JPH0452193Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a multistage paper feeding device connected to a paper feeding section of a copying machine.

Prior Art When making continuous copies of a large number of sheets using a copying machine, if a paper feed cassette with a small capacity is used,
The copying machine must be replenished frequently, which is extremely troublesome.

As an improvement measure, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-42540 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 59-227635 propose storing a large number of copy sheets at once, and feeding the copy sheets one by one into the paper feed section of a copying machine. An automatic feeder device is specified.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the feeder device described above can only be connected to a copying machine, and two or more feeder devices of the same structure cannot be connected in series to feed paper. Regardless of the shape, as the number of copies increases, it becomes necessary to replenish the copying machine, and when supplying different sizes of copy paper, it is necessary to replenish the copy paper in the feeder device connected to the copy machine to the desired size. It is necessary to replace the copying machine with the copying machine, or to replace the feeder device connected to the copying machine with another feeder device containing the desired copy paper, which has the drawback of requiring time-consuming work.

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and is a multi-stage system that reduces the number of times copy paper is replenished and can quickly supply copy paper to the paper feed section of a copying machine when using different sizes of copy paper. The purpose is to provide a paper feeding device.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a paper feeding device for a copying machine that can be freely inserted into and removed from a paper feeding section of a main body of a copying machine, the paper feeding device having a lifting means. A paper storage section, a conveyance drive means for supplying the copy paper stored in the copy paper storage section to a paper feed section, a connection means for connecting a subsequent paper feed device, and a drive control means for controlling the conveyance drive means. and the connecting means has a connecting recess formed above the copy paper storage section and an insertion head that can be connected to the recess, and the connecting means has a connecting recess formed above the copy paper storage section, and an insertion head connectable to the recess, and both left and right ends of the rear end opening of the recess. The second insertion head is inserted into the guide hole extending forward and downward from the insertion head.
A driven roller is inserted therein, and the conveyance driving means includes a first paper feed roller that feeds out the copy paper at the top of the copy paper storage section, and a first feed roller that feeds the fed copy paper forward of this roller. a second paper feed roller that receives the paper between the driven roller and the first paper feed roller;
A first copy paper transport path provided between a paper feed roller and a second paper feed roller, a second copy paper transport path following the first copy paper transport path, and a second copy paper transport path provided within the insertion head for the delivery. a paper guide plate for feeding the copied paper further forward; a spring for urging the paper guide plate upward; a second driven roller for feeding the copy paper that has passed through the paper guide plate toward the copying machine main body; A third paper feed roller located above the first paper feed roller
The drive controller includes a paper feed roller and a third copy paper transport path provided between the third paper feed roller and the second paper feed roller, and the drive control means controls the first, second, and third paper feed rollers. The apparatus has an endless belt that interlocks and drives the first paper feed roller, and a paper feed clutch that blocks rotation of the first paper feed roller. If multiple similar devices can be connected in succession and paper is fed from the first paper feeding device,
The first paper feed roller, the second paper feed roller, and the copy machine paper feed roller provided on the copy machine main body side are driven, and the copy paper is urged upward by the first and second copy paper transport paths and the spring. When the paper is fed from the paper feeder at the rear stage, the rotation of the first paper feed roller at the front stage is blocked, and the first paper feed roller at the rear stage and the second paper feed roller at the rear stage are stopped. , the third paper feed roller at the rear stage, the second paper feed roller at the front stage, and the copying machine paper feed roller are driven, and the copy paper is transferred to the first and second copy paper conveyance paths at the rear stage by insertion of the insertion head. It is characterized in that it passes through a paper guide plate that is pressed downward by compressing a spring, the third and second copy paper transport paths in the preceding stage, and the paper guide plate.

Operation The transport drive means for the copy paper in the copy paper storage section of each stage is connected in series to the paper feed section of the copying machine main body, so the copy paper in the copy paper storage section of the later stage is transferred to the transport drive means of the previous stage. The copy paper is conveyed to the supply section of the copy paper main body via.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view showing a paper feeding device of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This paper feeding device can be roughly divided into elevating means 10
0, and the copy paper 10 stored in the copy paper storage section 200 is transferred to the copying machine main body 30.
Conveyance drive means 400 that supplies paper to the paper feed section 302 of No. 1
and a connecting means 6 for connecting the subsequent paper feeding device.
00, and a drive control means 500 for controlling the conveyance drive means 400. Details of each of these parts will be described below.

The copy paper storage section 200 includes a copy paper mounting table 201 inserted horizontally into the apparatus main body 700, and a movable roller 203 for lifting and lowering supported by a bracket 202 of this copy paper mounting table 201 is attached to the side of the apparatus main body 700. It is fitted into a vertical guide hole 701 provided in the. A plurality of wheels 702 are provided at the bottom of the device main body 700 for moving on the floor.

The elevating means 100 includes a reversible motor 101 provided at the bottom of the device main body 700, a worm gear mechanism 102 that reduces the rotation speed of the reversible motor 101, a pair of upper and lower fixed sprockets 103, 104, and two movable motors provided coaxially with the movable roller 203. Sprocket 105,
106 and a chain 107 as a wrapped transmission body
It consists of

Thus, the fixed sprocket 104 on the lower side is provided on the output shaft of the worm gear mechanism 102. The chain 107 is wound from the fixed end 108 through one movable sprocket 105 to the fixed sprocket 103, and further from the fixed sprocket 103 to the fixed sprocket 104 and the other movable sprocket 106, and then wound to the fixed end 109. It's reached.

Therefore, in the illustrated case, when the fixed sprocket 104 is rotated counterclockwise by the reversible motor 101, the movable sprockets 105 and 106, that is, the copy paper table 201 are raised, and the reversible motor 10
Due to the reverse drive of 1, the copy paper mounting table 2 is
01 goes down.

The conveyance driving means 400 includes a first paper feed roller 401 disposed above the front end side of the copy paper mounting table 201, a second paper feed roller 402 disposed slightly above and in front of this, and this second paper feed roller 402. The first driven roller 403 is placed in pressure contact with the lower part of the paper storage section 200, and the third paper feed roller 40 is placed in a connecting recess 601 formed above the copy paper storage section 200.
4 and a copy paper conveyance path and paper guide plate 41 to be described later.
8. A second driven roller 422 is provided in front of the paper guide plate 418 and sends out the copy paper that has passed through the paper guide plate 418 toward the main body of the copying machine.

Therefore, a first copy paper conveyance path 405 is arranged between the first paper feed roller 401, the second paper feed roller 402, and the first driven roller 403, and the second paper feed roller 402 and the first driven roller A second copy paper conveyance path 406 is disposed in front of the copy paper conveyance path 403 , and its tip portion opens into the upper front surface 703 of the apparatus main body 700 . The downstream side of the third copy paper transport path 407 in the copy paper transport direction extending from the front portion of the third paper feed roller 404 is connected to the vicinity of the tip of the first copy paper transport path 405 .

Reference numeral 408 denotes an insertion head, and this insertion head 408 is attached to the arm 4 at the upper front side of the main body 700 of the apparatus.
Supported through 09. For details, see Arm 4
09 projects forward from a support shaft 410 provided on the device main body 700, and the lower protrusion 411 of the insertion head 408 is connected to a support shaft 412 supported by the arm 409.
is supported by The insertion head 408 is attached to the support shaft 41
When the paper is rotated by 0.412 degrees, the copying machine body 301 moves up and down when inserted into and removed from the set hole 303, depending on the inclination angle of the set hole 303 formed in the paper feed section 302 (horizontal state in the figure). It can be displaced and tilted.

Note that 413 is a stopper shaft provided on the device main body 700, 414 is a stopper shaft provided on the lower protrusion 411, and both stopper shafts 413 and 414 are connected to respective long holes 41 formed in the arm 409.
5,416, and this elongated hole 415,416
The permissible range of vertical displacement and tilting of the insertion head 408 is regulated within.

The front and back of the insertion head 408 are open. A copy paper guide plate 418 disposed inside the insertion head 408 is connected to the bottom of the head by a hinge 419 at its rear end so as to be vertically movable, and is biased upward by a compression spring 420. The tip of the copy paper guide plate 418 engages with a stopper 421 provided inside and above the insertion head 408. Near the tip of the copy paper guide plate 418 is a second
A driven roller 422 is supported so as to be slightly movable up and down. The upper part of the second driven roller 422 projects upwardly from a hole 423 formed in the upper surface of the insertion head 408. Both ends 424 of the second driven roller 422 (only one side is shown in FIG. 3) are connected to vertical escape holes 425 provided in both side walls 425 (also only one side is shown) of the copy paper guide plate 418. and protrudes outward from the side walls of the insertion head 408 through vertical relief holes (not shown) formed in both side walls (not shown) of the insertion head 408. Both ends 4 of the second driven roller 422
A sleeve 427 is loosely fitted in each of the copy paper guide plates 418, and the sleeve 427 is supported by a tension spring 428 provided on a side wall portion 425 of the copy paper guide plate 418.

As shown in FIG. 1, a sensor 800 is disposed near the first paper feed roller 401. An optical path between a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, which are arranged opposite to each other in the front and back directions of the sensor 800, can be opened and closed by the upper end of a light-shielding plate 802 provided on a support shaft 801. In connection with this, a hole 204 is formed in the copy paper mounting table 201 into which the lower end of the light shielding plate 802 falls. The terminal end 608 of this guide hole 604
The pores are widening in a tapered shape.

A plurality of sensors 803 for detecting the size of the copy paper 10 on the copy paper mounting table 201 are arranged directly below and to the side of the first paper feed roller 401 in the front and back directions of the paper surface. A sensor 804 is disposed near the second copy paper conveyance path 406 to detect copy paper passing through the second copy paper conveyance path. Furthermore, connectors 805 and 806 are attached to the front and rear portions of the device main body 700.

The drive control means 500 controls the first, second and third paper feed rollers 401, 402, 404 as shown in FIG.
A driven pulley 50 provided coaxially with each of the
1,502,503 and one drive pulley 50
4 are interlocked and connected by an endless timing belt 505, and when the drive pulley 504 is rotationally driven by the motor 506, the first, second, and third paper feed rollers 401, 402, and 404 simultaneously move clockwise. While configured to rotate, the first
Regarding rotation transmission to the paper feed roller 401,
By using a paper feed clutch 507 provided coaxially with this, it can be arbitrarily shut off. In addition, driven pulleys 501, 502, 503,
Drive pulley 504 and timing belt 505
A chain type transmission device can be used instead of the wrap transmission device consisting of the following.

As shown in FIG. 3, both left and right sides of the recess 601 in the connecting means 600 (also only one side is shown)
A guide hole 604 is formed in 602 and extends from both left and right ends of the rear end opening 603 of the recess 601 to the front lower part. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the rear end 605 of the recess 601 is provided with a protruding piece 607 that engages an engaging part 606 formed at the front end of the copy paper guide plate 418 and slightly displaces it downward. There is.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 15 denotes a desk that supports the copying machine 300.

Next, the operation of the paper feeding device configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 1 shows how the insertion head 408 of the paper feeder A explained in FIG.
This shows the inserted state. In this state, the second driven roller 4 protruding from the upper surface of the insertion head 408
The upper part of the copying machine 22 is pressed against the lower part of the copying machine paper feed roller 304 in the paper feeding section 302 of the copying machine main body 301 by the force of a tension spring (FIG. 3) 428.
Further, the tip of the copy paper guide plate 418 is connected to the compression spring 4.
Stopper 4 in insertion head 408 with a force of 20
21. That is, the second driven roller 422
Since it is not subjected to the force of the compression spring 420, it is not excessively pressed against the copying machine paper feed roller 304.

Further, when paper feeding device A is connected to the copying machine 300 as shown in the figure, the connector 805 of the paper feeding device A is connected to the connector 305 of the copying machine 300, and the connection between the copying machine 300 and the paper feeding device A is connected. electrically connected.

Furthermore, in FIG. 1, the paper feeding device (hereinafter referred to as a front sheet feeding device) A is connected to another sheet feeding device B (hereinafter referred to as a rear sheet feeding device) having the same structure. The connection process in this case will be described below.

First, the insertion head 408 of the rear paper feeder B is inserted into the recess 601 of the front paper feeder A. During this insertion, both ends (FIG. 3) 424 of the second driven roller 422 of the rear paper feeder B are inserted. Fit into the guide hole 604 of the front paper feeder A. As a result, the second driven roller 422 of the rear paper feeder B
is guided by the guide hole 604, moves forward and descends, and finally reaches the lower part of the third paper feed roller 404 of the front paper feeder A.

In the above process, the second driven roller 422 of the rear paper feeder B pushes down the copy paper guide plate 418 and contracts the compression spring 420. However, insertion head 4
08 into the recess 601, as shown in FIG. is the second driven roller 4
22 is not urged upward. On the other hand, the upper part of the second driven roller 422 is a tension spring (the third
(Figure) 428 is pressed against the lower part of the third paper feed roller 404. Therefore, the second driven roller 422 is not excessively pressed against the third paper feed roller 404.

Also, in this process, the rear paper feeder B is connected to the connector 8.
05 is connected to the connector 806, thereby being electrically connected to the previous paper feeding device A.

Next, the front paper feeder A is connected as shown in Figure 1.
The operation when selectively using the rear paper feeding device B will be explained using the block diagram of FIG. 6, the schematic diagram of the transmission system of FIG. 7, and the flowchart of FIG. 8.

First, as shown in Fig. 7, the front and rear copy paper loading tables 2
Copy paper 10a, 1 placed on 01a, 201b
The one at the top of 0b is the first paper feed roller 401a,
401b until it touches the copy paper mounting table 201.
The initial state is a state in which the motors 101a and 201b are raised by driving the motors 101a and 101b.

In FIG. 7, the front sheet feeder A and the rear sheet feeder B are the same, and are distinguished by adding alphanumeric characters a and b to the numbers in FIG.

First, in FIG. 7, the operation when supplying the copy paper 10a in the front paper feeder A to the copying machine 300 will be described.

Operation panel (Fig. 6) 306 of the copying machine 300
Press the front paper feeder activation button 307 and the print key 308 in sequence to turn them on (S1 and S2 in FIG. 8).

As a result, in the front paper feeder A, the motor 5
06a is driven, and the paper feed clutch 507a is operated in a transmission state (S3, S4). That is, the first paper feed roller 401a, the second paper feed roller 402a, and the third paper feed roller 404a each rotate (S5). At this time, the uppermost copy paper 10a is fed to the first copy paper conveyance path 4 by the first paper feed roller 401a.
05a to the second paper feed roller 402a and the first paper feed roller 402a.
It is sent between driven rollers 403a.

When the sensor 804a detects the leading edge of the copy paper conveyed as described above, the paper feed clutch 507a operates in a non-transmission state, and the first paper feed roller 401a stops (S6, S7).

A copying machine paper feed clutch 309 provided coaxially with the copy paper feed roller 304 operates in a transmission state,
The copying machine paper feed roller 304 rotates (S8, S
9).

As a result, from the second paper feed roller 402a to the second
Copy paper conveyance path 406a and copy paper guide plate 4
The copy paper that has passed over 18a enters between the copy paper feed roller 304 and the second driven roller 422a, and is conveyed from there toward the registration roller 310 disposed within the copying machine 300.

The sensor 804a detects the trailing edge of the copy paper, and the motor 506a stops. (S10,S
11).

When the leading edge of the copy paper hits the registration roller 301, it is necessary to temporarily stop the copy paper in order to adjust the timing with the photoreceptor drum (not shown). However, in this case, the copy paper is deflected into a curved shape by hitting the registration roller 301, and as the deflection increases, the sensor (micro switch) 311 is turned ON (S12), and the copy paper feed clutch 309 is placed in a non-transmission state. It operates (S13).

The exposure operation of the copying machine 300 begins (S14),
In synchronization with this, the registration roller 310 rotates, and copy paper is supplied toward a transfer device (not shown), where a predetermined copy is performed (S14).

Below, by returning to the previous paper feeder A
The uppermost copy sheet 10a can be fed to the copying machine in the same manner as described above.

Therefore, a counter circuit (not shown) acts every time a paper is fed from the first paper feed roller 401a, and the motor 101a is driven every time a certain number of counters are counted, thereby reducing the number of copies on the copy paper table 201a. The copy paper mounting table 201a rises by the same amount. Furthermore, when the copy paper 10a disappears from the copy paper mounting table 201a, the lower end of the light shielding plate 802 falls into the hole 204 in FIG. The copy paper supply display 313 of 306 lights up. Such an operation is similarly performed in the subsequent paper feeder B as well.

Next, copy paper feeding means 400a of the front paper feeding device A
The operation when supplying the copy paper 10b in the rear paper feeder B to the copying machine 300 will be described below.

() Button for operating the rear paper feeder (Fig. 6) 3
12 Then press the print key 308 in sequence.
Turn on (S15, S16).

() In this case, the motors 506a and 506b are driven, and the paper feed clutch 507b is operated in a transmission state (S17, S18). That is, the first, second, and third paper feed rollers 401 of the rear paper feed device B
b, 402b, and 404b rotate, and at the same time, the second paper feed roller 402a and the third paper feed roller 404a of the front paper feed device A rotate (S19).

() As a result, in the rear-stage paper feeder B, first the uppermost copy paper 10b is passed through the first copy paper conveyance path 405b by the first paper feed roller 401b, and then transferred to the second paper feed roller 402b and the first driven roller 40.
3b, and is conveyed onto the copy paper guide plate 418b. Copy paper guide plate 41
The copy paper conveyed onto 8b is further fed between the third paper feed roller 404a and the second driven roller 422b, and is conveyed to the third copy paper conveyance path 407a, so that the copy paper is transferred between the second paper feed roller 402a and the second driven roller 422b. It passes between the first driven roller 403a and reaches onto the copy paper guide plate 418a.

() In the step () above, the rear paper feeder B
When the leading edge of the copy paper is detected by the sensor 804b, the paper feed clutch 507b operates in a non-transmission state, and the first paper feed roller 401b stops (S20, S21). Also, the sensor 804
When the trailing edge of the copy paper is detected at step b, the motor 506b is stopped, the copying machine paper feed clutch 309 is activated to the transmission state, and the copying machine paper feed roller 304 is rotated (S22, S23, S8,
S9).

() Hereinafter, the operations described for the previous paper feeder are performed (S10, S14).

Next, in FIG. 7, after the copy paper 10a in the front paper feeder A is supplied to the copying machine 300 and the copy paper 10a runs out, the rear paper feeder B is used to feed the copy paper 10a that has run out. The operation when supplying the copy paper 10b of the same size as the copy paper to the copying machine 300 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 9.

() Press the print key 308 on the copier.
Turn on (S2). A determination is made as to the presence or absence of copy paper 10a (S24).

() As a result, the copy paper mounting table 201 on the front stage side
If there is a copy paper 10a on the paper 10a, the operations . . . already described are performed (S3 to S14).

() When the copy paper 10a is missing from the copy paper mounting table 201a on the front side, the presence or absence of the copy paper 10b on the copy paper mounting table 201b is determined based on the action of the sensor 800b of the rear paper feeding device B. (S25).

() In this case, if there is no copy paper 10b on the copy paper mounting table 201b, a copy paper replenishment display is performed.

() Copy paper 10b is placed on copy paper mounting table 201b.
If there is, it is determined whether the size is the same as that of the copy paper 10a used in the previous stage (S26).

() As a result, if the sizes are different, a size confirmation notification is performed by voice or display.

() If the copy paper sizes are the same, ()~ explained in the flow chart of Figure 8.
The operations in parentheses are performed (S17 to S23 and S8 to S14).

() to () explained in relation to FIG. 9 are as follows:
After the copy paper 10a in the front paper feeder A runs out,
Although the copy paper 10b is fed from the rear paper feeder B, the reverse may be used. That is, the copy paper 10b of the rear paper feeder B may be fed, and after that paper is used up, the copy paper 10a of the front paper feeder A may be fed.

In the above embodiment, the copy paper storage section 20 of each stage is
0 is individually arranged in each apparatus main body 700, but it is possible to form the apparatus main bodies 700 of each stage into one and have two or more copy paper storage sections 200 and transport drive means 400 inside. Alternatively, they may be arranged in series, and one of the copy paper storage sections may be selected and fed in the same manner as in the embodiment described above. In that case, the connecting means 6
It is clear that 00 is obsolete.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the paper feeding device of the copying machine of the present invention, the conveyance driving means for the copy paper in each stage of the copy paper storage block is connected in series to the paper feeding section of the main body of the copying machine. In other words, the copy paper in the copy paper storage section at the later stage is transported to the paper feed section of the copy paper main body via the transport drive means at the front stage, so that the copy paper of the same size is stored in the copy paper storage section at each stage. By storing the copy paper, it is possible to reduce the number of times of replenishment of copy paper, and by storing copy paper of different sizes, it is possible to quickly select the copy paper of the desired size and feed it to the paper feed section of the copying machine. There is an effect that can be done.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a connected state of a paper feeding device of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a single sheet feeding device, and FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the connecting means. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the transmission system, Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the tip operation section of the copy paper guide plate, Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the copying machine panel section and paper feeding device, and Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the copy paper guide plate. FIGS. 8 and 9, which are schematic diagrams showing the connected state of the paper device, are flowcharts of copying. 200... Copy paper storage section, 10... Copy paper, 3
01... Copying machine main body, 302... Paper feed section, 400
...Transport drive means, 405, 406, 407...
Conveyance path, 307, 312... Copy paper selection paper feed control means.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A paper feeding device for a copying machine that can be inserted into and removed from a paper feeding section of a main body of the copying machine, the paper feeding device having a copy paper storage section having an elevating means and a copy paper storage section. The apparatus comprises a conveyance driving means for supplying the stored copy paper to a paper feeding section, a connecting means for connecting a subsequent paper feeding device, and a drive control means for controlling the conveying driving means, and the connecting means has a connecting recess formed above the copy paper storage portion and an insertion head connectable to the recess, and the insertion head is inserted into a guide hole extending forward and downward from both left and right ends of the rear end opening of the recess. The second driven roller of the head is inserted, and the conveyance driving means includes a first paper feeding roller that feeds out the uppermost copy paper in the copy paper storage section, and a first paper feed roller that feeds out the copy paper at the top of the copy paper storage section, and a first paper feed roller that feeds out the copy paper at the top of the copy paper storage section; a second paper feed roller that receives paper between the first driven roller and the first driven roller;
A first copy paper transport path provided between a paper feed roller and a second paper feed roller, a second copy paper transport path following the first copy paper transport path, and a second copy paper transport path provided within the insertion head for the delivery. a paper guide plate for feeding the copied paper further forward; a spring for urging the paper guide plate upward; a second driven roller for feeding the copy paper that has passed through the paper guide plate toward the copying machine main body; A third paper feed roller located above the first paper feed roller
The drive controller includes a paper feed roller and a third copy paper transport path provided between the third paper feed roller and the second paper feed roller, and the drive control means controls the first, second, and third paper feed rollers. The apparatus has an endless belt that interlocks and drives the first paper feed roller, and a paper feed clutch that blocks rotation of the first paper feed roller. If multiple similar devices can be connected in succession and paper is fed from the first paper feeding device,
The first paper feed roller, the second paper feed roller, and the copy machine paper feed roller provided on the copy machine main body side are driven, and the copy paper is urged upward by the first and second copy paper transport paths and the spring. When the paper is fed from the paper feeder at the rear stage, the rotation of the first paper feed roller at the front stage is blocked, and the first paper feed roller at the rear stage and the second paper feed roller at the rear stage are stopped. , the third paper feed roller at the rear stage, the second paper feed roller at the front stage, and the copying machine paper feed roller are driven, and the copy paper is transferred to the first and second copy paper conveyance paths at the rear stage by insertion of the insertion head. A paper feed device for a copying machine, characterized in that the paper feed device is configured to pass through a paper guide plate pressed downward by compressing a spring, third and second copy paper transport paths in the preceding stage, and the paper guide plate.