JP3520164B2 - Seat storage 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 sheet storage device, and more particularly to a sheet conveying path in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile or a printer, and a sheet post-processing apparatus which is a peripheral device thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus and its peripheral equipment, a sheet conveying path is provided so that a sheet can be conveyed. For example, in the image forming apparatus, a series of sheet conveying paths extending from a paper feeding unit to a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper discharging unit are formed. The sheet is conveyed in the series of sheet conveying paths by a conveying roller or a conveying belt provided at appropriate intervals, and frictional electrification is caused by sliding contact with a facing member such as a sheet guide plate during conveyance. Cause it. Therefore, conventionally, a static electricity removing mechanism for removing static electricity on the surface of the sheet is provided at an appropriate position on the sheet conveying path. As a static electricity removing mechanism, a static eliminating brush is generally used.

[0003]

As described above, a static eliminating mechanism for eliminating static electricity on a sheet in the sheet conveying path is generally a static eliminating brush. However, if the number of sheets conveyed increases within a certain period of time. , The static elimination brush is electrically saturated and the efficiency of removing static electricity is reduced, the static electricity of the sheet cannot be removed, and the static electricity may adversely affect the handling of the sheet. Therefore, conventionally,
The sheet transport path around the static elimination brush is made of metal (conductor), and the static elimination brush is installed in the sheet transport path part made of metal and grounded via the structure of the device, or the static elimination brush is grounded. It is configured to be grounded by a wire or the like through the structure of the device. Specifically, for example, a structure is used in which a grounding harness is screwed to the static elimination brush and grounded to the frame, or a structure in which a leaf spring is screwed to the static elimination brush and the leaf spring is brought into contact with the frame and grounded. Has been done. Here, recently, in order to reduce the cost of the entire apparatus (for example, an image forming apparatus),
Even in the sheet conveying path, it is being promoted to switch each component such as the sheet guide plate to a low-cost resin product, and the grounding mechanism of the static electricity removing means (static elimination brush),
It is desired to simplify the fixing mechanism to the sheet conveying path.

A first object of the present invention is to construct the fixing member by an integral elastic material, so that the static electricity removing means can be fixed and grounded by a simple work without requiring work such as screwing. A sheet storage device is provided. A second object of the present invention is to form the fixing member with a magnetic material,
An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet storage device that can ground the static electricity removing means with a simple configuration. A third object of the present invention is to provide a sheet storage device in which the fixing member is formed of a magnetic material, and the static electricity removing means can be fixed and grounded by a simple work without requiring work such as screwing. It is to be. A fourth object of the present invention is to fix the grounding of the static electricity removing means with a simple structure by forming the fixing member with a magnetizable substance and arranging the member with a magnetic material having conductivity on the ground side. It is to provide a sheet storage device capable of performing.

[0005]

A first object of the present invention is to provide a sheet storage apparatus for distributing and sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, and a conveying section for conveying the sheets from an image forming apparatus discharge section to a distribution sorting section. And a movable guide plate that is entirely formed of resin and that can be opened / closed to configure the conveyance unit and for handling a sheet jam inside the conveyance unit, and eliminates static electricity on the sheet by providing the movable guide plate. Static electricity removing means, and a fixing means made of a conductive and elastic material that is fixedly attached to the movable guide plate. The fixing means is fixed to the movable guide plate by its elastic force, and The conductive structure or a member electrically integrated with the structure and the static electricity removing means are provided with a first means interposed so as to be in contact with each other by an elastic force. Ri is resolved.

[0006] The first problem is in the first means,
The fixing means includes a first elastic piece elastically contacting the static electricity removing means, and a second elastic piece elastically contacting the structure side to allow the static electricity of the static electricity removing means to escape to the structure side. It is solved by means of 2.

The second problem is that in a sheet storage device for distributing and sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, a transport section for transporting the sheet from the image forming apparatus discharging section to the sorting section and the transport section are provided. A movable guide plate which is configured and which can be opened / closed for handling a sheet jam in the conveyance section and the like and which is entirely formed of resin, and which is provided on the movable guide plate to remove static electricity of the sheet and has magnetism. The static electricity removing means and the fixing means provided on the movable guide plate and made of a conductive and magnetic material are provided, and the magnetizing force of the fixing means attracts the magnetized portion of the static electricity removing means to remove the static electricity. This is solved by the third means adapted to perform grounding.

The third problem is that in a sheet storage device for distributing and sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, a transport section for transporting the sheet from the image forming apparatus discharging section to the sorting section and the transport section are provided. A movable guide plate which is configured and which can be opened / closed for handling a sheet jam in the conveyance section and the like and which is entirely formed of resin, and which is provided on the movable guide plate to remove static electricity of the sheet and has magnetism. The static electricity removing means and the fixing means provided on the movable guide plate and made of a conductive and magnetic material are provided, and the magnetizing force of the fixing means attracts the magnetized portion of the static electricity removing means to remove the static electricity. While fixing the
This is solved by the fourth means for grounding the static electricity removing means.

A fourth problem is that in a sheet storage device for distributing and sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, a transport section for transporting the sheet from the image forming apparatus discharging section to the sorting section and the transport section are provided. Along with the configuration, a movable guide plate entirely formed of resin, which can be opened and closed for handling a sheet jam in the conveyance unit, and the like, and static electricity removing means provided on the movable guide plate to remove static electricity of the sheet, The movable guide plate is provided with a conductive and magnetic fixing means, and a magnetizing portion provided on the conductive structure side of the storage device main body, and by the magnetic force of the fixing means,
While fixing and grounding with the static electricity removing means,
This is solved by the fifth means for adsorbing the magnetized portion on the structure side to ground the static electricity removing means.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of part A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of part B of FIG.

In the sheet conveying path, the structures (side plates; frames) 1 and 2 on both sides in the sheet conveying direction (left and right in the drawing) are made of metal (conductor). A movable guide plate 4 made of resin is provided between the structures 1 and 2 so as to be openable and closable, the front end edge or the rear end edge of which is supported by a support shaft 3 in the sheet conveying direction. The jammed paper is taken out by opening the movable guide plate 4.

At the free end (open side end) of the movable guide plate 4, a plate-shaped member (holder) 5 extending over the entire width direction of the sheet.
The static elimination brush 5 in which the brush 5c is implanted is fixed to the lower end of b. The holder 5b is made of a conductive material,
For example, it is made of iron, aluminum or the like. This fixing mechanism will be specifically described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the movable guide plate 4 has a flat guide plate portion 4e and side plate portions 4a and 4b formed on the side edges of the guide plate portion 4e. An engaging boss 6 is projectingly formed on a key portion of one side plate portion 4a of the movable guide plate 4, and the boss 6 is engaged with an engaging hole 5a formed at one end portion of the static elimination brush 5. . Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the other end portion of the static elimination brush 5 is engaged with the engagement window 4c formed in the other side plate portion 4b of the movable guide plate 4.
Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to fix the charge removal brush 5 to the movable guide plate 4, the side plate portion 4a of the movable guide plate 4 is more specifically provided with an engagement hole 5a. A fixing member 7 is provided to press the side engaging with the key portion of the side plate portion 4 a of the movable guide plate 4.

The fixing member 7 is made of a material such as stainless steel which has a relatively strong spring property and is electrically conductive. The fixing member 7 is provided with a fixing portion 7c that is bent and formed into a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a window 7d is formed on one side piece of the fixing portion 7c. The fixing portion 7c is elastically fitted into the side plate portion 4a of the movable guide plate 4, and the engaging claw 4d projecting from the side plate portion 4a of the movable guide plate 4 is engaged with the window 7d, so that the fixing member 7 is fixed. 2, the side plate portion 4a
It is fixed to. A second elastic piece 7b is integrally provided on one side piece of the fixing portion 7c of the fixing member 7, and a first elastic piece 7a is integrally provided on the other side piece of the fixing portion 7c of the fixing member 7. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first elastic piece 7a elastically contacts the inside of the static elimination brush 5 at the position P1. Due to the elastic force of the first elastic piece 7a, one end of the static elimination brush 5 is moved to the side plate portion 4 of the movable guide plate 4.
It will be pushed inside the key portion of a, and the engagement hole 5a of the static elimination brush 5 will not be disengaged from the boss 6 of the movable guide plate 4 and will be locked to the side plate portion 4b as shown in FIG. Therefore, the static elimination brush 5 is fixed to the movable guide plate 4 as a whole. In addition, the second elastic piece 7
b elastically contacts the inside of the structure 2 at the position P2 (see FIG. 1). The second elastic piece 7b also slides inside the structure 2 when the movable guide plate 4 is opened and closed. Therefore, the static elimination brush 5 is electrically connected to the structure 2 via the fixing member 7, and the static electricity removed from the sheet is transferred from the structure 2 to the ground 8 via the fixing member 7.
Can escape to. Further, since the elastic force of the second elastic piece 7b acts in the direction in which the fixed portion 7c is clamped by the side plate portion 4a of the movable guide plate 4, the fixed member 7 is more difficult to come off from the side plate portion 4a.

The second elastic piece 7b does not necessarily have to be in direct contact with the structure 2 (or the structure 1), but may be brought into contact with another member whose electrical continuity with the structure 2 is ensured. You may In addition, the fixing portion 7 of the fixing member 7
The c may be engaged with the side plate portion 4a of the movable guide plate 4 in a concave-convex shape without opening the window 7d.

The above-described embodiment is applied to the sheet storage device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the entire sheet storage device to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of main parts of FIG. In the first embodiment, the conveying path is straight, but it may be made to correspond to the bent conveying path in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the same portion or the same portion as in the first embodiment is used. The same parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In these figures, 10 is a sheet storage device, 11 is a bin from which a sheet is discharged, 12 is an image forming device discharge portion, 13 is a lower guide plate that constitutes a transport portion together with the movable guide plate 4, and 14 is a sheet transport path. is there.

According to the first embodiment described above, in the sheet storage device 10 for distributing and sorting the sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus, the sheet is conveyed from the image forming apparatus discharging section 12 to the sorting section. A movable guide plate 4 which is formed of a resin and which can be opened / closed for carrying out a sheet jam process in the conveyer and the conveyer part and the movable guide plate 4 is provided on the movable guide plate 4 to prevent static electricity of the sheet. A static eliminating brush 5 to be removed and a fixing member 7 made of a conductive and elastic material that is attached and fixed to the movable guide plate 4 are provided. The fixing member 7 is fixed to the movable guide plate 4 by its elastic force, and the accommodating device is also provided. The electrically conductive structure 1 or 2 of the main body (or a member electrically integrated with the structures 1 and 2) and the static elimination brush 5 are interposed so as to be brought into contact with each other by an elastic force. Because, also, the fixing member 7 includes a first elastic piece 7a that elastically contacts the discharging brush 5, the structure 2
The second elastic piece 7b that elastically contacts the (or 1) side and releases the static electricity of the static elimination brush 5 to the structure 2 (or 1) side.
Since the movable guide plate 4 and the static elimination brush 5 are opened, the jammed paper can be smoothly removed, and the first and second elastic pieces 7a and 7b of the fixing member 7 are used. By doing so, without the need for work such as screwing,
The static elimination brush 5 can be fixed and grounded by a simple work, and since it can be fixed by one part, the assembling property can be improved and the cost can be reduced.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sheet storage device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a fixing member 9 for fixing the static elimination brush 5 to the movable guide plate 4.
Is formed of a magnetic material having conductivity (or conductivity), and magnetizes the fixing member 9 or incorporates a permanent magnet to generate a magnetic force (adsorption force). The static eliminator brush 5 has a holder 5b with a magnetized metal (iron,
The holder 5b of the static elimination brush 5 is magnetized (adsorbed) by the magnetic force of the fixed member 9 so that both are fixed, that is, the static elimination brush is fixed to the movable guide plate 4 by the magnetic force of the fixed member 9. 5 is fixed. The fixing member 9 includes rod-shaped portions 9a, 9 made of a magnetic material such as iron.
b is integrally projected. The rod-shaped portion 9 of this fixing member 9
a is interposed between the holders 5b of the static elimination brush 5 to transmit the magnetic force of the fixing member 9, and the rod-shaped portion 9b is interposed between the magnetized portions 20 of the structure 2 which will be described later, to transfer the magnetic force of the fixing member 9. I'm telling you. The fixing member 9 may be fixed to the movable guide plate 4 as in the above-described embodiment, or may be screwed.

The structure 2 made of magnetizable metal is provided with a magnetized portion 20, and the rod-shaped portion 9 of the fixing member 9 is provided.
b magnetizes the magnetized portion 20, that is, attracts it, and this action secures the static elimination brush 5 to the movable guide plate 4 and the conduction from the static elimination brush 5 to the structure 2.

Even if the static elimination brush 5 is fixed to the fixing member 9 by a fixing means such as a screw, the same effect is obtained (other than the assembling work). Further, the fixing member 9 is made of a mere magnetized metal, the static elimination brush 5 is fixed to the movable guide plate 4 by a fixing means such as screwing, and a conductive magnetized portion is provided at the position P3 of the structure 2. By arranging them, the same effect can be obtained. In addition, in the second embodiment, the movable guide plate 4 is magnetized (magnetic force) by the fixed member 9.
It is also possible to obtain the action of locking the movable guide plate 4 in the closed state (FIG. 4).

In the second embodiment as described above, in the sheet storage device 10 for distributing and sorting the sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus, the sheets are conveyed from the image forming apparatus discharging section to the sorting section. A movable guide plate 4 which is made of resin and which can be opened / closed for carrying out sheet jam processing in the transport unit and the transport unit and the movable guide plate 4 provided in the transport unit. A static eliminating brush 5 having magnetism for removing static electricity from the sheet,
The movable guide plate 4 is provided with a fixed member 7 made of a conductive and magnetic material, and the magnetic force of the fixed member 7 attracts the magnetized portion of the static elimination brush 5 to ground the static elimination brush 5. Therefore, the fixing member 7 is formed of a conductive magnetic material, and the magnetic attraction of the fixing member 7 grounds the static elimination brush 5. Therefore, the movable guide plate 4 and the static elimination brush 5 are opened to smoothly remove the jammed paper. Can be removed and also
The static elimination brush 5 can be reliably grounded. Further, in the second embodiment, the movable guide plate 4 is provided with the fixing member 7 made of a conductive and magnetic material, and the magnetic force of the fixing member 7 magnetizes the static elimination brush 5. The static elimination brush 5 is fixed by adsorbing a portion of the static elimination brush 5.
Since the fixed member 7 is made of a conductive magnetic material and the magnetic attraction force is used to fix and ground the static elimination brush 5, the movable guide plate 4 and the static elimination brush 5 are opened. As a result, the jammed paper can be smoothly removed, the static elimination brush 5 can be reliably grounded, and since it can be fixed with one component, the assembling property can be improved and the cost can be reduced. . Further, in the second embodiment, the conductive and magnetizable fixing member 7 provided on the movable guide plate 4 and the magnetizing portion provided on the conductive structure 2 side of the storage device body. Since the fixing member 7 is fixed to the static elimination brush 5 and is grounded by the magnetic force of the fixing member 7, the static elimination brush 5 is grounded by being attracted to the magnetized portion 20 on the structure 2 side. Guide plate 4
By removing the static elimination brush 5, the jammed paper can be smoothly removed, and the static elimination brush 5 can be reliably grounded.

[0023]

According to the first and second aspects of the invention, the movable guide plate and the static electricity removing means can be opened to smoothly remove the jammed paper, and the elasticity of the fixing means enables the static electricity removing means to operate. Fixing and grounding can be secured, and since fixing with one component is possible, assemblability is improved and cost can be reduced. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the fixing means is made of a magnetic material having conductivity, and the electrostatic attraction means grounds the static electricity removing means. Therefore, the movable guide plate and the static electricity removing means are opened. , You can remove jammed paper smoothly, and also
The static electricity removing means can be surely grounded. According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the fixing means is formed of a conductive magnetic material, and the electrostatic attraction means fixes and grounds the static electricity removing means, so that the movable guide plate and the static electricity removing means are opened. As a result, the jammed paper can be removed smoothly, the static electricity removing means can be reliably grounded, and since it can be fixed with one component, the assembling property can be improved and the cost can be reduced. . According to the invention of claim 5, the fixing means is composed of a magnetized substance,
By arranging a member made of conductive magnetic material on the ground side, you can open the movable guide plate and static electricity removing means to remove jammed paper smoothly, and also ensure that the static electricity removing means is grounded. Can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion A of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a B part in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a sheet storage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of a sheet storage device to which the present invention is applied.

6 is an explanatory view of a main part of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,2 structure 3 support shaft 4 Movable guide plate 4a, 4b side plate portion 4c engagement window 4d engagement claw 5 static elimination brush 5a Engagement hole 6 Boss 7 fixing member 7a First elastic piece 7b Second elastic piece 8 earth 9 fixing member 20 Magnetization part P1 contact position of the first elastic piece 7a P2 Contact position of the second elastic piece 7b P3 Abutting position of the fixing member 9 and the structure 2 side

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-7-291476 (JP, A) JP-A-5-294499 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 39/11 B65H 29/52

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sheet storage device for distributing and sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, comprising: a transporting unit that transports the sheet from an image forming device discharging unit to a sorting and sorting unit; A movable guide plate formed entirely of resin, which can be opened and closed for handling a sheet jam in the conveyance unit, static electricity removing means provided on the movable guide plate to remove static electricity of the sheet, and the movable guide plate. Fixing means made of an electrically conductive and elastic material that is attached and fixed, and the fixing means is fixed to the movable guide plate by its elastic force, and the conductive structure of the storage device main body or this structure A sheet storage device, characterized in that an electrically integrated member and the static electricity removing means are interposed so as to be brought into contact with each other by an elastic force. 2. The fixing means according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means elastically comes into contact with the structure side with a first elastic piece elastically contacting with the static electricity removing means to allow the static electricity of the static electricity removing means to escape to the structure side. A sheet storage device having a second elastic piece. 3. A sheet storage device for distributing and sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, comprising: a transporting section for transporting the sheet from an image forming apparatus discharging section to a sorting and sorting section; A movable guide plate formed entirely of resin, which can be opened and closed for handling a sheet jam in the conveyance section, and the like, which is provided on the movable guide plate to remove static electricity from the sheet,
A static electricity removing means having magnetism and a fixing means provided on the movable guide plate and made of a conductive and magnetic material are provided, and the magnetizing force of the fixing means attracts a magnetized portion of the static electricity removing means. A sheet storage device, wherein the static electricity removing means is grounded. 4. A sheet storage device for distributing and sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, comprising: a transporting section for transporting the sheet from an image forming apparatus discharging section to a sorting and sorting section; A movable guide plate formed entirely of resin, which can be opened and closed for handling a sheet jam in the conveyance section, and the like, which is provided on the movable guide plate to remove static electricity from the sheet,
A static electricity removing means having magnetism and a fixing means provided on the movable guide plate and made of a conductive and magnetic material are provided, and the magnetizing force of the fixing means attracts a magnetized portion of the static electricity removing means. A sheet storage device, wherein the static electricity removing means is fixed and the static electricity removing means is grounded. 5. A sheet storage device for distributing and sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, comprising: a transporting section for transporting the sheet from an image forming apparatus discharging section to a sorting and sorting section; A movable guide plate formed entirely of resin, which can be opened and closed for handling a sheet jam in the conveyance unit, static electricity removing means provided on the movable guide plate to remove static electricity of the sheet, and the movable guide plate. It is provided with a conductive and magnetizable fixing means and a magnetizing portion provided on the conductive structure side of the storage device main body, and by the magnetic force of the fixing means, fixing and grounding with the static electricity removing means. The sheet storage device is characterized in that the static electricity removing means is grounded by being attracted to the magnetized portion on the structure side.