JPH0441819B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drive device for an optional mechanism coupled to a main body of a copying machine or the like.

Conventionally, when an optional mechanism such as an optional tray is additionally connected to a copying machine, etc., a dedicated drive motor is provided in the optional mechanism as a driving method for the optional mechanism. The price of the mechanism will increase significantly. In addition, some copying machines used a drive source installed in the main body to drive the optional mechanism, but conventional drive power transmission mechanisms for this purpose had transmission members such as gears protruding from the main body, making it safe. There was a problem of damage to the top or gear, and all of them had many drawbacks such as being complicated and requiring a long time to install.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above and to provide a very simple and inexpensive drive device for an optional mechanism.

Structure of the Invention According to the present invention, in an optional mechanism drive device that is provided on the main body side of a copying machine and serves as a drive source for an optional mechanism coupled to the main body, when the optional mechanism is not coupled, An optional mechanism drive attached to the main body of a copying machine so as to be movable between a recessed position and a position protruding from the main body of the copying machine to engage with an input gear of the optional mechanism when the optional mechanism is coupled. a gear for driving the optional mechanism, and a pressing/covering member attached to the main body of the copying machine, the pressing/covering member being a cover portion for holding the optional mechanism driving gear in a position recessed within the main body of the copying machine, etc. and an elastic pressing portion for pressing the optional mechanism driving gear against the input gear with an appropriate pressure when the optional mechanism driving gear is in a position protruding from the main body of the copying machine to engage with the input gear. At the same time, the attachment state is variable so that either the cover part or the elastic pressing part can be used.

Embodiments Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments of the present invention based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a state in which an optional mechanism is attached to a main body of a copying machine to which an optional mechanism drive device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, an option mechanism 2 is attached to a copying machine main body 1, and in this example, the number of cassette trays is increased by two due to the addition of the option, making a total of three trays. In FIG. 1, reference numbers 3 and 4 indicate feed rollers in the optional mechanism 2, and reference number 5 indicates a photosensitive drum in the main body 1 of the copying machine.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the driving connection portion from the copying machine main body 1 to the optional mechanism 2 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the copying machine main body 1 is provided with an option drive gear 7 that constitutes a part of an option mechanism drive device as an embodiment of the present invention. 7 is fixed to a shaft 6 inside the copying machine main body 1 that rotates constantly or at appropriate timing during the operation of the copying machine. This option drive gear 7 is attached to the free end of a link 8 that freely rotates around the shaft 6, and the position in the copying machine main body 1 when the option mechanism 2 is not connected is different from the position when the option mechanism 2 is connected. The idler gear 9 is movable between the input gear of the optional mechanism and the engaging position.
It engages with and transmits rotational force to it. In this embodiment, the option drive gear 7 and the idler gear 9 constitute an option mechanism drive gear.
When the optional mechanism 2 is connected, the idler gear 9 protrudes from the main body 1 and enters the optional mechanism 2 because the link 8 is pressed and fixed by the elastic pressing part 13B of the pressing/covering member 13. It engages with the optional input gear 10 provided in the mechanism 2, transmits rotational force to the optional input gear 10, and directly operates as a drive gear as a drive source of the optional mechanism, and is driven from the main body 1. Force is transmitted. Thus, when input gear 10 is rotated, clutches 11 and 12 are rotated via a suitable transmission mechanism 10A such as a gear or chain. When these clutches 11 and 12 are turned on at proper timing, the feed rollers 3 and 4 (the first
(see figure) is rotated, and the paper in the cassette of the optional mechanism 2 is conveyed into the main body 1 of the copying machine. At this time, as described above, the link 8 is always pressed toward the input gear 10 by the elastic pressing portion 13B of the pressing/covering member 13 that constitutes a part of the optional mechanism drive device of this embodiment. Since the idler gear 9 serving as a driving gear is pressed into engagement with the input gear 10 with appropriate pressure, driving force can be reliably transmitted.

The configuration of such an optional mechanism drive device will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

FIG. 3 shows, in partial cross section, the state of the optional mechanism driving device when the optional mechanism 2 is not attached to the copying machine main body 1. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the portion shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pressing and covering member 13
is a set screw 14 attached to the frame 15 of the copying machine body 1.
The position is fixed by the press and cover member 1.
The cover portion 13A of the frame 15 has an opening 1 of the frame 15.
6 is closed. The idler gear 9 is fixed in position on the cover portion 13A of the press/cover member 13, and idles in the illustrated state when the copying machine is in operation. Therefore, the idler gear 9 serving as a driving gear is held at a position within the copying machine main body 1 by the cover portion 13A of the pressing/covering member 13 without protruding outside the main body.

FIG. 5 shows a partially cross-sectional view of the optional mechanism drive device when the optional mechanism 2 is connected to the copying machine main body 1, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the portion shown in the figure. Figures 3 and 4
In order to change from the uncoupled state with the optional mechanism shown in the figure to the coupled state with the optional mechanism shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, first stop the pressing/covering member 13 in the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Remove the set screw 14 located in the
Once the pressing/covering member 13 is removed from the frame 15, the link 8 and the idler gear 9 are attached to the frame 15.
is dropped downward through the opening 16 of the main body, and the cover member 1 is pressed again.
3 is rotated 180 degrees from the installed state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, that is, in a state in which the elastic pressing portion 13B presses the link 8 toward the optional input gear 10, attach the frame with the set screw 14. 1
Fixed at 5. As a result, the idler gear 9 becomes
The rotational force of the optional drive gear 7 is pressed into engagement with the input gear 10 at an appropriate pressure.
The signal is reliably transmitted to the optional input gear 10 via the idler gear 9.

Effects of the Invention Since the optional mechanism drive device according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, it has the following effects.

(a) When the optional mechanism is not coupled, the gear for driving the optional mechanism can be hidden inside the main body.

(b) When the optional mechanism is connected, the gear for driving the optional mechanism can be protruded from the main body and pressed into engagement with the optional input gear;
The optional input gear does not need to be provided protruding outside the optional mechanism.

(c) A cover member that holds the gear for driving the optional mechanism in a position inside the main body when the optional mechanism is not coupled, and a cover member that holds the gear for driving the optional mechanism in a position outside the main body that engages with the input gear of the optional mechanism when the optional mechanism is coupled. The elastic pressing member that presses and engages the position is integrated to form a pressing and cover member, and the attachment state is variable so that either the cover part or the elastic pressing part can be used, so that two parts can be used with one part. In addition, there is no need to discard the cover member and prepare an elastic pressing member as a new additional part in order to attach the optional mechanism to the main body.

(d) Since it is only necessary to change the mounting state of the press/cover member, when attaching the optional mechanism to the main body, it becomes very easy to set the state in which the driving force can be transmitted from the main body to the optional mechanism.

(e) According to the present invention, the optional mechanism can be driven by a drive source provided in the main body of a copying machine, etc., and when the optional mechanism is not coupled, the gear for driving the optional mechanism can be housed implicitly in the main body. Since it does not protrude outside and the optional input gear does not need to be provided protruding outside the optional mechanism, it is safe and there is no problem of gear damage. Further, the driving force transmission mechanism is simple, and the time required for attaching the optional mechanism can be shortened.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an optional mechanism is attached to the main body of a copying machine to which a drive device for an optional mechanism is applied as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the driving connection part between the main body and the optional mechanism.
A partial sectional view showing the state of the drive device for the optional mechanism when the optional mechanism is not attached to the copying machine main body, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the portion shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state of the optional mechanism drive device when it is coupled to the drive device, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the portion shown in FIG. 5. 1... Copying machine main body, 2... Optional mechanism,
3, 4... Conveyance roller, 5... Photosensitive drum, 6...
...Shaft, 7...Optional drive gear, 8...
... Link, 9 ... Idler gear, 10 ... Optional input gear, 13 ... Pressing and cover member, 13A ... Cover part, 13B ... Elastic pressing part, 14 ... Set screw, 15 ... Frame, 16
……Aperture.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an optional mechanism drive device that is installed on the main body of a copying machine and serves as a drive source for an optional mechanism that is coupled to the main body, the position where the optional mechanism is recessed into the main body of the copying machine and the optional mechanism when the optional mechanism is not coupled is determined. An optional mechanism driving gear attached to the main body of the copying machine so that it can be moved between a position protruding from the main body of the copying machine to engage with the input gear of the optional mechanism when combined, and a gear for driving the optional mechanism attached to the main body of the copying machine etc. It is equipped with a press and cover member that can be attached, and the press and cover member is
a cover part for holding the optional mechanism driving gear in a position recessed into the main body of the copying machine, etc.; and a cover part for holding the optional mechanism driving gear in a position protruding from the main body of the copying machine etc. so as to engage with the input gear. It is characterized by having an elastic pressing part for pressing the optional mechanism driving gear with an appropriate pressure on the input gear at a certain time, and changing the mounting state so that either the cover part or the elastic pressing part is used. Drive device for optional mechanism.