roller 6 in timing with the rotation of the photoconductor 4 and is superimposed on the toner image on the photoconductor 4. The transfer unit 8 transfers the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 4 to a recording sheet. Thereafter, the recording paper is conveyed to the fixing device 9, and the toner image is heated and pressed while passing between the fixing rollers 14 and 15, and is fixed on the recording paper. After that, the recording paper is discharged by the discharge roller 17 and the pinch roller 18 and is accumulated in the discharge unit 11.

During the above operation, a paper jam (jam) may occur in the fixing unit 9. In that case, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the latch mechanism of the paper discharge frame 16 is released, the paper discharge frame 16 is tilted substantially horizontally, and the hand 12 is inserted from the discharge unit 11 side to remove the jammed recording paper 12 ′.

[0010]

However, such a conventional configuration has a problem that it is inconvenient to handle the recording paper. That is, when a paper jam occurs upstream of the recording paper discharge device, as shown in FIG.
Horizontally, and insert your hand from above. At this time, the paper ejection guide 19
There a state in which began extending upwardly, the sheet discharge guide 19 is in the way when inserting the hand, a problem that has adversely workability
was there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a recording paper discharging apparatus capable of easily removing remaining paper due to paper jam in a fixing device. Is to do.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a recording paper discharge device capable of discharging recording paper to a discharge portion and accumulating the recording paper well.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the first object, a discharge guide provided on a discharge frame is swingable with respect to the discharge frame. An interlocking mechanism for swinging the paper ejection guide in accordance with the swing of the paper ejection frame. When the paper ejection frame is in the operating position, the paper ejection guide moves the recording paper from the fixing roller between the paper ejection roller and the pinch roller. When the paper ejection frame is tilted substantially horizontally, the paper ejection guide is set to a retracted position in which the paper ejection guide is almost horizontally inclined.

[0014]

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the interlock mechanism for swinging the sheet ejection guide in accordance with the swing of the sheet ejection frame is provided, so that jammed paper is removed.
When the paper discharge frame is tilted substantially horizontally, the paper discharge guide also falls substantially horizontally in conjunction therewith, whereby the upper part of the paper discharge guide can be largely opened, and the paper removing operation can be facilitated.

[0016]

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described below. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a facsimile apparatus provided with a recording paper discharge device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and the same or similar parts as those in the conventional example shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, 1 is an apparatus main body, 2 is a paper feed cassette containing plain paper as recording paper, 3 is a process cartridge for performing image recording, 4 is a photoreceptor, 5 is a paper feed roller, 6 is a registration roller, and 7 is LSU (laser scan unit), 8 is a transfer unit, 9 is a fixing unit.
The configuration and operation of these components are substantially the same as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. A recording paper discharge device 10A according to the embodiment of the present invention is disposed downstream of the fixing device 9, and discharges the recording paper 12 to the discharge unit 11. The discharge unit 11 is also disposed at a position deeper than the side of the apparatus.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged schematic sectional view showing the recording paper discharge device 10A and its vicinity, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the recording paper discharge device 10A and the fixing device 9, and FIG. It is a schematic perspective view of apparatus 10A. 1, 3, and 4, the fixing device 9 includes a fixing device frame 13.
And fixing rollers 14 and 15 disposed therein (one fixing roller 14 is a heating roller and the other fixing roller 15
Is a pressing roller for pressing the recording paper against the heating roller.

The recording paper discharge device 10A includes a paper discharge frame 16 swingable around a support shaft 16a near the lower end, and a paper discharge roller 17 and a pinch roller 18 held by the paper discharge frame 16. I have. Further, the discharge frame 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a recording paper guide wall 16b downstream of the paper discharge roller 17 and substantially vertically downward. This paper ejection frame 16
Can be pivoted between a substantially vertical operating position as shown in FIG. 1 and a retracted position which is substantially horizontal as shown in FIG.

In FIGS. 1 and 4, a discharge guide 21 for guiding recording paper from the fixing rollers 14 and 15 of the fixing device 9 between the discharge roller 17 and the pinch roller 18 is attached to the discharge frame 16. Have been. This paper ejection guide 21
Is attached to the paper discharge frame 16 so as to be swingable about the vicinity of the end on the paper discharge roller 17 side. That is, the paper discharge guide 21 is provided on both sides thereof and the paper discharge rollers 1.
7 has a bearing portion 21a at its end, and the bearing portion 2a
1a is rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of a bearing 22 that supports the shaft of the paper discharge roller 17. For this reason, the discharge guide 21
Is swingable about the central axis of the discharge roller 17. The swing center of the paper ejection guide 21 is the paper ejection roller 1.
The position is not limited to the central axis of 7, but may be a slightly shifted position. However, the configuration as in the embodiment is preferable because the bearing 22 supporting the shaft of the paper discharge roller 17 can be used to support the bearing 21a.

The paper discharge guide 21 has a bearing 21 on its lower surface.
and an interlocking mechanism 24 that swings the discharge guide 21 in conjunction with the swing of the discharge frame 16 is connected to the bearing 21b. The interlocking mechanism 24 has a bearing 25 attached to the apparatus main body 1 and a link rod 26 rotatably held by the bearing 25. The link rod 26 is rotatably connected to the bearing 21 b of the paper discharge guide 21. Have been. Here, the configuration of the interlocking mechanism 24 (the length of the link bar 25 and its fulcrum position, etc.) is such that when the discharge frame 16 is in the operating position shown in FIG. When the recording paper is set to an operation position for guiding the recording paper between the paper discharge roller 17 and the pinch roller 18 and the paper discharge frame 16 is moved to a substantially horizontal retracted position as shown in FIG. It is set to fall to the evacuation position.

1, 3 and 4, a latch lever 27 having a latch claw 27a at its tip is attached to the upper end of the discharge frame 16, while the fixing device frame 13 of the fixing device 9 is mounted on the fixing device frame 13. A latch hole 28 into which the latch claw 27a is inserted is formed. This latch hole 28
A certain amount of the latch claw 27a (for example, 2 to 5 mm)
The paper ejection frame 16 can swing a small amount while the latch claw 27a is inserted into the latch hole 28. Therefore, the latch lever 27 and the latch hole 28 constitute a latch mechanism that restrains the sheet discharge frame so as to swing in a predetermined angle range with respect to the fixing device. Here, the range in which the paper ejection frame 16 can swing while being restrained by the latch mechanism is such that the paper ejection frame 16 leans against the recording paper guide wall 16b of the paper ejection frame 16 when the paper ejection frame 16 swings. The recording paper is set so that it can be separated from the recording paper guide wall 16b by flipping the recording paper, and may be about 1 to 10 °. Paper ejection frame 1
Between the fixing device 6 and the fixing device 9, there is disposed a discharge frame spring 31 for urging the discharge frame in a direction away from the fixing device.

FIG. 8 schematically shows a gear train constituting a driving device for driving the paper discharge roller 17. A gear 33 is connected to the discharge roller 17, and the gear 33 is connected to a gear 36 of the fixing roller 14 via idle gears 34 and 35. The fixing roller 14 is configured to be driven by a driving device (not shown). Therefore, the paper discharge roller 17 is driven by the engagement of the gears 33 to 36. Here, among the four gears 33 to 36, the gears 33 and 34 are provided on the discharge frame 16 side,
The gears 35 and 36 are provided on the fixing device 9 side. For this reason, as described above, when the paper discharge frame 16 swings within the angular range restricted by the latch mechanism, the center-to-center distance between the gear 34 and the gear 35 slightly changes. Even if this change occurs, the gears 34 and 35 use shift gears having teeth shifted in the plus direction so that the gears 34 and 35 can mesh with each other and transmit rotation without any trouble. Instead of this, either of the gears 34 and 35 can be moved, regardless of the swing of the paper discharge frame 16,
The configuration may be such that the gears 34 and 35 always mesh.

As described above, the discharge roller 17 is driven from the fixing roller 14 via a gear train. The number of teeth of the gears 33 to 36 and the diameter of each roller are determined by the discharge roller. The peripheral speed of the fixing roller 17 is set to be slightly (for example, about 1%) faster than the peripheral speed of the fixing roller 14.

The operation of the thus configured recording paper discharge device will be described below. During normal operation,
As shown in FIG. 1, the paper discharge frame 16 is in the substantially vertical operating position, and the latch claw 27 a of the latch lever 27 is inserted into the latch hole 28. The paper discharge frame 16 is held at a position away from the fixing device 9 by a paper discharge frame spring 31.

The recording paper 12A discharged to the discharge section 11 by the previous operation has a low discharge speed, and the rear end thereof leans against the recording paper guide surface 16b of the discharge frame 16. And The recording paper 12B on which the toner image has been transferred from the photoconductor 4 (see FIG.
The fixing rollers 14 and 15 convey the recording paper 12B and simultaneously pressurize and heat the recording paper 12B to fix the toner image. Next, when the leading end of the recording paper 12B is caught between the discharge roller 17 and the pinch roller 18,
The discharge roller 17 and the pinch roller 18 also apply a conveying force to the recording paper 12B. At this time, since the peripheral speed of the discharge roller 17 is set slightly faster than the peripheral speed of the fixing roller 14, tension acts on the recording paper 12B, and the recording paper 12B is prevented from curling or wrinkling. Transport. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 9, the paper discharge frame 16 moves toward the fixing device 9 due to the tension acting on the recording paper 12B. As a result, the recording paper guide surface 16b also moves.
The recording paper 12A leaning on 6b moves slightly downward.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, the rear end of the recording paper 12B conveyed by the fixing rollers 14 and 15, the paper discharge roller 17, and the pinch roller 18 is fixed to the fixing roller 1 as shown in FIG.
After passing through 4 and 15, the tension of the recording paper 12B is released, and the discharge frame 16 is repelled away from the fixing device 9 by the spring force of the discharge frame spring 31.
For this reason, the recording paper 12A leaning on the recording paper guide wall 16b is flipped off and is accumulated at a position distant from the recording paper guide wall 16b.

Thereafter, the next recording paper 12B is discharged thereon. Since the discharge speed of the recording paper 12B is also slow, the rear end thereof leans against the recording paper guide wall 16b. However, when the next recording paper is discharged, the discharge frame 16 swings by the same operation as described above, and the recording paper leaning against the recording paper guide wall 16b is flipped off. By repeating the same operation, the discharged recording paper is satisfactorily collected at a position away from the recording paper guide wall of the discharge frame.

During the paper discharging operation, a paper jam may occur in the fixing device 9. In that case, the latch claw 27a is removed from the latch hole 28, and the sheet discharge frame 16 is tilted horizontally. At this time, as the paper ejection frame 16 is knocked down,
As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
4, swinging with respect to the paper discharge frame 16,
As shown in FIG. 7, when the paper discharge frame 16 falls down substantially horizontally, the paper discharge guide 21 falls down substantially horizontally. For this reason, the upper part of the paper ejection guide can be largely opened, and the jammed paper can be easily removed by putting a hand from that part. After the paper is removed, the discharge frame 16 is moved up to the original operation position again. At this time, the discharge guide 21 is automatically returned to the original operation position by the interlocking mechanism 24 to prepare for the next discharge operation.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the recording paper discharge device of the present invention is provided in a facsimile machine is described. Etc. are optional.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the paper ejection guide provided on the paper ejection frame can be swung with respect to the paper ejection frame, and the paper ejection guide can be used. An interlocking mechanism that swings in response to the swing of the discharge frame is provided, and when the discharge frame is in the operation position, the discharge guide is set to an operation position for guiding recording paper from the fixing roller between the discharge roller and the pinch roller. When the paper ejection frame is tilted almost horizontally, the paper ejection guide is configured to be in the retracted position where the paper ejection guide is almost horizontally tilted. In conjunction with this, the paper discharge guide also falls down substantially horizontally, which has the effect that the upper part of the paper discharge guide can be largely opened and the paper removal operation can be facilitated.

[0032]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a recording paper discharging device provided in a facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a facsimile apparatus provided with a recording paper discharge device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a recording paper discharge device and a fixing device provided in the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the recording paper discharge device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 1 showing a state in which the discharge frame is being opened.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 1 showing the discharge frame further opened than in the state of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 1 showing a state in which a discharge frame is completely opened.

FIG. 8 is a side view schematically showing a gear train constituting a driving device for driving a paper discharge roller 17.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view showing a conventional facsimile machine.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a recording paper discharge device and a fixing device provided in a conventional facsimile machine.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 12 showing a state in which a discharge frame is opened.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Paper feed cassette 3 Process cartridge 4 Photoconductor 5 Paper feed roller 6 Registration roller 7 LSU (laser scan unit) 8 Transfer device 9 Fixing device 10, 10A Recording paper discharge device 11 Discharge unit 12, 12A, 12B Recording paper 13 Fixing device frame 14, 15 Fixing roller 16 Discharge frame 16a Support shaft 16b Recording paper guide surface 17 Discharge roller 18 Pinch roller 21 Discharge guide 24 Interlocking mechanism 27 Latch lever 27a Latch claw 28 Latch hole 31 Paper ejection frame spring

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kazushi Hanazuka Matsushita Electric Transmission Co., Ltd. 2-3-8 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Yasuo Miura 1006 Kadoma, Oji, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Within Sangyo Co., Ltd. (56) References Japanese Utility Model 58-1938 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 B65H 5/00- 5/38 B65H 29/52 B41J 13/00-13/32 G03G 15/00 510-534

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A discharge frame located downstream of the fixing device, as a fulcrum near the bottom end, a pivotable discharge frame to the retracted position substantially horizontally fallen substantially vertical operating position, A paper ejection roller and a pinch roller held by the paper ejection frame, and swingably held by the paper ejection frame;
A discharge guide for guiding recording paper from a fixing roller of the fixing device between the discharge roller and the pinch roller; and a recording guide from the fixing roller when the discharge frame is in an operating position. An operating position for guiding the paper between the discharge roller and the pinch roller, and when the discharge frame is in the retracted position, swinging is performed in accordance with the swing of the discharge frame so as to fall to a substantially horizontal retracted position. Recording paper discharge device having an interlocking mechanism.