JP4699892B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine having these functions.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image forming apparatus having a paper discharge unit on an upper surface, a main body that discharges paper on which an image has been formed, to the paper discharge unit, and an image reading unit disposed above the main body. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). The image reading unit reads an image of a document and generates image data. For example, when the image forming apparatus is a printer, the image reading unit can be a printer having a scanner function.

Further, in Patent Document 1, in order to align the paper discharged to the paper discharge portion, a stopper member is provided in the paper discharge portion, and the paper discharged to the paper discharge portion is stopped by this stopper member for alignment. It is described to do. The stopper member is provided so as to be movable up and down, and is accommodated in the main body when the paper is taken out and not used.
JP 2001-97632 A

  However, if the stopper member can be moved up and down, when the paper is accumulated in the paper discharge portion, the stopper member moves downward while contacting the paper, and therefore the alignment state of the paper may be disturbed.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to make the stopper member swingable in the paper discharge direction. In this case, a spring, a locking structure, or the like is required to stop the stopper member at the stopper position.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can stop a stop member at a stop position with a simple configuration and can take out a sheet without disturbing the alignment state of the sheet. For the purpose.

The first aspect of the present invention includes a main body section that has a paper discharge section on the upper surface, discharges the paper on which an image has been formed, to the paper discharge section, and an image reading section disposed above the main body section. In the image forming apparatus, the lower surface of the image reading unit is applied with the paper that hangs down under its own weight from the lower surface so as to be swingable in the paper discharge direction and the opposite direction, and is discharged to the paper discharge unit. stop abutting-stops member is provided, this abutting-stops member locking portion for locking said image reading portion is provided when a person corresponding stop member swings above the sheet discharge unit, wherein The stop member can swing in the discharge direction from the hanging position to a retreat position where the paper accumulated in the paper discharge portion can be taken out from the discharge direction side, and the locking portion can be moved to the image. Position that can be locked to the reading unit Until and is characterized in that it is configured to swing in the opposite direction.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the stopper member is fitted to the lower surface of the image reading portion when the stopper member swings above the paper discharge portion. It is characterized in that a recess to be inserted is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the stopper member is detachably attached to a lower surface of the image reading unit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the stopper member is configured to be attached to a position corresponding to a plurality of paper sizes. It is a feature.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the stop member hanging from the lower surface is provided on the lower surface of the image reading unit so as to be swingable in the paper discharge direction and the opposite direction, the stop member is self-weighted. The sheet comes to rest at the hanging position, and the sheet discharged to the sheet discharging section is automatically abutted against the stop member at the hanging position. Further, when the paper is taken out from the paper discharge portion, if the stopper member is swung in the paper carry-out direction, the stopper member is separated from the paper, so that the paper can be taken out in an aligned state. . Further, since the locking member is provided with a locking portion that locks the image reading portion when the locking member swings above the paper discharge portion, the locking member is rocked when the locking member is not used. The stopper member can be brought into the housed state by moving the locking portion to the image reading portion. That is, the stopper member can be retracted and stored with a simple configuration in which the stopper member is swingably suspended from the lower surface of the image reading unit, and when the locking portion is not locked. The stopper member can be stopped at the hanging position using gravity.

  Here, the stopper member may be configured to be along the lower surface of the image reading unit when the stopper member swings above the sheet discharge unit. In this case, however, the sheet is caught on the stopper member and scratches may occur. Or paper jams may occur. On the other hand, if the concave portion into which the stopper member is fitted is provided on the lower surface of the image reading portion as in the invention of claim 2, those problems can be prevented and the stopper member is stored. The appearance can be improved.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, since the stopper member is detachably attached to the lower surface of the image reading unit, the necessity of the stopper member can be selected according to the user's request, and the specification can be easily changed.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the stopper member can be attached at a position corresponding to a plurality of paper sizes, the plurality of paper sizes can be handled.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. 1 and 2, the X-X direction is referred to as the front-rear direction, and the Y-Y direction (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 2) is the left-right direction. In particular, the + X direction is the front, the -X direction is the rear, and + Y The direction is called left and the -Y direction is called right.

  The image forming apparatus 1 reads an image of a document by reading a document image and a main body 2 that forms an image on a sheet P based on image data sent from a terminal or the like while the sheet is conveyed along a sheet conveying path L. And an image reading unit 3 that generates data and transmits the image data to the terminal or the main unit 2 or the like.

  The main body 2 includes a box-shaped housing 21 and a paper feed cassette 22 that is detachably attached to the housing 21. Inside the housing 21, a pickup roller 23a, a paper feed roller 23b, a registration roller 23c, a photosensitive drum 24, a fixing roller 23d, and a discharge roller 23e are provided in order from the upstream side along the paper conveyance path L. Further, around the photosensitive drum 24, a charging unit 25a, an exposure unit 25b, a developing unit 25c, a transfer roller 25d, and a cleaning unit 25e are disposed. Further, a sheet discharge portion 4 is formed on the upper surface 2a of the housing 21 at a position in front of the discharge roller 23e.

  The paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 11 is taken out by the pickup roller 23a and sent out one by one to the transport path L by the paper feed roller 23b. The paper P sent out to the paper transport path L is made to wait by the registration roller 23c, and is sent between the downstream photosensitive drum 24 and the transfer roller 25d at a predetermined timing.

  An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 24 by irradiating the exposure unit 25b with laser light based on image data after the surface is uniformly charged by the charging unit 25a. A toner image is formed by supplying toner from the developing unit 25c.

  The sheet P fed between the photosensitive drum 24 and the transfer roller 25d is conveyed while being pressed against the photosensitive drum 24 by the transfer roller 25d, and thus formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 24. The toner image is transferred. Note that the toner and residual charge remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 24 after the transfer are removed by the cleaning unit 25e.

  The paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed between a pair of upper and lower fixing rollers 23d, where the toner image is fixed. The sheet P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged forward by the discharge roller 23e and is discharged to the sheet discharge unit 4.

  The image reading unit 3 is disposed above the main body 1 so as to cover substantially the entire upper surface 2 a of the housing 21. The image reading unit 3 has a flat shape in the vertical direction, has a platen glass on which an original can be placed on the upper surface 3a, and reads an image of the original placed on the platen glass inside. A scanner for generating image data is included. An operation unit 31 is provided at the front side of the image reading unit 3 for the user to perform various operations. The upper surface 3a of the image reading unit 3 is covered with a cover member (not shown).

  A stopper member 5 is attached to the lower surface 3b of the image reading unit 3 so as to swing in the front-rear direction and hangs down from the lower surface 3b and stops the paper P discharged to the paper discharge unit 4. The stopper member 5 is disposed at a position where, for example, A4 size paper is stopped.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a recess 32 is provided in the lower surface 3 b of the image reading unit 3. The recess 32 has a substantially rectangular shape extending in the front-rear direction when viewed from below, and includes a bottom surface 32f positioned one step above the bottom surface 3b, a pair of left and right side surfaces 32a, a front surface 32d, and a rear surface 32b surrounding the bottom surface 32f. It consists of The size of the recess 32 in the bottom view is set to be slightly larger than the size of the stopper member 5 in the plan view, and the stopper member 5 can be fitted into the recess 32.

  The stopper member 5 is made of a synthetic resin or the like, and includes a rectangular plate-shaped main plate 51 that forms a plane substantially orthogonal to the X axis, and a pair of side plates 52 that protrude forward from the left and right ends of the main plate 51. The cross section is substantially U-shaped. And the upper end part of the side plate 52 is pivotally connected to the side surface 32a of the recessed part 32 by the pin 54, Thereby, the stopper member 5 can rock | fluctuate back and forth.

  That is, the stopper member 5 can swing forward from the suspended position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 to a retracted position that contacts the front surface 32d of the recess 32 as shown in FIG. 3, and as shown in FIG. It can be fitted into the recess 32 and can be swung backward to the storage position located above the paper discharge section 4. In addition, the lower end part 32e of the front surface 32d of the recessed part 32 is an inclined surface, and can ensure the rocking | fluctuation angle to the front of the stopper member 5 large now.

  When the stopper member 5 is not swung, the stopper member 5 comes to rest at its hanging position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 by its own weight, and the sheet P discharged to the sheet discharge portion 4 is in the hanging position. It is abutted against the stopper member 5 and automatically aligned. When the paper P accumulated in the paper discharge unit 4 is taken out, as shown in FIG. 3, if the stopper member 5 is swung to the retracted position, the stopper member 5 is separated from the paper P. The paper P can be taken out while being aligned.

  The side plate 52 of the stopper member 5 is provided with a locking portion 53 protruding at a position approximately 1/3 from the bottom in the vertical direction at the hanging position, while the side surface 32a of the recess 32 has a locking portion. A locking hole 33 into which the locking part 53 can be fitted is provided at a position corresponding to 53. Therefore, if the stopper member 5 is swung rearward, the stopper 53 is pushed by the side surface 32a and the side plate 52 is bent inward while the stopper member 5 is fitted into the recess 32, so that the stopper When 53 comes to a position corresponding to the locking hole 33, the side plate 52 is restored and the locking portion 53 is locked to the locking hole 33. The stopper member 5 can be held in the storage position only by swinging the member 5 backward.

  Further, a finger hook portion 51a that is recessed forward is formed at a substantially central position in the left-right direction at the lower end portion of the main plate 51 of the stopper member 5 in the suspended position, while the left-right center portion of the rear surface 32b is The finger insertion part 32c is formed in the depression. For this reason, even if the stopper member 5 is stored in the recess 32, the finger can be hooked from the finger insertion portion 32c to the finger hook portion 51a, and the locked state of the stopper member 5 can be easily released. It has become.

  In such an image forming apparatus 1, the stopper member 5 can be retracted and stored with a simple configuration in which the stopper member 5 is swingably suspended from the lower surface 3 b of the image reading unit 3. When the locking portion 53 is not locked, the locking member 5 can be stopped at the suspended position using gravity.

  Further, since the stopper member 5 stops at its suspended position under its own weight, adjustment can be made according to the type of paper and the curl state by simply changing the mass of the stopper member 5 by, for example, placing a weight on the stopper member 5. Is possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the recess 32 is provided on the lower surface 3b of the image reading unit 3. However, the recess 32 is not always necessary. The member 5 may be pivoted by a pin 54. In this case, the stopper member 5 in the storage position is in a posture along the lower surface 3b. However, in this case, there is a possibility that the paper P is caught on the stopper member 5 and scratches or paper jams may occur. However, as in the above embodiment, the lower surface 3b of the image reading unit 3 is used. If the recess 32 into which the stopper member 5 is fitted is provided, it is possible to prevent such problems and improve the appearance when the stopper member 5 is in the stored state.

  Further, the concave portion 32 can be formed as a concave portion 32 ′ of the modification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

  The concave portion 32 ′ is obtained by extending the concave portion 32 backward. Although illustration is omitted, a pin 54 protrudes from the outer surface of the side plate 52 of the stopper member 5, while three paper sizes (for example, A4, B5, A5) are formed on the side surface 32 a of the recess 32 ′. Etc., three fitting holes 34 into which the pins 54 can be fitted are provided, and one of these fitting holes 34 (the frontmost fitting hole 34 in FIGS. 7 and 8). ) Is fitted with the pin 54. The pin 54 can be extracted from the fitting hole 34 if the side plate 52 is bent inward, and the stopper member 5 can be attached to and detached from the image reading unit 3. Further, by appropriately selecting the fitting hole 34 into which the pin 54 is fitted, the stopper member 5 can be attached to a position corresponding to each paper size.

  Further, three locking holes 33 are formed in the side surface 32a of the recess 32 'at positions corresponding to the locking portions 53 of the locking member 5 when the pins 54 are fitted into the respective fitting holes 34. Even when the pin 54 is fitted in any fitting hole 34, the locking portion 53 is locked in the locking hole 33 so that the stopper member 5 can be held in the storage position.

  In this manner, if the stopper member 5 is detachably attached to the lower surface 3b of the image reading unit 3, the necessity of the stopper member 5 can be selected according to the user's request, and the specification can be easily changed. In addition, since the stopper member 5 is configured to be attached at a position corresponding to a plurality of paper sizes, it can correspond to a plurality of paper sizes.

  Note that a pin 54 may protrude from the side surface 32 a of the recess 32 ′, and a fitting hole 34 may be provided in the outer surface of the side plate 52 of the stopper member 5.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 when the stopper member is swung forward. It is a perspective view of an image reading part when a stop member stops at a hanging position. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 5 when the stopper member is swung into the recess. It is a figure which shows the recessed part of a modification, and is a perspective view when a stop member stops at a drooping position. It is a figure which shows the recessed part of a modification, and is a perspective view when rocking | fluctuation member is rock | fluctuated in a recessed part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Main body part 2a Upper surface 3 Image reading part 3b Lower surface 32, 32 'Recess 33 Locking hole 34 Fitting hole 4 Paper discharge part 5 Stopping member 53 Locking part 54 Pin P Paper

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus including a paper discharge unit on an upper surface, a main body that discharges paper on which an image has been formed, to the paper discharge unit, and an image reading unit disposed above the main body.
On the lower surface of the image reading unit, there is a stop member that hangs down from the lower surface by its own weight so as to be swingable in the paper discharge direction and the opposite direction, and stops the paper discharged to the paper discharge unit. The locking member is provided with a locking portion that locks the image reading portion when the locking member swings above the paper discharge portion ,
The stopper member can swing in the discharge direction from the hanging position to a retreat position where the paper accumulated in the paper discharge portion can be taken out from the discharge direction side, and the locking portion can be An image forming apparatus configured to be able to swing in the opposite direction to a position where the image reading unit can be locked .   2. The recess according to claim 1, wherein a lower surface of the image reading unit is provided with a recess into which the stopper member is fitted when the stopper member swings above the paper discharge unit. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stopper member is detachably attached to a lower surface of the image reading unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stopper member is configured to be attached at a position corresponding to a plurality of paper sizes.

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