JPH10291711A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a sufficient paper discharge space by increasing the planar installation space of a paper discharge tray while suppressing an increase in the size of the apparatus. A transfer unit (6) for transferring an image to a transfer material (1) and a fixing unit (7) for fixing a transfer image on the transfer material passing through the transfer unit.
Are disposed in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus main body 3, and a first discharge port 9 for discharging the transfer paper to the upper surface 3 b of the apparatus main body is provided above the fixing unit 7. A second discharge port for discharging the transfer sheet 1 to a discharge tray 28 disposed above the first discharge port 9 is located closer to one end 3a of the apparatus main body than the first discharge port 9 is. Paper mouth 10
Is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for discharging a transfer material after transfer to an upper surface of an apparatus main body and a paper discharge tray provided above the main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc., a transfer material stored in a paper feed tray is conveyed to a transfer section and a fixing section for transferring and fixing an image. From the first discharge port and the second discharge port provided on the same surface above the fixing unit to a discharge tray provided below the second discharge port on the upper surface of the apparatus main body or in a substantially horizontal direction. There is something. The paper discharge tray is fixed to a vertical surface below the second paper discharge port by a fastening means such as a screw, and its flat area is set to the apparatus main body so that the transfer material discharged to the upper surface of the apparatus main body can be easily taken. It is provided small. Some image forming apparatuses are provided with a document reading device that optically reads an image via a support member provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body above the apparatus main body.

[0003]

In such an image forming apparatus, since the first discharge port and the second discharge port are provided on the same plane, the size of the discharge tray is limited. As a result, there is a problem that a large transfer material cannot be taken out from the second discharge port, and the transfer material having a large size may fall when discharged to the discharge tray, or the transfer material may protrude from the discharge tray. The drop or protrusion of the transfer material causes interference with the transfer material arranged around the apparatus, which may cause a stack failure or a jam. When a document reading device is provided above the main body of the apparatus, the amount of paper discharged is limited by the positional relationship between the support member and the paper discharge tray, and the operation for removing the transfer material that has been discharged in such a way that the paper discharge situation is difficult to see There is a problem that the property is not good.

One possible solution to such a problem is to increase the plane area of the paper discharge tray or the apparatus. A new problem arises in that the area occupied by the discharge tray with respect to the upper surface is increased, which leads to an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, since the sheet discharge tray is fixed to the vertical surface of the apparatus main body, it is difficult to maintain the strength against the load from above. Further, since the discharge space after the fixing is narrow and the transfer material is conveyed vertically and then discharged in the horizontal direction, the transfer material is conveyed at an acute angle, which easily causes curl of the transfer material and paper jam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a first object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of securing a sufficient discharge space from the second discharge port while suppressing an increase in the size of the apparatus. It is a second object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which the discharged transfer material can be easily handled while ensuring sufficient image quality. The present invention facilitates the handling of the discharged transfer material while ensuring a sufficient discharge space and discharge amount from the second discharge port while suppressing an increase in the size of the apparatus. It is a third object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which has a high mounting rigidity and can reduce curl and paper jam of a discharged transfer material.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image is transferred and fixed by transferring a transfer material to a transfer section and a fixing section disposed in the apparatus main body. The transfer material after fixing is discharged from a first paper outlet provided in the apparatus main body located above to the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and a second paper outlet provided with a paper output tray above the first paper outlet is connected to a second paper outlet. In the provided image forming apparatus, since the second discharge port is provided closer to one end of the apparatus main body than the first discharge port, a planar space above the upper surface of the apparatus main body is increased, and the discharge tray is enlarged. it can.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the portion between the second paper discharge port and the front surface of the apparatus main body is located on the same plane as the second paper discharge port or in the apparatus main body more than the second paper discharge port. Since it is provided near one side end, the vicinity of the main body where the second paper discharge port is arranged is opened so that the second paper discharge port can be seen from the front side of the apparatus main body.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, one side surface of the apparatus main body located above the first paper discharge port is flush with the second paper discharge port, or the side of the apparatus main body from the second paper discharge port. Since the second discharge port is provided near one side end, the second discharge port is flush with one side surface of the apparatus main body or protrudes from the one side surface, so that the second discharge port is easy to see.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a step portion on which a sheet discharge tray is placed is provided on one side of the apparatus body located between the first sheet discharge port and the second sheet discharge port, and the sheet is discharged. Since the tray is provided with an engaging portion that engages with one side surface of the apparatus main body, the discharge tray is supported from below by the step portion while being engaged with the one side surface by the engaging portion.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a conveying path curved between the fixing section and the second sheet discharge port is formed so as to project toward the one end of the apparatus main body from the nip section of the fixing section. Since the transfer material is provided, the transfer material passing through the fixing unit is guided in a direction away from the first discharge port and the second discharge port provided thereabove, and is conveyed to each discharge port in a gentle curved state.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
A transfer unit that transfers an image to a transfer material, and a fixing unit that fixes the transfer material on which the image transfer has been performed are arranged in the apparatus main body, and the transfer material after fixing is positioned above the fixing unit. Is discharged from the first paper discharge port provided in the printer or the second paper discharge port provided above the paper discharge tray to the upper surface of the apparatus main body or a paper discharge tray arranged below the second paper discharge port. In order to secure a sufficient paper discharge space of the paper discharge tray while suppressing, the second paper discharge port is provided closer to one side end of the apparatus main body than the first paper discharge port.

In order to make it easy to handle the discharged transfer material while securing a sufficient discharge space and a discharge amount, a portion between the second discharge port and the front surface of the apparatus main body is required. , Second
The one side of the apparatus main body which is provided on the same plane as the paper discharge port or one side end of the apparatus main body with respect to the second paper discharge port or the upper side of the first paper discharge port is referred to as a second paper discharge port. The opening area near the second discharge port with respect to the apparatus main body may be increased on the same plane or closer to one end of the apparatus main body than the second paper discharge port.

In order to increase the rigidity of the discharge tray for receiving the transfer material discharged from the second discharge port, one side of the apparatus body located between the first discharge port and the second discharge port is required. It is preferable to provide a step portion on which the sheet discharge tray is placed, or to provide the discharge tray together with the step portion with an engaging portion which engages with one side surface of the apparatus main body. The engaging portion may have a shape or configuration that supports the paper discharge tray so as to be rotatable with respect to one side surface, or makes the paper discharge tray detachable.

In order to reduce the curl of the transfer material discharged from the first discharge port and the second discharge port and to reduce the paper jam, a transfer path disposed between the fixing unit and the second discharge port. May be formed in a direction protruding toward one end of the apparatus main body from the nip portion of the fixing unit sandwiching the transfer material from both sides.

The second paper outlet may be provided above the first paper outlet, and the number thereof may be plural.
The transfer material may be a sheet-like member generally used for image transfer or copying, such as plain paper, glossy paper, or a resin sheet for OHP, and is not limited to paper. The arrangement of the transfer unit and the fixing unit in the apparatus main body can be considered to be parallel in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction.However, in consideration of the length of the transfer path of the transfer material and the transfer state, or reduction of the plane space of the apparatus. It is preferable that the transfer unit and the fixing unit are provided in parallel in the longitudinal direction near one end of the apparatus main body, and are disposed below the first sheet discharge port and the second sheet discharge port. In this case, if the transfer material is conveyed substantially vertically from below the transfer section toward the transfer section, the transfer path may be short. The image to be transferred to the transfer material is monochrome,
Alternatively, it may be a color image including monochrome. The transfer unit includes an image carrier including a belt or drum-shaped photoconductor or a belt, drum or roller-shaped intermediate transfer body, and a transfer unit such as a belt, drum or roller-shaped transfer material carrier or an intermediate transfer body. It is good to constitute using.

[0017]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) In the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of transfer papers 1 serving as transfer materials are stacked and stored in a storage cassette 2 arranged below the apparatus main body 3. The transfer paper 1 is fed and conveyed substantially perpendicularly to the apparatus main body 3 by a feed roller 4 and a conveying roller pair 5 which face the cassette 2. A transfer unit 6 for transferring an image to the transferred transfer paper 1 and a fixing unit 7 for fixing an image transferred to the transfer material 1 are provided inside the apparatus main body 3.
Are arranged on the one end 3a side of the apparatus main body 3 in the vertical direction with the transfer unit 6 facing downward. On one side 3a side of the upper surface 3b of the apparatus main body 3, a tower portion 8 protruding upward is provided. A first paper discharge port 9 and a second paper discharge port 10 are provided in the tower section 8 located above the transfer section 7, respectively.

A transport path 11 extending upward from the vicinity of the transport roller pair 5 through the transfer section 6 and the fixing section 7 extends above the fixing section 7 comprising a heating roller 7a and a pressing roller 7b. It branches into a path 12 and a second transport path 13, and communicates with the first discharge port 9 and the second discharge port 10, respectively. A switching flap 1 that guides the transfer paper 1 conveyed from the conveyance path 11 to the first conveyance path 12 or the second conveyance path 13 is provided at a branch portion between the first conveyance path 12 and the second conveyance path 13.
4 is provided so as to be swingable in the left-right direction. The switching flap 14 uses a well-known actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown) as a driving source.

A second conveying path 13 provided between the fixing section 7 and the second sheet discharge port 13 has a heating roller 7a serving as a nip section.
Is formed so as to protrude toward the one side end 3a from the contact portion S between the second discharge port 1 and the pressing roller 7b.
The transfer paper 1 conveyed to the recording paper 0 is gently curved and conveyed. The heating roller 7a and the pressing roller 7b are rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 3, and the heating roller 7a is rotated by a driving source such as a driving motor (not shown).

The transfer section 6 is provided between a drum-shaped photosensitive member 15 and a transfer roller 16 which are arranged to face each other with the transport path 11 interposed therebetween. The photoconductor 15 is driven to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow by a drive motor (not shown). On the periphery of the photoconductor 15,
A charger 17, a developing device 18 containing toner, a transfer roller 16, a separation claw 19, a cleaning roller 20, and a static eliminator 21 are arranged in the described order, and these constitute an image forming unit. In this image forming unit, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 15 between the charger 17 and the developing device 18 by the exposure light 22 radiated from the irradiating section 30, and the developing device 18 is formed on the latent image. The toner image developed in the transfer unit 6 is transferred to the transfer paper 1 by a toner, and the residual toner on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 15 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning roller 20. A known image forming process is performed.

A plurality of pairs of transport rollers (not shown) are arranged in each of the transport paths 11, 12, and 13 so as to transport the transfer paper 1 upward. First transport path 1
As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of paper discharge rollers 23, one of which is a driving roller,
24 are rotatably supported by the tower section 8 and arranged.

The first discharge port 9 is opened on the inner side surface 8a of the tower portion 8 which is one side surface of the apparatus main body 3, and the discharge roller pair 23 is disposed inside the first discharge port 9. On the inner side surface 8a located above the first discharge port 9, a concave portion 25 which becomes lower toward the one side end 3a is provided laterally. Top inner edges 25c, 25 of upper and lower surfaces 25a, 25b of recess 25
d is bent so as to be substantially parallel to the inner side surface 8a. A bottom plate 26 is fixed to the tip inner edge portions 25c and 25d with a plurality of screws 27. The recess 25 is provided on the inner surface 8.
The distance D from a to the surface of the bottom plate 26 is defined as the depth.

The second discharge port 10 is opened in the bottom plate 26 and is disposed closer to one side end 3a than the first discharge port 9. The paper discharge roller pair 24 is arranged on the inner side of the bottom plate 26 than the second discharge port 10.

Between the first discharge port 9 and the second discharge port 10,
A paper discharge tray 28 is provided. The discharge tray 28
The base end 28a is formed to be horizontal and to have an inclined surface rising leftward toward the front end 28c. The paper discharge tray 28 is rotatably supported on both side walls 25e and 25f of the concave portion 25 by a pair of shafts 29 serving as engaging portions provided at a base end 28a, and the bottom surface 28b is placed on the lower surface 25b of the concave portion 25. It is possible to place. The discharge tray 28 has a tip 28c.
Is set so as not to protrude from the other side end 3c of the apparatus main body 3.

The upper surface 3b of the apparatus main body 3 extends from the other end 3c of the apparatus main body 3 to the inner side surface 8a.
The upper surface 3b is provided so that the total length of the upper surface 3b is longer than the planar state.

According to the present embodiment, the switching flap 14 closes the second transport path 13 as shown by the solid line in FIG.
When the transport path 12 and the transport path 11 are in communication with each other, the transfer paper 1 that has been transferred by the transfer unit 6 is introduced into the first transport path 12 and guided to the first paper output port 9, and the paper discharge roller pair 23. With the top 3
The paper is ejected substantially horizontally toward b. When the switching flap 14 closes the first transport path 12 and establishes a communication state between the second transport path 13 and the transport path 11 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
The transfer paper 1 that has been transferred by the transfer unit 6 is introduced into the second transport path 13 and guided to the second paper discharge port 10, where the paper discharge roller pair 24 is provided.
The paper is discharged substantially horizontally toward the paper discharge tray.

Since the second paper outlet 10 is provided at a position shifted from the first paper outlet 9 by the depth D of the concave portion 25 toward the one end 3a of the apparatus main body 3, as shown in FIG. The total length W of the discharge tray 28 of the present embodiment is larger than the total length w of the conventional discharge tray.
Can be set longer by the depth D.

Therefore, the surface area of the discharge tray 28 can be increased without increasing the planar size of the apparatus main body 3, so that the discharged transfer paper 1 is less likely to fall from the tray and the leading end thereof It does not protrude from the leading end 28c of the paper discharge tray 28. For this reason, the occurrence of stack failure, jam, and the like is extremely reduced. The increase in the surface area of the paper discharge tray 28 also makes it possible to increase the size of the transfer paper 1 discharged from the second conveyance port 10.

In this embodiment, since a step is formed between the first discharge port 9 and the second discharge port 10 by the bottom surface 25b of the concave portion 25, the lower surface 28b of the discharge tray 28 is formed.
Is placed on the lower surface 25b and is supported from below, so that the supporting strength can be increased as compared with the conventional paper discharge tray. Further, since the paper discharge tray 28 is rotatably supported by the tower unit 8, the paper discharge tray 28 is rotated upward when the transfer paper 1 stacked on the upper surface 3b of the main body device 3 is taken out. By doing so, the space above the upper surface 3b can be widened,
The operation of taking out the transfer paper 1 can be easily performed.

The second transport path 13 is located at one end 3 from the contact portion S
Since the transfer paper 1 that has been transferred is curved to a large curvature in the second transport path 13 and is transported to the second paper output port 10 because the transfer paper 1 is communicated with the second paper output port 10 via the side a. Therefore, the curl of the transfer sheet 1 can be suppressed, and paper jams can be reduced as compared with the conventional case where the transfer sheet is curved and conveyed at an acute angle.

Second Embodiment A second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 is an image forming apparatus having a document reading device 40. In this image forming apparatus, members having the same functions as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment.

The document reading device 40 is a known device that optically reads characters and images drawn on a document by exposing and scanning a document (not shown), and electrically transmits the read document information to the irradiation unit 30. . The document reading device 40 is supported by an upper surface 8c of the tower section 8 and a support member 41 provided on the upper surface 3b located on the other end 3c side of the device. Support member 41
Has an L-shape, and the end surface 41b of the short side portion 41a is connected to the upper surface 3b so that the long side portion 41c crosses the upper surface 3b.
And is disposed on the upper surface 3b, and the long side portion 41c
The document reading device 40 is fixed to the document.

In this image forming apparatus, a paper output tray 42 is provided between the first paper output port 9 and the second paper output port 10. The paper discharge tray 42 is formed such that its base end 42a is horizontal and has an inclined surface that rises to the left as it approaches the front end 42c. The paper discharge tray 42 is rotatably supported on both side walls 25e and 25f of the concave portion 25 by a pair of shafts 29 serving as engaging portions provided at a base end 42a, and the bottom surface 42b is placed on the lower surface 25b of the concave portion 25. It is provided so that it can be installed. Also, the recess 25
Is set to be longer than the width d1 of the support member 41.

According to the second embodiment, since the second discharge port 10 is provided to be shifted from the first discharge port 9 by the depth D toward the one end 3a of the apparatus main body 3, FIG. As shown in the figure, when the total length w1 of the conventional discharge tray is the same as the total length W1 of the discharge tray 42 of the present embodiment, the position of the tip 42c is located closer to the center of the apparatus main body 3 by the depth D. become.
Since the depth D is set to be larger than the total length d1,
The leading end 42c of the paper discharge tray 42 does not interfere with the long side portion 41c of the support member 41.

Accordingly, even if the document reading device 41 is arranged above the apparatus main body 3, the discharge amount of the transfer paper 1 discharged to the discharge tray 42 by the support member 41 is not limited. . Since the paper discharge tray 42 is rotatably supported by the tower unit 8, the transfer paper 1 discharged from the first paper discharge port 9 and stacked on the upper surface 3 b of the main body device 3 can be transferred. When the paper is taken out, the space above the upper surface 3b can be widened by rotating the paper discharge tray 42 upward, so that the transfer paper 1 can be easily taken out.

Even if the total length W1 of the paper discharge tray 42 is set to be longer than the conventional total length w1 of the paper discharge tray by the depth D, the support member 41 and the front end 42c do not interfere with each other. The surface area of the paper discharge tray 42 can be increased without receiving or increasing the size of the apparatus main body 3. For this reason, the transfer sheet 1 discharged from the second discharge port 10 is hardly dropped from the tray, and the transfer sheet 1 does not protrude from the leading end 42c of the tray, so that occurrence of a stack failure, a jam or the like can be extremely reduced.

In the first and second embodiments, the second discharge port 10
25d that is a portion between the device and the front surface 8d of the apparatus main body 3
Is formed in the same plane as the inner side surface 8a, and the recess 25 is in a closed state when viewed from the front surface 3d side of the apparatus main body 3. However, as shown in FIG.
The end face 33 may be formed on the same plane as the bottom plate 26 provided with the second paper discharge port 10. With this configuration, since the opening X of the concave portion 25 is formed on the front surface 3d side, the opening surface for taking out the transfer paper 1 on the front surface 3d of the apparatus main body 3 becomes large, and the second discharge port 10 Can be easily seen from the front face 3d side, so that the transfer paper 1 can be easily taken out. When the opening surface is large, the weight of the apparatus main body 3 can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, the bottom plate 26 of the concave portion 25 has a tendency to be formed on the inner side surface 8a. However, the present invention is not limited to this state, and the inclined surface may be inclined upward from the lower surface 25b toward the upper surface 25a. good.

(Third Embodiment) In the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, one side 8b of the apparatus main body 3 located above the first discharge port 9 is opened. The device body 3 is provided closer to one side end 3a than one side surface 8a and provided on the same plane as the second paper discharge port 10, so that the space between the first paper discharge port 9 and the second paper discharge port 10 is provided. A step portion 45 is formed. In this image forming apparatus, members having the same functions as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment.

One side 8a and one side 8b connected thereto
Are provided on planes that tend to each other, and
And the vicinity of the second discharge port 10 is in a state without irregularities,
It is in a state of communicating with the front surface 3d and the rear surface 3e of the apparatus main body 3. That is, the side walls 25e and 25f and the upper wall 25g of the recess 25 in the first and second embodiments are removed (see FIG. 3). The one side surface 8b is provided on the one side end 3a side of the apparatus main body 3 by a dimension Y more than the one side surface 8a, and makes the space above the upper surface 3b larger.

The step 45 has a base end 46 of a paper discharge tray 46.
a is fixed by a plurality of screws 47. Output tray 46
Is formed on an inclined surface rising left as the base end 46a is horizontal and heading toward the front end 46c. Output tray 4
The total length L of the front end 46c of the device 6 is set so as to be inside the other end 3c of the apparatus main body 3.

According to the third embodiment, the second paper outlet 10 is
One side end 3a of the apparatus main body 3 by a dimension Y larger than the first discharge port 9
Since it is provided shifted to the side, as shown in FIG.
The overall length L of the paper output tray 46 of this embodiment can be set to be larger by the dimension Y than the total length w of the conventional paper output tray.

Accordingly, the surface area of the paper discharge tray 46 can be increased without increasing the size of the apparatus main body 3.
The discharged transfer paper 1 does not easily fall off the tray, and the transfer paper 1 does not protrude from the leading end 46c of the tray, so that the occurrence of stack failure, jam, and the like is extremely reduced. The increase in the surface area of the paper discharge tray 46 depends on the second transport port 10.
It is also possible to increase the size of the transfer paper 1 discharged from the printer.

In this embodiment, the discharge tray 46 is fixed to the step 45 formed between the first discharge port 9 and the second discharge port 10, so that the lower surface 46b is placed on the step 45. Therefore, the supporting strength can be increased as compared with the conventional paper discharge tray.

The first discharge port 9 with the second discharge port 10 opened
Since the one side surface 8b located above the second discharge port 10 is formed on the same plane as the second discharge port 10, the opening surface for taking out the transfer paper 1 in the apparatus main body 3 is larger than that in the above-described modified example, and Since the second paper discharge port 10 can also be seen from the front surface 3d side, the work of taking out the transfer paper 1 can be easily performed, and the weight can be further reduced and the cost can be reduced.

The portion B between the second discharge port 10 and the front surface 3d shown by a broken line in FIG. 10 is closer to the one side end 3a than the second discharge port 9 as shown in FIGS. So one end 3a
The step 45 may be formed in an L-shape in plan view so as to communicate with the side. By doing so, the opening area to the one end 3a becomes large, so that the transfer paper 1 discharged from the one end 3a to the paper discharge tray 46 can be easily taken, and furthermore, one layer of the apparatus main body 3 is formed. The weight can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG.
A back plate 48 may be provided on the upper surface 3b located on the side of the rear surface 3e. When the back plate 48 is provided in this manner, the transfer sheet 1 functions as a guide when the transfer sheet 1 discharged from the first discharge port 9 and the second discharge port 10 is discharged, and the transfer sheet 1 is reliably discharged. The transfer paper 1 can be reliably guided to the rear surface 3e from the paper discharge tray 46 and the upper surface 3b, while being reliably guided to the upper surface 46 and the upper surface 3b.

In the third embodiment, the discharge tray 46 is
7, the paper discharge tray 46 may be removably provided on one side surface 8b of the apparatus main body 3 having the second paper discharge opening 10 as shown in FIGS. .

In this case, a lower side recess 50 is formed on one end 3a, and a pair of openings 52 and 53 are provided on the bottom surface 51 thereof. A wall portion 56 having a depth Z of the concave portion 50 and a thickness Z1 of substantially the same size is integrally formed on the base end 46a side of the sheet discharge tray 46, and a rear surface 56a facing the bottom surface 51 of the wall portion 56 is formed. L-shaped hooks 54 and 55 which are to be engaged with the openings 52 and 53 are formed, respectively. The hooks 54 and 55 have a gap 5 between the hooks 54 and 55 and the back surface 56a.
7 and 58, and is provided slightly above the wall portion 56 so that the bottom surface 46b of the paper discharge tray 46 is placed on the step portion 45 when engaged with the openings 52 and 53. The hooks 54, 55 are provided with openings 52,
By inserting the upper edges 52a, 53a of the 53, the second
It is supported below the paper exit 10.

Accordingly, the paper discharge tray 46 is provided detachably with respect to the tower portion 8 of the apparatus main body 3 and the step portion 4 is provided.
5, the bottom surface 46b is supported from below,
The support rigidity of the paper discharge tray 46 against the load from above can be increased.

In each of the above-described image forming apparatuses, the first paper discharge unit 9 and the second paper discharge unit 10 are provided one by one in the apparatus main body 3. However, as shown in FIG. Is extended upward, and the second discharge port 10 is placed above the second discharge port 10.
0, 101 may be provided, and a plurality of second paper discharge ports may be provided. In this case, the second transport path 1 connected to the second paper exit 10
3 and the second discharge port 100, 101, the third transport path 1
30 and the fourth transport path 131, respectively,
Discharge roller pairs 240 and 241 having the same configuration as the discharge roller 24 are provided in the vicinity of the discharge ports 100 and 101, respectively, and a branch portion of the second and third transport paths 13 and 130 and the third transport path 130 are provided. Switching flaps 140 and 141 having the same configuration as the switching flap 14
Are provided. Third transport path 130 and fourth transport path 13
Numeral 1 is formed so as to be curved so as to protrude toward the one side end 3a from the contact portion S, and is provided so that the transfer paper 1 conveyed to the second discharge ports 100 and 101 is gently curved and conveyed.

Between the second transport path 101 and the second transport path 100, and between the second transport path 100 and the second transport path 10, a paper discharge tray 46 is provided in the tower section 8 as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. A step 45 is provided between the first discharge port 9 and the second discharge port 10, and the discharge tray 42 is automatically provided on the step 45 by the shaft 29. . The internal configuration of the apparatus main body 3 is the same as that of each of the above-described embodiments, and the same reference numerals as those used in each of the embodiments are used.

According to the image forming apparatus having such a configuration,
The second transfer ports 10, 100, 101 and the discharge tray 42,
Since a plurality of 46 are provided, the discharge amount of the transfer paper 1 can be increased in addition to the operation and effect of the third embodiment.

In the image forming apparatus in the embodiment, one paper feed cassette 2 is mounted below the apparatus main body 3, but a plurality of paper feed cassettes 2 may be stacked below the apparatus main body 3. In this case, the transfer path 11 is extended to the lowermost sheet feeding cassettes, and transfer papers 1 of different sizes are stored in the respective cassettes, or transfer papers of different materials are stored in the respective cassettes, so that transfer sheets of various sizes and types are formed. A large amount of paper can be discharged.

[0055]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to secure a sufficient discharge space from the second discharge port while suppressing an increase in the size of the apparatus.

According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to secure a sufficient discharge space and discharge amount from the second discharge port while suppressing an increase in the size of the apparatus, and to ensure that the transferred transfer material is discharged. Is easier to handle. Further, the weight and cost of the device are reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the discharge space from the second discharge port can be widened while suppressing an increase in the size of the apparatus, and the discharge is performed while a sufficient discharge amount is secured. In addition, the transfer material can be more easily handled, and the weight and cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the discharge space from the second discharge port can be widened while suppressing an increase in the size of the apparatus, and the transfer material discharged while ensuring a sufficient discharge amount. This facilitates the handling of the apparatus, which leads to a reduction in the weight of the apparatus, and also makes it possible to easily secure the mounting strength against a load from above the sheet discharge tray.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the curl of the discharged transfer material and the paper jam together with the above-described effects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between a first paper discharge port and a second paper discharge port, which are main parts of the present invention, and a configuration in the vicinity thereof.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus showing a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus showing another modification of the present invention.

13 is a plan view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a partially broken enlarged perspective view illustrating a configuration of an engagement portion provided on a paper discharge tray.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration and an engagement process of an engagement portion provided on a paper discharge tray.

FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus having a plurality of second paper outlets according to still another modified example of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 transfer material 3 apparatus main body 3a one side end of apparatus main body 3d front side of apparatus main body 6 transfer unit 7 fixing unit 8a, 8b one side surface of apparatus main body 9 first paper outlet 10, 100, 101 second paper outlet 13, 130, 131 Conveyance path 28, 42, 46 Discharge tray 25b, 45 Stepped portion 29, 54, 55 Engagement portion 33 Site between front surface S Nip portion

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image transfer unit configured to transfer a transfer material to a transfer unit and a fixing unit disposed in the apparatus main body to transfer and fix an image, and to a transfer unit and a fixing unit provided in the apparatus main body located above the fixing unit; The transfer material after fixing is transferred to the upper surface of the apparatus main body and the second paper outlet from the first paper outlet and the second paper outlet disposed above the first paper outlet.
In the image forming apparatus for discharging onto a paper discharge tray disposed below a paper discharge port, it is preferable that the second paper discharge port is provided closer to one end of the apparatus main body than the first paper discharge port. Characteristic image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion between said second paper discharge port and a front surface of said apparatus main body is
An image forming apparatus provided on the same plane as the second paper discharge port or closer to the one side end than the second paper discharge port. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one side surface of the apparatus main body, which is open above the first discharge port, is opened when the second discharge port is opened. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided on the same plane as the second discharge port or closer to the one side end than the second discharge port. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one side of the apparatus main body located between the first paper discharge port and the second paper discharge port has the paper discharge paper. An image forming apparatus comprising: a step portion on which a tray is placed; and an engagement portion engaging with the one side surface is provided on the paper discharge tray. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one side of the fixing unit and the second discharge port is closer to the one side than the nip of the fixing unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein a transport path curved in a direction protruding toward an end side is provided.