Patent Publication Number: US-8523166-B2

Title: Paper discharge apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a paper discharge apparatus connected to a digital outputting device (e.g., copy machine or a printer) to arrange and stack paper. In particular, the present invention relates to a paper discharge apparatus capable of optimizing the moving path of a stapler provided at the rear of the paper discharge apparatus by effectively constructing the structure of the paper discharge apparatus that discharges paper onto a stacker tray. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A paper discharge apparatus  20  capable of safely transferring paper onto a stacker tray by using a griper is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 405324. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , after receiving and arranging paper transferred from a digital outputting device (not shown), the paper discharge apparatus  20  according to the related art discharges the paper onto the stacker tray while gripping the paper. 
     The paper discharge apparatus  20  includes a paper stacking plate  5 , guide side plates  3 , which are provided on a central portion of the paper stacking plate  5  in opposition to each other while being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and formed in inner surfaces thereof with rail grooves  3   a  and at predetermined regions of both lateral sides thereof with curved cams  3   b  having the radius of curvature, and a paper gripping unit  21  gripping paper received on the paper stacking plate  5  when making contact with the curved cams  3   b  while moving along the rail grooves  3   a  of the paper stacking plate  5 . 
     The paper gripping unit  21  includes a fixing shaft  12  having end portions and movable along the rail grooves  3   a  in the state that the end portions are fitted into the rail grooves  3   a  perpendicularly to the rail grooves  3   a , a grip support plate  2  coupled with the fixing shaft  12 , and a gripper  1  including first and second extension portions in which a boundary region between first and second extension portions  1   a  and  1   b  is coupled with the grip support plate  2  through a pin  16  so that the first and second extension portions  1   a  and  1   b  are rotated at a predetermined angle about the grip support plate  2 , and the first extension portion  1   a  making contact with the grip support plate  2  through an elastic member. 
     In addition, the paper gripping unit  21  includes a driving unit  22  allowing the paper gripping unit  21  to circulate along the rail grooves  3   a.    
     In the paper discharge apparatus  20  having the above structure, since an aligning stopper  44  for discharged papers is integrated with an end portion of the guide side plate  3 , the grip support plate  2  and the gripper  1  must be aligned behind the aligning stopper  44  in order to allow the paper gripping unit  21  to grip paper. 
     If the grip support plate  2  and the gripper  1  of the paper gripping unit  21  are aligned behind the aligning stopper  44 , when a stapler  33  acting as a paper finishing apparatus is installed in a limited region, the moving path of the stapler  33  must be curved to prevent the stapler  33  from interfering with the paper gripping unit  21  when the stapler  33  moves, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     If the moving path of the stapler  33  is curved, the moving time of the stapler  33  may be delayed. 
     In addition, since another device cannot be installed in the movement space of the stapler  33 , there is limitation to reduce the size of an apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper discharge apparatus capable of controlling a moving path of a stapler and reducing the moving time of the stapler by allowing the stapler, which moves perpendicularly to a paper discharge direction, to move on a linear moving path. 
     Another object of the present invention is to install a paper discharge apparatus and a stapler in a limited space in such a manner that the paper discharge apparatus and the stapler can be optimally operated. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a paper discharge apparatus capable of stacking several pieces of discharged paper on the stacker tray while accurately aligning the discharged paper in line with each other without scattering the paper. 
     To accomplish the above objects of the present invention, there is provided a paper discharge apparatus including a pair of guide side plates including first rail grooves configured to circulate in a transfer direction of paper transferred to a paper stacking plate and curved cams adjacent to the first rail grooves, a pair of paper gripping units to grip the paper received on the paper stacking plate when making contact with the curved cams while moving along the first rail grooves of the guide side plates, a first driving unit to drive the paper gripping units to allow the paper gripping units to circulate along the first rail grooves, an aligning stopper for discharged paper, which is provided between the guide side plates to straightly move by a predetermined distance in the paper transfer direction from front end portions of the guide side plates, and a second driving unit to previously move the aligning stopper in the paper transfer direction just before the paper gripping units reach the front end portions of the guide side plates. 
     In addition each paper gripping unit includes a fixing shaft having an end portion and movable along the first rail groove in a state that the end portion is fitted into the first rail groove perpendicularly to the first rail groove, a grip support plate coupled with the fixing shaft, and a gripper including first and second extension portions, in which a boundary region between the first and second extension portions is coupled with the grip support plate through a pin so that the first and second extension portions are rotated at a predetermined angle about the grip support plate, and the first extension portion makes contact with the grip support plate by interposing an elastic member between the first and second extension portions. 
     In addition, the boundary region between the first and second extension portions is fixed onto the fixing shaft together with the grip support plate, and the elastic member is fitted around the fixing shaft to elastically support the gripper. 
     In addition, the paper discharge apparatus further comprises a boss provided at an outer portion of the second extension portion of the gripper to make contact with the curved cam of the guide side plate. The first extension portion of the gripper is spaced apart from the grip support plate to grip an end portion of paper aligned on the aligning stopper when the boss makes contact with the curved cam. 
     In addition, the aligning stopper includes second rail grooves provided in inner surfaces of the guide side plates in parallel to the first rail grooves, respectively, a slide block having both ends fitted into the second rail grooves to move back and forth along the second rail grooves, and an ejector plate coupled with a top surface of the slide block to stop and transfer an end portion of the paper which is transferred to the paper stacking plate, in which the slide block moves back and forth along the second rail grooves by the second driving unit. 
     As described above, the paper discharge apparatus according to the present invention includes a pair of guide side plates including first rail grooves configured to circulate in a transfer direction of paper transferred to a paper stacking plate and curved cams adjacent to the first rail grooves, a pair of paper gripping units to grip the paper received on the paper stacking plate when making contact with the curved cams while moving along the first rail grooves of the guide side plates, a first driving unit to drive the paper gripping units to allow the paper gripping units to circulate along the first rail grooves, and an aligning stopper for discharged paper, which is provided between the guide side plates to straightly move by a predetermined distance in the paper transfer direction from front end portions of the guide side plates, thereby moving the stapler, which is installed at the rear portion of the paper discharge apparatus, on a linear moving path, so that the moving time of the stapler can be reduced. 
     In addition, the paper discharge apparatus and the stapler are effectively installed in a limited space, so that an apparatus size can be reduced, and several pieces of discharged paper can be stacked on the stacker tray while being exactly aligned in line with each other without being scattered. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a paper discharge apparatus installed on a stacker tray according to the related art; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the paper discharge apparatus according to the related art; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing the paper discharge apparatus according to the related art; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a paper discharge apparatus installed on a stacker tray according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view showing main components of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view showing the moving path of a stapler in the paper discharge apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view showing a paper gripping unit according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing main components of the paper gripping unit according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIGS. 10A to 10D  are views showing the operation of the paper gripping unit according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing main components of an aligning stopper according to the present invention at one side; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing main components of the aligning stopper according to the present invention at an opposite side; 
         FIG. 13  is a view showing the operation of the aligning stopper according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is a view showing the operation of the paper discharge apparatus according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, the technical configuration and operations of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 14 . 
     A paper stacking plate  105  temporarily receives paper discharged from a digital outputting device (not shown) as shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 . The paper stacking plate  105  includes a jogger  124  provided on a top surface of a receiving portion thereof to move left or right so that the received paper can be aligned. 
     The paper stacking plate  105  is provided at the central portion thereof with a paper discharge apparatus  120  to grip plural pieces of paper received on the paper stacking plate  105  and transfer the paper onto a stacker tray  10 . 
     The paper discharge apparatus  120  is configured to grip plural pieces of paper temporarily received on the paper stacking plate  105  and stably transfer the paper onto the stacker tray  104  without scattering the paper. The paper discharge apparatus  120  includes a pair of guide side plates  103 , a pair of paper gripping units  121  to grip paper received on the paper stacking plate  105  while moving along the guide side plate  103 , a first driving unit  122  to drive the paper gripping units  121 , an aligning stopper  150  provided between the guide side pates  103  to straightly move by a predetermined distance in a paper transfer direction from front end portions of the guide side plates  103 , and a second driving unit  152  to previously move the aligning stopper  150  in the paper transfer direction just before the paper gripping units  121  reach the front end portions of the guide side plates  103 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 to 9 , the guide side plates  103 , which have a circulation orbit to allow the paper gripping unit  121  to circulate, are provided at the central portion of the paper stacking plate  105  in the paper transfer direction while being parallel to each other. Each guide side plate  103  includes a first rail groove  103   a  and a curved cam  103   b  forming the circulation orbit. 
     The circulation orbit of the first rail groove  103   a  is perpendicular to the surface of the paper stacking plate  105 . In addition, the curved cam  103   b  is provided at one side of the front end of the guide side plate  103 , which makes the circulation orbit of the first rail groove  103   a  formed in the shape of an oval, in adjacent to the first rail groove  103   a.    
     The paper gripping unit  121  fitted into the guide side plate  103  to be driven includes a fixing shaft  112  having one end fitted into the first rail groove  103   a  perpendicularly to the first rail groove  103   a  so that the fixing shaft  112  is movable along the first rail groove  103   a , a grip support plate  102  coupled with the fixing shaft  112 , and a gripper  101  in which a boundary region between first and second extension portions  101   a  and  101   b  is coupled with the grip support plate  102  in such a manner that the first and second extension portions  101   a  and  101   b  can rotate at a predetermined angle about the grip support plate  102 . A bearing or a roller  123  may be additionally installed around the end portion of the fixing shaft  112  fitted into the first rail groove  103   a  so that the fixing shaft  112  can be smoothly moved. 
     In particular, a support member  115   a  is integrated with the grip support plate  102  at a rear portion of the grip support plate  102  coupled with the fixing shaft  112  while slightly protruding from the grip support plate  102 . The support member  115   a  is coupled with the boundary region between the first and second extension portions  101   a  and  101   b  of the gripper  101  by interposing a pin  116  between the boundary region and the support member  115   a . A spring  118  is coupled with the pin  116  to elastically support the gripper  101 . 
     A boss  117  is provided at an outer portion of the second extension portion  101   b  of the gripper  101  to make contact with the curved cam  103   b  of the guide side plate  103 . When the boss  117  makes contact with the curved cam  103   b , the first extension portion  101   a  of the gripper  101  is spaced apart from the grip support plate  102  by the action of the spring  118 , so that the first extension portion  101   a  of the gripper  101  maintains a distance from the grip support plate  102 . When the boss  117  does not make contact with the curved cam  103   b , the first extension portion  101   a  of the gripper  101  makes contact with the grip support plate  102  by the action of the spring  110 , so that paper can be gripped between the first extension portion  101   a  of the gripper  101  and the grip support plate  102 . 
     The first driving unit  122  to drive the paper gripping unit  121  may include transfer belts  106  that rotate according to the rotation of a driving rotational shaft  111  and a driving motor  107  to rotate the driving rotational shaft  111 . The driving rotational shaft  111  may be indirectly driven by interposing a belt and a plurality of gears between the driving motor  107  and the driving rotational shaft  111 . 
     The paper gripping unit  121  is fixed by fitting the fixing shaft  112  into a fixing member  106   a  of the transfer belt  106 . 
     As the transfer belt  106  rotates, the paper gripping unit  121  circulates along the first rail groove  103   a  in cooperation with the transfer belt  106 . 
     The transfer belts  106  are installed at outer portions of the paper gripping units  121  to fix the paper gripping units  121  thereon, and the guide side plates  103  are installed at the central portion of the paper discharge apparatus  120  in symmetrical to each other while facing each other. 
     The operation of the paper gripping unit  121  having the above structure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10A to 10D . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10A , when the boss  117  is positioned at a starting point of the curved cam  117  of the guide side plate  103 , the grip support plate  102  is in the contact with the first extension portion  101   a  of the gripper  101  by the elastic support force of the spring. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10B , if the paper gripping unit  121  farther moves along the first rail groove  103   a , the boss  117  is locked with the curved cam  103   b  so that the boss  117  is temporarily stopped. In this state, since the fixing shaft  112  moves toward the curved cam  103   b , the gripper  101  rotates about the pin  116 , so that the grip support plate  102  starts to be spaced apart from the first extension portion  101   a  of the gripper  101 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10C , the grip support plate  102  maintains the distance from the first extension portion  101   a  until the fixing shaft  112  is lifted onto the surface of the paper stacking plate  105  after passing through a curved section of the first rail groove  103   a.    
     If the fixing shaft  112  farther moves along the first rail groove  103   a  from the state of  FIG. 10C  so that the boss  117  is positioned out of the curved cam  103   b  as shown in  FIG. 10D , the grip support plate  102  and the first extension portion  101   a  of the gripper  01  return to an original position by the restoring force of the spring so that the grip support plate  102  makes contact with the first extension portion  101   a.    
     The gripper  1  grips paper stacked on the paper stacking plate  105  when returning to the original position. 
     If the grip support plate  102  and the first extension portion  101   a  of the gripper  101  continuously move while gripping paper to reach the stacker tray  104 , the paper is transferred to the stacker tray  104 , and a lower end portion of the paper is positioned at the boundary region between the stacker tray  104  and the paper discharge apparatus  120 . 
     Since the fixing shaft  112  continuously moves down along the first rail groove  103   a  in the state that the paper has been transferred onto the stacker tray  104  as described above, the first extension portion  101   a  of the gripper  101 , which has gripped an end portion of the paper, is instantly lifted up by overcoming elastic force of the spring, so that the first ending portion  101   a  releases the grip of the paper. 
     After the grip of the paper transferred on the stacker tray has been released, the first extension portion  101   a  of the gripper  101  and the grip support plate  102  make contact with each other again and move toward the curved cam  103   b  along the first rail groove  103   a.    
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the aligning stopper  150 , which is movable up and down by a predetermined distance in the paper transfer direction, and the second driving unit  152  to drive the aligning stopper  150  are installed between the guide side plates  103 . 
     The aligning stopper  150  includes second rail grooves  203   a  provided in the inner surfaces of the guide side plates  103  in parallel to the first rail grooves  103   a , respectively, slide blocks  160  having both ends fitted into the second rail grooves  203   a  to move backward and forth along the second rail grooves  203   a , and ejector plates  170  coupled with a top surface of the slide blocks  160  and having a substantially C shape to stop and transfer an end portion of paper which is transferred to the paper stacking plate  105 . 
     The slide block  160  is provided at both end portions thereof with roll bearings  161  to smoothly move along the second rail grooves  203   a.    
     The slide block  160  interposes a timing belt  165 , a plurality of gears  166   a ,  166   b ,  166   c , and  166   d , and a crank arm  164  between the slide block  160  and a driving motor  207 , and is driven by the driving motor  207 . 
     The slide block  160  can reciprocate along the second rail groove  203   a  by the action of a crank arm  164  regardless of the rotation direction of the driving motor  207 . 
     The technique of allowing the sliding block  160  to reciprocate along the second rail groove  203   a  is not limited to the technique of the second driving unit  152 . In other words, the sliding block  160  can reciprocate along the second rail groove  203   a  through various techniques generally known in the art. 
     The operating procedure of the aligning stopper  150  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 13A to 13C . 
     If the slide block  160  is moved toward the front end portion of the guide side plate  103  by driving the driving motor  207  as shown in  FIG. 13A , the ejector plate  170  protrudes out of the front end portion of the guide side plate  103  by a predetermined distance. 
     In this state, if the driving motor  207  is more rotated, the ejector plate  170  moves in the paper transfer direction as the slide block  160  moves in the paper transfer direction as shown in  FIGS. 13B and 13C . 
     After the slide block  160  has been moved along the second rail groove  302   a  by a stroke distance of the crank arm  164 , the slide block  160  returns to the position of  FIG. 13A  and stands by. 
     Even if the stapler  33  straightly moves left or right as shown in  FIG. 6  in the state that the ejector plate  170  protrudes out of the front end portion of the guide side plate  103  and stands by, since the ejector plate  170  is positioned in the space (not shown) of the opening of the stapler  33 , the ejector plate  170  does not exert an influence on the movement of the stapler  33 . 
     Hereinafter, the operating procedure according to the present invention including the aligning stopper  150  and the paper gripping unit  121  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 14A to 14D . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14A , after the ejector plate  170  has been moved backward to the front end portion (home position) of the guide side plate  103 , an end of the paper  25 , which is transferred from a digital outputting device such as a copy machine or a printer, is stopped at the substantially C shaped groove of the ejector plate  170 . In this state, the paper  25  is stacked on the paper stacking plate  105 . 
     If several pieces of paper have been stacked on the paper stacking plate  105 , before the gripper  101  and the grip support plate  102  are lifted up to the surface of the paper stacking plate  105  as shown in  FIG. 14B , the ejector plate  170  is moved, so that the end portion of the paper  25  is moved toward the stacker tray  104  by a predetermine distance. 
     In other words, the end portion of the paper  25  is previously moved by a predetermined distance by moving the ejector plate  170 , which constitutes the aligning stopper  150 , prior to the gripper  101  and the grip support plate  102 , which constitute the paper gripping unit  120 , from the home position. 
     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 14C , when the preceding ejector plate  170  does not move any more by the action of the crank arm  164 , but returns to the original position thereof, the following gripper  101  and grip support plate  102  are lifted onto the top surface of the end portion of the paper stacking plate  105  to grip the end portion of the paper  25 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 14D , the ejector plate  170  returns to the original position and stands by for a duration in which the paper  25  is gripped between the gripper  101  and the grip support plate  102  and transferred to the stacker tray  104 . 
     As described above, the present invention can provide a paper discharge apparatus capable of ensuring a paper discharge path differently from the related art while allowing the stapler  33  to perform straight motion by configuring the paper gripping unit  121  not to protrude from the guide side plate  103  and by configuring the ejector plate  170  serving as the stopper for a paper to reciprocate by a predetermined distance toward the inner portion of the guide side plate from the outer portion of the guide side plate. 
     Therefore, it will be understood to those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.