RECORDING MATERIAL DISCHARGE DEVICE, AND RECORDING MATERIAL PROCESSING APPARATUS USING SAME

Provided is a recording material discharge device including a recording material discharge member that discharges a recording material, a receiving member that receives the recording material which is discharged by the recording material discharge member, and a variable section that changes an angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-063762 filed Mar. 26, 2014.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to a recording material discharge device, and a recording material processing apparatus using the same.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a recording material discharge device including:

a recording material discharge member that discharges a recording material;

a receiving member that receives the recording material which is discharged by the recording material discharge member; and

a variable section that changes an angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of an exemplary embodiment of a recording material discharge device to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation example of the recording material discharge device;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a recording material processing apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a recording material discharge device according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a recording material discharge roller, a driving transmission system, and a main portion of the driving transmission system of an accommodation receiver that are used in the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a stiffening element that is added to the recording material discharge roller, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a loading operation example of a recording material that is discharged to the accommodation receiver;

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an angle adjustment mechanism of a discharge module, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation example of the angle adjustment mechanism of the discharge module;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a discharge control process for the recording material that is used in the first exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a state where a discharge angle of the recording material that is discharged from the discharge module is changed;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main portion of a recording material discharge device according to a second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a discharge control process for a recording material that is used in the second exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a state where a discharge angle of the recording material that is discharged from a discharge module is changed based on the loading amount of the recording material in an accommodation receiver;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a recording material processing apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main portion of a recording material discharge device according to the third exemplary embodiment; and

FIGS. 14A and 14B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a state where a discharge angle of a recording material that is discharged from a discharge module is changed.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview of Exemplary Embodiment

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an overview of an exemplary embodiment of a recording material discharge device to which the present invention is applied.

In the drawings, a recording material discharge device 1 includes a recording material discharge member 3 that discharges a recording material 2, a receiving member 4 that receives the recording material 2 which is discharged by the recording material discharge member 3, and a variable section 5 that changes an angle of the discharge of the recording material 2 to the receiving member 4 by the recording material discharge member 3.

In this technical measure, any of those having discharge members of pair configuration may be appropriately selected as the recording material discharge member 3, and the discharge members may have the shape of rollers or belts.

In addition, any of those that receive the recording material 2, which is discharged by the recording material discharge member 3, on a discharge direction downstream side may be the receiving member 4. Representative aspects of the receiving member 4 include a recording material accommodating member and a recording material guide member that guides the recording material 2 toward a post-processing section when post-processing is performed on the discharged recording material 2.

Moreover, any of those in which overall postures of the discharge members of pair configuration are changed and a position of a recording material nipping portion (nip portion) of the discharge members of pair configuration is moved without changing relative positions of the discharge members of pair configuration by rotating a supporting member of the discharge members of pair configuration, which are the recording material discharge member 3, may be appropriately selected as the variable section 5 if the variable section 5 has the aspect that the angle θ of the discharge of the recording material 2 to the receiving member 4 by the recording material discharge member 3 is changed (for example, aspect that θ1 in FIG. 1A is changed to θ2 (<θ1) in FIG. 1B).

Next, representative aspects or preferable aspects of the recording material discharge device according to this exemplary embodiment will be described.

First, the representative aspects of the recording material discharge member 3 include an aspect that the recording material discharge member has a stiffening element which stiffens and discharges the recording material 2. This aspect is effective in holding a discharge posture of the recording material 2 in a case where a weak recording material 2 is handled as the recording material 2.

In addition, the representative aspects of the variable section 5 include an aspect that the angle θ of the discharge of the recording material 2 is changed to the receiving member 4 by the recording material discharge member 3 according to a characteristic of the recording material 2. With this aspect, the angle θ of the discharge of the recording material 2 by the recording material discharge member 3 can be changed according to the characteristic of the recording material 2 and an operation for receiving the recording material 2 with the receiving member 4 may be adjusted.

Herein, examples of the characteristic of the recording material 2 include factors affecting a receiving reaction force that acts on the recording material 2 which is received by the receiving member 4 (or an impact force resulting from hitting of the recording material 2 discharged to the receiving member 4) and factors affecting a frictional resistance of the recording material 2 which is discharged to the receiving member 4.

More specifically, the representative examples include at least any one of the basis weight of the recording material 2, the length of the recording material 2 in a transport direction, a surface property of the recording material 2, and the type of an image recorded on the recording material 2, and these may be appropriately combined with each other as well. The size of the recording material 2 allowing for a dimension in a width direction, which intersects with the transport direction, may also be considered in addition to the length of the recording material 2 in the transport direction.

For example, concerning the basis weight of the recording material 2, the receiving reaction force that acts on the recording material 2 which is received by the receiving member 4 is larger in a recording material 2 with a large basis weight than in a recording material 2 with a small basis weight, and thus the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2 with respect to the receiving member 4 may become smaller in a case where the recording material 2 with the large basis weight is discharged than in a case where the recording material 2 with the small basis weight is discharged.

In addition, concerning the length of the recording material 2 in the transport direction, the receiving reaction force that acts on the recording material 2 which is received by the receiving member 4 is larger and the possibility of a collision with the recording material 2 which is previously received by the receiving member 4 is higher in the recording material 2 that is long in the transport direction than in the recording material 2 that is short in the transport direction, and thus the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2 with respect to the receiving member 4 may become smaller in a case where the recording material 2 that is long in the transport direction is discharged than in a case where the recording material 2 that is short in the transport direction is discharged.

Moreover, concerning the surface property of the recording material 2, a recording material 2 with a high smoothness (for example, a coated sheet having a flat and smooth coating layer) is more slippery than a recording material 2 with a low smoothness (for example, an uncoated sheet not having a flat and smooth coating layer), although depending on the surface roughness and frictional resistance of the recording material 2, and thus the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2 with respect to the receiving member 4 may become smaller in a case where the recording material 2 with the high smoothness is discharged than in a case where the recording material 2 with the low smoothness is discharged.

Furthermore, concerning the type of the image recorded on the recording material 2, a recording material 2 on which line images such as lattice images are mainly recorded is more slippery than a recording material 2 on which surface images such as halftone images are mainly recorded, and thus the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2 with respect to the receiving member 4 may become smaller in a case where the recording material 2 with many line images is discharged than in a case where the recording material 2 with many surface images is discharged.

Through these changes, the receiving reaction force that acts on the recording material 2 which is received by the receiving member 4 and transport resistance of the recording material 2 may be suppressed.

Moreover, in another representative aspect of the variable section 5, the discharge members of pair configuration that rotate in contact with each other and a supporting member 6 that supports the discharge members of pair configuration and rotates about a rotation fulcrum are provided as the recording material discharge member 3, and the angle of the discharge of the recording material 2 by the recording material discharge member 3 is changed with the variable section 5 without changing the relative positions of the discharge members of pair configuration by rotating the supporting member 6 about the rotation fulcrum of the supporting member 6.

According to a preferable aspect of this aspect, in the variable section 5, a straight line connecting the position of the recording material nipping portion of the discharge members of pair configuration to the rotation fulcrum of the supporting member 6 is substantially orthogonal to a direction of the discharge of the recording material 2 by the recording material discharge member 3. According to this aspect, the amount of movement of the position of the recording material nipping portion of the recording material discharge member 3 is small and an operation for discharging the recording material 2 with the recording material discharge member 3 is stable.

Furthermore, in another representative aspect of the variable section 5, a designation section (not illustrated) that designates the characteristic of the recording material 2 is provided, and the angle θ of the discharge of the recording material 2 by the recording material discharge member 3 is changed based on the characteristic of the recording material 2 which is designated by the designation section. In this aspect, a discharge behavior of the recording material 2 that matches with the characteristic of the recording material 2 is performed if the characteristic of the recording material 2 is designated by the designation section and the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2 that matches with the recording material 2, which is designated based on the characteristic of the recording material 2 designated by the designation section, is stored in advance as information.

In addition, in a representative aspect of the recording material discharge device 1, the receiving member 4 is the recording material accommodating member that accommodates the recording material 2 which is discharged by the recording material discharge member 3.

In this aspect, an accommodation position of the recording material 2 with respect to the recording material accommodating member may be adjusted by changing the angle of the discharge of the recording material 2 by the recording material discharge member 3.

Examples of this aspect include an aspect in which the angle θ of the discharge of the recording material 2 to the recording material accommodating member by the recording material discharge member 3 becomes smaller with the variable section 5, based on the characteristic of the recording material 2 as described above, in a case where the receiving reaction force that acts on the recording material 2 which is discharged to the recording material accommodating member or the frictional resistance of the recording material 2 is large than in a case where the receiving reaction force that acts on the recording material 2 which is discharged to the recording material accommodating member or the frictional resistance of the recording material 2 is small.

This aspect allows for the size of the receiving reaction force that acts on the recording material 2 (or the impact force of the recording material 2) or the frictional resistance of the recording material 2 based on the characteristic of the recording material 2 for an operation of shifting the previously loaded recording material 2 in a case where the receiving reaction force and the frictional resistance are large. Accordingly, in such a case, the operation for shifting the loaded recording material 2 may be weakened by allowing the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2 with respect to the recording material accommodating member to become smaller.

As described above, representative aspects of the characteristic of the recording material 2 include at least any one of the basis weight of the recording material 2, the length of the recording material 2 in the transport direction, the surface property of the recording material 2, and the type of the image recorded on the recording material 2.

In this aspect, it may be determined whether the recording material 2 is a thick sheet or a thin sheet by using, for example, the size of the basis weight of the recording material 2. In addition, the size of the recording material 2 may be determined by using the length of the recording material 2 in the transport direction. Moreover, it may be determined whether or not the surface of the recording material 2 is covered by a coating layer with a low frictional resistance by using the surface property of the recording material 2. Furthermore, it maybe determined whether or not the image is, for example, the halftone image by using the type of the image recorded or the degree of unevenness of the image may be determined by using the presence or absence of the lattice image. Based on these, the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2 may be changed and an irregularity of the accommodation position of the recording material 2 in the recording material accommodating member may be suppressed to be small.

In addition, in a preferable aspect of the recording material discharge device 1 that includes the recording material accommodating member as the receiving member 4, the variable section 5 has a detection section (not illustrated) that is capable of detecting the loading amount of the recording material 2 which is accommodated in the recording material accommodating member as the receiving member 4, and the angle θ of the discharge of the recording material 2 to the recording material accommodating member by the recording material discharge member 3 may become smaller in a case where the loading amount of the recording material 2 is large than in a case where the loading amount of the recording material 2 is small based on a result of the detection by the detection section.

Herein, any detection section may be appropriately selected if the detection section detects the loading amount of the recording material 2 in the recording material accommodating member. The frictional resistance between the discharged recording material 2 and the loaded recording material 2 increases when the loading amount of the recording material 2 increases. In view of this, the discharge angle of the recording material 2 maybe corrected so as to be capable of responding to the large frictional resistance.

Moreover, in another representative aspect of the recording material discharge device 1, the receiving member 4 is the recording material guide member that guides the recording material 2 which is discharged by the recording material discharge member 3 toward the post-processing section (not illustrated).

In this aspect, a collision sound is generated or a high load is applied with respect to the recording material guide member in a case where, for example, the recording material 2 which is the thick sheet is discharged. The generation of the collision sound and the high load may be suppressed when the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2 is changed.

In addition, this exemplary embodiment also covers a recording material processing apparatus that includes the recording material discharge device 1.

A representative aspect of the recording material processing apparatus includes a processing section (not illustrated) that processes the recording material 2, and the recording material discharge device 1 (for example, using the recording material accommodating member as the receiving member 4) that discharges the recording material 2 which is processed by the processing section.

Moreover, another representative aspect of the recording material processing apparatus includes the post-processing section (not illustrated) that post-processes the recording material 2, and the recording material discharge device 1 (for example, using the recording material guide member as the receiving member 4) that discharges the recording material 2 toward the post-processing section.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment <Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first exemplary embodiment of an image forming apparatus as the recording material processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

In an image forming apparatus 20 illustrated in the drawing, imaging engines 22 (specifically, 22a to 22d) for four colors (black, yellow, magenta, and cyan in this exemplary embodiment) are arranged in a lateral direction in an apparatus housing 21, a transfer module 23 that has an intermediate image transfer belt 230, which is circularly transported along an arrangement direction of each of the imaging engines 22, is arranged above the imaging engines 22, a recording material supply device 24, where the recording material such as the sheets is accommodated, is arranged in a lower portion of the apparatus housing 21, and a recording material transport path 25 from the recording material supply device 24 is arranged in a substantially vertical direction.

In this exemplary embodiment, the respective imaging engines 22 (22a to 22d) form, for example, black, yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images (arrangement not being necessarily limited to this order) in order from a circulation direction upstream side of the intermediate image transfer belt 230, and have photoconductors 31, charging devices (charging rollers in this example) 32 that charge the photoconductors 31 in advance, an exposure device 33 that writes electrostatic latent images on the respective photoconductors 31 which are charged by the charging devices 32 (a common exposure device is used in each of the imaging engines 22 in this example), developing devices 34 that develop the electrostatic latent images which are formed on the photoconductors 31 with toner (for example, negative polarity in this exemplary embodiment) of corresponding colors, and cleaning devices 35 that clean residue on the photoconductors 31.

Herein, the exposure device 33 has, for example, four semiconductor lasers (not illustrated), one polygon mirror 42, a focusing lens (not illustrated), and respective mirrors (not illustrated) corresponding to the respective photoconductors 31 stored in an exposure housing 41 so that light from the semiconductor laser for each color component is subjected to deflection scanning by the polygon mirror 42 and optical images are guided to exposure points on the corresponding photoconductors 31 via the focusing lens and the mirrors.

Signs 36 (36a to 36d) represent toner cartridges that are used to replenish the toner of the respective color components into the respective developing devices 34.

In addition, in this exemplary embodiment, the transfer module 23 is a module in which, for example, the intermediate image transfer belt 230 laid across a pair of support rollers (one of which is a driving roller) 231 and 232, and primary image transfer devices (primary image transfer rollers in this example) 51 are arranged on a back surface of the intermediate image transfer belt 230 which corresponds to the photoconductors 31 of the respective imaging engines 22. When a voltage that has the polarity opposite to the charge polarity of the toner is applied to the primary image transfer devices 51, the toner images on the photoconductors 31 are electrostatically transferred to the intermediate image transfer belt 230 side.

Moreover, a secondary image transfer device 52 is arranged at a location corresponding to the support roller 232 on a downstream side from the imaging engine 22d which is at a most downstream side of the intermediate image transfer belt 230, and allows a primary image transfer image on the intermediate image transfer belt 230 to be subjected to secondary image transfer (collective transfer) onto the recording material.

In this exemplary embodiment, the secondary image transfer device 52 has a secondary image transfer roller 521 that is arranged to be in pressure contact with a toner image carrying surface side of the intermediate image transfer belt 230, and a backup roller (serving also as the support roller 232 in this example) that is arranged on the back surface side of the intermediate image transfer belt 230 to form an electrode facing the secondary image transfer roller 521.

The secondary image transfer roller 521 is, for example, grounded, and a bias having the same polarity as the charge polarity of the toner is applied to the backup roller (support roller 232).

Furthermore, a belt cleaning device 53 is arranged on an upstream side from the imaging engine 22a which is at a most upstream side of the intermediate image transfer belt 230, and removes residual toner on the intermediate image transfer belt 230.

In addition, a supply roller 61 that supplies the recording material is disposed in the recording material supply device 24, and a feed roller 62 that transports the recording material is arranged immediately behind the supply roller 61. A positioning roller (registration roller) 63 that supplies the recording material to a secondary image transfer location at a predetermined timing is arranged in the recording material transport path 25 which is positioned immediately before the secondary image transfer location.

A fixing device 66 is disposed in the recording material transport path 25 that is positioned on a downstream side from the secondary image transfer location, and the fixing device 66 has a heating/fixing roller 66a into which a heating heater (not illustrated) is built and a press/fixing roller 66b that is arranged in pressure contact with the heating/fixing roller 66a and follows the heating/fixing roller 66a to rotate as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In addition, a recording material discharge device 67 is disposed on a downstream side from the fixing device 66. The recording material discharge device 67 has a recording material discharge roller 68 that discharges the recording material in the apparatus housing 21, and a recording material accommodation receiver 69 that is formed in an upper portion of the apparatus housing 21. The recording material that is discharged by the recording material discharge roller 68 is accommodated in the recording material accommodation receiver 69.

Moreover, in this exemplary embodiment, a manual supply device (MSI) 71 is disposed on a side of the apparatus housing 21, and the recording material on the manual supply device 71 is supplied by a supply roller 72 toward the recording material transport path 25.

Furthermore, a double-side recording module 73 is attached to the apparatus housing 21, and the double-side recording module 73 reverses the recording material discharge device 67 when a duplex mode is selected to perform image recording on both surfaces of the recording material, imports the recording material, where the recording on one of the surfaces is completed, into the double-side recording module 73 with a guide roller 74 in front of an inlet, transports the recording material along a recording material returning transport path 76 in the double-side recording module 73 with an appropriate number of feed rollers 77, and supplies the recording material back to the positioning roller 63 side.

<Recording Material Discharge Device> —Recording Material Discharge Roller—

In this exemplary embodiment, the recording material discharge roller 68 is configured to have discharge rollers 68a and 68b of pair configuration that roll in contact with each other. For example, the discharge roller 68a that is positioned on a lower side is a driving roller, the discharge roller 68b that is positioned on an upper side is a driven roller, and a recording material S is nipped between both of the discharge rollers 68a and 68b and transported.

In this example, the discharge roller 68a as the driving roller is driven by a driving transmission mechanism 90 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the driving transmission mechanism 90 herein, a driving gear 92 is connected to a rotating shaft of a drive motor 101 that is capable of rotating forward and backward, a driven gear 93 is mounted on a rotating shaft 681 of the discharge roller 68a as the driving roller, via an electromagnetic clutch 94, in a connectible and disconnectable manner, and multi-stage gear trains 95 are engagingly interposed between the driving gear 92 and the driven gear 93 for driving transmission at a predetermined reduction ratio. Accordingly, in this exemplary embodiment, a driving force from the drive motor 101 is transmitted to the discharge roller 68a when the electromagnetic clutch 94 is subject to ON/OFF control and the discharge rollers 68a and 68b of pair configuration are driven to rotate in predetermined forward and reverse directions.

—Stiffening Element—

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5A, plural (four in this example) roller members 682 formed of an elastic material are arranged in a divided manner with respect to the rotating shaft 681 in both of the discharge rollers 68a and 68b of pair configuration that constitute the recording material discharge roller 68.

Herein, the roller members 682 of the discharge roller 68b as the driven roller are configured to be cylindrical members. In roller embers 683 of the discharge roller 68a as the driving roller, flange portions 685 with a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of cylindrical portions 684 are formed at opposite ends of the cylindrical portions 684, and lightening portions 686 are ensured around the rotating shaft 681 corresponding to the flange portions 685.

Accordingly, in this exemplary embodiment, a ridge part Sa that extends in the discharge direction is formed in the recording material S due to the presence of the flange portions 685 and the lightening portions 686 of the discharge roller 68a as the driving roller when the discharge rollers 68a and 68b of pair configuration which constitute the recording material discharge roller 68 nip and transport the recording material S. As such, stiffening is provided for the recording material S, even when the recording material S is weak, and thus the recording material S is discharged at a predetermined discharge angle.

An aspect in which the stiffening element is added to the recording material discharge roller 68 is illustrated in this exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and, for example, the stiffening elements disclosed in the related art may be adopted.

—Recording Material Accommodation Receiver—

In this exemplary embodiment, the recording material accommodation receiver 69 has a fixed accommodation receiver 111 that is fixed to the upper portion of the apparatus housing 21, a guide unit 112 that is formed in the fixed accommodation receiver 111 to extend in a direction which intersects with the discharge direction of the recording material S (substantially orthogonal direction in this example), and a movable accommodation receiver 113 that may be moved along the guide unit 112 of the fixed accommodation receiver 111 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and performs offset accommodation on the recording material S by job unit.

The recording material accommodation receiver 69 is appropriately set at an offset accommodation position via an offset driving mechanism 120.

Herein, for example, an internal thread portion 121 that extends in a direction of movement of the movable accommodation receiver 113 is disposed and an external thread portion 122 that is connected to a rotating shaft of a drive motor 102 is disposed in the offset driving mechanism 120 and the external thread portion 122 is engaged with the internal thread portion 121 so that the external thread portion 122 is subjected to predetermined rotation to the left with respect to a reference position or is subjected to predetermined rotation to the right with respect to the reference position and the movable accommodation receiver 113 is moved to a left position PL which is offset to the left with respect to a center position PC or to a right position PR which is offset to the right with respect to the center position as illustrated in FIG. 5B.

—Discharge Module—

In this exemplary embodiment, the recording material discharge roller 68 is built into a discharge module 130 that is rotatable about a rotation fulcrum 135 as illustrated in FIG. 3, and an angle adjustment mechanism 140 that adjusts an angle during the arrangement of the discharge module 130 is disposed in the discharge module 130.

In this example, a discharge path 132 is disposed in a discharge housing 131 and the recording material discharge roller 68 is arranged in the vicinity of an outlet of the discharge path 132 in the discharge module 130. The rotation fulcrum 135 is disposed below the recording material discharge roller 68 in the discharge housing 131, and the discharge module 130 is rotatable about the rotation fulcrum 135.

Particularly, in this exemplary embodiment, a straight line connecting the center of the rotation fulcrum 135 to the center of the recording material nipping portion of the recording material discharge roller 68 is substantially orthogonal to the discharge direction of the recording material S. Accordingly, in this exemplary embodiment, the position of the recording material nipping portion of the recording material discharge roller 68 is not displaced to a large extent even when the discharge module 130 rotates about the rotation fulcrum 135.

—Angle Adjustment Mechanism—

In addition, the angle adjustment mechanism 140 has a cam 141 that abuts against a lower surface of the discharge housing 131 which is separated from the rotation fulcrum 135 of the discharge module 130, and a biasing member 142 that biases the discharge housing 131 to the cam 141 side so as to maintain a contact state between the cam 141 surface and the discharge housing 131.

In this example, the cam 141 has at least a large-diameter cam portion 143 with a radius r1 and a small-diameter cam portion 144 with a radius r2.

In this example, the cam 141 is illustrated to have the two large-diameter cam portion 143 and small-diameter cam portion 144. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cam 141 may have a cam shape in which the radius changes discontinuously or continuously from r1 to r2.

The cam 141 of the angle adjustment mechanism 140 is rotated by a predetermined angle by the a drive motor 103 and, for example, adjusts the angle during the arrangement of the discharge module 130 in the large-diameter cam portion 143 with the radius r1 as illustrated in FIG. 6A to set the angle of the discharge of the recording material S by the recording material discharge roller 68 to α1 or, for example, adjusts the angle during the arrangement of the discharge module 130 in the small-diameter cam portion 144 with the radius r2 as illustrated in FIG. 6B to set the angle of the discharge of the recording material S by the recording material discharge roller 68 to α2.

<Control Device>

In this exemplary embodiment, a control device 150 that controls an image forming operation and an operation for transporting the recording material is disposed.

The control device 150 is configured to be a microcomputer system that has, for example, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and input/output ports. For example, a recording material discharge control program that is illustrated in FIG. 7 is installed in advance on the ROM, information from a recording material type designator 151 that designates the type of the recording material and a job condition designator 152 that designates a job condition of the recording material S is read by the CPU, and predetermined control signals are sent to the respective drive motors 101 to 103.

Herein, the recording material type designator 151 may designate, for example, the basis weight of the recording material S, the length of the recording material S in the transport direction, the presence or absence of the coating layer in the recording material S, and whether or not the type of the image recorded on the recording material S is halftone or whether or not the image includes an image of a predetermined special pattern (for example, lattice image).

In addition, the job condition designator 152 may designate, for example, a job in which the number of copies to be printed is plural.

<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus>

In the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2, the toner images of the respective color components that are formed on the photoconductors 31 by the respective imaging engines 22 (22a to 22d) are transferred to the intermediate image transfer belt 230 by the primary image transfer device 51 and then are transferred to the recording material S by the secondary image transfer device 52. The recording material S that is subjected to the secondary image transfer is transported to the recording material discharge device 67 through the fixing device 66 so that the operation for discharging the recording material S is performed.

In this case, the control device 150 determines the job condition designated by the job condition designator 152 as illustrated in FIG. 7 and performs offset control with regard to the recording material accommodation receiver 69.

Then, the type of the recording material that is designated by the recording material type designator 151 is determined, and the discharge angle α of the recording material S is set.

In a case where the basis weight of the recording material S is less than a predetermined threshold, the recording material S is determined to be the thin sheet, and a situation in which the accommodation position is irregular to a large extent with respect to the recording material accommodation receiver 69 is unlikely. Accordingly, in this example, the cam 141 of the angle adjustment mechanism 140 adjusts the angle during the arrangement of the discharge module 130 in the large-diameter cam portion 143 with the radius r1, sets the angle of the discharge of the recording material S by the recording material discharge roller 68 to α1, and sets the angle of the discharge of the recording material S to the recording material accommodation receiver 69 to θ1 as illustrated in FIG. 8A. The discharge angle θ1 is a relatively large angle. However, since the recording material S is not a thick sheet, an impact or the like with respect to the recording material accommodation receiver 69 is absent and the irregularity of the accommodation position is suppressed to be low.

In contrast, in a case where the basis weight of the recording material S is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold, the recording material S is determined to be the thick sheet, and the accommodation position of the recording material S with respect to the recording material accommodation receiver 69 is likely to be irregular due to an inertial force of the recording material S. Accordingly, in this example, the cam 141 of the angle adjustment mechanism 140 adjusts the angle during the arrangement of the discharge module 130 in the small-diameter cam portion 144 with the radius r2, sets the angle of the discharge of the recording material S by the recording material discharge roller 68 to α2 (>α1), and sets the angle of the discharge of the recording material S to the recording material accommodation receiver 69 to θ2 (<θ1) as illustrated in FIG. 8B. When the angle θ2 of the discharge of the recording material S to the recording material accommodation receiver 69 is set to be small in this manner, the impact of the recording material S on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 and the irregularity of the accommodation position are suppressed.

Herein, with regard to the handling of the surface property of the recording material S and the type of the image, the basis weight of the recording material S may be a main factor and the length of the recording material S in the transport direction, the surface property of the recording material S, and the type of the image may be handled as minor factors.

For example, in a case where the recording material S is the coated sheet, the recording material S is more slippery than when the recording material S is the uncoated sheet, and thus the angle of the discharge of the recording material S by the recording material discharge roller 68 may be set to α1 as it is even if the basis weight of the recording material S is equal to or higher than the threshold described above. Accordingly, in a case where the recording material S is the coated sheet, the threshold of the basis weight of the recording material S may be set to be slightly higher than the previously set value.

In addition, in a case where the type of the image on the recording material S is a lattice pattern, the recording material S is more slippery than when the type of the image is halftone, and thus the angle of the discharge of the recording material S by the recording material discharge roller 68 may be set to α1 as it is even if the basis weight of the recording material S is equal to or higher than the threshold described above. Accordingly, in a case where the type of the image on the recording material S has the lattice pattern, the threshold of the basis weight of the recording material S may be set to be slightly higher.

In a case where the recording material S is the uncoated sheet and in a case where the type of the image on the recording material S is halftone, the frictional resistance against the recording material S may increase, and thus the threshold of the basis weight of the recording material S may be set to be slightly lower than the previously set value.

In addition, in a case where the length of the recording material S in the transport direction is considered as the characteristic of the recording material S, the recording material S is likely to hit the other recording material S which is already accommodated in the recording material accommodation receiver 69 in a case where, for example, the recording material S is long in the transport direction whereas the recording material S is unlikely to directly hit the other recording material S which is already accommodated in the recording material accommodation receiver 69 in a case where, for example, the recording material S is short in the transport direction.

Accordingly, the angle of the discharge of the recording material S to the recording material accommodation receiver 69 may be set to θ2 (<θ1) in a case where the recording material S is long in the transport direction since the recording material S which is accommodated in the recording material accommodation receiver 69 is likely to be shifted, and the angle of the discharge of the recording material S to the recording material accommodation receiver 69 may be set to θ1 in a case where the recording material S is short in the transport direction since the recording material S which is accommodated in the recording material accommodation receiver 69 is unlikely to be shifted.

When the discharge angle α of the recording material S is set, for example, to α1 or α2, the current position of the discharge module 130 is determined and control may be performed so that the position of the discharge module 130 is held if the discharge angle α of the recording material S matches with the current position and the position of the discharge module 130 may be moved if the discharge angle α of the recording material S differs from the current position.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 9 illustrates a main portion of a recording material discharge device according to a second exemplary embodiment.

In the drawing, the basic configuration of the recording material discharge device 67 is substantially similar to that in the first exemplary embodiment. However, unlike the first exemplary embodiment, in the second exemplary embodiment, the recording material discharge device 67 includes a loading amount detector 160 that is capable of detecting the loading amount of the recording material S on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 and the angle of the discharge of the recording material S to the recording material accommodation receiver 69 is changed based on a detection output of the loading amount detector 160. The same reference numerals will be attached to the same configuration elements as in the first exemplary embodiment to omit the detailed description.

In this example, the loading amount detector 160 is configured to be an optical detector that is disposed in a part of the apparatus housing 21 which is adjacent to the recording material accommodation receiver 69, and irradiates the recording material S, which is loaded on the recording material accommodation receiver 69, with light and receives reflected light from the recording material S so as to recognize a distance m to the surface of the recording material S on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 and detect the loading amount of the recording material S.

Next, an operation of the recording material discharge device according to this exemplary embodiment will be described.

In this example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the control device 150 determines the job condition with the job condition designator 152 so as to perform the offset control on the recording material accommodation receiver 69, determines the information on the type of the recording material which is designated by the recording material type designator 151 so as to set the discharge angle of the recording material S, and determines the loading amount of the recording material S on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 from the loading amount detector 160 so as to correct the discharge angle of the recording material S.

When the discharge angle α of the recording material S is set to, for example, α1 or α2, the current position of the discharge module 130 is determined and control maybe performed so that the position of the discharge module 130 is held if the discharge angle α of the recording material S matches with the current position and the position of the discharge module 130 may be moved if the discharge angle α of the recording material S differs from the current position.

Herein, the correction of the loading amount of the recording material S will be described.

In a case where the loading amount of the recording material S on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 is V1, which is less than the predetermined threshold, the discharge angle of the recording material S is assumed to be set to α1 (angle θ1 of the discharge of the recording material S to the recording material accommodation receiver 69) as illustrated in FIG. 11A.

When the loading amount of the recording material S on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 is small as described above, the discharged recording material S and the recording material S loaded on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 are at a distance from each other to some extent, and thus the discharged recording material S is subjected to air resistance until colliding with the recording material S loaded on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 and the impact force between the discharged recording material S and the recording material S loaded on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 is relatively small.

In contrast, when the loading amount of the recording material S on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 reaches V2, which is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold, the distance between the discharged recording material S and the recording material S loaded on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 decreases to some extent, and thus the discharged recording material S may collide strongly with the recording material S loaded on the recording material accommodation receiver 69. Accordingly, in this aspect, the discharge angle of the recording material S is changed to α2 and the angle of the discharge of the recording material S to the recording material accommodation receiver 69 is changed from θ1 to θ2 (<θ1) as illustrated in FIG. 11B so that the impact force between the discharged recording material S and the recording material S loaded on the recording material accommodation receiver 69 may be suppressed to be small.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 12 illustrates a recording material processing apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment.

In the drawing, the recording material processing apparatus includes an image forming apparatus 200, a post-processing device 220 that performs post-processing on the recording material S where the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 200, and a relay module 250 that connects the image forming apparatus 200 to the post-processing device 220.

In the image forming apparatus 200 of this example, imaging engines 201 to 204, where toner images of plural color components are formed, are arranged in an apparatus housing 210, the toner images of the respective color components that are formed by the respective imaging engines 201 to 204 are transported via an intermediate image transfer belt 205 and are transferred onto the recording material S by a secondary image transfer unit 206, and the recording material S is discharged toward the relay module 250 from a recording material discharge roller 208 (driving roller 208a and driven roller 208b) through a fixing device 207.

Plural recording material supply devices 211 to 213 are disposed in the apparatus housing 210, and the recording material S that is supplied from the recording material supply devices 211 to 213 passes the secondary image transfer unit 206 of the intermediate image transfer belt 205, the fixing device 207, and the recording material discharge roller 208 through a recording material transport path 214. In addition, a reverse recording material transport path 215 is disposed between the fixing device 207 and the recording material discharge roller 208 and a returning recording material transport path 216 is disposed at a part of the reverse recording material transport path 215 so that the recording material S where the recording on one of the surfaces is completed is returned to the secondary image transfer unit 206 during the recording of the image on both of the surfaces. Sign 217 represents a switching gate that switches between the recording material transport path 214 and the reverse recording material transport path 215.

In addition, in this exemplary embodiment, the post-processing device 220 has a horizontal transport path 221 that extends in a substantially horizontal direction, an end binding processing apparatus 222 that performs end binding on the transported recording material S is disposed at a downstream end of the horizontal transport path 221, and a recording material bundle subjected to the end binding is accommodated in a first recording material accommodation receiver 223. In addition, a lower transport path 224 is disposed to branch to a lower side from the horizontal transport path 221, and a saddle stitching processing apparatus 225 and a middle folding mechanism 226 are disposed in the lower transport path 224 so that the recording material S bundle is subjected to middle folding processing after saddle stitching and the recording material S bundle, which is processed to have a booklet shape, is accommodated in a second recording material accommodation receiver 227. Moreover, an upper transport path 228 is disposed to branch to an upper side from the horizontal transport path 221 and a third recording material accommodation receiver 229 is disposed at a downstream end of the upper transport path 228 so that the recording material S not subjected to the post-processing is accommodated. Signs 241 and 242 represent switching gates that switch between the horizontal transport path 221, the lower transport path 224, and the upper transport path 228.

In this example, the relay module 250 has guide plates 251 of pair configuration that receive the recording material S which is discharged from the recording material discharge roller 208 of the image forming apparatus 200, and an appropriate number of feed rollers 252 are arranged in the guide plates 251.

In this exemplary embodiment, the recording material discharge roller 208 is built into the discharge module 130 that is rotatable about the rotation fulcrum 135 as illustrated in FIG. 13, and the angle adjustment mechanism 140 that adjusts the angle during the arrangement of the discharge module 130 is disposed in the discharge module 130.

The discharge module 130 and the angle adjustment mechanism 140 have substantially similar configurations as those in the first exemplary embodiment and the detailed description will be omitted herein.

In this example, a collision sound may be generated during the collision between the recording material S and the guide plates 251 of the relay module 250 and a load may become higher as a contact angle between the recording material S and the guide plates 251 becomes steeper in a case where the recording material S which is discharged from the recording material discharge roller 208 is the thick sheet with a basis weight equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold.

Accordingly, in this example, the type of the recording material may be determined and the arrangement position of the discharge module 130 may be changed as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 14B so that the discharge angle of the recording material S is set to α2 and the discharge angle of the recording material S with respect to the guide plates 251 is changed to θ2 in a case where, for example, the recording material S is the thick sheet with a basis weight equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold. In this manner, the collision sound between the discharged recording material S and the guide plates 251 and the high degree of the load are suppressed.

In a case where the basis weight of the recording material S is less than the predetermined threshold, the recording material S is determined to be the thin sheet, and the angle during the arrangement of the discharge module 130 may be changed as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 14A so that the discharge angle of the recording material S may be set to α1 and discharge angle of the recording material S with respect to the guide plates 251 may be θ1.

Herein, the length of the recording material S in the transport direction may be taken into account in setting the threshold of the basis weight of the recording material S. Concerning the surface property of the recording material S and the type of the image, the threshold of the basis weight of the recording material S may be slightly higher than the previously set value in a case where a slippery element is in the recording material S and the threshold of the basis weight of the recording material S may be slightly lower than the previously set value in a case where a non-slippery element is in the recording material S.

This exemplary embodiment illustrates an aspect in which the relay module 250 is interposed between the image forming apparatus 200 and the post-processing device 220. However, the exemplary embodiment of the invention may also be applied to an aspect in which the image forming apparatus 200 and the post-processing device 220 are directly connected to each other without using the relay module 250.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A recording material discharge device comprising:

a recording material discharge member that discharges a recording material;
a receiving member that receives the recording material which is discharged by the recording material discharge member; and
a variable section that changes an angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member.

2. The recording material discharge device according to claim 1,

wherein the variable section changes the angle of the discharge of the recording material according to the characteristic of the recording material, the recording material being discharged by the recording material discharge member.

3. The recording material discharge device according to claim 2,

wherein the variable section allows the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member to become smaller in a case where a receiving reaction force is large than in a case where the receiving reaction force is small based on the characteristic of the recording material affecting the receiving reaction force which acts on the recording material received by the receiving member.

4. The recording material discharge device according to claim 2,

wherein the variable section allows the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member to become smaller in a case where a frictional resistance of the recording material is large than in a case where the frictional resistance of the recording material is small based on the characteristic of the recording material affecting the frictional resistance of the recording material which is discharged to the receiving member.

5. The recording material discharge device according to claim 2,

wherein the characteristic of the recording material includes at least any one of a basis weight of the recording material, a length of the recording material in a transport direction, a surface property of the recording material, and a type of an image recorded on the recording material.

6. The recording material discharge device according to claim 2,

wherein the variable section allows the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member to become smaller in a case where a recording material with a high basis weight is discharged than in a case where a recording material with a low basis weight is discharged when the recording materials with the different basis weights are discharged.

7. The recording material discharge device according to claim 2,

wherein the variable section allows the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member to become smaller in a case where a recording material that is long in the transport direction is discharged than in a case where a recording material that is short in the transport direction is discharged when the recording materials with the different lengths in the transport direction are discharged.

8. The recording material discharge device according to claim 2,

wherein the variable section allows the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member to become smaller in a case where a recording material with a high smoothness is discharged than in a case where a recording material with a low smoothness is discharge when the recording materials with the different surface properties are discharged.

9. The recording material discharge device according to claim 2,

wherein the variable section allows the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member to become smaller in a case where a recording material on which line images are mainly recorded is discharged than in a case where a recording material on which surface images are mainly recorded is discharged when the recording materials on which the different types of the images are recorded are discharged.

10. The recording material discharge device according to claim 1,

wherein the recording material discharge member includes:
discharge members of pair configuration that rotate in contact with each other; and
a supporting member that supports the discharge members of pair configuration and rotates about a rotation fulcrum, and
wherein the variable section changes the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member without changing relative positions of the discharge members of pair configuration by rotating the supporting member about the rotation fulcrum of the supporting member.

11. The recording material discharge device according to claim 2,

wherein the recording material discharge member includes:
discharge members of pair configuration that rotate in contact with each other; and
a supporting member that supports the discharge members of pair configuration and rotates about a rotation fulcrum, and
wherein the variable section changes the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member without changing relative positions of the discharge members of pair configuration by rotating the supporting member about the rotation fulcrum of the supporting member.

12. The recording material discharge device according to claim 3,

wherein the recording material discharge member includes:
discharge members of pair configuration that rotate in contact with each other; and
a supporting member that supports the discharge members of pair configuration and rotates about a rotation fulcrum, and
wherein the variable section changes the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member without changing relative positions of the discharge members of pair configuration by rotating the supporting member about the rotation fulcrum of the supporting member.

13. The recording material discharge device according to claim 4,

wherein the recording material discharge member includes:
discharge members of pair configuration that rotate in contact with each other; and
a supporting member that supports the discharge members of pair configuration and rotates about a rotation fulcrum, and
wherein the variable section changes the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member without changing relative positions of the discharge members of pair configuration by rotating the supporting member about the rotation fulcrum of the supporting member.

14. The recording material discharge device according to claim 5,

wherein the recording material discharge member includes:
discharge members of pair configuration that rotate in contact with each other; and
a supporting member that supports the discharge members of pair configuration and rotates about a rotation fulcrum, and
wherein the variable section changes the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member without changing relative positions of the discharge members of pair configuration by rotating the supporting member about the rotation fulcrum of the supporting member.

15. The recording material discharge device according to claim 6,

wherein the recording material discharge member includes:
discharge members of pair configuration that rotate in contact with each other; and
a supporting member that supports the discharge members of pair configuration and rotates about a rotation fulcrum, and
wherein the variable section changes the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member without changing relative positions of the discharge members of pair configuration by rotating the supporting member about the rotation fulcrum of the supporting member.

16. The recording material discharge device according to claim 10,

wherein a straight line connecting a position of a recording material nipping portion of the discharge members of pair configuration and the rotation fulcrum of the supporting member is substantially orthogonal to a direction of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member in the variable section.

17. The recording material discharge device according to claim 2,

wherein the variable section includes a designation section that designates the characteristic of the recording material, and
wherein the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member is changed based on the characteristic of the recording material designated by the designation section.

18. The recording material discharge device according to claim 1,

wherein the receiving member is a recording material accommodating member that accommodates the recording material which is discharged by the recording material discharge member, and
wherein the variable section further includes a detection section that is capable of detecting a loading amount of the recording material which is accommodated in the recording material accommodating member as the receiving member, and allows the angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member to the recording material accommodating member to become smaller in a case where the loading amount of the recording material is large than in a case where the loading amount of the recording material is small based on a result of the detection by the detection section.

19. A recording material processing apparatus comprising:

a processing section that processes a recording material; and
the recording material discharge device according to claim 1 that discharges the recording material which is processed by the processing section.

20. A recording material processing apparatus comprising:

a post-processing section that post-processes a recording material; and
the recording material discharge device according to claim 1 that discharges the recording material toward the post-processing section.
Patent History
Publication number: 20150274472
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 25, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 1, 2015
Inventors: Hiroyuki MOMIYAMA (Kanagawa), Naohito OTSUKI (Kanagawa), Makio UEHARA (Kanagawa), Hiromitsu TOMIOKA (Kanagawa), Yasunobu GOTO (Kanagawa), Shuhei KOBORI (Kanagawa)
Application Number: 14/496,743
Classifications
International Classification: B65H 29/14 (20060101);