Discharged sheet aligning device and image erasing apparatus including the same

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a image erasing apparatus includes a paper feeding section configured to feed a sheet having a erasable image, a erasing section configured to erase the image, a paper discharge section including a paper discharge member configured to discharge, downstream in a conveying path of the erasing section, the sheet from which the image is erased and a paper discharge tray on which the discharged sheet is stacked, and a longitudinal alignment plate pivotably provided above the paper discharge tray and configured to align the leading end of the sheet stacked on the paper discharge tray.

1 . An erasing apparatus comprising:
 a paper feeding section configured to feed a sheet having a erasable image;   a erasing section configured to erase the image;   a paper discharge section including:
 a paper discharge member configured to discharge, downstream in a conveying path of the erasing section, the sheet from which the image is erased; and 
 a paper discharge tray on which the discharged sheet is stacked; and 
   a longitudinal alignment plate pivotably provided above the paper discharge tray and configured to align a leading end of the sheet stacked on the paper discharge tray.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the paper discharge section includes an aligning roller configured to bring the leading end of the sheet into contact with an inner wall of a distal end of the longitudinal alignment plate. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the distal end of the longitudinal alignment plate includes an elastic layer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the paper discharge tray includes:
 a stacking plate on which the sheet is stacked; and   an elastic body configured to urge the stacking plate upward.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the stacking plate is provided horizontally. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the longitudinal alignment plate includes guides on both side surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the guides are molded integrally with the longitudinal alignment plate. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal alignment plate aligns the leading end of the sheet in cooperation with the paper discharge tray. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the paper discharge section includes an aligning roller configured to bring the leading end of the sheet into contact with at least one of an inner wall of a distal end of the paper discharge tray and an inner wall of a distal end of the longitudinal alignment plate. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the inner wall of the distal end of the paper discharge tray and the inner wall of the distal end of the longitudinal alignment plate include elastic layers. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the paper discharge tray includes:
 a stacking plate on which the sheet is stacked; and   an elastic body configured to urge the stacking plate upward.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the elastic body is provided upstream in a conveying direction of the paper discharge tray, and   the stacking plate inclines downstream in the conveying direction.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the distal end of the longitudinal alignment plate is bent substantially vertically and can come into contact with the distal end of the paper discharge tray. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the longitudinal alignment plate is extensible in a sheet conveying direction. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the longitudinal alignment plate includes:
 a first alignment plate including first engaging sections and a bent section bent substantially vertically; and   a second alignment plate including, predetermined interval in the conveying direction, a plurality of second engaging sections configured to engage with the first engaging sections.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the bent section and the distal end of the paper discharge tray mesh with each other in a comb teeth shape. 
     
     
         17 . A discharged sheet aligning method comprising:
 feeding a sheet having a erasable image;   erasing the image of the fed sheet with a erasing section;   discharging and stacking, downstream in a conveying path of the erasing section, the sheet from which the image is erased onto a paper discharge tray; and   a longitudinal alignment plate aligning a leading end of the sheet stacked on the paper discharge tray, the longitudinal alignment plate being pivotably provided above the paper discharge tray.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the longitudinal alignment plate aligns the leading end of the sheet in cooperation with a distal end of the paper discharge tray. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the longitudinal alignment plate is extensible in a sheet conveying direction. 
     
     
         20 . A discharged sheet aligning device comprising:
 a paper discharge section including:
 a paper discharge member configured to discharge a sheet; and 
 a paper discharge tray on which the sheet discharged by the paper discharge member is stacked; and 
   a longitudinal alignment plate pivotably provided above the paper discharge tray and configured to align a leading end of the sheet stacked on the paper discharge tray.