JPH0968835A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a digital type image recorder compact as a whole by disposing an intermediate tray or the introducing part of the tray in a space between an original image reading part and an original image recording part. SOLUTION: The reading part 1 is arranged at the upper part of a device main body, the recording part 2 is arranged just under the reading part 1, and a recording paper housing part 4 housing proper number of paper supply cassettes 3 is arranged below the recording part 2. Then, in order to reverse and eject the printed recording paper on an ejection part 5 (ejection tray 6) in a state where the printed recording paper turns downward, the intermediate tray 23 in which the printed recording paper is temporarily housed before it is ejected upside down is provided in the middle of an ejection path 20 for the printed recording paper. The tray 23 or the introducing part 23a is disposed in the space between the reading part 1 and the recording part 2. The tray 23 is formed in the slit-like space in which a sheet of the printed recording paper can be housed, and a switching member 25 switching a recording paper carrying path before an ejection port 21 is provided in the ejection path 20 branched from the introducing path 23a to the tray 23.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine or a copying / facsimile machine having a reading section and a recording section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, when printing is performed on a recording paper by an electrophotographic recording apparatus, the print recording paper discharged from a recording paper discharge port provided on one side of the apparatus is placed in a discharge tray with an image printing surface facing upward. It is usually printed out above. Therefore, when a plurality of originals and the like are continuously printed, the order of the print recording sheets to be deposited on the discharge tray is reversed, and the order of the recording sheets must be rearranged after discharging.

Therefore, in this type of recording apparatus, an intermediate tray (reversal tray) is provided in the recording paper discharge path, and the print recording paper once stored in the intermediate tray is discharged from the discharge port by reversing the print surface downward. Many are equipped with a recording paper reversing function.

[0004]

In the case of an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine in which a reading section and a recording section are vertically arranged, the intermediate tray is, for example, an intermediate section of a sheet feeding cassette or a lower side thereof. Alternatively, in the case of a multi-stage cassette, one of the paper feed cassettes may be used as a dedicated space, and an appropriate space below the recording unit may be selected and installed. this is,
In the case of an existing analog image recording device, this is due to the constraint that the recording unit and the reading unit installed directly above it need to be optically connected. When installed, it unavoidably occupies a space, which hinders the miniaturization of the entire device.

The present invention has been devised to improve the arrangement of the intermediate tray used in an image recording apparatus having a recording paper reversing function and a double-sided or multi-printing function from the viewpoint of reducing the size and size of the entire apparatus.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention focuses on the fact that a reading unit and a recording unit do not need to be optically connected in a digital copying machine or the like, and a reading unit for reading an original image and a recording sheet. In a digital image recording apparatus having a recording unit for printing on a sheet, an intermediate tray or its introduction unit is arranged by selecting a space between the reading unit and the recording unit.

In the recording paper discharge path of the image recording apparatus, a passage for guiding the print recording paper printed by the recording section to the discharge port as it is, a passage for guiding the print recording paper to the intermediate tray, and the print recording paper from the intermediate tray. A switching member for switching between opening and closing of the passage leading to the discharge port is provided, and by switching the passage by the switching member, the discharge direction of the print recording paper can be changed to either upward or downward.

Further, the intermediate tray can be used not only for the reversing sheet discharging function of reversing the front and back sides of the print recording sheet introduced into the tray through the discharging port and discharging it to the discharging tray, but also for printing once. It is also possible to serve the purpose of double-sided printing or multi-printing in which the recording paper is re-fed to the recording unit and reprinted.
In that case, the printed recording paper is introduced into the intermediate tray provided below or on the side of the recording unit through the introduction unit provided between the reading unit and the recording unit.

[0009]

As described above, by disposing the intermediate tray and its introducing section between the reading section and the recording section, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated space below the recording section.

[0010]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be illustrated and described below.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a digital copying / facsimile apparatus as an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

In this type of image recording apparatus, as shown in the figure, the reading section 1 is arranged above the apparatus main body and the recording section 2 is arranged immediately below the apparatus main body, and an appropriate number of stages are arranged below the recording section 2 as shown in the figure. In general, the recording paper storage unit 4 in which the paper feed cassette 3 is housed is arranged, and the recording paper printed by the recording unit 2 is usually ejected by a discharge unit 5 ( The paper is discharged onto the discharge tray 6) with the printing surface facing upward. Therefore, this type of recording apparatus is equipped with a recording paper reversing function for reversing and ejecting the recording paper in order to match the order of the discharged recording paper with the original order.

Each section of the apparatus will be described. The reading section 1
Is a mirror-moving flatbed scanner that reads the images of the originals and books set on it. Further, a document setting unit 7 for accumulating and setting transmission documents and the like in the reading unit 1, and an automatic paper feeding mechanism 8 for continuously feeding the documents set in the document setting unit 7 to the reading position of the flatbed scanner. And are attached. In this case, with the mirror fixed, the document images passing through the reading window 9 provided at the fixed position of the front end of the flatbed scanner (two-dot chain line in the figure) are continuously read.
However, in any case, the image information input to the image scanner (CCD) 10 of the flatbed scanner is processed into a digital signal and transferred to the recording unit 2.

Next, the outline of the recording unit 2 arranged below the reading unit 1 will be described. The recording unit 2 is configured to include a printer element adopted in a known electrophotographic process. That is, 11 is a photosensitive drum that forms a printing unit, and 12
Is a corona charger, 13 is an exposure device for inputting the digital image signal transferred from the image scanner 10 to the photosensitive drum 11, 14 is a developing device, and 15 is a transfer device. In the recording unit 2, cut recording paper taken in by each paper feed roller 16 from one of the paper feed cassettes 3 that accommodates the recording paper storage unit 4 at the lower portion thereof is registered by a registration roller 17 and a transfer roller 18. It is sent to the transfer surface of the photoconductor drum 11 through. Then, the recording paper on which the transfer printing is completed passes through the fixing roller 19 provided on the discharge path 20 of the recording recording paper, and is further printed on the discharge portion 5 by the extension roller 22 provided on the recording paper discharge port 21. Will be discharged upwards.

Therefore, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, in order to provide a reverse discharge function for inverting and discharging the print recording paper to be printed out on the discharge portion 5, the print recording paper is discharged. An intermediate tray 23 is provided in the middle of the discharge path 20 so that the print recording paper is temporarily stored therein and then discharged in the reverse direction. This intermediate tray 2
In the digital machine, the reading unit 1 and the recording unit 2 do not need to be optically coupled to each other, so that a space 3 between them is selected and installed.

The intermediate tray 23 is formed in a slit-shaped space capable of completely containing one sheet of print recording paper, and its end portion is bent from the intermediate portion between the reading portion 1 and the recording portion 2 to the side of the recording portion 2. It is curved and extended to fit in. On the other hand, at the starting end of the intermediate tray 23, an introduction path 23a is branched upward from the recording paper discharge path 20 before the recording paper discharge port 21.
Is connected to the intermediate tray 23.
A carrying roller 24 is provided for carrying the paper in and out of the tray 23.

Then, the introduction path 23a to the intermediate tray 22
A switching member 25 for switching the recording paper transport path is provided in the recording paper discharge path 20 that is branched off, before the discharge port 21. The switching member 25 is provided so as to be movable back and forth (indicated by an arrow in the figure) with respect to the recording paper discharge port 21 by a drive mechanism (not shown). As shown in FIG. Only the passage for guiding the sheet from the recording paper discharge path 20 to the intermediate tray 23 is opened. Further, when the switching member 25 is separated from the discharge port 21, as shown in FIG. 3, a passage for guiding the print recording sheet from the recording sheet discharge path 20 to the discharge port 21 and a passage for guiding the print sheet from the intermediate tray 23 to the discharge port 21. To release the recording paper discharge path 20.
To the intermediate tray 23 is closed. The switching of the switching member 25 is automatically executed by setting a recording paper discharge mode selection key (not shown) provided on the operation panel.

2 and 3 show the operation of the image recording apparatus having the recording paper reversal discharge function according to the present invention. First, the operation in the normal discharge mode is shown by the dashed arrow P0 in FIG. In this case, the switching member 25 is shifted to the right side to open the path leading from the recording paper discharge path 20 to the discharge port 21, while closing the path from the recording paper discharge path 20 to the intermediate tray 23. The print recording paper is printed out from the discharge port 21 with the print surface facing upward. In this case, the order of the discharged recording paper is reversed as described above.

Next, the operation in the reverse discharge mode is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by solid arrows P1 and P2. When this mode is set, first, the print recording paper conveyance operation is executed with the switching member 25 being shifted to the left. At this time,
Since only the path from the recording paper discharge path 20 to the intermediate tray 23 is open, the print recording paper is carried into the intermediate tray 23 and accommodated as shown by arrow P1. Thus, when the accommodating operation in the intermediate tray 23 is completed, the switching member 25 is shifted to the right this time, and when the carry-out operation of the print recording sheet by the carry roller 24 is performed in this state, as shown by an arrow P2, the discharge port is discharged. From 21, the print recording paper is printed out with the print side facing down. In this case, the order of the discharged recording papers matches the order of the originals, and the rearrangement after that is not necessary.

In the above-mentioned image recording apparatus, since the intermediate tray 23 required for the recording paper reversal discharge function is installed in the intermediate space between the reading section 1 and the recording section 2, the existing apparatus example is used. As described above, a dedicated space is not required below the recording unit 2. Therefore, the entire device has no wasted space, and is more compact and compact. Further, the switching member 25 is provided on the recording paper discharge path 20.
By providing the switch and switching the conduction path of the print recording paper, a simple mechanism can be realized in which normal paper discharge and reverse paper discharge can be freely selected according to the operator's preference.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the intermediate tray is used for the purpose of reversing and discharging is explained, but the tray design concept based on the present invention is to provide the intermediate tray for performing double-sided printing or multiple printing on the recording paper. The same applies to the case.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which a double-sided printing function is added to the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and is a side or lower portion of the recording unit 2, for example, a paper feed cassette of the recording paper storage unit 4. An intermediate tray 26 is provided in the space between the sheets 3 and 3 (or one of the sheet feeding cassettes 3 may be used), and the reading section 1
And an introduction path 26a arranged between the recording section 2 and the recording section 2,
The recording paper that has been printed once is accommodated in the intermediate tray 26 in the path indicated by the arrow, and is re-fed from the intermediate tray 26 to the recording unit 2 so that double-sided printing can be performed. In this case, the route of the print recording paper is also before the discharge port 21 and the recording paper discharge path 20
It is controlled by the operation of the switching member 25 provided in the.

[0023]

As described above, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, when the digital reading method which does not require the optical connection between the reading section and the recording section is adopted, the recording sheet reversing and discharging function or both sides or By installing the intermediate tray or its introduction path necessary for mounting the multiplex printing function by utilizing the wasted space between the reading unit and the recording unit, an extra dedicated for installing the intermediate tray, etc. It does not require space and thus allows the entire device to be designed smaller and more compact. Also, by installing a switching member for switching the conduction path of the recording paper in the recording paper discharge path, a mechanism that makes it easy to select normal paper discharge and reverse paper discharge or single-time printing and multiplex printing based on the operator's intention It can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of an image recording apparatus showing an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1 showing an operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1, showing an operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of an image recording apparatus showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Reading Section 2 Recording Section 3 Paper Feed Cassette 4 Recording Paper Storage Section 5 Ejection Section 6 Ejection Tray 7 Original Setting Section 8 Automatic Paper Feeding Mechanism 9 Reading Window 10 Image Scanner 11 Photosensitive Drum 12 Corona Charger 13 Exposure Device 14 Developer 15 Transfer Device 16 Paper Feed Roller 17 Registration Roller 18 Transfer Roller 19 Fixing Roller 20 Ejection Path 21 Recording Paper Ejection Port 22 Extroller 23 Intermediate Tray 23a Introducing Path 24 Conveying Roller 25 Switching Member 26 Intermediate Tray 26a Introducing Path

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An intermediate tray for introducing a recording sheet printed by the recording section between the reading section and the recording section, or an introducing section thereof, which comprises a reading section for reading a document image and a recording section for printing on the recording sheet. An image recording apparatus characterized by being provided with. 2. A passage for guiding the print recording sheet to the discharge port, a passage for guiding the print recording sheet to the intermediate tray, and a passage for guiding the print recording sheet from the intermediate tray to the discharge port in the discharge route of the recording sheet printed by the recording section. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching member that switches between opening and closing. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print recording paper introduced into the intermediate tray is discharged through the discharge port on the discharge tray with its front and back reversed.