JPH0448708B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sheet stacking device that stacks sheets such as sheets output from an image forming device such as a printer or a copying machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a sheet stacking device that stores outputted sheets in a sheet storage container.

Conventionally, this type of loading device has been configured as follows.

Output paper is stacked on a paper stacking table.

The paper loading table is raised and lowered by a lifting device to keep the loading surface constant.

Once a certain amount of paper is loaded, lower the lifting device to its lowest limit.

In this state, the paper and the paper loading table are stored in the paper storage container.

The paper storage container is installed on a paper table that can be pulled out, and the paper table is pulled out and the paper storage container is removed and transported together with the paper and the paper loading table.

Because of this configuration, there was a risk that the paper tray would be pulled out by mistake while paper was being loaded, resulting in a jam. In addition, the paper storage container must have a paper loading platform placed inside it and set on the container platform, but if you forget to insert the paper loading platform by mistake, it will still jam, and in some cases, there is a risk of damage to the device. It was hot.

The present invention is intended to prevent jamming or damage to the device due to erroneous operation, which is the problem of the prior art described above.

Therefore, in a sheet loading device to which an embodiment of the present invention described below is applied, a locking mechanism is provided on the container stand that can be pulled out, so that the container stand can be pushed in only when the sheet storage container and the sheet loading table are set in a predetermined state. In addition, the structure is such that the seat base cannot be pulled out while sheets are being loaded to prevent erroneous operation.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numerals 12 and 13 denote a pair of conveyance rollers, which are provided on the main body side of an image forming apparatus such as a printer, and function to feed the output paper into the paper stacking device M. 43, 43a, and 44 are guides arranged orthogonally to each other, and have the function of contacting two sides of the output paper 47 for positioning. Also 4
Reference numeral 5 denotes a paddle, the tip of which is made of an elastic body such as rubber, and is rotated in the direction of arrow a by the drive of a motor 46. This battle 45 contacts the paper 47, and its frictional force moves the paper 47 to the guides 43, 43a, 4.
4 to align the sheets 47. Furthermore, 48 is a structural member of the alignment mechanism S, and the paddle 4
5, a motor 46, guides 43, 43a, 44, etc. are attached to this structural member 48 (attachment members are not shown). A lever 51 can be moved in the direction of arrow b to move the alignment mechanism S to a position corresponding to various paper sizes. Further, 53 is a loading platform, with legs 5 bent downward.
3a and 53b, and has a flat surface 5.
Paper 47 is stacked on paper 3c. Reference numeral 54 denotes a lifting device for keeping the height of the paper stacking surface constant at all times, and is moved up and down in the vertical direction along the rail 54a by a motor (not shown). Reference numeral 55 denotes a container stand, which is supported by a slide rail 56 (trade name: AcyuRide), on which the paper storage container 52 can be placed and positioned, and which can be pulled forward by the rail 56 from a predetermined loading position using a handle 55a. The structure is such that it is possible to do so.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the container stand 55 is slid on the rail 56 and pulled out from a predetermined loading position.

When pushing the container stand 55, press the paper storage container 52.
and the space 62 between the loading platform 53 (the bottom surface 52 of the container 52
f is the lifting device 5 located at the lowest limit (between the plane 53c lifted by the legs 53a and 53b)
The fork 54a, which is the tip of the fork 4, is positioned so as to fit therein. Reference numeral 63 denotes a hole provided in the rear side plate of the main body, into which the tip 64b of the detection lever 64 is hooked. Reference numeral 65 denotes a stopper which is hooked onto the detection lever 64 as will be described in detail later.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the paper storage container 52 and loading platform 53 in FIG. 2 are removed, and is a diagram for explaining the container platform 55. FIG.

In the figure, the container stand 55 has holes 1 to 13, which are used for positioning the paper storage container 52 at a predetermined position on the container stand 55.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the paper storage container 52.

The bottom surface 52f of the paper storage container 52 has positioning protrusions 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d,
52e is provided. The protrusions 52a to 52d are located at the corners of the bottom surface 52f, and the protrusion 52e is located at the corner of the bottom surface 52f.
is provided close to the protrusion 52c.

The shape of the angular projection is shown in FIG. Note that the protrusion 52a is illustrated as a representative example. A hole 52a1 is bored in the center of the protrusion 52a. Similarly, the protrusion 52
Holes 52b1 to 52d1 are provided in the centers of b to 52d. Each protrusion 52a, 52b, 52
c, 52d, and 52e fit into holes 1, 6, 7, 8, and 9 provided in the container stand 55, respectively, so that the container 52 is positioned and installed on the container stand 55. . In addition, holes 2 to 5 on the container stand
and 10 to 13 are holes for paper storage containers corresponding to different paper sizes.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the loading platform 53.

This loading table 53 is provided with positioning projections 53d, 53e, 53f, and 53g at the bottoms of the inner bent portions 53a1 and 53b1 of the legs 53a and 53b. Each of the protrusions 53d to 53g is a protrusion 5 provided on the bottom surface 52f of the paper storage container 52.
2a, 52b, 52c, 52d downward recess a
~e, and the loading platform 53 is positioned and installed in the container 52. Moreover, this loading platform 53 is point symmetrical, and can be rotated 180 degrees to open the paper storage container 52.
It is also possible to set it to .

Next, the locking means for restricting pushing and pulling out of the container stand 55 will be explained in detail using the side sectional view of FIG.

The detection lever 64 as a detection means has a hook-shaped shape as shown in the figure. Then, the detection lever 6 is attached to the protrusion 53d that fits into the recess a of the container 52 and positions the loading platform 53 at a predetermined position with respect to the container 52.
The rear end portions 64a of 4 are in light contact with each other. The detection lever 64 is rotatably mounted around a shaft 66 fixed to the container stand 55, and a force acting on the detection lever 64 to rotate it in the direction of arrow c due to its own weight. Note that the container 52 is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the container stand 55 by fitting its protrusion 52a etc. into the hole 1 etc. of the container stand 55.

The operation of the sheet stacking device with the above configuration will be described next.

First, explanation will be given with reference to FIG.

First, e.g. the start button (not shown)
By turning on the loading platform 53, the lifting device 5
4 to raise it to position A on the loading surface. Then, the sheets 47 to be outputted one after another are stacked on the upper surface of the stacking table 53. At this time, the lifting device 54 is lowered using a known technique so as to keep the position of the loading surface A constant (position B in the figure). When the loading table 53 loads the paper 47 to the position C in the figure, a fullness detection mechanism (not shown) operates to stop further paper input.
The lifting device 54 is lowered to the lowest position. As a result, the loading platform 53 is placed at the position D in the figure, and contact between the lifting device 54 and the loading platform 53 is released. Therefore, in this state, the container stand 55 can be pulled out from the predetermined loading position without any hindrance, and the paper storage container 52 can be removed and transported.

Next, a case will be described in which an empty paper storage container 52 is set on the container stand 55.

As shown in FIG. 7, the container 52 having a loading platform positioned at a predetermined position of the container 52 by fitting the protrusions 53d to 53g into the recesses a to d of the container 52 is placed in a hole in the container platform 55. The protrusion 5 on 1 to 4
By fitting 2a to 52d, the container stand 55
When the loading platform 53 is positioned and installed at a predetermined position,
The protrusion 53d hits the rear end 64a of the detection lever 64, and the tip 64b of the detection lever 64 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 66 and hits the stopper 65.
Be in a position where it does not come into contact with the

Therefore, when the loading platform and containers are set properly, the container platform 55 can be pushed into a predetermined loading position.

FIG. 8 shows a case where the paper storage container 52 is not set on the container stand 55. In this case, when the tip 64b of the detection lever 64 rotates clockwise due to its own weight and is displaced to push the container stand 55 to the loading position, it comes to a position where it hits the stopper 65 (the state where it hits is indicated by the dotted line). ).

Therefore, unless the container 52 is set, the container stand 55 cannot be pushed in, and erroneous operation can be prevented.

FIG. 9 shows a case where the paper storage container 52 is set on the container stand 55 in the opposite direction. In this case, the protrusions 52a, 52b, 52c of the paper storage container 52,
52d and 52e cannot fit into the holes 1, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the container stand 55 because of their asymmetrical arrangement. That is, for example, as shown in the figure, the protrusion 52
e hits the container 55. Therefore, the paper storage container 52 rises above the container stand 55, the protrusion 53d is unable to push the rear end 64a of the lever 64, and the detection lever 64 is pushed up against the stopper 6.
This is the position where it touches 5.

Therefore, when the paper storage container 52 is set in the opposite direction, the container stand 55 cannot be pushed into the predetermined loading position, and erroneous operation can be prevented.

In FIG. 10, only the paper storage container 52 is placed on the container stand 5.
5 and the loading platform 53 is not set. The rear end 64a of the lever 64 is not pressed, and the container stand 55 cannot be pushed in, thereby preventing erroneous operation.

Furthermore, FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the case where the loading table 53 is set upside down. In this case as well, the rear end 64a of the lever 64 is not pressed, and the container stand 55 cannot be pushed in in the same way, thereby preventing erroneous operation.

In this way, when the paper storage container 52 is not set on the container table 55 or is set in the opposite direction, or when the loading table 53 is set upside down, the paper storage container 52 and the loading table 53 are
is not properly placed at the predetermined position, the tip 64b of the detection lever 64 and the stopper 6
Pushing of the container stand 55 is restricted by the stopper means constituted by 5 and 5.

Note that the paper storage container 52 and the loading platform 53 are not properly installed.
The first sectional side view shows the state in which the containers and the like are set on the container stand 55 and the container stand 55 is pushed into the predetermined loading position.
This is Figure 2.

The rear end 64a of the detection lever 64 is inserted into the hole 52a1 in the hole 1 and the protrusion 52a of the container stand 55 due to its own weight.
The loading platform 5 protrudes into the container 52 through the
The lever 6 is pressed down by the protrusion 53d of the lever 6.
The tip 64b of 4 rotates clockwise and enters the hole 63 in the rear plate 70 on the main body side.

Next, FIG. 13 shows a loading table 53 for loading paper.
FIG. Since the loading platform 53 is raised while paper is being loaded, the detection lever 64 moves from the state shown in FIG. 12 to the loading platform 5.
3, rotates clockwise due to its own weight, and its tip 64b is inserted into the hole 6 of the rear plate 70 on the main body side.
Caught on 3. Therefore, the container table 55 cannot be pulled out while paper is being loaded, thereby preventing erroneous operation.

Note that when the stacking of sheets is completed and the loading platform 53 descends to the lowest limit, it returns to the state shown in FIG. 12 and the container platform 55 can be pulled out.

In this way, when the loading platform 53 is not located at the lowest limit at the pushing position of the container platform 55, the regulating means consisting of the tip 64a of the detection lever 64 and the hole 63 of the rear plate 70 on the main body side is activated. Therefore, drawing out of the container stand 55 is restricted.

Further, FIG. 14 shows another embodiment, in which the container stand 5
5 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the button 5 is pushed in.

In this embodiment, a photo interrupter 71 is attached to the rear side plate 70 of the previous embodiment. When the paper storage container 52 and the loading table 53 are set in the normal state and the container 55 is pushed into the predetermined loading position, the detection lever 64 moves to the photo interrupter 7.
0 is intercepted, and it is detected that it has been set normally. Thereafter, in response to the detection signal, the lifting device 54 is controlled to rise.

Therefore, the set state can be detected reliably. In addition, the elevating device 54 after loading paper
When the photo interrupter 70 detects the detection lever 64 when lowering the (to stop the lifting device).

As described above, this embodiment directly detects the operation of the paper loading table 53, so it can be detected most reliably.

Note that the detection means is not limited to the detection lever shown in the embodiment, and includes, for example, one constructed by applying a link mechanism. Further, the stopper member is not limited to the stopper shown in the embodiment, but may be a member having a protrusion that removably engages with the recess of the detection means, etc. Any device may be used as long as it allows the container to be displaced when it is detected that the container is placed in a fixed position. Further, the restricting means is not limited to the hole shown in the embodiment, but may be a member having a convex portion that removably engages with the recessed portion of the detecting means, for example.

As explained above, the present invention can prevent all kinds of erroneous operations when setting the sheet storage container and loading platform on the container pedestal, and can also prevent erroneous operations such as pulling out the container pedestal during loading. It is now possible to prevent jams and damage to the equipment.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the embodiment;
The figure is a perspective view showing the container stand pulled out.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the container stand, Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the paper storage container, Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the protrusion of the paper storage container, Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the loading platform, and Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the paper storage container. 8 is a side sectional view of the locking mechanism when the paper storage container is not set; FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the locking mechanism when the paper storage container is set upside down. Figure 10 is a side sectional view of the locking mechanism when the loading platform is not set, Figure 11 is a side sectional view of the locking mechanism when the loading platform is set upside down, and Figure 12 is when the container platform is pushed in. FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of the locking mechanism when the loading platform is raised, and FIG. 14 is a side sectional view showing another embodiment. 1-13...hole, 52...paper storage container, 52
a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e...protrusions,
53... Loading platform, 53d, 53e, 53f, 53
g...Protrusion, 64...Detection lever, 55...Container stand, 65...Stopper, 63...Hole, 54...
Lifting device, 71...photo interrupter.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A sheet loading device for loading and storing sheets, comprising: a container stand that can be taken in and out of the device body; a sheet storage container that is removably disposed at a predetermined position on the container stand; a sheet loading table disposed in a predetermined position of the sheet storage container so as to be removable; a detection means for detecting that each of the sheet storage container and the sheet loading table is placed at the predetermined position; and the detection means. If it is detected that both the sheet storage container and the sheet loading platform are placed at the predetermined position, the container platform is enabled to be taken in and taken out, and if it is not detected, the container platform is enabled to be taken in and out. A sheet loading device comprising: a locking means for preventing the loading of sheets. 2. The detection means is a lever that is provided on the container stand and swings depending on the arrangement position of the sheet storage container and the sheet loading stand, and the locking means locks the container stand by swinging the lever. Claim 1, which engages and releases the device main body side.
Sheet loading device as described in section. 3. A sheet loading device that loads and stores sheets, comprising: a container stand that can be taken in and out of the device body; a sheet storage container that is removably placed at a predetermined position on the container stand; and a predetermined position of the sheet storage container. a sheet loading table arranged to be removable in and out of the position; a detection means for detecting that each of the sheet storage container and the sheet loading table is placed at the predetermined position; When the detection means detects that both the sheet storage container and the sheet loading platform are placed at the predetermined position in the pulled out position, the container platform is inserted into the main body of the apparatus. a stopper means that enables insertion and prevents insertion if not detected; and a stopper means that, when the container stand is inserted into the apparatus main body, the detection means is configured such that both the sheet storage container and the sheet loading stand are in the predetermined position. A sheet loading device comprising: a regulating means that enables the container stand to be pulled out from the device main body when it is detected that the container stand is placed in the position, and prevents the sheet loading device from being pulled out when it is not detected. .