JP2013164490A - Recording medium storage device and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording medium storage device and an image formation apparatus with excellent operability when taking out a recording medium retracted after conveyance failure detection from an image formation apparatus body, having a mechanism to decrease restraint for taking out the recording medium.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus has a recording medium storage device for conveying and storing a recording medium to be taken out from an image formation apparatus body. The recording medium storage device has an auxiliary member capable of being drawn out from the image formation apparatus body in a prescribed direction. Part of the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage device is configured to protrude from the recording medium storage device as a posture of the recording medium changes in synchronization with a drawing-out operation of the auxiliary member from the image formation apparatus body.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, etc., which accommodates a recording medium that conveys and accommodates a recording medium on the conveyance path when a minor conveyance defect such as a timing defect occurs on the conveyance path inside the apparatus. And an image forming apparatus including the recording medium container.

In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a recording medium, such as a sheet, for carrying out image formation is transported on a transport path inside the apparatus during an image forming process. In some cases, poor conveyance occurred.
In addition to the so-called jam that stops when paper is jammed, there are minor conveyance failures such as a timing failure that causes a paper conveyance delay or the like.
Minor conveyance failure may adversely affect the quality of the image formed on the paper, and may cause jamming if left untreated. In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, when a slight conveyance failure occurs, the sheet on the conveyance path is conveyed to and stored in the retracting portion.
For example, in Patent Document 1, when a minor conveyance failure such as “not reached” or “stay” that is a timing failure is detected on the conveyance path inside the image forming apparatus, the paper on the conveyance path is conveyed and stored. An invention is described in which it is accommodated in a paper discharge tray as a means. In the present invention, the paper discharge tray is configured to be drawable, and the user pulls out the paper discharge tray to remove the stored paper.

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the removal of the sheet must be performed by pulling out the sheet discharge tray and taking out the sheet to such an extent that the sheet is completely exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus. There is a problem in that the amount of drawer of the paper discharge tray becomes large and the installation space of the image forming apparatus is restricted.

A recording medium container according to the present invention is a recording medium container having a storage surface that is disposed in a space in an image forming apparatus, receives a recording medium moving from above, and stores the recording medium in a mounted state. An accommodation surface is formed in a shape that approaches the horizontal while gradually curving as the upper portion is substantially vertical and goes downward, and attached to the upper portion of the accommodation surface, and along the accommodation surface. An auxiliary member that can be pulled out to the side, and a hook portion that extends in the horizontal direction is formed on the side of the accommodating surface of the auxiliary member.
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that includes a transport unit that transports a recording medium on which an image is formed, and transports the recording medium being transported to the space by the transport unit when a transport failure is detected. The pre-recording medium container is arranged in the space.

  According to the present invention, the recording medium container has a hook portion that extends in the horizontal direction on the storage surface side, and has an auxiliary member that is attached to the top of the storage surface and can be pulled out along the storage surface. When the auxiliary member is pulled out, the recording medium accommodated in the accommodation surface rotates and protrudes from the recording medium container, so that the recording medium can be easily taken out and the installation space for the image forming apparatus is There is an effect that the restriction of the can be reduced.

1 is a schematic diagram of an electrophotographic printer 1 which is an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an external view of an electrophotographic printer 1 which is an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the paper container 80 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure which takes out the paper accommodated in the paper container 80 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the paper container 80 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the other modification of the paper container 80 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the paper container 80 which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure which takes out the paper accommodated in the paper container 80 which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the paper container 80 which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the stopper member 84 which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view showing composition and operation of variable stopper member 85 concerning a 4th embodiment of the present invention.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
<< Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus >>
First, the configuration of an electrophotographic printer 1 that is an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a paper feeding unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a transfer unit 4, a fixing unit 5, a reverse conveyance unit 6, a paper discharge unit 7, a retracting unit 8, and a control unit (not shown). doing.
The printer 1 has a conveyance path P in which a plurality of conveyance rollers are arranged as a conveyance unit that conveys a sheet as a storage medium across the above-described units.

The transport path P has four paths, and the first path is a path in which the paper heads from the direction A to the direction B1. In this first path, the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge unit 7 through the fixing unit 5 and the reverse conveyance unit 6 from the sheet feeding unit 2 to the transfer unit 4.
The second route is a route in which the paper heads from the direction A to the direction B2, the direction C1, and the direction D1. In this second path, the paper is transferred from the paper feed unit 2 to the transfer unit 4, passes through the fixing unit 5, is switched back by the reverse conveyance unit 6, is conveyed to the paper discharge unit 7, and is discharged.
The third route is a route in which the sheet travels from direction A to direction B2, direction C1, and direction D2. In this third path, the sheet is transferred from the paper feed unit 2 to the transfer unit 4, passes through the fixing unit 5, is switched back by the reverse conveyance unit 6, and is then conveyed again to the transfer unit 4.
The fourth path is a path from the direction B2 to the direction C2, and when a conveyance failure occurs in the conveyance path P, each of the conveyance paths is switched to the fourth path. The sheet existing upstream is forcibly conveyed to the evacuation unit 8 via the reverse conveyance unit 6.

On the conveyance path P, photosensors R1 to R7 capable of detecting paper are arranged.
The photo sensor R1 is located near the entrance in the fixing unit 5. The photo sensor R <b> 2 is located near the entrance in the reverse conveyance unit 6. The photosensor R3 is located in the path in the reverse direction in the reverse conveyance unit 6 in the vicinity of the switching point on the most upstream side in the conveyance direction toward the switched direction B1. The photo sensor R4 is located near the end of the path toward the direction B1 in the paper discharge unit 7.
The photosensor R5 is located upstream in the conveyance direction of the path toward the direction D2 in the reverse conveyance unit 6. The photo sensor R6 is located downstream in the transport direction of the path in the reverse transport unit 6 toward the direction D2. The photosensor R7 is located near the end of the path toward the direction C2 in the reverse conveyance unit 6.

  The photosensors R1 to R7 detect a conveyance state based on whether or not a sheet is detected. The photosensors R1 to R6 detect a conveyance failure such as a timing failure, and the photosensor R7 supplies the sheet to the sheet retracting unit 8. Detect conveyance. Note that “conveyance failure” refers to a minor conveyance failure such as a timing failure in which a paper conveyance delay occurs.

The paper feed unit 2 supplies paper onto the transport path P, and includes a paper feed tray 21, a paper feed roller 22, and a registration roller 23.
A plurality of paper feed trays 21 are arranged in the lower part of the printer 1 and accommodate paper before image formation. The paper feed roller 22 is positioned above each paper feed tray 21 and feeds the paper in the paper feed tray 21 onto the transport path P one by one. The registration roller 23 is positioned in front of the transfer unit 4 on the conveyance path P, and sends out the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path P in the direction A toward the transfer unit 4 in accordance with the transfer timing.

  The image forming unit 3 forms a toner image to be transferred onto a sheet in the transfer unit 4. The image forming unit 3 includes an image forming unit 30C that forms a toner image using a developer having cyan (C) toner, and an image forming unit 30M that forms a magenta (M) toner image. The image forming unit 30Y forms a yellow (Y) toner image and the image forming unit 30K forms a black (K) toner image.

The image forming unit 30C has a photosensitive drum 32C at the center, and a charging unit 33C, an exposure unit 34C, a developing unit 35C, a cleaning unit 36C, and a charge eliminating unit 37C are arranged in this order counterclockwise. The developer accommodating portion 31C is located above the developing portion 35C.
The developer storage unit 31C stores C-color toner. The photosensitive drum 32C can be driven to rotate, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof, and a toner image is formed corresponding to the electrostatic latent image. The charging unit 33C charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 32C. The exposure unit 34C forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the surface of the photosensitive drum 32C charged by the charging unit 33C with laser light. The developing unit 35C forms a C-color toner image by attaching the C-color toner stored in the developer storage unit 31C corresponding to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 32C. To do. The cleaning unit 36C removes residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 32C after the toner image is transferred to the paper. The neutralization unit 37C neutralizes the surface of the photosensitive drum 32C after the cleaning process.
Since the image forming units 30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30K have the same configuration except that the toner colors used are different, the configuration of the three image forming units 30M, 30Y, and 30K will be described. Omitted.

  The transfer unit 4 sequentially superimposes the toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K by the image forming unit 3, and transfers the color toner images formed thereby onto the paper. The transfer unit 4 includes an intermediate transfer belt 41, a driving roller 42, a driven roller 43, a tension roller 44, primary transfer rollers 45 </ b> C, 45 </ b> M, 45 </ b> Y, 45 </ b> K, a secondary transfer roller 46, and a secondary opposing roller 47.

The intermediate transfer belt 41 has a loop shape and is supported by the driving roller 42 and the driven roller 43 so that the upper surface thereof is in contact with the photosensitive drums 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K. The intermediate transfer belt 41 is driven in the T direction, which is the same direction as these driving directions, at the contact positions with the photosensitive drums 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K. The driving roller 42 is driven by a motor (not shown). The tension roller 44 applies tension to the intermediate transfer belt 41.
The primary transfer rollers 45C, 45M, 45Y, and 45K are in contact with the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 41 and are disposed at positions facing the photosensitive drums 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K with the intermediate transfer belt 41 interposed therebetween. The secondary transfer roller 46 is in contact with the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 41 and is disposed at a position where the intermediate transfer belt 41 contacts the sheet on the conveyance path P. The secondary facing roller 47 is disposed at a position facing the secondary transfer roller 46 with the intermediate transfer belt 41 interposed therebetween.

  The fixing unit 5 fixes the toner transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit 4, and includes a fixing roller 51 and a fixing counter roller 52.

  The fixing roller 51 is disposed so as to be in contact with the conveyed paper, and heats the paper by a heating element included therein. The fixing facing roller 52 is disposed at a position facing the fixing roller 51, and thereby, the conveyed paper is sandwiched between the fixing roller 51 and heated and pressurized.

  The reverse conveyance unit 6 conveys the sheet as it is to the paper discharge unit 7, switches the paper back and conveys the paper to the paper discharge unit 7 in a reversed state, and re-feeds the paper after switching the paper back. Is evacuated to the evacuation unit 8. The reverse conveying unit 6 includes a flip roller 61, switching means 62 to 64, and a reverse roller 65.

  The flip roller 61 conveys the sheet in the direction C1 or C2, or conveys the sheet switched back after being conveyed in the direction C1 in the direction D1. The switching means 62 switches between the route in the direction B1 and the route in the direction B2. The switching means 63 switches between the route in the direction C1 and the route in the direction C2. The switching means 64 switches between the route in the direction D1 and the route in the direction D2. The reverse roller 65 switches back the sheet conveyed in the direction C1 and conveys it in the direction D1 or the direction D2.

  The paper discharge unit 7 discharges the paper conveyed from the reverse conveyance unit 6 and includes a paper discharge roller 71, a paper discharge port 72, and a paper discharge tray 73.

  The paper discharge roller 71 discharges the paper received from the reverse conveyance unit 6 onto the paper discharge tray 73 through the paper discharge port 72. The paper discharge port 72 is provided on the side of the printer 1, and the paper discharge tray 73 is provided outside the printer 1 and below the paper discharge port 72.

With reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, the structure of the evacuation part 8 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.
FIG. 2 is an external view of the electrophotographic printer 1 which is the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The evacuation unit 8 is located below the reverse conveyance unit 6 and accommodates the sheet evacuated from the conveyance path P when the photosensors R1 to R6 detect a conveyance failure.
The retracting unit 8 is configured by disposing a paper container 80 in a space 80S located below the reverse conveying unit 6. The upper surface of the space 80S is an open surface through which a sheet falling from above can pass, and the front surface of the hand is an open surface from which the sheet in the retracting unit 8 can be taken out of the printer 1. Wall surfaces of the four surfaces other than the upper surface and the front surface of the space 80 </ b> S are configured by the housing of the printer 1.
The paper container 80 is attached to the bottom surface of the space 80S directly or via a mounting member.
The paper storage device 80 stores paper that is transported via the reverse transport unit 6 and falls into the space 80S of the retracting unit 8 in a loaded state when a transport failure is detected. The paper dropped on the paper container 80 comes into contact with the wall surface of the space 80S and stops. For this purpose, the sheet container 80 is disposed at a position where the lower end thereof is in contact with or close to the wall surface on the sheet feed tray 21 side.

Further, the retracting unit 8 includes a warning lamp W and a door (not shown).
FIG. 2 shows the space 80S of the retracting unit 8, and the door is attached to the front face of the space 80S so that the inside of the space 80S cannot be seen from the outside during normal operation of the apparatus. The warning lamp W is attached to the outer surface of the door so that it can be confirmed that the lamp is lit when the door is closed.
The warning lamp W is turned on by the control unit after the photosensor R7 detects the entry of the sheet into the retracting unit 8 and when the control unit confirms that the conveyance of the sheet is stopped.
In the present embodiment, the wall surface of the space 80S is used to stop the paper. However, a stop member for stopping the paper may be fixed to the space 80S. You may provide integrally.

With reference to FIG. 3, the structure of the paper container 80 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.
In FIG. 3, the sheet container 80 includes a container main body 81 in which a storage surface 811 for storing paper K is formed, and an auxiliary member 82 in which a hook portion 821 is formed and a handle 822 is provided.

The storage surface 811 formed on the storage device main body 81 has a shape in which the upper part is substantially vertical and gradually approaches the horizontal while gradually curving toward the lower part.
The substantially vertical portion of the storage surface 811 has a shape inclined from the vertical to receive the sheet K falling from the reverse conveyance unit 6 toward the retraction unit 8 and guide it so as to slide down along the storage surface 811. It has become. On the other hand, the lower part of the storage surface 811 is formed in a horizontal plane that is wide enough to have a frictional force between the paper K and the storage surface 811 when the paper K and the storage surface 811 are in contact. In addition, a step portion to which the auxiliary member 82 is attached is formed on the upper portion of the accommodation surface 811.
The auxiliary member 82 is an L-shaped member in which a hook portion 821 extending in the horizontal direction is formed on the plate-like member, and is pulled out to the front side by a slide rail (not shown) on the stepped portion on the upper portion of the receiving surface 811. It is attached as possible. A handle 822 is provided at the front end of the auxiliary member 82 so as to be easily pulled out.
Note that the upper portion of the accommodation surface 811 may be vertical without an inclination. In this case, the falling paper hits a curved portion, and the paper is guided by the curved portion.

The control unit controls the operation of the entire printer 1 based on data including a program stored in advance and information including an image signal received from an external device.
Although not shown, the control unit includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, HD, HDD, network I / F, and bus line.

  The CPU controls the operation of the printer 1 using a work area on the RAM according to a program stored in the ROM. For the operation control, an image signal received from an external device by the network I / F and various data stored in the HD are used. HD writing and reading are performed by the HDD. Each of the above elements is electrically connected by a bus line.

<< Operation of Image Forming Apparatus >>
<Normal operation>
Next, the normal operation of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When the control unit receives information including an image signal from an external device, first, the paper feed roller 22 of the paper feed unit 2 feeds the paper stored in the paper feed tray 21 onto the transport path P one by one. The fed sheet is conveyed on the conveyance path P toward the registration roller 23.
When the paper reaches the registration roller 23, the registration roller 23 sandwiches the paper and waits. Then, the registration roller 23 sends the paper to the transfer unit 4 at the timing when the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 41 reaches the secondary transfer roller 46.

On the other hand, in the image forming unit 30C of the image forming unit 3, the charging unit 33C charges the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 32C. Then, the exposure unit 34C irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 32C charged by the charging unit 33C with laser light based on the image signal received from the external device. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 32C.
When an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 32C, the developing unit 35C uses the C color toner stored in the developer storage unit 31C, and the static image formed by the charging unit 33C and the exposure unit 34C. A toner image is formed by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image.
Similarly, an M toner image is formed in the image forming unit 30M, a Y toner image is formed in the image forming unit 30Y, and a K toner image is formed in the image forming unit 30K.

After the toner images of the respective colors are formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K, the primary transfer rollers 45C, 45M, 45Y, and 45K apply a primary transfer bias to the intermediate transfer belt 41 that is driven in the T direction. Call. Then, the toner images on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K are sequentially superimposed and transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 41, and a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 41.
Thereafter, the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 41 moves toward the secondary transfer roller 46 as the intermediate transfer belt 41 is driven. At this time, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 2 and sandwiched between the registration rollers 23 is sent out in accordance with the timing at which the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 41 reaches the secondary transfer roller 46.
When the fed sheet reaches the secondary transfer roller 46, the secondary transfer roller 46 applies a secondary transfer bias to the sheet and the intermediate transfer belt 41 between the secondary facing roller 47. Then, the color toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 41 is transferred to the sheet.

When the color toner image is transferred, the sheet is conveyed toward the fixing roller 51.
The conveyed sheet is heated by the fixing roller 51 having a heating element therein, and is sandwiched between the fixing roller 51 and the fixing counter roller 52 and pressed. As a result, the toner on the paper is fixed on the paper.

The sheet that has been fixed by the fixing unit 5 is conveyed to the reverse conveying unit 6 and selects a path by switching the switching means 62 to 64 in accordance with a user's prior instruction such as single-sided printing or double-sided printing. Are transported.
When normal single-side printing is instructed by the user, the switching unit 62 switches the path in the direction B1. As a result, the sheet is conveyed to the sheet discharge unit 7 through the first path. Even in the case of single-sided printing, when the reverse side discharge is instructed, the switching unit 62 switches the path to the direction B2, the switching unit 63 switches to the direction C1, and the switching unit 64 switches the path to the direction D1. As a result, the sheet is conveyed to the sheet discharge unit 7 through the second path.
When duplex printing is instructed, the switching unit 62 switches the path to the direction B2, the switching unit 63 switches to the direction C1, and the switching unit 64 switches the path to the direction D2. As a result, the sheet is fed again through the third path.

  The sheet conveyed from the reverse conveying unit 6 to the sheet discharge unit 7 is discharged through the sheet discharge port 72 by driving the sheet discharge roller 71 and stacked on the sheet discharge tray 73.

<Operation at the time of conveyance defect detection>
Next, with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, an operation at the time of detecting a conveyance failure of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

When the photosensors R1 to R6 detect a conveyance failure in the normal operation state, the printer 1 stops supplying new sheets from the sheet feeding unit 2 and controls the conveyance path according to control by the control unit. Continue to transport the paper on P. Meanwhile, the switching means 62 switches the path in the direction B2, and the switching means 63 switches the path in the direction C2. As a result, the sheets conveyed on the conveyance path P are sequentially conveyed toward the retracting portion 8 through the fourth path.
The sheet conveyed toward the retracting unit 8 falls toward the sheet container 80 disposed in the space 80S in the retracting unit 8. The dropped paper is received by a substantially vertical portion of the storage surface 811 formed on the storage device main body 81, and slides down while being guided by the storage surface 811 as indicated by an arrow a shown in FIG. The slipped sheet comes into contact with the wall surface in the retracting portion 8 and stops, and is accommodated on the accommodation surface 811 in a loaded state as shown in FIG.
Then, when the photosensors R1 to R6 on the conveyance path P do not detect the sheet on the conveyance path P for a certain period of time, it is determined that the retreat has been completed, and the conveyance of the sheet is stopped. At this time, if the photosensor R7 installed near the end of the path toward the direction C2, that is, immediately after the photosensor R7 installed immediately above the retracting unit 8 detects the sheet, the control unit turns on the warning lamp W to turn on the sheet in the sheet container 80. A warning is displayed to indicate that the is contained.

<Procedure for user to remove paper>
Next, with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, a procedure for the user to take out the paper from the paper container 80 when the conveyance failure is detected will be described.

  When the warning display by the warning lamp W is made, the user opens the door provided on the front side of the retracting portion 8 so that the inside of the space 80S can be seen as shown in FIG. At this time, in the space 80S, as shown in FIG. 3, the fallen paper K is stored on the storage surface 811 of the storage device main body 81 as indicated by the arrow a.

The procedure for the user to take out the paper will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The paper K is accommodated in a loaded state as shown in FIG. 4A, and the user holds the handle 822 and pulls out the auxiliary member 82. Pull out to b.
When pulled out in this way, the hooking portion 821 eventually comes into contact with the top of the paper K. Thereafter, when the auxiliary member 82 is further pulled out, as shown in FIG. 4B, the sheet K that is in contact with the hooking portion 821 is a portion that is in contact with the horizontal plane at the lower portion of the storage surface 811 and that is near the front side. Rotation in the rotation direction c is started along 811. This is because a frictional force acts between the lower portion of the paper K and the horizontal plane.
When the auxiliary member 82 is further pulled out, as shown in FIG. 4C, a portion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 4C, which is a part of the sheet K rotated on the accommodation surface 811, is a container body 81. Projecting from the space 80S. Then, the user takes out the paper K in the take-out direction d with the protruding portion of the paper K in this way.
Thus, the user does not need to completely pull out the container body 81 to the outside of the printer 1 when taking out the paper, and can take out the paper by pulling out the auxiliary member 82 slightly from the printer 1. Become.
Note that if a member that causes friction such as a rubber material is attached to the front side of the horizontal surface below the accommodation surface 811, the pivot point of rotation of the paper K becomes more stable.

<< Modifications and Other Modifications of Recording Medium Container According to First Embodiment >>
Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a modified example of the paper container 80 according to the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the paper container 80 according to the first embodiment. In this modified example, the hooking portion 821a formed on the auxiliary member 82a is vertical in the upper portion but not in the lower portion. It has a shape that has a curved surface that curves toward the end side and approaches the horizontal as it goes. As a result, the hooking portion 821a follows the rotating paper K, and the paper K rotates more smoothly.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another modified example of the paper container 80 according to the first embodiment. In this modified example, the hook portion 821b formed on the auxiliary member 82b has two surfaces intersecting at right angles. The shape consists of the wall part. As a result, the sheet falling from the reverse conveying unit 6 toward the retracting unit 8 is prevented from being separated from the storage surface 811 and is reliably stored on the storage surface 811.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the paper container 80 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a paper container 80 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for taking out the paper stored in the paper storage device 80 according to the second embodiment.
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the paper container 80 has an abutting member 83 fixed to the bottom surface of the room.
The position of the contact member 83 is between the lower end of the container body 81 and the wall surface of the space 80S, and the horizontal surface below the storage surface 811 is formed shorter than that of the first embodiment in order to secure this interval. The container body 81 is disposed at a position separated from the wall surface on the paper feed tray 21 side in the space 80S by the width of the contact member 83. Further, the space 80S itself may be enlarged to ensure the above interval.
The container main body 81 is provided on the bottom surface of the space 80 </ b> S so that it can be pulled out in the front horizontal direction by a slide rail (not shown). The container body 81 is provided with a handle 812.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the distance L between the abutting member 83 and the hooking portion 821 is made wider than the width of the paper K.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower end portion of the sheet K protrudes from the lower end of the container main body 81 by the distance between the lower end of the container main body 81 and the wall surface of the space 80S.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The abutting member 83 is fixed to the printer 1 at a position where the abutting member main body 81 is in contact with the lower end of the paper K and the front end of the accommodating tool main body 81. The handle 812 is provided so as to be easily pulled out at the front end of the container body 81.
In the present embodiment, the user pulls out the paper K from the paper container 80 by pulling out the auxiliary member 82 and the container body 81. That is, as shown in FIG. 8B from the state of FIG. 8A, the container main body 81 is pulled out in the pulling direction b <b> 1, and the front end portion of the lower side of the paper K is brought into contact with the contact member 83.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8C, by pulling out the auxiliary member 82 in the pull-out direction b2, the sheet K is rotated in the rotation direction c with the contact portion between the sheet K and the contact member 83 as a fulcrum. As shown in FIG. 8D, the upper end on the near side of the sheet K is protruded from the space 80S, and the sheet K is taken out with the protruding portion.
With such a configuration, the fulcrum of rotation of the paper K when the auxiliary member 82 is pulled out is stable, and the paper can be more stably projected as compared with the case where the contact member 83 is not provided.
Although the container main body 81 may not be able to be pulled out, it is more preferable to be able to pull it out.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a paper container 80 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a paper container 80 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a stopper member 84 according to the third embodiment.
In the third embodiment, the paper container 80 has a container body 81c having a notch 813c formed as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and a stopper member as shown in FIG. 84. The other configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment.

The notch 813c of the container main body 81c is formed at the corner at the lower part of the back surface, and the depth from the front side is about the same as the width of the paper K. The limit of the pull-out amount of the container body 81 is defined by the length of the depth.
The stopper member 84 is a plate-like member that protrudes upward from the floor surface of the printer 1, and is disposed at a position where the inner surface of the notch 813 c comes into contact when the container body 81 c is pulled out.

As a result, when the container main body 81c is pulled out, the inner surface of the stopper member 84 comes into contact, and the limit of the amount of the container main body 81c to be pulled out is defined. As a result, the sheet K is not caught between the hooking portion 821 and the contact member 83, and the sheet K is not deformed or damaged.
In addition, you may make it change the position of the stopper member 84 so that removal or a slide movement is possible. In the case of such a configuration, the drawer amount of the container main body 81c can be adjusted according to the size of the paper to be printed, so that a smoother operation is possible.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a paper container 80 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a variable stopper member 85 according to the fourth embodiment.
In the fourth embodiment, the paper container 80 has a variable stopper member 85 as shown in FIG. The third embodiment is the same in configuration other than this configuration.

The variable stopper member 85 includes a link member 851 and a solenoid 852, and is disposed on the bottom surface between the back surface of the paper container 80 and the wall surface of the space 80S.
The link member 851 has a plate-like portion formed at the tip of a rod-like member, and is arranged so that the plate-like portion is positioned in the notch portion 813c of the container main body 81c. The solenoid 852 is connected to the link member 851 and moves the link member 851 up and down by switching between ON and OFF.

  In order to ensure the operating range of the link member 851 and the plate-like portion, the variable stopper member 85 is disposed at a position lower than the position of the paper container 80, and a space 80S is provided below the notch 813c. .

In such a configuration, when the solenoid 852 is turned on (the state shown in FIG. 11A), the variable stopper member 85 and the notch 813c come into contact with each other when the container body 81c is pulled out. The limit of withdrawal amount is specified. Therefore, the paper K is not sandwiched between the hooking portion 821 and the contact member 83 when the container main body 81c is pulled out, and the paper K is not deformed or damaged when the container main body 81c is pulled out.
When the solenoid 852 is turned off (the state shown in FIG. 11B), the container body 81c can be pulled out and completely removed from the printer 1, and maintenance can be easily performed. Although the variable stopper member 85 can be moved up and down, it may be configured to be able to rotate left and right.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 80 Paper storage tool 80S Space 81 Storage tool main body 811 Storage surface 82 Auxiliary member 821 Hooking part 83 Contact member 84 Stopper member 85 Variable stopper member P Conveyance path

Japanese Patent No. 4168081

Claims (6)

A recording medium container having a storage surface that is disposed in a space in the image forming apparatus and receives a recording medium moving from above and stores the recording medium in a loaded state.
The container body is formed in a shape that approaches the horizontal while gradually curving as the upper surface is substantially vertical and goes downward.
An auxiliary member attached to an upper portion of the accommodation surface and capable of being pulled out toward the front side along the accommodation surface;
A recording medium container, wherein a hooking portion extending in a horizontal direction is formed on the storage surface side of the auxiliary member.   The recording medium container has an abutting member, and the corresponding contact member is in contact with the lower end of the recording medium accommodated in the container main body and the end on the near side as the auxiliary member is pulled out. The recording medium container according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium container is disposed at a position.   The recording medium container according to claim 2, wherein the container body is provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the space in the image forming apparatus to the near side.   The recording medium container according to claim 3, wherein the recording medium container has a stopper member that defines a limit of a pull-out amount of the container body.   The recording medium container according to claim 4, wherein the stopper member is capable of selecting whether or not a limit of a pull-out amount of the container body is specified. An image forming apparatus that includes a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium on which an image is formed, and that conveys the recording medium being conveyed to the space by the conveying unit when a conveyance failure is detected,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the recording medium container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is disposed in the space.

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