JP4940920B2 - Paper discharge and storage device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper delivery storage device and the like capable of delivering paper well while straightening a curled state even a little even if the paper delivered from a paper delivery port is in an upward curled state. <P>SOLUTION: The paper delivery storage device 1 comprises a paper delivery means 52 for delivering paper 9; the paper delivery port 51 to which the paper is delivered by the paper delivery means; a paper stacking storage part 54 having a stacking surface 55 on which paper delivered from the paper delivery port is stacked and stored; a paper pressing member 10 installed to exist on the paper delivery side of the paper delivery port and contacting and pressing a part of the paper when delivered from the paper delivery port, from its upper side; and a moving means 20 moving the paper pressing member 10 toward the stacking surface 55. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet discharge storage device and an image forming apparatus.

  In an image forming apparatus typified by a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc., generally, after an image such as a character and a pattern is formed on a predetermined sheet, the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged so as to be sent out from the apparatus main body. As a part of the main body of the apparatus, it is accommodated in a stacked state in a stacking accommodating portion formed outside thereof. In this case, when the paper is discharged in a curled state so as to be curved, an article (storage shelf, original document) in which the curled portion of the paper is disposed relatively close to the upper side of the stacking storage part during the discharge. It is not normally ejected by contact with the reading device or the like, or it is not loaded and accommodated in an orderly manner with respect to its loading and receiving portion (loading surface).

  In view of this, conventionally, as shown below, there is known an apparatus that takes measures for discharging and stacking well even a curled sheet.

  For example, a sheet discharge portion provided in a space in the housing of the image forming apparatus is substantially parallel to the sheet stacking surface, and a sheet discharge guide member that restricts both ends of the discharged sheet from the upper surface is provided in the apparatus casing. There is known an image forming apparatus that is provided at both left and right ends of a space and configured such that a sheet passing surface that comes into contact with a sheet end portion of the sheet discharge guide member is movable in the vertical direction (Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a sheet discharge stacking unit that stacks a plurality of sheet materials sequentially discharged after image formation is provided, and a sheet discharge presser that presses the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet material newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit from above. An image forming apparatus having a means is known (Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-151667 A JP-A-7-277581

  Even if the paper is curled upward when it is sent out from the paper discharge port, the paper can be discharged well while correcting the curled state even a little. A storage device and an image forming apparatus are provided.

  The paper discharge and accommodation apparatus according to the present invention (A1) includes a paper discharge means for sending and discharging paper, a paper discharge port for discharging the paper sent out by the paper discharge means, and a paper discharged from the paper discharge port. A paper stacking storage unit having a stacking surface to be stacked and stored, and a part of the paper that is installed so as to be present on the paper discharge side of the paper discharge port and sent out from the paper discharge port above The sheet pressing member includes a sheet pressing member that contacts and presses from the side, and a moving unit that moves the sheet pressing member toward the stacking surface.

  The paper discharge and storage device of the present invention (A2) is the paper discharge and storage device of the above invention A1, wherein the paper pressing member has a portion where the paper is pressed down from the upper side of the paper and the upper side thereof. It is configured to be supported so as to move in the upward direction.

  The paper discharge and storage device of the present invention (A3) is the paper discharge and storage device of the above invention A1, wherein one end of the paper pressing member is supported so as to be swingable above the paper discharge port, The free end opposite to the one end is supported so as to move in a direction approaching the stacking surface and a direction away from the stacking surface.

  Further, the paper discharge / accommodating device of the present invention (A4) is the paper discharge / accommodating device of the above-mentioned invention A1, wherein the moving means is the paper pressing member, and the leading end of the paper discharging is the paper of the paper pressing member. It moves after passing through the part to be pressed.

  The paper discharge / accommodation apparatus according to the present invention (A5) is such that, in the paper discharge / accommodation apparatus according to the above-described invention A1, the height of the moving means when pressing the paper of the paper pressing member is changed.

  The paper discharge / accommodation apparatus according to the present invention (A6) is a paper discharge / accommodation apparatus according to the above-mentioned invention A3, wherein the moving means changes the swing angle when pressing the paper of the paper pressing member.

  Further, the paper discharge / accommodation apparatus according to the present invention (A7) detects a change caused by conveying or discharging the paper in contact with the paper before contacting the paper pressing member in the paper discharge / accommodation apparatus according to the invention A1. And detecting means for operating the moving means in accordance with a result detected by the detecting means.

  In the paper discharge / accommodation apparatus according to the present invention (A8), in the paper discharge / accommodation apparatus according to the invention A7, the detection means has a paper contact member that contacts and displaces the target paper fed from the paper discharge port. The movement amount of the sheet pressing member by the moving means is changed based on the displacement amount of the sheet contact member.

  The paper discharge / accommodating device according to the present invention (A9) is the paper discharge / accommodating device according to the invention A8, wherein the paper pressing member contacts and presses at least two places in the paper feed width direction, and The paper contact member of the detection means is installed so as to contact the paper portion between at least two places for pressing the paper of the paper pressing member.

  In the paper discharge / accommodation apparatus according to the present invention (A10), in the paper discharge / accommodation apparatus according to the invention A8, the sheet pressing member moves with respect to the moving means based on the movement of the sheet contact member of the detection means. This is an interlocking device that operates as described above.

  Furthermore, the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus of the present invention (A11) is the paper discharge and storage apparatus of any of the above inventions A1 to A10, further comprising a paper support member that supports a part of the paper in contact with the lower side. It is what.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention (B) forms an unfixed image and transfers the image to a sheet, and fixes the unfixed image transferred by the image forming section to the sheet. A fixing unit, a paper discharge unit that sends out and discharges a sheet having an image fixed by the fixing unit, a paper discharge port through which the paper that is sent out by the paper discharge unit is discharged, and the paper discharged from the paper discharge port A sheet stacking unit having a stacking surface on which sheets are stacked and stored, and a part of the sheet that is installed on the sheet discharge side of the sheet discharge port and is being sent out from the sheet discharge port. A sheet pressing member that contacts and presses from above is provided, and a moving unit that moves the sheet pressing member toward the stacking surface.

  According to the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus of the invention A1, even when the paper to be delivered is in a state of curling upward, the paper can be discharged well while correcting the curled state even a little. .

  In the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus according to the invention A2, the paper can be discharged well while correcting the curled state as much as possible, as compared with the case of not having the configuration of the invention.

  In the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus according to the invention A3, compared to the case without the structure of the invention, the paper can be discharged with a simple structure while the curled state is slightly corrected. .

  In the paper discharge storage device of the invention A4, compared to the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided, the paper to be fed is not jammed, and the paper discharge is excellent while correcting the curled state as much as possible. It can be carried out.

  In the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus of the inventions A5 and A6, the curl correction ability can be adjusted as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided.

  In the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus according to the invention A7, the curl correction ability can be appropriately adjusted with a simple configuration as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided.

  In the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus according to the invention A8, the curl correction ability can be appropriately adjusted with a simple configuration as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided.

  In the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus according to the invention A9, the curled state of the paper is easily corrected as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided.

  According to the paper discharge / accommodating apparatus of the invention A10, the curl correction ability can be adjusted with a simple structure as compared with the case without the structure of the invention.

  According to the paper discharge / accommodating apparatus of the invention A11, the curled state of the paper is easily corrected as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the invention B, even when the sheet to be fed out is curled upward as compared with the case of not having the configuration of the invention, the discharged paper is slightly curled. However, it is carried out well while being corrected, and then the paper is loaded and accommodated well.

[First Embodiment]
1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view mainly showing a paper discharge accommodating device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 applies the paper discharge device. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the image forming apparatus used as object.

  In the image forming apparatus 5, an image forming device 60, a paper feeding device 70, a fixing device 80, and the like are arranged in the internal space of the apparatus main body 50. The apparatus main body 50 is a three-dimensional structure assembled using, for example, a box-like form using components such as a support frame and an outer cover. In FIG. The other components are not shown.

  The image forming device 60 applies a predetermined charging voltage to the photosensitive member 61 (photosensitive layer) having a photosensitive layer formed on the peripheral surface thereof and rotating in the direction of the arrow on a support frame (not shown). A charging device 62 using a roll-shaped charging member that is charged to a partial potential, an exposure device 63 that exposes the charged photoreceptor 61 to write an electrostatic latent image having a predetermined surface potential, and the electrostatic latent A developing device 64 that develops an image with a developer and visualizes it as an unfixed image (toner image), and a roll that electrostatically transfers the unfixed image to a sheet described later by applying a predetermined transfer voltage. A transfer device 65 using a cylindrical transfer member is supported and installed. The exposure device 63 transmits an image signal generated by an image processing unit (not shown) based on image information input to the image forming device 5, and exposure is performed based on the image signal.

  The paper feeding device 70 is supported so as to be able to be pulled out with respect to the apparatus main body 50, and includes a paper container 71 that stacks and stores a plurality of recording papers 9, and sends out the recording paper 9 one by one from the paper container 71. It consists of a mechanism 72 and the like. The recording paper 9 delivered from the paper feeding device 7 is transferred by the image forming device 60 through a paper feeding path constituted by a predetermined number of paper conveyance roll pairs 73, a paper leading edge alignment roll pair 74, a paper conveyance guide, and the like. Is conveyed at a predetermined timing to a portion (a position where the photoconductor 61 and the transfer device 65 face each other). A chain line with arrows in FIG. 2 and the like indicates a main conveyance path of the recording paper 9.

  The fixing device 80 includes a housing 81 that is disposed obliquely above the image forming device 60, and a heating source 83 that is controlled to be heated to a predetermined temperature is disposed in the internal space in the housing 81. A heating roll 82 that rotates in the direction of the arrow, and a roll that is arranged so as to be in contact with the axial direction of the heating roll 82 at a predetermined width and with a predetermined pressure, and that rotates following the rotation of the heating roll 82 or A belt-shaped pressure member 84 and a discharge roll pair 85 for discharging the recording paper 9 after fixing are disposed.

  Further, in this image forming apparatus 5, a sheet having a long opening shape in the horizontal direction for discharging the fixed recording sheet 9 discharged from the fixing device 80 to the outside of the apparatus main body 50 is provided above the apparatus main body 50. A discharge port 51 is formed. A paper discharge path for conveying and discharging the recording paper 9 after fixing is provided between the paper discharge port 51 and the fixing device 80.

  The paper discharge path includes a paper discharge roll pair 52 installed in the apparatus main body 50 in the vicinity of the paper discharge port 51, and paper conveyance guide members 53a and 53b. The paper discharge roll pair 52 is composed of a plurality of roll pairs arranged at intervals with respect to a direction substantially orthogonal to the discharge direction A of the recording paper 9, and a drive roll 52a arranged on the lower side and this This is a combination of a driven roll 52b arranged in contact with a predetermined load on the upper side of the drive roll 52a.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 5, a sheet stacking and storing portion 54 for storing the recording sheets 9 discharged from the sheet discharge outlet 51 in a stacked state is formed on the upper surface side of the apparatus main body 50. The sheet stacking portion 54 includes an inclined surface portion 55a that inclines so as to gradually rise toward a downstream side in the discharge direction of the sheet 9 starting from a portion below the sheet discharge port 51 by a predetermined distance, and a horizontal plane portion that follows the inclined surface portion 55a. It is comprised by the loading surface 55 mainly comprised by 55b.

  Image formation (printing) by the image forming apparatus 5 is performed as follows.

  When a print start instruction is received from a control device (not shown), in the image forming device 60, the photosensitive drum 61 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the photosensitive layer is uniformly charged to a predetermined surface potential by the charging device 62. Subsequently, the charged photosensitive drum 61 is exposed according to an image signal from the exposure device 63 to form an electrostatic latent image having a predetermined potential, and then the electrostatic latent image is supplied from the developing device 64. The developer is visualized as a toner image. Next, at a transfer position where the toner image faces the transfer device 65 of the photosensitive drum 61, the toner image is electrostatically applied to the recording paper 9 conveyed and supplied from the paper supply device 70 through the paper supply path in accordance with the toner image forming operation. Is transcribed.

  The recording paper 9 on which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing device 80 and passed through the fixing contact portion between the heating roll 82 and the pressure member 84. At this time, the recording paper 9 is heated and pressed by the fixing contact portion. As a result, the toner image is fixed on the recording paper 9. Subsequently, the fixed recording paper 9 is sent to the paper discharge path by the discharge roll pair 85 of the fixing device 80, and then sent to the outside of the apparatus main body 50 through the paper discharge port 51 by the paper discharge roll pair 52. The sheet is discharged and stored on the stacking surface 55 of the sheet stacking and storing unit 54 so as to fall.

  When the above-described image forming operation is continuously performed on a plurality of sheets, the recording sheets 9 after fixing are sequentially discharged from the sheet discharge port 51, and are stacked and accommodated according to the discharge order. It is accommodated in such a manner that it is sequentially stacked on the loading surface 55 of the section 54 from below.

  By the way, in such an image forming apparatus 5, as shown in FIG. 14, for example, the recording paper 9 sent out from the paper discharge port 51 by the paper discharge roll pair 52 (52a, 52b) after the image formation is discharged. One or both of the side end portions 9c and 9d in the discharge (delivery) direction A of the pipe is curved so as to warp in the upward direction (directions indicated by dotted arrows Ma and Mb in the figure). May be curled. A two-dot chain line Z in the lower part of FIG. 14 indicates a side end portion of the paper in a flat state where no curling occurs.

  In this case, after the sheet 9 passes through the sheet discharge port 51, it is discharged while being sent out in a curved state due to an upward curl. In the worst case, the sheet 9 is relatively close to the upper side of the stacking container 54. If there is an article such as a document reading device arranged in such a state, the article may come into contact with the article during discharge and may not be discharged normally. Further, when the sheet 9 is loaded and accommodated in the stacking storage portion 54 (the loading surface 55) with the sheet 9 curled upward, the influence of the upward curl appears strongly and the entire sheet is accommodated in a curled state. Sometimes. When the succeeding sheet 9 is discharged and stored on the stacking surface 55 of the stacking and storing unit 54 in which the sheet 9 in a curled state is stored, for example, when the succeeding sheet 9 is discharged. In some cases, the curled portion of the previously stored paper 9 comes into contact with the paper, and the discharge posture of the subsequent paper may be shifted, or the storage posture of the previously stored paper may be shifted. As a result, the sheets 9 are not stacked and accommodated in an orderly stacked state on the stacking surface 55.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 5, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in addition to the discharge roll pair 52, the sheet discharge port 51, and the stacking storage portion 54 having the stacking surface 55, the sheet discharge port in the apparatus main body 50. Two sheets of paper that press and hold both ends of the sheet 9 from the upper side when the sheet is fed from a pair of sheet discharge rollers 52 disposed inside the sheet discharge port 51 at a position near the upper side of the sheet 51. The paper discharge and accommodation apparatus 1 having the pressing members 10A and 10B and the moving means 20 for moving the paper pressing members 10A and 10B toward the stacking surface 55 of the stacking storage portion 54 is applied.

  Each of the sheet pressing members 10A and 10B has a plate-like shape, and the end 10b on the apparatus main body 50 side is located above the discharge roll pair 62 of the apparatus main body 50 at the support shaft 11. It is supported so as to be able to rotate (swing) through the. Further, the holding members 10A and 10B have a free end portion 10a opposite to the end portion 10b on the upper space side of the sheet stacking portion 54 along the sheet discharge direction A from the side having the sheet discharge port 51. A direction of protruding from the stacking surface 55 of the sheet stacking portion 54 (hereinafter, also referred to as “downward direction”) B1 and a direction away from the stacking surface 55, with the support shaft 11 as a center. (Hereinafter also referred to as “ascending direction”) B2 can be swung and moved. Furthermore, the two pressing members 10A and 10B are arranged at positions where they can be pressed by contacting both ends of the paper 9 fed by the paper discharge roll pair 52, and have a dimension and shape capable of being pressed. Is formed.

  In the sheet pressing member 10, the free end portion 10 a and the lower surface 10 c thereof are in contact with the sheet 9 to be pressed. In addition, due to the swingable mounting structure described above, the presser member 10 basically swings in the direction B1 approaching the stacking surface 55 by its own weight when there is no sheet 9 to be discharged, but is discharged. When the sheet 9 is present, the sheet 9 is pushed by the sheet and swings in the direction B2 away from the stacking surface 55. However, as will be described later, the height at which the sheet 9 is pressed by contact (or at the time of swinging). Part of the oscillation is controlled in order to change the angle. Furthermore, it is preferable that the presser member 10 is light in weight from the viewpoint of enabling the basic free swinging as described above. Such a pressing member 10 is manufactured, for example, as a plastic molded product.

  As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, etc., the moving means 20 serves as a control means 25 for controlling the movement (swing) of a portion (free end portion 10a or lower surface 10e) for pressing the paper 9 of the paper pressing member 10. The control interlocking mechanism 26 is used. The control interlocking mechanism 26 that is the control means 25 of the moving means 20 operates according to a detection result (information) from the detection means 21 described later. The detecting means 21 is displaced when the sheet 9 delivered from the sheet discharge port 51 comes into contact with the sheet discharge roll pair 52 and presses it, and the change (upward direction) generated on the sheet 9 based on the amount of displacement at that time. The presence or absence of deformation due to curling and the state of deformation) are detected. In this embodiment, the sheet contact member 22 is used.

The sheet contact member 22 as the detecting means 21 has a rod-like form. For example, the load at the time of contact with the sheet 9 to be discharged is reduced at least at the portion 22c on the side in contact with the sheet 9. From a simple viewpoint, it is formed into a gently bent shape. Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, etc. , the contact member 22 has a support 22 in which an end 22 b on the apparatus main body 50 side is arranged at a position above the discharge roll pair 62 of the apparatus main body 50. and a shaft 23 at the center are rotated (swung) movably supported. Further, the free end 22a opposite to the end 22b is in a state where it can contact at least the paper 6 fed out and discharged from the paper discharge port 51, and the support shaft 23 is centered. a manner (hereinafter also referred to as "hanging direction") direction approaching the sheet discharge port 51 C1 (also referred to as the "direction above have the that ') the outlet 52 away from so as to be displaceable swings C2 It has become. Further, the contact member 22 is disposed at a portion of the apparatus main body 10 between the two sheet pressing members 10A and 10B.

  Due to the mounting structure as described above, the paper contact member 22 swings in the direction C1 approaching the paper discharge port 51 under its own weight when there is no paper 9 to be discharged and hangs down to a position in front of the discharge port 51. On the other hand, when there is a sheet 9 to be discharged, the sheet 9 is pushed by the sheet and swings in the direction C2 away from the sheet discharge port 51. Furthermore, it is preferable that the contact member 22 is lightweight from the viewpoint of enabling the above-described free swinging. Such a contact member 22 is manufactured as a plastic molded product, for example.

  The sheet contact member 22 has a length from the end 22b of the free end 22a that is longer than the length of the end 10b of the free end 10a of the sheet pressing member 10. It is not limited to this. In addition to configuring the contact member 22 as a dedicated part for independent use, the contact member 22 is used to detect that the number of sheets stacked and stored in the sheet stacking and storing section 54 is full and is full. It can also be configured as a part that also serves as a paper contact detection member of a full detection device installed.

  When the paper contact member 22 is swung and displaced by the paper 9 to be sent out, the control interlocking mechanism 26 as the moving means 20 has two paper pressing members 10 </ b> A at the required time (rotation) power generated by the displacement. , 10B and a gear-type power transmission mechanism for controlling the height position when pressing the paper 9 of the paper pressing members 10A, 10B.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the power transmission mechanism constituting the control interlocking mechanism 26 includes a first gear 26 a fixed to the support shaft 23 of the paper contact member 22 and each of the two paper pressing members 10. The final gears 26b and 26c fixed to the support shaft 11, the second gear 26d rotating in mesh with the first gear 26a, and the two fixed to both ends of the rotary shaft 26e fixing the second gear 26d, respectively. The third gear 26f is mainly composed of the third gear 26f and the fourth gear 26g that meshes with the final gears 26b and 26c and rotates. Two-dot chain line Q in FIG. 5 shows the height position of the contact portion of the paper exit roller pair 52 (a portion to what role 52a and the roll 52b are in contact).

  Further, in this power transmission mechanism, the first gear 26a meshes with the second gear 26d and transmits power only when the paper contact member 22 swings beyond a predetermined amount in the direction C2 away from the paper discharge port 52. Therefore, the first gear 26a is formed with teeth that mesh with the second gear 26d only in a certain range of the outer peripheral surface portion, and the second gear 26d without forming the teeth in the remaining range. The gear of the structure which formed the toothless part 27 which does not mesh | engage is used.

  In the paper discharge and storage device 1, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the front end portion 10a (the lowermost portion) of the paper pressing member 10 is at least tangent to the contact portion of the paper discharge roll pair 52: J Is also maintained as a “reference state” that is stationary at a lower position by a predetermined distance E (for example, 1 to 10 mm), and swings in a direction B1 that approaches the loading surface 55 beyond the lower position in the reference state. It cannot be moved. In this example, the sheet pressing member 10 is configured to be prevented from swinging by a swing prevention member (not shown) beyond the lower position, which is the reference state.

  In addition, regarding the range in which the teeth of the first gear 26a in the control interlock mechanism 26 are formed, for example, “sheet presser when the lower surface 22c of the sheet contact member 22 that can contact the sheet 9 is maintained in the above-mentioned reference state. The range is set so as to satisfy the “first condition” of “when the member 10 swings beyond the lower surface 10 c by a predetermined amount”. For this reason, in the control interlocking mechanism 26, when the paper contact member 22 is greatly swung and displaced to the extent defined by the first condition, an upward curl is generated on the paper 9 being discharged and changes. Is detected. Further, the remaining range excluding the range where the teeth of the first gear 26a are formed corresponds to the range where the toothless portion 27 is formed.

  In addition, regarding the range where the teeth of the first gear 26a are formed, “the end portion 9a of the discharged paper 9 has finished passing through the portions of the paper pressing members 10A and 10B that press the paper (the free end portion 10a and the lower surface 10c). It is preferable that the range is set so as to satisfy the “second condition” of “when it is sent to the position”. By forming teeth in a range that satisfies the second condition, the control interlocking mechanism 26 is formed after the leading end 9a of the sheet 9 in which upward curling has occurred passes through the leading end 10a and the lower surface 10c of the sheet pressing member 10. Is activated by the meshing of the gears, and the operation of swinging and moving the sheet pressing member 10 in the direction B1 approaching the stacking surface 55 is started. However, when the second condition cannot be satisfied by adjusting the range in which the teeth of the first gear 26a are formed, the second condition can be satisfied by adjusting the length of the sheet pressing member 10, for example. it can.

  Further, regarding the number of gears (26 a to 26 e) in the power transmission mechanism of the control interlocking mechanism 26 and the combination thereof, the first contact in the direction C 2 in which the paper contact member 22 moves away from the paper discharge port 51, as shown in FIG. When the first gear 26a meshes with the second gear 26d by swinging to the state specified by the conditions, the rotational power generated by the swing of the paper contact member 22 causes the paper presser member 10 to pass through the gears. The power is selected as appropriate from the viewpoint of being transmitted to the sheet pressing member 10 as power for swinging in the lowering direction B1. Further, regarding the ratio (gear ratio) of the number of teeth between the gears (26a to 26e), for example, in the direction B1 in which the sheet pressing member 10 is lowered by the power generated by the swing of the sheet contact member 22 by the sheet 9. The ratio is set so that it can be swung at a predetermined ratio (movement amount).

  Next, the operation of the paper discharge / accommodating apparatus 1 will be described.

  First, at the stage where there is no sheet 9 to be discharged, as shown in FIG. 8A, the sheet pressing member 10 (A, B) is in the reference state as described above (the front end portion 10a is the contact portion of the discharge roll pair 52). And the paper contact member 22 as the detecting means 21 swings in the direction C1 in which the paper contact member 22 hangs down under its own weight, and the paper discharge port 52 discharges the paper. It will be in the state where it hung down to the side position.

  Subsequently, a case where the recording paper 9 (X) in a state where no upward curling is generated with respect to the paper discharge accommodation device 1 in such a state (FIG. 8A) is discharged after image formation is described. To do. Incidentally, upward curling tends to hardly occur in plain paper, thin paper, and the like. Further, the state in which no upward curl is generated includes a case where the curl is not detected by the swing of the paper contact member 22.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 8b and FIG. 9, the sheet 9X is initially discharged so as to be sent substantially along the tangent line J of the contact portion of the sheet discharge roll pair 52, and the leading end 9a at that time is By contacting and pushing the lower portion 22c of the paper contact member 22, the paper contact member 22 is swung in the direction C2 for lifting.

  However, the sheet 9X generally advances in a lowered state due to its own weight or the swinging load of the sheet contact member 22 as the leading end 9a is discharged. This portion 22c does not swing to a position exceeding the lower surface 10e of the sheet pressing member 10 held in the reference state. For this reason, the first gear 26a in the control interlocking mechanism 26 of the moving means 20 is kept in a state where the toothless portion 27 faces the second gear 26d, and therefore does not mesh with the second gear 26d. As a result, the power generated by swinging in the direction C2 away from the paper discharge port 51 of the paper contact member 22 is not transmitted to the paper presser member 10 via the gear train of the control interlocking mechanism 26.

  Accordingly, when the paper 9X in a state where no upward curling is generated (not deformed) is discharged, the paper pressing member 10 remains in the reference state, and the paper pressing member 10 remains in the paper 9X. Is not pressed from above.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8 c, the sheet discharge and storage device 1 supports the rear end portion 9 b of the sheet discharge end 51 b by the discharge roller pair 52 when the rear end portion 9 b of the sheet 9 X is completely discharged from the sheet discharge port 51. Therefore, the paper contact member 22 starts to swing in the direction C1 that hangs down near the paper discharge port 52 due to its own weight. As a result, while the sheet contact member 22 is in contact with the sheet 9X, the trailing end portion 9b of the sheet is pushed down toward the stacking surface 55.

  On the other hand, the recording paper 9 (Y) in a state where the upward curling is generated at both side end portions 9c and 9d with respect to the paper discharge accommodating device 1 in the state as described above (FIG. 8a) is an image. A case of discharging after formation will be described. Incidentally, upward curling tends to occur easily on paper such as thick paper.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 10e and FIG. 11e, the sheet 9Y is discharged so as to be sent out substantially along the tangent line J of the contact portion of the discharge roll pair 52, and the leading end portion 9a is suspended. swinging in the direction C2 above that has its sheet contact member 22 by pressing in contact with the contact surface portion 22c of the sheet contact member 22 in.

  Moreover, in this case, as shown in FIG. 10f, FIG. 11f, and FIG. 12, the sheet 9Y is not lowered as the leading end 9a is discharged, but is sent out while maintaining the strength of the waist. The lower portion 22c of the sheet contact member 22 exceeds the lower surface 10e of the sheet pressing member 10 held in the reference state by a predetermined amount. Swings. That is, the sheet contact member 22 swings to a state satisfying the “first condition”.

By thus greatly swung in the direction C2 above that has the sheet contact member 22, the first gear 26a of the control linkage mechanism 26, the second gear in a state where the tooth is opposed to the second gear 26d It meshes with 26d. In this interlock control mechanism 26, when the first gear 26a is engaged with the second gear 26d by the swinging of the paper contact member 22, upward curling occurs on the discharged paper 9 and changes. It will be judged that. While in this state, the swing of the paper pressing member 10 is controlled by the swing state of the paper contact member 22 via the control interlocking mechanism 26, and this restrained state is the paper. The force is greater than or equal to a predetermined value applied when pressing the paper 9 of the pressing member 10.

  As a result, in the paper stacking and receiving apparatus 1, the power (rotational power) generated by swinging the paper contact member 22 in the lifting direction C <b> 2 is applied to the paper presser member 10 via the gear train of the control interlock mechanism 26. This is transmitted as a force for swinging in the lowering direction B <b> 1, whereby the sheet pressing member 10 is swung in the direction B <b> 1 approaching the stacking surface 22 from the state maintained in the reference state. Further, the swinging of the sheet pressing member 10 in the descending direction B1 at this time is performed in conjunction with the swinging motion of the sheet contact member 10 in the lifting direction C2, as shown in FIGS. 10g and 11g. As a result, the swing amount of the paper pressing member 10 increases in proportion to the increase of the swing amount of the paper contact member 22. The height position when the paper pressing member 10 presses the paper 9Y by swinging and moving in the direction B1 in which the paper pressing member 10 descends according to the swinging amount of the paper contact member 22 in this way. (The height of the portion in contact with the paper 9 at the lowest position) is controlled. The height position of the paper pressing member 10 at this time also corresponds to an angle (swinging angle) with respect to a reference position when the paper pressing member 10 swings (for example, a position when the paper pressing member 10 is in the above-described reference state).

  Accordingly, when the sheet 9Y in the state where the upward curl is generated is discharged, the sheet contact member 22 of the detecting unit 21 is largely swung in the direction C2 lifted by the sheet 9Y, whereby the control interlocking mechanism of the moving unit 20 is obtained. 26, the sheet pressing member 10 swings from the reference state so as to be lowered in the direction B1 approaching the stacking surface 22, so that the sheet pressing member 10 (A, B) is the end portions 9c, 9d of the sheet 9Y. And pressed from above (FIG. 10f and FIG. 10g or FIG. 11f and FIG. 11g).

  As a result, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the sheet 9 </ b> Y swings in a direction B <b> 1 in which both side end portions 9 c and 9 d that are deformed due to the upward curling are lowered toward the stacking surface 55. The sheet pressing member 10 is discharged while being forcibly pushed down by a force of a predetermined value or more in the downward direction (Nc, Nd) opposite to the curving direction. Here, the “predetermined value” in the “force equal to or greater than the predetermined value” means that the sheet 9Y lifts the sheet contact member 22 against its own weight or swing resistance, and the sheet pressing member 10 starts to press the sheet 9Y. The “force greater than or equal to a predetermined value” means that the paper pressing member 10 moves by swinging in the direction B1 approaching the stacking surface 55 and starts to press the paper 9Y. This means the presser force generated after

  At this time, in the paper discharge and accommodation device 1, the paper holding member 10 is set to start swinging in the lowering direction B1 after the leading end 9a of the paper 9Y passes through the leading end 10a of the paper pressing member 10. In this case, there is no possibility that the sheet pressing member 10 swings in the direction B1 in which the discharge path of the sheet leading end portion 9a being discharged is lowered.

  In addition, the degree (movement amount or pressing force) by which the paper pressing member 10 is pushed down in the downward direction is proportional to an increase in the amount of swinging in the direction C2 in which the paper contact member 22 is lifted. Thus, the gears of the control interlocking mechanism 26 continue to rotate and transmit power, and thus become stronger (larger). Incidentally, the rear end portion 9b side of the sheet 9Y when being discharged in the state of being pushed down by the sheet pressing member 10 is sandwiched and held by the contact portion of the sheet discharge roll pair 52 (see FIG. 10f, 10g).

  In the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 11e, the leading end 9a of the paper 9Y in which the upward curling has occurred causes the paper contact member 22 to move the paper contact member 22 to the lower surface 10c of the paper pressing member 10 at the initial stage of discharge. Even when the sheet is not swung to a height exceeding the upper limit, the upwardly curled portions of the side end portions 9c and 9d of the sheet may come into contact with the sheet pressing member 10 held at the reference position. At this time, since the first gear 26a in the interlock control mechanism 26 is not meshed with the second gear 26d, the paper pressing member 10 corresponds to the pressing force of the side end portions 9c and 9d curled upward of the paper 9Y. There may be a temporary swing in the direction B2 away from the loading surface 55.

  Further, in the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus 1, after the rear end portion 9b of the paper 9Y is completely discharged from the paper discharge port 51, the paper contact member 22 swings in the direction C1 depending on its own weight, and the control interlocking mechanism The first gear 26a at 26 is released from meshing with the second gear 26d (by facing the toothless portion 27). As a result, as in the case shown in FIG. 8c, while the paper contact member 22 is in contact with the paper 9Y, the paper rear end 9b is pushed down toward the stacking surface 55.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 15 shows a sheet discharge accommodation apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment in which the gear-type control interlocking mechanism 26 as the control means 25 of the moving means 20 in the first embodiment is changed to a lever-type control interlocking mechanism 27. And a main part of the image forming apparatus).

  Here, in FIG. 15 and subsequent drawings and the like, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the following, explanations on the same components are omitted unless necessary. To do. In FIG. 15 and the like, for convenience, only one of the sheet pressing members 10 (10A) is illustrated. The same applies to the case of the embodiment described later.

  This lever-type control interlocking mechanism 27 uses the power generated when the paper contact member 22 swings in the direction C2 to be lifted over a predetermined amount as described in the first embodiment, based on the lever principle. A swinging member 30 for transmitting as a force for swinging the sheet pressing member 10 in the lowering direction B1 with a similar structure is provided. Such a rocking member 30 is arranged in a state where the axis (line) is substantially along the discharge direction A of the paper 9 and is a rod-like rotation supported by the apparatus main body 50 so as to rotate in the directions of arrows D1 and D2. A shaft portion 31, a first protrusion portion 32 that protrudes so as to come into contact with the upper portion of the sheet contact member 22 as the detection means 21 at the distal end side of the rotation shaft portion 31, and the distal end side of the rotation shaft portion 61 The second projecting portion 33 is provided mainly so as to project in the direction opposite to the first projecting portion 32 so as to come into contact with the upper surface of the sheet pressing member 10. The swing member 30 is disposed such that the rotation shaft portion 31 is positioned between the paper contact member 22 and the paper pressing member 10.

  In the control interlocking mechanism 27, the second protrusion 33 of the swinging member 30 moves in a direction away from the sheet pressing member 10 in a normal state (in other words, the entire swinging member 34 rotates in the arrow D2 direction). For example, as shown in the upper stage (a) of FIG. 16, the length L1 from the rotation center point (fulcrum) of the rotation shaft portion 31 of the first protrusion 32 is 2. The length from the rotation center point of the rotating shaft part 30 of the 2 protrusion part 33: It is formed so that it may become a dimension longer than L2 (<L1). In FIG. 16, for convenience, a portion of the paper contact member 22 that comes into contact with the first projecting portion 32 is shown by a cross section (hatched portion), and its free end portion 10a is shown by a two-dot chain line. Only the part of the member 10 that will come into contact with the second protrusion 33 is shown by a cross section (shaded part).

  Further, in this control interlocking mechanism 27, in order to ensure a predetermined separation distance H between the first protrusion 32 (lower part) and the paper contact member 22 (upper part), the first protrusion 32 is in contact with the paper. A stopper (rotation preventing member) 34 for preventing a state of moving in a direction approaching the member 22 is provided. The position of the first protrusion 32 when the movement is restricted by the stopper 34 becomes the “static reference position” of the swing member 30. This separation distance H corresponds to a free swinging range in which the sheet contact member 22 can swing freely until just before the sheet contact member 22 contacts the first protrusion 32 when swinging by the discharged sheet 9. is there. The distance H is an element that exhibits the same action as the toothless portion 27 formed on the first gear 26A in the control interlock mechanism 26 described above.

  Further, in the control interlocking mechanism 27, when the swing member 30 is stopped at the stationary reference position by the stopper 34, the separation distance of the second protrusion 33 from the sheet pressing member 10 is also determined. In this embodiment, as shown in the upper part (a) of FIG. 16, the separation distance between the second protrusion 33 and the sheet pressing member 10 when the swinging member 30 is at the stationary reference position is “zero”. It is set as follows. By setting the separation distance, the sheet pressing member 10 is held in a state in which swinging in the direction B <b> 2 away from the stacking surface 55 is prevented by contact with the second protrusion 33.

  The state of the sheet pressing member 10 at this time is “reference state set in the case of the first embodiment (the leading end portion 10a of the sheet pressing member is a predetermined distance from the tangent line J of the contact portion of the sheet discharge roll pair 52). It is preferable that the second protrusion 33 when the swinging member 30 is stopped at the stationary reference position is in contact with the sheet contact member 10. It is necessary to adjust the contact height. Further, in order for the sheet pressing member 10 to contact the second projecting portion 33 and be held in the reference state in this way, the sheet pressing member 10 is always maintained in a state of swinging in the direction B2 away from the stacking surface 55. There is also a need to do. For this reason, for example, the paper pressing member 10 is held in a state where it can always be swung in the direction B2 away from the stacking surface 55 by mounting a spring member such as a spiral spring on the support shaft 11.

  In addition, when the separation distance between the second protrusion 33 and the paper pressing member 10 when the swinging member 30 is at the stationary reference position is set to zero, the paper contact member 22 swings and the first When the projection 32 is brought into contact, the second projection 33 comes into contact with the sheet pressing member 10 and swings the pressing member 10 almost simultaneously. For this reason, the separation distance H between the first protrusion 32 and the paper contact member 22 is, for example, “first condition (paper contact member) set in the case where the paper contact member 22 is the first embodiment. Is set from the viewpoint of satisfying “when the contact portion 22c of 22 is swung beyond the lower surface 10c of the sheet pressing member 10 when the contact portion 22c is maintained in the reference state”). Further, if necessary, the above-mentioned “second condition (to the position where the leading end portion 9a of the discharged paper 9 passes through the leading end portion 10a of the sheet pressing member 10 when the leading end portion 9a of the discharged sheet 9 is maintained in the above-mentioned reference state). It can also be set from the viewpoint of satisfying “when sent”.

  In the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus 1 that employs such a lever-type control interlocking mechanism 27, when the paper 9 (X) that does not generate an upward curl as exemplified in the first embodiment is discharged. As shown in the middle part (b) of FIG. 16, the paper contact member 22 of the detection means 21 (the contact member when in the suspended state) is brought into contact with the leading end 9a of the paper 9X when it is discharged. It swings in the direction C2 away from the paper discharge port 51 (see FIG. 8b).

  However, in this case, as in the case of the first embodiment, generally, the lower surface 10e of the sheet pressing member 10 in which the lower portion 22c of the sheet contact member 22 is held in the reference state by the sheet 9X. (See FIG. 9), the rocking member 30 is displaced within the range of the separation distance H at the maximum as shown in the middle stage (b) of FIG. 16 (state as indicated by reference numeral 22 </ b> B in FIG. 16) and does not contact the first protrusion 32 of the swing member 30 in the control interlocking mechanism 27 of the moving means 20. As a result, the swinging member 30 as the lever of the control interlocking mechanism 27 remains stationary at the stationary reference position, and therefore the power (acting force) generated by swinging in the lifting direction C2 of the paper contact member 22. Is not transmitted to the sheet pressing member 10 via the swing member 30 of the control interlocking mechanism 27.

  Therefore, when the sheet 9X without the upward curling is discharged, the sheet pressing member 10 of the sheet pressing apparatus 1 remains in the reference state, and the sheet pressing member 10 removes the sheet 9X. There is no contact and pressing from above.

  On the other hand, in the case where the recording paper 9 (Y) in a state where the upward curl as described above is generated and changed at both side end portions 9c and 9d is discharged, as in the case of the first embodiment, The sheet 9Y swings to a position exceeding the lower surface 10e of the sheet pressing member 10 in which the sheet contact member 22 is held in a reference state by a predetermined amount (see FIG. 12 and the like). That is, the sheet contact member 22 at this time is in a state of being swung by a predetermined distance α in the direction C2 that is further lifted beyond the above-described range of the separation distance H as shown in the lower part (c) of FIG. (A state as indicated by a symbol 22C).

  As a result, the sheet contact member 22 contacts the first protrusion 32 of the swing member 30 in the control interlocking mechanism 27. In this state, the control interlocking mechanism 27 determines that the discharged paper 9 has changed due to upward curling. At this time, if the paper contact member 22 swings in the lifting direction C2 while being in contact with the first protrusion 32 of the swing member 30, the swing member 30 at the stationary reference position is centered on the rotation shaft portion 30. Therefore, the second projecting portion 33 comes into contact with the paper pressing member 10 and presses the paper pressing member 10 in the arrow D1 direction. During this state, the swinging of the sheet pressing member 10 is controlled by the swinging state of the sheet contact member 22 via the swinging member 30 of the control interlocking mechanism 27. The pressed state becomes a force greater than a predetermined value applied when pressing the paper 9 of the paper pressing member 10.

  As a result, in the paper discharge and accommodation apparatus 1, the power generated by swinging the paper contact member 22 in the lifting direction C <b> 2 is lowered in the paper presser member 10 via the swing member 30 of the control interlocking mechanism 27. B1 is transmitted as a force for swinging and moving, so that the sheet pressing member 10 is predetermined in a direction B1 approaching the stacking surface 22 from the state where the sheet pressing member 10 is maintained in the reference state with the support shaft 11 as the center. Is swung by an amount (angle) β. Further, the swinging of the paper pressing member 10 in the direction B1 at this time increases the amount by which the paper contact member 10 swings in the direction C2 away from the paper discharge port 51, as shown in FIGS. 10g and 11g. In conjunction with this, it will increase (continue) in the same way. Thus, by swinging the sheet pressing member 10 in the lowering direction B1 in accordance with the swinging amount of the sheet contact member 10, the height position of the leading end portion 10a when pressing the sheet 9Y of the sheet pressing member 10 ( The height of the part contacting the sheet 9 at the lowest position is controlled. In the illustrated example, a state is shown in which the leading end portion 10a of the paper pressing member 10 is moved in the direction B1 approaching the stacking surface 55 by a distance γ from the height position when the paper holding member 10 is in the reference state.

  Therefore, when the paper 9Y in a deformed state is discharged due to an upward curl, the paper contact member 22 as the detecting means 21 is largely swung in the direction C2 lifted by the paper 9Y, whereby the moving means 20 Since the sheet pressing member 10 swings and moves so as to be lowered in the direction B1 approaching the stacking surface 22 from the reference state via the swinging member 30 of the control interlocking mechanism 27, the sheet pressing member 10 ( A and B) come into contact with and press against the end portions 9c and 9d of the sheet 9Y from above. The pressing by the sheet pressing member 10 (A, B) is started after the leading end 9 of the sheet 9Y finally passes the leading end (free end) 10a of the sheet pressing member 10.

  Also in this case, the sheet pressing member 10 is forced to push down the curved portion of the sheet 9Y by the upward curl with a predetermined force or more in the downward direction, but the degree to which the sheet pressing member 10 is pushed down in such a downward direction ( The amount of movement or presser force) increases in proportion to the amount of rocking in the direction C2 in which the paper contact member 22 is lifted, and thus rotates more in the direction of the arrow D1 of the rocking member 30 of the control interlocking mechanism 27. .

[Third Embodiment]
17 and 18 show that, in addition to changing the control interlocking mechanism 26 as the control means 25 of the moving means 20 in the first embodiment to another control mechanism 28, the sheet contact member 22 as the detection means 21 is changed. The sheet stacking / accommodating apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment (or the present embodiment) is provided with a sheet support member 40 that changes to another detection device 23 and supports a part of the discharged sheet from the lower side. 1 shows a main part of an image forming apparatus).

  First, the control mechanism 28 is configured by a link mechanism that transmits a force for swinging the sheet pressing member 10 in the direction B <b> 1 approaching the stacking surface 55 in conjunction with the later-described advance operation of the sheet supporting member 40. Reference numeral 57 in FIG. 18 denotes a paper transport guide member that forms a paper transport path (paper discharge path) before reaching the paper discharge roll pair 52.

  Such a control mechanism 28 includes a first connecting member 35 that swings in the directions of arrows E1 and E2 around the support shaft 36, a connecting projection 35a provided at one end of the first connecting member 35, and a slide. A long hole 37a that can be connected mainly has a second connecting member 37 formed at one end.

  The first connecting member 36 is on one side of the rear end portion 10a of the sheet pressing member 10 on the side opposite to the free end portion 10a with respect to the other end portion on the opposite side to the end portion on which the connecting projection 35a is provided. A tip end portion of the projecting portion 12 formed so as to project in the direction is coupled to be swingable through a coupling projection 35b. The first connecting member 37 is always kept in a state of swinging in the direction of the arrow E2 by a tension spring 38 having one end fixed to the apparatus main body 50, and a stopper 39 fixedly installed on the apparatus main body 50. Oscillation in the direction of arrow E2 is prevented at a predetermined position. The position of the stopper 39 is the same as that described in the first embodiment with respect to the position of the stopper 39 "the reference position (the front end portion 10a of the sheet pressing member is a predetermined distance E from the tangent line J of the contact portion of the paper discharge roll pair 52). The state is set in consideration of securing the state of being stopped at the lower position). On the other hand, the second connecting member 37 has a connecting shaft 41 formed at the other end opposite to the end where the long hole 37a is formed so as to protrude from the rear end 40b of the paper support member 40. It is linked movably.

  The sheet support member 40 is a plate material that is curved slightly upward with respect to the discharge direction A of the sheet 9. The sheet support member 40 is disposed at a position between the two sheet pressing members 10 (A, B) and below the drive shaft 52 c of the drive side roll 52 a in the paper discharge roll pair 52. The Further, the sheet support member 40 is moved in a direction (retraction direction) F1 substantially opposite to the discharge direction A of the sheet 9 and is retracted so as to be accommodated inside the sheet discharge port (51) ( 17) and a position (see FIG. 23, etc.) where the paper 9 has moved so as to protrude to the outside of the paper discharge port in a direction substantially the same as the paper discharge direction A (advance direction) F2. It is supported so that it can move freely between them. In normal times, it is in its retracted position.

  The position of the paper support member 40 when it has advanced to the outside of the paper discharge port (51) is that the front end portion 40a located on the downstream side in the discharge direction A of the paper 9 swings in the direction B1 approaching the stacking surface 55. This is a position where the sheet can be supported at a predetermined height by being in contact with the lower surface of the sheet 9 being discharged while being pressed by the pressing member 10. The height P1 of the leading end portion 40a of the paper support member is preferably, for example, equal to or higher than the height P2 of the presser portion that is the lowest point of the paper presser member 10 when swinging in the descending direction B1 ( FIG. 24). Further, the time when the paper support member 40 is advanced is almost the same as the time when the leading end portion 9a of the thick paper sheet passes through the leading end portion 10a of the sheet pressing member 10 when the leading end portion 9a is at the reference position or after the passage. Preferably it is time.

  The paper support member 40 is installed on the lower surface of the paper support member 40 and is moved in the directions of the arrows F1 and F2 by the drive gear 42. As a result, the paper support member 40 advances to the position retracted inside the paper discharge port and outside the paper discharge port. Moved to position. The drive gear 42 meshes with rack-like teeth formed on the back surface of the paper support member 40. The drive gear 42 is rotated by the rotational power of the motor 43, and is rotated in the forward and reverse directions by the motor itself or a rotation transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the motor. Reference numeral 44 in FIG. 18 is a power transmission shaft for finally transmitting the rotational power of the motor 43 to the drive gear 42. Further, reference numeral 48 is a rotating body rotatably attached to the front end portion 40a of the support member so as not to prevent the discharge of the sheet 9 due to contact with the sheet support member 40.

  The operation of the motor 43 and the like in the paper support member 40 is controlled by the control device 45. The control device 45 is constituted by a central processing unit, a storage device, a control unit, and the like, and is based on a control program stored in a predetermined storage device and detection information input from the detection unit 23 described later. A control action is performed. The control program includes contents for executing an algorithm as shown in FIG.

  The detection device 23 detects whether or not the recording paper 9 is a thick paper. The detecting means 23 in this embodiment actually detects that the sheet 9 is bent and changed so as to bulge outward when it is conveyed on the bent sheet conveying path (existence of occurrence of bending deformation). Thus, the one that predicts and detects whether the sheet 9 is a thick sheet is used.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, the detection device 23 has the discharge path outside the bent discharge path between the discharge roll pair 85 and the discharge roll pair 52 of the fixing device 80. The paper conveyance guide member 58 for the bending space, which is bent so as to expand outward from the degree of bending (curvature), is set outside the paper discharge path, and the paper conveyance guide member 58 for the bending space A contact swinging member 24 that swings in the directions of arrows G1 and G2 about the support shaft 25 as a whole and the tip 24a contacts the sheet 9 that is moving in the bent section, and the swinging of the contact swinging member 24. An optical detection device 26 for optically detecting a moving state is installed and configured. In addition, a normal paper conveyance guide member 53a bent according to the original bending state of the paper discharge path is provided inside the paper discharge path.

  The optical detection device 26 includes a light emitting element 25a that emits light for detection, and a light receiving element 26b that receives the light at a position away from the light emitting element 25a, and the light emitting element 26a and the light receiving element 26b. It is detected whether the rear end portion 24b of the contact swing member 24 swings into the gap and blocks the optical path of the light. Detection information (signal) of the optical detection device 26 is input to the control device 45.

  In the detection device 23, the contact swing member 24 always swings in the arrow G1 direction. The detection time of the detection device 23 (detection time of whether or not the paper 9 is bent) is sandwiched between the discharge roll pair 85 and the discharge roll pair 82 as the paper passing through the paper discharge path. This is done when the paper is being conveyed. This detection time can be obtained, for example, based on detection information of a detection sensor 59 that detects that the leading end portion 9a of the sheet being conveyed has passed (arrived) through the discharge roll pair 82.

  In the detection device 23, in the case of the sheet 9 (C) that moves without being bent outward during the conveyance of the discharge path, as shown in FIG. 19, the sheet is bent in the discharge path. By moving in the following state, the contact oscillating member 24 does not move in the direction of the arrow G2 due to the passage of the sheet 9C because it does not move while changing to a state approaching the sheet conveyance guide member 58 for the bending space. It does not move, and the rear end portion 24b of the contact swing member swings, so that the optical path of the optical detection device 24 is not blocked. At this time, the sheet 9 (C) is detected as “not a thick sheet”.

  Further, in the case of the sheet 9 (D) that moves while being bent outward during the conveyance of the paper discharge path, as shown in FIG. Since it moves while changing to a state where it bends outward so as to approach the paper conveyance guide member 58 for the bending space without being able to proceed following the bending state, it is contacted by the paper portion 9r which is bent and deformed outward. The swing member 24 swings in the direction of the arrow G2, and the optical path of the optical detection device 24 is blocked by the contact swing member 24. At this time, the sheet 9 (D) is detected as “thick paper”. Incidentally, the cardboard is assumed to have a basis weight of 80 gsm or more, for example, but from the viewpoint of being a cardboard that easily generates upward curling, the cardboard has a basis weight of 110 gsm or more.

  The paper discharge and accommodation apparatus 1 that employs the detection device 23 and the control mechanism 28 and includes the paper support member 40 operates as follows.

  First, when the paper 9 after image formation is conveyed through the paper discharge path and discharged, the detection means 23 detects a change (bending deformation) due to the bending of the paper, as shown in FIGS. (Step S10).

  At this time, if the sheet 9 to be discharged is a sheet 9 (C) other than a thick sheet, the sheet 9C is transferred to the discharge roll pair 85 and the discharge roll pair 52 in the discharge path as shown in FIG. The contact rocking member 24 of the detecting means 23 does not rock in the direction of the arrow G2 because it does not move while being deformed to be bent outward when it is sandwiched. The swing of the end 24 b is not detected by the optical detection device 26. Thereby, the control device 45 determines that the discharged paper is the paper 9C other than the thick paper (step S11).

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 22, since the paper support member 40 is in the normal retracted position and does not move to the advanced position, the paper pressing member 10 is also in the reference position. For this reason, the sheet 9 </ b> C is sent out from the sheet discharge port 51 as it is and is discharged and then accommodated on the stacking surface 55. If there is a sheet 9 to be discharged thereafter (step S15), the subsequent sheet discharging operation is similarly continued (steps S1 to S15).

  On the other hand, when the discharged paper 9 is a thick paper 9 (D), the paper 9D is sandwiched between the discharge roll pair 85 and the discharge roll pair 52 in the discharge path as shown in FIG. The contact swinging member 24 of the detecting means 23 swings in the direction of the arrow G2 and moves while changing to a state where it is bent outward when it is in the state of swinging, and swinging of the rear end 24b of the contact swinging member Is detected by the optical detection device 26. Thereby, the control device 45 determines that the discharged paper is the thick paper 9D (step S11).

  In this case, as shown in FIGS. 23 to 24, the sheet support member 40 moves from the normal retreat position to the advanced position based on the predetermined set time, and accordingly, the sheet is conveyed via the control mechanism 28. The presser member 10 also swings in the direction B2 approaching the stacking surface 55 from the reference position (step S12).

  That is, at this time, the motor 43 is driven by the control operation of the control device 45 to rotate the drive gear 42 in the direction of the arrow, so that the paper support member 40 is moved in the direction of the arrow F2 until it reaches the advanced position. Position it outside the outlet. Further, since the connecting shaft 41 of the support member 40 is moved in the direction of the arrow F2 by the advance movement of the paper support member 40, the second connection member 37 of the control mechanism 28 is generally lowered in a state where the second connection member 37 falls down. The first connecting member 35 swings in the direction of arrow E2 about the support shaft 36 in conjunction with the movement of the second connecting member 37. As a result, the sheet pressing member 10 connected to the first connecting member 35 swings in the direction B <b> 2 lowering around the support shaft 11 by the amount by which the first connecting member 35 swings.

  As a result, when the paper 9D is sent out from the paper discharge port 51 by the paper discharge roll pair 52 and discharged, upward curling occurs at both side end portions 9c and 9d as shown in the upper part of FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, the sheet 9D has a side on which the upward curl is generated after the leading end 9a passes the leading end 10a of the sheet pressing member. The sheet pressing member 10 in a state where the ends 9c and 9d swing in the descending direction B2 is pressed downward with a certain pressing force. In addition, at this time, the sheet 9D being discharged is in a state in which the lower surface portion of the center portion 9f is supported from the lower side by the front end portion 40a of the sheet support member 40, as shown in the lower part of FIGS. Also become. At this time, the lower surface of the sheet 9D passes while touching the rotating body 48 that freely rotates at the front end portion of the sheet support member 40.

  When the paper 9D is discharged, the elapsed time from the time when the control device 45 starts the movement operation of the paper support member 40 to the advanced position is counted, and whether the elapsed time has passed a predetermined time. It continues to be determined whether or not (step S13). This predetermined time is, for example, a time required until the rear end portion 9b of the sheet 9D passes the sheet discharge roll pair 52. Note that the passage of the predetermined time is detected when the sheet detection sensor 59 (see FIG. 19 and the like) that detects the passage of the sheet 9 through the discharge roll pair 52 detects the passage of the sheet rear end 9b as described above. It is also possible to substitute when information is obtained.

  When the predetermined time has elapsed, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the paper support member 40 moves from the advanced position to the normal retreat position, and the paper presser member 10 is also loaded via the control mechanism 28 accordingly. It swings in the direction B1 away (up) from the surface 55 and returns to the reference position (step S14).

  That is, at this time, the motor 43 is driven by the control operation of the control device 45 to rotate the drive gear 42 in the opposite direction to the previous case, so that the paper support member 40 is retracted to the position of the arrow F1. And move it to the inside of the paper discharge port. Further, the retraction movement of the paper support member 40 causes the connecting shaft 41 of the support member 40 to move in the direction of the arrow F1, so that the second connecting member 37 of the control mechanism 28 rises up as a whole in the upward direction. In conjunction with the movement of the second connecting member 37, the first connecting member 35 swings in the direction of arrow E1 about the support shaft 36. As a result, the sheet pressing member 10 connected to the first connecting member 35 swings in the direction B <b> 1 ascending about the support shaft 11 by the amount by which the first connecting member 35 swings.

  In the third embodiment, instead of the detection means 23 for detecting whether the paper is being transported by detecting the state during transport of the paper, for example, the paper is thick paper. Other detection means 24 that detects using input information may be applied (FIG. 18). Further, the type of paper to be detected is not limited to thick paper, and it is only necessary to have information regarding the type that can determine that upward curling tends to occur.

  The other detection means 24 is input to the image forming apparatus 5 and information obtained by an input operation for designating the paper 9 to be used as “thick paper” in the information input unit of the operation panel in the image forming apparatus 5. It is configured as means for obtaining information on cardboard designation included together with image information. Such detection means 24 can be incorporated as software in the control device 45 described above. However, the detection means 24 is a dedicated device that can select and input the type of paper (such as cardboard or other paper). You may comprise as an input device. Also in the case of a dedicated input device, the input information is input to the control device 45. When such a detection means 24 is applied, input information on whether or not the paper is a thick paper obtained by the detection means 24 is used by the control device 45, whereby the above-described "detection of change in sheet deflection (see FIG. In step S10), “detection of paper type (whether it is thick paper)” is performed (see FIG. 21).

[Other Embodiments]
The paper discharge accommodating device 1 can be applied to other devices as well as the image forming device 5, for example, post-processing (perforation processing, binding processing, folding processing, etc.) for paper after image formation. You may apply to the post-processing apparatus which performs. In each of the above-described embodiments, the paper discharge accommodating device 1 is such that the paper 9 sent out from the paper discharge port 51 has upward curls at the side end portions 9c and 9d in the discharge direction A (9Y ), It has been explained that the paper 9 can be discharged while the upward curl is corrected by the press by the paper presser member 10, but in any of the embodiments, the paper 9 is the leading end in the discharge direction A. Even in the case of the paper in which the upward curl is generated at 9a and the rear end portion 9b, the deformation due to the upward curl to be generated at the rear end portion 9b of the paper is corrected to some extent by the pressing of the paper pressing member 10. Become so.

  The sheet pressing member 10 in the sheet discharging and storing apparatus 1 may be appropriately changed as necessary with respect to the form, the number of installation, and the installation location. Further, the sheet pressing member 10 is not a supporting structure that swings around the supporting shaft, but, for example, a supporting structure that can move up and down on the upper side of the sheet from which the component that presses the sheet by contacting it from the upper side is sent out. The pressing force of the sheet may be adjusted by controlling the amount of movement (the height position at the time of pressing) in which the pressing component part descends.

  In the first embodiment, instead of the gear-type control interlocking mechanism 26 as the control means 25 of the moving means 20, for example, an angle when the paper contact member 22 moves in the lifting direction C2 is detected and detected. The sheet pressing member 10 is configured to swing and move by a predetermined amount (predetermined swing angle) in a direction B1 or the like that is lowered by an electric device (rotary drive mechanism using a motor, solenoid, etc.) according to the angle. Other control means may be applied.

  The image forming method of the image forming apparatus to which the paper discharge accommodating device 1 is applied is not particularly limited. The image forming device 5 is not limited to an apparatus that forms an unfixed image of a single color, but may be an apparatus that can form a multicolor image that forms unfixed images of a plurality of colors. Further, the image forming device 5 may adopt an intermediate transfer method.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the principal part of the paper discharge | emission accommodation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an outline of an image forming apparatus to which a paper discharge accommodating device according to each embodiment is applied. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of a sheet discharge and storage device and an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the structure of the detection means and control means of a paper pressing member and a movement means in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state when the paper pressing member and each means of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which mainly shows a paper pressing member and a gear type control interlocking mechanism. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the operation direction etc. of a paper pressing member and a gear type control interlocking mechanism. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the state before the paper discharge of a paper discharge | emission storage apparatus, and the progress state at the time of paper (paper which the upward curl does not generate | occur | produce). It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of a paper pressing member and a gear-type control interlocking machine in the state of the middle stage (b) of FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a progress state when discharging a sheet (sheet with upward curling) in the sheet discharge storage device. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating each state of a sheet that is being discharged in each progress state of FIG. 10. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of a paper pressing member and a gear type control interlocking machine in the state of the middle stage (f) of FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the state of the sheet pressing member and the sheet when in the middle stage (f) of FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where a sheet in a state where upward curling has occurred is discharged in an image forming apparatus that is not equipped with a sheet discharge storage device. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part showing a paper discharge and accommodation device (and a part of an image forming apparatus) according to a second embodiment. It is principal part explanatory drawing which shows the structure and operation | movement state of a paper pressing member in FIG. 15, and a lever-type control interlocking mechanism. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of a sheet discharge and storage device (and a part of an image forming apparatus) according to a third embodiment. FIG. 18 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of the sheet discharge accommodation device (and part of the image forming apparatus) of FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration and an operation state of the detection unit in FIG. 18 (when paper other than cardboard is discharged). FIG. 19 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration and an operation state of the detection unit in FIG. 18 (when thick paper is discharged). It is a flowchart which shows the control action of the control apparatus in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when discharging | emitting paper other than the thick paper of the paper discharge accommodation apparatus of FIG. It is a principal part perspective view which shows a state when the cardboard paper of the paper discharge | emission accommodation apparatus of FIG. 17 is discharged | emitted. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the paper discharge | emission accommodation apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which mainly shows the state of the paper in the paper discharge accommodation apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Paper discharge accommodation apparatus, 5 ... Image forming apparatus, 9 ... Recording paper (paper), 9a ... Paper front-end | tip, 9c, 9d ... Side edge (Part of paper), 9f ... Center part (Part of paper) ), 9B ... paper with upward curling, 9D ... thick paper, 10 ... paper pressing member, 20 ... moving means, 21 ... detecting means, 22 ... paper contact member (part of detecting means), 25 ... control means , 26 ... gear-type control interlocking mechanism (part of detection means, control means or interlocking device), 27 ... lever-type control interlocking mechanism (part of detection means, control means or interlocking device), 28 ... control Mechanism (part of control means), 40... Paper support member, 50... Device main body, 51. (Part) 54... Paper stacking storage section 55... Loading surface 60. 80 ... fixing device (fixing unit), B1 ... toward the stacking surface (direction to move toward the stacking surface, or the direction of descent), (a rising direction) away from B2 ... stacking surface.

Claims (9)

Paper discharge means for sending out and discharging paper;
A paper discharge port through which paper fed out by the paper discharge means is discharged;
A paper stacking unit having a stacking surface on which sheets discharged from the paper discharge port are stacked and stored;
A paper holding member that is installed so as to exist on the paper discharge side of the paper discharge port, and that presses a part of the paper when it is being sent out from the paper discharge port from above,
Moving means for moving the sheet pressing member toward the stacking surface;
A sheet contact member that contacts the sheet when it is fed from the sheet discharge port on the outside of the sheet discharge port and displaces in a direction away from the stacking surface;
With
The moving means moves the sheet pressing member in a direction approaching the stacking surface when the displacement amount of the sheet contact member moving away from the stacking surface increases. .   2. The sheet pressing member is supported so that a portion for pressing the sheet moves in a direction in which the sheet is lowered from an upper side of the sheet and a direction in which the sheet is raised. Paper discharge storage device.   One end of the sheet pressing member is swingably supported above the sheet discharge port, and a free end opposite to the one end is in a direction approaching the stacking surface and separated from the stacking surface. The sheet discharge and accommodation device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet discharge and storage device is supported so as to move in a moving direction. 2. The paper discharge and accommodation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit moves the paper pressing member after a leading end of the paper pressing member passes through a portion of the paper pressing member that presses the paper.   2. The paper discharge and accommodation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving means changes a height position of the paper pressing member when pressing the paper.   4. The paper discharge and accommodation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the moving means changes a swing angle when the paper pressing member presses the paper. The paper pressing member is pressed in contact with at least two places in the paper feeding width direction;
2. The paper discharge / accommodating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the paper contact member is installed so as to come into contact with a portion of the paper that is between at least two places where the paper of the paper pressing member is pressed . 2. The paper discharge and accommodation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the moving means is an interlocking device that operates so that the paper pressing member moves based on a displacement operation of the paper contact member . An image forming unit for forming an unfixed image and transferring the image to paper;
A fixing unit for fixing an unfixed image transferred by the image forming unit to paper;
Paper discharge means for sending out and discharging paper having an image fixed by the fixing unit;
A paper discharge port through which paper fed out by the paper discharge means is discharged;
A paper stacking unit having a stacking surface on which sheets discharged from the paper discharge port are stacked and stored;
A paper holding member that is installed so as to exist on the paper discharge side of the paper discharge port, and that presses a part of the paper when it is being sent out from the paper discharge port from above,
Moving means for moving the sheet pressing member toward the stacking surface;
A sheet contact member that contacts the sheet when it is fed from the sheet discharge port on the outside of the sheet discharge port and displaces in a direction away from the stacking surface;
With
It said moving means, when the sheet contact member displacement amount of displacement increases in a direction away from the loading surface, the image forming apparatus according to claim Kotokoto moving the sheet pressing member in a direction approaching toward the stacking surface .

Images