JPS6223696B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a rotatable paper discharge tray including a main tray and an auxiliary tray, and is particularly useful for receiving copied paper from a copying machine.

Conventionally, in copying machines, the effective area of the paper output tray is constant regardless of the paper size to be copied, and some users may change the effective area of the paper output tray even when only small paper sizes are frequently used. was impossible. In general, the exclusive area of a copying machine is defined as the sum of the exclusive area of the copying machine body and the projected area occupied by the cassette and paper discharge tray. In other words, for those who wish to have a small copying machine, there is a strong desire to reduce the size of the copying machine body as well as the area occupied by the copying machine including the cassette and paper ejection tray.

As an attempt to reduce the area occupied by the paper output tray, there are methods that store the auxiliary tray in a semi-rotating manner,
Sliding and rotating storage types have been proposed, but in the half-rotation storage type, when the auxiliary tray is stored, it does not function as a paper output tray, and the copying machine cannot be used. It was possible to store it only if it was not used. Furthermore, the sliding storage type has a disadvantage in that the mechanism is complicated and operation is difficult. On the other hand, for the rotary storage type, a paper output tray made of sheet metal has been proposed, but when the auxiliary tray is stored or opened, the step between the auxiliary tray and the main tray or the notch in the auxiliary tray may be removed. The problem was that the paper folded in some parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to eliminate the above drawbacks and provide a rotatable paper discharge tray mainly consisting of a main tray and an auxiliary tray, which allows stable paper feeding when the auxiliary tray is stowed and opened.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the auxiliary tray of the paper discharge tray according to the present invention opened, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view thereof. Similarly, FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the auxiliary tray when it is housed in the main tray, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view thereof. In those drawings, a main tray 1 rotatably supports an auxiliary tray 2. The main tray 1 includes a first side 3 for receiving paper output and an auxiliary tray 2.
A second surface 5 is formed with a step 4 so that it can be rotated and stored. Further, the second surface 5 is provided with a paper guide rib 6 having a height extending from the first surface 3 at approximately the center thereof.

This paper guide rib 6 is for preventing the copy paper from bending when passing through the step 4. That is, when the auxiliary tray 2 is open, the drop created by the step 4 is large, so that weak copy paper tends to bend and cannot slide smoothly on the tray. Then,
A paper guide rib is formed approximately at the center of the sheet to straddle this step and force the copy paper to have a convex stiffness to prevent bending.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a long hole formed across the second surface 5 of the main tray 1 and the auxiliary tray 2 to make it easier to take out small-sized copy paper, and also when the auxiliary tray 2 is stored as shown in Figure 2a. But it's designed to do the same thing. The elongated hole end surface 7' on the side of the auxiliary tray 2 is formed at an acute angle with the copy paper passage surface so that the ejected copy paper does not get caught. 8 is a notch formed at the end of the auxiliary tray 2, and when the auxiliary tray 2 is stored in the main tray 1 as shown in FIG. 2a, the paper guide rib 6 provided on the second surface 5 of the main tray 1 This was done so that it would not become an obstacle. The rotational connection between the main tray 1 and the auxiliary tray 2 is as shown in FIG.
The connecting end of the main tray 1 is formed into an L-shape 9 to receive the connecting end of the main tray 1. This also has the role of regulating the open position of the auxiliary tray 2 so that it is substantially flush with the second surface 5 of the main tray 1.

Further, on the back surface of the connection end of the second surface 5 of the main tray 1, support members 10 for supporting and fixing the L-shaped connection end 9 of the auxiliary tray 2 are provided on both sides of the elongated hole 7. Note that the support member 10 may have a shape that fits into the L-shaped connecting end 9 of the auxiliary tray 2.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, an R portion (curved surface) and a horizontal portion 10a are formed to support the load so as not to create resistance to the rotation of the L-shaped connecting end 9 of the auxiliary tray 2 when mating. Do it like this.

Numerals 11, 11', and 11'' are reinforcing ribs, and a plurality of them are formed on both the front and back sides of the paper discharge tray. In this case, the paper guide ribs 6 may be formed at the same height as the reinforcing ribs. Reinforcing ribs are not necessarily required if the paper discharge tray is made of a material.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the effective area of the paper ejection tray can be easily changed according to the copy size by rotating the auxiliary tray to accommodate and open it, using an inexpensive and simple structure. Even when holding multiple sheets of copy paper, the auxiliary tray does not deform, allowing smooth paper feeding and saving space in the copying machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1a and b are perspective views and cross-sectional views of an auxiliary tray according to an embodiment of the present invention in an open state, and Figures 2a and b are perspective views of the same embodiment when the auxiliary tray is housed in the main tray. FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view for explaining the connecting portion between the main tray and the auxiliary tray in the same embodiment. 1... Main tray, 2... Auxiliary tray, 3... First surface, 4... Step, 5... Second surface, 6... Paper guide rib, 7... Long hole, 8... Notch, 9... L-shaped connection end, 10... Support member, 11, 11', 1
1″...Reinforcement rib.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. The main tray includes a main tray and an auxiliary tray, and the main tray has a second surface provided with a step that can rotatably accommodate the first surface and the auxiliary tray, and a substantially central portion of the second surface. is provided with a paper guide rib having a height extending from the first surface, and the connecting end of the auxiliary tray is formed into an L shape so that it can be locked with the connecting end of the main tray, and the auxiliary tray is rotated. The main tray is movably supported, and an elongated hole is provided in the substantially central portion extending between the second surface of the main tray and the auxiliary tray, and a long hole is provided at the end of the auxiliary tray so that the second surface of the main tray can be movably supported. A notch is provided in the paper guide rib provided on the two sides to a degree that does not cause an obstruction, and support members are provided on both sides of the elongated hole at the connecting end of the main tray to support the L-shaped connecting end of the auxiliary tray. A paper output tray featuring 2. The paper discharge tray according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of reinforcing ribs are formed on both the front and back surfaces of the main tray and the auxiliary tray.