SHEET DISCHARGE MECHANISM

摘要

A sheet discharge mechanism according to an embodiment includes a tray with a loading surface on which discharged sheets are loaded. An alignment plate extends from a downstream side of the loading surface in a sheet discharge direction. An alignment roller contacts an uppermost sheet loaded on the loading surface at a predetermined position, and rotates while contacting the uppermost sheet to align the sheets against the alignment plate. A support mechanism elastically supports the tray so that at least a portion of the tray around the predetermined position moves downward in accordance with an increase in weight of sheets loaded on the loading surface. A height adjustment mechanism maintains a minimum height of sheets when the portion of the tray around the predetermined position moves downward by a predetermined distance or more in accordance with the increase in weight of sheets loaded on the loading surface.

主权项

1. A sheet discharge mechanism, comprising:
a tray including a loading surface on which discharged sheets are loaded; an alignment plate extending from a downstream side of the loading surface in a sheet discharge direction; an alignment roller configured to contact an uppermost sheet loaded on the loading surface at a predetermined position, and to rotate while contacting the uppermost sheet to align the sheets against the alignment plate; a support mechanism elastically supporting the tray so that at least a portion of the tray around the predetermined position moves downward in accordance with an increase in weight of sheets loaded on the loading surface; a height adjustment mechanism configured to maintain a minimum height of sheets loaded on the loading surface in the predetermined position such that the alignment roller contacts the uppermost sheet loaded on the loading surface when the portion of the tray around the predetermined position moves downward by at least a predetermined distance in accordance with the increase in weight of sheets loaded on the loading surface; and a bottom plate supporting the tray, the tray being movable upward and downward relative to the bottom plate, wherein the height adjustment mechanism includes a push-up stay having an upper end disposed in portion of the loading surface and a lower end configured to contact a top of the bottom plate, and the upper end of the push-up stay supports sheets loaded on the loading surface at the minimum height when the portion of the tray around the predetermined position moves downward by the predetermined distance or more.