JPH02221031A - Paper feed cassette holding structure of paper feed device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a holding structure for a paper feed cassette that is detachably held in a paper feed section of a device main body of a copying machine, printer, etc. equipped with an electrophotographic section. .

(Prior Art) For example, copying machines have traditionally had a paper cassette holding structure that holds a paper cassette that stores sheet-like paper (transfer paper) inside the copying machine body in a detachable manner. Such paper feed cassettes are usually provided in multiple stages.

When multiple stages are installed in this way, the paper feed cassettes for each stage can be attached to the copying machine body using The cassette receivers, whose fitting portions are fixed to the front and rear side plates of the paper feeding section of the main body, are respectively fitted to the bases and positioned.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in an apparatus such as a copying machine that is equipped with an electrophotographic section, as shown in FIG. The center position of the transfer paper P in the direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction of the arrow A [CL 1 is originally the original image on the contact glass 8 formed on the photoreceptor drum 3 through the lens 2 of the optical system. The center position C of the electrostatic latent image area (image area) a corresponding to
Ideally, the paper feed cassette 1 should match Lz, but if the cassette holders 4 and 5 are fixed to the front and rear side plates 6 and 7 of the copying machine body, Since the movement cannot be adjusted, the position of the paper P fed from the paper cassette 1 in the direction of arrow B is determined by the positions of the paper cassette 1, the cassette holder, the stands 4 and 5, and the side plate 6 of the copying machine main body.
This is limited only by the dimensional tolerance of each component such as 7, etc., and may cause misalignment with respect to the electrostatic latent image area a on the photoreceptor drum 3.

If the discrepancy caused in this way is large,
There is a large deviation between the center CLz of the image and the center CL1 of the paper (
(usually called lateral registration misalignment), one edge of the paper becomes blank (no image is formed), and the other edge becomes cut off, causing inconvenience.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to prevent white spots and image cuts from occurring on paper due to lateral registration deviation.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a paper feed cassette that is detachable from an apparatus main body equipped with an electrophotographic section and that holds paper stored therein so as to be able to feed the paper into the apparatus main body. In the paper device, at least one of the paper feed cassette or the device main body is provided with a paper feed position fine adjustment means for finely adjusting the mounting position of the paper feed cassette relative to the device main body in a direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction. It is.

[For production]

According to the paper feed cassette holding structure of the paper feed device configured in this way, even if the paper feed cassette is installed misaligned with respect to the main body of the device due to variations in parts, etc., the paper feed cassette will remain at the paper feed position slightly. Since the adjustment means can finely adjust the mounting position in the direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction, the center of the paper fed from the paper feeding cassette can be aligned with the center of the image in the electrophotographic section.

White spots and image cuts no longer occur on paper.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a detailed explanation will be given based on one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a case where the paper feed cassette holding structure according to the present invention is applied to a copying machine, showing the paper feed cassette and the photosensitive drum in relation to their positions in the paper width direction, and FIG. 2 is a similar diagram. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the paper feed cassette is attached to the main body of the copying machine.

As shown in FIG. 2, this paper feed cassette holding structure includes a paper feed force cell 1-11 of a paper feed device 10, and a photosensitive drum 12 (FIG. 1) constituting an electrophotographic section, which will be described in detail later. When the paper feed cassette 11 is installed, the transfer paper P (paper) stored inside the copying machine main body 13 is held detachably in the direction of arrow C. Enable to send within.

The holding of the paper feed cassette 11 by the copying machine main body 13 is as follows:
This is done by a front cassette holder 14, a movable holder 15, etc., which are arranged in the main body 13 of the copying machine in the front and rear directions with respect to the operation surface of the copying machine.
As shown in the figure, the front side plate is fixed with screws or the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the movable pedestal 15 has through holes 15a in the horizontal direction at intervals in the vertical direction.

15b, and each through hole 15a thereof.

15b is fitted into the guide pins 19 and 19 fixed in the horizontal direction at intervals of one day on the rear cassette holder so as to be movable in the direction of arrow E, and then the cassette holder is screwed onto the rear side plate 17. It is fixed by

Furthermore, as clearly shown in FIG.
d, and by screwing setscrews 21 and 21 thereon, the movable pedestal 15 can be moved and fixed at any position in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 3.

Then, a paper feed cassette 11 is placed on the upper end of the movable cradle 15.
In addition to forming an arcuate protrusion 15e that engages with and positions the engaging portion 2B, which will be described later, and as shown in FIG.
An arcuate protrusion 14a for positioning the paper feed cassette 11 in the direction of arrow C is formed at a position r corresponding to 5e.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed cassette 11.

The installation positions of a pair of side fences 25 and 24 that regulate the position of both sides of the transfer paper P and an end fence 25 that regulates the position of the rear part of the transfer paper P are moved so that they can accommodate different paper sizes. It can be mounted with screws (see Figure 1), and there are protruding engaging parts 28 on both external sides.
．． 27 are protruding from each.

The planar portions 26b, 27a (see also FIGS. 3 and 4) on the distal end side of each of the protruding engagement portions 26, 27 are
When the paper cassette shown in Figure 2 is installed, the front cassette holder 1
4 and rear cassette pedestal 18, and are held in contact with the lower surfaces of locking members 28 and 29 that are integrally provided on the inner surfaces of the rear cassette holder 18, respectively.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, an engaging portion 2B having an arcuate recessed fit shape corresponding to the arcuate protrusion 15e of the movable pedestal 15 is provided on the sheet feeding upstream side of the flat portion 28b of the protruding engaging portion 26. , as well as an overhanging engaging portion 27 as shown in FIG.
An engaging portion 27b having an arcuate recessed fit shape into which the arcuate protrusion L4a of the front cassette pedestal 14 is fitted is formed on the side corresponding to the engaging portion 26a.

Since this paper feed cassette holding structure is configured in this way, the paper feed cassette 11 can be attached to the set screw 21 shown in FIG.
When loosened and moved in the direction of arrow E, the overhanging engagement portion 27
side moves relative to the front cassette pedestal 14, and the projecting engagement portion 2nd side moves integrally with the movable pedestal 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, a paper feed roller 31 is rotatably supported in the L portion of the paper feed cassette 11 on the paper delivery end side in the direction of the arrow.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the movable cradle 15, the cassette pedestal 18 to which the guide pin 1 is attached, and the set screw 21 are arranged perpendicularly to the paper feeding direction of the paper feed cassette 11 with respect to the copying machine main body 13 as shown in FIG. This corresponds to a paper delivery position fine adjustment means for finely adjusting the mounting position in the direction of arrow E.

Next, the inside of the copying machine main body 13 will be explained using FIG.

In this copying machine, when a document is set on a contact glass 32 provided on the top surface of a copying machine main body 13 and copying is started, the document is illuminated by an illumination lamp 33, and the reflected light is reflected by an optical system 34. Each mirror and lens 4
5, the photosensitive drum 12 is exposed to light to form an electrostatic latent image on its surface, which is developed by toner in a developing section 36 to become a visible image.

On the other hand, the transfer paper P in the paper feed cassette 11 is sent out by a paper feed roller 31 rotating in the direction of the arrow, and is sent to the photoreceptor drum 12 at a predetermined timing by the registration roller 30, and then transferred to the transfer/separation charger. The visible image on the photosensitive drum 12 is transferred and separated by the transfer device 37, and sent to the fixing section 3 by the conveying device 38, where it is fixed and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 41 outside the machine.

After the transfer, the remaining toner on the photosensitive drum 12 is removed by the cleaning section 42, the residual potential is removed by the static eliminating section 43, and the photosensitive drum 12 is charged again by the charging charger 44 in preparation for the next exposure.

By the way, in a copying machine equipped with an electrophotographic section constituted by the photoreceptor drum 12 and the like, the paper feed cassette 1
If there is a dimensional tolerance of each part related to installation on the copying machine main body 1'5 (Fig. 5) of No. 1, or if the assembly position when assembling the parts is biased to one side, please refer to Fig. 1 (Explanation). (The upper photosensitive drum 12 is shown above the paper feed cassette 11 in relation to its position in the width direction of the paper.) As shown in FIG. , the photosensitive drum 1 through the lens 45 (FIG. 5) of the optical system 34.
This results in a large deviation (lateral registration deviation) ρ from the center position CL4 of the electrostatic latent image area (image area) a formed on 2.

In such a state, for example, when an image is formed up to the vicinity of both corners acl and aQ2 of the electrostatic latent image area in FIG. 1, if the image is transferred to the transfer paper P, one end of the transfer paper P White spots (no image is formed) are formed on the Pc1 side, and images are cut off on the opposite end Pc2 side, which causes inconvenience.

However, according to this embodiment, the center position CL3 of the transfer paper P and the electrostatic latent image area a on the photoreceptor drum 12 are
If the center position CL4 is misaligned, set screw 2
1 (FIG. 2) and move the paper feed cassette 11 in the direction of the arrow E1 in FIG. Since the overhanging engagement portion 26 side is integrated with the movable pedestal 15 and guided by the guide pin 19 and easily moves in the direction of the arrow E1, the center positions CL3 and CL4 can be aligned.

Therefore, if the set screw 21 is tightened in this state to fix the position of the paper feed cassette 11, the above-mentioned white spots and image cuts will not occur at the edges of the transfer paper P.

Note that the paper feed position fine adjustment means for finely adjusting the mounting position of the paper feed cassette in the direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction with respect to the main body of the apparatus may be provided on the paper feed cassette side, contrary to the above embodiment. , even if it is provided in both the paper feed cassette and the main body of the device.

The same effects as in the above embodiment can be achieved.

The embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a copying machine have been described above, but the present invention can be similarly applied to paper feeding devices of other image forming apparatuses such as printers.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the paper feeding cassette holding structure of the paper feeding device according to the present invention, even if horizontal registration deviation occurs, it can be corrected by adjustment, so that white spots and image cuts at the edges of the paper can be corrected. It will no longer occur.

In addition, the installation position of the paper feed cassette relative to the main body of the device can be finely adjusted and fixed at an accurate position using the paper feed position fine adjustment means, so even if the paper feed cassette is repeatedly attached and detached due to paper replenishment, etc. The correct mounting position can be maintained at all times.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, even in a paper feeding device in which paper feeding cassettes are provided in multiple stages, the mounting position of the paper feeding cassette relative to the main body of the device can be adjusted for each stage. , 1! lEarnings and service maintenance become easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the case where the paper feed cassette holding structure according to the present invention is applied to a copying machine, showing the paper feed cassette and the photosensitive drum in relation to their positions in the width direction of the paper, and Fig. 2 is the same. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the paper feed cassette mounted on the main body of the copying machine; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the paper feed position fine m11 means of the paper feed cassette and the engaging part to the apparatus main body on the opposite side, FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the internal structure of the copying machine main body, and FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a problem caused by a misalignment between a sheet of paper fed from a paper cassette of a copying machine and an electrostatic latent image area on a photoreceptor drum. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Paper feed device 11...Paper feed cassette 12...Photoconductor drum 13...Copier main body (apparatus main body) 14...Front cassette holder 15...Movable holder 1
8... Rear cassette holder 19... Guide pin 2
1... Set screw 26.27... Overhanging engagement part 34... Optical system P.
・Transfer paper (paper)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A paper feeding device having a paper feeding cassette which is detachably attached to an apparatus main body including an electrophotographic section and holds paper stored therein so as to be able to be fed into the apparatus main body, A paper feed position fine adjustment means for finely adjusting the mounting position of the paper feed cassette relative to the apparatus main body in a direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction is provided in at least one of the paper feed cassette or the apparatus main body. Paper cassette holding structure.