JPH0420846Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial application field This invention relates to a paper feed cassette used in office machines such as printers and copying machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Office machines are generally equipped with a detector that detects paper being conveyed to a printing section.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, since the above-mentioned detector cannot detect the remaining amount of paper, it is inconvenient that the work may run out and the work must be interrupted.

Means to Solve the Problem A cassette case is provided, which is completely housed in a cassette storage section with a front opening formed in the main body that houses a printing unit and a paper feed roller, and is detachably attached to the cassette case. A press plate on which a sheet of paper is placed is biased toward the paper feed roller and is displaceably provided, a window is formed on the front surface of the cassette case that can be seen from the outside even when installed, and a front edge of the press plate is provided. A protruding piece was formed to protrude from the window.

Function The press plate that supports a large number of sheets of paper and presses the top layer of paper against the paper feed roller moves toward the paper feed roller as the number of sheets decreases, but the entire press is stored in the main body. Even in the case of a cassette case, by forming a window on the front surface and protruding the protruding piece of the pressing plate, the movement status of the pressing plate can be clearly seen. Even with this type of paper, it is possible to reliably know the remaining amount of paper.

Embodiment An embodiment of this invention will be described based on the drawings. Although only a portion is shown, 1 is a main body of an electrophotographic printer, and this main body 1 has a printing section 2 and a paper feed roller 3 built therein. The printing section 2 includes a photosensitive drum 4 connected to a motor (not shown), a charging charger 5 that forms a charged layer on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4, and a laser beam irradiated onto the charged layer to form an electrostatic latent image. an exposure unit (not shown) that forms an electrostatic latent image, a developing device 6 that develops an electrostatic latent image, and a transfer charger 7 that transfers the developed image on the photosensitive drum 4 to paper.
, a lamp 8 that erases the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4 by irradiating it with light, and a cleaning device 9 that wipes off residual toner on the photosensitive drum 4 . Furthermore, a fixing device (not shown) for fixing the transferred image on the paper that has passed through the transfer charger 7 is built in the back of the printing section 2 .

Further, the main body 1 is formed with a cassette storage section 10 with a front opening, and a front cover 11 is attached. This cassette cover 1
1 includes a plurality of ribs 1 having arcuate guide surfaces 12.
3 and a manual feed guide surface 14 into which sheets are inserted one by one, and a pinch roller 15 is rotatably attached. The main body 1 includes a paper guide plate 16 located above the extended surface of the manual feed guide surface 14, and a paper guide plate 17 that faces the paper guide plate 16 and the guide surface 12 with a slight gap. Further, a feed roller 18 with which the pinch roller 15 comes into contact is connected to a motor (not shown).

Next, a cassette case 19 with an open top is stored in the cassette storage section 10 so as to be freely drawn out. The cassette case 19 is provided with a pressing plate 21 urged upward by a spring 20 and a pair of left and right levers 22. The pressing plate 21 rotates around the holes 23 formed on both sides of the cassette case 19 by inserting protrusions formed on both sides of the rear end into holes 23 formed on both sides of the cassette case 19. The lever 22 has a claw portion 24 that contacts both corners of the leading edge of the paper.
It is rotatably held on both sides of the cassette case 19 by pins 25. Furthermore, a handle 26 and a vertically elongated window 27 are formed on the front surface of the cassette case 19, and a label 28 having a scale along the window 27 is attached. A protruding piece 29 protruding from the window 27 is provided at the front edge of the pressing plate 19.
are integrally formed.

In such a configuration, the cassette case 19
The paper 30 stored in the paper 30 is pressed upward by the pressing plate 21. Then, the top layer of paper 30 in the cassette case 19 is pulled out by one rotation of the paper feed roller 3, and is further nipped between the feed roller 18 and the pinch roller 15 and supplied to the printing section 2. When the number of sheets 30 in the cassette case 19 is large, the pressing plate 21 is located relatively downward, but as the number of remaining sheets 30 decreases, it is displaced upward. Therefore, by looking at the position of the protrusion 29 corresponding to the scale on the label 28, the remaining amount of paper 30 can be known, and it is possible to avoid a situation where the paper 30 runs out during printing.

Effects of the invention As mentioned above, this invention includes a cassette case that is completely housed in a cassette storage section with a front opening formed in the main body that houses the printing section and the paper feed roller, and is detachably attached to the cassette case. A pressing plate for placing a large number of sheets of paper in the case is provided so as to be biased toward the paper feed roller and can be freely displaced. A window is formed on the front surface of the cassette case that can be seen from the outside even when the cassette case is installed, and the pressing plate Since a protrusion protruding from the window is formed on the front edge of the press plate, which supports a large number of sheets of paper and presses the top layer of paper against the paper feed roller, the pressure plate can be used to feed paper as the number of sheets decreases. Although the cassette case moves in the direction of the rollers, it is possible to clearly see the movement status of the press plate by forming a window on the front side and protruding the protruding piece of the press plate, even if the case is entirely housed in the main body. As a result, the cassette case is embedded in the main body to improve the appearance, and even with this type, it is possible to reliably know the remaining amount of paper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing shows one embodiment of this invention.
The figure is an enlarged longitudinal sectional side view of the main parts, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cassette case. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Main body, 2...Printing section, 3...Paper feed roller, 10...Cassette storage section, 19...Cassette case, 21...Press plate, 22...Lever, 24
...Claw portion, 27...Window, 29...Protrusion piece.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A cassette case is provided, which is completely housed in a cassette storage section with a front opening formed in the main body that houses a printing section and a paper feed roller, and is removably attached to the cassette case, and a press plate on which a large number of sheets of paper is placed on the cassette case. is biased toward the paper feed roller side and provided so as to be freely displaceable;
A paper feed cassette characterized in that a window is formed on the front surface of the cassette case that can be seen from the outside even when mounted, and a protrusion protruding from the window is formed on the front edge of the press plate.