Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes a loading portion that is capable of receiving a recording sheet. The loading portion includes a correction member which has a bending portion, wherein the bending portion selectively moves between a first position and a second position, the second position being located higher than the first position, and a stopper that selectively moves between a closed position and an open position in which the stopper extends upward at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal surface when the stopper is at the open position.

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-429241, filed Dec. 25, 2003, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a paper output tray.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Laser printers exist in which a toner image is formed on a sheet that has been output from a paper supply cassette. Heat and pressure are then added at a fixing portion in order to fix the toner image to the sheet. The sheet is then output, using an output roller, onto a paper output tray.  
         [0006]     Various types of sheets are used in the laser printer. For example, an ordinary sheet (approximately 60-100 g/m 2 ), a thick sheet (100-200 g/m 2 ), a transparent sheet for an overhead projector, and a label sheet are used. Depending on the type of sheet and the environment of the laser printer, such as humidity, at the time of printing, the sheet can curl into a cylindrical shape. The sheet can curl due to heat and pressure added at the time of fixing. A curled sheet is thus output to the output tray. When the curled sheet is output, there is a possibility that a loading failure might occur. The loading failure may occur, for example, when a sheet that has been previously output is pushed from the paper output tray by a sheet that is currently being output.  
         [0007]     An image forming apparatus, in Japanese Patent No. 3,402,904, for example, arranges a link connecting portion in a paper output tray that can deform the paper output tray depending on the type of sheet. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the link connecting portion  153  is extended in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which a sheet is output to a paper output tray  151 . As the link connecting portion  153  moves up and down by a gear, the shape of the paper output tray  151  can deform in a convex or a concave shape, wherein the link connecting portion  153  is the vertex.  
         [0008]     When the sheet typically curls upward from a center of the sheet toward an end of the sheet in the width direction at the time of heating, the curling of the sheet can be corrected by upwardly moving the link connecting portion  153 . The paper output tray  151  is also formed in a convex shape in order to match the shape of the sheet.  
         [0009]     There also exists an imaging forming apparatus that arranges a stopper in a paper output tray and suppresses the slippage of an output sheet from the paper output tray. The stopper is positioned on a downstream side in a sheet output direction and the tip of the stopper is inclined upwardly at a predetermined angle. The output sheet is interrupted when the output sheet contacts the stopper. As such, the stopper suppresses the sheet from slipping from a contact position to a front side.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In order to correct the curling of a sheet and suppress the sheet from slipping from a paper output tray, Japanese Patent No. 3,402,904 discloses a stopper that is arranged in a paper output tray having a link connecting portion.  
         [0011]     The stopper is positioned so that the angle with respect to the paper output tray is constant. If a link connecting portion is moved depending on the type of sheet, the inclination of the paper output tray is changed. According to the change, the position of the stopper is also changed.  
         [0012]     For example, when the link connecting portion is moved upwardly, and the paper output tray is in a convex shape, the stopper which is fixed to the paper output tray becomes horizontal according to the inclination of the paper output tray. However, if the paper output tray is positioned downward with respect to the horizon, there is a possibility that slipping of the sheet cannot be sufficiently suppressed. In order to suppress the sheet from slipping, it is thus desirable to locate the tip of the stopper upward at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizon.  
         [0013]     This invention thus provides an image forming apparatus that corrects the curling of a sheet generated at the time of image formation. The sheet is also suppressed from slipping from the paper output tray.  
         [0014]     An exemplary image forming apparatus may include a loading portion that is capable of receiving a recording sheet. The loading portion includes a correction member which has a bending portion that divides the loading portion into an upstream side and a downstream side, wherein the bending portion can selectively move between a first position and a second position, the second position being located higher than the first position, and a stopper that selectively moves between a closed position in which the stopper is stored in the correction member and an open position in which the stopper moves toward the downstream side of the correction member, wherein the stopper extends upward at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal surface when the stopper is in the open position.  
         [0015]     An exemplary image forming apparatus may include a loading portion that is capable of receiving a recording sheet, wherein the loading portion includes a correction member which has a bending portion that divides the loading portion into an upstream side and a downstream side, and a stopper that is movable relative to the correction member. The correction member and the stopper is capable of selectively achieving: a first state where the correction member is at a first position and the stopper is at a closed position, a second state where the correction member is at the first position and the stopper is at an open position where the stopper moves toward the downstream side of the correction member and extends upward at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal surface, a third state where the correction member is at a second position that is located higher than the first position and the stopper is at the closed position, and a fourth state where the correction member is at the second position and the stopper is at the open position.  
         [0016]     An exemplary image forming apparatus may include a loading portion that is capable of receiving a recording sheet. The loading portion includes a correction member which has a bending portion, wherein the bending portion can selectively move between a first position and a second position that is located higher than the first position, and a stopper that selectively moves between a closed position and an open position in which the stopper extends upward at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal surface.  
         [0017]     An exemplary method of operating a loading portion that is capable of receiving a recording sheet, wherein the loading portion includes a correction member which has a bending portion that divides the loading portion into an upstream side and a downstream side, and a stopper that is movable relative to the correction member, includes moving the correction member to a first position and the stopper to a closed position; moving the correction member to the first position and the stopper to an open position where the stopper moves toward the downstream side of the correction member and extends upward at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal surface; moving the correction member to a second position that is located higher than the first position and the stopper to the closed position; and moving the correction member to the second position and the stopper to the open position.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures wherein:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of a printer according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the laser printer of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 3A-3D  are partial cross-sectional views of the loading surface of the laser printer of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top view of another laser printer;  
         [0023]      FIGS. 5A-5D  are partial cross-sectional views of the loading surface of the laser printer of  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view of a related laser printer. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of the laser printer  1  according to an embodiment of the invention and  FIG. 2  is a top view of the laser printer  1  of  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , within the frame  10  of the laser printer  1  there is a feeder part  2 , an image formation part  4  and a paper exit part  6 . The feeder part  2  stores the paper P, which is the recording sheet, and feeds the paper P to the image formation part  4 . The image formation part  4  forms the image onto the supplied paper P. The paper exit part  6  emits the paper P onto which the image was formed by the image formation part  4 .  
         [0026]     The feeder part  2  comprises a box-type tray  20 , a paper pressure plate  21 , paper supply rollers  22   a  and  22   b , a paper supply pad  23  pairs of resist rollers  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27 . The paper supply tray  20  is set such that it can adhere to the lower part of the frame  10 . The paper pressure plate  21  is set in the lower part of the tray  20 . Between the lower surface of the tray  20  and the pressure plate  21 , there is a spring (not shown). The spring pushes the pressure plate  21  in the upward direction. The pressure plate  21  is supported such that it can move about one edge. When the pressure plate  21  moves upward due to the force of the spring, the paper P, which was loaded onto the pressure plate  21 , will come into contact with the paper supply rollers  22   a  and  22   b  in the vicinity of the other edge.  
         [0027]     The pair of paper supply rollers  22   a  and  22   b  and the paper supply pad  23  are set on the upper edge of the tray  20 . The paper supply rollers  22   a  and  22   b  are arranged in the delivery direction of the paper. The paper supply roller  22   a  is positioned on the upstream side in the delivery direction. The paper supply roller  22   b  is positioned on the downstream side and arranged adjacent the paper supply pad  23  such that paper supply roller  22   b  and paper supply pad  23  face each other. On the back side of the paper supply pad  23 , there is a spring which is not represented on the drawing. The paper supply pad  23  will face the paper supply roller  22   b  and will be pressed through the pressing force of the spring. Of the paper loaded into the paper pressure plate  21 , the paper P which is positioned on top will be delivered to the downstream side in the delivery direction through the rotation of the paper supply rollers  22   a  and  22   b . The paper P will be sandwiched between the paper supply roller  22   b  and the paper supply pad  23 , separated into individual sheets, and delivered.  
         [0028]     The resist rollers  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27  are set on the downstream side in the delivery direction of paper P in relation to the paper supply rollers  22   a  and  22   b . The paper P supplied by the paper supply rollers  22   a  and  22   b  will be sent to the image formation part  4  by the resist rollers  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27 .  
         [0029]     On the frame  10 , there is a manual-feed tray  30 . It is possible to load multiple sheets of paper P onto the manual-feed tray  30 , and through the rotation of the manual-feed roller  31 , the paper P loaded onto the manual-feed tray  30  will be delivered.  
         [0030]     The image formation part  4  includes the scanner unit  41 , the process unit  45  and the adhesion part  51 . The scanner unit  41  is set in the upper part of the frame  10 . The laser light based on the given image data emitted from the laser diode will be refracted or reflected by the polygon mirror, lens and mirror on the scanner unit  41 , and will be shone onto the surface of the exposure drum  46  of the process unit  45  to be described later.  
         [0031]     The process unit  45  is attached to the frame  10  such that it can be removed, and consists of a charging unit  44 , the exposure drum  46 , an imaging roller  48 , a transfer roller  47  and a toner box  49 . When the process unit  45  is attached to the frame  10 , the process unit  45  will be positioned on the lower side of the scanner unit  41 .  
         [0032]     There is toner stored in the toner box  49 . The toner is provided to the imaging roller  48 , becomes a film of a certain thickness, and applied to the surface of the imaging roller  48 . The surface of the exposure drum  46 , after it has been charged by the charging unit  44 , will be exposed by laser light from the scanner unit  41 . Based on the image data, a static-electricity image will be formed.  
         [0033]     Through the rotation of the imaging roller  48 , the toner applied onto the imaging roller  48 , when it opposes the exposure drum  46 , will be supplied to the static-electric image formed on the surface of the exposure drum  46  and the visible image will be formed.  
         [0034]     The transfer roller  47  is arranged such that it can rotate in a direction opposite the exposure drum  46 , on the lower side of the exposure drum  46 . As a result of the bias effect applied by the transfer roller  47 , the toner supplied to the exposure drum  46  will be transferred to the paper P. The transfer roller  47  will then deliver the paper P to the downstream side in the delivery direction.  
         [0035]     The adhesion part  51  is, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , arranged on the downstream side (the left side in  FIG. 1 ) in the delivery direction of the paper P in relation to the process unit  45 . The adhesion part  51  includes a heating roller  52  which has a heating element inside, a pressure roller  53  which applies pressure onto the heating roller  52 , and a delivery roller  54  which is set on the downstream side of the heating roller  52  and the pressure roller  53 .  
         [0036]     In the adhesion part  51 , when the paper P passes the heating roller  52  and the pressure roller  53 , after the toner is transferred onto the paper P by the process unit  45 , the toner will be fixed to the paper P through pressure. Thereafter, the paper P will be delivered to the paper exit part  6  by the delivery roller  54 .  
         [0037]     The paper exit part  6  contains a paper exit  60 , a pair of paper delivery rollers  61  and a paper flattening component  62 . On the upper surface of the frame  10 , a loading surface  70  (i.e., an output tray) is formed which stacks the emitted paper P into layers. The pair of delivery rollers  61  is arranged in the vicinity of the paper exit  60 . Through the rotation of the pair of delivery rollers  61 , the paper P will be delivered to the loading surface  70 .  
         [0038]     The paper flattening component  62  is set on the downstream surface of the paper feed direction in relation to the paper delivery roller  61 . Coming into contact with the paper P emitted from the paper exit  60  on the upper side, the paper delivery roller  61  ejects the paper P onto the loading surface  70 . If the grain of the paper P is strong, then the paper P emitted from the paper exit  60  will pass on the upper side of the loading surface  70  in a re-curved form, and can be delivered over the loading surface  70 . By using the paper flattening component  62 , it is possible to send the paper P emitted from the paper exit  60  accurately in the direction of the loading surface  70 .  
         [0039]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , there is an LCD  66  and a switch  65  on the upper surface of the frame  10 . LCD  66  shows information such as the status of the printer and the amount of toner remaining. The switch  65  is used to turn the power of the laser printer  1  ON/OFF.  
         [0040]     Next, while referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate the loading surface  70 .  FIGS. 3A-3D  are partial cross-sectional views of the loading surface  70  and the position of the bridging component  80  and the stopper  90 .  FIG. 3A  is the first state when the bridging component  80  is in the home position (i.e., a first position) and the stopper  90  is in the closed position.  FIG. 3B  is the second state when the bridging component  80  is in the home position and the stopper  90  is in the open position.  FIG. 3C  is the third state when the bridging component  80  is in an anti-curl position (i.e., a second position) and the stopper  90  is in the closed position.  FIG. 3D  is the fourth state when the bridging component  80  is in the anti-curl position and the stopper  90  is in the open position.  
         [0041]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the loading surface  70  has an edge on the lower side of the paper delivery roller  61 , and is curved on the upper side following the feed direction of the paper P. The loading surface  70  is formed on the upper surface of the frame  10 , facing the downstream side of the feed direction of the paper P from the paper exit  60 , and is set such that it is wider than the widest paper which can be printed using the laser printer  1 . The paper delivered by the paper delivery roller  61  is laminated and loaded onto the loading surface  70 .  
         [0042]     There is the bridging component  80  and the stopper  90  on the loading surface  70 . On one part of the loading surface  70 , there is a first concave part  71  which is concave facing the downstream side of the feed direction. In the first concave part  71 , the bridging component  80  is accommodated. The width and length of the first concave part  71  is slightly wider and longer than the bridging component  80  when it is in the home position. The depth of the first concave part  71  is approximately the same as the thickness of the bridging component  80 . In other words, when the bridging component is set in the home position, the upper surface of the loading surface  70  and the upper surface of the bridging component  80  connect smoothly.  
         [0043]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , there is a locking part  76  along the width direction on the downstream edge of the first concave part  71 . The locking part  76  is formed along the upper side, facing the downstream side of the feed direction (the right side in  FIG. 3A .) As illustrated in  FIGS. 3B and 3D , when the stopper  90  is moved into the open position, the stopper  90  and the locking part  76  come into contract to maintain the stopper  90  in the open position.  
         [0044]     On the downstream side edge of the first concave part  71 , there is a second concave part  72  which is narrower than the width of the first concave part  71 , and which is connected to the first concave part  71 .  
         [0045]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the bridging component  80  is formed of an upstream component  84  and a downstream component  85 . The upstream component  84  and downstream component  85  are connected via the bending axis  83 . By moving the bending axis  83  in an upward direction, it is possible for the bridging component  80  to bend the apex of the bending axis  83  to a convex form. On the downstream component  85 , there is a third concave part  86  which is truncated. The width and length of the third concave part  86  is slightly larger than the width and length of the stopper  90 , and the width of the third concave part  86  is approximately the same as that of the second concave part  72 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , when the stopper  90  is in the closed position, the stopper  90  is stored in the third concave part  86  and the second concave part  72 .  
         [0046]     The depth of the third concave part  86  is approximately the same as the thickness of the stopper  90 . In other words, when the stopper  90  is in the closed position, the surface of the stopper  90  will come into smooth contact with the surface of the bridging component  80 , and it is therefore possible to prevent loading rejects when the paper P is loaded.  
         [0047]     The length of the downstream component  85  is longer than that of the upstream component  84 . If the ratio of the length of the upstream component  84  and the downstream component  85  is specified, then by bending the bridging component  80  to be convex over the upper side of the bending axis  83 , the curl of the emitted paper P will be flattened, and it is sufficient to set the second concave part  86  on the downstream component  85 .  
         [0048]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , there is a bearing  75  on the downstream side edge of the second concave part  72 . When the stopper  90  is in the home position, there is a rotational axis  91  which extends the width of the paper P formed on the downstream side edge of the stopper  90 . Both edges of the rotational axis  91  are supported by the bearing  75 . By rotating the stopper  90  about the rotational axis  91 , the stopper moves between the open position and the closed position.  
         [0049]     On the upstream side edge of the upstream component  84 , there is a fixed axis  81  which extends in the width direction of the paper P, and on the downstream edge of the downstream component  85 , there is a movable axis  82  which extends in the width direction of the paper P.  
         [0050]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a bearing  73  is formed on the upstream side edge on the surface of both sides of the first concave part  71 , and fixed axis  81  is connected to the bearing  73 .  
         [0051]     Bearing groove  74  is formed on the downstream side on the surface of both sides of the first concave part  71 , and the movable axis  82  is connected to the bearing groove  74 .  
         [0052]     When the bending axis  83  is moved in the upward direction, the movable axis  82  follows the bearing groove  74 , and moves in an upstream direction relative to the feed direction. When the bending axis  83  is moved in an downward direction, the movable axis  82  follows the bearing groove  74  and moves in a downstream direction relative to the feed direction.  
         [0053]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3D , on the lower surface of the bearing groove  74 , there is a rib  77 . When the movable axis  82  of the bridging component  80  is moved along the bearing groove  74 , it is necessary for the bridging component  80  to move over the rib  77 .  
         [0054]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , on the upstream side edge of the first concave part  71 , there is a groove  71  a which stores the fixed axis  81  of the bridging component  80  and the bending axis  83 . Near the bending axis  83  of the downstream component  85 , there is a knob  87 . When the user pulls out the knob  87  with his fingers, the bending axis  83  moves in an upward direction, and the bridging component  80  forms a convex form about the bending axis  83 .  
         [0055]     When the bridging component  80  is in the home position as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , if the user pulls the knob  87 , the movable axis  82  slides along the bearing groove  74  and the bending axis  83  will move upward. As illustrated in  FIG. 3C , when the movable axis  82  is slid over the rib  77 , the bridging component  80  will bend into a convex form about the bending axis  83 , and the movable axis  82  will remain in contact with the rib  77  (anti-curl position). In the anti-curl position, the upstream component  84  will bend in an downward direction about the bending axis  83 , and the downstream component  85  will bend to the lower direction of the downstream side. When the bridging component  80  is in the anti-curl position, the movable axis  82  will hit the rib  77  on the bearing axis  74 , and the bridging component  80  will not naturally return to the home position.  
         [0056]     When the bridging component  80  is in the anti-curl position, if the user pushes the bending axis  83  from above, the movable axis  82  will move towards the downstream side in the feed direction following the bearing groove  74  over the rib  77 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , and the bridging component  80  will return to the original home position.  
         [0057]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3B , when the stopper  90  is moved from the closed position to the open position about the rotating axis  91 , the back side  90   a  of the stopper  90  will come into contact with the locking part  76  on the loading surface  70 . As a result of this contact, the stopper  90  will remain in the open position. The back side  90   a  of the stopper  90  in this position is at an angle A to the loading surface  70 , which is approximately  30  degrees. Angle A can be the angle where the paper P does not slide off from the downstream side edge of the loading surface  70 , and can extend upward from the horizontal plane.  
         [0058]     Stopper  90  is not attached to the bridging component  80 , and can be stored such that it overlaps with the third concave part  86  on the bridging component  80 . In other words, when the stopper  90  is in the closed position, even when the bridging component  80  is moved to the anti-curl position, the position of the stopper  90  will not change, and only the lower surface of the third concave part  86  and the stopper  90  will contact.  
         [0059]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , when the stopper  90  is in the closed position, there is a knob  92  on the upstream side edge of the stopper  90 . When the user pulls the knob  92  with his fingers, the stopper  90 , which is in the closed position, will rotate about the rotating axis  91 , and will move to the open position.  
         [0060]     By combining the positions of the bridging component  80  and the stopper  90 , it is possible to set the status of the loading surface  70  onto which the paper P is loaded into the four types illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3D  as described above. The form of the paper P to be emitted will change depending on the type of paper P and the printing environment. If, based on the form of the paper P, the positions of the bridging component  80  and the stopper  90  are selected from among the four types, it is possible to prevent the paper P from curling, or to prevent the paper P from sliding off of the loading surface  70 .  
         [0061]     For instance, in the event that the center of the paper P emitted from the paper exit  60  is concave, and generates a cylindrical curl such that it moves to the outer side in the width direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 3C , by pulling up on the knob  87 , the bridging component  80  will move from the home position to the anti-curl position, and the bridging component  80  will be bent into a convex form. When the bridging component  80  is in the anti-curl position, the paper P which has generated a cylindrical curl will be sent in the upward direction such that the paper P arrives at the bending axis  83 , and after passing the bending axis  83 , the paper will be sent in the downward direction. In this way, when the paper P passes over the bending axis  83 , the cylindrical curl generated by the paper P will be rectified.  
         [0062]     Further, in the event that multiple sheets of paper P are printed in sequence, if it appears that the paper P is going to slide off from the downstream side of the loading surface  70 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3D , if the knob  92  is pulled when the bridging component  80  is in the anti-curl position, then the stopper  90  will move from the closed position to the open position. By doing this, the edge of the emitted paper P will come into contact with the stopper  90 , and it will be possible to prevent the paper P from sliding off.  
         [0063]     As the state of the paper P which is emitted can change depending on the type of paper P or the printing environment, the user can look at the state of the paper P which is emitted, and select the positions of the bridging component  80  and the stopper  90  as appropriate to the situation.  
         [0064]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3B and 3D , the rotating axis  91  of the stopper  90  is attached on the bearing  75  of the second concave part  72  on the loading surface  70  such that even if the bridging component  80  is in the anti-curl position, the position of the rotating axis  91  of the stopper  90  remains constant. In other words, regardless of the status of the bridging component  80 , the angle A formed between the back side  90   a  of the stopper  90  and the loading surface  70  when the stopper  90  is in the open position is constant, and it is possible to ensure the efficacy of preventing the emitted paper P from sliding off of the loading surface  70 .  
         [0065]     A laser printer  1  according to a second embodiment will now be explained by referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 A- 5 D.  FIG. 4  is a top view of the laser printer  1  which illustrates the second embodiment.  FIGS. 5A-5D  are partial cross-sectional views of the loading surface  100  of the second embodiment. Other than the structural items explained below, the form of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.  
         [0066]     The loading surface  100  of the second embodiment includes a bridging component  110 , which is similar to that of the first embodiment, and a stopper  120 .  
         [0067]      FIG. 5A  shows the state when the bridging component  110  is in the home position and the stopper  120  is in the closed position.  FIG. 5B  shows the state when the bridging component  110  is in the home position and the stopper  120  is in the open position.  FIG. 5C  shows the state when the bridging component  110  is in the anti-curl position and the stopper  120  is in the closed position.  FIG. 5D  shows the state when the bridging component  110  is in the anti-curl position and the stopper  120  is in the open position.  
         [0068]     There is a bridging component  110  and a stopper  120  attached to the loading surface  100 . On one part of the loading surface  100 , there is formed a concave part  101  which faces the downstream side of the feed direction. On the concave part  101 , there is a bridging component  110 . The width and length of the concave part  101  is slightly larger than the width and length of the bridging component  110  when it is in the home position. The depth of the concave part  101  is approximately the same as the thickness of the bridging component  110 . Thus, when the bridging component  110  is in the home position, the upper surface of the loading surface  100  and the upper surface of the bridging component  110  are smoothly connected.  
         [0069]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the bridging component  110  consists of an upstream component  114  and a downstream component  115 . The upstream component  114  and the downstream component  115  are connected via the bending axis  113 . By moving the bending axis  113  in the upward direction, the bridging component  110  can be bent to a convex form about the bending axis  113 .  
         [0070]     The length of the downstream component  115  is longer than that of the upstream component  114 . Since the ratio of the length of the upstream component  114  and the downstream component  115  is not particularly specified, by bending the bridging component  110  to be convex over the upper side of the bending axis  113 , the curl of the emitted paper P will be flattened.  
         [0071]     On the upstream side edge of the upstream component  114 , there is a fixed axis  111  which extends in the width direction of the paper P, and on the downstream side edge of the downstream component  115 , there is a movable axis  112  which extends in the width direction of the paper P.  
         [0072]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , on the upstream side edge of the surface of both sides of the concave part  101 , there is formed a bearing  103 , and the fixed axis  111  is connected to the bearing  103 .  
         [0073]     On the downstream side of the surface of both sides of the first concave part  101 , there is formed a bearing groove  104 , and the bearing groove  104  is connected to the movable axis  112 .  
         [0074]     Near the bending axis  113  of the downstream component  115 , there is a knob  118 . When the user pulls out the knob  118  with his fingers, the bending axis  113  moves in an upward direction, and the bridging component  110  forms a convex form about the bending axis  113 .  
         [0075]     When the bending axis  113  is moved in the upward direction, the movable axis  112  follows the bearing groove  104 , and moves in the direction of the upstream edge of the feed direction. When the bending axis  113  is moved in an downward direction, the movable axis  112  follows the bearing groove  104  and moves to the downstream side of the feed direction.  
         [0076]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5D , on the lower surface of the bearing groove  104 , there is a rib  108 . When the movable axis  112  of the bridging component  110  is moved along the bearing groove  104 , it is necessary for the bridging component to move over the rib  108 .  
         [0077]     When the bridging component  110  is in the home position as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , if the user pulls the knob  118 , while the movable axis  112  slides along the bearing groove  104 , the bending axis  113  will move upward. As illustrated in  FIG. 5C , when the movable axis  112  is slid over the rib  108 , the bridging component  110  will bend into a convex form about the bending axis  113 , and the movable axis  112  will remain in contact with the rib  108  (the anti-curl position).  
         [0078]     In the anti-curl position, the upstream component  114  will bend in an downward direction about the bending axis  113 , and the downstream component  115  will bend to the lower direction of the downstream side. When the bridging component  110  is in the anti-curl position, the movable axis  112  will hit the rib  108  on the bearing axis  104 , and the bridging component  110  will not naturally return to the home position.  
         [0079]     When the bridging component  110  is in the anti-curl position, if the user pushes the bending axis  113  from above, the movable axis  112  will move towards the downstream side in the feed direction following the bearing groove  104  over the rib  108 , and as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the bridging component  110  will be in the original home position.  
         [0080]     On the downstream side in the feed direction of the concave part  101  (the right side in  FIG. 5A ), there is a truncated hole  106  which is slightly wider than the width of the stopper  120 .  
         [0081]     There is a rotating axis  121  on both edges in the width direction of the stopper  120 . The length from a downstream edge  120   b , which is the edge of the downstream side in the feed direction of the stopper  120  to the rotating axis  121 , is approximately twice the overall length in the feed direction of the stopper  120 .  
         [0082]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the bridging component  110  has a truncated hole  116  which is slightly larger than the overall stopper  120  such that the truncated hole fits around the stopper  120 . One part of the hole  116  is connected to the hole  106 . On the surface of both sides of the hole  116 , a bearing  117 , and a rotating axis  121  of the stopper  120  is attached on the bearing  117 . The width of the hole  116  is approximately the same as the width of the hole  106 , but the length of hole  116  is larger.  
         [0083]     There is a knob  122  on the upstream side edge of the stopper  120 . If the user pulls up on the knob  122 , and rotates the stopper  120  about the rotating axis  121 , the stopper  120  can be moved between the closed position shown in  FIG. 5A  and the open position shown in  FIG. 5B .  
         [0084]     On the surface of both sides of the hole  116 , there is a notch  116   b  located in a position separate from the bearing  117 . On a given position on the width of the stopper  120 , there is a convex part  120   c . When the stopper  120  is in the closed position, the convex part  120   c  comes into contact with the notch  116   b , and the stopper  120  will be kept in the closed position.  
         [0085]     When the stopper  120  is rotated, the downstream edge  120   b  of the stopper  120  connects to both the hole  106  and the hole  116 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5D , when the bridging component  110  is in the anti-curl position and the stopper  120  is in the open position, the downstream edge  120   b  of the stopper  120  will come into contact with the upstream edge  107  of the hole  106 , and the stopper  120  will be kept in that position. At this time, the angle B formed by a back side  120   a  of the stopper  120  and the loading surface  100  will be approximately 30°.  
         [0086]     The length from the back edge  120   b  of the stopper  120  and the rotating axis  121  is set such that the angle B will be approximately 30° when the bridging component  110  is in the anti-curl position and the stopper  120  is in the open position.  
         [0087]     Next, the operation of the bridging component  110  and the stopper  120  using  FIGS. 5A-5D  will be explained.  
         [0088]     In the state illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the bridging component  110  is in the home position, and is stored within the concave part  101  of the loading surface  100 . Setting the stopper  120  in the closed position, the protruding part  120   c  and the notch  116  are lined up. At this time, the bridging component  110  and the stopper  120  are smoothly connected.  
         [0089]     When the stopper  120  is rotated about the rotating axis  121 , the stopper  121  is moved from the closed position shown in  FIG. 5A  to the open position shown in  FIG. 5B . There are holes  116  and  106  set on the bridging component  110  and the loading surface  100  respectively. The downstream edge  120   b  of the stopper  120  is connected to the holes  116  and  106 . When the downstream edge  116   a  of the hole  116  comes into contact with the back surface  120   a  of the stopper  120 , the stopper  120  will be kept in the open position. The angle B of the back surface  120   a  of the stopper  120  when the stopper  120  is in the open position is achieved and the loading surface  100  extends upward from the horizontal plane. As such, the emitted paper P will not slide off of the loading surface  100 .  
         [0090]     When the knob  118  is pulled up from the state shown in  FIG. 5A , the bridging component  110  will move to the anti-curl position shown in  FIG. 5C . In the anti-curl position, the bridging component  110  will bend to a convex form about the bending axis  113 , and the movable axis  112  of the bridging component  110  will slide towards the upstream side in the feed direction. The stopper  120  supported by the bridging component  110  will also move to the upstream side in the feed direction in the same way as the bridging component  110 .  
         [0091]     As the convex part  120   c  of the stopper  120  is supported by the notch  116   b  of the bridging component  120 , the stopper  120  will remain in the closed position.  
         [0092]     When the bridging component  110  is in the anti-curl position as shown in  FIG. 5C , the stopper  120  will rotate about the rotating axis  121  and will move from the closed position to the open position shown in  FIG. 5D .  
         [0093]     As illustrated in  FIG. 5D , the downstream edge  120   b  of the stopper  120  rotates connected to the holes  116  and  106 , and before the back surface  120   a  of the stopper  120  comes into contact with the back edge  116   a  of the hole  116 , the stopper will come into contact with the upstream edge  107  of the hole  106 . When the stopper  120  is in contact with the upstream edge  107 , the stopper  120  will remain in the open position. The angle B formed by the back surface  120   a  of the stopper  120  and the loading surface  100  will be approximately 30°.  
         [0094]     Conversely, if the back surface  120   a  of the stopper  120  comes into contact with the back edge  116   a , and the stopper  120  is maintained, then the angle formed by the back surface  120   a  of the stopper  120  and the loading surface  100  is not approximately 30°. In fact, the back surface  120   a  of the stopper  120  and the loading surface  100  will be approximately horizontal, thus causing the paper P to slide off of the loading surface  100 .  
         [0095]     As illustrated in  FIG. 5B , we will explain the movement of the bridging component  110  to the anti-curl position when the bridging component  110  is in the home position and the stopper  120  is in the open position.  
         [0096]     In the state shown in  FIG. 5B , the back surface  120   a  of the stopper  120  is in contact with the back edge  11   6   a  of the hole  116 . By pulling up the knob  118  of the bridging component  110  and lifting the bending axis  113 , the movable axis  112  will be moved in the upward direction, and following that movement, the rotating axis  121  of the stopper  120  will also move in the upward direction.  
         [0097]     While the downstream edge  120   b  of the stopper  120  comes into contact with the upstream edge  107  of the hole  106 , the back surface  120   a  of the stopper  120  will come into contact with the back edge  116   a  of the hole  116 . While the bridging component  110  is moving from the home position into the anti-curl position, the back edge  120   a  of the stopper  120  will come into contact with the upstream edge  107  of the hole  106 . After that, as the movable axis  112  moves towards the upstream side, the back surface  120   a  and the back edge  116   a  will separate, and the rotating axis  121  will move upward.  
         [0098]     The angle formed by the back surface  120   a  of the stopper  120  and the loading surface  100  will gradually reduce from 30° until the back edge  120   b  of the stopper  120  and the touching part  107  come into contact, but after the back edge  120   b  of the stopper  120  comes into contact with the touching part  107 , it will once again return to an angle of 30°.  
         [0099]     The effective location in maintaining the open position of the stopper  120  will differ when the bridging component  110  is in the home position and when the bridging component is in the anti-curl position. However, based on the improvements discussed above, regardless of the status of the bridging component  110 , it is possible to maintain a certain angle between the back surface  120   a  of the stopper  120  and the loading surface  100  while in the home position, and to consistently prevent the paper P from sliding off of the surface  100 .  
         [0100]     As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , as the upstream edge  107  of the hole  106  is formed such that the cross-section is at an angle, when the bridging component  110  is shown in  FIG. 5D  in the anti-curl position, and the stopper  120  is in the open position, it is possible to ensure contact between the downstream edge  120   b  of the stopper  120  and the upstream edge  107  of the hole  106 , and to stabilize the stopper  120 .  
         [0101]     While the invention has been described with reference various embodiments, the description of the embodiments is illustrative only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various other modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0102]     The movable axis of the bridging component, while being the axis of the downstream side in the feed direction, can also be the axis of the upstream side. Furthermore, both the downstream side and upstream side can be movable axes.  
         [0103]     The movement of the bridging component and the stopper detects the type of paper by sensors on the laser printer. Depending on the results of that detection, it is possible to rotate the gears by driving the motor, and in this case, it is possible to reduce the labor on the part of the user.  
         [0104]     In the second embodiment, when the bridging component is in the home position, the stopper is kept in the open position through contact with the bridging component. With a locking part on the loading surface, it is also possible to maintain the stopper in the open position through contact with the locking part.  
         [0105]     In the second embodiment, the hole formed on the bridging component is larger than the hole formed on the loading surface. By making it the same shape as the hole formed on the loading surface, it is possible to form a convex part in the bridging component to store the stopper.  
         [0106]     According to an exemplary aspect of an image formation device, because it is possible to obtain a first position and a second position of the bending axis, it is possible to take a convex form with the apex at the bending axis when the correction member is in a flat form. Therefore, even if the recording sheet is curled cylindrically and must be discarded due to the type of recording sheet or to the environment at the time of printing, by ironing out the curl, it is possible to prevent loading rejects or knock-on problems. Further, regardless of the state of the correction member, the edge of the stopper in the operation position will extend above that level, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording sheet which is emitted from the device to slide off and fall due to the momentum from delivery.  
         [0107]     According to an exemplary aspect of an image formation device, since the rotational axis of the stopper is attached to the loading part, regardless of the position of the recording sheet rectifying component, the angle of the stopper which is on the operation position will remain constant.  
         [0108]     According to an exemplary aspect of an image formation device when the stopper is in the storage position, the stopper will be supported by the correction member such that the stopper can slide, even if the bending axis is in the second position, it will be possible to support the stopper in the storage position.  
         [0109]     According to an exemplary aspect of an image formation device, since the stopper is connected to the loading part, the angle will be accurately determined by the operation position of the stopper.  
         [0110]     According to an exemplary aspect of an image formation device, the rotational axis of the stopper is attached to the correction member, and the stopper axis will move with the movement of the bending axis. In this type of structure, regardless of the form of the correction member, it is possible to make the relative position of the emitted recording sheet and the stopper the same, and it is therefore possible to consistently prevent the sliding off of the recording sheet.  
         [0111]     According to an exemplary aspect of an image formation device, regardless of the position of the bending axis, or of the form of the correction member, since the angle of the stopper in the operation position is maintained, it is possible to still more consistently prevent the sliding off of the recording sheet.  
         [0112]     According to an exemplary aspect of an image formation device, the alignment position of the stopper when it is in the operation position will differ from its position when the bending axis is in the first position and when it is in the second position. When the bending axis is in the first position, the alignment of the back side of the stopper and the correction member will be determined by their contact. When the bending axis is in the second position, the alignment will be determined by contact of the back edge which extends even further back than the rotational axis of the stopper and the loading part. Thus, regardless of the form of the correction member, the angle of the stopper will consistently be fixed, and it will be possible to prevent the sliding off of the recording sheet.  
         [0113]     According to an exemplary aspect of an image formation device, since the correction member and the stopper, in the set positions, are such that they can form the same surface as the loading part of the device, a continuous surface is formed, and it is possible to prevent the edge of the emitted recording sheet from getting caught in the correction member or in the stopper. Thus, it is possible to prevent loading problems in the recording sheet.  
         [0114]     According to an exemplary aspect of an image formation device, only the axis formed on one edge of the correction member is attached such that it can slide. Therefore, the position of the apex of the correction member will be in the same position, and will not differ each time the bending axis moves from the first position to the second position. Therefore, the status of the recording sheet curl will not change when it is emitted, and will emerge stably. Further, the change from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position will be smooth.  
         [0115]     According to an exemplary aspect of an image formation device, as the loading surface is the upper surface of the device, it is possible to sufficiently provide the loading surface without providing a special space. Further, since it is possible to broadly set the loading surface, it is possible to provide the bending axis of the correction member and the stopper in a favorable position.