Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a body having a discharged paper stacking unit, a detection unit for detecting whether a paper is discharged or not, a paper alignment unit, and a controller for controlling the paper alignment unit according to a signal output from the detection unit. The paper alignment unit compresses the top surface of a paper discharge to the discharged paper stacking unit, so as to make the discharged paper closely contact the discharged paper stacking unit or a paper previously discharged to the discharged paper stacking unit, thereby aligning the discharged paper.

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a discharged paper stacking unit;    a detection unit for detecting whether a paper is discharged;    a paper alignment unit for compressing the top surface of a paper discharged to the discharged paper stacking unit, so as to make the discharged paper closely contact the discharged paper stacking unit or a paper previously discharged to the discharged paper stacking unit, thereby aligning the discharged paper; and    a controller for controlling the paper alignment unit according to a signal output from the detection unit.    
   
   
       2 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the paper alignment unit comprises: 
 a driving source operated according to a signal output from the detection unit;    a rotary shaft connected with the driving source; and    a lever member secured to the rotary shaft, the lever member rotating 360 degrees as the rotary shaft rotates.    
   
   
       3 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the lever member comprises a resilient material.  
   
   
       4 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the lever member comprises rubber.  
   
   
       5 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the lever member comprises a curved portion which contacts the paper.  
   
   
       6 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the lever member comprises a straight portion which contacts the paper.  
   
   
       7 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a detection unit for detecting the discharge of paper onto a discharged paper stacking unit;    a paper alignment unit for pressing a paper discharged to the discharged paper stacking unit into contact with the discharged paper stacking unit or a paper previously discharged to the discharged paper stacking unit; and    a controller for controlling the paper alignment unit according to a signal output from the detection unit.    
   
   
       8 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the paper alignment unit comprises: 
 a driving source operated according to a signal output from the detection unit;    a rotary shaft connected with the driving source; and    a lever member secured to the rotary shaft, the lever member rotating 360 degrees as the rotary shaft rotates.    
   
   
       9 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the lever member comprises a resilient material.  
   
   
       10 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the lever member comprises rubber.  
   
   
       11 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the lever member comprises a curved portion which contacts the paper.  
   
   
       12 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the lever member comprises a straight portion which contacts the paper.  
   
   
       13 . A paper alignment unit for an image forming apparatus, comprising: 
 a driving source operated according to a signal output from a detection unit that detects the discharge of paper from the image forming apparatus;    a rotary shaft connected with the driving source; and    a lever member secured to the rotary shaft, the lever member rotating 360 degrees as the rotary shaft rotates so that it presses a paper discharged from the image forming apparatus into contact with a discharged paper stacking unit or a paper previously discharged to the discharged paper stacking unit.    
   
   
       14 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the lever member comprises a resilient material.  
   
   
       15 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the lever member comprises rubber.  
   
   
       16 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the lever member comprises a curved portion which contacts the paper.  
   
   
       17 . An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the lever member comprises a straight portion which contacts the paper.