Post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10377600-B2
Application number	US-201715698994-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2017
Priority date	Feb 23, 2017
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

A post-processing apparatus includes an ejection tray receiving a recording medium that is ejected, an elastic member urging the ejection tray upward in a vertical direction, a moving mechanism causing the ejection tray to move up and down in the vertical direction, and a driving source driving the moving mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A post-processing apparatus comprising:
an ejection tray configured to receive a recording medium that is ejected;
an elastic member configured to urge the ejection tray upward in a vertical direction;
a moving mechanism configured to cause the ejection tray to move up and down in the vertical direction; and
a driving source configured to drive the moving mechanism,
wherein the moving mechanism comprises a holding plate,
wherein the ejection tray is fixed to the holding plate,
wherein the elastic member is configured to urge the holding plate upward in the vertical direction,
wherein the post-processing apparatus further comprises:
a detector configured to detect a position of the ejection tray; and
at least one processor configured to execute a controller configured to estimate a weight of a recording medium placed on the ejection tray using a position detected by the detector,

wherein the controller is configured to control vertical movement of the ejection tray when power is supplied to the driving source,
wherein the post-processing apparatus is configured such that, when the moving mechanism is not being driven by the driving source, the position of the ejection tray is moved by a total weight of the ejection tray and the recording medium placed on the ejection tray, and
wherein the detector includes:
a member that has a plurality of holes having different widths and that is configured to move as the ejection tray moves; and
an optical sensor that is fixed to an apparatus body and that is configured to measure the widths of the plurality of holes.

2. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is configured to urge the ejection tray upward in the vertical direction by raising the ejection tray.

3. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ejection tray is attached to the moving mechanism by a hinge structure that enables the ejection tray to be folded to a side on which the apparatus body is present.

4. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the hinge structure is fixed in place in a state where the ejection tray is folded to the side on which the apparatus body is present and in a state where the ejection tray is ready to receive a recording medium that is ejected.

5. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is configured to urge the entire ejection tray upward in the vertical direction.

6. A post-processing apparatus comprising:
an ejection tray configured to receive a recording medium that is ejected;
an elastic member configured to urge the ejection tray upward in a vertical direction;
a moving mechanism configured to cause the ejection tray to move up and down in the vertical direction; and
a driving source configured to drive the moving mechanism, wherein the ejection tray is attached to the moving mechanism by a hinge structure that enables the ejection tray to be folded to a side on which an apparatus body is present.

7. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the hinge structure is fixed in place in a state where the ejection tray is folded to a side on which an apparatus body is present and in a state where the ejection tray is ready to receive a recording medium that is ejected.

8. A post-processing apparatus comprising:
an ejection tray configured to receive a recording medium that is ejected;
an elastic member configured to urge the ejection tray upward in a vertical direction;
a moving mechanism configured to cause the ejection tray to move up and down in the vertical direction; and
a driving source configured to drive the moving mechanism,
wherein the moving mechanism comprises a holding plate,
wherein the ejection tray is fixed to the holding plate,
wherein the elastic member is configured to urge the holding plate upward in the vertical direction,
wherein the elastic member is configured to urge the ejection tray upward in the vertical direction by raising the ejection tray, and
wherein the ejection tray is attached to the moving mechanism by a hinge structure that enables the ejection tray to be folded to a side on which an apparatus body is present.

9. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the hinge structure is fixed in place in a state where the ejection tray is folded to a side on which an apparatus body is present and in a state where the ejection tray is ready to receive a recording medium that is ejected.

Assignees

• Fuji Xerox Co Ltd

Inventors

• Seo Kyungin
• Kwon Soonyoung
• Park Hyunchan
• Choi Yongho

Classifications

• B65H2403/945

  Self-weight powered · CPC title

• B65H31/14

  Springs (fluid springs B65H31/16) · CPC title

• B65H2405/324

  between operative position and non operative position · CPC title

• B65H31/18

  Positively-acting mechanical devices · CPC title

• B65H2301/421

  Forming a pile · CPC title