JP2007297194A - Delivery device of image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a delivery device capable of coping with more various condition to always obtain excellent aligning condition for delivery by changing angle of one or more jump racks and/or position of one or more jump racks abutting on a side edge of the image formed paper sheet for guidance in consideration of the ratio of the image formed in the paper sheet as a parameter giving an influence to alignment for delivery except kinds and size of the paper sheet, image forming speed and environmental temperature and humidity. <P>SOLUTION: The operation side jump rack 50a and the drive side jump rack 50b are set at a different height position and a different angle by a bias of the image besides the image ratio. For example, in the case wherein a solid image is biased to the operation side and hardly formed on the drive side, the operation side jump rack 50a is raised and the drive side jump rack 50b is lowered (angle θa>θb) as a figure 5 shows to make the optimal stiffness. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper discharge device in an image forming apparatus, and more specifically, an image forming apparatus having functions of a printing apparatus including an stencil printing apparatus, an ink jet recording apparatus, a printer, a copying machine, or a facsimile, or a plurality of functions thereof. The present invention relates to a paper discharge device provided in an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine including

  A stencil printing apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus / printing apparatus, and a printed printing sheet (hereinafter referred to as “printed sheet” or “sheet discharge”) on which an image is formed and discharged to a sheet discharge tray. Or a “jump base” that performs a curved deformation of a substantially U-shape to increase the apparent strength (rigidity) of the waist and improve the output alignment. A paper discharge device having a paper discharge wing is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

For example, a paper discharge device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-233527 or a general stencil printing device (stencil printing machine) that has been sold so far has a paper size (hereinafter referred to as a paper size). , “Paper size”), and the paper width and height position of the jump table based on information on the paper type (hereinafter referred to as “paper type”) such as thin paper, standard paper, thick paper, and envelope. Changing the angle.
That is, for example, in the case of a relatively large size paper such as B4 or A3 or a relatively thin paper such as a thin paper or a standard paper, the degree of U-shaped bending deformation during paper discharge increases. In the upward direction, the U-shaped curved deformation of the paper is reduced when the paper is relatively small, such as B5 or A4, or relatively thick and relatively stiff, such as thick paper or envelope. In the downward direction, the position and angle of the jump base are changed. Further, it is disclosed that the position and angle of the jump base are changed depending on the printing speed and the environmental temperature and humidity conditions.

JP 2001-233527 A JP-A-8-301500

However, for example, when there is a large solid image on printed paper, even small-size paper and thick paper may be insufficiently seated, resulting in poor discharge alignment. In addition, when the image is very small, even a large size paper or a thin paper may be used by a jumping table, and the paper transport force may be insufficient, resulting in a paper discharge jam. Further, the position of the image printed on the printed paper is biased to one side in the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction with respect to the center line along the paper discharge direction of the printed paper. In other words, on the left side (usually the operation side for a front loading type device) or the right side (usually the driving side for a front loading type device) when viewed from the downstream side in the paper discharge direction. If it is biased, there is a problem such that the side with more images lacks paper stiffness, and the side with less images is too strong, causing it to roll forward when falling to the paper output tray. As a result, the paper discharge alignment may be extremely deteriorated.
As described above, conventionally, when the printed paper has a solid image or the position of the image is deviated to the left or right in the paper discharge direction on the paper, that is, the image is a parameter that affects the paper discharge alignment. Taking into account the ratio, the angle of the plurality of jumping tables and / or the position of the plurality of jumping tables that are in contact with the side edge of the image-formed paper and guided are individually and independently variably controlled. I had no idea.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and the positions of the plurality of jumping tables and / or the positions of the plurality of jumping tables that are in contact with and guide the side edges of the image-formed paper. Responding to more diverse situations by changing the ratio of images formed on paper as parameters that affect paper output alignment other than paper type, paper size, image formation speed and environmental temperature and humidity The main purpose is to obtain a good discharge alignment state at any time. In addition, it aims at producing the effects and advantages described in the column of effects and embodiments described later.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the above-described object, the invention for each claim employs the following characteristic means and invention-specific matters (hereinafter referred to as “configuration”).
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper discharge tray on which the image-formed paper to be discharged is stacked, a paper discharge transport means for transporting the image-formed paper toward the paper discharge base, and the paper discharge transport means. And a plurality of jump tables that can change the degree of curve deformation of the image-formed paper, and the plurality of jump tables for each side edge of the image-formed paper. And / or the position of the plurality of jumping tables in contact with and guiding each side edge of the image-formed paper affects the paper output alignment other than the paper type, paper size, image formation speed, and environmental temperature and humidity. According to the parameter which gives

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the parameter is a ratio of an image formed on a sheet.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the image ratio is orthogonal to the paper discharge direction with respect to a center line along the paper discharge direction of the image-formed paper. When it is biased to any one side in the paper width direction, the angle and / or the position is independently changed corresponding to the side biased to one side of the image-formed paper. A paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper discharge tray on which the image-formed paper to be discharged is stacked, a paper discharge transport means for transporting the image-formed paper toward the paper discharge base, and the paper discharge transport means. The plurality of divided wings for each side edge portion of the image-formed paper in a paper discharge device in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of divided wings disposed on the image-formed paper and capable of changing a degree of bending deformation of the image-formed paper And / or the guide position in contact with each side edge of the image-formed paper in the plurality of divided wings affects the paper output alignment other than the paper type, paper size, image formation speed, and environmental temperature and humidity. According to the parameter which gives

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the parameter is a ratio of an image formed on a sheet.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the ratio of the images is orthogonal to the paper discharge direction with respect to a center line along the paper discharge direction of the image-formed paper. When it is biased to any one side in the paper width direction, the angle and / or the position is independently changed corresponding to the side biased to one side of the image-formed paper. And

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper discharge device in a novel image forming apparatus by solving the above-described problems. The main effects of the invention are as follows.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the angle of the plurality of jump bases with respect to each side edge portion of the image-formed paper and / or the side edge portions of the image-formed paper on the plurality of jump tables are in contact with the guide. By changing the position depending on the parameters that affect the paper output alignment other than the paper type, paper size, image formation speed, and environmental temperature and humidity, it is possible to cope with more diverse situations, and at any time good discharge A paper alignment state can be obtained.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the angle of the plurality of jump bases and / or the positions of the plurality of jump bases that are in contact with and guide each side edge of the paper on which the image has been formed are determined. Since it also changes depending on the ratio, it is possible to cope with the stiffness of the image-formed paper (paper discharge) that changes depending on the image ratio, and a good paper discharge alignment state can be obtained at any time.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the ratio of the images is biased to one side in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction with respect to the center line along the paper discharge direction of the image-formed paper. When the image is biased to the operation side or the drive side by varying the angle and / or the position independently corresponding to the side biased to one of the image-formed sheets. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the strength of the image-formed paper (paper discharge) that varies depending on the location, and a good paper discharge alignment state can be obtained at any time.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the angle of the plurality of divided wings with respect to each side edge portion of the image-formed paper and / or the side edge portions of the image-formed paper in the plurality of divided wings are brought into contact with the guide. By changing the position depending on the parameters that affect the paper output alignment other than the paper type, paper size, image formation speed, and environmental temperature and humidity, it is possible to cope with more diverse situations, and at any time good discharge A paper alignment state can be obtained.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the angle of the plurality of divided wings and / or the position of the plurality of divided wings that are in contact with and guide each side edge of the sheet on which the image has been formed are guided. Since it also changes depending on the ratio, it is possible to cope with the stiffness of the image-formed paper (paper discharge) that changes depending on the image ratio, and a good paper discharge alignment state can be obtained at any time.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the ratio of the images is biased to one side in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction with respect to the center line along the paper discharge direction of the paper on which the image has been formed. When the image is biased to the operation side or the drive side by varying the angle and / or the position independently corresponding to the side biased to one of the image-formed sheets. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the strength of the image-formed paper (paper discharge) that varies depending on the location, and a good paper discharge alignment state can be obtained at any time.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention including the best mode for carrying out the invention and examples (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described below with reference to the drawings. The constituent elements (members and constituent parts) having the same functions and shapes in the respective embodiments and modifications will be omitted by giving the same reference numerals after the description. In the figure, components that are configured in a pair and do not need to be specifically distinguished and described are described by appropriately describing one of them for the sake of simplification of description. In order to simplify the drawings and the description, even if the components are to be represented in the drawings, the components that do not need to be specifically described in the drawings may be omitted as appropriate. When quoting and explaining constituent elements such as published patent gazettes, the reference numerals are shown in parentheses to distinguish them from those of the embodiments.

(First embodiment)
1 to 4, 7 and 8 show a first embodiment. First, referring to FIG. 1, after briefly explaining the overall operation of the digital heat-sensitive stencil printing apparatus in the printing apparatus as an example of the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, The structure and operation of the paper discharge device characteristic of the invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 shows a stencil printing apparatus 1 showing an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the stencil printing apparatus 1 includes a printing unit 2, a plate making unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, a plate discharging unit 5, a paper discharging unit 6, an image reading unit 7, a control means 75, and the like. In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a device main body on which the above-described parts and devices are mounted and which forms the framework.

The printing unit 2 is disposed substantially at the center of the apparatus main body 8 and includes a plate cylinder 9 and an impression cylinder 10 as pressing means. The plate cylinder 9 has an ink-permeable aperture portion and an ink-impermeable aperture portion, and is supported around the support shaft 11 so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow in the figure. The plate cylinder 9 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in the figure by a main motor as a plate cylinder driving means (not shown). The plate cylinder 9 is unitized integrally with an ink supply means, which will be described later, and is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 8.
Inside the plate cylinder 9, there are a support shaft 11 that also serves as an ink supply pipe, an ink roller 12 having an outer peripheral surface disposed close to the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9, and a slight gap from the outer peripheral surface of the ink roller 12. Ink supply means 14 having a doctor roller 13 and the like whose outer peripheral surfaces are arranged close to each other is provided. The ink supplied from the support shaft 11 that also serves as an ink supply pipe forms an ink reservoir in the vicinity of the ink roller 12 and the doctor roller 13, and the ink in the ink reservoir is a predetermined amount between the ink roller 12 and the doctor roller 13. And is supplied in a layered manner to the outer peripheral surface of the ink roller 12. The ink supplied to the outer peripheral surface of the ink roller 12 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 and the ink roller 12 when the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 is pressed by the impression cylinder 10. The ink is supplied to the inner peripheral surface, exudes from the opening portion of the plate cylinder 9, and is transferred to the paper P fed from the printing unit 4.
Inside the plate cylinder 9, a temperature sensor 68 is disposed as a temperature detection unit that is disposed in the ink reservoir forming portion of the ink supply unit 14 and detects the temperature of the stencil printing apparatus 1. As the temperature sensor 68, for example, a thermistor conventionally used for adjusting the energy for plate making is also used.

  A clamper 15 that clamps and clamps the front end portion of the master is disposed on one bus bar of the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 so as to wind the master that has been subjected to plate making on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9. The clamper 15 is attached to a non-opening portion of the plate cylinder 9 so as to be freely opened and closed. The plate cylinder 9 has a predetermined rotational position, a plate feeding position for feeding a pre-printed master, and a used plate cylinder 9 used. When occupying the plate discharging position for peeling the master 23, the home position which is the initial position, etc., it is opened and closed by an opening / closing means (not shown).

Below the plate cylinder 9 is disposed an impression cylinder 10 in which both ends of the support shaft are rotatably supported by a pair of arm members (not shown). The impression cylinder 10 has a predetermined distance between a position slightly separated from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 shown in FIG. 1 and an outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 by swinging arm members (not shown) by swing means (not shown). It selectively occupies the press-contacting position where the press-contacting force is applied. The impression cylinder 10 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure in synchronism with the rotation of the plate cylinder 9 by transmitting the driving force from the main motor through driving force transmission means (not shown) such as a gear train or a belt. Is done.
A part of the outer peripheral portion of the impression cylinder 10 is formed with a recess 10a for avoiding interference with the clamper 15 of the plate cylinder 9 when facing the clamper 15. In the concave portion 10a on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the impression cylinder 10, a paper clamper 10b that clamps and clamps the leading end of the paper P fed from the printing unit 4 can be opened and closed at a predetermined rotational position of the impression cylinder 10. It is arranged.

The plate making unit 3 is disposed in the upper right part of the apparatus main body 8. The plate making unit 3 includes a master holding member 16, a platen roller 17, a thermal head 18, a master cutting unit 19, a master conveying roller pair 20, a reverse roller pair 21, a master stock unit 22, and the like.
The master holding member 16 is attached to a unit side plate (not shown) in the plate making unit 3, and a core of a master roll 23a obtained by winding a master 23 formed by bonding a thermoplastic resin film and a porous support into a roll shape. The part is supported rotatably and detachably.
On the left side of the master holding member 16, a platen roller 17 is rotatably supported by the unit side plate, and the platen roller 17 is rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not shown) fixed to the unit side plate. The thermal head 18 has a large number of heating elements 18 a and is disposed below the platen roller 17. The thermal head 18 has its heating element 18 a surface pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 17 by a biasing force of a biasing means (not shown). The thermal head 18 has a function as a plate-making means for perforating and making the master 23 by selectively heating each heating element 18a while being in contact with the surface of the thermoplastic resin film of the master 23.

On the left side of the platen roller 17 and the thermal head 18, a master cutting means 19 for cutting the master 23 into a predetermined length is disposed. The master cutting means 19 has a fixed blade fixed to the unit side plate and a movable blade supported movably with respect to the fixed blade, and the movable blade rotates or moves up and down with respect to the fixed blade. By doing so, the master 23 is disconnected.
A master conveying roller pair 20 and a reverse roller pair 21 are disposed on the left side of the master cutting means 19, and a master stock means 22 is disposed between the roller pairs 20 and 21. Each of the roller pairs 20 and 21 has a driving roller and a driven roller that are rotatably supported by the unit side plate, and is driven to rotate by different driving means. The master stock means 22 has a fan (not shown) inside, and by driving the fan, the master 23 made inside is drawn into the bending box 22a, and the master 23 already made for one plate is drawn. It is configured to be stockable. On the upper part of the master stock means 22, a first guide position for guiding the master 23 transported by the master transport roller pair 20 to the reverse roller pair 21 and a second guide position for guiding the master stock means 22 into the master stock means 22 are selected. An unillustrated master guide plate is disposed.

The paper feeding unit 4 is disposed below the plate making unit 3. The sheet feeding unit 4 includes a sheet feeding tray 24 as a sheet feeding table, a sheet feeding roller 25, a separation roller 26, a separation pad 27, a registration roller pair 28, and the like.
The paper feed tray 24 is configured to be capable of stacking a large number of sheets P on its upper surface and movable up and down with respect to the apparatus main body 8. The paper feed tray 24 is moved up and down by a drive motor through a lifting mechanism (not shown). On the upper surface of the paper feed tray 24, a pair of side fences 30 that align the paper P in the width direction are moved by the same amount in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction Xa via a known rack and pinion mechanism. They are arranged so as to be movable one by one. On the paper feed tray 24, a vertical paper size detection sensor 29 as a paper size detecting means for detecting the vertical size of the paper P along the paper transport direction Xa is also provided along the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction Xa. A plurality of horizontal paper size detection sensors (not shown) serving as paper size detection means for detecting the horizontal size of the paper P are disposed. The horizontal paper size detection sensor has a known configuration that detects the horizontal size of the paper P in conjunction with the movement of the side fence pair 30 in the paper width direction. Based on the signals output from these vertical paper size detection sensors 29 and the horizontal paper size detection sensors (hereinafter collectively referred to as “paper size detection sensor group 29”), the control means 75 determines the paper size. Recognize and decide.

Above the left end of the paper feed tray 24, a paper feed roller 25 having a high friction resistance member on the surface is disposed. The paper feed roller 25 is rotatably supported by a bracket (not shown) that is swingably supported by the apparatus main body 8. When the paper feed tray 24 is raised, the paper feed roller 25 is moved to the uppermost position on the paper feed tray 24 with a predetermined pressure contact force. Press contact with the upper sheet P. The paper feed roller 25 is rotationally driven by a paper feed motor comprising a stepping motor (not shown).
A separation roller 26 is disposed on the left side of the paper feed roller 25. The separation roller 26 has a high frictional resistance member on the surface, and is driven to rotate in the same direction in synchronism with the rotation of the paper feed roller 25. Below the separation roller 26, a separation pad 27 made of a high friction resistance member and in pressure contact with the peripheral surface of the separation roller 26 is disposed. The sheets P are separated and fed one by one by the separation roller 26 and the separation pad 27.
A registration roller pair 28 having a driving roller and a driven roller is disposed on the left side of the separation roller 26 and the separation pad 27. Each roller is rotatably supported between side plates (not shown) of the apparatus main body 8, and a rotational driving force from a plate cylinder driving unit (not shown) is transmitted via a driving force transmission unit (not shown), thereby the plate cylinder. 9 is driven in rotation. The means for rotationally driving the driving roller of the registration roller pair 28 is not limited to that described above, and is configured to be rotationally driven by a registration motor (not shown) composed of a stepping motor different from the paper feed motor. Also good.

The plate removal unit 5 is disposed in the upper left part of the apparatus main body 8. The plate removal unit 5 includes an upper plate removal member 31, a lower plate removal member 32, a plate removal box 33, a compression plate 34, and the like.
Each of the upper plate removal member 31 and the lower plate removal member 32 includes a drive roller, a driven roller, an endless belt, and the like, and the endless belt moves when the drive roller is rotationally driven by a plate discharge drive unit (not shown). Further, the lower plate removal member 32 is configured to be movable by a moving means (not shown), and selectively occupies a standby position shown in the drawing and a peeling position where the endless belt contacts the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9.
The plate ejection box 33 stores the used master 23 therein and is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 8. The compression plate 34 increases the storage amount by pushing and compressing the used master 23 carried by the upper plate removal member 31 and the lower plate removal member 32 into the plate release box 33. 8 is supported so as to be movable up and down, and is moved up and down by lifting means (not shown).

The paper discharge unit 6 is disposed below the plate discharging unit 5. The paper discharge unit 6 includes a peeling fan 35, a paper discharge suction conveyance device 36, a pair of jump tables 50a and 50b, a paper discharge tray 53, and the like.
The peeling fan 35 functions as an air blowing means for blowing air between the master 23 on the plate cylinder 9 and the paper P to peel the paper P from the plate cylinder 9. The peeling fan 35 is fixed to the apparatus main body 8 with a blower opening disposed in the vicinity of the left side of the nip formed by the plate cylinder 9 and the impression cylinder 10.
In the vicinity of the peeling fan 35, a humidity sensor 69 is disposed as humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity of the stencil printing apparatus 1.
In addition to the peeling fan 35, a peeling claw (not shown) may be provided. The peeling claw is rocked by claw rocking means (not shown) by supporting the base end of the peeling claw on the apparatus main body 8, and the free end formed in an acute angle is the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9. The separation position for forcibly separating and separating the paper P from the master 23 on the plate cylinder 9 close to the plate cylinder 9 and the separation from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 to avoid obstacles such as the clamper 15 It is a well-known one that selectively occupies a position. In place of the peeling fan 35 and the peeling claw, an air knife having both of these functions may be used.

Below the peeling fan 35, a paper discharge suction conveyance device 36 is disposed. The paper discharge suction conveyance device 36 is a printed paper P (which is also a paper discharge PB shown in FIG. 1) that is an image-formed paper peeled from the master 23 on the plate cylinder 9. It has a function as a paper discharge transport unit that transports the paper toward the paper discharge tray 53. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 44 denotes a transport device casing that forms the framework of the paper discharge suction transport device 36. Note that the transport device housing 44 is shown only in FIG. 2 and is not shown in the other drawings such as FIGS. 1 and 3 for the sake of simplicity.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet discharge adsorbing and conveying device 36 is a skewer formed integrally with a driving roller shaft 39 a that is rotatably supported on the downstream side of the sheet discharging direction Xb in the conveying device housing 44. A dumpling-shaped driving roller 39, a skewered dumpling-shaped driven roller 38 integrally formed with a driven roller shaft 38a rotatably supported on the upstream side in the paper discharge direction Xb in the transport device housing 44, and a driving roller 39 and a plurality of endless belts 40 stretched between the follower rollers 38 and a plurality of suction holes 41a formed at portions other than the endless belt 40 placement portion disposed on the upper portion of the transport device housing 44. The face plate 41, the space between the adjacent air conditioner plates 43 and the casing 42, and the space between the adjacent air conditioner plates 43, and the suction holes 41a, which are arranged near the lower surface of the face plate 41 and partitioned by a plurality of air conditioner plates 43. The A suction fan 37 for sucking the air and, and a discharging driving mechanism 45 that includes a paper ejection driving means or the like.
The endless belt 40 is made of rubber or resin having a high frictional resistance with respect to the paper discharge PB. The suction fan 37 includes a fan motor (not shown). Hereinafter, in explaining the arrangement positions of the components and component parts, when viewed from the downstream side in the paper discharge direction Xb, the back side of the paper surface of the paper discharge path in FIG. 1 is referred to as “right or right side” or “drive side”. The front side of the paper discharge path is sometimes referred to as “left or left side” or “operation side”.

The paper discharge drive mechanism 45 includes a drive pulley 46 fixed to one end portion (the upper end portion in FIG. 2) of the drive roller shaft 39a, and a discharge pulley fixed to the apparatus main body 8 side and having a motor pulley 47 attached to its output shaft. It is mainly composed of a belt drive motor 49 as a paper drive means and an endless belt 48 that is stretched between the drive pulley 46 and the motor pulley 47.
When the belt drive motor 49 and the suction fan 37 of the paper discharge drive mechanism 45 are rotationally driven by the paper discharge suction conveyance device 36 described above, the drive pulley 46, the endless belt 48, the drive pulley 46, and the drive roller shaft 39a are sequentially provided. The rotational driving force of the belt drive motor 49 is transmitted and the suction fan is operated, so that the paper discharge PB is sucked by the suction holes 41a of the face plate 41 and pressed on the endless belt 40 in the paper discharge direction Xb. Further, it is conveyed downstream.

  A paper discharge tray 53 as a paper discharge table is disposed on the downstream side of the paper discharge direction Xb of the paper discharge suction conveyance device 36. The paper discharge tray 53 has a well-known configuration for stacking a large number of printed sheets (paper discharge) PB conveyed and discharged by the paper discharge suction transfer device 36. The paper discharge tray 53 has one end fence 52 movable in the paper discharge direction Xb for aligning the paper discharge direction Xb of the paper discharge PB on the upper surface thereof, and a paper width direction Y orthogonal to the paper discharge direction Xb. It has a pair of side fences 51 that can be moved synchronously by the same amount and that align the paper discharge PB in the paper width direction Y.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the sheet discharge PB conveyed by the endless belt 40 is seated on both side corners of the end of the sheet discharge direction Xb of the face plate 41 shown in FIG. Plural (a pair in this embodiment) jump tables 50a and 50b that can change the degree of bending deformation of the paper discharge PB are provided. Each jump stand 50a, 50b is made of a plate material and is swingably attached to the surface number 41 via a hinge (not shown).

  In FIG. 3, reference numerals 54a and 54b denote jump bases that change the angle of the jump bases 50a and 50b with respect to the side edges of the paper discharge PB, in other words, the side edges of the paper discharge PB and change their guiding positions. An angle variable mechanism is shown. In other words, the jump base angle varying mechanisms 54a and 54b can be expressed as a mechanism for changing the angle θ with respect to the upper flat surface of the endless belt 40 contacting the back surface of the paper discharge PB or the substantially flat surface plate 41. The jump base angle varying mechanisms 54a and 54b are arranged almost symmetrically in FIG. 3 and the like, and are composed of the same components and components, respectively. The jump base angle variable mechanism 54a on the left side and the operation side) of the paper path will be described in detail as a representative, and detailed description of the left jump base angle variable mechanism 54b will be omitted. The components and components of the jump base angle varying mechanism 54b on the driving side are only different from each other in that the reference numeral b is added instead of the reference symbol a attached to the same Arabic numerals of the jump base angle varying mechanism 54a.

The jump base angle varying mechanism 54a is in contact with the back surface of the jump base 50a and is eccentrically positioned as an angle / position variable member that can continuously change its angle / position, and an apparatus main body 8 via a cam shaft 56a. A small drive motor 59a fixed to the output shaft of a drive gear 57a supported rotatably on the side and fixed to the cam shaft 56a and a motor gear 58a fixed to the apparatus body 8 and meshing with the drive gear 57a. A light shielding piece 60a formed on one side of the cam 55a so as to correspond to the home position of the cam 55a, and a home position sensor 61a that can be selectively engaged with the light shielding piece 60a in such a manner as to sandwich the light shielding piece 60a. Consists mainly of.
The cam 55a is made of a plate cam, for example. The cam drive motor 59a is a stepping motor that can easily control the rotational position. The home position sensor 61a is composed of, for example, a transmissive photo sensor (photo interrupter).
The time when the light shielding piece 60a of the cam 55a blocks the optical path of the home position sensor 61a is defined as the home position of the cam 55a. The rotation position of the cam 55a, that is, the angle of the jump base 50a, is determined by the number of steps of the cam drive motor 59a.・ The position can be set finely.

  The image reading unit 7 is disposed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 8. The image reading unit 7 includes a contact glass 62 on which a document (not shown) is placed, a pressure plate 63 that can be brought into and out of contact with the contact glass 62, a scanning unit 64 that scans and reads a document image, and focuses the scanned image. And a document size detection sensor group 67 including a plurality of document size detection sensors for detecting the size of the document. The document size detection sensor group 67 is a general term for a plurality of sensors that detect the size of a document along the document transport direction and a plurality of sensors that detect a size in the document width direction orthogonal to the document transport direction.

  As shown in FIG. 7, an operation panel 130 for operating the stencil printing apparatus 1 is disposed on the upper front surface of the apparatus main body 8. The operation panel 130 includes a paper size setting key 134 having a function as a paper size setting unit for setting a paper size, a paper type setting key 138 having a function as a paper type setting unit for setting a paper type, and a plate making start key 144. A print start key 145, a trial printing key 143, a numeric keypad 146, a printing speed setting key 147 for setting a printing speed as an image forming speed, a speed indicator 148, an LED display device 149A, an LCD display device 149B, and the like. Yes.

  The paper size setting key 134 is an A3 size setting key 132 for setting two types of paper sizes, that is, an A3 size, and an A4 size setting for setting an A4 size for simplification of description in the present embodiment. Key 133. Each of the A3 size setting key 132 and the A4 size setting key 133 has a built-in LED (light emitting diode), and when the key is pressed once, the LED is turned on, and the paper size is set. When the button is pressed twice, the LED is turned off to indicate that the paper size setting state has been canceled.

In the present embodiment, the paper type setting key 138 includes two types of paper, that is, a thick paper setting key 136 for setting a paper type such as drawing paper, envelope, or stencil fine paper, and a renewal paper, a paste paper, etc. A thin paper setting key 137 for setting the thin paper. Each of the thick paper setting key 136 and the thin paper setting key 137 has a built-in LED (light emitting diode), and when the key is pressed once, the LED is turned on to set the paper type. When the button is pressed twice, the LED is turned off to indicate that the setting state of the paper type is released.
The paper type setting means and the paper size setting means are not limited to the two types of paper types and the two paper sizes exemplified above, but, for example, three or more keys are arranged, or a hierarchical touch panel method is adopted. Of course, it is possible to configure so that three or more paper types and three or more paper sizes can be set and selected.

The printing speed setting key 147 includes a speed down key 147a for decreasing the printing speed and a speed up key 147b for increasing the printing speed, and an extremely low printing speed (for example, 15 to 20 sheets / min: 15 to 20 ppm). It has a well-known configuration that can be set and changed to five printing speeds (60 to 120 ppm) except for the speed.
The speed indicator 148 has a function of lighting up and displaying the printing speed at which the printing speed can be switched to the five set printing speeds by pressing the speed down key 147a or the speed up key 147b each time. As a result, the set printing speed selected by the operator or user (hereinafter referred to as “user”) can be visually confirmed on the speed display 45. The “set printing speed: 3rd speed” with hatching is a standard printing speed corresponding to a normally used printing speed, and is automatically set when the speed down key 147a or the speed up key 147b is not pressed. It has come to be.
A photo encoder (not shown) is attached to the output shaft of the main motor that rotationally drives the plate cylinder 9. The printing speed is detected by an encoder sensor (not shown) composed of a transmissive photosensor attached to the apparatus main body 8 in a manner sandwiching the photo encoder.

With reference to FIG. 8, the control structure of the principal part of the stencil printing apparatus 1 will be described.
In the figure, the control means 75 is provided inside the apparatus main body 8 and comprises a microcomputer having a CPU 76, a ROM 77, a RAM 78, and the like. Various setting signals from the operation panel 130, that is, signals from various keys including a paper size setting key 134, a paper type setting key 138, a printing speed setting key 147, and the like are transmitted to and input to the control unit 75. Further, the control unit 75 receives signals from the home position sensors 61a and 61b of the jump base angle varying mechanisms 54a and 54b in the paper discharge unit 6 and signals from the temperature sensor 68 in the plate cylinder 9 as the paper discharge unit 6. A signal from the humidity sensor 69 is transmitted and inputted as various detection signals relating to the printing speed and the rotational position of the plate cylinder 9 from the encoder sensor. The control means 75 has a basic function of controlling the cam drive motors 59a and 59b of the jump base angle varying mechanisms 54a and 54b in the paper discharge unit 6 based on various input signals.
The control unit 75 also controls the printing unit 2, the thermal head 18 of the plate making unit 3, the paper feeding unit 4, the plate discharging unit 5, the paper discharging unit 6, the image reading unit 7, and the operation panel 130 based on various input signals. The speed display 148, the LED display device 149A, and the LCD display device 149B are also controlled.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the optical information of the document is photoelectrically converted by an image reading sensor 66, and the analog electric signal is input to an analog / digital (A / D) converter 70 and converted into a digital image signal. The digital image signal is subjected to image processing by the image processing device 71, and the image signal thus subjected to the image processing is input to a control means 75 including a plate making control unit (not shown). The plate making control unit mainly controls the thermal head 18 of the plate making unit 3 through a thermal head drive circuit (not shown), and constitutes a part of the control means 75. Note that the image signal input to the control means 75 is not limited to that read by the image reading sensor 66 made of a CCD, and may be, for example, that from a contact image sensor (CIS).

Based on the above configuration, the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 will be described below. Although the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 is mainly performed under the control function of the CPU 76 of the control means 75, the CPU 76 of the control means 75 is sometimes simply referred to as the control means 75 for the sake of simplicity.
After the original to be printed is placed on the contact glass 62 by the user, when the plate making start key 144 is pressed in a state where the pressure plate 63 is closed, the image reading unit 7 performs an original image reading operation. The image is read by scanning the document image with the scanning unit 64, and the read image is focused by the lens 65 and then sent to the image reading sensor 66.

  In parallel with the image reading operation, the plate discharging unit 5 performs a plate discharging operation for peeling and discharging the used master 23 from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9. When the plate making start key 144 is pressed, a main motor (plate cylinder driving means) (not shown) is actuated to start the rotation of the plate cylinder 9, and when the plate cylinder 9 reaches a predetermined discharging position, the rotation stops. Then, the lower plate removal member 32 operates and moves to the peeling position, and the used master 23 on the plate cylinder 9 is scooped up by the lower plate removal member 32. Thereafter, the plate cylinder 9 is rotationally driven and the upper plate discharging member 31 is operated, and the used master 23 on the plate cylinder 9 is conveyed by the plate discharging members 31 and 32 and stored in the plate discharging box 33. Thereafter, the compression plate 34 is actuated to compress the used master 23 in the discharge plate box 33 and rotate until the plate cylinder 9 is located at a predetermined plate feeding position, that is, the clamper 15 is located substantially on the right side in FIG. Then, the clamper 15 is released, and the stencil printing apparatus 1 enters a plate feeding standby state.

  In parallel with the plate removal operation, the plate making unit 3 performs the plate making operation. When the plate making start key 144 is pressed, the platen roller 17, the master transport roller pair 20, and the reverse roller pair 21 rotate, and the master 23 is pulled out from the master roll 23a. The drawn master 23 is heated and perforated when passing through the thermal head 18, and a plate-making image is formed on the surface of the thermoplastic resin film. At this time, the master guide plate (not shown) occupies the first guide position, and the master 23 sent by the master transport roller pair 20 is guided to the reverse roller pair 21. When the leading end of the master 23 is sandwiched between the reverse roller pair 21, the master guide plate is switched to the second guide position, and the master 23 sent by the master transport roller pair 20 is bent by a bending box 22 a of the master stock means 22. Stored inside.

  When the stencil printing apparatus 1 enters the plate feeding standby state, the reverse roller 21 rotates and the master 23 that has been subjected to plate making is sent toward the clamper 15. When the control means 75 determines that the front end of the master 23 has been transported to a position that can be held by the clamper 15, the clamper 15 is closed, and the front end of the master 23 that has been made is held on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9. The Thereafter, the plate cylinder 9 rotates at a peripheral speed substantially the same as the conveying speed of the master 23, and the winding operation of the master 23 around the plate cylinder 9 is performed. When the control means 75 determines that the master 23 for one plate has been made, the operation of the platen roller 17 and the master transport roller pair 20 is stopped, and the master cutting means 19 is activated to cut the master 23. Is done. The cut master 23 is pulled out from the plate making section 3 by the rotation of the plate cylinder 9 and the reverse roller pair 21, and the plate cylinder 9 stops at the home position after the master 23 is wound, thereby completing the plate making operation and the plate feeding operation. .

  At the end of plate making of the master 23 for one plate wound around the plate cylinder 9, it is formed on the paper P as a parameter that affects the paper output alignment other than the paper type, paper size, printing speed and environmental temperature / humidity. The image processing apparatus 71 obtains an image ratio equivalent to the amount of electric energy consumed by the thermal head 18 for making the master 23 for one plate (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “image ratio”). Appears in transmitted / input image data (black digital image data). Therefore, the CPU 76 calculates the ratio of the black digital image data amount (the number of black dot signal data) to the entire image data amount (monochrome all digital image data) for one plate to obtain the image ratio. It is temporarily stored in the RAM 78 as a storage means. Note that the CPU 76 may obtain the image ratio based on the amount of electrical energy actually consumed for making the master 23 for one plate by the thermal head 18.

  Further, when the image ratio is biased to any one side in the paper width direction Y with respect to the center line along the paper discharge direction Xb of the paper P, that is, when the image ratio is biased, the CPU 76 The distribution of the image ratio is obtained based on the image data (monochrome digital image data) transmitted / input from the processing device 71 and temporarily stored in the RAM 78. Note that the CPU 76 may obtain the distribution of the image ratio based on the distribution of the amount of electrical energy actually consumed for making the master 23 for one plate by the thermal head 18.

  The printing operation is performed following the plate feeding operation. When the plate cylinder 9 stops at the home position, the paper feed roller 25 and the separation roller 26 rotate to pull out the uppermost sheet P from the paper feed tray 24, and the plate cylinder 9 moves slowly in the clockwise direction in FIG. Is driven to rotate. Only one sheet of the drawn paper P is separated and fed, and its leading end is abutted against and brought into contact with the nip portion of the registration roller pair 28 (the paper in this state is the paper PA). Then, the registration roller pair 28 is rotated at a predetermined timing when the leading edge of the image area in the plate cylinder rotation direction of the master 23 wound around the plate cylinder 9 reaches the contact portion with the impression cylinder 10, and the sheet P is transferred to the impression cylinder. The paper is clamped and clamped by the paper clamper 10b that is fed toward the ten paper clampers 10b and expanded at a predetermined timing. Almost simultaneously with the rotation of the registration roller pair 28, the pressure cylinder 10 presses the peripheral surface thereof against the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 by the operation of a swinging means (not shown), and the fed paper P is brought into contact with the master 23 on the plate cylinder 9. Press contact. By this pressing operation, the pressure cylinder 10, the paper P, the master 23, and the plate cylinder 9 are pressed against each other, and the ink supplied to the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 by the ink roller 12 oozes out from the opening portion of the plate cylinder 9. After filling the porous support of the master 23, it is transferred and transferred to the paper P through the perforated part of the master 23, and so-called printing is performed.

The sheet P on which the image has been transferred by printing is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 by the peeling fan 35, dropped downward and sent to the paper discharge suction transport device 36, and then the paper discharge suction transport device. 36 is sucked and conveyed further downstream in the paper discharge direction Xb (the printed paper in this state is the paper discharge PB). At this time, the paper discharge device in the conventional stencil printing apparatus does not have the specific configuration as in the present embodiment, that is, the jump base angle variable mechanisms 54a and 54b, the control means 75, and the like. A dot has occurred.
That is, in the conventional stencil printing apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper discharge PB comes into contact with the endless belt 40, and is sucked by suction from the suction holes 41 a opened in the face plate 41. Is conveyed toward the paper discharge tray 53 by rotating and traveling downstream in the paper discharge direction Xb. At this time, if the paper discharge PB is not firm, as shown in FIG. 6, when the leading end of the paper discharge PB passes the jump bases 50a and 50b, it immediately hangs down from the corner of the face plate 41, and the paper discharge PB. When dropping onto the tray 53, the printed image surface of the previous paper discharge PC stacked on the paper discharge tray 53 is rubbed, and the resistance at this time causes the conveyance force to become insufficient and stall, and finally a jam occurs. There was a case. In such a case, conventionally, the angle and the like are controlled so that the jump stands 50a and 50b are lifted up, and the above-mentioned problem has been solved by sitting on the paper discharge PB.

  On the contrary, when the sheet discharge PB is stiff, as shown in FIG. 5, if the jump stands 50 a and 50 b are raised, the sheet discharge PB is transferred to the endless belt 40 as the sheet discharge PB is conveyed. Since it is separated from the top, the conveyance force decreases, and the discharge PB is likely to stop or stop on the discharge suction conveyance device 36, and the leading edge of the next printed discharge PB collides with the rear end of the discharge PB. In the end, there was a case where a jam was reached. In such a case, conventionally, the above-mentioned problem has been solved by controlling the angle and the like so as to lower the jump tables 50a and 50b so as not to interfere with the conveyance of the paper discharge PB. .

In the conventional stencil printing apparatus, the change in the angle and position of the jump tables 50a and 50b as described above, for example, as shown in Table 1, is five types of information such as paper type, paper size, printing speed, environmental temperature and humidity. Based on the (sheet discharge seating parameter), the seating strength is set via an arm, a link device, or the like that is a member that drives a solenoid, a motor, or the like and transmits the driving force. It should be noted that the direction of the direction of the discharge backlash strength for each parameter shown in Table 1 is based on the sheet strength when the paper type is thick and the discharge backlash strength is relatively large. Is set to be small (weak), that is, the angle of the jump bases 50a and 50b is set to be relatively small to compensate for the deterioration of the paper discharge alignment caused by the high strength of the paper discharge. This means that a good paper discharge alignment can be performed. Conversely, when the paper type is thin and the sheet output strength is relatively large, the setting of the strength setting is set large (strong), that is, the angles of the jump bases 50a and 50b are set. By setting a relatively large value, it is shown that good paper discharge alignment can be performed to compensate for the deterioration of paper discharge alignment caused by the low strength of paper discharge.
Further, the angles and positions of the jump bases 50a and 50b are changed depending on the temperature. In other words, since the waist of the paper discharge PB is lowered under a high temperature environment, the thick paper or the small size paper needs to be seated. In such a case, the jumping bases 50a and 50b are raised to place the paper. In addition, since the waist of the paper discharge PB rises in a low temperature environment, strong support is not required even for thin paper or large-size paper. In such a case, the jump bases 50a and 50b are lowered.

  However, if there is a large solid image, even small-size paper and thick paper (thick paper) may not be properly seated, resulting in poor paper alignment, and if the image is very small However, even if it is a large size paper or a thin paper (thin paper), it may be used as a paper discharge jam because the carrying power of the paper discharge PB is insufficient due to the use of the jump tables 50a and 50b. Further, when the image position is biased to either the operation side or the drive side, the side with the larger image has insufficient stiffness of the paper discharge PB, and the side with the lower image has a lower side of the paper discharge PB. May be too strong and may cause problems such as rolling forward when falling onto the paper discharge tray 53.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, first, the angles and positions of the jump bases 50a and 50b are changed according to the image ratio. When there are many solid images, that is, an image with a large image ratio, the paper discharge PB is weak, so even thick paper or small size paper needs to be attached. In such a case, the jumping bases 50a and 50b are raised, that is, the angle of the jumping bases 50a and 50b is increased to seat the paper discharge PB. Further, when the image ratio is small, such as a one-point image, the paper discharge PB is strong, so that strong support is not required even for thin paper or large size paper. In such a case, the jump bases 50a and 50b are lowered, that is, the angles of the jump bases 50a and 50b are reduced to reduce the seating of the paper discharge PB.
In other words, the control means 75 monitors the amount of electrical energy of the thermal head 18 at the time of making the plate, and changes the angle / position of the jump tables 50a and 50b according to the amount. When the amount of electrical energy is large, the image ratio is high (large), that is, the image is recognized as a solid image such as a leaflet, and the jumping tables 50a and 50b are set by predicting a state where the printed paper PB is weak. Set it up slightly. On the contrary, when the amount of electric energy is small, the control means 75 recognizes that the image ratio is low (small), that is, a solid image such as a character object or a one-point image, and the discharged paper PB after printing is recognized. The jumping bases 50a and 50b are set to be lowered in anticipation of a state where the waist is strong.

In the present embodiment, secondly, the operation-side jump base 50a and the drive-side jump base 50b are set to different height positions and angles depending on the image bias. For example, if the solid image is biased toward the operation side and there is almost no image on the drive side, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation side jump base 50a is raised and the drive side jump base 50b is lowered (angle θa). > Θb) to create an optimal waist condition.
In other words, the control means 75 monitors the distribution of the electric energy amount of the thermal head 18 at the time of making the plate, and determines whether there are many images on the operation side or on the drive side, depending on whether the jump table 50a on the operation side or on the drive side. The jump stand 50b is set at a different angle and position (unbalanced position). Here, the control means 75 monitors the distribution of the electric energy amount of the thermal head 18 in two (or more finely) on the operation side drive side, and for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the image is biased toward the operation side. If it is recognized that there is a lot of solid on the operation side, the jump base 50a on the operation side is set to be slightly higher (angle θa> θb) than the drive side. By doing so, even when the state of the discharged paper PB after printing is unbalanced such that the operation side is weak and the driving side is strong, a good paper discharge alignment can be obtained.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when changing the angle / position of the jump bases 50a and 50b, the five types of information (paper discharge) shown in Table 1 including the paper type, paper size, printing speed, and environmental temperature / humidity are shown. In addition to the back-up parameters, the image angle ratio and the image bias are also taken into account, and the optimum angle and position are set from the combination thereof. The angle / position data of the jump bases 50a and 50b, which are specifically introduced by experiments or the like based on the direction of the discharge support strength according to the discharge support parameters shown in Table 1, are described later in the ROM 77 of the control means 75. It is stored in advance as related data together with a program related to the operation.

  Although the explanation will be mixed up and down, the paper discharge PB that has been properly seated according to the appropriate angle and position of the jump bases 50a and 50b as described above can be aligned on both sides of the paper discharge PB by the side fences 51. At the same time, the leading end of the paper discharge PB hits and is received by the end fence 52 to absorb the collision energy, and the paper is discharged on the paper discharge tray 37 in an orderly manner (the paper discharged onto the paper discharge tray 37 is Paper discharge PC). Thereafter, the plate cylinder 9 rotates again to the home position and stops, and the stencil printing apparatus 1 enters a printing standby state after finishing the plate attaching operation.

After the stencil printing apparatus 1 is in a printing standby state, when the printing condition is input by various keys on the operation panel 130 and then the trial printing key 143 is pressed, the plate cylinder 9 is faster than at the time of printing. While rotating at a peripheral speed corresponding to the set printing speed, only one sheet P is fed from the sheet feeding unit 4 and a test printing is performed in the same manner as at the time of printing. When the print start key 145 is pressed after the image position and image density are confirmed by trial printing and the number of prints is set on the operation panel 130, the paper P is continuously fed from the paper feed unit 4. The printing operation is performed in the same manner as the trial printing. When the set number of prints is consumed, the plate cylinder 9 stops at the home position, and the stencil printing apparatus 1 enters the print standby state again.
According to this embodiment, it cannot be overemphasized that there exists the above-mentioned effect by the above-mentioned composition and operation.

(Second Embodiment)
9 to 14 show a second embodiment. Compared with the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the second embodiment uses a paper discharge unit 6 </ b> A in place of the paper discharge unit 6, and control means 75 </ b> A in place of the control means 75. The point of using is mainly different. Other configurations are the same as those of the stencil printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment.
Compared with the paper discharge unit 6, the paper discharge unit 6A replaces the two jump stands 50a and 50b with eight divided wings 81a, 81b, 81c, 81d, 81e, 81f, 81g and 81h (hereinafter, In place of the jump base angle variable mechanisms 54a and 54b that independently change the angles and positions of the jump bases 50a and 50b, the split wings 81a to 81h may be referred to as “split wings 81a to 81h”. In addition to the point of using the split wing position variable mechanisms 80a to 80h for independently changing the angle and position of the paper, and the paper discharge suction conveyance device 36 having the face plate 41 shown in FIG. 2, the paper discharge having the face plate 41A is provided. The main difference is that the suction conveyance device 36A is used. The paper discharge unit 6A of the second embodiment is the same as the paper discharge unit 6 of the first embodiment except for the differences.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, in contrast to those shown in detail in FIGS. 11 to 13, the shapes of the split wings 81a to 81h and the components around them are simplified for the sake of simplification. The illustration is omitted (for example, only the face plate 41a is shown in the sheet discharge suction conveyance device 36A).
The split wings 81a to 81h and the split wing position variable mechanisms 80a to 80h are respectively composed of common components / components so as to be shared. Compared with the face plate 41, the face plate 41 </ b> A moves up and down and moves up and down with respect to the upper surface of the non-suction hole forming portion (not shown) at the corners on both sides of the discharge direction Xb end of the face plate 41 </ b> A. The main difference is that an opening for entering and exiting freely is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the sheet PB conveyed by the endless belt 40 (see FIG. 1) is seated on both side corners of the end in the sheet discharge direction Xb of the face plate 41 </ b> A, in other words. For example, a plurality of divided wings 81a to 81h (a total of eight left and right four in this embodiment) that can change the degree of bending deformation of the paper discharge PB are provided. Each of the divided wings 81a to 81h is integrally formed of an appropriate resin, and a base end portion of a common support shaft 89 (see FIG. 11) whose base end portion is fixedly supported by the transport device housing 44 (see FIG. 2). It is attached so that it can swing independently around each other. The divided wings 81a to 81h have the same shape and differ only in their arrangement positions.
The divided wings 81a to 81d and 81e to 81h are arranged at equal intervals in the paper width direction (discharge width direction) Y in the non-suction hole forming portion of the face plate 41A, and from the face plate 41A serving as the bottom surface of the discharge conveyance path. A guide position protruding upward (see, for example, the divided wings 81a to 81h shown in FIG. 9), and an initial position retracted downward from the face plate 41A (see, for example, the divided wings 81a to 81d shown in FIG. 10). It is provided so that it can move between.
The detailed shapes and arrangement states of the divided wings 81a to 81h are substantially the same as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of JP-A-2001-233527. The main difference is that it can be moved up and down.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the split wing position variable mechanisms 80a to 80h are in contact with and guided by the angles with respect to the side edges of the paper discharge PB, in other words, the side edges of the paper discharge PB. The function to change. Each of the split wing position variable mechanisms 80a to 80d and 80e to 80h is arranged substantially symmetrically in FIGS. 9 and 10 and is composed of the same components / components. The split wing position variable mechanism 80a on the right side (left side of the paper discharge path) in FIGS. 9 and 10 will be described in detail, and detailed description of the other split wing position variable mechanisms 80b to 80h will be omitted.

  The split wing position variable mechanism 80a is in contact with the back surface of the split wing 81a and is eccentrically positioned as an angle / position variable member that can continuously change its angle / position, and an apparatus main body 8 via a cam shaft 83a. A small drive motor 84a fixed to the output shaft of a drive gear 84a fixed to the camshaft 83a and rotatably supported on the side, and a motor gear 85a fixed to the apparatus body 8 and meshing with the drive gear 84a. A light shielding piece 87a formed on one side of the drive gear 84a so as to correspond to the home position of the cam 82a, and a home position sensor 88a that can be selectively engaged with the light shielding piece 87a with the light shielding piece 87a interposed therebetween. Consists mainly of.

The cam 82a is made of a plate cam, for example. The cam drive motor 86a is a stepping motor that can easily control the rotational position. The home position sensor 88a is composed of, for example, a transmission type photo sensor (photo interrupter).
When the light shielding piece 87a of the drive gear 84a substantially integral with the cam 82a blocks the optical path of the home position sensor 88a, the home position of the cam 82a is taken as the home position, and the cam drive motor 86a has the number of steps of the cam 82a as the home position. The rotational position, that is, the angle / position of the divided wing 81a can be set finely.

With reference to FIG. 14, the control configuration of the main part of the present embodiment will be described. Compared with that shown in FIG. 8, the control configuration of the main part of the present embodiment uses a control means 75A instead of the control means 75, and instead of the cam drive motors 59a and 59b, cam drive motors 86a to 86h. And the use of home position sensors 88a to 88h in place of the home position sensors 61a and 61b are mainly different. The control configuration of the main part of this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 8 except for the differences.
Like the control means 75, the control means 75A is provided inside the apparatus main body 8, and includes a microcomputer having a CPU 76A, a ROM 77A, a RAM 78A, and the like. Various setting signals from the operation panel 130 similar to those of the first embodiment are transmitted / input to the control means 75A. Further, the control unit 75A receives signals from the home position sensors 88a to 88h of the split wing position variable mechanisms 80a to 80h in the paper discharge unit 6A, and signals from the temperature sensor 68 in the plate cylinder 9 to the paper discharge unit 6A. A signal from the humidity sensor 69 is transmitted and inputted as various detection signals relating to the printing speed and the rotational position of the plate cylinder 9 from the encoder sensor. The control means 75A has a basic function of controlling the cam drive motors 86a to 86h of the split wing position variable mechanisms 80a to 80h in the paper discharge unit 6A based on various input signals.
The control means 75A also controls the printing unit 2, the thermal head 18 of the plate making unit 3, the paper feeding unit 4, the plate discharging unit 5, the paper discharging unit 6A, the image reading unit 7, and the operation panel 130 based on various input signals. The speed display device 148, the LED display device 149A, and the LCD display device 149B each have a function of controlling operations.

Based on the above-described configuration, the description will be focused on differences from the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 in the first embodiment. Although the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 is mainly performed under the control function of the CPU 76A of the control means 75A, the CPU 76A of the control means 75A is sometimes simply referred to as the control means 75A for the sake of simplicity.
As in the first embodiment, after a document to be printed is placed on the contact glass 62 by the user, the plate making start key 144 is pressed, and the image reading unit 7 performs a document image reading operation. In parallel, the plate removal operation is performed in the plate removal unit 5, and in parallel with the plate removal operation, the plate making operation is performed in the plate making unit 3.

At the end of the plate making of the master 23 for one plate wound around the plate cylinder 9, as in the first embodiment, the paper type, the paper size, the printing speed, and the discharge alignment other than the environmental temperature / humidity are affected. The image ratio formed on the paper P as a parameter is obtained by the CPU 76A and is temporarily stored in the RAM 78A.
Similarly to the first embodiment, when the image ratio is biased, the CPU 76A determines the distribution of the image ratio based on the image data (monochrome digital image data) transmitted / input from the image processing apparatus 71. It is obtained and temporarily stored in the RAM 78A.

  After the plate feeding operation, the plate printing operation is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the discharged paper PB onto which the image has been transferred by the plate printing is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 by the peeling fan 35 and moved downward. And is delivered to the paper discharge suction conveyance device 36, and is then sucked and conveyed further downstream in the paper discharge direction Xb by the paper discharge suction conveyance device 36. At this time, the paper discharge device in the conventional stencil printing apparatus does not have the specific configuration as in the present embodiment, that is, the divided wing position variable mechanisms 80a to 80h, the control means 75A, and the like. A problem similar to that described above was occurring.

  However, if there is a large solid image, even small-size paper and thick paper (thick paper) may not be properly seated, resulting in poor paper alignment, and if the image is very small However, even if it is a large size paper or a thin paper (thin paper), it may be used as a paper discharge jam because the conveyance force of the paper discharge PB is insufficient due to the division wings 81a to 81h. Further, when the image position is biased to either the operation side or the drive side, the side with the larger image has insufficient stiffness of the paper discharge PB, and the side with the lower image has a lower side of the paper discharge PB. May be too strong and may cause problems such as rolling forward when falling onto the paper discharge tray 53.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, first, the angles and positions of the divided wings 81a to 81h are changed according to the image ratio. When there are many solid images, that is, an image with a large image ratio, the paper discharge PB is weak, so even thick paper or small size paper needs to be attached. In such a case, the divided wings 81a to 81h are raised to seat the discharged paper PB. Further, when the image ratio is small, such as a one-point image, the paper discharge PB is strong, so that strong support is not required even for thin paper or large size paper. In such a case, the split wings 81a to 81h are lowered to reduce the seating of the paper discharge PB.

  In other words, the control means 75A monitors the amount of electrical energy of the thermal head 18 when making the plate, and changes the angles and positions of the divided wings 81a to 81h according to the amount. When the amount of electric energy is large, the image ratio is high (large), that is, the image is recognized as a solid image such as a leaflet, and the divided wings 81a to 81h are predicted by predicting a state where the printed paper PB is weak. Set it up slightly. On the other hand, when the amount of electrical energy is small, the image ratio is low (small), that is, the control means 75A recognizes a solid image such as a character object or a one-point image and recognizes the discharged paper PB after printing. The split wings 81a to 81h are set to be lowered in anticipation of a state where the waist is strong.

In the present embodiment, secondly, the operation-side split wings 81a to 81d and the drive-side split wings 81e to 81h are set to different height positions and angles depending on the image bias. For example, when the paper discharge PB is plain paper and the solid image is in the center, the divisional wings 81d and 81e in the central portion shown by hatching in FIG. 9 are raised to create an optimum waist state. . Further, for example, when the paper discharge PB is thick paper and there is a solid image on the driving side, the optimal waist state can be obtained by raising the position of the divided wings 81f to 81h of the driving side portion shown by hatching in FIG. Make it.
In other words, the control means 75A monitors the distribution of the electric energy amount of the thermal head 18 at the time of making the plate, and drives the divided wings 81a to 81d on the operation side and drives whether the image is large on the operation side or the drive side. By properly setting the side split wings 81e to 81h to different angles and positions (unbalanced positions), it is possible to obtain a good sheet alignment.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when changing the angles and positions of the divided wings 81a to 81h, the five types of information (paper discharge) shown in Table 1 including the paper type, paper size, printing speed, and environmental temperature / humidity are shown. In addition to the back-up parameters, the image angle ratio and the image bias are also taken into account, and the optimum angle and position are set from the combination thereof. The angle and position data of the divided wings 81a to 81h, which are specifically introduced by experiments or the like based on the direction of the discharge support strength for each parameter shown in Table 1, are stored in the ROM 77A of the control means 75A as described above. It is stored in advance as related data together with a program related to the operation.

Although the description will be mixed, as described above, the paper discharge PB that is properly seated according to the appropriate angles and positions of the divided wings 81a to 81h is the same as the paper discharge PB discharge operation of the first embodiment. Thus, the stencil printing apparatus 1 is placed in a print standby state after finishing the plate setting operation, and thereafter, the same operation as in the first embodiment is performed.
According to this embodiment, it cannot be overemphasized that there exists the above-mentioned effect by the above-mentioned composition and operation.

The embodiment of the present invention is a case where the present invention is applied to a stencil printing apparatus as described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a printing apparatus other than a stencil printing apparatus, an ink jet recording apparatus, a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc. The present invention can also be applied mutatis mutandis to a paper discharge device (paper discharge device) provided in an image forming apparatus having a function or an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions.
The sheet / sheet-like recording medium is not limited to the paper P, and includes, for example, special paper such as coated paper, an OHP sheet, and the like, and printing or image formation may be performed using this.
As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments including examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be configured by appropriately combining them. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various embodiments and examples can be made within the scope of the present invention according to the necessity and application thereof.

1 is a front view of an entire stencil printing apparatus including a paper discharge unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view around a paper discharge suction conveyance device and a jump table disposed in a paper discharge unit in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a side view of an operation state in which only the operation-side jump base is raised and seated when the operation-side image ratio in paper discharge is high, as viewed from the paper discharge tray side. It is a partial cross section front view which shows the principal part of a jump stand angle variable mechanism. It is a figure explaining a conventional problem, and when the waist of the paper discharge is strong, when the operation side and the drive side jump stand are raised and the back is seated, the paper discharge is separated from the endless belt FIG. 6 is a side view of the operating state as viewed from the paper discharge tray side. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a conventional problem, in which an operation state in which a corner of a paper discharge hangs down when a jump stand on an operation side and a drive side is lowered when a paper discharge is weak is excluded. It is the side view seen from the paper tray side. It is a top view of the operation panel used for 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the principal part of 1st Embodiment. Using the split wing of the paper discharge unit according to the second embodiment, when the paper discharge is plain paper and the solid image is in the center, the central split wing is raised and the paper is seated It is a simplified side view of the principal part which shows a state and a structure. Using the split wings of the paper discharge unit according to the second embodiment, when the paper discharge is thick paper and the solid image is on the drive side, the drive side split wing is raised to seat the paper discharge. It is a simplified side view of the principal part which shows the operation state and structure which are present. It is a perspective view of the principal part which shows the division | segmentation wing position variable mechanism of the paper discharge part in 2nd Embodiment. It is a front view of FIG. It is a top view which fractures | ruptures and shows a part of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the principal part of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Stencil printing device (image forming device)
2 Printing unit 3 Plate making unit 4 Paper feeding unit 5 Plate discharging unit 6, 6A Paper discharging unit (arrangement unit of paper discharging device)
8 Apparatus body 9 Plate cylinder 10 Impression cylinder (pressing means)
18 Thermal head (plate making means)
23 Master 36, 36A Paper discharge suction transfer device (paper discharge transfer means)
50a, 50b Jump stand (backing means / backing member)
53 Output tray (output tray)
54a, 54b Jump base angle variable mechanism 55a, 55b Cam 56a, 56b Cam shaft 59a, 59b Cam drive motor (jump base angle variable drive means)
71 Image processing apparatus 75, 75A Control means 80a-80h Dividing wing position variable mechanism 81a-81h Dividing wing (backing means / backing member)
82a to 82h Cam 83a to 83h Cam shaft 86a to 86h Cam drive motor (divided wing position variable drive means)
130 Operation panel P Paper (sheet / sheet-like recording medium)
PB, PC paper discharge (printed paper, image-formed paper)
Xa Paper transport direction Xb Paper discharge direction Y Paper width direction (sheet width direction)

Claims (6)

A paper discharge tray on which the image-formed paper to be discharged is stacked, a paper discharge transport means for transporting the image-formed paper toward the paper discharge base, and an image-formed paper disposed on the paper discharge transport means. In a paper discharge device in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of jumping tables capable of changing the degree of curved deformation of paper,
The angle of the plurality of jump bases with respect to each side edge of the image-formed paper and / or the position to be in contact with and guide each side edge of the image-formed paper on the plurality of jump bases A paper discharge device in an image forming apparatus, wherein the paper discharge device is changed in accordance with parameters that affect paper output alignment other than size, image formation speed, and environmental temperature and humidity. The paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus, wherein the parameter is a ratio of an image formed on a sheet. The paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
When the ratio of the images is biased to either side of the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction with respect to the center line along the paper discharge direction of the image-formed paper, the image-formed paper The paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus, wherein the angle and / or the position is independently changed corresponding to a side biased to one of the two. A paper discharge tray on which the image-formed paper to be discharged is stacked, a paper discharge transport means for transporting the image-formed paper toward the paper discharge base, and an image-formed paper disposed on the paper discharge transport means. In a paper discharge device in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of divided wings capable of changing the degree of curved deformation of paper,
The angle of the plurality of divided wings with respect to each side edge of the image-formed paper and / or the position of the plurality of divided wings that contact and guide each side edge of the image-formed paper A paper discharge device in an image forming apparatus, wherein the paper discharge device is changed in accordance with parameters that affect paper output alignment other than size, image formation speed, and environmental temperature and humidity. The paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus according to claim 4,
The paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus, wherein the parameter is a ratio of an image formed on a sheet. The paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus according to claim 5,
When the ratio of the images is biased to either side of the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction with respect to the center line along the paper discharge direction of the image-formed paper, the image-formed paper The paper discharge device in the image forming apparatus, wherein the angle and / or the position is independently changed corresponding to a side biased to one of the two.

Images