JPH058276Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] This invention relates to a sheet feeding device that supplies sheets to a printing device such as a printer or a typewriter. Furthermore, a paper feed unit is mounted on top of the
The present invention relates to an apparatus in which a driving force is obtained from a platen drive system of a printing device to drive a paper feed rotary body and a paper discharge rotary body.

[Technical background of the invention] Personal computers generally use continuous paper for print output. For this reason, a tractor is provided at the paper feed/discharge port of the printing device, and the continuous paper is fed by the tractor, and the paper is discharged while being printed on the platen by the print head.

By the way, since recent personal computers are equipped with word processing functions, they often use not only continuous paper but also cut paper. When printing on this cut paper, if the number of sheets to be printed is small, it is not too difficult to manually feed the cut sheets one by one, but if the number of sheets to be printed is large, the cut sheets are automatically fed. A sheet feeding device is required.

This sheet feeding device is attached to the paper feed/discharge port of the printing device, and feeds the cut sheets stacked on the paper feed table one by one to the platen of the printing device using a feed roller, and then prints the cut sheets on the platen. Paper is stored in a paper stacker.

However, the paper feed/discharge port of a printing device equipped with a tractor has a large opening to feed continuous paper.
Cut paper cannot be fed smoothly to the platen.

On the other hand, in such a sheet feeding device,
Since the size of the paper feed/discharge port of each printing device is different, it must be designed and manufactured for each printing device.
For this reason, design efficiency is poor and it becomes a bottleneck for cost reduction.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, a paper ejection unit equipped with a paper ejection rotor is removably installed at the paper feed/ejection port of the printing device, and a paper feed tray and a paper feed tray are attached to this paper ejection unit. A paper feeding unit including a paper feeding rotary body for feeding out laminated sheets is removably attached, and the paper feeding rotary body and the paper ejection rotary body are driven by driving force obtained from a platen drive system of the printing device. A sheet feeding device is provided.

[Problems in the Background Art] Normally, as a means for installing the above-mentioned paper ejection unit on a printing device, a fitting part that fits into a coupling member on the printing device side, such as a coupling shaft, is provided on the paper ejection unit side. However, it is necessary to properly align the paper feed path on the paper discharge unit side with the platen guide of the printing device.

If the paper feed path and the platen guide of the printing device do not align well, the paper feed path will collide with the platen guide when the fitting portion of the paper ejection unit is fitted into the coupling shaft, and the fitting portion will be damaged. There is a problem that it doesn't fit well or the gap is too bright.
There were problems in terms of cost, such as making the machining accuracy of the part more stringent than necessary and adding man-hours to adjustments during assembly.

[Purpose of the invention] This invention was made by focusing on the above-mentioned problems.
Also, when attaching the paper ejection unit to the printing device,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding device in which the paper feeding path can be accurately aligned with a platen guide without requiring special attention from an operator.

[Summary of the invention] In order to achieve the above object, this invention removably installs a paper ejection unit equipped with a paper ejection rotor at the paper feed/ejection port of the printing device, and also attaches and detaches a paper ejection unit to the paper ejection unit. A paper feed unit including a base and a paper feed rotary body that feeds out the laminated sheets on the paper feed base is removably mounted, and driving force is obtained from the platen drive system of the printing device to drive the paper feed rotary body and the paper feed rotary body. In a sheet feeding device that drives a paper ejection rotor,
The paper ejection unit is provided with a paper feed path for guiding the sheet sent out from the paper feed unit to the platen of the printing device, and at least a part of the paper feed path is connected to the paper feed/discharge port of the printing device. It is configured to be expandable and contractible depending on the position and shape.

[Embodiment of the invention] An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, a sheet feeding device 1 as shown in FIG. 1 is removably attached to a paper feed/discharge port 5 of a printing device 3 as shown in FIG.

First, the printing device 3 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cover 7 of this printing device 3
A frame 9 is provided inside, and a platen shaft 13 is rotatably supported on both sides 9L, 9R of the frame 9 via bearings 11L, 11R. A platen knob 15 is located on one end side of this platen shaft 13.
A platen 19 is attached to the center, and a gear 21 and a platen knob 15R are attached to the other end. Further, a motor 23 for driving the platen 19 is attached to the frame 9, and the driving force of this motor 23 is transmitted to the gear 21 via gears 24 and 25.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, a head carriage 27 is movable laterally along the platen 19;
The printing head 29 attached to this head carriage 27, the guide 31 and pressure rollers 33, 3 provided along the periphery of the platen 19.
5, a paper bail roller 37 for pressing the sheet against the platen 19, a platen cover 39, and coupling shafts 41 and 42 for coupling the sheet supply device 1 to the printing device 3.

The pressure rollers 33, 35 are moved to the second position by rotating the pressure lever 43 shown in FIG.
The guide 31 rotates around a shaft 45 in the figure, and is brought into or out of pressure contact with the platen 19.

Further, the arm 51 of the paper bail roller 37 is rotated about the shaft 49 by rotating the paper bail lever 47, so that the paper bail roller 37 is brought into or out of pressure contact with the platen 19.

On the other hand, behind the printing device 3, there are
As shown in the figure, a rotating shaft 102 and a support shaft 104 that rotate by receiving driving force from a motor 23 are provided.
A pair of left and right tractors 105L and 105R are attached to the rotating shaft 102 and the support shaft 104 so as to be movable left and right.

These tractors 105L and 105R are equipped with a belt 10 having a plurality of pins 107 on its circumferential surface that fit into the perforations (left and right holes) of the continuous paper Q.
9. Support body 1 sandwiching this belt 109 from left and right sides
11. The support body 111 is provided with paper retainers 117 and 119 that are rotatable about a hinge 113 and have pin holes 115 on the top and bottom of the support body 111, and a lock lever 121 that is rotated when fixing to the support shaft 104.

Next, the sheet feeding device 1 will be explained in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet supply device 1 includes a paper ejection unit 61 that can be detachably attached to the paper feed/discharge port 5 of the printing device 3, and a paper feed unit 63 that can be detachably attached to the paper ejection unit 61. It is equipped with

The paper discharge unit 61 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 to 7.
The configuration is as shown in the figure. That is, first, side frames 65L and 65R shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are connected by support shafts 67 and 69.

Left and right coupling shafts 41, 42 provided at the paper feed/discharge port 5 of the printing device 3 are attached to the side frames 65L, 65R.
Fitting portions 71L, 71R and 73L, 7 that fit into
3R, lock levers 77L, 77R that rotate around shafts 75L, 75R to be attached to and detached from the coupling shaft 42, and support portions 78L, 78R that abut on the cover 7. In addition, lock levers 77L, 77
Although not shown, R is urged toward the coupling shaft 42 by a spring.

As shown in FIG. 2, between the side frames 65L and 65R, there are rotary shafts 79 and 81 and an N-shaped conveyance guide 83 that constitutes a part of the paper discharge stacker, and together with this conveyance guide 83, a paper feed path 201 is formed. Paper feed guides 203 and 205 are provided.

The rotating shaft 79 is a square shaft, and as shown in FIG. 5, a laterally movable gear 84 is attached thereto and can be fixed with a screw 85. Also, the rotation axis 8
A plurality of paper discharging rotary bodies such as paper discharging rollers 87 are attached to the paper discharging roller 1 . Further, the conveyance guide 83 has a recessed portion 83A (supporting portion) that supports the rear end of the ejected sheet.
A space (gap) into which a manually fed sheet can be inserted is formed between the sheet feeding unit 63 and the sheet feeding unit 63.

The paper feed guide 205 is provided between the paper feed guide 203 and the support guide 207, and is slidable up and down.

In front of the paper ejection roller 87, there is a front cover 8.
9 and a guide roller 91 are provided, and the guide roller 91 is pressed against the paper discharge roller 87. still,
The front cover 89 can be opened and closed around a shaft 90.

Inside the side frame 65L, there is a gear 17 attached to the platen shaft 13 as shown in FIG.
A gear 93 that meshes with the rotating shaft 95 is attached to the rotating shaft 95.

Further, a gear 97 that meshes with a gear 93 is attached to the rotating shaft 81.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a pulley 99 is attached to the rotating shaft 81. On the other hand, a pulley 101 is attached to the rotating shaft 79, and the pulleys 99 and 1
01 through a belt 103.

Both sides of the paper discharge unit 61 constructed in this manner are covered with covers 123L and 123R.

On the other hand, the paper feed unit 63 is
As shown in FIG. 9, the side frame 125L,
Fitting parts 127L and 127R provided on 125R
and 129L, 129R, the paper discharge unit 61
The support shafts 67 and 69 can be freely attached and detached.

Behind the side frames 125L and 125R,
As shown in FIG. 2, a support shaft 13 connects the two.
1,133 are attached. A bottom plate 135 bent into an N-shape is attached to these support shafts 131 and 133. This bottom plate 135 includes a bottom portion 135A fixed to both support shafts 131 and 133, a stopper portion 135B provided standing up from the tip of the bottom portion 135A toward the front cover 157 side, which will be described later, and a stopper portion 135B provided from the upper end of the stopper portion 135B. It includes a guide portion 135C extending forward and substantially parallel to the bottom portion 135A.

Further, a paper feed frame 137, which constitutes a part of the paper feed stacker, is removably provided at the rear end of the bottom portion 135A.

The support shaft 133 is connected to the left and right side frames 125.
The paper feed frame 1 is rotatable relative to the support shaft 133.
A paper feed tray 139 that together with 37 constitutes a paper feed stacker.
The rear end is fixed, and by rotating the set lever 141, the support shaft 133 is connected via a crank (not shown).
It is designed to rotate around .

The paper feed table 139 is for storing and storing sheets P, and has a shape in which both sides are upright and the leading and trailing ends are open, as shown in FIG. It extends to the very front. One side plate 143 of this paper feed table 139
R is movable along the width direction of the seat P, and the other side plate 143L is fixed. Each side plate 143
The sheet P to be taken out is on the outside of L and 143R.
Separation claw 145L, 1 for separating the
Separation levers 147L and 147R having 45R are rotatably attached via pins 149L and 149R.

Further, a high friction body such as a cork plate 151 is attached to a portion facing a paper feed roller 155, which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, a rotating shaft 153 is attached to the upper front of the paper feed tray 139 in parallel with the platen 19, and both ends of the rotating shaft 153 are rotatably supported by both side frames 125L and 125R. ing. A paper feed roller 155 serving as a paper feed rotation body is fixed to the center of this rotating shaft 153. Note that the paper feed rotating body may be a belt or the like.

In front of the paper feed table 139, a front cover 157 is tilted toward the platen 19, and a side frame 125
It is removably provided between L and 125R, and the sheet sent out by the paper feed roller 155 is guided to the paper feed path 201 through the space between the inner surface of the front cover 157 and the guide portion 135C of the bottom plate 135.

Note that the front cover 157 forms a manual feed guide together with the conveyance guide 83 of the paper discharge unit 61.

At the top of the front cover 157, there is a paper ejection frame 1.
59 is removably provided. Note that the recessed portion 83A of the conveyance guide 83, the front cover 157, and the paper ejection frame 159 constitute a paper ejection stacker.

The mechanism for transmitting the driving force to the rotating shaft 153 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

That is, first, a gear 160 that meshes with the gear 84 is attached to a rotating shaft 162. Also, the rotation axis 1
A gear 165 that meshes with a cam 163 and gear 160 is attached to 61 . Cam 163 is hill 1
63A and a recessed portion 163B, and has a pin 163C inside, and a stopper 167 and a pin 163.
When the cam 163 collides with the cam 163, the clockwise rotation of the cam 163 is prevented. Further, a spring clutch is interposed between the cam 163 and the gear 165, so that even if the clockwise rotation of the cam 163 is prevented by the stopper 167, the gear 165 can rotate clockwise.

The rotating shaft 169 has a gear 173 and a gear 16 that mesh with a gear 171 attached to the rotating shaft 153.
A gear 175 that meshes with 5 is provided. still,
A one-way clutch is interposed between the rotating shaft 153 and the gear 171.

A ratchet 177 is provided inside the gear 175 shown in FIG. 9, as shown in FIG.

A cam 181 having a recess 179 is provided on the outside of the gear 173, and a ratchet pawl 183 that engages with the ratchet 177 is rotatably attached to a shaft 185. In addition, the ratchet claw 18
3 is biased toward the ratchet 177 by a spring 187.

A lever 195 having claws 191 and 193 that contacts the cams 163 and 181 is attached to the shaft 189, and is biased toward the cams 163 and 181 by a spring 197.

In such a configuration, this sheet feeding device 1 operates as follows.

First, as shown in FIG.
When attaching the paper ejecting unit 61 to the paper, with the paper feed guide 205 pulled out,
The fitting portions 71L, 71R and 73L, 73R are fitted to each other. As a result, the paper feed guide 205 hits the base end of the guide 31 and enters between the paper feed guide 203 and the support guide 207, so that the guide 31 and the paper feed guide 205 are in contact with each other.

Incidentally, the gear 84 is moved on the shaft 79 as shown in FIG. 5, and meshes with the gear 160 provided on the paper feed unit 63 as shown in FIG. 9 to establish a driving connection.

Further, the set lever 141 shown in FIG.
Stack them in contact with B. Then, rotate the set lever 141 to push up the paper feed tray 139,
The sheet P is pressed against the paper feed roller 155.

[Effects of the invention] According to the sheet feeding device according to this invention, a paper ejection unit equipped with a paper ejection rotor is removably installed at the paper feed/ejection port of a printing device, and a paper feed unit is installed on the paper ejection unit. A paper feed unit including a base and a paper feed rotary body that feeds out the laminated sheets on the paper feed base is removably mounted, and driving force is obtained from the platen drive system of the printing device to drive the paper feed rotary body and the paper feed rotary body. In the sheet feeding device configured to drive a sheet ejecting rotary body, the sheet ejecting unit is provided with a sheet feeding path for guiding the sheet sent out from the sheet feeding unit to the platen of the printing device, and the sheet feeding Since the path is configured to be expandable and retractable in accordance with the position and shape of the paper feed/discharge port of the printing device, there is no need for strict precision in the platen guide on the printing device side or the paper feed path on the paper discharge unit side, resulting in low cost. It can be manufactured with. Further, when attaching the paper ejection unit to the printing device, there is an effect that the paper feed path can be accurately aligned with the platen guide without requiring special attention from the operator.

In this situation, the print command causes the sixth
The platen 19 shown in the figure is rotated in the direction opposite to the paper feeding direction (in the direction of the dashed arrow in the figure). This causes gear 97 to rotate clockwise via gears 17 and 93. Therefore, the rotating shaft 81 and the paper ejection roller 87 also rotate, and the pulley 99 and belt 1 shown in FIG.
03. Rotate the gear 84 in FIG. 9 to the left via the pulley 101.

This causes gear 160 to rotate clockwise. That is, the driving force of the platen shaft 13 transmitted to the paper discharge unit 61 is also transmitted to the paper feed unit 63.

The rotation of gear 160 causes gear 165 and cam 163 in FIG. 8 to rotate to the left. and lever 195
When the claw 191 of 191 runs up the hill 163A, the claw 19
3 is removed from the recess 179 of the cam 181 and is connected to the ratchet 177.

When this state is reached, it is time to move on to platen 1.
9 rotates in the paper feeding direction. Note that this timing is set in advance.

As the platen 19 rotates in the paper feeding direction, the cam and gear rotate in the opposite direction (in the direction of the solid arrow). Therefore, gear 165 rotates clockwise and gear 175 rotates counterclockwise. Ratchet claw 18 at the tip
3 is connected to the ratchet 177, so the gear 173 also rotates to the left. As a result, the gear 171
rotates clockwise, and the paper feed roller 155 in FIG. 2 also rotates clockwise.

Therefore, the sheet P on the paper feed tray 139 is sent out, separated into one sheet by the separating claws 145L and 145R, and sent between the front cover 157 and the guide section 135C and through the paper feed path 201, and then sent to the platen 1.
9 and the pressure roller 33.

In addition, while feeding the sheet, the pin 163C of the cam 163 hits the stopper 167, and the cam 1
63 is prevented from rotating and becomes an initial state. but,
Since the spring clutch is interposed, the gear 165
rotates and feeds out the sheet.

When the sheet is gripped by the platen 19, the platen 19 is rotated in the opposite direction again. Then, the sheet held between the platen 19 and the presser roller 33 is discharged, the sheet is bent, and the sheet's waist brings the leading edge of the sheet into even contact with the contact area between the platen 19 and the pressing roller 33, thereby aligning the leading edge.

The gear 171 rotates clockwise due to the reverse rotation of the platen 19, but the ratchet 177 and the ratchet pawl 18
3 is a waste of time. For this reason, the paper feed roller 155
does not rotate.

When the sheet is discharged from the platen 19, the platen 19 is rotated again in the paper feeding direction and the sheet is sent out.

When the pawl 193 of the lever 195 falls into the recess 179, the ratchet pawl 18 is removed from the ratchet 177.
3 is removed, and the transmission of driving force to the paper feed roller 155 is cut off.

However, since the platen 19 is rotating, the sheet is pulled by the platen 19.

The sheet printed by the printing device 3 is ejected passing between the paper ejection roller 87 and the guide roller 91.
The leading end side is supported by the sheet discharge frame 159, the rear end is supported by the recess 83A of the conveyance guide 83, and the sheet is housed in the sheet discharge stacker.

The above operation is repeated and the sheets are continuously and automatically fed out.

According to this embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, since the paper feed guide 205 that forms part of the paper feed path 201 expands and contracts, even if there is a slight dimensional error between the printing device 3 and the paper ejection unit 61, the gap between the guide 31 and the paper feed guide 205 will be reduced. becomes less,
We can give you reliable guidance.

[Modification] Although one embodiment of this invention has been described above, this invention is not limited to the previous embodiment, and for example, the following modifications are possible.

(1) The paper feed path may be formed of a flexible material such as synthetic resin.

[Effects of the invention] According to the sheet feeding device according to this invention, a paper ejection unit equipped with a paper ejection rotor is removably installed at the paper feed/ejection port of a printing device, and a paper feed unit is installed on the paper ejection unit. A paper feed unit including a base and a paper feed rotary body that feeds out the laminated sheets on the paper feed base is removably mounted, and driving force is obtained from the platen drive system of the printing device to drive the paper feed rotary body and the paper feed rotary body. In the sheet feeding device configured to drive a sheet ejecting rotary body, the sheet ejecting unit is provided with a sheet feeding path for guiding the sheet sent out from the sheet feeding unit to the platen of the printing device, and the sheet feeding Since at least a part of the path is configured to be expandable and retractable in accordance with the position and shape of the paper feed/discharge port of the printing device, strict precision is not required for the platen guide on the printing device side or the paper feed path on the paper discharge unit side. Therefore, it can be manufactured at low cost. Further, when attaching the paper ejection unit to the printing device, there is an effect that the paper feed path can be accurately aligned with the platen guide without requiring special attention from the operator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 10 are diagrams showing an embodiment of this invention, and each figure shows the following. Fig. 1 is a front view of the sheet feeding device, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the sheet feeding device together with a part of the printing device, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the printing device, and Fig. 4 is a tractor portion of the printing device. Figure 5 is a plan view of the paper discharge unit, Figures 6 and 7 are diagrams showing the driving force transmission mechanism of the paper discharge unit, and Figures 8 and 9 are views of the paper feed unit installed. A diagram showing the drive mechanism of the paper roller,
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the paper feed tray as seen diagonally from behind. 1... Sheet supply device, 3... Printing device, 19
...Platen, 61... Paper ejection unit, 63...
Paper feed unit, 83...conveyance guide (paper feed path),
87...Paper discharge roller (paper discharge rotary body), 139...
Paper feed table, 155... Paper feed roller (paper feed rotating body),
201... Paper feeding path, 203... Paper feeding guide (paper feeding path), 205... Paper feeding guide (extensible portion of the paper feeding path), 207... Support guide (paper feeding path).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) A paper ejection unit equipped with a paper ejection rotor is removably installed at the paper feed/ejection port of the printing device, and a paper feed tray and this paper feed are attached to the paper ejection unit. A paper feeding unit equipped with a paper feeding rotary body that feeds out the laminated sheets on the table is removably mounted, and driving force is obtained from the platen drive system of the printing device to drive the paper feeding rotary body and the paper ejection rotary body. In the sheet feeding device, the sheet discharging unit is provided with a sheet feeding path for guiding the sheet sent out from the sheet feeding unit to the platen of the printing device, and
A sheet feeding device characterized in that at least a portion of the paper feeding path is configured to be expandable and retractable in accordance with the position and shape of the paper feeding/discharging port of a printing device. (2) Utility Model Registration In the sheet feeding device according to claim 1, the paper feeding path has flexibility and is configured to be deformable in accordance with the position and shape of the paper feeding/discharging port of the printing device. A sheet feeding device characterized by: