JP2005350187A - Sheet ejecting device and image forming device equipped with it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a sheet ejecting means to make not only the sheet ejecting motions but also perform the offset operation. <P>SOLUTION: A sheet ejecting device 400 is equipped with: a stacking tray 18 whereon sheets are stacked; and an eject roller 11 movable in the direction intersecting the sheet transporting direction and ejecting the sheets to the tray 18, wherein the eject roller 11 is moved selectively to the specified position of the tray 18 or the offset position different from the specified position and ejects the sheets to the selected position. In this manner, the eject roller 11 is equipped with not only the function to eject the sheets but also the function to put the sheets in offset movement, so that the sheet ejecting device has a simplified structure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet discharge device in which when there is a sheet to be interrupted and discharged during the continuous discharge of the sheet, the interrupted sheet is offset and discharged so that it can be distinguished from other sheets. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided in an apparatus main body.

  Examples of the image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet include a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a complex machine of these. The image forming apparatus may be provided with a sheet discharging apparatus that offsets and discharges an interrupt sheet when there is a sheet to be interrupted and discharged while the sheets are continuously discharged (see Patent Document 1). .

Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 4-22826

  However, the conventional sheet discharging apparatus has a complicated structure because the mechanism for offsetting the sheet and the mechanism for discharging the offset sheet are separated for offset discharging.

  In addition, when the interruption occurs a plurality of times, all the sheets are discharged to the same offset position, so it may be difficult to distinguish the interruption sheets from each other. In particular, when interrupts occur continuously, the interrupt sheets overlap each other, making it difficult to distinguish between interrupt sheets.

  For example, the interruption may be performed by offsetting the sheet every predetermined number of sheets while discharging a plurality of sheets to make it easier to grasp the number of sheets or when discharging different types of sheets. Occurs when it is easy to distinguish between

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet discharging apparatus in which the sheet discharging means can perform not only a sheet discharging operation but also an offset operation.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet discharge device that can discharge sheets to a plurality of offset positions.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet discharging apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the sheet discharge apparatus of the present invention can move in a direction intersecting with the sheet stacking unit on which the sheets are stacked and the sheet conveying direction, and can discharge the sheet to the sheet stacking unit. A sheet discharging means, wherein the sheet discharging means selectively moves to a predetermined position of the sheet stacking means and an offset position different from the predetermined position, and puts the sheet at the selected position. It comes to discharge.

  In the sheet discharge apparatus of the present invention, the predetermined position is set to a position where the sheet is conveyed to the sheet discharge unit.

  In the sheet discharge apparatus of the present invention, the predetermined position is set to a position that is a predetermined distance away from a position where the sheet is conveyed to the sheet discharge unit in a direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction. .

  The sheet discharge apparatus according to the present invention includes an alignment position that moves in a direction crossing the sheet conveyance direction and aligns the side edges of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit, and a standby position that is separated from the alignment position. A sheet aligning means that is movable between the predetermined position, the offset position, the standby position, and the alignment position in a direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction. , The alignment position, and the offset position.

  In the sheet discharge apparatus of the present invention, there are a plurality of the offset positions, and the sheet discharge means selectively discharges the sheet to the offset positions.

  In the sheet discharging apparatus of the present invention, the sheet discharging means discharges the sheets in order from an offset position close to the predetermined position when discharging the sheet to the offset position.

  In the sheet discharge apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet discharge unit includes a pair of rollers that can discharge the sheet to the sheet stacking unit and can move in a direction crossing the sheet conveyance direction. .

  The sheet discharging apparatus of the present invention includes sheet aligning means for aligning the side end portions of the sheets stacked at a predetermined position of the sheet stacking means, and the side end portions of the sheets are opposite to the offset side. Side end.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; and a sheet discharge device that aligns the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit. The sheet discharge device is any one of the sheet discharge devices described above.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is movable in an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet stacking unit on which sheets are stacked, and a direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction. And a sheet discharging means capable of discharging the sheet to the sheet stacking means, wherein the sheet discharging means is selectively provided at a predetermined position of the sheet stacking means and an offset position different from the predetermined position. It is possible to move and discharge the sheet to the selected position.

  The sheet discharge device of the present invention has a function of selectively moving the sheet discharge unit to a predetermined position of the sheet stacking unit and an offset position different from the predetermined position, in addition to the function of discharging the sheet. The structure can be simplified.

  Since the sheet discharge apparatus according to the present invention is configured to discharge the interrupt sheet by offset, the sheet that is not the interrupt sheet and the interrupt sheet can be easily distinguished by visual inspection.

  Since the sheet discharge device of the present embodiment can change the offset amount for each interrupt sheet, the interrupt sheets can be easily distinguished from each other by visual observation. In particular, when the interrupt sheets are continuously stacked, the interrupt sheets are easily distinguished from each other.

  Hereinafter, a sheet discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and an image forming apparatus including the sheet discharge apparatus in an apparatus main body will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic front sectional view of a copying machine which is an example of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet discharging apparatus of the present invention in the apparatus main body. Examples of the image forming apparatus include a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and a complex machine of these. Therefore, the sheet discharge apparatus of the present invention is connected to an apparatus other than the apparatus main body of the copying machine. The sheet discharging apparatus is connected to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body, but may be incorporated into the apparatus main body.

(Copier)
The copier 501 includes a reader unit 100, a printer unit 200, a sheet discharge device 400, and the like. An ADF 300 that supplies originals one by one onto the platen glass 102 is provided at the top of the copier 501. The ADF 300 is not necessarily provided, and the user may place the document directly on the platen glass 102. A sheet discharging apparatus 400 capable of offset discharging sheets discharged from the apparatus main body 501A of the copying machine 501 is connected to the side of the apparatus main body 501A of the copying machine 501.

  The reader unit 100 converts a document into image data. The printer unit 200 has a plurality of types of sheet cassettes 204 and 205 on which a plurality of sheets are stacked, and forms image data as a visible image on a sheet by a print command.

  The reader unit 100 uses an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as “ADF”) 300 to convey and pass a document to a predetermined position on the platen glass 102 while stopping the scanner unit 104 at the predetermined position. The light of the lamp 103 of the scanner unit 104 is irradiated to the original or the user opens the ADF 300 and the original placed on the plantain glass 102 is irradiated with the light of the lamp 103 of the scanner unit 104 moved in the left-right direction. .

  The reflected light from the document is input to the CCD image sensor unit 109 through the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 108. The reflected light of the original irradiated to the CCD image sensor unit 109 is subjected to electrical processing such as photoelectric conversion in the CCD image sensor unit 109 and is subjected to normal digital processing. Thereafter, these image signals are input to the printer unit 200.

  The image signal input to the printer unit 200 is modulated by the exposure control unit 201 and converted into an optical signal, and irradiates, for example, a photoconductor 202 that is an image forming unit. The latent image formed on the photosensitive member 202 by the irradiation light is developed with toner by the developing unit 203 to become a toner image. Then, in synchronization with the leading edge of the toner image, the sheet is conveyed from one of the sheet cassettes 204 and 205, and the toner image is transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit 206. The transferred toner image is fixed on the sheet by the fixing unit 207. The sheet on which the toner image is fixed passes through a path 214 and is discharged from the sheet discharge unit 208 to the outside of the apparatus main body 501A of the copier 501. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged by the sheet discharge device 400.

(Sheet discharge device)
A sheet discharge device 400 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided on a side portion of the apparatus main body 501A of the copying machine 501, and is, for example, an upper stack tray 18, which is a sheet stacking unit, an upper sheet transport discharge path 62, a sheet. For example, a lower stacking tray 37 as a stacking unit, and a lower sheet conveyance / discharge path 63 are provided.

(Mechanism for conveying sheets through the upper sheet conveyance path)
A timing belt 5 is stretched between the rotation shaft of the conveyance drive motor 6 that is started by the operation of the inlet sensor S1 and the connection gear 4. A timing belt 3 is stretched between the connecting gear 4 and the upper entrance roller 1. A driven roller 2 is in pressure contact with the upper entrance roller 1. A timing belt 8 is stretched between the discharge drive motor 7 and the connecting gear 9. The timing belt 10 is stretched over the connecting gear 9, the upper discharge roller 11, and the idler pulley 64. A timing belt 29 is stretched between the upper discharge roller 11 and the lower discharge roller 30. A driven roller 12 is in pressure contact with the upper discharge roller 11. The timing belt 10 is also stretched over the upper knurled belt driving roller 90, and the upper knurled belt 19 is driven by the upper knurled belt driving roller 90.

  The sheet conveyed through the upper sheet conveying / discharging path 62 includes an upper inlet roller 1 and a driven roller 2 that are rotated by driving of the conveying driving motor 6, an upper discharging roller 11 that is rotated by driving of the discharging driving motor 7, and It is conveyed by the driven rollers 12 and discharged to the upper stacking tray 18.

  An inlet sensor S1 is disposed on the upstream side of the upper entrance roller 1. The entrance sensor S1 detects the leading edge and trailing edge of the sheet sent from the apparatus main body 501A of the copying machine 501 to the sheet discharging apparatus 400. A flapper 13 is disposed near the downstream side of the inlet sensor S1. The flapper 13 can change the sheet conveying direction to one of the upper stacking tray 18 and the lower stacking tray 37 by a driving solenoid 14.

  On the upstream side of the upper paper discharge roller 11, an upper paper discharge sensor S2 is provided. The upper sheet discharge sensor S2 detects the leading edge and trailing edge of the conveyed sheet. The upper stacking tray 18 is provided with a sheet detection sensor S7 that detects whether or not a sheet is stacked on the upper stacking tray 18.

  When the sheet is discharged from the upper discharge roller 11, the upper discharge sensor S2 detects the trailing edge of the sheet. At this time, depending on the sheet, offset discharge described later is performed. Based on the sheet detection operation of the upper sheet discharge sensor S2, the upper paddle motor 16 is started and the upper paddle 17 starts to rotate. At this time, the trailing edge of the sheet has already passed through the upper paper discharge roller 11. The upper paddle 17 is fed between, for example, a plurality of upper knurled belts 19 and the upper stacking tray 18 as a regulation holding unit that regulates a sheet dropped on the upper stacking tray 18 as an alignment reference for sheet shifting. The upper knurled belt 19 has already been rotated together with the upper sheet discharge roller 11 by the timing belt 10, and the sheets are abutted against the stacking wall portion 20 to align the trailing ends of the sheets. Since the seat is in the vicinity of the upper knurled belt 19, the seat is reliably pulled in and the rear end portion is aligned. Thereafter, the aligning operation of the end along the sheet conveyance direction, that is, the side end of the sheet is performed. The side edge alignment operation will be described later. The alignment of the trailing edge of the sheet may be performed after the alignment of the side edge of the sheet.

(Mechanism for conveying the sheet through the lower sheet conveyance path)
A timing belt 5 is stretched between the rotation shaft of the conveyance drive motor 6 that is started by the operation of the inlet sensor S1 and the connection gear 4. A plurality of lower entry rollers 21 and driven rollers 22 driven by the lower entry rollers 21 are rotated by the rotation of the connecting gear 4. A timing belt 23 is wound around the lower entrance roller 21 and the plurality of vertical path first rollers 24. A driven roller 25 that is driven and rotated is in pressure contact with the vertical path first roller 24. A timing belt 26 is stretched between the vertical path first roller 24 and the vertical path second roller 27. A driven roller 28 that is driven and rotated is in pressure contact with the vertical path second roller 27. A timing belt 29 is stretched between the upper discharge roller 11 and the lower discharge roller 30. A driven roller 31 that is driven and rotated is pressed against the plurality of lower discharge rollers 30. Further, a timing belt 35 is stretched over the lower discharge roller 30, the idler pulley 65 and the lower knurl belt driving roller 99, and the lower knurl belt 36 is driven by the lower knurl belt driving roller 99.

  A sheet conveyed through the lower sheet conveying discharge path 63 is pressed against the lower inlet roller 21, the vertical path first roller 24, the vertical path second roller 27, and the respective rollers which are rotated by driving of the conveyance drive motor 6. The driven rollers 22, 25, and 28, and the lower discharge rollers 30 and the driven rollers 31 that are rotated by the discharge drive motor 7 are conveyed to the lower stack tray 37. At this time, depending on the sheet, offset discharge described later is performed.

  Between the lower entrance roller 21 and the vertical path first roller 24, a vertical path first sensor S3 is disposed. Between the vertical path first roller 24 and the vertical path second roller 27, a vertical path second sensor S4 is disposed. Between the vertical path second roller 27 and the lower discharge roller 30, a lower discharge sensor S5 is disposed. These sensors S3, S4, and S5 detect the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet. The lower stacking tray 37 is also provided with a sheet detection sensor S8 that detects whether or not sheets are stacked on the lower stacking tray 37.

  When the lower sheet discharge sensor S5 detects the trailing edge of the sheet, the lower paddle motor 33 is started and the lower paddle 34 starts to rotate. At this time, the trailing edge of the sheet has already passed through the lower paper discharge roller 30. The lower paddle 34 is fed between, for example, a plurality of knurled belts 36 and the lower stacking tray 37 as a regulation holding unit that regulates a sheet dropped on the lower stacking tray 37 as an alignment reference for sheet shifting. The lower knurl belt 36 has already been rotated together with the lower paper discharge roller 30 by the timing belt 35 spanned between the lower paper discharge roller 30 and the idler pulley 65, and the sheet abuts against the stacking wall portion 38, Align the trailing edge. Since the seat is in the vicinity of the lower knurled belt 36, the seat is reliably pulled in and the rear end portion is aligned. Thereafter, the aligning operation of the end along the sheet conveyance direction, that is, the side end of the sheet is performed. The side edge alignment operation will be described later. The alignment of the trailing edge of the sheet may be performed after the alignment of the side edge of the sheet.

  The sheet discharge device 400 according to the present embodiment performs an offset mode discharge process in addition to the normal discharge mode when discharging sheets to the upper stack tray 18 and the lower stack tray 37.

  In the offset mode, the upper sheet discharge roller 11 and the driven roller 12 sandwich the sheet, or the lower sheet discharge roller 30 and the driven roller 31 intersect the sheet conveyance direction with the sheet interposed therebetween (sheet width direction). ) And the sheet is shifted in the width direction and discharged. The driven rollers 12 and 31 are moved via the sheet as the upper and lower discharge rollers 11 and 30 move.

(Movement device for upper discharge roller)
A discharge roller moving device 77 for moving the upper discharge roller 11 in the sheet width direction will be described with reference to FIG. The upper discharge roller 11 is provided integrally with the rotation shaft 71. The rotating shaft 71 is supported by a bearing (not shown) and disposed in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. The rotating shaft 71 is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown) so as to be movable in the thrust direction (arrows A and B directions (sheet width direction)). The rotating shaft 71 passes through the pulley 72. The pulley 72 is rotatably supported by a support member (not shown) so as to be restricted from moving in the thrust direction. The timing belt 10 is hung on the pulley 72. The pulley 72 is configured to transmit rotation to the rotating shaft 71 by circulation of the timing belt 10. For this reason, a spline groove is formed in the inner diameter of the pulley 72, and a part of the rotary shaft 71 is a spline shaft. That is, the pulley 72 and the rotating shaft 71 are coupled by a so-called spline mechanism. As a result, the rotating shaft 71 can be rotated by receiving the rotational force of the pulley 72 and can be offset in the thrust direction.

  In a part of the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 71, a plurality of grooves 73 along the rotational direction are formed along the thrust direction. A worm gear 74 is engaged with the groove 73. The worm gear 74 is rotated by a discharge roller moving motor 76 via a timing belt 75.

  Therefore, the upper discharge roller 11 is offset by the rotation of the discharge roller moving motor 76 while being rotated by the rotation of the pulley 72 while the conveyed sheet is sandwiched between the driven rollers 12. Thus, the sheet is discharged near a left alignment plate 40 or a right alignment plate 39 described later. The discharge roller moving motor 76, the timing belt 75, the worm gear 74, the rotating shaft 71 and the like constitute a discharge roller moving device 77. The configuration of the discharge roller moving device 77 and the upper discharge roller 11 is an example of a sheet discharge unit. Note that the configuration of the sheet discharge roller moving device that moves the lower sheet discharge roller 30 (not shown) and the lower sheet discharge roller 30 is also an example of the sheet discharge unit.

  The lower discharge roller 30 is also moved in the width direction of the sheet by a discharge roller moving device similar to the discharge roller moving device 77, and illustration and description thereof are omitted.

(Left alignment plate offset device)
The left alignment plate 40 moves in the direction of arrow B to align the left end of the sheet. A timing belt 93 is hung on the left alignment plate driving motor 42 and a pulley 92 integral with the pinion 91. The pinion 91 meshes with a rack 94 that is integral with the left alignment plate 40. The position of the left alignment plate 40 shown in FIG. 3 is the home position. The position is detected by shielding the detection portion of the home position sensor S6b provided on the main body with the detection plate 1b provided on the left alignment plate 40. The left alignment plate driving motor 42, the timing belt 93, the pulley 92, the pinion 91, the rack 94, and the like constitute a left offset device 80 of the left alignment plate 40. The configuration including the left offset device 80 and the left alignment plate 40 is an example of a sheet alignment unit.

  Therefore, when the left alignment plate driving motor 42 rotates, the left alignment plate 40 rotates the pinion 91 via the timing belt 93 and the pulley 92, and the rack 94 moves in the direction of arrow B. The left end can be aligned.

(Offset device for right alignment plate)
The right alignment plate 39 is moved in the direction of arrow A to align the right end of the sheet. A timing belt 83 is hung on the right alignment plate driving motor 41 and the pulley 82 integrated with the pinion 81. The pinion 81 meshes with a rack 84 that is integral with the right alignment plate 39. The position of the right alignment plate 39 shown in FIG. 3 is the home position. The position is detected by shielding the detection unit with a home position sensor S6a provided on the main body of the detection plate 1a provided on the right alignment plate 39. The right alignment plate driving motor 41, the timing belt 83, the pulley 82, the pinion 81, the rack 84, and the like constitute a right offset device 70 for the right alignment plate 39. The configuration including the right offset device 70 and the right alignment plate 39 is an example of a sheet alignment unit.

  Therefore, when the right alignment plate driving motor 41 rotates, the right alignment plate 39 rotates the pinion 81 via the timing belt 83 and the pulley 82, and the rack 84 moves in the direction of arrow A. The right end can be aligned.

(Elevating device for upper stack tray)
As shown in FIG. 2, the base of the upper stacking tray 18 that lifts and lowers the upper stacking tray 18 is fixed on the upper tray base 44. Upper guide rollers 46 and 47 are rotatably attached to the upper tray table 44. The guide rollers 46 and 47 are engaged with a vertically long upper guide rail 60. An upper timing belt 54 is connected to the upper tray base 44. The upper timing belt 54 circulates by receiving the rotational force of the upper tray motor 56 via the timing belt 58, the worm gear 50, and the worm wheel 51.

  Therefore, in the upper stacking tray 18, the upper tray motor 56 rotates, the upper timing belt 54 circulates, and the upper tray base 44 moves up and down by the guidance of the upper guide rail 60 and the guide rollers 46 and 47. The upper tray base 44 is moved up and down integrally.

(Lowering tray lifting device)
As shown in FIG. 2, the lifting device 67 that lifts and lowers the lower stacking tray 37 has the same mechanism as the lifting device of the upper stacking tray 18. That is, the base of the lower stacking tray 37 of the lower stacking tray lifting device is fixed on the lower tray base 45. Lower guide rollers 48 and 49 are rotatably attached to the lower tray base 45. The guide rollers 48 and 49 are engaged with the vertically long lower guide rail 61. A lower timing belt 55 is connected to the lower tray base 45. The lower timing belt 55 circulates by receiving the rotational force of the lower tray motor 57 via the timing belt 59, the worm gear 52, and the worm wheel 53.

  Therefore, in the lower stacking tray 37, the lower tray motor 57 rotates, the lower timing belt 55 circulates, and the lower tray base 45 is moved up and down by the guide of the lower guide rail 61 and the guide rollers 48 and 49. The lower tray base 45 is moved up and down integrally.

(Control unit of sheet discharge device)
FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the sheet discharging apparatus 400.

  The control unit 520 (see FIG. 1) in the apparatus main body 501A of the copying machine 501 transmits a command related to sheet handling after image formation to a CPU 510 (Central Processing Unit) of the sheet discharge apparatus 400. ing. The CPU 510 of the sheet discharge apparatus 400 returns status information and the like to the control unit 520 in the apparatus main body 501A of the copying machine. Exchange of these signals is performed via the interface controller 511. Note that the control unit 520 and the CPU 510 are separate, but may be integrally provided in either the apparatus main body 501 or the sheet discharge apparatus 400.

  The ROM 512 stores a control program and the like corresponding to the sheet offset operation order of the sheet discharge apparatus 400, that is, the offset operation order and the sheet alignment operation order shown in the flowchart of FIG. The RAM 514 stores information necessary for executing the operation, and is used as a working memory. The EEPROM 515 is a non-volatile memory that stores device-specific parameters or information used continuously.

  The input port of the CPU 510 includes an inlet sensor S1, an upper discharge sensor S2, a first vertical path sensor S3, a second vertical path sensor S4, a lower discharge sensor S5, a home position sensor S6a, a home position sensor S6b, and a sheet detection sensor. S7 and the sheet detection sensor S8 are electrically connected.

  The output port of the CPU 510 includes a conveyance drive motor 6, a discharge drive motor 7, a right alignment plate drive motor 41, a left alignment plate drive motor 42, a discharge roller moving motor 76, other motors and a solenoid 14, and the like. Are electrically connected.

  The CPU 510 includes information from the control unit 420 of the apparatus main body 501A, a control program stored in the ROM 512, information necessary for execution of operations stored in the RAM 514 and the EEPROM 515, and input / output ports (I / O) 516 and 517. Based on the detection signals and the like of the sensors S1 to S8 that can be read out almost in real time via a drive, a drive motor 6, discharge drive motor 7, right alignment plate drive motor via a drive unit (driver circuit) 518 41, the left alignment plate driving motor 42, the discharge roller moving motor 76, driving of other motors, the solenoid 14, driving of other solenoids, and the like.

(Sheet ejection operation of the sheet ejection device)
The upper sheet discharge roller 11 and the driven roller are arranged such that the sheet length center (width center CL1) in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction is aligned with the width direction center CL2 of the upper sheet conveyance path 62. Suppose that it is sent between the two. It is assumed that the sheet is transported through the upper sheet transport path 62 and stacked on the upper stacking tray 18 with its left end aligned. If there is a sheet to be interrupted, the interrupt sheet is discharged to the right of the alignment position. Since the operation of transporting the sheet transporting / discharging path on the lower stage side and discharging it to the lower stacking tray 37 is the same, the description of the operation is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the sheet is positioned between the upper sheet discharge roller 11 and the driven roller 12 with the width center CL1 of the sheet P1 aligned with the width center CL2 of the upstream sheet conveyance / discharge path 62. It is sent. Based on the sheet detection operation of the upper discharge sensor S2, the CPU 510 moves the upper discharge roller 11 by the discharge roller moving device 77 after the sheet P1 reaches between the upper discharge roller 11 and the driven roller 12. Move to the left alignment plate 40 side. At this time, the sheet P1 is sandwiched between the upper discharge roller 11 and the driven roller 12 and moves in the same direction (FIG. 8B). When the left end of the sheet P1 is positioned between the alignment position 95 of the left alignment plate 40 and the home position 96 of the left plywood 40, the upper sheet discharge roller 11 rotates to transfer the sheet to the upper stack tray 18. Eject and return to original position. The upper discharge roller 11 may discharge the sheet while moving in the left direction.

  Thereafter, the CPU 510 moves the left alignment plate 40 to the alignment position 95 by the left offset device 80 to move the sheet P1 to the alignment position. At the same time, the CPU 510 moves the right alignment plate 39 waiting at the standby position 97 to the left by the right moving device 70 in accordance with the sheet width size information, and contacts the right end of the sheet P1. As a result, the sheet P1 is positioned at the alignment position (FIG. 8C). After completing the sheet alignment, the CPU 510 returns the left and right alignment plates 40 and 39 to the home positions 96 and 97 by the left and right offset devices 80 and 70.

  In this way, the conveyed sheets are sequentially stacked in alignment with the position shown in FIG. Note that the sheet may be discharged to the alignment position shown in FIG. 8C and aligned to the alignment position by the left and right alignment plates 40 and 39, or may be left discharged to the alignment position. In addition, the left and right alignment plates 40 and 39 may not be aligned.

(Description of offset discharge operation of interrupt sheet in sheet discharge device)
(When the position (predetermined position) at which a sheet (normal sheet) that is not an interrupt sheet is discharged onto the upper stacking tray 18 is set to the left alignment position 95)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an offset discharge stacking operation of interrupt sheets.

  When the interrupt sheet is conveyed with the width center CL2 of the sheet discharge conveyance path coincident with the width center of the interrupt sheet itself (S301), the CPU 510 currently has a preceding interrupt sheet and moves the sheet. It is determined whether or not it is discharged (S302). This determination can be made by determining what control the CPU 510 is currently performing.

  When the CPU 510 determines that the preceding interrupt sheet is not being moved or discharged (NO in S302), the CPU 510 further determines whether there is a preceding interrupt sheet stacked on the upper stacking tray 18 (S303). This determination can be made because the CPU 510 stores in the counter the number of times that the interrupt sheet has been offset. When the CPU 510 determines that the preceding interrupt sheet is not stacked on the upper stack tray 18 (NO in S303), the CPU 510 offset discharges the interrupt sheet being conveyed.

  The CPU 510 makes the movement amount of the upper discharge roller 11 by the discharge roller moving device 77 smaller than the movement amount for the preceding sheet P1, and the left end of the sheet reaches the alignment position 95. The sheet is stopped before, and the sheet is discharged to the spot at the offset position (FIG. 8D). As a result, the interrupt sheet P2 is discharged to an offset position indicated by a broken line away from the alignment position 95, which is a predetermined position, and is distinguished from the preceding sheet P1 (S304).

  Then, the right end portion of the interrupt sheet P2 is received by the right alignment plate 39 (S305, FIG. 8 (d)).

  Thereafter, when a non-interrupt sheet is conveyed, the sheet is aligned at the alignment position 95 shown in FIG. 8C through the order of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

  When the second interrupt sheet is conveyed (S301), the CPU 501 makes the determination in S303 through the process in S302. Since the preceding first interrupt sheet P2 is already stacked on the upper sheet discharge tray 18 (YES in S303), the CPU 510 performs the process of S308. The CPU 510 moves the second interruption sheet P3 to a position before reaching the stacking position of the first interruption sheet P2, stops it, and discharges it to the spot (S308, FIG. 8 (d)). . As a result, the second interrupt sheet P3 is offset from the first interrupt sheet P2, and is distinguished from the first interrupt sheet P2. Thereafter, the CPU 510 performs the process of S305 (S305). Thereafter, even when the third interrupt sheet P3 is conveyed, the processes of S301, S302, S303, S308, and S305 are performed in the same manner.

  In this way, every time a subsequent interrupt sheet is conveyed, it is offset-stacked on the previous interrupt sheet. Depending on the offset position, the interrupt sheet may be discharged at the position as it is conveyed through the upstream sheet conveyance discharge path 62, or the width center CL2 of the sheet conveyance discharge path 62 shown in FIG. In some cases, it is moved to the right side and discharged to the spot.

  Therefore, since the interrupt sheet is stacked at a predetermined position, for example, an offset position that is different from the sheet P1 stacked at the alignment position 95, the interrupt sheet is visually checked with the sheet stacked at the predetermined position. It can be easily distinguished. Also, since the interrupt sheets are stacked offset, the interrupt sheets can be easily distinguished from each other visually. Note that it is not always necessary to stack the interrupt sheets with each other.

  With the above operation, the specific stacking state of the sheets stacked on the upper stacking tray 18 is as shown in FIG.

  If the interrupt sheet is continuously conveyed, the process after the determination process of S306 is performed after the determination process of S302.

  That is, when the interrupt sheet (referred to as the first interrupt sheet) has been conveyed, the preceding interrupt sheet (referred to as the second interrupt sheet) is being offset and discharged by the upper discharge roller 11 (YES in S302). ), The CPU 510 performs the determination process of S306. This determination processing is the same determination processing as S303 described above. Further, when the CPU 510 determines that the preceding interrupt sheet (referred to as the third interrupt sheet) is stacked on the upper stack tray 18 (YES in S306), the CPU 510 performs the above-described processing of S308 and S305, and then The offset discharge operation of the first interrupt sheet is performed.

  If it is determined in S306 that the third interrupt sheet is not stacked on the upper stacking tray 18 (NO in S306), the operation for the second interrupt sheet that is currently being moved and discharged is continued as it is (S307). After the processing of S305, the first interrupt sheet offset discharge operation is performed.

  Note that the processing of S307 is “non-offset discharge operation”. This is because the second interrupt sheet that is currently being moved and discharged is offset in the determination processing of S302. It means to discharge while the offset is moved. If the offset discharging operation is performed in S307, the second interrupt sheet that is to be offset discharged is further offset moved, and the amount of offset movement becomes too large.

  A specific stacking state in which interrupt sheets are continuously stacked on the upper stacking tray 18 is as shown in FIG.

(When a position (predetermined position) where a sheet (normal sheet) that is not an interrupt sheet is discharged onto the upper stacking tray 18 is matched with the right alignment position 98)
Also when the predetermined position on the upper stacking tray 18 is set to the right alignment position 98, the offset discharge and stacking operations are performed by the same operations as those described above when the predetermined position is set to the left alignment position 95. In this case, the offset position is leftward from the alignment position 98 on the right side.

(When a position (predetermined position) at which a non-interrupt sheet (normal sheet) is discharged onto the upper stacking tray 18 is made to coincide with the center CL2 in the width direction of the upper sheet transport path 62)
As shown in FIG. 9A, the sheet P1 is conveyed with the sheet width center CL1 and the width center CL2 of the sheet conveying / discharging path 62 being coincident with each other. 18 is discharged. The interrupt sheets P2 and P3 are sequentially discharged in the left direction with reference to the width center CL2 of the sheet conveyance / discharge path 62 which is a predetermined position. In this case, offset discharge may be performed in the right direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, the interrupt sheets P2 to P5 may be offset and discharged alternately on the left and right with reference to the width center CL2 of the sheet conveyance discharge path 62 which is a predetermined position.

(When a position (predetermined position) at which a non-interrupt sheet (normal sheet) is discharged onto the upper stacking tray 18 coincides with one side 62A of the upper sheet transport path 62)
As shown in FIG. 10, the sheet P <b> 1 is conveyed with reference to one side 62 </ b> A of the upper sheet conveyance path 62, and is discharged and stacked as it is on the upper stack tray 18. In this case, the predetermined position on the upper stacking tray 18 is the same position as the position on one side 62A of the upper sheet transport path 62. The interrupt sheets P2, P3 are offset and discharged to the right with reference to the predetermined positions.

  The sheet P1 that is not an interrupt sheet is conveyed with reference to one side 62A of the upper-stage sheet conveyance / discharge path 62, is discharged as it is, and is pushed to the alignment position 95 by the left alignment plate 40. , It may be aligned at that position. In this case, the alignment position 95 is a predetermined position on the upper stacking tray 18, and the interrupt sheets P2 and P3 are offset and discharged to the right with reference to this position.

  In any of the cases described above, the sheet misalignment may be prevented by aligning the protruding end portion of the interrupt sheet that has been offset discharged and protrudes most in the offset direction with the alignment plate.

  As described above, in the sheet discharge device 400 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the upper discharge roller 11 and the driven roller 12 and the lower discharge roller 30 and the driven roller 31 are configured to load sheets on the upper and lower stacking trays 18 and 37. In addition to the function of discharging, the function of offsetting the interrupt sheet is also provided, so that the structure is simplified.

  In addition, since the sheet discharge apparatus 400 according to the present embodiment is configured to offset discharge interrupt sheets, it is possible to easily distinguish between sheets that are not interrupt sheets and interrupt sheets by visual inspection.

  Furthermore, since the sheet discharge device 400 of the present embodiment changes the offset amount for each interrupt sheet, the interrupt sheets can be easily distinguished from each other by visual inspection. In particular, when the interrupt sheets are continuously stacked, the interrupt sheets can be easily distinguished from each other by visual inspection.

1 is a schematic front sectional view of a copying machine which is an example of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet discharge device of the present invention in an apparatus main body. 1 is a schematic front sectional view of a sheet discharge device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the periphery of an upper sheet discharge roller in the sheet discharge apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sheet discharge device when the left end portion of the sheet is aligned with the left alignment plate in the sheet discharge device shown in FIG. The sheet discharge apparatus when the left end portion of the sheet is aligned by the left alignment plate in the sheet discharge apparatus shown in FIG. 3 and the interrupted sheets that have been continuously conveyed are stacked in the right direction with different offset amounts. FIG. It is a control block diagram in the sheet discharge apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for offset operation | movement description. It is a figure for explaining offset operation of a sheet. (A) It is a state figure when a sheet is sent. FIG. 6B is a state diagram when the sheet is moved to a predetermined position. (C) It is a figure of the state which aligned the sheet | seat to the alignment position. FIG. 8D is a state diagram when the interrupt sheets are stacked with offset. It is a figure for other offset operation | movement description. FIG. 6A is a diagram of a state when an interrupted sheet is offset and discharged to the left side with a position where the width center of the sheet conveyance / discharge path and the width center of the sheet are conveyed being a predetermined position. (B) It is a figure of a state when the interruption sheet | seat is offset-discharged in the left-right direction. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an offset discharge operation when a sheet is conveyed with reference to one side of a sheet conveyance / discharge path.

Explanation of symbols

S1 entrance sensor S2 upper sheet discharge sensor S3 vertical path first sensor S4 vertical path second sensor S5 lower sheet discharge sensor S6a home position sensor S6b home position sensor S7 sheet detection sensor S8 sheet detection sensor P1 sheet P2 to P5 interrupt sheet CL1 sheet Width center CL2 Width center of sheet conveyance / discharge path 1 Upper entry roller 1a Detection plate 1b Detection plate 6 Conveyance drive motor 7 Discharge drive motor 11 Upper discharge roller (sheet discharge means)
12 Driven roller 18 Upper stack tray (sheet stacking means)
30 Lower discharge roller (sheet discharge means)
31 Follower roller 37 Lower stacking tray (sheet stacking means)
39 Right alignment plate (sheet alignment means)
40 Left alignment plate (sheet alignment means)
41 Right alignment plate driving motor 42 Left alignment plate driving motor 62 Upper sheet conveying discharge path 62A One side of upper sheet conveying discharge path 63 Lower sheet conveying discharge path 66 Upper lifting apparatus 67 Lower lifting apparatus 70 Right Offset device (sheet alignment means)
71 Rotating shaft 72 Pulley 73 Groove 74 Worm gear 75 Timing belt 76 Paper discharge roller moving motor 77 Paper discharge roller moving device (sheet discharge means)
80 Left offset device 81 Pinion 82 Pulley 83 Timing belt 84 Rack 91 Pinion 92 Pulley 93 Timing belt 94 Rack 95 Alignment position 96 Home position (standby position)
97 Home position (standby position)
98 Alignment position 100 Reader unit 200 Printer unit 202 Photosensitive member (image forming means)
300 Automatic document feeder ADF
400 Sheet Discharge Device 501 Copying Machine (Image Forming Device)
501A Device main body 510 CPU
511 Interface controller 512 Program ROM
514 Work RAM
515 EEPROM
517 I / O
518 Drive unit 520 Control unit of copying machine main body

Claims (10)

Sheet stacking means on which sheets are stacked;
A sheet discharging means capable of moving in a direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction and capable of discharging the sheet to the sheet stacking means,
The sheet discharging means can selectively move to a predetermined position of the sheet stacking means and an offset position different from the predetermined position, and discharge the sheet to the selected position. Sheet discharge device.   The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is set to a position where the sheet is conveyed to the sheet discharging unit.   2. The predetermined position is set to a position that is a predetermined distance away from a position where the sheet is conveyed to the sheet discharge unit in a direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction. The sheet discharging apparatus described in 1. Sheet alignment that can move between an alignment position that moves in a direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction and aligns the side edges of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means and a standby position that is away from the alignment position With means,
The predetermined position, the offset position, the standby position, and the alignment position are the positions of the standby position, the predetermined position, the alignment position, and the offset position in a direction that intersects the sheet conveyance direction. The sheet discharging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet discharging apparatus is arranged in order.   5. The sheet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of offset positions, and the sheet discharge unit selectively discharges the sheet to the offset position. 6.   The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when discharging the sheet to the offset position, the sheet discharging unit sequentially discharges the sheet from an offset position close to the predetermined position.   2. The sheet discharge unit includes a pair of rollers capable of discharging the sheet to the sheet stacking unit and movable in a direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction. The sheet discharging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   A sheet aligning unit configured to align side edges of the sheets stacked at a predetermined position of the sheet stacking unit, wherein the side edge of the sheet is a side edge opposite to the offset side; The sheet discharging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
A sheet discharge device for aligning the sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet discharge device is the sheet discharge device according to claim 1. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
Sheet stacking means on which sheets are stacked;
A sheet discharging means capable of moving in a direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction and capable of discharging the sheet to the sheet stacking means,
The sheet discharging means can selectively move to a predetermined position of the sheet stacking means and an offset position different from the predetermined position, and discharge the sheet to the selected position. An image forming apparatus.

Images