JPH0324362Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic paper loading mechanism for an electrophotographic printing device.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional paper automatic loading mechanism. In an electrophotographic printing device that uses a continuous form 1, the image on the photosensitive drum 2 is transferred to the form 1, so the photosensitive drum 2 and the form 1 are in contact at one point, and the continuous form 1 before and after the transfer section 3 is They are configured to be located in the same direction of the printing device as viewed from the photosensitive drum 2. For this reason, a paper drive mechanism section 6 having a transfer section 3 and paper feeding mechanisms 4 and 5 located before and after the transfer section 3 is provided.
It is necessary to provide an operation space 8 between the paper feeding mechanism 4 and the fixing section 7 located at the subsequent stage for attaching the leading edge of the form to the paper feed mechanism 4. It has become an important issue to transfer the starting edge 9 of the form from the paper drive mechanism section 6 to the fixing section 7 without damaging the document 8. In the conventional paper automatic loading mechanism, a paper guide 12 is provided that connects the paper buffer 10 of the paper drive mechanism section 6 and the paper receiving section 11 on the fixing section 7 side to transfer the starting edge 9 of the form. This is not a preferable method because it not only narrows the operation space 8 but also impairs safety during operation.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to simplify the automatic paper loading mechanism of this type of electrophotographic printing apparatus and make it highly reliable.

This invention focuses on the fact that when transferring documents between the paper drive mechanism section and the fixing section, it is necessary to make the positional relationship between the paper buffer of the paper drive mechanism section and the paper receiving section of the fixing section appropriate. The positional relationship between the rotation center of the mechanical section, the paper buffer, and the paper receiving section of the fixing section has been devised.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

A rotation center 21 at one end of a frame 20 that holds the paper feed mechanisms 4 and 5a and the paper buffer 10a is provided, and is located at a position separated by an operation space 8 necessary for attaching the starting end 9 of the continuous form 1 to the paper feed mechanism 4. A fixing section 7 is provided on the paper buffer 10a side of the fixing section 7, and a paper receiving section 11 is provided on the paper buffer 10a side of the fixing section 7.

If the paper feed mechanism 4 is attached to the starting edge 9 of the continuous form 1 and the paper feeding mechanisms 4 and 5a are driven by a drive section (not shown), the starting edge 9 of the continuous form 1 is fed to the paper buffer 10a via the paper guide 13, the transfer section 3, and the paper feeding mechanism 5a. . At this time, the center of rotation 21
The paper drive mechanism section 6 rotates around the rotation drive section 2.
2, the paper feed mechanism 5a moves to the position 5b, the paper buffer 10a moves to the position 10b, and the starting edge 9 of the form passes through the paper receiving part 11 to the fixing part 7.
will be loaded automatically.

According to the present invention, the reliability of this type of printing apparatus can be improved because it is possible to automatically load sheets using a simple method without impairing the operation space for loading the leading edge of a form.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a conventional example, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 4, 5, 5a, 5b are paper feed mechanisms, 6 is a paper drive mechanism section, 10, 10a, 10b
2 is a paper buffer, 20 is a frame, 21 is a rotation center, and 22 is a rotation drive unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A paper drive mechanism section includes at least a pair of paper feed mechanisms that drive continuous forms, a paper buffer located downstream of the paper feed mechanism in the paper running direction, and a frame that holds these paper feed mechanisms and the paper buffer. In an electrophotographic printing apparatus in which a starting edge of a continuous form attached to the paper feed mechanism at the frontmost stage with respect to the direction is loaded through the paper buffer to a fixing unit located at a rear stage of the paper buffer, the paper feed mechanism is mounted on the frame. A rotational drive mechanism is provided to rotate the frame toward the fixing unit in conjunction with the paper buffer, and to form a positional relationship between the paper buffer and the fixing unit that does not impede the transfer of the leading edge of the form. Automatic loading mechanism.