JPH01203160A - Sheet discharge mechanism for image forming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable smooth copy even if the number of copy sheet to be discharged is increased by arranging an intermediate tray for receiving excessive sheets when the number of recording sheets exceeds over the number of sheets containable in a sheet discharge tray. CONSTITUTION:When copy operation is carried out, an optical section 2 scans and exposes a document placed on a contact glass 4 and a toner image is formed at an image processing section 8 onto a copy sheet fed from a sheet feed section 6. Then the copy sheet passes through a fixing unit 10 thence through a guide board 12 and discharged onto a sheet discharge tray 14. The number of the copy sheets is counted through a counter, and when it exceeds over the number of sheets containable in the sheet discharge tray 14, the guideboard 12 is switched through excitation of a solenoid so that following copy sheets are discharged through a path 16 into an intermediate tray 18. Consequently, copy operation can be carried out smoothly even if the number of sheets to be discharged increases.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a paper ejecting mechanism of an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus or a printer having a paper refeeding function using an intermediate tray.

(Prior Art) Generally, a paper ejection mechanism of an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic apparatus, includes a paper ejection roller and a paper ejection tray, and the ejected copy paper is stored in the paper ejection tray. and.

In the above configuration, when the number of sheets to be discharged is large, the number of copy sheets exceeds the storage capacity of discharged sheets 1 to ray, and smooth sheet discharge is obstructed. In order to deal with such inconveniences, for example, JP-A-60-50
Publication No. 549 discloses a configuration in which it is detected that the amount of ejected paper on the ejected paper tray reaches a preset amount, and the copying operation is stopped based on that signal.
Publication No. 70 discloses a configuration in which the height of a storage table above a paper ejection tray is moved up and down depending on the capacity of copy paper, so that the height of the top surface of the paper stored therein is kept almost constant ( Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the former configuration of the above-mentioned prior art, 9 For example, when the operator leaves the copying machine during mass copying, the paper ejection frame is used to prevent the ejected paper on the tray from reaching a predetermined amount. , the copying operation will be canceled and you will not be able to perform the copying operation again.

Furthermore, although the latter configuration can accommodate a large amount of copy paper, there is a problem in that the mechanism becomes large.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a paper ejection mechanism that allows smooth recording operation even when the number of ejected recording paper increases. purpose.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has an intermediate tray for double-sided recording and composite recording, detects the number of recorded sheets with a counter, and detects the number of recorded sheets when the number of recorded sheets is exhausted. When the number of sheets stored in the paper tray exceeds the number of sheets stored in the paper tray, the storage section for recording sheets is switched from the sheet discharge tray to the intermediate tray.

(Function) When the number of recorded sheets exceeds the storage capacity of the paper ejection tray, the paper is ejected not only to the paper ejection tray but also to the intermediate tray.

(Example) Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing examples.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a copying machine which is an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

] is a copying wood book, and an optical section 2 for scanning and exposing an original is provided at a predetermined position in the upper part of the inside thereof, and a paper feeding section 6 is provided at the right side part.

A copy paper conveyance path 7 is disposed at the bottom of the copying machine body 1, and an image processing section 8 is located downstream of the paper feed section 6 along the copy paper conveyance path 7.
．． A fixing device 10 is provided, a guide plate 12 is provided downstream of the fixing device 10, and a paper discharge tray 14 is provided on the left side of the copying machine main body 1. Further, an intermediate tray 18 for double-sided copying is disposed at the lower part of the copy paper conveyance path 7 so as to be removably attached to the copying machine main body 1.

When a copying operation is performed with the above configuration, the optical section 2 scans and exposes the document on the contact glass 4, and
A toner image is formed on the copy paper supplied from the paper feed section 6 by the image processing section 8, and then the copy paper passes through the fixing device 10, and then the copy paper passes through the guide plate 12 shown by the solid line and is delivered to the paper ejection 1-ray 14. It is discharged to the top. The guide plate 12 is positioned at the solid line position and the two-dot chain line position by an intermediate tray solenoid (not shown).1 Normally, it is positioned at the solid line position, but when the number of discharged sheets exceeds a predetermined value, the guide plate 12 moves to the two-dot chain line position. The copy paper passes through path 16 and is ejected to intermediate tray 18.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the copying machine of the present invention.

Press nl to reset the print button, and press nl to reset the counter that counts the number of copies. After that, the copying operation is performed at n3° and n4, and at n5, the count value of the counter is compared with the allowable number of sheets on the output tray, and if the count value of the counter does not reach the allowable number of sheets, it is determined at n11 whether or not copying is completed; If the copy is completed, the process returns to nl; if the copy is not completed, the process returns to n3.

If the count value of the counter reaches the allowable number at n5, then n6
Then, the intermediate tray solenoid switches the ONL guide plate 12 from the solid line position to the two-dot chain line position, and the copy paper is discharged to the intermediate tray 18. Next, in n8, it is determined whether or not the copying is finished. If the copying is not finished, the process returns to n3. If the copying is finished, the intermediate tray solenoid is set to 0FFL in n9, and the intermediate tray is indicated to be pulled out in nlo. If the paper on the tray is removed, the paper stored in the intermediate tray may be fed and ejected onto the paper ejection tray.

(Effects of the Invention) Smooth copying is possible even if the number of ejected copy sheets increases.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a copying machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the copying machine. 14... Paper output tray 18... Intermediate tray

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A paper refeeding function characterized in that the number of recorded sheets is detected by a counter and when the number of recorded sheets exceeds the number of sheets stored in the paper output tray, the paper storage section is switched from the paper output tray to the intermediate tray. A paper ejecting mechanism of an image forming apparatus having: