JPH0533485Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a mechanism for reversing recording paper in an image recording apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine or a printer.

[Conventional technology]

The image recording device is equipped with a mechanism for reversing the recording paper, allowing two types of output: a face-up paper ejection state in which the recording paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray with the recording surface facing upward, and a face-up paper ejection state in which the paper is ejected with the front and back sides of the recording paper reversed. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 179369/1983 discloses a prior art technique that allows the face-down paper discharge state to be appropriately selected in conjunction with the change in the posture of the paper discharge tray.

This device has a small-diameter gear on the rotating shaft of the paper output tray that rotates from a nearly horizontal position to a vertical position, and a large-diameter gear that meshes with this gear. A switching pawl for switching the path is fixed, and the rotation angle required to change the posture of the paper ejection tray is proportionally reduced and transmitted to the rotation shaft on the switching pawl side by means of both gears, and the switching pawl is It is designed to rotate slightly.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, with the above configuration, strict adjustment is required for the meshing of the gears, which increases costs, and the face-down paper ejection condition is specified at the bottom of the machine. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a specially constructed paper ejection section.
Another drawback is that handling of the recording paper is inconvenient.

The present invention has been devised in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a recording paper front/back reversal switching mechanism that has a simple structure and is easy to use.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the recording paper front/back reversal switching mechanism according to the present invention has a paper ejection path switching guide that is used as the first side of face-up paper ejection to eject the recording paper to the paper ejection tray with the recording surface facing upward. The paper ejection tray is rotatably switched between a switching state and a second switching state of face-down paper ejection in which the recording paper is reversed and ejected to the paper ejection section at the top of the main body, and the paper ejection tray is rotated at its free end. A paper receptacle state in which the side extends outward from the lateral side plate side of the main body, and a storage state in which the free end side is folded upward toward the lateral side plate side are provided so as to be rotatably switchable, respectively; The rotation angle of the paper ejection tray is set to a large predetermined angle exceeding the predetermined rotation angle of the paper ejection route switching guide, and the paper ejection route switching guide Provided with a rotation mechanism that rotates the paper by a set angle in the same direction as the rotation direction of the paper output tray,
This rotation mechanism is characterized by being provided with a flexible portion that rotates the paper ejection switching guide together through a predetermined rotation angle after the paper ejection tray has rotated by a predetermined angle after the rotation of the paper ejection tray has started.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, even if the paper ejection tray is rotated greatly in order to change the orientation of the paper ejection tray, the paper ejection path switching guide only rotates by the angle required to switch the paper ejection path, and the desired state is maintained. can be switched to Since face-down paper ejection is performed at the top of the main body, handling of the recording paper becomes easy.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a recording paper front/back reversal switching mechanism according to the present invention, in particular, a sectional view when the paper ejection tray is in a paper receiving state, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the paper ejection port. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the paper ejection tray when it is in the retracted state.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a copying machine as an image recording device, and a paper discharge port 3 is formed on the side plate 2 of the copying machine. 4 and 5 are a discharge roller and a fixing roller, respectively. Although not shown in the figure, there is a fuser roller 5 on the upstream side in the conveying direction (right side in the figure) in the main body 1.
Each member, such as a photoreceptor and a developing section, is housed in the machine, and there is no difference from conventional copying machines of this type.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a cover body provided outside the side surface plate 2, and guides 7, 8, rollers 9, 1 are provided inside the cover body.
An upper paper ejection path 11 is provided, and an upper paper ejection port 12 is provided on the downstream side of the roller 10 in the conveyance direction. Reference numeral 13 denotes an ejected sheet at the upper part of the main body 1, from which the recording sheet that has been turned over is ejected in a face-down manner.

14 is a square shaft pivotally supported by the side plate 15 of the cover body 6, and as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of paper discharge route switching guides 16 are fixed at appropriate intervals. 17 is a paper output tray, bearing 1 such as a bearing
8 and is pivotally supported on a square shaft 14.

The paper discharge tray 17 has a free end 19 in a paper receiving state protruding outward from the lateral side plate 2 of the main body 1 (the state shown in FIG. 1), and a free end 19 facing upward. Stored state (third
When in the paper receiving state, it receives recording paper with the recording surface facing upward in a face-up ejected state.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a rotation mechanism that rotates the paper ejection path switching guides 16 by a predetermined angle in the same direction as the rotation direction of the paper ejection tray 17 based on the rotation of the paper ejection tray 17 by a predetermined angle. Here, the setting angle refers to the first switching state of face-up paper ejection in which the paper ejection path switching guide 16 is ejected to the paper ejection tray 17 with the recording surface facing upward, and the first switching state of face-up paper ejection in which the paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray 17 with the recording surface facing upward; a second switching state of face-down paper ejection in which the paper is ejected to the paper ejection section 13 at the top of the main body 1;
This refers to the operating angle (indicated by α in FIG. 2) required to switch the respective rotations.

The rotation mechanism 20 is configured as follows. That is, the crank 21 is fixed to the end of the square shaft 14, and the crank 21 is fixed to the end of the square shaft 14.
6 side), a pin 22 and a locking protrusion 23 are provided protrudingly. 24 is a long hole formed in the side plate 15 of the cover body 6, into which the pin 22 can be loosely fitted;
The paper ejection path switching guide 16 is made large enough to move by the set angle. A notch 26 is formed in the side surface 25 of the paper discharge tray 17. As shown in FIG. This notch 26 is formed in a size large enough to allow the paper discharge tray 17 to move by the predetermined angle, and has flexible parts 27 and 28 at both ends that allow the paper discharge tray 17 to rotate by more than the predetermined angle. We are prepared.

Reference numeral 29 denotes springs held by spring locking parts 30 and 31 protruding from the side plate 15 of the cover body 6 and the side surface 25 of the paper discharge tray 17, respectively.
When the paper tray 17 is in the paper receiving state and the storage state, respectively, the paper discharge tray 17 is urged to maintain that state.

In the above configuration, it is assumed that the paper discharge tray 17 is now in the stored state as shown in FIG.
At this time, the paper ejection path switching guide 16 is in the second switching state. When discharging paper face-up onto the paper discharge tray 17, the paper discharge tray 17 is rotated in the direction A shown by the arrow in FIG. In this case, the locking protrusion 23 and the right end 32 of the notch 26 are not in contact with each other, and the crank 21 is only moved in the A direction when the paper discharge tray 17 rotates in the A direction to a certain extent and the two 23 and 32 come into contact with each other. The rectangular shaft 14 rotates together with the crank 21, and as a result, the paper ejection path switching guides 16 begin to rotate in the same direction as the paper ejection tray 17. As the crank 21 rotates, the pin 22 located at the right end of the elongated hole 24 also begins to move in the same direction. Furthermore, when the paper is discharged and the tray 17 is rotated in the above direction, and the crank 21 is rotated by the set angle, the pin 22 comes into contact with the left end of the elongated hole 24, and the crank 21 cannot rotate any further. Stop in position. At this time, the paper ejection path switching guide 16 is in the first switching state. Paper output tray 1
7 is set in a paper receiving state and held in this state by a spring 29.

In this state, if a predetermined copying operation is performed,
The paper ejection path switching guide 16 in the first switching state outputs the recording paper with the recording surface facing upward onto the paper ejection tray 17.

Next, as shown in FIG.
When in the paper receiving state, the paper ejection path switching guide 16 is in the first switching state, and the pin 22 is in the elongated hole 24.
on the far left. When discharging paper face-down onto the paper discharging section 13, the paper discharging tray 17 is rotated in the direction B indicated by the arrow in FIG. In this case, the locking protrusion 23 and the left end 33 of the notch 26 are not in contact with each other, and the crank 21 is not moved in the B direction until the discharge tray 17 rotates in the B direction to a certain extent and the two 23 and 33 come into contact with each other. The square shaft 14 begins to rotate together with the crank 21, and as a result, the paper ejection path switching guides 16... begin to rotate in the same direction as the paper ejection tray 17. As the crank 21 rotates, the pin 22 located at the left end of the elongated hole 24 also begins to move in the same direction. Furthermore, when the paper discharge tray 17 is rotated in the above direction and the crank 21 is rotated by the set angle, the pin 22 comes into contact with the right end of the elongated hole 24, and the crank 21 cannot rotate any further and remains at that position. Stop at. At this time, the paper ejection path switching guide 1
6 is in the second switching state. Paper output tray 17
is set in a retracted state and held in that state by a spring 29.

In this state, if a predetermined copying operation is performed, the paper ejection path switching guide 1 in the second switching state
6 guides the recording paper in the direction of the upper paper discharge path 11, and after passing through the upper paper discharge route 11, the recording paper with the recording surface facing downward is delivered to the paper discharge section 13 at the upper part of the main body 1.
is output to.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the copying machine described above.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, the present invention allows the paper ejection path switching guide to be used in the first switching state for face-up paper ejection, in which the paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray with the recording surface facing upward, and in the first switching state for face-up paper ejection, in which the recording paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray with the recording surface facing upward; A second switching state for face-down paper ejection in which paper is ejected to the paper ejection section at the top of the main body is provided in a rotatable manner, respectively.
The paper ejection tray is placed in a paper receiving state in which its free end side extends outward from the lateral side plate side of the main body, and in a stored state in which the free end side is folded upward toward the lateral side plate side; The rotation angle of the paper ejection tray is set to a large predetermined angle exceeding the predetermined rotation angle of the paper ejection path switching guide, and the rotation angle of the paper ejection tray is set to a predetermined angle that exceeds the predetermined rotation angle of the paper ejection path switching guide. Based on this, a rotation mechanism is provided to rotate the paper ejection path switching guide by a set angle in the same direction as the rotation direction of the paper ejection tray, and this rotation mechanism has a rotation mechanism that rotates the paper ejection path switching guide by a set angle in the same direction as the rotation direction of the paper ejection tray. Since a flexible portion is provided for rotating the paper ejection switching guide together through a predetermined rotation angle after the paper ejection switching guide is rotated, even if the paper ejection tray is rotated greatly in order to change the orientation of the paper ejection tray, the paper ejection will not be ejected. The paper path switching guide only rotates by the angle required to switch the paper ejection path, and can be switched to the desired state.

In addition, there is no need to make strict adjustments for the meshing of gears as in the past, which reduces costs. At the same time, recording paper can be delivered in a face-down state at the top of the main unit, making it possible to use a special structure. There is no need to provide a paper discharge section, and the handling of recording paper becomes easier, greatly improving usability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a sectional view of the paper output tray in the paper receiving state, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the paper output port, and Figure 3 is a view of the paper output tray. It is a sectional view when it is in a stored state. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Main body, 2... Lateral side plate, 13... Paper discharge part, 16... Paper discharge route switching guide, 17... Paper discharge tray, 20... Rotation mechanism, 27, 28... Flexibility part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The paper ejection path switching guide can be used in the first switching state for face-up ejection, in which the recording paper is ejected to the ejection tray with the recording side facing upward, and in the first switching state, in which the paper is ejected into the paper ejection section at the top of the main unit with the front side reversed. and a second switching state for face-down paper discharging, respectively, and the paper discharging tray is provided in a paper receiving state in which its free end side extends outward from the lateral side plate side of the main body. and a stored state in which the free end side is folded toward the horizontal side plate side with the free end facing upward. The paper ejection path switching guide is set to a large predetermined angle exceeding the rotation angle, and based on the predetermined angle rotation of the paper ejection tray, the paper ejection path switching guide is rotated by the set angle in the same direction as the rotation direction of the paper ejection tray. A rotating mechanism is provided, and the rotating mechanism is provided with a flexible part that rotates the paper ejection switching guide together by a predetermined rotation angle after the paper ejection tray rotates by a certain angle after the paper ejection tray starts rotating. Mechanism for reversing recording paper.